COLBERT IS STILL LORD!!!

Full text and complete video

This is NOT fake news, it’s real, from the Akron Beacon Journal May 2, 2006.
Are you ready…

Never forget the pursuit of Truth.
Only the deluded & complicit accept election results on blind faith.

Election Reform, Fraud, & Related News May 2, 2006

All members welcome and encouraged to participate.

Please post Election Reform, Fraud, & Related News on this thread.
1. Post stories and announcements you find on the web.
2. Post stories using the "Election Fraud and Reform News Sources" listed here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x371233
3. Re-post stories and announcements you find on DU, providing a link to the original thread with thanks to the Original Poster, too.
4. Start a discussion thread by re-posting a story you see on this thread.
Please

"Recommend"

for the Greatest Page (it's the link just below).

I’m shocked, just shocked that there are political scandals in Florida. I’m stunned that Rep. Harris is involved. I mean, golly, what’s next, an accusation that she helped steal Florida in 2000. When will it ever end. My goodness.

Group files criminal complaint against Rep. Katherine Harris

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Group_files_criminal_complaint_against_Rep._0501.html
RAW STORY
Published: Monday May 1, 2006



Common Cause, a nonprofit government watchdog group, filed a criminal complaint with the Department of Justice against Rep. Katherine Harris Monday, RAW STORY has learned.

The group's complaint alleges that Harris was bribed by a defense contractor who has already pled guilty to bribing former Rep. Duke Cunningham (R-CA). It alleges that Harris broke the law when the contractor paid $2,800 for a fundraising dinner the congresswoman held.

Cunningham was recently sentenced to eight years in prison.
Asked about the complaint Sunday by the Orlando Sentinel, a Harris spokesman declined comment. He suggested the charges were politically motivated

Here it is. Happy campaigning. What’s it like when the Hulk comes down on you?

Common Cause Files Criminal Complaint

Rep. Katherine Harris
"Representative B" (or was that Madame X)

(Press release, copyright restrictions do not apply)
http://www.commoncause.org/site/apps/nl/content3.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=395891&content_id={E52E15E0-E786-451B-829D-9965C9833B71}¬oc=1

May 1, 2006: Common Cause is filing a complaint requesting that the Public Integrity Division of the Department of Justice conduct an investigation to determine if Representative Katherine Harris (R-FL) has violated the law. The Justice Department has become the de facto enforcement body for the House of Representatives because the House Ethics Committee has effectively ceased to exist.

The Chief Executive of MZM, Inc., Mitchell Wade, recently plead guilty to conspiracy, tax evasion, corrupting defense officials, and election fraud as a result of the investigation into former Representative Randolph "Duke" Cunningham (R-CA). MZM, Inc. is described as a homeland security and counterintelligence company. The statement includes references to other members of Congress in addition to Rep. Cunningham. According to the Statement of Offense, U.S.A. vs. Mitchell J. Wade, filed in the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia on February 23, 2006:

In early 2005, Wade dined with Representative B in Washington DC restaurant. At this dinner, Wade and Representative B discussed, among other topics, the possibility of MZM's hosting a fundraiser for Representative B later in the year, and the possibility of obtaining funding and approval for a Navy counterintelligence program in Representative B's district and locating an MZM office in that district.

Rep. Harris has been identified publicly as "Representative B." According to The Washington Post:

Washington defense contractor Mitchell J. Wade admitted yesterday in federal court that he attempted to illegally influence Defense Department contracting officials and tried to curry favor with two House members…

The new admissions, including details that identify Reps. Virgil H. Goode Jr. (R-Va.) and Katherine Harris (R-Fla.) as recipients of illegal campaign contributions, are contained in Wade's agreement to plead guilty to four criminal charges stemming from his role in the Cunningham probe.

Wade also pleaded guilty to election law fraud for making nearly $80,000 in illegal campaign contributions to "Representatives A and B," who are identifiable as Goode and Harris.

