DEAN is a big part of the electronic voting solution (re: Garybeck's post)

[autorank]

Garybeck offered an excellent OP on the desire for Howard Dean to get up to speed and more involved in the electronic voting controversy. This was my answer but I think it merits a separate post. DEAN CAN MAKE A GREAT DIFFERENCE IN 2006. Here’s my take:
------------------------------------

Take these truths to be unassailable:

1) Dean is part of the solution to the disaster that our elections have become, a big part.

2) There are huge problems with electronic voting. It's even worse than before. Republican vendors providing optical scan and touch screen machines are incompetent. Centralized registration databases are failing from 25% to 43% in California and can't get off the ground in Indiana, just as examples. Read this for the truth: E-Voting 2006, The Approaching Train Wreck by a DUer John Gideon.

3) If it's not fixed, we will get screwed in 2006. To many examples just since 2004 to go over (but try Hackett's loss to Jean Schmidt, the loss of Ohio's special measures, etc.].

Solution:

(a) Dean needs a quiet sit down with people outside of DNC who will tell him the truth about the entire scene.

(b) Dean needs to be motivated by this, which I'm sure he would.

(c) LET DEAN BE DEAN He's obviously not well briefed by DNC on the current high points of the issue otherwise we wouldn't be having this discussion and he would not be saying what he said. Let's get him properly and let him do his Dean thing.

The very best thing Dean of another prominent Democrat could do is make a high profile speech with these words in it:

We've had enough of incompetent elections officials and incompetent Republican owned
voting machine companies. If there are any problems in 2006, and WE WILL BE WATCHING CLOSELY,
there will be Hell to pay. Howard Dean (I hope)

This is baseline. Scare the crap out of the companies and officials who think they own our votes. This won't solve all the problems but it will make one hell of a difference AND DEAN CAN DO IT.

Everybody happy now. Hope so. We have elections to win and we need votes taken, tabulated, and reported properly in an election where there is no discrimination and no minority voter suppression.

[robinlynne]

1. I believe Kerry said "We will make sure every vote is counted" in 2004...

still waiting for the vote count in Ohio...
I think democrats just can't face reality. I love Howard Dean, don't get me wrong. I will vote for him any time he is running for anything! But people come out too of ten with "conspiracy theory" rhetoric. Iraq, elections, 9/11. I just think people do not get the gravity of our current situation.

[shance]

2. "People do not get the gravity of our current situation"

BINGO.

[autorank]

3. We're in the same pew but it's well worth a shot. Dean is awesome when

he's cranked up, just awsome.

[EFerrari]

6. Rate the thread up, robin. Let's see what other DUers think or

can add here. :)

[robinlynne]

47. I'm new. I don't think I am able to do that yet.

[LittleClarkie]

11. August 2006

That's when the case he's involved in Ohio goes to court, finally. Got that from Bonifaz's blog.

His lawyer's name is Don McTigue.

[stillcool]

4. Anyone who has access to the microphone...

should be encouraged to shine the light where we so desperately need it. Elections are the single, most influential tool we have for change. JFK once said "Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." The litany of problems with computerized voting, and the lack of any cohesive reporting of it, guarantees the latter.

[autorank]

8. I agree totally. Dean is just one of my favorites...

I like it when he gets attitude. The time is right.

Of course, I'd welcome anyone who could be said to "speak for the Democratic Party."

One of several reasons for a failure to advance the recount in Ohio was due to the lack of
the party on the most aggressive suit.

It has to be a nationally recognized party spokesman. Pelosi, Reid, and Dean are the organizational heads. "Speaking for the party ________ threatened to spot and expose any election fraud...."

It's worth a shot.

[EFerrari]

5. "Republican owned voting machines" = mercs for the Thugs.

He knows.

Dr. Dean need mo' bettah information. And I trust Howard Dean as I trust a very few politicos today.

I'm with ya.

