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Who here does not buy balloon boy's dad's story?

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Botany Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 06:09 PM
Original message
Who here does not buy balloon boy's dad's story?
Edited on Thu Oct-15-09 06:10 PM by Botany
Just saw him on MSNBC ...... It did not pass the smell test at all.

My :tinfoilhat: theory is that this was a P.R. stunt by dad for his experimental L.A.V.
(Dad's term) .... Low Altitude Vehicle. Dad's press conference was kind of hinky.


BTW if you don't like ballon threads skip this one.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5akEgsZSfhg
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Anakin Skywalker Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 06:10 PM
Response to Original message
1. I'm Glad I Did Not Watch the TV Today.
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REP Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 06:11 PM
Response to Original message
2. Me; posted a thread to that effect an hour ago!
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Botany Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 06:13 PM
Response to Reply #2
6. I am sorry I didn't see it
Dad's "act" was way over the top.
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REP Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 06:16 PM
Response to Reply #6
16. The more the better
I'm tired of the hankie threads, full of crying.
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WolverineDG Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 06:11 PM
Response to Original message
3. I said earlier that if this was a hoax,
the family should have to pay 20 times what it cost for all those emergency personnel & National Guards to do their jobs.

dg
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NYC_SKP Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 06:12 PM
Response to Original message
4. I hope Dad is liable for the costs caused by his son's willful misconduct.
It has to run in the hundreds of thousands.
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snagglepuss Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 06:31 PM
Response to Reply #4
25. Agreed. And I hate the level of manipulation. Millions of concerned people
had their feelings manipulated, it was sickening thinking of the terror a child his age would be enduring if he was in the balloon.
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slackmaster Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 06:12 PM
Response to Original message
5. I could be wrong but I concluded early on that the balloon had insufficient lift to fly with the boy
And his dad, who designed and built it, would surely have known that fact.
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Duer 157099 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 06:13 PM
Response to Original message
7. Totally agree.
Dad would have known his device could not lift the boy.
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kestrel91316 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 06:13 PM
Response to Original message
8. I am suspicious. How did the kid get UP INTO THE ATTIC???
Most those spaces have pull-down ladders that are hard to reach and pull down for ME, a 5'4" adult woman.
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ecstatic Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 06:16 PM
Response to Reply #8
14. Exactly!
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KathieG Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 06:14 PM
Response to Original message
9. I don't buy it either...sounded like a sales pitch for his "invention"
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Botany Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 06:16 PM
Response to Reply #9
13. bingo
and his "I am sorry I yelled at you" then kissing his son was a little strange.
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Chemisse Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 06:17 PM
Response to Reply #13
17. And a little creepy - nt
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HiFructosePronSyrup Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 06:15 PM
Response to Original message
10. According to some DUers he's an uber intelligent science geek.
And a beautiful artist.
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malaise Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 06:15 PM
Response to Original message
11. I had a good laugh
What a waste of money for a PR stunt. I almost feel sorry for the stupid father. When the 'pretentious values hacks' are finished with him, he'll know it wasn't it worth.
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ecstatic Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 06:16 PM
Response to Original message
12. Of course he's lying. But that won't stop his media blitz tomorrow
and possibly more reality show offers.
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951-Riverside Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 06:16 PM
Response to Original message
15. I hope someone posts the raw interview on youtube because....
Dad said he called the FAA first :wtf: and when reporters asked the little boy how it got loose he said "We want to get back right now" they never let the boys answer that question. I wonder if he called the media too.
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GoCubsGo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 06:20 PM
Response to Original message
18. I'm skeptical, too.
But then, I'm thinking of how my dad would react had that kid been me. He would have tanned my backside so badly, it would be five years before I would be able sit down. The whole thing stinks.

A question nobody seems to be asking: Why weren't those kids in school???
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csziggy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 06:53 PM
Response to Reply #18
37. MSNBC said today was a school holiday
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timeforpeace Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 06:54 PM
Response to Reply #18
38. If they inherited dad's brains, they're too smart for school.
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LisaM Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 06:24 PM
Response to Original message
19. I certainly don't.
Attention whore.
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Rick Myers Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 06:44 PM
Response to Reply #19
28. Dad produced this video with his kids!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBWJXXgaYBo
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Zix Donating Member (881 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 06:25 PM
Response to Original message
20. It's a bit fishy, I think.

Surely he would know the thing's carrying capacity even if it he was a complete twit. And, um... though we haven't got all the facts yet, it just looks way too small to me to pick up a kid.
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WinkyDink Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 06:25 PM
Response to Original message
21. *Raises hand*. Kid named "Falcon". Hmmmm.....
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Botany Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 06:27 PM
Response to Reply #21
22. Well there has been a Luke Skywalker
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garagedoor Donating Member (18 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 06:27 PM
Response to Original message
23. Add Me to the Skeptical List
I saw this family just last night by happenstance on Wife Swap. The Father is an abusive (acting - don't know if he has abused but he gave a great impression of an angry abusive husband) guy with a hair trigger temper.

