Thursday 2/23 Election Fraud, Reform, & Updates Thread

[MelissaB]

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=view_all&address=203x332590

[dzika]

1. Fate of four cases filed by voters rests with justices

Wednesday, February 23, 2005

Fate of four cases filed by voters rests with justices

By LEWIS KAMB
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER


It's characterized by high-powered lawyering, scrutinized by the media, observed by packed courtrooms and subject to the spinnings of partisan pundits.

The legal battle over the governor's election now being played out in a Chelan County court is high drama in Washington's high desert -- in many ways, a first-of-its kind judicial reckoning that's sure to set precedent and influence the way elections are run in this state.

But while the GOP's and Republican Dino Rossi's contest to the 2004 gubernatorial election heads toward trial in Wenatchee and grabs all the attention, at least four other legal challenges to the governor's race patiently wait, with the citizens who filed them, for their day in court.

Whether that day will come remains to be seen. The fate of each contest -- from the one-page challenge of a Fall City real estate entrepreneur to the more than 3 1/4 pounds of paperwork submitted by an unemployed North Seattle machinist -- now rests with the Washington Supreme Court.
...
Unlike their high-profile counterpart in Chelan County, each of the four election contests pending before the state's highest court does not have the benefit of top-of-the line legal advice, nor are they driven by prominent plaintiffs.


more: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/213211_contests23.html

[dzika]

2. State investigates felon candidate

From Bastrop Daily Enterprise in Louisiana:
Feb. 23, 2005

State investigates felon candidate

By MARK S. RAINWATER


Questions regarding the candidacy of a Bonita resident seeking a seat on the village board of alderman has brought to light his temporary appointment to the seat is a violation of state law.

The Secretary of State Elections Division Voter Fraud Section is conducting an investigation into the candidacy of Arthur L. James Jr. in the April 2 special election called to fill two vacancies on the board. James filed papers with the Morehouse Clerk of Court's office earlier this month seeking election to the seat. He was appointed last year by Gov. Kathleen Blanco to fill a vacancy on the board even though, with a felony record, he is ineligible to hold or seek elective office.

In 1996, James - a former warden of the Morehouse Detention Center - pleaded guilty to felony theft and malfeasance in office. An investigation by the Morehouse Parish Sheriff's Office revealed that during a five-month period in 1995, James was forging payroll records to show employees working overtime, taking the checks issued to the employees and cashing them. James told investigators he had used the money for work on his home. As part of his plea agreement, James was ordered to make $7,995.95 in restitution to the Sheriff's Office. He was given a five year suspended sentence and placed on three years probation. Court records indicate James was called into court on several occasions during the term of his probation because he had failed to make the required restitution payments. On Aug. 31, 2000, the Louisiana Department of Public Safety Office of Probation and Parole sent notice to the 4th Judicial District Attorney's Office that James had completed the terms of his probation.
...
Officials at Bonita Town Hall said when questioned about his qualifications to serve the appointment made by Blanco, James produced a court document saying he had been pardoned. Records on file at the Morehouse Clerk of Court's Office filed in connection with James' case show that the Office of Probation and Parole state since he had completed the terms of his probation James was entitled to the first offender pardon. Enacted by the Legislature, the first offender pardon is automatically granted to persons who are convicted or plead guilty to a felony after the terms of their sentence are completed.


more: http://bastrop.townnews.com/articles/2005/02/23/news/news1.txt

[dzika]

3. Protecting America's vote (Republican Column)

For the puposes of this article, "Voter Fraud" means "Democratic Voter Fraud"

---

From renewamerica.us:
February 22, 2005

Protecting America's vote (Republican Column)

Paul Weyrich


Despite the fact that we were told that things went well in the 2004 elections, there was an unprecedented amount of voter fraud in various parts of the country. Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ.), the Chairman of the Republican Policy Committee and thus a Member of the Senate leadership, has issued a paper entitled "Putting an End to Voter Fraud" and its suggestions are surely worth considering. The Help America Vote Act, which was supposed to take care of a number of problems in the American election system when it was enacted in 2002, may have made matters worse. In any case, the Act comes up for renewal shortly and there are changes which ought to be made.

First, Congress should require that voters show a photo ID at the polls. I have to show a Photo ID at various stores. I even had to show a photo ID at a doctor's office. Senator Kyl says "without genuine, photographic identification, the avenues for manipulation and fraud by unscrupulous individuals will remain open to exploitation."

Second, Congress should examine the integrity of the voter registration process and the ongoing failure of states to maintain accurate voter lists. Senator Kyl points out that current federal laws governing registration list maintenance prevent local officials from taking a zero tolerance approach to voter fraud. In addition Kyl says that "Congress should make certain that non citizens are not illegally registering and voting: only Americans should decide the results of American elections."

Third, Congress should examine the extent to which early and absentee voting increases the likelihood of fraudulent votes being cast. The Arizona Senator said that alternative voting system should have at least as many fraud protection safeguards as are available on election day. He calls on Congress to examine how states conduct early and absentee voting (to) determine whether legislation is necessary to protect voters against vote dilution through others' fraud.
...
There is actually an attempt, S.17, on the part of some liberals to rid the system of any identification whatsoever, let alone adding on a photo ID. Congress surely is not going to reverse what little progress under HAVA has occurred. Rather Congress needs to add to that progress. It is never fashionable around this town to question motives, but exactly why, if you were concerned with the integrity of the voting system, would you advocate repeal of the current modest requirements? Could it be that some Senators find the encouragement of voter fraud to be to their advantage or at least the advantage of their party? I spoke with one of the lawyers who was assigned to the Indian reservation in South Dakota which miraculously produced the winning margin of victory for Sen. Tim Johnson in 2002. There were enough GOP lawyers watching the process in 2004 that probably the vote in 2004 was honest. Surprise, Thune won this time. Still, it isn't possible to have lawyers in every questionable precinct.


more: http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/weyrich/050222

[dzika]

4. Reid urges registration law change

February 23, 2005

Reid urges registration law change

By Mary Manning

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he is urging the Legislature to change the voter registration deadline to sign up more people closer to election day.

Reid called the current law "the most antiquated voter registration system" in a state with explosive growth and people who frequently move from home to home.

Nevada law currently sets a cutoff for registration a month before elections.

Reid said that if he could get lawmakers to slash the deadline in half to two weeks it would be an accomplishment.


more: http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/sun/2005/feb/23/518338448.html

[dzika]

5. Ohio Hearing was inappropriate place for criticism, election official says

Another "Fair and Balanced" AP article

---

Posted on Thu, Feb. 24, 2005

Ohio Hearing was inappropriate place for criticism, election official says

JOHN McCARTHY | Associated Press


COLUMBUS, Ohio - The elections director in Ohio's biggest county blasted the way the state counts the votes of people whose names aren't on the registration books at their polling place, during a hearing held by a federal commission charged with improving elections nationwide.

