Patterico's Pontifications

6/25/2012

Aaron Walker SWATted

Filed under: General — Patterico @ 5:14 pm



No joke. It happened around 6 p.m. Eastern. I briefly talked with one of the police officers at the scene, who confirmed that someone had called saying he had shot his wife, and sent officers to Aaron’s address.

I just got off the phone with Aaron and he and his wife are a little shaken up but OK. According to Aaron, the officers had machine guns but did not point them at Aaron. They were quickly able to determine it was a hoax.

Aaron plans to post about it later.

UPDATE: Here is Aaron’s post about his SWATting. I found this passage interesting:

Let’s not forget the last time someone intentionally engaged in conduct that they knew could get me and my wife killed. In that case we know who the culprit was: Brett Kimberlin. He intentionally and gratuitously revealed my real name, home address, work and work address, in court documents and then told the police in a letter that he believed because of his actions that “there exists the very real probability that Mr. Walker could be subjected to serious harm or death now that his identity has been exposed.” And then he fought tooth and nail to keep that information from being sealed, and then fought to get them unsealed.

Put aside for a moment whether you believe that it actually endangered Aaron’s life for Kimberlin to reveal his name. Put aside whether you believe that Kimberlin was actually concerned for Aaron’s life when he wrote to police.

The fact is that Kimberlin took actions — publicizing Aaron’s private information — that a) were unnecessary and b) he claimed posed a danger to Aaron’s life. And Kimberlin continued to fight in court for the principle that this information remain public — the very circumstance that Kimberlin claimed posed a danger to Aaron’s life.

Kinda makes you think, doesn’t it?

UPDATE x2: Aaron warned his police department weeks ago that something like this might happen. Erick Erickson did the same thing. And their experiences were far less unpleasant than mine. I can’t guarantee that Aaron was treated better because of the advance warning, but it may well be the case.

I had actually considered warning my police before I was SWATted. But I worried about looking paranoid and conspiratorial. So I didn’t.

Any blogger or even commenter who has taken an aggressive position talking about this story — especially people who know they have come onto Brett Kimberlin’s radar screen — should consider talking to their local police about the possibility that they could be SWATted. It is no joke, and worrying about looking silly is a poor reason not to act.

Take it from me.

306 Responses to “Aaron Walker SWATted”

  1. When will the authorities put a stop to this? When will they make examples of the people who are behind this? It’s not like there aren’t any clues.

    Colonel Haiku (32d4f5)

  2. Had he briefed them in advance?

    Jenn (c695b0)

  3. The authorities will put a stop to it soon after it happens to a prominent liberal blogger or Democratic operative. Maybe I’m being too cynical, but I really don’t think the media will even properly cover it when a conservative blogger is killed; at best we’ll get somber “what do you expect when you write such offensive things and provoke people” coverage.

    Laura (d2da1c)

  4. Maybe the FBI will begin to take this seriously when someone is killed by mistake as a result of one of these “elaborate practical jokes” (as Politico refers to them).

    Action is needed NOW but barring that, perhaps with a change of power in Washington DOJ will begin doing their job again.

    Estragon (13e813)

  5. This is way out of hand and needs to be stopped now. Has any LE even interviewed Ron yet? Ridiculous.

    Noodles (3681c4)

  6. Jenn – sounds like it, if they didn’t point their guns at him.

    Mike (4d9b95)

  7. The cynic in me says that the authorities will care about it after one of the authorities is SWATed and at least wounded; they’ll actually start doing something when an authority is killed in a SWATing. What they do will be ineffective.

    The SWATtings will continue until …

    htom (412a17)

  8. Right after being sued in Federal court for Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress, Kimberlin appears to have chosen to defend himself by inflicting more Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress upon the plaintiff, Aaron W.

    In the mind of a true sociopath, I suppose it makes sense. But wow. What a stupid, dangerous, moronic, bombastic twit.

    Chants (67ba16)

  9. Wow this is out of control. How is the person(s) behind this NOT yet in custody? How could they slip detection for so long? I fear the longer this Person(s) are not apprehended the more embolden they will become. This is getting dangerous.

    Raquel (30e629)

  10. Sick f*cks.

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  11. When the BK crime family finally comes apart, its going to go down big with a lot of felonies. And I suspect that Kimberlin won’t be as popular in prison this time.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  12. Since this would be a case of “domestic terrorism” it probably falls on Big Sis’s plate. They are probably figuring out now how they can “use” this to further chip away at our civil liberties. You never let a good crisis go to waste.

    crosspatch (6adcc9)

  13. How can this not be tracked?

    Harrison (975823)

  14. Harrison – when those who are supposed to investigate are ordered not to do so, it continues …

    Alasdair (ca1ee4)

  15. What’s lane up to now?

    jovian (63f90e)

  16. do people on the left need to be swatted before MSM starts talking about this?

    Pierre (60c893)

  17. The swatting fits Kimberlins own description of M.O. –
    I’ve met smugglers who thought that some of my methods were too ballsy. I looked at it as just the opposite. If you do something right out in the open, as long as you don’t trip up and make a mistake, then nobody’s going to suspect it. — Brett Kimberlin, P.57

    Kimberlins motto – Make it obvious and no one will suspect you.

    jasond (0b7791)

  18. This is what evil does when it is exposed to the Light. It is as a gator in a death roll. it only knows it must act indiscrimanantly with all it has.

    I HATE that Aaron and his wife had to suffer this, but I LOVE that this particular demon has forever outed itself for all to see with clarity.

    Ed from SFV (68921e)

  19. Using the old ” Wouldn’t I be crazy to do this after the latest legal action” ploy, I guess.

    Gazzer (e461d3)

  20. Seriously? I don’t care if this is someone framing Kimberlin for what he’s already done or Kimberlin feeling emboldened enough by his string of legal defeats to do it himself, I just hope it provides evidence enough to put a stop to Kimberlin.

    Now, I’m not endorsing a scenario in which someone fakes the shooting of a wife and files a false police report from the faked phone number of the husband, but if someone’s faking a fake shooting of a wife and falsely files a false police report from the faked phone number of a real husband, I’m just saying … something

    SEK (74bb56)

  21. SEK, please don’t play games here.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  22. I’d be surprised to find out Kimberlin made the call. I would not be surprised it is one of his “friends” (in quotes because people like Kimberlin simply cannot, by definition, have friends).

    Poor Aaron. Though I certainly hope he wins his federal suit, Kimberlin’s track record of paying judgements shouldn’t have anyone holding their breath. Does the court with jurisdiction allow for indefinite renewal of judgements or is there a limit to length of enforceability and/or renewals?

    Joan of Snark (121c79)

  23. SEK, nobody knows what you just said.

    Brian (421728)

  24. This is the left wing of our country going over the fine line.
    How many more Mr. Speaker? How many more?

    mg (44de53)

  25. I said this: I just hope it provides evidence enough to put a stop to Kimberlin.

    I mean it. I’m less interested in who faked whose phone number to report the nonexistent crime, I just hope it leads back to Kimberlin and this all ends. I thought my feigned confusion would’ve made that clear.

    SEK (74bb56)

  26. Scott Eric Kaufman is a liar. Don’t believe for a minute that he gives a rotten shit for Aaron. He doesn’t. Kaufman wants conservatives dead and buried. Fuck that asshole and the bunghole LGM blog he rode in on.

    Anon (f33fc6)

  27. Bullshit, SEK. Go back to your LGM shithole, you fucker. We don’t need you nor want you to say a word about this, you damned fuck. GTFO.

    Anon (f33fc6)

  28. Maybe it wasn’t feigned.

    Brian (421728)

  29. They keep probing for the boundaries, and not finding any.

    Amphipolis (e01538)

  30. One amusing thing about this otherwise unamusing incident … obviously Kimberlin is really upset. Because this SWATting did not wait for the middle of the night when its most disruptive. Broad daylight indicates that the person doing this just couldn’t wait, they were so angry, so frustrated and so out of control.

    Maybe they made a more critical mistake in anonymizing this time.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  31. SEKs should stick to filing not-complaints against other professors. And not calling people racists in his passive aggressive douchey manner.

    AW – hope you are alright.

    JD (a9be9b)

  32. SEK — express your outrage to other lefties, who need to hear it.

    Or just keep striking the pose here, where it’s utterly non controversial.

    Rob Crawford (d8dade)

  33. SPQR — with any luck, his haste caused him to cut a few corners.

    Rob Crawford (d8dade)

  34. My thoughts and prayers for Aarons family.. That makes me sick to my stomach after all he has had to deal with.. On a good note I’m glad this new judge has allowed him to speak about these attocities..

    Alissa Dirks (a95d6f)

  35. Kimberlin will have an air-tight alibi.

    Kevin M (bf8ad7)

  36. Can someone get this police report sent to that retired judge from Maryland. Explain to him what real threats and dangerous activities are. Wake him up to the types of danger Aaron and his family are in due to their speaking the truth against madmen. It’s like Ayaan Hirsi Ali and the danger she faces by speaking the truth about the madmen that try to silence people in the name of religion. To the left, politics is their religion.

    My prayers are with the Walker family.

    NJRob (fe68e7)

  37. don’t swat me bro

    happyfeet (3c92a1)

  38. I think it would do all of us a lot of good if we could hear from a central FBI spokesperson—

    All they have to do is say “We are aware of the recent swattings, we have interviewed victims and are investigating possible culprits. We are determined to get to the bottom of this. If you have further information contact us at ….”

    Is that too much to ask for?

    Auntie Fraud (2f38aa)

  39. Kevin M.@6:28–

    No. A big mistake. Too obvious. Waaaay too obvious. I think the feebs will be smart enough to figure it out and will be able to guess right where to look this time.

    elissa (e06d3a)

  40. Never commented here before, but was tracking this story over at Aces and on twitter. What is it with those site meter popups asking for username and password that appear on all the sides that report about this?

    Ma Bell (305a93)

  41. Blogging is a new world. This is a chilling effect on free speech. It is a national issue. That the legal system is years behind on this only speaks to the fact someone needs to kick their ass. If a congressman had been swatted, different story. IMO

    scable (40a8c6)

  42. Re 39 — I just had it pop up for the first time, and I’ve been coming to this site for 5-6 years. Very strange.

    shipwreckedcrew (dd1bdb)

  43. Ma Bell, their aren’t any pop ups like that. I’d guess you have malware on your machine trying to phish your login out of you.

    scable (40a8c6)

  44. Nope, happened at Aces side too, lots of people getting it.

    Ma Bell (305a93)

  45. I’ve had it pop up 4x now and only at this at this site since this post went up.

    Dana (4eca6e)

  46. Shipwreckedcrew, see if you can right click the pop up and see a url associated with it. I could be wrong about the malware. I don’t get a pop up here though.

    scable (40a8c6)

  47. Sitemeter is down here to me. That could be why the pop ups. An oopsy there.

    scable (40a8c6)

  48. I will now stop expressing outrage at outrageous behavior on the part of other leftists and resume being a stock character in the political play you seem to prefer watching.

    SEK (74bb56)

  49. scable,

    Patterico doesn’t appear to (and as I recall, chose not to) have Sitemeter any longer 9at least on the front page. Is this something that requires any action on commenters’ part that are receiving the pop up?

    Dana (4eca6e)

  50. If you can paste Google Analytics code in the section of the blog , it probably works better than site meter.

    scable (40a8c6)

  51. Popehat is also asking if people are getting a pop-up sitemeter. Strange.

    shipwreckedcrew (dd1bdb)

  52. Dana, when i get un expected pop ups, I close them out by clicking the X or turning my machine off. In this case it looks to me like site meter has an issue at their server. It could be something really weird like a broken sitemeter session from another site. And when you move on the broken transaction keeps trying to fix itself. In that case restarting the browser should fix it.

    scable (40a8c6)

  53. Ooh. Ooh. I think you guys should just keep folding in on yourselves and denying the sympathy of people like SEK so that you can say that this is a non-partisan issue without actually believing it. Makes it easier to hate the D.

