Greta Van Susteren Answers Criticism About Natalee Holloway Shows. Why?

Greta Van Susteren, I am not sure why we would even have to say this to you … but why would you feel the need to answer criticism about your show and the coverage of Natalee Holloway? Who would complain about your coverage of Natalee Holloway, a missing teenager in Aruba, who symbolically represents all teenage girls who go on vacations and think they are safe and immune to real life dangers that exist in overstated safe island paradises.

Let us just say there is a big difference between criticism of one’s opinions and criticism of one’s content. One you have a right to, the other you do not.

I agree with Greta’s answer when it comes to those who wish to tell you what is important and what you should do and write on. The blogosphere is not all that much different from TV in that respect. Whether it be remote, key board or mouse; they are one in the same.

“They should take out the remote control if they don’t like it,” says the attorney-cum-broadcasting star with characteristic directness.

One wonders why people would criticize Greta for her coverage of Natalee Holloway. Is it the competition who fell to a distant second, or those that just feel the need to think they know more than a successful broadcaster? The make-up of Greta’s show would be a natural to cover such a story.

“On Natalee Holloway, we worked hard and fast in the beginning and we had all the sources and contacts — and being aggressive enables us to get the jump on other people.” (National Ledger)

For the most part Greta Van Susteren walked a fine balance between reporting, fact gathering, exclusives and ratings. That is what boosted her show, “On The Record” ahead of The O’Reilly Factor last summer. On The Record was must see TV for those that wanted information on the Natalee Holloway case. However, I will say she made a tactical error when she had the opportunity to interview Joran Van der Sloot, (interview 2 or 3) that cost her in the eyes of many. Not holding Joran’s feet, or sneakers as the case may be, to the fire was one. The other was stating “she was inclined to believe him“. It hardly seem possible especially coming from an attorney who was privy to so much inside information in the case due to her special relationship with Beth Twitty. Maybe it was just said in hopes of getting interview II?

 For those who wish to criticize Greta for her coverage of Natalee Holloway miss the big picture. Yes, I know this is a new flash to all you college journalism majors, but the media is about ratings. The media is not about altruistic stories that win Pulitzers. You will learn that when you graduate. That being said, the media is about ratings. What the media learned is that missing persons gather ratings. 

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Tour de France winner Floyd Landis denies Doping, This is going to get Ugly

Yesterday Tour de France winner Floyd Landis denied taking any performance-enhancing drugs during the race and said he would fight to clear his name.

“I don’t know what the explanation for it is, whether it was a mistake or whether it’s an occurrence from some other circumstances that go on in the race or something I did,” he told reporters in a teleconference call.

“But it was not from an exogenous outside source of testosterone.”

When asked by reporters if he had taken any banned substances to boost his performance during the race, Landis replied: “No”.

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Local Boy Does Good … Gateway Pundit Featured by ST Media

There is not a day that goes by that I do not check out the GateWay Pundit for international and political news. However, the Gateway Pundit is not just another blog, the Gateway Pundit is Jim Hoft and a friend. Scared Monkeys met up with Jim for the first time last summer at Blog Nashville and struck up a nice friendship. The hard work that the Gateway Pundit does is respected and appreciated by many, present company included. Â  

I would recommend that everyone check out his site. Whether one agrees with him politically makes no difference. His coverage of international affairs and sources are among the best on the web.

Great job Gateway … BTW … I thought we were one of your Blog heroes? You know we love ya. Â  

Aruban Investigation: Paulus Van der Sloot Pulling in the Favors

Paulus Van der Sloot and the never ending Favors.

(Hat Tip: Klaas, click on picture to enlarge)

When one has friends in high places, favors are not only a premium, they are a necessity. One never knows when they will need to call in their mark. After all is said and done, Paulus Van der Sloot awaits the judges decision in his civil law suit against Aruba for false imprisonment. A law suit where not only Paulus stands to gain financially, but his son Joran as well who is still a suspect the last time I looked.

Let us remember back to the 48 Hours – CBS – Saturday, 3/25/2006, interview with Gerold Dompig.  Dompig accuses the elder Van der Sloot of being knowing more and being involved.

Dompig says he believes Paulus van der Sloot does know more than he has been telling about the circumstances surrounding Holloway’s disappearance.

The exact quote from the interview was as follows:

Troy Roberts (CBS): Do you believe Paulus Van Der Sloot knows more than he has been telling?
Gerold Dompig: Yes I Do…

Not only is a suspect in Joran Van der Sloot somehow given the right by a judge to receive monies for damages, but also Paulus was given the right to sue when the chief of police thinks he is complicit in the crime.

Paulus, its good to know people in high places isn’t it?

Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act Signed into Law

Today President George W. Bush signed into law “The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act” or H.R. 4472. This ground breaking legislation in the protection of children and against sexual predators is a long time in coming. Child rights advocates have called this bill the  most sweeping sex offender legislation to target pedophiles in years. Kudos to John Walsh who has been the pioneer and driving force for child safety for years.

Read the full story and get the changes that this law will enact at Missing & Exploited.

Massachusetts Turnpike Authority Chairman Matthew Amorello Resigns in Big Dig Death Fiasco

Well its about time. Massachusetts Turnpike Authority Chairman Matthew Amorello resigns in wake of the death of a motorist from the “Big Dig” death trap.

