Arkansas Blog

guess what lagrone... YOU LOSE.

Jim Le Groin sounds as if he is advocating big government instead of local control. Actually, it just sounds as if he is crying for attention by doing an impersonation of Janet Huckabee's constant whining and crude attacks.

LaGrone may be late coming to the voting machine issue, but he is completely correct.

I am a democrat voting for LaGrone - perhaps he WILL get some decent voting machines in this state that actually count votes and have software to run them.

Mr. Daniels said when he decided after repeated warnings, calls and letters from concerned AR voters that 'the buck stops with me'.

Mr. Daniels was right. Ms. Janet Miller Harris and lawyer Tim Humphrey was right beside him every step of the way on ES&S machine purchase, while denying they had a problem. Stop the buck with those two while you're at it.

Re: Susan Inman and Jerry Larkowski of the Pulaski Co. Election Commission were made aware several years ago in 2003/2004 that ES&S machines had major problems counting the vote.

In fact, the full Pulaski Co. election commission was told of some of the many problems with the machines at an open hearing in the summer of 2004. They denied again they had any problems.

ES&S sold the state of Indiana machines with no software back in 2002 and that were sent to Inman, Larkowski as well. ALL AR election officials were contacted by experts and by concerned voters. Don't act surprised now.

Arkansas: What will you do about it? Do you want to be sold out some more or have you had enough?

As for Jim Lagrone, when you win, we'll be watching you on the voting machines just as closely.

Do you all remember when Daniels tried to keep our military men and women from voting in 2004? Did any of you realize that he did not purchase the voting machines that have been recomended by his own committee, but instead decided to purchase the ones that have been pushed by the Democrat National Committee.
Even us Democrats should stand up for Fair Elections.
There is no way that he should have bought them, just like it wouldn't be right for a Republican to have bought the ones pushed by the RNC.
It is up to us to get rid of this drunk!

Charlie Daniels needs to stick with playing the fiddle and singing funny songs.

Well of course he is responsible. He's the one that hires morons like Janet Miller. He's the one that buys machines that don't work properly even after being warned (anybody want to guess why?).

If the May elections go as bad as I'm afraid they will, we may have our first Republican SOS.

Let's not go overboard there, Jim. You sound like Rev Gov; what is this, a Banana Republic?

I expect there to be problems, but there are problems with every election in every state. Everyone will have a chance to fill out a ballot. If the machines don't work, fill out a paper ballot. It will be counted.

Funny how Lagrone jumped on the high fuel costs bandwagon. Not sure I see his logic there, though. I think voters would much rather have fair elections than cut grass. Apparently Mr. Lagrone doesn't think county leadership cares about voting.

Sounds like Lagrone will do anything for a few minutes of free media. Nevermind the fact that the capitol building hasn't had a refurbishing of this magnitude in 40+ years. Perhaps Jimbo doesn't understand that there are more responsibilities for a SOS than elections.

I wonder what he'll find to bitch and moan about if the elections run as smoothly as many think. Sure, the SOS has to administer the elections; however he doesn't hire the county folk who often times screw it up.

I thought Lagrone was a good Christian man. Apparenlty not even he is above the fray when it comes to pot shots and disrespect.

The best part about all of this is that Charlie Daniels could have spent state money on porn instead of voting machines, and he will STILL beat Le Groin by double digits.

You're in a race you can't mathematically lose, Charlie! Go get you another DWI. Nobody is watching...

Daniels is not to blame. The Republican Congress who jammed down our throats HAVA to have more transparent elections. Imagine that, after stealing the 2000 election, they want fair elections.
In order to be HAVA compliant, you must have electronic voting available - we had two choices; Diebold or ES&S two related businesses, and I mean blood related. We went with ES&S, who over sold and over committed all over this country and they cannot meet their commitments. We have been duped by the Republican held voting companies, not Daniels. One way or the other, my county will be ready for May 23rd, with or without ES&S and their damned memory packs!

HAVA does NOT prefer DRE's nor precinct based counters. Go to www.votersunite.org and read the mythbreakers report. HAVA *suggests* DRE's or an 'alternative system' for disabled voters. HAVA also states that olders systems do not have to be gotten rid of.

