So, like the rest of us Franken is on his emotional edge, and can't talk about the destabilization of the United States' destabilized election system.

Hey, Al, it is simple, yet painful. Like the concept of a republican dictatorship.

We can freeze on the fear of what is to come, or we can go thru the emotional distress, face up, and struggle on thru.

Everyone has to move at their own pace, however, because we all have limits of what we can take.

Americans have been bombarded, strafed, and harassed by the republican dictatorship for a long time. And the fascists are prepared to get a lot more nasty before it is over.

So find a way of emotional release, healing, and strength as we move thru this.

The drugs of oil, TV, MSM, hyper comfort, and play pretend, have us paralyzed. That is how snake venom works.

The antidote to it is to press forward some, then go to the beach, the forest, the blue sky, the sunshine, and to friends ... heal and chil a bit ... then come on back and chip away at the republican dictatorship a little more.

Repeat until ...

Well spoken, Brad! I remember back in the days when Watergate (I) was developing, all the pudits agreed that the country couldn't withstand the trauma of an impeachment, just as our leaving Vietnam would cause irreparable harm to the Vietnamese people. Hah! on both counts! These days, the pundits have been so adamant in their denials that elections are being stolen that they won't consider the facts, because that would undermine their positions to date, exactly as duhbaya can't admit any mistakes to date. As far as I'm concerned, Al Franken is a big fat coward. Thanks for all you do, Brad!

Excellent, Brad! Jerks like Al Franken, not talking about electronic voting machines, are hurting us!

Bravo! I've been saying this all along!!!

And, Huffington Post, too. That's why I don't listen to Air America Radio, and I don't go on the Huffington Post.

Brad Blog is the best blog on the internet, along with Raw Story, and blackboxvoting.org .

And, I also hate the Democrats, for not talking about electronic voting machines. There's something UP...with them not talking about it. Something VERY FISHY!!!!!!!!

I think I saw a reason on KOS why some on the left dont want to get too deep in this issue.

If you say that our votes don't count when you vote Democrat (because the elections are being rigged), and people start to believe it, people wont vote. They want to get people excited about voting, not discouraged about voting.

BUT, that being said, I think it still needs to be an issue that needs to be resolved.

Honestly ... I am not a fan of Air America at all !

( Except for Mike Malloy )

I much prefer Ed Schultz and Thom Hartman . Stephanie Miller is funny but not a very serious debate -

I listen to Al Franken daily and he talks about voter reform frequently. I think you should get your facts straight.

Raf, "voter reform" isn't the same as reforming election fraud. James Baker would have you believe the big problem is people voting without proper credentials. That's about 1% of the problem.

The other 99% has to do with crooked voting machines, improper relationships between voting machine manufacturers and politicians, improper relationships between state election officials and the Bush administration (see Katherine Harris in 2000, Kenneth Blackwell in 2004), deliberate shorting of voting machines to minority precincts, improper removal of names from registration rolls (almost exclusively minority voters), dirty tricks designed to discourage minority voters from going to the polls, extreme timidity on the part of corporate media to address election fraud allegations, and a peculiarly American tradition of tolerating election fraud out of some archaic macho tradition that puts not being called a "poor sport" or a "sore loser" above election integrity.

Yeah, there was a period there for a while where he was talking about the Diebold guy on a daily basis. Perhaps he doesnt talk a lot about it now, but he has in the past. I think you would do a better service to "the people" if you actually went on Franken instead of chiding him on another show. Though I agree that Marc Maron did get screwed.

Al was slow to talk about stolen elections but he did come around. There is some policy at Air America that holds them back. I heard Susan Sarandon ask RRhodes to make illegal voting machines an issue and RR refused in a nice way. It seems to be the same policy as the democratic party..see no evil hear no evil etc. We need a third party NOW

Brad,

You've got the facts down cold, and you've got the ability to deliver the facts clearly, even under pressure --- essential ingredients for anyone in the communication business. Now you have to get even more exposure than you've had, and I know you've been working 'round the clock on that one. Any chance you could get booked on the Keith Olbermann show? His ratings are rising, and he's the only one I watch lately to hear something of value concerning our disappearing democracy. I think you'd get a fair shake there, and you could get crowds visiting your site and reading about what's been going on since the 2000 election. Hats off to you for all the gains you have made. Never give up! More people are coming on board daily, maybe even the democratic party one day. I really don't think that we should slam the party too hard --- most honest people can hardly believe that people elected to office in the USA could be guilty of pulling off such a crime. It's unthinkable to people I meet, and yet --- they did. Just keep the conversation and the investigation going, and all will have to face the facts soon. What a wakeup call to complacent Americans as to what happens when you relinquish your democratic rights as citizens to those who would turn this into a dictatorship.

Well Brad, your story inspired me to tune into Air America's Al Franken Show today (Friday) just to see how Al is doing, what's going on, etc....

His story about Red Lining, Minnesota, and his Family is about as interesting as me telling my friends about the new automatic scooper cat box I purchased a few weeks ago.

17 Minutes into the show, nothing about what is going on....
*CIA Agents outing the Bush Administration
*Explosion in Nigeria Oil Fields
*4 US Soldiers killed today in Iraq
*Gold at 25 YR high's
....
Nope,, he is going to talk about his stories...
COME ON!!!!!

This after what, 3 hours of boring Jerry Springer?

Hey Air America ---- Give Brad and Myself a 2 hour daily slot and we will DOMINATE the airwaves...

Now, I am going back to channel 84 on XM.

HardAttack

STOP DEFENDING AL FRANKIN.

He DOES NOT believe that the 2004 election was stolen. Period. End of story. Ask him? Check the archives. In spite of the massive fraud in multiple states, he thinks Bush BEAT Kerry in a fair election that was tilted by right-wing media. He is an "old style" Democrat who believes that "the system works" and that "we can win if we just play right."

He is wrong. He doesn't GET it. These Republicans understand that the system is just something to "game" to get what you want. They will stop at nothing and they believe that "the ends justify the means" and that "Democrats and Liberals are the enemy" and that "lying, cheating, stealing and playing tricks is OK if you are fighting the enemy and your cause is just." These people can't be played fair with. They must be thrust from office and destroyed. The "True Conservative non-neo-con, non-theocon" Republicans that are left will either have to start playing by the basic rules of society, or they can go next.

We are one mid-term election away from a dictatorship in this country.

Scare away Democratic voters? Please, if they are THAT stupid, then they are probably not going to vote against the Republicans anyway.

