Election Reform, Fraud, & Related News Sunday8/14/05

[MelissaB]

All members welcome and encouraged to participate.

Link to previous Election Reform, Fraud, & Related News thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x388905

All previous daily threads are available here:

http://www.independentmediasource.com/DU_archives/du_2004erd_el_ref_fr_thr_calenders.htm




Please "Recommend" for the Greatest Page (it's the link just below).

[MelissaB]

1. National Summit to Save Our Elections - Portland, Sept. 30, Oct. 1 & 2

More information coming this week on workshops and presentations!

See flyer at http://www.oregonvrc.org/files/Summit%20Flyer_B&W.PDF

The right to vote and to have our vote counted as intended is the heartbeat of our democracy.

Today, private corporations with partisan political and financial conflicts of interest count our votes on trade secret software, preventing us from verifying that our votes are counted as intended. America’s elections are thus conducted under conditions that ensure inconclusive results. Our democracy is in peril.

Join some of the nation’s top election
reform activists to explore:

• How corporate-owned electronic election
systems affect your vote and election
outcomes

• How innovative election reform
approaches from around the country are
making a difference

• How you can help to restore citizenship
ownership of our elections

Featured Presenters:

The Honorable Jesse Jackson Jr., U.S. House of Representatives

David Cobb, 2004 Green Party Presidential Candidate

Thom Hartmann, Radio talk show host and author

Bob Koehler, nationally syndicated columnist, Tribune Media Services

Ronnie Dugger, Alliance for Democracy

Cliff Arnebeck, Ohio Honest Elections Campaign

Brad Friedman, The Brad Blog and The Brad Show

Ellen Theisen, VotersUnite

Paul Lehto, Attorney, plaintiff in lawsuit against Sequoia Voting Systems and Snohomish County, WA

For more information and updates on the conference visit
www.Summit.OregonVRC.org

The conference will be held in downtown Portland at the First Unitarian Church, 1011 SW 12th and Portland State University, 724 SW Harrison

Sign up to receive future conference announcements: [e-mail]
Oregon VRC contact information:
503-499-9000 or [e-mail]

Sponsored by:
Oregon Voter Rights Coalition &
Alliance for Democracy - Portland


Thanks to Amaryllis here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x388919

[MelissaB]

2. You HAVE to listen to this!! Trust me. Just do it.

These are audio links to Thom Hartmann and Paul Lehto's presentation in Portland on "The Corporate Takeover of America's Elections."

This will knock your socks off. I have been immersed in election fraud/reform for over a year now, and I was continually astounded by their superb ability to frame the issue in its simplest terms. These will help you in talking to people about the issues, or writing letters, or articles, or whatever. Many excellent sound bites in here.

I copied some quotes, but you HAVE TO JUST LISTEN TO THIS! I could transcribe the whole hour; it’s incredible stuff. Brilliant. They complement each other so well; it’s like they did a Vulcan mind meld. They both are so knowledgeable about history, the law, the constitution, and they are both expert framers of the issue. Whoever listens to this, please pick our your favorite quotes and post.

Thom concludes with this: “The vote should be ours; we should hold the vote, there should not be for profit corporations inserted between us and our vote and our government and our elected officials.” At one point in the Q and A, someone asked Thom, “How do I talk to people about this? It’s so complex.” Thom said no, it isn’t complex at all; it’s very simple, and basically repeated this statement, or some variation: It is an outrage that for profit corporations have inserted themselves between us and our vote..

Thom: The vote is the heartbeat of democracy.

Paul talks about the Snohomish County study and the lawsuit, but primarly uses is as a framework to make his points about the bigger picture.

Lehto: Elections are all about power transfer and money transfer. The people who administer those elections are a select few government representatives who then keep those ballots secret. It’s virtually impossible to get your hands on those ballots and count them for yourself. The best way to think about it is, “I have no basis for confidence in our elections.” What can you do? You can say all day every day that we have no basis for confidence and there is nothing that anyone can say that’s based in fact that can take you off that track because it’s a 100% accurate position.

If you’re in the position of trying to prove something, the burden of proof is on you and the other side is going to pick away at your little facts and keep saying, “That doesn’t convince me.” The big picture is that the elections in the US have no credibility.

Given power and money are being transferred here and that this is the sole super power and the wealthiest nation on earth, and our history of wars and assassinations, is it conceivable that an individual or group of individuals may want to do something non-violent (to do a money and power grab)?

Reasonable people leave open the possibility that something may be going on. Unreasonable people condemn reasonable people as conspiracy theorists. This word conspiracy has developed this aura of unlikelihood.

On another level, it’s not really relevant whether someone purposely threw the election; the numbers are off. The wrong candidate was elected. Intent is only relevant in the law as to whether it’s criminal or not. In terms of the integrity of our democracy it doesn’t matter whether it’s malfunction or someone deliberately hacked the computers, it’s all the same. The data is wrong and there’s no basis for any confidence in that data.

