Hastings Death Examined (Hastings’ 911 callers and new video confirm large explosions)

[jakeXT]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by greyl (a host of the Video & Multimedia forum).

By Kimberly Dvorak

It's been nearly two months since journalist Michael Hastings died in a fiery car crash in Los Angeles. A new surveillance video from a nearby business obtained by San Diego 6 News and posted by LA Weekly graphically shows multiple explosions consuming his 2013 Mercedes Benz.

The surveillance video captures the final moments of Hastings life and provides intriguing details of the "crash.” The video shows a flash of light appearing at the 13-14 second mark, the headlights are on at 14 seconds, but all lights are extinguished at the 16-second mark. The car then turns left and the first horizontal explosion appears just after the 16-second mark (it ejects the left front tire across northbound highland approximately 40-50 feet). The second explosion engulfs the engine compartment at the 17-second mark. The third and largest explosion consumes the passenger compartment at the 17-18-second mark.

Inexplicably, the palm tree Hastings’ car hit has scorched bark and slightly wounded base --approximately 16"W x 4.5" H x 1"D-- seemingly minimal damage for a 3,538 pound car striking the tree at a reportedly 100 mph. Also pictures taken by San Diego 6 News show the curb has a small scratch, but no major chipping or fractures and the rear tires resting against the curb.

The new video also captures three distinct explosions, but the intensity of the fire suggests an accelerant may have been involved since gasoline only burns at 530 to 550 degrees Fahrenheit.

http://www.sandiego6.com/story/Hastings_Death_Examined-20130804

[Berlum]

1. "the car exploded..."

This "accident" has stinkola all over it, and should also be posted to GD. Very important.

Good report by the local news. Where the hell is the so-called national media on it?

[NoMoreWarNow]

10. it's not even the local news- the crash was in LA and this is a San Diego station

the whole thing is fishy as hell.

[Warpy]

70. I think there are a lot of questions that need to be answered

I'm just very mistrustful of any answers that come from people on the net. I said from the beginning I hoped the ME would check the body and the car for signs of explosive residue.

I sincerely doubt they did. You can deny everything you don't bother testing for.

He was, however, going like a bat out of hell. I have to wonder what that was about, too.

[newfie11]

2. K&R

[Vinnie From Indy]

3. Odd - the "surveillance camera" appears to be hand-held.

I have always believed that Hastings death was highly suspicious and should be intensely investigated, but this video does not seem right. The camera appears to be held by a person.

[htuttle]

4. I think it's a video of a tv screen

You can see the rim of the monitor in the upper left. The screen is black and white while the surrounding trim is in color.

Somebody probably aimed their camera (phone) at the surveillance monitor while watching the replay.

[heaven05]

5. the

man was killed! what does it take to see this? hear this? he got too close to the information for the comfort of someone. Murder like this has happened before , November 22, 1963, will happen again. geez

[niyad]

9. nov 13, 1974--karen silkwood

[heaven05]

14. yeah!

Thanks for the reminder. That was obviously a murder.

[mbuch64]

120. Yep

Don't forget Paul Wellstone. He could have seriously challenged dubya in the 2004 election. We got Kerry instead.

[heaven05]

128. yeah

that 'crash' bothered me. But I couldn't prove anything.

[niyad]

6. k and r

[BlueManFan]

7. Everyone Slow Down Here---Remember Obama's

corporate-military(redundant) fascist state friends will not take kindly to being investigated or accused in the death of a whistleblower (which now means traitor) like Michael Hastings. But they promise not to torture you for investigating, if you believe that. I can't believe the shithole the country has become. It's not the place I grew up and I wouldn't hesitate a second to leave forever. I hate this place1

[Bernardo de La Paz]

11. Don't hesitate. Honor your words. You can do it. Where are you going?

I wouldn't hesitate a second to leave forever. I hate this place1

Don't hesitate. Honor and stand by your words. You can do it. Where are you going?

[heaven05]

15. sorry

you're stuck with your head between your buttocks. This country is not what it's purported to be. A 'free' democracy? I don't think so anymore. I can relate to the frustration of bluemanfan. Well keep marching with the 'satisfied' masses. the cliff is right over the rise. geez

[Bernardo de La Paz]

48. I agree: "this country is not what it's purported to be".

Neither you nor I have our heads between our buttocks and we are both frustrated.

However, your accusation is much more worthy of a pizza (#17) than anything I have written in this thread.

[bunnies]

17. Remember when TOS violations used to earn DUers a pizza?

Ah.. the good old days.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

47. No ToS violated. I took the writer at face value and called their bluff

She or he wrote what they wrote.

I didn't say they were wrong to write it or believe it and I didn't call any names.

However, I called their bluff. As you can see from their reply, they are bluffing. They will hesitate four years worth of seconds and maybe then some. I would not bet money on them ever moving away from the USA.

[bunnies]

52. ...

Don't be a wingnut (right-wing or extreme-fringe).

Democratic Underground is an online community for politically liberal people who understand the importance of working within the system to elect more Democrats and fewer Republicans to all levels of political office. Teabaggers, Neo-cons, Dittoheads, Paulites, Freepers, Birthers, and right-wingers in general are not welcome here. Neither are certain extreme-fringe left-wingers, including advocates of violent political/social change, hard-line communists, terrorist-apologists, America-haters, kooks, crackpots, LaRouchies, and the like.

Seems pretty cut and dry to me.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

55. Sorry, I misunderstood the target of your brief statement and who you were delivering pizza to.

Thanks for clarifying and the reference to America-haters.

[bunnies]

58. It didnt even occur to me that you might have thought I meant you!

Sorry about that. I was definitely referring to the ray of sunshine you responded to.

[frylock]

25. love it or leave it

America fuck yeah.

[think]

28. Remember those words all too well

from the good old days of protesting the Iraq War....

