Nine more US soldiers died in Iraq within the past 24
hours. For what? The neo-con wet dream of a Three
Stooges Reich. Meanwhile, Harry Reid, Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama disgraced themselves on 1/6/05. Talk is cheap. The bottom line is that they voted for fascism in America. They capitulated. They did not vote with Sen. Barbara Boxer. They are complicit in the second consecutive theft of the Presidency...This self-deception that you hear from so many now (even Al Franken) that Bush "won" and deep denial (Obama has even said "Bush won fair and square") is the psychological equivalent of "He really is a good man" or "We gotta stay together for the kids." He is not a good man. He is a viscious, ignorant, troubled man. And the "kids," i.e. the country, would be better off in a bitter divorce that pitted the blue states (where the bills for the country are paid, and the majority of the population toils) against the red states (where a pathological White Taliban reigns in a faith-based Gehenna)…We need a Kulchur War to restore the Republic…We need people who are willing to declare that 2+2=4 to restore the Republic…
John Kerry disgraced himself on 1/6/05, by going to Baghdad when he should have been in the well of the US Senate defending the US Constitution. Yes, Kerry doubly disgraced himself by running away to Baghdad -- because he voted to send them there…The war is worse than illegal or immoral, it is stupid -- insanely stupid…and Kerry voted for it…and yes, we vigorously fought for his election anyway, because of Anwar, Kyoto, Abu Ghraib, the next twenty years of the US Supreme Court, the fracturing of the Western Alliance, women's reproductive rights, the obscence tax cuts, the obscene deficit, the obscene drive to "privatize" social security, the separation of church and state, the Middle East peace process and more, and because, in spite of the political cowardice and cravenness he displayed in voting for the war, he never would have started it himself. But that's all behind us now. Fascism has come for real in America. The struggle is not about ideology it is about REALITY. The REALITY is that our electoral system has been compromised by brown shirts, the US mainstream news media is wholly complicit and the Democratic leadership is apparently willing to play the role of a ceremonial, faux opposition party...yes, the corporatist news media is wholly complicit, and the leadership of the Democratic Party is content to be Bush's bitch...We need people who are willing to denounce this war as insanely stupid, not pretend that it is simply a matter of mismanagement -- another self-deception, like Bush won "fair and square" Kerry has proven himself, since election night, to be first and foremost a creature of his status, just as Reid, Clinton and even Obama…They have all decided they are better off (i.e., safer) keeping their limos in the motorcade -- even if it is going off a cliff… No one who voted to certify the Ohio electors should be considered as a candidate for national office in 2008, whether they participated in the 'debate" or not...Talk is cheap...What will they do on the day of the Inauguration later this month? Will they dress up and act if as some solemn democratic process is being adhered to? Will they salute the flag? The flag that Bush has so dishonored by fracturing the Western Alliance, mocking the Geneva Accords, lying his way into a foolish war and consigning our troops to a Mega-Mogadishu without adequate equipment, moral high ground or even an exit strategy? What will they do on the night of the State of the Union? Will they applaud? Will they smile and shake Bush's hand? Remember, friends, Bush LOST the 2000 election. Bush KNEW enough to do something about 9/11 but did not act. Bush LIED about needing to go to war over WMD in Iraq, and Bush LOST AGAIN in 2004…Remember, friends, 2+2=4...Jesse Jackson stood in the park across the street from the White House on Thursday fighting not just for the sanctity of the vote but for REALITY itself...Senator John Kerry, Jackson said, was in Baghdad. "And we need him here in Washington today. Those who cannot lead today cannot lead in 2006 or 2008. This is the moment of truth!" Yes, it was, and except for the Congressional Black Caucus, and Dennis Kuchinich, Congressman Nadler (the World Trade Center *was* in his district) and Sen. Barbara Boxer, the Democratic Party was like W, *their* Commander in Chief, during the war in Vietnam, AWOL...They are as complicit now as the US regimstream news media...But no, it does not make the shell-of-a-man-formerly-known-as-Ralph-Nader any less of a traitor to all that is good. Remember, in 2000, he said here was no difference. There was a huge difference: Kyoto, Anwar, the Supreme Court, no war in Iraq, no foolish tax cuts to gut the federal surplus and turn it into a deficit, no prostitution of the EPA, no Abu Ghraib, no phoney energy crisis in California (and therefore no professional body builder in Sacramento} and yes, maybe no 9/11. Remember, in 2004, he took Rove's money...Remember, 2+2=4..."You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows." But if you get confused, follow Maxine Waters (D-CA) or Cynthia McKinney (D-GA). They will be going in the right direction.
