Update 4/27, 11:54pm PT…
– Ellen Theisen, John Gideon’s co-director at VotersUnite.org on his passing.
It was a very lonely time for advocates of democracy in the U.S. when John Gideon posted his first guest blog here in the dark days of October 2005, and when we began to carry his vital “Daily Voting News” on Election Day, one month later, in November of that same year.
While the fight for democracy in this country has become somewhat less lonely as the Election Integrity movement has grown since then, thanks in no small part to the tireless, daily contributions of John, it feels very lonely again today. My good friend passed away this evening in a Seattle hospital, having succumbed to a surprise and sudden bout with bacterial meningitis.
John held on as long as he could, but tonight he’ll rest with his beloved wife who passed some years ago.
He was 62, and a Vietnam veteran who never stopped fighting for his fellow veterans and in service of our country. He is survived by his son Rick and grandson, and a life-long legacy of fighting in defense of his nation, and for all that it stands for. He has left that legacy behind as a gift — and challenge — for us all.
John’s always-understated “Daily Voting News” — which he filed, often seven days a week, for well over five years — provided simple links to news of election reform, failure and success from around the nation, as culled from papers, blogs, press releases and official and academic reports around the country, and even the world. In so doing, he connected the seemingly disparate dots of local stories, and apparently anecdotal woes, into a cohesive tale of a nation struggling to regain footing on the pedestal on which it had once, and still hoped to stand.
The compelling narrative the DVN slyly wove together daily — almost, as if in slow-motion, with each passing day — was clear: We were, and are, a country whose promise of public, transparent democracy threatens to slip away forever beneath a cynical and foolish crush of ill-considered corporatism and greed, self-imposed expediency and often well-meaning, yet destructive naivete. In short: Unless we take care — every single day — what’s left of our democracy will further wither to the whims of cold, disinterested privatization no longer resembling the self-governance our founders envisioned, and that we have convinced ourselves still remains.
If there is anything we can give back to the man, in thanks for his selfless service, over so many decades, on so many fronts, it is to continue to carry the torch of the man who fought for democracy until he had nothing more he could give…
On a personal note, John was one of the best friends I’ve ever had. As true in friendship as he was to his country.
There were very few days, over these last many years, when he and I didn’t speak by phone at least once — even when there was very little to talk about in the day’s daily news (though those days were few and far between, as witnessed by the years-long historic chronicle of the DVN and the pages of this blog). Sometimes the conversations were brief, more often much longer, occasionally gruff — yes, the frustrating battles left him quite grouchy from time to time — but they always served as an unerring grounding to me, and to the overall mission of The BRAD BLOG.
I cannot overstate his importance to the work you’ve seen on these pages for so many years. While he often stayed far in the background and out of the limelight, his incessant questioning and encouragement of election officials and commissioners and advocates alike moved the ball slowly, but persistently, forward in every aspect of the struggle for Election Integrity and transparency in America. And as if that wasn’t enough, he generously babysat this blog when I was otherwise indisposed or off the grid (sometimes for weeks at a time), encouraged and helped guest bloggers have their voices heard here, and, yes, tirelessly pushed back against those over-stuffed cynics — be they academics, attorneys, officials, media outlets and even other EI advocates — who too frequently took lazy shots across the bow of The BRAD BLOG, and at myself, in lieu of taking accountability for their own prejudices, fears and failings.
At the bottom of every email, John closed with an auto-signature that quoted a declaration crafted, in March of 2008, in part by me and his ever-faithful friend and partner at VotersUnite.org, Ellen Theisen. The short, simple phrase became known as the Creekside Declaration, and may sum up so much of what John stood for over these last many years, every day of his life…
As I type through my tears, I am awed by the challenge, and mission, that John — a very gentle giant indeed, but a giant nonetheless — has left behind for me, and for all of us. If I can sometime soon dry up those tears, I vow to join Ellen, whose quote opened this far-too-soon obituary — and celebrate John’s life. Until then, I hope you’ll join me in remembering by carrying his torch, his challenge and his mission wherever, and however, you can…as if the future of this nation depended on it. Because I truly believe that it does.