[Bernardo de La Paz]

50. The origin of the phrase is much older, from era of the Vietnam War

The so-called Silent Majority would beat up protestors and tell them "Love America or Leave It!"

In the case of the post I responded to, it was the poster who declared that he or she did not love America and that they were going to leave it of their own free will and original idea in a second with no hesitation. Later developments have revealed hesitation.

Nobody told them "love it or leave it".

[BlueManFan]

41. Well you got me there Bernardo the Brilliant

this is the only place with freedoms, and constitutional protections, and national health care, and a responsible military budget, and government that values science and reason. Oh no, that's right, that's not the US. I was thinking about Canada, Britain, Ecuador, Costa Rica, France, Sweden, Norway-and out 107 other democratic nations. Get the point yet, or am I being obtuse.? Picking up and leaving 21 years of employment, and a home is not a decision to take lightly. There was a time when I believed in America, but no more. I'm playing the game until retirement in 4 years and then my options are open. Does that help clear thing up for you?

[Bernardo de La Paz]

46. There are lots of blowhards on forums.

I find this statement of yours:

Picking up and leaving 21 years of employment, and a home is not a decision to take lightly.

much more believable than this statement of yours:

I wouldn't hesitate a second to leave forever. I hate this place1

Now, regarding

the only place with freedoms, and constitutional protections, and national health care, and a responsible military budget, and government that values science and reason. Oh no, that's right, that's not the US. I was thinking about Canada, Britain, Ecuador, Costa Rica, France, Sweden, Norway-and out 107 other democratic nations

The Canadian government doesn't care about science. They are preventing government scientists from speaking without pre-authorization; they are cutting science budgets; they are denying human causes of global warming. They are giving away freedoms: the most recent one is that they want to invite American police into the country and give them the right to use their guns in Canada and stop cars and arrest people and not be subject to Canadian law.

Britain doesn't have a Constitution. Period. Britain has more closed circuit television surveillance than any other country in the world.

In Britain and Canada you have to swear allegiance to the Queen, not to any constitution.

The rest of the countries on your list are not much better if at all. Even darling Costa Rica, much beloved by constitutional zealots as a retirement destination, has fallen out of their good books recently.

Pick one now. Four years is not too long a time to choose and plan a refuge when you leave this country you hate.

[BlueManFan]

49. I Admire You For Your Self-Description About the Nature of Some of the Folks in the Forums

But in addition to your struggle with hyperbole, you make broad generalizations about countries about which you know nothing. If you would like a revision, given your expansive knowledge of international affairs, I admit I could have said, "If not for the life sustaining need to actually retire from my job, I would not hesitate to live somewhere other than here. Having lived in Japan, Crete, Germany, Italy, and Turkey, I wouldn't know anything about living abroad but this country has become something I barely recognize." Let me know when I have met with your approval--please. Or then, you could just f*** off.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

53. Wrong.

countries about which you know nothing

I've lived on three continents and the only one of seven I haven't spent time in is Antarctica.

I called your bluff and that upsets you so much you are resorting to obscenities. That's all you've got.

[heaven05]

133. love

it or leave, right bernardo? People like you .......Bluemanfan is right about a lot of things that have gone wrong since Reagan. Was he one of your heroes? Just a question, because I remember coming home from Vietnam and the RW were shouting that mantra, love it or leave it. I saw good men die over there for nothing! That is good? I saw the love it or leave it crowd busting many heads including mine at a demonstration against some obscene dinner that Spiro Agnew was attending to raise money for "I'm not a crook". I was born in germany and lived in different cultures also. You can take your RW mantra and bunnies and fly a kite. You are stuck in some time warp where donna reed and ozzie nelson were what america was supposed to be and it was all bullshit. You never saw a black on the honeymooners. Nah, they were bullshit. I take all your bullshit and throw it in the trash. America has turned into a disaster recently engineered by the bush cabal and left to obama to clean up,. I don't envy that man. If love it or leave it is all you got in your basket ..........well you haven't got squat! You or the rest of the love it or leave it crowd. Money and power is all that is important in this country now. Not civil rights, not human rights, not the right to go to the store and buy some candy and tea without some racist bigot killing you. Women can't even have a say about their own bodies? America has changed for the worse since the love it or leave it crowd gained the upper levels of state and national office. You are just wrong to attack someone who's sick of the lying bullshit spewed by MSM and the love it or leave it crowd. Yeah, go fly a kite. geez

[Bernardo de La Paz]

137. You attack straw man. It's the poster who wrote "hates" America & wanted to "leave it in a second".

You are late to this. In post #50 I've already explained that the phrase "Love it or leave it" is from the Vietnam War era (you are on #133 six hours later).

Read that the poster wrote that they don't love America and they will leave it. Read that I never told the poster to "Love it or Leave it".

I simply called the poster's bluff. He folded.

You can call off your Right Wing witch hunt on DU. You haven't found one.

[heaven05]

138. No

that not what I got. Your spin is obvious. You started your attack telling the poster to "honor his words" Go ahead and leave. If that's not love it or leave it, I don't know what is. You didn't call anything, you just let people see what you love it or leave it people are trying to spin. The poster is sick of the hypocrisy, lies, violence, racism, bigotry. As I am. You're not evidently. "Deeply flawed"? Damn right and getting more flawed every day. I'm not right wing, never have been, you are a suspect though.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

139. You are so determined to argue that you haven't read post 48 where I agree with you. nt

[heaven05]

141. I

have been here from you first post. There are a LOT of things I don't love about this country just like the original poster you told to leave because they are sick of the violence, political hypocrisy, lies, racism, cultural ignorance, well he did say violence, I'm saying the rest. The world is not safe, now, but if I find a country that is a better more relaxed place to live, I'm going there. I'm afraid to be out in public. Godamn tea partiers scowling at my skin coloration and I'm wondering if they are ready to shoot me. There is a lot of hate in this country. I feel it, am the brunt of some of it and am responding to it. Racial, political, ethnic hate getting more vicious everyday... Deeply flawed doesn't even come close.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

143. I never told the poster to leave. I took them at their word they want to leave and will leave.

Let go of your straw man you are clutching so tightly in your knife fight with. A little distance will give you perspective.

