From Connie in the comments of the last thread, a Charlie-related update...
Here's the latest:
Suit alleges misconduct during Alachua election
News Flash: Alachua County, Florida
At around 1 pm EST today an amended complaint was filed at the Alachua County Courthouse in the lawsuit contesting the April 11th election in the City of Alachua.
A copy of the amended lawsuit is available at the Alachua Project website.
The lawsuit, brought by Charlie Grapski, State House Candidate (running in the Democratic primary), and other concerned citizens alleges serious and significant wrongdoing by the City's officials in conducting the election.
The City, which conducted its own elections, failed to follow Florida laws in the conduct of the election. Named in the lawsuit as defendants are City officials including the City's Mayor, Jean Calderwood, who despite being actively involved in supporting candidate James Lewis (elected to his 40th consecutive year on the City Commission), retained her position as one of the three member Canvassing Board. Calderwood's husband, Hugh, was furthermore the official Treasurer of the Lewis campaign and served effectively in the management of that campaign. Clovis Watson, who had Grapski arrested while inspecting the absentee ballots, also served on that board with Calderwood. Watson, along with Deputy Clerk Alan Henderson (who performed the functions of Supervisor of Elections), are futhermore alleged to have unduly influenced voters to cast ballots for James Lewis at City Hall while performing their duties as election and public officials.
The secrecy of the ballot, it is alleged, was denied to the voters. Numerous improprieties in the conduct of the election are spelled out. The implications of this for those City officials is immense - as many of these actions are declared to be felony offenses according to Chapter 104 of Florida Statutes.
Grapski, joined by Michael Canney and other concerned Alachua residents, held a press conference outside of City Hall today at 2 pm. Grapski stated:
There have been attempts to distract from the central issue here - and that is the serious improprieties by Alachua City officials in the conduct of the election. Improprieties that: Denied the secrecy of the ballot; violated the civil rights of citizens; denied the right to vote; and undermined the confidence of citizens in the legitimacy of their government.
Canney, on behalf of the Green Party, called upon the State Attorney's office "to drop all charges against Mr. Grapski and Mr. Canney, and to open an investigation into the allegations of misconduct by Alachua city officials, not only in the April 11 election, but also in the subsequent abuse of police powers as a means of intimidation and harassment against law abiding citizens attempting to exercise their inalienable rights under the Constitution."
This sentiment was echoed by Grapski who declared: "This is not an issue attacking one political party. This is not a racial issue. This is not an issue about recording public officials. It is an issue of the fairness of the election process and teh sanctity of the right to vote."
"All Americans, All Floridians, and All in Alachua County," Grapski stated, "should be extremely concerned by the allegations contained in this lawsuit."
They should demand that those in law enforcement, "starting with teh State Attorney's office and going up from there," should "take this matter seriously, investigate these allegations, and prosecute all public officials involved in these activities to the fullest extent of the law."
The press conference was held at 2 pm at City Hall because the Alachua County Republican Party, in conjunction with an unidentified member of the Democratic Black Caucus, announced they would have a rally to support the officials and polices of the City of Alachua.
In an email by former Republican Executive Committee (REC) chairperson, Mildred Russell, to "Fellow Conservative Volunteers," it was stated: "We have an opportunity to show our support as well and stand with the citizens of this forward moving community, and against the tactics of the left who want to send it backwards."
News of this "event" was obtained, along with this email, by the Alachua Project. They publicly posted the email on their website http://freealachua.org . This set off a flurry of accusations and activities at the Republican party. Included in the REC's email, which current Chairman Stafford Jones said he instructed to be sent out, is a statement that the "NAACP ... are going to speak up in support of the city of Alachua." This was news to the NAACP which had its monthly meeting yesterday evening. The NAACP passed a motion that they would have no involvement in this affair until more information was forthcoming. The chairman of the NAACP stated that he was asked to speak, by an unnamed member of the Democratic Black Caucus, on behalf of Bonnie Burgess (Alachua City Commissioner who is running in the same race as Grapski) and Clovis Watson. The details of the allegations against Watson and the other City officials (Burgess is not claimed to have had any role in the election improprieties) had not been presented to them at that time. The NAACP has taken actions to clarify the record that they had no involvement with any of the actions proposed to support the City of Alachua.
