Diebold Lobbyist to be a Dem Senate Nominee??? WTF??

[orleans]

here's a happy (NOT) thought from

http://www.tpmcafe.com/story/2006/1/6/23532/17147

"Diebold's Lobbyist: Dem Senate Nominee from Virginia?"

""We oppose the idea of a voter-verified paper trail." -- Harris Miller"

"Most of you haven't heard of Harris Miller, who departed earlier this week as head of the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA), a lobbying group for big information technology corporations. But you will certainly hear about him next week, as he is expected to announce his candidacy for the U.S. Senate, as a Democrat from Virginia, running against George Allen. In fact, the media trial balloons this week have treated him as a presumptive nominee, who has the backing of the party leadership, even though they haven't made any formal endorsement."

"The quote above, obviously, gets at the reasons why this should concern us, as Democrats."

"As head of the ITAA, Miller specifically lobbied Congress against verified voting, on behalf of the interests of Diebold and other manufacturers of paperless e-voting machines -- members of ITAA."

there's more--click and read for yourself!

IS EVERYONE ONE ON CRAZY PILLS??

[bluestateguy]

1. Then maybe Diebold will let her win?

Look on the bright side. They have to let a few Democrats win now and then to make it look like everything is on the up and up.

[orleans]

6. "her" who? n/t

[Dunvegan]

13. Democratic win in a "red state?"

...actually, how can a Diebold candidate lose?

[Tiggeroshii]

2. well when you can't beat the corruption..

you might as well join in, yeah?

Stupid idiots...

But can you say a Democratic win in a "red state?"

even if they really lost

SIGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[scab_picker]

3. Diebold vote tabulation just doesn't add up.

Thee primary obligation of any democracy is to ensure that 1) There are elections and 2) Elections have ballot counts that can be verified. There are no obligations to have the results announced the same day if it takes longer to count the votes. Why would anyone advocate a system that can not be verified?

[orleans]

5. thanks for giving my thread your first post.

welcome to DU.

(come for friendship, stay for the donuts! :donut: :donut: :donut: :donut:

[annabanana]

23. Welcome! (love your name)

Everything that itches should be scratched! Welcome to a community that refuses to "get over it" and let democracy die silently in the night...

:toast:

[autorank]

32. Welcome to DU!!! Answer to your question: dumb or crooked;) n/t

[Grateful for Hope]

4. As head of ITAA

he was also one of the strongest voices in the push to offshore technical jobs. He is nothing but sleaze.

[sandnsea]

9. Yep, here's his testimony

Disgusting. This one needs to be tossed back for sure.

http://democrats.senate.gov/dpc/hearings/hearing13/miller.pdf

[Grateful for Hope]

18. He's been at it for quite some time

I saw him a few times on Lou Dobbs when Dobbs was doing the "Outsourcing America" series. He is more than disgusting!!

[Wilms]

12. A DUer googled Miller.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=408225&mesg_id=408253

[sandnsea]

7. Well, not exactly

He does seem too inclined to trust these companies. But he has also endorsed paper verification and software code analysis, which is at least a place to move forward from. Sounds like some Virginia activists have got some work to do!

"My organization, the Information Technology Association of America, endorsed his strategy.

Soaries urges voting software vendors to allow analyses of their software code and to submit, voluntarily, code to the National Institute of Standards and Technology's National Software Reference Library. The strategy also calls upon the commission to ask jurisdictions using electronic voting technology to choose from optional security measures that include paper verification, voice verification and random testing of e-voting systems."

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1645028,00.asp

[rucky]

11. He wants self-regulation of the voting machine industry.

that's all I get from that quote.

In other news, inmates want self-regulation at prisons.

[sandnsea]

17. Point being

Sometimes it's good to refer to an industry leader when they're recommending source code be analyzed by independent auditors. When you're trying to influence skeptical people to make any changes at all, something like that can at least open the door a little bit. That said, his stance on global trade and outsourcing sucks. Can't even consider this guy a worthwhile moderate.

[Warren Stupidity]

28. Sorry but these systems are bullshit.

They are corrupt from the start as they are more expensive and less verifiable and reliable than existing systems such as optical scan paper ballots. There are only two reasons for foisting e-voting systems on to us: simple greed, and election fraud.