Thank you for everything, John. You will be missed, my friend, more than you will ever know…
Update: Ellen has now posted some moving thoughts of her own on John’s passing, at Voters Unite and Joyce McCloy, of NC Coalition for Verified Voting, has dedicated a page linking to numerous tributes to John, as posted from around the country.
Update 4/29, 1:26pm PT: CA Sec. of State Debra Bowen on John’s passing: “John Gideon was courageously devoted to his democracy, and his strong voice will be echoed in the continued work of thousands of others.” Rosemary Rodriguez, until recently the chair of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) has also issued a moving tribute. Complete statements posted here…
Update 5/1, 11:35am PT: OH Sec. of State Jennifer Brunner issues condolences and a moving statement: “Our nation has lost a true hero of democracy…I salute his courage for asking the tough questions”. Her complete statement, and another offering a unique perspective from Lowell Finley, a citizen activist turned CA Dep. SoS, are now posted here…
Our earlier notice, including Ellen Theisen’s initial announcement that John was in critical condition, follows below…
Some troubling news came in last night concerning John Gideon, my friend, colleague, frequent BRAD BLOG guest blogger and the years-long publisher of the indispensable “Daily Voting News”. Allow me to defer to the announcement just released by Ellen Theisen, John’s partner at VotersUnite.org…
Date: Mon Apr. 27, 2009 11:18am PT
Subject: To John Gideon’s friends
Our friend and colleague, John Gideon collapsed in his home on Sunday morning where he was discovered by his family and rushed to the hospital.
Medical staff told me last night (Sunday) that he was in “very critical condition”. And today he remains in the ICU, with a preliminary diagnosis of meningitis.
Brad Friedman and I have been in regular contact with John’s family, and I’m leaving now to go to the hospital in Seattle, which is the best neurological facility in the entire region.
Starting tomorrow, some of us will be taking steps to cobble together a perhaps somewhat truncated version of the “Daily Voting News” in order to attempt to fill his shoes until his return. But as you all know, they are very big shoes to fill.
Please send your good thoughts to John and his family. I will, of course, keep you updated as I learn anything more.
Ellen Theisen
Co-Director
www.VotersUnite.Org
I’ll certainly do my best to keep you all up to date here on John’s condition as things warrant and/or change.
I plan on doing my best to keep things rolling here in the interim as usual, as I suspect he’d like me to, and to help Ellen in getting out the DVN as well as possible during his absence, which we all pray won’t be long. But thanks for your patience, in advance, if I’m slowed down a few steps here for a bit, as I suspect I may be, while doing my best to work with Ellen and John’s family in support…
I really hope that, if it’s meningitis, it’s viral meningitis. He sounds pretty ill, making bacterial meningitis a strong possibility and certainly one with more serious implications. My absolute best hopes and good wishes go out to John and his family. He has certainly been a huge asset and driving force in the election integrity movement.
Terrible to hear the news about John Gideon. We are all wishing him a complete and rapid recovery. John is one of the most valuable democracy reform advocates we have. Hoping for the best.
Shit! Oh, shit! That is so painful! Oh! Oh, no.
If (John) or anyone reading to him can hear my voice, get well John.
~phil
Hoping that you get well soon, John.
We’re all pulling for you, John, and I hope you can feel that somehow. You’re a valuable person not only because of the work you do, but because you’re you. My heart goes out to you, your family, and your VU colleague, Ellen.
Best wishes from Pennsylvania for John’s speedy and full recovery!!
{{{JOHN}}}
In the meantime count me in as one of the many who want to do what we can to help keep ‘Daily Voting News’ going in John’s absence.
Marybeth
——-
Marybeth Kuznik
VotePA.us
my thoughts and prayers go to John and his health.
Very best thoughts and wishes.
Get well soon, John, and know that our thoughts and hearts are with you,
Kathleen
John,
Please, please get better and get better real soon. You are such a great person and we all are pulling for you.
John,
Get well soon, buddy!
Regards,
Roy L.
So many do so much, with so little recognition… and some are content to do so; content seeing the effects of their effort upon the world. That is John.
Get well, John, and ride countless many times more.