After the scheduled "event" was revealed, along with the Republican party email, the press conference originally set for 1 pm was moved to 2 pm. The "event," however, never materialized. You can view the Republican party memorandum at the Alachua Project site as well.
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...which he posted over there, and listener asked me to front page. So I'm doing it out of the goodness of my heart, 'cause I'm a swell human being (or at least try to be) and all that. And listener would have copied his post over here herself except that she was posting from an alien computer and couldn't. And I understand that Charlie's up to his eyebballs in stuff, so I understand him forgetting to crosspost here.
Basically, here it is, but I felt entitled to kvetch a bit first...
Hi everyone,
Just checking in (still free!) - but things are really starting to heat up in Alachua.
The Republican Executive Committee has been engaged in (its a national strategy) trying to bring the African American community into their fold. This is a key reason for the Gay Marriage issue by the way. And also for their Wal-Mart support (low wage jobs).
The other night I was informed that the Republican Executive Committee was "out to get me" - and indeed a friend came to me to tell me he had been approached by an REC member - seeking for him to assist getting "compromising information" on me.
Then yesterday the REC (the Chairman states publicly he instructed the former Chairwoman to do this) sent out an email to "all conservative volunteers" (you can see it on the Alachua Project site - click above - go to the blog there).
They want to have an "event" to stand behind the Republican Mayor of Alachua (once appointed to the commission directly by Jeb!). And they claim - but this was news to these two organizations - that they will be joining forces with the NAACP and the Democratic Black Caucus - to support the Republican Mayor and Clovis Watson - and to oppose my efforts.
I got a hold of a copy of that email (as there are many angry Republicans - and now angry Democrats - discovering that some among the leadership of their organizations are "behind" what is going on in Alachua). It was released publicly today. And all you know what has broken loose.
NEWS ALERT: Tomorrow at noon we will be filing our first AMENDED complaint on the lawsuit contesting the April 11th election. It will be posted - in full text - once that has been done. And it should send shock waves around the country as to what lengths certain individuals will go to ensure they win elections.
Charlie
I mentioned over the weekend that I was going to be focussing most of my blogging time on the big Episcopalian shindig that's going on in Columbus this week. But when Donna mentioned Howard's DNC fundraising drive in the comments of the last thread, I realized that Howard-Empowered People *had* to have a post up about that. And, of course, a bat.
The following is from the DNC web site:
We're building an entirely new kind of political party -- one where every single person matters as much as the next, where each one of us has the power to take our future into our own hands. Some people don't understand it, and some people don't believe it will work. But we believe in the extraordinary potential of millions of Americans united in common cause to make our country better.
So for the next few weeks we will show that the 50-state strategy has the financial backing of ordinary Democrats across the country, and we're going to do it in a new way -- we're going to count the number of people donating on our web site, and reveal the amount at the end.
Hotline On Call reported yesterday that Charles Schumer, chairman of the DSCC, not only said that the DSCC "fully supports" Joe Lieberman in his primary bid, he refused to rule out continuing that support if Lieberman were to run as an independent. According to Schumer, there are degrees of independence. (Pass the Dramamine, please. That was a bit too much spin.)
In the comments last night, Catreona asked a good question:
"Why on earth would the DEMOCRATIC Senatorial Campaign Committee support someone running as an Independent??? That's totally apart from the question of *why* they would not fully support the winner of the DEMOCRATIC primary, *whoever* that might turn out to be???"
While we're trying to get some legal clarification on this, there is something "official" that a state Dem party has to do in order to allow the DSCC to transfer money to help a particular candidate. For instance, the DSCC made sure the VT Dem Party endorsed Bernie Sanders in VT SEN before the DSCC could publicly touted its support of the "independent" member of Congress.These are good questions to ask about how the DSCC functions. I've not been happy overall with either Schumer or Emanuel for their political boss-like behavior. And Schumer's attempt to leave himself plenty of wiggle room doesn't sit well, either.
