Time we really cleaned house. Who is responsible for the loss of Shelley

[genius]

Shelley was the most important elected official in California other than the Creepinator. Yet Art Torres did not lift a hand to help him from clearly nonsensical allegations - even though losing Shelley means guaranteed gerrymandering and guaranteed loss of voting rights. The Democratic leaders of the assembly and state senate, who are in tight with Torres, also encouraged Shelley to resign, not caring about the consequences. Art Torres, a good friend of Michael Powell and a strong supporter of a DNA proposition to take DNA from anyone picked up - even if no charges are later filed - has regularly gotten around rules calling for the state party leader to be from a different half of the state each time. He does this by moving. Torres has made sure that no privacy rights advocates are allowed on the most important committees. Torres felt voting rights and stopping the FCC rules changes were so unimportant that he put them on back burner at the 2003 convention. Only the most important resolutions make it to the floor. Some of the resolutions making it to the floor were whether the party should get behind certain slogans, apparently much more important than voting rights or the public's right to know. By the time the E-board me, the FCC changes were in. Torres is also close to Lt. Governor Bustamonte, who was soundly defeated by the Creepinator in 2003 following serious questions about contributions Bustamonte himself had received (though he has not been asked to step down and the allegations against him were far more serious than the nothing against Shelley). Bustamonte has a son who wants Shelley's job. He would not have a chance of defeating Shelley in a primary. With Shelley gone, he won't have to. Now these may just be a bunch of interesting facts. But perhaps we need to check out whether nepotism was what really cost Shelley his job.

Certainly there is someone in California (or willing to move to California) who would be willing to run for State Party Chairman in April. We need someone who will stand up for voting rights and against DNA testing.

On Prop 69, Torres won on the resolutions committee (consisting of members he appointed), which voted to endorse Prop 69, and then lost at the executive board level. The E-board comes from the AD and county committees and they had to have more than 2/3 to turn around the recommendation to support 69. A quorum call was made and they barely made that but almost unanimously voted to oppose 69 - a bad day for Art Torres.

We've been screwed on the Shelley matter and if people within our party are playing political games with our voting rights, I want it brought out and those people dumped. With elected leaders, we need to wait til they're up for re-election to dump them though.

[Dookus]

1. can you explain why

the allegations are "clearly nonsensical"? I haven't seen evidence of that.

[BeFree]

5. I haven't seen evidence

That was enough to make him resign. Maybe you have that evidence, Dookus?

Would you be so kind as to inform us? Thanks.

[Dookus]

7. but I haven't claimed to have seen any

but the original poster said the allegations are "clearly nonsensical" and I'm hoping to find out what he's seen to warrant that conclusion. I have made no such claims.

[BeFree]

12. So, you claim to have seen no evidence?

Yet you beg to differ with somone who has?

Either you have evidence, or you don't, beggers can't be choosers, ya know?

If you have evidence that Shelly should resign, lets see it.

[Dookus]

13. LOL

Here's the deal. Somebody made an affirmative claim. That claim was the allegations were "clearly nonsensical".

I'm asking for evidence of that affirmative claim. I have not made ANY claim about the allegations. The person making the affirmative claim bears the burden of proof.

I've never said I had evidence one way or the other, but then I'm not making claims about the evidence, either. The original poster HAS made claims, and I'm asking for evidence.

[EFerrari]

28. lol. The allegations sort of self destruct like soap bubbles

when you push on them.

What are they? That he didn't spent HAVA money fast enough. lol That some people on his staff are partisan. Duh! That he hired a friend's kid. Who hasn't? That he has a bad temper and yells at his staff. That's ugly but is it worth retiring the first person to stand up to Diebold, even if it's true, something we don't know yet!

This has the Bush Cabal stamped all over it. It's all the same hot buttons and it's WORKING.

[emcguffie]

75. he deserves a medal n/t

[BeFree]

29. Ok, you don't know what you are talking about

That much is clear.

Read, now, the rest of the posts on this thread, then, maybe you will know something.

C'ya

[EFerrari]

31. Ouch. Let's remember, we're talking to friends here shall we? nt

[Dookus]

39. Well that's an odd conclusion

to draw. I've asked for for more information, and none has been forthcoming beyond your insults that have nothing to do with the topic at hand.

