I still maintain that Darrell is your class project. (How come we never hear from any of your students, Professor Cole? If I were in your class, I’d probably post here every day.)
The hunt for DougJ is like the hunt for Osama: Frustrating, inexorable, and fraught with both Afghan tribal politics and the duplicity of the Pakistani government.
My new theory: Osama = DougJ. Think about it. Both are cryptic, mysterious, and evil. Both are shameless Islamofascist Commie moonbats who hate America in general, and Balloon Juice in particular. Most importantly, both despise President George W. Bush. That was the giveaway, for me.
I’ve never seen any of you at the same time as myself, so maybe you’re all me. I love solipsism.
We are all DougJ. We are all Osama. We are all Darrell. We are all Winston Smith. We are all Spartacus.
I love us.
7.
Teak111
Darrel had some good comments on the mortgage banking collapse and what it all meant. Guess every board has to have its agent provacators or its just preaching to the chior. I know Drum has Al and a few others who keep it stirred up.
I’m with Scruffy. There is one person who knows the answer, and it’s the same guy who posed the question.
My very educated guess is, no. But I am not convinced that the D-turd in our pool is not spoof. The last few days’ behavior has been profoundly spoofy for D.
If I had to wager my own money, I’d figure that it’s about 1 chance in 3 that he’s spoof, and if spoof, 1 in 3 that the persona is written by more than one person.
Keep in my mind that I am, in fact, a persona, I don’t actually exist. My creator exists, and he ain’t talkin much about what goes on there, at least not in this forum, he ain’t.
So here’s a question: Does DougJ actually exist, or is he a creation of the blogowners?
It’d be a pretty astounding feat, though, wouldn’t it? Evel Knievel of the Intertron spoofs.
If I had to wager my own money, I’d figure that it’s about 1 chance in 3 that he’s spoof, and if spoof, 1 in 3 that the persona is written by more than one person
I agree, but if spoof, I think the odds go up to just about 3 in 3 that it’s a persona written by more than one person. How else do you explain the constant posting and the inexplicable mood swings?
…the lefist would lie his fucking ass off again. Most of you really are pure scum. No honor code, zero integrity, lie whenever convenient.. just pure scum. This is BJ leftist example #46,889
So. Can’t spell, abusive, and incapable of wrapping his mind (such as it is) around any concept of government which is not totally authoritarian.
Godwin’s Law notwithstanding, this creature is a proponent of camps for illegal immigrants, advocates the incineration of children (if they happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and, you know, brown) is unapologetically homophobic, and slavishly anti-democratic. He is, in fact, the very model of a modern National Socialist.
I don’t think he is a spoof, but it’s hard to believe anyone could be as disconnected from his own humanity as he seems to be. I mean, even Hitler liked dogs.
John, if you are writing him, Stephen King has nothing on you.
Darrel had some good comments on the mortgage banking collapse and what it all meant.
Oh, I must have missed those. What thread was that in?
Here is my explanation of what has happened:
Alan Greenspan is a moron who promoted inflationary monetary policy following 2001. Coupled with property speculators who I don’t feel sorry for. I do feel sorry for the little guys who got suckered into refi’s who didn’t need them though.
The fall out is going to be a collapse of the predatory lenders who over leveraged themselves into subprime, leaving room for responsible lenders to expand through acquisition and market grab. i.e. consolidation down to a few big lenders.
14.
Krista
Is Darrel actually DougJ?
You tell us. Many of us have been sticking around this site for years, through thick and thin, and still haven’t left, despite having to put up with Darrell’s tantrums. Don’t you think we deserve a reward for our loyalty/obstinacy?
I don’t think he is a spoof, but it’s hard to believe anyone could be as disconnected from his own humanity as he seems to be. I mean, even Hitler liked dogs.
In fairness, he’s very concerned with the welfare of Boy Scouts.
If nothing else, we can find out whether or not this is all just a class project.
17.
Andrew
I’m one upping the Commissar and banning Darrell from my blog after zero posts.
18.
AkaDad
I’m betting Darrell is actually ThymeZone…
19.
Zifnab
I’m one upping the Commissar and banning Darrell from my blog after zero posts.
Can you do that? Is that legal? Why do you hate free speech? We must let Darrell speak or the terrorists win!
20.
Pb
Is Darrel actually DougJ?
Discuss.
Well, since you asked, let’s reason this out:
* According to scs, Darrel (sic) is DougJ because:
* According to scs, everyone is DougJ.
* scs is full of crap.
:. Darrel (sic) isn’t DougJ.
21.
Anonymous Coward
I think that Darrell is a run-of-the-mill liberal Democrat with an absolutely zesty sense of humor.
22.
Pb
Now that that’s over with, and for an encore…
* According to Bush, Gonzales isn’t going anywhere.
* That’s also what he said about Rumsfeld you-know-when…
:. picks for our next Attorney General?
The next attorney general, Fein said Thursday, should immediately “issue a memorandum to the Congress and to the White House” informing both “that any gripes about prosecutors they may have should be funneled through the Attorney General and not through the prosecutors themselves.” Another memo Fein would write, he told me, would be to remind U.S. Attorneys that they must immediately report any improper conduct or pressure–of the sort that occurred here with at least one federal prosecutor–brought by members of Congress or executive branch officials. And, for good measure, Fein would want the next Attorney General to get a public commitment from the President to abide by those rules.
In my humble opinion, and recognizing that there may be a few other worthy candidates, there is only one person who perfectly currently fits the bill. He is a Bush-appointee, either an independent or a Republican, but not a partisan or a crony or a hack like so many other current appointees. He has a sterling record of integrity and doggedness. He is obviously his own man and has shown a remarkable tendency during his career as a prosecutor for rankling partisans on both sides of the aisle. He is beholden to no one. His nomination to head the Justice Department by President Bush, and his ratification by the Congress, would send a clear message to the country that our government is willing to turn the page on the sordid recent history of the Office of Attorney General. His name?
23.
Mary
I worked out that syllogism as “DougJ craps out Darrell”.
I may have to check my work.
24.
p.lukasiak
If nothing else, we can find out whether or not this is all just a class project.
