Election Reform, Fraud, & Related News Wed 9/20/06 Free For The Taking

[kpete]

Election Reform, Fraud, & Related News Wed 9/20/06 Elections Free For The Taking


How do we have a “government by the people” if Elections are “free for the taking”?





Once the election is stolen, it is highly unlikely or impossible
that any subsequent audit, investigation, recount, or election contest is going
to change the momentum created by the reporting of the initial election results.
Paul Lehto
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=450058&mesg_id=450058




WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ELECTION 2006

1. 80% of all votes will be tabulated by electronic voting machines
2. Diebold machines shown by Princeton profs to be easily "hacked"
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9003310&intsrc=cust_topread
All other discussion is a complete waste of time.

http://www.theleftcoaster.com/archives/008776.php



All members welcome and encouraged to participate.

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

"Recommend"

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

[kpete]

1. Federal Voter ID bill To Be Debated On The House Floor Tomorrow

Federal Voter ID bill To Be Debated On The House Floor Tomorrow
By Warren Stewart, VoteTrustUSA
September 19, 2006

A bill that would prohibit any election official from providing a ballot, even a provisional ballot, to an eligible American citizen that failed to bring proof of coitizenship and a government-issued photo identification card has been scheduled for a vote in the U.S. House of Represnetatives tomorrow. The bill, introduced by Rep. Henry Hyde (R-MI) is entitled "The Federal Election Integrity Act of 2006" (HR 4844) and was recommended along party lines by the Committee on House Administration in a mark-up last week. The recommended bill reflected an extensive amendment in the form of a substitution offered by Rep. Vernon Ehlers (R-MI). The bill has 10 co-sponsors, all Republicans.

During hearings earlier this year on Capitol Hill and in New Mexico and Arizona, revealed sharp disagreements over the merits and effect of such legislation. The American Association of Retired People has actively opposed voter identification legislation in several states wrote in a letter submitted into the record at last week's mark-up "On behalf of older Americans who have largely shaped the values of our democracy, we urge great care to ensure that the basic right to vote is not rrampled in an effort to address unproven allegations of voting issues."

Similarly, the League of Women Voters has argued against photo ID legislation stating in the field hearing held in Phoenix, "any proposal that restricts voter registration or raises barriers to voting in order to deal with the supposed problem of non-citizen voting is a fear-based approach instead of a fact-based solution. We simply have not seen the facts that would justify restricting the franchise." These sentiments are echoed in statements from dozens of public interest and civil rights organizations.

The House leadership seems determined to fast track this legislation. It has been scheduled for consideration by the House Rules Committee this afternoon where the 9-4 Republican majority guarantees its recommendation for floor debate tomorrow.

http://www.votetrustusa.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1796&Itemid=26

[Land Shark]

5. Expected to pass House per LA Times, but not expected to become law

<http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/la-na-voterid20sep20,1,2343559.story?coll=la-news-politics-national&track=crosspromo>

Helpfully, House Admin committee chair Ehlers is quoted as saying: "There is, I believe, increasing fraud in voting in the U.S.," Ehlers said.

But unhelpfully, Ehlers cites only the threat of dogs voting three times in Kentucky.

Now that's unfair, because they've got some EXCELLENT dogs in Kentucky, and they really take care of 'em.

[Febble]

29. BTW

"It's not going to go into oblivion," said Rep. Vernon J. Ehlers (R-Mich.), chairman of the House Administration Committee that produced the bill.

He defended the need for tighter election laws and noted that Canada, Germany and Britain require photo IDs to vote.

From the UK: I have never needed photo ID to vote. I just take the card that I got through the letterbox. And if I forget it, it doesn't matter - I just tell the people at the polling station who I am.

I wouldn't be surprised if ID, even photo ID, becomes a requirement but it certainly wasn't at the last election.

on edit

Sorry, didn't notice this was the news thread - I just followed links. Still, the information might as well be here.

[kpete]

2. Bonifaz's Voters Bill of Rights promises to:

Bonifaz's Voters Bill of Rights promises to:

1. Count every vote

The right to vote includes the right to have our votes properly counted.

