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An open discussion on how to beat the election clock and defeat the Spiral

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mikelewis Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Nov-26-04 11:29 PM
Original message
An open discussion on how to beat the election clock and defeat the Spiral
At Half Price Books, I picked up a copy of The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. I love this book, it's like reading about the devil. I picked it up again because of this election and more importantly, the events that have transpired over the past few years.

The thing that has puzzled me about the election fraud stories is the lack of main-stream media coverage. One would think that stories such as those from Blackboxvoting.org and others would have created a media frenzy the likes of which this country has never before seen. But it has not. In fact, the only coverage seems to try to label those who are searching for answers as "tin-foiled hat" wearing conspiracy theorists. It begs one to consider what the people in Germany must have been saying as Hitler rose to power. I know, for some, equating Bush to Hitler is a vulgar stretch of the imagination. For others, it rolls off the lips as easy as strawberry wine. Regardless, the concern people felt about Hitler's rise to power was as real as many people's concerns about Bush's ascension to power. If this election was rigged and if the other issues that people feel Bush is responsible for are true, then why has there not been more of a public outcry? Despite the lack of media coverage, why aren't people rising up in massive demonstrations to force our government to reveal the truth? Why is there no public outcry for justice in our voting system? Are the people so complacent that they will allow the democratic process to be undercut by fraudulent actions?

The answer to this question is the same as it was 60 years ago. The Spiral of Silence is the name of the phenomenon in which the people of Germany experienced during Hitler's rise to power. The number of people who know that the 2000 election was rigged and the growing revelation that this 2004 election was rigged is settling into the minds of the people and yet, where are the patriots, the protestors, the "voice of one calling in the desert"?

The true enemy of our country is the Spiral of Silence.
http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/Speech/rccs/theory09.htm

In this article, the key concepts of the Spiral of Silence are:

Central Assumptions:

One's perception of the distribution of public opinion influences one's willingness to express opinions.

The spiral of silence demonstrates why people are unwilling to express their opinions (publicly) when they are not believed to be in the majority.

People feel an increasing pressure to conceal their views and opinions when they believe they are in minority.

Individuals perceptions of the opinions of others is a critical factor in determining their willingness to express those opinions.


It is these factors that compel complacency and will allow, if not combated, the perpetuation of this fraudulent regime. But the question is, how do we combat such a powerful natural reaction?

Many believe that the media is the solution to this problem. That by exposing these issues to the major news publications and television shows will cause them to eventually realize that there is a problem and finally report what we have discovered. Unfortunately, this is doomed to failure. The reason is that the media is responsible for perpetuating this Spiral of Silence.

Media's Effect on the Spiral of Silence:
Mass media has a lasting effect on public opinion.
"The theory maintains that mass media work simultaneously with majority public opinion to silence minority beliefs on cultural issues."
--Defining Communication Theories

"Mass media, particularly TV, tells us not only what to think about, but also imposes their reality of what everybody else is---supposedly---thinking about."
--Tim Buell

"I have never found a spiral of silence that goes against the tenor of the media, for the willingness to speak out depends in part upon sensing that there is support and legitimization from the media."
--Noelle-Neumann

"The media provide people with the words and phrases they can use to defend a certain point of view. If people find no current, frequently repeated expressions for their point of view, they lapse into silence; they become effectively mute."
--Noelle-Neumann

It is by their actions and inactions that public perception is molded. Consider the Iraq War. The mantra of W.M.D and 9/11 connections was repeated so many times that some people still believe these issues are still solvent reasons for our participation. Now the current perception is that we are there to spread freedom and democracy to the Middle East. This new mantra has been repeated by such images as the peaceful voting in Afghanistan and the Prime Minister of Iraq, Allawi giving his speech of thanks before our Congress. As noble an enterprise as this is, this is not a valid reason to perpetuate aggression against another state. If this idea had been presented as the central reason we were attacking Iraq, how much public support would they have gleaned?

The same holds true for this election. If the media had came out on election night and proclaimed that there was something amiss, how would that have affected the public opinion in our nation? Would we see people in the streets in demonstrations, as we see in the Ukraine today? The media has made every effort to stifle doubt in this election. They have applied the label of "Conspiracy Theory" to honest questions and have, in fact, waged a disinformation campaign against the American people.