William Rivers Pitt: You the People: The greatest
heroes in this process have been the ordinary
Americans – the teachers and lawyers and builders and
students – who took the time to write and call and fax
and email members of congress in such volume that
ultimately, the demand for action could not be
ignored. By Thursday morning, every avenue of
communication on Capitol Hill had become totally
paralyzed by the amount of incoming messages from
people who wanted to see something done. The other
names on this list played their part, but were it not
for you the people, their efforts would have come to
nothing. It was an awe-inspiring performance, and was
the reason why Thursday’s challenge happened.
There is a debate taking place now as to what, if
anything, happened in congress on Thursday. Some feel
that the failure of any Senator to stand with Boxer
obviates the whole process. Others believe Thursday
was a good step forward, the opening of a national
dialogue on election reform, and proof that the people
can force congress to act.
At the end of the day, however, I believe Thursday was
a victory because of the people I have listed above,
and because of all the other heroes I failed to name.
All these horses are running together at speed, and
have proven they can get things done. If you believe
in the cause of election reform, be warmed by the
knowledge that these men and women are out there,
working for you, and their efforts have only just
begun.
Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA): For most of us in the
Senate and the House, we have spent our lives fighting
for things we believe in - always fighting to make our
nation better.
We have fought for social justice. We have fought for
economic justice. We have fought for environmental
justice. We have fought for criminal justice.
Now we must add a new fight - the fight for electoral
justice…
Why did voters in Ohio wait hours in the rain to vote?
Why were voters at Kenyan College, for example, made
to wait in line until nearly 4 a.m. to vote because
there were only two machines for 1300 voters?
Why did poor and predominantly African-American
communities have disproportionately long waits?
Why in Franklin County did election officials only use
2,798 machines when they said they needed 5,000? Why
did they hold back 68 machines in warehouses? Why were
42 of those machines in predominantly African-American
districts?
Why did, in Columbus area alone, an estimated 5,000 to
10,000 voters leave polling places, out of
frustration, without having voted? How many more never
bothered to vote after they heard about this?
Why is it when 638 people voted at a precinct in
Franklin County, a voting machine awarded 4,258 extra
votes to George Bush. Thankfully, they fixed it - but
how many other votes did the computers get wrong?
Why did Franklin County officials reduce the number of
electronic voting machines in downtown precincts,
while adding them in the suburbs? This also led to
long lines.
In Cleveland, why were there thousands of provisional
ballots disqualified after poll workers gave faulty
instructions to voters?
Because of this, and voting irregularities in so many
other places, I am joining with Congresswoman
Stephanie Tubbs Jones to cast the light of truth on a
flawed system which must be fixed now.
Micheal Moore: Something historic happened yesterday.
For the first time since 1877 a member of the House
and a member of the Senate stood up together to object
to the outcome of a presidential election.
This is the first step on a necessary road toward
making sure that everyone is allowed to vote and that
every vote is counted (something we did not see in
2000 or 2004) so the next time around ALL of us can be
confident, when the election results come in, that
they reflect the will of the people, not the whim of
mechanical error and human obstruction.
