Silence of the Scams: Psychological Resistance to Facing Election Fraud

[Fly by night]

Here is yet another well-written piece out this week on why most Americans still can't believe that our unelected "Um-pu-rur" has no clothes and that anyone as ugly as him (and what he stands for) is still strutting around naked in public. Here are the opening and closing paragraphs. Please read the entire article, kick and pass it around. This has been a good week, and the best is yet to come.

http://www.newtopiamagazine.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=12&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0&POSTNUKESID=76cfc12caded6f65f71dc9909bc277cb

The Silence of the Scams: Psychological Resistance to Facing Election Fraud BY DIANE PERLMAN (Newtopia magazine, 4/11/05)

Invisible History

Few Americans know about the historic event that happened on January 6, 2005, the official date for counting electoral votes. For the first time since 1877, congress members challenged the electoral count. Representative Stephanie Tubbs-Jones of Ohio, accompanied by the lone senator, Barbara Boxer of California, led the challenge of the Ohio vote count. Although massive fraud was reported around the country, only Ohio was officially cited.

It is curious that an issue so profound and consequential is barely on the radar screens of most Americans, especially those who voted for Kerry.
...............

The people I have witnessed working intensely to investigate and challenge voter fraud, have a particular psychological profile. They are courageous and willing to face pain and fear. They call up their strength to challenge authority, as our lives, our freedom and democracy depend on it. They are unable to deny what is going on or remain silent. They are the heroes, in our mythical, archetypal Hero’s journey, willing to face the dragons who are guarding our “National Treasure.”

They are acknowledged in a piece by William Rivers Pitt called “Heroes” on Truthout.org. Pitt quotes Bob Dylan: "I think of a hero as someone who understands the degree of responsibility that comes with his freedom."

Only by facing the pain can we transcend it. Consciousness is the first step. Action is an antidote to depression. It would be a sign of health, freedom, and conscious evolution if more people could muster up the courage to face the painful truth of what is happening in our country and support the great work of those courageous souls—who are not nuts or conspiracy theorists, but evolved, conscious, healthy leaders taking personal risks and sacrifices to elevate our democracy, restore our integrity and ultimately to increase our security on the world stage … if we let them.

[Patiod]

1. I'd add "fear of being labeld a conspiracy theorist"

"tinfoil hat wearer", or more commonly "sore loser".

It's astounding the level of disdain that you elicit when you propose that the election was fixed.

I do agree that another aspect is a discomfort with numbers, and I'd expand that to say that a lot of otherwise well-educated, intelligent people don't understand the science of polling. I've actually heard people say "well, they never call me, they can't be right" and question how a sample of only 1200 could represent the opinions of 250 million Americans.

[jsw_81]

29. They ARE sore losers

Imagine, if you will, what would have happened if the exit polls had favored Bush but Kerry pulled ahead and won when the actual votes were counted. Would we have seen any of this DU pro-conspiracy nonsense at all? Would TruthIsAll be posting thread after thread after thread with all kinds of bizarre, convoluted formulas "proving" that Bush had won and that President Kerry was a fraud and a cheat?

Hell no!

They would have just smugly told the Republicans to "shut up" and get over it. It's very simple: when your guy wins the results are not to be questioned; when your guy loses, it's stolen, fraud, a massive conspiracy etc. It's all quite childish if you ask me.

[Fly by night]

2. kick

[OneBlueSky]

3. this is s-o-o-o-o-o true . . .

most Americans don't WANT to believe that their election could be stolen . . . so they don't . . . similarly, most Americans don't WANT to believe that their president would intentionally put US troops in harms way for purposes other than national defense . . . so they don't . . .

denial isn't only a river in Egypt . . . it's also the American state of mind . . .

[Fly by night]

6. kick

[Peace Patriot]

17. ...but most Americans DID vote against Bush.

In fact, most Americans didn't buy the lies about Iraq. They saw through all the B.S. and voted the Bush Cartel out.

I am so proud of us for that! It reinforces my general perception that this country is still fundamentally progressive in its outlook.

