Thursday 2/17 Election Fraud, Reform, & Updates Thread

[dzika]

In order to organize and document I thought it would be a good idea to have a daily thread to place items related to reform, fraud, protests, and other items. This also make it easier to "catch up" when we are away from the computer for a while.

Please help us. If you see something that isn't here post it with a link to the thread and a thanks to the author. Thanks to everyone who is helping with this project.


Link to the thread from yesterday: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=203&topic_id=327957#328448

[dzika]

1. Wisconsin Voter IDs, Medicaid bailout advance

Posted: Feb. 16, 2005

Voter IDs, Medicaid bailout advance

Doyle likely to reject lawmakers' efforts on the former, accept the latter
By STACY FORSTER


Madison - A powerful Legislative committee took steps Wednesday to fix what many consider to be two major problems: It advanced a bill to require voters to show photo IDs at the polls, and redirected money to keep the state's Medicaid program afloat.

The Legislature's budget-writing Joint Finance Committee approved the photo ID bill with a 12-4 party-line vote; Republicans generally support the measure, and Democrats oppose it, saying it could disenfranchise voters.

The bill would alter Wisconsin's historically open elections process by requiring an ID to vote, even for those who vote with an absentee ballot.

The full Assembly will vote on the bill next week, said its co-sponsor Rep. Jeff Stone (R-Greendale).

Gov. Jim Doyle vetoed a similar bill in 2003 and is expected to do so again if this one reaches his desk.


more: http://www.jsonline.com/news/state/feb05/302318.asp

[dzika]

2. Election Reform Investigation Turns Up Unexpected Gannongate Tidbit

Tuesday, February 15, 2005

Election Reform Investigation Turns Up Unexpected Gannongate Tidbit: Some White House Press Briefing Transcripts Make It Harder to Track Jeff Gannon

By ADVOCATE STAFF


Quick: what�s the most common spelling of the name "Jeff" -- "Jeff," or "Geoff"?

We'll answer that ourselves, actually.

(Jeffrey, from which the nickname "Jeff" is derived, is the 30th most popular name in the United States; Geoffrey, from which the nickname "Geoff" is derived, is the 368th most popular name).

According to alleged, the CIA) belied the fact that his "journalistic" bona fides were purchased for $50 at the so-called "Institute of Journalism." Guckert, who within six days of becoming a "journalist" was cleared by the unfathomably-stringent White House for physical access to the White House press room and the President's press conferences, had been denied journalistic access to the U.S. Senate and House upon a finding that he did not work for a real news organization (see reference here). White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan has repeatedly called Guckert by his alias in public briefings; McClellan now admits that he learned of Guckert's real identity at some point in the past. He has declined to specifically pinpoint when this discovery was made.[br />
Odd, then, that according to transcripts of press briefings given by McClellan, there is, indeed, a �Geoff� in the White House press corps.


read more from THE NASHUA ADVOCATE:
http://nashuaadvocate.blogspot.com/2005/02/election-reform-investigation-turns-up.html

[dzika]

3. Video - The Daily Show finds comedy with Gannon Story and Blogs - 2/16

Video - The Daily Show finds comedy with Gannon Story and Blogs - 2/16

Video in Real Media format (150k stream / 10 minutes):
http://www.edwardsdavid.com/BushVideos/dail_show_gannon_bloggers_long_050217-01.rm

[dzika]

4. USA Today compares Social Security polls to Election polls

USA Today compares Social Security polls to Election polls

---

Posted 2/16/2005 11:09 PM

Age defines perception, reception of Bush's plan

By Susan Page, USA TODAY

'Get them fired up'

And while Election Day turnout among young people rose in 2004 � overall, turnout was higher than in any election since 1968, which was before these voters were born � they are still less likely to vote than older Americans. That makes their views less potent with policymakers.
...

A reversal of 2004

The debate over Social Security in 2005 has reversed the electoral coalitions of 2004.

Bush is trying to sideline seniors from the debate over the signature domestic goal of his second term, though they were the age group that gave him the greatest support in November. Those 60 and older voted for Bush over Democrat John Kerry by 54%-46%, according to surveys of voters as they left polling places on Election Day.

On his Social Security proposal, however, the president is counting on the age group that was least likely to support his re-election. Among those 18 to 29, Kerry beat Bush, 54%-45%.

That generational divide creates problems for Bush. He needs to win over younger voters who have other priorities. In a show of hands in Tyson's class, seven students said their biggest financial concern was buying a house in the area's pricey market. Five said their top worry was finding affordable medical insurance. Five named paying for college for their own kids. Two cited finding a job.


more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-02-16-young-benefits_x.htm

[dzika]

5. Fla. official pitches election law changes

Florida Republican Secretary of State, Glenda Hood, has a plan to grant herself "sweeping powers" and become the "ultimate referee" of Florida election law.

