Californian's, we just got Royally fucked!

[Zinfandel]

It truly makes sick to my stomach. I just know as sure as I'm sitting here, it was the White House behind the smearing of Democrat Secretary of State Kevin Shelley...

The Republicans could never of won, legally, through the election process in a very democratic California. So they slowly and steadily induced well placed newspaper stories and attacks on Shelley, charges on the federal level, (it stinkingly smells of Rove) "misuse of Federal Funds"...the usual Rove smears & accusations that always magically appear, the same tactics they use to target the character of whomever they want to bring down.

The smears and accusation of Shelley began not long after the White House funded (and Enron caused) recalled of Democratic Governor Gray Davis, in which Republican Schwarzenegger was elected Governor in the circus like atmosphere of that election. The stage was set by the Rove & the boys for Arnold to appoint a republican Secretary of State down the line.

All the republicans needed to grab the Secretary of State's office and to control the voting in California, (as they already had done in Florida, with Harris, Ohio, with Blackwell, etc.) was to accuse and smear Shelley, relentlessly until Californians assumed Shelley was guilty. (Of course Shelley had no money to defend himself and was never convicted of a single charge).

Democrat Shelley was a very outspoken critic of Diebold and electronic voting machines, with no paper trail nor any accountability of the actual software itself. Shelley was against allowing and forcing electronic voting machines on the people of California. The new republican Secretary of State will no doubt, quietly, allow them in every CA county.

And now the republicans will control the vote in another state, California!

Controlling California voting is a huge prize and coup for the republicans, undeniably the biggest prize in the country.

Personally, I get the feeling Shelley was threaten to step down by these same republican thugs we have seen in the past, democrat after democrat mysteriously meeting some awful fate and anyone who questions it, is a conspiracy nut.

The republican fascist in control of our country could NOT allow Shelley to fight it out and hold on until next years election...

The republicans need to get those electronic voting machine all over CA ASAP and they knew Shelley wouldn't allow it and the White House also knew as well, if it went before the voters next year, the republican candidate would never defeat a democrat in CA. (Not without electronic voting machines).

I am just sick about it, that no one cared, or paid much attention to what was going on, except what they read and were told by the corporate media...

Everyone assumed the smears of Shelley were accurate, people as usual, took them as truth, never bothering to find out where they came from and why they started appearing in newspapers after newspapers across the state, pounding Shelley...

No one gave Shelley his right and the benefit of "innocent until proven guilty". Short-sighted Democrats neither helped, supported nor saw through this obvious republican coup, or worse, they just didn't care.

Shelley was not convicted of any wrong doing. His only wrong was he was in the way of the republicans need to control California.

Today, as predicted, Republican Governor Musclehead appointed a republican (Bruce McPherson) to step in as California's Secretary of State.

Next year at election time the democrats will pay the price..."Democrat" Senator Feinstein and all the Democratic CA Congressmen, and CA State democrats, your fate is now in the hands of the republicans.

The Republicans are happy, laughing and toasting this one to be sure!

[BlueInRed]

1. I'm not in CA, but that was my take on the Shelley situation

from reading all the online papers. It really worries me that a Republican now controls voting in CA.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

2. same here

[CrispyQ]

26. First Florida, then Ohio, now California.

When they control the vote in these three states, we're fucked.

Goodbye America, I loved you.

[LaPera]

28. Not to mention, Texas...What's next? Illinois & New York?

[CrispyQ]

31. With BBV, the whole country could go red in 4 years.

I wonder if something even that extreme would raise any flags among the sheeple.

[doodadem]

36. What might save us

Is that while Ohio and Florida have always been red states, Calif. has always been blue--even under other Repub governors.
The other thing to remember here, is that Arnold won the governorship with only 30% of the vote here because there were what? 120 people running in the recall election? When you have a regular election next year, and the regular 3-4 parties running candidates, he's going to get creamed. EsPECially if he keeps pissing off all the CALPERS people. Are there any polls out on his approval rating in this state?

[Stuckinthebush]

3. Yep

It is very clear that the Republicans orchestrated this whole thing.

How long does the appointment last before a new election?

