ODBA List

A lot of the conservative blogs are members of a group called the "Old Dominion Blog Alliance".  I usually just sit back and read the emails from that list with amusement (the best ones are when Riley is like "Look what Ben did now!!!") but I have to say something now. 

The list once focused on getting information out to people, and had somewhat pathetic emails from smaller blogs announcing they had done a post and asking if anyone wanted to link to them.  Whatever.  But now we are getting into a situation where the blogs are becoming total astroturf for people to mislead each other.

I have resisted the urge to say anything so far but I need to say something now that they are coordinating personal attacks on other people.

This week the focus is Joe Stanley and some of the blogs are back to repeating one of the ugliest slurs of the 2006 campaign- that Joe is anti-semitic.  Carl Kilo sent out an email to the ODBA list to announce Joe's company had done a website for Roscoe Reynolds.  That caused this ridiculous post from Virginia Virtucon which claimed Roscoe was now desperate.  Carl is of course the only comment, and agrees with the post he asked for.  Then he links to it from his blog.

I'm going to start a new policy- if people on the ODBA list want to behave like this- I am going to start calling them out for it.  Secretly coordinating attacks on individuals is a pussy way to do things- attach your own name to it and don't ask someone else to post and then link and say how great it is.

Comments

Just read this guy Kilo's bio. Apparently he is in quality control for the coal industry.

I sure would hate to be that canary.

Like the Dems don't do this, too. And what are you doing reading these emails?

[JMU Duke]

The Virginia right-o-sphere, especially the SWAC contingency, is the largest gasbag echo chamber I have ever seen. Especially during the Sayre/Hanger hubub, everyday was just a series of posts back and forth congratulating each other for the latest rabid attack. They are not to be taken seriously.

[Kat]

Now that's very interesting, Ben. May I ask just exactly HOW you've gained access to the ODBA's listmails? And may I further inquire just why you've decided to descend to such unethical behavior as to make this public? The honest and honorable thing to do would have been to let one of us know of this breach of privacy so that we could fix it.

I am gravely disappointed - not that you give a damn. Nevertheless, it grieves me to say that the personable young man I met last summer at Martinsville would now be unwelcome in my home because of this vile and shifty behavior.

Well. I needn't worry - in the long run, you will get your just desserts, and I won't need to do anything more than scorning someone of such base character.

"As a man sows, so also shall he reap," Ben. I leave you to your sorry fate.

-- Kat
www.CatHouseChat.com

Wow...and now they're on here threatening Ben...

[JMU Duke]

Kat--Perhaps if you would use the organization of the ODBA, and the blogosphere in general to inspire an honest discussion about the state of politics in the Commonwealth and the nation generally rather than using it to coordinate baseless attacks on people like Joe Stanley you wouldn't be outed like this.

Of course Ben gets attacked. Sadly, that's their way of operating.

Kat needs to learn how to spell -- it's "just deserts," not "just desserts." Get it right people.

[Doug]

"in the long run, you will get your just desserts"

who writes like that? Cue creepy mansion music and lightening storm, Cat sits alone in the parlor rubbing her hands together and laughing, "muwahahahaahaahaha... I'll get you my pretty!"

[martha]

Sorry...it IS desserts. Desert is a dry arid place. Dessert is a yummy sweet.
"Just desserts" is an old saying and lots of people talk and write that way, especially in the South.
I am 57 years old my mom would be 97 THIS year were she alive. I guess because she was so much older than I she said many things that a lot of you have never heard but they are NORMAL to me. LIKE "to each his own the old lady said as she kissed the cow". Bet few of you have ever heard that one!
She was a TRUE BLUE Democrat and had a million old sayings!

[Kat]

Threats? I expressed no threats. Merely my understanding of what many might call "karma." I also expressed my distaste for Ben's mud-raking behavior.

Oh, and, yes, my language generally does get very stilted and formal when I express my disgust. That's the way I was brought up. Even though I don't not have the facility with the formality that others might, I find that generally it keeps me from language I would prefer not to use.

And yes, I did have a typo in there - and who among you has never had a minor slip like that? I'm sure you will accept my most profound apologies for my imperfect typing.