There are two problems with the story. The garage (saw a clip of it last night) has an "attic" that is like mine - pull down ladder, etc. How would the kid PULL UP the ladder once he got in the attic? Hmm... Then, who primed the "aircraft"/balloon with helium to take off?? Something ain't right here... (as they say in the hill country).
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snagglepuss Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 06:38 PM
Response to Reply #23
26. He is not going to be a very popular guy if this has been staged.
Some might find it to be a funny prank but I don't. I hope a thorough investigation is done. That said welcome to DU garagedoor. Glad your here. :hi:
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Cal Carpenter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 06:49 PM
Response to Reply #26
33. IMO the vast amount of resources - cops, helicopters, emergency vehicles involved
Takes any potential for funny prank right out of the picture.

I blame the media for their own part in wasting resources too.

I could totally see a kid freaking out and hiding in a situation like that, but I'm a bit skeptical about it all. Maybe we;ll never know.
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snagglepuss Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 06:57 PM
Response to Reply #33
39. I think that we will find out the truth. I don't think any state govt has the extra
funds these days to cover such a costly prank so this will be investigated. Already several physicists have been quoted that by their calculations a balloon that size could not have lifted a child.
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Saphire Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 06:46 PM
Response to Reply #23
32. off topic: interesitng name....do you work in garage doors??
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garagedoor Donating Member (18 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 08:11 PM
Response to Reply #32
43. As For My Screen Name
The day I signed up at DU my garage door fell apart (yep, they don't make 'em like they used to) and that door was on my mind all day!
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951-Riverside Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 06:30 PM
Response to Original message
24. Oh wow he is crazy
Just watch him talking about rocks on Mars.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-6S0OMkiTE">

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-6S0OMkiTE
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Botany Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 06:39 PM
Response to Reply #24
27. My Sister in Law works for NASA and I am sure he is on their "no fly" list
Edited on Thu Oct-15-09 06:55 PM by Botany
They have nutballs offer their help all the time. I am not sure if this video is a
put on or if he really is nutz.


edit ... just saw 2 more videos that have been posted .... "the wife swap" one and his kid's rap one .... The man is a
con man and or nutz. ..... put him in jail and get some help for his kids.
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Zix Donating Member (881 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 06:44 PM
Response to Reply #24
29. Ah. I had thought he would know the carrying capacity of the balloon.

Now I'm not so sure.
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chatnoir Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 06:50 PM
Response to Reply #24
34. They believe humans
are descended from aliens as well.
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Unrepentant Fenian Donating Member (707 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 06:44 PM
Response to Original message
30. Here's a video of the whole loony family on "Wife Swap"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HoqRIAwkps&feature=channel
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chatnoir Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 06:52 PM
Response to Reply #30
36. Omg, they're both nuts
Edited on Thu Oct-15-09 06:56 PM by chatnoir
And the kids aren't far behind.

Edited to add: This guy has major crazy issues -- he even throws a drink on the other 'wife". Jeebus.
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Zix Donating Member (881 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 07:53 PM
Response to Reply #30
42. Holy fuck. They're insane.
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blondeatlast Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 08:53 PM
Response to Reply #30
46. That is just scary nuts.
Edited on Thu Oct-15-09 08:53 PM by blondeatlast
:scared:
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chatnoir Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 06:45 PM
Response to Original message
31. Totally don't buy it
Just saw the dad having a press conference and if I thought my son might be dead all afternoon, I would be an incoherent basketcase for days. Not this jackass, nope. He was bragging about his stupid "LAV".

This whole thing smells like a planned stunt for publicity. Hopefully the authorities stay on this until they get some answers.

Also how come the parents couldn't tell the "pod" was missing right away and inform the authorities?

Nope, don't buy it.

From Wife Swap -- the guy is a freak and so is the wife to some extent:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBFU--1No1Q
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LisaM Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 07:06 PM
Response to Reply #31
40. Exactly! He spent the first few minutes talking about the craft
which I found very strange.
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Swamp Rat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 06:51 PM
Response to Original message
35. David Shuster just wasted 30 minutes on Hardball talking about this stupid story. Why?
:tinfoilhat: :D
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Blue Diadem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 07:32 PM
Response to Original message
41. I missed his interview. I did read that a neighbor knew there would be an experiment today.
http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=125161&catid=339

snip: Marc Friedland, another neighbor, says the family was planning an experiment on Thursday.

"I knew that they would be doing it. We did understand that this morning's event was supposed to be an experiment where the craft would hover for about 20 feet above ground. And so obviously it's an unexpected, terrible accident that it wasn't just 20 feet above ground," Friedland said.
----------
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AwakeAtLast Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 08:25 PM
Response to Original message
44. On KO they showed a clip - they supposedly were able to tape the kid getting into the balloon
How convenient. :eyes:
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Frank Booth Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 08:48 PM
Response to Original message
45. Total hoax.
Their denials are unbelievably fake. The wife shook her head so hard it almost fell off.

These people are scum. It's all a goddamn fake. Like Lenin said, look for the person who will benefit.
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TexasObserver Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 09:24 PM
Response to Original message
47. Concur. He's a complete ass hat, and orchestrated this hoax.
He'll be lucky if they don't file charges and pursue restitution for all the first responders who wasted resources on this sham.
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Libertas1776 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 09:28 PM
Response to Original message
48. He got all defensive
when Wolfie on CNN asked him again why his son said "they were doing 'it' for a show" or something to that effect. Very suspicious
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applegrove Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-15-09 09:47 PM
Response to Reply #48
49. Yup. Doesn't look like it was just all an accident.
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