Russ Holt just saaid Republicans in Fla have been told to vote

[napi21]

absentee balott! He said notices have been sent to, as far as he knows, ALL Pubs in Fla. The reason stated was that the Evoting machines were unverifiable!

I believe Holt. What do you suppose is going on with that?

I just heard this on Lou Dobbs tonight.

[movonne]

1. Well I think that might be a good idea for the Dems....

[KittyWampus]

12. Umm, So Dem Votes Get Thrown Out? Look, If BBV Doesn't Work

then print PAPER BALLOTS.

[HFishbine]

18. I don't get how this would help

Suppose there is some sanfu, would some county just say, well we've "lost" 120,000 electronic votes, so we're just going to count the absentee ballots?

[Booster]

2. Well, did either one of these guys

say that maybe Democrats should also vote absentee????

[cybildisobedience]

3. I did read that news report

These Repukes are reprehensible -- beyond reprehensible.
I have to email Lou Dobbs and thank him for keeping this issue on the front burner. In the mainstream news world, his program has done more for this than just about anyone.
Kudos to Paul Krugman, too -- he's been great.

[madfloridian]

4. Here you go, an article. But Jeb is unhappy. I hear they will apologize.

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040730/NEWS/407300350/1039

SNIP:..."Gov. Bush, who was unaware of the mailing beforehand, wasn't happy.

"I think he was disappointed that there would be any message that's out there that criticizes these machines," Bush spokeswoman Jill Bratina said. "That's not the message we need to send."

His brother's campaign was also upset.

"We did not authorize the use of the president's image," said campaign spokesman Reed Dickens. "It was inappropriate. I speak for the president and it does not represent the views of the president."

Bratina said the touch screens are good technology and that the administration has total confidence in them.

Party Chairman Carole Jean Jordan was traveling and unavailable for comment, spokesman Joseph Agostini said.

State Rep. Juan Zapata was the intended beneficiary of the mailer. The party is supporting Zapata over Frank Artiles in next month's Republican primary.

Zapata said he was unaware of the language in the mailer......"END SNIP

Bet those bad boys won't do that again.!

[iconoclastic cat]

8. Ha! They begin to turn on one another!

Food fight!

[Rosco T.]

5. It's TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!!! Story link here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-na-florida30jul30,1,4532416.story?coll=la-headlines-technology

Florida GOP Pans Electronic Voting

The Republicans send out a flier that criticizes the technology and
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Republican Gov. Jeb Bush has tried for months to persuade Florida voters touch-screen voting machines are reliable. His own party apparently hasn't gotten the message.

(snip)

"The new electronic voting machines do not have a paper ballot to verify your vote in case of a recount," the message states. "Make sure your vote counts. Order your absentee ballot today."

(snip)

The governor, unaware of the mailing, wasn't happy. "I think he was disappointed that there would be any message that's out there that criticizes these machines," Bush spokeswoman Jill Bratina said.

Neither was President Bush, whose picture was featured on the GOP flier. "We did not authorize the use of the president's image," said campaign spokesman Reed Dickens. "It was inappropriate."

(more)

:bounce: :party:

[Junkdrawer]

6. Well, one of the ways of stealing an election is via the GEMS...

election management system. It's a loooong story, but a large number of absentee votes helps to mask monkey business when GEMS is used.

BTW: GEMS can be used to steal an election even with paper ballots. This is why Bev always asks people to demand precinct counts be posted and compared with official totals. The problem is that if absentee votes are commingled, it becomes impossible to audit with this method.

[Rosco T.]

7. We need a COPY OF THAT LETTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

copy for a FULL PAGE AD IN EVERY MAJOR PAPER IN EVERY STATE STILL USING THOSE THINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[enigmatic]

9. Par For The Course

I'm not shocked by this; in fact, it's what I expected. As much as I'd like to believe that there will be hanky-panky w/ the votes in Florida, I think the real stuff will be in a state like New Mexico or Arizona. They won't try an outright steal in Florida; too many eyes are there. Try somewhere where the eyes aren't looking..

