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Voting off the Mainland
- How do politics in the US affect people living in US commonwealths and possessions? more info
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Student charged with trying to sell vote on eBay
A college student claimed it was all a joke when he put his vote in this fall's presidential election up for sale on the Web auction site eBay. But prosecutors didn't see the humor.
University of Minnesota student Max P. Sanders, 19, was charged with a felony Thursday in Hennepin County District Court after allegedly asking for a minimum of $10 in exchange for voting for the bidder's preferred candidate.
"Good luck!" Sanders wrote under the eBay handle zepdrummer612. "You're (sic) country depends on You!"
Sanders was charged with one count of bribery, treating and soliciting under an 1893 state law that makes it a crime to offer to buy or sell a vote.
According to a criminal complaint, the Minnesota secretary of state's office learned about the offering on the Web site and told prosecutors. Investigators sent a subpoena to eBay and got information that led to Sanders.
The student told investigators he made the eBay posting, adding, "That was a joke. It's no longer listed," according to the complaint.
"We take it very seriously. Fundamentally, we believe it is wrong to sell your vote," said John Aiken, a spokesman for the office. "There are people that have died for this country for our right to vote, and to take something that lightly, to say, 'I can be bought.'
"It's a real shame," he said. "I can imagine the conversations being held in American Legion Clubs and VFWs about whether this is a joke or not."
The scarcely used law had its heyday in the 1920s, when many people sold their votes in exchange for liquor, Assistant County Attorney Pat Diamond said.
"There are two things going on here in terms of why it's a crime," he said. "One is the notion that elections should be a contest of ideas and not of pocketbooks -- at least not in the sense of straight-out 'I can buy your vote.' The second notion is that everybody gets one vote, and you don't get to buy another one."
Sanders and his attorney, Steven Levine, declined to comment Thursday. The charge carries up to five years' imprisonment and a $10,000 fine.
As for the offer on eBay? It got no bids
A college student claimed it was all a joke when he put his vote in this fall's presidential election up for sale on the Web auction ... more -
“Insufficient evidence” to declare confidence in London Mayoral results
The Open Rights Group, the body accredited by the Electoral Commission to provide official observers to the London mayoral elections, said today that it was given insufficient evidence to have full confidence in the election results. In a new report out today, it identified a number of 'shortcomings' in the e-counting of votes, and found that:
"there is insufficient evidence available to allow independent observers to state reliably whether the results declared in the May 2008 elections for the Mayor of London and the London Assembly are an accurate representation of voters’ intentions.”
It said that while the election was well-managed by the independent body London Elects, transparency around recording votes was at issue because the 27 official ORG observers were unable to observe whether votes being counted were actually valid. London Elects even admitted the system "was likely to be recording blank ballots as votes."
Here's a link to the ORG report: http://www.openrightsgroup.org/wp-content/uploads/orglo...
Could this be the beginning of an election scandal? The Open Rights Group, the body accredited by the Electoral Commission to provide official observers to the London mayoral elections, ... more -
TAKE ACTION: Tell Congresss to Stand Up and Check the Balance
In exactly two weeks, we are going to find out whether members of Congress have any respect for the institution they represent. We will see whether they have the courage to stand up to the Bush administration and defend the Constitution they took an oath to protect. Specifically, we will discover whether they are willing to take the measures necessary to ensure that Bush administration officials testify before Congress.
On July 10, the U.S. House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing to investigate the firings of nine U.S. Attorneys in 2006 and the questionable prosecution and imprisonment of former Alabama governor Don Siegelman. Karl Rove, a potentially key figure in both incidents, has been issued a subpoena to testify before the committee. Rove's lawyer has said that Rove will not appear.
Congress has a few options here. First, if Rove fails to appear, they could pass criminal contempt charges against him, as they did against White House chief of staff Josh Bolten and former White House counsel Harriet Miers. This is good, but will not result in immediate testimony.
