Mr. Lloyd’s fraud and libel forum

It was a sad surprise to log on to Bruce Lloyd’s news website yesterday and discover that it had quickly been turned into a degenerate wide open forum for unbridled fraud and libel, occasionally punctuated by the outrageous use of profanity. I mean, here was a forum presumably created to foster civil political discourse–to openly express political opinions and, yes, perhaps even have a little partisan fun at our political rivals’ expense here and there.

But it may have gone much too far, as totally unaccountable and anonymous online posters are at complete liberty to say whatever the heck they want regardless of the truth. Online posters–I should really say impersonators or impostors–are apparently entirely free to assume whatever identity or identities they please.

Any one of us, for example, could easily log on and post a comment assuming the identity of a “priest.” We could sign in as a priest and make him say, “I secretly love abortion because it enables me to assume moral authority over the ignorant masses.” And that might be fun for some people. Personally, I think it could be a lot more creative.

Any one of us could sign on as “Zippy Daldal” and say: “Give me a federal takeover. I want a Green Card.” But that’s just in poor taste. Only a grand wizard of the Klu Klux Klan named Richard would approve.

To be sure, a lot of people are having a great deal of fun with Bruce Lloyd’s fraud and libel forum. People are posting messages using all sorts of names, including Al Stayman, George Miller, Ken Govendo, Preston Gates, and, yes, even yours truly. Now I have to admit some of it is pretty funny.

This morning, for example, I relished a posting from “George Miller,” which said, in essence: “Juan [Babauta], when are we going to tee off again?”

I have to admit, I found that one quite amusing, because I firmly believe that Juan Babauta is secretly sympathetic to a U.S. Federal takeover. His past statements and his Danny Akaka campaign contribution are all the evidence we need to question his anti-takeover sincerity.

The other week, some practical joker signed on as “Efrain” and said, “Please vote for Jesse; I could use the government contracts.”

Yes, Bruce Lloyd’s fraud and libel forum can indeed be funny–except when it applies to me. You cowardly scoundrels out there had better stop using my name to post messages on my behalf–even if, in some cases, that is exactly what I would have said myself. I don’t appreciate it.

A lot of scoundrels have been accusing me of essentially being beholden to certain business interests. Yet people who know me–people who have known me from way back, especially–know that I have never been a political liberal, that I have always essentially been conservative Republican to the core (though increasingly Libertarian), and that I genuinely stand up for certain political principles (limited government, free markets, etc.) regardless of popular opinion. I think, moreover, that I have made it pretty clear that I would even criticize my own family members–and have!—if I thought for a moment that they were socialists intent on depriving us of freedom and private property.

Meanwhile, see you on Bruce Lloyd’s fraud and libel forum.