Howard Dean - DNC: STOP ELECTION HIJACKING!!

[IndyOp]

Look at what Chairman Dean is doing with Salon.com's Shameful Six

I wanted to pass along this explosive report on Republican efforts to disenfranchise voters and suppress Democratic turnout this November.

This is something we have had our eye on for a while, and we're taking unprecedented steps to combat it.

As part of our 50-state strategy, we've organized a nationwide network of trained volunteers and attorneys to assist voters at the polls. We've also launched legal challenges against Republican elections officials who have taken steps to stop eligible voters from participating.

This report makes clear that we need to take our voter protection operation to an even higher level. We have plans in place to do that -- can you contribute today to help us implement them?

http://www.democrats.org/electionhijacking

Please take a moment and read this article. Salon.com's Shameful Six It's incredibly important that we all understand what's happening and do what we can to stop it.

Thank you,
Howard

Governor Howard Dean M.D.
Chairman, Democratic National Committee

No matter how focused you might be on election machine malfunction and malfeasance you have to admit that voter suppression is a BIG part of the GOP plan.

FINALLY some strong rhetoric and a PLAN from the DNC. Join me!

[goclark]

1. Yes! Donation on the way! Kick and R

[blm]

2. THANKYOU CHAIRMAN DEAN - you're doing the job now that McAuliffe ignored.

The most important work a Dem chair can do is to secure the votes of all Dem voters and those who want to cast their ballot for a Dem candidate.

[helderheid]

3. HOTDAMN We're getting our country back!

[Mabus]

6. Unfortunately we're getting it "as is"

But I'm confident we can restore it and make it better.

:woohoo: :patriot:

[Melissa G]

4. K&R! EXCELLENT! n/t

[NMDemDist2]

5. our county is hiring a new election machine technician

guess what I'll be doing tomorrow

:rofl:

[Independent_Liberal]

7. Thank you Mr. Dean!

You're the greatest!

:patriot:

[mom cat]

8. I want a pledge that this time, the team of lawyers won't be held back!

[Pryderi]

9. K&R Can we get this on the upper right on the front page?

[tbyg52]

10. You get it! You really get it!

Now follow through! In hopes you will do so, money on the way. K&R!!!

:kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick:

[Blue Shark]

11. This whole DNC push is to ...

...discourage intimidation and other dirty tricks (lauadble goals but completely preliminary)

...There was nothing anywhere in the DNC email to me that mentioned Electronic Vote Manipulation.

...Once more they are missing the million vote hack for the couple thousand vote disenfranchisement.

...Write, call, and email the DNC and tell them that a tabulator can flip a dozen, a thousand, or a million or more votes.

...The need to wake the fuck up!

[midnight]

20. I agree, electronic vote manipulation is our biggest

obstacle.

[freedomfries]

12. K & R

Thanks for posting!

[Stevepol]

13. And I would suggest, Don't contribute and tell them why!!

Send the letter to Dean's personal address, not to the address on the donation request you receive. Enclose the donation card and write a big fat $0.00 on it and give the reasons. "I will not contribute a cent to the DNC until you make election integrity and fairness a number one priority AND THIS MEANS THE MACHINES. When the vote is counted in total secrecy without any verification of the results of the counting, THIS CANNOT BE A DEMOCRACY!! If you can't have confidence in the vote count, how can you expect Dems to be elected?"

This is my approach to it. I'm sure others wouldn't take this approach, but until it hits them in their pocketbook, they're not going to do anything about this.

And all it would take is to make it a number one priority, so that the Dems as a whole, demand fairness in voting, A voter-verified paper ballot print-out and a required audit (of at least 3-5% I think, and more the closer the election is).

[Raksha]

15. I'm not gonna do that, because BOTH issues are important.

The Republicans stole the 2004 election through a number of dirty tricks, not electronic cheating only. They did plenty of damage via vote suppression too, and the same in 2000 and 2002.

So here's what I'm going to do: I'm going to send them $5.00, which represents HALF my intended donation, along with a note telling them so. I'm on fixed income, so this small amount is truly the "widow's mite." I'll tell them that too, and emphasize that this is my FIRST-EVER donation to the DNC. I think my last donation of any kind (political or humanitarian) was for Katrina relief.

I'll tell them they can have the other half when they address electronic vote stealing, and do so in a high-profile manner and officially AS THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY!!! Better late than never, as they say.

[Stevepol]

25. That's a good idea too, Raksha. I agree with what Dean's doing too,

might try your idea myself at some time in the future.