The second option is to have Karl Rove arrested, under the theory of inherent contempt, and brought to Congress to testify. This is better, but may still be eventually unsatisfying if Rove ends up testifying yet asserts executive privilege repeatedly in order to avoid disclosing important information.
Another option - and the one supported by the American Freedom Campaign Action Fund - is to tell the president immediately that he will be impeached if members of his administration do not provide full testimony before Congress by a date certain in July. This has historical precedent as one of the three articles of impeachment ultimately brought against President Richard Nixon was based on his refusal to comply with congressional subpoenas.
The final option is to do nothing and set a precedent for the future by which any administration can claim that Congress does not have the ability to force executive branch officials to testify before Congress. This would be an affront to our Constitution and Congress is dancing perilously close to this line already.
We cannot allow Congress to become subservient to the executive branch. It must exert its oversight authority and force administration officials to testify. Please tell your U.S. representative to take whatever steps are necessary to compel testimony.
Thank you for sharing your feelings with your U.S. representative.
Steve
Steve Fox
Campaign Director
American Freedom Campaign Action Fund
I got the email a week ago. Sign petitions, send emails, and mail letters. heres links to legislators and bills.
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/
http://www.house.gov/
http://catalog.loc.gov/ In exactly two weeks, we are going to find out whether members of Congress have any respect for the institution they represent. We wi... more -
Obey Obama
Some local street artists painted a 15' Obama mural designed by Shepard Fairey (ObeyGiant) in Houston Texas. I documented the painting from beginning to end... Some local street artists painted a 15' Obama mural designed by Shepard Fairey (ObeyGiant) in Houston Texas. I documented the painting... more
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Rogue code could seriously skew US presidential election results
A news article published online today in Canadian ITBusiness.ca
reports on the ongoing work of the U.S. National Science Foundation's
U.S. Voting System Project ACCURATE:
1) "One programmer could make a change that would affect 100,000
votes." – Page 1
2) "If these machines were rigged, we'd never know it." – Page 2
3) "Viruses could be put in the Diebold Accuvote to change votes." – Page 3
Notice that the Diebold/Premier voting system is specifically
mentioned in the article.
Are we going to have our election stolen AGAIN?! A news article published online today in Canadian ITBusiness.ca ... more -
CURRENT MEETUP?
I have been very inspired by comments, posts, replies and messages from members of Current.com.
So, I got to thinking, what if we all met up and started, as a team, implementing some of these ideas we bang aound on the site and channel?
What about finding (possibly by zipcode) where we all are, and whereever possible, establishing meetups?
Maybe monthly, where we can discuss an agenda to actually brainstrom and IMPLEMENT real change.
We could pool all our resources and who knows what we could accomplish?? I have been very inspired by comments, posts, replies and messages from members of Current.com. ... more -
Election reform for $6!?? Yes.
Congress would only have to spend $6 per citizen per year to publicly fund each and every election for the House, the Senate and the White House. When you consider that "pork barrel" projects cost every one of us more than $200 last year alone, it’s no contest.
Think of it. With public funding, wealthy special interests and their hired lobbyists would no longer have a commanding influence over our politics and government. Instead of begging for campaign donations, candidates would spend their time communicating with voters. Once elected, our leaders would be free to focus on our nation's challenges rather than having to worry about financing their next campaign. And there's no doubt that more of our most able leaders would run for federal office when the ability to finance a campaign isn't such a daunting obstacle.
Take action!
Prompt candidates and representatives to support sound election reform!
http://www.just6dollars.org/candidates Congress would only have to spend $6 per citizen per year to publicly fund each and every election for the House, the Senate and the W... more -
Whole town forgot to vote
The little U.S. community of Barnes County, North Dakota forgot to show up and vote in its mayoral election on June 10th, including its candidates.
According to the current Mayor, usually a half a dozen out of the total population of 11 show up to vote in the elections. But this time no one showed up to vote. "Everybody has got a job and they're busy," said the current Mayor.