Sorry, but I don’t think this is possible, sinceDarrell has no class.
As to Darrell being a spoof… just visit LGF on any given day. There’s a whole world of Darrells there, a Darrellverse of alternate reality.
25.
Perry Como
The IG is railing on the FBI about national security letters.
26.
pharniel
That could be an RPG. Adventures in the Darrell-verse.
It’d be as bad as FATAL or RaHoWa, but hey, it would be funny.
Darrel had some good comments on the mortgage banking collapse and what it all meant.
Shocking, but true. Things That Should Scare You Darrell made good arguments, and I told him as much. While he got impatient a few times, he kept things pretty calm, and insults and accusations of lying to a minimum. It was model behavior for him, and the thread was better for it.
If that Darrelll showed up more often I’d actually welcome him as an echo chamber-check. But that was only a day after he completely torpedoed a thread, and at the same time as a non-Darrell thread was flourishing.
Did Darrell stay out of the Gone-Zo thread because he knew no one would play? Was he on his best behavior in the next thread because of the same reason? Who knows?
John clearly is reluctant to ban him, so it’s up to us to deal with Darrell. When the good Darrell shows up, engage. When he acts like a dick, ignore him. Simple. Last week was a pretty small sample, but maybe it will actually work.
They are not the same. I have checked the IP’s and so has Tim. Darrell has two ip addresses, one of which I assume is from home, the other is from work/jail/therapy/child care.
DougJ has a number of incarnations that are pretty damned obvious to anyone who has been here longer than, say, this week.
To finish John’s comment, nobody but Darrell uses Darrell’s IPs and Darrell never comments with anybody else’s IP. It would get marginally less silly around here if we can drop the conspiracy stuff. Neither John nor I have the free time to screw around with commenters.
I mean, other than lazy-ass baiting like the thread I’m posting on.
I don’t know if this is a serious question, but just in case, I think a better way to phrase it is “Is DougJ actually Darrell?” That is, DougJ’s persona is much smarter than Darrell’s, has a better sense of humor, appears to be more knowledgeable, etc. I’d say that they’re different people.
And from Pb:
His name?
FITZ! (Sorry–I hate the comment section of firedoglake, which is sometimes completely dominated by such one-liners, but it seems at least appropriate here.)
33.
Tulkinghorn
DougJ drops in and out, like he has a job, or a life, or something. D is so regular and exercises such consistent bad faith (a/k/a “good faith” to the loyal Bushies) that I suspect being here IS his job.
John clearly is reluctant to ban him, so it’s up to us to deal with Darrell. When the good Darrell shows up, engage. When he acts like a dick, ignore him. Simple. Last week was a pretty small sample, but maybe it will actually work.
Your points are well taken and your argument is reasonable, however, I must vote NO.
What we need in the case of Darrell is information, not time to ponder all the different ways to deal with him.
Let’s compare and contrast, TZ to Darrell:
TZ: Has a real name, and a real email address, in plain view as we speak right now.
Darrell: Anonymous.
TZ: Engages BJ participants offline on a regular basis, is known to at least a couple dozen other posters here by real name and location and occupation and ….
Darrell: Anonymous
The problem with Darrell is that he’s a complete enigma. If he is not a “real person” (as opposed to persona, or spoof) then what the HELL is the point of trying to devise a set of tactics for dealing with him?
Without that information, nothing you cook up is going to be worth a damn.
Anybody here wants to know more about me, settle the “is TZ actually Darrell” question … need do nothing more than email me and join our list. Unless the other members hate you, you’re in, I have no control over the membership. You just have to agree to keep a few things to the list and not reveal them to the outside world. That’s pretty much the only rule.
Do you suppose Darrell would expose himself to that kind of public scrutiny?
You tell me. And if not, what good is a “strategy” for handling him? It won’t last and it won’t work.
35.
Krista
It would get marginally less silly around here if we can drop the conspiracy stuff.
But that would mean accepting that Darrell’s real. It’s a harsh reality, indeed. I think I have to go lie down…
To finish John’s comment, nobody but Darrell uses Darrell’s IPs and Darrell never comments with anybody else’s IP.
Fruitbat (whoever that is, of course) pointed out this exchange last night:
Darrell Says:
Hey demi you’re a proven lying sack of shit.
and later:
Jimmy Mack Says:
I said.
Hey demi you’re a proven lying sack of shit. Here is a photo of S. Sharkansky. Look at him. That’s him standing up.
So was Jimmy Mack spoofing as Darrell? Too many questions. . .
39.
Pb
RSA,
FITZ!
Swopa!
(Sorry—I hate the comment section of firedoglake, which is sometimes completely dominated by such one-liners, but it seems at least appropriate here.)
My current working theory is that at least half of them have had so many psychotropic drugs in the past that they just like how some words sound on the printed page.
But yes, quite appropriate in this case. :)
40.
srv
John has said he isn’t Darrell, so then he can’t be DougJ. Unless he’s lied about it. Darrell talks too much to be DougJ. DougJ is around alot less, as are many of his historical personalities, so perhaps he actually has to work for a living at this point.
Demi and DougJ seem to know each other, but have never seen any Demi-JC side jokes. Demi and ppGaz pretend fight when they’re really bored – which wouldn’t make sense if one of them could just “do” Darrell.
Another option is that Tim F. is behind some of these personalities, and John saw he was doing more work than he was, so he gave him posting rights.
If Darrell is “real’, then I think that there’s actually some guy out there who is paying retired nuts to jack-off around on liberal/moderate blog sites. Started as a political counter-information project. It seems to have been cut back, but Darrell is probably required to make a certain number of posts a day to justify the minimum wage they (or John) pay him.
As ppGaz says, Darrell seems to have slipped alot lately, so either he’s on the sauce more, or he’s been replaced by someone else. I have a multiple-Darrell theory, as you can be slapping him around on one response, and he can’t connect cross-references about on another response, even if it’s on the very same thread.
41.
jenniebee
What John fails to mention is that Clinton also had open threads, and his open threads were worse than any open threads that Bush has never had. BDS, wacktards!
