Heard from Bobby an hour or so ago, that he’s going to be on MSNBC’s HARDBALL with Chris Matthews tonight at 5:10pm ET (2:10pm PT).
He’ll be discussing his recent Rolling Stone piece on Diebold’s duplicity in their voting systems, and our elections from 2002 on up to now. At least, that’s what he’s been told.
As well, we’re hoping he’ll put out the words calling on folks to demand that Congress pass legislation for Emergency Paper Ballots this November.
UPDATE 3:35pm PT: Full video now linked below! Kennedy spoke about how easy it now is to steal an election on an E-Voting Machine (“in just 60 seconds”) as based on recent studies by Princeton, NYU’s Brennan Center and the non-partisan GAO office.
He also discussed the new congressional Emergency Paper Ballot legislation, and even recommended your friendly neighborhood BRAD BLOG as a good source for information on all of the above.
Video links now below. Thanks to Bobby for the kind plug. Thanks to Chris Matthews for letting him get out a sentence or two in a row. (Thanks to HotPotatoMash for the video links!)
— Video in Flash Format is now here…
— Video QuickTime format is here…
UPDATE: A Complete text transcript of the interview now follows in full…
You’re watching HARDBALL on MSNBC.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MATTHEWS: Welcome back to HARDBALL.
With the midterm election just 41 days away now, chances are when you go to vote, you’ll find electronic voting machines. they’re sort of the automatic teller machines, what do they call them, AMT machines. The question is””ATM machines, I use them all the time, forget the name””anyway, are those machines accurate?
We use ATM-style election machines, or can they be hacked into? Or could someone rig an election using these machines?
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. writing in this month’s “Rolling Stone” magazine, says many of these electronic machines, these ATM-style machines, are not secure and could be vulnerable to tampering.
Let me ask you right now, Robert, could this election be stolen, coming up for president?
ROBERT F. KENNEDY, JR., ROLLING STONE: Well, there’s no doubt it could be stolen, and this is — recent reports by the federal government’s GAO, by the Congressional Research Service that say that this is a national security issue for us. There’s four””and also the Brennan Center at NYU that says that there’s 120 vulnerabilities in the machines that 80 percent of Americans are now using.
A Princeton University study that was released last week shows on video how a computer virus can be injected. If somebody has access for 60 seconds to one of these machines, that they can insert a malicious code that can steal the entire election.
So there is no doubt, that all of””there is four companies that make these machines on which 80 percent of Americans are now voting. The machines are not secure, they are prone to breakdown, they have a lot of other problems and right now, Chris, Congress is considering a law to, an emergency provision to deal with these machines that everybody now recognizes is a huge problem for our democracy. And the upcoming election is too soon for these problems to be fixed. So what Congress is doing in the next two days is considering an emergency paper ballot provision that will allow people to vote on paper ballots when they get to the polls. During the primary season this August and September over the last couple of weeks, in every state where these machines was used which is now every state that voted, every state that had primaries, there were thousands of people turned away from the polls because of breakdowns in these machines.
This has turned out to be an extraordinary disaster. My article in “Rolling Stone” this week, and if you go to “Brad Blog,” which I encourage people to do””but my article in “Rolling Stone” this week shows how these private companies have come to own America’s electoral process.
MATTHEWS: What’s the track record of corruption? Any here that you can prove right now? Has any company used its power through this electronic voting, ATM style voting, to fix an election? Has anybody done that?
KENNEDY: Well, there is no proof that an election has been fixed. There is a lot of evidence that many, many elections have been fixed since we started using these machines. There is no proof because the machines, the machinery itself is proprietary.
We’re not allowed to look””election officials are not allowed to look inside of these machines. There are no records. And in fact, it’s really, it’s a kind of corruption that Help America Vote act that was authored by Bob Ney, who is a cohort of Jack Abramoff’s that provided $3.9 billion to every injured jurisdiction in America and mandated that they buy these machines, that there is a provision in there, Chris, that says these machines are not to have paper records. Why would that be done?
