(Prominent Republican)Pilot killed as plane crashes in Lake Twp. ("Rove's IT consultant")

[Algorem]

Source: Akron Beacon Journal

Pilot killed as plane crashes in Lake Twp.

By Jewell Cardwell, John Higgins and David Knox
Beacon Journal staff writers

POSTED: 11:30 p.m. EST, Dec 19, 2008

LAKE TWP.: A single-prop, private airplane crashed next to a vacant house on Charolais Street Northwest Friday evening, exploding into flames and killing the pilot.

Michael Connell, 45, of Bath Township, was alone in the plane, according to State Highway Patrol Lt. Eric Sheppard.

Connell was a prominent Republican political consultant. He founded New Media Communications in Richfield, which developed campaign Web sites for Republican presidential candidate John McCain and President George W. Bush.

The plane was attempting to land around 6 p.m. Friday at Akron-Canton Airport when it crashed about three miles short of the runway...



Read more: http://www.ohio.com/news/break_news/36482529.html

---

Google him-

#
The Raw Story | Republican IT consultant subpoenaed in case ...
Sep 29, 2008 ... Arnebeck’s hope was that in the course of the discovery procedure it would be possible to subpoena Michael Connell, former White House ...
rawstory.com/news/2008/Republican_IT_consultant_subpoenaed_in_case_0929.html - 25k - Cached - Similar pages
#
The BRAD BLOG : BREAKING: Federal Judge Compels GOP IT Guru Mike ...
"We have been confidentially informed by a source we believe to be credible that Karl Rove has threatened Michael Connell, a principal witness we have ...
www.bradblog.com/?p=6600 - 200k - Cached - Similar pages
#
Pissed off Former Democrat- ADAP2K: "Michael Connell" OHIO ...
Nov 3, 2008 ... A federal judge on Friday ordered Michael Connell, whose firms had consulting contracts with Bush's campaign and with the Ohio secretary of ...
adap2k.blogspot.com/2008/11/michael-connell-ohio-election-testimony.html - 102k - Cached - Similar pages


http://www.google.com/search?sa=N&tab=nw&q=Michael%20Connell

http://www.bradblog.com/?p=6600

"We have been confidentially informed by a source we believe to be credible that Karl Rove has threatened Michael Connell, a principal witness we have identified in our King Lincoln case in federal court in Columbus, Ohio, that if he does not agree to 'take the fall' for election fraud in Ohio, his wife Heather will be prosecuted for supposed lobby law violations."


The bullet we dodged
http://artvoice.com/issues/v7n46/getting_a_grip
18 Nov 2008 by Michael I. Niman
Karl Rove’s IT consultant, Mike Connell, who worked with the Bush campaign in 2004 and was under contract with the McCain/Palin campaign this year, was just compelled by a federal judge to answer questions on November 3, the day before ...
Artvoice - Buffalo's #1 Newsweekly - http://artvoice.com/ - References

[Duer 157099]

1. Perhaps he was carrying the harddrives with all those missing emails?

wouldn't be surprised

[TheEuclideanOne]

196. Nice plane ya got. Would be a shame if it encountered some ... errr ... technical...difficulties.

A real shame, if you know what I mean.

[wolfgangmo]

226. Remember Paul Wellstone.

Does any of this sound familiar?

It does to me. Another man goes down in flames for opposing the criminal mafia in charge of our government and country.

RIP Paul.

[CK_John]

2. Oh no, this was the guy who setup Rove's offline RIM network(private eMail system) and war room for

Ohio's vote counting system. Our best chance to nail Rove and Bushco with voting stealing in Ohio.

[Divine Discontent]

37. SHIT! this is not good. all these small planes sure are dangerous though, huh?

anyhow, thanks for the specific terminology for what he setup for Rove, and yes, I was shocked that story has faded away.... they're all so corrupt. I think perhaps they figured this guy's usefulness had come to an end, and he was....

no longer needed?????

sheesh...

[Aviation Pro]

138. Small airplanes (general aviation light airplanes).....

...are not unsafe - they are certified under 14 CFR 23 (Code of Federal Regulations) and the standards are very rigid - pilots sometimes do unsafe and stupid things with them. (In this case, I'm betting flying into icing conditions).

[PatrynXX]

142. probably easy to sabatoge

pull a Blue Thunder snap. whoops. kinda reminds me of the movie blue thunder. go figure

[Pavulon]

215. Lots of work

why not just pardon the guy? Or set up a fake car accident? Mugging death, whatever. All the tin foil theory just ignores the much easier ways to deal with a problem like this.

Sounds like this guy joined the ranks of doctors, dentists, and other hobby fliers who make errors that lead to their death in small aircraft.

[DogPoundPup]

72. yes ... Ohio cybergate: FLASHBACK, Rove and his henchmen threatened Mr. and Mrs. Connell

http://adap2k.blogspot.com/2008/08/witness-protection-after-rove-threats.html

[lovuian]

108. Put Connell's name with all the rest who have been killed

to keep their butts covered

this is like Cliff Baxter Wellstone etc... etc...

[The Backlash Cometh]

74. Hopefully he left an "If I should die within the year" letter.

[No Elephants]

76. Some coincidence, isn't it? Was it the same plane as JFK Jr.'s?

[DogPoundPup]

80. Watch this video of Cliff Arnebeck(lead atty) discuss Rove's part in OH vote fraud

http://adap2k.blogspot.com/2008/12/rove-connell-michael-dead-ohio.html

CLIFF ARNEBECK, lead attorney in the controversial King-Lincoln v. Ohio Sec. of State lawsuit, talks about the aim of the suit (Rove's participation) and the impact on the planned fix of the recent election of deposing under oath Mike Connell, head IT operative for the Republican Party and the McCain campaign, on the day before the vote.

And more,,,

Federal Judge Compels GOP IT Guru Mike Connell To Give Deposition in Ohio '04 Election Case

"Michael Connell" Testified Today- denies knowledge of ‘04 Vote rigging in Ohio

Velvet Revolution Calls For A Special Prosecutor And Congressional Investigation


The 'Connell Anomaly' Pt.1
Attorney Cliff Arnebeck, cyber-sleuth Steven Spoonamore and author Mark Crispin Miller explain the background the 'Connell Anomaly,' named for Mike Connell, allegedly Rove's IT fixer, who, in a late-breaking story, has been ordered by District Judge Solomon Olive to testify on Monday.

Velvet Revolution Calls on John McCain to Fire Michael Connell for Covering Up for Karl Rove in Federal Election Manipulation Lawsuit

Documents reveal how Ohio routed 2004 voting data through company that hosted external Bush Administration email accounts

[creeksneakers2]

187. The more I read about this

The more it looks like Connell's company didn't do the counting. Some firm named Triad was involved. Arenbeck just subpoenaed Connell on the theory that Connell MIGHT know something about Triad. At least that's the way I'm reading it.

Anyway, the whole idea of a central computer fix is kooky. People keep track of county results and even precinct results. And those results are later available. Here in Harrisburg, they are even posted in the paper. If somebody were to change those results at a central tabulator, they'd surely be caught.

[mirrera]

207. No, Connell's company Smartech in Tenn was set up to be a back-up for Ohio's vote,

but then Spoonamore showed how the vote data was actually routed first to SmarTech and then back to Ohio Sec of State web site. It is a perfect MIM set-up (or Man in the Middle).

[creeksneakers2]

241. There can't be a man in the middle theft of an election

The results come from precincts which are closely watched. The data is made public and if somebody changed precinct results he'd surely get caught.

If one were to steal the election, they would have to slip something into the master code for all the election tabulators in each precinct. A company called Triad handled things at the precinct level. Connell's company had nothing to do with it.

Arnebeck subpoenaed Connell under the wild assertion that it was possible that somebody from Triad confided information about the fix to Connell. Arnebeck based that supposition on the fact that the companies worked on a project together and that both the owners had similar religious convictions, and a few other things just as weak as that.

There is no credible possibility that Connell could have had anything to do with an Ohio election fix. Thus, it makes no sense that Karl Rove would threaten Connell, since Connell wasn't even involved and knew nothing. When Connell did finally testify that's what he told the court, that he didn't know a thing about it at all.

Its amazing that the court even forced Connell to testify at all. Part of Arnebeck's strategy to get him there involved a hypothetical about Connell planting trojans in the computer systems that could be used to steal the 2008 election. The Secretary of State's office said they don't even use Connell's software anymore.

I told people here back in 2004 that you can't steal an election by manipulating central tallies. Raw Story consulted with a computer expert with Arnebeck's supposed diagram of how the crime was committed. The computer expert said the same thing I said. You can't fix an election that way.

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Documents_reveal_how_Ohio_routed_2004_1031.html

[RandomThoughts]

249. one person can steal votes with computer tabulators

Hacking Democracy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVlZTWH7u8w
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4762159260759486531

[creeksneakers2]

252. I watched all nine of the you tube videos

and they were interesting. But according to the video, each precinct must run a tape that tallies the results for that precinct. The people who work in that precinct would know what the tally was, as would candidates and campaign managers and election workers and others. The results are published. There would be no way to change the precinct results after they were tallied at the precinct level. A changed vote total would be spotted by somebody.

The you tube showed a hacker changing the sum of all the precincts added together. If that were done, the published results would show a bunch of numbers that didn't add up to what they were supposed to add up to. Again, the theft would be quickly discovered.

Since races have to be fixed at the precinct level, and Connell was not involved with the precinct technology, Connell couldn't have had anything to do with stealing the election in Ohio.

[Doremus]

3. They really ought to do something about all those defective small planes out there.

:sarcasm:

[NBachers]

35. Unsafe at Any Speed

Ralph Nader needs to do a complete investigation and report.

[A HERETIC I AM]

43. Bullshit. n/t

[TheEuclideanOne]

194. Ralph Nader? Who is that?

[elocs]

46. It's funny how if the average John Q Public dies in a small plane crash

we have no trouble accepting it as an accident, but if it is a politician, or political figure, or especially a prominent Democrat, then the tinfoil hats come out and the death gets woven into some plot or conspiracy as if these kinds of people are exempt from the types of tragedies that claim lives everyday. The rain falls and the sun shines on both the just and the unjust. Shit can, and does, happen to anyone.

[Lucky Luciano]

64. maybe...but it seems statistically significant anecdotally...

would be interesting to run a study to see if it is truly statistically significant that some of these political guys die too much in plane crashes (where it is measure based on how many takesoffs/landings they are involved in - which is much more than the average Joes' number of takeoffs/landings).

Paul Wellstone dying in a plane crash a couple weeks before his reelection bid in 2002...and Mel Carnahan dying in a plane crash a couple weeks before his election in 2000....a bit suspicious....still a relatively small sample set...but does appear that there could be a statistically significant pattern here since plane crashes really do not happen very often.

[peacetalksforall]

65. Don't Blame Us. We were handed tinfoil hats with these ruthless sinister diabolical people

with the agenda they have exposed to us day by day. I don't even trust some Democrats, I don't trust Rove, Rove's battalions. All this administration needs is to have one more piece of evidence coming out.

