If you live on Planet Earth, you might be interested in this

December 19, 2004 10:31 AM

Clinton Eugene Curtis gives sworn testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary. [RealPlayer, sorry]
Yang Enterprises (YEI) respond.
Brad Friedman responds in kind.
... next ... previously ...
posted by Pretty_Generic (27 comments total)

If you live on Planet Earth, you might be interested in this

I do live on that planet but I'm not interested yet. What's it about?
posted by nicwolff at 10:43 AM on December 19, 2004

It takes a Man of the Year to steal an election and get people to love hiim for it.
posted by wah at 10:48 AM on December 19, 2004

Clinton Curtis is a programmer. He's worked on projects for NASA, and the Florida Department of Transportation. He swears under penalty of perjury that Representative Tom Feeney (Republican, and Jeb Bush's old running mate) asked him to build a vote-rigging prototype in 2000, and that he later learned that this was not intended as a theoretical example to help protect against vote fraud, but was to be actively used for vote fraud.

His affidavit is here.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 10:49 AM on December 19, 2004

So, how long before Curtis is found dead under mysterious circumstances?
posted by Faint of Butt at 11:13 AM on December 19, 2004

Interesting that we haven't seen this on major news outlets.
posted by jearbear at 11:21 AM on December 19, 2004

Yes, yes it is. Wired has had an article. Der Spiegel is planning an interview. Apparently the big networks are "sniffing around it".
posted by Pretty_Generic at 11:33 AM on December 19, 2004

that's really interesting. i hope this story breaks big.
posted by blendor at 11:54 AM on December 19, 2004

I stand corrected - perhaps I'm surprised there hasn't been MORE of a mainstream coverage to this particular testimony.

Also, that cnn search comes up with 0 links.
posted by jearbear at 12:02 PM on December 19, 2004

I'm sorry, but this story just doesn't smell right to me also, and trust me, I have no love for this current administration.

This guy feels like a crank to me, his story is just too wonderful.

We have to be real careful here. If this comes out as the ravings of lunatic instead of the real deal, it detracts from our common cause of insuring fair and accurate voting in the United States.

The next story might be the big one, and if this one turns out to nothing but noise and fury, the public really will ignore it.

So, hey, lets check it out and I'm all for full investigation, but hold off on the mass emails people, before people starting ignoring you.
posted by PissOnYourParade at 12:02 PM on December 19, 2004

Yeah... it's been kicking around on bradblog for almost a week. The video is almost too melodramatic to be true- audible gasps and stuff- but it was sworn testimony.
posted by Doohickie at 12:06 PM on December 19, 2004

Clinton Eugene Curtis gives sworn testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary

No, he did not. He gave sworn testimony to Congressman Conyers' forum on the 2004 Elections in Columbus, Ohio. This an unofficial partisan hearing held by the Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee with out the sanction of the Chairman or the rest of the committee.
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 12:09 PM on December 19, 2004

FWIW - Bev Harris published a note on her site (since removed?) stating why she thinks the Feeney-Curtis story is disinformation: mirror link here. (Makes many of the same points as P.O.Y.P. above.)
posted by dinsdale at 12:13 PM on December 19, 2004

4. Mr. Nee has never been an employee of YEI.

Doesn't this present a problem for Mr. Curtis? Surly if Mr. Curtis had worked for YEI there would be some sort of tax documentation.
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 12:14 PM on December 19, 2004

4. Mr. Nee has never been an employee of YEI.

Doesn't this present a problem for Mr. Curtis? Surly if Mr. Curtis had worked for YEI there would be some sort of tax documentation.

see towards the end of this entry:
http://www.bradblog.com/archives/00001054.htm
posted by blendor at 12:48 PM on December 19, 2004

sorry, meant to link that... but it is linked in the first post, after all...
posted by blendor at 12:50 PM on December 19, 2004

Steve, why would Mr. Curtis' tax documentation help prove that Mr. Nee worked at YEI?

but of course, as blendor points out, there is plenty of proof that Yang is lying its corporately-personified ass off, particularly about that question.
posted by Embryo at 1:02 PM on December 19, 2004

What's with the dude in the audience pumping his fist at 1 minute 13 seconds?
posted by climalene at 1:10 PM on December 19, 2004

This an unofficial partisan hearing held by the Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee with out the sanction of the Chairman or the rest of the committee.

Partisan??? *gasp* *faints*
posted by Space Coyote at 1:49 PM on December 19, 2004

Faint of Butt - So, how long before Curtis is found dead under mysterious circumstances?

Well, his dog has already been killed - see question 17.

jearbear - Also, that cnn search comes up with 0 links.

That was the idea. I'm genuinely surprised it still hasn't been reported by the networks.

Steve_at_Linnwood - No, he did not.

I stand correct, although I'm pretty sure the investigation has the backing of SOME of the other members of the committee. Like, the Democratic ones.

dinsdale - Bev Harris published a note on her site (since removed?)

It was removed because she has retracted her comments.

climalene - What's with the dude in the audience pumping his fist at 1 minute 13 seconds?

Democracy.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 4:34 PM on December 19, 2004

I stand corrected.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 4:35 PM on December 19, 2004

Oh, and I just re-read Steve's comment - Surly if Mr. Curtis had worked for YEI there would be some sort of tax documentation.
You mean Mr Nee right? Nobody is claiming Curtis didn't work for YEI. And the proof that Nee did is right there in the link.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 4:40 PM on December 19, 2004

I'm pretty sure the investigation has the backing of SOME of the other members of the committee. Like, the Democratic ones.

I'm sure that it does. That is why it is a partisan hearing. (partisan != bad, partisan = not both parties) The party out of power will often hold show 'hearings' to get media attention. (The GOP did this often during the 40 years the Democrates held control of the House) but it never really amounts to anything has they do not have subpoena power.

You mean Mr Nee right? Nobody is claiming Curtis didn't work for YEI.

Yes, I read that too quick. Now I stand corrected.
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 5:25 PM on December 19, 2004

so wait, we dont live in Jesusland? we live in cheaterland?
posted by tsarfan at 5:26 PM on December 19, 2004

but it never really amounts to anything has they do not have subpoena power

Well, maybe, but it's still sworn testimony, and Curtis will still probably go to jail for a long time if he is lying.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 5:28 PM on December 19, 2004

Stop calling me Surly, goddamnit.
posted by trondant at 3:21 AM on December 20, 2004

so wait, we dont live in Jesusland? we live in cheaterland?

Yep. And the cheaters make Baby Jesus cry!
posted by Doohickie at 9:52 AM on December 20, 2004

Steve,

Any and all republicans who were members of the committee were invited and urged to attend. They chose not to. That doesn't make it purposely partisan.
posted by bas67 at 12:13 PM on December 20, 2004