THE BRAD BLOG: "Lawsuit Filed Against AZ Sec. of = State to Halt Use, Purchase of Diebold, Sequoia Touch-Screen Systems in = State!"

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Blogged by Brad on 5/10/2006 @ = 3:26pm=20 PT...

Lawsuit Filed Against AZ Sec. of State = to Halt=20 Use, Purchase of Diebold, Sequoia Touch-Screen Systems in = State!

Motion Demands Preliminary = Injunction, Alleges=20 E-Machines Are Not Secure, Not Fully Accessible to Disabled = Voters

Suit is Latest in Growing Line of = Similar=20 Actions Being Taken Around the Country, SoS Brewer Continues to = Duck=20 Public Discussion of Issue or Support the Troops

Motion Demands Preliminary = Injunction, Alleges=20 E-Machines Are Not Secure, Not Fully Accessible to Disabled = Voters

Suit is Latest in Growing Line of = Similar=20 Actions Being Taken Around the Country, SoS Brewer Continues to = Duck=20 Public Discussion of Issue or Support the Troops

John = Gideon=20 contributed to this report. A group of Arizona voters have filed a = Motion=20 for Preliminary Injunction against Sec. of State Jan Brewer to = halt the=20 purchase of electronic...=20

John Gideon contributed to this report.

A group = of=20 Arizona voters have filed a Motion for Preliminary Injunction = against Sec.=20 of State Jan Brewer to halt the purchase of electronic = touch-screen voting=20 systems in the state made by both Diebold, Inc. and Sequoia Voting = Systems.

The voters announced today that the motion was = being filed=20 in time to stop the use of the Diebold TSx and Sequoia Edge II = systems in=20 the state's upcoming 2006 elections, due to security, = verifiability, and=20 disability access problems with these systems.

In addition = to the=20 litany of security issues concerning Diebold's TSx, details from = the most=20 severe one to date were just = revealed=20 publicly last Friday with more=20 chilling details filed in the Oakland Tribune by Ian = Hoffman=20 today, the suit also contends the machines, being purchased and=20 implemented in many Arizona counties for the first time this year, = are=20 accessible only for a small number of voters with=20 disabilities.

Indeed, on Monday, Diebold issued a press=20 release about new disabled-accessible features that the = company is now=20 making available for their line of touch-screen voting machines. = The press=20 release can be seen as a tacit agreement, of sorts, that those = systems had=20 not been previously accessible to all disabled voters as required = by the=20 federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA)=85

In a press=20 release issued this morning by VoterAction.org, a = non-partisan=20 legal advocacy group who has previously helped file similar suits = in both=20 New = Mexico=20 (against Sequoia machines) and California=20 (against Diebold machines). The action in New Mexico eventually = led to a new = law banning=20 Sequoia's touch-screen systems in the state, and so far, 7 of = the 18=20 counties named in the California suit have announced they will abandon=20 Diebold's touch-screens and use paper ballots instead this=20 year.

One of the disabled plaintiff's in the suit is quoted = in=20 today's press release discussing the problem with = disabled-accessibility=20 of the Diebold and Sequoia systems:

"Diebold and Sequoia electronic voting systems = do not=20 adequately accommodate the needs of voters with a range of = mobility,=20 dexterity and multiple disabilities, such as my own. All voters = have the=20 right to a meaningful balloting experience, but no one should have = to=20 sacrifice security in the process. Electronic systems are neither = secure=20 nor verifiable, and our democratic process is too precious to = jeopardize=20 in this way."

A telephonic press conference was held = this=20 morning. The attorneys, plaintiffs and expert witnesses were all = on the=20 call to answer questions from the media. The entirety of the media = in=20 attendance was David Wagner from the Arizona Republic and = John=20 Gideon representing The BRAD = BLOG.=20 Apparently the integrity of our electoral system is not of great=20 importance to most of the mainstream corporate media.

In = response=20 to questions about the security vulnerabilities of the Diebold and = Sequoia=20 Direct Recording Electronic (DRE, touch-screen) voting machines, = computer=20 science professor Doug Jones, of the University of Iowa, told both = of the=20 media representatives in attendance that the federal ITAs = (Independent=20 Testing Authorities) have been taken in by an amateurish veneer of = security software because they do not understand software = security. The=20 ITA consists of three test labs that are supposed to inspect, = test, and=20 certify voting systems as being accurate and secure. However, they = are=20 paid for by the electronic voting machine vendors themselves, and=20 essentially only look at what the vendors ask them. And little = more. Their=20 failure to adequately test these machines for security issues and = for=20 compliance with federal Voting System Standards has been = devastating=20 around the country.

When asked if Arizona can meet the HAVA = mandates for disabled-accessibility in this year's Arizona primary = and=20 general election, Lowell Finley of VoterAction reported that the = counties=20 affected (13 of 15 counties) can use accessible AutoMark voting = machines=20 or other voting devices that allow voters to mark paper ballots. = But that=20 the machines in question, from Diebold and Sequoia, do not fit = that=20 bill.

