Slow getting started today, as both my body and brain conspired against me to insist we slow down for just a few early hours this morning so that we can all get back on the same page. Though I fought off the mutiny originally, eventually we’ve worked out an agreement that I can catch up with a few items this afternoon and evening, as long as I promise to go a bit easier on them for a while to allow full rejuvenation in the days and weeks ahead. I’ll try to keep that promise to both my brain and body. Don’t tell them, however, but I’ve reserved the right to veer from that course as events on the ground warrant (and they do warrant, so we’ll see.)
But for a start then today, I’ll let Bev Harris of BlackBoxVoting.org do some of the early heavy lifting. She has some concerns, which caught our eye, about Rumsfeld’s announced replacement, Robert Gates, as DefSec. Described by Wonkette as “an Iran-Contra crook and ex-CIA chief,” Harris’s concerns about Gates revolve around his involvement as Director of a mysterious E-Voting group. She writes in a noteworthy article posted at SCOOP today…
Gates was on the board of directors of VoteHere, a strange little company that was the biggest elections industry lobbyist for the Help America Vote Act (HAVA). VoteHere spent more money than ES&S, Diebold, and Sequoia combined to help ram HAVA through. And HAVA, of course, was a bill sponsored by convicted Abramoff pal Bob Ney and K-street lobbyist/buddy Steny Hoyer. HAVA put electronic voting on steroids.
You can find copies of the VoteHere lobbying forms here:
http://sopr.senate.gov/cgi-win/m_opr_viewer.exe?DoFn=0
I can’t get them to save to pdf, perhaps you can. Enter search terms in both “registrant” and “client” fields and put in terms “Rhoads” “Livingston” and “Votehere” (one at a time.). Then look at the gravy train while it was in the process of derailing American democracy.
Much more in her SCOOP scoop…
Thanks for this thread, Brad. I’d received an email from Bev Harris so I thought I’d share it on the blog. Nice job in bringing it all to the fore for us.
Once again, ulterior motives trump honest representation in the selection of this nominee for such a critical position in our government. I’ve also heard that he barely scraped by without being indicted during the Iran Contra Affair due to his manipulation of intel. Same old story….and two areas of massive corruption in this administration….the manipulation of intelligence and the corrupt voting machine mess….this guy’s fingerprints are in both of these….can him before he gets any traction, Congress! He’s the absolute WRONG man for the job….dangerously wrong. Forewarned is forearmed, Dems! Stick to your guns on this one and DO NOT vote him into office.
Besides, aren’t there alternative choices of ANY honest Republicans who are qualified for this position that we don’t have to reduce ourselves to known corrupt/borderline individuals with shady connections to organized corruption??????? Guess not!
Interesting related info on Gates’ background is recently posted on WMR
oops, somehow the link didn’t work last post of mine: WMR is at http://www.waynemadsenreport.com
The Democrats will not get much of a chance to derail Gates, as he will be jammed through before they take control.
Of course, they could use this as an “object lesson” in how thoroughly the Republicans are NOT CAPABLE of being bi-partisan or cooperative. Bush has told them who their guy is, and they will jam him down America’s collective throat (or up our backsides) whether we want it or not.
The “embedded crypto” aspect is quite interesting. It would be quite useful if you had access to the voting machines to make sure that whatever you did was not easily discovered or traceable. Thank goodness it is almost impossible to gain access to one of those machines (smirk).
War crimes suit prepared against Rumsfeld…
http://www.democracynow.org/art.../11/09/1444246
Gates tied to Iran Contra scandal, and arming Sadaam Hussein……..
http://www.democracynow.org/art.../11/09/1444242
WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO DUMP CABLE AND GET DISH FOR DEMOCRACY NOW! NEWS?????????????????
Juan Gonzalez analyzes the new Congress…points out that for the first time ever, blacks, latinos, & women will be house committee chairmen. Even when dems last controlled congress, many “dixicrat” dems headed chairmanships….VERY INSIGHTFUL ANALYSIS!!!
http://www.democracynow.org/art.../11/09/1444242
Floridiot,.. our trusty web info researcher and archivist pulled up a nice article on Gates/SAIC/Vote Here,…
=========
COMMENT #63 [Permalink]
… Floridiot said on 11/9/2006 @ 1:54 pm PT…
Cloverleaf and Joan, if Gates is ex CIA, he probably worked for SAIC at one time too
And Rubin had stock and was on the board of Vote Here at one time also
LINK
(hope he does not mind I moved it up here,.. good article.)
