Vigil For Civility

As part of a larger project called CelleCast VoteRageous, we have some goodwill marketing going out to mobile devices today to iPhones and other cell phones, asking Obama supporters to call in and give a good hearted shout out for their guy. We directed people here, which is a MOBILE category page where they could see the Vigil Talkback area as well as a program for both McCain and Obama and voice their support. This gives supporters in every area a chance to listen on demand and talk back to one another.

No matter how this thing works out, just hearing people in their own voices, share their passion is a very encouraging thing. If we can all learn to talk to one another, and stand behind our convictions with rational, big picture thinking, we can go a long way in this country… Our best years may even be ahead of us.

From Fox today, a debate on where this might go.

Opposing Views: Could Voter Fraud Steal the 2008 Election?

A fierce firefight has erupted over voter fraud as the 2008 presidential campaign races toward its conclusion. Both sides are worried sick that America’s true choice for chief executive will get hijacked by dirty pool. Are dead people voting? Have minorities been disenfranchised? The non-partisan Web site Opposing Views asked the Heritage Foundation and the NAACP whether voter fraud will play a role in this election.
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Whole article
http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/11/03/opposing-views-voter-fraud-steal-election/

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20081102/D9470EE81.html

John Hinshaw, a historian at Lebanon Valley College in central Pennsylvania, sees a couple things that could dictate the aftermath of Election Day - one aggravating and one mitigating. He says that many people profess after the fact to have voted for the winner even if they didn’t, thus leavening the strong reaction.

But if voters perceive unfairness, which can happen in both thin margins and landslides, that can be a serious problem. “People can say, ‘It’s not my president. It’s your president,’” he says. “And that’s the kind of stuff that can really weaken nation-states.”

Neither candidate has a claim on these simple, inspiring two words, or course. It is ours, and the dreams of every American patriot are theirs alone, born not out of conferrence, but innate to those who treasure the blessings and responsibilities of liberty.

Please allow these lyrics from two different slices of America’s history inspire you this weekend as we approach the final two days of the vigil. May it never be that the dream fades due to any lack of vigilance or honorable civility in our generation.

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL
Oh beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years.
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears.
America! America! God shed his grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea.

Then… years later, a more reflective, self-questioning version:

Patriot’s Dream
words and music by Arlo Guthrie

Living now here but for fortune
Placed by fate’s mysterious schemes
Who’d believe that we’re the ones asked
To try to rekindle the patriot’s dreams

Arise sweet destiny, time runs short
All of your patience has heard their retort
Hear us now for alone we can’t seem
To try to rekindle the patriot’s dreams

Can you hear the words being whispered
All along the American stream
Tyrants freed the just are imprisoned
Try to rekindle the patriot’s dreams

Ah but perhaps too much is being asked of too few
You and your children with nothing to do
Hear us now for alone we can’t seem
To try to rekindle the patriot’s dreams

NBC reports on prayer today in Florida’s capital

They’re fasting on the steps of the Florida Capitol, hoping God will hear their pleas to put an abortion opponent in the White House.

Prayer warriors will staff the get-out-the-vote command center Tuesday at Ebenezer A.M.E. Church in Fort Washington, Md. A rabbi is distributing a prayer to be said in the voting booth. Prayer circles are seeking courage and protection for SEN. Barack Obama and his family.

The faithful are busy as Nov. 4 nears.
Click here to find out more!

While politicians are making their final pitch to voters, religious Americans from across the political spectrum are appealing to a higher power on the candidates’ behalf.

Read more…
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As much as no one wants the worst to happen, there are highly volatile implications if the race becomes close enough to be disputed. What if the turnout defies recent predictions of an Obama landslide?

What will happen then? The expectation level for an Obama victory has been supported heavily by the press to the point where if it turns out that McCain does win, we are likely to have a very bitter time ahead of us in dealing with it. If this happens, there WILL be court challenges, urban unrest, and accusations of racial prejudice to a level we have not seen in decades. We could even have urban riots on our hands.

To mitigate against this worst-case scenario, our 7 day virtual vigil invites all-comers to catalog their resolve in standing for civility at this time of potential crisis. There is a viable possibility we will need to pull together as a nation to see this through, so this site is open for more signups right up to election day and beyond, until a clear winner emerges… not just technically, but in national consensus.

It just takes 3 minutes to post your own individual AOV (Act of Vigilance)

———– Recent stories that reference strong concerns about a just, acceptable result ——-
From the right…

From the left…

The most recent news coverage of the potential for voter fraud and the ongoing negativity in the Presidential campaign continues to be constant and consistent. No new claims of massive fraud have surfaced.  However I am seeing more comments about voter “suppression” (http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/ci_10875204) than before. I think this is a legitimate concern in many cases because the vote you don’t allow to be placed even by a registered citizen may be more powerful than the vote you try to manipulate in the courts.

The unprecedented early voter turnout also seems to be gong very well. There were a couple of cases where the people in line were being told they couldn’t vote because they wouldn’t get into the polling place in time but in each case the poll officials let it be known that anyone in line at closing time was going to be able to vote. Good civil democracy in action.

Keep your eyes open.

We have a few new links up today…

Remember.. this is still about registration fraud so far… let’s not use terms too loosely.

A Pennsylvania judge says NO to getting ACORN voter reg lists.
Miami County Fraud Probe
Heritage Foundation Study on Voter Fraud
CNN - ACORN pushes back

Well I am keeping an eagle eye on the media coverage of potential manipulation and fraud in the election. Remember the focus is on the Presidential election but there is activity that matters “downstream” from the big races. So far so good. I have seen historically partisan newspapers like the San Diego Union Tribune cover a very emotional gay marriage initiative with balance and fairness: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20081031-9999-1n31field.html

I’ve seen commentary in the Huffington Post strike a neutral point of view on the use of underhanded techniques to manipulate the vote.    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/27/better-machinery-and-regi_n_138183.html

However I’ve also seen some pretty amazing claims such as the one by Mayor Bloomberg as reported by  the NY Post where he is claiming no early votes were awarded to Barack Obama. This is worth looking into because a republican mayor is the one leveling the charge.

There will be more allegations, counter charges and outlandish editorials, but so far the media is doing an outstanding job of looking into the claims and doing their job which is to report the truth so we can move forward. This certainly gives me some level of confidence that the fourth estate is helping us as we look for a civil discourse and a fair election.

Many people have suspended concern over a potential ugly finish this year by figuring the victory would be a ’slam dunk’ for Obama. Well, this is not the case anymore, so I think the need for this VIGIL is going to become more apparent to many people very quickly as we enter into the weekend.

Here is CNN’s report from yesterdayalready filled up with tons of user comments.