College Republicans confront Deval Patrick on Privacy

I do have real problems with the Patrick site... (0.00 / 0)

...and they deserve the grief they are getting.  But the critique given in this interview holds true with any political organization.  No they don't have a web site to register on.  But the RNC has a massive voter data base merged with various consumer marketing data bases that "snoop" on voters alos.

Frankly the TJX scandal and other privacy theft cases, combined with quasi governmental efforts like Patrick's and the RNC's (which is by far the most advanced of political organizations) should really send BIG warning signals that our (false) sense to having a right to privacy is being violated.

We have no constitutional right to privacy and it's time we start thinking about that.  And this ain't a partisan issue--but I'll bet some folks here will try and make it one and jsut blame Deval.  (Just like some folks at BMG will be in denial.) 

---

by: Festus Garvey @ Thu Mar 29, 2007 at 22:07:24 PM CDT

Festus - the response is control. (0.00 / 0)

Not every Tom, Dick or Harry can access such data in the GOP database of registered voters; it is carefully held, and given with a tracking number to prevent generalized snooping.  Also, we don't PRETEND it's used for anything BUT partisan/election purposes, while Deval is claiming that is not the reason he's trying to marry email addresses to voting addresses on his site.  To which my response is - yeah, right.

Yr. Obedient Servant, Peter Porcupine, Republican

---

by: Peter Porcupine @ Fri Mar 30, 2007 at 12:17:51 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

The slippery slope "big picture" is being missed... (0.00 / 0)

...at least I think so.  It's bad enough that in the "private sector" our personal info from various sources are being merged into giant databases and the data is being "mined" by super computers in a way that they are trying (and getting better everyday) to predict our consumer behavior.  And I understand both Dems and Reps trying the same techniques to predict voter behavior so they can refine their messaging, media buys and GOTV efforts.

But at what point do these quasi government entities know too much about you and me?  At what point will they be able to model our political beliefs and actions, just like private marketers are doing when they develop new product lines (or retool old ones)?  At what point will the database of a political party or a candidate's campaign organization be shifted into official government use?  At that point, do we have Big Brother and 1984?

The difference between Patrick's process and the RNC's data mining operations are minor compared to the over all trend--or slippery slope--I see here.  The DNC is working hard to copy the RNC's success and it's only a matter of time before some Republican politician copies and "improves" on Patrick's approach.

Come on Peter, don't try and make this some issue where the Dem is worse than the Rep here.  The information age is both liberating for an individual and dangerous.  We need to take action to foster the liberation and curb the dangers. 

---

by: Festus Garvey @ Fri Mar 30, 2007 at 18:12:28 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Let me try to understand (0.00 / 0)

Let me see if I understand you correctly.

Republishing public information that anyone can find in a phone book, a registry of deeds website, or a "people finder" web service and making it available to the masses = bad.

Amassing a massive database about voters, marrying this data to things like consumer data, credit reports, you name it, but making it available to a few privileged, powerful people = good.

Wow.

---

by: NoPolitician @ Fri Mar 30, 2007 at 21:22:45 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

there is no credit report data in votervault (0.00 / 0)

And the consumer data that may be in it is limited to types of things people do, not actual things they do. 

Full Disclosure
http://www.redmassgroup.com/pr...

---

by: Rob "EaBo Clipper" Eno @ Fri Mar 30, 2007 at 22:04:47 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Patrick's site does violate privacy (0.00 / 0)

And he should cease providing such information. But I wonder if these kids were up and arms about the Patriot Act, Domestic Spying, or Bush's assertion that he can read people's email?

Btw, If Jo. J was so worried about her privacy, then why was it so easy to find her full name, email address, photos, college activites and myspace page (which includes major, minor, hometown, TV shows, etc)? It seems to me, as a woman, Jo has nothing to fear from DP and everything to fear from Google.

---

by: Tony Snow's Colon @ Fri Mar 30, 2007 at 00:46:47 AM CDT

Do you have any class? (0.00 / 0)

Is your sense of humor (if one may call it that) so challenged that you find it clever to make a joke out of a person's fatal disease? Do you lack any sense of propriety, any sense of conscience?

It's too bad, because the point you made was a good one.

Just goes to show that even an idiot can make sense once in a while.

---

by: wavemaker @ Fri Mar 30, 2007 at 11:44:22 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

'We' asked for it.... (0.00 / 0)

...by tolerating a user with the name Ted K's Liver - who ALSO makes excellent points!

Turnabout IS fair play, and I would condemn them both to a Celebrity Death Match of the Battling Organs with a Tastelessness Jock Cup as grand trophy.

Yr. Obedient Servant, Peter Porcupine, Republican

---

by: Peter Porcupine @ Fri Mar 30, 2007 at 12:14:15 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Fair enough, pedro, but (0.00 / 0)

if I were in an arguing mood, I could easily distinguish between the ridiculing of Ted Kennedy's well-publicized drinking exploits (to which the moniker using his liver refers) and Tony Snow's inoperable cancer.

Nonetheless, both are examples of crass political insults, deserved or undeserved.

---

by: wavemaker @ Fri Mar 30, 2007 at 12:52:18 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

It's great to see someone with the cerebral capacity (0.00 / 0)

to distinguish between satire and just outright bad taste... well said  "Wavemaker"....

---

by: Ted K's Liver @ Fri Mar 30, 2007 at 21:27:11 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

My screen name is satire, too (0.00 / 0)

You get no points for being "less tasteless". Both of our names are tasteless, and if RMG wants to attract quality readers and commenters, then they need to eliminate tasteless screen names.

