A MESSAGE FROM MDE: I NEED YOUR HELP
I need your help. My right to blog anonymously is being challenged through legal maneuvering by Inside Minnesota Politics.
Today, representatives from Inside Minnesota Politics contacted Domains by Proxy to again request that my contact information be provided so I can be sued for copyright infringement.
I thought this matter had been resolved when I removed the picture in question. But the DFLers behind Inside Minnesota Politics have decided to continue pursuing their lawsuit.
This is not about my use of a picture that I properly sourced, but rather it's about Democrats tired of being exposed on Minnesota Democrats Exposed.
Through a frivolous lawsuit, Democrats are trying to force Domains by Proxy to reveal my identity. Democrats who can't challenge my fact-based message are now resorting to lawsuits to end my right to blog anonymously.
So this is where I ask for your help.
1. Tomorrow I will try and establish an anonymous legal defense fund. If I can establish a defense fund, I would ask that you provide a contribution link on your website.
2. If I can't establish a legal defense fund without revealing my identity, then I may ask for pro bono help from a lawyer.
3. Blog on this subject. Blog to protect my right to remain anonymous. Blog to protect the rights of all of the other bloggers who blog anonymously.
I am not going down without one hell of a fight. I will fight this lawsuit with all of my available (and unavailable) resources.
But, the future of Minnesota Democrats Exposed is being challenged and I need your help. Please stay tuned to Minnesota Democrats Exposed for legal developments.
MDE
Today, representatives from Inside Minnesota Politics contacted Domains by Proxy to again request that my contact information be provided so I can be sued for copyright infringement.
I thought this matter had been resolved when I removed the picture in question. But the DFLers behind Inside Minnesota Politics have decided to continue pursuing their lawsuit.
This is not about my use of a picture that I properly sourced, but rather it's about Democrats tired of being exposed on Minnesota Democrats Exposed.
Through a frivolous lawsuit, Democrats are trying to force Domains by Proxy to reveal my identity. Democrats who can't challenge my fact-based message are now resorting to lawsuits to end my right to blog anonymously.
So this is where I ask for your help.
1. Tomorrow I will try and establish an anonymous legal defense fund. If I can establish a defense fund, I would ask that you provide a contribution link on your website.
2. If I can't establish a legal defense fund without revealing my identity, then I may ask for pro bono help from a lawyer.
3. Blog on this subject. Blog to protect my right to remain anonymous. Blog to protect the rights of all of the other bloggers who blog anonymously.
I am not going down without one hell of a fight. I will fight this lawsuit with all of my available (and unavailable) resources.
But, the future of Minnesota Democrats Exposed is being challenged and I need your help. Please stay tuned to Minnesota Democrats Exposed for legal developments.
MDE
29 Comments:
MDE, the MOB boasts a couple of lawyer-members, and I can't think of a better use of their talents.
I'll be contacting our "legal department" tonight.
And after we put these asshats' case into a body bag, I suggest you file a counter suit.
In the meantime, I've got a lot of pictures to copy and paste tonight!!
I contacted Inside Minnesota Politics for comment on this one. Being anonymous does not make you immune to lawsuits.
I never said it did.
Maybe you can provide contact information so we can deluge the Domains people with emails.
They should not be able to provide any information without a fully vetted court order. If they release your private information short of that, you have a case against them.
Hold them to the lette of their policies. Make them think long and hard about the damage they'll cause to you if they release your information.
As to the DFL'ers who are doing this, they're nothing but a bunch of losers. These bozos fear you and that fear of truth and facts is what is driving them.
Thanks Swiftee, I appreciate your assistance.
Representative Jordan: Thanks for the tip and your comments.
I will post contact information for Domains by Proxy.
Question for Eva: "How far did you have to stick your head into the toilet to contact them?"
Answer: "Not far..we share the same cesspool."
Back at ya Swiftee. I used the publicly available email address on their site. Why don't you contact them too.... Maybe you'll get an exclusive.
Let Hindrocket do the work pro-bono for you, MDE. I'm sure he'd love the opportunity.
Nah, you have the exclusive use of your own lunatic antics ol' girl.
Are you going to issue a press release? LOL!
MDE
Swiftee, as always, is right. You should actually take the threat of a lawsuit (that in my non-legal opinion is baseless) as a compliment. These whack-jobs are afraid of you, and rather than let you keep exposing the truth about them, they are attempting to silence you in the only way they can. Why do you think it is so important for these losers to co-opt the courts? They cannot win in the arena of ideas, and their tactics are getting more and more desperate.
MDE
Swiftee, as always, is right on. These people are afraid of you and they are attempting to silence you in the only way they know how. Why do you think it is so important for these losers to co-opt the courts and appoint activist judges? It is because they cannot win in the arena of ideas and their tactics are becoming more and more desparate.
Further thoughts while I watch/listen to some awful "music" on the American Music Awards. :)
The so-called victims have to prove damages. You displayed a fully sourced photo and didn't gain financially from doing so.
On the other side, they do not charge to use their web site and didn't lose any money or reputation from you using the image.
Thus, I cannot think of any damages they suffered.
You were given a "cease and desist" and upon receipt you removed the image.
I can't imagine a judge on the planet issuing a court order demanding the release of your private information based on such a flimsy case. If it were me, I'd present exactly that argument to the domain people and suggest that if they release your information under these circumstances it is they who should fear a lawsuit, not you.
I'm not an attorney and don't play one on TV. But I've seen a lot of smoke over the years and this is a tiny puff with lots of wind behind it. No substance.
Hang in there dude. You know that the Dems only answer to dissent is to squash it! Like the others, I hope that our residential MOB legal minds will rush to the rescue. Meanwhile, I am cross posting this and my post on this to all of my conservative discussion groups. We'll do all we can to help you out.
Lady Logician: Any help you can be in advertising my legal troubles would be greatly appreciated.
I also thank you for your inspiring comments!
MDE
Hang in there, MDE...
I have blogged on this as well..
I have a couple brothers in law who are attorneys (not copyright, but one is a patent attorney).. I will contact them tomorrow and ask their opinions.
Meanwhile I have blogged about this at the Ice Palace.
John Jordan seems to be making a lot of sense with what he posted...
In the words of Dan Rather,
Courage!
Hang in there, MDE...
I have a couple of brothers-in-law who are attorneys...
I will ask their opinions tomorrow.
Meanwhile, I have also blogged about this on my site.
Mr. Jordan seems to be making a lot of sense here.
In the words of the esteemed Mr. Rather, "Courage."
Warmest regards,
-Leo-
MDE- good luck to you. As you know, I don't give a shit who you are and if you want to remain anonymous, your choice. Start a legal defense fund under the name of the website MDE. That will give you cover through the ordeal. It wouold be an attorney representing MDE, a faceless company. I enjoy showing you up for your wrongness and it would be a shame if you couldn't do that.
For you other whack jobs: Apparently InPols does not like MDE and chose this route. It has nothing to do withh the inability to refute and defeat the stories posted here, hell Sean and myself debunk most of this on a daily basis.
John- the AMA was some pretty good music with pretty good performers.
Lady Logic- How could you even choke those words of hypocrisy out. "You know that the Dems only answer to dissent is to squash it!" Do you read any political news beyond Minnetonka? That has been the Modus Operandi of the Bush Administration, House Republicans and RNC since they've been in power. Too many examples to list and of course like John jordan, you won;t provide one to suppoort your point.
This is one group going after MDE, not the Dems. not that truth will get in your way of making a point.
Doesn't everyone already know who MDE is? Does it even matter whatsoever? No, who cares.
I hope Inside Minnesota drops this thing.
I wonder if it is even true or if MDE is just trying to stir the pot? Attacking a reputable blog.
Also on KvM they said that Inside Minnesota Politics attacked and put a negative spin on the CD6 forum...... you can listen to it unedited. That is like saying C-Span edits live floor debates.
Best of luck MDE, honestly. From the Demrocker to the Demexposer.
MDE - posted and cross posted. Also check your email. I sent you some reference material...
St-Paul - It's really easy to say. Take a look at what the Dems did to Murtha's critics. The critics would go OUT OF THEIR WAY to say that they admired the man but not the idea and all the left could do was scream about how the right was "attacking Murtha personally". Guess what guy? Criticizing an idea or a policy point is NOT A PERSONAL ATTACK!
Hey, MDE:
You're familiar with Mn Stat 544, right?
The Anti-SLAPP?
Check it out. It might be a stretch, but I think it would fly here.
What a sophomoric move. Post going up shortly in support. If they really persue legal action let me know where to send the check.
LL:
They attacked Murtha. If you're too lazy or stupid to see it, then you are in the 17% of the lost. Poor Jean Schmidt. I guess the stateside Col in the Marine Reserve who said she was lying on him was wrong too?
Put the Kool Aid down for a second. Or keep drinking, who cares?
Does anyone know if the Michael McIntee from IMP the same MM who worked for Conus Communications... one of the former Hubbard companies?
Just curious.
Hey MDE,
Good luck... I'd post a topic on my blog, but I'm not sure it would boost your traffic. ;) I'll put something up in the next two weeks for sure, regardless of how little it helps.
More importantly, I'll be making a donation some time after Thanksgiving.
Speaking of which, have a great Thanksgiving... to you and all your visitors.
M. D. E.,
1) Post on topic published,
2) donation given, and
3) sidebar donation link established (for the long haul).
Thanks for the work you do.
You have the support of the Guys at Anti-Strib. Democrats can't intimidate bloggers with threats of lawsuits.
M.D.E.,
1) Post published,
2) contribution made, and
3) sidebar contribution link put in place (for the long haul).
Thanks for the work you do.
Tracy,
(notice the reference to Democrats, not just IMP. We're suppose to jump on board with this?)
You're wrong, there has been intimidation and it worked. Those of us with an iota of legal education can't see a real case here. MDE hasn't been served with anything, yet the reactionary actions have created a legal defense fund, a coalition of bloggers sort of excommunicating IMP, rallying the troops with a few bandwagon DFL bloggers.
I'd say they intimidated this whole blogging community quite well.
Intimidated? Who is intimidatin who? I could share with you an email I received from Mr. McIntee if you want to talk about intimidation.
MDE
If you're talking post the threat of a lawsuit, of course he's going to back pedal. Couple of reasons:
1. It hurts their business to be called a liberal mouthpeice or highly partisan.
2. it hurts their credibility when they get chastised by 'friends' on the Left.
With all of the rallying behind you and excommunicating of IMP, surely they are intimidated now.
But, they called out the first bluff and you guys mobilized like there was an attack on the 38th parallel on the DMZ in Korea.
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