Another county director, who heads the county directors' association, didn't feel Michael Vu's criticism of the system was appropriate.
...
Vu told the U.S. Election Assistance Commission that the apparent conflict led him to defy the state order and have poll workers give voters provisional ballots even if they couldn't prove their addresses.
...
Vu's testimony before the commission wasn't the place to speak out, Allen County elections director Keith Cunningham, a Republican, said.

"I was disappointed the way it played out," said Cunningham, who also heads the Ohio Association of Elections Officials. "I didn't think it should have been the forum for Mr. Vu to vent his frustration."

The author of the directive, Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell, defended the state's performance in the Nov. 2 election. Ohio validated 77 percent of provisional ballots, compared with the national average of 68.4 percent, according to commission figures.


more: http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/news/state/10976165.htm

[kster]

6. Thursday 2/24...nt

[dzika]

7. Wrong precinct rule should be changed in Ohio

Editorial for Feb. 24, 2005

Wrong precinct rule should be changed in Ohio

Before the election, Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell had ruled that provisional ballots cast at wrong precincts would not be counted, setting of a flurry of court challenges and rulings. Poll workers were under instructions to direct “lost” registered voters to the correct precincts, but critics say that directive was not uniformly carried out.
...
The reasons for disqualifying provisional ballots were many, but we do not believe that voting in the wrong precinct should automatically result in a discarded ballot.
...
Voters like Laura Bebsz of Garfield Heights, Ohio, should also be heard. After the November election, the Associated Press recounted Bebsz’ Election Day nightmare. Bebsz went to a polling place that serves four precincts — the same church where she had voted for seven years — and waited in an hourlong line twice, after she was first sent home to get more identification. After waiting a second time, she was told her name wasn’t listed in the voter book. Instead of checking whether she was listed in another precinct book and directed there, workers gave her a provisional ballot. You can probably guess the rest: Her ballot was rejected because she had voted in the wrong precinct.

The issue is at risk of becoming another highly partisan question between Democrats and Republicans. Leaders in both parties, however, are calling for overall improvements to the election process, and uniform standards for counting provisional ballots would be a good place to start.

We strongly believe that as many obstacles as possible should be cleared from voters’ paths. Provisional ballots, which Ohio has governed by law since 1994, are a sound method of ensuring so-called “lost” voters still have a voice on Election Day. Disqualifying otherwise legitimate ballots on county, state and federal races and issues because they were cast in wrong precincts denies citizens their most basic right and ensures we will continue to have disputed election outcomes.


more: http://www.middletownjournal.com/opin/content/news/opinion/stories/2005/02/24/mj0224editorial.html

[dzika]

8. Video - Daily Show's Jon Stewart attempts to explain Bush Social Security

Video - Daily Show's Jon Stewart attempts to explain Bush Social Security - 2/23

This clip is not about the election.



Video in Real Media format (6 minutes):
http://www.edwardsdavid.com/BushVideos/dailyshow_social_security_minute_050223-01.rm

[dzika]

9. Hillary Clinton's Gender Advantage

February 24, 2005

Hillary Clinton's Gender Advantage

Senator has more positive image among women, even those who are Republican and Independent

by Frank Newport


GALLUP NEWS SERVICE

PRINCETON, NJ -- New York Sen. Hillary Clinton has a substantially more favorable image among women than among men -- a gender advantage that persists even among Republicans and Independents. This suggests that Clinton has the potential to draw the votes of women who might ordinarily not consider voting for a Democratic candidate in the 2008 presidential election. Clinton also has a more positive image among younger voters, but has a less positive image among both men and women who are married.


Background

Clinton, at this early stage, is the front-runner for the Democratic nomination for president in 2008. That status has been confirmed by a number of polls of Democrats, including two CNN/USA Today/Gallup polls conducted since the November 2004 presidential election. In the first such poll, Clinton was included along with Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry and former North Carolina senator John Edwards, and was the top voter getter among Democrats. The second such poll, conducted Feb. 4-6, 2005, yielded similar results:

Next, I'm going to read a list of people who may be running in the Democratic primary for president in the next election. After I read all the names, please tell me which of those candidates you would be most likely to support for the Democratic nomination for President in the year 2008 -- --or would you support someone else?

BASED ON 423 DEMOCRATS OR DEMOCRATIC LEANERS
BASED ON 383 DEMOCRATS OR DEMOCRATIC LEANERS WHO ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE

2005 Feb 4-6     All Democrats/Democrat leaners     Democrats/Democratic leaners 
                                                       who are registered 
                                                            to vote
 
                               %                                %
 
Hillary Rodham Clinton        40                               40
 
John Kerry                    25                               25
 
John Edwards                  17                               18
 
Other                          6                                6
 
All/any                        2                                1
 
None                           4                                4
 
No opinion                     6                                6

more: http://www.gallup.com/poll/content/?ci=15025

[dzika]

10. Video - Bush is asked question about journalist being fired in US Press -

Video - Bush is asked question about journalist being fired in US Press - 2/24

At a press conference with Putin, a foreign journalist asks a question about freedom of the press and individuals that have been fired in the U.S. press. Bush doesn't give a straight answer.



Video in Real Media format (3 minutes):
http://www.edwardsdavid.com/BushVideos/cnn_bush_press_question_050224-01.rm

[MelissaB]

25. Please post this in it's own thread.

Bush's answer to this question needs to be heard. :evilgrin:

Edited to say: I forgot to say, "Thanks"!

[dzika]

28. Discussion thread for the video

is here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x333485

[dzika]

11. Best opportunity for WA election reforms is now

Last updated: February 24th, 2005 02:40 AM

Best opportunity for WA election reforms is now

THE NEWS TRIBUNE


The public outcry over November’s gubernatorial election may have faded in recent weeks, but the mandate it handed state lawmakers to pass election reforms has not.
...
At least one fix — a statewide voter registration database being built with federal money — already is under way as a part of the election reforms that grew out of the 2000 presidential election. That database will help elections officials purge felons and dead voters from their rolls, a key issue in Rossi’s election contest now before the courts.
..
The Senate is poised next week to vote on the biggest pieces of election reform — among them moving the date of the primary election from September to August, mandating standardized procedures for handling provisional and absentee ballots and giving military and overseas voters more time to get their ballots in. Also moving along is a proposal for regular county audits to identify and remedy lax elections procedures.
...
That approach risks wasting the rare political will that exists while the election controversy is fresh in voters’ minds. If they don’t act this year, they might lose the chance. And that would threaten to put lawmakers themselves in jeopardy the next time they face elections.


http://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/story/4626926p-4296034c.html

[dzika]

12. WI Voter ID bill likely to get vote today

Posted Feb. 24, 2005

WI Voter ID bill likely to get vote today

Advocates worry about poll access for immigrants, elderly and disabled

By Alex Hummel



A state bill requiring voters to show a photo ID at the polls before getting a ballot is getting mixed reviews from area residents, municipal clerks and legislators.

While its supports see the bill as an anti-voter-fraud measure, detractors worry it only adds a layer of frustration to the state’s voting process – one that could prevent more votes than it protects.

