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The GoldManchurian Candidate

Benjamin N. Dover III's picture




 

When it comes to reporting about important issues, anonymity has no place. You wouldn't trust a calculator's opinion of what 2+2 equals without knowing what brand it was, right? Same goes for financial journalism.

Quite a few stories in the real press lately have been speculating about who Tyler Durden and his minions at ZeroHedge are, what their background is and what their motivations might be. One blogger has even demanded that Tyler Durden "disaggregate" himself. (Which, I found out from the dictionary, doesn't mean what I thought it meant.) Since it's high time this issue were addressed, and there's a better chance of Ben Bernanke knowing precisely when to turn the spigot off than there is of anyone at ZH addressing it, I've decided to end the mystery.

Now I'm less concerned with whether Mr. "Durden" is in fact Daniel Ivandjiiski, as one newspaper known for its high standards of journalism has speculated based on anonymous sources, than I am with what his real agenda is. (After all, what's in a name? Although this particular name sounds pretty communistic, if you ask me.)

The truth, it turns out, is much more sinister than any conspiracy theorist could have imagined. According to several high-placed sources whose identities cannot be disclosed for undisclosable reasons, Tyler Durden is actually an unwitting Goldman Sachs operative. A former securities public interest advocate, Durden was kidnapped and held captive in the inner sanctum of 85 Broad Street, where he was brainwashed and activated as a company stooge soon after the economy experienced its self-confidence breakdown late last year. His mission: to steadily gain credibility by posing as a critic of the financial establishment until, at the most opportune moment, he is to use his influence to advance Goldman's interests. After all, what better cover for a pro-Goldman lackey than an anti-Goldman rebel?

And Durden is not alone. My sources tell me that Goldman has similarly programmed dozens of others around the country to secretly do its bidding, including the founder of GoldmanSachs666 and Jessica Simpson.

So the next time you read some unflattering fact about Goldman on ZeroHedge, don't be fooled. It's all just a ruse designed to make Goldman look bad, so that Goldman can come out looking good. So beat Goldman at its own game: use double-reverse psychology and believe it.

 

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Mon, 08/24/2009 - 04:53 | 46014 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

Tyler Durden is Jim Cramer's nighttime hobby.

Mon, 08/24/2009 - 02:57 | 45995 yellow submariner
yellow submariner's picture

For me it is completely unimportant to know who is Tyler Durden in reality. What is the benefit for me, if I knew who Dennis Kneale is? The benefit is absolutely zero.

Mon, 08/24/2009 - 00:01 | 45940 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

"You wouldn't trust a calculator's opinion of what 2+2 equals without knowing what brand it was, right? Same goes for financial journalism."

When someone opens an argument by assessing that a calculator has an opinion for what 2+2 equals, and then implies brand is important to the result, I have to pull a Farney Bank on them and ask "what planet are you from ?"

Mon, 08/24/2009 - 00:46 | 45957 Joe Sixpack
Joe Sixpack's picture

planet satire?

Sun, 08/23/2009 - 22:53 | 45889 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

So Benji finally figured out it's all lies and propaganda, eh? How droll! Does anyone give a crap when they're makin gobbs of money in the market? Or do we only look for evil machinations when the sharks take us for a ride? Bullet in the back of the head, hole in the Nevada desert, problem solved.

Sun, 08/23/2009 - 22:31 | 45874 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

Tyler is all of us.

Sun, 08/23/2009 - 22:07 | 45848 vicelord
vicelord's picture

Epic fail.

Sun, 08/23/2009 - 19:39 | 45736 D.O.D.
D.O.D.'s picture

I will invert double-reverse psychology and I won't believe the lies about Goldmans' lies.

Sun, 08/23/2009 - 16:41 | 45591 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

Rule #1: Never match wits with a Sicilian when death is on the line.

Rule #2: Don't forget to drink your RDA of lidocane powder.

Sun, 08/23/2009 - 23:17 | 45906 GeoffreyT
GeoffreyT's picture

Rule #1 is "Never start a land war in Asia" (does Eurasia count?)

