Election Reform, Fraud, & Related News Tuesday 9/05/06

[Melissa G]

Fraud video claim in Mexico poll


Mr Lopez Obrador aired the video at his campaign headquarters

Election Reform, Fraud, & Related News Tuesday 9/05/06

All members welcome and encouraged to participate.

Please post Election Reform, Fraud, & Related News on this thread.

If you can:

1. Post stories and announcements you find on the web.

2. Post stories using the "Election Fraud and Reform News Sources" listed here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x371233

3. Re-post stories and announcements you find on DU, providing a link to the original thread with thanks to the Original Poster, too.

4. Start a discussion thread by re-posting a story you see on this thread.



If you want to know how post "News Banners" or other images, go here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=203&topic_id=371233#371391







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

[Melissa G]

1. Fraud video claim in Mexico poll

DU discussion here...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x448239



Fraud video claim in Mexico poll

Mr Lopez Obrador aired the video at his campaign headquarters
Mexican presidential candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador says he has "irrefutable" video proof of fraud committed by his election rivals.
The electoral authorities say the video images showing supposed irregularities have been misinterpreted.

Results from the 2 July poll show conservative candidate Felipe Calderon winning by 0.57 percentage points.

Mr Lopez Obrador has filed a legal challenge and called for nationwide protests to press calls for a recount.

snip
The shaky amateur video footage aired at Mr Lopez Obrador's campaign headquarters showed two incidents which he claimed were examples of "old-style fraud". He said that that they had been sent in by some of his supporters.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5167420.stm

[Melissa G]

2. Final ruling set in Mexico election

Final ruling set in Mexico election
By Will Weissert, Associated Press | September 5, 2006

MEXICO CITY -- Mexico at last will have a final decision today on its disputed July 2 presidential race, with the nation's top electoral court expected to declare ruling party candidate Felipe Calderón president-elect.

But the long-awaited ruling by the Federal Electoral Tribunal -- which comes two months, three days, and tens of thousands of pages of legal challenges after voters cast their ballots -- is unlikely to end potentially explosive uncertainty or close the growing political divide gripping the country.

Most court rulings so far have favored Calderón, who has a 240,000-vote advantage over leftist rival Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

snip
López Obrador, who stepped down as Mexico City mayor to run for president, already has said he won't accept a ruling against him and is moving forward with plans to establish a parallel government.
http://www.boston.com/news/world/latinamerica/articles/2006/09/05/final_ruling_set_in_mexico_election/

[texpatriot2004]

3. Thanks so much for this post nt

[Algorem]

4. Strickland, Blackwell to clash in first debate today

http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060905/NEWS09/609050372/-1/NEWS

By JIM TANKERSLEY
BLADE POLITICS WRITER


Perhaps the most torturously negotiated set of gubernatorial debates in Ohio history kicks off in Youngstown today, starring two candidates with big things to prove — and one state with big problems to solve.

The hour-long affair begins at noon and matches Democrat Ted Strickland and Republican Ken Blackwell, who both struck up campaign overtures long before the traditional Labor Day curtain call. It excludes two other candidates: Libertarian Bill Peirce and Bob Fitrakis of the Green Party.

But for voters just tuning in to a governor’s race that has drawn more national attention than any other this year (except maybe the one out West that includes a former star of Kindergarten Cop) the main attraction is clear: Ohio’s feature-length list of woes, starting with a sluggish economy and a scandal-driven crisis of confidence in state government.

After a summer of policy announcements and round-the-state photo ops, questions remain about how both leading candidates would fix those problems. More political questions linger, too. Here are three to ponder before the stage lights go up today...


Stage Set for First Debate in Governor's Race

http://www.onnnews.com/?sec=home&story=sites/10tv/content/pool/200609/1503629321.html

Sep 05 2006 7:33AM

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (AP) -...


You can watch the debate LIVE at noon on the Ohio News Network.


http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/15440293.htm

At an imposing 6-foot-5, Blackwell has long been sought as a speaker for TV news shows for his booming voice and quick-on-his-feet speaking style and has four statewide campaigns behind him.



