Wow, I heard back from my local newspaper and it was not what I expected.

[Pacifist Patriot]

We will consider your letter for print, but I wanted to personally respond to some of your comments because the ethics of ______ are at least indirectly called into question for not covering the Conyers hearings.
The Associated Press wire service did issue an article on the event, which was available to us and which we could have chosen to publish. However, the characterization of the event in that article was very different from yours and led us to believe that the Conyers hearing lacked strong news value when compared with the day's other national and world news events competing for space in the newspaper. The AP story characterized the hearing as anything but credible and emphasized its partisan nature, noting that many of the claims being resurrected have already been investigated thoroughly. It also indicated the probability of bipartisan congressional hearings on Ohio election irregularities in January.
Although not directely stated in this article, previous wire reports on the issue have consistently made the point that there clearly were some irregularities there and in other states, probably on both sides, though is evidence was stronger that Bush benefited in Ohio. Kerry may have benefitted in Pennsylvania and elsewhere. However, the same articles also have consistently made the point that no credible evidence has come to light indicating a significant enough pattern of problems to change the outcome in Ohio. This is not Florida in 2000, where only a few hundred votes made the difference. I'm sure we will pay attention to developments on this story and will likely cover the bipartisan hearings. But we did take a pass on the Conyers hearings. No conspiracy to cover up the news. We're just exercising news judgment and on this day this story did not make the cut. Undoubtedly other news editors and the other media outlets you cited made a similar decision. Your letter criticizes that decision, which is certainly fair game. I just want to make sure you are aware of the background and that you know we are not asleep at the wheel.

----This is how I responded----

I appreciate you taking the time to respond to my letter personally. I am familiar with the AP story and it is incredibly misleading. I took three hours of my day yesterday to watch the event. The AP story fails to emphasize that Republican house members were invited to the forum and none attended. The "partisanship" was expressed when a question was asked if Republicans had been invited and Rep. Conyers had to concede that they were invited and turned him down. I can assure you the Republicans sent the loudest message of partisan attack yesterday with their decision not to attend.

The forum began with statements from Rep. Conyers, Rep. Nadler and Rep. Jackson-Lee followed by comments from Rev. Jesse Jackson. The bulk of the meeting consisted of testimony from a variety of panelists. Attorneys, public advocates, journalists, election observers, college professors and private citizens. The meeting concluded with an open mic opportunity for quick questions from the audience.

I urge your staff to review a tape of the proceedings or obtain a transcript. The issues discussed in that meeting have tremendous impact to all of us. I cannot emphasize the importance of what is unfolding in Ohio as well as other states. I did not mention <local newspaper> in my letter to the editor because my frustration is primarily with national outlets with televising capability. They should have been airing this live.

Get a reporter on this, I suspect you won't regret it.

[IAMREALITY]

1. Great Effort, and Thank You

I think that is an incredible example of the mindset we are dealing with. We have a heck of a battle yet ahead, but with people like you fighting we will continue to make ground in this important fight.

I thought your return mail was perfect.

[jamboi]

43. Awesome job, IAR! Nonpartisanship is the way to go here! n/t

[libertypirate]

2. You don't hold their feet to the fire....

If you don't put their name on it..

[BR_Parkway]

3. Very good. Maybe they are waking up, but what other wire stories

have there been that mentioned "irregularities" that benefited Kerry? I've been looking for just ONE since Nov 2nd. He was benefited in PA? I can't find anything when I google it.

I'm glad to see that they responded as they did and tried to sound responsible, but buried under other news. Basketgate, Scott Peterson, steroids are all burning issues of the day </sarcasm>

You should send them the 15 page letter that the Jud Dems sent to Blackwell - that can't help but impact their decision on further coverage.

