- An election to anoint an occupation: Had it been held in Zimbabwe, the west would have denounced it
, by Salim Lone, The Guardian [UK], January 31, 2005
- Democracy takes time
, The Toronto Star, January 30, 2005
President George W. Bush and his courtiers in Washington, D.C., equate democracy with freedom, security and prosperity, but recent history shows us that this logic is tenuous. From Afghanistan to Somalia, exported democracy is frequently distorted, not at all foolproof and, above all, can do more harm than good if forced on a country too quickly.
- Augusto Pinochet and the Conservative Threat to America
, by Jacob G. Hornberger, The Future of Freedom Foundation, January 12, 2005
While some people might believe that those on the Left wing of the political spectrum pose the bigger threat to the freedom and well-being of the American people, nothing could be further from the truth. Today, the much bigger threat comes instead from the Right wing or conservative side of the political spectrum, for it is the conservatives who are either indifferent to — or squarely in favor of — military rule, torture, and suspension of habeas corpus and civil liberties for suspected terrorists.
- You Can't Stop This Democracy: Will John Ashcroft be able to stop the democracy movement that's stirring with his powers under Help America Act? Not likely.
By Laura Flanders, Air America Radio, November 2, 2004
A new democracy movement is stirring in America and the Bush Cheney crew are trying to kill it. There's something big going on here and it's not just about Nov. 2. It's about democracy in America.
- Voters claim abuse of electoral rolls: Students say they were conned into registering twice
, by Greg Palast, The Observer [UK], October 31, 2004
- G.O.P. to the Poor: Don't Vote
, New York Times, October 30, 2004
- Ohio Lawmakers Call for Secretary of State Blackwell to Resign
, Democracy Now!, October 29th, 2004
As a federal judge in Ohio temporarily blocks the GOP from challenging the voting rights of 35,000 people ahead of the election, we go to Ohio to speak with State Sen. Teresa Fedor, one of the lawmakers leading the calls for Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell to resign.
- Bush Administration Attempts To Overturn Decades of Legal Precedents & Block Voting Rights Lawsuits From Voters
, Democracy Now!, October 29th, 2004
Bush administration lawyers are now attempting to overturn decades of legal precedence by claiming that under the Help America Vote Act only Attorney General John Ashcroft -- and not individual voters - have a right to ask federal courts to enforce voting rights.
- One Nation Under Bush: At a campaign rally, Republicans recite the "Bush Pledge."
By Chris Suellentrop, Slate, Oct. 28, 2004
"I want you to stand, raise your right hands," and recite "the Bush Pledge," said Florida state Sen. Ken Pruitt. The assembled mass of about 2,000 in this Treasure Coast town about an hour north of West Palm Beach dutifully rose, arms aloft, and repeated after Pruitt: "I care about freedom and liberty. I care about my family. I care about my country. Because I care, I promise to work hard to re-elect, re-elect George W. Bush as president of the United States."
- King George abuses 1st Amendment
, by John Nichols, Capital Times, October 28, 2004
The Bush-Cheney campaign rented the local high school and applied the divine right of kings - or at least one ill-prepared and inarticulate boy king - to what had been a public school. Richland Center students were informed that they could attend the audience with His Highness only if they donned approved apparel: a Bush for President T-shirt or so-called "neutral clothing." What they could not wear was any clothing that promoted the cause of any dissenter to the rule of King George.
- New Florida vote scandal feared
, by Greg Palast, BBC's Newsnight, October 26, 2004
A secret document obtained from inside Bush campaign headquarters in Florida suggests a plan - possibly in violation of US law - to disrupt voting in the state's African-American voting districts, a BBC Newsnight investigation reveals.
- GOP Voter Drive Accused of Tossing Cards
, by Deborah Hastings, The Guardian [UK], October 22, 2004,
In several battleground states across the country, a consulting firm funded by the Republican National Committee has been accused of deceiving would-be voters and destroying Democratic voter registration cards.