Demi and ppGaz pretend fight when they’re really bored
Are you on our list? If not, then that’s very insightful.
But to make the game more interesting, as I said to another thread only yesterday I think:
Not all the arguments are staged. Some are real, and some are partially real (real, but overblown, say). To get to the next level, you must be able to distinguish the various kinds from each other. And that’s hard, because not even the participants always know for sure!!!
BWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!
{ sorry, the loud laugh was gratuitous, I know …. }
The original Darrell from back in the day was polite in language, with nary a curse word or angry statement. Either we have a new Darrell or the original has stopped taking his Abilify, leading to the manic outbursts that make little sense, accompanied by Tourette’s level swearing.
45.
srv
Are you on our list? If not, then that’s very insightful.
No, but I think it went on even before your list. So the question was which spoofs are list-spoofs vs. DougJ, etc. I can say that if you think scs is real, then someone you know (probably on that list) is really f*ing with your mind and got scared about it. Which is why we don’t see her much.
When I pointed out the Demi-DougJ connection (probably 2005 or so), nobody replied, so I assumed it was an inside thing.
There’s going to be a Press Club briefing by a new conservative group called “The Conservative Coalition On Presidential Power” or something similar with the intent of fighting back against the erosion of civil liberties by the executive branch, namely under the bush administration.
Wonder who’s signing on for this? They’re going to be on CSpan shortly.
Also looks like the senate overwhelmingly passed the bill regarding repealling the specter ammendment to the patriot act. Didn’t catch numbers but it was something like 98-2.
47.
Krista
Demi and ppGaz pretend fight when they’re really bored – which wouldn’t make sense if one of them could just “do” Darrell.
I wouldn’t call it a “pretend” fight. But, I also would safely assume that they’re both enjoying themselves immensely.
A NASA scientist who said the Bush administration muzzled him because of his belief in global warming yesterday acknowledged to Congress that he’d done more than 1,400 on-the-job interviews in recent years.
James Hansen, director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, who argues global warming could be catastrophic, said NASA staffers denied his request to do a National Public Radio interview because they didn’t want his message to get out.
But Republicans told him the hundreds of other interviews he did belie his broad claim he was being silenced.
“We have over 1,400 opportunities that you’ve availed yourself to, and yet you call it, you know, being stifled,” said Rep. Darrell Issa, California Republican.
Mr. Hansen responded: “For the sake of the taxpayers, they should be availed of my expertise. I shouldn’t be required to parrot some company line.”
Hey, Paul, great snippet! Did you notice the name of that Congressman? *Darrell* Issa — one of the most do nothing of the do nothing Republicans in California, obsessed with illegal immigration…an associate of Duke Cunningham…in trying to push Carol Lam out…
Now we know what he was doing during the 109th Congress,,,
65.
Bruce Moomaw
Congratulations, John. You have just done one of the most effective jobs of opening the gates of Hell that I have ever seen.
66.
John Redworth
so DougJ is really Clinton and Darrell is really Rove?
Paul, no matter what Ace of Spades might tell you that news story doesn’t help you. Among other things we found out just how thoroughly superstition and rightwing ideology permeated scientific agencies like NASA, and the feds had a minder listen into all of Hansen’s interviews.
Think that’s normal? Normal for the Soviet Bloc, yes. The fact that you want to go on defending it speaks volumes about your personal credibility.
69.
mrmobi
“We are conservative scholars, activists and writers. We do not favor a crippled executive or enfeebled government. In a time of danger, checks and balances make for stronger government because the people will more readily accept a muscular authority if barriers against abuses are strong. If at some future time Congress, in turn, aggrandizes power and invades the executive or judicial domains, we will be equally alert to sound the alarm. But today, the clear and present danger to conservative philosophy is the White House.”
This is from the group led by Bob Barr who want an end to rendition and torture, restoration of habeus corpus, etc.
Among other things we found out just how thoroughly superstition and rightwing ideology permeated scientific agencies like NASA, and the feds had a minder listen into all of Hansen’s interviews.
If we are talking about the proceedings we saw this week on C-SPAN, all I can say is, my jaw has bruises on it from hitting the floor.
The attack on science is truly an amazing thing to behold, I never thought we’d have to relive the time of Galileo, andthat our own government would play the part of the Church.
I have to say, I think I was wrong about Bob Barr. The guy has really stepped up lately. I used to think he was just One of Them. But he has shown some real leadership, I think.
“We are conservative scholars, activists and writers. We do not favor a crippled executive or enfeebled government. In a time of danger, checks and balances make for stronger government because the people will more readily accept a muscular authority if barriers against abuses are strong. If at some future time Congress, in turn, aggrandizes power and invades the executive or judicial domains, we will be equally alert to sound the alarm. But today, the clear and present danger to conservative philosophy is the White House.”
This is from the group led by Bob Barr who want an end to rendition and torture, restoration of habeus corpus, etc.
Good stuff.
I listened to them give their presser and it was something to listen to. Granted I had to raise an eyebrow here and there but they did strike me as honest and really meaning what they were saying. They were PISSED.
Shocking, but true. Things That Should Scare You Darrell made good arguments, and I told him as much. While he got impatient a few times, he kept things pretty calm, and insults and accusations of lying to a minimum. It was model behavior for him, and the thread was better for it.
As an Addendum, their whole message was “Yes we are conservatives, yes we believe in conservative principles and our freedom is a conservative principle and no one should be able to erode it. These positions are American positions not just ours it’s a Democratic Position, A Libertarian Position and a Republican position and should be treated as such.”
Really it was worth listening to.
75.
Halffasthero
Many of us have been sticking around this site for years, through thick and thin, and still haven’t left, despite having to put up with Darrell’s tantrums.
Speaking of people who have been here through thick and thin – anyone seen/remember Stormy70? Fall off the cyber cliff or just get sick of posting? I had little in common politically but we had simlar tastes in alcohol (which is important).
76.
Bubblegum Tate
Where was he going before he was crushed?
Cue the Jason Lee/Joey Lauren Adams oral sex-reltaed injuries discussion from Chasing Amy
To finish John’s comment, nobody but Darrell uses Darrell’s IPs and Darrell never comments with anybody else’s IP.