MATTHEWS: I’d like to know. What’s your suspicion here? Here’s one concern I might have in growing up in a big city, you don’t want the local ward leader or poll watcher checking to see how you voted. Can you have a paper trail without letting them know how you voted?
KENNEDY: Here’s what you do. You have the””you vote on the touch screen machine. Then the touch screen machine spits out a piece of paper with your vote on it. Can you check it to make sure that the machine counted your vote correctly, registered your vote correctly. Then you take that ballot and you put it into a locked box. And that ballot is not counted unless there is a recount of the election but at least we have a way to audit it the same way that you audit an ATM machine or any other machine””we ought to have a paper trail. It’s insane.
MATTHEWS: How do you keep the poll watchers from the two parties from seeing that? So you don’t certify to them that you’ve done your duty. How do you keep that away from the hands of the local polls?
KENNEDY: Chris, that’s not a problem. That is not a problem. That’s easy. All you do is the voter takes the piece of paper out of the machine and puts it in a box and nobody sees it but him. The real problem is without paper ballots, you have no idea what is happening in those machines and we now know that those machines””that anybody who has 60 seconds with one of those machines alone, that is takes 10 seconds to pick the lock to get into the machine””that in 60 seconds you cannot only fix that machine but you can fix the entire state election.
MATTHEWS: Let’s bottom line this, Robert, do you believe now knowing all that you’ve studied on and reported on, do you believe now that someone could actually steal a presidential election through hacking?
KENNEDY: I think it would be a very easy thing and this is not just me saying this, this is Princeton saying it, it’s the NYU, it’s the Congressional Research Service and GAO, that if you fix an election for example in a state like Ohio or Florida, which are keys to the presidential election, all have you to do in Ohio this time, if you had flipped, one””six votes in every precinct across the state, the results of the presidential election would have been changed.
There is strong indication that over 350,000 votes were fixed by these machines just in Florida. That alone could have flipped this election.
MATTHEWS: Well it’s going to be interesting to see what you say Robert after this movie comes out, “Man of the Year,” the one with Robin Williams in it, because it’s all about a company called the Delacroix Corporation, which sounds a lot like the Diebold Corporation, and it’s about how machinery can go wrong in a presidential election. Thank you very much for voting us, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
i will get you a link shortly thereafter IF he gets on which doesn’t look good right now considering it’s 24/7 Colorado school shooting.
RFK Jr. on MSNBC . . . . . It’s time to fire up the generator. . .
Unfortunately ya have to hear John Boner’s (borhner) lies first . . .
Boehner was sweating his ass off giving non-responsive answers. These guys are toast. I wish RFKjr mentioned that people can be sworn in before the vote counting issues are resolved, and that is a big part of the November surprise.
Good show. RFK, Jr. referred viewers to Rolling Stone and to Bradblog. He hit all the main points against the curent e-vote machines and the legislation that barred paper receipts from them.
However, he didn’t mention a need for controls to somehow make sure that the receipt ballot is the same as what is registered in the machine. Maybe that would have been too much information.
I wonder if Princeton could use the machine they have, build a receipt system, and then put viral code that flips your vote but let’s your receipt show the correct candidate…
Better yet, how about getting our paper ballots back! Good luck Brad, fingers are crossed!!
i am being dead serious, not trying to talk bad or anything, but is something wrong with RFK jr? i mean with his speech, some type of disease or something?? just sounds like he struggles to speak? anyone know what i mean?? no disrespect, just wondering
spasmodic dysphonia
Super Job Bobby Jr. !
Miss Persistent– (#5)
I share the same viewing pov of JFKjr’s talk on Hardball and had the same thought as to the verification of the paper receipt system that he failed to mention, and I, too, wonder if it was because of not enough time or what.
I have thought about this before and what I think can work is to have the paper ballots be numbered that is inputted into the computer with a USB-attached device that can read the bar-code-like number before the voting is to commence. Then the computer can spit out a receipt of the voting results that matches the number on the ballot. That is one possible way with the use of computers.
But I DON’T like computers for voting–is all-too-easy to hack and alter without anyone noticing, no matter how secure the voting machines can get. I’d scrap computers for the voting act itself, not the after-the-count tabluation.
