Thank You all - Election Reformer denizens!

[salin]

I read this forum often, though I don't often have time to post - and am not nearly as 'up' on the details of the many important issues, unfolding stories from around the country, so I often don't feel I have that much to contribute.

But I learn - a lot. I pass on items from this forum to others. I cheer you all on.

I *know* there are divisions among posters - and that on differing issues some of those divisions shift around a bit. I recognize that despite the divisions - the hearts and drives are toward the same goal and driven by the same fear (losing our democracy) and passion (reclaiming our democracy).

I just wanted to speak - on behalf of the many, many, many readers of this forum who do not speak/post much - and say thank you ALL! Even in the course of 'fights' I learn a great deal of information as folks hash out differences - as this is such an informed group of posters that a great deal of additional information is brought to those squabbles. To those of us readers - that additional information is of value.

So much discussion - so many issues - so many unfolding election dramas (there is one locally led by a DeLay esque local repub chair - that just finally closed up shop on his fight to do the GOP "voter challenge" (ala Ohio just prior to 04 and 06) - but many are now aware of the tactics he is using and are more likely to thwart his actions in the upcoming elections) so much to keep an eye on - to write about - to make calls about... so much to do. And so many folks here doing it. Kudos to you all!

:grouphug:

My thanks and my best wishes,

salin

[IndyOp]

1. I add my thanks, too!

It has been a while since I've posted with any frequency in ER - but I do read and I do appreciate the work.

By the way - Salin - did you see any news items about the introduction of HB1808 by Rep. Avery (Evansville) in the Indiana State House? Rep. Matt Pierce held a hearing in Indy this past Wednesday. The Verify the Vote team had fun!

:hi:

[salin]

4. I missed that...

Do you have anything on it? I'd love to read it. For being such a 'young' organization - ya'll have gotten a lot done, and started getting the attention of a lot of local officials. :thumbsup:

I did read in the HT that Franklin Andrews is finally closing up his little fishing expedition - but not after tipping the hat that he wasn't really interested in recounts - but in getting access to records to use for future voter challenges. THAT will be the local GOPs efforts next elections. Watch for GOP sending "registered letters" and using the return mail as a means to challenge - and to try to do so without the voter knowing. Let's see - do the mailing during the U's Spring Break? Or just at the end of the semester?

[IndyOp]

6. No press coverage - but I am going to try to post our comments on

our website sometime this week. Right now it is *imperative* that I grade IntroPsych quizzes - the world might stop if they don't get their quizzes back tomorrow. ;-)

http://www.verifythevote.org

[salin]

8. I'll look for them!

total nonsequitor - when I have a few minutes in town (maybe spring break if you are around) maybe we can get the dogs (and the owners) together again?

For readers - a fun note - IndyOp and I have known each other - but NOT through DU and didn't know each others' nics. Until in real time, I was voting early in the am this fall - and on my way to work and had a voting 'incident' to report (the scanner for the op-scanning machine) wasn't working - and the poll workers were just putting the completed ballot in a pile - unsecured - on a table. I called IndyOp (not knowing this person was also IndyOp) b/c of involvement with verified voting and that a report could be filed on my behalf of the voting problem/irregularity. I got a call back at work - and during our conversation DU ER forum came up - and we realized we had crossed paths here (we shared nics). How cool is that?

[IndyOp]

9. I thought it was cool! Let me know when you are in town

and we can get dogs together. Weekends are usually very flexible for me so you can call anytime.

Tell your Mom I said -> :hi:

[salin]

10. My weekends

are often "hours" - but in march I should have some days - and with that, flexibility. Definitely will call - and will tell my Mom you said Hi, I know she will appreciate it!

[FogerRox]

2. 5th rec, of to the greatest with you

Todays ER News

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x466515

[The Doctor.]

3. And mine as well...

It is because of DU that I am as aware as I am.

The issue of election fraud is as decided as global warming. The only question now is 'what to do about it'.

As election reforms start to issue from a Democratic Congress, I will relish the true will of the American people finally manifesting in a changed and healthy America.

It will be wonderful to see politicians actually become responsive to their constituency.

[Peace Patriot]

5. I agree! The Election Reform Forum ROCKS! And what an incredible,

awesome, mind-altering, hard-working, swift-moving, revolution-making movement it has been! --almost single-handedly started here at DU, when almost all other bloggers or leftist websites were cowering or suffering under an "Iron Curtain" of silence.

Remember back to the weeks after Black Tuesday (11/2/04), and the months just afterward? We were the kooks and "conspiracy theorists" of the Democratic left.

Now the "Iron Curtain" is coming down, brick by brick. Still a lot of structure in place, but the fascist coup that occurred in this country during the period of implementation of the "Help American Vote for Bush" Act of 2002, is at last beginning to crack and crumble. May every last dust particle of electronic voting, run on TRADE SECRET, PROPRIETARY programming code, owned and controlled by Bushite corporations, with virtually no audit/recount controls, be washed from our midst, leaving a free people and a restored and renewed democracy in its filthy wake!

And just remember how they are achieving the peaceful, democratic, leftist (majorityist) revolution that is sweeping Latin America--with leftist governments elected in Ecuador, Bolivia, Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Nicaragua, and big leftist movements in Peru, Paraguay, and Mexico (which will bear fruit in the next election cycle). If the Latin Americans can do it--with their tragic history of brutal often U.S.-backed fascist dictatorships--so can we!

1. Transparent elections.
2. Grass roots organization.
3. Think big.

As the first indigenous president of Bolivia, Evo Morales, has said: "The time of the people has come."

Viva la revolución!

[ellenfl]

7. ditto!

our new repug governor is requiring paper trails. yippee! i still think 'none of the above' should be added to all ballots, however.

ellen fl

[kpete]

11. Thanks so much for this post

There are too many disagreements getting in the way of some awesome work here at DU.

There is so much we can accomplish if we choose to work together on these incredibly important issues.

I join you salin in Thanking EVERYONE for their contributions.

kpete

[salin]

12. I don't know that all disagreements can be avoided - *but IF*

the joint goals are viewed - than folks can cometogether in places and diverge in others with more ease.

Especially if folks know that readers are learning both from points of agreement and points of disagreement - as ya'll bring so much information to those discussions - and *Then* can hear/read 'opponents' as voices - to see if/when in agreement and to then support one another in those discussions/investigations/efforts.

Please know that many folks read everyone - regardless of the divide - because there is so much to read and learn. From *everyone* - even if read and come to divergent views. While I doubt that the divide can fully be forged - there can be cross-appreciation. And to those not involved - or in my case less involved (I do pipe in from time to time in those threads - so I can't claim innocence) - there is still much to be gained from the discussions. Even those 'argument' threads add something to the forum (even if they primarily add frustration to primary debaters) as folks bring so much external information from various voting rights groups to the fore.

Thanks kpete - I agree (with you and - er is this funky - with myself) that EVERYONE's contributions are to be appreciated - and even disagreements allow for even more info to be brought into discussion and thus into casual readers awareness/aresenal.

In my early years I was primarily a LBNer - and am now an avid LBN reader - but a GDer thee days (I am really a policy person - and that is where I add the most per analysis of stories/issues and tying those things together.) I have limited time and thus read other forums but am not as active (b/c esp in this forum one really needs to be fully dedicated to study and understand the side issues to be able to substantively contribute to the discussions) in those. However, given that i am considered serious - and 'substantive' in my real life - the info that I pass on from here - is often taken seriously and passed on to others (and hopefully further passed on.) Point being there is a huge ripple effect from those who bring serious info here (and the daily threads are terrific) - even when there are 'disagreements' and indeed some of thoe disagreements bring to folks like me (more casual readers) even more to pass on.

It is all for the good. And it ripples beyond this forum - and folks here should *know* that. And be thanked for the info, and discussions that others like me do pass on. Even if a few of us more or less silence folks periodically weigh in on the divide. (That is - even if we periodically weigh in on a 'side' - it doesnt mean a discount of all of the informative posts from those hwo post on the other side of that divide. And I bet there are a whole lot more than folks like me (who periodically weigh in on the divide - but who never do - who haven't 'taken a side') who learn a great deal from ALL of the threads and the information brought to the fore.

I learned, a long time ago from Andy - ironcially (given what I am about to describe and given that he is the source for me, and others as siding on one or antoher side of one of the RF divides) - in GD he was FAR out there - reflexively against anything Kerry per Skull and Bones. Divisions all over the place (this was very early in the 2004 primaries) - and I watched him get into discussions - starting out combative and reflexive with pro Kerry folks - and eventually come to some agreements and find - through discussions - common ground and the ability to 'agree to disagree' on some points which allowed other discussions to occur. While I found Andy initially reflexively (almost nuttily so) anti Kerry per Skulls (and I wasn't even a Kerry fan at the time - all of this is observational rather than one with a dog to hunt) - when he got involved in the elections issues I found him to be very cautious and careful per claims - that is if things were opinions but not backed in facts he was VERY careful (in my memory) to distinguish between the two - before he would jump on charges he would verify and express when some statements went further than the evidence could support - like night and day from when he was just a message board writer (ala go with your gut - and his was, for awhile, obsessed with skulls type issues) - vs when he was really pursuing the voting issues. Former "combatants" became future allies - but when old issues came up they could divide again - and go back and forth but now without any animosity. Only a lot of discussions allowed that to happen. I see some of that happening here - but hope that in the future there is more of it. But even if there isn't - for many of us - the discussions from ALL bring a lot of important info - and are thus appreciated!

All that aside - as it wasn't my main point. My main point is that folks are doing great work - are bringing it to many others - and even if we don't all feel knowledgeable enough to respond we use it and act on it. We are better for it and at least this Duer is very thankful for the ER posters/activists. Even if we don't often respond - please know that we are here - we are reading and we are acting/passing on info that you bring here. Please - DU ERers - keep it up. You have a very BIG audience even if it doesnt seem like it.