Our constant pleas to the Mainstream media will continue to go unheard unless we do something that will force them to abandon their current campaign. I don't believe that the entire media has been corrupted by the Bush Administration but it is likely that many have been. They have been promised access in exchange for silence in many occasions. Again, the example of Iraq is fitting. The media was allowed to "embed" reporters with our troops. This was never done before. This brought the war right into our living rooms on a scale never dreamt of in the Vietnam War. This also brought enormous ratings and enormous profits. What would they be willing to stifle in exchange for access, ratings and profits?

If we are to be successful in this campaign, we must adopt a new strategy. The Internet is a very powerful tool but it does not have the trust of the people. We must begin to distribute a new form of media. Actually, it's an old form of media. To incite the people to rebel in the Revolutionary War, what did our Founding Fathers turn to in order to educate the people to their point of view? We must once again bring up the Federalist Papers and Common Sense. If you agree that the media is no longer a friend to the American people and this message will not be presented to them, then what other alternative is there. Among us, we have the resources to distribute this information cheaply and efficiently.

To print up flyer, the cost is cheap. Your local copy store can print up flyers for about $0.08 a copy. If you print more, the price will go down. For the paranoid, I suggest paying cash and changing the place you get copies frequently. These flyers can be distributed at malls all over this country. Right now, we are in the holiday shopping season. The malls will be packed with people and the parking lots will be packed with cars. In a few minutes, you could have over a hundred flyers passed out and never even draw attention to yourself. For the bold, go downtown and pass them out on the streets or at churches.

As these flyers begin to circulate, the message that they deliver must be clear and contain a call to action. I am not going to offer an opinion as to what this call should contain as this should be a consensus of the people who write the fliers. If we could get a group of people together on this site to write these papers and allow them to be edited by their peers, I believe that in a few weeks, we could actually begin to start to slow this Spiral of Silence and begin to turn the tide in the other direction. I hope that you can participate in this, whether its delivery or design. If enough of us do this, the word will get out and people will no longer be afraid to discuss this topic. If enough people are talking about this, there will be those that will do something about it. This could spread beyond the control of our government and allow the people to once again have a voice.

I am not a proponent of mob rule. I believe in this Republic and this Constitution and do not want to see these cast aside. This is why I am offering this plan of action as this will restore the voice to the people and put our government on notice. We must no longer tolerate tyranny. Depriving the people their voice is a mechanism of tyranny. I will not suffer this Spiral of Silence, not in this country, not at this time. Please, help.

Sincerely,

Michael Lewis








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nadinbrzezinski Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Nov-26-04 11:34 PM
Response to Original message
1. hmm not a bad idea,
also other ideas

Run discusion salons, for people who think similarly

Have committees of correspondence

The blogs some of us run are usueful

But most importantly, talk to people... we all must talk to people
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mikelewis Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Nov-26-04 11:40 PM
Response to Reply #1
2. I tell at least 2 to 3 people a day, I work as a security installer...
and talk to them about this for about 2 to 3 hours. The problem is, this won't be fast enough to get the word out. We need a mass delivery service of this message and flyers is the easiest and cheapest way available. This is how I market and I know how effect they are. My partner is amazed by the response I get with flyers. We cancelled our Yellow Page ad and now devote all our attention to flyers. I am willing to pass out about 2,000 next week in the Eastside of Cleveland. This is the area that was hit hardest by the suppression. I need a group to come up with the best message to put forward and I will deliver Cleveland to our cause.

Sincerely,
Michael Lewis

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New Earth Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Nov-26-04 11:43 PM
Response to Original message
3. everything you say is true
Edited on Fri Nov-26-04 11:43 PM by Faye
and i think it is a great idea. we should get to working on this right away - i can make some of my own copies here at home - but i can't do any color.

you are also an excellent writer, coming from another writer!!! and this isn't the first post I've thought that about. (except i don't use proper grammar online)
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mikelewis Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Nov-26-04 11:47 PM
Response to Reply #3
5. Black and White Copies works best, I know
It's the cheapest and actually the most effective. Bold the main title and keep the message to under 1 minute read time. It's hard to craft a message this way but when you get it right, it works like a charm.