In order to financially support an indie Lieberman, does the DSCC need to have the CT Dem Party officially endorse Lieberman's indie run? Can the state party do that if Ned Lamont wins the Dem primary? Of course, the DSCC could simply sit out, something they regularly do in senate races where they don't believe party outcome is in jeopardy. It's easy to see how the DSCC could look at the CT landscape and believe that the two most likely winners in November will be candidates who will support Reid as majority leader.
Note: Howard will be on the Ed Shultz show today, around 3:30 p.m.
Cross-posted at Daily Kos.
Steve Clemons at The Washington Note observes that "Texas swagger is back."
It's been reported here and on other blogs today that House Majority Leader John Boehner has distributed a messaging memo to help Republicans talk up America's progress in Iraq.
According to Clemons, "Boehner's memo amplifies a "high-fear" drumbeat for the so-called war on terror and suggests that the death of Zarqawi, the completion of appointing Iraq's senior cabinet ministers, and Bush's personal meeting with Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki seal the deal for America achieving victory in its efforts there."
So what did Boehner leave out?
Zarqawi's team seems dedicated to worsening the violence and that Zarqawi's activities in their entirety were a very small percentage of the overall insurgency in Iraq (some commanders in the field were even trying to get the $25 million bounty on Zarqawi reduced because he was becoming proportionally less of the exploding problems in Iraq).But wait--there's more, says Clemons:
Apparently, Boehner is going to push passage of House Resolution 861 tomorrow declaring the Iraq War as a smashing success and as synonymous with the overused and inappropriate metaphor, "war on terror".This is a status quo resolution; it contains no recommendations for the president. H. Res. 861 declares that "it is not in the national security interest of the United States to set an arbitrary date for the withdrawal or redeployment of United States Armed Forces from Iraq" and that "the United States will prevail in the Global War on Terror, the noble struggle to protect freedom from the terrorist adversary."It's a disturbing resolution that recognizes none of the setbacks that we are experiencing and again ratchets up the arrogance and hubris of America's position in Iraq.
There is an alternative resolution, H. Res. 543, headed by Neil Abercrombie (D-HI) and and currently supported by 124 Members of the House, including 4 Republicans. H.Res. 543 needs 218 votes to pass.
I encourage you to read both. DC for Democracy is keeping a scorecard for H.Res. 543. If your congressperson hasn't signed on, call and ask why.Crossposted at Disabled Americans for Democracy
On this day, we pause to consider the history and symbolism of our national flag.
Having lived abroad, I know that few sights are more stirring or emotional than that of the Stars and Stripes flying proudly against a foreign sky. To me, the Flag represents all that is best and noblest in human nature, the great experiment in democracy that is the United States.
In this time of war, political corruption and, for so many, economic uncertainty and hardship, please join me in praying and working for the restoration of the republic for which our flag stands to its guiding principles of equality, oppeertunity, liberty, and justice for all.
Links
"The Star Spangled Banner"
"You're A Grand Old Flag"
"Stars and Stripes Forever"
Flag Rules and Regulations
History of Flag Day
Alt Comment Link
Putting up a new post to draw people's attention to the following long-awaited addition to the Grapski Defense web site:
SNAIL MAIL CONTRIBUTIONS
Those interested in contributing via regular mail you can send a check to the following address. The Open Records Project is helping with the coordination of the Defense Fund and related efforts.
The Open Records Project
P.O. Box 611
Alachua, FL
32615
Attn: Defense Fund
Checks may be made payable either to Charlie directly (Charles Grapski) or to The Open Records Project.
Alternate link for comments
The 3rd Annual DemocracyFest will take place on July 14-16, 2006 in San Diego, CA.
www.democracyfest.us
Childcare
The deadline for childcare registration is approaching, so be sure to register your little (and not so little) ones for quality care, complete with nutritious snacks just a few blocks away. A free shuttle handles the transportation to and from DemocracyFest, leaving you free to take in all the great activities on campus.
Information on DemocracyFest Childcare
Registration Form for DemocracyFest Childcare
Don't forget to buy your DemocracyFest Tickets!
Events, meals and lodging for children 12 and under are free, when accompanied by a paying adult.
