Diebold has been STOPPED in California!!! Congratulations

[LightningFlash]

"Call rises to 'dump Diebold'

State panel declines to give vote machine recommendation after facing angry crowd
By Ian Hoffman, STAFF WRITER

SACRAMENTO — As California rolls toward a train wreck with federal and state laws, voting activists told state elections officials that Diebold and its voting machines aren't welcome along for the ride.

Witness after witness — Bay Area liberals seasoned with a few Libertarians and Republicans — called on state officials Thursday to block Diebold's voting machines from the nation's largest elections market, casting the firm as synonymous with lost trust and vote "theft" in the 2000 and 2004 elections.

In a packed hearing punctuated by chanting, activists demanded paper ballots be counted by hand, by computers running open-source software if absolutely necessary, but never by secret software closely held by a company known for executives' support of Republican candidates.

"If you value democracy, you will not certify these hackable machines with secret mechanisms that are considered proprietary," said Berkeley's Phoebe Anne Sorgen. "You will dump Diebold Elections Systems and software."

http://www.insidebayarea.com/timesstar/localnews/ci_2810029

Now Ahnold the neocon "governator" is so bamboozled, he has FIRED(booted) the secretary of state!!!!!

:banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :crazy:

Keep the drive up and BOOT his ass clear out of CA!!!!!!

http://www.commoncause.org
Support the full VVPB bill by Rush Holt...Make sure all congress members get their tushes in gear. We will win....LETS get arnold to pick up his bags, and pack them!!!!

[charlyvi]

1. Um. It's "congratulations" with a t, not a d.

Just saying.

[The Backlash Cometh]

4. Well, it's "congradulations" when you congratulate and adulate

at the same time.

[IndyOp]

26. Excellent, excellent cover... 10 point perfect!

[stepnw1f]

2. Anti-Democratic Dick Head

These Republicans are scum.

[tinrobot]

3. One down.... 49 to go...

Great news.

This is what happens when the people voice their opinions strongly...

[barbaraann]

5. Why don't I see anything about this on the CA Dems website?

I don't see anything about the voting machines or this hearing. Am I missing it?

[Boredtodeath]

6. Got a link to back this up?

Now Ahnold the neocon "governator" is so bamboozled, he has FIRED the secretary of state!!!!!

When did this happen?

[LightningFlash]

7. Heard it on the news.

Only mention of this whole fallout has been on insidebayarea.com so far and here's another story

http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/national/index.ssf?/base/national-46/1118448078188400.xml&storylist=national

[Boredtodeath]

8. He fired McPherson?

Is that what you are saying? Because if you're talking about Kevin Shelley, that's old news and it's really twisting the facts of this story a good bit. Shelley (DEM) resigned (under fire, but he resigned). And McPherson is Arnold's replacement - a republican.

As for the machines, nothing was decided. They haven't been stopped, just a decision delayed for more public comment.

Unless things changed dramatically overnight, you are making leaping to conclusions that are incorrect.

[LightningFlash]

9. This is today's news.

They aren't incorrect, CA legislatures rejected the voting machines. Arnold has called for the special election and either booted Bruce, or is just about too.

[Boredtodeath]

10. I hope you're right n/t

.

[Peace Patriot]

11. LightningFlash, I'm afraid this post is confusing, and wrong.

The fight against Diebold is far from over in California. If, as this news article suggests, the Voting Systems and Procedures Panel made any kind of decision on June 16, it was TO TAKE FURTHER PUBLIC COMMENT UNTIL JUNE 30, not to kill these Diebold and ES&S applications for new DRE's.

1. They have NOT made any decision on the DRE systems, as far as I know.

2. Their extension of public comment may just be a delaying tactic--hoping that this adamant crowd of 200 or more anti-DREers won't be re-mobilized for the next meeting, or that they can sneak a decision through without another hearing.

3. This is an advisory panel--the Sec of State Bruce McPherson (a Schwarzenegger appointee) will do the actual certifications/recommendations.

