FreePress.org - "We have stuff that points to big numbers" (Kerry/Ohio)

[Gloria]

Via TruthOut.org

http://www.freepress.org/departments/display/19/2004/1015


Ohio Electoral Fight Becomes 'Biggest Deal Since Selma' as GOP Stonewalls
By Bob Fitrakis, Steve Rosenfeld and Harvey Wasserman
The Free Press

Wednesday 22 December 2004

Columbus - As Republican officials stonewall subpoenas and subvert the recount process, Rev. Jesse Jackson has pronounced Ohio's vote fraud fiasco "the biggest deal since Selma" and has called for a national rally at "the scene of the crime" in Columbus January 3.

Another major national demonstration will follow in Washington on January 6, as Congress evaluates the Electoral College. Should at least one US Representative and one Senator challenge the electors' votes, a Constitutional crisis could ensue.

Meanwhile, volunteer attorneys have poured into Columbus from around the US to help investigate the bitterly contested presidential vote that has allegedly given George W. Bush Ohio's electoral votes and thus a second term. A lawsuit filed at the Ohio Supreme Court charges that a fair vote count would give the state and the presidency to John Kerry rather than Bush.

On December 21, notice of depositions were sent to President George Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, Karl Rove and Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell to appear and give testimony regarding the legal challenge of Ohio's elections results in the case Moss v Bush et al.

But Republican Blackwell's attorney at the Secretary of State’s office told the attorneys issuing the notice of deposition and subpoena that Blackwell will not testify under oath. The Republican-controlled Attorney General's office has labeled any attempt to put Blackwell under oath, "harassment." Blackwell supervised the November 2 vote in Ohio at the same time he served as co-chair of the state's Bush-Cheney campaign.



MORE MORE NAMES, PLACES, etc
M

[Gloria]

1. More of the article......

SNIP

The rapid filing of subpoenas, the first step in interviewing people under oath, provoked the shrill rejection from Blackwell. Though Blackwell is a state constitutional officer, his business office is in a private building, where protesters - including former California Congressman Dan Hamburg - -have been arrested without apparent provocation.

"They huffed and they puffed, trying to bully people around," said attorney Peter Pectarsky, a key member of the election challenge legal team. "Now we’re fighting over discovery. We served 10 depositions. The attorney general blew a gasket. They filed a motion to stop it… We will file our response."

This past Friday, attorneys refiled their election challenge suit, a day after state Supreme Court dismissed it on a technicality. The challengers are trying to get a meaningful recount before the January 6 Congressional vote, while Blackwell's GOP has done all it can to stall.

The election challenge lawsuit claims that statewide vote patterns reveal vote count fraud on a scale that incorrectly awarded the state’s majority – and the presidency – to George Bush. They are using the litigation process to document that fraud.

"Maybe this (the explanation of the Ohio vote) is much closer to the surface than anybody thinks," said Pete Pectarsky, a lead challenge attorney. "It doesn’t add up. If everything was above board, why are they hiding everything? They could bury people in the details… Okay, look at these records. Look at those."

The election challenge suit was filed Dec. 17. Blackwell, the Bush-Cheney campaign, and Ohio’s Republican electors have 10 days to respond. Then, according to court procedural rules, each side has 20 days to do discovery – or additional evidence gathering, with those bringing the suit going first. With January 6 being the date Congress accepts the Electoral College vote, and January 20 being the inauguration, the GOP seems determined to make the recount drag on as long as possible.

"We have stuff that points to big numbers," Pectarsky said, referring to votes that should have been counted for John Kerry. "What we need now is (someone saying) ‘We did it. Here’s how. Don’t take my word. Here’s the evidence.’"


MORE

[Merlot]

6. Any word on what JK thinks of this?

[darkism]

2. WHAT is Blackwell hiding!? n/t

[Ian David]

4. God help me, I'm rooting for Jesse Jackson

But what do I know, I'm just a Hymie.

Come on, Jesse. Win back some cred' and show me you're really on my side.

[aquart]

5. Fraud, treason, conspiracy....

About a thousand years of jail time in a just world?

[Clark2008]

7. FRAUD!!

[me b zola]

15. Shrugging a subpoena?

Or is that, 'shrubbing' a subpoena?? Only these Don's could be soooo arrogant.
What is he (are they) hiding??? WE know.
Now we must expose him/them.

[VTGold]

3. "Won't be put under oath" - love it....... n/t

[tridim]

8. Maybe he can bring Cheney with him too.

Eventually one of the "above the law" pukes will have to pay. I hope Blackwell is the first.

[me b zola]

16. Agreed, however

It has not been lost on me that they have chosen an African-American to be their fall guy....what bastards!!!
They will burn in hell.:grr:

[Pam-Moby]

14. I am so pleased by

Jesse, Arnbeck, Conyers and many others standing for us against this joke of an election.

[meisje]

9. Now all that is needed is some hard evidence!

[bobbieinok]

10. public official testifying under oath is harassment?? isn't this, as

republicans would say, very 'clintonesque'??????

dems under oath -----necessary

reps under oath -----'you traitors, you'

[SaveAmerica]

11. Only one reason he won't go under oath...

I'll get you my pretty, and your little dog georgie, too!

[DesEtoiles]

12. Every registered member of DU should call Blackwell

flood that office with calls

tell him that the Eyes of America are upon HIM

[Nothing Without Hope]

13. William Pitt says Kerry is getting into the game tomorrow

He has to be mysterious about it, because of the freeper lurkers on this board, but he sounds quite sure that something big will happen tomorrow.

Here's the thread:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x187683

[berniew1]

17. People in Ohio need to push to see the voter log books Blackwell's blockin

Looking at the voter logs is extremely important. The recounters found indications of fraud in Greene and Perry log books which is why he denied them access, contrary to Ohio law. He shouldn't be allowed to get away with violating the open gov't law. The more people push the worse he looks, and people should insist on seeing the records; and make a big deal of it as long as he withholds public records from the public.