Net the Truth Online Report
from watching Court TV, MSNBC, and CNN Headline News Live coverage.
Broward County, Florida (17th Judicial Circuit Court) Judge Hon. Larry Seidlin orders Broward County medical examiner, Dr. Joshua Perper, to take a cheek swab sample for DNA testing of Anna Nicole Smith's body at 1:00 PM today, February 15, 2007.
The counsels involved will not be able to be present in the examination room, however, they will be able to conduct a review in a separate area. The review can take place in a separate medical room as early as 2:00 PM also today.
Proceedings in the case center around the release and disposition of Anna Nicole Smith's body.
On February 8th, Anna Nicole Smith, 39, died after collapsing at a Florida hotel.
Before Smith's death, Larry Birkhead had wanted to determine his own paternity of Smith's daughter, Dannielynn Hope.
Debra Opri, Birkhead's attorney, has appeared on numerous network programs to espouse the need for the paternity test. Opri spoke by telephone during the proceedings while two of Birkhead's counsel team were present in the room.
Dr. Joshua Perper had expressed his satisfaction earlier in the court proceedings that there was adequate sampling for additional and future DNA testing already taken.
Under questioning from Birkhead's counsel, Dr. Perper revealed one sample had not been taken, a swab of Anna Nicole Smith's mouth.
There was some discussion concerning a sampling taken for the purposes of determining presence of cocaine. Indication was that might not be adequate at a later time.
Perper said toxicological tests were ongoing with results in one to three weeks.
Birkhead's counsel was also able to present its own medical expert on-hand for review of existing DNA samples. Dr. Michael Baird of DNA Consulting, according to a Court TV reporter.
The existing DNA samples at first appeared on the way to being agreed to by all, until the revelation the swab sample had not been taken.
Birkhead's counsel weighed in on that issue by questioning their medical expert.
Judge Larry Seidlin throughout the proceedings indicated of utmost importance was the child, Anna Nicole Smith's five-month old daughter, Dannielynn.
Seidlin said, I have a duty, and with the help of the Lord I am going to do my duty.
At one point, Judge Seidlin indicated he believed there was a necessity to determine paternity.
"We need to know who the biological father is, don't we?" Seidlin's tone was rhetorical.
Seidlin indicated a chain of custody for the body beginning with next-of-kin, which supposes Smith's daughter, Dannielynn.
The biological father would be next in line as the legal custodian of Dannielynn.
Early in the proceedings, Judge Seidlin said he appointed a lawyer, Richard Millstein, who is to be the guardian ad litim for the child. He called Millstein at 6:30 am this morning.
Judge Seidlin said in sober terms he wanted to satisfy his heart and his conscience. There's a method to this madness, Seidlin said. He's putting things in place and is going to tighten this up.
After over three hours of testimony and discussion, Seidlin obtained an agreement from Dr. Perper that the mouth-swab sample could be readily obtained, today.
Dr. Perper weighed in with how the sample would be taken, in a separate room, not the autopsy room where Smith's body rested. Perper indicated he didn't want the media or anyone to get images of the deceased Smith.
Judge Seidlin ordered the sample to be taken under normal procedures, though counsel and apparently Dr. Baird could be present in a separate room near the medical examiner's room.
Present in the room notably were Anna Nicole Smith's mother Vergie Arthur, an attorney for Arthur, attorneys for Larry Birkhead, with his attorney Debra Opri weighing in via speakerphone, and attorneys for Howard K. Stern, and apparently, counsel for Anna Nicole Smith.
For video of the proceedings in part see
Chicago Sun Times
DNA TEST ORDER ON SMITH'S BODY Judge orders test to determine paternity of Smith's baby
http://www.suntimes.com/index.html
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Smith Case: Medical Examiner Agrees to Take an Undone Swab
Shocking news. Coming out of the testimony before a Florida Judge in the custody hearing regarding Anna Nicole Smith is the fact that one sample was not taken, a swab of Smith's mouth!
The medical examiner - in response to questioning about all of the samples taken - admitted one swab was not taken at the time of the other samples!
Oh my goodness, sample was taken only to be tested for cocaine use!
Developing
Earlier story
More tests needed to determine cause of death for Anna Nicole Smith
sun-sentinel.com staff & wires
Published February 9 2007, 3:10 PM CST
DANIA BEACH -- Prescription drugs were found in Anna Nicole Smith's hotel room, but there were no pills in her stomach, and investigators said Friday they are awaiting toxicological tests that would tell whether the former centerfold died of a drug overdose, as some of those close to her suspect.
Dr. Joshua Perper, the Broward County medical examiner, said no illegal drugs were found in her room at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, but he would not identify the prescription drugs.
There was no immediate indication of a drug overdose, Perper said, but officials ``do not exclude any kind of contribution of medication to the death.''
He called the process a ``medical puzzle'' and said it would take three to five weeks to conclude the investigation. The autopsy was able to exclude any types of physical injury on the body of the 39-year-old former Playboy playmate and reality TV star, Perper said.
It revealed only ``subtle findings'' in the heart and gastrointestinal tract, and blood in her stomach from being in shock before she died, Perper said. Minor bruises on her back were from a previous fall in the bathroom, he said.
``There were no findings that would indicate continuing drug abuse,'' Perper said. He called the process a ``medical puzzle'' and said it would take three to five weeks to conclude the investigation.
Smith apparently had been sick for several days with some kind of stomach flu, Perper said.
Seminole Police Chief Charlie Tiger said investigators ``found no illegal drugs, only prescription medicines'' in Smith's hotel room at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood. Nothing unusual was observed on hotel surveillance tapes, and there was no evidence to suggest a crime occurred, he said.
As the Broward medical examiner conducted the autopsy to determine what killed celebrity Anna Nicole Smith, it was business as usual at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
http://redeye.chicagotribune.com/sfl-28annanicole,1,1183922.story
The medical examiner - in response to questioning about all of the samples taken - admitted one swab was not taken at the time of the other samples!
Oh my goodness, sample was taken only to be tested for cocaine use!
Developing
Earlier story
More tests needed to determine cause of death for Anna Nicole Smith
sun-sentinel.com staff & wires
Published February 9 2007, 3:10 PM CST
DANIA BEACH -- Prescription drugs were found in Anna Nicole Smith's hotel room, but there were no pills in her stomach, and investigators said Friday they are awaiting toxicological tests that would tell whether the former centerfold died of a drug overdose, as some of those close to her suspect.
Dr. Joshua Perper, the Broward County medical examiner, said no illegal drugs were found in her room at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, but he would not identify the prescription drugs.
There was no immediate indication of a drug overdose, Perper said, but officials ``do not exclude any kind of contribution of medication to the death.''
He called the process a ``medical puzzle'' and said it would take three to five weeks to conclude the investigation. The autopsy was able to exclude any types of physical injury on the body of the 39-year-old former Playboy playmate and reality TV star, Perper said.
It revealed only ``subtle findings'' in the heart and gastrointestinal tract, and blood in her stomach from being in shock before she died, Perper said. Minor bruises on her back were from a previous fall in the bathroom, he said.
``There were no findings that would indicate continuing drug abuse,'' Perper said. He called the process a ``medical puzzle'' and said it would take three to five weeks to conclude the investigation.
Smith apparently had been sick for several days with some kind of stomach flu, Perper said.
Seminole Police Chief Charlie Tiger said investigators ``found no illegal drugs, only prescription medicines'' in Smith's hotel room at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood. Nothing unusual was observed on hotel surveillance tapes, and there was no evidence to suggest a crime occurred, he said.
As the Broward medical examiner conducted the autopsy to determine what killed celebrity Anna Nicole Smith, it was business as usual at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
http://redeye.chicagotribune.com/sfl-28annanicole,1,1183922.story
Anti-war comic book ok in school
Anti-war comic book okayed for use in San Francisco schools! Fox News Reporting...
Judge: Needs to Know Danielynn Biological Father!
Blockbuster non-fiction conspiracy book in the making...
though a ruling has not yet been made in the case of Anna Nicole Smith hearing concerning custody for her body, the Judge in the case has indicated more than once that he needs to know who is the biological father of the child, Danielynn!
The Judge has brought in the medical examiner, who is being grilled by the Judge concerning chain-of-custody of DNA, what was taken as DNA samples... etc.
No conspiracy theory, says the Judge, we want to have a tight chain of custody.
Well hey, why doesn't the Judge go down to the morgue witht the medical examiner, with all legal parties by his side, and take the samples today! And why doesn't the Judge keep the samples in his personal vault!
At this time it is only a death investigation.
The Judge asks what if it turns into a criminal investigation, will they need to take more samples of DNA. The medical examiner says no, they wouldn't, and they have plenty of material for whomever wants the body.
Well that's nice. But who is guarding the DNA evidence right this minute?
Obviously, not the medical examiner testifying!
Judge, do as we suggest, for truth, for integrity. Go with the medical examiner right now and get the actual DNA first-hand!
I cannot believe all of these pundits are suggesting there is no need for more DNA to be taken! there is. The potential exists for somebody to be paid off to switch Anna Nicole Smith's DNA with another woman's DNA, and even to present that woman's child as Danielynn. All of these people could be paid off in millions to keep quiet!
Look how long Watergate's Deep Throat was left unexposed!
In fact, Perper is oddball. Why doesn't he say, Judge, let's go take a trip right now and you can get a sample yourself so you are sure there is no conspiracy theory.
These people don't read fiction, do they?
Lawyer asks who is guarding the DNA?
Perper says they are in a locked refrigerator under key. Refrig is in a room in med examiner's office and that office is kept under observation.
Well, come on now. How many people have keys Dr. Schuller, chief of toxicology, to the best of his knowledge. He doesn't know how many people have keys? He says he is pretty sure only Schuller, but you'd have to ask him.
Lawyer asks if samples taken after the embalming would be as pure. Perper says there would potentially be an effect. there is possibility of testing then. Now Perper says it's unjustified to take more DNA samples.
What is Perper's problem?
If the court ordered additional testing it would be best if it was done expeditiously. Wouldn't it be better if it is done today than a few months from now?
No says Perper. That's unnecessary!
Oh my goodness, something smells fishy with this situation. Why not get a real-time sample today? Observed from all.
this is so astonishing!
Have their person get a look first and if not sufficient get more. Also want to know who all had access to the chain of custody.
though a ruling has not yet been made in the case of Anna Nicole Smith hearing concerning custody for her body, the Judge in the case has indicated more than once that he needs to know who is the biological father of the child, Danielynn!
The Judge has brought in the medical examiner, who is being grilled by the Judge concerning chain-of-custody of DNA, what was taken as DNA samples... etc.
No conspiracy theory, says the Judge, we want to have a tight chain of custody.
Well hey, why doesn't the Judge go down to the morgue witht the medical examiner, with all legal parties by his side, and take the samples today! And why doesn't the Judge keep the samples in his personal vault!
At this time it is only a death investigation.
The Judge asks what if it turns into a criminal investigation, will they need to take more samples of DNA. The medical examiner says no, they wouldn't, and they have plenty of material for whomever wants the body.
Well that's nice. But who is guarding the DNA evidence right this minute?
Obviously, not the medical examiner testifying!
Judge, do as we suggest, for truth, for integrity. Go with the medical examiner right now and get the actual DNA first-hand!
I cannot believe all of these pundits are suggesting there is no need for more DNA to be taken! there is. The potential exists for somebody to be paid off to switch Anna Nicole Smith's DNA with another woman's DNA, and even to present that woman's child as Danielynn. All of these people could be paid off in millions to keep quiet!
Look how long Watergate's Deep Throat was left unexposed!
In fact, Perper is oddball. Why doesn't he say, Judge, let's go take a trip right now and you can get a sample yourself so you are sure there is no conspiracy theory.
These people don't read fiction, do they?
Lawyer asks who is guarding the DNA?
Perper says they are in a locked refrigerator under key. Refrig is in a room in med examiner's office and that office is kept under observation.
Well, come on now. How many people have keys Dr. Schuller, chief of toxicology, to the best of his knowledge. He doesn't know how many people have keys? He says he is pretty sure only Schuller, but you'd have to ask him.
Lawyer asks if samples taken after the embalming would be as pure. Perper says there would potentially be an effect. there is possibility of testing then. Now Perper says it's unjustified to take more DNA samples.
What is Perper's problem?
