Is the 2004 election going to be stolen?

[brainshrub]

A subscriber to my News Scan recently accused me of wearing a tin-foil hat. :tinfoilhat: "Do you really think the corporations are trying to rig the 2004 elections?" he asked.

I don't know. I do know this: If I was in charge of a ballot-machine company and thoughtful people had brought to my attention problems with my software, I would not hesitate to add a paper-trail to all my products. Why? Because my company has a sacred duty to the people of the United States to defend the integrity of the ballot-box. Damn my own political affiliation & profits.
If I was an executive of an honest ballot-machine company I would NOT:

1) Launch a PR campaign instead of fixing the problem. http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,60864,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_1

2) Sue people who were pointing out the flaws in my product. http://www.eff.org/Legal/ISP_liability/cease_desist_letter.php

3) Rig the testing procedures for my product. http://www.exit.com/RiversideVoteTest/

So do I think the elections are going to be rigged in 2004? Again, I don't know. But the way these corporations are behaving over this issue makes me mighty suspicious. Don't you think?

[demnan]

1. I think they'll sure try.

[el_gato]

2. the whole thing is a farce

from beginning to end

The idea that we live in a democracy is a foolish assumption.

Anybody who wants to make a difference will be better off
working on specific issues rather than wasting time taking
part in a phoney process.

[AndyTiedye]

6. But How Do We Work on Any Issues if Our Votes Don't Count

and the politicians have no motivation to listen to us?

[el_gato]

9. if enough people become aware of the extent of the corruption

the popular pressure will be too hard to ignore

as well the resistance to government/corporate tyranny will be
stronger

[NewYorkerfromMass]

3. If we nominate Kerry it won't even be close enough to steal

IMHO Kerry will win huge. Whereas Dean is a totally unnecessary and very risky crapshoot. (and he's not even the best choice for everyone)

[el_gato]

4. CFR

servant of the elite

Kerry won't change anything.

[billbuckhead]

5. Unless we reform BBV, the deed is done.

More than half the battle in the next election will be getting the votes counted. Remember that was how we lost the last election.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

8. "Kerry is a servant of the elite"

Check. Any other "informed" opinions?

[el_gato]

10. Are you denying his CFR credentials

do you even understand the implications?

As well look at his IWR vote.

Our problems go much deeper than a puppet in the white house.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

11. 'splain please

CFR is Campaign Finance Reform AFAIK

[el_gato]

12. Council on Foreign Relations

[K-W]

16. They are all servents of the elite

that shouldnt even be part of the equation, the issue is solely who has the best chance of winning.

[elfwitch]

7. highly likely

I'd say there is too much potential for monkey business for anyone to be completely comfortable with any of the results from one of those machines.

[leftofthedial]

13. it's already a done deal

stolen

[radwriter0555]

14. Of course.

The GOP won't let us down!

[ramapo]

15. Probably not

Much more likely that it'll be bought.

Bush* is amassing gobs of money. The Repubs will likely be untouchable in terms of fundraising.

That will buy unprecedented amounts of propaganda (aka tv advertising) thereby buying the hearts and minds of millions.

If they do steal it, we'll never know since there's no paper trail.

[loudsue]

17. You saw what they just did in California.....

The vote thieves are having a much easier time of it than they did in the 2002 elections, and WAAAY easier than they had in the 2000 fiasco.

Nope. We don't have real elections in this country anymore. And until a million or so of us take to the streets (and local and State governments) with petitions, protests, and let every single citizen know the BBV issues, we'll never see our "America" again.

Bank on it.

:kick:

[xxqqqzme]

18. totally in the bag

and as U state reasons 1, 2 & 3. IF they were honest, there would B no need. Notice how the 'liberal' corporate media hasn't addressed this problem @ all. I sent an e-mail to NOW/Moyers months ago begging them 2 do a story. Not that I Xpected a response but I was hoping a bug in the ear would lead 2 something B4 11/04

[Faygo Kid]

19. YES

These people have shown that they will stop at nothing. NOTHING. We are naive to think they will leave anything to chance. As Frederick Douglass said, "Agitate, agitate." If we do not, we are at the end of the American experiment in self government. And, a word of praise for Eisenhower here, who went out warning us of what we are now experiencing - the military-industrial complex, in spades.