Blogged by Brad Friedman on 3/23/2005 5:43PM  
Um...Sort of.

Today we attempted to get some more information about the "American Center for Voting Rights" (ACVR), a group who suddenly appeared on the Internet last Thursday. On Monday, they gave testimony to U.S. Congressman Bob Ney's (R-OH) House Administrative Committee during hearings held in Columbus, OH on the 2004 Election mess in the state.

(Please see this previous BRAD BLOG article for the emerging background on this supposedly "non-partisan" tax-exempt organization which was the only such "Voting Rights" group invited to give testimony at the hearings. And, oh yes, every single name attached to this group so far seems to also be attached to Bush/Cheney '04 Inc. and/or the Republican National Committee and/or the Ohio Republican party.)

Mark F. (Thor) Hearne, II --- the National General Counsel for Bush/Cheney '04 Inc. --- gave testimony for the group and is listed on the U.S. House Administrative Committee website as simply "National Counsel, American Center for Voting Rights". No mention of his current high-level connections to Bush/Cheney and his long history of working with other powerful Republican officials all the way back to his time working for the Reagan Administration.

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."

We pressed on...

BRAD BLOG: How is it that you guys were invited to testify for a U.S. House Committee hearing after just forming so recently?

MARK F. (THOR) HEARNE, II: You'd have to ask the [House] committee...

BB: But to be invited as the only such organization so quickly after being formed? How did that happen?

HEARNE: I couldn't tell you. We're out here doing what we're doing and we accepted the offer.

He was, indeed, rather terse in the answers to our attempted questions, and so we wondered why he didn't wish to be more forthcoming about his "non-partisan" group.

"Sounds to me like your coming from the Left," he told us.

We informed him that --- though we think didn't think any of our questions were particularly partisan or Left-like --- he might well say that we are indeed coming from the Left. Nonetheless, we consider free and fair elections to be a non-partisan issue. As his website claims to be a non-partisan organization, we figured he wouldn't mind answering some questions about it.

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

We have done so and look forward to his call and a report here on his answers to some of our many concerns.

Next we tried a call to Jim Dyke who is listed as the "contact" in a press release issued Monday by AVCR.

Dyke, we have subsequently learned, also happened to have been the Communications Director for the Republican National Committee during the 2004 Election.

Perhaps he would be more open with us about this nascient group and their seemingly newfound concern for "Voting Rights" in America. Indeed, Dyke was much more willing than was Hearne to speak at length with us...

BRAD BLOG: Your website statement says that ACVR activities include "voter education and outreach", what sort of voter education and outreach has ACVR done?

JIM DYKE: It's a new group, so there's not been much voter outreach and education yet...The intention is to make people aware of the safe-guards that exist in some states to prevent voter fraud...Educating people about their rights to participate in the process as election witness and so forth.

BB: You claim to be a non-partisan, tax-exempt 501(c)3 organization, but so far it seems that the organization is run by all high-level Republicans like yourself...

DYKE: You'll see an expansion of participants from other legal minds as well as academic minds that come from both parties in the future...

We asked Dyke about the 31-page report they gave to the House Committee on Monday which purports to be about problems in Ohio's Election. We wondered why the only thing their report largely discusses is allegations that liberal and progressive Voter Registration groups signed up voters such as "Dick Tracy" and "Mary Poppins" and contentions that Registration Workers were being paid in crack cocaine.

This seems odd given the hundreds and, really, thousands of reports of actual Election Day "irregularities" in Ohio, including long lines where voters in heavy Democratic areas were forced to wait from 4 to 10 hours to vote in some cases, and many precincts having fewer voting machines for the General Election than they had during the Primary.

DYKE: The facts that are put forward in the Ohio report, is really a compendium of facts from police reports...there's no effort to make things up. We're working from actual reports...it's an effort to put things forward to give people greater confidence in our voting system.

Again, we pressed him about the documented reports and hours and hours of film footage showing such lines in predominately minority and Democratic precincts:

Yeah, on I that, I think what we did was look to evidence based in fact...I don't know if you read the testimony from the hearings...a man by the name of William Anthony who drove around...he said there were long lines everywhere, not just in minority precincts. So those reports are different from police testimony who said there were a hundred...or over a hundred reported incidence of voter registration fraud. It's not an accusation, it's something that's supported by police reports and court records.

BB: Most of the well-known Election Reform and Voting Rights groups, nearly 100 of them, have joined VelvetRevolution.us as Affiliates and have endorsed our "Divestiture for Democracy" campaign against the Voting Machine Companies. We are issue-oriented, not party-oriented, and as your organization claims to be in support of "Free and Honest" elections, I'd like to invite you to endorse our campaign, would you be willing to do so?

DYKE: Well, we'll look into. Send me some information about your organization and we can look into it.

BB: Where are you located, by the way?

DYKE: I'm Charleston, South Carolina.

BB: The Internic record for your group says you're a Dallas, TX group?

DYKE: That's the company that designed the website.

BB: I see. What company is that?

DYKE: I'd have to look into and get back to you.

BB: You don't recall their name?