Weekend ticket to DemocracyFest workshops/panels/discussions = $55.00 Click Here
Sat Dinner - DEMSTOCK featuring The Flying Other Bros w/ either the Mexican Fiesta meal ($20) or the Barn Buster BBQ ($30) Click Here
Saturday Night Beach Party Blowout = $25.00 Click Here
Darrell's Famous Blogger's Breakfast (Sunday morning) = $15.00 Click Here
On-Campus Lodging = As low as $55 per night Click Here
The Whole Enchilada - includes Lodging for Friday and Saturday nights, Friday Saturday and Sunday trainings panels and speakers, Saturday night BBQ, Saturday Night Blowout, and Sunday Blogger's Breakfast = $245 Click Here
The Enchilada Grande - includes Lodging for Thursday Friday Saturday and Sunday nights, Friday Saturday and Sunday trainings panels and speakers, Saturday night BBQ, Saturday Night Blowout, and Sunday Blogger's Breakfast = $365 Click Here
For more information on the Program, Speakers & Panelists for DemocracyFest Click Here
The DemocracyFest Incorporated Team
Charlene, Jessica, Liane, Pam, Quintus, and Ralph
Alt Comment Link"
For anyone who's not aware of it yet, the Raw Story article about Charlie Grapski (diaried at My Left Wing, and Daily Kos) has been picked up by Truthout.
From the comments of the last thread:
Hi folks, I work at Raw Story. Just wanted to let you know that we get roughly 500k readership daily and that includes national and international media outlets and journalists. I also sent Miriam's piece (am her editor)to my friend Marc Ash, editor at TruthOut and he ran it. They too have a huge readership also read by other journalists. And finally, I asked my PR person to send on my behalf to her entire list of contacts. If this does not help, I don't know what will. Keep up the great work and let's hope this story can be followed up on by media outlets with more resources than we have.Thanks, Larisa!
Good luck and keep us posted.
Larisa Alexandrovna
The image you see above is Sacred Space by Barbara Derosiers, from the gallery, For She Is the Breadth of the Power of God...Saint Mary Magdalene became "The Apostle to the Apostles" when she was selected by God to witness and proclaim the resurrection of Christ.Things change. They sometimes change more slowly than we'd like, but they do change.
One thousand, nine-hundred and forty-four years later ECUSA admitted women to orders of ministry and governance of the church when, at the 1976 General Convention in Philadelphia, a resolution passed declaring that no one shall be denied access to ordination as a deacon, priest or bishop on the basis of gender. Another resolution declared that no one would be barred from participating in the life and governance of the church, either because of their gender, or because of their theological beliefs concerning the ordination of women.
This is what bloggers can do when we work together. In response to the post Helping Charlie--this story needs "legs"!, Rayne commented that a major media outlet was interested in Charlie's story, and that she had given them my e-mail address. Later that day, I received an e-mail from a reporter at Raw Story, and I gave her Charlie's address and the latest update on his situation.
Today, there is an in-depth article about Charlie's plight featured at Raw Story...
Florida House candidate to face litany of criminal charges after alleging vote fraud
In an exclusive interview with Florida House of Representatives candidate Charlie Grapski - arrested after he filed a lawsuit alleging voting fraud against Alachua County City Manager Clovis Watson, RAW STORY learns of corruption allegations that can only be described as not seen since the days of Boss Tweed.Click here for the rest.
Charlie Grapski, a Democrat running for the Florida House of Representatives, was arrested in April after filing a lawsuit alleging that City officials abused power and influenced the outcome of an election by manipulating the absentee voting process. The story, however, does not start or end with election fraud allegations. What Grapski tells is a tale that one cannot imagine occurring in a law abiding country, one of false arrest, intimidation, and a crony-business system all centered around money interests.
Originally posted in the comments at Blog for America
We still need to raise another $2,500 minimum by tomorrow AM to pay for the current legal expenses to date.
We raised about that much between Friday evening and Saturday morning. I have to give the defense lawyers another $5,000 Monday morning before they will take any further actions - to cover existing expenses.
As for those who come here claiming that they have seen "no proof" of anything - its funny how much that mirrors the official line of the Alachua County Republican Party. But who lays out their strategy to the opposition BEFORE the game? Its like giving the opponents your game plan in advance. Not exactly the wisest move.
