Ventura's new venture: 'Conspiracy Theories' [vote in online poll]
Ventura's new venture: 'Conspiracy Theories'
By BOB VON STERNBERG, Star Tribune
Last update: August 5, 2009 - 5:59 AM
With careers in wrestling, movies, radio and government under his belt, Jesse Ventura is adding a line to his résumé: professional conspiracy theorist.
A television production company announced Tuesday that the former Minnesota governor will host "Conspiracy Theories With Jesse Ventura" on cable's truTV, a Turner Broadcasting System channel.
The launch of the program was initially announced last September, but apparently only a pilot was produced.
"Now I get to be a detective and seek the truth," Ventura was quoted as saying in a news release at the time.
Talking about dark conspiracies is not exactly virgin territory for Ventura. In his books and repeated TV interviews, he has repeatedly maintained that the assassination of John Kennedy and the 9/11 terrorist attacks were hatched by conspirators unknown to the general public.
His most high-profile dabbling in the Kennedy conspiracy occurred in 2002, when he led a trade mission to Cuba and directly asked Fidel Castro if he had anything to do with the assassination.
"He said to me, 'We would never be so crazy to do something like that,'" Ventura said. "I agree with him. Why would they? That would be suicide for the country of Cuba." But he has continued to characterize the assassination as a conspiracy.
According to truTV, the channel plans to send Ventura around the world to investigate a variety of unnamed conspiracies. It has ordered seven episodes, with the first due to air in October.
In a press release, truTV characterized the show this way: "Jesse Ventura, a man who has lived a dangerous life, is about to explore mysteries behind the most compelling modern-day conspiracy theories. ... Ventura will hunt down answers, plunging viewers into a world of secret meetings, midnight surveillance, shifty characters and dark forces."
Marc Juris, an executive vice president and general manager of truTV, was quoted as saying the channel "received a very positive response when we showed a preview of 'Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura' at this year's advertising upfront presentation, so it's very exciting to be able to green-light it for a full series."
Ventura's television track record has been rocky, despite his ubiquitous appearances on cable news shows. His stint as an announcer for XFL football crashed when that league did during his tenure as governor. A show he hosted on MSNBC in 2003 was canceled after a two-month run.
Ventura, who toyed with a U.S. Senate run last year, currently splits his time between Minnesota and Baja California.
Bob von Sternberg • 612-673-7184
- simuvac's blog
- Login to post comments
When does Richard Gage appear?
.
I hope Jesse
sticks with the science i.e. Richard Gage and Steven Jones and stays away from Alex Jones. I agree with Alex Jones on many issues...but some of the people who post at his sight make racist comments and would like to insert their interpretation of the Bible into my personal life. I am not an Obama fan..but the birther thing is idiotic as is the continued support of for profit insurance companies. They are spending 1.4 million dollars a day (of our premiums) to mislead the public and the many if the people making comments at the Jones sight are falling for it. We need single payer healthcare....period. Forget the basterdized Obama plan.
Perhaps Jesse could invite the NIST scientists on the show to defend their theory that a bunch of guys with box cutters CONSPIRED to and succeeded in causing three building to collapse and turn to dust at free fall speed due to fire.
I hope Jesse
sticks with the science i.e. Richard Gage and Steven Jones and stays away from Alex Jones. I agree with Alex Jones on many issues...but some of the people who post at his sight make racist comments and would like to insert their interpretation of the Bible into my personal life. I am not an Obama fan..but the birther thing is idiotic as is the continued support of for profit insurance companies. They are spending 1.4 million dollars a day (of our premiums) to mislead the public and the many if the people making comments at the Jones sight are falling for it. We need single payer healthcare....period. Forget the basterdized Obama plan.
Perhaps Jesse could invite the NIST scientists on the show to defend their theory that a bunch of guys with box cutters CONSPIRED to and succeeded in causing three building to collapse and turn to dust at free fall speed due to fire.
Including the OCT?
What I hope and pray for is that he makes it clear to his audience that official stories, such as that about 9/11, are often 'conspiracy theories' themselves. We're never going to beat these guys so long as we continue to let them define the terms of debate in such a biased fashion.
I wish Jesse would choose another title...
...I understand what he's doing; he's trying to grab attention and make his TV show as marketable to the masses as possible. But why seize upon the label "conspiracy theories" when just the mere phrase does so much more harm than good? Even the article seizes upon this: "Jesse Ventura is adding a line to his résumé: professional conspiracy theorist."
How about "Conspiracy Facts"?
"A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves" – Edward R. Murrow
Did anyone check out the poll?
I did and I couldn't believe it. Check it out and see what I mean.
I know what I see
Regardless of the results, the guilt by association card is played. I always say there is a big difference between moon landings, crop circles and UFO's on the one hand, and political assassinations, terrorist attacks and military incidents on the other hand. The former is paranoid speculation, the latter is confirmed fact. Intentional conflation of the two groups is obvious propaganda. So the results aren't that important, because genuinely gathering statistics isn't the intention behind the poll, guilt by association is.
You got it right Snow.
Their intent is to put 911 Truth and the Kennedy assassination in with the fringe.
They think they are so friggin' clever.
This paper is owned by a private equity group that primarily concentrates on the OIL business.
I bet the author of this article scored some major brown nose points.
