—
Where’s your proof, Bill? Divulge those Senate Intel secrets now, or you’ll get no co-operation from us. How do you know the Hackers have access? Have you seen them? Have you watched them changing any votes?
Have you talked to anyone who has had their Voter Registrations denied?
Come back when you do — then will talk. Says the footing-dragging GOP ...
by Steve Bousquet And Alex Leary, Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau — August 09, 2018
[...]
Nelson’s comments, coming before a campaign event in Tampa on Wednesday, drew national attention. He said Russians had “penetrated certain counties in the state,” emphasized he was talking about the current election cycle, and attributed his knowledge to the Senate Intelligence Committee. He will not say how many counties, citing classified information.
“We were requested by the chairman and vice chairman of the Intelligence Committee to let the supervisors of election in Florida know that the Russians are in their records,” Nelson told the Tampa Bay Times, referring to a July letter he and fellow Florida Sen. Marco Rubio sent to Florida’s 67 county election supervisors. The letter is strongly worded but does not describe known hacking.
Nelson said he was raising alarms so that county officials could take steps to shore up their security ahead of the midterm elections. [...] [Governor Rick] Scott, whose administration said it had “no evidence” to corroborate the claims. [Secretary of State Ken] Detzner amplified that response [...]
Detzner faced intense criticism from county election supervisors for not applying for federal election security money until late May. It took the personal intervention of Scott to force the state to seek its $19 million share, despite repeated warnings from federal authorities that Florida was a likely target of more meddling.
[...]
And since when have State Officials been so stingy about taking Federal Money?
And since when have GOP budget-busters been so stingy, about protecting our “National Security” — in the form of our Election Infrastructure?
by Ali Rogin, ABC News — Aug 1, 2018
[...]
Even as experts on cybersecurity and foreign interference told lawmakers Wednesday that the threat from Russia and other states seeking to influence American democracy is getting worse, the Senate failed to approve $250 million for state election security in the coming fiscal year.
[...]
The House rejected a similar measure for $380 million last month. Congress appropriated that same amount in March for the 2018 election and has already distributed it to states for election security measures, but state officers have already said they need additional funds. Some states have not yet fully drained their existing funding, but that has more to do with bureaucratic delays and the incremental nature of spending government money than with decreased need.
“New funding is needed for state law enforcement personnel and cybersecurity upgrades in order to combat emerging global threats to our democracy and citizen privacy; We need to build up our cyber wall in order to adequately protect our nation,” New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas said in a statement to ABC, referring to funding beyond the $380 million approved in March.
[...]
State officals are pleading for extra funds to harden their Election Systems. The Republicans in-mass, with the lone exception of Bob Corker, R-Tenn, ALL said NO!
Apparently protecting the security of America’s Elections is only something they like to talk about — but it’s not really something, they want to DO ANYTHING ABOUT.
Apparently we just can afford it! (and we’ll just have to wait until it’s a REAL Problem.)
Ahh, Helloooo! That barn-door is already OPEN. When are the Congressional Budget-meisters going to put this Hacking-issue on their Urgent To-do List? On their Must-do List?
How many more Voters have to have their basic rights denied — before this issue becomes IMPORTANT?
by Alex Leary, Steve Bousquet and Kirby Wilson, Tampa Bay Times — Aug 8, 2018
The warning comes amid a growing focus on election security ahead of the midterm elections. A July 13 indictment of 12 Russian intelligence officers stated that operatives in November 2016 faked a real election vendor email account to send more than 100 "spearphishing" emails to organizations and personnel involved in administering elections in numerous Florida counties. The email contained malware designed to gain access to computer systems.
[...]
[Senator Bill] Nelson's remarks immediately caused a major stir among county elections officials, who are testing equipment, training poll workers and counting mail ballots in advance of the Aug. 28 primary. Pinellas County elections officials immediately contacted the FBI, Homeland Security and other state and federal agencies in a futile attempt to find out more about Nelson's assertion.
"Our office has not seen any indication that we have had any penetration by any bad actions," said Pinellas election's office spokesman Dustin Chase.
[Senator Marco] Rubio, a member of the Intelligence Committee, has raised alarms himself, and continues to express concern, though not as explicitly. Like Rubio, Nelson outlined a scenario in which hackers could alter voter registration records.
Our Nation’s system of self-determined Democracy, could crumble around us. Brick by brick. Database by database record. Precinct by precinct. County by county …
And our GOP windbags leading the American demise-parade will be all too happy to just LET IT HAPPEN.
Long as they get their expense accounts, their gold-plated vacation schedules, and their assurances from Putin that their base’s voter registrations, will not be touched — when and if the Russian Government decides to “help” the Trump and Republicans again:
The e-mail [to Donald, Jr., on June 3, 2016] continued, “The Crown prosecutor of Russia met with his father Aras this morning and in their meeting offered to provide the Trump campaign with some official documents and information that would incriminate Hillary and her dealings with Russia and would be very useful to your father.”
[...] “This is obviously very high level and sensitive information but is part of Russia and its government’s support for Mr. Trump.”
Trump, Jr., replied, “If it’s what you say I love it especially later in the summer.”
— www.newyorker.com — July 11, 2017
SO WHY DON’T they cough up the $380 Million already, (which works out to about $1 per American) and harden our voting systems against the ON-GOING Attacks? WHY are they waiting until we are Attacked again? How can this even be a Debate?
…
Here’s how: the Trump-brainwashing of his base against their own Country — is complete:
Trump would rather rule by cheating and corruption,
than actually protect America from those who would happily see us circle the drain.
Trump would rather be ruled by Putin,
than actually stand up for America, the once shining beacon on the hill, among free-peoples the world over.
THAT’s WHY the great crumbling of American values continues — officially unabated.
— — —
(PS.
And we can’t afford it either … and where’s your damn
proof? )