Black Box Voting publisher David Allen on Fox News 5:40 EST

[BevHarris]

I think -- this was arranged this morning. Sorry David, not to make you any more nervous, we don't know what the tone of this interview will be -- John Gibson The Big Story -- I think that show is on at 5:30 p.m. Eastern (2:30 Pacific) -- they said the segment would be about 5:40.

Way to go, David!

BTW -- last time I did Fox they held the interview for about a week, so I thought they'd pulled it. Then it showed up on the day of the general election. I'm not sure whether this is live or not. I had the impression it's live.

[Hawkeye-X]

1. Go David Go!

Slap the Faux News silly for being right-wing and not being "fair and balanced"

Hawkeye-X

[AWD]

2. Make sure...

....he has an answer to the question "Why do you hate America so much?"

Do you dare to question Der Fuhrer?? I mean, our beloved President??

[blm]

3. Prepare to be MOCKED by Gibson, Dave....

That's his M.O.

Be cool. You're a handsome guy and can pull this off, no prob.

[BevHarris]

4. I gave him a heads up on that too

Gibson can be a challenge if it's a confrontational interview. We haven't done one of these on TV yet (better David than me -- he's got a quicker tongue) -- but however it goes, even if they chew him up, he's doing the gutsy thing on short notice, without a lot of TV experience. Baptism by fire?

Maybe they'll be nice.

Bev

[papau]

11. I hope they will ne nice! But Gibson is not known for "nice"

Indeed, the only approach is to tell him that he is a liar - or is implying a lie, or is trying to spin a lie - and he then backs off - a little.

[in_cog_ni_to]

5. Good luck, David!

Give 'em hell! I'll be sure to tune in!

Would you just give Gibson's hair a little tug for me...see if it's real? :D

[BevHarris]

9. LOL -- he'd have to tug from a remote studio

Hey everyone, however it goes, give David his props afterwards. These folks might be great -- or they might try to toast him like Hannity did to Scott Ritter, getting so out of line that Ritter hung up on him.

This is the first time we've had an opportunity to see how the "fair and balanced" is going to play this one.

I will tell you that Fox was the first national TV show to cover this issue after I got involved, and they were actually fair and balanced that time.

Bev

[ParanoidPat]

6. YeeHaaa! First you on The Thom Hartmann Show......

.....and then David on The Big Story with John Gibson! :bounce:

For all who missed Bev's excellent interview on The Thom Hartmann Show, the White Rose Society.org has a three week archive of The Mike Malloy Show, The Thom Hartmann Show, The Peter Werbe Show and now The Randi Rhodes Show! Today's show should be posted within 24 hours. The BEST of liberal radio for your enjoyment! Give them a listen and your support! :thumbsup:

:kick:

[HFishbine]

7. Give 'em hell David!!

But stay composed. Don't let the Gibmatron rile you.

[Eloriel]

8. I guess this means

I'll have to break my No-Fox-Ever-Boycott.

:evilgrin:

Go, David!

Eloriel

[BevHarris]

10. Heh heh -- if they aren't nice to David, I'll sic Jim March on them

Don't underestimate the Black Box posse.

[in_cog_ni_to]

12. You will be very upset if you miss this!

:kick:

[in_cog_ni_to]

13. Gibson just previewed BBV

it's on in a few minutes! Faux News...

[Paulie]

14. Give updates for us Cube Rats!!!

Thanks! :)

[nostamj]

15. for the cube bound: "if you thoughts chads were bad...

wait til you hear about the problems with electronic voting machines."

(pretty close to exact quote) this was the 'before the break' lead-in...

[in_cog_ni_to]

16. Gibson just said

"If you think hanging chads were bad, wait until you see the problems with the new electronic voting machines." Picture of voting machine titled...."Hanging Bytes".....

Sounds like this will be "positive"..... not an attack interview!

[nostamj]

17. leads in with GA VOTE FRAUD ???

:wow: this could actually be good!

will try to take some notes

[TNOE]

18. Good Luck

Need to rush home to catch it!

