Neal Rauhauser Boasts of Access to Secret Congressional Staff ‘Policy Intel’ Network UPDATE: Don’t Believe the Hype?

Posted on | July 7, 2012 | 57 Comments

FROM AN UNDISCLOSED LOCATION
Brooks Bayne at the Trenches quotes an April 2012 text message reportedly sent by Brett Kimberlin associate Neal Rauhauser:

“Keep in mind policy intel for 700+ Congressional staffers runs through a system I built and I back up the natsec editor. I hear stuff average bear does not.“

Bayne interprets the phrase “policy intel” to include sensitive national-security information, which would be extremely troubling given Rauhauser’s clear connections to Anonymous, the international computer hacking conspiracy. However, leaving aside that potentially scary implication, and stipulating that this text message is authentic — that Rauhauser did indeed send it, and that his claim is not just more of Neal’s habitual bragging — Bayne still has produced evidence worthy of serious investigation. Some questions that investigators might wish to ask:

What is this “system” that Rauhauser built? Is it an official system, paid for with taxpayer dollars?
Have these staffers been authorized by members of Congress to access the system Rauhauser built?
What are the names of the staffers participating in this “policy intel” system, and which members of Congress do they work for?
Who is the “natsec” (i.e., national security) editor of the system Rauhauser built? What sort of “stuff,” unknown to the “average bear,” does Rauhauser access through this system?
Was Rauhauser working with these congressional staffers at the same time he was harassing Patterico as “the Gaped Crusader”? Was Rauhauser being paid to operate this congressional “policy intel” system (and act as backup to the national security editor of the system) while assisting Matt Edelstein’s “Stop Rush” boycotters? If so, by whom was Rauhauser paid?

Perhaps the reader who hasn’t been following my “Kimberlin Files” reporting in depth now understands why Rauhauser’s involvement with Brett Kimberlin caused me to take notice on May 17.

Neal Rauhauser isn’t just some random crazy guy on the Internet. He is a well-connected Democrat operative who has worked for numerous candidates and campaigns, who was a featured speaker at the 2010 Netroots Nation conference, a consultant who represents a direct link between his client, convicted terrorist Brett Kimberlin, and the official Democratic Party political apparatus.

UPDATE: Friends inform me that this appears to be a typical example of Rauhauser’s boastfulness, and that the “policy intel” mountain to which Neal refers may actually be an online molehill known as Progressive Congress News. Here is an October 2010 Daily Kos post in which Rauhauser (aka “Stranded Wind”) hypes PCN.

Of course, the administrator of such an operation could probably use his access in nefarious ways (and Rauhauser is a distinctly hinky character) but PCN itself doesn’t seem all that important.

– Robert Stacy McCain, Whereabouts Unknown

Category: Congress, Democrats, The Kimberlin Files

Comments

57 Responses to “Neal Rauhauser Boasts of Access to Secret Congressional Staff ‘Policy Intel’ Network UPDATE: Don’t Believe the Hype?”

SphenicAtaraxy51
July 7th, 2012 @ 11:58 am

http://goo.gl/5H1EN
Stacy Cites Brooks Bayne on Neal Rauhauser, and the Blear and Smear Campaign
July 7th, 2012 @ 1:12 pm

[…] Yesterday, via Bob Belvedere, I noted that retired Chicago law enforcement officer Peter Bella had characterized Neal Rauhauser as "personally dangerous," and in comments Bob expressed his hope that as occasion permits Mr. Bella will fill us in on the details. You may also have noticed that I've been critical of Brooks Bayne regarding his criticisms of Lee Stranahan, which ought, I think, to be more direct and less like the allegorosis in Herbert Spenser's The Faerie Queene. However, Brooks continues to do good work digging in The Trenches for Kimberlin and Rauhauser information, and Stacy's linked to Brooks' review of Rauhauser's claim that he created an information ser…. […]
crosspatch
July 7th, 2012 @ 1:13 pm

Well, I did fnd this old tweet:

Karen Tumulty
?@ktumulty

Doug Frantz joins ?#wapo? as natsec editor, furthering our secret plan to fill the place with LAT alums. @thamburger @peterwallsten

So, is Doug Frantz his “natsec” editor?
Monitor2112
July 7th, 2012 @ 1:15 pm

I’ve really enjoyed your coverage of this story…I don’t know about the Trenches though. Reminds me too much of the National Enquirer.
crosspatch
July 7th, 2012 @ 1:26 pm

Or, does this “policy intel” database produce a product with a national security section on a regular basis and he backs up the files allowing him access to them?

This would seem like it is a political policy intelligence system. A way for information to be shared between staffers to keep each other up to date and “on message” across offices. This is something that an outfit like Fenton Communications would do, probably by creating an offshoot with a different name that provides resources for it but the resources actually coming from Fenton to the “offshoot” who then provides information resources. People interesting in the “global warming” propaganda might be aware of a site called “Real Climate” which was set up with resources from an offshoot of Fenton Communications.

Does the Congressional Progressive Caucus have such a policy intelligence system to share information among staff?
crosspatch
July 7th, 2012 @ 1:31 pm

There are some things such as “Progressive Messaging and Data by Progressive Caucus Policy Foundation” and things such as “This fellow will work with policy experts, progressive organizations, and Hill staff to … will also assist with developing our database of progressive issues” So such databases do exist.
richard mcenroe
July 7th, 2012 @ 1:36 pm

He’s also a crazy guy on the internet with, allegedly, at least one loaded handgun and apparently access to Congress. Think his “FBI connections” are setting themselves up for another Sarah Jane Moore moment?

(Moore, an FBI informant, had had her handgun confiscated by the FBI when Gerald Ford was appearing in her city. She complained to her FBI handlers, who took her to a gunshop and ordered the owner to sell her a revolver on the spot. She then proceeded to try to kill Gerald Ford with her FBI-supplied gun. Keep that in mind when you’re filling out your next ATF application.)
JeffS
July 7th, 2012 @ 1:49 pm

Well, first of all, there’s that stipulation. There’s reason to consider NR a pathological liar. Or at least he exaggerates a lot. On the kinder side, he says “700+” staffers, but what if he’s working with a small group, and wants to expand his contract, and hence income? Or at least his street cred, and get other work. Narcissists have to eat, too, y’know.

So, stipulate, but keep a salt shaker close at hand.

That said, there’s a certain amount of plausibility with this latest tidbit. Intelligence analysis is best done in an open forum, with some facilitation. Note the discussions on this blog as an unfacilitated example.

I’ve similar “information sharing” networks in other venues as well. The software is fairly common; NR seems to be re-inventing the wheel in some regards, although he might be dealing mostly with security issues.

So mark this one down as “plausible but unconfirmed”.
SarahW
July 7th, 2012 @ 1:59 pm

He’s such a big mouth. Why would anyone hire him counting on his discretion?
JeffS
July 7th, 2012 @ 2:31 pm

True. But consider where he’s yakking it up, on forums that are unlikely to be frequented by his potential customers. For whatever reason, he didn’t consider the possibility of someone else bringing this up.

NR may well be a Democratic operative, but I think we can safely say he’s not a very good one.
Why Brett Kimberlin is Important « Andrew J. Patrick
July 7th, 2012 @ 2:34 pm

[…] I’ve mentioned this before, but it bears incessant repetition: Kimberlin is not merely a terrorist who uses the law to silence his opponents — he’s a terrorist who uses the law to silence his opponents and is one degree removed from the official Democratic party hierarchy. […]
Bob Belvedere
July 7th, 2012 @ 2:40 pm

They’re not the only ones.

Just my take, but I attribute it to the youth of the people running these sites. They haven’t yet absorbed the cynicism that is necessary to have when dealing with information found in such situations. Also, most are not trained reporters [like Stacy] and, therfore, let their emotions get it the way of the sober reflection needed when presented with such data.

I offer this not as an excuse for their behavior – in fact, I find such immaturity very annoying – but as a way of explaining all the micheghas.

I read such sites every day and spend much of my time contemplating whether or not their revelations are worthy of inclusion in my #BrettKimberlin Report aggregations – this takes up a good chunk of my time.
Bob Belvedere
July 7th, 2012 @ 2:42 pm

Both of your comments are spot-on.

I think we also have to factor in the nerd’s love of using ‘really cool’ spy terms in their writings.
Bob Belvedere
July 7th, 2012 @ 2:46 pm

In private meetings, he may talk a good game.

Think of Captain Kirk and Fizbin…

Manic people are good at this kind of thing.
Aaron Nothing
July 7th, 2012 @ 3:03 pm

I know how it is to be Under Attack

Someone may stab you with a knife, and if not mortally wounded, you will heal. Yet if someone stab you with an offensive word, the wound may fester a lifetime.

How can a phantom knife hurt longer than a real one? Ah, the voodoo of words!

How can you protect yourself? Wear this amulet around your neck, it says: My mask is not me, No one knows me, I don’t even know myself. Behind my mask, hides a no one who has fallen for his/her own deceit.

Who or what can offend the wind? Can a fart stink up a hurricane? Don’t be a a hunting dog, let insults blow away, don’t
follow a fart, It’s all feathers, and no meat.

Verbal voodoo could be a boodu, if you sit on it. LOL
Bob Belvedere
July 7th, 2012 @ 3:20 pm

Shut-up, Seth, and take your meds.
Bob Belvedere
July 7th, 2012 @ 3:22 pm

Goddamn all of you and your infighting.

KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE PRIZE!
crosspatch
July 7th, 2012 @ 3:47 pm

There is a tie-in between Progressive Congress News and ProgressivePST:

Progressive Congress News
utilizes existing online tools, as well as internally developed software, to create an aggregated news feed for Congressional staff, activists, and politically-engaged citizens.

Designed as a means of filtering the dizzying array of daily media, we aim to deliver only relevant, reliable and, most importantly, useful policy news. Information overload wastes our time and attention; this is especially true for typically overwhelmed Congressional staffers. Too
often, this leads to “echo chambers” which make it difficult to get unbiased news and analysis. Progressive Congress News delivers much needed policy content, without the fluff. The project also allows experienced citizen journalists to affect the information flowing to Congressional staff.

The core of our system is a team of two dozen editors and curators who monitor & parse online sources for reputable, insightful content in ten policy areas: Energy, Environment, Economy, Education, Immigration, LGBT issues, Healthcare, Transportation, Labor, and National Security.

Using ProgressivePST’s perl based Twitter software, this content is posted via public Twitter accounts, accessible to all. Each policy area has a separate account, so users get only the news relevant to their interests and needs. These feeds are used to generate digital daily “newspapers ” through the Paper.li tool.

From:

http://cassandrafiles.com/2010/12/08/what-is-progressive-congress-news/
crosspatch
July 7th, 2012 @ 3:51 pm

It apparently uses NetVibes which is “the all-in-one dashboard intelligence platform for real-time social media monitoring, social analytics, brand sentiment, reputation management, team management, company intranets and community portals.

The #1 dashboard solution for Fortune 500 brands, agencies and enterprises.”

So it probably doesn’t come cheap.
crosspatch
July 7th, 2012 @ 3:55 pm

“Using ProgressivePST’s perl based Twitter software, this content is posted via public Twitter accounts, accessible to all.”

And here you have software automated twitter-bots or at least the potential to create as many of them as you wish.
McGehee
July 7th, 2012 @ 4:06 pm

Secret “policy intel” network?

Secret… policy… intel… network…

Secret Policy Intel Network…

Why is that phrase making me dizzy…?
crosspatch
July 7th, 2012 @ 4:14 pm

Thu, Nov 18, 2010

02:00:10

Nicole Sandler talks with Beth Becker & Neal Rauhauser about
Progressive Congress News and visible vote, and comedian John Fugelsang

Might also want to note that he has also apparently had dealings with Salsa Labs:

stranded-wind.dailykos.com/
Jul 29, 2011 – … I picked the DuPont Circle stop on the red line to Shady Grove, this being an area I’m familiar with – Salsa Labs is right around the corner.

Salsa Labs is apparently connected with wiredforchange and I noticed that during the early stages of development, the website from progressivecongress would sometimes redirect to wiredforchange so I don’t know if there was a common developer working on the two or what.

So it would certainly appear on the surface that Mr. Rauhauser has been spending a lot of time in the Washington DC area and is at least familiar with a lot of places that do development for various web properties. That can be a rather lucrative occupation.
Monitor2112
July 7th, 2012 @ 4:25 pm

Exactly
Dianna Deeley
July 7th, 2012 @ 4:32 pm

Didn’t Screed of Momus tie PCN to Rauhauser last week?
crosspatch
July 7th, 2012 @ 4:34 pm

Turns out yes, but I had forgotten. But what I found interesting was the web of connections between all of these sites. They keep turning up referrals to one another in various ways.
Dianna Deeley
July 7th, 2012 @ 4:43 pm

Most social nets seem to work that way, though, so it’s not really surprising. I’m more focused on Rauhauser’s hints that he has something to do with policy, or at least knows more than the peasantry – us.
crosspatch
July 7th, 2012 @ 4:50 pm

In that respect I think Rauhauser is probably just being a braggart. He’s trying to show that he is “better connected” than your average person in order to imply that his words/thoughts/opinions should carry more weight than the average person’s. At least that’s what it looks like.

A public smackdown from someone who really is a “mover and shaker” of things would severely damage his ego.
Quartermaster
July 7th, 2012 @ 4:51 pm

I think Rauhauser is simply hyping himself so he looks bigger than he actually is. He’s actually lower than whale dung (as we used to told when I was in flight school as a Warrant Officer Candidate), but no man who sees himself worth his own advertising will buy that eval even if it is true.

In Rauhauser’s case, he is lower than whale dung and that may be valuing him far too high.
Quartermaster
July 7th, 2012 @ 4:55 pm

You’re saying Kirk is manic?
brooksbayne
July 7th, 2012 @ 5:06 pm

i’d say neal’s direct text messages are more evidence than they are boasting. also, just because we didn’t get in the weeds with the progressive congress news doesn’t mean we didn’t know about it. it’s old news that everybody and their brother covered before. my question was meant to ask, “is this an application we didn’t know about”?

also, the “backup the natsec editor” portion of his statement, from a technical perspective, could mean that he’s backuping up natsec data. speculating obviously, but we’re looking into it. we thought it best to put the information out asap, so we did.
richard mcenroe
July 7th, 2012 @ 5:43 pm

Yeah, but I kinda hope the FBI decides he’s notboasting. He’d be the first guy in lefty history to SWAT himself.
DaveO
July 7th, 2012 @ 5:48 pm

JeffS,

Agree – if a staffer gave NR the URLs, and approved access, NR could have access to a lot of information. If he’s been given access to classified information, and its possible but not too probable, he’s looking at a long term in SuperMax next to Robert Hansen.
Adjoran
July 7th, 2012 @ 5:58 pm

He made a news aggregator for the Progressive Caucus. You know, the sort of thing freely available and customizable to your own individual interests. They may or may not have paid him for turning them on to the free tools anyone can use.

Then he calls it “policy intel” and pretends he is hot shi’ite.
Dianna Deeley
July 7th, 2012 @ 6:04 pm

Wait – even to work on something that accesses classified materials or discussions, wouldn’t you have to get a security clearance?

And how would Neal Rauhauser get one?
The #BrettKimberlin Report D+43: « The Camp Of The Saints
July 7th, 2012 @ 6:31 pm

[…] Do take the time to click here and read the rest, and do read Crosspatch’s remarks in the Comments section for some further information and Rauhauser and his work and connections. […]
McGehee
July 7th, 2012 @ 6:46 pm

So you think it has more to do with acrimony than acronymy?
SPQR
July 7th, 2012 @ 7:32 pm

Is all of the same character as the rest of the bizarre conspiracy theory nonsense the Brett Kimberlin crime family traffics in.
SPQR
July 7th, 2012 @ 7:56 pm

Good lord, that’s weapons grade crazy.
SPQR
July 7th, 2012 @ 7:59 pm

Neal is fundamentally a liar, but you’ve stretched Neal’s bragging far beyond what the text will support. That’s the kind of stuff that starts to make Neal look credible – at least among the left wing spectators. Its a dangerous thing to do with Neal’s statements.
#NealRauhauser, Natsec Editor | hogewash
July 7th, 2012 @ 8:43 pm

[…] Natsec Editor Posted on 7 July, 2012 by wjjhoge Stacy McCain has a post up about Neal Rauhauser’s claim that … policy intel for 700+ Congressional […]
brooksbayne
July 7th, 2012 @ 8:56 pm

are you claiming that he doesn’t have access to this information? are you claiming he didn’t build this system? if so, i think you might need to spend more time on this story. he’s hanging out with kimberlin, but he’s not credible amongst the left? not following your logic. elaborate.
SDN
July 7th, 2012 @ 9:09 pm

In other words, it was a Fast and Furious dry run.
SDN
July 7th, 2012 @ 9:11 pm

Considering that Barack Obama couldn’t qualify for one either, it’s probably just another example of Rules That Don’t Apply To Leftists.
SPQR
July 7th, 2012 @ 10:18 pm

I’m claiming that you are blowing more hot air into Rauhauser’s hot air.
JeffS
July 7th, 2012 @ 10:52 pm

Diane is correct that you do need a security clearance, BUT…….do not mix up “classified information” with “sensitive but unclassified information”. These are distinctly different categories.

Classified information access must be through a (theoretically) physically separate network known as SIPRNET. Said access requires positive authentication that you are you. Including entrance to a physically secure facility where the secure terminal is. Screwing around with this stuff gets you that trip to SuperMax.

AFAIK, there is no mobile access to SIPRNET. Which means NR is unlikely to have a secure terminal in whatever dive he’s hiding in.

That doesn’t mean NR doesn’t have access to classified information, it’s just that the information would have to be passed by courier. That level of information would likely relate to strategic and diplomatic intelligence gathering — assessments, threat assessments, possibly raw data. This would be easily traceable, and hence highly risky to hand out to freelance contractors. Think “Bradley Manning.” Unless NR is a REALLY high level operative, I doubt that he’s getting classified information.

“Sensitive but unclassified information” can and is on the INTERNET, but behind (theoretically) secure firewalls on an INTRANET. This includes, but is not limited to law enforcement. I imagine that there’s SBUI floating around Congress. So this is feasible.

I question that it’s plausible, though. Again, NR is a liar. He could just be pumping up his own ego with whoppers.
brooksbayne
July 7th, 2012 @ 11:22 pm

i’m claiming that you’re not as initiated about rauhauser as some of the rest of us.
g b
July 7th, 2012 @ 11:36 pm

There is a definition of “Policy intelligence”.
http://itlaw.wikia.com/wiki/Policy_intelligence

It is not keeping everyone up to date about the policies of your own group. It is,”Policy intelligence is intelligence concerned with threatening actions and activities of entities hostile to your own organization.” It is about finding out the intentions and intended actions of your enemies and proposing actions to disrupt them before they can harm you.
SPQR
July 8th, 2012 @ 12:39 pm

And its the belief of a Johnny-Come-Lately as yourself that really upsets me.
brooksbayne
July 8th, 2012 @ 1:35 pm

johnny come lately? that’s funny. when did you first know about rauahauser, shoq, et al? i knew about them the day they showed up on twitter. and that’s part of the reason we’ve advanced this story so quickly is because of my years of watching these leftist retards. the trenches may have started may 1st (intentionally mocking them) 2012, but i’ve been on twitter for over 5 years, which is where these fools planned to wage their little marxist war.

and where were you back then?
mmhmm… that’s what i thought.
Rob Crawford
July 8th, 2012 @ 2:14 pm

Brooks, you’re as bad as Rauhauser.