Thanks for the link old turk! good one…I particularly find it interesting what strange bedfellows all of these “kindred spirits” happen to be – especially struck, of course, by Carlucci and the Carlyle group whom we know were in town on 9/10 for their big meeting with Papa Bush and were secretly flown out while air space was ostensibly closed to air traffic. Hmmmmm….think we need to closely scrutinize all of these connections….Keep the research coming – we’re devouring it and passing it on. It’s my contention that Papa B has been at the root of all of the problems in this country beginning with his role in the CIA in the Kennedy assasination coverup…..more to come out, no doubt.
Charlie # 5 Regarding access to the voting machines. Santorum was/is asking for some machines to be impounded. Rove will probably put a stop to that though.
(Two wins that surprised me were Reynolds and Lieberman )
“Pennsylvania GOP officials claimed there were reports that some machines were changing Republican votes to Democratic votes.”
http://kdka.com/topstories/loca...311194635.html
What about McCain? That would be the healing, sensible appointment…but nnnnoooouuuuuoooo! Has to be an ex-Iran Contra spook bringing back the same rank stench as Poindexter, North and the other Bush I era criminals. The sequel is really, really bad here. Please we must try, convict and imprison these democracy-hating bottom dwellers once and for all. Break out a 5 gallon drum of neo-con be-gone.
VoteHere – Bellevue WA – Contact Name = Jennifer Curley (Reichert). She used to use the Curley-Reichert hypenation in her college bio. She is married to tobacco lawyer Paul R. Reichert (shills for RJR). Of note…Dave Reichert is the Repug Congressman in WA-8. Have not found the connection yet. Need help!
Very interesting Craig, this “thing” bounces around the country, at least twice, and ends at the DOD…
On another note, our other friend, Ms Lynn Landes, ran a citizen audit (with others) in Pennsylvania and found out…
I’ll let you read it
Link
and I don’t mind you passing on info Old Turk, thats what its here for, to out the evil bastards 😉
I love this …
“”. . .we have found that there is substantial evidence the President, the Vice-President and other high ranking members of the Bush Administration misled Congress and the American people regarding the decision to go to war in Iraq; misstated and manipulated intelligence information regarding the justification for such war; countenanced torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment in Iraq; and permitted inappropriate retaliation against critics of their Administration. There is at least a prima facie case that these actions that federal laws have been violated ““ from false statements to Congress to retaliating against Administration critics.” — John Conyers, Incoming Chairman of House Judiciary Committee.
Fasten your seat belts in 2007, things are going to get a bit bumpy.”
http://www.waynemadsenreport.com/
Mick, thats why the big shredding truck over at Cheneys bunker last week, he knew the Dems were coming to get him, he-he
Floridiot you got it !
I coulda` been the first one that said this.
But I kept my mouth shut.
Ayway. I dunno what the f. to say.
I personaly ain’t qualified to do Rumsfields’ JOB.
I would either have a lot of IRAQ blood or American Blood on my hands. — IF I HAD TO DO THE JOB.
iraq blood via 100% exit.
american blood via DRAFT and 1M force.
+ all the crap we need . I mean FIREARMS, DEFENSE, ETC. NOT FUCKING BASES.
Although, the path from the airport to baghdad would be CLEARED BY ME!!! MOTHERFUCKER
OH shit I didn’t even comment on the CIA guy…
I been to central America.
I don’t like machine guns in the churches! (WHat I saw)
I don’t like this bullshit 10YEARS AFTER OLLY NORTH CREW.
I think it’s time for some OVERSIGHT!
HELLO DEMOCRATS!~!
BTW – I was in Guatamala, Tikal, and Costa Rica in 1974
Cloverleaf at #10
Could you source the comment on Carlyle folks flying out of NYC during the time commercial aircraft were cleared from airspace on 9-11. I have not seen that anywhere.
