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Dear Washington Post, you are the darkness now.

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When do we start airlifting the women and children out of Texas?

It is possible to do the right thing without the promise of a cookie.

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A norm that restrains only one side really is not a norm – it is a trap.

The lights are all blinking red.

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The desire to stay informed is directly at odds with the need to not be constantly enraged.

The arc of history bends toward the same old fuckery.

In after Baud. Damn.

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You are here: Home / Politics / Not Good For Paul

Not Good For Paul

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For all of you Paul fans out there, this is not good news:

If Texas congressman Ron Paul is elected president in 2008, he may be the first leader of the free world put into power with the help of a global network of hacked PCs spewing spam, according to computer-security researchers who’ve analyzed a recent flurry of e-mail supporting the long-shot Republican candidate.

“This is clearly a criminal act in support of a campaign, which has been committed with or without their knowledge,” says Gary Warner, the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s director of research in computer forensics. “The question is, will we see more and more of this, or will this bring shame to the campaigns and will they make clear that this is not a form of acceptable behavior by their supporters?” Warner pointed to provisions of the federal Can-Spam Act.

Ron Paul spokesman Jesse Benton says the campaign has no knowledge of the scam. Warner himself says that he has no reason to believe that the Paul campaign had anything to do with these messages.

Reader Interactions

60Comments

  2. 2.

    Gold Star for Robot Boy

    Ron Paul spokesman Jesse Benton says the campaign has no knowledge of the scam. Warner himself says that he has no reason to believe that the Paul campaign had anything to do with these messages.

    Sad thing is, they’re most likely correct. It seems Paul supporters are willing to, um, cut legal corners in pursuit of their goal.
    Really, I think the worst thing that’s happened to Paul is his core of believers. Their zealotry is turning people off to their candidate.

  5. 5.

    Jon H

    “I doubt that.”

    It’s low probability, true, but they certainly keep trying to make him go away.

  6. 6.

    Billy K

    Paul supporters tend to get a little overzealous. This is bad for many reasons, but for one, it gives media outlets a reason to freeze Paul out of things like online polls. They’ve been saying for mon ths now the polls are being spammed. Now they have the proof to back it up.

  7. 7.

    Zifnab

    Yes, because underground email spamming and smearing are totally unprecedented in elections. And nothing like Republican dirty tricks in previous elections.

    Voters repeatedly complained about misinformation campaigns via flyers or phone calls encouraging them to vote on a day other than November 2 or spreading false information regarding their right to vote. In Polk County, Florida, for example, a voter received a call telling her to vote on November 3. In Wisconsin and elsewhere voters received flyers that said, “If you already voted in any election this year, you can’t vote in the Presidential Election.” Also, “If anybody in your family has ever been found guilty of anything you can’t vote in the Presidential Election.” Finally, “If you violate any of these laws, you can get 10 years in prison and your children will be taken away from you.”

    I’m just saying, if people are getting the vapors about Ron Paul email spam, it sounds like a giant crock of whine fest bullshit. Calling out Ron Paul supports on “illegal activity” like they’re some rare breed of rabid, win-at-all-costs, maniacal supporters is hopelessly naive.

  8. 8.

    Incertus (Brian)

    It just seems silly to me, if I support a candidate, to try something like this in hopes of boosting name recognition. It’s the equivalent of cheating at solitaire–there’s no real upside in it.

  9. 9.

    sparky

    Could be the GOP. Remember the 2004 robo-calls that purported to be from Dems but were designed to anger the voters? Similar tactic, different medium.

  10. 10.

    Tsulagi

    For all of you Paul fans out there, this is not good news:

    On this, my outrage meter barely budged. Unless shown otherwise, I’d tend to go with Paul’s campaign spokesman in your linked article…

    If it is true, it could be done by a well-intentioned yet misguided supporter or someone with bad intentions trying to embarrass the campaign

    Even if linked to someone in Paul’s campaign, I’d just judge the tactic tacky and expect it to be stopped. Let RedState thump their chests how truly evil it is. Yep, much worse tactics than smearing a candidate saying he has an illegitimate black child, an addict wife, and is unbalanced from years as a POW.

