DIEBOLD - 2008 "The fix is in" - Moscow Times

[RedOnce]

Party Hacks

The Moscow Times March 3, 2006
By Chris Floyd

Two weeks ago, an obscure, unelected, Republican-appointed official in California decided the future of the world. That future -- at least for the next several years -- will be an accelerating nightmare of war, corruption, repression, atrocity and terror. That's because the loyal apparatchik has, with the stroke of a pen, guaranteed the perpetuation of the Bush faction in power in 2008 and beyond.

One of the few certainties in modern U.S. politics is that no Democrat can win the presidency without carrying California.

Thus, the sudden, hugger-mugger decision by California Secretary of State Bruce McPherson to override the objections of his own experts and certify the eminently hackable voting machines of the politically partisan firm, Diebold, for use throughout the state means, quite simply, that the fix is in for 2008. It doesn't matter who the Democrats run -- Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards, George Clooney or Jesus H. Christ in an Uncle Sam suit. It won't make a bit of difference. California is lost, the presidency is lost and the Bushists are in -- already. It's over.

What's more, "hackers wouldn't need to know passwords or cryptographic keys, or have access to any other part of the system to do their dirty work," the Los Angeles Times notes. "Voters, candidates and election monitors wouldn't necessarily know they'd been rooked." A more perfect vehicle for fixing an election can hardly be imagined. And it would require nothing more than a handful of high-tech zealots, not a vast conspiracy.

Naturally, after such a blistering condemnation, McPherson did what any official charged with guaranteeing the integrity and credibility of his state's elections would do: He approved the slipshod system by the dark of the moon, on a Friday before a holiday weekend, without any public hearings -- indeed, without waiting for the results of a pending federal review of Diebold's mole-infested code.

http://context.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2006/03/03/120.html

[magellan]

1. The Free Press is alive in Moscow??

Damning article. Even more damning that its like would never see the light of day in the national press HERE.

[Skink]

3. They practiced in 04 by padding W's popular vote in CA.

They'll go for the whole enchilda this time around.

[VelmaD]

5. They did it in Texas too...

you could tell that the votes were just not quite right...rethug wins that were bigger than they should have been and Democratic wins that weren't as big as they should have been. People don't seem to understand the rethug strategy...they pull a vote here and a vote there and in most places it isn't enough to raise alarm bells but when you add it all up...5 million extra votes.

[serryjw]

28. I always believed they did it also in Colorado

Democrats won back BOTH state houses after 40 years AND they voted for Bushit? I doubt it.

[Spike from MN]

56. Add MN to the list.

Kerry was ahead by 8% in the polls but only won by 3%.

[Skink]

48. Yep. Pad their vote in a safe state. Exit polls what exit polls.

[magellan]

14. That ain't enchilada I'm smelling

More like the after affects!

Californians thought they'd seen the back of Diebold after it paid that huge settlement to the state for screwing up/with its '02 midterms. Then this. McPherson's sneaky deal proves that Repugs fear they just can't win elections without Diebold's help.

[Blue_In_AK]

33. I believe they did it in Alaska, too.

Otherwise why would our Division of Elections be so adamantly resisting allowing the Alaska Democrats to review the records - even under their supervision. Something very fishy is going on up here.

[AntiFascist]

55. I was wondering if previous vote fraud in Calilfornia...

had slipped in under the radar, especially in the 04 presidential election.

[Senator]

84. New Jersey too

Nobody who knows NJ politics really believes that Kerry did 10% worse v. bushkid than Gore/Nader did.

Playing Jeopardy, the "question" would be -- Where can you pad half-a-million to your "ofishyl" results and have nobody notice?

---
www.january6th.org

[bananas]

7. Chris Floyd writes a lot of good articles

http://www.chris-floyd.com/

[lyonn]

93. Well now that's damn embarrassing!

Moscow news gets it but no one here seems to know anything about it, excluding here at DU and a few other blog sites. Only political junkies like us seem to get excited about hackable voting machines.

