Election Reform, Fraud, & Related News - Christmas Edition 12.25.06

[autorank]

Election Reform, Fraud, & Related News Christmas Edition 12.25.06

(1) Link: The Long Road to Democracy Weekly Essay

(2) Link: The Long Road to Democracy - Links from Past Week

(Weekly Essay also posted here as first message below)

[autorank]

1. "The Long Road to Democracy - Weekly News Essay

The Long Road to Democracy

December 25, 2006 *** Published every Monday

The Election Fraud News weekly comment on key
news in the public media.

Michael Collins

Florida 13th Congressional District Challenge Heats Up

"The public deserves to know what is going on with these machines," Jennings said.

What's more important to you: Knowing that your vote is counted, or knowing that the company that sold the county voting machines is able to keep its trade secrets private? - Daytona Beach News Journal Editorial, 12.21.06

We agree whole heartedly!!! And thank you very much for being such a great candidate and representative of the will of the people.

Election politics makes for strange bedfellows. Democrat Christine Jennings is challenging the likely fraudulent outcome in her race for Congress. She’s represented in state court seeking evidentiary access to critical software and methods of the ES&S touch screen devices The request is a conflict between Jennings and the public right to know what really happened to the 18 thousand votes versus the “trade secret” status that ESS claims for their source code. Let’s see, democracy versus a last in class tech companies inferior software trade secret? That one will be hard to decide.

At the federal level, Jennings has filed a challenge known as an election contest before the House of Representatives. The Jennings Notice of Contest filing by distinguished Miami attorney Kendall Coffey can be seen here; It’s an impressive document that asks the House of Representatives to overturn the election based on a number of compelling arguments. There is a tremendous irony playing out also.

Sly fox? Steny Hoyer, D, MD (right),
House Majority Leader, and Nancy
Pelosi, Speaker of the House (left).

Two months before the mid term elections, Steny Hoyer, D, MD urged fellow House members to make the Election Contest rules for the House more even handed. He was turned down by Republicans. In retrospect, this was quite a move by Hoyer. He may have had some doubts about a Democratic victory due to an awakening of sorts on election fraud or may have been pre positioning Democrats for an election contest like this one. Now he can and will, I suspect, say, “Look I tried to help” after a Democratic victory. (If he doesn’t say that, lets all say it for him.)

In the State of Florida court challenge to the election, parallel to the House contest, Coffey brought two witnesses forward who stirred the pot. Charles Stewart, PhD of MIT is a long time proponent of touch screen voting. Yet in a Tallahassee courtroom, he argued that the only plausible explanation for the lost votes was machine malfunction. (See his declaration captured by DUer philb). Had Stewart testified in behalf of ESS, it would be easy to write off his testimony as that of a sympathetic expert. However, he’s testifying against systems and machines that he has endorsed in the past. This is an interesting development. It makes you wonder if something is really wrong in voting machine land.

The real verdict is in.

Could they have known?

In the court of public opinion, the verdict it in. Florida voting and Jeb Bush are viewed have lost the public, we can assume. Back in the days of three networks, people used to say when Johnny Carson started attacking you with humor, your days were short. With a few hundred channels, it takes two late night hosts but we’ve go them. A few days before Jeb Bush responded to a question about his political future by saying “I’m finished” Dave Letterman had this to say:

Florida Gov. Jeb Bush says he wants to be president. Well that's good, somebody will have to pardon his brother.


Another weatherman indicating which way the public wind blows is Jay Leno whose joke was perfect for our discussions today.

Rumor is that President Bush's brother, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, may run for president. Rumor is according to Florida voting machines, he's already won.


Let’s hope that members of congress and the Florida judiciary are watching Dave and Jay for those special messages from the television intended for just for them.

Call for Paper Ballots from Election Integrity Groups Includes Optical Scan Ballots

I wrote and article with the provocative title Coalition Paper Ballot Call Spares Vote Villains in which I analyzed the implications and argued against any action or process that would support the retention of optical scan machines and their Republican vendors. Rather than slip away into cyber land, the article generated some real controversy and debate. Brad Friedman of “The BradBlog” challenged my arguments and the debate was on. I have my own opinion on that process and what it means but I’ll just give you the link. I link, you decide. (On this subject, also see this article.)

Voter Suppression

This was a very good week for voting rights advocates. In South Dakota, a notoriously conservative state, Native Americans won a redistricting case. Despite comprising 45% of the population in Pierre, SD, Native Americans never won election for town council. Why? Each seat is elected city wide placing those in the 45% group at a permanent disadvantage. The US District Court had a different idea. They viewed this city wide super district as a means to keep Native Americans from office. This is federal court so the trend may be reversing on matters like this. Let’s hope so.

An even bigger development was the decision by California Appeal Court. This allows the vote for those in county jail serving time for felonies as a condition of their probation. The ruling enfranchises 100,000 Californians. The unconstitutional practice of denying these citizens their vote was introduced by outgoing Secretary of State Bruce McPherson.

