Maybe Bill Nelson sees Florida's electronic vote shenanigans as a real threat to his own future re-election. If the entire election process is not investigated and reformed, then all of these politicians will see their futures subject to the tabulators, not the voters, as Stalin would remind them.

Senator Nelson should contest the vote regardless of whether or not Kerry wants him to do so. This is about the future of our Democracy--not the political future of any particular candidate.

Senator Nelson has an obligation to protect the interests of the Democrats in Florida who elected him--and had their votes for a Democratic president stolen through rampant fraud and other Republican-sponsored illegal activities.

Right on, MG! This isn't about individual politicians; it's about democracy itself...

It would be very prudent of Senator Nelson to take this bold move. We will applaud his action. It would be commendable if other Senators (be it Democratic or Republican) to join him.

It is 'crime' in itself when one 'tolerates' a "crime". A voter crime is quite evident. If we tolerate this our children and generations to come will not pardon us if we remain silent!

I sent him an email urging him to back up Conyers.

This is an issue that should be thoroughly exhausted because, like everyone said above, it is not partisan.

Ohio, Florida, etc. must be cleansed of the junk election practices in place there.

And thanks to the crew at http://www.blackboxvoting.org for their tireless efforts in this regard.

I sent him another email, gently remiding him of the betrayal of 2000, when no Senator stood up and spoke out.

Would love to see the senator from Florida on board. It might shine more light on the activities of Congressman Tom Feeney.

The Democrats/Liberals have no choice but to make the fight. Case in point, Chuck Hagel (Senator R-Nebraska) then CEO of ES&S contracted the voting machines to the state, then got himself elected. If that's not ethics violation, then I don't know what is. And let's not forget our good buddy, Tom Delay. The Voter Confidence Act of 2003, requiring verifiable paper trail, was pretty much killed by Delay with a no-vote among the Republicans. Are Tom Feeney and Tom Delay the same people? Moderate Republicans should be concerned even more. These thugs represent YOUR party. Look to four more years of Arlen Specter crawling on his knees for Bush.

I called Nelson's office today, too, and asked my friend to do so as well. Everyone who comes to this site or has an interest in fair elections neeeds to call his office right away (Tuesday or Wednesday) before it's too late.

It will take great courage for any U.S. senator to take a stand against this election. You can bet your bottom dollar that he will take great heat for doing it. He's got to know that there are people who feel just as strongly on his side as against him.

Make the call . Don't wait until it's too late, and then have to hear about the whole unresolved debacle again in Farenheit 9/11 1/2.

I JUST EMAILED SENATOR NELSON'S WEBSITE URGING HIM TO CHALLENGE THE 2004 ELECTION ON JAN 6TH. I WAS WONDERING, IS IT BETTER TO CALL THAN TO EMAIL? I'VE BEEN SENDING OUT MANY, MANY E-MAILS BUT I'VE NOTICED ACTION SITES AND OTHERS SAYING TO MAKE A PHONE CALL. DOES A PHONE CALL HAVE MORE IMPACT?
THANKS.

Go to contestthevote.org, they have almost 30,000 signatures. 67 hours before the Senate certifies the vote. Hurry, phone calls, emails, petitions, whatever. As long as they have our support, some kind of action will be taken.

Raw Story says he's not going to; seems it's mostly wishful thinking on his staff's part:
http://www.bluelemur.com/index.php?p=525

I just e-ed Senator Nelson at his Website. Swamp it!

Brad's "Bone Up" would be instructive to many congressmen and senators.

After all, they passed the "Patriot" Act without reading it.

Conyers is doing well to produce a good document. The bad document plague has injured the Moss v Blackwell challenge.

When the opposition party members will be making the decisions, it is incredibly important to have the i's dotted and the t's crossed perfectly.

I agree that Nelson is reading something into the law that is not there. In fact, all there has to be is a document with allegations (no argument) and two signatures - one from the House and one from the Senate.

It would be silly to try and prove a case with the pleadings. Pleadings are for framing the issues.

Then the debates pro and con would be given, and after that, the vote to accept or not accept the challenged state's electors.

The system as now set up is broken. There is not enough time between 11/2 and 1/6 in which to put on a case without a hurry. And three main holidays are within that timeframe shortening it even more in terms of real time left to do anything.

Issues of election fraud are of the utmose concern and the last thing that should have to be rushed into.

I can't believe congress can pass the "Patriot" Act without even looking at it, yet fail to allow a challenge to election fraud because "there isn't enough time".

The USA Constitution REQUIRES a transparent vote count.

Electronic voting machines without a paper trail are not auditable and are therefor not transparent.

This is a clear Constitutional violation.

The count was conducted illegally.

How much clearer could it be?

Why doesn't this surprise me?

Your latest update Brad shows pressure and dissension within Nelson's office. Did he talk to Kerry and Kerry asked him to back down...not do it? Will the Senate "Club" yield to Kerry's wishes on any challenge...just as they did Gore's in 2000?

Sorry if I'm fed up with the petty games and politics that I've had the sad opportunity to observe first hand for decades. Democratic senators may be worried about a public and/or private backlash against themselves individually, and as a party, if they throw a wrench in the works.

Having said that, I agree that Senate offices should continue to be swamped. If they don't respond other than to give the facade of opposition with their catch-all tailored press releases, then we as Americans know that it'll be time for a change. And I'm not talking about the next election!