The election of November 7, 2006 is about bringing tens of millions of NEW voters to the polls for "ONE MORE CHANCE TO SAVE AMERICA" and making it clear that the only criteria is that they CAN NOT UNDER ANY CONDITIONS CAST A BALLOT FOR ANYBODY WITH AN "R" AFTER THEIR NAME.

If we bring ALL the disgruntled and angry voters to the vote, the polls immediately before the election will show the Republicans losing by 20% or more. THEN, the REAL battle begins.

The real war for American Democracy begins on November 8, 2006. If the final counts of the votes cast differs from the pre-election polls by more than 10% (a statistical impossibility beyond ANY explanation of a crooked pollster), THEN THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO FIGHT FOR THEIR DEMOCRACY OR LOSE IT.

It's really this simple.

1. Get everybody who hates this Republican Administration and everything it has done to destroy America to vote on November 7, 2006.
2. Make sure they vote "NO R"
3. Make sure non-biased polling is done.
4. Watch the results.
5. Be prepared to "go Ukraine" to save America.

That's it. Five simple steps to save American Representative Democracy from the neo-con and theo-con Republican corporatists who threaten to destroy it.

Stop at any step along the way and we might as well be in Germany in 1938.

Charlie L
Portland, OR

Please note...

I never used the word "Bush" in my appeal above.

This is NOT about George W. Bush (or Cheney, or Bush Senior, or anybody else) as he won't be running for office ever again.

This is about the "Crooked and Evil Republican Administration" that is running this country and the "Rubber Stamp Republican House and Senate" that have been allowing them to dismantle America's values.

This is about NO REPUBLICANS, EVER.

NO R.

This is not about being "anti-Bush" this is about being "Pro American Democracy."

NO R's. EVER.

And please realize that the R's follow the polls, and as more and more normal non-Fox-watching, non-Right-Wing-Radio-listening Americans start telling the pollsters that they don't trust the Republicans, the more the Republicans will start TALKING like Democrats between now and Novebmer. YOU CAN'T TRUST THEM. AN R IS AN R. They will lie to you to get you to vote for them. That is the EASIEST thing they can do.

No R's. EVER!

It's really that simple.

THEN, if the D's don't live up to the obligation we are handing them, we can deal with THEM in 2008. But at least we won't have to do it with a civil war and guns in the streets.

First step: No R's --- EVER!
Next step: Accountabilty

Charlie L
Portland, OR

Dear Al:

I enjoy your show and listening to it every day. If you haven't already, please try chanting:

nam-myoho-renge-kyo

for at least 5 minutes. Then you can find some way to address this singularly important issue of electronic vote fraud with your listeners. Remember also, your listeners may not be among the 30 million who watch Fox or "American Idol" and similar TV. For every two listeners who are discouraged from voting by the realization that their vote might not be counted, there may be one who will at least talk about. That one may be all we really have.

Charlie L. is absolutely right. To understand the entrenched Republican mentality, just imagine you're a right-wing zealot for a moment. You hate liberals more than you've ever loved anything, except maybe money. You might not be crazy about Bush, but you know he'll go along with you on all the "important" stuff (e.g., tax cuts, judges, gay marriage, corporate welfare). And you honestly believe that Reagan saved the country from a treadmill to welfare oblivion. Your zeal might be compounded by religious fervor and a pastor who told you Bush was sent by God to destroy terrorism.

If you're this committed, you can just as easily convince yourself that Democrats are out to steal elections. Look at Feeney in 2000...he told Curtis a vote-rigging prototype was needed to "combat Democratic fraud in South Florida." Did Feeney really believe that? Probably not. It was a phony excuse. But other G.O.P. zealots might believe it (and there might be a tiny particle of truth there).

So what do you do to save the country from a return to pre-Reagan "liberal domination?" You steal elections before Democrats can steal them. It's like getting in the first punch in a fight, or striking the first blow in a nuclear war. Kill or be killed. The end always justifies the means to true believers.

Why Al Franken and "old-fashioned Democrats" have trouble understanding this is way beyond me. Other prominent Democrats who refuse to even talk about the stolen 2004 election are Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, John Kerry (but not Teresa), Howard Dean (he flirts with it, then stops), Paul Begala, James Carville, John Edwards, Paul Hackett, Donna Brazile, Michael Moore (strangely silent), Al Gore (after 2000, he should be leading the fight), Joe Lieberman, George Stephanopolous, Barack Obama, Chuck Schumer, Dianne Feinstein, Jimmy Carter (he did say Gore won in 2000), Molly Ivins, Susan Estrich, and Rahm Emanuel.

Ralph Nader wasn't afraid to call the election a fraud. Neither were the Greens and Libertarians who led the Ohio recount fight. What does this tell us? It tells me that Democrats are more afraid of an economic downturn and the resulting Sahara of corporate money than they are of losing another election to Republican fraud. The same thinking prevents corporate media from confronting the issue.

Everyone on this blog who demands that we vote for Democrats this November should think twice.

All of you idiots commenting here need to get laid tonight. I know I will because I only fool around with Conservative Women! And they are also much better looking than all those frumpy granola Cindy Sheehan looking Indigo Girls!

RLM #15

Who should we vote for and why?

If the election system is destabilized and is not going to work anyway, why does it only matter that we not vote for democrats?

Franken is a DLC shill who thinks brown nosing corporate dems will win him an '08 election in MN. As such, he's pretty representative of the dem leadership in a really icky heroworship kinda way.

If you really want electorial reform, it won't be through the republicrats. Neither party wants it.

I do not defend the Democrats, for I agree with Robert that they are way too heavily bought (or at least "rented") by the moneyed corporate interests.

But, here's why I believe we must go out there and vote NO R in November.

The Republican Administration in power does not just hold ambitions on maintaining POLITICAL power. They want to hold TOTAL power by whatever means necessary.

While I am not confident that returning the Democrats to control of the House and Senate will come close to undoing the damage that these Republicans have done in the last 5 years, I am ABSOLUTELY SURE that NOT doing so will leave our country in a fascist dictatorship before the 2008 elections.

So, I really see the directive to vote NO R in November 2006 as only a FIRST STEP in taking back our Democracy. I do expect we might have to expel the Democrats in 2008 (but not to replace them with R's --- rather to move FORWARD in re-making our country).

But, first steps first.