[Maraya1969]

97. I say "GOOD" let the whole world talk about how corrupt the US is

and maybe it might wake up some dead head minds here. The US has always helped other countries. Now we may need their help. I think we should accept it with gratitude.

[VelmaD]

2. Why is this in the Moscow TImes and not...

the New York Times? *sigh*

[Clark2008]

36. Because the former Soviet Union has people who give a damn

Their people riot in the streets when the election doesn't match the exit poles.
Their people appreciate a free press and thoughtful research.

Here, people are too busy watching American Idol to give a damn about their Constitutionally-protected rights. That doesn't sell. :sarcasm:

[bvar22]

44. In the Ukraine, they also had a leader...

who LEAD them from the streets.
How many Democratic Leaders have joined us in the streets?
Before the Iraq Invasion, there were Hundreds of Thousnads of us in the streets.
How many Democratic Party leaders publicly joined us?

If Kerry had stood on the steps in Ohio and asked us to join him, how many would have showed up?
Millions?

The Democratic Party is a BIG TENT, but there is NO ROOM for those
who advance the agenda of THE RICH (Corporate Owners) at the EXPENSE of LABOR and the POOR.

[librechik]

4. hope Chris is wrong!

hope sux--he's probably right, damn it...

[GregD]

6. Look for his past articles.

Floyd has been writing about e-voting for a few years now, and he is typically right on the mark. Somewhat extreme in the way he presents things, but accurate.

[librechik]

45. oh, I know--I'm most appreciative of his fine writing

and excellent logic.

I'm just frustrated that my kids are being sold down the river for no reason except somebody else's greed.

[Hubert Flottz]

8. When Will DiFi and Barb chime in?

[SoCalDem]

57. They won't..

The whole voting issue has been cloaked in mystery...."Ooooh it's too complicated"..

It's the easiest thing in the world.. even people who cannot read or write can VOTE..

WE have MADE it complicated..(our politicians have made it complicated, that is)..

To powerful people, elections are not really all that important.. They still are rich and powerful..their checks are just signed by different people

[converted_democrat]

9. Personally, I think the one state where they could screw the pooch

on this one is Cally.. Everyone knows how the vast majority in the state feel about * and the puke party in general.. Sure they have their pockets, but nothing even close to being able to convince the people of the state the the majority voted in a puke president.. That coupled with the level of activism in that state and there overall attitude about taking shit lying down, the pukes are setting themselves up for nothing but headaches.. Cally won't stand for it.. Arnie was an anomaly, and most of the people that voted for him wouldn't do it again.. I think they're messing with the wrong state..

[ellenfl]

12. everyone should vote absentee . . . and keep an eye on the garbage cans.

[converted_democrat]

16. That's how I voted last year, and I plan to this year too.. n/t

[FrannyD]

21. Apply for permanant Absentee Status

The special election had the highest absentee turnout. People know.

[serryjw]

29. WHY do you think this is safer?

How do yo know they are counted or counted any more correctly?

[converted_democrat]

32. Because the machines that are used to count the votes are different

than the touch screens, and they are more reliable.. Plus, you have a paper trail..

[serryjw]

34. What paper trail?

IF they count the mail in's how do you know which ones will NOT be lost or put into trash file ? HOW will you ever KNOW IF YOUR vote counted?

[converted_democrat]

35. Because you can call into your election super's office and get

a what amounts to a status report on it.. When it arrived, and so forth.. They have records on who did and didn't vote.. They don't have access to "how" you vote, but they can tell you when it arrived and when it was counted..

on edit- Papertrail was the wrong word.. I send mine priority so I get a receipt..

[serryjw]

40. The issue is not whether your vote is counted

but rather is it counted correctly!I posted this yesterday and it was also on another thread. What we know is they cover themselves so well. IF one assault doesn't work they have backups

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2490494&mesg_id=2490494

[converted_democrat]

41. See, and I thought I was covered by voting absentee.. Thank you for

pointing this out.. Man, they are sneaking bastards aren't they..

[magellan]

38. They aren't in my county. All are Diebold Accu-vote with GEMS tabulator.

That's regardless of whether I vote at the precinct or by absentee ballot. And naturally our supervisor of elections is a Repug, so forget an honest recount -- if they allowed a recount....

