Thursday, January 22, 2009

Spin Meisters Extraordinaire

Congressman Harry Reid

Perhaps this is not exactly the right moment to be cynical about our politicians, Barack Obama in his honeymoon period an' all, but I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to post this true story.

It happens that genealogist Judy Wallman was researching her own family tree, in particular a C19 ancestor - Remus Reid. And she thought of enlisting the help of a family relation, the politician Harry Reid, about their mutual antecedent.

She currently knew that Remus Reid had been hanged in 1889 in Montana for horse stealing and robbery.

Remus Reid's Execution, 1889

Harry Reid, old pollie spin meister that he is, sent her the biographical 'information' he had in his possession:

'Remus Reid was a famous cowboy in the Montana Territory. His business empire grew to include acquisition of valuable equestrian assets and intimate dealings with the Montana railroad. Beginning in 1883, he devoted several years of his life to government service, finally taking leave to resume his dealings with the railroad. In 1887, he was a key player in a vital investigation run by the renowned Pinkerton Detective Agency.
In 1889, Remus passed away during an important civic function held in his honour when the platform upon which he was standing collapsed.

LOL !!!
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15 comments:

  1. AnonymousJanuary 23, 2009 at 2:29 AM

    It could be interesting if this were anything more than a recycled urban myth that has pointed towards Hillary Clinton, George Bush, Al Gore & many others. All inacurately of course.

    That said, this knowledge provides a new opportunity to engage President Obama's clarion call: "On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord. On this day, we come to proclaim an end to petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and warn out dogmas that have for too long strangled our politics."

    ReplyDelete
  2. nickwallacesmithJanuary 23, 2009 at 4:52 AM

    hey josh

    there are a hundred and one reasons - i think yours are at the top of the list! LOL

    and hilarious spin - don't you think!

    ReplyDelete
  3. GregJanuary 23, 2009 at 7:13 AM

    Don't even get me started on that guy!
    Even after the dems took control of congress, he still allowed Dubya to get his way and ignored (along with Pelosi) the call to impeach the bugger!

    Hey! I told you not to get me started! lol

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousJanuary 23, 2009 at 8:34 AM

    This is an Internet joke. The same thing was written about a relative of Tipper Gore. Check www.snopes.com before you run this stuff.

    ReplyDelete
  5. The White Water KidJanuary 23, 2009 at 10:32 AM

    Popcorn! Peanuts! Hey, getcher Red-Hots 'ere folks, hey Red-Hots! Peanuts! Programs! Programs 'ere folks! Can't tell who's gettin' their neck stretched wif'out a program!

    An important civic function indeed! The school children probably got a holiday. Now if we could only stretch the necks of a few Congressmen.

    BTW Josh, I loved the comment about getting fucked in the days before electricity.

    Thanks for telling me about this blog.

    ReplyDelete
  6. BenJanuary 23, 2009 at 12:25 PM

    That he even had to spin it at all.
    Says a lot about him. lol

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousJanuary 23, 2009 at 1:11 PM

    Mr. Harry Reid is a US Senator, not a Congressman, and he is the US Senate Majority Leader. Congressman is the title of someone who is in the US House of Representatives.

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousJanuary 23, 2009 at 2:18 PM

    That's too too funny. The platform on which he was standing collapsed. ROFLMAO.


    Alan down in Florida

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousJanuary 23, 2009 at 4:40 PM

    Ha!!! I love it!
    Wit

    ReplyDelete
  10. nickwallacesmithJanuary 23, 2009 at 9:23 PM

    hey everyone

    i must say i half suspected it was a great urban myth

    but was hoping against hope it was not - it was so damn funny

    i think the thing that makes it such a laugh - is that it is so close to being what we all know is true!!!

    nick

    ReplyDelete
  11. nickwallacesmithJanuary 23, 2009 at 9:31 PM

    hey WWK

    LOL - was probably the best entertainment in town before movies and TV!!!

    BTW, liked your blog - a great read

    will be going back

    nick

    ReplyDelete
  12. nickwallacesmithJanuary 23, 2009 at 10:49 PM

    hey greg

    only solution to politically motivated agitation is more porn

    try it and tell us if this works - LOL!!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. AnonymousJanuary 27, 2009 at 4:26 PM

    The individual being hanged is not Remus Reid, but the notorious outlaw Black Jack Ketchum. Unfortunately he put on a considerable amount of weight on death row, and he was decapitated by the drop........

    ReplyDelete
  14. nickwallacesmithJanuary 27, 2009 at 8:40 PM

    hey anon

    was wondering who the guy was - thanks for tell us - i'll google him out

    even more grizzly end than you'd imagine!

    and a warning to the perils of over-eating

    ReplyDelete
  15. nickwallacesmithJanuary 27, 2009 at 8:41 PM

    PS and there's the grizzly photo on the net to prove the grizzly end

    :0 !!!

    ReplyDelete

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