Ca-McPherson Team is an Arnie Policy Implementation SWAT Team

[JunkYardDogg]

Thanks to Yurbud, PeacePatriot, and OjaiPerson for getting this background info

Urgent Action Needed
McPherson will be confirmed on Tuesday of next week (I think, that it is Tuesday)
Five of the Members of his Transition team are totally unacceptable.
Contact all the California Elected Democratic Officials and make our voices heard.

Capitalizing on their well orchestrated take-over of the California Secretary of State Office, with the Appointment of Bruce McPherson by Gov. Schwarzenegger, to the Position of Secretary of State, the Republicans are set

to accomplish many of their most valued goals.

By seizing control of the SoS, they will control all the Electronic Election Protection Voting Laws. Namely SB1438 which mandates the use of Accessible Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail systems as of Jan. 1, 2006. In the hearings so far, McPherson has given indications that he will suspend this Law.

Thus helping ensure victory in Schwarzenegger’s upcoming “Special Election”

Of which Redistricting is a prime objective.

As you read this list of McPherson’s Transition Team, you will see that it includes various Redistricting Legal experts.

The Secretary of State office, being responsible for the Control of California Elections, MUST be a non partisan office. This “Transition Team” is a Political Policy Implementation Team and cannot be tolerated to hold office.

These five people present a clear and present danger to the very existence of any and all AVVPAT Electronic Election Protection Standards, Regulations and Laws in the State of California

A group of California’s Leading Electronic Protection Activists is asking that you

contact all the Elected California Democratic Officials in State Government and inform them that the top five members of McPherson’s Transition Team are

Unacceptable

Those members are:

Adan Ortega Jr.

Beth Miller Malek

Cynthia Bryant

Steven Merksamer

BRADLEY CLARK



ADAN ORTEGA Jr.



UNACCEPTABLE



Present:

Senior Communications ManagemeAdvisersor with GCG Rose & Kindel

DIEBOLD is a Client of the firm !!!!!

Past:

Chief Deputy of State for Secretary of State Bill Jones

VP of External Affairs for Metropolitan Water District of So. Calif ( 8 years)



BETH MILLER MALEK

UNACCEPTABLE



Present:

Partner, Wilson-Miller Communications, Inc.

A Major Fund Raiser for Schwarzenegger

Worked extensively on the Workman’s Comp Reforms

Initiative

Past:

Chief Assistant Secretary of State, Calif, senior Adviser to

Former SoS Bill Jones, implemented the Open Primary system

Deputy Director of Communications & Chief Deputy Press Secretary for Gov. Pete Wilson



CYNTHIA BRYANT

UNACCEPTABLE



Presently: Part of Gov. Schwarzenegger’s Team

Chief Deputy Legislative Affairs Secretary

Past:

Policy Director Senate Republican Caucus

Legal Counsel for both:

Assembly Republican Caucus –specialized in the Political Reform Act

Assembly Rules Committee





STEVEN MERKSAMER

Lawyer

UNACCEPTABLE


Speciality: Litigating Redistricting and Reapportionment

For Government Entities

Present:

Senior Partner, Nielsen, Merksamer , Parrinello, Mueller & Naylor, LLP

Client: Citizens to Save California,

A Coalition of business groups and others who are UNDERWRITING

Efforts to place Schwarzenegger’s political agenda on the ballot in the special election.

Member ,Board of Directors of the California Chamber of Commerce

Past: Redistricting Work for State of Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission

Florida: defending against constitutional and Voting Rights Act challenges to redistricting plans

Chief of Staff to Gov. George Deukmejian ( 5 years)

Special Assistant Attorney General of the State of California senior Counselor & political advisor

President Reagan’s Administration of Justice Task Force & National Commission on Presidential Scholars



BRADLEY CLARK

UNACCEPTABLE

He is a Staunch Advocate of PAPERLESS TRAIL ELECTRONIC VOTING

Present:

Registrar of Voters, Alameda County ( 10 years)

Past:

Assistant Registrar of Voters , Monterey County

Elections Analyst, staff of Calif Sec. of State March Fong Eu

Past President of Calif Association of Clerks and Election Officials

California SoS Advisory Committee on Voting Systems ( 6 years



BRUCE CAIN



Present:

Robson Professor of Political Science UC Berkeley

Director of the Institute of Governmental Studies

Written extensively on redistricting issues and

Governmental reform

Elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences



Well liked by Liberals in the Bay Area



CHRIS REYNOLDS



Present:

Legislative Director, California Bay-Delta Authority

Past:

Legislative Director, under SoS Bill Jones, and Senior Policy Consultant (2995-1998)

Legislative Director, for the California Air Resources Board, under Pete Wilson



DAVID LESHER





Present:

Director of New America’s California Project

Past:

Visiting Fellow at the Public Policy Institute of Calif

Editor –in-Chief California Journal,

Covered Politics for the L.A. Times (15 years)



ERNEST HAWKINS



Present:

Private Practice Election Consultant

Board of Directors, National Ass. Of County Recorders, Election Officials, & Clerks

Chair, Board of Directors for the Election Center

Past:

Director of Voter Registration, Sacramento County ( 23 years)

Chair of the Election Legislation Committee of Clerks & Elected

Officials (20 years



JACK RIPSTEEN



Present:

Retired



Past:

Attorney,

Specialized in probate, estate planning and real estate law.

Taught R.E. Law at Merritt College (30 years)

Commissioner, Calif State Parks & Recreation Commission ( 6 years0



KEVIN STARR



Present:

Calif State Librarian Emeritus

Professor of History, USC

Contributing Editor, L.A. Times



Past:

Pulitzer Prize Nomination



Author:

“Americans & the California Dream” 6 volumes



ROBERT LAPSLEY



Past:

Former Undersecretary of State for SoS Bill Jones

Appointed by George Bush, to State Dept., as Special Assistant to the U.S. Ambassador to Spain, George Argyros





ROBERT STERN



Present:

President, Center for Governmental Studies



Past:

Election Council, SoS, 1973, 1974

First General Counsel, Fair Practices Commission ( 9 years



DEDE ALPERT





Past:

1991 thru 2004

Calif State Legislature-

3 terms in Assembly

2 terms Senate

San Diego

Chair of Senate Appropriations Committee &

Joint Committee on the Master Plan for Education

Chaired Education Committees of both Houses



THOMAS KNOX

Lawyer



Present:

Partner, Law firm of Knox, Lemmon & Anapolsky, LLP
Speciality:

Administrative, political, corporate, commercial, real estate, &

Environmental law

Past:

California State Fair Political Practices Commission



TONY HILL



Present:

Founder, Access Unlimited, consulting firm





Past:



UC Santa Cruz

Calif Child Care Resource & Referral Network

County of Santa Cruz

Oracle

AT&T



WILLIAM WOOD



Present:

Acting California Corporations Commissioner

Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Corporations

On the following Advisory Boards:

Calif Industrial Development Finance Advisory Commission

A Gov. Schwarzenegger Appointment



Past:

Chief Counsel, SoS



Developed the legal structure to implement Proposition 42, the Voting Modernization Bond Act, which allocated $200 Million for the modernization of California’s voting equipment.

Directed the SoS legal defense before the U.S. Supreme Court of California’s Open Primary

California District Attorneys Association, senior staff

District Attorney, Sacramento County

[msongs]

1. democratic legislators in CA are shit eating cowards who are

selling out the democratic majority by not DEMANDING arnold submit a democrat for SoS. the legislature has absolute authority to deny any candidate arnold puts forward for now and forever I believe, until a dem is nominated.

these legislators are traitors to the party and the people

IMO

Msongs
www.msongs.com/political-shirts.htm

[JunkYardDogg]

2. You ain't whistlin' Dixie

What you said is SO true

This is ALL because they got rid of Shelley

[emlev]

3. JYD, can you attend the OVC event in San Jose Saturday?

See this thread (including my response):

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x347030

I think this event really needs the info you have. Perhaps you could contact LaraOVC about how best to get the info to those in attendance.

[JunkYardDogg]

15. Emlev-Sorry I can't make it

Unfortunately
Besides, from the posting, it looks like they do not even want to bring this up
It might be offensive to some
People gotta get real pissed off before they get up and do something

[emlev]

23. LaraOVC says Wellstone Renewal Dems will be there

and will have petitions opposing the special election. I believe the issue will come up. It's just that OVC won't take a position. I think that could be okay, because they're providing a forum where others will take positions.

[Wilms]

4. Help me understand

Re:

ADAN ORTEGA Jr.
UNACCEPTABLE
Present:
Senior Communications ManagemeAdvisersor with GCG Rose & Kindel
DIEBOLD is a Client of the firm !!!!!


That's not good. He'd have to step to one side of voting issue's to say the least.


Now, why are the others unacceptable??


I don't mean to sound naive or rude, but there are a number of things alleged in this letter that, I personally, would need to see some proof of.

Further, other than the Diebold contractor, there's nothing pointing to a conflict that I can see.

I'm not coming to Arnie's or Conny's aid. (In fact I wonder if she aims to profit off InkaVote through her husband's reported involvement with that system.)

But I've learned the following details somewhere other than on this board:

Mehlman asking Arnie to back off redistricting

Shelley handing a job to a relative of someone who gave him money

Conny ran an election with uncertified software

Conny doesn't want Diebold in LA. She wants InkaVote

Conny's husband is reported to be in on InkaVotes design

While Shelley had to hock his house and beg donations for a legal fight, he did have $3.5MM in personal money to spend winning that office after showing up late in the race. (Hey. I voted for him.)


These are important details completely or largely un-addressed on this board. Either it didn't seem to fit the MEME, or in all the upsetness, it was overlooked.

So I have to take these Conny/Arnie/Shelley posts and allegations with a big dose of google. I'd rather she's nailed on the software issue, than on less supported allegations :shrug:

Sorry about the crankiness. Please let me know what I've got wrong or am missing.

But perhaps the task at hand is to lobby for the protection of Shelley's mandates, rather than unsupported claims that some others are crooks.