...Blackwell likely to come on strong; Strickland says he’s ready

http://www.columbusdispatch.com/?story=dispatch/2006/09/05/20060905-D1-03.html

Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Mark Niquette
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

..Analysts expect Blackwell, who is trailing in the polls and generally perceived to be the better orator, to be more aggressive than Strickland in an effort to change the dynamic of the race.

But Strickland has debate experience, and although political observers expect him to be cautious, they say he could further cement his front-runner status with a strong performance.

Although the debate might give many Ohioans their first substantial exposure to the candidates and their platforms, experts don’t think it will have much impact on the outcome of the race unless one candidate makes a major gaffe.

Conventional wisdom suggests that Blackwell has an advantage going in as the better public speaker...

http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=56466

But Blackwell, an imposing figure with a good speaking voice, thinks well on his feet and some observers think this debate could jump-start his campaign.

(Democrats killing kenny,mediawhores rushing to help blackwell)


http://www.columbusdispatch.com/?story=dispatch/2006/09/05/20060905-D1-04.html

About the Debates

[mod mom]

5. Can't let Fitrakis ask Blackwell some tough question on the Elections!

[Melissa G]

6. Pre-election focus in Congress on national security

Pre-election focus in Congress on national security



WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress will mark the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks with a pre-election agenda focusing on national security-related issues.
Must-do tasks for lawmakers returning Tuesday from a monthlong break are reaching agreement on defense spending, which has gone from about $300 billion before the terrorist attacks to nearly $500 billion, and passing a $32 billion spending bill for the Homeland Security Department.

The House and Senate plan to recess Sept. 29 until after the November election. Any other issues — perhaps immigration or offshore drilling — they take up before then will be colored by the possibility that the election could restore Democrats to power in either or both chambers.

snip
The Senate Armed Services Committee is trying to coordinate with the administration on legislation to create a new legal system for holding and trying terrorists in the wake of the Supreme Court's rejection of the current military tribunals.

Responding to other court rulings, GOP leaders also hope to put together in the coming weeks a bill establishing new legal status for the National Security Agency's warrantless wiretaps of terrorist suspects.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-09-05-congress-returns_x.htm

[Melissa G]

7. Campaign season opens in earnest

Today's editorial: Campaign season opens in earnest
Californians must gear up for a fall election for the fifth year in a row
The week after Labor Day traditionally kicks off the fall election season. And this one looks to be a doozy – assuming Californians aren't suffering from election fatigue. Because of the 2003 recall and 2005 special election, 2006 marks the fifth consecutive year with a statewide election in California.

Well, here we go again. The main focus for most voters probably will be statewide, with the governor's race and all constitutional offices, a U.S. Senate seat and 13 ballot initiatives up for decision Nov. 7. However, enthusiasm will be somewhat dampened for the 53 U.S. House, 80 state Assembly and 20 state Senate seats being contested because in the 2004 not a single seat of those listed changed party hands because of gerrymandering.

And this year the state Legislature again failed to pass redistricting reform, or at least put it on the November ballot for voters to decide. We hope the Legislature doesn't fail again next year.

Here's our preview of the state and local battles to come.

http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/opinion/homepage/article_1262819.php

[Melissa G]

8. CEPR Press Release: Finds Significant Vote Reduction for Calderon

Thanks to modmom for the post and the DU discussion here..
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x448241


CEPR Press Release: Finds Significant Vote Reduction for Calderon
http://www.cepr.net/pressreleases/2006_09_02.htm

CEPR ADDS UP AVAILABLE RECOUNT DATA, FINDS SIGNIFICANT VOTE REDUCTION FOR CALDERON

Result Could Explain Electoral Authorities' Reluctance to Release Recount Data

For Immediate Release: September 2, 2006

Contact: Mark Weisbrot, 202-746-7264
Dan Beeton, 202-293-5380 x 104; 202-256-6116 (cell)

WASHINGTON - The Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) has found a significant loss of votes for PAN presidential candidate Felipe Calderón in a sample of recounted ballots.

Adding up the numbers for 1,706 ballot boxes (casillas) shows a loss of 1,362 votes for Felipe Calderón. Andrés Manuel López Obrador of the PBT shows a gain of 77 votes.

"This is inexplicably one-sided, with Calderón losing votes but López Obrador not losing any," said CEPR Co-Director Mark Weisbrot. "It is also a significant percentage of votes in an election this close."