We must ensure that every citizen's vote will be counted. This includes a guarantee of open and transparent elections with verified voting, paper trails, hand-recorded paper ballots, and access to the source codes for, and random audits of, electronic voting machines. It also includes a guarantee that we the people, through our government, will control our voting machines -- not private companies.

2. Make voting easier

We should enact election day registration here in Massachusetts, removing the barrier of registration prior to Election Day. Seven states have election day registration. They have a higher voter turnout in their elections and have no evidence of voter fraud. We should be encouraging greater participation in the political process, starting with election day registration.

We should also ensure absentee voting for all, allow for early voting, and remove other barriers that make it difficult for people to vote.

3. End the big money dominance of our electoral process

In a democracy, public elections should be publicly financed. In Maine and Arizona, publicly financed elections have enabled people to run for office who would never have dreamed of running under a system dominated by big money interests. We, as voters, need to own our elections, rather than allow the process to be controlled by the wealthy few.

We also need to enact mandatory limits on campaign spending. In 1976, the Supreme Court wrongly struck down mandatory campaign spending limits for congressional elections. Massachusetts should help lead the way with campaign spending limits for our elections.

4. Expand voter choice

Instant run-off voting: Voters should be able to rank their choices of candidates, ensuring majority support for those elected and allowing greater voter choice and wider voter participation.

Cross Endorsement Voting (Fusion voting): Voters should be able to cast their ballots for major party candidates on a minor party's ballot line, placing power in the hands of the people and broadening public debate on the issues of the day.

Proportional Representation: Voters should be allowed their fair share of representation, ensuring that majority rule does not prevent minority voices from being heard.

5. Ensure access for new citizens and language minorities

The right to vote does not speak one specific language. It is universal. No one should be denied the right to vote because of a language barrier.

6. Level the playing field for challengers

Redistricting reform -- Incumbent legislators should not have the power to draw their own district lines. We must transfer this power to independent non-partisan commissions and create fair standards for redistricting, thereby promoting competition in our electoral process and improving representation for the people.

7. Ensure non-partisan election administration

The Secretary of the Commonwealth must be a Secretary for all of us, regardless of party affiliation. The Secretary should not be allowed to serve as a co-chair of campaigns of candidates. To ensure the people's trust in the integrity of our elections, the Secretary must conduct the administration of elections in a non-partisan manner.

8. Make government more accessible to all of us

Democracy is not just about our participation on Election Day. We need to participate every day and our government needs to be accessible to us every day. This means a government that is open and transparent, that encourages people to make their voices heard, and that enlists citizen participation in addressing the major issues of our time.

9. Amend the US Constitution to ensure an affirmative right to vote

One hundred and eight democratic nations in the world have explicit language guaranteeing the right to vote in their constitutions, and the United States -- along with only ten other such nations -- does not. As a result, the way we administer elections in this country changes from state to state, from county to county, from locality to locality. The Secretary of the Commonwealth must fight for a constitutional amendment that affirmatively guarantees the right to vote in the US Constitution.

more at:
http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat?bid=1&pid=122699

[kpete]

3. Voting Early and Often

Voting Early and Often

By Glenn Harlan Reynolds : BIO| 19 Sep 2006

Can I call 'em, or can I call 'em? Nearly four years ago, I predicted charges of electoral fraud before the polls had even opened in the 2002 elections. I was right, and such charges have only grown louder as in recent elections.

It's easy to dismiss this as the grousing of losers, for the good reason that that's pretty much what it is. But although it's easy, fun -- and basically the right thing to do -- to heap scorn on the purveyors of silly conspiracy theories, we shouldn't stop there. One of the great risks of the modern world is that when a cause is propounded by loudmouthed fools, we tend to dismiss the cause as well as the fools.

more at:
http://www.tcsdaily.com/article.aspx?id=091906A

[kpete]

4. Tragic similarities between bar games and voting

Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Tragic similarities between bar games and voting

BRIAN IMMEL

Ever hear of a hanging chad? Sure you have; it was that nightmare of unconfidence and bickering that was the 2000 U.S. presidential elections. Since then, a strong trend of chadless systems has emerged to prevent such internationally embarrassing incidents from happening again. Beating out the “throwing coins in a barrel” method, most of these alternatives are computer-based, either in calculation or in actual voting. The hope is to remove inconsistencies and reduce the time it takes to calculate winners.

