Feel Your Outrage

Let us not just put aside what has happened to us as a nation. It's Christmas, and who wants to ruin it by thinking about the stolen election November 2nd? It was like a bad dream. Maybe if we push it into the background, it will go away.

No, we cannot let up. We must not forget. We've been told to get over it. We've been called sore losers who do not love America. No, we cannot get over this. Right after the holidays there will be very important things happening. As you know, Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) and other members of the Black Caucus have strongly questioned Bush's purported victory. This is not just wishful thinking. There is plenty of evidence that the election was not legitimate, and it is certain that thousands of votes were not counted. Voter suppression and intimidation have been well documented. Should these things be ignored? In America? Absolutely not! One election observer in Ohio has said the election was "the crime of the century."

Kenneth Blackwell, who needs no introduction, is stonewalling every step of the way. Why would that be?

Legal proceedings are underway. Subpeonas have been issued to 10 elections officials in Ohio. Blackwell went ballistic. He filled a motion to stop the process of discovery. Attorneys refiled their election challenge suit after the Ohio Supreme court dismissed it on a technicality. The lawsuit claims that the election results in Ohio were fraudulent and incorrectly awarded the state's majority to Bush which, of course, gave the presidency to Bush.

The election challenge suit was filed December 17th. Blackwell has 10 days to respond. Then each side has 20 days to do discovery (additional evidence gathering). Many attorneys have gone to Ohio at their own expense to join in the election challenge. Hurray for them!

We need at least one US senator to stand up January 6th to dispute the Electoral College results. In a conference call December 21st, Jesse Jackson urges Senators John Kerry and Hillary Clinton to do the honors. A challenge by US representatives failed in 2000 when not one senator stood to join their motion. This time there must be a challenge again, and there must be a senator willing to stand up and speak out. Political careers aside, our democracy is at stake here. This is not funny.

John Kerry, Hillary Clinton, will you be of good courage for the sake of us all? January 6th is the Feast of the Epiphany in the Christian tradition. Light is the Epiphany theme. May America's light shine in 2005. We've been in darkness too long.