1 Year Ago Today -- History Made WITH NO NEWS REPORTING -- Vote this up!

[FULL_METAL_HAT]

Well my fellow DUers, it was a year ago today that I think was one of the high water marks for DU in its entire history.

Do you recall what it was?

You probably don't. And you're a DUer!

Even sadder is that most of our fellow 300 million citizens have even less of a clue...

You see, last year on January 6th, a little something happened in Congress for the very first time. Never before, since the rules were set up back in 1877 for the electoral college system, had the votes from a state been questioned. Not only that, in terms of "he-said-she-said" news, the statements in that special joint session of Congress were more numerous and more intense than ever before or ever since -- and yet the news barely brought it up -- thanks for nothing media!

It was the pivotal point in the absconding of the 2004 election (yes I said absconding, look it up, it means 'to leave quickly and secretly and hide oneself, often to avoid arrest or prosecution').

Truth be told, our system was set up with actual checks and balances, and despite the erosion over the years, their echoes still exist in the actual rules defined by the constitution:

Not anticipating the development of a two-party system, the Framers believed that electors would cast votes for a large range of candidates from various states and that nearly every election would go to the House of Representatives for a final decision.

The bottom line up front is the rules we play by, the Constitution, with the clarity of a ringing bell, laid out that the Congress is the ultimate arbiter of the administrative branch, in fact Congress is even above the Judicial branch. All power flows down through Congress, and specifically, the House of Representatives was designed to hire and fire the administration.

It doesn't take a political scientist to tell you that those original intentions have been thrown upside down and done a few back flips. In 2006, a scant 230 years since we started calling ourselves United, we find ourselves with a virtual one-party system.

After all the fervor and fever of the 2004 election impossibilities, everyone here on DU knows deep in their heart that no matter what, there IS a chance 2006 and 2008 will go down with our collective thumbs up there, shaking our collective heads saying "but I thought we had that covered..." (Didn't Kerry have 20 THOUSAND lawyers at the ready??!)

This anniversary remembrance is here to help us celebrate the voice that poured out through us, through DU, through the country ultimately. A voice revolted by knowledge of deep corruptions and even deeper cover ups. A voice ultimately muffled by a media overtaken by its own infestation. A year later we have more than enough proof of the complicity of the press, and the very act of not reporting the events of January 6th can now quite readily be seen as the proof that there was guilt to be hidden, that there were crimes being covered up. The only event that has the actual power of choosing the president and the administration was relegated lines like "Two members of congress raised a question..." when every journalist knew there were four of the most HEATED hours of debate EVER in Congress. Shame on them all.

To refresh your memory let me illustrate a short timeline:

(for more detailed ones, shift-click these from WikiPedia ) Timeline of the 2004 U.S. presidential election controversy and irregularities
U.S. presidential election, 2004 timeline

---> November 2 2004 -- First there was an election day in which all signs pointed towards No More Years for the Republican Administration -- All signs -- and then everything came down, and I mean EVERYTHING, the governance of 300 million people, came down to results of just one state, where 5,627,545 votes came down to a difference of only 118,599 ... a total of 118,599 out of 121,068,715 total citizens decided the election -- it was like 1000 people were brought together to decide the election, and only ONE person actually got to vote! One person... one king... no surprise huh?
---> The rest of November saw the flowing of a thick mucous called the "Political Capital" of a "Mandate". While most of the country marched on oblivious, DU was a hotbed of outrage and investigation. Perhaps even for the first time in history thousands and thousands of people were able to learn and share their learning about the workings and malfunctions of government in real time as it happened.
---> December's blogosphere went where no MSM but KO would go, casting our gaze on a unending stream of irregularities and the efforts to prove the count was fair it self. Most Americans surely don't even know there was multiple statewide recount efforts, nor would they know the blatant fetters put upon them by even more blatantly corrupt state officials. Some days got down right comical.
---> <invisible event on January 6> haha
---> It wasn't even three months after the election that the cracks started to become sublime: remember that just 20 days after today's anniversary was the press conference where "Mandate" suddenly became "Man Date"!! The blogs were buzzing and it seemed like Level 1 one here would never end!

Now it's a year later. If not for people standing up that day, across the internet and across the Congress, surely the fear and bullying would see us today living in a world where Delay and Abramoff would be dining with the president.

If you can, remember how you felt that day, how it was to see the door close on the hopes of real democratic action in government. The day of the Boxer Rebellion. The day the constitution enshrined to protect the election. It's worth remembering.

It'd be great to see some pictures and hear stories people can remember about their online and RL experiences that day, so please reply and dredge up that crazy day where CSPAN let us hear those croaking words, "For what purpose does the gentlewoman from Ohio rise?" DU and the rest of the blogosphere brought to the surface every emotion imaginable that day. Hope, Joy, Disbelief, Despair. What did you go through? Anger? Anger was one a lot of people felt, and still feel.

1770 saw the British massacre Boston, which lead five years later to a little political action you might still remember from history class.

"Make no mistake" was in fact not a funny catch phrase, it was a direct command from the chief to every one of his hired hands to make sure they could commit their acts devious or criminal and not be caught.

They KNEW January 6 would have been the only day their mistakes might have mattered, but their hard work and diligent efforts ended up stealing the show. Literally. Thanks again go to the media, shame on them. The proof is in the pudding, and in a in a way that no one can deny, pudding is what the media should be called that day.

The future depends on the past to not forget. Add your vote and your voice so the future can remember that there are moments in history that can change the course of events, and next time DONT LET IT HAPPEN AGAIN!
January 6, 2001 failed.
January 6, 2005 failed.
What about 2009, 2013, 2017, 2021, 2025, or 2029? May our small part of vigilance help if needed on some January 6 in the near or distant future.

The price of "America's Liberty" should be "America's Eternal Vigilance"

Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty—power is ever stealing from the many to the few…. The hand entrusted with power becomes … the necessary enemy of the people. Only by continual oversight can the democrat in office be prevented from hardening into a despot: only by unintermitted Agitation can a people be kept sufficiently awake to principle not to let liberty be smothered in material prosperity(want more liberty quotes to inspire you? freedomkeys.com/vigil.htm)

And finally let me say there's no way I would remember any of this myself if it were not for one person, here on DU, who's incredible efforts forced me to see all of the truth in a way I couldn't deny -- no matter how much I'd prefer to have given up on politics altogether swearing it all off as foolish as tilting a windmills. The numbers didn't lie. They were true every different way they came up. Proof after statistical proof piled on, cutting the wiggle room of denial further and further and further. Until, like some ancient disbeliever doing the math that proved the Sun actually DIDNT revolve around the Earth, forcing the loss of their religion, it forced me to lose the very last grip of my religion -- the sad naiveté of not noticing a political coup.

Truth Is All -- You have my everlasting thanks and my eternal hope that the efforts of everyone end up bringing our country, our place in the world!, back into line with the now-so-lofty aspirations it was supposedly founded upon.

Heck, maybe even one day we'll see the wheels revolve to where our ancestors would be pleased.

The spell had been broken. Bush would not ascend to his second term in office without at least some measure of irregularity questioning the legitimacy of the process. The emperor's new clothes would receive some public exposure, if only for a brief moment. But, that moment may become a reference point in history that will mark the beginning of the second American Revolution. Report on Washington DC, January 6, 2005

Today is a real Patriot's Day.


Still a year on, steeled against all, {B^) FULL_METAL_HAT

[FULL_METAL_HAT]

1. Some links here.

http://clerk.house.gov/histHigh/Special_Exhibits/electoral.html

[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[feelthebreeze]

28. I truly fail to see the humor of this post...

Are you trying to point out the lack of dignity and courage that this moment deserves?

Why is this humourous and not downright insulting and degrading to all who are fighting this.
I am very confused full metal hat and will now watch your posts more carefully in the future.

[FULL_METAL_HAT]

33. trying to point out the lack of dignity and courage that this moment

I am trying to point out the lack of dignity and courage that this moment deserves!!

Sorry its very late and I just couldn't believe how over the top, and frankly bottom of the barrel, that cartoon was, so I thought it would be a nice juxtaposition with the patriotism we're actually celebrating! :)

Please watch my posts very closely!! Unlike the bad guys, my posts are inspectable down to the last letter :) Here's a post I ranted on keeping a keen eye on the dirty ways of the world you might enjoy.

My apologies though for just slapping that image up though. You're very right that its jarring beyond belief. But history needs to see the bad and the good, no?

Should I make it a link instead or does my explanation cover my embarrasement enough? :)

Here's my post from teh other day: any sufficiently advanced DECEPTION is indistinguishable from TRUTH ...

[tblue37]

53. Your phrasing is also somewhat confusing.

What you said is not what you meant. The moment does not deserve a lack of dignity and courage. It deserves dignity and respect for the courage it represents. You should have said something like, "This cartoon is evidence of the lack of respect this courageous moment was treated with."

This is the sort of thing that happens when we are loopy with exhaustion--we phrase things clumsily and unclearly. Unfortunately, though, people are often quick to misunderstand a well-meaning poster's intentions and to accuse him of nefarious purposes.

[FULL_METAL_HAT]

36. Anyone good @ DU archive searching? Some old links would be great!

[electropop]

69. I was at the rally outside the Capitol that day. Pics:

Re-Defeat Bush hosted a pro-democracy rally at the United States Capitol in Washington DC, on January 6, 2005. One Senator, Barbara Boxer, and Representative Stephanie Tubbs-Jones stood up for the US Constitution and voted to reject the electors from Ohio.



http://joeorgren.com/election_fraud.htm

[breathe peace]

117. I'm in your picture! Orange vest...front

I flew in for the day from Connecticut. I didn't know any DUers at that time although I had been inspired by all of your posts collectively. I had to do something. I wanted to be there. I marched with the group up to Capitol Hill, listened to the speeches..carries a sign saying "We the People...demand truth and consequences". It was a small gesture about a very important concern...the probable (il)legitimacy of our 'elected' government. I felt that a power greater than myself propelled me to be there...even though it seemed that most Americans seemed resigned or oblivious to the magnitude of the violation our country had sustained...to me, greater than 9/11.

[fooj]

135. Welcome to DU!!!

Peace.

[breathe peace]

137. Thanks!

.

[electropop]

141. Likewise, welcome!

And I hope I can welcome you back to DC for a happier occasion: the post-impeachment party.

[breathe peace]

142. Sign me up...

I'll be there!

[FULL_METAL_HAT]

58. 300 more inspiring quotes (linked properly this time!!)

... want more liberty quotes to inspire you?

Here's 300 more!

www.freedomkeys.com/vigil.htm

[EVDebs]

62. Don't forget George Orwell's on who has the power to say 2+2= whatever

""Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows ...""

The SCOTUS had that power, and look what we ended up with...erosion of freedom. Ben Franklin's quote also comes to mind. EVERLASTING SHAME ON THE US SUPREME COURT. Anyone got that picture of them in clownsuits ? Please repost it !

""Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety""

[autorank]

2. RECOMMENDED. It was our last hope, we survived by a prayer! PICTURES

Rev. Jackson, Keynote Speaker at Lafayette Park Rally—across from WH.