[Amaryllis]

53. See post #48 for history on Shelley and Diebold!

[Dookus]

61. I'm quite familiar with the history

of Shelley and Diebold. But that's not evidence that the allegations against him are "clearly nonsensical".

[genius]

9. How about looking at the specifics of the claims.

Two HAVA guys go to a rally and that's misappropriation of funds. A kid, whose parent just happened to contribute to Shelley, got his grade raised and that is something else major.

There was a comic strip out this week that perfectly portrayed what's going on. In the comic Arnold got a paper cut and, since it took place in Shelley's state, he decided to nail Shelley for assault on a government official.

When you look at the specifics, the allegations fall apart.

[democracyindanger]

2. Shelley is responsible for Shelley

He made some bad decisions and got caught. You may have good reasons to dislike Torres and Bustamonte, but blaming them for Shelley having to resign doesn't help your case.

[Andy_Stephenson]

3. Ummm....

Shelly was taken down because of his decisions in regard to Diebold. Make no mistake of it. Yes he made bad decisions...but it wasn't until the Diebold debacle that it came to light. Seems strange to me.

[democracyindanger]

6. Um...

If he didn't break the law, he wouldn't be in the fix he is now. You can conjecture that Diebold was gunning for him, but he provided them the bullet.

I have little sympathy for any elected Dem who betrays the public trust. He makes us all look bad.

[Helga Scow Stern]

15. He did very little to betray the public trust. Have you investigated,

or are you just going by the headlines?

[Amaryllis]

48. Here is some history on Shelley and Diebold:

"This past spring in California, Diebold systems malfunctioned in two counties, disenfranchising thousands of voters. Secretary of State Kevin Shelley discovered that the voting systems in seventeen counties in the state had not been certified, as required by law. After two days of tumultuous hearings in Sacramento, during which high-level election officials called the company's behavior "despicable" and accused its officials of lying, Shelley prohibited the use of Diebold's systems in four counties, the first time this has happened in the United States. Shelley, who has said to the Los Angeles Times that he doesn't want to be "the Katherine Harris of the West Coast," also made the certification of voting systems in ten more counties dependent on their adoption of twenty-three security improvements that he specified. One of these requires those counties to let citizens vote on paper if they want to, but Shelley flinched at requiring a DRE paper trail this year. Four counties and advocates of the disabled sued Shelley to block his actions, but a federal judge ruled he had the authority and had used it reasonably."

http://www.thenation.com/docprint.mhtml?i=20040816&s=dugger
How they could steal the election this time, by Ronnie Dugger

[EFerrari]

17. Not true. If I had enough money and media, I could accuse you

of misappropriating funds, of being a bad boss and of disloyalty. And nail you in the press for MONTHS.

Then, accuse you of making us look bad.

[Peace Patriot]

22. democracyindanger...

"If he didn't break the law, he wouldn't be in the fix he is now. "

And I suppose you feel the same way about the detainees in Guantanamo Bay, Abu Ghraib, and other prisons in Iraq, Afghanistan and at various undisclosed locations around the world. Guilty until proven innocent.

Are you saying that his resignation means that he's guilty?

???

[democracyindanger]

62. Boy, you certainly nailed me.

Yep, my opinion of Shelley also applies to Gitmo. You uncovered my game.:eyes:

There hasn't been a single CA Dem official that's stepped up and said that the allegations are false. Not a single one, aside from Shelley. I guess they're all spineless and in cahoots with Diebold, just like me. Me, Torres and Bustamonte, we're all dancing jigs about getting Shelley. We're all ecstatic that our accusations of Republican Party corruption are weakened, if only slightly, by having an SoS that resigned in disgrace. It's just super that winning that office next time is going to be harder because of Shelley.

Puh. Lease. And if you're so certain of his innocence, why don't you cut him a check? He's got some serious legal bills to pay off.

[NationalEnquirer]

69. I dont know what happened really, but this much is true..

I bad politician is a bad politician, no matter what party.
It hurts to see a Democrat exposed, but we have to be BETTER than them.
It is kinda telling when NOT ONE Democrat has stood up for him.
I think this whole thing will take some time to work itself out.
I am glad I am a DUer though, because I can get all sides of the issue here!

[Amaryllis]

71. Since when does breaking the law have anything to do with anything these

days? Blackwell broke all kinds of state and federal laws, and nothing happened. Shelley didn't break any laws, he just took on Diebold.

