Meeting with Kerry scheduled in 45 minutes...

[IA_Seth]

I am going to attend a small gathering of Kerry supporters in about 45 minutes...does anyone have any questions they'd like answered?

[AtomicKitten]

1. yeah

What is the record maximum number of Kerry threads posted on DU in a single day?

[ProSense]

6. Another intelligent post! n/t

[IA_Seth]

7. Lol...

I promise I am not part of any conspiracy..

Alas, I am actually more of a Clark supporter, but I am meeting with Kerry today and wanted to give everyone a chance to use my opportunity to act as a mouthpiece of DU.

Sorry if I offended!

[wisteria]

10. Well, he is a busy guy. He is actively supporting Democrats and

meeting with supporters. I admire him for staying in touch and listening to all of us.

[Name removed]

28. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[karynnj]

33. The number of positive threads depends on how many significant

things he does in a day. He's been busy working on 2006. Commenting on Bush's foreign policy. meeting with real people.

My question is seeing that you don't comment on all threads, why do you comment on all Kerry threads. You are really not required to read them - though they are good. There will not be a test on them. :) Calm down.

[Kittycat]

2. Yeah, if I vote for him again, will he fight to see that my vote is

Protected, or just walk away with his tail tucked between his legs and call it a day.

Sorry, still bitter.

[Mass]

4. Actually, a very good question

Ask him what they intend to do to secure the vote in the 06 election and in future election.

(and if he is aware of the situation in Ohio where some GOPers try to invalidate Strickland's nomination with some dirty trick).

[wisteria]

12. That is actually a good question and I bet the Senator won't mind

answering it. He has written and signed on to legislation this term that is written to protect and secure our votes.

[blm]

13. Give the next nominee the LEGAL CASE to make - Kerry HAD NO LAW

with him or legal evidence to continue a case in court. TOO many fault him for not having that law instead of fighting to make election law that actually works for ALL of us.

And too many focus blame on him which distracts from the REAL culprits who were given four years to secure the election process but didn't DO their job.

[calimary]

24. You're not the only one.

He said he'd fight for every vote, presumably including mine.

And is he REALLY gonna stand up to the swifties? Or is he going to revert back to "taking the high road"? Does he realize you have to fight hard, rough, and dirty? (Yes, I know, I know. I'd rather it not have to be like that, but it IS, and we have to deal with what IS.)

[blm]

29. Soon there is a book coming out written by vets calling out the swifts and

refuting every lie.

Decorated war heros will tell how they were lied to. They will tell that the media would book them when they were with the swifts, but once they realized the lies they turned to support Kerry and media would no longer give them airtime.

POWs will tell how other POWs were used and coerced into signing statements that were pure fantasy.

I'm glad - - it's vets who HAD to write a book, because corpmedia shut them out in 2004. About time they have the chance to be heard.

[calimary]

30. Glad to hear this, and it reminds me of a prediction I've been making.

I will betcha that, once this is over - toward the end of bushco, or just afterwards (when the cowards all assume the coast is finally clear), you're gonna have DOZENS of books from various people, pathetic and not-so-pathetic, talking about how they were man-handled, intimidated, scared silent, or otherwise muzzled. It'll include LOTS of media who suddenly "get religion" about how they were bullied and silenced and ordered to be good little girls and boys - katie couric, wolfie, tweety, I'll bet people like john king, norah o'donnell, judy woodruff, andrea mitchell (once she decides to join hubby in retirement and join the author's circuit, john roberts, cokie roberts, george stephanopoulos (sp?), russert, pete williams, and most of the rest of them. woodward will probably come up with one specifically about this, as will richard wolffe of "Newsweek," matt cooper of "Time," michael isikoff, terrence hunt, walter pincus, howard kurtz, and a whole lot of other high-and-mighties. There'll be some from brokaw, charles gibson, brian williams, bob schieffer, and maybe Dan Rather will weigh in from exile, too. Perhaps even Mary Mapes. Some will come from the war front, some from the anchor desk, some from never-heard-of-'ems in the back of the network newsroom, even perhaps one from Pox "news," "How I Survived the Funny Farm" or some such rot. They'll all talk about how they were misled, some may even find the courage to say "lied to," scared stupid, intimidated, and the rest. You'll have a few "retired" congresspeople and maybe a former lobbyist or two - "How I Survived Abramoff-gate" - and a whole lot more. It will be completely disingenuous, pathetic and utterly flabby. Especially from most of these who willingly went along with being bullied, didn't stand up to it, didn't ask more questions, didn't ask any follow-up questions, didn't do anything but rewrite the White House PR hand-outs, every last one of them having caved to a call from cheney's office or rove's office or some such.