Electronic voting machines are quickly becoming the standard for elections. A 2006 study by Election Data Services found that 66.6 million people – and about 357 counties – will be voting this year by means of electronic voting machines. That’s just behind the 69.5 million who will be using the optical scan method, which is basically a version of the SAT with fewer questions. With the popularity of these machines rising and the increasing chance you may use one yourself, it’s disturbing to think all of this technology might actually lead to your vote not being counted.

A study released last week by the Center for Information Technology Policy at Princeton University found a variety of security flaws in DieBold AccuVote-TS and AccuVote-TSx machines. According to the study, these models are currently the two most common electronic voting machines in use. The 24-page paper leads me to believe that, in the future, our government officials could be chosen by glorified counter-top video-game machines like those commonly found at bars and taverns.

more at:
http://www.dailyevergreen.com/disp_story.php?storyId=18944

[kpete]

6. THE LET AMERICA VOTE ACT!

BLOGGED BY Brad ON 9/19/2006 12:41PM
THE LET AMERICA VOTE ACT!
CALL ON CONGRESS TO PASS 'EMERGENCY PAPER BALLOT LEGISLATION' NOW!

Every Registered American Voter Must Be Allowed to Vote This November!
Given this year's primary election meltdowns and train wrecks that we've been reporting since March 7th of this year, in which electronic voting machines have failed to start up and thousands of American voters have been turned away from the polls when they came to vote, but couldn't…

Given the fact that one such meltdown occurred last Tuesday in Maryland, where many of the DC media and politicos live…

Given VelvetRevolution's new Princeton Diebold Virus Hack report demonstrating conclusively that electronic voting machines may be hacked in a minute's time resulting in flipped elections without a trace left behind…

Giving that American democracy and the right to vote in that democracy ought to be a beacon to the world…

more at:
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=3495

[kpete]

7. Brent Budowsky: Common Sense Against Corrupting the Next Election

Brent Budowsky: Common Sense Against Corrupting the Next Election: If Thomas Paine Were Here, Part 2
Submitted by BuzzFlash on Tue, 09/19/2006 - 5:29am. Guest Contribution
A BUZZFLASH GUEST CONTRIBUTION

Let's begin today a national letter writing campaign sending hundreds of thousands of letters to every newspaper in America, calling for front page coverage of the dangers of another Constitutional crisis from another questionable election, and editorial campaigns to prevent this travesty while there is still time.

Amazingly, incredibly, unbelievably, six years after the Florida recount of 2000 America could well be facing a historic and profound election decided weeks after the vote, by courts counting votes, after voters finish voting.

This is unconscionable. The following words came not from some conspiracy theorist, but from Paul DeGregorio, the Chairman of the federal Election Assistance Commission: "We could see that control of Congress is going to be decided by races in recount situations that might not be determined for several weeks" (Page 1, Washington Post, September 17).

The Election Assistance Commission was set up in 2002 by the President and Congress to be the lead player in making elections and voting more honest and fair. Mr. DeGregorio also told the Post that he does not expect problems of the magnitude that could lead to a multi-state or delayed recount, or a prolonged court fight.

more at:
http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/contributors/416

[Land Shark]

8. Functioning Swedish press prints Allegation of Election Fraud

In the US the story would possibly be suppressed so as not to affect "voter confidence"

<http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=4964&date=20060920>

[kpete]

9. Stealing America: The Film that Busts the Fraud

Stealing America: The Film that Busts the Fraud
Published by Greg Palast September 19th, 2006 in Articles
By Kat L’Estrange

STEALING AMERICA: Vote by Vote directed by Dorothy Fadiman, starring Greg Palast brings together dramatic behind-the-scenes stories related to the election of November 2, 2004. The heart of the story is a candid assessment of ways in which privatized election systems, disenfranchisement of certain populations and vulnerable voting technology are impacting our democracy. After a year of intensive shooting, editing and feedback screenings, STEALING AMERICA: Vote by Vote will premiere in Washington DC tonight and in New York City with this thursday. Greg Palast and others will take questions at the NYC showing.