Floridiot…I need a contact or link to Old Turk….finding some good stuff on shared addresses by VoteHere on Repugs.
Craig
Maureen Dowd’s take on why Bob Gates was selected:
A Come-to-Daddy Moment
– Tom
Re: Comment #21 Suds:
I believe the source was Veterans For 9/11 Truth with the following url – http://www.v911t.org/SergeantLauroChavez.php and if it isn’t the specific one, let me know – I, literally, have about a hundred different accounts of discrepancies between the “official report” and what people actually witnessed.
Rumsfeld personally supervised torture, says Human Rights Watch
http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com...e2949c0884ff3a
Human Rights Watch says it believes U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld could be criminally liable for the torture of a detainee at Guantanamo Bay in late 2002 and 2003.
The universally respected international organization was commenting on an Army Inspector General’s report which contains a sworn statement by Lt. Gen. Randall M. Schmidt that implicates Secretary Rumsfeld.
The report, obtained by Salon.com, was based on an investigation that was carried out in early 2005, and included two interviews with Rumsfeld. In the report Gen. Schmidt describes the defense secretary as being “personally involved” in the interrogation of detainee Mohammad al-Qahtani.
Human Rights Watch has urged the U.S. to name a special prosecutor to investigate the culpability of Rumsfeld and others in the al-Qahtani case.
“The question at this point is not whether Secretary Rumsfeld should resign, it’s whether he should be indicted,” said Joanne Mariner, Terrorism and Counterterrorism Program director at Human Rights Watch. “General Schmidt’s sworn statement suggests that Rumsfeld may have been perfectly aware of the abuses inflicted on al-Qahtani.”
more…
Does anyone think that an immediate war crimes suit was files against Rumsfeld in Germany, the second he stepped down? Geez, I do!!! Nuthin? Sorry….
…more on war crimes charges against Rumsfeld…
How about some charges against Limbaugh and Hannity?
http://www.time.com/time/nation...557842,00.html
I was reading Bev’s thingy about votehere, and this always crosses my mind…THEY KNOW DAMN WELL ABOUT THIS!!! IF WE KNOW IT, THEY KNOW IT, BUSH KNEW IT WHEN HE NOMINATED HIM!!! WTF???
You can be DAMN SURE EVERYONE KNOWS THIS…Pelosi knows it, Bushco, etc…they better not approve this scumbag, we’re watching!!!!! All you Dems we just voted for? We’re watching YOU TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Everyone needs to pressure our newly-elected congress to look into VoteHere and Gates’ intimate connections with corrupt EVM industry….not to mention his intimacy with Irangate, etc.
The point is that this election went fairly smoothly because they knew there was going to be an avalanche of votes for Dems and there was no way for them to do something masterful without getting caught. So they decided to sacrifice the midterms in order to reinstate a sense of safety and security in the minds of the american people regarding these corruptible, hackable voting machines in an effort to “lull” american voters into a sense of complacency and false security and then, whammo!, the big election is stolen in 08!. We absolutely cannot take our eye off the ball right now because we are wise to the dirty tricks of this GOP.
Ironically, at precisely the same time, in walks Rummy’s replacement in the form of a known lobbyist for the largest voting industry lobby who raised more money than Diebold, ESS, and Sequoia combined to ram through the supposed boon to the handicapped voters (but really a legitimate way to begin stealing elections with any trace of having done so) in the form of the Help Americans Vote Act (HAVA)….sponsored by abrahamoff’s pal, newly-indicted Bob Ney….(what webs we weave!)- about to waltz into a position of power and authority….not to mention his ties to the corrupt voting machine industry….NOT SO SOON, the american public say to the nomination of Robert Gates!!
Gates needs to be scrutinized very carefully – you could say his entry into the playing field at precisely this time is simply “coincidental” or “serendipitous”, as we may later discover….however, it’s clear that losing elections was foremost on their mind so who pops into their mind simultaneously but their very own, Robert Gates! Aha! What amazing connection of dots, eh?
