Democratic Party will spend $500K to investigate Ohio vote

[dzika]

February 2, 2005

Democrats will investigate Ohio vote
National party to spend up to $500K

By Carl Weiser


WASHINGTON - The national Democratic Party will spend up to $500,000 to investigate voting problems that critics say might have occurred last year in the battleground state of Ohio, the party's leader said Tuesday.

"I want them to open up the machines," outgoing Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe told Gannett News Service and USA Today reporters. "If there's nothing wrong with the machines, we ought to be able to go in and take a look at them."

Since November's presidential election, a small but vocal chorus of liberal activists has complained that the vote in Ohio was miscounted - either through conspiracy or errors - and the wrong man elected president. Had Ohio's 20 electoral votes gone to Sen. John Kerry, he would be president today.
...
But he said the DNC's investigation was a bow to "blogworld," referring to activists who write Web logs about politics and continue to talk about a stolen election. There's even a Web site, www.bushstole04.com , largely about the Ohio vote.

McAuliffe said he has assembled a team of about 20 experts in law, statistics and computer analysis. They'll crunch numbers, file freedom of information requests and talk with election officials.


http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050202/NEWS01/502020378/1056

[Liberty Belle]

1. Where were they in November? When this could've made

a difference!

[meganmonkey]

2. Well.... That's a good start

but that doesn't seem like a whole lot of money. I wonder if they would be willing to spend more when they realize what happened or if this is just to pacify the pissed-off dems.

I love the line: "There's even a Web site, www.bushstole04.com , largely about the Ohio vote."

A web site? Try dozens of them!!!

On edit: I do see this a good news overall -want to make that clear so I don't get attacked ;)

[purduejake]

5. ...and no offense to the person with that site...

but I do believe there are much bigger organizations with sites that complain about the stolen election.

[dzika]

18. It doesn't seem like very much money.

I'm guessing that the $500K won't go as far with a Dem investigation as it would with a grassroots organization.

It would be good if we could get the contact information for the investigative team to make sure they have all of the available facts.

[Darknyte7]

22. Agreed...

Half a million dollars will last a couple of months at best.

[Liberty Belle]

26. and to make sure they're not rethug plants.

[merh]

60. That is the start up amount - if they see that the investigation

needs more, they will give more. Damn, don't you guys get it. This is huge, they are paying attention to us for pete's sake!

[Im with Rosey]

74. AGREED!

It is overdue, but the way I see it, when they find out and prove all the illegal activities that took place, the illegal administration will self destruct. It will be a pleasure to see the exposure of all the criminal acts. Once this gets going, the money will be flowing! My hope is that they will begin to explore all the evidence on all the various sites. DU alone would fill pages and pages!

[meganmonkey]

76. Relax, and read our posts carefully

or at least mine and the person you responded to (I am guessing you include me in the "you guys"). I merely said it didn't seem to be much money, and that I hope they are willing to pay more in the long run. The article doesn't indicate that. And I don't claim to be able to speak for Dzika, but if you read his post, it was very constructive in pointing out that we should try to contact the investigation team - I am guessing he was implying that since we have all done so much leg work already, we could help them understand what areas need attention since their money (and thus time) is limited.

Between this and Dean likely being the next DNC chair, I am thrilled with todays news. That doesn't mean I can't be curious about the details.

KEEP HOPE ALIVE

[artv28]

68. 500K

This will not even last a month unless these computer techs are willing to work for practically nothing. I'm guessing that it will take a team of highly qualified system engineers to find any evidence of fraud months after it took place. Proving that the machines are insecure is the easy part. We already know that.

[FreedomAngel82]

32. I'm glad to hear this

Better late then never even though I hope there's still everything there. :\ That's the only thing that worries me. What's the latest with Arnebeck, Cobb and Conyers?

[mattclearing]

3. Democrat is not an adjective.

It's the Democratic Party.

Tom DeLay calls us the Democrat Party to imply that we are something less than democratic.

We need to try to remember to keep Republican language out of our speech/writing. It legitimizes their warped point of view.

