Richardson in NM demands 1.4M in 15 hours to recount!

[Helga Scow Stern]

Bastid!

posted in LBN
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1072469

http://www.abqjournal.com/elex/273036elex12-15-04.htm
Wednesday, December 15, 2004

Cost of Recount $1.4 Million; State Wants Money by Thurs. To Start

By Andy Lenderman
Journal Politics Writer
SANTA FE— For $1.4 million, two presidential candidates and some voting rights advocates may get a statewide recount of New Mexico's recent presidential election.
Or the matter may be decided in court.
The state Canvassing Board on Tuesday, after some deliberation, granted a late November request for a recount by presidential candidates David Cobb of the Green Party and Michael Badnarik, a Libertarian.
Recount backers say their goal is to verify the accuracy and credibility of New Mexico's voting systems. They have raised concerns about touch screen voting machines and the so-called undervote.
But according to state election officials, recount proponents will have to come up with $1.4 million by 10 a.m. Thursday in order to proceed.
"I am requiring that much money because the taxpayers are not responsible for footing this bill," Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil-Giron said.
The state Canvassing Board, which certifies election results, is made up of three top officials— Gov. Bill Richardson, state Supreme Court Chief Justice Petra Maes and Vigil-Giron.
But an attorney for Cobb and Badnarik said proponents for the recount have already satisfied the deposit requirement by giving Vigil-Giron's office a down payment of more than $114,000.
"They made the required deposit," said attorney John Boyd of Albuquerque. "The law requires the state Canvassing Board to allow a re-check."
Boyd said his group plans to be in state District Court in Santa Fe at 8:30 a.m. today to argue that the recount should begin immediately.
And if they're unsuccessful in that hearing before state District Judge Carol Vigil, Boyd said there would be a "presumably" quick appeal.

[New Earth]

1. whata fucking joke

[VTGold]

2. Maybe Richardson is hoping for a re-vote - rather than re-count?

[jamboi]

5. Well that is certainly giving the benefit o doubt., but I'm dismayed - Dem

acting like stonewalling Rep! This may be even more difficult to go after than OH. Or maybe the Republicans will help. Of course it went red so not clear.

[trayfoot]

17. Some "hearsay info"

A lawyer friend of mine who lives in NM told me before the election that Richardson did not work hard to get out the dem vote there - that Richardson was pissed becaused he was not tapped for VP. According to my friend who has followed Richardson's career, the gov seems to be a lot like shrub - spoiled and vndictive. Just thought I would pass along what I've been told.

[Wabbajack]

21. is a revote even possible?

[AmerDem]

3. wtf is up with Richardson?

?

[glugglug]

4. $1.4M for NEW MEXICO?!?!??!

WTF is that $20 per vote?

[kk897]

9. NM is a poor state... but still...

I'm flummoxed. I used to live in Albuquerque and elsewhere in NM, years and years ago, and back then it seemed like Richardson was a good guy.

The only thing I can think is that BFEE is coming down REAL damn hard on folks now. And over in LBN they're saying that Little Big Boy's inauguration will be hard to protest because he's going to walk surrounded by military troops. And we're "dissidents," you know.

It's like, all those things that I thought might possibly be true but that I was probably too paranoid... all those things are *actually* true. It's sort of like how I think there *might* be a God, and I'm unwilling to say there *isn't* a God---like if He came down from on high and blew Gabriel's horn right in my ear and bellowed WAKE UP! it almost wouldn't surprise me at this point.

[Terre]

11. Actually it's about $1.85 per vote

But wonder what it calculates out to per hour for a state employees? Too late for me tonite to figure that one out - kinda brain-fried with all the new stuff happening today.

Whatever it works out to, it's OUTRAGEOUS!!

[GetTheRightVote]

6. This is the repukes trying to destory justice once again, just evil

[Straight Shooter]

7. Richardson is a Democrat n/t

[Stand and Fight]

8. Bill Richardson is a Democrat....

So is his Secretary of State, so what are you saying exactly?

:wtf:

[Straight Shooter]

10. I think he's saying ...

... he doesn't know Richardson is a Democrat.

[Stand and Fight]

16. LOL... Good one Straight!

:silly:

[Pepper32]

12. Oh, Just 1.4 mil. WTH Why does it cost so much? n/t

[Blue in the face]

15. I don't know why it would cost that much,

But we need to email, fax, and call Richardson's office all day tomorrow. There is no way that this should happen without a protest.

They can't be allowed to price us out of our Constitutional rights.

[grasswire]

13. Kerry's got the dough

Seems like he could kick in here.

[New Earth]

14. if Kerry actually did use some of the money for this

would other Democrats bitch at him for using it for recounts, when apparently 'they' think the election is 'over' and that recounts are futile?

i can just see them bitching.

[alittlelark]

18. I hope he's just posturing to get the $$$ from

a pre-determined source.......