The notion that people serving time or formerly convicted of felonies cannot vote arose in earnest after the end of Reconstruction. It was a tactic used in the former Confederacy to take away the votes of black Americans by disenfranchising current and former felons. The notion is ridiculous on its face. If you can’t vote, then you shouldn’t have to pay taxes. By that logic, we might deny the citizens of our capitol democracy the right to vote. Imagine such a thing!



END

©Copyright: Please feel free to reproduce and distribute this in any fashion you feel suitable with an attribution of authorship and the publisher, “Scoop” Independent News, plus a link to the article.

[msedano]

15. Alvin...Alvin?

Just the worst time of year for it, complained the Magus, but folks need a day off in the dead of winter. And why not have Xmas a week before beginning a new year? Gives me a chance to drink champagne and eat eggs benedict two weekends in succession. Not to omit eating tamales one day, prime rib another.

But the best part of the entire event is the opportunity to wish everyone the best of the season!

All together now, me I want a hula hoop...

edit: recommended.

mvs

[autorank]

20. That hula hoop comment dates you - ME TOO!!!

I've actually figured out what the deal is with "Happy Holidays" (which I use often).

If it's set up to just say that, then we're even closer to a true "Commercial Shopping Festival"
without restraint. Odd, but that's the way it's turning out and it has nothing to do with any
political "war on Christmas" as the odious O'Reilly says, it's all about the money.

The OP suggests a broad rangeof year round giving for people of all faiths who really need
help.

Christmas Cheer to you buddy!

[nicknameless]

2. K&R

[autorank]

36. Cheers

Your sig line pic is portentious, an omen of truth for some and freedom for the rest of us!

:hi:

[Land Shark]

3. Merry Christmas, one and all, and everyone! K & R

[Joe Chi Minh]

11. Same here, and to you Paul, yourself. Haven't heard a peep from you lately.

What's cooking?

We need constant input from our stalwarts like you and the Taoiseach Michael (spelt the Gaelic way, though) Collins. I see the Galloglas is in fine Gaelic form here!

[autorank]

21. Ha! I should have known...Citizen Lehto is in the house!

Are you here to get me in trouble again;)

Cheers to you and outstanding work this year in behalf of your fellow citizens.

If we had a few free, fair,inclusive, and transparent elections, we'd take care of the widows
and orphans.

[livvy]

4. Merry Christmas, everyone! K&R

[autorank]

37. Thanks for your great news gathering and tireless efforts!

This will be a better year!

:hi:

[kpete]

5. Merry Christmas

And a Happy New Year -
here is hoping for a year that shocks the world with peace, love, friendship and a thousand inspirations...

[autorank]

38. "..and a thousand inspirations"

You are what understandinglife had in mind when he said

24/7/365

:hi:

[stellanoir]

6. Merry Christmas bro

K & R'd for all of the silenced voices. Soon may they be heard.

[autorank]

22. Unfortunately, the silencd ones are forced to be elequent in their silence.

But you're right, soon...

And don't forget to sign up for the 2012 Recovery Team O8)

[galloglas]

7. Meidhreach Nollaig !!

May God bless all in this house. Beannachtaí Deí !


(and when the time comes, "May you all be 45 minutes in Heaven before the Diabhal knows you're dead!"

[autorank]

23. If I get that close,I'll count myself as fortunate, truly.

The Irish people struggled for what,700 or so years. Entire generations were came and passed away
and they never gave up.

Quite a standard but we can do no less...all the more reason to win soon;)

Cheers!!!

[BeFree]

8. We're getting there

This can of worms we've been dealing with..... we are getting to the bottom of it, eh?

The trail of mashed worms from there to here - of the worms that dared confront us - is long and smelly. But here we are, standing tall and shining bright. We are the ones the world was hoping would show up, and I am damned proud to be counted amongst yall as we strive to restore our democracy.

We are making history. Never give up.

Mele Kalikimaka!

[autorank]

24. We had better be those folks.. We have no other choice.

As the artillery commander said to "The Gladiator": "Don't these people know when they're defeated."
(or something like that).

I think that the forces of social atavism should just surrender now, trow open the franchise to all for
participation and real regulation, and pack their bags. It's a long way to Paraguay.

Cheers to you comrade in arms and enjoy the sunset.

[freedomfries]

9. Merry Christmas Everybody!

Well done auto!

[autorank]

25. Well done to you and thanks for your excellent contributions.

Always a big boost!

[Joe Chi Minh]

10. A great double whammy, Mike! Some powerful words of scripture

(and photos of living scripture, the blessed Anawin) from you, and more spotlights being shone on the election fraud by the MSM - all the more powerful for the humorous form delivered it's in.