  11. 11.

    Face

    The real question is whether Ron Paul actually eats Spam. That would make him wholly unfit to be a Presidential candidtate.

  12. 12.

    The Pale Scot

    I know sec.exp. Joe Stewart is a Paul supporter, wonder if the StormBot network is part of this operation? Why would Russian cybercriminals be supporting Ron Paul, could be a proof of concept for to offer to future campaigns.

  13. 13.

    Pb

    Odds are, if it isn’t some professional spammer salivating over decreased federal regulation in a Ron Paul presidency, it’s some l33t h4x0rZ with a botnet; why do I care, again? Hey, at least they aren’t trying to scam me out of my bank account or something, like so:

    Good Day Sir,

    I am Ron Paul, a US Congressman and Presidential candidate. I am contacting you because I have a very good investment matter that I have been seeking. I have a sum of US$6Million worth of Ron Paul gold dollars and know too well that my position is a risky one because of high demand of gold and attackers from the Bush administration and people surrounding them. I have paid for all the storage charges/fee of the package, which will be expiring at the end of this year, so that is why I am seeking to transfer this assets before the expiration date.

  14. 14.

    The Populist

    I don’t like the fact this is happening, but I say to those who are making this a big deal…so what? Are you that afraid of Ron Paul’s message that you will make THIS a big issue?

    Seems to me the party or other candidates are afraid of the man and will do anything to make him go away.

    Oh and I agree, Paul’s supporters are way too overzealous. Keep this in mind that we have a President who will do ANYTHING to start more wars while finding novel ways to take our freedoms away. To me, this flap is much ado about nothing.

    Would I vote for Paul in the primaries, yes!

    As President…I am not sold on him 100% as a President. His message is great, but he must realize his crazier ideas will never come to fruition. If he can prove to me that he can be flexible on some things while still pushing for freedom, accountability and bringing our troops home, I can feel good about voting for him.

  15. 15.

    The Other Steve

    Paul supporters tend to get a little overzealous. This is bad for many reasons, but for one, it gives media outlets a reason to freeze Paul out of things like online polls. They’ve been saying for mon ths now the polls are being spammed. Now they have the proof to back it up.

    Most online polls use a cookie to determine whether or not you have voted. It’s trivial to use any HTTP testing tool to replay the vote over and over, and ignore the cookie.

    If the poll is intelligent, it’ll save results tied to a IP address and won’t allow you to vote more than once from that IP. That’s the only way one can stop it, and that causes problems with people behind firewalls and such, but ohwell.

    I spammed numerous polls in 2003. It was trivial.

    Now spamming email, that takes knowledge I don’t have nor want to have.

    I agree with John Cole though, the other Republican candidates couldn’t have done this to hurt Ron Paul. They simply aren’t smart enough.

  16. 16.

    The Other Steve

    I DON’T LIEK TEH FACT DIS AR TEH HAPPENIN, BUT I SAY 2 DOSE HOO R MAKIN DIS HOOJ DEAL…SO WUT? R U DAT AFRAID OV RON PAUL’S MESAGE DAT U WILL MAK DIS HOOJ ISSUE?

    SEEMS 2 ME TEH PARTY OR OTHR CANDIDATEZ R AFRAID OV TEH MAN AN WILL DO ANYTHIN 2 MAK HIM GO AWAY.

    OH AN I AGREE, PAUL’S SUPPORTERS R WAI 2 OVERZEALOUS. KEEP DIS IN MIND DAT WE HAS PRESIDENT HOO WILL DO ANYTHIN 2 START MOAR WARS WHILE FINDIN NOVEL WAYS 2 TAEK R FREEDOMS AWAY. 2 ME, DIS FLAP IZ MUTCH ADO BOUT NOTHIN.

