Good morning, all y'all. I am sure that we are all thinking about what we can do to protect this vote and beginning to dread what we will be forced to do if THIS ONE is stolen too (in this case, from "That One"). I wanted to share what I posted on our local Gathering To Save Our Democracy (Tennessee) listserv because the long-range idea embodied in this message impacts this ER board going forward as much as any place. Here's the message:
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To all:
If I wake up (or come to) on November 5 believing that the 2008 election was stolen -- and at this minute, that means if McCain wins and/or if major shenanigans appear in Senate/House races to impact the Congress -- then (that afternoon) I will be on Broadway in Nashville, in front of the Federal building (whose hands, after all, would remain in the same hands as controls it now) with a sign that says, "Not just 'No' but 'HELL NO'." This morning, I am praying that none of us face that moment soon.
But regardless of the 2008 outcome, eternal vigilance cannot take a vacation going forward. As a small band of dedicated small "d" democrats, our merry (tho sometimes contentious) band has made a difference. We should not (we cannot) stop now. (Edit: this applies to all y'all here at DU too.)
In that vein, over the past 24 hours, I have been in communication with Alastair Thompson, the editor of SCOOP-New Zealand; and Mark Crispin Miller, who I expect all y'all know. Alastair expressed a desire that Nashville rise up and open up our city and our arms for another National Election Reform Conference next spring. Lord knows, from where we've come and (unfortunately) where we still sit, there is still a great deal to talk (and organize) about in the election integrity world. AND if we go forward with an Obama administration, my guess is that the next "Nash-ional" will finally draw the eyes of Washington, if not the world, to enact the reforms (and punish the evil-doers) that we all support. (Edit: And in the event of a McCain (p)Residency, those goals would be even more paramount.)
Just an idle thought (not really) to begin the day, seven days before the beginning of the rest of our lives. But if this idea strikes anyone else's fancy, chime in. Now I must get back to phantom-busting the "R to D" DRE vote-flipping stories that abound statewide, perhaps stimulated by an email sent from the TN Republican Party headquarters last week to all TN county parties and other activists encouraging such reports. (More on that later.)
As I said, I am sure 2008 will give us lots to talk about, and to learn about and to go forward from, in another soon-come springtime, in a place that still abounds with small "d" democrats.
That is, if we can keep it.
Peace Out. Bernie
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OK, ER/DUers -- what do all y'all think? Would it be worthwhile for our small but merry band of Nash-pudlian election integrists to begin thinking about another Gathering for this next spring? Would love your comments and reactions to this idea.
For those of you who don't remember the 2005 National Election Reform Conference, here's a link to a 2005 DU thread that documented what happened and what was accomplished from the first "Nash-ional".
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=203&topic_id=355167
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