This is not your usual campaign pitch. Bettina Rodriguez Aguilera is running for the House of Representatives but most wants you to know that her long-standing account of being abducted by aliens really doesn’t define her. It appears that the discussion of aliens in the campaign will remain in this solar system.
Rodriguez Aguilera is running for the seat vacated by retiring Republican Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
Rodriguez Aguilera claims that at age seven she was captured by aliens and taken up to a spaceship. She describes the aliens as blond beings who strangely resembled the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro. So these nordic Christ figures explained that the “center of the world’s energy is Africa.” She further recounted how thousands of non-human skulls were once discovered in a cave on the Mediterranean island of Malta. She claims that the experience left her with paranormal capabilities and that she encountered another UFO at seventeen.
Many voters likely view the tale as more abnormal than paranormal. Nevertheless, The Herald announced in its Sunday editorial that they are endorsing her: “We realize that Rodriguez Aguilera is an unusual candidate but cited her “boots-on-the-ground ideas and experience” as being the daughter of a Cuban political prisoner as well as a former City Council member and a social worker.
I don’t know her party, her positions or anything else about her.
But, knowing that she has a few screws loose clinches the deal.
No nut jobs, Louis Gohmert is already one two many.
too, Head slap!
“No nut jobs”. That would end the Demoncrats.
There was a presidential candidate not long ago who claimed to be a ‘business genius’ despite a history of bankruptcies. He is also known for a bogus ‘university’ that was sued out of business. His appearance really shocks for a man of 70-something. He dyes his hair yellow and wears orange make-up. Which makes him look like The Joker from “Batman” comic books!
despite a history of bankruptcies.
It’s been pointed out again and again, that he applied for reorganization on the same set of Atlantic City properties 4x before selling them. They’re a small part of the enterprises with which the Trump Organization is associated.
People treat you with contempt because you’re an inveterate liar.
There were a lot of disgruntled contractors in Atlantic City.
How many bankruptcies for Warren Buffet? Bill Gates? Michael Bloomberg?
She looks like she might have been played by Carolyn Jones back in the day. Rothenberg has rated this seat a likely Democratic pick-up for some weeks, and I guess we can see why.
Florida is very high on the list when it comes to UFO sightings…7787 sightings
Here’s an active Florida list from the National UFO Reporting Center
http://www.nuforc.org/webreports/ndxlfl.html
I just need to know if the aliens told her to accept big sugar bribes or not? Lol Aliens or no aliens can we fix this algae problem? Seriously
If I were her opposing candidate, I would argue that rather than being abducted by aliens, she actually is one of the aliens sent to earth to infiltrate the American public and House of Representatives. Let’s see how she rebuts that contention.
Mespo, who the hell votes for these people?
Enter the ALF. The Alien Liberation Front.
I don’t see s lot of humor when crazies want to run our government. That said, I’m just wondering how bad is it, if the aliens returned her?
Only if Gort comes to Wash DC…..Vote for Gort
I got abducted by Jack Daniels.
That I believe.
You can’t abduct the willing — especially the enthusiastically willing.
Oh My!
Maybe it was something like this. There was these two good ‘ol boys fishing down in Pascagoula, Mississippi, when the aliens come right up out of the water! And got ’em! Was it real, or was it:
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A Solution
So which was it: a genuine alien abduction or a hoax? Or is that a false dichotomy? In reviewing the case, I thought there might be another possibility: the two men, who might have been drinking before the incident (as Hickson admitted he was after), might have dozed off. Hickson could then have entered a hypnagogic (“waking dream”) state, a trancelike condition between waking and sleeping in which some people experience hallucinations, often with bizarre imagery, including strange beings (aliens, ghosts, etc.). This state may be accompanied by what is called “sleep paralysis” (the body’s inability to move due to still being in the sleep mode). In fact, Hickson not only reported the bizarre imagery but also said that the aliens “paralyzed” him before carrying him aboard the UFO in what sounds like a hypnagogic fantasy.
