Notes from Election Fraud Teach-In in Santa Monica 2/27 [View All]

[Helga Scow Stern]

Please feel free to ask more about anything or correct or add to what's here. It's late and I am feeling lazy, but I wanted to get this down before I forgot the details. I hope I did not leave out anything important.

The small meeting hall of the church was packed. Not sure how many. Two to three hundred?

The main impression I take from the weekend's events is that this is GETTING OUT THERE. The awareness of widescale election fraud since 11/2 has grown significantly. Many more are aware, and once you know, you are mad as hell, and dedicated to doing something about it.

Sheri Myers of citizensact and codepink was the organizer.

Ian Masters was the moderator for the first panel.

Maxine Waters was late coming from the airport, so
Bob Fritakis started with "What Really Happened in Ohio."
The attorney general of Ohio wants him sanctioned, so whatever he says can be used against him. So, he says, "They stole the election!" GW Bush is the son of the former CIA director who stole elections in the Third World for decades. (Fritakis listed a bunch.) Then when these operatives were cut from the CIA in the 70's, many went to work for elder Bush campaign.

Athan (sp?) Gibbs who gave Fritakis info on money trail was found dead a week later after Fritakis published the article in February. H. Ahmanson is a major monetary source.

Fritakis knew there would be trouble with 2004 election when in March Blackwell started bragging about how he'd achieved the 2-way transmission of data to and from his SoS office and every county in the state. More Blackwell shenanigans galore were detailed, including irrational precinct assignations, resulting in many disenfranchised intentionally in many ways. Matt Damschroeder complicit. Machines witheld, etc., nothing new, but specifics of that reiterated.

So called Dems in the election supervision process are not really Dems in Ohio, such as the Chairman of the Ohio Democratic party (?!)-- a lifelong Republican. (Did he really say this?)


Mighty Texas Strike Force, traced to White House and Rove, was caught calling and threatening voters.

Deliberate criminal voter suppression! This fraud MUST NOT STAND!

Fritakis gave a very impassioned, convincing speech.

Congresswoman Maxine Waters

"First, let's all applaud Senator Barbara Boxer!" (Thundering applause.)

Thanks us all for keeping this issue alive.

HAVA was supposed to solve problems by guaranteeing every voter the chance to cast a provisional ballot if necessary. This right was supposed to be protected by HAVA. BUT, somehow during the development of HAVA legislation under Bob Ney and the Dem leader on the commission, a clause was snuck in that specifically allowed Blackwell to opt out of the requirement of protecting provisional ballots. We need to investigate this!

Congresswoman Waters is VERY CONCERNED, aside from the election fraud, about what is going on with the seduction of the black clergy by right wing evangelicals, who are lying to them about the benefits their curches and programs will receive from the faith-based initiatives. There was a huge meeting in LA about "moral issues"--abortion, gay marriage, and SS commercialization--with 75 black ministers led by Fred Price. They voted on adopting a Newt Gingrich type agenda. She said that she's afraid that these ministers could easily be put in jail in the future as they mix collection plate funds with FB initiative money, "once the Republicans have used them up."


Blair Bobier of the Oregon Greens on the Ohio Recount. Proponent of Instant Run Off Voting. We need to start getting this implemented on a local level, as was done in San Francisco.

Good things have come out of 2004 election debacle, especially the
New Voter Rights movement.

We now see a pattern of fraud:
1) target swing states.
2) suppress African American vote.
3) Put campaign manager in charge of counting votes.

Absolute need for multiparty system.

Detailed problems with recount in Ohio. How recount laws were broken, both in Ohio and New Mexico.

Bev Harris
Big applause.

The 40,000 files Bev found on Diebold's website are still in use by election officials across the country.
Donated $2000 to Fritakis et al to fight sanctions motion. Bev knows what it's like. Has been interviewed by the Secret Service 5 times, had a gag order last spring, investigated for federal racketeering charges. Traced investigation to US Treasury Asset Investigation for Forfeiture of Terrorists. Creepy!

Fraud is not about Republicans. Both Dems and Repubs plus profiteers are involved. The profiteers draw from both parties. Need to trace who is the gatekeeper to HAVA funds in each county at the local level. That's where the fraud takes place. It's an asset grab, just like how fraud happens with any incoming money temptation.

There are some honest election officials, like the one in Tallahassee, Leon County, FL. Usually, the county supervisor is the one to check out.

Suggests CPAs and accountants clean up the vote counting.

Bev sees 3 root causes:
1) don't follow rules--quality management problem.
2) accounting -- votes are treated too sloppily.
3) Fraud! A taboo subject that begins at the county level.


Joan Quinn --a retired research attorney from California who volunteered for recount in Ohio. She said that many elections officials who call themselves Democrats in Ohio, clearly are not Democrats! Lying with impunity is part of the culture in this vote stealing mileu in Ohio.

