After moving from Florida, where "modern" voting machine innovations caused nothing but havoc in a state that provided Republicans with a chance to steal the presidency in 2000, I was delighted with my first experience today in Seattle.

It was a delight casting my initial vote in Seattle for one basic reason; they did it the tried and true old-fashioned way and as a result there will be no problem with paper trails and the like or vanishing would-be votes.

My voting precinct was sandwiched between Key Arena, where I watch our local Sonics play pro basketball, and the Seattle Repertory Company, which has become widely renowned for featuring the plays of Seattle's great dramatist, the recently deceased August Wilson.

Having had some bitter experiences with the new touch screen voting process while living in Fort Lauderdale, an innovation that seems to serve no legitimate purpose and is completely unnecessary, it was a delight to walk over to a courteous poll worker, who provided me with a welcome piece of information.

By now you have probably heard about the Princeton Video that shows yet again how easy it is to compromise the Diebold systems.  Here is a picture of our heroes: Dr. Felten and his students, Feldman and Halderman

As you can see, not all patriots are firebrands from central casting.  They are normal folks like you and me.  And that is important because Diebold is starting to push back... and it is going to take normal folks like you and me to help our heroes keep Diebold's feet to the fire.  Let's look at where Diebold is vulnerable and how Diebold is trying to defend itself ...

I'm a technically savvy guy.  I've had my own PC since the 8088 days when DOS was putting the final nails in the coffin of CP/M and Leading Edge was getting flak for cracking the compatible wars wide open.  I was online before BIFF stole his brother's Commodore 64.  Before spam.  Before nuking. Before Gopher. I know the answer to the UNIX riddle, "Why a mouse?"  (actually there are two surrealist punchlines to that joke). I even know the plural for VAX (hint:it's not VIXEN).  

When it comes to computers, I know Jack. So trust me when I tell you, "To err is human, to really $#@#!!*& things up you need a computer."  I say all that to underscore the fact that my discomfort with electronic voting machines is not borne of ignorance.  My contempt is a direct result of my familiarity with the technology.  

I have got some bad news for you....

Lieberman and O Dell claim victory in a stunning come from behind effort the day before the Connecticut Senatorial primary


Hartford, CT (Rotters) - On the eve of one of the most controversial electoral primaries in America, Ward O Dell the former CEO for Diebold, stepped forward to declare victory for incumbent Senator Joseph Lieberman. He stated that he was proud to be able to pledge his former company's vast resources to secure a victory for Lieberman over his dogged challenger, Connecticut businessman Ned Lamont.

Most of you may not recognize this image:

Those are US National Guardsmen (in the foreground) attacking unarmed students (on the hill) at Ohio's Kent State University in May, 1970.  Seems like ancient history, doesn't it?  Times have changed, right?

From Kent State to Police State
Some will say, "We're focused on the future!  We are working to win back the congress!"  Who cares history?  Well, you should care -- if you care about what congress will be able to achieve in 2007 and beyond.   Let me show you.  Come with me to the scene of another crime against citizens of the republic that recently happened in Ohio: The theft of the 2004 election  You need to hurry up.  In 30 days the smoking gun will be history.   Unless you act now.

As the 2006 campaign season beckons one important element must be confronted.  Let us call it the 6 percent factor.  While this term might sound like something more akin to Ian Fleming or John Le Carre international intrigue novels, it relates in this case to national intrigue and behind the scenes legerdemain.

Analyze the 2004 presidential election cycle as well as the 2002 mid-term elections and the number assumes momentous significance.  

As has been pointed out by mathematicians such as Dr. Steven Freeman of the University of Pennsylvania and Kathy Dopp of Utah as well as certain pollsters, 6 percent was the disparity level between the result forecast in the race between John Kerry and George W. Bush and that ultimately posted as official.  

Anyone closely watching activities in and around Election Day of 2004 observed a virtual state of panic on the part of Republican commentators, notably Robert Novak, who looked and sounded as if his whole world had been destroyed when he spoke on CNN that fateful evening, over the prospect of a looming Bush loss.  Ohio, Novak reported, which was a necessity for victory, was seemingly doomed.  

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), is back in NC:

The Electronic Frontier Foundation filed a court complaint Thursday aimed at blocking North Carolina's recent certifications of voting machines, saying state elections officials failed to meet legal requirements before signing off on the systems.

Via CNET News.  Guardians never sleep.  Guess NC missed that part.

Diebold, friend to Republicans everywhere, has withdrawn it's bid to sell its voting machines in North Carolina.  Why?  Because North Carolina passed regulations that would have forced Diebold to reveal their source code.  

As always, sunshine is a very effective antisceptic.

Just in from EFF:

November 28, 2005

EFF Convinces North Carolina Judge To Throw Out Diebold E-Voting Case

E-Voting Company Forced to Comply with Election Transparency Laws

Raleigh, North Carolina - Responding to arguments made by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a North Carolina judge today told Diebold Election Systems that the e-voting company must comply with tough North Carolina election law and dismissed the company's case seeking broad exemptions from the law. [EFF Breaking News, 11/28/05]

Via Politech (Declan McCullagh's site).

                                    [ --- cross-posted at  dailykos  and  boomantribune --- ]

     California's secretary of state Bruce McPherson is all set to re-certify the Diebold touchscreen TSx that he barred from use a few months ago.

On the state's website, you can see the report of the consultant McPherson hired, dated November 11, that concludes Diebold's submission (as revised) now "meets current standards for use in California" —  with a couple of "caveats."

Are you ready for this?

Read up on these "caveats," below.  Diebold is under a court order from a Calif. court to upgrade the security of its system after the plaintiffs (Bev Harris and computer programmer Jim March) successfully sued to shine a light on all the naked, inviting vulnerabilites of  its trademark voting machines.

All Californians who care about the sanctity of their vote must let Secretary of State McPherson know that they WILL NOT ALLOW him to certify Diebold machines, that they are OUTRAGED that he is undermining our democracy.

QUICK ACTION: http://www.usalone.com/...

OR CALL/FAX:

Bruce McPherson, Secretary of State 916-653-6814 (main menu, press 6, then 3 - starting at 8:00 am Monday)

916-653-3214 (the FAX is on this weekend)