- Bush's Empty Rhetoric on Democracy
, by Jonathan Chait, LA Times, October 22nd, 2004
It's ironic that while Republicans have mocked Kerry for claiming the support of foreign leaders, it is Bush who has reaped the only two actual foreign leader endorsements. The deeper irony is who's endorsing him. (Russia and Iran)
- Dirty tricks return to the sunshine state: US election begins with voting in Florida dogged by controversy over faulty machines and disenfranchised voters
, by Oliver Burkeman, The Guardian, October 19, 2004
- Allegations of Electoral Crimes
, New York Times, October 18, 2004
- Protesters can't be searched
Court rules terror fears not reason to search demonstrators
, By C.G. WALLACE, The Associated Press, Oct 17, 2004
- Report: Jeb Bush ignored advice to 'pull the plug' on flawed felon voter list
, SFGate.com, October 16, 2004
- A Look at Lawsuits, Voting Problems
, Associated Press, October 16, 2004 3:46 AM
- Republican Dirty Tricks: Republican operative Nathan Sproul's company is under investigation for allegedly destroying voter registration forms signed by Democrats. Now comes new evidence about Sproul's connections to the Bush-Cheney campaign.
By Max Blumenthal, AlterNet, October 15, 2004.
- Block the Vote
, by Paul Krugman, New York Times, October 15, 2004
arlier this week former employees of Sproul & Associates (operating under the name Voters Outreach of America), a firm hired by the Republican National Committee to register voters, told a Nevada TV station that their supervisors systematically tore up Democratic registrations.
- Trashing democracy: Voters Outreach of America, an outfit largely funded by the GOP, is accused of trashing registration forms of hundreds of Democrats in Nevada
, by Bill Berkowitz, WorkingForChange.com, 10.14.04
- Voter's Outreach Connection to Nader Campaign
, Brian Allen, KLASTV.com, October 13, 2004
- 21st Century Book-Burning: Mrs. Cheney, there's more to U.S. history than heroes.
By Steven J. Ross, LA Times, October 13, 2004
- Pushing to Be Counted in Fla.: Groups Say That Blacks May Not Be Heard at Polls
, by Jo Becker, Washington Post, October 13, 2004
- The Home Front
, by Hans Johnson, In These Times, October 4, 2004
On September 17, it came to pass in New Jersey that party faithful applauding a chipper talk about the war by Laura Bush shouted down a mother in their midst and made sure she was arrested.
- The Bush Definition of Democracy: Be it in Iraq or Afghanistan, the Bush administration has a track record of fixing elections to produce the winner it desires.
By Rahul Mahajan, AlterNet, September 28, 2004
- How Florida Republicans Keep Blacks From Voting
, by Ann Louise Bardach, LA Times, September 26, 2004
- Bush rallies are by invitation only
, by Helen Thomas, Hearst Newspapers, September 24, 2004
"At Bush-Cheney campaign rallies around the nation, the only people welcome to attend are Bush supporters, volunteers and undecided voters who lean toward Bush politically."
- Blocking the Latino Ballot?
, by Harold Meyerson, New York Times, September 22, 2004
- Pentagon blocks site for voters outside U.S.
, by Jennifer Joan Lee, International Herald Tribune, September 20, 2004
Note: if anyone knows any Americans abroad who are having difficulty voting, send them to http://www.overseasvote2004.com. They'll still need to fax in their materials, but at least they'll be able to register and vote.
- Killing Democracy One Vote at a Time
, One Thousand Reasons, Sept. 20th, 2004
- Suppress the Vote?
By Bob herbert, New York Times, August 16, 2004
- Bush's Own Goal
, by Paul Krugman, New York Times Editorial, August 13, 2004
- Republicans Sign Along the Dotted Line: Admittance to Cheney rally only after signing "loyalty oath"
, by Dana Milbank, Washington Post, August 1, 2004
- Some Democrats seeking Cheney tickets had to sign oath
, by Richard Benke, Associated Press Writer, July 30, 2004
- Who Is George W. Bush?
, by Toby Rogers and Nick Mamatas, 1/30/2000
(updated January 31st, 2005)