DYKE: I'll have to check and get back to you on that.

For the record, here is a copy of the Internic record on AVCR (domain name - ac4vr.com) where Dyke is listed as both the Administrative and Technical Contact for the domain:

We asked Dyke about Hearne's statements to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in January of this year where he responded directly to a question about whether "a lot of voter fraud occur[ed]". Hearne responding by saying that "It would be hard...to see that you could commit voter fraud on a level that you can influence an election". And yet, Hearne's 31-Page report for the ACVR seems to display a change of heart about that, focusing as it does specifically --- almost exclusively --- on allegations of "criminal voter fraud" which they charge occurred prior to the election by the Voter Registration groups.

DYKE: The report, if you read it, is a combination of things. It points one, to voter registration fraud and two, some intimidation activity that happened there and three, third party litigation actions that occurred...against groups that were trying to remove the safeguards that would prevent the Dick Tracys from voting...Third party groups litigating to try and remove the need for any identification whatsoever to vote and so forth.

BB: But what about the long lines that occurred, isn't that also a concern?

DYKE: We're suggesting that the fact that there were long lines is more of an accusation than something for which there is actual documentation...For example, in our report, we note the danger of having 110% percent of the population registered on the voter rolls in some precincts...According to census data that was the case in many Ohio precincts....As far as the long lines, there was no effort to put 5 machines in one place and 2 in another as far as I know...I would refer you again to the William Anthony testimony on that who was actually there and spoke to that.

BB: Do you have any opinions about people in Ohio having to wait 10 hours to vote?

DYKE: We would hope that people could show up and vote as efficiently as possible. Election officials put safeguards in place...You know, as far as long lines go, there were attempts...you know removing the requirement to vote in your own precinct is something that would add all kinds of time to the voter lines...I mean, what if 10% of the voters decide to show up in another county and vote? That would add to the length of the lines exponentially.

BB: But it seems that are documented reports of fewer machines in many of these precincts during the general election than there were in the primaries. At Kenyon College, for example, where many waited up to 10 hours to vote in the general election, there were only 2 machines for thousands of voters and one of those broke down by lunchtime. In the meantime, there were 78 machines or so, as I recall, documented to have been sitting in storage unused on Election Day.

DYKE: Any documents you wanted to send us over on that we'd be happy to take a look at it.

BB: Did you review John Conyers' 102-Page report full of documented and sourced evidence? There were hundreds of documented reports of problems and irregularities in there. All sourced and documented and footnoted...

DYKE: I think that our legal counsel in Ohio reviewed all the relevant documents.

BB: Did they look at the Conyers report?

DYKE: I doubt in the presentation of factual evidence they looked at someone's elses report.

BB: But it was loaded with all sorts of documented and sourced reports and incidents as you suggested you were interested in. Confirmed reports, all footnoted and sourced and everything.

DYKE: Well, if you have anything, send it to us and we'll give it a look.

BB: The Conyers report?

DYKE: Sure, send it over.

BB: Okay, I will...You know, it just still seems strange that a group who just sort of showed up out of nowhere was invited...

DYKE: What's so strange about an organization based on election activities testifying about problems in an election? I'm not sure what's so unusual about that.

BB: Well, the fact there are so many groups who've been around for months and months, and frankly years, like Black Box Voting and Verified Voting etc. that were not invited to testify...

DYKE: Would you think it was unusual if [Velvet] Revolution was invited?

BB: Well, yeah...If we were established on Thursday, and then invited to testify at a U.S. House Committee hearing the very next day, yeah, I would find that unusual. Wouldn't you?

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."

BB: But you seem to have just been established last Thursday...

DYKE: The website wasn't up till Thursday, but we've been around for a few months...you know it takes some time to get a website up and operating.

BB: When did you receive your 501(c)3 status and would it be possible to send me a copy of that?

DYKE: I'd have to check with the lawyers...I'm not sure exactly. It's a new group formed over the past three months.

BB: I'd sure love to take a look at your 501(c)3 documentation if you were able to find out about that.

DYKE: I'll be happy to get back to you with that 501(c)3 information. I'll have to talk to our attorneys and get that from them and I'll be happy to get that to you.

We will, of course, keep you up to date when and if we receive the information as promised from Dyke. As well, we have now sent him the Conyers' Report and look forward to hearing back on that matter as well.

UPDATE 3/24/05: Hearne's testimony given to the U.S. House Administration Committee last Monday is now online! And he didn't bother to mention his ties to Bush/Cheney/RNC during the testimony! Go figure! Details here...

For more information on the "non-partisan" tax-exempt ACVR scam and the snakeoil salesmen who invented it, Bush/Cheney '04 National General Counsel Mark F. "Thor" Hearne and RNC Communications Director Jim Dyke, please see BRAD BLOG's full Special Coverage of the "American Center for Voting Rights" at http://www.BradBlog.com/ACVR.
Buzz this story! C2NN: Submit it!


READER COMMENTS ON
"High-Level Republicans from the New 'Non-Partisan' 'American Center for Voting Rights' Explain Themselves..."
(79 Responses so far...)

