(Sept. 18, 2008) Palin E-Mail Hacker Says It Was Easy (Wired)**Update** TN State Rep. Mike Kernell (D) confirmed that it's his son

[HeatherL]

Palin E-Mail Hacker Says It Was Easy
A person claiming to be the hacker who obtained access to Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's private Yahoo e-mail on Tuesday has posted a supposed first-person account of the hack, revealing the relatively simple steps he says he took to crack the private e-mail of the Republican vice-presidential candidate.

The story was briefly posted Wednesday to the 4chan forum where the hack first surfaced. Bloggers have connected the handle of the poster, "Rubico," to an e-mail address, and tentatively identified the owner as a college student in Tennessee.

Threat Level was unable to reach the student by phone because his number is unlisted. His father, when reached at home, said he could not talk about the matter and would have no comment. The father is a Democratic state representative.
http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/09/palin-e-mail-ha.html#comments

Whoa!

[Bacio83]

A Dem. State rep.... nooooooo LOL

[Horizon]

Go friggin figure!Kid is a juvenile delinquent learning from father.Nice showing,Dems!

[HeatherL]

Argh ..... my title should read, "Father of alleged hacker is .... ", not "Alleged father of hacker is...". That would be a whole separate story. :p

[Ebinger]

Whoa, check out those comments the Obama bots are leaving - bet they'd be outraged if this happened to Michelle Obama.

So it's from some Democrat Tennessee rep's bratty-but-grown son?Watch him spring his stupid kid from jail after he's arrested. :rolleyes:

[joeysky18]

Argh ..... my title should read, "Father of alleged hacker is .... ", not "Alleged father of hacker is...". That would be a whole separate story. :p

Fixed.

[HeatherL]

Fixed.

Thanks. :-)

[Bad Kitty]

The father is a Democratic state representative.

Should've known.

[lynfreedom]

love for it t be exposed that BO behind

[foxyladi]

Go friggin figure!Kid is a juvenile delinquent learning from father.Nice showing,Dems!

will the kid get to go to jail?????

[Artists4Hillary]

This person has done some serious damage to yahoo. Watch the stock fall as people get rid of their yahoo accounts.

[NBM]

Well, there goes the bots' crazy theory that it was Karl Rove behind this. :)

I wonder why the dad didn't want to comment. :cool:

[Justmy.02]

What is WRONG with these people? Are they seriously THAT desperate?

This little s**t belongs in a jail cell, and his father right along with him! I left a comment; it read in part: 'If this had been BO's account, you would have been howling at the moon and racing to find the person to string him up.'

[hillary1]

http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/09/palin-e-mail-ha.html#comments

Whoa!

and barack knew nothing about it, RIGHT! let's check to see if any emails to this party were from the obama campaign, this is right up their crooked alley

[Ca Teacher]

Wow. I figured it would be linked back to the Dems--but was kind of hoping it was just some crazy. Our party is really going downhill.:(

[Lillie]

Well this proves Palin is MUCH more honest than I am.
I NEVER give my real birth year anywhere online.

I'm 100 at myspace. :D

[coyoterex]

Why does it not surprise me that the AP is not assisting in this?

[Agent 00½ FL]

and barack knew nothing about it, RIGHT! let's check to see if any emails to this party were from the obama campaign, this is right up their crooked alley

The Feds might put the heat on the Kid to turnover any evidence of who put him up to it. Someone needs to break this wide open.

[PCFS1]

WOW. This is a disgrace. I smell foul here.

[Bad Kitty]

'If this had been BO's account, you would have been howling at the moon and racing to find the person to string him up.'

Thanks for the visual. I can see the bots on all fours howling at the moon. lol

[ibginnie]

Has anyone seen any news story about this other than the blog cited in the OP? I was looking and didn't find one.

I was looking for specifics. Who is the kid? Who is his father? What's happening now?

I don't think, with the committal of a federal crime, that now is the time to sleep on the facts.