Chiaxah Vang, an employment specialist for area low-income resident services agency ADVOCAP Inc., said there are legitimate concerns that the bill would make it harder for immigrant citizens who haven’t obtained driver’s licenses to vote.

“It’s going to be more negative than positive for the community,” said Vang, who has helped Hmong immigrants earn their driver’s licenses – already a challenge due to language barriers.

If made law, the bill would require a citizen to either produce a driver’s license, another form of photo ID or a new, specially-created voter ID card to cast a ballot.


more: http://www.wisinfo.com/northwestern/news/local/stories/local_19965598.shtml

[dzika]

13. Wood County, Ohio delays buying voting devices

Thursday, February 24, 2005

Wood County, Ohio delays buying voting devices

BOWLING GREEN - The Wood County Board of Elections agreed yesterday to hold off buying electronic voting equipment in light of the disputes that have arisen across the state over what kind of equipment will meet state and federal mandates.

The board had intended to buy touch-screen voting machines through Diebold Election Systems of McKinney, Texas, but Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell has called for all 88 Ohio counties to buy optical-scan voting machines.

"We're just tired of making decisions and then having them changed in the process of all the legislation and litigation that has gone on," said Terry Burton, elections director.

"We're going to await a directive from the Secretary of State's office on what our next step is," he said.

The county commissioners allocated $200,000 in the 2005 budget for the elections board to buy voting machines over and above what federal funds are expected to cover.


http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050224/NEWS08/502240447/-1/NEWS

[dzika]

14. Federal panel analyzes Ohio's handling of vote

Thursday, February 24, 2005

Federal panel analyzes Ohio's handling of vote

By JAMES DREW
BLADE COLUMBUS BUREAU CHIEF


COLUMBUS - The 2004 presidential election in Ohio should not be considered a model for other states on how to issue provisional ballots, the director of the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections told a federal commission yesterday.

Referring to Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, Michael Vu told the U.S. Election Assistance Commission: "A number of decisions and mandates were made in an untimely fashion. … There were too many issues that were not resolved with statute and left to interpretation."

Mr. Vu, a Democrat, leveled his criticism after Mr. Blackwell, a Republican candidate for governor in 2006, told the commission: "Ohio's election system is not perfect, but our provisional balloting system and our educational efforts can stand, I believe, as a model for other states."

The four-member panel, which Congress created two years after the controversy over the 2000 presidential vote count in Florida, held the first in a series of nationwide hearings on provisional ballots. The forum was held at the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.


more: http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050224/NEWS09/502240483

[dzika]

15. Voters oppose special election when they learn cost

Posted on Thu, Feb. 24, 2005

Voters oppose special election when they learn cost

Associated Press


SACRAMENTO - California voters overwhelmingly oppose Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's plan to call a special election later this year when they learn how much it will cost, according to a new statewide poll.

A Field Poll released Thursday found voters approve of the idea of a special election by a 51 percent to 45 percent margin until they're told it would cost $50 million to $70 million. Then they oppose it more than 2-1 - 67 percent to 30 percent.

The Republican governor has promised to call a special election to enact constitutional amendments that would change the way the state draws legislative and congressional districts, base teacher pay on merit instead of seniority, replace public employee pensions with investment plans and require automatic, across-the-board state budget cuts when expenditures exceed revenue.

Voters support the teacher merit pay proposal 60 percent to 36 percent and give narrower backing to the redistricting, pension and budget cut proposals.


http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/breaking_news/10980680.htm

[dzika]

16. Colorado ski counties vote Democratic

2/24/05

Colorado ski counties vote Democratic

Bush won in only one Colorado county that includes a major ski area – Grand County, home to Winter Park. There are some ski areas in red counties – Powderhorn in Mesa County and Wolf Creek in Hinsdale County are examples – but they’re mostly smaller and not destination resorts.

What’s more, the results were often lopsided. In La Plata County, home to Durango Mountain Resort, John Kerry got 53 percent of the vote, the same as in Eagle County, home to Vail and Beaver Creek. In Routt County, base for Steamboat, he got 54 percent. He won Summit County, chock full of resorts such as Keystone, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain and Arapahoe Basin, by 59 percent. In Pitkin County, where there’s Aspen and three other ski areas, 68 percent of the voters chose Kerry. And in San Miguel County, home of Telluride’s ski resort, he got 72 percent.

The pattern also seems to hold in other states. Bush easily carried Vice President Dick Cheney’s home state of Wyoming, winning all but one county – the one that includes Jackson Hole and its ski area.

The GOP ticket won New Mexico, too. But John Kerry got 74 percent of the vote in Taos County, another ski area. Idaho’s four electoral votes also went to Bush. Kerry won only Blaine County, home of Sun Valley.


more: http://www.vailtrail.com/newsdetail.cfm?NewsID=2848

[dzika]

17. Email from Hoawrd Dean - Join the conversation

Feb. 24, 2005

Dear Supporter,

The staff and I have been reading through thousands upon thousands of replies to my letter last week, and I wanted to report back to you on what people are saying about the plan for the future of our party:

www.democrats.org/plan

Two things struck me as I read what grassroots Democrats like you have to say.

One was the honesty I heard about your very practical concerns at the local level -- many wrote about starting a local party organization, or living in a heavily Republican area where it has been hard to get the resources to make a difference.

But we will meet those challenges -- because what stood out even more was the overwhelming energy and excitement at the grassroots of our party. So many Democrats can't wait to get started -- they want to grow our party from the ground up.

And that's exactly what we're going to do.

I've included below a few of the messages from people like you. Please take the time to read them, and to become part of this conversation yourself:

www.democrats.org/plan

I'm traveling this week and next week -- to exactly the kind of places where we need to start building. I'm just leaving upstate New York, where folks concerned about jobs and fiscal responsibility are learning that you can't trust Republicans with your money.

And I'm on my way to Kansas and Mississippi to talk to Democrats about how to take our agenda and values out into their communities.

But our party will only succeed if you work to build it in your community. Your commitment can make it happen.

Thank you.



Governor Howard Dean, M.D.
Chairman, Democratic National Committee


A few of the responses by grassroots Democrats to the plan for the future of our party:

"I especially support the effort to reach out to state and local Democrats. I'm a die-hard liberal in the heart of Bush country and I'd love to see more of a DNC presence here where we need it most!" -- Rachel (Texas)

"For people who want to get involved in a Democratic movement, but haven't really done any 'active' organizing or operations in the past, it can be kind of daunting about where to go first -- please provide a clear path." -- Daniel (Oregon)

"My county is starting to organize at the precinct level. If the DNC can help us with programs for those first meetings -- it would be great." -- Margaret (Missouri)

"I served my country as an enlisted man in the Air Force for 10 years. Now I will serve my country again standing up for the values that make this country strong." -- Garth (California)

"I fully support this plan and believe training tomorrow's leaders is the key to Democratic Party success. As a young American, I have plans to eventually run for office as a Democrat -- as your plan suggests, true party success will fill from the bottom up, not trickle from the top down." -- Bryan (Connecticut)

You can read the plan and offer your feedback at: www.democrats.org/plan

---

Not a Subscriber?
You can use this link to sign up.

