I work tirelessly for election reform, and don't blame John Kerry for conceding, and every other big and little thing. A heretic to the election reform movement, I know.

For those of us who work non-stop on election reform, and know the difficulties of evidence, especially electronic evidence of totals switching somewhere and anywhere, that all elections are gamed, manipulated by media, that we needed outcome altering proof, and we couldn't put back the totals that walked away, why then do we park our brains when discussing John Kerry? Just because we wish he were president.

Many will tell you we need to solve these problems before an election.

Well into Bush's second term did we begin to see real regret and reconsideration of that vote. The result of Democrats not supporting the election as surrogates, protecting the vote, not sensing the need for change enough to support, but instead waiting for 2008. We'd have needed them for any challenge.

As much as we love Greg Palast, sometimes his numbers and conclusions are meant more to incite than are fair or attributable. We don't need fair as much as his investigation, especially with our current media. (I personally asked if he were investigating the election on the RNC site, and was told, yes.)

Despite the cottage industry of Kerry haters and writers over the concession subject, the result would be the same. I call the election death by a thousand cuts and untraceable.

We're seeing the Taser Event facts though our angry filter. The woman who filmed spoke to CNN about a different event than what we're imagining because of a bias. She recalls Kerry very much trying to stop the police, answer the questions, in what has become more an issue of police force, not free speech of a deliberate prankster. Managing the event out of camera range to this well-publicized end.

The tasering was out of view, in the back of the hall. I add that Kerry has hearing loss due to Vietnam.

Kerry is one of our few advocates who enjoys the questioning and does it well and honestly. He works with grassroots and remembers how the Vietnam War ended and Clean Air Act was founded: all by protest.

This was more about Andrew Meyer, his continued efforts to draw attention to himself, on his website and with other pranks, more than about our concerns. He should not be the poster boy we elevate over our internet.

Taking Kerry to task for this, and for an election subject he does answer - just not in the way to heal the hurt or in the same way we want to hear it, does harm to a man of integrity championing our causes, as well to the causes needing a champion.

We need to see the big picture, instead of marginalizing the very legislators and honorable good guys we need in so many fights.

(edited for update)

Teaches our students to asks questions Aa.

Rick Maynard