If the court ordered additional testing it would be best if it was done expeditiously. Wouldn't it be better if it is done today than a few months from now?
No says Perper. That's unnecessary!
Oh my goodness, something smells fishy with this situation. Why not get a real-time sample today? Observed from all.
this is so astonishing!
Have their person get a look first and if not sufficient get more. Also want to know who all had access to the chain of custody.
This Baby Anna Nicole Smith Body Custody Hearing
Only fiction-writers obviously can envision the conspiracy that could unfold when half-a-billion dollars is at stake. If the Judge in the case reads such, he can surely surmise somebody would have good motive to replace the DNA taken from Smith, and left unguarded first-hand (outside the toxicology examiner's door, according to Perper's testimony).
We'll post the hows later.
Coverage ongling on Court TV with commercial interruption, likewise MSNBC, and CNN's Headline News. Unfortunately, most of them are interrupting the testimony before the Judge Hon. Larry Seidlin with pundits commenting on what is going on.
Watch the video online http://www.msnbc.msn.com/
And at Court TV
http://www.courttv.com/home_news/
The Anna Nicole Smith case is not mere voyerism on the part of the public. Although the wall to wall coverage on all the networks is obsessive, at times hard to take because of the incessant images of Smith barely clad, the legal case involving custody of Smith's body, production of a will, paternity of the child, civil so-called committment ceremony vs valid marriage ceremony between Smith and Howard K. Stern, common-law marriage, next-of-kin issue, such as daughter, natural, biological mother (Virgie), father of the child (to-be-determined), estranged family, and other matters are as important as any other of the legal mechanizations across this entire nation.
How does America handle its legal matters?
What will be interesting - will all of the news coverage become "evidence?"
Particularly Interesting is Howard K. Stern.
Reportedly, Stern was devastated at Smith's death. But within mere days of her death, what does Stern do? He gets that yacht to the Bahamas!
Is this the action of someone devastated, too distraught to move or take any action? Reportedly, the day of Smith's death, Stern was making arrangements to purchase the yacht and have it transported to the Bahamas.
Days ago, not in any disrespect, the Florida Judge who is to hear the case concerning custody of Smith's body reportedly made a reference to Anna Nicole Smith's body awaiting custody determinations as "this baby..."
Judge: 'Anna Nicole Smith's Body Belongs to Me'; Hearing Thursday
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Judge says, with the help of the Lord, I am going to do my duty...
Somebody should do their due diligence and thoroughly examine "this baby" Anna Nicole Smith's body as if a crime HAS BEEN COMMITTED.
According to one report on one of the networks, I believe MSNBC - the nurse and/or nanny who found Smith in the room and others did not call 9/11 emergency for 7 minutes!
If nothing else, that inaction is negligence. One woman even said, it appeared to her that Anna Nicole was still breathing, she quickly changed her story in mid-sentence!
Seriously, this situation needs to be investigated now.
Not only should the entire case be investigated on that point, but a will has not yet been produced. Reports in the past few days have also noted that Smith's residence (temporary home) has been ransacked. Stern on Inside Edition said important personal papers WERE REMOVED, were stolen!
Seriously now, who had access to this residence? Without a will, what would happen?
The Judge explains in part this is currently a death investigation, no determination has been made concerning a criminal investigation!
Let's find the transcripts.
Inside Edition
http://www.insideedition.com/ourstories/inside_stories/story.aspx?storyid=606
More
They are discussing the chain of custody of DNA of Smith. They should. Why not have all parties (unfortunate, but necessary) actually accompany the medical examiner obtaining a final DNA sample?
Is there any reason the samples already taken are not good enough? Absolutely!
Someone could be paid off to swith samples! Consider John F. Kennedy's brain tissue, which went missing!
If it can happen with a President of the United States, it can happen with Smith, whose heir stands to inherit half-a-billion!
Oh my shocking. The Judge says he needs to know who the real, biological father of Danielynn actually is! Doesn't he? He poses.
One of the lawyers wants the DNA wants to know the DNA of Smith, the child, the paternity test results, because they have been warned and fear a bait and swithch.
that's why the Judge has Mr. Milstein appointed, to determine and weigh in on these issues... there's a method to this madness.
UCCC JEA, this Judge can enforce what the other Judge said.
this is so revealing.
The Judge wants to satisfy his heart and his conscience. He's putting things in place he says, and is going to tighten this up!
We'll post the hows later.
Coverage ongling on Court TV with commercial interruption, likewise MSNBC, and CNN's Headline News. Unfortunately, most of them are interrupting the testimony before the Judge Hon. Larry Seidlin with pundits commenting on what is going on.
Watch the video online http://www.msnbc.msn.com/
And at Court TV
http://www.courttv.com/home_news/
The Anna Nicole Smith case is not mere voyerism on the part of the public. Although the wall to wall coverage on all the networks is obsessive, at times hard to take because of the incessant images of Smith barely clad, the legal case involving custody of Smith's body, production of a will, paternity of the child, civil so-called committment ceremony vs valid marriage ceremony between Smith and Howard K. Stern, common-law marriage, next-of-kin issue, such as daughter, natural, biological mother (Virgie), father of the child (to-be-determined), estranged family, and other matters are as important as any other of the legal mechanizations across this entire nation.
How does America handle its legal matters?
What will be interesting - will all of the news coverage become "evidence?"
Particularly Interesting is Howard K. Stern.
Reportedly, Stern was devastated at Smith's death. But within mere days of her death, what does Stern do? He gets that yacht to the Bahamas!
Is this the action of someone devastated, too distraught to move or take any action? Reportedly, the day of Smith's death, Stern was making arrangements to purchase the yacht and have it transported to the Bahamas.
Days ago, not in any disrespect, the Florida Judge who is to hear the case concerning custody of Smith's body reportedly made a reference to Anna Nicole Smith's body awaiting custody determinations as "this baby..."
Judge: 'Anna Nicole Smith's Body Belongs to Me'; Hearing Thursday
Thursday, February 15, 2007
"We're going to have hearings, as many hearings as we need," Circuit Judge Larry Seidlin said at the start of afternoon proceedings. "This is just a warm-up."
At least three people are seeking control of Smith's body -- her longtime companion Howard K. Stern, her estranged mother Vergie Arthur and photographer Larry Birkhead, who claims to have fathered the model's 5-month-old daughter, Dannielynn.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,252134,00.html
Judge says, with the help of the Lord, I am going to do my duty...
Somebody should do their due diligence and thoroughly examine "this baby" Anna Nicole Smith's body as if a crime HAS BEEN COMMITTED.
According to one report on one of the networks, I believe MSNBC - the nurse and/or nanny who found Smith in the room and others did not call 9/11 emergency for 7 minutes!
If nothing else, that inaction is negligence. One woman even said, it appeared to her that Anna Nicole was still breathing, she quickly changed her story in mid-sentence!
Seriously, this situation needs to be investigated now.
Not only should the entire case be investigated on that point, but a will has not yet been produced. Reports in the past few days have also noted that Smith's residence (temporary home) has been ransacked. Stern on Inside Edition said important personal papers WERE REMOVED, were stolen!
Seriously now, who had access to this residence? Without a will, what would happen?
The Judge explains in part this is currently a death investigation, no determination has been made concerning a criminal investigation!
Let's find the transcripts.
Inside Edition
http://www.insideedition.com/ourstories/inside_stories/story.aspx?storyid=606
More
They are discussing the chain of custody of DNA of Smith. They should. Why not have all parties (unfortunate, but necessary) actually accompany the medical examiner obtaining a final DNA sample?
Is there any reason the samples already taken are not good enough? Absolutely!
Someone could be paid off to swith samples! Consider John F. Kennedy's brain tissue, which went missing!
If it can happen with a President of the United States, it can happen with Smith, whose heir stands to inherit half-a-billion!
Oh my shocking. The Judge says he needs to know who the real, biological father of Danielynn actually is! Doesn't he? He poses.
One of the lawyers wants the DNA wants to know the DNA of Smith, the child, the paternity test results, because they have been warned and fear a bait and swithch.
that's why the Judge has Mr. Milstein appointed, to determine and weigh in on these issues... there's a method to this madness.
UCCC JEA, this Judge can enforce what the other Judge said.
this is so revealing.
The Judge wants to satisfy his heart and his conscience. He's putting things in place he says, and is going to tighten this up!
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Smuggler Supposed to be Truthful in Testimony
In the Ramos-Compean border patrol agents case, according to Lou Dobbs Casey Wian, the judge refused testimony which would have shown second illegal entry and drug smuggling.
Dobbs question
CNN Lou Dobbs
get transcript
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/ldt.html
Snow: Officials will be held accountable
Government reps will 'answer for characterizations' in Border Patrol case
Posted: February 14, 2007
© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com
More World Net Daily coverage see links
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=54243
Dobbs question
Are you outraged that the U.S. attorney had evidence sealed regarding a second drug load that was brought into the U.S. by the Mexican drug smuggler given immunity in the case against Border Patrol agents Ramos and Compean?
http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/lou.dobbs.tonight/
CNN Lou Dobbs
get transcript
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/ldt.html
Snow: Officials will be held accountable
Government reps will 'answer for characterizations' in Border Patrol case
Posted: February 14, 2007
© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com
Government officials will be held accountable for their statements regarding the federal case against two former U.S. Border Patrol agents, Jose Compean and Ignacio Ramos, who are in prison for shooting a fleeing smuggler bringing drugs from Mexico into the United States, according to the White House spokesman.
Les Kinsolving, WND's correspondent at the White House, asked a question at a press briefing that had been submitted by a WND reader, Johnny Kubicek. He had cited some of the developments in the case on which WND has reported including Homeland Security Inspector General Robert Skinner's comments that his deputies falsely told lawmakers the agency had documentation the two were rogue cops "out to shoot Mexicans" as well as allegations of connections between the smuggler and one Border Patrol agent.
The two agents were charged, tried and convicted of shooting a fleeing drug smuggler in the buttocks. They were given sentences of 11 and 12 years in jail, while federal prosecutors granted the drug smuggler immunity to return to the United States and testify against the law enforcement officers. The circumstances of the case have outraged many concerned over the problems of illegal immigration and running drugs from Mexico into the United States. Dozens of members of Congress as well as several activist groups have called for the officers to be pardoned.
"Could you ask Tony if Attorney General Gonzales is going to look into these 'anomalies' in this case?" Kubicek asked.
So Kinsolving did. "Inspector General Robert Skinner admitted at a hearing that his deputies falsely told lawmakers that the agency had documentary proof that then Border patrol Agents Ramos and Compean were rogue cops, 'out to shoot Mexicans.' And my question, is the president assured that Attorney General Gonzales is investigating this?"
"I don't know," said Tony Snow, the presidential spokesman. "Did you read the fuller Inspector General's Report? … It's worth reading. I think that questions about the Inspector – see, the thing about Inspectors General is they actually do operate independently of the agencies, as you understand. But on the other hand, Mr. Skinner will have to answer for characterizations he's made."
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=54250
More World Net Daily coverage see links
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=54243
Voter Organizations Agree to Holt Bill Revisions
In letter statement
Essential Revisions to HR 811
If you want to endorse this statement, please email to John Gideon
Originally published on February 13, 2007.
http://www.votersunite.org/info/HR811EssentialRevisions.htm
2-13-07: Agreement among groups as to Essential Revisions to HR 811
Essential Revisions to HR 811
If you want to endorse this statement, please email to John Gideon
Originally published on February 13, 2007.
http://www.votersunite.org/info/HR811EssentialRevisions.htm
2-13-07: Agreement among groups as to Essential Revisions to HR 811
Heavy lifting has been performed by many election integrity group leaders to reach agreement and propose language for revisions to current election reform legislation.
http://www.votersunite.org/info/HR811EssentialRevisions.htm
The following organizations and individuals agree:
Organizations - alphabetical order
- Black Box Voting
- Coalition for Voting Integrity (PA)
- Florida Fair Elections
- New Yorkers for Verified Voting (NYVV)
- Sarasota Alliance for Fair Elections (SAFE)
- Voter Action
- VotersUnite
- Voting Integrity Alliance of Tampa Bay (VIA Tampa Bay)
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/1954/46697.html?1171470516
Wrong: No right to vote
Letter-writer got it wrong "there's no right to vote."