[Pacifist Patriot]

15. Where can I get a copy of it? I'll send it.

[mulethree]

31. You could send them a link to the cspan video

The hearing video from cspan

http://cspanrm.fplive.net/viewsource/template.html?nuyhtgoopez6eD6j4emfohngiztjgeif48E6uq48E6ciBbE6cz3exd794vnh5Dhvt65Ehuyf0DnjA8blg9bgzxhe20CbBtmfcx8usfnl8s5gh7p9zgog2ftgp9vb0h7s7EDeEhuh8fAA0b299BEq23bqkpnj2yDm7v7f94l5C8vwopl9BlgaE7D2wApikzo1cuqysv70qor6n23ocoEdcxt5xzrbwkAxelAwzflgBwdax4r1

Funky looking link, if it doesn't work try this - its currently the 2nd one under "recent programs"

http://www.c-span.org/

[mulethree]

32. Letters

http://www.house.gov/judiciary_democrats/correspondence/letters.html

letter and follow-up letter
also mitofsky letter
also various letters congressmen adding their name onto the GAO investigation.

[sunnystarr]

39. I'm so glad you brought that up ...

I've also heard this a few times and seen it in print. But not one case is cited. I did read that the floating vote was reported as also occuring when Bush was selected, but there wasn't a real incident cited, only that it had occurred. I don't believe it and would like to see the poll worker who was notified and witnessed it interviewed. It's all smoke.

[LisaM]

4. It's so clear that it will be a different story in January

that's what really irks me. If they cover the story thoroughly and find massive problems NOW, it will affect the next four years (in my view, only in a positive way.) If they wait till January, the * power binge will just continue with the media complicit.

[JD Lau]

8. Ditto that, LisaM.

[Higans]

69. How can stories about scott Peterson be more important? n/t

[itzamirakul]

5. Great going!

to you for your determination to get the truth out there and also to your local newspaper for having the hutzpah to respond to you in such a frank and honest manner. Perhaps if we all keep trying to do this we can get at least a few of the media to tell both sides of a story.

Again...Congrats!

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. Thanks! *hugs*

------------------------------------
Would Jesus love a liberal? You bet!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/

[ClassWarrior]

7. Nice PP... You may also want to indicate to them in a subsequent email...

...that they shouldn't be basing their journalistic judgement upon the question of whether or not this would cause a "flip" to Kerry, but rather on the queston of whether or not the American people can trust the integrity of our elections anymore.

NGU.

[bleever]

10. Very important point here from CW. And thanks for your efforts. n/t

[ClassWarrior]

17. Hey bleev. I was just thinking that it's a little like the police saying..

..."The Mona Lisa wasn't stolen, so we don't need to investigate the Louvre break-in."

NGU.

[bleever]

23. Or having your leg broken in a car wreck, and the other driver saying...

"Well, I don't see any blood. Let's just move along."

[Pacifist Patriot]

16. LOL! Already done. I sent a follow up email...

As you are aware, Mr. Kenneth Blackwell is both Sec. of State of Ohio and the co-chair for Bush-Cheney 2004/Ohio. The nature of these two positions leads to obvious ethical questions. Mr. Blackwell was indeed taken to task for his actions throughout the election cycle during the testimony and that may well be a source of perceived partisan rancor on the part of the AP reporter.

I also wanted to address your comments regarding clear irregularities that may not have resulted in a change in outcome. The problem with this statement is two-fold. 1) Any voting irregularities are significant as each voter should have the confidence that his or her vote was counted properly whether or not the total results change. 2) We will not know if irregularities may change the outcome if no one bothers to investigate. Small errors add up. Brevard county has 233 precincts. A swing of 5 votes in either direction could very well change the results of a local race. Additionally, whether the problems are deliberate fraud, flawed systems or a combination of both must be determined.

A suit was filed in Ohio today based upon statistical evidence of vote manipulation. I suspect those involved would not be risking their reputations if they did not feel their evidence was both credible and significant.

[ClassWarrior]

19. Awesome. Keep us posted.

NGU.