As for the allegations of wrongdoing in the election - we have filed a legal action (this with another lawyer who is doing this pro bono - Joe Little, a law professor who I have worked with on cases in the past - he is amazing and a true local hero in Alachua County - the only thing we have to come up with on this front is the costs of pursuing the litigation (filing fees, deposition costs, etc.)).
We have a formal complaint filed with the Courts. It lays out certain allegations as we are required to do by law. It does not lay out ALL of our evidence yet - as this is not the forum for that - the trial and discovery phase will be for that.
However, as soon as Tuesday, we will be filing an AMENDED complaint - alleging far more detail (again not every detail - but more allegations of serious wrongdoing) of what took place. I'll post it once it is filed.
All I can say is that I have evidence that this election was:
1) Improperly conducted in such a way as to call into question the validity of the election.
At minimum - the City officials did not follow any of the laws they are required to follow - and thus compromised the election (even if you allege no intentional wrongdoing - there is ample evidence of misfeasance).
Indeed the SECRECY of the ballot was denied to all who cast "absentee" ballots. And this election was decided by absentee ballots.
But that is not all we are alleging:
2) City Officials CONNECTED WITH the campaign of the commissioner "elected" by absentee ballots to his 40th consecutive year - improperly influenced residents to cast absentee ballots specifically FOR this candidate.
The City officials committed numerous acts which constitute criminal actions - including numerous felony acts and certainly the violation of civil/voting rights.
The simple question should be - IF I had no case - WHY would there be such an OVER-reaction by these officials.
As for the alleged crime I am being charged with - this is absurd. I did not "secretly" record anyone. Everything I did was in plain sight. Indeed the officials openly acknowledged I was recording - and continued to talk on record. Plus in Florida these are PUBLIC officials - and under Florida's law - they are required to act SOLELY as PUBLIC officials when in that capacity. The public has a RIGHT TO KNOW what they do as public officials.
And here is a good example of how absurd this is:
Michael Canney, who is now the co-chair of the Florida Green party, is also being threatened to be arrested. Michael is a good friend and an Alachua resident who has long been fighting the corruption in Alachua.
For what? Well - he videotaped me engaged in discussions with the public officials. OK - this was while I was openly recording them and they chose to speak on record.
But what else is missing from this story? Well - the local ABC affiliate, TV20, was there as well at the same time. What were they doing? They were videotaping the very same thing!
Indeed when I contacted them Friday night - and they put the story out - they used THAT footage!
So, if what I did was a felony in audio taping that conversation (openly) and what Michael did in videotaping that conversation (openly - kind of hard to "miss" the fact that someone is three feet from you with a video camera rolling) is a felony - then why is what the TV station did not a felony?
They have not had any action filed against them? Why not?
By the way - if you want to know one "good" reason why the establishment here is so concerned about this case - beyond merely the Alachua officials and their election wrongdoing - think about it this way.
Florida has VERY open government laws (its called the Sunshine Law - composed of FLorida's Ethics Law (112), Public Records Law (119), and Open Meetings Law (286) - you can follow links to these statutes to read them for yourself at the Alachua Project site (freealachua.org).
The legislature and courts, however, have been ERODING these laws rapidly in the past few years. Very consciously. But the laws are still there - they are Constitutionally enacted by the people (in the 1970s) - but those in public office do not like them. They are the tools (indeed weapons) that the people have to hold their public officials to account. And those public officials, by and large, see this as harassment - and don't think they should be as such.
But if my case were deemed to be a felony - it would mean that if a citizen saw Rodney King being beaten by cops in Florida and videotaped it:
1) The Citizen could be arrested for a felony (incentive to NOT tape such activities);
2) The Video could not be used against the police in a Court of Law (good incentive for the authorities to take this position).
The same goes for corrupt politicians - and Florida is notorious for this - who have been caught by investigative journalists taking MONEY while being secretly videotaped.
Now those who EXPOSE public corruption - have the tables turned on them by the officials - who can then criminalize the activities of the citizens who merely CATCH the public officials in wrongdoing.
That is a truly frightening prospect.
Charlie
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"I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream! Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the desert, O house of Israel? You have lifted up the shrine of your king, the pedestal of your idols, the star of your god - which you made for yourselves. Therefore I will send you into exile beyond Damascus," says the LORD, whose name is God Almighty.Let justice roll.
