# Is There Any Fairness Left In This Campaign? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 17, 2008, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-fairness-left-in-this-campaign/464025 "2008-09-17T20:05:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-fairness-left-in-this-campaign/464025/41 "2008-09-17T22:37:50Z")
> [@Stuffy](#): > > Yeah, sure you don’t. :rolleyes: I have no doubt that **zev** was speaking honestly. He’s an honorable guy. Period. as to the OP, I, too, think it’s wrong that her email account got hacked. Period. She’s also wrong, however, to use a personal account for official business to avoid pesky things like laws. Two wrongs don’t make a right. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-fairness-left-in-this-campaign/464025/42 "2008-09-17T23:01:46Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > What kind of an idiot Governor uses a fucking Yahoo account to conduct state business? Howard Dean, for one. Apparently, he thought that conducting business from his private email account would exempt them from disclosure. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-fairness-left-in-this-campaign/464025/43 "2008-09-17T23:02:28Z")
> [@Shayna](#): > > I think it’s outrageous. Does that count? I think it’s disgusting. I’m glad to see we reasonable people can agree on this point. If the same thing happened to Joe Biden or Barack Obama, I’d be just as disgusted. And I wonder how soon before Yahoo tightens up their security? ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-fairness-left-in-this-campaign/464025/44 "2008-09-17T23:07:06Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > What kind of an idiot Governor uses a fucking Yahoo account to conduct state business? > > Still, it was wrong to hack it. Not only is it an invasion of privacy, it’s stupid. It does nothing for Obama politically and just feeds into the victim card for Palin. > > Still…Yahoo? Based on the level of sophistication I’ve seen from Palin, her password was probably something like “hockeymom”. Some high school kid probably hacked it within his first 10 tries of a password. Using a free service like Yahoo for anything personal is like changing your clothes in the middle of Times Square and then accusing everyone of being a Peeping Tom. ---
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-fairness-left-in-this-campaign/464025/45 "2008-09-17T23:19:24Z")
> [@wring](#): > > I have no doubt that **zev** was speaking honestly. He’s an honorable guy. Period. You’ll excuse me if I don’t take your word for it. I have no doubt that this story like every other one will be sleazed by the republicans to make this the demoracts fault . > [@](#): > > as to the OP, I, too, think it’s wrong that her email account got hacked. Period. I did forget to address that part. I agree it was sleazy no matter who did it, but since I know how this’ll play out… > [@](#): > > She’s also wrong, however, to use a personal account for official business to avoid pesky things like laws. > > Two wrongs don’t make a right. Agreed. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-fairness-left-in-this-campaign/464025/46 "2008-09-17T23:25:35Z")
> [@Stuffy](#): > > You’ll excuse me if I don’t take your word for it. I have no doubt that this story like every other one will be sleazed by the republicans to make this the demoracts fault . Search his posts. He’s a conservative, however, ime, he’s consistent w/his disapproval of actions, regardless of political affiliation. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-fairness-left-in-this-campaign/464025/47 "2008-09-17T23:29:17Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > Howard Dean, for one. Apparently, he thought that conducting business from his private email account would exempt them from disclosure. Exempt who from disclosure of what? What state business does Howard Dean conduct? ---
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-fairness-left-in-this-campaign/464025/48 "2008-09-17T23:38:23Z")
> [@wring](#): > > Search his posts. He’s a conservative, however, ime, he’s consistent w/his disapproval of actions, regardless of political affiliation. Wow! What. A. Surprise. I must be some kind of mind reader. Somebody call James Randi! Just to satisify my own curiosity I read the story over at CNN and guess who’s campaign is getting the blame. I must be able to see the future too! Man just how am I going to spend that million dollars. Anybody not recognizing this pattern of behavior by is willfully blind! ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-fairness-left-in-this-campaign/464025/49 "2008-09-17T23:40:31Z")
> [@Stuffy](#): > > Wow! What. A. Surprise. I must be some kind of mind reader. Somebody call James Randi! Just to satisify my own curiosity I read the story over at CNN and guess who’s campaign is getting the blame. I must be able to see the future too! Man just how am I going to spend that million dollars. > > Anybody not recognizing this pattern of behavior by is willfully blind! what are y ou talking about? My point was that **zev** the poster is honorable, and would decry the same behavior no matter who did it. What the CNN folks etc are doing has nothing to do w/the poster **zev** unless you think he’s a reporter there. ---
**Author:** ![Daffyd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daffyd/32/8923_2.png) [@Daffyd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daffyd)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-fairness-left-in-this-campaign/464025/50 "2008-09-17T23:46:00Z")
I’m about as left as can be and was stunned when I saw the whole hacking thing on AmericaBlog today… and was absolutely disgusted when I saw that it was being talked about like it was a **good** thing. I absolutely **detest** Palin, but think this was **way** over the line… Whoever did it should be prosecuted. ---
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-fairness-left-in-this-campaign/464025/51 "2008-09-17T23:53:51Z")
> [@wring](#): > > what are y ou talking about? My point was that **zev** the poster is honorable, and would decry the same behavior no matter who did it. What the CNN folks etc are doing has nothing to do w/the poster **zev** unless you think he’s a reporter there. Wow, and I thought I was pretty clear. Let me spell it out for you. I am accusing the OP of engaging in the same fucked up sleaze ball tactics the republicans have been engaging in this campaign season. Somehow I suspect my writing was not so unintelligible as to have somehow obscured that point. In case you need help parsing it, the first four sentences is my hyperbolic way of expressing that. The second half of my post covers the fact that just as I predicted the howling from the right is already blaming the Obama campaign. Can I clear up anything else for you? Need a term defined perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![pkd88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/2bfe46/32.png) [@pkd88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkd88)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-fairness-left-in-this-campaign/464025/52 "2008-09-17T23:59:24Z")