    WUD I VOTE 4 PAUL IN DA PRIMARIEZ, YEZ!

    AS PRESIDENT…I R NOT SOLD ON HIM 100% AS PRESIDENT. HIS MESAGE IZ GREAT, BUT HE MUST REALIZE HIS CRAZIR IDEAS WILL NEVR COME 2 FRUISHUN. IF HE CAN PROOV 2 ME DAT HE CAN BE FLEXIBLE ON SUM THINGS WHILE STILL PUSHIN 4 FREEDOM, ACCOUNTABILITY AN BRINGIN R TROOPS HOME, I CAN FEELZ GUD BOUT VOTIN 4 HIM.

  17. 17.

    The Populist

    What the hell is wrong with you dude? Don’t like what I was saying? I must have hit a nerve. Thanks for trying (and failing) to spoof me.

  19. 19.

    The Populist

    Ahhh, I see. Thanks dude. I thought it was some weird commentary on my post or somebody was pretending to be you :)

  20. 20.

    Bubblegum Tate

    will they make clear that this is not a form of acceptable behavior by their supporters

    No, what will happen is he will stay silent for a while and let the dirty work happen, then he’ll come out and make a weak statement against 527s in general.

    Oh, wait, I’m thinking of something else.

  22. 22.

    Zifnab

    No, what will happen is he will stay silent for a while and let the dirty work happen, then he’ll come out and make a weak statement against 527s in general.

    DAMN YOU SCOTT BEAUCHAMP MOVE ON DOT ORG!

  23. 23.

    Zifnab

    Come to think of it, how did Ron Paul vote on the MoveOn condemnation. If he’s a libertarian and he voted for it, he can blow me. If not, I’ll give him huge buckets of street cred for backing off the Republican Line like that.

  24. 24.

    ThymeZone

    There can be multiple dynamics at work here.

    One, some clever Paul supporters may have done this as a misguided way to puff up interest in his campaign.

    Two, some clever GOP operatives may have done this to create the impression that the Intertrons are just a noise machine and that nothing can be trusted … except, you know, their daily talking points.

    Or both. I’d be surprised if both of these kinds of things are not happening on a regular basis in political ‘Tron use these days.

    Which just accentuates the obvious point that the burden of quality control rests with the consumer, not the creator, of intellectual material. Careful reading, cross checking, skepticism, critical thinking …. all necessary in these times of ubiquitous information flows.

    That being the case, I don’t see how this hurts Paul except among those who can’t — or won’t — do the kind of QA on the incoming torrent of ‘Tron crap that I describe above.

    Everybody now is his or her own QA department. Be smart out there.

  25. 25.

    A different Matt

    Teh Populist;

    I don’t know what the other steve’s deal is either, but Sweet Jesus that’s funny.

    Commenters here don’t pull any punches. There’s a good mix of sane perspectives and wit.

  26. 26.

    Pb

    Zifnab,

    Come to think of it, how did Ron Paul vote on the MoveOn condemnation. If he’s a libertarian and he voted for it, he can blow me.

    Yep; seems he’s still a Republican.

  27. 27.

    cleek

    The real question is whether Ron Paul actually eats Spam. That would make him wholly unfit to be a Presidential candidtate.

    Spam is yummy: dredge in flour, then in a little butter. put it on toast.

  29. 29.

    Tsulagi

    Briefly off topic.

    I’m thinking you need a Video category over in your blogroll area with links to special vids that don’t seem to get old. I just clicked a few more times on the “Freedom is on the March” one. LOL, you see something new in it everytime.

    Be the first to show your support for the Iraqi troops! Inspire a new line of special magnets.

  30. 30.

    Tsulagi

    Back on topic,

    Yep; seems he’s still a Republican.

    What an ass. That pisses me off more than any email spam.

