Brad,

You see what is happening here. These guys will come out and be recognized after only 3 months as the quintessential source for election fraud. They will be granted all sorts of recognition by the administration and their 'official' findings will be trumpeted as gospel. I further predict that they will soon take center stage in mainstream media and within 6 months all of America will be convinced that the only election fraud on November 2, 2004 was perpetrated by the Democrats, sore losers that they are.

Brad,

Good job on John's (Mike's) show today. First time I've heard you speak. I enjoyed the banter as much as the substance.

That said, what the fuck is Congress doing allowing American Center for Voting Rights, or American Crooks for Voting Fraud, testify? What a fucking joke!

Thanks for the update Brad.

We gotta keep holding their feet to the fire on this.

Kes -

They may be getting hot feet, but they're incinerating OUR Constitutional democracy by stomping all over it. The hotter their feet, the higher the flames. I don't know what it's going to take to stop this seemingly fireproof juggernaut. Where is a REASONABLE, PRINCIPLED, TRULY NON-PARTISAN 501(c)3 when you need it? What organization might we suggest for balance?

Brad. Here's why I think this organization was formed. The House hearings about vote fraud were a week away, and the Republicans have no interest whatsoever in voter's rights. They have no groups, they didn't have thousands of complaints like the Dems did. So, they fabricated this group on the fly, to have at least some representation at these hearings. Otherwise, they couldn't drive the hearings away from the real issues. Keep up on this one, Brad, because if you discredit this group, the GOP will have NO representation at these hearings, and they will look bad for trying another Jeff Gannon:male-prostitute fake news sham. It's a sham, but we take to long to uncover it. EXCEPT FOR YOU!!!

How come Bev Harris of blackboxvoting.org, a true non-partisan voters rights activist with a long track record, wasn't at these hearings, but some 6-day-old group with no record and Republican ties is called in as an "expert witness"? I'll say it again, find out who invited them. Brad, don't they have to disclose who invited them, or how they got invited? Isn't that public knowledge? There's another story for you, Brad, if you find out who invited a 6-day-old group to these House hearings.

Does anybody have any links to news articles or anything that may prove these AC4VR Republicans are dirty? If not, we should assume these guys at AC4VR are decent people and are trying to get to bottom of the vote fraud allegations in Ohio, like they say they are.

Obviously, AC4VR is favored by somebody. Hearne acts like he doesn't know why (he says to ask the committee). I think our best move is to treat AC4VR like a friend on the inside. Forward the Conyers report to them. Follow up on their research. Find out what their opinions & conclusions are. Share information.

Rather than press the "long lines at polling places" issue, I think we'd be better off pressing the "bullshit explanations for e-vote glitches" issue. With this issue, particular e-vote companies can be held accountable and hopefully some kind of penalty - or an outright suspension of their contract with the state - can be made. (If the e-vote companies can't produce a believable satisfactory response as to why the glitches happened, then they can't be trusted to handle our votes because they won't know how to prevent the same thing from happening again. Even if their explanation of "random computer glitch" holds up, this same conclusion can be reached)

***And don't forget to also press for resolution on all the registered "Mary Poppins"'s - because that is also vote fraud.*** We have to shoot for universal integrity & accountability --- not just on exposing what we believe to be Republican wrong doing.

Thank-You a hundred times for exposing these ass-holes for what they are. You guys are doing a good job.

A sysadmin -

You make a fine case for fairness on a level playing field.. BUT, you give far too much "benefit of the doubt." How can you have any doubt about blatant rules-changing - as in, "I don't like the way the game is going, so I'm going to change the rules?"

Mary Poppinses there may have been - by the tens or twenties. But thousands and hundreds of thousands of damaged and switched votes (more like millions, if the exit polls are to be believed), all favoring B***, are too many for even a credulous, trusting public to discount. Stop trying to be even-handed: you mimic the "media." Begin to accuse, and vigorously, those outright thieves who think they can steal elections by appealing to our "better selves." Our "better selves" are too pure to be able to comprehend dishonesty and evil. That's the "logic."

Man, I am really missing Jeff Gannon Gukert Gannon Gukert . . .

This stuff is just insane. Every single day there is some truly AMAZING story or craziness that comes out.

It would be nice if good people were not blocked and barred at every turn for doing the legal thing.

David Cobb was right . . . and our democracy is a sham.

Another NeoCon plant, to confuse the proceedings, quickly created to counter the true message, voter disenfranchisement and vote hacking. What a shock! How can they do such a thing (should we expect anything less)?

I'm waiting to hear them complain about the black voters waiting in ten-hour lines in Ohio. The silence will be deafening!

"American Center For Voting Rights" - yet another shill for The BEELZEBUSH NeoFascist machine.

I'm left to wonder if they screened this group for male prostitutes. Can't afford to have anymore shills blowing up in their faces. Makes for bad headlines.

There certainly were some instances of registration fraud on our side, but in no way can they ever be compared to all the documented and resourced instances of multiple types of fraud perpetrated on us in Ohio, New Mexico, Nevada, Florida and other states. While it is important to be non- partisan in seeking to investigate all fraud, to put AC4VR's claims on an equal basis with the rest of it , is to be falling into the trap that AC4VR was created and sent to testify for.

Brad's front page post shows clearly what is dirty about AC4VR and that is that while in testimony they claim to be non-partisan, they come from the most influential and powerful area's of the republican party.

Check here for lots of articles and documentation of fraud, and here for documentation presented into the record as evidence in the case of the Ohio Atty. Gen. attempting to set sanctions against the lawyers who fought in Ohio to challenge the election.

Clearly AC4Vr has an agenda that isn't non-partisan, and I'm getting pretty fed up with Democrats who want to play nice and play fair. It hasn't gotten us anywhere. Our enemies, the enemies of the American voter, don't play nice or fair and this is why they control every branch of our government now.

Go get 'em Brad!

sysadmin #7 again.

As for holding individual voting machine companies responsible, go to Velvet Revolution and check out the "Divestiture for Democracy" campaign.

There are eight pages here that outline what a 501(c)3 can and cannot do in elections and politics.