[nostamj]

19. fishy - a stench of suspicion

tampered with after voting (Diebold)

were machines suspect in GA?

we can't answer because there is no PAPER BALLOT

getting the points our

JG: What we think we're smelling.... BIG turnarounds... Diebold was doing an "electronic patch" AFTER they were certified

[nostamj]

20. mentioning "rob"

no changes after certification. not done in GA.

can introduce new errors.

the wrinkle: there is NO paper trail. must trust the machines.

David: faith-based voting. no way to know if you vote was recorded correctly.

rigging is possible,


(The Banner reads: ELECTION STENCH!!!!

[cthrumatrix]

21. David just called it "faith based voting"....good soundbite

At the same time...this is sounding very techie...and I've been following this...I can see how the average listener might have an issue...


This has to be "made easy"...

[Kelvin Mace]

45. So many things to remember...<s>

This was the first time I've done TV and I was working hard to stay focused on the questions. Just saw the tape and could see the little hamster wheel turning.

I need to look at the camera more, but I actually zoned it out to focus on the questions. Was to to "speak slow" but "make your point quick."

Was glad that he did a promo for me before the commerical break, because it gave me an idea about the direction he was headed and had 90 seconds to drop everything from my mind not related to GA.

When he came back on I thought angry Iraqis had invaded the studio since I only had an audio feed and didn't see the fish monger clip.

I will try to keep it simpler in the future. To you it was 4 minutes, to me it was 15 seconds.

All in all, I think it went well.

David Allen
www.plan9.org

Diebold Voting Machines
We vote for you, so you don't have to!

[nostamj]

22. goes on to cover Diebold, report in the Independant

and PLUGS the book!!! pretty stunning stuff for Faux!

[gristy]

23. Just basefall on FOX in Boston

What gives? :(

[hedda_foil]

24. It's Fox News channel.

Is that what you've been watching?

[nostamj]

26. this is cable, the local fox channel is running baseball too

n/t

[gristy]

27. I guess FOX News isn't on the cable here

On edit: maybe I don't even have cable (I'm in a hotel)

[creativelcro]

37. are you sure..

you are not watching the microwave ? :)
-C


"On edit: maybe I don't even have cable (I'm in a hotel)"

[creativelcro]

35. I hate this baseball craze

in Boston... it swamps everything else. Well said gristy... -C

[leftchick]

25. Just caught him in time...WoooHooo!!

Great Job David...Faith Based Voting Indeed!
Please also note this is the First time I have intentionally tuned into Faux News!

[Kelvin Mace]

46. Your sacrifice

is duly noted.

<g>

David Allen
www.plan9.org

Diebold Voting Machines
We vote for you, so you don't have to!

[ewagner]

51. Late, late post

Congratulations David, you were great......

Sorry but I just got back from work...was home only long enough to catch your segment.

Great job...your tone was perfect; not angry, not conspiratorial, but concerned!

Excellent


:toast:

and have a :beer: on me!

[in_cog_ni_to]

28. Gibson started with

People may be holding noses around the touch screen machines. May have been tampered with in after the Midterm election.

Governors race in Georgia...Senate races turned on their heads!

NO PAPER TRAIL...Gibson said.

Gibson...."Anti-American" paper in UK (can't remember which one) says...fix is in for republicans.

Greatest threat is the vote not being counted correctly.

EXCELLENT JOB David! :bounce:

[lysergik]

29. Great job indeed.

Nice job David on not letting him lead you into a trap :thumbsup:

Way to get the message out guys, lets keep it up :)

[HFishbine]

30. Great Job David

Excellent! But I must say, you look better on TV than in person (maybe you just clean up good).

Just curious, where were you?

[Kelvin Mace]

47. My wife calls me

her "scruffy-looking nerf herder" (ten points if you can place that quote) and it is the first time I have had a tie on in about 8 years. But, I thougth I had to project that "professional image" so there you go.

Lex (BBV's editor) wanted to know if I owned a tie.

D.

