Kevin Shelley Deserves Our Support

[Helga Scow Stern]

I had to convince myself of this.

For a first step, I decided to write to him to express my support. You can too at [email protected]

Here is the letter I wrote to him:

Dear Mr. Shelley,
I am shocked at what has happened with you. I have spent most of the day and evening reading everything I could find on your forced resignation and the charges brought against you. While I am sure you were not perfect, you did far more good than harm, and your "abuses," while perhaps in need of correction, do not warrant your leaving office. I am sure such close scrutiny would turn up any number of such skeletons in any of your colleagues' closets.

I am also deeply saddened to hear that this has come in the wake of your mother's illness. The LA Times at least had the decency to say that it was the last straw for you, and why you ultimately gave up.

If there is any good to come of this, it may be to expose the partisan nature--what they accuse you of--of the Elections Assistance Commission in spending months investigating you while they let the far more guilty Kenneth Blackwell of Ohio slide by uncensured.

My prayers are with you, and I want you to know, as I am sure you must, that many in this state and around the country, and in the world, for that matter, deeply support you and are very sorry for what is happening. No one is perfect, but we know you have tried your utmost to do the right thing. It is not easy being in the public arena, and even harder to have some integrity in a climate where it is unscrupulously attacked and ostracized.

Sincerely,

XXXXXX

[Old Mouse]

1. I had written in his support last week

And he took the time to personally write me back. I was convinced by that the outpouring of support here at DU had convinced him to stay and fight. But I fear you are correct about his mother's illness. That and a noticeable lack of political support.

[Helga Scow Stern]

3. I am not sure if pushing him right now is the right thing.

But we do need to keep disseminating the awareness of why he is being attacked and had to resign. The way it looks if you just glance at all the articles is that he is just another bad politician who screwed up. I am pretty sure that's what most people probably think. But if we keep writing about it we can expose the very partisan nature of those who accuse him of the same thing. The EAC and the connections with Diebold of one of his main accusers, Nicole Parra (D-Hanford), whose county (Kern) was one of the four not allowed to go ahead with uncertified Diebold equipment.

Blackwell is doing the same thing now in Ohio that Shelley tried to stop in California, using Diebold equipment that is not yet certified. Diebold lied about it to Shelley, and they got caught. Blackwell says it doesn't matter and that it will save money.

[Amaryllis]

56. See this: his staffer told me supportive emails very helpful; please send:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss//duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=321171&mesg_id=321171
See this thread. They want supportive emails. This is not the same as pushing him. If you just ask him to please not resign, that isn't pushing, is it? At any rate, read the thread at the above link. Whether he un-resigns or not, they need all the support they can get and they need to know the eyes of the nation are watching and that we know this is a witch hunt. He needs to know we've got his back.

[Zhade]

2. Good letter. It's true, he does deserve support.

I'm in SoCal and was tangentially involved in the bbv issue early on, so I really am grateful for his efforts.

I'll send him a note.

[JDPriestly]

4. Shelley's predicament is sad,

but let it be a warning to other Democrats. All branches of government and control of the FBI and other intelligence and security agencies are in the hands of the Republicans. As they did under Nixon, they will use them in every way they can to destroy Democrats. Democrats will be held to an impossibly high standard and have to be squeaky clean in everything they do. Democrats have to avoid the slightest appearance of unethical or dishonest behavior.

The corollary is that we Democrats need to watch Republican politicians like never before, because no one else will watch them. They have free reign to violate every law and regulation on the books. And many of them will. The Republicans got the control they have through corruption and crime. They are primarily motivated by greed, and they will use their power to take, take, take. We have to watch everything they do.

[Helga Scow Stern]

9. And the creepy thing is that Dems are just as complicit in this

as Republicans. In California, they don't care about fair voting because their jobs are already guaranteed through redistricting deals.
(Only Feinstein and Boxer should care).

The contracts with Diebold were more valuable, apparently to one of his main accusers, Nicole Parra (D-Hanford) from Kern County, one of the four counties that had Diebold machines that hadn't been properly certified.

[Amaryllis]

58. do you know if anyone has contacted Boxer about this yet? She should know

what is happening. If CA goes, the whole country goes. If they have CA and FL, well, I am preaching to the choir. But BOxer needs to be made aware, and fast, of the gravity of the situation. I have not contacted her because I think it needs to come from a CA constituent.