4. We still have Diebold and ES&S optiscans and central tabulators all over the state, and Sequoia isn't any better as to secret, proprietary programming code and partisan control of elections. (Former CA Republican Sec of State Bill Jones and his chief aid Alfie Charles now both work for Sequoia!!!)

Also, what does your comment mean: "Now Ahnold the neocon 'governator' is so bamboozled, he has FIRED the secretary of state!!!!!" ??

If you are referring to the dreadful campaign to oust the former Sec of State Kevin Shelley (who got targeted because he sued Diebold and decertified their machines), this was hardly evidence that Schwarzenegger is "bamboozled." It WAS evidence that CA state Democrats were bamboozled (and some of them corrupt on electronic voting issues), but it was, in my opinion, a Bush Cartel "black ops/secret dossier" operation, and a highly successful one. They got rid of Shelley, and installed their patsy, McPherson. I suppose you could say that that was Schwarz being bamboozled in the sense that neither Schwarz nor any Bush Cartelist can be elected honestly--but if that's what you mean, please say so. (What you said was too confusing.)

And if you're talking about something else--what is it? (I haven't heard anything about McPherson being fired.) (---and there is not a thing about that in the cleveland.com article, the second article that you cite, nor in the first article).

[LightningFlash]

13. According to insidebayarea they delayed & stopped Diebold certification.

Whether that means for all or only one part, remains to be seen. But according to them the state refused to certify the machines and "Connie McCormick" is "uncertain".

McPherson is and will be part of the special election which Arnold has decided to call upon immediately.

[Wow]

32. Let's not make a Bush mistake and think the Mission is accomplished

Thanks for pointing out this information. If we need to keep moving, it is important to keep aware of what is happening and take further action as needed.

[Peace Patriot]

12. The insidebayarea.com article that you cite has an interesting quote by

Connie McCormack...

"'Counties have to have certified voting equipment,' said Los Angeles County Registrar of Voters Conny McCormack, president of a state association of local elections officials. She said they're getting nervous: 'The whole environment is uncertain.'"

I HOPE she's "getting nervous"! She's the no. 1 corrupted Democrat in California; advocates paperless voting and Diebold; her closest friend is the former Diebold salesperson for this state; and she led the assault on Kevin Shelley.

You're damn right, the "environment" for election theft machinery is "uncertain," Connie!

[Peace Patriot]

14. I recommend that this thread be removed by the DU monitors!

This thread just has too much mis-information in it, and its subject lead gives entirely the wrong impression of where we're at with the California revolt against Diebold. The writer has not backed up his two main contentions with any cites--that we've won the fight here in California (not true--yet!) and that Bruce McPherson is about to be fired (no evidence for this).

Go here for all the current California threads pulled together...

"Revolt Against Diebold in Calif.! Wow! Action thread re June 30"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x378741

There are DU links posted at the above thread for contact info for CA Sec of State, CA legislators, a link to the Media Blaster, and other important info, as well as talking points. DUers should write to the following, and should blast media, contact CA legislators and post to lists, re: Diebold and ES&S and their new election theft machines:

CA Secretary of State Bruce McPherson
and the Voting Systems and Procedures Panel (VSPP)
ATTN: Bruce McDannold (public contact officer)
FAX [phone] - Tel. [phone],
1500 11th St, 5th Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814
email comments to: Bruce McDannold at [e-mail]

------

California activists--and the California Election Protection Network in particular--are to be congratulated for their big showing at the VSPP meeting in Sacto on June 16, but this battle is only beginning. It is not over by any means!

[LightningFlash]

17. Read and see original topic:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3889880

"State panel declines to give vote machine recommendation after facing angry crowd"

That means NO vote machine recommendation. They can still push it through but that clearly means, they DECLINED to vote for it.

Don't have the link for the SOS being fired because I saw it on TV and if he does get fired there will be many more links, if that's the case.