And thanks for the compliment. After we kick the media's ass, please send me one a day for 3 days, lol.

Sincerely,
Michael Lewis
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proudtobeadem Donating Member (665 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Nov-26-04 11:50 PM
Response to Reply #3
6. Hi all, there is a really good new flyer on what really happened but I
can't get it print. Maybe someone can figeure it out please?
I can hand them out in the subways and mall.
Here' the link:

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proudtobeadem Donating Member (665 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Nov-26-04 11:56 PM
Original message
Damn, I don't know why that keeps happening, but if you go to What really
happened.com, and go to november 26 you'll find it
it says "stolen election flyer for posting around town"
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KaryninMiami Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Nov-26-04 11:45 PM
Response to Original message
4. I agree- 100% and have been distributing fliers for weeks!
Actually, they are mini-flyers in bright colors that say "Question the Election- Because You Have the Right to Know". There are 2 paragraphs of text that starts off with "Think everything went perfectly on November 2nd? Think Again".. This is followed by some facts, statistics, etc. Not too much info- just enough to get get people thinking. Plus a list of links so people can go read and learn on their own. I've been giving these out everywhere- trains, planes, while waiting in line, to taxi drivers- anywhere I've been able to start a conversation with someone who is interested in discussing the election.

I have also been sending out a newsletter weekly to hundreds of people and to anyone I meet who is interested and gives me their email address. My goal since day 1 was go GET THE WORD OUT == anywhere and everywhere possible.

But we all need to do much more. We need not only flyers with a consistent message and a clear, call to action, we also need to advertise everywhere we can. For that we need major funding which I have been writing about for a while now. We need to figure out how to raise some serious money so that we can fund the awareness effort and we need to do this quickly.

I am out of town this week but am checking mail often and am ready to get started. While I don't have a lot of money to donate, I do have some time and am willing to do whatever necessary to get started on a public awareness campaign to stop the Spiral of Silence. Count me in and let's please begin.
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LisaLynne Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-27-04 12:18 AM
Response to Reply #4
10. That's beautiful!!!
You are a true patriot! This is an excellent idea. We can get the information out there -- get the questions implanted in people's mind! Can you imagine if you were a person who thought something suspicious might have happened on Nov. 2nd, but didn't know anyone else who did? What if you happened to see a poster telling you you might be right and that there are others who think the same way? It would encourage and enbolden you! This is what we need to do!
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vinessa4freedom Donating Member (874 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Nov-26-04 11:52 PM
Response to Original message
7. There is so much to say...
some suggestions for how much to talk about? Just the election?
It's a great idea.
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New Earth Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Nov-26-04 11:56 PM
Response to Reply #7
8. some key points to include in a flyer....
Edited on Fri Nov-26-04 11:58 PM by Faye
- there will be a recount in Ohio/Kerry campaign is getting involved
- Ohio Democratic Party will contest the Ohio election
- the Volusia County/BBV discovery of fraud
- GAO will conduct investigation
- mention the testimonies of voter supression throughout the country
- mention Rev. Jesse Jackson and any other popular names of those involved that would get people's attention
- direct them to Countdown on MSNBC with Keith Olbermann
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MarkusQ Donating Member (516 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-27-04 11:03 AM
Response to Reply #8
29. More key points

  • This is not a partisan issue; all parties have an interest in fair elections
  • This is not about overturning any given election (although some results have been changed); it's about making sure that all eligible votes (and only eligible voters) are allowed to vote, and that their votes are correctly counted
  • It's also about keeping the process open--by accountable public officials, with full public visibility, and access for the press and concerned citizens--rather than having it handled in back rooms by nameless contractors
  • We need to hold ourselves to the same high standards we extol to the world at large; if we're going to talk the talk we'd better walk the walk. That means catching and prosecuting any election fraud, at any level.