If it's true that they threatened him, we have every right to doubt an accident - UNTIL WE KNOW MORE.

[No Elephants]

79. Yes, but that does not mean every "accident" is actually an accident, either.

[elocs]

118. Occam's Razor:

The most simple explanation is preferred and usually true. Occam's Razor states that one should make no more assumptions than needed.

Here at DU assumption is layered upon assumption, and when hoofbeats are heard the first thought is that it must be zebras instead of horses. The vast majority of the time things are exactly what they appear to be, but there are many here who seem to have a need to stroke and nurture their paranoia. It is pointless to pump up Bushco/Neocon/Republicans into some omnipotent big, bad wolf that can do whatever it wants, whenever it wants as we fearfully cower anticipating it's next stroke which we are powerless to stop. They are not.

[bottomtheweaver]

122. The simplest explanation is that he got whacked.

As you can see.

[valerief]

224. Yep, he got Wellstoned for sure. nt

[Botany]

160. i was with one of the man who is investigating Ohio/Blackwell/Rove this

AM and told him the news ..... Connell was getting death threats fact.

The man I was with was Bob Fitrakis and on the phone was Cliff Arnbeck
.... Connell was running with some very bad people and was trying to get
out.

[Lucky Luciano]

161. I subscribe to Occam for sure...

I will say that there is a 75% chance that this was just a simple accident....and a 25% that something sinister was involved....still....25% is worth investigating.

[creeksneakers2]

186. I've been reading about this all day

And the conspiracy theory doesn't hold up a bit.

[No Elephants]

253. "Usually" being the key word. So, as I was saying not every single accident is an

accident.

[Raster]

126. Yes, shit can happen. And real conspiracies can happen also.

And quite frankly, when one takes a good, long look at the questionable deaths of persons associated with bushco*, cheney*/bush*, etc. it does certainly make one wonder.

Of course one can't really speculate further for attracting too much attention and risk having the conversation shunted to places where daylight doesn't shine... or risk the Unofficial Deny Everything Squad showing up. Oh wait...

[MADem]

134. Especially when the person who dies is piloting the plane during winter weather.

I am not ready to play the "Ah HA!!" game yet, either.

If "they" were going to take the guy out, you'd think "they" would have been smart enough to do it BEFORE he completed a video deposition.

[Raster]

144. According to Raw Story, there was MUCH MORE to tell...

http://www.atlargely.com/2008/12/one-of-my-sources-died-in-a-plane-crash-last-night.html

Maybe "they" aren't so dumb after all, eh?

[MADem]

164. I think suicide is as likely as murder. But I don't claim to KNOW anything.

Neither does RAW STORY, per the UPDATE on that article.

The man testified UNWILLINGLY. His attorneys were from Bush-Cheney. He was facing certain disgrace amongst his peer group, and probably a massive income drop, too. He may well have been looking at criminal charges and jail time, no matter how much testifying he did.

He had a wife and kids to provide for. His job prospects sucked. Who hires cheaters? Who hires people who rat out their bosses? Who hires criminals? He was in a very tough spot.

I'd check his life insurance, too, along with every other angle.

[creeksneakers2]

189. One reason I doubt Larisa Alexandrova

One reason I doubt Larisa's story
She wrote, " I know he was going to DC last night, but I don't know why."

Connell flew to College Park, MD, which is fairly close to DC, the day before he crashed. In fact, Connell crashed on the return trip to the Akron-Canton airport, just miles short of making it the whole way.

I'm suspicious of Larisa's claim that after years this man was about to spill the beans. The claim that he was "headed to Washington" makes it sound like he was going somewhere to tell all to officials who would blow the whole thing wide open. In fact he was returning home, so if he told all he knew in College Park then somebody else would know it, except of course, that would be covered up by Karl Rove too.

http://www.ohio.com/news/36486224.html

Its also puzzling how an act of sabotage would be timed for when the pilot was only a few miles from completing his trip. A little difference in tailwinds would change arrival times, so it wouldn't make sense to time the sabotage like that. In fact, whoever the would be saboteur could be, they probably wouldn't know where he was going, so wouldn't know how to time it. If one was to sabotage a plane, he'd want it to fail soon after takeoff, so the timing problem would be eliminated.

It doesn't make sense that this was sabotage.

Also: I Googled this guy and the net built him up before as somebody who was going to be forced under oath to disclose the inner workings of election fraud in Ohio. When in fact he was forced to testify, he said he didn't know anything about any fraud. Numerous web articles appeared before the testimony but few appeared after. Anyway, It wouldn't make sense for someone to kill him to shut him up now about election fraud. If he knew anything, Connell had already shut up, and under oath.

This conspiracy theory also alleges that Connell knew secrets about the White House E-mail system that he was about to spill but that he was under threats from Rove. As far as I can find, the only source that Connell was about to spill anything is Larisa Alexandrova, who also printed the falsehood about the plane going to Washington. And the threats? The only source for that is the attorney prosecuting the Ohio vote fraud case, who says he found out about threats from Rove from an anonymous source who he won't identify. Its noteworthy that during the phase before Connell's testimony, when the net was abuzz with stories about how Connell was about to expose 2004 vote fraud, the prosecuting attorney said Rove was threating Connell to keep him from telling what he knew in the Ohio case. So that allegation didn't pan out, and another one takes its place, as is common with conspiracy theories.

[starroute]

197. But then you're kind of a knee-jerk skeptic on this stuff

In a quick check, I find you saying here during last winter's primaries, "I don't believe in 2004 vote fraud either" -- so if you don't believe there was any fraud committed in Ohio in 2004, it's natural that you would also have to see Connell's death as pure coincidence.

It's your right to hold that attitude, and I gather you're fairly skeptical of anything that looks like a conspiracy theory in general. But it makes you a less than objective witness, and thus the last person who should be accusing Larisa Alexandrovna of printing "falsehoods."

I don't know what the facts of Connell's last trip are -- but even if it does turns out that Larisa got them wrong, it would presumably be because she's getting her information on the phone from people in Ohio who are still trying to piece the story together, and possibly passing along gossip and speculation as part of the mix, and not as a result of any intention to deceive.

[creeksneakers2]

200. Thank you for your interest

Yes, I am a skeptic. I think that compliments being objective, so long as it doesn't get to the point where there is a bias against real information.

Larisa wrote,"I know he was going to DC last night, but I don't know why."


Other information by Larisa doesn't check out. In the same article she writes, "Mr. Connell has confided that he was being threatened, something that his attorneys also told the judge in the Ohio election fraud case."

Mr. Connell's attorneys asked the court to seal testimony about threats, but the accusations of threats did not come from Mr. Connell. I can't find anywhere else anything about Connell's attorneys telling a judge that he was being threatened. If they had then either Cliff Arenbeck would have known about it and told the world, or nobody knew about anybody making such a statement to the judge, in which case Larisa wouldn't know about it.

Larisa has now taken back part of her original story where she said the plane ran out of gas.

The word "falsehood" comes close to saying an intent to deceive. Its not quite there though.

[lala_rawraw]

198. Thanks for your input...

I have no problem with you doubting me at all. The DC part is what I learned early this morning amid the chaos of being told about this. As far as I know, he did land in college park, but to go to DC. He also waited for two hours at the airport because he was waiting for the ice to clear. I don't know these things from him and never claimed to. I am getting this stuff in real time, so information sometimes is not fully detailed or even accurate. Which is why I have been updating it as I learn more. I have a source at the airport there because I have been interested in his movements for a very long time. So on his actual movements, there may be some information that is different at first and then I update it as new information comes in.

As for the rest, there is no doubt as it is based on my experience with the source and others (who are likely not going to talk now).

What I am curious about is why you think he would not tell me anything? I have had more important people tell me things - and on the record - than this guy. As far as I know, I am the only one who found his house, put a note in his mail-box, and took these steps in order to make contact. So who else would these people go to talk to then? No other reporter came looking for them. As I said, I don't mind if you doubt me at all. I just think it is interesting why you do. Thanks for the input.

[creeksneakers2]

201. If he were being threatened

why would he tell you? He knows you are a journalist, and if you report that he's told you he's being threatened, then the people threatening him would know he talked, and would therefore carry out the threats.

I can't see an very active big time Republican who was even involved in push polling to risk his life and career to help out a left wing Internet blog journalist. It doesn't make sense.

Supposedly, the way I read it, they confided something to you about some wrongdoing. Can you say exactly what it was? I haven't come across you saying it, but others say that Larisa can't tell all she knows. That makes me even more skeptical.

[lala_rawraw]

204. you have no idea what you are talking about

but by all means, feel free to continue. i won't get into "i know something you don't know" game with you. and as i have said, i have had far more important people than this guy talk to me and on the record. perhaps I am indeed so irrelevant that this guy may have not been open to talking to me if i had not gone to his home. I don't know. or maybe I am significant enough that I helped get a Governor out of jail. whatever the reality, my instinct tells me you are not interested in anything but attacking me for reasons I don't understand - although I have tried to be polite and have asked. so have at it. i have no way of responding to what you ask and you fully seem to understand why.

[creeksneakers2]

205. In other words

"No more questions. Nothing to see here."

It must be my fault, what with being out to get you.

[lala_rawraw]

208. um

yeah... you are out to get me in a conspiracy along with Sarah Palin and the KKK. seriously... I don't think you are out to get me. I just think there is hostility coming from you for reasons that are unclear to me. oh and "in other words" I have yet to say there is "nothing to see here". but what you want is not what i can provide at the moment. i provided as much as I could in order for this context to be known. beyond that, other people who are still witnesses and sources are far more important to me than than your need for immediate information. you can be patient or you can not. that is up to you. but yes, your questions are not going to be answered by me, not now anyway. that is simply the reality. you don't have to like it. but i am not the bad-guy. that is something you need to understand.

[Wilms]

218. Actually, it is you, by your own admission, who has no idea what you're talking about.

"I am getting this stuff in real time, so information sometimes is not fully detailed or even accurate. Which is why I have been updating it as I learn more."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3653385&mesg_id=3654092

Perhaps you taking a remedial class in journalism would do the blogosphere a big favor.

[lala_rawraw]

220. why did you not cut and paste the whole thing?

I am referring to the activities at the airport, not the rest. Thanks for the suggestion, however.

[defendandprotect]

240. Microwaves seem to be the way to do the planes lately . . .

Its also puzzling how an act of sabotage would be timed for when the pilot was only a few miles from completing his trip.

And, disorienting the pilot -- knocking out electrical system.

Been a while since I looked at this method --- you'll probably find a lot on internet

about it.

JFK, Jr.....???

Likely -- in that case, fuel supply was turned off in his plane --!!

Don't find accident a valid analysis on this one either ---

[ooglymoogly]

165. Thanx Polly for your input.

Your point might be taken if there had not been threats and private Q Citizen was not being indited in a case involving a crooked president and his cronies that could put them in prison. Your slings and arrows are easily fended by a well placed tinfoil hat in this case. And innit funny how most of the tinfoil hatters are being proven right about the Ohio Election.

