Slow-Rolling Democracy in Ohio - Blackwell is "foot-dragging"

[dzika]

From: consortiumnews.com

Slow-Rolling Democracy in Ohio
By Robert Parry
December 4, 2004

-snip-
George W. Bush’s political allies appear to be slow-rolling a
requested recount in Ohio, leaving so little time that even if
widespread voting fraud is discovered, the finding will come too
late to derail Bush’s second term.

Though balloting occurred on Nov. 2, more than a month ago, Ohio’s
Republican Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell still hasn’t
certified an official vote, a move now expected on Monday, Dec. 6.
Since Blackwell also has battled requests from third-party
candidates for an expedited recount, a review of Ohio’s vote now
won’t begin until Dec. 13, at the earliest, according to Blackwell’s
office.

But the Dec. 13 date is the same day the electors of the Electoral
College meet to formally select the President of the United States.
So even if the recount uncovers enough fraud to reveal John Kerry as
the rightful winner in Ohio, it would be too late to change that
outcome.

Meanwhile, as Ohio’s official foot-dragging has gone on, Bush’s
election-night lead has continued to shrink with the counting of
overseas and provisional ballots.

-snip-
Now, with Team Bush running out the clock in Ohio, one has to wonder
what contortions the mainstream news media would put itself through
if a belated recount – after Bush’s election is formalized – shows
that Kerry should have won Ohio and thus the White House.

http://www.consortiumnews.com/2004/120404.html

[peekaloo]

1. foot dragging for the knuckle dragger.

Ohio say hello to your next Governor, Ken Blackwell.

[New Earth]

3. DUDE, WTF, PLEASE EXCUSE THE CAPS

DOES THIS MEAN THAT BLACKWELL IS SAYING THE RECOUNT CAN'T BEGIN UNTIL DECEMBER 13TH?????????????????????

[dzika]

6. That's how they make it sound.

Is there another source reporting when the recount is supposed to start?

I'm not certain of the status of the suit against Blackwell.

[peekaloo]

11. remember this bastard on election night/early morning telling everyone

to "take a deep breath".......now he's watching us turn blue and rubbing our faces in it.

Fucker. Just like Katherine Harris he'll be rewarded for his effort.

[tandem5]

17. without a doubt n/t

[dzika]

4. He knows how to count the votes...

...very slowly.

I guess that he is going to win whatever race he chooses as long as his buddies do the counting.

[berniew1]

26. Poll workers assigned votes to candidates randomly in Cleveland precincts

"There's a great diary on kos
(http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/12/2/44647/2043
where the author, jfern, notes patterns of excessive votes for
third-party candidates Badnarik and Peroutka and puts forth a thesis that it is caused by mixing up ballots at multiple-precinct polling places"

these precincts are among the ones I first
pointed out in Cleveland. First they said that these
were mostly Hispanic precincts and the people couldn't
read English and there was nobody there to help them
and they put their punch cards in backwards, but the
precinct they were talkling about had only one spoiled
ballot. Then they said that the order in which the
candidates appear on the ballot rotates from precinct
to precinct and people were given the wrong punch
cards, but there is no example anywhere in Cuyahoga
County of Bush losing votes to third party candidates,
it never happened in any Bush precinct, I already
checked into this, and besides, I found the same
pattern in Butler County. Now they are blaming it on
the counting machines. Insert icon with rolling eyes
here. The fact is that none of the Cuyahoga County
numbers, not to say election returns, can be trusted.
You can quote me. Richard Hayes Phillips PhD

[KaliTracy]

13. Not if I can help it

The things this man has done this year are totally out of bounds. And when he was on Tavis Smiley (NPR), right before the election and defended his reasons behind changing the Absentee and Provisional ballot rule, just months before the election, his excuses were so lame I started yelling at my radio.

(Paraphrase) "10 years ago many absentee ballots got destroyed in the mail machine, we're just trying to make every vote count"

(paraphrase) "We want everyone to vote, but they Must be in their precinct, otherwise we won't count it"

Anyone who can, with a straight face look into the people's eyes /into the camera and say not one of these issues (all of them menitoned in the judiciary letter) was intentional, should be on a cable station playing poker, and stop playing with our lives.