[MSchreader]

76. "scruffy-looking nerf herder"

Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), to Han Solo (Harrison Ford), in the rebel hospital on Hoth, in the movie Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.

"I am not scruffy-looking!"

Martin

[BevHarris]

31. Well, I am so proud of David -- he told me he gets nervous, but

he was great -- and very credible. Downplaying the conspiracy theme, highlighting how "poorly these machines are doing" and saying they had great difficulty getting it right.

This is our first TV debut, and it went just fine -- nice sound bytes. And hold onto your hat for Chapter 9, which is nearly there. You ain't even SEEN "Rob-Georgia" till you see Chapter 9! (Probably will be tomorrow midday when 8 and 9 go up).

Bev

[madfloridian]

34. He did a great job. He had a just right tone about it all.

It was a job well done.

[JohnGideon]

32. David Did A Good Job

I thought Gipson was trying to trap him into the "conspiracy theory" line but David did a good job of turning the tables on him. I liked that they led off with pictures of the 'flying fish' in Pike St. Market in Seattle. Good job!! Maybe the media is turning a little and will be reporting this more often.

[BevHarris]

33. Yes, but this was an incredibly easy interview, knowing the source

I've seen Gibson go in with a point of view and not let the interviewee have time to form a rebuttal. David was as prepared for that as for the straight news piece they did.

By the way, the newspaper article Gibson brought up was the one that featured DemActivist.

Now you see? We can DO this, folks. Those of you who have been watching this unfold at DU since last February have seen this go from "ignored" to getting legs -- and we aren't even into election season yet.

Now, speaking of election season, if you haven't signed up for Black Box Activists yet, email me: [email protected] -- it is very flexible, designed to match what you like to do, around the time you have to invest in it. Some great people involved.

Bev

[creativelcro]

36. "legs"

"Now you see? We can DO this, folks. Those of you who have been watching this unfold at DU since last February have seen this go from "ignored" to getting legs -- and we aren't even into election season yet."

Well said Bev... Also, we don't want to "peak" too soon though. You know, people hear something, it's new. After a while it's no longer "new", even if nothing has been fixed... Have you considered this type of strategy from the media outlets ?... Just being very careful here... -C

[BevHarris]

38. Yeah I was thinking about that -- though we aren't close to peak

-- there is still a need to get the problem into people's imaginations and consciousness -- that comes quickly with multiple TV exposures, and more slowly with lots of Internet and print.

The thing we need to do now is keep seeding the problem concepts into wider audiences, while following up with what needs to be done.

We need a shorter version (paper ballots and check them against the machines) -- nostamj is good at these things. It's a 2-parter, with the key words "paper ballot" and concept "check paper ballots against the machines" -- not just in a recount, but as a normal auditing procedure.

Just as David came up with catchy phrases like "faith-based voting" we need a VERY short phrase that captures both sides of the solution (paper ballot + USE IT!)

That needs to start very quickly.

Bev

[nostamj]

78. i will be brainstorming on this...

got a few concepts buzzing around. will probably send directly to you (Bev) rather than slipping it into an existing thread.

(sidenote: here in my part of Brooklyn, we've been using antique lever machines for as long as I've been voting. no paper ballot for voters to verify. so, it's not a new problem. just new technology.)

[JohnGideon]

43. I Find When I Speak To Groups

That people are still not aware of what is going on. I start my talks with two questions: 1) Those of you who vote absentee raise your hands? 2) Those of you who go to the polls raise your hands? I then let the people who raised their hands to the first, know that they will probably be safe in my area in the state of Washington at least through 2005 and maybe a little longer. Then I drop the bomb and let the rest know that they may be in trouble as of 2005 if something isn't done now.

That gets everyones attention and leads me into the reasons for the problems (no conspiracy theories) and what needs to be done about it. It's amazing to see the jaws dropping.

[peabody71]

39. Sorry but Fox was fishing and David did not bite.

What is with the pussy footing around. " I have seen no evidence"?
Here was an opportunity to express some serious reservations about Diebolds intentions but he wouldn't go there. Why bother?!!!