[mjno7777]

Well, there goes the bots' crazy theory that it was Karl Rove behind this. :)

I wonder why the dad didn't want to comment. :cool:


The OBAMABOTS answer to everything is Karl Rove. A democratic state rep is the father, how interesting!!!!!

[ragdoll]

foxyladi14 Quote:

will the kid get to go to jail?????

I heard a lawyer on Fox News this morning saying that there would be at least 3 felony charges made when they found the perp. Sounds like Federal Prison to me, depending on the kids age, of course.

[hillary1]

http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/09/palin-e-mail-ha.html#comments

Whoa!

JUST READ HACKERS OF SARAH PALIN EMAILS WILL FACE CHARGES, MSN

YIPEE, HOPE IT LEADS TO OBAMA CAMPAIGN

[adventures7]

It's hard not to laugh at the stupidity of this hacker. I read that article about it on Michelle Malkin's (http://michellemalkin.com/)blog and died laughing at the thought of the hacker suddenly realizing how much trouble he could get in and turning off the computer and well, here it is:
Earlier it was just some prank to me, I really wanted to get something incriminating which I was sure there would be, just like all of you anon out there that you think there was some missed opportunity of glory, well there WAS NOTHING, I read everything, every little blackberry confirmation… all the pictures, and there was nothing, and it finally set in, THIS internet was serious business, yes I was behind a proxy, only one, if this shit ever got to the FBI I was ******, I panicked, i still wanted the stuff out there but I didn’t know how to rapidshit all that stuff, so I posted the pass on /b/, and then promptly deleted everything, and unplugged my internet and just sat there in a comatose state

[unchainthedogs]

I haven't heard one word about this on the news today! Not one. I hope they blast it everywhere when this liberal lefty (smarter than everyone else) is arrested and slammed in a jail cell.

[freethinker]

It's hard not to laugh at the stupidity of this hacker. I read that article about it on Michelle Malkin's (http://michellemalkin.com/)blog and died laughing at the thought of the hacker suddenly realizing how much trouble he could get in and turning off the computer and well, here it is:
Earlier it was just some prank to me, I really wanted to get something incriminating which I was sure there would be, just like all of you anon out there that you think there was some missed opportunity of glory, well there WAS NOTHING, I read everything, every little blackberry confirmation… all the pictures, and there was nothing, and it finally set in, THIS internet was serious business, yes I was behind a proxy, only one, if this shit ever got to the FBI I was ******, I panicked, i still wanted the stuff out there but I didn’t know how to rapidshit all that stuff, so I posted the pass on /b/, and then promptly deleted everything, and unplugged my internet and just sat there in a comatose state

ROTFLMAO!!

[Frances]

This son should be treated like the criminal he is, and better not see daddy running
to fix it!

[Ebinger]

Those posts that kid made cracked me up as well, poor dumb kid.

They think they had the name:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22David+Kernell%22&aq=f&oq=

and they're still "investigating". He did this to help Obama, maybe Obama should post the bail.:)

[gaziza]

If the kid taking credit is the real one, then they will figure out who he is. He says in the posting that he used only one proxy. Apparently that proxy has been identified and is co-operating (http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D939AO101&show_article=1) (unlike AP):

Investigators were waiting to speak with Gabriel Ramuglia of Athens, Ga., who operates an Internet anonymity service used by the hacker. Ramuglia told the AP on Thursday he was reviewing his own logs and promised to turn over any helpful information to authorities because the hacker violated rules against using the anonymity service for illegal activities.

From there it should be pretty trivial for them to track him down.

[Lillie]

A bit more info on Plain's email hacker case:

http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080918/NEWS02/80918081

State rep confirms that son is subject of Palin e-mail chatter
BY THEO EMERY • STAFF WRITER • SEPTEMBER 18, 2008

State Rep. Mike Kernell confirmed Thursday that his son, a University of Tennessee-Knoxville student, is at the center of heated Internet discussion into the hacking of the personal e-mail of vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

Kernell, a Memphis Democrat, confirmed that it is his 20-year-old son, David, who is being widely named on Internet blogs and chatrooms in connection with an unfolding story about Palin's hacked e-mail accounts.
The FBI and the Secret Service started a formal investigation on Wednesday into the hacking.