[madfloridian]

14. Nice post, thanks.

:kick:

[flyarm]

16. EARTH TO DEAN..THE LAWYERS ARE WORTHLESS!!

they didn't do squat in fla in 2004..they were worthless!!

fly

[freedomfries]

17. two sides of the same coin

electronic vote purging, through statewide voter databases, and electronic vote stealing through hacks are two sides of the same coin. Both can potentially wipe out millions of votes.
But don't underestimate the eroding psychological effect of all the other vote suppression gimmicks either. They are meant to disempower and discourage those who are already powerless. Those twenty-six million who voted for the first time in '04.
Keeping away people from the polls and purging the rolls is still easier than hacking the vote.
Art Levine's Salon article needs to be taken in very carefully.

[flyarm]

24. It is going to take everything..to protect our vote..but most of all

it is going to take Americans to take it back..Mike malloy said last night..in Georgia..when a voting issue came up in the state legislature..only 3 people showed up to use their voices against these robbers...we can sit on these computers and bitch all we want..but unless we all get off our asses and get into the trenches as citizens..and do our civic duty..we are sunk..

I know our Voting integrity group in Fla hear all the bitching ..but just try to get people off their asses..just regular Americans...to help do the work..

we must engage..we must get out there... our selves and make up our mind to do the work..

i live in two states and i work in both states trying to preserve our voting rights..and to educate people..and get people engaged..

and honestly..i am so proud of people i have seen get up off the couch, and go to work..to do the fighting..

but it is going to take all of us!!

fly

[MH1]

18. Does part of Dean's plan include firing Donna Brazile

from leadership of the DNC's "Voting Rights Institute"?

Just wondering.

[amb123]

19. K & R

Finally! My $25/month Democracy Bond I've been paying to the DNC is paying off.

[autorank]

21. Good for Art Levine & good for Salon...GREAT for DEAN, like I say..

...over and over, "Let Dean be Dean." And let the crooks keep their hands off of the ballot boxes, the tabulation process, the voter registration process etc etc

Great post. Howard is pulling DNC through the eye of the needle on this one...nice move Howard!

[flyarm]

23. As a poll watcher in 2004 I will state it again..Lawyers are of no help

with the voting machines in a general election!

That is not to take anything away from the Lawyers..they just could not do much to help.

maybe afterwards..whatever..

I was a poll watcher in the Dem Primary for my county in March 2004 , and in the State Primary Aug 31st 2004 , i was one of only 2 "at large " poll watchers for my county for Early vote which consisted of 2 weeks of voting , of which i worked every day of the 2 weeks of early vote, and i was a poll watcher for the General election Nov. 2004.

I was also an elected Delegate for Kerry for the 2004 Democratic Convention for the State of Florida.

During Early vote in Florida Kerry sent down many Lawyers to assist us in our election.

Many of the Lawyers were from out of state, Many had never even seen the DRE machines.

I had a real problem one day in early vote..I did a speaking engagement with Max Cleland the first day of early vote at the VA for the Vets and then we walked with the Vets to be the first to vote the opening day of early vote.

I then went to a polling place to take up poll watching.

I replaced a Florida Lawyer who worked the morning shift..

The lawyer sat "poll watching" from 630 am until i relieved him at 12:30
When i arrived the lawyer promptly left..

We were not allowed near the machines..which were in a separate room.

I requested to be allowed to be in the room with the machines. I was denied.

the POll watchers were designated to sit by a table in an area set up for people filling out Absentee ballots..

on the table, when i got there was a huge Flyer , map size ..with the republican candidates and with all Republican state office holders

It was illegal to have this fly er and the smaller carry copies of the fly er in open during an election, and yet the lawyer that was present all morning sat there with this stuff under his nose and he said nothing and did nothing about it.

I immediately had these flyer's removed as per the laws of an election.

a fight ensued with the man who ran the polling place ( a republican who worked for the supervisor of election) and myself over these flyer's.

but the Lawyer who sat there for 6 hours said nothing about them!

I then called the hotline for a lawyer to come and help me with this matter...

4 hours later a lawyer showed up and said not to make a "stink" about the flyers..

i asked for help getting access to see the machines..after all i was a poll watcher..if i could not see the machines or even the room the machines were in..what was i watching??

i was simply watching the lines of people waiting to vote..i could not see if people had difficulty voting or if there were any problems with the machines..i could see nothing , but people coming to vote absentee!

The lawyers who were supposed to be helping us and maintain the rights of the voters did nothing

i called and called and called the hotline for help, and got none.

the lawyers sent in many cases to Fla. from out of state, had no clue what to do.

and i was at the biggest voting place for early vote.

I was there for several days, and never got to ever see the voting machines..as no lawyers knew what to do about the situation.

It was on the 4th day , i got 2 lawyers from NY who came..after i again for the umpteenth time called the hotline...and they agreed with me and they removed physically the republican flyer's that were illegal..and they almost got in a fist fight with the guy ( who worked for the supervisor of elections) who was running the voting in the court house.

