A week after Bush and the GOP stole the 2004 election with electronic computerized voting machine fraud, I posted the following letter to the Berkeley Daily Planet. I don't know how much has changed in the last two years; the GOP thugs are still in charge of "counting" the votes.
Cheers.
To the Editor
The exit polls that showed a sweeping Senator Kerry Democratic election victory on November 2nd were exactly right. The pre-election polls also show that Kerry was ahead in most of the so-called “battleground states.” Unfortunately, the 2004 Presidential election was stolen by Bush. How, you say? With the help of Diebold, ES&S, Sequoia and SAIC, four interlocked secretive right-wing electronic voting machine manufacturers. We have entrusted the most important election task, that of actually
counting and tabulating the vote totals to extremist organizations with secret proprietary vote-counting computer software with no auditable paper trail for hand recounts. How
very convenient, how very clean, how very slick and with all the evidence of election rigging is buried deep on their computer hard drives.
Senator John F. Kerry won a landslide Democratic victory in the November 2, 2004 Presidential election by between two million and five million votes. Kerry actually won the elections in Ohio, Florida and New Mexico. The pre-election public opinion polls pointed to a large and growing Kerry election day majority and the election day exit polls also indicated a Kerry victory. Unfortunately, theocratic extremely right-wing
computer election machine manufacturing corporations were in charge of "counting" the votes of millions and millions of Americans. Some how, a few million Kerry votes didn't get counted and a few million bogus Bush votes showed up in the
final election tallies and voile, a Bush "victory." This is the basis of Bush’s supposed “mandate.”
If you examine state-by-state comparisons of exit polling data with the corresponding election returns there is one striking anomaly. In the states that used paper ballots for voting, the election returns were almost exactly the same as the exit polling data, while in the states that used electronic computerized voting, the Bush votes were much much higher in the election returns as compared to the exit polling data. From this, we can easily conclude that the electronic voting election returns were rigged to massively increase the Bush “vote” by the right-wing Republican voting machine corporations.
Democracy in 21st century America has been kidnapped and destroyed by extreme right-wing control of the new secret computerized electronic vote counting systems. We are very foolish to say the least to trust right-wing corporations to honestly count out votes in the 21st century. Verifiable hand-counted paper ballots are the only way to restore
legitimate elections in America.
Just search the Internet for any terms such as "black box voting," "Max Cleland," "Diebold," "Sequoia," "ES&S," "Greg Palest," "election fraud" or "election theft" and you will find a wealth of information to help arm you in the coming fight to restore legitimate free elections and democracy in our country.
In 2002, the Republican Party staged their test run of controlling the new Diebold computerized paper-trail-free electronic voting systems that were installed in every precinct in the State of Georgia. It worked like a charm. Two popular Democratic incumbents, the Governor Roy Barnes and Senator Max Cleland, were both "defeated" by Republican challengers. The Democrats were both ahead by several points in both the pre-election voter opinion polls and in the election day exit polls, yet the Diebold voting machines declared the two Republican challengers as winners. The local media claimed to be "amazed" by this election "upset." They should have been horrified and outraged. These elections were stolen electronically. There was no paper trail, no recount was possible and for good measure, Diebold Corporation "accidentally erased" the disputed 2002 election returns data from their computer hard disk drives a few days after the election. How convenient, how clean, how slick and how crooked is Republican election theft in the 21st century.
The 2000 and 2004 Presidential elections were both stolen by Bush & Company. The 2008 and 2012 Presidential elections will suffer the same fate unless we institute a complete and total return to traditional, verifiable hand-counted paper
election ballots.
The local, county, state and federal elections officials across the country must prove to us that election results are counted openly, honestly and with auditable paper trails. We cannot be stuck with “trusting” secretive right-wing voting machine manufacturers with determining the results of elections.
The Republican Party will never lose another Presidential election as long as we allow their corporate buddies to "count" our votes in secret.
Yours truly,
James K. Sayre
I sure wish the pollsters would ask:
"what political Party do you think is responsible for the hacking of the machines and swapping the votes?"
Posted by Anjha at October 20, 2006 04:36 PMWhat exactly would be the rational basis for having any confidence in an election run completely electronically (where every "record" is digital) when the government isn't in charge (or even in possession of) the operating software for the machines?