I'm quite interested, however, in your focus on my typo and vocabulary, rather than Ben's lack of character. Way to bring up the straw man, people. I would express my hatred of this sort of behavior even if it were a conservative who posted this sort of thing.

Well, as I said, I'll leave you all to wallow in your own self-satisfied smugness. I would hardly expect anything more from people who can't understand the concept of "integrity."

[Doug]

Kat- I was poking fun for fun's sake. I still imagine you in your mansion though.

I re-read Ben's post- sounds like he's referring to a public mailing list you people put him on. One you can subscribe to. If so, DUUUUUUH, you should be ridiculed every which way til Tuesday.

And while Martha has thrown down the colloquialism gauntlet, let me tell you that that dog don’t hunt.

[Not Larry Sabato]

Kat, how does it reflect badly on my character? I AM GIVING SOMEONE (JOE) WHO IS BEING PERSONALLY ATTACKED A CHANCE TO KNOW WHERE IT IS COMING FROM.

I think it reflects poorly on you that you think this should go on in the shadows of an email list instead of in public where Joe can confront his attackers.

[Not Larry Sabato]

By the way it is an email list. Scrubbing it does nothing if one of your members forwards me every email on it.

[novamiddleman]

humm lets see where to start hypocrisy, more high schoolish behavior, more complaining, you really have gone downhill

Stick to the senate races

Sorry martha...it IS deserts, NOT desserts.

While "desert" can mean an arid or dry place, it can ALSO mean to abandon a duty (to desert the Army), which is pronounced like "dessert."

The third definition (see here: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/desert) is "reward or punishment that is deserved." That has the same pronounciation as "to desert the Army."

This definiton (a reward or punishment deserved) makes sense -- "dessert" does not. What is Kat trying to say? That because Ben was saying some things she didn't like, he was going to get a tasty treat?

It's pronounced like you're saying "just desserts." But spelling it "just desserts" is incorrect.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/desert

http://www.snopes.com/language/notthink/deserts.asp

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-does-just-deserts-mean.htm

Oh, and for the patronizing apology at the beginning of my post -- sorry!

Kat's disingenuous umbrage is laughable.

She is upset that someone blew the cover on their conspiracy to further malign and spread lies about an innocent person.

No, Kat quotes scripture and lashes out at Ben.

In my opinion Kat should get a job and buy a whole Bible. Especially one of the latest ones with a NEW Testament.

What a hypocrite!

[dems4dems]

Wow! These people think it's still 2002. Maybe they want to impugn Max Cleland's patriotism some more.

I thought this was just their way of making each other link to one another so they could inflate their egos by gaining rankings on BNN.

"The honest and honorable thing to do would have been to let one of us know of this breach of privacy so that we could fix it."

Um, to be fair Ben DID alert you all to the fact that he's privy to the ODBA emails. He just told you. In his blog. Where he called you folks a collective pussy.

[phriendlyjaime]

I just want to say that a while ago, people lambasted me for using the word pussy here on NLS. I am glad to see it on the front page today.

[martha]

Sorry...all these years I was wrong. Ooops.

[anonymous 2:56 and 3:42]

I love you Martha. If I were there I would give you your just DESSERTS (some sugar -- if you know what I mean)

You'll have to forgive Kat, she was probably home-schooled!

[Pete in Williamsburg]

Ben,

I've visited various neo-con wannabe sites, including the ones that you generously link via your site. They get about 1/50th the posts and responses that NLS receives. If they do actually coordinate an attack on you, it would be like shooting spitballs at a battleship. Dare I say "Bring it on?"

[JMU Duke]

Um, to be fair Ben DID alert you all to the fact that he's privy to the ODBA emails. He just told you. In his blog. Where he called you folks a collective pussy.

Posted by: | August 16, 2007 at 03:58 PM

Best. Comment. Ever.

Kat--Do you really think Ben's exposing this crap is more insidious than engaging in a coordinated back-channel smear campaign against an innocent, and good man? Perhaps if you would conduct yourself in a manner that wouldn't lead your own members to defect and share your tactics with the world you wouldn't have to feel all haughty right now.