I would actually down play the Ohio/Democratic Party stuff, as that may alienate half the people. Presented properly, I'm finding Republicans as or more receptive to the idea. And the only way we're going to get anywhere with this is if we define the "us" (honest people regardless of party affiliation) vs. "them" (corrupt people, regardless of party affiliation) and have a 99%/1% advantage rather than getting bogged down with the red-vs.-blue 50%/50% split.

--MarkusQ
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asjr Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-27-04 12:10 AM
Response to Original message
9. As far as American media are concerned, I think they are the
worst traitors in this country. They all know the truth but will not let it be known.
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Senator Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-27-04 12:28 AM
Response to Original message
11. Here's a flyer...
...that simply states what we demand.

The declaration in graphic (JPG) format.

It can also be found in TXT, HTML, and DOC formats for use in any flyer you wish to make up.

Getting into specifics just plays into the hands of the DC/Media Analstocracy. It allows them to fiddle away on details while our democracy continues to burn. This is WHY we ALL MUST...

MUST change the FRAME


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mikelewis Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-27-04 01:05 AM
Response to Reply #11
16. I like it but it's may be a bit too much for my intended audience
You guys can read and understand what is in this flyer but you are asking too much of a flyer. It has to be simple and direct. I have tried this approach with security and this issue is very similar.


I am leaning to something simpler and less antagonistic.
Something like this:
Attention Cuyahoga Voters

The Nov. 2nd, 2004 Presidential Election has caused some citizens to become concerned that fraud may have contributed to the outcome of the election. In many precincts in Cuyahoga County, voters were denied thier right to cast thier vote or had thier votes thown in the trash. Many of these people have been voting for years and there has been no explanation for discarding these votes. Also it has come to our attention that there has been some strange irregularities in the vote tebulating machines that have strongly favored one candidate.

The national and local media believe that this issue is best resolved "behind closed doors" and feel that, should this information become public knowledge, the people may not fully understand the implications of fraud in our election process. They are concerned that this issue might get "out of control". Unfortunately, by stifling this investigation, it allows the persons who benefit from this fraud to retain thier positions. We are currently involved in a recount effort in Ohio and need to hear your voice. Please call Mr. Bladdity Blah or Senator So and So and tell them that you would like more information concerning the vote fraud issue. Also, please contact your local whozimawhatzit and where you can find out more information regarding this issue.

Thank you for voting or trying to vote and thank you for halping us ensure that our democracy is safe from sorruption.

Sincerely,
The Voting Council of Greater Cleveland



I was hoping for something along these lines as it may be a little easier to swallow. I do talk to people all the time about this and I lead in with statements like, "Hey, did you hear about the election? Man, that Bush guy did it again, ha ha." In a few minutes they're right where I need them to be. It's would be fun if it wasn't so sickening.

Sincerely,
Michael Lewis
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New Earth Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-27-04 01:07 AM
Response to Reply #16
17. do you mean corruption?
i've never heard of sorruption :(
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mikelewis Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-27-04 03:35 AM
Response to Reply #17
24. Sorruption is a sorry excuse for corruption or simply misspelled, lol
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Senator Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-27-04 01:50 AM
Response to Reply #16
18. I agree...
...that the flyer I posted is quite antagonistic. It was written partially to target Dems/Libs who are forever losing their will and falling into defeatism.

But mainly it is an attempt to...

...Change the FRAME

As for your text, it is very good and written for the public at large. I would offer a couple of editing suggestions though.

Should be "many citizens."

For readibility I would start new paragraphs; before the 2nd sentence, before the 5th sentence, before the 8th sentence, and before the 10th sentence.

Also, I would bold and/or italicize key phrases.

Cheers
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mikelewis Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-27-04 01:59 AM
Response to Reply #18
20. But who can they contact? I have no idea who they can call about this.
Writing a letter will not help. Calling the BOE is a waste of time. The media, a big ziltch. Who can they call if they do not have access to the internet or do not trust the internet as a source? I do think the person was right in referring them to Keith at Countdown but is there anyone they can call? I am hesitant to get them to call the Democratic Party as I do not see them as a very strong ally in this. Is there some 527 or something we can refer them to?

