Look like confctl is logging to IRC and then SAL even when it doesn't match any host if run without the --quiet flag.
If no host is matched probably there is no point in logging it to IRC/SAL.

Running this with a non-existing hostname:

$ sudo confctl select 'name=mw2098.wmnet' set/pooled=inactive
WARNING:conftool.announce:conftool action : set/pooled=inactive; selector: name=mw2098.wmnet

Ended up logging on IRC and SAL this:

logmsgbot| !log volans@puppetmaster1001 conftool action : set/pooled=inactive; selector: name=mw2098.wmnet