[Peace Patriot]

20. I'm sorry LF, but it is NOT TRUE that Diebold has been "stopped" in CA!

The VSPP decision not to make a recommendation on June 16 is VERY LIKELY A BUREAUCRATIC MANEUVER to pull this matter behind closed doors--to get out of the public spotlight that citizens activists shown of them on June 16. It was an important event but BY NO MEANS a winning of the battle.

Your post may cause activists to turn away--to think this problem is solved. IT IS NOT SOLVED. It is not even close to being solved. And we need a HUGE OUTCRY from Californians and from the nation to stop Diebold and ES&S here--letters and pressure to the Schwarz patsy Sec of State, to the VSPP, to CA legislators (asleep at the wheel, or corrupt), and to media, and to Howard Dean, the DNC and others, NOW.

We've done an opening shot. That's all.

Also, on your completely unsupported assertion that Schwarz patsty Bruce McPherson is about to be fired, I'm sorry, LF, but this is just much too important to bandy about, with no cite other than you "heard it on TV." McPherson has so far done Schwarz's bidding in every way. As far as I know, he has given S no reason to fire him. So, we must consider this not true, until proven otherwise. And your misinterpretation of the June 16 hearing and the VSPP's action--that it means that we have "stopped" Diebold in Calif--does not inspire confidence that you heard the TV right, whatever was being said.

Nothing was stopped! Please get this through your head. What we have is an OPPORTUNITY to raise holy hell. That's all. AN OPPORTUNITY--created for us by those brilliant, "fight back" people who showed up at the Sacto hearing. If we take this opportunity, we MAY win it. If we don't, they may railroad it through--and they may do so anyway.

As for the CA legislature, they SOME TIME AGO, passed legislation requiring a Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT--NOT A BALLOT), and other recommendations during Shelley's tenure. They then sat back and let Shelley be destroyed--some of them even piling on. They DID NOT BACK SHELLEY in his bloody battle with Diebold. They did not "reject the voting machines," as you assert above. Like other Dems nationwide, they are PLAYING GAMES with our democracy, and they need to be called to task for it--and removed from office if necessary.

The CA legislature--even though it has a 2 to 1 majority--is NO BULWARK against Schwarz or McPherson. Please understand this! They need PRESSURE *NOW*! --from Californians and from all across the nation.

[LightningFlash]

21. Well this is what I've been meaning the whole time.

That Diebold was stopped from being certified, like the article cites. I didn't indicate it was stopped from California alltogether. Look, this article can't be edited but your assertion that the certification was not stopped is simply wrong. They STOPPED the certification of the machines. As for doing it behind closed doors or other continuing factors, I never said it was over. I said this temporary battle has been won.

You are right to demand public attention to this and continue to push the efforts, but that is no reason to discredit what they have said about Diebold. Clearly the VSPP is NOT approving them at this time. That is at least ONE good thing.

[Peace Patriot]

23. Yes, LightningFlash, I agree that the June 16 event was a GOOD THING!

A very good thing! One of the best, most heartening things in recent news! No question about it.

Sorry I reacted so strongly to your thread. But I think we MUST understand that the VSPP is NOTORIOUS for playing agenda games and meeting schedule games to avoid public input, and given that it is now stacked with pro-Diebold and Schwarz/Bush Cartel operatives, we simply CANNOT VIEW THEIR DELAY AS A VICTORY. It is a maneuver! It only provides an OPPORTUNITY to raise holy hell--an opportunity created by the 200+ who attended and protested.

Please understand this. Now is the time for MAXIMUM PRESSURE, for maintaining the spotlight, for not letting them get away with taking this behind closed doors.

The VSPP is only an advisory panel. Sec of State McPherson will make the decision, and he's got a number of corrupt Dem county election officials and Dem legislators on his side--in addition to the Schwarz/Bush Cartel people behind him.

See this thread for a few of the names. (And you can add Riverside and San Bernardino County election officials to that list, as among the most corrupt--probably San Diego also, and quite a few others. And they are not all Republicans.)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x378812

Also, CA Dem leg leaders Perata and Romero helped get rid of Shelley in a big strongarm action in the Leg. I don't know if they're dirty or what, but they did not help. They hurt election transparency in CA, perhaps mortally.