Cliff Arnebeck, attorney for the court challenge to the Ohio election


Protester across from Senate on Capitol Hill


She knew well what was happening.

Pictures from January 6th 2005—Patriots Day
March and Capitol Hill

Lafayette Park and March to Capitol Hill

[autorank]

12. This was a great, great day. Here's a take you've not heard, maybe

If you have, let me know where.

The Democratic Party was hanging by a thread on January 6, 2005. We'd already lost our freedom for four more years (hopefully less now!). But the party was in the balance. Why? In 2000, the Black Caucus and some other House members challenged Florida's electors. They were true heroes, patriots, on the first Patriot's Day. Vice President Gore was in the humiliating position of having to gavel down the protests because the ENTIRE US Senate was sitting, not a one would stand up and support just one challenge. Without the support of one Senator, it can't be an official challenge to the election. Humiliating, disgraceful, filled with pathos and infuriating.

In Election 2004, it was clear to many that the fix was in all over the place, a repeat of the fake felon purge in FL, Blackwells voter suppression, etc. in Ohio, and New Mexico, etc. etc. The long and short of it was this: most of the efforts were directed at blacks, Hispanics, and Native Americans. The fake result resulted in real, sustained anger in the black community. Nearly 6 in 10 black Americans thought the election was stolen compared to about 1.5 in 10 of whites. When the Congressional Black Caucus walked to the Senate to challenge Ohio, the question was, would our party abandon not only democracy but a key segment of America once again. As I stood waiting for the Rally in Lafayette Park to start all of this came to me in just a moment and I knew I was right. If nobody challenged, there would be an exodus from the Democratic Party; and the party was the only hope of resistance to Bush.

If Boxer hadn't stood and objected, we would all be on (somethingelse)underground.com. The party would have been fractured. Boxer was like Patrick Henry speaking directly to the King in open defiance. It was truly an historic moment, one that needs to be commemorated.

[FULL_METAL_HAT]

14. Actually they had Gore in a perfect storm...

The new Congress starts at the very begining of the year, but the president doesn't take over until the 20th. The 2001 session of Congress had seen the balance in the Senate evenly split 50 Dems, 50 Gops... Gore, as VP, was President of the Senate, and the tie-breaker when needed.

It was a perfect storm because a vote in the Senate would have gone down party lines and Gore himself would have been forced to vote for or against his own presidency!!!

Those bastards were like the Michael Jordans of their game. A perfect box-in play.

I read Gore had actually asked senators not to step up so as to avoid the end game where he'd be called his own king-maker!!

Cool huh? :)

[autorank]

29. I remember that but the drama is tempered by the weak kneed...

Lieberman and Nelson, at least, would have resisted. I'd like Gore to "tell-all" and set the record straight. with him, you always wonder when he's going to let it all hang out. His key speeches are a part of it. The next part is telling the whole story, telling the truth when it can help all of us.

Great post!

[Acryliccalico]

3. I was here and remember it well.

I was watching and blogging. Thought we could do it and get the truth out. We were wrong. :cry:

[FULL_METAL_HAT]

5. Come on, if you remember, tell a little story -- for the children! :^> n/t

[Al-CIAda]

4. Yes, FMH, we need to remember this date.

I too find it strange this was not brought up today and in numbers, but it is the essence of the environment we are operating. The corruption train keeps everyone occupied with their latest scandal, with very little time for reflection on the past. This is certainly one date though to remember.

I was fairly new here, and watching the 'election results' forum in action was quite inspiring.

[FULL_METAL_HAT]

11. I can't believe I ranted and didn't even mention ERD2004!! LOL

Tell us a little something about what you remember about what was inspiring, or how you were in spired, or where the inspiration took you! :) I like your "corruption train" LOL

[EFerrari]

16. I joined on 11/22/1004. Very specifically came to ERD2004.

I was following a link from a link from a small group I found the weekend after the theft. Didn't peek into the other forums for a long time.

And I was PISSED.

So, it was a good fit. :)

[New Earth]

38. you joined 1,000 years ago?

wow :rofl:

[EFerrari]

40. LOL! And you said, time flies!

:rofl:

[mod mom]

59. I joined November 10,2004 while organizing the CASE Ohio "Fight for

Democracy" Rally in Columbus Ohio. Some activists from Colorado recommended it to me as a way to get the word out. At the time I naively thought that our crowds would be ~100,000. It was a great rally, but our numbers fell short. Those who did come weren't disappointed. Our speakers inspired the movement.

I like the idea of January 6th being Patriots Day!

[IndyOp]

70. Those who were in Columbus were in *awe* - that day saved my sanity

The auditorium in the city building was comfortably full and I had no idea how many people would be there. I and three friends drove 4 hours there and 4 hours home again afterwards.

It was the first time I have seen Jackson in person and I *got it* more than I ever had in past - that man has seen and spoken the truth and been accused of wearing a tinfoil hat for most of his life. I had read a post by Will Pitt a few days before going that reminded me that Jackson held Martin Luther King after he had been shot, as he lay dying. I was suprised that he took time to lead us in his signature chant, "I am somebody!" - some members of the audience seemed embarrassed; a couple of women next to me joined in as if their life depending on saying the incantation aloud.

I found it hilarious - and so wonderful - that when David Cobb came to the podium and people realized who he was, the crowd erupted like he was a rock star. "And, now, The Beatles!" could not have elicited anymore screaming, crying, hugging, and jumping up and down than did "And, now, David Cobb, the man behind the Ohio Recount!" AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH! It's him, It's really him!

I feel as if I made a very good friend that day in Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones, she talked about her mother's recent death and how profoundly it affected her, and she said that she was in Columbus that day, on that stage, and would travel to DC to speak.truth.to.power because she knew her mother was looking down at her, and her mother always told her to stand up for what was right, no matter the cost. She said looked up toward the sky and said "Okay mama, just you watch. Just you watch! I am going to make you proud!" Of course, we were all jumping up and down and screaming after she finished speaking, too. She had on the same outfit the day she stood to oppose the certification of Ohio electoral votes that she had had on that day in Columbus.

Kevin Spidel of Progressive Democrats of America spoke in Columbus, too. And I was proud! Why? I had gotten PDA emails within a week or so after the election had been stolen expressing disappointment and asking for member input about what PDA should do next - I sent several *hot* emails back saying, FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT the theft of *this* election. And, what happened? PDA listened to us - apparently a lot of us - and they fought. That is a virtual miracle in this country today. O8) (And, yes, I did send emails saying thanks once their efforts were underway and sent $$$ too). Progressive Democrats of America people - check them out!

And on the big day, Jan 7, 2005 - I was glued to the SPAN with the rest of DU - and when Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones stood to protest the counting of the Ohio electoral college votes, I burst into tears. :cry: Tears of sorrow and anger at the theft of our democracy; and at the lack of fight in the Democratic Party (Kerry and all of the 1,000's of Dems across the country who could have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with him). Tears of fear: When will this nightmare end and how many more people have to be hurt or killed before the end? Tears of relief: It was a miracle that the Representatives had the courage to stand again to protest and a miracle that Senator Boxer stood with them.

Thanks mod mom for organizing the Columbus event!

Thanks Full_Metal_Hat for this post!

Thanks to all DU'ers and to all US citizens who are fighting so, so hard to restore what we used to have in this nation and to form an even more perfect union!

Fight the power! The people, united, will never be defeated!

"The arc of history is long, but it bends toward justice." - Dr. King

[mod mom]

85. That was actually a different event that you are talking about-the first

being outside in the freezing cold on the steps of the Ohio Statehouse. I have to admit, being in Columbus, I've found myself in a situation of being involved in making history. Did you get to attend the Public Hearing in which MY HERO John Conyers came along with Maxine Waters, Rev Jackson and others? It was held in Columbus City Council Chambers because the Ohio Repukes wouldn't allow us to use the Ohio Statehouse. That day was incredible as well.

[Al-CIAda]

30. It was inspiring to the point that the ERD'04 was the only board I

posted in/contributed to at first. My ID speaks to my preoccupation, but the stolen election is why I began posting here on DU. Without open, fair elections, ALL hope is lost.

The fine group, who are still active, are to be praised and thanked -but typing that comes short and does not seem adequate. Working together, researching, and supporting each other, even in defeat, it gives me hope that there are a few people who are awake, and realize what we face, what have lost. The entire establishment dismissed this. The entire press blacked the story out, claiming incompetence in the weeks that followed by citing 'campaign fatigue'. It was/is shocking how the press buried this. As the stories and events/outrages in Ohio unfolded, it became horrifyingly clear that the 'press' was not merely asleep, but rotting at the core. COMPLICIT IN TREASON.

One would think the theft of Democracy merits a story or two.
The Ohio lockdown, phony '10+ terror warning' -we STILL do not have answers to that felony.

DAMN THE MEDIA,DAMN YOU ALL. MAY YOU ALL ROT IN HELL.

Will Pitt, Nashua Advocate, BradBlog, Raw Story, Randi Rhodes, Stephanie Miller...and 'Kief' are among the very few who deserve mention.


...and Andy, may he rest in peace.

[FULL_METAL_HAT]

37. Me too! At first I didn't even know there were other forums! LOL

I remember finally stepping outside of ERD and realizing there was even more DU!

I'm very remiss for all the thanks I didn't put in my post, but everyone knows they've been part of the effort. But definately a special shout out to ERD2004. Geez remember when the admins were going to change the name that first time? Wow talk about "um lets just press undo on that" :)

And about the media, like I said, the proof is in that pudding! Pathetic frauds they are.

[New Earth]

39. i was the same way.

i ONLY posted in 2004ERD forum at the time, occasionally The Lounge if I was drunk (lol)

2004 ERD was my home 24/7 through that era.

man the nostalgia :(

[RagingInMiami]

6. Kick and recommended!

[crispini]

7. the Boxer Rebellion

:toast::toast::toast::toast::toast::toast:

[Zan_of_Texas]

18. More.

I watched some of the "debate" on TV as it happened.

I was dumbstruck at the real garbage spewing out of the mouths of the Republicans. I mean, this was not a debate, this was plain name calling by them. Not much more elevated than playground stuff at an elementary school.

Sample:

<http://thomas.loc.gov/home/r109query.html>
Debate on challenge 1 6 05

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio.

But apparently some Democrats only want to gripe about counts, recounts, and recounts of recounts. So eager are they to abandon their job as public servants, they have cast themselves in the role of Michael Moore, concocting wild conspiracy theories to distract the American public. Such aspiring fantasy authors should note the facts before they let the ink dry on this tall tale.

Mr. Keller

Why are we here wasting time on silly Hollywood inspired conspiracy theories?

Why allow the conspiracy theorists to undermine the public confidence in the electoral system itself?

Mr. NEY.

For those thinking Mr. Anthony must be a part of this conspiracy, I would point out that in addition to his position on the elections board, Mr. Anthony serves as chairman of the Franklin County Democrat Party. He said that he is offended by accusations from a band of conspiracy theorists.

Ms. PELOSI.