[jetphixer]

59. Defictive

Wow as a avid skeet shooter&gun owner I think laws should be passed against small planes as they kill people. PS I am also a pilot/A&P mechanic. Actually dumb pilots stupid be outlawed im betting this was a Stall/spin accident!!!!!!

[AzNick]

99. Often the issue is between the yoke and the chair n/t

[vanboggie]

4. Murdering Turdblossom & BFEE strike again

God these are evil bastards.

Edited to add that *they* even planned this for a Friday night news dump.

[nc4bo]

5. Drop(ping) like flies are they? I seemed to have misplaced something....

:tinfoilhat: - ahhh found it.

[aquart]

45. Who else recently? Or not so recently?

[catnhatnh]

121. Well , Mark Begich's dad...

Along with Hale Boggs who was about to dissent with the report on 9/11.

[lib2DaBone]

70. LOL.... I always keep a tinfoil hat at the ready....

.. this guy had major bucks. Have you ever seen the houses in Bath, Ohio? Mega Mansions.

Strangely enough, Bath Ohio was also home to Jeffery Dahmer.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

98. Wisconsin Thanks you for claiming him -nt

[Idealism]

6. This country is looking more and more like Pinochet's Chile.

[balantz]

8. Not surprising when one considers things like the link betwen Pinochet and CIA. n/t

[DBoon]

129. Not surprising when you consider the US right wing worships Pinochet

Pinochet's Chile was the test-bed for radically deregulated capitalism. Milton Friedman consulted with the junta on economics.

Go through back issues of National Review. Those guys loved Pinochet (along with Francisco Franco)

[HEyHEY]

27. The aviation inspectors sucked there too?

[grytpype]

7. Obama's Justice Department had better investigate this!

[EFerrari]

15. Mueller will still be around for 2+ years. n/t

[JDPriestly]

20. Unless he is found to have abused the power of his office or something like that.

[EFerrari]

23. Right. Who's going to investigate him?

:(

The corruption in our government is my #1 issue at the moment. It's so bad, it worries me even more than the economy and even more than these useless wars.

[Stevepol]

51. What about the fraudulent programming of voting machines? That was Connell's job!

Hate to give you one more thing to worry about, especially at this season of the year. But I personally think the voting machine mess is the Mother of all Worries.

[No Elephants]

83. Corruption around voting in general. It does not have to be "only" voting machines. Anything

that screws with the voting process goes right to America's jugular. Mess with the vote and we are living in the largest banana republic on the planet, only worse. At least the people who live in banana republics KNOW they didn't elect the thugs.

Second, is anything that messes with the info voters get that affects their choice, like the corporate media banging the drum for the war in Iraq and for Republican candidates.

Everything else, IMO, comes after those two.

[loudsue]

101. I TOTALLY agree. And Connell was in the middle of the voting machine mess.

The voting machine problem is how we came to have the corruption we are now dealing with. NONE of the elections since 2000 have been legitimate. Even though Dems took a majority in 2006, think of how many MILLIONS of votes were compromised each election. We have had the most skewed races in places that should have never had problems, and that didn't come close to the exit polls quite often.

This thing that Al Franken is going through is just another example. But Ohio has been a hotbed of republican dirty tricks since Rove has been anywhere near national government, and Connell's testimony was going to blow the lid off the whole republican election tampering.

How CONVENIENT for republicans that he'll never have to testify.

[leftchick]

131. Blackwell should face a grand jury

he is probably the best source left to be grilled about election fraud in Ohio.

[EFerrari]

119. Well, you're right. n/t

[shanti]

9. Ruh Roh!

:yoiks: BFEE still at work?

[CitizenPatriot]

10. OMG

This is the guy whose lawyer petitioned the DoJ for protection from the Republicans after the subpoena. OF course, the DoJ wasn't going to help..after all, they were implicated in the election fraud themselves. Unbelievable.

How horrific.

Accident? Gee, what makes you ask.

[No Elephants]

85. I can accept the possibility that they killed him, but I don't understand how the DofJ could have

protected him from Republicans? If the DofJ can do that, I'm going to petition them to protect me and the whole friggin country from Republicans.

[CitizenPatriot]

92. ha ha-- well, no --

they can provide protection to witnesses involved in their investigations, and so this guy's lawyer petitioned them for help. I remember when it came out, we all knew they weren't going to help him because he was asking for protection from the guys who were running the DoJ.

That fundy stocked disaster has been the cause of too many "accidental" deaths, it's beginning to look like they're deliberately bringing End Days about. Or perhaps they think they're doing evangelical work by killing people so they can accept Jesus.

[creeksneakers2]

190. Connell and his lawyers did NOT request security

The request for security was made by Cliff Arenbeck, the attorney who filed the suit and was subpoenaing Connell. Arenbeck has never produced a shred of evidence of the threats. Arenbeck says he got the information from a confidential source.

Also, before the plane crash, the supposed threat Arenback was talking about was to have Connell's wife's business ruined. There was nothing about violence, except that Arenbeck requested that Connell be given protection. Loopy, isn't it?

[lala_rawraw]

199. You are both right and wrong here...

You are right that Connell's attorneys did not ask for security and that it was Arn. What you don't know, however, is that the court documents are sealed in relation to the threats. Suffice it to say that Arn. presented his case for forcing Connell to comply with the court order to testify in an emergency meeting in the judge's chambers. During that hearing, the judge ruled based on the evidence presented. In addition, Connell's attorney's asked that all matters relating to his company and to the threats against him be sealed, which the judge agreed to. So on this point you are entirely wrong. The reason you have not seen the evidence is the same reason none of us have. The judge honored the request of the attorneys for Connell and had that portion sealed.

[creeksneakers2]

203. If no one has seen the evidence

how do you know it exists?

[lala_rawraw]

206. are you kidding?

because the judge and all of the attorneys have seen the evidence for crying out loud and the discussions to seal portions of the deposition were made public... anything relating to his company was sealed because his attorneys argued that it was a violation of his rights and he wanted to protect his business practices. the judge agreed. the other part was that anything relating to the threats would also be sealed. the judge agreed on this as well. go read the court documents and the depositions if you get a moment. also, people leak to reporters in any case. this is not up for debate. finally, there are other things too that I cannot get into - which you will obviously take as me hiding something (given your various responses to me thus far). the reality is, I simply cannot - but let us just say that there are people on certain Congressional committees who are aware of this. let us simply leave it at that.

oh, and of course the Attorney General of Ohio was part of this chamber discussion with the principles.

[creeksneakers2]

213. I know that Osama bin Laden

Is living it up in Malibu. I can't tell you more than that though. Too many people might be harmed if I did.

Oh pleeeeeze.....

[lala_rawraw]

217. grow up

i am done with this conversation.

[NJCher]

238. grow up, pt. 2

Don't ever bother with these types of people (self-appointed "skeptics"). Who knows (or cares) what their motive is. Maybe they cannot get attention any other way. I nearly fell on the floor laughing when he asked how you knew there was evidence!

His game is beyond childish. Total waste of time.



Cher

[lala_rawraw]

251. thanks:)

[CitizenPatriot]

222. he did ask for protection

A tipster close to the McCain campaign disclosed to VR in July that Mr. Connell's life was in jeopardy and that Karl Rove had threatened him and his wife, Heather. VR's attorney, Cliff Arnebeck, notified the United States Attorney General , Ohio law enforcement and the federal court about these threats and insisted that Mr. Connell be placed in protective custody. VR also told a close associate of Mr. Connell's not to fly his plane because of another tip that the plane could be sabotaged. Mr. Connell, a very experienced pilot, has had to abandon at least two flights in the past two months because of suspicious problems with his plane. On December 18, 2008, Mr. Connell flew to a small airport outside of Washington DC to meet some people. It was on his return flight the next day that he crashed.

from yahoo news
....

and

Both GovTech and SmartTech have been implicated in the rigging of the 2000 and 2004 elections and the White House email scandal. Our prior request to have Mr. Connell protected went unheeded and now he is dead.

from velvet underground

both found here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x409943

[lala_rawraw]

232. the formal

filing was done by Arn though. thanks for this btw:)

[CitizenPatriot]

234. ah, OK...thanks!

Your welcome:-)

We've got to fight election fraud, that's one thing that comes out of this horrific "accident".

Have a great night! :hi:

[villager]

11. Why, goddamn! Another BFEE "coincidence!" From "lone nuts" to plane "accidents!"

n/t

[snake in the grass]

12. This guy's main motivation...

...for supporting the Republicans was to 'save the babies'. Ironic that he became a victim to them in the end. I can't say I feel sorry for him but it is a shame that he won't be around for further investigation.

[ScaryBob]

82. Yes I'm not sure if his demise is a good thing or not, but

maybe it's just that Republicans are just bad pilots, I seem to remember a presidential candidate that crashed five times (but unfortunately survived all of them).

[valerief]

225. Yes, every sperm is sacred and he let his get murdered. nt

[brentspeak]

13. Dead men tell no tales

For once, this is too fishy of an "accident" to be categorized as tin-foil hat material.

[villager]

14. For once? Part of a pattern, I'd say...

n/t

[nc4bo]

16. But what is tinfoil hat speculation is how many more "accidents"

can we expect?

This crap is the exact thing that scares me when I think about our PE. These are powerful, ruthless monsters who will stop at nothing to protect themselves. "They" will do whatever is necessary to carry on "their" agenda even while not in a position of power, such as the POTUS.

Dick Cheney and George Bush are what can be seen on the surface, what lies beneath the surface is a grand conspiracy to gain global power.

For me, it goes straight into tinfoil hat territory.

Hey, I admit I could be wrong x 1000.

[nikto]

17. It's...

Wrongful Death.

Slam-dunk.

Know what I'm tryin' t'say?

[nikto]

21. That SPOONAMORE guy better watch his back, bigtime

That former GOP Computer programer who blew the whistle,
Spoonamore...He better not fly for a while.

Or drive on any country roads.

Or walk alone at night.

etc etc



Sheesh. What country is this, anyway?

[balantz]

18. Common play for the fascists who will remain in power behind the scenes. n/t

[JDPriestly]

19. Could have been suicide. A 2 hour depo. is not very long.

I wonder whether the depo. was continued and the lawyers were wrangling over it. There are lots of explanations, but some explanations seem pretty reasonable to consider seriously: This was either a way to prevent Connell from testifying or for Connell to avoid testifying. Either assumption leads to the assumption that Connell's testimony would have revealed facts that someone did not want revealed.

Of course there is the alternative explanation: It was just an accident. But, somehow, that would be a huge, very convenient accident.

Remember, Connell faced serious time if he did what we all think he did. He probably could have plead the Fifth, and maybe that is what he did. Maybe death was an easy way out for him.

This is very sad.

[lurky]

31. No way he would serve time.

He knew where the bodies were buried. Any investigator would give him a deal to rat out the big guys.

[creeksneakers2]

195. Connell testified back on November 3rd

There was nothing more to testify about at that time of the plane accident.

