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Americans must escape their stupor« Thread Started on Jun 19

Daily newsbrief journal for June 2006, also see http://www.usdemocrats.com/brief for a global 100-page perpetual brief and follow twitter @usdemocrats


Americans must escape their stupor« Thread Started on Jun 19

Postby admin » Fri Jan 27, 2012 8:44 am

Americans must escape their stupor« Thread Started on Jun 19, 2006, 7:37pm » --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Monday June 19, 2006 OPINION COMMENTARYAmericans must escape their stupor Mary Pat Hyland read source: http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs. ... 303/1005We often blame uncharacteristic actions made by soldiers on the effect called the "fog of war." In that vein, you could blame Americans' uncharacteristic inaction toward government corruption on the "torpor of terror."In a discussion with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton during her meeting with the Press & Sun-Bulletin editorial board last week, I asked why she thought Americans weren't in the streets over issues such as election fraud or what she called the "unprecedented" above-the-law government by the current White House.On Sept. 11, Clinton said "the country closed ranks" and was "unified, willing to follow the president." We gave the president a "power of attorney," she said. During this very new experience for us, we were willing to suspend judgment over decisions being made. Security is still big, still important in Americans' minds, Clinton said. And since we have not been attacked again (yet), and we can see the possibilities of dangers that lurk out there on shows like "24", Americans figure "something must be happening right."Clinton believes the public is willing to trade off judgment of this administration for the sense of security from further terror. The killing of al-Qaida leader Abu Masab al-Zarqawi boosts this sense, she said.We discussed the June 1 Rolling Stone article by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on fraud in the 2004 presidential election. Kennedy wrote: "After carefully examining the evidence, I've become convinced that the president's party mounted a massive, coordinated campaign to subvert the will of the people in 2004."Such bold charges have been made before, often by what the right dismisses as the "tinfoil hat" crowd. However, Kennedy has sifted through the evidence, looked at it all logically, and presented it for review in a compelling manner. Kennedy weighs a lot of his argument on research done by scholar Steve Freeman that shows the exit polling that night was way off base when compared to votes tallied and typical trends. Such polling techniques are so reputable they are used to certify elections in Third World countries, Kennedy and Freeman argue. How could they suddenly be so incorrect?America folded too quickly on this issue. Why? Americans were unable to act because of another residual effect you could call "browbeaten by Broward." As the contentious results of the 2000 presidential election were debated, Americans were bombarded with conflicting news on hanging chads and disenfranchised voters in Florida's Broward County. And then, in an unprecedented move, the Supreme Court effectively decided who should move into 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Our votes were rendered powerless in a sense. Less than a year later, Sept. 11's terror attacks left us feeling even more powerless. Now we're drifting in the fog of pre-emptive war.Can we break this cycle of inertia?No matter which side you voted for in that election, take the time to read Kennedy's article. Every American should. (And maybe it wouldn't hurt to read Freeman's new book "Was the 2004 Presidential Election Stolen? Exit Polls, Election Fraud, and the Official Count.") Clinton says Kennedy's article shows conclusively that "something happened" with the 2004 presidential election vote."A problem with the integrity of our voting system is as serious as a problem we can have," she said. "People will give up. It undermines confidence in government. It unravels our way of life."She's right. It's not a Democratic or Republican issue. There needs to be a bipartisan consensus that paper trails must be part of any voting machine system purchased. Clinton calls it a mixed blessing that New York dragged its feet on complying with the Help Americans Vote Act mandate. Because our Legislature was so slow, it did not embrace hastily an unproven electronic system.Clinton says it is up to the common citizen to insist every vote counts in the next election. For us, she says that means keeping on top of decisions made on voting equipment at the county level.Speaking of elections, despite assurances that she is focusing on her Senate race, the woman before us sure spoke with the powerful conviction of a presidential candidate.Hyland is an editorial writer for the Press & Sun-Bulletin. Her blog: pressconnects.com/blogs/hyland/hyland.html.
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