A source inside the House Judiciary Committee has informed The BRAD BLOG that Democratic members of the committee will be announcing public hearings in Washington to begin next Wednesday on Voting Irregularities in Election 2004.

Scheduling is currently under way and the hearings are "99% certain" according to the source, who hopes the official announcement will be made tomorrow.

The hearings will be held by the Democratic members only at this time since all Republican members of the committee have refused to take part in the investigation so far.

The House Democrats hope to hear testimony from a number of witnesses concerning the thousands of reported cases of mistabulated votes, voter suppression and other concerns about electronic voting on Nov. 2nd.

Witnesses being scheduled to testify include Attny. Cliff Arnebeck, who is leading a group of attorneys filing litigation in Ohio to have the election results set aside, Bill Fitrakis, reporter and editor of the Columbus Free Press whose continuing detailed reports cataloging voter suppression and other related matters on the ground in Ohio have set the standard for what real investigative journalism looks like, and possibly Jesse Jackson who has been outspoken of late on all of these matters.

As well, the House Judiciary committee Democrats have today sent a detailed letter [PDF] to Ohio Sec. of State (and Co-Chair of Ohio's Bush/Cheney Re-Elect Committee), J. Kenneth Blackwell, requesting his assistance in responding to some 15 pages of documented allegations and concerns that the committee has compiled to date in regards to Ohio's election.

VERY LATE UPDATE: If you get the chance, read that PDF letter to Blackwell! It's loaded with terrific investigative information and tough questions for the Ohio Sec. of State/Co-Chair Bush-Cheney Re-Elect Committee. Will try to pull out some specifics in a fresh post tomorrow. But read it if you haven't yet! And pass it on!

UPDATE 12/3/04: The Judiciary Committee Hearings are now CONFIRMED and have been announced in a "Press Advisory. See this update for details! Also, for detailed excerpts from the 15-page PDF letter to Blackwell, see this update!

Despite a graphic that would appear to represent many troubling concerns, The Boston Globe yesterday in a 2,000 word report succeeded in adding virtually nothing to the story of Voting Irregularities in Election 2004.

Brian C. Mooney's story which looked an awful lot like "reporting" at first blush, was, in actuality, just "repeating" of everything that most of us following this story already know. In fact, I don't believe they added anything to the story which hasn't already been reported here over the last four weeks.

They did, however, make certain to follow the previous lead of their corporate-owners, The New York Times in assuring readers that --- though there have been thousands and thousands of reported incidents, and tens of thousands of mistabulated votes already discovered --- there is nothing at all worth investigating.

And investigation is precisely what The Boston Globe chose not to do. (Unless one considers reading The BRAD BLOG to be "investigation").

Please feel free to ombud@globe.com?BCC=TheB....com&Subject=Please INVESTIGATE Voter Irregularity, Mistabulation and Fraud NOW!">click here to politely let The Globe know what you think of their lack of investigation into this matter. Include name, address and phone if you wish to have your messages considered for publication. (Only name will be used for publication).

With 2.8 million votes cast in Washington state, a margin of 42 votes (yes, 42!) separates Democratic candidate Christine Gregoire from her Republican opponent.

She is calling for a manual recount of all ballots in the state for accuracy. The previous machine recount changed the margin from 261 to 42, but, accorrding to a MoveOn.org statement, irregularities such as "counties that can't explain where they found additional votes, precincts with more votes recorded than there are registered voters, and voters who were inexplicably purged from the rolls" has prompted the candidate to seek a manual recount of all ballots.

Funds for this recount are needed by today to guarantee the recount occurs! DONATE HERE!

In a stunning flip-flop from their pre-election rhetoric, the Bush Administration appears to have begun a new appeasement policy for Taliban rebels in Afghanistan.

The BBC is reporting the U.S. amabassador to Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, has announced in a recent Kabul press conference that Taliban fighters who give up their arms and pledge their allegiance would be allowed to go free:

The "wildly successful" war in Afghanistan, where 18,000 U.S. troops are still stationed, began well over three years ago.

Neither Mullah Omar, the head of the Taliban regime at the time of the U.S.-lead invasion, nor Osama bin Laden, the purported target of that attack have been either captured or killed as of this posting.