[shance]

79. What law did he break? How many laws has Schwarzenegger broken?

n/t

[MelissaB]

8. Andy, please tell us what you know about this.

I've been waiting to hear what you know and think about this situation.

[Amaryllis]

52. See post #48 for history on Shelley and Diebold. Follow the money.

[Andy_Stephenson]

54. Last summer, Kevin Shelly invited BBV down to Sacramento.

Paraniod Pat Bev, Vicki Karp, Julie Anne Kempf, Lowell Finley, Bev, Jim March ( and maybe 1 or 2 more but I am loathe to remember who)and I had met with the California VSPP. Kevin Shelly did not attend after we had the distinct impression that he would. For the state side David Jefferson, Assistant Secretary of State Mark Kyle (I think is his name), John Mott Smith, a representative from the California AG's office and a couple of other suits (I can't remember their names) attended.

We went in with video and recording equipment and set up to record. When the Satate people came in, the AG's representative demanded we pack up the equipment and remove it from the room. The AG insisted that there was to be no record of the meeting. Apparently this is legal because there was no quorum of the VSPP and officially the meeting never took place.

We demonstrated the GEMS hack, security procedures that needed to be put in place, the need for a paper ballot (my piece)...and basicly showed them problems with their system. I personally was struck by the attitude of the AG's office. They seemed a bit, well, combative. From what I understand Lockyear is going to run for Governor (someone correct me if I am wrong please). Now recently Lockyears' office decides to settle Bev's QuiTam, with basicly a slap on the wrist.

Bev and I had conversations regarding Lockyear...My gut is telling me he is trying to position himself to run against Arnold. But you also have to look at the cast of characters coming out against Kevin...top o the list is Conny McCormack of LA county. LA county uses Inkavote to mark ballots but tabulates them with, you guessed it...Diebold. I have not really seen all the articles re Kevin yet...but I would be looking at the records of those opposing him...find out who has contributed to them...then you will see who is really running the show.

What bothers me is the way the Democrats have turned on him. What are THEY hiding? I would question the motives of anyone not defending Shelly right this minute. He went way out on a limb for us...I wish Kevin would not resign...we have his back...he should know that.

[Amaryllis]

55. Does he really know you have his back? Maybe everyone needs to

bombard him with that message. Maybe he isn't getting that message.

[Andy_Stephenson]

56. Maybe he isn't...

but he should. Kevin did a very Courageous thing. Even if the allegations against him are true...He did do the right thing for the people of California. For that I will give him somewhat of a pass for past transgressions. I say that, because when the chips were down he played the hand.

[Helga Scow Stern]

14. Yes, he made some bad decisions, but not as bad as the charges warrant.

There is clearly a witchhunt going on. I spent all day yesterday and most of last night reading everything I could find and it just doesn't add up at all that he should be resigning. I think Andy is right.

[genius]

10. Shelley hasn't been convincted of anything and he never will be.

Because they have nothing against him - other than baseless allegations.

[begin_within]

4. It was a RW smear, just like they did to Rose Bird. Goodbye fair elections

[pinto]

11. I remember the recall... that house cleaning got us Arnold.

We still don't see any resolution of the energy scam that got Davis skewered in the recall.

And, gerrymandering is already in place. The governor's proposal changes the players not the process. I agree with a previous poster. If you have a beef with Torres or Bustamante, advocate their defeat in a general election. And they are elected...dump them in an election.

Recalls are a minority and special interest smorgasbord.

As are, imho, propositions. Small groups of money often fuel CA props and an understandably confused electorate often enacts them...how many did we have this cycle...a dozen or so?

Kind of a scattered response to your post, but if Torres and Bustamante are your targets, you ought to take them on. Electorally.

[genius]

16. That's why we can't underestimate the enemy. I'm talking about

state party elections and future primaries. It time we stopped sacrificing our elected officials mid-term. Torres got the party to back Bustamonte. If it had not, Davis would have won the recall. He got more votes than Bustamonte. But Bustamonte's people voted "yes" on the recall so they could get Bustamonte. In short, Torres and Bustamonte sacrificed Davis so Bustamonte could be gov. They were stupid and that's why Arnold won.