Not only does the emperor have no clothes, he has no wardrobe and he lives in a glass house.

Democracy dies in secret.

The voters of America are blindfolded, and therefore impotent, but only until you realize you're not impotent.

I could quote the whole thing! It’s that good.

Thom Hartmann...about 33 minutes

www.PhilosopherSeed.org/realaudio/thartman.ram

www.PhilosopherSeed.org/mp3/thartman.mp3

Paul Lehto....about 32 minutes

www.PhilosopherSeed.org/realaudio/plehto.ram

www.PhilosopherSeed.org/mp3/plehto.mp3



Thanks to Amaryllis here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x388978

[MelissaB]

3. Ohio: Report: Elections officials complain of pressure to buy products

Report: Elections officials complain of pressure to buy products

Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Officials with some of Ohio's county elections boards say representatives of a voting machine maker tried to strong-arm them into buying the company's products, a newspaper reported.

People acting on behalf of Diebold Inc. tried to donate money to the local parties of Democrats and Republicans who sat on the boards, the board members told The Columbus Dispatch for a story published Sunday. Elections officials in Licking and Clark counties said Diebold leaned on them to choose the North Canton-based company's machines over those of Omaha, Neb.-based competitor Election Systems & Software Inc.

ES&S itself prompted a warning from the Ohio Ethics Commission to county election boards after the company took elections officials to a concert in 2003. Diebold and ES&S have employed veteran lobbyists from both parties as they vie for the $116 million allotted to the state to revamp its voting system.

"This is a competitive process, and we anticipate that all vendors will do what they can to convince counties to do business with them," said Carlo LoParo, a spokesman for Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell.

More: http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/news/state/12383607.htm

[MelissaB]

4. Brad Blog: Lobbyist Working For Diebold Also Works For Against Mayor's Off

Blogged by Winter Patriot on 8/14/2005 @ 12:13pm PT...

Lobbyist Working For Diebold Also Works For Against Mayor's Office!!
Tetris Group Helped Get Diebold Machines Into UT; SLC Mayor's Office 'Frustrated'
and it's all 'legal' -- mayor says it depends on the definition of lobbying

Or maybe it depends on whay you mean by "is" ... Guest blogged by Winter Patriot Here's a chilling story from Salt Lake City, which one of our friends noticed...

Or maybe it depends on whay you mean by "is" ...

Guest blogged by Winter Patriot

Here's a chilling story from Salt Lake City, which one of our friends noticed at The Salt Lake Tribune. It's the kind of tale that Brad eats for breakfast, but for me it's the sort of thing I gag on.

I don't mean "gag" in the way you might think, that the overwhelming nature of the sleaze takes away my appetite. Instead, I mean: Brad would be able to understand all this -- and explain it to you -- a lot better than I can. But he's away -- the slacker! -- and so it falls to this lowly and nearly frozen blogger...

I've read the article, Lobbyist challenged on voting machines: Legal. But ethical? S.L. County's lobbying firm also works for the devices' manufacturer, several times, and the words of Derek P. Jensen are finally starting to seep into my very thick skull. I'm even starting to get a handle on the cast of characters! Listen:

More: http://www.bradblog.com/archives/00001697.htm

From the Salt Lake Tribune

Lobbyist challenged on voting machines
Legal. But ethical? S.L. County's lobbying firm also works for the devices' manufacturer

By Derek P. Jensen

The Salt Lake Tribune

Salt Lake County leaders continue to unleash a litany of complaints about the $10 million load of fancy electronic voting machines they must use by next year.

Problem is, the county's own powerful lobbying firm, The Tetris Group, helped do the deal.

Turns out, Tetris doubles as a lobbyist for Diebold Election Systems, whose touch-screen voting machines the firm helped prod the state to buy.

Tetris' role is not a legal violation. But the relationship is raising questions of a possible conflict, particularly given the cost.

More of this interesting tale: http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_2941848

[MelissaB]

5. Discussion

here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x389090

[MelissaB]

6. Half of states now require paper trail for elections

Half of states now require paper trail for elections

By Jim Drinkard
USA Today

WASHINGTON -- Three years into a national debate over the security and reliability of computerized voting machines, the skeptics are winning.

In the past month, legislatures in five states -- Connecticut, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York and Oregon -- have passed laws requiring computer-based voting machines to produce a paper backup that can be verified by the voter, according to Electionline .org, which monitors voting systems. That brings to 25 the number of states that require a paper trail.

Fourteen other states and the District of Columbia are considering similar legislation.

Paper printouts could be used to verify the electronic count, or as a fail-safe measure in case a recount is needed.

More: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050814/NEWS06/508140522/1012

[wli]

12. were proecdures for receipt-based recounts formally legislated?

Inquiring minds need to know.

