Comments on: House conservatives oppose bill that implements paper trail.

By: MapleStreet

MapleStreet — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 19:30:19 +0000

As I see it, the lack of a certifiable, auditable trail in the election is a major threat to the republic.

Knowing what has been done already, why should either side trust the validity of the election results ? Not trusting the results, why should they ever cede the election ?

By: freeman

freeman — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 19:22:35 +0000

Why do republicans hate democracy ?

By: Exit Stage Left

Exit Stage Left — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:22:29 +0000

The people of Ukraine, Republic of Georgia, and Zimbabwe did not stand for their elections being stolen. They took to the streets. That’s what Americans should do. What else can we do? We cannot vote and expect it to be counted fairly.

If Americans took to the streets under the bush/possibly McCorpse regimes, I’m afraid we’d quickly find out just now much of a police state we’ve devolved into.

By: slappy magoo

slappy magoo — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:18:59 +0000

If any of the candidates – even McCain! – said one of the more important pieces of legislation they will champion is an amendment that will insure all voting booths leave a paper trail, I’d be more inclined for vote for him or her.

Please, Obama, start championing this. You’re already driving primary voter turnout to record numbers. You’re already making noise about forcing government to be held accountable to the people. Demand a paper trail. Start talking about it now. Force Republicans to explain why they don’t want a paper trail, it’ll be good for a laugh. And a cry. And it will inspire even more people from the left AND the right to vote for you.

By: Oval12345678 aka James K. Sayre

Oval12345678 aka James K. Sayre — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:03:04 +0000

Republicans have been happily stealing elections electronically since Chuck Hagel (ES&S – Neb) did it back in 1996. For twelve long years the Dumbo-crats have sat on their hands, not bothering to put an end to GOP electronic fascism. Hand-counted paper ballots are the only way to ensure honest elections; you just cannot trust Republican-controlled corporations to honestly “count” the votes.

By: octamethyl

octamethyl — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:02:29 +0000

It is not the voters who matter, but the vote counters. Consider Diebold:
In August 2003, Walden O’Dell, then the chief executive of Diebold, announced that he had been a top fund-raiser for President George W. Bush and had sent a get-out-the-funds letter to 100 wealthy and politically inclined friends in the Republican Party, to be held at his home in a suburb of Columbus, Ohio.
Repug scum are simply covering their tracks.

By: GeeDubs

GeeDubs — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 17:53:11 +0000

How can ANYONE be opposed to having a paper trail so that our votes can be verified and accurately accounted for? Unless you want to make sure you can CONTROL the vote, regardless of whether you are a Democrat or a Republican, you would DEMAND nothing less than a paper trail to make sure there is ACCOUNTABILITY to the electorate. Republicans talk A LOT about accountability and responsibility – until it falls on them to do so. Then they hide behind their NATIONAL SECURITY bugaboo or other some such nonsense as it COSTS TOO MUCH MONEY. That is, unless we’re KILLING SOMEONE, then apparently TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS isn’t enough!

By: GeeDubs

GeeDubs — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 17:49:54 +0000

So, Bear, you’re saying that unless there is playing nicey-nice before a bill comes up for a vote, then shoot the thing down, REGARDLESS OF ITS MERITS. Is that it?

By: Zooey

Zooey — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 17:48:21 +0000

They win by cheating — why would they want to change the status quo?

By: Buckie Boy

Buckie Boy — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 17:30:02 +0000

House conservatives oppose bill that implements paper trail.

Of course they do, otherwise they would not be able to continue to steal elections.

By: Bilbo Hussein Baggins

Bilbo Hussein Baggins — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 17:09:53 +0000

As Thom Hartmann says frequently… the day we privatize our elections is the day democracy dies. We have already done it and democracy is dead in the USA.

By: Keith1Phx

Keith1Phx — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 17:05:19 +0000

Too bad Athan Gibbs died for promoting this type of accountability……..

By: Perry logan

Perry logan — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:45:49 +0000

I look forward to a day when our votes are counted by wildly partisan left-wing companies.

By: TomR

TomR — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:45:10 +0000

Um, the solution is to get rid of using electronic voting machines period. Think about it. Your vote gets submitted and counted electronically. A voting machine can be hacked or programmed to display one thing on the screen and print out something else entirely. A separate, uncounted, voter unverified paper trail is a terrible idea.

The one and only paper trail must be the PAPER BALLOT that the voter marks (and therefore verifies) and submits.

- Tom

ps. I’m not against ballot marking devices (printers) for the disabled if it helps them mark their paper ballot, as long as they can review what got printed on their paper ballot before they submit it.

By: Keith

Keith — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:35:55 +0000

By: L. Hussein Annie

L. Hussein Annie — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:30:56 +0000

Accountability is for little people.

By: StratRat

StratRat — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:18:16 +0000

It is a well known dynamic that if fewer citizens vote, the chances of a republican win are increased. It just works that way. So if the repub party is in shambles and their candidate is a psychopath, what to do about it? Put fear into the voters that maybe, just maybe, their votes won’t be counted. And if my vote won’t count, then why vote at all? See how the right side limits the voting motivation of the citizenry?

People, we need to vote. It may be a pain in the ass. It may be inconvenient, but we must do it. Ask your progressive friends if they plan to vote. Organize car pools and stuff like that. We have a chance this season to do something historic. We can do it.

By: hanshiro

hanshiro — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:16:55 +0000

This is payback for the dems striking down the “Raise your hand if you’re sure” bill for alternative counting of public votes; right after the dems struck down the “pre-emptive election” bill that the republicans were pushing…

By: McWars

McWars — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:08:02 +0000

Uh, we don’t elect presidents anymore. We don’t elect representatives anymore. The new proof is in the primary pudding. If giant corporations contribute to your campaign at a disproportionately higher rate, you’ve got the nomination. Other than that, or in combination of, you better be a candidate running to succeed your father or husband. Social clubs are more important than the hard issues in this dumbed down country.

Want to restore America’s standing? Elect Obama.

Want a toss-up? Elect Clinton.

Want to permanently relegate our standing to the dustbin? (S)elect McCain.

By: BearCountry

BearCountry — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:05:37 +0000

You progressives just don’t understand reality. repubs vote in favor to get something out of committee, then they realize how wrong the bill is so they then vote it down. dems are so stupid and cowed that they continue to talk about bipartisanship and correctly get beaten severely about the head and shoulders (metaphorically of course).