    Or you could just do the decent thing and accept the solidarity from the other side in good faith.

    Leviticus (102f62)

  54. I’d restart my browser or start a new one. If that didn’t fix it I’d reboot my pc. If I still had issues, I’d check the sitemeter site for a notice and also scan my PC for malware.

    scable (40a8c6)

  55. Running Mac and on Safari. All the people that reported it are on different system, some have done what scale said and it is still happening. It is not malware on my machine.

    Ma Bell (305a93)

  56. Lots of people with the sitemeter issue.

    http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/967605-tracking-sitemeter-c

    It will probably fix itself within the hour. tech assisted.

    scable (40a8c6)

  57. Yah Ma Bell, sorry to be an alarmist. Doesn’t look like malware. Unless it is server side. IF the case there it will make the news.

    scable (40a8c6)

  58. It’s happening over at Gateway Pundit, as well.

    Darth Venomous (c8614a)

  59. nicely said Mr. Leviticus

    not that we want people to become promiscuous D-lovers or anything but yeah there’s some room to dial the enmity back a bit I think

    happyfeet (3c92a1)

  60. I had a pop-up like that at SiteMeter on my phone.

    Judging from all the comments, it sounds like a SiteMeter issue.

    Patterico (feda6b)

  61. looks like sitemeter doesn’t own a twitter account.

    scable (40a8c6)

  62. I have been lurking here forever and really love reading this blog. I just have one question: why in the (redacted) is Little Green Footballs since on the blogroll?

    Ma Bell (305a93)

  63. I am profoundly relieved that Aaron and his wife are all right.

    This has got to stop. Surely, there’s enough of a pattern now that someone could do something about this?

    Dianna (f12db5)

  64. oops meant “still on the blogroll”

    Ma Bell (305a93)

  65. Ma Bell, Charles probably has Patterico.com on a programmed referal. He use to redirect links from DoD to a malware site. Probably wisest to take it off and link to Diary of Daedulus for the latest LGF news. http://diaryofdaedalus.com/

    No one should visit LGF unless they are anonymizing their activity in some manner.

    scable (40a8c6)

  66. triangulation will likely win here.

    chilly (28e7f8)

  67. SEK is suggesting that because AW is so scared of Brett Kimberlin, AW would engineer his own SWATting, in order to get BK in trouble. (Or perhaps, he is suggesting, some other right-winger set up AW for that purpose.)

    Applying classic concern troll technique, SEK expresses “hope” that it turns out BK is really behind this, and that AW is innocent. He “hopes” is a straightforward retaliatory attack on AW and not a false flag attack by the right.

    SEK would say such a thing, not because he thinks it’s true, but just to float the odious possibility.

    He does so because he is a man without honor or principles. He’s just stopping in to enjoy the show and do a little trolling.

    At least, that is my interpretation of his comment. It was not written to be easily understood.

    Daryl Herbert (1e4392)

  68. House burglars repeat their crimes at the same house. Aaron needs to be prepared through law enforcement for more of this.

    scable (40a8c6)

  69. I have been lurking here forever and really love reading this blog. I just have one question: why in the (redacted) is Little Green Footballs since on the blogroll?

    Oversight. Will fix now.

    Patterico (feda6b)

  70. Daryl Herbert, I agree Aaron has plenty of character. BK and ilk have zero.

    scable (40a8c6)

  71. Comment by scable — 6/25/2012 @ 7:05 pm

    Oh, I don’t go there anymore. I was banned long ago for calling him a (redacted). Was just wondering.

    Ma Bell (305a93)

  72. Weird, I just took it off, and it’s still showing there.

    Give it an hour.

    Patterico (feda6b)

  73. Or you could just do the decent thing and accept the solidarity from the other side in good faith.

    The problem, Leviticus, is that SEK’s “expression of solidarity” was so convoluted that it smacked of insincerity and lack of good faith.

    If someone says, “I communicated it just fine, you people just can’t listen,” then that person doesn’t understand the purpose of communication.

    Chuck Bartowski (775c14)

  74. That this has happened, again, to AW – who’s already been wronged by this stain of an episode more than most – is… utterly shameful. So utterly shameful that it just might prompt genuine sympathy from people who disagree with you about… some political stuff. Take it as an opportunity to build a f*cking bridge.

    Leviticus (102f62)

  75. See, I should stick to lurking. I always start trouble.

    Ma Bell (305a93)

  76. Yeeesh, folks. What SEK is saying is perfectly clear as long as you recall that he views himself as clever and an intellectual. In fact, he is attempting to create a preemptive defense for the BK creature by saying, in effect: See, I put a comment up on Patterico’s site saying that it doesn’t matter if this was a SWAT-ting or a false-flag SWAT-ting as long as BK gets in trouble. This will then be used to conclude that BK could not possibly be connected to this particular instance.

    Because, you know, it would be dumb and over-reactionary.

    And this poisonous beast has never been known to be dumb and over-reactionary.

    Like by bombing stuff to cover up a possible murder.

    So SEK is going to think this sort of disinformation tactic will fly, because he’s so smart. No one could possibly see an ulterior motive in his countenancing of an horrendous crime.

    Haven’t noticed him around here for a while (and always regarded him as tool-ish) but this is pretty damn low.

    SPQR had this clown nailed from the get-go.

    Uncle Pinky (ab5636)

  77. Chuck,

    How about when he said “I mean it.” Was that clear enough?

    Leviticus (102f62)

  78. Or you could just do the decent thing and accept the solidarity from the other side in good faith.

    I do, for one. At least for those that are IN solidarity. Those few that say “Good! Again!”, not so much.

    But I am disappointed in the lack of action by the federal authorities. This is now a serial interstate violent crime and should be treated as such. Attacking free speech this way is pretty much on a par with burning churches.

    Kevin M (bf8ad7)

  79. Ha ha Ma Bell, it’s always good when the telephone company disconnects LGF. IMO they had a bit of a hand in this rauhauser business but saw it going south and backed out. all via the twitter gulag and DM’s

    scable (40a8c6)

  80. Aah. Always nice to cross-post with a good example of paranoid confirmation bias. For the record, and all.

    Leviticus (102f62)

  81. #80 directed at Uncle Pinky.

    Leviticus (102f62)

  82. SEK,

    I didn’t wholly understand your comments but I sense sincerity behind them.

    If you’re looking for a way to help, please go to your friends in the liberal blogosphere and urge them that this is not a left-right issue. It’s a free speech issue.

    To some conservatives, it’s starting to LOOK like a left-right issue, because 87 Republican Congressman and one Republican Senator signed letters supporting us SWATting victims, while Democrats penned/signed nothing. And obviously the conservative blogosphere has been far more full-throated about supporting us.

    You could try to help change that. I’d love it if you tried.

    Patterico (feda6b)

  83. The BK swatting is the type of thing that needs to be fully addressed in a civilized society or it will get out of hand. Everyone will be a lawyer then just so one can go shopping in safety.

    scable (40a8c6)

  84. Kimberlin will have an air-tight alibi.

    Comment by Kevin M

    Provided by Neal Rauhauser and BK’s wife?

    Dianna (f12db5)

  85. F*ck “Democrats.” Build connections with good people, wherever you can. It’s the only way we’re going anywhere but down.

    Leviticus (102f62)

  86. SEK is suggesting that because AW is so scared of Brett Kimberlin, AW would engineer his own SWATting, in order to get BK in trouble.

    No, what I was saying was that it doesn’t matter whether BK was using the assumption that no one would believe he’d SWAT AW the day after AW was cleared as a reason to SWAT AW or whether someone engineered the SWAT to go down when it did so BK could deny involvement in it … because what matters is that either way it went down, there’s now more evidence of the sort needed to stop BK.

    As a general rule, when someone expresses sympathy, he or she should be read with charity.

    SEK (74bb56)

  87. Patterico,

    I’ll do what I can. I’m still a few weeks behind on the story — it corresponded with the end of the quarter, so I wasn’t able to follow it in real time — but of course I’ll chime in, and ask others to, as soon as I catch up.

    SEK (74bb56)

  88. Leviticus–

    IMHO, people without friends or even contacts on the other sides of issues are usually not worth knowing.

    Kevin M (bf8ad7)

  89. I got the sitemeter popup, and I just x’d it. Also, about 5 pm central I got a strange call on my answering machine by someone who can spoof a caller ID box.

    PCD (66bba0)

  90. Provided by Neal Rauhauser and BK’s wife

    The wife maybe. Neal had a phone call to make.

    Kevin M (bf8ad7)

  91. As a general rule, when someone expresses sympathy, he or she should be read with charity.

    I agree. I also think when someone expresses sympathy, he or she should express themselves with clarity – especially in such a situation as this. It was a bit confusing, your comment.

    I’m glad you will be able to talk to others about this that wouldn’t normally frequent a site like this and hopefully open their eyes to the possibility of both sides of the aisle being victimized in this way if they speak out.

    Dana (4eca6e)

  92. They’re worth knowing. They’re worth dialogue and respect, just like anyone. I happen to think they’re dangerous, so long as they hold such insular beliefs. But you still gotta talk. Always gotta be willing to talk.

    Leviticus (102f62)

  93. I got a strange call on my answering machine by someone who can spoof a caller ID box.

    Cold callers do that all the time. It’s pretty simple tech.

    Kevin M (bf8ad7)

  94. They’re worth knowing. They’re worth dialogue and respect, just like anyone. I happen to think they’re dangerous, so long as they hold such insular beliefs. But you still gotta talk. Always gotta be willing to talk.

    OK.

    …usually not worth knowing very interesting.

    Kevin M (bf8ad7)

  95. I am prepared for home invaders.

    PCD (66bba0)

  96. Comment by Leviticus — 6/25/2012 @ 6:52 pm

    I’d like to think that, said in my best Vizzini from The Princess Bride, but the fellow has form on this sort of thing.

    Normally he is something to be ignored. After the meretricious claims of BK that the comment section of a blog is fair game for “peace orders” and such, I tend to view these sorts of things as enemy action. Possibly things that will get in front of a feeble-minded judge.

    The more I think about it, “I’d like to think that” should be Gary Busey as Mr. Joshua.

    The obfuscatory mannerisms virtually scream off the screen in an way that Admiral Akbar would recognize quite well.

    Uncle Pinky (ab5636)

  97. Just for the record, that pop up is happening or was a half hour ago at Just One Minute (JOM), Tom Maguire’s blog.

    Sara (e8f5d4)

  98. I’m vested in disagreeing. Frustrating, is the word I would use.

    Leviticus (102f62)

  99. “The obfuscatory mannerisms virtually scream off the screen in an way that Admiral Akbar would recognize quite well.”

    – Uncle Pinky

    Think of the people that have a hard time saying “I’m sorry.” A little hemming and hawing is human.

    Leviticus (102f62)

  100. BTW, not everyone is worth dialogue and respect. Some people are just evil mofos. Dialogue with them just gives them more ways to mess with you. Respect, perhaps, but from a distance — the same kind of respect you give a rattlesnake.

    Kevin M (bf8ad7)

  101. SEK, I would welcome correction should I misunderstand your intended comment.

    SPQR (2d887a)

  102. But to repeat something I said a bit ago:

    How is this different from church burning? Why are these violent serial attacks on free speech not worth the FBI’s time?

    Kevin M (bf8ad7)

  103. I’m willing to take SEK at his word but I admit I’m curious about one thing: SEK, you’re obviously willing to speak up about this topic in the comments at this conservative blog, because you did so above.

    And yet you aren’t willing to speak up at your own or other liberal websites because you’re “still a few weeks behind on the story” and you need to “catch up” before you can comment. Doesn’t that seem a little inconsistent to you?