---

Wednesday, February 16, 2005 � Last updated 9:11 p.m. PT

Fla. official pitches election law changes

By BRENT KALLESTAD


TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- The Florida secretary of state's office Wednesday proposed changing election law to give voters more privacy at polling sites - and give those who cast provisional ballots a week, instead of two days, to prove their eligibility.

The measures would also establish the secretary - the current officeholder is Republican Glenda Hood - as the ultimate referee when disputes arise from different interpretations of election law by county supervisors.

The proposals appear to give the secretary sweeping powers and could create a showdown with the 67 county supervisors. The proposals also were not discussed in advance with leaders of the Florida House and Senate.

A key change would give supervisors and canvassing boards more time to review provisional ballots, eliminating some of the pressure to make a decision in the heat of an election. Another recommendation would provide a 100-foot sanctuary around the polling site instead of the present 50 feet, a move that keeps partisans at bay.

"We heard some concerns this past election of overzealous people, yelling back and forth," said department spokeswoman Jenny Nash. "Some voters were feeling a little intimidated so we'd like to assure a comfortable area for the voters."


http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apus_story.asp?category=1110&slug=Florida%20Elections

[dzika]

6. PRESS RELEASE - John Kerry Calls for Election Reform

(http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x328771">thanks to kerrygoddess)

Thursday, February 17, 2005

John Kerry Calls for Election Reform

Below is a statement from Senator John Kerry on election reform. Today, he will participate in a press conference on Capitol Hill at 12:45 in Russell 188 with Senators Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Ohio).

Thursday, February 17, 2005

�Free and fair elections are the foundation of our democracy. In the last year, millions more Americans registered and went to the polls than ever before. We saw millions in Iraq and Afghanistan vote for the first time in their lives. Yet, thousands upon thousands of Americans still fear that when they walk into the polls to vote, there is a very real chance that their vote will not be counted or they will lose the opportunity to vote at all because they are forced to stand in line for hours due to a shortage of machines.

�Faulty voting machines have no place in the greatest democracy on earth. Barriers to voting are an insult to the freest, greatest nation in the world.

�Last month, I sent out an email to Americans urging them to ask the Republican leadership in the House and Senate to make election reform a priority this Congress. In just one day 35,000 people called Senator Frist and Congressman Hastert's offices and urged them to hold hearings on election reform. I'm committed to making sure their voices are heard and Congress and the Administration make electoral reform a reality this year.

�I am proud today to join with my colleagues, Senators Clinton and Boxer, Congresswoman Tubbs Jones and Congressman Conyers, and the nation's leading civil rights groups to advance comprehensive election reform.

�Congress must take action to ensure all Americans have faith in future elections that the votes they stood in line to cast are counted. �Today, I once again call on our Republican colleagues to make protecting voting rights a priority and to put election reform legislation on the legislative calendar this year. I call on Congress to keep its promise and fully fund the Help America Vote Act, fund the activities of the Election Assistance Commission, and help states invest in better voting machines with paper trails.

�We must put party politics aside and join together as proud American citizens to eliminate barriers to voting, encourage the greatest level of civic participation possible, and restore confidence in the notion that every eligible voter will have the opportunity to cast a ballot and have it counted.�


Contact: David Wade or April Boyd

source: http://kerry.senate.gov/high/record.cfm?id=232268

DU Thread for discussion

[dzika]

7. 100,000 Strong. Count Every Vote letter from Hillary

(thanks to BigBearJohn)

February, 17, 2005

100,000 Strong. Count Every Vote letter from Hillary

Dear Friends,

What better way to advance our Count Every Vote reform initiative than to show the power of democracy in action!

Last week I asked you to become a citizen co-sponsor of this vitally important reform legislation that Senator Barbara Boxer and I have made a top priority for 2005.

100,000 of you answered our call to action -- and the number is growing every day.

http://www.friendsofhillary.com/CountEveryVote

Today, we take the next step. This afternoon, I will step onto the Senate floor and formally introduce the Count Every Vote Act.

Providing paper receipts for electronic voting machines, creating uniform standards for provisional ballots, and guaranteeing adequate equipment to prevent long waiting lines are common-sense reforms. They will help strengthen our democracy and they are supported by the vast majority of Americans.

But here�s the reality. Many of the Republican leaders who make speeches about democracy abroad will resist this attempt to strengthen it here at home. They don�t want to face the issue of electoral reform, and they don�t want to vote on it - so they are going to try to ignore it.