[EFerrari]

13. Consider this: no matter how clean you may be, you can be smeared

Right? We don't know what he's done or not. The package was just presented to us, mostly via the SF Chron: Breaking, Kevin Shelley is a VAMPIRE.

God, it's just so obvious.

Please use Ojai Person's contact info! We keep nattering about what to do. This is something we can do.

[Helga Scow Stern]

16. Ain't that the truth. n/t

[NationalEnquirer]

29. Can someone point me to a link about Shelley? I missed it this weekend.

Man, I was out all this weekend and I missed this.

[Helga Scow Stern]

30. Here is one

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-kevin-shelley-sg,1,3190744.storygallery?coll=la-headlines-california

and read my letter below, plus other threads.

[NationalEnquirer]

31. Thanks man!

I cannot believe the SPEED with which these people operate.
Its scary.
I mean, if he was really bad, then hey, out with him, but these charges sure look kinda gimpy..

[Helga Scow Stern]

33. Gimpy's a good word for it. n/t

[Helga Scow Stern]

5. AND WE MUST SEND MONEY TO THE LEGAL FUND.

I am not sure that asking him to rescind his resignation is the right thing right now. That fight might be too overwhelming for him at this time. But we can let him know we have his back. And get these issues out there:

Call Kevin Shelley 916-653-7244 and tell him we support him and will fight for him.

Donate to Kevin Shelley's legal defense fund by sending donations to his accountants at:

Olson, Hagel & Fishburn
555 Capitol Mall, Suite 1425
Sacramento, CA 95814
[phone]

Make checks out to Legal Defense Fund.

[Helga Scow Stern]

7. It is heartbreaking and a measure of the ostracization

that is taking place:

only $250 was in the fund, and it was from one of the attorneys who fought for him.

He had to mortgage his own house. This is the kind of thing that kills people. It is like a virus when cult thinking infects a group and they scapegoat someone for exposing a truth that they don't want revealed.

[senseandsensibility]

28. I know this will seem like a dumb question

but I am boycotting my local news and local (California) paper, so I am really out of the loop on this. Why, in you informed opinion, aren't the DEMS standing by him? I would really like to know your honest opinion. I feel that the better I understand their motives, the more effective I can be in writing to them. Thanks.

[Helga Scow Stern]

37. That is not a dumb question at all!

I don't know myself why they are not standing by him.

I can only assume things like the group mentality that happens when someone is ostracized...that is a very real and documented occurrence in situations like this. In such a planned attack, it would seem that reason to ostracize would certainly be thrown in--make it unacceptable to support him for various reasons--charges of abuse and sexual harassment, for instance. Or accuse him of things other dems are guilty of, so that by supporting him, they become vulnerable for the same attacks.

I am ignorant of the precise political motives. In other threads, people have suggested assorted jockeying that might be going on in the higher echelons between Dems--people wanting to run for different positions who want him out of the way. I am sure that this attack was orchestrated in such a way as to take these things all into account.

I know only of specific Dems, like Nicole Parra, D-Hanford, who is head of the auditing committee and from one of the Diebold counties that Shelley inconvenienced.

[senseandsensibility]

44. Thanks for answering!

It's probably a little of each of these things that you mentioned, but I wonder if we'll ever know the real story. I am becoming increasingly alarmed however, because this is exactly how the Dems in CA reacted when the phony Gray Davis recall was started. They let it happen, and they are letting this happen. I was not passive during the recall, but I want to do even more this time. It's going to be up to to the grassroots, but I plan to PROD the elected Dems into action any way I can! It's infuriating that this is happening again in a Democratically controlled state!:eyes:

[Helga Scow Stern]

45. It is not a "Republican" effort to get him---unless these are "moles"

Conny McCormack, LA Director of Elections, Dem, but heavily tied to voting machines, perhaps in unclean ways. :shrug:

Nicole Parra, D-Hanford (Diebold County involved in suing Shelley w/ McCormack's help) head of Audit Committee.

Ms. Chan, D-Oakland, other head of Audit Committee, from Alameda County, where Diebold was run out. Could just be a coincidence...

[senseandsensibility]

49. It's not a coincidence

I may not know much about this, although I'm learning, but I know it's not a coincidence. Not if these "Dems" are all angry because Dielbold was taken out of their precincts. I do know that Hanford is a very conservative town, and if it elects a Dem, he or she would have to be a Zell Miller type. Other than that, we need to do some research (in addition to all the great research you've already done), because something is very wrong here.

