Bradblog forgets to pay ISP bill and gets shut down. It's a conspiracy.

[ScubaGuy]

For those that aren't familiar with Brad Friedman (AKA BradBlog) his website is nothing more than a quick copy and paste from other news sources, sometimes with a small editorial attached and then a link to the original story.  When he adds to his site he parades to the other moonbat sites and posts the link to his page and give himself credit as the source of the story.

It looks like he either didn't pay his ISP bill or his ISP is experiencing normal technical problems.  So what does he do?  IT'S the chamber of commerce out to get me!


I waiting for the plea for just $5 to get even.

BradBlog (1000+ posts)  Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Fri Feb-11-11 03:54 AM
Original message
UPDATE: U.S. CHAMBER'S THUGS TARGETED ME & MY FAMILY, NOW BRAD BLOG IS DOWN   Updated at 3:54 AM
   
I added the following as an UPDATE in the comment thread to my original article here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...
... on the emails showing that the "security" goons working with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce had targeted progressive groups, including Velvet Revolution (of which The BRAD BLOG is a co-founder) with a disinformation campaign, involving plans to plant false documents in hopes of discrediting us, etc.

But as BradBlog.com is no longer reachable at the moment, given what has happened since the Mike Malloy Show ended tonight, I figured I should post the UPDATE here as an OP as well, in case folks are wondering what's going on, since I don't have my usual place to tell them! Please help spread the word in case anybody's wondering where the hell we are, until the site is back up. Thanks! - Brad

========================

During tonight's Mike Malloy Show (which I've been guest hosting all week) I received confirmation from Think Progress that the thugs working on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's disinfo attacks were specifically targeting me and my family.

TP's report, including one of the emails specifically naming me (with personal and family details) is now posted here:
http://thinkprogress.org/2011/02/10/chamberleaks-target... /

I reported on this during the Malloy Show, as I was getting the details, and shortly after the show ended, The BRAD BLOG went down entirely. It cannot currently be accessed, though I'm trying to reach the server admin and hope it can be restored soon.

For the moment then, the Malloy Show audio archives -- and the posted linked in the OP above -- cannot be accessed at the blog. Podcast subscribers to the Malloy Show should be able to get them as usual via MikeMalloy.com

Hopefully we'll be back up as early as possible tomorrow.

My thanks also to Marcy Wheeler at Emptywheel for covering the Chamber thugs attacks on me tonight as well:
http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2011/02/10/palantir-t... /

Have I mentioned lately how despicable the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is?

Of course we then see the typical DUmmie outrage over this travesty.

leveymg Donating Member (1000+ posts)  Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Fri Feb-11-11 05:02 AM
Response to Original message
14. Thought the FBI was treating hacking and DOS attacks as serious crimes?
   
Or is that only when it's being done by Anonymous and independents? Guess CoC and its thugs have a "Get Out of Jail Free" Card.

prairierose Donating Member (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Fri Feb-11-11 10:30 AM
Response to Reply #14
49. I'm afraid this is probably the correct answer...
   
this double standard of no need for law and order for corporatists and heavy-handed "law and order" for the rest of us has got to go.

Tsiyu Donating Member (1000+ posts)  Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Fri Feb-11-11 05:26 AM
Response to Original message
16. US Chamber of Malice?
   



Kicking


Sounds like the Chamber of Commerce is no more than a Mafia-style Protection Racket.

A pox on them.

Good luck and hope your site is back up soon.

dotymed Donating Member (1000+ posts)  Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Fri Feb-11-11 08:01 AM
Response to Original message
25. What is really despicable,IMO,
   
is that any private organization (corporation) has the POWER to do this. This kind of power, I thought, was reserved for our government only.
Can we have a peaceful revolution yet? What will it take (or is it really too late already) for Americans to say "enough" and demand, through action, that "we the people" are in charge and not the corporations? Less hope daily......
As opposed to Egypt, a Revolution (peaceful) here would have to be much different. While Egyptians are Revolting to overthrow a government, we would be revolting to restore a government, and the rule of law in America.
America has been taken over by wealthy/elite and corporate "people" and while they have managed to buy most politicians, they have not (yet) been able to change our definition of what a true Democracy is supposed to be.
It is "we the people" running our government to better the lives of our citizens.
It is NOT (as current reality suggests) ruining our government for the profit of a very small percentage of our citizenry.