That�s why I am committed to building grassroots momentum -- to insist on action for the Count Every Vote Act of 2005. We are going to show that the American people are determined to have fair, free and credible elections - our democracy demands no less!

100,000 citizen co-sponsors is a great start. But, it is only a start.

Will you continue to help me build support? Will you forward this email to your friends, and ask them to join us? The more citizen co-sponsors we have, the louder, and stronger, our voice will be!

Thank you,


Hillary Clinton

DU Thread for Discussion

[dzika]

8. ELECTION RIGGING 101 - A National Teach-In

(thanks to rumpel)

ELECTION RIGGING 101
A National Teach-In

Date: Saturday, February 26, 2005

Start Time: 10:00 am End Time: 4:00 pm
(Time Zone: US/Pacific)

Category: Community Events


Description

11 hour lines to vote; missing and broken voting machines; kerry votes that became bush votes; registered voters purged from the voting lists; RECOUNTS THAT WEREN�T


A National Teach-In
On the 2004 Election AND WHAT WE MUST DO TO RESTORE DEMOCRACY

With Bob Fitrakis
Ohio Attorney, Editor: Columbus Free Press

Saturday, February 26th, 10am - 4pm
First Congregational Church
2501 Harrison Street, Oakland
$10-20 suggested donation, please bring lunch


Featuring

• Butch Wing, Political Director, Rainbow Push; Larry Bensky, KPFA Correspondent; Walter Riley, East Bay Votes, Gail Jonas, www.electionreformnow.org
  
  
• stunning documentary footage of Ohio from award-winning filmmakers
  
  
• Speakers and action from Blackboxvoting.org, VotersUnite.org, Open Voting Consortium, the MMOB, more

source: http://www.calendarwiz.com/calendars/popup.php?&op=view&id=1076369

Also see: http://www.democraticrenewal.us

DU Thread for discussion

[dzika]

9. Dems, reporters weigh in on avoiding Gannon sex issue

(thanks to demo dutch)

2/17/2005

The elephant in the living room: Why Dems, reporters say they won�t touch the sex

Dems, reporters weigh in on avoiding Gannon sex issue

By John Byrne | RAW STORY Editor


Congressional Democratic staffers and reporters gave varying answers in conversations with RAW STORY today over why both Democrats and the mainstream press had shied away from the more lurid aspects of a story involving a disgraced White House reporter�namely that he was selling himself for $200 an hour on the Internet.

Both the reporters and the Democratic staff declined to go on the record by name when discussing the sexual aspects of the story.

A senior House aide connected with the push for an inquiry into how Gannon got access to the president and potentially a memorandum naming a CIA agent said he believed Democrats had steered away from the issue because they felt it hindered the story�s ability to make it into the mainstream press.

�The reason that people don�t want to talk about the sex angle in the story is that we all know that the mainstream media will not pick up the story,� the aide said.


more from THE RAW STORY:
http://rawstory.com/news/2005/index.php?p=91

DU Thread for discussion

[dzika]

10. Senate GOP lays out its plan to improve elections

(thanks to minorjive)

Senate GOP lays out its plan to improve elections

...and it's entirely about preventing "voter fraud" and requiring voter IDs.

My predicition: if some version of VVPT legislation is passed, these Repug provisions will be forced on it as compromise.

The result: legislation to create verifiable voting (which may not be any good...) and a further assault on the voting rights of minority and low income citizens.


From the Election Law blog:

Steven Duffield of the Senate Republican Policy Committee emails: The Senate Republican Policy Committee has released a new Policy Paper, "Putting an End to Voter Fraud: the Need for New Federal Reforms." It argues for voter identification requirements at the polls, adjustments to the “Motor Voter” law so that states can protect against fraudulent and duplicate voter registrations, more protections to ensure that only Americans vote in American elections, and greater examination of fraud risks in early and absentee voting.

The executive summary of the plan contains the following points:

First, Congress should require that voters at the polls show photo identification.

Second, Congress should examine the integrity of the voter registration process and the ongoing failures of states to maintain accurate voter lists.

Third, Congress should examine the extent to which early and absentee voting increases the likelihood of fraudulent votes being cast.

No election-related legislation should proceed in this Congress unless these issues receive a thorough examination.

DU Thread for discussion

[dzika]

11. Frank Rich of NYT on "Gannon:" Gives big props to KO

(thanks to crispini)
Frank Rich of NYT on "Gannon:" Gives big props to KO.

---

February 20, 2005

The White House Stages Its 'Daily Show'

FRANK RICH


THE prayers of those hoping that real television news might take its cues from Jon Stewart were finally answered on Feb. 9, 2005. A real newsman borrowed a technique from fake news to deliver real news about fake news in prime time.