[Eloriel]

24. Excelent point and here's some info from a Republican

who's a computer secruity expert that's pretty darned compelling to share:

Hack the Vote: http://www.chuckherrin.com/hackthevote.htm
Hack the Vote FAQ: http://www.chuckherrin.com/hackthevoteFAQ.htm

Empathy Training for Compassionate Conservatives: Why the Democrats Are Still Whining About the Election (and Why Maybe We Should Be, Too)
http://www.chuckherrin.com/ConservativeEmpathy.htm

Great letter!!!

[JD Lau]

9. I think it is good that, at least, you have been able to open

a line of communication between yourself and your local paper. If you can get them to follow up by looking at your recommendations, then I'd say your communication is even better.

Thanks for staying vigilant and keeping a clear and objective head yet still presenting your material with force.

[TexasChick]

11. I guess Democracy is not important to these people. I guess it's all a

"partisan" thing when only Dems cry out in anger! Geez!!!

However, the characterization of the event in that article was very different from yours and led us to believe that the Conyers hearing lacked strong news value when compared with the day's other national and world news events competing for space in the newspaper. The AP story characterized the hearing as anything but credible and emphasized its partisan nature, noting that many of the claims being resurrected have already been investigated thoroughly.

[bobbieinok]

46. bold emphasizes prob with papers relying on AP as their sole source

[TexasChick]

50. Huh? n/t

[november3rd]

12. You deserve a medal

For

Leading by Example


We all need to do that kind of patient, persistent lobbying now. I used the DU media blaster yesterday, but maybe the thing to do is hammer away at one editor at a time.

[Kellis]

34. My Sentiments Exactly!!

I have had a similar experience with the AJC and other national media outlets.Keep up the pressure you guys.THIS IS HOW ITS DONE!!!

We can make a difference!!!!

:kick:

[MarkusQ]

66. kick

[texpatriot2004]

13. Great job on your reply. Well said. n/t

[idealista]

14. newspaper "not getting it"

The irregularities add up to an attempt to swing the election to Bush. So, OF COURSE the congressional Republicans are not interested in sanctioning or attending the meeting!

The real NEWS and DRAMA is this concerted attempt on the part of the Republicans. And of course the grass-roots activism without the help of Kerry or the DNC to break the story.

When will the media acknowledge that not all "NEWS" will have the Republican stamp of approval?

[googly]

68. Someone with stature such as Kerry/Edwards/Clinton needs to

get involved ACTIVELY, for the MSM to take notice. From all I have seen so far, there are extremely few people involved for example in the hearing with sufficient stature, except congressman Conyers. But he is
not a nationally known politician.

[Griffy]

18. always the line.. "IT WONT CHANGE THE OUTCOME"

ask anyone who says it.. "how do you know this"... or, "it doesnt matter, getting the right total matters so we KNOW who won!"

[McCamy Taylor]

20. damn, so now Rove owns Associated Press?

[bj2110]

21. Journalism has devolved into decing which AP stories to print? n/t

[Pacifist Patriot]

28. Darlin' it's been that way for many years now.

My husband's family owned a newspaper for six generations. His dad sold it about five years ago because he couldn't stand the laziness anymore. There is no liberal/conservative bias. It's source bias. They print what they're handed.

I'm going to get slammed by true working journalists so I want you to know that I am well aware that some of you still exist. Sadly I believe you are grossly outnumbered.

[Liberty Belle]

22. Did AP hack the vote? Can someone find BBV's old info?

Back around the election time, Bev Harris had a piece on her website speculating how the Associated Press itself could have hacked the vote. According to her info, AP had a direct feed access to the central computers or central tabulating systems on Election Night and the capability to send a reverse message that could change votes.
The story also documented AP executives' strong links to Bush and the GOP. I've searched and searched, but can't find this anywhere. Perhaps it has been scrubbed.

Does anyone have this info stashed someplace, or know where we can find it? You should send it to your newspaper editor ASAP to show why the AP may not be trustworthy on the voting fraud issue.

Also, during my search, I stumbled into Wikipedia and found there is an effort by Republicans to have voting irregularities and vote fraud in the 2004 election removed from the encyclopedia. Apparently this info of Bev's was there at one time, but has been taken out.