The imagery might even have been triggered by Hickson actually sighting something—almost anything—that, while he was in the waking-dream state, appeared to be a “UFO.” During a recorded interview with Sheriff Fred Diamond (Blum with Blum 1974, 30–36), Hickson described the UFO as “a blue light,” adding: “It circled a bit.” He emphasized it was blue, saying, “And you think you dreamin’ about something like that, you know” (original emphasis). Hickson also reported that it made “a little buzzin’ sound—nnnnnnnnnn, nnnnnnnnn” (Blum with Blum 1974, 31). Bright lights and odd noises can also be part of the waking-dream experience, as can the sense of floating (Mavromatis 1987, 148). Hickson stated, “I couldn’t resist [the extraterrestrials], I just floated—felt no sensation, no pain” (Blum with Blum 1974, 32). These phenomena, coupled with the paralysis and fantastic imagery, corroborate the diagnosis of a hypnagogic experience.
Of additional corroborative value are other factors, including Hickson’s description of the aliens as speaking inside his head (Clark 1998, 715), because a feature of hypnagogia is the sense of perceiving “with whole consciousness.” This explains the bright lights and clarity of his experiences, since hypnagogic visions often seem particularly illuminated, vivid, and detailed (Mavromatis 1987, 14–52, 148).
But if Hickson had a hypnagogic experience, what about Parker? Actually, he need not have been in such a state himself because, as he told officers, he had passed out at the beginning of the incident and failed to regain consciousness until it was over (United Press International 1973). Later he “remembered” bits and pieces of the alleged encounter. This would be consistent with an example of folie à deux (a French expression, the “folly of two”) in which a percipient convinces another of some alleged occurrence (as by the power of suggestion, the force of a dominant personality, or the like) or the other person simply acquiesces for whatever reason. (Young Parker’s position was vulnerable: he had recently joined the shipyard where Hickson worked and was residing with the Hicksons.) It would have been significant if Parker had himself been in a hypnagogic state, since “suggestibility is high during this state” (Goldenson 1970, I: 574). Interestingly, when the two men were left alone in a room at the sheriff’s office, where they were secretly tape recorded (Clark 1998, 716), they did not make incriminating statements as they might have if perpetrating a hoax but acted more like people comparing notes to see if they were in agreement with each other.
Still, some of Hickson’s behavior is questionable. For example, he kept adding to his story. He claimed on a television show a month later that the interior lights of the UFO had been so intense as to cause eye injury lasting for three days, although an extensive hospital examination the day after the incident had shown no such eye damage (Klass 1974, 349–50). But this is a familiar story: even accounts of the truest occurrences gain distortions and embellishments over time, so why should Hickson’s story be any different? UFOlogist Kevin D. Randle (2001) insists Hickson’s alterations “went beyond that.” Specifically, he says, “These changes seemed to be in response to criticisms and appeared to be an attempt to smooth out rough spots in the story.” But to me that just signals Hickson’s defensiveness brought on by people ridiculing him—not proof of initial hoaxing.
When all the facts are weighed, the preponderance of evidence appears not only to favor the hypothesis involving the hypnagogic state but to provide corroboration as well. The realization may not benefit the late Charles Hickson, but it could help others who hear of supposed alien abductions to rest in peace.
Acknowledgments
I am grateful to Major James McGaha (USAF retired) and CFI Libraries Director Tim Binga for help with this article.
https://www.csicop.org/si/show/famous_alien_abduction_in_pascagoula_reinvestigating_a_cold_case
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There is more of the details at the link.
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
Hickson and Parker were fishing within eyeshot of a lift bridge operator. He sat for interviews not long after with a documentary maker and gave his account. No, he said. Ordinary workday. Saw nothing of note.
“So which was it: a genuine alien abduction or a hoax?”
Genuine alien abduction: no such animal
A hoax? Perhaps.