:kick:

[autorank]

9. Time is running out which means it's time to launch Dean!

:nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke:

[EFerrari]

7. kickeroo

[Amaryllis]

10. kick

[madfloridian]

12. Who in congress have you contacted?

What answer on this did Kerry give you...did he say why he did not fight back in 04? What about Edwards? I heard he was ready to fight but couldn't? What is his answer now?

I hear Kucinich does a lot on election reform. What about Hillary? What has she said on this issue?

What about all the ones who ran for president...Sharpton, Clark, what have they said to you about reform legislation.

While you guys are NOT pressuring congress on this...and yelling at Dean for being such a failure on this issue just remember that he is getting bombarded from the right wing of the party not to speak out on policy...to keep his place.

More here:
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/26

More here:
http://www.sitnews.us/HowardDean/060104_dean.html

And the petition deliver in DC for Holt's bill in June 2004
http://www.blogforamerica.com/archives/004681.html

[autorank]

17. Madfloridian, this is a pro Dean thread. That's why I PMed you...

...so you would see that some of us appreciate Dean and value his talents.

The election integrity activist on this forum are in constant contact with congress. There was just a major meeting in DC where 200 activists used considerable time contacting Members of Congress to support the Hold HR 550 amendment. We're in contact with them locally, state wide and outside of our states as well.

Dean is important for 2006 because a Democratic Party leader needs to speak out and draw a line in the sand. There are only three members of the party in top leadership positions: Pelosi, Reid, and Dean. Dean is the strongest spokes person and also the leader with the highest profile. He's also the best informed by far on this issue.

Repeat, this is a pro-Dean as spokesman thread.

[madfloridian]

24. I understand that, but why not call on congressional leaders.?

That is my question. Do a search today at Google news for "howard dean"....he has been going after the president and Ken Mehlman, invoking their wrath. Sort your search by date. When do you hold others accountable?

[autorank]

36. I'm not holding him accountable, I'm suggesting we lobby him.

Congress was mailed, called, and visigted on the only decent thing in electronic voting, Hold's HR550.

I'm talking about SPEAKING OUT, drawing a line in the sand, making a point. We need one of three national leaders to make it OFFICIAL.

Saying Dean would do a great job, the best job on this issue is not criticism. It's a compliment.

[FogerRox]

13. CRANK THIS THREAD UP-I think Autorank is suggesting a project for the ERD

[BeFree]

30. Yep

We need Dean to sit in for an hour with us at ER.

We saw what happened with MCM, but with good moderators doing some fine moderations, we can do better with Dean.

Heck, while we are at it, lets make a list of leaders who should spend an hour with us. They all need to hear what we have to say, and one little hour isn't much to ask, is it?

[marions ghost]

38. great idea!!

who's going to invite them?

Publicize the times in GD and we can go to Election Reform and follow the conversation. I think the longterm members of the ER could educate some of our representatives in a hurry. They have the facts at their fingertips. It should be done.

[Helga Scow Stern]

14. Well said. n /t

[joeunderdog]

15. I like this guy more and more all the time.

If we don't address this issue, we'll need to find a new planet.

[autorank]

19. That's why Bush is going to Mars...and leaving us all behind;)

Great point, as Gore says, "earth is in the balance."

Lets make some noise!!!

[Swamp Rat]

16. kick and recommended n/t

[madfloridian]

18. Have you seen the Election Reform page at the DNC?

http://www.democrats.org/a/national/election_reform/

Lots of stuff here. Lots of links.

No one has answered my question yet. What has Kerry answered on the election of 04, what about Edwards?

What is Hillary's response, Clark's response? How about all the others in congress.

To be fair on all this, let's post their responses here as well. Fair or not.

[autorank]

20. This is about 2006, not Kerry or Edwards. Not relevant to this thread.

It was posted here because Garybeck's excellent OP showed up here.

We're concerned about 2006...the coming election on this thread.