If the Republicans are allowed to maintain power in the aftermath of the 2006 elections they will STOP AT NOTHING and I doubt there will be any civil liberties left or anything even remotely resembling a "fair election" in 2008. They will be working with "no holds barred" and no sense of accountability. They will fear nothing and have everything to gain.

We can NOT give them that chance. Our only alternative (ugly and disgusting as it might be to many progressives as well as old-time conservatives) is to vote for the DEMOCRATS in 2006 and then decide what to do next.

But hey, if you don't want to, that's fine. Just don't blame me when you wake up in a fascist dictatorship. I, for one, don't plan to be a "Good American" and let it happen without a fight.

The Democrats can be trusted to follow the polls and the money. The Republicans can't be trusted AT ALL.

Charlie L
Portland, OR

The time Morning Sedition truly disappointed me was when Marc and Mark *did* consign election machine fraud as the preoccupation of conspiracy theorists; just after the election, when Malloy was hammering home that nothing in this goverment would change if election fraud weren't eliminated, the morning guys thought it was a topic not worthy of discussion.

Now, when it's past the time to get the machines out of the primaries, it's OK to start acknowledging the thefts that happened over the past six years? Jeezum crow.

Charlie L #19

That is my position too.

But some of the "defeatists" (could really be realists, time will tell) who post here say there will never be a good election again.

While that can't really be known, others say it is so bad that this year's election will not be a good one.

But some of them, having said that, argue that we must vote the way they want us to vote.

Others succomb to hope the machines will be removed and only hand balloting and counting will be done, like myself, and am really not voting for any party, but instead only voting to stop the republican dictatorship by giving the house and/or the senate back to the dems.

If this is the worse regime ever and we can't stop them until '08 ... and can only slow them down by putting dems in power (ipso facto by taking power from the rubber stamp republicans) ... then I opt for that "solution".

RAF said on 5/12/2006 @ 8:29am PT...

I listen to Al Franken daily and he talks about voter reform frequently. I think you should get your facts straight.

Hang on there. I listen to him daily too and he talks about it normally in an attempt to debunk our suspicions about electronic voting machines.

To be fair, he does acknowledge that Blackwell short changed Democratic precincts of voting machines and acknowledges low tech vote suppression in Ohio.

Randi talks about vote fraud. So does Sam and Mike.

Air America needs to understand there were other states with dirty elections in '04, not just Ohio.

I do believe unfortunately that we won't be able to kick out the electronic machines out in time for '06.

What we'll have to do is vote in overwhelming numbers. I don't think they can fix a landslide.

Stephanie Miller show is great and talks about it a lot, but obviously in a very comedic way (she's Jones Radio Network not Air America).

Mike Malloy is great, I haven't heard him in a while so I don't know how much he talks about election fraud, but its certainly not because he's afraid of that (or any) issue.

Kudos Brad for bringing this issue more and more to the forefront. Hopefully people will realize that this really is the ONLY issue. Without fair elections no other issue really matters at all, for America will cease to be America without fair elections.

Notably absent from RLM's #15 post is Conyers who has taken up the issue in about the most politically proper way he can.

Also absent from the list is Feingold who hasn't spoken out on the issue. Hopefully Brad got to him the other day and he will at least manifest some viable stance on the issue.

Air America is a DNC lapdog.
Franken is running as a D for Senate!
Randi Rhodes has said on air, "I've been told not to talk about that. (election fraud) She too is a lapdog.

HOWEVER, LET'S CELEBRATE THAT AIR AMERICA DOES WHAT IT DOES. It's certainly a move in the left direction.

Now, Charlie L is correct, one step at a time. And as we, the people, begin to truly get it, then more and more of us will be in the streets. If a Demo takeover of Congress can't get this turned around by 2008, then the cynicism of many of us will be seen as realism.

Read Kagro X, on thenexthurrah.com, May 11: "You're not getting your oversight."

Begin reading Constant.
http://constantpated.blogspot.com/
She/He is the one who, I believe, first presented the Jefferson Manual, rule 603 route to Impeachment. Read Constant on the road to rewriting the Constitution! THE REVOLUTION WILL NOT BE TELEVISED!

A top hat,.. and a fedora,.. for that matter

a baseball cap becomes a "tin foil" hat,..

if someone dislikes the message of the messenger.

Hopefully this electronic voting machine train wreck

becomes understood,.. before Democracy is

completely derailed off the tracks.

Bradblog,.. like the Patriot,...Paul Revere,..

"the election calamity is coming",..

"the election calamity is coming" !!!!!!!!

Only Fascists want this issue - silent.

DREDD - Comment # 1,...

constructive,........ positive message,...

regroup,..... refresh,...

then back to the grindstone,... of doing battle

to combat FASCISM.

That is our common enemy !

Thank You - for sharing your wisdom !

A breath of fresh air,.. that guy can be,..

when not cranky. God bless ya.

DREDD - Comment # 1,...

constructive,........ positive message,...

regroup,..... refresh,...

then back to the grindstone,... of doing battle

to combat FASCISM.

That is our common enemy !

Thank You - for sharing your wisdom !

A breath of fresh air,.. that guy can be,..

when not cranky. God bless ya.

DREDD - Comment # 1,...

constructive,........ positive message,...

regroup,..... refresh,...

then back to the grindstone,... of doing battle

to combat FASCISM.

That is our common enemy !

Thank You - for sharing your wisdom !

A breath of fresh air,.. that guy can be,..

when not cranky. God bless ya.

Oops,... sorry for the multiple posts,..

Hell,... it was worth repeating.

Al Franken wants to be President. Everything he does is calculated to move him in that direction. He knows that if he rocks the boat too much he will never be a contender.

His heart is more or less in the right place, at least we could probably safely put him in the "not evil" category.
I have a big problem with attitude toward anyone who says, "911, inside job". Regardless of where you come down on that issue, we are way past the point where official story has any credibility. Franken ridicules that postion, hangs up on them and then goes on to laugh at them more after he hangs up. He also has a complete blind spot about Israel. Apparently in Frankenworld there is no apartheid wall, no injustices toward the Palestians.

Voting machines are a big part of your problem. Can you imagine if a bank machine did not give a receipt? Think Franken would have a problem with that?

GO! said: "I think I saw a reason on KOS why some on the left dont want to get too deep in this issue.

If you say that our votes don't count when you vote Democrat (because the elections are being rigged), and people start to believe it, people wont vote. They want to get people excited about voting, not discouraged about voting."