Back on the 3rd Connell said he knew nothing about any election fraud. Kind of a dull thud ending after a big net buildup by the same people who are inflaming this whole thing we are looking at now.

[Autonomy]

22. aww fuck

why do ppl keep flying in these death traps?

[cliffordu]

24. My spider sense is tingling......

Maybe that wasn't the cable guy outside tonight after all.....

[diane in sf]

25. Guess they didn't want him testifying

[diva77]

26. The link only shows a headline - no article ...hmmmm

[balantz]

28. I got the article at the link. n/t

[bottomtheweaver]

29. We're trying to decide if he committed suicide or died trying to escape.

[No Elephants]

93. Bottom, regardless of what caused the crash, that is one of the best posts I have EVER seen. Kudos!

[bottomtheweaver]

113. Hey thanks,

we're rounding up twice the usual number of suspects! :hi:

[McCamy Taylor]

30. This guy was compelled to testify by a Federal Judge against Rove 1 month ago

in a case involving the Ohio elections and now his plane goes down. The Bush family is burying all the witnesses. Eeks!

[Divine Discontent]

38. it's creepy... and obvious. thanks for the info. wondered if that was the guy. eom

[mod mom]

62. This works out well for Blackwell who is eyeing the RNC Chairmanship

[balantz]

32. This eyewitness quote said the ground shook with explosion:

From the article linked in the OP:

''It blew up and shook the ground a little bit,'' Fano said. ''I was standing in the kitchen and I looked out the window and all I saw was fire.''

[Oldtimeralso]

33. Surprise, Surprise

Who'd a thunk it?

[bottomtheweaver]

34. Tragic, isn't it?

Real shame.

[NBachers]

36. Any cell phone anomalies reported?

[bottomtheweaver]

39. I'm sure the FBI will collect any evidence of foul play

and destroy it immediately.

[w4rma]

40. Bastards took out a hit on him. (nt)

[penndragon69]

41. Another refugnican "Hit JOB"

These bastards need to burn NOW!

[barbtries]

42. was he about to start talking?

this made my jaw drop. my first thought is rove killed this guy.

[Jackpine Radical]

91. You and everybody else on this board...

"my first thought is rove killed this guy"

[aquart]

44. Ass should have asked for witness protection.

Lie down with rabid dogs, don't get up at all.

[machI]

52. Perhaps the BFEE discovered Mr. Michael Connell was about to start talking to investigators

Then Mr. Connell has an unfortunate plane crash with no witnesses or survivors.

Rove is signing the papers to give his Blackwater operatives a big Christmas bonus today.

[woundedkarma]

100. Most people haven't noticed that...

Perhaps it WAS witness protection?

I don't know if they fake deaths in real life but I imagine they do.

We'll probably never know.

[DFW]

47. It helps to have a budget

The Bulgarian secret police in the Soviet days had to resort to poison pellets delivered by manipulated umbrellas. Rove & Co. can afford to have private planes manipulated and have the forensics guys find "no evidence of wrongdoing," even though Mel Carnahan, Paul Wellstone, and now Mike Connell were all VERY convenient (and timely) "accidents." I'd write to the DNC to hire some Cessna/Lear technicians, but there are three arguments against that. 1.) the DNC doesn't have the money, 2.) Republicans will probably be checking out their own private planes thoroughly before flying in them from now on, which will be a waste of time because 3.) Democrats don't feel the need to use that kind of tactic in the first place.

[No Elephants]

95. You did not mention JFK, Jr. Are we sure his crash was an accident?

[DFW]

132. I'm fairly sure that one was indeed an accident.

I was in the area at the time, and there really was thick fog all over the Cape and Islands area on that day. Kennedy was inexperienced in flying only on instruments (visibility was zilch), and should have turned around as soon as he saw that visibility was nearly zero. He could have tried for any number of small airports in Connecticut or on Long Island. He apparently wanted to set his sister-in-law down on Martha's Vineyard before continuing on to wherever his real destination was, and the social schedule appeared to take precedence over common sense.

[No Elephants]

255. I live in Boston. One of our local newscasters, Chet Curtis, owns a plane and is

quite the pilot. I don't know if he is a Democrat, but I doubt it bc he hangs with Republicans. Apparently, he had been in the Cape area at the time, too, but on the ground. However, he got the flight info, etc. as part of reporting the story. (Agonizing hours.)

At the time, he said Kennedy had done nothing wrong in being up in the air. He (Curtis) added that he would have had no problem whatever being up there with his wife and family. It could be that he was being loyal to the Kennedys, who well may have been watching his news report.)

If I knew how to post the dunno/shrug emote, I would put it here.

[DFW]

257. You just said it. Your friend is "quite the pilot."

Presumably meaning he knows how to fly on instruments when visibility is low to gone.
Kennedy was not experienced in that situation, and shouldn't have been flying in it.

[No Elephants]

258. LOL, I knew you were going to pick up on that. But he did say that he did not think that

JFK, Jr had done made any mistake in being up there and we all knew he (JFK, JR) was a neophyte pilot. People were speculating as to whether JFK Jr had been reckless, etc. and Curtis was insisting that he (JFK) hadn't been.

You cannot imagine the coverage that story got on our local news. JFK, Jr. who lived in NY, with his relatively new wife, missing, then dying in Massachusetts on his way to his cousin's wedding. Our local stations were on it 24/7. So, there was a lot of discussion, speculation, etc.

[DFW]

260. I was on Cape Cod, where the Kenndy family home is, so you can imagine

If an atomic bomb had destroyed L.A. that week, they MIGHT have mentioned it during
the hourly search and rescue updates. The thing that was mostly stressed was JFK Jr.
was not experienced in instrument-only flying. He was experienced enough a pilot, as
far as that goes, but it is another, higher level of certification (according to the
local news at the time, anyway) to get a green light for night and fog flying, and JFK
Jr. apparently hadn't logged in enough hours for this certification. He was expert enough
at flying in good weather, but should have (again, according to the local Cape stations) not
have been attempting to find his way in night fog on instruments only.

[Mnemosyne]

139. Gary Cadori n/t

[northofdenali]

48. Condolences to his family and friends.

Folks, I know we're anti-Rove and his machine, but the death of a 45-year-old man is not cause for celebration or even satisfaction.

We're better than that.

[Mithreal]

53. The overall tone of the comments on this post is neither.

For Rove this is a 'fortunate' accident. Who here would celebrate that?

[drm604]

84. Who here is celebrating his death?

This man was a witness against Rove and company. Nobody here is celebrating.

[No Elephants]

97. I am not finished reading the thread yet, but, so far, I have not seen celebration or

satisfaction expressed. I did not see any post that said "Yay," or "About time," or anything like that.

[nadinbrzezinski]

156. Nobody is celebrating this death

but we are just pointing out, there are no coincidences... and his death is too damn convenient

He is taking how many secrets to the grave?

Start by looking at Casey's death back in the reagan years and then down the line at all those convenient deaths of people in the know who buy it just before they need to talk to a judge

[Faygo Kid]

184. Condolences to his family, but it is extraordinary, given the Rove scenario.

This guy may have been in a position to blow the lid off the Ohio vote fraud scam, and finally nail Rove once and for all.

Maybe it was an accident, but there needs to be a thorough investigation. One thing is for certain: Nobody here on DU would put anything past Karl Rove's benighted and amoral conduct, if it means advancing or saving himself.

[Pavulon]

211. NTSB investigates every crash.

this investigation will probably take 60 days which puts it into next administration.

[Dover]

49. Note to all whistleblowers and witnesses...

Avoid small planes and tall buildings. Also wouldn't hurt to hire a food taster.

[Dover]

50. Note to all whistleblowers and witnesses...

Avoid small planes and tall buildings. Also wouldn't hurt to hire a food taster.

[formercia]

71. And wipe the steering wheel on your car.

Be careful of prescription drugs. That's another favorite.

[Dover]

54. MORE links, info.

Source Watch: Michael Connell

Michael (Mike) L. Connell is President, Chief Political Strategist and CEO of New Media Communications, Inc., a Republican website development and internet services firm based in Richfield, OH.

New Media's GOP clients are a "'Who's Who' of Republican politics", having provided campaign web services and Internet strategy for Bush-Cheney 2000/2004, as well as Dick Armey, Spencer Abraham for Senate 2000, Heather Wilson for Congress 2000/2002/2004, Rick Santorum for Senate 2000/2006, and John Thune for Senate 2002/2004 to name just a few. New Media also designed GOP.com for the Republican National Committee, RGA.org for the Republican Governors Association, and between two and three dozen state GOP sites.

In April 2001, Connell spun-off GovTech Solutions from New Media to handle its growing list of federal government clients, such as MajorityWhip.gov for Tom DeLay and Johnny Isakson. Business filings in the state of Ohio show that Govtech's founding members were Connell's wife Heather, and the well-known GOP operative and Chairman of the DCI Group, Thomas J. Synhorst. By 2004, Govtech's clients would grow to include more than 20 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, GOP.gov, the web site of the House Republican Conference, and the House Intelligence, Judiciary, Financial Services, Way and Means, and Administration committees. The latter was acquired while House Administration was chaired by former-U.S. Rep. Bob Ney of Ohio, who was convicted in 2006 of conspiracy to defraud the United States...cont'd

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Mike_Connell


---

Velvet Revolution Report

Tuesday, December 18, 2007
By Nathan Diebenow, Associate Editor

WASHINGTON , D.C. — They say it’s better to give than receive.

But this holiday season, the Velvet Revolution says, "Hey! Why not both?"
The Washington, D.C. non-profit is offering a half a million dollars to whistleblowers.
In exchange, VR wants information about what they describe as a very crooked, Republican operative.
His name is Michael Connell.

More specifically, VR wants the low-down about his companies: Gov Tech Solutions, New Media Communications, and Connell/Donatelli.

The first two are based in Ohio.
That last one is in Virginia.
So what’s so bad about Connell and his businesses?
Well, the guys over at VR hear that Connell and his companies involved themselves in the United States Attorney scandal.

The website domain that Connell used for George W. Bush’s presidential bids was the same that White House officials used to hide data on the U.S. attorneys that were fired.

But Connell is notorious for being a "Bush loyalist." ...cont'd

http://www.lonestaricon.com/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=2186&z=202

--------

Bush’s Hometown Paper Reports On Our Mike Connell Investigation


Some good news out of Texas recently and a tip off to all those press people who ignored our previous scoops about problems with our elections. Bush’s hometown newspaper, the Lonestar Iconoclast, recently did a nice story about our investigation of Bush loyalist Mike Connell and how he was tapped by George Bush Sr. in 1986 to embed the GOP takeover of the government into the country’s IT network.