[heaven05]

147. do

you back your country, right or wrong?

[Bernardo de La Paz]

149. Don't

[BlueManFan]

59. This Is Crazy. I Teach College Classes To Prisoners

I Was A Minister for Years. I have volunteered at countless benefits, AIDS walks, Christmas toy drives, and on and on. I have voted democratic in every election, even knowing that in Texas that was the equivalent of throwing it away. I am the child of a military father. I used to have tremendous pride for my country. There was a time when I would never have thought of leaving my home. I can love the notion of America but hate the things we have done to lower the world's opinion of us. I can hate the things we do: torture, signature strikes, double taps, warrantless eves-dropping, mindless corporatism at the expense of the individual. It doesn't mean I hate America any more than when my son does something that I "hate" I actually hate him. I think you know what I meant. And the profanity was a reaction-and misguided. For that I truly apologize.

[geek tragedy]

60. Derpp.

I can't believe the shithole the country has become. It's not the place I grew up and I wouldn't hesitate a second to leave forever. I hate this place1

Note that you had this reaction because of Barack Obama, not George W Bush, while accusing Barack Obama of killing Hastings and being a fascist.

Calling bullshit on your sob story.

[BlueManFan]

74. Which Is Certainly Your Right

even though I think this hardly qualifies as a "sob story." The fact is that Obama continued, and in most cases expanded Bush's policies (drone strikes, the surge, surveillance state) but I never accused Obama of killing Hastings. If you're trying to get the snoopers to come after me, you make my point about who we have become. I call bullshit on your bullshit call. I stand by my contention that hating the atrocities they go on everyday is NOT the same as hating America. We have to promise Russia we won't torture Snowden. We have politicians who still support waterboarding? Is this the America you remember? If you are a progressive, how would you characterize your relationship with this country since you are so dismissive of mine?

[geek tragedy]

76. It's a DEEPLY flawed country, as it always has been. But it's never been better than it is today.

Yeah, you only called Obama a fascist and broadly hinted he was behind this.

You love so America, you refer to it as a 'shithole' and say "I hate this place."

Ruh huh.

Methinks you share much with the original author of this conspircy woo, Kim Dvorak.

[BlueManFan]

80. Surely, NotShirley, you acknowledge the hallmarks of Fascism:

government authoritarianism, corporatism, jingoistic militarism, and fundamentalism. Those terms define traditional fascist states and we are mired in all of that. You say it has never been better. What about when we weren't so scared? What about when people could afford medical care, could vote uncontested, had a secure job that wasn't outsourced by corporations who got tax breaks for doing so, didn't pick which laws we were going to ignore, earned a decent living, had a military that was powerful, but for the most part, moral force, seemed to be making progress on race and gender issues, and on an on. If I could refine my post to "I hate what we are allowing our nation to become" would you that raise your ire?

[geek tragedy]

89. When was this golden era to which you keep on referring?

The 1980's under Reagan?

The 2000's under Bush?

The Vietnam Era?

The Jim Crow era?

Sorry, the good old days never were. You're conveniently forgetting much of the awful shit that happened.

[BlueManFan]

92. You're Right--- A Ph. D.in 20th Century American history and I don't know shit about history

How about the 90s under Clinton? You'll say NAFTA and Sarajevo and I'll say so many jobs that even inmates were recruited. For relative peace; for minorities and women making strides in the highest levels of government; abortion legal, safe, and accessible. I don't own a pair of rose colored glasses but I can't remember so much hatred, violence, and discrimination in my 50 something years.

[geek tragedy]

93. I guess you missed that whole DADT and DOMA thing, as well as the deregulation

of the financial sector that gave rise to the implosion within a decade. Not to mention welfare Deform.

Secretary Rubin?

for minorities and women making strides in the highest levels of government

This isn't going on now?

I guess you also missed the riots, Oklahoma City, etc etc.

Oh, and how did the attempt to reform health care go?

Remember who started the practice of 'extraordinary rendition?'

Or the 500,000 dead Iraqis due to sanctions?

Reinstatement of the federal death penalty?

Escalation of the drug war?

Sarajevo was actually one of the highlights of Clinton's term in office.

[BlueManFan]

94. I concede. You've Got it all figured out and I'm just an angry progressive who

wonders what country I'm leaving for my kid.

[geek tragedy]

95. No, you're the person who's too good for "this shithole" of a country

and the fascist monster in office you so clearly despise.

Because, of course, only those who refer to the US as a 'shithole' and rant about fascism care about the future.

[BlueManFan]

96. See Previous Reply

But thanks for something to mull over. That I'm too good to stand by and accept the new way of things.

[geek tragedy]

97. If the US were a fascist state, you'd have no choice but to stand by and accept things

or risk going to prison.

[BlueManFan]

99. See Previous Reply Except For Two Words

BRADLEY MANNING. The war crime attack on Reuters journalists goes unpunished, and the whistleblower goes to prison for life. Snowden informs Congress what little they actually knew about surveillance and he flees to Russia to avoid the same fate.

[geek tragedy]

101. If Manning had stopped with the helicopter video, he would have

a much stronger case of being a whistleblower as opposed to unstable document dumper.

Snowden didn't inform Congress--he informed Glenn Greenwald.

[BlueManFan]

103. The Great Divide

good bye.

[geek tragedy]

104. enjoy whichever non-shithole nation you decide to flee to nt

[BlueManFan]

111. Thanks And I'll be able to make a wise choice If You will

lend me your backward vision 20-20 goggles that tell you "if Manning had stopped...and if Snowden had released to Congress." Seriously???????