[Zinfandel]

6. Next year's election (2006) But we all know how ...

difficult it is to defeat an "incumbent"...especially when the republicans can now, and will install electronic voting machines...

[EFerrari]

4. The smear started after he decertified Diebold. I've been

writing back to the SF Chron and the Sacto Bee since the hit pieces started coming out. They were ridiculous already. In the last few weeks, the 2004 Elections Results Forum has been writing to Shelley, to the presstitutes, to Gloria Romero, to Ahonohd, and finally to Boxer.

They're only a half step ahead of us because we've been in their pocketbook and we know were they live.

What they did to Shelley is only outdone by what they've done to our CA vote. But, we're not going away any time soon. If they want this state, they'll have a real fight on their hands, led by people not politicians.

And you can take that to the bank of your choice :)

Beth in SF

[Helga Scow Stern]

8. Yay! You said it sister!

What bugs me about new appointee McPherson is that he seems moderate, but the voting reform he supported was of the ID variety--to avoid felons or crackheads from voting millions of times, that quintessential Rethug "fear".

And as much as I might be for genuine un-redistricting of the state, this newest coup does not look good.

[EFerrari]

13. The stealing of CA is part of a national strategy.

I don't care if McPherson is a former alter boy with all the best intentions. He doesn't even know he is being played.

The people who staged the recall were not local people, were they? We're up against a NeoCon assault. So, whoever McPherson might be is almost beside the point from my perspective.

We need a plan, we need to hook up with other CA groups and then we need a schedule of actions.

How'd you all feel about sheduling a meeting time once or twice a week in the CA forum? Lemme know.

[LaPera]

37. I couldn't believe that asshole "Christian" something, in the Chronicle

I wrote the asshole each and every column explaining in great detail what an asshole I thought he was and what I plan to do when I see him around town.

Al in SF

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

5. When Shelley took over that office, there were employees loyal to Jones

ready to undermine him. The accusations of employee abuse most likely were started by these people. Shelley is more likely than not a victim of a conspiracy.

During the recall, there were employees in his office giving hand signals to Ted Costa's people down in the parking lot when sigs were being counted for the recall. This was published in mainstream newspapers.

[Zinfandel]

7. Wow! I wasn't aware of that....it is just disheartening and sickening!

[sffreeways]

39. Wasn't there video

of Shelley flipping out that hit the news like 5 or 6 years ago ? I heard rumors from a city council member that he had a terrible temper. A very liberal Jewish lesbian city council member who liked the guy and worked for him before she was elected. Not that it matters but he does have a reputation for being intense and not just among his enemies. Sorry.

[davidinalameda]

9. it was the White House that made Shelley such a bad boss

and made him take "questionable" campaign contributions

and made him hire the son of one of his campaign contributors

he has a history of being a bad boss--this is nothing new

so please put your little tin-foil hats back on

[Zinfandel]

10. Read "nothingshocksmeanymore" above...

Yes, accusations never convicted...Innocent until proven guilty???

You know and spout off just what you read and were fed though the mainstream media is ALL you know, or care to mention.

Gee, he was a tough boss, yep, time to let the republicans take over. get fucking real!!!

[EFerrari]

17. Show me the sworn testimony, the trial transcript. Love to see it.

If you've nothing positive to contribute to this conversation, maybe your time and energy would be better spent on something you can get behind.

[tom_paine]

11. The Imperial Province of California is under Bushevik Control

Lock, Stock and fucking barrel.

If there was any chance of Freee America being revived "within the System", it is now lost.

Democrats cannot win the Imperial "election" without California.(although in truth they probably can't win it any more than a Jew could win a nazi election)
And now it is certain. 100% total and complete as complete as if we lived in Pinochet's Chile or Marcos Phillipines.

The Busheviks will slowly but surely (don't want to arouse too much suspicion, you know) "win" every "election" of improt except minorit-heavy Democratic areas where they will continue to peel off votes here and there manually and electronically.

Imperial Amerika is here to stay kiddies.

The Old USA is as dead as Ben Franklin.

[Zinfandel]

14. Absolutely, thank you and very well stated.

It is very sad, they did this right in front of the people's eyes, no one saw, no one cared, no one had perception of what they were doing, they just believed everything they read and heard as truth.

