Greg Palast story: "How They STOLE The Mid-Term Election"

[ClickClack]

Pardon me if this has already been posted here somewhere. I find this Greg Palast article from The Guardian (UK) very distressing: How They STOLE The Mid-Term Election

Excerpt (emphasis mine):

Here’s how the 2006 mid-term election was stolen.

Note the past tense. And I’m not kidding.

And shoot me for saying this, but it won’t be stolen by jerking with the touch-screen machines (though they’ll do their nasty part). While progressives panic over the viral spread of suspect computer black boxes, the Karl Rove-bots have been tunneling into the vote vaults through entirely different means.

For six years now, our investigations team, at first on assignment for BBC TV and the Guardian, has been digging into the nitty-gritty of the gaming of US elections. We’ve found that November 7, 2006 is a day that will live in infamy. Four and a half million votes have been shoplifted. Here’s how they’ll do it, in three easy steps...

[greeneyedboy]

1. the last paragraph is the only one that matters.

here's the important part of Palast's article:

So, what are you going to do about it? May I suggest you… steal back your vote.

It’s true you can’t win with 51% of the vote anymore. So just get over it. The regime’s sneak attack via vote suppression will only net them 4.5 million votes, about 5% of the total. You should be able to beat that blindfolded. If you can’t get 55%, then you’re just a bunch of crybaby pussycats who don’t deserve to win back America.

if the Democrats were only ahead 50.5-49.5, we'd be in deep trouble (again).

the good news is that we lead by 11-26 points on the generic ballot. just one more day of GOTV and we can win the Senate and complete the House landslide.

[Gregorian]

2. It begs the question- What will we do?

We already know one third of this country is retarded, for lack of a better word. But that's not enough to pull off a loss. Of course the location of the contests can affect the outcome. We don't have a Senate race in Oregon, which is blue.

But what will we do if they steal it. They are already committing crimes. So this election is already under suspicion.

What will we do? Lawyers and money will go to work. They already are at work.

Then what will happen? They'll stonewall. They'll use their majority to sandbag and ignore.

And then what will we do?

I think it's going to get ugly if we don't pull off a clean sweep of both houses. I hear talk of the House, but not the Senate. I don't know enough about all of the races to be able to predict.

The good news- we're onto them.

[babylonsister]

3. I think if necessary I'd rather read this on Wednesday. Seems

like a downer that's not needed right now. I like Palast, but he could be wrong.

[Greybnk48]

5. agree Bsister

While I believe it, I can't do this now. I'll be ready to fight if need be after tomorrow. They will NOT get away with it this time.

[Tiggeroshii]

7. This should encourage you to work a little harder than usual tommorrow

Volunteer to help get out people to the polls tommorrow, make phone calls, etc. Tommorrow would be an excellent day to call in work sick, or take off school. I know I am personally, strongly considering it.

[babylonsister]

8. Already working the local polling place; as someone says, just do it! nt

[Greybnk48]

9. I have 93 students tomorrow

who can make up a missed or failed quiz by showing evidence that they voted. I do this every two years and they are on their honor not to pass stickers around. They are remarkably honest about it. My guess is at least 50 will vote (based on past experince).

[rumpel]

14. No, it's ok! Report any and all irregularities.

file complaints.

adding : Expose the dirt, and demand change.

[bleever]

4. His remedy: GET OUT THE VOTE.

So, what are you going to do about it? May I suggest you… steal back your vote.

It’s true you can’t win with 51% of the vote anymore. So just get over it. The regime’s sneak attack via vote suppression will only net them 4.5 million votes, about 5% of the total. You should be able to beat that blindfolded. If you can’t get 55%, then you’re just a bunch of crybaby pussycats who don’t deserve to win back America.

[pacalo]

11. If you are offered a provisional ballot...

#3: Tell Them to Take Their Provisional Ballot and...

If they try to hand you a “provisional ballot,” scream bloody murder. If there’s a problem with your ID or registration, demand adjudication from a poll monitor, come back with proper ID, or demand appeal to the county supervisor of elections.

