Since Arnold wants a special election to pass his initiatives, we should get an initiative on the ballot making the Secretary of State a nonpartisan office, with strong protections against any fake nonpartisans getting in. The campaign for the initiative can say that we don't want any more Harrises or Blackwells or Shelleys, that we don't ever want to have the perception that someone's finger is on the scale.

The ideal person would be some nonpartisan and respected judge. Actually, I don't see why this person should even be elected; get some independent body to choose a good candidate and require both the governor and 2/3 of both houses of the legislature to approve, so they'll be forced to choose someone who is trusted by all.

If we succeed, there can then be a national campaign to get other states to enact similar laws, and then get a federal law in place making it a crime for someone to simultaneously be in charge of an election and to work for one side in that election. Most of the public will think "you mean that's not a crime already?"

This is terrible. Kevin Shelley would still have his job if John Kerry had listened to Steve Soto instead of the Democrats who nominated him.

Well, there is more than one way to get those voting machines into Caifornia without a hitch.

The right of voting for representatives is the primary right by which all other rights are protected. To take away this right is to reduce a man to slavery” (Thomas Paine)

Republican Senator Chuck Hagel, neglected to tell the Senate ethics investigators about being a current stockholder and former head of a private voting machine company that tabulated the vote in Nebraska where he ran for office and won. This is what we are up against folks. Soon we will be answering to soulless and bloodless corporations who are out to steal our human rights.

Now corporations will be telling the citizens of California how they voted, and withhold the right to "look behind the curtain" at the corporate-owned software and computerized processes that tabulate their vote.

Mine to ten of the Chron's reporters:
Been a subscriber for over 30 years,seen Jerry Roberts and Carla Marinucci at their hatcheting best, recall the attacks on Sen. Cranston and Bill Honig, but I've never seen the Chronicle devote the ink, legs, and front page they have to this story. Far beyond seeking any entertainment or National Enquirer market; methinks something is really rotten at the Chronicle. The apparent beneficiary is Arnold (Carla's own true love). Arnold's probably still pissed about the voting machines, and, when he runs for reelection, having his own Secretary of State, a la Katherine Harris could sure help, but what's the connection to the Chronicle. Who did he haul around and give cigars? Was it Phil, aka Starstruck Phil? There's a really great story here somewhere.

Sigh. Some of us seem to see Democratic Party victories as a means to an end, and others seem to see the Democratic Party winning as a goal for its own sake and want to back every person with a D after his or her name without question. Don't waste your tears on Shelley, though he did some good; he's already resigned. Push for nonpartisan supervisors of elections everywhere, or prepare for campaigns with partisan Republican referees everywhere.

Kevin Shelley as Secretary of State was about as trustworthy as Michael Jackson as head of a kids summer camp.

Let the trials begin.