Dean on BBV

[Egnever]

Last night I attended A dean fundraiser here in Las Vegas.

I had an oportunity to get a question in so I asked him if he was aware of the issues surrounding electronic voting and if he had any plans to adress them.

His answer to me was

"yes I am aware of it and its a HUGE problem, We have plans to address it after the primaries."

It is impossible for me to convey the convistion i heard on it I was convinced that he does have a plan to address it.

Unfortunately He was on his way out of the room when i cornered him so there really was no time to go into details. But I left bery pleased that he was aware of it and thought it was a HUGE problem.

I have no idea what his plans are but I look forawrd to him getting on it!

[JaneQPublic]

1. "a HUGE problem"

Very interesting story.

I'm quite curious as to what his plans are to "address it after the primaries."

Hmmm....

[alexwcovington]

2. >:-)

My theory: He's gonna make it an issue in the national election... and he's gonna give 'em hell if the returns go the wrong way :P

[0rganism]

7. "after the primaries" indeed.... talk about a two-edged statement

Gee, Guvner Dean, why aren't you just as concerned about this BEFORE the primaries? Doesn't the thought of some unscrupulous candidate rigging the primary election make you just a little nervous? Mmm?

[Egnever]

10. You know i have been thinking about that.

I am not sure that any of the candidates hold the power to do much in the way of affecting the votes in the primary. I am not saying it couldnt hapen I just dont think it will be an issue in the primaries.

However I would like to see it addressed sooner.

I was thinking of reasons why they would hold off and the only conclusion i can come to is that it is a difficult thing to explain to people so that they get it. It can come accross as very tinfoil hat regardless of the fact that it isnt. I think they are waiting because they dont want to give either the other candidates or the media the oportunity to spin him as a conspiracy nut till after he has the nod is sown up.

Not that bush and co will go any easier on it I dont think but judging by the way the dems are spining him so far I think he is wise to leave this till he is up against bush who has a litany of things to point to that help make the case for BBV.

Also he will have a lot more control of the message he gets out if/when he becomes the nominee.

I wish I had had more time to grill him on it. like I said though I only got to ask it as he was going out the door.

I will be seeing him again though and I will harp on it again.

In the mean time I encourage everyone to send info to the dean campaing and all the others as well to try and get at least the staff educated on it if not the candidate themseves directly.

HUGE oproblem is a good start. I hope to see a lot more.

[blm]

13. That was my first thought, too.

If it's wrong for the general, why isn't it wrong for the primary? Maybe because he's not unhappy that the GOP doesn't want to face certain candidates?

[peabody71]

3. I talked to him in Arizona.

I asked if he supported "real election reform w/ paper ballots".
He said that he did.
I went on to state that that was the only way he could win the election.
Just a blank stare from that one.

[althecat]

4. You guys are SOOOO great!!!!

You just know DU is THE PLACE to get real stuff done when reading threads like this. DUers are everywhere!!! Mind you, round here threads lithey just pass as completely normal...

This is very good news.... I do wonder what his plan is.

And isn't he just a little worried that someone might use the machines to screw up his chances in the primary? (another blank stare perhaps) Then again, maybe he thinks they are more likely to use em to put him in place rather than boot him on the assumption (mistaken methinks) that Clark is Bush's biggest threat.

:)

[onebigbadwulf]

5. Clark isnt

Grassroots will defeat corporate machine. Especially when that machine is responsible for people dying every day.

[leftchick]

8. I have been pondering that for a while now Al...

How will the repukes try to mess with the primary? I think your scenario makes sense, They believe Clark is the threat!

[Bushfire]

11. I talked at length with a Feingold aide

who assured me he is also aware of the issue, and when I pressed her if he could please introduce identical legislation to the Senate of the Holt bill he is waiting for it to come from the committee that handles election issues like HAVA. I forgot to ask her what committee that is, but left with the impression that he would support it if introduced by someone else. She didn't say it, but since he's running for Senate next year as well he probably didn't want to be the Senator to introduce the legislation without an appearance of grandstanding such an issue while campaigning. My other Senator Herb Kohl wrote back that he would give it serious consideration if introduced as well. I hope someone has the names of that committee who handles elections within the Senate. We could badger those members to get it introduced this year possibly.

[JackRiddler]

6. After the primaries?!

IS VERY LATE IN THE GAME!

That leaves what, four months (counting convention time)... for an issue of some complexity (complex at least in the moron terms of the U.S. media).

If he's understood it, he knows it's the way he (and any candidate) loses no matter what.

The Volusia story makes that clear.

Anyone else going to be talking to candidates about this one soon?

[creativelcro]

9. Well...

perhaps a couple of DUers in EACH precint should essentially stay there all night to ensure nothing fishy is going on... Something like this... -CV

[alfredo]

12. Shining a light on it before the election, is good strategy.

If the GOP pulls out a narrow Florida style win in states with the machines, they will have no *crediblity. Without any credibility, they lose the ability to push their agenda.

Shining the light on the issue will make it more difficult for the GOP to fix the election and get away with it.


*credibility with the voters in general. Even supporters will have doubts that

[creativelcro]

14. right...

As difficult as it has been for GWB to push his agenda... -C

"If the GOP pulls out a narrow Florida style win in states with the machines, they will have no *crediblity. Without any credibility, they lose the ability to push their agenda. "

[Bushfire]

15. Anybody know what Senate committee would oversee

legislation such as Rush Holt's bill?

[RedEagle]

16. Primary can be rigged

The DNC may have come out in favor of paper ballots, but are they still contracted to Election.com for the primaries?

If they are, Accenture, which owns Election.com now, will be in control.

Dean is a fool if he thinks he can wait until after the primaries.

Control the vote- control who you run against.

[RetroLounge]

17. Good for you on meeting Dean and good for him too

HUGE problem is right.

of course, no matter what he said to address it, he would be bashed by the usual suspects.

Pathetic, really...