Where is the California Democratic Party regarding Kevin Shelley?

[shance]

I have heard nothing, no public statement/coverage from other government officials, except those slamming Shelley . No one coming forward to help and/or extend support to Kevin Shelley.

Nothing but silence.

When the going gets tough, where did the Dems go? Is it a wonder we have fair weathered Democratic leaders?

I hope I am wrong, perhaps I have missed the coverage, but I havent seen any.

When the going gets tough, does the Democratic party pretend like they don't know who their Secretary of State is, or the governor, or whoever is being skewered at the moment by the Republican thugs?

I don't care if he made some mistakes. I could give a damn if he's a jerk. Can I tell you how much this is NOT about any misappropriations?

Look at the type of mistakes and tens of hundreds of deaths and murders are happening daily because of our Republican leadership.

This apparent silence from the state Democratic party is truly an outrage to Californians and in my opinion, yet another betrayal.

Kevin Shelley decertified the Diebold electronic voting machines. He did the right thing.

This is his reward for doing the right thing?

Correct me if Im wrong, but I haven't seen a lot of coming to the plate for one of our own.

Where are the California Dems? And the Washington Dems as well? This will effect them too.

Are they more interested in their own climb up the ladder of power than helping a fellow Dem (and their party as a group) as well?

Tell me no.

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Helga Scow Stern]

4. He did announce his resignation last Friday.

I would too if my mother was just put in intensive care and I was the subject of character assassination from all sides.

He will not be out until March 1.

[Helga Scow Stern]

2. I was wondering the same thing myself,

and that's why I spent the day yesterday faxing every single one:


Dear Honorable (California Dem):

Voting rights activists smell a rat in the planned attack on Secretary of State Kevin Shelley. This issue will not go away, as we see it as an opportunity to force national accountability across party lines for fair elections.

It will not go unnoticed that Shelley is being crucified, most certainly not for the trumped up charges skillfully amassed and dumped on him, but for standing up to Diebold and for auditable elections. We will be urging the House Judiciary Committee, whose Minority Leader John Conyers from Michigan has a special interest in election reform, to use this debacle to bring investigation by the Justice Department. We will request the investigation of activities by possible California perpetrators, including Conny McCormack, members of Diebold-using counties who are leading the charge against Shelley, and certain journalists and newspapers, and on a national level, the EAC.

It is absolutely astounding to those of us who have been following election fraud that the EAC was here in California with McCormack on election night, and is now investigating Shelley over his supposed partisan use of HAVA funds, while they let the far more guilty Ohio SoS Ken Blackwell go by unscrutinized and undisciplined.

This is a cause celebre not only for California voting rights activists, but for those around the country, and around the world, so beware. Your integrity is under a microscope in this matter.

We strongly support California Secretary of State Kevin Shelley. We approve of his decertification and suit against Diebold, his providing Californians with a paper ballot option, and his other efforts at transparent elections. We believe that the scurrilous campaign to remove him from office is ill motivated and could result in a catastrophe for the California Democratic Party, for the people of California, and for the nation.

Don’t be one of the California Democratic politicians who are on the wrong side of this controversy, whether through ignorance or corruption.

We urge:

1) Strong support for Shelley's work in trying to safeguard California voters against electronic election fraud. DO NOT LET CONNY McCORMACK OR ANYONE ELSE UNDO Shelley’s stringent requirements.

2) Urge Shelley to remain in office if he can possibly bear up under this disgusting and unfounded attack. At the very least show your support and apologize to him for the lack of it. The public is watching, and this bipartisan character attack and ostracization will not go unnoticed, especially in the coming months.

3) Resist any appointee of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Republican or Democrat, who falls below Shelley's high standard of vigilance regarding the integrity of our election system.

4) In election standards, at a bare minimum, insist on inspectable code, no hidden modems inside voting machines, and verifiable paper audits.

Please educate yourself and do the right thing before it is too late.

Sincerely,

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

[shance]

8. Thank you for sharing your letter and your efforts Ojai.

You've been an inspiration and a great motivator for myself and other DUers. Your letter is powerful, straightforward and honest.

I think this apparent abandoning of Shelley is concerning in many respects.