  31. 31.

    Chris

    Good ol’ Ron Paul. He’s brought together the Stormfront white supremacists, the “9-11 was an inside job conducted by Dick Cheney and the J-E-W-S” movement, and the Randroids together for a true coalition of the batshit insane.

  32. 32.

    The Other Steve

    Good ol’ Ron Paul. He’s brought together the Stormfront white supremacists, the “9-11 was an inside job conducted by Dick Cheney and the J-E-W-S” movement, and the Randroids together for a true coalition of the batshit insane.

    and yet, he still appears more sane than the typical Republican. Why is that?

    Compare and contrast batshit insane to Rudy Giuliani.

  33. 33.

    Chris

    Despite some really crazy ideas about ending the tyranny of the Food and Drug Administration and such, Ron Paul does seem like the least personally fucked-up candidate running among the Republican field. It boggles the mind.

  34. 34.

    KCinDC

    I don’t think this is Paul’s fault, but I think those with the “just spam” attitude are missing the point that this, like most modern spam (as opposed to e-mail that you just don’t want from companies or candidates whose lists you actually signed up on at some point) is being sent from a network of home computers that have been broken into and taken over without the owners’ knowledge. That’s the illegality, not just violations of some ineffective and poorly written antispam legislation.

  35. 35.

    r€nato

    (Off-Topic) Dept. of Heh-Indeed

    AZ Democrats lead GOP over 3-1 in new voters, fundraising

    Slightly more than a year out from the 2008 general election, two of the biggest electoral indicators are pointing to a decidedly Democratic year in Arizona.

    The state’s Republican Party has fallen far behind in fundraising, trailing Democrats by a more than 3-to-1 ratio so far this year.

    Nearly the same ratio holds true for new voters signed up during the past year. Since October 2006, just one in every 10 new voters has registered with the GOP, a startling percentage in a state long dominated by the Republican Party.

    The [GOP] still has a 140,000-registered-voter edge, but that advantage has narrowed with the addition of nearly 31,000 Democrats in the past year.

    Republicans aren’t just running into money trouble in Arizona. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the national group focused on contests such as closely watched races in Arizona Congressional Districts 1, 5 and 8, had amassed a war chest of more than $28 million as of the end of September.

    Its Republican national counterpart had $1.6 million on-hand, according to the FEC.

    “I don’t care if you have the best candidates in the world. If they beat us 28-to-1 (in fundraising), they’ll clean our clock,” [Tucson car dealer and GOP fundraiser Jim Click] said.

    116,353 new voters have come on the state rolls since the 2006 election. Just 11,844 registered Republican.

  37. 37.

    Psycheout

    I’m not surprised a lot of this spam is originating from outside the country. A Ron Paul presidency would destroy this country. He’s a fruitbat. And his supporters are worse.

  38. 38.

    Billy K

    The Other Steve,

    I understand how to spam poorly-constructed polls by deleting cookies. Tying them to IP address is better, but still not that hard to get around.

    My point was the MSM has no clue about this stuff, and if there’s even a hint of evidence of wrongdoing by Paul supporters, it gives them cover to ignore/blacklist him (further). It would be….trivial!

    And you’re correct – The GOP is criminally under-educated on teh intertubes. No way they did this.

  39. 39.

    Billy K

    Psycheout Says:
    I’m not surprised a lot of this spam is originating from outside the country. A Ron Paul presidency would destroy this country. He’s a fruitbat. And his supporters are worse.

    So….in a hypothetical Hillary vs. Paul matchup, you’d vote for….?

    I’m curious which of his ideas would destroy America the worst – financial stability or not meddling in other countries’ affairs?

  41. 41.

    r€nato

    I hope some of you fine balloonbats got to see this last night on The Daily Show. Wingnuts make it wayyyy too easy lately, especially over the gay thing.

    He’s a fruitbat. And his supporters are worse.

    you know, I’m afraid to engage them in conversation, as much as I’d like to. I’d like to ask them if they really know everything that he stands for, but I’m afraid of getting taken conversationally hostage over some conspiracy rant – black helicopters, 9/11, NWO, gold standard, income tax…

  46. 46.

    Psycheout

    you know, I’m afraid to engage them in conversation, as much as I’d like to.

    Be afraid. Whenever I mention his name, the loons come out of the woodwork. When I pointed out that a lot of people on Stormfront support Ron Paul, one guy kept commenting how it was I who was the Stormfronter and “white power” freak and that Stormfront would never support him, that I was making it all up.

    Nothing changed after the owner of Stormfront was found to have donated to Ron Paul. Actually that’s when a Paulunatic made the baseless claim that Stormfront only pretends to support Paul to discredit him. It’s all a conspiracy! Nutballs.

    You really cannot have a conversation with these people. It’s just not worth it.

  47. 47.

    Zifnab

    So….in a hypothetical Hillary vs. Paul matchup, you’d vote for….?

    I’m curious which of his ideas would destroy America the worst – financial stability or not meddling in other countries’ affairs?

    I’m going to have to go with the dismantling of the federal government. When he instructs his Secretary of the Interior to sit on his hands and his Secretary of Education to close all public schools, you’ll be calling for his head right before he fires everyone in the IRS and bankrupts the country. And that’s when you’ll get really worried.

    Of course, I’m sure it wouldn’t be all bad. His MoveOn vote proves that Paul isn’t totally inflexible. I’m sure he’d still be cool with that bridge in Alaska. :-p

    You know, the more I think about it, the more I begin to suspect that Ron Paul is trucking around a giant steaming pile of shit.

  48. 48.

    Chris

    When I pointed out that a lot of people on Stormfront support Ron Paul, one guy kept commenting how it was I who was the Stormfronter and “white power” freak and that Stormfront would never support him, that I was making it all up.

    Direct them to Google. Have them type the words “Ron Paul” and “Fleet Footed” into the search bar. Always a good time.

    Yeah, I hate jumping on Paul when there are more electable loons in the GOP, but after hearing one too many liberals gush about the incredible Dr. Paul it became too much. I mean seriously. The Gold Standard? Really?

  49. 49.

    Pb

    Chris,

    That particular bit of ancient history has already been dredged up and rehashed far too much around here for my taste, so let’s move on: I’ll start by positing that if Ron Paul or anyone else really did say that some black males can be “unbelievably fleet footed”, then that person was right. Incidentally, I’ve got Carl Lewis’s autograph somewhere, I had him sign my ratty copy of The Guinness’ Book Of World Records nearly 20 years ago.

  52. 52.

    lysias

    Ron Paul has a lot of ideas about domestic policy that probably wouldn’t work. On the other hand, he could probably never get them approved by Congress.

    On the other hand, he would have the power as president, all by himself, to pull out of Iraq and avoid war with Iran.

  55. 55.

    lysias

    Maybe the assurance Iran gave to Iraq is why Cheney’s speech to the American Legion today included no attack on Iran.

  57. 57.

    Pb

    lysias,

    I’m pretty sure Ron Paul voted against the motion condemning the MoveOn.org ad.

    Similarly, I’m pretty sure you can’t back that up with a reference–but I’d be happy to be proven wrong, nonetheless.

  59. 59.

    Pb

    lysias,

    Thanks for looking it up, though; I linked to a post earlier that said much the same thing, but it’s nice to have a better source.

  60. 60.

    Make7

    If Texas congressman Ron Paul is elected president in 2008, he may be the first leader of the free world put into power with the help of a global network of hacked PCs spewing spam, according to computer-security researchers who’ve analyzed a recent flurry of e-mail supporting the long-shot Republican candidate.

    If spam were truly this effective, wouldn’t every man with an email account have a 10-inch penis and a nearly constant drug assisted erection?

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