 

Cheers

 

 

GT

Sun, 08/23/2009 - 21:49 | 45825 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

iocaine. lidocane would just makes your toofaches feel better.

Sun, 08/23/2009 - 15:17 | 45505 mt paul
mt paul's picture

figures 

just another 

badger whacker ...

Sun, 08/23/2009 - 14:13 | 45436 polizeros
polizeros's picture

It's even more fiendish than that. ZH is sucking us in, taking names, and like in Big Brother, the underground is the establishment, just waiting to lure in the dissidents. Bwa ha ha.

Or not.

Sun, 08/23/2009 - 12:18 | 45356 Spartacus
Spartacus's picture

I believe that this frivolous post is unwelcome here. There is no need to post it. We don't want to waste time reading this crap. Please desist from writing in future. Nonsense.

Sun, 08/23/2009 - 14:03 | 45429 aldousd
aldousd's picture

What's the matter? Cod Piece on so tight that it's suffocated your sense of humor?

Sun, 08/23/2009 - 10:45 | 45308 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

Durden is not only NOT a "he," she is actually H. Paulson's illegitimate daughter. I know this to be fact because I'm the harlot who spat her out.

Trust me, I'm not from the government.

Sun, 08/23/2009 - 08:06 | 45274 eencho
eencho's picture

Anonyminity is not cowardice as that CNBC Wall St. lackey shithead calls it, when you are trying to upset the establishment applecart it is necessary because coming out would make you a target of their corporate fascist legal armies and then they will destroy you in their bought and paid for courts. Look at the guy who did the blog Goldmansachs666 or whatever the name was. Rule number one when you blog against the oligarchy - never take the bait and expose yourself, it's like the old three on a match rule during the days of trench warfare.

This blog rocks and the pocket media is threatened by it and many others out there who do the job of the pr flacks and shills that are churned out of our fine journalism schools like link sausage made with tainted skunk meat.

What passes for 'journalism' in the corporate controlled propaganda racket is garbage and that is a compliment.

Goldman Sachs (The Great Satan) is a financial terrorist organization and a menace to America - it must be broken into a thousand pieces and scattered to the winds.

Expose the filthy cheats for all of their malevolent criminality.

Keep up the great work!

 

 

Sun, 08/23/2009 - 05:39 | 45269 agrotera
agrotera's picture

Tyler is Tyler, even if he has help, and he is simply a completely righteous person. Fortunate for us, he is compelled to share his concerns all of us.

Sun, 08/23/2009 - 01:43 | 45226 Miles Kendig
Miles Kendig's picture

Of course.  The power of the ever popular junior, senior or even full partnership...  As if that is a be all. Like someone that is awake wants to go swimming in that pool.  Living on all the mail order whatnot while looking for affection from some blue label & sushi served up on some CCE BL..

Sun, 08/23/2009 - 00:15 | 45182 TraderX
TraderX's picture

I AM TYLER DURDEN! SPARTACUS!

(Hmm.  The strikethrough function won't work.)

Sat, 08/22/2009 - 23:20 | 45157 Ducky
Ducky's picture

Now that is brilliant

Sat, 08/22/2009 - 23:00 | 45143 Sand in the Vasoline
Sand in the Vasoline's picture

There are many things my father taught me here in this room. He taught me: keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.

Sat, 08/22/2009 - 22:50 | 45137 Rusty_Shackleford
Rusty_Shackleford's picture

I am Mr. Durden's attorney, Rusty Shackleford Esquire. 

My client pleads insanity.

Sat, 08/22/2009 - 21:51 | 45082 Joe Sixpack
Joe Sixpack's picture

Kilroy was here.

Sat, 08/22/2009 - 21:51 | 45081 Joe Sixpack
Joe Sixpack's picture

Tyler Durden is John Q. Public.

Sat, 08/22/2009 - 21:50 | 45079 Joe Sixpack
Joe Sixpack's picture

"...Durden was kidnapped and held captive in the inner sanctum of 85 Broad Street, where he was brainwashed and activated as a company stooge soon after the economy experienced its self-confidence breakdown late last year."