David Kernell is a student at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. Mike Kernell said he spoke to his son on Thursday, as he does on a regular basis.

Kernell otherwise declined to comment, or discuss his son’s whereabouts.

[encarn]

Wow. Thinking you may wish to "drop" your classes for this semester there, David. You will probably be otherwise engaged his week with several men and women wearing dark suits, sunglasses, and holsters.

You reap what you sow...

[Bloomer]

Yepper! Shutting it down is going to fix everything and make it all disappear. :rolleyes:

[kathleen]

This son should be treated like the criminal he is, and better not see daddy running
to fix it!

Agreed! :mad:

[Sandy in PA]

The father is a Democratic state representative.

Why am I not surprised?

[Ebinger]

Oh, so it is little David.

I know nothing about this family, but I do feel some sympathy to the father - every parent is embarrassed by their kid at one time or another, but this is an international event what his little troll did.

[Calico]

So much for the 'bots trying to blame it on Karl Rove techniques. It is one of their own caught with "their hands in the cookie jar".

[G4Hillary]

I heard a lawyer on Fox News this morning saying that there would be at least 3 felony charges made when they found the perp. Sounds like Federal Prison to me, depending on the kids age, of course.
If he is over 18 he should get serious time, otherwise it will look like he's getting off the hook with his dad pulling strings.

[mesofreee]

This Mike Kernell?

Mike Kernell
District 93 3583 Allandale Ln
Memphis, TN 38111 5601 (901) 454-1113

public info from State Democratic Webpage bottom of list
http://www.tndp.org/processContacts.php

pic of the hacker?
David Kernell
http://skirtsnotpantsuits.blogspot.com/2008/09/and-hacker-is.html

Mike Kernell's state website with pic
http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/house/members/h93.htm

[Still-a-Republican]

whoop der it is!

The father is a Democratic state representative.

On deck: The father is a Democratic state representative he and his son are actively involved in the Obama campaign.

[Agent 00½ FL]

It's hard not to laugh at the stupidity of this hacker. I read that article about it on Michelle Malkin's (http://michellemalkin.com/)blog and died laughing at the thought of the hacker suddenly realizing how much trouble he could get in and turning off the computer and well, here it is:
Earlier it was just some prank to me, I really wanted to get something incriminating which I was sure there would be, just like all of you anon out there that you think there was some missed opportunity of glory, well there WAS NOTHING, I read everything, every little blackberry confirmation… all the pictures, and there was nothing, and it finally set in, THIS internet was serious business, yes I was behind a proxy, only one, if this shit ever got to the FBI I was ******, I panicked, i still wanted the stuff out there but I didn’t know how to rapidshit all that stuff, so I posted the pass on /b/, and then promptly deleted everything, and unplugged my internet and just sat there in a comatose state


I thought this account was contrived. I really think that the Father put the kid up to it and this is the way they are backpeddling. Think about it if you did something like this would your parent know about it this quickly, that would be the last person I would tell.

[Memphis_Blues]

With any luck I can snag this kids tickets to the Florida Tennessee game this weekend. I'll be he won't need them. :D

Tennessee House Representative MIKE KERNELL D - Memphis
(http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/house/members/h93.htm)

The 15 minutes of fame has begun!

http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/house/pics/h93.jpg

MIKE KERNELL
D - Memphis
District 93 - Part of Shelby County
University of Memphis area
and part of zip codes 38111, 38114, 38117,
and 38119 in Southeast Memphis

District Address
3583 Allandale Lane
Memphis, TN 38111-5601
Phone (901) 454-1113
Nashville Address
38 Legislative Plaza
Nashville, TN 37243-0193
Phone (615) 741-3726
Fax (615) 253-0320
Staff Contact: Kyle Faulkner

[JamieKuuipo]

sure blame the kid... so the real people involved don;t get caught

[user312]

Yea!!!!!!!!! Dems caught in Yahoo-Gate Scandal!