Congressman Jesse L. Jackson Jr. got it wrong, too, but maybe he should know better. He leaves out the rest of a sentence, and so misquotes Bush v Gore, misleading readers.
http://www.house.gov/jackson/VotingAmendment.htm
Jackson is behind a push for direct election of the President of the United States, something the Founding Framers explicitly and pointedly rejected. They devised the Electoral College for good reasons.
Do Americans Have The Right To Vote?
National Press Club - Washington, DC
By Congressman Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. (D-IL-2)
Tuesday, September 7, 2004
Today's press conference is focused on three issues involving the vote: (1) protecting the vote in the 2004 election; (2) the American people are grown and should elect their President and Vice President directly and eliminate the Electoral College; and (3) we need to add a voting rights amendment to the Constitution. I support all three, but my assignment today is mainly to discuss adding a voting rights amendment to the Constitution...
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/speech/il02_jackson/sp040907DoAmericansHaveTheRightToVote.html
salon.com writer got it wrong
You have no right to vote
The Constitution doesn't guarantee it, the Republicans know it, and real democratic values in our country are under assault.
By Garrett Epps
http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2006/09/21/no_right_to_vote/index_np.html
http://reclaimdemocracy.org/political_reform/right_to_vote.html
http://www.fairvote.org/righttovote/faq1.htm
The Bush v Gore ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court didn't stop with this phrase that catches one's attention:
The individual citizen has no federal constitutional right to vote
The highest court in the land continued:
The individual citizen has no federal constitutional right to vote for electors for the President of the United States unless and until the state legislature chooses a statewide election as the means to implement its power to appoint members of the Electoral College. U.S. Const., Art. II, §1.
Here's what Bush v Gore said in totality explaining carefully
The individual citizen has no federal constitutional right to vote for electors for the President of the United States unless and until the state legislature chooses a statewide election as the means to implement its power to appoint members of the Electoral College. U.S. Const., Art. II, §1.
This is the source for the statement in McPherson v. Blacker, 146 U.S. 1, 35 (1892), that the State legislature’s power to select the manner for appointing electors is plenary; it may, if it so chooses, select the electors itself, which indeed was the manner used by State legislatures in several States for many years after the Framing of our Constitution. Id., at 28—33.
History has now favored the voter, and in each of the several States the citizens themselves vote for Presidential electors. When the state legislature vests the right to vote for President in its people, the right to vote as the legislature has prescribed is fundamental; and one source of its fundamental nature lies in the equal weight accorded to each vote and the equal dignity owed to each voter. The State, of course, after granting the franchise in the special context of Article II, can take back the power to appoint electors. See id., at 35 (“[T]here is no doubt of the right of the legislature to resume the power at any time, for it can neither be taken away nor abdicated”) (quoting S. Rep. No. 395, 43d Cong., 1st Sess.).
The right to vote is protected in more than the initial allocation of the franchise. Equal protection applies as well to the manner of its exercise. Having once granted the right to vote on equal terms, the State may not, by later arbitrary and disparate treatment, value one person's vote over that of another. See, e.g., Harper v. Virginia Bd. of Elections, 383 U.S. 663, 665 (1966) (“[O]nce the franchise is granted to the electorate, lines may not be drawn which are inconsistent with the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment”). It must be remembered that “the right of suffrage can be denied by a debasement or dilution of the weight of a citizen’s vote just as effectively as by wholly prohibiting the free exercise of the franchise.” Reynolds v. Sims, 377 U.S. 533, 555 (1964).
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/00-949.ZPC.html
Letter
Sorry guys there's no right to vote
Thursday, November 02, 2006 3:17 PM
What follows is a letter sent to my school newspaper
Graham Shaw is Criminal Justice Major
Dear Editor
After breezing through your article on asking students to vote I came upon a rather common error that people make when discussing elections. Namely, there is no right to vote. The Constitution only states reasons that you cannot deny a person the vote, reasons such as race and sex. It is a plain and simple fact that some people should not be allowed to vote.
The vote should be denied to anyone who does not have some basic knowledge of our nations political system, and history. So I’m going to give a short test if you don’t get at least a 70 then do us all a favor and don’t vote, there is no excuse for not knowing these.
http://rantingrightwinger.townhall.com/Default.aspx?mode=post&g=4b817888-1ff0-44f1-906c-8e1839d5ed71
XII - Manner of Choosing a President and Vice-President
This Amendment altered Article 2 Section 1 Part 2
Passed by Congress December 9, 1803. Ratified July 27, 1804.
http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/amend1.htm
http://www.law.emory.edu/cms/site/index.php?id=3080
Congressman Jesse L. Jackson Jr. got it wrong, too, but maybe he should know better. He leaves out the rest of a sentence, and so misquotes Bush v Gore, misleading readers.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Bush v. Gore (2000) that "the individual citizen has no federal constitutional right to vote for electors for the President of the United States."
http://www.house.gov/jackson/VotingAmendment.htm
Jackson is behind a push for direct election of the President of the United States, something the Founding Framers explicitly and pointedly rejected. They devised the Electoral College for good reasons.
Do Americans Have The Right To Vote?
National Press Club - Washington, DC
By Congressman Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. (D-IL-2)
Tuesday, September 7, 2004
Today's press conference is focused on three issues involving the vote: (1) protecting the vote in the 2004 election; (2) the American people are grown and should elect their President and Vice President directly and eliminate the Electoral College; and (3) we need to add a voting rights amendment to the Constitution. I support all three, but my assignment today is mainly to discuss adding a voting rights amendment to the Constitution...
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/speech/il02_jackson/sp040907DoAmericansHaveTheRightToVote.html
salon.com writer got it wrong
You have no right to vote
The Constitution doesn't guarantee it, the Republicans know it, and real democratic values in our country are under assault.
By Garrett Epps
http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2006/09/21/no_right_to_vote/index_np.html
http://reclaimdemocracy.org/political_reform/right_to_vote.html
http://www.fairvote.org/righttovote/faq1.htm
The Bush v Gore ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court didn't stop with this phrase that catches one's attention:
The individual citizen has no federal constitutional right to vote
The highest court in the land continued:
The individual citizen has no federal constitutional right to vote for electors for the President of the United States unless and until the state legislature chooses a statewide election as the means to implement its power to appoint members of the Electoral College. U.S. Const., Art. II, §1.
Here's what Bush v Gore said in totality explaining carefully
The individual citizen has no federal constitutional right to vote for electors for the President of the United States unless and until the state legislature chooses a statewide election as the means to implement its power to appoint members of the Electoral College. U.S. Const., Art. II, §1.
This is the source for the statement in McPherson v. Blacker, 146 U.S. 1, 35 (1892), that the State legislature’s power to select the manner for appointing electors is plenary; it may, if it so chooses, select the electors itself, which indeed was the manner used by State legislatures in several States for many years after the Framing of our Constitution. Id., at 28—33.
History has now favored the voter, and in each of the several States the citizens themselves vote for Presidential electors. When the state legislature vests the right to vote for President in its people, the right to vote as the legislature has prescribed is fundamental; and one source of its fundamental nature lies in the equal weight accorded to each vote and the equal dignity owed to each voter. The State, of course, after granting the franchise in the special context of Article II, can take back the power to appoint electors. See id., at 35 (“[T]here is no doubt of the right of the legislature to resume the power at any time, for it can neither be taken away nor abdicated”) (quoting S. Rep. No. 395, 43d Cong., 1st Sess.).
The right to vote is protected in more than the initial allocation of the franchise. Equal protection applies as well to the manner of its exercise. Having once granted the right to vote on equal terms, the State may not, by later arbitrary and disparate treatment, value one person's vote over that of another. See, e.g., Harper v. Virginia Bd. of Elections, 383 U.S. 663, 665 (1966) (“[O]nce the franchise is granted to the electorate, lines may not be drawn which are inconsistent with the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment”). It must be remembered that “the right of suffrage can be denied by a debasement or dilution of the weight of a citizen’s vote just as effectively as by wholly prohibiting the free exercise of the franchise.” Reynolds v. Sims, 377 U.S. 533, 555 (1964).
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/00-949.ZPC.html
Letter
Sorry guys there's no right to vote
Thursday, November 02, 2006 3:17 PM
What follows is a letter sent to my school newspaper
Graham Shaw is Criminal Justice Major
Dear Editor
After breezing through your article on asking students to vote I came upon a rather common error that people make when discussing elections. Namely, there is no right to vote. The Constitution only states reasons that you cannot deny a person the vote, reasons such as race and sex. It is a plain and simple fact that some people should not be allowed to vote.
The vote should be denied to anyone who does not have some basic knowledge of our nations political system, and history. So I’m going to give a short test if you don’t get at least a 70 then do us all a favor and don’t vote, there is no excuse for not knowing these.
http://rantingrightwinger.townhall.com/Default.aspx?mode=post&g=4b817888-1ff0-44f1-906c-8e1839d5ed71
XII - Manner of Choosing a President and Vice-President
This Amendment altered Article 2 Section 1 Part 2
Passed by Congress December 9, 1803. Ratified July 27, 1804.
http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/amend1.htm
http://www.law.emory.edu/cms/site/index.php?id=3080
Mexican Consulate & Border Patrol Agents
Mexico demanded U.S. prosecute sheriff, agents
Documents show role of consulate in cases of Gilmer Hernandez and Ramos-Compean
Posted: February 13, 2007
By Jerome R. Corsi
© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com
The Mexican Consulate played a previously undisclosed role in the events leading to U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton's high-profile prosecution of Border Patrol Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, who are serving 11 and 12 year sentences for their role in the shooting of a drug smuggler, according to documents obtained by WND.
And Mexican consular officials also demanded the prosecution of Texas Sheriff's Deputy Guillermo "Gilmer" Hernandez, who subsequently was brought to trial by Sutton, the documents reveal.
Rep. John Culberson, R-Texas – among a number of congressman who have fiercely opposed the prosecution of Ramos and Compean – told WND he has "long suspected that Mexican government officials ordered the prosecution of our law enforcement agents."
"Mexico wants to intimidate our law enforcement into leaving our border unprotected, and we now have confirmation of it in writing," Culberson said.
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=54243
Documents show role of consulate in cases of Gilmer Hernandez and Ramos-Compean
Posted: February 13, 2007
By Jerome R. Corsi
© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com
The Mexican Consulate played a previously undisclosed role in the events leading to U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton's high-profile prosecution of Border Patrol Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, who are serving 11 and 12 year sentences for their role in the shooting of a drug smuggler, according to documents obtained by WND.
And Mexican consular officials also demanded the prosecution of Texas Sheriff's Deputy Guillermo "Gilmer" Hernandez, who subsequently was brought to trial by Sutton, the documents reveal.
Rep. John Culberson, R-Texas – among a number of congressman who have fiercely opposed the prosecution of Ramos and Compean – told WND he has "long suspected that Mexican government officials ordered the prosecution of our law enforcement agents."
"Mexico wants to intimidate our law enforcement into leaving our border unprotected, and we now have confirmation of it in writing," Culberson said.
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=54243
Horner's Politically Incorrect Guide to Global Warming & Environmentalism
Global Warming: why it is the Left's last best chance to gain a stranglehold on our political system and economy... and how we can fight back
https://www.conservativebookclub.com/Join/SingleBookJoin.asp?sour_cd=sb250az&prod_cd=c7020
...in The Politically Incorrect Guide to Global Warming and Environmentalism, Christopher C. Horner tears the cover off the Left's manipulation of environmental issues for political purposes -- and lays out incontrovertible evidence for the fact that catastrophic man-made global warming is just more Chicken-Little hysteria, not actual science. He explains why, although Al Gore and his cronies among the media elites and UN globalists endlessly bleat that "global warming" is an unprecedented global crisis, they really think of it as a dream come true.
Global warming is the ideal scare campaign for those who are doing all they can to secure strict control over society, business, and the minutest details of individual life. For, as Horner explains, if global warming really were as bad as the Leftist doomsayers insist it is, then no policy imaginable could "solve" it. According to the logic of the greens' own numbers, no matter how much we sacrifice there would still be more to do. That makes global warming the bottomless well of excuses for the relentless growth of Big Government...