Connell is a computer genius who Daddy Bush introduced to Karl Rove and Jeb Bush way before Dubya took the White House. Connell created the first GOP website, controlled the election computers in Florida 2000 and Ohio 2004, launched www.georgebush.com, and has been involved in virtually every election scandal the past decade – NH phone jamming, Swift Boat Veterans Against Kerry, false phone and direct mail scripting, WH email scandal, US Attorney scandal, and others. His companies control the majority of GOP IT work, and the scary thing is that his company GovTech Solutions is now behind the firewall of key committees in Congress, including Judiciary, Intelligence, Ways and Means, and Administration...cont'd

http://www.velvetrevolution.us/electionstrikeforce/2008/01/bushs_hometown_paper_reports_o.html

------

Judge Orders Mike Connell To Submit To Deposition 24 Hours Before Election
http://www.911truth.org/article.php?story=20081103152432155

------

Ohio Attorneys Seek Protection for Mike Connell and his Family against Alleged Threats from Karl Rove.
Sources close to the Ohio Corrupt Practices Act/RICO claim sent us a copy of the following letter that asks Attorney General Mukasey for protection for Michael Connell and his family who have been allegedly threatened by Karl Rove. Rove is believed to be the strategic mastermind behind the Bush 2004 re-election campaign and the possible Ohio election improprieties. The alleged threats appear to be the result of the re-opening, through the Ohio Corrupt Practices Act/RICO claim, of the stalled investigation into the 2004 Ohio Elections...cont'd

http://discuss.epluribusmedia.net/node/2164

------

BIO
Mike Connell:

President, New Media Communications, Inc.

Mike Connell is the president of New Media Communications, Inc., a high-tech marketing firm that specializes in putting the latest computer technology to work for its political and commercial clients.

Connell's expertise includes database application and website development for issue advocacy, grassroots lobbying, and elected office political campaigns.

Connell began his political career in 1986 when he served as Finance Director on Congressman Jim Leach’s reelection campaign. Following that race, he went to work for George Bush’s presidential campaign in Iowa.

Following the Iowa Caucuses, Connell was promoted to Bush's Washington headquarters and was tasked with developing a comprehensive delegate tracking system for the Republican National Convention.

Connell received a presidential appointment to the Department of Energy as a Legislative Affairs Specialist in early 1989, but returned to the Midwest to work on Indiana Senator Dan Coats' 1990 campaign.

After Coats' election, Connell spent the next year in Iowa working on legislative redistricting. In 1992, Connell managed a congressional challenger race in New Hampshire. Connell returned to Capitol Hill in 1993 to serve as Ohio Congressman Martin Hoke's Press Secretary. Connell left government service in January 1995 to form New Media Communications, Inc.

Best known for his Internet work on behalf of the Jeb Bush for Governor campaign (FL), Mike’s experience in this field is much broader. Political clients in 1998 also include Bob Taft for Governor (OH); the Illinois, Ohio and Iowa Republican Parties; several House leadership PACs, as well as presidential aspirants. Most recently, his firm has completed comprehensive redesigns of the Republican National Committee and Campaign for a New America (Lamar Alexander) websites.

Recognized by Campaigns & Elections as a "Rising Star of 1998," Mike speaks regularly on the subject of politics and the Internet for groups including the American Association for Political Consultants, Republican National Committee and state political parties. Connell's articles have been published by Campaigns & Elections and he is a contributing editor for .netpulse.

http://www.hks.harvard.edu/visions/Campaigning_on_the_Net/connell.htm

[disndat]

77. Connell must have left a huge paper trail.

There must be plenty of other incriminating evidences as well. They can't hide everything they have criminally done in the past 8 years. Sounds like things are closing in on Rove and the WH gang of mobsters. A last desperate act?

[NJCher]

96. Wow, Dover

That was fast and some very interesting research.

In particular, the link above about threats from Karl Rove...

Obviously, this guy was knowledgeable about the election theft in Ohio.

They are cleaning up loose ends at the end of the biggest crime ever (and I'm not referring just to Ohio, but to the overall theft of two elections and scamming the American people for what will end up to be trillions).



Cher

[Doctor_J]

154. Sounds like the world will be better off without him

Sad, but true. He was a filthy criminal who didn't believe in democracy.

[bottomtheweaver]

191. oops..

dang.. sorry dupe.. :blush:

[bottomtheweaver]

192. No, we're a lot worse without him, as he was about to testify

about his participation in the 2004 stolen election apparently, and that's a real setback.

[formercia]

55. In the case of my untimely death.....

please send this safety deposit box key to....

[Dover]

56. I hope he did provide a statement to his attorney that can be used in court.

Along with his wife's testimony.

[Peggy Day]

117. That's what I was thinking.

If I was in that position, I would.

[Career Prole]

57. Holy shit! What a trouper!

He even crashed right on schedule for the Friday news dump!

[KoKo]

150. And.....Holiday Week plus the non-stop news about Caylee...the toddler...

Amazing the timing....isn't it..

[jmowreader]

58. This was just bad luck for Connell and good for Rove, Shrub, Cheney...

It's cold up there right now, and probably perfect conditions for airframe icing--a major cause of airplane crashes. He was flying a Piper Saratoga, not all of which are certificated for icing--and the ones that ARE certificated for it use a system that sprays antifreeze over the wings. (Which means he could have run out of it.)

The plane belongs to Sierra-November Aviation. Anyone know anything about them?

I think if they were going to try to whack this guy, they'd use something besides an airplane to do it. Maybe just send him on a "business trip" then have someone break into his hotel room and strangle him?

[peacetalksforall]

68. Yeah, the same ice that people on DU said brought down Wellstone.

Looks like ice is going to be the reason until there is something else. Someone saw him in the bar. Someone forgot to record a problem with a part.

Anyway, the ice reason goes first, it seems.

OK, so I'm carrying over my anger at the Wellstone 'accident' and the convenience of ice as the reason for the death of certain people. Exception - there may have been weather problems at the time Carnahan dies.

[jmowreader]

69. I've read too much on the Wellstone crash

For whatever reason, the crew of Wellstone's King Air came in for landing doing 70 knots. Everything I can find about the King Air he was in says you HAVE to fly faster than 100 knots if you want to land it in one piece.

So...if his rotten pilots (this is known--they weren't quality pilots) would have stayed in the gas, Paul Wellstone would be with us today.

[No Elephants]

102. More than one way to skin a cat. and more than one way to interpret almost any

datum.

What if the plane had been tampered with so that the pilots could not get it to 100 knots during a landing attempt? Or what if the instruments told them they were doing 100 knots when they were doing only 70? What if the pilots themselves were "tampered with" so that their judgment was impaired? Sure, maybe it was an accident, pute and simple, but maybe not.

[jmowreader]

230. I think you're giving the Bush people way too much credit

This is from Wikipedia's entry on Paul Wellstone:

Michael L. Guess, the First Officer, was characterized in the NTSB report as being "below average" in proficiency. Significant discrepancies were also found in pilot Richard Conry's flight logs in the course of the post-accident investigation. He also had a well-known tendency to allow copilots to take over all functions of the aircraft as if they were the sole pilot during flights. After the crash, three copilots told of occasions in which they had to take control of the aircraft away from Conry. After one of those incidents, only three days before the crash, the copilot had urged Conry to retire. A few months before the crash, Conry told another pilot, Timothy M. Cooney, a childhood friend, that he had difficulty piloting and landing King Airs. The copilot Guess was cited by coworkers as having to be consistently reminded to keep his hand on the throttle and maintain airspeed during approaches.
The final two radar readings detected the airplane traveling at or just below its predicted stall speed given conditions at the time of the accident.

Besides, King Airs need to go about 100 knots just to take off. If you can get it off the ground, you SHOULD be able to keep it going fast enough to land it safely--assuming, of course, that your pilot gives a damn about keeping his airspeed up.

[Dennis Donovan]

244. No precip in the area at the time - ice might not be a factor...

I'm researching the WX at CAK at the time...

[Kip Humphrey]

60. Tidying up loose ends, I see. My condolences to Cliff A., Bob F., Robert K., et. al..

[mod mom]

61. They might not be aware of this-I just forwarded this thread to them. UFB!

[TheCowsCameHome]

63. That's what happens when you fly with only the right wing.

[1monster]

66. Absolutely amazing how so many people inconvenient to a certain group

of other people end up dying in an airplane crash.

I don't know whether I should put on my :tinfoilhat:, or check to see if it is on and I should take it off.

:tinfoilhat: :tinfoilhat: :tinfoilhat: :tinfoilhat:

[lonestarnot]

67. I haven't heard a peep about it on the snooze. Is he the only one with all the info?

Is there a second in line with the same info or does he take it all to the grave?

[Career Prole]

73. Friday night news dump.

Conveniently enough for Turdblossom the dude crashed at 6 PM on Friday, when a tree can fall in the forest and nobody hears it because nobody cares...because it's Friday.

[lonestarnot]

81. disgusting. It is now Saturday and still nothing.

[No Elephants]

75. Claim of executive privilege, "accidental" plane crash. Potato, potahto.

[Junkdrawer]

78. K&R

[liberal N proud]

86. The dead bodies are piling up

[Joey Liberal]

87. One less right winger

May he rest in peace in hell.

[RaleighNCDUer]

88. My deepest condolances to his family, to lose him at this time of year -

kind of screws up the holidays.

[Best_man23]

89. I can see this conversation

Rove: What did you do about that thing?

Thug (think Fat Clemenza from Godfather): Aw, you ain't gonna be seeing Mikey around here no more.

Rove: (shakes head, grabs a piece of bread and dips it in the sace Thug is making)

As I said in my response to the piece where Connell was being forced to testify: "leave the gun, take the canoli"

[No Elephants]

107. I remember that post! (I love cannoli.)

[Botany]

229. LOL

I was w/ one of the attorneys who was trying to get Connell to talk
this AM in Columbus ..... his jaw dropped when he heard the
news and started saying we tried to warn him.

[Ellipsis]

90. Holy crap, How convenient!

Wonder what Spoonamore thinks about this.

[smoogatz]

94. Better check the DNA.

I'm just sayin'.

[No Elephants]

104. That was exactly my thought after poor Ken Lay's fatal heart attack. Man died of

Natural causes. Extremely well-timed natural causes, though. I wanted the DNA of the buried corpse very badly that time.

[disndat]

116. That was my second thoght

Connell may be in Rove Heaven where all good Republican crooks like Ken Lay go and probably where Cheney will go after his "heart attack" when they go after him for admitting his sign-off on the use of torture.

[Mnemosyne]

141. Lay was cremated almost immediately, within a day. Convenient. n/t

[mod mom]

103. Farmbo has it up at Kos, please comment:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/12/20/1080/0228/875/675440

[No Elephants]

105. How about you simply post at link to this thread at KOS?

[earth mom]

106. The BFEE strikes again!

:tinfoilhat:

[krispos42]

109. I was just mentioning to my boss yesterday...

...how convienent it was that only Democrats had convenient small-plane crashes.

[Ellipsis]

110. at-Largely (Larisa) has some words up on this...

One of my sources died in a plane crash last night...

I don't usually reveal sources, but I think this is incredibly important. Michael Connell died in a plane crash last night. He was a key witness in the Ohio election fraud case that I have been reporting on. More importantly, however, he had information that he was ready to share.