She is also warning to be aware that you can be monitored. Last summer her mail was opened routinely before she received it.

QUESTIONS FROM AUDIENCE

What about Kevin Shelley?

Fritakis: Doesn't know enough about California, but knows that in Ohio a sworn affadavit was provided with testimony that Blackwell created an illegal HAVA slush fund. Fritakis got sanctioned for providing evidence like this.

Bev: Some indication Shelley gave HAVA money to friends for education provision. Also happened in South Carolina. (I wondered why she didn't say anything else about it. This seems so minor compared to Blackwell, etc.)

What about League of Women Voters?
Bev: Top down organization. Dangerous on the national level, but local chapters don't always support it. Blind Organization received $1 million grant from Diebold then came out against paper trail.

What about Wayne Masden allegations?
Bev: Not proven.

Fritakis thinks the fraud was improvised at the last minute. For instance, in Warren Co., they punched ballots late that night. Only three counties were for Bush.

Bev found memos from NASAD (natl. assn of election directors) trying to get around decision not to cancel election. Communications with Homeland Security, etc.

Paul Leto partnering with Jeff Hoffman as co-authors of report. Problem is there is no evidence, they say. Then when you present evidence, they say, but it doesn't change the result. And you say, well, yes it might, then they say it's partisan. Filing lawsuit in WA state. (landshark?)

What about Skull and Bones and why'd Kerry abandon us?

Fritakis talked, w/ Jesse Jackson, to Kerry on the phone. Kerry said, "wherever they used Optiscan, I lost" and mentioned New Mexico as well as Ohio. Fritakis thinks it's odd that the main Kerry attorney who was always badmouthing his legal team's efforts is employed by the Taft family. (was not casting aspersions on Kerry, just an observation.)

Bobier mentioned how NM SoS broke the law by giving ok to erase voting machine records while recount still pending.

What about Rush Limbaugh's comments that Dem precinct leaders in Ohio signed affadavits certifying no fraud?
Fritakis: These precinct leaders serve at the pleasure of Blackwell. It's a well-paying job, and hand picked by Blackwell. Being a Dem is no guarantee against fraud on that situation.
Joan Quinn: Lynn McCoy, head of Dem central committee, says she's a dem, But She's Not! She's no Democrat! They say they are, but They Are Not! Lying with impunity is part of the culture in this situation.

Question about certification of machines. They are certified by 1990 standards, not new ones from 2002.

Bev: Certification is a joke. Independent testing organizations don't test unless demanded by FEC. Interviewee said that they are paid by voting machine client, don't want to make them unhappy!

Can the election still be overturned?
Fritakis: Federal court won't overturn it. But using RICO charges, we may see some people IN JAIL!


Break


Next panel:
Brad Friedman, Bradblog.
Urges support of divestiture for democracy proposal on velvetrevolution.us website.
Brad told story of Clint Curtis, etc., encouraged us all to blog and that one person can make a difference, with the media and with people like Curtis coming forward. (By the way, I saw Curtis on one of the films last night for the first time. He looked like the real thing to me, very credible. He showed the goodbye card he was given at his going away party for the company, contrary to Olbermann's report that he was let go under unhappy circumstances.)

Brad spoke of Tom Zeller Jr. of NYT, and how letters to him from people who read bradblog made him pay more attention to fraud stories.

Dr. Mandeep Gill, on overview of election reform.
Support Rush Holt bill. Conyers' is a bad bill. Verified voting website has updated information on all bills. Much watch closely to see that they don't get changed by amendments!

Medea Benjamin. Wow! She was impressive, commanded awe and respect in her codepink t-shirt. Going to run as Greens candidate against Dianne Feinstein for Senate. Gave very rousing speech as if already a candidate, listing reforms needed.

Kevin Spidel, Progressive Democrats of/for America. Interesting bit of history, new to me...had Conyers' ear for any grassroots efforts. Before the election, the grassroots clamor was all about getting out of Iraq, so were scheduled to meet with Conyers about that. Then after 11/2, the Ohio grassroots scream was so lous about the fraud that happened there, they brought this to Conyers, and Conyers said he'd investigate.

Susan Clark--citizen lobbyist on the Hill in the 1990's. Stressed importance of being physically present with legislators, press, coroprate execs, etc. Don't beg, but urge. Don't express concerns, don't be emotional, but bring documents and facts. Don't talk about or present issues! Cite the specific problem and show how it can be solved.

Greg Akili, for PUSH.
Rousing sermon on voting rights amendment. Passed out petitions to get filled and send to Jackson Jr.
"This is not a glitch! A glitch is minor, and can be repaired. This is not a glitch, this is a FUCK UP. This is more than a glitch, this is a serious problem."