Glaciers Reports Gathering Dust
Via World Net Daily link
Science Magazine:glaciers not on simple upward melting trend
http://newsbusters.org/node/10804
Published Online February 8, 2007
Science DOI: 10.1126/science.1138478
Submitted on December 6, 2006
Accepted on January 24, 2007
Rapid Changes in Ice Discharge from Greenland Outlet Glaciers
Ian M. Howat 1*, Ian R. Joughin 2, Ted A. Scambos 3
1 Polar Science Center, Applied Physics Lab, University of Washington, 1013 NE 40th Street, Seattle, WA 98105-6698, USA; National Snow and Ice Data Center, University of Colorado, 1540 30th Street, Boulder, CO, 80309-0449, USA.
2 Polar Science Center, Applied Physics Lab, University of Washington, 1013 NE 40th Street, Seattle, WA 98105-6698, USA.
3 National Snow and Ice Data Center, University of Colorado, 1540 30th Street, Boulder, CO, 80309-0449, USA.
By: University of Washington
Published: Feb 13, 2007 at 06:42
Science Magazine:glaciers not on simple upward melting trend
http://newsbusters.org/node/10804
Published Online February 8, 2007
Science DOI: 10.1126/science.1138478
Submitted on December 6, 2006
Accepted on January 24, 2007
Rapid Changes in Ice Discharge from Greenland Outlet Glaciers
Ian M. Howat 1*, Ian R. Joughin 2, Ted A. Scambos 3
1 Polar Science Center, Applied Physics Lab, University of Washington, 1013 NE 40th Street, Seattle, WA 98105-6698, USA; National Snow and Ice Data Center, University of Colorado, 1540 30th Street, Boulder, CO, 80309-0449, USA.
2 Polar Science Center, Applied Physics Lab, University of Washington, 1013 NE 40th Street, Seattle, WA 98105-6698, USA.
3 National Snow and Ice Data Center, University of Colorado, 1540 30th Street, Boulder, CO, 80309-0449, USA.
* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Ian M. Howat , E-mail: ihowat@apl.washington.edu
Using satellite-derived surface elevation and velocity data, we find major short-term variations in recent ice discharge and mass-loss at two of Greenland's largest outlet glaciers. Their combined rate of mass-loss doubled in less than a year in 2004 and then decreased in 2006 to near the previous rates, likely due to fast re-equilibration of calving front geometry following retreat. Total mass-loss is a fraction of concurrent gravity-derived estimates, pointing to an alternative source of loss and the need for high-resolution observations of outlet dynamics and glacier geometry for sea-level rise predictions.
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/1138478v1
By: University of Washington
Published: Feb 13, 2007 at 06:42
Two of Greenland's largest glaciers shrank dramatically and dumped twice as much ice into the sea during a period of less than a year between 2004 and 2005. And then, less than two years later, they returned to near their previous rates of discharge.
The variability over such a short time, reported online Feb. 9 on Science magazine's Science Express, underlines the problem in assuming that glacial melting and sea level rise will necessarily occur at a steady upward trajectory, according to lead author Ian Howat, a post-doctoral researcher with the University of Washington's Applied Physics Laboratory and the University of Colorado's National Snow and Ice Data Center. The paper comes a year after a study in the journal Science revealed that discharge from Greenland's glaciers had doubled between 2000 and 2005, leading some scientists to speculate such changes were on a steady, upward climb.
"While the rates of shrinking of these two glaciers have stabilized, we don't know whether they will remain stable, grow or continue to collapse in the near future," Howat says. That's because the glaciers' shape changed greatly, becoming stretched and thinned.
"Our main point is that the behavior of these glaciers can change a lot from year to year, so we can't assume to know the future behavior from short records of recent changes," he says. "Future warming may lead to rapid pulses of retreat and increased discharge rather than a long, steady drawdown."
The findings come on the heels of the widely publicized Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change's report issued Feb. 2. Some scientists criticized the report for disregarding the surprisingly high discharges of ice from Greenland's glaciers since 2000 when the panel estimated the amount of future sea level rise that will be caused by melting glaciers.
In the summary for policy makers (http://www.ipcc.ch/SPM2feb07.pdf), the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change explained its position saying, "Dynamical processes related to ice flow and not included in current models but suggested by recent observations could increase the vulnerability of the ice sheets to warming, increasing sea level rise. Understanding of these processes is limited and there is no consensus on their magnitude."
"I think the IPCC authors made a responsible decision in producing their estimates while noting the recent discharges are a real concern that we do not yet understand well enough to make accurate predictions," says Ian Joughin, a glaciologist with the UW's Applied Physics Laboratory and co-author on the Science Express article...
http://www.yubanet.com/artman/publish/article_51099.shtml
Snowstorm Busts Showing of Gore Film
SAVE IT FOR A SUNNY DAY: Maryville Univ. in St. Louis area cancelling screening of Al Gore's 'Inconvenient Truth' because of a snowstorm...
http://www.drudgereport.com/
HOUSE HEARING ON 'WARMING OF THE PLANET' CANCELED AFTER ICE STORM
HEARING NOTICE
Tue Feb 13 2007 19:31:25 ET
The Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality hearing scheduled for Wednesday, February 14, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. in room 2123 Rayburn House Office Building has been postponed due to inclement weather. The hearing is entitled “Climate Change: Are Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Human Activities Contributing to a Warming of the Planet?”
The hearing will be rescheduled to a date and time to be announced later...
http://www.drudgereport.com/flash8.htm
Monday, February 12, 2007
Constitutional convention reform hearing set
Not a good idea, but an expected move from the so-called reformers...
Republican state senator plans to hold the first in a series of hearings on a constitutional convention to reform state government in Pittsburgh next week.
Sen. Jeffrey Piccola, of Dauphin County, who chairs the Senate State Government Committee, said today he is inviting public comment about whether to convene a constitutional convention that could reform the Legislature and judiciary.
The first hearing is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 22 at Duquesne University's School of Law. Among those expected to testify next week are law professors who are experts in constitutional law and representatives of public interest groups who advocate government reform.
Before a constitutional convention can be held, voters would have to approve a ballot referendum seeking to reform sections pertaining to the Legislature's term limits, size and finances. Other issues could include judicial salaries, Piccola's office said.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/election/s_492866.html
Republican state senator plans to hold the first in a series of hearings on a constitutional convention to reform state government in Pittsburgh next week.
Sen. Jeffrey Piccola, of Dauphin County, who chairs the Senate State Government Committee, said today he is inviting public comment about whether to convene a constitutional convention that could reform the Legislature and judiciary.
The first hearing is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 22 at Duquesne University's School of Law. Among those expected to testify next week are law professors who are experts in constitutional law and representatives of public interest groups who advocate government reform.
Before a constitutional convention can be held, voters would have to approve a ballot referendum seeking to reform sections pertaining to the Legislature's term limits, size and finances. Other issues could include judicial salaries, Piccola's office said.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/election/s_492866.html
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Rush Holt Legislation Under Microscope
The Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act, HR 811, legislation reintroduced by Congressman Rush Holt (D-NJ), to amend the Help America Act, caused a stir a few days ago when the bill became publicly available across the internet. With the ease of Internet access, activists the across the country poured over the legislation's details, dissecting line-by-line, the bill's contents.
Election integrity organizations and notable individuals in the nationwide movement to obtain secure elections speedily raised serious concerns.
Our post Rush to Voting Security Flawed? covers the developments.
Postings at the Black Box Voting Forum indicate communications have been received from Holt's office. Noted as Holt Response, the communications appear to cover segments of the new bill undergoing critique at the BBV site.
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46591.html?1171149074
Particularly see
Citizen Scrutiny: HOLT BILL 2007 » Holt office response to continued support for DREs
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46687.html?1171153775
Kathy Dopp
http://electionarchive.org/ucvInfo/US/ChangesNeeded2HR811.pdf
Verified Voting Foundation
National: Rep. Rush Holt introduces H.R. 811, the Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2007
Congression Record
February 6th, 2007
According to page H1209 of the Congressional Record for the U.S. House of Representatives, on February 5, 2007, Rep. Rush Holt of New Jersey, along with the following original cosponsors, introduced H.R. 811, the Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2007.
This bill is now posted to the Library of Congress website. An analysis of this bill will be provided soon on Verified Voting's legislation page.http://www.verifiedvotingfoundation.org/article.php?id=6434
Election integrity organizations and notable individuals in the nationwide movement to obtain secure elections speedily raised serious concerns.
Our post Rush to Voting Security Flawed? covers the developments.
Postings at the Black Box Voting Forum indicate communications have been received from Holt's office. Noted as Holt Response, the communications appear to cover segments of the new bill undergoing critique at the BBV site.
UPDATED SUN. FEB. 11 WITH HOLT RESPONSES: SEE POST #5
- Black Box Voting has publicly come out against the Bill
- Open Voting Consortium has publicly come out against the Bill
- Brad Friedman (BradBlog) has publicly come out against the Bill
- Jon Bonifaz (VoterAction.org / Demos) has publicly come out against the Bill
- Paul Lehto has publicly come out against the Bill
- Democracy for New Hampshire has publicly come out against the Bill
- John Gideon (VotersUnite) has publicly refused to support the bill
and there will be more.
PROBLEMS WITH THE BILL
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/1954/46667.html?1171150380
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46591.html?1171149074
Particularly see
Citizen Scrutiny: HOLT BILL 2007 » Holt office response to continued support for DREs
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46687.html?1171153775
Kathy Dopp
http://electionarchive.org/ucvInfo/US/ChangesNeeded2HR811.pdf
Verified Voting Foundation
National: Rep. Rush Holt introduces H.R. 811, the Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2007
Congression Record
February 6th, 2007
According to page H1209 of the Congressional Record for the U.S. House of Representatives, on February 5, 2007, Rep. Rush Holt of New Jersey, along with the following original cosponsors, introduced H.R. 811, the Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2007.
This bill is now posted to the Library of Congress website. An analysis of this bill will be provided soon on Verified Voting's legislation page.http://www.verifiedvotingfoundation.org/article.php?id=6434
Debate North American Union
Pastor v. Corsi: The great debate over North America
Proponent of integration faces off with leading skeptic from WND
Posted: February 8, 2007
© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com
Proponent of integration faces off with leading skeptic from WND
Posted: February 8, 2007
© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com
WASHINGTON – Robert Pastor, the architect of the "North American Community" that would integrate the U.S., Mexico and Canada, will publicly debate his proposals with author and WND columnist Jerome Corsi at NEWS EXPO 2007 in Washington, May 11.
It will be the first debate of its kind between a major proponent of North American integration and an outspoken critic.
Pastor wrote "Toward a North American Community," a book promoting the development of a North American union as a regional government and the adoption of the amero as a common monetary currency to replace the dollar and the peso...
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=54151
Goodman: Global Warmer Deniers par with Holocaust Deniers
There it is in print, finally, for months the We're all global warmers, now club has been using phrasing "global warming deniers" to tag skeptics of global warming as exclusively caused by mankind's use of fossil fuels. Now we know why - they want to discredit legitimate, educated skeptics to the point of generating distain... As well, if you can't convince with scientificly proven evidence, just bring in the world's children, as Robert Bolman does If we truly love our children, we must find the strength to end our denial and do what must be done...
No change in political climate
By Ellen Goodman | February 9, 2007
On the day that the latest report on global warming was released, I went out and bought a light bulb. OK, an environmentally friendly, compact fluorescent light bulb.
By every measure, the U N 's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change raises the level of alarm. The fact of global warming is "unequivocal." The certainty of the human role is now somewhere over 90 percent. Which is about as certain as scientists ever get.
I would like to say we're at a point where global warming is impossible to deny. Let's just say that global warming deniers are now on a par with Holocaust deniers, though one denies the past and the other denies the present and future....
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2007/02/09/no_change_in_political_climate/
Hyperventilating
Bold leadership needed to avert environmental disaster
By Robert Bolman
Published: Friday, February 9, 2007
No change in political climate
By Ellen Goodman | February 9, 2007
On the day that the latest report on global warming was released, I went out and bought a light bulb. OK, an environmentally friendly, compact fluorescent light bulb.
By every measure, the U N 's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change raises the level of alarm. The fact of global warming is "unequivocal." The certainty of the human role is now somewhere over 90 percent. Which is about as certain as scientists ever get.
I would like to say we're at a point where global warming is impossible to deny. Let's just say that global warming deniers are now on a par with Holocaust deniers, though one denies the past and the other denies the present and future....
