Tag Archive for democracy

Presidential Election 2012: Protecting Our Long-Term National Interests

In 2008, Republicans suffered a major political defeat while Democrats crowed and claimed a mandate from the voters. Two years later, the parties traded places again. The GOP declared that liberalism has been rejected and promised a conservative agenda that would put the nation back on track. Unfortunately, the political narrative this election cycle has been one in which both parties have been guilty of misreading the general-election voters.

In establishing our Constitutional Republic, the Framers realized that the whole was greater than the sum of its parts, and their crowning achievement was to make a vigorous democratic process, not partisan ideology, our constitutional mandate. As you go to the polls today, remember to take a step back and vote for who you think will best protect our long-term national interests: the Constitution and our democratic principles. Read the following article on the most influential factors going into Election Day, share your thoughts, and—most importantly—VOTE!

When the race is done, the balloons have wilted, and the confetti has been swept up, Campaign 2012 may be marked more by its failures than its triumphs. | Tom Foreman, CNN

From CNN Politics

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Romney’s Business Ties to An E-Voting Manufacturer Operating in 13 States

In 2011, Romney’s former business partners at Bain Capital acquired Hart Intercivic, a voting machine company known for their vulnerable, insecure, and often 100% unverifiable voting and tabulation systems now being used in all or parts of CA, CO, HI, IL, IN, KY, OH, OK, OR, PA, TX, VA, and WA.

Unsurprisingly, the frenzied GOP legislators who claim voter fraud is real threat to our democracy haven’t yet disputed the conflicts of interest for public officials and voting machine manufacturers who could electronically flip the 2012 presidential election in their candidate’s favor. Truthout takes a look at how this scenario played out in Ohio during the 2004 presidential election.

Hart Intercivic machines have famously failed in Tarrant County (Ft. Worth), adding 10,000 non-existent votes. The EVEREST study, commissioned by the Ohio secretary of state in 2007, found serious security flaws with Hart Intercivic products. In this photo, a PEB emulator running on a Palm Pilot simulates an initialization PEB during an open election, resetting all terminal passwords to "EVEREST".

Hart Intercivic machines have famously failed in Tarrant County (Ft. Worth), adding 10,000 non-existent votes. The EVEREST study, commissioned by the Ohio secretary of state in 2007, found serious security flaws with Hart Intercivic products.

 

From Truthout

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