Also, a 501(c)3 organization must publicly disclose all documents filed with the IRS, including the Form 1023 and all supporting documents. The following text is quoted from this IRS 501(c)3 (pdf) document on page 12:

A 501(c)(3) organization must make certain documents available for public inspection and copying upon request and without charge (except a reasonable charge for copying). The organization must disclose its exemption application (Form 1023) along with all supporting documents and a copy of the exemption ruling letter issued by the IRS. The IRS makes these documents available for public inspection and copying.

and again on page 13 of the same document:

An organization must disclose its exemption application (Form 1023) along with each of the following documents:
all documents submitted with Form 1023

the exemption ruling letter issued by the IRS

So if you have any problems getting documentation send 'em to the IRS link above. Incidently, the 501(c)3 organization's financial records must be publicly disclosed in the same manner and failure to comply will result in loss of 501(c)3 status. Great for labor union negotiations and other cool stuff.

Want to be sure of the next election results? Then conduct an accurate exit poll. Done by the people, for the people.

This exit poll idea is not fully developed but I want to develop it further. The 2006 goal would be to have statistical strength, and ask some questions about progressive voting issues. The data and analysis would all be done open source. Right now it’s at the fertilized egg stage. For now, assume it’s going to work and it’s going forward. What do you see as the biggest obstacles? Potential cost over-runs? Logistical issues? Design issues? Analysis issues? Any political enemies of vote verification? Do we have any prospects for HAVA funding?

Naïve question: on what level, if any, do we need to interact with the government? Do we need anyone’s permission for anything? Are any laws preventing an individual/group/organization from asking people to voluntarily take a quick voting survey as they exit the polls? In 2008, could Governor Blackwell’s Secretary of State issue a directive to have exit pollers arrested?

As far as what I expect on media coverage of the project, from now to election day and afterward, is any combination of nonexistent, poor, distorted, and/or negative. Assume no help of any kind from the MSM. No problem. We’ve got blog. Blog circulation will do what needs to be done.

Also, if it could be included briefly in the 2006 exit poll, ask about progressive voting issues: who would have been your 2nd and 3rd choice tickets? Would you like to have the choice of a run-off type vote? Would you like all of your presidential vote choices to contribute to Major Party Status (like for future debates). Who would have been your choice in the R primary? In the D primary? In your opinion, which states have the advantage: big states, little states, both in different ways, or no states? Do you think voting should be 1 equal vote per person? (If yes) Do you want to therefore end the electoral college?

The main thing in '06 would be to stop any potential electronic vote theft dead in its tracks through public verification. The other thing would be to gather progressive vote reform information with the exit poll and then have better ammo for getting some collection of voting reforms in place by '08.
Any suggestions?

Something's got to be done. The Republicans are falling and their only hope is their control of the rigged machines.
The Democrats are piddling around with all these issues, and the zombies are about to walk into the booths and have their votes stolen again.

If nothing more than organizing a massive, insane campaign to get people to vote on paper, maybe something can be done in time for '06.

The Rethugs are in some serious shit. This is such a great opportunity. Let the forces be with us.

Thoreau said simplicity thrice.

I'm sure you all read about this: UA Young Democrat Banned from Forum for wearing a t-shirt which read, which read, "Don't be a smart (image of a donkey, the Democratic Party symbol). UA Young Democrats."

A UA student was banned from attending President Bush's Social Security forum at the Tucson Convention Center yesterday.

...Tony Cani, president of Young Democrats of Arizona, said Gerner's dismissal was not at all surprising but...."this was paid for with taxpayers' dollars - some of the money even comes out of Social Security."
========

The bu$hies are attempting to silence any and all forms of expression not favorable to their ideology. So they only let people who agree with them come to the open forums and use Mob (or schoolyard bully) tactics to denigrate those who are left.

They spin lies that sound like truth to the uninformed, hire fake news people who send fake news to MSM outlets. They hire fake scientists who debunk serious environmental issues. And now they've created a one-sided and possibly falsified report about the Fradulent election results for 2004.

They have lulled a segment of our society into a Disney-like Pollyanna dreamland with their propaganda. The corporate-owned media will only talk about the White House propaganda ACVR report and the masses will continue to believe the fraud was only perpetrated by the Democrats. Just take a look at the stories written about Election 2004 Fraud. Nearly all MSM reported accounts of fraud are about Democrats even though there are many more accounts of Republican fraud.

Just look at all the Brouhaha over the Dem. Mayor of Orlando, FL who has been accused and now arrested on charges of absentee ballot fraud ... WHAT ABOUT all the stinkin' FRAUD committed by Ken-Katherine Blackwell....and all the rest we know about!??!

Here's the story about Mayor Buddy Dyer:
Orlando Mayor Suspended After Indictment.

This story is all over the place, just like the occasional Mary Poppinses & Dick Traceys. Grrrr!!! I totally agree with Peg C #9. I'm sick to death of the sugary-sweet way Democrat congresspeople speak to Republigoons like Ken-Kathy Blackwell. He should be in jail serving a long Felony sentence.

Re: JPentz #10 - The news I hear nearly every day really creeps me out. It's such "phoney-baloney" but the "Pod-People" don't see it. Are they taking government-issued Prozac?

These are my 2 favorite quotes for the last few days...
===========

"And it seems to me perfectly in the cards that there will be within the next generation or so a pharmacological method of making people love their servitude, and producing … a kind of painless concentration camp for entire societies, so that people will in fact have their liberties taken away from them but will rather enjoy it, because they will be distracted from any desire to rebel by propaganda, brainwashing, or brainwashing enhanced by pharmacological methods."
Aldous Huxley, 1959
==============

"Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice, moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue." Barry Goldwater

Something's certainly rotten in Denmark. The Neocons (and Republicans in general) seem to have a little something up their sleeve. A betting man would have seen this from a mile away.

If they have nothing to hide, then everything would be out in the open. And that would be the death of the Democrats for the next eight years. Sore losers. If their guilty of vote fraud, then that would be the death of the Republicans for the next eight years. So far, they haven't put the sledgehammer to the Democrats. If the Democrats were truly sore losers minus vote fraud, the Neocons would have struck with the Death blow long ago.