Unlike 2000, when the black members of Congress were
told to sit down and shut up, this time a senator had
the courage to stand with them, as the law requires,
to force Congress to go back to their separate
chambers to discuss and debate the issues surrounding
the vote count. Senator Barbara Boxer rose to the
occasion and stood with Ohio Representative Stephanie
Tubbs Jones and 29 other Representatives "to cast the
light of truth on a flawed system which must be fixed
now." The ensuing debate, at times, became a debate
over me and all of you and the fact that we would dare
make the attempt to protect our democracy.
I was blown away when Representative Maxine Waters
took to the floor and said, "Mr. Speaker and members,
I dedicate my objection to Ohio's electoral votes to
Mr. Michael Moore, the producer of the documentary
'9/11' and I thank him for educating the world on the
threats to our democracy and the proceedings of this
house on the acceptance of the electoral college votes
for the 2000 presidential election."
I am honored to the point of embarrassment because it
is Maxine Waters who deserves thanks for defending our
most basic right, not once, but twice.
David Swanson, ILCA: Nearly two hours later, the
Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr., took the stage -- the
final speaker before the crowd of about 300 activists
in orange clothes (as worn in the Ukraine) headed down
Pennsylvania Avenue toward the Capitol. Jackson told
the crowd - to shouts and cheers, and in some cases
tears - that Boxer would be joined by Senators Chris
Dodd, Hillary Clinton, Harry Reid, and Barak Obama.
>From the House, Jackson said, Congressman John Conyers
would challenge the Ohio vote, with the support of
Stephanie Tubbs Jones, Dennis Kucinich, Jesse Jackson
Jr., Maxine Waters (who also spoke at the morning
rally), Robert Scott, Mel Watt, and Jerrold Nadler.
Senator John Kerry, Jackson said, was in Baghdad. "And
we need him here in Washington today. Those who cannot
lead today cannot lead in 2006 or 2008. This is the
moment of truth!" Jackson spoke, as many of the
speakers did, of building a coalition of blacks and
progressives. The cheers cannot have been missed
inside the walls of the White House.
Clifford O. Arnebeck, Jr., Letter to Congress: Today,
you are being asked to certify the reported votes of
the Electoral College even though the status of the
Ohio electors is still the subject of the meritorious
election contest. You are being asked to do so on the
basis of one or more of the following three fallacies:
1) The faith-based neocon fallacy that vote counts do
not have to be independently verified.
2) The fallacy that Karl Rove is a nice guy/clean
campaigner, and those who suspect otherwise with
respect to this election which Bush was expected to
lose, are conspiracy theorists.
3) The rule of power fallacy which exempts those in
power from the rule of law and the rules of evidence.
LNS Subscriber's Letter to the Editor: We all know that the election was screwey on Nov.2, 2000 when the exit polls suddenly meant nothing, when victory was claimed before electoral points added up, when it all came down to Florida civil rights be damned. Constitution be damned by the Supreme Court Justices who selected a president. And yet not one senator had courage to stand up for democracy. But not this time. Instant replay OHIO 2005. Oh, say, can you see...that Senator Boxer believes in the democratic process? Not one republican is really refudiating the truth that Conyers presented when his investigation revealed the covert hacking fraud of Triad's voting machines. No one can refute the obvious voter supression in OHIO 2005. All of those beautiful Americans standing in line for hours, past midnight to vote. This is why it is called voter suppression. And again the African Americans are targeted. This is why its called racism. Yes this is America. Thank Senator Barbara Boxer for her brave declaration of Independence in the face of opposition. The opposition that can lie so well but cannot refudiate the truth with truth. She is American democracy without fear and un-craven. Thank her for a backbone like Atlas. Thank her for representing what apparently is soon to be lost, America.
Restore the Sanctity of the Vote! Restore the Freedom of the Press! Restore the Republic!
http://www.truthout.org/docs_05/010805X.shtml
Heroes
By William Rivers Pitt
t r u t h o u t | Perspective
Friday 07 January 2005
"I think of a hero as someone who understands the
degree of responsibility that comes with his freedom."
- Bob Dylan
As one of the journalists privileged to be able to
report on the events which culminated in Thursday’s
challenge to the Ohio Electors, I have had the chance
to meet and observe a whole crowd of remarkable
people. They deserve to be recognized.
