Dirty tricks?
Monday, Dec 12, 2005 - Posted by Rich Miller
As I wrote in this morning’s Capitol Fax, Governor Rod Blagojevich’s campaign has apparently been posting comments here. That’s no big deal in and of itself, and not all that surprising, either.
What is surprising is what those Blagojevich campaign office commenters have been saying.
As I explained this morning, my new blog site allows me to track commenters by their IP addresses. I thought long and hard about whether I should reveal the fact that the guv’s HQ is posting here, and I wouldn’t have done so if they were playing it straight. Instead, they are posting as a right-wing Jim Oberweis supporter and attacking at least one journalist.
As an addendum to this morning’s Fax, here are some of the posts from the guv’s campaign:
Name: right of right | IP: 69.215.36.54
I think all the conervatives should drop excepot for Obie. He3 can beat JBT one on one. Thats the race we need to get the governors office back in republican control
Posted Dec 5, 5:54 PM
—————————————
Name: Your Neighbor | IP: 69.215.36.54
[ABC-7 reporter and Daily Herald columnist Chuck] Goudie clearly has it in for the governor. He is a bottom feeder who hasnt done a worthwhile bit of journalism in his life. He is a talentless hack.
Posted Dec 6, 1:26 PM
—————————————
Name: right if right | IP: 69.215.36.54
To “A long time MC employee†if I had my way, you would all be at will employees. I think that anything that protects do nothing employees of the state is a disservice to the taxpayers. And in response to your criticism of blago balancing the budget, I would rather have the debt refinanced as he did, then to pass on record low interest rates and continue to pay more towards interest than principal. He didnt create the unfunded bond obligation — he is paying more into it than past governors. What you fail to mention is that the refinance saved millions in state paid interest. […]
Posted Dec 6, 1:41 PM
—————————————
Name: your neighbor | IP: 69.215.36.54
Goudie has never exposed anything. He takes garbagethat nobody else sees as newsworthy and sensationalizes it. By the way, I hardly think that Goudie exposed GRyan.
Posted Dec 6, 4:54 PM
—————————————
Name: right of right | IP: 69.215.36.54
The only one who can bring reform, and who represents the true conservative values of the republican party is Jim Oberweis! He has no connections to the old guard, and his personal wealth ensures that he will not be beholden ot anybody. If Brady stays in, he will split the conservative vote and allow the gay loving, gun hating, tax raising insider Judy Baar Topinka, who is being investigated by the feds to steal this election. She cannot beat Blago in the general — only Obie can. Brady needs to step aside and leave this to a man who can get the job done — Oberweis!
Posted Dec 8, 9:12 AM
And on and on and on.
As I also noted, it appears that Illinoize commenter “The Dude” may somehow be involved in this. The Dude has apparently posted as both “Right of Right” and “Your Neighbor” here, although from a different IP address. I’ve sent him an e-mail about this, but he hasn’t responded yet. Until he does, I’ve suspended him from the Illinoize blog.
Here is a link that shows the identity of the IP address 69.215.36.54.
- downstate - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 7:54 am:
Rich why would these dirty tricks surprise you these people will do anything to discredit or stop any one against thier agenda of retaining power.I wondered on some of the slanderist remarks which were noway joking or a little to the left or right.Some I read were almost neo-nazi in the way they were going after someone.Keep up the good work you are doing and keep us as usual on top of the news.I will be changing my sign in to WAY DOWNSTATE
- anon - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 8:00 am:
Nice to see Pete G hard at work slandering the man called Goudie
- Anon - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 8:02 am:
Hilarious!
- Wow - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 8:15 am:
Using a medium such as a blog for political dity tricks? Say it ain’t so, Joe! I thought these blogs were suppose to be pure as a wind driven downstate snow drift.
Rule #1: You just cannot tell who is pulling your chain anymore.
Corollary #1A: Everyone is pulling your chain.
That is all.
ps. Who’s payroll is Goudie on?
- Truth in Blogging - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 8:19 am:
Here’s the second graph of “R is R’s” 12/6 post, just after saying all State workers should be at will employees, OMB kids are bond geniuses, etc. etc.
I’m not a big fan of government (in fact, I’m pretty much a libertarian), so I’m not a fan of blago’s health insurance plan for kids, nor the money he has dumped into education. however, he did us good with the refinance — it was fiscsally smart. And he did so without raising my damn taxes.
Me thinks Filan got into the campaign computer on that one.
- Mongo - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 8:22 am:
Ahhh technology.
It is OK to disregard your Mom and say something bad about someone. It is not OK to lie about who you are while you are saying something bad about someone.
- Pat Collins - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 8:29 am:
MODERATOR WARNING. You might want to delete this.
You know, if they want to do that (and it’s a real feather in Rich’s cap that they feel this is a worthwhile place to do it) why not go to a public library? Many let you walk up and use a machine with no sign in if there is no line.
Say a trip first thing in the morning, one early afternoon and no one can know who did it…….
- Cassandra - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 8:32 am:
Well, it is the big bad Internet environment where cowboys roam.
One should be skeptical when reading anything, but perhaps especially skeptical when reading a blog.
It seems a bit desperate on the part of the Blago
troops though. And rather revealing of what they are afraid of. And evidently they ARE reading the blog, not necessarily a bad thing, as it’s a more democratic environment than mainstream media.
- zatoichi - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 8:36 am:
Does anyone really think where you go and what you say on the Internet is actually private and untraceable? It may not ID you personally, but it is pretty easy to determine where something came from.
Well Stanley, here is another fine mess you got us into. Glad to see the geniuses behind these blog notes read the “changing politics as usual” memo. Just stupid.
- Anon - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 8:46 am:
This needs to go to some paper. Or maybe a letter to the ediitor. How rich is this. It does nto suprise me in the least.