There may be a few others of legitimate merit - Helen Thomas, David Gregory, David Shuster. Maybe even Keith Olbermann. People who DID stand up to it, DID see through the lies and the facades, and weren't fooled.

But there'll be a whole lot of others doing Monday Morning Mea Culpas - after it's too late to make any difference. It will be a feeble attempt to absolve themselves of guilt and bothersome consciences. They'll hit the lecture circuit and Book TV and make a lot of nice side money, and talk about vigilantly closing that barn door LONG after they allowed all the horses to escape. Many people by then will buy it, just like they bought what the bushies force-fed them. We'll know the truth, though.

That's my prediction. Remember this date.

[blm]

31. I would stand with you on that. Because it hits on every cylinder

that they operate with, and then some.

[IA_Seth]

26. See below...the question was asked. n/t

[blm]

3. Thanks...Use opportunity to support PAPER BALLOT bill in Congress

I know he prefers paper ballot system, himself - and getting behind this congressional bill is crucial to democracy.


HR 6200 IH


109th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 6200
To amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require States to conduct Presidential elections using paper ballots and to count those ballots by hand, and for other purposes.


IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 27, 2006
Mr. KUCINICH (for himself, Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida, Mr. CLAY, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. FILNER, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. GUTIERREZ, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Mr. HINCHEY, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Ms. KAPTUR, Ms. LEE, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Ms. MCKINNEY, Mrs. MALONEY, Ms. SOLIS, Ms. WATERS, and Ms. WOOLSEY) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


A BILL
To amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require States to conduct Presidential elections using paper ballots and to count those ballots by hand, and for other purposes.


Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Paper Ballot Act of 2006'.

SEC. 2. REQUIRING USE OF HAND-COUNTED PAPER BALLOTS IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.

Section 301(a) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15481(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

`(7) SPECIAL RULES FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS- Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, in the case of a regularly scheduled general election for the electors of President and Vice President (beginning with the election in November 2008), the following rules shall apply:

`(A) The State shall conduct the election using only paper ballots.

`(B) The State shall ensure that the number of ballots cast at a precinct or equivalent location which are placed inside a single box or similar container does not exceed 500.

`(C) The ballots cast at a precinct or equivalent location shall be counted by hand by election officials at the precinct, and a representative of each political party with a candidate on the ballot, as well as any interested member of the public, may observe the officials as they count the ballots. The previous sentence shall not apply with respect to provisional ballots cast under section 302(a).'.

SEC. 3. MOVING OBSERVATION OF WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY TO ELECTION DAY DURING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION YEARS.

Section 6103(a) of title 5, United States Code, is amended--

(1) by inserting `the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November in 2008 and every fourth year thereafter, and' after `Washington's Birthday,'; and

(2) by inserting `in any other year' after `February'.

[fedupinBushcountry]

5. Thank you for asking

I would like to know if he knows about the signing statements on The Defense bill and Homeland Security bill, and how do these signing statements effect legislation, and if these signing statements can be questioned in court?

Thanks so much and have a great time, and know that he is listening.

[IA_Seth]

27. Sorry, not enough time for that one...

There were only 3 real questions asked and this wasn't one of them. I apologize.

[fedupinBushcountry]

34. No problem

I read your post below. I think that one county was where Kenyon college was located.

I think people need to understand, that even though we think certain things are illegal as far as voting goes, that is not the case. Each state has their own laws and when you have Republican Secretary of State's making those laws and at the same time working on the B/C campaign as was Florida, we need to elect Dems as SOS.