[madfloridian]

40. Disagree. It was better that Gipson brought it up.

Made the point better. David made more of an impression by not going there to that audience. It was enough to make people think about it and be concerned, but not enough to made them mad......that would not accomplish much on FOX.

[peabody71]

41. I disagree. The commentator and Fox made the intruigue.

I don't want to be too negative but it seems that opportunities like these are pretty rare. You must make the most of them. When Fox news is stating election stink, or whatever, do it up!

[Kelvin Mace]

48. Because we just spent

the last nine months proving to people we weren't cranks and conspiracy mongers. I wasn't about to walk into that trap after we had been vindicated by the Rubin's report and the SAIC report.

I answered honestly. I have yet to see any *hard* evidence of vote rigging. I have tons of evidence to support our accusation that Diebold software is crap and shouldn't be trusted to count spam, never mind my vote

D.

[creativelcro]

52. MAN I AM GLAD YOU SAID IT...:)

Sometimes I do worry things get out of hand in paranoialand, even here on threads in DU... Cannot blame you, when somebody hacks your site one more time, the first thing that comes to mind is "THEM" !!...

"the last nine months proving to people we weren't cranks and conspiracy mongers. I wasn't about to walk into that trap after we had been vindicated by the Rubin's report and the SAIC report. "

[BevHarris]

55. I agree with David's approach

and love this "David" quote: "shouldn't be trusted to count spam, never mind my vote"

The media has been circling us warily, ever closer for months now. First time out of the gate, David hit just the right tone.

And Peabody, we'll get many more chances. The credibility of the book is showing; I'm getting many, many requests to review from some astonishing sources.

If David is watching, hope you have a pdf for ch 8 and 9 for me to play with early tomorrow, so we can have them up by midday.

Bev

[madfloridian]

62. It reaches more people by pointing out the weaknesses.

You did a good job. Hubby and I were impressed.

[althecat]

42. Excellent stuff... Way to go David...

Way to go David...

If FOX's attack dogs are on our side then I think this wave is ready to roll right over the top of the Diebold defences.

I was going to post last night on the Independent article thread that that piece was very important.... not only does it cover all the bases the FTP files the memos etc... but it also leads off on Georgia's fishy results which were what attracted a lot of our attention to all this back in November 2002.

The tone of the media coverage has shifted over the past few months from incredulity to outrage. Soon it will shift again to demanding solutions...

Outstanding stuff indeed.

alastair

[angka]

44. dammit!

will this be rebroadcast? when?

i will be home by 10pm MTN...

[4dog]

49. kick for David and Fox (nt)

[frank frankly]

50. kick

:kick:

[eleny]

53. I wonder if anyone at FR or the other wingnut sites saw it and...

posted about the show. Gibson fits their profile of interest. I can't even stand to look at his face. But I do hope the program is repeated tonight. It's still early here in mountain time!

[loudsue]

54. BBV is my ONLY issue....until the problem is fixed!!!

All the other "emergencies" we are experiencing....the trashing of the environment, the corporatizing of even the food and water we take in, the failing economy, the loss of civil rights under the Patriot Act, the corporatist media oligopolies hammering us with right-wing extremist propaganda, our brothers and sisters dying in Iraq and Afghanistan (and soon enough, Iran), the crumbling of our infastructure, or the corporate-owned congress (State and Federal)....

NONE of it is as important as the BBV issue. If we REALLY do have an election system that is honest and fair and true, we can take care of the rest of the messes these a**holes have gotten this country into.

O8)WITHOUT FAIR ELECTIONS, THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE IS REVOLUTION.O8)

I'm squeemish about blood, so I'm going to wager mine on the right to vote.

Way to go, Dave...and Bev, DemActivist, althecat, Trogl, Eloriel, TruthIsAll, ....and all the wonderful DUers who are kicking butt on the bad guys!!



:kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::

[frank frankly]

56. loudsue, you are right-on

ensuring true elections is the first priority

bush will, without question, lose a fair election!

