I like the DNC’s brand new plan for changing around the caucus schedule for the 2008 presidential election cycle. But unfortunately, as usual the D.C. Democrats are focusing on strategy again — as though that will matter, instead of the big problem. I suppose it might make some difference: the idea is that by adding Nevada and South Carolina to the early mix of caucuses they will add racial and geographical diversity. The two additional caucuses would occur before New Hampshire’s primary. I agree with that strategy because of Iowa’s democraphics. Think about it: a 98% white state of middle class Protestants who drink coffee so weak it puts you to sleep get to choose the Democratic presidential candidate. No offense to Iowans, but I’ve been to your fine state and it’s not exactly a melting pot, (and I will never forgive you for your awful pick in 2004.)

So even though the strategy is sound, it won’t solve any problems as long as Republicans continue to steal elections. When your vote doesn’t count or is literally thrown out in key states, what’s the point of choosing a great candidate? All the Russ Feingolds in the world won’t do any good when the GOP hacks your voting machine and changes your vote. I’d like to see the Democrats loudly and doggedly challenge the use of hackable Diebold voting machines with no auditable paper trail instead of all these cheerful plans, as though they are playing a game on a fair playing field. They’re not. Diebold machines can be easily hacked with a screwdriver by anyone who has rudimentary computer skills. See this article: “Diebold voting machines can be beaten with a switch-flip . . . . If you want to steal an election, use a Diebold machine.”

Yes. Six years after the debacle of 2000 and two possible stolen elections since then and we still don’t have unhackable, safe and accurate voting machines, or a system in place for how to deal with vote stealing and other dirty tricks and crimes that Republicans commit to steal elections. There is ample evidence that they have committed voter fraud and other crimes in the last three elections. How long do we put up with that while we cheer on strategies like mixing up the caucus schedules? Too little, too late!

Get a clue, D.C. Dems, and do something that will actually prevent yet another presidential election from being rigged. Get rid of those dictator-loving touch-screen Diebold machines or at least demand they are unhackable and insist on paper trails for ALL machines. Do that, and someone besides Repubicans might win presidential elections again.

Submitted by Shelly of Citizen Against Lies