Another way, perhaps, is to have a ballot system in which there’s note-pad-like ballots in which each small page (something like a 1/4-sheet of a standard 8×11) the same bar-code number is stamped on each ballot/page. One page, one voting issue or race that are being voted on. Each page would have a duplicate page that the voter would tear out and take after each vote. After the voting is done, the whole note-pad-like ballot could be deposited in a secure ballot box. The voter would take home carbon copies of the voting that one has done.
Then when it comes time to count the ballots, the ballot-counters would open up the ballot boxes, bring out the note-pad-like ballots and tear off each ballot page along the perforated ends and toss the results of whatever vote into marked boxes; then the votes in the marked boxes are counted and put into evenly-numbered stacks, with the results being duly noted. All things would be done in full view of any interested parties watching over the election(s).
This system may take more time, but it’s about as simple and fool-proof as a paper-based system can get, I would think. To hell with computers. With enough people doing the counting, results can be fully tabulated right after each election. I’ve thought of counting as the election goes on, but that creates the problems of initial election results leaking out and contaminating the electoral process, hence the counting must commence as soon as the voting ends.
And the voting needs to happen on a weekend, both Sat and Sun, from sun-up to past sun-down. Then the counting begins and that may take several days to a week to fully count. So what if it takes several days to make a reliable, accurate count of the votes cast? Transparency and verifiability are crucial issues in any election.
Sometimes in this computer age, simple, paper-based technology can do a better job and, in the case of voting, it may be the only way to have a transparent electoral system.
It would be nice if RFK, Jr. asked this question:
How many votes were switched from Kerry to Bush?
4.5 million.
Assumptions:
1) The Census estimate that 125.7mm (0.30%MoE) voted in 2004 is correct. The 2004 total recorded vote was 122.3mm. Assume that the 3.4mm discrepancy is due to spoiled and/or lost ballots.
2) Allocate the 3.4mm lost/spoiled votes to Kerry (2.5mm) and Bush (0.9mm). In every presidential election, the vast majority of spoiled/lost votes occur in democratic minority districts.
3) Assume 95% of 2000 Gore and Bush voters turned out to vote in 2004.
4) Adjust the 12:22am National Exit Poll “How Voted in 2000” weights. The 41% Bush/39% Gore weights are mathematically impossible. Change to 38.2% Gore/37.8% Bush.
The new weights are calculated based on:
a) total recorded 2000 vote (Gore 51.0mm-Bush 50.5mm)
b) 0.87%/year mortality rate (3.5% over 4 years)
c) 95% turnout of 2000 Bush and Gore voters.
5) Assume 12:22am NEP vote shares are correct.
Calculations:
1)Start with the Recorded Vote count:
Bush 62.0mm
Kerry 59.0mm
Other 1.3mm
2) Allocate 3.4mm spoiled/lost votes (2.5mm to Kerry; 0.9mm to Bush):
Bush 62.9mm
Kerry 61.5mm
3)Calculate the Kerry/Bush total vote share (below):
Kerry 66.0mm (52.5%)
Bush 58.4mm (46.5%)
Other 1.3mm (1.0%)
Total 125.7mm
4) Solve for X, the switched votes:
Kerry: X = 66.0 – 61.5
Bush: -X = 58.4 – 62.9
X = 4.5mm votes were switched from Kerry to Bush.
