Iraqi genocide. Torture state. Corruption. Election 06. FOCUS!

[BelgianMadCow]

What is your focus, like, NOW?

Are you speaking out like you never have before?
Are you testing out what you can win over people with?
Are you writing LTTE's like never before?
Are you registering people, checking registrations, getting out the vote?
Are you volunteering as a poll worker?
Are you donating extra this year?
Are you donating to the independent exit poll planned by Election Defense Alliance (Paul Lehto on the board) http://electiondefensealliance.org/independent_exit_polls
Are you sure of what to look out for on voting day and how to deal with it?
Are you in a Keith Olbermann / Stephen Colbert / Mike Malloy "take no prisoners" frenzy?

Or are getting worked up about the latest sham by the corporate media,
discussing breasts or cigarettes, or the right way forward once it's won,
wondering about the 08 choices,
focusing on the Diversion du Jour (TM)?

I am curious what DU is doing (that goes further than DU itself) and hope to see many responses from focused, activist people. Hopefully you want to describe what your are doing and include resources you are using.

Because I have to wonder, what will we all say when the new fascism takes off the gloves.

Disclaimer : not intended as a slam, we all get distracted. Just honestly wondering whether amidst it all, we still have the goal in mind.

[BelgianMadCow]

1. Oh well. To bed kick.

[blarbushie]

2. Well deserved kick

:kick:

[BelgianMadCow]

3. First vote irregularities show up - and DU is unprepared - kick

It's started. Where do we report voter irregularities in Florida?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2477654

election chaos already started in Fl's early voting
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2476786

I am not informed enough to make recommendations - I'll just try to do some gathering here.

[BelgianMadCow]

4. Autorank / TIA's Election Voter fraud 2006 - Where & how much

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2474379

This contains advice if you will what to look out for and where particularly:

These are the districts with the highest probability of fraud, voter suppression, or “coincidental” equipment problems. The races are all within the margin of error and thus would raise less of a question should they result in one of those last minute comebacks to put the Republicans over the top.

© Copyright: Please feel free to reproduce and distribute this in any fashion you feel suitable with an attribution of authorship and the publisher, “Scoop” Independent News, plus a link to the article.

FROM: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0610/S00377.htm

[BelgianMadCow]

5. Having difficulties GOTV for DINOs? Helderheid : Vote strategically

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2459919

Vote for a Democrat no matter what this November, even if they are a DINO. If we take back power, the following will happen:

- At least 9 Congressional Progressive Caucus Members would become Committee Chairmen or Chairwomen
- An additional 35 Congressional Progressive Caucus Members would become Subcommittee Chairmen or Chairwomen.

The following Progressive Caucus Members would become Committee Chairs:

- Congressman George Miller, Chairman of Education and Workforce Committee
- Congressman Barney Frank, Chairman of Financial Services
- Congressman Henry Waxman, Chairman of Government Reform
- Congressman Bennie Thompson, Chairman of Homeland Security Committee
- Congressman Tom Lantos, Chairman of International Relations Committee
- Congressman John Conyers, Chairman of Judiciary Committee
- Congresswoman Louise Slaughter, Chairwoman of Rules Committee
- Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, Chairwoman of Small Business Committe! e
- Congressman Charles Rangel, Chairman of Ways and Means Committee

The following Progressive Caucus Members would become Subcommittee Chairs:

- Appropriations Subcommittees -- Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro and Marcy Kaptur and Congressmen John Olver, Jose Serrano, and Ed Pastor
- Armed Services Subcommittee, Congressman Neil Abercrombie
- Education and Workforce Subcommittees, Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey and Congressman Dennis Kucinich
- Energy and Commerce Subcommittees, Congressman Ed Markey and Congresswomen Jan Schakowsky and Hilda Solis
- Financial Services Subcommittee, Congresswoman Maxine Waters and Congressman Luis Gutierrez
- Government Reform Subcommittees, Congresswoman Diane Watson and Congressmen Dennis Kucinich, Elijah Cummings, Danny Davis of Illinois, and William "Lacy" Clay
- International Relations Subcommittee, Congressman Donald Payne
- Judiciary Subcommittees, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-L! ee and Congressmen Jerry Nadler and Melvin Watt
- Interior Subcomm ittees, Congressmen Raul Grijalva and Tom Udall and Congresswoman Donna Christensen
- Rules Subcommittees, Congressman Jim McGovern
- Small Business Subcommittees, Congresswomen Madeleine Bordallo
- Transportation and Infrastructure, DeFazio, Filner, Holmes-Norton, and C. Brown
- Ways and Means Subcommittees, Congressmen Pete Stark, Jim McDermott, and John Lewis of Georgia

It's that critical. Please spread the word.