Michael Lewis
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Senator Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-27-04 02:09 AM
Response to Reply #20
21. Writing a letter WILL help...
...as will calling or writing anyone in authority. Congressman, Senator, Governor, Sec. of State/Elections officials, local newspaper editors, local tv, other media, etc...

The point is to make noise. Simply be vocal. Create "buzz."

Sad to say, but "buzz" rules the world at this moment in history. And it takes far less than you might imagine. A cable show gets 100 angry emails and it feels it is "deluged" (yes, really).

--
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MarkusQ Donating Member (516 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-27-04 10:41 PM
Response to Reply #16
33. I liked the text

I liked the text, especially the "favoured one candidate" line. That's a very good way to get the point across without being confrontational.

I've found that, first and foremost, it's important to treat this as a non-partisan issue. (Of course, I'm a Republican in a very red state, so your mileage may very.) If you mention specific candidates, specific races, or specific parties right off the bat you can see people's eyes glaze over as they peg you as having an ax to grind. Instead, if you start off on generalities (many politicians are corrupt, it's in the best interest of all of us to get the scoundrels out, etc.) it's much easier to get buy in. After that, having the details at hand is important, but I tend to save them until I'm sure they understand that I'm not as interested in who won which race as I am in having the whole process squeaky clean.

--MarkusQ
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crispini Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-27-04 12:35 AM
Response to Original message
12. Thank you for posting this.
Best reason I've heard so far for flyering. Very well put; you have convinced me of its worth.

There are some good ones on election issues at http://www.bigpath.net/politics/Home/home.html

They are only missing your "call to action" except they do say to write your representatives.

As soon as I get back to a copier, my flyering campaign will commence.
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rdmccur Donating Member (622 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-27-04 12:36 AM
Response to Original message
13. underground (or not major) newspapers
Some consensual list could be published in some of the circulated, but non-mainstream, newpapers. For intance here in Albuquerque NM we have the Alibi and the Crosswinds.
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KaryninMiami Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-27-04 12:44 AM
Response to Original message
14. Flyer suggestions continued
These need to be SIMPLE, Eye Catching, Non-Partisan (this is about our democracy, remember?), Clear, Factual and most of all- must resonate with as many people immediately as possible. We need a marketing message that everyone can relate to- (my suggestion was Question the Election-- but I am open to other ideas. Prove My Vote is another one going around. The goal here is to get people thinking and motivate them to action.

We cannot expect everyone to immediately jump on the "Fraud" bandwagon. Understand please that the idea that our government might have screwed the country out of having our votes count is HUGE---and will not be something most people will embrace immediately.

But they might embrace facts and statistics and want to know more (which is why we need to provide links and places to call). For those who already know something went wrong and are already upset about this - they will now know that they are not alone.

True fact--

On November 3rd (at 5am), I did a google search on "Election fraud 2004." Nothing came up. Today there are a total of 2,080,000 links.
Think no one is out there talking and writing about this? THINK AGAIN!

Frankly, it is amazing! There are hundreds of blogs, message boards, websites, web groups, links, etc. Imagine how many others are out there who are not yet connected or do not have computers! Our job is to link them all together somehow and at the same time, connect to those who have not yet learned about us. I have no idea how to do this and am aware that we need a strategic plan.

I am hereby REPORTING TO DUTY. Anyone else ready for action?

Anyone else care to jump on board?

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mikelewis Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-27-04 01:54 AM
Response to Reply #14
19. What about advertising the $200,000 reward
Any thoughts about this?

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Carolab Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-27-04 12:49 AM
Response to Original message
15. Kick
For more input
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pauldp Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-27-04 02:20 AM
Response to Original message
22.  F*ck the media whores-Let's March!
Edited on Sat Nov-27-04 02:33 AM by pauldp
We should turn them away if they show up at any protest events. We don't want those slimebags controlling our message anyway.

Anyone working for the MSM should now be referred to as a pod person.

Flyers, protests everywhere and the internet are the only way to get a clean message out. But we must take action NOW! Otherwise enertia will take over and it will be even harder to motivate people to stand up.

Even if it is only small groups of us at a time marching in the streets, lets do it! A show of unity even on a small scale is very important.