One of the recent (February) opinion polls indicated that 63% of Americans oppose the torture of prisoners UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

All the polls are showing things like this--great disagreement with Bush Cartel policies and disapproval of Bush.

So, why can't some Americans believe that the election was stolen? Well, for one thing, it took about a year for the truth about Iraq WMDs to come out. It takes time to get the truth out, when you're working beneath an Iron Curtain of disinformation.

Americans have been denied the facts--almost universally. Republicans, BushCons, war Democrats, peace Democrats, the news monopolies, all are ignoring and denying. On election night, the TV networks CHANGED the exit poll data (Kerry won)--"adjusted" it, to fit the official tally (Bush won)--thus denying the American public major evidence of fraud. (--unlike in the Ukraine, where they had undoctored information, exit polls vs. official tally, and could plainly see that something was wrong).

How do you fight disinformation like this? It's very difficult--and it takes time.

-------

One other thing: A president prosecuting an unjust war for the profit of his cronies is easier to see and understand (even given the intense level of propaganda) than the entire U.S. election system being riddled with fraud--in fact, SET UP DELIBERATELY FOR FRAUD. Frankly, I didn't really think it could be as bad as it was, until it happened. I figured out by around midnight, on election night, that something was wrong--because I knew something about electronic voting prior to the election; was watching the early exit polls; and had been following the election closely, as to polls and other indications. But even I was shocked to find out later that the TV networks had CHANGED the exit polls. For a few hours, anyway, I thought that Bush had pulled it off.

The TV networks friggin CHANGED THE DATA. It took me months to get that through my head--and, more importantly, to grasp what it MEANT, in terms of the American public.

They can understand and see through gov't lies and war propaganda, eventually. Because it doesn't seem to be coming from the news people themselves, but from the gov't. But they continue to believe, on the whole, in the factual basis of the news (that they wouldn't CHANGE numbers, etc.).

That's the belief that we are contending with now. If it's not in the news, it's not news. And if there are facts involved, the news monopolies get the facts more or less correct.

I think there is also an emotional component to some peoples' attachment to the news monopoly news. That news attaches them--like an umbilical cord--to "the nation." It has become the conduit of nationhood. So, it's not so much that they can't believe that elections are rigged (they know that 2000 was rigged, for instance); it's that they can't believe that the news monopolies would deliberately convey wrong facts--especially wrong facts of such monumental importance (as strong evidence of a wrong outcome in the election--the exit polls.)

I think THIS FACT--that they CHANGED THE EXIT POLL DATA on everybody's TV screens on election night--is the most important thing that we need to convey to people.

[stellanoir]

4. January 6, 2005

was an outrageously pivotal day for me as it was for all of all.

To see the parade of Dems and Repubs alternately approach the podium for a few hours, with the Dems speaking to issues that had consumed so much of many of our energies for well over two years and had only received nominal coverage was such a relief.

Then alternately, to see the Repubs rebuttals, denials, and persistant misrepresentations was completely exaperating. I couldn't believe how they refused to get the bloody point and self righteously dismissed statistical evidence from PHD's of computer science as nothing more than conspiracy theories. It was mind boggling.

I've long thought the illusion of democracy had long been lost to corporate control with with very few remnants of a truly representative government remaining, but this country seemingly fell inextricably into the mire on that day.

Now they'll try and trash the fillibuster as it's the only obstacle remaining to their absolute power and control.

The arguments from their side for maintaining the fillibuster are from those few who say, "well the Repubs won't be in the majority forever" simply haven't gotten the Diebold memo.

Well at least finally there have been more and more articles about this total scam in circulation lately. We can't let this issue go.

Everytime I receive a fundraising letter from the Dems I respond by saying that they won't see a dime from me unless they address the issue of election fraud and initiate some sweeping reforms.

I just hope they can and will. Otherwise we're all so totally screwed.

[Vincardog]

11. We have to demand clean Fair Elections NOW

If you wait for 'Leaders' to do it you will wait forever. Remember and remind the DLC that all power is vested in THE PEOPLE. We Have to Kick the Corporations out of our Government.