Spreading :-)

[BelgianMadCow]

15. dupe, deleted

[BelgianMadCow]

16. excellent GOTV flyers from BigPathPaul

http://bigpath.net/Get-Out-the-Vote/

[BelgianMadCow]

17. Bush 2000-now in BI30's youtube "Flashback" video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Slmr024JYaA

rate it up & spread it around

[BelgianMadCow]

19. GOTV video by GenericOther

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2493087

[BelgianMadCow]

6. Steve2470 Absentee ballot question : is it more reliably counted than optical scan/Diebold

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2479346&mesg_id=2479346

[Hosnon]

7. Kick - More important every day. nt

[BelgianMadCow]

8. Video the Vote - from emlev

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2481730&mesg_id=2481730

[BelgianMadCow]

13. Link to the relevant site

http://www.videothevote.org/

[Hosnon]

9. I'm voting Dem...does that count? :)

[BelgianMadCow]

10. How to deal with difficulties when voting - subthread

[BelgianMadCow]

11. What to do when someone tries to stop you from voting - Igil's answer

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2477614&mesg_id=2478580

(1) If it's a poll watcher that's the problem, complain to the precinct captain (whatever the top dog at the polling table in your area's called). It's his/her job to maintain order at the polling place. If he doesn't do it, get the name and report him to the BOE; they probably can't do anything but talk to him, since most places barely have enough poll workers. They might move him to another station, or tell him he won't be called again to work the polls.

(2) If you're denied a ballot at the polling station by the poll workers, or your right to vote is challenged and cannot be overcome by the evidence you have, you have a few choices.

(a) Make sure they understood you properly and have been paying attention. I've seen a few people told they weren't registered either because their name wasn't spelled correctly in the book, the poll worker missed the page the person's name was on, the poll worker didn't hear the name properly or spell it properly. I've seen a voter rip into poll workers because, obviously, the voter was so perfect that he never misheard another person, misspelled a name, or had two pages in a book stick together.

(b) Get more evidence that you belong there. Example: In NY any poll worker can challenge you if they think your signatures don't match. They can ask for ID. They're within the law. You don't have suitable ID, ask them what ID is suitable. Then go get it ID. The poll workers aren't going anywhere. Furthermore, I've seen more than a few people show up at the wrong polling place, some sent by poll workers that couldn't read a map.

(c) If you're sure you're registered and your name's not in the book, contact the BOE. Clarify why it's not there; mistakes happen.

(d) If all else fails--and it will succeed or fail in a period of minutes--contact your country dem party office. They have lawyers sitting around, paid or pro bono, for such purposes. Regardless, be nice to them. They will ask you about some of what I've written. If you haven't done what you can and should, many of the lawyers will not be amused, even if they're smiling.

(3) If you're physically threatened at the polls, call for the precinct captain. That's the person responsible for the polling place. If s/he's useless, then call the police. Physically threatening somebody that hasn't provoked it is illegal. But make sure that you haven't provoked it. One professor of mine (John) was hauled before the provost because he tackled another professor (Jim) just after a faculty meeting had ended and punched him. The dept. secretary was called in to testify at John's suspension hearing, prelimary to firing him; she said Jim's account was accurate as far as it went, but oddly omitted the part where Jim leaned across the conference table and punched John in the face, thereby causing the meeting to end. The provost was not amused, and told Jim to go back on his meds or get his walking papers.

Important: Be nice to the poll workers, even if they're asses. They put in a long day for little pay and have to deal with a lot of people, some of whom are asses.

[BelgianMadCow]

18. The machine switched my vote

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2494271

[BelgianMadCow]

12. 5 things you need to know on election day + 3 things to make voting a breeze

From the League of Women voters,
www.lwv.org/voter
http://www.lwv.org/Content/ContentGroups/Publications/VoterInformation/5ThingsCard_finalda2006.pdf

For those that don't want to open a pdf : summarised

0. Check if you're registered, by calling the Board of elections or on the web.
1. Go to the right place : find where you have to be on www.VOTE411.org
2. Bring ID : Driver's license or another photo ID. A utility bill may also work
3. Get a ballot : when you are not on the registered list, get a provisional ballot.
4. Get help : poll workers are there to help you
5. Stay and vote : bring family or a friend to help ease the waiting.
6. Avoid the crowds : go between 10-11.30 AM or 13.30-15.30 PM.

[BelgianMadCow]

14. Frequently asked questions - League of Women voters

http://www.lwv.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Frequently_Asked_Questions1&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=36&ContentID=2086

[BelgianMadCow]

20. Strategies to protect the vote - by Sarahlee

GDP thread with several easy & practical ways to protect the vote. Wear blue! Video the Vote!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2909285&mesg_id=2909285