[dionysus]

142. bye. don't write :)

[heaven05]

134. +1000

I'm trying to have your back. You're a real one, and rose colored glasses distort that view. I can't, at 65, remember so much chaos and discord, violence as it were, except in the south during the minority fight for civil rights and voting rights. Ah, the heady days of something to fight for. Oh yeah, SCOTUS took those back, didn't they? The love or leave it crowd has blinders on with those rose colored tints.

[BlueManFan]

153. And For That I Offer a Hearty Thanks

I hope I'm a "real one" and sometimes we take this country, as Lincoln said about his photo, "warts and all." I have a great relationship with my Dad. He lives with me while he gets cancer treatments at MD Anderson. He loves Medicare. Me, I'm a state employee who's looking at over $37,000 in out of pockets for some medical problems. I remember PRAYING for "medicare for all" during the healthcare debate, but Obama and the spineless Dems capitulated to the wingnuts and sure, some things changed, but not the system. And the system is broken. So it seems like we got faked out on the change thing and I have taken a lot of shit from friends, and hell here in Texas, strangers, who disagree with my liberal politics. One claim to fame was the day at lunch Rusty Yates, the husband of the lady who killed her 5 kids here in Houston, was at a table next to me and gave me the stink eye for an hour because I was wailing on NASA employees who are teabaggers. They only have a freakin' job because of government spending and all you hear is them ragging on Obama. Oh well, I digress. Thanks again.

[heaven05]

135. you're

distorting and obfuscating the point here. You love it or leave it types have been around sucking up the bullshit, when I thought by now maybe you could start seeing the atrocities committed around the world in your name and be tired of it. Peace is a good thing, you know. For me those atrocities started with my 13 months in Vietnam. Been going on since then in central america and other small counties, and ending recently in Iraq and Afghanistan.... donna reed and ozzie nelson are no more, never was really, but for your sake, NO MORE! Wake up. Read some orwell or something.........methinks you share much with the RW love it or leave it crowd.

[BlueManFan]

146. At the Risk Of Stirring The Slopjar Again

I'm on pain meds and am a little fuzzy. Am I missing a major point here? I don't consider myself a love it or leave it type--I consider myself a "becoming too outnumbered and disillusioned to change it" type and sick about the way it's going. Without eviscerating me and tying my entrails in a knot, would you elaborate?

[heaven05]

151. that's

what I read from what you say. I consider myself the same outnumbered, outgunned, never much of an idealist, so disillusionment was never a problem of mine. I just got kind pissed with the poster who told you to honor your words about wanting to leave because of having some hate for the violence and chaos in america these days. I felt that they were the love it or leave it types that I've hated most of my adult life... Not calling you love or leave it. I have been trying to change my attitude about america for 44 years, it ain't changed yet, in fact it's going backwards. Civil, voting rights, put back 50-60 years by SCOTUS, but some people won't address that. Rw whining about feelings of lost entitlement and privilege because a man of color is in the white house, and spreading that hate by ginning up the unwashed masses with chumps like rush limp....faux news, beckerhead, hanitick, o'really? That's why I want outta here. No, no argument with you.

[heaven05]

136. Never

been better than it is today?!?!? SCOTUS setting civil and voting rights back 50-60 years. Kids murdered for being black and the murderer goes scott free. Women have no say or control over their own bodies because some old RW wants to put them back in the kitchen barefoot and pregnant. Are you on drugs or something? What am I missing here? geez. It's a tragedy alright and you are it.

[BlueManFan]

148. Boom Goes The Dynamite

[geek tragedy]

156. When was it better? nt

[BlueManFan]

84. Well I Recognize A Sound Thrashing When I Get One

I'll make sure I only write supportive encouraging comments and avoid overheated hyperbole. Certainly regret offending the forum.

[chervilant]

112. Don't fash about it.

Some of us get it.

[BlueManFan]

114. Thanks cherilant

I guess I crossed a line. Arguing about words is a great way to avoid arguing about the ideas they represent.

[chervilant]

119. Also, my nephew and

his family (his wife is a trust fund baby) have moved to Costa Rica, and have several new Ex-Patriate friends from a variety of countries. I got to visit last August. It's a lovely country.

My nephew left because of how bad things are getting worldwide, and many Ex-Patriates I met had similar sensibilities.

I do think Hastings was murdered. I think anyone who threatens the REAL powers is at risk.

[BlueManFan]

125. Someone Who Worked For Me Just Moved Down To Costa Rica in January

and she loves it. She offered to help me relocate when the time came. She had visited on numerous occasions to surf and finally decided to stay. I have two friends who have moved to France, and another colleague who is going to Ecuador when she retires. I've never seen anything like it but their disgust with the US is palpable. On a basic level you can't afford to live here. My 403b will last a decade longer if I move to a country where prices, especially medicine, are reasonable. And despite my nemesis here on du, while I would never accuse "the government" of killing an enemy, I would say that renegades within the government, given the fact that no one is ever prosecuted for government atrocities, would have no reservations about killing someone who was determined to expose them. Americans are deluded when they tell themselves "it can't happen here." The first time a drone strike kills a "drug lord" or a "terrorist" on American soil they will be shocked. I will be unsurprised.

[chervilant]

129. "Drone" was the

FIRST thing I thought when I saw that video. I wish I had the technology to slow it way down and improve the resolution.

[BlueManFan]

130. Be Careful or You'll Be Painted With the Same "Doodoo" Brush I Am

but me too to tell you the truth.

[BlueManFan]

131. And Remember When Myth Busters Tried to Blow Up A Car

and couldn't get it to explode Hollywood style? I do.

[chervilant]

140. Yes,

I do remember that. I also remember Silkwood, and Wellstone. I know that what we've learned about the NSA will inevitably result in fear of speaking one's mind.

I grieve for our children, and our children's children.

[BlueManFan]

152. I Fear The Same Thing

but you are more diplomatic than me so you are not an "America hater." You go.......