No win, any which way I look at it.

[Higans]

66. what good is activism in a police state?

[converted_democrat]

85. It's bad, but it isn't that bad yet.. You aren't going to get an

argument out of me about where we are headed, but we're not there yet..

[Ani Yun Wiya]

67. Think they can't get away with it?

How in the hell did Nixon win in S.F. in '72 ?

[robbedvoter]

79. Arnie was not an anomaly - pure Diebold too!

Many Gray Davies votes were diverted to those no-name candidates - it's always easier with more candidates. There were complete newbies to politics that got hundreds of thousand of votes - all from Davis's share. I yelled then and no one listened. That was the dry run for 2008.

[converted_democrat]

86. I'm not saying that you're wrong, but I have friends that are normally

very rational progressive people, but they voted for him.. Some thing about the "movie star" image struck them, and they voted for him.. I'm not saying you're wrong, but I know people that have never voted puke in their life that voted for Arnie..

[Uben]

10. The California legislature

....needs to pass a law making a vote tampering convictions in presidential elections punishable by a mandatory death sentence. Maybe that would deter someone from taking part in their little scheme. Disconnect all incoming cable or phone lines to the machines, or log all outside access. That would isolate all tampering to local officials, and be much easier to prosecute.

[Buck Rabbit]

27. Actually I think it should be a federal law, High Treason.

That election fixing of a Presidential election is high treason, life in prison.

I would love to see a Democrat introduce such a bill and force the Republicans to go on public record for being soft on election fixing.

Hmmm, I think I'll contact my congress critter. He is in one of the safest blue districts in the country, time for him to stick his neck out a little and be more outspoken on corruption and cronyism.

[Higans]

69. Die Bold machines have wireless modems

We are all screwed, so get used to it. slaves to our own technology. all of these voting machines are nothing more then a shell game designed to make the people think that they voted, but it doesn't matter because they don't even bother to count the votes. why should they? it's not like there is anything that the citizens can do about it. as long as the TV's don't cover the protests, then no one knows any better then to simply fall back asleep watching american Idol witch coincidently you can vote for using your cell phone.

[RedOnce]

101. Good points.

[Higans]

108. Thank you.

[Dr. Jones]

11. This article is defeatest

and I prefer to have SOME kind of hope that we can impeach Bush and finally bring his corrupt administration to justice.

[RedOnce]

18. I see it as sounding an alarm! Do nothing and...

this will likely occur.

[Dr. Jones]

22. I agree,

I guess I took the tone of the article to say that we're doomed and there's nothing we can do about it. Well I agree, we SHOULD do something about it!!

[stellanoir]

13. I've posted this before

and I'll no doubt post it again.

In my dinky though deeply blue state Kerry was polling at around 75 percent on 11/2/04 His vote tally turned out to be in the low 60's thanks to the optical scan machines. Anywhere they could they shaved off enough to insure that * won the popular vote and gain his thoroughly bogus mandate and so called political capital.

[serryjw]

31. I have a friend that was in many of the battleground states before

2004 and SAW first hand the corruption. He was so angry he gave up on politics,after being a lifelong activist, and is now a restaurant manager

[stellanoir]

46. I too am teetering on

withdrawing from overt activism at this point and am now resorting to spiritual non linear approaches to rectification of this national disaster.

This could be the nail in the coffin for our former Democracy if we don't get seriously creative.

I've compiled "19 tricks or Weapons of Massive Reintegration for Global Amelioration" and posted them before and gotten droves of heartwarming responses. PM me an e-mail addy and I'll send you a copy to show your friend.

I promise I'll never spam ya.

[soleft]

15. Jim Kramer was touting Diebold as a great investment last night

He says - "all the conspiracy theories, I don't care about that. I just want to make you money" , and with all the law suits that are going to happen over the voting legislation, he thinks their stock is going up up up.