 

Oh he was raised by wolves.

Sat, 08/22/2009 - 21:32 | 45066 windhorse2000
windhorse2000's picture

"Ivandjiiski told Kapiloff that he's one of several writers who contributes to the site under the pseudonym "Tyler Durden," ..............."

Just as a side note, anyone who has studied Hermeneutics, would know that "Tyler Duren" is one person, not several individual writer.........it dosn't matter, the message is all thats important.  Keep up the good work guys.

Sun, 08/23/2009 - 11:58 | 45338 DaddyWarbucks
DaddyWarbucks's picture

@windhorse2000 said

"Just as a side note, anyone who has studied Hermeneutics, would know that "Tyler Duren" is one person, not several individual writer..."

I don't know hwo this Herman guy is but he ain't Tyler. I don't knows no charts, I'z just a dumb ZH reader. Just ask all them 6th grade graduates over at Naked Capitalism.

On a serious note, Establishing fronts as ones own opposition worked wonderfully for the soviets during the 1920's, unfortunately to the demise of many idealistic and patriotic russian expatriots.

Oops! who was that? Maybe I'm Tyler Durden and didn't know it?

Sat, 08/22/2009 - 21:05 | 45048 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

i think that Ivandjiiski is probably the correct id....but can you imagine getting barred from securities trading over a lousy 784 usd when crooks like blankfein, bernanke, obama, bush and others are being handed trillions of usd on a platinum platter?

the self righteous statement from firna (or whatever the fraud group is) was quite disgusting....Ivandjiiski was thrown under the bus as a sop to the public....

Sat, 08/22/2009 - 20:48 | 45036 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

"zerohedge is become a fade" - a comment on the forums of another website

Sat, 08/22/2009 - 20:48 | 45035 shorttrader
shorttrader's picture

Deninger concurs!

Sat, 08/22/2009 - 20:48 | 45034 Uros Slokar
Uros Slokar's picture

At the risk of sounding hackneyed and cliche,"First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win." - Gandhi

Sun, 08/23/2009 - 03:52 | 45250 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

"Then the country gets partitioned, then a million people die, then you get assassinated." - N.V. Godse

Mon, 08/24/2009 - 05:29 | 46021 Marshal Ney
Marshal Ney's picture

NV Godse,  Viva la cynics!

Sat, 08/22/2009 - 19:05 | 44971 HankPaulson
HankPaulson's picture

lol!

Ya keep up the good work.

 

 

 

Sat, 08/22/2009 - 17:20 | 44930 The Coon
The Coon's picture

Keep giving them hell!

Sat, 08/22/2009 - 16:17 | 44898 rapier
rapier's picture

The absolute gold standard in disinformation is to sprinkle it into sources considered neutral to antagonistic.  Thus Whitewater and Wen Ho Lee and others too numerous to mention in the NY Times.

That said, and I know this thread is facetious, it's too clever by half to imagine GS running complex public disinformation operations. The art of being ultra succssful in high power high stakes finance and politics is not to try and control the world for that is impossible but rather to be ready to adapt to any contingency.

The revelation that GS got XX billions in  CDS payouts from AIG and Taibbi's Vampire Squid article marked short term lows in its stock price. ZH's spit balls have likewise not hurt GS a bit and one could argue have only made it stronger.  The savy and the greedy  are attracted to insider power like moths to a flame.

Game theory  suggests that GS would have been laid low long ago by political power. If they were competing powers that is. Instead the only logical conclusion is that they have merged and  all evidence bears this idea out.

If the mass of the foreclosed and unemployed might dream  of torches and pitchforks on Wall Street and K Street for 30 years anyone who has gained wealth by the managed inflation of financial assets has benefitted from the model which GS represents. That includes every member of every elite in American and the Western World. The alternative,as Paulson suggested that September  night in the Capital is the end of that world.

Sun, 08/23/2009 - 15:40 | 45534 ZerOhead
ZerOhead's picture

Good post Rapier but if those ZH Spitballs were having ZERO effect WE NEVER would have heard of ZerOhedge...