[writerchick]

What is WRONG with these people? Are they seriously THAT desperate?

yes, and you better believe if there WAS something incriminating it would have been used by the party.

[B positive]

In case anyone was wondering.... State Rep. Mike Kernell was NOT a superdel.

[mesofreee]

whoop der it is!



On deck: The father is a Democratic state representative he and his son are actively involved in the Obama campaign.

of course they are and I hope they spill the beans to keep junior out of jail!

[Ebinger]

I thought this account was contrived. I really think that the Father put the kid up to it and this is the way they are backpeddling. Think about it if you did something like this would your parent know about it this quickly, that would be the last person I would tell.

Do you really think the parent was using his own son? I would never do that, and I doubt you'd ever do that, but an Obama bot just might.

He's 20, a full adult in the eyes of the law.

[michu]

I feel horrible for Representative Shelby. This is going to reflect very badly upon him. We knew it was an Obama supporter, but I envisioned one of those crazies that picketed the RNC convention, not a geeky son of a TN Rep. :/ The kid should have just backed out of the account when he realized he'd made a huge mistake instead of posting the password.

[Kbentleyis]

This "child"?, he's 20... did it to get incriminating evidence. He wanted glory? What an idiot. Because he did it for personal gain, he should be prosecuted for sure. Maybe, just maybe some of those bots will learn something from this.

[Donald]

None of this seems to be making it to the main stream media...I keep hearing about the hacking, but have heard nothing about a suspect or any ties to dems??? Is any of this true or just rumor.

[Mrsawd]

Threat Level was unable to reach the student by phone because his number is unlisted. His father, when reached at home, said he could not talk about the matter and would have no comment. The father is a Democratic state representative.

Or taking a rap so Daddy don't get in trouble

[adventures7]

I only heard about it last night on Greta's show so maybe she'll have a follow-up?

[Ebinger]

There's a picture of him here, along with some updated info:

http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/

:D

[adventures7]

I feel badly for his parents, how embarrassing.

[Agent 00½ FL]

Do you really think the parent was using his own son? I would never do that, and I doubt you'd ever do that, but an Obama bot just might.

He's 20, a full adult in the eyes of the law.

The Dad may have known his son was a Computer Geek. My thought is if they did turn up dirt on Palin the focus from the Media would have been on the dirt and not catching the party that did it. The Dad may have thought or was told he would be on the Chosen Ones List for favors.

[Avalon]

Why am I not surprised?

I know I am not surprised.

[freethinker]

Remember Passport-gate? And it was attributed to inexperienced kids who just happened to have clearance and were "curious?" and they just coincidentally happened to be working for a consulting firm owned by a security advisor for OBAMA?

Is this guy is using his kid as a cyber mule?

:cool:

[Justmy.02]

When they start throwing the Dems who are crooked in jail, it's gonna get mighty full mighty fast...

[Hillarysmygirl08]

Wow this election has more twists and turns then a roller coaster. I tell you I hope the father had nothing to do with this. There is something wrong with Parents who get kids to commit crimes for them. I bet the kid did this on his own.

[Tea toaD]

Bill O. said on his show last night that he was calling the A.G. and the FBI. I think he may have something on his show and so will Greta and Hannity. Bill was suppose to report what he had found out. We'll s e e what they all have to say. I don't expect much from the other faux news channels or their humble reporters:rolleyes: Someone else said this could be very bad for the culprit when and if the person was found out.

[ginamc]

Wow. Thinking you may wish to "drop" your classes for this semester there, David. You will probably be otherwise engaged his week with several men and women wearing dark suits, sunglasses, and holsters.

You reap what you sow...

LOL!!!! Right on.