It's always the "next" election! It's always we'll do this and we'll do that, and by the way don't bother me I'm on the way to a lobbyist fund-raiser. The longer we wait the more time we give them to pollute and destroy our Mother Earth, to wage wars and other crimes against humanity, to entrench themselves even further into the control psychology of black ops, media exploitation, and election mechanics that favor their take over.

The more we let their actions carry the weight of legitimacy, regardless of what human right or international treaty they violate, the more time we allow them to solidify their plans for absolute power and control, nationally and globally. Democrats and Republicans should not get our support, they should receive our ultimatum! Get with it or get out!

Becky -

At this late date, I'd suggest "ALL OF THE ABOVE" to your question.

(And, oh, P.S. Turn off that CAPS LOCK if ya can!

If I may add one more comment, or should I say complaint:

If Senator Nelson is concerned about the election and if his official stand is "no conclusive evidence has been presented", what does that tell us?

EXCUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSE ME?

You are the Senator!

What hearings have you or any other Senator held regarding all of the many allegations and "facts"? What subpoenas have you issued to get the evidence? What investigations have you and your staff conducted? What public calls or press conferences have you made for citizens and whistleblowers to come forward with evidence? Why haven't you subponeaed Diebold, E S & S, Curtis, Fisher, Blackwell, Feeney? Why haven't you subpoenaed every DAMN voting machine, tabulation system, and electronic voting machine record in the country. Why couldn't the Senate freeze election evidence in all the precincts of the country with their subpoena power? This could have been started in November!

Why should bloggers, statisticians, pollsters, and citizens "present" you the evidence? Get off your ass Senator along with the rest of your "CLUB" and do your job!

Published on Monday, January 3, 2005 by Newsweek

THE GHOST OF POLITICS PAST

"Instead of Playing Desperate Defense, the Democrats Might Try Searching Their Souls, Asking Simple Questions with Complex Answers"

by Anna Quindlen

PLEASE READ THIS ARTICLE AT:
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0103-26.htm

I've faxed this article to Senator Bill Nelson at his Washington office, and I will fax to other Senators and Congressmen/women. The clock is ticking...persuade and persevere.

It's simple. Turn your back on us,
and we will return the favor when it counts.

You step up for us and we will do everything
in our power to see you elected.

Maybe we should send out DVD's of
"Mr. Smith goes to Washington" to remind
them of their patriotic duty.

http://solarbus.org Outline of Fraud in Ohio, fax it or email it to Senators. It speaks for its self, if you keep in mind THESE HORRIBLE THINGS HAPPEND TO PEOPLE.

Do you know what I'm picturing that makes my blood simmer? It is the spectacle of African American congress members rising to challenge the Ohio electors, while, as last time, Jewish senators such as Lieberman, Specter, and so on, do nothing. If and when "Christian Dominion" is established, who will rise in defense of the Jews? Will "the problems" not rise to the necessary level?

We people of the United States are not in a good situation. I don't like it one bit.

Freebird:

What hearings have you or any other Senator held regarding all of the many allegations and "facts"? What subpoenas have you issued to get the evidence? What investigations have you and your staff conducted? What public calls or press conferences have you made for citizens and whistleblowers to come forward with evidence? Why haven't you subponeaed Diebold, E S & S, Curtis, Fisher, Blackwell, Feeney? Why haven't you subpoenaed every DAMN voting machine, tabulation system, and electronic voting machine record in the country. Why couldn't the Senate freeze election evidence in all the precincts of the country with their subpoena power? This could have been started in November!

Why should bloggers, statisticians, pollsters, and citizens "present" you the evidence? Get off your ass Senator along with the rest of your "CLUB" and do your job!
>>

Right on.

ditto on freebird and I agree wholeheartedly chemoelectric.org...

and for those of you who doubt the credibility of bloggers and their "posts"....just remember, CNN aired on national news that a baby had been cloned...where is that baby anyway?? IT ought to be around 2 or 3 years old by now....

Thanks everyone! LOL I must be in one of my "tell them all to go to hell" moods. Just sent an e-mail that brutally criticized an article from some big shot in India cheering on the US in Iraq. Bet he'll be surprised when a Texan sets him straight about George DUMBYA and company! LOL

Time to give these bastards hell! Tell those comfy boys and girls in Washington...defend our rights, protect our freedoms, and save our country...or we will! And it ain't gonna be pretty folks!

The following concisely, and well, written article will familiarize people that are not fully up to speed.

http://www.freepress.org...nts/display/19/2005/1065

I just emailed it to 15 democratic senators.

The RNC has said that when Senator Nelson comes up for re-election that they will target his seat and he will be unemployed. No matter what. It's nothing really against him, he's rather moderate. But they want two lock stepping Con Senators in Florida, having done a fine job of putting one in this election by the narrowest of margins (another election worthy of a re-count).
So, what does Senator Nelson have to lose here? I'd say he has nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Keep the e-mails going. Sen. Nelson is the kind of guy that likes to fly under the radar, but his voting record is pretty good and he has big shoes to fill with Senator Graham retiring. So just keep nagging. It's worked before.
I don't think there's a chance in hell that Kerry will contest. Sore loser and all that rubbish.

sorry!!! i didn't mean to shout. lol.

Good post and article George!

And good job of sending it along to Senators!

There is a good object lesson, on just how vicious is today's Republican party, happening in Washington state right now, according to an article in today's Seattle Times at:

seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2002138732_reed03m.html

Republican Sec'y of State Sam Reed is getting a shotgun blast of his party's promised 'punishment' for letting the Democrats' Gregoire 'steal the governorship' from their own Republican candidate, Rossi, in this state's twice-recounted election that put Gregoire in by just 129 votes.