Edit to note: About time, Terry. This is exciting news.

Edit again to note: Thanks for the title edit. That's a major pet peeve of mine, and of others.

[cyberpj]

4. tried a search on this but couldn't find anything - wonder who the 20 are?

McAuliffe said he has assembled a team of about 20 experts in law, statistics and computer analysis. They'll crunch numbers, file freedom of information requests and talk with election officials.

[satya]

6. "The election wasn't stolen," McAuliffe declared.

So is this just to shut us up, once and for all? Anybody know who's on the team he's assembled?

[FreedomAngel82]

33. Even if it wasn't stolen

(in many ways it was) at least this can go towards helping us get rid of these freakin machines.

[Clark2008]

52. Maybe he just got some balls since he won't be in the public eye

any longer.

:shrug:

[intheflow]

64. I was thinking the same thing.

Either that, or he's trying to save his political ass for some future run. Good luck there, Terry, you Republicrat! LOL!

[merh]

61. Past tense, a previous interview

Can't you guys tell how the media spins things.

He may not believe it was stolen today, but at least the party is willing to fork out some money to hire experts. They hear us, we are a movement, they can't ignore us!

[skylarmae]

7. Thank you, thank you !!! We must get this fixed before the

next cycle is upon us. 2006 will be the third (2002, 2004)election since the catastrophe of 2000 and let us hope the 3rd time will be the charmer. Can we afford not to get it right this time?

[Botany]

8. Too Late.

The horse is long gone. What good will come from closing the barn door now?

The no good spineless party leadership should have been all over this from 11/3
until they got to the bottom of the problem(s). But now? What possibly could
come out this investigation?

:bounce:

[meganmonkey]

10. What could possibly come out of it?

Well, maybe evidence that the counting machines are insecure and unreliable, which would lead to legislation to improve our voting systems.

Or maybe some hard evidence of tampering, followed by some arrests and trials, followed by some bad people going to jail so they can't mess up elections anymore.

Or maybe it'll give some more credibility to this issue among average American folks who don't really trust the system but find it scarier to recognize that our 'democracy' is not what it seems.

Or maybe it'll make Blackwell say and do a few more stupid things and dig himself a deeper hole.

Just a few quick thoughts.

edit spelling

[FreedomAngel82]

34. I still wish they

could get Katherine Harris for 2000.

[meganmonkey]

49. Yeah, even I think it's too late on that one!

;)

[ladjf]

12. Any real investigation could do no harm and might do lots

of good.

[burn the bush]

30. ditto better late than never

the vote is over but the problems remain. Without being fixed they can spend millions to campaign but it won't matter. I think this is great news. Though it doesn't excuse the idiots for not making an issue of it when we were all screaming help.

[ladjf]

56. Unless it turns out to be some kind of white wash.

[tex-wyo-dem]

9. This is great news!

Looks like we're being heard. I just hope it's not a half-hearted effort just to "make us happy."

What the DNC also needs to do is fund Arnebeck's legal team. They're the ones with the evidence.

[Liberty Belle]

11. I just left a message for McAuliff, asking who the 20 investigators

are so that I can publish that information in my progressive newsletter.

If I get the names, I'll google them and post info here.

[emlev]

16. Do you have a decent contact # for him?

Could you post it or PM me?
Thanks.

[Liberty Belle]

89. I just called the DNC hq number listed at their website, and

asked for Terry McAuliff's secretary.

[marions ghost]

43. ask McAuliffe if he stands by having said these 2 statements today...

"the election wasn't stolen"

"it's a bow to the blogosphere.."

Just fact-checking on the media and want to know if that is his true position today, right now, or is there something of a spin factor in this article?

[satya]

55. Good point;I should know better than to assume he was quoted correctly.n/t

[Bill Bored]

13. It's more than just the machines

There are plenty of paper ballots in Ohio if they haven't been shredded!
They ought to look at hand recounting at least a few precincts AT RANDOM! There are some "BLOGGERS" who might be able to SUGGEST the ones to look at! And also, the registration records, poll books and Dem/Repub party turnout ratio.

