Today, Tom DeLay faces his first primary battle for re-election down in Texas since being indicted on money-laundering and conspiracy charges.
Tonight, he’ll be back in D.C. at a fundraiser held by lobbyists. Smartly done.
Over the weekend, an ES&S IVotronic touch-screen voting machine was stolen from the house of an election judge. That, despite the water-tight security that American Election Officials are known for across the globe. (Just ask Linda Lamone in Maryland.)
To be clear, however, all four of the counties in DeLay’s 22nd congressional district, use Hart-Intercivic machines and not ES&S machines. It’s just an unfortunate coincidence that we can’t help but think about Tom DeLay, Elections, Voting Machines and Theft all at the same time. Oh, well.
"It’s just an unfortunate coincidence that we can’t help but think about Tom DeLay, Elections, Voting Machines and Theft all at the same time."
What a good line!
Keep up the great work.
It is pretty worrying that someone was able to steal the ES&S machine. One has to wonder what it was doing at his house in the first place. I wonder if the judge had signed a Non Disclosure Agreement.
Seeing as how no one else can get hold of these machines to inspect them, how did this judge happen to have one?
Just found out we have to use the Hart Inter Civic E Slate here in Conroe, TX. Anyone have any information on this?
Thank you
Maybe someone stole it, so they can take it apart to finally examine the insides of it, and prove that the software is corrupt. Ever think of that? That might be the only way to prove it! Steal one of them! You can’t do it legally! It took Bev Harris 9 months to sue just to look at audit records, which she had a right to, anyway.
Maybe some "good guys" stole it, and are taking it apart for evidence. Just a thought.
FABULOUS!
I hope that the e-Voting machine is returned . . . AFTER the thief figures out where all of the flaws are (and submits a report to the public)!
Pran
I think the bigger point is, that machine might end up found and STILL USED..
It’s not like these machines don’t go home with poll workers all the time.. or are stored in PUBLIC SPACES sometimes..
It amazes me just how trusting (and ignorant) the masses are when it comes to machines. We’ve learned to use technologies we can’t possibly understand and accept on faith that they work like they should (cars, air conditioners, MRI machines.. hell, X-ray machines.. toasters, microwave ovens, VCRs, TVs for cryin out loud!.. and, of course, computers).. People are content to be fat and lazy and ignorant and simply "use" whatever makes life easier. Understanding the dangers is last on the list.. Sales! now, that’s first! then the question is "is it disposable, it has to be disposable!".. then "can it make me better with no effort on my part!".. etc etc.. you get the idea.
Thanks Corporate America! for making us fat lazy and ignorant, but excellent consumers!
Current standings in TX Republican Primaries (at 7:00 p.m. PST)
U.S. House – District 22 (GOP)
Name Pct
——————– ——-
DeLay , Tom (i) 63.77
Campbell , Tom 26.34
Fjetland , Mike 6.01
Baig , Pat 3.87
Are Texans stupid? (Or are they merely using Diebold machines???)
Pran
I’d say what I think about Texans, but my girlfriend (a Texan) might stop talking to be me all together.
And no, in DeLay’s case, they’re not using Diebod machines, but Hart-Intercivic…which, my reporting tells me, are just as bad. More on Hart-Intercivic in Texas soon…
My original question remains, with thanks to Linda Franz at BBV for phrasing it better than I did,
"What was it doing in the home of an elections judge?
The worry about security should first address why this machine was not under secure storage at the county seat."
I wonder how widely these iVotronic machines are use in Texas. Maybe someone needed a little help in the Texas primary.
Were there exit pols & what did they say?
We are 80 miles North of Sugar Land and were informed yesterday that Austin Rick Perry and friends decided without public notice to begin using the Hart Inter Civic E Slates since the Presidential election. When asked if we get a paper receipt…and you do like a ATM piece of paper saying that you voted Dem or Rep and a number on it. You have no print out of what you voted.
We made our dissatisfaction known and were given a shrug of the shoulder.
As to Texans being stupid, not all of us. Don’t believe Sen Pat Roberts who squashed the investigation into the wire tapping is from Texas.
At our Precinct the lady told us hardly any Democrats showed up to even vote, that was at 4:00 P.M.
Texas is just like everywhere else, if you are doing great financially, well Bush is doing a good job.
To hell with the complainers who want clean air and clean water and good schools.
Funny tho, Rick Perry was bragging about turning the 10 million deficit left by the former governor around. DUH THAT WOULD BE BUSH !