American Center for Voting Rights? Looks like someone's been paying close attention to you, Brad. Hell, copyright infringement.

"Email me some information on who you are and I'll get back to you."

I think the point is for THEM to email YOU on who THEY are.

That report is real *non-partisan* - I didn't find a single complaint registered against the Republicans!!! Hmmm. Ain't that a RED Flag.

A sysadmin #7 I have to agree with Peg C at #9 and the others who pointed out the history of the website where they host their efforts.

That website was just recently associated with a male homosexual prostitute who had similar tactics (posing as one thing but being another).

This is why they do not deserve the benefit of the doubt ... there is no doubt about their history of cover ups and subterfuge.

Hi, Teresa #16 - I'm with you. The Repubs. are running to cover their backsides.

Great work, Brad. Keep on this one. Thanks for the info, Torqued #14. If Brad didn't have this info before, he has it now. I can't wait to see those documents!

Bejammino075 #15 - Go for it. There are others here who are very interested in such a project.

The Repubs. are in trouble. Before, our side didn't have a team. Now, not only do we have a team, it is a GREAT TEAM. And, it's a FAR BIGGER AND BETTER team than the Bush/Cheney crowd. It's a team created by and for the AMERICAN PEOPLE. It has the resources of millions of smart Americans who have joined together to repair the damage done to America, starting with election fraud!

These fraudulent "non partisans" will be forced out into the open. They may quickly fade away, or be used by our team to accomplish what the AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT.

Rep. Conyers has his skates on. His forward attack group has scored a goal. Brad has his skates on. He's scored for DV4D. The "non partisan" frauds are now stumbling around trying to deflect attention away from voting machine abuse and manipulation and obstructing people's right to vote. They can only win BY CHEATING and with a CROOKED REFEREE. Now, the AMERICAN PEOPLE are refereeing THIS GAME. Cheaters will be evicted from the game and punished for lawbreaking. Keep on their backs!

Brad's reporting on these guys raises similar questions as Gannon-Guckert:

This ACVR group came from out of nowhere and got high level access, at the expense of REAL voting rights people.

I disagree with someone farther upthread, that the creation and implementation of ACVR was done with little planning. I think it did take some degree of pre-planning and pre-meditation, at least several weeks to get all their ducks in a row.

You listening ACVR? The swarms of the blogosphere will scrutinize your ass. You can run but you can't hide. You don't pass the smell test.

We're like aliens with X Ray vision. We see their every move, and can even anticipate some. And
I think our vision is improving by the minute.
There running around like a colony of very disturbed ants.

They're running....rather.

It was good you pointed out the speed at which the new web site came about, and how quickly this new group gave testimony. But, I totally disagee with what you seem to want to imply with respect to this part of your article:
------------------------------------
We called him this morning to see if we could ask him a few questions about the ACVR, his involvement as their apparent-organizer and his role as lead contributor for the 31-Page report [PDF] on the Ohio Election produced by the ACVR in time for Monday's hearings.

Hearne's response, "Not right now...Send me some information about who you're involved with and I'll give you a call back."

We persisted nonetheless, and asked if he could describe any of the "voter education and outreach" programs which the "About Us" page at the ACVR website describes as one of their activities. Or if he could tell us about any of the "symposiums and conferences" the group claims to be sponsoring as also mentioned on the site.

His response, "We certainly anticipate those. You keep an eye on our website."
-----------------------------------

In my opinion, hearne's response was very swart, correct and astute - he wants to FIRST know WHO he is talking to if he talks to you. THAT is a smart way to be. Here is an example of someone who was not as smart as Hearnes in this regard:

Valerie Plame's husband, who agreed to be interviewed by the now infamous Jeff Gannon, when Jeff Gannon reportedly called up her ambassado husband for an interview. I was shocked when I read that this ambassador/husband of a CIA agent would just talk to anyone, never ask a question, nothing, and would be interviewed by "Jeff Gannon."

Who is Jeff Gannon? is what Valeria Plame's husband should have said, because this ambassador said anything to Jeff Gannon --- and, that is precisely what hearnes is doing here.

Hearnes is willing to talk to you, after he checks you out, and he tells you to keep watching his web site, implying: Yes, we are for real.

So, while you may feel what hearnes did is to be evasive, I read it differently: Hearnes is being smart. hearnes has a public web site. You can read it. And, Hearnes is saying yes, Hearnes will talk with you later, since first - hearnes wants to know who he is talking to.

Just as Valerie Plames' husband should have said to "Jeff Gannon" or to "The Man in the Moon" or whoemever else may call him up. And, by the way, I think it is terrible Roberrt Novack printed anything about Valerie Plames. Just terrible.

Susan #28
I disagree with your take on Hearne vs. Valerie Plame's husband (Ambasador Joe Wilson). Joe Wilson is an open and honest guy who doesn't feel like he needs to carefully limit the exposure of his message nor does he need to craft what he has to say to fit some agenda. Wilson did his interview with Gannon because it was another opportunity to tell the truth.

My point:
When you are telling the truth, the truth will fit in line with everything else that is the truth. When you are lying, and trying to lie well, you need to think very carefully about how to keep your lies consistent with other lies. When you lie, there are people who need to be fooled, no matter how hard they pry, otherwise the lies become unraveled. The liar needs to give his/her most careful thought to how to deal with the truth-seekers prying into the lies.

You said
"Hearnes is willing to talk to you, after he checks you out, and he tells you to keep watching his web site, implying: Yes, we are for real."

No. Hearne is blowing off Brad, delaying, stonewalling, because Hearne has to think carefully about his lies. The whole ACVR group is a lie and a smokescreen to foul up true vote reform. Your take of Wilson = dumb, Hearne = smart should be Wilson = honest, Hearne = hiding something.

FYI:

Registrant:
American Center For Voting Rights (DEPEKXYITD)
8409 Pickwick Lane #299
Dallas, TX 75225
US

Domain Name: AC4VR.COM

Administrative Contact, Technical Contact:
American Center For Voting Rights (39239964O) jim@dykeassociates.com
8409 Pickwick Lane #299
Dallas, TX 75225
US
2143693141

Record expires on 17-Mar-2006.
Record created on 17-Mar-2005.
Database last updated on 24-Mar-2005 10:41:11 EST.

