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Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Politics Who is Liz?

Posted by Eli Sanders on Wed, Jun 17, 2009 at 11:05 AM

Via Politico, a rather amazing e-mail thread involving the office manager for Seattle Congressman Jim McDermott.

If you want to score a meeting with Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.), know this: His scheduler/office manager, Elizabeth Becton, is to be addressed by her full name — not Liz or any other variant.

An executive assistant at McBee Strategic recently learned this the hard way. A few weeks ago, the assistant e-mailed Becton seeking a meeting with McDermott and a client, JPMorgan Chase. Days later, the assistant checked back in and unfortunately began the e-mail with “Hi Liz.”

Becton curtly replied, “Who is Liz?”

When the assistant wrote back with an apology, Becton turned up the heat. “I do not go by Liz. Where did you get your information?” she asked.

The back-and-forth went on for 19 e-mails, with the assistant apologizing six times if she had “offended” Becton, while Becton lectured about name-calling.

An apology is being issued by McDermott's office. Meanwhile, please enjoy the e-mail thread Politico got its hands on.

From: XXX
Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 11:38 AM
To: Becton, Elizabeth
Subject: JPMC Meeting Request

Elizabeth,

Attached is a meeting request for JP Morgan Chase who will be in DC June 3rd-4th and would like to request a brief meeting with the Congressman.

Let me know if you need any additional information.

Thank you!

Best,
XXX

________________________________

From: XXX
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 5:05 PM
To: Becton, Elizabeth
Subject: RE: JPMC Meeting Request

Hi Liz,

just checking in on whether the Congressman is available next week. [REDACTED] can confirm a meeting time for you - she is available at [REDACTED].

Thank you!

Best,
XXX

________________________________

From: Becton, Elizabeth
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 5:07 PM
To: XXX
Subject: RE: JPMC Meeting Request
Importance: High

Who is Liz?

Elizabeth Becton
Executive Assistant/Office Manager
Office of Congressman Jim McDermott
XXXX Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
XXX phone
XXX fax
________________________________

From: XXX
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 5:07 PM
To: Becton, Elizabeth
Subject: RE: JPMC Meeting Request

Hi Elizabeth, I thought you went by Liz - apologies if that is incorrect. Best, XXX

________________________________

From: Becton, Elizabeth
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 5:08 PM
To: XXX
Subject: RE: JPMC Meeting Request

I do not go by Liz. Where did you get your information?
________________________________

Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 5:10 PM
To: Becton, Elizabeth
Subject: RE: JPMC Meeting Request

Hi Elizabeth, I'm so sorry if I offended you! I thought you had gone by Liz at Potlatch, this was my mistake. Best, XXX

________________________________
From: Becton, Elizabeth
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 5:11 PM
To: XXX
Subject: RE: JPMC Meeting Request

NEVER. I hate that name.

________________________________

From: XXX
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 5:13 PM
To: Becton, Elizabeth
Subject: RE: JPMC Meeting Request

Hi Elizabeth, I'm so sorry if I offended you! I must have mis-heard. My mistake! Best, XX

________________________________

From: Becton, Elizabeth
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 5:20 PM
To: XXX
Subject: RE: JPMC Meeting Request
Importance: High

XXX:

If I wanted you to call me by any other name, I would have offered that to you. I think it's rude when people don't even ask permission and take all sorts of liberties with your name. This is a real sore spot with me. My name has a lot of "nicknames" which I don't use. I use either my first name or my last name because I row with a lot of other women who share the same first name. Now, please do not ever call me by a nickname again.

As for your meeting request, who is the point of contact for this meeting? If it's not you, then I need to know who because it's very time-consuming to deal with a lot of people for one meeting.

Thanks,

________________________________

From: XXX
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 5:23 PM
To: Becton, Elizabeth
Subject: RE: JPMC Meeting Request

Hi Elizabeth, I'm so sorry I offended you! My mistake!

XXX can confirm a meeting time for you - she is available at XXX XXXX.

Thank you!

