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Election Investigation Comes to the U.S. Senate Next Week
FLASH: The official Green Party site reports that "...attorneys representing the Kerry-Edwards campaign filed papers in Delaware County, Ohio to intervene in legal proceedings in defense of Green Party presidential candidate David Cobb, Libertarian Michael Bednarik and their legal counsel, the National Voting Rights Institute, who are seeking a recount of all votes cast for president in the Ohio 2004 general election." More info from the Washington Post.
A conference in one of the Senate office buildings next week will significantly heighten the visibility of the grassroots movement that has been documenting the numerous flaws in the election on November 2. Sponsored by Common Cause, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, and The Century Foundation, the all-day event will be free, open to the public, with box lunches if you send in an RSVP.
The conference, called ""Voting in 2004: A Report to the Nation on America's Election Process," will take place in the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room G50, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. According to the sponsors, there will be panels with Q&A sessions on the following topics, with speakers drawn from people who were dealing with these issues on the ground during the election:
Absentee Ballots, Military and Overseas Voting
Provisional Ballots
Polling Place Operations and Poll Workers
Voting Machines
Voter Registration
Voter Suppression and Intimidation
If you can get to DC next week, click here to RSVP.
And even if you can't go, ask Common Cause to web cast this event, so that people all over the country will get a chance to listen and learn. This conference provides a great opportunity to get beyond the blame game about the 2004 election and start understanding what really happened. There's a lot each of us can do to make elections better right in our own back yards, like running for a position on your local election board, doing what ever you can at the state level to make sure electronic voting machines have verifiable paper trails, etc.
If there's one thing I've learned this election, it's that each of us has a role to play by being vocal and vigilant. This is about our democracy - We the People. Wishing someone like John Kerry could wave a magic wand and change the election results is unrealistic and doesn't move us forward the way taking personal responsibility to make things better does.
Invited and participating individuals and organizations include:
The Brennan Center for Justice, Rock the Vote, Demos, the George Washington School of Law, the National Association of Secretaries of State, election officials, Verified Voting, the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, the American Association of People with Disabilities, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Electionline.org, the American Civil Liberties Union, American Families United, The Advancement Project, and experts from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of California, and Johns Hopkins University.
That is the best news that i have heard all day! I am so pleased to se that John Kerry and John Edwards have joined this recount. The people of this country deserve no less than to know that indeed every vote does count and will be counted. No matter what the outcome the right thing is being done and for no reason should be slowed down, full steam ahead on our journey to know only one thing the "Truth"
MAKE EVERY VOTE COUNT!!!
Keeping his honored word (as I eat many of mine over the past week) John Kerry will follow through on his promise to assure that every vote will be counted. And though many of our fellow Americans voted against themselves in this most recent election (with help from Diebold, EE&S, Sequoia et al) and voted their "values" and not their principles, perhaps they should take heed to the words of John Quincy Adams:
"Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost."
And how sweet it is that every vote will be counted!
And two more gems from Honest Abe...
"To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards of men."~Abraham Lincoln
"It is true that you may fool all of the people some of the time; you can even fool some of the people all the time; but you can't fool all of the people all the time."~Abraham Lincoln
http://www.neofascist.org/
found this site...very accurate description of what we are all up against...
Fight for Democracy Rally
March in Ohio
http://www.uacitizensforchange.com/rally/
just some snippets from a definition of 'fascism'....
Fascism and Nazism as ideologies involve, to varying degrees, some of the following hallmarks:
*** Nationalism and super-patriotism with a sense of historic mission.
*** Aggressive militarism even to the extent of glorifying war as good for the national or individual spirit.
*** Authoritarian reliance on a leader or elite not constitutionally responsible to an electorate.
*** Cult of personality around a charismatic leader.
*** Reaction against the values of Modernism, usually with emotional attacks against both liberalism and communism.
*** Dehumanization and scapegoating of the enemy_seeing the enemy as an inferior or subhuman force, perhaps involved in a conspiracy that justifies eradicating them.
*** The self image of being a superior form of social organization beyond socialism, capitalism and democracy.
*** Elements of national socialist ideological roots, for example, ostensible support for the industrial working class or farmers; but ultimately, the forging of an alliance with an elite sector of society.
Does anyone see any of these things happening today??
Aargh !!!!
Just saw Chris Matthews express his opinion that next time the dem party needs to nominate a "regular guy". After all the testimony from his crewmates and "Going upriver" and CM still sees nothing wrong with the survey question "who would you rather have a beer with"? What is wrong with our ego-centric media?