On April 26, 2005, after the dinner with Wade, Rep. Harris reportedly sent a letter to the chairman and ranking member of the House Subcommittee on Defense requesting funding for a project called, "U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service Airbourne Capability to Support Counter Intelligence and Combating Terrorism Missions." The project was an addendum to the package of funding requests Harris had already submitted. According to a press release from Rep. Harris' office, it was a $10 million request.

The description of the conversation between Wade and Rep. Harris, as it is described in the Statement of Offense, suggests that Harris took official action to obtain funding and approval for this military project in exchange for the offer of MZM's holding a fundraiser for Rep. Harris. The official action taken by Rep. Harris to insert a funding request for a counterintelligence project that appears similar to a program which Wade and Rep. Harris discussed in the same conversation as the fundraiser, as it is described in the Statement of Offense, suggests that Rep. Harris violated U.S. Code 18§201, which states:

(b) Whoever - (2) being a public official or person selected to be a public official, directly or indirectly, corruptly demands, seeks, receives, accepts, or agrees to receive or accept anything of value personally or for any other person or entity, in return for: (A) being influenced in the performance of any official act; shall be fined under this title or not more than three times the monetary equivalent of the thing of value, whichever is greater, or imprisoned for not more than fifteen years, or both, and may be disqualified from holding any office of honor, trust, or profit under the United States.

May 13th, so the repubs wouldn't have time to get another candidate out there.

The great state turned into a Republican banana republic by Blackwell, Petro, and Taft is seeing the reduction of it’s stolen elections into a filthy swill of intra party attack politics. But never fear, the fix is in…weep for Ohio. After turning a 60-30% advantage for election reform issues into a 60-30% loss WITHOUT challenge, the Republicans are sure that no matter what, they can steal another one and John Q. Public will just sit there an take it.

Strickland: Bitter GOP fight helps me

http://www.vindy.com/content/local_regional/287986557015366.php

The Democratic candidate expects attacks from the GOP governor nominee.

By DAVID SKOLNICK

VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland, the heavy favorite to win today's Democratic gubernatorial primary, said the bitter Republican primary for the same post can only help his campaign.

Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell of Cincinnati and Attorney General Jim Petro of Columbus, the two GOP candidates, have criticized each other and accused each other of being a "hypocrite" in television commercials.

"If they'd be this mean to each other, imagine what they'll do to me," Strickland said while drinking coffee and eating a toasted bagel Monday at the Bean Counter on East Federal Street.

"It takes your breath away. It's been one of the most personally negative primary campaigns I've ever seen. It's character assassination. They've called each other hypocrites and that's a harsh label."

What are they smoking out there in Ohio. The voting chief is optimistic. His vendor, ES&S, hired the DELA GAMMA SORORITY to do their field work. I'm amending my first sentence to say, "Did someone put LSD in their Cool Aid (it has happened, ya know). This is the ultimate insult to America and to the fine people of Ohio. The Delta Gammas...my God, what has become of the nation inspired by Paine, Jefferson, Madison, Adams, Washington...people who risked their lives by simply speaking the truth (risked hanging); yet continued to speak truth to power, challenge the vile authority of the Crown, enunciate stirring and brilliant words that set goals for all of humanity...the Delta Gammas, the new sentinels of democracy.

Voting chief in Summit more upbeat
Equipment tests, contingency plans ease Election Day worries

http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/14465606.htm
By Lisa A. Abraham
Beacon Journal staff writer

The ballots have all arrived and been tested twice, the memory cards -- when last checked -- were working, and an unusual calm had descended upon Summit County Board of Elections officials.

<snip>

Williams, whose previous doomsday predictions suggested there could be widespread problems on Election Day, said he felt there has been enough pretesting of equipment and ballots and enough contingency plans put in place to prevent a major meltdown.

``All of the equipment is being set up on or ahead of schedule. All the workers are trained.... Everything is going into place,'' he said.

The biggest concern is the computer memory cards inside the scanners that read ballots. The cards record and tabulate votes.

In training, poll workers and even instructors from Election Systems & Software, the Omaha, Neb., maker of the county's new voting system, have inserted the cards incorrectly, causing them to get stuck in the scanners.

(And this is where the Delta Gammas come in, they’re the sentinels of democracy in Ohio-see main page or article. We are a living testimony that Theater of the Absurd lives, that the end times are near.)