Last Saturday a bunch of us got together in my little town of San Luis Obispo, CA ( a red county in a blue state) and marched. People came out of coffee shops and stores to cheer us on. It was a mixed bag of people marching against voter fraud and people marching against the war, but now people here know about the fraud issue. It felt great!! We passed out flyers with details and links and held up signs and chanted "count all the votes!" drums and percussion echoed off the walls of our quaint little downtown. I highly recommend it!

we are planning another for next week
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mikelewis Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-27-04 03:29 AM
Response to Reply #22
23. I guess Jesse Jackson is now getting involved
It's about friggin time too. I have never really liked J.J. though I respected the fire he has shown over the years. But, if he can motivate people to stand up, he is now my new best freind. I am so sick of charts and bogus media reports, I am ready to march as well. I am putting a flyer together and hitting the streets with it. I will post my results and let others know how successful it is. They are going to hear me if I have to shout at the top of my lungs off the top of the Terminal Tower. I have just finished a letter to Kerry, calling him out. I told him that it is time to "put up or shut up". I told him the young man that "threw daggers into an unjust war" would never stand for such an injustice. I told him that if he fails to act then he is a fraud just as much as these elections. So if I should suddenly kill myself by stabbing myself in the back 30 times and then crawling over a mile to shoot myself in the back of the head, it's probably becasue I was depressed about the election. Screw 'em.

Sincerely,
Michael Lewis


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vinessa4freedom Donating Member (874 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-27-04 08:05 AM
Response to Reply #23
25. Don't take it out on John Kerry.
Please keep in mind who the anger is really at. Senator Kerry knows what he's doing. He hasn't abandoned us. Aren't we angry at the administration, here?

Any links about the Jesse Jackson involvement would be helpful. Thanks for all the great suggestions.
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pauldp Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-27-04 09:24 AM
Response to Reply #25
26. It's time for the Dems to stand up
I'm not counting Kerry and Company out yet but they better step up to the plate and quick. AND they better explain why it took them so long.

This is not about who wins and who loses. People in positions of power need to decide now if they are going to be complicit in this crime or if they are going to fight with everything they have to restore this country to democracy. Personally I don't think there is any room to be half-assed in this.

When I hear Bev Harris of BBV say that only one cynical lawyer for the Dems showed up in Volusia county after they uncovered hard evidence of election fraud it just burns me up.
I haven't heard of any concerted effort by the top Dems to go on the MSM and talk about the Berkley study or Dr. Freeman's paper out of U Penn or to even underscore the fact that the Republicans killed the paper trail legislation in committee. Maybe there is some master strategy here but it seems unlikely. I think they are just waiting to see what the people do, and if we the people take our cues from the MSM we are all f*cked.
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seito Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-27-04 09:38 AM
Response to Reply #25
27. Link: Jesse Jackson on Video the Vote in Ohio!
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mikelewis Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-27-04 10:30 AM
Response to Reply #25
28. I am going to send him a letter every single day, calling him out
He promised us that he would fight for us. Where has that fight been? You can say that he has been doing things behind closed doors but how much faith are we to have?

A leaderless army falls into disarray eventually unless someone rises up to take control. This is his position and he has abandoned it. A few days or a week of silence can be understood. This is getting ridiculous. It's time to start pushing a bit. We are running out of time. The word needs to reach his ears that we are following through with this with or without him.

I don't care what the law says concerning recounting ballots. The law has been rendered obsolete as the people who dictate and enforce these laws have lost validity. Since thier power is derived from the vote and that vote has been usurped then how can it be said that the law that protects them is valid?


I believe that there was fraud and that's enough for me. I am not asily convinced of anything. I believe I have sufficient information to convince others. George Bush has declared war on my democracy. It's time war was declared on him. If John Kerry, "Senator and Billionaire has replaced John Kerry, American" then I do not need him leading me. I will do a much better job than someone who is afraid to stand up and let his voice be heard. I have been in dozens of fights, one time against 3 men and I have never lost. People have tried to take from me and I have stopped them. I am from the streets and people from the streets will follow me. I was hoping that it would not have to come to this and I still have hope that it will not. But you do realize that this is a precursor to war. It is not one that I have started but it is one that I will see finished, or die fighting.