[JudyM]

50. I dislike his attitude that investment value doesn't involve ethics.

Would he say to invest in companies that benefitted from/supported Hitler's regime too, back in the day? His absolutism on this issue dims his value as an investment advisor, in my eyes. Not that pure economics shouldn't be a strong factor, but there's got to be a limit ethically.

[CrispyQ]

60. Jim has no ethics when it comes to making money.

His solution is to make the money & then donate all or part of your proceeds to a worthy cause.

I agree with you, Judy, -- it diminishes him.

[JudyM]

89. In his defense, I've seen him cover green companies.

It'd be good for him to spend more time on socially conscious investment choices, though. People like us don't necessarily want to make money at the expense of our values... even if just a few dollars here and there. I'm always on the lookout for good prospects!

I'm surprised there's no socially conscious investment forum on DU. Wonder if enough folks would be interested...?

[Higans]

71. Bayer supported Hitler with Sterilization drug testing on Jews and Bush

Suported Bayer.

What Hitler started, Bush will finish.

Watch this short movie:

http://www.bushflash.com/14.html

[debbierlus]

17. It is terrible, but premature to assume California is going to be Red

For a number of reasons - California is a SOLID traditionally blue state with a LOT of activists. Don't look for this to be taken lying down. It will be difficult to pull a California win, especially since California will probably poll significantly democrat.

I don't argue that they will try. But, this move could expose voter fraud on a mass scale. There comes a tipping point for everything. Trying to fix California may be it.

Also, Die-bold machines may be exposed on such a huge level before 2008 that they get thrown out.

I am so SICK of these tyrants and scum.

[annabanana]

20. but not before '06...

They can do lots of mischeif in '06... (and get further entrenched)

[CrispyQ]

61. Another possibility that could help CA is the Hollywood crowd.

There is a much better chance of the media covering the issue if a few big stars speak out about it.

I hope you're right about Cali being the tipping point!

[hang a left]

76. Tis important to remember there are Reds in Blue clothing.

Tools come in both colors.

[Mandate My Ass]

19. kick

:evilfrown:

[johnnypneumatic]

23. computers are vulnerable to electrostatic shock

and every voter should take a taser with them for self defense when they go to vote

[OnionPatch]

24. Personally, I think

We Californians should storm the Secretary of State's office and hound him until he can take no more. I would even take time off of work to do this. I'm just hoping someone will organize something.

[toymachines]

30. I agree, I would drive the 600 miles to storm his office

[mvd]

25. If it's a close election again..

be very worried.

[Junkdrawer]

26. With that kind of control, it's as close as they want to make it...

If they feel like telling us "Aw shucks, you just lost again", that's what we'll get.

If they feel like telling us "(Insert next ne-con stooge here) was just elected with the biggest landslide in history!", that's what we'll get.

The change in the nature of politics is now complete. It's no longer "obtain the consent of the people"..it's now "manufacture the consent of the masses".

[glitch]

49. Yep - there is no reason to think the polls aren't rigged too.

Just saying, they're criminal, not stupid.

Who would rig a count without rigging the polls too? The biggest mistake they made the last time was not rigging the polls ENOUGH. They thought they were facing Gore 2000 margins, not the higher Kerry margins.

[bloom]

37. I've suspected all alone

that that was part of the plan of getting Arnold in there and all - to control the election process.


But it still sux to see an article about it - even (esp.) if it is Moscow.

[genieroze]

39. Hell, I could have told you they are gonna rig it again.

I'll still vote even though the rig is in, in crooked rethugnakin Diebold run Ocean County NJ. Every town in the county went to Bush even the African American and Jewish ones.

[Dover]

42. Why aren't the Dems screaming bloody murder about this?

Some might think it odd that Dems aren't screaming bloody murder about this. But not I. They have, with only a few exceptions, been silent about the entire e-voting scam and in some cases are even it's salesmen...which is very telling since they are supposedly the 'victims' of this piracy.

But hey, the Dem Party is the People's Party...right?

[nadinbrzezinski]

43. Don't worry I have sent letters to my reps

to my paper, and '08 will be ANOTHER CHARADE...

