The Recount

In My Humble Opinion

So after you go to votecobb.org to donate to make sure the recount happens, do one other thing... Go to gp.org and make sure that the little party that can and does will survive. Donate. And take a look around the web site. You'll see the anti-war news you've wanted. There are links to commentary and analysis. And if you didn't already do it, donate as much as you can.

Why? Simple- because it is the Green Party that is advocating for your interests. The recount is just one example. And this election season was a very tough one for Greens. Most of the large contributors were giving to Kerry. But it was the Green Candidates who knew how to get the most bang for the vote. Look at the money raised and the votes received and you'll see that Cobb/LaMarche were the best investment.

So, quit reading. Go Donate!

votecobb.org

gp.org

John Atkeison

More links

****From one account****

The press coverage was very good. In one item I saw yesterday, Cobb and Badnarik were profiled on MSNBC, in a special report (on Keith Olbermann's "Countdown" show) featuring long shots of both the national Green Party's and Cobb/LaMarche's websites and the "donate" buttons clearly visible.

Here's a web link with more: MSNBC

We were also helped by the way the story was framed yesterday, emphasizing that the Green and Libertarian candidates *wanted to demand a recount, but would have to raise $100,000 first.

Joe Trippi (Howard Dean's internet fundraising/organizing guru, remember?) argued yesterday that many people suspect Bush's re-election was rigged somehow, and are concerned enough to do something about it.

Green and Libertarian Presidential Candidates to Demand Ohio Recount

11/11 - David Cobb and Michael Badnarik, the 2004 presidential candidates for the Green and Libertarian parties, today announced their intentions to file a formal demand for a recount of the presidential ballots cast in Ohio.

"Due to widespread reports of irregularities in the Ohio voting process, we are compelled to demand a recount of the Ohio presidential vote. Voting is the heart of the democratic process in which we as a nation put our faith. When people stand in line for hours to exercise their right to vote, they need to know that all votes will be counted fairly and accurately. We must protect the rights of the people of Ohio, as well as all Americans, and stand up for the right to vote and the right for people's votes to be counted. The integrity of the democratic process is at stake," the two candidates said in a joint statement.

The candidates also demanded that Ohio Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell, a Republican who chaired the Ohio Bush campaign, recuse himself from the recount process.

The Ohio presidential election was marred by numerous press and independent reports of voter intimidation, mis-marked and discarded ballots, problems with electronic voting machines and the targeted disenfranchisement of African American voters. A number of citizens' groups and voting rights organizations are holding hearings this Saturday in Columbus, Ohio to investigate voting irregularities and voter suppression in the Ohio 2004 general election. The hearings will be held from 1-4 p.m. at the New Faith Baptist Church, 955 Oak Street. Voters, poll workers, journalists and voting experts are invited to testify. A second hearing will be held on Monday at a location TBA, from 6-9 p.m.

The Cobb and Badnarik campaigns are in the process of raising the required fee, estimated at $110,000, for filing for a complete recount.[please note: there are other expenses involved with this effort so we have set a goal of raising $150,000] The campaigns are accepting contributions through their websites. The Cobb-LaMarche website is votecobb.org.

The Cobb and Badnarik campaigns have displayed a level of cooperation and civility rarely found in electoral politics. The campaigns jointly participated in and/or sponsored a series of independent debates. Cobb and Badnarik were also simultaneously arrested in St. Louis protesting their exclusion from the restricted, two-party corporate-sponsored debates.

David Cobb interview on Democracy Now!

To see an investigative report by Greg Palast, author of The Best Democracy Money Can Buy, which asserts that the Ohio vote was improperly decided, see www.tompaine.com/articles/kerry_won.php.

For an article detailing a dozen ways in which the Ohio vote was potentially manipulated, see www.freepress.org/departments/display/19/2004/810.

TALKING POINTS

-- Two presidential candidates, David Cobb (Green Party) and Michael Badnarik (Libertarian Party) will formally demand a recount of the presidential ballots in Ohio. The Ohio Green Party and the Green Party of the United States are cooperating with Mr. Cobb.

-- The Ohio recount is necessary because of documented voting irregularities: numerous press and independent reports of voter intimidation, mismarked and discarded ballots, problems with electronic voting machines, and the targeted disenfranchisement of African American voters.

-- Cobb and Badnarik are demanding that Ohio Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell, a Republican who chaired the Ohio Bush campaign, recuse himself from the recount process.

-- Greens are demanding auditable paper ballot trails to verify all votes cast on computer voting machines. If the result of the Ohio recount movement is the implementation of auditable paper ballots, it will be a huge victory for democracy.