[JunkYardDogg]

5. Cynthia Bryant:

Plus I just found out More on Dede Alpert


CYNTHIA BRYANT:

Reason for UNACCEPTABLE STATUS
She is Schwarzenegger's CHIEF DEPUTY LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS SECRETARY
This means that she is responsible for Implementing and Advancing
Schwarzenegger's Policies with the California Legislature
With this Transfer into the Secretary of State office, she will continue this Schwarzenegger Policy Implementation Agenda
Of concern, is Schwarzenegger's Initiative and Redistricting Juggernaut, of which can be easily manipulated and controlled thru the SoS office, which should by it's very nature, be Non Partisan
http://www.joinarnold.com/en/press/pressdetail.php?id=218
November 11, 2003

Gov.-Elect Schwarzenegger Announces Cynthia Bryant Chief Deputy Legislative Secretary
Governor-Elect Schwarzenegger today announced he will appoint Cynthia Bryant as chief deputy legislative secretary.
"Cynthia Bryant's extensive knowledge of California policy and legislative experience will be a tremendous asset to my administration," said Schwarzenegger.
Bryant, 44, has more than twenty years of legislative, political and legal experience. She is currently the director for the Senate Republican Office of Policy where she is the lead policy adviser to the Senate Republican Caucus.
A graduate of the University of California, Hastings College of Law, Bryant served as legal counsel to the Assembly Republican Caucus and as deputy chief administrative officer and legal counsel to the Assembly Rules Committee where she provided written and oral opinions in areas of legislative procedure, public contracts, political reform and civil service to Assembly Members and staff
"It is an honor to serve in Governor Schwarzenegger's administration and to help guide his agenda of restoring opportunity to Californians," said Bryant.
Bryant's appointment does not require confirmation. She is a Republican.

http://www.joinarnold.com/en/press/pressdetail.php?id=218

[JunkYardDogg]

6. Steven Merksamer

He is a Specialist in Redistricting and Initiatives
His firm represents "Citizens to Save California" the organization raising money to place Schwarzenegger's initiatives on the Ballot
http://www.joinarnold.com/en/press/pressdetail.php?id=679

Los Angeles Daily News
Arnold gets muscle for reforms
Prominent business advocates help power his campaign to amend constitution

“Sunday, March 06, 2005 - SACRAMENTO -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has turned to an independent committee led by seven of California's most influential and prominent business advocates to drive his efforts for fiscal and political reform.
The group, Citizens to Save California, has supplied most of the funding and manpower for Schwarzenegger's statewide push for the 600,000 signatures he needs to qualify each of his proposed constitutional amendments for a November special-election ballot…”
“Since March 1, when Schwarzenegger announced he was done waiting for legislators to vote his measures onto the ballot, Citizens to Save California has sponsored five Schwarzenegger campaign appearances at small businesses and restaurants throughout the state and enlisted an army of paid signature-gatherers…”
“Fox heads Citizens to Save California with co-chairman Allan Zaremberg, president of the California Chamber of Commerce.
Also leading the committee are Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association; Bill Hauck, president of the California Business Roundtable; Rex Hime, president of the California Business Properties Association; Janet Lamkin, president of the California Bankers Association; and Larry McCarthy, president of the California Taxpayers Association…”



http://www.nmgovlaw.com/firm.htm
Nielsen, Merksamer, Parrinello, Mueller & Naylor, LLP specializes in government, political and initiative law, trial and appellate litigation, taxation and tax policy, civil and constitutional rights, voting rights and redistricting, and regulatory agency and employment law. Our firm works to resolve highly complex legal and policy issues in both the public and private sectors, and litigates sophisticated constitutional, regulatory and business issues in the courts and before administrative law judges. We frequently represent clients before major local, state and federal regulatory agencies and have considerable expertise in advocacy before the California Legislature and Executive Branch. Additionally, Nielsen Merksamer is widely regarded as one of the leading initiative law firms and lobbying firms in the State of California.
The breadth of our background and experience in these areas provides us with a unique understanding of today's world in which government and the law exercise growing influence over business, labor organizations, public agencies and numerous other clients. We provide our clients not only with legal expertise, but also with strategic counsel in dealing with the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government.
The attorneys and other professionals in our firm have been carefully chosen for their academic achievement and practical work experience in government, politics and business. Working as a team, we draw on a wide range of specialized experience, allowing us to provide our clients with comprehensive problem solving capabilities, guidance and representation seldom offered by a single firm.
We serve an international clientele and have Martindale-Hubbell's highest rating
REDISTRICTING AND VOTING RIGHTS ACT PRACTICE

One of Nielsen Merksamer's specialties is redistricting and voting rights law. The law governing redistricting is particularly complex and constantly changing. The 2000 Census triggered the need for each state to redraw legislative and congressional district boundaries. Many counties, cities, school districts, hospital districts and water districts likewise will be required to redraw their electoral boundaries. Significant policy implications must be considered along with complex legal requirements when implementing a new redistricting plan. Nielsen Merksamer is uniquely qualified and experienced to provide legal assistance and representation in developing, implementing and litigating redistricting plans.
Nielsen Merksamer's redistricting and voting rights practice includes:
• Advising governmental entities on compliance with the complex and ever-changing state and federal legal requirements in redrawing district boundaries while at the same time addressing the unique policy concerns of each jurisdiction.
• Working closely with public agencies and their demographic and other consultants to address competing interests, develop a process for a successful redistricting, and develop solutions to seemingly conflicting political demands and legal criteria.
• Preparing and processing preclearance submissions to the United States Attorney General pursuant to section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.
• Litigating the legality of redistricting plans under the federal Constitution, state statutes, and federal Voting Rights Act.

[JunkYardDogg]

7. Bradley Clark

The following evaluation of him, as Registrar of Voters of Alameda County, is based on the experiences of an Electronic Election Protection Activist in Berekely, who has a considerable amount of experience and interaction with him, on Electronic Voting Issues.
I am not putting the person's name out, as I have not asked her for permission to put out her name.
But I do have her direct response to his inclusion on the list.


Also, remember that under his supervision, Alameda bought and used uncertified Diebold Equipment.

"Brad Clark is now also listed as Unacceptable on McPherson's transition team. Frankly, I agree with this classification. Brad brought paperless electronic voting into Alameda County and has been firmly resistant to information about its problems. He appears to have become completely dependent upon Diebold for technical support, to the point of being unable to post election data on his own website in the format he agreed to before the election, with the excuse that Diebold has not supplied the necessary Application

Just to split a hair, I'd call Brad's view Pro Paperless-non-VoterVerified Electronic Voting (rather than Paperless Trail Electronic Voting). With Brad's technology, there's no trail at all. You just get to keep hitting the button and getting the same electronic result over and over and over. No muss, no fuss. No way to do a meaningfull recount, even though the actually would print out 1% or whatever of the innerds of the computer and then hand count those "paper records." Looney? Yes. Surprise, surprise, they always were 100% identical.

Maybe a shorter characterization of Brad's position might be Anti-Voter-Verified-Paper-Audit-Trail or Anti-Voter-Verified-Paper-Ballot."

[JunkYardDogg]

9. Dede Alpert

The initial information which we had to go on, in regards to the Backgrounds on the "Transition Team", was the Press Release issued and written by Robert Lapsley, a member of the Transition Team.

Their first function, even before they assume office, is already marked by some form of deception and manipulation.
Conveniently missing from this Bio List, is the fact that Dede Alpert also works for Merksamer's Law Firm, thus making her another
Promoter of Schwarzenegger's "Special Election" initiative and
redistricting plans to control California.That makes her UNACCEPTABLE also.
see:
http://www.nmgovlaw.com/biography_DA.htm

Dede Alpert

Also a Member of Steven Merksamer’s Law Firm
DEDE ALPERT (Sacramento office) is the firm's Special Advisor for Public Policy and Strategic Planning.
Dede Alpert represented the San Diego region in the California State Legislature from 1991-2004, serving three terms in the Assembly and two in the Senate. She is widely recognized as one of the legislature's foremost experts on public education.
Alpert chaired the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee and the Joint Committee on the Master Plan for Education. She also chaired the Education Committees of both houses, the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee, the Select Committee on Family, Child and Youth Development, and the Select Committee on Genetics, Genetic Technologies and Public Policy. She was appointed by two governors to serve as a member of the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission and the Pacific Fisheries Legislative Task Force.
The California Journal named Dede Alpert "Senator of the Year" in 2004 and named her the senator with the highest integrity in both 2000 and 2002. She was inducted into the California Tourism Hall of Fame, has been feted with Lifetime Achievement Awards by the California School Boards Association and the San Diego Domestic Violence Council, and was honored as "one of the extraordinary library advocates of the 20th century" by the American Library Association

[Peace Patriot]

11. Wilms, it's just too coincidental that Shelley decertified and sued...

...Diebold, provided a paper ballot option for 2004, and insisted on the highest standards in the nation on electronic voting...and now he's gone. Too coincidental. Too convenient to the Bush Cartel and the Council for National Policy (HF Ahmanson et al) who have long wanted to loot California's wealth and bring this progressive state to heal politically. Their energy brethren in Texas succeeded on the first goal, bankrupting California and enriching themselves, and getting rid of the Democratic governor; now they are embarked on the second, taking over the election system and breaking the Democrats' power in this state.

None of these people is to be trusted.

The Bush Cartel and the CNP will not forgive Shelley for creating a clean enough and verifiable enough election system in California that it gave Kerry a 9% margin of victory here in 2004, and a 20% margin to leftist Barbara Boxer--a true reflection of California's progressive population. This had to be stopped--and that's what they are doing.

The horrible irony of it all is that Shelley was apparently incorruptible and refused to collude with them--unlike many Democrats.

Further, think of the EXAMPLE that has been set--that if you oppose a Bush Cartel buddy (Diebold), you WILL be destroyed. Cheney can steal billions and billions of dollars out of the federal coffers for himself and his friends, and Kenneth Blackwell can break every election law on the books, with NO CONSEQUENCES, but if you DARE to oppose us, we will dig out every misstep you have ever made, and utterly ruin you.

Same MO as with Clinton, and so many others. It's truly sickening.

Junkyard, they are pulling this off so fast--like so many of their coups--that we really don't have time to stop it. That is their purpose--much as with the Recall. Don't give the public time to think or act. I agree that should we SHOULD send letters to Assembly members--and get as many of those in as possible--AND send infuriated letters afterwards. But we have to start thinking more long term than this, and gather grass roots strength in each locality to oppose their weakening of the election standards.

We cannot stop this election fraud team from being put into place. It's a done deal. And the Democratic leadership is collusive, and some of it corrupt. So the only way to fight it is from the bottom up. One thing we have going for us--unlike most of us re the 2004 election--is that we now know what's happening and who the players are (the visible ones) and how it all works (the privatization of vote counting, the secret source code, the partisan ownership of voting systems, the rightwing connections, the conflicts of interest, etc.) A lot of us are much better informed than we were before 11/2/04. But like the national fraud that occurred that day, it's going to take time to educate and inform and mobilize people.

Don't despair, Junkyard! Your information has been invaluable--and your passion is inspiring. Onward!

[Wilms]

12. I agree with all you indicate.

Except this.

"The horrible irony of it all is that Shelley was apparently incorruptible and refused to collude with them--unlike many Democrats."

Shelley (and us, too) have no one to blame for this but Shelley.

Perhaps incorruptible by Diebold. But that job givaway was/is indefensible. He should have his ass kicked for it.

Sorry to be so contrare, but these are the kinds of Dems that help make us a minority party.

The other thing that helps that is partisan defense of crooks.

Shelley, thanks for the paper. And for the crisis. Poor little rich boy that he is.

[EFerrari]

59. Sorry.

Equating Shelley handing a job to a supporter to saying G'bye to voting in California seems like a real failure of proportion to me.

[Wilms]

8. Glad I asked!

Thanks for the background on them.

[JunkYardDogg]

10. Don't Worry

You can question me anytime
From you, it is acceptable
and welcome
It just means that we have to work harder

[nicknameless]

13. This may be far out of left field now …

But has anyone heard whether or not the Democrats even considered the option of keeping the Undersecretary of State,
Cathy Mitchell, in the office of SoS until the seat comes up for election again?

I read about the past experience with Elizabeth Whitney in 1987, but this is a completely different circumstance. Kevin Shelley was driven out of office for standing up against Diebold, etc. I don’t think McPherson would come off looking like a martyr,
as he’s also a member of the enemy camp that’s waging this coup.

Is the option of Cathy Mitchell totally off the table at this point?

[JunkYardDogg]

14. The Coup was so well orchestrated, they wouldn't let it happen

Schwarzenegger's Rethugs have put a whole lotta thought into this
takeover
It was very well planned, very well co-ordinated
They run a real voracious machine
They have a plan
and they don't give a good shit about being
Politically Correct

[nicknameless]

16. But doesn’t the Assembly’s approval stand between McPherson ...

and his taking over the office? They haven’t approved him yet have they? I know the Senate has. Can’t the Assembly be persuaded to reject McPherson – especially now, on the basis of his clearly unacceptable transition team?