In an AP=20 article about today's lawsuit, without any information from = the=20 tele-conference, AZ Secretary of State Jan Brewer is quoted as = saying, "I=20 cannot understand for the life of me why they would want to = prohibit the=20 disabled from voting privately and independently like you and I. = Every=20 piece of equipment that we have has a paper trail."

Of = course=20 Brewer is seemingly missing the point. And apparently purposely = hoping to=20 spin the lawsuit into something that it clearly is not. She also = proves=20 that she is very confused because accessibility for voters with=20 disabilities has little to do with a paper trail.

This is = not the=20 first time that Brewer, and the top Election Officials in her = office have=20 been "confused" about the facts of the very voting systems they = are now=20 forcing on the citizens of Arizona. See this = previous=20 story in which Brewer and the AZ state Election Director Joe=20 Kanefield, refused to speak with The=20 BRAD BLOG's Brad Friedman in a live radio interview, and = otherwise=20 offered a host of complete misinformation to AZ voters on a number = of=20 issues, live and on the air.

Friedman has since challenged = Brewer=20 to a public debate on the topic to benefit Homes for our Troops, a = charity=20 who constructs homes for the most severely disabled Iraq and = Afghanistan=20 War veterans. Brewer has yet to reply to Friedman's = offer.

We=20 cannot understand for the life of us why she would want to hurt = the most=20 severely disabled of our American troops by refusing to help raise = thousands of dollars for them.

Please=20 help us to continue this important work. It cannot be done without = your=20 support! Please DONATE ONLINE TO = BRAD=20 BLOG. You can also snail mail to: Brad = Friedman,=20 7095 Hollywood Blvd., #594 Los Angeles, CA 90028. Or create = a=20 monthly subscription for any amount you like by using the blue = form on=20 the right! THANK YOU! - BF

"Brad Speaking on Election Reform = Tonight in=20 Culver City, Web Site Hacked!" NEXT = =BB

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=AB PREVIOUS=20 "ANN COULTER VOTER FRAUD: A First! Coulter Goes Silent! May Be = Thrown=20 Off Voter Rolls!"

READER COMMENTS ON
"Lawsuit = Filed Against=20 AZ Sec. of State to Halt Use, Purchase of Diebold, Sequoia = Touch-Screen=20 Systems in State!"
(22 comments so=20 far...)

COMMENT #1 [link]
= ...Dredd said on=20 5/10/2006 @ 4:15pm PT...

I am constantly concerned, when I ask "what = is wrong=20 with this picture", and I try to focus, first, on the big = picture, and=20 the big picture is "destabilization of democracy".

I = mean, hell,=20 if there was a conspiracy to destabilize the American democracy, = why not=20 screw up the election process so that the people's will would be = thwarted?

I have heard it expressed by bloggers, whether = troll or=20 not I can't remember, that Americans are f**ked up anyway, and = are just=20 interested in comfort and their vote is not much help = anyway.

I=20 tend to defend the American people, and criticize or condemn the = government here that claims to represent the Americans. =

I do not=20 blame Americans for what the government does, especially when = that=20 government has nothing but contempt for the polls (a.k.a. what = the=20 people think).

But I know that if some have contempt for = the=20 American democracy, and want to destroy it, the easiest way I = can see is=20 to hit only three entities.

There are millions of = entities in the=20 United States ... schools, state governments, colleges, = airports,=20 seaports, cities, towns, bridges, and on and on.

But if I = were to=20 destroy any one of the above, I would not destroy all of = them.

To=20 do that, I would destroy the vote of the people. I would have to = destroy=20 thousands of counties if I did it on a county by county basis=20 ...

But I could destroy all by destroying something in = each of=20 three voting companies that supply all of those thousands of=20 counties.

I could destroy the sanctity of the vote. Which = three=20 entities control: Diebold, ES&S, and Sequoia.

Their = IT=20 (Information Technology) managers manage computer and software=20 production. If I can control only these three people, I control = the=20 votes of all Americans. Something is wrong with that=20 picture.

Think about that when you think 'train wreck', = end of=20 American democracy, dictatorship, and put it in your own=20 terms.

Because you can't just protect only your = democracy, you=20 can only protect our democracy because it is not about you ... = or me ...=20 it is about US.

You are county oriented in your vote in = term of=20 what you see when you go to your precinct.

But three = people=20 control what you see when you go to your precinct ... in terms = of=20 election machines.

COMMENT #2 [link]
= ...V. Kurt Bellman said = on=20 5/10/2006 @ 5:38pm PT...

DREDD,

Did you intend to give a = completely free=20 pass to AVS and Hart Intercivic?

I DO understand your = point,=20 though. Diebold, ES&S, and Sequoia are the bigger players, = by=20 far.

That makes the other two less powerful. It doesn't, = however,=20 make their products fundamentally any better, does = it?

