Could "Pastor" Jones have been "scared straight"?

[CTyankee]

I think I heard that FBI agents visited Jones down in Florida. What I am wondering is if they might have laid out for him a reality that he hadn't envisioned: the reality of the terrorism threat here and what that might mean for him, his family and his congregation (such as it is).

He's has more than his allotment of minutes of fame. Something had to have made him change his mind. I can think of no further inducement than either gut wrenching fear OR "an offer he can't refuse" which was almost made by Donald Trump (who wussed out pricewise...).

Just speculation on my part here on this Friday morning...:hi:

[saltpoint]

1. Very possible.

I also haven't ruled out the possibility that he is one of the most brain-damaged jerks to ever appear on a cable news interview, and that's saying something.

'Heard his press conference yesterday and wondered what disorder he suffers from -- one of those Expressive Language disorders or other?

Something is terribly wrong with this guy.

[MadMaddie]

12. He was kicked out of German for running a cult for 10 years

The followers are still receiving mental health help. The article is in Der Spiegel, I am looking for the link.

[saltpoint]

14. Hi, MadMaddie. Yes. I did a little googling on this guy

yesterday and found the story on his German escapades.

When they ran clips on the radio of Jones speaking about the NYC imam, he kept using the pronounciation 'iman,' which was creepy. I wondered if he was doing it on purpose, the way the Pukes say 'Democrat' instead of 'Democratic,' or if he was really so thick-headed that he didn't know how to say that word.

I just get a huge creep factor from Rev. Jones.

[MadMaddie]

32. Hey Saltpoint thanks for researching it

Yea, I get the vibe that he is Jim Jones redux.....hell bent creating havoc.

[Bragi]

2. Quite possible

They may have shown him the evidence they have that jihadists would be putting out a fatwa on him that would last the rest of his life.

So you may be right, that he abandoned his idiotic but legal expression of free speech when faced with evidence that he would be killed by jihadists.

Personally, I don't consider that a victory for America. All that's happened is that Jones may be out of the story, but I think the "2010 Koran Burning Crisis" is just beginning.

[KharmaTrain]

3. He's Still Milking His 15 Minutes...

I'm sure Jones was "talked to"...but not sure who did the talking. In short, this shitbag got more than he bargained for. Yes, he got lots of publicity for his two-bit "church" and became a national personality...his ego runneth over. The problem was he was getting a little too much attention. It was one thing to spark Islamophobia...fear and hatred, but the coverage was starting to put him and his ilk in a bad light...they were looking for a way out. My bets it was some other "preacher" who got to him to try to cool his jets. Someone hooked him up with the local Imam...I'm sure Jones didn't pick up the phone and try to call.

I suspect this non-story will be back as Jones won't get his meeting and will try to get his 15 minute back...let's see if the corporate media is accomodating. My bets are they will...

[Bragi]

17. The corporate media don't matter

This story has been ramped up by jihadist propaganda outfits fro several weeks now, long before the US media went nuts over it after Patraeus spoke, and the admin got involved.

But they don't need CNN to get their message out, nor will they need CNN and the others to distribute burning Koran images from Jones or anyone else.

The corporate media are probably pleased that everyone wants them not to cover this. It's like with the danish cartoons. Media whjo published the cartoons were threatened and attacked. "Responsible" media who caved in to the jihadists and didn't publish the cartoons were given a pass.

We are down the rabbit hole, folks, and this crisis is just beginning.

[KharmaTrain]

21. The Corporate Media Is Lazy

We've seen our news media get downscaled and outsourced over the past 20 years. "Deregulation" removed any obligation broadcast operations have to offer true public service...it's all about profit and ratings. Since Faux has the higher ratings this is somehow equated into popularity and importance. It's also created the "fair and balanced" game where no matter how lopsided polls may read the rest of the "media" feels obligated to give the right wing an "equal" say on all issues despite how out of the mainstream they may be. It's the ultimate big lie...say it often enough and loud enough people will believe it.

[pinboy3niner]

4. That's not a bad guess

The only thing is, this guy is unpredictable and can change his mind again. For all we know, he's got a dartboard on the wall with rings that say, "Burn" and "Don't Burn."

I hope you're right about personal safety being an important factor in his final decision. There's been enough damage already, but his going through with his stunt would set off a powder keg.