The 1,362 votes lost by Calderón represent 0.54 percent of his votes in these ballot boxes.

The result for the whole group of recounted ballot boxes would likely show a similar percentage, since the above ballot box totals were chosen randomly from the documents posted on the Electoral Tribunal of the Federal Judiciary (TEPJF) web site. The ballot box totals compiled by CEPR comprise 14.4 percent of the 11,839 ballot boxes that were recounted.

The Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) has been searching through many thousands of pages in 375 documents <www.trife.org.mx (see "Ãltimas sentencias dictadas")> released over the past week by the TEPJF, for numbers on the recount conducted by the TEPJF from August 9 to August 13. The process is laborious but most of the results appear to be buried in these documents.

In other words, the full recount results might be available but it takes several days of research to find and compile the numbers for 11,839 ballot boxes scattered among many thousands of pages of documents.

Although the recount was completed nearly three weeks ago, the TEPJF has refused to release the numbers showing how the candidates' vote totals were changed by the recount. This contrasts sharply to the procedure followed for the preliminary and second vote tallies in July, when the results were made public immediately.

"This certainly casts doubt on the electoral authorities' decision to reject a full recount," said Weisbrot. "And it makes the TEPJF's decision not to release the recounted vote totals look even worse."*

See also CEPR's most recent paper examining the "adding up" errors in the vote count: http://www.cepr.net/publications/mexico_discrepancies_2...


*Last Monday the TEPJF released the results of its annulment of 237,736 votes; many press accounts mistakenly reported these numbers as the results of the recount, which they were not. The ballot boxes where votes were annulled are not the same as those which were recounted. See http://www.trife.org.mx/consultas/boletines/archivos/07... .


The Center for Economic and Policy Research is an independent, nonpartisan think tank that was established to promote democratic debate on the most important economic and social issues that affect people's lives. CEPR's Advisory Board of Economists includes Nobel Laureate economists Robert Solow and Joseph Stiglitz; Richard Freeman, Professor of Economics at Harvard University; and Eileen Appelbaum, Professor and Director of the Center for Women and Work at Rutgers University.

[Melissa G]

9. Voting Rights Revival Conference, Columbus Oct 13, 14, & 15

Thanks to mod mom for the post and the DU discussion here
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x448248

Voting Rights Revival Conference, Columbus Oct 13, 14, & 15

Voting Rights Revival Conference, Columbus State Community College, Columbus, Ohio
October 13, 14 and 15, 2006

The VRRC focuses on concrete solutions that will empower Ohio voters this November 7, 2006. Free and open to the public, the VRRC will inspire and inform with renowned speakers and hands-on workshops. Speakers include Mark Crispin Miller, author of "Fooled Again: How the Right Stole the 2004 Election and Why They'll Steal the Next One Too (Unless We Stop Them)" and Ruth Colker, author of "Everyday Law for People with Disabilities." Workshops will cover the changes in the new laws, basic voting procedures, how to make sure your vote is counted, how to work with Boards of Elections, Election Protection videography, the voting rights of people with disabilities, and post-election audits, to name a few.

Our Mission Statement:

To focus on the election process in Ohio, with the goal of sharing information that enfranchises all voters in Ohio; to encourage civic participation at the local and state level, including the ongoing facilitation of emerging local and student leaders and organizers: the commencement of a public sphere.

Highlights:

Speakers:

* Rev. Jesse Jackson (invited)
* Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney (invited)
* Mark Crispin Miller (invited), author of "Fooled Again: How the Right Stole the 2004 Election & Why They'll Steal the Next One Too"
* Steve Freeman, Penn University professor, author of "Was the 2004 Presidential Election Stolen? Exit Polls, Election Fraud, and the Official Count"
* Bob Fitrakis, author, journalist, political science professor, attorney for Moss v. Bush, co-editor "Did George W. Bush Steal America's 2004 Election? Essential Documents"
* Harvey Wasserman, author, journalist, Senior Free Press Editor, co-editor "How the GOP Stole America's 2004 Election & Is Rigging 2008"
* Cliff Arnebeck, attorney for post-2004 election challenge
* Charles Traylor (invited), radio personality, civil rights activist
* Ruth Colker, law professor, OSU Moritz College of Law
* Greg Moore (invited), civil rights leader, director, Voting Rights Institute of the Democratic National Committee
* Matt Damschroder (invited), Director, Franklin County Board of Elections
* Ronnie Dugger (invited), founder, Texas Observer, founder Alliance for Democracy
* Doris D. Haddock (invited), clean elections activist
* Mike Whittey (invited), United Nations NGO International Educators for World Peace