[loudsue]

63. Without ANY doubt whatsoever....

Frankly, Frank, you said it well! Bush would never win a REAL election...and I don't doubt for a minute that he has, to date, NEVER WON a fair election!

:loveya:

Sue

[BevHarris]

57. Well you did do a chilling little summary of what we are really facing

Those of us who have been charging ahead with BBV are very aware that the stakes are immediate and critically important, and it's good to see a tight recap of what we're facing.

Love ya, Loud Sue.

Stay loud!

[BevHarris]

58. The importance of getting the word out

Okay, I've got family in media. Three journalists, in fact. I asked one tonight about their feelings about Schwarzenegger, and this was the answer:

Well he won by a lot of votes.

I asked, "did most of the people you know like him?"

The answer -- I don't think so, but he won by kind of a landslide, didn't he?

My point, and I made it: How do you know what the real totals were? We don't.

It is this seed of doubt that needs to be sown. Just because someone reports a number doesn't mean it is necessarily so.

[loudsue]

60. Ok, call me tinfoilsue...I STILL don't think Arnold won.

Sorry. I just don't. And what about all those zillions of people that voted absentee...all the "other" 900,000+ votes.

I would give EVERYTHING I OWN if, come certification time, they said, "sorry, Arnold....we counted ALL the votes, and you're being 'terminated'."

:bounce:

YYYEEEESSSSSSSS!!!!!

:bounce:


:party:Ok, I know it will never happen, but what a great fantasy!:silly:

[althecat]

61. That is precisely why this is such an insidious form of corruption....

Those with politically active minds are rendered impotent by the tool that they most respect. Public opinion. People who would like to make a difference eventually just give up. They begin to beleive that it is not the system that is wrong, but just themselves and their own opinions that are out of step.

[althecat]

59. Glad you feel that way loudsue.... you are spot on target...

From the moment this story first peeked its nose above the parapet I have been thinking exactly the same thing. For years I have been railing against a variety of injustices committed by corrupt US administrations.

Realisation that the vote count itself may well have already been compromised was like a kick in the guts. What use is public awareness raising, truth telling and sticking your neck out in the name of justice if the vote is rigged!!!

As you say so eloquently Loudsue, Democracy is the only counter to these tyrants short of revolution, and for democracy to mean anything first the vote has to be counted.

And frank frankly: frankly I do beleive you are correct, completely correct.... the shrub is unelectable except within a corrupt system.

Furthermore it has always been my hope that through the exercise of taking back the right to have their votes counted properly, American public interest in democracy in general will receive a boost.

God knows it needs it.

Al

[loudsue]

64. Thanks, althecat, and that was beautifully said, and I concur:

"Furthermore it has always been my hope that through the exercise of taking back the right to have their votes counted properly, American public interest in democracy in general will receive a boost.

When people I have spoken to at length about this finally REALIZE what a basic, root-cause/effect this issue has on our daily lives, they feel angry, patriotic, and empowered.

At first, they are usually incredulous, because voting is a privilege we don't even QUESTION in advanced and industrialized countries. Funky, crooked elections are something that happens in outer Mongolia, or some place nobody can pronounce....it's as if you're telling them that the SUN just took a hike to a different galaxy, and we won't be growing food on our planet anymore....like it's wwwaaaaayyyy too much information for the brain to fathom.

But when you present them with the evidence (like Bev just mentioned in her post...even a "seed" question: "How do we KNOW if the votes were counted? We don't get to look at them!"), they almost instantly recognize that more-than-a-little-something is ...not quite right! And you can see the wheels turning..."corporations (???) counting our votes, and won't let us LOOK!??. Then there's the "ah-HA!" moment, when they look back at the oh-so-strange last few elections.

Let's keep the pressure ON!!

:kick::kick::kick::kick::kick:

[althecat]

65. LOL.... Extremely well put sue...

Funky, crooked elections are something that happens in outer Mongolia, or some place nobody can pronounce....it's as if you're telling them that the SUN just took a hike to a different galaxy, and we won't be growing food on our planet anymore....like it's wwwaaaaayyyy too much information for the brain to fathom.