I suggest everyone visit Wikipedia and vote to keep in vote fraud and voting irregulators info.

[noclonyofthechimp]

26. I remember this, also. Why would they lie on several details in their

wired description of the hearings. Especially, "Many of the irregularities being resurrected have already been investigated, thoroughly." Something is rotten in fucking Denmark with the AP.

[Liberty Belle]

29. Kick! IS AP COVERING ITS TRACKS FOR HACKING VOTE?

If AP was involved in rigging the election, it would explain their biased coverage to downplay the importance of voting fraud investigations--and would also explain other mainstream media's reluctance to cover the story, since they all rely on AP as a primary source of news.

Does anyone know if it's been confirmed that AP had access to the central computers on election night? I thought I'd read somewhere that this was a fact, not speculation. If anyone can verify, please post here and we should alert the media to what AP is NOT reporting.

[Liberty Belle]

25. Found it! Show them this: AP could have hacked the vote

Lynn Landes' investigation of AP exit polls reporting
Landes' investigation states that the AP is the "sole source of raw vote totals for the major news broadcasters on Election Night" and that they have refused to explain where this information will be sourced, and "refused to confirm or deny that the AP will receive direct feed from voting machines and central vote tabulating computers across the country."

She notes that if so, a remote computer could also access these same machines (the manufacturers already requested they not be connected during some elections, see above), that the manufacturers pride themselves on "accessibility" and that many of the AP executives have Republican ties and as a sole source may not be as non-partisan as is believed. (Source <68> (http://www.ecotalk.org/AP.htm))

Another article on Associated Press <69> (http://onlinejournal.com/evoting/102304Landes/102304landes.html) comments:

"Burl Osborne, chairman of the AP board of directors, is also publisher emeritus of the conservative The Dallas Morning News, a newspaper that endorsed George W. Bush in the last election. Kathleen Carroll, senior vice president and executive editor of AP, was a reporter at The Dallas Morning News before joining AP. Carroll is also on the Associated Press Managing Editors (APME)’s 7-member executive committee. The APME "works in partnership with AP to improve the wire service's performance," according to their website. APME vice president, Deanna Sands, is managing editor of the ultra conservative Omaha World Herald newspaper, whose parent company owns the largest voting machine company in the nation, Election Systems and Software (ES&S)."

[noclonyofthechimp]

27. You rule This is what I remember.

[Oilwellian]

35. Interesting

So Deanna Sands manipulates the news on the vote fraud hearing and is connected to one of the questionable e-voting companies? Sweet.

[Qutzupalotl]

51. Wow! Pacifist Patriot, please read!

[Pacifist Patriot]

53. Got it. I'm waiting to hear back from the editor.

I've sent him two emails since he contacted me. I don't want to bombard him at this point and come across as a pest. I'll give it 24 hours and then shoot this over to him if he doesn't contact me first.

[EFerrari]

54. Great job! n/t

[Scout1071]

67. I'm

fucking stunned by this info.

Gun.....meet smoke.

[Straight Shooter]

30. Beautifully crafted response.

You thank them, you don't upbraid them, you state the facts in summary fashion, and then request in a nonconfrontational manner that they investigate further by watching the hearing.

Very impressive. This deserves two thumbs up, at least!

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[FloridaCrat]

33. The AP is definitely a huge part of the MSM problem

It'll be interesting to see if they respond again.

[EFerrari]

49. Anyone have link to AP article? The AP top editor

is from the Omaha World Herald. As I pointed out on another thread, the OWH owns ES&S.

Does anyone have a link to that article? I'd like to analyze it.

[FloridaCrat]

61. Two links about AP

This was above:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=133119&mesg_id=133339&page=
Lynn Landes' investigation of AP exit polls reporting
Landes' investigation states that the AP is the "sole source of raw vote totals for the major news broadcasters on Election Night" and that they have refused to explain where this information will be sourced, and "refused to confirm or deny that the AP will receive direct feed from voting machines and central vote tabulating computers across the country."