[heaven05]

150. you

did not offend me.

[geek tragedy]

56. Who do you think killed Vince Foster?

I mean, you're in here spreading insane gibberish about Obama assassinating journalists etc.

[BlueManFan]

126. Vince Foster

[BlueManFan]

57. I Guess None of These People Have Read Your Anecdotes About How Much These places Suck

The Economist Inelligence Unit’s (EIU) Global Livability Report ranked Melbourne, Australia as the most livable city in the world in its most recent calculations. The EIU ranks 140 cities worldwide, based on “30 qualitative and quantitative factors across five broad categories: stability; healthcare; culture and environment; education; and infrastructure." No U.S. cities ranked in the top ten this year, and Pittsburgh was the highest ranking at 22


Country? LFE Satisfaction (rate)?
1 Denmark 7.8
2 Norway 7.6
3 Austria 7.5
4 Netherlands 7.5
5 Switzerland 7.5
6 Australia 7.4
7 Canada 7.4
8 Finland 7.4
9 Israel 7.4
10 Sweden 7.3
11 New Zealand 7.2
12 United States 7.1
13 Belgium 7
14 France 7
15 Luxembourg 7
16 Iceland 6.9
17 Ireland 6.9
18 Korea 6.9
19 Mexico 6.9
20 United Kingdom 6.9
21 Brazil 6.8
22 Germany 6.7
23 Chile 6.6
24 Spain 6.5
25 Czech Republic 6.3
26 Italy 6.1
27 Japan 6.1
28 Slovenia 6

[geek tragedy]

54. Hey everyone, Larry Klayman posts at DU. Tell us what you think of VInce Foster, now that

you're providing stream of consciousness insane rants against Democratic presidents.

[delrem]

107. hmmm. this has NOTHING to do with Obama. troll alert!

[midnight]

8. Does anyone have information about the story he was working on?

[Berlum]

12. Stupendous CIA-FBI-DOD stinkage (R)...according to reports

"In the immediate aftermath of the fiery accident that killed Hastings, supporters of Barrett Brown, former spokesman for the Anonymous hacker collective, said Hastings had been planning a story about Brown, who has been jailed in Texas on federal charges since his arrest last September.

"However, the Los Angeles Times reported Thursday that Hastings “was researching a story about a privacy lawsuit brought by Florida socialite Jill Kelley against the Department of Defense and the FBI.” Kelley says she received threatening anonymous e-mails that proved to have come from Paula Broadwell, who had an adulterous affair with former CIA Director Gen. David Petraeus."

http://www.viralread.com/2013/06/23/what-was-michael-hastings-big-story-about/

[midnight]

42. Not sure what to think about either story, but thought of hastings when I saw this link...

http://www.businessinsider.com/dea-agents-cover-up-spying-program-2013-8

[chimpymustgo]

43. I always wondered about the "emails" that came to light that brought Petraus down. Did the NSA out

itself, with its illegal monitoring?

[SkyDaddy7]

13. Sure is a lot WOO-WOO on this page!!

[spinbaby]

16. You know what they say...

Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you. My alarm bells go off every time there's a "convenient" death.

[Vinnie From Indy]

18. I am not up to date with the latest meme

What is woo-woo?

[kentauros]

31. It's an onomatopoeia word

(a made up word to mimic a sound) taken from the sound a ghost makes, and used by septics to label anything not based in reality, logic, and/or science, as defined by the septics.

And "septics" is my label for the overly-skeptical skeptics you find on DU and elsewhere

[robertpaulsen]

38. Septics. Love it!

May I borrow it? It's quite descriptive.

[kentauros]

40. Please do!

It needs widespread use, to counter the use of 'woo'

I love the etymology of it, too:

septic (adj.)
c.1600, from Latin septicus "of or pertaining to putrefaction," from Greek septikos "characterized by putrefaction," from sepein "cause to rot" (see sepsis). Septic tank is attested from 1902.

[Berlum]

144. The Septics fling poo to try and prevent any consideration of what they label 'woo'

There you have it.

[valerief]

27. Thanks. I love when you guys let me know who to put on Ignore. You're the winner! nt

[baronjake]

19. Why kill him this way?

If you are going to kill him why make it so spectacular? Why not simply have him disappear? I think this is all much ado about nothing.

[Just Saying]

20. The most suspicious thing about this is the timing of the email.

All the rest isn't all that suspicious to me. People die in car wrecks everyday. Once people decide something is a conspiracy they pile on with all the supposedly odd details. Only in many cases they don't amount to much. I started looking up info about 100 mph crashes and even crashes into palm trees since I'm not an expert on what that should look like. Here's a few things:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-12-20/two-killed-hitting-palm-tree/3739854

http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-shows/mythbusters/videos/100-mph-crash.htm

I remember the long list of "suspicious" deaths the right said the Clintons were responsible for. People die-even people in politics, journalists and those the FBi might be investigating. It doesn't prove there is a conspiracy.

I'll hold off condemning President Obama and our government until I have more facts.

[Seedersandleechers]

21. Why was he driving so fast on

a residental street?

621 North Highland Ave LA

[mtasselin]

23. control

Maybe he didn't have control over his car, Richard Clark former intelligence person stated recently they have been able to do stuff like this for a long time. This country is getting very scary, remember what Ike said beware of the military industrial complex.

[tom_kelly]

37. The technology is displayed on TV

almost every day on the show Bait Car - a cop show. They control the car with a hand-held radio.

[Ford_Prefect]

22. Mercedes have already said the car could not normally have exploded or burned as it did.

Mercedes build their cars to prevent such situations since it is given that they will be driven quite rapidly. They are rather thorough in their safety engineering and testing.

I wonder what forensics turned up in the path the car took prior to hitting the tree. I would expect to find shrapnel and scorch marks indicating a possible point where the explosions began. Has anything been said about the area leading from the road surface to the wreck? Skid marks? Curbing clipped or tire marks where it left the road?

