Any news on the Donna Brazile investigation of the Ohio election theft?

[Fly by night]

It has been three months since the DNC appointed Brazile (and a host of others) to "investigate" the Ohio election theft. Since then, I have not seen a word on the process and progress of this investigation. We invited Brazile and her team to attend the "Nash-ional" conference but none of them showed up.

I also visited Brazile and Associates' website today and there is NO MENTION WHATSOEVER of the existence of this investigation team.

Have any of you heard anything at all from this investigation team? Have any of you seen or heard any discussion recently of the election theft and what to do about it from the DNC? If not, you might join me in writing both Ms. Brazile and the DNC to ask what is happening with this investigation and/or whether it is actually happening at all. Here are the email addresses:

[email protected]
http://www.democrats.org/contact/

While I was pleased at Chairman Dean's performance on MTP this past weekend, Dean and the DNC has continued to be way too silent about the 9,000 election-thieving elephant in our body politic.

DNC and Brazile -- Wake the fuck up, won't you. Now that over one-third of Americans believe the 2004 election was stolen, it is safe to get out in front of this growing parade.

"... There is a river flowing now very fast.
It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid.
They will try to hold on to the shore.
They will feel like they are being torn apart, and they will suffer greatly.

"Know the river has its destination.
The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off toward the middle of the river,
keep our eyes open, and our heads above the water.
See who is there with you and celebrate...." (Hopi Elders Prayer)

Come on in, Brazile and the DNC -- the water's fine. And there's enough evidence of election fraud in Ohio, Florida, New Mexico, Arizona, Pennsylvania, etc., etc. to drown in. What are you waiting for?

[Carolab]

1. Thanks, Fly. Here's what I sent.

I saw Chairman Dean at the ACLU speech last month in Minneapolis. At least four questions during the Q&A related to election fraud. Chairman Dean was asked point-blank how Democrats can expect to win with 'rigged election machines and partisan secretaries of state', to which he replied he hadn't seen enough 'hard evidence'. At this point, I blogged at the Democratic Underground forum what Dean had said, and asked members there to contact the DNC and submit the evidence. There is NO chance that this party can regain any power, let alone hold onto the seats it now occupies, UNLESS the DNC spearheads the election fraud movement and the election reform movement in this country.

WHAT are we waiting for? The 2006 elections are right around the corner. Chairman Dean said we need to work at the state level, yet meanwhile there is NO directive or coordinated effort in this regard. Activists are working in loose coalitions around the country with their local and state reps to try to influence legislation with NO help from the party leadership.

Also, the Carter-Baker commission continues to advance the "voter fraud" scenario in an effort to FURTHER suppress voters--and they are just TODAY accepting recommendations on how to implement HAVA's mandated Centralized Voter Registration, (which must go into effect before January 1, 2006).

WHERE IS OUR LEADERSHIP?

[Zan_of_Texas]

2. The leadership is not at the DNC.

Those in power like things just the way they are.

Do not expect them to lead the parade for election reform.

The leadership is at the grass roots. The grass roots are doing amazing things with very little money and not much organization (yet).

May I suggest that all those who REALLY (not just talking not just blogging I mean REALLY) want election reform pick your favorite hardworking activist group and send it some money.

No, not a national candidate. Not Hillary. Not Kerry. Not ANY candidate. Not the DNC.

Help your grassroots activist group working to get clean elections.

If you don't have a local group, consider a national group. One of the hardest-working, fairest, most unassuming groups is providing well-researched help and information to the entire country. That group is
www.votersunite.org They are trying to run an office that should be funded at $150K/year, on a few thousand bucks donations. Spend a few minutes looking at their website, and get familiar with them.

Meanwhile, don't hold your breath waiting for Donna & Co.

[Carolab]

4. I AM working locally--in fact with Voters Unite AND my legislators.

I've been working for months on this and I am in fact having a meeting with our local Voters Unite about the legislation that's been going down on June 7.

That doesn't excuse the Democratic leadership from this.

BTW, Zan, are YOU working with VotersUnite? Or just sending them money?

[Zan_of_Texas]

9. I know you guys are working your butts off. As have I.

I wasn't addressing you specifically -- it was more of an Open Letter to those who haven't lifted a finger because they think the Democratic leadership is highly interested in election reform.

I'm just really OVER people sending $250 to their favorite candidate, or the DNC, and ignoring election reform.

It's like buying a big new motor for your boat, and not fixing the hole in the bottom.