[Peace Patriot]

18. You have put your finger right on it, Vincardog!

"We Have to Kick the Corporations out of our Government."

The takeover of our election system by BushCon corporations is only the latest manifestation of a long-developing, well-plotted course toward Corporate Rule over us, over others, and over all resources on earth.

But perhaps it will be the one that does them in. They're messing with a sacred thing here, the vote. It is the foundation of our democracy, and the basis on which we believe in, and go along with, government. It is our common ground.

More than anything else, we have to address questions of strategy. Before the election, I had decided to devote myself to a Constitutional Amendment banning all private money in political campaigns. I thought that was the heart of the problem. On 11/2/04, I realized that the problem was far worse than that. They had now succeeded in directly dictating who would control the levers of government (beyond just purchasing politicians).

This is a very grave situation. And I think the strategy must be to, first and foremost, recover out right to vote, by whatever means are left to us. There is not going to be any national solution to this. The BushCons control Congress (in addition to controlling the White House, the courts, the news monopolies, the military and the intelligence apparatus). They set up this fraudulent election system, and are not about to correct it. Where we still do have some power is in local and state jurisdictions, which purchase voting systems and generally control elections. That's where we must act.

We can't really do anything about our filthy political system (filthy with corporate money) until we have recovered our right to vote. But voting is the one thing that most people can understand must not be in partisan or private business hands, and must be transparent and verifiable.

I think it's going to take time, but WILL work eventually. As we get more and more verifiable elections, in various jurisdictions, and begin electing people with an honest vote, those people will be motivated to protect the integrity of elections. I don't know if we can affect national outcomes by 2006 or 2008. But I think we will succeed in the long run.

This is a REAL democracy movement, from the bottom up (just as the election of John Kerry was--which is one reason I think the DNC wasn't really into victory--they didn't want to be beholden to the grass roots, primarily because the grass roots is antiwar).

Democracy is a longing in the human heart. It cannot be killed. It can only be temporarily eclipsed. It is now more than a worldwide trend; it is a passion. What an irony, that so many other countries are achieving democracy and are trending very progressive and pro-peace, just as we are discovering what we have lost.

By the way, I urge all DUers to get educated about Venezuelan democracy. There is much disinformation from the US news monopolies, and of course from the Bush Cartel (which wants control of Venezuela's oil). Real democracy is happening there, after centuries of oppression. We need to strongly support it, and strongly oppose Bush Cartel interference.

[liam_laddie]

5. KICK n/t

[Helga Scow Stern]

7. Nominated. Everyone should read this. n/t

[Wilms]

8. Nominate n/t

[AuntiBush]

9. They've even made the word "LIBERAL" a bad label.

These words are absolutely true. It's easy to sit in the comforts of our homes, offices, where ever and spin-off. It takes more courage to get up and do something, and not be a slave to what others say of us.

This is a printout as a reminder to self to be brave as that's what a true Patriot does and is.

Thanks! Nominated!

[Tuesday_Morning]

10. kick!

Here's to signs of health!

[Blue Shark]

12. It all goes back to...

...John Kerry conceeding defeat even before the votes were counted.

...If the candidate and his lawyers hadn't kept spewing the drivel about "we don't question that George Bush won" we might have had some help in this fundemental National issue. Everytime they said those words I wanted to puke because every hour more election rigging shenanigans were coming to light.

...To this day...JFK II still will tell you that he lost fair and square. ..and I will tell you that he is a tired, failed politician who got REALLY bad advise.

[On Par]

13. Maybe We Should Have Back Teresa?

At least she's speaking out.

[SharonRB]

14. Great article!

Now if we could just make it mandatory reading for every voter in America maybe we would get somewhere.

[vanboggie]

15. Nominate and get this info out

If we fail in bringing the phony election to light, all is lost.
It is the most important issue of our lifetime.

[Senator]

16. www.january6th.org

A day to be marked.