The only thing that stopped the fight was my husband intervened , as he came to bring me lunch when the pushing and shoving was going on..

and as the 2 NY Lawyers were leaving with my husband ..one of the lawyers leaned into me..and said.."now we know what you people down here are dealing with..you have nasty bubba's down here.."

Yes that is what the NY lawyer said to me when he left..and i was left with this man who then spent the next 10 hours staring at me trying to intimidate me...( but i am a jersey gal..and retired flt crew..i do not intimidate , so i stared back and smiled...all day..and into the night..)


i worked most days close to 15 hours each day, poll watching.

I called lawyers when people were being harassed in line to vote ( lines that were 3-4 hours long of a wait to vote)

in most cases it was hours before lawyers showed up. and when they did they didn't want to get "involved" in any skirmishes.

One day , 2 republican young ladies brought in a group of Retarded people to vote, they evidently picked them up from a mental hospital , and brought them to vote.

No over sight was taken with these people..this was at the Supervisor of election main offices..that was set up for early vote, with the supervisor in the building, with her offices right there..

as a poll watcher i was not allowed to talk to voters , only observe..and call the lawyers if there was a problem

well with no oversight by anyone of the retarded people..they were let loose on the machines by themselves.

one of these girls..went to the wrong side of a machine...and she began taking the machine apart..( it really broke my heart...but i wasn't there to take care of these people)

i began yelling for someone to stop what was going on with this particular machine..and i was ignored..i went to the registration desk and said the girl was dismantling the machine..it was ignored..i grabbed the lady who worked for the SOE and said stop that girl..
it was ignored...

the Retarded girl unwound the entire tape from the back of the machine..it was all over the floor and yet everyone working there ignored it..

i went running into the SOE's direct office and said..this needs to be stopped..please someone pay attention to what is going on in here..
ignored again..this retarded girl was at the machine for at least 10 minutes..taking the machine apart..

i then had to go out side and call the hotline for the "lawyer"

finally the SOE came into the room with the machines and stopped this girl from dismantling the machine

the machine was not taken out or marked out of order..

the poll worker merely rolled up as much of the paper roll that she could... that was now all over the floor..and shoved it back into the back of the machine..

and then called others in line to go vote on that machine..over my very loud very angry protests..

i wanted the machine to be put out of order...

no such luck..and i will never forget the man who first voted on that machine right after they "so called fixed the machine"..he was a big man with a Vets for Kerry teeshirt on ..and he was so happy to be voting for Kerry..

and i sat there helpless and knew damn well that his vote most likely did not count.

it took 2 hours for a Lawyer to show up..and for those two hours that machine prob had 150 votes on it that didn't register...

the lawyer did not want to get the machine shut down..until i threw such a hissy fit and said then damn it..get another lawyer here who will get it shut down.



I saw black people who were being intimidated in lines by rethugs( being asked for water or electric bills)..and no lawyers did jack squat about it..they didn't want to get into any ugliness..if they showed up at all..

I will say, i finally, on the last day of early vote got a lawyer who stayed with me all day..and he walked the lines, as i asked him to, to make sure people were not getting harrassed..

i saw every republican trick there was..and yet got almost no help from the lawyers who were supposed to be helping the people vote and keeping their voting rights preserved.

During the general election..the precinct i worked ..i never saw a lawyer once..although i called many times ..and no one ever showed up.

the repugs set up the precinct, doors down from another precinct..if the people walked into the precinct i was working and they were supposed to be down at the other precinct..instead of telling them to go less than a block down the street ..they made them fill out a provisional ballot..the poll worker who was in charge was old and it would take her over an hour per provisional ballot to caLL the SOE office..people were in lines..not to vote on the machines but to fill out the provisional ballots..that all anyone had to do was tell them ..go down the block ..thats where you vote..

but no...and i could get no lawyer come and help these people...

the rethugs had a lawyer who sat next to me all day..

i ended up going outside..and trying to catch people in the parking lot..and telling them if they were in the other precinct ..to go down the block..

of course i had to be careful as the rethug lawyer was more watching me than the fucking machines...

they had this game plan worked out to a t!!

i spent most of my day making sure people got to do the provisional ballots..as the poll worker was clueless and too old and didn't understand how to do them..in fact the first 20 done,i was basically doing them because this lady was incompetent..
but no lawyer came when i called the hotline dozens of times that day.

the repug lawyer was basically there to try to intimidate any dem poll watcher...again..i can not be intimidated...it ended up, i intimidated him much more. Because i made sure everyone who wanted to vote, who came there to vote..got to vote.