This is the *point* of facing up to the facts! Get people to recognize our elections are fraudulent and for them to DEMAND the vote be fixed [PAPER BALLOTS, HAND COUNTED!] - then we can rather easily take our country back from the liars and thieves. Pretending everything is OK because we don't want to frighten voters away won't help a damn thing!

#31
Please use the term corrected instead of "DEMAND the vote be fixed " . Do not give the neocons an opportunity to cut and paste a partial sentence and thereby change the meaning of your sentence.
Not complaining about your post just trying to anticipate anything the wingnuts can do to make us look silly or crooked. I agree with what you said completely.

The guy who said election fraud was THE issue was totally right. Exactly! That said, even if you can pull off a Dem majority in November, the only way to deal with the Dems is to BECOME the Dems, changing them from the inside out. We are already losing that prospect for this election cycle. I watched the DNC bring in massive funding to IL in every race where a truly progressive candidate was running, and support nearly-right wing corporate shill candidates to defeat the progressives. BUT, not by much. The progressives had ground support in spades, but little cash. In the 6th, Cegelis came within 3% of winning, even though Duckworth had 4 times the cash funneled in from out of state. The trick is, we need to start targeting the most basic local positions in the party such as precinct captain and channel funding from all over to races where true progressives are running as Dems - right after we do what Charlie L said. I'm seeing small progressive groups forming all over the place. They are currently isolated and not working in unison nearly enough. That needs to change. Efforts need to be coordinated, people need to step up and run for office. We need to pull off 30 years of organizing in one or less.

There's something funny going on at Air America Radio.

First Janeane Garofalo shills for the evil neocon $cientology cult and their ripoff detox rundown.

Then Al Franken doesn't cover important stories.

What the hell is going on there??

I agree with Charlie L. We have to take the repugs out now or it is all over. The coporate theocrats will never allow another chance again at a winnable election. We can take the Donkeys out any time we want, 2008 if necessary.
Remember: Save the Constitution at all costs. Live Free or Die!

I have to agree with Charlie L. If we do not succeed in taking out the Repugs this fall the corporate theocracy will never again allow a winnable election. If the Donkey whores start making eyes at the Jesus Cult we can take them out easily if we don't let it get too far along this time.
Rember: Save the Constitution at all costs. Live Free or Die!

Charlie L #12 & #19

I feel the same way also - the first objective is to get the repugs out! Starting a third party at this time I believe will fail by splitting what is needed to accomplish our goal. If there is a landslide towards the dems it will be hard to swing the vote with the faulty machines. Whereas a close vote caused by a third party could again be taken - or should I say will be taken. Once the repugs are out, then it would be time to consider a new progressive party, particularily if the dems don't make a huge difference in our lives!

COMMENT #16 [link]
...Steve-o-reeno said on 5/12/2006 @ 10:35am PT...

#22 NonBeliever,

"I don't think they can fix a landslide."
Does anyone agree with me that Kerry DID win by a landslide in '04? It had to have been:
So many Republicans against bush, Naderites, black voters, Hispanic voters, new voters, gay voters.
Am I wrong?

Actually (now that I have belatedly listened to Marc & Brad...THANK YOU, guys...great job, as usual, Brad!!))...
didn't I hear one of them just SAY a landslide could be fixed? (not that their saying it makes it so, obviously, but...)

COMMENT #16 [link]
...Steve-o-reeno said on 5/12/2006 @ 10:35am PT...

Boy they're all coming out of the woodwork - such intelligent posts!

If Democrats take over Congress this year, O.K. That's a step forward, if only because Bush will be weakened and forced to either play ball with the majority or sacrifice whatever credibility he has left.

But, then what? We'll be left with two years of mindless speculation about the 2008 election. I'd love to think things will improve, but how? Corporate interests will still be in control. The media will tell us that Democrats have a mandate; but a mandate for what? Will antitrust regulations be enforced, enabling small companies to compete?
Will ethics reform be possible? Will a consensus on how to get out of Iraq be formed?

I'd love to be optomistic, but I'm not.

RLM Said:

"...or sacrifice whatever credibility he has left."

None to begin with in my book.

You're right though - it's pretty bleak out there, but I just don't want more of the same!

Joan #38: No, I don't think Kerry won by a "landslide." I think he probably won by about 55% to 45% nationwide, MAYBE by as much as 60% to 40% in some places where he ended up at 49% at 51%. But remember, that's less than 11% shifted, and that means only 6% flopped.

There's no question that the vote COUNTING systems (please, don't get fooled into thinking that it's just the electronic, touchscreen machines that are being used to steal these elections) can take a 95% to 5% victory and turn it into a 49% to 51% loss. That's what they are PROGRAMMED to do.

The point is that if the polls say a candidate is going to win by 20% and that candidate loses, then the election is CLEARLY fraud and it's up to the people to take action.

Personally, I think it all comes down to step #5:

1. Get everybody who is opposed to this Republican Administration and everything it has done to destroy America to vote on November 7, 2006.
2. Make sure they vote "NO R"
3. Make sure non-biased polling is done.
4. Watch the results.
5. Be prepared to "go Ukraine" to save America if the results of the counting don't match the results of the polling by more than 10% (15% if you are squeamish about violence and bloodshed).

This is NOT going to be easy. This is NOT going to be like "working to elect a great Democrat" or "canvassing the neighborhood" or "helping to build a house with Habitat" or any other "good deed" that you've done in the past. This is going to be like the make-or-break, life-and-death decisions that plague people for the rest of their lives.

Rewatch THE PATRIOT. Understand what it takes to MAKE a country. Rewatch GLADIATOR. Understand what it takes to throw off oppression.

Some of us won't come back from this one, but our children will know that we cared enough to do what had to be done.

I for one will NOT be a "good American" who lets the media convince me that the neo-con/theo-cons are anything but an evil menace to our "way of life."

I pledge to support and defend the Constitution of the United States and The Bill of Rights against all enemies, foreign or domestic.

I'm going to die some day anyway --- let it be so that this great experiment in Democracy can get BETTER, not worse.

And please understand, that if we give the Democrats power through step 5 above, they will KNOW how they got there and they will tread VERY VERY carefully.

First we take back our representative government, then we work on WHO will represent us.

If they haven't started the REAL investigations, indictments, and oversight by May 1, 2007, we will give them a Mayday to scare the living crap out of them.