Two, four, six, eight - ES&S is really great! (at rigging elections) :(

I'm stoked for NY. Wish California could get this voting bullshit handled...the rat bastards are trying to STEAL my state! Jeez.....

Practice saying it, Governor Blackwell. Who cares what the totals are, he’ll be RUNNING AND COUNTING THE VOTES. Amazing. Isn’t democracy American style grand. Oh, and ES&S, the statewide vendor is partially owned by which Republican Senator. If Blackwell wins, I say let’s blame Hagel (Freidrich of course)


Republicans


Democrats

SURVEY USA between 4/1 and 4/2 2006

This says it all. It’s a trial for stealing a Board of Regents election but so what. Look at these beautiful words. I’m reinvigorated after reading all those Ohio articles.

Lawyer outlines reasons for conviction of Hergert
By KEVIN O’HANLON / The Associated Press

An attorney for the Legislature made his case Monday for why University of Nebraska Regent David Hergert should be convicted for violating campaign finance laws.

“Democracy burns out, not brightly, if its elections are marred by fraud and corruption that rewards miscreants with incumbency,”

wrote attorney David Domina in a brief submitted to the Nebraska Supreme Court, which is to begin Hergert’s impeachment trial May 8.

Domina’s brief was in response to one filed earlier by Hergert’s lawyers asking the high court to dismiss the 10 articles of impeachment against him.

Lets see what happens. Train wreck, smooth passage, low enough turnout assuring that the system is not really tested?


Published: May 02, 2006 12:25 am

Primary election today

http://www.tribstar.com/local/local_story_122002530.html
Staff report
The Tribune-Star

Wabash Valley voters must show a photo identification when they cast ballots in the primary election today from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The ID must include the voter’s name, have an expiration date after Nov. 2, 2004, and be issued by the federal or state government.

Under new state law, if a person does not have a photo ID, the voter can cast a provisional ballot. Once cast, a person has until noon May 12 to produce identification at the Vigo County clerk’s office.

A person also may file a claim of religious objection to being photographed or claim to be indigent and unable to obtain a photo ID, also by noon May 12.

…JUST BEFORE THE PRIMARY. They know he’ll kick ass. Very clever. The varieties of election fraud. Wow. Expect this guy to get a great federal court nomination.

Graft trial opens for ex-Ala. Governor

http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/news/breaking_news/14475806.htm

BOB JOHNSON
Associated Press

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The corruption trial of former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman opened Monday with prosecutors accusing him of scheming with his chief of staff to obtain bribes for state help, including assistance allegedly sought by then-HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy.

Siegelman's lawyer countered that the federal case was built on the lies of unbelievable witnesses who have pleaded guilty in the case and are hoping for lenient sentences.

"The government is going to have to call a bunch of liars, a bunch of con artists, a bunch of thieves," said attorney Vince Kilborn.

The opening statements showed the trial of Siegelman, Scrushy and two former members of Siegelman's administration may hinge largely on the testimony of two former government insiders - Nick Bailey, once a close aide to Siegelman, and Lanny Young, a lobbyist and landfill developer with clout in the Siegelman administration

Hey, guess what. Somebody got sick and tired of the "cramdown." Naturally, it was the center of the universe, the epitome of intellectual and artistic development, and home of the best restaurants in the USofA (well, tied with NOLA). Do not show up in New York and mess around unless you know how the game is played. Lets see EAC-DOJ lawyers against the best lawyers in the nation. That took a long time to settle. But I digress, BillBored is happy (odd statement to make). Nice post!

Bill Bored (1000+ posts) Mon May-01-06 05:55 PM
Original message


Of course they did! I told ya they didn't have a case!
Just say "No!" Trust but verify!
(Oh, and the NY Dems think this is cool too!)

Department of Justice Agrees to New York Plan to Delay HAVA Implementation

By Bo Lipari New Yorkers for Verified Voting www.nyvv.org

http://www.votetrustusa.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1246&Itemid=113

"the United States is mindful at this late date of the potential for disruption of the federal election process in New York if plans for full HAVA compliance are implemented in too hasty a manner"

OR AT ALL FOR THAT MATTER!