It is indeed over and perhaps what we deserve.

[EFerrari]

18. Beg to differ, tom paine. We're on it. They're messing with

the wrong people.

We've done our homework and we've build some networks. And we can do more.

Watch - better yet, join us.

add spelling/

[tom_paine]

40. Good! Make me eat those words! I love it!

California is almost certainly the strongest Democratic State. If we can't stop them there, then truly even the 1% chance I give for the restoration of Free America is not even realistic.

So I would absolutely be ecstatic for you to make me a liar. We need a damned victory.

Because everything up until right now since 2000 has been the opposite. The System Sovietizing quite rapidly at the upper levels means a rigged game for the oppsoition.

Enron. Davis recall, now the dislodging of a good secretary of State who wanted to fight to have votews counted.

And it is as I suspected, Total Information awarenesss means you can smear ANYONE who has done ANYTHING wrong, however small or distant in the past (or large and in the present) is vulnerable.

It's begun. Watch.

Make me wrong, and the People of Amerika will owe you a debt to restoring the 'c' in our name.

Go get 'em!

[Beetwasher]

12. Ugh..Now Watch As They Ramp Up the "CA Is Turning RED!" Propoganda

You will start to see stories about how CA is now starting to trend more Republican...Just you watch...

[EFerrari]

15. Exactly. Better go check my face in the mirror, feeling reddish! nt

[n2mark]

16. I mentioned the other day

California is going red, the pukes are hard at work. That is why the groper is governor. They want every single damn state.

[Oilwellian]

19. I have a question

Doesn't the CA Dem legislature have a say in what type of voting machines will be used?

[EFerrari]

20. I don't know the answer to this question. nt

[Zinfandel]

22. The CA Dem legislature are the majority party and they can...

Challenge Arnold's nominee, and even have some say in the electronic voting machines placement, but ultimately it's the Secretary of States call, with the Governor's blessing, I might add.

Why would the CA Dem legislature even care? The Democrats did NOTHING to help or support their own, in Shelley.

The writing was on the wall and obvious to those who chose to see it and they chose to not get involved...If one does, they would get butchered by the White House!!

[xxqqqzme]

38. the dem legislature is worthless

the CA dem party is lazy and asleep. I am a delegate 2 the state convention in April and I want 2 know what kind of hell we can raise 2 get these bums off their asses.

[doodadem]

21. So why did Shelley RESIGN?

I emailed him, I implored him, please don't resign. You know what you're turning us over to if you do.
Ok folks, at least for the moment, we still have a Democratic majority in Sacramento. We have GOT to keep these people on their toes, and make sure the voting is not hijacked.
Bill Locklear, atty. gen., also seems to be in step with us. He's looking pretty good as governor material to me, with a couple lawsuits he's filed against Bushco lately.
Arnold actually got boo'd at a speech he was giving the other day. The shine is falling off of der apple. Especially if he keeps trying to take on the CALPERS people.

[Zinfandel]

25. I did the same, I sent money for Shelley's defense fund, tried to make

people aware, called CA State reps. wrote emails, wrote on DU and other forums, sent letters, etc.

But after seeing last Friday's press confrence...Shelley was a shaken, scared and frightened man...He mentioned his two sons, he was afraid...There's a great piece on BartCop.com radio (#67) beginning of the third hour, all about Shelley and threats, etc.

Take it for what you want...but this was no ordinary... I fucked up so I'm stepping down press confrence...check it out for yourself. The man was scared.

[loudsue]

23. This is actually the biggest, most important scandal going on in the U.S.

today....NOT the Jeff Gannon thing, which is getting so much attention. The attention is being re-directed to Gannon so that this scandal getting rid of Shelley can work under the radar.

Once Diebold is "in", the ENTIRE California election system will be taken over by the republicans....PERIOD. Take that to the bank.