- JSM - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 9:07 am:
I think that monitoring blogs and the internet SHOULD be a part of any campaign strategy. Common sense tells you that the other campaigns are doing the same thing. I wont name names, but I know for a fact that at least two IL GOP campaigns monitor this site to rip the Governor and their own opponents.
However, I guess this does raise the question of privacy and the right to be anonymous or post under a pseudonym when expressing ones belief. However because this alleged Blago supporter has been outted for posting from the campaign HQ, I guess that issue is null and void here.
I wonder how the rest of the blogging community feels about outting unidentified bloggers? Has this happened before? Is it an ethical thing to do?
Pingback IlliniPundit.com » Blog Archive » Anonymous Commenters - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 9:10 am:
[…] Rich Miller at THE Capitol Fax Blog is having problems with an anonymous commenter from Governor Blagojevich’s campaign who has been posing as an Oberweis supporter. […]
- Rich Miller - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 9:11 am:
JSM, I have no problem with campaigns posting here. None at all. What I have a problem with is using my site for dirty tricks. I’m a firm believer in a right to post privately, and I’ve defended that in the past. But this went too far.
- Randall Sherman - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 9:18 am:
This revelation hardly shocks me, nor does the realization that Blagojevich’s people didn’t have the sense to submit their nonsense from a public computer (such as at a library). It’s just too bad that it came out after I finished writing the following on Blagojevich, which was issued by the Illinois Committee for Honest Government on Sunday:
WHY ROD BLAGOJEVICH MUST BE OUSTED
At the time of the last ICHG Distinguished Service Awards Reception held in March, we explained why we wanted the leaders of the Illinois Democratic Party to rise up and challenge Governor Rod Blagojevich in his bid for a second term. Unfortunately, our arguments (and those of other reform-minded individuals and organizations) fell on deaf ears when it came to the Democratic leadership, as they (in public at least) began to blissfully line up behind a sitting governor with huge unpopularity ratings, even among his fellow Democrats.
It is with profound sadness that the Illinois Committee for Honest Government cannot endorse Blagojevich for a second term as Governor. The ICHG, and its members as individuals, have had a long and intimate association with Blagojevich. From the time he was still private attorney Rod Blagojevich, to being State Representative Blagojevich, to being Congressman Blagojevich, he seemed to represent some of our highest hopes and dreams. We believed in Rod Blagojevich, but he conned and used us, just like he used his supporters in Downstate Illinois and the allies of his father-in-law, Chicago Alderman Richard Mell (33rd). Without the assistance of all of the people, Blagojevich would have never been elected Governor. His betrayal of them set a new political low, even by the standards of this state.
Rod Blagojevich has lied on so many occasions it would be too time consuming to list them in this Program
Guide. He is a sociopath and has been pathological in his lying and disrespecting of his former supporters.
Rod Blagojevich has forgotten about his friends and supporters who brought him to the Governor’s Mansion. (Of course, given the fact that Blagojevich usually avoids Springfield in general, and the Governor’s Mansion in particular, as if they were toxic waste dumps, his attitude toward past allies may best be described as consistently bizarre.) He has continually disregarded his supporters and forgotten his promises. Blagojevich governs by press conference and does not do the hard day-to-day tasks of actually governing.
There are many problems facing this state. They include insufficient economic growth, the flight of businesses leaving the state, significant pockets of unemployment and underemployment, and the chronic problems facing our educational system from pre-school thru our state university system. While Blagojevich makes a perhaps technically correct statement that he has not raised income taxes (which would have been the sensible and least regressive way of dealing with the fiscal mess that was left over from the previous administration), he has chosen to raise virtually every other fee and license available. In doing so, he chose a most regressive way of funding the state’s operations, placing the burden most on those who can least afford it, which ironically are those who elected him in the first place.
Rod Blagojevich ran on a platform of reform and changing business as issue. To some, he has become
a thinner George Ryan with better hair. To others, Blagojevich has become a second Dan Walker. Neither comparison is justification for a second term. The corruption in the Blagojevich administration is like a cancer that will likely not stop anytime soon, unless the voters force a stop to it in 2006.
After getting party leaders like House Speaker Michael Madigan (the Chairman of the State Democratic Party) and Senate President Emil Jones to endorse his campaign earlier this fall (no doubt in part to Blagojevich’s campaign war chest, fattened by contributions from numerous businesses and individuals who have state contracts), it seemed that no Democrat would rise up against Blagojevich. But now there is (at the time this document is being prepared, just prior to the start of the petition filing period) a strong likelihood that Edwin Eisendrath, the former Alderman of Chicago’s 43rd Ward and the Chicago-based Housing and Urban Development regional director under President Clinton, will enter the Democratic Primary race.
It is clear that Blagojevich and his cronies see Eisendrath as a real threat. That was made evident when it was recently learned that one of Blagojevich’s most loyal lackeys in the General Assembly, State Senator Carol Ronen (7th), was behind a letter-writing scheme to pressure Eisendrath out of the race. The scheme quickly blew up in the faces of Ronen and the others responsible for it, as legitimate progressives in the state, as they received the E-mail message, passed the information along to Eisendrath.
Ronen is politically a small pain in the neck, although the ICHG will be delighted to endorse anyone challenging this pitiful excuse for a public servant in either of the races she will be up for come March 21; renomination to the State Senate and reelection as 9th District Democratic State Central Committeewoman. It is the need to rid the state of Rod Blagojevich that must take priority.
If Blagojevich is not stopped on March 21, then it bodes ill for a good friend of the ICHG, Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn. We strongly support Quinn, a recent recipient of our Distinguished Service Award, in the March Primary (although at this point he may not have opposition in that election). But after March 21, the provisions of the Illinois Constitution chain Quinn to whoever wins the Democratic Gubernatorial nomination. Even though Quinn has done a fine job as Lieutenant Governor (including speaking out on the needs to help the families of Illinois servicemen while they are deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan), Blagojevich’s shortcomings and failing make it impossible for us to endorse a Blagojevich-Quinn ticket in the General Election.
