Here is Novak’s report on the Desperate Delusional Dumped Daschle Disciples:
The 2004 Senate victory in South Dakota of Republican John Thune over then Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle did not end the bitter election campaign. Since the election, at least five South Dakota blogs have appeared with the only apparent purpose of attacking Thune.
Former Daschle staffers openly run two of the blogs, and two others are anonymous. A fifth is run by Todd Epp, who did part-time legal work for Daschle's campaign. Epp told this column that Steve Hildebrand, Daschle's campaign manager, learned from Thune's use of paid bloggers in 2004 and now "is kind of behind some of this."
A footnote: In its July quarterly report, the Daschle campaign reported more than $1 million in post-election spending, including a $2,000-a-month salary for Hildebrand and thousands more for his consulting firm. The campaign still has $545,000. Because Daschle has exceeded $5,000 in spending, the Federal Election Commission under its rules asked him if he is a candidate against Thune in 2010. Daschle replied officially that he is not.
Todd Epp provides us more as he reacts to a Ryne MCLaren post:
Anyway, I did want to clarify one of Ryne's points that I'm not sure I made real clear in my initial audio posting: The Novakista didn't know who SDBWM was but knew of him. He wanted me to spill the beans. I didn't and anyway, I didn't know who he was at the time. I have subsequently learned who SDBWM is. My lips are sealed.
Novak's myrmidon (Success! I used it in a sentence!) also wanted me to spill the beans on Theron, who I knew (I didn't spill said beans) and Nathan (who I didn't know and don't know and so couldn't have spilled said beans if I had wanted to). The ruthlessly enthralled Novakian did know about Chad Schuldt (CCK).
So, I upheld the LeftyOSphere's vow of omerta. Novak Researcher Dude also thought I was a former Daschle staffer. I am not, just a friend and supporter who did a very small amount of legal work for the campaign committee much prior to the election. I ride alone. (Maybe I need to change my deodorant.) But why does everyone think I'm Tom's former employee? No, no, no, no I am not.
So Epp knows who the SD Blog Watch Chicken is. Hmmmm.
So Todd...what was you position on blogger disclosure again?