[Czolgosz]

47. Jesus H Christ in an Uncle Sam suit? Is he one of the Fighting Democrats?

[RedOnce]

51. Please keep this KICKED! I think that this is an important story...

if you agree, please keep this kicked while I am traveling so that others can read it to.
Thank you.

[Cobalt Violet]

52. Of course it won't be covered in our media. n/t

[DemReadingDU]

53. Definitely, Ohio

I find it hard to believe that Bush won Ohio. There were way too many glitches

[Dragonbreathp9d]

54. Well, have any liberal hacker friends?

If it can be thrown, lets at least throw it our way

[Joanne98]

58. What the fuck is the matter with Maria?

Maybe we should e-mail her. She's a Kennedy, for God's sake.

[jus_the_facts]

59. D'uh...no shit sherlock...

...all the hope and activism is wishful thinking as this has been happening all across the country since 2000 and only a handful of DEMOCRATS have even spoken up about it. :eyes:

[CrispyQ]

62. How many more questionable elections &

how many more years of republican rule before the people wake up & realize our elections have been hijacked?

Right now I'm so angry with my right-wing mother who told me I should "just get over it!" regarding election fraud. Of course, if Hillary had won under questionable circumstances she would be the first to cry "unjust!" & she wouldn't stop until something was done.


:banghead:

[Higans]

74. I share your feelings.

My parents voted republican and all I got was this stupid president.

[RagAss]

63. Once Cali goes Red....It's the detention camps for us........

[Higans]

75. Yup.

[Nikki Stone 1]

64. Are we sure that Donald Rumsfeld didn't plant this story to intimidate us?

Remember, that bastard is planting stories overseas allegedly as war propaganda. This could be just another one of those pieces.

[dorkulon]

65. How would that make any sense? n/t

[Nikki Stone 1]

94. Here's how

First, we know that fake stories are being planted overseas and being picked up by legit foreign papers. These fake stories are documented in the book "Weapons of Mass Deception" and are part of an overall strategy to propagandize the war on terror.

Second, these stories are meant to support the administration and its efforts, despite reality. This administration wants their party to stay in power to finish the job they are doing. One way to insure that is to demoralize Democrats.

So, why not plant a story overseas that will certainly be seen by Americans? Why not plant a story to discourage Democrats from going to the polls?

That's the idea. It is less far-fetched than MIHOP (though I tend to agree with MIHOP).

I often wonder how much this Diebold thing is being used to keep us home instead of voting at the polls.

[hang a left]

77. It is true.

The California Secretary of State LOVES Diebold.

[Higans]

109. how do you think the jerk off got into power?

'Now I will tell you the answer to my question. It is this. The Party seeks power entirely for its own sake. We are not interested in the good of others; we are interested solely in power. Not wealth or luxury or long life or happiness: only power, pure power. What pure power means you will understand presently. We are different from all the oligarchies of the past, in that we know what we are doing. All the others, even those who resembled ourselves, were cowards and hypocrites. The German Nazis and the Russian Communists came very close to us in their methods, but they never had the courage to recognize their own motives. They pretended, perhaps they even believed, that they had seized power unwillingly and for a limited time, and that just round the corner there lay a paradise where human beings would be free and equal. We are not like that. We know that no one ever seizes power with the intention of relinquishing it. Power is not a means, it is an end. One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship. The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. Now do you begin to understand me?'

http://www.online-literature.com/orwell/1984/20

[robbedvoter]

80. Ugh...Chris Floyd a Rummy Plant? Read his other stuff.

Not exactly news for me in the article - just extremely well written as usual. If you are not familiar with Chris, it's time you get there.

[Nikki Stone 1]

95. Read my answer above

Then, if you still want to act all stern and condescending and disciplinary, be my guest, if it floats your boat. :)

[bonito]

68. Kick n/t

[Helga Scow Stern]

70. We knew this was on the agenda as soon as they got rid of a good SoS.

First the governor--Gray Davis and the Enron scandal--then the Secretary of State, Kevin Shelley. They let der Grope lose his precious initiatives across the board to keep him in line and so no one could say the voting system is broken.

Now Schwarzenegger has Dick Cheney's man as his campaign manager, which says a lot.