    DRJ (a83b8b)

  104. Patterico, I see you’re deleting my comments. Great, just get sucked in by the lies of Scott Eric Kaufman. And I thought you weren’t that stupid. These people will destroy you. They are destroying, the left that is. Get it.

    Anon (f33fc6)

  105. Am I the only one who thinks that the police need to reevaluate their procedures? If these calls appear to them as , then they need to take a much more skeptical approach to untraceable calls. And if, in fact, the 911 info on these calls is somehow being hacked so that they look like they come from the house in question, they need to revisit the whole question of 911 info. I suppose there are other possibilities, but my fundamental point is this;

    Commenters keep saying, “Someone is going to get hurt or killed”. Well, if your SOP is going to get someone hurt or killed, you need to rethink your SOP. If 911 info is unreliable, the police need to find a way to make it reliable, or else stop relying on it.

    Jerome (6249ee)

  106. I wonder if it’s worth doing a post on the FBI’s response to my case, and what has and has not been done.

    In brief: they did take the case and they did issue subpoenas. But it took them seven bloody months to get phone records; their excuse was the phone company lost the subpoena; they refused to get a subpoena for BlogTalkRadio phone records of a call obviously made by the SWATter; and they told me things on the phone that were not true — most notably that they don’t recognize voice recognition technology, which I later researched and found that they most assuredly do.

    So yeah, they “investigated” — but they also gave me the impression that they didn’t care about my case, and just wanted me to go away.

    The Dallas FBI was VERY different. They radiated competence and concern. If they told me they investigated and couldn’t solve the case, I would have a greater feeling of confidence that someone tried.

    The more this happens, and the more public pressure there is for an arrest, the greater the chance that they’ll actually try to do something. That’s my theory, anyway — which is why I believe that it is very stupid for the SWATter to keep doing this.

    Patterico (feda6b)

  107. Kevin M,

    Aaron’s attorney sees a similar theme.

    DRJ (a83b8b)

  108. “If these calls appear to them as untraceable,…” I guess your comment app doesn’t like angle brackets.

    Jerome (6249ee)

  109. Well, actually, I see you’re not deleting my comments, sorry. But still getting sucked in by the likes of Scott Eric Kaufman. He doesn’t care. Indeed, he’s the kind of guy that would SWAT CONSERVATIVES himself. There may be leftists who are horrified by this, but it’s not him.

    Anon (f33fc6)

  110. These aren’t 911 calls, folks. They go to the police business line. I have no idea if the number is spoofed or not. Nobody ever told me.

    There is a lot of stuff that gets repeated about this story that is based on assumptions or bad information.

    Patterico (feda6b)

  111. How about when he said “I mean it.” Was that clear enough?

    That was clear enough, but his first post here was anything but clear. I’m not a stupid man by any stretch of the imagination, and I had a hard time deciphering what he was getting at. When someone deliberately obfuscates his message, it’s a natural reaction to suspect his forthrightness.

    I’ll take him at his word now, but he needs to be less condescending and more sincere. And I hope this ends the discussion.

    Chuck Bartowski (775c14)

  112. As a general rule, when someone expresses sympathy, he or she should be read with charity.

    As a general rule, a person’s statements should be taken in light of their past behavior.

    Rob Crawford (d8dade)

  113. People change their minds, Anon.

    DRJ (a83b8b)

  114. I’ll take him at his word now, but he needs to be less condescending and more sincere.

    That would be something new.

    Rob Crawford (d8dade)

  115. I find it difficult to believe you can’t find some good hackers to assist in chasing these SOBs down, doing the cyber equivalent of being PIs.

    It’s just wrong, and that should offend their sense of justice.

    IGotBupkis, Purveyor of Fine Cynicism Since 2008 (aacc3d)

  116. What I want to know is when the FBI is going to have a press conference to let us know there is an investigation. I don’t need to know details. But there better be a very well thought out investigation right now. The victims deserve to know.

    It’s true that Republican congressmen have done far more on this issue than democrats, and that feels partisan and makes me worry. Democrats can and should speak out against this.

    The time of the swatting is very strange, isn’t it? Almost as though someone needed an alibi but couldn’t make a good enough one at midnight. But this is sheer speculation.

    All I know is that if the swatter isn’t caught, this is going to continue and someone will get hurt or killed. Could be someone’s kid. Could be someone’s wife. Could be someone’s dog. Those who have stood up to the bad guys in this case have shown true courage. Those who have played games with this issue have shown shamelessness.

    Remember that Aaron got into this mess to defend the free speech of someone he disagreed with greatly. All this trouble, for someone’s freedom to speak, and I know Aaron would do it again if he had to.

    If you have a democrat congressman, please ask them to urge the DOJ to solve this case. If you are a democrat or liberal blogger, please learn about this story so you can spread the word. This is an attack on everyone’s free speech.

    Dustin (330eed)

  117. Comment by Leviticus — 6/25/2012 @ 7:15 pm

    I honestly do hope it is only paranoia on my part. That I can deal with. Perhaps I am too suspicious. I really do hope you are correct, for this is not a Team Red/Team Blue matter. This is an assault on the very concept of free speech.

    It is entirely possible that my distaste for SEK’s past actions have led me to be overly reactionary in response. Coloured with the emotion that I feel when the law is intentionally subverted to benefit the perp at the expense of he victim, and the proven dirty trick tactics of the bad fellows involved, my generous use of invective may have led me to conclusions that are not supported or supportable.

    Please forgive me. Not for my suspicions, but for airing them without concrete evidence. And if the BK team does assert that SEK’s oddly written comment as evidence of a conspiracy to bring BK down, I’ll gladly point to your critique as evidence of the level-headedness of those who comment here.

    Uncle Pinky (ab5636)

  118. How can this not be tracked?

    It’s not so much that as that authorities aren’t recognizing when the warning signs are there and are taking them all too seriously. It’s like the White House getting a bomb threat from the e-mail address “JustTalkinBoutShaft@yahoo.com”. Yeah, you have to pay attention to it and investigate it, but you presume it’s not a serious threat until evidence suggests otherwise.

    IGotBupkis, Purveyor of Fine Cynicism Since 2008 (aacc3d)

  119. Anon, it’s the filter here. It happens to me and most other folks.

    How is this different from church burning? Why are these violent serial attacks on free speech not worth the FBI’s time?

    Comment by Kevin M

    Yep. This is no minor matter.

    Dustin (330eed)

  120. Uncle Pinky,

    I don’t know too much about SEK. I’m advocating the benefit of the doubt.

    Leviticus (102f62)

  121. I doubt Brett Kimberlin made the call today.

    I’m not even confident that Mr. Kimberlin directed this attack today.

    The whole point of Doxing Aaron (getting his name, address, photo, and putting such information on the web) is so BK could let it be known to his “friends” that Aaron was a target, and how to attack Aaron, so that BK’s “friends” could do it on their own time.

    I am sensing that the Brett Kimberlin terrorist network is a loose network (with the exception of Neal, who might even be living in BK’s house), and some of the people involved don’t even care about Mr. Kimberlin. They just want to attack Breitbart’s crew, and the bloggers who reported Weinergate, and anyone associated with them.

    Brett Kimberlin didn’t need to pull the trigger today. He set this in motion a long time ago. He was hoping a Muslim terrorist would chop off Aaron’s head. He’s hoping a left-wing terrorist will harass Aaron and maybe get him killed. Mr. Kimberlin has many evil designs. We will see if he can be held accountable for them.

    Daryl Herbert (1e4392)

  122. Post an official report for at least one of these incidents, please.

    Dumb folks call the emergency number over unsatisfactory sandwiches. All North American police departments know not to send SWAT to bunk calls.

    I haven’t a clue who Aaron Walker is, and the OP offers no links. This isn’t “preaching to the choir”, but preaching to a certain portion of the choir–a very credulous portion.

    The choir includes anyone drawn to the 11,000 Google hits for Kimberlin’s name w/SWAT (various spellings + swat). P and others have been banging the “Speedway Bomber” drum for a fortnight just to get in the 5-digit Google range?

    WHERE’S THE INCIDENT REPORT?

    x_ile (3285d7)

  123. IF he was sincere, that would be a nice gesture on his behalf. Kind of like boldly proclaiming your anti-puppy mutilation position at an ASPCA comment thread. And in order to believe he is sincere you have to ignore his history of mendacity.

    JD (a9be9b)

  124. Aaron has been retaliatory SWATted, his wife is in a justifiable panic, and people here are arguing about SEK? Step back for a second. OK, now–Does anyone see anything wrong with this picture? Do people see any malfunction with respect to these commenting priorities?

    elissa (e06d3a)

  125. Xile is a liar. Want a police report? Request one yourself from the appropriate jurisdiction. This no report BS is an occupyrebellion/Rauhauser meme/lie.

    JD (a9be9b)

  126. “And in order to believe he is sincere you have to ignore his history of mendacity.”

    – JD

    Or

    Leviticus (102f62)

  127. Uh, Fox News confirmed that I was SWATted.

    Stack posted his report.

    We have heard the recordings from the first three of the four SWATtings.

    It’s lovely that people want to speculate about whether the same person did today’s. I will agree that until we hear the recording we don’t know for SURE. But I also would not go out and actually state an opinion, without having first heard the recording. I hope everyone agrees.

    Patterico (feda6b)

  128. Faux Nooz doesn’t count, Patterico.

    JD (a9be9b)

  129. SEK, I would welcome correction should I misunderstand your intended comment.

    SPQR, You’re welcome to it. I was being deliberately conspiratorial in order to mock BK et al for being deliberately conspiratorial.

    SEK, you’re obviously willing to speak up about this topic in the comments at this conservative blog, because you did so above.
    And yet you aren’t willing to speak up at your own or other liberal websites because you’re “still a few weeks behind on the story” and you need to “catch up” before you can comment. Doesn’t that seem a little inconsistent to you?

    DRJ, not in the least. I’ve read enough, here, to form an opinion and feel comfortable expressing it. However, as you well know, taking that opinion and formulating it into in a convincing argument that you know is going to be made in a hostile environment takes more careful study. I need to figure out the ins and outs of this, find the most convincing way to present it to an audience disinclined to believe it, etc. That takes work — which, as I noted in my comment to Patterico, I now have time to do, what with the quarter being over. I still have some of my own legal matters to attend to, but once those clear — which should be tomorrow at the latest — I’ll devote my attentions to this.

    Also, that’s the last comment I’ll contribute to this thread, because it’s not, nor should it be, about me. I’m sorry my expression of solidarity made it veer off course.

    SEK (74bb56)

  130. wtf is a machine gun?

    SteveG (831214)

  131. I’ve never thought much of the FBI for a host of reasons that include some encounters with them in past years. Still don’t think much of them.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  132. wtf is a machine gun?

    Comment by SteveG

    Well, I somehow doubt it was an M60. But I know what he means – a gun that clearly is meant to fire many times, promiscuously.

    Somehow, it doesn’t surprise me that Aaron said “machine guns” and didn’t carefully say, “It was a short-stocked AR-15 with an extended magazine” or whatever the latest in cool automatic weaponry is.

    Dianna (f12db5)

  133. x_ile, your ignorance is not an argument. Feigned or real.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  134. SEK, you talk much and say little. A survival mechanism for people whose vocabulary is a substitute for intelligence, education or even erudition.

    nk (875f57)

  135. Faux Nooz doesn’t count, Patterico.

    You’re backwards commie. It’s the ONLY one that counts.

    SilverDeth (42c8b1)

  136. Thanks for the support, SEK. Please read more about this and blog about this story to your audience.

    —-

    wtf is a machine gun?

    Comment by SteveG

    My background is such that I don’t call anything smaller than a PAC 75 a gun, but a lot of civilians would call an MP5 or M4 a machine gun even though that’s like calling a magazine a clip.