[mod mom]

14. they should have announced this in their phone solicitation in OH

Just got a call from the OH Dems and told them that right now I am sending my money to progressive groups.

[SaveAmerica]

17. Maybe that's why they're doing this? You're not the first person

who has posted here saying they've recieved the same kind of phone call from them and told them the same thing you did. Maybe they're starting to wake up and smell the coffee.

[Bill Bored]

15. Sent to Arnebeck. Thanks for the post! nt

[SaveAmerica]

19. They can pass out some of that $$$ to some of the hard working

people here who have already done the majority of the leg work for them.

[Chi]

20. Ohio Attn. General asks for $501,000 to open records....

Just kidding, though it would be par-for-the-coarse.

Thanx for the article dzike.

[meganmonkey]

21. LOL

:) Thanks for the funny!

[dmac]

23. I guess their "donation requests" are falling flat . . .

I sure told them (via numerous avenues, McAuliffe included) they were not getting another dime from me unless the party got behind this issue.

However, I do not feel it bodes well that he mentions a site that explains some of the ways we feel the election was stolen, yet, he is still quoted:

"The election wasn't stolen," McAuliffe declared.

Maybe there is hope that Dean will inherit this unfinished business once Terry is gone - and do it right? I am skeptical and concerned. Anything official by the party that says they investigated and all was clean will hurt us - in a big way. Cross your fingers everyone and pray for the best!

[Alizaryn]

24. Its something...., a recognition, movement, acknowledgment,

and small showing that they may be more willing today to take a stand, and have some backbone. We should congratulate ourselves for whatever small part we have had in encouraging this change.

I only hope its not too late. What are the odds that opening up the machines after allowing this large a window of time for "fixes" being helpful? This isn't a rhetorical question, I am really looking for someone more knowledgeable then I to respond.

[intheflow]

66. My fear is that they will open the machines and find nothing.

Not because the votes weren't tampered with, but because of other factors, including:

code was written in such a way as to subvert the vote and then cover its tracks (not sure if this is possible, but isn't that what the programmer in Florida said they wanted him to create?);

the machines will have been reprogrammed with results that match the "official" results;

the machines we are given to examine won't be the machines that were used during the vote (I'm thinking particularly about the 80 machines or so that weren't distributed in Ohio, they could input any results into those);

or

the machines we're given to examine will be ones used in counties that legitimately voted for Bush (i.e, white suburban Republican areas).

[Alizaryn]

67. Hopefully, those on the ground in the area will be able to

help assure that some of the original machines are available to be looked into?

Does each vote recorded have a reference to what machine it came from?

[intheflow]

69. A reference number would hae to be written into the code.

And if your aim is to subvert the election, why would you write such a thing into the code?

[Alizaryn]

79. S I G H ... Its not looking good then?

[intheflow]

81. I'm hoping I'm unduly paranoid.

Emily dickinson said that "Hope is the thing with feathers."

But I'm feeling more Woody Allenish right now. He wrote that he was "without feathers."

:D !!!hahahahaha---waaaaaaaah!!! :cry:

[Alizaryn]

82. LOL...I never loose hope, it just fades for a few seconds.

[super simian]

25. "Blogworld" is where it's all happening, folks!

"But he said the DNC's investigation was a bow to "blogworld," referring to activists who write Web logs about politics and continue to talk about a stolen election."

Where is this Blogworld, anyway? Can I get there from the Internets? Is it somewhere far out in cyberspace? Do I need a rocket ship? Are there lots of hostile little green men wearing tinfoil hats there? Do the little green men bounce up and down a lot? Do they even have their own website, largely about the Ohio vote? Do they provide cover for the DNC to get off its big fat butt and investigate election fraud without fear of being ridiculed and called sore-losermen? Somebody clue me in, here!

