wil e gerstein, super genius

(alternate title: "Further Adventures of the Campaign Who Couldn't Shoot Straight") 

Ladies and gentlemen, I had no idea when I put out my booty call to Dan Gerstein, never, ever, ever, not even for an instant did I think it would work.  But, apparently my love was too much for him to resist, because get ready, world!  Do you think you can handle Dan Gerstein, Blogger?!

Now, when I heard that the Lieberman campaign was launching a blog in conjunction with its new web site, I really didn't know that DANGERSTEIN was going to be one of their featured bloggers.  I could barely contain my glee when I saw his name on the masthead.  And, true to form, in spite of the fact the blog is less than 72 hours old, already they've stepped in it numerous times.

First there was the troublesome matter of Joe's blogroll.  Matt Browner-Hamlin says: 

Lieberman's blogroll is made up entirely of blogs outside the state of Connecticut (if any are Connecticut based, they don't advertise it). The top three have a grand total of ten posts between them and were created in the last three weeks. One is forced to wonder if the delay in launching Joe2006 v2.0 was to allow their "ringers" a chance to get up to steam (snicker).

(snip)

By way of comparison, the official Lamont campaign blog lists seven Connecticut blogs and ten blogs that cover national politics in their blogroll (full disclosure: Emboldened is not on either list).  The blogs Lamont links to update on a daily basis and provide a wide range of commentary. To the best of my knowledge, none of the bloggers Ned Lamont links to also write blogs filled with anti-Muslim and anti-Arab hate speech.  (Lieberman may have made a big mistake linking to Chris Arnell's site. Arnell looks like a fecund source of opposition material to use against Joe, and his fetishization of Muslim violence - from car accidents to jihad - is truly disturbing. The Lieberman campaign has repeatedly ran to the press with the scary, anti-Semetic (and universally condemned) remarks by anonymous blog commenters. We, however, now have a face to attach to Lieberman's more unsavory supporters and Joe has condoned Arnell's hate speech by linking to him on his blog.)

Ignoring the fact that Lieberman's blog was instituted with mousetrap like intentions, it yet again reinforces the fact that the Lieberman campaign does not have the slightest clue as to how they should engage and communicate with bloggers. They don't have any support online so they link to falsifiable bloggers who are either out of state, haven't written about Joe in almost a month, or have only written a few posts ever. This campaign does not get it and yet again the take one big step forward and fall flat on their face.

Yeah, Matt.  Since then, the percentage of links to GENOCIDAL FREAKS has fallen, somewhat, but it's pretty sad that they never thought to maybe, oh, I dunno, check out the views espoused by bloggers they were linking to.  Hello?  Anybody home?

But that's not NEARLY as sad as the truth about the poll numbers they were trumpeting yesterday, which had Lieberman enjoying a 51 to 35 percent lead over Ned Lamont.  Lieberman blogger Eric Blankenbaker said:

(To our tinfoil hat wearing "friends" on the other side who are spreading rumors that this was a "push poll," sorry to disappoint, but this really was nothing more than a standard benchmark poll.)

WRONG!!  Sorry, Eric, but it appears that on the very day that you were jizzing in your lap over these numbers, Joe's penchant for hiring dishonest GOP hack pollsters was biting him in the ass.  As luck would have it, today was the day the pollster that Lieberman shared with  good lip-lockin' buddy George Bush was PLEADING GUILTY TO FRAUDULENT POLLING in front of a grand jury in Bridgeport:

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (Sept. 7) - The owner of DataUSA Inc., a company that conducted political polls for the campaigns of President Bush, Sen. Joe Lieberman and other candidates, pleaded guilty to fraud for making up survey and poll results.

Tracy Costin pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Costin, 46, faces a maximum of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 when she is sentenced Nov. 30. 

Ouch.

That'll leave a mark.

According to a federal indictment, Costin told employees to alter poll data, and managers at the company told employees to "talk to cats and dogs" when instructing them to fabricate the surveys.

FBI Special Agent Jeff Rovelli said 50 percent of information compiled by DataUSA and transmitted to Bush's campaign was falsified, the Connecticut Post reported Thursday.

Maybe they could get some of those cats and dogs to start a Lieberman blog, because they could clearly do a better job than their current stable of on-line "talent".

But to underscore the point, let's go to CT Bob, who highlighted the following discussion from Lieberblog.  A reader asked about the Washington Times story alleging that the RNC has secretly poured millions of dollars into the Lieberman campaign.  Hilarity ensued.

Let me get this straight. You are asking us to disprove an anonymous, single-sourced story from a magazine of questionable credibility that not one respectable news outlet has even come close to picking up on? What's next, you want us to provide evidence that Joe Lieberman doesn't beat his wife?

