What were you doing on Jan 6, 2005

[EFerrari]

when Barbara Boxer stood up with the House Members challenging the corrupted Ohio electoral vote?

Do you remember that we sent Boxer 4,500 roses for her spine?


Did you know a Duer organized a whole site just to thank her and our reps who fight for the integrity of our vote? www.thankyoupatriot.com

In the Elections forum, we'd been working like fiends to persuade her or ANYONE to do that.

Were you there? If not, did you hear about it? What is your story?

Tell it here.

And, fyi, while we're celebrating that victory, check out these threads, especially the first one.

Full_Metal_Hat's thread :http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2354129

MelissaB's thread:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2354575


Wilms' thread
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x408089

The daily ERD thread (Thank you, livvy!)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=408144&mesg_id=408144


For our Andy.

:kick:

[converted_democrat]

1. I was glued in front of my TV watching it on CSPAN....

I had not re-registered to become a Dem yet, but I had worked for the Kerry team, and knew many other pukes that had as well.. I knew the election was stolen.. I had to get more info.. Here I sit today. I re-registered as a Dem a few weeks later.

[EFerrari]

8. Bless your heart. A lot of people woke up that day --

and it wasn't a matter of party.

It was about the basis of the republic.

And Barbara Boxer and the House Democrats came through.


:toast:

[converted_democrat]

18. Thank you...

I'm very proud of my conversion, I've become a totally different person thanks to this place.. You're right, this isn't about party, it's about the survival of our nation as we know it.

:toast:

[yurbud]

43. I got up to watch it too, and was waiting for other Dems to back her

[Mutley]

2. That's an excellent picture with the roses.

I love it!

I was here on DU, reading every word about it I could find. It seemed like the very first glimmer of hope. How far things have come in the last year!

[EFerrari]

5. I was, too. We had the teevee on, the radio and DU.

We have walked a long mile in big boots. Diebold is tanking all over. Sequoia is next in long.

Lookout, ES&S -- you might want to repurpose your hackable machines to gumballs. :evilgrin:

DU :toast:

[SharonRB]

41. I was here, too, and watching on CSPAN when I got home

from work. We've come a long way from then, babies, but we have a long way to go yet.

[in_cog_ni_to]

3. I was WATCHING her. I was SO damn proud of that lady.

I want her to run for PREZ.

[EFerrari]

9. If she will, I'll manage any state you want

:)

[txindy]

44. Me, too.

Both watching her that day AND wanting her to run for president.

[Nikki Stone 1]

4. BARBARA ROCKS!

Thanks for the reminder.

[Emit]

6. I was watching, of course!

Thanks for reminding me, and for the other threads reminding us all.

[EFerrari]

10. Spread it! Because even in those very dark dayz when we

where still mourning, we KICKED @SS!

Spread it, kick and nominate for what DU can DO!

:kick:

[Emit]

13. Done! n/t

[EFerrari]

15. thank you

:hi:

[Zomby Woof]

7. I changed my sig line to commemorate!

I LOVE Senator Boxer! If she runs, I will work doggedly on her campaign!!

[EFerrari]

11. Doggedly or Woofily?

Me, too. :)

[hedda_foil]

12. I was sitting in Senator Boxer's office holding Andy's hand!

Several of us activists who had been lobbying other Senators to support Senator Boxer decided to watch from her office instead of from the gallery. There must have been about 10 of us right there in that room. Later, about 20 of us went out to dinner to celebrate, though a few were downcast that Senator Boxer's stand hadn't changed the outcome.

God, how I miss our sweet Andy!

[EFerrari]

14. Were you, hedda?

You lucky.

[roguevalley]

16. I wonder which bunch is ours? She's beautiful, isn't she?

[EFerrari]

17. Inside and out.

I imagine a WHOLE LOTTA THEM are ours. :)

[EFerrari]

19. Do you remember that Will Pitt covered Mr. Conyers'

hearings in Ohio when the corporate media would not? When the people rose up and demanded accountability for their stolen election, who was there? Look carefully.



http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/printer_C120704P.shtml

'Way to go Will, and thank you.