[unfrigginreal]

19. That's the first thing I thought too.

If the fuckers that control the machines are afraid of them how could anyone feel secure that their vote would be counted. I hope the DNC gets all over this.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

10. Jeb makes it easier to steal the election

"Every vote should count."

-- Jeb Bush, upon signing into law a measure doing away with witness signatures for absentee ballots

Our governor -- what a kidder!

If we counted every vote in Florida, Jeb's brother would be spending all of his time -- and not just some of his time -- falling off his bicycle on his Texas ranch.

The only thing the bill Jeb signed Tuesday guarantees, is that Florida's elections will continue to be a joke. By taking away the witness requirement, the governor and the Legislature not only made it easier for corruption to take place -- which in itself is a fairly amazing feat -- but they have also made it more difficult to catch.

more

Absentee ballot fraud has long been a problem in South Florida, with candidates often buying ballots, or worse, stealing them from unsuspecting people in nursing homes and condominiums. A city of Miami election in 1997 was overturned after such fraud. So it isn't a surprise that BroBush would try to make it easier for * to manipulate absentee ballots.

Too bad they got caught at it...

[jean]

11. when is Jeb up for re-election? Let's get him out of there!

[Doctor_J]

13. say goodbye to florida

the results are already a foregone conclusion.

[KharmaTrain]

14. I Like The Absentee Idea...Force Jebbie's Hand...

This could be the real image that gets the media off center...hundreds of Democrats lining up for absentee ballots with people saying that unless they vote this way, there's no guarantee their vote will count.

Jeb's fighting to hang on to his levers to fix the selection or influence it to the very last.

Also, absentees, if you'll remember, are counted LAST...remember how all the military absentees had to be counted and how the Repugnicans used that as against Gore (Lieberman caved). If there are a ton of known Democratic absentee ballots...all on paper, Jeb's in deep shit.

[napi21]

15. Who is present when they count absentee balotts?

How do they check to see if the voter is permitted to vote, or do they just assume if you received the balott, you're OK?

I suppose this would be a great idea as long as you ould depend on Jeb not having enough influence to lose a couple of mail bags, and there were members of both parties present at the counting.

The one GREAT thing it would do is to drive the whole country crazy just waiting for all those damn absentee balotts to be counted in Florida, AGAIN!

Nothing against Florida, but it would almost be worth it to embarass Jeb and his family!

[napi21]

17. UPDATE TO THIS STORY! The pamphlet sent to the Pub voters

said "The Liberal voters have already started making noises, so go get your absentee balott." Now this was from Countdown with Olberman, so I have no verification except his show.

I think it's quite funny. We don't trust them, and they don't trust us!

YEOWWWWWW

[KharmaTrain]

22. Poll Judges...OUR Pol Judges!

If Florida law still resembles other state laws, each precinct requires a judge from both parties present at the counting of all ballots.

Now, the Diebold paperless trail moots that, obviously, as there's nothing to recount...but absentees are paper as paper can be. In my judging days, we didn't count the absentee ballots until AFTER the precinct was closed and the machines and ballots of the day were counted.

The difference this time than last time, and I expect the DNC to be really ready (or I sure hope so), is to have a team of lawyers, poll watchers and other operatives all over the state on election day...combine that with absentees and Jeb could have a real, real bad day.

[napi21]

23. HErE HERE to Jebs Bad day!

I really hope everything goes as smoothe as possible on Nov. 2nd. It would be so much better than 2000, but there has been so much speculation, and even proven problems in midterm elections and primaries, it's very disconcerting.

If it has to happen again, I really wish Jeb a very BAD DAY!

[Rosco T.]

16. Story on Countdown w/Olbermann n/m

[shraby]

20. The only think Jebbie is upset about is

that they got caught again.

[Wonk]

21. mp3 & video here of Rush Holt on Lou Dobbs tonight

1 M mp3

12 M vp3