They all=20 seem pretty "me too" to me.

COMMENT #3 [link]
= ...Dredd said on=20 5/10/2006 @ 7:22pm PT...

V Kurt Bellman #2

Good=20 question.

No, I intended to press the point that the = bulls eye is=20 very small, compared to the overall target.

Thanks for = adding=20 that insight ...

We are all in this together ... and lets = all=20 work to fix it and get back to democracy (implementing the will = of the=20 people, not the will of the "government").

Excuse me for = some of=20 my typos or lack of structure in thought ...

... as we = speak my=20 cat is having kittens at my feet, and my feet have some blood on = them=20 ... I rescued her from living on the street ... and she is fond = of me=20 ... more fond than I would like ... nevertheless I am with her = in her=20 hour of need ... one was just born ... wow ... how cute they are = when=20 they first breathe air ... like my daughter and son who were = also borne=20 at home ... and who gasped for air ... like all of us should be = able to=20 so do without impairment, without fear, without feeling alone = ...=20 knowing the rest of the people of earth are there for them ... = not=20 against them ...

anyway V ... I digress ... but I am with = you in=20 your effort to protect the jewels of freedom ... and I expect = (yea=20 demand! that) you to perform admirably!

COMMENT #4 [link]
= ...Harry J.=20 Conrow said on 5/11/2006 @ 7:47am PT...

DREDD\Everyone Else:

I need your help! =

Facts:

* I am a resident of New Jersey.

* = Sequoia=20 electronic voting touch screen systems will be installed between = now and=20 November 4 in precincts and districts throughout our = state.

* Up=20 to and including our last election we have used the old lever = voting=20 machines exclusively.

* For the past few weeks I have = been=20 reading about the string of travesties created by these horrible = machines going on throughout the country.

*I have called = my=20 congressmans' offices but can never get them on the phone. At = best I get=20 a Congressional Aide who tells me to send an email about my = concerns=20 (Their idea of email is using a webform as a contact). I did = this and=20 got no response. More specifically, when I called my = Representative's=20 office back his Aide told me that I should wait for an answer by = way of=20 postal mail. He claimed that they are not legally permitted to = respond=20 by way of email. However, in the past I have raised concerns to = my State=20 Senators and they did, at times, respond by email. Also, I have = never=20 received any correspondence through the postal system to date = neither by=20 my Senators nor Representative. Am I getting the shaft? Why can = Senators=20 respond to voter concerns by email but Representatives claim = they can't?=20 Am I being remiss?

* In the meantime, no one here in New = Jersey=20 has a clue about the voting trauma we are in for. As far as our=20 communities are concerned its just another election. What's = worse is=20 that the voting debacle hasn't been mentioned at all on TV, = radio or in=20 any of our local or state newspapers.

Question:

In = light=20 of these circumstances, please tell me how do I\we make the = voters of=20 New Jersey aware of, and inform them of, the devastating facts=20 surrounding our upcoming elections well before election = day?

The=20 internet is only a partial answer since there are still millions = of=20 people who either don't have a computer or don't use the = internet even=20 if they own a PC. This is particularly true of our senior = citizens. You=20 would be surprised as to the number of people who have never = even used a=20 computer let alone how to operate one.

I am wide open for = any=20 thoughts, ideas, experiences, answers, etc., you may have in = this=20 regard. If we know that the train is going to crash at the end = of the=20 line (Nov. 4), we desperately are in need of preventative and = proactive=20 measures to try to at least lessen our casualties. =

COMMENT #5 [link]
= ...Harry J.=20 Conrow said on 5/11/2006 @ 7:54am PT...

DREDD,

By the way, congratulations on = the birth=20 of your new baby kittens. I'm sure they are just adorable.=20

COMMENT #6 [link]
= ...V. Kurt Bellman said = on=20 5/11/2006 @ 8:54am PT...

Mr. Conrow,

Who is your Congressman? = If you live=20 in Rush Holt's district, I can assure you, he knows all about=20 this.

Do you know what variety of Sequoia you have in = your=20 county? If it is the older bigger Advantage machine, you have a = better=20 machine than if you have the Sequoia Edge. I said "better", not=20 "good".

Your county should not be using Sequoia's = tabulation=20 software to accumulate results. It has been proven by Dr. = Michael=20 Shamos, when he examined it for Pennsylvania, that the results = database=20 can be hacked from Microsoft Access, and the vote totals can be=20 changed.

At the VERY minimum, results from individual = voting=20 machines should be tabulated outside of the Election Management = software=20 manually or using Excel or some such.

It MIGHT be worse = than=20 that. More will be learned soon. Hang in there. =

COMMENT #7 [link]
= ...Harry J.=20 Conrow said on 5/11/2006 @ 9:45am PT...

V. Kurt Bellman (# 6).

My = Representative is:=20 Robert Andrews (District # 16)
My Senators are: Frank R. = Lautenberg=20 and Robert Menendez.