:kick:

[katinmn]

20. The Boxer Rebellion was the highlight of my year!

Barbara Boxer is a senator whom I trust without reservation. She's the only one who stood up for all of us. What John Conyers did in the House as ranking minority leader of Justice, Boxer did for us in the Senate. What a gutsy, principled person! In my mind she and Conyers will always be the ones who tried to heal the pain many of us felt after seeing the great debacle of Ohio.

Someone here designed "Proud Member of the Boxer Rebellion" bumper stickers and I got mine the week that she voted against certifying Ohio's electors. I promptly placed it crosswise over my Kerry-Edwards bumper sticker- looked like a band-aide.

I helped start the BB supporters group here on DU and recently posted an update on the Draft Boxer campaign.

[EFerrari]

21. What about a link, kati?

:thumbsup:

[katinmn]

52. Here ya go

http://boxer2008.com/

(I thought you'd never ask):-)

[Cults4Bush]

22. Have to watch Faye and Dzikas awesome video as well! Link here

Just posted this in the great Patriot Day thread.

Apologies for the cross post...

Very very moving it still sets me to tears and the fire in my belly burns brightly.

Thanks again Faye and Dzika this was a wonderful piece of work! Music by Muse.

Lots of different ways to get it at this link... and remember to fire off a thanks to VR. They absolutely grabbed the gauntlet and ran ran ran with it.

www.velvetrevolution.us/#020505

[EFerrari]

23. "No Sequoia system meets voting system standards. Foger Rox

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2354981

[Horse with no Name]

24. I was here...celebrating the fact...that although

the political climate was dark, there were still some heroes out there.

[EFerrari]

25. Some signs of life! Even when we were down

we WERE NOT DOWN.

We were NOT fooled.

We were NOT immobilized.

((((((((((((DU))))))))))

:kick: for a DU force of nature.

[EFerrari]

26. A kick for Barbara

:kick:

[troubleinwinter]

27. It was a great day....

we saw some COURAGEOUS PATRIOTS stand up for democracy.

[EFerrari]

28. MUST SEE VIDEO: Thank you, Faye and Dzika!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=203&topic_id=304254

[Oversea Visitor]

29. Was watching it on my computer

on Cspan 2 24,000 miles away.

Very BRAVE Lady
Mind of her own
Good principle
Will make a good VP
Cause she be a solid check and balance.

[FogerRox]

30. I was at the CBS headquarters in NYC protesting the stolen election

@ the black rock building---- Called a friend in DC to listen over the cell phone -to the crowd and someone speaking.

Right now--- "I think we got ourselves a convoy here" ----

[EFerrari]

32. 10 -4

:kick:

[EFerrari]

31. Hi there, Oversea Visitor

She was brave. Those were the worst days, when we thought this country had re-elected that idiot.

We know better now. He was not re-elected, he just stole it again, as the Conyer's report, the GAO report, Bob Fritrakis books and Mark Crispin Miller's book detail.

Work to do in 2006.

:kick:

[Oversea Visitor]

Yup

I do watch the progress of the fight for a secure election
Looks like an uphill battle
But so many commited people charging the hill
MEGA HOUSE CLEANING needed for the election board all over US
Think it is heavily inflitrated.

Not much time before 2006 election
I think the Democrats going to win big time
But will lose if election reform not done by then

Going to be a long fight
Maybe extending all the way to 2008
Delay down but not out
Nest of viper need to be wipe
You guys will need the help of American Republicans ( not repukes )

[EFerrari]

36. I agree. We will need help from outraged citizens of

any party.

And I bet you, we will get it.

:)

[EFerrari]

33. They said there was no need to recount OHIO

We disagreed.

[EFerrari]

34. And this Blackwell dude tried to lockout the recounters.

He did. Because the Cabal's arrogance knew no limit.

[EFerrari]

35. But, surprise, surprise. We had some real leaders step up

up for our vote on January 6, 2005.











THANK YOU, PATRIOTS.

[bleever]

37. My memories of that day

and those around it, which I had also posted in FULL_METAL_HAT's thread:


I've alternately had goosebumps and tears in my eyes while reading this thread. Recalling that day (one year ago? Five? Ten?) the emotions come flooding back: the rage, the sorrow, the despair, and the exhiliration of being part of 2004 ERD and all the efforts to convince a senator to stand up. I had the feeling of being part of a very small group of people who knew what had happened, a few eyewitnesses to one of the largest crimes in history: the theft of American democracy.