(Tim) Humphries advised the commission HAVA preferred DREs and precinct-based counters because they eliminated the chance of overvoting.

http://www.recordtimes.com/nwat/News/36117/

Election Commission chooses new touch-screen voting machines

BY DREW TERRY Northwest Arkansas Times
Posted on Friday, January 6, 2006
Touch-screen voting will become an option for future elections in Washington County.

The Election Commission on Thursday agreed to recommend installing iVotronic Touch Screen Voting System units in each polling place after learning new state regulations limiting counties' options when choosing among Direct Recording Electronic (DRE) systems.

The touch-screen units eliminate the need for users to deposit their paper ballots into the storage boxes. The information instead is stored in the machine and on a printed receipt, while the commission would rather retain actual ballots. "We think having a ballot in our hands is preferable to having it stored in a computer chip or on a strip of paper," commission chairman John Logan Burrow said prior to the vote.

The equipment upgrades is part of the county's effort to comply with the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA), which requires every polling site to feature a form of voting accessible to disabled voters and aims to reduce ballots containing overvotes (when a person votes for more than one candidate in a single race).

Burrow and fellow commissioners Pete Loris and Tom Lundstrom had favored installing AutoMARK machines, which still require the use of individual ballots. They reluctantly abandoned hope of using that system Thursday after hearing from Tim Humphries, general counsel for the secretary of state.

Humphries told the com- missioners the AutoMARK received poor reviews during a test involving people with disabilities, some of whom found difficulty in transferring the ballots to the storage box. "There was a great deal of concern in the disabled community that the Auto-MARK doesn't allow you to vote independently as HAVA requires," he said.

Loris asked whether voters would be acting independently when someone running a polling site still would have to transfer the results tallied by a DRE to the box containing the paper ballots.

Arkansas Secretary of State Charlie Daniels announced in November the state chose to use equipment from Election Systems & Software, which has provided election services in Arkansas for more than 20 year.

Federal and state funds surpassing $550,000 were earmarked for new equipment in Washington County.

All 57 voting sites in the county will feature DREs to accommodate voters with disabilities. The systems also will be available to anyone wanting to use them rather than the traditional optical scan ballots favored by the commission.

County Clerk Karen Combs Pritchard requested four ES&S Model 100s - precinct-based, voter-activated ballot counters - to be used in her office during early voting. She also asked for 10 additional DREs for potential off-site early voting opportunities that made be more difficult with actual ballots.

The election commission also plans to use the federal and state money to upgrade from three ES&S Model 550 machines - used to tally results in a central counting system - to four Model 650s.

Humphries advised the commission HAVA preferred DREs and precinct-based counters because they eliminated the chance of overvoting.

Commissioners estimated overvotes in the last Washington County election accounted for a tenth of a percent of total ballots cast.

Districts that opt to remain on central counting systems must enact a voting education program that effectively reduces the rate of overvoting.

The U.S. Department of Justice may penalize counties using a central center if their results include a high percentage of ballots with overvotes, Humphries said, adding the justice department hasn't revealed what the standard will be.

The commission and Humphries discussed a ballot counting incident in Pike County - another county using a central counting center. During the November 2004 elections, a malfunction in a counting machine led to nearly 17 percent of the ballots mistakenly being considered overvoting ballots. "If we saw a high number of overvotes on one of our machines on election night, We would respond to that during the course of the night," Burrow said. "We would not sit back and say, ' The machine never makes a mistake. '"

RE: Daniels is not to blame. The Republican Congress who jammed down our throats HAVA to have more transparent elections.

Yes, Daniels is to blame, and the buck absolutely stops with he, miller harris and humphries. They were warned by experts on computerized voting supported by computer scientists for years - the result, he bought more ES&S machines.

AR DID had a choice - we were not limited to merely Diebold and ES&S junk. Accupoll was, and still is a machine that does appear to count the vote and has no unethical or dirty background. Daniel's agreed to talk to Accupoll reps. Janet MIller Harris told them: not interested.

The bottom line: paper ballots is the way you will have to vote, but you will have to demand they are printed locally and not by ES&S the ballot delayer. Then check 'em for infrared ink somewhere before you use them.