[autorank]

26. All traditions have a path to a consciously humane society

What an appropriate reference. Thank you

http://tinyurl.com/y2gazl
The Lukan Canticles are evidence of Luke’s reverence for the traditions of the early Jewish Christian community and Jesus’ family. They presage the reversals of the Beatitudes taking the position of the powerless who can only wait upon God’s will. The Benedictus, Magnificat and Nunc Dimitis are psalms from the traditions of the Anawin, the precursors of both Jewish Christians and the Essenes. Zechariah’s canticle has clear parallels with Qumran psalms with Jesus introduced as the fulfilment of expectation and the replacement for the Temple. The Magnificat offers Mary as a spokesman of hope for the lowly. Simeon’s song memorialises the light of salvation Jesus has brought to the Jews and widens that illumination to the gentiles. The canticles are a glimpse into the Jewish Christian community mining their traditions to explain the gentile Christian phenomenon.

If they figured this out 2000 years ago, and others well before them, what are we waiting for?

[Me.]

12. Greetings Of The Season To One & All

Each season, all seasons. It will be interesting to see where we are this time next year. Such a change from this time last year. Never thought the seasons would ever begin to turn, yet they did.

[autorank]

27. "begin to turn" - How precice.

In carney parlance, "the turn" comes right before "the sale." That's where we are. We've made "the sale" to the public, now, if "the elect" will just listen, we're moving.

Cheers

[mod mom]

13. Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays and a giant THANK YOU to all who are

working on creating a democracy in the US.

Peace!

Dorri

[autorank]

28. It's a long road, but there's no other choice.

I hope for justice in the form of a Conyers Justice Committee hearing on 2004 and Ohio, the hearing we should have and so very much needed when Conyers braved the elements and walked into the "lion's den."

The old lions turned into something entirely different. Now it's our turn to see all things revealed!

Cheers

[mod mom]

45. My faith is so strong in Conyers and his staff, that I am changing course

to focus on environmental issues in the coming year (although I will stay abreast of ER developments and will be back if needed).

Peace to you Michael, and a giant thanks for all the excellent posts/article and efforts. All the best.

:patriot:

oops, one more thing....I stand firmly for hand counted paper ballots, counted at the precinct level with full public witness and video recording!

[Joanne98]

14. Merry Christmas Autorank. Thankyou for your hard work.....

Merry Christmas to all!:)

[autorank]

29. Thank you Joanne98.

As a group, we'll pull it off...not a restoration but a real birth of democracy for everyone.

:hi:

[EFerrari]

16. Thank you, autorank. And Merry You Know What.

:hug:

[autorank]

31. Happy You Know What;) Constant and tireless companion in the

struggle for people to just open their ears and eyes...we get it, John Q Public gets it, now for that
tiny group of 'leet folkks to we elect (sometimes).

Cheers

[bleever]

17. Merry Christmas, autorank, and the good people of the ERD.

:toast: to you all!

[autorank]

32. Long time partner in reality based thinkning...

As long as we don't go away, we win. And when or as they go away, we get to realize what
is so simple...free, fair, inlcusive and transparent elections.

:toast: to YOU TOO!!!

[althecat]

18. Merry Christmas Mr Collins....

...and a happy new year...

[autorank]

33. Merry Christmas Mr.cat, a great New Year to you and "Scoop"

May this be your year for the of a lifetime!

:hi:

[understandinglife]

19. Merry Christmas, Michael ... and all my friends.

Peace,
Bob

[autorank]

34. May the arrogant ones have a communion with the truth...

...it will do them some good and let them visit foreign land filled with flowers of all kinds.

24/7/365...that's the commitment!!!

Cheers and thank you for everything!

[Ellipsis]

30. Merry Christmas Michael, and all!

I has been a good year for ER. May next year be better and bring us together toward the purpose of fair and accurate vote counts.


Your photos are very sobering on this Christmas day. May we never forget just how fortunate we are.

[autorank]

35. We're fortunate indeed. Being able to engage in self-advocacy

is a reall opportunity. Who could pass it up?

It will be an even better year!

[BeFree]

40. Aye

Self-advocacy. Was there ever a stronger force than that? And are we not blessed with the power to do so? To forsake that power is a sin. At this, I pray, that we sin no more.

Great to see the names on this thread, even greater would be to see those names with whom we have some disagreements. It is Christmas, after all, god damnit! So is the realization to be that the disagreements go deeper than what we have been led to believe? Say it ain't so!

[Patsy Stone]

39. Merry Christmas, Autorank!

And to all of you wonderful ERDers!

:toast:

[Kurovski]

41. Hello and MC Patsy! I hope you've been keeping Keith protected from all

unworthy romantic wanna-be's. :loveya:

[Patsy Stone]

46. My power is only so great...

No doubt he's with his hussy lovely girl right now.

Merry Happy to you too, Kurovski!

[autorank]

43. Peace to you Pasty Stone...

:toast: We'll see things change, from front row seats;)

Great new year for you!!!

[Kurovski]

42. Merry Christmas Sir autorank.

The very best wishes for you and yours! :loveya:

[autorank]

44. That's a picture that livens things up...thank you!

Prince of all you can see...Kurovski...of the Golden Age when intelligence ruled...


TO THE RESCUE!!! A little dramatic, but it should be.