[sandnsea]

53. I agree

I'm for mail-in opti-scan, registration receipts. We could even generate mailings to let people know their ballots were in the county office. But even the opti-scans have code and it needs to be in an escrow account before every election. In fact, at this point, having access to code so it can be compared to code on the machines is key to proving fraud. So if this guy is on board for disclosed code, that's a good thing and if I were leading machine reform, I'd use him or his words for that purpose. But I still don't want him running on the Dem ticket anywhere.

[Steve A Play]

54. But he has also endorsed paper verification???

Reality check time! From the fourth link in the following search, "We oppose the idea of a voter-verified paper trail, says Harris Miller". Keep in mind that he was in on the Diebold conference call after their software was made public and they hired Abramoff's buddies Public Strategies to do crisis management for them.

Google search for "Harris Miller", voting.

Results 1 - 10 of about 25,300 for "Harris Miller", voting . (0.21 seconds)

E-Voting Does Work
By Harris Miller September 13, 2004 E-voting is "proven and practical." 2 comments
posted Add your opinion. In his Aug. 23 commentary, "E-Voting: It's ...
www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1645028,00.asp - 82k - Cached - Similar pages

A Short but Tragic History of E-voting Public Relations - Center ...
ITAA president Harris Miller is quoted in the call notes as saying that their
... the benefits of electronic voting to every citizen," Harris Miller said, ...
www.prwatch.org/prwissues/2004Q2/history.html - 42k - Jan 7, 2006 - Cached - Similar pages

Daily Kos: Diebold's Lobbyist: Dem Senate Nominee from Virginia? WTF??
Most of you haven't heard of Harris Miller, who departed earlier this week as head
... Adding paper to e-voting will only make the process of administering ...
www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/1/6/214520/6350 - 15k - Jan 6, 2006 - Cached - Similar pages

CIO | The Lowdown on E-Voting
The only point the two sides seemingly agree on: E-voting is coming soon. ...
“We oppose the idea of a voter-verified paper trail,” says Harris Miller, ...
www.cio.com.au/index.php/id;558873322;fp;4;fpid;21 - Similar pages

TPMCafe || Polls Won't Matter If the 2006 Vote Is Crooked
We can offer voters a way to ensure the vote gets counted right. I hope we don't
place our trust in voting officials appointed by the GOP. ...
www.tpmcafe.com/story/2006/1/4/1940/45936 - 17k - Jan 7, 2006 - Cached - Similar pages

ITAA Fires Back at Critics of E-voting - Computerworld
The debate over electronic voting security and the need for paper audit ...
Harris Miller, president of the Information Technology Association of America ...
www.computerworld.com/securitytopics/security/story/0,10801,94608,00.html - 81k - Cached - Similar pages

ITAA fires back at e-voting critics - Computerworld
The debate over electronic voting security and the need for paper audit trails
... about the security of e-voting systems, and ITAA President Harris Miller ...
www.computerworld.com/governmenttopics/government/story/0,10801,94584,00.html - 81k - Cached - Similar pages

Black Box Voting - Welcome to www.BlackBoxVoting.org, Consumer ...
On June 16, 2005, Black Box Voting sent a request to examine the Diebold ...
(VA) Harris Miller, ITAA Voting machine lobbyist to run for Senate More ...
www.blackboxvoting.org/?q=node/view/114 - 39k - Jan 7, 2006 - Cached - Similar pages

E-voting machines' confidence gap | csmonitor.com
ITAA president Harris Miller writes, in an online article that ballots with several
... HAVA also requires "a manual audit capacity" for voting machines. ...
www.csmonitor.com/2004/1004/p11s01-stct.html - 67k - Cached - Similar pages

Scoop: Inside An E-Voting Whitewash Conference Call
ITAA professional lobbyist Harris Miller talking to Voting Machine manufacturers
in a conference call, Friday 22nd August 2003 ...
www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0308/S00175.htm - 43k - Cached - Similar pages

Steven P. :kick:

[sandnsea]

56. Must have changed his mind

Those articles appear to be earlier than the one I posted. I can't even find anything from Harris in some of them. I'm not saying he's a paper ballot voting advocate. I am saying that I can see in his words enough open-mindedness that I would attempt to engage him. If he's gotten the impression that this is an open source v. proprietary fight, then he would be mistaken and maybe he's figured that out. OTOH, if this IS an open source v. proprietary fight, then that pisses me off because it's a terrible waste of time. I don't care if the software is proprietary, I just want a system that puts the software in the hands of the public in the event of machine errors. We should have been able to examine the code in every machine that glitched. I hope the real solutions aren't being lost because open source people have hijacked the issue.

