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May 05, 2003
Florida Redux: International Voting Scandal by GOP firm
Remember ChoicePoint, the firm hired by Katherine Harris to systematically (and illegally) drop many Floridians from the voting rolls, thereby helping to assure Bush's election?
Well, Choicepoint is back in the news and the scandal is international. Apparently, the company has been illegally collecting personal information on people and voters throughout Latin America, then selling the information to Ashcroft's Justice Department.
Countries throughout the region are incensed and it is threatening to destroy trust in electoral institutions throughout the region:
The sale of information from the electoral register is particularly devastating in Mexico, because the electoral institute enjoyed a close to unique reputation for honesty and transparency in a country plagued by corruption.But then destroying trust in democratic institutions has been the goal of this administration. Fear, distrust, paranoia-- that in just manna for Ashcroft and Cheney in promoting their military-industrial policies globally."We feel betrayed. The IFE [federal electoral institute] was the only Mexican organisation we could trust," said Cesar Diaz, a Mexico City supermarket administrator whose feelings were echoed by many. "I mean, if we can't trust them who can we believe in? I think it will have repercussions in the next elections."
Posted by Nathan at May 5, 2003 01:21 PM
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Comments
Hi,
Come on, Nathan, you and I both know this is grade "A" hogwash. Why in a blue moon would the Bush administration give a horses *** about latin american elections? Really, has your blind hatred of Bush destroyed your credibility meter. This GuardianUnlimited.com is a left-wing spin-zone, and you know it. We need to pursue the truth, and the truth is Bush is doing a great job(and is very popular, by the way) and you guys hate him for hit! -Respectfully
-Robert S. Morgan
Posted by: Robert S. Morgan at May 5, 2003 06:30 PM
What was that lovely Onion editorial where one side listed what Bush was up to, and the GOP reply went: "No. You're wrong. You're wrong on that too. I don't agree. There's nothing to worry about. No. Definitely not."
Well, it looks like that's what Robert Morgan posts on your site these days. His head is well and truly shoved up his ass. It's actually quite entertaining.
This bad news for Latin America could actually have good effects for the US, getting the story out a bit and maybe encouraging Congressional Dems to try to act before 2004.
Posted by: John Isbell at May 5, 2003 06:44 PM
Robert, please supply something resembling a rational argument before denouncing something as false. You claim that this arises from Nathan's "blind hatred" and not from journalistic fact, yet perhaps it is your "blind trust" of the Bush administration that has led you to draw this conclusion. If nobody was willing to open themselves to alternate (and shocking) possibilities, our world would be as flat as it was several hundred years ago.
Now to address some other points. For popularity ratings, just look to past events. In a wartime situation, presidents almost always enjoy high popularity, as did Bush Senior, and we all know what became of him. As for Bush doing a great job...ugh. Where should I start?
Posted by: Micah Lanier at May 5, 2003 11:56 PM
Robert-- does the US care about latin american elections? We've been manipulating elections down there for the last century and overthrowing regimes where the votes went the wrong way.
Guatamala in the 1950s. Allende Chile in the early 1970s. Nicaragua throughout the 1980s. And most recently we've been trying to sponsor a coup in Venezuela.
But close your eyes and cover your ears-- or just keep your dial turned to Fox News. Then you can remain in your little patriotic cocoon.
Posted by: Nathan Newman at May 6, 2003 09:25 AM
Hi,
O.k., let me start with Mr. Newman. I want EVIDENCE in front of me that the Bush administration is directly involved in voter fraud and other indesgretion's in South America. This story is not journalistic fact, it is a spinned article under a spinned "news"paper. If and when this happens, I will look into it and be suspicious. I do not blindly follow Bush, I find some of his policies could use some fixing, however, his leadership during Sept. 11th and his economic policies are going to help our country. I deal with the rest of you later.
-Robert S. Morgan
P.S. If you wanna start throwin names at me, Mr. Isbell, try writing me personally and sparing the board from your stupidity
Posted by: Robert S. Morgan at May 6, 2003 01:16 PM
This is actually an update on news that was on the wire services 3-4 weeks ago. There was a piece on NPR's (actually PRI's) Marketplace about it then.
Posted by: oak at May 6, 2003 05:28 PM
All right, Robert, here's some more evidence:
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Followup to the above story
San Jose Mercury News
Sydney Morning Herald
The Register
SFGate.com (Presumably from the SF Chronicle)
A lot of this draws from Associated Press information, so if you're looking for credibility, that's a decent characteristic to take note of. Oh, and I can understand what you may have against liberal publications, but don't try too hard to prove these stories are all "spinned" (try "spun," it makes a better past participle). It'll work much better for you to refute the points based on actual facts.
Posted by: Micah Lanier at May 6, 2003 07:09 PM
Robert, I was neither throwin names at you nor throwing names at you. I said your head was shoved up your ass, and it is.
Ah, just watching "The Garbageman Can" on the Simpsons. You're entertaining, Robert, but not next to the Simpsons.
Posted by: John Isbell at May 6, 2003 07:24 PM
Hi,
First,I thank everyone who responded to my post without throwing dirt.
Second, to Mr. Lanier, the problem I have with these left-wing spun(thanks for the tip) is not because they are leftist; it is because they put forth no facts themselves. There is none, NADDA, zippo! evidence connecting choicepoint to the Bush administration. Guardian claims that they have "seen" documents. I'd like to see them. Then I will become skeptic of the administration.
Plus, there is no motive for the Bush administration to do this. This hogwash about possible illeagal immigrants, there is alot easier ways to stop illeagal immigrants than that. These "news"papers are ignoring the "why" part of investigation(who what where...etc.). As a journalism student myself, I can see a biased news story when see one. I'm sure if you got my teacher in here, she would say the same thing. -Respectfully
-Robert S. Morgan
P.S. Man, I find it sad that you had to bring one of the greatest shows in history into your petty insults. Leave the Simpson's out of this, John.
Posted by: Robert S. Morgan at May 7, 2003 01:38 PM
Robert, looking at your spelling, I think you should look into an education. I recommend fifth grade. That will give your arguments more credibility.
If English is not your first language, then it's not your fault.
Posted by: John Isbell at May 7, 2003 01:49 PM
Listen, dude, just run spellcheck. Then you won't have to write illeagal. Or nadda. It may be funny, but it doesn't help your argument.
Posted by: John Isbell at May 7, 2003 02:07 PM
I would sure like to see the evidence for WMD in Iraq as well. Or whatever they had against Osama and Taleban. I am not saying that there never was evidence, just that it was never shown to the public. The public rarely get to see evidence these days, but this is pretty close.
If you have as a part of your contract that your clients can not do something illigal, than you know that they don't have a clean record.
Posted by: Kristian at May 8, 2003 10:00 AM
Hi,
Thanks for the tip John, come back when you actually have something to say.
-Robert S. Morgan
Posted by: Robert S. Morgan at May 8, 2003 06:30 PM