We need a peaceful revolution now, the momentum has already been created by Tunisia, Egypt, and other brave bands of citizens who compromise their individual countries.
   

ProfessionalLeftist Donating Member (637 posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Fri Feb-11-11 09:17 AM
Response to Original message
38. CoC is a criminal racketeering outfit that needs to be shut down
   
That Obama has been kissing their shoes is utterly disgusting.

And then the lousy freeper troll.

slackmaster Donating Member (1000+ posts)  Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Fri Feb-11-11 09:56 AM
Response to Reply #5
43. Nobody has taken away your freedom of speech, Brad. Your Web host has shut down your site.
   
Edited on Fri Feb-11-11 10:02 AM by slackmaster
The reason doesn't really matter. If you feel the terms of your Web hosting contract has been violated, you should sue.

The solution for continuing your political activism is simply to move the site to another host.

You do have your content backed up, don't you?

slackmaster Donating Member (1000+ posts)  Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Fri Feb-11-11 10:50 AM
Response to Reply #50
55. There is no proof that the "hacked emails" are in any way related to the site being wacked.
   
I think Brad isn't telling us everything he knows.

slackmaster Donating Member (1000+ posts)  Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Fri Feb-11-11 11:08 AM
Response to Reply #60
64. I've been doing Web administration profesionally since 1998
   
Edited on Fri Feb-11-11 11:17 AM by slackmaster
There are many possible reasons why the owner of the server shut down Brad's content, and I don't believe Brad has shared with us everything he knows.

It would be highly unusual for someone to get their Web site shut down without warning. Multiple warnings are the norm for a customer who is violating TOS, unless there is some kind of major violation like child porn or a threat against the President of the United States, or not paying your bill. Brad has (or had) full control over the content of the site. I cannot imagine a scenario in which he does not now know exactly why the site was shut down.

The server is owned by someone. It's not a public resource. The owner has the right to shut down the content if he or she feels that Brad has violated their agreement, and the right to choose not to renew it if the contract expired.

Brad is making a lot of sound and fury over this, when getting back online is simply a matter of taking his business elsewhere and updating the DNS records for his domain. He could be back up in 24 hours or less if he really wants to be.

lackmaster Donating Member (1000+ posts)  Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Fri Feb-11-11 09:54 AM
Response to Original message
41. The site is not down. I can get to bradblog.com just fine. It's giving me a 403 error.
   
Edited on Fri Feb-11-11 09:55 AM by slackmaster
The systems administrator has taken your content down.

Brad, did you forget to pay the bill?

slackmaster Donating Member (1000+ posts)  Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Fri Feb-11-11 10:11 AM
Response to Reply #44
45. It means the owner of the server where the content is hosted has shut down the content
   
Edited on Fri Feb-11-11 10:17 AM by slackmaster
By setting the security on the site so that it's not available to unauthenticated (anonymous) outside users. It was obviously done on purpose. We don't really know why.

Brad is suggesting one possible reason here, but there are a lot of other possibilities. Any violation of the agreement (contract) for hosting services could result in that kind of action. Or maybe the contract expired and the hosting service decided not to renew it for whatever reason.

I suspect that Brad isn't telling us everything he knows. The content may or may not still be on the hosting server, but that doesn't matter because Brad surely has a current backup of his stuff.

Vinnie From Indy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Fri Feb-11-11 11:51 AM
Response to Reply #45
76. I suspect you are correct about Brad not telling us everything
   
Brad appears to be using this event to claim he is the victim of an attack by "thugs". I am curious why Brad has not come back to explain more fully what is going on.

slackmaster Donating Member (1000+ posts)  Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Fri Feb-11-11 11:56 AM
Response to Reply #76
77. Self-promotion is Brad's modus operandi. Some are blind to the fact that BradBlog is a business.
   
Just as DU is a business. Not to fault his progressive, liberal, generally pro-Democratic credentials. He's asking for sympathy for his business hitting a speed bump that may be of his own making.

He can be back up by tomorrow morning if he really wants to be, assuming that he has his content backed up.

Ichingcarpenter Donating Member (1000+ posts)  Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Fri Feb-11-11 12:09 PM
Response to Reply #77
80. Alerted on your attack slackmaster

The is DUmmieland FACTS are not allowed.  ALERT! ALERT!

[thundley4]

The DUmmies were all supportive when "Anonymous" was going after PayPal and other groups that were hostile to wikileaks. They thought it was funny.  You know what?  I think it's funny that Brad'sLog was truncated. 