Workshops:

* Voting 101 (Guaranteeing your voter registration, new ID rules, how to use voting machines)
* Disabilities and Voting
* Election Day Election Protection Activities: parallel elections, legal, video, observation
* Post-election Auditing
* More


Entertainment:

* "American Blackout," documentary on e-voting fraud, producer Ian Inaba Guerrilla News Network
* "Help America Vote on Paper," video, produced by Ecological Options Network
* Victoria Parks, singer-songwriter "W Begins with Duh," "My Vote Don't Matter Anymore"
* Connie Harris, singer-songwriter, Cultural Creatives
* Willie Phoenix (invited)
* Yikes McGee (invited)
* Dave Lippman (invited), singer-satirist
* Drum circle

<MORE AT LINK>

http://freepress.org/vrrc/

[Melissa G]

10. Sept 15 (Fri) is Electoral Reform Day at Camp Democracy (DC)

Thanks to mod mom for the post and the DU discussion here...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x448245

Sept 15 (Fri) is Electoral Reform Day at Camp Democracy (DC)
Friday the 15th of Sept is Electoral Reform Day at Camp
Democracy because all Americans need to be talking about democracy...
and what we're going to do about it.
We will be doing a system analysis and investigation of what we can,
and will, do to fix multiple electoral problems --- from non-verifiable
ballot systems to closed presidential debates, to campaign
finance/bribery, to partisan districting, and more.

Through interactive discussions of multiple reform ideas, we will
highlight the effort for a stronger democracy as a wedge issue for
citizens of all parties. Unless we want to be protesting in the streets
forever, we must get busy building a unified electoral platform for
change.

Dorothy Fadiman's movie will play in the evening and Bob Fitrakis will introduce
it, and also speak for Brad Friedman during the day. There are plenty
of opportunities for others to be there and be involved!

[Melissa G]

11. NYT editorial: In Search of Accurate Vote Totals

Thanks to DeepModem Mom for the post and the DU discussion here..
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x448228


NYT editorial: In Search of Accurate Vote Totals
Editorial
In Search of Accurate Vote Totals
Published: September 5, 2006

It’s hard to believe that nearly six years after the disasters of Florida in 2000, states still haven’t mastered the art of counting votes accurately. Yet there are growing signs that the country is moving into another presidential election cycle in disarray.

The most troubling evidence comes from Ohio, a key swing state, whose electoral votes decided the 2004 presidential election. A recent government report details enormous flaws in the election system in Ohio’s biggest county, problems that may not be fixable before the 2008 election....

***

Some of these problems may be explored further in a federal lawsuit challenging Ohio’s administration of its 2004 election. Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell, who has been criticized for many decisions he made on election matters that year, recently agreed to help preserve the 2004 paper ballots for review in the lawsuit.

Ohio is not the only state that may be headed for trouble in 2008. New York’s Legislature was shamefully slow in passing the law needed to start adopting new voting machines statewide. Now localities are just starting to evaluate voting machine companies as they scramble to put machines in place in time for the 2007 election. (Because of a federal lawsuit, New York has to make the switch a year early.) Much can go wrong when new voting machines are used. There has to be extensive testing, and education of poll workers and voters. New York’s timetable needlessly risks an Election Day disaster.

Cuyahoga County deserves credit for commissioning an investigation that raised uncomfortable but important questions. Its report should be a wake-up call to states and counties nationwide. Every jurisdiction in the country that runs elections should question itself just as rigorously, and start fixing any problems without delay.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/05/opinion/05tue1.html?hp

[Melissa G]

12. When Cows Vote

When Cows Fly, ... er Vote!
by Dale Hill


When Cows Vote

Oklahoma just voted in a run-off election for several positions. I'm not looking forward to the November elections with all the dead-head rats that virtually all of the candidates tug along with them. The first and most redundant issue in every campaign is GOD. In Oklahoma there are more Baptists than there are people, and candidates, almost always feel obligated to bring up "Falls Creek," the big Baptist sponsored camp near Davis, Oklahoma. We've been there, and we aren't Baptists. It is one of the most beautiful Parks in Oklahoma, even though the Baptists claim it.