My deepest regards to John and his family. This is devastating news, and the election integrity community will be suffer in his absence. I pray for a speedy and complete recovery!
Not only is John’s Daily Voting News an essential information source but John’s tireless watchdog scrutiny of the Election Assistance Commission is inequalled. Get well John, your country needs you!
I send lots of prayers your way, John. Get well soon – I pray your recovery is swift.
We owe you a huge debt of gratitude for all you do to keep the voting issue at the forefront of our consciousness.
Thank you thousands of times over!
Kira
Thanks for all the hard work and get well soon!
John ~ Wilburrr… & I Hope Ya Get Well ASAP!
John, I just wanted to say that I will be thinking of John Gideon and his family and friends during this difficult time. My very best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Dori Smith
My thoughts and hope for a speedy recovery go to John and his family.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to you John for a speedy recovery. You have for so long offered your time, energy and committment to educating folks about elections and the EAC. You are a true patriot and set a high standard for all of us to learn from about being of service to mankind. Get well soon!
I posted some photos of John tonight at the VU site:
http://www.votersunite.org/johngideon.asp
We’ll have to wait for the morning’s news, but I’m afraid what I heard from his hospital room this afternoon was not encouraging.
We all owe a great deal of gratitude to this big guy. He has been a stalwart advocate of election integrity since early 2003 when he worked with Bev Harris at Black Box Voting, then Verified Voting, and for the past 4-5 years at Voters Unite.
Rest in Peace dear friend, John and please tell Andy hello for me. I know you guys will keep fighting with us from the Other Side.
I just can’t say any more right now.
Marybeth
I am deeply saddened to learn of this sudden loss of a true patriot. Our prayers are with John as he makes this transition and our thoughts are with John’s family and close friends like Brad. Blessings to all.
My deepest condolences though I never met the man. Question: isn’t meningitis rare in men over 50? how did he come down with something like this and such an advanced deathly version of it? this is very odd.
sorry Brad to hear about this terrible loss.
John offered a steady hand to an unsteady country–a country that teetered on the edge of totalitarianism as a direct result of two terribly suspicious elections. John brought freedom’s fire every day through his tremendous efforts to synthesize all the voting news of the day into a single package. AND, through his efforts and those of this blog, VoteTrustUSA, Verified Voting and a hard core of advocates for hand counted paper ballots, we now stand watching a regenerating democracy where of the people, by the people and for the people no longer really means, as it has for eight years, for the multinational corporations only. Go gentle into that good forever, John, you’ve earned your wings many times over, and those of us who remain behind can only say thank you in any real sense by continuing the fight until every American, freely able to and ably encouraged to vote, casts his or her sacred ballot on paper, knowing it will be hand counted in public by multiple pairs of eyes.
Awful!
Almost every day I logged on to see what he’d found for us…when the legislature here was under siege by evildoers, about ballot secrecy, internet voting, etc I’d fire a few rounds in support of his efforts to get them to see the light…I will miss him
Condolences to all
Devastating, crushing news. Can’t absorb the magnitude of this most unexpected loss.
I’m so sorry, Brad. That we have all been fortunate to know him and his life’s work through your facilitation and support, I hope is of some comfort to you, now.
John, I will miss you every single day forever.
Thank you so very much for everything.
Oh, damn. I’m so glad he wasn’t in pain for long. Now I’m going to have to go off and have myself a good cry.
Brad – I’m so sorry to hear of this tragic loss. John was a true patriot.
Who will carry on the important work of Voters Unite?
Meanwhile this makes your work all the more important, Brad. Stay healthy!!!
I’m shocked!
It sure won’t be the same without his rock steady presence here. A true patriot.
My condolences to everyone who knew and loved him.
Although, I never physically met John, I did call him up on two occasions. One of which was like 2-2:30 am in the morning after an election. I always tried to provide some feedback in DVN, I got the feeling it was under appreciated. I like to think I was an acquaintance of his, but I guess I won’t ever really find out now. To any family survivors and of course all his friends I can only say it hurts, death sucks, and life is so brutally unfair sometimes.
