My Open Questions to Journalists - Where Are You?

[AmyCrat]

My Open Questions to Journalists

While a very select few of you are out there doing the hard work to cover this story, the vast majority of the main-stream media has either been dismissive or absent. With so many allegations, theories, statistics and information popping up daily (and sometimes hourly) about this topic, all I can say is where are you?

When did our media in the United States become an echo chamber of emptiness? Channel 1 says there isn't any fraud and Democrats just don't get it. Channel 2, 3 and 4 follow suit and repeat the same sentiment. Channel 5 calls us "conspiracy theorists" so Channel 2, 3 and 7 decide that's what they will report too.

Meanwhile, no one does any research to see if these stories pan out. Independent research. Their OWN research. There are several stories that alone raise eyebrows, let alone how they are perceived when you consider them together.

What about those added votes to the Bush total in Ohio. About 4,000 in a county with only 600 voters. The system doesn't work "because the glitch was caught". The system deserves investigation to make sure ALL glitches get caught. (source: http://bellaciao.org/en/article.php3?id_article=4203) If only 1% of all precincts has similar errors (in favor of Bush), with 175,000 precincts across the US (according to Forbes.com), that would amount to a 7 million votes lost for Kerry (it's very simple math).

Why did election officials in Warren County say the FBI told them they were a 10 (on a scale of 1 to 10) for threat of a terrorist attack on Election Day? Why are the FBI saying they were not aware of any increased threat in Warren County? (source: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041112/EDIT01/411120370/1020/EDIT)

How did they lose 4,500 votes in North Carolina? 12,000 votes misplaced? (source: http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/news/local/10170232.htm)

Why has the BBC turned up evidence of voter suppression lists in Ohio, in minority neighborhoods? (source: http://www.gregpalast.com/detail.cfm?artid=393&row=0)

Why, in White Plains NY, were 22 voting machines missing their seals, or had seals that were damaged? Why did these machines show voting discrepancies under scrutiny, to the point it's quite possible the results will be overturned? (source: http://www.wnbc.com/politics/3902820/detail.html)

Why are several extremely knowledgeable and reputable computer scientists so alarmed by the code behind some of the infamous electronic voting machines that have been adopted throughout the country? One of the biggest companies distributing this technology, Diebold, settled in a lawsuit that the state of California brought against them (source: http://www.internetweek.com/breakingNews/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=52601461). A group of computer scientists warned against using these systems without a paper trail (source: http://news.com.com/Computer+scientists+slam+e-voting+machines/2110-1028_3-5384946.html?part=rss&tag=5384946&subj=news.1028.20) Why is it so hard for YOU to believe (or investigate that) these systems are either faulty or corrupt?

Why did Republicans fight so hard in Florida (against U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler) to insist on no "paper-trail" being required for a recount? What is the downside of a recount if you are sure you've won? ATM machines can print a receipt, why is it such a big deal for e-voting machines to do it? (source: http://www.sptimes.com/2004/10/16/State/Hood_agrees_to_manual.shtml)

There are many more examples I could give. At the very least you should view the video at www.Votergate.tv

This is a matter of American Democracy. We from the Blogosphere (as you like to call it) are as diverse as the American people. Many of us college graduates, professionals, working people, unemployed, white-collar, blue-collar, black and white. Some of us may wear tin-foil hats, but most of us don't, and we're out here doing the research trying to make sense of it all.

Why isn't the media doing the same thing? When we are all supposed to enjoy benefits from the first Amendment, you most of all, where are you backing up the protection of OUR rights? The people.

According to your own polls, and a possible (I said possible) faulty election system, it's still only 1/2 the nation that voted for George W. Bush. The other 1/2 of us are left to wonder, when will you report ALL the news, and not just the talking points of the day?

Thank you for your time.
I look forward to a truly free press for the people again some day.

ps. I commend those of you, like Keith Olbermann, who are out there making a difference and giving us ALL a lot to think about.

Amy
A Concerned Citizen

[qazplm]

1. no offense

but it does no good to post this here and not email it to relevant media outlets or else post it somewhere where you arent preaching to the choir.

[AmyCrat]

2. who says I didn't e-mail it ;)

[Matariki]

18. Well said

Hope you emailed that to *a lot* of press outlets, they need to hear THAT!

[Hobbes199]

3. What she said!

I guess we're the free press now...

[Helga Scow Stern]

4. Except plenty of journalists are cruising here these days...

and even,

HI KARL! :hi:

AmyCrat! This is an excellent letter, by the way! I have been thinking about writing every complicit pundit and journalist, to remind them that they are the real conspiracy theorists--covering up felony crimes is conspiring to commit a crime, isn't it? Or is it called defrauding the American people?

Perhaps I'll leave them a little note here:

To those journalists who do not report the truth:

If you are one of those conspiracy theorists speading around the easily seen through talking points, I would show some integrity before it is too late. Forgiveness is at hand if you tell the truth, although, actually I am not sure. How many people have died in Iraq? How many are being slaughtered now in this stolen election's get away car called Fallujah? Your lying is murderous--how can you sleep?

You think people were mad before they voted, after they were told to Get Out the Vote, their hearts full of love for their country for the first time ever, to save it from the evil plague that had overcome it--then you all "conspired" to take that from them. When they find out, they will not stop until justice is done. (Have you seen Mosh?)

For the one thing Karl, the AntiPrez, TeamStealAmerica and their minions of darkness (you conspiring pundits, talk show hosts, and journalists)have done for the country is to arouse patriotism in a way it hasn't been felt since 1776. I am talking about the immense sentiment that is welling up to throw off these chains of slavery called Bush-Cheney 2000 and 2004 and all that it stands for.

There will be no stopping this backlash. You can run, but the whole world is watching, so where will you hide? Repent now, while there is still time.

