Posted on 05/10/2002 10:17:16 AM PDT by Michael.SF.
March 8, 2001
Via Facsimile and U.S. Mail
The Honorable John Ellis Bush Governor
Office of the Governor
The Florida Capitol
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
Dear Governor Bush:
I am writing to express my deep disappointment with your statement of priorities that was presented during the opening of the Florida legislative session, in which you did not address the most serious problems that occurred in Florida during the 2000 elections. My disappointment is based on my preliminary assessment that these problems would not be resolved even if the legislature approved your request that new technology for recording votes be acquired and put into place. Voting technology reforms are necessary and your support of them is a step in the right direction. These measures standing alone, however, are insufficient to address the significant and distressing issues and barriers that prevented qualified voters from participating in the recent Presidential election.
As you know, the Commission has undertaken a formal investigation into allegations by Floridians of voting irregularities arising out of the November 7, 2000 Presidential election. The Commission has held two fact-finding hearings in Florida to examine whether eligible voters faced avoidable barriers that undermined their ability to cast ballots and have their ballots counted in this closely contested election.
In total, over 100 witnesses testified under oath before the Commission, including approximately 65 scheduled witnesses who were selected for the two hearings due to their knowledge of and/or experience with the issues under investigation. The Commission heard testimony from top elected and appointed state officials, including your own testimony, that of the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, the Director of the Florida Division of Elections and other Florida state and county officials. A representative of Database Technologies, Inc. [Choicepoint], a firm involved in the controversial, state-sponsored removal of felons from the voter registration rolls also testified.
We also heard the sworn testimony of registered voters and experts on election reform issues, election laws and procedures and voting rights. Also, the Chair and Executive Director of the Select Task Force on Election Reforms that you established testified before the Commission. Testimony was also received from the supervisors of elections for several counties, county commission officials, law enforcement personnel, and a states attorney. In addition to the scheduled witnesses, the Commission extended an opportunity for concerned persons, including Members of Congress and members of the Florida State Legislature, to submit testimony under oath that was germane to the issues under investigation. Significantly, the Commission subpoenaed scores of relevant documents to assist with this investigation.
The evidence points to an array of problems. These problems cry out for solutions, for example, a process for insuring the equitable allocation of resources to insure that poor and or people of color areas are not disproportionately affected. They also include a better process for identifying felons who are ineligible to vote, insuring coordination between the DMV and election boards to make sure registrations are actually filed and on a timely basis, funds for better training of poll workers, improved and updated communication systems, funds for voter education, and clarifications in the law to permit provisional ballots to be cast, when appropriate. As you know, counties have uneven funding bases and priorities.
Because I believe the need to address these problems is serious, I have determined that the Commission should hold additional hearings in Florida after the conclusion of the legislative session to bring state and local officials before us to assess what changes have been legislated or enacted at the state and local level and to report to the public on what progress has been made.
I expect the Commission to formally endorse the new hearings at our meeting on March 9, 2001. We intend to keep a steady focus on these developments to ensure that the voting rights of all eligible persons are protected.
Respectfully,
Mary Frances Berry
Chairperson
One responder directed interested readers to the USCCR website, where I found the above gem.
I know the above is a bit old, but it is interesting nonetheless, because when discussing the election with the ill-informed democrats, we need to use as much of their own information against them as we can. The above letter is just such an example.
Note the following regarding the letter:
1. This is her letter to Gov. Bush stating her rationale for further action to correct the perceived grievances regarding the loss of Al Bore.
2. In her letter what she says is not nearly as important as what she fails to say.
3. That being she references no examples of any specific allegations by specific witnesses. No conspiracy is hinted at, no specific instances of disenfranchisement are given.
4. Instead each of her proposed solutions basically asks for more money and more government involvement.
5. If the Republicans (who are perceived by Dems to control the government in Florida) are the problem, why ask them to fix the problem?
I recall that she was asked to produce specifics after her Florida "voting discrimination" report, but she replied that she wouldn't release names because the victims "feared reprisals." Ha!
I am in receipt of your recent letter. Please stick it where the sun doesn't shine.
Please extend my personal congratulations to Mr. Peter Kirsanow on his recent victory.
Regards,
JEB
Where is the thread, I did a search 'Berry' I didn't see it. Man, would I love to see this b#tch sacked.
The most important of which is vote fraud. This vote fraud primarily occurrs in democatic controled areas. This fraud includes voting by felons, non-residents, illegal alines and the deceased, as well as multiple voting and "spiking".
Was this the "array of problems" you were talking about Ms. Berry?
Gee, anyone see any connection between these two issues?
Better yet, where is her evidence? Liberal is what Liberal doe's. Facts and such always get in the way.
STATEMENT ON RULING OF THE U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CIRCUIT REGARDING TERMS ON U.S. COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS
Dr. Mary Frances Berry, Chair of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, issued the following statement regarding the Court of Appeals ruling today:
There is a difference in interpretation between the Commission and the District of Columbia Circuit Court regarding the statute governing terms of Commissioners. We are studying the possibility of appealing the Court's ruling.
Despite the ruling against us, the Commission has won on two important points. First, the Commission preserved its independence and successfully exercised its right to have a voice and to be represented in Court. Secondly, we have always maintained that the dispute on the statute would be settled by the Courts, not by this administration or any administration.
05/09/02
The foregoing left wing radical spin continued to be paid for by our tax dollars.
Dear MF :
Gee, I hope you don't mind me calling you MF , but I have to call you something ! ( Long's as it's not late for supper, right ? )
MF,I don't want to seem gruff or uncordial, but ...G'wan home !!!
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