The Ghost of Speculations Past

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The Ghost of Speculations Past

Official and public commentaries have attempted to fill many evidentiary gaps in the Kennedy assassination. Yet these attempts were not all based on rigorous inquiry and evidence. Perhaps a few sought a place in history, to profit, and generated their biased view of events via their own speculative presumptions. The worst of these possible are those attempting to create ideas of whole cloth with a veneer of actual evidence in attempts to gain credibility...

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Ignore the Bias and Seek all the Evidence

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Ignore the Bias and Seek all the Evidence

A rebuttal of "The Holy Grail of JFK Conspiracies Will Never Be Found" by John McAdams

Professor John McAdams is a well-known figure of conspiracy criticism and yet he often relies upon grand claims and insults. In the pursuit of discrediting all possible evidence supporting conspiracy, McAdams fails to realize much discrediting the official findings lie within its own evidence. While some conspiracy advocates and critics deal in speculation, insults, and definitive presumptions, none have the definitive evidence to prove these claims. The legal standard of a preponderance of evidence is not legally definitive; it relies upon all necessary evidence offered and it requires specific evidence as the basis for its claims. Unfortunately, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Central Intelligence Agency each suppressed and denied the President's (Warren) Commission evidence and  how could any investigation without important primary evidence succeed or be definitive...

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The Wintry Gales of Reason

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The Wintry Gales of Reason

A Rebuttal of "In The Blossom of Our Sins" by Charles R. Drago

"Half a century passes, yet our focus remains not on the moon but on the finger pointing to it.  As the 50th anniversary of the Dallas operation loomed, petitions were being signed to convince the praetorian guard of John F. Kennedy's killers to stand down and allow the truth to be spoken and justice to be pursued during the official observance of the assassination scheduled to be staged - and I do mean "staged"....at the appointed hour, the black mass was celebrated. Cracked bells tolled, crocodile tears flowed, deceit-driven litanies were regurgitated, truth and justice banished, and sheets of foolscap bearing the name of self-anointed warrior petitioners were cut into small, uniform squares with which the conspiracy's contemporary Facilitators would wipe their..." (Charles R. Drago)i
Some who represent the opposing sides debating conspiracy have seemingly forgone reasonable debate. Many remain skeptical and willing to discuss the contending evidence, others have made their decision. They do not feasibly consider most verifiable facts to deduce probable outcomes because they cannot imagine primary evidence could refute their current ideas and this has left many on the losing side of history. While I agree that a feasible assassination conspiracy occurred, the "Dallas Operation" is not conclusively proven. Drago's lengthy diatribe regarding his feelings about the official event subsequently held in Dealey Plaza, is irrelevant and biased and his confrontational and pseudo-revolutionary prose is unnecessary and counterproductive to actual discussion. Critics and advocates have personally insulted me for my contentions based on evidence they do not "believe", yet it remains on the primary legal record. Evidence does not require you to believe, it is self-evident. If someone wishes to contend evidence, it requires a substantial evidentiary basis to do so...  

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Skepticism is warranted if the Primary Evidence is repeatedly contending

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Skepticism is warranted if the Primary Evidence is repeatedly contending

A rebuttal of "JFK Conspiracy theories at 50: How Skeptics Got It Wrong and Why It Matters" by David Reitzes

"To dispel the shock and confusion that ensued after accused assassin Lee Harvey Oswald was gunned down during an abortive police transfer by a strip club operator Jack Ruby, President Johnson convened a blue-ribbon panel composed of distinguished leaders from both the public and private sectors and consisting of both Democrats and Republicans."i  (David Reitzes)
Some critics and advocates of conspiracy offer even handed reports that address the evidence. Some in their reviews of opposing viewpoints offer little evidence and much hyperbole and condescension. Others merely seek to refute opposing arguments with unproven contentions. They overlook the evidence that hampers there favorite official declaration. The article discussed "reminds us that the job of a skeptic is to use critical thinking...to properly assess the evidence, and to use our critical faculties to distinguish verifiable evidence from idle speculation." With that in mind, let us examine the evidence offered and the idle speculation...

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Hyperbole, Insults, and Deficient Arguments

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Hyperbole, Insults, and Deficient Arguments

A rebuttal of "McBride's Folly: How the conspirati avoid the truth about the murder of Officer J.D. Tippit" by Dale K. Myers

"I don’t like to get into the habit of commenting on a rebuttal to something I wrote, but in the case of Joseph McBride’s “Dale Myers and his ‘so-called evidence’” posted on Jim DiEugenio’s website (ironically and absurdly called, Citizens For Truth About the Kennedy Assassination), I’m going to make an exception." (Dale K. Meyers)
Some debating the Kennedy case engage in unproductive and emotional displays. Reasonable criticism often transforms into diatribes of partial fact distorted by personal attacks. Emmy award winning animator and author Dale K. Myers is no exception. His use of hyperbolic jargon and dismissing those who disagree with his chosen conclusions begins with the term "conspirati"...

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Most tragic events are not directly related, nor a domestic Conspiracy

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Most tragic events are not directly related, nor a domestic Conspiracy

A rebuttal of "Talking with Jim Marrs about JFK and 9/11 Parallels" by Morgan Reynolds

Jim Marrs in a well-known and often featured conspiracy advocate, unfortunately his speculations and unsupported ideas have also gained fame. Instead of healthy skepticism and review of most evidence, Marrs is content to offer unverified views. Marrs asserts these subjects remain important to him. Yet, his assertions often damage informed review...

