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Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Richard King Rebuts Dark Side Voter Integrity Hack Mike Shamos

Mike Shamos, who Kathy Dopp has argued represents the dark side of the voter integrity debate--according to her Mike's okay with the machines returning wrong unverifiable results--wrote a letter to the Post Gazette. This letter was in response to a pretty good editorial in favor of the suit filed by election activists--still not sure if I'm a named plaintiff but that's okay--against the machines that Democrats seem determined to put in place despite the elections of 2000 and 2004. Richard King, a prominent voting rights advocate, wrote a response to Shamos which I'm printing in its entirety. I don't know if it will appear in the Post Gazette.

Dear Editors of the Post Gazette

In the 1970s Nestle sold baby formula to impoverished breastfeeding mothers. The mothers were persuaded that being "modern" was best for their babies who, in epidemic proportions starved to death... all for the sake of "being modern", profit, and its victory over common sense. In your editorial "Trust, but Verify" you imply that the "potential of the computer age" would be lost if we used, as most of our country does use, optical scan voting, which is also by the way, a computer system.

Precinct based optical scan systems are advocated by the top computer security experts in the country for good reasons: Paper ballots are observable permanent records for voters and officials. They are by far easier to secure than software and vapor ballots. They are also the most cost effective. In contrast, its impossible to 100% guarantee that software is free of malicious code.

Security is a process, not a product. Software security requires on going vigilance. Our county officials apparently have learned software security from the vendors who designed security holes into their systems and whose work Dr. Avi Ruben says would have flunked out of his undergraduate computer security class at Johns Hopkins. Last week we heard from Allegheny County officials that a voting software audit means asking the software what version it is. Thats like asking a stranger if you can trust him with everyone's retirement account... at a distance, anonymously, and with no hope of ever knowing if the money was stolen or not.

Way to go Dan Onorato! You've avoided recounts and audits, permanently. Voters never see a permanent record of their vote! In an historical context steeped in election fraud, you've spun the purchase of our county's unsecurable elections as a victory... and you can be confident in your victory as the PG has yet to do any feature article on the security problems of eVoting... because doing that could damage voter confidence in the integrity of our elections.

I recall Nestle only changed their marketing of formula to African mothers when the publicity became a problem too... about decade later.

Sincerely,

Richard King, Ph.D.

PA-VerifiedVoting. org<>

We've Seen This Show Before: Mexico Does Florida 2000 and Ohio 2004

Speaking of ruthless ruling class pricks who beat up journalists and steal elections, looks like Mexico's Supreme Court has decided everything was fair in that election. You could have a recount but that would be, what, fair? You wouldn't want that now would you? The opposition promises a nonviolent resistance but the Hearst-like ruling Mexican elites won't allow that. They'll have to fight for democracy. I wish them well. Best story on the issue. Looks like the civil war will have two fronts....

On Deadwood: Hearst is the face of Modern Capitalism in the US, Mexico and Beyond

Hearst: The Face of Modern Capitalism, here in the United States, Mexico and beyond...

I was going to write a long thoughtful piece about Deadwood, but Booman beat me to it. I hear its not being renewed which is insane. Perhaps the powers that be didn't like Hearst as a Metaphor for Capitalism. Looks about right to me. If they had another year, then I was going to lobby for a Kung Fu episode starring David Carradine. He can still play the role. They could bring back the old music. Would have been cool. I might note that voting for Bob Casey Jr. is not unlike slitting the throat of a young girl. Just awful. I mean, I guess its for the greater good...

One of the Best Political Ads ever.

One of the best political ads ever. The DNC should use it nationally. Its catchy, stylish retro single and I give it a 10.


Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Apparently, Mona Lisa, Robert Redford and Mickey Mouse are registered Democratic Party Voters...

Apparently, Mona Lisa, Robert Redford and Mickey Mouse are registered Democratic Party Voters...

The Green Party is right about this. I got this through the Internet emails. I have omitted the party's author. By the way, for the 1000th time, had the DNC not given me a pro war, anti choice Leiberman-like Christian Zionist Pro Israel at any price guy like Bob Casey to vote for it wouldn't matter what the Green Party does or did....Bonus: Kos hates the lazy ass wait until Labor Day campaign of Bob Casey. Priceless. Of course, you could have decided to work on behalf of Underdog Chuck Pennacchio but noooooooo...