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2007/02/09/no_change_in_political_climate/
Hyperventilating
Bold leadership needed to avert environmental disaster
By Robert Bolman
Published: Friday, February 9, 2007
The Register-Guard's Feb. 3 editorial responding to the new report
from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change ended with a call
for our leaders to act with "boldness, courage, vision and, above
all, hope." Boldness, courage and vision have heretofore been
lacking, driving me to use quotation marks when referring to our
"leaders." I encourage them to think deeply about their
responsibilities to future generations as we ponder the converging
catastrophes of the 21st century.
As you read this, ice caps are melting, glaciers are retreating and
permafrost is releasing methane and carbon dioxide. This is a result
of the greenhouse gases released as of today. If the human family
were to somehow stop releasing greenhouse gases tomorrow, the global
warming trend would continue at its current rate.
As white, reflective snow and ice are replaced by dark, light-
absorbing sea water and land, the rate of global warming will
increase. Given that humans are obviously not going to stop burning
fossil fuels any time soon, the rate will accelerate further still.
The panel's report predicted a sea level rise of 7 inches to 23
inches by the end of the century, but didn't factor in the melting of
the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets. Perhaps even the IPCC wasn't
prepared to ponder a 20-foot sea level rise and hundreds of millions
of refugees. While our "leaders" talk about reducing greenhouse gas
emissions to 1990 levels by 2010, we desperately need a 90 percent
reduction now, coupled with a worldwide program of forest
restoration.
Meanwhile, Matthew Simmons, chairman of Simmons & Co. International
in Houston, a close friend of President Bush and a towering figure in
the world of petroleum exploration and development, said that the
world has now reached peak oil. Modern industrial civilization has
been built upon cheap, abundant, highly concentrated liquid
petroleum. Once on the downhill slope of the peak oil bell curve,
world petroleum production can be expected to decline 2 percent to 3
percent annually.
Try pushing your car the distance you can drive on one gallon of
gasoline. Nothing is going to fully compensate for the coming energy
shortfalls. Not hydrogen. Not biofuels. Not "technology."
The human family should have begun preparing for peak oil 20 years
ago. While our "leaders" talk about slightly increasing automobile
fuel efficiency and using different light bulbs, we desperately need
a dramatic, sweeping plan to use the remaining petroleum resources to
rebuild the world's transportation infrastructure.
The attitude shared by Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury after
his presentation of Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" slideshow Dec.
11 in Eugene is that politicians can't be expected to pass dramatic
legislation without broad public support.
It is historically true that dramatic, sweeping changes have resulted
more from popular movements than from bold leaders. But most
Americans are terribly uninformed, relying on a small handful of huge
media corporations to spoon-feed them nonsense posing as worthy
information.
We cannot allow our "leaders" to invoke a "lack of popular support"
to avoid doing what must be done. By the time rising sea levels,
worldwide famine and economic collapse awaken the masses from their
slumber, it will be too late.
Bold, visionary leadership on the converging catastrophes of climate
change and peak oil will take many forms. Locally, it will consist of
a halt to road building and development that leads to sprawl.
On the state level, it will consist of aggressively promoting
renewable energy industries and ending clear-cut logging. Gov. Ted
Kulongoski should partner with the governors of California and
Washington to build a high-speed rail system along the Interstate 5
corridor.
On the national level, a U.S. gasoline tax should be ratcheted up
incrementally to force people out of their cars. The Bush
administration's absurd military policy of aggravating the rest of
the world by trying to dominate the remaining petroleum reserves
should be replaced by exhibiting the true world leadership for which
we were once known. We should launch something akin to a global
Marshall Plan.
Our "leaders" know that doing these things would elicit deafening
howls of protest from those who benefit from business as usual. But
that outcry could serve as the perfect forum for educating the
people.
Business people would claim that real action will harm the economy,
but inaction will destroy the economy. We must all sacrifice now to
avoid a far greater sacrifice during the coming century.
If we truly love our children, we must find the strength to end our
denial and do what must be done. From Kitty Piercy to George W. Bush,
bold, visionary leadership is key.
Robert Bolman of Eugene is director of Maitreya EcoVillage (www
.maitreyaecovillage.org).
http://www.registerguard.com/news/2007/02/09/ed.col.bolman.0209.p1.php?section=opinion
The brain scan that can read people's intentions
Call for ethical debate over possible use of new technology in interrogation
Ian Sample, science correspondent Friday February 9, 2007
The Guardian
Call for ethical debate over possible use of new technology in interrogation
Ian Sample, science correspondent Friday February 9, 2007
The Guardian
A team of world-leading neuroscientists has developed a powerful technique that allows them to look deep inside a person's brain and read their intentions before they act.
The research breaks controversial new ground in scientists' ability to probe people's minds and eavesdrop on their thoughts, and raises serious ethical issues over how brain-reading technology may be used in the future.
The team used high-resolution brain scans to identify patterns of activity before translating them into meaningful thoughts, revealing what a person planned to do in the near future. It is the first time scientists have succeeded in reading intentions in this way.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/frontpage/story/0,,2009229,00.html
Friday, February 09, 2007
Rush to Voting Security Flawed?
Congressman Rush Holt has reintroduced legislation called Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act in the U.S. House of Representatives which according to Holt's press release posted on his site would require voter-verified paper ballots and random audits in elections across the United States.
clip
The legislation, this Congressional session known as House Resolution 811, however, has met with swift and steadfast opposition from national election integrity activist organizations.
In a Feb. 8, 2007 group message entitled: Beware of the Bandwagon -- A concise list of problems with Holt Bill HR 811, Black Box Voting's Bev Harris posted a listing of organizations that oppose the 2007 legislation as it is currently proposed. Harris posts a listing of co-sponsors of the bill whom she suggests should be contacted, indicating her opinion:
here are those that probably didn't read the bill very carefully and signed on as co-sponsors.
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/1954/46667.html?1170961452
The BBV Forum site continues to critique and dissect every line of the Holt legislation in what can only be termed by supporters a tireless and dedicated effort to gain legislation that fixes, rather than accepts, vulnerabilities in electronic voting identified by an array of experts across the country.
The BBV Forum has also discussed Paper Ballot Act of 2006 HR 6200 IH introduced in the 109th Congress by Dennis Kucinich, a Democratic lawmaker.
The bill states: ...require States to conduct Presidential elections using paper ballots and to count those ballots by hand, and for other purposes.
That legislation would have applied to presidential elections and required hand counting of the paper ballots.
The full bill remains posted on the site.
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/72/46645.html?1171027586
The opinion of many on the BBV Forum group leans to exclusive use of a paper ballot with hand counts.
Meanwhile, in a message posted to the VotePA message board, founder of the Pennsylvania organization, Marybeth Kuznick, presents explanations for support of the Holt legislation.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VotePA/message/2757
Kuznick guested on KDKA's radio programming Morning News with Larry Richert on Friday to discuss the Holt legislation.
Responding to a series of VotePA discussion messages alternating between raising concerns and supporting the Holt legislation, according to Kuznick, in part:
Kuznick noted in the posting she was attending DC hearings on the new legislation, and would clarify further.
Meanwhile, Nancy Tobi, (Chair, Democracy for New Hampshire) strongly rejects the Holt legislation as unveiled, noting a feature to employ text conversion process and engenders consolidation of Executive power and federal control over elections
Tobi calls "treasonous."
February 7, 2007 at 19:14:17
New Version of Holt Bill: A Giant Step Backwards
Article by Nancy Tobi, Chair, Democracy for New Hampshire and co-author of "Request by Voters" letter...
Additional developments
Feinstein hearings on electronic voting: testimony submitted to offset witness bias
By Andrea T. Novick, Esq.
Dear Mr. Ambrogi and Ms. Price,
Holt Reintroduces Voting Integrity Bill
Bill Would Require Voter-Verified Paper Ballot and Random Audits
H.R.811 : To amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require a voter-verified permanent paper ballot under title III of such Act, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Holt, Rush D. [NJ-12]
(introduced 2/5/2007) Cosponsors (182)
Committees: House Administration
Latest Major Action: 2/5/2007 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d110:9:./temp/~bd2ICd::|/bss/d110query.html|
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.R.811:
Holt legislation dissected section by section at Bev Harris' Black Box Voting...
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46591.html?1170977768
Several election integrity and security organizations and activists noted in opposition to the 2007 legislation in its current form.
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/1954/46667.html?1170961452
online at BBV Forum in pdf
Holt Bill: pdf version
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46643.html?1170881278
http://www.blackboxvoting.org/HOLT_2-5-07.pdf
For sampling pursposes only... material is cohesive and well-documented
Pg.1 Lines 1-5 -- Section 1: Holt Bill description
"Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2007"
from Paul Lehto:
Also see
Paul Lehto Retained By Election Integrity Advocates In San Diego
Breaking!
Guest blogged by Emily Levy of the California Election Protection Network and the CA-50 Action Committee
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=3113
Ben Olasov Posted on Thursday, February 08, 2007 - 05:44 pm:
More
Discussion Nancy Tobi piece including
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46615.html?1170942304
Dopp letter and signers
http://electionarchive.org/ucvInfo/US/Letter2Congress.pdf
VotersUnite.org news and postings and BradBlog news and postings regarding the Holt legislation
John Gideon presents a case for the necessity of amendments
Daily Voting News
By John Gideon, VotersUnite.org
February 07, 2007
By John Gideon, VotersUnite.org
February 06, 2007
BLOGGED BY John Bonifaz ON 2/6/2007 3:51PM
Why the Holt Election Reform Bill Must be Amended to Guarantee a Real Paper Ballot
Guest Blogger and Constitutional Attorney John Bonifaz on Concerns About Holt's 'Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2007' (HR 811)
Velvet Revolution and Others Call on Congress to Enact Paper Ballot Legislation!
Paper Ballot Campaign Letter Specifies 'Paper Ballots,' Not 'Paper Records' or 'Paper Trails'
Press releases republished
EFF highlights introduction of the legislation
https://secure.eff.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=109
Holt Reintroduces Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act
By Rep. Rush Holt Press Release
February 06, 2007
Bill Would Require Voter-Verified Paper Ballot and Random Audits
Rep. Rush Holt today reintroduced the Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act (HR 811), landmark legislation that would amend the Help America Vote Act to protect the verifiability and accessibility of elections...
http://votetrustusa.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2243&Itemid=371
Press Center Common Cause
For Immediate Release Contact: Mary Boyle
February 6, 2007 (202)736-5770
Congress must pass voting integrity legislation to restore public confidence
Common Cause applauds Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ) for introducing the Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act, which would require a voter-verified paper ballot for every vote cast and require routine random audits of paper ballots by hand count...
http://www.commoncause.org/site/apps/nl/content2.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=194883&ct=3524699
http://www.brennancenter.org/
Brennan Center Letter to Rep. Rush Holt
Feb. 1, 2007 Audits
http://www.brennancenter.org/dynamic/subpages/download_file_47860.pdf
Also see
Press Releases
Senate Committee on Rules and Administration Holds First Senate Hearings on Voting Machines February 7, 2007
Read Brennan Center Executive Director MIchael Waldman's testimony before Sen. Diane Feinstein's Committee.
http://brennancenter.org/dynamic/subpages/download_file_47870.pdf
electionline report makes references to other organizations, etc.
February 8, 2007
electionline.org
I. In Focus This Week
Rep. Rush Holt Reintroduces Updated Paper Trail, Audit Bill
New Jersey lawmaker is optimistic for success on Capitol Hill
By Sean Greene
electionline.org
Tuesday, February 6
Dan Tokaji Equal Vote Blog
The Latest Version of the Holt Bill
More
July 18, 2006 John Gideon explains on another issue
clip
The Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act would require a voter-verified paper ballot for every vote cast, which would become the ballot of record in the event of any recount or audit. It would require routine random audits of paper ballots by hand count in a percentage of voting precincts in each Congressional District. It would also take steps to make elections more publicly transparent by allowing for the inspection of voting system software. It would require documenting a secure chain of custody for voting systems and prohibit conflicts of interest involving vendors. It would keep the election process accessible to voters with disabilities, and authorize federal funding to help states meet the requirements...
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/nj12_holt/020607.html
The legislation, this Congressional session known as House Resolution 811, however, has met with swift and steadfast opposition from national election integrity activist organizations.
In a Feb. 8, 2007 group message entitled: Beware of the Bandwagon -- A concise list of problems with Holt Bill HR 811, Black Box Voting's Bev Harris posted a listing of organizations that oppose the 2007 legislation as it is currently proposed. Harris posts a listing of co-sponsors of the bill whom she suggests should be contacted, indicating her opinion:
here are those that probably didn't read the bill very carefully and signed on as co-sponsors.