Bill O. said on his show last night that he was calling the A.G. and the FBI. I think he may have something on his show and so will Greta and Hannity. Bill was suppose to report what he had found out. We'll s e e what they all have to say. I don't expect much from the other faux news channels or their humble reporters:rolleyes: Someone else said this could be very bad for the culprit when and if the person was found out.

I can't even imagine if the tables were turned -- a Republican State Rep's son hacking into Biden's email account. There would be WWIII out there! Instead, MSNBC has been blaming Palin all day long -- shame on Palin for having a Yahoo account. How pathetic, they inflict the injury, and then blame the victim. I expect nothing less from Obama surrogates.

[HeatherL]

I bet the kid did this on his own.

This is what I believe, too. I think he was just doing it to show off -- if he found something incriminating, he would be the hero of the day.

[NBM]

Yeah, I think the kid had a severe Kool Aid overdose. But it was with willful, criminal intent, so there's no defense.

It will be interesting to know how he and his father were involved in the Obama campaign. The FBI will be asking them every question in the universe.

[Ijane]

This "child"?, he's 20... did it to get incriminating evidence. He wanted glory? What an idiot. Because he did it for personal gain, he should be prosecuted for sure. Maybe, just maybe some of those bots will learn something from this.

This punk kid broke the law in an attempt to expose something...anything embarrassing about Palin with no regard for her children, husband or parents. He has the same mentality as Jill Greenberg and he better be booted out of his university and made to serve time.

Sure validates McCain's wolves after Palin ad!

[AbbyPad]

We have to remember that it is "children" such as these who are voting in record numbers, and deciding the election. These are the kids and young people that Obama is inspiring. If they think they are great enough to understand all the issues and vote, then they are old enough to go to jail.

[Hillicrat]

That's the trouble with all those "educated" Obot's.

[greenleaf]

We have to remember that it is "children" such as these who are voting in record numbers, and deciding the election. These are the kids and young people that Obama is inspiring. If they think they are great enough to understand all the issues and vote, then they are old enough to go to jail.

Yep.

[DC_Mark]

I wonder if the kid is working for the Obama campaign in any capacity.

[mjno7777]

I wonder if the kid is working for the Obama campaign in any capacity.

IF he was so hell bent on getting dirt on Palin, he is a OBOT, maybe a volunteer and I am sure he got the word from OBAMA to get in their faces, get tough.

Can we check on this in any way? Before they destroy the evidence.

[thebword]

I feel badly for his parents, how embarrassing.

Not a chance, I don't feel bad, nor do I believe for a minute that this kid, who is the son of a Democrat Rep, just happened - all on his own to hack into Palin's private emails. What a load of BS. This is just like the passport files that were hacked. Obama and/or his staff use Chicago Thug politics, the ends justifies the means.

[mondayblues]

Oh that definitely is an OBOT. He wanted to hack into Palin's account to find something incriminating. Just like Obama and his team tried to make the troopergate into such a big scandal when its nothing.

Hacking a Yahoo account isn't all that easy. I think this guy merely guessed Palin's password, rather than doing something more complex. He thought he was lucky when in turn he was opening a huge can of worms. This idiot probably even did it in his school where he thought he couldn't get caught.

Way to go Obama. I don't think McCain will use this on his ads, but for those who want Obama to go down, I suggest you guys start emailing this news bit to everyone.

I'm tempted to do some photoshop work on that kid but I won't stoop down to the level of those losers.

[ModerateRepublican]

Hacking a Yahoo account isn't all that easy. I think this guy merely guessed Palin's password, rather than doing something more complex. He thought he was lucky when in turn he was opening a huge can of worms. This idiot probably even did it in his school where he thought he couldn't get caught.

No Yahoo has a very poor backdoor.

The lost password system only requires 3 pieces of info
1) email address - put out by msm
2) dob - released by obots when they put private info on web
3) home zipcode - found by postal code lookup

he then was able to change password and have unrestricted access to the email.

[SantaCruzen]

He has broken the Federal Law.