Brad, I’m so sorry to hear of your and our loss! What a terrible way to start yet another glorious spring day here in Prague, with tears and sadness. The workings of the universe are mysterious beyond understanding, and this is a terribly bitter loss. Let us all redouble our efforts to help carry the heavy burden of the torch he waved so fearlessly, so tirelessly. Rest in Peace, Brother John, you are well loved indeed…
John, I only knew you through your occassional blog or email communication, but I always knew you as the patriot that did DVN, which we then tried to utilize in our state fight for voting rights.
What a giant patriot to work for America so long and so well! We were impressed by and thankful to John for his daily compilations that helped so very much in our staying on top of the fight for freedom.
Our deepest sympathy to all of John Gideon’s family and friends. Our deepest sympathy to our country for losing such a defender. RIP John.
shw
Rest in peace, John,
Unfortunately for the good of our country, sometimes the good-hearted and true patriots do die too young. You armed us all with information of the creeping menace that is unverifiable voting and you armed us with information (and patriotic passion) to do something about it.
We — the rest of us — must go on. The journey will be lonelier in your absense.
Sad, sad, sad. My heart is heavy.
Although I never met John, we corresponded via email and he was an important part of my daily life with his DVN. His work was indispensable to my own work.
I wanted to interview him for OpEdNews because of his contribution to election integrity. He was modest and preferred to stay in the background.
He will be sorely missed. He leaves behind a big, gaping hole.
Joan Brunwasser, election integrity ed., OpEdNews
This is truly sad news, my best wishes go to John’s family and friends.
To Brad and all who worked with, loved and depended on John Gideon, my deepest sympathy is for you today. Democracy has lost an advocacy giant, it is certain. I know you all will make him proud through the coming days and the years ahead. May he rest in peace and may his spirit remain to continue the mission. Blessings for strength and comfort to John’s family and to all who feel his loss.
News of John Gideon’s death is too sad for words.
This is one of those times where all I can think is why do the good & decent people die and the greedy,lying, conniving,election stealing, thieves continue to flourish and do their dirty work.
My sincere condolences to John’s family and friends. He will be sorely missed.
TO: John’s family/Brad/Ellen/and everyone in this community of souls whose missions were and still are supported by John Gideon’s work. I can’t believe that we’ve lost John’s voice, and his tireless efforts in gathering and disseminating crucial, often obscure election data and articles. I am deeply grateful, now, to have the companionship of all of you as we confront the tragedy of his sudden death. I join you in having, benefitted beyond words, from his sharing his findings, and his wisdom, so generously.
We are sorry to hear meningitis has taken another life.
I am the mother of an only child, Ryan, who died from of meningococcal meningitis and the founder and executive director of a national organization, Meningitis Angels, http://www.meningitis-angels.org.
Too many infants, teens, kids and young adults are left debilitated or die from this vaccine preventable disease.
What is meningitis?
Meningitis is a dangerous and sometimes fatal inflammation of the brain and/or spinal cord that can leave survivors with serious life-long physical problems such as, organ failure, blindness, deafness, loss of limbs, severe seizures, brain damage and other disabilities.
You should also understand meningococcemia and sepsis.
Signs and Symptoms
The early signs of meningitis and blood poisoning which could improve detection of the disease and save lives are unrelenting fever, leg pain, cold hands and feet and abnormal skin color can develop within (12 hours) after infection long before the more classic signs of the illness such as a rash, headache, stiff neck, sensitivity to light and impaired consciousness, debilitation or death. Anyone can get meningitis especially infants, children and teens.
What parents and students should know:
According to ACIP/CDC children ages (11) years through college freshmen should be vaccinated against meningococcal meningitis. The current vaccines are approved for ages (2) years and older. However be informed, there are (5) sero-groups of the disease, all sero-groups are not covered. However the most common in the United States are sero-groups C Y, W135 and A which are.
Infants and toddlers should be vaccinated against pneumococcal and HIB meningitis.
Those children in daycare and those of American Indian, Eskimo and African American heritage are at a higher risk for some forms of meningitis.
There are no vaccines to prevent viral meningitis.