[speedoo]

8. Yes.

Tell him he needs to campaign his ass off for the dem senate candidates in CT, Tennessee, Virginia, Ohio, Montana, Rhode Island, Missouri and Pennsylvania. If he helps the dems take back the Senate, I might forgive him for blowing it in 2004.

That should keep him busy for a few weeks.

[fedupinBushcountry]

9. He is very busy

and is campaigning all over the country for Dems. Check it out, look at the map.

http://www.johnkerry.com/election06/

[MBS]

11. he's been doing that, and more

No other Senator has done even close to as much as he has , in fund-raising for, campaigning with, and fighting for, DEM congressional candidates all over the country-- including all the states you've mentioned. Local candidates, too. He's been doing this for a YEAR already, and has been on the road every day in this last crucial month. Ask him about it!

[globalvillage]

14. He's been 'campaigning his ass off'

for '06 candidates. Multiple appearances nearly every day.
Hope that meets with your approval.

http://www.johnkerry.com/election06/

[wisteria]

15. He has been doing that for some time now. He has even asked for

donations for many of the candidates in the states you named by sending out e-mails to those on his list.

[speedoo]

19. I know he's been working hard. But we must win back the Senate.

And so I appreciate what he's doing, especially because other prominent dem senators, like HRC... (and you had better believe I will remember this when I cast my primary votes in 2008). If we don't get it done this year, then 2008 is crucial. So I hope he keeps working hard, and that he will do it again in 2008.

[welshTerrier2]

16. yes, i do ...

Kerry has used the term "empire of oil" several times ... George McGovern has called for a voiding of all oil contracts between the Iraqis and foreign oil companies as part of our departure arrangements from Iraq ...

i would like to know whether Senator Kerry agrees with him on this ...

[TayTay]

37. Point of information: oil company contracts in Iraq

Does Iraq have any contracts with the major oil companies or are those agreements valid under terms drawn up by the Coalition Provisional Authority? I was under the impression that anything done by Iraq before March 2003 was rewritten by the Americans under Paul Bremer. Does anyone know if this is true? That would mean that the present Iraqi government doesn't really have agreements, just contracts written by Americans, for Americans and enforced by Americans. (How can this be legal to begin with?)

[welshTerrier2]

40. existing PSA's were signed by the Iraq gov't after the CPA ...

at least that's my best recollection ... the ones already signed turn over huge parts of Iraq's future oil development ...

but the ones scheduled to be signed by December pretty much take the rest of Iraq's oil ... check the article i linked to in this thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2887675&mesg_id=2887675 (it's an excellent two-part article that provides tons of information about the oil grab) ...

the bottom line is that bush is there for oil ... period! much of the squeeze on the Iraqis is coming from the World Bank under Wolfowitz ... if you haven't read "Confessions of an Economic Hitman", it lays out a pretty clear script about how the international blackmail game is played ...

btw, TT, thanks for the PM a couple of weeks ago ... i'm giving it some serious thought ...

[StoryTeller]

17. This is more of a request than a question...

But I'd like to ask him to come to Nebraska some time. We're such a red state that we get left out by the Democrats. And that only encourages people to be more Republican because at least they're paying attention to us.

I can't help but think that if people here got the chance to meet more Democrats and just get to know them, it would turn out to be a more purple state than people think.

[gully]

18. Ask him if he runs again to throw caution to the wind and be CLEAR

on his positions. And thank him from me and many others for his efforts as a Senator and a candidate.

[peace13]

20. Why didn't he count Ohio in 2004? n/t

[blm]

21. HE counted the votes Terry McAuliffe's infrastructure was able to count.

The entire Dem party, voters and candidates depended on McAuliffe and his office of Voter Integrity to do their job and work for four years to secure the election process.

Nice spin by Terry McAuliffe to get people to blame Kerry instead, when Kerry DID his job and won - when it was actually McAuliffe who didn't do HIS job to secure the vote count.

