Conyers urges the Kerry-Edwards campaign not to drop Ohio recount, etc.

[MelissaB]

Busy Day Supporting Cindy, Treasongate, Making Every Vote Count

An unusually busy day for August, but with all of the GOP abuses, there never seems to be a shortage of things to post about.

First, as the top entry of the Conyersblog indicates, today we launched our effort to enlist at least 1000 individuals to write their local papers supporting the efforts of Cindy Sheehan to meet with the president. With Rush Limbaugh and others in the right wing moving into full a full scale Plaming of Cindy, I think it is important we show our support however we can. Just go to my web site to compose and email and have it sent, and to use the various resources in my new Crawford Action Center. And don't forget to ask your friends and family to write also.

Second, as indicated last evening, today Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) and I wrote to the Justice Department Inspector General, asking him to review whether former AG Aschroft violated ethical requirements in initially supervising an investigation into alleged misconduct by Karl Rove -- his friend and political ally -- regarding the outing of Valerie Plame. Rawstory has the full text of the letter. I was interviewed about this development by Tony Trupiano this afternoon, and will speak to the issue on the Amy Goodman show on Radio Pacifica tomorrow. I will try to get you the audio links to these interviews as soon as possible.

Third, today I wrote to the Kerry-Edwards campaign, urging them not to drop out of the Ohio recount case. The case is at a crucial juncture, and while we know the case will not alter the outcome of the election, their involvement is needed to allow us to establish important legal principles and precedents that will help insure that every vote is counted in future elections. The Ohio Election Fraud Blog has the letter.

So it was a busy day even before I learned that according to Rasmussen, Bush has hit a new low in his popularity, and that for the first time in history, a sitting Governor in Ohio was indicted on criminal charges.


Blogged by JC on 08.17.05 @ 09:56 PM ET

[merh]

1. How I love Conyers!

:loveya: :loveya: :loveya:

He is a hero & a patriot! :patriot:

:loveya:

[MelissaB]

3. Me, too, and I'm hoping he talks those guys into staying in the Ohio suit.

Sounds like we need to call, write, etc.

[merh]

4. It doesn't hurt to back up Conyers with emails, letters, calls, etc.

I can't think of a better man to support.

[Diamonique]

7. Send them a message

I went to johnkerry.com last week and sent them a message asking them not to drop out of the Ohio suit. I think everyone should do the same.

[JanusAscending]

25. ALREADY DONE!!!

Hi MelissaB !! I recieved an email from Moveon or DNC last week asking for letters to be written to "PRES. KERRY and VP JOHN EDWARDS" requesting that they stay involved with the Ohio recount. I did indeed write !!(by the way, maybe it was from Gentleman Conyers himself.) I have his web page bookmarked. I'm getting old and forgetful so it seems! Great Post!!:patriot:

[FreedomAngel82]

20. He truly is

The hardest working guy in DC!

[Botany]

2. Great report .... by a Prof @ CalPoly

http://www.projectcensored.org/newsflash/voter_fraud.html

[mirandapriestly]

8. Yes, incredible article! and not overly technical nt

[Al-CIAda]

5. So David Cobb was correct.

As per-

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=4296647

[LittleClarkie]

6. The what

if not the why.

Still waiting for... the rest of the story.

[MelissaB]

10. It sound like it.

Crap! These guys should know better than this.

[FreedomAngel82]

21. Of course

I think if people bomb Kerry and Edwards with emails, phone calls, fax letters etc. it may work. Tell them of Bush's poll numbers and how he is losing all his key states and to not leave us hanging. I wrote them back when Mr. Cobb first asked and it was posted in the 2004 forum. We have to get the whole progressive community on this! And if anybody knows any republicans or indie's who are suspecious to call and all that too! We have to get everybody involved!

[faithnotgreed]

9. can i love this man any more - the ONLY dem that i know of speaking

about election accuracy

absolutely crucial

[LittleClarkie]

35. It helps to be safe as milk in one's district

That's always a happy place from which to start as a politican.

[MelissaB]

11. Duh! Here is the link:

http://www.conyersblog.us/

Must have had a brain fart.

[TayTay]

12. Melissa - Question (No Snark)

I honestly thought the lawsuit was dismissed. (Sorry) What are the aims of this lawsuit and what effect will it have? (What is the purpose of the lawsuit and the goal.)

Thanks! I would love a pointer to a FAQ that says what this means. I am a constituent of Sen. KErry and would be happy to write to him to not withdraw from this. However, without more info, I don't know what to write. (What is the goal? I have read the Conyers Report and I agree that terrible things went on that deprived people of their right to vote. What does the lawsuit do in the way of helping on this?)

[kerrygoddess]

18. Personally...

Knowing Kerry, I can not imagine he is not investigating still under the wire.

[paineinthearse]

15. Thinking of making that my home page nt

[flpoljunkie]

13. What is the status of the federal lawsuit?

[flpoljunkie]

33. Judge James Carr holding status conference on this case on August 30th,

along with two other voting rights cases--one of which is being brought by the League of Women Voters of Ohio vs. Kennneth Blackwell, Secretary of State of Ohio, Case# 3.05CV7309

http://ohiohonestelections.com/

Thursday, August 18, 2005

The KerryEdwards campaign is preparing to withdraw from the Ohio recount case. This move comes as Federal Judge Carr in Toledo prepares to hold a status conference on August 30 on this case along with two other pending voting rights cases.

In late December, David Cobb and Michael Badnarik, filed amended counterclaims in the case alleging that recount was not conducted in accordance with basic equal protection and due process guarantees under the US Constitution. At stake in this case is whether the court will grant declaratory judgment setting forth the constitutional standard for how recounts should be conducted in future federal elections. This is a critical precedent to set for any future presidential or congressional election.

Yesterday, Congressman Conyers issued a letter to Senators Kerry and Edwards urging that they not withdraw from the case.

Call/write/email Kerry urging that he not withdraw and that he join Cobb and Badnarik’s amended counterclaims on the way the recount was conducted. In light of the upcoming August 30 hearing before Judge Carr, time is of the essence.

[paineinthearse]

14. Proud to give this #3

:thumbsup: MelissaB

[paineinthearse]

16. "...Until every vote is counted..."

Ha! I heard that somewhere before.

Where/when was that? I remember....November 3, wee hours. Anybody have a link to the full speech, to insure I am not taking it out of context?

[Al-CIAda]

17. .

[kerrygoddess]

19. Thanks for posting this...

I posted it on The Democratic Daily and Crooks&Liars and The Daou Report picked up the link.

http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=272

[seersuckersuit]

22. sickening.

Makes me sick. We wuz robbed -- again.

[newyawker99]

30. Hi seersuckersuit!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Fly by night]

23. I'm glad a second wave of letters will go to Kerry. Two recent threads ...

... on the 2004 ERD last week helped stimulate an initial flood of letters to Kerry's office. (I know, 'cause we here in the Orange State sent him dozens ourselves). Here are the two threads that contain some of theose letters. Thanks DemoDonkey for the "heads up" last week and to MelissaB for the reminder this week.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

and

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[bearfan454]

24. If they do drop it then there is no doubt

that they have ALL been bought out by the corporations.

[JanusAscending]

27. I ~~DON"T~~THINK~~SO!!!

This is pure BULL BUSHIT!!!!:rant: SORRY, but that's my opinion.

[bearfan454]

28. I do think so.

The corporate lobbyists tell them what bills to vote yea and nay on.

[snot]

26. kick and nom'd nt

[Imagevision]

29. And the reason Kerry/Edwards won't comment is what???

They don't want to have election reform implemented?? what then??

[kerrygoddess]

31. Because there are ongoing investigations

and commenting would hurt, not help. Commonsense 101.

[BlueJac]

32. Keep counting

Never give in to the neocons..........we need to strengthen our stance on election fraud! :pals:

[paineinthearse]

34. [PDA] Tell Kerry, Don't Give up on Ohio

By email.



Dear Friends,

We have learned that the Kerry/Edwards campaign is preparing to withdraw from the Ohio recount case, which is pending in federal court. This move comes as Federal Judge Carr in Toledo prepares to hold a status conference on August 30 on this case, along with two other pending voting rights cases.

When most others stood aside, PDA stood for voting rights and untainted elections in Ohio and in the halls of Congress. We stood to make sure that every vote counts. We have continued to fight together without slowing down.

Yesterday, Congressman John Conyers, Jr. issued a letter to Senators Kerry and Edwards urging that they not withdraw from this case. Here is a link to the letter:

http://fairnessbybeckerman.blogspot.com/2005/08/congressman-conyers-urges-kerry-and.html

The National Voting Rights Institute and its general counsel John Bonifaz, a PDA National Advisory Board Member, represent 2004 presidential candidates David Cobb and Michael Badnarik in their request for a meaningful recount of the 2004 Ohio presidential vote. During the recount last December, NVRI and its clients documented extensive irregularities in the way county boards of election conducted the recount. This included evidence that the Triad corporation had tampered with voting machines prior to the start of the recount, as well as evidence the county election officials had directly violated rules and procedures so as to avoid a full hand count of the ballots.

In late December, Cobb and Badnarik filed amended counterclaims in this case alleging the recount was not conducted in accordance with basic equal protection and due process guarantees under the US Constitution. At stake in this case today is whether the court will grant the plaintiffs declaratory judgment, setting forth the constitutional standard for how recounts should be conducted in future federal elections. This is a critical precedent to set for any future presidential or congressional election.

Please call/write/email Kerry today urging that he not withdraw and that he join Cobb and Badnarik's amended counterclaims on the way the recount was conducted. To contact Kerry/Edwards campaign office, go to:

http://www.johnkerry.com/contact/


In light of the upcoming August 30 hearing before Judge Carr, time is of the essence. If the proper precedent - of creating a constitutional standard as to how recounts should be conducted in regard to due process guarantees - is set in this case, it will help assure that future elections can and will be held without taint or improper interference. Kerry and Edwards must not back away from this all-important struggle. If they do, they will not only be abandoning all those who stood for them in the campaign and all those who fought for a fair counting of the votes, but they will also be abandoning the fight to make sure that elections in this country do not become the murky purview of corporations whose machines and managers cannot be trusted. Please contact them today and tell them to keep standing for the vote.

In peace and solidarity,

Tim Carpenter
http://www.pdamerica.org

P.S. Thank you again for all your work this week with the launch of the People's Petition for an IRAQ PEACE PROCESS. If you have not signed the petition please go to:


http://www.pdamerica.org/petition/iraq-withdraw-petition.php#here

The vigils last night were amazing. Thank you again for all your help and support.

Please continue to support this work by visiting https://www.pdamerica.org/donate.php and making a contribution.