Electronic tampering and ID theft plus. We could all have the same rights but most of us cannot track the hacker. And, many times it is a teenager.

[gaziza]

Hacking a Yahoo account isn't all that easy. I think this guy merely guessed Palin's password, rather than doing something more complex. He thought he was lucky when in turn he was opening a huge can of worms. This idiot probably even did it in his school where he thought he couldn't get caught.

If the account posted was given by the person who did this, he used the "forgot password" feature and used Google to find out the answers to her personal questions, and used that to form educated guesses. (Example, the question "where did you meet your husband?" was answered successfully with "Wassila high")

He also used a proxy, which would make his visit anonymous, but he didn't realize that the proxy host would give log details to the Secret Service in this matter.

Some press accounts characterize this as impersonating Palin. I am not sure what exact charges he will face, but it could be something like identity theft, impersonating a public official, DCMA violations, etc.

[ClintonDems]

Wonder if he is the no-life pimply little turd that hacked my website last week...:mad:

[Laura Cereta]

The father is a Democratic state representative.


Why am I not surprised? Off to federal prison he goes... Daddy schooled him in corruption and lack of integrity just fine. Sad.

[Calico]

No Yahoo has a very poor backdoor.

The lost password system only requires 3 pieces of info
1) email address - put out by msm
2) dob - released by obots when they put private info on web
3) home zipcode - found by postal code lookup

he then was able to change password and have unrestricted access to the email.

Yes, most of these free e-mail providers have poor security. This was exactly how this guy did it. It was not hard.

He went through ctunnel, a proxy server to try to hide himself. But, he left the website in the screen shot (stupid!). The proxy site is probably spoofing and would be difficult to find the real address. Although it was said on a news show this afternoon that the proxy company was cooperating, so maybe they were able to locate it.

Interesting, I looked at the website:

http://www.ctunnel.com/about.html

and found that this, may be coincidence that the administrator is from AK or maybe not.

Who is Ktunnel
Ktunnel is administrated by Gabriel Ramuglia, owner of the Overnight PC computer repair shop located in Fairbanks, AK. I too once went to school, and didn't much appreciate being blocked accessing various websites. I also run a browser based game, Oil Fight, which appeals to people bored at school and work.

The site has an obvious Obama ad on the top of one of its pages.

Shepard Smith mentioned that the hacker was a Tennessee Representative and was suppose to go into detail later in the show, but did not. O'Reilly talked about it with Megyn Kelly, on his show, but did not mention any names.

[ggreen]

Should have clung to guns and religion.

_____

[LucyTN]

Folks I know how you all feel but I just want to say that I know this father. He is a good man. The kid is 20 years old and away at college. We do the best we can while raising them but sometime they disappoint us. I'm sure that Mike is feeing that tonight in the very worst way.

[xfiles]

Sarah Palin's young son goes off to serve in Iraq and this delinquent breaks the law hacking into Gov. Palin's emails.:mad:

[efemall]

After he hacked it, he could of just signed out and forgotten about it and no one would ever have known...

[Annie]

Has anyone seen any news story about this other than the blog cited in the OP? I was looking and didn't find one.

I was looking for specifics. Who is the kid? Who is his father? What's happening now?

I don't think, with the committal of a federal crime, that now is the time to sleep on the facts.

Greta had it on fox tonight... The hacker is called David kernell - a student around 20 plus years - so old enough to go to prison. His father is Mike Kernell, a Democrat member of the Tennessee House of Representatives and a major supporter of The Messiah Himself.
http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/194133.php

Google it there are a million and one sites on this...

Chickens coming home to rooooooooosssttttt.....

[joeysky18]

After he hacked it, he could of just signed out and forgotten about it and no one would ever have known...

Exactly!

He posted it and shared it on the internet to embarrass her. Then a few Obots were even more stupid to cross post it and send it out to AP.

I can imagine that they were giddy with glee while they were blogging about it and encourage others to spread it around.