[JunkYardDogg]

17. Only if there is a lot of Pressure brought to bear upon them

These office holders don't want to give any indications whatsover of being in the least bit controversial or offense
To them, it is a greater offense to be controversial than it is to get screwed

I'll post next the Progressive Democrats of America Message on this

[nicknameless]

33. They seem complicit with what's happening.

They’re afraid of being smeared in the media the way Kevin Shelley was. If that happened, they might loose their seats in the assembly. But if they allow this to go through, they’re guaranteed to loose their seats through corporate vote-stealing.

The only hope I can see for Dems to stay in power in this state is if they stick together and fight as a united force.

Who, if anyone, stood up for Kevin Shelley? It appeared that they all backed down and allowed the smear and take-down to occur. Their silence (or worse) seemed to confirm that a Secretary of State should lose his office because of a temper problem, or because he refused to spend funds on a corrupt voting system. I’m sorry, but the job placement issue just doesn’t seem to me to be very important. If voters saw it as a major problem, then they could have elected someone else to replace him once his term was up.

What we’re getting instead is the obvious corruption of the SoS office. If every misstep by every politician resulted in their being booted out before they could be voted out, there would be nothing but vacancies… Except that the only ones being held to that standard are Dems. And their vacancies are being filled by neocons with Rove-contrived agendas.

(*Sorry, reply to #26)

[Helga Scow Stern]

26. California legislature is either clueless or complicit.

If clueless, our input between now and March 29 might make a difference. But Rove and his bots probably have it all covered.

[Dan Ancona]

18. this needs more evidence

I've seen quite a bit of evidence that Shelley dug his own grave, and so far no evidence that this was a Republican orchestrated takedown. I've heard rumours (even in a cow town hundreds of miles from Sacto - moo) and read in print that Shelley was what's known as a "screamer" - i.e. someone who regularly berated and verbally assaulted his staff. People who take that approach don't tend to end up with a lot of allies over time.

Incidentally, this may seem hard to believe but these people seem to be everywhere in politics. I have lots of theories as to why - but some other time. Back to the matter at hand...

This post doesn't mention that McPherson was a coauthor of SB 1438 - this seems like a pretty big ommission. I haven't seen any source report that he'd do anything but continue to uphold that law - where'd that come from? This story from the Bee reports that he intends to stand firm on another potential issue, scheduling issues around Arnold's $70 million special election boondoggle...

http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/12583513p-13438140c.html

I have yet to see a full analysis of the entire transition team. I recognize the names of a few probably left-leaning academic types on there but the presence of some Republicans isn't suprising, right? I would hope that any transition team would be a mixed bag of donkeys and elephants in roughly equal proportions.

I strongly recommend CalVoter's weblog for coverage of this and e-voting stuff in general...

http://calvoter.org/news/blog/index.html

and if you want to let the Assembly & Senate Rules Committees know you're watching (but don't necessarily oppose McPherson), you can do so here...

http://ga4.org/campaign/mcpherson

I'm worried about this too. But so far the evidence seems to suggest that McPherson is most likely the best deal we can get. I'd be curious to hear about who we've got on deck for 2006. Where are Secretaries typically recruited from?

[JunkYardDogg]

19. Bowden from the South Bay area of L.A. wants the job

She's from the Hermosa/Redondo Beach Area
She already has announced her intentions, and she seems to be a Pro-
Election Protection issue person
There is no doubt that Shelley definitely had a severe problem
with his people skills- that's really probably what ended up biting him
Dan-
Ney co-wrote HAVA, and look at what a POS he is
I really do not disagree that in all likely hood, McPherson is an OK guy, I've never seen anything other than that
But you have to take a real good look at these people
The top 6 aren't just run of the Mill Repubs
These are Schwarzenegger's Generals ( not lieutenants , not colonels,
not sergeants). Those are people who are instrumental in formulating his agenda, plans, and strategy. These are the people
responsible for seeing that it gets done. These aren't order takers.
These people are Order Givers and Commanders
These top 6 people are not some benign underlings.
If they were just run of the mill Repub Wankers, this wouldn't be an issue.
These 6 people are there to make sure that Schwarzenegger gets his "Special Election" and gets his redistricting and his other initiatives.
As far as Bradley Clark goes, I'm going off of what I was told by
somebody, and you know her, from Berkeley.
This was cold, calculated, and very well planned

[Helga Scow Stern]

21. I wish that there was a lack of evidence....

but all the signs point to an aggressive takeover of our state.

Hannah Beth Jackson speaks freely about this, but then it seems that even in the face of such knowledge, there is a reluctance to acknowledge HOW it is happening.

To those of us who have watched this carefully for months, who compared the articles coming out in the San Francisco Chronicle and the San Jose Mercury Press, it seemed clearly an orchestrated attack, skillfully done so as to make it seem it was all Shelley's fault.

You can either believe the rumors that have been masterfully generated using age old techniques of scapegoating and ostracization, or you can spend hours looking over the facts.

I mean, if you understand that Schwarzenegger is a Rove-bot, how in the world can you think this Secretary of State coup is in any way innocent or a coincidence? Have you not studied the way elections have been stolen in Florida and Ohio? The Secretary of State is key, and chances are, they are about to pull it off here with an SoS who seems beyond reproach.

How does anyone think it is acceptable for Arnold to redistrict now? Or to pull off a special election for his ballot initiatives? And to put in the office that controls elections those in the state most interested in doing this?

Just what is it that you don't understand???

Edited to add:
This is a very serious matter, and the sooner that fact is faced, the sooner we may be able to do something about it.

PS
People who attended the hearings on McPherson's confirmation reported that he spoke as if he is weakening his stance on upholding the safeguards of auditable elections. Of course this is not reported in the press. Some of the newspapers, most notably the San Francisco Chronicle and the San Jose Mercury News Press have been very active in this coup.

[Dan Ancona]

27. If you're so convinced, document it

Seriously. Make a summary table of ALL the people on the transition team and their ties to the left and the right and then see if it's unbalanced. Saying so-and-so "raised money for Arnold" doesn't mean anything. Saying "too much of a coincidence" doesn't mean anything.

If you've really been studying this for months, produce a report of what you've found - with documentation, with evidence, not with hearsay and unsubstantiated theories - and most importantly, a clear, concise one-page summary. Do your homework. Seriously, it's the only way. The insiders (the Cal Voter people, Hannah-Beth etc.) have done their homework on this and they've come to a different conclusion and chosen different tactics, and they're simple not going to change their minds from hearsay. "People have said it sounded like..." - this means nothing. What'd he actually say? Are transcripts available? Track them down! Insiders don't have hours to pore over stuff. If you want people to act, you have to realize that.

There's evidence to support the ways that Arnold IS taking cues from Norquist & Rove - he's absolutely in contact with them, he's following their rhetoric etc. But I still haven't seen a single shred of evidence that Shelley was a victim of anything other than his own screwups. Who was behind the attack? How'd they do it? Who funded it? etc etc.

[JunkYardDogg]

29. Learn to Read

OK
We're in the Dawg's Yard
and we're playin' by the Dawg's Rules
Got that
On a previous thread, we meticulously researched the backgrounds and bios on these people.
Gotta Problem with that?
Real simple shit
I gave props to Bruce Cain, who the liberals thought well of in the Bay Area
I'm not going to follow these fucks around and count how many times they shake their dick when they piss

If Merksamer the Lawyer is a Specialist in Redistricting and Initiatives and his Client is Citizens to Save California, Schwarzenegger's Policy Writers and Fundraisers
If Beth Miller Malek's Company is Herr Governor's Chief FundRaiser,
If Cynthia Bryant is Herr Governor's Chief Deputy Legislative Affairs Secretary ,
If Dede Alpert is employed at Merksamer Law Firm,
If Adan Ortega Jr. works for a Law Firm , whose Client is Diebold,
If Bradley Clark is/was the Alameda County RoV who purchased and used Non Certified Diebold E-Voting Equipment and a Voting Activist whose opinion I respect, tells me that he's Anti Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail,
If Diebold engages in Fraudulent Business Practices in California,
If Herr Governor is trying to RamRod a $70 Million Dollar "Special Election" down our Throats,
If Herr Governor wants to put his previously defeated Initiatives on the ballot in his "Special Election"
If Shelley, who stood up and Protected us with his staunch advocacy
of the Strongest E-Voting Laws in the U.S. was removed from office in a cold, calculated orchestrated coup
If the SoS office controls the Elections and the Voting Machines
If the Electronic Voting Machines fuck with our votes
If Schwarzenegger is trying to purge the SoS staff and replace them with these fucks
Then I'm REALLY PISSED OFF
and
I'll try to stop this shit
Funny,
I don't see CalVoter and HBJ doing shit about this
Tells you a lot about them, Huh
It's time to put your soul and body where your pen is
Talk is Cheap
I responded to your first posting in a dignified manner
so dignified, that what I wrote was used by "Houston" in a posting on this subject at Daily KOS
So, I'm pretty busy
and I do not have a lot of time to spend with Obstructionists
To quote that Famous Philosopher,
Jesse "The Body " Ventura
"I ain't got time to bleed"

[Wilms]

30. JYD. I know you.

Sort-of...

And you have a lot of this researched.

What you laid out in your post may be enough for some to go on, but not others.

You mentioned having documented stuff in another thread. Please link that.

[JunkYardDogg]

32. Actually there is more listed here in each person's Bio

People
If you all noticed
I did not call Dan a Freeper
and he is NOT a Freeper
and do not bag on him about only a few posts
I am familiar with him a little bit
so in his mind he may be a bit hesitant on this
Maybe you are a bit right
but how much more does one need
This at times is a puzzle
& you have to connect the dots
but it's right there

The Repubs have a behaviorial pattern and it is manifesting itself in this situation

[Wilms]

34. Re: "you have to connect the dots"

Links for the dots, please.

[Dan Ancona]

40. life is shot, but wide

I like the Ventura quote, but think about it. I can walk outside of my front door, give the cat a good swing and hit a dozen people who will run in circles and send out emails saying "It's time to scream." I don't know who is behind PDA, and it's too bad because I think it's a great idea and something the country really needs right now. But that one line (ok really all the lines with all caps) they have completely flatlined their credibility with me at this point. If they're reading - come on poeple, THINK and EDIT before you hit send!

I suppose it's funny that PDA is recommending that we start screaming now, when it was Shelley's habit of doing just that that got us into this situation in the first place.

If McPherson - remember, this guy was an ORIGINAL COAUTHOR of the VVPAT bill that gave Shelley the cover to decertify Diebold in CA in the first place - were to pull any kind of actual, documented BS, believe me, I would be first in line demanding that speakout and every other progressive org in the state be on it like ugly on an ape. I'm not seeing that, not yet, and JYD, your post that repeated what you said in your first post didn't add anything new or clarify things. It's Occam's razor (medical types put it the best: when you hear hoofbeats, don't think "zebra") - there's a simpler explanation here which is that Shelley blew it, had no allies and now Arnold is capitalizing on that, as would any politician smarter than a sack of hammers would. (and from what we've seen so far, Arnold is juuust barely smarter than a sack of hammers, but apparently that's enough)

Thanks for getting my back, Ojai Person. I am new here, and I have no idea if I'll stick around or not. But if you or anyone clearly and concisely and with documentation shows that his team is rigged or has transcripts of stupid stuff he said in his hearing, that would be something I can run with. Make a table and color code ALL the people according to how partisan they are, or something. I know, it sucks that we have to do the work that journalists used to do but that's how it is in the age of corporate media. The good news is that if the facts are there, the reporters will (sometimes) follow the stories that we generate. But if I read in the paper that McPherson said he won't screw with deadlines and then read on some message board that it sounded like he did, obviously the burden of proof is on the poster. Of course you can't completely trust the corporate media but it's very unusual for reporters to make quotes up out of thin air or report the opposite of what actually happened.

