Having your privacy invaded on the Internet sucks, as anyone who's been fired for their Facebook pictures can attest. By now, most people know to log off of public computers after checking their e-mails, know to create different passwords for all their social networking sites, know not to answer those messages from a prince in Africa looking to transfer some balances into your bank account. This is a generation that's been burned before, thanks in no small part to JuicyCampus.
But this Sarah Palin hacked Yahoo account thing is well…dirty. Were some kids over in 4chan really able to log into VP candidate's private email? Shouldn't there be some sort of protection against that sort of stuff? Is it any of our business who Sarah Palin emails? Who even has a Yahoo account anymore? Agh, so many questions, so little answers, but it's best to take a look now before all information regarding this event disappears faster than Bristol Palin's listed phone number:
Circa midnight Tuesday the 16th of September (EST) Wikileaks' sources loosely affiliated with the activist group 'anonymous' gained access to U.S. Republican Party Vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin's Yahoo email account gov.palin@yahoo.com. Governor Palin has come under criticism for using private email accounts to avoid government transparency mechanisms. The zip archive made available by Wikileaks contains screen shots of Palin's inbox, example emails, address book and two family photos. The list of correspondence, together with the account name, appears to re-enforce the criticism.
You can check out the correspondence list and pictures (aw, Trig!) here.
Honestly, the whole thing is such a shitshow, but here is why it's going to affect the election:
• Palin may have used this personal email account to discuss government policy procedures, and then erased the account once in got hacked. It's the equivalent of evidence shredding, or those eighteen and a half minutes of silence on the Nixon tapes.
• The digital paper trail may have been burned to avoid any incrimination of Palin for the whole Trooper-gate fiasco, or it may have just been family pics and the occasional chain mail. Unfortunately we'll never know, because someone decided to white knight it and alert Palin that her contact list was being disseminated across message boards. So a) Palin knew about the violation and b) the account was immediately pulled down. Make your own conclusions.
• The Anonymous guys (yes, the same people who hate Scientology) claiming credit for this escapade don't have any legal authority to break into a politician's email account and post her personal information, but neither does Palin have a right to withhold court mandated documents, including government policy emails that she forwarded to her husband. So whoops, everyone is in the wrong. The Anonymous crew though, isn't running for vice president.
Until this is proved as a hoax, the best you can do is sit in your rocking chair and speculate on how the Internet sure changed the face of political scandals. First Ashley Dupre's single hits it big on MySpace after the Spitzer scandal, now this. If this goes down in the history books as Yahoogate '08 you guys, the cyberterrorists have won.
Editorial Director
Sarah Palin is connected to Scientology. Here's how:
She has been, and still continues to be, deeply involved with the ultra-right-wing "Dominionist" church movement. READ THIS:
http://markcrispinmiller.blogs.....d-cnp.html
The main nexus for the Dominionists is the "Committee on National Policy", which strangely includes non-Christian organizations such as, yes, The Church of Scientology.
The leading "Dominionist" church is MorningStar ministries, which despite being a Christian church, leans heavily on "supernatural"
themes and blatantly uses the Scientology Cross in their logo:
http://www.morningstarministries.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology_cross
Anonymous is not a group of hackers - it's a leaderless collective of like-minded individuals, from all walks of life.
http://www.enturbulation.org/press-media/faq
Anonymous on FOX11
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNO6G4ApJQY
Anonymous Exposed - Religious Hate Crimes and Terrorism
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbwNyKXux70
Palin may have used this personal email account to discuss government policy procedures, and then erased the account once in got hacked. It's the equivalent of evidence shredding, or those eighteen and a half minutes of silence on the Nixon tapes.
No. No it's not. I am really surprised at how ignorant people "reporting" this really are.
Here's an assist.
A 1996 federal law called the Electronic Communication Transactional Records Act regulates data preservation. It requires Internet providers to retain any "record" in their possession for 90 days "upon the request of a governmental entity."
She is a Vice Presidential candidate given secret service protection just like Joe Biden- here's a clue. Secret Service monitors these things. She did not destroy anything. The Secret Service had yahoo take down her account.
So, we have a whole bunch of Scooby Dooo reporting!
If true, I don't particularly care whether it is legal for individual's to hack emails of political figures running for the 2nd highest office in the land or not. Whistle blower statute thinking applies for me. If the woman withheld information which the court ordered her to reveal, a grand jury needs to indict the woman BEFORE the election for once in our miserable political history!
Enough with electing crooks and con-women / men to political office. If they've got email accounts, personal and "private" should not apply until they've been vetted by SOMEONE! I'd prefer an independent prosecutor, but if hacker whistle blowers instead of governmental honesty is what we're reduced to in order to regain control of our country for the citizens and not the investment bankers, THEN SO BE IT!
A former Republican.
"If they've got email accounts, personal and "private" should not apply…"
Well, unfortunately for you, Thankful Voter, it does apply. See Timetester's comment above.
