Do you care about the electronic voting issue? Even a little?

[WilliamPitt]

There's this guy named Andy Stephenson who is running for Secretary of State for the state of Washington. He is running primarily on the electronic voting issue. As Secretary of State, he will be in position to deal a public statewide blow to the issue which could then be translated across the nation...with a little help from us.

Why do you give a crap? Well, besides the fact that the advent of questionable electronic voting is a stake through the heart of the most elemental act of this democracy? Because Andy Stephenson is god_bush_n_cheney, one of our most beloved DUers.

Andy Stephenson has collected some impressive endorsements which he can tell you about, and some epic ones that can't be made public yet, but will rock the house when the time comes. His website is here:

www.andystephenson.com

I am pestering you for this because, if you care about this issue, you can help by kicking a small campaign donation to a man who, if well funded enough, can carry it into the state government of Washington and gain a large and vital platform. You can donate at this address:

[e-mail]

(I'm going to leave it to Andy to explain the specifics of the donation process)

Keep this kicked. Let's win this one.

[arcane1]

1. KICK

ASS!

:kick:

email sent!!!

:toast:

[althecat]

4. Go ANDY!!!!

[mmm]

2. if this is lost... all is lost

[woofless]

3. g b n c has my vote.

Woof

[Andy_Stephenson]

5. Will I love you...I really really do!

You are friend and you are a patriot! You humble me! My guarantee to all of you is this...

You know I am stubborn...blm can vouch for this.

I know this issue and will be the peoples voice in Olympia, and the platform will indeed give us a platform from which to speak.

It will only take 8,000 people donating $25 bucks. Thats all I need. A commitment of $25 is a small price to pay to perhaps save your vote.

If you can give more...I will appreciate it. I will not take corporate money. Only individuals the people are allowed into this party. I cannot be bought off.


If you give more than $100 please pm me for more information.

[WilliamPitt]

6. Explain the donation process

It is more than an email, right?

[Andy_Stephenson]

9. the paypal

www.paypal.com


the email address to send money via paypal is:

[e-mail]

[Wonk]

33. Direct PayPal link here, and it's been added to your site as well.

https://www.paypal.com/affil/pal=[e-mail]

[ConsAreLiars]

24. You need to have a mailing address for donations.

Given your experience you can probably handle the work, but it would help if you could set up one of those "Friends of John Doe for Elected Office" Orgs with a treasurer with a mailing address to handle all the accounting and make it possible for (us) non-PayPal users to give a donation.

In Seattle and King County elections a lot of Dem candidates have a common address for their orgs, so I assume there is some accountant/activist who has set up a small business set up to handle these tasks efficiently. Talk to your Dem party insider types about this. Use the net as much as possible to build a network, but build up this side also.

[Andy_Stephenson]

32. I have one

The Committee to Elect Andy Stephenson
345 15th Ave E #101
Seattle, wa 98112

[ConsAreLiars]

34. Good

Now put it on your website and campaign lit.

(The check is (almost) in the mail.)

[Andy_Stephenson]

35. I am coming to see you again soon

save the stamp. I need some business cards made up. Have em designed...need em printed.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

48. Andy..go get'em...save the Democratic process ..my MO is in the mail today

and thank you :toast:

[amazona]

73. a small donation will go out in tomorrow's mail

Thanks for bringing attention to this important issue.

[Gato Moteado]

7. just sent my donation via paypal.....

....this is a big issue. we all need to send a little cash to andy for this.

thanks for posting this, will!

[ParanoidPat]

8. What do you think Will.....

....do I? :evilgrin:

I just wonder if the majority of DUers care! :shrug: :(

I've been called every name in the book and have been accused of 'spamming the board with BBV posts'. Sometimes I wonder why I even bother to post that stuff here. Might as well post another 'How long will this post last poll, at least that got 1145 replies last I looked. I'm sure posts like those will help us win in 2004! *Sigh* :eyes:

Good luck Andy! I'm sure you're running on the right issue. :toast:

[frank frankly]

10. ParanoidPat, dismiss the critics

BBV is in the mainstream now, thanks to y'all! :hi:

the strange persistent criticism here will taper off and never mattered.

you guys are awesome!!

Andy--I'll PM you tomorrow about a contribution I can make to your campaign. Should be cool!

[Andy_Stephenson]

16. Thank you

looking forward to it.

[WilliamPitt]

12. To be fair

You're comparing BBV stuff in GD to dumbass shit in the Lounge. Not quite an accurate comparison.