Michael Beatnick?
Lol
Notice how this article appears on Page A-8 of the paper. It's about the presidential election.
The MSM just doesn't want to deal with this at all.
Every time something happens they say "it's not enough to change the outcome" but added all together it could be.
It's like they're afraid they'll have to act like real journalists - its easier if all they have to deal with is salacious nonsense instead of something serious like Democracy.
Why yes Doc...glad you mentioned it...
Corporatism = Economic Fascism
You think you work for a company...but now you work for the Government.
http://www.aapsonline.org/brochures/fascism.htm
I'll bring in a "guest blogger" to reply to Chris Matthews:
As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.
--H.L. Mencken
Michael Beatnick?
Lol
Notice how this article appears on Page A-8 of the paper. It's about the presidential election.
The MSM just doesn't want to deal with this at all.
Posted by: delphine | December 1, 2004 12:20 AM
Delphine,
Actually both the Green Party website and the Washington Post have Michael Badnarik, spelled properly. Check the links below:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A23344-2004Nov30.html
http://72.3.133.32/press/2004/nov/pr2004-11-30b.php
Morning All, When John Edwards was in Charlotte the other day , he was very upbeat yet cagey about his future plans. He stated that he will definitely not resume his law practise but will be advancing the causes he promoted during the campaign. Whassup? NC decided today to hold a new election in Carteret county to deal with the lost votes. Aaah the Ukraine...Back in the USSR, you don't know how lucky you are boy,back in the US, back in the USSR. The pres "elect", it was noted on BBC last night, has ties to corrupt big business and has several criminal convictions. Sound familiar?
Wish Bush would "go back to Dodge". He told Canadian reporters "people comment on my swagger,,,,in Texas, where I'm from, that is just how we walk!" What arrogance!!
Nice to know we served him "Alberta beef" for dinner!!
He is not here in Canada out of interest in Canadians,,,once again Canada is being USED!! A reception to say thanks (3 1/2 years too late) to the people from Atlantic Canada for helping the stranded Americans.
Typical Bush...'invitation-only, only 300 people, political heads, not the ordinary people that did the work, shared their homes and food, not the people who have maintained the friendships with the Americans that were there stranded'
Bush plans to use this backdrop for a new political speech on his foreign policy, Has planned this to get international media attention.All a political spin..needed to stage a speech with an international backdrop and which country was closest and most commonly USED by the US? He is going to flaunt his defiance of doing 'his own thing in foreign policy'. Told people last night in his speech that 'a poll was taken in his country in Nov and the American people have spoken and said they liked the direction of my foreign policy'!!!
Watch Bush probably will announce Canada is joining him with his missle defence plan. If he does, this Prime Minister will see more protesting in the streets. Martin was told Canada doesn't want to join the US on this, but interesting when the 2 were interviewed, Bush was talking as if he had been given a 'mandate', but Martin knows if he gave Bush that he (Martin) will be out on his butt, since this is an issue that will topple his frail minority government.
See Bush will use anyone regardless of the cost to the other person.
What a 'user'!! What a loser!!! Get him out of our country so we can fumigate!!!!!
Good morning to all
Great topic, glad to see people feel strongly about this issue!
Is anyone here going to go?
Liz
Hi Liz,
Dick and I are planning to go. We will certainly report! But we also welcome the attendance of any other blogger from this community.
Anyone else want to join us?
Just saw Chris Matthews express his opinion that next time the dem party needs to nominate a "regular guy".
Posted by: bob-in-co at December 1, 2004 05:19 AM
I saw it last night and cringed too. I generally like Matthews, he's quite outspoken and often came out quite strongly against Irak. But the "regular guy" approach I think is ridiculous, almost scary. So much power in somebody's hands because he "seems nice"? When did so many people stop thinking, appreciate intelligence, look beyond appeareances, etc.? Damn, it's depressing!
Anyone else want to join us?
Posted by: Karen | December 1, 2004 09:10 AM
I am tempted, though I live more than 5 hours away. I am a bit apprehensive though, I am not at all familiar with Columbus, I am not at all sure my husband will be able to join me (he is currently stranded with a friend in NY with a bad back pain, ny husband, not the friend, and we live in southern IL, quite a drive back home), and I do not know if I can handle all the round-trip driving on my own, also I am new to this and, stupidly or not, I feel uncomfortable to be on my own, etc. But I would like to be there. Where are you guys coming from?