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/1954/46667.html?1170961452
The BBV Forum site continues to critique and dissect every line of the Holt legislation in what can only be termed by supporters a tireless and dedicated effort to gain legislation that fixes, rather than accepts, vulnerabilities in electronic voting identified by an array of experts across the country.
The BBV Forum has also discussed Paper Ballot Act of 2006 HR 6200 IH introduced in the 109th Congress by Dennis Kucinich, a Democratic lawmaker.
The bill states: ...require States to conduct Presidential elections using paper ballots and to count those ballots by hand, and for other purposes.
That legislation would have applied to presidential elections and required hand counting of the paper ballots.
The full bill remains posted on the site.
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/72/46645.html?1171027586
The opinion of many on the BBV Forum group leans to exclusive use of a paper ballot with hand counts.
Meanwhile, in a message posted to the VotePA message board, founder of the Pennsylvania organization, Marybeth Kuznick, presents explanations for support of the Holt legislation.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VotePA/message/2757
Kuznick guested on KDKA's radio programming Morning News with Larry Richert on Friday to discuss the Holt legislation.
Responding to a series of VotePA discussion messages alternating between raising concerns and supporting the Holt legislation, according to Kuznick, in part:
Holt is NOT a bad bill. It is not a perfect bill either. I think it
is basically an ACHIEVABLE bill and that is the key.
It is a bill that contains input from dozens of local, state, and
national groups along with concerns for what happened in the 2006
primaries and general elections. Filtered, yes. A compromise in many
cases, maybe. But something that genuinely has a chance of actually
PASSING.
There are major national organizations supporting this bill
(VoteTrustUSA, Common Cause, PFAW, VerifiedVoting, etc.)
Approximately 25 state election integrity groups endorse it (and
another half dozen or more that endorse it provisionally meaning they
want to see it with amendments.) Know that Brad Friedman, John Bonifaz, John Gideon, etc. are NOT against this bill per se. They want to see amendments.
Well there WILL be amendments. That is the process...
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VotePA/message/2757
Kuznick noted in the posting she was attending DC hearings on the new legislation, and would clarify further.
Meanwhile, Nancy Tobi, (Chair, Democracy for New Hampshire) strongly rejects the Holt legislation as unveiled, noting a feature to employ text conversion process and engenders consolidation of Executive power and federal control over elections
Tobi calls "treasonous."
February 7, 2007 at 19:14:17
New Version of Holt Bill: A Giant Step Backwards
Article by Nancy Tobi, Chair, Democracy for New Hampshire and co-author of "Request by Voters" letter...
You can keep arguing the merits of this audit method or that, this paper trail or that, but the Holt Bill has two poison pills in it that can not be argued away:
1) huge unfunded mandate for text-to-audio conversion technology
2) consolidation of Executive power and control over Federal elections.
We must fight this treasonous bill and call it for what it is: ANTI-DEMOCRATIC.
It is bad enough that the authors of this bill, two years following the NASS resolution to sunset the Election Assistance Commission (EAC), and after more than a years' worth of activist pleadings to get rid of this growing little monster, the EAC, cement it as a permanent Executive agency in his new bill.
Bad enough that the authors of this bill are comfortable handing over control of federal elections to the White House. This is treasonous in and of itself.
But on top of this unseemly and anti democratic motion, the new Holt bill insinuates a whole new technoelection industrial toy into every polling place in the nation...
http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_nancy_to_070207_new_version_of_holt_.htm
Additional developments
Feinstein hearings on electronic voting: testimony submitted to offset witness bias
By Andrea T. Novick, Esq.
Dear Mr. Ambrogi and Ms. Price,
I understand the public has 5 days from the Hearings held today (February 7, 2007) to submit comment which will be accepted by the committee. Please advise if I am incorrect about that.
I listened to the Hearing this morning and while I greatly appreciate that someone is finally paying attention to what will one day be seen as the greatest crime in the history of this country, I was deeply dismayed by many of the comments from those you'd called to testify...
http://www.democracyfornewhampshire.com/node/view/3436
Holt Reintroduces Voting Integrity Bill
Bill Would Require Voter-Verified Paper Ballot and Random Audits
Washington, D.C. --- Rep. Rush Holt today reintroduced the Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act, landmark legislation that would amend the Help America Vote Act to protect the verifiability and accessibility of elections.
“Until we require that voting systems produce a voter-verified paper ballot, the results of our elections will always be uncertain,” said Rep. Holt. “All Americans deserve to be confident that their vote will be counted, and it is my hope that the 110th Congress will act soon to pass legislation that will ensure elections are fair, accessible, and auditable.”
The Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act would require a voter-verified paper ballot for every vote cast, which would become the ballot of record in the event of any recount or audit. It would require routine random audits of paper ballots by hand count in a percentage of voting precincts in each Congressional District. It would also take steps to make elections more publicly transparent by allowing for the inspection of voting system software. It would require documenting a secure chain of custody for voting systems and prohibit conflicts of interest involving vendors. It would keep the election process accessible to voters with disabilities, and authorize federal funding to help states meet the requirements.
Holt first introduced legislation requiring that electronic voting machines produce a voter-verified paper ballot in the 108th Congress. In the 109th Congress, the Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act (H.R. 550) had the support of 222 bipartisan cosponsors, more than a majority of the U.S. House of Representatives. Despite this fact, it was not brought to the House floor for a vote.
Holt called on Congress to pass his legislation soon, in order to assure enough implementation time for the 2008 presidential election...
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/nj12_holt/020607.html
H.R.811 : To amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require a voter-verified permanent paper ballot under title III of such Act, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Holt, Rush D. [NJ-12]
(introduced 2/5/2007) Cosponsors (182)
Committees: House Administration
Latest Major Action: 2/5/2007 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d110:9:./temp/~bd2ICd::|/bss/d110query.html|
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.R.811:
Holt legislation dissected section by section at Bev Harris' Black Box Voting...
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46591.html?1170977768
Several election integrity and security organizations and activists noted in opposition to the 2007 legislation in its current form.
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/1954/46667.html?1170961452
online at BBV Forum in pdf
Holt Bill: pdf version
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46643.html?1170881278
http://www.blackboxvoting.org/HOLT_2-5-07.pdf
For sampling pursposes only... material is cohesive and well-documented
The bill's audits are insufficient (to detect and correct errors and fraud), give officials far too much discretion, and are anything but transparent. I have very little hope of remedying those defects, but there are some major legal defects that we should try to remedy.
First, sec.2(a)(2)(B)(iii) says:
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46643.html?1170881278
Pg.1 Lines 1-5 -- Section 1: Holt Bill description
"Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2007"
from Paul Lehto:
quote:
The "new" Holt bill is a deceptive and fraudulent bill.
Why?
It uses the term "Ballot" to mean nothing much more than the old-fashioned "paper records" under the original "old" HR550 --- in other words in the "new" Holt "ballot" actually means something that will NEVER get counted on the FIRST count. Under the "new" Holt bill, just like under the old one, they will still count the electronic votes FIRST and release those as the results on election night, and the paper "ballots" only count (again just like the old Holt bill) if the audits show discrepancies...
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46599.html?1170977768
Also see
Paul Lehto Retained By Election Integrity Advocates In San Diego
Breaking!
Guest blogged by Emily Levy of the California Election Protection Network and the CA-50 Action Committee
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=3113
Ben Olasov Posted on Thursday, February 08, 2007 - 05:44 pm:
What's especially concerning about this isn't just the number and severity of the flaws - or the cost, it's the lack of anything resembling a meaningful public debate on the issues. Specifically, why isn't the review process for a bill like this /required/ to engage election integrity advocacy groups like BBV in the first place?? Just basic common sense says you want to know about any design flaws in the bill /before/ it comes up for a vote. This is like starting a large-scale construction project without doing an environmental impact study - only worse. Is anyone pushing for change in the protocol for reviewing bills like this?
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/1954/46649.html#POST33039
More
Discussion Nancy Tobi piece including
TEXT-TO-AUDIO TECHNOELECTION TOY TIMELINE:
August 2005
The EAC Standards Board meets to review the recommendations for the 2005 Voluntary Voting System Guidelines (VVSG), which will become the basis for federal recommendations, testing, and certification of e-voting equipment.
In the link here you will find the resolutions from the EAC Standards Board August 2005 meeting, in which they recommended removing all language referencing text conversion from the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines (VVSG):...
December 2005
http://www.eac.gov/VVSG%20Volume_II.pdf
http://www.bbvdocs.org/EAC/Standards-Board-Final-Resolution-As-Amended.pdf
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/1954/46649.html?1171062318
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46615.html?1170942304
Dopp letter and signers
http://electionarchive.org/ucvInfo/US/Letter2Congress.pdf
VotersUnite.org news and postings and BradBlog news and postings regarding the Holt legislation
John Gideon presents a case for the necessity of amendments
Daily Voting News
By John Gideon, VotersUnite.org
February 07, 2007
As related by John Bonifaz of Demos and the National Voting Rights Institute, in a blog on BradBlog.Com, “[Yesterday], Congressman Rush Holt introduced H.R. 811, a bill trumpeted as requiring “a voter-verified permanent paper ballot.” But before we all jump on this train as the new guarantee that our votes will be properly counted in future elections, we ought to beware of the warning flag. A paper trail from DRE (Direct Recording Electronic, usually touch-screen) machines cannot protect the integrity of our elections.” And “the Holt bill tries to say it is requiring a paper ballot even for DREs, but, in the end, a DRE "paper ballot" is nothing more than a paper trail, which requires voters to verify their votes after they have cast them in the DRE machines...
http://votetrustusa.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=2&Itemid=1032
By John Gideon, VotersUnite.org
February 06, 2007
Today has been a huge news day. Two bills were filed in Congress; one that we support (HR-756) and one that we don’t. HR-811 (the new HR-550) was filed, with 168 co-sponsors, and became the new Holt Bill. Newspapers began writing editorials and voicing their opinions before any of them could have read the bill. Many groups tripped over themselves in a race to endorse the bill; some without ever having read its contents. One group began, two weeks ago, asking their members to begin making calls to support the bill which was then changed more than once in the ensuing period. VotersUnite will not support this legislation because of its allowance for the continued use of DREs and its corruption of “paper ballot”. At this time, we will also not work against those groups who wish to support the bill. Instead we will stand neutral and report the facts, and an occasional opinion, as we have always done.
http://www.votetrustusa.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2247&Itemid=1032
BLOGGED BY John Bonifaz ON 2/6/2007 3:51PM
Why the Holt Election Reform Bill Must be Amended to Guarantee a Real Paper Ballot
Guest Blogger and Constitutional Attorney John Bonifaz on Concerns About Holt's 'Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2007' (HR 811)
Today, Congressman Rush Holt introduced H.R. 811 [PDF], a bill trumpeted as requiring “a voter-verified permanent paper ballot.” But before we all jump on this train as the new guarantee that our votes will be properly counted in future elections, we ought to beware of the warning flag. A paper trail from DRE (Direct Recording Electronic, usually touch-screen) machines cannot protect the integrity of our elections.
Here’s the bottom line: The DRE technology is fundamentally flawed for recording and counting our votes. The Holt bill, unless amended, will further codify into law the use of this technology, piling onto the disaster of HAVA (the Help America Vote Act of 2002) a new disaster...
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=4125
Velvet Revolution and Others Call on Congress to Enact Paper Ballot Legislation!
Paper Ballot Campaign Letter Specifies 'Paper Ballots,' Not 'Paper Records' or 'Paper Trails'
Groups Seek Your Endorsement--Email Congress Now!
VoterAction.org, VotersUnite.org, VelvetRevolution.us, National Voting Rights Institute, Demos, TrueMajorityAction and the Dolores Huerta Foundation, along with dozens of other election integrity groups across the nation, today call upon Congress to introduce and enact legislation ensuring a paper ballot for every vote cast in the United States in time for the 2008 election. This legislation could take the form of an amended version of Rep. Rush Holt's bill known as HR-550, which is currently being rewritten for re-introduction in the new Congress.