In the weeks ahead we will also be looking with interest at the developing race for Governor in the Republican Primary. If Eisendrath is unwilling or unable to knock off Blagojevich in the March Primary, the victor on the Republican side will be the state’s last hope to avoid four more disastrous years of house of cards budgets and disgraceful leadership that tries to run this state by press releases and polling. This state needs someone better than that as its Governor, and deserves better than that. It’s clearly time to say “NO†to another four years of Rod Blagojevich.
RANDALL SHERMAN
Secretary/Treasurer, Illinois Committee for Honest Government
Chicago
- Matt Varble - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 9:18 am:
You could always go out and block the IP address. That’s what IlliniPundit has done to me since he doesn’t agree with me. Although I think it’s petty to do so if you don’t agree with criticism, I think in your case Rich it is justified since it is misrepresentation and personal attacks.
- reddbyrd - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 9:28 am:
I might be the only one who feels this way, but…
why am I bothered when the blog creates the position of editor/censor?
I think the readers of this venue know everyone approaches with a vested interest/ screenname/ and probably an agenda.
The unilateral decision to disclose the information just seems wrong.
But then life experiences have shown me that editors eventually go out of control
Sorry Rich, but I disagree with your actions on this one.
- Bardo - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 9:35 am:
I think this is disturbing on several different levels….
- Pat Collins - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 9:42 am:
reddbyrd - you can always make your own blog, and play by your rules there…..
When a guest, one ought to follow the host’s wishes.
- Matt Varble - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 9:43 am:
There is no expectation of online privacy and no legal right to online anonymity of commenters. You have a right to anonymous free speech (i.e. anonymous leaflets placed on cars for example), but that right doesn’t extend through your internet service provider toward your identity if a criminal or civil law violation occurs from what you say online.
Again, people (here and elsewhere) jumped all over me in July of 2005 when I speculated about an anonymous blogger’s identity and I backed off since there was no compelling legal reason to justify it.
However in this case you have misrepresentation and I agree with what has happened.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 9:51 am:
Frankly, I don’t see this as any different from what might happen if a newspaper discovered that several letters to the editor it published were written by a campaign operative posing as a supporter of someone else.
- VanillaMan - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 9:55 am:
I’ve always suspected this, but being on the governor’s staff isn’t a big deal, really. The governor’s staff is made up of very little people with very big opinions about themselves, as most of us would be if we worked for a governor.
Lets write this down as typical youthful enthusiasm misdirected and poorly spent. I am confident our fellow bloggers recognize silly partisan shrill when we read it.
I don’t envy your job refereeing your site. I trust your judgement in making the decision you did regarding this issue. The good news is that this web site is being read by folks of every political stripe - even skunk stripes!
- Jill Stanek - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 9:55 am:
JSM: 9:07 am: To your question: “I wonder how the rest of the blogging community feels about outting unidentified bloggers? Has this happened before? Is it an ethical thing to do?”
Yes, the Illinois Leader outted IL House Republican staff for using work computers to write destructive messages on the Leader’s now-infamous discussion loops. (I was on the Leader staff at the time.)
- grand old partisan - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 9:57 am:
I couldn’t disagree with reddbyrd more. It’s one thing to post from a biased point of view - something we are almost all guilty of - but it is qiuite a different thing to misrepresent yourself in order to manipulate an election. It may be bold of me to say this, reddbyrd, but I think your outrage is a little disingenous. Would you honestly be this upset if Rich had outed Topinka staffers for doing the same thing?
- WAY DOWNSTATE - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 10:01 am:
Rich don’t mean to change the subject but would you do a piece on this home loan scheme Blago has going.It sounds like another big give away.
- Mike's Used Sport's Section - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 10:09 am:
I wonder how akward it might be next time Chuck Goudie sits down at the anchor desk next to Mark Giangreco. “So your brother thinks I’m a talentless hack? I’m sorry he didn’t like my reporting on the Governor’s 12 person nanny serivce and security detail.”
What’s the old axium? Never challenge someone who buys ink by the barrel? Does that same wisdom apply to the top local news in Chicago?
Great media strategy guys. Go buy another 1,000 blank VHS tapes for your “local issues monitoring” projects.
MUSS
- steve schnorf - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 10:10 am:
If the site would disallow anonymous posters (brave citizens),people would be more thoughtful about what they post. I have no problem with people who face genuine harm for posting the truth posting anonymously, but let’s face it, that isn’t the case with the great majority who post on this site. They simply post anonymously because they lie and don’t want to be caught, or they lack the courage of their “convictions”.
More important, I think, is how the Governor reacts to this and how other candidates react when Rich outs their people for doing the same thing.
- shelbyville - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 10:13 am:
Ah, the brilliance of the Blago people never ceases to amaze me. There is a term for what they are doing - trolling.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 10:14 am:
Well, I guess they won’t do that again.
Trackback Spontaneous Solutions - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 10:27 am:
This Is Rich
Rich Miller reports that Governor Blagojevich’s campaign team is posing as conservatives on his site: “As I wrote in this morning’s Capitol Fax, Governor Rod Blagojevich’s campaign has apparently been posting comments here. That’s no big deal i…
- archpundit - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 10:34 am:
I had essentially the same thing happen with Russ Carnahan’s campaign in 2004. The line for me is whether they are misrepresenting who they are—they can hide their identity–but misrepresenting their identity to lie about someone else is the problem.
And it probably isn’t someone high up in the chain of command. More likely someone who has too much time on their hands.
That said, there are fine tools to anonymize your web address if you need them.
- IP - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 10:46 am:
Rich, I’ll buy you a drink if you can find me.
- leigh - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 10:50 am:
I think this is hilarious. How stupid are those folks? If they are young they really should have a clue that they can be traced. While not surprised, I am a little befuddled that they are so clueless, and I will be chuckling all day.
