The Inglorious End of #WreckingCrew?

February 18, 2011 Political Blog, Uncategorized 4 Comments

First, for the record, I am not nor have I ever been a member of a group of people on Twitter that call themselves the “Wrecking Crew.” However, at one time, I had the utmost respect for them and their members. While I have much remaining respect for individual members of Wrecking Crew, I have nothing but personal disgust and disdain for what the group has become and the actions being done in its name.

Let’s do some background on the group. According to their website:

Our objective:
To protect other patriotic conservatives and tea-partiers from vile attacks lamented by the Far Left, who try to intimidate others from speaking their mind. If you’ve used Twitter to announce your political favor, then you know the type of troll (one who incites the collective order of others) in which I am referring.

For those who are unfamiliar, the Wrecking Crew was founded in 2008 by Mr. Bloomingdale (on twitter here) and one other who has since moved on. It started off as a protective unit patrolling “TCOT” (here top conservatives on twitter) and the Tea Party (here) “hash tags,” where like minded people gather to exchange information and ideas.
Often these right-minded, Twitter “hash tag sites” are the prime targets of the Left. So, many of us using these hash tags founded a group to fight back against the Far Left. And fight the Left we do. In fact we give them proverbial hell and while we do NOT start attacks, we certainly have a way of ending them. We fight the Left, so that the Left doesn’t bother other patriots and or associates. We also receive referrals to help out those who are being attacked as well and are not limited to hash tag trolls alone.

This is the Wrecking Crew I first encountered when I started being harassed by liberals for my views. A call for help would go out, and the Wrecking Crew would quickly step in and distract the “troll” while I and others continued to tweet. They rendered this service for many Twitter users, and they were rightly much admired for their dedication.

However, something happened with the Wrecking Crew in the past few months, something very ugly. It was like watching a trusted police officer become drunk with power and become the criminal they had sworn to take off the streets.

We don’t know all of the reasons behind the change, but we have received information that, with respect to at least one member of the Wrecking Crew, a petty jealousy over the attentions of one woman on Twitter developed, and the power of the Wrecking Crew was used to try to take out the romantic rival. That’s the story as we heard it. We have seen evidence of this, but due to decorum, we are going to decline to include this information. Suffice it to say, it certainly has the look of credibility.

NOTE: As we will demonstrate later, members of the Wrecking Crew have already threatened litigation and the use of family if we went forward with this piece. We will publish the threatening e-mail in its entirety, and we will produce it if needed, including all metadata attesting to its authenticity and origins. We are going to leave out names, except for screen shots of tweets. Those will speak for themselves. The linking information will be provided so that the reader can give the Wrecking Crew every benefit of the doubt by checking the context of the tweets.

Also, it appears that one other member of the leadership of the Wrecking Crew have had a series of personal tragedies which may have induced a severe stress response which manifested in their behavior. We know the nature of the tragedies, and they are severe and deeply personal. We wish the person a recovery to whatever extent is possible, but there is simply no excuse for the actions that have taken place on Twitter.

About two months ago, members of the Wrecking Crew, instead of targeting liberal trolls infesting the tweeting space of conservatives on Twitter, began to target a single individual, claiming that the individual had posted pornographic images and had engaged in other bad behavior. Several members of the Wrecking Crew then swarmed this individual for a period of several days with harassment, but never any proof that we could find for their allegations. Eventually, the matter came to our attention, and we very publicly called out and denounced this behavior. The target of this attack was the putative romantic rival of one of the Wrecking Crew’s leaders. This person is also a Marine Corps veteran and a friend of ours. I was not going to sit back and watch the spectacle without speaking. Those of you who know me will know that I would probably explode if I tried to do so. I was not alone as others then became aware of the direct, personal attacks on this individual and added their voices to the chorus of disgust.

In my mind, at that moment, while the goals of the Wrecking Crew and its purpose remained noble, it was obvious that the concept had been hijacked to become a personal vendetta squad against anyone who dared to cross its members. We have not tolerated these tactics from the left, and we certainly would not even begin to contemplate tolerating them from “patriots.”

This cry of outrage grew as more people saw what was going on and seemed to shock a fair number of people both within and without Wrecking Crew back to some sense of reality. What was the conservative movement doing feeding on itself and attacking one another?