Luckily most of the candidates were running unopposed, or it could have caused quite a mess in Barnes County, North Dakota. The little U.S. community of Barnes County, North Dakota forgot to show up and vote in its mayoral election on June 10th, including it... more -
SMOKE THE VOTE!
HIGHTIMES Editor Bobby Black is on a "Nation Wide Campaign" for NORML to get more Americans to vote and become politically active and aware. HIGHTIMES Editor Bobby Black is on a "Nation Wide Campaign" for NORML to get more Americans to vote and become politically active and ... more
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American Blackout
American Blackout chronicles the recurring patterns of disenfranchisement witnessed from 2000 to 2004 while following the story of Georgia Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, who not only took an active role in investigating these election debacles but also found herself in the middle of one after publicly questioning the Bush Administration about the 9-11 terrorist attacks. American Blackout chronicles the recurring patterns of disenfranchisement witnessed from 2000 to 2004 while following the story of Geo... more
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Ireland in crunch EU treaty vote
People in the Irish Republic are voting in a referendum on whether to ratify the European Union reform treaty, in a poll anxiously watched across the EU.
All other 26 member states have left the issue to their parliaments, but Ireland is obliged to hold a popular vote on changes to its constitution.
All of the main Irish parties back the treaty but the No campaign has been putting up a strong challenge.
With many voters undecided, opinion polls suggest the result will be close.
The document, known as the Lisbon Treaty, replaces a more ambitious draft constitution that was rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Democracy at work, a constitution to protect it's citizens and dicisions on Europe put to the people.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Get in there Ireland ! People in the Irish Republic are voting in a referendum on whether to ratify the European Union reform treaty, in a poll anxiously wat... more -
Vote While Living Abroad
VoteFromAbroad.org is for the millions of Americans, living outside the United States, that can vote in the upcoming Presidential election. Take advantage of this opportunity!
The Vote From Abroad website guides you through the voter registration and 'absentee ballot request' process, in 5 steps, by asking you only those questions required by your home State and personal info.
It automatically completes your voter registration and absentee ballot request form with all the information you provided. THATS IT! Then just print, sign, and mail it to the address they provide.
Its very straightforward and simple.
www.VoteFromAbroad.org
Also check out: www.Democratsabroad.org VoteFromAbroad.org is for the millions of Americans, living outside the United States, that can vote in the upcoming Presidential elec... more -
Why women voters didn't make Hillary win
"One of the Democratic campaign's great misperceptions has been that Clinton held an overwhelming advantage among women voters. But that isn't the case. As expected, Clinton captured the over-65 vote, and Obama won over younger women. But women in the middle split almost evenly between the two. And while both Senators boasted historic candidacies, Obama's seemed to resonate more deeply, translating into 70%, 80% and even 90% of the black vote in primary contests. No one expected Clinton to sweep 90% of Democratic women voters, but 60% wouldn't have been an unreasonable accomplishment for the first woman to have a serious chance of winning the presidency. Instead, Clinton won just over a majority of women's votes.
So what does that mean? Clinton and her supporters have charged that sexism is responsible for her loss of the nomination. But it seems more likely that women themselves cost her the nod. The reasons more women haven't voted for Clinton tell us something about the evolution of feminism and what the future may hold for female politicians ..."
By Amy Sullivan "One of the Democratic campaign's great misperceptions has been that Clinton held an overwhelming advantage among women voters. But th... more -
Americans fighting back against greed and corruption
There's no link here, just a live counter image put up by the DNC. Go ahead and check it, hit refresh every few minutes ... it's encouraging.
To really contribute you have to go here:
https://www.democrats.org/page/contribute/Nonlobbyists
Let's show the world democracy is BACK!
P.S. I am not affiliated with any campaign activity ... just a voter like you. There's no link here, just a live counter image put up by the DNC. Go ahead and check it, hit refresh every few minutes ... it's enco... more -
An open letter to Hillary Clinton supporters
Some Hillary Clinton supports have vowed to support John McCain in November. The sentiment is understandable given the passion of the campaign and the heat of the moment. But it would be a mistake. And in their hearts most know that it would be a mistake. Some reasons. Some Hillary Clinton supports have vowed to support John McCain in November. The sentiment is understandable given the passion of the ... more
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Clinton fanatics!
