A Trollish Proposal

by: denniscmcgrath

Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 01:11:38 PM EDT

I really am at a loss to understand why persons openly hostile to progressive principles and causes are being tolerated as diarists or commentators for any length of time. These is no First Amendment issue - no one is preventing them from speaking. They can speak on their own blogs, no problem.

There are a few members of the 'loyal opposition' who have made useful contributions here, and they are welcome by me, but things are just gonna deteriorate as we move closer to the election. Crandude is the narrow tip of the wedge. It's time he was shown the door. And those that follow should be treated the same.  

The Wingnut Index

by: denniscmcgrath

Sat Jul 26, 2008 at 11:03:58 PM EDT

There's a piece of brilliance on dKos' front page right now:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyo...

It's a compendium of wingnutty memes which can be scored to determine if a given post is, shall we say, coming from under the bridge ...

I do fear we're going to be inundated by rabid right wingers during the run-up to November - think of them as kinda like the pushy variety of evangelical. Their neocon faith requires them to importune passing strangers and berate them if they fail to acknowledge whatever shibboleth is proffered.  These believers don't get any points for posting Republican talking points on Republican blogs - that's just preaching to the choir. So they're coming here to proselytize, with predictable results.

We have more than enough to dispute over - I mean, to discuss rationally and respectfully - among ourselves. I don't think we need anyone lobbing right wing bricks through our metaphorical windows in hopes that we'll somehow 'see the light' as a consequence. I don't even think they're expecting that. I think it's just desperation that their guy is likely to lose and the recognition that Bush Jr. has poisoned the punchbowl like no one since Nixon. So they're coming here to stamp their little feet and whine to the heavens. WAAAAMMbulance, indeed ...

My suggestion then is that we exercise a little less caution than we usually do in deploying the 0-rated comment bomb and in alerting the editors to possible breaches of the peace by posters. Pretty much, we know who we are - and we should continue to practice mindful mediation in engaging one another in debate. But first-timers spouting nonsense need to be shown the door - quickly and without gratifying their adolescent urge to see the progressives fall all over themselves trying to be reasonable. They mistake courtesy for ineffectuality. Let's not let them use our empathy as a wedge. It's easy enough to click a user name and see how long they've been members - right now, I'm not feeling warm and fuzzy towards trolls, and the berry dude is just the tip of the iceberg. I count at least four this week - and there will be more, you betcha.

Any thoughts?

Blue Jersey Passed Over

by: Hopeful

Sun May 25, 2008 at 05:00:00 AM EDT

Select from the numerous web, blog and news sites listed here, go there, and make your opinions supporting John McCain known. Once you've commented on a post, video or news story, report the details of your comment by clicking the button below.

Yes, they're recruiting trolls and sock puppets. There's even a little graphic encouraging Republicans to promote McCain at Daily Kos, and a pull-down menu to suggest more web sites. But where is Blue Jersey on the list of "Suggested" Liberal Blogs? The answer is nowhere: We've been excluded and passed over.  

No one at the McCain campaign claims responsibility for this outreach program, much less the selection procedure for the web sites included, but I would think -- based on her title and expertise -- that McCain's National Communication Director Jill Hazelbaker must be responsible.  So, I'd like to say that the mastermind behind AmadeusNJ, cleanupnj, and usedtobeblue should acknowledge that Blue Jersey helped inspire this program, and move immediately to include us in this blog outreach program.

I would appreciate it if any members of the traditional media could ask the McCain campaign about why we were passed over.  

On Troll Rating Comments

by: PocketAces

Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 11:11:10 AM EDT

Ratings are intended to help elevate those posters that consistently make clear, good arguments and points, regardless of content, and to prevent trolls from invading the message board. Downrating commenters on the basis of agreement or disagreement with their arguments leads to a monolithic forum, free of new ideas and input.

So, please don't downrate comments just because you disagree with them!

Unfortunately, over the last few days, I've noticed a rash of unfounded troll-ratings on comments that otherwise are receiving multiple 4's.  Thankfully, it's limited to a single individual, but a small reminder to the entire community will hopefully prevent others from fall down this slippery slope.

So save the 0's for the real trolls - for those posts that are truly offensive or defy reality.  Troll-rating a comment simply because you don't agree with it is not only juvenile, but harms the level of discourse at BlueJersey.  When you don't like a comment, post a rebuttal.  But to simply click on the "0" is just plain lazy.

McCain Hires Our Sock-Puppeteer

by: JRB

Thu Dec 21, 2006 at 12:42:42 AM EST

Jill Hazelbaker, battle tested in New Jersey this year as Tom Kean Jr.'s Communications Director, is headed to John McCain's presidential campaign. She will serve as Communications Director for McCain's campaign in New Hampshire.