    What they mean is a weapon that is fully automatic. It’s a legal term rather than a military nomenclature.

    I’m sure the police didn’t show up with an M2 Browning, but I’m also sure they showed up with deadly weapons no one would want their innocent family subjected to just because some psycho on the internet wants to shut down free speech.

    Dustin (330eed)

  137. SilverDeth, its embarrassing when fresh meat comes in and does not spot longstanding jokes among the locals. Its what marks you as a tourist. Well, that and the loud shirt and shorts.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  138. UPDATE: Here is Aaron’s post about his SWATting. I found this passage interesting:

    Let’s not forget the last time someone intentionally engaged in conduct that they knew could get me and my wife killed. In that case we know who the culprit was: Brett Kimberlin. He intentionally and gratuitously revealed my real name, home address, work and work address, in court documents and then told the police in a letter that he believed because of his actions that “there exists the very real probability that Mr. Walker could be subjected to serious harm or death now that his identity has been exposed.” And then he fought tooth and nail to keep that information from being sealed, and then fought to get them unsealed.

    Put aside for a moment whether you believe that it actually endangered Aaron’s life for Kimberlin to reveal his name. Put aside whether you believe that Kimberlin was actually concerned for Aaron’s life when he wrote to police.

    The fact is that Kimberlin took actions — publicizing Aaron’s private information — that a) were unnecessary and b) he claimed posed a danger to Aaron’s life. And Kimberlin continued to fight in court for the principle that this information remain public — the very circumstance that Kimberlin claimed posed a danger to Aaron’s life.

    Kinda makes you think, doesn’t it?

    Patterico (feda6b)

  139. Just read AW’s swatting account at Allergic to Bull. Sounds like his cops were much more circumspect than Patterico’s. It almost sounds like they had been warned to expect it.

    If they were that professional, God bless them.

    Virtual Insanity (bbc83d)

  140. Kinda makes you think, doesn’t it?

    Comment by Patterico

    Yes.

    But I know I’m biased as all get-out on this one, too.

    Dianna (f12db5)

  141. I will now stop expressing outrage at outrageous behavior on the part of other leftists and resume being a stock character in the political play you seem to prefer watching.
    Comment by SEK — 6/25/2012 @ 6:46 pm

    — No worries, seeing how your previous posts were just as “stock” as this one.

    Icy (655c41)

  142. UPDATE x2: Aaron warned his police department weeks ago that something like this might happen. Erick Erickson did the same thing. And their experiences were far less unpleasant than mine. I can’t guarantee that Aaron was treated better because of the advance warning, but it may well be the case.

    I had actually considered warning my police before I was SWATted. But I worried about looking paranoid and conspiratorial. So I didn’t.

    Any blogger or even commenter who has taken an aggressive position talking about this story — especially people who know they have come onto Brett Kimberlin’s radar screen — should consider talking to their local police about the possibility that they could be SWATted. It is no joke, and worrying about looking silly is a poor reason not to act.

    Take it from me.

    Patterico (feda6b)

  143. I always wondered if the Manchurian Candidate McLame would make an appearance. I think he is a victim of Stockholm Syndrome, too.,

    Natalie_Wisconsin (0c467f)

  144. I just saw the update.

    Aaron wrote a great post. That’s impressive, considering the day he’s had.

    One of the officers tonight asked me why I keep talking about Brett Kimberlin if it brings on this kind of trouble. It’s because Freedom of Expression is something I don’t just believe in, but I defend. And this threat to Freedom of Expression needs to be defeated. It is that simple.

    Thanks, Aaron.

    Dustin (330eed)

  145. SEK, if your friends balk at the idea that vexatious litigation and swats are not proper tools to win personal OR political arguments, there is no use “catching up”; if that’s not enough nothing ever will be.

    Sarahw (085138)

  146. SEK,

    SarahW has a point.

    Why exactly is this such a tough sell for some lefties? (Not all; I note some of them were very decent to me.)

    Patterico (feda6b)

  147. I see Aaron properly identifies the guns as M4s.

    Thank you, Aaron. Now people who got upset with you for being a little imprecise in tweets will calm down.

    Dianna (f12db5)

  148. One of the officers tonight asked me why I keep talking about Brett Kimberlin if it brings on this kind of trouble.

    Mike Stack’s police asked him why he doesn’t just get off the Internet.

    I won’t name them, but there are clearly people in my orbit — not my close friends or family, but people in my orbit, and we’ll leave it at that — who have a similar attitude.

    Aaron’s police are now asking the same thing.

    Soft-headed judges in Maryland repeatedly asked Aaron and Seth Allen why they didn’t leave poor Brett Kimberlin alone.

    Isn’t it wonderful when law enforcement responds to a thuggish attempt to squash your freedom of speech by asking you why you don’t just shut up already?

    Patterico (feda6b)

  149. Ooh. Ooh. I think you guys should just keep folding in on yourselves and denying the sympathy of people like SEK so that you can say that this is a non-partisan issue without actually believing it. Makes it easier to hate the D.
    Or you could just do the decent thing and accept the solidarity from the other side in good faith.
    Comment by Leviticus — 6/25/2012 @ 6:52 pm

    — Leviticus hearts him some SEK? Perhaps Levi should revisit some of the latter’s mendacious twatwafflery from back when he used to comment here on a more regular basis.

    Icy (655c41)

  150. For those who haven’t been following—

    Kimberlin wanted Aaron’s address out while he [Kimberlin] shouted about Aarons “hate blog” “Everybody Draw Mohammed”. The obvious intent being to intimidate him to fear Muslim extremist retaliation or to actually incite such retaliation.

    The blog, of course, was not a hate blog but a gesture to support the free speech rights of South Park and to encourage people not to be intimidated and to speak freely.

    Aaron is a good and brave man.

    Auntie Fraud (2f38aa)

  151. Everyone should go to Aaron’s and leave words of support, even if his comment section is more of a hassle to drop comments there.

    If anyone’s earned a strong commenter following, it’s Aaron.

    Dustin (330eed)

  152. Ooh. Ooh. I think you guys should just keep folding in on yourselves and denying the sympathy of people like SEK so that you can say that this is a non-partisan issue without actually believing it. Makes it easier to hate the D.
    Or you could just do the decent thing and accept the solidarity from the other side in good faith.

    Not everyone here believes this is a non-partisan issue, Leviticus.

    If you have identified specific people being hypocritical about this, feel free to call them out by name.

    Otherwise, understand that not everyone signs off on that idea.

    The fewer people on the left call out Kimberlin et al., the easier it is for conservatives to be cynical about this. The responsibility runs both ways. Some want to blame conservatives for supposedly making this a partisan issue, but the silence of the left contributes to it as well.

    Luckily, not everyone on the left has been silent, and SEK says he will speak out on this himself. I look forward to that. And it will be interesting to see how he is received.

    I’d like to think he’ll be received well. Because honestly? When you understand what’s going on, it is NOT a partisan issue.

    Patterico (feda6b)

  153. it just might prompt genuine sympathy from people who disagree with you about… some political stuff. Take it as an opportunity to build a f*cking bridge.
    Comment by Leviticus — 6/25/2012 @ 7:11 pm

    — I don’t have enough money to build a bridge, but I can build a short pier; and when it’s finished I will immediately invite SEK to take a long walk . . .

    Icy (655c41)

  154. When you understand what’s going on, it is NOT a partisan issue.

    At least in my opinion.

    But I can see why some might disagree . . .

    Patterico (feda6b)

  155. The blog, of course, was not a hate blog but a gesture to support the free speech rights of South Park and to encourage people not to be intimidated and to speak freely.

    Aaron is a good and brave man.

    Comment by Auntie Fraud

    That’s right. A man threatened to murder the South Park creators, so many decided they would protest terrorism. That man was recently sentenced to 11.5 years in prison.

    There were posts at that blog about women’s rights, freedom of speech, and how those who shut up in response to terrorism are making terrorism work.

    Patterico’s recent comment hints at some who probably think they are helping, but in reality they are helping terrorism work. If everyone Kimberlin and pals behave this way towards goes silent, then we’re going to see MORE of this kind of thing because it obviously works.

    That’s why I thank Aaron and Patterico. They are making sure people see that these tactics do not work. That way, we all can speak freely.

    I don’t want terrorism to work, so whoever out there is thinking ‘why not let them win this round?’: reconsider what you’re really asking for.

    Dustin (330eed)

  156. @SPQR, My ignorance is real. I haven’t seen anything from an actual PD confirming that SWAT was sent anywhere. Was an incident report linked here in the comments?

    @JD, pardon my Alinskying by asking for anything to confirm a two-week circle-j. I haven’t heard back from the locals.

    x_ile (3285d7)

  157. I had some police contact recently due to some of the volunteer work I do that had an event recently whereom I was seated next to the Sheriff/Chief of Police who is CLEO to my area of residence.

    Discussed it with him. I think if its tried against me, there might be a different reaction. Hopefully we won’t find out.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  158. I’ve sent hotlinks to several of the SWATting stories to my daughter–she’s support staff at our local PD. The cops and detectives that have seen the stories are unanimously furious about them.

    I’m curious as to the apparent lack of interest on the part of, now, at least three police departments and one FBI office. Or, is it just that things turn slowly?

    Virtual Insanity (bbc83d)

  159. x_ile, you know that trolls like you are a dime a dozen.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  160. “If you have identified specific people being hypocritical about this, feel free to call them out by name.”

    – Patterico

    I’m not going to punctuate an appeal to solidarity by calling people out by name, Pat. The fact that you acknowledge that not everyone here believes this is a non-partisan issue is justification enough for the comments I’ve left on this thread.

    Leviticus (102f62)

  161. SEK,

    I hope you can figure out the best way to present this to people who are “disinclined to believe.” Is the problem that you’re not sure your audience will believe someone was really SWATted? Or is the problem that your audience won’t care because the people who were SWATted are conservative?

    DRJ (a83b8b)

  162. I hope you can figure out the best way to present this to people who are “disinclined to believe.” Is the problem that you’re not sure your audience will believe someone was really SWATted? Or is the problem that your audience won’t care because the people who were SWATted are conservative?

    Now those are damned good questions.

    I would like SEK to respond. In fact, I am emailing him to invite him to respond.

    Patterico (feda6b)

  163. _______________________________________________

    What’s most surprising about this is that, in spite of the early 21st century being the age of non-privacy — in which technology tends to allow for immediate identification — that the trickery of swatting can occur.

    Also, when some police departments are overwhelmed with investigations, and they might not respond to truly serious, actual crimes as quickly as they should, it’s somewhat ridiculous when they or certain other police stations aren’t more guarded in fielding reports of crimes, particularly if they’ve been given the names of specific people who may be a victim of a hoax. So if Aaron’s name and address were logged into the system as a forewarning, why couldn’t that same system have been configured to raise a red flag?

    Mark (76abc3)

  164. I agree this isn’t a partisan issue, and I believe people of every political persuasion should be concerned when anyone is targeted with litigation, criminal charges, and SWATting because of his or her speech.

    But the response has been partisan. Conservatives have shown far more concern about the people and the issues than liberals.

    DRJ (a83b8b)

  165. I’m not going to punctuate an appeal to solidarity by calling people out by name, Pat. The fact that you acknowledge that not everyone here believes this is a non-partisan issue is justification enough for the comments I’ve left on this thread.

    I was simply pointing out that it is not a very convincing accusation of hypocrisy to say:

    so that you can say that this is a non-partisan issue without actually believing it.

    If the same people don’t say both those things.

    Patterico (feda6b)

  166. @Patterico, are there any links to official reports?

    x_ile (3285d7)

  167. I agree this isn’t a partisan issue, and I believe people of every political persuasion should be concerned when anyone is targeted with litigation, criminal charges, and SWATting because of his or her speech.