[file83]

8. WTF is up is that Dems and Repug politician are two sides...

...of the same coin. Diebold works for the highest bidder.

[orleans]

10. what a comforting thought.

(not!)

is this guy's middle name zell?

[nicknameless]

65. Everything about him just screams "shill". n/t

[Dunvegan]

14. Okay...need facts...

How did this come to be?

What's the DNC position on this candidate?

Do I have to write Howard and demand that none of my DNC contribution go to a pro-voting machine Dem?

What would you call this kind of candidate? A Die-mocrat?

[AntiCoup2K4]

15. Must be the new shining star of the DLC

Sounds about their type.

[druidity33]

26. it's a trap...

he'll win as a result of machine fraud and when the investigation into 2004 starts next year (after the Dems get Congress back) they'll have an obvious result to point to and say "they did it too!"... my guess is this guy is running with his own money and not recieving so much from DNC/DLC, and since we'd all rather have a D instead of an R, they're gonna let it go. And i'm not even wearing my hat... maybe i should put it on.
:tinfoilhat:

[madfloridian]

41. Don't blame Howard Dean for this...he is not allowed in VA

he is not Southern enough nor religious enough for the VA powers that be.

Blame the VA Democrats for this. Not him.

[autorank]

62. Hi, VA Democrats have not provided one single vote.

Warner is not Southern (from Ohio, Ivy League), nor does he have the religious credentials.

The are no real powers here who care much about that (other than Pat and Jerry;)

The powers are in Northern Virginia and they're the major networ and tech corporations plus construction and and government constractors. They don't care at all about those things. They do care about power so the smart money would be on a candidate who can carry No. VA and also win the rest of the state.

Our current Governor is Catholic, got living wage done as Mayor of Richmond, and opposed the death penalty (saying he'd enforce the law, however).

This should be a moderate, consistently blue state. The Democrats here are generally "good government" types who have a basic sense of decency.

Miller won't fly because he's trying to "pull one off" and Dr. Dean can use his considerable talent on other projects.

[EST]

16. People of such questionable integrity

are not democrats and must not be allowed to pretend to be. Such crooks need to go back to the rethugs, as is befitting.
Crooks not accepted!

[MH1]

19. Ummm....can 't find anyone else to run against Allen?

I mean, c'mon, Warner won't. So DNC/DLC/DSCC/some other Dem organization finds the only person who will run against Allen that has any connections or resources to run a credible race? (I think there's no other serious Dem candidate. If I'm wrong, shoot me down)

Not supporting this guy by any means, just saying, find someone else to run who can beat Allen. Not that this guy will, from the sound of it. And maybe that's why he's being "supported" - 'cause he's just going to spend his money on a lost cause anyway.

Now if Warner would run....but no. Warner wants to run for Pres so he can't be a Senator. sigh.

[annabanana]

21. um... Webb?. . . .n/t

[nicknameless]

20. A Conny McCormack-style DINO.

That variety of scumbag is in high demand to help push the election fraud machines.

[annabanana]

22. If media is treating him as "presumptive nominee"

I would study his corporate roots very carefully. (aspen alert)..

[robbedvoter]

25. media always gets its designated losers (to GOP) in. Somehow.

After the presidential primaries andthe NYC mayoral primaries I learned there's no way to fight it.

[BamaBecky]

24. Wake up Democrats - both parties have sold "we the people"

to the highest bidder............all of Washington is FOR SALE
Bama

[autorank]

33. BamaBecky, you're right.

With us, there are a few who have cozy relationships with the Diebolds of the world and a lot more Democrats who are naive about it.

We'll get the word out here. He is not impressive at all, he is a lousy speaker, and he has to win in a primary.