I had felt very alone, starting the evening of election day, knowing based on a wide array of indicators that the election was stolen, and yet finding everyone around me merely tolerant (at best) of my insistence on what had happened. I might as well have been describing an experience of being abducted by aliens, for all the understanding my pronouncements were met with.

Yet at DU, in the 2004 ERD forum, I found a home, not for complainers or "conspiracy theorists", but for highly intelligent and motivated citizens actually doing the work of dissecting the fraud, and determined against all odds (which seemed astronomical), to make the truth known in an environment where the media and the nation as a whole was unable and unwilling to consider the possibility that a crime of these dimensions was possible, and where otherwise good and decent people needed the comfort and security of labeling us as "tin foil hat" wearers rather than having to question the entire basis of their beliefs about government.

That January day, without telling anyone (not my wife, not my family, not my friends or business associates) I printed out some signs, pocketed a pair of newly-purchased red gloves, and drove to San Francisco to the rally outside Barbara Boxer's SF office.

Later, while watching the proceedings on C-Span of the election certification, I felt exultant when Boxer (my senator) stood with Stephanie Tubbs-Jones to force closed-session meetings of both houses of Congress. With all the horror and shock of the election theft still in my heart, there grew nonetheless a new hope that we could succeed, and deep pride in the people of the 2004 ERD. I was (and remain) so grateful to be associated with what to me has often seemed like the final bastion for defenders of democracy, unafraid of the junta that had a stranglehold on government and the press, and undaunted by the ridicule coming from both the complicit defenders of the crime, and those without the emotional fortitude to contemplate something so heinous.

On November 12, 2004, Doohickie started a thread titled "I Believe". It simply said, "I believe Kerry will be inaugurated on Jan 20. I am Doohickie, and I approve this message." We fought hard for that to come true. The message of later threads came to be our belief that in spite of all obstacles, the truth about the 2004 election would become known, and that justice would be done. To date, seven "I Believe" threads have received a total of 2,412 responses. And everyone who believed, and has worked hard, has had the satisfaction of seeing what was once a lonely cry in the wilderness become a topic of national prominence.


Thank you for this wonderful thread, FMH. Beyond mentioning Senator Boxer, Representatives Tubbs-Jones and Conyers, and the incomparable TruthIsAll, I won't attempt to list all the people to whom I feel an eternal debt of gratitude. If you've ever participated in 2004 ERD or the re-christened Election Reform forum, you're included.


To be a part of this has changed my life, and made me a better person.

[denese]

42. thanks for the memories bleever

That thread of Doohickie's inspired me to join DU and post a response.
I am so thankful to everyone here at DU and especially all the folks from 2004 ERD.
This place and those people helped to keep me sane after I watched that travesty of an election take place. It felt almost surreal, to absolutely know that election was stolen in plain sight.
Sometimes I get almost completely overwhelmed with rage when I think about what has happened to our country.
Then I see a photo of Barbara Boxer in her office full of roses, or pictures of the protesters out in the streets saying what no one seems to want to hear, and I cry, my heart is so full of gratitude. We fight against enormous odds and, knowing this, we continue fighting. We must continue on even when our strength fails. Everything depends on it.
NGU

[gkhouston]

57. And do you know what? I still believe.

There was so much despair at DU in those days, largely because the neocons had pulled a swindle and were swollen on their greed and hubris. From all the flap in the corporate media, you would have thought that BushCo was unassailable.

What a difference a year makes.

And yes, Katrina has a lot to do with revealing the Emperor's wardrobe, as does the CIA leak investigation, and the wiretap scandal, and the Abramoff scandal, and, and... but I will never forget this first show of defiance. This was the first tiny crack in the facade, the first time some Democrats very publicly stood up and called bullshit on the "mandate". They spoiled what should have been a triumphal moment for blivet** -- and the year went downhill from there.

I can't wait to see how 2006 unfolds. It sure ain't gonna be a comeback year for BushCo. :popcorn:


on edit: where was I on Jan. 6? Compulsively pressing the "refresh" button at DU, then watching what happened later that night. What a glorious day.

[proud patriot]

38. I was watching Barbara Stand up and represent me well

I was here on DU writing letter making phone calls .