Domain servers in listed order:

NS3.ORCSWEB.COM 66.129.68.13
NS4.ORCSWEB.COM 66.129.68.14

---

Registrant:
Jim Dyke
5029 Macomb St
Washington, District of Columbia 20016
United States

Registered through: GoDaddy.com
Domain Name: DYKEASSOCIATES.COM
Created on: 06-Dec-04
Expires on: 06-Dec-06
Last Updated on: 06-Dec-04

Administrative Contact:
Dyke, Jim jim@dykeassociates.com
5029 Macomb St
Washington, District of Columbia 20016
United States
2022443558 Fax ---
Technical Contact:
Dyke, Jim jim@dykeassociates.com
5029 Macomb St
Washington, District of Columbia 20016
United States
2022443558 Fax ---

Domain servers in listed order:
WSC1.JOMAX.NET
WSC2.JOMAX.NET

I just checked the SEC. of State in SC Web site for either a charity or Corp by their name and there is NOT one listed.
WEB SITE
http://www.scsos.com/

To Benjamin, #29 -

Ben, I don't know you, but I thank you for writing, and I enjoyed reading your post. However, you failed to convince me my take is wrong --- even though my take might be wrong. Nevertheless, I am willing to stand up for my belief, and here is why:

You wrote this: "Wilson did his interview with Gannon because it was another opportunity to tell the truth."

How is Wilson's interview with "Gannon" what you describe as "another opportunity to tell the truth" if "Gannon" or "The Man in the Moon" should turn out to actually be a liar and a hateful b*stard who wants to rewrite everything said by
one "Joe Wilson"?

Communication, you see, is a TWO-way, not a ONE-way, street.

The speaker will sspeak IF the speaker believes the listener and recorder of the information is honest.

Joe Wilson, in my opinion, may well be an open and honest guy, but Joe Wilson's reputation goes on the line and is at risk if Joe Wilson talks to a someone who wants to take down Joe Wilson.

Consequently, Joe Wilson, Mr. Ambassador, needs to wise up here.

And, Hernes, again, was smart - he never said he wouldn't talk, he merely said exactly what he probably really does want to do: find out who he is talking to.

Hearnes even asked for the interviewer to provide that information - that is pretty up front of Hearnes, in my opinion.

But, don't misread me - it doesn't mean that I am ready to say that from this day forward, Hearnes is a God, or that everything Hearnes may say is correct and true and should be etched in stone.

Oh no.

Not at all.

You are right to want to watch him.

But, in this Round One, with respect to the aprt of the article I outlined, I give the points to Hernes.

Hearnes gave everyone an important lesson in the correct way to respond.

What happens next is an open question.

And, may or may not be points for Hernes.

But Hernes won this round. No question in my mind about that.

And, Joe Wilson needs to enroll in a community college ASAP and take a Speech class (required in FL), to learn more about speakers and listeners.

Again, Joe Wilson may be a great guy. But, he's not as bright as Hearnes. That is crystal clear to me at this point in time.

Over time my opinion may change again.

We'll see.

Brad, Have you forwarded your article with an intro of,"YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING ME", to Ney and the other members of the committee?

This Jim Dyke...?

--- http://www.campaignline....edurl=/printedition/inde
x.cfm?navid=9

"NEW FIRMS: Veteran Republican communications strategist Jim Dyke left his position as
communications director at the Republican National Committee (RNC) to start his own consulting firm,
Jim Dyke & Associates. "

---

Sunday update
Date: 18 Jan 2004
Description: Tom Vilsack; Jim Dyke, Republican National Committee communications director; Donna
Brazile, Democratic political strategist. (2 hrs.). ...
Source: (Seattle Times, WA)

----

The Talk Shows
Date: 18 Jan 2004
Description: Gergen; former Clinton speechwriting director Michael Waldman; Bush speechwriter David
Frum; Republican National Committee Communications Director Jim Dyke ...
Source: (Washington Post, DC)

---

Va. biz groups take tax talks to local level
Date: Jan 17, 2004
Description: Jim Dyke, chairman of the Northern Virginia Business Roundtable, says it's important
the General Assembly works just as hard to make government more efficient ...
Source: (MSNBC)

---
---

http://www.macon.com/mld.../news/local/10519494.htm

"Posted on Wed, Dec. 29, 2004

GOP campaigner moves to Charleston

By Mike Allen

The Washington Post

There was a school of costumed dolphins - Flipper, Flopper and Flapper - that traveled the Great
Lakes region mocking Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass. There was a "Kerry on Iraq" DVD showing clips of his
evolving statements, framed like dates on a calendar. And there were KerryWrongFor Catholics.com,
KerryWrong ForMormons.com and Kerry WrongForEvangelicals.com.

All were part of the Republican National Committee's year-long effort to use nontraditional media to
undermine Kerry's presidential campaign - sometimes viciously, sometimes humorously.

Jim Dyke, the party's outgoing communications director, helped engineer the fusillade by figuring
out what to do with all the votes, quotes and other ammunition turned up by his squad of 20 or so
researchers."

---

http://www.your-congress...search/read.aspx?ID=3135

News Releases
Thursday, April 10, 2003
RNC Chairman Marc Racicot Names Jim Dyke Communications Director

WASHINGTON - Marc Racicot, Chairman of the Republican National Committee, today named Jim Dyke the
new Communications Director for the RNC. Dyke replaces Mindy Tucker who served in the post prior.

This was a red flag for me:

DYKE: No. I think this group's been around for a number of months working hard...The Ohio report is just one step. There will be a Pennsylvania report, a Wisconsin report, a Florida report. Keep an eye on our website."

If these are the states that this group is going to do reports on, then these are the states where they have the most to hide. Folks living in these states probably need to take a closer look at their election results.

Dissue

Re Kira #18 -

I read somewhere, a couple of days ago, that B*** is pushing psychological testing in public schools and coordinating this effort with the pharmaceutical industry. The program is ostensibly to catch "mental illness" early and deal with it so that it doesn't present problems for the individual and society down the road. In practice, what does this plan most resemble?