So, Mr. Speaker, I say to my colleagues, please do not talk about this as a ``conspiracy theory.'' It is not about that. It is not about conspiracy; it is about the Constitution of the United States. George Bush and Dick Cheney are the elected President and Vice President of the United States, and I think the objection will be overruled today in that regard. It has never been about that. It has always been about the fundamental principle of the legitimacy of our electoral process.

Mr. REYNOLDS.

Mr. Speaker, President Bush won more votes than any candidate in America's history. His opponent conceded that victory long ago. The Ohio results have been certified, and one of that State's newspapers, the Dayton Daily News, reported last month that those advancing the wild-eyed conspiracy theories surrounding Ohio's electorate votes are ``speaking nonsense.''

Ms. ESHOO.

We know that elections are not perfect, but no American should be castigated for raising questions or concerns when valid voting problems arise. Only open debate on this issue will solve these problems; only accurate information will quell rumors and conspiracy theories that question our country's sacred democratic tradition.

Mr. HOLT.

Mr. Speaker, this debate is not frivolous. This is not about sour grapes. This is not about conspiracy theories. This is about the central act of democracy.

Mr. TIBERI.

In fact, Franklin County Board of Elections Chairman William Anthony has gone so far as to label those making these wild charges ``a band of conspiracy theorists.'' By the way, Anthony is also head of the Franklin County Democratic Party. I know him personally, as I do others who serve on the boards of elections in the three counties I represent.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

More:

(Debate on the challenge to the Ohio presidential electors)
January 6, 2005
Congressional Record - House
H121-122
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getpage.cgi?dbname=2005_record&page=H121&position=all

JOHN CONYERS

Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I want
to thank all the Members of the House
who have stayed here with us, who
have participated in the debate, who
have shared their views, as different as
many of them are, because this is the
way we work.

This debate, I think we all know, will
not change the outcome of the November
election. But we do know that out
of today’s debate, the Congress will respond
to the challenge that has been
raised here in connection with a better
system of voting, not just for Ohio but
for everywhere. A challenge has been
raised here this afternoon to hold true
bipartisan hearings to get to the bottom
of not just what went wrong in
Ohio but around the Nation on Election
Day. This day, the first time in
our history, that since 1877 this law has
been used in which the Senate and the
House have come together to say that
an objection has enough merit to keep
us here in this discussion.

Join us. Enact real election reform
and give the citizens the right to an operative
provisional ballot and give all
voters a verifiable paper trail. We
should never fear this debate in the
Congress, and I hope that today we
have a fair debate and that 4 years
from now, Mr. Speaker, we have an
election that all our citizens can be
proud of.

TOM DELAY
Mr. DELAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to
claim the remainder of the time.

The SPEAKER. The gentleman from
Texas is recognized for the remainder
of the time.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker,
can I ask how much time that is?
The SPEAKER. In the tradition of
the House, the gentleman from Texas
is recognized for 5 minutes.

Mr. DELAY. Mr. Speaker, what is
happening here today is amazing but
not surprising. Mr. Speaker, what we
are witnessing here today is a shame. A
shame. The issues at stake in this petition
are gravely, gravely serious. This
is not just having a debate. But the
specific charges, as any objective observer
must acknowledge, are not.
That is because the purpose of this petition
is not justice but noise.

It is a warning to Democrats across
the country, now in the midst of soul
searching after their historic losses in
November, not to moderate their party’s
message.

It is just the second day of the 109th
Congress and the first chance of the
Democrat congressional leadership to
show the American people what they
have learned since President Bush’s
historic reelection, and they can show
that, but they have turned to what
might be called the ‘‘X-Files Wing’’ of
the Democrat Party to make their first
impression.

Rather than substantive debate,
Democrat leaders are still adhering to
a failed strategy of spite, obstruction,
and conspiracy theories. They accuse
the President, who we are told is apparently
a closet computer nerd, of
personally overseeing the development
of vote-stealing software.

We are told, without any evidence,
that unknown Republican agents stole
the Ohio election and that its electoral
votes should be awarded to the winner
of an exit poll instead.

Many observers will discard today’s
petition as a partisan waste of time,
but it is much worse than that. It is an
assault against the institutions of our
representative democracy. It is a
threat to the very ideals it ostensibly
defends. No one is served by this petition,
not in the long run. And in the
short term, its only beneficiaries are
its proponents themselves.

Democrats around the country have
asked since Election Day, and will no
doubt ask again today, how it came to
this. The Democrat Party, the party
that was once an idealistic, forward-
looking, policy colossus. The New Deal,
the Marshall Plan, the Great Society,
the space program, civil rights. And
yet today one is hard pressed to find a
single positive substantive idea coming
from the left.

Instead, the Democrats have replaced
statecraft with stagecraft, substance
with style, and not a very fashionable
style at that. The petitioners claim
that they act on behalf of
disenfranchised voters, but no such
voter disenfranchisement occurred in
this election of 2004 and for that matter
the election of 2000.

Everybody knows it. The voters
know it, the candidates know it, the
courts know it, and the evidence proves
it.

We are not here to debate evidence,
but to act our roles in some scripted,
insincere morality play.

Now, just remember: pre-election
memos revealed that Democrat campaign
operatives around the country
were encouraged by their high command
in Washington to charge voter
fraud and intimidation regardless of
whether any of it occurred. Remember,
neither of the Democrat candidates
supposedly robbed in Ohio endorse this
petition. It is a crime against the dignity
of American democracy, and that
crime is not victimless.

The Democrat leadership came down
to the floor and said this is a good debate;
we ought to be having a debate on
this issue.

This is not a normal debate. This is a
direct attack to undermine our democracy
by using a procedure to undermine
the constitutional election that
was just held.

If, as now appears likely, Democrats
cry fraud and corruption every election
regardless of the evidence, what will
happen when one day voters are routinely
intimidated, rights are denied,
or, God forbid, an election is robbed?
What will happen? What will happen
when, God forbid, this quadrennial crying
wolf so poisons our democratic
processes that a similarly frivolous petition
in a close election in the future
is actually successful, and the American
people are denied their constitutional
right to choose their own President?

Mr. Speaker, Democrats must find a
way to rise above this self-destructive
and, yes, plain destructive theory of
politics for its own sake. A dangerous
precedent is being set here today, and
it needs to be curbed, because Democrat
leaders are not just hurting themselves.
By their irresponsible tactics,
they hurt the House, they hurt the Nation,
and they hurt rank-and-file
Democrats at kitchen tables all around
this country.

The American people, and their ancestors
who invented our miraculous
system of government, deserve better
than this. This petition is beneath us,
Mr. Speaker; but, more importantly, it
is beneath the men and women that we
serve.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues,
both Democrat and Republican, to do
the right thing. Vote ‘‘no,’’ and let us
get back to the real work that the
American people hired us to do.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bear in mind that John Kerry was not available to speak, vote, or strategize -- he was out of the country that day. However, his brother, Cam Kerry, wrote an op-ed.

CAM KERRY CLAIMED THAT KERRY HAD 17,000 LAWYERS ON HIS TEAM. He also claimed on January 6, 2005 that by the early hours of Nov. 3, 2004: "Not every fact was in, but we knew much of what has emerged publicly since then."

Counting every vote
Op Ed
By Cameron F. Kerry
January 6, 2005
The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/01/06/counting_every_vote/

[autorank]

25. Talk about irony, the DeLay quote. Zan you nailed it.

The pious, the self-assured to the point of arrogance, the fanatics who countenance no debate...don't they always end up in jail! Deservedly so.

Great selection of quotations.

[EFerrari]

83. I second that. The juxtaposition of Conyers and Delay and

Zan also posted Mr. Ney's remarks.

As these criminals go down for this other corrupt activity, we might be able to find a way to remind the supine media that they choose to back Delay over the public good.

Thank you, Zan.

[stillcool]

8. What a year....

it's been. I remember the roses...for Boxer, that picture of her surrounded by all those roses. And, it's funny cause I can feel the pride that I felt for her that day.

[FULL_METAL_HAT]

10. Here's some flowers to share on Patriot's Day :)

http://www.barbaraboxer.com/diary?id=0004

[EFerrari]

9. Thank you, FMH

"I will not serve"

:kick:

[New Earth]

13. wow. i totally forgot

today it was one year ago Boxer, Tubbs etc contested the election. how could i forget this day? man time flies too fast. feels like it was yesterday :(

[New Earth]

15. do you mind if i repost this somewhere else?

with credit to your name and all, and link to the thread. it would just be in a myspace bulletin, i like to post these kinds of things since there are so many people who might not know.

[FULL_METAL_HAT]

19. Please Post away -- Patriot's Day deserves wide exposure!

Considering how it got the total bum's rush last year!!

At least it's that very rushing of the bum that prooves it was all real!

And fwiw I'd be happy to trade any credit for more exposure haha ... collective memory is the only thing that really keeps us from serious tyranny. I wonder what they did before writing? Would there have been more or less tyranny I wonder?

{B^)

[New Earth]

23. i just found....

me going crosseyed, on Jan. 6th 2005
lol

[FULL_METAL_HAT]

31. "There's an old saying in Tennesse--I know it's in Texas, probably in ....

"There's an old saying in Tennesse--I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee--that says, fool me once, shame on--shame on you..."



"Fool me-**-you can't get fooled again."



First president to invoke the Who!

http://www.theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1075570289096_2004/02/01/the_who,0.jpg

Great pic Faye! Cool to see you were really there!!! Tell us more of your story that day! :>

[New Earth]

32. i like to say this....in regards to the past two elections

Fool us once, shame on you. Fool us twice, really - you didn't fool us the first time.

:rofl:

[New Earth]

44. more about that day....

well, i took the train there, met up with numerous DU members, met Andy for the first time - i cried a lot. patriotic tears, i love the feeling of being surrounded by other people and we are all in it for the same cause. such a feeling of unity. i was choked up the whole time. walked with Bettyellen through the March - my favorites moments were at the first Park (i forget the name???) listening to Jesse Jackson, Rev. Bill Moss, Cliff Arnebeck, all of them....it was so exciting, so emotional - all of it :( i really felt like i had done something good that day. just being there, the feeling i had - and how mad i was at the election fraud.

i would sit here for hours writing a novel if i told every detail of the day. it was the best day of my life, i think, aside from giving birth to my daughter and finding my soulmate :)

when i even think of this day, i choke up. it was the first 'politically active' event i had taken part in, and although i'm not as active as i was back then, fighting/discussing election fraud is one of my greatest passions.

[fooj]

136. Hi Faye...

I remember seeing your pic the moment it was posted. We were all waiting in anticipation for any kind of update. It was history.

Peace.:smoke:

[kster]

17. Thank you FULL_METAL_HAT

K&R

[nicknameless]

20. Hard to believe it's been a year.

We love our California Barbaras (Boxer & Lee) :)

K&R

[radio4progressives]

21. Excellent Post and Happy Election Reform Anniversary Truth Seekers!

:kicked: and recommended... :hi: :yourock: :toast:

:bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce:

[stellanoir]

22. thanks for the reminder FMH of those solemn and bittersweet few hours.

