It's the computerized voting machines stupid!

[MoonRiver]

This is something that has been eating away at me for some time, and I finally decided to just rant. I see so many threads here disparaging Kerry for not adequately responding the swifyliars, and/or not pushing the failed * economy. Both these assumptions aren't fair, imo. The real threat going on is a highly organized and effective plot to steal our votes through bbvs. I won't go into a tirade about these machines as most of us here fully understand their threat. For those who don't, you can check out this site: http://www.blackboxvoting.org/

My point is that we are allowing the media to frame our discussion by focusing on Karl Rove's distracting spin that Kerry has a problem with his service in Vietnam. He DOESN'T. Our problem, and that of every American even the most intellectually challenged dittohead, is the real possibility that the right will finally destroy this democracy following Selection II. If the machines operate according to the fascists' plan, they will not only hand * back the pResidency, but produce a solid Repuke majority in the Senate and House. At that point it is over, except for the shouting.

I would really like US to stop focusing on Kerry so much and discuss the terrible possibility that unless we can push through legislation forcing computerized voting machine companies to produce paper ballots, we are probably screwed. Even if Kerry does get an actual landslide, it will not matter a hill of beans if nobody knows about it because "the computer ate my vote".

[OneBlueSky]

1. despite the fine work of many . . .

some of whom post here on DU, to bring this issue to the attention of the voting public, the fact remains that BushCo still owns the voting machines . . . and they can do pretty much any damn thing they care to with them, with no possibility of being caught . . . think they won't take advantage of the opportunity? . . .

I fear that the fix is indeed in, particularly in selected swing states, and that no matter how many real votes Kerry gets, the reported results will be in Bush's favor . . . why the Democrats didn't scream bloody murder about this issue from day one is totally beyond my comprehension . . . do they actually believe that BushCo won't rig the election? . . .

[MoonRiver]

2. It amazes me also. Will Democrats ever learn???

Happy faces and ostrich like head in sand behavior is exactly what the thug fascists are counting on from us. We're providing it in spades.
:argh:

[LiberalEsto]

4. True Vote Maryland

"Happy faces and ostrich like head in sand behavior " is just what the Maryland Democratic leadership is doing about the electronic voting issue.

My husband is active in True Vote Maryland, which is suing to force the state board of elections to require paper audit trails. Without these, there is no possibility of conducting recounts. There was a 3-day hearing in Anne Arundel County last week; the ruling is pending.

In recent months True Vote Maryland has contacted many state Democratic officials: the chairwoman of the board of elections, the state attorney general, and the two leading Democratic candidates for governor in 2006. They all think everything is just fine the way it is, and have given True Vote the brushoff.

Even the Washington Post ran an editorial a couple of days ago strongly supporting True Vote's arguments for paper audit trails.

I cannot figure out why Maryland Dems are being so obstinate and downright stupid about this. Is it because they shelled out a mint for these Diebold machines, after our elections board got wined and dined by Diebold?

Does anyone have any idea why our state Democratic leadership is being so obtuse about this?

[MoonRiver]

5. Unf'nbelievable!

:mad:

[MGKrebs]

3. I know it's frustrating, but

there's a lot of people working really hard on this. What else can be done?

For a while, I thought that it would take something dramatic, like a hacker getting osama elected or something, but now I suspect that even if that happened, we might never know about it, or it would be used as an excuse to invalidate the election. Nevertheless, the work continues.

Hopefully, we can gather enough people just before and just after the election to be able to respond effectively to any perceived shenanigans. Start a yahoo group, or sign up to an election reform meetup in your area. Take some vacation time around election day. Sign up to be a poll worker.

Just because the task appears daunting does not mean that we concede.


(California does seem ripe for manipulation.)

[MoonRiver]

6. Thanks for those words of support toward resolving this issue.

I totally agree with everything you said. I just wish we had more discussion about this make or break bbv thing here on DU. It is so critical to this election, not to mention the future of our democracy, that I find it hard to believe we spend so little time on it.

[OneBlueSky]

7. what else could be done? . . . well, I can think of two things . . .

first, the Kerry campaign and/or the Democratic party could sue each and every state that plans to use BBV without a paper trail . . . on the grounds that recounts are impossible without it . . .

second, we can insure that there is unbiased, credible exit polling, at least in the swing states . . . the best investment of Soros' money might just be to hire Zogby to do it . . . and make sure they invite observers from each party to monitor the process . . . if they succeed in stealing it, at least we'll have some evidence to make the case . . . won't carry any legal weight, but it might convince people that their votes have been stolen . . . and jar them out of their political catatonia . . .

[Carla in Ca]

8. voting machines

I e-mailed Diebold today. An excerpt:

We are scared by you and for you. Manipulating the vote will damage this country for years to come.

It won't make a difference, but it made me feel better

[OHswingvoter]

9. we fucked up on this

one. We were so busy harping on the inaccuracies of paper ballots (hanging chads and such) that we could not see that they would use this to steal the whole thing. We need the votes to be counted by Democrats to make sure that the elections are fair. Most local officials are democrats and no one can beat us on the ground if anything is in dispute. This way we don't even get a chance. We have to get moving and fight harder. No one can trust these electronic machines!

[Warren DeMontague]

11. Right... It's the classic Here, I can fix that itch...

by sawing off your leg.

Wow, these paper ballots are really inaccurate! Hmmm, let's find a nice high-tech solution...
It was a set-up with another set up waiting right behind it.

Of course, if they really wanted to make those damn machines accurate, they could. You notice Banks have all kinds of electronic number handling, yet everybody knows exactly where every damn penny is. If it was something important, like money (as opposed to just the will of the electorate) You can bet your bippy it would be secure as f*ck.

[ParanoidPat]

10. Honest people make for honest elections.......

.......:evilgrin:

You seem like a nice honest person. What are you doing November second? :shrug: :)

[Warren DeMontague]

12. I think what's happening to Kevin Shelley right now

is meant as a warning to any politician not to F*ck with Diebold.. I mean, he's getting creamed by the "liberal" SF Chronicle-- and for weird shit. Like, it started with campaign donations (which no one has proven any wrongdoing on) and now it's getting into "He throws his cell phone and makes lewd jokes".. I mean, uh.. who is orchestrating this daily smear job? Inquiring minds REALLY want to know.

PS. If anyone wants to write the SF Chronicle and ask them just who is behind their seemingly neverending stream of Kevin Shelley hit pieces, (I already wrote this week) here's their site. I'm plugging them into the media blaster right after this.

http://sfgate.com