[Chris_]

At 11:44 am MST Bartcop and truthout are down also. 

[Ballygrl]

OK, so they think the Chamber of Commerce is investigating people? and they're mad? were they mad when the names of donors were revealed of people who donated and voted Yes on 8 in California?

[AllosaursRus]

Ya know BradBungster, if ya slander a particular org, they can come after you and those that post your bull shit in public. Could be, ya slandered the Chamber without any proof and they went after your provider to inform them they could be liable!

But you're pobly right, the VRWC has more than likely ran a Black Op in order to shut your stooooopid ass up! WE can't have ya tellin' the truth!

DUmbass!

[Ralph Wiggum]

Dude, BradBlog, step away from the bong.

NO ONE CARES ABOUT YOUR STUPID INSIGNIFICANT WEBSITE/BLOG.

[Evil_Conservative]

Gee, maybe his website host sucks and that's why his site is down? 

[ScubaGuy]

At 11:44 am MST Bartcop and truthout are down also. 

The Troof-out thread is funny.

Oh noes.  They silenced the Boston Drunkard

BonnieJW Donating Member (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Fri Feb-11-11 01:35 PM
Original message
ThruthOut is offline
   
I received a bulletin about Mubrark stepping down and clicked on the link to read the full article, but the site is down. I tried typing the URL in directly and it's dead. I'm concerned because of BradBlog being down as well.

Ichingcarpenter Donating Member (1000+ posts)  Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Fri Feb-11-11 01:38 PM
Response to Original message
4. Maybe William Rivers Pitt knows what's going on
   
He writes for them and yes you are right its offline

But it looks like a maintenance type message hopefully

PBS Poll-435 Donating Member (1000+ posts)  Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Fri Feb-11-11 01:40 PM
Response to Reply #4
8. Looks like the bills didn't get paid, IMHO.
   

AngryOldDem (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Fri Feb-11-11 01:40 PM
Response to Original message
6. Looks like they took it down themselves for whatever reason.
   
I'm not getting any kind of error message or Access Denied like I do with BradBlog.

tritsofme (1000+ posts)  Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Fri Feb-11-11 01:45 PM
Response to Original message
10. I got a message that says service will be restored in 24 business hours.
   

CaliforniaPeggy Donating Member (1000+ posts)  Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Fri Feb-11-11 01:45 PM
Response to Original message
11. I just spoke to Will Pitt on facebook...
   
He told me they're "tinkering."

Not to worry!

RedCloud (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Fri Feb-11-11 02:00 PM
Response to Reply #11
13. But it shows we care. Thanks for the update.
   

AngryAmish (1000+ posts)  Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Fri Feb-11-11 01:54 PM
Response to Original message
12. Only for 24 business hours

[AllosaursRus]

tritsofme (1000+ posts)  Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Fri Feb-11-11 01:45 PM
Response to Original message
10. I got a message that says service will be restored in 24 business hours.

heh!!!!

CaliforniaPeggy Donating Member (1000+ posts)  Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Fri Feb-11-11 01:45 PM
Response to Original message
11. I just spoke to Will Pitt on facebook...
  
He told me they're "tinkering."

Not to worry!

and PittStain would never lie to the stooooopidest female on the net! no way, no how!

Geez these people are gullible!

I wonder what Brad's and Truthout's lawyer bills amount to. Liars tend to have to cover their ass a little more frequently than we do.

I'm sure the DUmmies will never consider that though.

ETA:

Ya know after thinkin' 'bout this, when I work on web sites, I don't do it on Fridays, ever! If I have to "tinker" it's usually on Sunday night.

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

Just a quick, straight down the sub-thread pull:

snappyturtle  (1000+ posts)      Fri Feb-11-11 04:02 PM
Response to Original message
62. I found DU through BradBlog way back when! This is a despicable
 act.

 

Disintermedia8 (144 posts)      Fri Feb-11-11 04:22 PM
Response to Reply #62
68. Forget the act
 it is the coordinated program in which the act is included. This is no different than FBI informants infiltrating anti-war groups. We are under attack and we had better start to realize that.

Disintermedia8 (144 posts)      Fri Feb-11-11 04:20 PM
Response to Original message
67. I wish the best of luck
 Edited on Fri Feb-11-11 04:21 PM by Disintermedia8
to anyone who is still somehow under the impression that the People are not under attack. We have no representation and we can choose to go the "every man for himself" route, or to come together as a community to resist.

