what needs to be done

[radfringe]

In a little over a year the midterm (s)Elections will be here - and it's not going to be easy.

We have to push past repugs who reframe the issues while waving the flag in one hand and pounding the Bible with the other. The MSM is of little help as they prefer to just write what they are told according to scripts.

1. When a Dem makes a statement/comment - they must not go on the defensive, apologize or otherwise backdown. Get some spine, some balls and freaking stand-up. If a Dem won't stand-up for him/herself - then why should I believe he/she will stand-up for me?

2. Call a lie a lie. Stop with the terms like "misled". "Misled" is a weak word - call it a lie because that's what it is.

3. Get agenda/plans together. It's one thing to slam bush* and the repugs - but also be prepared to offer an alternative solution. Forget statistics for the general public on issues, statistics just put people to sleep. Use the sound bites, the slogans and hammer them out again and again.

4. DEFINE VALUES. This is the emotional factor. More people make decisions based on how they "feel" rather than "logic". Define values, and show how agenda/plans support those values. Then call upon repugs to do the same.

Public Opinion is tipping into an anti-incumbent mood. Take advantage of it. The House, the Senate, the White House and the Supreme Court is all under Republican control. Ask if "you" (the public) are better off, do they want more of the same? Are they (public) being trickled down on or tinkled on? How many more wars will bush* start without a plan? How many more will die with no plans on his desk?

Like it or not - we are all in this mess together. Doesn't matter what political party, what race, creed, gender, religion you are. Doesn't matter if you are an American, Canadian, Mexican, European etc. bush*'s decisions and lies effect us all.

It's time to clean house and the Senate

[LightningFlash]

1. Reform the states voting machines.

Or there will be alot of problems with anyone being swept from power, even Senator Frist is set to use Diebold.

[LightningFlash]

2. Fantastic news in Florida.

Voter verified paper ballots....Now we just need this to sweep through Ohio, Nebraska and the other 20 states!

"Voter verification

County Council right to reject contract

Last update: June 08, 2005

A majority of the Volusia County Council took a tough, brave stance Monday on behalf of disabled voters who deserve a self-verified paper record of their ballot, just as other voters now have.

In a 4-3 vote, the council rejected a contract for $782,185 to buy touch-screen machines for the disabled that held only promises of that basic democratic right. The machines manufactured by Diebold Elections Systems do not provide paper receipts -- even though the firm says it is working on that feature.

In a democracy, though, the right should come before the promise. Only with a direct, self-verifiable receipt of ballots can voters be assured their votes are correctly recorded."


Cut from article
"Further, without paper receipts, an audit of any election could prove only that the number of voters equals the number of ballots. That's not enough. Paper receipts are essential in case machines malfunction. Several cases have been documented over the past year in which touch-screen voting machines lost ballots or misrecorded ballots.

The council's vote also temporarily blocks an expanded use of the machines for all voters. During the special council meeting, Elections Supervisor Ann McFall revealed that she intended to use the touch-screen machines for early voting sites, except at the election division's main office in DeLand. Voters in all but the one early-voting site could not opt to use the more reliable optical scan ballots. In earlier presentations, McFall maintained that optical scan voting would be available and touchscreen machines would be an option, even for the disabled."

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/Opinion/Editorials/03OpOPN95060805.htm