Hell, I'll run as a cyber candidate if he's unopposed,

"Rank for Senate:

Hard time for Election Fraud!!!

Toss the Machines in the Bay"

(well, not the Chesepeake because we really like that one; but,
some other Bay, but miss the dolphins and seals; forget that,
)

Revised: "TOSS THE ELECTION FRAUD CROOKS IN THE BAY!"

[holboz]

27. Playing DINO because he knows people will vote anti-Repuke this fall

...he's doing the wolf in sheep's clothing schtick.

[Donna Zen]

29. Mark Warner's boy

Mark Warner has publically signaled his support of this Diebold lover. But then, many in the Democratic Party don't seem to care a fig about the stealing of our votes.

[LeFleur1]

30. Reason Not to Give

This is the very reason I don't give donations to organizations, I give donations directly to the candidate that I support.

There are some Democrats I will not support. Their actions speak louder than their words. The money from organizations is often divied up so that there is some for everybody on the democratic ticket that the organization has decided should be approved.

I'll make my own decisions, thank you very much. Of course that takes a little research.

[Donna Zen]

44. I give to the candidate

I don't have too much to give, but I do give what I can which amounted to $100 in Dec. None of the candidates I gave to are DLC. All of them are in races against incumbents.

Paying for lunches with Al From is not the best way for me to use my money.

[msongs]

36. better watch out, the Mark Warner DU pr department will get you

and accuse you of being a "hater" and "insane" if you say anything negative about their
fair haired candidate.

Msongs
www.msongs.com/clark2008.htm

[Donna Zen]

45. LOL

Like I give a damn. The information was part of post by a Warner supporter at Kos. The discussion centered on an eye witness account of a recent VA Dem meeting. Calling me a hater does not make me one. My desire for something running this country besides insiders with the ticket to the big-buck gravy train may seem insane to the besotted, blind supporter, but we must agree to disagree. Personally, and I can only speak for myself, I'm fucking sick of politics as usual.

This country, our country, our children's futures, are in serious trouble. The question that we should be asking candidates is: Do you love your country? Oh sure, they'll beam at you with their newly-capped teeth and answer "yes," then watch what they do. If they put corporations ahead of people, if they place their personal political fortunes over doing what is right, then they thought the question was: Do you love money and power?

[radio4progressives]

52. Warner backs Miller? Surprise ...Surprise.... NT

[autorank]

31. Excellent Post, Recommended. Harris Miller is toast.

I actually heard the guy speak at a Democratic function last week. He comes off like a salesman. He made one quip "at least Bush did one thing right" and was roundly booed. His position on Diebold is one thing, which will be important as the Demcorats get educated as to how badly they got screwed in the A.G. recount. I suspect that as a head lobbyist for the tech group, he's on record supporting the foreign worker bill and outsourcing.

We'll get the word out. Activist, (i.e., people who vote in primaries) will despise him for this. But if the 'outsourcing' suppport is there, he can just save himself a lot of time. He'll get creamed.

We'll be working on this in the Commonwealth.

As for Warner blessing the guy, I doubt it. Warner likes to win and this guy is not a winner, not by a long shot.

Thank you for posting this.

[The Backlash Cometh]

34. Be prepared. You're going to have co-opters of parties and other

opportunists jumping ship soon. I suggest the Dems to look very closely at how long a Dem has been a Dem before giving them any kind of financial help.

[autorank]

35. VA Democrats are NOW on to Harris Miller...MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

Damn, look at this, a VA political blog has already nailed him.

http://waldo.jaquith.org/


Miller opposed to voter-verified paper trail.
January 7th, 2006

Via Daily Kos, I’ve read a rather alarming bit in a July 2004 article about e-voting, in which not-officially-declared Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Harris Miller is quoted:
Miller opposed to voter-verified paper trail.
January 7th, 2006

Via Daily Kos, I’ve read a rather alarming bit in a July 2004 article about e-voting, in which not-officially-declared Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Harris Miller is quoted: (damning quote)

[radio4progressives]

50. Excellent - now will this spill over into the Public Fora, enough to

make an impact and prevent any DLC attempts to slip in a pro-diebold/election fraud trojan horse?

