TX: Report finds Vo won November election; Heflin withdraws

[rainbow4321]

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D88405TG1.html


Former Republican Rep. Talmadge Heflin withdrew his election challenge Monday after a lawmaker overseeing evidence in the contest found that the veteran legislator failed to prove his November loss to Democrat Rep. Hubert Vo should be overturned.

Republican Rep. Will Hartnett, who was named "master of discovery" in Heflin's challenge of the Harris County race, found that Vo's margin of victory was reduced from 33 votes to 16. Hours later, Heflin withdrew, before Hartnett's findings could move on to a special House committee hearing the case.

Had the contest moved on to the committee, and the full Texas House, fellow representatives could have declared a winner in the election or asked that a new election be called.

While investigating the election, Taylor said he found "deeply disturbing problems in our election process." Both Heflin and Taylor vowed to "see what went awry" and to work to ensure that the problems are corrected before the next election. "We want to make sure that never again will the outcome of a race be decided by illegal votes," Taylor said. Republican Speaker Tom Craddick said the Legislature would explore the concerns further.

[Not_Giving_Up]

1. Wooohoooo!

I heard on the way home that Vo won, but that someone was still reviewing it. Guess Heflin's had enough!

[mermaid]

2. Where Were You In 2000? 2004?

"ensure that the problems are corrected before the next election. "We want to make sure that never again will the outcome of a race be decided by illegal votes," Taylor said. Republican Speaker Tom Craddick said the Legislature would explore the concerns further. "

'nuff said!

[rainbow4321]

3. Stuff that Harnett found....Repukes up to no good.

http://texascivilrightsreview.org/phpnuke/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=158


On Thursday for example, Master of Discovery Will Harnett (R-Dallas), a cum laude graduate from Harvard, noticed that several voter registrations in the West Houston area looked strangely alike. They were all dated late 2003, presented accurate mailing addresses, yet re-registered voters to addresses where they did not live. In effect, the series of fraudulent registrations 'deported' African American voters out of Texas House District 149 and therefore made the voters appear illegal when they attempted to vote in their usual precincts.

On Friday Hartnett noticed another curious thing. As he examined original questionnaires that were supposed to be filled out by alleged illegal voters and notarized as depositions, he found two kinds of ink used to fill out the answers and two kinds of handwriting. Larry Veselka, the Yale-educated lawyer who represents the elected Democrat in the race, Hubert Vo, then noticed that handwritten 'no' and 'NA' answers on at least two questionnaires looked to be written in the same hand.

Finally, Hartnett was caught grinning at the flexibility he found at the official website of the Harris County voter registrar, which changed its listing of more than one voter from legal to illegal sometime during early January, following consultations with Republican lawyers. Hartnett seemed perversely amused when lawyers for the defense showed him a web page confirming a voter registration, dated early January, as Republican lawyers submitted more recent web pages showing the voter was not registered. Sometimes this duel of conflicting web pages seemed enough for Hartnett to say that he just couldn't be sure if the voter was illegal or not.


At one point Republican lawyer Andy Taylor openly admitted that when he was not satisfied with a listing he found at the web site, he contacted the registrar's office, presented his own findings, and got voters kicked off the rolls so that he could submit revised web pages as evidence. That wasn't mentioned in the press, either. In the end, it appears that the Republican challenge not only failed to prove 'widespread fraud' among Democrat voters of West Houston, but actually served up a fine public record of practices by Republicans and unknown others that would suppress their rights.

[lovuian]

4. God Bless him!!!

There are some honest people out there!!!

[last1standing]

5. Give props where they're due.

A republican investigator declared Vo the winner and a republican candidate withdrew from the contest versus having it contested in the House.

It amazes me that in the heart of Texas, the home of tom delay, that there would be two honest repubs, but there seem to be.

I gives me a little hope.

[efhmc]

6. Yeah, they honestly want the repuke to win. No such diligency

on their part when this issue is not at stake.

[NoPasaran]

8. Talmadge Heflin wouldn't know honesty if it bit him on the ass

Talmadge Heflin wouldn't know honesty if it bit him on the ass with razor-sharp fangs.

He wanted to steal that election just like he wanted to steal his housekeeper's baby. http://www.offthekuff.com/mt/archives/004033.html

He insisted he had won through three recounts and this challenge in the Legislature. I am sure he has only backed down at this point because every politico with half a brain has been telling him that if the Lege were to order a revote he would lose that too plus it would turn Texas' growing Asian-American community solidly blue for a couple of generations. Heflin is the sort of human garbage who puts the :puke: in Repuke.

[last1standing]

9. I'll defer to your knowledge of Texas politicians

From the story it sounded like he had done an honorable thing. If not then I recind my comments.

[insane_cratic_gal]

10. might want to read this part again

failed to prove 'widespread fraud' among Democrat voters of West Houston, but actually served up a fine public record of practices by Republicans and unknown others that would suppress their rights.


perhaps he was told to back off?

Maybe he just discovered how reps took the house in 2002?

sounds to me like he's backing the hell off because he stumbled onto corruption of the Repukes and now is back paddling since it was pointed out.

No honor in that. Honor would be exposing the fraud of his own party.

[rainbow4321]

11. Ditto...

Sounds like "take one for the team and STFU".



From his webpage about the "fraud"

http://www.talmadgeheflin.com/press.htm


"At the hearing on January 27th, evidence of this voter fraud will be presented. Some Republican lawmakers are already urging that these incidents be swept under the rug. They are afraid of what the press will say if the elections are reversed."

"Fraud and illegal voting is part of the legacy of election fraud that lingers from a century of Democrat rule in Texas. The double and triple voting, vote buying, ballot box stuffing and fraudulent election practices that Heflin and Opiela found in their investigations are shamefully routine in too many Democrat counties. Republicans are committed to leading the fight for stricter penalties for election crimes and stronger enforcement and prosecution."

[rainbow4321]

13. TX repukes worried about Asian/American backlash

http://www.txdemocrats.org/news/detail/?id=452


Some House Republicans say they resent that they are being forced to deal with the case - especially in view of their feelings that Heflin put minimal effort into his re-election campaign while ignoring warnings and offers of help. While the Republican Party of Texas has mounted a vigorous grassroots effort on Heflin's behalf, a substantial number of Republican legislators, consultants and Capitol staff members are concerned that the push to have Vo's election invalidated could cause a backlash among Asian-American voters in light of the fact that the Houston real investor is the first Vietnamese-American to ever serve in the Texas Legislature and one of only two in the nation to hold state legislative seats.

[jamesinca]

7. With Howard at the Helm

we will keep that seat in TX. I believe it when Howard Dean says we will wage a 50 state contest. I do believe he will help Mr. Vo keep that seat. Good job Rep. Vo, represent well in Houston for us.

[yellowcanine]

12. If Repubs keep pushing the "voter fraud" line they are going to find that

they have benefited way more from fraudulent voter lists than Dems have. I look forward to more sunshine on voter registration procedures. Let the sun shine in!

[merh]

14. Gee, shouldn't he be sanctioned for his frivolous efforts?

Or is that only something repukes do to dems?