It's Fun To Laugh About Congressional Reps Suing A Satirical Internet Cow, But It's A Real Attack On Free Speech

from the we-need-an-anti-slapp-law-now dept

I originally wrote a draft of this post over the weekend, before Nunes, filed a second bullshit lawsuit against Liz Mair, but now that that has happened, it has become even more relevant. I've lightly updated the original text to include this new lawsuit.

Lots of folks laughed about Rep. Devin Nunes' crazy lawsuit against a satirical cow on Twitter that mocked him, but much of the case is no laughing matter for those on the receiving end. While it is unlikely (but not impossible) that a court will let the case get far enough to unmask who is behind the satirical Twitter accounts, those individuals will still need to lawyer up. Also, while it gets ignored in much of the reporting on the case, there was one named defendant: political strategist/communications expert Liz Mair, who seemed to get sued for tweeting criticisms of Nunes.

While the fake cow account got hundreds of thousands of new followers, Mair didn't get quite the same bump. But she's got even more crap to deal with in this case -- as well as the second case that Nunes just filed. She's now written a thoughtful post on just how totally fucked up it is that a sitting member of Congress would sue a critic for being mean to him on Twitter:

... it’s vitally important that the entire nation understands what this lawsuit is really about: A sitting member of the U.S. government, specifically, a congressman, is trying to stifle free speech — mine, yours and every other American’s — by using litigation as a cudgel to bully and intimidate.

The fact is, free speech is recognized and protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The Framers correctly considered it a God-given right, an inherent freedom so important to the system of government they were establishing that they explicitly stated its existence straight at the outset of the Bill of Rights.

James Madison, fourth president of the United States, father of the Constitution and co-author of the Federalist Papers, famously commented that “the censorial power is in the people over the government, and not in the government over the people.” Nunes’ lawsuit flips that notion entirely on its head.

There's a good history lesson in the article that is worth clicking through to read, but a key point:

The plain fact is, Rep. Nunes’ lawsuit constitutes a grave threat to the long recognized and respected civil liberties belonging to each of us, and indeed our system of governance writ large. Madison also said, “All men having power ought to be distrusted to a certain degree.” He was right, as was British historian Lord Acton when he said, “Power tends to corrupt.”

This is why Americans should scrutinize our public officials’ political committee expenditures — including those of leadership PACs — voting records, public statements, financial interests, behavior and conduct. It’s what the Framers wanted, it is what the First Amendment guarantees a right to do, and it is sound policy to boot. True freedom and good, constitutional government are impossible to maintain unless each of us is able to question, research and review what our public officials do, based on publicly available information and interactions with them and their staff, and then engage in unimpeded, public debate about what we find. They work for us, not the other way round.

Mair will almost certainly win these cases, but as someone who has some experience on this front, the process she's about to go through is painful. It is resource intensive, not just in legal fees, but in the utter distraction it creates for every other thing you do, not to mention the insane amount of time it takes to defend against such attacks on your free expression.

Mair doesn't mention it in her piece, but the situation she's facing is yet another reason why we need better anti-SLAPP laws, both individually within every state, as well as at the federal level. Of course, for it to happen at the federal level, we'd need Congress to get on board with a federal anti-SLAPP law, and I'm guessing that Devin Nunes is an automatic "no" vote.

Update: If you're so inclined, Mair has set up a donation page which will go towards legal fees and (if more than that is covered) towards holding government officials accountable.

Hide this

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team

Filed Under: 1st amendment, anti-slapp, devin nunes, free speech, liz mair, slapp


Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread


  • icon
    Oblate (profile), 10 Apr 2019 @ 10:26am

    Rep. Nunes has been widely mocked for his behavior, while a member of congress. Any chance that, in the current political climate, this could result in a censure? It would be nice to see a politician face consequences for their egregiously anti-social behavior for once.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      That Anonymous Coward (profile), 10 Apr 2019 @ 10:43am

      Re:

      No chance at all.

      Congress still won't admit who they paid our tax dollars to to cover up members facing sexual harassment charges.

      He's got the right politics, so anything else he does, doesn't matter.
      These people wanted Roy Moore to win, because his views aligned with theirs and the suggestion that maybe he was a child toucher wasn't a non starter.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        Thad (profile), 10 Apr 2019 @ 11:27am

        Re: Re:

        These people wanted Roy Moore to win, because his views aligned with theirs and the suggestion that maybe he was a child toucher wasn't a non starter.

