RNC seeks to overturn Gregoire's win as Governor of WA

[sunnystarr]

Just heard Judy Woodruff (CNN) report it. They are going to the State Supreme Court to overturn her election and calling for a new election.

If this can be done after an official is inaugurated, why can't it work to call for a new presidential election in our country?

edited for typo

[meganmonkey]

1. Because a Republican won for president

:puke:

[EST]

2. Didn't hear it.

I wish the powers that be on our side were so bold.

[FiveGoodMen]

11. If our side were bold, we'd be the powers.

[EST]

18. Yeah, ain't it the truth.

Maybe times are a-changing.

[StClone]

3. If this Hypocritical scum wants to waste more Tax money

Here are the rules:

Paper Ballots, hand counting and no contesting the official count.

[keepthemhonest]

4. did not hear that yet

but i agree what works for them should work for us too.

[blm]

To redirect Dem activists' attention from SS and Iraq/Iran?

I think the people of Washington need to raise some hell.

OTOH, Dems can use this to demand BBV machines be opened up to full scrutiny.

[Andy_Stephenson]

17. Your exactly right

blm...but in reality...it was my county's screwups that have caused this problem. Dean Logan needs to loose his job over this...as does Bill Hunnekins and Nicole Wey.

[papau]

5. state Supreme Court path would be a victory for the Dems

Judge Allows OKs Challenge in Wash. Vote
By REBECCA COOK, Associated Press Writer

WENATCHEE, Wash. - A judge allowed a court challenge to Democratic Gov. Christine Gregoire's excruciatingly close election to go forward Friday, rejecting arguments that the dispute can only be resolved by the Legislature. The ruling by Superior Court John E. Bridges came at a hearing on a Republican attempt to overturn Gregoire's election.


Gregoire was sworn in last month after being declared the winner by a mere 129 votes out of 2.9 million cast.


But Republican candidate Dino Rossi and the state GOP say the contest was tainted by so many errors and illegal votes — including ballots cast by hundreds of felons — that the courts should throw out the results and order a new election.


On Friday, the Democrats argued that any challenge to the election belongs in the Legislature. GOP attorney Robert Maguire countered that the state constitution and state law say the courts — not partisan lawmakers — should hear the case.


"The state of Washington needs an open, transparent, public display of what happened in this election," Maguire said. "Without it, many — and perhaps the majority — of Washington voters will not believe the person sitting in the governor's office truly won the election."


The judge rejected the Democrats' argument, along with their claim that the case should go straight to the state Supreme Court.


The judge was expected to hear and rule on other requests to dismiss the case later in the day.

[Dcitizen]

13. Best chance for new election will be in 2008. n/t

[clovis29]

15. How is this a victory for us? (n/t)

[nascarblue]

6. This is amazing

I really can't believe it. After two recounts, one by hand even, what's their beef? That those 500+ ballots turned up? What about Florida 2000 when Katherine Harris allowed ballots sent in a month past the due date to be counted? What was that called? Yet completely valid and on time ballots are to be contested? How much effort would it take for them to chase down those 500 voters? In a way I hope they do cover this. Even with the corporate media spin it should make the Republicans look like a bunch of hypocritcal crybabies.

How many times did they use the word "Conspiracy theorist" when the dozens of docmentated cases of fraud and prejudice came up on Jan. 6th in Congress? Quite alot. Just as a reminder, if you havent seen it yet... here's the best Election 2004 online video clip I've seen so far....

http://veredictum.com/stolenelection2004-256.ram

[rodeodance]

8. Get over it-sour grapes, move on!!

[KajaC]

20. No offense meant.....

...but the exit pollsters have admitted their polls were statistically off because of a flaw in their system. The electoral votes have been certified. ISn't it time to focus on Congressional races in '06 and the national election in '08?

This to shall pass.

[eridani]

27. No it isn't

Because that was exactly what everyone said in 2000. Wait for 2002 and 2004. Well, dammit, we did--and didn't do a damned thing about electronic vote theft in the meantime.

[LisaM]

7. Right-wing talk show host John Carlson is trying to reframe the debate

to claim that the real problem is votes cast by felons and illegal immigrants. Not only is this nonsense on its face, they were not making this claim when they thought Rossi was ahead. Then, they just wanted Gregoire to concede and get out of their path. Much to their dismay, she refused to do so.