[Fly by night]

7. Get involved in election reform in your county and state.

Here in the Orange State, we are:

-- holding regular public education meetings (have held 30 so far in the past six months)
-- lobbying both Repug and Dem legislators, face-to-face and via phone and email
-- writing LTTE and op-ed pieces that are getting published
-- speaking before our legislature in open session
-- successfully fighting back efforts to prevent any voting rights legislation from being introduced in our legislature for the next two years (that motion lost 3-to-1 yesterday)
-- meeting with our county election commissions, after sending all 95 of them copies of "Myth Breakers"
-- meeting with our SOS and State Comptroller, and having some positive influence on them
-- getting our statewide HAVA citizens advisory committee to call its own meeting, since our (statewide) Coordinator of Elections (sic) has not called a meeting of that group for the past ten months
-- setting up individual and group meetings with our five member statewide election commission members
-- sponsoring the National Election Reform Conference in April
-- supporting Bob Koehler and his efforts to break the media silence
-- supporting Jim Lampley (just sent him CDs of the audio from the "Nash-ional" conference)
-- working with Clint Curtis, Kip Humphrey, Vickie Lovegren and others who are planning their own events
-- demanding that election reform be put "on the table" at every Democratic event we attend.

There is much to do, even if you have no money. We still have our voices, our typing and dialing fingers and our shoe leather. And our patriotic outrage. That's plenty enough to speed along the spontaneous combustion that the Republi-Nazis seem to be engaged in. It would be nice to actually have a party with guts and the eyes to see all the "hard evidence" we are drowning in. But that is neither necessary nor sufficient to take our country back and save our democracy.

[Carolab]

8. Fly, here in the 10000 Lakes State, we are doing the same things

But it STILL does not give the Democratic party leadership a "pass"!!!

[KoKo]

10. Doing what you are doing here in NC and we are paying for

our own material we are giving to our legislatures and activists we are trying to recruit to help us get legislation passed for Verified, Auditable Paper Ballot.

We are getting no help from DNC. We had to do it on our own. The connections and links from others on DU have been such a big help in this. We are loosely organized but information posted here in the "Elections and State Forums" have helped us push on feeling we have others out there supporting us by sharing information.

Our Democratic Leadership doesn't even acknowledge that Election 2000 was stolen by the Supreme Court, Bush and James Baker. Now, James Baker is head of his own damned Election Commission with a former Democratic President, FGS!

How much more hypocracy can there be?

I don't know why Dean appointed Donna Brazille. He might have been forced to. We have to remember that he's butting up against and established power that doesn't want any change and NO ACTIVISM on the Left. We will get no help on Election Reform from the DNC. We have to do it ourselves.

[TexasLawyer]

26. Good advice, Zan

thanks

[TruthIsAll]

3. Do you really expect anything from that turncoat Rove buddy? n/t

/

[Columbus]

5. The report has been written

The members of the panel were appointed in early January. They (DNC) sent out the names in a press release late on a Friday in March (that should tell you how they wanted as little attention paid to this investigation as possible). By the time the members of the panel were named the report was already written. It is a complete whitewash and a payoff to consultants at the DNC.

The press release and other information can be obtained at the Ohio Honest Elections website. I am not sure what date the press release was sent by the DNC (its on the ohec site). It must have been in March. If anyone is interested I will check the OHEC site and post the info.

[Fly by night]

6. Do you have a link to the report, and not just the press release?

I have the press release, but still have seen nothing about the final report. If it is already written, I would love to see a copy of it.

Again, it is interesting that there is no mention whatsoever of this activity on Brazile's web-site. She must be embarrassed by her own work. (Of course, she wouldn't be the first beltway bandit to find herself in that position.)

[Fly by night]

19. According to Brazile's office, the report will be out in a "few weeks"

[Columbus]

21. The Report is Written

Several weeks ago I spoke with a member of the "advisory" committee. This member was very surprised because the investigation panel had just sent an email stating they (DNC) were about to release the report. The advisory panel member said no one on the advisory panel had seen the report or been consulted in any way. None of the people studying the Ohio Election have been consulted, this means, Fitrakis, Arnebeck, Conyers -- none of them have been consulted. This $500,000 report is a whitewash. Many of the members of the panel should have been called as witnesses instead they were "investigating". Again, remember (it is even on the press release from the DNC) the panel started work in early January but they announced the composition of the panel in very late March on a Friday evening.

[Fly by night]

22. I got an email from Donna Brazile today who said the report is not done.

She said it would be done in a "few weeks" and that it would be up to the DNC to release it.

We are sending her and her Project Manager the MP3 of the two hour long Ohio panel at the "Nash-ional" conference. They seemed anxious to receive it so we are rushing it out to them tomorrow.

I also remain skeptical about the report for the same reasons you mentioned. When we invited the entire investigation team to Nashville (and none of them showed), I figured this would be a fluff report.

But now that 35% of Americans believe the election was stolen (up from 20% in December), if the DNC releases a whitewash report, they will look even more stupid and spineless than they look now. How many more people have to laugh in their ears (and faces) when they ask us for more money before they get the point?