I'm proud to be an New Yorker!
Cause at least I know I'm HAVA-Free!

Come on...sing it with me everybody! ;) :party:

the twilight zone of voting.

queue up theme song.

happily giving the fifth rec.

ES&S memory card problem spreads to NC

Voting system's troubles spread
Akron Beacon

A North Carolina election official says 1,000 memory cards delivered to that state from Election Systems & Software had problems similar to those seen in Summit County.

Keith Long, North Carolina voting system manager, said he read Akron Beacon Journal articles about problems with the memory cards in optical-scan voting equipment and called ES&S to see if any of the cards had been sent to his state.

Keith Long is, you recall, the ex-Diebold employee that the SBoE saw fit to appoint to this incredibly important position. Mr. Long bragged on his resume about his successful deployment of Diebold equipment in Georgia and Maryland, two states who are now suffering buyer remorse.

``All 1,000 (memory cards) that had been shipped here had the same problems,'' Long said.

ES&S officials contend that bad batteries were to blame for the problem memory cards, but Summit County officials now say that low batteries were the problem in only about one-third of the hundreds of faulty memory cards here.

more:
http://www.blackboxvoting.com/s9/index.php?/archives/97-ESS-memory-card-problem-spreads-to-NC.html

Dear (redacted):

This is to confirm that this agency received two different communications from ES&S about defective memory cards, as required under the law that requires vendors to inform our agency of any problems in regards to the operations of their voting systems. We are aware of the problem, and are protecting North Carolina from any defective memory cards.


Don Wright
General Counsel
-----Original Message-----
From: (redacted)
Sent: Friday, March 10, 2006 2:55 PM
To: Don Wright
Cc: Gary Bartlett; Johnnie McLean
Subject: concerns about ES&S memory cards



North Carolina State Board of Elections
Don Wright, General Counsel

Ohio got another batch of bad memory cards from ES&S yesterday.


Please advise, is the North Carolina State Board of Elections testing all ES&S memory cards?

Although I was provided no proof of that. When I asked one of the workers there - how do I know my vote will be counted - she said the machines were working correctly. I then told her about the 1000 bad memory cards, then a male election worker said those had been replaced. Who freakin knows.

On a brighter note, I busted a republican for campaigning inside the no-campaigning zone near the door! She tried to give me a list of people to vote for with all republican names on the list. She was forced to stop. :)

http://www.cleveland.com/weblogs/openers/

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

Summit: so far, so good


Errors by voters and poll workers caused more trouble than Summit County's new optical-scanner machines Tuesday morning, elections officials said.

"I'm feeling very good but still have my fingers crossed," Elections Board Director Bryan Williams said at noon. "Our equipment is working."

Most Ohio counties are using all-electronic voting systems, but Summit is using the optical scan system, in which voters pencil in ovals to choose candidates and vote on issues. A poll worker tears off a stub at the bottom of the ballot and deposits it in a ballot box. The voter then feeds his ballot into a machine that scans the ballot, recording the information on a memory card. The paper ballot drops into the bottom of the machine...

ES&S has six technical employees in the county and the board has 16 troubleshooting teams of two each, a Republican and a Democrat, roaming the county to provide help at the polls, Williams said...

http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/politics/index.ssf?/base/politics-9/1146594568191400.xml&storylist=washington


5/2/2006, 2:21 p.m. ET
By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS
The Associated Press

MACON, Miss. (AP) — Ike Brown is a legend in Mississippi politics, a fast-talking operative both loved and hated for his ability to turn out black voters and get his candidates into office.

That success has also landed him at the heart of a federal lawsuit that's about to turn the Voting Rights Act on its end.

For the first time, the U.S. Justice Department is using the 1965 law to allege racial discrimination against whites.

Brown, head of the Democratic Party in Mississippi's rural Noxubee County, is accused of waging a campaign to defeat white voters and candidates with tactics including intimidation and coercion. Also named in the lawsuit is Circuit Clerk Carl Mickens, who has agreed to refrain from rejecting white voters' absentee ballots considered defective while accepting similar ballots from black voters...