[Amaryllis]

57. One could ask a similar question about the dems who stonewalled the NM

recount efforts. Cobb said they were as bad as Blackwell.

[shance]

47. Kevin Shelley has had to mortgage his house because of this?

n/t

[EFerrari]

6. Ojai Person, I know how you feel I think.

I have zero tolerance for dishonesty. Wanna drive me nuts? Lie to me and watch. lol

And, I can only imagine the pressure he is under.

We're the counter pressure. And this is really important. God, I'm so tired. Been working this since 11/3. But, can't stop this taxi dance now.

I'm calling, writing and donating part of my lunch money. Hey, my first :bounce:

Thanks for posting
Beth

[Helga Scow Stern]

8. I'll match you.

:bounce:

I just started really seeing it today. I had to investigate and see for myself what had happened, as best I could.

And it is clear that he does not deserve this. It is an evil thing that is happening. And we must at the same time work like hell not to let the gains he made disappear. He was such a good personal watchdog, it sounds like.

[EFerrari]

10. That's right.

If he's guilty, let there be a trial. What happened to the presumption of innocence? For forty dollars, Alex, the question is Diebold.

But, they're hitting him on so many different fronts, I can see how each allegation becomes a threat. What an ugly, ugly time this is.

Let's hang in. We're the grown-ups now. Damn! :)

[EFerrari]

11. This really bugs me

Now, I understand how we all have to do our own investigations, get the facts ma'am, before we come down on one or the other side of a conflict.

(And the thugs that be EXCEL in creating conflict)

But, I've been trying to drum up at least awareness about this for weeks now. And have met so much premature judgment. Not exactly caution, but plain old assuming. "He's dirty, he has to go."

Well, we don't KNOW that.

This is what it looks like when people are smeared out of office. It's never about the facts, always about the rumors.

This is a fact: Kevin Shelley decertified Diebold in California after he reviewed a voting DEBACLE in Alameda County.

And then, the attack was on. Period.

[Helga Scow Stern]

17. Alameda County?! Someone from there is on the board with

Shelley as CA reps on the EAC.

I'll check and make sure.

And I know what you mean about the smear and how quickly people just believe the smear. That's why I had to convince myself that he was worth defending.

[EFerrari]

19. Yes, Alameda County.. That's the East Bay, Berkeley down to

Fremont.

They had a primary out there and the machines performed really poorly. Then, surprise, there was no way to recount. That was one of the precipitating events for the decertification. Remember, Alameda County won a settlement from Diebold.

[Amaryllis]

59. See this: Shelley victim of brutal media campaign

Feb. 7, 2005
Dear friends,

The corporations who control the media powerfully shape public opinion.
The below New York Times article describes how four major TV networks
refused to run "controversial" advertisements opposing the limitation of rewards in medical malpractice lawsuits. Both through limiting
advertisements and through biased reporting on critical issues, corporate ownership of the media can sway public opinion to promote their own agenda. See http://www.wanttoknow.info/mediacover-up
for numerous stories by award-winning reporters detailing blatant media manipulation and censoring.

Another important example of which few people are aware is the recent
media targeting of California Secretary of State Kevin Shelley. In May of 2004, Shelley called for a criminal investigation of voting machine
behemoth Diebold because the company had lied to state officials. "There was a wholesale breakdown in the election last March," he said.
"Untold thousands of individuals were turned away and denied their right to vote because the voting equipment couldn't start." So many of the machines malfunctioned or ran unapproved software that Shelley took the extraordinary step of decertifying them. (See CBS report on this at http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/07/28/sunday/main63... >http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/07/28/sunday/main63...
.

In early August,
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/200...
click here and scroll down about 3/4 of the page to see the SF Chronicle's timeline and accusations), this man who should have been a hero for championing electronic voting machines which are fully accountable, instead became the target of a brutal media campaign accusing him of allegations which could be applied to many politicians. He recently resigned as a result of the almost continual barrage of negative headline stories in the California media. Is it possible that powerful Diebold and the money interests behind them wanted to teach Shelley and others a lesson? Could they have wielded their influence to manipulate his departure? Read the summary at
http://www.wanttoknow.info/votingproblems
to see just how much power Diebold holds. Please help to play the role at
which the media is sadly failing by spreading this message.

