Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Nancy smash is sick of your bullshit.

You can’t love your country only when you win.

Fuck the extremist election deniers. What’s money for if not for keeping them out of office?

Wow, I can’t imagine what it was like to comment in morse code.

Let’s delete this post and never speak of this again.

I was promised a recession.

And now I have baud making fun of me. this day can’t get worse.

… pundit janitors mopping up after the GOP

“What are Republicans afraid of?” Everything.

“woke” is the new caravan.

Technically true, but collectively nonsense

I’ve spoken to my cat about this, but it doesn’t seem to do any good.

Republicans don’t want a speaker to lead them; they want a hostage.

Second rate reporter says what?

Insiders who complain to politico: please report to the white house office of shut the fuck up.

It’s the corruption, stupid.

Do not shrug your shoulders and accept the normalization of untruths.

You cannot shame the shameless.

Speaking of republicans, is there a way for a political party to declare intellectual bankruptcy?

Thanks to your bullshit, we are now under siege.

Tick tock motherfuckers!

Something needs to be done about our bogus SCOTUS.

The party of Reagan has become the party of Putin.

When do the post office & the dmv weigh in on the wuhan virus?

You are here: Home / LA proved too much for the man

LA proved too much for the man

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The genius behind the ACORN pimp-and-ho tapes just got busted by the FBI in New Orleans:

Alleging a plot to tamper with phones in Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu’s office in the Hale Boggs Federal Building in downtown New Orleans, the FBI arrested four people Monday, including James O’Keefe, 25, a conservative filmmaker whose undercover videos at ACORN field offices severely damaged the advocacy group’s credibility.

Also arrested were Joseph Basel, Stan Dai and Robert Flanagan, all 24. Flanagan is the son of William Flanagan, who is the acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana, the office confirmed. All four were charged with entering federal property under false pretenses with the intent of committing a felony.

According to the FBI affidavit, Flanagan and Basel entered the federal building at 500 Poydras Street about 11 a.m. Monday, dressed as telephone company employees, wearing jeans, fluorescent green vests, tool belts, and hard hats. When they arrived at Landrieu’s 10th floor office, O’Keefe was already in the office and had told a staffer he was waiting for someone to arrive.

I wonder if the ombudsmen of the Times and Post will reconsider their theory that the papers should have special reporters to write about all of O’Keefe’s stories.

(via Atrios)

Update. Presumably, there will be some kind of “Free the Flanagan Four” movement at some point, but for now, this is all we’re getting from Big Hollywood:

“We have no knowledge about or connection to any alleged acts and events involving James O’Keefe at Senator Mary Landrieu’s office. We only just learned about the alleged incident this afternoon. We have no information other than what has been reported publicly by the press. Accordingly, we simply are not in a position to make any further comment.”

Update. At least the Freepers are keeping it real:

I agree frame up.

FREE THE NEW ORLEANS 4

Reader Interactions

178Comments

  5. 5.

    GregB

    Shouldn’t we apply the ACORN rule now?

    This means that the entire tea-party movement has been discredited.

    -G

  8. 8.

    beltane

    Yeah, there is an element of schadenfreude, but that doesn’t detract from the fact that our useless Congress sprung into action to defund ACORN on account of this crook’s activities. Any random scumbag with a right wing agenda can pretty much call the shots in our country.

  13. 13.

    Nellcote

    Oh goody, we have to watch the ACORN tapes as b-roll everytime they report this story.

    So what does Brietbart have to say about his protege?

  15. 15.

    JenJen

    Don’t ever forget: The main complaint of the anti-ACORN crowd is “They might have been breaking the law!!”

    The schaden, it freuds itself.

    @Nellcote: Paging Mr. Breitbart to the red courtesy phone! FOLLOW THE MONEY.

  17. 17.

    Violet

    Flanagan and Basel entered the federal building at 500 Poydras Street about 11 a.m. Monday, dressed as telephone company employees, wearing jeans, fluorescent green vests, tool belts, and hard hats.

    Now if the rest of them had only been dressed as a cowboy, an Indian, a military guy…

  18. 18.

    Martin

    @GregB:

    That’s the wrong ACORN rule. The proper ACORN rule would be that O’Keefe was entrapped in an elaborate scheme to protect their vote stealing, home loan defaulting plans. They lured O’Keefe into believing he’d taken a good, salt-of-the-earth telecom job and then, in an illustration of how deep ACORNs ties run, got Landrieu to conspire to lure O’Keefe into her office where the one-world Obama FBI jackbooted thugs could arrest him.

    Even money says O’Keefe’s sentence is 4,000 hours community service in Haiti, once Obama annexes it and renames it Acorngaea.

  21. 21.

    John Arbuthnot Fisher

    I believe that Flanagan is actually the son of the acting U.S. Attorney for western Louisiana. Undoubtedly these Liddy wannabes will find a way to skate on these charges entirely and continue to produce groundbreaking exposes on how Muslim socialists are truly responsible for the deficit and underwear explosives. Also, too.