Extremely well put sue...

And... It is not just people in the US that feel that way when told about this story. I suspect that has always been our greatest obstacle... this is one huge 64 million pound granny that we are drawing people's attention to. Which is why I think the Independent article is such a breakthrough... not only does it cover everything (which nobody in the mainstream has yet had the guts to do) but it does so in an openly suspicious fashion. The veil of willfull blindness is beginning to lift....

[Eloriel]

66. Stark Reality

I had a thread on the old DU that the ONLY things the Republicans have going for them are lies. That's all.

Polls consistently show that The People prefer Democratic positions on issues. The demographics of the country increasingly favor -- and will favor -- Democrats. They know that without desperate measures, their time is up.

So they lie. They lie about who and what they are. "Compassionate conservative." They lie about what they will do, what they have done, what they are doing.

They lie about their legislation and give their bills Orwellian names("Clean Skies" really means further decimating the environment, and "No Child Left Behind" means reducing our schools to Texas standards, or substandards).

They lie about the present (budget figures, deficits, probably things like job loss, global warming), the past, and the future (tax cuts for the wealthy will help the economy).

They have to lie about themselves, and they have to lie about us. And they even have to lie TO themselves about all of it, because no intellectually honest and mentally healthy human beings could possibly put up with all this abject dishonesty.

All they have is lies. Lies and now cheating. That's it. Even power and money are trumped by the Truth.

Eloriel

[loudsue]

67. You're right, Eloriel....."People of the Lie"....

There was a book written about people like them!

And yet, STILL, as you point out, most people favor the traditional Democratic ideals. The bad guys KNOW this, and that's precisely why they've had to devise a way to steal elections with the "latest technology". (barf!)

It reminds me of the Wicked Witch of the West on the Wizard of Oz...throw a little truth serum on them, and they'll melt.

:kick:

[BevHarris]

68. oof. Powerful post, Eloriel.

Eloquent, really.

I'm speechless, and only a small part of that is the merlot.

[ParanoidPat]

72. LOL!

Do I know what you mean! :evilgrin: :toast:

[angka]

79. speechless also

but man enough to attribute much of that to last night's shiraz.

great post though.

[althecat]

69. Now we really are getting properly philosophical round here!!!

You have as usual nailed it Eloriel.

According to the dialectic any serious imbalance in the zeitgeist ought eventually lead to perversion, and then to a counter reaction that corrects the screwup.

Personally I think it quite conceivable that the republican party have had these machines in their control for some time, 2000 was the crowning achievement of the election stealers.

And once they stole that they then thought they could do anything. I November 2002 in GA they got greedy. They stole the senate. And then cheated their way into a war.

But in the process their perversion has become all too obvious. They got lazy. They thought... who cares what happens in the opinion polls we can do what we like, we control the vote counting (as per Joe Stalin). But now they are getting a bit of karma coming back at em.

The public perception of the shrub and his administration is now so bad that even the BFEE must realise he is rapidly approaching unelectable status....

So what will they do now?

1) they will fight to keep a crooked voting system in place.... (and I agree with you Eloriel that they intend to use it to take NY and California in 2004 - these are the new battlegrounds) ... and that was a big part of what the recall was about. A show of strength by the election stealing mafia. The media calling the election seconds after the polls closed was in my view a new low point in US media.

2) they will target the Democratic primaries...

And

3) they will start to panic.

In short. This battle has just begun.

[hunter]

73. Orwellian Names -- "Help America Vote Act"

http://fecweb1.fec.gov/hava/hava.htm

Look at all those silly Americans. They don't know how to vote!

"I'm from the government. I'm here to help you!"

I hear this little sound byte most often attributed to Ronald Reagan, like he was actually some brilliant politician and not a demented old fool with a nice television personality, but I know the quote is much older than that, even older than that perverted old fart and wannabe red-haired-mama-groping science fiction author Robert Heinlein. But the very fact that Reagan once read those very words off a teleprompter does add quite considerable Orwellian spice to them.