[FogerRox]

40. watch me pull a rabbit out of a hat-------- RRRRRRRR

oh, wrong hat

[A Brand New World]

39. I called in sick that day and watched the whole thing on TV

and prayed for a miracle. I wanted President Kerry! Plus I donated for the flowers. As a voter from the corrupt state of Ohio, I felt it was my duty.

[EFerrari]

45. We called in sick to ourselves and did the same thing.

Plus monitored DU all day.

We are ALL Ohio and we will get Ohio back.

And Blackheart can take his mendacious "Professional Ethics" lectures to the nether regions where they belong.

:toast:

[FreedomAngel82]

46. That was a great day

I remember being so nervous wondering who would stand up and out of nowhere Barbara did. :D She'll always be a personal hero for standing up for democracy! :loveya:

[blue4barb]

47. K and R bigtime. Thanks for this thread- very uplifting. ThankYouPatriot

is one of my favorite bookmarked sites which I visit regularly.

[EFerrari]

48. shameless kick

[tavalon]

49. It's funny (not haha funny)

I can tell you with minute detail what I was doing and what I was feeling on the morning of Nov. 4th, 2004. Jan 6th, 2005, not so much. I suspect I was on my usual schedule and was asleep when this happened. I do remember the flowers - I helped contribute for that. I'm fairly sure, being the wonk that I am, I watched the rerun on CSPAN.

[EFerrari]

51. tavalon: go see UL's follow up thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=78855&mesg_id=78855

We have some no sh!t people right here, at DU.

:)

[EFerrari]

50. understandinglife's follow up thread here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=78855&mesg_id=78855

[LeahD]

53. Lurking on DU,

faxing letters, watching C-Span and listening to AAR and Randi.
Thank you to all of the true patriots! NGU!

[Wilms]

54. .

[pat_k]

55. Calling All Citizen Lobbyists!

When it comes to understanding what the Constitution demands of them on January 6th, too many in Congress are the dark. You can help them see the light!

The count of the electoral votes is more than a mere formality or ministerial responsibility; they have a positive duty to judge the validity of those votes. Each member of Congress has a duty to independently judge whether or not electors have been appointed based on elections that were conducted in accordance with the intent of the law.

Senator Boxer, Rep. Tubbs-Jones, and the 30 members of the House who joined them in rejecting the Ohio electors, Get it.

What about the others? The vast majority who failed us? Many mistakenly believe an objection requires a court finding of fraud. If that were the case, there would be no reason to charge Congress with the duty; judgement of the electors would be left to the Judiciary. As much as they might like to, they cannot escape their duty by looking to the courts.

Before they can fail us again, we need to make it clear to them that WE know what the Constitution demands of them. The only way they can show us they "get it" is to publicly declare their intent to judge the electors and describe the standards they intend to employ.

We can make it happen.

Every member of Congress has the power to set standards for what constitutes a free and fair election. All they need to do is proclaim their intent to carry out their duty to judge the electors on January 6, 2009 and describe conditions that would demand an objection.

Even if Congress fails to enact legislation that protects our right to have confidence in our elections, any member of the House or Senate can draw a bright line in the sand right now. For example, they could declare their intent to object to electors from any state that used Diebold machines or any state in which voters were subjected to hours long poll-tax lines. Why spend money for machines that may ultimately lead to your electors being tossed out?

By declaring their intent, members put election officials in every state on notice. If members make it clear that certain tactics will put a state's electors at risk, those tactics become useless. Stonewalling to avoid addressing problems does you no good if your electors may not be counted for either candidate as a result.

There is enormous value in declaring their intent regarding presidential electors long before the next Presidential election. If members declare the standards they intend to apply as they judge the electors in 2009, they define the "frame" for what constitutes a trustworthy election; a frame that people can invoke when assessing the conduct of any election.

January 6th, 2005 showed us how much we can accomplish in a matter of weeks. Imagine what we can accomplish in 30 months! The sooner citizens start working on their representatives, the better. As they move into campaign mode, you have leverage -- big time! (e.g., if they don't stand up for free and fair elections or for Impeachment, they can expect to face a primary opponent who will!)

Do check out Making the Case to Object to Tainted Electors on January 6th. Though these talking points are specific to taking a Jan 6th stand, a considerable portion is generally useful for making the case for "standing on principle." Something that (sadly) cannot be stressed enough to our "fearful leaders" in DC.