The damage pattern to the car should indicate impact and explosion sequence and location in the car.

[99th_Monkey]

32. ^THIS^ eom

[1monster]

36. From the OP

The surveillance video captures the final moments of Hastings life and provides intriguing details of the "crash.” The video shows a flash of light appearing at the 13-14 second mark, the headlights are on at 14 seconds, but all lights are extinguished at the 16-second mark. The car then turns left and the first horizontal explosion appears just after the 16-second mark (it ejects the left front tire across northbound highland approximately 40-50 feet). The second explosion engulfs the engine compartment at the 17-second mark. The third and largest explosion consumes the passenger compartment at the 17-18-second mark.

Inexplicably, the palm tree Hastings’ car hit has scorched bark and slightly wounded base --approximately 16"W x 4.5" H x 1"D-- seemingly minimal damage for a 3,538 pound car striking the tree at a reportedly 100 mph. Also pictures taken by San Diego 6 News show the curb has a small scratch, but no major chipping or fractures and the rear tires resting against the curb.

The new video also captures three distinct explosions, but the intensity of the fire suggests an accelerant may have been involved since gasoline only burns at 530 to 550 degrees Fahrenheit.

(emphasis mine)

How does one manage to turn off all the light in one's car when driving at 100 mph?

[TrogL]

24. That's what a real gasoline explosion looks like

This is the real thing not Hollywood special effects that are specifically designed to stay in frame. Unbelievable how the woo people manage to read so much into a blurry handheld screen cap of a blurry surveillance video taken at a distance

[99th_Monkey]

33. Please See Post #22

[TrogL]

35. Pretty much what Ford said about the Pinto

They can say "should" all they. In the real world where stuff actually happens hitting a tree at 100 mph is going to cause some unpredictable damage. As to the tree not being burnt, it takes time for gasoline to ignite. If the vehicle bounced away from the tree the fireball would be at the vehicle not the tree

[Ford_Prefect]

39. Mercedes tests for exactly this kind of scenario. Their fuel and electrical systems

are designed to prevent post impact fires. They were among the 1st to do so. This is as far from Pinto technology as you can get. They have long been considered the safest on the road.

[Just Saying]

106. Any proof of that?

Mercedes tests their cars at 100 mph into a tree? A speed not legal anywhere populated in the US? Safety on the road is one thing, cars that withstand heading collisions at that rate of speed quite another.

[Ford_Prefect]

154. Sneer if you must. Clearly you know nothing about european cars.

Mercedes are built to run at 2 -3 times the legal US speeds because that is what they drive in Europe. Tested for survival at those speeds because the TUV (German DMV) requires it.They set the mark in all aspects of safety for other makers decades ago. Where do you think production car anti-lock brakes came from, among many other safety features?

BTW I used to service them along with other German, Swedish, Italian and French makes.

[Just Saying]

155. It's not a sneer, it's a question.

It's what people do in a discussion.

You have experience with these cars. Mentioning that gives your opinion more weight but I'd still like to know how specifically Mercedes tests for explosions during crashes. I've looked online but can't find specific information about safety features that would have prevented this. I understand that they are innovative about safety but that's a broad statement and we're talking about something specific: explosion due to high speed crash.

As with anything, facts matter. If the claim is this must have been murder because a Mercedes would never explode because of hitting a tree at that speed there must be some research or claims from the car company to back up the assertion.

On edit: Here's a take on why cars explode and why they usually don't: http://jalopnik.com/why-cars-explode-into-fireballs-and-why-they-usually-do-560552028

[Berlum]

34. What you dismiss as "Woo" beats Poo any way you slice it

You, of course, are certainly welcome to continue your intimate embrace of Poo.

[AtheistCrusader]

26. Gasoline IS an accelerant

That car was carrying up to 16 GALLONS of it.

The equivalent of 33.41 kWh/Gal x16.

That's a perfectly normal gasoline fire, as gasoline fires go.
WHY it is a fire, rather than up to 16 gallons stored safely in the tank is the question.

[AtheistCrusader]

29. Also this is not a new video.

[Berlum]

30. Still deserves to be posted in GD

so more will know...

[chimpymustgo]

45. Did the Mods move it from GD? I agree - this needs to be seen by everyone!

Give people access to as much information as possible. WE report. We DECIDE.

[PatrynXX]

44. 2013 Mercedes Benz

MB probably will have to explain how a car doing that can explode like that. otherwise they could get sued for future front end explosions

[Ichingcarpenter]

51. I said it was a type of 'boston brake'

when the story broke.

I also said taking down the head of special forces provided a lot of enemies who know how to do this.

[Cali_Democrat]

127. Maybe it's all 3

Boston breaks, remote hacking, and planted explosives

:

[PufPuf23]

61. I find this a suspicious and unexplained death and for good cause

even before seeing this video clip.

How many times except movies does one see a car explode in such a fashion?

The damage to the palm tree is incongruent with a collision (rather than explosion before contact) and the torpedoing of parts of the engine and drive train for a distance again seldom seen in automobile crashes.

[geek tragedy]

62. Police Dismiss Right-Winger’s New ‘Proof’ Of Phony Mexican Drug Cartel Raid

Kim Dvorak, a conservative reporter in San Diego, has published a police message that she claims is evidence that a Mexican drug cartel really did invade the country in July and take control of two remote ranches near Laredo, Texas. And while local law enforcement says the message proves nothing, Dvorak’s latest report does provide clues to how the whole story came to life in the first place.

Dvorak was one of the two bloggers who originally reported the story, which was denied by law enforcement, and then debunked. But Dvorak always stood by the story, and pledged to return with proof.