While many changes to the U.S. election system are needed, we believe that a paper ballot for every vote cast is an absolutely unassailable requirement of any election reform. This is why we have launched the Paper Ballot Campaign...
http://www.velvetrevolution.us/electionstrikeforce/2006/12/velvet_revolution_and_others_l_1.html
Press releases republished
EFF highlights introduction of the legislation
https://secure.eff.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=109
Holt Reintroduces Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act
By Rep. Rush Holt Press Release
February 06, 2007
Bill Would Require Voter-Verified Paper Ballot and Random Audits
Rep. Rush Holt today reintroduced the Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act (HR 811), landmark legislation that would amend the Help America Vote Act to protect the verifiability and accessibility of elections...
http://votetrustusa.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2243&Itemid=371
Press Center Common Cause
For Immediate Release Contact: Mary Boyle
February 6, 2007 (202)736-5770
Congress must pass voting integrity legislation to restore public confidence
Common Cause applauds Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ) for introducing the Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act, which would require a voter-verified paper ballot for every vote cast and require routine random audits of paper ballots by hand count...
http://www.commoncause.org/site/apps/nl/content2.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=194883&ct=3524699
http://www.brennancenter.org/
Brennan Center Letter to Rep. Rush Holt
Feb. 1, 2007 Audits
http://www.brennancenter.org/dynamic/subpages/download_file_47860.pdf
Also see
Press Releases
Senate Committee on Rules and Administration Holds First Senate Hearings on Voting Machines February 7, 2007
Read Brennan Center Executive Director MIchael Waldman's testimony before Sen. Diane Feinstein's Committee.
http://brennancenter.org/dynamic/subpages/download_file_47870.pdf
electionline report makes references to other organizations, etc.
February 8, 2007
electionline.org
I. In Focus This Week
Rep. Rush Holt Reintroduces Updated Paper Trail, Audit Bill
New Jersey lawmaker is optimistic for success on Capitol Hill
By Sean Greene
electionline.org
After more than three years of fits and starts in Congress, a new bill authored by Rep. Rush Holt (D-N.J.) requiring voter-verified paper ballots and random audits might have its best chance yet of becoming law.
With a new Democratic majority, voting troubles last November in many areas of the country, legislative activity in the states and most recently, a $32 million plan in Florida to scrap electronic voting machines in favor of paper-based optical-scan systems, Holt said the ingredients for success are in place.
“I don’t anticipate any organized effort to stop it,” he stated at a press conference reintroducing the bill. “The political situation is strong.”
The Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act, H.R.811 amending the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), currently has 179 co-sponsors. He not only expects it to pass, but to be implemented in time for the November 2008 election.
“Until we require that voting systems produce a voter-verified paper ballot, the results of our elections will always be uncertain,” he stated.
At 47 pages, the bill covers a range of issues...
http://www.electionline.org/Newsletters/tabid/87/ctl/Detail/mid/643/xmid/237/xmfid/3/Default.aspx
Tuesday, February 6
Dan Tokaji Equal Vote Blog
The Latest Version of the Holt Bill
Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ) has introduced another version of his bill (H.R. 811) to require that all voting systems generate a "voter-verified" paper ballot. It would authorize $300 million for fisacal year 2007 to meet the new requirements. I've commented on the problems with this sort of requirement numerous times in the past, including here and here, and little would be gained by again replaying that debate. Suffice it to say that, whatever problems exist with electronic voting, it remains doubtful at best that attaching a printer will provide a workable and effective solution.
As with previous versions of the Holt bill, there are some good things here, most notably a provision clarifying that individuals may bring private lawsuits to enforce the technology and administration requirements of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA). Also, the bill would extend the authorization of the Election Assistance Commission (EAC). Other aspects of the bill, however, are cause for concern.
One is a provision that the paper records aren't just to be used to audit the accuracy of machines, but to "be used as the official ballots for purposes of any recount" of a federal election. This is asking for trouble, in my view, in places where the system used to comply with the bill is an electronic system with a paper printout...
http://moritzlaw.osu.edu/blogs/tokaji/2007/02/latest-version-of-holt-bill.html
More
July 18, 2006 John Gideon explains on another issue
I have never received any funds from Donna Curling or ChoicePoint. I have never received any funds for any reason from VoteTrustUSA. I am not a "Director" of VoteTrustUSA because there are NO Directors. There is a 'core group' of which I am a member...
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/1954/17778.html?1153513020#POST26185
Anna Nicole Smith deceased (formerly Ann Coulter tells...)
Anna Nicole Smith is Dead
Posted Feb 8th 2007 9:00PM by TMZ Staff
Filed under: Anna Nicole Smith
Former Playboy Playmate and TRIMSPA spokesperson Anna Nicole Smith died Thursday afternoon after she was discovered unconscious in her hotel room at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida. She was 39.
Cops say Smith's private nurse called a hotel operator at 1:38 PM EST. Before paramedics arrived on scene, Smith's bodyguard performed CPR. One of the first paramedics to arrive claimed that she was dead when he got there. Smith was rushed to Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood. An autopsy is scheduled for tomorrow.
The following is a detailed timeline of how today's shocking events unfolded...
http://wwww.tmz.com/2007/02/08/anna-nicole-smith-collapses/
KDKA - Ann Coulter Tells Larry About Devil Liberals
The KDKA Morning News with Larry Richert ... Catch up with Larry, John, Shelley and the KDKA ...
http://www.kdkaradio.com
http://www.kdkaradio.com/play_window.php?audioType=Episode&audioId=74878
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Congressmen Call Investigation Homeland Security
Lou Dobbs reporting two congressmen are calling for a full investigation of Homeland Security Department regarding the case of the two border patrol agents, Ramos and Compean...
Rep. Ted Poe and Culbertson
looks like a clear case of direct lying, says Dobbs.
Yes, the pair agree... asked for documents, and through FOIA, able to obtain docs that didn't concur with what we were told...
Must get an appeals bond, so these men can be out of prison pending an appeal...
Jeffrey Toobin interviewed...
Author of DHS border-agent report lied to Congress
Senate Democrats give Feinstein OK to hold hearing on Ramos-Compean
Posted: February 8, 2007
By Jerome R. Corsi© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com
clip
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=54156
Officials urged to resign for lie about border agents
Congressman calls for ouster of DHS deputies after IG admits agency gave false information
Posted: February 7, 2007
© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=54142
Rep. Ted Poe and Culbertson
looks like a clear case of direct lying, says Dobbs.
Yes, the pair agree... asked for documents, and through FOIA, able to obtain docs that didn't concur with what we were told...
Must get an appeals bond, so these men can be out of prison pending an appeal...
Jeffrey Toobin interviewed...
Author of DHS border-agent report lied to Congress
Senate Democrats give Feinstein OK to hold hearing on Ramos-Compean
Posted: February 8, 2007
By Jerome R. Corsi© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com
clip
The controversy dates back to a Sept. 26 meeting Redman and three other DHS investigators had with Poe, Culberson and two other Republican members of the Texas delegation, Reps. Michael McCaul and Kenny Merchant.
Skinner testified under oath Tuesday before the Subcommittee on Homeland Security of the House Appropriations Committee his investigators "misrepresented" to the Texas delegation that Ramos and Compean said they wanted "to shoot some Mexicans" the day of Feb. 17, 2005, incident in which a drug smuggler escaped across the border after a confrontation with the agents.
In a telephone interview today, WND asked Poe if he agreed that Redman should resign.
"There has to be some kind of consequence for misleading members of Congress in this investigation," he replied. "This was not a statement that the pickup was green when it turned out to be blue."
Poe emphasized the "misleading information went to the crux of the government's case that there was some kind of a so-called 'conspiracy' among these two Border Patrol agents to go out that day and shoot some foreign nationals."
"That was a total fabrication," he said.
Poe said that if the Justice Department does not look into the DHS misrepresentations, then "Congress will just have to weigh in on its options."
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=54156
Officials urged to resign for lie about border agents
Congressman calls for ouster of DHS deputies after IG admits agency gave false information
Posted: February 7, 2007
© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=54142
Rudy Giuliani: Opposes Abortion Believes Woman's Right to Choose
Will Rudy change his position on his pro-choice stance? He's polling ahead now, regardless, will he outdistance the closest competition with a more conservative position on the abortion question?
Discussed on Fox News Network Greg Jarrett? two guests didn't think the book Grand Illusion assertions would have much effect on the candidacy of Rudy Giuliani
Grand Illusion
The Untold Story of Rudy Giuliani and 9/11
By Wayne Barrett, Dan Collins
http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9780060536602/Grand_Illusion/index.aspx
More
He's Ready! Rudy Giuliani Talks with Sean Hannity
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
This is a partial transcript from "Hannity & Colmes," February 5, 2007, that has been edited for clarity.
SEAN HANNITY, CO-HOST: And welcome to "Hannity & Colmes." Thank you for being with us. I'm Sean Hannity.
And we get right to our top story tonight. Earlier today, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani filed "statement of candidacy" papers with the Federal Elections Commission. Mayor Giuliani joins us now for a “Hannity & Colmes” exclusive interview!
clip
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,250497,00.html
Discussed on Fox News Network Greg Jarrett? two guests didn't think the book Grand Illusion assertions would have much effect on the candidacy of Rudy Giuliani
Grand Illusion
The Untold Story of Rudy Giuliani and 9/11
By Wayne Barrett, Dan Collins
http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9780060536602/Grand_Illusion/index.aspx
More
He's Ready! Rudy Giuliani Talks with Sean Hannity
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
This is a partial transcript from "Hannity & Colmes," February 5, 2007, that has been edited for clarity.
SEAN HANNITY, CO-HOST: And welcome to "Hannity & Colmes." Thank you for being with us. I'm Sean Hannity.
And we get right to our top story tonight. Earlier today, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani filed "statement of candidacy" papers with the Federal Elections Commission. Mayor Giuliani joins us now for a “Hannity & Colmes” exclusive interview!
clip
HANNITY: Where does Rudy Giuliani stand on abortion? And do you think Roe v. Wade is a good law, a bad law?
GIULIANI: Where I stand on abortion is, I oppose it. I don't like it. I hate it. I think abortion is something that, as a personal matter, I would advise somebody against.
However, I believe in a woman's right to choose. I think you have to ultimately not put a woman in jail for that, and I think ultimately you have to leave that to a disagreement of conscience and you have to respect the choice that somebody makes.
So what I do say to conservatives, because then, you know, you want to look at, well, OK, what can we look to that is similar to the way we think? I think the appointment of judges that I would make would be very similar to, if not exactly the same as, the last two judges that were appointed.
Chief Justice Roberts is somebody I work with, somebody I admire, Justice Alito someone I knew when he was U.S. attorney, also admire. If I had been president over the last four years, I can't think of any, you know, that I'd do anything different with that.
And I guess the key to it is -- and I appointed over 100 judges when I was the mayor -- so it's something I take very, very seriously -- I would appoint judges that interpreted the Constitution rather than invented it, understood the difference between being a judge and being a legislator. And having argued a case before the Supreme Court, having argued in many, many courts is something I would take very, very seriously.
HANNITY: So you would look for a Scalia, a Roberts, an Alito?
GIULIANI: Scalia is another former colleague of mine and somebody I consider to be a really great judge. I mean, that would be -- you're never going to get somebody exactly the same. You're never -- and I don't think you have a litmus test. But I do think you have sort of a general philosophical approach that you want from a justice, and I think a strict constructionist would be probably the way I'd describe it.
HANNITY: Is "Roe" a bad law?
GIULIANI: I think that's up to the court to decide. I think that it's been precedent for a very, very long time. There are questions about the way it was decided and some of the bases for it. At this point, it's precedent. It's going to be very interesting to see what Chief Justice Roberts and what Justices Scalia and Alito do with it.
I think probably they're going to limit it rather than overturn it. In other words, they'll accept some of the limitations that different states have placed on it or the federal government has placed on it.
HANNITY: Partial birth?
GIULIANI: Partial-birth abortion, I think that's going to be upheld. I think that ban is going to be upheld. I think it should be. And I think, as long as there's provision for the life of the mother, then that's something that should be done.
HANNITY: There's a misconception that you supported partial-birth abortion.
GIULIANI: Yes, well, if it doesn't have a provision for the life of the mother, then I wouldn't support the legislation. If it has provision for the life of the mother, then I would support it...
