Democracy's Abu Ghraib If they can disable an election, what's coming next

[helderheid]

Democracy's Abu Ghraib
If they can disable an election, what's coming next?

By ROBERT C. KOEHLER
Tribune Media Services

“That was when they suspended the Constitution. They said it would be temporary. There wasn’t even any rioting in the streets. People stayed home at night, watching television, looking for some direction. There wasn’t even an enemy you could put your finger on.” — Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale

What if it could happen here?

This is the disquieting question I hesitate to ask because, once asked, it pretty much changes everything. The answer roars in behind it, as obvious as a Florida hurricane, an Ohio twister, ripping up the complacent heart. What if it could? What if it did? I think of my daughter, quickly, guiltily, and the country she’d inherit. I can no longer stay on the sidelines. No breath comes easily afterward.

It’s what I would call the spirit of Nashville, where a national conference was held in early April on the issue of vote fraud and election reform — a conference of expert testimony on dirty tricks, uncounted ballots, needlessly long lines, weird numbers and evidence of electronic vote tampering, adding up to a crime against democracy.

As angry as I’ve ever been with the direction of any given administration’s foreign or domestic policy, I never doubted the bedrock premise that the country itself was sound and free, and that political activity — speaking up, attempting to sway public opinion — always had the chance of reversing that policy. I never doubted, even after moving to Chicago in the mid-’70s, with the old Daley Machine (“vote early and vote often”) still huffing and wheezing, that elections mattered and could alter the balance of power. I never felt disenfranchised. Now that certainty is gone, replaced by dread.

http://www.commonwonders.com/archives/col291.htm

[helderheid]

1. self kick

[helderheid]

2. I love the last line

With God on your side, who needs democracy?

[mestup]

4. Me too. Spooky statement! n/t

[snappyturtle]

3. Sometimes I wonder.......

if all the bumbling distractions aren't part of the above scenario?While we're earnestly involved in the CIA leak case, fuel costs, the war in Iraq and on and on our very foundation is crumbling away with hardly any notice and someday in the not too distant future (when it's too late to do anything about) we'll "notice" the foundation has self destructed. I find the news volume today almost too much to cope with and especially depressing. I wonder first, if we can stop the crumbling and if not, how do we prepare for what's to come? I wonder if my life's work is worthy of continuing? As you can see, I'm exceptionally troubled by the times. :cry: What bothers me more at this moment is: Why aren't DUer's responding to this post?

[helderheid]

5. That concerns me too. I hope there will be ballot initiatives in

every state to go to a paper ballot vote by mail system like Oregon. Of course this would also mean raising enough money to hire pollsters to conduct surveys asking if people would support that inititiative and do exit polling as well since many of these inititatives would be voted on black boxes. Hammer the local media on it. I think that MAYBE we'd have a shot at restoring democracy.

[mestup]

6. More than half of citizens don't vote, so it's difficult to interest them

in election reform.

I'd like to see some innovative ads that could catch the attention of non voters or no-longer voters. Something dark that might shock their sense of complacency about not voting. "Why vote. It's not like they'll count yours anyway."

[helderheid]

7. that's good - did you hear about the NYT ad??

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=397152&mesg_id=397152

[I Have A Dream]

9. Thanks for the link to this. Great ad! This is the kind of thing...

people need to see. It makes it much more real.

[helderheid]

12. apparently it was funded by "People for Fair Elections"

For information about this advertisement, please contact People for Fair Elections, 1718 M St. NW #190, Washington, D.C. 20036-4504

I can't find a website for them but if they pulled it together to get that kind of money to do a full page ad in the NYT, that's an organization I want to be a part of!!

[helderheid]

14. http://electiononline.org/ was listed on the ad too - I just signed up

for alerts and newsletters

http://electiononline.org/

[mestup]

10. That's a GREAT ad!

Disturbing and a little in-your-face. Exactly what I meant.

[helderheid]

39. .

[I Have A Dream]

8. Great article, helderheid. RECOMMENDED. n/t

[NoBushSpokenHere]

11. Great article

Recommended

This article speaks for those of us who have been working to expose the fraud. It occurred to me while reading the story, the reason so many are not paying attention is because they don't realize "It wasn't just a stolen election - it is a stolen Democracy"

They watched in horror as Al Gore was given the shock of his life, they survived the first four years without realizing just how corrupt the administration is. Now it is finally occurring to them (or should be) just how frightening the takeover has been. This story needs to be widely circulated. Those who frequent other forums or blogs, please link.

Thanks for posting the story.

[CrispyQ]

17. The most amazingly head in-the-sand mindset

I've encountered when I discuss election fraud with people is they don't feel it changed the results of the 2004 election, so they don't care. OUTRAGE!!!!

It doesn't matter if fraud changed the results or not, it is unacceptable in our democracy to accept any level of fraud or disenfranchisement! And really, are they so stupid as to believe that left unchecked, there will never be an election where fraud changes the results?

