Infamous pro-Ravenstahl web presence "Matt H" has been exposed in the comments section of the local weblog The People's Republic of Pittsburgh. Matthew Hogue, 22, is an employee of the Pittsburgh Housing Authority, and devotee of the late Mayor Bob O'Connor. LINK
The Republic's author, who himself goes by the alias Admiral Richmond K. Turner, expressed regret that the "outing" took place in his own civil, dignified web space. We at the Comet seriously considered whether or not further amplification was appropriate.
We decided that by engaging so energetically, for so many months, in what can only be described as a blatant public relations campaign in support of Mayor Ravenstahl, Matt H went out of his way to make himself a public figure concerned with public business, thereby meriting public scrutiny.
Hogue is also a city employee, who until four days ago would have served under the controversial former chairman of the housing authority, Dennis Regan.
Matt H's identity was uncovered by another frequent blurghosphere commenter, Smittyfromtheflats. The first evidence to surface was a September P-G column by Tony Norman, in which a Matt Hogue lovingly recalled the recently deceased Mayor O'Connor. Matt H denied any connection.
Then Smitty produced an archival Burgh Blog post in which Yarone Zober, who had just stepped down as Deputy Mayor to become new mayor Ravenstahl's chief of staff, acknowledged praise by Matt "Logue." Matt himself corrected Mr. Zober, revealing himself.
But this was long before he became a local phenomenon, renowned for his prickly and sometimes offensive baiting of blog readers supportive instead of Bill Peduto.
Matt H's Myspace profile has also surfaced. The page has since been made inaccesable to all but the owner's approved contacts, yet screenshots have been captured as images by Dean, another blog commenter.
The Comet would like to close with the words of Matt H's virtual bounty hunter, Smittyfromtheflats:
Matt from now on your "hands off"...i respect the fact that at 16 you became a political soldier,got yourself a job via Bob o,and continue to be loyal...congrats
Thanks for the mention, Bram. And even though I try to convey a modicum of dignity on my own little corner of the net, deep down inside I had to admit that it was still some funny shit. Smitty did quite a good bit of detective work! But the real question is whether Matt was doing any of that posting using a city computer and/or on city time.
ReplyDeleteDo any of yinzers realize that people get a break/lunch hour at work? Or maybe they have internet on their smart devices??
ReplyDeleteHmmmm...all you "detectives" are so damn smart you must have overlooked that one, right?
"smart devices" and Matt H...I'm thinking, no.
ReplyDeleteDo you even know what that is?
ReplyDeleteGood lord, there are actually two of you out there...
ReplyDeleteI am a local political blogger who wishes to remain anonymous, at least for the time being for obvious reasons. But I must say this -- all bloggers need to do is check the information gathered by their site meter. Mine records information such as I.P. numbers and time of visit. Then just cross reference that information to the comments that were posted on your site. I have determined, for instance, that there are certain I.P. addresses which are identified as City of Pittsburgh and County of Allegheny computers that often visit and leave comments on my blog. Many times, the comments are anonymous and other times, the same I.P. address leaves comments under an alias -- but not registered. Also, the comments are left at times that would be normal working hours and not just during lunch hour. It is actually quite easy. Through a little detective work, I was able to determine that during times that a certain I.P. address registered to the County of Allegheny was logged into my site, there are several pro-Lamb comments being left on my blog. As a matter of fact, ALL of the pro-Lamb comments left on my blog are done so at times this certain computer is logged on. Coincidence?? I hardly think so. It's be interesting to see if this computer is in the Prothonotary's office and if so, whose desk it sits on.
ReplyDeleteNow, I ask you ... assuming it is determined that the I.P. is in the Prothonotary's Office, how can we trust Lamb to be a watchdog in the city government, uncovering corruption and waste, when corruption, waste and deadwood on his payroll exists right under his nose -- quite possibly literally right under his nose.
ReplyDeleteJust a personal opinion: meh. I've told so many bosses that as long as I get my work done, it shouldn't matter how long I spend net surfing, and its cruel to put me in front of a computer and expect anything else. So it would be hypocritical to change my position. So as long as you, uh, prothonatate adequately, Michael, I've got no beef with you..
ReplyDeleteUsing "prothonatate" as a verb that way makes it sound like a dirty, auto-erotic sexual act. Which, given how much we know about it, it may very well be.
ReplyDelete