With very best wishes,
http://www.wanttoknow.info/aboutus
WantToKnow.info team

[BanzaiBonnie]

12. I sent him an email

And Monday, I'm sending a check to his LDF

[EFerrari]

14. Thanks so much, Bonnie. As soon as he decertified Diebold,

I started watching the press. And thought, man, am I over the edge or what? But I wasn't. They started attacking him nearly immediately.

Let's see how we do.

Thanks again,
Beth

[Peace Patriot]

15. THANK YOU, OJAI PERSON, for your activism on this. I agree that...

...it is vitally important--indeed of FIRST IMPORTANCE. I've been saying for months now that the Election Reform fight has to take place at the state level--since BushCons have bushwhacked Congress on this issue (never going to happen at the federal level). And lo and behold, the BushCons are a thousand steps ahead of us again--destroying one of the few honest Secretaries of State in the country BEFORE we can even organize ourselves to ask MORE of him (such as no more secret source code)!

While I've been preaching that it must be a state by state fight, I've been working at the federal level on the Jan. 6 action, the Inauguration protests, and the Condoleleeza Rice and Alberto Gonzales nominations (tying them to election fraud). These campaigns had to be done--no question. But it reminds me of when I went to Alabama in 1965 to join Martin Luther King's civil rights movement and particularly the voter registration struggle that summer, and while I was there, the Watts riots erupted in my own back yard, Los Angeles. I had never heard of Watts! Really and truly. Didn't know where it was. (What a lesson! --running off to Alabama, for the danger and glamor, probably--I was 20!--while millions of poor, disenfranchised blacks in my own home town had become so desperate, there was nothing they could do but riot, burn and loot!)

Anyway, in my opinion THIS IS IT. CALIFORNIA is where we are going to win or lose the election reform fight.

I'm going to do a DU LETTER OF THE WEEK on it today, aimed at CA state legislators. Here's a proposed ACTION PLAN:

1. Support Shelley with donations, letters to the ed, etc., and praise in our letter.

2. Pressure on CA state legislators to, a) prevent a bad appointment, get a good appointment, and b) achieve open source code and VVPB, at least, and preserve the paper ballot option that Shelley gave us.

3. In this context, EDUCATE CA legislators, other CA politicos, the media and the public on 2004 election fraud--provide info and best urls--BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT IS COMING TO CALIFORNIA: Bushification. CA Dems are going to be very shocked when they all start losing elections. (Idiots! --Jeez, I get so furious at this Party!)

[Helga Scow Stern]

18. Also WE MUST START SCREAMING ABOUT PARTISAN EAC INVESTIGATION

And this is a national issue. If they can spend months and money investigating a decent SOS who has stepped down, they can damn well investigate Blackwell and do their job.

And we must be aware than many CA Dems are behind this evisceration.

Nicole Parra, D-Hanford is the head of the Audit Committee in the state legislature (not the State Auditor, Elaine Howle, who "seems" impartial and uncovers fault wherever she finds it, although she was recently reappointed by Schwarzenegger), who insisted on the full scale witch hunt.

She is the Dem assemblywoman from Kern County, one of the most stubborn Diebold Counties.

I don't know the story on Conny McCormack, supervisor of LA Co. elections, but we should find out. Andy Stephenson seemed to know something on her.

[EFerrari]

20. That's a good plan. I wanted to tell you something that worked

for me recently. My mom is a very progressive 72 yr old but she didn't really get the election theft. But we've been watching the Shelley situation and yesterday I pointed out, Blackwell and Harris didn't get tossed out of office despite all their shennanigans. No, Shelley is being attacked personally and driven out because he was the first one to stand up against the machines. She got it! And now understands the scope and the stakes of bb voting.

[Helga Scow Stern]

22. I just talked to my 86-year-old mom.

She said she knew something was up with it.

She took down all the donation and contact info to pass around her retirement home. It's in S-West LA and they all hate Bush with a passion. They are a hard bunch to fool.

[EFerrari]

23. Great!

I really hope that I turn out as well in my 70s & 80s

lol

:thumbsup:

[genius]

21. Good letter

[berniew1]

24. Shelly is right to be extremely concerned about touchscreen fraud- documen

documentation of widespread touchscreen fraud in many counties of many states in the 2004 election

http://www.flcv.com/ussumall.html

[troubleinwinter]

25. PLEASE POST HERE:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss//duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x318241

We are trying to get all the 'Shelley' stuff in one spot!