[Doug]

And the rule for email is: assume it will be read by people you don't put on the list. If it is monumentally stupid or crass, it will be spread to the masses.

Don't write what can be spoken. Don't speak what can be gestured. Don't gesture what is already understood.

[JMU Duke]

Don't run with scissors.

THANK YOU BEN!!!

What about yellow snow?

Safe to eat?

[James Young]

Personally, I treat anything distributed on the ODBA list as confidential. That's my personal ethics.

And I assume that anything sent out on it will become public knowledge --- both its content and its source. That's my personal protection mechanism.

It's also consistent with my contempt for anonymous/pseudonymous posting.

Any reasonably intelligent adult knows - assuming they have any scruples whatsoever - if you get an email that wasn't intended for you, and especially if the author doesn't know you received it, you notify the appropriate person and then delete it. You sure as hell don't act as if you have a right to it.

And the excuse that your friend sent it to you? That's weak. If you knew it wasn't intended for you, it doesn't matter how it came into your possession. Two wrongs don't make a right.

[republitarian]

Was that someone using Carl's computer...or was he extremely intoxicated...again?

Let's see, nasty right-wing Republicans acting like...nasty right-wing Republicans. Surprise, surprise!

[I.Publius]

Let's see, unethical left-wing former Democrat acting like...unethical left-wing former Democrat. Surprise, surprise!

[Jason]

you can always see the ODBA scheme in public here:

http://odba.tumblr.com/

[Ghost of A.L. Philpott]

Hey, anything in the name of a completely aloof candidate like Jeff Evans!

Phriendlyjaime and NLS, you know, "pussy" is a disgusting and sexist word. You should both be ashamed of yourselves. You can say we throw like girls, because most of us females do throw that way, and I won't say a word. You can say someone screamed like a girl, and I won't say zip. Likening disgusting and underhanded behavior to female genitalia is sexist. Shame on both of you.

[phriendlyjaime]

Do you say the same thing about words for male genitalia? You never, ever, ever call someone a "dick" or any other word that is in reference to the penis when you want to be derogatory?

BC if so, then YOU are the sexist. So shame on you.

[martha]

hmmmmm thanks for the offer, very "desserty", BUT tonight I will be kissing my grandson...the future Democratic Governor of VA in 2043'ish'!!!! ;-)

[martha]

Oh...and help. My daughter, her husband and my future Governor grandson are moving to Richmond like NOW. They will be in temproary housing for a bit. They need a SUPER great day care.Any suggestions from Richmondites???

it's RichmondERS, not ITES.

And, no - there's no such thing as great day care. Perhaps the future governor's parents could make him a priority, instead of paying someone else to raise him. Just a thought.

[martha]

Quality time over quantity, bub.Sometimes 2 people need to work.
As a single parent myself I can state without a doubt that my daughter is great,had a wonderful childhood, a cum laude graduate of a Virginia University and is now a wonderful mom.
I was just asking a question about day care and you made it into a social comment. Not necessary.

[AnotherJ]

Sometimes I think about starting a blog. Then I look at comment threads like this and think, "Why allow blog comments? I'm through with Jr. High and glad to be so. Why spend my time hosting and moderating a discussion that really sounds like the halls of Jr. High again?" Feh.

[Chris - Mason Conservative]

Bravo Ben. I think your just bored and you wanted to kick some shit up for fun. This is all hilarious in the grand scheme of things. I'm on the right-o-sphere, but this stuff makes me laugh and laugh. Everyone needs to relax and stop taking themselves so seriously.

[Ward Smythe]

martha,

If you trust a conservative to tell you about daycare, I can tell you the places I know and that we used.

wardsmythe@yahoo.com

[Kilo]

Post the email Ben or are you full of shit? Here is your chance to post my email and back up what you have written.
"Pussy"
Now Ben... just what would you know about that subject.
Tell Joey Stanley Hi!

Carl Kilo is a COWARD!

A mealy-mouthed, inbred, ignoramus who suckles the man teet of Chad Dotson and the rest of his corrupt Wise County cohorts.

