Dayton Daily News editorial: Blackwell shouldn't have to step aside

[AngryOldDem]

And the fox shouldn't give up his sentry position outside the henhouse, either.

http://www.daytondailynews.com/opinion/content/opinion/daily/071706stepdown.html?UrAuth=`N^NUObNUWUcUcUZUaUbUcTYWYWZV

I hope this link works -- you have to register to access the DDN site.

There are so many "choice" opinions here that I really don't know what to snip. It's evident, though, that none of the DDN editorial board has read the Conyers Report, or anything else that has offered valid criticism of Blackwell.

<<snip>>

U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland, Democratic candidate for governor, says his opponent should give up his role, having demonstrated that he can't be trusted.

The position is absurd.

For one thing, secretary of state is an elective office. If Democrats didn't want Mr. Blackwell to have it, they needed to beat him. They can't lose an election and then demand that their vanquisher curtail his own responsibilities. At least they can't without looking absurd.

<<snip>>

Second, the secretary of state doesn't really run elections. That's the job of county elections boards — which have equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans. They decide how many voting machines will go where. They count the ballots.

The secretary of state does get involved in some issues. He resolves conflicts that come to the state as a result of deadlocks at elections boards. He has to enforce state law and interpret federal law.

But all of that is out in the open. What the secretary does has to pass scrutiny. And the scrutiny is intense because he's on the ballot. Mr. Blackwell is simply in no position to steal a race for governor.

<<snip>>

The last paragraph here just takes my breath away.


MODS: If I have cut-and-pasted too much, please let me know and I will edit.

[Kukesa]

1. I was furious when I read this. nt

[AngryOldDem]

2. It was beyond the pale, even for the DDN

It's a foregone conclusion that Ohio's results in 2004 were rigged, and that Blackwell had a major hand in it. His office repeatedly refused Conyers' demands for explanation (which also points out why he -- Conyers -- needed subpoena power) and it's clear that his "directives" in the weeks prior to the election disenfranchised thousands of voters. The fact that Kerry did not contest Ohio immediately afterward proves nothing.

I could not follow the editorial's logic at all. If anyone is in a prime position to throw an election, it is most certainly Ken Blackwell.

[geiger]

3. Pretty weird

Our local newspaper is doing a poll (unscientific as it is, still fun), "Should Blackwell be allowed to be in charge of the elections, and right here in very conservative Wooster, where it appears there is a militant contingent of Blackwell supporters, albeit however small, the poll numbers are running 69 against.

Maybe others are interested in reporting on other local newspaper paper polls across the state....

[AngryOldDem]

4. Here's a typical DDN poll...

...actually it's more of a man-on-the-street interview, but they run this every single day. They ask a question to five or six people, take their pictures, and then run it on page 3.

Monday's question: "Should Wendy's add a vanilla frostie to their menu?"

The paper is a joke. But that does not excuse that ludicrous and lame apologia for Ken Blackwell.