[Helga Scow Stern]

26. LETTER I SENT TO EVERYONE ON MY CA EMAIL:

(This is more to inform than to call people to action, except to express support for Shelley. I am not sure at this point what action to tell people to take other than this, and blasting the EAC and House Judiciary Committee. The situation in California is murky and we need to get to the bottom of it.)

Dear Friends and Family,

I spent most of yesterday and last night reading everything I could about the charges against California's Secretary of State who submitted his resignation on Friday, and I am convinced now that not only has he not done anything wrong of a magnitude requiring his resignation, but that it is because of some of the very good things he has done that he has become the subject of a massive attack from all sides.

The main good thing he has done is require firm standards for voting machines. Ever since he started demanding of county election officials that they comply with a list of stringent requests, he started to be "investigated" for charges that surely any politician could be found guilty of.

And the thing that really gets me is that now the federal Elections Assistance Commission is going to spend months investigating him, while they let Ken Blackwell, SOS of Ohio, slide for far more disruptive crimes against the electorate.

While Shelley is being accused of being partisan--he sent HAVA paid workers to political events--no mention is made by the EAC that Ken Blackwell was the co-chairman of Bush-Cheney in Ohio, and blatantly obstructed Democratic votes and voters at every turn. The attack on Shelley in Sacramento is bipartisan. While Republicans first called for the investigation, plenty of Democrats have joined in the bloodbath. One said she would run for his office. Another, Nicole Parra, D-Hanford, heads the legislative Audit Committee, and promised to "leave no stone unturned" in ruining his reputation. It just so happens that she represents a district which includes Kern County, one of four counties who had a contract with the infamous Diebold, makers of voting equipment that Shelley had outlawed here because the company had lied about meeting verifcation procedures.

Now one of his main detractors in the press is Conny McCormack, head of LA elections. She has accused him of preferring one voting company over another, but the fact is that the company Shelley "preferred" was the only one that provided the voter auditable paper trail. McCormack has a record with voting activists for being overboard for evoting with no paper trail, and may have strong ties of her own. From seeing the requirements that Shelley demanded, it was clear that he was not favoring anything so much as accurate elections. He has been lauded by voting activists across the country, who scrutinize these moves very closely. They all say he started getting "investigated" as soon as he opposed Diebold.

Many of our state Dems may not care about voting because their jobs are already secure under the gerrymandering done a few years ago, which left only one district in the state in which there is actually a contest. Otherwise the Dems and Reps have decided which district gets what. Now Schwarzenegger may change all that. With the legislation being demanded to be pushed through immediately by Conny McCormack to certify evoting machines, there is no telling how the balance of power will be redistributed in upcoming elections. The will of the people is not likely to be reflected, let alone known.

It is important for us to acknowledge what is going on in this case, and to lend our support to Mr. Shelley by contributing to his legal fund. As the LA Time sreported, he has been so abandoned that he had to take out a $500,000 mortgage on his home, while his legal fund had only a single contribution in it for $250, from one of the attorneys who defended him.

The LA Times said that the last straw in why he resigned--he had planned to fight it--is that his 84-year-old mother was just put in ICU.

Send your contribution to his accountants, marked for Legal Defense Fund:

Olson, Hagel & Fishburn
555 Capitol Mall, Suite 1425
Sacramento, CA 95814
[phone]

Call Shelley's office (he has till March 1 to be out) to express your support and to thank him for standing up for our rights as voters.
[phone].
Some people are saying to ask him not to resign, but I am afraid that might be asking too much from him now.

This is what is happening to politicians across the board who show any integrity. We need to show that we won't allow it. Unless we send a loud message that we appreciate his work regarding election reform, no other politician will do anything as courageous for a long time to come.






SOMBER MOMENT: Comforted by his wife, Dominique, California Secretary of State Kevin Shelley announces his resignation, saying, "I have done nothing wrong in the eyes of the law."


Sincerely,

XXXXXXXXXXX

Please pass it on!!!!

[Helga Scow Stern]

27. Kick.

[NationalEnquirer]

32. Any DUers have any inside info?

Alot of these charges seem pretty lame.
Anyone on DU "hear" about any of them?
I mean, "abusive workplace?"
What the heck?

[WeHoldTheseTruths]

34. IF IT LOOKS LIKE A SMEAR CAMPAIGN, AND QUACKS . . .

like a smear campaign, it IS a smear campaign.

This thread is full of truth. Write and call!

