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WikiLeaks offers $20,000 for information on former DNC staffer's murder

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Re: WikiLeaks offers $20,000 for information on former DNC staffer's murder

#161
post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You are incorrect. DNC is not state funded.

Actually, in several states the two-party system is baked pretty deeply into the state-level laws. Pennsylvania, for example, has a primary system where one has to declare whether one is Democrat, Republican, or Independent, and then must vote on the ballot corresponding to that declaration (with the Independent ballot holding only referendum questions and not any input into the primary process). Those elections use…

It's not "functionally equivalent" at all

Re: WikiLeaks offers $20,000 for information on former DNC staffer's murder

#162

it's pretty clear from interviews with Assange that Wikileaks is entirely ego driven, and always has been. When his trial was happening rather than let Wikileaks distance itself from it, like other leaders like this would, he used it as a tool to argue his case to the public. He has been releasing information out of spite rather than public good. An impartial organization like Wikileaks should exist, that whistleblow…

Why don't you start your own? Do you have to become a perfectly neutral angel to run any platform?

Re: WikiLeaks offers $20,000 for information on former DNC staffer's murder

#163
post #156

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Outing a source that's already dead and everyone who wants anyone connected to him controlled/dead? No, I don't think there's any added risk at this point.

Not in this case, but if it turns out Seth Rich was the source, then I imagine future sources will be wary about leaking to an organisation who carelessly gives away their identities in media interviews. Also compare it to Assange's previous statements about the importance of protecting the anonymity of their sources and that creating ambiguity and uncertainty is one way of doing that.

Identity was given away after he's been killed. That is to say, he was already outed. There is no danger anymore as it's been realized and the people out for blood already got it.

Re: WikiLeaks offers $20,000 for information on former DNC staffer's murder

#164

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's simpler than that. In the past, information was passed to trusted reporters because the media was trusted. A lot of what Wikileaks is reporting now is that the media is coordinating with the same people that these leaks are about in the first place. In other words, the media isn't trustworthy. So it's a choice, put it out whole, or take a real risk that it'll never see the light of day. You could argue that Wiki…

You both appear to be forgetting something much more important. Information was passed to trusted reporters because they were the only ones who had access and the ability to publish in a newspaper so that many people could be informed at once. This is no longer exclusively the purview of newspaper/television reporters.

That's a really good point. And to think, I grew up pre-Internet, and have forgotten all about that!

Re: WikiLeaks offers $20,000 for information on former DNC staffer's murder

#165

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, being cooped up in an embassy for years while state actors hold phony charges against you threatening your arrest must be for the thrill of it.

He can leave at any time remember. The locks are on the inside of his door. EDIT: Awesome! Downvoted with no comment!

If he leaves, he goes to jail.

Re: WikiLeaks offers $20,000 for information on former DNC staffer's murder

#166

If this is a conspiracy and someone knows something about this murder why would $20,000 change their mind if they haven't already reported their knowledge to the police?

Some people are in fact motivated by money. Lots of things will begin to make sense to you, if you consider them from that perspective.

Re: WikiLeaks offers $20,000 for information on former DNC staffer's murder

#167

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Actually, in several states the two-party system is baked pretty deeply into the state-level laws. Pennsylvania, for example, has a primary system where one has to declare whether one is Democrat, Republican, or Independent, and then must vote on the ballot corresponding to that declaration (with the Independent ballot holding only referendum questions and not any input into the primary process). Those elections use…

That's a bit of a stretch to reach the conclusion the DNC and RNC are "state funded". Poll workers are volunteers, the machines are bought with taxpayer money but they are used for multiple types elections (from state to federal).

Not all poll workers are volunteers. I'm a majority inspector; I'm state-paid. I'm required to show up for the primaries.

Re: WikiLeaks offers $20,000 for information on former DNC staffer's murder

#168

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's a bit of a strawman argument. The least they could do is vet the material with reporters, the media would have jumped all over these emails. If their reporting partners for some reason determined they didn't want to run with the story, then WikiLeaks could just go ahead and do what they've already done. The fact that they don't care about the vetting aspect anymore just confirms the DNC leak was petty and pers…

>The DNC isn't even a government, wasn't the whole point of WikiLeaks to hold governments and their leaders accountable? Something tells me you would not be making this comment if they released leaks that implicated "evil" corporations like Exxon-Mobile, Wal-Mart, Koch, ect.

If Wal-Mart had an election for their CEO and the deck was stacked, I would probably be equally surprised.

Re: WikiLeaks offers $20,000 for information on former DNC staffer's murder

#169

Of course you'll be called a "conspiracy theorist" for speculating about this case in any way deviating from the official narrative. But the circumstances are extremely suspicious. The DNC voter expansion data director was found shot dead, assassination style, two bullets in the back, in one of the safest neighborhoods of DC. Nothing was taken off his person. No forensic evidence was left behind. Yet the police deeme…

> Of course you'll be called a "conspiracy theorist" for speculating about this case in any way deviating from the official narrative.

Prior to Snowden, people who warned about extensive government surveillance were dismissed as 'conspiracy theorists'. After Snowden, everyone said, "oh all this was common knowledge anyway".

Prior to the DNCLeaks, Sanders supporters who complained about the DNC favouring Hillary were dismissed as 'conspiracy theorists'. After to the leaks, everyone said, "oh this was all common knowledge anyway"

Things are getting pretty messed up. I used to mentally snicker at anyone who seriously used terms like 'liberal media' and 'mainstream media' as pejoratives. And yet here we are in 2016, and it's harder and harder to deny that they are right to use terms like that.

And I'm appalled. I don't know what to do about it, but when you have self-declared liberal readers of the NYTimes complaining that they have to go to Fox News of all places to get the full story[0], then you know there are serious problems.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/24/public-editor/liz-spayd-th...

Re: WikiLeaks offers $20,000 for information on former DNC staffer's murder

#170

Very strong anti-Wikileaks vibe in this thread. But, why? Someone was murdered (irrespective of if they're a Wikileaks source or not) and Wikileaks is putting money on the table to help get it solved and bringing greater attention to it. In my book trying to help solve murders is a Good Thing™. I have to say I am surprised, in 2016, how well the Red Scare still works in the US. You say Russia is behind something and…

It's because Assange is just offering this reward to create this news story in order to harm Hillary Clinton as much as possible as part of his personal vendetta against her. I respect Manning and Snowden immensely, but Assange now is clearly playing a personal game which happens to be extremely dangerous for the rest of us.
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