The leadership of the Democratic party has been attacking the Green Party and Carl Romanelli in particular over the last several weeks. First they attack Carl Romanelli for taking donations from Santorum supporters and imply collusion between the Green Party and the Republican Party. Granted, the republicans cynically donated to someone who does not share their views in an attempt to cut Bob Casey's lead. Do the Democrats require a loyalty oath before taking donations? If there is any collusion, it is between the two major parties who redistrict and concede not only races but entire states to each other denying the voters of a real choice.

In addition, T. J. Rooney and the Democratic leadership claim 69,000 of the 99,000 signatures the Green Party submitted to the Bureau of Commissions, Elections and Legislation were fraudulent and included the names Mona Lisa, Robert Redford and Mickey Mouse among others. The defense of the signatures is now taking place in Harrisburg and as it turns out, Mona Lisa, Robert Redford and Michael "Mickey" Mouse are all registered voters in the state of Pennsylvania. T. J. Rooney should have done some research before making such slanderous claims.

Shame on the leaders of the Democratic party! We all know the Democrats take money from some of the same people who donate to the Republicans. How dare they criticize the Green Party for taking some of this money in an attempt comply with the unfair ballot access laws that the Democrats and the Republicans created. The Green Party needed 67,700 signatures of registered voters to get their statewide candidates on the ballot while the Democrats and the Republicans needed only 2,000. Even this is now in contention since the 2005 Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice retention votes were a statewide election. Based on the 2005 statewide results, the Green Party would only need 16,000 signatures.

Green Party volunteers worked for months towards the staggering goal of 67,700 signatures. When it appeared the goal was unattainable, Carl Romanelli decided to solicit donations to pay petitioners. This effort provided the stimulus to reach and exceed the signature goal. How dare the Democratic leadership belittle the work of these individuals by calling their efforts fraudulent.

The Green volunteers who worked on the signatures prior to submitting them to the state worked 44 hours without sleep weeding out obviously bad petitions and making sure everything was in order. I am sure the democrats and republicans can collect 2000 signatures without losing any sleep or breaking a sweat.

The Green Party has nothing to be ashamed of. It achieved a goal no one thought was possible. It played by the rules that the two parties made. Now the leaders of the Democratic party are crying foul. The Democratic leadership said that the Green Party does not belong on the ballot. How dare they! Tens of thousands of registered voters in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania say that the Green Party does belong on the ballot.

As far as money goes, this is a prime example of the need to remove money from politics. Carl Romanelli took money to get on the ballot and get his anti-war, clean energy, single payer health care message out. The Democrats and Republicans take it to fund their campaigns and influence their votes.

If nothing else, this whole episode is a prime example of the need for fair, verifiable and publicly financed elections.

Complete lyrics to Weird Al's "Don't Download This Song".

Complete lyrics to Weird Al's "Don't Download This Song". You can download that song here.

Once in awhile, maybe you will feel the urge
To break international copyright laws
By downloading MP3s from file-sharing sites
Like Morpheus or Grockster or Limewire or Kazaa

But deep in your heart, you know the guilt would drive you mad
And the shame would leave a permanent scar
'Cause you start out stealin' songs, then you're robbin' liquor stores
And sellin' crack and running over schoolkids with your car

So don't download this song
The record store's where you belong
Go and buy the CD like you know that you should
Oh, don't download this song

Oh, you don't want to mess with the RI-double-A
They'll sue you if you burn that CD-R
It doesn't matter if you're a grandma or a seven-year-old girl
They'll treat you like the evil hard-bitten criminal scum you are

So, don't download this song
Don't go pirating music all day long
Go and buy the CD like you know that you should
Oh, don't download this song

Don't take away money from artists just like me
How else can I afford another solid-gold Humvee?
And diamond-studded swimming pools? These things don't grow on trees
So all I ask is everybody please

Don't download this song (don't do it, oh no)
Even Lars Ulrich knows it's wrong (you can just ask him)
Go and buy the CD like you know that you should (you really should)
Oh, don't download this song