Frankie Milley, Meningitis Angels, Founder/National Director
No chance to say good-bye, no chance to say thank you. John was a walking wealth of information. His Daily Voting News was a blog of unique importance that gave a clearer picture of America’s sorry protection of democracy in the polling place than any of the academic studies. His help with stories and encouragement to do more will be greatly missed. Just last week John was hounding me to help him ‘watchdog’ the EAC and suggested several story lines in need of attention. John mentored an entire electoral reform movement, those of us who have been touched by John must continue his work for democracy…he would have insisted on it!
So very very sorry.
As someone who has had meningitis, my condolencies go out to all who have known and will miss Mr. Gideon.
Oh my… This news knocked the wind out of me.
My heart goes out to John’s family and close friends.
I must have two dozen personal e-mails from John Gideon stored in my mailbox. John always responded to EVERY e-mail of mine and took great interest in any news I had for him. Most of the items I brought to his attention were published. I could always count on him.
John Gideon was truly a patriot. He and Andy Stephenson died as heroes as gallantly as soldiers on the battlefield.
We were blessed to have him fighting for what we believed was *the* most important cause facing our country.
Oh no, I felt immediately when seeing the news. I talked to John at various times and had the good fortune to meet him once in person in DC at an election integrity conference. He gave so fully of himself and to support any idea that could advance the cause of democracy.
He will be greatly missed. He will always be remembered and his work goes on, even as a great inspiration.
Robert C. C.
My deepest sympathy to Ellen, Brad, Pokey, and to John’s family and friends.
John Gideon’s death is a great loss for democracy activists world wide. He was intelligent but more than that, just so deeply committed to uncovering the truth about electronic voting machines.
During conversations with him by phone John offered his expertise and his insights without hesitation, though it was clear that he was very busy on a kind of non stop schedule.
I would imagine that he took the time to listen to many of us who tried to cover voting machine failures and failures within the whole electoral system.
I hope John’s work will be continued even though he himself is completely irreplaceable.
Dori Smith
I’m so very sorry to hear of the loss of this courageous patriot.
I am heartsick to hear of John’s passing. He is a true warrior – and his efforts live on. He is an inspiration to me – was a vital resource I turned to on many occasions – and a determined, steady man. I miss him already.
Thank you so much Brad for assembling this appropriate tribute at a time that I know must be exceptionally difficult.
I found it interesting that John and I were born the same year; served in the same war and shared the same hope for participatory democracy.
While his passing comes as a grave loss to those who knew him well (I regret I did not), the work he posted here at The Brad Blog lives on.
I know that you, Brad, will continue your unending quest to accomplish electoral integrity; that yours is a search for truth and accuracy in reporting. In remaining steadfast in that endeavor, your work will provide a lasting tribute to John’s memory.
Ernest A. Canning
We just lost one of our most important citizens.
John was a stalwart figure for voting integrity. He can only be replaced by each and every one of us as we band together to continue the fight against election fraud. It will take all of us to fill this tremendous void John Gideon left. Thanks John for your untiring efforts in returning our country to sanity in this last election.
Dave – OPED news contributor
John was a great man — I had the wonderful fortune of speaking with him a number of times as we were fighting provisions of HAVA. He will be very missed!
My condolences Brad.
I did not know him personally, but those who do fight for the voter has my respect.
Blessings and Peace,
-Pat
RIP John.
You will be sorely missed.
And I give my word – we will not give up fighting the good fight.
This is indeed a sad day. I never personally met John, but spoke to him a couple times on the phone for help on an issue. John was a true unsung hero in the fight for our right to vote and to keep our right to vote secure, accurate and verifiable. Rest in Peace John, and through your spirit may you you keep the flame fired in the rest of us to keep this all important fight going! Thank you you John.
Thank you John for all you gave . You made a difference .
What an extraordinarily sad event! John’s tireless work for many years, day-in and day-out, 7 days a week on behalf of election integrity has made a huge difference nationally. I and many others depended on him every day for the DVN, and that was only part of his work. On a number of occasions when he and I worked in concert it was always a pleasure to witness how knowledgeable and effective he was. He followed and chronicled almost every detail of every election integrity issue around the U.S. This is a great loss for his family, for us, and for the country.