Otherwise I will be in NM in 4 days, and family and I will get 'stupid' (RW ie- democratic) on the steps w/ friends - I gave him $$$ and I live in CA!!!!


He was part of Clinton's cabinet. If he pusses out my faith in the DLC is HIS-TO-RY.

[Peace Patriot]

19. It's the arrogance that gets me

"'I am requiring that much money because the taxpayers are not responsible for footing this bill,' Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil-Giron said."

Notice that phrase, "I am requiring...". Not the law requires, or the rules require, or the public good requires... "*I* am requiring." What arrogance!

Electoral Vote math. Correct me if I'm wrong. Current official Electoral Vote: Bush 286, Kerry 252. Ohio has 20 Electoral Votes. If the Ohio result is changed in Kerry's favor, it's Bush 266, and Kerry 272, and Kerry wins. If the Ohio vote goes into some sort of legal or Congressional limbo, it's Bush 266, and Kerry 252, with Bush retaining his grip on the White House. In that case, Kerry would need 7 more votes to tie, and 8 to win. Right?

New Mexico has 5 Electoral Votes. Nev, 5. Iowa, 7. FLA, 27. (All states with very suspicious results.) I don't know if anything's being done in Iowa or Nev. I heard BBV had some legal ruling in their favor today, keeping the Volusia County FLA lawsuit alive.

The thing about this election is, though, that they stole votes all over the country--I think they even did it in California (Sen. Boxer's margin over Kerry is too big, even in rightwing areas--it doesn't make sense. I think they stole some % of votes from Kerry in CA, with their secret source code.)

So this Electoral Vote math game--while vital of course to changing the outcome--is beside the point, in some bigger way. For one thing, Bush Inc. will not allow the outcome to be changed--they will stop at nothing to prevent it. (Be prepared!)

Possibly, real Republicans (people who believe in gradual change, fiscal responsibility, the Constitution, and a sane foreign policy) will assert themselves and take the opportunity to purge Bush Inc. and the Neocons and reclaim their party. But don't hold your breath. I've yet to see a single Republican stand up for anybody's right to vote, except their own.

A more realistic hope is that the recounts, the lawsuits, discovery, Congressional and GAO investigations, all the hard analytical work done at DU and elsewhere, and publicity will reveal the truth to the American people, and especially to Kerry voters (the majority!), and will ferret out further facts, whistleblowers, witnesses, and culprits. Once the facts are known, people will demand, a) a paper receipt for every vote, and b) open source code. (If Venezuela can do it, why not the land of the free and the home of the brave? Come on, People!)

In this process, we will see who the heroes are--who is it that stands up for our right to vote.

Then, when we get back the right to vote, we can vote for them.

The New Mexico Democrats (at least their leadership--much like the national leadership) are not acquitting themselves very well. Don't they care that rightwing Republicans control the vote tabulation? Do they think, as long as they have their little fiefdom in New Mexico, they're going to be safe? Do they have stock in Diebold?

I don't know. Hard to figure, these Democrats.

[Peace Patriot]

20. Yes, I think Kerry should kick in...

...and we should call Richardson tomorrow. This is ridiculous.

[hedda_foil]

22. The $1.4 million won't stand but we urgently need to get this funded!

The Help America Recount Fund http://helpamericarecount.org is covering the costs in New Mexico, and the irregularities (and probable fraud) there are as bad as in Ohio! Take a look at the report posted at http://www.helpamericarecount.org/NewMexicoData/NewMexicoGeneralElection.pdf. The statistics are the work of some great DUers led by Warren Stewart. The awesome report is the work of our own ignatzmouse! And I seem to be managing this thing ... or more accurately, it's managing me!

Our attorneys are terrific and the judge is inclined to view the case favorably, as is the Supreme Court, but it's still going to take a shitload of money to get this done.

Ground operations are all in place, with regional coordinators assigning and training observers in all 33 counties. Special technical observers are being trained to make sure the e-voting machines don't get away with murder.

Don't let them scare the people away from counting the votes! Please donate and spread the word wherever you can.

Thanks!

hedda_foil

[skids]

23. check your pm n/t

[jamboi]

24. I'm sorry I just think this is wrong. n/t

[texpatriot2004]

25. NOW that's the Bill Richardson that I know, Go Gov. n/t

[AmerDem]

26. you don't want a recount?

You feel our democracy is served by putting obstacles in the way of the average citizen who feel fair and accountable elections be given top priority? You know with that reasoning and the fact you have Texas in your name I can draw some conclusion that I wont state here.

[texpatriot2004]

29. Oh NO I misunderstood it. Drat. I was hoping the Gov was

finally trying to get a recount. I made a mistake. Ooops.

[Razorback_Democrat]

27. He wants to be Hillary's running mate, or better yet, on the top of the

ticket in 08

[jsascj]

28. Wonder if Richardson is holding a grudge

because he wasn't on the ticket as VP?