By the way, when Dean said in Minneapolis that he had not "seen any hard evidence" for the election theft, did anyone ask him to open his eyes? Hell, I'd go to DC and read him the new 700+ page report from Fitrakis, Rosenfeld and Wasserman myself if that's what it will take.

That book should be available soon; "Did George W. Bush Steal America's 2004 Election? Essential Documents". Watch for it.

[Columbus]

27. Bull

The report was written months ago. They know there will be a big response once it is written. I will repeat: the advisory team was told weeks ago (by email, so there is an elecronic paper trail)the report was written and about to be released. Strong private protests were made so they know they will be challenged when the so called report is released. The advisory team was never consulted. It is a whitewash. No one has been consulted that has investigated Ohio.

[Columbus]

28. One more thing

The Fitrakis book is already out.

Ask Donna why they waited months (according to their own press release) from the time they had the investigation started (early January) until the time they announced the composition of the investigative panel?

[Name removed]

29. Deleted message

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

[smartvoter]

11. She said Nov. 3rd there was no fraud. It's not a serious investigation. n

[garybeck]

12. is this the same thing as the $500K they sent to Ohio?

I remember McCulliffe saying "I want to crack open those machines"

If this thing is over and nothing ever came of it, it's ANOTHER bad sign about the Dems.

[Columbus]

32. the money stayed in the consultants pockets

this is the investigation that is costing $500,000 but understand that the money went to no-one in Ohio. The money is going to D.C. consultants.

[Helga Scow Stern]

13. I wrote and said I wouldn't give them another penny

until they came out front and center on the election fraud of 2004, and that the Brazile commission was not the least bit reassuring.

[snot]

14. This is a good thread--thanks

[Fly by night]

15. Thanks. kick.

[Fly by night]

16. Here's a letter I received from Brazile & Associates this morning

Subject: Re: What has happened re: the DNC-supported investigation of the Ohio election theft?


Dear Mr. Ellis,

Thank you for your inquiry into the status of the DNC Ohio Election Investigation. The investigation team hopes to complete its report within the next two weeks.

I am very proud of the diligence, tenacity and professionalism with which our team has sought, procured and analyzed information for this worthy project.

Rather than disclose the findings of the investigation piecemeal, the conclusions will be presented in a single document. I will personally urge the DNC and Donna Brazile to post the final report on their websites as soon as it is released to the public.

Thank you again for your concern.

Sincerely,
Monica Marvin
Project Manager
[phone]
[email protected]
---------------
I will write her back, thanking her for this note and offering to provide a copy of the "Nash-ional" conference audio for them to review prior to their final report. As soon as it is released, I will post a thread on it.

[Fly by night]

18. and my response

Monica,

Thanks for your prompt reply. I do look forward to obtaining a copy of the report soon.

As you may remember, our election reform group here in Tennessee (Gathering To Save Our Demcoracy) hosted a National Election Reform Conference in Nashville on April 8-10. We invited Ms. Brazile and the other members of your investigation team to attend, although I do not believe any of them did. We had people from 30 states join together for three days to review the voluminous evidence for the 2004 election theft and to discuss options for election reform and election justice thatmust be pursued now. One of the first panels at the conference was a two hour panel on the evidence from Ohio. We have that presentation available as an MP3 and would be happy to get it to you quickly so that you and other members of the investigation team can listen to the evidence from ground zero. Please let me know if you would be interested and I will get you that MP3 as soon as possible.

Again, thank you for your prompt reply. We sincerely hope that your final report will have the courage to speak truth to power -- both to the Republicans who stole the election in so many states and to the DNC leadership who bent over and took it with nary a complaint. Thank you.

Bernie Ellis, MA, MPH, Organizer
Gathering To Save Our Democracy

[mod mom]

17. If the DNC was serious about the Ohio Election investigation, wouldn't you

have thought that John Conyers would and those involved in the Ohio investigation would have been included on the list? Instead they put people on who had a vested interest, Demmy white, for one, in saying "no major problem, some incompetence. We know differently and so does John Conyers and the Democratic members of the House Judiciary.

[kster]

20. Me thinks

the Dems will be in very soon.The difference between saying something then (Nov,2) and now the Dems have cold hard facts in their hands. Timing is everything.

My 2 cents...........NGU

[Fly by night]

23. The latest word from Brazile & Associates

Monica Marvin wrote:


Mr. Ellis,

I just received this message from the website. It has been forwarded to Donna Brazile and Joe Sandler. I don't know where you have received your information regarding our investigation team. Data is still being analyzed and the report has not yet been completed. If you know who is spreading these rumors, please encourage them to contact me directly.

Thank you.