[ParanoidPat]

21. Will, the point is.....

....look how many different DUers are willing to kick a worthless waste of bandwidth post in the lounge vs the same small group of people who care enough to keep what, IMHO, is one of the most important issues facing us kicked! To be fair, I'm not comparing BBV to a lounge post, Im pointing out what DUers at large seem to care about. :)

Cheers to the DU BBV crew! :toast: (What's left of us!)

[rucky]

28. As a part-time lounge lizard...

the lounge is a refuge for momentary burnouts on the edge of insanity. We've all been there (right, Will?)

sometimes we feel if we hear about another Republican subversion of democracy, we'll explode. and for those of us paying attention, BBV is the scariest subversion of them all. It's not that they don't think it's important - it's how people react when they feel threatened: fight or flight. I alternate between the two, but I always try to spread the word about BBV.

I'll venture to say that everybody who's not in complete denial supports/applauds/appreciates all the work the BBV activists are doing, but BBV is not for the faint of heart. Must admit, when I see a thread with those three letters in the title, I always get a feeling in the pit of my stomach and hesitate before I click for the news. I don't even blame those in aggressive denial (the "stop spamming DU" folks) - I'm just happy they're still on DU, rather than going back to the land of the blissfully ignorant.

So if I haven't said it before, I'll say it now. Thank you BBV activists!

[ParanoidPat]

31. Thanks for the honest reply.

That's what I was afraid of. :evilfrown:
The truth of the matter is that it will take more than just Andy to get a handle on this. It will take a commitment on the part of every one of us and then some to really make a difference. Perhaps we need more smilies in the BBV posts to make them less threatening! :) :evilgrin:

:kick:

[Andy_Stephenson]

14. It is going to be a battle...

and I am going to have to raise some cash to be taken serious. Funny thing is...I am already being taken serious by the people. The powers that be certainly do not care. But thats ok...I am tenacious and not afraid to walk door to door...Teach 10 to teach 10...I have 1aught 914 as of tonight.

[rucky]

11. Done

[Nlighten1]

13. I remember when he started at DU

Good luck Andy!

[Andy_Stephenson]

15. Thanks!

:yourock:

[whirlygigspin]

19. Great news!

I hope you can twist some arms over at Microsoft to help us
save democracy!

[Zomby Woof]

17. Hell yeah!

As a favor to my old friends living back there, could your second act as Washington's Sec'y of State, after dumping the Diebold machines, is TO EXILE TIM EYMAN????

Congrats, gbc! :toast:

[Andy_Stephenson]

18. We gotta fix the machines first.

But yes Eyman....yikes. He sure did a number on us didn't he.

[eleny]

20. Done...

Good luck, Andy!

[Andy_Stephenson]

22. Thanks!

mucho.

[alfredo]

23. go for it man!

Here in Ky we just elected a Rupuglican as Sec of State. No reform here it appears.

[hedda_foil]

25. Donated to the best SoS Washington will ever have!

[Andy_Stephenson]

27. Dear hedda,

:loveya:

[hunter]

26. Notorious DRE voting machines...

Soon to be for sale cheap, at an electronics surplus store near you!

I believe Paranoid Pat has a components list...

If thats not some Weird Stuff, I don't know what is.

Heh.

:evilgrin:

Go Andy!

(Hunter retreats to Lounge)

[kimchi]

29. Go Andy!

You can do it!

[shanti]

30. very much so!

hmmm, has anyone seen bev post lately?

[juajen]

36. Honestly and truly I do

Will, why can't moveon.org get involved in this? They can raise more money, faster, than anybody I've seen. This issue is so important. When I do my email (at least three hours) tomorrow, I will suggest this to them. If a lot of us did, I'm sure they would take more notice.

[Andy_Stephenson]

37. All I need is

8000 people to donate $25 bucks...thats all it will take...and we can beat back the vapor trail machines.

And the SoS has the Keys to the archive. Wonder what kind of good stuff is in there?

[TexasMexican]

38. ...

I dont like the electronic voting machines.

I read somewhere that statistically the old mechanical voting machine were more reliable than these things.

[Don_G]

39. Done

From one Lounge Lizard to another. :)

[juajen]

40. Heck, I forgot to kick it

Good luck GB&C. I will send dough when I get some.

:kick:

[Eloriel]

49. There's a Voting Machines issue in the Forum at MoveOn

(whatever it's called) And it got nearly 300 posts -- encourage people to go add to it. That is supposedly one way to get their attention.

