Bev Harris, John Conyers will be on WNYC radio show this morning >

[Stephanie]

Just heard this announcement. WNYC is our local NPR station in New York. Brian Lehrer has a great morning talk show from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Just now they announced today's guests. Guess who?!

You can stream at the link. The Brian Lehrer show is on both the AM and FM stations at 10.

http://www.wnyc.org/

______________________________

http://www.wnyc.org/shows/bl/episodes/12152004

The Brian Lehrer Show

Final Recount
Wednesday, December 15, 2004

Although the Buckeye state went red in 2004, Democrats, Greens, and Libertarians believe widespread irregularities throw the integrity of the vote into doubt. Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) has been holding hearings from disaffected Ohio voters.

Recount Update: Ohio Concerns
John Conyers, Congressmember (D- Michigan 14th District), on his concerns about the Presidential vote in Ohio

Recount Update: Questions in Florida
Bev Harris, Founder of Blackboxvoting.org, says problems with voting machines mean we don't know the real winner of the Presidential election
» Blackboxvoting.org
______________________________

*and yes, it is a call-in show.

[hlthe2b]

1. Ooh... I don't know if I can take it...

Listening to Bev dissemble was painful yesterday.........:shrug:

[propagandafreegal]

8. This is stuff with Bev is more dramatic than Desparate Housewives- sad

because we really needed someone like her to be organized and 'with it!'.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

2. Good.

Now, I look for Bev to get BBV's public relations, image and media communications house in order. The situation in the last few weeks has been abysmal, in extremis. "Taking shit on the street" and badmouthing people and organizations known to be honest brokers is just flat fucked up and cannot continue, if BBV is going to maintain credibility within the initial intended audience. Furthermore, some transparency into the disbursement of charitably-collected funds, like a published financial report, would go a long way towards healing some of the wounds and deflecting future slings and arrows.

"Board members" posting under pseudonyms on forums just don't cut the ice.

This is not a slam. This is offered as constructive criticism, in the hopes that something good can come of all this nastiness and vindictiveness. No one likes nasty and vindictive. They are just bad form.

[Woo]

5. All things being equal --

I would feel A LOT better if Ms. Harris would take her black box and step the fuck out the way -- And that's my unbiased view -- She seems to be hurting the effort, not helping.

She may be honest -- I hope she is, truly I do.-- But this train is on the fast track and we don't have time for her foolishness. When the dust settles I'm sure folks will happily listen to her explanations, right now she needs to step back, I'm happy to go at it without her.

[DoYouEverWonder]

11. I would sign onto a collective letter

maybe we could send something to her and/or the press.

She is out of control and is discrediting the hard, honest work of a lot of other people. The BBV folks need to find a new leader, associating with Bev is doing them much more harm than good at this point.

In the outside world, the BBV are being seen as a bunch of crack pots. They need to either get their act together or shut up.

[Stevepol]

30. Can somebody tell me just what Bev has done that's so bad?

I'm sure she has a rap list as long as your arm but I've not heard anything definite. Everything I've read just makes it seem that others are pressing her beyond her capability. She's only one person and she can't be an answering machine for everybody in the country who recognizes the voting machines are rigged. Maybe to do the job she's taken on she needs to be a hellcat.

[absolutezero]

48. Welcome to DU stevepol

:hi:

[crispini]

60. Read history:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=203&topic_id=108750

The statement from the admins is fair, if you want allll the details it's in the thread.

[jdog]

3. Uh oh..... n/t

[Stephanie]

4. I presume they'll be on separately

First Conyers, then Bev. Usually Lehrer does one on one interviews, and then call-in questions.

[bklyncowgirl]

6. Brian Lehrer is good--and fair

Thanks for the heads up.

[Stephanie]

7. I cornered him in Grand Central last spring to talk about this

They were there doing a show about the oral history project, with the recording booth they have there, and BL was doing the first one on-air with Studs Terkel. So afterward I walked up to shake his hand and then I asked if he'd heard about the voting machines and I explained a little and followed up with an email full of links. So glad he's really covering this. He's great.

[Quakerfriend]

9. Nice, Stephanie!

[berner59]

10. He's had a voting segment on every Wed....

for the past few weeks... He had some Ohio reporters on last week and it was very good... Can't wait for Conyers - he's the voice for this lately...

[Stephanie]

14. I'm sure I wasn't the only one

This is NY - I'm sure he got a ton of emails as people became aware of this.

[marions ghost]

12. This movement needs some more leaders...

We seem to have a lack of visible leaders from progressive organizations who are working on voting issues. I know they are busy behind-the-scenes, but it would be nice to have an umbrella organization big enough to encompass all the various directions and able to project a public face. Guess nobody but Bev is prepared to stick their necks out nationally and you can hardly blame them.

I think we need this in addition to congressional and legal representatives. Somebody who is just willing to help explain the issues and let people know this is not a "fringe" thing. But they should be tough enough to handle TV/radio media and a reasonably good speaker. Any thoughts?

[Stephanie]

13. I disagree - we finally have some EXCELLENT leaders

John Conyers, Jesse Jackson, Cliff Arnebeck, Ralph Neas, Susan Truitt. FINALLY some legit people who can really make something happen. I'm thrilled.

[marions ghost]

17. No, you misunderstand

I see all of those you listed as strong leaders in this fight. No question. But what I'm saying is that they are generally lawyers and legislators. Jackson is great in that he bridges the worlds of grassroots and government. Ralph Neas I guess with People For the American Way might come the closest to what I'm talking about. Bev Harris has her niche but doesnt really cover the whole picture. I'm talking about someone whose MAIN concern is just getting the message out with the facts, about the situation as a whole. Somebody really good with media but also just representing the rest of us--someone who everyone can identify with. Is there an organization larger and perceived as encompassing ALL of the voting issues? With a spokesperson who's more neutral on the issues than legislators and lawyers, as good as they are. Maybe this is premature or something already exists. I haven't been involved in the voting thing long--just trying to educate myself.

Well maybe I'm off base. I'm certainly not advocating anything--it's just a hunch. Just something to chat about that was on my mind. Thanks for your comments.

[Stephanie]

21. I see what you mean

We need a clone Ralph Neas who is exclusively on this issue, and a clone PFAW devoted to this issue alone.

[marions ghost]

54. Yes Exactly

what I was thinking...something that could be the Red Cross of the voting protection movement, from the citizens' perspective. Could speak for The People--and lobby for us and fight for us, and get non-partisan support. The Justice Department is not gonna do it and anyway is not specific enough. Voting issues and other consumer concerns are not being defended in the Justice Dept.

Ours is an election system that we have seen is so dysfunctional-- I wonder if we need a very strong non-profit organization with deep resources to constantly defend our voting rights on every front...and I would think that we need this as a permanent entity. Just throwing this idea out in desperation at our plight...after 2000, 06 and 2004. And we all know that this kind of corruption and suppression goes way back. It's just been taken to new heights with the implications of blackbox voting.

My heart goes out to ALL those who are struggling in the wake of this latest fiasco to comes to terms with it. I have nothing but admiration for all the leaders who have come to the forefront at this crucial point--bless them all. But I just keep thinking--this should not be ONLY the job of these handful of noble individuals like Conyers, etc and exhausted grassroots activists. These issues deserve a lot more constant protection and support. I just want a better world...maybe I'm too much of a dreamer. But maybe it's time to think big. I think voting rights are sacred and this trumps many other issues now.

As if we didn't have Enough to Save, we now have to save Democracy along with the Whales and the Air and everything else that's good. I would be ready to actively work for and support a comprehensive non-partisan organization ready to take on all voting-related issues.

[Stephanie]

20. dupe

[greatauntoftriplets]

15. Perhaps someone should ask her if she understands the legal...

consequences of libel and defamation of character.

[crispini]

16. Please post summaries here!

For those of us who will be away from computer.

[AmerDem]

18. Thanks n/t

[henslee]

19. 93.9 fm. ny nt

[Bozita]

22. Thank you, Stephanie

[leftyandproud]

23. Bev was CRUSHED by Randi Rhodes last night.

see here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x157626

[Stephanie]

24. They just did a promo and announced Bev again

So I guess she is going to show.

[Freddie Stubbs]

25. Talking about war crimes trials in Iraq right now...

[bmoney07]

26. at work

please update!

[Stephanie]

27. They're on Iraq still

I guess maybe voting will be in the second hour.

[AmerDem]

28. once again voting fraud taking second stage

I hope the subject or the guests aren't scrubbed. I was looking forward to this show.

[Stephanie]

29. Email address for the show >

[e-mail]

[mom cat]

33. Thanks for the post..I am waiting..

[texpatriot2004]

31. kick it

[ohio_liberal]

32. Am I listening to an archived show?

They're talking about elections in Iraq? :shrug:

[Stephanie]

34. I think they will do Bev & Conyers in the second hour

The show started at 10 - goes til 12 - right now they're talking about Google.

The link to stream is at www.wnyc.org - icons on the top right of the page - both AM & FM are good.

[ohio_liberal]

41. Got it!

Thanks much :)

[Stephanie]

35. Coming up next, after the news. Number to call in with questions >

(212) 267-WNYC to call in live on the air for Brian Lehrer

[Stephanie]

36. Here we go - on now - Conyers first

.

[Stephanie]

37. Talking about Triad

.

[Stephanie]

39. BL: What are the chances the election was stolen?

Conyers: I wish off-air I could indulge you in this speculation. But that would be mixing up my job on Judiciary with my opinion. All we know is htat the SOS of OH was chairman of Bush committee. All the things that we have listed that he did were all directted to reducing the vote, being as non-cooperative as possible. When you have Congress members send you 36 questions and they're ignore, and yesterday he sends a letter saying the GAO is asking questions already. I get the picture. We know problems happen in elections. We know many are unintentional. But when you see the pattern that we see here. We can't be over 21 years of age, veterans of political process, we can't say well there may be hanky panky but won't change outcome. My job is to give voters assurance that fed govt is trying to improve the way we select president. It has been a sorry episode in 2000 & 2004.

We say there is a pattern of activity that is innappropriate and might be illegal. The FBI has this memorandum and a letter from us and that's why the DOJ has this. If I had the investigative staff I would do it for them but I don't.

[mom cat]

38. Focus on Triad!

[Stephanie]

40. Conyers - when you have a computer specialist coming in

using language that so disturbs an election official that she makes an affidavit asking it be looked into, we have to look at it.

[Stephanie]

43. BL: Ohio judge rules punchcard voting does not deny blacks rt to vote

Conyers: Well in all fairness i can't comment on the jduge or his ruling. I commend the ACLU & others that want to press this thing further. But there's a tendency that's too easily picked up in our society, that well, he lost so tough, yeah there were probably discrepancies. What we know is that in minority communities they are frequently the oldest machines most prone to error, and disturbing things occur.

In Detroit we were visited by young men who hostilely oversee our polling places.

(taking a break - next will talk about spoiled ballots)

[katinmn]

42. What is Lehrer trying to do?

Should have more focus on the allegations and less focus on what Conyers' "objectives" are. Conyers' is having to spend too much time explaining that he wants an open election.

[Freddie Stubbs]

45. He's trying to get Conyers to say

that he is trying to overturn the election of at least admit that he believes that Kerry won.

[katinmn]

49. Will cover every Wednesday till questions are answered!

Excellent.

[Mojorabbit]

44. Conyers is pissed

That Blackwell blew him off.

[Stephanie]

46. BL: One of your questions is why spoiled ballots in Dem precincts

Conyers: Saw in Florida. Principal has been established. We're proud of Rev. Jackson, Rev. Moss, who've sued to stop electoral process in OH.

BL: So far you've mentioned a lot of questions nothing actually demonstrated. Ex. - Butler Co., for numbers to be right there wd have to be massive ticket splitting (judge/Pres)

Conyers: Well it raises questions. My allegations are piled higher than my investigative efforst at this point. We have a problem that needs to be resolved. Everything suggests there was irregularity, intentional or not, in these machines. We've had hearings, we have to have lots more.

BL: We will do this segment every Weds. But you are not alleging even one instance of fraud in OH, correct?

Conyers: In my letter we want to explore possibly illegal tampering in several countiees. These things are not happening randomly. We're not naive. You don't have this much irregularity and somebody's not doing something intentionla. You don't have a SOS taking off Bush hat and putting on SOS hat.

[Pobeka]

47. Probably worth starting a new thread when Bev comes on. n/t

[Stephanie]

50. I can't transcribe now - someone else please

[AmerDem]

51. Lehrer devoted 45 min to Chemical Alli

Then give Conyors under 30 m ins. What a joke.

[genieroze]

52. She is on now. eom

[Stephanie]

53. Asking about being banned from DU!

.

[loritooker]

55. Bev:

MSM is inappropriate medium. The courts are right place. Olbermann shouldn't have seeen her stuff, would have damaged her case in court.

Her credibility questioned: I am not concerned about (DU) and what a bunch of people say about me. All of these bad things about me come from Democrats. In her investigations, both Dems and Repubs are implicated. She said the Dems want to keep the focus on the Repubs!!!

The host sort of cut her off at the end.

[Stephanie]

56. Weird that DU is an issue in this

.

[loritooker]

58. I have an uneasy feeling: she attacked "the Dems" for suppression

of information on election fraud. She actually said that the Democrats don't want info about their party's fraud to be seen. I'm paraphrasing, but that seemed really disingenuous, especially after all DUers have done for her.

[Stephanie]

59. It's weird

Is she trying to say that DU banned her because Democrats have something to hide in Florida? That is quite a stretch!

[OKthatsIT]

61. What a load of CRAP

this is the most manipulative answer for her actions Ive heard yet.

What BS! She's gonna save her image by saying the Dem contributors want BBV to focus on RepmFraud only...SCR3W HER lying ass.

[Pobeka]

57. More discussion and show comments continue here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x161632