Vennes served time in the 1980s for illegally selling a firearm, cocaine distribution and money laundering. While in prison, he became a devout Christian, and after his release he became a devout Bachmann campaign contributor. Prior to Bachmann’s election (and letter writing), Vennes contributed $14,200 to her campaign; in 2008, he has contributed $4,600. Vennes’ wife Kimberly, who uses the same P.O. box number as Vennes, has contributed another $8,800 over the last three years.

Vennes is a businessman in Excelsior and maintains a residence in Shorewood. Neither location is in the 6th Congressional District.

Petters and a number of his business associates have been raided and/or arrested in connection with what authorities are calling a scheme to make money by defrauding investors. Federal officials say Petters and company collected money from investors to put into electronics that didn’t exist.

“Those who cast the votes decide nothing. Those who count the votes decide everything.”

A version of this quote has been attributed to Stalin, an attribution that has been hotly debated. Thom Hartmann, among others, has said that Rush Limbaugh repeated this phrase on November 24, 2000, in the midst of a critical month in U.S. history when the result of the election for President was yet to be decided. Eventually, of course, the election results were finalized de jure if not de facto.

more inside
As election day approaches, more and more is being heard about whether the official results will really reflect the true results that occur when a citizen casts his or her vote.

Minnesota information technology expert Bruce O’Dell (resume) has weighed in on the issue. His conclusion? Pull the plug on the voting machines.

As nearly all articles on the subject conclude: Be afraid. Technology has made voting less secure, not more.

The article is in two parts. Part 1 is here. Part 2 is here.