Blogged by Brad on the road…after 5 days offline, but not off the job (unfortunately)…
After a car breakdown in Kansas, in the middle of nowhere, literally, we’re now $650 lighter, but back up and running and closer than ever to the West Coast. And what’s the matter with Kansas? Nothing. The folks who helped us out of a jam were aces. With a few meetings over the next week between here and home, and some hot feature articles and other super-secret missions that I’m working on in the background, we’ll be back no later than late next week. With much to come the following week.
In the meantime, here’s a couple of quickies…
+ I’ll be back on Peter B. Collins’ show tonight in my usual weekly 5:20pm PT (8:20pm ET) slot to discuss the latest developements (and a few unpublished details) in the Clint Curtis/Tom Feeney election, the Busby/Bilbray matter, and anything else that comes to mind. Listen up online here or call in to say hello! We’d love to hear from you! 1-888-573-8372.
UPDATE: Peter B. called earlier after another guest had to drop at the last minute, so I went on about 15 minutes early. If you tried to tune in, but missed the first part of the interview — including some previously unpublished details of Tom Feeney’s beer-fueled election night flip out last Tuesday — the interview is now archived here for your listening pleasure.
One section dropped out briefly from my recording, concerning the story I wrote for Hustler on Ray Lemme. Lemme was the man from the Florida Inspector General’s office who was mysteriously found dead just prior to releasing the results of his “all the way to the top” report (as it was described by vote-rigging whistleblower turned congressional candidate, Clint Curtis) in a Valdosta, Georgia hotel room. That report, which was published in Hustler’s September issue — and warning: it contains some graphic crime scene photos — is available in porn-free PDF format right here in case you missed it.
+ Watch PBS’ NOW tonight (Friday) at 8:30pm ET for their report billed as “DOWN FOR THE COUNT: Will new voting machines cause an Election Day debacle? NOW takes an alarming look at the new systems in place, ready or not.” If this quote from the now-resigned, formerly Bush-appointed first head of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission is any indication, it could be an ugly report: “We are no more certain today than we were in 2000 that we will not have an embarrassing moment and a tragic outcome in this year’s election,” Deforest Soaries, former Chairman of the Election Assistance Commission, told NOW. (Hat tip to Oregon Voting Rights Coalition for the heads-up! Check the NOW page for air times in your area.)
UPDATE: The PBS NOW report was tremendous. You can now watch the video here…
Brad,
How is it that anytime anyone considers thinking about maybe using the words “internet voting” out loud the activist and blog communities immediately speak out but when 24 states allow UOCAVA voters to fax ballots?(source) Or how about the handful of states that allow the email casting of ballots?(source, FVAP state-by-state)
Where is the blogging community on this? This is a real and current threat. These are technologies without encryption, and require voters to waive their right to a secret ballot.
Mike
He’s already on! Started a bit early!! Don’t miss it!!
I Got my ears on too . . .
Well… sounded pretty good… what of it I caught. Peter B. jumped the gun on us…. Brad, it’s just fabulous how you keep your wits about you on the air. We need to plug you in via earphones to a large number of public officials.
woo-hoooo! i made it on the air to thank Brad for his work on the Fair Election Process, which can really never be overstated…and I got to point out a little bit of why I think Clint Curtis is nearly the proto-typical candidate for the Dem’s and for politics as a whole….because though he(Clint Curtis) has become to an unfair degree been caricatured prematurely by many as a single-topic obsessed candidate, he is in actuality, far from it. He does put it out there as far putting out legitimate, well thought-out, yet not end-all-be-all, solutions to the real bevy of issues out there…Iraq, Fuel/Energy Independence, Health Care, Surplus Imports, and more…. If the Dems had a nationwide network of candidates that put it out there like Mr. Curtis, the party would be far less on its heels, and would have this country on a far better track for the future….
anyways, I guess I should have worked in the suggestion that maybe Clint Curtis should maybe run under the theme Orange Revolution II, A Revolution of Fair Solutions…Florida is “The Orange State” after all:)
Hey Brad, we’re waitin’ for ya! Somebody put another log on the fire…
Everybody, listen to me
And return me, my ship
I’m your captain, I’m your captain
Although I’m feeling mighty sick
I’ve been lost now, days uncounted
And it’s months since I’ve seen home
Can you hear me, can you hear me
Or am I all alone
If you return me, to my home port
I will kiss you mother earth
Take me back now, take me back now
To the port of my birth
Am I in my cabin dreaming, or are you really scheming
To take my ship away from me?
You’d better think about it, I just can’t live without it
So, please don’t take my ship from me
Yeah, yeah, yeah…
I can feel the hand, of a stranger
And it’s tightening, around my throat
Heaven help me, Heaven help me
Take this stranger from my boat
I’m your captain, I’m your captain
Although I’m feeling mighty sick
Everybody, listen to me
And return me, my ship
I’m your captain, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (4)
I’m getting closer to my home…(4)
Oh…
I’m getting closer to my home…(4)
Grand Funk ©1970 Storybook
I’m Your Captain / Closer To Home
Written by – Mark Farner
From – Closer To Home
Peaked at #22 – 10/70
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roRToNoL41g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-I7Zq1dvk8
re #7 On Bass, the late John Entwistle 1944 – 2004 R.I.P.
History shows things happen to brave people standing up to challenge the status quo. I hope Brad has put his thoughts on tape and sent them by mail to friends. It can be done quickly and cheaply and the tapes can be sent fron any post office anywhere on the road. Flat rate boxes are available for free from the post office and stamps in the correct amount can be attached for speed in mailing. Please do not let your information become lost or stolen Brad. Send it to your friends.
Yes, it is a streak of suspicion that makes me worry. We thank you for your tireless efforts Brad. Getting older, it becomes more apparent how forgetful we can be. Very busy young people can also forget a thing or two. That’s why the suggestion to send tapes.
Nice spot on Peter B’s show Brad! Great to hear a couple of smart guys chatting up our democracy!
I liked Brad’s radio appearance so much, I sent money!