Am I nuts? Look at me... Am I nuts? Am I?

Sun, 08/23/2009 - 12:56 | 45384 Ned Zeppelin
Ned Zeppelin's picture

Well said. That was of course, why Henry the Thief took to his knees before Nancy Pelosi.  It was not the world of the common man, or the "have nots," that was under threat of annihilation last September, but rather the world of the oligarchs, the "haves."  Once you get that, the rest falls into place. 

Sat, 08/22/2009 - 16:12 | 44888 AnonymousMonetarist
AnonymousMonetarist's picture

He's a great man.

Sat, 08/22/2009 - 15:51 | 44874 Hephasteus
Hephasteus's picture

I demand that Captain Morgan disaggregrate himself. I also demand that people stop putting him in their vaginas during porno's. Being demanding doesn't work on everyone so.

Sat, 08/22/2009 - 15:32 | 44859 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

Hi Ben:

You had me with the "... trust a calculator's opinion..."

Great!

Sat, 08/22/2009 - 15:30 | 44857 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

I sold out to goldman last month. It makes business sense.

GoldmanSachsExposed.blogspot.com

Sat, 08/22/2009 - 15:20 | 44854 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

yes, yes...been discussed before so I guess this is for newer arriving conspiracy theorists.

Sat, 08/22/2009 - 15:01 | 44835 Whatta
Whatta's picture

"use double-reverse psychology and believe it."

 

I do believe, I do believe...I mean, I don't believe I do believe it?

 

Rock on Benj and Tyler

 


Sat, 08/22/2009 - 15:00 | 44834 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

I posted this under Bruce's post... Makes sense posting here too:

Someone should ask what the motivations of Kaja Whitehouse over the the Post and Howard Kapiloff over at Hedge Fund Alert were in order to leak this (mis)information? While their source is likely secret, it would be quite interesting to find out it came from Goldman... It just takes two sources to "confirm" a story: how difficult is it for the Goldman PR machine to "leak" comparable hatchet jobs about anyone or everyone to such c-grade reporters as Howard and Kaja who relish in providing yellow page fodder and have no deeper financial or economic understanding than stock market up = good.

How did Ms. Whitehouse know Daniel's address and phone number? This was a directed ad hominem attack that sought to discredit Zero Hedge by the oldest way known to the media: attack the person behind the idea. Well, they fucking failed. Kudos to all at ZH for responding to this properly and not falling for the media's bait.

As for me, here is what I will do: Kaja, I will no longer read your gratuitous, boring, repetitive and ungrammatical columns, and no longer contribute to the Post's click thru ad revenue (let alone buy your hard printed pamphlet) - I am done with you. As for my HFA alert subscription - I am canceling it at first opportunity: my subscription coverage team can thank Mr. Kapiloff. Also, being a hedge fund manager who comes to Zero Hedge daily for the best insider insight, I will recommend my peers at other money managers to do the same.

Oh, and I will donate all the money saved from canceling my HFA subscription to Zero Hedge. I am fucking done with this BS system.

Sun, 08/23/2009 - 23:53 | 45936 Arm
Arm's picture

Indeed it is a practice for investigative firms acting on behalf of clients to leak information to reporters

Some of the reporters are then paid to publish the information.  Other reporters will publish just because it is a good scoop

Guess who is my number one suspect?

Sun, 08/23/2009 - 15:47 | 45543 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

Let us not forget Martin Luther and his 95 Theses, the ultimate anonymous post.

Fuck Goldman Sackless and fuck CNBC. God bless the Federalist Papers, Ben Franklin, ZeroHedge, and America.

Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.

Sat, 08/22/2009 - 23:02 | 45145 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

I think I love you. Why should GS hire an image consultant when they have Ben Dover?

Sun, 08/23/2009 - 12:36 | 45373 Ich bin ein whatever
Ich bin ein whatever's picture

I thought Goldman Saks new image consultant was Charlie Gasparino.

In his latest move, he equated all the Goldman bashing with anti-Semitism.

You just can't make this stuff up.

Charlie needs to get a real life.

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