JYD & others - if you saw my to-do list maybe what looks like "hesitation" would make more sense. There was an article this week about our schools that described a disturbing percentage of them as "dropout factories." If you want to make the case that what Bruce McPherson might or might not do is more important than plotting strategies to fix freakin' DROPOUT FACTORIES (gaah, I'm going insane just thinking about this), go for it, I want to see it. But don't kid yourself about the time/attention/priorities barrier that you have to punch through and how much higher that barrier gets the more inside you get. As downright ugly as my to-do list is, it's like something my wife would give me to run down to the 7-11 compared to your average Assemblymember's.

And the fact is, the Governor is the Governor. This is a symptom of that and for the moment there's nothing we can do about it. If you haven't signed up with Angelides (or whoever you like, but near as I can tell he kicks ass and is the one that meets Trippi's Rule - the most progressive candidate that has a prayer of winning) and given him whatever spare change or help you can, why not? We have a chance to get rid of both Arnold and McPherson in a year and a half, don't forget that.

We just all have to think about what an effective message is going to be, not just the first thing we think of. It isn't easy. If you say "our Assembly is complicit in this, let's scream!" - I can guarantee that is NOT the most effective message. Life's too short. People will tune that out, I swear it. They don't have time to bleed, either.

[Wilms]

42. Answer This Man! n/t

[Helga Scow Stern]

56. Time will tell.

I think the Bush cartel in its neocon theocracy takeover strategy is far more organized than many give it credit. They have something stolen before most of us even realize it is gone.

[Name removed]

57. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Helga Scow Stern]

58. I am sorry you are disappointed.

Sometimes words fail us.

[Helga Scow Stern]

31. Thank you for your suggestions.

Will get right on it. You must understand our frustration when we hear prominent Dems echoing the same talking points printed in the newspapers. And you must realize we are quite intimate with the details of how the Republicans use the Secretary of State to steal votes.

[Helga Scow Stern]

35. Dan, Welcome to DU, btw!

The last thing we want to do here is alienate anyone who might be able to broaden our understanding of what is truly going on.

[Helga Scow Stern]

22. And Dem complicity by their silence in these matters is widespread:

from Gore Vidal:

Ohio was stolen. The Republican Congress will never have a hearing on it. But I think attempts are being made to publish the details of what was done there, and elsewhere too in America.

In other words, I put the case that Bush was never elected--not in 2000, and not in 2004. This is a new game in the world. Through the magic of electronic voting, particularly through Mr. Diebold and friends, you can take a non-president and make him president. But how to keep the people, including the opposition who should know better, so silent, this introduces us to a vast landscape of corruption which I dare not enter.

http://citypages.com/databank/26/1268/article13085.asp

[EFerrari]

60. The answer to your question is

as soon as Kevin resigned, the whole storm just blew away.

Any more front page Chronicle articles? Nope. Mission accomplished.


Jesus, it's so obvious.

[Wilms]

63. No so fast. Investigations DO disappear for awhile.

That doesn't indicate it being quashed. But the Democrats themselves seem eager to have it disappear.

And just what is that 'it'?

Here's my google news search term: "Kevin Shelley" Investigation


Oakland Tribune

Senator seeks law halting partisan acts by secretary of state
State legislation would also ban donations by voting-machine makers

By Ian Hoffman, STAFF WRITER

-snip-

Several investigations are pending on allegations that former Secretary of State Kevin Shelley misused federal voting funds and office resources for partisan Democratic purposes. But the reasons that Bowen gives for wanting to eliminate partisan activity in the office are not in California but in Florida in 2000 and Ohio in 2004.

-snip-

http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/localnews/ci_2617457


I can't seem to register for this site but the Google return read as follows:

Bakersfield Californian (subscription), CA - Mar 24, 2005

-snip-

... support won't wane for investigating how millions of dollars in federal election funds were spent under former Secretary of State Kevin Shelley, who resigned ...

http://www.bakersfield.com/local/story/5386979p-5403391c.html


Santa Maria Times
March 12, 2005
Cleaning up after pork

-snip-

These revelations come on the heel of a "pork" scandal involving then-Secretary of State Kevin Shelley, who helped get state money for a community center in the Bay Area. The center was never built, but the organization that received the grant kept the money, and its leaders later contributed to Shelley's campaign. Those donations are now under investigation, and Shelley resigned last month.

-snip/more-

http://www.santamariatimes.com/articles/2005/03/12/sections/opinion/031205b.txt


Now this guy is a Republican Assemblyman, so we know he'll embellish.

However...

Contra Costa Times
Posted on Fri, Mar. 11, 2005
By Tim Leslie

GUEST COMMENTARY

As the senior member of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee (JLAC), I find the current partisan attempts to shut down the investigation into the misuse of millions of federal dollars by the secretary of state's office deeply troubling.

This isn't a question of whether funds from the HAVA (Help America Vote Act) were used for partisan political purposes. This reality has already been established. What we must now answer is who is responsible and how we can prevent this from happening again.

-snip-

At the heart of this mission is "ascertaining the facts." Quite frankly, we have not yet come close to doing so.

JLAC has held a grand total of two hearings and heard from only four witnesses. Of these four, only one came from the executive offices of the Secretary of State, where most of the questionable activities appear to have originated. Additionally, information and documents that were requested by committee members have either been incomplete or not provided at all.

-snip-

However, it is clear that she is one of few Democrats interested in doing so, and many observers believe that legislative leadership will delay the investigation until it can be quietly quashed altogether.

-snip-

Whether we are dealing with corruption or merely incompetence, California deserves answers. For the Legislature to leave the questions unresolved would represent gross negligence, if not downright complicity.

-snip/more-

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/opinion/11108760.htm


Wouldn't have known this following the story on DU...

San Francisco Bay Guardian
March 9th -15th Issue
Nonprofits gone wild!
A guide to bad behavior, scandals, and shenanigans at local nonprofits.

By A.C. Thompson and Tali Woodward

-snip-

San Francisco Neighbors Resource Center
This little nonprofit was at the heart of the campaign-finance scandal that caused Kevin Shelley to resign his post as California secretary of state.

Shelley came under fire when the Chronicle reported last August on several questionable donations from realtor Julie Lee, who's long been powerful in local politics. Shelley had gotten seven donations worth $205,000 through Lee, and five of them went through the San Francisco Neighbors Resource Center, the nonprofit Lee runs. Making matters worse, the money seems to have come directly out of a $500,000 state grant Shelley helped the group get.

The grant was meant to help build a community center for Asian Americans – but the center was never built, and, in fact, Lee had made little progress toward its development. Instead she used at least some of the money to cut five checks, totaling more than $168,000, supposedly for "project management." The recipients turned around and donated $125,00 to Shelley's 2002 election campaign – in five $25,000 chunks.

Amid mounting campaign scandals, Shelley resigned in early February, but Lee still sits on the board of the San Francisco Housing Authority. And the city is investigating whether the SFNRC properly used another $200,000 city grant that was intended to fund telephone referral services for San Franciscans.

-snip/more-

http://www.sfbg.com/39/23/cover_foi_nonprofits2.html


Ah...oops?

News10
2/25/2005
Kevin Shelley’s State-Issued PDA Stolen From Home

Someone broke into outgoing Secretary of State Kevin Shelly's San Francisco home last weekend. Whoever did it bypassed valuables and decided to take only Shelley's state-issued personal digital assistant.

-snip-

Shelley also told police that he may have wiped-off a smudge from the windowsill that could have been helpful in the investigation. Police have collected some other evidence but would not elaborate on the nature of it.

-snip/more-

http://www.news10.net/storyfull1.asp?id=9429


Are we having fun yet? :eyes:

[EFerrari]

64. Where are the indictments?

Tell you what. If Kevin Shelley is ever shown to be guilty of -- what are they accusing him of again? Having a crooked donor? Giving her kid a job? Being an asshole boss?

If he is indicted, I'll apologize and mail you coupons for Ben & Jerry's.

Until then, I see these motherf*ckers doing exactly what they always do. Smear, get people with actual MORALS upset and quiet, move in.

And, I sincerely hope I'm wrong. Because if I'm right, we might as well toss our ballots into the nearest trash can.

[Wilms]

66. According to the articles, the Dems are slowing the investigation.

And not neccessarily looking forward to it.

So a deal could be cut (or already have been cut) and the guilty will go free. Happens all the time.


So here's the deal I'll cut with you.

If he's exonerated, I'll buy you the Ben & Jerry's.

If he's convicted (I'll give that handicap!) the ice cream is your treat.

If the story dies, will go dutch at some meetup, and shake our heads. :)

[JunkYardDogg]

70. I'll throw in Lunch at Phillippe's

It's near China Town
According to my Math
That Lee woman still should have some change left over
so it's on her

[Wilms]

73. French Dipped Roast Beef!!!

I'm there!

[EFerrari]

74. Oh, man! Does your activism thing dim down when faced with good food?

You guys are the best.

Beth

[EFerrari]

71. Deal! : )

[Helga Scow Stern]

76. In response to these articles

and other points you have raised:

I have never said that Shelley was innocent of all charges. To insist on the truth or falsity of either side of this question is a distraction from what is happening now.

Shelley’s guilt or innocence is really secondary. It was the manner in which he was all of a sudden attacked from all sides at once which gave the signal that the RW was in action.

Suppose Shelley is guilty of everything. That does not change the possibility of his guilt being opportunistically used as part of taking over the state. Look at 9/11. I originally said that Kevin Shelley deserved our support because it seemed to me that all the conditions of being unfairly ostracized and scapegoated were in place, phenomena that I have studied in some depth, and tools that have been very successfully used by Karl Rove in the past in Texas, among other places. But that is beside the point now.

There is a lot more to what is going on than what Shelley did or didn’t do, and it has to do with the taking over of the state by a cultic regime. Regardless of whatever else is happening, it is not too far off to suspect that this is the fundamental background of the events taking place with respect to Shelley, regardless of his guilt or innocence. Not to seriously consider and prepare to defend against this possibility is naïve at best, and setting oneself up for some brutal victimization at worst.

The articles you cite, except for the last, basically present a rehashing of the same old “news” as it originally came out, and as was recorded and discussed on DU as it was originally “reported”. Please see this thread and investigate the many discussions on DU as the Shelley scenario unfolded:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=203&topic_id=325113

I will address what I find the most relevant in each article:

From the Oakland Tribune:
A study by Electionline.org, a nonpartisan clearinghouse for election-reform information, found that the four leading voting-machine vendors contributed more than $650,000 between 2001 and 2003. Oakland-based Sequoia Voting Systems was among the larger donors in California, giving a total of about $8,000 mostly to Democrats and to a Shelley-led committee promoting Proposition 41, which provided $200
million in bond funds for modernizing voting systems in California.

Comment:
This was reported in the early investigations, and may be very significant to Shelley’s integrity, which is not our main concern now. NVMojo noticed it at the time, and said, “I knew it had to do with Sequoia.” I tried to track it further, but didn’t get far. Sequoia has recently been sold, to the same company in charge of voting in Venezuela. Following this may be very important for current and future election integrity here in California. It is good to be reminded of it.