Blue Jersey New Rules - Astroturf Edition

by: PocketAces

Fri Sep 22, 2006 at 09:07:28 AM EDT

Welcome to the show ladies and gentlemen.  It's been a busy week here on BlueJersey.  I'd like to welcome Jill Hazelbaker to the audience.  I believe she's out there one, two, three, four times, so a big round of applause to all of her personas.  And I also see the guy with no fashion sense has joined us, so without further ado, let's get on with the show.

New Rule:  No more motherf'ing concern trolls on my motherf'ing blog! - At least snakes are proud of the fact that they crawl around on their bellies.  You don't see them gluing fake legs on their bodies and trying to pass themselves off as gila monsters, do you?  Keep it up and we're going to get Samuel L. Jackson on your ass.

New Rule: Do not wear sandals with a suit. - This is not so much a new rule as a rule that I felt needed to be explicitly stated.  Now, I know that this really should go without saying, but some of our new friends aren't nearly as fabulous as the BlueJersey crowd.

New Rule: If your costume needs a five paragraph essay to explain it, then it's probably not a good costume. - This is a corrollary to the previous rule.  It's approaching the Halloween season, so know that people are getting the urge to dress up, whether as Cher or the frat boy version of Bob Menendez, but if you need to hand out fliers to explain your costume, then it's time to rethink the costume.  It's like when you have to explain the punchline to a joke you heard while sipping brandy and smoking Cubans at the country club.

New Rule: You are no longer to simply say "Bob Menendez's ethical problems" - you must now enumerate them. - While I've heard both long-standing poster and new trolls lament the ethical woes of Bob Menendez, I've never actual heard what those ethical problems are.  So please, the next time you moan about Bob Menendez being our Senator instead of Democrat X because of ethical baggage, explain what that baggage consists of.  Then the rest of us can gladly explain how that's a Republican lie.

New Rule: The next time the Kean campaign wants to troll our little slice of internet heaven, please give us a call before coming over. - We need a little time to clean up the pad before company comes over.  You know, do the dishes, put out fresh towels, make the bed, and maybe bake a cake or cookies.  But we had over 12,000 new vistors yesterday and I wasn't even wearing a clean shirt!  Next time, give us a little notice - maybe we can set up some kind of potluck dinner or something.

And finally...

New Rule: Jill Hazelbaker should resign from the Kean Campaign. - Not because of her (or her staff's) pathetic attempts to concern troll here at BlueJersey, but because of the lame lies she told the press in trying to cover up those actions.  Matt Miller is right, you're credibility is shot to pieces and no good reporter should ever believe another word that comes out of your mouth.  When you're trying to paint your opponent as ethically challenged, it's really tough to make that point when you yourself have no moral compass.  But don't worry, I bet you'd fit right in on the POTUS staff.

There's Some Things Money Can't Buy

by: Juan Melli

Thu Sep 21, 2006 at 11:54:43 PM EDT

The new version of Firefox that hides your IP address: Free

Getting your ass handed to you by the Eyewitness News crew: priceless.

Confirmed: Kean Jr Campaign Behind Astroturfing

by: Juan Melli

Wed Sep 20, 2006 at 09:01:35 AM EDT

Return-Path:
Received: from tomkean.com (mail.xquizit.com [66.194.148.20])
        by XXXXX with ESMTP id XXXXX;
Received-SPF: neutral (XXXXX is neither permitted nor denied by best guess record for domain of jill@tomkean.com)
Received: from KFS05 [70.90.20.85] by tomkean.com with ESMTP
  (SMTPD32-8.15) id XXXXX;
From: "Jill Hazelbaker"
To: "XXXXX"

This is the same IP address that several troll comments last night were posted from. It's pretty obvious that those comments were posted by Hazelbaker herself. The content of the comments is a dead giveaway. In one comment, "cleanupnj" says:

"What happened to Mr. Mark Davis, the counsel who apparently gave Boss Bob "verbal approval" to line his pockets with tax-payer funded federal money."

"Menendez said it was another person that originally gave him approval, now his corroborating witness doesn't remember the act of approval."

Also, you guys are upset about the attacks on Menendez, but isn't it a little bit hypocritical to then attack his press secretary.

And perhaps the most damning evidence, again from "cleanupnj" (emphasis mine):

She is also married to Russ Feingold's legislative director.  Unbiased source?  A conflict of interest certaintly. And the woman isn't even sure if she gave Boss Bob approval anyway.

Jill - your campaign has been exposed. You're nothing but a bunch of liars, and sadly, you can't even do that well.

Update: More Amateur Hour at the Kean Jr Campaign - Jill Hazelbaker strikes again in the comments below.