But, I'm getting ahead of myself. We have to get people out there to vote who have not voted in 2, 4, 6 or more elections past. We have to get the apathetic, the disenfranchised, the angry and the hurt BACK to the process for ONE MORE TRY AT SAVING DEMOCRACY. And we've GOT to prime them to be ready to fight for their vote to be counted after they fight for the right to vote.

And we've got to do it in 33 Senate and 435 House races across this country. EACH AND EVERY SINGLE PLACE where an R is up against an opponent, we have to be there!

There is a lot to do in a mere 6 months to save this republic, and the mainstream democratic operations are NOT going to be helping us much, in spite of the fact that is THEM we will be putting in power. It sucks, but that's just how it is.

5 steps just to get to START trying to remake Democracy.

But the alternative is far worse. And fighting these nutjobs once they have consolidated the power of oppression, propoganda, false imprisonment, torture, and surveilence --- you don't want to have to fight THAT fight.

Charlie L
Portland, OR

RLM ,

I feel your pain but you have to admit Democrats are much more intelligent and most definitely the lesser of the two evils .

I do agree with Mike Malloy that Democrats are sneaky and two faced but Republicans are down right evil and cruel !

sigh .... I'm going to go with Democrats and take a chance !

If Republicans really cared about America they would put this country above their party ! but they continue their Treasonous ways !

Most of you probably do not know (it has been under the national radar) that there is a lawsuit in TN challenging the constutionality of paperless voting --- the one thing that makes computerized election fraud possible. That case is mine. I am an attorney and filed it pro se. The case is on appeal and the brief was filed this week. You can access a pdf version of the brief here:

http://dragonflihost.net...Mills_Election_Brief.pdf

Reality Check for "Liberals" and "Progressives"

As usual Brad is doing great work being a real journalist in an era of phonies. The fact that Brad is expecting people like Franken to deal with real issues however is an issue of concern in itself. One of the great stumbling blocks for the forces of what's called Liberalism in America is a basic lack of politcal acumen. Liberals have been getting their butts kicked left and right politically, primarily because they don't have a clue what we're up against. Many Liberals make the mistake of thinking they're up against Republicans or Conservatives. The bitter reality of the situation is that such labels have lost all meaning and to continue to take them seriously, will only deepen the confusion and bewilderment that plagues so many people of liberal persuasion. In politics people must be judged by what they do not by what they say or what they call themselves. If Liberals can get into the habit of doing this, much confusion and frustration can be alleviated.

Though Air America calls itself a liberal news outlet, it fails to cover the most pivotal political issue of our time: Election fraud! By it's actions, Air America proves itself neither Liberal nor Progressive. The same can be said of Al Franken. In reality the problems of election fraud are facilitated as much by the Democrats as the so-called Republicans. Neither party is acting like liberals or conservatives, so they mustn't be allowed to hide behind these labels any longer.

The problem of election fraud is part and parcel of a mult-pronged attack on the country from within our traditional institutions. All of these problems stem from the fact that both major political parties have been taken over by ideologues who don't share any of our traditional American values on government for, and by, the people. Many of the people pulling the strings are foreigners or aligned with certain foreign and domestic special interests. The evoting mess has been put in place specifically for the day when the people of this country awaken from our trance, and realize that both Dims and Repugs are equally corrupt and there's no valid reason to support either of them. These parties have been compromised, and they will continue to work together against the Constitution and the people. It is imperative that patriotic members of these parties stop allowing themselves to be used to further the anti-Ameican agendas these parties are now pursuing.

By continuing to play the liberal vs conservative game, we give our enemies the luxury of hiding behind labels that once stood for popular political philosophies at one time. They no longer have any meaning, as both Dims and Repugs are now essentially one political force. With evoting spreading like wild-fire, the only chance Americans have of combating this menance is to breakout of our current political straight jackets, and get a better understanding of our common enemy. Mainstream thinking constitutes a trap that is being used against us. Breaking free of such constraints is the only way to grasp the big picture, of the well coordinated game being played against us. We're essentially on our own, as many of our most trusted institutions such as the mainstream media, and the major political parties are now arrayed against us. Needless to say, these times call for greater cooperation, and innovation by patriotic Americans regardless of political persuasion. If you've ever wondered what you'd do if you found yourselves in Washington's, or Jefferson's, predicament, confronted by a formidable enemy, with your liberty in the balance, now's the time to find out.

I also meant to post that I have been quite disgusted with Air America on the issues of election fraud and impeachment. We need impeachment of about ten major players in this administration (so that they can never be in government again).

Al Franken just totally does not get the election fraud issue. And it is just as bad on Daily Kos. These people just refuse to admit how easy it is to have computerized voting machines rig elections. They ignore the exit polls and the census data of last May which confirmed all exit poll data except the question of "Who did you vote for?" because the census does not ask that.

Angry because I believed the voting process was rigged, I did what lawyers do best, filed a lawsuit. I am a personal injury attorney --- not an election lawyer or constitutional lawyer --- but since no one else stepped up to the plate, I decided to.

My case is based on the theory that paper based systems and paperless systems are not equal and violate concepts of equal protection. (Think the election equivalent of Brown v Board of Education). The example I use most often to demonstrate their inherent inequality is the election contest lawsuit.

With a paper ballot, the ballots could be subpoenaed, marked as exhibits, and counted by a JURY for a totally verifiable process.

On the other hand, an election contest on a paperless system involves a battle of the experts over the software, multiple parties when the manufacturers come in and make claims of trade secrets, trade secret battles over access to software, and in short is a legal farce, where the jury has to choose which expert it likes best when one expert will be fighting with his hands tied. This kind of election contest further destroys confidence in the election process.

If I can succeed in time, and the case gets national attention, maybe it will help to get verifiable elections again.

#42 Charlie,
Here's the thing: we don't really KNOW the real numbers. I think it's impossible to know them. Too many ballots lost, stolen, thrown away, too much fraud to ever get an accurate accounting of, especially four years after the fact.

With all due respect, you make those five steps sound fairly easy, as if we just decide to do them, and then do them.
Re your #1
"..Get everybody who is opposed.."

How? In concrete, practical terms, how is that DONE? Because I would LOVE for that to happen.

And exactly how do we "make sure" of anything, given the current situation?

Alot of people had their hair on fire after 2000 & I sure as hell was one of them. Alot of people, including me, did everything they could think of to make sure this fraud was not re-"elected" in '04. I don't think we anticipated the depths they would sink to, and maybe we're a little wiser now; but they kept themselves in power & it's alot worse now than it was then, as I think you'd agree.