    But the response has been partisan. Conservatives have shown far more concern about the people and the issues than liberals.

    That is true. And very well put.

    Patterico (feda6b)

  168. @Patterico, are there any links to official reports?

    I’m not sure why I should bother giving them to you. You’ll just find some reason to question them, or complain that only one incident has resulted in a published report.

    Why spin my wheels to convince someone who refuses to be convinced?

    Patterico (feda6b)

  169. If I could find my report, I’d scan it and publish it, with appropriate redactions. But I don’t really care that much.

    It’s actually instructive to watch and see who decides to doubt me because I didn’t publish a report.

    Patterico (feda6b)

  170. I haven’t seen anything from an actual PD confirming that SWAT was sent anywhere.

    That’s because there were no actual SWAT teams dispatched. Just a bunch of armed policemen, who in close quarters would be just as lethal as a SWAT team.

    “SWATting” has become a common parlance for the act.

    Chuck Bartowski (775c14)

  171. x_lie needs to find a new hobby. Maybe he can go fluff Neal Rauhauser’s . . . pillows.

    Icy (655c41)

  172. And FWIW, I will believe SEK when instead of hanging out here telling stories about what he’s “gonna do when I find the time” he actually gets out there and does it.

    Icy (655c41)

  173. Good. Congresswoman Sandy Adams (R) FL commenting on this latest swatting.

    With the increase in these dangerous incidents, it is clear that our citizens and law enforcement officers are at risk. I hope Attorney General Holder seriously considers the letter my colleagues and I sent him asking the Department of Justice to investigate these incidents and prosecute the perpetrators to the fullest extent of the law.

    Dana (4eca6e)

  174. x_ile,

    Given how many major media operations have confirmed this story, and that it entails major law enforcement organizations, isn’t your skepticism about the existence of the issue quite strange?

    It’s also a helpful illustration of the constant bad faith (yes, I’m calling you liar) the good guys have had to put up with. Jump through hoops and answer every allegation and if you don’t… aha, I guess.

    Dustin (330eed)

  175. Mr. SEK brings a different perspective and I’ve noticed that often enough it’s not the perspective of “The Left” it’s the perspective of Mr. SEK

    you know who else is like that is gary busey

    happyfeet (3c92a1)

  176. A few things I don’t get. 1)How did the swatter know that Walker would be home at 6? That is not like 12am. 2)How is this person or persons escaping detection for so long?
    3) Patterico, it seems that the evidence you put up from the forensic voice analyst is quite compelling that Ron is the person behind the swatter? Is there a reason the police have not reached out to him yet?

    And finally, whoever this person is seems to be getting some sort of sick thrill out of this. I think when this person looks in the mirror he likes what he sees, and that is the most troubling aspect of it to me.

    Raquel (30e629)

  177. Thanks, Chuck.

    @Patterico, no problem. I can get it through the CPRA.

    x_ile (3285d7)

  178. “the response has been partisan. Conservatives have shown far more concern about the people and the issues than liberals.”

    – DRJ

    Liberals don’t know about the people and the issues. They read different blogs.

    Pat,

    Fair enough. You assume that the silence of liberals indicates passive acceptance of Kimberlin’s tactics and mission, and I’ll assume that the silence of conservatives indicates passive acceptance of attempts to characterize this as a partisan issue for political gain. That’ll be productive.

    Leviticus (102f62)

  179. @169,

    It’s “instructive”… what does it “instruct”? You chastised us for not being inquisitive enough when it comes to following links and asking for original documents and whatnot. Are we being trusting or skeptical at this point?

    Leviticus (102f62)

  180. @Dustin, sorry, it’s not “bad faith” or me being a “liar”. I just thought “SWAT’ing” referred to an actual SWAT dispatch.

    Silly me.

    x_ile (3285d7)

  181. Liberals don’t know about the people and the issues. They read different blogs.

    I wish it were that simple, Leviticus.

    But it’s not. I have the dubious advantage of having lived this.

    A friend of ours, left-leaning guy, sent me and the wife a link to coverage about the issue in the Huffington Post. His reaction was: sure, this might be a big deal in conservative blogs, but when you’ve made HuffPo, you’ve really made it!

    So Mrs. P. sat down and read the piece. And foolishly, dipped into the comments.

    Damned if almost everybody there wasn’t accusing me and her of making this up.

    If I had been there watching her do this, I would have explained about HuffPo and their comments. Mrs. P. doesn’t read blogs much at all and didn’t know.

    Frankly, both sides are exploiting this. Fringe lefties say we’re lying and making stuff up. Fringe righties say that this behavior is typical of the left.

    So I’m not saying it’s only people on one side who are exploiting this.

    But it’s, unfortunately, not just a matter of lefties not knowing about what happened to us. Some do, and choose to miminize a very traumatic event for us, because to them, we’re not people.

    Patterico (feda6b)

  182. I think it’s quite possible that liberals don’t want to focus on the SWATtings, or have the media put a spotlight on it lest it cast the right as sympathetic players in the public eye.

    The liberals need us to remain the racist-xenophobe-gay-hating-loathers-of-the-poor in order to keep advancing their agenda.

    If we are keepers of the First Amendment – no matter the cost – how does that make the left look – especially when they are less than hospitable to everyone having the freedom to publicly speak their views (See: NYT, LAT, etc)

    Dana (4eca6e)

  183. It’s “instructive”… what does it “instruct”? You chastised us for not being inquisitive enough when it comes to following links and asking for original documents and whatnot. Are we being trusting or skeptical at this point?

    Reference to something you really don’t know anything about. Forget it.

    Do me a favor though and don’t pretend you know everything about this, OK? Not even very close friends know everything. My sister read my monster post about Kimberlin and even though I had talked to her about this all at length she was still stunned.

    And I haven’t even published a fraction of what I know or have experienced.

    I can pretty much do without any snark from anyone on it.

    Patterico (feda6b)

  184. IOW, it would – out of necessity – be chocked up as just more hysterics from the right, like when we’re always screaming about media bias, etc.

    Dana (4eca6e)

  185. Fair enough. You assume that the silence of liberals indicates passive acceptance of Kimberlin’s tactics and mission, and I’ll assume that the silence of conservatives indicates passive acceptance of attempts to characterize this as a partisan issue for political gain. That’ll be productive.

    Yeah, because I have been so hyperpartisan about this whole thing.

    Patterico (feda6b)

  186. If only I had followed the advice of Leviticus and reached out to the left on this issue.

    Patterico (feda6b)

  187. X_lie is just asking the tough questions.

    JD (a9be9b)

  188. If only I had said, time and time and time and time and time and time again, that this is not a partisan issue.

    Patterico (feda6b)

  189. “Frankly, both sides are exploiting this. Fringe lefties say we’re lying and making stuff up. Fringe righties say that this behavior is typical of the left.

    So I’m not saying it’s only people on one side who are exploiting this.

    But it’s, unfortunately, not just a matter of lefties not knowing about what happened to us. Some do, and choose to miminize a very traumatic event for us, because to them, we’re not people.”

    – Patterico

    You’re right, to an extent – that there are some people on both sides exploiting this. I’m sure that’s right. But those exploiting this are the exception, not the rule. If that’s true, then the takeaway can’t be “the other side is bad.” The takeaway has to be “if the fight is serious enough, look for allies wherever you can.” This is a very serious fight, as the repeated instances prove.

    Leviticus (102f62)

  190. Leviticus,

    Liberal websites have covered this story. I don’t know if this is the article Patterico referred tp above, but the Huffington Post reported it on June 8, 2012.

    DRJ (a83b8b)

  191. Well, the more people learn about it, the less they try to exploit it, is my view.

    Patterico (feda6b)

  192. @Icy, I guess I need to find a new hobby. I’ve been all over this two-week non-story asking for actual evidence–just now.

    Thanks for the link to Rauhauser. He seems like a nice fellow. Not the sort to jump on my ass for aking a reasonable question and whatnot.

    x_ile (3285d7)

  193. Rauhauser is a nice fellow? Yep, you are a troll.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  194. X-lie is so cute. I sense a flounce in the near future.

    JD (a9be9b)

  195. x_ile, you have been following this for two weeks and you did not know that “SWATing” was a term for a faux call to 911 – regardless of whether a SWAT team was dispatched or not? A term that Patterico, Erickson, Stack and Worthing did not invent.

    Are you trying to make your bones in the Brett Kimberlin crime family?

    SPQR (26be8b)

  196. “Do me a favor though and don’t pretend you know everything about this, OK?”

    – Patterico

    The comment that struck your nerve has nothing to do with this. It has everything to do with that bullshit April Fool’s thread, and you know it. I’m %100 percent on your side in this. You have been horribly, despicably wronged. You could have been killed. You still shouldn’t have done that thread.

    Leviticus (102f62)

  197. Thanks for that link, DRJ. Here is a comment:

    Wait…Aren’t these the same bloggers who post wanted posters for doctors that perform legal abortions (resulting in actual murders; addresses of prominent liberal politcians, bloggers, and activist; and stalk & ambush liberals in there personal day-to-day activities? Must be nice to have GOP congressmen in your pockets. I say let them taste their own medicine; an eye for an eye.

    Wait…no. These are NOT the same bloggers.

    Another:

    Since cons play the victim card so frequently I really don’t believe anything they say. They’ve cried wolf one time to many. This is probably just another pre-election ploy make themselves out as the victim.

    And so on.

    Why, if only the left KNEW about this story!

    The part that sickens me is that if lefties were getting SWATted, fringe right people would say the same kind of crap. We’ve reached the point where many don’t even see political opponents as people.

    Patterico (feda6b)

  198. Thanks for the link to Rauhauser. He seems like a nice fellow.

    I have a nice long post coming about what a nice fellow he is.

    Patterico (feda6b)

  199. you know who else is like that is gary busey
    Comment by happyfeet — 6/25/2012 @ 9:27 pm

    — Man, Gary Busey has gotten fat! I’m looking at a recent photo of him right now, and . . . oh wait, it’s a picture of Ron White.

    Never mind.

    Icy (655c41)

  200. @Dustin, sorry, it’s not “bad faith” or me being a “liar”

    Yes it is. You were told a major media organization confirmed the story with law enforcement. You were even told one of the organizations by name. Before asking a crime victim to confirm it again, you could have looked into it.

    When you do, I suppose you will find the time to come back here and explain that the incident has long since been confirmed accurate?

    And beyond that, the idea something like this could be made up, regarding major law enforcement, after 90 congresspersons are demanding action, without the hoax being exposed, is just plain silly.

    Dustin (330eed)

  201. The comment that struck your nerve has nothing to do with this. It has everything to do with that bullshit April Fool’s thread, and you know it. I’m %100 percent on your side in this. You have been horribly, despicably wronged. You could have been killed. You still shouldn’t have done that thread.

    That seems like a bizarre segue on the night Aaron was SWATted.

    In any event, I repeat: “Do me a favor though and don’t pretend you know everything about this, OK?” The reason the comment struck a nerve is because of some things that I don’t want to talk about publicly, for very good reasons — things you know ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about.

    So it struck a nerve, but not for the reason you think.

    Just let that argument drop, OK? This is none of this April Fool’s and it’s serious business. Can you leave the combative crap behind? Please?

    If you want to help bridge the partisan divide, go preach the gospel of what happened to me and Aaron and Erick on a few lefty web sites. They don’t know what happened to us. So go tell them.

    Patterico (feda6b)

  202. [re-posting] @SPQR, My ignorance is real. I haven’t seen anything from an actual PD confirming that SWAT was sent anywhere. Was an incident report linked here in the comments?

    [re-posting] @JD, pardon my Alinskying by asking for anything to confirm a two-week circle-j. I haven’t heard back from the locals.

