Oh the Stupid Games They Play

On Sunday September 3, 2006 a “straw” vote web site was established by which people could vote on whether any one member of the Marco Island city council should be recalled. The web site is at address http://209.15.40.246/miblog/recall/ . The purpose of this effort and web site is to simply and cost-effectively measure the will of the people as it relates to the possibility (well, with today’s news, perhaps more like a near certainty) of desiring a recall election on specific council members.

This website was put forth without any inkling whatsoever about the efforts already underway to institute a recall. In truth, a sheer coincidence. Though perhaps not too surprising given the immense level of dissatisfaction of many residents with some city council members that appear to serve special interests – and not those of the citizens.

Late Sunday night an email was sent out to a few concerned citizens about the voting web site.

By Wednesday, there were approximately 30 votes – not bad!

By Thursday afternoon, there were 4,464 votes!? What in the world happened?

Here is what occurred. The design of the web site was basic in that there was never any anticipation of abuse. Perhaps programmers are naïve in thinking that on such a benign and democratic and non-binding effort – remember that the purpose is just to measure the will of the people – that although there would be a few that would vote several times, but not to the extent that would affect the results.

Boy, were we wrong. One computer alone registered 2,371 votes. Another one computer 908, another one computer 606, and two more registered a combined 326 votes.

Clearly we had an issue. But more importantly, we stumbled upon the extents to which people will go to thwart the democratic process in order to protect God-knows what.

But first things first. By the evening of Thursday September 7, 2006, we purged the database of all of these illicit votes, and did some more data housecleaning. For example, there were a few other votes that we deemed as not nefarious (e.g. single computers that voted 8 times, 10 times, etc.). All of the votes that came from the serious offenders were deleted. Votes that came from the low repeaters, like those who voted 8 times, all but two of their votes were deleted.

Then we proceeded to upgrade the voting logic. The offending computers are forever banned from voting. We have also instituted some advanced logic that would prevent single computers from voting excessively or even repeatedly without reason. Please keep in mind that there are important factors to consider – one household with one computer can have more than one legitimate vote – for example, spouses are two votes, and even beyond that as we know that friends can get together, and even relatives can live together (except mothers-in-laws of course).

As of this moment, the new logic is working. The database is pristine. Additionally we are monitoring the site very carefully in lieu of what occurred and in lieu of today’s news of a formal recall drive.

Now, onto the geniuses. We were able to trace the offending computers.

The four most offending computers are:

Computer Address = 71.2.229.204
Node = fl-71-2-229-204.sta.embarqhsd.net
Located at = Winter Park, FL
Using = Sprint DSL Network SDSL-NET9-04
Votes Posted = 2,371

Computer Address = 66.221.54.10
Node = interactiveglobal.propagation.net
Located at = Bedford, TX
Using = USA C I Host CIHOST7

Computer Address = 67.15.97.24
Node = web7.ourinternet.us
Located at = Fort Lauderdale, FL
Using = Our Internet,Inc. EVRY-267

Computer Address = 68.47.146.88 & 68.47.146.115
Nodes = c-68-47-146-88.hsd1.fl.comcast.net & c-68-47-146-115.hsd1.fl.comcast.net
Location at = Miami, FL
Using = Comcast Cable Communications, Inc. NAPLES-1

Note that the “Located at” is where the internet service is provided – not necessarily the physical location.

But for our greatest offender, we are getting close, real close. The offender appears to come from Naples, between 17 and 18 streets on 54Terrace SW.

To all of those reading these pages – we will pursue this issue to its fullest in the drive to determine the name of the person that is registered to the street address of where the offending computer made the illicit votes. Once we do, their names and address will be publicized.

Of interest …
The intellectual that wrote the robot to pump the 2,371 votes, voted for recalling Mr. Chuck Kiester – and only Mr. Kiester – in every one of the 2,371 votes. Perhaps that gives us some ideas?

The intellectual that wrote the robot to pump the 908 votes, voted for recalling Mr. Chuck Kiester – and only Mr. Kiester – in every one of the 908 votes. Perhaps that gives us some ideas?

The intellectual that wrote the robot to pump the 606 votes, voted for recalling Mr. Chuck Kiester – and only Mr. Kiester – in every one of the 606 votes. Perhaps that gives us some ideas?

It certainly tells us a lot – with additional facts that we will not yet divulge since at some point we will turn over this hacking proof over to the U.S. Attorney’s office for prosecution.

The other two large offenders of the voting nearly always voted for recalling Mr. Kiester, and at times for Mrs. Disciullo and Mr. Forcht.

Can someone refresh our collective memory? Didn’t Mrs. Disciullo, Mr. Forcht and Mr. Kiester vote FOR stopping the sewer project?

What a story – keep watching – and unlike Latin America, DON’T vote often – just vote once!