[Al-CIAda]

37. 'IS EVERYONE ONE ON CRAZY PILLS??'

I am forced to conclude, based on many previous inexplicable actions, that many Democratic 'leaders' are complicit, clueless incompetents, or trojan horses.

The fact that this is STILL going on illustrates how FUBAR the Dems are.

[autorank]

38. My friend Al--he's already toast.. .Look at these VA Bloggers wipe him out

The VA DEM blogs have already outed the guy and the negative opinion is very overwhelming. Everyone here in Northern Virginia is wired and it means a lot that this information is out so quickly.

There is an alternative candidate who looks hot.

But yes, some here are naive that you could put up someone like this but they didn't put him up, he chose to run thinking we're stupid. He's been dealing with Congress too long.

He underestimated the people and he's not, amazingly shortly after announcing, damaged goods.

He's done. Stick a fork in him.

Look at this turn around time:

From the RaisingKaineBlog
http://www.raisingkaine.com/1448


# Michael Emmons Says:
December 22nd, 2005 at 2:47 pm

Here are Emmy nominated news reports from WKMG CBS Orlando.

http://www.outsourcecongress.org/video/0_WKMG_20030216.wmv

In the following video Harris Miller is interviewed (at about 3:34 into the video) http://www.outsourcecongress.org/video/0_WKMG_20030217.wmv

He’s interviewed here too; at 3:45
http://www.outsourcecongress.org/video/WKMG_Tuesday_20030218_2.wmv

He says “those people that when the music stops in the musical chairs game; they end up without a seat they have to lash out at foreign workers ” yet we’re told to either quit or stay on and train our foreign replacements(his replacements.)

More videos regarding H-1b and L-1 replacement visas can be found here http://www.outsourcecongress.org/video/
http://www.Zazona.com
http://www.HireAmericaCitizens.org
http://www.TORAW.org
http://www.h1b.info
http://www.NoMoreH1b.com
# Vicky Davis Says:
December 22nd, 2005 at 3:53 pm

Harris Miller betrayed the American people with his activities in India. He lobbied the U.S. congress for tax breaks and increased H-1B’s for imported tech workers - at the same time he was working with India to establish the marketing and infrastructure there.

Silicon Valley is now in India thanks in large part to the efforts of Harris Miller.

http://www.channelingreality.com/Cards/harris_miller.htm

Choose ANYBODY…. pick up a bum off the street and they would be better than Harris Miller.
# Dawn Teo Says:
December 22nd, 2005 at 5:26 pm

Harris Miller is a traitor to the American people. Anyone who supports his candidacy is either an idiot or another traitor.

[Al-CIAda]

40. May this be so.

When roaches are given free reign for a time, they lose their 'scurry-and-hide' reflex. Even when exposed by the light of day, they move freely about in an unsuspecting manner. May the light reveal, and the foot of justice, squash this bug.

[autorank]

43. Well keep the light shining and get one of those big ass search lights

if that doesn't work.

The perpetrators don't want to provokes us too much or we'll bring on the real heat:



There is nothing inevitable here, no magic. If the crowd at the Democratic meeting had known who Harris was he would not have been able to speak uninterrupted by jeers, etc. I'm positive of that (and I'm excluding myself). People have had it, no more bull shit, no more lies.

We've been banging our heads against the resistance here so long, some us, me included, get weary.

But there is an audience out there, receptive, in our party and the other segments of the body politic.

We're near the finish line. This is time to bring on the maximum effort.

[radio4progressives]

49. I'm convinced that evidence points to Trojan Horses ... NT

[dusty64]

39. Maybe a Dem "win"

despite all exit polls is what is needed to wake the other side up to the danger of vapor voting.......

[yknot]

42. How long before we discover the RNC memo suggesting

the repukes should improve their 2006 prospects by running as democrats?

[radio4progressives]

51. when they realize they too can become members of the prestigeous DLC

breakfast club..

that's all it will take. no big deal by our DLC defenders, after all the DP has a "big tent", and critising "former" repukes will be attacked as foisting the "litmus test" canard.

[orleans]

57. good point

i've been thinking of that too

thought of it earlier today (as a matter of fact)

[Wilms]

46. .

