We were contacted this morning by a reporter from The NY Times seeking comment on the recent preliminary ruling by California judge which says that "bloggers should not have the same protection afforded to journalists under US law." The case, as reported by the BBC, has been brought by Apple computers against three different blogs who leaked info about products in development.

While we hadn't yet read up on that particular case, we were obviously able to speak from experience about our concerns of bloggers being forced to disclose sources. We have been given information from several sources on the condition that their identities would be protected since they consider that their lives could be in potential danger if they were to be exposed.

We believe our work here clearly demonstrates the need to protect the identity of such sources. Though, in truth, as discussed here recently when we "joked" that "our earlier shameless plea for donations" might soon turn into "a necessary collection for the official BRAD BLOG Legal Defense Fund" it may not be such a "joke" after all! "Real" "journalists" --- even those from The NY Times --- may not have the protection against revealing their sources that most people believe. And a few of them may soon be heading to jail in order to fight for that potentially-disappearing right.

And as if that is not troubling enough, take a look at this troubling interview on CNET with Federal Election Commissioner, Bradley Smith entitled "The coming crackdown on blogging".

It's a chilling interview really, so please give it a quick read. But what it seems to say is that unless legislation is passed quickly by Congress to rework the McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Law, the FEC may soon be forced to regulate blogs such as ours and regard even links to campaign websites as "campaign contributions"!

If we read the article correctly, it would seem to be Democrats on the FEC whose votes may keep the FEC from fighting a recent court decision that removes the exemption from such regulation for Internet websites and blogs (we're attempting to get clarification on that point).

In the meantime, who else but Congressman John Conyers is the first brave legislator out of the box to state his unambiguous objection to this potential coming nightmare. In a draft letter to the FEC Chairman and Commissioners he responded quickly yesterday by writing:

Conyers to the rescue again!

Until recently, we had felt that any attempts to regulate blogging or "The Internets" would be quickly found unconstitutional even if mandated by legislative action. We didn't really take such a potential threat to our freedoms particularly seriously. However, the increasing number of news items on this matter pointing towards legislation and court-decisions leaning towards regulation has made us think twice about our previous position on it, and about what may lie ahead...

Great American hero, Paul Rieckhoff (we wrote about him and his courageous statements against the way the troops were being treated back in May of last year after he returned from Iraq) has asked me to lend a link to his fundraising efforts for Operation Truth. Happy to. Please check out his site and support the great work he's doing by buying a few dog tags in support of our troops!

Also, keep an eye out for the documentary Gunner Palace, filmed by the troops in Iraq, which (we believe) he exec produced. Hopefully it's coming to a theater near you. We recently saw the trailer (you can see it online at the link above) and can't wait to see this film!

Since we've been busy with a number of things all day, and haven't yet been able to share a word of it with you, perhaps it's best to let you share your words with us. Open thread!

Oh...also, we'd hate to give anybody the idea that we've been brought to a sleazy motel in Valdosta, GA, or elsewhere. We're fine. Just busy. With good things. More later. Open thread until then...

In case CNN's crucial coverage of the important Michael Jackson Trial took precedence, we thought we'd let you know that "War President", George W. Bush has just succeeded in watching (or not noticing) the 1500th U.S. Troop die in his War on Iraq.

We congratulate him on his "catastrophic success" as he so smartly put it some months ago.

That number, of course, doesn't include the scores of thousands of US troops injured, 100,000+ Iraqi civilians killed...and then there are all those dead U.S. Troops that the DoJ is rumored not to count at all in their tallies because they were only wounded in Iraq, but were kind enough to wait to die hospital or airspace outside of Iraq.

0 WMDs have been found as of today's impressive milestone.

Can ya smell the liberty spreading?!

Jesse Lee over at the Stakeholder has some news about today's "Motion to Commit" on the House floor (discussed briefly in this earlier item):

Any questions on where Republicans now stand in regards to fair elections?

Thanks again to Radio Left and host Geoff Staples for having us on to discuss Velvet Revolution's "Divestiture for Democracy" campaign! Have you sent your email to the companies yet?

Here's today's interview. About 17 minutes in your choice of three delicious audio flavors: Streaming RealPlayer, Windows Media Player, or MP3 Download.

Busy with much this morning, so just a few quick notes for the moment.

- I'll be on Radio Left at 4:20pm ET (1:20pm PT) to discuss VR's "Divestiture for Democracy". You can listen live online, and we'll otherwise try to get a link to the recorded appearance later. For media who'd like more info on the campaign, and to discuss appearances, etc., please write to DV4D@VelvetRevolution.us.

- For media folks who'd like to participate in next Tuesday's BlogCall conference call that I'll be doing, along with Clint Curtis, to discuss developments in his story, please email me and I'll try to get an invitation out to you for the call.

- The great John Conyers (aside from smartly endorsing VR's campaign yesterday!) today has forced the issue of Election Reform onto the floor of Congress during debate of the House's bill to determine what happens to ensure continuity of government during a terror attack.

He used a surprise maneuver to do so known as a "Motion to Recommit". As Will Pitt explains in his TruthOut article an hour or so ago..."Rep. Conyers finds it ridiculous that the House is spending so much energy (and acting with such speed) to solve a hypothetical problem, about a hypothetical election, when there are so many real problems with our real elections." Pitt has the details, and Conyers official statement on the floor. Good on Conyers again!

- A task force assembled by Gov. Christine Gregoire in Washington state "has found that public trust in Washington state's election system was damaged by last year's tight gubernatorial race that took two months to resolve." Do ya think? The AP story is here. What a shame it takes governmental action for anything to happen on Election Reform. Wouldn't it be lovely if the press reported on the problems and the government followed with reform (the way it used to be) instead of vice versa? That is, when the press even bothers to report at all, even on governmental action...which they do, but only when it's Republican governmental action it seems. And so it goes...

The New Times Broward-Palm Beach, who two weeks ago reported on Clint Curtis and his sworn allegations that Rep. Tom Feeney (R-FL) and Florida software firm Yang Enterprises, Inc. (YEI) conspired to create vote-rigging software when Curtis worked at the company in 2000, has a follow-up today. (Scroll down to the fourth story, "Crazy Guy").

Their latest news item is based on the recently released report from the FL Inspector General's office at the Florida Dept. of Transporation (FDOT) where Curtis had initially made his complaints about both Feeney and YEI. The report was finally released this month after an investigation initiated by Curtis and another whistleblower at FDOT back in 2001. (The BRAD BLOG is currently examining the full report, and will have more on it in upcoming stories.)

From the New Times article...

The article also goes on to mention...

Other than a column in The St. Petersburg Times, which got a number of key details wrong, "Tailpipe" is correct.

And BRAD BLOG continues to ask of the MSM (and we know there are many who read this blog) how much more does it take before you realize the importance and veracity of Clint Curtis' story?! Still need more? ... Okay, more will be coming soon. We'd love it if you beat us to punch.

(For a listing of all of the key articles in our Special Coverage series on the Clint Curtis/Tom Feeney/Yang Enterprises Vote-Rigging Scandal, please click here.)

We couldn't be more honored. A stunning and ringing endorsement from the U.S. House Judiciary Committee's ranking minority member!

Read the good congressman's full statement of support on ConyersBlog! But here's a quick quote...[emphasis added]

Conyers also sends a very clear message in his letter to the Voting Machine Companies, even threatening to introduce legislation to deny the companies HAVA funds (federal money from the Help America Vote Act which was earmarked to purchase E-Voting machines from these vendors), if they don't follow the recommendations made by VR: [emphasis added]

Conyers' Letter to the 9 Voting Machine Companies here.
Conyers' Letter to Brad here.

...And it looks like America's Voting Machine Company leaders may be none too happy about VR's DV4D Campaign...

From RAW STORY's article which is now up...

We resent losing complete confidence in the most fundamental aspect of democracy, Howard. Voting.

After you've read RAW's story, be sure to send a letter to Howard and the others! It's time that your voice is finally heard!

Just breaking via William Rivers Pitt at TruthOut. Looks like Blackwell, who doesn't think he should have to sit for depositions, now thinks Kerry and Edwards should!

Full story at TruthOut.

We guess the fat lady hasn't sung yet. Thanks, Ken! Keep up the good work!

On February 21, 2005 (President's Day), I sent a letter on behalf of Velvet Revolution's directors to each of of the nine major American Voting Machine companies --- (Advanced Voting Solutions, Diebold, Danaher-Guardian, Election Systems & Software [ES&S], HartInterCivic, MicroVote, Sequoia Voting Systems, Triad GSI and UniLect Corp) --- asking them to do the right thing for our country!
In short, our letter gives the companies 60 days to take the following patriotic actions:

If the companies publicly commit to all of the above within the 60 days, we will broadly recognize them for their efforts.

If, however, they choose not to take these steps to ensure free, fair and transparent elections in America, then VR --- along, we hope, with all of you! --- will encourage all Americans to (1) divest from these companies and those with which they are affiliated, and (2) participate in a massive national boycott targeting them, their affiliates and their clients. We will also launch an extensive education campaign for the American public explaining the ways in which these companies are secretly doing the public's business of handling elections in the world's most important democracy!

VR has the support of more than 80 Affiliate organizations in this effort, representing millions of Americans, and more are joining up every day! Please join the revolution by stopping by the site to send an email to all nine companies stating your support of this campaign! It'll take you less than a minute!

We're all in this democracy together, and without you, we're nothing!

And so begins the revolution...

The Official Press Release for this campaign is available here online or may be downloaded here in WORD format.

For more information on VR's "Divestiture for Democracy" please visit:
http://www.VelvetRevolution.us/Campaigns/DV4D
or write to:
DV4D@VelvetRevolution.us

Good news from the Supreme Court for a change. America may be entering into the community of civilized countries...Though it's been a long and slow process, and we've still got a ways to go.

According to The NY Times...

Well, good for us. For once.

And on "International Death Penalty Abolition Day" of all days! Details on that and more at fine organizations here and here.

After an interview with Congressman Tom Feeney (R-FL), The New Times Broward-Palm Beach reported:

After another interview with Feeney, Keith Olbermann of MSNBC reported:

Despite the reports above, we've discussed the fact several times that Feeney's Campaign Headquarters is still located in the YEI building, and that the Yangs and their attorney Michael O'Quinn continue to be huge campaign donors to Feeney...

But --- other than that --- no ?connection to Yang Enteprises" since 2002?

Well, that's interesting, because it looks like the truth is --- again --- somewhat different from what Feeney would have folks believe. Look what we seem to have found here (Screencaptured, just in case it disappears from the net like so much else these days.):

There are several more photos of Feeney with Dr. and Mrs. Yang at this YEI-sponsored event in 2003 along with members of ATAYAL on the linked page above.

Feeney's questionable --- and apparently, continuing --- connections with YEI were brought to light in early December when we first reported exclusively on programmer Clint Curtis' sworn affidavit alleging that Feeney had asked him to create a "vote-rigging software prototype" during an October 2000 meeting at YEI in Oviedo, Florida.

The key articles from our series of reports on that matter can be read here.

Our call to Feeney's press spokesperson seeking explanation about the 2003 party thrown for Feeney by YEI has not yet been returned. We have not yet been able to ascertain who actually paid for Feeney's trip to Asia, but, of course, we will continue to look into this story and report any new developments.

Our understanding was that it was supposed to have been Democrats who liked to "scare old people about Social Security". At least according to Rush, Sean, Fox and Friends.

Turns out it's the Rightwingnuts who have actually turned the practice into both an art form, and a cash cow. The shadowy rightwing group, National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR) has been quietly sending scare letters to the nation's elderly for years in which they ask recipients to keep the letter a secret, while they terrify them about their Social Security benefits.

And, again, --- surprise! --- House Majority Leader Tom Delay seems to be one of the biggest beneficiaries thereof! Delay is reported today, in a RAW STORY Exclusive, to have received some $130,000 from the NCPPR who has been paying for "posh" Delay vacations!

From RAW STORY's investigative report:

And just when you thought these guys had scraped the bottom of the "Moral Values” barrel. Think again.