She notes that if so, a remote computer could also access these same machines (the manufacturers already requested they not be connected during some elections, see above), that the manufacturers pride themselves on "accessibility" and that many of the AP executives have Republican ties and as a sole source may not be as non-partisan as is believed. (Source <68> (http://www.ecotalk.org/AP.htm ))

Another article on Associated Press <69> (http://onlinejournal.com/evoting/102304Landes/102304lan... ) comments:

"Burl Osborne, chairman of the AP board of directors, is also publisher emeritus of the conservative The Dallas Morning News, a newspaper that endorsed George W. Bush in the last election. Kathleen Carroll, senior vice president and executive editor of AP, was a reporter at The Dallas Morning News before joining AP. Carroll is also on the Associated Press Managing Editors (APME)’s 7-member executive committee. The APME "works in partnership with AP to improve the wire service's performance," according to their website. APME vice president, Deanna Sands, is managing editor of the ultra conservative Omaha World Herald newspaper, whose parent company owns the largest voting machine company in the nation, Election Systems and Software (ES&S)."

This is the DU member formerly known as mraftery.

[Kota]

36. Your responce was perfect.

[Generator]

37. "It lacked strong news value"

That sentence leaves me speechless.

Scott Peterson and Michael Jackson, some Santa Claus in the mall have more "news value."

Also, I'm beginning to get an IDEA of what it is to be a minority.

Though a white, middle class woman, I get a hint of the pain of being ignored, marginilized, mocked, when you dare to point out you weren't treated equally.

And it's still the same story. We are going backward in time, not forward.If the minority and poor had equal access to voting, Kerry would be president. It's that simple.

The will of the people, "the mandate" was by those with more power, more money, more resources, those that are worthy of "news value".

[Griffy]

38. Its only THE STORY OF THE CENTURY! n/t

[Pacifist Patriot]

40. That's how I feel. That line was like a punch in the stomach.

[FloridaCrat]

45. another point:

would be about whether we can trust the Media to be fair and impartial.

[trudyco]

41. Lots of good responses here -

My suggestion would be to point out that one person in the audience, during open mic, explained how he personally witnessed Fraud and when he went to the FBI with the evidence, they just said "oh, that's for the Ohio SOE" and handed it to Blackwell. Mr. Blackwell is very partisan and there was reasonable suspicion that he could have been in on the Fraud.

This was not the only reported case of the FBI failing to investigate Fraud in this election (then site the others I think there are 4 or 5 - I remember the one where the FBI refused to even take the evidence, wouldn't touch it).

Now the FBI failing to investigate Fraud and handing the evidence to the very person who may have ordered the Fraud is, in my humble opinion, quite a story. Not mere partisan hubbub. Perhaps the newspaper would like to interview these people?

trudyco

[americanwhothinks]

42. thank you! Perfect reply-- tone and content-- a service to us all! n/t

[RaulVB]

44. Great post

"This is not Florida in 2000, where only a few hundred votes made the difference. I'm sure we will pay attention to developments on this story and will likely cover the bipartisan hearings."

Sure is not Florida 2000. Is a BIGGER FRAUD!

[Pooka Fey]

47. Kick for a great post

[intelle]

48. Pacifist Patriot....outstanding!

I am proud to be a member of a community that has members like yourself. You do us proud!!

:headbang:

[ruthg]

52. nice job there, fellow UU. n/t

[The Judged]

55. Why don't we start a publicity campaign of our own?

We should take that letter and review all "partisan" publicity that that newspaper did feel fit to publish, with a concluding question:

Is this balanced Journalism or a propaganda machine?
And we should blast the internet and local communities that are that papers readership with the facts on this very issue.

It amazes me that the media dismisses actual events as not newsworthy, while highly publicizing partisan-derived misinformation and disinformation as being newsworthy, without a public reaction to hold that media outlet accountable.

Lastly, it is also amazing to me how the Republican Revolutionaries hide behind a claims of being "disadvantaged,"unfairly treated by the far left," and deserving of preferential "minority status" in the MSM and in internet forums while they clearly enjoy a majority status in the MSM media and, according to their own ESS tabulations, the voting public.

[jhgatiss]

56. You should have told your newspaper that the forum was a bipartisan forum!

The Democrats and Greens were evidently represented. Where were the Republicans? Absent. As usual.

[Pacifist Patriot]

57. Damn! That is what has been bugging me all day.

In my list of witnesses I had intended to include the words "presidential candidate" and zapped it in my editing. Crap, crap, crap.

[B Calm]

58. Some guy way out in California, I think his name is Scott Peterson

Did you know he was convicted of murdering his wife?

[tll]

59. Haaaaa!

Thank you!

I'd sputter about the embarrassment that passes for broadcast journalism but... maybe Dan Abrams'll be out of a job once this, this Peterson thing wraps up.

[Pacifist Patriot]

60. Who? When did this happen?

[Paligal]

63. Yeah, but Scott Peterson: He's attractive

And attractive= newsworthy!
Paris Hilton: newsworthy!
Tara Reid's boob: Newsworthy!
Brad and Jen: Newsworthy! Newsworthy!

Fraudulent presidency and political hijacking of U.S.A.: boooooring!

[Paligal]

62. Just proof that what "the people" want DOESN'T MATTER

We don't live in a democratic, free society. This newspaper, and all the rest, are a bunch of BSers. If they think a bear that drinks beer is newsworthy on CNN (this was literally the story yesterday, and no news of election fraud on the horizon), then surely the mere POSSIBILITY of election fraud is at least equally newsworthy. It isn't about that, no matter what they say. "Newsworthy" has nothing to do with this issue. THEY decided what is newsworthy, not their audience. I guarantee that if they asked their readers, "Would you rather read a story about how the 2004 presidentail election was possibly hacked and stolen, or read a story about Hardee's 'Megaburger'(Yahoo News front page story day before yesterday)", I really think people would be curious to know more about how Bush might have stolen the election. But they won't give people that choice, because it's not about "newsworthy". It's a power struggle. The media think people should shut their mouths and just mindlessly consume whatever crap they are fed by the powers that be, and that's that. Any challenge to that will just make them dig their heels in deeper. I will never forget Rumsfeld's response to that soldier who expressed outrage and a demand for armor to protect themselves: "Well, you go to war with the army we have, not the army you want to have." Translation: "Shut your mouth and suck it up, because we don't care what you want. We are running the show, and we won't change our ways." Same with the media, same with our "representatives", same with this whole damn faux "democracy" we live in.

[peacetalksforall]

64. Wjat is that statement about Pennsy;vania for Kerry?

Are rethieves saying that there was vote fraud in favor of Kerry in some states? Haven't heard this. If they have - then some work needs to be done in advance, because this will be their obfuscation strategy. Deflect and counter-charge. A natural for them.

[BeFree]

70. Interesting point, higher class

The reporter says he knows of funny business in Pennsylvannia, well, where is it in the news? Did he thoroughly investigate that story line before making such a comment?

What gets me is that the 'free press' has a ready answer to this simple question: Is monkeying around with our vote worthy of investigating?

[JunkYardDogg]

65. So that means the software and the servers were thoroughly investigated???

I sure must have missed that one.
We better tell Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (Texas) because she called for the Voting Equipment to be impounded and investigated and the
servers to be backtraced. So did many of the others. Attorney Arnebeck said they were going to file extensive discovery motions to do this. Maybe your toilet, whups, newspaper should give them the extensive investigation report on these things and save everybody
a lot of work. After all, we sure don't want it on our conscience
knowing that we traumatized the poor voting equipment by conducting
intrusive searches on their oh so private innards. After all, that is what the Patriot Act is for, but to do it to us.
Extensive Investigation huh? Ask them where their ass is