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Another photographic claim that Fails to prove its assertions

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Another photographic claim that Fails to prove its assertions

A rebuttal of "An End to Conspiracy? Rare Photo of Lee Harvey Oswald Suggests Why he's guilty" by Gary Mack, Time Magazine

As the curator of the Sixth Floor Museum, Gary Mack holds a role in overseeing exhibits offered for the public. However, Mack's feasible desire to use a photograph to assert improbable associations render his opinions untenable. Mack attributes in my view more importance to this photograph than reasonable. Some who advocate conspiracy have their favorite self-determined important picture. Each hypothesis is championed by unverified claims... 

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The Mexico City Files: Criticism and Advocacy

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The Mexico City Files: Criticism and Advocacy

Did Lee Harvey Oswald make every appearance at the Communist aligned Cuban and Soviet Embassy in Mexico City? This long debated question has both inspired new evidentiary findings and generated untenable speculations. However, the speculation appears on both sides of this debate. Some have overlooked all the evidence and others have created unlikely constructs to explain the events. Considering some of the arguments in comparison to the primary evidence may narrow the field...

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Speculations that fail to consider Primary Evidence remain in Doubt

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Speculations that fail to consider Primary Evidence remain in Doubt

A rebuttal of "Face it: Oswald did it" by the Economist Magazine

The Economist is long respected and noteworthy publication about financial matters. I have read their articles and many are of high quality and supported by evidence and expert assessment. Yet this article in my view diverges from their usual standards. Seemingly, financial acumen does not translate to reasonable inquiry. Based upon substantial evidence their judgement is precipitous...

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While Assassination Conspiracy is feasible, it assigns Oswald some guilt

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While Assassination Conspiracy is feasible, it assigns Oswald some guilt

A Rebuttal of the Oswald Innocence Campaign Member's Statement and its unproven claims.

The Oswald Innocence Campaign members base a grand claim by interpreting a single photograph and despite the people who have leant their name to such a cause, they lack supporting primary evidence. Seemingly, no room for contrary evidence and considerations is left and unless those who support this idea allow contrary views of evidence, this remains merely speculation. They have attached too much importance upon too little proof...

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The Conflicting motivations of Jack Ruby

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The Conflicting motivations of Jack Ruby

A rebuttal of the article "Did he Do it for Jackie?" by John McAdams, an  essay based heavily on newsgroup posts by Jean Davison and Dave Reitzes

McAdams criticism is sometimes warranted and some of his ideas are sound and reasonable, yet instead of just attacking faulty ideas, he often resorts to personal insults and for examples see his "Wacky at Wechtfest" series of online posts. In his defense of the official story, McAdams has overlooked relevant details and evidence...

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Not all the facts lead to Oswald

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Not all the facts lead to Oswald

"Here, everything pointed toward Oswald's guilt. All the physical evidence, all the scientific evidence. Everything he said, everything he did...Only in a fantasy world can you have 53 pieces of evidence pointing toward guilt and still be innocent." (Vincent Bugliosi)
His first assertion is incorrect. Not all the physical and scientific evidence clearly incriminates Oswald. All the original medical evidence at Parkland hospital disputes the later determinations of the President's (Warren) Commission.i This implies a separate gunman to account for some original wounds, not Oswald. Some important pieces of physical and scientific evidence are contradictory...

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Reserve complete judgment and use all the evidence

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Reserve complete judgment and use all the evidence

A rebuttal of "JFK believe it or not: Oswald wasn't even a shooter!" by Richard Hooke w/ Dr. James Fetzer

"I have been invited to the Roxie Theater in San Francisco...and explain what Oliver Stone got right and wrong in his monumental film, "JFK". Most of the film is right..." (James Fetzer)
Incorrect, most of the film is speculation, because it is a film. It is not a primary source and it gets more wrong than right, contrary to Fetzer's opinions. This is not a problem because as a dramatization it is fictional, not a documentary. Yet those trying to legitimize its contentions ignore the many unproven claims in the film...

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Common Bias, Theories, and one critics "truth"

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Common Bias, Theories, and one critics "truth"

A rebuttal of "The Kennedy Assassination, Common Sense, facts, and the truth!" by Francois Carlier

When approaching the case of President Kennedy's assassination and the alleged conspiracy that followed, some are not content to rely on the original evidence and the entire record. In the debate between conspiracy advocates and critics, some display only the bias and evidence that supports their chosen side. Instead of just seeking all the facts, some from each group have clearly predetermined the result without full consideration. Belief has seeped into the debate for some and their beliefs can become intractable when enough time has passed...

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When Critics use Opinions to Prove Facts they may create Misinformation

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When Critics use Opinions to Prove Facts they may create Misinformation

A rebuttal of "Facts and Fiction in the Kennedy Assassination" by Massimo Polidoro and the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry 

"However, cases are often made more difficult to solve when facts get confused with imagined realities and unfounded conclusions.  Eyewitness testimonies and self-styled experts, even in good faith, can alter details and hid important clues that-if untouched-could lead to radically different conclusions." (Massimo Polidoro) 
After a reasonable introduction paragraph, what follows is a ham-handed swipe at all sources Polidoro deems unverified due to the implications many present. He offers no actual evidence or repeated documented instances of these allegations, but states it as if the reader should give it regard. Notice that he does not address the many official flaws and clear acts of deception in the case; he instead blames inconsistencies on all the non-officials involved...  

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