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/police_dismiss_right_wingers_new_proof_of_phony_mexican_drug_cartel_raid.php?ref=fpa

[geek tragedy]

69. Dvorak: Los Zetas drug cartel seizes 2 US ranches in Texas

http://www.examiner.com/article/los-zetas-drug-cartel-seizes-2-u-s-ranches-texas

[jakeXT]

72. I remember hearing police talk about those kind of incursions

CASA GRANDE, AZ - Two men shot earlier this week could be the result of the ongoing battle between Mexican drug cartels now spilling over deep into Arizona, officials say.

Pinal County investigators say an area known as the smuggling corridor now stretches from Mexico's border to metro Phoenix.

The area , once an area for family hiking and off road vehicles has government signs warning residents of the drug and human smugglers.

Night vision cameras have photographed military armed cartel members delivering drugs to vehicles along Highway 8.

"We are three counties deep. How is it that you see pictures like these, not American with semi and fully automatic rifles. How is that okay?" asked Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu.

Read more: http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_central_southern_az/other/mexican-drug-cartels-now-control-parts-of-arizona

[geek tragedy]

73. Obama the Hun: 10,000 criminal aliens to prey on Americans

http://www.americanpatrol.com/13-FEATURES/130227-FEATURE/130227-Feature.html

Kimberly Dvorak -- The Examiner -- February 27

Stop posting Far right racist shit stories, thank you. And for the love of god stop defending Kim Dvorak.

[geek tragedy]

63. Dvorak: Was Romney right about Russia? The Benghazi connection . . .

http://www.federalobserver.com/2012/11/03/dvorak-was-romney-right-about-russia-the-benghazi-connection/

[jakeXT]

75. At least the gun running part is highlighted

#at=237

[geek tragedy]

77. Your approval of vile rightwing lying bigots is duly noted. nt

[jakeXT]

78. It's legal now

A deal reached in Congress to allow the United States to ship arms to Syrian rebels could spur other nations to do the same, blunting the military gains of dictator Bashar Assad and preventing him from crushing the rebel movement.

http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/389546/28/Deal-done-for-US-to-ship-arms-to-Syria-rebels-

[geek tragedy]

81. So, you agree with Rand Paul's theory about gun running through Turkey.

Your affinity for people who post crap like this:


makes sense now.

[jakeXT]

82. I don't know what Rand Paul thinks or says

It could be through Jordan, try to get the CIA to admit to something, good luck.

The State Department told CNN in an e-mail that it was only helping the new Libyan government destroy weapons deemed "damaged, aged or too unsafe retain," and that it was not involved in any transfer of weapons to other countries.

But the State Department also clearly told CNN, they "can't speak for any other agencies."

The CIA would not comment on whether it was involved in the transfer of any weapons.

http://thelead.blogs.cnn.com/2013/08/01/exclusive-dozens-of-cia-operatives-on-the-ground-during-benghazi-attack/

[geek tragedy]

83. I'm sure you'll post an article by a white supremacist like Dvorak to keep us informed.

Very important for DU to get the white supremacist perspective on issues, so thank you for posting her stuff.

[geek tragedy]

64. Dvorak: Illegal immigrant accused of raping and killing a baby girl

http://www.federalobserver.com/2012/01/10/dvorak-illegal-immigrant-accused-of-raping-and-killing-a-baby-girl/

[JustAnotherGen]

85. geek

I'm going in a different direction in regards to Michael Hastings:
http://current.com/shows/the-young-turks/episodes/2013-05-20

I dunno - but if his accident was not an accident - thy would be likely culprits. I wonder how much they are paying this woman? And why President Obama seems to be getting all but astro turfed at DU on this issue when the kings of astro turf might have had a serious bone to pick with Hastings.

[geek tragedy]

86. All I know is the guy had a history of substance abuse, once crashing his own car, and

was under an enormous amount of pressure.

Until there are facts from credible sources pointing to foul play, the most likely explanation is the most mundane.

[geek tragedy]

65. Dvorak: DEA Agents bust Iraqi-Sinaloa cartel drug smuggling/explosive ring in San Diego

http://www.federalobserver.com/2011/08/18/dea-agents-bust-iraqi-sinaloa-cartel-drug-smugglingexplosive-ring-in-san-diego/

[geek tragedy]

66. Dvorak: UPDATE: New Mexico Businessman Larry Link murdered by illegal alien

http://www.federalobserver.com/2011/06/08/update-new-mexico-businessman-larry-link-murdered/

[geek tragedy]

67. Dvorak: Immigration think tank sees birthright citizenship as threat to U.S. security

http://www.federalobserver.com/2011/03/15/dvorak-immigration-think-tank-sees-birthright-citizenship-as-threat-to-u-s-security/

A new Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) report examined the consequences of America’s liberal birthright (anchor baby) policy and found that the program may have national security implications.

[geek tragedy]

68. Dvorak: Muslim Sharia law for America? White House rally March 3rd

http://www.federalobserver.com/2011/03/02/dvorak-muslim-sharia-law-for-america-white-house-rally-march-3rd/

[geek tragedy]

71. Los Zetas Hoax not the first time questions arose about Kimberly Dvorak’s credibility

http://immigrationclearinghouse.org/los-zetas-hoax-not-the-first-time-questions-arose-about-kimberly-dvoraks-credibility/

[one_voice]

79. Remember when the right said...

the Clintons killed Vince Foster...

and

Obama had Donald Young murdered

and

We flew the planes into the twin towers

yeah, this is like that.

[geek tragedy]

87. Dvorak: Obama elected with 'dubious birth certificate'

http://kimberlydvorak.blogspot.com/2009/12/grand-jury-presentment-case-against.html

As word of the “birth certificate drama” surfaced on the airwaves last week due to a question posed to Sarah Palin by talk show host Rusty Humphries and reported on by World Net Daily, the drama resurfaced. Palin was asked point blank if Obama’s birth certificate was okay for public fodder. “Yes,” was her answer. According to Palin, American’s have the right to request President Obama’s birth certificate; however, in a statement on her Facebook page Palin defers her opinion on this case. “But at no point – not during the campaign, and not during recent interviews – have I asked the president to produce his birth certificate or suggested that he was not born in the United States.”