Green, Libertarian Seek N.M. Recount
~snip~
Green Party nominee David Cobb and Libertarian candidate Michael Badnarik want a recount of paper ballots in all precincts and a recheck of voting machines to highlight potential voting problems and ensure an accurate count of presidential ballots, said Blair Bobier, a spokesman for the Cobb campaign.
Link: http://abqjournal.com/elex/265644elex12-01-04.htm
http://www.urbanarchipelago.com/
A lengthy but interesting read about the blue/red divide in this country. The author makes a great argument that it is actually a urban/rural divide rather than blue/red. It can be a bit viscous at times but makes a lot of good points...Enjoy
Looking forward to reports about the rally in Ohio this weekend!
Irina,
I was writing about the Common Cause event in Washington next Tuesday--that is what we are going to attend. But I think the rally in Columbus would be a worthy goal as well. Unfortunately, we cannot attend that as we have a planning meeting for this website.
But if anyone would like to join us in DC next week, let us know!
I saw it [Chris Matthews] last night and cringed too. ... So much power in somebody's hands because he "seems nice"? When did so many people stop thinking, appreciate intelligence, look beyond appeareances, etc.? Damn, it's depressing!
Posted by: Irina | December 1, 2004 09:28 AM
CM went on to say that Democrats can't win unless they put up a white southern evangelical governor for president.
Now that's depressing. You would think Senators with lots of experience and knowledge of foreign and domestic affairs would count for something. Are we doomed to electing presidents who spend the first 2 years in office on a learning curve? And CM doesn't even see the irony in what he just said. Is this is all the American 2 party system can produce?
Hello friends, this is off-topic, but I cannot stop thinking about it and want to get the word out as broadly as possible:
Our friends at CBS and NBC have decided to ban an ad for the (liberal) United Church of Christ because it is gay-friendly. I've seen the ad and it is very mild. But it's a case of hideous censorship.
I read about it on the Daily Kos http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/11/30/23127/037 which has links to the ad and to the press release from the church.
Also you can read Josh Marshall at http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com for a thoughtful take on the issue.
It is really the case of big government and the right wing churches -- right in our living rooms.
Thanks for listening.
Irina,
I was writing about the Common Cause event in Washington next Tuesday
Oops!
" CM went on to say that Democrats can't win unless they put up a white southern evangelical governor for president."
This is a very limited definition of the common guy. How many people to fit this description? 1, may be 2.
Pamela: Please see above, at top of the page:
" Libertarian Michael Beatnik "
Pamela:
The second comment was not related to the misspelled name. It was "misspelled name? LOL" then a second comment:
Notice how the article is on Page A8. No one was accusing the papers or Cobb getting it wrong.
I suppose if someone is looking for reasons to criticize my posts they could see it incorrectly. But I personally think it is quite clear.
Mass
I believe that is what Michael Moore meant by "Stupid White Men"
Roberta1
Try also Center for American Progress website - they wrote an article on your topic of interest, with lots of links
That's the best liberal think tank - no need to read much else if pressed for time
I intend to send them some money.
Speaking of money, Christine Gregoire needs money for recount - Rossi "won" by 42 votes & is having a "victory party" - contribute at DNC
If the Pug candidate isn't overturned I'll be standing in the unemployment line .. he intends to take 45,000 children off healthcare
Re: Michael Badnarik
Clearly the author made a typo.
Voting Errors Tallied Nationwide
By Brian C. Mooney
Boston Globe
Wednesday 01 December 2004
More than 4,000 votes vanished without a trace into a computer's overloaded memory in one North Carolina county, and about a hundred paper ballots were thrown out by mistake in another. In Texas, a county needed help from a laboratory in Canada to unlock the memory of a touch-screen machine and unearth five dozen votes.
In other places, machine undercounting or overcounting of votes was a problem. Several thousand votes were mistakenly double-counted in North Carolina, Ohio, Nebraska, and Washington state. Some votes in other areas were at first credited to the wrong candidates, with one Indiana county, by some quirk, misallocating several hundred votes for Democrats to Libertarians. In Florida, some machines temporarily indicated votes intended for challenger John F. Kerry were for President Bush, and vice versa.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/120204Y.shtml
Indy-
I love those quotes from Lincoln- I hadnt seen them before! ...but here's one I think you'll like:
"I have never had a feeling politically that did not spring from the sentiments expressed in the Declaration of Independence." ~Abraham Lincoln
;-)
I also recommend an organization headquartered in New York City for those who are interested in election reform. I noticed that it will be involved in the Common Cause event on December 7th.
