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Rose Siding Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-25-04 11:36 AM
Original message
Judge Dismisses Touch-Screen Voting Suit
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. Oct 25, 2004 — The state will not be forced to create a paper record in case of recounts in elections on touch-screen voting machines, a federal judge ruled Monday.

U.S. District Judge James I. Cohn ruled in favor of Secretary of State Glenda Hood and Palm Beach County Elections Supervisor Theresa LePore.

The suit, filed by U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler, a Boca Raton Democrat, sought a paper record for manual recounts in close elections like the contentious 2000 presidential race. He had been seeking a way to help determine voter intent when no votes were recorded, known as "undervotes."

The state issued a new rule Oct. 14 for manual recounts to replace one thrown out by a state judge.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=195889
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truthisfreedom Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-25-04 11:41 AM
Response to Original message
1. whoever is responsible for these ridiculous touch-screen voting machines
with no paper trail being allowed in ANY state SHOULD BE JAILED.
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whistle Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-25-04 11:57 AM
Response to Reply #1
5. I love that picture, reminds me of Dennis Hooper's line in the movie....
..."Apocolyps Now"

...."He's a BIG MAN...he's a BIG MAN. I'm just a little man!"

It went something like that, correct? hehehehe
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Gabi Hayes Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-25-04 01:35 PM
Response to Reply #1
16. very funny site!
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BadGimp Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-25-04 02:02 PM
Response to Reply #1
17. the lack of paper trails is not the biggest problem
Even with a paper trail you could not do a recall.

the problem is 2 fold:

1) The software that counts the votes does not produce an internal audit trail. There is no log of what votes were counted. The damn things only tally numbers. They do not record who voted, when and for what. That is the essence of an audit trail. Without that there can be no recount.

Once the machines are finished the election day, they are hooked up to a computer in the precinct and the tallies are uploaded. Then the machines are wiped clean...poof goes the proof.

The computers upload to the state level computers which report the results.

2) The software is secret and not open to inspection or forced to comply withy any standards for accuracy or security.

If you wanted to steal an election you'd do it this way:
- You'd get GOP Congress to write legislation allowing that the machines not produce an audit trail, and allowing the companies to keep the source code used to count the votes secret.
- You'd then give the contracts to GOP controlled companies.

This way if the software allowed manipulation of the results the truth could not come out and you could do what you wanted and never get caught.

No audit trail, no public disclosure of the very mechanisms used to count our votes.

Congratulations America. While we slept they put in place the technology and mechanisms to endue GOP control of Congressional, Senate and Presidential elections for a generation to come, unless of course we take over this process from them.

Please visit
www.verifiedvoting.com and www.blackboxvoting for more and much deeper insight that I can provide here
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Beetwasher Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-25-04 11:42 AM
Response to Original message
2. Ughh
This is why I keep saying we have to win without FL...I'm very sorry to say that, but my gut tells me FL is just too damn gamed...
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NewYorkerfromMass Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-25-04 12:02 PM
Response to Reply #2
6. worry not, things look good for us
I'm sure B/C is aware of this map too...

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whistle Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-26-04 06:23 AM
Response to Reply #6
18. Does it follow then that the red states are most prone to a facist...
...political philosophy while the blue states are traditional American democracy?
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phantom power Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-25-04 11:42 AM
Response to Original message
3. let me see if I have this all straight
1) they don't care if the software is private
2) they don't care if there is no paper trail
3) they don't care if the voting systems are malfunctioning

That's all just fine with them. Because hey, it's just a national election, in one of the most hotly contested and consequential elections in decades.
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Catfight Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-25-04 12:08 PM
Response to Reply #3
8. They don't care if America has honest elections, but they demand it abroad
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whistle Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-25-04 11:49 AM
Response to Original message
4. Florida judges are in the hip pockets of the republican party...
Edited on Mon Oct-25-04 11:53 AM by whistle
...James I Cohn is a republican lackey

<snip>
Palm Beach Daily Business Review

January 25, 2002


Palm Beach Circuit judge, Miami lawyer tapped by president for federal judgeships


by Dan Christensen

President George W. Bush, pending the completion of FBI background checks, has nominated Palm Beach Circuit Judge Kenneth A. Marra and Miami lawyer Jose E. Martinez to be U.S. District Court judges in South Florida.

Meanwhile, big names dot the list of 20 applicants looking to fill a third local federal judgeship - one that's been billed as possibly the last to become available for several years.

Those candidates include outgoing U.S. Attorney Guy Lewis, U.S. Magistrates Ted E. Bandstra and Barry S. Seltzer, 3rd District Court of Appeal Judge Juan Ramirez, Miami-Dade Circuit Judges Jerald Bagley, Peter Lopez and Cecilia M. Altonaga and Broward Circuit Judges JAMES I. COHN and Robert A. Rosenberg.

Bandstra and Bagley were finalists for the nomination that went to Jose Martinez. Seltzer and COHN were finalists for the slot that Marra was picked to fill.

<link> http://www.productliabilitylawyer.com/Product-Liability.cfm/State/Florida/Article/1311/Palm-Beach-Circuit-judge-Miami-lawyer.html

<Also here is another more recent story: snip>

Posted on Thu, Jul. 08, 2004
South Florida abortion clinic bomb plotter gets five years
CATHERINE WILSON
Associated Press

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - A man accused of plotting to fire bomb abortion clinics, churches he disagree with and gay bars was sentenced Thursday to five years in federal prison after a judge decided he is not a terrorist under federal sentencing rules.

