More Hispanics may have voted for President Bush in 2004, but the perception that the Hispanic vote has shifted is misleading.

Much has been made about the apparent swing of Hispanic voters from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party. Various exit polls claim that, nationally, 44 percent of Hispanic voters chose Bush over Sen. John Kerry. (By comparison, 35 percent voted for Bush over then-Vice President Al Gore in 2000.) There is no unanimity, however, in this figure. Zogby International, for instance, disputes the 2004 total. The polling firm believes the correct percentage for Hispanic support for Bush was somewhere between 33 percent and 38 percent.

But whatever the exact number, we need to get over the assumption that there is one monolithic Hispanic community with a common historical experience and political agenda. Some Hispanics have emigrated from Latin America, while others have come from the Caribbean, Europe or elsewhere.

What’s more, the Bush campaign focused on battleground states such as New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona and Florida that have sizable Hispanic populations but are not exactly bastions of liberalism.

"The survival of democracy depends on the renunciation of violence and the development of nonviolent means to combat evil and advance the good." A. J Muste

In this quote Muste's meaning for the word "nonviolence" is much more than ending physical violence. His statement calls for the ending of system embedded violence in the forms of elitism, sexism, and racism as well. Limiting Peace advocacy to ending only overt physical violence and aggression leaves the societal, economic, and political violence in place and fully operational. Expecting reforms of such a configuration of interests and expectations to be able to "raise all boats" is delusional, if only because the general pattern of behavior is based upon discrimination, the advantage of the wealthy, and the promise of privilege. We must seek out the historical and social roots of anti-democracy, violence, self interest, and then dissolve it as a basis for our lives.

A disturbing story has been widely circulated that a vote for Bush was the default choice in the software of electronic voting machines in a number of states.  By definition, “default” settings are built-in by the manufacturer to make sure their programs work properly, and can be changed by the user.  Some examples of default settings on a home computer are screen savers, type face, and screen resolution.

According an article by Ann Harrison, posted at http://www.counterpunch.org/harrison12082004.html

in certain counties in Ohio, Florida, Pennsylvania, Texas, and New Mexico where touch screen voting machines were used, there have been complaints from voters who selected Kerry on the touch screen and saw their votes change to Bush on a summary screen.  In addition, there was a specific problem with the Sequoia AVC Edge machine (not used in Ohio) where voters actually saw preselected default choices presented to them.

For those watching the growing body of evidence concerning election fraud in our past presidential election, one question has remained: Why don't we hear about this on the evening news?

As of yet it's been hard to explain why the controversies in Ukraine make the headlines, but when similar problems are discovered at home, you have to scour the Internet to find the information.

It certainly isn't for lack of events on which to report. Members of The House Judiciary Committee have been meeting regularly reviewing evidence of systematic voter suppression and voting machine tampering. A coalition of lawyers have filed a lawsuit against the Bush campaign citing deliberate manipulation of votes. Sworn testimony and signed affidavits have implicated companies, individuals, and a Florida congressman.

This developing story could eventually turn out to be more explosive than Watergate. But it's rarely mentioned on the major networks, and when it is, there's almost always a chiding remark about the "conspiracy nuts" and obscure "internet bloggers" who are behind it all.

COLUMBUS -- As Republican officials stonewall and subvert the recount process, Rev. Jesse Jackson has pronounced Ohio's vote fraud fiasco "the biggest deal since Selma" and has called for a national rally at "the scene of the crime" in Columbus January 3.

Another major national demonstration will follow in Washington on January 6, as Congress evaluates the Electoral College. Should at least one US Representative and one Senator challenge the electors' votes, a Constitutional crisis could ensue.

Meanwhile, volunteer attorneys have poured into Columbus from around the US to help investigate the bitterly contested presidential vote that has allegedly given George W. Bush Ohio's electoral votes and thus a second term. A lawsuit filed at the Ohio Supreme Court charges that a fair vote count would give the state and the presidency to John Kerry rather than Bush.

On December 21, notice of depositions were sent to President George Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, Karl Rove and Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell to appear and give testimony regarding the legal challenge of Ohio's elections results in the case Moss v Bush et al.