Don't download this song (other people should do it for you)
Might wind up in jail like Tommy Chong (remember Tommy)
Go and buy the CD (right now) like you know you should (go out and buy it)
Oh, don't download this song

Don't download this song (na, na, na, na, na, na, oh)
Or you'll burn in hell before too long (and you deserve it)
Go and buy the CD (just buy it) like you know that you should (you cheap bastard)
Oh, don't download this song

Sunday, August 20, 2006

Review of "The Pact" That BET wouldn't Run

“The Pact” offers an intriguing premise: three African
American men, raised in tough New Jersey
neighborhoods, agree to support each other in their
quests to become doctors. Right off the bat, it’s not
quite successful as nonfiction suspense because we
know that Sampson Davis and Rameck Hunt become doctors
and George Jenkins fulfills his lifelong ambition to
become a dentist.

Now, suspense squandered, try to imagine what that
book would be about. I promise you that “The Pact” is
exactly, down to the drug-addicted parents, gang
problems and varied police harassments, what you might
imagine it to be. Usually, I don’t find that to be a
mark of excellence in books that I read. Yet I say to
each his own. There’s no absolute good or bad per se,
but what you like and dislike. That’s my theory
anyway. Say, for example, that you are genuinely moved
by ABC Afterschool specials, then perhaps you will
like this book. Say, for instance, that you are driven
to tears by an effectively written Hallmark card, then
perhaps you will like this book. Say, to beat this
point into the ground, that you don’t get the jokes in
George Wolfe’s play “The Colored Museum”, then maybe
you will appreciate the merits of this book. It’s all
relative.

Don’t get me wrong. It’s not necessarily a bad book.
It’s competently written and I admire the black men
who are portrayed in it. I also think that this book,
along with another book that I reviewed called “The
Miner’s Canary”, strongly suggests that black kids
should use group study methods. I also enjoyed the
celebrity stunt casting as well, one of the few
surprises that the book actually offered up. You get
cameos from Dr. Juwanza Kunjufu, poet Amira Baraka,
singer Faith Evans and there’s even a spotting of the
late Biggie Smalls—who, shockingly enough, turns out
to be a guy who can polish off a lot of fried chicken
in record time.

I suppose I just have overall Big Picture problems
with this book. For example,
It would not be unlike a dramatic tale of how black
men rose up in the South African police force during
the apartheid era. I might find their tenacity
admirable but I would find the book remarkably empty
without a prescription as to how to end apartheid.
Likewise, when I read “The Pact”, I can’t help but
notice that there’s a health care crisis within the
United States, driven not only by ruthless and greedy
HMOs, but the artificial shortage of doctors (and
probably nurses) mandated by the doctor’s union, the
American Medical Association. And while these black
doctors have made a commitment to give back to the
community—and this is honorable—the black community in
total might be better served by a single payer system
of health care and less wealthy doctors. In other
words, “The Pact” treats some symptoms, but offers no
cure for the various diseases of: under funded
inner-city schools, prohibitively expensive college
educations, the national turn away from affirmative
action, and a technology gap between rich and poor
that will only grow. And frankly, I don’t see how
“group study” or even the laudatory success of these
three guys changes these disturbing macro trends one
bit.

So, to sum up, I recommend this for struggling black
students and people who really really like Tales of
Inspiration and expressive Hallmark cards. For
everybody else I would recommend the classic
“Autobiography of Malcolm X”, Richard Wright’s “Black
Boy” and even Nathan McCall’s “Makes Me Wanna Holler”
before you wade into “The Pact”.

Sunday, August 06, 2006

George Duke and Gabrielle Anders

Greg Palast at the Harlem Book Fair



You know, I can't get prominent black bloggers like Oliver Willis and Steve Gilliard to take the vote theft issue seriously. (I can't even get Steve to glance at the websites.) Thank Gawd there are smart people running the Harlem Book Fair, which had a whole panel on voter integrity issues and featured Greg Palast and Steve Freeman (high level stat guy with a new book out that Steve will be ignoring.) Check out the lineup here. Greg Palast totally rocked. Above, he bitch slaps Black Republican apologist John McWhorter. I think his line is: "Martin Luther King didn't reward the lynchers!" He even makes an argument about how black organizations need to pressure Dems to count the vote. (I still think Greens are the way to go. That puts pressure on the Dems and we don't have to join the Confederacy Party.) Greg Palast: More of a legitimate black nationalist than Oliver Willis or Steve Gilliard. Shameful really.