From the Bakersfield Californian:
Speaking of elections, McCarthy said he hopes support won't wane for investigating how millions of dollars in federal election funds were spent under former Secretary of State Kevin Shelley, who resigned amid scandal in February.

Shelley's quitting and the nomination of former Republican state Sen. Bruce McPherson to replace him -- which the Assembly is scheduled to vote on next week -- shouldn't put the matter to rest, McCarthy said.

The committee that would investigate is headed by Assemblywoman Nicole Parra, D-Hanford. A Parra spokesman, Bob Sanders, said she favors more hearings on the issue.

Comment:
We’ll see what comes from these hearings. I for one am a little suspicious of their motives in pursuing the matter, since both Parra and McCarthy are from one of the Diebold counties who sued Shelley at McCormack’s instigation.


From Santa Maria Times:
These revelations come on the heel of a "pork" scandal involving then-Secretary of State Kevin Shelley, who helped get state money for a community center in the Bay Area. The center was never built, but the organization that received the grant kept the money, and its leaders later contributed to Shelley's campaign. Those donations are now under investigation, and Shelley resigned last month.

Comment:
Same story covered in LA Times:

(The report is much longer and covers a variety of grant malfeasances, in contrast to the RW Santa Maria paper, which makes it sound as if the investigation is centered on Shelley. Westly is planning on running for governor, we might add, so it certainly behooves him to join the anti-Shelley bandwagon. He also came out early on in favor of redistricting. The key phrase is in bold below.

http://www.westly2006.com/Press/PressRelease.aspx?id=75
The report follows a "pork-barrel" scandal that helped precipitate the resignation this month of Secretary of State Kevin Shelley.

Shelley had helped a campaign contributor secure state money for a community center in San Francisco.

The community center was never built, but the organization that received the grant kept the money -- and organization leaders gave Shelley substantial campaign contributions.

State and federal authorities are investigating whether the grant was the source of the donations.


Contacosta Times commentary by RW Assemblyman, head of Judiciary Committee investigating Shelley:
This isn't a question of whether funds from the HAVA (Help America Vote Act) were used for partisan political purposes. This reality has already been established. What we must now answer is who is responsible
Comment:
“Who is responsible” may be a way to discredit anyone who advised or worked for Shelley in the past.

Snip—

To date, the Legislature has no idea how much liability the state may be facing. Will we be forced to return these funds along with any fines? Will we lose out on future monies already allocated for California? Should criminal charges be brought against the secretary of state or members of his staff? We do not know the answer to these questions, and we simply cannot quit until we do.

Comment:
This is very misleading. Schwarzenegger held up the funds, and then released them after Shelley resigned. The EAC is only now investigating, and it was instigated over the supposed partisan use of HAVA funds.

Snip--

As the chair of JLAC, Assemblywoman Nicole Parra has sought to keep the investigation moving forward in a non-partisan manner. She continues to assert that she intends to conduct a complete investigation and ensure that all the facts are brought before the committee.

However, it is clear that she is one of few Democrats interested in doing so, and many observers believe that legislative leadership will delay the investigation until it can be quietly quashed altogether.

Comment:
Again, let’s not forget that Nicole Parra is from Kern County, which is one of the Diebold counties that filed suit against Shelley at Conny McCormack’s urging, so that they would neither have to comply with the paper trail requirements, nor have certified systems.


San Francisco Bay Guardian
March 9th -15th Issue
Nonprofits gone wild!
A guide to bad behavior, scandals, and shenanigans at local nonprofits.

-snip-

San Francisco Neighbors Resource Center
This little nonprofit was at the heart of the campaign-finance scandal that caused Kevin Shelley to resign his post as California secretary of state.

Shelley came under fire when the Chronicle reported last August on several questionable donations from realtor Julie Lee, who's long been powerful in local politics. Shelley had gotten seven donations worth $205,000 through Lee, and five of them went through the San Francisco Neighbors Resource Center, the nonprofit Lee runs. Making matters worse, the money seems to have come directly out of a $500,000 state grant Shelley helped the group get.

The grant was meant to help build a community center for Asian Americans – but the center was never built, and, in fact, Lee had made little progress toward its development. Instead she used at least some of the money to cut five checks, totaling more than $168,000, supposedly for "project management." The recipients turned around and donated $125,00 to Shelley's 2002 election campaign – in five $25,000 chunks.

Amid mounting campaign scandals, Shelley resigned in early February, but Lee still sits on the board of the San Francisco Housing Authority. And the city is investigating whether the SFNRC properly used another $200,000 city grant that was intended to fund telephone referral services for San Franciscans.

Comment:
Wilms wrote:
Wouldn't have known this following the story on DU...

We did know about this story on DU. It was at the center of the charges against Shelley. Again, I refer you to the in-depth thread of February 12, listed above in this post. Please notice the difference between the reporting here and that from the LA Times, regarding whether or not the grant fund was used for Shelley donations. But, again, all this is really beside the point.


On edit:
I almost forgot the last, from KXTV News in Sacramento:

Someone broke into outgoing Secretary of State Kevin Shelly's San Francisco home last weekend. Whoever did it bypassed valuables and decided to take only Shelley's state-issued personal digital assistant.

Comment:
I'll wait for the results of the police investigation. Who knows what is going on with Shelley? We do know the modus operandi of Team Steal America, and that is the lens through which we should be viewing many of these events, right now. This is when the damage is being done, when the moves are being done.

I am through discussing Shelley's innocence or guilt. Please don't assume for a minute that I haven't deeply looked into it. You, Wilms, have some reading to do.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=203&topic_id=325113

[Wilms]

80. More nonsense.

I feel you're treating me, reasonable posters offering nuanced ideas, and the current threat to our election system pretty shabbily.

I never accused you of proclaiming Shelley's innocence. I noted that the indiscriminate defense of him then, and attack on McPherson now, all serve as evidence that there is an absence of sophistication that destines us to the margins.


These are your first treatments of some of the info in those articles? And I "got some reading to do", huh?

It's the same shit on those threads you tossed on the floor. Thanks for wasting more of my time.

And every charge of mine is evidenced in those threads, including posts from me gently suggesting it was a wrong-headed approach. That was before I became so put-offish. I probably missed a few posts then, as now, but my sense is you threw a file cabinet at me knowing full well it doesn't contain anything relevant to the question I posed. That's shabby.

Posting a story and a pile of posts screaming about Shelley being railroaded by derGropes and what all isn't analysis. Perhaps you think it is and we're just talkin' past one another.

Despite your assertion, the whole trip of those threads is defending Shelley and attacking McPherson. Sophomoric in a word.

Everyone of the few posts I saw suggesting alternate views and approaches were roundly dismissed with a diatribe or with some air-headed response.

Just like Dan Anaconda's posts were treated.

And those posters? They're gone.


Nobody is doubting an effort to steal CA. DUH, already!


But like Shelley's management of his affairs, this effort is being severely mishandled helping to leave the door wide open for intrusion.

Here comes the truck.

Can I be dismissed from class, now?

[Name removed]

86. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Wilms]

87. Point to the specific posts n/t

[JunkYardDogg]

20. This is the Action Letter from the Progressive Democrats of America

PLEASE DISTRIBUTE WIDELY:

******URGENT ACTION ALERT!!!!!********

TELL YOUR ASSEMBLYMEMBER (assembly.ca.gov)
AND SPEAKER NUNEZ (916-319-2046)
TO VOTE NO ON BRUCE MCPHERSON
FOR SECRETARY OF STATE (VOTE IS TUESDAY A.M. MARCH 29!!!)


Dear Democrats,

Urgent words -- ACTION ALERT --for a quiet weekend of religious observance for many in CA and all over the world.

Many California Democratic Assemblymembers offices are short-staffed or closed. "We'll be back Tuesday morning" say their voicemails.

THE FLOOR VOTE BY THE ASSEMBLY TO CONFIRM BRUCE MCPHERSON AS CALIFORNIA'S NEW SECRETARY OF STATE WILL TAKE PLACE TUESDAY MORNING MARCH 29

Read below the article sent to me this morning from Marcy Winograd, Chair, Progressive Democrats of Los Angeles Steering Committee, from the Sacramento Bee, March 18.

A week ago, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez says Democratic members have "uneasiness" with Secretary of State Nominee Bruce McPherson.

Because McPherson's transition team includes Adan Ortega, Jr. "an employee" of a firm (GCG Rose & Kindel) that represents Diebold Election Systems.

It also includes Steve Merskamer, a Sacramento attorney whose firm represents Citizens to Save California, raising money to put Schwartznegger's initiatives on the ballot, including that which will redistrict California to benefit the GOP.

As of March 18, Bruce McPherson's nomination hadn't passed Rules Committee.
But last week, it did.

SURELY THE GOP KNOWS MANY CA DEMOCRATIC VOTERS ARE DISTRACTED BY RELIGIOUS AND/OR FAMILY DUTIES THIS WEEKEND, AND THEREFORE NOT PAYING ATTENTION THIS VOTE THAT AFFECTS OUR VOTE!

IT'S TIME TO SCREAM!


SPEAKER NUNEZ' NUMBER IS ABOVE. HIS OFFICE IS STILL OPEN TODAY, THURSDAY, MARCH 24. THEY ARE RECORDING OPPOSITION CALLS ON THIS VOTE AND SAY THEY ARE BEGINNING TO COME IN. ADD YOUR VOICE.

THEN GO TO www.assembly.ca.gov. AND FIND YOUR ASSEMBLYMEMBER AND CALL, FAX OR E-MAIL YOUR OPPOSITION TO BRUCE MCPHERSON, HIS TRANSITION TEAM AND ITS ASSOCIATES' AGENDA.



Kenneth Blackwell, GOP Secretary of State in Ohio, had connections to Diebold and was a GOP fundraiser. He oversaw havoc. Lawsuits are still wending through the courts. We do not need such a Secretary of State for California, and McPherson, whom Assembly Democrats are prepared to vote "yes" on because of his personal integrity, has a transition team whose ties are reason enough to question the agenda intended for the office of Secretary of State Office under his direction. TELL THE ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATS IT'S OK TO OPPOSE THIS APPOINTMENT.

In fact, it's the only honorable position.The Assembly Democrats are the last stand - a Thin Blue Line - between, at best, suspicious elections in California -- and honest political contests where our votes really reflect our choices.

Assemblymember Lloyd Levine's asst. Zak Meyer was one of the few people I could reach this weekend. He was responsive. He was concerned. But he said the Democrats in the Assembly are prepared to give McPherson the benefit of the doubt and vote for him, because otherwise they'll be smeared in the press and by the GOP without political cover.

This suggests an Assembly more focused on their own legislative votes than our citizen votes. It's shortsighted strategy and risks great Democratic losses in future elections. The GOP's stated goal of making the Democrats a permanent minority party, redistricting California, combined with the lawsuits in Ohio, the redistricting of Texas, and the historic suspicion that attaches forever to Florida 2000, is enough reason to justify California representatives' saying NO even to nice Bruce McPherson as Secretary of State - because of his problematic ties.

Tell your Assembly member to vote no on McPherson.

This is not about Bruce McPherson and what a nice guy he is. This is about the voters of California. Make your voice heard. Protect your vote. Tell the Democratic majority in the California Assembly to stand up for us against the GOP, not to allow slick Republican operatives to take over the SOS's office. We must protect California from those who would follow in the steps of Ohio's Secretary of State Kenneth J. Blackwell.


