In trying to keep up on the recall effort against state Sen. Jeff Denham, I noticed the Republicans registered www.simonsalinas.com [1] and put a bunch of links to editorials written against the recall, including the Sun-Star's. It's a Spartan Web site, and if anything, it keeps Salinas from having a Web site that's just his name.

In reading "All the Presidents Men," I learned about all the campaign sabotages that went on during the reelection of Richard Nixon. Now, it's clearly happening in the digital realm. Back then, one participant referred to it with a term out of USC fraternities—but one that can’t be repeated in a family blog.

The Republicans’ work is reminiscent of the political game played during Merced's last mayors race between Rick Osorio and Ellie Wooten. Internet surfers who went to Ellieformayor.com and were redirected to a Web site for Rick Osorio.

Maybe it could be called "rat hacking."