David Cobb and Michael Badnarik: The presidential
candidates for the Green Party and Libertarian Party
deserve the lion’s share of praise and credit for the
events of Thursday January 6th. Before anyone else
came within a mile of pushing the pile towards some
kind of national reckoning regarding the election
‘irregularities’ in Ohio, Cobb and Badnarik had their
shoulders down and were throwing weight. Their
lawsuits in Ohio may develop into a truly significant
process, particularly if their motions to preserve
evidence, examine the voting machines and depose the
election players are allowed to proceed. The outcome
and ultimate results of Thursday’s Electoral challenge
may still be in the wind, but one thing is certain:
Cobb and Badnarik forced the Democrats to do the right
thing, and that makes Thursday a banner day for third
parties in America.
Jon Bonifaz and Cliff Arnebeck: These two attorneys
are at the heart of the Cobb/Badnarik legal effort in
Ohio. In both the Ohio state court and the Federal
court, they are working to bring these challenges to a
fruitful conclusion. Bonifaz and Arnebeck have also
been central in elevating public awareness of the
problems we endure in our election process, and worked
diligently to educate members of congress about what
we face.
Bev Harris and Andy Stephenson: The two pillars of
BlackBoxVoting.org, Bev and Andy basically killed
themselves over the two years before the 2004 election
to bring public attention to the catastrophic problems
involved in ‘electronic voting.’ I have clear memories
of crossing paths with Andy in Seattle, and remember
being amazed that he was still on his feet. The bags
under his eyes could have had ‘Samsonite’ stamped on
them, but still he kept on. There has recently been a
falling-out among the BlackBoxVoting crew, and I take
no position whatsoever on that sad little soap opera.
Whatever you may think about that, the fact remains
that Bev and Andy were the first, and the best,
advocates for election reform regarding these new
machines.
Rep. John Conyers and his Judiciary staff: The ranking
minority member of the Judiciary Committee played a
central role in orchestrating the events which
culminated in Thursday’s challenge. He organized
hearings in Washington and Ohio to highlight the
problems with the November election, educated his
fellow members, and released a watershed report on the
issues that will serve as a guide for any and all
future actions. Conyers and his staff got the chariot
rolling up on the Hill, and everyone you saw stand up
and speak Thursday in Congress were basically hitching
a ride with him.
Reverend Jesse Jackson: The motivation and energy
brought to this cause by Jackson in recent weeks
cannot be overstated. Reverend Jackson preached,
cajoled, browbeat and pushed to make sure the
challenge took place on Thursday. His presence in this
struggle represents a new day, a combination of the
mostly-white progressive reform movement and the
African-American civil rights movement. This new
coalition is going to have a lot to say and do over
the coming weeks and months, and may come to be the
decisive factor in the fight to make sure every vote
counts, and every vote is counted.
Tim Carpenter and Kevin Spidel: These two men, who
make up the backbone of Progressive Democrats of
America, came out of the Kucinich campaign. Carpenter
the former deputy campaign manager and Spidel the
former national field organizer used the skills and
contacts they developed in that campaign to bring
enormous popular attention to the problems with the
2004 election. Both men have gone with out sleep for
months and have spent countless hours on the road to
push this issue.
Senator Barbara Boxer: It took a good degree of
courage for Senator Boxer to stand up on Thursday and
vote against the certification of the Ohio Electors.
In the House, Republican Representatives accused her
of aiding terrorism and betraying our troops in Iraq.
Though such accusations are utter balderdash, they do
carry a sting. In 2000, no Senator would stand with
the Congressional Black Caucus to challenge what
happened in Florida. Boxer, on Thursday, removed that
stain, and is to be commended.
You the People: The greatest heroes in this process
have been the ordinary Americans – the teachers and
lawyers and builders and students – who took the time
to write and call and fax and email members of
congress in such volume that ultimately, the demand
for action could not be ignored. By Thursday morning,
every avenue of communication on Capitol Hill had
become totally paralyzed by the amount of incoming
messages from people who wanted to see something done.