PEOPLE NEED TO BE EVEN MORE VIGILANT AND DEDICATED TO PRESSURING OUR NEW CONGRESS INTO EITHER FIXING THIS INTENTIONAL VULNERABILITY IN OUR VOTING SYSTEM (AN ASPECT OF OUR DEMOCRACY) OR GET RID OF EVM’s all together! I say ship them back to the makers who ensured us that they could not be hacked. Isn’t that a violation of their “guarantee” at point of sale?? Or False advertising? Bring these culprits to testimony….subpoena them all so we can get to the bottom of this american travesty of justice and scam on the american people.
THE CHENEY-GATES CABAL (BY RAY MCGOVERN)
http://www.antiwar.com/mcgovern/?articleid=9988
DEMS: INVESTIGATE CHENEY’S SECRET ENERGY MEETINGS!!!
http://tvnewslies.org/blog/?p=486
Thanks,Big Dan! This was one of the 9/11 WarGames (NORAD) url’s someone asked for. This is just the tip of a huge iceberg of lies & deceit about 9/11. America is waking up from the delusion of honesty in their government….witnessed by the recent poll about wanting a new 9/11 investigation. This is really where the “war crimes” began….and the calculated destruction of our constitutional rights. Everyone needs to check out Big Dan’s url listed above.
now that the plausibility of this administration in “doing whatever it takes….aka a New Pearl Harbor” is clear, people will have to come to terms with the potential reality of it all.
Cloverleaf, I’m with you. I wish MORE people would take time to study the whole 9/11 scenario. I believe fully understanding 9/11 is the key.
“Olive Branch”, “partnership”, “work together”. I asked my friend who doesn’t follow politics, “Have you heard the words ‘olive branch’ a lot in the last 2 days?” He said, “Yeah! What’s up w/dat?”
The CMSM/Republican talking points in the media are “olive branch”, etc…so we all are so happy about the Republican minority, we don’t pursue throwing Republicans in the slammer, and appeal to our good nature, and forget about how Bush got a couple hundred thousand people killed, and we don’t push impeachment.
“Olive branch”…who’s saying that??? The corporate mainstream media who wants us all to “fuggeddaboutit” and just be happy happy about the Republican minority.
NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CMSM wants to appeal to our nice sides…a criminal’s last hope is “let’s work together”, “olive branch”…etc…so they don’t get thrown in the slammer.
Where was the “olive branch” when the Republicans controlled the entire govt and rubber-stamped 6 years of ruining America? Does the CMSM’s “olive branch” talking point appeal to your good nature, and you want to drop everything you were talking about before the vote turned out the way we wanted???
Oh, now that we’re in the minority, “let’s all work together”…THAT’S BECAUSE IT’S THE CRIMINALS’ ONLY SHOT LEFT NOW!
All the leakers like Sibel Edmonds etc…should all come forward to “friendly” committee chairmen of the Dem party, spill your guts!!! You couldn’t since 1994!!!
All the leakers are going to come forward now, and while they’re busy with that, Brad and Clint are going to prove evote fraud!
I’m predicting an onslaught of leakers and whistleblowers, now that the Dems hold all the committee chairmanships!!!!!!!!!!!!! And I’m predicting the impeachment of GW Bush! No “olive branch”…
Oh, and btw? We have Sean Hannity dressed up with a turban on a fake unauthenticated Al Queda video the CMSM of course runs with, to grab the Friday heading into the weekend headlines, instead of the Gates/Iran Contra stories.
It would appear that the modus operandi of the new congress will be to chip away from the top (where we currently are) down….rather than vice versa….where it all really began (9/11 to present). Reversing the process will take much longer to connect dots and fully comprehend how it we’ve gotten to where we are today. I believe that this midterm was a clear mandate of the american people to this administration that we fully intend to investigate everything and leave no stone unturned. It’s critical to the healing of this democracy. This democracy has taken a 6 year hit from which it may take decades to recover, if we ever do. There is always a tipping point or a point of no return in all things and my fear is that, if we sit back now and “expect” our government to work for us and become compacent, nothing will happen. This election also had a caveat to the Democratic party that, while they are now the part of choice, that choice was made with the mandate to end the corruption in Washington and to vigorously investigate, subpoena, and prosecute those who have so flagrantly violated our laws….regardless of what political position they hold. We must assume that this administration is capable of just about “anything” to get their agenda accomplished….and that goes without exception. They’ve proven it time and again that they have no regard for the people whom they serve and who pay their salaries….This President still hasn’t acquired the insight necessary to see that he’s made some horrendous errors in judgment and can’t seen to be able, with his infallibility factor, to admit that HE is the problem and that the buck (in all things) stops there…no more blame game…no more pointing fingers and throwing people around him under the next bus. It’s time for HIM to answer the questions of the american people….and we deserve truthful answers…no more admitting lying to the press….the american people have spoken loudly and will have no more of it.