*********************
Demos - A Network for Ideas & Action
About Demos
Demos' purpose is to help build a society where America can achieve its highest ideals. We believe that requires a democracy that is robust and inclusive, with high levels of electoral participation and civic engagement, and an economy where prosperity and opportunity are broadly shared and disparity is reduced. Founded in 1999, Demos' work combines research with advocacy -- melding the commitment to ideas of a think tank with the organizing strategies of an advocacy group.
We have four main program areas:
1) The Democracy Program
A vibrant, inclusive democracy is the lifeblood of a just society, and depends on fuller participation by Americans in elections and in all areas of democratic decision-making. Since the 2000 election, Demos has been working with a spirited reform movement at the national and state level to promote a broad agenda of democracy reforms, including: major new efforts to bolster voter registration and participation; elimination of all barriers and discrimination that prevent voting; and strong campaign finance reform laws.
Our work to strengthen American democracy combines advocacy efforts with new research. Currently, we work in two main areas. First, we are collaborating with a range of partners to help enact election day registration, a reform that increases turnout and reduces problems at polling places. Second, we are working to overturn laws that unfairly bar former prisoners from voting. Our bi-weekly email journal, Democracy Dispatches, keeps reformers and activists apprised of key democracy developments across the nation...
The three other areas of Demos focus:
2) The Economic Opportunity Program
3) State Governance for the Future Program
4) Promoting Ideas in the Public Debate
http://www.demos-usa.org/page2.cfm
Hello All:
On this topic, it might be that a grass-roots initiative to amend the Constitution with respect to federal elections could be a good starting point to start to rally folks around the cause. I am sceptical that it would ever pass in the near term but essentially it is a righteous issue and a bipartisan on. Let's face it, the procedures set out in the COnstitution made some sense in the political and logistical environment of 1787, but times have changed. The one bulk Kerry email I've recevied since the election touched on this as well:
"I will fight for a national standard for federal elections that has both transparency and accountability in our voting system. It's unacceptable in the United States that people still don't have full confidence in the integrity of the voting process."
Amen to that. We need to go back to first principles and do the leg work.
Chuck in Baku
Of course it was a typo.
I just thought it was funny the contrast between "libertarian" and "beatnick", al la Lenny Bruce.
Beatnick is the other end of the spectrum politically. Although I suppose you could say they were both for less government interference.
Stir it up: Lessons in Community Organizing and Advocacy by Rinku Sen
Stir It Up was written by renowned activist and trainer Rinku Sen, and addresses the unique challenges and opportunities the new global economy poses for activist groups and provides concrete guidance for community organizations of all orientations.
******************************
I think this would be a great book for a DCP discussion.
Resolute:
It's also a darn righteous Bob Marley song.
Chuck in Baku
On Topic:
From Salon:
Legal challenge in Ohio
A state Supreme Court judge hears the case of a group of disgruntled Democrats who allege widespread fraud.
"Dec. 1, 2004 | George W. Bush's victory in the U.S. presidential election will be challenged in Ohio's Supreme Court Wednesday when a group of Democratic voters will allege widespread fraud. President Bush clinched reelection by winning the state of Ohio on Nov. 2 by a margin of 136,000 votes over Democratic candidate John Kerry. Despite claims of fraud and technical glitches, Sen. Kerry decided that they were not big enough to affect the result and conceded the election on Nov. 3.
SNIP
Arnebeck, a legal advisor to the liberal Alliance for Democracy, said the "contest of election" lawsuit will be presented to a judge from the Ohio Supreme Court Wednesday on behalf of at least 25 disgruntled voters. He said he expected other voters and organizations to join the case.
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2004/12/01/ohio_challenge/index.html
More on the D.C. conference next week from the Common Cause blog [http://www.commonblog.com/]:
Election Event Set for Dec. 7 on the Hill & an Ohio Update ...
By Murshed Zaheed
Posted on Mon Nov 29, 2004 at 07:35:30 PM EST
Save the date for Tuesday, December 7, 2004. Because on that day we are putting together a public event on election reform and 2004 Elections: "Voting in 2004: A Report to the Nation on America's Election Process." We are co-sponsoring this event with the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights and the Century Foundation. Please click here if you would like to RSVP to attend this event.