Interviewees include poll workers, computer experts, journalists, politicians, voters of all ages and others concerned about reports that certain communities had been targeted for intimidation. STEALING AMERICA reviews circumstantial evidence of machine tampering. The film introduces a spectrum of issues, including discrepancies between exit polls and final official tallies, the silence of the media following the election and the impact of technological glitches such as vote flipping. The film documents stories such as those of inner city voters and students at Kenyon and other campuses who experienced waiting hours in line, along with the apparent unequal distribution of voting machines. Throughout, it underscores that election reform is not a partisan issue. It is the responsibility of both Democrats and Republicans to work with each other to address these issues. Various solutions to real problems are integrated into the film.

more at:
http://www.gregpalast.com/stealing-america-the-film-that-bust-the-fraud#more-1490

[kpete]

10. Made in China: Et Tu, Diebold?

September 19, 2006 at 06:53:38

Made in China: Et Tu, Diebold?

by Jody Holder

http://www.opednews.com


Diebold's TSx motherboard "Made in China"


I am not sure what Diebold is claiming to jurisdictions where the TSx

is manufactured. I do know the motherboard is manufactured in China.

It arrives here with the CPU and flash memories already installed.

Those more technically knowledgeable can let us know whether or not

that is a potential security problem or not.



On Diebold's website they seem to infer they manufacture their

machines here in the US.

" .... Diebold has the unique capability to meet your election system

requirements through expandable, tiered manufacturing utilizing our

own US based facilities,... "


To obtain a jpeg picture showing that the Diebold motherboard is "Made

in China" go to:

http://www.opednews.com/articles/genera_jody_hol_060919_made_in_china_3a__et_t.htm

[Land Shark]

11. Colorado anti-e-voting case goes to trial today (Rocky Mtn News)

Fear of fraud in the November election will be confronted head-on in a Colorado courtroom today when a lawsuit goes to trial on whether computerized voting machines should be banned because they are too susceptible to tampering.

(snip)

However, the backup cited by the state is not available everywhere. The machines in Jefferson County, which has 375,000 voters, can't produce printouts.

(snip)

In today's lawsuit, a bipartisan group of voters is arguing that Secretary of State Gigi Dennis used an unqualified staffer to certify the machines and that he did little security testing as required by state law. (Regarding the Princeton report) Diebold spokesman David Bear responded that worries about tampering have not been borne out in reality. "There has never been a factual issue with a touchscreen," Bear said. He denied the plaintiffs' claims that tampering cannot be detected. In use for more than a decade, "the technology is proven," he said.

If the judge bars computerized machines, each county would have to work fast to find a solution. In Jefferson County, "We either break state law or we break federal law or we don't have an election," Van de Stouwe said.


September 20, 2006
NOTES: [e-mail] or 303-954-5438;

[kpete]

12. Georgia Law Requiring Voters to Show Photo ID Is Thrown Out

Georgia Law Requiring Voters to Show Photo ID Is Thrown Out
Judge Says Some Would Be Disenfranchised; State Plans Appeal

By Darryl Fears and Jonathan Weisman
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, September 20, 2006; Page A06

A state judge yesterday rejected a Georgia law requiring voters to show government-issued photo identification, writing in his decision, "This cannot be."

Fulton County Superior Court Judge T. Jackson Bedford Jr. said the law, pushed by Gov. Sonny Perdue (R) to fight voter fraud, violates the state constitution because it disenfranchises citizens who are otherwise qualified to vote.

State officials vowed to appeal Bedford's ruling to the Georgia Supreme Court before the Nov. 7 general election.

The timing of the judge's decision could have political ramifications in Washington. The House is set today to vote on legislation that would require voters in 2008 to present a valid photo identification that "could not have been obtained without proof of citizenship."

more at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/19/AR2006091901382.html

[blue4barb]

13. Dobbs: Voting Machines Put U.S. Democracy at Risk

Just found a link from CNN home page:

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/09/19/Dobbs.Sept20/index.html

(sorry if dupe)

[JimDandy]

16. Has it been a year?

"As we've been reporting almost nightly on my broadcast for more than a year, electronic voting machines are placing our democracy at risk."