Fruitbat (whoever that is, of course) pointed out this exchange last night:
Darrell Says:
Hey demi you’re a proven lying sack of shit.
and later:
Jimmy Mack Says:
I said.
Hey demi you’re a proven lying sack of shit. Here is a photo of S. Sharkansky. Look at him. That’s him standing up.
So was Jimmy Mack spoofing as Darrell? Too many questions. . .
Like Churchill said,
A Balloon Juice comment thread is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma within a blockquote.
78.
p.lukasiak
Speaking of people who have been here through thick and thin – anyone seen/remember Stormy70?
There is a Stormy70 who comments over at Tom Maguire’s Just One Minute blog…. (he fits right in there, given that the site commentariate is completely moronic…)
Also, this is not a “I want my party back” moment for Bob Barr. It looks like he has given up entirely on the GOP.
80.
Paul Wartenberg
I think the bigger questions should be, “Who wants to claim being Darrell or DougJ in the first place?” Kinda not a fun thing to admit to. Personally, I’d claim to be Tom Hanks… back when he was funny…
81.
Pb
Tim F.,
I’d wager that he got it from C-SPAN; the group is Patriots to Restore Checks and Balances. And as for Bob Barr giving up on the GOP… well, let me know if he gets kicked out of the 21st Century Liberties Chair for Freedom and Privacy at the American Conservative Union Foundation.
82.
Randolph Fritz
I know a Darrell. It’s not likely it’s the same man, but I wonder…
And the conservative critics of the president are a very interesting development. IIRC, what finally brought down Nixon was that some of the Republican Senators were persuaded of his failings, so there was a bipartisan alliance in the Senate. Could this bring down W?
83.
mrmobi
Tim F:
Where did you get that quote?
It was on the Huffington Post, Melinda Hennenberger.
84.
sidereal
Tim F’s friend at NASA is still having his descent crushed.
Well, where’s he descending? If it’s Jupiter, he’d certainly be crushed, with over 2 million bar of atmospheric pressure. Put there by G-d, of course.
They are not the same. I have checked the IP’s and so has Tim. Darrell has two ip addresses, one of which I assume is from home, the other is from work/jail/therapy/child care.
One is from the West Virginia University computer lab, and the other one is from one of the dorms.
I thought of the jail theory, too, but there’s no way you’d get 2 ips in prison. Maybe he’s on some kind of furlough program, but I still think the class project theory is far likelier.
To finish John’s comment, nobody but Darrell uses Darrell’s IPs and Darrell never comments with anybody else’s IP. It would get marginally less silly around here if we can drop the conspiracy stuff. Neither John nor I have the free time to screw around with commenters.
So Darrell isn’t DougJ; that doesn’t mean Darrell isn’t 5 or 6 different people (at least).
86.
Tulkinghorn
I have to say, I think I was wrong about Bob Barr. The guy has really stepped up lately. I used to think he was just One of Them. But he has shown some real leadership, I think.
I think we are still owed an apology from Barr for the frivolous impeachment. I suppose we will get the apology around the time his ex-wife gets one for his infidelities, and the court gets one for the perjury he committed during his divorce trial.
Then again we could all grow old an die while waiting for the Republican Party to act with some sort of honor or integrity.
87.
Andrew
So Darrell isn’t DougJ; that doesn’t mean Darrell isn’t 5 or 6 different people (at least).
I don’t know why you would trust the person who is playing all 4-8 characters.
88.
Ted
One is from the West Virginia University computer lab, and the other one is from one of the dorms.
Is this actually true? If it were, it would be hilarious to know everyone’s been arguing with a 19 year old or something around there.
89.
Fruitbat
At this point, I’m just happy nobody’s tried to figure out who I really am.
(Hint: it rhymes with “gumsweld” and I have a cask full of sour grapes.)
Is this actually true? If it were, it would be hilarious to know everyone’s been arguing with a 19 year old or something around there.
If that were the case it would be amusing but it would be even more amusing if it had been someone “older” and “wiser” who was getting p0wned time and again by some of the younger “Whipper snappers” here.
Oh boy. TPM is liveblogging the bush “statement” in case anyone doesn’t know what’s happening sounds like Bush is throwing down the gauntlet and telling Dems to take it or leave it.
Petulance…
Of course this is a good thing, let him try to stonewall further.
Choice bit I saw being reported on:
“We will not go along with a partisan fishing expedition aimed at honorable public servants,” Bush said in a statement from the White House. “I proposed a reasonable way to avoid an impasse.”
93.
Pb
We will not go along with a partisan fishing expedition aimed at honorable public servants
Don’t worry, they aren’t.
94.
Pb
One is from the West Virginia University computer lab, and the other one is from one of the dorms.
Is this actually true? If it were, it would be hilarious to know everyone’s been arguing with a 19 year old or something around there.
Or worse, a tenured professor (and scoutmaster)… eww…
(Hint: it rhymes with “gumsweld” and I have a cask full of sour grapes.)
I fuckin’ hate you, man! You got a lot of good people killed.
97.
demimondian
For what it’s worth — nothing — I’m not DougJ. I’m also not ppGaz. I’m also not Andrew — but I would say that, now wouldn’t I?
98.
DougJ
I’m not Darrell. I don’t have it in me to be that hostile that much of the time.
99.
DougJ
You know what else? It’s much easier to fool people on idiotic local newspaper blog comments than in the big, bad Balloon Juice city. Check this out.
2/24/2007 5:25 PM
DougJ said…
Sadly, the ACLU seems more interested in protecting the rights of terrorists than in keeping our children safe from predators. It doesn’t surprise me to learn that the head of this America-hating group has been jailed for child pornography, though I have not read about that elsewhere.
And that’s exactly right: pornography is bad. Period. And we all know what it is.
It’s sad that we’ve allowed activist judges to override
commonsense. As with the aboliton of prayer in school, mandated teaching of the quasi-scientific crock that is the THEORY of evolution, and the state-sanctioned murder of Terri Schiavo, these black-robed tyrants are destroying our values.