One of the most important aspects is that a precedent is being set. Primarily, if a fellow Dem comes under attack, its now fair game?
How can we recruit good leadership if we don't have loyal leaders willing to stand up with each other and do the right thing themselves?

How will we maintain a Democracy if we as Democrats don't learn to stand up together and fight the wrongdoing being enacted?

Other Dems wish luck to the one being targetted and then high tail it into safey. What kind of support is this?

Again, I have seen nothing, absolutely nothing near a situation that would call for other Dems to totally walk away from the Secretary.

If something was there, it would already be there. More importantly, you can make anyone look bad if you have the accusers and the money to do it.

[Helga Scow Stern]

9. Maybe this can be a call to integrity...

maybe we can make it one like we did for the January 6 certification. Of course this situation is more convoluted, since for whatever reason, we've got Dems attacking alongside the Republicans. But it could be a good way of seeing who has something worth supporting and who doesn't.

Could be a good way to rally.

[Amaryllis]

15. That is one fine letter.

[yurbud]

3. I called them and didn't get any definitive answers

Fran Pavley wrote and said that the dems have approve his replacement.

That's the most I've heard.

[Helga Scow Stern]

5. The Dems have approved, or have to approve?

I didn't understand, which is it? And do you have a link for Pavley?

[yurbud]

7. Assembly member email re: have to approve his replacement

From: [e-mail]
Subject: RE: District 41 Web Email
Date: February 7, 2005 11:50:30 AM PST


Although the Governor has the right to make such a mid-term appointment, the
Legislature must also confirm it. There are no indications at this point as
to who the Governor may select.

[shance]

10. Thanks Yurbud. I just called my assemblyman's office Paul Koretz's

office and the woman said, who was very nice, said he has not "wanted" to make a comment.

I said that is the entire reason we are our country is in such trouble.

I mentioned so few of our Democratic leaders have the courage integrity and leadership skills needed to be in office, and perhaps those not willing to take the necessary stands should leave office.

If those in office don't want to take a stand, they should be replaced by someone who is willing to take important Democratic positions. They are putting others that have the guts to take a stand in a vulnerable situation that I think the Democratic party is as responsible as the Republicans.

[yurbud]

12. exactly--dems being polite during texas chainsaw massacre

"Well, we don't want to offend Leatherface when he's busy working...."

[Betsy Ross]

6. Shelley resigned last week.

I called him the week before urging him not to resign. It seems there may be some truth into his mismanagement of funds; I don't have and links.

[Helga Scow Stern]

11. There is no truth to anything on a scale that would lead to resignation.

Anyone who was audited by Elaine Howle, the State Auditor, would be found lacking. She said he was slow to disperse HAVA funds...well that may have been for good reason, like needing to be sure that counties complied with more stringent standards than they were used to. They used what they found from her and hyped it up.

The fact is, he has been praised for running "smooth" elections, so what are they complaining about?

The charges are exaggerated on each level. They say he should be investigated for not dispersing funds--well there was a good reason for that--he wasn't sure of which machines certain counties were getting.

So with this accusation, they get the State Financial Office to withold Shelley's HAVA funds. Then Conny McCormack and everyone she can find start bitching their heads off about "what a mess", and how they are so hampered because of Shelley holding up the funds. They can't get their voter education pamphlets printed up in time, oh my! And it's all Shelley's fault.

There is that charge of someone getting a grant and then giving the money back to Shelley....but that should not cause his resignation until it is thoroughtly investigated. He resigned because there was a massive strike against him and no one can stand up to that, no matter how innocent you are.

[Helga Scow Stern]

13. Listen to this interview with McCormack and Romero

It only played for me in the cached version, so the url is long:

http://216.239.63.104/search?q=cache:U_-iWPLHnd0J:www.scpr.org/programs/airtalk/index.shtml+romero+%2B%22conny+mccormack%22&hl=en&client=firefox-a

I can't listen to the rest of it now, but in what I heard, Conny is saying how they won't be able to meet the requirements Shelley put in place.

Can't wait to see what Romero says.

This is an exaggeration from Conny:

all 58 counties have had difficulties working with the secretary, to the point where we’re really concerned that we won’t be able to meet the federal requirements of 2006, because of his decisions regarding certifying voting equipment and meeting his requirements.

She really wants those out of the way.