Reed played it straight by the book, as any good administrator should, but that wasn't good enough for his party. In their book, only a fool or a traitor lives by the rules. And laws are only made to provide loopholes for the quick and the clever. You are just plain wrong, if you thought we lived by law and order.

What we are scrambling in, today, is something more like a kickass spoils system . . . a 21st Century mafia, in which getting elected simply certifies a place in the ranking order of patronage. Nobody dares intrude on that with ethics.

Bush asks judge to toss Ohio election suit-AP, found at michaelmoore.com

The 21st century mafia mentioned likes to refer to themselves as "The Fellowship". If memory serves correctly I believe Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) is a member of said "Fellowship"...?

Sorry to hear Sen. Nelson wussed out.

Tough fight ... is there any senator with cajones enough to support Rep. Conyers? Obama?

http://www.blackamericaw...te.aspx/bawnews/coner104
"We're talking to a number of senators," Conyers said Monday. "I think we're going to get some [senators' support on Thursday] this time. I don't think they'll embarrass themselves again. They left it up to Michael Moore last time."

link

Some good editorials/articles above if you haven't read yet (couple of my faves: ICLA Online, Counterpunch)

... but check the newest releases: Bush re-election compaign says contesting election results is "a poorly drafted script for a late night conspiracy-theory movie" and asks judge to throw out the challenge.

... here's hoping there's hope.

Thanks again Brad for the good work.

"The Democratic Party now stands at the threshold where it can make or break itself on January 6th. It can show that it is strong party that is not afraid to be ‘stand up for it’s people’ and their just causes."

Lets lay it straight for the democrat senators either they fight for us or forget us. More here.

If they are not interested to count our votes we will not be interested to cast them.

If all else fails there is always RICO. Please read this. {ed: link fixed}

Sounds like this gal knows her law.

Wheels with wheels within....dizzy-making and terrifying. The thuggishness will never be curtailed unless HONEST people refuse to lie down and die. My (name your diety), isn't this the most obvious heist in legal history?

If even lawyers can't expose the thieves, we need new law schools. I've never been a great lover of the aforementioned breed. But I would welcome a few honest ones now. Maybe they're extinct. Maybe a required course in the "neuveau" law school is "How to Cover Your Ass without Being Disbarred."

Ken Blackwell would obviously have been a contributing editor.

In addition to several typos in my previous posting, I have discovered that the Yurica link refuses to open: "page not found....." Anyone else?

Folks, Keep hope alive! (link)

Peg, try this one.

Forewarning: yuricareport.com may be considered controversial since it is reality based.

Thanks, neodissident. I'm typing in the dark, since the 'puter room adjoins the bedroom of an elderly relative - but I'll attempt to be coherent.

If, by Ohio law, concealment of voting records constitutes prima facie evidence of fraud, WHY is there so much mincing around about the viability of a challenge? Blackwell has already implicated himself, blatantly, and seemingly with confidence that the legal community will let him off without a squeak of protest. Need one speculate as to what is in fact going on? Need Nelson, in Florida, look any further than this established statute?

The answer is "No!" but we live in a nation of cowering me-tooers who would rather get along than stand upright.

What is going on is a cowering aquiescence to blatant, fascist manipulation by a nation of spoiled, pampered baby-boomers. They don't want to lose their niches of comfort, so they won't enter the comfortless zone of idealogical conflict. Well, I am a grandma and a baby-boomer - I graduated from college in the same year as both Clinton and the *-word. And I won't take it lying down, even though I'll actually need those SS benefits in a few years and don't have the luxury of being able to play with other people's.

Back to the point: none of these "cautious" senators needs any more evidence than he or she already has, to contest the electors. All they really need is honesty, integrity, and faithfulness to the will of their own constituents.

Nope, neodissident. That page "cannot be found" either. And, BTW, I have had Yurica bookmarked for some time.

What a great thread! I'm in Ohio, and believe me I really appreciated the uplift here. Thanks for your comments particularly Peg C, and the link to your own blog. I'll get to looking around in there soon.

They need to challenge this election not only because of Florida and Ohio, but all of the other states that were screwed up, as well.

Hell, Wyoming had 106% voter turnout, we all saw the debacle in Washington, New Mexico, Nevada, you name it.

Our elections are not just unclean, they're barely masked charades now.

~A!

We can only hope that someone in the Senate will make a stand. But I'm not convinced that it's actually going to happen.

If you're still looking for that article by Katherine Yurica, try this link: Why the Bush Administration Should Be Prosecuted as a Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organization.

By the way, yeah, she knows her law. And she knows a hack of a lot of other things too. When I first found her site I was astonished at some of the things she was saying and I did a search on her name, looking for what other people had to say about her. It all came back positive: people saying "Here's an important article" and "She is a very valuable researcher" ... stuff like that.

Winter patriot:

she knows her law
>>

She states early in the article that "this article is not a legal opinion".

If you want to really explore RICO cases concerning the president, there are (at least) two actual cases pending. One can get the pleadings, etc. (from both sides) since they are public records.

One on the west coast:

http://www.cyberspaceorbit.com/hiltoncom.htm

and one on the east coast:

http://www.911forthetruth.com

Hi 'Yall
Talk Talk Talk---
What I see here is just that, Talk. 46 Comments and some repeat commenters--so it is Just Small Talk.

Don't mistake me, I agree with just about 100% of the Talk. But we need Teeth and a Bite to go with it.

The Demo elected reps seem moribund and intent on being ineffectual. Conyers and a few others are Giants, but they are a minority of the minority.