Huxley was a prophet - and I'm very, very glad MY children are out of school. Unfortunately, my grandson is just beginning.

Christ...all those answers (especially the first guy) sound just like Guckert Gannon answering questions....."don't ask us, ask the admin".....grrr

Is there a connection between this Jim Dyke and Richard (Dick) Dyke, of Dyke Associates, of Maine? The latter is a huge supporter of Republicans, namely Senator Susan Collins and owner of Bushmaster, a gun manufacturer including assult weapons. Remember Columbine? The name 'Dyke' is unusual enough to make me wonder.

Brad, if their angle on this is gonna be about fraud via voter registration organizations, make them put their money where their mouth is by including in their "report" the egregious acts of registration fraud (on a national level) by RNC funded SPROUL & ASSOCIATES. Remember those turd-burglars? Then refresh your memory here:
http://www.dailykos.com/...ory/2004/10/13/1267/4563

They had drives set up in many states, including Ohio, and were paid half a million dollars by the RNC.

How much you wanna bet they aren't even mentioned?

Susan -

As I have nothing to hide, I am more than willing to speak to anyone --- Right or Left --- about Velvet Revolution, BRAD BLOG or anything else (about to do a Conservative Radio show in an hour or two, btw).

As well, I've noticed the same behavior --- a willing to talk to anyone and answer any questions --- from Clint Curtis as well.

If there's nothing to hide, there's nothing to be careful of.

Just my opinion.

I incorrectly made reference to Columbine in my post #38. The tragedy I was thinking of was the DC area highway sniper of a few years ago. A Bushmaster weapon was used then, not at Columbine. Just needed to clear that up.

Brad -

Re your post #39, if it was to me
re my previous posts #28 and #32

You wrote:

"As I have nothing to hide, I am more than willing to speak to anyone --- Right or Left --- about Velvet Revolution, BRAD BLOG or anything else (about to do a Conservative Radio show in an hour or two, btw)."

First, I have no idea who "Velvet Revolution" may be or "Clint Curtis" and if by admitting I never heard of these persons or groups makes me look like an idiot, well, so be it. I don't claim to know everything about everyone ever. My knowledge is certainly not as vast as the smartest person in the universe, whomever that may be.

But, getting back to what you said to me, that you have "nothing to hide"- well, good.

Then, here is what a reasonable person, and I include myself in that description, would expect to happen, following your conversation with Hearnes as described in my posts:

You would provde some information you feel comfortable with providing to him, about yourself, your site, whatever, not the biggest file folder in the world, just whatever bio or info you would normally provide, in response to his question as to who you are affiliated with.

Then, he should do this: review, and, make a decision whether or not he wants to speak with you.

And, then, either he will: want to speak with you, believing you will give him a fair hearing, or, he will not want to speak with you.

Finally, the above should be done in a professional, above the board manner by both parties, so that I, a person in the potential audience forwhatever comes next, feels comfortable reading whatever comes next, knowing that you have both acted with honor and respect towards each other --- and, towards me, in the audience.

Consequently, I hope you respond to his request in whatever way makes you comfortable; I hope he then reviews your info; I hope he then decides to speak with you, as you also have a public web site; and, I look forward to reading the interview.

To me, this is all basic. This is called being professional and polite.

Maybe I am naive and stupid, but, to me, this is what should happen.

I will come back to this blog, hoping to see another post from you, to find out if this scenario I have imagined above is what happens.

I don't know if it will.

It is merely my hope.

Thanks for reading my posts, Brad. And, good luck to both you, and to Hearnes.

After reading the remarks of Mr. Dyke--What police reports?

Has anybody double-checked such a claim? Seen the reports? Or are they just anecdotally reporting what the odd poll-station workers mentioned in a random telephone survey by a couple of college age Neocons? I can just imagine: "Yeah, the cops were here--they took away a couple of disruptive people--I think they were trying to vote under fraudulent names..." A couple calls, draw a conclusion.

Did their report include copies of the police reports?

This hearkens back to my old acid rain days. See this item:

Corporate lobbying to stifle legislation was deemed necessary for protecting the acid rain-maker's profits, though not explicitly mentioned in the Acid Deposition report. The opposition to Congressional bills that would limit acid rain-forming emissions was mounted through several industrial front groups. The most powerful --- and most outrageously labelled --- lobbying group was "Citizens for Sensible Control of Acid Rain". This was not a citizens group, but an air polluting-industry front. And it's notion of "sensible control" was to block clean air legislation, toward which it spent $5.1 million from 1983 to 1988. The Natural Resources Defense Council reported in it's December 1988 Newsline that "last year the Citizens for Sensible Control of Acid Rain.... spent more money opposing acid rain legislation than was spent on any other legislative issue by any other lobby group."

To Brad, re my comment #41-

PS- I just now took a look at your homepage here at this web site.

And, I predict the following text may inspire Hearne to NOT feel confident that you intend to give him a fair hearing:

--------------------
New 'Non-Partisan' 'Voting Rights' Org Appears Little More than Republican Front Group!
6-Day Old Tax-Exempt Group Run by High Level GOP Operatives!
(GOPUSA/Talon News, Anyone?)

Republicans seem to have a new found interest in the Electoral Reform movement. An article today from the extremist rightwing web publication WorldNetDaily attacks Sen.
--------------------

Now, it isperfectly OK with me that you or whomever wrote what is written above.

But, if Hearne is offended by it, if he believes you intend to characterize him as an 'extremeist rightwing" nut job or whatever, then, he may well decide: No thanks, Brad.

And, that means: I will have to go elsewhere to read an interview with him.

Maybe to World Net Daily, if that's where Hearne feels comfortable speaking.

Because I honestly don't label World Net Daily the way you do.

I respect your right to label World Net however you want.

But, to me, it is just one more piece of information.

Not the only piece, but one piece.

Maybe if Hearne gives an interview to them, instead of you, I will think:

"Gee, that World Net did a really lousy job with that interview. I wonder if Brad would have done better.
Oh well... "

But, even though I mightwish you were the one to ask the questions, because of partisian politics, you may have taken yourself out of the potential interviewer group already.