The other names on this list played their part, but
were it not for you the people, their efforts would
have come to nothing. It was an awe-inspiring
performance, and was the reason why Thursday’s
challenge happened.
There is a debate taking place now as to what, if
anything, happened in congress on Thursday. Some feel
that the failure of any Senator to stand with Boxer
obviates the whole process. Others believe Thursday
was a good step forward, the opening of a national
dialogue on election reform, and proof that the people
can force congress to act.
At the end of the day, however, I believe Thursday was
a victory because of the people I have listed above,
and because of all the other heroes I failed to name.
All these horses are running together at speed, and
have proven they can get things done. If you believe
in the cause of election reform, be warmed by the
knowledge that these men and women are out there,
working for you, and their efforts have only just
begun.
William Rivers Pitt is a New York Times and
internationally bestselling author of two books - 'War
on Iraq: What Team Bush Doesn't Want You to Know' and
'The Greatest Sedition Is Silence.'
-------
http://www.truthout.org/docs_05/010705V.shtml
Why I Must Object
Senator Boxer
t r u t h o u t | Statement
Thursday 06 January 2005
Statement on her objection to the certification of
Ohio's electoral votes.
For most of us in the Senate and the House, we have
spent our lives fighting for things we believe in -
always fighting to make our nation better.
We have fought for social justice. We have fought for
economic justice. We have fought for environmental
justice. We have fought for criminal justice.
Now we must add a new fight - the fight for electoral
justice.
Every citizen of this country who is registered to
vote should be guaranteed that their vote matters,
that their vote is counted, and that in the voting
booth of their community, their vote has as much
weight as the vote of any Senator, any Congressperson,
any President, any cabinet member, or any CEO of any
Fortune 500 Corporation.
I am sure that every one of my colleagues - Democrat,
Republican, and Independent - agrees with that
statement. That in the voting booth, every one is
equal.
So now it seems to me that under the Constitution of
the United States, which guarantees the right to vote,
we must ask:
Why did voters in Ohio wait hours in the rain to vote?
Why were voters at Kenyan College, for example, made
to wait in line until nearly 4 a.m. to vote because
there were only two machines for 1300 voters?
Why did poor and predominantly African-American
communities have disproportionately long waits?
Why in Franklin County did election officials only use
2,798 machines when they said they needed 5,000? Why
did they hold back 68 machines in warehouses? Why were
42 of those machines in predominantly African-American
districts?
Why did, in Columbus area alone, an estimated 5,000 to
10,000 voters leave polling places, out of
frustration, without having voted? How many more never
bothered to vote after they heard about this?
Why is it when 638 people voted at a precinct in
Franklin County, a voting machine awarded 4,258 extra
votes to George Bush. Thankfully, they fixed it - but
how many other votes did the computers get wrong?
Why did Franklin County officials reduce the number of
electronic voting machines in downtown precincts,
while adding them in the suburbs? This also led to
long lines.
In Cleveland, why were there thousands of provisional
ballots disqualified after poll workers gave faulty
instructions to voters?
Because of this, and voting irregularities in so many
other places, I am joining with Congresswoman
Stephanie Tubbs Jones to cast the light of truth on a
flawed system which must be fixed now.
Our democracy is the centerpiece of who we are as a
nation. And it is the fondest hope of all Americans
that we can help bring democracy to every corner of
the world.
As we try to do that, and as we are shedding the blood
of our military to this end, we must realize that we
lose so much credibility when our own electoral system
needs so much improvement.
Yet, in the past four years, this Congress has not
done everything it should to give confidence to all of
our people their votes matter.
After passing the Help America Vote Act, nothing more
was done.
A year ago, Senators Graham, Clinton and I introduced
legislation that would have required that electronic
voting systems provide a paper record to verify a
vote. That paper trail would be stored in a secure
ballot box and invaluable in case of a recount.