Let me explain.

On "Countdown," a nightly news hour on MSNBC, the anchor, Keith Olbermann, led off with a classic "Daily Show"-style bit: a rapid-fire montage of sharply edited video bites illustrating the apparent idiocy of those in Washington. In this case, the eight clips stretched over a year in the White House briefing room - from February 2004 to late last month - and all featured a reporter named "Jeff." In most of them, the White House press secretary, Scott McClellan, says "Go ahead, Jeff," and "Jeff" responds with a softball question intended not to elicit information but to boost President Bush and smear his political opponents. In the last clip, "Jeff" is quizzing the president himself, in his first post-inaugural press conference of Jan. 26. Referring to Harry Reid and Hillary Clinton, "Jeff" asks, "How are you going to work with people who seem to have divorced themselves from reality?"

If we did not live in a time when the news culture itself is divorced from reality, the story might end there: "Jeff," you'd assume, was a lapdog reporter from a legitimate, if right-wing, news organization like Fox, and you'd get some predictable yuks from watching a compressed video anthology of his kissing up to power. But as Mr. Olbermann explained, "Jeff Gannon," the star of the montage, was a newsman no more real than a "Senior White House Correspondent" like Stephen Colbert on "The Daily Show" and he worked for a news organization no more real than The Onion. Yet the video broadcast by Mr. Olbermann was not fake. "Jeff" was in the real White House, and he did have those exchanges with the real Mr. McClellan and the real Mr. Bush.
...
By my count, "Jeff Gannon" is now at least the sixth "journalist" (four of whom have been unmasked so far this year) to have been a propagandist on the payroll of either the Bush administration or a barely arms-length ally like Talon News while simultaneously appearing in print or broadcast forums that purport to be real news. Of these six, two have been syndicated newspaper columnists paid by the Department of Health and Human Services to promote the administration's "marriage" initiatives. The other four have played real newsmen on TV. Before Mr. Guckert and Armstrong Williams, the talking head paid $240,000 by the Department of Education, there were Karen Ryan and Alberto Garcia. Let us not forget these pioneers - the Woodward and Bernstein of fake news. They starred in bogus reports ("In Washington, I'm Karen Ryan reporting," went the script) pretending to "sort through the details" of the administration's Medicare prescription-drug plan in 2004. Such "reports," some of which found their way into news packages distributed to local stations by CNN, appeared in more than 50 news broadcasts around the country and have now been deemed illegal "covert propaganda" by the Government Accountability Office.


more: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/20/arts/20rich.html?pagewanted=1

DU Thread for discussion

[dzika]

12. Jeb Bush wants to tighten state's grip on election laws

Posted on Thu, Feb. 17, 2005

Jeb Bush wants to tighten state's grip on election laws

State officials would gain much more control over elections -- and the purging of voter rolls -- under a sweeping legislative proposal drawn up by Gov. Jeb Bush and the Department of State.

BY GARY FINEOUT



TALLAHASSEE - In a move that would dramatically increase state control of elections, Gov. Jeb Bush and the state elections office will ask the Legislature for greater authority, including the ability to decide which voters should be purged from voting rolls.

The secretary of state, who is appointed by the governor, also would be given strong enforcement powers, including the authority to seek criminal charges and fines up to $5,000 against any of the state's 67 election supervisors -- most of whom are elected -- who fail to follow the rules.
...
But the two biggest changes place complete control of voter registration rolls in the state's hands.

The state would determine voter eligibility and decide whether to purge people from the rolls, including convicted felons whose civil rights have not been restored. Under existing law, the state draws up a felons-purge list, but it is left to supervisors to remove voters from the rolls.


DEMOCRATS WARY

The state would gain this authority even though it was forced last summer to scuttle its felons list after news organizations showed it was riddled with errors, among them the exclusion of Hispanic felons. State officials contend the new system won't repeat those mistakes, but some Democrats are unconvinced.

''I think the state showed gross incompetence with the felons list last time and I'm very skeptical why they would have the sole power'' to purge the rolls, said House Democratic Leader Chris Smith of Fort Lauderdale.


more: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/10919708.htm?1c

[dzika]

13. Radical Election "reform" in Florida

Posted on Thu, Feb. 17, 2005

Radical Election "reform" in Florida

Elections supervisors whacked

The state office's reputation is due largely to the unreliability of its list of former felons who should have been allowed to vote once their civil rights had been restored, but weren't. It took local supervisors of elections to attempt to straighten this out. Likewise, the Secretary of State's supreme overconfidence in the veracity of voting equipment that had no ability to produce a "paper trail" flew in the face of major and serious legal challenges.