  22. 22.

    beltane

    @cleek: This is why I will continue to vote for the Democrats no matter how pitiful they may be. The alternative is a party that solely consists of thugs, perverts and religious fanatics, none of whom have any respect whatsoever for the law. I am old-fashioned in that way.

  29. 29.

    Chad S

    Apparently O’Keefe was filming the fake phone company workers…what were they trying to smear Landrieu with by doing that?

  32. 32.

    MP

    So he’s leavin’ the life he’s come to know.

    Group song at my wedding, and it was an ugly, ugly scene. Gladys was drunk off her ass, and the Pips didn’t know half the lyrics.

    Good times.

  33. 33.

    dr. bloor

    @Violet:

    Now if the rest of them had only been dressed as a cowboy, an Indian, a military guy…

    Not that there would have been anything wrong with that.

  36. 36.

    Zach

    Definitions.

    A conspiracy that the liberal media is afraid to air: ACORN stealing elections (as evidenced by two people getting high and being too stoned to actually register voters) and facilitating child trafficking (as evidenced by videos of incredibly confused people confronted with the silliest looking pimp and ho ever). Alternative definition: Refusing to prosecute voter intimidation and/or clownish men in berets disowned by the Black Panthers and/or actually obtaining an injunction against the one wielding a nightstick.

    Legitimate investigative journalism: Stealing documents from CAIR (who recently played an invaluable role in preventing possible terrorism) and falsifying your identity to infiltrate the offices of arab and muslim Congressmen; secretly videotaping a practical joke and posting it on the Internet that was illegally recorded in a two-party consent state; violating federal wiretapping statutes while falsifying your identity to a Congressional office.

  37. 37.

    Al Swearengen

    I knew the little scumbag (no offense to used condoms) motherfucker would eventually step over the line.

    He should be waterboarded to see what he knows of any terrorist plots. It is The American Way.

  38. 38.

    Tara the antisocial social worker

    As I just said over at Sadly, No…

    It would be really nice if just once the reports got it right about his crusade against ACORN.

    …James O’Keefe, a conservative filmmaker whose undercover videos at ACORN field offices severely damaged the advocacy group’s credibility UNTIL THEY WERE DISCOVERED TO BE A HOAX, WHEN THE MASSACHUSETTS ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE FOUND THAT THE VOICEOVERS FOR THE “PIMP AND HOOKER” HAD BEEN ALTERED ON THE RECORDING.

    Funny how that part didn’t get the same media play.

  39. 39.

    dr. bloor

    @Chad S:

    Now if the rest of them had only been dressed as a cowboy, an Indian, a military guy…

    If they were genuinely trying to tap her phone system, one would assume they thought Landrieu gets “interesting” calls from the rest of the caucus and WH trying to get her on board with legislation.

  40. 40.

    dr. bloor

    @Chad S:

    Apparently O’Keefe was filming the fake phone company workers…what were they trying to smear Landrieu with by doing that?

    If they were genuinely trying to tap her phone system, one would assume they thought Landrieu gets “interesting” calls from the rest of the caucus and WH trying to get her on board with legislation.

  42. 42.

    grandpajohn

    he also has civil lawsuits filed against him for breaking state privacy laws and illegally releasing videos made with out the consent of the person being taped.

  43. 43.

    JenJen

    @Violet:

    Now if the rest of them had only been dressed as a cowboy, an Indian, a military guy…

    I hereby nominate this comment for “Best Balloon-Juicer Reader Comments, 2010.”

  44. 44.

    Mike S

    Via Media Matters:

    The following 31 House Republicans cosponsored Olson’s measure, which declared that O’Keefe was “owed a debt of gratitude by the people of the United States”:

    Todd Akin [R-MO2]
    Roscoe Bartlett [R-MD6]
    Joe Barton [R-TX6]
    Rob Bishop [R-UT1]
    Jo Bonner [R-AL1]
    John Boozman [R-AR3]
    Paul Broun [R-GA10]
    Henry Brown [R-SC1]
    John Campbell [R-CA48]
    John Carter [R-TX31]
    Howard Coble [R-NC6]
    Tom Cole [R-OK4]
    Michael Conaway [R-TX11]
    John Culberson [R-TX7]
    Mary Fallin [R-OK5]
    Trent Franks [R-AZ2]
    Louis Gohmert [R-TX1]
    Kay Granger [R-TX12]
    Ralph Hall [R-TX4]
    Jim Jordan [R-OH4]
    Steve King [R-IA5]
    John Kline [R-MN2]
    Doug Lamborn [R-CO5]
    Blaine Luetkemeyer [R-MO9]
    Daniel Lungren [R-CA3]
    Kenny Marchant [R-TX24]
    Joseph Pitts [R-PA16]
    Bill Posey [R-FL15]
    Phil Roe [R-TN1]
    Jean Schmidt [R-OH2]
    John Shadegg [R-AZ3]