There are no words that can adeqately express the sense of deep sorrow for the loss of a man of such integrity. But those of Philip James Bailey come a little closer than anything I could say:
“We live in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not breaths;
In feelings, not figures on a dial.
We should count time by heart-throbs. He most lives
Who thinks most, feels the noblest, acts the best. . . “
Peace be unto you, John Gideon, and to those who knew and loved you. Grant him, O Lord, eternal rest…
He will be missed. It is rare to find an individual with the passion and drive to achieve what he did.
I am deeply sorrowful to have lost this wonderful person. His work was anchoring to me, immensely generous, meaningful: every day he acknowledged the work of others by gathering the news, and giving it out again. John lived an exemplary life, and I always considered him a living saint. I will never forget the contribution he made.
He will be missed by all that knew him. He was inspiration to me to dig further. Thank you John, rest in peace.
John, we will honor you by continuing to work hard and remember your tireless efforts. You have been the father of the e-voting movement. We miss you already. Thank you for everything you have done for us, although words can’t express our gratitude. We will not let you down, we will honor you as we continue on.
To John’s family and personal friends: please accept my deepest sympathies on his passing. I will sorely miss his wit, anger, and lucid comments found in the Brad Blog. He was a great man fighting a two huge enemies: corruption and complacency. I hope he comes back an haunts us all.
God Bless.
My sincere condolences to his family and friends. His work and inspiration lives on in everyone that knew him or was motivated by his writing. The nation is diminished by the loss of this fine man.
Condolences and best wishes to his family and friends.
For John
and his Family
Unelected
The East of the West
the West of the East
The North of the South
the South of the North…
What comes up natuarlly, anyway?
Add Hindu and Buddhist to the Triumverant, and what do you get?
A band of the Hand that still needs a dash of Lao Tzu.
So, where is Lao Tzu
with and without
the WORLD and HISTORY?
http://www.answers.com/Lao%20Tzu
All my Love,
Tina
Wouldn’t ya know, columbia u gets it wrong in its last sentence…
Columbia Encyclopedia: Lao Tzu
Top Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Columbia Encyclopedia – PeopleLao Tzu (lou dzÉ™) , fl. 6th cent. B.C., Chinese philosopher, reputedly the founder of Taoism. It is uncertain that Lao Tzu [Ch.,=old person or old philosopher] is historical. His biography in Ssu-ma Ch’ien’s Records of the Historian (1st cent. B.C.) says he was a contemporary of Confucius and served as curator of the dynastic archives until retiring to the mythical K’un-lun mountains. He allegedly transmitted his teachings to a border guard who subsequently compiled the Lao Tzu, also titled the Tao-te ching [Classic of the Way and Virtue]. Scholars date the work in the 4th–2d cent. B.C., with some strata perhaps as old as the 6th cent. B.C. Its parables and verse, written in incantatory language, advocate passive and intuitive behavior in natural harmony with the Tao, a cosmic unity underlying all phenomena. It emphasizes the value of wu-wei, “nonstriving†or “non-[purposeful ]action,†by which one returns to a primitive state closer to the Tao, a stage of creative possibility symbolized by the child or an uncarved block. It also promotes a laissez-faire approach to government.
Bibliography
See translations by J. J. L. Duyvendak (1954), W. Chan (1963), D. C. Lau (1963), S. Mitchell (1988), and V. Mair (1990).
That’s where John got things right!
Happy trails. 🙂
Election news world wide needs attention
in Memoriam of John.
Quite a story. I did not know him personally, but remain inspired none-the-less. Which makes me think of all the other ‘unsung’ heroes to the fact that ‘truth does matter’ … and as we progress as a species critical in making better decisions, which affects us all including the planet itself.
That is what really matters … yes? That all opinions be given the basic respect that any member of the human society deserves … the freedom to think and speak our minds, and then act within the boundaries of the society we individually live in, and consciously contribute to, and agree to be a part of.
Rest in peace, and know the work goes on..
WE VIETNAM ERA VETERANS HAVE A PHRASE ‘ WELCOME HOME’ WHEN WE MEET ONE ANOTHER FOR THE FIRST TIME…I GUESS THIS MAN’S WIFE WILL HAVE SAID IT BY NOW?