There is no reason why the Senate should not have
taken up and passed that bill. At the very least, a
hearing should have been held. But it never happened.
Before I close, I want to thank my colleague from the
House, Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones.
Her letter to me asking for my intervention was
substantive and compelling.
As I wrote to her, I was particularly moved by her
point that it is virtually impossible to get official
House consideration of the whole issue of election
reform, including these irregularities.
The Congresswoman has tremendous respect in her state
of Ohio, which is at the center of this fight.
Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones was a judge for 10
years. She was a prosecutor for 8 years. She was
inducted into the Women's Hall of Fame in 2002.
I am proud to stand with her in filing this objection.
-------
http://www.michaelmoore.com/
January 7, 2005
Dear Friends,
Something historic happened yesterday. For the first
time since 1877 a member of the House and a member of
the Senate stood up together to object to the outcome
of a presidential election.
This is the first step on a necessary road toward
making sure that everyone is allowed to vote and that
every vote is counted (something we did not see in
2000 or 2004) so the next time around ALL of us can be
confident, when the election results come in, that
they reflect the will of the people, not the whim of
mechanical error and human obstruction.
Unlike 2000, when the black members of Congress were
told to sit down and shut up, this time a senator had
the courage to stand with them, as the law requires,
to force Congress to go back to their separate
chambers to discuss and debate the issues surrounding
the vote count. Senator Barbara Boxer rose to the
occasion and stood with Ohio Representative Stephanie
Tubbs Jones and 29 other Representatives "to cast the
light of truth on a flawed system which must be fixed
now." The ensuing debate, at times, became a debate
over me and all of you and the fact that we would dare
make the attempt to protect our democracy.
I was blown away when Representative Maxine Waters
took to the floor and said, "Mr. Speaker and members,
I dedicate my objection to Ohio's electoral votes to
Mr. Michael Moore, the producer of the documentary
'9/11' and I thank him for educating the world on the
threats to our democracy and the proceedings of this
house on the acceptance of the electoral college votes
for the 2000 presidential election."
I am honored to the point of embarrassment because it
is Maxine Waters who deserves thanks for defending our
most basic right, not once, but twice.
Coming out of the gates like this in the very first
week of session sent a strong message that we are not
going to be pushed around. If the Republicans think
the next four years are going to be a cakewalk,
they've got another thing coming. With Michigan
Representative John Conyers leading the charge, we
showed them something not seen in over 120 years. And
we're just getting started!
Congratulations to the tens of thousands of you who
called, faxed, and e-mailed Barbara Boxer and other
senators. You have shown the world, with the strength
of your convictions, that the movement toward a truly
representative democracy will not be stopped in its
tracks. Yesterday's actions will be marked by history
books as a turning point for the electoral process and
for a Democratic Party that has for too long sat back
and taken it on the chin.
Your voices have echoed all the way up to the hallowed
halls of Congress and for that, you deserve thanks
more than anyone.
Yours,
Michael Moore
MMFlint@aol.com
www.michaelmoore.com
P.S. If you want to see portions of what took place,
check out the video clips and transcripts on the
website.
Five Senators and Eight House Members to Challenge
Election
Presidential Election 2004 / From ILCA Board and Staff
Posted by DavidSwanson on Jan 06, 2005 - 12:11 PM
Five Senators and Eight House Members to Challenge
Election
By David Swanson, ILCA
Four Senators Join Boxer, Seven House Members Join
Conyers
Senator Barbara Boxer was the first, and Kim Gandy of
the National Organization of Women announced it at a
rally in Lafayette Square Park Thursday morning,
across from the White House.
Senator Boxer would be joining Congressman John
Conyers and other House Members in challenging the
electoral votes from Ohio in a joint session of
Congress called to certify the election.
