After I published my article yesterday about the Iowa GOP's decision to use Diebold's computer results for the Iowa Straw Poll and destroy the paper ballots before any type of a manual validation could be undertaken, I was contacted by several people interested in the story. Of these were some wealthy individuals that asked me to find out what the Iowa GOP would "charge" to allow a manual validation of the results. Their only condition for any negotiations on price and method would be that the ballots be immediately hand counted after the computers had ran them.

 

I called the Communications Director that I had spoken to the day before, Mary Tiffany, at the Iowa GOP to talk to her about this offer and what could be done to assure the planet of the accuracy of their Straw Poll. Since I did not hear from her I stopped by the State GOP offices just before 5pm. I was told that she was on a conference call and that she'd call me. I said that I was willing to wait and took a seat. About 5 minutes later a  young man about 30 approached me to ask if I needed any help. I explained that I was waiting to speak to Mary. He introduced himself as Craig Robinson then made it clear that she would not be meeting with me today and what could he do for me. I explained my offer and asked to whom I needed to speak. He explained that they would only deal with individual campaigns.

 

I explained that I was certain we could have one of the Republican campaigns contact them with the offer for a privately funded manual validation of the Iowa Straw Poll and did he have a contact person for me inside the Iowa GOP to have them negotiate with. He hesitated so I continued. There are many people interested in the accuracy of this Straw Poll and are willing to supply the funds to make sure of it.

 

He seemed he had no option at that time but to demonstrate anger. We have an event to plan and have no time for this. "I'm going to have to ask you to GET OUT!" To which I replied that I understood and left. As I was leaving he was mumbling something that I couldn't make out because I was focused on making sure that I remembered his name.

 

I've dealt with his type too many times to feel anything but sadness for them. These hard workers are the last ones to leave, do the most work, and are left with the job of dealing with the public because their bosses are unwilling or unable to. And they do it all based on the promises and lies of individuals that only politics produce.

 

I'm sure that the Communications Director got my message and passed on the request to people that shared it further up the chain. But I'm just as sure that no amount of money will allow for an immediate recount of the carefully tracked ballots. My past experience has always been many hours or even days later they are willing to offer the paper up for a manual validation at a price certain to make your head spin.

 

 

But even a high price for an immediate count was worth it to many Americans with the means and desire to have an accurate election process in hopes of keeping the Revolution peaceful,... but there will be a revolution sooner or later. And with the economy about ready to show its true colors, it might be sooner than we all feared.