Radley Balko | September 26, 2007
In a new TV ad, Virginia Republicn Del. Timothy Hugo attacks his opponent by quoting the leftist Virginia politics blog Raising Kaine. But the ad doesn't quote the Raising Kaine blog itself. The blog actually supports Hugo's opponent. Rather, it quotes an anonymous commenter on the Raising Kaine blog.
In Hugo's ad, a narrator recounts what "others are saying" about Simmons. As quotes flash across the screen, the narrator says Simmons is "running the most cowardly campaign I have ever seen" and "has been lying to voters the entire campaign."
"We just can't trust Rex Simmons," the ad concludes.
The ad, which also says Simmons supports amnesty for illegal immigrants, cites Raising Kaine as the source of the quotes about Simmons.
Raising Kaine, named after Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) but not connected to him, is a site where Democratic activists talk about Virginia politics. The site allows anyone to post an entry or comment on one, even anonymously, after registering.
Lowell Feld, one of the founders of Raising Kaine, is calling on television stations to pull Hugo's ad, saying it misleads voters into thinking that Raising Kaine opposes Simmons.
Look for the latest attack ad featuring pithy observations from "Dan T." on a TV near you.
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Look for the latest attack ad featuring pithy observations
from "Dan T." on a TV near you.
And you just gave him front-page recognition. Maybe you could just
shoot him up with meth while you're at it.
I predicted it yesterday. First we had a post about some random
citizen's letter to the editor, then a post about some random
DailyKos diarist, and now a post about a blog comment (I predicted
Wonkette IRT Butterstick).
At least the post isn't denigrating the random citizen this time,
but pointing out how foolish it is. Maybe other H&R writers
should pay attention.
Oh, my, this could be problematic.
Though if a candidate cites the Urkobold, he's got my vote.
uhg
trolling will now be a tactic for political ops to discredit
opponents, or possibly blow sunshine up their own ass.
as if we dont have enough grief for the real-deal trolls who merely
do it to remind themselves they exist
I predict a campaign ad that says "Lots of people are criticizing [insert candidate here]" and then quotes Jean Bart, Croesus, The Merovingian, Hakluyt, Zeno, Grotius, Philelutherus Lipsiensus, etc.
Though if a candidate cites the Urkobold, he's got my
vote.
I second that
thoreau | September 26, 2007, 9:49am | #
I predict a campaign ad that says "Lots of people are criticizing
[insert candidate here]" and then quotes Jean Bart, Croesus, The
Merovingian, Hakluyt, Zeno, Grotius, Philelutherus Lipsiensus,
etc.
Alas, zeno. the classicist with an inferiority complex. i knew him
well.
I predict a campaign ad that says "Lots of people are
criticizing [insert candidate here]" and then quotes Jean Bart,
Croesus, The Merovingian, Hakluyt, Zeno, Grotius, Philelutherus
Lipsiensus, etc.
Gary Gunnels of the French Special Forces (ret.), Suetonius the
unemployed Southern gentleman living off the bounty of his hot
genius wife AND Jason Bourne the bisexual all agree: Thoreau is an
idiot! Vote for his opponent!
4 out of 5 Urkobold contributors would say that the problem is that I'm a physicist.
Even the Reason Instutite ('s magazine's web page's blog items' comment threads) express optimism about universal health care.
THE OTHER ONE WISHES YOU'D WEAR THE ASSLESS CHAPS THE WEIBSKOBOLD GOT FOR YOU LAST VALENTINE'S DAY.
Look for the latest attack ad featuring pithy observations
from "Dan T." on a TV near you.
Ok, that one damn near got me in trouble at work. To burst out
laughing tends to lead others to believe that I'm not really
working.
Can they trust GENE SIMMONS?
what about RICHARD SIMMONS?
or REX KRAMER?????
This fine fellow named thoreau has occasionally posted a comment at Urkobold. Urkobold loves physicists!
the guy from the robert ludlum bourne novels is
bi?
He is anything he wants to be.
If they cited gaius marius, would they edit his statements to include capital letters?
Yeah, that's ruin the whole charm of gaius if they capitalized
him.
I wonder if a candidate is going to steal my idea to make the
Censor the fourth branch? If so, I might have to vote for him. Or
her. Especially if payment ensues.
We should all start posting Terms and Conditions in the footer of
our comments, to protect our rights :)
Wow...this is like winning the Heisman Trophy of Trolling.
Thanks to everybody who made this moment possible.
You know, the best commenter to cite is our old friend gaius
marius
Ah, that takes me back. I miss old gaius. He never met a captial
letter that he ever liked.
Congratulations, Dan T! And kudos to you and joe for keeping
your senses of humor intact. These here comment threads would be be
much less interesting without you.
As for the URKOBOLD, well, that's a different kind of
interesting.
North Atlantic shipping would be a lot less interesting without the icebergs, too.
Wow...this is like winning the Heisman Trophy of
Trolling.
Which in turn is like winning the award for "World's Most Prolific
Crab Lice Infestation." Congratulations, Dan! You truly deserve
it.
What if I'm too impatient to sit around waiting for some random
anonymous blog comment which will support my position? Can't I just
make something up and have my alter ego "Soxy Shillington" post
something appropriately useful?
That wouldn't be, like, cheating or anything, would it?
Can't I just make something up and have my alter ego "Soxy
Shillington" post something appropriately useful? That wouldn't be,
like, cheating or anything, would it?
It's only cheating if you get caught.
Those who don't know better call me Jennifer. That's because they haven't grokked my secret identity. Fear me all, for I am TROLLBANE!
Which in turn is like winning the award for "World's Most
Prolific Crab Lice Infestation."
Jennifer, you have a way with words!!
You can always count on Jennifer to be mean.
Which kinda turns me on... except...
Which in turn is like winning the award for "World's Most
Prolific Crab Lice Infestation."
Not speaking from experience, I should hope.
Not speaking from experience, I should hope.
Certainly not. I've never tried for any trolling awards,
either.
Wow...this is like winning the Heisman Trophy of
Trolling.
Which in turn is like winning the award for "World's Most Prolific
Crab Lice Infestation." Congratulations, Dan! You truly deserve
it.
Dan T. (weeping profusely while wearing a tiara, a slinky dress,
and a red sash reading "Ms. Troll USA", while all the runnersup hug
him): "I'd like to thank all the trollbanes who whacked me like a
pinata and thus encouraged me keep posting studpit shiite -- and
all the little Dannettes at home -- and I promise to work for
whirled peas ..."
*Scratches his crotch, looks puzzled*
"AAAAAUUUGH!"
"You can always count on Jennifer to be mean."
That's why she gets the big bucks.
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