If a moderate/independent reader browses through and the first impression they get is that "Ted K's Liver" is a prominent poster, how can they take this blog as a place which fosters intelligent, earnest dialogue?

---

by: Tony Snow's Colon @ Sat Mar 31, 2007 at 00:05:57 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Tolerating??? How about us "tolerating" a woman (0.00 / 1)

masquerading as a man? Why do you insist upon calling yourself
"Peter" Porcupine when "Pauline" Porcupine would be correct?

Ya ok we all know of the "poetic license" taken by TS Eliot, et al... but please, spare us..... don't foister the "views" of a woman upon us in the guise of a man... thanks for "coming out" "Pauline"

---

by: Ted K's Liver @ Fri Mar 30, 2007 at 22:46:26 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

And exactly when did I come out instead of being 'outed' by those who have never met me? (0.00 / 0)

Yr. Obedient Servant, Peter Porcupine, Republican

---

by: Peter Porcupine @ Sun Apr 01, 2007 at 15:30:31 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

"peter" sorry for my outburst (0.00 / 0)

I really don't care if you're a male or female. More curiosity than anything after reading those who "claim" to know you say that you are a female.

---

by: Ted K's Liver @ Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 13:16:38 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Whatever (0.00 / 0)

You have been proven a LIAR! No one believes what you have to say?

How does it feel to be outed as a liar? You have no credibility and your words speak far louder than any half-assed apology

---

by: Tony Snow's Colon @ Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 15:51:26 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

You need to get some help..seriously (0.00 / 0)

It looks like your entire pitiful existence is being consumed with stalking a poster on a friggin blog? Is this all your entire life is about? Whoa what a loser. People have gone from laughing at you to thinking "Wow , this loser is a mess"
Cut back on the marijuana and get a job instead of spending your miserable life on Blogs and things might get better.
see a doctor asap..

---

by: Ted K's Liver @ Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 17:45:59 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

At least I'm not a bigot (0.00 / 0)

Why do you keep lying on BMG?

---

by: Tony Snow's Colon @ Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 17:50:02 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Can't you see how "sick" you are? (0.00 / 0)

Your response to my last post took about 30 seconds...you've got serious mental problems...get help soon ...your pitiful purpose for existence is to attack a poster on a meaningless blog?  You poor sick bastard.. how sad

---

by: Ted K's Liver @ Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 18:04:39 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Sick? (0.00 / 0)

Sick of bigoted, hate-spewing, lying, sociopaths like you.

Why do you lie on BMG?

---

by: Tony Snow's Colon @ Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 18:35:08 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Just signed on and you're the only one here (0.00 / 0)

waiting to pounce on this post you poor sick deranged loser.
Your so filled with rage and hate that you lurk ( that's one of your five or so aliases isn't it loser?)here day and night living to jump on my next post.
Watch me work my "Colon" puppet folks! Watch me pull a string and send it into a frothing at the mouth rage! This is becoming hilarious! My own sick "Colon" puppet to play with... excellent! I think I'll have it smoke a joint and really make a fool of itself. Working the strings to make it work the keyboard is a little complicated though  especially when its stoned...Boooowahhhhhaaaaa Bwaaaaaaa

---

by: Ted K's Liver @ Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 20:35:13 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

So angry, (0.00 / 0)

so sad :(

Sure, lurker is one of my aliases, but I at least I don't lie about it. Are you angry because you hate yourself for being a filthy liar?

---

by: Tony Snow's Colon @ Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 20:53:23 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I thought (0.00 / 0)

it was funny.

“The family does not exist for society or the state, but society and the state exist for the family.” "People have no problem trying to influence other people's children, but no one wants someone influencing their own."

---

by: Renee @ Fri Mar 30, 2007 at 12:57:10 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

What's "funny" about colon cancer Renee? (0.00 / 0)

---

by: Ted K's Liver @ Fri Mar 30, 2007 at 21:30:46 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

What's funny about "Ted K's Liver"? (0.00 / 0)

I mean, it's not as original as "Tony Snow's Colon".  I'm no copyright attorney, but shouldn't you get written consent from Howie to use such a tired joke? I think 1969 called and wanted it's punchline back. By the way, couldn't you perhaps relate your screen name to something humerous that happened in say, I dunno, the last 20 years?  Jesus, "Monica's Dress Stain" would have at least been more current than a Ted K joke. A Patrick K joke would have been more timely (and far more tasteless and funny) than a Ted K joke.

Actually, I have an unfair advantage. Look at all the names I could have chosen (they're lay-ups, really):

Dick Cheney's Pacemaker
Stann Coulter
Mitt's Illegal Guatemalan
Mutiple Choice Mitt
The Last Throes of the Insurgency
Yellow Cake
Dog Sex Santorum
WMD's were a lie

So many to choose from, and that's only the tip of the iceberg!

---

by: Tony Snow's Colon @ Sat Mar 31, 2007 at 00:21:19 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I almost forgot (0.00 / 0)

How about John McCain's "Wasted Lives"? Oooohh, I shouldn't give all my good ones away.

---

by: Tony Snow's Colon @ Sat Mar 31, 2007 at 00:40:48 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Lame-up's, more apt (0.00 / 0)

I think you forfeit the gravitas to make the argument about testeless screen names as long as you continue to use the current one.

All you demonstrate with your list of "names" is obtuseness.

---

by: wavemaker @ Sat Mar 31, 2007 at 08:37:37 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Exactly. (0.00 / 0)

And Ted K's Liver forfeits the same credibility, moral high ground, or whatever you want to call it. 

---

by: Tony Snow's Colon @ Sat Mar 31, 2007 at 11:03:16 AM CDT

[ Parent ]