Whoever took this machine will be able to learn a lot — for example, about its communications capabilities. They will be able to examine hidden switches and ability to swap components to "enhance" the machine’s capabilities. I believe the firmware is stored on the PEB cartridge, which reportedly wasn’t in this machine.
My question, echoed from what Linda Franz wrote on our site: What was a voting machine doing in the election judge’s home???
I can’t speak for the intelligence of all Texans, but here are some interesting facts for y’all:
1. There’s no party registration, you can vote in any primary you like.
2. You may only vote in one party’s primary, i.e., you can’t vote for your favorite Democrat, then against the Republican you don’t like. This holds for primary runoffs, too.
3. I didn’t vote in the primary because I want to be able to sign petitions for independent gubernatorial candidates.
4. I know of ten people for sure who voted for DeLay so that Nick Lampson will oppose DeLay and produce a decisive victory, i.e., Democrats voted for DeLay.
OTOH, the voting machine incident is just plain disgusting.
"Oh Well" is correct.
Especially now that we know Tom DeLay won!
And we all know the general opinion of Texans among "mall-entrapped" Californians.
So, I’m waiting for some great liberal blogger to allege now that DeLay won because of corrupt voting machines. LOL.
That huge leap he had over his incumbent and all had absolutely nothing to do with votes and everything to do with corruption.
CBS did their best yesterday before the elections to darken the DeLay picture even more by proclaiming him amidst "corruption scandals".
Funny, I thought the trial and jury were to decide if the "allegation" was indeed a "scandal" at all.
I have a feeling after all is said and done, the "scandal" will be sitting in Earle’s lap.
Just my right-winged, biased forecast :-).
Liberals are a little quiet today by the way.
Must be yesterday’s headlines:
"South Dakota signs House Bill 1215 banning abortion (except for life of the mother)"
"Tom DeLay wins"
"Patriot Act passed in Congress to be extended".
What, did Bill Clinton host a pity party at the local pub? How many rounds did he buy? Are you guys awake yet?
Drink lots of water and take some aspirin, yes you will get through this one I promise.
Brad elevan – just spoke with our Elections Administrator and was informed you can vote in a primary and vote another party in the November Governor’s race. The law states you cannot sign a petition for say the Independent tho. Why I can’t figure and she didn’t have an answer.
Phone number is 936-539-7843 if you would like to check this out.
Thanks, TexasLady. For sure you can vote in one party’s primary *and* vote however you like in the general election. I’m not sure what the rules are for runoff primaries–but we didn’t have any in CD22 this year, so I don’t require an answer for, oh, another two years. 😉
The reason the party primary is recorded on your record of the primary vote is to preclude you from voting in the primary for one party and in the run off primary for the other party. In the event that your candidate won the primary outright and the other party has a run off primary, you should not be able to help select the opponent in the other party.
…AmericanVictors said on 3/8/2006 @ 11:25am PT…
" Liberals are a little quiet today by the way.
Must be yesterday’s headlines:
"South Dakota signs House Bill 1215 banning abortion (except for life of the mother)"
"Tom DeLay wins"
"Patriot Act passed in Congress to be extended".
…
Drink lots of water and take some aspirin, yes you will get through this one I promise.
——-
This blog is mostly about electronic voting machines, but I think we can afford a little OT discussion about politics.
Why would a Republican vote for Tom DeLay?
We Dems just don’t understand why Repubs want that kind of legislation or legislator.
> I’d say what I think about Texans, but my girlfriend (a Texan) might stop talking to be me all together.
Please do! The family is waiting!
AmericanVictors #15
You said "Liberals are a little quiet today by the way."
Yeah, we are holding our breath hoping that DeLay does not challenge the vote in court.
We want to run against a criminal in November, instead of one of DeLay’s honest republican opponents.
Thanks.
HURRY UP DREDD!
FAX THAT EVIDENCE THAT YOU HAVE TO RONNIE EARLE! HE’LL BE SO GREATFUL.
AND YOU’LL BE FAMOUS! 🙂
SO, WHERE DID YOU GET THE EVIDENCE? WAS IT SOURCED FROM CBS NEWS?
LOL.
Which Republican is honest by the way? (I think you are one of the first I’ve seen on one of these types of sites to say "Republican" and "honest" in the same sentence.)
That way you’ll officially be on record as acknowledging him as "honest" when the smear sites get a hold of him. (In case he does win)
I am very interested this theme, with attention I will read following informations.
Article (Blubear II)
Stolen Election Machine from house of election judge,…… : LINK