I thought Lou Dobbs started reporting on electronic voting machine problems just this last spring.

No matter...Whatever the time frame, Lou Dobbs broke wide open the reporting of it in the "on TV" media.

[kpete]

14. Man vs. machine

An electronic voting machine sits in a Jefferson County warehouse near Golden, Colo., Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2006. Claiming unsecured electronic voting machines are a threat to the integrity of the November elections, a group of 13 Colorado voters is asking a judge to bar their use on grounds that the state failed to do the tests required by law. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

Man vs. machine


By STEVEN K. PAULSON Associated Press Writer
Tuesday, September 19, 2006 9:51 PM MDT

Claiming unsecure electronic voting machines are a threat to the integrity of the November elections, 13 Colorado voters are asking a judge to bar their use on grounds that the state failed to do the tests required by law.

“These unreliable and insecure Direct Recording Electronic computerized systems have disrupted elections across the country and have created a crisis in voter confidence,” said Paul Hultin, a lawyer for the voters in a case that goes to trial Wednesday in Denver District Court.

The lawyers are asking the judge to bar use of the machines in nine counties. The lawyers claim the machines made by Diebold Election Systems, Sequoia Voting Systems, Electronic Systems and Software and Hart InterCivic were not properly certified by Secretary of State Gigi Dennis.

Dennis is required by state law to appoint experts to test, evaluate and certify electronic voting machines, and to file a report.

more at:
http://www.coloradodaily.com/articles/2006/09/19/news/beyond_boulder/news1.txt

[kpete]

15. McAuliffe Will Chair Clinton Presidential Bid

September 20, 2006
McAuliffe Will Chair Clinton Presidential Bid

Former DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe "has told business associates and Democratic donors that he will chair Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s (D-NY) presidential campaign next year," reports The Hill.

"Together, Clinton, the favorite to win the Democratic nomination, and McAuliffe, the top money man in Democratic politics, have a good chance of raising $100 million before the first official contest, the Iowa caucuses in January 2008."

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2006/09/20/mcauliffe_will_chair_clinton_presidential_bid.html

[kpete]

22. Terry McAuliffe "Dumbest thing I ever heard."

Quote of the Day
"Dumbest thing I ever heard."

-- Former DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe, quoted by the New York Daily News, on reports that he would chair Sen. Hillary Clinton's (D-NY) presidential campaign in 2008.

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2006/09/20/quote_of_the_day.html

[kpete]

17. Santorum, Frist, Burns Make List Of 20 Most Corrupt Members Of Congress...

Santorum, Frist, Burns Make List Of 20 Most Corrupt Members Of Congress...

Today, the Center For Responsibility And Ethics In Washington released its second annual survey of the twenty most corrupt members of Congress, aptly named "Beyond DeLay: The 20 Most Corrupt Members of Congress (and five to watch)."

CREW inventoried the "transgressions" of each member of Congress under the microscope of federal law and congressional rules.

Some highlights:

-The three most corrupt Senate members are the infamous Conrad Burns (R-MT), Bill Frist (R-TN), and Rick Santorum (R-PA)

-Seventeen of the twenty "Most Corrupt" politicians are Republicans

-Four of the "Five Members To Watch" are Republicans

-All but one of the 25 Members of Congress included on the list are up for re-election

The Full List:

Members of the Senate:
Conrad Burns (R-MT)
Bill Frist (R-TN)
Rick Santorum (R-PA)

Members of the House:
Alan Mollohan (D-WV)
Roy Blunt (R-MO)
Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO)
Ken Calvert (R-CA)
Richard Pombo (R-CA)
John Doolittle (R-CA)
Rick Renzi (R-AZ)
Tom Feeney (R-FL)
Pete Sessions (R-TX)
Katherine Harris (R-FL)
John Sweeney (R-NY)
William Jefferson (D-LA)
Charles Taylor (R-NC)
Jerry Lewis (R-CA)
Maxine Waters (D-CA)
Gary Miller (R-CA)
Curt Weldon (R-PA)

