BevHarris
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Tue Apr-27-04 09:03 PM
Original message |
How the reporter got Diebold lawyer to admit they were his memos |
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Edited on Tue Apr-27-04 09:08 PM by BevHarris
I wondered how Ian Hoffman, the writer from the Oakland Trib, got Daniel McMillan, the Diebold lawyer who was involved with many of the Diebold lawyer memos, to admit that the memos were authentic.
Here's the inside story:
News reporters usually call the other side for comment. But, if Hoffman called the law firm for comment they might end up with a temporary restraining order preventing them from going to print with the story.
So, Hoffman waited until the last minute before sending the paper to print. He called McMillan at home, reached the wife. McMillan wasn't there, and she gave Hoffman his cell phone.
Now, let me preface this by saying that Daniel McMillan is a fancy suit and a corporate bully with a carefully trimmed yuppie beard who ridicules voting activists in public, calls us conspiracy nuts and says I have been engaged in the whole voting investigation solely for personal publicity. He's gone far enough that I once put him on notice in front of an NBC camera that he had strayed into libel territory -- the cameras zoomed in, and he scurried away. Suffice it to say, I have no sympathy for him. Back to our story.
Hoffman reached McMillan at a Lakers game. It went something like this:
IH: "I have a few questions for you." DM: "You'll have to call me tomorrow." IH: "I don't think you want to do that." DM: "Okay. What do you have?" IH: (Begins reading him one of his own memos, perhaps the one about the 8-week $1 million Diebold budget for lawyers) DM: (sound of loud scream above the din of the Lakers crowd): "Jeeezus! They've got our documents!!! We've gotta go NOW!"
IH: (writing his story) "Jones Day partner Daniel D. McMillan declined to comment on the content of the documents except to confirm they were internal papers from his office..."
Every now and then, one needs a smile. I can't help but see the above as a clip in a movie. After seeing the smarmy bastards in action, you'd laugh, too.
Bev Harris
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Failure
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Tue Apr-27-04 09:07 PM
Response to Original message |
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o'dell is slime..i've actually been in his house...:puke:
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BevHarris
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Tue Apr-27-04 09:09 PM
Response to Reply #1 |
3. Was that you in LBN describing the fat guy munching Oxycontin? |
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Edited on Tue Apr-27-04 09:11 PM by BevHarris
Now that was funny. But rude of him to hog Wally O'Dell's bathroom, wasn't it?
Bev
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Failure
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Tue Apr-27-04 09:25 PM
Response to Reply #3 |
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it's an honor to meet with and talk to you, bev.
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BevHarris
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Tue Apr-27-04 09:28 PM
Response to Reply #7 |
9. Do you live in Ohio? Just got back from Ohio and, |
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as Ah-nold says,
"I'll be back."
Bev
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Failure
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Tue Apr-27-04 09:36 PM
Response to Reply #9 |
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When are you comin' back? We'll go to Graeter's.
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BevHarris
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Tue Apr-27-04 09:39 PM
Response to Reply #12 |
14. Cool. Email me your contact info |
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Bevharrismail@aol.com
I'd love to meet you.
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FizzFuzz
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Tue Apr-27-04 09:08 PM
Response to Original message |
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Thank you. I for one needed that smile. Nice to see some justice somewhere.
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Jacobin
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Tue Apr-27-04 09:13 PM
Response to Original message |
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Hats off to you Bev and the intrepid reporter.
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BevHarris
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Wed Apr-28-04 08:01 AM
Response to Reply #4 |
21. There is a film coming out (independent) called "Votergate" |
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The folks doing it have some new stuff. Very good investigative documentary producers.
Bev
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aquart
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Tue Apr-27-04 09:23 PM
Response to Original message |
5. I believe John Mitchell had a similar outburst |
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in All The President's Men.
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BevHarris
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Tue Apr-27-04 09:34 PM
Response to Reply #5 |
11. Made a comment about tits in a wringer |
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I believe something to the effect of "Jeezus! If you guys print that, Kate Graham will have her tits in a wringer."
Katherine Graham was the publisher of the Washington Post. Mitchell's outburst didn't go over well with the senior editorial board, who became all the more committed to the Watergate story.
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AP
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Tue Apr-27-04 09:24 PM
Response to Original message |
6. I remember reading a book about Stephen Biko and reading... |
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...about the things the fascists in SA thought and did to destroy people.
I remember thinking that in addition to being evil, the racists fascists were STUPID.
This story reminds me of that feeling.
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Melsky
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Tue Apr-27-04 09:25 PM
Response to Original message |
8. Thanks for the great story |
Beetwasher
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Tue Apr-27-04 09:32 PM
Response to Original message |
10. The Best Part (Aside from Hopefully Saving Democracy that is): |
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It ruined the douchebags night at the Laker Game!
Bwhahahahahahaahqhaahahahahhahahah! PRICELESS!!!
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BevHarris
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Tue Apr-27-04 09:38 PM
Response to Reply #10 |
13. I would bet they didn't sleep much that night. |
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And, "that night" was Monday April 19 -- it was just 36 hours before the formal voting panel hearings were to begin.
If Daniel McMillan had planned to be there, he sure couldn't show his face now could he? Reporters would have crawled all over him.
- helped save democracy - ruined the man's Lakers game - Diebold had to go with the second string from Jones Day. Wait -- Diebold has to reconsider whether to keep the law firm at all.
Hats off to Ian Hoffman, who is a ballsy reporter who does actual investigative reporting.
Bev
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Beetwasher
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Tue Apr-27-04 09:45 PM
Response to Reply #13 |
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It's gotta be a real bitch to scramble around to find a firm at this stage...
Bev you are amazing! And kudos to Hoffman too!
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blm
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Tue Apr-27-04 09:44 PM
Response to Reply #10 |
15. I'll bet there is video of that moment somewhere. |
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There are video cameras all over the arena. Wouldn't you just love it?
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BevHarris
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Tue Apr-27-04 10:11 PM
Response to Reply #15 |
18. O'm'gosh. I know filmmakers who'd pay for that footage |
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in a heartbeat.
They are trying to buy footage of the panel meeting from each other.
And remember, tomorrow is another biggie. California is having a meeting to decide whether to dump paperless touch screens altogether.
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loudsue
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Tue Apr-27-04 09:45 PM
Response to Original message |
17. LOL! What a great story!! |
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O8) Soo glad things are going well for you guys, Bev! GREAT WORK!O8)
We will have you to thank if we really do get to vote next November!
:kick:
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Andy_Stephenson
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Tue Apr-27-04 11:04 PM
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RedEagle
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Wed Apr-28-04 12:54 AM
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RedEagle
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Wed Apr-28-04 09:10 AM
Response to Reply #20 |
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Important day in California- throw the non paper systems out!
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