So if John Kerry won't defend himself, he does not deserve to be President. If we must then we will cast down this regime and force a fair election and deny any current politician from running in it. When I was a child, my fathe made me learn how to type. I had to repeatedly type one phrase which I never understood. "Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country." I have to hunt and peck for every letter but these. These I have typed so many times that my fingers naturally find thier way to these words. "Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country." My father was no patriot, he held no love of King and country. This is how he was taught to type. I never understood thier meaning until now. Now, is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their county. Though I am unsuited for this task, without leadership from men of power, it is the powerless that must rise to the occassion. SO I will call John Kerry out but if he is unwilling to fight then to hell with him. This is my country too. I do not need him to fight my battles. The young man that sat hunched over that microphone throwing daggers into a false war has earned my respect and I will follow him. If the Senator from Massachusetts has weakened the fire of this young man then he is not one I will follow. I have told him this in my last letter and will tell him to his face if the opportunity should arise.

This war has not progressed to the points that arms are required for our defense. I do not believe we are there just yet but that day will come. You know it as well as I do. This play has been acted out too many times for people not to see the climax. It saddens me that this is the path we are on but I didn't strike the first blow. God willing, I will strike the last.

Sincerely,
Michael Lewis
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Woody Box Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-27-04 05:02 PM
Response to Reply #28
31. Yeah, Mike

Well spoken :yourock:

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KaryninMiami Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-27-04 04:46 PM
Response to Reply #23
30. I agree - it's about time Jesse jumped in!
I wrote to him before the election during early voting in Miami when we already started to see suppression going on. Then, when the reports started pouring in from Ohio, I wrote again so I am happy that he is finally on the team. Wish we could get some more "heavy hitters" on board (Howard Dean, Michael Moore, Al Gore, to name a few). Not sure why they are all being so quiet to be honest. How can it not be as clear to them as it is to us that SOMETHING WENT TERRIBLY WRONG ON NOVEMBER 2nd?

Thanks for all of your other posts as well!

K
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Chimpanzee Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-27-04 05:20 PM
Response to Original message
32. Here is the flyer from whatreallyhappened.com
Edited on Sat Nov-27-04 05:21 PM by Chimpanzee
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KaryninMiami Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-27-04 10:46 PM
Response to Reply #32
34. This is great! Thanks!
You should probably put this in as a separate post so that everyone can have access to it.
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Pooka Fey Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Nov-29-04 12:38 AM
Response to Reply #32
39. This is great. Thanks.
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stillcool Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Nov-27-04 11:12 PM
Response to Original message
35. I saw something....
on another thread where the person asked 3 questions

1. Did you vote?
2. Do you remember who you voted for?
3. Do you know how your vote was tabulated, and if indeed it was counted?
(something like that), and then you could add

Make sure your vote was counted...and add calls to action. That seems to me to be the problem. Who do you call? Ghost busters? Letters and emails just don't cut it, and politicians, where are they?
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ClarkinMich Donating Member (116 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-28-04 12:21 AM
Response to Original message
36. Kick
only kicking for now. I also have a flyer that I have been updating and distributing... but my computer crashed on Friday, and it has been a struggle just to get basic stuff running. I will post it back here tomorrow...
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GuvWurld Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-28-04 07:10 AM
Response to Original message
37. Customizable Leaflet, No Confidence Movement Already in Progress
The No Confidence Movement brought a resolution to the City Council of Arcata, CA in July. They watered it down and passed a meaningless false alternative. There is an updated version of the No Confidence Resolution here, a customizable leaflet you can download for free here, and a primer describing the talking points and strategy here. We are going back to the Arcata Council as well as the one in Eureka. Talk to people in your town about pressuring your most local representatives to pass it. This is a simple message we can unify our voices around and it can work directly on breaking the spiral of silence, confronting doublethink, and debunking the myths in our society: democracy, capitalism, free speech, free press, free market.

"We have no BASIS for confidence in the legitimacy of the results reported from US elections."
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ClarkinMich Donating Member (116 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Nov-28-04 11:41 PM
Response to Original message
38. kick n/t
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