I saw an interesting article from Sam Stein of The Huffington Post.
So funny and sad at the same time
Eating A Reuben Amidst A Crowd Of Protesting Clintonites
May 31, 2008 06:54 PM
When is a Reuben sandwich not just a Reuben sandwich? When one eats it amidst a denizen of rabidly committed, frequently vitriolic, and unapologetically devoted Hillary Clinton supporters.
The scene at Harry's Pub in the Marriott Hotel, downstairs from the site of the Rules and Bylaws Committee hearing, was emblematic of the double-edged sword that has become the Democratic primary. One the one hand was the political passion: the willingness to stand in solidarity over the idea of counting the votes in Michigan and Florida, even if such a protest was scheduled on a Saturday under torrential rain.
On the other hand were the battered emotions: the ardent vows to not support Sen. Barack Obama under any circumstances, the insistence that every insidious rumor concerning the Illinois Democrat was grounded in fact, the belief that the party itself had conspired in an effort to tear down the Clintons.
With half a dozen flat screen televisions turned to CNN, it was not difficult to ascertain just where the political and emotional center of the crowd stood. A table of three women did not deal in discretion. A sampling of their punditry:
"[Obama] is a cult. His campaign is an anti-woman cult."
"I will actively campaign against him."
"You know who is backing him is George Soros. It'll be George Soros, not Obama, who is running the country."
"South Dakota is totally rigged for Obama because of Tom Daschle. Obama's going to win South Dakota because he's buying it and rigging it."
"[Obama] is a socialist! You know what the Nazi Party was before it was the Nazi Party? It was the Socialist Party."
It was not all that different from the mood outside, where signs read, "At least slaves were counted as 3/5ths a Citizen," and some pamphlets detailed Obama's supposed dealings in drugs and gay sex. The latter being handed out by Larry Sinclair, the youtube opportunist who has claimed to have had an affair with the Senator.
"Would you rather have a president who had an affair [Bill Clinton] or one who was a murderer [Obama]?" Eve Fairbanks, a reporter with The New Republic, was asked by one protester.
Back in Harry's, passions did not ebb. Amidst the chatter came raucous cheers for any Clinton surrogate whose face popped up on the television screen. They were countered by derisive boos when CNN cut to a clip of DNC Chairman Howard Dean. It didn't matter what he said. You couldn't hear it over the crowd's hissing.
I approached a group of Clinton supporters sitting at the bar to pinpoint, exactly, the foundation of their emotions. Almost unanimously they agreed that if Florida and Michigan weren't seated in their entirety, they would never vote for Obama.
As women, were they comfortable with a candidate like John McCain who could potentially overturn Roe v. Wade?
"Oh don't pull that argument," said Valerie Duhaime of Florida. "Obama did not support a filibuster of [Supreme Court Justice Samuel] Alito and he was for [Chief Justice] John Roberts before he was against him."
Within the pub's confines, Obama was not the only persona non grata. The media, too, occupied a dark place in the crowd's heart. The group at the bar went through a litany of websites that they no longer read -- including the Huffington Post. "I only watch the BBC," said Duhaime. "We are outsourcing the fourth estate."
Shortly after revealing my publication, I was turned away. No worries, my lunch, a Reuben sandwich, had arrived. I pulled up my chair to the table and sat down to eat. Minutes later a chant began around me.
"HuffPost sucks! HuffPost sucks!" and later, "Fox News, fair and balanced! Fox News, fair and balanced!" I saw an interesting article from Sam Stein of The Huffington Post. So funny and sad at the same time ... more -
How to vote smart
When you vote in the primaries, as a registered party member, your vote is meant to affect or influence the "delegates". A Delegate is a member of a group or an organization at a meeting or a conference (in the case of elections, the delegates are members of a certain party i.e. Democratic Party or Republican Party). The Delegates are officials who choose a candidate that they feel would best represent the "party" in the election. Even if the majority of voters choose candidate "A", the delegates can decide, with no exceptions or explanations, that candidate "B" will be the contender in the race.