If all this 'tanning bed', 'illegal firing', 'affair' BS is what counts as "vetting" for you, then you must be….(you guessed it) "A former Republican."
Those who are responsible should have tea and crumpets ready for the Secret Service and FBI agents that will be visiting soon, that is, if they haven't dropped by already. Somebody's in deep kimchee. This is going to blow up in the Democrats' faces (as everything else negative about Palin has). The donks can thank themselves for a GOP win in November.
"This is going to blow up in the Democrats' faces (as everything else negative about Palin has). The donks can thank themselves for a GOP win in November." That's exactly the point, it is going to hurt the Dems…which is exactly why the Reps orchestrated is. If you've been paying attention, Palin's "approval rating" (whatever the hell that even means) took a dive after the wall street fiasco, so this might halt the downfall. Anyways, who cares, the election is a fraud as is everyone involved in politics.
I think the real point is that VP candidates shouldn't be such naive small town rubes that they transact sensitive government business on yahoo and think it's secure, confidential or irretrievable once erased.
Why not just mail China a copy of all our juiciest government secrets tied with a giant red bow?
"…exactly why the Reps orchestrated is[sic]."
Delusion: it's not just for breakfast anymore. Better stay in momma's basement awhile longer, johnny. Ya' know, til the heats off.
"…Palin's "approval rating" (whatever the hell that even means)…" Ha! Ha! Ha! Exactly! Why would a democrat know what an 'approval rating' is?
Anonymous, has intended since Wikileaks was established, to use Wikileaks as its publishing arm. Its ambition goes far beyond "free speech" and "right to protest". Indeed, it uses these popular phrases as a springboard to further its ends. Its core members actually intend to sell its now-formed and publicly recognized computer expertise to grow wealthy. It intends to accept contracts to publish disparaging and hard to get information on targets. It has used Scientology, and now Palin's email account as a "Fast gun for hire" advertisement. Are you wealthy? Do you want to hire their services to degrade, disparage or publicly expose someone or some group? That's how Anonymous' core hopes to grow wealthy.
"Why Sarah Palin's Hacked E-Mail is Our Beeswax"
That's going to look bitchin' on your new orange jumper.
The hackers should be prosecuted, just as Nixon's staff was for breaking in and stealing records. This is clearly an illegal act and wait a second, her emails show nothing illegal. Maybe not a smart move to use that account by this is an invasion of privacy.
Thank you liberals for the laugh and for once again attacking Sarah Palin in a pathetic attempt to get the upper hand. Please, do all of us Republicans a favor, and keep up the dirty politics.
Considering Palin is in the party that brought us unconstitutional eavesdropping, among other rights violations, this is a bit of ironic justice. Too bad the doofuses responsible for the "hack" apparently blew their opportunity to really blow things open. Hopefully what's been presented so far is just a teaser and there's some really juicy, comprehensive stuff still forthcoming, like in the Media Defender case.
"Considering Palin is in the party that brought us unconstitutional eavesdropping…"
Yeah, is that the one Barak Obama just voted for? *yawn*
"Hopefully what's been presented so far is just a teaser and there's some really juicy, comprehensive stuff still forthcoming…"
Forthcoming in your hand. If you're lucky.
There are many flaws in this jossip article. Number 1: "most people know to log off of public computers after checking their e-mails" This does not make a difference as there are many other ways hackers can exploit to gain access to your mail. 2. "Is it any of our business who Sarah Palin emails?" - Yes it is, considering she is using non-public email to discuss political affairs within her party and has now destroyed the evidence. And finally - Cyberterrorists? I really dont know why you call the perpetrators terrorists, I think you need to pick up a dictionary and learn what the word "terrorist" means. This has been a single attack to Palin's account and the perpetrators even sent an email to one of Palin's Aide to inform that the account is hacked and what the password is so that she can change her password. I dont call that terrorism at all. You have just jumped to the conclusion that they are cyber-terrorists, you have blown this news out of proportion. Do your homework before you make another failed article about something you have little or no knowledge about.
"Yeah, is that the one Barak Obama just voted for? *yawn*"
No. Obama wasn't in the Senate when the Patriot Act was initially passed. When he voted on its renewal his affirmative was only a begrudging compromise on a revised version. Unfortunately, there's a dimwit executive that vetos bills that make sense so sometimes people have to compromise to get anything done. We'll have the same problem next year if the tamed maverick gets elected, keels over, and leaves the country in the hands of the church lady.
Read the congressional record and you'll see Obama saying things like, "The compromise is far from perfect. I would have liked to see stronger judicial review of national security letters and shorter time limits on sneak and peak searches, among other things." Read the SAFE Act that he proposed to replace the Patriot Act. He's interested in the welfare and rights of all citizens of the US, not just the wealthy and their corporations.
Typing out the word "yawn" is a stellar debate strategy. You should try that in the real world if you ever manage to graduate from junior high. The exceedingly lame crack on the word "forthcoming" cements (like Cameron Diaz's hair in There's Something About Mary) the image of you being held back for poor academic performance. Start reading your books instead of drawing dicks in them and maybe you'll eventually gain a broader, more informed view of the world around you.