But don’t just walk away. If it’s provisional or nothing, take it — then return for the count to defend it.

Steal Back Your Vote!

[bleever]

12. Yes!

We don't want no stinkin' "provisional ballots"!

You voted! (Provided we count it.)

[rumpel]

15. You can read what is happening to my daughter

thanks to LA County.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x456741

I am waiting for a response from McPherson, as to how he computes and posts the number of registrations when they are not done with data entry - those will be phantoms? subject to challenge? simply purged?

[pacalo]

20. That's incredible! Please tell me that she was able to vote, rumpel!

[Tiggeroshii]

6. Great article

This is starting to maybe convince me to take off school tommorrow to get people to the polls.

[sandyd921]

10. Absolutely! Do it!

You'll feel a whole lot better knowing you've done everything possible!

:patriot:

[ourvoicescount]

13. To be a fly on the wall in DC tonight...

Gloves come off tomorrow, is everyone ready?

[McCamy Taylor]

16. I love Grep Pallast but I am going to disagree. Here is why.

There has been a HUGE absentee and early vote turn out all across the country, In Tennesse, 40% have already voted. If the numbers he predicted were all going to find themselves removed from the voters rolls or sent away for lack of ID, we would have heard screaming tales of horror about it already.

Now, if the DEms have not been over ID'd or turned away because only GOPers have voted, then maybe he is right. But Dems have been turning out to vote early in unusual numbers. As far as ID goes, if you find out you need it in early polling, you go get it and try again. PLus, you tell all your friends and they are more likely to come prepared on voting day.

Regading phoney balony disenfranchisements,the law says that there is a remedy. Since the Dems knew that this strategy was going to be used, the Dems should have a mechanism in place to make sure that every voter is offered a chance to cast that provisional ballot--and have it read.

Re: spoiled ballots, you can bet your granny that this election there will be no John Kerry to concede before all the ballots are counted and that includes so called "spoiled" ballots. Dems have assembled their teams to protest everything. Dean is calling the shots this time.

All the tricks that Pallast mentions are well known to the Dems. They have fought them in the courts and where they could not win they have strategies for dealing with them on the ground.

What Pallast does not seem to realize is that this kind of disenfranchisement is not new. It has been going on forever in America. Way before the days of E-voting the police were setting up roadblocks at African-american polling places and technology was used to undercount Dem votes. All through my lifetime, this has been the status quo. None of these tricks are new. And Dems have still managed to get elected.

The difference which Pallast does not address, what makes this election different from 2000, 2002, 2004 is that Rove no longer controls the entire MSM in the US. The press is alerady given heavy coverage to GOP election fraud activity. GOPers are heading to the slammer for robocalls and probably for other fraud. Olberman said tonight that the only thing that will stop the Dems from winning big is GOP election fraud and his guest agreed.

If the Dems do not win big, there is going to be hell to pay, and it is the GOP which will pay it. Their free ride is over.

[snot]

18. A cavil:

Pls DON'T imagine the corporate media have somehow "seen the light".

Ownership of the media has continued to undergo further consolidation in conservative hands since 2004. While it's true that many outlets belatedly seem to be "piling on" against the Bush admin, that admin has no greater current strategic value for conservatives now than as a scapegoat -- we've been screwed too clearly for further denial, and by blaming folks no longer eligible for re-election, they can distinguish and clear the way for Republicans still plausibly portrayable as "good".

In 2004, ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, Fox and the AP refused John Conyers' request for the raw exit poll data, keeping that data secreted from even qualified independent researchers. I believe they've made clear that this year they intend to be even less forthcoming.

The corporate media will see the light when it's no longer corporate.

[ChipsAhoy]

17. Greg Palast is a genius!

Thanks for posting this - it ought to get some blood flowing.

[AJ9000]

19. I'm sorry but I think Republicans have more integrity than that.

Not!!!

Palast is right: We can overcome it with a massive turnout from a pissed-off public. Everybody get out and vote and take somebody with you!