    Whereas Hannah Giles and James O’Keefe III filmed investigatory videos uncovering the fraudulent and illegal practices of the Association of Community Organization for Reform Now (ACORN);

    Whereas the House of Representatives voted to completely defund ACORN on September 17, 2009;

    Whereas these videos resulted in the potential annual savings of millions of taxpayer dollars to organizations that contract with ACORN;

    Whereas Hannah Giles and James O’Keefe III have displayed exemplary actions as government watchdogs and young journalists uncovering wasteful government spending; and

    Whereas Hannah Giles and James O’Keefe III are owed a debt of gratitude by the people of the United States: Now, therefore, be it

    Resolved, That the House of Representatives-

    (1) honors Hannah Giles and James O’Keefe III for their work as investigative journalists;
    (2) commends Hannah Giles and James O’Keefe III for bringing to light the fraudulent behavior of the Association of Community Organization for Reform Now (ACORN) and helping save millions of taxpayer dollars that otherwise would have funded ACORN; and

    (3) respectfully requests the Clerk of the House to transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to Hannah Giles and James O’Keefe III.

  45. 45.

    Xenos

    Whatever happened to the lawsuit the local ACORN chapter filed against Breitbart? Could be some interesting discovery, especially if Fox News knew that the videos where dishonestly edited.

    The chances for some useful harassment of Breitbart and Fox have gone up a lot today.

  46. 46.

    Mike E

    Is our children learning? Don’t they know the first rule in Rat Fucking is to not get caught?

  48. 48.

    Shell

    tasty schadenfreude shake.

    Amen. The ‘S’ word is entirely appropriate.

    Man, talk about idiots rising to their personal-best level of jerkitude.
    You just know that dipshit, O’Keefe, had fantasies of being some rw hero/super secret spy/chronicler of his age.

  49. 49.

    BDeevDad

    Waiting for the wingnut brigade to justify bugging a Senator’s office phones because she should have nothing to hide

  50. 50.

    BDeevDad

    Waiting for the wingnut brigade to justify bugging a Senator’s office phones because she should have nothing to hide

  51. 51.

    DougJ

    I really should have titled this “It’s hard out there for a pimp” and saved the Gladys Knight reference for later.

    Oh, well.

  53. 53.

    Zach

    @Tara the antisocial social worker:

    WHEN THE MASSACHUSETTS ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE FOUND THAT THE VOICEOVERS FOR THE “PIMP AND HOOKER” HAD BEEN ALTERED ON THE RECORDING

    There’s no need to overstate it; it was a retired MA AG. Not that it’s any more ridiculous that the only person breaking any laws on any of those tapes is the person holding the video camera.

  55. 55.

    Xenos

    @Zach: Hey – Harshbarger was a harsh burger to some alleged convicted maybe railroaded who the fuck knows child molesters, so that did not count.

  56. 56.

    McGeorge Bundy

    OK, I’m watching Glenn Beck for the first time. Yes, right now. Why? I don’t know. But is this guy always this crazy? He’s talking about how progressives hate “the people,” while Reagan was the people’s champion.

  58. 58.

    slippy

    @GregB:

    Again? I thought having Orly Taint get fined by a judge for her naked whoremastering of the fake Birth Certificate issue was the final straw that broke the Credibility Camel’s back on this one.

    Oh wait! Conservatism/Teabagging: a movement that can never fail, never be discredited. It can be failed, and individuals can destroy their own personal credibility but in no way shape or form is Mr. O’Fuckoff Keefe a representative of the depraved, moronic ideology of the Teabaggers. He’s just a bad apple.

  59. 59.

    Mike S

    @Xenos:

    Actually Drudge linked to the FOX News article.

    Where the comments are priceless:

    superdachshundundisclosed
    O’Keefe and company have TONS of leagal advice. They didn’t go into this thing half cocked. I’m just a bit skeptical of the charges. Free O’Keefe!
    crsfructso2California
    I think the arrest was to get back for the ACORN bust. Obama is sending out his goons to silence everyone. He warned about attacking Michelle during his campaign. I think he would do anything to silence the opposition. Chicago style!
    California
    They didn’t contribute to Ob-Rahm-a-linsky’s campaign… They are not terrorists… They are screwed.
    Tuesday, January 26, 2010 at 1:09 PM
    dkl1960Florida
    well you knew the O’bummer administration would get them on something, sometime. It’s for sure that this administration will do nothing to stop ACORN, even though they are using tax payer money to defraud the government. Everyone at ACORN should already be in prison for fraud and conspiracy. But you can’t expect a crook like O’bummer to go after one of his own.
    joe36y
    Guy should be given a medal of honor for exposing these crooks

  60. 60.

    Paul L.