It's not over. They WILL try to sneak these election theft machines in (DREs). And we already have a highly insecure, fraud prone system with the Diebold, ES&S, Sequoia and other optiscans and central tabulators.

LightningFlash, THIS IS THE REASON THEY GOT RID OF SHELLEY (who had sued Diebold and decertified their DREs, and provided Californians with a paper ballot option for 2004). You think they are going to back off? No way!

[Amaryllis]

28. Peace Patriot knows of which (s)he speaks! (don't know PP gender) so

listen!

[dave502d]

19. Thank Peace Patriot. n/t

[Bill Bored]

15. This sounds like good news.

Now how about some LAWS to have mandatory manual random audits and voter-verified paper?

To leave all this up to the bureaucrats and BOE party hacks of any stripe is unacceptable!

(Diebold really does suck though.)

[LightningFlash]

16. Connie McCormack will still try to force Diebold through certification.

The fight's not over yet since Arnold's special election is coming up.

[dave502d]

18. This is Great.Thank you for this story.n/t

[HR_Pufnstuf]

22. thatta way cali.

lead the way.

[Independent_Liberal]

24. Excellent!

Keep dismantling them folks! If we keep this going, we should have the whole process cleaned up by 2006.

[corbett]

25. Amazing Victory! Wow!

Now we need VIVA!

http://www.commoncause.org/VIVA2005

[WeHoldTheseTruths]

27. THIS THREAD IS AT BEST, CONFUSING

I stand with Peace Patriot.

If you are reading this and are at all confused, please read her comments carefully. We are in the middle of a very critical battle and there is no evidence that it has been won.

[Amaryllis]

29. Yes! PP does know what she is talking about and please read her

comments carefully. The batttle for CA is huge and fraught with devious and desperate tactics by the dark side (and I am not being melodramatic; this is the truth; the tactics have been unbelievable) and if CA goes, the country goes.

[goclark]

30. But we do know this...

There were people raising hell about it and that means that WE MUST STAY REALLY IN TOUCH WITH THEM -LOTS OF PRESSURE AND RALLIES and memos.

Yes, an oounding on doors lkike they did in Florida!

Where is the first door because we need to be there for every peep out of these thugs.

[garybeck]

31. the war is not over. but

what was demonstrated the other day was that the people will NOT LET IT STAND.

this should be duplicated in every state. let's all show up at all the election related meetings held by state officials.

the war is not over. but a shot was fired over the bow. the people showed they have some power. the war is not won but a good battle was won in California.


I am so proud of the people in California for what they have done! Here's an article if y'all haven't seen this one yet.

Call rises to 'dump Diebold'
http://www.insidebayarea.com/timesstar/localnews/ci_2810029

[Carolab]

33. Absolutely, Gary. Everyone should be talking to state/local officials.

That's what we're doing here.

This is where you MUST work to stop it. Get the legislation written/rewritten. Get ballot initiatives worked up.

The Democratic party in Michigan has been working on this with the DNC's National Lawyers Coalition. Find out what they've done. Find out the status of your legislation. Take this fight to YOUR representatives.

[GuvWurld]

34. The decision was never on the table this week

As I posted HERE, in the original thread about "what happened today," I specifically asked when a decision would be rendered and I was told that a date had not yet been set for that but it will be sometime after public comment ends on 6/30. Yes, Sacramento went well for us on Thursday, and yes, as Gary says, we will not let it stand. But we have NOT stopped them yet.

What we need next here is a report on the meeting's continuation on Friday. I'm sure it wasn't nearly as well attended. If we don't have any DUers for first hand reporting we've got to find other sources of reporting.

FWIW, I think this thread was misleading from the start and the mods would be justified in removing it.

[Moderator]

35. Locking

The title of this thread suggests the battle is won, when clearly more work is needed.