-- Most of the malfunctions allegedly favored Bush; the exit polls gave accurate results for Senate candidates, but not for the presidential candidates.

-- Greens aren't pushing for a recount because it'll change the outcome of the election. (It probably won't.) We're not fighting for John Kerry. Greens are pursuing a recount because it's the best way to ensure fair elections and accurate vote counts now and in the future. The integrity of the voting process is at stake: we won't know what other problems there might be with the election unless we recount.

-- The Cobb and Badnarik campaigns have raised the required recount fee for the recount, and are now collecting money and volunteers for the monitoring effort. To donate: web.greens.org/c/cobb/supporters.cgi or votecobb.org

-- For the Democratic Party's leadership, the lesson of the 2000 Florida scandal was that controversy should be avoided, even if votes were obstructed or uncounted. For the Green Party, the lesson of 2000 is that we need to fight for fair elections, the right to vote, accurate vote counts, and the future of our democracy.

-- The Green Party has consistently spoken out for the right to vote and the right of every vote to be counted, for investigation of obstructed votes, and for auditable paper ballot trails to verify all votes cast on computer voting machines. Greens are also campaigning for clean election options, Instant Runoff Voting, abolition of the Electoral College, enforcement of the 14th Amendment's guarantee of voting rights.

-- YOUR IDEA HERE

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Letters to the Editor The Daily Newspaper Tuesday, November 16, 2004

To the Editor,

George W. Bush's reelection might not be in doubt, but the votes cast by many voters in Ohio and other states are, according to thousands of complaints about obstructed votes, legitimate voters who were disqualified, malfunctioning computer voting machines, and other irregularities in the 2004 election.

The efforts of presidential candidates David Cobb (Green Party) and Michael Badnarik (Libertarian) to effect a recount in Ohio probably won't alter the outcome of the 2004 election. But the recount deserves support because it's the best way to test and begin repairing the integrity of our elections, and to ensure that every vote is counted.

If one result of the recount is auditable paper ballot trails for all computer voting machines in Ohio, it'll be a victory for all voters.

For the Democratic Party's leadership, which refuses to press for a recount, the lesson of Florida in 2000 seems to be that controversy must be avoided at all costs. For those of us in the Green Party, the lesson is that we need to fight for the right to vote, for accurate vote counts, and for the future of our democracy.

Joe/Jane Green Mudville, USA

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ADVICE on writing a letter to the editor, column, or article:

-- The talking points are suggestions -- use as many or as few of them as you like. Rewrite them using your own words if you prefer.

-- Be concise! Newspaper editors usually have a 500 to 750 word limit on columns, and a 250 word limit on letters. (Look it up on line before you start writing, and make sure you follow all the requirements.) A letter to the editor that's four sentences long is a lot more likely to get printed than one that's four paragraphs.

-- Don't incorporate all the recommended talking points. In a letter to the editor, it's best to make one or two strong points. A column can include a lot more information, but should still focus on one or two points. Delete all unnecessary words, especially phrases like "In my opinion..." and "I think that...." Don't repeat yourself.

-- Be extremely clear and punchy in the way you express yourself. Also, a letter or column that includes a little humor or irony or says something in a novel way is more likely to get published.

-- If you can personalize the letter or column ("My nephew was sent to Iraq..."; "I'm one of 45 million Americans without health insurance..."), you'll increase your chances of getting published.

-- It often helps to reference an already published article in the newspaper to which your letter is addressed.

-- Be specific; avoid abstractions. For instance, "Greens support working people" and "Greens support economic justice" are meaningless -- Dems and Repubs say the same thing. Instead say something like "Greens support living wages and repeal of Taft-Hartley restrictions on workplace organizing" or "Greens support the efforts of UAW Local 27 to win better wages etc..."

-- Be sure to mention the Green Party somewhere in your letter or column, or mention that you're a Green Party member, or mention a Green candidate or officeholder.

MORE INFORMATION

Cobb/LaMarche campaign votecobb.org
Ohio Green Party www.ohiogreens.org

Article on Ohio vote manipulation
www.freepress.org article

Disparity between exit polls and vote counts
www.ilcaonline.org/freeman.pdf

Voting irregularities throughout the US
www.demos-usa.org/page196.cfm

"The Confederacy has finally won"

Center for Voting and Democracy
www.fairvote.org

Beyond Voting Campaign
www.beyondvoting.org

November 3rd Democracy Movement
www.nov3.us