Though some of us will never forget witnessing the seeming permanent erosion of the last shread of our democracy and faltering system of checks and balances. Some will forever be haunted until we witness it's inevitable rectification.

This is a most recent excerpt from well over 100 pages of writing temporarily entitled, "17 tricks or Weapons of Massive Reconstruction for Global Amelioration."

"Just to be topical, here are the latest crafted 4 paragraphs, a really pertinent quotation, and a few links to other earlier writing:

"As the echo chamber quibbles over midterm elections and potential impeachment or mere spurious censure. With partisan control of 80% of the highly hackable voting machinery, the three branches of government, and the media, my sparkled & feathered "angelic & cosmic sledgehammer" tells me that is more than likely a total long shot.

We haven't time or resources to further fritter away everything of lasting intrinsic national value for that much longer. We need all of these un-elected corrupt morons, & greedy selfish sadistic criminals to resign post haste. Consider relentlessly demanding nothing less.

> "The right of voting for representatives is the primary right by which all
> other rights are protected. To take away this right is to reduce a man to
> slavery." Thomas Paine

I'll be watching for a while and then may just post plan C. You're all gonna love it : ) But here is a clue. . .when someone is continually lackadaisically incompetent and ignores rules long established, does one continue to keep that person in their employ. . .or what. . .?

A greatly encouraging full page ad appeared in the much besmirched "Blue Lady" sponsored by the most "unpatriotic" ACLU on 12/28. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/12/29/05855/837
When perchance did it become so unamerican to stand up for civil rites of individuals anyway? hmmmmm. "

Have a nice day,
stella

A much earlier version of the original text is posted here. . .

http://www.progressiveindependent.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=7341

The other more recent additional "9 tricks" are posted here:

http://www.progressiveindependent.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=9964&mesg_id=9964

PM me if anyone wants to see more recent edits of the text. It's good news for a change and inclusive of simple ways in which true souls can "change the course."

[feelthebreeze]

24. It was the next day that I joined DU and took my moniker...

It was a test of fire, that trip to Washington, As I traveled down to give my support, I envisioned 100,000 strong united to stop the oppression of fixed electioneering and raise our cry as a Nation in outrage at the devastation wrought upon our number one tool of Representative Democracy: the pristine sanctity of our vote. Like the Ukraine, we would stand and stop the horrendous power that stole into our government and undo the crime against Democracy, that had just occurred. What I was met with was only 400-500 people shouting their anger on that rainy day in D.C. and I remember the total terror I felt at the small number of aware and angry Americans that chose to fight that day for our Democracy. I had the belief that if we simply spoke the truth to America, it would rally behind the call of saving our Nation. How wrong I was and what a ghastly wake up call it was.
In many ways I will never be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with my fellow Americans again and proclaim that We the people support and protect our government. We may sit back and rail against this monstrosity that has crowbarred its way into our seats of power, but never ever forget that it was WE the People who allowed it. Writing now I am still reminded of the anger I feel against the over privileged, lazy sleepy masses who continue to daily demonstrate their unworthiness for so precious a gift as Democracy.
We will continue to fight, because we know we have to, and I only hope we in the future will be remembered for our actions that we are taking; here and all over this Nation. The atmosphere continues to change, yet I still lose sleep at night, I still have the uncontrollable need to fight from weeping on a weekly basis, and I still see red at the unbelievable dismantling that we Americans are allowing on a daily basis.

I will never forget what Boxer did on that day, and I will always honor her courage and resolve to stand against this nightmare. I do not care how history remembers our actions for I know we are heroes and patriots and deserving of the fruits of our passions. And I will never forget these times and turmoils nor those to whom America owes its undying thankfulness. Thank you alll and know that I am shoulder to shoulder with you in our daily battles.

[ginnyinWI]

27. Sure-- I remembered

And I still feel the pain.

[Nothing Without Hope]

34. Kicked, recommended and bookmarked! Thank you for this! n/t

[DemInDistress]

35. Thanks for the memories.! K&R

[FULL_METAL_HAT]

41. 30 votes ain't too bad so far, but 365, one for each day would be AWESOME!

Don't mind me ... I'm just happy to see people getting a chance to remember such an amazing time :) A lot would really be a testament to a year of incredible events here and around the blogosphere!!

[understandinglife]

42. I remember every moment of this day .... K&R.

Peace.

[Hissyspit]

43. Kick for those in the House who showed they have spine. n/t

[FogerRox]

45. I was outside of CBS Headquarters in NYC- protesting

holding a sign "CBS ohio election fraud" I called a friend in DC, so I listened over the cell phone for a few minutes. I was/am so proud of all those who took part.

[autorank]

47. Damn, you were in the belly of the best.

Isn't that place called "black rock"? Avenue of the Americas and about and 50th. That's a portal to the "crazy makers" who feed the public disinformation tailored to promote cynicism and helplessness. I'm sure the CBS people were stunned that anyone would dare to question them.

Amazing times we live in.

[FogerRox]

64. yes the Black Rock Building-- handing out flyers "Kerry won"

though I was by myself-- I wish I had gone to DC-- DArn

[northerdar]

46. A year already.....that day is a milestone for the PUSH BACKERS

Yes, Those on DU and other websites like it are responsible for the past year of PUSH BACK.....we didn't allow them to completely take over and put cracks in their armour. They thought the were so tough and mean that we could not reveal their corruptness. Jack Abramoff is going to sing on those greedy bad politicians in DC. They are all shitting in their pants. Now on TV tonight I heard the Cunningham conspiracy mentioned too.

We must never give up. Keep pushing back the neo cons. I am looking forward to IMPEACHMENT. I am old enough to remember Watergate, It took more than a year for that little b&e to blossom into Nixon's end. Let it happen again, this time to the fake cowboy.

thanks FMH for the memories AND the encouragement. We must not be silent when we see things wrong.

[autorank]

48. Welcome to DU northerdar!!!

I remember Waterate too (lets flesh out FMH on that question;)

The intensity level is starting to feel the same. The remarkable thing is, we do not have crystalizing personalities like Sam Ervin and Dash, or active media groups like Washington Post and the NYT to generate the intensity. It is profoundly grass-roots. People are just furious.

There is going to be a time of reckoning. The threat was stregched very, very thin on 01/06/2005, but it didn't break. That's all the difference.

[northerdar]

49. I agree there will be a time of reckoning. but what will it be?

Will the push backers win? or will Martial law be made. It truly worries me. I am a person of beliefs. I left the great USA in 69 to got to Canada because of the beliefs my late husband and I had on Viet Nam. Hubby went the route of Applying and going through all the stages of CO status, denied on all appeals. He was then a draft dodger, went to jail but he agreed to go in the Army, hoping to not be assigned AIT and Viet Nam...alas he was...So we came to Canada...and here I am still.

How I wanted to go to Crawford this past summer. I am thinking of going down to the southwest next month, asking questions of the locals and getting them to think and be aware of what their president is doing to their country. I find that many of my American relatives and friends are clueless!!! They think I am too overly concerned and one brother is ready to shoot me. He said it loud and clear.

FMH sounds like he is a very informed American, who pays attention to the fine details.

[autorank]

50. Every day they reckon with themselves, even if just briefly, as do we.

I think it's a lot easier for us. I'm sorry you have any restrictions on travel or you had to leave. That's so long ago and I recall the dilemmas.

The reckoning I spoke of is the reckoning when we prevail, because we will. They had to crush every last breath and living cell out of the belief in freedom and dignity. They didn't and now they're on the short end. It will happen! Very best wishes.

PS. Your brother needs to go to "family" 101 and "brother" 101.

[northerdar]

71. Thinking of going to the USA south west this February

So far, I have no traveling restrictions. I'd
like to distribute discreetly IMPEACH BUSH fliers wherever I visit in the southwest.
I'm now a dual citizen - American and now Canadian citizens. I'm not wanted (yet) by the American government.
My husband who deserted the USA Army instead of going to Viet Nam, prior to going through CO appeals, jail, and then induction applied for and received his "other than honorable" discharge through Jimmy Carter. We went to the Pentagon. (cool place) to appeal this and I testified in front of about 6 military officers as to why he deserted. He lost the appeal. After that we traveled to visit families and Florida, where we had lived before he went into the Army.
He died in 2001. He was born in Ohio. My fiancee is also American and also born in Ohio but on the other side of the state.

My dying husband and I watched the 2000 election, the counting of the chads and all and were quite upset that W stole the election. When it came time for the 2004 election I felt it was my civic duty to vote. In the other elections prior to that I felt that since I didn't live in the USA I shouldn't interfere in the government but this time the 2004 election was critical. My Fiancee went to several Kerry rallies in Ohio and also protested in Ohio's Bush's appearances. He almost got arrested on that one. He feels he KNOWS the Ohio election was stolen.

The last election I voted for the first time in an American election, using my overseas ballot. I voted from NJ. My fiancee voted for the first time in 25 years. He was a Air force vet stationed in Philippines during Viet Nam but has always believed the US government was corrupt. I convinced him to vote in 2004 as well as his best buddy, a Viet Nam navy seal who never, ever voted, to vote in Ohio. My son was conceived in Florida, born in Canada, so he voted for the first time on an overseas ballot out of Florida. Ironic isn't it? Both states were the clinchers for Bush.

I believe Silence regarding your government's actions is Apathy and Consent. It's hard to keep me silent on issues I believe in. I am now concerned that Canada may have Bush's mini me, Stephen Harper, win the election. I have a personal hate of the Progressive Conservatives. They are exactly like the Bush Administration.
We all needed the reminder the FMH gave us on the Boxer Rebellion. A year ago it looked really awful but now, thanks to Abramoff and Cuuningham being outed by the good government people and the push backers on DU and elsewhere we have hope.

[Peace Patriot]

51. I guess this date was resonating in my subconscious, because I had just...

...put up the following OP--one of the few I've done--not realizing consciously what day it was an hour ago--January 6--when I noticed "new mail" and it was from autorank, apprising me of this thread, which I hadn't caught. Anyway, here's what I posted:

-------------------------

Peace Patriot (1000+ posts)
Fri Jan-06-06 10:48 PM
Original message


Rage...rage...against the dying of the light.




Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

--Dylan Thomas

Just saw The Daily Show DVD pack: "Indecision 2004."

Do not go gentle...

Do not go gentle...

Never saw it before. Don't have TV. Early in the evening, Kerry winning.
Later...inexplicably...

Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

America, do not go gentle...
Do not go silent...
Do not go disillusioned...
Do not go depressed...
Do not go disempowered...
Do not let yourselves be disenfranchised....

Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x73195

------------------------------------

I joined DU a couple of weeks after election day, because the "Iron Curtain" was coming down in leftist forums like DailyKos and all throughout America. Obviously, our Democratic Party leadership was shutting it down. There would be no more talk of Stolen Election II.

Through January 6, I still maintained the hope that the entire Democratic contingent in Congress would stand up with Barbara Boxer and join her in protesting the egregious violations of black voters' rights in Ohio, and the devastating blow to our democracy that the Bush junta had just dealt us, through their friends, and campaign donors, and rightwing political operatives at Diebold and ES&S. I laughed and my heart soared with the dream of them all standing up.

That did not happen. And it left me in a very puzzled state of mind about the party to which I have belonged for 40 years.

But a few did stand up, only one white face among them--but a critically important one, the vital Senator needed for the challenge. Senator Barbara Boxer.

It should not now surprise us, how the war profiteering corporate news monopolies reacted to this challenge, and to all the efforts to get recounts, and, indeed, how they had reacted--or, I should say, didn't react--to the fraudulence of the election SYSTEM itself, which they had failed to warn people of.

They were complicit in the stolen election. Another set of scales has fallen from my eyes. They DOCTORED their exit polls to "fit" the results of Diebold's and ES&S's secret formulae. They gave us FALSIFIED numbers. All of them, acting in concert, put PHONY, CONTRIVED DATA on everybody's TV screens that night--to deprive the American people of major evidence of election fraud, and to squelch protests and calls for investigation.

Someone upthread berates the American people for not converging on Washington DC en masse to protest the election. But I think, even to this day, many of us do not realize the magnitude of what has been done to us and to the rest of the American people who, unlike us, for whatever reason, had no place to get the facts, and no clue that they needed to. What has happened is hypnosis--brainwashing--with people plugged into this corporate illusion-making machine, which, also to this day, many DUers and other leftists persist in calling "the mainstream media." The illusion-maker. The made up democracy. The Matrix.

And we also underestimate the need of other people to be plugged into that illusion, as if to an umbilical cord to a fantasy nation, and cannot let go of it, even when they KNOW it is telling them lies and distorting the truth beyond recognition. Even when they know. They believe things like, "If it's not in the news, it's not real." When the truth is: If it's IN the news, it's very likely NOT real. And, if it's NOT in the news, it's probably very important. That's the truth. But it's very, very hard to get there, and know that.

They FALSIFIED the exit poll data on everybody's TV screens on election night. Get it through your head!

And then, when you think about it all, and when you add it all up--how the "Help America Vote Act" came to be, how these election theft machines came to be installed, promoted by that $4 billion from Bush's Congress--money that bled out across the country, combined with multi-millions in lobbying by Bush's buds at Diebold, ES&S and others--to corrupt state/local election officials throughout the country....many of them Democrats...

It's hard for me to get past that. Not that Kerry conceded too early. But that so many Democrats were complicit in the SETTING UP of this fraudulent election SYSTEM. And never said one word about it. The Democrats, from whom the election would surely be stolen. For the longest time, the word "insane" kept coming to me. Are our Democratic Party leaders INSANE?

The DU "2004 Election Results and Discussion Forum" was a refuge and a blessing. It is so much better to know, than to NOT know, what you are really up against, what really happened, and what you have to do--so that you are not diverted from the main thing you have to fix: the very mechanism of the people's power, our vote.

Noting else can be done without transparent elections. Nothing! We can't stop the war. We can't stop Iran from getting nuked. We can't stop the massive thievery and mass murder. The torture. Oh, God, the torture! What agony it gives me! I think about it often--those unnamed persons, whisked off on black flights to torture dungeons in eastern Europe. The destruction of lives. The destruction of our country. Nothing we can do. We MUST FIRST restore transparent elections.

And DU-ERD seemed to be the only place on earth where other people knew this, and were working on it. I, too, am eternally grateful to TruthIsAll--that most amazing person, who proved the falseness of the election result a hundred different ways. And to all at ERD, and to each, thank you so much! You gave me hope that the destructive, bloodsucking Matrix we had all been entrapped in, could be exposed and that the truth would win.

I'm also grateful to Steven Freeman, for I needed his clarity and his facts, to fully understand the election. For instance, it was from him that I first learned of the blowout success of our grass roots voter registration efforts, with new voter registration in 2004 nearly 60/40, Dem/Repub. That nailed it for me. With a 60/40 edge in new voters, a massive turnout of 120 million voters, and with most new voters, independent voters and Nader voters voting for Kerry, there is simply no way Bush could have won. And everything TIA established confirmed that.

And it was all here at ERD, in one forum--the on-going drama of the Ohio recount, with the Greens and Libertarians, and NOT the Democrats, carrying the burden of our democracy; reports coming in from all over; discoveries, brilliant insights, incredible research, occasional cries of anguish and despair, the constant hope that the Democrats would come through, that they had a secret plan, the crushing disappointment in the news media, the realization of their complicity, the on-line organizing and media blasts, the wondrous recognition that we had a friend in John Conyers, someone in Washington who was really listening, a brilliant, courageous and incorruptible man who would do what he could--all happening real time, with hundreds of active participants.

On January 6, 2005, I was too busy to remember much. As I recall, I was faxing letters all day to those corrupt bumps on a log, our other "representatives in Washington--the majority of whom were illegitimately and fraudulently elected, including many of the Democrats, and likely every Democrat who voted to give away their war powers to George Bush. They never mentioned that Bushite corporations would be tabulating all our votes with 'TRADE SECRET,' PROPRIETARY programming code, and virtually no audit/recount controls, because that's how most of THEM were elected, and they were either, a) afraid of Diebold and ES&S and the Bush junta--truly afraid, and beholden to them, or b) complicit in their war crimes and their crimes against democracy.

What a terrible lot of realizations to have to come to terms with! I was no babe in the woods, going into the 2004 election. But I've got to tell you, I was profoundly shocked, and I don't know which was worse, the shock that the news monopolies would actually put false numbers on the screen, or the shock that the Democratic Party leadership had known all along that the election would be stolen, because, how could Bushite criminals NOT steal it, if it was wide open to them, with their buds having SECRET control of the vote count?

Anyway, what I'm getting at is, please FORGIVE your fellow and sister Americans! Exercise compassion! Understand that not everyone had the time or the intellectual stamina or the strength to face these realities. Some are poor. Some are beset with problems. Some are sick. Some are just tired and dispirited. Many are in denial, and cannot fathom all of this deception. A few are lazy, yes, and self-involved. But not the majority. I don't believe that. I think the majority is mostly just baffled. They know something's wrong; they don't know what it is. And most have been successfully brainwashed with the biggest lie of all: that the Americans in this country who love justice and peace are in the minority. Pity these disempowered, disenfranchised people. Help them! Don't condemn them! Believe in them! Buck them up! Help them recover from the brainwashing! Help them face reality, and strategize to restore our democracy, and our right to vote, on the basis of the truth.

Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light!

[loudsue]

52. This Tread Made My Day (And Night!!) ....3:03 a.m. Central

I've been working late into the night, and just happened to check in before turning out the lights.

THANKS TO AN E-MAIL FROM AUTORANK ( :loveya: ) I FOUND THIS THREAD!!!

Patriots Day is forever my favorite holiday! We exposed the election fraud that has undermined this country in every single way, and has cost countless lives. THAT is the crime the republicans love most....stealing elections. And they need to be called on it time & time again, until every eye in the country is on them.

:applause: Thanks for a great post!! K & R :applause:


:kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick:

[eomer]

54. No news reporting and no one else I knew apparently aware or concerned.

I had joined DU only a month and a few days earlier so DU was my only way to find some commiseration.

Let me add my admiration for the courage of the Congressional Black Caucus - true heroes.

K & R.

[texpatriot2004]

55. Awesome Reminder FullMetalHat Thanks..." alone in the corner

there stood a lone Boxer..."

[bpilgrim]

56. K&R

thank you for reminding us of our small successes and our hero's.

Truth is All is a great patriot who tirelessly crunched the numbers and diligently reported them here for all to see and be inspired from.

We must not forget what our struggle is all about and never let the bastards keep us down.

Thank you for sharing this important story... all is not well in the neoCON world & it continues to worsen the more folks hear what we who are pay'n attention have to say.



peace

[FULL_METAL_HAT]

57. Thanks are in order to the Patriot's that day:

How about this suggestion? If one of these Patriots are your congressional Patriots, give their office a call today to thank them again! I'm sure they'll be overjoyed to revisit the anniversary!!


This is from www.ThankYouPatriot.com.
***

Leaders of Principle

In his book Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community, Martin Luther King wrote, "And so we shall have to do more than register and more than vote; we shall have to create leaders who embody virtues we can respect, who have moral and ethical principles we can applaud with enthusiasm." On January 6, 2005, thirty-two courageous members of Congress, in the face of dismissive rhetoric from the majority party, challenged the results of the Ohio Electors of the 2004 presidential election in protest of the disenfranchisement of thousands of Ohio voters, and on behalf of all citizens of the United States of America. Their purpose was to begin a dialogue that would culminate in sorely needed election reform so that the problems in Ohio would never be repeated in any state. In so doing, these thirty-two members of Congress proved themselves to be "leaders who embody virtues we can respect, who have moral and ethical principles" that we applaud with great enthusiasm. This site is the thunderous sound of that applause.

Senator Barbara Boxer D - California

Thank you Sen. Barbara Boxer, for having the courage to join with Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones in her challenge to the Electors. One signature from one Senator was all that was required, but it was a true act of patriotism. We applaud your bravery with great enthusiasm!


Rep. John Conyers D - Michigan

Thank you Congressman John Conyers, ranking Democrat of the House Judiciary Committee, for hearing the voices of the disenfranchised voters of Ohio and acting upon their complaints immediately by leading the request for a GAO investigation into the election. We applaud your determination to uncover the truth with great enthusiasm!


Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones D - Ohio

Thank you Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones for stepping forward and fighting for the voting rights of your constituents - and for every American - by drafting the challenge to the Electors. You hold the umbrella over the heads of thousands of people who stood in the rain and cold for hours just to exercise their fundamental right to choose those who govern over them, only to have many of their votes discarded. We applaud your unfailing loyalty to the citizens of your state with great enthusiasm!



Thank you...
to the Reverend Jesse Jackson, who, for decades, has worked tirelessly to ensure that every American - every human being - is treated with respect and is afforded equal rights under the law. He continues to fight for voting rights in America for every citizen, and to ensure that voter disenfranchisement never happens again - not in Ohio, not in Florida, not anywhere. A special thank you goes out to him for participating in the House Judiciary Committee's forums on the 2004 election, which helped to raise national awareness about the problems in Ohio. Rev. Jackson, we applaud you with great enthusiasm!



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And thank you...
to the twenty-nine members of Congress who stood to defend the rights of all Americans and spoke out in protest of the voter disenfranchisement in Ohio. These leaders of principle all voted "yea" in support of Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones and Senator Barbara Boxer's challenge to the Ohio Electoral vote. For many of these great Americans, this is not the first time they have exhibited courage in speaking a truth that no one wants to hear. For those who stood alone on behalf of the disenfranchised voters of Florida in the 2000 election, we shower you with thanks. And for all of those pictured below, we applaud you with great enthusiasm and pride.

Not all members of Congress spoke on the floor of the House on January 6, 2005. To read the statements of those who did, click on the under the Representative's name.