many of us poll watchers after the election spoke with each other at length..and said the same thing..what we needed was "computer geeks"..not lawyers..

the largest complaint for
many people had voting on the machines were they were voting one candidate
( always Kerry, never bush) and the machine would show the other candidate.

so they would have to clear the machine and vote over and over until Kerry showed up..so they could enter their vote ..

the lawyers that we had,from all over the country mind you..had no clue what to do about this..

there was nothing we could do..any of us..


and i will say the biggest mistake i made the night of the 2004 election was to turn over all my paper work to the democratic party

i kept incredible records of all the problems..
i had a clip board and i had a stack of notes and complaints with people's names ..and addresses..

and it was taken from me the night of the election..after i was done at my precinct..and returned to the kerry campaign headquarters..there was someone there who collected all my notes and records..

and it went into the abyss..

i wish i had copied all my paperwork..i would have then had something to take to the newspapers...


and if i have any suggestion for anyone poll watching in NOV..do not turn over
your paperwork ..to anyone..until you make copies!

because my husband helped out the two NY lawyers we have become fairly friendly with them..and they agree wholeheartedly..they were helpless to help us in Fla..

they didn't have a clue what to do..they were not versed in the machines..
( they have lever machines in NY) they were outsiders in another state..
and there was very little they could do ..but be a pacifier.


And about the Bubba that got into the altercation with the 2 NY lawyers..i helped get him fired from working on any further voting work..

the supervisor of elections had a press conference in December of 2004..it was not open to democrats to attend...or the public ...only reporters..so i dressed like a reporter..and I infiltrated the meeting..i was never asked for Press ID and i just acted like i was a reporter..
and i walked in with the reporters...

i waited throughout the press meeting ..cameras and all..and when the meeting was coming to an end ..the supervisor of elections asked if there were any other questions..

and i said yes with cameras running..and i said i was a citizen..a citizen who did my civic duty as a poll watcher..i said i was a mother and a wife..and a citizen who takes civic duty very seriously..and i told her about the guy working one of the 3 voting places in my county for early vote, the guy worked in the court house for early vote..and i told her about his intimidation tactics..and how he refused to allow the poll watchers access to seeing the voting machines...

to say the least..the Supervisor was in shock..that i got into the press conference number 1..

and her love fest with the press and reporters was disrupted by a lady who refused to say..it was ok...to steal our election.

Bubba was removed from his duties.


fly

p.s.
i worked extensively with Andy Stephenson to train people in my county to work on election reform..we have great, great people now working in election reform..and they have done Andy Proud..in fact this week our election reform people even made it on LOU DOBBS..along with the League of Women voters who now are on top of what is going on..( they weren't perviously on board) and now are because of VoteTrustUSA !....(the Voting group Andy was co -founder of.)
and our group of voting reform people!....

I thank each and everyday those citizens in my community who have worked so hard to save our elections, they do it with no outside money,with no fanfare.. and all on their own dime..and they spend more hours, than any of us have in one day..working for all of us!! And for preserving our voting rights.


ohh and ..believe this..you as a citizen can do more than anoyone , by being a poll watcher..or a poll worker..i urge people to go to a training near you ..amd do your civic duty..and be a poll watcher..and do what you can to help other Americans get their right , their god given right under our constitution to vote..there is nothing more important than that today!

[Chicago1]

22. When do the ENDICTMENTS START????????????

Truly unbelievable. I can't wait for this bunch to start getting arrested when the INDICTMENTS arrive so they can fill up their JAIL CELLS.


START THE REVOLUTION
START THE IMPEACHMENT

[autorank]

26. We've got plenty of time for paper in November..plenty.

These boards know how order paper ballots and, if they don't, there's a board in the next county that does.

We're in crisis now, the fix is in. Massive crews of observers are needed to watch the counting but we know people will do this from the Zogby Poll.

Screw it, lets make our move. Demand free and fair elections.

Of course, the ballots are not the only issue, an immediate move is needed on the use of centralized registration databsaes, and certain Katherine wuzhername style cleansing that's going on, no doubt, even if not intentionally.

And the damn VoterID laws have to go, the new ones in GA, MS, and MO to name a few.

Thanks for the good news "Let Dean be Dean."

[O.M.B.inOhio]

27. I'd donate to an Election Whistleblower Fund.

The GOP runs on greed, so wouldn't they be afraid that their goons would rat them out if there were a lottery-sized prize for exposing fraud? I want all fuckers involved in election fraud arrested, from the ones who program a "back door" in electronic voting systems to the pricks who distribute misleading information in minority neighborhoods.
Dean's statement is a positive thing, but it reads like a limp echo of Kerry's fund for a team of watchdog lawyers in 2004.