[madfloridian]

22. But congress must pass the laws. What are their answers to you?

That is a fair question. Dean did talk about it today at the breakfast with the American Prospect. Maybe some of the bloggers and media who were there will write it up. Did you see the DNC page I posted?

[LittleClarkie]

23. August 2006 for Kerry

There's a Ohio lawsuit pending. So, he's still in the ring fighting and all.

Just thought I'd pop that in there.

As for the thread as a whole, yeah, there's more than just Dean to talk to. We know Dean gets it, don't we? Even if people disagree on whether opti-scan is a good way to go to avoid touch screens. After all, wasn't he at the demonstration with Bev Harris, the one that showed how easily the voting machines could be hacked?

I sure Marksure here. Seems to be alright.

We should be contacting all the Senators and Congresscritters.

[madfloridian]

25. Thanks, that is what I want.

:hi:

Did not know about the lawsuit.

[LittleClarkie]

26. Here's a link to the blog I got the info from

The blogger is a lawyer.

http://fairnessbybeckerman.blogspot.com/2005/08/kerry-and-edwards-to-stay-in-recount.html

[madfloridian]

28. That's the first I heard of that.

That is a long time to wait, seems to me. Should say I meant the judge took his time in setting the hearing. Thanks for sharing.

[eomer]

42. Status update on the recount case:

It was dismissed 02/07/06 and then NVRI filed a motion to reconsider on 02/17/06. The motion to reconsider is pending before Judge Carr. I assume the August trial date probably went out when the case was dismissed and that a new trial date would have to be set if the motion to reconsider is granted. IANAL so the part about trial dates is just my speculation.

There is also another lawsuit that is ongoing, The League of Women Voters of Ohio v. Blackwell. The latest I've seen on this lawsuit says the expected trial date is June 2006.

Here is an excerpt from the NVRI website that has all the info:

http://www.nvri.org/about/ohio_recount.shtml#ohio_indictments

-snip-

In addition, NVRI is serving as counsel to Candidates Cobb and Badnarik in this effort. Following are materials about this effort. NVRI will post new materials as they become available.

(April 6, 2006): Indictments Handed Down in Ohio Recount Foul-ups
The evidence that Ohio’s presidential recounts were not handled fairly keeps popping up. On Wednesday, three Cuyahoga County Election officials were indicted for disregarding rules that were designed to ensure a fair recount. Though the foul-ups leading to the indictment would not have changed the final results, it re-affirms NVRI’s position that the recount system is woefully inconsistent. Though the indictment in this case does not claim intentional fraud, it does strengthen NVRI’s claims. To read about the indictments, see this article. NVRI still awaits a decision on our effort to reinstate the case. <Emphasis added>

(February 17, 2006): Motion Filed Before Judge Carr Seeking a Reconsideration of His Ruling in the Recount Case
On behalf of our clients, NVRI asked Judge Carr to reconsider his decision to dismiss this case. In his decision, Judge Carr said the problem was not likely to recur. Quite to the contrary, we argue that it is extremely likely to recur, and the complaint should be reinstated, and trial should move forward.

Read the motion here and read some of the exhibits listed below. These exhibits show just how clear it is that recount foul-ups are likely to be a continuing problem.

Exhibits to Motion Seeking Reconsideration:
Exhibit A, Exhibit B, Exhibit C, Exhibit D

(February 7, 2006): NVRI Disappointed in Dismissal of Vote Recount Lawsuit
On Tuesday, February 7, Judge James G. Carr dismissed NVRI's lawsuit challenging the manner of Ohio's presidential recount system. Judge Carr said the principle of "sovereign immunity" bars this lawsuit, and found that the kind of errors found in the 2004 recount are not likely to occur again. NVRI is profoundly disappointed in the ruling and is consulting with cooperating counsel as well as clients David Cobb and Michael Badnarik about whether or not to appeal. The judge's ruling is attached.