[GuvWurld]

7. Kicked and Nominated (C'mon y'all)

n/t

[MelissaB]

8. LTTE in Ohio: We need nonpartisan boards of election

We need nonpartisan boards of election

The Fulton County Board of Elections recently adopted a resolution, part three of which states, "We as members of the Board … shall refrain from engaging in any political activity while on duty …"

But the nature of a board of elections is political activity, so I think what the writer of the resolution was trying to say is that members should not engage in partisan activities.

Republican J. Kenneth Blackwell is an example of what the writer wants Fulton County to avoid. A secretary of state, whose function is to oversee proper and fair elections at the state level should not be head of a committee supporting one candidate like Mr. Blackwell did in the last presidential election.

I support the intended sentiment in part three of the Fulton County resolution. Maybe the members of the board can amend their recently adopted resolution to read, "We … shall refrain from engaging in any partisan activity …"

SARAH MAXWELL
Archbold, Ohio

Link: http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050814/OPINION03/508140354

[MelissaB]

9. Drinking Liberally (Oregon)

Drinking Liberally

in the news




Yesterday's Portland Tribune covered the goings-on at Drinking Liberally Portland - a motley bunch of local lefties that get together once a month for beer and political chit-chat. DL is a national group that's organizing liberals for social activities all over the country. (Portland info here.)

Nicole Vanderhoof founded the happy hour get-together in October, when the tension surrounding the presidential election was at its peak. “I would sit there and read all this news,” she says, and she thought, “there’s got to be other people who want to talk about this.” She was right. Not only that, but nearly a year later, she’s still drawing 20 or more people to her monthly, liberal-leaning gatherings. ...
The Lucky Lab crew seems to be the most laid-back of these groups, but criticism of our president is still very sharp. Someone is complaining about a recent speech; Riddle jokes that Bush may not be the greatest speaker, but now, “He’s really moving on to his forte: He’s going on vacation.”


(Incidentally, there's a sideways reference to Progressive Happy Hour - but the Tribune assumes that it has something to do with BlueOregon, which it doesn't. Unlike PHH, Drinking Liberally is targeted more at folks whose politics comes on the side. PHH seems to attract, as the Tribune reports, "hard-bitten hacks and political wonks.")

People who need to remain somewhat diplomatic at work form the core of this group: Vanderhoof is a loan closer at Bank of America; Riddle is a quality engineer at Nike Inc. Drinking Liberally is a way for politically like-minded people to get together, not to argue, not to protest, not to convert, but just to hang out.
If you were eavesdropping from the next table, you’d assume this was a party of old friends, mixing, as friends do, discussions of current events with whatever else comes to mind.

At the same time, there is an underlying belief that change can result from the forging of social bonds. As Riddle says, “That’s what grass roots is all about.”


More: http://www.blueoregon.com/2005/08/drinking_libera.html

[MelissaB]

10. Political ruminations go better with beer

Political ruminations go better with beer

The sun is slanting diagonally onto the covered back patio of the Lucky Labrador Brew Pub.
Squinting, we make our introductions. Nicole Vanderhoof and her parents, Sue and Roy Vanderhoof, are sitting at a picnic table, sharing a pitcher of beer. An upright red, white and blue sign that reads “Drinking Liberally” lets newcomers know that this is their group.
Nicole Vanderhoof founded the happy hour get-together in October, when the tension surrounding the presidential election was at its peak. “I would sit there and read all this news,” she says, and she thought, “there’s got to be other people who want to talk about this.”
She was right. Not only that, but nearly a year later, she’s still drawing 20 or more people to her monthly, liberal-leaning gatherings.
I have brought along my sister’s husband, who is visiting from Pennsylvania. We get pints of beer from the bar inside, and sit chatting with the Vanderhoofs as more people arrive. Nicole Vanderhoof, along with co-organizer James Riddle, explain to me how Drinking Liberally, which is a national organization, works. Founded in New York City in 2003, it has branches spread across the United States.


More: http://www.portlandtribune.com/archview.cgi?id=31237

[MelissaB]

11. N.H. should keep paper ballot system

N.H. should keep paper ballot system

State Rep. Suzanne Harvey, D-Ward 2 Nashua

Published: Sunday, Aug. 14, 2005

I attended the Aug. 7 film viewing and discussion featuring guest speaker Secretary of State Bill Gardner at the Wilton Town Hall Theater regarding electronic ballots (see Telegraph article, Aug. 8).

I’m grateful for the secretary’s dedication to New Hampshire’s paper ballot system (ensuring an original paper record of actual votes, not just a receipt or facsimile) at a time when many states have or are purchasing electronic voting machines for statewide use.

New Hampshire is on record as having the most election recounts, conducted painstakingly by hand with the actual ballots, often revealing final results that differ from the optically scanned results on election night.

Compare this to a recount from an electronic system, which would yield exactly the same results as shown on election night because there are no actual ballots!

There is an important distinction between voter fraud and election fraud.

More: http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050814/OPINION02/108140070/-1/HEALTH