One of the more disturbing aspects of recent "conservative" exposes are the lengths these people will go to find just a scrap of evidence to discredit political opponents.  These people are not beyond hacking into computer systems, illegally taping conversations, violating non-disclosure agreements, trespassing and dumpster diving.  And all for what?  Just a scintilla of evidence (when taken out of context) to promote your cause.

I have not blogged about "Climategate" because I think the whole thing is just plain stupid.  I find it difficult to believe that thousands of scientists have all gotten together to make up the myth of man-made Global Warming.  But, what I find more incredulous is that people will take one or two emails and claim that it is definitive proof of this conspiracy and that man-made global warming is not happening.  As an attorney who has been a part of several document discovery requests and reviews, I can tell you that you can always find an email here or there that sounds bad, but is meaningless (and definitely not definitive proof) once the context is provided.  [At the same time, there are some powerful emails that can help a cause, but there is other such evidence also.]  "Conservatives" are ignoring the context and/or explanation by the authors because they are so desperate to deny global warming (and take it as a faith, just like their religion) that they do not care for an explanation.  The part of the story that bothers me the most is that someone hacked into the system with the sole purpose of stealing information and trying to uncover a hoax.  I don't see such a person has credibility (they are crooks).

Those who also lack credibility are those who are going after ACORN.  These people are so obsessed with the crazy idea that ACORN basically stole 10 million votes for Obama that they need to expose them.  We all know about those idiot people who posed as a pimp and ho who showed that the people of ACORN are polite.  But, there is also what happened in San Diego.  An individual affiliated with the pimp and ho, walked passed a "No Trespassing" sign and broke into a caged dumpster to steal ACORN's garbage, hoping to find a smoking gun.  Despite claims of the great find, all that they have showed so far is that someone in ACORN tossed out personal information of employees, instead of shredding it.  [Not the smartest idea, but not that uncommon.]  No one seems to care that these people are breaking the law when it comes to undermining ACORN.  Again, what kind of credibility do these people have?

Finally, there is the story of a man who "went undercover" at the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) to prove that the group is fronting and aiding terrorists.  He lied to the group to get the job and released selected emails to prove his point even though he had signed an agreement not to release the organization's private emails.  I guess "conservatives" have no problem with whistleblowers when it comes to CAIR, but hate it when it involves corporations.  Again, the story is going no where because the man lacks credibility.  Anyone, anywhere can pick out emails here and there, take the language out of context to make a point.  They need to come up with something better to have a national impact, but have just enough to make a nice sum of money from their ignorant followers who are dying to beleive anything that undermines pluralism.

Anyway, what is up with this "conservative mukracking"?  Why do these people go to the lengths they do, and come up with little to nothing?  What would these people think if liberals turned the table and infiltrated "conservative" organizations and find all the crazy racist, sexist, and homophobic stuff they distribute among each other? (And I know they do)  I am sure they would not be thrilled.