What do y'all think of this? (asking Kerry to shake the trees for HR550)

[MH1]

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/3/29/164236/931

It's a very respectful post, by a poster I haven't noticed before (but who's evidently been around there awhile), suggesting people to contact Kerry and ask him to use his email list to raise support for H.R. 550, an election reform bill sponsored by Rush Holt, that mandates a voter-verifed paper trail an random audits. Here's why he says we should ask Kerry to help:

Kerry's huge e-mail list allowed him to raise $250,000 in less than 24 hours for veterans running for Congress. Let's call on Senator Kerry to use that list to secure our elections. Urge him to send e-mails asking for support of HR 550, to amplify the lobby event on Capitol Hill next week, and raise awareness of election reform. Aren't you tired of the ignorance of most Democrats you know on the subject of election vulnerability? Kerry can wake up Democrats faster than anyone.

This bill is the one that seems to be most approved by election reform organizations. It has 168 cosponsors in the House, but there is no companion bill in the Senate.


Description of H.R.550 on thomas:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:HR00550:@@@D&summ2=m&

VerifiedVoting.org list of active federal election verification legislation:
http://www.verifiedvoting.com/article.php?list=type&type=13


What do you all think?

[karynnj]

1. That would really seem to be a good idea

Russ Holt is great. (one of KG's friends posted on the Princeton area event on Sept 10, 2005 - the day Kerry was at 5 NJ events for Corzine. I think I remember him describing that Russ Holt was there.

[MH1]

6. I am interested why Kerry is sponsoring S 450 instead of S330.

I think it has to do with the requirements for providing equivalent access for the handicapped or disabled, but I'm not sure.

His rationale for choosing between these two bills may indicate how likely he is to support HR 550.

[TayTay]

7. I think S 450 is more comprehensive

S330 just deals with having a verified-paper trail for the machines. I should think you would be able to pass S330 and then the other bill. Besides, it's authored by a Repub.

I think this is a great idea.

[ProSense]

2. Rush Holt

is great. Whenever I catch him being interviewed on the local cable program, I always like what he has to say. We could use a lot more like him. And he's a great champion of election reform, so linking up or sponsoring a similar measure in the Senate would be great.

[MH1]

5. He seems pretty good to me.

I've seen lots of election reform orgs are really happy with this bill, too. He probably paid close attention to what people were telling him.

[whometense]

3. I recommended it,

and think it's something I'd love to see JK endorse.

That said, as respectful as the poster was, I hate hate hate the tone that seems prevalent when discussing JK in lefty online circles - that we can "Tell John Kerry To Use His E-mail List!" I'd prefer to "Ask" him. "Tell" implies we have the right to instruct him what to do. He is a public servant, sure, but that hectoring and self-righteous tone these online crusades have taken on lately leaves me cold.

Maybe it's just me, but I won't be part of any campaign that takes that approach. I've lost interest in reading firedoglake because of this.

[MH1]

4. Well, later in the post it seems more toned down

It's hard to write a headline on dailykos. Of course "ask" is one less character than "tell" so it should be preferable!

But I think the headline was just to get people to read.

I didn't think the post was bad, but then maybe my bar is set pretty low for dailykos, lol.

[ginnyinWI]

8. like two-year olds:

They're either whining, bossing or throwing temper tantrums! I think people feel safe behind their computer screens, and their worst sides come out. And they think that if they gang up, that will surely get the job done! Argh.