[pinto]

23. got you, the Bustamante "dissent" vote sealed the recall failure. I agree

And I think they ought to answer at the ballot box for that.

Good posts, thanks.

[EFerrari]

34. Pinto, could you say more about redistricting? n/t

[pinto]

77. yeah. redistricting has already happened. My state house district

has changed enormously after redistricting from the last census (CA Central Coast).

And in general, redistricting has become a process of securing safe seats, not representative elections.

I come from the county where the word "gerrymander" was coined in Massachusetts. The district involved looked like an amphibian, long and winding, and was manufactured by a state rep who's name was Gerry....Manufactured to provide the best possible electoral result for his party. So. I'm leery of the process.

I think Arnold's move is an attempt to take redistricting out of the legislature and move it (under the umbrella of fairness) to a "non partisan" body. My vote's still out on that. But it's not a black and white issue by any means.

I'd like to see some better way to do this basic piece of our state elections.

I don't think redistricting should be based on political party registration, which it seems to be now....

pinto

[Helga Scow Stern]

18. Two names that really stick in my craw

are Conny McCormack, who is rushing to undo the good he did, and who has smeared him most recently,

and the head of the legislative audit committee, Nicole Parra, D-Hanford, from the staunchly Diebold district that includes Kern County.

[genius]

21. Conny MCormick is one of the most crooked figures in the state.

[EFerrari]

25. Do you have a link? Playing catch up. n/t

[genius]

33. Check out the Democrats.com discussion groups.

The L.A. group contained notices of the rally against McCormack.

[EFerrari]

35. Thanks. Will do. n/t

[Andy_Stephenson]

58. ooooo Kern county

bad ju ju there.

[Helga Scow Stern]

59. You got that right!

[genius]

19. Is everyone clear that Torres and Bustamonte are responsible for Arnold.

Torres got the party to endorse Bustamonte to replace Davis in the recall. There were two votes. They was the yes/no on recall and then the replacement. Bustamonte's supporters voted yes on the recall and then for Bustamonte. Bustamonte got fewer votes than the no on the recall and therefore Davis was more popular than Bustamonte and would have won but for the Bustamonte defections.

[EFerrari]

24. Yup. Got it. And, you can't rule out machine fraud either.

These are fictitious times, as Mike said.

[umtalal]

26. what are you talking about? We knew to vote no for the recall. period.

I think Torres should bite the dust though. He is so mainstream, unCalifornia like I will give a party once he is sacked.

[genius]

32. Actually, there were polls of the Bustamonte supporters and

a great many were planning to vote "yes" on the recall and there was an effort to get Bustamonte to discourage them from doing this. Bustamonte seemed to be eager to take the job from Davis and a lot of people felt he was responsible for the fact that so many of his supporter were backing the recall. The polls showed that if Bustamonte were taken out of the equation, Davis would have won.

[EFerrari]

40. Geez, we just haven't been paying enough attention to local

And isn't that why things happen? :argh:

In this house anyway, we were so concentrated on the national deal, that we helped out some on the recall but no where near what we could have done.

We're show biz people, comedy. And we try to fold in information at every opportunity. I worked the recall, and remember being happy because I made 80 calls in 60 minutes on that night. Baloney. I should have been on it from day 1. Amateur!

[umtalal]

50. Another Nader Syndrome!!!!!!!!!!!!

[EFerrari]

20. The SF Chronicle has been on a MISSION to take him down.

I know, because I used to read it cover to cover. And, it started while I was proposing a column to Robert, the managing editor. I've friends at the Chronicle and the letters people published me every 5-8 weeks. Really troubling but hafta call it like I see it.

Anyone know how to follow the money better than me? I hate to say this, but it sure looks like a hired hit.

And, genius, you're right about Art. He's asleep at the wheel.

[Peace Patriot]

27. sfexpat2000, by "him," you mean Shelley, right? n/t

[EFerrari]

30. Yes! And I don't say this lightly.

I'm a very highly skilled reader, did 10 years at Berkeley learning how to read. lol

And have many ties to the Chronicle.

I've never seen such a concerted campaign by a newspaper. Very distressing to me.

And it was odd. Because they published my letters on Jessica Lynch, on the SOTU, on Rice's testimony before the 9/11 commision -- issues you and I would agree on. For a year and a half, like clockwork.

But when it came to the election or Shelley, stony silence. There was a fix in.