Stephen John Jordi, who was turned in by relatives and church members, received the minimum mandatory sentence. U.S. District Judge James Cohn rejected a prosecution request for a prison term of seven to 10 years.

<more in link> http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/9107094.htm

This last one really pisses me off as it shows just what the repubs think of domestic terrorism when it comes from one of their own.
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Zorra Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-25-04 01:29 PM
Response to Reply #4
14. Cohn was appointed by Bu$h. He is,indeed, a partisan hack.
Edited on Mon Oct-25-04 01:38 PM by Zorra
I've had it. I have lived outside the US for almost 4 years, since Bu$h was appointed dictator by the SCOTUS. The constant erosion of our rights, the processes of justice, and our very democracy by the republican party has finally made me realize that this election will undoubtedly be stolen through the use of unrecountable electronic voting machine ballot counting results.

I believe that John Kerry is going to win the popular vote in a landslide, and if the votes are counted honestly and accurately, an electoral college landslide also. Unfortunately, this decision by James Cohn, (I cannot bring myself to use the term "judge" for this man due to my profound lack of respect for him), has led me to conclude once and for all that this election will be stolen through electronic voting machine fraud.

Personally, I already no longer recognize the US government as a legitimate governing authority, and have not since Bu$h was appointed. If this election is stolen, I urge everyone else to no longer recognize the government also.

We Americans must not ever recognize, or legitimize, tyranny.

It is clear to me that there is a transparent republican conspiracy to steal this election for the purpose of creating a one-party fascist state, and that our very Justice Department is complicit in this conspiracy. This is evident in the fact that our Justice Department has refused to take any actions to prevent the ongoing destruction of our democratic government, and refuses to investigate and/or prosecute members of the republican party despite the fact that there is massive evidence that they have committed very serious crimes against the people of the US, and that the DOJ is deliberately complicit in covering up these crimes. (This is not the first attempt by American fascists to overthrow our democratic government from within. See quote and link at the bottom of this post.)

If John Kerry manages to win this election, despite the fact that fraudulent vote counts on electronic voting systems, it will be because an overwhelming number of Americans voted for him, and nullified huge numbers of fraudulent votes.

If John Kerry does win, it is imperative that we root out and publicly prosecute every one of these fascists that has been part of this conspiracy to overthrow our democratic governmment. Their deeds are documented, and once our government again becomes a legitimate administrator of justice, it should be no problem to charge, prosecute, convict, and imprison these traitors. We must not rest until every one of them is brought to justice. We can never allow corrupt people like these to conspire to and engage in the deliberate destruction of our democratic government again.

I pray that the republicans are not successful in their attempt to once and for all destroy democracy and liberty in America by stealing this election through the use of an unrecountable, unverifiable, republican instituted and manufactured voting system. I want my country to have a legitimate and democratic government again.

Quote from the US Ambassador to Germany, 1937:

“A clique of U.S. industrialists is hell-bent to bring a fascist state to supplant our democratic government and is working closely with the fascist regime in Germany and Italy. I have had plenty of opportunity in my post in Berlin to witness how close some of our American ruling families are to the Nazi regime. . . . “

"Certain American industrialists had a great deal to do with bringing fascist regimes into being in both Germany and Italy. They extended aid to help Fascism occupy the seat of power, and they are helping to keep it there."

- William E. Dodd, U.S. Ambassador to Germany, 1937

This is the only internet library of the writings of William E. Dodd:

http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/psf/box32/folt299.html

See also:

http://www.rationalrevolution.net/american_supporters_of_the_europ.htm


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mountainvue Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-25-04 12:03 PM
Response to Original message
7. What a bunch of horse manure. n/t
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KittyWampus Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-25-04 12:15 PM
Response to Original message
9. Didn't Lepore Just Lose An Election?
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CO Liberal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-25-04 12:22 PM
Response to Original message
10. It's Official - The Fix is In
We need to watch Florida like hawks.
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Tsiyu Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-25-04 12:32 PM
Response to Reply #10
11. This is so disgusting to me
Floridians need to stand up and take their state back. Judges like this one should be sentenced as traitors- he is failing to uphold the letter and the spirit of the United States Constitution.

Welcome to Nazi judges of America. Screwing Lady Liberty while preaching the new fascist "American Way."
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shance Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-25-04 01:18 PM
Response to Reply #11
12. I agree. In short, it' s illegal. The judge just ruled in favor of
implementing an illegal election.

You HAVE to have a method for recounting. It's the LAW. The only way to do that is with paper.

The honorable Mr. Con literally ruled against that.

Floridians, Im sorry to say, you've just been bushwhacked again.

Time to take your state back and start raising some holy hell.

The law, the CONSTITUTION and the VOTING RIGHTS ACT are what truly matter.

Pull out the paper and have your own damn election, Florida. Its YOUR state, not theres.


And, Mr. Con job needs to be relieved of his duties, or lack thereof.
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havocmom Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-25-04 01:23 PM
Response to Reply #12
13. Activist RW judges looking to be on Supreme Court nominee short list
Oh yeah
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RedSock Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-25-04 01:33 PM
Response to Reply #13
15. you'd think they'd be worried about democrats stealing an election
but they are not.

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