[Imagevision]

47. Slick move > Diebold's Lobbyist: Dem Senate Nominee from Virginia?

while dems sleep...! this is something out of Hollywood!

[orleans]

55. invasion of the democrat body snatchers n/t

[radio4progressives]

48. DLC fingerprints all over this -

What more evidence do we need to explain why the DLC are as complicit in election rigging as the GOP is?

The 64 Billion Dollar Question as to why the Democratic Party "Leadership" (DLC) have put the kabash on the 2004 investigations and evidence of election rigging/fraud. I have personally speculated based some interesting investigations here in California back in 2002 the reason why election engineering/rigging/fraud/ hasn't been made a public outrage by the Dems is because the DLC want their hands on the same system to pull it off for themselves where they think they might be able to get away with it.

Mark my words, eventually the DLC will be proven to be just as corrupt as the GOP people and they share the same agenda as the Neo Cons.

Neo Libs/Neo Cons = Neo Fascism.

Reject the DLC now or be prepared for decades more of the same and evenutally worse.

[orleans]

59. dlc (i finally took a look at their website)

:puke: :puke:
:puke: :puke:
"The DLC was founded in 1985. The past chairs include former President Bill Clinton, Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana, Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, former Rep. Dave McCurdy of Oklahoma, former Sen. John Breaux of Louisiana, former Sen. Sam Nunn of Georgia, former Sen. Charles Robb of Virginia, and former House Democratic Leader Richard Gephardt of Missouri."

"Chairman: Governor Tom Vilsack (D-IA)
Vice Chair: U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-DE)
Chair of the DLC's American Dream Iniative: U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY)
Founder and Chief Executive Officer: Al From
President: Bruce Reed
Vice President and Political Director: Holly Page
Chief of Staff: Debbie Cox Bultan"


"Senators Evan Bayh (IN), Bob Graham (FL), Mary Landrieu (LA), Joe Lieberman (CT) and Blanche Lincoln (AR) founded the Senate New Democrat Coalition (SNDC) in the spring of 2000 to provide a unified voice in the U.S. Senate for progressive ideas, mainstream values, and innovative, market-based policy solutions.

In just over a year, the SNDC has quickly become the strongest and most unified Democratic group in the Senate. With long-time leaders like John Breaux (LA), and a strong class of freshman from the class of 2000 -- including Jean Carnahan (MO), Tom Carper (DE), Ben Nelson (NE), Bill Nelson (FL) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) -- the SNDC's ranks have expanded to 20 members."
http://www.dlc.org/ndol_ci.cfm?contentid=250061&kaid=103&subid=111

who isn't in the dlc lately? kerry? kennedy? durbin? conyers? but who else?

(i'm flitting around on their website trying to get a list of who is involved and can't find a "list" )


:puke:

[mod mom]

71. DLC + PNAC connections:

 Al From is founder and chief executive officer of the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC), a dynamic idea action center of the "Third Way" governing philosophy that is reshaping progressive politics in the United States and around the globe. He is also chairman of the Third Way Foundation and publisher of the DLC's flagship bi-monthly magazine, Blueprint: Ideas for a New Century.
As a founder of the DLC -- birthplace of the New Democrat movement and the Third Way in America -- and its companion think tank, the Progressive Policy Institute (PPI), From leads a national movement that since the mid-1980s has provided both the action agenda and the ideas for New Democrats to successfully challenge the conventional political wisdom in America and, in the process, redefine the center of the Democratic Party.
(from DLC website)


Will Marshall, the head of PPI signed PNAC letters.
(Called "Bill Clinton's idea mill," the Progressive Policy Institute was responsible for many of the Clinton administration's initiatives...)
Starting right after 9/11. 

More about Will Marshall
Note the PNAC link to the left.
http://rightweb.irc-online.org/profile/1295 

[Bill Bored]

58. More discussion here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x408225

[orleans]

60. anyone have a list of dlc members? n/t

[cosmicdot]

61. here are a couple of links which might give you a start

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Democrat

http://www.dlc.org/ndol_ci.cfm?contentid=2552&kaid=103&subid=110

They're fairly obvious by vote, and voice.

They remind me of Rockefeller Republicans c. 1960s.