This is what they do. Next thing, one of Doug Coe's earnest minions will show up on Kelly's doorstep offering "spiritual" support. (Search "Madison + Coe" . . . and then search Hillary on the page) Oh, earnest minion and Coe pic, here:

http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101050207/photoessay/4.html

[WeHoldTheseTruths]

35. Oops.... Shelley, not Kelly in my post above

Sorry, I was using so much energy restraining myself from adding vulgar vindictives describing our common evil enemies, I forgot to read before clicking.

[WeHoldTheseTruths]

36. Madsen + Coe (here's the text)

I screwed that up too.

I said to search Madison + Coe -- should have been Wayne *Madson*
But anyway, it's here:

http://www.insider-magazine.com/ChristianMafia.htm
EXPOSÉ: THE “CHRISTIAN” MAFIA

and I was referring to these sentences:

" . . . In fact, Senator Clinton wrote that all of her relationships with the Fellowship began with the luncheon she attended in 1993. In her biography, Senator Clinton writes of Douglas Coe, “ is a genuinely loving spiritual mentor . . . Doug Coe became a source of strength and friendship.” Of course, Clinton is referring to the period of time when her husband was being harassed by conservative Republicans out for blood – the Whitewater investigation and impeachment hearings brought about by what she called the “vast right-wing conspiracy” against her husband. It is amazing that Mrs. Clinton would have established such a trusting relationship with people who were the “vast right-wing conspiracy” that she complained about so vociferously."

[Helga Scow Stern]

38. You mean this picture?

He's the one on the left.
Douglas Coe
The Stealth Persuader: Many people think Congress is the host of the gala annual National Prayer Breakfast, which takes place this week. It is not. The breakfast is organized by 33 members of Congress who belong to a well-connected but secretive Christian group called the Fellowship Foundation, which is run by Douglas Coe. Coe, 76, has been called the "stealth Billy Graham." He specializes in the spiritual struggles of the powerful.

Several members of Congress live in rooms rented in a town house owned by a foundation affiliated with the group. Coe and his associates sometimes travel (on their own dime) with congressional members abroad and—according to investigations by the Los Angeles Times and Harper's—have played backstage roles in such diplomatic coups as the 1976 Camp David accords. Yet Coe also befriends dictators. "He would still hold out hope that these people could be redeemed and try to work through them to help the people over whom they have authority," says Richard Carver, president of the Fellowship's board of directors. Some skeptical Evangelicals criticize Coe's indiscriminate alliances and his downplaying of Jesus' divinity in favor of his earthly teachings—which allows Coe to pray with Muslim and Buddhist leaders. But few turn down an opportunity to confer with him.

http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101050207/photoessay/4.html

[NationalEnquirer]

54. Interesting web they have weaved... n/t

[Amaryllis]

39. Save CA Campaign: New group formed to work on Shelley issue:

Please help post this on the dozen or so other Shelley links in this forum!

http://www.banthemachine.com/

Mission Statement

Why we are here.

SAVE CALIFORNIA!

MOVE OVER FLORIDA AND OHIO! CALIFORNIA IS THE NEW BATTLEGROUND STATE!

FIRST: They went after Gray Davis and took over the governorship with Arnold.
SECOND: They went after Kevin Shelley and have forced him to resign.
THIRD: They will install an RNC compliant Secretary of State and will take control of California's voting system.
FOURTH: They will mandate e-voting without paper (the bill is ready, the campaign begun)
FIFTH: They will redistrict California as was done in Texas
SIXTH: California will become a red state

GAME OVER. If we don't save California's electoral system from takeover, the battle for our votes will be irreparably set back.


EMERGENCY ACTIONS

1. CALL KEVIN SHELLEY: 916-653-7244
Urge Him to rescind his resignation (His resignation doesn't take effect until March 1st).

2. SEND MONEY TO KEVIN SHELLEY'S DEFENSE FUND
He has expended a great deal of his personal funds so that he can continue to fight for fair elections. If we lose him, we could lose California. To donate to Kevin Shelley's legal defense fund, send donations to his accountants at:

Olson, Hagel & Fishburn
555 Capitol Mall, Suite 1425
Sacramento, CA 95814
[phone]

Make checks out to: Legal Defense Fund.

3. EMAIL CALIFORNIA STATE LEGISLATORS
State Senators
State Assemblymen & women
Demand they resist the take-over of California's election system. Insist on paper ballots for Californians.

