Progress Report on CA Unity Campaign

[GuvWurld]

http://guvwurld.blogspot.com/2006/01/progress-report-on-ca-unity-campaign.html

Progress Report on CA Unity Campaign

About six weeks ago, GuvWurld launched a campaign to unite California election reformers. Earlier this week, VelvetRevolution.us posted this endorsement of the effort. I've also teamed up with VR co-founder Brad Friedman at BradBlog.com to present this exclusive footage (Video in Windows Media format...) of a press conference held this past Monday when CA Secretary of State Bruce McPherson visited the office of Humboldt County Clerk/Recorder Carolyn Crnich. McPherson's appearance walked, smelled and shat like a re-appointment campaign, despite assertions to the contrary by his handlers.

There are no major revelations in the video though we did get confirmation that the hack test tentatively scheduled last month did NOT actually take place. This lays to rest a controversy spurred by this erroneous Wired article. According to McPherson, the hack test was not performed because Diebold's equipment was instead referred back to the federal testing labs. That referral came in this letter from McPherson to Diebold citing the presence of interpreter code.

If there is anything worth seeing in this video it may just be McPherson's eyes as I asked him how previously certified machines could still be usable if we now know they contain the interpreter code forbidden by the 2002 Voting System Standards/Guidelines. McPherson easily squirmed out of the obviously loaded question leaving me wishing I had asked it differently.

Perhaps I should have said: Will you inspect Humboldt's election machines today and enforce the state election code by decertifying them when you find interpreter code? That would have been a better way to establish the frame. Still, the message came out clear enough that the Eureka Reporter printed it as a quote. The Eureka Times-Standard (archive) also covered the event.

As I've written on this topic previously, I have been talking with several lawyers about making a direct attempt to prevent continued use of previously certified Diebold machines. There is an interest and an appetite for using this particular issue and angle. The point of the campaign to unite California election reformers is to use the same tactics in each of the 17 CA counties using Diebold equipment. This would include calling for investigations of local election departments to determine how Diebold was able to install uncertified software.

As a result of my complaint, the Humboldt Grand Jury interviewed me earlier this week. I am not permitted to discuss or write about the meeting but I want to encourage you to submit your own complaint in your county on these same grounds. Is it possible Diebold installed uncertified software in your county's election machines without the knowledge of anyone in your election department? Was there complicity or negligence or what?

I believe, at this time, that it is even more important for us to require and obtain personal accountability from our local government than from our federal government. At least consider for a moment, which is it even feasible to strive for? To resist an illegitimate and out of control federal government, local government is going to come increasingly upon a hot seat. For how much longer can city and county officials cooperate with the feds, so often at the expense of the community? Non-violent revolution is necessary, NOW! If you are ready for a serious conversation about how we will do this, come to the town hall forum on Saturday Feb. 11, 2pm, at the Eureka Veterans Hall on 10th/H St. If you are revolted, revolt!

www.HumboldtRevolution.org

[kster]

1. Kick-n-Recommended..nt

[Einsteinia]

2. thanks for doing all this

n/t

[Wilms]

3. And you forgot to ask him if any other manufacturer uses interpreter code.

:evilgrin:

He pretty much said he'd consider certifying them if the ITA passes it. But he kept saying wait till the ITA reports. Remember, Diebold, some Disability groups, BoE's, etc., are watching him, too.

But MD has expressed interest in the result of that test. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x410604

Further, McPherson sending that software to the ITA put Diebold in a bind. If they want to do business they have to resubmit. Assuming the machine would have otherwise passed CA testing, as other DRE's have, what grounds would he have to tell the counties to scrap the gear they have. The concept that he "punted" could very well play out, but what he might of done is used the leverage to get the ITA back on the hook...and the EAC and NASED, (because they have to sign off, too. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x410642 ), plus created a national crisis for Diebold. :evilgrin:

Unless they're all just playin' us.

I'm torn because I figured he would have already certified (saying it has the ITA stamp, blah, blah) but he hasn't...yet. And the counties are freaked out. But I can't imagine him kicking Diebold out of the state, nor the ITA kicking them out of the country.

It's a hot potato. And it's not just about California.

No matter what he does, McPherson's gonna get his ass kicked.

I feel bad for him. I actually have been happy about a lot of the things he's doing...and he won't get my vote.


Did you ask him about Vote-PAD?


And will someone please explain to me his VVPAT flip-flopping.

[GuvWurld]

5. Not forgot as much as not given the chance

I had been in contact with McPherson's press office last week. The video came about because I was supposed to get an on camera interview for a locally produced TV show that airs on our public access channel. During the gaggle it was becoming increasingly obvious that I wasn't going to get my one-on-one discussion with him so I had to get out the most pressing questions that I would have otherwise built up to in a different way. Woulda-Coulda-Shoulda...

[Wilms]

7. Still, that's a great document. n/t

[Land Shark]

4. K&R, interesting and valuable contribution nt

[Amaryllis]

6. K and R. Very important actions here.