Appeaser George W. Bush, who once claimed that we would capture bin Laden "dead or alive", has more recently stated that he is "truly...not that concerned about him".

Friend and occasional guest-blogger here, Jaime, had this to say in regards to yesterday's item on the banning of the United Church of Christ's 30-second spot by NBC and CBS because it's message of tolerance and anti-bigotry was simply "too controversial"...especially, as the CBS press-release points out, in light of their need to kowtow to the ominous totalitarian fear tactics of an Executive Branch Gone Wild.

Jaime give us a quick look at how the wingnuts over at FreeRepublic.com are displaying their "Christian Values":

By the way, the good folks at Act For Change are submitting a petition to NBC and CBS asking them to air this anti-bigotry ad. Click here to sign their petition.

Think they wouldn't do it? Think again.

Bush/Cheney's 2004 Northeast Regional Campaign Director is indicted:

Please note that Josh Marshall reported way back in October on Tobin and his involvement in the 2002 campaign phone-jamming scandal.

Which, Marshall pointed out back then, meant that the Bush/Cheney campaign knew full-well about Tobin's involvement in the scandal for at least three and a half months before he was forced to resign due to Democrat complaints about his position in the Bush/Cheney campaign.

Still think they wouldn't do it? If they'd go to such lengths for a mid-term senate race, after all...Why would they have stopped attempting to fix elections in 2004, the fight of their lives?

Following up on a report posted here last night concerning the activist Judge in Delaware County, OH who has issued a "temporary restraining order" against the Green/Libertarian Party's lawfully sought recount in Ohio, the BRAD BLOG has learned a few more EXCLUSIVE troubling details about the Republican operatives seeking to subvert the democratic process in the Buckeye State.

The restraining order was issued quietly on Nov. 23rd "without contacting or seeking any input from the candidates or their attorneys." according to a statement issued yesterday on Green Party presidential candidate David Cobb's website.

A continuing BRAD BLOG investigation has learned --- thanks to this posting at the extremist rightwing website FreeRepublic.com --- that the activist judge who issued this questionable order is Delaware County Court of Common Pleas Judge, W. Duncan Whitney (pictured at right). Judge Whitney is an elected Republican whose term will not expire until 2009.

As previously reported, the lawful request by a presidential candidate (two in this case) for a recount in Ohio has been agreed to by Ohio Secretary of State and Co-Chair of Ohio's Bush/Cheney Re-Elect Committee, J. Kenneth Blackwell. Furthermore, as confirmed today by The Washington Post, the Kerry/Edwards campaign has joined "The Glibs" in filing court papers asking for "a full, fair and accurate recount" and for the restraining order to be immediately lifted.

Judge Whitney, by his order, seems to be overriding the intentions of election laws as duly created by the Ohio State Legislature, prompting this blog to wonder what constitutional legal grounds Judge Whitney has used to declare his apparent "legislation from the bench".

As this information has come in after the Delaware County Courthouse has closed for the evening, the BRAD BLOG has, as yet, been unable to discover that information.

However, according to the FreeRepublic.com posting (copied from a now-expired Columbus Dispatch article) appointed Republican county prosecutor David A. Yost, a legal advisor for the Delware County board of elections (pictured at left), is quoted as indicating that re-counting the votes of American citizens in his Ohio county in order to ensure accuracy is simply too expensive...

I've got many items on the drawing board today concerning GRAND THEFT AMERICA, including many tips, news items, and other developments that I'm currently looking into. I hope to be back with more news on that shortly.

For the moment though, this particular item is so chilling to me that I need to mention it here quickly.

You may have seen this on other blogs today, but if you've ever had any questions about the chilling effect of this Administration and its FCC's latest, intrusive and increasingly-hardline stance on those who broadcast over our public airwaves, please have a look at this item!

NBC and CBS have both refused to air a 30 second spot about tolerance and inclusion --- from the United Church of Christ, of all organizations! --- because it is "too controversial". Apparently, the response from CBS tells us, it is the oblique references to homosexuality that is the reason for the censorship. References, I might add, that are difficult to even notice without a prior heads-up that that's what the ad refers to in the first place!

Most chilling, is this part of the statement by CBS, as quoted in a statement from the UCC, on why CBS is refusing to carry the commercial on either of Viacom-owned CBS or UPN [emphasis mine]...

From the BBC World News (via Raw Story):

Top 10 words of 2004 according to Merriam-Webster:

Perhaps #10 there was looked up by folks wondering what ever came of democracy in America.

Wow...big news day, huh? I knew there was a reason I held off on the siren for the previous two items here (which, by all rights, each might have warranted one of their own!)

Two statements have been released today on the Green Party's Cobb-LaMarche Website in regard to the impending joint Green/Libertarian recount in Ohio.

The first statement reports that a Delaware County, Ohio judge has issued a temporary restraining order "attempting to prevent Cobb from seeking a recount of the presidential ballots cast in that county."

The order, according to the statement, was issued "without contacting or seeking any input from the candidates or their attorneys."

I'm no legal eagle myself, but if true, that fact alone is certainly curious.

The Cobb-Lamarche media director, Blair Bobier, was more direct in a comment included in the release: "It makes you wonder if Delaware County has something to hide. Why else would they try to prevent a recount and issue an injunction without giving the candidates any notice to participate?"

The Green/Libertarian coalition (dubbed "The Glibs" by Olbermann, in a phrase that seems to be catching on) has asked a federal court to take jurisdiction of the matter, and "ultimately dissolve" the temporary restraining order.

I'd the expect the restraining order will in fact be eventually set aside, particularly given Ohio Sec. of State (and coincidentally Ohio's Co-Chair for the Bush/Cheney Re-elect Committee) J. Kenneth Blackwell's point-blank statement on MSNBC last night that "The Glibs'" recount would definitely be moving forward.

But guess who showed up in court today to come to "The Glibs" defense?!

That's right! You may remember them from some of their well-publicized work earlier this year, the Kerry/Edwards campaign --- it was announced in the second statement at the Cobb-Lamarche site --- has filed briefs with the court intervening in defense of "The Glibs"!

Perhaps rumors of the Kerry/Edwards campaign has been slightly exaggerated after all!

Nah...

In any case, they showed up long enough for now to let us know they're still breathing and paying attention, as Jesse Jackson indicated in several interviews over the weekend.

It's also worth noting, by the way, as long as "The Glibs" have already won the American Patriots of the Year Award, that their press spokesman may also now be in line for the 2004 Chutzpah Medal of Honor due in no small part to this statement:

"We welcome the support of the Kerry-Edwards campaign for the recount and we call upon the Bush-Cheney ticket to offer their support for this multi-partisan effort as well."

Touché, Ms. (or Mr.) Bobier! I welcome it as well!

Seeing as how this is clearly a case of yet another "activist judge" outrageously "legislating from the bench", I have little doubt that the Bush-Cheney attorney's limo should be arriving at the courthouse any minute to put their legal money where their faux-outraged political mouth is!

But for some reason, I shan't be holding my breath.

(Thanks to BRAD BLOG tipster Tracy H for the heads-up!)

UPDATE 12/1/04: The Washington Post has now picked up this story!

LATER UPDATE 12/1/04: EXCLUSIVE details have been uncovered by the BRAD BLOG about activist Delware County, OH Judge W. Duncan Whitney! Click here for the new story!

Just in from BlackBoxVoting.org:

UPDATE: Hysterical! Read the report of how BBV served Ms. LaPore this morning in front of a crowd of 200 Florida elections officials at LaPore's "farewell" event. Too brilliant.

Some have been critical (including yours truly on occassion) of Bev Harris' frequently less-than-professional demeanor and flair for the dramatic. But ya know what? Sometimes that's what actual citizens reclaiming their democracy looks like! Bravo, sez me. I wish we could get more folks like her to hit the streets and cause some trouble!

ATTENTION PULITZER PRIZE COMMITTEE: Please prepare nominations for Juan Gonzales and Larry Cohler-Esses of The New York Daily News!

Yes, it's true! Two reporters from a major American, Corporate-Owned, Mainstream Newspaper are actually investigating the results of Election 2004!

Gonzales reports this morning, in a piece titled "Ohio tally fit for Ukraine"(!), that he and reporter Larry Cohler-Esses have discovered yet more anomalies in the Ohio vote count! (All by themselves! And they're not even "disgruntled loony left-wing blogger conspiracy theorists!)

Specifically, Gonzales reports that he and Cohler-Esses have uncovered unusual vote totals in several of Cleveland's black neighborhoods. They studied the precinct-by-precinct totals released by the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections (see the previous story about them) and found that third party candidates has surprisingly high vote totals! In several cases, candidates such as Constitutional Party's Michael Peroutka mysteriously received tallies as much as 600% higher than even George W. Bush's!

Perhaps even more troubling, is the fact that these numbers demonstrate what ought to make even the most jaded wingnut sit up and take notice:

...And that after 2004's unprecedented GOTV effort in Cuyahoga and Ohio in general, and of course the population increases in the state since 2000.

And Gonzales promises more to come:

In the past week or two, I've encouraged you to express your displeasure about the reporting from some of America's Corporate Media Outlets (e.g. The New York Times here, and Newsweek here).

But now, I'd encourage you to write a "Thank you! And keep up the good work!" note to The Daily News and Messrs Gonzalez and Cohler-Esses! lcohler-esses@edit.nydailynews.com; voicers@edit.nydailynews.com; news@edit.nydailnews.com...e.com&Subject=Thank you for investigating and reporting on Election 2004!" target="_blank">Click here to sent a thank you note to them all!

NOTE: If you wish to have your letters considered for publication by Daily News be sure to include you full name, street address and telephone number. Only name will be included if they publish it.

(Hat tip Emailer Susan E. for the link!)

The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports today that the Cuyahoga County Election Board certified election results in the county Monday and will now be passing them onto the state for final certificaiton.

Before doing so, the Election Board heard two hours of testimony concerning the 8,552 provisional ballots (34% of the total) which were rejected. Witnesses also testified that due to the questions about these ballots and other "systematic problems", the certification was being completed too quickly.

After the rejected ballots were tossed, remaining provisional ballots showed a 9,242 vote gain in Kerry's margin over Bush in the states largest county.

The Plain Dealer described some of the testimony about the questionable rejections of a number of those provisional ballots as detailed in a three-part analysis by Dr. Norman Robbins of Case Western Reserve University who also served as a volunteer with the Greater Cleveland Voter Registration Coalition:

Vu also mentioned that he plans a study of the 6,000 voter registrations delivered by a different Get-Out-The-Vote group after the registration deadline had passed. Voters, in that case, likely went to the polls on Nov. 2nd assuming they were properly registered.

(In regards to that last item --- and really all of them! --- I'd be pleased if someone could explain to me why it is that we do not have same-day voter registration at the polls in the country. At least in the majority of states.)

Perhaps running on recount-juju from their soon-to-be-recounted-Ohio efforts, the heroes (and real American patriots!) of the Green and Libertarian Parties are moving West!

As announced earlier today on Green Party Presidential Candidate David Cobb's website, the two parties have now filed for full recounts in both Nevada and New Mexico!

There has been some strange numbers in both of those states as well as the oft-reported anomalies in Florida, Ohio and elsewhere. So I'll try and do a better job of covering the oddities in NV and NM soon.

In the meantime, feel free to stop by and say thanks for the continuing heroic efforts with a Green Donation at their website, where --- for their current graphic alone --- they deserve a few bucks!

As I mentioned this morning when I beat up on Olbermann a bit, he had a very good report today on his blog about the latest goings on over the weekend in Ohio. He mentions a bit of the potential "news" that Jesse Jackson may or may not have made at a news conference in Columbus on Saturday when he mentioned that "John Kerry supports a full investigation...I talked with John Kerry last night, and he supports the investigation."

And a further nugget, one of several from the report, was this:

(Note to Mr. Olbermann: It's a blog you're now writing. So please be kind enough to link to the stories you cite so they can be easily and independently perused. Thank you.)

The number mentioned by Jackson above also reminded me of a piece of recent email I received from someone in Warren "Lock Down" County. Here's the relevant passage:

To verify the general 28% figure used above, here are the Warren County vote totals for 2000 and 2004 directly from the website of Ohio Sec. of State J. Kenneth Blackwell (who --- did I mention? --- was also completely coincidentally the Co-Chair of Ohio's Bush/Cheney Re-Election Committee):

2000 Bush: 48,318 Gore: 19,142
2004 Bush: 66,523 Kerry: 25,399

Yup, nothing to see here...Keep moving, New York Times and all the others...Much Christmas shopping to get done...