:bounce: :tinfoilhat: :bounce: :tinfoilhat: :bounce: :tinfoilhat: :bounce: :tinfoilhat: :bounce: :tinfoilhat: :bounce: :tinfoilhat: :bounce: :tinfoilhat: :bounce: :tinfoilhat: :bounce: :tinfoilhat: :bounce: :tinfoilhat: :bounce: :tinfoilhat: :bounce: :tinfoilhat: :bounce: :tinfoilhat: :bounce: :tinfoilhat: :bounce:

[marions ghost]

48. LOL ...yeah, I can just imagine LOL

that strange distant planet "Blogworld" rotating so fast with all the particles flying off...must be finally grazing the gravitational field of Demworld, judging by the extreme bouncing of the inhabitants and shine on the tinfoil hats.

I will be SURE to send my sincere thanks for the DNC's sudden urge to "bow to Blogworld." OK if we have to provide cover,,,we can do that. Actually we can do a lot MORE than that...being out in front as we are. They seriously need help.

[IndyPriest]

27. So, is USAToday going to carry some story about this?

This could really help. And who's been banging on McAuliffe's thick skull to get this going?

[Verve]

28. It's about time they start getting serious! They have until 2006 to fix

this problem before fraudulent elections push more Dems out of office.

[dogindia]

29. Maybe Dean has helped this happen.

[banishbush]

31. All hail to "blogworld"!!!

:tinfoilhat:

[ClassWarrior]

53. Everyone's friendly and attractive here in "blogworld"...

Or was that Westworld?...

NGU.

[NationalEnquirer]

35. Too little to late,

and the conclusions will be:
Although there were many anomolies, there is no indication that these ended up changing the results for the state of Ohio..
blah blah..

[New Earth]

36. i'm sure that's exactly what they'll say

they waited too fucking long. i swear it all seems like a strange long nightmare.

[NationalEnquirer]

37. They are either stupid, or scared as being labeled "kooks".

We need strong leadership.
We have to admit, that is something that THEY have.

[troubleinwinter]

39. F...R...A...U...D.

[ClassWarrior]

54. Are you one of those people who, if Jesus came down to Earth...

...would say, "Cripes, didn't you bring any jelly doughnuts??"

Just curious.

NGU.

[merh]

62. LOL

You are the best CW! "Jelly Doughnuts" :donut:

NGU!

[RevCheesehead]

80. Or (as George Carlin would ask), "where are the pork chops?"

You too funny.

NNNNGU, sweetie!

[NationalEnquirer]

88. LOL! No, but..

I guess I am just pessimistic about things now.
My mood over this swings pretty badly!
I just doubt that anything is going to come of this, at least from "official" sources.
This is going to have to be broken by someone else, and then somehow the media has got to get onboard.
I guess better late than never..

[garybeck]

38. I'm afraid this is window dressing

note how he references bowing to the blog world who still think the election was stolen...

it's not about bowing to the blog world and conspiracy theorists. it's about getting to the truth. its about bringing people to justice.

no one is going to get anywhere by throwing some money around because people keep bugging them to.

They still don't realize what's up, or if they do, they are not interested in exposing it.

[merh]

63. Or maybe they are just downplaying this because they know how

deep it is and how much is at stake! The glass is half full, they can't ignore us, we have made this happen. WE HAVE A VOICE - so stop whining and make the most of it.

We need to know who the 20 are so we can provide them with the materials we have already accumulated!

Half full damn it and as far as money, there is more where that came from!

[tinonedown]

40. Nice start

But don't forget New Mexico, Florida, .........................

[MadisonProgressive]

41. McAuliffe makes it sound like it's all his idea!

Dumb ass!

[merh]

87. Woman have know for years that the trick to getting things

accomplished is to allow the man to think it was his idea. Some call it manipulation, others call it brillant.

Who cares who came up with the idea! That it is being done is what matters. Allow the egos to take the credit if they like, just as long as they take the needed action.

[marions ghost]

42. If you read the link...it says

"McAuliffe and other Democrats have acknowledged that Bush won the election. "The election wasn't stolen," McAuliffe declared.

But he said the DNC's investigation was a bow to "blogworld," referring to activists who write Web logs about politics and continue to talk about a stolen election..."

------------------------------
I'd like to be SURE that McAuliffe actually said these words TODAY--and they aren't putting words in his mouth. Any way to corroborate this story?

thanks for post Dzika...we have to be happy for any action by the Dems no matter how late and chintzy I guess. We can judge it later.

[Carolab]

44. Oh, wow, "there's even A website..." WOW. Do your RESEARCH!

There are TONS of websites about this!

WAKE the F up, Cinci Enquirer!

Here: can someone send them a full list (I don't have it handy just now)...

http://www.cincinnati.com/helpdesk/feedback/

[garybeck]

46. exactly my point. this cash will not go to good use

if they have to reference a website, they are either years behind us, or they have no intention of actually doing anything significant.

[emlev]

45. Anybody else having trouble with Enquirer link?

[suziedemocrat]

50. I am - maybe too busy - anyway I think this is very good!!!

I'm not worried about all the "we're just checking - no big deal -the election wasn't stolen " remarks. They HAVE to say that.

I'm a big mac fan and Steve Jobs always says he would NEVER bother with a silly product that is rumored - and he keeps saying that - over and over - right up until he announces that same product. There is no way they can say without concrete evidence "Kerry won - Bush Lost - The election was stolen." The MSM would destroy them.

From 'All The President's Men': http://www.dailyscript.com/scripts/all_the_presidents_men.html



DEEP THROAT IN CLOSE UP AND MAD.

DEEP THROAT
--you were doing so well and then you got stupid, you went too fast-- Christ, what a royal screw up--

WOODWARD
--I know, I know, the pressure's off the White House and it's all back on the Post--

DEEP THROAT
--you've done worse than let Haldeman slip away, you've got people feeling sorry for him--I didn't think that was possible. A conspiracy like this-- the rope has to tighten slowly around everyone's neck. You build from the outer edges and you go step by step. If you shoot too high and miss, then everybody feels more secure. You've put the investigation back months.

Edit spelling error and condensed script format to save space.

[Coexist]

57. Better served cold than not placed on the menu at all.

[merh]

65. I had forgotten about this dialogue! Thanks for the post!

:hi: Welcome to DU!!! We need minds like yours, willing to inject positions that are positive. Lot of negative nellies around here and they are on our side!

suziedemocrat, so damn glad to greet you! :hi:

DEEP THROAT
--you've done worse than let Haldeman slip away, you've got people feeling sorry for him--I didn't think that was possible. A conspiracy like this-- the rope has to tighten slowly around everyone's neck. You build from the outer edges and you go step by step. If you shoot too high and miss, then everybody feels more secure. You've put the investigation back months.

[suziedemocrat]

77. Wow - Thanks for the great welcome!!!

I LOVE DU!! :bounce:

[merh]

86. It really is a wonderful community!

And, even though folks don't realize it, we are making a difference. They have stopped ignoring us. We are the people and they know we are out there in the "blogworld".

[sagesnow]

47. About time-

How about more money from Democratic party to save democracy?
image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sagesnow/3869997/in/set-97845/

[brindis_desala]

51. This is a whitewash. Window dressing pure and simple

Can anyone in the DLC say "New Mexico?"

[babsbunny]

58. THANK GOD!!!

FOLKS! I HAVE BEEN PRAYING MY BUTT OFF! I KNOW GOD, AND THE WHOLE UNIVERSE HEARS US! PLEASE! JUST HAVE FAITH! THIS ELECTION FRAUD COULD HAVE BEEN SWEPT UNDER THE RUG, LIKE 2000, BUT IT'S STILL IN THE NEWS! (or at least on DU!)

[DARE to HOPE]

85. Thanks, babsbunny!

Me, too!

[mattclearing]

59. There sure is a lot of bitching going on in here.

McAuliffe didn't have to do this. I think it's a solid move in the right direction.

Is it a little late? Yeah. Did he preface it with a "It wasn't stolen," just like most everyone else (except Conyers, bless his heart) who suspects otherwise and wants to know more? Yeah, he did.