:hi:

[CTyankee]

8. Being hunted down like a dog for the rest of his life...not knowing if he can start his

car without being blown to bits, perhaps being kidnapped and secretly taken to the ME for torture and/or beheading...these are some scenarios that might "focus the mind."

But, who knows? Zealots have been known to actually burn with desire for their own "martyrdom."

BTW, can you join the Friday afternoon challenge this week? It'll be around 5 pm today...:hi:

[pinboy3niner]

10. Don't know if I can make the Challenge

I'll be out of town and don't know what time I'll get home. We're setting up the Moving Wall in a town 2 hrs. away, and it's hard to predict when we'll finish. If I do make it back in time, I'll certainly check out what kind of torture you have in store for us today. :)

[CTyankee]

11. Oh, don't worry. There's plenty of "torture" to come with future Challenges!

It's fun dreaming up fiendish challenge questions!

[bushisanidiot]

5. More like someone from FOX news visited him, paid him for his story

and told him "that'll do, pig" and he is taking his korans and going home.

[Stevenmarc]

6. I think he was more scared of the bill than the FBI...

I heard an interview from the police chief that he told Jones that he would be getting the bill for all the extra police presence and overtime, which was going to be quite a chunk of change.

[IBEWVET]

7. I think the fed's gave him two choices

One forget the whole thing or two face the force of the FBI and IRS watching his every move from now on. And maybe looking into his past, I am sure this work of art has some skeletons that he would rather not be exposed.

[Bragi]

18. So this admin operates just like Bush? /nt

[Botany]

19. I think that is more in line of what happened

"Pastor do you want the rest of your life to be a living hell? If so we can make it happen."

Jones is all full of bluff and I bet a couple of FBI agents could put the fear of God in him.


BTW he already has had 1 death to be accounted for ....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4535356

[H2O Man]

9. Yes, of course.

As others here have noted, they could have applied pressure in the context of the event and his future. I'd add that he might also have picked up clues that they are very aware of his past.

[End Of The Road]

13. That was my first thought, too.

Somebody got to him. I doubt we'll ever know who, or what, it was.

But it certainly wasn't God, or basic decency on his part...

[tibbiit]

15. Sara Palin asked him to "Stand down"

As a fellow christian warrior.
He just had to find a way to "save face"
tib

[dkf]

16. I think he didn't need to do it because he already made his point.

If you all think his little stunt backfired you have got it all wrong. He wanted to blow up the positive narrative that was coming out on Islam. A religion of peace we say...yet he gets death threats and we all think he was scared for his life and the life of his family and with good cause?

Just this thread is feeding into the fear of Islam. If we think the riots and killing will make Americans less fearful of Islam and Muslims we are crazy. Muslims will be more "other" than ever.

[Bragi]

20. That is the jihadist agenda, isn't it

America is playing into this strategy nicely.

If America caves in to the jihadist threats, they win. If America stands firm, they riot and kill.

Either way, the Koran-burning crisis is good news for them.

[dkf]

23. I'm not sure it's in the Jihadist agenda but it sure isn't part of the "Islam is peace" agenda.

[CTyankee]

27. Well, I think it is realistic to say that there are crazies of all stripes out there.

And he could be made to be more fearful of them. That is all.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

22. Meh. He's just a mediawhore

milking it for all he can get out of it. The media are his pimps.

[Erose999]

24. The constant threat of a well deserved ass-whoopin' hasn't stopped Fred Phelps. I mean Phelps has

He's got both the Left and the Right after him. Everyone from the militant Queers to the American Legion are out to get him, and he has a smaller congregation and less support than Jones.

[CTyankee]

28. And that was essentially my point...

[katandmoon]

25. As loathesome as he is --it's disgusting that the U.S. government is trying to scapegoat HIM for

what IT has been doing for years to Muslims, first under Bush and now under Obama.

[Historic NY]

26. W/o all the publicity & internet this would have been a non-event...

of course people just love to fan the fire.......perhaps he should have gone the Buddhist Monk way with self-immolation. People keep feeding him.

[McCamy Taylor]

29. I think he just got a federal indictment quashed, by promising not to get US soldiers killed.

[CTyankee]

31. Another good possibility. But why didn't they try that before having Obama, Clinton

and Gates get up there in public and even give him a mention? It could have solved this problem in a much less messy way...

[City of Mills]

30. Fred Phelps must be pissed

This guy's stealing all his face time.