Corrine Brown D -FL
Julia Carson D - IN
William L. Clay D - MO
James E. Clyburn D - SC

Danny K. Davis D - IL
Lane Evans D - IL
Sam Farr D - CA
Bob Filner D - CA

Raul M. Grijalva D - AZ
Alcee L. Hastings D -FL
Maurice Hinchey D - NY
Jesse Jackson Jr. D - IL

Sheila Jackson Lee D - TX
Eddie B. Johnson D -TX
Carolyn Kilpatrick D -MI
Dennis J. Kucinich D - OH

Barbara Lee D - CA
John Lewis D -GA
Edward J. Markey D - MA
Cynthia McKinney D - GA

John Olver D - MA
Major R. Owens D -NY
Frank Pallone D - NJ
Donald M. Payne D - NJ

Jan Schakowsky D - IL
Bennie Thompson D - MS
Maxine Waters D - CA
Diane Watson D - CA

Lynn Woolsey D - CA

Who else can we thank?!

add 'em here! :)

[Cults4Bush]

75. I am so happy to see thankyoupatriot.com all on this thread! Freaking Out!

I am grinning like a mushroom crazed hyena at seeing this being mentioned several times through here.

[mikelewis]

60. Jan 6th, the day Barbara became a folk-hero

at least to me. I love her for her spirit and her dedication to this country. I tell you. If she called for a real rebellion, I'd dust off my shotgun and march to where ever she led.

[FULL_METAL_HAT]

61. yes Title should have been: January 6th--Patriots Day. THE BOXER REBELLION

The title I gave the thread was a little cheesy. If I could, I'd change it to

January 6th--Patriots Day. THE BOXER REBELLION:

The Day History was Made and the News looked the other way

If anyone wants to quote this piece, please use this title instead of the oh so endearing "1 Year Ago Today -- History Made WITH NO NEWS REPORTING -- Vote this up!" LOL! :)

[freedomfries]

65. Thanks for the Patriots' Day Remembrance Thread FMH

and thanks to all the DU patriots on the ERD2004 who helped build for us an underground home of friendship, reason and courage after the November 2-3 night of ignominy.
We are all withstanding and pushing back, one small step at a time, doggedly, defiantly, relentlessly. May the day of the Boxer rebellion be remembered as the beginning of the long, slow march out the darkness of fraud, lies and deceit back to the light of democratic transparency!

[troubleinwinter]

63. THANK YOU, Patriots!!!

http://thankyoupatriot.com/

[Cults4Bush]

74. hey I just posted that below as well. Wasn't sure how many remembered

that site. Glad I wasn't the only one.

[troubleinwinter]

76. Glad you posted it too! It's great to look at our patriots agian!

[MelissaB]

66. I went to school as usual because I didn't have enough faith.

I'm blocked from DU at school, but somehow found out that Boxer would rebel and suddenly became sick and took 1/2 day off to watch history. :)

For another walk down memory lane:

2/5/05: VIDEO: America's Illegitimate Election 2004
Never forget what happened on November 2nd, 2004... Here's a video to help...

Go here to watch: http://www.velvetrevolution.us/#020505

We've updated the short video compiled by a few Velvet Revolutionaries from Democratic Underground.

It is our hope that this video may serve as the definitive record of what happened in American during the 2004 Presidential Election. It documents -- in a few short minutes -- how your American right to a free, fair and transparent electoral system has been taken from you by the cynical and un-democratic powers-that-be.

This sort of thing should never happen in the world's most important democracy. And yet -- again in 2004 -- it did. Enough is enough.

It's time for the people to take both our country and our democracy back. If you still have any questions about that, please take a look at this video:

Go here to watch: http://www.velvetrevolution.us/#020505

Americans have died for the Right to Vote. November 2nd, 2004 will serve as a continuing reminder that we still have a long way to go in this country before every American has that right.


Please watch the video...And then pass this link...
http://www.VelvetRevolution.us#020505
...to everyone you know so they can remember (or learn) as well!

The mainstream media will not be doing it. Democracy in America is now up to you!

(Thanks to Dzika, Faye and all the patriotic and democracy-loving Velvet Revolutionaries of DemocraticUnderground.com for compiling this video to help us all remember!)

Go here to watch: http://www.velvetrevolution.us/#020505

[Kurovski]

67. K&R.

[Senator]

68. Never Surrender -- www.january6th.org -- Never Forget

www.january6th.org

This was our "Crossing the Delaware."

There is still struggle ahead, but WE WILL re-found our once-great nation. And it will have begun with that victory.

And I can assure all that it is not forgotten by the election thieves. Still now, in times of stress, they blurt out the non-sequitir that something or another is "about the last election." Listen for it.

---

My Souvenir from that Great Day

[EFerrari]

72. Kick

[Cults4Bush]

73. thankyoupatriot.com ! a project born and bred on DU... check it out!

www.thankyoupatriot.com

This little thank you to true patriots was a shot over the bow in reclaiming the frame and went sorta hand in hand with the roses. Never got enough pictures in the gallery because things have been moving so fast from the point onward. I think if DU had had the greatest page at the point we would have done a lot better. Anyways there are some great clips and info that make me a little nostalgic going over them now. Site hasn't been updated in a while. But for those 60 who contributed pics it might stir the emotions a bit and rekindle a fire.

[Cults4Bush]

78. Check out this linked history of thankyoupatriot.com

It is a nice way to see how grassroots efforts here at DU can happen quickly and how a good response can be shaped into a multi poster collaborative effort resulting in something pretty darn cool ( I think anyways). Not as hugely phenomenal as the Andy fundraising drive (but I think that one is hard to on response time, donation, volunteerism and just about every internet grassroots activism record).

If you're sorta new on DU this is a good outline in how to gather steam for an internet activist project, I'd also suggest you search out and see how the Andy project worked itself through. I've certainly learned a lot by watching these kinds of initaitives at DU and other sites.

I've dated them up for you as it illustrates the reaction time which in my book was as incredibl as the message in some ways.

January 6 2005
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=203&topic_id=247810

January 7 2005
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=203&topic_id=261884

January 8 2005
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=203&topic_id=270006

January 8 2005
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=203&topic_id=267786

January 9 2005
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=203&topic_id=273456

January 12 2005
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=203&topic_id=279475

January 15 2005
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=203&topic_id=285784

January 18 2005
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=203&topic_id=289526

[EFerrari]

81. The planning threads made me laugh out loud!

I miss fric.

Thanks for putting them together.

I was so new, I couln't figure out what a sig line was because I had them all turned off. lol

[nashville_brook]

77. it was the best of times and the worst of times

not since iran contra was i so glued to gov-tv.

[The Backlash Cometh]

79. I could be wrong but, the Florida State constitution reads similar to

our federal constitution and Tom Feeney knew that the House of Rep. had enormous power in deciding the ultimate outcome of an election. If I'm not mistaken, he was about to use that power in 2000 to ultimately swing the election to Bush, before the Supremes beat him to it.

[Senator]

80. No, not quite right

Yes, Feeney and the FL election theives were talking about "appointing" their electors by the FL lege to circumvent the rule of law, and will of the people, but it wasn't a "beat him to it" situation.

Frank Luntz got on Hardball to warn that the FL lege option would never pass the smell test nationally. Consequently they were forced to defecate on the (formerly) supreme court to "shut it down." It was entirely poll-driven.

As for there being any legitimacy in the Feeney option, the short answer is no. The authority they claimed to have had actually resides in the legislature as a continuing body, not in any current makeup. They couldn't just change/violate their own laws to do whatever they wanted.

Like pretty much everything the election thieves were parrotting at the time, it was just more rubbish.

---
www.january6th.org

[The Backlash Cometh]

102. Thanks Senator.

They do seem to go out of their way to look for loopholes; or at least create confusion to accomplish their ends.

[Bill Bored]

82. So how come that DU Election Reform Forum thingy ain't on the front pg? nt

[EFerrari]

84. Good question. Without clean elections, whadda we got?

:shrug:

[mod mom]

86. W/O clean election we have bu$hland-formerly known as the United States of

America, and formerly based on the CONSTITUTION!

[EFerrari]

87. Thank you for your work in OH, mod mom. I remember

franticly trying to find out what was happening out there -- even as the corporate media denied ANYTHING was happening out there. That was pre DU, pre everything. My 70 yr old mom wanted to GO to Ohio with me, but we couldn't figure out where to go exactly.

Not any more. :hi:

[mod mom]

89. Someday I hope to return to my former life, but until we restore democracy

you know where to find me! Thank you we all deserve a round of applause!

:applause:

[EFerrari]

91. Right on!

:applause:

[lala_rawraw]

88. Brilliant!!!

[fooj]

90. Thank you for this thread!

Every time I say that Boxer would make a GREAT President I refer to 1-6-05! HAPPY PATRIOT'S DAY DUers!!! For me, this is the day that defined who we are and what we believe in!:patriot:

[1democracy]

92. What the thieves never consider about stealing a democratic election...

The thing is, stealing a democratic election never works in the long run because NOBODY AGREES WITH YOU! The thief begins in the minority and stays there. Unless the parties work together to come up with compromises, the thief is doomed from the illegitimate beginning. He can't afford to listen to the people-- because if he did, he couldn't call himself president, because he cheated.
While I'm writing, onto a tangential topic. The reason Democrats seem so weak is that the nature of a republic is compromise, the compromise assuring that nothing too radical is done. It took Democrats awhile to understand that *and his cronies do not abide by the rules of statesmanlike conduct, they never separate opinion from the personal, making people either for or against him, and thus compromise for the good of the country is not possible. In the current state of *war against everyone,if you're a Dem. you're the enemy. You either walk in lockstep or have your legs broken. There is no middle ground with this bunch because they didn't come to power via legitimate political process AND THEY KNOW IT! Therefore, they don't respect the process OR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, thinking instead we're STUPID!
The only possible rationalization is that *ush believes he knows better than the American people what is right for the country, i.e. he is a brilliant man, and we're not...or maybe *ushGod told him what to do.
By the way, the only statement that needs to be made to go against *ushPubs is that they have lied before and we don't trust them. The end. Remember the fool me once-fool me twice... How many times to people have to be fooled before they just say "*ush can be trusted- he lies" and that's why we won't support anything he or the Repubs proposes including Alito.

[The Doctor.]

108. When elections no longer belong to the American people...

neither will America.

Our 'leaders' will never have to do anything for the average American again. They can feel free to enable the devastating greed of corporations to turn the country into a slave-state.

And they will be well-rewarded for their legislation.

May they burn in Hell.

[fooj]

121. The rat bastards WILL burn in hell.

Count on it!:evilgrin:

Peace.

[bleever]

93. Some memories, and some pictures.

I've alternately had goosebumps and tears in my eyes while reading this thread. Recalling that day (one year ago? Five? Ten?) the emotions come flooding back: the rage, the sorrow, the despair, and the exhiliration of being part of 2004 ERD and all the efforts to convince a senator to stand up. I had the feeling of being part of a very small group of people who knew what had happened, a few eyewitnesses to one of the largest crimes in history: the theft of American democracy.

I had felt very alone, starting the evening of election day, knowing based on a wide array of indicators that the election was stolen, and yet finding everyone around me merely tolerant (at best) of my insistence on what had happened. I might as well have been describing an experience of being abducted by aliens, for all the understanding my pronouncements were met with.