Below, he outlines the case for how the vote theft works and how the GOP is doing it again.




Friday, August 04, 2006

Dancing on the Moon by Stereolab

Ironman by Stereolab

June 20 Posts

June 20

Quick round the Internets:

Complete list of Proud to have been banned from Daily Kos gifs. In retrospect: I probably was eligible for seven of them...

Bradblog talks about town meetings to get a recount in the Bilbray/Busby race.
Might be voting machine shenanigans and/or tomfoolery here in Pittsburgh. From 2 Political Junkies.

And Kennedy hints at legal action. I hope it will be in time for the 2008 elections. Please pick your judges carefully.
Palast on how the GOP has stolen millions of black votes. Short version: There should be rioting in the streets. I mean, if you're going to riot then this is a good reason to do so. If the GOP hadn't illegally stolen and suppressed the black vote in 2000 and 2004 then the Republicans probably would not be in power. This is what they call an "Act of War". Of course, there isn't an independent black press to report on this issue. They're all owned or run by the GOP. (I know Scaife has his claws in the Courier, just don't know how much. Not that he needed too many claws with pro life, pro clinic bombing editor Rod Doss at the helm.) And our friends in the corporate press, which won't touch the very minor "your elections have been hacked" story won't put it out there. Don't hold your breath for the corporate media to do its job. Even my fave PG columnist Gnarls Barkley hasn't written anything about it.
Beautiful fractal vid done by an amateur. (The Joy of the Internets.) Features great acidy jazzie Boards of Canada tune Crossposted at Cyborg Democracy. I believe that this is the music of the Future.

Your Sunday Atheism Service. Part Two of Richard Dawkins' "Root of All Evil". Apparently, religion is a malicious virus that some people don't outgrow, thereby short circuiting their capacity to think rationally. I did not know that.

June 18

That's a picture of my late father (John Shropshire) that I drew on a computer a long time ago. I miss him. Could use his wisdom right about now. I have always believed that you can solve problems nonviolently. But if the vote is compromised, and I think that it clearly is (note for clueless dems who don't know this yet: people who have legitimately won the vote welcome recounts. It just reaffirms their victory. Judge for yourself what the Republican response has been and act accordingly.) you've lost 99 percent of what you can do nonviolently. More stuff about Pop: he was a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War, was a pro football prospect, and had great taste in books. I stole lots of books from him: all of his Frantz Fanon and the speeches of Malcolm X. He was a cool guy. Miss him.

"Thumb" by Dinosaur Jr. I really like the unison flute/guitar playing.

Meanwhile, While Atrios Catblogs...

June 17

Meanwhile, while Atrios catblogs....

Mark Crispin Miller: Why are the Democrats Ignoring the Stolen Election Story? He also debunks any strategery involved in not telling voters. I can understand Republicans stealing my vote. They're fuckin' evil. I will never understand why my party of the last 25 years won't fight for me or my vote. Here's Mark:

SOME DARE CALL IT TREASON

So much for the democratic spirit of the Democratic Party, which, in burying the most important civic issue of our time, has been just as complicit as the GOP, although they cloud the issue far less rudely. Take "Democracy at Risk," the DNC report on the election in Ohio, which came out in the summer of 2005. The document appears to be a very damning study of Republican malfeasance in Ohio. It offers many harrowing statistics, and some strong firsthand accounts, of Democratic disenfranchisement throughout the state -- only to deny that fraud had anything to do with it. The problem, rather, was "incompetence," which was somehow epidemic in Ohio on Election Day, and which, stranger still, invariably helped Bush/Cheney and hurt Kerry/Edwards. The report is not exactly readable, with long abstruse equations covering page after page -- a haze of math that does not quite conceal the bald self-contradictions that distort the document like heavy cracks across a windshield. For instance, the report confirms, in various ways, that there were far too few machines only in Democratic precincts, while the number of machines in GOP strongholds was more than adequate. Then, out of nowhere, toward the end, we're told that members of both parties were affected equally by the statewide shortage of machines, so that the glitch did not, of course, affect the outcome of the race.