Best, XXX

________________________________
[UNRELATED EMAILS REDACTED]

From: XXX
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 5:33 PM
To: Becton, Elizabeth
Subject: RE: JPMC Meeting Request

Of course! Again, I am sincerely sorry for offending you. I must have mis-heard and it was in no way my intention to make you upset. I always enjoy working with you and seeing you at the WSS events J

Best,
XXX

________________________________

From: Becton, Elizabeth
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 5:37 PM
To: XXX
Subject: RE: JPMC Meeting Request

Sounds like you got played by someone who KNOWS I hate that name and that it's a fast way to TICK me off. Who told you that I go by that name? They are not your friend...

________________________________

From: XXX
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 5:38 PM
To: Becton, Elizabeth
Subject: RE: JPMC Meeting Request

Hi Elizabeth,

Again, I am sincerely sorry for offending you. I don't want to cause trouble as I clearly must have mis-heard the person at Potlatch. It was in no way my intention to make you upset.

Best,
XXX

________________________________

From: Becton, Elizabeth
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 5:41 PM
To: XXX
Subject: RE: JPMC Meeting Request
Importance: High

I REALLY want to know who told you to call me that.

________________________________

From:XXX
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 5:44 PM
To: Becton, Elizabeth
Subject: RE: JPMC Meeting Request

Hi Elizabeth,
Again, I am sincerely sorry for offending you. I don't recall who I overheard. It was in no way my intention to make you upset.
Best,
XXX

________________________________
From: Becton, Elizabeth
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 6:04 PM
To: XXX
Subject: RE: JPMC Meeting Request

Let me put it this way, they don't know me and perhaps they were PRETENDING to know me better than they do and pretended that I go by Liz. They did YOU a disservice.

In the future, you should be VERY careful about such things. People like to brag about their connections in DC. It's a past time for some. It's also dangerous to eaves drop, as you have just found out.

Quit apologizing and never call me anything but Elizabeth again. Also, make sure you correct anyone who attempts to call me by any other name but Elizabeth. Are we clear on this? Like I said, it's a hot button for me.

And please don't call the office and not leave a message. My colleague told me you called while I was away at the Ladies' room. I do sometimes leave my desk.

Comments (99) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment

Bunt.

Posted by jackie treehorn on June 17, 2009 at 11:09 AM

Effin' wonderful! How super embarrassing for Mickey D.

Posted by gloomy gus on June 17, 2009 at 11:10 AM

Holy fucking god. Somebody shoot this woman in the hands.

Posted by Nick on June 17, 2009 at 11:11 AM

Dude talk about your Dragon of a gate-keeper/secretary... I bet she is freaking awesome at her job and knows it.

Posted by Tina on June 17, 2009 at 11:14 AM

So what is Liz's email address? I'm sure we'd all like to drop her a line.

Posted by angel in indy on June 17, 2009 at 11:16 AM

WHAT THE FUCK

Posted by Lindy West on June 17, 2009 at 11:16 AM

Wow. Just, wow. I bet she'll get top marks for "professionalism" in her next performance review, if she survives that long.

Posted by Julie in Eugene on June 17, 2009 at 11:17 AM

Ya-hawn. This is not Slog-worthy.

Posted by Simac on June 17, 2009 at 11:17 AM

good god! Whats her email address? I can have a lot of fun with this.

Posted by Rotten666 on June 17, 2009 at 11:17 AM

Elizabeth.becton@mail.house.gov

possibly meetingwithmcdermott@mail.house.gov

Posted by Nick on June 17, 2009 at 11:17 AM

Jiz Becton

Posted by bearseatbeats on June 17, 2009 at 11:18 AM

For the first half of this exchange I was siding with Elizabeth.... I have a name that people who just met me often think should be shortened to a nickname I hate, and I confess that it's a 'hot button' for me too. But after the Unrelated Emails Redacted part, Ms Becton goes from a cranky-but-understandable name corrector to batshit paranoid freak. Who are these people she thinks are out there planting seeds of misinformation into the minds of hapless executive assistants who might someday need to meet with Jim McDermott?

Now everyone on the planet will be thinking of her as Liz...

Posted by genevieve on June 17, 2009 at 11:19 AM

that thing comes around my house i'll kill it!

Posted by m@tt on June 17, 2009 at 11:20 AM

Yay! Let's all e-mail "Liz."

Posted by Keekee on June 17, 2009 at 11:20 AM

Sounds like my fifth grade teacher -- bad grammar/slang was always responded to with "Pardon me?" So now I'm picturing Ms. Lesch right now. Not a looker, mind you, so now I need some brain bleach. Gianna Michaels should do the trick.