2/25/2007 8:02 PM
Petrena said…
dougj, you can find the story at abcnews.com.. I think it will still be on there. Or you can just google ACLU.
. . .pornography is bad. Period. And we all know what it is. . . these black-robed tyrants. . .
You are too damned witty for your own good, DougJ.
101.
DougJ
And Demi and I don’t really know each other, we’re just both mathematicians.
Thanks, RSA (speaking of math, is that name after the encryption algorithm?).
102.
Richard 23
All these posts about Darrell and he never even posted here. You are all a bunch of obsessed wackjobs. All of you are scum and dishonest as hell. I’ll need some ice for that “spanking” you’re about to give me. I look forward to it.
Thanks, RSA (speaking of math, is that name after the encryption algorithm?).
Just my initials; I do appreciate the concidence of using the acronym to protect my real identity (not that it needs protection).
104.
Richard 23
Bob Barr is a washed up RINO. But he did do a good job back in the day during the Clinton impeachment. I like to remember how he was before he went senile.
Damn fucking piece of shit computer. Sorry about the double post.
110.
J.R.
All these posts about Darrell and he never even posted here. You are all a bunch of obsessed wackjobs. All of you are scum and dishonest as hell. I’ll need some ice for that “spanking” you’re about to give me. I look forward to it.
Why would he?
Anyway, ‘member bout the time Darrell was talking about his orthopedist? In the thread about universal health care?
111.
Krista
So, do you now have to put a piece of coal in your own stocking after all that swearing?
Darrel had some good comments on the mortgage banking collapse and what it all meant. Guess every board has to have its agent provacators or its just preaching to the chior. I know Drum has Al and a few others who keep it stirred up.
113.
ConservativelyLiberal
Ok, time to fess up. BJ is a blog that is run and posted on by one individual. Nobody else can post to it, only me. I just can’t admit to myself that I have a multiple personality disorder, so we are stuck communicating like this here.
Mom always said I spent too much time talking to myself…
114.
Tax Analyst
Darrell is one of John Cole’s jilted ex-lover’s.
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Scruffy McSnufflepuss
You’re the man with the IPs. Check it yourself.
I still maintain that Darrell is your class project. (How come we never hear from any of your students, Professor Cole? If I were in your class, I’d probably post here every day.)
Scruffy McSnufflepuss
It’s also possible that DougJ is everyone here except for you, me, and (probably) Tim. And I’m not all that sure about you, sometimes…
Zifnab
I still say that there is no John Cole and this entire site is run by DougJ.
RSA
I’ve never seen any of you at the same time as myself, so maybe you’re all me. I love solipsism.
Scruffy McSnufflepuss
The hunt for DougJ is like the hunt for Osama: Frustrating, inexorable, and fraught with both Afghan tribal politics and the duplicity of the Pakistani government.
My new theory: Osama = DougJ. Think about it. Both are cryptic, mysterious, and evil. Both are shameless Islamofascist Commie moonbats who hate America in general, and Balloon Juice in particular. Most importantly, both despise President George W. Bush. That was the giveaway, for me.
I thank you for your time. God bless America.
Scruffy McSnufflepuss
We are all DougJ. We are all Osama. We are all Darrell. We are all Winston Smith. We are all Spartacus.
I love us.
Teak111
Darrel had some good comments on the mortgage banking collapse and what it all meant. Guess every board has to have its agent provacators or its just preaching to the chior. I know Drum has Al and a few others who keep it stirred up.
ThymeZone
I’m with Scruffy. There is one person who knows the answer, and it’s the same guy who posed the question.
My very educated guess is, no. But I am not convinced that the D-turd in our pool is not spoof. The last few days’ behavior has been profoundly spoofy for D.
If I had to wager my own money, I’d figure that it’s about 1 chance in 3 that he’s spoof, and if spoof, 1 in 3 that the persona is written by more than one person.
Keep in my mind that I am, in fact, a persona, I don’t actually exist. My creator exists, and he ain’t talkin much about what goes on there, at least not in this forum, he ain’t.
So here’s a question: Does DougJ actually exist, or is he a creation of the blogowners?
Cuss, and discuss.
Scruffy McSnufflepuss
It’d be a pretty astounding feat, though, wouldn’t it? Evel Knievel of the Intertron spoofs.
I agree, but if spoof, I think the odds go up to just about 3 in 3 that it’s a persona written by more than one person. How else do you explain the constant posting and the inexplicable mood swings?
Fuck, no!
Jimmmm
I am Spartacus!
Scruffy McSnufflepuss
I’m Spartacus!
mrmobi
Gruppenfuhrer Darrell, from yesterday.
So. Can’t spell, abusive, and incapable of wrapping his mind (such as it is) around any concept of government which is not totally authoritarian.
Godwin’s Law notwithstanding, this creature is a proponent of camps for illegal immigrants, advocates the incineration of children (if they happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and, you know, brown) is unapologetically homophobic, and slavishly anti-democratic. He is, in fact, the very model of a modern National Socialist.
I don’t think he is a spoof, but it’s hard to believe anyone could be as disconnected from his own humanity as he seems to be. I mean, even Hitler liked dogs.
John, if you are writing him, Stephen King has nothing on you.
The Other Steve
Oh, I must have missed those. What thread was that in?
Here is my explanation of what has happened:
Alan Greenspan is a moron who promoted inflationary monetary policy following 2001. Coupled with property speculators who I don’t feel sorry for. I do feel sorry for the little guys who got suckered into refi’s who didn’t need them though.
The fall out is going to be a collapse of the predatory lenders who over leveraged themselves into subprime, leaving room for responsible lenders to expand through acquisition and market grab. i.e. consolidation down to a few big lenders.
Krista
You tell us. Many of us have been sticking around this site for years, through thick and thin, and still haven’t left, despite having to put up with Darrell’s tantrums. Don’t you think we deserve a reward for our loyalty/obstinacy?
Scruffy McSnufflepuss
In fairness, he’s very concerned with the welfare of Boy Scouts.
Scruffy McSnufflepuss
We should ask that Commisar guy about Darrell.
If nothing else, we can find out whether or not this is all just a class project.