[dzika]

18. Both Houses of Congress Get Involved in 'Gannon' Case

February 23, 2005 4:55 PM ET

Both Houses of Congress Get Involved in 'Gannon' Case

By Joe Strupp

NEW YORK Two leaders of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee want the federal prosecutor investigating the Valeria Plame case to subpoena a personal journal of controversial White House reporter James Guckert, following Editor & Publisher's disclosure yesterday that Guckert claims he kept the journal for the past two years.

"It is clear that a primary obstacle to the ... investigation is uncovering a precise chronology of when, and to whom, classified information was leaked," Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), one of those seeking the subpoena, told E&P. "The revelation by Editor & Publisher that Mr. Guckert kept contemporaneous records of his 'reporting' activities could well be a major step forward in developing such a chronology."

In addition, E&P has confirmed an report on The Raw Story that Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) is circulating a letter among his colleagues that asks President Bush to launch an investigation into how Guckert, who writes under the byline “Jeff Gannon,” gained access to White House press briefings over two years despite having no journalism background and using a false name.

Both letters are just the latest in a string of inquiries by congressional leaders, which have included a previous request by Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) for documents related to Guckert's continued White House access.


more: http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000816326

[dzika]

19. Talon News Goes Offline

Talon News Goes Offline

This message is now displayed on the main Talon News page:

The recent public focus on Talon News, while much of it malicious, has indeed brought some constructive elements to the surface. It has also brought many kind messages of support, and for that we are extremely grateful.

In order to better serve those readers across the country who enjoy Talon News content and look forward to receiving it each day, we feel compelled to reevaluate operations in order to provide the highest quality, most professional product possible.

Thus, Talon News will be offline while we redesign the web site, perform a top-to-bottom review of staff and volunteer contributors, and address future operational procedures.

We look forward to bringing an even better product to our readers in the future.

[dzika]

20. How objective journalism can fail to reveal the truth

February 20, 2005

How objective journalism can fail to reveal the truth

by Kirk Caraway


...
In other words, this budget isn't very truthful. In fact, deceptive is about the nicest description you can use for it.

This is a time when I wished someone would ask the obvious question of the president: Are you really bad at math, or are you lying to us?

But of course, you won't hear that question at the next press conference. There's something about calling the president a liar on live TV that scares the willies out reporters, even when it's this blatant.
...
It's really rather simple. If you are in a position of power, tell a big lie, the bigger the better, and when anyone questions you on it, attack them as biased or partisan. The press will treat each side as equal, and the lie is passed on as truth.

Reporters at some point need to realize that fairness in reporting doesn't mean ignoring truth. At some point, if you have evidence that someone likely isn't telling the truth, you have to say it.
...
Hey, if you are caught lying, then people should be warned to take what you say with a grain of salt. It may not be polite to call people liars, but then the Founding Fathers didn't create the First Amendment so reporters could write flattering puff pieces on powerful politicians.

If journalists won't point out the liars, who will?

[dzika]

21. MORE THAN A THOUSAND WHISTLEBLOWER CASES DUMPED

MORE THAN A THOUSAND WHISTLEBLOWER CASES DUMPED

Special Counsel Dismisses Hundreds of Disclosures and Complaints in Past Year

For Immediate Release: February 23, 2005
Contact: Chas Offutt [phone]

MORE THAN A THOUSAND WHISTLEBLOWER CASES DUMPED — Special Counsel Dismisses Hundreds of Disclosures and Complaints in Past Year


Washington, DC — The U.S. Special Counsel has dismissed more than 1,000 whistleblower cases in the past year, according to a letter from the Bush-appointed Special Counsel released today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). The Special Counsel appears to have taken action in very few, if any, of these cases and has yet to represent a single whistleblower in an employment case.

In a letter dated February 14, 2005 and addressed to U.S. Representative Henry Waxman (D-CA), Special Counsel Scott Bloch defends his stormy 13 months in office by pointing to a sharp drop in backlogged whistleblower cases.

“Everyone agrees that backlogs and delays are bad but they are not as bad as simply dumping the cases altogether,” stated PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch, noting that this letter is the first account that Bloch has released of his tenure and that his office’s report for FY 2004, which ended in October, is overdue. “If the Office of Special Counsel under Scott Bloch is not helping whistleblowers then there is no reason for the office to continue to exist.”


According to the figures released by Bloch, in the past year the Office of Special Counsel—

• Dismissed or otherwise disposed of 600 whistleblower disclosures where civil servants have reported waste, fraud, threats to public safety and violations of law. Bloch has yet to announce a single case where he has ordered an investigation into the employee’s charges. Bloch says that 100 disclosures are still pending; and
  
  
• Made 470 claims of retaliation disappear. In not one of these cases did Bloch’s office affirmatively represent a whistleblower to obtain relief before the civil service court system, called the Merit Systems Protection Board. Bloch says that another 30 retaliation cases remain in the backlog.

In order to speed dismissals, Bloch instituted a rule forbidding his staff from contacting a whistleblower if their disclosure was deemed incomplete or ambiguous. Instead, OSC would simply dismiss the matter. As a result, hundreds of whistleblowers never had a chance to justify why their cases had merit.

“According to Scott Bloch there is no waste, fraud or abuse in the federal government that deserves investigation,” stated Ruch, noting that there may be even more dismissals than Bloch reported because the numbers cited above are limited to what was defined as a backlog and do not include new cases.

Rep. Waxman and Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL), the ranking minority party members of the House Government Reform Committee and its Civil Service Subcommittee, respectively, had originally written to ask for an investigation by the Government Accountability Office into Bloch’s forced removal of OSC staff, hiring of cronies and failure to answer Freedom of Information Act requests.

http://www.peer.org/news/news_id.php?row_id=483

[dzika]

22. Contempt for the Truth

Wednesday, February 23, 2005

Contempt for the Truth

by Ken Sanders


During her confirmation hearings, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice feigned offense when Senator Barbara Boxer questioned Rice's integrity. Regardless of Rice's declarations of honesty and integrity, it is clear that she and the Bush administration have nothing but contempt for the truth, for democracy, and for the intelligence of the American people.

As has been much ballyhooed in recent weeks, the Bush administration likes to keep "journalists" on retainer. The Department of Education hired conservative commentator and columnist Armstrong Williams to promote Bush's No Child Left Behind Act on his television program. The Department of Health and Human Services paid conservative columnist Maggie Gallagher to write brochures and to ghost-write a magazine article promoting heterosexual marriage. Ms. Gallagher also promoted Bush's marriage initiative in her syndicated columns. Likewise, Michael McManus, another conservative syndicated columnist, was paid to promote Bush's Community Healthy Marriage Initiative and did so in his columns.

