Dean fans flog blog, rip Kerry to threads

Boston Herald ^ | August 13, 2003 | Andrew Miga

[PJ-Comix]

WASHINGTON - The testy rivalry between presidential hopefuls John F. Kerry and Howard Dean has spilled over to Kerry's new campaign Web log, which has been swamped with mocking messages from Dean backers.

``Kerry a real Democrat???!!!'' taunted one Dean supporter with ``Sam'' as an online name. ``That's a laugh.''

Desperate to capture some of the cybermagic that propelled the former Vermont governor to the top tier of the 2004 Democratic pack, Kerry on Saturday launched a web log, or ``blog,'' to chronicle his travels and rally supporters.

But the Bay State senator's online journal - patterned after Dean's hugely successful BlogforAmerica.com - was soon invaded by swarms of taunting Dean supporters, turning cyberspace into the latest Kerry-Dean rift.

``Right after GWBush, I want to beat John Kerry the most,'' wrote one blogger.

Several pro-Dean bloggers lashed Kerry for stealing the former Vermont governor's Internet-savvy campaign tactics.

``When (Kerry) finds out that Dean has got momentum, he's copying everything from him,'' wrote a blogger identified as ``copycatkerry.''

The Kerry camp, while dismissing such Internet sparring as campaign pranksterism, insisted the online rants have badly misfired.

``The Dean trolls have actually fired up Kerry supporters, and increased their energy and excitement to organize for John Kerry,'' said Kerry spokeswoman Kelley Benander.

``Troll'' is web slang for people who post harassing comments.

Some bloggers posted a list of Kerry's missed Senate votes.

Others ripped Kerry for backing the Iraq war, for not being liberal enough and for attacking Dean.

``Kerry and his campaign manager Jim Jordan have been saying nasty things about Dean all along. They attack Dean, we speak back on their blog. Seems fair to me,'' wrote blogger ``Dave.''

A blogger named ``Trey Phish Head'' claimed he was a Dean backer and a ``shallow lonely stoner that lives to spam my enemy.''

Such comments irked Kerry supporters, who responded with a volley of blistering blog entries.

``Until this stops, I am going to raise hell on the Dean boards, and I encourage all Kerry people to join me,'' ranted a blogger known as ``Pocki,'' who added angrily, ``(Dean) is a traitor anyway.''

Another Kerry backer blasted Dean supporters for ``attacking like trust fund babies.''

The cyberskirmishing prompted an online plea from Dean campaign manager Joe Trippi urging supporters not to post messages on rival blogs. Other pro-Dean bloggers apologized for the vitriolic messages from fellow Dean backers.

``I am truly embarrassed that some alleged Dean supporters have posted nasty messages,'' wrote blogger ``Passing Shot.''

Some were frustrated by both sides.

``All I found on one side are potty-mouthed Deanies - and on the other, snooty Kerryites,'' wrote ``Lilly James.''

Aides to both Kerry and Dean suggested mischievous Republicans could also be behind some of the anti-Kerry entries allegedly from Dean supporters.

``Who knows who is actually writing this stuff?,'' asked Benander, noting the difficulty of confirming identities online.

Dean spokeswoman Dorie Clark had no comment.

[PJ-Comix]

I don't know how the reporter of this story could fail to list the URL of Kerry's Blog. Not very good journalism.

[Paul Atreides]

Who'd a thunk that cannibalism could be so much fun?

[PJ-Comix]

So what is the Kerry Blog Url? Why would a reporter be so clueless as to write this story without providing that info?

[Pikamax]

"A blogger named ``Trey Phish Head'' claimed he was a Dean backer and a ``shallow lonely stoner that lives to spam my enemy.'' "

HA HA HA HA HA

[EllaMinnow]

http://www.blog.johnkerry.com/blog/archives/000029.html

[Arpege92]

Well isn't that special!

[finnman69]

I think some Freepers have been naughty...heh heh.

[Timesink]

Just for the amusement value, a couple of days ago I decided to poke around Howard Dean's "gigantic Internet presence." The true amusement was in discovering that, other than his main blog, he doesn't have much of one. Lots of people have started mailing lists, but most of them have less than 20 members, there's no coordination between then, most of them are dormant or receive only a couple of messages a week, etc. Other than all the people that have signed up on meetup.com (which takes only a few seconds and means nothing unless you actually show up in person to one of the meetings), it's all a sham. Nothing but a big shiny Internet Potemkin Village.

(And even the meetup.com numbers are probably grossly inflated. There are currently 8,000 people on meetup claiming to be planning KUCINICH meetings!)

[.cnI redruM]

Dean has proven to be quite the internet fascist. He's given every cyber-p---ant a virtual mound from which to urinate.

So how does Senator Fromage look after a golden shower from The Deanie Weenies? The internet is so pathetically catty and puerile sometimes. Hi-tech, Low Class.

[PJ-Comix]

I just checked the Kerry Blog site and the interesting thing is that often HOURS will pass being postings in their chat forum. That tells me it has incredibly LOW traffic to that site.

[WestPacSailor]

Did anyone else notice the first line of the story: "The testy rivalry between presidential hopefuls John F. Kerry and Howard Dean..."

John F. Kerry? Has a familiar ring, eh? "Democratic presidential wannabe, er, I mean hopeful Senator John F. Kerry of (The Peoples Democratic Socialist Republic of) Massachusetts..."I wonder what he is trying to make people think here...Hmmm?

[WestPacSailor]

I just checked the Kerry Blog site...

I too checked out the Kerry site and, after reading his position on several issues, found it necessary to leave the following message. I'm sure it will be removed shortly, so I included it here.

"I find it inexplicable that so many Americans are ready to place their country in the hands of a man willing to curtail their Constitutional rights, support the killing of children, allow the government to recognize and support the vile notion of sodomite marriage, and take away the money I work for to give it to some crackhead welfare mother for having yet another child outside of marriage. Our country is not going down the toilet because of failed economic policies, wars (just or unjust), or foreign influence...It's going down the toilet because WE ARE LETTING IT! Stand up for your families and yourself, 'cause the politicians are standing up for theirs. Remember, the country you get is the country you vote for. Sorry folks, but Kerry ain't gonna cut it."

[Democratshavenobrains]

Political people using internet slang, Democrat or Republican, is about as cringe-worthy as watching your dad breakdance.