However, this defense of a friend came at a small price. Some members of the Wrecking Crew, apparently allowing pride to get in the way of good judgment, began to conspire (and I have e-mailed proof of this conspiracy) to take down those who had dared to challenge the Wrecking Crew. Word of this continued to spread, as there are very few well-kept secrets in Twitterdom. Increasingly we got e-mailed tips and copies of e-mails that had been exchanged. Much of that content is libelous and defamator per se against the intended targets of the Wrecking Crew’s take down attempt.

This began to boil over on the morning of February 17, 2011, when I began to receive frantic messages via direct message on Twitter that the Wrecking Crew was getting ready to make their move. I then contacted one of the leaders of Wrecking Crew via direct message and let them know that, if they proceeded with this plan, we would develop any and all information we could about the members of Wrecking Crew and make that available in the same manner in which Wrecking Crew was planning to do it to others. At the same time, word began to reach us that they had already done background checks on people and had used that information against their targets.

On the morning of February 18, 2011, I received the following e-mail from one of the leaders of the Wrecking Crew:

Greg,

I don’t take well to the fact that you have smeared, belittled, and threatened myself as well as the rest of the WC. I’m sure by now, you’ve seen my tweeds to you. That was the result if your constant bombardment of insults. I hope you will not continue your reckless behavior. Especially after all that we have done for you.

First, Fire Goddess helped you with your avatar. The one you have copyrighted. Second, Jeannie helped you in your time of need with your sick wife. Third, burnt powder and the rest if us have helped you with your troll problem. Yet you decide to attack us daily?

Finally, I saw the little threat that you made. Your gonna get personal info on my WC members? Really? Isn’t that a troll tactic? Better yet, isn’t that the worst tactic of them all.

I don’t know if you know, but I know a lot of people up here in New York. Hell, my cousin works for the New York District Attorney’s office. I hope you wouldn’t do something so silly as to jeopardize your freedom, your financial well being all to look tough on twitter. So, i’d strongly advise against fishing for any info on any of us. Ask around New York, I REALLY like suing people. In fact, I did a commercial for my friends brand new law firm. I’m getting ready to sue Bank of America So, I’m not sure that would be a good move on your part.

Your the key to all of this, Greg. I’m just merely reaction and defending my friends. Let’s cut the nonsense, shall we?

T.G. Bloomingdale

P.S. Your life is an open book. From everything to your wife, kids, even your address. How would you like if someone posted your VERY private info on the web? It only takes a phone call. Lastly, tell your friend, Vet to back off too.

Note the thuggish behavior and the threats. Second, a good portion of this is simply not true. My website graphics package was done by well-known online graphics artist by the name of @CarolinaPixel. I did ask “Fire Goddess” who goes under the name @OutWithMarxists if she were one and the same as the artist that did the work, and she denied any connection. Third, note the threat to use law enforcement to try to silence those who dissent with the actions of the Wrecking Crew. These are clearly tactics used by the left. And finally, there’s a threat to put out personal information, the same threat we had been hearing about for days, now reduced to writing. There may actually be at least one criminal offense in this document: felony extortion.

How did this all play out the evening of Febuary 18, 2011? Well let’s start with one of the left’s favorite tactics, outright libel and defamation.

A direct, personal and libelous attack from @MrBloomingdale (Click to enlarge)http://twitter.com/#!/MrBloomingdale/status/38760353877860352

Once again, one of the favorite memes of the left surfaces. They love to try to discredit veterans. In this particular case, the insult was as base as it could possibly be. To first, improperly identify the branch of service is an insult to a Marine. (I’m sorry to my friends from other branches, but I’m sure you felt your branch was the best, too.)

Of course, the liberal who fed this information to @MrBloomingdale probably knew this. It came from @AngryKooks. You can see the whole thread of the attack at the end of the article. Secondly, there is probably not a greater insult one can hurl at any veteran than to state they had been dishonorably discharged. This is simply beyond the pale, and this is exactly the depths to which the leadership of Wrecking Crew has sunk.

Further libel from MrBloomingdale (click to enlarge)

Not satisfied with hurling a direct and personal insult in his tweet about my being dishonorably disharged, Mr. Bloomingdale then republished his libel to a fellow veteran and friend, who was also being harassed by Wrecking Crew for the “crime” of coming to our defense. This actual tweet can be viewed here, in case someone wants to accuse of “photoshopping,” which is also a common tactic.

Again, this was information being fed to @MrBloomingdale from trolls attacking from the left. So, the Wrecking Crew whose stated purpose is to protect conservatives from internet trolls, has its stated founder acting in concert with some of the left’s worst trolls in an effort to defame and libel conservatives.

The evidence speaks for itself, but trust me, there is much, much more, as you will see at the end of the article when we display the entire stream of tweets directed at us.

But let’s once and for all discredit anyone who dares to suggest that 1) we never served in the Marine Corps, or 2) that my service was anything other than honorable and decorated.

Copy of Greg W. Howard, DD-214 from the U.S. Marine Corps showing separation by Honorable discharge under hardship conditions

The document to the left is a JPEG image of my second and final DD-214 from the U.S. Marine Corps. It reflects honorable service to this nation. Further, it shows a Marine who had been recognized on eight separate occasions for outstanding service. For those unfamiliar with Marine Corps language, a “Meritorious Mast” is a special honor where the achievements of the Marine are recognized by a Battalion Commander. In my case, I was recognized three times in such a manner.

A “Certificate of Commendation” is recognition by a Commanding General, in my case three times. One of these, coincidentally was from Major General A. M. Gray, who was Commanding General of the 2d Marine Division, and he went on to become Commandant of the Marine Corps a few years later.

The “Letter of Appreciation” came from a civilian defense counsel who had been hired to try to prevent a death sentence of a Marine for the crime of premeditated murder. He was impressed, apparently, by my professionalism in assisting him in the legal library and in research tasks as he tried to work his way through military case law.

Of course, I also received the Good Conduct Medal which is a very common award for anyone who does not have any run-ins with the military justice system or non-judicial punishment.

Go ahead, click it and look at it closely. I don’t care at this point. I have had it with people on the left and now from the right who continue this meme that I never served or that I was discharged under conditions that could only be characterized as disgraceful. I have removed my discharge address, my social security number, and my date of birth for obvious reasons.

Now, I have to ask again, is this the depth to which the Wrecking Crew has sunk? Deliberate libel and defamation of a veteran who has served his country?I am not the only veteran that @MrBloomingdale attacked.

In this tweet @MrBloomingdale attacks @VeteranAirborne, implying that he and I might be homosexual lovers.

In this tweet @MrBloomingdale again attacks @VeteranAirborne, calling him “Mrs Howard.”

What did @VeteranAirborne do to deserve this abuse? He came to my defense, something any veteran would do. But not satisfied, @MrBloomingdale then went after @KidRanger in this tweet. Apparently, @MrBloomingdale has a problem with veterans, and in this case one who is a member of the clergy now. Of course, @KidRanger only did what @VeteranAirborne had done, call @MrBloomingdale out for his bad behavior. Of course, @MrBloomingdale could not stop there, his rudeness continued in this tweet.

Of course, you can look at @MrBloomingdale’s entire timeline any time you like by clicking here. And if he deletes any of the tweets referenced, we will simply go through the task of updating the post with a bunch of screenshots. We were thorough.

Does @MrBloomingdale speak for the Wrecking Crew? Apparently, he does speak for at least a few of them. What follows below is a swarm attack of several members of the Wrecking Crew. We’re including these directly from a log we receive every 12 hours of every single tweet that mentions us. You may have trouble trying to figure out who are the usual trolls that attack us and who are the Wrecking Crew members. We’ll point them out to you, but I hope you will also note how they worked together with the trolls. I have deleted tweets from #FollowFriday mentions as this only clouds the issue.

The Wrecking Crew members involved are @MrBloomingdale, @CouldBeMe7 (@JeannieMcBride), @OutWithMarxists, and @MuddleVanHeck.

This is the Wrecking Crew in action. Surely a proud moment for them.

This is the unfiltered timeline of the past 7 hours prior to posting. No tweets have been edited out. Therefore, you will see a great deal of coarse language from the trolls that harass me constantly. I have purposely unfiltered this so that the interplay between these Wrecking Crew members and the trolls can be seen. Good luck telling them apart.

bettered

RT @Birdseye1: @DocSharp @GregWHoward @AndiLinks: Y’all Must Deny: http://ow.ly/3Y50A Proof that pseudo scientists believe their own BS. about 2 hours ago via TweetDeck

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