[troubleinwinter]

36. North Bay Area here...

WHY is SF Chron after Shelley?

[EFerrari]

37. I don't know. All I know is, there was a brick wall there.

Do you read the Chron? Really read it? I did since we moved back from HelLa in 2002. And being me, starting writing letters to the letters Ed.

If you really pay attention, this whole Shelley campaign has been weird. It's been fronted in advance of much more real, hard news. The innuendo and rumor stinks to heaven. I don't get it. We've multiple reporter buddies there, a few columists as well. The managing ed is by all reports and via my experience a stand up guy.

But something really ugly has happened around those machines and Kevin.

Wish I had a better response,
Beth

[troubleinwinter]

42. No, frankly, I don't read it! Just an online article here & there.

I am just kinda surprised. ??

I have not paid tons of attention to state politics. But obviously, it is time to start doing so!

I did find some info. yesterday about Perata, Johnson, Shelly and Boxer, regarding electronic machines and paper ballots. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=318606&mesg_id=318774&page=

Looks like I have some research to do. The whole thing is mysterious to me.

I wonder if I can search in online SFChron through their past articles.

[EFerrari]

44. the Chron has archives,

But, I find them a little difficult to search.

I'm sort of tied up in a familial situation that requires constant care, but I used to read the Chronicle to check out, for some fresh air.

Looking back, it is very strange that the so called "liberal" Chron quashed the election theft story (I was in touch with the reporter) and also went on this campaign against Shelley. :(

[Andy_Stephenson]

57. "looks like a hired hit."

Bingo! We have a winner.

[EFerrari]

60. Okay, Mister I know so much, lol, help me follow the money. :)

Geeze, I guess this means I won't be writing that column.

[Andy_Stephenson]

63. I am searching for Conny's

public disclosure docs...right now.

[Andy_Stephenson]

65. Hmmmm

this is a needle in a haystack. She is not elected. SO I will have to make some calls tomorrow.

[EFerrari]

66. Thanks, Andy. I know how this will turn out, but am curious about

where the entry point is at the Chronicle, for one thing.

[Andy_Stephenson]

72. That I am not sure about

but you bet...there is one. I would look and see who has written articles regarding Shelly...the ones who have been critical.

[EFerrari]

74. It's been a team. Sneakers. nt

[Helga Scow Stern]

78. Another big source of kicking off "Shelleygate" as they like to call it

is the San Jose Mercury News, plus this Political Newsletter, who alerted the EAC to investigate Shelley about HAVA funds after the Merc's article. Pretty fishy. And the charge of hiring Dems to do the jobs? What about Blackwell, for godsake????

San Jose Mercury News
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/world/9449482.htm

Posted on Fri, Aug. 20, 2004

Shelley's handling of funds at issue

SECRETARY OF STATE ALLEGEDLY FAVORED DEMOCRATIC ALLIES

By Dion Nissenbaum and Mark Gladstone
Mercury News Sacramento Bureau

SACRAMENTO - Secretary of State Kevin Shelley has directed nearly $500,000 in federal funds designed to bolster voter turnout to hire Democratic allies, including his old campaign manager, new campaign treasurer's law firm, former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown's longtime press secretary, and the son of a prominent Los Angeles County supervisor.

Meant to improve California's non-partisan voting systems, the money has been channeled by Shelley -- in most cases without competitive bidding -- to consultants who have helped him write speeches critical of electronic-voting firms, galvanize young voters and boost voter turnout in at least one Democratic Assembly district.

State records show that some of the consultants have received as much, or more, of the federal money as several small California counties working to improve their voting systems.
--snip

Here's the


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 here to see the EAC response and the rest of the "report":

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

[Amaryllis]

38. SO WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN? Right now there are about ten threads

on Shelley and people keep saying something needs to be done, but what?
I posted this:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss//duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x318241
because it was what I could think of to do, but it isn't getting many hits.