    @Patterico, you may as well post it. I won’t be back to spin it into moonbat–why would I?

    “If I could find my report, I’d scan it and publish it, with appropriate redactions. But I don’t really care that much.”

    FFS

    x_ile (3285d7)

  203. I’m serious. I don’t have the patience to do it in part because I suspect I know what the reaction would be.

    You obviously think I’m wrong and I hope you are. So go inform the world so I can have more allies. I could use a bipartisan appeal. I could use even ONE Democrat’s signature on a letter to Eric Holder. I could use 88 signatures even more.

    Patterico (feda6b)

  204. @JD, awesome. How many flounces have you prompted.

    The web’s a big place. Buh-bye

    x_ile (3285d7)

  205. x_ile thinks Neal Rauhauser is a nice fellow.

    Done talking to x_ile.

    Patterico (feda6b)

  206. Buh-bye indeed.

    Patterico (feda6b)

  207. If you guys think that one below-the-fold story that spent one day on the Huffington Post compares to the comprehensive, in-depth, dogged – admirably dogged – coverage that this has received in the conservative blogosphere, then… I dunno.

    And, for the record, if I thought that the comment-pool on the Huffington Post was anything more than a collection of morons, I’d castrate myself out of despair for the species.

    Leviticus (102f62)

  208. Leviticus,

    I’m serious. I don’t know where you think you can go and make an appeal to lefties where they will receive you well. But if you think you can, and I’d like to think it’s possible, please do so and let us know how it goes.

    Patterico (feda6b)

  209. x_ile, if you had spent two weeks following this, you would have listened to the 911 dispatch audio tapes of the incidents we have tapes on.

    Did you? No. Because you were lying all throughout this thread.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  210. Last bit from me after reading Patterico’s email: I’ll do my diligence tomorrow, figure out how to best frame this, and have a post up on it before 5 p.m. Until then, I’d appreciate people not speculate as to what I will or won’t do.

    SEK (74bb56)

  211. “Just let that argument drop, OK? This is none of this April Fool’s and it’s serious business. Can you leave the combative crap behind? Please?

    If you want to help bridge the partisan divide, go preach the gospel of what happened to me and Aaron and Erick on a few lefty web sites. They don’t know what happened to us. So go tell them.”

    – Patterico

    That was serious business and some of us recognized it at the time, but fine: I will. Give me a list of liberal sites with open commenting and I fucking will. I’ve gone into viper-nests for you before, and I’ll do it again, because this is important.

    Leviticus (102f62)

  212. I believe SEK is sincere in wanting to bring this to the attention of the left, and I hope I am right. I look forward to his post. It will be interesting to read and even more interesting to see the reaction.

    Patterico (feda6b)

  213. Comment by x_ile — 6/25/2012 @ 9:43 pm
    @Icy, I guess I need to find a new hobby. I’ve been all over this two-week non-story asking for actual evidence–just now.
    — Aww, you dadgum done gone exposed us fer the tall-tale-teller fellers that we ALL are around here! [sad-face emotycon]

    Thanks for the link to Rauhauser. He seems like a nice fellow. Not the sort to jump on my ass for aking a reasonable question and whatnot.
    — Neal employs local law enforcement to do the ass-jumping for him.

    Icy (655c41)

  214. Nah, Leviticus, I won’t give you a list. I think it’s a fool’s errand, unfortunately. If you think it can be done successfully, and that bringing lefties’ attention to the issue is all it will take to get them to show the same level of concern as conservatives have shown, you have to be the one to choose the venue.

    Patterico (feda6b)

  215. Again, please note: I think it’s a fool’s errand not because lefties are generally bigger jerks or more callous, but because: a) the internet is full of hyper-partisan assholes, and b) the victims in this case are conservatives, meaning that the hyper-partisan assholes who don’t care about the victims are (in this case) leftists.

    Patterico (feda6b)

  216. If SEK’s post includes equivalency and partisanship I will be very disappointed.

    I am hoping it does not.

    Patterico (feda6b)

  217. Leviticus,

    Obviously there will be more intense coverage here and at other websites related to the SWATting victims. I’m sure we know more about this than people who frequent liberal blogs. But is knowing all the details what makes this story important? Can’t you read the Huffington Post article and get a good feel for the big picture?

    I think liberals are smart enough to read the Huffington Post article and understand why it matters. But they don’t seem to care, and I think they’re letting partisanship trump logic. It might make a difference if a few more voices speak up.

    DRJ (a83b8b)

  218. x_ile sounds like one of the BK gang doing their Bevis&Butthead trolling through the victim’s camp. Mark that IP (and its location). You’ll be seeing x_ile (get it?) again.

    Kevin M (bf8ad7)

  219. We need Ben Casey to cut this cancer out of the body politik.

    AD-RtR/OS! (2bb434)

  220. If SEK and Leviticus are sincere, then by all means they should go straight to Kos, HuffPo, & NPR, as well as hitting up the 5 MSNBC Stooges: Sharpton, Matthews, Maddow, Schultz & O’Donnell. Hell, toss in Spitzer & “Shenk” from the Global Warming Network, just for laughs. They have blogs, and contact email addresses . . . and yeah, probably some low-level interns in charge of scanning them; but the word cannot be heard unless it is first given.

    Icy (655c41)

  221. @Patterico: ‘I believe SEK is sincere in wanting to bring this to the attention of the left’.

    SEK is the last person you want to trust on this. Check your commenter’s link at #63 above. Reading that, SEK doesn’t look like someone who has some benign bipartisan interests in mind. He looks like a backstabbing motherfucker, and you’re opening yourself up for a helluva a hurting by trusting him.

    Anon (f33fc6)

  222. ______________________________________________

    I hope Attorney General Holder seriously considers the letter my colleagues and I sent him asking the Department of Justice to investigate these incidents

    Don’t hold your breath, Congresswoman Adams. Holder is too busy worrying that officials in Arizona are violating the civil rights of the “undocumented.” Or, better yet, he’s too busy worrying that the Black Panthers have been unfairly painted with a broad brush for intimidating voters in places like Philadelphia.

    And when there are variations of a Cornelius Vaughey floating around out there — ideologically and judicially corrupting God knows what — the sickening, contemptible hilarity that may ensue knows no boundaries.

    Mark (76abc3)

  223. Here’s a start. Letter to Rep. Martin Heinrich:

    Dear Rep. Heinrich,

    My name is Levi . I am a law student at the University of New Mexico; I just completed my first year, and am spending the summer as an extern at the NM Center on Law and Poverty.

    I am writing to ask you, in all sincerity and in recognition of the courage it takes to cross party lines in a charged political environment – and as one of your constituents, to be viewed as an “Elector of Bristol” – to sign onto or otherwise express support for a letter by Sen. Saxby Chambliss requesting a DOJ investigation into an on-going campaign of harassment against conservative journalists and bloggers.

    Sen. Chambliss’ letter, dated June 6, 2012, details the practice of “SWAT-ing,” whereby a perpetrator makes a false phone call from a victim’s telephone number and claims that a violent crime has been committed or is in the process of being committed at the victim’s residence. This typically results in the deployment of an anxious, armed rapid-response team, which arrives at the scene expecting to encounter a violent suspect. The victim, of course, has no idea what is happening. Nor does the victim’s family. In the best case scenario, the end effect is traumatizing. The worst case scenario has not been realized, yet.

    Several conservative bloggers – including Erick Erickson, Patrick Frey, and Aaron Walker – and have suffered this victimization as retaliation for their peaceful expression of political opinions. Others have been threatened with similar victimization, for similar reasons. The families of these men and women have been innocent bystanders to moves in a dangerous and despicable game.

    As Sen. Chambliss’ letter states, regardless of ideology or party affiliation, “threats and intimidation have no place in our nation political discourse.” It has been the purpose of this campaign of SWATing to squelch dissenting speech. As a resident of a state that values free expression and healthy dissent, I am deeply offended that this campaign has continued unabated for over a year. As my representative, and as a fellow New Mexican, and as a father, I hope that you will be similarly offended after conducing a quick investigation into this matter.

    I understand the difficulties that may attend presence as the sole Democratic signature on a list otherwise populated by prominent Republican signatures. But we as voters recognize a sensible disregard for partisanship when we see it; and we respect that disregard. You will not find a better place to make a stand for sensible bipartisanship than on this issue: the protection of free speech from violent and intimidating reprisal.

    I place my political faith in discourse – something I learned from UNM’s Prof. (on the one hand) and a group of patient conservative lawyers (on the other). I think that the only hope for the future of our polity rests in discourse. These SWATings represent a threat to discourse. I hope that you will express an interest in their further investigation on my behalf, and on the behalf of all those in our district who value the freedom of expression.

    Thank you for your time, and for being my voice in this matter.

    Sincerely,

    Levi

    Leviticus (102f62)

  224. I appreciate that.

    I can only hope that SEK’s post is similarly free of equivocation and dissembling and moral equivalence and the like.

    We will see, I suppose.

    Patterico (feda6b)

  225. And I fucking hate doing that, by the way – kowtowing to a Democratic politician. But I’ll do it. Because this is an important issue.

    And I’ll go find some liberal blogs to spread the word on, too – and wade through their inevitable resident welcome-wagon, and try to get some valuable points to stick.

    Because for some reason, it’s important to you that I prove my bona fides to the Icy Texans of the world in order be taken seriously on this blog.

    Leviticus (102f62)

  226. What a great letter, Levi.

    Dustin (330eed)

  227. Sorry. That’s not quite fair. Heat of the moment.

    Leviticus (102f62)

  228. Thanks, Dustin. It’s going straight into a form-response hopper, though – having seen that process from the inside. In a Republican congressional office.

    Leviticus (102f62)

  229. Because for some reason, it’s important to you that I prove my bona fides to the Icy Texans of the world in order be taken seriously on this blog.

    I’m glad you recognize that isn’t fair.

    You have a thesis.

    You mock me for questioning it.

    I ask you to put it to the test.

    If your test fails, it doesn’t show lefties are worse than righties.

    It shows:

    1) the internet is too partisan

    2) all sides demonize the opposition

    3) here the victims are Republicans

    4) ergo Democrats will be the unfeeling assholes.

    We’ll see who’s right — just like we’ll see if SEK is a mealy-mouthed equivocator or whether he comes out foursquare for the victims here.

    Tomorrow will be an interesting day for the left.

    Patterico (feda6b)

  230. Here’s a question: setting aside the Internet and it’s partisan assholes, why would you say that “tomorrow will be an interesting day for the left” if you acknowledge that there are plenty of people on the left pulling for you in all of this?

    Leviticus (102f62)

  231. And what’s my “thesis,” again? That there are some conservatives who pay lip-service to the idea that this is a non-partisan issue while continuing to portray it as one and believe it to be one?

    Leviticus (102f62)

  232. Here’s a question: setting aside the Internet and it’s partisan assholes, why would you say that “tomorrow will be an interesting day for the left” if you acknowledge that there are plenty of people on the left pulling for you in all of this?

    Some of the people who supported me turned around the next day and mocked me; maybe their decent position was too uncomfortable in light of their feedback; I don’t know.

    What I do know is this:

    A lefty blogger with a not insubstantial audience who claims to be on my side says he will post something supporting me and try to get attention from lefty bloggers.

    A lefty comment who I know is on my side says he will wade into inhospitable waters on the left to press my case.

    How can I NOT be interested to see how that will turn out?

    And how the results will reflect on the online left?

    Patterico (feda6b)

  233. And what’s my “thesis,” again?

    Simple. That most leftists to whom you make this pitch:

    Several conservative bloggers – including Erick Erickson, Patrick Frey, and Aaron Walker – and have suffered this victimization as retaliation for their peaceful expression of political opinions. Others have been threatened with similar victimization, for similar reasons. The families of these men and women have been innocent bystanders to moves in a dangerous and despicable game.