The whole report is twisted thus, the authors tortuously bending over backward to assure us that DeLay et al. were right: "No voter disenfranchisement occurred in this election of 2004." If we look deeper into the report (and also read the pertinent expos�s by Bob Fitrakis and Harvey Wasserman at freepress.org), we find that it is less an earnest study of the fraud committed in Ohio than a political statement, meant primarily to distance the committee, and the party, from John Conyers and those other Democrats who had been so tactless as to harp on the abundant evidence of systematic fraud by the Republicans. This fact is highly relevant to Manjoo's attack on Robert Kennedy, as Manjoo's case is heavily dependent on the DNC report. Manjoo invokes it several times, accusing Kennedy of quoting only certain parts of it and pointedly ignoring all those later parts that clear the GOP of fraud. Your reporter calls this a "deliberate omission of key bits of data." And yet that charge is groundless, as the DNC report is only partly accurate, and Kennedy, quite rightly, quoted only its sound figures and ignored its weird exculpatory spin.

The DNC report is typical of that cowed, calculating party, whose managers consistently deny the evidence of fraud, even though the consequence is their assured political castration. Why exactly would they take that suicidal course? The reasons generally given for their silence on the subject are preposterous on their face. Kerry won't discuss the issue frankly on the record, we've been told, because he's worried that the media will smack him for it. ("They're saying that, if I don't concede, they'll call us sore losers!" he reportedly said to a stunned John Edwards just before he called it quits the morning after.) That may be what Kerry, among others, actually believes, but it's absurd, as no amount of public scorn, however withering, could ever be as frightening to a democratic politician as the twilight of democracy itself.

We also hear that Democrats have been reluctant to speak out about election fraud because they fear that doing so might cut down voter turnout on Election Day. By such logic, we should henceforth utter not a peep about election fraud, so that the Democratic turnout will break records. Then, when the Republicans win yet again, because they've rigged the system, how will all those Democratic voters feel? Maybe those who haven't killed themselves, or fled the country, will recover just enough to vote again. Would it then be prudent for the Democrats to talk about election fraud? Or would it still seem sensible to keep the subject under wraps?

The argument is idiotic, yet the people who have seriously made it -- Bernie Sanders, Markos Moulitsas, Hillary Clinton's and Chuck Schumer's people, among others -- are extremely bright. The argument, as foolish as it is, does not bespeak a low I.Q., but, I would suggest, a subtler kind of incapacity: a refusal and/or inability to face a deeply terrifying truth. The Democrats refuse to talk about election fraud because they cannot, will not, wrap their minds around the implications of what happened in 2004, and what is happening right now, and what will keep on happening until we, as a people, face the issue. In short, whatever clever-sounding rationales they may invoke (no doubt in all sincerity), the Democrats won't talk about election fraud because they're in denial, which is itself based on a lethal combination of inertia, self-interest and, above all -- or below all -- fear.

NO CONFIDENCE ON CUNNINGHAM RACE!

Breakin' news! Here first! (Really. No one covers the unimportant trivial story of how the last two national elections were hacked. Silly blogger. Tricks are for kids.)

That's just brilliant. I'm thinking about making t-shirts. Something along the lines of "NO CONFIDENCE in election results for 2000, 2004 and elections to be named later." I suppose if you were a member of an opposition party you would use this to undermine the president with every speech and utterance, unless you're the Washington Generals political party of course..

I've signed the petition. Have you?

One House rep states she believes the election was stolen:

From Mark Crispin Miller's News from the Underground:

Courageous Schakowsky (D-IL): WAS 2004 ELECTION STOLEN? "ONLY ANSWER YES"

Congresswoman 'Apologizes' for Not Taking Allegations of Stolen 2004 Election Seriously! Was it Stolen? 'Only Answer is Yes,' says Schakowsky who Claims DCCC to Announce Steps Soon to Avoid 'Repeat Performance'

From the Congresswoman:

For us, it (winning 2006 elections) must all be about execution.

First, we must not allow the Republicans to steal the election-again.


I apologize for not taking seriously enough the allegations that the 2004 election was stolen. After reading Bobby Kennedy's article in Rolling Stone, "Was the 2004 Election Stolen?", I am convinced that the only answer is yes. He documents how 357,000 Ohio voters, the vast majority Democrats, "were prevented from casting ballots or did not have their votes countedÃ… more than enough to shift the results." Watch for the DCCC to take some very public steps in the near future to ward off a repeat performance. In the meantime, there needs to be a citizens' effort starting now to assess the machines, the ballots, the registration process within each and every election jurisdiction in each and every swing district and state, in the case of Senate races. Where the situation looks perilous, go to the media, raise a stink, demand changes. This is a great project for the many of you who have been diligently working to guarantee fair and accurate elections.

Visit BradBlog for more breaking news.

June 14th Posts

June 15

From Doc Menlo:

This is a response to assertions made by the Christian Right that America is a Christian Nation and if you aren't Christian then you're not welcome here. They are openly trying to steal this country and force their fiction based religion on Realists who believe that reality is what's really real.

Our response - screw you!

We realists are not going to let it happen. We aren't going to let you destroy civilization just to feed your religious fantasies. Our response is - Choose Reality. We're fed up and we're pissed off. We are not going to put up with it any more. When you cross the line from the benignly misguided to threatening then it's time to bite back. We've had enough and we aren't going to take it any more.

We're going to talk about what's real, what's really real. The kind of reality that stands up to doubt and scrutiny. The kind of reality that relies on evidence, is supported by logic and reason, and stands up to scientific principles. We're talking about the kind of reality that doesn't go away when you stop believing in it. Choose Reality is a statement that we believe in what is real and that we are ready to talk about anything in the context of it's reality. It is a statement that we refuse to live the lie. We do not accept a life of fantasy.

We challenge faith based religions on the basis of what is real. We stand for reality. Where do you stand on reality?

Choose Reality is a direct challenge to faith based religions who are making false claims about reality. Religions that are trying to redefine science and move education and civilization back into the Dark Ages. We challenge the unquestionable claims that one is supposed to believe on blind faith. We challenge you to prove your position and we are ready to prove ours. We believe in accountability and if you think your deity exists and that you have found the true religion then trot it out here because if you are right, we'll all join you.

June 11 Posts

June 11

Modest Sunday Night Around the Internets

I'm going to join FON. It might be the only way to create universal broadband. Wasn't surprised by the negative house vote (fully in the grasp of the Dark Side) although there is hope. Actually, the only hope is for Google and Microsoft and Ebay, hopefully not together because that would create another kind of duopoly, to create their own national broadband network. Let's hope Sergey gets angry. You wouldn't like Sergey when he's angry...probably because the Software Kings are really really talented. Google would clean the telcos clock and create much better television while they're at it. (Of course, in working democracies, governments like Japan and France and S. Korea can simply look out for the public good and the telcos would have to put their rapacious greed on hold...wish we had that here.)
The Make Blog is very cool. I've put it right beside Boing Boing because it fits.
Bow before the might, power and truthiness of Captain Copyright! (an industry shill who apparently raids Swedish servers and litigates against grandmothers and 12 year olds) Cory Doctorow has already linked to mashups and satires here.
Brazilian gangs take on the police. Can reach out beyond the cell. Have mixed feelings about this. If its clear that you're being groomed for prison or exclusion, why care about the "law"?
The Seduction of Joe Tynan Daily Kos. Or: Booman wonders why Kos is cozying up to DLCer Warner. Probably because that's where the money is at.


Posts From June 9th (Archive) or Liger Attacks!

June 9

Tom Moody: You must face this woman from Japan and her weird, escher-like horny art in the Octagon. Only one may leave.

Friday Massive Liger Blogging: I have sent my mutant 10 foot Liger to eat all the cats and dogs that I have seen over at Multi Medium and the Froth blog. My girlfriend will be riding him like a Pony. All hail Magneto!