And here's how it will start playing out:

The "news media" will start with little "hints" that California, under very-popular-hero-he-man Ahhnollld is good for the republicans. They will start by trying to get rid of Boxer, Barbara Lee, and our other heroes that make a stink against the republicans. You will see CNN and Fox and MSNBC saying that "polling shows" that thus and such challengers are, first gaining on, then "leading" in the Boxer and Lee races. The spin WILL BE (bet on it!) that Boxer and Lee (and others to be targeted soon) are leaning "too far to the left", and Californians are becoming more conservative due to Ahhnold's popularity.

Why do I know this? Because I was following Bev Harris and Andy Stephenson, ParanoidPat, RedEagle, and crew, BEFORE they convinced Shelley to take a SERIOUS look at Diebold. At that time, the media was spinning that "George Bush was neck 'n neck with John Kerry", and "California is looking like a swing state!". I saw the news, and read the BBV threads, and I could see that convincing Shelley to investigate was an immediate IMPERATIVE.

AS SOON AS.....TO THE MINUTE.... that Kevin Shelley started shutting down Diebold, the gropenator and the Atty. General FROZE election financing money available to Shelley, and started all kinds of accusations and smears against him.

Also, AS SOON AS ....TO THE MINUTE.... that the media saw that Diebold was out for the 2004 election, the spinmeisters BACKED OFF saying that California was a "swing state", and showed that Kerry, indeed, would take California.

The coincidence theorists will LOVE this one. But, I'm sorry.... these coincidences are just a little too well timed, and too convenient for my blood.

And NOW we see that ....PRESTO!.... we have a new Sec. of State. And VERY SOON we will see that Diebold is back "in".

As soon as Diebold is back in, turn on your teevee set and watch how all the "polls" are going to be showing California turning more maroon than purple, and eventually, red.

The entire California legislature will start turning red, as will the federal Senate and House members.

ONLY if Californians take to the streets over this is there ANY hope that we might save our asses....and the country.

:kick::kick::kick:

[Senior citizen]

24. There's a campaign to get Shelley to rescind his resignation,

and to raise money to fund his legal expenses. It might not succeed, but these are desperate times and we have to try. (Sorry, I don't have the link at hand.)

[LaPera]

27. I too think Shelley is too frightened and afraid to even consider ...

rescinding.

[EFerrari]

30. Or, too beaten down.

He's not a perfect boss, he may have been careless about some transactions, but no doubt he never saw this onslaught coming.

I will continue to support him but honestly believe he's made his decision.

Our efforts from here on out should be aimed at handling his successor.

Sorry to say.

[happynewyear]

33. good!!!

I hope that Shelley does rescind his resignation. However, I had also wished that Kerry would have rescinded what he said when he conceded the Presidential election because we KNOW who really won! :grr:

:kick:

[Shredr]

29. Not to sound naive, but

Why do we not elect our top election officials? Shouldn't such an important post be elected instead of appointed?

[EFerrari]

32. Now, there's a thought : )

[merkins]

34. Kicked to the Daylight of a New Day ~

~

[BlueInRed]

35. Listen to how Arnold views this whole thing as a marketing scam

I thought this was relevant to how the R's are pulling this stuff off around the country. First, they focus on a strategic position with a vulnerable Democrat, then aim an Enron (Davis) or scandal (Shelly) at the vulnerable Democrat, then using selling techniques to get their way. To Arnold, it's all about using selling techniques in politics. As someone who viewed California as a good place to move, now I'm worried they're closing in on you guys too!

~snip~
In an age when the blurring of entertainment and reality is taken for granted, Mr. Schwarzenegger has gone one step farther, blending Hollywood marketing into his governorship in a way that makes them almost indistinguishable.

"You have to do more than just go and have a little press conference," Mr. Schwarzenegger said in a recent telephone interview. "So the spectacle, showmanship, selling, promoting, marketing, publicizing, all of those things are extremely important."

He started doing this years ago in Hollywood, he recalled. "We did all of this to make the people pay attention, the same as in this thing," he added, in a reference to politics. "You also have to think about how you can sell the policy, how can we get it so that everyone in California at home starts paying attention to it?"

Peter Sealey, a former marketing president at Columbia Pictures who is now an adjunct professor of business at the University of California, Berkeley, said, "He is marketing the governorship just like he did 'Terminator 3.' "

~snip~
Continued at http://nytimes.com/2005/02/13/fashion/13arno.html