--
NEP (adj. plausible weights, 125.7mm votes)
Voted in 2000 Demographic
Turnout:95%
Turnout Sensitivity
Voted Mix Votes Kerry Bush Other... Turnout% Kerry% Margin(mm)
No 21.77% 27.36 57% 41% 2%......90 52.76 8.25
Gore 38.24% 48.06 91% 8% 1%......95 52.52 7.59
Bush 37.83% 47.55 10% 90% 0%......98 52.38 7.20
Other 2.17% 2.72 71% 21% 8%......100 52.29 6.93
Total 100% 125.7 52.5% 46.5% 1.0%
Vote Total 125.7 66.02 58.43 1.25
Kerry margin: 7.59million
_______________________________
Actual NEP (impossible weights,122.3mm votes)
Voted Mix Votes Kerry Bush Other
No 17% 20.79 57% 41% 2%
Gore 39% 47.70 91% 8% 1%
Bush 41% 50.14 10% 90% 0%
Other 3% 3.67 71% 21% 8%
Total 100% 122.3 51.41% 47.62% 0.97%
Total 100% 122.3 62.87 58.24 1.19
Kerry margin: 4.64 million
Yeah, the Boner kinda lets the wind out of my sails
I must need Viagra
One reason the exit polls didn’t match in some cases was not vote count fraud but VOTE SUPPRESSION using the Provisional Ballots and illegal removal from the registration rolls. Voters filled out a Provisional Ballot, knowing they were registered (when they had, in fact, been removed for the “crimes” of “voting while black” or “voting democratic” or “voting while having the same last name as a criminal in another state”), and they assumed (oops, trust the system to treat you fairly — big mistake brother) their vote would be counted, so they told the exit poll taker their vote. But, the votes were never counted, so the count and the polls didn’t match.
The paper receipt would be easy as heck to make have different information than the inside-the-system count. Beauty of that, is that the Republican would be “installed” long before any recount can be conducted.
I would be surprised if every Republican candidate doesn’t already have plane tickets to Washington for November 8, 2006 at 5 a.m. We will have to physically blockade congress in numbers too large to move to prevent this little scheme of doing a CA-50 on the whole country.
Thank you Robert Kennedy jr. and i agree with Charlie L. not to mention other Rovian surprises like the level 9 terrorist alert in OHIO in 2004 that caused a precinct to be locked down all night.. but who made the call and where did those wiley terrorists go???
Least we forget the massive humanistic fraud efforts of the Bushit administration. Check out the DVD AMERICAN BLACKOUT http://www.americanblackout.org about the massive humanistic campaign to eliminate the black vote and why Cynthia McKinney is a great representative of ALL AMERICAN PEOPLE>
Important O.T.
A quick heads up to Bradbloggers on other important bills coming up so you can urge your state representative to vote against the following destructive bills from becoming LAWS.
1. The Pombo (rep CA) bill which already passed the House to be decided in the Senate to gut the Federal Endangered Species Protection Act. Habitat would no longer be protected from such things as pesticides and oil co and developers would receive big money payouts for NOT DESTROYING WILDLIFE> http://www.nrdcactionfund.org
Bushit administration legislation has reversed over 200 environmental laws under their his tenure.
2. Big Oil companies will not give up their plan to dig in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge which has passed the House now to be decided in the Senate. The glacier are melting twice as fast in Alaska because of HUMAN CAUSED Global Warming although not acknowledged by either parties as a major issue is the #1 World crisis (unless Bush’s bombs and wars cause the world to blow up 1st). Big Oil developers want to dig here although evidence shows a repeated history of oil spills in Alaska and the FACT that drilling here will only save Americans 1 penny at the gas pumps in starting in 15 years. Many other cleaner sources of energy can be explored. Our country’s legislatures run by greedy destructive sellout losers must know we are watching them. http://www.nrdcactionfund.org to view the Robert Redford TV spot to inform Americans.
3. The House passed a torture bill to be decided by the Senate now which would give the Bushit administration an open pass to torture terrorist SUSPECTS as they see fit. This of course is an one example of the type of criminal action which has ALREADY been occurring during Bushit regime and now they are trying to “make it legal” after the fact.
RFK’s speech problem is offputting at first. And then it becomes fascinating to listen to him speak, because you focus so hard on understanding what he is saying. So the problem actually works in his favor.
Adam asked about RFK’s speech difficulty. I have enormous gratitude & respect for Mr. Kennedy, but in all honesty I think his vocal ailment makes him an unfortunate spokesman for this crucial issue. I hate to say that, since he is putting himself on the line for all of us & deserves tremendous credit for doing so, but I fear that people will react badly. Sad but true.