Five Members to Watch:
Chris Cannon (R-UT)
J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ)
Dennis Hastert (R-IL)
John Murtha (D-PA)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2006/09/20/santorum-frist-burns-ma_n_29863.html

[kpete]

18. The 'Voter Fraud' Fraud

The 'Voter Fraud' Fraud

The most illuminating portion of an article about Georgia’s voter ID law in today’s New York Times comes, as these things usually do, near the end. In the very last paragraph the reporter notes that two Georgia election officials she interviewed say they have never —in their entire careers—encountered a single case of voter fraud based on a person posing as someone else at the polls. Their experience reflects the national pattern: Individual voter fraud is a very minor problem . Yet to listen to the alarmist rhetoric coming from conservative Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives, voter fraud is an epidemic threatening our democracy.

Today the House is expected to pass a bill that would require all voters to show a photo ID proving their citizenship to be allowed to vote. In addition to Georgia, six other states have passed similar photo ID bills. Groups ranging from the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights to the National Campaign for Fair Elections are working overtime to block the federal version of this proposal because it unfairly discriminates against voters of color, rural voters, the young, homeless and transient. Click here to learn how to voice your opposition to the H.R. 4844.

At first glance, requiring voters to present photo IDs at their polling station may not sound like an undue hardship, which is precisely what is so deceptive about the legislation. But in fact, “in the vast majority of states, drivers’ licenses do not currently require proof of citizenship and thus would not meet the ID requirements of H.R. 4844,” according to the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights. What this means in practice, explains LCCR, is that voters who “do not bring to the polls a photo ID that verifies their citizenship—such as a passport—could not vote .”

more at:
http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2006/09/20/the_voter_fraud_fraud.php

[Melissa G]

19. K&R#5 for Kpete! Thank you!

[AtLiberty]

20. Galvin Trounces Bonifaz

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/09/19/secretaryofstate/

[kpete]

21. Unfit for use in ANY democracy

Departments
Election Issues

Unfit for use in ANY democracy
by Rady Ananda
September 20, 2006

Experts across the country, from Princeton to MIT, have found serious security flaws in these electronic voting systems forced on us by HAVA (Help American "Vendors" Act). We citizens were forced to pay private corporations $3.8 billion to privatize our elections. "Privatize" in this case means the vote count is kept secret from public observation. Electronic voting systems are unfit for use in any democracy.

There are 120 ways to hack the vote on a computer; there are 5 ways to hack a Hand-Counted Paper Ballot system. See the resource list below for links to these reports. At the very least, please read the executive summaries.

Election integrity is a non partisan issue. Republican Governor of Maryland, Bob Ehrlich, estimated electronic voting represents a 1000% increase in cost. HCPB is the most accurate, the most secure and by far the least expensive voting system.

We must return to a citizen count of paper ballots, at the precinct, before all who wish to observe. To participate in a Parallel Election being run in Central Ohio, contact me or my cohort, Marj Creech, at risenregan @ earthlink.net.

Ten percent of the nation will vote in the midterm elections without a paper trail. We have no basis for confidence in reported results of any election held on a paperless electronic system, because we can't count electrons. We simply have to trust politicians.

But, I assure you, a paper trail is useless unless it overturns official results when anomalies surface. In August, San Diego learned Ohio's lesson, if not "legally" blocked, at best recounts are meaningless. There, election officials charged $150,000 to count 164,000 ballots. To give this perspective, 04 Ohio Recounters paid $113,000 to count 5 million ballots. And Blackwell certified the Electors before the recount even occurred!

more at:
http://www.freepress.org/departments/display/19/2006/2150

[kpete]

23. Pelosi slams 'tawdry' GOP attempt to suppress millions of votes

Pelosi slams 'tawdry' GOP attempt to suppress millions of votes with Voter ID bill

On the House floor earlier today, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi blasted what she called a "tawdry" GOP attempt to suppress millions of votes with a Voter ID bill, RAW STORY has learned.