Too many Dem votes that way?

http://www.cleveland.com/newslogs/plaindealer/index.ssf?/mtlogs/cleve_plaindealer/archives/2006_05.html

12:06 p.m.

The Cuyahoga County Board of Election is expected to hand count absentee ballots today because of inconsistencies in trial runs. Director Michael Vu plans to recommend a complete manual count. The board has gotten about 16,000 absentee ballots so far.

"We want these ballots to be counted accurately above all else. At this point, that means conducting a hand count," Vu said. It was unclear whether to blame the ballots or the counting devices. Vu hoped to run tests after the election to pin down the problem.

Meanwile, midway through Primary Day, voter turnout is light. Local voters said the machines were much easier to use than the old punch cards. The trouble was, many of the machines were out of order for hours at least, and several locations had to turn away voters for a while. Voters said they encountered other snags, too. In Shaker Heights, one woman said she noticed that her ballot didn't show the school tax measure. Poll workers had to start her over again with a new one.

(-The Plain Dealer seems to be trying to give the rosiest picture.Don't even mention Machine-Mashing Man.)




First election with new machines for half of state
5/2/2006, 12:06 p.m. ET

http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/cleveland/index.ssf?/base/politics-1/114657415494860.xml&storylist=cleveland

By CONNIE MABIN
The Associated Press

CLEVELAND (AP) — A small number of people left a few Cleveland polling sites Tuesday without voting when tardy poll workers did not get new electronic voting machines set up for up to two hours. Minor problems adjusting to new machines were reported in other parts of the state.

Other voters who showed up when the touch-screen machines weren't ready in Cuyahoga County were eventually given ballots to fill out by hand, elections chief Michael Vu said.

Polling sites in all 88 Ohio counties were using either touch-screen electronic machines or ones that electronically scan ballots that voters have marked, eliminating punch-card ballots. Half the counties had their first election with the new machines in November. The rest got up and running in Tuesday's primary election.

Elsewhere in Ohio, election officials and voters reported what was expected: mostly minor problems with workers finding their way with the newer machines, or no problems at all...


New Diebold CEO to make up to $1.7 million
5/1/2006, 10:03 p.m. ET
The Associated Press

http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/cleveland/index.ssf?/base/business-6/114653575430740.xml&storylist=cleveland

NORTH CANTON, Ohio (AP) — Voting-machine maker Diebold Inc. will pay its new chief executive up to $1.7 million annually,depending on how successfully their vote-stealing operation performs,the company said in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing Monday.

Thomas Swidarski will make a base salary of $550,000 with bonuses of up to 200 percent, according to the contract he reached with the company last week.

Swidarski is nearly five months into leading the company after serving as president and chief operating officer. He took over Dec. 12 for Walden W. O'Dell, Diebold's former chairman and CEO, who resigned suddenly from both posts.

One of Swidarski's early actions was to announce in January a plan to cut about $100 million in costs over three years and improve pricing. The savings would come through streamlining processes, improving the supply chain and adjusting manufacturing operations...




Extraordinary primary season finally reaches voters

5/2/2006, 12:12 p.m. ET

http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/cleveland/index.ssf?/base/politics-1/114657296140490.xml&storylist=cleveland

By JULIE CARR SMYTH
The Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A bitter fight by Republican candidates seeking the scandal-embroiled party's nomination for governor dominated a state primary election season that culminated Tuesday, when voters also were picking nominees for other statewide offices, Congress and Legislature.

North Carolina and Indiana also were holding primaries Tuesday, but Ohio's role as the deciding state in the last presidential election makes it a closely watched barometer of voter sentiment.

It was the first major election since the state government-controlling Republican party has been beset by scandal. Politicians were watching for signs Tuesday of voter dissatisfaction that could signal shift in power is possible in the November election.

The day's drama was heightened by the fact that new voting machines, some of which have had problems during testing, were operating around the state. There was scattered trouble adjusting to the machines in the morning, including in the Cleveland area where a small number of people left without voting when a few polling places opened late because workers had trouble setting up touch-screen machines...

http://www.newsnet5.com/politics/9145131/detail.html

POSTED: 9:15 am EDT May 2, 2006

CLEVELAND -- Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bryan Flannery is requesting that today’s voting hours be extended to 8:15 p.m. because of reports that voters are being turned away at polling locations in Cuyahoga and Summit counties.