I don't WANT to sound so gloom & doom, but, motherFUCK! I WANT what you say to be possible. I WANT it to happen. It's just not gonna.

I think our ONLY chance is in our legal system (wow, doesn't THAT just make my heart swell with hope), with prosecutors & lawyers who still have a brain & a conscience & an extra-large portion of courage who will work doggedly to indict & convict this sorry bunch.

I'm not being sarcastic here or trying to cut you down. I just think what you propose is an impossibility, at least 'at this point in time' (to use a favorite phrase from the Watergate era).

If we could actually DO just #1 we would already be witnessing a bloody miracle. And if that miracle ever materialized then you could pretty much count on #2 happening!

Realistically, #5 is not about to happen, sad to say, until alot more cities in the United States suffer the fate of New Orleans--the most obscene disgrace in our history in my book.

When Americans start having to fight each other over clean water & food, or when they wake up to a flooded town & are stranded on their roofs for a week, watching their neighbors float down the street, maybe then that diehard 29% will think about "going Ukraine" with the rest of us.

#42 Charlie,
Here's the thing: we don't really KNOW the real numbers. I think it's impossible to know them. Too many ballots lost, stolen, thrown away, too much fraud to ever get an accurate accounting of, especially four years after the fact.

With all due respect, you make those five steps sound fairly easy, as if we just decide to do them, and then do them.
Re your #1
"..Get everybody who is opposed.."

How? In concrete, practical terms, how is that DONE? Because I would LOVE for that to happen.

And exactly how do we "make sure" of anything, given the current situation?

Alot of people had their hair on fire after 2000 & I sure as hell was one of them. Alot of people, including me, did everything they could think of to make sure this fraud was not re-"elected" in '04. I don't think we anticipated the depths they would sink to, and maybe we're a little wiser now; but they kept themselves in power & it's alot worse now than it was then, as I think you'd agree.

I don't WANT to sound so gloom & doom, but, motherFUCK! I WANT what you say to be possible. I WANT it to happen. It's just not gonna.

I think our ONLY chance is in our legal system (wow, doesn't THAT just make my heart swell with hope), with prosecutors & lawyers who still have a brain & a conscience & an extra-large portion of courage who will work doggedly to indict & convict this sorry bunch.

I'm not being sarcastic here or trying to cut you down. I just think what you propose is an impossibility, at least 'at this point in time' (to use a favorite phrase from the Watergate era).

If we could actually DO just #1 we would already be witnessing a bloody miracle. And if that miracle ever materialized then you could pretty much count on #2 happening!

Realistically, #5 is not about to happen, sad to say, until alot more cities in the United States suffer the fate of New Orleans--the most obscene disgrace in our history in my book.

When Americans start having to fight each other over clean water & food, or when they wake up to a flooded town & are stranded on their roofs for a week, watching their neighbors float down the street, maybe then that diehard 29% will think about "going Ukraine" with the rest of us.

So sorry for the double post. My kid did that... after ousting me from the chair! Honest! I've TOLD her to only hit submit once... *sigh*

#44 David,
I guess YOU are one of those lawyers with a brain & a conscience I was talking about in my previous comment! THANK YOU. And thanks for telling us about the lawsuit. Good luck & please do keep us posted.

DavidMills

Thank you for fighting the good fight.

Since Bush has the judicial branch in his pocket I doubt if the case will make a difference in the end.

davidgmills ROCKS.

For Daily Kos Will Ban U: No, I'm not going to admit that in general, Democrats are much more intelligent than Republicans. Much more intelligent than Bush, certainly...and more intelligent than torture-is-OK Gonzales and the worst Republicans in Congress (Imhofe, Istook, Rorabacher, Feeney, Santorum, Allen, Lott, Tancredo, Schmidt, Ney, and Stevens). DeLay is omitted because he's exiting.

But Democrats have their boneheads, too. Chris ("I looked into election fraud...there's nothing there") Dodd is Exhibit One. Lieberman, who believes corporations use good accounting and Israel is a victim of its neighbors, is Exhibit Two. Cynthia McKinney often behaves very foolishly, and Nancy Pelosi is less than a genius. Other Democrats on Capitol Hill I'd love to play cards against include Salazar, Nebraska's Nelson (who still doesn't know an election was stolen from him by the guy who sold Nebraska the voting machines), Mikulski, and Murray.

In the media, I'd call it a standoff. Limbaugh, O'Reilly and Hannity are insufferable. But so are Carville, Begala, and Chris Matthews (who seems to be Democrat one day, Republican the next).

Lesser of two evils? Yes, but only to the extent that Bush himself (the real evil) is able to control Republicans in Congress. He's losing that control, it seems, and if Rove is indicted all bets are off.

I'm not convinced things will change much if Democrats get control of Congress...I hope I'm wrong, and one way to prove me wrong is for Democrats to say OUT LOUD, AND NOW, that if we elect them they will investigate the last two presidential elections, pursue all possible criminal conduct on the part of Bush & Co., find out what Cheney and the oil barons were talking about in 2001, investigate Halliburton, give us the truth about 9/11, close down Gitmo and find out who ordered all the torture, end extraordinary rendition, end corporate welfare and enforce antitrust laws.

So far, I haven't heard any prominent Democrats promising any of this. Maybe I've missed it.

The Old Turk #26-#29

If only I were not human and could resist all the pressures we all are facing all the time. I can not, and as you say, wax "cranky" at times.

Hey, if we did not think we are in danger, it would not bother us. It bothers me sometimes, just like it does all of us.

Some people can handle it 100% all the time. Not me, I weaken and lose the courtesy I was taught to hang on to. I was taught to blame those who did it, not the victims. Yet I fail. Only thing to do is apologize, which I do, and move on.

Like John and others say, we are on a train and the bridge is out up ahead. Yeah, reason for concern, but not reason to become adverse to fellow train riders who want to avoid the train wreck too.

Thanks for your consideration.

That's a good list, Robert. I'd also like them to disappear bush's tax cuts for the richest.
I do like "pursue all possible criminal conduct". God, yes. In fact it boggles my mind that the LAW being completely trashed & ignored seemingly does not bother ALOT of people!
And far too often in discussions about the NSA wiretap issue the focus is on privacy rather than ILLEGALITY.

Daily Kos Will Ban U #43

I don't know the scope of your dems are the lesser of two evils hypothesis.

But I think that the republican regime and the republican rubber stamp congress prove you to be correct within that scope.