[I.Publius]

ROFL @ the 10:49 anon coward.

by the way, see if you can borrow jaime's dictionary (if she's not busy using it.)

teet? Sheesh, get a clue, moron.

[Anonymous Is A Woman]

Poor Kat is irate because she and the ODBA got outted. It's difficult for them to take the high ground and criticize Ben for lack of ethics in going public with this when their own ethics, in conspiring to launch a personal attack on somebody, are so sadly lacking.

And anybody who Jew baits and calls somebody an anti-Semite, unless the person really, really is one and they've got proof, should be considered anti-Semitic themselves.

Every time you make a false charge like that, you desensitize the public to the real thing when it comes along.

Call Joe Stanley an anti-Semite, when people know it's patently false, and who is going to believe you when you also call David Duke one? That's why it's so dangerous to misuse the term.

So guys, if you in the ODBA are really doing this, and going there once again, guess what? You are no friend of Jews. And you just may be what you are accusing others of being.

[Not Larry Sabato]

Kilo: Here you go:

"Roscoe has hired the Yellow Dog Group to run his media online.
http://roscoereynolds.com/20/index.php

That is the Joe Stanley bunch, The Macaca master! The Harris Miller anti semitic flyer, etc.
http://yellowdogstrategy.com/home/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

Something to think about.
Carl"

[NotJOEYStanley]

Where does Kilo ask for Riley or anyone to post about this Ben?
It looks like you are a liar and a pussy.

[Chris - Mason Conservative]

My brain hurts from reading this thread.

[I.Publius]

Ben, are you just a simple liar, or are you really as stupid as this thread makes you look? Where in that email did Kilo ask anyone to say or do anything against Stanley?

[Ward Smythe]

Ben,

Is that it? You conjured up this whole post and argument based on two links and the mere mention that YellowDog produced the Harris Miller flyer?

Where's the attack coordination?

If you can go back to day one of your blog and tell me you've never given a hat tip to a story posted by someone else, then maybe you have a point.

Or you could post a retraction. And an apology.

The actions of both Ben and the ODBA are pathetic.

But the member of the ODBA who is forwarding the emails to Ben is truly the despicable one. Somehow I suspect that person goes to church every Sunday and considers himself (or herself) to be such a lovely Christian.

Kind of like when Kat likes to quote Bible verses at people when she has been engaged in unethical and un-Godly behavior as well.

Or you could post a retraction. And an apology.

Posted by: Ward Smythe | August 17, 2007 at 09:18 AM

Kilo doesn't desereve apologies since he doesn't give them himself. He would be wise to drop this.

[Phil Chroniger]

Considering there is nothing in that e-mail to back up Ben's claims...and Kilo's e-mail was actually true in it's statements...I'd say Ben would be wise to post a retraction.

[Cliff Garstang]

Looks like the request for a coordinated response is implied, hence the "something to think about."

No retraction called for.

Keep up the good work, Ben.

[and I've lost track of who brought "just deserts" to our attention -- I've always had it wrong, too!]

The best hypocrite on the left side of the blogosphere. Yeah, keep up the good work.

[Mad Hatter]

Wait... I thought you were AGAINST personal attacks on people...

Hmm. Seems like you got caught with your head in your rectum. Again. And again. And again.

Just shut down the blog, man.

[kender]

so strategizing is an attack?

I have been looking for this attack but can't seem to find it. Well never mind. You cretins are a bunch of....well....I won't use that language...here.

you guys aren't worth the time.

[SE VA MWC Alum]

Both sides would be wise to drop this. What Stanley did was low class. The OBDA people keep bringing it up trying to tie all democrats to it. Guilt by association.

Also they are trying to portray Joe Stanley as anti semitic. Do they have any proof (other than one cartoon that might be interpreted as anti semitic). Doubtful. Doesnt seem like proof enough to me to back up such an accusation. This is also low class.

Neither side seems to have clean hands and it is looking more and more like another of the petty tweedle dee-tweedle dum scuffles that turn so many people off of politics. As an 11th generation Virginian it is sad to see the dialogue deteriorate to this level

[SE VA MWC Alum]

sorry meant to post that elsewhere