Then comes the story of Jeff Gannon, or James Guckert, or whatever his name really is. Gannon/Guckert, a "reporter" for Talon News and GOPUSA, was consistently granted day passes to White House press briefings despite the fact that the White House knew "Jeff Gannon" was a false name. He continued to receive such passes, and was even selected to question the President at a recent press conference, even after Ari Fleischer suspected back in 2003 Gannon/Guckert was a GOP shill. Fleischer's suspicions were dispelled, however, after Gannon/Guckert's boss, Texas GOP activist Bobby Eberle, assured Fleischer that everything was legit. Apparently, Mr. Eberle's word was good enough.

Further blurring the already thin line between news and propaganda, Bush's Office of National Drug Control Policy produced video news releases (VNRs) that looked like actual news segments and discouraged the use of illegal drugs. These VNRs were distributed to local news stations which "mistakenly" aired them as actual news. Oops. Bush's Department of Health and Human Services produced its own VNRs, which included newscasts and interviews, to promote Bush's Medicare reforms. The Government Accountability Office ruled that both VNRs violated statutory propaganda prohibitions.


more: http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0223-28.htm

[dzika]

23. NYPD misuse surveillance equipment during RNC Convention (with Video)

NYPD misuse surveillance equipment during RNC Convention

---

From CBS 2 New York:
Feb 24, 2005 3:39 pm

NEW YORK (CBS) CBS 2 has obtained a videotape that the New York City police department doesn’t want you to see. It shows cops on surveillance just before last year’s Republican Convention in Manhattan.

But it is what they were checking out that is a little disturbing.

August 27, 2004, just before the Republican National convention a police helicopter hovers over the East Village covering the critical mass ecological protest supporting more bicycle use. Hundreds are arrested. The police helicopter is equipped with an infra red camera which records images by how much heat is given off, thereby enabling police literally to see in complete darkness.

The police dutifully survey the area, but then they focus on a couple in a passionate embrace kissing and fondling each other on a roof top terrace.

The police infra scope stays on the scene for a while and then pulls away, but then it comes back a second time to watch the couple and then a third time.

However, it must be said that the couple is in complete darkness only an infrared thermal detecting camera could see this scene. The police scope then comes back to follow the woman and the warm footprints of her bare feet.


full story here: http://cbsnewyork.com/topstories/topstoriesny_story_055153409.html

Video in Windows Media format:
http://www.edwardsdavid.com/BushVideos/nypd_misuse_camera_gop_convention.wmv

[MelissaB]

24. 40th Anniversary of the historical Selma-to-Montgomery Re-enactment March

40th Anniversary of the historical Selma-to-Montgomery Re-enactment March

The SCLC and others prepare to celebrate the upcoming
40th Anniversary of the historical Selma-to-Montgomery Re-enactment March

The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) will once again join the National Voting Rights Museum, and Montgomery Friends of the Historic Trail this year for the commemoration of the 40th Anniversary of the 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery Re-enactment March.

Activities will commence in Selma on March 3, 2005 with Jubilee educational festivities to include marching across the Edmund Pettus Bridge on March 6, 2005 in commemoration of "Bloody Sunday." SCLC, who has coordinated the reenactment of the march every fifth anniversary since the 20th anniversary, will begin the reenactment of the 54 mile trek from Selma to Montgomery with stop-overs at historical landmarks along the trail. From March 7-11, 2005, people from around the country will reenact the 1965 march with stopovers at campsites in Selma, Lowndes County and Montgomery.

As marchers arrive in Montgomery, they will be welcomed on the grounds of St. Jude as those who marched before them in 1965 and will entertained by the likes of Sandy Patton and the Swiss Jazz Ensemble, George Washington Carver Elementary Choir, Alabama State University Gospel Choir, and Bobby Jackson, amongst others during the "Stars for Freedom Tribute."
All of the original1965 performers have been invited as honored guests, and local artists plan to play a tribute to the original musicians as they replicate the 1965 repertoire.

More: http://sclcnational.org/net/content/item.aspx?s=21431.0.12.2607

[MelissaB]

26. Panel is told Ohio's provisional ballots need clear rules

Panel is told Ohio's provisional ballots need clear rules

Thursday, February 24, 2005
Julie Carr Smyth
Plain Dealer Bureau
Columbus - Citizens will not accept the outcomes of future elections until the rules for provisional ballots are clear, witnesses told a federal elections panel on Wednesday.

Cuyahoga County Elections Director Michael Vu told members of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission that an 11th-hour directive by Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell caused confusion in the counties that could have been avoided.

"We need to codify rules for validating provisional ballots, period," Vu said.

Blackwell, among invited panelists at the commission's first public hearing since the November presidential election, disagreed.

He defended his provisional-ballot directive - issued within weeks of the election - for clarifying confusion that was being expressed to his office and defending voters' rights.

More: http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1109241223221150.xml

[dzika]

27. Kerrying On About the Wrong Guy

From Think Progress Blog:
February 24th, 2005

Kerrying On About the Wrong Guy

During last year’s presidential campaign, the right-wing offered any number of reasons to fear a Kerry presidency. John Kerry, the typical tax-and-spender, would negotiate with the terrorists, undermine efforts to ban gay marriage, bring salacious scandals back into the White House, increase government spending while cutting vital missile defense, and get buddy-buddy with his surrender-monkey European allies, like close associate Jacques Chirac.


Or, in other words, Kerry might have…

• Suggested raising taxes to pay for the costs of his massive $2 trillion pet reform project
  
  
• Entered into negotiations with the terrorists in Iraq
  
  
• Proclaimed that “nothing will happen in the Senate” on the anti-gay marriage bill
  
  
• Nominated a possible cabinet member who once engaged in adulterous romps in a motel room reserved for exhausted 9/11 workers
  
  
• Offered White House press privileges to a partisan activist with an alleged history in gay prostitution
  
  
• Released the largest budget in U.S. history while slashing missile defense spending by $5 billion over six years
  
  
• During a “warm” and “friendly” tour through Europe, declared that Jacques Chirac could make a “good cowboy”

Scary stuff.


source: http://thinkprogress.org/index.php?p=320

[BillyDoc]

29. Edison/Mitofsky final report and response

Edison/Mitofsky's final exit poll report is out and US Count Votes has a response entitled "Study of the 2004 Presidential Election Exit Poll Discrepancies" Links to both can be found here: http://electionfraudbounty.org/Evidence.php

Some interesting quotes from the US Count Votes response:

"The Edison/Mitofsky report acknowledges widespread discrepancies between their exit polls and official counts, and admits that the differences were far greater than can be explained by sampling error. The report repeats the assertion (p. 3) that this disparity was “most likely due to Kerry voters participating in the exit polls at a higher rate than Bush voters”, but no evidence is offered to support this conclusion. In fact, data newly released in the report suggests that Bush supporters might have been overrepresented in the exit polls, widening the disparity to be explained. The report gives no consideration to alternative explanations involving election irregularities."