Prior to this upcoming Presidential election, I had never heard of a "Super-Delegate" before. A Super-Delegate is seated automatically, based solely on their status as current or former party leaders and elected officials. They are not officially registered in any of the party's rules and regulations as an official Delegate, and the name itself is an invention of the media. But, these individuals, who have power and clout, and history as party leaders (therefore, making them "super") can vote for any contender they wish in the primaries, even outside of their party lines. Super Delegates only exist within the Democratic Party (more or less).
So....why vote in the primaries? Personally, I don't want to "exercise" anything. I want to be heard, I want my vote and others who vote like me to be listened to by the Delegates of my party. I want my vote to count, for real. If you owned a company, and you instructed your managers to carry out certain tasks, then you would expect them to listen and comply. If your managers continued to do things that were the opposite of what you requested, doing instead what they think is best, then you'd fire those managers, wouldn't you?
Much like the primary elections, the majority of citizens place a vote for the candidate they want to see in office, with no matter of which party you are in. Then, representatives from the "Electoral College" are supposed to vote for the contender according to what the majority of the "citizens" in their districts have chosen.
Our current President won an election by Electoral Votes. This means that the Popular vote (or the vote of the people of the US) was disregarded by the representatives in the Electoral College, and these representatives voted for who they thought would be the best President. Again, if you instructed the managers of your company to paint the walls red, and they went over your head and painted them blue because they thought this color would be better, wouldn't you, as the boss, fire these managers due to insubordination?
So, why vote in the Presidential Elections?
The State Legislators nominate the Electors. Every state law in the US allows the Electors to be chosen by Popular vote (that's you and me). Electors are people who pledge their commitment to a certain candidate. Electors claim openly who they would choose for President, or any other vote they are controlling (but they can change this stance if they wish too!). So, it is in our best interest, if we want to see a particular candidate win the vote, to start by electing proper Legislators.
Once we have the proper Legislators (lawmakers) in place, we instruct them by vote, as our employees, to choose Electors who will vote with the Citizens in mind, and who will vote for the contender that We, the people, want to see in office. If they don't listen to us, we ought to fire them.
If you didn't vote in the last Legislative Election, then don't bother voting for President...I know, in today's "Vote Vote Vote" mentality...this sounds adverse...but it isn't.
The "Electoral College" is a German concept. The Germans used the Legislator and Electoral processes since their days as a "Kingdom" a long, long time ago...yes, even Hitler was "elected" by the Electoral Process. This process was also adopted by the Christian Church, and now, many countries around the world. When you vote in the primaries, as a registered party member, your vote is meant to affect or influence the "delegates". A Delegate is... more -
How the neocons are planning to steal the 2008 elections by challenging absentee b...
In the first half of the following lecture, Greg Palast explains how the Bush administration and the neoconservatives plan on stealing the 2008 elections by challenging absentee ballots of soldiers in the United States military who are serving overseas.
I especially found this lecture of interest after reading the news on 26 May 2008, that “the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has written an unusual open letter to all those in uniform, warning them to stay out of politics as the nation approaches a presidential election in which the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will be a central, and certainly divisive, issue.”
In the first half of the following lecture, Greg Palast explains how the Bush administration and the neoconservatives plan on stealin... more -
What does it all mean? Yes? No? What is your take?
People I feel that this needs to be discussed because I have read posts where people are confused about what to do with their vote.
Green means: "I like it" or "Yes" or "Green light" (this story should be on Current TV News)
Red means "I don't like it" or "No" or "Red light" (this story should NOT be on Current TV News)
This is the way I understand that the voting system works, it doesn't have anything to do with whether or not you agree with the story, it means that you want the story to get on the air.
If somebody knows different then please do tell.
People I feel that this needs to be discussed because I have read posts where people are confused about what to do with their vote. ... more
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