Sequioa Edge or Advantage Machine: = My=20 Representative's Office is checking on that. They will get back = to me=20 (low and behold - by email!).

Sequoia's tabulation = software to=20 accumulate results will be coming with the machines. But whether = or not=20 our election officials plans to use this software is = unclear.

I=20 appreciate your help and please keep me updated.

Thanks.=20

COMMENT #8 [link]
= ...big = dan said=20 on 5/11/2006 @ 10:39am PT...

New Security=20 Glitch Found In DIEBOLD Systems

COMMENT #9 [link]
= ...big = dan said=20 on 5/11/2006 @ 10:58am PT...

Harry J. Conrow: Don't forget to visit and = contact Bev=20 Harris of www.blackboxvoting.org , too!!!

COMMENT #10 [link]
...Harry J.=20 Conrow said on 5/11/2006 @ 11:14am PT...

V. Kurt Bellman (# 6).

I spoke to our=20 Superintendent Board Of Elections Official. His name is = Ray.

He=20 told me that New Jersey will be using Sequioa Advantage = Machines. They=20 started using them in our School Board Of Elections Election = held a=20 couple of months ago. He claimed that there were only minor=20 problems.

Sequoia's tabulation software to accumulate = results=20 will be coming with the machines. They plan to use the bundled = software=20 and use the printouts that are generated by the machines = themselves. He=20 further said that they would do manual counts only if the = machines fail.=20 In other words, they would not be working outside of the = Election=20 Management Software. Wouldn't that be too late? Isn't that = putting the=20 cart before the horse?

Ray also said that he does not = know Dr.=20 Shamos. Too, he asserted that he knows nothing about what Dr. = Shamos has=20 proven in Pennsylvania. Moreover, he denied that the results = database=20 can be hacked from Microsoft Access and that the votes totals, = he said,=20 cannot be changed.

It sounds like more voting corruption = to=20 me.

What next? What do I\we do now?

On another = note, Ray=20 claimed that the Sequioa machines were massed produced in New = York, not=20 China. He further claimed that the mahines from Diebold and = ES&S=20 were also mass produced in New York, not Russia. Is he telling = the=20 truth? Or is this just another fabrication?

Finally, Ray = had no=20 comment when I told him one of these machines was known to = explode like=20 an M80. However, he admitted that these machines do overheat = very easily=20 and sometimes catch fire. He claimed that the fires are self = contained.=20 It's scary what we voters in New Jersey have to look forward to. =

COMMENT #11 [link]
...V. Kurt Bellman said = on=20 5/11/2006 @ 5:47pm PT...

Mr. Conrow,

I do understand that Dr. = Shamos does=20 NOT do state certifications for New Jersey. May I suggest that = it is=20 their loss?

"Ray" should at least know of Dr.Shamos' = work. While=20 he does like DRE's, he is aware of their shortcomings. Dr. = Shamos, in=20 his work for Pennsylvania, has certified successfully numerous = DRE=20 systems, including some very controversial ones. He has also = allowed the=20 Sequoia Advantage voting machines themselves to pass=20 certification.

But Dr. Shamos (Are you SURE Ray said he = didn't=20 know him? Wow!) has refused to certify Sequoia Advantage's = tabulation=20 software for use in Pennsylvania because it is too unstable. = During Dr.=20 Shamos' examination, he attempted to prove to an observer how = the=20 results database could not be changed from outside the Election=20 Management System, and WHAM, he found exactly the opposite, that = it=20 could!

The one county in Pennsylvania that uses the = Advantage,=20 Montgomery Co., will be using the Advantages, but not the = tabulation=20 software, and will be assembling election results mannually or = in a=20 speadsheet, from each machine's paper tape. There is no excuse = for New=20 Jersey's failure to recognize this shortcoming, but as long as = they=20 crosscheck using each machine's tape, they may be avoiding a=20 problem.

I would hesitate to suggest malice. Ray may just = be=20 ignorant of what is going on over here on the other side of the=20 Delaware.

I cannot address the site of manufacture. I = simply do=20 not know. To the best of my knowledge though, the Advantages are = made=20 domestically. I'm sure components come from all over.=20

COMMENT #12 [link]
...V. Kurt Bellman said = on=20 5/11/2006 @ 5:52pm PT...

Mr. Conrow:

Let me break it down like = this for=20 you:

If Dr. Michael Ian Shamos, one of the nation's most = ardent=20 supporters of DRE voting, refuses to certify Sequoia Advantage's = tabulation software because it's too insecure, what does that = tell you?=20

COMMENT #13 [link]
...V. Kurt Bellman = said on=20 5/11/2006 @ 6:02pm PT...

Mr. Conrow,

For your own edification = here is a=20 Philadelphia Inquirer article about the Sequoia issue. Is = this MSM=20 enough for everybody?

COMMENT #14 [link]
...Larry Bergan said = on=20 5/12/2006 @ 12:56am PT...