If the accuracy of the results cannot be reviewed and confirmed by an objective magistrate, then the most basic requirement for due process is absent.
Under the Republican Culture of Corruption, even election machinery becomes a partisan issue.
Posted by euzoius at October 20, 2006 05:45 PMI think you may be misinterpreting the poll results? What's the party breakdown?
I think the Republicans are the ones primed to blame the election results on cheating after Nov. 7.
Why do I think this paranoia about "stolen elections" is simply a cover-your-a** move that the Democrats will not do as well in November as you Leftists hope they will.....
Posted by Bagley at October 20, 2006 06:47 PMWhen you've got people sending out threatening leaflets telling immigrants that they'll go to jail if they vote and Secretaries of State purging thousands of people from voter roles it isn't such a stretch to believe that those same people would tamper with voting machines.
What's more so many districts are overwhelmed with adopting the new machines that they have had to bring in whoever they can find to do tech work. A recipe for disaster for sure.
I still don't know what's the problem with good old paper ballots, other than not having election results ready for the talking heads 30 minutes after the polls close.
Posted by snark at October 20, 2006 06:54 PMWhy do I think this paranoia about "stolen elections" is simply a cover-your-a** move that the Democrats will not do as well in November as you Leftists hope they will.....
Uh, 'cause you're stoopid? Or just not very well-read? You choose.
Posted by iamcoyote at October 20, 2006 07:05 PM"Uh, 'cause you're stoopid? Or just not very well-read? You choose."
Neither.....by the way "stoopid" is spelled "stupid."
Posted by Bagley at October 20, 2006 07:09 PMhuh, ya shore got me, teabagger.
Geez, you're just too easy. Yawn.
Posted by iamcoyote at October 20, 2006 07:13 PMiamcoyote,
Awwww, it is not about you. I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings.
Ok, let us start again, shall we? This is a link to the official Democratic Party investigation into voter fraud in Ohio in the 2004 elections....
http://a9.g.akamai.net/7/9/8082/v001/www.democrats.org/pdfs/ohvrireport/section02.pdf
But I will save you the troube of reading it (it does have a number of multi-syllabic words which may cause you some difficulty). Here is the key passage:
"The statistical study of precinct-level data does not suggest the occurrence of widespread fraud that systematically misallocated votes from Kerry to Bush."
And another link, this time to the Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/22/AR2005062202273.html?referrer=emailarticle
Again, let me help you out...the key passage:
".... citing numerous problems that frustrated or disenfranchised voters while concluding there was no evidence of fraud in the outcome."
Is it all better now, iamcoyote? Ask your Mommy to wipe away the tears. She can kiss the boo-boo and it will be all better!
Posted by Bagley at October 20, 2006 07:23 PMSo it seems some people are in favor of people with a legitimate right to vote being disenfranchised. Why would that be.
Why would anyone not be bothered that people who have a legal right to vote and want to vote were denied the opportunity to vote. Be it through incompetence on the part of the state elections board or through an act of malice?
Posted by snark at October 20, 2006 07:37 PMHow easy would it be to hack an electronic voting machine (aka: Diebold machine?) If you know how to write computer programs, and lots of folks do these days, it could take all of....hm...about ten seconds
Thanks to Princeton University Professor Ed Felton for letting us know just how easy it is. And thanks Fox News for not dismissing the story like some trolls wish you had done.
Posted by ann at October 20, 2006 07:41 PM"Why would anyone not be bothered that people who have a legal right to vote and want to vote were denied the opportunity to vote. Be it through incompetence on the part of the state elections board or through an act of malice?"
If someone has a legal right to vote, then they should vote and the vote should be counted, but to ascribe malice to (simple) incompetence -- as Democrats are wont to do -- is intellectually dishonest.
Posted by Bagley at October 20, 2006 07:42 PMHello ann,
Want to dance? I will ask the bandmaster to play the tune v...e...r...y...s...l...o...w...l...y so you can keep up.
Regards,
Bagley
Posted by Bagley at October 20, 2006 07:44 PMBagley, If I recall from our coversation from the other night, your sitting this election out.
Monday morning quarterbacking, I guess!
".... citing numerous problems that frustrated or disenfranchised voters while concluding there was no evidence of fraud in the outcome."