        Nunes is a Congressman. The party currently in control of the House very much did not want Roy Moore to win.

        But you're right: they're not going to censure Nunes over this. You basically have to pull a Steve King and publicly defend white supremacy to be threatened with censure at this point.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 10 Apr 2019 @ 10:49am

    It may not be defamatory, but it's definitely not purely satirical.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 10 Apr 2019 @ 10:50am

    Doesn't UPL apply if a nonattorneys gives legal opinions or advice? These statements can easily cause others to discount libel laws. ANY attorney can file a UPL lawsuit, btw.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 10 Apr 2019 @ 11:08am

      Re:

      Only if they do so in an "official" capacity. Opinions are just that, opinions. Anyone can give their opinion on anything and not get in trouble for it. Hell, I can even "advise" someone to pursue X, Y, or Z legal thing as long as I'm not saying "I am a legally qualified to give this advice" when in reality I'm not.

      ANY attorney can file a UPL lawsuit, btw.

      Yes, but that doesn't mean they will win it or that it was merited. If someone is just commenting on some lawsuit, that doesn't rise to the level of UPL.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Tanner Andrews (profile), 12 Apr 2019 @ 4:32am

      Re: [unlicensed practice]

      ANY attorney can file a UPL lawsuit, btw.

      Really? On what basis? And how does he get standing?

      Maybe you meant that any attorney could write to his state bar association, assuming a state with an integrated bar, complaining about a specific instance of [perceived] unlicensed practice.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 10 Apr 2019 @ 10:51am

    The Bar needs to crack down both on practicing attorneys commenting on cases not their own, and nonlawyers giving what amounts to a legal opinion. The former is a breach of ethics, and the latter is clearly UPL.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 10 Apr 2019 @ 11:13am

      Re:

      The Bar needs to crack down both on practicing attorneys commenting on cases not their own

      Why? I wasn't aware this illegal or against any kind of legal ethics lawyers are sworn to. Can you provide citations for why they should not be doing this?

      nonlawyers giving what amounts to a legal opinion

      What is your definition of "legal opinion"? Nonlawyers commenting on cases or giving their opinions on it is perfectly acceptable and a protected First Amendment right.

      The former is a breach of ethics, and the latter is clearly UPL.

      Well, I am not a lawyer but I'm not aware of any legal ethics that precludes lawyers from the former. It seems to be a fairly frequent and common practice for lawyers to comment on cases if it's in fact not "ethical".

      The latter is only a UPL if they deceive the person giving advise to or operate in some "official" capacity while doing so. Stating your opinion on something doesn't even come close.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Thad (profile), 10 Apr 2019 @ 11:29am

      Re:

      The Bar needs to crack down both on practicing attorneys commenting on cases not their own, and nonlawyers giving what amounts to a legal opinion.

      Er, you mean like you just did?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Gary (profile), 10 Apr 2019 @ 1:45pm

      Re:

      The Bar needs to crack down both on practicing attorneys commenting on cases not their own, and nonlawyers giving what amounts to a legal opinion. The former is a breach of ethics, and the latter is clearly UPL.

      By your own words you have just given bad legal advice and deserve censure. Wow.

      Fortunately for you the bar has no authority over non-lawyers. So you may continue giving out your bad legal advice.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 10 Apr 2019 @ 3:56pm

        Re: Re:

        Don’t you love it when non-lawyers give legal advise on how the Constution works?

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          Gary (profile), 10 Apr 2019 @ 7:36pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          Don’t you love it when non-lawyers give legal advise on how the Constution works?

          Jason Van Dyke and his Proud-Boys buddies seem to have a rabbid dislike of the Bar. Almost is if they knew that threatening people would get then dis-barred and hate that the bar has this power over them.

          Talking shit about the bar seems to be a fascination with the alt-right.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • icon
            That One Guy (profile), 10 Apr 2019 @ 8:44pm

            Like worrying about getting hit by a meteor

            Almost is if they knew that threatening people would get then dis-barred and hate that the bar has this power over them.

            I mean, theoretically at least they have that power, but given the likes of Prenda were allowed to run unchecked for years were I a lawyer(even a total scumbag of a lawyer) I likely wouldn't waste too much effort worrying about what the Bar could do, knowing that they almost certainly wouldn't.

            link to this | view in chronology ]

            • icon
              Thad (profile), 11 Apr 2019 @ 8:05am

              Re: Like worrying about getting hit by a meteor

              ...but Steele was disbarred (and Hannsmeier's license suspended).