    As Sen. Chambliss’ letter states, regardless of ideology or party affiliation, “threats and intimidation have no place in our nation political discourse.” It has been the purpose of this campaign of SWATing to squelch dissenting speech. As a resident of a state that values free expression and healthy dissent, I am deeply offended that this campaign has continued unabated for over a year. As my representative, and as a fellow New Mexican, and as a father, I hope that you will be similarly offended after conducing a quick investigation into this matter.

    Will be equally as offended and spurred to action as conservatives have been — regardless of the political identity of the victims.

    Will swarm to this blog and make favorable comments of support.

    Will write their Congressmen.

    Will behave in every way as conservatives have behaved — offended and even outraged at the attack on free speech.

    That is your thesis.

    I hope it’s right!

    Patterico (feda6b)

  234. I’m not a liberal but I do live in California. I wrote to Senator’s Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer as well as Congressman Howard Berman. I don’t know what good it will do but I did contact them.

    BTW Leviticus, You wrote a very powerful letter.

    Tanny O'Haley (12193c)

  235. I try to maintain that the silence of liberals does not constitute an endorsement of liberal impropriety, but that the silence of conservatives does constitute an endorsement of conservative impropriety.

    You try to maintain that the silence of liberals does constitute an endorsement of liberal impropriety, but that the silence of conservatives does not constitute an endorsement of conservative impropriety.

    So, we both hold facially inconsistent positions. I do not say hypocritical, because I think that word denotes bad faith and I think we’re both approaching this in good faith (albeit emotionally charged good faith). But we hold facially inconsistent positions nonetheless. I’ll admit it, for my part. You should do the same. Then we can move on to rendering our inconsistent positions consistent – one way or the other.

    Leviticus (102f62)

  236. Year 127 of the Great Right-Wing Conspiracy Theory.

    Not Likely (da0925)

  237. Lawyers…gotta love ’em. Even the fledgling ones like Levi. It’s easy to see that they get paid per word. What was it Shakespeare said? Not a real threat, obviously, but he had a point…

    Gazzer (65b696)

  238. “The part that sickens me is that if lefties were getting SWATted, fringe right people would say the same kind of crap. We’ve reached the point where many don’t even see political opponents as people.”

    Amen, Patterico.

    Many folks have talked about these issues for what they are; the badass nasty dangerous tactics of some pretty awful (and likely not quite sane) people, and in the case of Aaron especially, attacks on free speech. (To be honest, I’ve spent alot more time following and commenting about Aaron’s situation because there was a clearly identified villan and the whole thing was much easier to understand. The rest is pretty speculative, with shadowy characters that all sound a little too Truther/Birther conspiratorial to get a handle on…)

    For too many others though, the whole thing has become a convenient way to attack the left, which makes it that much harder for libs to stand up for free speech and no threats, SWATting, or lawfare for all. (Anon–who writes in an awful familiar tone, btw)–is just one example of the attacks we on the left face when talking about this. Anytime folks try to talk about these attacks in a non-partisan way–or FSM forbid, actually say these are NOT left vs right, lib vs con issues–there is pretty intense pushback, including from some of the more involved players (My most recent run-in was with Lee Stranahan, who jumped into a convo between Liberty_chick and I, just to assert that we were wrong, and it IS a left vs right issue.)

    Partisanship has it’s place, but not when people are having armed units sent to their houses and having their free speech rights curtailed. Those who insist on making these attacks on (mostly) rightwing bloggers examples of just what all eeeeevil commie-nihilist liberal leftists are like…all I can say is, you may be helping your cause, but that cause isn’t justice for the folks who’ve been attacked by these dangerous individuals. Far be it for some crazy lib to tell you what to do… …but you ought to rethink it. (Don’t listen to me if you suspect my motives or my sincerity; listen to the many voices on your own side of the partisan fence preaching from the same gospel. It ain’t about left v right… It’s about right v wrong.)

    No one, no matter what their politics, deserves to have the police sent to their house under false pretenses, period.

    No one, no matter what their politics, deserves to be threatened with acts of violence to themselves or their families, or vandalism to their property, period.

    No one, no matter their politics, deserves to be repeatedly dragged into court under false or frivolous pretenses in an effort to keep them quiet, period. (though here, I blame the legal system almost as much as the serial litigants. Anti-SLAPP laws and a more informed judiciary would go a long way, here.)

    I don’t think I could be any more clear as to where I stand, but if I was the slightest bit vague, I’ll do what I can to clarify… (I got SEK’s initial comment, eventually… but it took several readings to figure out his meaning and intent…)

    repsac3 (6741ce)

  239. Sorry. That’s not quite fair. Heat of the moment.
    Comment by Leviticus — 6/25/2012 @ 11:05 pm

    — Apology* not necessary, but accepted. FWIW, I was not questioning your bona fides so much as I was challenging you to have the courage of your convictions.

    [*Yes, I did read your post carefully]

    Icy (655c41)

  240. Ok. I officially feel dirty.

    I just spent an hour reading the comments on the HuffPost article linked above.

    They quickly turn on even their own compatriots from the left who are saying this is just wrong.

    Sad thing is I have seen the same sort of thing done on right wing blogs about other subjects.

    Dustyn H (acf6c9)

  241. Estrgon (comment #4): If someone gets killed, it won’t be by mistake.

    ChuckO (747600)

  242. “not likely” aka skeptic aka lying troll makes yet another appearance.

    Leviticus – you are to be commended.

    JD (a9be9b)

  243. Hey, How do I get rid of that sitemeter popup for good? I only get it accessing the comments of this thread.

    PCD (66bba0)

  244. Nice thing when they finally trace this back….and catch these people(being the COWARDS THEY ARE) they will sing like canaries…and BK’s name will eventually come out. Hope it’s sooner than later. Evil will not prevail! We wont let it. Stay safe bloggers and watch your back.

    tjzbears (3548ca)

  245. 245- great analysis biff

    tye (cc30fb)

  246. It’s important to remember that con men and psychopaths and narcissists are on their own side only. BK puffs himself up,and has for some years as a “special” player in world events and national politics, as does Rauhau. Their goals aren’t really partisan, but personal, though they are very anxious to be partisan heroes.

    A partisan reaction damages the ability to call these people out for what they are. And the more the left fails to have any honor or character to call out what is wrong as wrong, the more their acts are seen as a way of lefty thinks and acting.

    If I had an ideology I cared about, I’d want it as far away from someone like that as possible.

    Sarahw (c2a92a)

  247. I’ve been elsewhere (travelling a lot) the last month, so I haven’t seen these threads before.

    Holy ****. This behavior is downright *evil*.

    aphrael (5d993c)

  248. Missed ya, aphrael.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  249. Wacha been doing, aphrael? Considered intellectual property?

    nk (875f57)

  250. nk, i went to CA for a wedding, then i came back and worked for a week, then i went to visit my husband in another city where he’s workign for the first half of the summer, then i came back …

    still working software. i’ve been sworn in in CA and have passed all the reqs for NJ. NY will take some time; i’m waiting on my manager to write up a letter about my character, but because he’s taken too long, now i have to get “he’s never been disciplined” certs from CA and NJ …

    not really looking too hard for a job yet, because i’m still working software so the pressure to get a new job is low. my first choice would be western water law (unlikely in NYC), but absent that, patent is certainly an option.

    aphrael (5d993c)

  251. aphrael,

    Good to see you, man.

    re: Western water law, I’m reading a book called “Cadillac Desert” that discusses the madness that drove the development of water infrastructure projects in the West throughout the 20th century. It’s really interesting. My dad was always trying to get me to read it when I was younger, and I’ve finally gotten around to it.

    Leviticus (102f62)

  252. Would that include mid-western water law, aphrael?

    JD (ad6f40)

  253. aphrael, if your degree is in computer science, you can get onto the patent bar if the program was accredited. What tripped me up was that my degree was from a school that was accredited four years after I graduated.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  254. As promised last night, here’s my post. It’s a few minutes after my self-appointed 5 p.m. deadline, but only because I sent an earlier draft to Patrick to see if I could get some feedback. (Seems he has some sort of day job that prevents him from answering all my email on my schedule.) I’ve tried to be as fair as possible in my presentation of the case, but keep in mind that I’m trying to convince people who, with a few notable exceptions, don’t share the ideology of those who comment here. That said, if I’ve made an egregious error of fact or if you think I could’ve made X or Y section of my case stronger, feel free to correct the former and offer suggestions as to how to improve the latter.

    SEK (74bb56)

  255. To be clear, I gave SEK no feedback on his post, which I have not yet had a chance to read.

    Patterico (feda6b)

  256. It’s good. He uses about two hundred words to say Kimberlin, Rauhauser, et al are punka***s pieces of s**t 😉 but it’s good.

    nk (875f57)

  257. Nk, this made me think of you:

    “I was not sure I wanted to issue orders to life; I rather liked the Greek notion of allowing Chance to take a formative hand in my affairs”
    -Robertson Davies

    I sure do like Davies’ work. Much missed.

    Simon Jester (c9ab47)

  258. Yes, nk, too many words. I would like to read what Patrick has to say about SEK’s post.

    felipe (720280)

  259. Great post, SEK.

    Thank you for standing up, on principle, for free speech.

    Dustin (330eed)

  260. Hey Simon.

    Recovering from my second eye surgery, both within the last fourteen days, Chance and I are not on the best of terms right now. 😉 But in the past, Chance did give me the best parents anyone could have and a very blessed life overall.

    nk (875f57)

  261. The comments to SEK’s post reveal why timb has made his last comment on my site.

    Patterico (feda6b)

  262. Just more of timb’s usual lies, Patterico.

    Did you see that he misrepresented Kimberlin’s faux SWAT claim?

    SPQR (26be8b)

  263. Patterico said:

    These aren’t 911 calls, folks. They go to the police business line.

    Then why are they treated like emergency calls and taken seriously? Such calls could have been placed from anywhere in the world. They provide no basis for police raids, and once the idea catches on, I doubt they’ll be limited to the BK issue.

    Eric Scheie (44b773)

  264. Eric Scheie, because the calls get routed to the 911 answering center usually and because dispatch can’t ignore the call.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  265. ==These aren’t 911 calls, folks. They go to the police business line.==

    Wow. I had completely missed this. So have the calls to the various police departments announcing fake emergencies which induced a swat response gone into an 11 digit telephone number or are they into 311? (I assume there may be a different and far greater penalty for people caught making fake 911 calls?)

    elissa (3f79ff)

  266. I don’t know that you missed it, Elissa. I think it wasn’t noted.

    Initially I thought the idea was to avoid the call being recorded, but I believe it’s actually to circumvent protections for calls to 911. It might be information about what kind of spoofing system they are using. It may not allow 911 calls. Hopefully hopefully hopefully the FBI has looked into this by now.

    dispatch can’t ignore the call.

    Yep. They can’t just ignore someone admitting to being a murderer. For Erickson’s in particular (we don’t know what Aaron’s said yet), there was no way police were going to ignore a man saying he was going to shoot someone else.

    Dustin (330eed)

  267. Thank you for doing this, SEK. Unfortanately, I fear that timmah will be far from alone in the way that members of the Left respond.

    Icy (3a8c70)

  268. I understand the police can’t ignore any call which comes in, nor should they. But the mere idea that a crazed person in the midst of committing a crime –or someone else needing to report a crime in progress– instead of simply dialing 911 would stop to look up an 11 digit telephone number (or have it on speed dial) is nuts. Think about it. These days even two and one half year old children are taught to dial 911. I should think that both before and after the fact when it is determined that the initial call came in over the administrative line it would be a huge “tell” that it was spoofed and coming from outside the jurisdiction where 911 wouldn’t assign properly. That should make the cops both suspicious and irate one would think.

    elissa (3f79ff)

  269. The comments to SEK’s post reveal why timb has made his last comment on my site.

    Funny how timb’s comments are made at to counter a valid point made and/or to point the finger at our host. Painfully obvious.