I guess you could say I’m biased for Brad, but I would love to see him on tv on a regular basis talking this up, talking alot of things up, for that matter. He knows his stuff, he’s articulate, doesn’t stumble over his words, doesn’t say “ummmmmm” constantly, as FAR TOO MANY so-called “pundits” do! Doesn’t lose his temper & turn into a screaming loon, either, which also happens way too often. Although maybe tv people think that’s “good tv”, I dunno.
Ed schultz, RFK Jr…who else has mentioned Brad & Bradblog on radio & tv recently? Lou Dobbs, too, I think?
Why don’t we email & call these people like Chris Matthews & Lou Dobbs, Olbermann, too…asking them to have Brad on their shows? Why not? He’s the one who’s been ON THIS since day one. His voice needs to be out there LOUDER & MORE OFTEN, n’est ce pas??!
I mean, I’ve asked Lou Dobbs to have him on, maybe others have, but if we all did?
Joan #15
I listen to RFK’s show every week and his voice doesn’t bother me any more then Diane Rhem, but I think he was somewhat tired or something tonight. I hope they didn’t do the same thing to him they did to Keith Olberman.
Keith had an absolutely incredible show tonight with a long and comprehensive piece proving Bush did nothing to prevent 9-11 and a recounting of his 10 hour ordeal in a hospital involving some kind of anthrax attack which The (Fox) New York Post tried to make a fool out of Olberman with. Bizzare stuff indeed.
They had to melt down his keys and destroy his wallet and tried to paint him as a sissy. The “post” story seemed to be written by the guy who does the Clint is Crazy website. Olberman was prevented from telling the whole story by the FBI or something.
RFK was great to bring up the connection between Bob Ney, Abramoff, and the voting machine nonsense. That’s a very important “dot” to connect in this saga! It’ll be very interesting to see if Ney shows up at the “paper trail” hearing tomorrow asking for $900,000,000 again.
Brad is definitely the best live spokesman on the voting machines I’ve heard to date!
Bobby: Thanks again! Still a great spokesman for the cause! Still one of my heroes!
Congradulations, Brad! An endorsement from one of the most honest men in America, RFK, Jr.!
http://www.pastdeadline.com/clu...ork/index.html
Olberman receives letter with “white substance” and death threats for speaking out against Bush administration. Hmmmmm….people who speak out against Bush seem to receive mail with white substances and death threats (Daschle)…hmmmmm….wonder who’s doing this???
OT — About Grizzly’s #13 – Just to remind folks regarding about the torture bill, illegal wiretaps, indefinite detentions, and a lot of other things –
Article 9 of the U.S. Constitution: No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.
A Bill of Attainder is a bill that specifically takes away the rights of a individual or group – which may include imprisonment.
Ex post facto law- “formulated, enacted, or operating retroactively”
There may have been various interpretations in judicial history for various cases, but the Constitution is very clear and succinct and certainly applies in the current egregious examples of unconstitutionality.
If Congress passes what could be interpreted as a bill of attainder or an ex post facto law and it is upheld by the courts, then Congress and courts are undermining the Constitution and it’s time for “we the people” who have established the Constitution to look to whatever means we can to re-establish it.
Bobby was great. He got the message accross despite Chris Matthews efforts to provide a phoney excuse for having no paper receipt. Chris did not get this BS past RFK Jr even though time was short.
Miss Persistant #5 sums it up nicely.
OK – Slapping it out again before my coffee. Of course, I mean imprisonment may be included in a Bill of Attainder.
Hi Joan – I have a Jones for the Ed Shultz Show
http://www.urbandictionary.com/...php?term=jones
“Incurious george” has got to go
In·cu·ri·os·i·ty – is a mental illness . . .
#16
I have personally heard, Christine Craft (1240 Khz AM, Talk City) mention Bradblog.Com on September 27th.
And I also have made it a permanent part of the credits at the very end of my show (October 6th 11 PM. CH 18 Comcast Sacramento.)
Anyway there are a few of us out here. Some comercial some non-comercial (like myself on public access.)
WE COUNT 2006
CLE OH
Sept 29-30 2006
If ya can’t be there then consider a donation.
THIS CONFERENCE WILL BE HUGE
I was screwed up on #21. Of course, that’s Article 1, Section 9. There ain’t no Article 9!