For honest elections,

Mimi Kennedy
National Board Chair, Progressive Democrats of America



CA-40th Assembly District (Lloyd Levine)
CA- 21st State Senate District (Jack Scott)
CA-27th Congressional District (Brad Sherman)
PDA, Acting President, National Board

[JunkYardDogg]

24. Here is a Contact list-

Praisethelowered did this work
It is so good, that I am reposting it here
Great work by Praisethelowered:

"I copied each assemblyperson's email into a text line so we can paste it into the adress line and hit them all"
Praisethelowered

here it is-

[email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected]

[senseandsensibility]

36. Thanks so much for the list!

Dumb question: are these both republican and democratic assemblymembers? Is it a complete list? I'm hitting them all with an e-mail a week between now and the "special" election. It'll be special alright, if we don't stand up to these people!

[nicknameless]

37. Yes, the list is for both Dems and Repubs

Thanks for asking that

[nicknameless]

38. Link for Assemblymembers' email addresses and political party

http://www.standingupforcalifornia.com/action/assembly_email.html

It doesn't show all of the names in the list provided by Praisethelowered. But Praisethelowered's list contains 48 members rather than the link's 80 members.

Is there more up-to-date information someplace else?

[nicknameless]

39. More Democratic Assembly Member email info:

Sorry to post redundant information, but this list of Democrats appears to be current.
And emails to these addresses seem to be deliverable:

The Honorable Juan Arambula [email protected]
The Honorable Patty Berg [email protected]
The Honorable Rudy Bermudez [email protected]
The Honorable Ronald S. Calderon [email protected]
The Honorable Joseph Canciamilla [email protected]
The Honorable Wilma Y. Chan [email protected]
The Honorable Edward Chavez [email protected]
The Honorable Judy Chu [email protected]
The Honorable Rebecca Cohn [email protected]
The Honorable Mervyn Dymally [email protected]
The Honorable Dario J. Frommer [email protected]
The Honorable Jackie Goldberg [email protected]
The Honorable Loni Hancock [email protected]
The Honorable Jerome E. Horton [email protected]
The Honorable Betty Karnette [email protected]
The Honorable Paul Koretz [email protected]
The Honorable John Laird [email protected]
The Honorable Mark Leno [email protected]
The Honorable Lloyd E. Levine [email protected]
The Honorable Sally J. Lieber [email protected]
The Honorable Carol Liu [email protected]
The Honorable Gloria Negrete McLeod [email protected]
The Honorable Gene Mullin [email protected]
The Honorable Fabian Nunez [email protected]
The Honorable Jenny Oropeza [email protected]
The Honorable Nicole Parra [email protected]
The Honorable Fran Pavley [email protected]
The Honorable Mark Ridley-Thomas [email protected]
The Honorable Ira Ruskin [email protected]
The Honorable Simon Salinas [email protected]
The Honorable Juan Vargas [email protected]
The Honorable Lois Wolk [email protected]
The Honorable Leland Yee [email protected]

If emails are returned, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the Assemblymember is no longer in office. Some, like Joe Nation of Marin County, now receive emails sent only through their websites and require that the sender provide a zip code within their district.

Others, like Noreen Evans, allow emails to be sent through their websites. Her info plus that of two others:
Noreen Evans: http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a07/mailform.htm
Mike Gordon: http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a53/mailform.htm
Pedro Nava: http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a35/mailform.htm

[nicknameless]

43. Missed one:

The Honorable Dave Jones [email protected]

[nicknameless]

46. Here's the cut + paste version of Dems only:

[email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ;

[nicknameless]

47. I cross-referenced with the names on this page, which lists phone #s

It’s current as of 2005 and lists phone numbers of all Assembly members.

http://tinyurl.com/447tb

[Helga Scow Stern]

25. Kick!

[JunkYardDogg]

28. Latest PDLA Message

Dear Progressives:

Please immediately call & email the five Democrats on the 8-member Assembly Rules Committee. Urge them to vote NO on McPherson for CA Secretary of State. The vote is Tuesday. Monday is a holiday.

Assembly [email protected]
916-319-2039 and/or 818-838-3939

Assembly [email protected]
916-319-2062 and/or 909-388-1413

[email protected]
916-319-2052 and/or 310-223-1201

[email protected]
916-319-2054 and 562-997-0794

Assembly member Joe Coto
916-319-2023 and/or 408-277-1220

Thank you for previously contacting Assembly speaker Nunez's office to register your opposition to McPherson. McPherson wants to bring in a 70-million dollar Arnold fundraiser and a Diebold law firm rep to reorganize California's elections. Shades of Florida, 2000.
Ohio, 2004. Bad news. Fight back.

Circulate this email to a minimum of 10 people in your address book. After that, consider joining the Progressive Democrats of Los Angeles as we rally opposition next Tuesday, March 29th, 9 AM (and for hours thereafter) on the South Steps of the Capitol Building in Sacramento. Dress in a business suit and carry a briefcase (if you have one) full of fake money with DIEBOLD written across the bills. Our slogan? We mean business. Vote to protect our Vote. No on McPherson! NO on Merksamer! (Arnold's fundraiser on the McPherson transition team)

Please let friends in Sacramento know that we are coming and will need support. If you can join our "We mean business!" protest, please let us know at [email protected]

If you want to sign up for PDLA's list serve, go to pdla.org and click on "Join PDLA."

Thank you,

Marcy Winograd
Chair PDLA (Progressive Democrats of Los Angeles)
VP Pacific Palisades Democratic Club
41st Assembly District (Pavley)
30th Congressional District (Waxman)
[email protected]
pdla.org & pdamerica.org

[Peace Patriot]

41. It's naive to think that the loss of two top Democratic office-holders...

...in irregular circumstances, in this progressive state, over the last two years, is a coincidence, or in any respect, normal--just politics as usual. Davis' downfall was precipitated by Enron's theft of $9 billion from this state, and was orchestrated by the Bush Cartel, starting with a meeting between Kenneth Lay and Arnold Schwarzenegger in May 2001 (Google Greg Palast). Lay was THE biggest donor to the Bush-Cheney coffers, was one of the mass murderers who were plotting the invasion of Iraq at that very moment, and was in need of assistance from the Bush Cartel to prevent the Davis administration from seeking recovery of the funds and investigation of Enron (not yet collapsed, and its incredible fraud not yet exposed) and other Texas energy companies (who together ripped California off for about $70 billion). In retrospect, we can see the outline of this plot against Davis; it was not that easy to see at the time. (It seemed like Davis' fault. And I'm not saying that Davis was WITHOUT fault--I'm saying that WITHOUT Enron and the Bush Cartel, the faultlines in Davis' policy and personality would not have cracked open under pressure.)

It has been the singular purpose of the Bush Cartel and of the Center for National Policy (Ahmanson et al--rightwing funder of Diebold and ES&S), to break the power of the Democrats to spread the wealth around, to protect workers, and to legislate and administer programs that benefit the majority of people. That's what they're doing nationally. That's what they're doing here in California. This is a harder nut to crack (very progressive state). Getting rid of Davis was step one

And the Secretary of State's position is critically important to Bush Cartel coups. One day we will find out exactly how they did it. We don't have time to figure that out, nor to PROVE, a) who was really behind it; b) the nefarious intentions of the Schwarzenegger/Bush Cartel operatives that are being put into place in the Sec of State's office, and who will use their patsy McPherson to destroy the Democrats in California.

As I said above, it is naive not to see this. It is their MO, for goddsakes! We've seen it time and again in other states, and nationally. Smears are they're mother's milk! And further, it is a waste of time to argue about it. These people are a thousand steps ahead of us. And we--the believers in democracy, the believers in this progressive and generous country--MUST get ahead of that curve, and begin anticipating their goddamned plots.

Cheney steals billions and billions of dollars for himself and his friends, and slaughters tens of thousands of people for his oil company buddies--and Shelley gives a job out unwisely and yells at his staff--and Shelley is out of office???

Come on.

I stick by my assertion: Shelley was an honest AND courageous Secretary of State. That's why they had to get rid of him.

[glitch]

45. Very much agree, although I would call it willful ignorance at this point

Naive sounds so benign.

[nicknameless]

48. You certainly aren’t alone in this opinion, Peace

The reluctance of Dems, to pointing out what is an obvious conspiracy, contributes massively to this take-over trend by the Repubs.

[glitch]

44. Heads up -Thom Hartmann mentioned on Friday that he would be covering this

next week on his radio show.

[Helga Scow Stern]

62. Great. Will you remind us? n/t

[glitch]

72. Yes I will try. nt

[nicknameless]

78. Where has he been?

He was emailed about this situation a month ago. I wish he had spoken up before Shelley resigned and before the State Senate voted.
If he waits past Monday, it could very well be too late, as the Assembly votes on McPherson on Tuesday.

[glitch]

83. You may be right. Today (Monday) he spent far too long on Schiavo

but at least he covered the true aspects of that issue. That could be covered any time though.
No word on the coup on California, which really needs immediate attention.

[nicknameless]

89. Thanks for the info

The vote on McPherson has been delayed for one day, BTW.

[JunkYardDogg]

49. Merksamer Smoking Gun

This information is taken from the Lawsuit filed by
"Citizens to Save California",( against the State of California's Fair Political Practices Commission,)
the Alienators Front Group Pimping his Initiatives and "Special
Election"
The judge issued a Ruling Friday whereby there are NO limits to the amount of each individual contribution and/or amounts raised for Ballot Initiatives
news stories:
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/breakin...
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/a...
Info on Citizens to Save Democracy:
http://www.joinarnold.com/en/press/pressdetail.php?id=6...

Lawsuit Highlights:
The firm bringing the Lawsuit:
Nielsen, Merksamer, Parrinello, Muelerr, & Naylor, LLP
The Attorneys filing the Lawsuit:
All Partners in Merksamer's FirM
James R. Parrinello
John E. Muller
Christopher R. Skinnell

Signed by James R. Parrinello
page 8
Page 9
Verification:
Vigo G. Nielsen Jr.
is the Treasurer of Citizens to Save California
he is a Partner in Merksamer's Firm
Highlights of the Lawsuit
from:
http://www.fppc.ca.gov/legal/savecomp.pdf

NIELSEN, MERKSAMER, PARRINELLO,
MUELLER & NAYLOR, LLP
JAMES R. PARRINELLO, SBN #63415
JOHN E. MUELLER, SBN #045663
CHRISTOPHER E. SKINNELL, SBN #227093
591 REDWOOD HIGHWAY, #4000
MILL VALLEY, CA 94941
TELEPHONE [phone]
FAX [phone]
Attorneys for Plaintiffs CITIZENS TO SA VE
CALIFORNIA, a Coalition of Business and Taxpayer
Organizations, a California Public Benefit Corporation,
and KEITH RICHMAN, M.D.
6
7
8
SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA 9
COUNTY OF SACRAMENTO 10
11 Case No. )
CITIZENS TO SAVE CALIFORNIA, a
Coalition of Business and Taxpayer
Organizations, a California Public Benefit
Corporation; Assembly Member KEITH
RICHMAN, M.D.,
COMPLAINT FOR
PERMANENT INJUNCTION
AND DECLARATORY RELIEF
13
14
Plaintiffs, 15
16 vs.
17
18
CALIFORNIA FAIR POLITICAL
PRACTICES COMMISSSION; DOES I -X,
inclusive, 19
20 Defendants.
21
22
23
24
I. INTRODUCTION
1. This action is brought to challenge an illegal regulation adopted by Defendant
Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) which, unless enjoined, will immediately chill
25
26
27
28
1
COMPLAINT FOR PERMANENT INJUNCfION AND DECLARATORY RELIEF
-~ ) p.lI ' . 1 ') I .I ..;. ,
I. On the First Cause of Action, that this Court issue preliminary and permanent
injunctions restraining Defendant and all persons acting pursuant to its direction and control 2
from taking any further steps to administer and/or enforce the Regulation including without
limit investigating alleged violations and complaints; and to declare the Regulation illegal.
2. On the Second Cause of Action, that this Court issue its judgment declaring
that the Regulation is illegal and unenforceable.
3. On each and every cause of action, that this Court grant such other, different or
further relief as the Court may deem just and proper. 8
9 Dated: February 8, 2005 NIELSEN, MERKSAMER, PARRINELLO,
MUELLER & NAYLOR, LLP
10
VERIFICATION
2
I am the Treasurer of Citizens to Save California, a Plaintiff in the above-titled 3
matter. I have read the foregoing COMPLAINT FOR PERMANENT INJUNCTION AND 4
5
6
DECLARATORY RELIEF. I know the contents thereof, and the same is true of my own
knowledge, except as to matters therein stated on information and belief, and as to those
matters, I believe it to be true. 7
8
I foregoing is true and correct. 9
Executed on February 8, 2005, at Mill Valley, California. 10
11
~:':. ~ ~~~, /ttt. Vigo G. Nielsen, Jr.