Those in the know realize that this was a brilliant exposure of the birth certificate issue without Palin having to get behind it. The media would love to bash her for anything, but not this because it would force them to talk about the dubious birth certificate, which they are forbidden from doing – for fear of losing their jobs and their stations losing their FCC licenses.

During the election cycle Palin’s running mate McCain was asked for his birth certificate because he was born in the Panama Canal. And the Senate actually passed a non-binding resolution (S-511) to resolve that McCain was a ‘natural-born’ citizen. They were unable to do this for Obama however.

The people who want this issue to go away have displayed what they say is a Hawaiian birth certificate. However, that piece of paper is not proof of Hawaiian birth. It is a Hawaiian Certification of live Birth, which John Sampson, a 27-year veteran of ICE contends is different from a Hawaiian Birth Certificate.

[ColesCountyDem]

88. Why not just cite Rush Limpballs or Michelle "Batshit Crazy" Bachman as a source?

Dvorak is a right-wing shill. If she told me the sun rose in the east, I'd check for myself.

[DesMoinesDem]

90. Rec because this post pisses geek tragedy off so much.

Apparently you are only allowed to post articles by people that are acceptable to him. Ironically, when you point out that geek tragedy posted an article by some neocon for a neocon think tank he will attack you. LOL.

[geek tragedy]

91. Not surprised you'd rec a thread based on a birther's speculation, given

your track record.

[DesMoinesDem]

100. You mad I don't rec your neocon threads?

[geek tragedy]

102. Those of us who prefer Obama to Ron Paul are not neocons.

Just like those of us who don't spout libertarian talking points left and right aren't neocons.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3214805

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3215991

[DesMoinesDem]

108. I knew I could get you started.

You think being anti-war, anti-drone, anti-NSA makes you an anti-Obama Ron Paul supporter. You're a neo-Democrat Obama apologist that has more in common with neocons than progressives, hence, your posting of neocon think tank articles. Your attacks only verify that my principles are correct.

[geek tragedy]

109. no, defending wage cuts for union workers, defending the Tea Party's honor,

and expressing a preference for Ron Paul over Obama makes one a Paulbot.

See previous links.

[DesMoinesDem]

110. You must be dizzy from all that spin.

When is your next Bill Kristol article going to be posted?

[geek tragedy]

113. Fuck Ron Paul. nt

[DesMoinesDem]

115. Fuck Ron Paul, Fuck Neocons, Fuck the NSA, and Fuck Obama Apologists.

[geek tragedy]

116. heh, your rage at Obama is quite infantile nt

[DesMoinesDem]

117. Yes, I know. Concern over war and civil liberties is infantile according to you and the neocons.

[geek tragedy]

118. No, the fact that in all your time here you've done nothing

but denounce Obama and his supporters.

You've defended Mitt Romney. You've defended the Tea Party.

You're repeatedly defended Ron Paul. See, e.g.,

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=1753265&mesg_id=1753870

But not once in your posting history have you expressed a single positive thing about Obama or any other Democrat.

Nor, until this thread, have you criticized Romney, or Ron Paul, or Rand Paul, etc. Only generic denunciations of Neocons, who are a favorite bugbear of the Paulbots.

[DesMoinesDem]

122. I love that you spend hours searching my posts

as if I am hiding what I openly post. LOL. I would say what a waste of time, but maybe you are getting paid to do it? My posts speak for themselves, unlike the spin you try to put on them. The best part about this discussion is this thread keeps getting bumped (which you really hate), and you get paid overtime. It's win win for both of us! I am looking forward to the next neocon think tank article you post, but I think you're more concerned with attacking anyone that doesn't unquestionably support Obama than posting your neoconservative talking points.

[geek tragedy]

123. Hey, I think this thread is the perfect embodiment of the dynamic

at DU between, well, people who place credence in Birthers and those who do not.

[Enthusiast]

98. It was another American political assassination

Hastings said things. That is all.

[geek tragedy]

105. who killed him? nt

[Dr Hobbitstein]

121. Haven't we already established that Dvorak is a RW birther

POS? Who probably was no fan of Hastings to begin with. But, if it helps fuel the flames of turning liberals against this current administration (not to mention electable Democrats in general), then it helps the baggers, RWingers, Paulbots, Birthers, et al.

[struggle4progress]

124. The video enables us to estimate the speed of the car: he's going perhaps 60 and 85 mph.

He's on tape running a red light at N Highland and Santa Monica. Four blocks further on, just past Waring, N Highland changes to divided residential parkway. Two blocks further, and you're at the crash site

The video doesn't obviously show any "explosions" prior to the terminal fireball

It might show a trail of sparks spraying off the left side of the vehicle. Stop the video instantly at the 0:14 mark to see it

A natural guess might be that after blowing through the red light, he continued to drive recklessly at high speed and was traveling so fast on N Highland and Waring that he didn't see the divided road begin until he'd driven the left side of the vehicle onto and off of the median. The collision of his left front tire with the median curb would have damaged the front tire at least. Then, by the time he passed Melrose, the tire could have deflated and deteriorated, and he could have been driving on wheel rim. Deflation of the left front tire would result in a tendency of the car to veer left, and driving on wheel rim (rather than on tire) would have reduced vehicle responsiveness to steering. That might explain why his vehicle veered into the median just before he reached Clinton

[Bernardo de La Paz]

145. Thank you.

Wisdom that is at least two centuries old (via Napoleon) and probably more than two millenia old:

Hanlon's Razor: "Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by incompetence." [possibly from N. Bonaparte]

[quinnox]

132. K&R, this video is new to me, and while hard to draw firm conclusions from

it is interesting evidence to be sure.