On January 6th, 2001

The contract formally known as The Constitution for the United States of America was put into breach, when members of congress failed to fulfill their sworn duty to represent the American People in their Sovereign capacity.

On January 6th, 2005

A small measure of hope for the return of our democracy was produced, when a formal challenge was lodged at the urging of a small coalition of (former) Americans.



.

On January 6th, 2009

We will have not forgotten either event.

--

[Wilms]

19. kick n/t

[LatePeriduct]

20. Quite a article.

So long so true in so many ways.

[LeeB]

21. Great! n/t

[Pooka Fey]

22. Kicking for a great read.

[Bill Bored]

23. I thought the piece was excellent but one question:

Is it a fact that in counties with paper trails, the exit polls matched the vote count?

Here's why this may not be true:

With the possible exception of punch cards and hand counted paper ballots, paper ballots are generated the same way as DRE ballots -- they are created with election management systems such as GEMS, and by DREs with voter-verified paper audit trails. So they may provide a deterrent to fraud because they can be recounted, but they will not necessarily prevent fraud.

To set the record straight, what are the latest stats on the exit polls by county? If you look at the state polls, there was NO correlation to voting technology and exit poll discrepancy. And states are comprised of counties!

Please don't tell me the tabulators were hacked. This is a given, and it could have happened either before or after the election, which most people still don't seem to realize. They are not just tabulators, they are election management systems.

But I'd like to know if the assertion that counties with paper trails matched the exit polls is true or not? And if not, I wish people would stop repeating it. Anybody know?

[Fly by night]

24. I wish it were possible to post graphs on DU, but I don't know how to.

We are using a graph from the electionfraud2004 slideshow that visually suggests a close "fit" between exit polls and "reported" vote in paper states versus wide discrepencies in DRE states.

PM me with your private email address and I'll send you our Gathering PowerPoint program with that graph included. It is "evidence" that we have been using as part of the basis for supporting paper ballots. Again, I'm happy to send it to you. PM me with your email address.

[LatePeriduct]

25. somebody should make a graph

nt

[LatePeriduct]

26. kick

[Fly by night]

27. kick

[jsw_81]

28. It's the other way around

The conspiracy loons are the ones who can't face reality. They spent four solid years reading nothing but liberal magazines, liberal books, liberal columnists and liberal websites, convincing themselves that Bush was Hitler and that we would kick his ass good in 2004. Then when he (narrowly) won, their whole worldview collapsed and they simply refused to accept the facts; it's just too painful for them to accept that the American people chose four more years. I can't say that I blame the conspiracy nutters -- I was really pissed off when Bush won -- but there comes a point where you MUST accept reality and move on. Period.

[Fly by night]

30. Say what? Wake up and smell the 2004 election theft roses ...

This "story" isn't going away, because the country is still in the hands of a regime that thwarted the will of the people and maintained power without obtaining the consent of the governed.

It's so easy to ride a horse that is only gaining momentum. Suddenly, for many Americans, our current situation will all make sense. "Of course," they'll say, "there's a reason why Bush is so vastly unpopular at this moment. Because, not six months ago, the American people handed GW his hat and drove him down to the nearest rail from which they could run him out of town. Problem was, ole G-Dub just refused to leave. Just hunkered down, sent Rove out to the barn to "check on some things" and waited for the word. Act like you won -- we'll stage the rest.

Well, the chickens are coming home to roost and there won't be a golden egg in the pile of chicken-shit that's about to land on Bush and any Republican who stood by and let this last election be stolen so blatantly and so methodically. The facts of the 2004 election theft will weigh like an anchor around this strain of Republi-Nazis for the next quarter century. In one fell swoop, they will have made a lie out of both their patriotism and their moral values. And they will have saddled a lot of conservative men with the stain of having backed a cheater, even unwittingly. Because there may be many things that Bubba might be, but one of them isn't dishonest and another isn't a thief.

The facts of the 2004 election theft will weigh like an anchor around the political necks of those who violated the integrity of the voting process to maintain in power a regime which did/does not reflect the American majority. They know who they are, and so do/will we.