              What Prenda proves is that "we can get away with this for a long time before anybody does anything about it" is not an effective long-term strategy.

              link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 11 Apr 2019 @ 6:25am

          Re: Re: Re:

          When actual lawyers get it wrong? Yes, yes I do.

          But please, do tell how NO ONE except you and lawyers are even remotely qualified to opine on how the Constitution works.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 10 Apr 2019 @ 11:19am

    Who will Pay when Nunes loses?

    Mair doesn't mention it in her piece, but the situation she's facing is yet another reason why we need better anti-SLAPP laws, both individually within every state, as well as at the federal level. Of course, for it to happen at the federal level, we'd need Congress to get on board with a federal anti-SLAPP law, and I'm guessing that Devin Nunes is an automatic "no" vote.

    Let's say there were strong federal Anti-SLAPP laws already on the books for years and they cover this case. Then he loses badly and is on the hook for all of the legal fees for both Mair and Twitter's expensive lawyers.

    What are the chances he won't even pay the legal bills? That he will make the state or federal government pay them since he is a "working" congressman and this case relates to his time in office (even if he is the one making that tie to the office).

    If that was the case, why not continue suing critics? He silences his critics and he pays nothing out of pocket. He doesn't have to do any work since his lawyers will do it for him. But he devastates the lives of those he hates. He knows reelection is in the bag because of partisan politics. So where is his downside?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 10 Apr 2019 @ 11:33am

      Re: Who will Pay when Nunes loses?

      Well as far as I know there is no “specific” thing stopping her from taking money from him personally instead of the taxpayer.
      Like for example making a case for personal restitution from the plaintiff himself instead.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    norahc (profile), 10 Apr 2019 @ 11:48am

    So this case now involves an ass suing a satirical cow and a news Bee. The only thing missing from this episode of barnyard follies is a monkey.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      That Anonymous Coward (profile), 10 Apr 2019 @ 4:48pm

      Re:

      Something something pulled over for being the only one in the car in the HOV lane... I told the officer not so fast, check the trunk.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
    identicon
    Rog S., 10 Apr 2019 @ 12:57pm

    christian rebuttal to Jewish supremacy

    ...the poor Nunez inspired slobs grapple with Jewish narrative control.

    So cute....... kiss,kiss,kiss

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Gary (profile), 10 Apr 2019 @ 3:25pm

      Re: Troll shit

      We get it - you love Hitler. Could you go do your self-love somewhere else please?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
        identicon
        Rog S., 11 Apr 2019 @ 4:27am

        Re: Re: Troll shit

        Dear Godwin:

        So, if I call a spade a spade, I am also -in your binary world - a racist klansman or something, right?

        I think you have me mistaken for someone else that you can easily Hitlerize, which, unlike Israelification, and others in the “in the business of hate club ” of ADL inspired rhetoriticians, Hitler was, at least, clearly, and rightfully villified.

        Its not always so clear, is it, Mr. Godwin?

        Where I grew up (as the biproduct of Jewish /leftist radicalism no less, often on the laps of tattooed holocaust survivors ), near Skokie IL, the only Nazis I ever heard about were part of Frank Collin~nee ~Cohens tribe of Zionist /fascist misanthropes, most of which seem to derive massive grants, and donations these days from holohoaxing, and race baiting, while smearing everyone else.

        So, no thank you Mr. Godwin, I reject your binary.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 11 Apr 2019 @ 6:36am

          Re: Re: Re: Troll shit

          Dude, you brought up Jews and Christians with the implication it was a Jewish conspiracy (typical Nazi belief) in a discussion that had NOTHING TO DO WITH ANY OF THEM.

          You Godwinned yourself. Deal with it.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
            identicon
            Rog S., 11 Apr 2019 @ 7:43am

            Re: Re: Re: Re: Troll shit

            Dude, I am an atheist.

            Do you autoflag everyone who thinks religion is batshit crazy?

            And, in case you missed the memo, yeah, media is, um, kind Jeff Bezos, ADL, Splc-ified "moderators " et al infected.

            And, yeah, Israelified /actual Jew -christian conspiracies are very real (ask any muslim who is harrassed via Fusion. Centers )

            It was you ACs / Techdirt moderator/deplatforming cowards /Israeli squad 3200/CIA /NSA troll armies /shitbags unspecified that brought Hitler into it, not me.

            link to this | view in chronology ]

            • identicon
              Anonymous Coward, 11 Apr 2019 @ 7:55am

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Troll shit

              Dude, I am an atheist.