Love,
63 Million-and-counting True Patriots

[illuminaughty]

5. I have had quite a few human responses

to my e-mails. Several are very interested in where this is coming from. This was a very nice person in Ohio who I invited to the forum after several e-mail exchanges. These guys have been on this from the beginning.

From an Ohio radio station:

Thanks for your response. We received a number of e-mails to our news address, many of which were far more stridently worded than yours, criticizing a perceived lack of coverage of the election.

While we are an NPR affiliate, and occasionally contribute material to NPR, we are a separate station. Altho’ we have only a three person news shop, we were part of the groundswell of Ohio stations who reported on Secretary of State Ken Blackwell’s moves prior to the election. That extensive coverage led to last minute reversals of several policies that could have effectively disenfranchised or intimated countless thousands of Ohio voters. As part of the Ohio Public Radio network, we were among those who effectively challenged a last minute attempt to bar the media from polling places. We reported on the machine irregularities in Gahanna, and talked to the Democratic observer who sat in on the ballot counting in Warren County.

I don’t mean to imply that we believe we’ve discharged our civic duty, and we certainly will keep addressing instances of fraud or misrepresentation. But I think I was just a little miffed to be getting so many complaints from people who were apparently unaware of what stories had aired on WCBE.

I appreciate the link to “Democraticunderground.com”. I’m looking forward to exploring the website tonight. I am understandably a little wary of websites, but leads come from all sorts of places and I appreciate you broadening my sources.


Thanks again for taking the time to contact us, and for taking a great deal of personal time to address the issue of voting fraud and irregularities in your own community. That’s always time well spent

[althecat]

6. Great stuff AmyCrat.... I've just read that NYT article

"A preliminary study produced by the Voting Technology Project, a cooperative effort between the California Institute of Technology and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, came to a similar conclusion. Its study found "no particular patterns" relating to voting systems and the final results of the election.

"The 'facts' that are being circulated on the Internet," the study concluded, "appear to be selectively chosen to make the point."

Whether that will ever convince everyone is an open question. "

**********

This comes from the bottom of page 2 of this
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/12/politics/12theory.html?ex=1257915600&en=bb9e56d825b46083&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland

Which it seems appeared on the Front Page which is kinda cool.

First of all though they don't even mention Democratic Underground which is a bit of a let up.

More importantly though... if they are going to quote the Caltech report on this then they should be made to look at the Freeman report.

Since you are so fired up.. why not write to the NYT ombudsman - not sure of his address - and ask if they will address this matter.

[savetheuniverse]

7. thanks for that, this is a good start....

but, fuckem if they can't take a "joke" the joke is on them--Olbermann is the first Woodward/Bernstein to come out of the 21st century. I'll be keeping all the dismissive responses I've gotten from my attempts to alert the press, and the simple non response.

Again, I think it's better to be non-alarmist (that fuels the "internet whacko" thing)

Here's my story and I'm sticking to it: we are simply calling for an investigation because there is enough evidence to suggest that widespread irregularities have occurred in the election.

[leftchick]

8. Excellent AmyCrat!!

I sure hope you have media blasted this! :)

[rockedthevoteinMA]

11. not meant as a defense

I am a student of journalism, specifically because the way things have been so glossed over in this country - we need REAL journalists! But I was told in my journalism 101 class that journalists sometimes hold back on stories till they can prove without a reasonable doubt that stuff is true. I don't know if that's the case. I have heard many people post on here that there is a media blackout, that the NYT's has people on it, etc. I am very hopeful that Donna Britt is looking into this. She seems to have that fire that is necessary too, to pursue something like this. Carl Bernsteins post on http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000718762
mentions how journalists are the biggest threat to our country. I have hope. Maybe I'm crazy. I heard on CSPAN recently an interview with the head of the USA who has put into effect a new rule - they must triple check everything and NO anonymous sources. Just a thought.

[fasttense]

9. CAN I USE YOUR LETTER?

I've been e-mailing media, congress, GAO since 5 November. Do you mind if I use your letter with a few minor changes to e-mail some more people?

[rodeodance]

10. can I use your letter also please?

[AmyCrat]

13. Feel free - just...

don't edit it too much so it loses the point, points to evidence that seems sketchy at best, or uses fowl language (only so it's taken seriously)

I'm from NY, curse is my middle name :P~

[fasttense]

15. THANKS

No, I was just going to add my name, change a preposition and a comma or two. I don't usually swear though I was a sailor for 20 years. My kids object to their Mom swearing like a sailor.

[Triana]

12. They may have their orders...

...to ignore the story or poo-poo it. Remember WHO owns them. They cannot be counted on to report any real news or facts. They're a mouthpiece for The Bu$h Admin and will likely report what they're told and little else.

[Kansas Wyatt]

14. Welcome to....

The Banana Republic of America, formerly known as the United States of America.

[restorefreedom]

16. good stuff, AmyCrat

Out of all the things that went wrong, the one that really gets me is the fake terror threat.

Why is no one in OH getting arrested for that?

Oh, yeah......

the foxes are in charge of the chickens... I forgot...

[The Zanti Regent]

17. Why waste your time? American Journalism is dead.

They are nothing but full time whores.

[Nordic]

19. oh there's a nice attitude

Why don't you go to losersunderground.com and post there?

[McCamy Taylor]

20. not true, many secretly want a pulitizer prize

Sure some of them are content to be pretty faces on TV, but a lot fo journalists want to be Woodward and Berstein. Unless they screen all journalism school applicants for ambition and exclude those who have that trait, there will always be journalists (more than) willing to draw negative attention or even danger to themselves. Why do you think so many journalists go to war?

[AmyCrat]

21. Because I care. Because I think it's wrong the way it is now...

and that's good enough reason to try to change things.