Harry J. Conrow #4

On your question as = to why=20 there is no public information about voting machine problems = that may=20 cause the wrong person to be placed in office.

The media = and the=20 voting officials nationwide have decided to ignore any negative = talk=20 involving the issue of the voting machines. They covered it = SCANTLY a=20 couple of years ago, but seem to think it will cause more = problems then=20 it solves to alert people to problems!

Or, they have = been told=20 to BLACK OUT any mention of problems. This includes media = outlets,=20 politicians, and voting officials. There are only a handful of = officials=20 who have tried to ensure a fair and open election. They are = being=20 harrased and threatened!

Don't bother calling your local = news=20 organizations, because the best you'll be able to do is talk to = a low=20 level reporter who may be completely simpathetic to your cause, = and=20 maybe even pass on your information, but nothing will = happen!

If=20 you want to get any information to the people in your district, = you will=20 need to go door-to-door or stand on a street corner with a sign = or=20 pamphlet!

COMMENT #15 [link]
...Harry J.=20 Conrow said on 5/14/2006 @ 12:07pm PT...

V. Kurt Bellman (#s 11-13)

Mr. = Bellman, I was=20 mistaken. Phyllis Pearl is New Jersey=92s Superintendent of = Elections, not=20 Ray. Ray is the Director of Elections. I was unable to speak to = either=20 of them on Friday because they were in meetings all day. = However, I=20 spoke to Tom Castellano, Administrator of Elections, on Friday. = He told=20 me that all Sequoia Advantages and their tabulation software is=20 certified by employees of Sequoia. Is it legal for the vendor to = supply=20 the machines, certify the machines, certify and pass the memory = cards,=20 and also certify the tabulation software? Isn=92t this a = conflict of=20 interest? Is there anything that can be done about this? Please = respond=20 to these questions.

Yes, not having Dr. Michael Ian = Shamos doing=20 our state certifications is catastrophic to the voters of New = Jersey. I=20 don=92t know yet whether or not Phyllis has ever heard of Dr. = Shamos. I=20 will ask her on Monday along with other relevant questions = including the=20 issue of instability in the tabulation software and = crosschecking using=20 machine=92s tape. I will keep you posted.

In the = meantime, Tom said=20 that he didn=92t know anything about the tabulation software = being=20 unstable.

Thank you for helping me with this. Also, = thanks for=20 the Philadelphia Inquirer article, =93Voting software vulnerable = to=20 hackers.=94 It was informative.

COMMENT #16 [link]
...Harry J. Conrow said = on=20 5/14/2006 @ 12:10pm PT...

V. Kurt Bellman (#s 11-13)

Mr. = Bellman, I was=20 mistaken. Phyllis Pearl is New Jersey=92s Superintendent of = Elections, not=20 Ray. Ray is the Director of Elections. I was unable to speak to = either=20 of them on Friday because they were in meetings all day. = However, I=20 spoke to Tom Castellano, Administrator of Elections, on Friday. = He told=20 me that all Sequoia Advantages and their tabulation software is=20 certified by employees of Sequoia. Is it legal for the vendor to = supply=20 the machines, certify the machines, certify and pass the memory = cards,=20 and also certify the tabulation software? Isn=92t this a = conflict of=20 interest? Is there anything that can be done about this? Please = respond=20 to these questions.

Yes, not having Dr. Michael Ian = Shamos doing=20 our state certifications is catastrophic to the voters of New = Jersey. I=20 don=92t know yet whether or not Phyllis has ever heard of Dr. = Shamos. I=20 will ask her on Monday along with other relevant questions = including the=20 issue of instability in the tabulation software and = crosschecking using=20 machine=92s tape. I will keep you posted.

In the = meantime, Tom said=20 that he didn=92t know anything about the tabulation software = being=20 unstable.

Thank you for helping me with this. Also, = thanks for=20 the Philadelphia Inquirer article, =93Voting software vulnerable = to=20 hackers.=94 It was informative.

COMMENT #17 [link]
...Harry J. Conrow said = on=20 5/14/2006 @ 12:18pm PT...

V. Kurt Bellman (#s 11-13)

Mr. = Bellman, I was=20 mistaken. Phyllis Pearl is New Jersey=92s Superintendent of = Elections, not=20 Ray. Ray is the Director of Elections. I was unable to speak to = either=20 of them on Friday because they were in meetings all day. = However, I=20 spoke to Tom Castellano, Administrator of Elections, on Friday. = He told=20 me that all Sequoia Advantages and their tabulation software is=20 certified by employees of Sequoia. Is it legal for the vendor to = supply=20 the machines, certify the machines, certify and pass the memory = cards,=20 and also certify the tabulation software? Isn=92t this a = conflict of=20 interest? Is there anything that can be done about this? Please = respond=20 to these questions.