[EFerrari]

41. CAN WE ALL MOVE OVER TO Amaryllis THREAD PLEASE?

[Amaryllis]

47. Here is link for my thread:

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

[troubleinwinter]

43. PLEASE POST HERE:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss//duboard.p...

[EFerrari]

45. I'm getting an error message for that link?

[troubleinwinter]

49. Try again:

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

[Amaryllis]

46. Getting error message on link!

[troubleinwinter]

51. here:

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

[bush_is_wacko]

64. Anyone that needs more evidence of what we are dealing with NATIONWIDE

needs to read about Ward Churchill and CU Boulder's recent decision to condemn him and give a public apology for an essay he wrote THE DAY AFTER 911! This essay was published back then and WIDELY read and it raised no response back then, despite the fact emotions were running high. Suddenly, now that thugs are being EXPOSED for what they are, a Young Republican CU student raises a stink and the INCORRECT and INFLAMMATORY misinformation he is spreading becomes national news!

The accusations this kid has made are total FALSEHOOD!

This may be off topic in this thread, but it is happening to liberals all over this nation and I'm sure around the world when they attempt to EXPOSE our current situation.

Shelley is a VICTIM of the bushitler administration as sure as I am a liberal and the new era of McCarthy-ism has just begun.

Pay attention people! EVERY liberal/democratic cause is IMPORTANT! It all leads to the same thuglican conspiracy!

[EFerrari]

67. This is so right. First they came for the college teachers. nt

[Amaryllis]

70. To condemn whom? Essay who wrote? Link? More specifics, please? Not clear.

[Helga Scow Stern]

68. Nunez says replace Shelley with a Pro -- LA Times

snip--
The stakes for Democrats are significant and go beyond which party will claim the office in 2006, when Shelley's term would have expired. Schwarzenegger and Democratic lawmakers are gearing up for a massive battle in a special election the governor is expected to call for later this year on ballot measures that would wrest a good deal of power away from the Legislature. The secretary of state oversees such elections, making any bias or ambition of the officeholder a subject of significant concern.

"It sounds like he wants to play politics with it, to narrow it down so that a Democrat can run to reclaim office," said Assembly GOP leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield. "That's the wrong approach to take in. I would put everything on the table and say pick the best and brightest."

Nuñez's stand is more combative than that of Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland), who said on Thursday, the day before Shelley's resignation, that he would welcome the nomination of Ross Johnson, a former GOP senator from Irvine who was forced out of the Legislature last year by term limits.

Johnson is 65 and not considered likely to run for the post in two years.

"Since the appointee is likely to be a card-carrying member of the governor's political party, Sen. Perata is already on the record as expressing his preference for Sen. Johnson," said Jason Kinney, a Perata spokesman.

But in a telephone interview Sunday, when Nuñez was asked about the possibility of Johnson, he said: "I don't want to outright nix anybody, but I certainly think a nonpartisan administrator — who can really bring some integrity back to the office of the secretary of state and make sure we upgrade our voting systems — needs to be the driving force. It might not be who's got a good friend we can all live with."

Among the names frequently bandied about in Sacramento: Bruce McPherson of Santa Cruz, a moderate Republican who left the Senate last year because of term limits; former U.S. Treasurer Rosaria Marin, who lost in the GOP primary to choose a challenger to Sen. Barbara Boxer last year; and Rep. Mary Bono of Palm Springs, also a Republican.


http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-me-nunez7feb07,0,710613.story?coll=la-home-politics

[Peace Patriot]

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

[Amaryllis]

76. Save CA campaign: New group working on this issue:

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]

80. Top Dem suggests Shelley should quit

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/01/25/MNGAUB00H61.DTL

Sacramento -- One of the Legislature's highest-ranking Dem- ocrats suggested Monday that embattled Secretary of State Kevin Shelley should resign, a dramatic sign that support from Shelley's own political party is quickly evaporating.

State Senate Majority Leader Gloria Romero, D-Los Angeles, told The Chronicle she expects Shelley to resign and that it would be better for the party if he did. She questioned whether he can effectively run elections in California.
--snip


Perhaps she's in cahoots with Conny.

[dandrhesse]

81. one more reason to start the massive campaign

We have to start writing, emailing , calling en masse until the GOP listens. Simply saying enough is enough, when are they going to stop Bush from flushing our country down the toilet?

Are they waiting for the Chinese and Russians to join forces and invade our country by the millions? Be a little late then don't you think?

We need to flood the GOP Senate!

[shance]

82. Genius, if this is true, certainly more Californians should know it.

I need more info and sourcing to pass the information on about Torres than what looks for the most part like hearsay.

If you can cite a few sources that would be great.

Thanks*