What do you suppose the DOJ will do about this?

The Backlash Cometh  (1000+ posts)     Fri Feb-11-11 04:28 PM
Response to Original message
70. I can absolutely believe they're hacking websites.
 How do we go about catching them?

Also, it would not surprise me if they have the ability to hack into home computers. Assuming they have people they can depend on on the inside. If it's the Chamber of Commerce behind this, they would definitely have those connections.

So, how do we set up a trap to catch them? Anyone know any good software that can turn the tables around?

RoccoR5955  (1000+ posts)        Fri Feb-11-11 04:37 PM
Response to Original message
71. Those corporate bass turds better watch out
 or what is happening in Egypt WILL happen in the US!

This will rank up there with "ZOMFGWTFBBQ! Cheney sent his Blackwater, SpecOps, Opus Dei goons to beat up Ranky Rhodes!!!!"

[ScubaGuy]

And to wrap it all up.

BradBlog (1000+ posts)  Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Fri Feb-11-11 05:17 PM
Response to Original message
142. MY THANKS TO DU - AND A QUICK STATEMENT/UPDATE   Updated at 5:17 PM
   
My thanks to all the great support from the folks at DU! And my middle finger raised to some of the jackasses here (a couple of my regular DU stalkers, naturally) using this thread to post absurd, evidence-free insinuations and smears that, frankly, I don't have the time right now to even respond to as I'm trying to get my site back up, respond to inquiries from reporters, follow Egypt and other things that matter, all while TRYING to put the Mike Malloy Show together for one more night all at the same time!

I've posted a statement over at MikeMalloy.com on what's going on since I still cannot access The BRAD BLOG, as my server admin says they are still trying to figure out whatever happened which seems to have affected or is related to the hardware on the server somehow. That is literally, all I know at this point.

No, there is nothing I'm not telling you (as charged by some above) nor has my ISP pulled down our site to my knowledge (as similarly and idiotically charged). Other good progressive sites (eg. BartCop.com) on the same server have been similarly affected. But there I go, responded to the idiots hoping to hijack this thread.

Anyway. The statement that I was able to post at MikeMalloy.com where we'll likely have to run tonight's Chat Room during the show this evening (my last night guest hosting for Mike this week, as I've been doing since last Friday) is posted here: http://www.mikemalloy.com/2011/02/11/message-from-brad-...

My thanks also to David Dayen at Firedoglake for his excellent article today, based on an interview he did with me this afternoon on this matter, as now published here: http://news.firedoglake.com/2011/02/11/brad-friedman-we... /

And also thanks to Marcy Wheeler for her exceptional coverage all day today and last night at Emptywheel.com (hopefully she'll join me on the Malloy Show tonight!) and to ThinkProgress for helping to out all of this bullshit in the first place!

Appreciate you guys helping us to get the word on all of this, how despicable these guys are, and that I'm just fine, even as I can't let the world know that as easily as usual for the moment! I am able to update more quickly on Twitter at @TheBradBlog -- so please follow there, and RT as you can.

In Solidarity! (With both you and Egypt!)

Brad

So what you're trying to dance around saying is that the server crashed.  No guys in the bushes, no black ops.  It was a server crash.

sufrommich Donating Member (1000+ posts)  Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Fri Feb-11-11 06:02 PM
Response to Reply #142
148. So it was a server glitch. Why not edit your OP so it doesn't
   
sound like your family is in danger.

slackmaster Donating Member (1000+ posts)  Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Fri Feb-11-11 06:38 PM
Response to Reply #148
154. It's way too late for that. The Golden Hour has expired.
   
That's why people should be very careful what they post in their OPs. It's hard to erase the taint of an unfounded suggestion that you are being persecuted.

pinto DU Moderator Donating Member (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Fri Feb-11-11 06:57 PM
Response to Original message
159. We're locking this.
   
It's gotten increasingly personal. So in the interests of taking a step back, locking. Thanks all.

[Carl]

pinto DU Moderator Donating Member (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Fri Feb-11-11 06:57 PM
Response to Original message
159. We're locking this.
   
It's gotten increasingly personal. So in the interests of taking a step back, locking. Thanks all.

In other words the crazy was too great so we need it to drop off the front page.

[BlueStateSaint]

In other words the crazy was too great so we need it to drop off the front page.

Thankfully, we have preserved it for future generations.