All political commercials in Oklahoma are made by oceanographers - you "sea" one and you've "sean" them all.

"Hi, my name is Mary Fallin, and I believe in God, my family, and Oklahoma; and I am running for Congress." Her commercials rival the "Head On" commercials for redundancy, and they grate against ones senses as her fingernails would on a chalk-board. Fallin was our Lieutenant Governor and is now running for the vacated seat of Rep. Ernest Istook, who has been the Forrest Gump of the DC crowd. Fallin claims she has done a lot as the Lieutenant governor, but she's done about as much as Istook has in House of Representatives, which isn't much...

I can remember a time when Oklahoma always voted Democratic. Now the state always is the first one on all regular networks and cable networks as going bright red. Thus, there is no need for prognostication when it comes to Oklahoma. It is easy for me to vote; I just blacken the dot under Democrat and vote for all Democratic politicians running in the state. It is pretty darn embarrassing, for our state, because we always send the dumb and dumbest to Washington D.C..

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_dale_hil_060905_when_cows_fly_2c_____e.htm

[Melissa G]

13. FL Governor's race tops many races on primary ballot

Governor's race tops many races on primary ballot
STEVEN WINE
Associated Press
MIAMI - Voters headed to the polls Tuesday to decide the finalists to take over for Gov. Jeb Bush, whether U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris should challenge U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and select candidates to seek open congressional seats.

Republicans will also choose an opponent to face Democrat Alex Sink in the race for the chief financial officer post, and decide whether they agree with Bush that state Sen. Jim King should stay in office and state Sen. Alex Villalobos should be voted out.

In the governor's race, Attorney General Charlie Crist held a large lead in the polls over Tom Gallagher in the final week before the Republican primary, while the Democratic race between U.S. Rep. Jim Davis and state Sen. Rod Smith was tightening in the final days.

Bush has to step down from office because of term limits. He has stayed out of the Republican primary, saying each candidate would be suitable to succeed him. The candidates themselves have argued at length about who is better suited to carry on his tradition.

http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/news/breaking_news/15443322.htm

[Melissa G]

14. Voters are anti-incumbent and angry, new poll finds

Thanks to Mark E. Smith for the post and the DU discussion here
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2493751


Voters are anti-incumbent and angry, new poll finds
CNN 7:02 p.m, EDT Sept 4, 2006

WASHINGTON - Most Americans are angry about "something" when it comes to how the country is run, and they are more likely
than in previous years to vote for a challenger this November, a new poll suggests.

A majority of Americans surveyed - and a higher percentage than recorded during the same time last year - said things in the United
States are going "badly." Among this year's respondents, 29 percent said "pretty badly" and 25 percent - up from 15 percent a
month ago - answered "very badly." By comparison, 37 percent described the way things are going as "fairly well," and 9 percent
answered "very well."

A majority - 55 percent - said they are more likely to back a challenger in races on this year's ballot. Such anti-incumbent
sentiment is higher than the 48 percent recorded as "pro-challenger" in a similar survey in 1994, when the GOP took control
of both houses of Congress.

Democrats lead Republicans by a 10-point margin, 53 to 43 percent, among likely voters asked which party's congressional candidate
they would support in November, and Democrats held a 56-40 lead on the same question among registered voters.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/09/04/poll.election/index.html

[Melissa G]

15. Voter turnout reported light in some areas as polls open for primary,

Voter turnout reported light in some areas as polls open for primary, local races

By Paola Iuspa-Abbott and Brittany Wallman
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Posted September 5 2006, 10:15 AM EDT


Polls opened around South Florida this morning with no significant problems and mixed predictions about how many voters would cast ballots in races ranging from gubernatorial primaries to County Commission and School Board seats.

Broward Elections Supervisor Dr. Brenda Snipes predicts 18 to 21 percent of registered voters will cast ballots, while Palm Beach County's Arthur Anderson anticipates a turnout of about 25 percent.