You see, Mike Connell set-up the alternate email and communications system for the White House. He was responsible for creating the system that hosted the infamous GWB43.com accounts that Karl Rove and others used. When asked by Congress to provide these emails, the White House said that they were destroyed. But in reality, what Connell is alleged to have done is move these files to other servers after having allegedly scrubbed the files from all "known" Karl Rove accounts.


more...

http://www.atlargely.com/2008/12/one-of-my-sources-died-in-a-plane-crash-last-night.html





.

[Historic NY]

111. I guess the GOP wore out the "wanting to spend more time with family memo".

[natrat]

112. wow obviously no problem with killing their own

[mitchum]

114. I hope that no fish were hurt

[Algorem]

115. friend>" crash occurred less than 5 miles from Diebold HQ..."

"That plane crash occurred less than five miles from the Diebold HQ. Bet the pilot used to be a Diebold man. Bet the Timken family is involved in some way. Bet Bob Ney knows the guy and might be at his funeral. Bet the Timkens will be there.

Curious isn't it? "



Bush has made public visits to Timken plant and home many times in last 8 years.And made Timken ambassador to Germany.





Diebold's Political Machine

By Bob Fitrakis and Harvey Wasserman


March 5, 2004

...One of the longest-serving Diebold directors is W.R. "Tim" Timken. Like O'Dell, Timken is a Republican loyalist and a major contributor to GOP candidates. Since 1991 the Timken Company and members of the Timken family have contributed more than a million dollars to the Republican Party and to GOP presidential candidates such as George W. Bush. Between 2000 and 2002 alone, Timken's Canton-based bearing and steel company gave more than $350,000 to Republican causes, while Timken himself gave more than $120,000. This year, he is one of George W. Bush's campaign Pioneers, and has already pulled in more than $350,000 for the president's reelection bid...

http://www.motherjones.com/commentary/columns/2004/03/03_200.html?welcome=true

[lumberjack_jeff]

120. "Rove's IT consultant" dies in plane crash 4 weeks before a dem takes office. Never saw that coming.

Wanna bet his computers have either gone missing or have already been siezed?

[kestrel91316]

123. Perhaps he was a "man who knew too much"?

[navarth]

124. I heard somebody say once

'I don't believe in conspiracy theories. But I believe in conspiracies'.

[Richardo]

125. Mark Felt (Deep Throat) is now dead too - "Congestive heart failure" indeed.

Everyone knows Rove had him killed for exposing Watergate. Bastard.

[bottomtheweaver]

127. Felt worked for the FBI and lived to be 95,

which suggests to me that Nixon's takedown was an intel job. The weapons and logistics guys really don't like people who pull the plug on their money machines, whoever the hell they are.

[msanthrope]

179. Exactly--Nixon was an inside job. Woodward was Naval Intelligence.

Or, is. You never really leave.

[EstimatedProphet]

168. Yeah, and Lincoln's dead too. Coincidence?

[Richardo]

216. I think not. Felt drove a Lincoln and Lincoln had a hat made of felt. QED

:tinfoilhat:

[underpants]

128. Anyone read "Confessions of an Economic Hitman"???

Just saying

Omar Efraín Torrijos Herrera met a similar fate
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omar_Torrijos

Death
Mausoleum of Omar Torrijos on Amador, Panama City in the former Canal Zone.

General Torrijos died when his aircraft, a DeHavilland Twin Otter (DHC-6), exploded during its flight. The aircraft disappeared from radar during severe weather, but due to the limited nature of Panama's radar coverage at the time, the plane was not reported missing for nearly a day. The crash site was located several days later, and the body of General Torrijos was recovered by a Special Forces team in the first few days of August.<3> Following a large state funeral, Torrijos was briefly buried in Amador cemetery in Casco Viejo (the Old City of Panama), before being moved to a mausoleum in the former Canal Zone near Panama City. He was succeeded as commander of the National Guard and de facto leader of Panama by Florencio Flores, who later gave way to Rubén Darío Paredes.

[helderheid]

130. OMG!!!

Just got this from VR:

Bush Insider Who Planned To Tell All Killed In Plane Crash:
Non-Profit Demands Full Federal Investigation



Michael Connell, the Bush IT expert who has been directly implicated in the rigging of George Bush's 2000 and 2004 elections, was killed last night when his single engine plane crashed three miles short of the Akron airport. Velvet Revolution ("VR"), a non-profit that has been investigating Mr. Connell's activities for the past two years, can now reveal that a person close to Mr. Connell has recently been discussing with a VR investigator how he could tell all about his work for George Bush. Mr. Connell told a close associate that he was afraid that George Bush and Dick Cheney would "throw under the bus."

A tipster close to the McCain campaign disclosed to VR in July that Mr. Connell's life was in jeopardy and that Karl Rove had threatened him and his wife, Heather. VR's attorney, Cliff Arnebeck, notified the United States Attorney General , Ohio law enforcement and the federal court about these threats and insisted that Mr. Connell be placed in protective custody. VR also told a close associate of Mr. Connell's not to fly his plane because of another tip that the plane might be sabatoged. Mr. Connell, a very experienced pilot, has had to abandon at least two flights in the past two months because of suspicious problems with his plane. On December 18, 2008, Mr. Connell flew to a small airport outside of Washington DC to meet some people. It was on his return flight the next day that he crashed.

On October 31, Mr. Connell appeared before a federal judge in Ohio after being subpoenaed in a federal lawsuit investigating the rigging of the 2004 election under the direction of Karl Rove. The judge ordered Mr. Connell to testify under oath at a deposition on November 3rd, the day before the presidential election. Velvet Revolution received confidential information that the White House was extremely concerned about Mr. Connell talking about his illegal work for the White House and two Bush/Cheney 04 attorneys were dispatched to represent him.

An associate of Mr. Connell's told VR that Mr. Connell was involved with the destruction of the White House emails and the setting up of the off-grid White House email system.

Mr. Connell handled all of John McCain's computer work in the recent presidential campaign. VR has received direct evidence that the McCain campaign kept abreast of the legal developments against Mr. Connell by reading the VR dedicated website, www.rovecybergate.com .

VR demands that the Ohio Attorney General and the United States Justice Department conduct a complete investigatio n into the activities of Mr. Connell and determine whether there was any foul play in his death. VR demands that federal law enforcement officials place the following people under protective custody pending this investigation. Heather Connell who is the owner of GovTech Solutions, Randy Cole, the former President of GovTech Solutions, and Jeff Averbeck, the CEO of SmartTech in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Both GovTech and SmartTech have been implicated in the rigging of the 2000 and 2004 elections and the White House email scandal. Our prior request to have Mr. Connell protected went unheeded and now he is dead.
All the best,
VR

[Seldona]

133. He probably had about the same chance at long life

as Al Capone's telegraph operator. Just the words "Rove's IT consultant" sent shivers up my spine.

[babsbunny]

135. CAN WE DEMAND THAT THIS BE ON ALL NEWS CHANNELS???

Please help! I am looking and it is no where!!

[MADem]

136. You can demand it, but it won't do any good.

Produce a smoking gun showing the guy was whacked, and he was whacked because of "what he knew," and he wasn't simply an unlucky private pilot in sketchy winter weather, and you'll see your story. Absent that, it's just a local story, an accident.

[nc4bo]

146. Just a story that voter/election fraud could have influenced the election of a POTUS

should be national news and on a 24/7 news cycle. But it isn't/wasn't, why?

That someone personally involved in and testifying against the election of a false president died or was killed while on the verge of revealing the corruption of our elections and none of this makes national news?! Outrageous! And it's only outrageous because the fraud should have been exposed the moment any misdeed was suspected.

The M$M hasn't done their job in YEARS and YEARS and YEARS, the media is as corrupt as the very system that elects our leaders - I believe M$M IS their mouthpiece and a willing mistress. It's not just negligence or for purpose of producing sensational stories for ratings appeal and mega million ad buys, even though I'm sure that plays a role.

Until all of the corruption is exposed for all to see, nothing will change. Conspiracy theories will run rampant as they always have and those who believe in just a tiny portion of any of them will be considered lunatic, loudmouth, paranoid nut cases.

The less that's exposed to the public, the more layers are added on that onion and the more difficult it is to believe that so much corruption really exists, how deep it goes and who is/are involved in it and why.



ETA past tense.

[MADem]

157. That guy was not a whistleblower OR a hero. People miss that point.

He was an UNWILLING witness. His testimony was COMPELLED. His bosses were GOP, his LAWYERS were GOP.

He was probably SCARED SHITLESS--afraid to lie, afraid to tell the truth.

I'd check his life insurance. While everyone's looking for the nefarious hand of the GOP in a presumed murder, this guy might just as well have not wanted to go to jail for misdeeds, was afraid of being shamed, and needed a way to provide for his wife and kids.

Poof--suicide by plane. Solves the problem! Ooops, pilot error, he misjudged the runway on final!

Or...it could have been an accident.

Making the leap that the guy was murdered, with no evidence, and a motive for suicide to boot, is stupid.

[Phred42]

137. They 'Wellstoned" the guy that could finger them - that had all of the answers.

Who'd a Thunk?

This should be a message to those still alive and have similar information - GO PUBLIC BEFORE THEY WHACK YOU!

[fascisthunter]

140. this country is so totalitarian

political enemies seem to be offed quite often here.

[PatSeg]

143. The comments are rather interesting

Connell was evidently a very religious guy(?)

"Mike was an amazing man a true giver and loved by so many many people.He set the example of how to live a Christ centered life with everything he did.Such an honor it was to know him and to call him my friend. I am so very sad of his death and pray for his family during this very difficult time.Rest in peace Mike you will never be forgotten. Carol Malick"

snip

"A God-first type guy, who was a wonderfaul family man and a true visionary with all the ambition in the world. He will be missed on many fronts."

snip

"Mike led many wonderful programs at St. Hilary Church to bring people closer to God."

http://www.ohio.com/news/break_news/36482529.html

And one comment about being ordered to testify!

[nc4bo]

147. I read those too and thought they were - bizarre for some reason I can't

quite put my finger on.

Just strange.

[PatSeg]

152. Oh my,

could we have misjudged the guy???

[Quantess]

163. Just because he was a Christian does not necessarily mean he was a good person. (eom)

[Frisbee]

167. Frequently means exactly the opposite, IMHO. (eom)

[PatSeg]

174. I remember when being called a "Christian"

was a positive thing, now it makes me instantly suspicious.

[chatnoir]

173. And the latest comment...

"Well at least Mike Connell won't be manipulating vote counts in elections anymore. Guess Karl Rove will have to find someone else to do his dirty work."

Such a religious God-fearing type yet he was ok with rigging the vote per his Master's instructions?

[PatSeg]

182. Maybe he thought Rove

was the 2nd coming.

[No Elephants]

209. Many who call themselves Christian can justify ANYthing if they can rationalize that

they are doing it for God. Aopparently, that's what "legitimizes" killing abortionists. WWJD? Why, blow up an abortion clinic, of course.

