Scandal Puts Focus On Role of Bloggers (WaPo on FR, NCPAC and MD4Bush)

Washington Post ^ | 02/11/05 | David Snyder and Matthew Mosk

[conservative in nyc]

The Web site began as a sort of Internet boutique for like-minded conservatives and libertarians, suspicious of federal power and angry at President Bill Clinton.

Started in 1997 by a reclusive California conservative, freerepublic.com saw its membership blossom with Clinton's impeachment and the election of George W. Bush. Attention to the site reached a zenith last fall, when a "freeper" -- the group's moniker for its bloggers -- first discussed flaws in documents CBS News used in a report critical of Bush's National Guard service.

---Snip---

One participant working under the handle MD4BUSH, whose identity is unknown, drew Steffen into a private conversation and appeared to coax him to share more details about his role in spreading the rumor. Copies of those chat room e-mails were later provided to The Washington Post.

The Oct. 18 conversation began with MD4BUSH complimenting Steffen and saying how obvious it was that the rumors about the mayor were true. Steffen, writing under the name NCPAC, replied:

"I don't look for the MO'M [O'Malley] story to hit for a little bit yet. . . . However, a lot of what everyone knows about MO'M is because of work that has occurred. It's been a wild ride."

MD4BUSH later probed further:

"Your saying that my dentist knows [about the rumors] because of work you did? Wow, I must say, I'm impressed. I mean really, everyone knows -- how did that happen?"

[HAL9000]

Any techies here want to explain the various methods that these emails could have been intercepted? (This is a "Buckhead" opportunity).

It wouldn't necessarily take a hacker to do it.

Here is a plausible scenario: Perhaps the original MD4Bush was not the same MD4Bush from a few days ago - but the second MD4Bush used the same computer, surfed to FreeRepublic, found that the original MD4Bush account was already logged on and contained his old email.

It could be that simple - but it would be a violation of the ECPA because MD4Bush #2 was not a party to the original communication.

There are other questions (perhaps already answered?) - how did MD4Bush obtain NCPAC's identity?

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

I have a few ideas. But, gosh, I'm too close to
those sources to reveal any more at the moment. [irony]

[conservative in nyc]

And the WaPo has since changed the article's headline to "Uproar Brings Focus on Role Of Bloggers".

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

What about the cookie trail of Freepers surfing back and forth between newspaper websites and FR. The WP makes you log on...don't they?

[conservative in nyc]

NCPAC dropped sufficient hints in this forum that anyone who really wanted to could have figured out his identity. He made some posts identifying him as close to Governor Ehrlich, and his screen name would allow any reporter with half a brain to narrow down the list of who he was.

Loose lips sink ships.

[HAL9000]

Apparently the Washington Post confirmed his identity by calling and asking, but if I recall correctly, the article did not explain how the preliminary identification was made. Did NCPAC provide his name in one of the emails, or was it determined by technical means?

[advance_copy]

Here's a little quote from Maryland State Law on that very topic:

"(1) A person may not intentionally, willfully, and without authorization access, attempt to access, cause to be accessed, or exceed the person's authorized access to all or part of a computer network, computer control language, computer, computer software, computer system, computer services, or computer database."

[An. Code 1957, art. 27, § 146; 2002, ch. 26, § 2.]

(2) "Access" means to instruct, communicate with, store data in, retrieve or intercept data from, or otherwise use the resources of a computer program, computer system, or computer network.

The lawyers would have to confirm, but I think you can't be doing this in some other state to a computer system used in Maryland, even if the computer isn't in MD.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

That's the $64,000 question.

Someone needs to do an article on what has been going on with liberal journalists and news organizations going after conservative bloggers and websites. Like to see those emails chatting that up.

[beyond the sea]

PING to clandestine activity....

[beyond the sea]

It wouldn't be a bad idea to be cautious with screen names you are familiar with, at least to some extent. How difficult would it be for the enterprising "journalist" to spend a year or two visiting FR occasionally and posting, developing relationships?

Very true.

I've been thinking this sort of thing must be happening for years.

I go back to before Donald Segretti and his dirty tricks and mischief. To be honest, this kind of thing must be happening.

[beyond the sea]

George Step-on-the-populace ---

:-)

[MEG33]

My first post is 19 ..and I haven't left..What is sleep, anyhow?

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

They will be linking conservative bloggers with the Klan and neo-Nazis before this is over. More spin.

Heck, they are replaying the Hillary Playbook - Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy. Some things never change.

[kcvl]

Someone needs to do an article on what has been going on with liberal journalists and news organizations going after conservative bloggers and websites. Like to see those emails chatting that up.

You could probably find all of that information in Sidney Blumenthal's emails.

[beyond the sea]

Sometimes that means information the quote-unquote mainstream media are keeping you from........ Juannita

RIGHT-on, SkyPilot.

How about another one? The incredible Vince Foster who got to Fort Marcy Park a couple hours before his car?

Patrick Knowlton....

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

Yep. The articles even sound like liberal talking points. "See, Kerry lost because of the conservative bloggers. We have to go after them." This is their magic bullet theory tendency at it again. Blame everyone but themselves.

[Mike Bates]

Look I LOVE FR, but we definitely have some unreasoning wingnuts here.

You rang?

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

And Ehrlich beat a Kennedy. I guess Bob Shrum is looking for work again. Maybe he found it.

[rintense]

Intriguing stuff. Seems that the liberal papers are taking their marching orders from the DUmmies over at DU. Doesn't surprise me one bit.

I think FR is fabulous, as other other forums. And sometimes, good things happen like Buckhead. But for any credible journalist to 'trust' a post from a public forum is just bad journalism, period. Seems the need to get the scoop means throwing all credibility out the window. It's not the credibility of FR either. It's the jackasses at these newspapers who fall into these rumor traps.

[EQAndyBuzz]

"when a "freeper" -- the group's moniker for its bloggers"

Bloggers? Now I have to change the monogram on my PJ's.