NVRI continues its efforts to challenge Ohio's faulty election system through a separate, ongoing case, The League of Women Voters of Ohio v. Blackwell. Rather than challenging the results of any past elections, this lawsuit seeks to protect the rights of Ohio voters in future elections. Click here for the latest on this ongoing effort.

-snip-

_{Edit: formatting and minor wording}

[autorank]

31. Any electronic vote denies your civil rights as a citizen to observe

vote taking, tabulation and other processes. Why? Because the vendors take away our rights by keeping the whole voting process secret -- they contract with states and counties to keep the operation -- software and methods -- a secret. County and state officials can't even look inside or review source code.

Touch screen, optical scan, whatever, it's all about hidden democracy based on invisible ballots handled in their entirety by private corporations who are accountable to no one!!!

"We know Dean gets it, don't we?" He gets the big picture, not the details. He obviously has nobody to advise him properly. We provide input but the stuff never rises to the top.

If you look at Ohio, you might say optical scans are a better route based on 2004.

If you look at Florida, you'll say the opposite!

Dean's been poorly served. He should know what thousands of activists know based on real evidence.

If anyone knows Dean get him in touch with someone who knows their stuff. This system stinks...two Republican dominated corporations and one Venezuelan based corporation of indeterminate ownership will count almost ever single vote in 2006 and beyond.

That's totally unacceptable.

Politically, I'm a precinct level working Democrat. I see the idiocy of the system (we had a melt down in in a state wide election that was an embarrassment and other problems, that were a real mess, like a recount where all they did was check machine totals. Ridiculous.

I want a fair chance to win...fair for us, fair for everybody.

We're the only chance to achieve this, the Democrats are. We need a party leader, there are only three national leaders, to speak out. I nominate Dean.

[BeFree]

41. Thanks, madfloridian

Following your link I came up with this page of folks there asking Dean to speak up about how elections are processed. Seems we are not the only ones, nor are we the first, asking the good man to speak for us on this issue.

http://www.democrats.org/a/2005/12/diebold.php?comments=1#comments

[GuvWurld]

21. Accepting your unassailable truths, I ask these questions

How do we get an audience with Dean under the circumstances you describe? Who would be on that delegation? Let's get specific and put our ideas to the test.

What will it look like when hell is being paid? I'm fine with the fiery language. I'd be saying the same thing regardless of the proposed Dean message. Again, I suggest we get specific and begin planning. For me this is about how do we literally stop a person--any office, anywhere--from being seated and having authority and power bestowed upon her when it is illegitimately derived without the Consent of the Governed?

[EFerrari]

32. This has to be extra - party. We have to be prepared tol

amass a group to contest a theft without the participation of the Democratic (or any party), I think.

[Patsy Stone]

27. K&R

This is the most important issue. Without it, the rest is a sham.

[bleever]

29. My to-do list on this:

1. Make sure Dean knows that this is paramount.

This doesn't mean convincing him of the statistical probability that Kerry won by 5 to 6 million points. He may know that, but the first thing on this list is simply that he knows that the system is unreliable, and that unreliability historically has been used to manipulate exceptions, with 2000 and 2004 not being exceptions.

This item may already be accomplished.


2. Help him with the right expression of the issue.

So far maybe the best we've come up with at DU is LandShark's "No Confidence" theme. I just got back from a family vacation including visits to some key locations in Abraham Lincoln's life, and something he wrote in one of his letters leaps to mind: "...When I thought I had got (an idea), I was not satisfied until I had repeated it over and over, until I had put it in language plain enough, as I thought, for any boy I knew to comprehend."

Make sure he has it boiled down. "Unverifiable" lacks mass appeal as a talking point, compared to "unreliable" or "broken" voting systems. People get that immediately. Whatever the formulation is, it has to be direct and, yes, unassailable.


3. Make sure his efforts are targeted to make the greatest possible difference in the 2006 elections.

Inform him to the best of our ability as to where that is. Which voting systems, disenfranchisement schemes, and voter supression techniques will cost the most votes, and in the most important races and regions. We have a wealth of data and evidence; we should use it to point out where, based on recent experience, attention should be paid.


