Vote for a Better America

A Slate V cartoon:

Steal the Election Once, Shame on Me, Steal it Twice. . .

This is an e-mail I received from Florida Congressman Robert Wexler:

I saw it with my own eyes: The Bush and GOP machine stole the 2000 election and the presidency in Florida (not to mention Ohio in 2004) and the results have been catastrophic for our nation and the world.

Don't take my word for it - read the dissent of Supreme Court Justices Stevens, Breyer and Ginsberg in the absurd legal decision of Bush v. Gore: "Although we may never know with complete certainty the identity of the winner of this year's Presidential election, the identity of the loser is perfectly clear. It is the Nation's confidence in the judge as an impartial guardian of the rule of law."

Back in 2000, in Florida, I witnessed the votes of World War II veterans thrown away and GOP thugs bully the Miami Dade elections office into stopping a recount. I swore to myself that never again would the votes of Americans be thrown away and replaced by the votes of appointed judges. Following the 2000 election, I spent 7 years fighting to remove the DIEBOLD electronic machines from Florida and to install a voter verified paper trail which we accomplished last year.

I have bad news: They are trying again to silence our votes.

Most people associate the 2000 election with paper "chads" and the Supreme Court's tragic decision. Yet the voter suppression in 2000 went way beyond not counting votes – from illegal roadblocks near minority precincts to the complete purging of legitimate voters from the rolls through what is called "voter caging "– the practice of using databases to improperly delete voters.

Now, we are seeing signs of voter caging again in both Michigan and Florida.

In Michigan, the state is using a list of foreclosures to purge voters (many of which are still legitimate voters in their districts).

In Florida, my home state, the Republican led Supervisor of Elections is aggressively applying a new law designed to limit voter fraud by summarily deleting voters who might have – as part of a clerical error – a different driver's license or social security number than was put in the database.

If legitimate, legal voters are denied access to the voting booth – we risk a repeat of 2000, in multiple states.

We must remain vigilant, not just in defense of our economy, but in defense of our rights as Americans.

I am working with my colleagues in Congress to call attention to this matter, but I encourage you to contact your state elections supervisor and demand that they allow every person who claims to be a legitimate voter to submit a provisional ballot. [Greg Palast, Thom Hartmann, and others believe this is ineffective. -BD, Blogger]

There is a system in every state to deal with provisional ballots – to verify their legitimacy after the fact.

Voter caging is a threat to our (already challenged) democratic principals. Please join me and pass this email along to spread the word.

If you have not already signed up at www.wexlerforcongress.com, and would like to be on this list, please sign up today.

Sincerely,
Congressman Robert Wexler

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Paid for by "Wexler for Congress"
PO Box 810669 Boca Raton, FL 33481

Looks Good, But Obama Needs Us!

Those of us who can't stand the thought of a President McCain and a Vice President Palin must all turn out to vote, or the right-wing with their dirty tricks will claw their way into office even if Obama and Biden are the true winners! We need a landslide to be safe. Stay informed; check at the site at the top right to make sure you can vote; and fight it out rather than settling for a provisional ballot (sometimes called a placebo ballot).

"Steal Back Your Vote," the Movie (Preview)

From muckraker extraordinaire Greg Palast and the esteemed Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. -- a 15 minute preview of his upcoming 40 minute documentary on vote stealing. This may be happening again with our 2008 election.


Steal Back Your Vote! from Greg Palast on Vimeo.

Also see:

• STEAL BACK YOUR VOTE! downloadable comic book to make sure your vote will be counted. A donation of any amount is requested.
• Rolling Stone: It's Already Stolen

"Uncaged -- YES on Prop 2"

Clever and catchy musical cartoon from the Humane Society makes a serious point that isn't too grim to watch. (See the preceding post for further information.)

California's Prop 2: Vote Yes, for the farm animals

The Humane Society is asking for donations to pay to run the ad below which tells Californians to support Proposition 2. Only about a month remains before our country votes for our next president, and in California, Prop 2 will be on the ballot as well. Factory farm animals all across the USA should be allowed this little improvement in their sad lives. The Humane Society says:

We wouldn't force our pets to live in filthy, cramped cages for their whole lives, and we shouldn't force farm animals to endure such misery, either.

. . . if Prop 2 passes in California, it will lead to more humane farming practices across the nation.

. . . Prop 2 is a modest measure that simply allows animals in factory farms the ability to move and stretch their limbs.

We don't think it's too much to ask, but the factory farming industry is peddling propaganda and scare tactics about Prop 2's supposed burden on egg factory farmers -- when even industry economists concede that production costs will increase less than a penny per egg.

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Paid for by Yes on Prop. 2 - Californians for Humane Farms, sponsored by The Humane Society of the United States and Farm Sanctuary (major funders), and other animal protection groups, family farmers, veterinarians, and public health professionals.

YesonProp2.com

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