    Conservatives blogs are condemning O’Keefe’s illegal behavior.
    I remember when a new ACORN video was released,the nutroots/progressive blogs/Media Matters would go silent on the story until someone came up withnew talking points/narrative .

    It became clear ages ago that these trolls are all coordinated, and that most of them are either paid, or are interns somewhere. They all follow the same script…and when there’s no script ready, or new strategy is being planned, they just fall silent.

    En masse.

    BTW, the same progressives/NY Times who are condemning O’Keefe’s illegal behavior defended Acorn defended James McDermott and the Martins when they leaked a illegally recorded telephone conversation between Newt Gingrich and top Republicans.

  61. 61.

    Zam

    @Xenos: Yea, I wouldn’t expect to see one for some time, in my experience these assholes just deny anything is happening after something like this. It isn’t even just the right wing, after the Jim Cramer appearance on the Daily Show MSNBC didn’t say a word despite promoting the event for a week. They don’t like to look stupid.

  63. 63.

    Morbo

    @Nellcote: Sez TPM: “I need to find information on this. I’m out of the loop on this. I will make my determination then on when to comment.”

    @JenJen: BEAR ALERT!

  65. 65.

    Jon H

    Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the Republican administration Pentagon Senior Staff of the 2030s.

  66. 66.

    joeyess

    If no one has said this already, I will: Follow the money.

    Follow this little fucker’s money trail to where ever it leads.

    We may get to relive Watergate.

    And seeing how this is a son of a USA, I think this is a perfect time to fire every fucking GOoPer that holds that position. You know, the ones that Obama, in the interests of holding Republican hands and opening doors, kept in place after The Village lost it’s idiot?

    Clean. House.

  67. 67.

    Dino

    I thought context was for effete liberals??

    http://thinkprogress.org/2010/01/26/fox-okeefe/:

    Fox News aired a report about the arrests shortly after the news broke. However, reporter Tim Vaughn tried to downplay the news:

    VAUGHN: [It’s a] very weird story that probably needs a lot of context and a lot of looking into, which is what we’re going to do here. I just wanted to get it on the record with it right now.

    SHEP SMITH: So, they’re saying basically, they’re in there — It sounds as if what they’re saying is, they’re looking for some ACORN hanky panky and they try to tap into Mary Landrieu’s telephone to get it.

    VAUGHN: That could be one way of looking at it, yes.

  68. 68.

    TooManyJens

    From the FOX News comments:

    I think he would do anything to silence the opposition. Chicago style

    Oh, STFU already. I bet all these people whinging about Obama being a “Chicago style” politician have never been within 500 miles of the place.

  70. 70.

    Bruce (formerly Steve S.)

    Didn’t they learn anything from Watergate?

    I have a feeling this will turn out to be just a boneheaded stunt by a few twenty-somethings who aren’t nearly as smart as they think they are. But we can still dream of another Watergate. HaleBoggsgate? Needs work.

  71. 71.

    dr. bloor

    “We have no knowledge about or connection to any alleged acts and events involving James O’Keefe at Senator Mary Landrieu’s office. We only just learned about the alleged incident this afternoon. We have no information other than what has been reported publicly by the press. Accordingly, we simply are not in a position to make any further comment.”

    Shorter: “You’re goddamn right we lawyered up.”

  74. 74.

    Midnight Marauder

    @Paul L.:

    Conservatives blogs are condemning O’Keefe’s illegal behavior.

    Are you sure they are blogs, Paul L.? Are you sure they aren’t…nothing at all?

  78. 78.

    Sad_Dem

    Please tell me he was wearing a fake moustache. And that this will be as all over the news as the ACORN video, and that Karl Rove will lose his full-time job as a TV pundit, and that my ex will be calling me back any day now, and that the plutocracy be right back with the money, and that drawstring pants will never, ever come back in style. And that all the liberal media will say, gee, I guess we were wrong about this guy.

  79. 79.

    Loneoak

    @mcc:

    Yeah, there are two possible lessons from Watergate:

    1) go to prison and come out with a wingnut prison ministry that makes you filthy fucking rich and opens bottomless wingnut welfare coffers

    2) go to prison and get a wingnut radio show that makes you filthy fucking rich and opens bottomless wingnut welfare coffers

  80. 80.

    DougJ

    Now that Scott Brown got elected you don’t have to hold back on smearing Gerald Amirault.

    The case against the Amitraults was bullshit. You’re right on that count.

  82. 82.

    Xenos

    @Paul L.:
    Oh, Paul, you rise to the bait so well.

    Check out the appeal that Amirault filed, and lost, and let me know about how much the crazy testimony that was in the news affected the verdict.

  84. 84.

    Svensker

    @Paul L.:

    Oh, go fellate yourself. You’ll have fun and you’ll leave us alone for a little while. (I was going to say, you won’t be able to talk with your mouth full, but that doesn’t necessarily apply.)

  86. 86.

    JGabriel

    I agree frame up.
    __
    FREE THE NEW ORLEANS 4

    It was!

    I have it on good authority that O’Keefe got an e-mail from Dick Cheney in Nigeria, promising him 35% of 80 Million Dollars and a Republican majority in 2012 if only O’Keefe would send his name and account information and show up in Landrieu’s office pretending to be a telecomm worker for verification purposes!

    .

  88. 88.

    lizzy

    My bet is on Glenn Beck spinning this into an ACORN/Obama/FBI conspiracy against HIM. He’s so good at conspiracy theories afterall. Bill O’Reilly better watch his back!!

  89. 89.

    Midnight Marauder

    @Paul L.:

    You mean convicted felon, level 3 sex offender and Scott Brown supporter Gerald Amirault and the Fells Acre Day Care case.
    Now that Scott Brown got elected you don’t have to hold back on smearing Gerald Amirault.

    You know, if it didn’t amuse me so, it would be rather sad to contemplate your otherwise pitiful existence of partisan tit-for-tat link posting without any greater appreciation of the conversations you keep stumbling into.

    But it does amuse me, and for that, me and my whirlybird rotorcraft friends thank you.

  90. 90.

    Zach

    @South of I-10:

    I figured the BJers would be all over this already. They are looking at some serious penalties if convicted.

    They would’ve been facing 5 years (times several counts) already for illegally recording & transmitting their interactions with ACORN, and it violated statutes in several states they targeted.

    This is what happens when we’re soft on crime and let criminals roam free!

  91. 91.

    PeterJ

    I’m waiting to see if right wing bloggers actually can connect this dot with the ‘doctored ACORN tapes’ dot and the ‘still no undoctorted ACORN tapes released’ dot and become enlightened.

    I seriously doubt it though.

  92. 92.

    bemused

    The four were reported to have met the judge in red jumpsuits. Not the costume O’Keefe had in mind for his latest idiotic stunt. Does LA allow reporters & photographers in court. I sure hope so.

  94. 94.

    fourlegsgood

    awesomeness!!!

    The morons on the right are already claiming “SET UP!!”

    right. BWAHHAHAHAHHAHHAHAHAAAAA

  97. 97.

    kommrade reproductive vigor

    Accordingly, we simply are not in a position to make any further comment.

    Translation: Can’t talk now, we have to clumsily attempt to remove all traces of our association with these people.

    Seriously, I bet some ISP customer service rep. is trying to figure out why some guy is screaming BURN THE TAPES down the phone right now.

    @lizzy: Well obviously. This is step one in the Obamacorn’s plan to lock up every Caucasian male in the U.S.!

  98. 98.

    Something Fabulous

    I am wondering if the target is Landrieu for local pol reasons or if it’s only Landrieu so far because this was the point at which they got caught. If I were a staffer in any other D senator’s office, I’d be checking all our phones as well. IIRC the ACORN thing required multiple visits to multiple offices to get enough footage to mess around with, right?

  99. 99.

    Fitzwili

    Re:The following 31 House Republicans cosponsored Olson’s measure, which declared that O’Keefe was “owed a debt of gratitude by the people of the United States”:
    Todd Akin [R-MO2]
    Roscoe Bartlett [R-MD6]
    Joe Barton [R-TX6]
    Rob Bishop [R-UT1]
    Jo Bonner [R-AL1]
    John Boozman [R-AR3]
    Paul Broun [R-GA10]
    Henry Brown [R-SC1]
    John Campbell [R-CA48]
    John Carter [R-TX31]
    Howard Coble [R-NC6]
    Tom Cole [R-OK4]
    Michael Conaway [R-TX11]
    John Culberson [R-TX7]
    Mary Fallin [R-OK5]
    Trent Franks [R-AZ2]
    Louis Gohmert [R-TX1]
    Kay Granger [R-TX12]
    Ralph Hall [R-TX4]
    Jim Jordan [R-OH4]
    Steve King [R-IA5]
    John Kline [R-MN2]
    Doug Lamborn [R-CO5]
    Blaine Luetkemeyer [R-MO9]
    Daniel Lungren [R-CA3]
    Kenny Marchant [R-TX24]
    Joseph Pitts [R-PA16]
    Bill Posey [R-FL15]
    Phil Roe [R-TN1]
    Jean Schmidt [R-OH2]
    John Shadegg [R-AZ3]

    After people make their HCR phone calls tomorrow they should call these jokers and let them have it- it has been frustating to have to persuade and cajole Dems who should know better- it will be cathartic to let loose on these ridiculous people!

  100. 100.

    JenJen

    Breitbart: ““We have no knowledge about or connection to any alleged acts and events involving James O’Keefe at Senator Mary Landrieu’s office. We only just learned about the alleged incident this afternoon. We have no information other than what has been reported publicly by the press. Accordingly, we simply are not in a position to make any further comment.”