Posted by Jason Josephes

on June 17, 2009 at 11:21 AM

Arrogance thy name is Liz.

Posted by Alki on June 17, 2009 at 11:22 AM

When dealing with people like that, you need to stop responding and never mention the issue again.

Posted by keshmeshi on June 17, 2009 at 11:23 AM

There are few things funnier then messing with people like this. Same with PhD's who insist that everyone call them Dr.

Posted by giffy on June 17, 2009 at 11:23 AM

Bess, Bessie, Bessy, Beta, Beth, Betsey, Bette, Betti, Bettina, Bettine, Betty, Buffy, Eliza, Elli, Els, Elyza, Elzira, Ilsa, Ilse, Libby, Lilibet, Lilibeth, Lise, Liz, Liza, Lizbet, Lizbeth, Lyza, Sissy, Telsa, Lizzie; Liesl, Liezel, Lizette

Posted by betty-boo on June 17, 2009 at 11:23 AM

It might be common but is rude nonetheless to address someone by his or her first name or nick name without being invited. But then it's also rude to go on and on about it once offended.

Posted by Baltimoron on June 17, 2009 at 11:26 AM

Wow, this makes me want to call her a word that starts with a "C" that I can never seem to utter out loud. If this is an email thread that got out, makes me wonder about her other interactions with people.

I had a job interview one time with the District Manager (or some such) for Congressman Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, and she was equally obnoxious. I can't recall her name. But a couple of years later she was thrown in prison for embezzling money. Couldn't have happened to a nicer "C."

Absolute power corrupts absolutely?

Posted by Partly Cloudy on June 17, 2009 at 11:27 AM

I'm all for assertiveness, but... LOL!

Posted by Sarah on June 17, 2009 at 11:28 AM

Does seem like she had to call her "Liz" in order to get a response though ... unless Elizabeth's initial response was removed from the thread once posted.

Good to know how to get people to respond though. Hasn't written you back? Ah, just call her "Liz" that always gets some sort of response!

Posted by Take it all in on June 17, 2009 at 11:29 AM

@20, agree that calling her Liz when this person obviously didn't know her wasn't a good move. But, she could have just said, "For future reference, I go by Elizabeth, not Liz" and that would have been that. To keep it up like that is borderline psychotic.

Posted by Julie in Eugene on June 17, 2009 at 11:29 AM

Classic mid-level government employee bullshit. They get shit on from above, so they get their ya-yas out by passing it along to whoever they can. It's endemic.

Somebody ought to remind not just Liz, but all of the other people similarly situated, that they are public servants.

Posted by Fifty-Two-Eighty

on June 17, 2009 at 11:29 AM

Fucking christ, kill the bug up your ass, Liz.

Posted by Urgutha Forka on June 17, 2009 at 11:29 AM

@15:
Gianna Michaels?????? Really???

Posted by Keekee on June 17, 2009 at 11:30 AM

I have so many names, like just plain "Baconcat" or "Bakey", "Baconfat", "BaconGAYYYY", "Gayconcat", "Ooh, kitty" or "STFU", but I would never get all pissy over this sort of thing.

I support @19, it's time to get all pejorative.

Posted by Baconcat on June 17, 2009 at 11:30 AM

I dont blame her I hate having my name shortened. People often do that without asking first. Who wants to be called by some other name. It is the ultimate rudeness.

Posted by Outraged on June 17, 2009 at 11:31 AM

awwwwwww the widdle wibberals are so sensitive and have their feewings huwt so easily

Posted by lol @ Washington & Seattle on June 17, 2009 at 11:31 AM

Yo, Betty. When's the big man coming in?

Posted by Fnarf

on June 17, 2009 at 11:31 AM

Yep, Elizabeth.becton@mail.house.gov is correct.

Posted by Nick on June 17, 2009 at 11:32 AM

Lighten up, Liz.

Posted by monkey on June 17, 2009 at 11:32 AM

I absolutely hate when people shorten my name without asking, but I'm mature enough to not make a federal case out of it.

Posted by very bad homo on June 17, 2009 at 11:33 AM

what a bitch cunt

Posted by Liz-ard on June 17, 2009 at 11:34 AM

Yowza.

Posted by caito! on June 17, 2009 at 11:34 AM

Her work history and salary information are public record. Looks like she's worked for several different congresspersons.
McDermott is paying her $80,000 a year.

http://www.legistorm.com/person/Elizabet…

Posted by Jakey on June 17, 2009 at 11:35 AM

I'll bet she actually LOVES correcting people about her name and must not have had the opportunity for a while to have unloaded so spectacularly on this poor person.

She then goes home and makes sure that all of her cats meow correctly and wipe their paws before they go to bed at night.

Posted by Beetlecat on June 17, 2009 at 11:36 AM

Let this be a lesson that if you go batshit on email, it can end up the the hands of those who will mock you, endlessly. (Gawker pulls this kind of stunt regularly.)

Posted by arts&letters on June 17, 2009 at 11:36 AM

To paraphrase a classic T-shirt, wouldn't it be wrong to be rude to people who are rude to prove that being rude is wrong? The way to address this child of God is "Ms. Becton".

Posted by Baltimoron on June 17, 2009 at 11:38 AM

I don't usually feed the trolls, but @30, she's not from Seattle. She's been a staffer in DC for at least 8 years and mostly working for a string of Republicans (so who knows if she's a "wibberal") before joining McDermott's staff at the beginning of '08. She does seem to change jobs frequently, though. Don't know if that's just how DC bureaucracy works or if she pulls this kind of crap frequently.

(http://www.legistorm.com/person/Elizabet…)

Posted by Cracker Jack on June 17, 2009 at 11:38 AM

Fnarf @31 has a way with the ladies, oh suh-woon!

Posted by Baconcat on June 17, 2009 at 11:41 AM

Agree with 17 - the other emailer (who also should be in hot water for leaking this BTW) should have just copped to making an incorrect assumption rather than saying she "heard it somewhere" once it was clear that Lizzie was going apeshit at the thought of enemies spreading lies about her. The repeated apologies referring to the information coming from someone else just made it worse

Posted by genevieve on June 17, 2009 at 11:41 AM

as an elizabeth that goes by liz, i'm offended that she HATES my name. fuck you, liz.

also, most of learn by 5th grade that the best way to guarantee the continuation of name-calling/taunting is to make a huge deal of it.

Posted by rara avis on June 17, 2009 at 11:44 AM

That woman's life must be terribly, terribly unfulfilling.

Posted by Hernandez

on June 17, 2009 at 11:46 AM

super bitch mode Liz, that sorta has a ring to it.

Posted by Loveschild

on June 17, 2009 at 11:46 AM

The proper reply after the first or second scolding would be:

Dear Liz:
Perhaps there is someone in the Congressman's office I can deal with instead. I'd prefer to deal with someone who isn't a psycho bitch with clearly unresolved issues from middle school. Does the Congressman employ anyone like that, or have you driven them all crazy too?

Regards,
Sane Adult Chick

P.S.: Maybe you didn't notice this in the midst of your hysterics, but my client is from JPMorgan fuckin' Chase!

Posted by Sir Vic on June 17, 2009 at 11:48 AM

Who is Liz?

I don't know, but Liz is TOUCHY and psychotic, and I don't want her anywhere near our Jimmy McD. Out the door with you, Lizzy!

Posted by jw36 on June 17, 2009 at 11:48 AM

The woman clearly has issues. What the fuck is in a name anyway? The name on my birth certificate is Andy, but I don't go schoolmarm when people call me Andrew for whatever reason. They can call me whatever they want, but I don't respond to Andrew not to make a point, but because it's not my name.

Posted by Andy on June 17, 2009 at 11:52 AM

This smacks of the Carrie Prejean email exchange. I was waiting to read a "hahaha ur crazy" in there somewhere.

Posted by Pepper St. Tort Reform on June 17, 2009 at 11:59 AM

If anyone ever replied to me with that kind of bullshit their new name would be "asshole".

Posted by Dave M on June 17, 2009 at 12:03 PM

Name nazis are such douchebags...my favorite ones are the "Stephans"; "it's pronounced 'Ste-FAHN!'"

I then start referring to them as "Steve" or better yet, "Stevarino"....

Posted by michael strangeways

on June 17, 2009 at 12:04 PM

Never meant to make you scream and cry
I apologize a trillion times
I'm sorry Ms. Becton [OOOH]
I called you Liz

Posted by yelahneb

on June 17, 2009 at 12:13 PM

if your name has 3 sylables you're getting shortened.

for instance, Dagnatchew, the Butoh checker at the old B'way QFC? "Dag" or "Chew".

suck it up.

Posted by Max Solomon on June 17, 2009 at 12:13 PM

I work with a Liz, a Lizzie, and an Elizabeth.

Misusing someone's name is like calling me Bill - I'll stare at you and wonder why you're talking about my grandfather.

Posted by Will in Seattle

on June 17, 2009 at 12:20 PM

Always address people exactly the way they first introduce themselves, unless requested otherwise. If someone addresses you a way you don't like, remind him politely and let it go. That's how grownups do it.

Posted by pox on June 17, 2009 at 12:25 PM

I just sent her an email:

"Hi Liz! Thought you might enjoy this blog about your renown professionalism!

(inside message:)

http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archive…

Hope that you are having a better day by now!

Sincerely Debb and Lisa

Otherwise known as Deb, Deborah, Debra, Debbie and my personal favorite, Debbers; and Lissy, Lis, Liz, Lisette, Lisabet, Liza, Lizabetia, and Lease, respectively."

Posted by NumberOne on June 17, 2009 at 12:27 PM

@41 it is normal for staffers to move around; it's easier to find people in the "pool" (i.e. they've already gone through security and background screening and have clearances) than to bring someone in from outside gov't walls when you have openings. A lot of folks do stay put for years in one job, but there is also a group that moves with some frequency. I'd guess her personality plays into her frequent job changes.

Posted by switzerblog on June 17, 2009 at 12:27 PM

http://www.sendanonymousemail.net/

Posted by w7ngman

on June 17, 2009 at 12:41 PM

Wow, she's pretty uptight. You'd have to call me Elizabeth AND offer me some foie gras to get that reaction out of me.

Posted by lizzie on June 17, 2009 at 12:43 PM

I just called McDermott's office. Liz's voicemail was full, and the staffer who answered the phone wasn't sure if all this bickering was being done while she was on the clock.

Posted by Bhamjason on June 17, 2009 at 12:43 PM

what a bunch of hot air wasted on a bureaucratic bumble.

how about jimbo making time for JP Morgan Chase when he doesn't take the time to grab his courage and vote against the supplemental war funding?

Posted by Linda J on June 17, 2009 at 12:43 PM

Goddamit it's the amazing JAMES!

Posted by The Amazing Jim

on June 17, 2009 at 12:44 PM

I have a friend who goes by Liz, but sometimes it sounds like people are calling her "lez."

Posted by CommonKnowledge on June 17, 2009 at 12:53 PM

All I know is that if someone from JP Morgan Chase emailed me, I wouldn't have let them off so easy.

Posted by trstr on June 17, 2009 at 12:54 PM

Apparently Elizabeth is not a 'lizbian' and that would seem to be the source for the animus.

Posted by Rhett Oracle on June 17, 2009 at 12:56 PM

Oh, hell, if someone called me liz, I'd let it go - and my name isn't even Elizabeth. I can see how it may be a never-ending fight on her part to keep her name "pure" but for God's sake - is everyone in DC crazy? Maybe it's the mosquitos...

Posted by Allyn on June 17, 2009 at 1:03 PM

I just suggested an "alternate name" for Ms. Becton via the Legistorm web page, http://www.legistorm.com/person/Elizabet…

First name: Liz
Middle name: Liz
Last name: Liz

Posted by RatGirl on June 17, 2009 at 1:13 PM

I gotta believe that kind of bat shittiness is par for the course at the office of our fine upstanding congressman.

Posted by Good Grief on June 17, 2009 at 1:26 PM

Not that it in any way excuses Lizzie's batshit behavior, but the executive assistant made a bad move to bring it up and apologize again after the redacted emails. Excessive apologizing is really annoying, plus she reminded Liz about the error again after it had already been safely dropped. It was pretty clear that dear Betsy was irrationally sensetive about the subject, better to let it lie.

And yes, I have learned this the hard way.

Posted by JenV on June 17, 2009 at 1:33 PM

Thank you for submitting an alternate name for Elizabeth J Becton .

Posted by w7ngman

on June 17, 2009 at 1:40 PM

Also how the fuck does this clown make $87k a year?

Rep. Jim McDermott (Democrat-Washington-7th) 10/01/08 12/31/08 Executive Assistant/Office Manager $27,366.66
Rep. Jim McDermott (Democrat-Washington-7th) 07/01/08 09/30/08 Executive Assistant/Office Manager $20,700.00
Rep. Jim McDermott (Democrat-Washington-7th) 04/01/08 06/30/08 Executive Assistant/Office Manager $20,700.00
Rep. Jim McDermott (Democrat-Washington-7th) 01/05/08 03/31/08 Executive Assistant/Office Manager $19,577.78

Posted by w7ngman

on June 17, 2009 at 1:41 PM

I've decided I'm going to start calling Daniel J. Savage by his real name.

Is that ok, James?

Posted by Will in Seattle

on June 17, 2009 at 1:43 PM

Actually at a glance it looks like she got a $28k raise for FY 2009.

And shouldn't they have 2009Q1 data by now?

Posted by w7ngman

on June 17, 2009 at 2:03 PM

GUYS! STOP APOLOGIZING.

Posted by STJA on June 17, 2009 at 2:40 PM

Anyone from JP Morgan Chase deserves this type of treatment. Maybe the bank fucked her over and this is revenge.

Posted by stevema14420

on June 17, 2009 at 2:47 PM

BFD

Posted by floofy on June 17, 2009 at 2:51 PM

I worked in the McDermott office for three months, and I can tell you this is CLASSIC Elizabeth Becton crazy batshit. On a bad day she would yell at staffers, techs, whoever. She used to send passive aggressive emails to the entire office whenever someone left a piece of paper in the copier. She once berated me for twenty minutes after I didn't explicitly tell a tour group that I was "just an intern." I asked what that had to do with anything, and she said I was being "subversive," and weirdly "I HAVE TWO ENGLISH DEGREES!" The woman was completely nuts. We have had a nickname for her around the office: "Loose Cannon."

Serves her right for being the laughingstock of the Hill now! I hope she gets fired.

Posted by thursdaydynamo on June 17, 2009 at 3:50 PM

PS: This kind of thing is definitely not standard for the McDermott office. The people I knew there were very smart, friendly, and cared deeply about what they were doing. I wish I could say the same for Ms. Becton.

Posted by thursdaydynamo on June 17, 2009 at 3:52 PM

#4 - I doubt it. I work in an office and it is my experience that anyone who reacted as she did is not a good employee and does not know her job well. And obviously this 'Liz' is not able to interact with people graciously. Really bad position for her to be serving in. Also I bet she is a huge kiss ass to her boss and brings him flowers or whatever other little things she can think of. I'll bet she's fired within a year.

Posted by subwlf on June 17, 2009 at 3:52 PM

@78 - Don't you mean Eloosabeth Cannon?

Posted by genevieve on June 17, 2009 at 4:19 PM

@33 Stripes reference for the win!

Posted by seandr on June 17, 2009 at 8:06 PM

She has serious self-esteem issues. Perhaps she's had to swallow a ton of crap over the years. Reminds me how cyclists treat pedestrians the way cars treat cyclists.

Posted by Pastor Aggressive on June 17, 2009 at 8:50 PM

Are you kidding me? this is for real?? Wow, this person is fucking crazy.

Hey, is "Eli" ever used as a nickname for the name "Elizabeth" ?

Posted by i'm pro-science and i vote

on June 18, 2009 at 12:01 AM

This is what happens when you don't properly evaluate your staff on a regular basis. Eventually, you're paying a crazy autistic $50K+ to represent you in the office.

Posted by Gomez

on June 18, 2009 at 12:17 AM

She doesn't work for McDermott any more. Got a severance package after her husband asked for a large sum of hush money.

Posted by mb on June 18, 2009 at 3:51 AM

It's *absolutely* rude to call someone a nickname that you think is permissible to use when they haven't given you the permission to use that "familiarity" with them. They may detest the nickname that you have chosen to use. If someone introduces themselves you should respect that person and use the name that they have given you. It's really arrogant for someone to just address someone the way *they* want to assuming that using that familiar nickname will endear themselves to that person. Big clue: When you see someone's name as something that is likely what they want to be addressed as. If someone introduces themselves to you as something *that's* what they wish to be called and not what you have chosen to call them.

Posted by Weekilter on June 18, 2009 at 5:54 AM

@87: So it's appropriate to engage in a multiple-email paranoid freak-out?

What's "really arrogant" is lecturing someone you barely know on a small error of excessive friendliness. If you "detest" a nickname, correct the person politely and drop the matter, *especially* if the person has apologized multiple times. That's the proportionate response.

Posted by Gloria on June 18, 2009 at 9:18 AM

@87 whatever, Liz.

Posted by Josh Bomb

on June 18, 2009 at 9:50 AM

Elizabeth.becton@mail.house.gov

Posted by anonymoose on June 18, 2009 at 10:01 AM

liz makes me jizz

Posted by jizz for liz on June 18, 2009 at 10:21 AM

sounds like something my boss would do.

Posted by Pluto2 on June 18, 2009 at 11:10 AM

"Liz, I made you a cake."
"WHO IS LIZ? WHAT IS A CAKE?!"

:(

Posted by Hannah on June 18, 2009 at 11:20 AM

This isn't the first or the last controversy McDermott and his staff have been involved in.

Posted by NWDIGEST

on June 19, 2009 at 8:52 AM

95 Comment Pulled (Spam) Comment Policy

A dead thorny rose by any other name...

Posted by Rev.Smith on June 20, 2009 at 5:52 AM

OH LIZ, BETTY, BETH, BETSEY,BETTE, BETS, BETSY, BITSY, LIZA, LISSA, LISA, LIZZA, LIZZY, LIZZIE, BIZ, BITS, LIBBY, LIBS, LILLYBET, LILBET, LISBET, ELIZA, ELISA, ELI, LIZARDBREATH, WHATEVER YOU CALL YOURSELF! RELAX, TAKE A DEEP BREATH, MAYBE GET A PRESCRIPTION FOR VALIUM, AND GET OVER YOURSELF!

GOD, LIZ, OPPS, ELIZABETH, YOU MUST HAVE A PERMANENT CREASE IN YOUR FOREHEAD AND A WEDGIE UP YOUR CRACK WITH THAT ATTITUDE!

Posted by Carina on June 20, 2009 at 2:07 PM

Sounds like Liz should go by Lez.

Posted by MyNameIsNotSusan on July 16, 2009 at 9:47 AM

Yes and No- technically, the answers listed below have merit and are grounded in some fact. However, and good digital forensic specialist will tell you, with access to server and IP logs and good investigating, any email can be traced back to its source (at least the terminal from which it was sent). There have been many methods listed in this thread which also have merit and may or may not work. At the end of the day, you have to ask yourself, what is your motive for writing an anonymous email and sending and anonymous message. If you are engaged in criminal activity- you will probably get caught, as it is common place for ISP's to be subpoenaed and have to turn over their logs- it then becomes a matter of following the breadcrumbs.
There is another alternative to masking email headers, and using remailers. This is called anonymous messaging. Instead of sending an email through various servers to mask its source, or attempting to strip the original header with sender info and encrypting- you would do better by putting your faith in an organization that will protect your identity. If you are engaging in criminal activity- any method you use will probably not protect you from the repercussions. An example of anonymous messaging is a website like SilentSender.com , when you visit their landing page; you are immediately protected with strong 256 bit SSL secure encryption. The info you type between your terminal and the site is encrypted. A nice feature. If you have a valid email address of the person you want to send the anonymous message to, simply plug it in, type your message and hit send. The recipient will get a notification email from the SilentSender.com mail server notifying you that a message is waiting for you to be picked up. Simply return to the website, enter your secure tracking ID, and your message is displayed in a window on their site. Once you leave the site, the message is permanently deleted. No identifying information is ever revealed, the sender is completely anonymous. Nice, clean, simple and SPAM and Malware free. Check it out for yourself. Send yourself a test email to see how it works. Good luck, hope this helps.

You can find the site at:

https://www.silentsender.com
Or
http://www.silentsender.com/topic/14-ano…

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Posted by Anonymous Messaging Service