[shance]

14. The one thing I'm having problems understanding is the lack of response

to what Conny McCormack is saying, from any Democrat. Leaders wonder why people arent involved. There's your answer. We are being shut out consistently on issues that will directly effect us as Californians (and American citizens).

The closed doors are wrong because of the secrecy and wrong for the Democratic process in general.

I was at dinner tonight with friends and one asked why isn't Mr. Shelley and/or other Dems coming out and fighting back. Why aren't they responding?

Of course I had no answer because I don't know.

Not one Dem is willing to discuss (other than those attacking him for whatever motivation)talk about the second highest in command stepping down?

That's what I don't understand. Californians should be demanding some answers.

[Amaryllis]

16. REallly makes you wonder how many Dems are complicit. Same with the whole

NM recount.

[Helga Scow Stern]

17. It's fishy alright.

[Peace Patriot]

18. 1. Voting systems are too complicated. They should easy for...

...ordinary people to understand.

2. All these complications require "professionals"--even worse than bureaucrats. And they get all invested in the technology, and the vendors, and the complications--whether in direct corruption, or just psychologically and "professionally" invested. Going to conferences all the time, and hobnobbing. And there is probably a lot of industry/government musical chairs--as with military contractors and every other kind of consultancy. The gov't official becomes an ADVOCATE for the private corporate service being provided, rather than a watchdog, monitor and regulator.

3. I saw this all happening with forestry. What happens at the CA Board of Forestry, and the California Department of Forestry, is a lot of professional and bureaucratic gobble-de-gook, traded among former timber industry "professionals," ranchers and others users and exploiters of the state's natural resources, now working in government--along with highly political appointees. And what is their goal? What does it all amount to? Justifying cutting down more and more and more trees. The system of approving cutting down more and more and more trees is so corrupt with "professional" lingo, and obscurity, and pseudo-scientific malarkey, and B.S. reports, and lengthy meetings at locations that are 5 to 10 hours drive away, that ordinary people cannot participate in these resource decisions, as mandated by the California Environmental Quality Act. The system is broken. The redwood forest in particular has been destroyed. 80% to 90% of the forest volume is gone--and all of its dependent species--the birds, the fish--are near extinction. And it matters not a whit--and has not mattered for some 25 years or so--whether it's Democrats or Republicans running things.

4. That's what the BushCons in Congress who gave us HAVA have done to our voting system. They've broken it. But it is the Democrats' participation in that democracy-busting action that is the most puzzling. I do not understand it. Voting is fundamental. How could they let the BushCons mess with voting? Is it some mix of this "professional" thing (it's all so complicated, only "professionals" can understand it) and corruption, and malfeasance?

5. And we're seeing the sort of forces that were at work in creating HAVA--3.5 BILLION dollars, for one thing--in play now in California--and we're seeing the sort of gobble-de-gook government that afflicts forest regulation now afflicting the core of democracy, voting.

Well, on that cheery thought, I have to go off to bed. Work tomorrow. I may get a few letters in, in the morning. Good-night, Ojai Person! Profound thanks for you work and your commitment!

[Amaryllis]

19. Did you see this thread on all the voting systems companies nefarious

conncetions?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss//duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=318855&mesg_id=318855

[Helga Scow Stern]

20. That is one complicated tangle. The corruption is maybe two-fold.

The Dems who support the Conny crap may be doing it for different reasons, like millions in HAVA money??? I don't know anything about how these things work, but there has been a big push to keep it on the county level, so there's more competitiion, more lobbying, etc.

More chance for reward.

Then on another level, the machine stealing votes goes on, but no one knows except for a very few.

And protesting DRE's is becoming a marginalizing Thug talking point.

I am convinced now that there is an evil plot in the works:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=141&topic_id=7016#

[Amaryllis]

23. I could get paranoid...I think I'm turning into a conspiracy theorist. If

there really is a conspiracy and we know it, are we still conspiracy theorists?

[Helga Scow Stern]

26. We are no longer conspiracy theorists, but exposers.

Conspiracy exposers.

[New Earth]

27. Truth exposers

[Helga Scow Stern]

28. These are really good points, Peace Patriot.

We need to come up with a letter to tell the Dems wha to insist on before they approve any new SoS appointee.

I don't feel knowledgeable enough about what has gone on before--all I have heard are the attacks.