But you cited this passage as an indication that concerns about the accuracy of the vote in Ohio were misplaced. If voters were disenfranchised that's a problem. No? Make up yor mind.
Posted by snark at October 20, 2006 07:51 PMIs there a fly in here? What's that buzzing sound?
Posted by ann at October 20, 2006 07:54 PM"But you cited this passage as an indication that concerns about the accuracy of the vote in Ohio were misplaced. If voters were disenfranchised that's a problem. No? Make up yor mind."
Snark, I was hoping for someone to point this out: do you know that John Kerry (who served in Viet Nam, by the way) won PA by less than he lost OH? Why the concern for fraud in OH and no concern for fraud in PA....a state which can school the rest of the nation on fraud practices.
"Bagley, If I recall from our coversation from the other night, your sitting this election out.
Monday morning quarterbacking, I guess!"
Actually, 7o'6, (as I explained in a previous post) the requirements for absentee ballots in PA -- my home state -- are quite onerous: I was / am to late to vote by absentee ballot and I am "on the road" for an extended period of time.
Posted by Bagley at October 20, 2006 07:56 PM"...What's that buzzing sound?"
Tinnitus?
Posted by Bagley at October 20, 2006 07:58 PMSnark, I was hoping for someone to point this out: do you know that John Kerry (who served in Viet Nam, by the way)
Must you always present yourself like an ass?
won PA by less than he lost OH? Why the concern for fraud in OH and no concern for fraud in PA....a state which can school the rest of the nation on fraud practices.
If there is evidence of fraud in PA I'd be glad to have it aired.
I'd still like someone to explain why it's such a problem to have a digital voting machine spit out a paper record for each vote when every ATM in the country can do it for every bankng transaction. And I like a reason, other than saving the tress, that anyone would object to such a record.
Personally I think there should be a national board of elections, common standardized election requirements and monitoring of elections. Including random auditing of results. I think there should be a paper record of every vote cast. There should be federal financing of electronic voter roles.
And I think there should be public financing of all federal elections.
Posted by snark at October 20, 2006 08:21 PM"If there is evidence of fraud in PA I'd be glad to have it aired."
Try this....
http://www.ac4vr.com/reports/072005/pennsylvania.html
Air away!
Posted by Bagley at October 20, 2006 08:24 PMOT
TIKI AL, my memory is obviously short. Now I remember. Hopefully I will beable to repeat the scenario in the near future and for the same reason. The impeachment of GWB.
Posted by Judith at October 20, 2006 08:26 PMI've noted before here that accurate voter roles are a problem. My mother tells me every year that my name is still listed in the district that I grew up in even though I have not voted there in over a decade.
That being said, evidence of inflated voter roles or ficticious voters does not equal evidence that fraudulant votes are being cast. Has anyone identified evidence that hundreds or thousands of people are going to different polling stations and casting numerous votes?
I've also said previously that I have no problem with requiring a state issued photo ID in order to vote. As long as the state, or the federal government, foots the bill and the responsibility for making sure that every elligable voter who wants one has easy access to one.
I have no interest in anyone committing vote fraud Bagley. Regardless of who they're gonna vote for.
Posted by snark at October 20, 2006 08:37 PMGosh, it is late and I have an early day tomorrow.
A couple of thoughts.....
I do believe that the Democrats will take the majority in the House this election cycle. My curiosity [is]: how long will it take Speaker (wanna-be) Pelosi to figure out that the Democrats cannot govern from the lunatic Left -- as demonstrated by many posters here at TLC -- and continue to be a viable political party?
My best guess...100 hours.
However, the political fallout from that 100 hours will resonate through the Democratic party into the year 2008: you folks are stuck with Hillary. She may not be your candidate in 2008, but she will poison the atmosphere to such an extent that any hopes you may have of a Democrat in the W.H. through 2016 is a pipe dream.
The WOT will continue in fits and starts until the Western World wakes up to the fact that Islam is at War with the West. The results, pity the members the Muslim faith, are predictable; and, as go the members of the "religion of peace," (and time passes), so go the propects of the Democratic party in its present incarnation: as I have posted before, JKF and Harry Truman would not be welcome in today's Democratic party. Shame on you.
Thanks for the bandwidth, Steve.
Posted by Bagley at October 20, 2006 08:38 PMI guess that's Bagleys' version of 'cut and run'?