[Aviation Pro]

145. Let's insert a little reality here.....

....these were the weather conditions reported by Hopkins International Airport (Cleveland) at the time of the accident.

KCLE 200551Z 01009KT 10SM OVC012 M04/M06 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP193 8/5// T10391061 11017 21039 51014 $
KCLE 200451Z 01010KT 9SM OVC012 M04/M06 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP191 T10391061 400171039 $
KCLE 200351Z 02008KT 10SM OVC012 M03/M06 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP187 T10331056 $
KCLE 200251Z 03009KT 10SM OVC012 M03/M06 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP178 8/5// T10331056 51037 $
KCLE 200151Z 02012KT 10SM OVC010 M03/M05 A3001 RMK AO2 SLP172 T10331050 $
KCLE 200105Z 01014KT 10SM OVC010 M03/M04 A2998 RMK AO2 $
KCLE 200051Z 02013KT 10SM OVC008 M03/M04 A2997 RMK AO2 SLP157 T10281044 $
KCLE 200024Z 01012KT 10SM OVC008 M02/M04 A2994 RMK AO2 $

The gobbledy gook is basically saying that temperatures were below freezing and overcast, otherwise called "known icing conditions." The accident aircraft was a Piper Saratoga, but the aritcle did not say whether it was a TC model with the Piper Inadvertent Icing Protection System (PIIPS) (although I suspect that since it was manufactured in 1997 it didn't have it). Regardless of whether the turbocharged aircraft had PIIPS or not, the aircraft is not certified for flight into know icing conditions, and in this case, IMHO, the only conspiracy here is a conspiracy of stupidity on the part of the pilot to launch into these conditions.

[mod mom]

149. "More importantly, however, he had information that he was ready to share"

From Larisa Alexandrovna:


One of my sources died in a plane crash last night...
http://www.atlargely.com/

I don't usually reveal sources, but I think this is incredibly important. Michael Connell died in a plane crash last night. He was a key witness in the Ohio election fraud case that I have been reporting on (http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Republican_IT_consultant_subpoenaed_in_case_0929.html).

More importantly, however, he had information that he was ready to share.

You see, Mike Connell set-up the alternate email and communications system for the White House. He was responsible for creating the system that hosted the infamous GWB43.com accounts that Karl Rove and others used. When asked by Congress to provide these emails, the White House said that they were destroyed. But in reality, what Connell is alleged to have done is move these files to other servers after having allegedly scrubbed the files from all "known" Karl Rove accounts.
In addition, I have reason to believe that the alternate accounts were used to communicate with US Attorneys involved in political prosecutions, like that of Don Siegelman. This is what I have been working on to prove for over a year. In fact, it was through following the Siegelman-Rove trail that I found evidence leading to Connell. That is how I became aware of him. Mike was getting ready to talk. He was frightened.
He has flown his private plane for years without incident. I know he was going to DC last night, but I don't know why. He apparently ran out of gas, something I find hard to believe. I am not saying that this was a hit nor am I resigned to this being simply an accident either. I am no expert on aviation and cannot provide an opinion on the matter. What I am saying, however, is that given the context, this event needs to be examined carefully. If you want to understand the context more broadly, I suggest you read this article I did a while back about the break-ins and arson cases that Siegelman and others have experienced (http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Breakins_plague_Justice_Department_whistleblowers_0430.html).

Just to be very clear and state again, I am not claiming conspiracy theory or direct relation to Karl Rove or the White House in any of these events. What I am saying, however, is that these possible relationships cannot and should not be overlooked by investigators. There are far too many serious and reasonable questions that must be answered for the public.
I have been to Mr. Connell's home. Mr. Connell has confided that he was being threatened, something that his attorneys also told the judge in the Ohio election fraud case. When I met with Heather, his wife, I did so carefully because of the threats he was getting.
I left a note for her in her mailbox and asked her to meet me in a local park near their home. Heather came and through our conversation I got the sense that these were not bad people or corrupt people. The Connells really believed that what they were involved in served God's plan. Regardless of of what any of us think about their religious views or allegations relating to Connell's involvement in various things, I do think these were good people who got caught up in something bigger than themselves. My heart goes out to Heather and the children.

[MADem]

162. Check his life insurance policy. If he's well insured, then he may have

run out of gas on PURPOSE.

What does a guy, who's headed for a life of disgrace, and maybe jail time, after living high off the Bush-Cheney hog for years, do to support and provide for his wife and kids? Some people are worth more dead than alive.

An investigation will be helpful, certainly. Right now, accident, pilot error, murder, suicide...it could be anything. Heck, he might have filled his tank earlier, and some cretin siphoned off a bit before he took off, and he was careless and didn't bother checking his guages.

It could be anything. No way of knowing without someone on the scene doing some digging. The eagerness to assume a "hit" though, is premature. IMO.

[Bryan Sacks]

how many other similarly stupid pilots launched into the same conditions?

Was he the only one? Were there any other small plane crashes in these conditions? Did they experience icing. Did they land safely?

This is the information which never seems to be readily available at times like these. All we have is the one event.

[Bryan Sacks]

153. how many other similarly stupid pilots launched into the same conditions?

Was he the only one? Were there any other small plane crashes in these conditions? Did they experience icing. Did they land safely?

This is the information which never seems to be readily available at times like these. All we have is the one event.

[MADem]

159. Suicide by plane is also a possibility....Ooops, pilot error! He forgot to check the weather!

The guy was headed for total humiliation. He didn't want to testify. His lawyers were provided by Bush-Cheney.

He wasn't a whistleblower. He was a loyal Republican, caught in a trap. He was compelled to testify. He was about to be disgraced, and possibly do jail time. He had a wife and kids to support, too.

Suicide is one way out in that sort of fix, now, isn't it?

Of course, that theory is NO FUN. Everyone here wants "Rove in the hanger with the pipe wrench" as the solution to this game of CLUE!

[nc4bo]

172. But MADem, "Mike", "e" and "Carol" all posted that he was such a good "Christian"

man and that his "inspirational life--a testimony to his Catholic faith."

Every good Christian knows that suicide is a sin and you will go to hell if you oft yourself.

I guess money outweighs the price of salvation.

[MADem]

177. Of course it is a sin. But if you "accidentally" run out of fuel, why, you can get

that Catholic funeral, now, can't you? Frantic, severely depressed people often do these sorts of things. The balance of their mind is, well...disturbed.

I honestly don't know any intellectual Catholics who really believe that suicide/hell crap. In fact, I personally know a Jesuit priest who said the funeral mass for his dead brother (I knew him as well, and attended the mass) who hanged himself...so surely, there's wiggle room available if you're hooked into the hierarchy, and know how to get around those rules.

Of course, most Catholics I know pay lip service to the church's teachings, but magically manage to limit their childbearing despite the prohibition against birth control. Surely all of them can't be experts with the rhythm method, can they? They come from families with five to twelve kids, and manage to hold their own families down to two or three! Amazing! Funny how that works!

No one can PROVE this sort of "suicide" was deliberate. There's no suicide note. He may have had "appointments" he'd made, perhaps, to suggest he intended to keep them. Maybe even packed a change of underwear.

Everyone sobs, and the Missus and the kids get the life insurance.

He wouldn't be the first to do such a thing. It happens.

[No Elephants]

221. I thought he was an evangelical Christian?

[MADem]

239. I heard he worshipped at St. Hillary's Catholic Church.

http://www.ohio.com/news/break_news/36482529.html

The comments at this link reference his Catholicism.

[Botany]

148. Would that be Mr. Rove's friend in the woodchipper?

[jonmiller74]

151. I tried to Google just his name and found nothing about his death.

Does anyone know how long it typically take for new news items to appears in their search results? If i enter plane along with his name I found something, that seems strange to me considering that if you didn't know he died in a plane, you wouldn't know to enter it as a search criteria.

[we can do it]

155. OMG - It Was One Block from My Dad's, I Had Him Over For Dinner

My brother, his wife and 3 kids were home - their homes connect at the garage.....


:wow:

[mod mom]

158. How bad was the weather last night at the time this happened?

[we can do it]

171. Weather Cold - Pretty Dry Down There

He said it was dry and pretty breezy befroe he left - too weird. He called me when he got home and told me there were lots of people just leaving their cars on the road and walking around. Then a little later he told me they had taken the plane away on a truck, maybe before 10. Is that normal to remove a crashed plane so soon?

[we can do it]

176. I Forgot To Mention, LOTS of Farm Fields Nearby That He Probably Flew Over

[bottomtheweaver]

193. Meaning he was also unconscious

and/or the plane was completely incapacitated?

[Pavulon]

214. Meaning nothing..

Professional Commercial pilots with decades of service die in civil aviation accidents. Not just people with spare money for a hobby. He may have been unaware he had a problem at all. Did not see if he had declared an emergency or not. Either way hit the ntsb site, you will be comforted my the large number of accidents that happen every year. Nothing special.

NTSB investigates accidents like this one all the time.

[roody]

166. Possibly he was not in that plane and is enjoying the beach

with Kenny Boy.

[bottomtheweaver]

170. He was pretty low on the food chain for a Kennyboy special.

I think the reserve that one for Texas brazilionaires.

[annabanana]

169. Regardless of the circumstances, a LOT of information went down

with that plane. A lot of questions will remain unanswered with this man's death.

[AnnieBW]

175. He should have known better

Never, never, never get into a private plane if you're under subpoena.

I'll bet he has an triple-DES encrypted hard drive hidden somewhere in a lock box with ALL of the goods on KKKarl and friends. It's what I would do in that situation.

[we can do it]

178. Check Out the Area On Google Maps

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=2017+Charolais+St+uniontown+ohio&sll=40.931785,-81.374981&sspn=0.008478,0.01354&g=Charolais+St+uniontown+ohio&ie=UTF8&ll=40.933909,-81.375668&spn=0.067825,0.108318&t=h&z=13

[Joanne98]

180. Was this the "high tech Forest Gump" ?

[barbtries]

202. yes

[yourguide]

181. Apparently he ran out of gas.

Now THAT I find suspicious. Planes are gassed up fully before departure usually.

http://www.atlargely.com/2008/12/one-of-my-sources-died-in-a-plane-crash-last-night.html
He has flown his private plane for years without incident. I know he was going to DC last night, but I don't know why. He apparently ran out of gas, something I find hard to believe.

Wouldnt take much to siphon off gas from the tank.

Plane was a piper saratoga P32R and was coming from College park MD, flying to Akron.

Fuel tank holds 102 gallons and appears to use 17 gallons per hour. It appears based on the flight aware records, flight time is approximately an hour and 15 mins. Even assuming the flight was 2 1/2 hours each way, a full tank prior to departure should have still been more than enough fuel to make it there and back.

Again based on flight aware records. He flew to college park on Thursday and left Friday. Plane was left overnight in DC.

[Faygo Kid]

185. THAT is highly suspicious.

I know pilots. The last thing they would do is forget to have enough gas in the tank.

Let the FReepers go nuts over the birth certificate non-issue. This one may actually have meat on its bones.

