Anonymous unmasked

[Bob78164]

Anonymous, the author of a 2018 New York Times Op Ed, has unmasked himself. He's Miles Taylor, who was Chief of Staff for the Department of Homeland Security. His post states his reasons for writing as "Anonymous" -- essentially, it was to force Donny to respond to the merits of his statement rather than trying to deflect attention to its author. --Bob

[Buffacuse]

I'm obviously not a Trump cheerleader, but I'm going to call bullshit on this. Others who have left have had the temerity to attach their names to their criticism. The anonymous tag served as a marketing ploy and dramatically increased the buzz about the book--a book originally written by "Miles Taylor" would have gotten a big "who?" This also allowed Taylor to continue to serve in the government at taxpayer expense while he pocketed his book revenue--a violation of his federal employment oath--he should be sued to return his salary from that point forward.

Sorry, but after 24 years as a federal employee with the same level of clearance that Taylor had, I'm honoring the agreements I swore to accept in exchange for the privilege of serving my country. He did not.

[Bob78164]

I'm obviously not a Trump cheerleader, but I'm going to call bullshit on this. Others who have left have had the temerity to attach their names to their criticism. The anonymous tag served as a marketing ploy and dramatically increased the buzz about the book--a book originally written by "Miles Taylor" would have gotten a big "who?" This also allowed Taylor to continue to serve in the government at taxpayer expense while he pocketed his book revenue--a violation of his federal employment oath--he should be sued to return his salary from that point forward.

Sorry, but after 24 years as a federal employee with the same level of clearance that Taylor had, I'm honoring the agreements I swore to accept in exchange for the privilege of serving my country. He did not.

Wasn't the book published after he left the Administration? And obviously we're not privy to the details that would lock this down, but he says that he "declined a hefty monetary advance" and pledged the bulk of the proceeds to charity. So what issue do you have with what he did? --Bob

[Buffacuse]

The Op Ed was published in 2018 and he resigned in June 2019. So, a gross violation of his secrecy agreement but, I suppose, no different than a government official who leaks to a reporter. Yes, the book was published three months after he resigned, so fine on that, but then why publish as Anonymous? Marketing--clever--but honest?

[Bob78164]

The Op Ed was published in 2018 and he resigned in June 2019. So, a gross violation of his secrecy agreement but, I suppose, no different than a government official who leaks to a reporter. Yes, the book was published three months after he resigned, so fine on that, but then why publish as Anonymous? Marketing--clever--but honest?

His stated rationale was to force Donny to engage with the content of what he wrote rather than attacking him as a way of distracting from the issues (and discouraging others from coming forward). --Bob

[Buffacuse]

Well, maybe it doesn't matter, but he is a liar.

https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/202 ... 60-vpx.cnn

[Bob78164]

Well, maybe it doesn't matter, but he is a liar.

https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/202 ... 60-vpx.cnn

He probably also lied when Donny's political hit squad asked him whether he's Anonymous. No, I don't think this matters. --Bob

[Buffacuse]

Well, maybe it doesn't matter, but he is a liar.

https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/202 ... 60-vpx.cnn

He probably also lied when Donny's political hit squad asked him whether he's Anonymous. No, I don't think this matters. --Bob

Wonder how his new colleagues at CNN are reacting...

[Buffacuse]

Well, maybe it doesn't matter, but he is a liar.

https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/202 ... 60-vpx.cnn

He probably also lied when Donny's political hit squad asked him whether he's Anonymous. No, I don't think this matters. --Bob

Wonder how his new colleagues at CNN are reacting...

Here's how...and not really well...

https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/202 ... pt-vpx.cnn

[Bob78164]

He probably also lied when Donny's political hit squad asked him whether he's Anonymous. No, I don't think this matters. --Bob

Wonder how his new colleagues at CNN are reacting...

Here's how...and not really well...

https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/202 ... pt-vpx.cnn

Seems to me that he had pretty good answers. --Bob

[Buffacuse]

Wonder how his new colleagues at CNN are reacting...

Here's how...and not really well...

https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/202 ... pt-vpx.cnn

Seems to me that he had pretty good answers. --Bob

Hey Bob--respectfully disagree. I found him strained and trying to be glib ("I guess I owe Anderson a beer") and frankly pretty much smarmy in how he handled the issue. That said, I personally don't doubt much of the substance of what he said but that is now the issue--as Cuomo pointed out...now that you've established yourself as a liar, how do we believe the rest of what you're saying.

As you may have sensed, stuff like this is a hot button issue for me...maybe I'll 'splain why later. Appreciate being able to have a good, solid discussion of same without polemics and personal recriminations, though. Thanks.

[Spock]

Well, maybe it doesn't matter, but he is a liar.

https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/202 ... 60-vpx.cnn

He probably also lied when Donny's political hit squad asked him whether he's Anonymous. No, I don't think this matters. --Bob

ROFLMAO-I guess when you view everything through an ideological lens some lies matter and some don't.

[Bob78164]

Here's how...and not really well...

https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/202 ... pt-vpx.cnn

Seems to me that he had pretty good answers. --Bob

Hey Bob--respectfully disagree. I found him strained and trying to be glib ("I guess I owe Anderson a beer") and frankly pretty much smarmy in how he handled the issue. That said, I personally don't doubt much of the substance of what he said but that is now the issue--as Cuomo pointed out...now that you've established yourself as a liar, how do we believe the rest of what you're saying.

As you may have sensed, stuff like this is a hot button issue for me...maybe I'll 'splain why later. Appreciate being able to have a good, solid discussion of same without polemics and personal recriminations, though. Thanks.

Seems like your issue with his responses was more about style than substance. That, of course, is a matter of personal taste. Am I misapprehending what you're saying?

As for the rest, when someone publishes anonymously, you've got to expect a direct "no" when you ask whether he's the writer. Otherwise, "No. No. No. No. I won't answer. No. No. No. No." is pretty much as good as a yes. And in this case, he even said up front that he'd deny it if asked until he was ready to step forward. I don't think that damages his credibility in the minds of anyone who hasn't already drunk the Kool-Aid and injected the Clorox, any more than it damages the credibility of an undercover officer who, while undercover, denies being a cop.

Thanks for a reasoned discussion, which I'm happy to continue. --Bob