That's too bad.

I would like to read your questions to Hearne, and to read his answers to you.

Maybe Hearne will be big enough to overlook the partisian nature of your homepage, and agree to answer some questions in writing, so that he can keep a copy of his answers, and still provide you and me, in this audience, with some answers.

We'll see.

PSS To Brad

Brad, I just now took a look at your bradfriedman.com page and scanned all your many credits in writing, acting, directing - I see you and I went to the same school:
---------------------
EDUCATION:
BFA-New York University/Tisch School of the Arts ------------------

And, I will tell you this: I recently bought a bunch of books on farce, my favorite genre in theatre.

Also, my favorite playwrite in theatre, in addition to Shakespeare, is a certain playwrite who writes outrageous farce.

I like farce because I like to really laugh. And, a lot of what goes on is quite funny to me. Especially in politics.

:)

In reading Susan's comments I would like to say that it IS important not to give ammunition to the other side.

We know they gleefully re-phrase and concoct (even lie) with an amazing energy and talent and feel no guilt when doing so.

Brad, I also think you should play your cards close to your chest when talking with these folk who play hardball. Keep a cloak of mystery around you to keep the other person on their toes!

If there's doubt about the veracity of allegations of voting irregularities in Ohio during the last election, the creation of such an organization, which can only function to cover up, should significantly boost their credibility.

Let's all sing The Republican Center for Swift Vote Fraud song!
ROVE, ROVE, ROVE THEIR VOTES
COVERTLY DOWN THE STREAM
THANKS TO THE 4TH ESTATE,
WE ENJOY A ONE PARTY STATE,
AND DEMOCRACY IS BUT A DREAM.

Not much rhyme, but some reason.
Feel free to re-work this, - a poet I'm not!

Only my opinion, but what is a farce here is the notion that ACVR is a non-partisan organization deserving of non-partisan tip toeing on Brad's or any other left leaning persons part. It is mighty plain to see that they were set up with the express intent to throw monkey wrenches into a valid investigation of massive election fraud in Ohio.

The only courtesy they deserve are direct questions about their origins and funding, which Brad has done. The difference between Brad Blog and them is that Brad is forthright and honest about his political ideals and doesn't attempt to covertly undermine those he disagrees with. They can simply answer the questions or not, period.

The ACVR pdf should prove beyond any shadow of a doubt that this group and it's findings are extremely PARTISAN, unlike the NON-PARTISAN evidence collected by the Independents & Democrats which allowed for irregularities committed by their own parties.

Double POO on ACVR.

Carter and Baker to Co-Chair Bi-Partisan Commission on Federal Election Reform
24 March 2005

It appears that the calls for election reform have not gone unnoticed. In a press release, “Former President Jimmy Carter and former Secretary of State James A. Baker, III, announced today that they will co-chair a Commission on Federal Election Reform.” The newly formed bi-partisan commission will “examine the state of America's federal elections and recommend improvements.”

Carter and Baker have assembled a private, bi-partisan commission whose membership includes former Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, former House Minority Leader Bob Michel, former U.S. Representatives Lee Hamilton and Susan Molinari, university presidents, scholars and community leaders.

The new Commission on Federal Election Reform will look at those and other voting problems, examine the implementation of HAVA, and propose recommendations to improve the electoral process.

"I am concerned about the state of our electoral system and believe we need to improve it," President Carter said. "I have monitored elections all over the world, and there is much we could learn from other democracies and from our own citizens. We will try to define an electoral system for the 21st century that will make Americans proud again."

"America's democracy is the backbone of our society, and only through fair elections can we guarantee that our system remains healthy," former Secretary Baker said. "To help reach that goal, I welcome the opportunity of working with President Jimmy Carter on a bi-partisan commission that will recommend ways to improve our federal voting process. A prior commission, which President Carter co-chaired with President Gerald Ford, made recommendations that resulted in significant changes for the 2004 election. But more can be done to guarantee the integrity and accuracy of our elections."

The Center for Democracy and Election Management (CDEM) at American University will organize the work of the Commission, in association with the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy at Rice University, The Carter Center, and electionline.org, a national clearinghouse of election reform information sponsored by The Pew Charitable Trusts.

Dr. Robert A. Pastor, CDEM Director, is the Executive Director of the Commission. "We will assemble a group of academic advisors that will prepare background analyses for the Commission," said Dr. Pastor, "and we will reach out to seek the views of representatives from a wide-ranging group of non-governmental organizations involved in election-related issues." Doug Chapin, Director of electionline.org, will serve as Research Director for the Commission.

The Commission plans to hold two public hearings --- the first on April 18 at American University in Washington, D.C., and the second at the James A. Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University in Houston at a date in June --- with the goal of releasing a report in September when Congress returns from its Labor Day 2005 recess.

Wow - thanks Theresa (#51) for posting that! Maybe they will be able to make a difference.

Yeah, me too, Kira. Collectively, we will make a difference. In time for '06, I believe. Bradville has got its eye on the prize.

Onward and upward!

Except that James Baker is the architect of the theft in 2000. Bi-partisan sounds nice but I'll be surprised if any real reform comes as a result of this.

We now have three stolen elections and Baker is an integral part of Bush's machinery. Do you think he has any interest in revealing any of his crimes? I think not. Anything short of opening the source code to independent review and sending criminals to jail is an excercise in theatrics.

Oh WAHHHHH!!! Trapped - do ya hear - we're so F****D.

Hey - where's my smilie and how come my asterisks didn't show between the F and D on my previous post???

RE post #51 - great post. thanks for the info.

BTW, what some of you don't realize is this:
Although some of you may believe that it is impossible
for Hearne to be "non-partisian" - and, you may be correct, as I do not know everything - I give him credit anyway. Because he is MAKING AN EFFORT TO APPEAR NON-PARTISIAN. Oh! You're saying Oh, big deal! An "effort" to "appear" to be "non-partisian"! Big Whoop!

But, to me, it is - it is a big step.

What if, for example, the host of this forum, Brad, who is a professional actor/director/writer, would do what Hearne did, and morph into a non-partisian as best as Brad could?