Or perhaps alcohol induced delirium? His drinking partner was passed out drunk, what are the odds that Hickson was any better?
You said, “Genuine alien abduction: no such animal,”
You are probably right, but how do we know for sure? Any race advanced enough to travel between stars would most likely be capable of cloaking technology. They could probably treat us the same way we treat tranquilized animals.
Or, maybe Earth is the only planet in the universe with life. In the words of the Amazing Criswell:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51nceHeO0tE
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
At seven years of age kids imagine many things and are subject to trauma which causes them to make up stories to cover the pain. If Maxine Waters gets a pass to run for office I see no fault in this lady. Bettina, Take us where no one has gone before. Be mindful of your thoughts, Bettina they betray you. Remember Bettina only a Sith deals in absolutes. Bettina remind your enemies if they strike you down, you shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine and May the Force be with You.
It’s easier to ridicule someone who has the courage to say that she had experienced the unusual, than to see if there is at least a grain of truth behind her admission. It takes courage to expose oneself to the kind of flat-earth thinking. Our knowledge is limited by our lack of imagination. Even the government acknowledges the existence of UFOs, and astronomers speculate on the abundant existence of life elsewhere in the vast expanses that surround us. We even sent a recording of ourselves and culture into the great void (Voyager), just in case. Still, not too long ago, we burned people at stake for thinking that the earth wasn’t the center of the universe. So why do we think that we know it all? The real surprises may still await us. Perhaps we still are only scratching the surface.
I can understand and appreciate your out-of-the-box thinking in accepting that knowledge can be attained via those possessing the fortitude to speak of their experiences with the bizarre. One can also argue that it was through science fiction that attracted others to pursue scientific study or inspire them to use the fiction as a template to formulate new advances. Though in the case of choosing those for political office, some traits cannot be so easily overlooked.
One has to ponder the lot of alien abductees. Doesn’t it seem rather illogical that some species of advanced alien would assemble costly resources to travel extreme distances in order study humanity. And out of billions of possible individuals they could abduct for study, they select the biggest doofuses on the planet?
Maybe this is by design, I don’t know. There is a certain utility in abducting only persons who nobody will believe, thus maintain the secrecy of the impending invasion. But in this respect it shows that even the aliens recognized the abductees were chumps and wanted nothing more of them. We should heed their advice at the voting booth.
Darren Smith, well stated.
“They [the aliens] select the biggest doofuses on the planet.” No, they don’t. Or they would’ve taken Trump.
I like Savage’s post a lot, especially his acceptance of what is out of his, and our, ken. No matter that this woman has a belief system not acknowledged by the vast majority, she is a productive citizen, serving her community as a City Councilwoman, no easy feat in South Florida politics, and social worker. Putting her in the category of “chump” and ” biggest doofuses on the planet” is simply untrue.
Running for office as a City Councilman, and winning, she surely is well aware of the mockery she will receive by staying true to her experience. And yet she stays.
I am intrigued by her fortitude. And if she uses that fortitude to fight for the good of her clients and constituents, how lucky are we?
Being elected to public office is not a measure of intelligence or ability. It just means that the candidate was able to con a sufficient number of individuals to vote for them.
Yes. It means that the candidate has the skill of persuasion, though not necessarily the skills of good judgement or the aptitude to understand and analyze large quantities of information.
“August 25, 2018 at 6:54 AM
Being elected to public office is not a measure of intelligence or ability. It just means that the candidate was able to con a sufficient number of individuals to vote for them.”
Exactly how we got Trump. The amazing part is that percentage of people who don’t recognize he lies daily, surrounded himself with grifters and cons (now starting to go to jail) and has no working knowledge of anything relevant to the office. Trade war anyone?
Exactly how we got Trump.
He’s run a business for 40-odd years which has 22,000 employees and $9.5 bn in revenue. How’s your life going?