Seriously, folks, I am more than happy to answer legitimate questions raised on the blog, and I apologize for not doing more of it yet (been a little busy doing a few other things), but can we please have a little perspective? Thanks.
Dan Gerstein | 09.06.06 - 8:23 pm | #

Joe Lieberman beats his wife?
Mike | 09.06.06 - 8:28 pm | #

Why does Joe beat his wife? Is it because she's a pharmaceutical lobbyist?
BluetooththeGreat | 09.06.06 - 8:31 pm | #

I don't know, blue... I just heard about it from Dan Gerstein himself.
Mike | 09.06.06 - 8:33 pm | #

Now, we have someone who, posting as Dan Gerstein, hopefully it is and not a namestealer, wants to tell us that it is the equivalent of "when did you quit beating your wife"?

If this is as untrue, or "conspiracy theory" as you want us to believe, why even address it at all?

Either it is true, or it is not. To address it in this manner only serves to fuel the fire that Lieberman's campaign is actually hiding a significant amount of support (maybe not financial) from the RNC.
David (Austin Tx) | Homepage | 09.06.06 - 8:39 pm | #

What's next, you want us to provide evidence that Joe Lieberman doesn't beat his wife?

Actually, that would be great.
NTodd, Blogsatz Eliterach | Homepage | 09.06.06 - 8:40 pm | #

Are you really suggesting that if Joe took money from Republicans then he also beats his wife? Because you know it's possible that he took money from Republicans and does not beat his wife. I don't know why this Dan Gerstein is making baseless accusations like that against Joe. Doesn't Joe have enough to worry about in this campaign (his voting record, his flip-flopping, his self-righteous personality) without jerks like Dan Gerstein making false accusations?
winklife | 09.06.06 - 8:48 pm | #

First, Joe Lieberman does NOT beat his wife. Second, I will personally look into whether or not Joe's campaign has taken a significant amount of money from registered Republicans. I don't think so. But I can make sure. How's that for transparency?
Dan Gerstein | 09.06.06 - 8:55 pm | #

First, Joe Lieberman does NOT beat his wife.

I demand proof.
NTodd, Blogsatz Eliterach | Homepage | 09.06.06 - 8:56 pm | #

Joe did not beat his wife to the lobbyist trough. My understanding is that she worked for a PR firm that represented clients with pending legislation before Congress well before Joe is being forcably retired from the Senate so that he can pursue his next career as a defense lobbyist.
JoeBlow | 09.06.06 - 9:00 pm | #

And when did Joe stop beating his wife, anyway?
NTodd, Blogsatz Eliterach | Homepage | 09.06.06 - 9:01 pm | #

As I've said, we will look into whether or not serious Republican contributions have been made to Joe's campaign. I don't think so. It may take a few days (I'm very busy), but we will post our findings on the blog. I promise.
Dan Gerstein | 09.06.06 - 9:10 pm | #  (Ed. Note: The Lieberman Campaign now maintains that Gerstein never wrote this comment.)

Dan, did you really claim the story to be false despite not knowing for sure whether or not there is any truth to the claim?

wow, DANGERstein strikes again...
steve | Homepage | 09.06.06 - 9:15 pm | #

As I've said, we will look into whether or not serious Republican contributions have been made to Joe's campaign. I don't think so. It may take a few days (I'm very busy), but we will post our findings on the blog. I promise.

We all wait with bated breath.

I also want to know if Joe has accepted any contributions from kitten-eating cyborgs.
NTodd, Blogsatz Eliterach | Homepage | 09.06.06 - 9:16 pm | #

That was not funny. You can disagree with Joe on issues, but it is ludicrous (and imature) to continue in this vein. To keep this up, is to stoop to the level of ridiculousness to which Dan himself has sunk.

Dan brought it up. I was merely picking up the ball and running with it. And I never, ever claimed to be mature. I'm actually here because I heard there would be better snacks than over at Eschaton. I was misinformed.

And for the record, I don't beat my wife (well, she's now my ex, but we're still friends and my claim stands!).
NTodd, Blogsatz Eliterach | Homepage | 09.06.06 - 9:20 pm | #

Sigh.

"It's actually a sunrise," Gerstein said. "It's very much a sunrise."

Nice try, Dan-O.  How long do you suppose it'll be before they ban him from his own blog?

Two things I need to tell you all before I sign off.

1. It would be best if you didn't go over to the Lieberblog and leave nasty comments.  That's the "mousetrap" bit that Matt Browner-Hamlin was talking about back there.  They've been collecting nasty comments so they can harvest them and do posts like this one.

As some of you may have also noticed, our site has been quite a popular destination for our opponents.  Our hope, maybe over-optimistic, was that they would behave in a civil and responsible way in expressing their disagreements.  But as the Lamont campaign’s Internet guru Tim Tagaris predicted, the comments have been overwhelmingly snide and insulting, far more diatribe than dialogue. 

Oh, woe is Dan!  Fie!  Fie upon the Cannibals of Blogistan!  Beware!  Bewaaaaaaaaaaare!!  

After all, No One Could Have Predicted the arrival of hostile commenters!

2. Contribute now to the fund for Marcy's book.  (Full Disclosure Moment: I have a personal stake in this.  If things go well for Marcy, there is a chance that there will be a TRex book from the FDL press!  Eeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!  So give early and often!!)  

Thank you!

Good night.