Nearl two hours later, the Reverend Jesse Jackson,
Sr., took the stage -- the final speaker before the
crowd of about 300 activists in orange clothes (as
worn in the Ukraine) headed down Pennsylvania Avenue
toward the Capitol. Jackson told the crowd - to shouts
and cheers, and in some cases tears - that Boxer would
be joined by Senators Chris Dodd, Hillary Clinton,
Harry Reid, and Barak Obama. From the House, Jackson
said, Congressman John Conyers would challenge the
Ohio vote, with the support of Stephanie Tubbs Jones,
Dennis Kucinich, Jesse Jackson Jr., Maxine Waters (who
also spoke at the morning rally), Robert Scott, Mel
Watt, and Jerrold Nadler.
Senator John Kerry, Jackson said, was in Baghdad. "And
we need him here in Washington today. Those who cannot
lead today cannot lead in 2006 or 2008. This is the
moment of truth!" Jackson spoke, as many of the
speakers did, of building a coalition of blacks and
progressives. The cheers cannot have been missed
inside the walls of the White House.
Jackson left by car to go lobby senators. Phone both
of yours right now -- of either party -- right now!!
(202) 224-3121 or 1-800-839-5276.
This article is from ILCA Online
http://www.ilcaonline.org/
The URL for this story is:
http://www.ilcaonline.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=1445
http://www.ilcaonline.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=1445
Election 2004
Arnebeck letter to Congress re Presidential Electoral
Challenge
by Clifford O. Arnebeck, Jr.
January 6, 2005
Dear United States Senator or Member of Congress:
Today, you are being asked to certify the reported
votes of the Electoral College even though the status
of the Ohio electors is still the subject of the
meritorious election contest. You are being asked to
do so on the basis of one or more of the following
three fallacies:
1) The faith-based neocon fallacy that vote counts do
not have to be independently verified.
This new "con" holds that facts may be overcome by
assertions of faith by those in power. Thus, the Bush
campaign co-chair for Ohio and Secretary of State
Kenneth Blackwell need not count 106,000 as yet
uncounted Ohio ballots, because he has faith they
would not make a difference in the reported 119,000
vote difference even thought these uncounted votes all
are in areas of Ohio that demonstrated strong support
for John Kerry, and because, as Secretary of State he
has the power not to count them.
A corollary of this fallacy is that Ken Blackwell need
not answer questions under oath. The answers to such
questions might upset peoples' faith in the new "con."
2) The fallacy that Karl Rove is a nice guy/clean
campaigner, and those who suspect otherwise with
respect to this election which Bush was expected to
lose, are conspiracy theorists.
Karl Rove fights hard for what he wants . . . a worthy
quality. However, no one has accused him of being a
stickler for cleanliness in his campaigns.
Yet, you are being asked to believe that fewer
machines and longer lines in Afro-American precincts,
the scandalously lower vote counts in Afro-American
precincts, the confusion over precincts and ballots
and counts and the disproportionate requirement that
Afro-American voters vote provisionally all as
unintentional glitches.
You are being asked to believe that the biggest glitch
of all, that is Ohio and national vote counts which
are realistically impossible in light of the exit poll
results, is accidental
Those of Jewish faith and Afro-American ethnicity are
being labeled as conspiracy theorists rather than
people with a special insight based upon historical
maltreatment in institutions like slavery and the
Holocaust, for their belief that anybody intentionally
directed all these glitches just at them.
3) The rule of power fallacy which exempts those in
power from the rule of law and the rules of evidence.
This fallacy is based upon the double standard where
rules applied to others do not apply to those in
power. America, because it is the world's military
superpower, may use exit polls to verify or challenge
the validity of elections in other countries, such as
the Ukraine, Mexico and others, but exit polling may
not be used to challenge election results reported in
the United States.
In the United States the party in power, that is, the
Bush-Republican Party, may exempt itself from rules
which apply to Democrats and those not in control of
the Bush-Republican Party.
The rule of power fallacy is the most important of
these three fallacies because it teaches Democrats
like John Kerry, John Edwards and Terry McAuliffe that
there is no point in challenging Bush Republicans
based upon law or fact because Bush Republicans
control the Congress, the Courts and the Presidency
and will use that control to impose their will no
matter what may be the facts or the law.
In my experience over the past four years in
successfully litigating on behalf of the non-partisan
Alliance for Democracy in partnership with Common
Cause/Ohio as Chairman of its Legal Affairs Committee
against the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber
of Commerce of the United States neither the
candidates nor the party that have been targeted by
the approximately $14 million of illegal corporate
money have been involved as parties or public
supporters of the litigation. In politics the
targeted candidates and parties place a higher
priority upon avoiding the appearance being sore
losers than upon seeking the true facts and upholding
the rule of law.
It does not surprise me, based upon my most recent
election litigation experience, that John Kerry and
the Democratic Party which appear to have been the
intended victim of the most massive election fraud in
history are not contesting this election.
In contrast to the intended victims of this fraud, you
as a United States Senator, whether a member of the
Democratic or Republican Party are called upon to
judge this election not as a party but as a judge.
You are bound by your oath to uphold the Constitution
to judge this election independently and objectively
with regard to the facts and the law.
Ohio voters who formally contest the November 2, 2004,
contest the election not only for its irregularities,
but also because the evidence shows that a majority of
Ohio voters and a majority of American voters voted
for John Kerry. We assert that the evidence for this
meets, not only the clear and convincing standard of
Ohio law for an election contest, but also the "beyond
a reasonable doubt" standard of criminal law.
Ohio's Secretary of State has refused to answer
questions under oath as to either the blatant
irregularities or the results he has certified. He is
stonewalling, on the apparent belief that Congress
will simply proceed to count Ohio's electoral votes
today, along with the votes of all the other states,
and the matter will be over. He is looking to Congress
to free him and others from responding to the
overwhelming evidence that the Ohio election results
he certified are fraudulent and that John Kerry won
Ohio and therefore the presidency. In the 2000
presidential election the U.S. Supreme Court took
responsibility for stopping the verification and
counting Florida votes for purposes of the
certification of the Florida presidential electors.
The Congress then took responsibility for accepting,
without challenge, the unverified electoral votes of
Florida.
A consortium of news organizations took the initiative
to count all the Florida votes after the inauguration
of George W. Bush. Thus, history now records the fact
that Albert Gore actually won the Florida popular vote
had all votes been properly counted.
Based upon the evidence, uncontroverted by any sworn
testimony whatsoever, if the Ohio litigation
challenging the Ohio presidential vote is allowed to
proceed, it will promptly establish as a matter of
fact that John Kerry won Ohio and Presidency.
All of the Ohio votes, whether cast or simply
tabulated on computerized voting machines, can and
should be promptly counted by independent companies
whose tabulating equipment, personnel, procedures and
software are fully transparent to both political
parties and the independent nonpartisan groups that
support an honest Ohio election.
For us to complete our non-partisan job of litigating
the Ohio election result we need your help
in challenging the electoral votes of every state,
until due process in our litigation can be completed.
If instead, you accept the reported electoral college
votes today or limit your challenge only to the Ohio
vote, it appears likely that the Ohio Supreme Court
will dismiss our election challenge as moot because
the challenged Ohio electors will today have been
fully discharged by the completed act of Congress.
Because of the importance of this matter, history
requires that the Ohio 2004 presidential election
votes ultimately be accurately counted. If that
happens after an inauguration, then, based upon the
evidence at hand, history would record that, for a
second time, George W. Bush would have been elected on
the basis of an incorrect count of the votes that were
actually cast and that, for a second time the Congress
certified an inaccurate Presidential election result.
Sincerely yours,
Clifford O. Arnebeck, Jr.
Chairman of the Ohio Honest Election Campaign and
Co-Chair of the Alliance for Democracy Counsel of
Record for the Contestors in Rev. Bill Moss et al. v.
Bush et al., Supreme Court of Ohio, Case No. 04-2088
http://www.freepress.org/departments/display/19/2005/1068
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