Yes, not having Dr. Michael Ian = Shamos doing=20 our state certifications is catastrophic to the voters of New = Jersey. I=20 don=92t know yet whether or not Phyllis has ever heard of Dr. = Shamos. I=20 will ask her on Monday along with other relevant questions = including the=20 issue of instability in the tabulation software and = crosschecking using=20 machine=92s tape. I will keep you posted.

In the = meantime, Tom said=20 that he didn=92t know anything about the tabulation software = being=20 unstable.

Thank you for helping me with this. Also, = thanks for=20 the Philadelphia Inquirer article, =93Voting software vulnerable = to=20 hackers.=94 It was informative.

COMMENT #18 [link]
...Harry J. Conrow said = on=20 5/14/2006 @ 12:21pm PT...

Larry Bergan (# 14)

You=92re telling = me that we=20 have a hopelessly impossible situation. We all might as well = pack up our=20 things and go right now. Democracy along with fair and just = elections=20 has died and there is no way in the world we can regain = it.

In=20 other words, a New World Order has taken over our country. A=20 Corporate-Political dictatorship is holding America hostage and = for=20 ransom. Without fair elections any freedoms we may have had, = both real=20 and imagined, will all soon completely vanish. They are = disappearing and=20 fading by the day. This is not an illusion but tragically the = majority=20 of America can=92t even see the truth when it falls right on top = of=20 them.

It won=92t be long before entire groups or classes = of people=20 begin disappearing. If we are not seen as part of this New World = Order,=20 we too will eventually be among the missing. The only problem is = that no=20 one will notice or even care for that matter. =

COMMENT #19 [link]
...Larry Bergan said = on=20 5/14/2006 @ 1:46pm PT...

Mr. Conrow, you wrote a sobering but true = statement.=20 People just don't realize how important TRUST in the voting = system (or=20 anything else for that matter) is!

We'll have to see if = the New=20 York Times and Wall Street Journal articles covered on this site = die or=20 not, but based on the fact these papers are STILL giving equal = weight to=20 complete nonsense from officials protecting corporations right = to=20 sequester voting information, we're screwed! =

COMMENT #20 [link]
...Harry J. Conrow said = on=20 5/15/2006 @ 7:32am PT...

V. Kurt Bellman (#s 11-13)
Larry Bergan = (#s 14 &=20 19)

Ray Coxe, New Jersey Director of Elections, said = today that=20 Election Support and Services certifies the Sequoia Advantages. = He also=20 said that the Superintendent of Elections Office certifies the=20 tabulation and Election Management System software. Too, he = stated that=20 federal and state officials approves the overall certification = for the=20 machines review and assignment to precincts throughout the=20 state.

I asked Ray if he heard about Dr. Shamos' = interview and=20 the article you provided me a link to "a Philadelphia Inquirer = Article"=20 titled "Voting Software Vulnerable To Hackers." Ray's response = was that=20 our Sequoia Advantages use different software and memory chips = than what=20 they use in Pennsylvania. He concluded therefore that our = tabulation=20 software is secure where Pennsylvania's isn't.

I'm not at = all=20 convinced. In my previous conversation with Ray, he said that he = never=20 heard of Dr. Shamos. Today, he said he knew about Dr. Shamos, = the=20 article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, and the knowledge of how = our=20 memory chips and software are "different" from the Sequoia = Advantages in=20 Pennsylvania. Conclusion: I was lied to. Question: Why was I = lied=20 to?

Moreover, whenever I speak to Ray and bring up Dr. = Shamos'=20 name, he instantly gets edgy and immediately goes on the = defensive. What=20 is he so nervous about? These are clear indications of someone = who is=20 hiding something. But what is he hiding?

It seems to me = that we=20 have no independent certifier in place (most other states have = Dr.=20 Shamos). Election Support and Services is also directly tied to = our=20 Superintendent of Elections Office. They in turn are hired and = assigned=20 by our federal and state government officials. We therefore end = up with=20 a threeway "conflict-of-interest". Our elections are therefore = biased=20 and rigged from start to finish. Does anybody have any answers = to this=20 dilemma?

By the way, Phyllis Pearl is New Jersey's = Superintendent=20 of Elections. She claims that she never heard of Dr. Michael Ian = Shamos.=20 The same thing Ray Coxe said last week when I spoke to him. But = today=20 suddenly Ray knows about the good Doctor? I get a very = uncomfortable=20 feeling having these people in charge of our elections in New = Jersey.=20

COMMENT #21 [link]
...Larry Bergan said = on=20 5/15/2006 @ 2:37pm PT...

Harry J. Conrow #20

I just read some = of Dr.=20 Shamos's writings on his support of DRE's and I wouldn't want to = admit I=20 ever knew him either.

In any case, welcome to crazy = world!=20

COMMENT #22 [link]
...Dredd said on=20 5/16/2006 @ 9:26am PT...

Harry J. Conrow #5

I did not = intend to=20 ignore your questions, and am glad to see other bloggers helped=20 out.

We have been aware of these issues for a long time = and are=20 not giving up.

But, to be real, we do face a very real = problem,=20 and it is earthshaking in scope.

Keep informing others, = stay=20 aware of The Silence of The Goats (election officials), = and stay=20 tuned.

The blogs are the last bastion of speaking truth = to power=20 now that the MSM is loosing its way.

Your=20 Comment on
"Lawsuit Filed Against AZ Sec. of State to = Halt=20 Use, Purchase of Diebold, Sequoia Touch-Screen Systems in=20 State!"

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&=20 Deep Trouble for America's
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Quick=20 Summary...
Key=20 Articles in Series...
(So far.)

Key=20 Articles in Series...
(So far.)

Brad's Recent Articles...

for Harvard's Nieman = Foundation of=20 Journalism...
=B7 "ASK THIS: = Questions=20 for Media to Ask Elections Officials"

in = Editor &=20 Publisher...
=B7 "Credit=20 Where Credit is Due"

in Mother=20 Jones...
=B7 "Counter-Coulter"

at=20 Huffington Post...
=B7 Index of all = Brad's=20 HuffPo Articles...

at = BuzzFlash...
=B7 "Dear Right Wingers..."

at = Democratic=20 Underground...
=B7 "White House Website Scrub"
=B7 "Stealing the Election Again?"
=B7 "A Sheep in Wolf's Clothing"
=B7 "'Control Room'"
=B7 "Mourning in America"
=B7 "GOP Win-Win Spin-Spin..."
=B7 "With Friends Like these..."
=B7 "Continuing to Kill the Messenger"
=B7 "The 'Liberal Media' Fails to Strike = Again"

Some Favorite Media Appearances by=20 Brad...
(Other than on The BRAD SHOW)

=B7 5/11/06: Marc Maron, = Air=20 America
=B7 4/18/06: Crane = Durham=20 (Conservative!)
=B7 4/14/06: PBC & = Cindy=20 Sheehan
=B7 4/12/06: Stephanie=20 Miller
=B7 4/6/06: Brad Guest = Hosts the=20 PBC Show, Interviews w/ Ed Asner, Tom Tomorrow & Bruce = Funk
=B7=20 3/10/06: Peter B.=20 Collins
=B7 3/6/06: Jeff=20 Rense
=B7 2/28/06: Young=20 Turks/Ion Sancho
=B7 2/24/06: Peter B.=20 Collins
=B7 1/8/06: M&M = Show
=B7=20 1/1/06: Jay=20 Lawrence Show
=B7 11/25/05: Ed Schultz=20 Show
=B7 11/22/05: Peter B. = Collins,=20 KRXA
=B7 10/11/05: Peter B. = Collins,=20 KRXA
=B7 10/1/05: Ron Insana = Show -=20 Debate w/ Ann Coulter!
=B7 9/29/05: Lars = Larson,=20 "Conservative"
=B7 9/20/05: Stephanie = Miller=20 Show
=B7 9/6/05: Lars = Larson,=20 "Conservative"
=B7 6/26/05: Barry = Gordon,=20 KRLA
=B7 6/10/05: Tony = Trupiano=20 Show
=B7 3/25/05: Dr. Stan = Monteith,=20 Radio Liberty
=B7 3/23/05: Michelangelo=20 Signorile (John Aravosis), Serius OutQ
=B7 3/23/05: World = Party,=20 WFRG
=B7 3/22/05: Don Grady's = Louisiana=20 Live
=B7 3/21/05: Guy = Rathbun,=20 KCBX
=B7 3/21/05: Lila = Garrett,=20 KPFK
=B7 3/18/05: Doug = Basham,=20 KLAV
=B7 3/16/05: Mark = Levine's Inside=20 Scoop D.C.
=B7 3/15/05: Don Grady, = Louisiana=20 Live
=B7 3/13/05: GrrRadio.com=B7=20 3/10/05: Thom=20 Hartmann
=B7 3/10/05: Power Hour = w/ Joyce=20 & Dave
=B7 3/9/05: Don Grady, = Louisiana=20 Live
=B7 3/8/05: Blogcall = (Press Conf=20 w/ Clint Curtis)
=B7 3/3/05: RadioLeft
=B7= =20 2/17/05: RadioLeft
=B7= =20 11/17/04: Jerry=20 Quickley, KPFK
=B7 6/16/04: Ken & = Company,=20 KABC

Must Listen Audio...

=B7 =20 Air=20 America LIVE!
=B7 Mark=20 Levine's Inside Scoop!
=B7 Bob=20 Kincaid
=B7 KRXA=20 540am

BRAD BLOG Campaign '04 Video = Ads...

=B7 "Take = Your Country=20 Back" Video
=B7 "Wrong=20 Choice" Video
=B7 "Anything = to Win"=20 Video
=B7 "Bush = Priceless"=20 Video Ad
=B7 "W=3DWrong" = Video=20 Ad

Other Must=20 See Video...
=B7 Rumsfeld = Busted on=20 Live TV!
=B7 The Movie Bush Doesn't Want You to See!
=B7 = Grand Theft=20 America
=B7 Sleeping through Bush (Letterman)
=B7 150=20 Top "Bush in 30 Seconds" Videos
=B7 Bush on OB-GYN's
=B7 Bush's=20 Mis-State of the Union
=B7 How Bush Did in Debate #1
=B7 Running on the Bush Record
=B7 Lone Wolf
=B7 Start Over!
=B7 Jon Stewart on Crossfire
=B7 Asshole

A Few Great Blogs...

=B7 am i=20 patriotic?
=B7 AMERICAblog
=B7 Baghdad = Burning
=B7 blogACTIVE
=B7 Bob Geiger
=B7 = CannonFire
=B7 Crooks and = Liars
=B7 Dan=20 Froomkin
=B7 David = Corn
=B7=20 Eschaton
=B7 firedoglake
=B7 = Freeway Blogger
=B7 = Glenn = Greenwald
=B7 Huffington Post
=B7 = Hullabaloo
=B7 Jesus' General
=B7 = Juan Cole
=B7 Kevin Drum
=B7 = Larry = Johnson
=B7 Nashua = Advocate
=B7 Oliver Willis
=B7 Skippy the Bush = Kangaroo
=B7 Talking Points = Memo
=B7 Tom Tomorrow
=B7 = Toolz of the New = School
=B7 TPM Muckraker
=B7 TV = Newser

Other Sites of Note...

=B7 RAW STORY
=B7 ABC's The Note
=B7 DRUDGE = REPORT
=B7=20 DRUDGE = RETORT
=B7 SMUDGE = REPORT
=B7=20 BuzzFlash
=B7 Bill=20 Maher
=B7 Arianna Huffington
=B7 LewRockwell.com
=B7=20 Joe Conason
=B7 The Best Page in the Universe
=B7 Karen Kwiatkowski
=B7 TrueMajority.org
=B7 Spank = Bush
=B7 MoveOn.org
=B7 Paul = Rieckhoff
=B7 David=20 Hackworth
=B7

Media Matters
=B7 =20 Center for=20 American Progress
=B7 White House=20 Press Briefings
=B7 The Whispering Campaign

Searchable Docs & = Databases...

=B7 Iraq on the Record
=B7 Claims vs. Facts
=B7 15 Lies from Sean Hannity!
=B7 FactCheck.org
=B7 Senate's Pre-War Intel Report
=B7 9-11 Commission Report
=B7 Preserving Democracy: What Went Wrong in Ohio = 2004
=B7=20 GAO=20 Report on Electronic Voting Machines
=B7 Al Gore Received More FL Votes in = 2000

Political Cartoons...

=B7 Pat Oliphant
=B7 Tom = Toles
=B7=20 Mike Luckovich
=B7 Ben=20 Sargent
=B7 Bob Gorrell
=B7 Don Wright
=B7 Chan = Lowe
=B7=20 Paul=20 Conrad
=B7 Jeff Danziger
=B7 Ted = Rall
=B7 Doug = Marlette
=B7 Tony Auth
=B7 Stuart=20 Carlson
=B7 Bill Deore
=B7 Doonesbury
=B7 The=20 Boondocks
=B7 Not Banned Yet
=B7 This Modern World
=B7 Non=20 Sequitur
=B7 Glenn McCoy
=B7 Thomas=20 Burns
=B7 Joel Pett
=B7 Cagle's=20 Index

About Brad Friedman...

Brad is a freelance writer, = investigative citizen=20 blogger, software designer and all around trouble = maker.

Just some=20 of the many notable national stories he's broken on his blog = include "The White = House=20 Website Scrubbing", the "Tom = Feeney/Clint=20 Curtis/Yang Enterprises Vote-Rigging Scandal", the story of = the phony=20 GOP front group, "American=20 Center for Voting Rights" and his continuing coverage of = Electronic=20 Voting Machine companies such as Diebold who are = destroying=20 American democracy. He has been reporting on other stories closely = related=20 to Election Integrity since at least November 3rd, = 2004.

Reports=20 and breaking news from his popular website, The BRAD BLOG, are = frequently cited by=20 the national media, and can be read at http://www.bradblog.com/.

He= =20 has written articles and editorials for Mother Jones, = Editor=20 & Publisher, Hustler and other non-pornographic=20 publications and websites.

In addition to live speaking = engagements=20 around the country, Brad is also the host of The BRAD SHOW, a radio = program=20 co-produced with Internet news site RAW=20 STORY. As well, he is a frequent Guest and Guest Host = on radio=20 shows around the country. More information, online listening = links, and=20 archives to previous BRAD SHOW's can be found at http://www.bradshow.com/.

St= ill=20 wanna know more? His personal webpage is at http://www.bradfriedman.com/
You=20 may Email him here. = He=20 may answer.

=20

Link to...

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