Ousted Aide Seeks Identity Of Web User (FR mentioned) (MD4BUSH-NCPAC)

WBAL on-line ^ | May 6, 2005 | WBAL

[ZinGirl]

BALTIMORE -- There is a new effort to unravel Maryland's political mystery -- who is MD4BUSH, the Internet name of whoever communicated with Gov Ehrlich's aide Joe Steffen about Mayor Martin O'Malley's personal life.

I-Team lead investigative reporter Jayne Miller said Steffen is behind the new push to find the answer.

*snip*

In his letter, Steffen's lawyer specifically seeks MD4BUSH's account information at Free Republic.com, which would include an e-mail address and server records that could reveal clues about the locations from which MD4BUSH logged in.

*snip*

Miller said Free Republic.com's operator has suggested he'd like to reveal information about MD4BUSH -- saying publicly when the whole story broke, he was "almost hoping to receive a subpoena." Miller reported that could happen if Steffen sues to get the information he seeks.

[HKMk23]

Seems several folks have latched onto the idea (true or not) that Mayor O' was having an affair and I find it very hard to believe that it all hinges on Mr. Steffen talking too much about it with MD4Bush. Other people have eyes, too. People see things. They talk about what they see. They do the mental calculus and arrive at the obvious answer. Word gets around at the local watering holes. These kinds of escapades have a nasty habit of leaking out.

So, it's the aide's fault -- Mr. Steffen's fault -- that he lost his job IF ideed he lost it for blabbing in email about what he knew; especially if it WAS all true. Shoulda known when ta shut up. But for him to come out now on some kind of sour-grapes vindiction drive?
Fugeddaboudit!

And "NO" I don't give a rat's rear axle if Mr. S. is "one of ours". If he's dumb enough not to just keep mum about certain things, we don't need him as an up-and-comer. He's proven himself to be more of a liability than an asset.

Loose lips sink careers, too.

Three can keep a secret, if two of them are dead.
-- Poor Richard

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1174344/posts

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1174344/posts?page=75#38

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1174344/posts?page=75#75

[Windcatcher]

Oh, ho. So IMHO JimRob has a tough decision. One the one hand he knows who MD4 is, and there appears to be a decent chance that it's a leftie provacateur (maybe a leftie reporter or leftie politician/politician's aide). On the other hand, if he just goes and releases MD4's info (which he may be very glad to do), MD4 might sue FR. Well, well, well. *Someone* must be squirming >:^)

[HAL9000]

Indymedia had its servers seized in order to yield data. It appears the seizure came out of Italy. Not sure if homeland security measures strengthened the case for seizure; as in criminal acts to be looked into.

I don't think any servers are going to be seized in this case. It's an ordinary subpoena.

Would this case, then, Steffan/MD4Bush fall under civil laws category?

It looks like a civil case right now - but if an unauthorized third-party was responsible for providing the misleading excerpts to the Washington Post, that could be a criminal violation of ECPA.

[HAL9000]

And later on, it'll be Rahm Emanuel and Lanny Davis vs. Hal9000. Will that be good news, too?

If I violated the ECPA and caused Rahm Emanuel and Lanny Davis to unjustly lose their jobs, the risk of a lawsuit is obvious.

[lentulusgracchus]

....caused Rahm Emanuel and Lanny Davis to unjustly lose their jobs.....

Who said anything about "unjustly"? What if they lost their jobs "justly", and you were just a troublemaker and a whistle-blower? An honest person, IOW?

Want them tracking you down then?

[lentulusgracchus]

Word gets around at the local watering holes. These kinds of escapades have a nasty habit of leaking out.

And who's to say if he's a "good guy" who "just cheated on his wife"? His wife, eh? Well, just how seriously does he take his obligations to the public, then?

Maybe it's a good idea if it gets around. If it's true.

[HAL9000]

Who said anything about "unjustly"?

Our guy Steffen lost his job unjustly, and that is what we are discussing in this article.

What if they lost their jobs "justly", and you were just a troublemaker and a whistle-blower? An honest person, IOW?

There are laws to protect legitimate whistleblowers - but that isn't the situation we're discussing.

Want them tracking you down then?

Don't worry about me. I survived the Clintons.

[Alia]

In no way did I intend to give the impression "that any servers were going to be seized in this case." Thank you for asserting this clarification nonetheless.

but if an unauthorized third-party was responsible for providing the misleading excerpts to the Washington Post, that could be a criminal violation of ECPA.

Which may or may not cover the "private emails posted in public"....

[bad company]

Oh, ho. So IMHO JimRob has a tough decision. One the one hand he knows who MD4 is, and there appears to be a decent chance that it's a leftie provacateur (maybe a leftie reporter or leftie politician/politician's aide). On the other hand, if he just goes and releases MD4's info (which he may be very glad to do), MD4 might sue FR. Well, well, well. *Someone* must be squirming

I really don't think it's that tough of a decision. MD4BUSH was a troll. An electronic tresspasser that was up to no good from the start. His first post on this forum was to NCPAC. His intentions were clear. He does not deserve the same considerations a regular poster would receive.

[LibWrangler]

Whoever was behind this scheming scam probably thinks they are going to take down FR in addition to NCPAC.

[HKMk23]

Maybe it's a good idea if it gets around. If it's true.

I'd agree with you on that score.

But here's what doesn't stick for me in all of this: MD4BUSH being a troll.
I don't buy it.

I've reviewed several of the comments posted by this individual and, unless their political views are really moderate, there's nearly no way they could come up with them.

I've tossed the political football around with a lot of people and, invariably, those on the left see things differently enough that they just can't think up the kinds of comments that would plausibly emanate from a conservative. Their own biases and misperceptions about what Conservatives are like and what we think make it nearly impossible for them to "play Conservative" themselves and do it well. To succeed at that gig requires a highly uncommon degree of psychological training.

Perhaps MD4BUSH has that. Remains to be seen, I suppose, but I'm betting that, when this all comes down, we'll all be surprised.