I don't know where to begin. In this twisted twenty first century we have learned that Orwell's Animal Farm has a happy ending because pigs like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Dick Cheney can become humans!!!

David Allen you are magnificent. Usually in such difficult circumstances the only way I can keep my cool is by remaining silent.

Well, at least for a few hours anyways.

Thanks for the energy boost.

:kick:

[leftchick]

75. beautifully said loudsue!

here is a kick for Democracy!

:kick:

[BevHarris]

70. Two of the real reasons Fox might have done this thing

Okay, we're all wonderful here but here are two possibilities that are only barely tinfoil:

1) There's blood in the water and the sharks are circling Cathy Cox. (Can there be any doubt of that?) They see a Dem gonna fall, and they are gleefully giving a little push

2) Lure David in with a friendly story, egg him on with stories of how "fishy" the election was in Georgia, lure him into saying something Diebold can get litigious about. Publicly damage the Dems in Georgia, while privately filing some nasty little SLAPP suit.

You see, I just can't quite believe that intro, with throwing fish in Seattle's Pike Place market. They wanted me on; I'm a Seattleite and the intro was cute, "something's fishy," Seattle.

But I don't do the TV spots, so I offered them their choice of David or Jim March. But really, the whole send-up was a bit over the top.

All of you activists: Take care with the media. I learned early on, and the hard way, not to be too friendly when they seem totally on your side.

And one more piece of advice, now that more Black Box Activists are getting press coverage: Refuse to do "profile pieces." A profile piece is a personality piece, a wonderful way to get press coverage because it puts a face to the story. But in THIS story, it's a booby-trap. They only want to do "profile pieces" when they want to avoid the tough issues, and sometimes they'll twist the profile piece into a stab in the back.

If they start asking you about your personal profile stuff, just tell them flat out: "I don't do profile pieces; sorry, but I've learned that those just distract from the issue. The issue is too important -- let's devote as much as possible to the issues themselves."

Again, David handled it very well, and in my opinion, sidestepped potential land mines.

Bev

[loudsue]

71. Bev... BBV activists..please check out the other thread on GD forum..

about Jim Dickson....

YIPES!!!


Sue

[hunter]

74. I second that YIPES!!!

The BBV makers have been wining and dining the disabled voting activists for many years now. In a lot of internet forums disabled people speak of these as "our" voting machines.

Yes, electronic voting is a very good thing for disabled voters, but only if the machines are secure and accurate.

[BevHarris]

77. They've tried going after several groups, with mixed success

Aside from convincing (bribing?) the heads of the organizations, they don't seem to have made much headway with most.

The AARP has supposedly come out against a paper ballot, but let me tell you, the seniors are one of the most devastating forces on this when you get into town meetings. They've seen plenty of snow jobs in their lives, and they cut right through the bull.

The Leadership Council on Civil Rights is often trotted out, implying that African Americans are behind this; they aren't -- that coalition recently backtracked away from its statement against paper ballots, and as far as I know, only the heads of its member groups like League of Women Voters and AARP signed on, not the NAACP and certainly not most of the black civil rights groups.

My husband, as many know, is African American. He's been quietly working the e-mail, unbeknownst to me. Now, his family has deep roots in the south, with both the churches and the African American educational scene -- one of his ancestors founded one of the black colleges in North Carolina, in fact.

I got a real boost yesterday as I heard that folks in the North Carolina / South Carolina / Georgia African American church community are quietly passing chapters of the book around -- and I can tell you this: If the proponents of unaudited voting try to claim African Americans as supporters, they are in for a rude, and very public, awakening.

Hey, I like the sound of that -- I've always said "unauditable" voting but since even when we have paper ballots, we don't use them to routinely and properly audit, calling our opposition "opponents of audited voting" describes a lot in few words. Not very catchy, though.

Bev

[angka]

80. agreed.

there always seems to be this attempt to focus on the messenger, which inevitably has the true goal of deflecting the message.

could it be that you have some...wait for it...media savvy? the trolls will be so disappointed.

:toast: