Tracking 'MD4Bush' identity is debated

Baltimore Sun ^ | 12/17/05 | David Nitkin and Doug Donovan

[conservative in nyc]

As Republicans and conservatives zero in on the identity of the mysterious Internet visitor who coaxed an aide to Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. into spreading rumors about Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley, a question is blossoming in political circles.

Does the identity of MD4Bush, the surreptitious user of a conservative Web site, matter? If revealed, will the knowledge change the public's perception of O'Malley or Ehrlich?

Some political experts say that the answer to both questions is yes and that it's worth following the plot turns in the increasingly convoluted saga. If MD4Bush turns out to be a Democratic Party official with links to O'Malley, they say, the story changes drastically. O'Malley's reputation will have been stained, they say.

"If it was a setup, that's got lack of ethics written all over it," said Donald F. Norris, a public policy professor at University of Maryland, Baltimore County. "If you set a guy up to get him, that's political dirty tricks. Whose hands are dirtier? Any benefit that would have accrued to O'Malley's campaign because of the dirty tricks of Ehrlich now bite the mayor in the you-know-what."

But others say that the identity of the Internet user is a political sideshow with little impact in the race for governor. O'Malley is seeking the Democratic nomination against Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan for the right to run against Ehrlich.

--Snip--

Yesterday, Kristinn Taylor, a spokesman for freerepublic.com, disclosed more details. He said three Internet provider addresses were used by MD4Bush -- one in Pasadena, one maintained by The Washington Post in Bowie, and one in Baltimore. The Post has acknowledged that a reporter logged on as MD4Bush earlier this year to verify the postings' authenticity.

[conservative in nyc]

Anyone interested, the emails I sent took a couple of days, but they finally "bounced back".

I guess the accounts are now totally closed. I think e-mails to suspended Yahoo! accounts (for not logging on every few months or so) usually just go to never-never land. Is that wrong?

[Xenophobic Alien]

What I can't understand about all of this is.

1. How can you be that stupid to use an email address that could be tracked back to you?

2. Why would you use your own internet connection to sign up from, to post from.

There are plenty of ways to stay annonymous on the internet, ffrom what I have seen and heard this guy is a real idiot.

[ApplegateRanch]

There are plenty of ways to stay annonymous on the internet, ffrom what I have seen and heard this guy is a real idiot DUmbbell.

Mayhap that would help explain the lack of brain?

[lionheart 247365]

I never believed Sade Baderinwa would have sex with a worm , since worms are both sexes . I just think O'malley made up the rumor to present himself as a more manly worm . . .

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

The Post has acknowledged that a reporter logged on as MD4Bush earlier this year to verify the postings' authenticity.

I'm asuming that there is a history somewhere on the FR server for this login session to see exactly what was posted (if anything) when this reporter was logged in?

[Anti-Bubba182]

He didn't post while logged in, he just looked around.

[HAL9000]

If MD4Bush attempts to destroy any evidence, do you know how many years in prison he would sentenced to, and how many dollars would he be fined?

[Anti-Bubba182]

The only thing a poster could do would be to delete the FRmail he received. I don't think he did that.

Now I imagine he may have cleaned up the MDDems machine if he used that one or possible a personal machine as well.

The clearest violation of law I see is by Mosk when he accessed MD4Bush's FRmail through his password. He admits he did this. That access is against the access limits allowed by FR and the law.

[nunya bidness]

I was concerned that this would just blow over if the Sun ignored it like they should. I'm happy to see they couldn't let it go.

And the icing on the cake is that the editorial is written by David "banned by Bob" Nitkin. They have officially stepped in it.

The mention of FR by the Sun makes it offical that they will be dusting off that dossier on JimRob they were given by camp O'Malley.

Jim please let us know when the Sun calls you to get your reaction to comments you made 6 years ago archived by AFers on servers in Kuala Lumpur.

[HAL9000]

If MD4Bush willingly helped Mosk to exceed the access limits - its a conspiracy.

[Anti-Bubba182]

"If MD4Bush willingly helped Mosk to exceed the access limits"

He had to or Mosk wouldn't know the password and MD4Bush should have read and observed the Registration and User Agreement which prohibits sharing a password.

All that said, and even though there are all the elements of a crime, I doubt the Feds pursue this even if Jim Robinson complains. They will write it off as politics and dismiss it.

[Alia]

And, of course, ACTING executive director of the Maryland Democrat Party, Derek Walker said he didn't think the story was important.

Hmm. Fascinating. He's saying that No Dems should talk on this or they should refuse to "engage". O'Malley's comments, posted in the other thread, reveal, he's not as seasoned a "speaker/player" as he'd like to think he is.

I have a hunch, a bigger Dem Player than O'Malley should be making an appearance in this "story" soon, to put the official Democrat "imprimateur" of "story is dead" on a matter, which in fact, is closing in on the Dems.

[conservative in nyc]

Who is a bigger Dem player in Maryland than Martin O'Malley? Or are you expecting a national Democrat?

[Alia]

Or are you expecting a national Democrat?

Yes. My reasoning is "under" O'Malley cannot be called upon with any form of "gravitas" to "shut down" this investigation into the corruption of the MD4Bush matter. O'Malley is obviously a weak player himself to have allowed this situation, from first rumor to grow out of control; and then attempt/allow his own underlings to attempt to control spin by planting the rumor upon Erlich's staffmember, Steffan.

The group as it is now, O'Mally and "under"staff, resembled a torched pigeon hurtling towards the ground. For Dems to suceed at their current mission (protecting MDDEMS and WaPO credibility), a bigger player with more media pull than merely O'Malley has got to arrive on the scene. Or even some "50-center" wordings by some of the elite in the media. I doubt the media is willing to stick their necks out even further for the Dems on this. Ergo, the Dem "national" figure.

[conservative in nyc]

So far, this is just a Maryland issue that, judging from the "please explain this" comments on every thread, few FReepers understand, let alone the general Maryland electorate. Unless there's something to link the national Democrat party to it (or the damage to the WaPo's credibility becomes much more extensive), I doubt this will become a national issue. I hope I'm wrong.

As for O'Malley's inability to stop rumors about his private life, perhaps he should have started by telling his own wife not to blab to the Washington Post about them in 2000. The Free Republic posts on the O'Malley infidelity rumors were far from the first (even on the Internet) and will be far from the last time you hear them.

[nopardons]

bttt

[Alia]

So far, the MDDems haven't been able to kill this story. That's why I was thinking they'd have to bring someone bigger into it. But then again, why would a "bigger" Dem stick his/her neck out that way?

As for O'Malley's inability to stop rumors about his private life, perhaps he should have started by telling his own wife not to blab to the Washington Post about them in 2000.

Exactly.

The Free Republic posts on the O'Malley infidelity rumors were far from the first (even on the Internet)

yes, I did know this rumor had been percolating IN Maryland for quite some time before MD4Bush brought it to FR

and will be far from the last time you hear them.

Sounds like some folks really don't like that guy.

[mosquitobite]

Couldn't Gov Ehrlich subpeona the information from FR then the ISPs?

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

Some political experts say that the answer to both questions is yes and that it's worth following the plot turns in the increasingly convoluted saga. If MD4Bush turns out to be a Democratic Party official with links to O'Malley, they say, the story changes drastically.

To put it mildly...

Well, at least they finally get it.