"So far it is on the slow side," Anderson said outside Christ Fellowship Church in Palm Beach Gardens. That was his second stop of the day, after voting himself at 7 a.m. at the Ibis Country Club, 8225 Ibis Blvd.

No campaign workers were visible at either of his first two stops, and only 15 people had voted at the two locations by the time he moved on to Hurst Chapel AME Church in Riviera Beach. Early voting also resulted in a low response, he said, with only 10,000 to 11,000 casting ballots in the two-week stretch that ended Sunday.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-905election,0,4638563.story?coll=sfla-news-sfla

[Melissa G]

16. Is Kansas turning purple?

Compiled by the Journal-World Staff

Is Kansas turning purple?
September 5, 2006, 9:30 a.m.


Governor

(Salon) Kansas Republicans evolve into Democrats: Moderates and social conservatives have been battling for the soul of the Kansas GOP since 1994, when the conservatives first won control of the party machinery. Although registered Republicans outnumber Democrats 2 to 1, Kathleen Sebelius is about to exploit that ideological schism to win a second term by a comfortable margin. In 2002, she beat a conservative Republican nominee by appealing to voters who care more about schools and taxes than abortion and evolution -- and by recruiting a centrist Republican to run as her lieutenant governor. Four years later, Sebelius has again tapped a moderate Republican as her running mate, and this time eight other party-switchers will join her on the Democratic ticket. Depending on whom you believe, in her cross-the-aisle raids Sebelius has either found an effective strategy for turning Kansas a little less red, or she has used her personal popularity to mask the slow decline of her party.

(Wichita Eagle) Minor party candidates miffed at debate snub: Two minor-party Wichita candidates for governor are upset that they won't be allowed to participate in upcoming candidate forums. Richard Ranzau, Reform Party candidate, and Carl Kramer, Libertarian Party candidate, claim their exclusion stifles the flow of ideas and public discourse. The major-party candidates, Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Republican state Sen. Jim Barnett, have four debates scheduled, starting with Saturday's appearance at the Kansas State Fair. A fifth debate is in the works.

(From Washburn University professor Bob Beatty) First Sebelius-Barnett poll since primary shows Sebelius up by 11: Sebelius' 11 point lead represents what is now a fairly (and strikingly) consistent 8-13 point lead over Barnett in RR polls taken since January. This lead has remained consistent through the legislative session, the GOP primary, Barnett's victory, and Sebelius' first three TV ad campaigns ("Respect," "Clips" and the now famous ad of the Governor driving a school bus). The poll can be found at www.rasmussenreports.com.


Attorney General

(AP) Kline and Morrison locked in battle for attorney general: With both attorney general candidates busy talking tough on crime, Republican incumbent Phill Kline's anti-abortion politics and Democrat Paul Morrison's party switching have become issues that can't be ignored. Kline has been criticized for trying to get access to information in patient records at two abortion clinics. He's been lionized by his fellow abortion opponents, but he's been accused of pursuing a narrow, ideological agenda. Meanwhile, Morrison has been branded an opportunist for abandoning his fellow moderate Republicans and seeking the Democratic nomination as a better platform for unseating Kline. Activists in both parties consider the attorney general's race to be the contest most worth watching before the Nov. 7 general election.

http://www2.ljworld.com/blogs/campaign_briefing/2006/sep/05/purple/

[Melissa G]

17. Will the Democrats Take the House? It Might Happen

Will the Democrats Take the House? It Might Happen
September 5th, 2006



It is a lot harder to reliably forecast the likelihood of a change in control for the House than for the Senate. There are 435 House races, and roughly 65 of them are drawing some degree of competitive attention this year, far more than in prior cycles.

There are few independent polls that have been released on the competitive House races. Democratic challengers have raised substantial sums in many races, and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has as much cash on hand as the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee. The RNC has much more cash on hand than the DNC (4 times as much), but the Democratic Senate Committee has almost twice as much cash on hand as the Republican Senate Committee. Among all 3 national committees in total, the GOP holds only a modest cash on hand advantage.

With a much greater number of Republican than Democratic seats in both Houses that are at risk of changing hands, the GOP’s advantage may not be enough for all the candidates who need it.