Yet on Wednesday, Ms. Hood sent to the Legislature a last-minute bill usurping and centralizing in her appointed office the authority currently held by the elected supervisors of elections in all 67 counties.

The proposal basically renders these constitutional officers paper-shufflers, putting the major decisions about voters, registration and the carrying out of elections in the hands of a novice staff of 22 people here in Tallahassee.

The bill inexplicably includes unprecedented penalty language that is quite simply fightin' words to supervisors. In this bill, they're described as potential "violators" if they willfully fail to follow "directives issued by the Secretary of State."

more: http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/democrat/news/opinion/10916758.htm

[dzika]

14. East St. Louis mayor asks for federal monitoring of election next week

February 17, 2005

East St. Louis mayor asks for federal monitoring of election next week

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. The mayor of East St. Louis has asked for federal agents to monitor polling stations during next week's municipal election.

In a letter sent to the U-S attorney's office in Fairview Heights, Mayor Carl Officer says he is concerned about possible voter irregularities because of ongoing investigations into alleged election fraud and indictments against several city officials.

The letter asks U-S Attorney Ron Tenpas and Assistant U-S Attorney Hal Goldsmith to send federal agents to polling stations during Tuesday's municipal primary to ensure the election is fair.

Assistant U-S Attorney Randy Masseys says the office received the letter Monday and is considering options available under federal law.

more: http://www.kwqc.com/Global/story.asp?S=2961335

[dzika]

15. Democratic Senators Want Voting Reform

February 17, 2005

Democratic Senators Want Voting Reform

An Ohio congresswoman is joining Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Barbara Boxer of California in introducing a new voting reform bill.

Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones is a Cleveland Democrat who has been outspoken about possible voting irregularities in her home state. She and Boxer stood together earlier this year to unsuccessfully oppose Ohio's Electoral College vote.

Clinton is considered a possible Democratic presidential candidate in 2008.

The bill, called "Count Every Vote", would provide a paper ballot for every vote cast on electronic machines.

It also would set uniform standards for provisional ballots and require the Election Assistance Commission to ensure everyone has access to voting machines and election workers.


source: http://www.onnnews.com/Global/story.asp?S=2963801&nav=LQlCWVeq

[dzika]

16. Video - CNN with brief report on Kerry, Boxer, Clinton press conf.

Video - CNN with brief report on Kerry, Boxer, Clinton press conference promoting election reform.

Judy Woodruff mentions the problems in Ohio so fast that you can barely understand what she says.



Video in Real Media format (256k stream / 30 seconds):
http://www.edwardsdavid.com/BushVideos/cnn_ip_election_reform_050217-01.rm

[dzika]

17. Media Matters: American Enterprise Institute published "Jeff Gannon"

Thursday February 17, 2005

American Enterprise Institute published "Jeff Gannon"

The American Enterprise, the monthly magazine of the conservative think tank American Enterprise Institute (AEI), published a "Short News and Commentary" article by former Talon News White House correspondent Jeff Gannon (aka James Guckert) in its March 2004 issue.

Media Matters for America demonstrated that Gannon has served as a lifeline for White House press secretary Scott McClellan at press briefings and that Gannon copied GOP documents and releases verbatim and without attribution for use in his articles.

The American Enterprise describes itself as "fiercely independent" and boasts that "we gather the best and brightest writers and thinkers -- from wherever. We don't have a party line -- just a requirement for non-wishy-washy, tightly reasoned, bravely honest arguments. We believe that being well-informed is more important than being proselytized." In the article, which is about a former opponent of the U.S.-led war in Iraq who now supports it, Gannon is identified as the "Washington bureau chief for Talon News." Karl Zinsmeister, J.B. Fuqua Fellow at AEI, has served as editor-in-chief of The American Enterprise since 1994.

Scholars and fellows at AEI include former House of Representatives Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA); author, National Review contributing editor and former George W. Bush speechwriter David Frum; Lynne Cheney, wife of Vice President Dick Cheney; and author John R. Lott Jr., who has been criticized for using disputed research, embellishing his credentials, and writing under a pseudonym to respond to criticism of him, as Media Matters has noted.


Contacts:

Jeff Gannon
[e-mail]
Call in to "Jeff Gannon's Washington" on Rightalk, Thursdays 3-4 p.m.
1-866-884-TALK

Talon News
281-412-2184

The American Enterprise
[e-mail]
Fax: [phone]

Write "The Mail"
The American Enterprise
1150 17th Street N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036


source: http://mediamatters.org/items/200502170003

[dzika]

18. Rove to GOP: Don't Grow 'Tired or Timid'

From SFGate.com:
Thursday, February 17, 2005

Rove to GOP: Don't Grow 'Tired or Timid'

By DEB RIECHMANN, Associated Press Writer

Karl Rove, President Bush's top political strategist, on Thursday pronounced conservatism the "dominant political creed in America" and coached fellow conservatives on how to support his boss.
...
"Republicans cannot grow tired or timid," he said.
...
"Conservatism is the dominant political creed in America," Rove said, adding that more needed to be done.