MAY THE GREAT SPIRIT WELCOME HIS SON HOME THIS DAY.
amen
I feel lucky for the few conversations and numerous email exchanges I had with John. He was always a pleasure to work with and his work was an inspiration. He will be missed but certainly not forgotten.
My condolences to John’s family and friends. He was a patriot for democracy. May we all remember him by continuing his work.
Democracy has just suffered a terrible loss. John’s dedication to building a daily database of vital information on the health/disease of our voting has been priceless, both as a wealth of information and as an example of action.
I am shocked and deeply saddened, but most of all, I am extremely grateful for having received his work.
My heart is with those who knew him personally.
Words are not enough to express the sadness and heartbreak I feel in losing John. My deepest condolences to his family and those who were close to him. John and I corresponded from time to time, and he was always there with his dry wit and wisdom and vast knowledge of issues related to EI.
I will miss you John.
Your shoes can never be filled. In fact, I think they should be bronzed and perhaps become the first of any number of items to be placed in an Election Integrity heroes hall – maybe like Cooperstown for baseball. And I am serious about this idea – we need to honor our own – and let the world know what has been accomplished because of individual efforts as well as the efforts of the teams of EI folks throughout the country and the globe.
I nominate John as the first of many heroes to be inducted into the EI Hall of Fame. I hope this idea catches on and we can thank John for being the inspiration for such a worthwhile endeavor.
We will all miss you John – you did great things and for all the right reasons!
I’m terribly sad to hear this and so sorry for your loss. My condolences to his family, friends and colleagues, and to you, Brad. His work, as you mention, will certainly continue to positively impact the country. Thank you for putting together this eloquent tribute at such a difficult time. Take care, my friend.
Tears and a lump in my throat that hurts.
I used so many of John’s articles to try to get Canadians to see what happens in the States with those damn machines. May he be remembered for all his hard work.
I am so sorry Brad for the loss of your friend and the loss to Bradblog and my sympathy to his family also.
A terrible loss for real democracy.
John’s death is tragic loss for all of us. His commitment to transparency and integrity in the administration of elections should motivate all of us to work hard to enshrine these principles that are core to our democracy.
Douglas A. Kellner
Co-Chair
New York State Board of Elections
What a huge and wonderful amount of information John gathered and posted for us all to read. I am grateful for his contributions and I will miss his posts a great deal.
To his family and friends, I am truly sorry for your loss.
America lost a true patriot with the passing of John Gideon who touched our lives with his warrior spirit. His daily posts summing up voting news state by state were awesome in scope and a great resource to all of us. Once I congratulated him on his halibut catch, and offered to send him a copy of “Murder, Spies & Voting Liesâ€. He wrote back that he didn’t have a working DVD player and no time to watch all the DVDs people had already sent him over the years. Clearly he dedicated a huge chunk of himself to the cause of election integrity, and it will be his enduring gift to democracy that he so well chronicled the fight.
God this is sad.
I’m not a “progressive”, but I did like to read his voting reports.
His family should be very proud that he was so involved with life and the world. So many people just sit and watch the world happen. Gideon made the world happen for the rest of us.
He will be remembered.
I just arrived home from a trip to find this sad news. We of the Wellstone Voting Rights Task Force were honored to have John here in 2005 at the first National Teach-IN on Election Integrity. I do not know if I can add any words of solace, but I do know John was a great warrior for democracy, and we will all be missing his energy. My heart goes out to all who were close to him including Brad and Ellen.
WHAT A BIG MAN!! ….HE MUST HAVE BEEN 6 FOOT 6
SNIFF.. tear.. John’s Daily Voting News, was a beacon of truth in those early months in 2005, shortly after our APOCRYPHAL meeting in Nashville TN when those of us who cared, wanted to save Democracy, and the right to vote for all Americans.
John was the honesty, he was the voice, he was the careful cartographer of a community of Election Integrity activists that started with corruption, graft and Billion Dollar funded corporations like ES&S and Diebold, who were felled because of John’s hard work echoed through our community. Every state that we turned back to paper ballots, Maryland, North Carolina, california, new York, became states that SURPRISE, Obama managed to win. John is not just a hero, he’s the reason we have democracy again in the white house and his hard work and dedicated efforts will never be forgotten, this day, as i honor him with my tears, I am both saddened and proud..