"The important thing is to never stop questioning." -- Einstein

[lthuedk]

2. Sue the bastard, then charge him with obstruction of justice.

[LisaL]

5. Well, he got to be worried about something, that's for sure.

Otherwise, why is he dragging his feet?

[zann725]

27. My guess is, he's not sleeping too well. Besides, if Fraud is proved...

you know Bushco will end up making him (or others like him) the 'fall guy'...just like they did with those enlisted people during the
Abu Gharib scandal.

Blackwell may have been promised a promotion, but something tells me he'll never 'see' it.

Interesting, but from the very beginning, I kept seeing Blackwell as a central character (protaganist) in a script. His character arc (what Life has to teach him, and how his conflict to get there makes him change as a person by the end of the script...has a lot of potential indeed. His temptation to participate in a crime in order to 'get ahead/belong' (in Republican circles) plus the enormity of the crime, makes the odds of him actually 'cracking' under pressure quite possible. My odds are on Blackwell surprising us all...maybe.

[feistydem]

7. Blackwell must be counting on a nice promotion from the White House

the payoffs are always so sweet for the GOP stooges.

[New Earth]

8. So is that what this means?

He's delaying STARTING to do the recount until Dec. 13th? So essentially, we'll be beginning the recount the same day the votes are sent to the Electoral College. Am i understanding this right?

[politicasista]

9. This so unfair!!

Tired of Smirky and his crooks getting their way.

[New Earth]

10. they wont' get their way if everyone keeps fighting

[kerry2win]

14. you right lets get the recount to show Kerry has won Ohio first

Then all hell will break loose from Kerry on down, believe it.

[mary195149]

12. I think he can delay the vote counting 5 days after they are certified

which will put us at 12/11. Blackwell talks to Olbermann as he is so cooperative. I sure hope there is some way to put the pressure on him, to get the votes counted sooner.

[KaliTracy]

16. The OHIO Rally Tomorrow might be a Start

Especially if *lots* of people show up (and we all told 5 people, right, and told them to tell 5 people, and told them to tell five people....right???)

At least maybe it would get some attention in the media... *knocking on wood...*

[SueZhope]

15. Robert Parry

Isnt it good that he is covering this ?
any one know more about him?

Thanks for the post

[peekaloo]

18. He used to write for Newsweek.

I believe it was his Iran/Contra stories that brought him acclaim/public attention.

Consortium News is an excellent site.

[SueZhope]

20. thanks Peekaloo

Thats great to hear.
The more credible reporters on this the better.

[Patchuli]

24. Let's make our unhappiness known...

http://www.51capitalmarch.com/

[newyawker99]

28. Hi Patchuli!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[dzika]

19. Robert Parry

"Robert Parry, who broke many of the Iran-Contra stories in the 1980s for the Associated Press and Newsweek, has written a new book, Secrecy & Privilege: Rise of the Bush Dynasty from Watergate to Iraq. It can be ordered at secrecyandprivilege.com. It's also available at Amazon.com."

[lthuedk]

21. Hey lawyers: Find a judge and get an injunction against the electoral

college vote. Put time on our side-not Bush's. Do it now, or tell us why you won't. There's actionable cause, is there not? Please be clear and specific.

[righteous1]

29. Maybe a dumb question but

If they couldn't do that when there was a 500 vote margin what in the Sam Hill do you think the liklihood will be with a 118,000 vote margin

[SueZhope]

22. another thought

So even if the recount uncovers enough fraud to reveal John Kerry as
the rightful winner in Ohio, it would be too late to change that
outcome.

I would settle for this above from his article
Lets say that they do find enough Fraud (even to late)
then no more mandate my ass bush.

The world knows they fixed the election..
He is then an illegitimate president twice
I would take second price

[kerry2win]

23. "red states blue states" posted on another thread on this

that if Kerry was proven to win the recount his electors would go to d.c. in jan. and the house would have to determine which group of electorals to reject.

[glitch]

25. Bush resigning in disgrace is also good - as long as Cheney goes first

and Robert Parry is an excellent, genuine investigative journalist. Old school, real deal variety.
Thanks for posting!