And yes, the GOP controlled congress that works 97 days a year pushed HAVA that included help from Abramoff payoffee Rep. Bob Ney (R). Ney was the committee chairman that stalled all voting bills in committee and would not allow them to e heard. Gee, thanks Jack and Eddie Ayoob. Er, didn't AR delegates take money from Eddie Ayoob, Jack Abramoff's assistant at Greenberg Traruig Lawfirm?

Charlie Daniels is a disgrace, and I hope he gets beat.

Everyone knows that he is drunk with how many DWI's?

How many times was he caught stealing taxpayer money?

I think it's great that the dome is getting fixed, but it should have been a long time ago.

Forget the new voting machines-we've had election fraud going on all my life. Jim has a point.

Charlie Daniels is a disgrace, and I hope he gets beat.

Everyone knows that he is drunk with how many DWI's?

How many times was he caught stealing taxpayer money?

I think it's great that the dome is getting fixed, but it should have been a long time ago.

Forget the new voting machines-we've had election fraud going on all my life. Jim has a point.

Exactly when was CD caught stealing public money? I'm most certain that if caught taking taxpayer dollars, any elected official would be investigated--espeically one of our constitutional officers.

The FACT is, the SOS office took too long to decide what brand machine they were going to use. When the paperwork was finally signed the SOS waited to see what would happen instead of picking a direction and leading the state toward a monumental voting transition.

I do love the fact that La Groin is trying to point out the failures of the current administration, but La Groin is not electable.

The building vs voting machines is a bogus argument. The money for the restoration came from a grant from the state's Natural and Cultural Resource Council. Sorry, those folks don't give out grants for voting machines, so why don't you all go bitch at them?

Lagrone is a sacrificial goat. Grab your ankles, Jim, and assume the position. This won't hurt a bit.

I couldn't agree with Mr. Lagrone more. It's time that Arkansas had fair elections where every vote is counted...and counted once. The current office holder is more concerned about the capitol dome, getting DUIs in state cars, and making sure he doesn't get caught speeding or driving drunk so he has to have a radar detector mounted on his dashboard. And by the way, those ARE illegal. Charlie Daniels is not only a disgrace to the Democratic party in Arkansas, but he's just a disgrace to the people of Arkansas in general by not caring about the election process. Oh, and what are all you Daniels supporters afraid of? Sounds to me like you're afraid that Charlie will lose in November (and I can assure you he will). Otherwise you wouldn't be making such vicious attacks on Jim Lagrone and claiming you actually know what you're talking about. I guess the national politics does drift over in to each individual state: the Democrats have no ideas other than to bash and attack their opponent, and as is plainly shown on this blog, they look absolutely idiotic doing it.

The issues that Jim Lagrone is campaigning on transcend party lines.

This is about democracy people.

Folks folks folks.....you can all get in a tizzy all you want over whatever you think this has to do with anything....BUT.

Jim Lagrone proved himself to be a fool when he decided to run for this race against Charlie. Sure the Lt Gov race has turned into a Holt Lovefest but hey, if he really wanted to mimic the Rev Gov......

But really. Lets be serious. and unbiased. I know your staff is reading this. Heck, you yourself are probably reading this. So, explain to me how you can win? You cant, its not possible. Yet you, a so called man of the cloth, are using religion as a backing to get you to the paper, and then are acting in a most unchristian manner....which of course if politics. You attack if you are behind. And to gain name recognition. Regardless, it will not work. You may believe it will work, but in November it will not. So you will have said all this stuff about a man whose wife recently passed and all for what?

Anyways, Lagrone and your staff, i hope you can live with yourselves. I dont know that ive ever seen a more pointless campaign.

but hey, what do i know, i could be wrong.

But i doubt it.

Good points, but slightly off base.

I have yet to see where Lagrone has used religion. As a matter of fact, the consensus in my party (yes Republican) is that we LOVE how that Jim is NOT using his religion like say Holt is.

That's what makes him so great, and potent really. He realizes he doesn't have to use that stuff, and he certainly could.