Hi Big Dan – just read your post…good stuff. Olive branches? Maybe they should start hugging trees together? It’s a nice cursory gesture, certainly, but this GOP deserves much, much less after the groveling they’ve made the Dems do for the last 6 years….providing hot, basement rooms for meetings to Conyers, Pelosi, and the rest for their hearings and doing their absolute best to inconvenience everyone involved. Disgusting treatment they’ve endured…I was ashamed to see Conyers conducting his Downing Street meeting in some cockroach-infested closet of a room – ugh! The longer the Dems continue this crock of crap about olive branches, the weaker they sound and the less confidence the american people begin to have in them overall. The people want to see them as strong, invincible…and unyielding about their intention to fully investigate all of the wrongdoing and potentially criminal actions of this administration. If they fail to jump in immediately and with conviction, they will seal their own doom. This midterm was a mix: People totally disgusted with the Repubs and hoping that the Dems have the stones to do what’s right. So far, I’m neither convinced that anyone other than Howard Dean has the gahonas to get anything done. Pelosi needs to get over herself and her self-aggrandizing nonsense about being the first woman speaker…or she’ll be trampled by the herd and quickly. From what I’ve seen on the blogs today, the american public is not very impressed with all of the sycophantic behavior of the new Democratic leadership….if they keep it up, they’ll be down and out even before they get cranked up in January.
The people have clearly spoken for change – if the Dems don’t have the guts to press for change, then so be it and the people will give the power back to the Republicans in a heartbeat. Time will tell….
Do y’all suppose the Dems are feeling the waters to see how much WE THE PEOPLE want them to do? Well, just in case, LET’S MAKE A HECKUVA LOTTA NOISE. Impeach and then PROSECUTE. That’s what this tsunami uprising wants.
IMPEACH FOR CHANGE
Sign the petition!
Raw link – IMPEACH FOR CHANGE {Link edited -Kira}
Booman Tribune — lots of links & talk!
I got the feeling we’re just getting started folks. Don’t any of youse turn off the alarm & go back to sleep!!! 🙂
{Ed note: 2nd link should work now. -Kira}
Kira #38, your first link is not working.
{Ed Note: It’s working now, Kira and Laura, everyone. –99}
Hi 99 – woops? I guess we crossed paths. THANKS for fixing links – hope I didn’t UN-fix them!
In addition to Wayne Madsen (who is a good info source generally IMHO), investigative journo Robert Parry has written plenty about Gates and the Iran-Contra scandal, and the preceding treasonous or near-treasonous “October Surprise” affair of 1980 (which helped blow Pres. Jimmy Carter’s chances for re-election) in his books and his website at consortiumnews.com. See this particular article especially:
http://www.consortiumnews.com/2006/110906.html
So Gates is into illegal weapon deals, fixing elections, manipulating intel for specific results, lying to Congress, and, oh yeah, giving money to Bin Ladin.
It sounds to me like he’ll fit right into the Bush 43 White House.
All they’ll have to do is introduce him to Abramoff and teach him to text message teenage boys and he’ll be the prefect Republican for 2008.
Big Dan et al,
Still have alot to read on this thread but I had to say–since I have to get out of the house soon–yeah, Big Dan, I fear you’re right, that they know all this & it just stinks. We are up against a huge dirty behemoth, not just one thing but a web of interconnected dirty corporations.
Not just David & Goliath but David & Goliath International Incorporated.
I just read the Landes Report about Gates & SAIC & Vote Here—SAIC pleading guilty to 10 counts of environmental fraud in, was it 1990?
Christ, it’s hard to keep up.
I have faith & hope in Conyers & few others. Waxman maybe.
And I agree with you about that damned olive branch!!
