Has American Democracy died an electronic death in Ohio 2005's referenda..

Has American Democracy died an electronic death in Ohio 2005's referenda defeats?
by Bob Fitrakis and Harvey Wasserman
November 11, 2005

While debate still rages over Ohio's stolen presidential election of 2004, the impossible outcomes of key 2005 referendum issues may have put an electronic nail through American democracy.

Once again, the Buckeye state has hosted an astonishing display of electronic manipulation that calls into question the sanctity of America's right to vote, and to have those votes counted in this crucial swing state.

The controversy has been vastly enhanced due to the simultaneous installation of new electronic voting machines in nearly half the state's 88 counties, machines the General Accounting Office has now confirmed could be easily hacked by a very small number of people.

Last year, the US presidency was decided here. This year, a bond issue and four hard-fought election reform propositions are in question.

Issue One on Ohio's 2005 ballot was a controversial $2 billion "Third Frontier" proposition for state programs ostensibly meant to create jobs and promote high tech industry. Because some of the money may seem destined for stem cell research, Issue One was bitterly opposed by the Christian Right, which distributed leaflets against it.

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http://www.freepress.org/departments/display/19/2005/1559

If they were, they would have seen and heard the massive campaign against Issues 2,3,4 &5. They were billed as "big government" and "horrible ideas". I didn't hear ONE Pro-1-5 commercial.

I think this is a case of poor selling on the part of the Pro-Issue people.

.. in my area of Ohio. I think they did a good job. The problem is that the right knows how to do it better using scare tactics. The only way to win is to use the same scare tactics.

Here is an example of how they did it:

Ad warns of losing ‘family values’
Opponents of state Issues 2-5 get special flier for churches; supporters say it’s ‘sleaze’

{snip}
By Mark Niquette THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Opponents of four statewide ballot issues are distributing a harshly worded flier to churches calling backers of the issues "radical anti-family activists,’’ in a move reminiscent of last year’s Republican appeal to "values voters.’’

Supporters complained yesterday that the ad is a distortion and part of a "disgraceful campaign of sleaze and dishonesty.’’

The church-bulletin-size ad, which shows a pregnant woman and two smiling families, says state Issues 2-5 are backed by "the same people who took prayer out of our public schools, fought the defense of marriage act last year and have attempted to legalize drugs.’’

Among other things, the ad says the issues would "dilute the power of pro-life supporters to elect pro-life candidates who share our values’’ and "if we let them win, the impact could be a devastating setback for our traditional family values.’’

"Huh? Excuse me?’’ said Richard Gunther, an Ohio State University political-science professor and a leader of Reform Ohio Now, the coalition of moderate and left-leaning interests backing the four issues. "This has nothing to do with family values.’’

...Ohio should demand a revote with paper ballots only on all issues that varied widely from pre-polling. If the results don't square with what the machines yielded, Diebold should be told to get out of the state---the country for that matter.

... can't get out of the country until we get Blackwell out of the country.

I'm not sure what else I can do. Last year I went to every single protest in downtown Columbus. I came with in inches of being arrested, for sitting on the side walk in front of Blackwell's office.

So far no one has started anything to my knowledge. Some are doing research into irregularities, and time will tell.

Maybe soon I will be sitting on the sidewalk again.
Why can't election time come when it's warmer outside?

Both last year and this year.