What if Brad had another web site, called "Brad's Non-Partisian Web Site" and on that site, Brad tried to have a homepage that was in fact truly non-partisian?

Is Brad capable of doing that?

If so, then, Brad's chances for snagging an interview with Hearne would improve immensely, in my view.

Hearne is saying he, Hearne, is capable of being non-partisian.

And, so what if he worked for Bush! Is there any lawyer anywhere who was involved with recounts on the Dem side who would NOT be labled a "Dem operative" by supporters of the OTHER Side?

You see what I am saying? You have to stop the politics to get into the issues.

If Hearne says, "Hey, I am Hearnes, and I am non-partisian, or at least trying, or at least appearing to try to be non-partisian" well, then, that effort should be met by Brad with:

"OK, I am Brad and here is my new site called Brad's Non-Partisian Site, and that's where I want to post an interviwe with you."

Hearne might say: "Cool. Since I am trying to be non-partisian, and you are making an effort, too, I can talk to you. (But, if you're just going to label me as a right wing nut case whacko, well, then, forget it.)"

Food for thought....

Look Susan - you need to read the 31 page pdf file named "OhioElectionReport" (you have to go to the ACVR website - link included in Brad's story above our comments --- link to .pdf file does not work, has been renamed.)

You need to do that before you keep trying to push the "possible" veracity of these guys. They are playing a game that's for keeps and they have all the ammunition and forts. They are NOT trying to be non-partisan and have no intentions of being bi-partisan.

I think we should be through playing their games --- that's how we got in this stiuation we're in.

Go read the document and if you come back saying it's a non-partisan document --- well --

Kira, I really don't want to read the document. I don't have the focus you do or the time or the desire.

But, I would read an interview by Brad with Herne.

And, as for games - well, I guess it all depends on how you look at it.

Right now I think Herne is IN the game, if there is a game; and, so, it would be wise for someone, maybe Brad, maybe someone else, to likewise - get IN the game.

By stripping away all the nasty names Herne and Brad might normally call each other - and, I don't this, I am juyst guessing - what may remain is an interview, of interesting and insightful questions by Brad, and, responses, that I can judge for myself, from Herne, who might be more forthcoming in a "non-partisian" forum.

Because Herne is probably smart enough to know that I myself - and many others like me - will take the time to read something that is in a non-partisian forum. So, Herne might be willing to be far more forthcoming in such a place.

I noticed that in the article that begins this thread, Herne is almost tipping his hand to Brad, asking Brad, or commenting to Brad, "You sound like you're from the left."

If I were Brad, I would email Herne and say to Herne whjat Herne is saying publicly: "Well, actually, I can be non-partisian."

That is just me. That is what I would do. Then, I would strive to do a great interview with Herne, and ask a lot of great questions.

And, I would be fair.

The reader can judge. But with all the spin that usually accompanies anything in politics, a lot of readers, including myself, will find other things to read.

Like a great play. For even in my most depressing moments, and we all have a few of those, I still love to laugh.

I would rather laugh than read the report you mentioned, and, no offense to you at all, but I think the vast majority of people in this country feel exacty the same way I do on that point.

Is that sad or pathetic? Not to me. It's called being human.
(And not that you're not. You enjoy doing other things. That's OK with me.) I hope I did not offend you in any way, as no offense was intended.

And, I hope Brad makes an effort to reach out to Hernes the same way Hernes is indicating he, Hernes is willing to reach out.

Reach is good.

Susan -

Sorry, but for someone who doesn't have the focus or the time for actual research into the history of this struggle, you seem to have an awful lot of time and energy to spare for typing comments on this thread. Really, as Kira suggests, do some homework.

Hi, Susan:

If someone is selling you groceries, or flowers, or voting machines, and you contact them and say may I ask you some questions about your products and your past business experience, would you expect them to say "who are you, why do you want to know, let me check you out, and I'll get back to you later?" Or would you expect them to simply answer your questions, unless they had something to hide?

Well, Mr. Hearne is selling himself as an expert in non-partisan voting and elections. We want to know what related work he has performed in this regard, what is his past experience concerning the subject of elections, and what makes him an expert on non-partisanship. His refusal to discuss the business he is purporting to have expertise in simply because he suspects Brad is not a Republican is ridiculous. Mr. Hearne cannot, will not, answer very simple questions about his expertise, past experience, and his supposed "non-partisan" position. That does not make Mr. Hearne "smart". It means he's been caught with his pants down. NO, NOT SMART!

Hi, Teresa - Well, I guess Rep. Conyers, Sen. Boxer, VR and DV4D will have to get right on the "horn" to Pres. Carter. The TRUTH will ensure that Baker et al get on board. The snowball is growing.

Great comments Peg C and Peggy. Susan needs to stop being the grasshopper who fiddles away the summer & fall & then gasps when she has nothing in the winter.

Yes, Susan, sad AND pathetic. I agree with Peg C. about how much time you spend on your long-winded, repetitive speeches. Use 1/10th of that time to educate yourself.

We are all pretty serious here about our research - making sure we know the facts, ya know.

Guess what --- I would daresay most if not all of us who discuss the important political topics of the day would MUCH PREFER to be having a good time and laughing up a storm. All of us have a sense of humor and wish we could find time to relax and enjoy it again, but we're giving our time and energy - blood, sweat and tears - to fight for freedom and rights for ALL Americans.

Peggy is absolutely right. This regime lives under a shroud of secrecy.

WAKE UP SUSAN

Hi again, Susan - There is a common trait among a large number of Republicans: fear of the truth.

Mr. Hearne is afraid to speak the truth. You think it's clever for him to avoid speaking the truth. You also are afraid to read anything enlightening on this subject because you are afraid of the truth.

Go read the various materials referred to above. The truth hurts sometimes, but it never hurts as badly as the falsehoods.

Step out into the sunshine girl! The truth will set you free!

:) Way to flush 'em out, Brad! This could really be a big fish--keep 'em on the line!

Vickie

Thank you Kira, Peggy, and Peg C for like explaining like what is like going on to the uhhh like Valley Girl, Duh!