During this time of radical rightwing republicanism, they wrap themselves in the safe sounding term: 'centrist' which, in this extreme environment, imho, means you're standing for not much ... especially not the progressive reform we badly need advanced (in a populist, FDR first 100 days style). Where does a centrist, for example, stand on national healthcare? Nancy Pelosi hinted not too long ago its "afordable health insurance", whatever that means. They like the corporate influence in the equation.

I see 'centrists' like the title of Jim Hightower's book: 'There's Nothing in the Middle of the Road but Yellow Stripes and Dead Armadillos.' With that kind of leadership, I'll be dead and gone before serious progress is made.

[orleans]

63. thanks. i noticed boxer and kennedy weren't on the list.

(at least that's good news--but hell, i already knew that.) (smile)

[nicknameless]

64. I'm with yknot. This is right up the RNC's alley.

And it's not a new strategy.

[depakid]

66. Stealth candidate

Trying to legitimize DRE's by running as a Dem.

Brilliant idea, actually. Especially since most Dems have been reluctant to make much of an issue about electronic voting....

[Steve A Play]

67. Just another spin of the e-voting revolving door

Great read from a fantastic research site.

http://www.prwatch.org/prwissues/2004Q2/cow.html

E-Voting: Digital Democracy or a Cash Cow for Consultants?

by Diane Farsetta

Imagine that you have billions of dollars and less than three years to spend it all. If electronic voting machine companies saw the 2000 election debacle as a "tremendous market opportunity," the Help America Vote Act must seem like the Promised Land. Of course, salvation - or a lucrative government contract - doesn't just come to those who wait. Enter the local political figures turned lobbyists.

At $3.7 billion, New York's state contract may be the Holy Grail. Late last year, "though neither a mechanism for awarding a contract nor specification for an acceptable voting terminal have been agreed to yet, lobbyists for (e-voting) manufacturers have been gearing up," reported the New York Times. To boost its chances, Sequoia Voting Systems hired two in-state lobbying firms - a Republican firm with ties to Governor George Pataki and an influential Democratic firm steeped in local politics. Diebold Election Systems hired lobbyists with connections to former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani. Election Systems & Software (ES&S) hired a firm with ties to another former NYC mayor, John Lindsay.

Californians saw a rapidly spinning revolving door between e-voting interests and government. The former secretary of state who pushed for new voting machines and, in 2002, successfully sponsored a $200 million bond measure to fund counties' voting system upgrades is now a paid consultant for Sequoia Voting Systems, as are two of his former statehouse colleagues. The official who developed California's e-voting machine certification process now directs state operations for ES&S. The company also hired the former mayor of Sacramento to contact Sacramento County supervisors on its behalf, according to the Los Angeles Times. Deborah Seiler, a Diebold employee and former California chief of elections herself, remarked, "There's no question these contacts are helpful."

They certainly couldn't have hurt Sequoia Voting Systems, who won the $18.9 million contract for California's Santa Clara County. Sequoia's local lobbying team included the former campaign manager of the current San Jose mayor, a major local political contributor, a former mayoral aide, and a former city council member, according to the San Jose Mercury News. In San Bernardino County, a Diebold lobbyist even served as a campaign consultant for one county supervisor, according to the Press Enterprise.

To win the $20 million Cleveland-area e-voting contract, Hart InterCivic hired the former Ohio House majority leader and a former state senator as lobbyists; UniLect retained a former county board of elections chair; and Diebold hired a former state attorney general and secretary of state, according to Associated Press.

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Steven P. :kick:

[Rene]

68. This needs a call and email campaign to any Dem we know

to stop this farce candidacy immediately. It's time to stop Miller's war on IT workers in THIS country(the middle class). I was one of those that lost their wonderful technical job 3 years ago due to people like this man and his warped thinking.

[orleans]

72. sorry to hear about your job.

i think someone posted this in the virginia state group. maybe a few activists there will take it and run with it.

[Wilms]

69. .

[long_green]

70. Thank you Rahm Emanuel

Looks like a winner:eyes:
What a gift to DU if this guy runs and wins. Nothing better for traffic than a Democrat hated by Democrats.
Anything that hurts George Allen can't be all bad but damn, can't we do better than this?