- WAY DOWNSTATE - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 11:00 am:
You know it is kind of funny but just think these people are in charge of the State of Illinois.So in reality that is pretty damm scary.Oh Rich do we know if it is a state computer.
- Dozer - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 11:12 am:
Hmm, A campaign worker for Blago says state employees should be at will employees.
I;ll bet this helps with the AFL endorsement.
I can see the mail piece now…..
D
- JSM - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 11:14 am:
Rich, I understand your position and repsect the way you administer this site. You do a good job.
I am a strong supporter of Governor Blagojevich. I only ask for the same level of scrutiny for all comments. I recall many posts that misrepresented the Governor. Most of these were alleged corruption threads, rumors, or personal attacks. Surely, allegations of wrong doing with no basis in fact are more slanderous than a few posts by the Blagojevich campaign. Some of the personal attacks against the Governor and even more so against his staff, have been personally insulting in nature and just plain wrong.
To be fair, I havent seen that many since you started the new site. Your site is widely read in political circles (media especially) and I think that you have a certain responsability to play it right down the middle when tracking anonymous commenters. I know that you will do this, but just wanted to air my thoughts.
Pingback Peoria Pundit » Gov’s campaigners caught in online smear campaign - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 11:19 am:
[…] Rich Miller writes today someone using an Internet connection belonging to the Blagojevich campaign was making anonymous comments on his blog. […]
- WI border - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 11:40 am:
I don’t remember ‘misrepresentation’ on my IL Ethics test, so it must be OK. You’re doing a great job Rich.
- reddbyrd - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 11:46 am:
For the record, GOP, while I generally find the antics of Republicans much more amusing, I think my concern about the “outing” would be the same if AccordianGal’s posse was accused of doing the same thing.
I may be much more comfortable with GRod or other Demos running the show, but I wonder about the ethics of being a blog master.
And it is nothing like editors checking on letters to the editor unless the editors are dusting for fingerprints or testing the flap spit for DNA.
Still not persuaded.
- Wigand - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 12:15 pm:
Rich,
I’m with you 100%. Anonymity makes a-holes and bullies out of cowards. Just knowing that they can be identified, or outed even, should be enough to significantly quell the slanderous comments that often appear here.
- NI80 - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 12:46 pm:
Rich, I’ve trusted your judgment on most things, but I’m still not sure about outing the Blago people. I completely agree that it is a deceptive practice they engaged in and by no means is excusable, but at the same time I think it strikes a bit of fear in people that do post honest expressions that at some point they, as well will be outed. I think a similar situation occured earlier this year with another blogger and you posted here on behalf of that blogger to stop this person from pursuing his identity, and that is a stance I agree with. Like I said, I’m still a little weary on this issue-the deceptive postings versus the ability to post without being subjected to “outings.”
- Matt Varble - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 1:12 pm:
That “person” that I decided to quit the pursuit of their Identity was the IlliniPundit. He has since then become a complete hypocrite (even has admitted that he is a hypocrite on this issue) since he himself has tracked my ISP address (as well as others) and revealed my identity when I posted anonymously to his site and most recently has completely blocked my ability to even view his blog due to his personal disagreements with my opinion which runs counter to his.
All of this has occurred while he simultaneously holding himself out there as a self proclaimed champion fostering a free and open exchange of different persepectives on his blog.
In reality his words don’t match his actions.I also find it slightly amusing that this also goes un-noticed and there is no sense of outrage when he commits the very same offense.
- Nearly Normal - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 1:19 pm:
This is Rich’s blog and he has every right to maintain the blog as he sees fit. If that includes “outing” posters who are imposters so be it.
I take anything I read on a blog with a very big grain of salt. We all have our biases that’s for sure. No doubt there are some who are posting claiming to be for the gov and not stating their alliegance to Republican candidates as well.
This posting by the Governor’s campaign workers proves that they feel this blog is important enough to try to influence.
It is far better to have an open forum where people are willing to post their own opinions and not use it to trick readers.
It is pretty sophomoric–reminds me of a former student of mine who used a school computer to send a threatening email across the country to a former student in California. By using the IP address it was traced to the school and to that specific computer at a specific time. Since the student signed in for the computer, we had his name. The lad got a little visit by the authorities with badges and a little discussion about threats and the law. He had to go home to change his whitie tidies after that. No more problem with him or anyone else that semester.
Perhaps the Blago workers now know their messages can be traced and will back off of this childish behavior.
- Extreme Wisdom - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 1:20 pm:
Rich,
I appreciate the outing. Those of us with blogs have long known of the ability to track IP addresses.
While there is no reason to “out” people expressing an opinion, when they do so to undermine an argument, candidate, or person surreptitiously, there is no real downside to informing readers of that fact.
It merely goes to the “blue sky” nature of disclosure.
You’d think people who posted to blogs would know they could get smoked in this way.
- Bubs - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 1:40 pm:
How dumb. They should go to Kinko’s and publish smears against enemies from there, just like . . .
- LittleEgypt - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 1:59 pm:
Rich just for starters, why the idiot postings from Pingback (2) and Trackback? Are they tempting you to find out who they are?
As far as “outing” any of your posters, good for you! This is YOUR blog and you can run it any way you want. Censorship is here folks and it’s a part of life so deal with it. You’re not paying for the privilege of posting on this blog so quit your bellyaching. If you don’t like Rich’s rules, then don’t play his game. I don’t use my real name to post but a nickname instead. I have a family member who is a State employee so I choose to post the way I do. Some people know my nickname and that’s OK with me. I don’t post anything that I don’t strongly believe in and don’t make any false statements - just personal opinions.