Yeah I read your comment
below and I saw you thought the same thing. The difference is I haven't looked into the background. Thanks for that. Mainstream media is just putrid. They're yelling at the people like drill instructors. Constantly pounding and hammering in their version of history, until it finally sticks, and the truth is effectively dead. Little Orwellian foot soldiers of the powerful. Bah!
which poll Joe?
no link, i'd like ot have look. thanks pal.
dtg
Here is the URL
Here is the URL. http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/tv/52441552.html?elr=KArksLckD8... I don't pay much attention to polls but this one is ridiculous.
# of votes % of votes
JFK assasination 262 13.5 %
UFO existence 254 13.1 %
U.S. complicity in 9/11 203 10.5 %
Apollo moon landing 32 1.6 %
More than one of the above 557 28.9 %
None of the above 619 32.1 %
Total Votes 1927
Don't expect much.
There will probably be a catch. They won't just let him talk about 9/11 on mainstream TV like that. I think either it will be edited or angled in a negative light, or the episodes will just be about other topics, such as JFK.
It won't be some situation where he can just run through a laundry list of talking points like WTC7, Norad drills and so on. A full episode on WTC7 would be a good idea but we all know that wouldn't happen either.
I get an uneasy feeling about this..
I have a lot of respect for Jesse for speaking out against the OCT as I have for anyone, but he hasn't struck me as a thorough debater. On a morning radio show in Long Isand (the thread is on blogger i believe, forgive me not finding it) but he fumbles terribly and reaching for a motive stated insurance fraud. Not a good showing. His appearances on Howard Stern hasn't made any converts either. This would be better if it were conspiracy facts with Bob Bowman. Maybe he is improved? I don't know. Richard Gage has improved ten fold since I saw his first Blueprint DVD. That comes from continuing research over what facts are valid and what are unconfirmed to what is just plain mis/disinformation. We'll have to see.
Also, I cannot see any corporate sponser for this show that would tolerate factual, credible arguments about 9/11 with guests like Richard Gage or Prof. Jones, or Kevin Ryan. (or the many many others.) I get an uneasy feeling that this may do more harm than good in the credibility ring.
peace all
dtg
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
History is not history unless it is truth. - Abraham Lincoln
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I understand the skepticism...
...but let's wait and see how it goes. I've actually been quite impressed with his appearances on Stern.
Star Tribune owned by Avista Capital Partners
When I saw the poll design I instantly realized that it has a major built in bias. It avoids showing that there are rational people who believe the two conspiracies that have mountains of evidence to prove them. By only allowing a single choice between UFOs, Kennedy Assassination, Moon Landing Hoax and 911 complicity or allowing the reader to choose more than one above or none of the above, it skews the results. I personally believe that the Kennedy assassination was a conspiracy and that factions of the US government were complicit in the 911 attacks. But if I choose "more than one above" I would be put in the same category as someone who believed in the moon landing hoax and UFO existence. This poll is designed to distort. It is designed to discount the real conspiracies and conflate them with those in the fringe.
Could it be that there is an agenda? Of course there is. The Star Tribune is owned by Avista Capital Partners. They are a private equity firm with emphasis on Energy (oil), Healthcare, and Media. Does anyone see a conflict of interest? The Oil industry was one of the biggest beneficiaries of the 911 attacks. The wars in the ME have been very very good for that industry. The price went up and the reserves were taken over.
This poll is dubious and reflects the bias of the paper and its parent company. Their goal is to discount conspiracy theories and to discount Ventura. The poll is not scientific and wouldn't pass in any first year market research course at any reputable university. It would pass in a PR/propaganda class as a clever way to push an agenda.
This poll is bullshit.
I signed up to make a comment and haven't received a confirmation after 20 minutes.
I don't trust Ventura
Why? Because he goes on Stern or Alex Jones and talks 9/11 truth, but when he goes on Larry King, there's no mention. Now, I haven't watched every single one of his appearances on Larry King, but my mother usually watches it and Tivo's it when Ventura is on. We like the fact that he'll at least speak a little truth to power, but it really is just crumbs. Maybe somebody else here can tell me I'm wrong about Ventura's performances on Larry King, but I'm very skeptical of his intentions, especially after a recent appearance where he seemed a lot more mainstream than I had hoped (and, again, no mention of 9/11).
Ventura has spoken about 9.11
questions more than any other media figure.
Bottom line is AE911 truth members needs to meet him.
He talked about 9/11 truth and nailed Sean Hannity...
on Fox News last year:
I do trust Ventura
His comment on why when people ask questions about 9/11 do they get attacked, and all the books and research i have done on say's one thing. He is one hell of a good man.
I read in some of the posts that some are concerned with mixing some far out stuff with the truth.
I can see how this should be a concern, however i will bet that on the issues of JFK, and 9/11 Jesse will stand firm on the facts. If there is intent to try and manipulate , and associate these two topics with some far out beliefs Jesse say bullshit... No way!
I too also hope that he can get appearances From Steven Jones, Richard Gage, Kevin Ryan, Danny Jwenko, David Griffin etc and give them the time to show how ridiculous the official story is.
So CK look deeper into all what Jesse has done. I am sure you will change your mind.
He should call it...
"Conspiracy Analysis" ala Gore Vidal.
Do these people deserve to know how and why their loved ones were murdered? Do we deserve to know how and why 9/11 happened?