They have been gearing up for this for some time. However, Rove had wanted to use this against African Americans, not Hispanics. He knows that alienating the Latino vote is the kiss of death for the party long term. But it's out of his hands now. Immigration has a life of its own and I suspect it will be quite easy to adjust the plan and the machinery to try to 1) get out the base, 2) suppress the Latino vote which is now heavily leaning democratic and 3) serve as a rallying cry and cause when they lose seats and possibly their majority. This will be immediately played for 08 with a whole bunch of "voter integrity" legislation. They will be screaming to high heaven. Lou Dobbs will have his aneurysm removed on live television.

The Democrats could have innoculated against this when the Republicans stole the 2000 election, but they didn't. Had they been screaming bloody murder for six solid years about Republican vote fraud, it would be much more difficult for the GOP to suddenly glom onto this issue. Instead, it was a mere underground drumbeat that was heard, but only in the vaguest way. Now the CW about stolen elections is going to be turned on us --- and we will be on the defensive fighting both the charge of electoral fraud and being soft on criminal Mexicans because we need illegal aliens to stuff the ballot boxes for us.

--From Digby, who I'm now permalinking. He's the only big league blogger who gets it.

Daily Kos announces loss in Duke Cunningham race. Bradblog points out that GOP leaning voting machines make an accurate recount impossible and she might have won. Deafening silence from the Big Three (Kos, Atrios, and Calpundit) ensues. (I think its time that Brad bought the Scoop software. We need a new leading light here. Not going to Vegas and not buying that book.)

Here's some Priceless Analysis From Kos on Why She Lost:

1. Democrats are not motivated to turn out

2. 2006 will be a base election -- the party that wins is the party that gets more of its partisans to the polls.

Really? Is that why you supported Bob Casey in the primaries? Because I happen to be a democratic party partisan--excluded as I am from nearly all important policy decisions--and Bob Casey, a man who hasn't met an anti union, blatantly corporatist Bush appointee he doesn't like so far and is against censure and is thrilled that a pharmacist can deny me a condom (not that I need one lately with my pathetic sex life but a man can dream!..), not to mention a devotee of the nation's flying invisible monster of choice...doesn't get me too excited about voting. Really. I don't know why they're so thrilled with "Nedmentum". You could make the same dumb argument for Leiberman..."yeah, we'll get a vote for majority leader, probably majority leader Leiberman...."

And not motivated to turn out? Maybe because you never fight for their vote and endorse GOP-lite DLC dems in the primaries.. (Keep in mind we have indictments in Ohio now.) Never. And anyone who mentions vote theft gets sent down the memory hole. Related: Mark Crispin Miller link on why the Republican FBI won't file charges in Ohio, which kind of answers itself.

In light of RFK's piece on election fraud and his reference to my
article on the Clermont stickers, I thought I would send this out
again. To date, the FBI has yet to conduct a full investigation of
the Clermont case despite having witness statements, video footage,
and the public record of an official who slipped up and admitted to
tampering with ballots, despite all that, the FBI has done nothing.
The people who came forward - initially a far bigger number - did so
despite being intimidated and harassed while the people they spoke
out against are still in their jobs

Shocking really. Related: Fitrakis and Wasserman bring out their stats guy to debunk Manjoo here and here. I'm not qualified to judge maybe Fester can take a shot. My feeling is: Do you believe that the Bush administration has acted honorably and honestly in all matters? Or any matter for that matter? Why wouldn't that extend to voting? Plus, there's Greg Palast who has documented all of their caging techniques... Its obvious that they steal. What isn't obvious is why the democratic party (by the way, even if they win somehow with their gutless win on the margins efforts, it will be a decidedly DLC friendly congress...don't expect much change) doesn't take up the issue, although I had a Washington Generals theory earlier...Time to take a look at our Pennsylvania Green Party slate. Of course, they need to get 69000 sigs in about two months, which probably means 80 or 90 thousand just to be safe. Good luck.

What the Green Party needs is a self financed Ned Lamont or two...(Hollywood Left where are you...?)

By the way, here are free mottos for any resurgent Green Party effort: "Its time for a change. No, really." Or "Because the status quo isn't good enough anymore" or even "Because if the status quo means 5 dollar a gallon gas then I'm crazy enough to vote Green."