This was the best I could do with Cut and Paste off of Adobe

Grrrrrr

[nicknameless]

50. More information about McPherson from a Dem activist in his district:

See message #22 at this DU link:
http://tinyurl.com/4kjko

Excerpt:
“ McPherson is from my county. He was a two-term State Senator. I admit to not having paid much attention to him at all. I recently spoke to a local democratic party activist who had this to say (this is my summary, not quoted material):

‘Bruce McPherson is known as a moderate Republican, but there's no such thing under the Bush administration because all Republicans are being asked (that was a nice word!) to toe the party line and can't get anywhere if they don't. McPherson's family used to own our local paper (Santa Cruz Sentinel) and still has enough of a relationship with folks at the paper that it was hard to get any coverage of conservative things he did while in office, including even letters to the editor. While he was mild in his first term, once he was re-elected and no longer needed the votes of local people to stay in office (because of term limits he couldn't seek a third term), he started acting like a Republican. He was a fundraiser and supporter of Bush, was instrumental in making the recall of Gray Davis happen, and did both of those things during hours the taxpayers were paying him to be a state senator, despite many objections to that. He voted for a budget that abolished the Coastal Commission. She said he's very clearly part of the Bush camp.’”

[JunkYardDogg]

51. This came from an Election Protection Activist in Santa Cruz

She told me this also about 2 weeks ago
He's a Trojan Horse
Camouflage and Deception
Buyer Beware

[Wilms]

52. Where's the links??????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

She said she said she said :eyes:

[nicknameless]

53. What is considered to be valid vs. what is considered to be invalid.

Hearsay in the media is considered valid? There’s plenty of it. News stories everywhere print opinions and observations. Are they more valid because one can find a link to them? What JYD and emlev were told could perhaps be printed as part of a story from this Dem source and then a link could be provided. Would that make it more credible? There is no greater standard required for mainstream media content. Why is their information considered to be more valid?

[Wilms]

55. "Would that make it more credible?"

1. Links. Second-hand hearsay, isn't hearsay. It's second-hand hearsay.

2. A more thorough analysis.

3. Replies to reasonable questions posted.

Here's some my replies, questions and commentary, that were on that thread:

What I understand the problem to be with McPherson is some of the members on the transition team, not McPherson per se.

Is that not-accurate?

What do we know about McPherson's attitude toward...

1. Shelley's Paper mandate
2. Using Sequoia
3. Timing with regard to HAVA and $
4. Bush (you wrote he's a supporter)

The reply from emlev read, in part:

"I don't think I'm the most informed person about your first three questions above. Not about the fourth, either, but I do have a bit to say about that."

It continued with more opinion, but no facts.

I then posted this:

Here are the questions I have currently.

Shelley

Where is the evidence showing that the most serious charges (not just the ones we're willing to acknowledge) brought against Shelley were fabricated? (And, so and so, did so and so, and got away with it does not apply.)

Why might he have needed to beg for donations for a defense fund, when he had spent $3.5MM of personal funds campaigning for that office?


McPherson

Where's the documented dirt on McPherson? (I know about Gropes, and Cons, and Bots, and the Shelley Coup, but this is MCPHERSON who's up for confirmation.)

Where's the documents related to McPherson's fund raising for Bush and of any laws he may have broke doing it?

Where's any documents tying McPherson to any special interest, especially the 'special election' boosters?


McPherson/Shelley's Mandates

Where's any documents showing any McPherson insensitivity to Shelley's Mandates?

Where's any documents showing any McPherson bias against using Sequoia?

Where's any documents showing any McPherson ties with McCormak?


Strategy

What are the reasons I should not view this battle as a misplaced fight against re-districting and/or some or more of the initiatives, rather than on an attack on Election Reform? (Firemen recommend shooting water at the fire's base, not at the flames.)

What is being done to bring pressure, not on McPherson's nomination, but on the Transition Team Members for whom we/once we can document as conflicted?

What are the arguments supporting the idea that the election reform movement would do well to alienate the probable SoS, who by largely bi-partisan accounts, including that of a future election opponent (Debra Bowen), is viewed as fair minded person; and further, distract from other necessary efforts including doing outreach with county BoE's?
Why should I not be very about the idea of email circulating filled with insulting name-callings and unsubstantiated allegations?

(In fact, I don't need an answer to the last two questions. I'd be happy to think such esoteric ideas are pondered.)



For me, these issues being addressed would not make the argument MORE credible. It would make it credible for the first time.


I'm picturing a lot of bandaged feet from self-inflicted gun shot wounds.

[Peace Patriot]

65. I'm sorry, Wilms, but Republicans who have not disavowed the Bush...

...Cartel are guilty until proven innocent--and those who are being raised up to high office by these fascists are guilty, period. They cannot be innocent. They are criminals by virtue of their accepting honors and power from this regime. McPherson cannot be accepting this high office without having made a deal with the worst bunch of liars, thieves, mass murderers and traitors we have ever seen in this country.

And nobody has to cite any sources to prove that to me.

You think this lowly state senator is going to be acting independently? You think that what he has said about election integrity--or even his role in California election legislation, back when good government policies were expected in a public official--has any meaning now?

Where have you been these last four years?

I saw Andrew Young--Andrew Young!!!--in the halls of the Senate escorted by Bill Frist, giving a press interview against the Democrats who were opposing Condoleeza Rice and saying they should support her because she is a black woman! That's what he said--helping promote the utterly nuts ORRIN HATCH slander that the Democrats who opposed Rice and Gonzales are racists. Do you know who Andrew Young is?

The Bush Cartel's MO is the Smear, and their other MO is Corruption. They destroy or corrupt whatever they touch.

We have to START from this premise. And we are naive if we don't. Nobody has to prove to me that McPherson is corrupt or that his "team" are a bunch of greedy, power-hungry S.O.B.s. hell bent on a Bush Cartel takeover of California. I don't need to know their life histories. Look who McPherson and his "team" are beholden to!

And WHAT is the mechanism of the Bush Cartel coup? Electronic voting!

Scrape the scales from your eyes! Wake up, Wilms!

[Helga Scow Stern]

67. I couldn't have said it better, Peace Patriot.

Thank you for saying it. I run out of words sometimes.

[Wilms]

69. Fortunately, that's what happens to words short on substance.

They run out.

[Wilms]

68. I'm sorry Peace but Democrats who haven't disavowed crrooks & illogic

Peace,

I'd like for the diatribes to be scraped from these threads so that we can dispassionately explore the evidence and consider a strategy.

I'm drained from being repeatedly informed on every CA Coup Koo thread that George Bush and Company is George Bush and Company. I find your post to me an insult to us both.

That "nobody has to cite any sources to prove" to you that this administration is a band of thugs attempts to convince me that your argument about CA is as well documented as the one against Bush in general. Folly.

That the Republicans want to take over CA is a given. That they're crooks is a given. Everybody knows that. Perhaps this is repeated to make up for the voids that exist in the argument.

Above I posted news clips whose details were significant enough to deserve our consideration. I regret we had not seen such material, or a sober consideration of those items in the three months I've been posting here. I really regret it.

I regret that for all the screaming about Conny, it's been overlooked that in LA County, she's brought in InkaVote, and her husband may be a benefactor as a result. Once I did a simple google of her I found it. I posted it. It was largely ignored.

Whatever door to election fraud or politician's indictment might lie therein is lost in the ceaseless harangue of Gropes and RoveBots and BushCons and I'll stop right there.

I've seen no admission here that there is a dispute between Common Cause National and Common Cause CA with regard to Re-Districting. That's a major component that deserves our debate. But not here. Why?

Instead we're gonna go in half-cocked, ill-informed, and take our usual seat in the margins. As such, it represent a threat to the credibility of the election reform movement.


I listed a pile of questions, here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x345036#349267


Any interest to you. :shrug:

[Helga Scow Stern]

75. Wilms, your points are welcome,

but I must say your responses lately have become for me a little off-putting. I work better with mutual respect, not name calling and belittling, Dude, so I kindly ask you to lighten up on your tone :hi:.

I apologize if anything I have said has offended you.
It's okay to be frustrated, but a little courtesy goes a long way.

Honest dissent and disagreement bring out the truth and strengthen the evidence, for or against. I think most of us here value the truth in all situations and your implications that some of don't can take a rest now.

I am working on addressing the articles you posted. I will respond directly to that post shortly, but have this to say about your complaint here:

>>Above I posted news clips whose details were significant enough to deserve our consideration. I regret we had not seen such material, or a sober consideration of those items in the three months I've been posting here. I really regret it.<<

Where were you when all of the posting about Shelley in the beginning was going on? Most of what you reference above is not new to the discussion here. Perhaps it would be helpful for you to study this thread and all the discussions listed on it:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=203&topic_id=325113

In response to some of the other questions you raise above:

>>I regret that for all the screaming about Conny, it's been overlooked that in LA County, she's brought in InkaVote, and her husband may be a benefactor as a result. Once I did a simple google of her I found it. I posted it. It was largely ignored.<<

I am sorry your post on this got ignored. I do remember it and have kept it in mind. It seemed secondary at the time to the placement of a new Secretary of State. I very much appreciate this discovery of yours and am not sure what to make of it. I did a lot of research on Conny and did not come across the information that her husband stood to gain from InkaVote, although we did find out that he is a computer geek who thinks that verifiable ballots are unnecessary. Would you mind reposting this, and perhaps we can get a discussion going?

>>I've seen no admission here that there is a dispute between Common Cause National and Common Cause CA with regard to Re-Districting. That's a major component that deserves our debate. But not here. Why?<<

Again, this is also something that has been talked about here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=203&topic_id=330731

As I recall, Common Cause California ended up siding with national Common Cause a day or so after they made their declaration. If you know more about this, please post it. It could be very important to what is going on.

I honestly don't think anyone here means to be one-sided, fanatical, or closed minded. Let's all work together. :hi: :hug:

[Wilms]

79. As is your documentation.

I'm sorry to say that it seems it took some off-putting comments to put you on the case.

Re:

"Honest dissent and disagreement bring out the truth and strengthen the evidence, for or against. I think most of us here value the truth in all situations and your implications that some of don't can take a rest now."