"This chart (see the link above) was constructed from data within the report (p. 37) that is not analyzed or mentioned in the text. This data bears directly on the plausibility of the report’s central hypothesis, and it goes in the wrong direction. In other words, in precincts with higher numbers of Bush voters, response rates were slightly higher than in precincts with higher number of Kerry voters."

"Seven of fifty states have t values less than –2.7, meaning that each of them had less than 1% probability of having the reported difference between exit polls and election results occurring by chance. The binomial probability that 7 of 50 should be so skewed is less than one in 10,000,000. A full comparison of the exit polls with the null distribution (blue curve) via a Shapiro-Wilk test yields a probability that is astronomically small."

My apologies if this is old news, I didn't see it and I think it is very important. The charts in the report make it quite plain that the election was massively fraudulent. In fact, there was roughly a 6% point overall gap between "exit" and "official" results. Nobody who understands mathematical statistics will believe this was mere chance. It was FRAUD, FRAUD, FRAUD!

[dzika]

30. WI Assembly passes voter ID bill - GOP measure now goes to the Senate

Feb. 24, 2005

WI Assembly passes voter ID bill
GOP measure now goes to the Senate

By STACY FORSTER


Madison - The Assembly today voted 64-33 to approve a bill (AB 63) that would require all voters to show a photo ID at the polls.

Before the vote, Rep. Jeff Stone (R-Greendale), the bill's co-sponsor, said it would restore integrity to an elections process that is under scrutiny. A contingent of Democratic opponents earlier argued that the measure could disenfranchise voters.

The final vote on the Republican-sponsored measure was to come Tuesday night, but Democrats used a procedural move to delay a final vote until today. The photo ID bill now goes to the Senate for further action.

Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle vetoed a similar bill in 2003 and isn't likely to sign it this time.


more: http://www.jsonline.com/news/state/feb05/304395.asp

[dzika]

31. Memogate/ Rove and Hannity/Gannon

February 23, 2005

Memogate/ Rove and Hannity/Gannon

Hannity went after Maurice Hinchey,on H&C, for suggesting that Karl Rove orchestrated the Memogate story demanding he provide proof or apologize. Hannity was out for blood ,badgering Hinchey with his machine gun questions.
"Where is your proof sir?"
"What evidence do you have?"
"Without evidence..conspiracy to bring down a network?"

Hinchey began talking about Karl Rove's history of dirty tricks from 1970 to the present and Hannity's mocking laughter could be heard in the background.Were Hannity's anxious theatrics related to the recent connections made between Hannity and Jeff Gannon?
2/23/05


Colmes took his turn and responding to Hannity's mutterings about circumstantial evidence, Colmes said, "Scott Peterson was convicted on circumstantial evidence. Then Colmes mentioned the Armstrong Williams scandal suggesting that Hinchey's allegations weren't hard to believe.

Hinchey made a very eloquent comment about the recent manipulation of the media by the White House adding that allowing propaganda erodes the American system. Hinchey was very strong and confident about the integrity of his message.

Colmes made a quick reference to Gannon without offering any details about the story but Hinchey grabbed the ball and started to relate the story. Of course, the time was up.

This weekend I reported that Gannon had bragged that he gave Hannity a tip about the Killian Memos being false on September 7. At some point after that Hannity told his radio audience that there would be important news coming out on the Rather/CBS story. On September 10, Hannity started a campaign on H&C to discredit the Killian memos.

Ammy Barnes, Ben Barnes daughter, was convinced by Hannity to give an interview about her Father on his radio show and H&C on September 10th. Ben Barnes had just come out with a book claiming that he had gotten Bush into the Texas National Guard. Amy betrayed her Father suggesting that he could not be trusted since he was a politician, like Bill Clinton. Amy Barnes, revealed on H&C, that her Father was really upset about what she had done and you could hear her voice shaking on the phone. On the same show, Hannity had Killian's son telling viewers that his Father totally respected Bush and therefore the Killian memos were false.

Recently, Hannity had an exclusive interview with Karl Rove which is no easy feat. Hannity also got exclusives with Bush,Cheney and Poppa Bush indicating some type of close link to the White House. During the interview with Rove, Hannity brought up Memogate reminding Rove of his part in exposing the memos that Hannity claimed could have changes the outcome of the election.

comment: Of course all of this is circumstantial and there is no hard proof that Gannon's link is Karl Rove. There is no proof that Hannity's role in Memogate went beyond being a good foot soldier finding dubious witnesses to diecredit CBS and Dan Rather. Nevertheless, the fact that Hannity took tips from Gannon has been established even though the rest of the evidence is circumstantial
for now, at least.

I haven't seem Hannity this high strung since the days before the election when the polls were tilting to Kerry. The same kind of erratic anger and unrelenting vicious verbal abuse was expressed with all the guests. Something is going on for sure.


http://www.newshounds.us/2005/02/23/_memogate_rove_and_hannitygannon.php

[dzika]

32. The Neoconservative Agenda and the Mainstream Media - Logic Need Not Apply

From Group Think blog:
Thursday, February 24, 2005

The Neoconservative Agenda and the Mainstream Media - Logic Need Not Apply

Time and time again, the pundits and mainstream media fail to convey the smallest hint of common sense and credibility. Over and over again, the media fails to see the big picture, instead falling for the Rove-spun and right-wing think tank spin on each issue. I'm going to run through a few major stories we've heard over the past few months - displaying time and time again the laughability of a liberal media bias and the absurd lack of logic and reasoning of so-called "mainstream political thought".


2004 Presidential Election vs. Voter Disenfranchisement - There were very serious problems with conduction of the 2004 presidential election. Massive disparities between lines in predominately black neighborhoods vs. white neighborhoods in Ohio, due to unethical distribution of voting machines and polling stations; partisan secretaries of state; partisan CEOs of corporations responsible for developing voting technology - I am not going to rehash all this, since it is common knowledge, or at least should be. Sen. Barbara Boxer made history during the electoral vote confirmation by joining a congressional effort challenging the result of the election.

I listened to the coverage of the proceedings of this challenge on C-Span. The challenge was for a very specific purpose - to bring the issue of voter disenfranchisement and problems with the electoral process to the public forefront. Instead of focusing on the issue, the republican senators came up one after the other to argue about the partisan goals of the democrats - claiming that they were obstructionists, conspiracy theorists, and liberally evoking the name of Michael Moore, in an attempt to undermine the voice of the democratic challenge, and to marginalize the seriousness of the problems with the 2004 election. The actions of the republican senators who stood up against the challenge were childish, petty, and boorish - If these senators had nothing beneficial to add to the conversation, they should have remained seated. This was a serious issue, and I have no respect for those senators and pundits who framed the issue as partisan bickering.

...

RatherGate/ABC News vs. Bush's missing service records - After a very successful and respectable career spanning over two decades, Dan Rather is basically forced to retire after using an allegedly forged document to support a story disparaging of President Bush. For months on end, the story is referred to as RatherGate, and the issue does not drop of out the media spotlight. Why isn't the bigger issue looked at -- Bush's service record in the Texas Air National Guard was never truly explained. The required documentation was missing. Not one man has come forward to verify Bush's record with the Air National Guard.

...

Gannon/Guckert -- Gay Intolerance/Private Life/Respect vs. Clinton - After Bill Clinton was elected as President, the right spent a massive eight year campaign attempting to smear him, first with Whitewater, and then with the Monica Lewinsky scandal. The scandals were in the rightwing press and the mainstream media for years.

Now, one of the biggest scandals in years breaks out in the Bush Whitehouse - gannonGate. Suddenly, the neocons appear to care about personal privacy - claiming that the media is invading Gannon's privacy and are smearing him because he is gay.

There are completely missing the point of the story -- Namely, why was Gannon in the whitehouse press corps, how did he get passed security, how did he know about "Shock and Awe", did the Whitehouse feed him info/talking points during the Thume/Daschle race, what role did he have in PlameGate, What role did he have in RatherGate, Who fed him his information, Who helped set up Talon News, Who set up Gannon /w the Leadership Institute, and who let him into the Whitehouse Press Corps in the first place?


more: http://markheimonen.blogspot.com/2005/02/neoconservative-agenda-and-mainstream.html

[dzika]

33. Texas Voters could be required to show photo ID in future

From The Huntsville Item:
Thursday, February 24, 2005

Texas Voters could be required to show photo ID in future

By Stewart Smith


Rep. Lois Kolkhorst (R, Brenham) has filed legislation which mends the election code to require voters in Texas to have photographic identification in order to take part in an election.
...
"If you ever fly on a plane, they require you to show a picture I.D. If you use a credit card in the mall, or cash a check, or rent a movie at Blockbuster, you must show a photo I.D. For all of those things, you have to prove who you are," she said. "But in order to take part in the most precious right that we have as American citizens, you do not have to prove who you are, and I just think that is not good policy."

Kolkhorst said the bill was inspired after hearing years of election recounts on account of accusations of people voting out of district or voting multiple times.
...
House Bill 1402, if passed, would require voters to present a photo I.D. any time they go to vote. For voters who have no photographic identification or choose not to provide one, a polling place may also accept two different forms of identification which do not contain a photo instead, such as a bank statement, utility bill or paycheck.


http://www.itemonline.com/articles/2005/02/24/news/local/news6.txt

[dzika]

34. Texas Voters could face stricter ID rules

February 24, 2005 1:20 AM

Texas Voters could face stricter ID rules

By BRETT NAUMAN


Texans would have to start bringing additional identification with them to vote under a bill filed Wednesday by state Rep. Lois Kolkhorst.

The legislation would toughen the requirements for proof of identity at the polls. A photo ID would offer the easiest method of proof, but voters also would be able to bring two forms of other documents, including paychecks, bank statements and utility bills, said Kolkhorst, R-Brenham.
...
Brazos County Clerk Karen McQueen said the law sounds like a good idea so long as it provides loopholes for residents who may not have some form of photo ID.

“There’s a lot of people out there without photo IDs,” McQueen said. “It’s important not to disenfranchise someone, so there will have to be loopholes. Voter turnout is already low — we don’t want to make it lower.”


http://www.theeagle.com/campaign2000/localregional/022405idrules.php

[dzika]

35. Maybe You Just Hate God and America?

From electablog:
February 24, 2005

Maybe You Just Hate God and America?

During the election, playing on people's hang-ups about homosexuality and attacking the patriotism of those on the other side of any issue both proved to be somewhat effective at the polls. So why not use the same tactics again? Why should effective attack ads be issue specific?

If there are groups that oppose you on an issue, you can go the long way around and debate them on the merits and build a base of support. Or you can take the expedient route and just convince a certain segment of the voting population that those who oppose you eat quiche. Enough said.

That seems to be the philosophy of USA Next. In an effort to discredit the AARP (a organization that opposes the President's plans for Social Security reform), USA Next (with the help of consultants who worked on the swift boat ads) has gone straight to the core of issue.

They released an internet ad suggesting that the AARP is strongly in favor of gay marriage and is opposed to supporting the troops.



Translation: They hate god and America, so how can you trust them on the issue of Social Security? This revelation should come as quite a shock the the tens of millions of American seniors who thought the core policy of the AARP was to get them discounts at the Sizzler.

Are these kinds of tactics too ridiculous to be effective? Well, they've worked before. Remember, the nuts over at the USA Next (and their swift boat pals) know this is nonsense. It's part of a strategy.

At the very least, the AARP and its supporters will spend a few cycles ripping this ad instead of ripping the President's Social Security plan.

source: http://www.electablog.com/2005/02/maybe-you-just-hate-god-and-america.html

[dzika]

36. Report on EAC Commission February 23rd Public Hearing

February 24, 2005

Report on EAC Commission February 23rd Public Hearing

Eyewitness report by Dorri Steinhoff on the February 23rd Public Hearing conducted by Election Assistance Commission in Columbus, Ohio:

"I went along with Phil Fry, as representatives from CASE-OHIO.

"The EAC staff appeared genuinely interested in finding ways to decrease the amount of provisional ballots cast, as well as increase the acceptance rate of those cast. They came down hard on Blackwell, who had the audacity to state "Ohio could stand as a model for other states".

"Michael Vu, Director of the Cuyahoga County BOE, disputed Blackwell's claims, stating that his last minute directives led to confusion and were contrary to HAVA. The provisional ballot acceptance rate for OH was 77%, although Democratic strongholds such as Cuyahoga County had only a 66% acceptance rate. Mr. Vu stated the Blackwell directives were different than those used in the 2004 primary, causing further confusion. He stated the untimely mandates caused Ohio NOT to be a model. (Mr Vu was the only panelist that was applauded).

" The commissioners, too, came down hard on Blackwell. Like others in his party, Blackwell evaded the questions put forth, and gave unnecessary diatribes on the history of provisional ballots in Ohio. He spoke of the need to prevent voter fraud. He appeared foolish compared to the other panelist, Glenda Hood, Rebecca Vigil-Giron (NM), Vu and Cherie Poucher Wake County NC.

"The others pressed for the need for clarification of codifaction, pollworker training, follow-up mechanisms for those who cast provisional ballots, and how to diminish the use (preventative measures). Also brought out was how some states allow county wide acceptance, and follow-up mechanism to turn a provisional vote into a regular vote.

"I think it would behoove election reform advocates to contact the EAC, and attempt to work with them."


-Dorri Steinhoff

source: http://fairnessbybeckerman.blogspot.com/2005/02/report-on-eac-commission-february-23rd.html

[dzika]

37. Election Fraud by Licking County Officials Exposed in Criminal Complaint

February 24, 2005

Election Fraud by Licking County Officials Exposed in Criminal Complaint Filed by Paul D. Harmon

We have learned that Paul D. Harmon, an independent candidate for Domestic Relations Court Judge in Licking County, Ohio, filed a criminal complaint against Licking County election officials on February 18th.