[peace13]

22. This is still a question that Kerry needs to answer.

I don't know if you are in Ohio or not but I am. I was on the streets in December 2004 at the statehouse asking the questions. Kerry was the candidate, he would have been president. He was responsible. We can agree to disagree on this one. Peace, Kim

[blm]

23. If he did WHAT? McAuliffe lost those votes in the four years BEFORE Nov 3.

Kerry had no legal recourse at that point. Even Woodward's book says Kerry was fighting the provisional ballots battle when Carville tipped off Matalin at the WH and the numbers dropped closing the math window.

That was McAuliffe's INFRASTRUCTURE weakness that allowed those numbers to drop because they weren't SECURED first by any Dem authority that should have been in place at many a STATE level and looking over Blackwell's shoulder at all times and those of his underlings in every precinct.

[BootinUp]

42. You didn't read the post

how many people were on the ground? Even now no evidence to charge fraud, what was that?


I didn't hear him try to shuffle off the blame to McAuliffe either. LOL

[IA_Seth]

25. His answer went something like this....

He feels that he didn't concede early.

He had over 3500 lawyers on the ground in Ohio, and 30,000 across the nation. They worked overnight attempting to find any legal basis for a challenge and there were none.

There was at that time a 120,000 vote descrepancy, and there were only 150,000 provisional ballots that were outstanding.

There was no evidence of voter fraud or anything that would have substantiated any sort of legal challenge to the results. I apologize for not remembering the precinct, but there was one precinct that couldnt vote until 4am or some such craziness, but he said since they WERE able to vote he couldn't challenge that either.

He said that even with the evidence NOW he still doesn't have any basis for a challenge.

-----

He said that he authored, along with Boxer and ______ (sorry, not overly familiar) the legislation that would call for verifiable paper trails for ALL elections in our country, but that with the R's in power that will not pass.



I could be missing a little. There was at least one other DUer there.

[Mass]

32. The name missing is Feingold, I think.

Thanks for this account.

[sandnsea]

35. There isn't evidence now

I think people don't understand that election tampering law goes to the person that did the tampering, it doesn't overturn an election. There would have to practically be confessions with video of orders direct from George Bush in order to throw him out of the White House. Either people don't get that or they just use this concession crap to continue their campaign against Kerry. There just wasn't anything else that could be done.

[kerrygoddess]

36. Verifed Paper ballots

Russ Feingold and John Kerry Introduce Resolution Urging Backup Plans for Voting Machines
http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=4305

[beachmom]

38. Seth -- thanks for asking the question. Do you have a blog

or some of the others with a full report? I would love to read that.

[IA_Seth]

39. I don't.

I don't have a blog actually. As much time as I spend reading news and commentary on the web (while I SHOULD be working) I really should get on together, but I haven't at this time.

I don't think there is any full report of the Kerry visit here yesterday, and I imagine there won't be as it was billed as a 'private' gathering.

[BootinUp]

41. I bet a bunch here thinks he is lying too.

Folks, He LOST and it wasn;t from fucking VOTE FRAUD

[IA_Seth]

43. Right...not fraud....

More like disenfranchisement (if thats a word). I think it's ridiculous that anyone would be expected to remain at a polling station until 4am to cast a vote in a Presidential election, and I am sure some people left and didn't vote.

That said, I think he should use his recognition to support a fresher candidate...oh say, Wes Clark perhaps?

[BootinUp]

44. Yes I believe that is a word

and its been used before to describe typical tactics by the opposition party. I am always happy to discuss Clark, but I think it is even more important that people don't rely on conspiracies to explain our problems.
cheers

[Mass]

45. I doubt there was no fraud. Whether the fraud was big enough to

change the result or not is a different issue that could be debated, but anybody who thinks all was fine in Ohio just hides his/her head.

Do that if you want, but do not expect others to be.

[BootinUp]

46. I didn't mean to say no fraud

If that is what I posted let me correct it. Election fraud is something we will always have. It will be practiced by members of both parties. It will not generally be in the form of a national conspiracy except in paranoid brains. Finally I support fully any efforts to improve the process.

But any efforts to blame a lost election on the fraud boogeyman that are made primarily by the candidates faithful supporters (said candidate wishing to be nominated and run again) will be derided by me unless there is evidence to back it up.