We have set up BanTheMachine.com for a campaign to save California. Suggestions are entirely welcome. Please use the site to organize, mobilize, and fight the campaign to save California's voting system from take-over.



More to Come...

[Helga Scow Stern]

40. I saw this, and I am not sure I agree with everything.

While I agree with sending money to Shelley's defense campaign and calling him to express support, I don't think he's in a position to rescind his resignation. I also am not sure what good it would do to write California legislators, except to let them know that anyone who goes along with smearing Shelley is on the shit list.

Plus the redistricting ALREADY in place is not a good thing. While it gives a Dem control of the legislature, it means no one cares about the voters--why should they, their position is ensured?

Geting rid of this redistricting could be a good thing--it all depends on who is on the panel of retired judges that gets appointed to do the redistricting. That is perhaps something we should be focusing on. Clearly, those already in power don't really have much integrity.

We must also keep it up on the machines and fight Conny McCormack's efforts to undo what Shelley has done.

Edited to add:

Plus, we must use this opportunity to bring up nationally the inequity of the EAC and FBI investigating Shelley while no one touches Blackwell.

[Amaryllis]

41. So do you think I should not be posting about this new group? I am not

in CA but have followed Shelley for a long time becasue of his stance on Diebold and am very concerened about this. But you know a lot more than I do.

[Helga Scow Stern]

42. I don't know....

I think the more it gets out and the more support given the better...

That's the main thing. And we should be writing the Dem legislature about the voting changes Conny McCormack is trying to pass... but it is all so murky still. And this message is from before he resigned.

I was just voicing a few concerns. I don't know much more than anyone else about what is REALLY going on.

[Amaryllis]

43. Check this out for more dirt on Diebold and Shelley (SF CHronicle)

From SF Chronicle

An October 2003 audit by Secretary of State Kevin Shelley also found Diebold had installed software not certified by the state in the 17 counties using Diebold systems.

/snip

In April, Shelley yanked state approval of a Diebold touch-screen voting system used in Solano, San Joaquin, Kern and San Diego counties because it still lacked federal approval.

The settlement requires Diebold to reimburse San Joaquin, Kern and San Diego counties for the costs of switching to another voting system in the November election, something the company had already pledged to do. Solano County reached a separate settlement with Diebold earlier.

Ten other counties were allowed to use electronic voting systems in the presidential election but only after making several security and accuracy upgrades demanded by Shelley. All of those counties had to have paper ballots at polling places in case the electronic systems failed.

Of those 10 counties, only Alameda and Plumas have systems made by Diebold. Under the settlement, Diebold would pay 25 percent of the costs Alameda and Plumas counties incurred for having to offer paper ballots.


E-mail Greg Lucas at [email protected].
More:
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/11/11/BAG869PCU31.DTL

[Helga Scow Stern]

46. What was the alleged reason for the state Financial Office to hold back

half of HAVA funds right before the election so an audit could be conducted of Shelley's use of those funds? So that McCormack, et al could complain loudly about what a "mess" Shelley had created?

In this article from the Bakersfield Californian, the director of the EAC was behind Shelley's actions:


snip--
"I find myself at the middle of a national debate that will quickly go global," the head of the federal Election Assistance Commission told Maryland election officials last week.DeForest SoarIes heads the federal commission formed in the wake of the 2000 presidential election fiasco in Florida. The commission helps upgrade the nation's voting system by doling out billions of dollars in grants to states for equipment.

SoarIes has jumped into a debate that some contend makes a "big deal out of nothing."

Think again. The integrity of the nation's voting system is a big deal. It is the foundation of our democracy. And for those including some folks in Kern County who are trying to minimize concerns about new electronic systems, SoarIes' words should be a wake-up call:

"Now is the time for computer scientists and election officials to get together to solve the problem."

--snip

The head of the federal Election Assistance Commission is joining Shelley's demands for added security and government oversight of the electronic voting systems.
--snip

http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/editorial/story/4752789p-4803022c.html

[Helga Scow Stern]

51. Found it....

here is the weasely source who got EAC to investigate, aided by the SJ Mercury News:

http://www.etopiamedia.net/empnn/pages/cpt-emnn/cpt-emnn115-5551212.html

On Friday, August 20th, shortly after revelations and allegations published in the San Francisco Chronicle and the San Jose Mercury kicked off the "Shelleygate" scandal, California Politics Today contacted the Election Assistance Commission to find out what, if anything, it was doing to monitor the spending of California's HAVA money. Brian Whitener, spokesperson for EAC, told CPT that EAC was expecting a report from California regarding the spending of its HAVA money in March, 2005.