Dammit! No preview before posting and I missed closing a tag. Oh well, c'est la vie.
http://rapidshare.com/files/14.....s.zip.html
HAW HAW SHOOOP DA WHOOOP
Thank you for that eloquent response, Nadar '08. You made my morning :)
The FBI is a JOKE, they won't do anything, they are the stupidest people in the world, only required to have a high school education or GED level to get the job. They can be bought off by the rich and they are the equivalent of government attack dogs that raid indiscriminately and walk away with impunity. The department is shockingly deficient and should be eliminated. If the truth ever leaked out about how DUMB they are, no American would feel safe, so they go on…protected by the federal gov't.
"When he voted on its renewal his affirmative was only a begrudging compromise on a revised version."
Oh yeah, pardon me, "Nader '08' (hah!).
FISA is only the most hated piece of legislation of the Left's agenda, but Obama showed AMAZING courage in reaching across the isle to vote for THAT one, huh?
"Read the congressional record and you'll see Obama saying things like, "The compromise is far from perfect.."
WOW, that's very principled of Barak. Look at his voting record, dumbass and you'll see otherwise.
Thanks for the advice; I'll just burn my phd now, and start all over working for the Nader '08 campaign! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!
Hey Meg. I think Nader '08 wants to ask your paranoid, sorry-ass out. Try McDonalds. The FBI won't be able to see you there.
This is a hoax by one glowing and simple fact… that everyone is overlooking. The screenshot of the e-mail subject lines clearly depict messages that appear to be Delivery and/or Read receipts of E-mails sent. Anyone that has a true Yahoo account will tell you, there is no function in Yahoo mail to allow for read or delivery receipt messages. All I can say is the 'Paint' function in Windows sure can do wonderous things to stir the masses over an empty pot. Sad.
If you want to run for office your affairs become the public's. If you don't want to be in the spotlight and subject to alienation then don't run.
Anon was in the right. Palin is a walking house of cards built on lies and uninformed opinions. I figured she was up to some tricky shit and this government is based on the desires of the people.
If the people want to see Sarah Palin's email she can oblige or explain. And if she explains then she better be fine with us not believing her.
Don't anyone bother with making anymore comments. I'm so frustrated with my self-loathing, homosexual lifestyle that I'll pathetically lash out at any argument that opposes my perverted, neocon sensibilities.
Sure, you could Google my preferred blog reply name and see that I'm a total troll with nothing but ranting, fascist rhetoric and pre-teen, "humorous", "snappy" retorts to my credit, but it would be better that you don't reply to me, not because I'm a snide, loathsome troll, but rather because I'm on the side of the correct, mythical God and think I can do no wrong.
Evolution is a lie, regardless of the overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Women should be forced to have babies against their will and shouldn't be allowed to hold public office unless they agree. My right to cuddle in bed with an automatic rifle is more important than your right to not be shot, along with the half-dozen or more people in your vicinity, by a nutbag with an automatic rifle. God demands we invade other countries, especially if they have oil in them - not so much for the oil, but to inflate the market here to increase our dividends and send our corporate cronies into the country we ravaged to rebuild so we can make money off the taxpayers. (Hey, win-win!) "Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!" and "*yawn*" are genius replies, especially if one has a worthless degree from a Christian university or pretends to have same. There's no point in trying to preserve the environment, find cleaner, renewal energy alternatives, do stem cell research, or make advances of any kind except in the areas of weapons, beer, and big screen TVs because we are all going to die eventually so we may as well speed up the process and be oblivious while doing so. (The faster we get that done the sooner we can meet God!) The best thing anyone can do if not involved in these worthy pursuits is spend numerous hours on the internet being a snarky, clueless, neocon, asshole, blog commenter. Make a difference, like me! I'm a difference-maker. :-) *Self-pat* *Self-pat*
Vote McCain. REAL change we can believe in! (That is, if we convince ourselves that 4 more years of the same retarded policies that got us in the mess we're in is really change if it's under an older, faster blinking corporate stooge.)
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHO,WHAT,WHEN, AND HOW WILL THE PRESIDENT ELECT PLANS TO HANDLE THE DEBT TO HOSPITALS,SCHOOLS,LAW ENFORCEMENT, ECT,THAT WE AREGOING TO AND ALREADY HAVE IN ALOT OF STATES DUE TO MILLIONS OF ILLEGALS LIVING OFF OF OUR COUNTRY. ANOTHER BAIL OUT? THIS IS THE DARK HORSE IN THE CLOSET THAT AMERICANS WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR. OUR COUNTRY IS BROKE BECAUSE OF CORRUPTION ON ALL LEVELS.WHAT ABOUT THE ILLEGALS SEN. OBAMA AND SEN. MCCAIN? I AM A MCCAIN AND PALIN SUPPORTER. THANKS LINDA