4. Let Dean be Dean.

I agree completely with the original post in this respect.



If we can make any progress along these lines, I think we'll really see something good come out of it.




:patriot:

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

33. AAR today had a one hour "session" with Dean.

He specifically ripped Diebold.

The awful truth is that Dean doesn't have much power with the present "Party." They're using him for his fundraising. If he chooses wisely, in the Dems he funnels cash to, he'll have much more power in 2007. That's his challenge. Succeed and form a coalition. Fail and merge with the scrapheap. Meanwhile, Rahm Emanuel is smoking a cigar, tapping his foot and checking the wind.

[madfloridian]

35. What show was that?

I did not see it mentioned. Do you have a link to archives?

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

40. It was an American Prospect breakfast meeting with a dozen

journalist and AAR was there. Majority Report had their representative talking about the meeting on the air.

[autorank]

39. Great news about Dean on AAR. I have SIRIUS...

...and I use WinAmp exclusively when on dry land so I'm AAR deprived.

I hear what you are saying about Dean lacking the power right now.

The country has already caught up with him, the DNC and Capitol Hill factions of the party
simply don't know that. Politics fortunes can change quickly. Big majorities want a) out of
Iraq and major relief on health care costs for everybody. There is a clear understanding and
expression, even by MSM, that we're in horrible shape environmentally.

Who are the Democrats who get this -- Dean, Clark, and, of course, Gore who got it a long time
ago.

Dean may just be in the right place at the right time. He's certainly smart enough to take
advantage of this and I hope he uses his hoped for new power to help allow real democracy in
this country.

[madfloridian]

34. Not election reform, but campaign finance before Supreme Court.

That is doing something....it got ignored here though I posted about it. It is Dean getting off his duff to see a plan put in motion when he was governor go before the Court.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/19

"Howard Dean is back in Burlington. He's telling the Vermont press, as chairman of the Democratic National Committee, he's joining a court case of national importance, a case that's rooted in Vermont.

"As DNC chairman, I very proud to do this," says Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee. Howard Dean was Vermont's governor when he signed into a law a bill aimed at reforming how campaigns are financed.

The law was immediately challenged in court. After an eight year legal battle, the highest court in the land, the United States Supreme Court will hear the case at the of the month. The National Democratic Party thru Dean is getting behind the Vermont law.

"I think it is time that political parties stand up for real campaign finance reform," says Dean."

[EFerrari]

37. and kiCK!

:kick:

[paineinthearse]

43. Front page material

I can dream.

[iconoclastNYC]

44. Why does it need to be the DNC?

I just hope that groups like Reform Ohio Now and people like Fritakis and the other experts are laying traps to gather evidence to force an investigation. It seems like if there is fraud taking place we can anticipate it and catch them red handed.

My impression is that the DNC is too risk-averse to undergo such a project.

[AndyA]

45. I think Dean does a good job of explaining things so people can

understand. He is concise and to the point, and he uses words that most people comprehend. I just hope that the people who can get to Dean have the opportunity to explain to him that there are many nuances to this that he needs to get.

If he gets them, he needs to act on them, and quickly. I agreed with garybeck's original thread on election reform. We must get the word out now, and keep it out in front for the rest of the year. We need things to happen in 2006, or we will have twice the work when 2008 rolls around.

My thanks and appreciation to everyone who keeps election reform issues on the top burner, this is just too important to our future to not push.

[PATRICK]

46. Deflating post title

Dean "could" be. I was expecting those steps you mention already had been done and Dean was taking steps. What the post actually says is we are still behind the eight ball and no news. There are many institutions and people who need to have this little talk and not give you the thousand yard stare and do nothing.

[Independent_Liberal]

48. Thanks autorank!

Dean is a great guy and you're the man!
:)

Well, I'm off to bed now. Good night.