Asked about the reports in the San Jose Mercury that almost half-a-million dollars in federal HAVA funds were being misappropriated by the state's chief elections officer, Mr. Whitener indicated that EAC couldn't comment on news reports.

Asked if EAC had a mechanism in place for the on-going auditing of the hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer funds it was allocating under the HAVA to California and other states, Mr. Whitener indicated that it did not.

Mr. Whitener suggested that inquiries regarding the misappropriation of HAVA funds in this case be directed to "California," which he indicated meant the Secretary of State of California, the very person whose use of these funds was at issue.

At Mr. Whitener's suggestion, CTP prepared and e-mailed to him a list of questions regarding the allegations made about California Secretary of State in the San Jose Mercury article.

At 12:48 pm, PDT, on Friday, August 20th, this e-mail was sent to Mr. Whitener at the EAC:

Hi Brian,

Here's a link to today's article in the San Jose Mercury alleging that California Secretary of State Kevin Shelley has misappropriated almost half a million dollars in HAVA money:

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/world/9449482.htm

As a reporter for California Politics Today, at http://www.etopiamedia.net/empnn/pages/cpt-emnn/cpt-emnn0.html, I'd like to do a short recorded audio interview with someone at EAC to discuss:

1. Is there an ongoing audit function at EAC to monitor/supervise the disbursement in the states of the HAVA funds EAC is responsible for providing to the states?
2. Has EAC taken note of the recent allegations against Secretary of State Shelley?
3. Does EAC have any comment about these allegations?
4. Is EAC conducting or planning to conduct any investigations of these allegations?
5. What criminal charges or civil remedies could be pursued by EAC if it finds wrongdoing on the part of Secretary of State Shelley?
6. Can misappropriation of HAVA funds by state election officers result in action by EAC to limit further payment of HAVA funds to the offending states?
7. Have there been, to your knowledge, any other instances of alleged or proven misappropriation by states of HAVA funds and, if so, what has been the disposition of these cases?

If possible, I'd like to get something on the record about these questions before the close of business today.

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide about these questions.

Regards,

Marc Strassman
Reporter
California Politics Today
Etopia Media Political News Networks
Etopia Media News Networks

Go to the site to see the response and associated bragging. There are lots of interviews here, with Conny McCormack, members of EAC, and many other players here, but I can't figure out how to get them to play.

[Peace Patriot]

50. CONTACT CALIFORNIA LEGISLATORS

CA ASSEMBLY

http://www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/acsframeset7text.htm

listed by name, party, distr, bio & direct EMAIL LINK TO THEIR WEB SITE

------

CA SENATE & ASSEMBLY

http://www.cawa.org/legcont.htm

Includes Assembly & Senate TEL & FAX - Senate at bottom
Also, click on name for direct link to EMAIL

Letter form for snail mail: The Honorable _______, State Capitol, Room # ______, Sacramento, CA 95814 - the above url includes Room #.

[Peace Patriot]

48. LETTER OF THE WEEK #4: Kevin Shelley, Diebold & Election Fraud LETTER OF T

LETTER OF THE WEEK #4: Kevin Shelley, Diebold & Election Fraud

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x319613

GO HERE for a sample draft letter on this matter, that, 1) defends Shelley, recommends preserving his reforms, and recommends appointment of someone up to his high standard of vigilance; 2) warns California of what this could mean--the Dieboldisation and Bushification of California; 3) educates (with summaries of studies, and urls to others) on 2004 Election Fraud.

It's aimed at CA legislators--and the post provides link to CA legislator contact info. It's a DRAFT LETTER, a bit too long, but a start...

[demodonkey]

52. Kick

:kick:

[Helga Scow Stern]

53. Creepy "Shelley Must Resign" website

http://www.shelleymustresign.com/news.htm

check out all the negative headlines it gathers.

Getting bad reports in the news is the ticket...

the EAC chairman said, we have to investigate because its in the newspapers.

[Helga Scow Stern]

55. I just got my notice from the DMV

to renew my driver's liscense, and in it for the first time, was a notice from Kevin Shelley to register to vote, abd instructions on reregistering in case I had moved.

This spurs me on even more, because Conny McCormack is insisting what a mess of everything Shelley made, when he was really doing quite a consistent and conscientious job by all appearances.