He really is campaigning on the issues. Election reform is needed. It has been needed for a long time. Constitutional officers spending time in jail for DWI's is a serious issue. Charlie Daniels has a terrible past, full of corruption. Everyone knows this, even Democrats. We've needed change for a long time.

Hell, didn't Brummett endorse Janet Huckabee over Charlie Daniels?

God he's cute.

Jim Lagrone may be a good man, but the thought that he attacks CD when nothing in Arkansas has gone wrong is nuts. There has never been an election in any state at any time in the modern era where every single vote got counted. Tragic? Yes. Should we strive for more? Certainly

What does Lagrone bring to the table? He's great at pointing out a problem, but how can HE fix it? Mr. Daniels has attempted. We'll see where that attemp nets in less than 4 weeks.

And, no, not "everyone" knows that CD is a bad man. I happen to think he's a pretty decent guy, from what very little I know. All he's done is serve his state for 30 years.

No election problems in Arkansas? Just google it.

NO ELECTION PROBLEMS! Do you people not realize that we have counties in the delta bragging about how they have had 110% turnout. 110%! Thats not even possible.
Did you people know that Fred Flintstone voted in Arkansas in 2004! Or that there are counties that will not allow both parties to have poll watchers!
Come on, Charile has got to go and you all know it.
Its time we make him get drunk on his own dollar and not our tax dollars!

If Charlie goes, will we still be able to participate in Sunday voting?

Obviously LaGroin has nothing to do but sit and send numerous posts to blogs. All the catch phrases from his speeches are here, and trust me, hardly anyone is paying attention out there in Arkansas. This "Godly" man is obviously unpreturbed at his own deliberate misrepresentation of facts, personal insults and outright lies. He and Huckabee really give Christians a bad name.

Jim, if I can't beat you I can still out drink you.

While I acknoledge there are some concerns with ES&S, it should be noted that Susan Inman is a notorious "chicken little". There is no telling how many elections she has screwed up in the past but she was always overshadowed by Staley's blunders.

Hey uh Jim? I think I need a ride home from work today. Think I could get a lift?

Yes, Charlie has served this state for 30 years beginning in the Labor Department during Clinton's first term as governor. Charlie was asked to resign that post under accusations of misuse of state funds.
Service to the State? His family on the payroll is well documented. What you may not know is that one of his chief deputies has a daughter on staff as well. Another chief deputy hired her brother (May Construction) for the renovation of the capitol grounds last year. And further, the architect (Clements & Assoc.) hired for all Charlie's improvements so far to the capitol, including the cleaning of the dome, is the husband of another SOS staff member.

Just who is getting the benefit of his service? Illegal? Probably not. Unethical? You decide.

Stayed tuned for more on the voting machine mess.

There is a poster who keeps calling Jim Lagrone by the term LaGroin. I am not sure if this is an affectionate name that was pinned on Jim's behalf, or if this person is TRULY showing why we have an education problem in Arkansas. But the main point of this post is to call your attention to the time that this poster says that Jim has nothing better to do than sit and post on this site. However, It seems as this person has nothing better to do than post on this site, because that term LaGroin appears more than the actual spelling of his name LAGRONE. Anyways. On your comment about Jim being a Christian. Who are you to judge. You are the like the ones who kill to stop the killing. (bombing of abortion clinics ect.) You are judging Jim saying that he in Unchristian in that he is being disrespectful. Well with ALL DUE RESPECT SIR/MA'AM you are doing the same thing that you are accusing him of doing.

Two more things, then I will leave you to respond to this in your own demeanor. Jim has yet to attack Charlie's Character. Everything that Jim has brought forth has been on Charlie's ability to carry out the duties of his office in an ethical manner.

Last thing. People are listening to Jim, because he has ideas and the ability/willingness to execute those ideas.

Conclusion
Electronic voting is NOT A BAD THING. It just needs to be perfected first and Arkansas DOES NOT need to rush into things just to keep up with the times. If I am going to take the TIME to vote I want my vote to be counted. WHOEVER can make that happen correctly is the person I want in office. I urge everyone to look at the candidates, look at their ability to do the job, then vote. DO NOT VOTE PARTY LINES. VOTE THE BEST PERSON FOR THE JOB.