I rather suspect that things are getting rather unsettled at Diebold, Inc.'s headquarters in North Canton, Ohio... From the Acron Beacon Journal:
Two lawsuits filed in federal court in Ohio's Northern District accuse Diebold Inc. executives of misleading shareholders about problems with the Green company's electronic voting equipment.One suit, filed by the U.S. law firm Stull, Stull & Brody, seeks class-action status for buyers of Diebold shares between Oct. 22, 2003, and Sept. 21, the date when Diebold announced that its third-quarter results would be disappointing. Diebold cited a variety of reasons, including operating inefficiencies, sales lost or delayed because of Hurricane Katrina, and rising energy costs. The company also announced on that day a restructuring of several units.
Meanwhile in North Carolina, more legal action:
The Electronic Frontier Foundation filed a court complaint Thursday aimed at blocking North Carolina's recent certifications of voting machines, saying state elections officials failed to meet legal requirements before signing off on the systems.
Oh, yes, there's more news from Florida:
A political operative with hacking skills could alter the results of any election on Diebold-made voting machines -- and possibly other new voting systems in Florida -- according to the state capital's election supervisor, who said Diebold software has failed repeated tests.Ion Sancho, Leon County's election chief, said tests by two computer experts, completed this week, showed that an insider could surreptitiously change vote results and the number of ballots cast on Diebold's optical-scan machines.
Analysts say the resignation this week of Diebold Inc.'s chief executive may help restore the credibility of the embattled automated-teller and voting machine maker.Walden W. O'Dell, 60, quit the company for unspecified personal reasons. The resignation came after several years of controversy surrounding the security and reliability of Diebold's touch-screen voting machines and O'Dell's ties to President Bush.
Well, there is some good news for Diebold. Stock prices did rise a little in the hours after O'Dell's resignation.
Diebold, up until recently- and especially under the capable; albiet sometimes controversial hands of Wally O'Dell-- favored the Republican Party and in specific, George W. Bush.
Oh, but if you only know how this has changed.
Oh my goodness, will you soon see. I'm surprised actually that Republicans were under the assumption that the system would forver favor them.
What you don't know Republicans. Oh, what you do not know!
In so many respects, I am thankful they (the GOP) fought tooth and nail to keep this story out of the media.
What's the old saying? "Payback is Hell"
2006 is going to be quite interesting. ;-)
If you are available December 20 and you haven't signed up to work as an observer, do so now!