Eloriel

[greatauntoftriplets]

41. A kick for Andy!!

And he already has my contribution.

[Andy_Stephenson]

50. Yes and

:yourock:

[dusty64]

42. The loss of the voting

process will be the final end to our democracy. I'm seeing a little more on this issue every day, but why are the Presidential candidates not making this a HUGE story? Good luck to Mr. Stephenson!

[gristy]

43. go andy

I'll get back to you on a donation.

gristy

[in_cog_ni_to]

44. Done.......BBV is the most important issue

in 2004. Without a paper trail, we may as well stay home and not vote. It would be useless...well, unless the Dems hire better hackers. :7

Best of luck, Andy!

[in_cog_ni_to]

45. Get back up there!

:kick:

[shirlden]

46. Good on ya, Andy

Here's a kick from Ohio, where we are organizing to fight this fight against are very own Repub SOS and the infamous Diebold.

:kick:

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

47. I'm moving to Washington just so I can vote for him

Instead of the usual holding my nose, I'll be freely breathing in the sweet scent of Democracy by voting for this true American hero! Go Andy!

[Don_G]

51. Kick

:kick:

[Colin Ex]

52. Fuck, I'm in.

I'm more than willing to offer my support and help to him.

GBNC is the man.

I'll see if I can scrap up a bit of the cash and send it his way when his campaign gets in full swing.

Rock over London.
Rock on Chicago.
Diet Pepsi: Uh huh.

-C

[RedEagle]

53. Folks, We Are, And Have, Been Making A Difference

Support Andy!

Due to the influx of requests from people around the state, Washington State legislators took another look at a bill from the Secretary of State last session and said, "No." They let it die. And the people got some inside help from legislature, it turns out.

During that time, a lot of education has taken place. More and more legislators are seeing the folly in total electronic voting. Several of them are proposing or helping to sponsor legislation that will be the antithisis of what will come from the Secretary of State's office.

Sam Reed, Washington Secretary of State, is the head of the National Association of Secretary of State's Elections Committee or some such beast. Washington State's Assistant Director of Elections has been a long time member of the National Association of State Election Director's Voting Systems Board- the ones who oversee certification with The Election Center. Many of the worst states for DRE's have or have had people on this board, Brit Williams, Georgia; Maryland, New Mexico, Florida. Coincidence? Typically, these states also have done or are doing state buys of DRE's.

Reed is a protge of former Secretary of State Ralph Munro who is now on the BOD of VoteHere. Munro also took his state elections director with him to VoteHere.

Reed barely won his election last time. Reed has totally igonred the people's response to his HAVA plan that does not mandate voter verified paper ballots. Reed has totally ignored everyone's response and calls for auditable elections.

The arrogance is sickening.

The eduction our county election clerks and auditors receive from his office is totally one-sided.

The state mandated civic educational help on the Secretary of States web site is strewn with references and inuendo about types of voting systems- not a civics education. Just look at California and compare and you'll see the difference. Many invites to "play with internet voting." He takes Sequoia's system around the state to schools for children to practice voting on.

"Teach your children well."

Take this guy out. Take the whole office out, and we send a powerful message to the country.

[RedEagle]

54. Sorry, Double Post, System Hiccuped

[never cry wolf]

55. Question about corporate donations...

I run a one man architectural office which is incorporated. For personal reasons of keeping the peace at home I use it for donations to DU, truthout, etc. Am I allowed to use it for candidates as well?? I promise I won't try to weild my huge corporate influence on ya.

[Andy_Stephenson]

56. that would be ok

I am talking more like Microsoft (as if they would give) and Boeing. Big multinational corporations. Not single man offices. So please...give till it hurts :evilgrin:

Thanks BTW

Andy

[never cry wolf]

57. Done...

Now, go kick some ASS!!!!

:toast:

[Andy_Stephenson]

58. Thanks Man!

I appreciate it very much! I won't let you down!

Andy

[never cry wolf]

59. My pleasure

Maybe someday I'll be in a similar position, I've considered it.

[SOteric]

60. Count me in, GBNC

You'll be hearing from me on payday.

[redqueen]

61. God blees you Andy...

for getting off the sidelines, putting your a** on the line, and personally getting into the fight to reclaim our democracy. Will donate as soon as I have some $$ to spare!

:kick:

[tom_paine]

62. Hell YES!!!!

Without reliable voting systems, we have no chance...