Kira,
Thanks for that link! I just signed IMPEACH FOR CHANGE & I sure hope all the rest of you do the same & pass it on far & wide.
This was the comment I added:
Impeachment is not about payback. It is not about revenge. It is about following THE LAW.
It is about doing the RIGHT thing, the ETHICAL thing, the APPROPRIATE thing.
The United States must get back to THE RULE OF LAW. PERIOD.
I love you guys for keeping me inspired. I keep feeling overwhelmed, then I come back here & get fired up again.
ITMFA
Amy Goodman last night had on her show Democracy Now! former Rep. Elizabeth Holtzman and Daniel Ellsberg. Holtzman pointed out that the Democratic majority Congress following Nixon’s landslide victory in 1972 did not have impeachment in mind either despite the information coming out at that time about the Watergate burglery and other Nixon administration scandals. It was the American people who DEMANDED Congress to investigate and when the evidence kept mounting up — with the disclosures of John Dean plea bargaining to minimize his own jail time, and the discovery of the White House tapes, and the unanimous Supreme Court decision that they had to be released for the investigation — was Nixon forced to resign under the imminent threat of impeachment and removal from office. Just because Pelosi and Howard Dean claim that impeachment is not on the table, that only applies to this particlular moment in time. As ever more information is leaked, or disclosed under some of numerous ongoing and future investigations, the likelihood of impeachment will increase.
There are bound to be more scandals to emerge and existing scandals to expand independent of Congressional oversight committee investigations, too, which will compel more dirt to be exposed than we already know about. This recent lawsuit filed against Rumsfeld, AG Gonzales, and other over Abu Ghraib and other sanctioned cases of torture can possibly expose the corrupt GOP and Bush administration even more.
Ewastud # 44
Hope you are correct about this impeachment issue. It would be in the best interest of the U.S. to regain credibility and go that route ASAP and show the world that they will not tolerate any more corruption and lying. Plus, those responsible SHOULD be held accountable for the treason they have committed against their country and the people they are supposed to represent.
ITMFA …. ASAP !! Tomorrow wouldn’t be soon enough
Hehe! TOTALLY EXPOSE the lying, murderous bastards and ITMFA!!! And then send the MFs to Gitmo.
It’s great the Democratic party is on the offensive now. It probably is a good time for the House and Senate Democrats to go slow, (especially while the pricks are still in power), and let the inevitable avalanche of harmful information hit the media as it comes out. When the willfully ignorant can no longer ignore the fact that the Republican’s are NOT the party of morals or Jesus, or anything good for America, we win!
There’s no reason for us, (the invisible ones), to hold back on our calls for impeachment and accountability though. Lets not be too hard on the Democratic leaders until we find out what they’re up to.
UNLESS THEY FIRE HOWARD DEAN!
Totally agree with ya Larry Bergan #47!
I totally respect Howard Dean. The Dems would be committing suicide if they even THINK about dropping Dean. He should be their hero!
Somebody needs to FRY Carville – he’s trash as far as I’m concerned. He needs to join up with Zell Miller. He should NO LONGER be considered a valid spokesperson for the Democratic Party.
Ever since Dean took over the DNC, he’s had to be very careful about what he says because he’s doing a balancing act. If they’re stupid enough to fire him, they’re going to be sorry. I live in the reddest state in the country, (or so the voting machines tell us), but but the Dean scream media frenzy seems to have worn off.
I really feel a tide growing that will unite Independents, Republicans, Democrats, Hispanics, Blacks, (you name it), if a leader like Dean is set free to do his thing, the corporate barnacles better watch out. People can look back and see that none of the things he said were as crazy as the media portrayed them!
Dean is a team player, and hasn’t taken credit for any of the great things he’s done, because he truly cares about this country. He raised a great deal of money from the real grass roots and forced Kerry to not accept government funds which gave Kerry a lot more money to work with, and nobody has given him credit for that. In fact, Kerry kept that money!
Thank you Howard Dean!
Booyah!
Oops! better get back on topic. Did anybody see that clip Keith Olberman played from one of the late night comedy talk shows that had Rumsfeld making paper sculptures and rolling a joint while meeting with the press corps. Funny as hell!