I think the fact that you have “outed” some of Blago’s people should be fair warning to others that you will do the same to all of us should you find a smelly situation. The internet gives us all a false sense of anonymity; however, that couldn’t be further from the truth. WE CAN ALL BE TRACED. Each and everything we say and every web site we visit can all be traced. Someone in the bowels of the government and private corporation data processing is keeping track of people, and you never know why or when you are on the list. It could be your job is in jeopary or you are just a lazy slug who likes to surf the net during work hours instead of doing your job - fact. My spouse had to do this in the capacity of a DP manager.
As far as posting at public libraries, there may be a few that are lax in their rules but the one in my hometown asks for your driver’s license or some other form of traceable ID then gives you a log-on password good for a certain amount of time. It is not unlimited time even though there may not be anyone waiting. I think most public libraries do a good job of CYA in this regard so for those of you who have posted here and suggested that you can obtain anonymity by going to a public library, that is not true. However, I would expect the “youngsters” to try it. What amazes me is that this younger generation has grown up with a computer keyboard in one hand and a Gameboy or a Nintendo controller in the other and they still don’t realize that everything you do on a computer can be traced.
Keep up the good work Rich. I’m retired and no longer have access to The Capitol Fax so I really appeciate the effort you put into this blog and the opportunity you give us to comment and/or vent.
- charlie johnston - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 2:10 pm:
I completely agree with Rich. I posted anonymously for a while at the Leader as “Joe D.” and had a load of fun at it. But I assumed I would eventually be outed, as I was, and did not use it as a vehicle to maliciously vent my spleen. It’s nice to have privacy sometimes and I like Rich’s respect for people on that - but if you use it like some people do alcohol; to fill yourself with a false and malicious bravado; knowing you might be outed can help keep posts reasonable.
- Anonymous - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 2:23 pm:
Anyone see Most Wise Governor Blagojevich on C-SPAN an hour or so ago? He said that if families with children with cancer want to come to Illinois to take advantage of KidCare they are welcome to. He is generous and brave Governor and for this generosity in helping children across nation, he should be rewarded with US Presidency and will be greatest since FDR.
- LittleEgypt - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 3:02 pm:
Anon 2:23
First of all at least get a nickname. Anon is sooooo lazy. I would agree with you regarding Blago being rewarded with the U.S. Presidency. However, I would suggest that he would be more in step with Hoover, who brought us the Great Depression. He had better make sure the numbers he has crunched will at least support the Illinois children before he invites the world to come to Illinois. I’m hoping you are saying all of this tongue in cheek and are not one of Blago’s Bloggers. Hey, that’s catchy!
- BOBIO - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 3:23 pm:
I would like to know whether the faked blogs came from the governor’s campaign or public offices. Was tax dollars used to pay employees to write these blogs.
- Star - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 3:30 pm:
Matt Varble - get a life.
- Down South State Worker - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 4:25 pm:
Was it wrong Yes,Was it petty yes, Should of Rich set them out No Not like that. Will this change my vote next Nov no I wil still vote for Rod.
- muletown - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 4:30 pm:
I think it would be naive to think that staff people from all the candidates are monitoring every form of communication. This administration is built on image as opposed to substance. Thus blog sites are a perfect forum to get a message out. I do believe the comments should be limited to matters that have an effect on the Governor. To promote candidates on the other ticket who may appear to be easy prey if nominated is not right. I believe you are right on this one Rich.
- Bill Baar - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 4:45 pm:
Maybe people in Blagojevich’s office really do support Oberwies.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 4:47 pm:
I’ve noticed that the pro-Oberweis comments have really dropped today.
- Tessa - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 5:11 pm:
I find this very interesting indeed, considering that “The Dude” was one of the people most disturbed by me and I believe most frequently telling me to quit and get a different job if I didn’t like what I did. I know others have said that too, but none as vehemently as “The Dude”, as I think about it.
I can’t help but see through my rosy glasses. Why can’t people just tell the truth? If you support “X” candidate, just say so. If you don’t, then just say so. And this is Rich’s blog, and he should be able to monitor it and trace back whatever he needs to and keep out those that are misleading people as these individuals appear to be doing, unless people are in Blago’s office working for Obie instead. And what are the odds of that?
More power to you Rich, for trying to keep the facts straight and commenters on the up and up. So, we might not agree with each other, we should at least be honest about what we think.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 5:22 pm:
The state employee bashing has dropped off today as well.
Hmmm…
- NumbersGuy - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 5:59 pm:
I wonder if we’ll also see any more of the anon’s posting two of my favorite “blaggers” (blog comments that make one gag)
1)”Bill Holland’s job is to monitor the protocol of State operations”
2) “Those pension funds are a lot better off since Rod reformed them.”
Job well done, Rich.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 6:07 pm:
Yeah, no pension comments today, either. It’s actually been quite pleasant on the blog today.
- "B-Team" - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 6:29 pm:
Any way to innundate that IP address with spam?
- Norseman - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 6:57 pm:
This whole affair is indicative of the intellectual shortcomings of this crowd. It further demonstrates that this guy and his sycophants are anything but reform.
Rich is to be commended for outing these hacks. It’s one thing for partisans to be posting FOR their candidate and AGAINST their opponents, it’s an entirely different matter when they hold pretend to be someone else. For shame to you Blago apologists who are critizing Rich for identifying this sham. This is more proof that the new way of doing business is the old way magnified by X%.
- Old Elephant - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 7:08 pm:
It seems like there are two issues here and that both may be worthy of separate threads:
First, the “dirty tricks” aspect of the Governor’s campaign – posing as far right conservatives and pushing Oberweis as their preferred candidate.
Second, the whole issue of anonymity among commenters.
On the second question, I think it’s very understandable why people may choose not to post under their own names: everything from not wanting to expose themselves to flaming e-mails or worse from those who disagree with them to those who are truly concerned for their jobs to those who want to have the freedom to express a viewpoint that may not coincide 100% with their employers. As one who fits into a couple of the above categories, I don’t really expect that my identity is untraceable and I would expect that if I were to engage in inappropriate postings that that I would be quickly turned over to the authorities, exposed or banned from a site.
Far more interesting to me though is that the Governor’s campaign is apparently engaging in an organized “dirty tricks” campaign to influence the Republican primary and smear (”gay loving, gun hating, tax raising”) the candidate that they apparently believe to be their strongest opponent.
From what we know so far, it appears the Governor is going to follow a two-pronged strategy, using Government resources at every opportunity to tell a positive story about his administration, thereby conserving campaign resources to concentrate on negative attacks on his opponents. It’s also obvious that the negative campaigning will be done in ways that attempt to conceal the campaign’s fingerprints – and that is the most disturbing aspect of the strategy. The only way to prevent this will be for the media to aggressively police the campaign and thoroughly investigate the source of every charge.
I have no problem with the Governor’s office mounting an aggressive campaign to defend their record. In fact, I wouldn’t even be that surprised to learn that the Governor’s extensive taxpayer-paid PR machine is posting pro-Blagojevich policy messages on state time using state resources.
And, I don’t see anything wrong with “negative” attacks that are honest, straightforward efforts to highlight the contrast between the Governor and his opponents.
But, when a campaign engages in an organized, deceptive smear campaign and then attempts to re-direct responsibility to another campaign, it has crossed a line. I have been involved in political campaigns in Illiois for more than 20 years and while I won’t pretend that such tactics are unheard of, they are certainly not standard or accepted practice among the majority of people who direct political campaigns in Illinois (in both parties). These types of tactics are silly and the media has every right to go after campaigns who embrace such tactics.
- LittleEgypt - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 7:40 pm:
Perhaps the FBI would be interested in checking out the origin of some of the Blago supporters and if they are, indeed, doing blogging on State time with State equipment. I find it hard to believe that the “kids” would be able to restrain themselves from posting here until they got home to their own computer. Their immaturity is going to be the downfall of the whole Blago organization.
Several years ago when GRyan was running for SOS, I was asked by a Ryan family member whom I knew personally to call a Democrat ballot in the primary and vote for Denny Jacobs. GRyan supporters believed that Denny would be easier to beat in the general. The same thing appears to be happening here on this blog by the Blogo supporters. They are trying to make the Repubs believe that Obie is the best candidate when what they are really doing is trying to swing the primary so that Blago has a candidate in the general who he is more likely to beat.
Memo to the kids: It’s a new electronic age and the old campaign tactics don’t transfer well over to computers. It would be a good idea for you to find a new way to be devious and deceitful and that would probably be trying to recruit some members of the old guard who did things under the table long before computers were around and learn some old tactics from them. You may have to go back to a pencil and a legal pad and stop leaving a trail for the FBI to find. But then again, it’s probably too late. No matter how you try to cover up your illegal activities, the FBI will get ya. (te he he)
- Tessa - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 8:01 pm:
I think we need to make sure there’s a differentiation between blogging on state time and blogging from a political campaign office. Truly, blogging on state time is going to be hard, because there are too many eyes watching and not as many people who are state employees have access to the internet as the general public would like to believe. At least lower level employees with computers don’t have it. Management keeps access to the internet very limited, while most everyone with computers has the lovely intranet. One can’t blog with that.
But from a campaign office, blogging could be done at will. Not so from a state employee’s office. Big brother at a local level, whoever is in charge of computers, and big brother in Springfield, can monitor the computer stuff at any time. E-mails and anything that goes on. Much too easy to get caught doing stuff.
- Truth in Blogging - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 8:07 pm:
My guess would be, based solely on news reports, that Los Federales probably have enough files open regarding the conduct of the Blago administration that blogging for campaign purposes on State time with State PCs may not make the hot sheet. Who knows.
However, I’m reminded of a post from a few weeks ago over at NoHotRod.com, folks who make no secret of their intentions. I think Bernie Schoenburg was the only print media guy who ran with it. Essentially, they ran a scoop, based on a tip, that pointed out that a number of the Gov’s “hotter” (e.g. pension reform. budget deal) press releases appeared to have been written on a computer, or software at least, licensed to the campaign. The more mundane releases (e.g. “State Fair Hog Sale brings record prices under Blagojevich”) were written by Agency flacks on State computers.
Abby O.(the poor dear) offered an explanation about not changing the template after the transition that sounded semi kinda plausible, end of story.
Now, reading that the plumbers unit of the Blago campaign was out blogging as a Friend of Obie and gosh knows who else, I wonder if NHR really had a point with the press releases. Those conspiracy theorists among us will appreciate the factoid that a number of the releases cited by NHR have vanished from the Gov’s website…
Old Elephant is right. This stuff is silly and has to stop.
- Bardo - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 8:33 pm:
A few weeks ago, I was calling for an end to anonymous posting. I just think it leads to too much bs and not enough accountability….
Rich — This was clearly a better solution. I agree that this has been a pleasant day on the blog. Well done.
- Lisa - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 8:36 pm:
This is my first time visiting this site. That being said… I have not read any post (except what you have provided) of this person that you exposed so I am commenting strictly on what I know at this very moment. I was told by my husband to read this post. I did and now I have a few questions. But first… I never voted for Blago just so you know where I stand and that I’m not working for anyone.
1. To leave your comments to your Blog… do you provide a place for your name/nickname/Anonymity?
2. Do you also have a place where you can choose to leave your e-mail and URL or not?
3. Why do you have those in place?
4. Was any of his/her comments “inappropriate comments will be deleted or held for moderation. Profanity is also not acceptable”?
5. What is your definition of inappropriate?
6. If they were inappropriate, did you delete them?
7. Is there a warning on your Blog that says, if you continue to do this, your IP will be exposed?
8. Did you try to contact this person before you took this action as a warning if they did put their e-mail on any post?
9. If they didn’t leave an e-mail address, did you publicly ask this person to contact you via a simple yahoo address?
10. Did you warn this person publicly that you would expose him/her publicly if they kept up their inappropriate comments?
11. Do you really know his/her reasons for posting under these aliases?
12. Did this person do something illegal or unethical?
13. How many comments have you generated on this post now?
14. Lastly, by exposing this person, who has their own personal opinion about things, get fired?
If they made these comments on company time, that was very unwise. They should have had better judgment. With all due respect to this administrator… I believe that this situation could have been handled with more dignity that it was and all steps should have been taken. Just my own personal opinion.
- Raving - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 8:40 pm:
I want it on record that this posting is NOT on my work computer and NOT on state time. It’s 8:31 p.m.
If anyone in my office or any other, who is not with anyone’s campaign, were to post to an Internet blog during work hours, we would be hung up by our thumbs and reminded of two ethics tests we took. I guess there is not so much need for ethics higher up the state food chain.
While we are talking about dirty tricks, I wish someone would look into the media blitz for AllKids and look at how and where it was all printed and the number of times the Blagojevich name is placed in both the online site and the handouts. His name is on the website information alone 37 TIMES! It is truly mind-boggling.
AllKids is supposed to start in 7 months and by that time, 100’s of thousands of pieces of AllKids material will be handed out or mailed to individuals around the state with the Gov’s name repeated ad nauseum. So, the citizens of Illinois will pay for a massive campaign mailing in the guise of a kids’ health program, which may or may not come to fruition and may or may not be funded. 100’s of thousand of people will see the Governor’s name on the AllKids information, without him having to spend a penny of his precious 15 million. Sounds like Karl Rove has moved to Illinois.
- Crazy in Springfield - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 8:45 pm:
Call me crazy, Lisa, but why should anyone pay any attention to somebody who has never been here before and never had to endure all the trouble that the Blago Bloggers caused? Take your “concerns” somewhere else.
- heet101 - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 8:52 pm:
those questions were intelligent and insightful and warrant valid responses from this administrator.
- Crazy in Springfield - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 9:04 pm:
I’m not going to speak for Rich, but most of those questions were either flat-out ridiculous or not germane to the topic. This was not an isolated poster causing trouble, but operators from the governor’s campaign posing as a right-wing Republican over several days. Rich had no obligation to warn the governor’s campaign that he was onto their unethical game.
Your use of the term “administrator” seems odd, when everyone knows who runs this blog. Who are you anyway?
- 47th Ward - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 9:13 pm:
Truth in Blogging wrote:
“However, I’m reminded of a post from a few weeks ago over at NoHotRod.com, folks who make no secret of their intentions. I think Bernie Schoenburg was the only print media guy who ran with it. Essentially, they ran a scoop, based on a tip, that pointed out that a number of the Gov’s “hotter†(e.g. pension reform. budget deal) press releases appeared to have been written on a computer, or software at least, licensed to the campaign. The more mundane releases (e.g. “State Fair Hog Sale brings record prices under Blagojevichâ€) were written by Agency flacks on State computers.”
This “scoop, based on a tip,” is clearly an attempt to criminalize politics. Ohmygosh, the Blagojevich team is at it again–call the feds! The campaign might haved drafted, vetted and/or made suggestions on major policy announcements? To suggest that this is somehow inappropriate (or unprecedented) is absurd. Let’s see: if you can’t do politics on state time, and now you can’t hire outside campaign staff to do politics, what’s left?
Gimme a break. Must have been a slow week for Bernie. The “scoop,” and posting it here, is much ado about nothing. But it sounds so ominous.
As for Rich outing people, despite evidence to the contrary, I think he plays the blog thing on the square. Just keep it fair and balanced Rich. Your credibility is at stake too.
- Papa Legba - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 9:21 pm:
Oddly enough, I received an email from SBC Yahoo! regarding their contract agreement. I consider it odd because I don’t use SBC Yahoo! service. I did find this nugget in the service agreement from SBC Yahoo!:
“9. MEMBER CONDUCT
You agree that you will NOT use the Service to:
(a) upload, post, email, transmit or otherwise make available any Content (as defined below) that is unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, tortious, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, libelous, invasive of another’s privacy, hateful, or racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable;
(b) harm minors in any way;
(c) impersonate any person or entity, including but not limited to an SBC or Yahoo! official, forum leader, guide or host, or falsely state or otherwise misrepresent your affiliation with a person or entity;”
Seems as if the Blagojevich for Governor group may have violated A & C. Hummmmmm.
- Frustrated - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 9:27 pm:
One of the subtexts to all of this is this: It just goes to show how little goodwill Blago has left in this state. A more respected governor — a more serious leader — might have avoided this scenario.
Had an otherwise-respectful, respectable and competent governor had a campaign do the same thing, maybe Rich just calls them up and says, “hey, cut it out.” And it stops without ever becoming public.
But for Rod, this is just another moment in a long line of the Blago people showing a complete disregard for straightforwardness, honesty and fair debate.
I don’t mean to say Rich has it out for Blago in particular, or that he intentionally has a double standard. I just mean that every journalist in this state (including Rich) long ago ran out of patience with the Blagojevich administration, which has shown a willingness to intentionally mislead the public at every chance.
The chickens come home to roost.
- roy slade - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 10:00 pm:
Lisa- wrong is wrong. I hope you are not in any position to teach my children, or handle my finances. Your “responses” seem strange- if they are indeed honest.
Factually speaking- he didn’t “out” the Blago people specifically- just restricted “them” from continuing to post in a dishonest manner.
As a person who intends to NOT vote for Blago again- I understood that the Milkman wasn’t the strongest candidate to beat our current Governor. As a current state worker who “has doing more with less” for three straight years- yet has new “bosses” with less education but substantially higher pay- I knew something didn’t “smell right”.
I guess now we know.
- max maxwell - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 10:16 pm:
It’s pretty obvious that the Blago people have been posting here. Only people who work for Blago like him that much, and only Blago’s people bash state employees that much. As a state employee, Rich’s news today is hardly news- just the IP address.
- Scott Fawell's Cellmate - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 10:57 pm:
Rich,
This is your website and you have every right to do with it as you please. You’ve been a responsible editor and gatekeeper and have worked hard to ensure this blog remains a space for constructive - rather than destructive - discussion and analysis.
With that said, I think you screwed up.
The Governor’s campaign staff engaged in dirty tricks to try to manipulate the conversation. You noticed the deception, identified the perpetrator(s), stopped the misconduct and prevented the bad actors from exercising the privilege - not a right, a privilege - to join in this conversation. All good, all responsible.
But then you brought this matter into the public arena in a campaign season to expose the misconduct and rebuke a candidate’s campaign staff, and therein lies the problem.
Again, this is YOUR blog. Run it as you wish. But if this blog is going to continue to have legitimacy as a non-partisan forum for commentary, then it must remain consistent. Dem and GOP, left and right, pinko and tin hat - all must be treated the same, all the time, every time.
So, if you’re going to expose the Governor’s dirty tricks, then we better see the same public shaming of GOP candidates for Governor if and/or when they cross the line.
No private email warnings and closing of access, or other non-public responses. If anyone - anyone - tries to game the system here, they need to be exposed and dealt with publicly. Apparently, that is the rule.
- Papa Legba - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 11:20 pm:
Cellmate.
1. Blago’s campaign staff idiots brought this into the public arena.
2. There has been enough warnings explaining that excessive garbage wouldn’t be tolerated.
3. Posters have been warned that their IP addresses could/would be tracked. As such, Rich posted the IP address of the offending poster(s). He just saved us the effort of looking up the address on our own. Perhaps in the future all IP addresses should be included with the name of the poster.
- Mongo - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 11:30 pm:
Hi all
Rich did the right thing. No one here can say with a serious face that it was right for the Governor’s campaign office to lie about their identity and engage in bashing of candidates in a very deceitful way.
Rich did try, according to his first set of comments, to get The Dude to contact him. The Dude didn’t. Rich then suspended and outed him and his other names.
I see nothing wrong with that. I come to this blog for a vigorous exchange of views, and if in that process, I am persuaded one way or the other, that’s a good day. But if I come to accept a position because of an intentional lie or misrepresentation by a blogger, ahh now, that’s different. That p****s me off. That’s cheating. If it were my mailbox, or my email, or my blog, I’d dump that liar and never let her or him back in.
So thanks Rich.
- Scott Fawell's Cellmate - Monday, Dec 12, 05 @ 11:59 pm:
Papa Legba 11:20,
I’m not defending the Governor’s campaign staff here. They screwed up, got caught and are being dealt with by Rich. (Without knowing any details, I think it reeks of an overeager young campaign worker thinking they’re being helpful to the campaign. Or this could be Brad Tusk’s idea. Who knows.)
However, Rich choose to review the IP address of a particular poster and then identify the campaign affiliation of the writer. Unless I’m missing something, no one posted a complaint about the fraudulent writer, no one raised a red flag. Rather, Rich took it upon himself to use his power to identify a writer who used a screen name.
Again, I know, this is Rich’s world. He makes the rules. He sets the boundaries. His world. And I know - anonmity is a facade in a blog. Posters should have no expectation of privacy. This isn’t some online bathroom stall; rather, Rich is our Illinois political Santa: he knows when you’ve been bad or good, so be good - or else. Posting here is a privilege, not a right, and responsible (and, god willing, interesting) writers get to exercise the privilege. Again, for so long as Rich wants.
However, now that Rich - on his own - has exposed a writer and his or her misconduct, then fairness and equity demands that we know the rules going forward. So, Rich:
Will you check the IP addresses for all posters ? If not, why not ?
If you will check all IP addresses, will you identify posts from other campaigns (not supporters, actual campaign staffers) ? From government employees posting on public time ? From registered lobbyists ?
And, once again, keep up the good work. This blog continues to rock, and Illinoize truly puts me a happy state.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Dec 13, 05 @ 1:36 am:
I’m going to say my piece and then I’m closing comments.
The comments at my old blog had gotten way out of hand. The move to the new blog was necessitated by people like those from the governor’s campaign headquarters, who used my blog as a forum for dishonesty and malice. I view those comments as an attack on my business - and I don’t like attacks on my business.
If this was one or two posts, with no history of the person doing the same sort of thing at my old blog, there would have been no problem. I’d have made a phone call and that would be that.
But this was several posts, every day. We’re not talking about an occasional wisecrack from a partisan, it was a repeated and malicious attempt to deceive. This went on for weeks before I figured out what was happening.
Notice that nobody from the Blagojevich campaign has posted an apology here. I have received no contrite e-mails or calls. No confessions. No honesty. Just gentle warnings posted here by a few of the governor’s allies reminding me that I should hold everyone to the same standard. Nice try at changing the subject.
And then there are those who say I should post clearer rules. As if a gubernatorial campaign needs to be told that repeatedly impersonating another candidate’s operatives is wrong and and is, therefore, newsworthy. Here’s a rule: If you wouldn’t do it in the non-blog world, don’t do it here.
The proverbial head is now on the wall. Learn from it.
Pingback IlliniPundit.com » Blog Archive » Capitol Fax Commenters Story - Friday, Feb 5, 10 @ 9:15 pm:
[…] Yesterday’s story about the Blagojevich campaign workers who posted anonymous comments on THE Capitol Fax Blog supporting Jim Oberweis has made the MSM: Miller, whose newsletter and Web site are popular information sources for Illinois political insiders, discovered the use of Blagojevich campaign computers on his site last week, after he moved the blog to a new service that allows him to track the “internet protocol” address of computers that post messages to the site. […]