              This is irrelevant, we're not talking about religion here. At least we weren't until you brought it up. Since you brought it up, you have no one to blame but yourself.

              Do you autoflag everyone who thinks religion is batshit crazy?

              No, but please show me how anything in this article has anything to do with religion. Your comment is at best off-topic, and at worst bigoted.

              And, in case you missed the memo, yeah, media is, um, kind Jeff Bezos, ADL, Splc-ified "moderators " et al infected.

              Do you have evidence and citations to support those baseless assertions?

              And, yeah, Israelified /actual Jew -christian conspiracies are very real (ask any muslim who is harrassed via Fusion. Centers )

              I'm sorry, what? This still has nothing to do with the topic at hand. Even if they exist (and I'm not saying they don't), they have nothing to do with this article and I'm going to say [CITATION NEEDED].

              It was you ACs / Techdirt moderator/deplatforming cowards /Israeli squad 3200/CIA /NSA troll armies /shitbags unspecified that brought Hitler into it, not me.

              And you do nothing to prove yourself NOT a hateful, spiteful bigot with that sentence. You did not mention Hitler or Nazi's specifically, but that doesn't change the fact that you referenced them first. That's undeniable.

              link to this | view in chronology ]

              • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
                identicon
                Rog S., 11 Apr 2019 @ 8:09am

                Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Troll shit

                Dear Moron /moderator /ADLified “anonymous ”speech censor/ FBI Infragard -type/hiding in UAE as -ex -NSA hacker -type shitbag:

                Arguing with ACs is like arguing about “the golden calf ” of Hinduism, to whit:

                you asked for proof that religion/cultural mass transformation/Israelified trance formation is at the root of this discussion, so: enjoy your metaphor, cowardly AC:

                the fake cow....

                aka, golden calf. ...

                You yourself, cannot see it, of course, because you, yourself hide behind another false front: deplatforming /flagging /vampiristic time sucking, via circular biblical /Torah/Talmudic pre -ordained censorship /lashon Haaretz /gatekeeping, via the guardian at the theoretical gate of actual free speech on the publicly subsidized internet. (your types often forget your sponsors ).

                And, I am pretty certain that Nunez is just another circumcised Catholic boy, fed to the fires, here at TD.

                Abraham, Isaac, and all that lunacy.

                link to this | view in chronology ]

                • identicon
                  Anonymous Coward, 11 Apr 2019 @ 8:41am

                  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Troll shit

                  That is some epic levels of bullshit. Not even Baghdad Bob and his ilk have managed to spew such epic amounts of made up crap. I mean, at least they base their stuff at least nominally on reality. You, you've gone complete moron.

                  you asked for proof that religion/cultural mass transformation/Israelified trance formation is at the root of this discussion, so: enjoy your metaphor, cowardly AC:

                  I asked for evidence, not proof. You have given neither. As such, I have no reason to believe you.

                  If you can't post ANY evidence or proof of your claims, then your claims are shite and/or outright lies. I mean, what evidence do you have that this is all a Jewish conspiracy against Nunes? Jews weren't even involved!

                  link to this | view in chronology ]

                  • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
                    identicon
                    Rog S., 11 Apr 2019 @ 9:33am

                    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Troll shit

                    Wow, you sure do knee jerk around this issue (that you have created AND extrapolated ) that Jews are involved in the blackmail /smear /mockery of y (Catholic )Devin Nunez, here at techdirt.

                    I suggest you contact Masnick, directly.

                    [facepalm ]

                    I mean, I dont like the guy per se, but maybe, ask his opposition, Sen. Dianne Feinstein and her spawn.

                    Of course, I could be wrong to suggest such (more than fucking blatantly obvious, documented links ) tenuous associations, but, after all, birds of fanatical press controlling religions flock together, and, occassionall, shit on each other too.

                    link to this | view in chronology ]

                    • identicon
                      Anonymous Coward, 11 Apr 2019 @ 9:52am

                      Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Troll shit

                      Wow, you sure do knee jerk around this issue (that you have created AND extrapolated ) that Jews are involved in the blackmail /smear /mockery of y (Catholic )Devin Nunez, here at techdirt.

                      Apparently you also have severe memory loss. To quote you:

                      christian rebuttal to Jewish supremacy...the poor Nunez inspired slobs grapple with Jewish narrative control.

                      And:

                      And, in case you missed the memo, yeah, media is, um, kind Jeff Bezos, ADL, Splc-ified "moderators " et al infected. And, yeah, Israelified /actual Jew -christian conspiracies are very real (ask any muslim who is harrassed via Fusion. Centers )

                      I created and extrapolated nothing. You created the whole thing.

                      after all, birds of fanatical press controlling religions flock together, and, occassionall, shit on each other too.

                      Wait, didn't you just say I made it all up? Now you say it's a legit conspiracy?

                      Get. Your. Lies. Straight.

                      link to this | view in chronology ]

              • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
                identicon
                Rog S., 11 Apr 2019 @ 8:15am

                Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Troll shit

                look: you do realize what a knee -jerky moron you sound like, right?

                Sure, let me cite endless shit to an anonymous cowardly vampire, that proves I am right, just so you, an ADLified cowardly “moderator ” can deplatform me.

                Or, you bitches can pay me for the novel.

                Your call, Mr. Bernays.

                link to this | view in chronology ]

                • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
                  identicon
                  Rog S., 11 Apr 2019 @ 8:17am

                  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Troll shit

                  P.S.

                  I love taking screen captures of these dialogues with ACs like you, and sending them to people like Nunes, lol.

                  This way, we all can laugh about tribal -sectarian media, together.

                  link to this | view in chronology ]

                  • identicon
                    Anonymous Coward, 11 Apr 2019 @ 8:47am

                    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Troll shit

                    Please do keep taking them and sending them to him. I love pissing him off with all the cow jokes. Though I'm sure he's "herd" them all by now.

                    link to this | view in chronology ]

                    • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
                      identicon
                      Rog S., 11 Apr 2019 @ 9:06am

                      Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Troll shit

                      lol.

                      I herd that the days of SPLC /ADL/Israeli -tribalist -sectarian -scumbags -as -yet -to -be -named monitoring, or subversion of speech will soon end.

                      Any thoughts on that?

                      Of course, my sources could be deemed "delusional ".

                      Of course!

                      link to this | view in chronology ]

                      • identicon
                        Anonymous Coward, 11 Apr 2019 @ 9:34am

                        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Troll shit

                        I herd that the days of SPLC /ADL/Israeli -tribalist -sectarian -scumbags -as -yet -to -be -named monitoring, or subversion of speech will soon end.

                        Of course, my sources could be deemed "delusional ".

                        Quite likely. Quite likely.

                        link to this | view in chronology ]

                        • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
                          identicon
                          Rog S., 11 Apr 2019 @ 9:43am

                          Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Troll shit

                          lets hope that you meant (in characteristic, vague, un -sourced and inflammatory fashion ) that you are cheering the end of days of racist, zionist, religion charged nut jobs, like ADL /SPLC shitbags controlling our discourse, rather than (vaguely and anonymously ) inferring that these facts are delusional, in any respect.

                          Cheers!

                          (now go take your meds )

                          link to this | view in chronology ]

                          • identicon
                            Anonymous Coward, 11 Apr 2019 @ 9:47am

                            Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Troll shit

                            You hope in vain.

                            Cite some of your sources and maybe we can actually evaluate if they are delusional or not. Until then, you and your non-existent sources are delusional.

                            link to this | view in chronology ]

                • identicon
                  Anonymous Coward, 11 Apr 2019 @ 8:46am

                  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Troll shit

                  look: you do realize what a knee -jerky moron you sound like, right?

                  Nope.

                  let me cite endless shit

                  So you admit it's all shit, false, and doesn't prove your point? Sounds about right. Hence why I keep asking you to cite something that isn't shit.

                  an anonymous cowardly vampire

                  I am quite pale but I don't die in sunlight and I don't sparkle, so I guess I'm not a vampire. I also like garlic.

                  just so you, an ADLified cowardly “moderator ” can deplatform me.

                  Dude, if I had the power to "deplatform" you, I wouldn't wait for your rebuttals. Your ass would have been grass after the first post and I wouldn't have bothered replying.

                  Or, you bitches can pay me for the novel.

                  You really don't get the concept of how to make an argument and win people over, do you?

                  link to this | view in chronology ]

                  • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
                    identicon
                    Rog S., 11 Apr 2019 @ 9:19am

                    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Troll shit

                    Sorry, but my kith and kin make a living from keeping American Preidents out of jail.

                    Pardon me if your intellectualized version.of Socratic dialogue, vis -a -vi "internet shit talking " doesnt qualify as,CIA troll farm worthy "argument. "

                    But, each to their own.

                    After all, you still have not refuted or redeemed your position about Godwin, religion, or your own AC cowardly suppositions.

                    As expected, OF COURSE.

                    Maybe your sources, make my sources look like Muelleresques globalist Homo Floresians, compared to mere australopithecenes.

                    The world will never without you, closely monitoring my every post,AC.

                    link to this | view in chronology ]

                    • identicon
                      Anonymous Coward, 11 Apr 2019 @ 9:41am

                      Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Troll shit

                      Sorry, but my kith and kin make a living from keeping American Preidents out of jail.

                      Regardless of guilt? Wow. Did they take lessons in China or North Korea? Maybe Russia?

                      Pardon me if your intellectualized version.of Socratic dialogue, vis -a -vi "internet shit talking " doesnt qualify as,CIA troll farm worthy "argument. "

                      Well, if you posted any actual evidence we could have a discussion about it. You haven't therefore we really don't have anything to do other than "shit talk". So, got some evidence we can discuss?

                      After all, you still have not refuted or redeemed your position about Godwin

                      I'm sorry you're delusional, because I did. Multiple times. As evidenced by your first comment where you brought Jews and conspiracies.

                      religion

                      Which is irrelevant to the discussion about freedom of speech.

                      your own AC cowardly suppositions

                      And those would be??????

                      Maybe your sources, make my sources look like Muelleresques globalist Homo Floresians, compared to mere australopithecenes.

                      At least I have sources compared to your big fat zero.

                      The world will never without you, closely monitoring my every post,AC.

                      Will never what? Can you maybe write proper English so we can understand exactly what it is you're trying to say?

                      link to this | view in chronology ]

                      • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
                        identicon
                        Rog S., 11 Apr 2019 @ 9:50am

                        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Troll shit

                        To the future reader:

                        I barely hit “send ” before this AC shitbag responds, with time sucking trite "send proof! ” oriented “rebuttals. (literally less than five seconds )

                        Artificial Intelligence (and Techdirt content moderation ) is THAT advanced.

                        Viv la revolucion!

                        link to this | view in chronology ]

                        • identicon
                          Anonymous Coward, 11 Apr 2019 @ 9:53am

                          Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Troll shit

                          Proof or GTFO!

                          link to this | view in chronology ]

                          • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
                            identicon
                            Rog S., 11 Apr 2019 @ 9:56am

                            Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Troll shit

                            ACs will always be ACs, for GOOD reason.

                            Shitbag coward.

                            link to this | view in chronology ]

                            • identicon
                              Anonymous Coward, 11 Apr 2019 @ 9:57am

                              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Troll shit

                              I literally don't care what you think about posting anonymously or under a registered username. It wouldn't have changed your responses or mine at all.

                              link to this | view in chronology ]

                              • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
                                identicon
                                Rog S., 11 Apr 2019 @ 10:05am

                                Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Troll sh

                                right.
                                You are a mere selfless, humanitarian, front lines, speech polucing Maxi Pad, absorbing the flow of data, protecting supremacy in one form or another.

                                A true AC Hero.

                                link to this | view in chronology ]

                                • identicon
                                  Anonymous Coward, 11 Apr 2019 @ 10:07am

                                  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Trol

                                  The projection is strong with this one. I didn't say any of that.

                                  I just don't care what you think about me posting anonymously.

                                  link to this | view in chronology ]

                                  • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
                                    identicon
                                    Rog S., 11 Apr 2019 @ 10:09am

                                    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                                    Dear Timing Attack:

                                    Nighty night.

                                    Have a nice day!

                                    link to this | view in chronology ]

                                    • identicon
                                      Anonymous Coward, 11 Apr 2019 @ 10:27am

                                      Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                                      I'm sorry, was this supposed to be a coherent comment?

                                      link to this | view in chronology ]

                              • identicon
                                Rog S., 12 Apr 2019 @ 10:52am

                                Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Troll sh

                                liar

                                link to this | view in chronology ]

                          • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
                            identicon
                            Rog S., 11 Apr 2019 @ 10:08am

                            Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Troll shit

                            Heres a dick pic.

                            Try not to be petty when you look at it.

                            Especially, dont gross out other people by leaving your residue in places where it will be laughed at, and mocked for eternity.

                            (this AC responds to my posts in under 32 seconds )

                            link to this | view in chronology ]

                          • identicon
                            Rog S., 12 Apr 2019 @ 10:46am

                            Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Troll shit

                            ....and that was three minutes that you rosy palm will never get back.

                            link to this | view in chronology ]

                      • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
                        identicon
                        Rog S., 11 Apr 2019 @ 9:54am

                        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Troll shit

                        haha...

                        lessons in international banksterism, multiplied by Clinton1 and 2, divided by multiples of "Nixon was in Dallas the day Kennedy was shot, working -ostensibly -for Pepsi Cola, "....

                        dumbass.

                        link to this | view in chronology ]

                      • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
                        identicon
                        Rog S., 11 Apr 2019 @ 10:01am

                        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Troll shit

                        Memo to shitbag: why do you selectively privilege Jewish arrative?

                        My first comment clearly indicts racist, sectarian, media -involved Jews, and their subservient christian mercenaries.

                        But you are, for some unexplained reason, all hung up on ADL (Jewish Mafia ) derived rhetoric. (for some reason, lol )

                        Kike that into my dossiere, too. ooops.

                        I meant kick it....

                        link to this | view in chronology ]

                        • identicon
                          Anonymous Coward, 11 Apr 2019 @ 10:06am

                          Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Troll shit

                          I don't. But you do, since you think they are running everything and behind an incident that had to do with a government official getting all bent out of shape and violating the Constitution because some people said some things he didn't like.

                          link to this | view in chronology ]

                      • identicon
                        Rog S., 12 Apr 2019 @ 10:38am

                        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Troll shit

                        You have sources?

                        Idiot. Please quote, and paranthetically cherry pick just one more time, pwease,pwease?

                        I just talked with a lieutenant in Russian IR, and guess,what?

                        It AINT THE RUSSIANS. AGAIN.

                        (now, I am fully expecting you to ask.me to repeat that, just for YOU, AAC, cuz This Is Your (ligic defying, truth trampling, time sucking, cockblocking) Life.

                        But your types are definitely time sucking vampires (and anyone who doubts it, justvread upbthread).

                        This moron asks for citations, and evidence that the sky is blue.

                        Which, of course, its not, because color is all a grand illusion, designed by conspiratorial "nature”....whatever “that” is.....

                        link to this | view in chronology ]

                      • identicon
                        Rog S., 12 Apr 2019 @ 10:44am

                        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Troll shit

                        Lets play Moron BINGO!

                        Which is irrelevant to the discussion about freedom of speech.

                        Have you ever read a single speech case beyond what TD selectively predents here?

                        Religion is at the center of approximately a shoestring half of all first amendment cases, you dolt.

                        You fucking dolt.

                        link to this | view in chronology ]

                  • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
                    identicon
                    Rog S., 11 Apr 2019 @ 9:24am

                    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Troll shit

                    It is extremely sad that you view deplatforming as an act of power, rather than an abuse of power.

                    This is why, and how "THEY " win, whoever "they" are......

                    link to this | view in chronology ]

                    • identicon
                      Anonymous Coward, 11 Apr 2019 @ 9:44am

                      Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Troll shit

                      It is extremely sad that you view deplatforming as an act of power, rather than an abuse of power.

                      Nowhere did I say or imply this. But it's not an abuse in all cases. Any online platform has the RIGHT to do business with and allow access to whomever they choose. It is not the public town square. As such, no abuse occurs if they ban someone for violating their rules.

                      This is why, and how "THEY " win, whoever "they" are

                      Since you don't even know, how do you even know there is a they?

                      link to this | view in chronology ]

                      • identicon
                        Rog S., 12 Apr 2019 @ 10:24am

                        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Troll shit

                        Good comedy (Quoting you, there, in.your clown mask):

                        “no abuse occurs if they ban someone”

                        ...who are they?

                        We know with empirical evidence, documented here at TD and elsewhere, that ADL/SPLC/Israeli types, working closely with your types in the Insane Clown AC posse, work together.

                        What more proof do you need?

                        And, yeah, I do know,who “they” are. They are you, cowardly AC, they are you.

                        And like cancerous herpes in Tasmanian Devils, they are legion.

                        link to this | view in chronology ]

                      • identicon
                        Rog S., 12 Apr 2019 @ 10:51am

                        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Troll shit

                        Thats not what The National Lampoon says, tho.....

                        but you never read that, did you, Mr. Godwin?

                        You got stuck at “ADLified Classroom Movie class”

                        Woodward and Bernstein= Freedom Fighters

                        Julian Assange= HAHAHA. They dragged him out in cuffs

                        link to this | view in chronology ]

                  • identicon
                    Rog S., 12 Apr 2019 @ 10:31am

                    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Troll shit

                    Really, you have gone completely Thaddeus.

                    Stark, raving Thaddeus.

                    You cant hide writing style behind AC shitenyms

                    link to this | view in chronology ]

        • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
          identicon
          Rog S., 11 Apr 2019 @ 7:31am

          Re: Re: Re: Troll shit

          ....F @CK.....

          It took two days to flag my first post.

          Is the ADL /SPLC /MASNICK alliance sleeping /otherwise busy painting swastikas on synagogues?

          link to this | view in chronology ]

  • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
    icon
    Zof (profile), 10 Apr 2019 @ 2:34pm

    So remember kids: Defending yourself against slander by using legal remedies is an attack on free speech.

    But telling Journalists to "learn to code" is a terrorist attack by racist russians trolls.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 10 Apr 2019 @ 3:07pm

      Re:

      Defending yourself against slander

      There was no slander here.

      But telling Journalists to "learn to code" is a terrorist attack by racist russians trolls.

      No idea what this is referencing.

      Unless you were being sarcastic, in which case, carry on.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        That Anonymous Coward (profile), 10 Apr 2019 @ 4:44pm

        Re: Re:

        He was making an obtuse reference to a series of timeouts given to some people, but not others, who told reporters to learn to code on teh Twitters.

        They point out it doesn't get applied to everyone evenly, which seems to be true. The irony of there being a code teaching event on fridays on teh Twitters is not lost on me.

        They also point out that the phrase was born out of the media's 'warm concern' for people in coal country worried about how they would survive if the mines were closed... and the answer given boiled down to learn to code.

        Slander - Noun - the action or crime of making a false spoken statement damaging to a person's reputation.

        Libel is in print.

        He is not defending himself, he is lashing out (much like a toddler having a temper tantrum) because people dared to mock him. A quick look at teh Twitters will show tons of parody accounts of people on both sides of the aisle but only Nunes decided to sue, not to clear the air but to punish people he feels wronged him.

        The simple fact he misrepresented evidence in his filing is going to go over the like a moel with shaky hands.

        Nothing any of these accounts or reporters have done meet the standards required by law, this is a sad attempt but a thin skinned asshat to silence people talking about him. I mean he refused to have a town meeting for 8 years with the peopel he allegedly represents, they went to his office to ask questions and he called the cops to make them go away.

        The fact he had pushed for a law that would have punished the actions he has now undertaken is just the icing on the cake.

        We should take up a collection to get him a t-shirt...
        'I sued a fictional cow and I didn't get re-elected'.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 11 Apr 2019 @ 6:47am

        Re: Re:

        Weak sauce

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 11 Apr 2019 @ 7:32am

          Re: Re: Re:

          Do tell. What is slanderous in any of the original incident? Given that it is in print and therefore, by definition, is libel, not slander.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 10 Apr 2019 @ 3:58pm

      Re: 1/10 terrible strawman, wouldn’t comment again

      Nah it’s just old fashioned harassment bro?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Ed (profile), 11 Apr 2019 @ 8:14am

    Is this...

    ... the Devin Nunes trending on Twitter with #YachtCocaineProstitutes?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 11 Apr 2019 @ 8:40am

      Re: Is this...

      Well, yes, but the thing is that Nunes isn't cool enough to be actually invited onto the yacht with the cocain and prostitutes, so #YachtCocaineProstitutes is kind of misleading, even though Nunes has done a bang-up job of linking his name with #YachtCocaineProstitutes.

      The real news is that Nunes is a thin-skinned, excessively litigious #Frugisexual who has repeatedly shown himself to be both an idiot in general, nad totally incompetent at his actual job.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    alioglucatering.com (profile), 1 Jul 2019 @ 7:40am

    istanbul evden eve nakliyat

    link to this | view in chronology ]


Follow Techdirt
Essential Reading
Techdirt Deals
Report this ad  |  Hide Techdirt ads
Techdirt Insider Discord

The latest chatter on the Techdirt Insider Discord channel...

Loading...
Recent Stories

This site, like most other sites on the web, uses cookies. For more information, see our privacy policy. Got it
Close

Email This

This feature is only available to registered users. Register or sign in to use it.