The Senate

The Senate has only 33 races this cycle, and the Democrats need to pick up 6 seats to gain control. Given that 18 of the 33 seats this year are Democrat-held seats, at one time, this was considered likely to be a good year for GOP pickups. No more.

http://www.americanthinker.com/articles.php?article_id=5828

[Melissa G]

18. Weekend Political Events Shape Future Of District 22 Congressional Race

http://www.fortbendnow.com/news/1840/weekend-political-events-shape-future-of-district-22-congressional-race

Weekend Political Events Shape Future Of District 22 Congressional Race
by Bob Dunn, Sep 05, 2006, 07 43 am


The race for Congressional District 22 took on definition over Labor Day weekend, as Fort Bend County political events revealed strategy and issues central to the Democratic and Republican candidates as the campaign season heats up.

With just two months until the elections, former congressman Tom DeLay’s seat is up for grabs in a race with five candidates but only two names on the ballot – Democrat Nick Lampson and Libertarian Bob Smither.

Forced – by a series of court rulings and personal decisions by DeLay – to run without a named candidate on the ballot, the GOP has rallied behind Houston City Councilwoman Shelley Sekula-Gibbs’ write-in candidacy for the CD-22 seat. Two other lesser-known candidates, Don Richardson of Houston and Joe Reasbeck of Lago Vista, also are running as write-ins.

Sunday evening at the Sugar Land Community Center, Lampson joined local, state and national candidates at a barbecue attended by about 250 Democratic Party members, the tenor of which was set by Al Green, the unopposed Democratic congressman from District 9.

http://www.fortbendnow.com/news/1840/weekend-political-events-shape-future-of-district-22-congressional-race

[Melissa G]

19. Photos - Voting machine security seals penetrated

From Brad Blog


Black Box Voting
Photos - Voting machine security seals penetrated

A couple of 54-year old women from Black Box Voting bought $12 worth of tools and in four minutes penetrated the memory card seals, removed, replaced the memory card, and sealed it all up again without leaving a trace. This experiment shows that the seals do nothing whatever to protect against access by insiders after testing, and the seals also are worthless in jurisdictions like Washington, Florida, California, and many other locations where voting machines are sent home with poll workers for days before the election.

The Busby-Bilbray contest in San Diego now has proof that the optical scan machines sent home with poll workers subjected the tamper-friendly memory cards to an non-recoverable lapse in chain of custody. The recipe for tampering has been on the Internet for over a year:

The photos below blow apart claims by elections officials that voting machine "sleepovers" — sending voting machines home with poll workers for days or weeks prior to elections — are secure because of seals over the memory card.
snip

But then Black Box Voting purchased an optical scan machine and obtained discarded voting machine seals from King County, Washington. Here's what we found:



http://www.bradblog.com/?p=3382#more-3382

[Melissa G]

20. Nevada: The Constitution As A Weapon Against Democracy

thanks to John Gideon for the article!




Nevada: The Constitution As A Weapon Against Democracy
By John Gideon, VotersUnite.org and VoteTrustUSA
September 04, 2006
Let me preface this with a statement. I am not an attorney. I'm just a retired "knuckle dragger" (marine machinist). While I'm not an academic I do have the ability to read something and know what it says especially when it is written in clear English. I've also got a bit more common sense than most academics because I've had to exercise it throughout my life.



Any reader of The BRAD BLOG is familiar with the court decision from San Diego County. Essentially the judge ruled that he did not have jurisdiction because Bilbray was already sworn in as a member of Congress and the US Constitution gives the Legislative Branch jurisdiction over elections of their members.



Friday's Nevada Appeal has an article regarding a court challenge that stemmed from problems in the GOP primary election for Congress. That race between Dean Heller, present Secretary of State, and Sharron Angle, was closely contested and Ms. Angle filed the challenge based on what she thought to be possibly illegal practices in Washoe County.



The judge threw out the case, not on a finding that the practices were not illegal but on a constitutional basis. The judge found that he had no jurisdiction, in part, according to Article 1, Section 5 of the US Constitution.

The pertinent part of Article 1, Section 5 says: "Each House shall be the judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members,........". Note the phrase "of its own members".


http://www.votetrustusa.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1750&Itemid=113

[Kurovski]

21. Kick to the top!

Thank you, dear MG!:-)