    Dana (292dcf)

  270. That should make the cops both suspicious and irate one would think.

    Comment by elissa

    Agreed.

    it would be a huge “tell” that it was spoofed

    I agree. There are probably other tells, too, on the technical side of things.

    Police departments have to adapt to criminals. They need to adapt to be aware of how these hoaxes work and what the signs may be.

    Unfortunately, the criminals would likely adapt quickly too.

    What we badly need is a successful and public apprehension of the criminals.

    Dustin (330eed)

  271. nk- my goodness, “chance” hasn’t been as kind as one would want, is your eye condition on the mend?

    aphrael- we’ll all give you a character reference, you are quite a character, being one of a few liberals willing to dialogue with intellectual integrity with a group of assorted far right wing nut cases (as described by “main stream” pundits).

    MD in Philly (f0e1bd)

  272. “They provide no basis for police raids, and once the idea catches on, I doubt they’ll be limited to the BK issue.”

    Eric Scheie – If you’ve listened to the calls I don’t know what you’re smoking to believe they provide no basis for a police response. Also, the calls have have not been limited to the BK matter. Some SWATters who were doing it for kicks were busted last year or early this year. It ain’t new and it’s tough to trace.

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  273. Great comment from Substance McGravitas over on SEK’s thread:

    “‘They’ does a lot of work for both sides.”

    Leviticus (102f62)

  274. Great comment from Substance McGravitas over on SEK’s thread:

    “‘They’ does a lot of work for both sides.”

    Good old Substance McGravitas. Always good for trivializing a genuine issue on the basis that it affects the right.

    Patterico (feda6b)

  275. Militarized Police are a threat to liberty.

    First they came for the dopers…

    And I applauded.

    Then they came for Patterico….

    And I was appalled.

    M. Simon (a498fa)

  276. Well, Leviticus, I don’t know if you have traveled the wilds of the lefty blogs today, but if they are anything like the pit I see at LGM — even with a decent post from SEK — I don’t blame you if you didn’t. Would just mean you finally saw the light.

    Big Neal Rauhauser post coming in 5 minutes. Bet timb could find a way to trivialize it. Lucky thing he got his ass banned from here with his disgusting comments at LGM today.

    Patterico (feda6b)

  277. Oh. I see it posted already, and you commented.

    You seem to be mostly there for me on the big stuff. Which is nice.

    Patterico (feda6b)

  278. Pat,

    I spent my free moments today drafting the remarks I’m going to be posting on some left-wing sites tomorrow. I posted those remarks, with a little bit of elaboration, on a thread at Democratic Underground. I’m going to try to place the remarks in relevant threads if possible, and in the most populous threads if I can’t find a seemingly relevant one. I found a seemingly relevant one at DU today.

    Leviticus (102f62)

  279. Here’s the encouraging response:

    “The people doing these dastardly deeds are breaking the law and LEO should be hunting them down as their actions are a grave threat to many LEO and citizens.

    I am not standing up for one side, i stand for Justice and Peace. This is not a liberal/con issue it is one of what is right. I hope the harassment ends before any innocents are injured.”

    Leviticus (102f62)

  280. Here’s the discouraging one:

    “It could happen if someone owes a debt to a gangster, hasn’t paid his oxycodone dealer, or is sleeping with someone’s wife, or fired someone who is a great hacker, or because the guy let his dog crap on his neighbor’s lawn…or whatever.

    Democrats, in general, don’t behave like assholes–that’s what Republicans do, when they disenfranchise people of color, strip the votor rolls without due process, falsely accuse community activists of improprieties, pull “Breitbart” stunts, engage in phone jamming on election day to prevent Democrats from providing rides to the polls, etc.

    If your conservative buddy is going to start making accusations about Democrats, he’d better make sure that this SWATing business didn’t happen because he was fooling around where he should not have. The police aren’t stupid.

    It’s not an issue of “expressing solidarity.” As I said, Democrats generally don’t behave like assholes. We have a TOS here and it guides our behavior on this site. Plotting that kind of shit would never be tolerated here. You might want to tell you pal to look closer to home. “

    Leviticus (102f62)

  281. “We are better than they.”

    Fringe folks on both sides love to think that.

    Patterico (feda6b)

  282. “Democrats, in general, don’t behave like assholes–that’s what Republicans do, when they disenfranchise people of color, strip the votor rolls without due process, falsely accuse community activists of improprieties, pull “Breitbart” stunts”

    Leviticus – I don’t understand what you’re saying about Republicans. Can you cite examples?

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  283. @daleyrocks-286

    Not to step on Levi’s toes, but read the comment again (along with the two above it.) He was quoting comments from a Dem Underground post about this Kimberlin thing… and 284 was the comment he disagreed with. The one he liked (and that I like, and that you’ll probably like, as well) is 283.

    The rest–that is, the partisanship that so often divides us–is prolly best saved for another day…or another post, at least.

    For consideration:
    (A lot of we libs/progs/Dems have and will get on board and support the victims of these creeps…but needless partisanship–in the form of attacks on those who haven’t joined yet or have questions, or blame for Kimberlin’s bad acts, as though many/most/all libs are genetically predisposed to act just like him–isn’t the way to engender those “we’re all in this together” feelings… More honeysweet, less piss’n’vinegar…)

    repsac3 (af6419)

  284. SPQR, my undergrad degree was in political science. I took a bunch of CS courses, was hired in the valley *before i graduated*, and didn’t get a CS degree. this will complicate matters. i may end up having to take a year or two of bio / chem classes if i want to practice before the PTO.

    Leviticus, cadillac desert is a good book.

    JD, I don’t know anything about midwestern water law beyond what I could derive from general water law principles. The thing about western water law is that it’s scarcity driven, so the arguments matter a lot more.

    But certainly I’m open to that, once my husband is out of school; we have no commitment to *anywhere* at that time.

    aphrael (af01a5)

  285. We have a water rights issue, and could use some advise.

    JD (318f81)

  286. aphrael, trying to meet the requirements course by course can be discouraging. best wishes.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  287. Leviticus, you see how many comments over there conclude that “right wingers” deserve to be victims of these criminals.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  288. I’ll try to get to blogging SEK’s post tonight. I appreciate his effort.

    Patterico (feda6b)

  289. SPQR, the thing is, you can do all sorts of interesting patent work without being PTO certified. So it may not matter.

    JD: water rights is a very locale-specific issue, so I probably can’t give helpful advice. I can give big picture, 10000 foot vista advice, but you probably already know enough to have that.

    aphrael (af01a5)

  290. Comment by MD in Philly — 6/26/2012 @ 9:51 pm

    Yes, thank you, MD in Philly. The retina has reattached well (cryo, laser and vitrectomy), and we’re waiting for the gas bubble to be absorbed.

    nk (875f57)

  291. Aphrael – I asked our host to forward my email on to you, and I will paint a picture for you. I really just need a 10,000 foot view 🙂

    JD (318f81)

  292. Comment by Mark — 6/25/2012 @ 10:55 pm

    Don’t hold your breath, Congresswoman Adams. Holder is too busy worrying that officials in Arizona are violating the civil rights of the “undocumented.” Or, better yet, he’s too busy worrying that the Black Panthers have been unfairly painted with a broad brush for intimidating voters in places like Philadelphia.

    How could you leave out the contempt of Congress vote he’s facing today?

    Sammy Finkelman (976d9e)

  293. I think any call to a non-emergency line alleging an emergency is inherently suspect. Callers who allege emergencies on non-emergency lines should not be routed to 911, but should simply be told to call 911. That would provide some assurance that they are actually in the area, and go a long way towards rooting out frauds.

    Eric Scheie (44b773)

  294. Comment by Ma Bell — 6/25/2012 @ 7:01 pm

    Why….is Little Green Footballs since on the blogroll?

    It has tenure. 8)

    Sammy Finkelman (976d9e)

  295. “Not to step on Levi’s toes, but read the comment again (along with the two above it.) He was quoting comments from a Dem Underground post about this Kimberlin thing… and 284 was the comment he disagreed with. The one he liked (and that I like, and that you’ll probably like, as well) is 283.”

    repsac3 – Thanks for trying to help. I understood that the portions of the comments in quotes came from the comments to SEK’s post at LGM, which I read. My reading of Leviticus’s comments outside the quotation marks is that they represent his thoughts and words, which is why I sought clarification, which I’m sure he will provide.

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  296. Eric Scheie, that’s not going to be policy because of the increasing number of phone connections that have no 911 information to route on. Like Skype.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  297. “I understood that the portions of the comments in quotes came from the comments to SEK’s post at LGM, which I read.”

    – daleyrocks

    No, the portions of the comments in quotes came from responses to the comment I posted at Democratic Underground, asking liberals at that site to express solidarity with the victims of this harassment.

    If you look closely, the whole comment at 284 is in quotation marks. It’s not my comment. It’s some other guy’s comment, labeled (by me) “the discouraging one.” So none of that stuff represents my thoughts on the matter; in fact, the substance of that comment bothers me.

    Leviticus (e923df)

  298. “If you look closely, the whole comment at 284 is in quotation marks. It’s not my comment.”

    Leviticus – I apologize. I read too fast. I started getting disappointed with the responses over at LGM and began skimming.

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  299. No worries. A lot of the responses over at LGM are very disappointing. Some are quite encouraging. More or less what we’d all expect, I think.

    Leviticus (e923df)

  300. Comment quoted by Leviticus — 6/27/2012 @ 12:16 am
    Democrats, in general, don’t behave like assholes–that’s what Republicans do
    — Does the commenter not know (or believe) that stereotyping people you disagree with is a form of behaving like an a-hole?

    If your conservative buddy is going to start making accusations about Democrats
    — Levi, did you tell your DU friends that Patrick/Aaron are “making accusations about Democrats”? I’m guessing the answer is ‘No’; and yet, this commenter reacted as if you did.
    Don’t want to stereotype here, but this is what many people on the left (*cough* “tye” *cough*) do: the knee-jerk ‘go on offense’ response. Beckel does this every day on “The Five”:
    Perino: Bob, what do you think about Obama eating a dog?
    Beckel: Now wait just a minute, Dana. Mitt Romney strapped a dog to the roof of his car! So, if you want to talk about cruel and unusual punishment —
    Gutfeld: Yeah, the difference being that at the end of that car trip Romney’s dog was frisky, while Obama’s dog was fricasseed.

    he’d better make sure that this SWATing business didn’t happen because he was fooling around where he should not have.
    — Blaming the victim. Classy. What’s more disturbing, however, are the calls (ostensibly from supporters of Pat & Aaron) of “Why don’t you just ignore Kimberlin? Then maybe he and his pals will leave you alone” that have been posted on THIS blog.

    The police aren’t stupid.
    — But apparently the commenter is. I wonder if he can even explain what he meant by typing this, let alone defend the validity of the explanation.

    You might want to tell you pal to look closer to home.
    — The “Democrats, in general, don’t behave like assholes; therefore, it must be one of your own that’s pissed at you” explanation. Again, for the sake of amusement I would like to watch this commenter jump through hoops in an attempt to explain the logic behind what he wrote.

    Icy (58301d)

  301. “Levi, did you tell your DU friends that Patrick/Aaron are “making accusations about Democrats”? I’m guessing the answer is ‘No’; and yet, this commenter reacted as if you did.”

    – Icy

    They’re not my “friends.” I’ve never posted there before in my life. I had to register to place the comment – which I also don’t like, at all, but I said I would.

    Leviticus (e923df)

  302. Like Pat said, it will be interesting to gauge the ratio of positive-to-negative, accepting-to-hostile responses to your posts.

    Icy (58301d)


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