[yourguide]

188. It gets better

Plane is owned by "Sierra November Aviation". Cant seem to find any corporation by that name EXCEPT in the FAA registration records for the aircraft at that address

However, at the same address I found Mike Connells company "New Media Communications", they received $172K in web development fees for a rethug 527 called Amendus.org in 2004/2005

Still looking for more.

[Pavulon]

210. Umm, flight x, is declaring a fuel emergency...common

aircraft fuel consumption is based a multitude of factors. Point being errors lead to death. Commercial Pilots with years, decades, of experience die in civil aviation accidents.

Civil aviation is dangerous and has a higher incident rate than commercial, by far.

He may have had plenty, diverted due to shit weather, trimmed his plane incorrectly, or had other conditions that changed his rate of fuel consumption.

[Pilotguy]

231. Cause of crash

Fuel exhaustion was probably not the cause of this crash. Witnesses and emergency personnel described the plane as bursting into flames upon impact and the the wreckage burning for sometime after the crash. Planes with no fuel on board do not burn like that. As a previous poster mentioned, airframe or induction icing is more likely to be the cause of the crash.

Here's a photo of the actual plane involved in the crash.

[Pavulon]

256. General aviation question

do you think that an airplane with low wing would be easier to handle in the event of power loss or power reduction?

Would a cessna 172 be easier to handle?

Can icing withing the intake system or control surfaces cause an airframe (or pilot to react and cause ) to do depart from normal flight.

Not quizzing you, just getting your opinion.

My opinion is this guy screwed up and killed himself by flying in conditions that were not appropriate for his skill set. That NTSB will investigate and provide a reasonable explanation for the events that lead this person to crash.

[Joanne98]

183. His wife is still alive. Heather Connell. She cofounded the IT company SHE KNOWS!

Mike Connell 36 CEO, president, co-founder Heather Connell 32 Chief operating officer, co-founder New Media Communications)

As the pundits continue sorting through the 2000 presidential election looking for answers, Mike and Heather Connell can take pride in helping to educate some of the voters.

Mike and Heather Connell, a husband-and-wife team, founded the Richfield-based web development firm New Media Communications in January 1995. The company's web site portfolio is a virtual Who's Who list of powerful Republicans, including George W. Bush, for whom New Media redesigned a presidential campaign site at www.georgewbush.com. New Media also has designed campaign web sites for Ohio Gov. Bob Taft and Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

Although New Media has designed commercial web sites, the company's ...

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-67415568.html

[sweetroxie]

212. From Larisa Alexandrovna

http://www.atlargely.com/2008/12/one-of-my-sources-died-in-a-plane-crash-last-night.html

One of my sources died in a plane crash last night...
UPDATED BELOW (1, 2, and 3) Scroll down

I don't usually reveal sources, but I think this is incredibly important. Michael Connell died in a plane crash last night. He was a key witness in the Ohio election fraud case that I have been reporting on. More importantly, however, he had information that he was ready to share.

You see, Mike Connell set-up the alternate email and communications system for the White House. He was responsible for creating the system that hosted the infamous GWB43.com accounts that Karl Rove and others used. When asked by Congress to provide these emails, the White House said that they were destroyed. But in reality, what Connell is alleged to have done is move these files to other servers after having allegedly scrubbed the files from all "known" Karl Rove accounts.

In addition, I have reason to believe that the alternate accounts were used to communicate with US Attorneys involved in political prosecutions, like that of Don Siegelman. This is what I have been working on to prove for over a year. In fact, it was through following the Siegelman-Rove trail that I found evidence leading to Connell. That is how I became aware of him. Mike was getting ready to talk. He was frightened.

He has flown his private plane for years without incident. I know he was going to DC last night, but I don't know why. He apparently ran out of gas, something I find hard to believe. (See Update 3 below). I am not saying that this was a hit nor am I resigned to this being simply an accident either. I am no expert on aviation and cannot provide an opinion on the matter. What I am saying, however, is that given the context, this event needs to be examined carefully. If you want to understand the context more broadly, I suggest you read this article I did a while back about the break-ins and arson cases that Siegelman and others have experienced.

Just to be very clear and state again, I am not claiming conspiracy theory or direct relation to Karl Rove or the White House in any of these events. What I am saying, however, is that these possible relationships cannot and should not be overlooked by investigators. There are far too many serious and reasonable questions that must be answered for the public.

I have been to Mr. Connell's home. Mr. Connell has confided that he was being threatened, something that his attorneys also told the judge in the Ohio election fraud case. When I met with Heather, his wife, I did so carefully because of the threats he was getting.

I left a note for her in her mailbox and asked her to meet me in a local park near their home. Heather came and through our conversation I got the sense that these were not bad people or corrupt people. The Connell's really believed that what they were involved in served God's plan. Regardless of of what any of us think about their religious views or allegations relating to Connell's involvement in various things, I do think these were good people who got caught up in something bigger than themselves. My heart goes out to Heather and the children.

UPDATE ONE

Okay children - because that is what I am going to call adults who willfully mis-read information. I will say this AGAIN (as I have twice in the above entry and also used bold case so that no one would miss the caveat), I am NOT - I repeat NOT - saying this was a). a murder, b). that it was in any way connected to the White House or to Karl Rove, and c). that I am convinced of any of the above three.

On the contrary, I have said - AND AM NOTING AGAIN - that I don't know what happened. I am NOT an aviation expert. What I am saying - AGAIN - is that the context is important and must be considered. Investigators must conduct their work transparently on this case as to address the many serious and reasonable (not remotely CT-based questions) relating to this crash and the person who died. The public has a right to know and investigators must address these questions by conducting a very open investigation of the crash.

The facts are not all in yet and so I have no answers for you - AS I HAVE ALREADY NOTED. But I felt it important to share the context, obligated even to share it. Now if you folks (you know who you are) want to read this as me rolling myself in tin-foil, then that is your choice. Obviously that is not my hope, but I cannot help the lunacy that people want to engage in.

[Ysabela]

219. Yet another assassination. *sigh* k/r

[valerief]

223. The email guy? I wonder if he was conveniently disposed of. nt

[lovuian]

227. kick

:kick:

[PATRICK]

228. Suspicious deaths

so conveniently cast a pall on others joining the troublemaker. That pattern is consistently coincidental. It might not be Rove completely if there was such a thing. The legitimacy of the Bush administration in the real world of facts is as paper thin as what-s left of the flesh remaining in Cheney's mechanical heart. Though the MSM more than looks the other way, destroying the myth that Bush and Cheney were even elected and THAT quintessential treason revealed would crumble everything that no mere money or power scandal that followed(save MIHOP 9/11) could.

Someone a problem? Someone who uses a small plane regularly. Wow, do we have a plausibly denied solution for you! Someday the sheer number of significant convenient victims will violate the statistical probability charts, but how can that cause anything but a stir of fear in the corporate media?

However we don't need much of a conspiracy or murder plot. The main fact is that the scandals of the RW are buried and denied until they go away. The same as having faulty election software that publicly misfires, having a repressive news and government climate superimposed makes the solution(not the theory)
an open possibility for the vilest scum that ever infiltrated and stole our democracy. The results of media complicity are worse than the death of any individual. It is the ignored ignorers who are materially left to benefit when justice is snuffed out and the pressure makes any convenient setback for the good a fatal tragedy for truth.

[KoKo]

233. Seems "Corporate Media" and many Progressive Blogs are not reporting this...story is dead...

It's even lost it's "TOP NUMBER" on DU FRONT PAGE....

What's with that? Why are Mainstream Media not touching it and Josh Marshall as of 4:00 p.m. (est) still had not reported it on his "From the Wire" section of his blog. :shrug:

Has anyone seen any media reporting this from the MSM sites?

[KamaAina]

235. Please, oh please, let him have stashed an envelope somewhere marked

"To be opened only in the event of my death."

[RandomThoughts]

236. Could be faked death

to allow new identity and relocation also,
A bit tin foil hat, but it is possible.

[Dennis Donovan]

245. An aircraft crashed. One would assume the aircraft was piloted...

[RandomThoughts]

248. Many assumptions there (a common thing to do)

First a plane can easily be geared to take off without a pilot. They do it all the time in parks and playgrounds with 50 dollar controllers.

Second if there was a pilot, their is no guarentee of who was the pilot.

Third there is no guarentee there even was a crash.

I remember seeing on tv a plane crash in 2003, I am really sure that one was faked, they never showed wreckage, and instead showed just a couple firemen spraying brush and file photage of a plane taking off.

Creating fear, by making the illusion, that talkers against the system get killed, is a common method of silencing whistle blowers.

However, it is possible he did die in an accident, and it is possible it was intentional.

And I hope the family finds comfort through their faith in their time of loss. and in no way devalue the loss to them by commenting on possibilities.

Here's the thing, Rove and the Republicans are not going to start killing people so obviously against them. If they open that can of worms, they lose, if the battle of truth and justice turns to vigilante killings, the status quo and power lose bad. Really bad, it is law, or more control of mechanism of law(lack of justice) that maintains their power.

One of the first rules of the 'group' is no killing, cause once it goes there, they are screwed, they are outnumbered a million to 1, and if it turns into a battle of vigilante killing they are so screwed.

So my actual guess would be if the guy was killed, it is equally possible, it was not Rove, but way to further hurt a certain group, by giving them blame for it.

[Daemonaquila]

237. Ah, yes - the Bushies' accident of choice.

So, who's next? So many embarrassing loose ends to tie up for the administration, so little time...

[Grinchie]

242. Obviously it was Suicide

Just like th Mayflower Madam.

[Ellipsis]

243. AP article keeps it short.

Pilot killed in Ohio crash was GOP consultant

1 hour ago

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — An Ohio pilot who died in a small plane crash was a Republican media consultant who helped operate campaign Web sites for President Bush and former presidential nominee John McCain.

Forty-five-year-old Michael Connell of Akron was killed Friday when his plane crashed near a vacant house in a rural area of Uniontown, about 10 miles southeast of Akron. He was attempting to land the aircraft at the nearby Akron-Canton Airport.

Connell was the CEO and founder of Cleveland-based New Media Communications, which built campaign Web sites for Bush and McCain, according to the company's Web site. The site says the company also worked with the Ohio Republican Party, the Republican National Committee and other political groups.

No one on the ground was injured. The plane did not have any passengers.
Hosted by Google

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iv1YXgRc_JuC50GZ7oqT1tcBGF0QD956TJF80

[Overseas]

246. Kicking this thread again because it is till haunting news.

I only hope that his deposition was taped before he went flying.

[ohio2007]

247. the tin foilers live for moments like these

a chance to bump Chicago politics off the front page.

That governor Blagojevich coverage was getting stale

[Faygo Kid]

250. "Tin foilers?" When BradBlog reported that he was threatened by Rove?

Speculating on this is hardly a "tin foil" moment, given the background here.

[Pavulon]

254. Pop a guy and turn his pockets

inside out and some podunk police investigate. Do this NTSB investigates. This is like stabbing a person to death with a sewing needle.

[Overseas]

259. Deleted.