What we need is a mass Turn-around or an Exotus in Mass to another party which truely represents the values that absolute majority (as per M.M.) believe in and vote for.

I suggest that every Demo establish a link to join or co-join another party, like the Greens or Peace and Freedom. Combine meetings or if that is not allowed follow the Demo meetings, as they adjourn, on the same day and same place with the other party(s). Put in place a solidarity of choice of candidate slate and/or the mechanism of massive and total party switch.

The aim is not to devide and dilute the vote, the aim is to find, evaluate and solidify behind candidates who will -In Fact not in words "Work for us"-.

Every U.S. Demo Senator should announce their backing Conyers, now----Period.
Best
HNY 05

Yes, Dredd: Yurica does in fact state that "this article is not a legal opinion".

But that doesn't mean she's ignorant of the law.

Read the pleadings. Read the other stuff too. Even the authors who say "this is not a legal opinion". And keep up the pressure. It's all good.

winter patriot:

Read the pleadings
>>

I could not find any reference to any active case pleadings in the article.

That is why I posted links to actual, pending cases that are suing BUSH et. al. under RICO.

One thing it offers is that some folks may want to join and make it a class action.

I am not saying that is the best thing to do ... just saying it is one thing to consider.

As you say, its all good.

I was so angry when I read about Nelson not supporting conyers,i sent him a fax,I told him if he could not stand up for me,then I would not stand up for him,if he did not stand with conyers,then he could go ahead and give his job to jeb bush because if he was going to act like a republican,then we may as well vote one in,so to start packing.I told him,I may even run against him.

Sorry, Dredd. Apparently I wasn't too clear. That happens sometimes, even when I'm trying to be serious. So let me try again...

I meant: read the pleadings at the links Dredd has provided, as well as the Yurica article, as well as everything else you can get your hands on. Only by being extremely well-informed can we hope to accomplish anything.

For the benefit of those who want to get on with it, without scrolling through back the comments that led us to this misunderstanding, the pleadings to which we are referring are here and here, and the Yurica article is here.

Brad,
I didn't read ALL the comments...but JESUS GOD!!!!!And haha, I was the one who wrote to you about exclamation points..!! I realize now that it so doesn't matter. I honestly believe that NOTHING we try to do will matter. I only wish I could gather all of you good people in a room so we could go & storm the Bastille if only we fucking had one.
Because, after going door-to-door for MoveOn, signing petitions, writing to congressmen, senators & journalists ad nauseum, after delivering petitions about contesting the election to Bill Nelson's office yesterday & NOW reading that he thinks that "no conclusive evidence has been presented to warrant overturning the results"
Christ on a bike!!! I am FUCKING READY TO BURN MY VOTER ID CARD & never vote again (WOW, won't they just be quaking in their boots over THAT threat, haha!!)because it's becoming increasingly clear that our so-called "democracy" is a sham & a lie & maybe has been so for DECADES. We have become the United States of Greed, Brutality & Deceit, & I cannot even express how deeply fucking demoralized I am.
We have LOST, my friends, and I am NOT talking about the election. We have lost this country to thieves & thugs who seem more conscienceless & corrupt than the fucking mafia.
And haha! It's not like I'm some young, radical, goth activist here! I'm a 57-yr-old goddamn SCHOOLTEACHER! No offense to young radical goth activists haha!
So, I dunno, carry on & good luck, y'all, but I think I'm done. We had a pretty goddamn good country there for a while & I'm really gonna miss it. Jesus in a jar, I think we're in for a bumpy ride.
Peace, J.

Joan,

You are not the only one that has those thoughts going thru them. Me too.

However winter patriot brought up the Mahatma Ghandi factor.

He was a leader in a movement that got democracy for India - a country that was subjugated by the Empire upon which the sun never set. Make no mistake, it was brutal and was repressive.

Our forefathers had done that circa a century earlier ... but there was much bloodshed.

Ghandi and fellow citizens pulled it off without the violence ...

Your emotional depression is shared cause we all realize you are not bullshitting and it is depressive.

However lets be depressed about the current conditions but not about there being no chance.

We have sooooooo much chance still. If not this year then next year.

We got our arms around you J. peace.

Dredd, Joan, Winter Patriot,

You are all great! Keep the faith! Maybe we should start a BRAD BLOG fan club and have everyone meet at a convention! LOL

Please review my seven(7) terms for a re-vote of America's November 2nd election I listed in a new tread here.

Let's storm the Bastille! I remember when we shut down Washington during the Vietnam War. I was at Kent State on May 4, 1970. Kent was located in a small college town and farming community right near where I grew up. Probably the closest day we had to another American Revolution when college campuses were closed throughout America.

We may have not had a successful conclusion at either event, but it helped change history and forced a nation to come to grips with the corruption and mass murders of Vietnam!

I truly believe that a mass consciousness is brewing in America, fueled by this new technology we have come to know as the Internet. No wonder why CIA Director Tenant said we must "control" the Internet.

This building consciousness is rumbling like a volcano. It can spit fire and rock in a mild eruption, or it can blast off its cap and consume everything in its path.

I agree that action must be taken. I also agree that there are forms of protest and activism that can be conducted by peaceful means and good results achieved. What we have seen in the Ukraine, Georgia, and from the past, Ghandi's India, can be done here. Although, the Ghandi movement did have its share of violence, usually from the British. But in America will our government respond more like their new creditors at Tiananman Square?

My concern with efforts to legislate or politically correct our problems is that time to act is rapidly escaping us. With an oil and gas President and Vice-president failing to provide us with clean alternative energy and global resource cooperation, the Mother Earth is on its own slippery slope. Combine that with peak oil dwindling supplies, you have a more belligerant military posture designed not only to protect oil and gas interests, but the profits that come from exploiting and militarily protecting them.

Global conflict over natural resources is already under way throughout the world, although it is officially spun in other terms. Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan, Colombia are just part of the equation. As supplies dwindle, this conflict will only grow worse and more deadly. Opposition to the use of our tax dollars and military for protecting oil and gas profits and financial markets will lead to conflict within America.

I firmly believe 9/11 is a direct result of this conflict and the plan to lull America into a permanent state of semi-fear, where questioning the government is unpatriotic and dissent at some point will simply no longer be tolerated. This is why we now have the Patriot Act, Homeland Security Department, and a new Intelligence Czar...not because of Osama bin Laden...but because of the American people who will be divided, socially and otherwise, to fear each other just as much as anyone else. The Nazi Doctrine!

Michael Moore made these suggestions more subtlely in Farenheit 9/11. I'm more direct! And when I hear General Tommy Franks saying that in a major terrorist attack we may have to suspend the Constitution, maybe we are only one more event away from a "CRAMPS" takeover? For you uninformed, CORRUPT RIGHT-WING AMERICAN MILITARY POLICE STATE!

Of course, this action would only lead to more conflict as many Americans would go along out of fear, while still others would rebel doubting the credibility of a government explanation of who actually detonated that nuclear weapon in an American city in order to suspend our Constitution?

Even then, they would only suspend the Bill of Rights, while the political mechanisms necessary to control the country would remain in tact slightly modified to give the appearance of civilian control.

So my friends, even though we can advocate and hope for non-violent solutions to our problems, time and circumstance may already be beyond us, environmentally and politically. This year will be a good guage of where we're headed...right out of the gates! Unfortunately, when you see protestors restricted to caged areas and the creation of far off Free Speech Zones. The military beginning to patrol our airports and cities, or be used in crowd control at Miami or elsewhere, and plans made for domestic survelliance and military operations, well...

THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGIN'.

Dredd: What a great response! A big Thank You on behalf of all of who drew inspration from it.

Joan: Hang in there! You are not alone. And no matter what happens Thursday, you still will not be alone.

Bush and his cronies love to talk about the 61 million people who allegedly voted for him. But the exit polls showed that a large portion of those people had no idea who or what they were voting for. [Huge numbers of Bush voters thought that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, and that our guys found them, that Iraq was involved in the 9/11 attacks, and so on.] Aside from the obvious voter suppression, there was massive voter delusion at work here.

The number of people who actually voted for Bush, with full knowledge of what they were doing, is probably something like 30 million, if it is even that high.

And in the meantime, there are about 200 million eligible voters in the USA. So the chimp's 'mandate' is based on the informed consent of roughly 15% of the electorate. And even the oil-soaked corporate media whores admit that, even without any major media publicity, a full 20% of Americans already know the so-called election was fraudulent.

Put those numbers in perspective, Joan. You are definitely not alone. And this is definitely not over.

I agree with Joan. I just emailed Senator Jim Jeffords this letter in response to his statement that he will not join the challenge.
---------------------------------------------------------
In response your quote "I fear it will only further polarize our political landscape". You have no idea how further polarized the CITIZENS of this country will become if the 2004 election is not challenged.
If you are worried about increased partisanship in the House and Senate if the 2004 election is challenged, then chances are all of your decision for America will be based on your fear of the Republican Party.
Yes, it is going to be ugly, but it absolutely has to be done.
If nothing is done on January 6th about the 2004 election, I will not vote again for President until the election year 2016. I am not going to play this political game. The Republicans can scam the world. So Be It.
-----------------------------------------------------------
I told myself I would not get threatening, but the truth is I will not vote again for many years if this whole thing passes by without at the very least some people going to jail for many years, including
Blackwell.
I am also very tired, very frustrated, angry and in disbelief about everything including statements like Senator Jeffords.
I want to thank every single one of you, even attorney jim (lol) for getting all of us through this and especially to brad for this amazing website. I have learned so much. You are exceptional, bright, open minded and a real person. I'll still be watching and maybe sending a few emails. I'll tape the Challenge on C-span on Thurs. I've got my fingers crossed, but I don't expect too much from most of our elected officials. It seems to be a game. Thank God for Senator Conyers and the few others who are with us on this. He is a real person too. See Ya tomorrow.

Hey, what happened to attorney jim. Did he finally get canned?

SHEILA WEAVER for U.S SENATE!

(Please note: That endorsement is unofficial until we see what happens on Thursday. But unless we are pleasantly surprised, Ms. Weaver may soon get the official BRAD BLOG endorsement for her '06 run in the State of Florida!)

(Please also note: Who thinks I'm kidding?)

Joan -

Great rant! Lots of exclamation marks!!! Well done!!!

Now get back to work.

(And if you need to rant again, we'll be right here).

Becky -

Thanks for your kind words.

All -

Discouragement gets us nowhere. But it does happen. So go out, take a vacation (for an hour or so), and you'll feel good enough to start standing up for the good guys again.

We won't give up if you don't.

For some reason, I don't think these people have the power they try to make others believe they do.
I want to call their bluff.
I am convinced they are not holding the high card.

Their bungling of war is making them look impotent.
Their handling of the tsunami crisis is their latest blunder. They changed their tactic because of public opinion. Not a sign of absolute power. Now they are using that fool, Clinton, and that decrepit old man Bush. It's ridiculous.

In fact, I think this geological disaster trumped 911, and they can no longer use it as an excuse for all their atrocities, and the phony War on Terror. There are bigger powers.

I think Russia is going along with the Kyoto Agreement, thus blocking 'CRAMPS' attempt to stop it. They can't nuke everyone and everyone is getting nukes. I think Annan is going to play a tough game with them. He seems to be in the mood.
I just want to see them get busted for their crimes.

The rest is up to us. It is essential that we face the weakness in our system that has let this political mafia get as far as they have. I want to scream from the mountain top, but reason prevails, and I among other things, want to brainstorm with people like you here, and come up with a workable plan. Every problem comes with a solution.

I am convinced that a "mass consciousness is brewing". I wouldn't be here, if it weren't.
It's laws of physics and life. There is always an attempt to create equilibrium. Conflict always comes to resolution, then returns to conflict. An ongoing see-saw.
The internet is now a powerful political tool, and we are just learning to use it. Just wait. It will be phenomenal. A new twist in the people's power. And so creative. And connected to the international community. We have allies out there.

From what I understand, Europe is heavily into developing alternative fuels. Could they be our next real adversary, now that they are uniting?
Is th Age of Oil almost over, and those clinging will be left behind?

Are these Neocon fools, soon to be extinct dinosaurs?

It remains to be seen.

Thanks for the much-needed support, guys. And though I'm not TOTALLY giving up--i just called 2 of Nelson's offices & begged & ranted a bit; they repeated what Brad had quoted, that Nelson believes there is "not enough evidence". I asked "What about precinct after precinct with over 100% voter turnout? That's not evidence?!" (there was a pause & a palpable chill...) I told them it appears they are all complicit, that our vote means NOTHING, & the law means NOTHING...what other conclusion are we to come to after the virtual silence of Dems & media?--so that went really well.

So though I believe, too, that a "mass consciousness is brewing", the sad truth is WE HAVE NO POWER. Somebody please tell me how we can USE this big, writhing pissed-off mass of humanity that is not prepared to engage in actual out-in-the-street revolution. Can we somehow morph ourselves into Eminem's Mosh march? That would be good. Can we please do that?
Literally millions, in numerous countries, took to the streets to protest going to Iraq. It was a superlative lesson in how unimportant our voice is to power.
In NY they kept people in neat little cages, not allowing them near the "official" protest at the U.N.
On the phone just now one of the staffers told me not to give up, that the pen is still mightier than the sword, haha! Right! Well no, not unless what is written is read, reported, widely disseminated. But we don't have a media anymore.
That RICO lawsuit? One of the bits of info on the piece I read was that Fox News was the only one to show up for the press conference, but reported nothing. "liberal media"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!hahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (those are for you, Brad)
So, I do take comfort in knowing I'm not alone...thank you for that. But I'm finding it difficult to be hopeful. Someone said "if not now, then next year" or in two years? NO! FORGET our voting system! It fell down & it's NOT getting up! It's in their hands, under their control, & that's it for our vote! Seriously, I do not see any REAL avenue here, my friends.
Ok I gotta stop before my head explodes.
God help us.

Teresa,

You are right! Eventually nature (death) catches up with them and they can't take their world with them. Unfortunately, they don't recognize their own mortality and can do great damage while they live among us, not only to ourselves but to our Mother Earth.

But Mother Earth has a resilience that mankind had better be prepared for. I don't believe you can destroy that nature very long without nature finally adapting its own defense to protect the whole in balance against the parts. Species that find themselves living large and arrogant, with a disregard for their natural surroundings, soon find themselves one step closer to extinction...or at least a major readjustment of their natural reality.

This is true in human nature as well!

Joan,

I feel your pain! I am just as frustrated and that certainly has been born out in my comments. I am equally disappointed in both Democrats and Republicans in their all too long-standing duoploy of America. Barack Obama and Bill Nelson appear to believe that their is insufficient evidence to warrant a challenge and that we should all just move on. Yet I have yet to see what they have done to investiagte and uncover that evidence themselves!

They claim there will be reform! Oh really? And how do they propose to do that when they literally have no control over the bills created in Republican member only conferences? So should we wait until 2006...2008...2010...2012 for election reform, if ever? I don't see Republicans reforming a system that favors their continued control.

Should we wait until 2006...2008...2010...2012 for a global environmental response to our green house gases, our melting polar ice caps, our annihilation of the world's rain forests, or our disregard for the millions of species soon to be extinct? I don't see Republicans controlled by oil and gas companies protecting our human and natural health as a species or a planet, when their laws and actions favor their corporate contributors and military defense contractors.

How about this Joan? We give them until tomorrow and then, if the Democrats fail us, we start organizing a national resistance movement? I have already outlined a way Americans can vote with a sense of confidence in the result, but it will take an electoral process revolution by bringing uniformity and security to the entire national election process.

A People's Constitutional Convention can be called, a new People's Constitution can be drafted, and a presentation made to Congress with a modern Declaration of Independence attached. This can be done entirely through organizing ordinary people, not politicians, to advocate a new and better government. A stronger Bill of Rights! A more representative form of government!

Many people will scoff at my revoltionary thoughts and philosophy, but you know something, it is not only our civil right to organize and resist as declared by our original founding fathers, it is our human and natural right to do so. Our rights do not flow from the Constitution. Nor should they be abrogated to it. Our rights come from the rights of millions of years of human ancestry that cry out for a freedom, liberty, and justice that is far greater than what we have today, and far more important than any one form of government or Constitution.

