Breaking US News at the Guardian

[SomthingsGotaGive]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-463193...

Now This might force the US media to cover the story.

[Carolab]

1. $1.5 million?

Serves them right for f'ing everyone over.

[mirandapriestly]

2. Keith Cunningham, Republican

Why are these guys ALWAYS republican?

[GetTheRightVote]

4. The price for attempting to steal an American election = 1.5 million

[SomthingsGotaGive]

5. By these guy's you do you mean a$$holes ?

If so I have met a few Dem a$$holes too.

But Never a Dem A$$hole election official.

The Repub's seem to have that area locked up.

[mirandapriestly]

11. Yeah, I mean election officials

[jsamuel]

7. That is pure speculation... That guy just doesn't want to get caught and

we know it!

[geo]

9. Be careful!!

Hi all,

Remember that the spin machine could bite us on this!! Highly recommended that everyone be respectful of the burden this will put on the taxpayers in Ohio. Overlooking their sacrafice or making light of it is not the answer; however, pinning it squarely on the shoulders of their Secretary of State, backing our claims with irrefutable evidence is.

We all know how cautious all involved have had to be with media coverage because of the almost gauranteed backlash, which is always 100% rhetorical spin. Remember that as this story breaks to CLING to the words/phrase "this isn't about Sen. Kerry, this is about having a transperant, accurate and fair election." Also remember the words/phrase "talk to your Secretary of State," and then back that with specific instances of voter supression, lack of voting machines, broken machines, inaccurate counts, and exit polls that are rarely wrong (but a good idea to never mention the ecit polls alone with main stream media being so quick to attack it). I would also encourage refraining from mentioning the partisanship aspect with regards to Blackwell. Everyone is well aware of his ties and it just tunes people out to bring the topic into partisan territory. We need to keep the topic on our turf, which means cut the rhetoric on our end to.

Just so I don't have to retype, here is a link on the BBV site about being ready for the spin machine, points & counterpoints, and defeating rhetoric by calling the other side on the fallacious reasoning behind their statements:

http://www.blackboxvoting.org/dcforum/DCForumID4122/99....

If what we are doing is fighting for freedom, consider the next few days a major battle in this war. Common y'all, let's be sharp, stay focused and get ready to take that there hill for our side!

I hope this keeps everyone pumped and ready. The next few days are sure to prove exciting!

Warmly,

George

[SomthingsGotaGive]

13. Question ?

Have you considered the argument that this might hurt the troops?

I think this has huge implications for Iraq.

The only thing we have left to win Hearts and Minds is Democracy.

If it turns out Bush doesn't even believe in Democracy at home things might get ugly.

My own thoughts are clear.

We must fight at home to make sure the troops are doing the bidding of the people.

[CanChannelCassandra]

14. Sage Advice

Thank you and I so fully agree. The massage I am getting, is to persevere in seeking the TRUTH in this election...ALL THE VOTES MUST BE COUNTED. Irregularities need to be dealt with in order to restore and affirm America's most basic right..that of an individual to have the right to vote, and for that vote to be counted. If we persevere in this...Much is at stake, much may be gained. If we raise too strident and obvious an Outcry, we alert the Spin Machine to our focus and the game may thwarted before it begins. Count Every Vote, Find Every Error, Truth may be Known. Start Raising Accusations and Charging Responsibility to Powerful Despots and Suffer their Wrath. Let the Mainstream Media Ignore all of this until Concrete Irrefutable Evidence is Handed Over to Them...They are mostly Multinational Corporations fearing for the same reprisals dealt Dan Rather and CBS following the revelation of Bush's military debacle. They will definitely follow the ratings when the story does surface in all of it's gory glory!

[newyawker99]

17. Hi CanChannelCassandra!!

Welcome to DU!!

[EST]

16. So, henceforth-

No more "Blackwell, the republican... It's Blackwell, the liar- Blackwell, the incompetent- Blackwell, the fraud- Blackwell, the democracy molester, the evil stain on the vile hands of the usurpers... Sheer poetry!

[fliesincircles]

20. 26 cents per vote

is the burden on the Ohio taxpayer. I'll chip in $2 and six of my neighbors can just kick back and watch.

Financial burden...yeah, right

[DELUSIONAL]

3. This is good -- more International reports and perhaps

the US media whores will get up off their knees and do some reporting -- is this too much to ask for???

We really can't move on until we deal with the way the vote was blocked, stolen, manipulated and turned into a joke by the GOPigs.

Voting has to be simplified, made accessible by all. There has to be standardization -- and no damned secret codes -- which can be hacked.

I know singing to the choir --- sorry.

[deansyawp]

6. Well, wait that's an AP story

Not to give the SCLM too much credit, but the Guardian story you linked to is an AP story. And it's been picked up by US papers too; go to Google News.

For example http://www.bgnews.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/11/22/41...
and several other places as well.

[deansyawp]

8. Although, interestingly enough ...

I was just comparing the two, and they had flipped a bunch of material around -- in the version in the Guardian it focuses on Cobb, and in the US paper it emphasizes Cunningham's indignation more. While the version in the LA Times cuts out the part about Cunningham entirely.

Huh.

[deansyawp]

10. Philadelphia Inquirer Also Covers Ohio Recount

Piece here: http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/nation/10249937...

It focuses on Steven Freeman, which makes sense, since he's right there at Penn. All in all, not a bad piece.

[SomthingsGotaGive]

12. My how the tables have turned.

Just last week this issue was being run along side 4yr old 9/11 conspiracy theories on CNN.

[BlueDog2u]

18. They sure have, haven't they?

In only one week. It is going to be an interesting season between now and inauguration day.

[EST]

15. F***in' idiots!

If the whole thing were handled right the first time (the ostensible reason for e-voting,) there would be no reason to spend the additional money. Of course, we all know these are just ritual, symbolic objections and simply a pro-forma part of the process. (But f'em anyway-they think we are too dumb to respect)

[Straight Shooter]

19. A stitch in time saves nine.

The Ohio election was built on a shoddy foundation. That's why the house is now collapsing.

$1.5 million is petty cash compared to the almost $5 billion per month we're spending in Iraq. I'm not saying Ohio can easily afford it. But I don't see how America can afford not to see this through.

Maybe the DLC can take part of that $15 million they just coerced Kerry to return and pay Ohio for the recount, or contribute.

Anyone want to guess whether those evote machine manufacturers can be sued to recoup the costs?

[Eric J in MN]

21. It costs money to have an election, and that includes

possible recounts.

That is a state's responsibility.

If they want to save money, they should use plain paper ballots and do a public hand-count in the first place.