"Though the right to vote is the foundation of our democracy, the bill we debate today would in effect disenfranchise millions of American voters: the elderly, African Americans, Asian Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, people with disabilities; and the list goes on," said Pelosi.

...................

"And that is why it is so sad to see this bill come here to the floor today, especially named the Federal Election Integrity Act," said Pelosi. "Integrity, it's not about integrity."

"It's about a tawdry attempt by Republicans to suppress the votes of millions of American citizens," Pelosi continued. "That is not integrity."

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Pelosi_slams_tawdry_GOP_attempt_to_0920.html

[livvy]

24. Thanks, kpete. K&R

[MelissaB]

25. Media Reform Conference

The National Conference for Media Reform
Memphis, Tennessee
January 12-14, 2007
Don't miss out!


Register now.

Dear XXXXXXX,


Media reform is coming to Memphis!


Mark your calendars -- registration for the 2007 National Conference for Media Reform is now open. This one-of-a-kind event will take place on January 12-14, 2007, at the Memphis Cook Convention Center. We're excited to bring this event to Memphis and the Mid-South.


Join Bill Moyers, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Jane Fonda, Amy Goodman, Phil Donahue, Ben Bagdikian, Davey D, FCC Commissioners Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein and many more for an unforgettable and inspiring weekend.







Sign up now for the 2007 National Conference for Media Reform


The 2007 National Conference for Media Reform is about broadening the movement and establishing the media as a viable political issue in America. This energizing weekend will present ideas and strategies for winning the fight for better media and connect you with thousands of media reformers from across the nation.


Rousing speeches, provocative films, and dozens of interactive panels and hands-on workshops will focus on media policy, media literacy and critique, independent and noncommercial media, media reform activism, and making the connection between civil rights, social justice and the media.


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The National Conference for Media Reform is an event for anyone who is concerned about the state of our media and committed to working for change. Come to connect, learn, share and build the growing movement.


A better world begins with better media. And better media begin here. Join us in Memphis.


See you in January,


Robert W. McChesney
President
Free Press
www.freepress.net



P.S. Sign up before Oct. 31 to get the early-bird reduced rate (save $50!)

P.P.S. Check out the conference Web site for all the latest updates and information as well as highlights from the 2003 and 2005 events.

GD: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2182800

[kpete]

26. You have no right to vote

You have no right to vote
The Constitution doesn't guarantee it, the Republicans know it, and real democratic values in our country are under assault.

By Garrett Epps


Sept. 21, 2006 | Last week, a Missouri judge reminded the state Legislature that citizens of the state have a right to vote. And because it is a right, not a privilege granted by the powerful, Missourians can cast their ballots this November without having to meet identification requirements that seemed designed to make it harder for certain people -- the poor, the elderly, minorities and women -- to exercise that right.

That's the good news. The bad news is that this right comes from the Missouri state Constitution. The U.S. Constitution does not explicitly guarantee a right to vote, and our federal courts currently read the document not to include it.

The Missouri case should spark some national discussion about why it is that our country, almost alone among advanced democratic nations, does not find this right worth including in its Constitution. It should also inspire closer scrutiny of a kind of a electoral gamesmanship that is going on around the country, as Republicans seek to exploit this gap in our democratic guarantees.

The Republican majority of the Missouri Legislature has been haunted by a fear that is widespread in red America: a fear that the wrong kinds of people are voting. As a result, they passed a "Voter Protection Act," which required a state-issued photo ID for any voter who shows up at the polls. A state driver's license would do. But those who didn't already have a license -- even if they had been voting at the same address for the past half-century -- would be required to get a state-issued ID. To get one of those IDs, they would need to produce proof of citizenship, like a birth certificate or a passport, as well as documents showing that they were lawfully present at their current addresses. If they had ever changed their names -- if, for example, they were women voting under their married names -- they would be required to produce documents legitimizing the name change as well.

MORE AT:
http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2006/09/21/no_right_to_vote/

[Kurovski]

27. Kick to the top.

Thanks, kpete.:thumbsup:

[kpete]

28. NEW RFK JR. ARTICLE TO EXPLORE IF 2006 ELECTION CAN BE HACKED!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2188696&mesg_id=2188696