What 12 billion dollars could not do, 12 tons of concrete has finally accomplished. Amorello’s embarrassment as chairman of the MTA has finally turned from corruption to death. How sad it was OK for Amorello to continue on as MTA chair when just the tax payer were being screwed from the 10 billion dollar cost over-run of the “Big Dig” project as opposed to that negligence leading to death. But wait, one last Amorello act of corruption to the tax payers … Amorello will be paid until February 2007.

Amorello’s resignation will be effective Aug. 15, but he will continue to receive his $223,000 annual salary through Feb. 15.

Natalee Holloway Aruban Investigation: What ever Happened to the Evidence?

What has become of the evidence and how was it handled?

(Vanderbilt – ‘06)

Many have speculated that there is no evidence to convict the three primary suspects, Joran Van der Sloot, Deepak and Satish Kalpoe of a crime against Natalee Holloway. Maybe the problem is no one knows where the evidence is.

What ever happened to all the evidence that was found, turned over to the ALE and to Holland for forensic tests?

What has become of the computer hard drives of these three suspects? The cell phone records and text messaging evidence? Surely such evidence clearly points as to who called who, when and where and which stories match what has been provided in statements by the suspects.

What has become of all the evidence that has been discovered? Are we to believe that testing has ever been done and if so, if it believable? Is there information that the police are holding back? Why was it said that a suspect confessed and then was retracted? Can any of it be believed?

Add more to the list of evidence that should likely lead to the arrest and prosecution of the three suspects in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway.

(Click on map to enlarge)

Bloody Mattress found: Sunday June 5, 2005

Painting of Rocks: June 10–11, 2005

Items found on June 14, 2005

  Charles Rafini, the Aruban teen who says he found the underwear and condoms in the brush, as well as duct tape and a string cut from a bikini or halter top, at a location commonly known to locals as a make-out spot, described the underwear he found as pink with flowers on them. He told FOX News on Wednesday that the location of the findings “is not too far” from the Marriott hotel. When Rafini hand-carried the articles to police, he said, “they told me, ‘nice job’ … and they will go figure out what’s going on.”

Duct Tape

Condom

Panties

String cut from Halter Top

Aruba Cops Search Dutch Suspect’s Home: June 15, 2005

Teen Suspects homes searched and cars removed: June 15, 2005

Snorkeling in shallow water and came across two bones that they took to the Aruban Police station: July 16, 2005

Tour de France winner Floyd Landis tested positive for high levels of testosterone According to UCI

Here we go again. Talk about calling this one. Last Sunday when Floyd Landis captured the Tour de France we made the following  prediction that seems to have been dead on.

Let’s just hope the French don’t start with drug  accusations of  Landis as they did with Armstrong as American’s dominated what is mainly considered a European sport.

  The International Cycling Union   (UCI) conveniently located in Paris, France has accused an unknown rider of  Ã‚  failing a dope test during the race. Never going to guess who that rider is.

You guessed it, Tour de France winner, Floyd Landis. This is almost hard to believe. The UCI has accused past 7 time winner American Lance Armstrong of the same without success. Now after Armstrong retires and another American wins the Tour de France. What happens? They accuse him  of failing a drug test as well.

The Swiss-based Phonak team said it was notified by the UCI on Wednesday that Landis’ sample showed “an unusual level of testosterone/epitestosterone” when he was tested after stage 17 of the race last Thursday.

One begins to really wonder whether these tests are legitimate and believable or this has become a sour grapes witch hunt. It is hard to imagine that with all eyes on the bicycling world and the legitimate doping scandals and accusations that anyone would continue to cheat. It makes these accusations rather hard to accept. Maybe American riders just have more testosterone.

Tour De France Winner Flunks Drug Test

LONDON (AP) — Tainted at the start, the Tour de France may have been tainted at the finish, too. Floyd Landis’ stunning Tour de France victory was thrown into question Thursday when his team said he tested positive for high testosterone levels during stage 17.

According to Arlene Landis, her son said he  did nothing wrong.

But Arlene Landis said her son called Thursday from Europe and told her he had not done anything wrong.

“He said, ‘There’s no way,’” she said in an interview with The Associated Press at her home in Farmersville, Pa. “I really believe him. I don’t think he did anything wrong.”

Second-place finisher Pereiro said he was in no mood to celebrate.

“Should I win the Tour now it would feel like an academic victory,” Pereiro told The Associated Press at his home in Vigo, Spain. “The way to celebrate a win is in Paris, otherwise it’s just a bureaucratic win.”

(AP)

Natalee Holloway Investigation: What was Happening One Year Ago Today

July 26, 2005: Events taking place in the Natalee Holloway Investigation:

Texas Equusearch is Arriving on Aruba Today

Aruban Authorities are Draining a Pond

New witnesses in Aruba; Credible or Just another Story

Red is Going to Aruba with Texas Equusearch

Jury Reaches Verdict in Andrea Yates Murder Trial

According to Fox News, the jury deliberating the fate of Andrea Yates has reached a verdict, which will be announced at 12:30 p.m. EDT.

Yates is accused of drowning her children in the bathtub of their Texas home. Her earlier murder conviction was overturned because of incorrect testimony by a witness.

Jury Finds Andrea Yates Not Guilty of Murdering Her Children

HOUSTON   Ã¢â‚¬”  A jury on Wednesday found Houston mom Andrea Yates not guilty of murdering her five kids by reason of insanity.