Posted by snark at October 20, 2006 08:41 PMO/T
Have I said how much I loathe Hillary Clinton?
Queen Hill appeared tonight for a debate at U of R and reiterated her support for keeping U.S. troops in Iraq.
Said Hill, "A timetable sends a wrong message to the insurgents."
Fuck you, Hillary. Fuck you.
Posted by Christopher at October 20, 2006 08:42 PMJames K. Sayre, what an excellent letter to the Editor. With your permission, everyone of us should edit your letter as we see fit, and send it to every newspaper, politician, news network, etc.
Saying that election fraud is somewhat likely to happen this November is like saying that the sun is somewhat likely to rise tomorrow morning. The Republicans can't stand the thought of an honest election.
Posted by jwrjr at October 20, 2006 08:46 PMWhat to know how to make Baggy's head explode?
CLINTON/CLINTON TICKET?
Could Former President Bill Clinton serve as Hillary's vice president? Some experts say "yes".
http://www.americasdemocrats.org/key_issues.cfm
Posted by Judith at October 20, 2006 09:02 PMBush I
Clinton I
Bush II
Clinton II
Is this the freekin' Roman empire pretending to be a republic.
Please, no more Clinton's and double please no more Bushes.
Posted by herbal tee at October 20, 2006 09:09 PMWell, the Republicans may be too busy defending themselves to steal the election. Another blow to the GOP. Whata bet whether or not it is a Republican? Or maybe it's Rove's October Surprise.
ANOTHER CONGRESSMAN INVOLVED WITH PAGE…
http://mywebtimes.com/ottnews/archives/ottawa/display.php?id=277316
Posted by Judith at October 20, 2006 09:23 PMThis election is heading toward chaos like a runaway freight train and virtually every "mistake" or "unusual event" will favor the Republicans as they always do. Hopefully, there will be teams of lawyers and observers who will at least document the "election" for history.
Assimilated Press
Read North Korean Dictator Praises Diebold
if the republicans keep the house and senate it will be because of fraud and deceit..it is the way that they do business and it is the only way they can govern..lieing...it is who they are..they are now in the position of having told so many lies they don't even know what the truth is anymore..it is the same with the trolls who slither in here..in the face of reality (iraq) no matter what the facts are..no matter what world opinion is..they will stick by that empty suit fraud who stole our democracy for oilmen..if you are a supporter of this administration in the face of the obvious truth of what they've done..there is something very wrong with you..in life you have to admit mistakes or you are doomed to misery..may god have mercy on your souls..cause i wouldn't
Posted by dennis at October 21, 2006 03:48 AMFWIW, I happen to watch Lou Dobbs last nite and there was a segment about the late hiring by many states of tech support people for election day. ( they were recruiting on internet job sites and at college campuses). The whole tone of it was a rather incredulous our democracy at risk tone to it. I really got the impression that Lou et al were already highly suspicious and skeptical about electronic election results. They were already on board and disgustedly thinking that this will be an issue this election.
Posted by emal at October 21, 2006 05:49 AMThis would be a hoot. Reps lose and claim vote fraud by Diebold.
Posted by Alex at October 21, 2006 06:01 AMOT/ (sorry, there's not a recent open thread to post this in)...but just read this brilliant editorial. It's about what Junior's Preznitdential Library will look like.
Posted by emal at October 21, 2006 06:32 AMHey, it could happen.
19 Year Old Diebold Technician Wins U.S. Presidency
Posted by Alex at October 21, 2006 06:38 AMEmal, I understand the the Library will hold just one book, "My Pet Goat."
Posted by Judith at October 21, 2006 07:23 AM...widespread fraud that systematically misallocated votes from Kerry to Bush."
In Ohio 357,000 Democratic votes were prevented from being cast. No misallocation. They just couldn't vote.
It's a big article, and not reflective of your new reality; so you would have to think as you read it. Maybe it's better if you just leave it alone. Your past record with rational cognition has been, shall we say, stunningly absent. And your thoughts always include sedition and aspects of traitorous activities against the United States. Also, this guy has never groped a Page, although he did have a problem with alcohol. So you probably can't trust a thing he says.