May your weary soul rest peacefully now, John, for you are an American hero and I”m grateful to have crossed your path.
Father, grandfather, husband, veteran, patriot, co-director of VotersUnite.org, democracy advocate, blogger, friend…
& Hero.
A beautiful and fitting tribute to a true champion whose work benefited us all. John’s work and spirit will live on, but his presence will be sorely missed.
Thank you, Brad for working so hard and tirelessly for all of us and our country, and for promoting John’s essential work.
Boy, that’s a shock. I didn’t know John, but I read his contributions to the Brad Blog, which served us all well.
My condolences go out to his family and to you Brad. He truly made a difference in our world.
– Tom
When John would come into my office, my little kitten would always run and grab his foot and then ride around, clinging to his big boot. He was a big man with a kind and gentle heart.
Although I had only limited personal contact with John, I felt shocked and deeply affected by his passing.
John Gideon was open, honest, kind, pithy and a wealth of information. From personal experience, I found he had the ability to be a dynamo of productivity, yet make time for the most insignificant request; to correct a misstatement without being judgmental or condescending, and to be a truly great man yet remain unpretentious.
But perhaps one of John’s greatest gifts was his ability to listen to, read about and report on all sides of an issue. I remember when I first started reading the DVN, I came across an article that seemed in opposition to John’s — and my — beliefs and wondered why he printed it. Then I read his disclaimer & thought, “Wow, this guy really does publish an objective newsletter — how refreshing!†The website he co-founded was the same — reporting flaws in all types of voting systems, even those we were fighting for.
I felt John was similarly open-minded in his interactions with other activists. He could passionately disagree with someone, and still treat that person as a fellow advocate and a colleague. John seemed to recognize that, as in any cause, EI activists are strong and opinionated, with varying perceptions, eccentricities, modes of operation and differing views, yet we are all allies and must work together toward the common goal of achieving transparent, participatory democracy. As I reflect, I think this may be his greatest legacy, his call for Voters — and activists — to Unite.
My heart goes out to his family, Ellen, Brad and all his friends and colleagues. He will be greatly missed, but we were so blessed to have him.
Marge Acosta
There are no words and there are no replacements.
John was unique, untiring, and unstoppable.
John provided the base necessary to show this country and the world that, no, we should not assume that “we” elected anybody, that our election system is filled with problems, and that we will have to be vigilant to get it back where it belongs- in the hands of the people.
My heart goes out to his family.
I am so distraught to learn of this news.
John Gideon was a gentleman. He always returned my emails and calls to give me advice. He always had insight into issues. Navigating through election issues is tough, and John made it easier for me. He was a trusted advisor to me, and I appreciated that, but I just now feel how truly fortunate I was for that to be the case.
I am deeply saddened by John’s death. His role in the Election Integrity movement cannot be overstated. Each day I looked forward to the DVN as the source of any relevant news concerning voting issues. I just hope that his legacy lives on and that someone can and will pick up the torch.
I am shocked to learn of John’s passing! I worked a bit with him on election reform in 2004, and remembered his fantastic work. My heart goes out to his family and friends. He was certainly a great patriot.
This reminds me of a book about the death of JFK: “Johnny, We Hardly Knew Ye.” Yes, I agree. A patriot. Are there people in this generation who can take his place? God, I hope so.
As a long-time lurker who has always believed in the populist creed you have tapped here, let me add my condolences to everyone else. This is a terrible loss, not just to the Bradblog fans, but to the nation as a country and the world as a whole.
Brad, you should consider putting together a collection of John’s work, and publish it in hardcover. It would be hard for even the most pernicious “revisionist historian” to defy the truth there-in, and it would prove an invaluable tool for teachers of the future.
I was a friend of Johns many years ago in Boy Scouts, he was the Scoutmaster for a while. We made made many over night trips and I have fond memories of him wanting to be back on Sundays to watch 60 minutes. He was an ace cribbage player and we had some great games at winter camp. Your posts and blogs pay a fitting tribute to a former scouter.