The event is open to the public, the press, Members of Congress and their staff and the academic community. We are also going to have statetments from Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), Representative Bob Ney (R-OH) and Representative Rush Holt (D-NJ) on this as well. We are going to send out an email later this week with more details on this event. Please stay tuned
Dear All:
As it seems a slow moment, even from the perspective of my dial-up connection here in Baku, Azerbaijan (GMT+4, NYC+9, LAX+12), just wanted to say that it is very good to see so many old "acquaintances" on this blog. As always, I see many divergent positions, but at the same time I see a deeper unity of purpose. Thanks everyone and keep the faith! Or, as Brother Bob says, to our opponents, "so if you are a big tree, we are the small axe." Over the coming years, we have to hone our message and build our organizations to do what we know is right. Election reform is a darn good place to start.
Chuck in Baku (ex-SE-PDX)
I am so glad to hear this. At this point I am having an impossible time dealing with the Repugs I know because they are all telling me I need to "just get over" the election results, and they honestly have NO CLUE that there are any concerns about the way the votes were handled. They think Shrub won fair and sqaure, and I am just being "too sensitive" and "overreacting."
The ones I feel I know well enough, I share with them some of the accounts of voting irregularites, and they stare at my quizzically and say very little. I suspect they are feling a mixture of two things.
1.) Could there be any truth to that?
and
2.) Is she crazy?
I am tired of trying to explain to these blissfully ignorant folks what is REALLY going on. With little to no official news reports to back me up, I do look a little "tin foil hat." A lot of these folks I am dealing with remember Watergate, and how the media were all over it like pirhanas - and they think that if this voting fraud were real, it would be on every channel. Trying to explain to them how the media has all been taken over by Repuga is a whole different argument.
I want it to come out. I want them to have no choice but to acknowledge it. Maybe it won't change their minds about who they want to be President, but it will demonstate to them that I DO have a valid reason for doubting the results of the election.
HAHAHA
"Trying to explain to them how the media have all been taken over by 'Repugs'" is what I meant to say.
Not "Repuga."
HAHAHA.
Repuga.
KiK:
At the risk of sounding presumptuous, maybe we should simply plant that seed of doubt and then turn to practical issues -- like -- wouldn't it be better if elections worked like [fill in the blank -- I am still working up a position]. My point, if there is one, being, in any event, the election was too close. I believe one reason it was too close is the way our arcane and anachronistic electoral system, not to mention money and media issues, skew public discourse. Essentially, this is a procedural and non-partisan issue. We have to fight to have every vote counted. At the same time, we need to focus on what can be done to make the process more transparent and fair. Think about it from a rhetorical point of view -- who can be openly against fairer, more efficient, and more transparent electoral procedures? And who would benefit from the same? Just a thought.
Chuck in Baku
Here is some animated fun for all.
http://www.markfiore.com/animation/alberto.html
KiK/Chuck –
In the wake of this election, supporters of the President perceive the issue as a partisan one. They dismiss those “votergate” stories that do manage to get reported as dem sour grapes and liberal media spin. There is a real disconnect between their perceptions and reality.
I can’t help wondering if some of the most useful help we can get in devising strategies for the future might not come from the mental health community . . .
"I can’t help wondering if some of the most useful help we can get in devising strategies for the future might not come from the mental health community . . . "
Bob, this has crossed my mind on more than one occasion! :-)
Aargh !!!!
Just saw Chris Matthews express his opinion that next time the dem party needs to nominate a "regular guy". After all the testimony from his crewmates and "Going upriver" and CM still sees nothing wrong with the survey question "who would you rather have a beer with"? What is wrong with our ego-centric media?
Posted by: bob-in-co | December 1, 2004 12:19 AM
These people who call themselves journalists do not know the meaning of the word journalism, they are the so called lackeys of your Govt, only reporting the rubbish that is acceptable to this Govt, never the facts we as a people need to understand from a world community perspective.
Sadly the time has come when we have to find the truth of world current events, for ourselves where ever we can, definitely not from cable news or most media outlets. We have to become investigators of the truth ourselves these days.
Kangaroo Brisbane Australia
I can’t help wondering if some of the most useful help we can get in devising strategies for the future might not come from the mental health community . . .
Posted by: Bob Evans | December 1, 2004 02:45 PM
Don't count on it. Mental health professionals are also government puppets. In China they lock up Falun Gong practitioners. In America they lock up anyone who has an alternative president other than George W. Bush (that's us).
Trust me, I know enough about the mental health system to know that it is true as hell. Head for Canada before you end up in a mental asylum yourself.