---------------------------------------------------
SURVEY

Should hours at polling locations be extended?
Yes
No

---------------------------------------------------

"Voters of this state deserve every opportunity to cast their ballots," Flannery said. "Turning away voters because of defective machines or inexperienced poll workers is inexcusable. We must do everything possible to ensure fair, safe and honest elections. Extending poll hours and giving those turned away this morning an additional opportunity to cast their ballot is the right thing to do."

NewsChannel5 and newsnet5 will have an update if the voting hours will be extended.

Check back often for updates.

http://www.newsnet5.com/politics/9144311/detail.html

UPDATED: 12:03 pm EDT May 2, 2006

SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio -- There have been some problems at polling locations throughout Cuyahoga County, NewsChannel5 reported.

Because of some confusion at the polling locations, citizens are being given ballots to fill out by hand, said Micheal Vu, director of the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections.


At about 6:45 a.m. at Woodberry Elementary School in Shaker Heights, a resident left the polling location after growing extremely frustrated about the process.


Polling sites in all 88 Ohio counties were using either touch-screen electronic machines or ones that electronically scan ballots that voters have marked, eliminating punch-card ballots. Half the counties had their first election with the new machines in November. The rest got up and running in Tuesday's primary election...

http://www.newsnet5.com/politics/9146477/detail.html

( Pretty,new Diebold machines too.

The humanity.

This station's noon news was reporting lots and lots of voting machine problems at Cleveland-area polls.New Diebolds everywhere far as I know.People didn't show up to set up machines,missing candidate names and issues,lonnnng waits....)


POSTED: 11:56 am EDT May 2, 2006

CLEVELAND -- A 61-year-old man was arrested after an alleged poll rage incident.

The man was arrested after breaking voting machines. He faces disorderly conduct, obstructing official business and resisting arrest charges.

It took several people to restrain the man.

It's unclear what caused the man to become upset.




http://www.newsnet5.com/index.html

http://www.newsnet5.com/news /

County to ask that the polls stay open later because of how fabulously the BOE and Diebold have performed.-Saw on Cleveland channel 5,no link yet

http://www.newsnet5.com/index.html

http://www.onnnews.com/?sec=home&story=ONN/content/pool/200605/69255544.html

May 02 2006 5:52PM

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- With several problems reported at the polls Tuesday, NewsChannel5 has learned that the results will be delayed.

About 16,000 absentee votes will have to be hand counted because of a problem with optical scanners.

There were also reports of problems with the new electronic machines. Both machines are made by Diebold, Duane Pohlman reported.

Tubbs Jones said if fault is found in the manufacturers, the responsible company should pay...

:yourock:

http://www.freetimes.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=3387

Capitalists' Tools: The American Legislative Exchange Council Helps Ohio Republicans Sell Out To Big Business.

By Charu Gupta


Last January, a bill to revise Ohio's anti-terrorism laws started winding its way through the halls of the state legislature. Into the mix of waivers and ID requirements, the bill's sponsor, Sen. Jeff Jacobson, threw in this provision: to prosecute "animal and ecological terrorism."


The measure sought to address the violence and destruction wrought by radical fringe groups, according to Jacobson. But at the same time, the provision's vague language — like "corrupt activity" — seemed like it could be applied to mainstream environmental groups participating in garden-variety activism.

To the environmental advocates at Ohio Citizen Action, the line item reeked. In fact, it smelled of model legislation written by the pro-business American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) in 2002. Back then, a criminal justice task force — one of nine task forces that ALEC operates — wrote an "Animal and Ecological Terrorism Act" with the help of the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance, a coalition of fur industries, arms companies and outdoor-gear retailers, according to the State Environmental Resource Center in Wisconsin.

That's ALEC's mission: to bring together corporate leaders and legislators in order to write industry-friendly bills and roll back all sorts of regulations...