He also said the administration was committed to spreading democracy across the Middle East and reforming and modernizing Social Security, health care, public education and the tax code.

"Those who oppose this agenda are in a difficult position," Rove said. "They're attempting to block reforms to systems that almost every serious-minded person concedes need reform. ... That's not a good place to be in American politics."

source: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/n/a/2005/02/17/national/w112451S74.DTL

---

Video - CNN Reports on Rove's Comments

Rove says that Bush has a mandate.



Video in Real Media format (150k stream / 1 minute):
http://www.edwardsdavid.com/BushVideos/cnn_ip_rove_mandate_050217-01.rm

[dzika]

19. Rep. Slaughter demands White House "Stop Stonewalling" over Jeff Gannon

Rep. Slaughter demands White House "Stop Stonewalling" over Jeff Gannon

by John in DC - 2/17/2005 03:19:00 PM

Now THAT's my kind of Democrat!

For Immediate Release
February 17, 2005

Rep. Slaughter Demands Answer:
Why was Jeff Gannon in the White House Before Talon News Even Existed? Slaughter to White House - "Stop the Stonewalling!"

Washington, DC - During the February 10 White House briefing, Press Secretary Scott McClellan stated that Jeff Gannon, "...like anyone else, showed that he was representing a news organization that published regularly" in order to receive his day pass to press briefings. It has been confirmed that Jeff Gannon was in the White House briefing room, actively participating in these briefings, as early as February 28, 2003 a full month before Talon News even existed.

Rep. Louise M. Slaughter (NY-28), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Rules, who has lead the call for answers in this matter, today called on the White House to explain their relationship with the discredited "reporter" once and for all.

"It has been a week since I wrote President Bush seeking answers in this matter. I have not yet received a reply. With each new revelation it becomes more and more clear that the relationship between the White House and Jeff Gannon was anything but typical," said Slaughter. "It is time for this Administration to stop the stonewalling and come clean with the American people," she added.

http://www.americablog.org/

---

Video - CNN and MSNBC react to the latest "Gannon" Blog Buzz - 2/17 @ 4:20 PM ET

They mention the Buzz from AmericaBlog and Kos. Re. Slaughter also makes some great comments about "Gannon" and the White House attempts to control and lie to the press.



Video in Real Media format (128k stream / 10 minutes):
http://www.edwardsdavid.com/BushVideos/cnn_msnbc_gannon_050217-01.rm

[dzika]

20. Statement on the Introduction of the Count Every Vote Act

2/17/2005

Statement on the Introduction of the Count Every Vote Act

For Immediate Release: 2/17/2005

Contact: Halle Czechowski or Priscilla Ring
People For the American Way
email: [e-mail]
phone: [phone]


Statement on the Introduction of the
Count Every Vote Act


Ralph G. Neas, President of People For the American Way (PFAW), spoke at a news conference on Capitol Hill marking the introduction of the �Count Every Vote Act� by Senators Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), John Kerry (D-MA) and Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ).

PFAW�s sister organization, People For the American Way Foundation (PFAWF), is a founding member of the Election Protection coalition, which deployed 25,000 poll monitors and voter assistance volunteers at polling sites throughout the nation during the November elections.

Neas released the following statement:

�I want to salute the extraordinary leadership of Senators Clinton, Boxer, Kerry and Lautenberg. This bill will do more than encourage civic participation. It is a landmark civil rights measure that will assist millions of Americans who, because of criminal intent or criminal neglect, have faced disenfranchisement at the nation�s polls.

�Every American citizen deserves to go to the polls and cast a vote that will be counted. This bill provides practical, secure and accessible solutions at the ballot box for Americans with disabilities, those who speak languages other than English, and other Americans who face hurdles in exercising their voting rights. It�s a great bill.

�This is thoughtful legislation that will address many of the problems our volunteers encountered across the country during the 2004 elections. It provides voter-verifiable audit trails, so that voters can be sure the votes they cast are accurate, and their votes are cast securely and counted with integrity.

�It restores voting rights to ex-felons who have paid their debt to society by completing their incarceration, probation and parole, and helps them re-engage as full participants in society.

�It addresses the administrative problems and inequities that caused some of the most disturbing problems we saw in 2004 � impossibly long lines at polling places, inequitable distribution of voting machines, insufficient numbers of poll workers, and a range of problems that tended to disenfranchise primarily minority and low-income voters around the nation.