[rumpel]

73. Exactly.

They swiftboated Shelley.

[robbedvoter]

98. And some Dems join in I recall. Not unlike Davis - same tecnique

Blanco seems to be worked on the same way now - only they use Katrina rather than Enron. Saw that disgrageful Harry Anderson on Maher last night working it.

[rumpel]

72. All DU'ers should check their own counties what systems they chose to

become HAVA compliant before it is too late.

This is more important now, than to debate who will run in 08. If we don't secure the integrity of the elections now, everything else will become moot.

[Higans]

78. it's all been Moot since 2000, or at least since 04

I've said it since 04. nothing is as important as fair elections. I've said we should sue on the basis of a 14 amendment violation. I.E. if some votes can be recounted, and others can't, there is no equality in the votes hence the violation of the 14th amendment. when I started saying this, the black helicopters started flying over my house, so I went out side and flipped them the bird. Now they are building concentration camps for us bloggers and shoveling un-important news stories at us in an attempt to drown us out, and keep Die Bold out of the head lines.

this is probably the most important news story in history, because it offers a chance at true Democracy which is something we have never had, and all this fucking machine can do is try as hard as it can to keep the sheeple asleep.

The elections have been rigged since 2000 and probably before that. there is a chance to actually put the people in control as the founding fathers intended, but king george is the antichrist, and We the People don't stand a chance against Bushitler.

[dorkulon]

81. If this stuff is true, and I think it is...

Whay are any of us wasting our time on ANY other issues? There should be a full-force concentration of effort from the left--and any decent conservatives--to esure fair elections. Why isn't this happening?

[rumpel]

82. Yes, there should be, join the fight.

[dorkulon]

83. er... what fight?

I'd love to, but where is it?

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

90. I think it's the denial factor...

...it's simply too painful, too Orwellian a nightmare for people to handle. Humans are mentally fragile creatures and when a looming problem looks insurmountable, many of us react by just pretending it isn't there.

[RedOnce]

100. So true! I hope that we can change that with this issue.

[father_of_hope]

87. this is not news

I've been saying this since 2002.

The ONLY ONLY ONLY relevant question is: what is Howard Dean, Hillary Clinton and Edward Kennedy doing about this?

[cdsilv]

88. Hmm, perhaps the DEMS could find a couple of 'black hats'

...to develop some Diebold viruses?

[Independent_Liberal]

99. True, we know about this already.

People who say there's nothing we can do are wrong. We just have to let our Dem leaders know about it and keep the pressure on them until something is done. We have the power. The question is, do we believe in ourselves?

[lovuian]

91. I agree there is no reason why diebold is still around

but only steal Bush the elections...

[Up2Late]

92. Yep, I have first hand experience with this problem here in Georgia.

It really Sucks.

Why can't we find some way to destroy Diebold?!? What's the problem?

[Hippo_Tron]

96. Dumb question, can't a couple of democratic computer nerds rig it too?

[Up2Late]

102. Oh they probably could, but don't say that around here...

...because that always triggers the reaction from those here who still have their vote counted fairly that, "we can sink to their level..."

I'd do it if I had the first clue as to what a computer hacker actually does, all I know is something big is going to have to happen soon.

[Hippo_Tron]

105. My point is aren't the Republicans buying Diebold machines worried?

I mean, computers are non-partisan as far as I know.

[Up2Late]

107. True, but Diebold and several of the other corporations that...

...produce, and therefor control the machines and the programming of those machines, are all very wealthy Republicans, who give lots of money to the GOP.

The major crime here is that they have been allowed to claim that their software is "proprietary and corporate secrets" and that they have failed basic tests of security, but none of the States have told them they have to fix these problems. This is a conspiracy on a grand scale.

[Clara T]

103. kick for truth

Suave Technocratic Fascist State.

As The Oil Runs Down.

[KAT119]

104. Chris Floyd is brilliant!

Canada uses paper ballots & #2 pencil-has election count accurately tallied by 10 pm news same day.

[goforit]

106. The truth is out around the world except in white-trash America(Repugs)