The lack of that, evidenced considerably in the exchange with Dan Ancona on this thread is what prompted my angry response.


Re:

"Where were you when all of the posting about Shelley in the beginning was going on? Most of what you reference above is not new to the discussion here. Perhaps it would be helpful for you to study this thread and all the discussions listed on it:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=203&topic_id=325113"

Thanks for the link, but as I said, I see no discussion there of the stories I posted or of ideas that might need examination, despite your assertion.

If I've missed it, perhaps you'll point to specific threads where it was discussed.


Common Cause

The link you provide lasted one hour before dropping. There isn't a much of a discussion on it, either. But thanks for pointing.


Re:InkaVote

"It seemed secondary at the time"

There's lot of noise about Conny's advocacy of Diebold but her authorization of InkaVote seemed "secondary" to you. That happens to be the Los Angeles County Election System. You think the Coup wants LA or what?


I'm asking you to consider that in light of my charge that we're going off half-cocked. It's ok that gas was put in the car, I just wish the steering and brakes were checked. A map in the glove box would be nice, too.

I'm not asking that you be anything BUT one sided. But I've urged more than once, to make sure you got the CORRECT side. Some of the posts DO look fanatical, and the replies to Dan Ancona were closed minded, to put it kindly.

A newbie shows up with a considered, respectful group of posts and ideas referenced with links and he's run out of town.

That's off-putting, even more so than you pointing to links you claim that contain information but really don't.

[Wilms]

82. Not about "valid".

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=348030&mesg_id=349810

[nicknameless]

77. You’re requiring a double standard.

You wrote that the source quoted by JYD and emlev offered only opinions. That isn’t all that I read. Most of what I read were observations.

What is printed in the mainstream media is largely hearsay, opinion and observation. Truthful or not. First hand or otherwise. You ask for documents, but what would constitute documentation to you? There are links all over this website to stories in the Sacramento Bee, the SF Chronicle, etc.. Is the fact that those stories were printed enough to make them valid, when much of what they contain is nothing more than hearsay, opinion and observation? That’s what you consider to be documentation?

If that’s the case, who is going to provide documentation for the opposing side? The mainstream media won’t do it. They’re owned almost entirely by the right. Therefore, there is an unfair irrationality in requiring that the progressive-side of issues be published in order for them to be accepted as credible.

There were plenty of accusations made about Kevin Shelley. They were printed, so there are links for them. Does that make them credible? Our justice system (allegedly) requires that guilt be proven rather than innocence, because a negative cannot be proved. So how can anyone prove that the accusations against Shelley were fabricated? It can’t be done, because a negative cannot be proved.

You appear to consider the allegations against Shelly to be legitimate. Where is the evidence of wrongdoing? Yet you consider our objections to McPherson to be illegitimate – even in view of his CHOICE of transition team members. (There are also the concerns raised by JYD’s and emlev’s Election Protection Activist source.)

The snipped excerpts you posted from the Oakland Tribune and the Bakersfield Californian are nothing more than unproven allegations. The Santa Maria article infers that Shelley resigned because of the accusations made against his contributors. Again – unproven, mainstream media opinion.

You posted a quote from a Repub Assemblymember in which he PREDICTS the outcome of what many of us consider to be false accusations. THAT is what you consider to be valid?

<quote>
“As the senior member of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee (JLAC), I find the current partisan attempts to shut down the investigation into the misuse of millions of federal dollars by the secretary of state's office deeply troubling.”
<end quote>

Where is the evidence of partisan attempts to shut down the investigation? What is there, other than hearsay? And again, another unproven allegation about misuse of “millions of federal dollars.”

<quote>
“This isn't a question of whether funds from the HAVA (Help America Vote Act) were used for partisan political purposes. This reality has already been established.”
<end quote>

How can one characterize this quote as anything other than a lie? NOTHING has been established!

<quote>
“However, it is clear that she is one of few Democrats interested in doing so, and many observers believe that legislative leadership will delay the investigation until it can be quietly quashed altogether.”
<end quote>

Where is the evidence of this? – It’s a prediction!

<quote>
“Whether we are dealing with corruption or merely incompetence…”
<end quote>

Where is the evidence of either?

<quote>
“…For the Legislature to leave the questions unresolved would represent gross negligence, if not downright complicity.”
<end quote>

An inference that the Legislature plans to do that? What proof is there?

<Opening sentence that you didn’t include from S.F. Bay Guardian article>
“This little nonprofit was at the heart of the campaign-finance scandal that caused Kevin Shelley to resign his post as California secretary of state.”
<end quote>

This is an OPINION about why he resigned. While there were unproven charges, there was ALSO the daunting legal attack waged against him… And the hospitalization of his mother at that time. She died 2 weeks later. What other reasons might there have been that have gone unpublished?

<quote>
“Amid mounting campaign scandals, Shelley resigned in early February, but Lee still sits on the board of the San Francisco Housing Authority. And the city is investigating whether the SFNRC properly used another $200,000 city grant that was intended to fund telephone referral services for San Franciscans.”
<end quote>

The SF Bay Guardian story seems to be more about Shelley’s campaign donors rather than about Shelley… Except that they seem to infer that he colluded with them. Where is the evidence of that?

The story about the PDA is an odd one. But what you infer about it is opinion only.
Part of the story you left out:

<quote>
“The stolen PDA is programmed to access sensitive state-run websites. State officials have since disabled those connections for security reasons.”
<end quote>

What conclusions can one reach based on that snippet? Both sides are opinion only.

You ask how Shelley had $3.5 M to run for office, but not enough to pay for his legal defense. I have no first-hand knowledge of Shelley’s financial circumstances. Do you? I do know that legal battles like his can cost millions of dollars. The take-down of Shelley was at least in part orchestrated on the federal-level, and therefore had limitless funds. How would you have fought them?

Sfexpat2000 asks, “Where are the indictments?” How about convictions? (Though the right has been known to go to outrageous extremes to get their convictions – think Susan McDougal.)

It’s bad enough that the right holds the left to a double standard. When we do it to ourselves it can be paralyzing and self-defeating.

You may be willing to give McPherson the benefit of the doubt. I’m not. The cost is much too high. If he turns out to be what many of us suspect, it could very well be too late to do anything about it. The districts will be redrawn to favor the Repubs, and the paper-trail could be gone. How would our efforts to change things back be anything other than an exercise in futility?
... Maybe we could vote on it?????

[Wilms]

81. Nick

I didn't offer these links/snips to make a case against Shelley or for McPherson.

I put them up, merely, because they appeared to be significant enough to warrant a degree of consideration I'd not seen much of on the DU CA threads.

That's all.

[nicknameless]

90. Right-wing views can be read everywhere.

Why are they more deserving of consideration than views from the progressive side? All that your links offered were opinions, inferences, unproven allegations, and a prediction -- all from right-wing side.

Why aren't you more alarmed that these sources neglected to include the progressive perspective? Kevin Shelley was hit with a barrage of accusations from the legions of people employed by the corporate media. Where was the other side of the story?

The information-industry playing field isn’t anywhere near level. Employing a double standard makes it worse. We need to hear more from the left -- not less.

[Wilms]

91. "Nuanced views are nearly nowhere to be found."

I didn't say "right wing" are more deserving of consideration than views from the progressive side.

What I said was:

"I didn't offer these links/snips to make a case against Shelley or for McPherson.

I put them up, merely, because they appeared to be significant enough to warrant a degree of consideration I'd not seen much of on the DU CA threads.

That's all."

I think I made that clear enough.

Actually, what the posts here offered were opinions, inferences, unproven allegations, and a prediction -- all from one part of the left-wing side.

And that's fine, except for the 'all' part. It seems you are asking me to exclude information in the public domain that would, at minimum, be encountered while trying to get a given listener to see Shelley's situation in view of the larger danger we face. I don't think that's a good strategy. I don't think that's a strategy, at all.

It's like saying, "the charges are hearsay, believe mine instead". I've asked for links because I need them in order to go preaching to the other 90% of the population. We're the ten percenters. And we'll remain so if a small handful of people take turns at a pulpit while the pews have emptied out.

As for the other side of the story -- if Shelley testified and blew them out of the water would be partying, or what? Just sayin'.

Here's what Paul says. OjaiPerson hooked me up with a DailyKO thread where a proclaimed insider to Shelley was talking about how Shelley was taken down -- by Quaukenbush and Davis loyalists, and the County BoE's who ARE in a jam because of Shelley defended our right to an election. No mention of the putsch, but even if they weren't behind it would be a no-brainer they're doing what they can to get over on it. So I really don't have to care if Rove planned this or not. :)

All in a single one of the posts he put on the thread, Paul said Shelley was a real-tough boss because he expected a lot from his staff AND he asked them repeatedly for the HAVA bookkeeping and they never came through. (I'm not as tough as Shelley so I would have called the Fed. But I digress.)

But, the really curious thing he said is that VVPAT is NOT in danger no matter who is the SoS. Any discussion of that around here?

Here's the link:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/2/5/145349/9746


You ask am I alarmed that the MSM neglect a progressive perspective? Uh. No.

It's been a long time since I've been alarmed by that. :shrug: The red light is flashing -- but what's up with the ceaseless clanging of bells in the war room. To me, it seems a place more for quiet deliberation.

Re:

"The information-industry playing field isn’t anywhere near level. Employing a double standard makes it worse. We need to hear more from the left -- not less."

Do you notice that many of the threads are filled with near-cut and paste diatribe and a pile of kicks? Did I advocate hearing LESS from the left or LESS of the harangue and more about our 'enemy' who to thine best be known? Actually, this forum is reinforcing the double standard.

What I've argued is that the 'Left', here, is suffering from a myopia, perhaps hypnotically induced by the repetition of some posters, and are overlooking the war we're in by having focused, largely, on what became a lost battle --Shelley -- and perhaps now another one with McPherson, or by rehashing the fact that the BFEE is the BFEE.

How do you counter that left unexamined?

LA County/InkaVote/McCormaks husband, for grand instance. Would it have been an idea to oppose the Transition Team members, rather than McPherson, another? Perhaps, fight to defeat the initiatives or even having a special election could be an argument regardless of the SoS. No? How about getting on the county BoE's? A thought. Is this really about re-districting, and not about VVPAT? :shrug: Just asking.

But generally not a peep here, except from a handful of posters run off forum.

Ten years ago while endlessly encountering endless arguments surrounding the case, I'd interrupt (you've noticed that of me) and say, "Perhaps OJ did it AND Mark Fuhrman planted the glove". I was astonished that most were astonished by the notion. I'm not anymore.

Best of luck.

[emlev]

84. JYD asked me to post this brief announcement:

Too busy preparing for and getting to Sacramento to be posting to DU.

[nicknameless]

54. To avoid confusion: The last paragraph should have been italicized

rather than in quotes, since it was a summary and not a quote.

[EFerrari]

61. JYD, before we go to the mattresses, I have these questions.

(Sorry, have been working another street)

What in your opinion is our best strategy for calling attention to the coup?

Are there upcoming deadlines that we should know and plan into?

Anyone here need Spanish lessons? We could always beg Mexico to take us back.

catching up,
Beth

[emlev]

85. Note my message from JYD

I guess I hit "reply" from the wrong message and what I wrote got posted above yours instead of below it.

[EFerrari]

88. Thanks, emlev. n/t

[Capn Sunshine]

92. BTW- how is Starr related to Ken Starr?

'cause you just KNOW he's got to be.