�The bill increases access to the ballot box by requirements such as same-day voter registration, early voting and no-excuse absentee voting. It�s a milestone in the effort to reform our electoral process.�

source: http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=17910

[dzika]

21. Kerry, Clinton Offer Bill to Revamp Election Laws

Thu Feb 17, 2005 04:21 PM ET

Kerry, Clinton Offer Bill to Revamp Election Laws

By Thomas Ferraro



WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Failed U.S. presidential nominee John Kerry and fellow congressional Democrats offered a bill on Thursday to address voting problems like those reported last November in the pivotal state of Ohio.
...
Complaints included ones of partisan election officials, voter intimidation, long lines and an inadequate number of voting machines in neighborhoods that favored Kerry.

Kerry rejected calls to challenge the results, but has vowed to make upgrading elections laws a top priority even as he keeps open his options of running again in 2008.

"This has to nothing to do with the question of the outcome of 2004 (election)," Kerry, a Massachusetts senator, told a Capitol Hill news conference. "This has everything to do with full civil rights of Americans. Period."

Joining Kerry in introducing the bill were Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, who is also viewed as a potential 2008 presidential contender, and Barbara Boxer of California.


more: http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=7666138

[dzika]

22. Local Election Coverage Faulted

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17, 2005

Local Election Coverage Faulted

By Scott Conroy of the CBS News Political Unit


From what I can gather, if a local candidate wants to be on
television, and cannot afford to advertise, his only hope may be
to have a freak accident."
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.


John McCain isn't quite ready to stop talking about the 2004 election. The maverick Republican senator is touting a study that found broadcasters failed to inform the public about local races.

While certain members of Congress are already jockeying for position for the 2008 presidential race, Sen. John McCain isn't quite ready to stop talking about 2004. The Arizona Republican held a joint press conference on Capitol Hill Tuesday with Mark Kaplan , director of the Norman Lear Center, to announce the findings of a study on local news coverage of the 2004 elections. The conclusion of the Lear Center report was simple: broadcasters are not doing their job to inform the public about local elections.

"Last summer, Sen. McCain and FCC Chairman Michael Powell challenged America's broadcasters to live up to the promise in their licenses to provide significant coverage of local races," Kaplan said. "Based on our findings, it looks like that challenge pretty much fell on deaf ears."

The study focused on election coverage in 11 local affiliates of ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox during the 29-day pre-election period from October 4 to November 1, 2004. The report found that political exposure in these markets was dominated by coverage of the presidential election, with 55 percent of broadcasts containing at least one piece on the White House race, but only eight percent including news about local races. The report also found that stations aired segments about accidental injuries eight times more often than they did about all local political races combined.


more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/02/17/politics/main674789.shtml

[dzika]

23. WA Election reform package passes Senate committee

From kgw.com:
02/17/2005

WA Election reform package passes Senate committee

Associated Press


Lawmakers pushed ahead with their promise to tackle election reform Thursday as a Senate committee passed several bills while House Republicans announced their agenda on the emotion-charged issue.

The issue of reform jumped quickly to the forefront after Democrat Christine Gregoire won the governor's race by 129 votes after a hand recount of nearly 2.9 million ballots after the Nov. 2 election.
...
In the House, Rep. Toby Nixon, R-Kirkland, offered a softer version of Roach's approach Thursday. Under his bill, which has not yet been filed, voters would not be dropped from the rolls, but would be put on an inactive status, and could vote by provisional ballot until they reregister.

Neither option has much support from Democrats, who see it as a way to discourage people from participating in the process.

"I think that's a plan to deny people the right to vote," said House Speaker Frank Chopp, D-Seattle. "We ought to make sure the voter files are updated, but that doesn't mean you have to take everyone off the rolls and add them back on. That seems like an administrative nightmare."


more: http://www.kgw.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D88AHN9G1.html

[dzika]

24. Do NOT Trust These People With the Power to Disenfranchise Voters

From Discourse.net:
February 17, 2005

Do NOT Trust These People With the Power to Disenfranchise Voters

Governor wants to tighten state�s grip on election laws

In a move that would dramatically increase state control of elections, Gov. Jeb Bush and the state elections office will ask the Legislature for greater authority, including the ability to decide which voters should be purged from voting rolls.

The secretary of state, who is appointed by the governor, also would be given strong enforcement powers, including the authority to seek criminal charges and fines up to $5,000 against any of the state�s 67 election supervisors � most of whom are elected � who fail to follow the rules.

My G*d, does no one have a memory? Remember how these guys � the Secretary of State and the Governor � used the authority they already have to secretly purge likely Democratic voters from the rolls?

And then they manipulated the 2000 recount, too. And lied about it.

Following the contentious 2000 recount, e-mails on former Sec. of State Katherine Harris� computer revealed that she had been in contact with Jeb Bush during the recount, contrary to both their claims. Miami Herald reporter Meg Laughlin discovered that e-mail messages sent to Jeb Bush from Harris had been deleted after the recount. Harris then had the operating system of her computer changed, a procedure that erased all its data. Following the contentious 2000 recount, e-mails on former Sec. of State Katherine Harris� computer revealed that she had been in contact with Jeb Bush during the recount, contrary to both their claims. Miami Herald reporter Meg Laughlin discovered that e-mail messages sent to Jeb Bush from Harris had been deleted after the recount. Harris then had the operating system of her computer changed, a procedure that erased all its data. �What was odd about what she did,� said Mark Seibel, an editor at the Herald, �was that they installed an old operating system�not a new one�which makes you wonder why they did it.�

Gotta give them points for bare-faced cheek, I suppose.

source: http://www.discourse.net/archives/2005/02/do_not_trust_these_people_with_the_power_to_disenfranchise_voters.html

[dzika]

25. ACTION - URGENT ACTION REQUEST ON NM ELECTION REFORM BILLS

Thursday, February 17, 2005

URGENT ACTION REQUEST ON NM ELECTION REFORM BILLS

CONTACT THE GOVERNOR AND YOUR LEGISLATORS NOW ON ELECTION REFORM:

Janet Resnick, Terry Riley and others from DFNM and NM Democratic Friends were at the NM Legislature yesterday pushing election reform measures. Both the Republican voter ID bill and Sen. Ortiz y Pino's election reform bill were tabled at the Senate Rules Committee. Meanwhile, Sen. Cisco McSorley will be introducing an election reform bill that Sonja Elison, Clo Barnaby and other voting reform advocates helped draft.

Governor Richardson held a press conference yesterday laying out what measures for election reform he intends to push via legislation introduced by Democrats. It was learned that Senate and House leadership will craft a bill using Richardson's proposals, along with parts of other election reform bills.


This process will be occurring today and tomorrow so it is imperative that we contact the Governor and our Legislators NOW to request the following be passed THIS SESSION:

1. Voting machines that produce VOTER VERIFIABLE PAPER BALLOTS. Using other types of auditable systems is not enough.
   
   
2. A quality assurance system that includes a required manual handcount in every precinct of a random 10 percent of the ballots, to see if they match the count being produced by the machines. If not, an automatic recount would be triggered.
   
   
3. We need adequate funds allocated to county clerks to purchase new machines before the 2006 election.
   
   
4. These requirements and others are spelled out clearly in the election reform bill that will be introduced by Senator Cisco McSorley, which we support.

You can email Governor Richardson here:
http://www.governor.state.nm.us/emailconfirm.php?mm=6


You can find your legislators in the House and Senate here:
http://legis.state.nm.us/lcs/legislatorsearch.asp


Our folks at the Legislature yesterday had productive interactions in the Senate Rules Committee, with legislative analysts, at the press conference held by Governor Richardson where Ramon was present (with a sign), and during a conversation Terry had with the Governor in the hall. We have good reason to believe that we can achieve many of our goals concerning election reform IF we continue to keep the pressure on.

Some of our folks will be up at the Legislature again today distributing information about what we want in terms of election reform, and we must back them up via this email effort.

Here are links to front and back of the document they will be passing out, which was designed by Terry Riley. You can download them and pass them along to interested parties.

Front: http://www.democracyfornewmexico.com/photos/uncategorized/voter_bill_bullets_side_2a.jpg

Back: http://www.democracyfornewmexico.com/photos/uncategorized/voter_bill_bullets_side_2b.jpg


Thanks for you help!



source: http://www.democracyfornewmexico.com/democracy_for_new_mexico/2005/02/urgent_action_r.html

[dzika]

26. Texas gets final tally of provisional votes - 20 percent deemed valid

February 17, 2005

Texas gets final tally of provisional votes

AUSTIN | More than 36-thousand provisional ballots were cast in Texas in the November election.

But the final statewide tally released today shows only 20 percent of those were deemed valid and were counted.

Although the provisional votes had already been counted on the local level and included in statewide final election results, the Texas Secretary of State's Office didn't have an exact figure on how many such votes were cast and counted for more than three months.

Local officials had to report provisional votes in a lengthy federal survey.

A provisional vote can be cast if a voter shows up on Election Day but it isn't clear whether he or she is eligible to vote.



Texas Secretary of State's Office: www.sos.state.tx.us

Source: http://www.kltv.com/Global/story.asp?S=2965355