We can do better in all our human and natural relationships! We can be the voice in the world not for war and violence, but peace and justice! We can be the voice in the world not for natural resource exploitation, but for respecting and protecting all that is natural and beautiful! And to this end we can organize to be the voice that represents that "mass consciousness", stop the Merry-Go-Round, and tell our government to do right by all of us in representing our better conscience...or get off!

Are you with me Joan? Are any of you with me? Or are we just going to sit at our keyboards and play video revolution?

*I'm* with you, freebird - though scrolling all the way down here to find you was a bit disconcerting.

Could you maybe set this in some other thread?

Nelson's staff is listening, and the more we argue that it's not about overturning the election, but rather about the laws of Ohio not being followed with regard to the vote and the recount (not to mention the disenfranchisement and dirty tricks by contractors trying to avoid recounts), the better the chances.

Here's a good number: 954.693.4851 (Broward County).

Beautiful, Freebird.

I am with you. Let's get going.

I know rage and its violent effects. Sometimes there is no choice, but the use of violence against an adversary comes with a high price.
It seems that all the benefits of these violent solutions are short-lived. There's got to be a better way. Just the fact that we even think this way and question the use of violence is an indication of the alternative.

It is unbearably frustrating and frightening to feel powerless and oppressed. The people we think are in control of us, also feel that. They are victims of their own fears and obsessions, but they are probably even more helplessly stuck. There is no good development in sight for them. The die is cast.

I think first of all, we've got to get control of ourselves and of the fear factor. Fear is not a good place from which to act. If they strip us of our faith and confidence, then they have really won.

I think we have to extricate ourselves from the belief that they are our masters.

Stand tall and firm.

Thanks Peg C & Teresa,

I no longer feel like Don Quixote! LOL

I have a book, actually a pamphlet, I am completing in much the same way the Founding Fathers (and Mothers once communicated with the American people. I am going to give it away to those who would like a free copy as funds allow.

Inside, it will discuss a new Constitution and form of government I have devised to ignite debate about the future of our governance. It puts it squarely to the people about what we have lost and what we can gain. At the very least, it will be a starting point from which to discuss how to proceed should the existing government continue to fail us.

Although I am now a professional nature and landscape photographer, naturalist, writer, poet, philosopher and dog catcher LOL, in my former life I was an attorney with a law and political science degree. What I propose is revolutionary politically, but then again so was that left-wing liberal crazy Declaration of Independence. )

Joan, Teresa, Freebird, Peg C...

Sit tight. Keep the faith. Help is on the way.

Have I ever let you down before?

Wait for it...Your Velvet Revolution will soon be here...

LOL...I'm sitting...but only because I have a bad back at the moment! We shall see my friend! We are all hanging like chads at the moment.

Geeez, Guys...Move forward with your lives...Your boy took a lickin'...Get over it !

Mr. Nelson is buddies with Mr. Martinez who is also very buddy buddy with george w. Mr nelson was very quiet and non vocal in his non support of the democrat running for president. He is VERY under the radar and frankly appears to be a repub in demo clothing...it may be time to get a new democrat in his place like well deserving peter deutsch....and to the republicans who keep saying "get over it and move on".....well we did try that in 2000......what was that old saying...fool me once.....fool me twice......there is no way jeb is going to be next! time to trim the bushes and have transparency next time before the boxes are preloaded again.......Its really hard to trust the process when you cant trust the other team......

......btw only 1473 more dark republican days....but who is counting........

I just sent my first original (not forwarded) letter to my Senator. I kinda feel better!

Senator Nelson,

Today, I watched the United States Congress collectively betray the American People. I'd like to know why you did not stand with Senator Barbara Boxer when she asked for a protest of the Ohio election results.

Where was your suppoort? Where were your questions? Where was your indignation? Why didn't you tell Sr. Mike DeWine that the right to a fair election is what every American should EXPECT and asking to look into voter irregularities is most certainly not a "wild, incoherent and completely unsubstantiated" request as he called it. You should have put to shame Ohio Rep. Deborah Pryce saying that "some extreme democrats were too busy counting and recounting votes to do their job."
Nothing is more important than our right to vote. American soldiers are fighting and dying to ensure that the Iraqi people have the right to vote. Many Iraqi people are being murdered just for voicing their desire to vote! When so many Floridians have voiced their concern about the integrity of the election process how can you allow any of your peers to get away with belittling our concerns?

There were a few Senators that tried to make a stand. Sr. Boxer of course, Sr Dodd from Connecticut and Sr. Clinton who made a great speech WITHOUT using notes, along with a few more. Where were you? In Florida, questions still persist regarding fraud as well as irregularities in counties that relied on paperless electronic voting machines. I can vouch for that myself. In Broward County I voted for Sr. Kerry but the machine recorded a vote for Bush! I discovered the error when I elected to review my ballot before I submitted it. I know you are aware of this because it happened to many Floridians. How can you not be outraged?

Yes, the point was well made that there were disenfranchised voters and many irregularities across the nation. I just don't believe that you nor the majority of our distinguished Senators had the guts to stand and be heard. That was what I was waiting for! As it turns out the few brave Senators that I applaud ended up looking like a bunch of sore losers. How dare you do that to them? Obviously to you the truth is really not important. By not standing with Sr. Boxer you denied Floridians the right to belive that we truly do live in a democracy.

You just lost yourself a voter, but, that doesn't really matter now does it?

Hey Brad,go easy on the endorsement,I was only blogging,I have no experience and no qualifications,besides I do not call myself a Republican or a Democrat,I lean towards the democrat but my husband is having a cow just because I blogged at all.I don't mean to let you down,I will stay in the cause.

Go easy on the endorsement,Brad.I have no experience or qualifications,I was blogging.My husband is having a fit because I blogged at all.As much as I would love to hold an official office,I can;t,but will continue to stay in the cause and help find someone who can run against Nelson,he does not deserve 2006.

Sheila Weaver (the next Senator from Florida) said:

"Go easy on the endorsement,Brad. I have no experience or qualifications, I was blogging."

Blogging?! That'll do it! Those qualifications alone may just make you *far* more qualified for the job than Mr. Nelson proved to be yesterday!

If it weren't for bloggers, do you *really* think we would have had the historic (only second time in well over a century!) invocation of a very rare and arcane Constitutional provision yesterday?!

We're not gonna let ya off the train *that* easy, missy! Until someone else steps forward with more creds than you, you're our (Wo)Man!

Many Americans question the democracy that our government officials frequently boast about and assume is still flourishing. When these officials promise to protect this democratic process during their campaigns for re-election, they accept money from generous lobbyists in return for preferred representation after they are elected. This hypocrisy has become transparent to most thinking people. It has eroded the fair representation that Americans had once cherished. The voting public has continued to disintegrate, as the truth about democracy in the U.S. is spreading around the world.

The last two major elections were tainted with unreliable voting methods and questionable methods for rechecking votes. Poorer districts with fewer locations for voting caused severe overcrowding; most working class voters cannot and will not wait for hours to cast their votes. In the last election, there were voters left on line when the poles closed. In key swing states challenges could not be made because of voting machines that were not equipped to provide any records. Do these practices foster confidence? Do some politicians prefer knowing that their wealthiest constituents can get to the poles with ease and without long lines? Equal and fair access to voting machines is should be the rule in the U.S., but it is not.

Those of us who truly cherish democracy must demand change, change that will correct these obvious flaws. There must be equality in access to voting machines in every district, so that blue collar workers who cannot get out to the poles do not have to wait on long lines. There must be uniformity in the machines that count votes; that these machines provide records to be re-checked, if necessary. With strict rules for providing uniformity and equality, elections in America could be trusted again. Today, there are too many obvious reasons to distrust the mixed and haphazard manner that have come to characterize elections in the U.S. The desire to subjugate the rights of voters has always been a problem. Nixon’s break-in to the Democratic headquarters at Watergate prior to the election was not the first time that a politician resorted to unethical methods in order to win an election. The amount of corruption has increased, but the reporting of it has decreased. The lack of investigative reporting has diminished. Nevertheless, Americans are not stupid; their apathy and alienation is the result of too many uncorrected inequities.

To rebuild this democracy and to be a free nation, it will take fair elections and greater participation by all Americans. It will take harsh legislation to end the corruption of lobbyists, who are steering representation away from the people who elect our politicians. It will take free elections. And, it will take people who are ready to reveal the truth. It will take leaders who will admit what most Americans already know; our democracy is in shambles. Before we can teach democracy to other countries, we need to live in democracy first. I applaud your efforts, Senator Nelson, in exposing illegal voting practices during the election of 2004.

Matthew Schwartz

Many Americans question the democracy that our government officials frequently boast about and assume is still flourishing. When these officials promise to protect this democratic process during their campaigns for re-election, they accept money from generous lobbyists in return for preferred representation after they are elected. This hypocrisy has become transparent to most thinking people. It has eroded the fair representation that Americans had once cherished. The voting public has continued to disintegrate, as the truth about democracy in the U.S. is spreading around the world.

The last two major elections were tainted with unreliable voting methods and questionable methods for rechecking votes. Poorer districts with fewer locations for voting caused severe overcrowding; most working class voters cannot and will not wait for hours to cast their votes. In the last election, there were voters left on line when the poles closed. In key swing states challenges could not be made because of voting machines that were not equipped to provide any records. Do these practices foster confidence? Do some politicians prefer knowing that their wealthiest constituents can get to the poles with ease and without long lines? Equal and fair access to voting machines is should be the rule in the U.S., but it is not.

Those of us who truly cherish democracy must demand change, change that will correct these obvious flaws. There must be equality in access to voting machines in every district, so that blue collar workers who cannot get out to the poles do not have to wait on long lines. There must be uniformity in the machines that count votes; that these machines provide records to be re-checked, if necessary. With strict rules for providing uniformity and equality, elections in America could be trusted again. Today, there are too many obvious reasons to distrust the mixed and haphazard manner that have come to characterize elections in the U.S. The desire to subjugate the rights of voters has always been a problem. Nixon’s break-in to the Democratic headquarters at Watergate prior to the election was not the first time that a politician resorted to unethical methods in order to win an election. The amount of corruption has increased, but the reporting of it has decreased. The lack of investigative reporting has diminished. Nevertheless, Americans are not stupid; their apathy and alienation is the result of too many uncorrected inequities.

To rebuild this democracy and to be a free nation, it will take fair elections and greater participation by all Americans. It will take harsh legislation to end the corruption of lobbyists, who are steering representation away from the people who elect our politicians. It will take free elections. And, it will take people who are ready to reveal the truth. It will take leaders who will admit what most Americans already know; our democracy is in shambles. Before we can teach democracy to other countries, we need to live in democracy first. I applaud your efforts, Senator Nelson, in exposing illegal voting practices during the election of 2004.

Matthew Schwartz