    Again, the schaden, it freuds itself.

  104. 104.

    Fitzwili

    Re: above
    Not only will it be cathartic- it is about time that the Republicans got knocked back on their heels, called out for their disgraceful behaivior, and put on the defensive. I implore anyone out there to call AFTER you have made your HCR calls- view it as a special treat!

  106. 106.

    Chad N Freude

    @Paul L.: Thanks. I never thought I would read anything reasonable from Malkin. I’m keeping a careful watch out for winged pigs.

  107. 107.

    Loneoak

    Any perspectives on whether this will get the attention of DA’s that may have otherwise overlooked their previous law-breaking? Seems like a federal offense would trigger an awful lot of new investigations and indictments.

  108. 108.

    demkat620

    See Mary Landrieu is a democrat and everyone knows ACORN steals for Democrats so ACORN was obviously stealing for Mary Landrieu so they totally had to wiretap her and its all Mary Landrieu’s fault for being a Democrat in the first place.

    I can be their lawyer.

  111. 111.

    dmsilev

    @TooManyJens:

    Oh, STFU already. I bet all these people whinging about Obama being a “Chicago style” politician have never been within 500 miles of the place.

    Round here, we prefer our politicians deep-dish rather than thin-crust.

    That *is* what they mean, right?

    -dms

  112. 112.

    Wile E. Quixote

    @Paul L.

    BTW, the same progressives/NY Times who are condemning O’Keefe’s illegal behavior defended Acorn defended James McDermott and the Martins when they leaked a illegally recorded telephone conversation between Newt Gingrich and top Republicans.

    You mean the recording they made using nothing more than a common scanner that was legal before the cellular phone companies, who were selling a service that had no security whatsoever, got the government to force all scanner manufacturers to block out the cell phone frequencies rather than improve the security on their system, a system which they fraudulently implied was as secure as a landline?

    I know that you’re a stupid, ignorant fucking c#nt Paul, but there’s a huge difference between leaking a recording of a conversation made in the clear over the airwaves on a system that was as fundamentally secure as an Mr. Microphone and fraudulently presenting yourself as phone company employees so you can tap a Senator’s phone. Besides, if Newt Gingrich had nothing to hide than he had nothing to fear about having his phone conversations made over a medium which had as much security as a CB radio.

  114. 114.

    joeyess

    From the Freeper comments:

    Thanks for the link. I had one wild thought. What if these fellas weren’t trying to really mess with the phones but rather prove that our federal buildings are not secure and are easy targets for terrorism. If terrorists had managed to pull off a stunt like that, they could have rigged the phones to explode and we might be looking at a pile of rubble right now.

    Now that’s a bedwetter!!

  116. 116.

    Chad S

    @dr. bloor: Those calls wouldn’t be going through the main lines at the front desk.

    I have a feeling that we’ll find out that they just wanted tape of the exchange, then splice in audio of something incriminating later.

  127. 127.

    fraught

    Landrieu is dropping the charges after receiving a large contribution from RNC chairman Steele.

  128. 128.

    joeyess

    @Paul L.:

    BTW, the same progressives/NY Times who are condemning O’Keefe’s illegal behavior defended Acorn defended James McDermott and the Martins when they leaked……..

    Got syntax?

  130. 130.

    GregB

    Andrew Brietbart should immediately release all of his e-mail and phone contacts with the suspects.

    I mean, unless he has something to hide.

    -G

  131. 131.

    kay

    Good.
    Maybe now media will revisit the edited ACORN tapes and clear those low-level ACORN employees these loathsome creeps unfairly smeared.
    They were whining they weren’t given enough serious media coverage, were they not? I agree. Let’s look at the whole issue over again, in the context of this new information.

  133. 133.

    Veritas78

    Prediction: the FBI will hit this extremely hard. First, it’s a slam-dunk to up their conviction rate. Second, they have no sense of humor when it comes to felonies. Third, they really don’t like anyone encroaching on their exclusive wiretapping franchise.

    I’m going to enjoy watching these fools bankrupt their families and THEN go to jail.

  134. 134.

    Liberty60

    I just skimmed the comments in Wingnuttia. They are all filled with “Lets not jump to conclusions” and “frame up”, and my personal favorite, “presumption of innocence.”

    For my part, I am keeping an open mind; we won’t really know the truth until these men have been waterboarded, slammed against a wall, forced into stress positions, and held sleepless for a month.

    Or as Rush would call it, a frat hazing.

  135. 135.

    Warren Terra

    According to the FBI affidavit, Flanagan and Basel entered the federal building at 500 Poydras Street about 11 a.m. Monday, dressed as telephone company employees, wearing jeans, fluorescent green vests, tool belts, and hard hats.

    And nothing else other than their blinding smiles, except their wetsuits, of course.

  136. 136.

    r€nato

    I see a lot of teabagging parties in these young mens’ futures… and I’m not talking about political protests.

  137. 137.

    Mike in NC

    FBI arrested four people Monday, including James O’Keefe, 25, a conservative filmmaker whose undercover videos at ACORN field offices severely damaged the advocacy group’s credibility.

    But… Michael Moore is FAT!

    I bet all these people whinging about Obama being a “Chicago style” politician have never been within 500 miles of the place.

    “Chicago style politician” is merely another racial dog whistle that’s been around for years. But Flugelshlong will show up shortly to deny it.

  138. 138.

    kay

    @Liberty60:

    They have the presumption of innocence, and they’ll get ordinary process.
    Unlike the low-level employees they and FOX News, acting as judge and jury, smeared and discredited in those doctored tapes.
    But I’m glad they’ll be treated properly. Just remember they would never, ever afford you the same presumption.

  139. 139.

    Chad N Freude

    After their convictions, when their appeals finally reach the Supreme Court, we will have Strict Constructionists Scalia, Roberts, and Alioto find the Original Intent of the Constitution to be that boyish pranks can’t be felonies.

  141. 141.

    And Another Thing...

    @Pasquinade: That’s a great link. Thanks… So one of the alleged perps is the “undercover pimp” of Acorn tape fame, one is a son of an acting US Attorney, and one is an activist Young Republican with a plugged in resume. This story has legs. Popcorn !! The Daily Show script just writes itself. In a federal building, no less. And O’Keefe was video taping the incident…cause it worked out so well last time. Heh !!

  143. 143.

    Bubblegum Tate

    Not to get too far off topic here, but it is really amazing just how widespread this paranoia is among greater wingnuttia:

    It became clear ages ago that these trolls are all coordinated, and that most of them are either paid, or are interns somewhere.

    They’re absolutely convinced that anybody who comes to a wingnut blog and disagrees with wingnut talking points is a plant, most likely paid by George Soros and sent to disrupt wingnut blogs. I can understand where the paranoia comes from–these are already very paranoid people, and they prefer to live in their own reality instead of actual reality, so the whole “Soros plants!” thing is an easy way to deal with cognitive dissonance–but it’s just so fucking kooky.

  144. 144.

    Tsulagi

    @Sad_Dem:

    Gotta hand it to the freepers. They can’t be parodied.

    They’re bulletproof on that. A few comments after the “FREE THE NEW ORLEANS 4,” one commenter provides a link to an FBI agent’s affidavit. In the affidavit the agent swears O’Keefe admitted to entering Landrieu’s office under false pretenses and recording his fellow dipshits acting as telephone repairmen. Brilliant legal positioning, BTW, of admitting involvement in federal felony to an FBI agent.

    In a comment following the affidavit link, one Freeper knew the deeper ramification…

    The FBI has apparently been overtaken by the left.

  145. 145.

    Liberty60

    @And Another Thing…:

    And O’Keefe was video taping the incident…cause it worked out so well last time. Heh !!

    No doubt while whispering- “We have replaced the fine coffee these people normally serve, with Folger’s Crystals….”

  148. 148.

    chopper

    @Tsulagi:

    jesus, the stupid just feeds on itself until it becomes a black hole. we may have just found evidence of the wingularity bozon.

  149. 149.

    skippy

    i really should have titled this “it’s hard out there for a pimp” and saved the gladys knight reference for later.
    oh, well.

    i swear, i didn’t read your post before i did mine, doug. but yes, it is the obvious choice.

  150. 150.

    EIGRP

    I’m surprised the freepers et al haven’t made some weird, incomprehensible connection to the White House Party Crashers. These guys were really just party crashers.

    I also noticed on FR that you could make a donation… what happens if you put in a negative dollar amount? Will I get money in my paypal account so they are paying me to view their website?

    -Eric

  151. 151.

    VladCat

    @MattR:

    I am humbled!

    And now I get “Hard out here for a pimp”. Hope the video with Little Jimmy shows up faster than I am!

  153. 153.

    theylivebynight

    If O’Keefe is the E. Howard Hunt of this fiasco who is the Chuck Colson? Also, thank God for the timing of this. News has been mostly dire and I really needed something to lighten my spirits.

  154. 154.

    Incertus

    It’s probably because I grew up in Louisiana and saw the old boy network in action more than once (and once on my behalf), but the fact that one of these idiots is the son of an Assistant US Attorney scares me. I wouldn’t be surprised if they walk.

  156. 156.

    Colette

    @theylivebynight:

    If O’Keefe is the E. Howard Hunt of this fiasco who is the Chuck Colson?

    Andrew Breitbart would be in the running to play that role in the made-for-TV movie.

    In other news, I’m happy to see that Paul L. still likes pie. I like pie, too.

  157. 157.

    Thoughtcrime

    @Mike E:

    Is our children learning? Don’t they know the first rule in Rat Fucking is to not get caught?

    Or in this case, “Tea Buggering”.

  158. 158.

    kay

    @Incertus:

    “A federal law enforcement official said one of the suspects was picked up in a car a couple of blocks away with a listening device that could pick up transmissions. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the information was not part of an FBI affidavit that described the circumstances of the case.”

    Hmm..

  159. 159.

    Brian J

    No matter what is wrong with our side, at least we are not as insane and deranged as the creeps at Free Republic.

  161. 161.

    Bob L

    Were is the story? Who doesn’t sneak into senator office to tap their phone while pretending to be a phone company worker? That is like placing hidden microphones in your neighbors bed room. Part of the American Way of Life(r).

  162. 162.

    Incertus

    @kay: I saw that. But I also saw Edwin Edwards beat the US Attorney’s office three times straight while he was Governor. I hope they all do major time, but I’ll believe it when I see the video of them being led away from the courtroom in shackles.

  164. 164.

    kay

    @Incertus:

    Oh, I believe you. By next week, there will be a legal defense fund set up and the Wall Street Journal will have an editorial decrying the rogue prosecutor. It doesn’t matter if they know who the prosecutor is, he or she is by definition “rogue” because a conservative may be charged with something.

    I remember the response to Scooter Libby.

    I just don’t think his prosecutor-dad can help him, personally, with this one.

  165. 165.

    South of I-10

    @Incertus: The updated Times Picayune story says they bonded out from St. Bernard Parish Prison. Why were they in St. Bernard? Why not central lockup downtown?

  167. 167.

    Peter J

    O’Keefe has admitted intent to an FBI agent and there’s talk that he might get ten years for this. I’m guessing there’s a big chance for a plea bargain as long as he got someone else to finger.

    Maybe Breitbart and the rest over at BigGovernment are all innocent, if they aren’t O’Keefe will probably start squealing soon.

  170. 170.

    Deschanel

    Haha- all comments are locked down over at Big Hollywood, after only 23 of them, and evidence of many deleted comments even then.
    Yes, it is a rich thing to behold, immensely gratifying. Federal charges just sweetens the whole thing. Because they are x3 ordinary charges of things like trespass and subterfuge and oh yeah, wiretapping. Jail these bitches, make it a show trial. I don’t care, that’s US property these jerks tried to fuck with. Richly deserved, fuck them.

  171. 171.

    Chad N Freude

    @Peter J: Unless he has signed instructions from Mitch McConnell, I doubt that he can give up anyone worth bargaining for.

  172. 172.

    Liberty60

    @kay:
    See that is what makes my head explode in rage.

    These are the very same characters who cheer on the waterboarding, cheer on Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who sneer at the ACLU.

    Until of course, it is their turn to do the perp walk, and suddenly they are whining and blubbering and clinging to every damn one of the Bill of Rights.

    Greenwald had it right when he said that when they hold the whip handle, none are more sadistic; when the whip is taken away, none are more pathetic.

  173. 173.

    Mnemosyne

    @Liberty60:

    I’ve also noticed that these are the exact same people who are more than happy to lock a 16-year-old up for life because he was old enough to understand what he was doing, but are now claiming that a 24-year-old is too young and naive to understand that wiretapping a federal building is wrong.

  174. 174.

    DougL (frmrly: Conservatively Liberal)

    @Peter J:

    Maybe Breitbart and the rest over at BigGovernment are all innocent involved in this. , if they aren’t O’Keefe will probably start squealing soon. Everyone knows that it would be irresponsible not to speculate.

    Fix’t. ;)

  175. 175.

    Fester Addams

    Gee, the work clothes and clip-board thing always works on Burn Notice.

    Who would have thought the guy with the keys to the phone closet who works for the General Services Administration would have, um, security awareness…

  176. 176.

    2CR8LF4

    These idiots had no idea what they were doing. The comment about village people is right. As I saw mentioned on C+R or FDL, these fools were dressed like they were outside plant workers, not inside plant. What fool wears a hard hat in a cable closet/room? Safety vest? Had they just faked a service call to the telephone company from the building and watched the real guys show up, followed them and found out how they dressed and where they worked/ hung out. They could probably have faked proper clothes, company credentials and paperwork to never be suspected in the first place and gotten away with it. These guys aren’t amateurs, they’re clowns.

  177. 177.

    Little Dreamer

    @South of I-10:

    Don’t forget, they’ll lose their right to vote for at last a few years (while in jail), I think that is going to hurt these guys the most.

  178. 178.

    Cain

    @Little Dreamer:

    Don’t forget, they’ll lose their right to vote for at last a few years (while in jail), I think that is going to hurt these guys the most.

    Not their behinds? Life is going to be unkind in prison. Poor fools. I feel bad for them. FBI smells blood in the water.. that one guy’s dad who is a temp USA is going to have to do a lot of explaining.

    cain

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