How can we keep them from approving someone who will allow the compromise of our election standards?

Who is most important to contact? Perata? Who else?


FBI was investigating Perata and scared the hell out of his son in a very public investigation of his home. I think some major intimidation may be going on here.

[Helga Scow Stern]

21. There may be a threat hanging over their heads with redistricting.....

They may realize that a coup is in place, and think the only way they can survive is to shut up.

Doesn't sound good, but that may be it.

Plus the dynamics of ostracization, skillfully applied, as Rove is a master of, keep anyone from supporting the chosen target.

They pick the most deplorable thing that no one would want to be associated with, and then accuse the victim of that. In Texas, it was Ann Richardson is a lesbian. Other times it's McCain fathered an out of wedlock child with a black woman. So and so was a coward in battle. Somebody else is a child molester. Someone else is a "corrupt politician".

So watch out all you corrupt politician, better shut up and not say anything or you'll be accused too. You'll be aligned with supporting corruption. And employee abuse. Oh my. And poor management. And POOR USE OF GOVERNMENT FUNDS. You wouldn't want to support that would you? Well then, why would you support these crazy printers, etc., that go against DRE's? Why would you "undermine" that technology? That's poor use of govt. funds.

You get the idea.

We had better start exposing this and fast, if we are to have a prayer.

[shance]

32. That may be true, but history shows, silence has never brought about

positive change.

Silence looks eventually like complicity.

The theory of they are working on it behind the scenes since the 2004 election now shows that is not the strategy to be taking.

Silence allows business as usual to continue.

[Al-CIAda]

35. 'Working behind the scenes"

Lets see, we trusted them that they would correct voting problems since Gore. When no headway on paper backup ballots were made, it was assumed they were working behind the scenes. The fact is, after 2000 they've purged innocent people by the 10s of thousands from voting 2 MORE times. In 2002 the magic machines proliferated unchecked yet again. Several seats are HIGHLY suspect. It was assumed they were working behind the scenes in 2004 and some suggested Kerry had a 'secret plan" (lmao).

If this is the effect of 'working behind the scenes', it would appear such 'work' could also be called 'aiding and giving comfort' to criminals and traitors of democracy.

At what point does this myth of 'working behind the scenes' become apparent?

[caligirl]

22. All I heard was some dems in Sacramento were kinda glad he's leaving.

[zann725]

24. "Some REPUGS," you mean?

That seems closer to the truth.

[caligirl]

25. No I read an article, some might call it a hack job, at the SF chronicle

this week. They stated a couple of dems felt this way. As well as the employees he is supposed to have yelled and screamed at even after firing them. He never learned the lesson of the value of friends you make on the way up, he had none on the way down. Some people felt this news article was unfair. But if the guy harrassed employees, yelled and threw things at them he isn't going to be liked.

[Helga Scow Stern]

29. His staff sure sounds loyal to him when anyone calls.

These are all just smear tactics. You could take anyone, Jesus, Mother Theresa, and do this very same thing.

[EFerrari]

31. Never thought of that, but it's true. They all sound relieved. n/t

[shance]

33. I think it was you OP who said earlier that

Anyone can be made to look guilty if others want to scapegoat them.

How true.

[EFerrari]

30. We don't know if he did that. We know the Chron was on a mission. nt

[Califooyah Operative]

34. From what I know from local democratic insiders,

Shelley wasn't the most liked man, even by his staff, he treated them like crap, so they didn't stick up for him, it's well documented in local papers. It's true, some dems wanted to see him go, and since he's resigned, i saw 1 person at a dem meeting last week bring up asking shelley to withdrawl, and the party leaders laughed and said it's not gonna happen, maybe from a jail cell, the party has distanced themselves from him atleast from what i know talking to people on the state and local levels. and this is from people in a very progressive and liberal demoratic club, here in california, where we very much support the good shelley has done.

[EFerrari]

37. Compare with the rally around that crook DeLay

where the House Republican leadership were willing to change the rules JUST IN CASE he was indicted of A FELONY. And no one believes it's because he's a sweet man and a good boss.

I think CA Dem leadership just made a huge mistake. Hope I'm wrong.

[FloridaCrat]

36. Ca people need to start a RECALL-- SCHWARZENEGGER n/t