'Just Vote "NO"'

November 05, 2006

By Taffy Rice (View author info)
Copyright Taffy Rice

When I was contacted by a voter following the July primary, to inform me they had gone to caste their vote, but my name was NOT listed on a ballot only the Republican incumbent, I was shocked. But after reading the congressional testimony of Clint Curtis, of course, none of us should be shocked.

You see, Mr. Curtis was paid by Congressman Tom Feeney from the 24th District, a recipient of Abramoff-Reid funds and gratuities, as well as a Tom DeLay supporter. But more specific is the testimony from Curtis to Congress informing leading politicians, that Curtis had been paid by Feeney to alter software, to among other things darken the screen region for any candidate NOT an incumbent or specifically Republican. Feeney a FL Attorney was a member of the Judiciary Committee aware that investigations into the Presidential vote in Ohio were underway, but NOT scheduled for FL. Curtis was paid by Yang Enterprises Inc., which also secured a number of government contracts, prior to being investigated for Chinese espionage.

So when we filed a complaint addressing the issues of changing polling locations at the last minute, the lack of candidate's names on ballots, and no semblance of accountability regarding the Diebold Voting System, guess who came to court and defied GA Law? You guessed it...Assistant Attorney General (AG) Rebecca Mick, Secretary of State Cathy Cox Office, Attorney Doug "Brother" Haynie, and W. Ryan Teague of McKenna Long Aldridge, Speaker Dennis Hastert's representative counsel.

Now this court date was in direct violation of GA Law O.C.G.A. § 21-2-524, requiring a hearing to be convened not more than 10 days and NOT less than 5 days, after the service of such notice. But such was no regard for Doug Haynie and W. Ryan Teague, who ignored the clear fact that service was not provided until the evening of the 7th, after the close of business yielding effectively the 8th , as the date of subject notification. The hearing was held in less than 5 days in violation of mandatory law, but instead held 2 days latter, with an objection to Judge Shepherd Howell's involvement or unnoticed designation of Judge Jere White in the matter. The Recusal of Judge Howell was never addressed by Howell. Instead Judge Jere White allegedly dismissed the Recusal of Judge Howell.

During the hearing, which was vehemently objected to for lack of jurisdiction among other issues, W. Ryan Teague of McKenna Long Aldridge referred to Board of Elections Attorney Doug Haynie as "Brother Haynie." This overt and Masonic plea was just shy of claiming to request help for the widow's son! But Mr. Teague like Senior Counsel Randy Evans lead counsel for Speaker Hastert, who stated the Diebold Machines were an inappropriate and unreliable means of voting, was willing to speak out of both sides of his own mouth. That is to say, Teague was arguing to Judge White, all actions taken were valid, while the Senior Member of his law firm was concurring on the very points we had been making in the case. Strangely, Mr. Teague was a contributor to an article titled, "The Predictable Unpredictability of the Georgia Supreme Court," in which the premise of people being empowered to participate in judicial selection directly was clearly noted.

Judge White was obviously willing to perform! Upon the submission of a recusal against him following his overt and bias acts during the hearing, coupled with willful violations of law, he NEVER bothered to address his own recusal, subsequently barring any follow on action. He just did NOT bother to rule. And so Attorneys Haynie and Teague ignored additional pleadings, appealed to Judge White as members of the 'brotherhood', and were allowed to access the vote of every Cobb County Voter with the assistance of the Cobb County Sheriff's Department, ultimately providing notification on Friday, which they consummated Monday morning before any notice was received. By the time the mail was delivered, Haynie had already privately accessed all Cobb County voting records with the assistance of Sheriff Neil Warren, prior to any receipt of their efforts by the opposing party.

So does the fact every dirty trick in the book was attempted suggest a problem? Should there be any clue regarding the involvement of the same (legal) characters? Is it a coincidence that the very alterations Clint Curtis described is exactly what a Cobb County Voter recognized? Well regardless the answer, chalk the learning experience up to another 'due process violation' by those willing to besmirch the rule of law. As Senator John Wiles and Attorney Haynie stated in the courtroom, if we don't win here, we'll just take her to a higher court. That's a lot of influence, confidence, or corruption!

What's your vote in a fixed system? Just vote NO!