I simply do not understand my fellow Americans who don't vote or don't care about this critical issue.

[IndyOp]

13. So WHAT ARE YOU DOING on 11/2/05? STRIKE !

I sent work of this event to a local student activist group and they are now planning an action.

I am cancelling my classes and telling my students why - in my very Red State, with a very Red school administration.

I am sending work of this event to my colleagues to suggest that they consider changing their schedules on 11/2/05.

World Can't Wait

Drive the * Regime from Office - Start 11/2/05 - STRIKE!!!

Sign the Call
<http://www.worldcantwait.lunarpages.info/getInformed/theCall/>

[helderheid]

16. I'm keeping my kids home. I'm in Utah so I relate to red red states

[NoBushSpokenHere]

19. Staying home n/t

[mod mom]

21. This needs to get passed through our networks! nt

[IndyOp]

23. Huh? I didn't get a memo about DU networks.

I've been posting threads about this for over a month. Commercials are running on AAR. What networks?

HELP!!??!!

:headbang:

[mod mom]

24. Our personal email networks. Although DUers are well informed, most of us

have contacts less informed. I am a semi-regular AAR listener and I have never heard it. Could it be that some stations aren't airing it? I listen thru a clear channel station.

[IndyOp]

27. Thanks - Maybe Clear Channel stations are not airing it.

I listen online. It has been on for a week or so, then off, then back on for another week or so. I've heard it during Franken, during Malloy, maybe during Seder...

:shrug:

[helderheid]

28. I've heard it online AAR too

[converted_democrat]

15. K&R...Great piece!!......n/t

[frogmarch]

18. Something Wicked This Way Comes

has arrived.

How long before those who support bushco see that beneath the neocons' cloak of religiosity and "patriotism" lies pure evil?

Stirring article!

[BeFree]

20. Gone with the wind

I believe that when the People are given a voice, the best decisions will be made for the country.

The voice most often heard in America is the voice from the ballot.

Lately, that voice has been muffled and altered by the black boxes in which the voices are recorded.

It is paramount that the People's voice be clearly heard. Running our votes through some damned black box, is a disenfranchisement. It is part of the Culture of Corruption.

[NoBushSpokenHere]

22. Maybe it is time for another DC March for Fair Elections? n/t

[helderheid]

25. I love that idea

[NoBushSpokenHere]

30. Let's initiate discussion on this if the Election Fraud doesn't

surface during the indictments. Wishful thinking, but I am hoping that Fitz as uncovered evidence to link it directly back to them. If not, then lets march!

[helderheid]

31. Absolutely. Shall we all wear orange at the march if it comes to that?

[NoBushSpokenHere]

32. Wearing blue

may be more indicative of our intent. I am in a blue state that was spray painted red - I've been using paint remover in my spare time :)

[helderheid]

34. Blue is good. I can deal with that. :)

[NoBushSpokenHere]

35. I wonder how quickly we could undertake such a march

and how many people would attend with short notice? Would need the help of many of the election groups.

[helderheid]

36. Perhaps now is the time to approach them given the 2006 elections are

coming right up - we could, of course, approach the election reform forum here, as well as Progressive Democrats of America, Velvet Revolution, Voters Unite, Verified Voting, Elections Online... anyone want to give me any I am missing? Oh, Open Voting Consortium - who else?

[NoBushSpokenHere]

37. I think the sooner the better due many of the states adopting

vote eating machines.

[helderheid]

38. they just did here in Utah - I'm doing a ballot initiative to get vote by

mail like in Oregon. Website is halfway finished. We're called U-VOTE - Utah Voters for Open and Transparent Elections. Perhaps we should start a national one called US-VOTE ?

[NoBushSpokenHere]

40. Great Idea -- US VOTES COUNT - Oh wouldn't that be nice......n/t

[Fly by night]

26. Even though this column is now six months old, it's heartening ...

... to see the waves from our "Nash-ional" conference in April still rippling through the body politic. Bob Koehler deserves the Pulitzer Prize for courageous columning in defense of your votes and our democracy. Way to go, Bob!!

[helderheid]

29. .

[Melissa G]

33. k and n! n/t

[helderheid]

42. .

[Land Shark]

41. With God on Your Side, Who needs democracy?

but it doesn't need to even be God on one's side. If we're in a "perpetual war" then any weakness in that war could be the downfall of our whole country. They go further, many believe that a millennia long cultural war to the death is back on between western civilization and Islam. Would You let a "pansy" "liar" like John Kerry ruin Western civilization for us all? Or would you move a few electrons around so that our country would remain resolute, "free" and God-fearing?

On edit, many seem to think that election fraud would be approached with fear and trepidation. Baloney. It would be the most exciting, important, and glorious day of that person's life, given the attitude above.