[Oilwellian]

63. The check is in the mail

Really. :D Best wishes and much success to you GB&C.

I have an idea as to why people are afraid to take up this cause. For the most part, we're overwhelmed and dizzied by the magnitude of the Bush criminal organization. BBV is just one of many issues that sends us into a whirlwind. In other words, it's very hard to stay focused on one particular thing.

Secondly, most people have a limited knowledge of computers and don't feel empowered to speak out about electronic voting machines because they don't understand the lingo. I understand the basics of the problem but would feel like a deer caught in the headlights if someone were to ask me more technical questions. I just wish there was a way we could educate people and help them feel more confident to take up this cause. Perhaps form letters could be created that would give wannabe activists more of an ability to convey their message to local officials and state legislatures. Maybe we could create a working "memo" of talking points than can be used when trying to convey our message. I admit I haven't been to BBV's site lately and this may already exist. But if not, it should.

I'm assuming GB&C has considerable computer knowledge and will have no problem in making people understand his platform. If there is a way his message should be conveyed on paper so the rest of us can use it in our own local efforts I think it would help.

[Andy_Stephenson]

65. Go here

www.blackboxvoting.org

Check out the discussion board for more information.

[VeniceBeat]

64. You, Too, Can Paypal Andy's Campaign Some Money!

It's easy!

Go Andy!

:kick:

And don't forget to visit www.ourownmedia.com

[Andy_Stephenson]

66. One last Kick

:kick:

[goobergunch]

67. Can minors donate to political campaigns in Washington?

I know we can't in federal races, but hopefully the law is different in the state of Washington.

[RedEagle]

68. Minors?

I don't know about that, but you can certainly help in other ways.

If Secretary of State Sam Reed comes to your school with a touch screen, ask him how it's audited. When he talks about redundant storage of the same information, tell him that it not a legal audit trail.

An audit trail must be independent information.

The computer does not generate a ballot unless it prints one.

That ballot cannot be used for auditing unless the voter verifies it and puts it in a ballot box.

A computer produces a similation- not an actual ballot.

Do we drive our cars knowing that the computer has similated a driver's license? No, we're supposed to carry one to prove we have one. Busniness licnese? Probably in a computer file somewhere but it is also hanging on our wall someplace.

A similation is not a ballot, cannot be a ballot.

Sam Reed cannot prove that the machine did anything accurately or correctly. The screen is a similation that may or may not represent the actual vote.

Put him on the spot.

Many ways to help....talk to your friends so they talk to their parents.

Get people's brain cells moving and thinking.

Better than "Non-reality TV"- get involved and vote this guys "off the island."

[goobergunch]

72. I'm in Pennsylvania...

and I don't even know what my SoS looks like. :shrug:

[Gato Moteado]

69. kick

let's keep this thing kicked to the top until andy gets as close as possible to his goal.

this is an important issue....if you haven't donated to andy's campaign for SoS of washington please consider it. he's dedicated to stopping BBV!

Win, Andy, Win!

[Wonk]

70. kick

[RuB]

71. Money will be sent asap. Won't be much.

But I'll do what I can.

[frank frankly]

74. kick

:kick:

[Capn Sunshine]

75. GBNC kicks ASS

donations winging their way. I'm involving the Deansters with this; apologies in advance if they drive you crazy Andy.

[RedEagle]

76. Help Andy

A Secretary of State who will care about honest, accountable elections!

[4dog]

77. Kick. Who should complain about BBV posts

when there is so much cotton candy floating around.

[ProudToBeLiberal]

78. kick

:kick:

[RedEagle]

79. Way to go Andy!

Kick!

[ParanoidPat]

80. Another kick,

'cause these drop too quick! :evilgrin:

Give Andy your support! :kick: something his way if you can!

[Andy_Stephenson]

82. Thanks Pat

:yourock:

[oasis]

81. kick

[arcane1]

83. a Thursday KICK

:kick:

[shirlden]

84. I love to kick

:kick: Me and the Rock-etts !!

[sybylla]

85. Okay, its a couple of days late

but I just donated. Take the money and run like mad. Wish I could help more.

[LibertyorDeath]

86. Kick for Andy

Washington State DUers heads up.

[David Zephyr]

87. Kick!

:kick:

[lysergik]

88. Kick!

[RedEagle]

89. WASH needs a new Secretary of State

Kick!

[democratreformed]

90. Go

Andy!