It remains to be seen, in November, whether your argument applies in the broader context.

It may depend on whether or not social consciousness can be maintained after the republican dictatorship injects us with more shock drugs: torture, spying on us, wars, deficits, Katrinas, and lies.

If something comes along and shocks even the kool aiders back into unconsciousness, the republican dictatorship goes up in the polls, then your hypothesis will be shown to be even more expansive than even you anticipated.

But for now I see your hypothesis standing up solid in the context I think it was intended to apply to.

Dredd,
Yeah, it IS getting scary. Well, you used the word 'concern'. I'd say 'damn scary' but that's just me.
But re #54-- that's what I like about you & alot of the people who come here: you can admit you're not right all the time.
If only people in positions of power would realize that a little humility & the ability to admit a mistake are signs of strength, not weakness.
Although in terms of their character flaws, that's not even close to the top of the list.

You know, I don't know how there can be a shred of doubt in anybody's mind that the democrats, for all their flaws, are presently the "lesser of two evils".

Christ, to my mind, it's like comparing Al Capone to... I dunno... a burglar who cheats on his wife.

It's refreshing to read so many comments from those who've awoken to the many anomalous elements of the so-called "oppostional" party. Doesn't make a lot of sense, does it? And I'm simply unable to buy that they're all "in denial."

Blatant, routine failure to capitalize on the ghoulish deeds of the right, their war profiteers and the Christo-fascists does indeed lead one to suspect more than just a bit of behind-the-scenes "divide and rule" ruse within high levels of the Dem party ...made all the more topical by Hillary's recent compliments of Bush (!!!?) and the convergence of her and Murdock.

Al can be funny, but if "funny" is used to, or ends up serving to, disuade the public from legitimate concerns over ever increasingly dire constitutional issues/scandals et al - which is the capacity already served by MSM's propaganda effort, something one would imagine Air America should counter - than it's time to push for the indie sources to either snap out of denial or take it somewhere else if they're figuratively on the right's payroll. People need to be informed of so many facts now, before the war on Iran escalates further.

Anyone pimping democrats these days either doesn't remember the '90s or is such a suckup party hack that s/he is in danger of disappearing up Al Franken's ass.

Pissant pundit wannabes like Malloy & Franken will whine about how Ralph Nader and the Green Party and the Socalists are responsible for everthing wrong with their wonderful democorp party. These shills for The Other War Party will accuse anyone who dares to dessent from this lameass strategery of being spys for The War Party.

At the same time, they'll offer the usual quick fixes, empty promises and lip service you've heard for the last 20 years. And just like always, in the end, you'll get NOTHING! for your support.

Voting for the democorporate / republicorporate party this year will get you exactly the the same thing it got you in 04. Two more years of bloody war. Two more years of electoral fraud. Two more years of looting the federal government, cronyism and corporate welfare.

The only sane vote is 3RD PARTY AND INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE.

Just wanted to give a heads-up for Greg Palast on C-SPAN's Washington Journal tomorrow a.m.

http://www.gregpalast.com/

Americans of this era have a tremendous problem:

Our country and our traditional liberties are under heavy attack from within, not without. Yet many of us, don't seem to be aware of it or even worse, refuse to believe it. To compound matters, many of those who are aware that there's a problem, don't seem to grasp its true dimensions.

The appalling obliviousness and denial, of mainstream America is the single greatest problem plaguing the nation today. It enables a host of other serious problems such as voting fraud, governemt corruption, and will ultimately determine the fate of the nation. Public ignorance in this country stems from a number of key factors, most important of which are miseducation, a corrupt mainstream media, and corrupt mainstream politcal parties. The cleverest way to subjugate a nation in this era of modern mass communications, is to blind the population via the news media. This is why the mainstream, and many so-called "alternative" media outlets, consistently blackout certain important issues. The second method of subjugation is via corrupt political parties. This is why the Dims always find a way to roll over for the GOP and Whitehouse, even though there's no valid political reason for them to do so. Kerry's 2004 campaign is a classic case of political duplicity. He was supposed to be a legitimate candidate for the Presidency, yet he virtually gave Bush a second term on a silver platter!

Both parties encourage lively left vs right, and liberal vs conservative division. The end result of which, is always further assault on the constitution or the system of checks and balances. If one analyses the Democratic performance since 2000, one finds a remarkable record of collusion and inaction. Since that time, Democrats have ceased being an active opposition, routinely rolling over for GOP and whitehouse initiatives which often include blatant criminal activity. This is an alarming development; which given our distinctive system of government, can only be explained by the corruption in both parties. The American "two party" system demands an opposition party, since 2000, we haven't had one. This is even more remarkable, with the political hay that could've been made at the expense of the disastrous Bush presidency.

The smokescreen of "fighting terrorism" has also blinded us to what's going on right under our noses. A sophisticated, well coordinated, assault on key pillars of our way of life, has been mounted from within trusted institutions. This attack is manned by the GOP but ablely facilitated by the Dims. If mainstream America continues to allow itself to be sucked in, by the illusion of "business as usual", the result will be the establishment of a full-blown Soviet style system here in the U.S. The "Neo-cons", some of whom like to call themselves both Republicans and conservatives, are in reality totalitarian Trotskyites. This makes them quite adept at dismantling constitutional systems and erecting brutal tyrannies. We mustn't forget how efficient their predecessors performed the job in Russia!

How ironic it would be, if in spite of having gone through the "cold war", we Americans allowed them to do it here! It would be even worse of course, if we allowed this to occur because we were too smug or too foolish to heed the ample warnings! It's therefore vitally important for those opposed to these people, to understand the importance of actually knowing who we're up against, and calling a "spade a spade". To do otherwise, merely confuses the issue, allowing the Neo-cons to continue to fool people, by masquerading as conservatives, republicans, liberals, and of course democrats.

This page felt like cold turkey after the NY Times coup, but was a very good one with lots of food for thought.

Very special mention for --davidgmills-- Thanks!

AlanSmithee #60

Americans can't stand those 90's times where a balanced budget, surplus, peacetime for the most part, no constant fear alerts from the government, jailing of those who bombed the two towers, high presidential approval ratings, and low gasoline rates, dominated the scene.

It is something americans just can't handle according to your fantasy.

If you need fear, go see the movie (Apocalypto).

DavidGMills #44

I only had time to read the first few pages of your brief. I salute you for your courage.