I think, considering that this is a public message board, we ought to at least thank him for doing something positive, or try at least acknowledge that he gave people like us some recognition.

If something comes of this (and if Dean gets the chairmanship, I bet something will), I hope a lot of you will eat these words.

This reminds me of all the whining on certification day.

Will Pitt would recognize this sound well. It's the sound of hard won recognition being drowned out by bitching and moaning.

[Zan_of_Texas]

71. The key thing is....

Who are the 20 people?

We here KNOW who knows what. We know who has busted their buns on this.

Did Terry ask any of you? Anyone you know? Anyone they know? How did he decide who to ask? (I happen to know that one of the nation's top experts on voting machines, a computer expert, had given the Kerry campaign his contact number months before the election and said, "Call if you need help." That expert told me after the election he was not called.)

Would these twenty people be the equivalent of, after Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech, then the President appointed Clarence Thomas and Condi Rice to head up a team to guarantee civil rights for African Americans?

Or, the equivalent of Bush appointing a 9-11 Commission, kicking and screaming, that had so many conflicts of interest a diagram would look like a pretzel practicing for the World Contortion Finals?

I'm just asking. The people with expertise and data are already in place. They just could use some money and access to people with keys to the media and influence.

[mgr]

70. Best News I've Heard n/t

[JunkYardDogg]

72. Give some of that $ to Arnebeck et al

They'll get more info per dollar than they'll ever get on their own
This better not be another Warren Commission

Blogworld- Isn't that a Troma Movie??

[peacetalksforall]

73. I'm sorry folks...he plainly doesn't want us to keep talking about the

vote thefts.

1. What did he do about the machines before the election?
2. What did he do about spending money on Nove 2? (Wasn't the money spent from the Kerry campaign fund?). What did he do to help Kerry?
3. What did he do on Nov 3? and Nov 4 through Feb 1?
4. Where are quotes from his mouth about the risk to citizens of using Republican machines and ethical and legal shams?

If you read between the lines - he is spending token money to mollify us and be able to come out with an official statement of finding nothing, couched in some context about it being complicated because of the time that has gone by.

I thought he was supposed to be this campaign genius. My distrust grows with each day. Because WE WERE HAD!

Educate me. Convince me with some quotes or a list of actions initiated by him and fulfilled by him specifically aimed at election integrity and precautions taken and support for investigations. The whole thing. Exactly how many times has he spoken on TV about fraud or even funny things?

[IndyPriest]

75. McAuliffe's a lame duck now.

If Dean gets the chair, as it looks, he's more than capable of moving the ball forward.

[McCamy Taylor]

78. See the Dean thread. This is because Dean says he is gonna do it.

Dean is the Man.

:hedbang:

[Independent_Liberal]

83. The second I hear Bush say "I am not a crook"...

I will shit my pants.

:)

[rigel99]

84. McAuliffe.. Spend some Money in Georgia

I know Ohio needs every penny, but we cannot make the mistake of placing all our eggs in one basket. How about spending more money in Places like FL, NM,etc.. and since I'm personally paying thousands of dollars out of my pocket for open records data, I have to beg, SPEND SOME MONEY IN GEORGIA will ya!!! Georgia has much evidence that can help Ohio's battle.
We have a police report of stolen Diebold equipment. We have incoming Open Records data showing discrepancies of numbers. We have SOS office denying access to the CD that has the source election data, and lawyers say should be no problem getting CD thru simple lititgation, and the CD should yield even more discrepancies...

for the full view of what's going on in Georgia here is the PDF file PPT overview.
http://www.solarbus.org/stealyourelection/articles/0128-georgia.pdf

If someone figures out these 20 experts, we need help # crunching data in Georgia as well. For various reasons, Georgia is a better place to do a legal battle cause its 100% diebold and if you cast Diebold votes as
INVALID, you cast aside 36M total votes... in Ohio the Diebold votes might be enough to tip the scales....certainly enough to start impeachment proceedings to do a revote nationwide..