Monica Marvin
Legal Director
Brazile & Associates LLC
1001 G Street N.W.
Suite 500 E
Washington, D.C. 20001
[phone]
[email protected]

--------------

OK, "Columbus", how about contacting Monica to discuss your statement that the report is already written. And share that with us, including the name of the member of the investigation team who told you that the report is already written and that members of the investigation team have not actually done anything. Thanks.

[meganmonkey]

24. Thanks for staying on top of this Bernie

I am VERY curious to see what comes from this as far as the report, but also to see if they actually get it out there and talk about it. My guess is this will be another 'nothing to see here, move along' type situation. Expect the worst and hope for the best, I guess.

:shrug:

[Columbus]

31. In honor of Mark Felt

Check out the names on the advisory panel. All are top Dems. I am not going to "out" the member of the panel who is helping out with information. Incidentally, this panel member was initially hostile to those who think something is very wrong with the DNC and the Ohio Democratic Party and the 2004 election. This person is learning that indeed something is very wrong. And I will repeat: the report was written weeks ago -- shortly after the panel was announced. (Why it has not been released I do not know. I do know, as I posted earlier, that private communications were made to the highest levels of the DNC warning them about releasing the whitewash report and to alot of chagrin, the report still has not been issued.)

I posted several questions in earlier posts with no answers from the DNC team other than the usual "call me" non-denial denial. I will repeat the questions here. First of all, check out the March 4 link on www.OhioHonestElections.org for the DNC press release or find it directly on the DNC site. The March 4 press release states: "The tam has been hard at work since January. . . ." If the team was working in January, why did they wait until March 4 to announce the composition of the team? Why was the press release issued on a Friday - the traditional day to dump press releases you want no one to read. Do you follow me?



One more question: who are these investigators talking to? None of the investigators or legal teams or anyone outside the DNC or consultants has been asked to participate in this half-million dollar payoff investigation. Ask around, ask any of the lawyers or activists (including the original post about the Nashville conference) who know the most about what happened in Ohio -- not a single one has been asked questions or advice.

Understand -- the Dems do not want an honest investigation because it will uncover things they do not want to see the light of day (mostly the incompetence of the Ohio Democratic Party and the cronyism that led to the defeat in Ohio . The cronies and the incompetents are circling the wagons.

[Melissa G]

33. Hi Columbus. I f what you say is true, how do you suggest we

follow up on your assertions? Do you have any more evidence?
Thanks,
Melissa

[Fly by night]

34. Since my earlier suggestions to you were removed by a moderator, ...

here's a short version.

The Brazile & Associates staff have asked you to communicate with them directly. I have posted the Project Director's name, mailing address, email and phone number. Without giving anyone away, why don't you communicate directly with Monica, tell her what you believe to be true (the report is done, no one in Ohio was interviewed, no advisors were consulted, no money ever left DC, etc.) and then post her comments here. I for one would be very interested in reading her response.

And remember. If you will re-read my original post, I started this discussion because I was (and am) very interested in what this report will entail. Given the growing proportion of Americans who believe the election was stolen, this report could be a chance to get the "facts" -- as most of us know them -- out on the table. If it's another lame cover-up, then we can all send the DNC leadership (sic) some more K-Y Jelly so they can enjoy their next round of sex games with Karl and his "hot military stud" boy-toy.

But seriously, I would like you to ask Monica specific questions (or make specific allegations) and then post her responses to them. She told me (and Donna B. seconded it) that the report is still in process. That is why we are rushing to get the Ohio panel tapes from the Nashville conference to them. They may not have heard anything yet from Ohio but before we are done, they will at least get a chance to.

So please send her a letter and let us see it and her reply. You can do that without breaking your anonymity here or elsewhere. Thanks.

Here's hoping the Cleveland teach-in this week goes well. Peace out.

[Fly by night]

35. One more point: your "source" could out himself/herself.

Why wait until she/he is 91. If the person you have spoken with is officially listed as a consultant or part of the advisory team for this investigation, their coming forward to say that the whole thing is a whitewash and has not involved anyone named to participate in the investigation would be pretty powerful stuff and would perhaps shake things up a bit at the DNC. In fact, if they were to send a message to that effect to Chairman Dean NOW, I expect it would have an effect. (Of course, that may have already happened. We DUers here are still in the dark re: your allegations so far.)

I would much rather that your source go public NOW with a full description of their experiences (or non-experiences) with the Brazile investigation. Since the Cleveland teach-in is coming up this week, a story (in the corporate media or in the Free Press) that the DNC Ohio investigation is just so much fairy poo might get some attention. It certainly would here.

Thanks. I look forward to some meat -- now or soon -- to go with your appetizers.

[Melissa G]

25. Thanks for keeping on this Bernie! n/t

[Bill Bored]

30. Still waiting Columbus. Annnnnd......kick! nt