def handler(self):
        """returns the handler"""
        if self._handler is None:
            passman = request.HTTPPasswordMgrWithDefaultRealm()
            passman.add_password(None,
                                 self._parsed_org_url,
                                 self._login_username,
                                 self.password)
            self._handler = request.HTTPBasicAuthHandler(passman)
        return self._handler