Pat K
january6th.org
Declaration of Intent Project

[Califooyah Operative]

56. hehehe

i remember

[stellanoir]

58. January 6, 2006

was one of the most bittersweet days of my life. To finally see members of the House and Senate verbalizing the very concerns I had obsessed over for well over two years was a thrill.

To see members of the allegedly ranking party hautily and disingenuously minimize factual irregularities as whimsical conspiracy theories was tragic.

To know that more than likely, those concerns would not be again brought to the floor again for at least another two years was heart wrenching.

Oh the media's trivialization of such a momentous occurance sucked as usual.

Otherwise at least I felt all those letters sent to congress critters by so many that met with only auto generated polite and sometimes inappropriate responses weren't a complete and total exercise in futility.

Yikes.

[Rhiannon12866]

59. I was torn between C-Span and DU.

I have seen some busy times on this board, but nothing I've ever seen, even the debates and election day, approaches that day. We could still post, but DU was stripped down to nothing. It was a pretty exciting time for all of us who experienced this and one I won't ever forget...:kick:

And I sure won't ever forget Andy, one of my first friends on DU, God_bush_n_cheney...;(O8)

[Senator]

60. My Andy Stephenson Story (crosspost from "memory lane" thread)

My Memory Lane with Andy Stephenson -- January 6th, 2005

(For those who couldn't get to the memorial service, this was my contribution to the "open mike" portion.)

Sometimes you find yourself in the right place at the right time. I think many of us consider meeting Andy to have been one of those times.

One time I know I was in the right place at the right time was on January 6th, when I found myself standing at the reception desk of Senator Barbara Boxer's office just as the first photocopies of her letter to Stephanie Tubbs-Jones were being distributed confirming that she would stand and object to the unlawful Ohio electors.

Needless to say I was elated. I did a quick "gimme, gimme" for a copy of the letter and for a Senate Chamber Pass the aide was also offering (only for a souvenir, as I knew I'd be with the "troops" rallying rather than in the chamber).

But it was also standing in the office at that time that I first saw Andy Stephenson. He was across the reception room talking with some other people and though I'd probably passed him in the halls of the Russell Senate building a few times, this was when I first connected name and face.

Now there's no way I can prove this, but it has since occurred to me that it may well have been Andy Himself that Senator Boxer just couldn't say no to.

In any case, it's a memory I cherish.

--
www.january6th.org

[Maestro]

61. Awesome!

In the light of what is going on recently, it seems our efforts and most importantly, hers, were worth it.

[EFerrari]

62. Sunday morning kick

[DemReadingDU]

63. Watching C-Span, lurking here at DU

and from Ohio, so upset that Bush stole this election too. But that was last year. This year, full of hope that the tide is turning toward truth and accountability

[rumpel]

64. It was such a great moment.

:hi:

[greiner3]

65. That was before my days here! Too bad I missed it! n/t

[Left coast liberal]

66. Wow! A year ago! Yes, I was here and gave money for ...

...flowers for Boxer. By the way, A HUGE THANKS to the DU'er that coordinated that whole thing.

Boy, it's wierd looking back. The stolen election wound was still so fresh, I was very depressed and would cry at the drop of a hat. But, B. Boxer made me feel like there was a tide turning. I sent my baby's photo to the gallery to show why we are all fighting for our democracy. If not for us, for the next generations.

Thanks for reminding me. We have come a long way this year.

XOXO DU!
:)

[New Earth]

67. on January 6th 2005

i woke up at scubed's house with her and Andy and met up with other DU'ers for the speeches and marched through Washington, choked up and feeling patriotic. i wish i could find my original recap of that day but i don't know how to search the Archives :(

when we heard for sure that Boxer was going to stand up, it was such an emotional moment. the whole day was.

it was one of the best days of my life. i will never forget it. that entire 'era' will be one of the most memorable for me, always. especially considering what led me to DU was searching for others who knew the election was fraudulent.

i still feel so proud to have been part of what happened that day, i choke up thinking about it :blush:

[jillan]

68. And year year later I am totally engrossed in her novel

Can't put it down.

Sen Boxer :hug: !

[Wilms]

69. .