Andrew
I’m one upping the Commissar and banning Darrell from my blog after zero posts.
AkaDad
I’m betting Darrell is actually ThymeZone…
Zifnab
Can you do that? Is that legal? Why do you hate free speech? We must let Darrell speak or the terrorists win!
Pb
Well, since you asked, let’s reason this out:
* According to scs, Darrel (sic) is DougJ because:
* According to scs, everyone is DougJ.
* scs is full of crap.
:. Darrel (sic) isn’t DougJ.
Anonymous Coward
I think that Darrell is a run-of-the-mill liberal Democrat with an absolutely zesty sense of humor.
Pb
Now that that’s over with, and for an encore…
* According to Bush, Gonzales isn’t going anywhere.
* That’s also what he said about Rumsfeld you-know-when…
:. picks for our next Attorney General?
Mary
I worked out that syllogism as “DougJ craps out Darrell”.
I may have to check my work.
p.lukasiak
If nothing else, we can find out whether or not this is all just a class project.
Sorry, but I don’t think this is possible, sinceDarrell has no class.
As to Darrell being a spoof… just visit LGF on any given day. There’s a whole world of Darrells there, a Darrellverse of alternate reality.
Perry Como
The IG is railing on the FBI about national security letters.
pharniel
That could be an RPG. Adventures in the Darrell-verse.
It’d be as bad as FATAL or RaHoWa, but hey, it would be funny.
ThymeZone
I want some of that action.
Oh wait, I’m not Pete Rose. I’d be banned from baseball for betting on my own team …..
And I desperately want to get into the Hall …..
Ned R.
Hm. Does DougJ like pie?
Mr Furious
Shocking, but true. Things That Should Scare You Darrell made good arguments, and I told him as much. While he got impatient a few times, he kept things pretty calm, and insults and accusations of lying to a minimum. It was model behavior for him, and the thread was better for it.
If that Darrelll showed up more often I’d actually welcome him as an echo chamber-check. But that was only a day after he completely torpedoed a thread, and at the same time as a non-Darrell thread was flourishing.
Did Darrell stay out of the Gone-Zo thread because he knew no one would play? Was he on his best behavior in the next thread because of the same reason? Who knows?
John clearly is reluctant to ban him, so it’s up to us to deal with Darrell. When the good Darrell shows up, engage. When he acts like a dick, ignore him. Simple. Last week was a pretty small sample, but maybe it will actually work.
John Cole
They are not the same. I have checked the IP’s and so has Tim. Darrell has two ip addresses, one of which I assume is from home, the other is from work/jail/therapy/child care.
DougJ has a number of incarnations that are pretty damned obvious to anyone who has been here longer than, say, this week.
Tim F.
To finish John’s comment, nobody but Darrell uses Darrell’s IPs and Darrell never comments with anybody else’s IP. It would get marginally less silly around here if we can drop the conspiracy stuff. Neither John nor I have the free time to screw around with commenters.
I mean, other than lazy-ass baiting like the thread I’m posting on.
RSA
I don’t know if this is a serious question, but just in case, I think a better way to phrase it is “Is DougJ actually Darrell?” That is, DougJ’s persona is much smarter than Darrell’s, has a better sense of humor, appears to be more knowledgeable, etc. I’d say that they’re different people.
And from Pb:
FITZ! (Sorry–I hate the comment section of firedoglake, which is sometimes completely dominated by such one-liners, but it seems at least appropriate here.)
Tulkinghorn
DougJ drops in and out, like he has a job, or a life, or something. D is so regular and exercises such consistent bad faith (a/k/a “good faith” to the loyal Bushies) that I suspect being here IS his job.
ThymeZone
Your points are well taken and your argument is reasonable, however, I must vote NO.
What we need in the case of Darrell is information, not time to ponder all the different ways to deal with him.
Let’s compare and contrast, TZ to Darrell:
TZ: Has a real name, and a real email address, in plain view as we speak right now.
Darrell: Anonymous.
TZ: Engages BJ participants offline on a regular basis, is known to at least a couple dozen other posters here by real name and location and occupation and ….
Darrell: Anonymous
The problem with Darrell is that he’s a complete enigma. If he is not a “real person” (as opposed to persona, or spoof) then what the HELL is the point of trying to devise a set of tactics for dealing with him?
Without that information, nothing you cook up is going to be worth a damn.
Anybody here wants to know more about me, settle the “is TZ actually Darrell” question … need do nothing more than email me and join our list. Unless the other members hate you, you’re in, I have no control over the membership. You just have to agree to keep a few things to the list and not reveal them to the outside world. That’s pretty much the only rule.
Do you suppose Darrell would expose himself to that kind of public scrutiny?
You tell me. And if not, what good is a “strategy” for handling him? It won’t last and it won’t work.
Krista
But that would mean accepting that Darrell’s real. It’s a harsh reality, indeed. I think I have to go lie down…
JWeidner
I think you just broke my brain
Dreggas
Boy are the FBI toadies getting grilled right now.
RSA
Fruitbat (whoever that is, of course) pointed out this exchange last night:
and later:
So was Jimmy Mack spoofing as Darrell? Too many questions. . .
Pb
RSA,
Swopa!
My current working theory is that at least half of them have had so many psychotropic drugs in the past that they just like how some words sound on the printed page.
But yes, quite appropriate in this case. :)
srv
John has said he isn’t Darrell, so then he can’t be DougJ. Unless he’s lied about it. Darrell talks too much to be DougJ. DougJ is around alot less, as are many of his historical personalities, so perhaps he actually has to work for a living at this point.
Demi and DougJ seem to know each other, but have never seen any Demi-JC side jokes. Demi and ppGaz pretend fight when they’re really bored – which wouldn’t make sense if one of them could just “do” Darrell.
Another option is that Tim F. is behind some of these personalities, and John saw he was doing more work than he was, so he gave him posting rights.
If Darrell is “real’, then I think that there’s actually some guy out there who is paying retired nuts to jack-off around on liberal/moderate blog sites. Started as a political counter-information project. It seems to have been cut back, but Darrell is probably required to make a certain number of posts a day to justify the minimum wage they (or John) pay him.
As ppGaz says, Darrell seems to have slipped alot lately, so either he’s on the sauce more, or he’s been replaced by someone else. I have a multiple-Darrell theory, as you can be slapping him around on one response, and he can’t connect cross-references about on another response, even if it’s on the very same thread.
jenniebee
What John fails to mention is that Clinton also had open threads, and his open threads were worse than any open threads that Bush has never had. BDS, wacktards!
/Darrell
Carry on.
ThymeZone
Are you on our list? If not, then that’s very insightful.
But to make the game more interesting, as I said to another thread only yesterday I think:
Not all the arguments are staged. Some are real, and some are partially real (real, but overblown, say). To get to the next level, you must be able to distinguish the various kinds from each other. And that’s hard, because not even the participants always know for sure!!!
BWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!
{ sorry, the loud laugh was gratuitous, I know …. }
ThymeZone
Wait, I can get paid for that?
Now you friggin tell me.
ed
The original Darrell from back in the day was polite in language, with nary a curse word or angry statement. Either we have a new Darrell or the original has stopped taking his Abilify, leading to the manic outbursts that make little sense, accompanied by Tourette’s level swearing.
srv
No, but I think it went on even before your list. So the question was which spoofs are list-spoofs vs. DougJ, etc. I can say that if you think scs is real, then someone you know (probably on that list) is really f*ing with your mind and got scared about it. Which is why we don’t see her much.
When I pointed out the Demi-DougJ connection (probably 2005 or so), nobody replied, so I assumed it was an inside thing.
Dreggas
Holy Shit!
There’s going to be a Press Club briefing by a new conservative group called “The Conservative Coalition On Presidential Power” or something similar with the intent of fighting back against the erosion of civil liberties by the executive branch, namely under the bush administration.
Wonder who’s signing on for this? They’re going to be on CSpan shortly.
Also looks like the senate overwhelmingly passed the bill regarding repealling the specter ammendment to the patriot act. Didn’t catch numbers but it was something like 98-2.
Krista
I wouldn’t call it a “pretend” fight. But, I also would safely assume that they’re both enjoying themselves immensely.
ThymeZone
Okay, just to clarify ….
First I’d have to retire, and then I’d have to learn to do the other thing.
Dreggas
But wouldn’t that totally invalidate retirement? I mean getting paid to rub one out means you have a job.
Dreggas
Of the hand variety…
ThymeZone
Please send for my informative booklet “Washing Your Car and 100 Other Things You Can Do With Hairy Palms”.
Just $29.95 plus S&H today only.
{ add to cart }
Dreggas
Oh boy is this good, Highly recommend listening to CSpan if you can. These guys are hammering the admin.
ThymeZone
Ixnay, I am currently being waterboarded by a Boy Scout troop from Houston. I’m going to need to see the replay ….
MikeF
Well, I would have to dispute that. Darrell has a LOT of class. It is all low, but he does have a lot of it.
I am changing from Mike to MikeF since I have seen a MikeS posting here lately.
AkaDad
I apologize.
The last thing I wanted to do was create another neo-conservative.
Dreggas
Channelling your inner Foley?
Paul L.
Tim F’s friend at NASA is still having his descent crushed.
ThymeZone
Hey Paul? It’s dissent, not descent.
Just helpin you out, bud.
We love you, man.
Andrew
Where was he going before he was crushed? Down some sort of mine shaft?
Punchy
Who’s Darrell?
ThymeZone
I think the accepted phrasing, at the Darrell-of-the-Day Project that meets every Thursday in John’s office, is:
Who’s Darrell today?
Jake
How dare you? We are all DougJ. If DougJ = Darrell, then WE = Darrell.
I think an apology of some sort is order.
ThymeZone
Therefore, Darrell could be a Fig Newton of our imagination.
demimondian
Hey, Paul, great snippet! Did you notice the name of that Congressman? *Darrell* Issa — one of the most do nothing of the do nothing Republicans in California, obsessed with illegal immigration…an associate of Duke Cunningham…in trying to push Carol Lam out…
Now we know what he was doing during the 109th Congress,,,
Bruce Moomaw
Congratulations, John. You have just done one of the most effective jobs of opening the gates of Hell that I have ever seen.
John Redworth
so DougJ is really Clinton and Darrell is really Rove?
ThymeZone
There will be a lecture tonight at Darrell Hall to explain what in the world that comment means.
Tim F.
Paul, no matter what Ace of Spades might tell you that news story doesn’t help you. Among other things we found out just how thoroughly superstition and rightwing ideology permeated scientific agencies like NASA, and the feds had a minder listen into all of Hansen’s interviews.
Think that’s normal? Normal for the Soviet Bloc, yes. The fact that you want to go on defending it speaks volumes about your personal credibility.
mrmobi
This is from the group led by Bob Barr who want an end to rendition and torture, restoration of habeus corpus, etc.
Good stuff.
ThymeZone
If we are talking about the proceedings we saw this week on C-SPAN, all I can say is, my jaw has bruises on it from hitting the floor.
The attack on science is truly an amazing thing to behold, I never thought we’d have to relive the time of Galileo, andthat our own government would play the part of the Church.
ThymeZone
I have to say, I think I was wrong about Bob Barr. The guy has really stepped up lately. I used to think he was just One of Them. But he has shown some real leadership, I think.
Dreggas
I listened to them give their presser and it was something to listen to. Granted I had to raise an eyebrow here and there but they did strike me as honest and really meaning what they were saying. They were PISSED.
The Other Steve
Man, I’m sorry I missed the rest of that thread.
Dreggas
As an Addendum, their whole message was “Yes we are conservatives, yes we believe in conservative principles and our freedom is a conservative principle and no one should be able to erode it. These positions are American positions not just ours it’s a Democratic Position, A Libertarian Position and a Republican position and should be treated as such.”
Really it was worth listening to.
Halffasthero
Speaking of people who have been here through thick and thin – anyone seen/remember Stormy70? Fall off the cyber cliff or just get sick of posting? I had little in common politically but we had simlar tastes in alcohol (which is important).
Bubblegum Tate
Cue the Jason Lee/Joey Lauren Adams oral sex-reltaed injuries discussion from Chasing Amy
Where’s that Bob Barr quote from?
The Commissar
Like Churchill said,
p.lukasiak
Speaking of people who have been here through thick and thin – anyone seen/remember Stormy70?
There is a Stormy70 who comments over at Tom Maguire’s Just One Minute blog…. (he fits right in there, given that the site commentariate is completely moronic…)
Tim F.
mmrobi,
Where did you get that quote?
Also, this is not a “I want my party back” moment for Bob Barr. It looks like he has given up entirely on the GOP.
Paul Wartenberg
I think the bigger questions should be, “Who wants to claim being Darrell or DougJ in the first place?” Kinda not a fun thing to admit to. Personally, I’d claim to be Tom Hanks… back when he was funny…
Pb
Tim F.,
I’d wager that he got it from C-SPAN; the group is Patriots to Restore Checks and Balances. And as for Bob Barr giving up on the GOP… well, let me know if he gets kicked out of the 21st Century Liberties Chair for Freedom and Privacy at the American Conservative Union Foundation.
Randolph Fritz
I know a Darrell. It’s not likely it’s the same man, but I wonder…
And the conservative critics of the president are a very interesting development. IIRC, what finally brought down Nixon was that some of the Republican Senators were persuaded of his failings, so there was a bipartisan alliance in the Senate. Could this bring down W?
mrmobi
Tim F:
It was on the Huffington Post, Melinda Hennenberger.
sidereal
Well, where’s he descending? If it’s Jupiter, he’d certainly be crushed, with over 2 million bar of atmospheric pressure. Put there by G-d, of course.
Zombie Santa Claus
One is from the West Virginia University computer lab, and the other one is from one of the dorms.
I thought of the jail theory, too, but there’s no way you’d get 2 ips in prison. Maybe he’s on some kind of furlough program, but I still think the class project theory is far likelier.
So Darrell isn’t DougJ; that doesn’t mean Darrell isn’t 5 or 6 different people (at least).
Tulkinghorn
I think we are still owed an apology from Barr for the frivolous impeachment. I suppose we will get the apology around the time his ex-wife gets one for his infidelities, and the court gets one for the perjury he committed during his divorce trial.
Then again we could all grow old an die while waiting for the Republican Party to act with some sort of honor or integrity.
Andrew
I don’t know why you would trust the person who is playing all 4-8 characters.
Ted
Is this actually true? If it were, it would be hilarious to know everyone’s been arguing with a 19 year old or something around there.
Fruitbat
At this point, I’m just happy nobody’s tried to figure out who I really am.
(Hint: it rhymes with “gumsweld” and I have a cask full of sour grapes.)
Dreggas
If that were the case it would be amusing but it would be even more amusing if it had been someone “older” and “wiser” who was getting p0wned time and again by some of the younger “Whipper snappers” here.
skip
Why in the world would we NEED more than one?
Dreggas
Oh boy. TPM is liveblogging the bush “statement” in case anyone doesn’t know what’s happening sounds like Bush is throwing down the gauntlet and telling Dems to take it or leave it.
Petulance…
Of course this is a good thing, let him try to stonewall further.
Choice bit I saw being reported on:
Pb
Don’t worry, they aren’t.
Pb
Or worse, a tenured professor (and scoutmaster)… eww…
Temple
I thought i was going to enjoy this thread to get some real bitching out of the way.
Not so much.
Ah well, funny in places. Guess we save the serious bitching for ruining more serious threads, eh?
Scruffy McSnufflepuss
I fuckin’ hate you, man! You got a lot of good people killed.
demimondian
For what it’s worth — nothing — I’m not DougJ. I’m also not ppGaz. I’m also not Andrew — but I would say that, now wouldn’t I?
DougJ
I’m not Darrell. I don’t have it in me to be that hostile that much of the time.
DougJ
You know what else? It’s much easier to fool people on idiotic local newspaper blog comments than in the big, bad Balloon Juice city. Check this out.
RSA
You are too damned witty for your own good, DougJ.
DougJ
And Demi and I don’t really know each other, we’re just both mathematicians.
Thanks, RSA (speaking of math, is that name after the encryption algorithm?).
Richard 23
All these posts about Darrell and he never even posted here. You are all a bunch of obsessed wackjobs. All of you are scum and dishonest as hell. I’ll need some ice for that “spanking” you’re about to give me. I look forward to it.
RSA
Just my initials; I do appreciate the concidence of using the acronym to protect my real identity (not that it needs protection).
Richard 23
Bob Barr is a washed up RINO. But he did do a good job back in the day during the Clinton impeachment. I like to remember how he was before he went senile.
ThymeZone
I’ll be the judge of that.
Evilbeard
How does one get on this “list” that you speak of TZ?
Zombie Santa Claus
But, are you Spartacus?
No fair. That’s like tricking a child, or stealing candy from a baby. (The unarmed, gun-less ones, not the Maggie Simpson ones.)
Thanks for sharing, Richard.
Zombie Santa Claus
But, are you Spartacus?
No fair. That’s like tricking a child, or stealing candy from a baby. (The unarmed, gun-less ones, not the Maggie Simpson ones.)
Thanks for sharing, Richard.
Zombie Santa Claus
Damn fucking piece of shit computer. Sorry about the double post.
J.R.
Why would he?
Anyway, ‘member bout the time Darrell was talking about his orthopedist? In the thread about universal health care?
Krista
So, do you now have to put a piece of coal in your own stocking after all that swearing?
Gebäudereinigung
Darrel had some good comments on the mortgage banking collapse and what it all meant. Guess every board has to have its agent provacators or its just preaching to the chior. I know Drum has Al and a few others who keep it stirred up.
ConservativelyLiberal
Ok, time to fess up. BJ is a blog that is run and posted on by one individual. Nobody else can post to it, only me. I just can’t admit to myself that I have a multiple personality disorder, so we are stuck communicating like this here.
Mom always said I spent too much time talking to myself…
Tax Analyst
Darrell is one of John Cole’s jilted ex-lover’s.