[coyoterex]

Is there any verification that he was the one that called Bristol's phone? That just seemed like a cry to get caught. Phone records are pretty well kept.

I hope that they prosecute this moron to the full extent of the law. With such a high profile case, they need to make an example of him, to discourage this type of behavior in the future.

[rosesnc]

Memphis, of course. Bastion of corrupt politicians and the entitlement culture in Tennessee. What is really sad here is that this young man has no ethical compass.

[ModerateRepublican]

It was on Fox & Friends this morning. XM channel 21 in the car.

They had judge Namalatano (sp?); the judge from "Brian & Judge" weigh in.

Looks like it is a 2 year federal charge plus states charges in two different states.

They did mention that the Dem Rep from TN is being investigated because FBI "believe" his son was the hacker.

No further details but F&F is pretty well watched 2-3 million so I think other news stories might pick it up this Fri which would be great as a new cycle moving into the weekend.

[HumbleDave]

Hope the kid likes it in prison. He's about to get a life altering experience. Credits to Obama as yet another "tool" is thrown under the bus in the chosen ones march to the white house.

Latest from AP has it that the Secret Service and FBI are stepping in.

[Latina4Hillary]

Remember Passport-gate? And it was attributed to inexperienced kids who just happened to have clearance and were "curious?" and they just coincidentally happened to be working for a consulting firm owned by a security advisor for OBAMA?

Is this guy is using his kid as a cyber mule?

:cool:

Freethinker,

Have you just coined a new term (cyber mule) or is it just that I'm not ;)tech savvy?

[gaziza]

Folks I know how you all feel but I just want to say that I know this father. He is a good man. The kid is 20 years old and away at college. We do the best we can while raising them but sometime they disappoint us. I'm sure that Mike is feeing that tonight in the very worst way.

This is good to keep in mind as this plays out. Many of us were quick to defend Sarah Palin when people wanted to slam her based on her daughter's behavior. Granted, the circumstances are a bit different here (the son engaging in political criminal activity, and the father supposedly supporting the same candidate as the son), but I think it is fair to wait and see where it goes before making a judgment about his father.

[blazer615]

i live in nashville and it was the lead story on our news last night you can check it out on www.newschannel5.com

[Got Angelou]

Folks I know how you all feel but I just want to say that I know this father. He is a good man. The kid is 20 years old and away at college. We do the best we can while raising them but sometime they disappoint us. I'm sure that Mike is feeing that tonight in the very worst way.

If there is no connection between the father/family and criminal activity of the son, then compassion is warranted.


For me, it is frustrating to see/hear folks refer to the perpetrator as a "KID."
He is an adult and should be held fully accountable for his actions. All outbound communication should refer to him as such, otherwise the message gets tainted as "oh, it's just a kid on the computer pulling pranks." Absolute crap... this adult knew exactly what he was doing, demonstrated intent to harm, refused to pull back from identity theft (reposting his crime), and admitted to understanding the implications of his crime. No joking matter here, at all.

.

[PartyOfOne]

Here's a good chance to think about the security of our own online accounts. My advice is: Always lie.

Unless there's a legal reason not to, lie about your name. (You probably can't do this if you're entering into any kind of contract.) Use a name similar to your own and easy to remember. Teri Johns instead of Terri Jones.

ALWAYS LIE about the answers to security questions. The easiest way to do this and keep track of it is to choose a person from your past, but not from your immediate family, and provide their answers. For example, your best friend in third grade had a cat named Twinklebutt, her mother's maden name was Grayson and her birthday was 17 days before yours. Just use the same person every time but select different security questions for different accounts.

Better safe than sorry.

[Lodi]

Wonder if he is the no-life pimply little turd that hacked my website last week...:mad:

I'd call the FBI if I were you, and ask them to check it out. It might well have been the turd, who I think should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, kicked out of school, and deprived of his voting rights. I'll bet his father was involved. Guess we'll know soon enough, since I don't think Fox will let this issue die. Nor should they.