Yet at DU, in the 2004 ERD forum, I found a home, not for complainers or "conspiracy theorists", but for highly intelligent and motivated citizens actually doing the work of dissecting the fraud, and determined against all odds (which seemed astronomical), to make the truth known in an environment where the media and the nation as a whole was unable and unwilling to consider the possibility that a crime of these dimensions was possible, and where otherwise good and decent people needed the comfort and security of labeling us as "tin foil hat" wearers rather than having to question the entire basis of their beliefs about government.

That January day, without telling anyone (not my wife, not my family, not my friends or business associates) I printed out some signs, pocketed a pair of newly-purchased red gloves, and drove to San Francisco to the rally outside Barbara Boxer's SF office.

Later, while watching the proceedings on C-Span of the election certification, I felt exultant when Boxer (my senator) stood with Stephanie Tubbs-Jones to force closed-session meetings of both houses of Congress. With all the horror and shock of the election theft still in my heart, there grew nonetheless a new hope that we could succeed, and deep pride in the people of the 2004 ERD. I was (and remain) so grateful to be associated with what to me has often seemed like the final bastion for defenders of democracy, unafraid of the junta that had a stranglehold on government and the press, and undaunted by the ridicule coming from both the complicit defenders of the crime, and those without the emotional fortitude to contemplate something so heinous.

On November 12, 2004, Doohickie started a thread titled "I Believe". It simply said, "I believe Kerry will be inaugurated on Jan 20. I am Doohickie, and I approve this message." We fought hard for that to come true. The message of later threads came to be our belief that in spite of all obstacles, the truth about the 2004 election would become known, and that justice would be done. To date, seven "I Believe" threads have received a total of 2,412 responses. And everyone who believed, and has worked hard, has had the satisfaction of seeing what was once a lonely cry in the wilderness become a topic of nation prominence.


Thank you for this wonderful thread, FMH. Beyond mentioning Senator Boxer, Representatives Tubbs-Jones and Conyers, and the incomparable TruthIsAll, I won't attempt to list all the people to whom I feel an eternal debt of gratitude. If you've ever participated in 2004 ERD or the re-christened Election Reform forum, you're included.


To be a part of this has changed my life, and made me a better person.

[FogerRox]

95. wow 90 votes for the greatest page, do I hear 100 votes-- COME ON

:kick:

[EFerrari]

98. "Prove it!"

:rofl:

[MelissaB]

106. I read this post a couple of hours ago and

it took me a little while to "get it together" afterward. The emotions came flooding back. Thanks for your beautiful, powerful post. I'll never be the same, either.

[bleever]

118. Thanks, MelissaB.

It's hard to believe it, but I'm surprised every time when revisiting the emotions of those days at how deep and powerful they were, and that they're still there in the form of memory and the forces that move me now.

That's why I have to be careful about when I watch the video that faye and dzika did, because it's so damn evocative.

:hi:

[pauldp]

94. Kick ! Thank you. n/t

[wiley]

96. Kick!

IMPEACH!

CORRUPT REPUBLICANS

[ClassWarrior]

97. And thus marked the beginning of the end for the Corporate-Dominated...

...Media.

RIP.

:bounce:

NGU.

[klook]

99. Proud to give this thread its 100th vote for the Greatest page

Three cheers for Stephanie Tubbs-Jones and Barbara Boxer!



Their gumption in the post-election battle was a spark that helped ignite the fire that burns in many today.

[fooj]

100. Woohoo!

On to the next 100...

Peace.:smoke:

[FogerRox]

101. YES

102 votes for the greatest page, Whooo hooo

[EFerrari]

103. Kick

[FogerRox]

104. come on pump this sucker up--are ya watching football?

Kick & Recommend please

[EFerrari]

105. Kick

[Berry Cool]

107. But the part about no news reporting is not quite true.

This, too, deserves a place on this page:



For being willing to cover this story long after others in the MSM had given up, one man was labeled a moonbat forever. But it hasn't stopped him yet. He's still calling this administration on every foul.

All hail Keith Olbermann, Truth Teller.

[FogerRox]

109. recommend this thread please

[EFerrari]

113. Keith is a gift. We really needed him -- not on our side

but just to be willing to LOOK.

:kick: for the Lone News Anchor on TV that actually does his job.

[The Doctor.]

110. Looking back at my letter to US senators...

I'm not sure I wasn't overreacting to the issue.
In fact, where I might usually think I was jumping to conclusions and overreacting, I don't believe I was.

December 30, 2004
To: The Honorable Senator <blank>

From: Dr. Garth Eldritch
[e-mail]


Dear Senator <blank>,

I am a registered Republican and I am frightened of this administration.

I am writing this to let you know how millions of thoughtful Americans and I feel about what is happening to our beloved country.

We have observed the insidious and deliberate overthrow of Democracy by this administration, the media, and their supporters.

The media, under constant scrutiny and relentless criticism for taking a ‘Liberal’ bias, has purged itself of anything remotely resembling balance over the course of the last decade.
The censure and subsequent censorship of prestigious media fixtures such as Helen Thomas and Dan Rather are indicative of this trend. The machinations by which they have been marginalized have been incessantly grinding away at the vestiges of real journalism that was once a hallmark of our great nation.
Now, owned almost entirely by right-wing supporters, the corporate media has ensured that any real news outlet will rarely present a story that casts the administration in an unfavorable light.
I have heard rare mention of the crime against the American people by conservative columnist Robert Novak who exposed an undercover CIA operative, but plenty of news about Dan Rather for using questionable documents whose content may have been legitimate.
I am saddened that I hear more ‘real’ news on comedy shows than from any major news outlet.

The Help America Vote Act has ‘helped’ put easily hacked, un-auditable, electronic voting machines made by supporters of the administration all over this country… with many more to come.

Representative John Conyers of the House Judiciary Committee has held hearings and recorded testimony whose nature is so controversial that it should shake our democracy to it’s very foundations – and yet I’ve seen NOTHING of these hearings on any news channel other than C-SPAN. Most people do not watch C-SPAN because it is not sensationalized enough to keep their interest. None of the major networks will air this astounding evidence of fraud… I am left only to speculate on why.

If you have not reviewed this testimony, I cannot urge strongly enough that you do so. The allegations of fraud have only been written off either by those who support this administration, or those who have not studied even a small fraction of these allegations.
It would seem that the fear of becoming an alarmist has overridden the will to investigate and ameliorate our election system.

The reality is that our Democracy has been hijacked by Neo-Conservatives whose agenda may be in dire conflict with the security of the American People. I have familiarized myself with the reserve currency issues and energy market forces that have driven this administration into war. Millions of Americans are aware of these issues as well.
Although I understand that many Americans have not the patience and time to educate themselves on these issues – I cannot believe that that is an excuse for a rogue political contingent to lie to us, abridge our rights, go to war under false pretenses, and rig an election to protect their agenda… all at the expense of Democracy.


The psychology of those who would do nothing can be described as willful negligence through logistical prejudice;

“They could never get away with something like that because it would be too obvious; therefore – it must not have happened.”

It is much more comfortable to convince oneself something is not happening, thereby avoiding the discomfort of both recognition and responsibility.
I cringe to think that this type of psychology pervades both our culture and our government.

If you have not studied this issue, then we all may become victims of a movement that will strip away the powers, rights, and freedoms of all who might oppose it… especially political opponents.


On January 6th, the moment of truth will arrive.
When the Electoral College vote is to be certified, a number of Representatives will contest the results from Ohio. In order to overturn that slate of electors, those representatives will need the signature of a US Senator to advance their motion.

My apologies, for I am not well versed in procedure. Unless I am mistaken, it will only take one such signature.

That one signature will become the most significant stroke in the undoing of what will otherwise become our inexorable slide into a one-party system… and the subsequent and total corruption of a great Democracy.

Should none of our most potent elected leaders stand now against this usurping of the Electoral process, there will never come another chance through the governmental process to regain the balance critical to a healthy Democracy. As the power of one party is consolidated, it will be used to strip that of the other. In this case it will be the Democratic Party who is so ravaged.
The machines which are manufactured, programmed, and tabulated on by the allies of the Neo-conservatives will proliferate across this nation and cut short the otherwise popular careers of more and more Democrats until they are effectively and permanently neutralized as a political party.

If the fear of drawing attention, or taking a risk prevents any Senator from taking action by January 6, 2005… then it is quite likely that many Democrats who are the last bastion of balance in Washington DC will face a slow and excruciating descent out of the political arena. While I pray I am wrong, I know that millions of Americans cannot afford such a risk.
After January 6th, any aspirations a Democratic candidate might have will be dashed should no one stand against this. Those who remain will be nothing more than proverbial lightning rods to hold a constituency and keep any other party from becoming a contender. None of those who remain will be able to acquire any office of greater consequence for it will have become impossible to legislate fair elections against the majority in power.

Should even one Senator stand against this injustice, they will find support among many millions of Americans.
At that point, the news media will have no choice but to take notice. Such notice can ONLY shed light on and harm those who have committed fraud, for as the subject is brought to light – the evidence will be as well.

There is such damning evidence in support of fraud at this point – if you have not studied it, I again must strongly, vehemently ask that you contact Rep. John Conyers and request information.
I will also be obliged to assist in any way I can.

Please urge your colleagues to engage in collective action to address this critical issue.
What the American People need now is a hero to stand against this descent into what can legitimately be described as Totalitarian rule by one party.
The choice, therefore, is to stand for a brilliant assault on this injustice – to lead a charge whose consequence is the preservation of Democracy, or to quietly accept the role of a subordinate until no longer needed.

Millions of Americans recognize what is happening to our country and are on their knees praying for just one Senator to stand and fight for us.

You will not stand alone.


With utmost Sincerity,

-Dr. Garth Eldritch

But now I have to wonder just what effect Sen. Boxer has had. Whether or not some of the progress we have made is a result of her stand. I'm just glad someone did.

I'd like to think so.

We should all send her a 'thank you'.

[IndyOp]

119. Incredible letter - Send it to Kerry !!

:bounce:

I was heartened to read Vektor's thread sometime in the past couple of weeks - she met with Kerry recently and he was interested to hear that that 80,000 strong DU community was ready to stand with him if/when he decides it is the right time to go public.

Now is *always* the right time to send a supportive message!

:hi:

[McCamy Taylor]

111. At least 25% of Americans at the time believed Bush stole the election.

That is not "no one noticed." On Jan. 6, 2004, the MSM was not reporting on election fraud because Michael POwell at the FCC was still pretending that Bush administration intended to appeal to the SCOTUS to give the MSM its federal media ownership rule changes so they could have profitable mega-monopolies in exchange for services rendered during Selection 2004. He didnt let the bombshell drop until after W. had been safely sworn in later in Jamuary and it was too late by then for the MSM to cover the story. So, they stared covering other stuff to get even like the war and DSM and Bush lied and Fitz and finally Katrina.

[EFerrari]

112. What these bastards can't fail to realize is that by cutting us out

of the loop, they have effectively made themselves obsolete.

I've functioned very well for a year nearly without relying on the Corporate Media for my news. And news is vital to my business.