> [@Stuffy](#): > > Wow, and I thought I was pretty clear. Let me spell it out for you. I am accusing the OP of engaging in the same fucked up sleaze ball tactics the republicans have been engaging in this campaign season. Somehow I suspect my writing was not so unintelligible as to have somehow obscured that point. In case you need help parsing it, the first four sentences is my hyperbolic way of expressing that. The second half of my post covers the fact that just as I predicted the howling from the right is already blaming the Obama campaign. Can I clear up anything else for you? Need a term defined perhaps? Your posts are not always that clear. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-fairness-left-in-this-campaign/464025/53 "2008-09-18T00:18:43Z")
Very uncool. The lying and obfuscation of the Palin administration doesn’t justify this invasion of privacy. ---
**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-fairness-left-in-this-campaign/464025/54 "2008-09-18T00:27:42Z")
I don’t see how anyone with the slightest claim to decency could excuse anybody hacking someone’s e-mail account. This isn’t nebulous in the least. I don’t know who “Anonymous” is but I hope he/she is caught and prosecuted. Palin is fairly revolting, from her track record as a public ‘servant’ and as a candidate. It wouldn’t suprise me if she used personal e-mail to shield official business from public view. But that’s on her. Rotten tactics can only taint their results. Filthy means aren’t justifiable, period, by any ends. Yahoo? Her husband the driller/fisherman copied on official state business? This woman ain’t the swiftest pup in the sled team, y’know? ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-fairness-left-in-this-campaign/464025/55 "2008-09-18T00:28:39Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Exempt who from disclosure of what? What state business does Howard Dean conduct? Duh… Howard Dean, prior to his current gig as Democratic Party chairman, was governor of Vermont. And, yes, he did conduct state business from his personal email account, under the mistaken impression that it would be exempt from public disclosure. ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-fairness-left-in-this-campaign/464025/56 "2008-09-18T00:30:25Z")
Since I’ve been told not to start any more Palin threads, I’m forced to throw a hijack into this one. [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122065537792905483.html?mod=googlenews\_wsj](http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122065537792905483.html?mod=googlenews_wsj) Another tribute to he experience and competence. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-fairness-left-in-this-campaign/464025/57 "2008-09-18T00:30:53Z")
> [@Stuffy](#): > > Wow, and I thought I was pretty clear. Let me spell it out for you. I am accusing the OP of engaging in the same fucked up sleaze ball tactics the republicans have been engaging in this campaign season. Somehow I suspect my writing was not so unintelligible as to have somehow obscured that point. In case you need help parsing it, the first four sentences is my hyperbolic way of expressing that. The second half of my post covers the fact that just as I predicted the howling from the right is already blaming the Obama campaign. Can I clear up anything else for you? Need a term defined perhaps? For what it is worth, I think you are wrong. I believe **Zev** is merely disgusted by the knee-jerk partisanship which this election appears to have inspired in abundance regardless of party, and of which this is merely an example. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-fairness-left-in-this-campaign/464025/58 "2008-09-18T00:37:49Z")
> [@TVeblen](#): > > I don’t see how anyone with the slightest claim to decency could excuse anybody hacking someone’s e-mail account. This isn’t nebulous in the least. I don’t know who “Anonymous” is but I hope he/she is caught and prosecuted. > > Palin is fairly revolting, from her track record as a public ‘servant’ and as a candidate. It wouldn’t suprise me if she used personal e-mail to shield official business from public view. But that’s on her. Rotten tactics can only taint their results. Filthy means aren’t justifiable, period, by any ends. > > Yahoo? Her husband the driller/fisherman copied on official state business? This woman ain’t the swiftest pup in the sled team, y’know? Anonymous is not a he/she. It’s a whole conglomerate of script-kiddies. I tend to think of them as a school of fish. They gained a bit of notoriety earlier this year when they decided to target Scientology because Scientology uses strong-arm tactics to keep critics silent. But Anonymous doesn’t have a leader and they’re all sophisticated enough to keep their identities more or less hidden from people who would seek payback (like the Scientology lawyers/attack dogs). The group has a[long history in terms of the Internet](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anonymous_(group)). I’m completely not surprised to see they’re behind this. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-fairness-left-in-this-campaign/464025/59 "2008-09-18T00:40:23Z")
> [@TVeblen](#): > > Yahoo? Her husband the driller/fisherman copied on official state business? This woman ain’t the swiftest pup in the sled team, y’know? I think Yahoo is the perfect email addy for her. PERFECT. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-fairness-left-in-this-campaign/464025/60 "2008-09-18T00:46:45Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > I’m a Dem, and I think that this is despicable and the people who did it should be charged with whatever crimes they may have committed. While Watergate now seems quaint compared with lying to start wars, etc. breaking in and invading privacy are still illegal and should be prosecuted. > > On edit: Nor do I think that this is an official account matters. Governors are entitled to keep their working accounts private until a court orders compliance with a subpoena. Rule of law and all that. Thank you for bringing the correct attitude to this thread. What happened is despicable and nothing but a crime. I would investigate this as much as possible and string the scum up to the fullest extent of the law. Which should include “attempting to interfere with an election” or some such crime. Anyone who does not squarely condemn this action and want these people to be held accountable for their crime is this worst kind of partisan. And scum themselves. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-fairness-left-in-this-campaign/464025.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-fairness-left-in-this-campaign/464025.md?page=4)