Argyle
Posted by phidipides at October 21, 2006 07:27 AMDamn Bagley, your as big a liar as the rest of the crew in your party!! I went back and picked up the discussion we had! I will highlight the part that you left out of last nights post!!
--------------
"I ask you this, what party will you vote for this year? Tell me or go away, no more of your nonsense!"
I am sitting this one out. I am on the road for the next few months and it is to late for me to have my absentee ballot registration accepted by the Democrat-controlled district where I live...too bad about that one.
And as to [I should] "go away." Well, why?
Seven of Six, are you the best that TLC can offer up on a Saturday evening?
Posted by Bagley at October 14, 2006 06:49 PM
------------
BTW, you answered my question so you didn't have to go away, pissant!
I am disturbed by all this name calling and finger pointing. This is exactly what is wrong with the public discourse in this country right now. The debate is centered on what the other side is doing wrong- not on presenting convincing arguments that your side has the best solutions and ideas. The Right AND Left need to stop with the playground insults and bring the debate back to a civilized discussion, or we will never find any common ground and get anything real or helpful accomplished.
Posted by jessie at October 21, 2006 09:39 AMJessie, Don't you think you need to discuss this with Rove's Republi-cons?
Frankly I'm tired of talk, they don't listen, never have! Their arrogance knows no bounds!
BTW, LEFT is RIGHT, currently!!
Why are there so many people who think that it's somehow improper or "negative" to point out the failures of an incumbent, or his past votes, or the past actions of the majority party? Why are only YOUR future plans the relevant issue?
If your opponent has shown disastrous judgment, or advocates disastrous policies, shouldn't you be able to point that out?
Interesting how no one seems to mind or object when Republicans literally do nothing but run ads about their opponents. Since relentless negative campaigning is a modern Republican specialty, I think those unhappy with it first need to bring their complaints to the authoritarian rightists---we're always easier to get on board than they are.
And the main reason nothing positive gets accomplished in DC is because the Right is in control of the government and their policies can only result in failure, disaster and a withering of the common good. Things are a disaster right now because Republicans are running the show---not because there is name-calling, yelling and screaming involved.
And things won't get better if we all return to "civility" and Republicans continue to run the show. If they aren't swept from power in two weeks, that's the end of our democracy, period.
Posted by euzoius at October 21, 2006 11:57 AMJessie, tell it to George and Rove.
Posted by Judith at October 21, 2006 12:14 PMThe Right AND Left need to stop with the playground insults and bring the debate back to a civilized discussion, or we will never find any common ground and get anything real or helpful accomplished. - Jessie
Go fuck yourself.
Posted by Christopher at October 21, 2006 01:06 PMSome fairly disturbing sentiment being expressed here lately.
And the Democrats haven't won a God damn thing yet.
Really depressing.
Posted by snark at October 21, 2006 03:41 PMNever did I say or mean that the Republicans aren't responsible and to blame for the absolute travesty and disgrace of the last 6 years. Just that telling someone to go f*@# themselves and insulting them hardly convinces anyone of your point of view- it just makes them angry. You guys aren't 8 years old- just because you're pissed off about the state of this country- as you have every right to be- doesn't mean you have to stoop to their level. Act like adults!
Posted by Jessie at October 21, 2006 06:40 PMDamn Jessie, are you like the moderating mother or a Libra?
We have strong viewpoints and opinions here! No one is immune! Sometimes being uncivil is the consequence for visiting TLC!
Some like to play devil's advocate, some cannot stand for more death of innocents and some will not tolerate the repukes shitting on the Constitution anymore!
Oops, I called republic-cons, repukes, and I said shitting! Is that allowed?
Now how about you preaching to others about cussing?
I've been here long enough to know when to use fuck off in a sentence or not!
BTW, I'll act anyway I damn well please...at least until Steve tells me otherwise!
A great demonstration in how to win friends and influence people.
Posted by snark at October 22, 2006 05:52 AMJessie, I'm curious. You posted at 9:39 complaining of too much "name calling" and "finger pointing".
Up till that point in the thread, there was an (extremely mild) exchange with one of our Rightists Regulars, bagley, which I'm confident he himself would have viewed as completely innocuous (indeed, he started the condescension and "name calling" as far as I can see).
So could you please identify those offending posts which prompted your concern at 9:39? Thank you ever so much.
Posted by euzoius at October 22, 2006 07:39 AM