He’s being closed in on all sides by the Justice Department, State of New York, Civil lawsuits, and his children are likely to be indicted in the near future. Relatively speaking… I’m good.
No, you’re Linus in the pumpkin patch. Enjoy. The sun’ll come up.
No? Which of those things isn’t happening? Enjoy the bubble where everything is pretty an warm.
” There is a certain utility in abductling only persons who nobody will believe”.
In a Twilight Zone episode, Andy Devine ran into that credibility issue when he tried to tell the townspeople of his abduction by the aliens.
Perhaps the aliens just want a cross-section of humanity, from doofus to genius. Or maybe by their standards, all humans are doofuses.
I think it’s bizarre in the first place that we’re here having this discussion.
Damn, the Miami Herald used to be a reputable newspaper. Must be the Cuban thang. Florida is one effed up state overall.
My bad. Confused the Herald with the St. Pete paper. The Herald endorsed that lying POS Wassher Woman Schultz. Rigger of the Dim primaries and protector of the Awan bros.
Maybe everybody in Florida is nutz. Good thing that it is going to sink below the rising waves…
It’s about time we had space alien representation in Congress.
If illegal immigrants can have representation in Congress there is no reason why space aliens should be excluded.
Further proof that America would be better governed by robots
One has to wonder what kind of mutual financial arrangement is to be found between this candidate and the newspaper.
Darren, America would be better governed by the Constitution and the original intent of the Founders.
The Constitution provides for private property, “…in exclusion of every other individual…,” according to Madison. The Constitution provides Congress merely the power to tax for “…general Welfare…” not individual welfare leaving redistribution to the private free market charity industry. The Constitution allows only the regulation of commerce between nations and among the several states simply to assure that the flow of commerce is not inhibited to favor entities in one state over those of another. The commerce clause insures unrestricted, full free enterprise.
Redistribution of wealth, social engineering, central planning and control of the means of production are entirely precluded while complete freedom – that of life and enterprise – is without governmental interference and immutable.
The socially engineered welfare state of central planning and controlled means of production (i.e. regulation) is antithetical and unconstitutional. It is terminal.
The original republic established important criteria for the vote. Citizens must have been Male, European, 21 with 50 lbs. Sterling or 50 acres to vote. Capable and vested voters are critical to the perpetuation of constitutional America. The Founders knew that the “poor” would “sell” their votes. Appropriate criteria must be applied to the vote or the nation is lost into Tytler’s Dictatorship – the result of one man, one vote democracy.
If the super-wealthy didn’t have redistribution of wealth upward through favors, grants, tax benefits, political appointments, there would be no super-wealthy and no wealthy, for that matter.
If the super-wealthy didn’t have redistribution of wealth upward through favors, grants, tax benefits, political appointments, there would be no super-wealthy and no wealthy, for that matter.
Sorry your life hasn’t gone well. No good reason, though, to be trashing others and seeking to appropriate their property.
You are part and parcel of the hypocrisy of the GOP. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/24/opinion/impeachment-trump-clinton.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fopinion
Read the Constitution, comrade.
Every principle in your Communist Manifesto is unconstitutional.
You’re a failure, socially and financially, so you want life assistance and “free stuff.” Nothing new there.
The Founders allowed for the charity industry in the free markets of the private sector.
Nowhere in the Constitution is your right to other people’s success, optimism, happiness and money.
Life is a struggle, simply to survive. God never promised anyone a rose garden.
Look around you.
God’s primary instruction is to go eat every other living thing you can.
Freedom can be difficult but freedom is the one and only thing the Founders provided to Americans.
Karl Marx provided slavery to the state which is unconstitutional.
When America finally seats a Supreme Court that can read the clear English language of the Constitution, the socially
engineered welfare state of central planning and controlled means of production (i.e. regulation) will instantly vanish.
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People must adapt to the outcomes of freedom.
Freedom does not adapt to people…
dictatorship does.
Jonathan is the paper doing this deliberately to tank her?