I'm not sure what they really plan to gain from all this. It's my hunch that they have secretly conceded the governor's race but are trying to keep Rossi in the news so that he can run against Cantwell in 2006 and play the victim card (by many accounts, he planned to run against Cantwell anyway.) I think they are also trying to be obstructionist with Gregoire, who now has a Democratic legislature to work with.

[Alizaryn]

9. Gregoire should get a refund AND the Republicans be required

to pay for a revote if this slithers through.

[ignu]

10. I think they're right.

These results are well under the margin of error, and it's unjust to democracy to choose a leader in such an arbitrary fashion.

This was my beef in the 2000 presidential election. Both parties were clamoring for a revote, but with all the various mix-ups and questionable ballots and counting practices the will of the voter could not be quantified.

Now, it's hypocritical for them to bitch about one and not the other... but the same holds true for us.

[LisaM]

23. Who was clamoring for a re-vote in 2000?

We were clamoring just to get the voted COUNTED AT ALL. Which they were not.

[eridani]

28. That's one hundred percent crap

A revote is likely to be well under the margin of error as well, so what then? Elections that are closer than statistical margins of error are facts. The only option, if there can't be a result that is validated statistically, is to have one that is validated legally.

[satya]

12. Does their case mention the problems with touch screen voting

in Snohomish County? And how it was not possible to recount those votes? (Snohomish went for Rossi).

[LisaM]

22. No, of course not

they act as if King County is flawed and corrupt beyond belief but ignore the touch screen machines AND problems that were the same as King County's elsewhere.

They are also failing to mention that former Republican Secretary of State Ralph Munro has invested in and is promoting yet more fishy machinery that they want to use in this attempted re-vote.

[tsuki]

14. Because the Repugs will fight.

[AtLiberty]

16. The Repukes have opened a big can of worms...

Let's use the publicity to make our cause of meaningful election reform.

[EST]

19. The cure for all this B.S.

Is a constitutional amendment that guarantees a vote for all and the withdrawal of franchise (such as with incarcerated felons) must be consistent from state to state.

The second issue would be to declare election day a national holiday or to take place over the weekend (Sat. and Sun.) to take the time pressure off the voters.
This would eliminate all the provisional ballot nonsense, the registration problems (anybody could vote once anywhere) and go a long way toward eliminating the BBV fraud. Included should be provisions to negate the proprietary software nonsense, too.

Those folks over there (at least the average voters) are as suspicious of us as we are of them. Probably would be pretty easy to get enough support to pass such an amendment. Can we start a movement to get this done before '08?

[Cha]

21. I just saw this on another thread,,

Jefferson County Democrats (WA)
"Whereas, in 2004, Governor Howard Dean energized and mobilized hundreds of thousands of ordinary Americans to become active participants, which resulted in an influx of effort, enthusiasm and funding for Dean's, John Kerry's and other campaigns and recently, a major contribution to the vote re-count fund which helped elect Governor Christine Gregoire; and.."

"Whereas, Howard Dean has spoken eloquently about our Democratic values and promises to take our message to all of America;

"Now, therefore be it resolved that the Washington State Democratic Central Committee endorses the candidacy of Governor Howard Dean for Chair of the Democratic National Committee."


I thought that was interesting enough to put on a Governor Christine Gregoire thread!

[Greylyn58]

24. If this gets anywhere near a court

and it goes through, then doesn't it set a legal precedent that could be used to push for a new Presidential Election.

I'm not a lawyer, but that would seem to make sense to me.

:shrug:

[Cloister]

25. Nope

At this time, the WA governor's race is being handled completely within state law. Would have no relevance in any other state or at the federal level.

[zann725]

26. I saw Gregroire's swearing-in ceremony on CSPAN last month, and that woman

is one 'tough cookie!' She has a greatly-detailed plan for her term, and is passionate about her programs. And is clearly tenacious. The kind of energy I saw is NOT one to be pushed aside easily. She's "in"...and NOT going anywhere.

How dare the Repugs! That, plus what they're trying to do in California...with re-districting, "special election" soon to "re-decide issues" (in Ahnnnald's favor), and forced resignation of SOS, Kevin Shelly.

This whole thing has gone TOO far! The Repug's have gone BEYOND Fascist.

[berniew1]

29. I don't think they have a case. I haven't heard it. Better case for Ohio

Florida, and New Mexico revote. Much more documented fraud, dirty tricks, manipulation of absentees, provisionals there than in Washington. But those who are forceful can often manipulate things when they don't have a case if the other side lets them.