I noted that you cited the 6th Circuit Stewart v Blackwell case. I note that you also cited a Tennessee Supreme Court case, Mooney v Phillips, on page 10 (pdf).

I stopped reading there, because I think you need to be prepared for a counter argument and cover it in your reply brief or your oral argument.

The problem is that you are asking your intermediate appellate court to overturn the Mooney decision of the supreme court of your jurisdiction.

Interestingly, the Stewart v Blackwell court addressed that issue in its decision, and said that an intermediate court cannot reverse or ignore the decisions of its superiors. The dissent in Stewart had urged just that.

Perhaps the state law in Tennessee is different from all the jurisdictions I know of where this is not appropriate. Lower courts must follow the rulings of higher courts. The alternate invites disarray and discord.

I don't think I would have made that argument, even tho it is an argument that should be made somewhere. In other words, Mooney is bad law, but the court you are before does not have the authority to overturn Mooney.

However if you do not prevail for that reason in the lower court, you have a very valid argument in the Tennesse Supreme Court that it should overturn its ill-advised Mooney decision.

AlanSmithee #60

Those pimping lies don't have a clue.

The polls are "pimping democrats these days", and they must "remember the '90's", cause the polls compare your republican dictator wannabe to President William Jefferson Clinton, to wit:

"Respondents favored Clinton by greater than 2-to-1 margins when asked who did a better job at handling the economy (63 percent Clinton, 26 percent Bush) and solving the problems of ordinary Americans (62 percent Clinton, 25 percent Bush).

When asked which man was more honest as president, poll respondents were more evenly divided, with the numbers --- 46 percent Clinton to 41 percent Bush ... for a question on handling national security: 46 percent said Clinton performed better; 42 percent picked Bush" (link here, bold added).

Aha ... somebody is pimping for da man ... AlanSmithee ...

I listen to AIR-AMERICA when I can because I can"t stand the main stream media. But I have quit listing to AL FRANKEN because I think him and Joe Leiberman, Biden, H.CLINTON are REPUBLICAN lights and AL. FRANKEN is always trying to make any one that anyone that thinks the 2000, AND 2004 Election was stolen by the Die-BOLD machines are ASSES. SO I quit listing to him but RANDI WILL SAY THAT ELECTIONS WERE STOLEN. H.D.COLE

Bobby Kennedy has spoke on election fraud on his Air America Radio show "Ring of Fire" which he hosts with Mike Papantonio.

Here is his interview with Harvey Wasserman
http://www.ringoffireradio.com/show.asp?jid=105

Here is RFK Jr. interview on election fraud with Mark Crispin Miller.
http://www.ringoffireradio.com/show.asp?jid=102

Another show with RFK Jr. and Harvey Wasserman.

OK. This is graphic, but here's how I see it.

The difference between the Dems and the Reps (for this 2006 mid-term only --- all bets are off after that) is this:

Voting for the Dems is like drinking pee.
Voting for the Reps is like drinking poison.

Drinking the pee is not my idea of a great time, but it will NOT kill you. Drinking poison will.

WE must vote.

We must get our FRIENDS to register and vote..

We must get our ACQUAINTANCES to register and vote.

We must get EVERYBODY WE CAN to register and vote.

Especially, we must get all the people who have LEFT THE ELECTORAL PROCESS to come back and "vote one more time" in November 2006.

WE MAY NEVER GET ANOTHER CHANCE IN OUR LIFETIMES.

This is not just a "political choice" about which party or which set of ideas we want to lead us into the future (yes, the likely answer is NEITHER OF THEM, I acknowledge that). This is a question of whether our very democracy will survive to give us that choice.

IF we put a Democratic congress and senate into place, I think there is a SLIM CHANCE that we can save this mess. If we do NOT, the chances go down to zero. Oh, and btw, most pundits claim the Senate is 55 to 45 Republicans --- it isn't. It's more like 60-40, because we can't count Liberman ("Kiss of death") or Biden ("You're the 'real deal' Ms. Rice, I LIKE you."), or H. Clinton (Hey, gays and abortion rights activists, just shut up, why don't you.) or many others to be on our side when the time comes.

If we do not beat them this November 7, we may never get another chance.

What happens on November 7 and 8, 2006 is either the end of the beginning or the beginning of the end. Our willingness to be strong will determine which.

Charlie L
Portland, OR

Dredd:

You make a valid point. Almost never will an inferior court attempt to overturn a decision of a higher court. But there are rare exceptions. One is where federal law or US Constitutional law conflicts with the prior decision of hte higher court. I have that going for me. And secondly, often inferior courts, even if they think they obligated to follow precedence, will make their dissatisfaction known and call attention to it, in essence begging the higher court to revisit the prior decision. I ultimately want the Supreme Court to overturn Moony so in essence I am asking the Court of Appeals to overturn it with federal law if they think they can, but if not at least call attention to the problem to encourage Supreme Court Review.

DavidGMills #70

My position is that in all the jurisdictions wherein I have briefed intermediate appellate courts, they can not overturn a higher court, because they are bound to obey the law.

And the law is what the supreme court of the jurisdiction says it is.

However, I will try to get them to distinguish a case on its facts, or argue that the law has changed.

But I would never urge them to overrule a higher court.

And here again, the law of a particular jurisdiction must be taken into account. Tennesse may be a strange jurisdiction like Louisiana (do not follow common law of England, follow code napolean instead) and be a maverick jurisdiction.

For instance intermediate appellate courts, in the jurisdictions where I have briefed them, are not bound by decisions of the federal circuit courts of appeal.

They are only bound by the federal Supreme Court, as is the state supreme court of those state jurisdictions.

That is why it is extremely important in pleadings and in briefs to clearly distinguish federal law claims from state law claims.

Otherwise it will bite you when you least expect it.

Anyway, good luck and keep us posted.

Rudraksha beads, the holy beads scientifically called as Elaeocarpus Ganitrus. Rudraksha comes from Sanskrit word and literally stands for the "eyes of Lord Shiva"( means rudra=shiva, aksham=tear of an eye) .
Lord Shiva is an important deity of vedic age (125000yrs B.P.) and is depicted wearing rosary of Rudraksha beads in the icon of different historical era. So it reveals that the merit of Rudraksha are first realized by Shiva himself and handed over to benefit of later generation. This holy Rudraksha beads have been worn by the people of Nepal and India for thousand of years to maintain physical and mental health and to gain fearless life on their spiritual path to enlighten and liberation.
:laugh: