Buggate?

October 8, 2003 5:59 PM

A third-rate bugging? Did Pennsylvania Republicans plant listening devices to gain an advantage in the next Philadelphia mayoral election? I think they did and in his words, that's the truth!
posted by Bag Man (16 comments total)

why would the mayor want counter-surveillance even more, "routine" counter-surveillance?
posted by clavdivs at 6:08 PM on October 8, 2003

Interesting, but what the fuck does Hannity have to do with this?
posted by inpHilltr8r at 6:21 PM on October 8, 2003

Because Hannity is an evil right-wing fascist Stalinesque Nazi and the people need to know.

GO RED SOX.
posted by xmutex at 6:24 PM on October 8, 2003

A question for you lawyer/LE types:

If the DOJ was investigating the mayor, why wouldn't they inform his security detail (secretly), and seek/demand their cooperation (by court order if necessary)? I presume that, since they are police, they have higher allegiance to the courts than to the mayor (even though these are different layers of government).

It just seems odd to me that, apparently, one law enforcement agency "caught" another.
posted by kickingtheground at 6:29 PM on October 8, 2003

Did Pennsylvania Republicans plant listening devices to gain an advantage in the next Philadelphia mayoral election?

No. The FBI planted the bug.
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 6:45 PM on October 8, 2003

Hm.

Does make you think, though.

While subjecting every Tom, Dick, and Harry to a Patriot Act-sanctioned counter-terrorism surveilance is impractical, it probably isn't too impractical to monitor just people in local government. While local government is home to a lot of old biddies, it will also be home to the politically up-and-coming, and those who are passionate about reform, but haven't yet given up on the standard political routes. I know a number of people here in Eugene who fall under the latter category, and have also been subject to police investigations purely on their status as vocal shit-disturbers. Monitoring local government could produce a lot of information about and fuel against people that might need to be 'fought down' in later political campaigns.

Just a thought...
posted by kaibutsu at 7:36 PM on October 8, 2003

Steve_at_Linwood, it is not yet certain who planted the bug. From your link:

FBI spokesman Linda Vizi said the equipment was not connected to campaign espionage, but she refused to say whether Street was being investigated or whether the FBI planted the device. She also wouldn't explain how the FBI could say so quickly that the device was not connected to the mayor's race.

Call my cynical but I am thinking dirty tricks. After FL recount denial, TX attempt at redistricting, and CA recall vote, I don't put anything past this current junta in its bald power grab.
posted by madamjujujive at 7:47 PM on October 8, 2003

Hey Steve, read the article. The second link states that the FBI is disputing that it placed the bug.
posted by PigAlien at 7:47 PM on October 8, 2003

How are Street's reelection chances? Is this going to hurt him?

This was interesting, from steve's nbc link: ...Williams said it was unclear if the surveillance was directly related to two ongoing federal investigations in Philadelphia. One current investigation involves a no-bid, $1 million-a-year airport-services contract between the Street administration and a company owned by the mayor's brother, Milton Street. The other investigation is related to an alleged parking-ticket fixing scandal involving more than 125,000 parking tickets between 1997 and March 2003. News of the federal parking-ticket probe first surfaced in March 2003...
posted by amberglow at 7:49 PM on October 8, 2003

PS, by the way, Steve, I wasn't telling you off, just pointing out...
posted by PigAlien at 7:51 PM on October 8, 2003

madamjujujive, Sam Katz (Street's Republican opponent) doesn't really need any help to make Street look disreputable, combative, or idiotic, as he has historically done a fairly decent job of it on his own.

Philly is a hugely Democrat city, and where I live in University City (filled with a typical collegiate liberal mix of constituents) it seems as though every fourth or fifth house is flying a "Democrats for Katz" banner.

Also, A) It's not as if we're all suddenly going to change our record as a city and vote overwhelmingly for Bush in 2004 if we have a Republican Mayor and B) Steve_at_Linnwood's above link is to the page of the most jaw-droppingly moronic local news crew I've ever seen in action -- we should probably be checking The Inquirer instead.
posted by krisis at 10:02 PM on October 8, 2003

Maybe Karl Rove?
posted by Guy Smiley at 10:04 PM on October 8, 2003

Is it just because I don't live that far from Providence that the idea that the mayor might be under investigation doesn't strike me as inherently absurd? GO SOX.
posted by tingley at 10:09 PM on October 8, 2003

The city government in Philly... possibly corrupt? Frank Rizzo would be rolling over in his grave if he found out...
posted by ph00dz at 10:33 PM on October 8, 2003

FBI spokesman Linda Vizi said the equipment was not connected to campaign espionage

When the FBI says they can tell you why something was not planted, I think it's a safe bet that they planted it, which is now confirmed.

Call my cynical but I am thinking dirty tricks. After FL recount denial, TX attempt at redistricting, and CA recall vote, I don't put anything past this current junta in its bald power grab.

Or maybe, just maybe, it's related to two ongoing federal investigations in Philadelphia where there were FBI raids today.
posted by probablysteve at 7:27 AM on October 9, 2003

Or maybe, just maybe, it's related to two ongoing federal investigations in Philadelphia where there were FBI raids today.

No no, it can't be! It is much easier to believe conspiracy theories that help reassure a distorted perspective of reality and demonize your political enemies. It is so much easier to claim you were "cheated" rather than deal with the fact that you are losing.

(BTW I think you forgot to include the Clinton Impeachment in your TinFoil Trifecta)





CUBS WIN!
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 10:37 AM on October 9, 2003