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Can you hear us now? Audio Analysis of voter fraud at the Democratic National Convention.

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Written by Peter Miller Peter Miller
Published: 15 May 2014 15 May 2014

September 13, 2012
Peter Miller
With technical assistance by Steven Miller

On the second day of the 2012 Democratic National Convention, the world was treated to a spectacle of voter fraud on national TV.  The Democratic leadership, apparently at the behest of President Obama, brought forth last minute changes to the language of the Democratic platform that required a 2/3rd vote of the convention delegates.  There were two changes, quickly shown and obviously intended to be pushed through: introducing the word “God” into the platform, and affirming that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel.  After three attempts and obviously lacking the required 2/3rd vote, the convention chairman, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, ignored the voice of the delegates and continued reading the scripted proceedings from his teleprompter, announcing that the Ayes had won.  Amidst boos and looks of disgust, Villaraigosa soldiered on, the teleprompter trumping the vote.  Jon Stewart commented, “On the bright side we’ve finally discovered the evidence of Democratic voter fraud the Republicans are always complaining about.”

An audio analysis of the Yes (Aye) and No votes demonstrates that not only was there not a 2/3rd majority in favor of changing the language, but that the No vote was louder by at least 162% meaning that the changes were defeated by a majority of 62% to 38%.  This is close in fact to a two third majority in favor of the No votes.  Of course, if the votes had actually been counted, perhaps it would have gone differently, the loudness of the No votes might simply be evidence of the anger of delegates watching their democratic rights trampled before their eyes in the name of a foreign country. The one chance the delegates had to actually make a real decision at the convention, even though cynically presented to them, was shabbily and fraudulently denied them. 

As this little study makes it obvious, the voice vote extremely problematic as an measure of voter intent.  As was also obvious from the floor of the Democratic convention, people always have to struggle to make democracy work or it will not happen.

Read more: Can you hear us now? Audio Analysis of voter fraud at the Democratic National Convention.

Roger Cohen’s Unsustainability and the Need for the BDS Movement

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Written by Gilbert Schramm Gilbert Schramm
Published: 01 May 2014 01 May 2014

As any observer of Middle Eastern politics will acknowledge, the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement is finally gaining serious traction. Its relevance has been noted by such varied parties as President Obama, Secretary of State John Kerry, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and his right wing supporters, and activists across the world who are engaged in the struggle for Palestinian human rights. Naturally, this success has spawned a wide range of attacks against BDS by supporters of the current regime in Israel. The nature of those attacks, and the specious arguments that underpin them, starkly reveal the bankruptcy and unsustainability of the current Israeli regime and its agenda.

Read more: Roger Cohen’s Unsustainability and the Need for the BDS Movement

‘Poof’ — Kerry blames Israel for breakdown of talks (Updated)

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Written by Philip Weiss Philip Weiss
Published: 10 April 2014 10 April 2014

This is all over the wires, and it might be historic. John Kerry, Secretary of State, blamed the Israelis for the breakdown of peace talks during a hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee yesterday. Israel failed to release prisoners on time according to a deal it had with Palestinians, then announced 700 settlement units– “poof!”– causing the latest breakdown in the talks, Kerry said.

The Times had the story hours ago: ”Israeli Settlement Plan Derails Peace Talks, Kerry Says.”

The State Department has already sought to cover for Kerry, saying he meant that both sides are to blame.

Read more: ‘Poof’ — Kerry blames Israel for breakdown of talks (Updated)

Appeals Court Upholds Olympia Food Co-op's Boycott of Israeli Goods

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Written by Center for Constituional Rights Center for Constituional Rights
Published: 09 April 2014 09 April 2014

Appeals Court Upholds Olympia Food Co-op's Boycott of Israeli Goods
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April 7, 2014, Seattle – Today, the Washington State Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by five members of the Olympia Food Co-op against current and former members of the Co-op’s Board of Directors for their decision to boycott Israeli goods. The court held that the lawsuit was a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation, or SLAPP, and that participation in the boycott is protected by the First Amendment. The court also affirmed $160,000 in statutory damages, as well as attorneys’ fees and costs for the board members, and awarded attorneys’ fees for the appeal. The lawsuit is part of a broader pattern of targeting pro-Palestinian activists in the United States, particularly in legislatures and across college campuses.

“Those who would try to intimidate concerned citizens speaking out on behalf of Palestinian human rights should take note,” said CCR Senior Staff Attorney Maria LaHood. “The law and history are on the side of peaceful boycotts for social change, and today’s ruling reaffirms that this time-honored tradition is protected by the First Amendment. Instead of trying to suppress speech calling for Palestinian human rights, opponents should address such speech on the merits.”   
 

Read more: Appeals Court Upholds Olympia Food Co-op's Boycott of Israeli Goods

Statement by Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu on US Efforts to Curb Freedom of Speech

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Written by Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu
Published: 03 April 2014 03 April 2014

I am writing today to express grave concern about a wave of legislative measures in the United States aimed at punishing and intimidating those who speak their conscience and challenge the human rights violations endured by the Palestinian people. In legislatures in Maryland, New York, Illinois, Florida, and even the United States Congress, bills have been proposed that would either bar funding to academic associations or seek to malign those who have taken a stand against the Israeli Occupation of Palestine.

These legislative efforts are in response to a growing international initiative, the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, of which I have long been a supporter. The BDS movement emanates from a call for justice put out by the Palestinian people themselves. It is a Palestinian-led, international non-violent movement that seeks to force theIsraeli government to comply with international law in respect to its treatment of the Palestinian people.

I have supported this movement because it exerts pressure without violence on the State of Israel to create lasting peace for the citizens of Israel and Palestine, peace which most citizens crave. I have witnessed the systematic violence against and humiliation of Palestinian men, women and children by members of the Israeli security forces. Their humiliation and pain is all too familiar to us South Africans.

In South Africa, we could not have achieved our democracy without the help of people around the world, who through the use of non-violent means, such as boycotts and divestment, encouraged their governments and other corporate actors to reverse decades-long support for the Apartheid regime. My conscience compels me to stand with the Palestinians as they seek to use the same tactics of non-violence to further their efforts to end the oppression associated with the Israeli Occupation.

The legislations being proposed in the United States would have made participation in a movement like the one that ended Apartheid in South Africa extremely difficult.

I am also deeply troubled by the rhetoric associated with the promulgation of these bills which I understand, in the instance of Maryland, included testimony comparing the boycott to the actions of the Nazis in Germany. The Nazi Holocaust which resulted in the extermination of millions of Jews is a crime of monstrous proportions. To imply that it is in any way comparable to a nonviolent initiative diminishes the horrific nature of that genocidal and tragic era in our world history.

Whether used in South Africa, the US South, or India, boycotts have resulted in a transformative change that not only brought freedom and justice to the victims but also peace and reconciliation for the oppressors. I strongly oppose any piece of legislation meant to punish or deter individuals from pursuing this transformative aspiration. And I remain forever hopeful that, like the nonviolent efforts that have preceded it, the BDS movement will ultimately become a catalyst for honest peace and reconciliation for all our brothers and sisters, both Palestinian and Israeli, in the Holy Land.

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu

This statement was issued by Oryx Media.

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  3. Loyola University Chicago student union passes resolution to divest from Israeli occupation
  4. EVENT: Visibility action to mark 11 years since invasion of Iraq Wed 3/19/14, 3:30-6 PM
  5. Portland State University President Wiewel’s Stance on the ASA Academic Boycott (and how it naturally leads to Congressman Roskam’s HR 4009 and the Curtailment of Academic Freedom).
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