Bob:
I fully understand that their perceptions are our reality. But we can work to change that. Is it a partisan issue to ask that for federal offices the same access to polling stations must be facilitated for all electors, the same technology for tabulating votes and allowing for an independent audit of same must be provided for all precincts, and that principles for establishing congressional districts must be fair and non-partisan? Is it partisan to ask that our government provide a venue where all serious parties and candidates can be heard by all electors? If those are partisan issues, I would like very much to hear the argumentss of a partisan for the other side. I think they are afraid of this issue (for good reason) and I think we can pin them down and get them on this.
Chuck in Baku
And speaking of the "regular guy" comment from Chris Matthews...
Why settle for a regular guy when you can have a hero? A regular guy won't cut it for the Democrats. To beat the Republican "regular guy" we need a true American hero. John Kerry definitely was one, even though he was the victim of a smear campaign. Next time, no mercy on the smear campaigners.
We need to get some big hollywood types, and reporters like Dan Rather to start a new major network dedicated to truth in broadcasting, honest truthful reporting, non-censorship and the like.
And we need to get big stars to start standing up for what is right - Martin Sheen should be standing up to NBC for censoring that ad - a vast big star strike would make a pretty loud statement that this is not acceptable. I know they'd breach their contracts, but they can afford it :-).
Chuck -- I agree with you. The problem is that there are millions of people who are able to cling to mistaken perceptions even in the face of insurmountable evidence refuting those perceptions.
I'm not being facetious about a mental health approach. There seems to be some kind of Orwellian Curtain that reasoning alone cannot penetrate.
The basic dynamics of the electoral college set up in our constitution and the power the constitution gave to the states to select the delegates has lead to a two party system which is more stable than a parliamentary system but also much less responsive to changes in the electorate. Over time, state parties came to realize they could perpetuate power through the winner take all selection of delegates. Now the ultimate rigormortus in the body politic sets in with gerrymandered congressional districts and the advantages of incumbancy.
The only way to change this dynamic is through a constitutional amendment, as there is little incentive for a state to individually move away from winner-take-all, as the past election in Colorado showed.
The crucial question is, would the Democratic party support a constitutional convention to do away with the electoral system when the outcome may bring an end to the two party system? I think it must and survival of democracy in America depends on it.
Well, Chuck in Baku signing off. It's getting late here in Baku and tomorrow is another working day. Just wanted to leave you all with the following thought. A year or so before this last election, I would have thought it impossible to defeat the current administration given the emotions of 9/11 and given an ongoing and difficult occupation of a foreign country (plus the obvious conflict of interest situation in Florida). Over the course of the campaign, I came to believe we would overcome. We didn't. But we came a darn sight nearer than we had any right to believe. Take heart in this! Our opponents began mobilizing with the signing of the Civil Rights Act (ain't no body can convince me elsewise) and we're just getting started at a poorly documented 48%! We'll take our country back, but slowly, by sticking to the truth, and by standing for the concerns of our fellow Americans, and by never letting go of the notion that government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from this earth. We'll develop a principled position, help our friends, hurt our foes, and prevail. I have no doubts on this.
God Bless you all,
Chuck in Baku
Bob:
This is Chuck in Baku. I agree that this is a Constitutuional issue. I agree that elementary game theory argues that entrenched political elites at the State level will resist this. As such, an electoral reform movement may be doomed to tactical failure, but it could be a strategic success. Look at what the GOP has done with Guns, God and Abortion! Nothing! But they have mobilized tens of millions of voters on these issues without ever having done a thing to change policy except at the margins, because they know that would be unpopular. So we can do the same, the difference being that our "Quixotic" quest would at least be technically non-partisan and (small "d") democratic. Again, even if it won't fly, it's a way to pin them down to an indefensible position. AND, if it did fly, against all the odds you spelled out, we'd have by rights fair and square, IMHO.
Chuck in Baku
I don't think Repugs in congress are going to allow an electoral college amendment to come to a vote. So that leaves it to the state legislatures to call for a constitutional convention. Perhaps if a number of legislatures do, or are forced to by state initiatives, congress will come on board in order to avoid losing all control in a convention.
Posted by: delphine | December 1, 2004 11:58 AM
Delphine
I was just pointing out that Badnarik's name was not mis-spelled on the two articles cited. (It's STILL mis-spelled here - Badnarik, not Bednarik)
I did not comment on the page placement of the WP article.
I could run down a long list of stuff I would like to see be front page news, but the list would be too long and I have too much work to do!
There does seem to be lot's of interesting news today however, regardless of where it placed in the grand scheme of media's idea of what should be reported and where it belongs! LOL!