[:o)

To the people on this thread who posted and put me down, and to all the lurkers who would like to post and put me down:

Good bye --- and here, now, is a little quote for all of you, from one of my favorite people:

"Imagination is more important than knowledge.

For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand."

Albert Einstein quotes (German born American physicist who developed the special and general theories of relativity. Nobel Prize for Physics in 1921. 1879-1955)

http://en.thinkexist.com...nowledge-for/260230.html

To Brad,

As a fellow NYU Tisch alumni to you, I hope you will consider th great idea I offered you on this thread.

And, as I see from your posted bio that you studied with the playwrite David Mamet, and because I am a fan of SPEED THE PLOW, and since I know David Mamet is a huge fan of Marcus Aurelius, here is a parting quote for you:

"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth."

Marcus Aurelius quotes

http://en.thinkexist.com/quotes/Marcus_Aurelius/

C'mon Susan, belly-up! You've spent a lot of time being critical of Brad's approach with Mr. Hearne, yet you admitted your lack of understanding about all of this in your post #41 - "First, I have no idea who "Velvet Revolution" may be or "Clint Curtis" and if by admitting I never heard of these persons or groups makes me look like an idiot, well, so be it. I don't claim to know everything about everyone ever. My knowledge is certainly not as vast as the smartest person in the universe, whomever that may be." Yet, you are refusing to take the time to learn and now, you're going to get all pouty, take your toys and leave the playground. Sour grapes.

You seem intelligent --- why not give it a shot? Do a little research (painful as it may be) and try to join in.

Susan -

I'm sorry to see that you will no longer be posting here. I hope you'll reconsider. Unlike FreeRepublic, we do not ban users for their opinions.

To be clear, I never called Mr. Hearne by any of the names you're suggesting I did. I have been nothing but polite.

That said, take do a Google search on him or Dyke (the mastermind behing the Flipper costumes and much more) and you will see they are anything but non-partisan.

Merely saying so, does not make it so.

It would be disingenous beyond belief for me to set up a "Brad's Non-Partisan Page" when clearly I am a partisan (though not in the strict sense, as I have no party with whom I would consider myself affiliated and would put down Dems as fast as I would put down Reps if I found them to be this brazenly hypocritical).

And if I created a "non-partisan" tax-exempt 501c3 site up (that 501c3 tax exempt status comes with rules which *require* non-partisanship, btw) and called it, let's say, "American Center for Holocaust Rememberance" and issued a paper giving *only* evidence that shows that 6 million Jews did NOT die during WWII, would you congratulate me on my "non-partisanship"?

BTW - For those of us who have *actually* investigated and give a damn about what went wrong in Ohio (as the ACVR's 31-page report claims to write about...you should read it) and even more importantly for men and women throughout the history of this country who have DIED fighting for true "Voting Rights", such a group is an extraordinary affront and insult.

I'd suggest it's also an insult to those fighting and dying in Iraq currently under the guise of "spreading democracy".

They are puttin their life on the line for the principles of "Voting Rights" and the Bush/Cheney/RNC operatives who are testifying on potential Bush/Cheney/RNC crimes without identifying themselves as being a part of Bush/Cheney/RNC is nothing short of appalling.

Brad -

Excellent comments. Applause.

Susan, why don't you come on board. We like debate. One thing I've noticed is how independent the people are here.

Brad, I am moved by your statement. It further verifies why I am here.

Are you going to inform Conyers, et. al. about the background of this group and when/why they were formed? I think that it would be a good idea--in case they are not aware of this-especially the connections to the RNC/Bush-Cheney.

GOP TROLL??
Could it be that our friend SUSAN is more "IN the game" than she lets on.
Intrepid "Non Partisan" Voter Rights Campaigner MARK F. (THOR) HEARNE, II lists in his AC4VR Bio,
his marriage to (drumroll) ........ you guessed it! SUSAN!!

Well, Susan? If you're not Mrs. Hearne, please let us know.

Bushw@cker #75

I guess I had read part of your post some place else.. and while I was going potty about 10 minutes ago, I thought the same thing (again, I noted your 'troll' post some place else over here). She sure seems intent on giving a wing-nut (and all repugnecons) the benifit of the doubt when they have been showing (well, since I've been paying attention at 16 in 1985) for a long time that they love to LIE, CHEAT, STEAL, and otherwise live in a narcicistic world at the expense of the average American..

I also find it amazing just how much like MOST of America Susan is.. (paraphrased) "I don't want to think or know the truth, I want 30 second sound bites on the news telling me the world is fine so I can walk around in a daze and laugh and use my immagination".. It's attitudes like that that have PUT us here, in this mess, with billions of people around the world hating us for being arrogant and ignorant and wasteful..

I'd also go so far as to disagree with others here.. Susan doesn't come across as "smart" or "intelligent" to me.. Who makes a statement like "Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth." (albeit stating it's a quote) when you aren't actually talking about philosophy?? While I can agree that "there are 2 sides to a story, and the truth is usually somewhere in the middle", I can easily also say "it's a fact that if you jump off a 50 story building (with nothing but your normal clothes on) you are going to die when you hit the ground".. so to argue that that's only my "opinion" is to be content to ignore science, life, nature, ... fact? I can't get my head around how someone would use that as a basis for life... "no fact, just opinion". That's not smart, that's delusional and probably medicated..

The Texas Secretary of State has public records on all incorporated and registered businesses, including 501(c)3s. Because the ACVR was probably registered in Texas (going off the Internic info), a call or email to the SecState should get you the information you want on the non-profit.

http://www.sos.state.tx.us/records.shtml

It's just another layer of fraud. It can appear to work as long the Republicans are in power, and Hell bent on legitimising rtheir actions. TheRepublican controlled House's recognition of the organization lends it an aura of legitimacy with the many people who haven't the time or inclination to dig into its background; while, the data and findings the organization produces verify the position of the party that spawned it. Not dreadfully different from an 'independent' commission established under some soviet to investigate allegations of government corruption. Well, OK, no one's getting shot. Yet.

Hey, maybe if the RNC starts boiling political opponents alive the president of Uzbekistan will let the US keep its airbase there out of some kind of sympathy for kindred spirits.