:toast:

[pat_k]

114. There were so many heroes!

There were so many heroes!

Most significant to me were the efforts of Representative John Conyers, Jr. and the Judiciary Democrats. What they did serves as a compelling example of what the Congress is meant to be: the voice of people!

And of course, there are the icons who are no longer with us. We can celebrate their lives and be grateful that people like Reverend Bill Moss and Andy Stephenson touched our lives.

. . .i took the train there, met up with numerous DU members, met Andy for the first time . . .my favorite moments were at the first Park (i forget the name???) listening to Jesse Jackson, Rev. Bill Moss, Cliff Arnebeck, all of them. . . i really felt like i had done something good that day. just being there, the feeling i had - and how mad i was at the election fraud.

i would sit here for hours writing a novel if i told every detail of the day. it was the best day of my life, i think, aside from giving birth to my daughter and finding my soulmate.

it was the first 'politically active' event i had taken part in. . .
-- Faye

In the months leading up to January 6th, 2005, ordinary people across this nation like Faye demonstrated the power of "We the People." While the various organizations and leaders that supposedly represent the public interest were busy kicking themselves and expounding on why Kerry "lost," individuals and small groups said "Wait a minute. This is Not Over! This Election Stinks of Corruption!" They stopped complaining and acted. They connected with others and organized. Citizen investigators uncovered the crimes. People stood up and rejected the results of an election with hours-long poll-tax-lines for poor, minority voters AND none for affluent white voters.

We were delighted when organizations like MoveOn and Common Cause acted, but they were late in coming. The people led the way on this one, many of whom had had long considered politics the purview of professionals; a world in which they had no place.

Throughout the effort, the professionals told us, "You will never get a Senator. Never."

So much for conventional wisdom!

In those final days before January 6th, ordinary people from across the nation descended on the Halls of Congress. They mustered the courage to walk into their representatives offices and demand to be heard. Members of Congress didn't know what hit them; self-organized citizens, not just calling and writing, but knocking on their doors!

January 6th, 2005 was proof that We the People are truly powerful. It showed us that politics cannot be left to the professionals. When we ignore those who assure us that our efforts are doomed to failure and act, we can move mountains.

[pat_k]

115. Pictures: Demand Democracy Rally in Ohio on January 3rd

Pictures from the Demand Democracy Rally in Ohio on January 3rd, 2005. (the last one is Reverend Moss & Mrs. Moss).

[Cults4Bush]

116. Faye and Dzika from DU put this video together a few short weeks later.

Very very moving it still sets me to tears and the fire in my belly burns brightly.

Thanks again Faye and Dzika this was a wonderful piece of work! Music by Muse.

Lots of different ways to get it at this link... and remember to fire off a thanks to VR. They absolutely grabbed the gauntlet and ran ran ran with it.

www.velvetrevolution.us/#020505

[autorank]

120. This is the very best!!! It should go all over the net, all the time!!!

:patriot:

THANK YOU FAYE AND DZIKA

:patriot:

[autorank]

122. FULL_METAL_HAT...Here is a Treasure you will enjoy!!!

At the end of your post, you said:

"And finally let me say there's no way I would remember any of this myse lf if it were not for one person, here on DU, who's incredible efforts forced me to see all of the truth in a way I couldn't deny -- no matter how much I'd prefer to have given up on politics altogether swearing it all off as foolish as tilting a windmills. The numbers didn't lie. They were true every different way they came up. Proof after statistical proof piled on, cutting the wiggle room of denial further and further and further. Until, like some ancient disbeliever doing the math that proved the Sun actually DIDNT revolve around the Earth, forcing the loss of their religion, it forced me to lose the very last grip of my religion -- the sad naiveté of not noticing a political coup.

Truth Is All -- You have my everlasting thanks and my eternal hope that the efforts of everyone end up bringing our country, our place in the world!, back into line with the now-so-lofty aspirations it was supposedly founded upon."

I am autorank and I endorse this statement!!!

www.truthisall.net

[eppur_se_muova]

123. Thanks to all who posted pix from OH, none of this existed in "reality".

I was living in TX at the time and got the impression from a distance that OH just rolled over and let it happen (thanks, Money$treamMedia!). After that I started lurking on DU and a couple of other sites and eventually came to realize how thoroughly corrupt and compliant the state apparatus in OH was in "delivering" (in Diebold CEO O'Dell's phrase) the vote to Bush** and keeping the resistance out of sight to anyone who wasn't actually there.

My intro to DU was the enormously long "I will fight" thread. Reading this thread makes me wish I had known about DU earlier.

[EFerrari]

124. Kick

[fearnobush]

125. Super Kicked and Screw You Main $tream Media.

Go to hell where you belong.

[pat_k]

126. The Future is NOW!

In November of 2004, people standing up for our right to have confidence in our elections weren't typically focused on lobbying members of Congress to object to electors. Along with Democrats.com and others, we wanted January 6th to be front and center from the outset. Our contribution to making that happen was the Declaration of Intent project.

As FULL_METAL_HAT points out, it is up to us to make sure Congress does not fail us again:

The future depends on the past to not forget. Add your vote and your voice so the future can remember that there are moments in history that can change the course of events, and next time DONT LET IT HAPPEN AGAIN!
January 6, 2001 failed.
January 6, 2005 failed.
What about 2009, 2013, 2017, 2021, 2025, or 2029? May our small part of vigilance help if needed on some January 6 in the near or distant future.

The future is NOW! The Declaration of Intent project continues.

Whatever the outcome of our efforts to enact legislation that protects our right to have confidence in the results of our elections, every member of Congress has the power to set standards for what constitutes a free and fair election by simply proclaiming their intent to carry out their duty to judge the appointment of electors on January 6, 2009 and communicating the nature of that judgment and the circumstances that would necessitate objection.

Any member of the House or Senate can draw a line in the sand right now. You can help make it happen.

There is enormous value in declaring their intent regarding presidential electors long before the next Presidential election. If members declare the standards they intend to apply as they judge the electors in 2009, they define the "frame" for what constitutes a trustworthy election; a frame that people can invoke when assessing the conduct of any election.

January 6th, 2005 showed us how much we can accomplish in a matter of weeks. Imagine what we can accomplish in 40 months! The sooner citizens engage with their representatives, the better. As they move into campaign mode, you have leverage -- big time! (e.g., if they don't stand up for free and fair elections or for Impeachment, they can expect to face a primary opponent who will!)

Do check out Making the Case to Object to Tainted Electors on January 6th. Though these talking points are specific to taking a Jan 6th stand, a considerable portion is generally useful for making the case for "standing on principle." Something that (sadly) cannot be stressed enough to our "fearful leaders" in DC.

-

[pat_k]

127. A Look Back

Demember 7th and 8th, 2004 were significant events in the run-up to January 6th. On December 7th, Common Cause and others sponsored an election forum, and December 8th, John Conyer's chaired the Preserving Democracy: What Went Wrong in Ohio forum.

As most folks here are probably aware, the Judiciary Dems published "a slam dunk" case for throwing out the Ohio electors on January 5th, 2005. {PDF version} {Order the Paperback}

The forum on December 8th was particularly significant for us because our http://january6th.org">Declaration of Intent project got some exposure at the hearing and later that day, on the Mike Malloy show.

During the public questions (mine was the last question they took) I asked the members to endorse our "Declaration of Intent Regarding Presidential Electors" and attempted to read it. They cut me off, so we didn't get the whole thing into the C-SPAN broadcast, but they did accept it into the record.

It is still posted with the other documents and statements from the hearing (toward the bottom of the page). I have no doubt that the significance of January 6th, 2005 will become clear to more people as time goes on. It is gratifying to know the declaration has a place in the record.

Being cut off was very frustrating; particularly since reading the entire declaration would have taken about 2 minutes. The back and forth as I pressed them to allow me to continue took much longer.

As luck would have it, Mike Malloy read an email that included a bit about the woman who was cut off. I called the show, got through, and Mike had me read the paragraphs I had been unable to read at the hearing.

If your interested, the show is still available in the White Rose Society Archives MalloyShow-(08-12-2004).mp3. His discussion of the hearing starts at about 35:30 (19%). my call starts at 52:30 (29%), he even kept me over the news break (show resumes at about 67:00). And, of interest to folks here, Will Pitt was also on (his bit starts at about 83:15). He was critical of people who use such forums to make speeches, and apparently classified me as such a person. On the evening of January 6th, folks gathered at DA's RFD. Later -- I think it was the evening of January 6th, but it may have an earlier date -- when I met Will, it was a kick when he realized I was "that woman."

--

[understandinglife]

128. FMH, here's what I'm doing and propose others consider:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=78855&mesg_id=78855

Thank you again for your excellent post!
Bob


Peace.

[pat_k]

129. January 6th Pictures (Will and Andy, et al)

A couple pictures taken at DA RFD's the evening of January 6th.

[EFerrari]

130. Thanks.

:)

[fooj]

134. Wow...

I truly believe that Andy is watching over us...O8)

Peace.

[pat_k]

131. January 5th -- Ohio Voters and Advocates DC Press Conference

Report and pics posted by David Swanson

http://www.ilcaonline.org/print.php?sid=1436

[pat_k]

132. Should DU have a "Greatest This Week" category?

I was thinking. Shouldn't a post that gets as many votes as this one be available on the "Greatest" page for more than a day?

Perhaps the top 5 or 10 vote getters in the past 7 days could be listed on a "This Weeks Greatest Hits" page?

I'm sending a query to Skinner to see if they've considered doing something like this. If you like the idea, let him know.

[LeahD]

133. Jan. 6, 2005. I remember it well.

After the election, I became a regular lurker on DU's ERD Forum, and it had become my lifeline. If it weren't for AAR and DU, I wouldn't have been informed or compelled to voice my outrage about the fraudulent election. In December '04, tears rolled down my face as I watched Conyers' Hearing...tears of sadness to hear the stories of disenfranchisement, and tears of joy to see the faces and hear the voices of so many good people who were committed to finding the truth and exposing the fraud. I was especially moved by Fitrakis and Bonifaz. I refused to be silent from that day on and faxed letters to my Senators and Congresswoman, Kerry, Obama, and on Jan. 6 I was tuned into C-Span. With pride, I watched history being made....yet disappointed that more Congressmen and Senators didn't stand up with those brave few.

Thank you Boxer, Tubbs-Jones, Conyers, Arnebeck, Fitrakis, Bonifaz, and so many more for fighting the good fight. Thank you FMH and Bleever and Autorank for such powerful posts.

[autorank]

138. We will NEVER forget; AND we will use use the memory to motivate

us and others.

I'm so glad this post and response happened.

If they're any new users on DU, the list of names on this thread is an excellent "instant" buddy list.

[LeahD]

139. Dots are being connected in pencil re Abramoff/Ney/Diebold, etc.

May they be connected in indelible ink very soon!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x79816

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2355902

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2344618&mesg_id=2344618

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2355998

[Imagevision]

140. And time seems to make some forget the Bush/Rove reach-control

just shut down the media and produce the Bush word, we only need to trust Bush?!