The complaint, based on events in a Licking County race in which there were more "no votes" than votes cast for any candidate, accuses the officials of fraud involving "votomatic" punch card votes, of perjury, of destroying evidence, tampering with records, thwarting the administration of the recount laws, destruction of the secrecy of, and tampering with, absentee ballots, and other similar misconduct.

Mr. Harmon, a Newark, Ohio, attorney, and native of Granville, Ohio, lost by 200 votes. Of the 78,000 votes cast, the Republican candidate received 14,300, and Mr. Harmon 14,100. 18,000 votes were never counted.

During and after the ensuing mandatory recount, Licking County officials illegally refused to permit recount witnesses to view the uncounted ballots, or to inspect the machines, and on more than one occasion misrepresented the number of voting machines that had been used.

They have also admitted that blank ballots were stored in unsecured facilites.

It has also been learned that, although in one or more Democratic precincts voters were subjected to waits of 4 hours or more in order to vote, 50 unused voting machines had been kept 'in reserve' by the Republican director and deputy director of the Licking County Board of elections.

It is anticipated that an independent prosecutor will be appointed to investigate the complaint.

As we obtain more details of the Licking County incidents, documents, and court proceedings, this post will be updated.


source: http://fairnessbybeckerman.blogspot.com/2005/02/election-fraud-by-licking-county.html

[dzika]

38. PBS - Leher reports on Journalists Prosecution, Novak, Gannon - 2/24

PBS - Leher reports on Journalists Prosecution, Novak, Gannon - 2/24


The big news out of this is that Novak has given up his source to the Federal prosecutors. Novak has also unofficially leaked the White House defense. The person outing Plame didn't know that she was an agent of the CIA. The law says that a person is only guilty if they knew they were outing an agent.

The Federal prosecutor is supposedly prosecuting the journalists from Time and The New York Times to get their sources so he can "establish a pattern" of behavior by the White House.

The whole thing stinks.



Video in Real Media format (7 minutes):
http://www.edwardsdavid.com/BushVideos/newshour_plame_novak_gannon_050224-01.rm

[MelissaB]

39. BREAKING: Kerry/Edwards File More Ohio Election Motions

BREAKING: Kerry/Edwards File More Ohio Election Motions

By WilliamPitt,

Thu Feb 24th, 2005 at 06:32:43 PM EST :: Voter Rights ::

Kerry-Edwards 2004 has just made two filings in the Ohio recount case currently pending before Federal Judge Edmund Sargus in Columbus, Ohio.

Kerry-Edwards 2004 has been relatively quiet in this case for the past several weeks and its filings today indicate its continued interest and involvement in this litigation.


In December 2004, presidential candidates David Cobb and Michael Badnarik filed extensive documentation with the court demonstrating that the recount they had requested in Ohio of the 2004 presidential vote had been conducted with inconsistent standards throughout the state, in violation of the equal protection and due process guarantees under the US Constitution (see Bush v. Gore).

Cobb and Badnarik filed amended counterclaims seeking a new recount to be conducted with uniform standards, in accordance with the US Constitution. (As an example, 97% of the ballots have yet to be counted by hand in Ohio and, more than often, the 3% of the vote that each county counted by hand was not randomly selected, as required by Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell's own guidelines) To access the amended counterclaims, see this document (Adobe required).

>>>snip

Today, Kerry-Edwards filed a document in support of that statement. Most significant, Kerry-Edwards also filed today a separate document in support of the motion for hearing with two critical attachments: 1) a declaration from Kerry-Edwards attorney Don McTigue regarding a survey he conducted of Kerry-Edwards county recount coordinators; 2) a summary chart of the results of that survey (which highlight the inconsistent standards applied during the recount).



More and link to documents: http://forum.truthout.org/blog/story/2005/2/24/183243/756

Thanks to WilliamPitt here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x333552

[MelissaB]

40. Durbin letter slated to be delivered to President Bush Friday morning

Durbin letter slated to be delivered to President Bush Friday morning

2/24/2005

Aide says senators being given time to sign call for inquiry

RAW STORY

An aide to the senator who is circulating a letter calling for an investigation into how ‘Jeff Gannon’ got access to the White House told RAW STORY Thursday the letter would be delivered to President Bush Friday morning.

The aide, who asked not to be named, said Sen. Durbin’s office had experienced difficulty tracking down Democratic senators in their home districts and were allowing other member offices more time to decide.

Congress is in recess this week.

Durbin’s aide declined to say how many senators had signed on. The senator’s office has said they will brief RAW STORY on the letter and provide more detail Friday morning.

Five senatorial offices–Durbin, Kennedy, Kerry, Lautenberg and Reid–have said publicly that they had or will sign the letter to President Bush, which demands a full and transparent investigation into how a conservative correspondent allegedly got access to classified information and the president.

More: http://rawstory.com/news/2005/index.php?p=127

[dzika]

41. Another Talon News ‘reporter’ found plagiarizing mainstream press

2/24/2005

Another Talon News ‘reporter’ found plagiarizing mainstream press

Blogger catches another round of Talon News plagiarism

RAW STORY


Another ‘reporter’ from the conservative website that employed discredited White House reporter Jeff Gannon was plagiarizing copy from Fox News and the Associated Press, RAW STORY has learned.

Ron Brynaert, author of the progressive WhyAreWeBackInIraq weblog, has found at least two instances in which Talon correspondent Leslie Wetzel copied verbatim or near-verbatim content from articles written by Fox News and the Associated Press.

Wetzel joins a second Talon reporter, Steve Roeder, who Brynaert found was lifting copy from Fox, Reuters and the New York Times.

For the ease of the reader, RAW STORY is reproducing sections from the two articles which Wetzel apparently copied. Further examples can be found at WhyAreWeBackInIraq.blogspot.com.

The first article concerns a federal judge’s ruling that the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act was unconstitutional. Talon published strikingly similar stories to those carried by Fox News and the Associated Press. Talon has removed the articles from their website and since declared the site on hiatus.


read article from THE RAW STORY:
http://rawstory.com/news/2005/index.php?p=125

[Wilms]

42. Orlando Sentinel: Election rules pose shortfall:

Election rules pose shortfall: Counties must pay the cost of specially equipped voting machines.

Orlando Sentinel
February 24, 2005
By Robert Perez, Sentinel Staff Writer

The fallout from Florida's 2000 election debacle took many forms, but one of the bright spots was the federal push to make sure all voters, including the disabled, could vote.

Under a federal mandate, special voting machines must be available by the end of this year in all U.S. polling places. In Florida, the state said it would foot the bill.

-snip-

Election rules pose shortfall:

-snip-

The problem is bigger than just the difference between polling locations and precincts. The state funding also didn't account for the need for additional machines.

Most elections supervisors have extra machines to handle early voting, public demonstrations and anticipated growth. Then there is always the need for back-up machines in case one or more break down on Election Day.

-snip/more-

<http://www.votersunite.org/article.asp?id=4888>

[Wilms]

43. kick n/t