COMMENT #1 [Permalink]
... Concerned Citizen said on 3/23/2005 @ 6:10 pm PT...


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.


COMMENT #2 [Permalink]
... George Henson said on 3/23/2005 @ 6:31 pm PT...


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!


COMMENT #3 [Permalink]
... KestrelBrighteyes said on 3/23/2005 @ 6:38 pm PT...


Thanks for the update Brad.

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


COMMENT #4 [Permalink]
... Peg C said on 3/23/2005 @ 7:20 pm PT...


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?


COMMENT #5 [Permalink]
... big dan said on 3/23/2005 @ 7:25 pm PT...


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!!!


COMMENT #6 [Permalink]
... big dan said on 3/23/2005 @ 7:29 pm PT...


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.


COMMENT #7 [Permalink]
... a sysadmin said on 3/23/2005 @ 7:52 pm PT...


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.


COMMENT #8 [Permalink]
... Jim said on 3/23/2005 @ 9:21 pm PT...


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


COMMENT #9 [Permalink]
... Peg C said on 3/23/2005 @ 9:23 pm PT...


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."


COMMENT #10 [Permalink]
... jpentz said on 3/23/2005 @ 9:31 pm PT...


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.


COMMENT #11 [Permalink]
... Bob Bilse said on 3/23/2005 @ 9:48 pm PT...


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.


COMMENT #12 [Permalink]
... supersoling said on 3/23/2005 @ 9:51 pm PT...


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!


COMMENT #13 [Permalink]
... supersoling said on 3/23/2005 @ 10:03 pm PT...


sysadmin #7 again.

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


COMMENT #14 [Permalink]
... Torqued said on 3/23/2005 @ 10:27 pm PT...


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

all documents the IRS requires the organization to submit in support of its application

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.


COMMENT #15 [Permalink]
... Bejammin075 said on 3/23/2005 @ 10:39 pm PT...


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?


COMMENT #16 [Permalink]
... Teresa said on 3/23/2005 @ 10:42 pm PT...


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.


COMMENT #17 [Permalink]
... Bejammin075 said on 3/23/2005 @ 10:45 pm PT...


Thoreau said simplicity thrice.


COMMENT #18 [Permalink]
... Kira said on 3/23/2005 @ 11:06 pm PT...


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


COMMENT #19 [Permalink]
... horkus said on 3/23/2005 @ 11:27 pm PT...


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.


COMMENT #20 [Permalink]
... jaime said on 3/23/2005 @ 11:31 pm PT...


"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.


COMMENT #21 [Permalink]
... Kira said on 3/24/2005 @ 2:14 am PT...


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


COMMENT #22 [Permalink]
... Dredd said on 3/24/2005 @ 4:24 am PT...


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.


COMMENT #23 [Permalink]
... Peggy said on 3/24/2005 @ 4:29 am PT...


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!


COMMENT #24 [Permalink]
... Bejammin075 said on 3/24/2005 @ 4:58 am PT...


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.


COMMENT #25 [Permalink]
... Teresa said on 3/24/2005 @ 5:38 am PT...


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.


COMMENT #26 [Permalink]
... Teresa said on 3/24/2005 @ 5:39 am PT...


They're running....rather.


COMMENT #27 [Permalink]
... susan said on 3/24/2005 @ 7:01 am PT...


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.


COMMENT #28 [Permalink]
... Bejammin075 said on 3/24/2005 @ 7:25 am PT...


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.


COMMENT #29 [Permalink]
... Don said on 3/24/2005 @ 7:51 am PT...


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


COMMENT #30 [Permalink]
... Rick in SC said on 3/24/2005 @ 8:11 am PT...


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/


COMMENT #31 [Permalink]
... Susan said on 3/24/2005 @ 8:35 am PT...


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.


COMMENT #32 [Permalink]
... alizaryn said on 3/24/2005 @ 9:23 am PT...


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?


COMMENT #33 [Permalink]
... Don said on 3/24/2005 @ 10:17 am PT...


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.


COMMENT #34 [Permalink]
... Dissue said on 3/24/2005 @ 10:22 am PT...


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


COMMENT #35 [Permalink]
... Peg C said on 3/24/2005 @ 10:40 am PT...


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.


COMMENT #36 [Permalink]
... Chewy said on 3/24/2005 @ 10:46 am PT...


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


COMMENT #37 [Permalink]
... Rick said on 3/24/2005 @ 11:21 am PT...


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.


COMMENT #38 [Permalink]
... rough_in_riverside said on 3/24/2005 @ 12:02 pm PT...


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?


COMMENT #39 [Permalink]
... Brad said on 3/24/2005 @ 12:16 pm PT...


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.


COMMENT #40 [Permalink]
... Rick said on 3/24/2005 @ 12:27 pm PT...


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.


COMMENT #41 [Permalink]
... Susan said on 3/24/2005 @ 12:29 pm PT...


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.


COMMENT #42 [Permalink]
... gtash said on 3/24/2005 @ 12:32 pm PT...


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?


COMMENT #43 [Permalink]
... Bill Hewitt said on 3/24/2005 @ 12:36 pm PT...


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