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,250497,00.html
Rush Holt Paper Record Audit Bill Analyzed
analysis of Rush Holt bill
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46643.html?1170881278
Alan Dechert (OVC) opinion of the Holt Bill
Posted on Wednesday, February 07, 2007
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/8/46656.html?1170906729
http://noleakybuckets.org/holt2007.html
January 10, 2007
Talking Points
The Good News (Really) About Voting Machines
By ADAM COHEN
http://select.nytimes.com/2007/01/10/opinion/11talkingpoints.html?pagewanted=1
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46643.html?1170881278
Alan Dechert (OVC) opinion of the Holt Bill
Posted on Wednesday, February 07, 2007
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/8/46656.html?1170906729
http://noleakybuckets.org/holt2007.html
January 10, 2007
Talking Points
The Good News (Really) About Voting Machines
By ADAM COHEN
In the summer of 2004, I attended a national meeting of state election directors, and one of the biggest laugh lines was how activists were demanding that electronic voting machines produce a paper record of every vote cast.
An election official stood in front of the group, produced a roll of paper and started to unroll it while saying, to the delight of many in the audience, that the paper record would have to be mighty long to record all of the votes on a California ballot. Ha! Ha! Ridiculous!
The tinfoil-hat-wearing conspiracy nuts who hate electronic voting could complain all they wanted, the consensus in the room seemed to be, but paper records for electronic voting were impractical and unnecessary, and they were not going to happen.
What a difference two years makes.
Today, 27 states including such large ones as California, New York, Illinois and Ohio require electronic voting machines to produce a voter-verified paper trail. There is paper-trail legislation pending in a dozen more states.
And with the Democrats now in control, Congress appears poised to pass a strong federal law requiring electronic voting machines to produce paper records.
...V. Poised for Victory at the National Level
Having electronic voting machines that can be trusted should not be a partisan issue, but for some reason it has been.
Democratic members of Congress have introduced most of the bills to require paper trails for electronic voting. (One notable exception: Senator John Ensign, Republican of Nevada, has a paper trail bill. In 1998, Senator Ensign lost a Senate race to Harry Reid, now the new Senate majority leader, by fewer than 500 votes.) The Republican leadership prevented those bills from coming to the floor.
With the Democrats now in charge, there is an excellent chance that a federal law requiring a paper trail will pass.
Senator Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California, is the new chairwoman of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, which has jurisdiction over election law. Last October, Senator Feinstein announced that she intends to introduce legislation requiring paper trails and mandatory, random audits early in the new session.
Representative Rush Holt, Democrat of New Jersey, plans to push a paper trail bill in the House. Mr. Holt’s bill, called the Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act, has more than 220 bipartisan sponsors.
If paper trail legislation is passed, there is certainly a chance that President Bush will veto it. But it is unclear whether a president who was put in office by the Supreme Court after an electoral system meltdown and who has vetoed so few bills would want to end his presidency by vetoing a popular bill to ensure the integrity of American democracy. In any case, given the growing bipartisan support for paper trails, it is not out of the question that a veto could be overridden...
http://select.nytimes.com/2007/01/10/opinion/11talkingpoints.html?pagewanted=1
Pelosi Peter Pan
Pelosi Peter Pan Syndrome
Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, wants to fly without refueling the plane. That's her reasoning for the taxpayers' funded jet Pelosi wants to use.
Gotta love and enjoy this headline
Air travel flap circles over Pelosi
The House speaker says she simply wants to fly home without refueling. Critics call it an abuse of power.
By Faye Fiore and Julian E. Barnes, Times Staff Writers
February 8, 2007
Notice the careful wording "in an attempt to paint"
clip
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-pelosi8feb08,1,5334029.story?coll=la-headlines-nation&track=crosspromo
See what they link about the West Wing
http://www.factbites.com/topics/Pilot-(The-West-Wing)
Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, wants to fly without refueling the plane. That's her reasoning for the taxpayers' funded jet Pelosi wants to use.
Gotta love and enjoy this headline
Air travel flap circles over Pelosi
The House speaker says she simply wants to fly home without refueling. Critics call it an abuse of power.
By Faye Fiore and Julian E. Barnes, Times Staff Writers
February 8, 2007
Notice the careful wording "in an attempt to paint"
clip
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's aides say she just wants to get home to California now and then and would like to do it in a plane that can make it all the way without stopping to refuel.
Critics say the San Francisco Democrat is abusing the perks of power by attempting to commandeer a fancy jumbo-size military jet with a "distinguished visitor compartment with sleep accommodations."
The flap over how the House speaker gets around has been circling over Washington since last week, but on Wednesday, it landed.
"Flying Lincoln bedroom," Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) said in a story stripped across the top of the conservative-leaning Washington Times.
"Pelosi One," Rep. Patrick T. McHenry (R-N.C.) said in the same article.
"Ridiculous," Pelosi spokesman Brendan Daly countered after his boss was peppered with questions at the tail-end of an event with Iraq war veterans.
At issue is what kind of aircraft the House speaker — second in line to the presidency — should use to get around the country. For years, speakers flew commercial like everybody else in Congress. But after the Sept. 11 attacks, it was deemed that anyone two heartbeats away from the presidency warranted a military jet.
Until now, the only speaker affected was Republican J. Dennis Hastert, who commuted to his Illinois district in small executive-style military jets.
But those aircraft require ideal weather conditions to make the cross-country trip without stopping to refuel.
The military passenger plane that can make the flight in any weather and also provide the communications necessary to stay in contact with the White House is the bigger and costlier C-40 — described by the Air Force as an "office in the sky" with beds, two galleys and business-class seating.
It's this plane that critics have flogged for a week in an attempt to paint Pelosi as a San Francisco elitist who wants to fly around in splendor with family and friends...
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-pelosi8feb08,1,5334029.story?coll=la-headlines-nation&track=crosspromo
See what they link about the West Wing
http://www.factbites.com/topics/Pilot-(The-West-Wing)
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Poll on Global Warming
Congressional Poll on global warming mankind's contribution revealing
Do You think it's been proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the earth is warming because of man-made problems?
Democrats = 95 % yes
Republicans = 13 % yes
SEE SITE FOR MORE DETAILS
http://syndication.nationaljournal.com/images/203Insiderspoll_NJlogo.pdf
Do You think it's been proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the earth is warming because of man-made problems?
Democrats = 95 % yes
Republicans = 13 % yes
SEE SITE FOR MORE DETAILS
http://syndication.nationaljournal.com/images/203Insiderspoll_NJlogo.pdf
Sensenbrenner Says Real ID Not National ID
Interviewed on Lou Dobbs Tonight
Real ID actually prevents a national id so says Sensenbrenner - he opposes having a national ID and says this isn't a national ID.
OK, but the a federal mandating of the ID with certain biometric chip features is defacto a national ID, isn't it? Does this sound Orwellian?
sensenbrenner real id act
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=sensenbrenner+real+id+act&btnG=Google+Search
Real ID actually prevents a national id so says Sensenbrenner - he opposes having a national ID and says this isn't a national ID.
OK, but the a federal mandating of the ID with certain biometric chip features is defacto a national ID, isn't it? Does this sound Orwellian?
sensenbrenner real id act
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=sensenbrenner+real+id+act&btnG=Google+Search
Gore Charge Slanderous Says Global Warming Skeptic
Christopher Horner visits with John Gibson to discuss global warming and Al Gore. Gore is charging skeptics are being paid off, such as American Enterprise Institute offering remuneration for those who could debunk global warming.
Horner says Gore is slandering people... he's appealing to his European constituency... can't imagine this is a sane approach to the White House... hopes not...
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Gore sharply criticizes global warming critics
MADRID, Spain (CNN) -- Former Vice President Al Gore sharply condemned critics of global warming, in an interview Tuesday with Cuatro, a television channel in Spain and a CNN affiliate.
http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/blogs/politicalticker/2007/02/gore-says-bush-administration-paying.html
Follow along carefully now...
Cut & paste: UN report contradicts exaggerations by Al Gore and co
February 08, 2007
Environmentalist Bjorn Lomborg, in Project Syndicate, on the panic mongering over global warming
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21188104-7583,00.html
More
Global warming debate spurs Ore. title tiff
06:51 AM PST on Wednesday, February 7, 2007
By VINCE PATTON, KGW Staff
http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_020607_news_taylor_title.59f5d04a.html
Del. scientist's view on climate change criticized
Ties to big oil, industry-funded lobbies draw fire
By Jeff Montgomery
The News Journal
http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070206/NEWS01/70206001/1002
Horner says Gore is slandering people... he's appealing to his European constituency... can't imagine this is a sane approach to the White House... hopes not...
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Gore sharply criticizes global warming critics
MADRID, Spain (CNN) -- Former Vice President Al Gore sharply condemned critics of global warming, in an interview Tuesday with Cuatro, a television channel in Spain and a CNN affiliate.
http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/blogs/politicalticker/2007/02/gore-says-bush-administration-paying.html
Follow along carefully now...
Cut & paste: UN report contradicts exaggerations by Al Gore and co
February 08, 2007
Environmentalist Bjorn Lomborg, in Project Syndicate, on the panic mongering over global warming
LOST among the hype [that greeted the report of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change last week] is the unexciting fact that this report is actually no more dire than the IPCC's last report, issued in 2001. In two important ways, this year's effort was actually less dire...
First, the world's scientists have rejigged their estimates about how much sea levels will rise. In the 1980s, America's Environmental Protection Agency expected oceans to rise by several metres by 2100. By the 1990s, the IPCC was expecting a 67cm rise. Six years ago, it anticipated ocean levels would be 48.5cm higher than they are currently. In this year's report, the estimated rise is 38.5cm on average.
This is especially interesting since it fundamentally rejects one of the most harrowing scenes from Al Gore's movie An Inconvenient Truth. In graphic detail, Gore demonstrated how a 20-foot (6m) rise in the sea level would inundate much of Florida, Shanghai and Holland. The IPCC report makes it clear that exaggerations of this magnitude have no basis in science, though clearly they frightened people and perhaps will win Gore an Academy Award.
The report also revealed the improbability of another Gore scenario: that global warming could make the Gulf Stream shut down, turning Europe into a new Siberia. The IPCC simply and tersely tells us that this scenario - also vividly depicted in the Hollywood movie The Day After Tomorrow - is considered "very unlikely". Moreover, even if the Gulf Stream were to weaken over the century, this would be good, as there would be less net warming over land areas...
Climate change is a real and serious problem. But the problem with the recent media frenzy is that some seem to believe no new report or development is enough if it doesn't reveal more serious consequences and more terrifying calamities than humanity has considered before.
Indeed, this media frenzy has little or no scientific backing. A 38.5cm rise in the ocean's levels is a problem, but by no means will it bring down civilisation. Last century sea levels rose by half that amount without most of us even noticing.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21188104-7583,00.html
More
Global warming debate spurs Ore. title tiff
06:51 AM PST on Wednesday, February 7, 2007
By VINCE PATTON, KGW Staff
In the face of evidence agreed upon by hundreds of climate scientists, George Taylor holds firm. He does not believe human activities are the main cause of global climate change.
Taylor also holds a unique title: State Climatologist
Hundreds of scientists last Friday issued the strongest warning yet on global warming saying humans are "very likely" the cause.
“Most of the climate changes we have seen up until now have been a result of natural variations,” Taylor asserts.
Taylor has held the title of "state climatologist" since 1991 when the legislature created a state climate office at OSU The university created the job title, not the state.
His opinions conflict not only with many other scientists, but with the state of Oregon's policies.
So the governor wants to take that title from Taylor and make it a position that he would appoint.
In an exclusive interview with KGW-TV, Governor Ted Kulongoski confirmed he wants to take that title from Taylor. The governor said Taylor's contradictions interfere with the state's stated goals to reduce greenhouse gases, the accepted cause of global warming in the eyes of a vast majority of scientists.
“He is Oregon State University's climatologist. He is not the state of Oregon's climatologist,” Kulongoski said.
http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_020607_news_taylor_title.59f5d04a.html
Del. scientist's view on climate change criticized
Ties to big oil, industry-funded lobbies draw fire
By Jeff Montgomery
The News Journal
WILMINGTON, Del. — David Legates is skeptical of global warming data.
A Delaware scientist's contrarian stand on global warming and climate change has earned him national attention in a series of critical reports -- including some that lump his views in with industry-backed disinformation campaigns.
The controversy surrounding Delaware State Climatologist David R. Legates and other climate change skeptics peaked last week with the publication of an updated summary report on global warming by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in Paris.
http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070206/NEWS01/70206001/1002
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