Shit. FIRST STOLEN ELECTION OF 2006: Voting Machine Problems in TX...

[IndyOp]

I could be wrong. Please God, let me be wrong. The Democratic primary is between Ciro Rodriguez (a real Dem) and Henry Cuellar (the DINO that Bush kissed at the SOTU address). It appears AS IF Webb County Texas is experiencing problems with their touchscreens - Webb County is the one that Cuellar won biggest in 2000.

From MyDD.com < http://www.mydd.com >:

With 77% (or thereabouts) of the non-Webb county vote in the situation is as follows: Ciro 11,269 (56.40%), Cuellar: 7,304 (36.55%), Morales: 1,408 (7.05%). Projection: Cuellar 53.28%. Not a single word from Webb County yet.

This is going bad. We are going to need Morales to take away a lot of votes from Cuellar in Webb County. Of course, Webb County, Cuellar's stronghold, still hasn't reported yet due to problems with touchscreen machines, or something. I'm really starting to get pissed off about that.

[cal04]

1. Kos update

159 of 276 precincts reporting
Cuellar 7,939
Rodriguez 12,495
Morales 1,544

Still no results from Webb County, were voting box "problems" suggest monkey business going on. Wouldn't it be nice for Cuellar to wait to see how many votes he needs before Webb reports?

http://www.dailykos.com/

disgusting

[IndyOp]

4. KOS?!?!? I can't say his name without STEAM RISING from my neck...

KOS didn't want people to discuss election fraud after the theft of 2004. Has the boy awoken?

:grr: :nuke: :grr: :nuke: :grr: :nuke:

[file83]

26. I absolutely HATE when discussion sites ban topics that are perfectly

legitimate. Kind of makes you wonder if the power is going to their heads.

[moobu2]

2. They’re just going to steal it right in front of everybody

I hope I'm wrong but how obvious could it be?

[IndyOp]

3. Details at SwingStateProject --

are here: < http://www.swingstateproject.com/ >

<9:34 p.m.> Okay, this is getting a bit nutty. This SoS page (for TX-28 only) reports 128 precincts. However, this page (which lists all Dem races) says 143 precincts have come in. Which to believe? The latter page lists the current totals as follows:

Rodriguez: 11,269 (56.40%)
Cuellar: 7,304 (36.55%)
Morales: 1,408 (7.05%)

<9:40 p.m.> (Tracy) News out of Webb County continues to be confusing. There doesn't seem to be any word on when results will be coming through as technical difficulties persist.

<9:43 p.m.> The individual race page caught up and both now report 143 precincts. But man, that string of zeros after Webb County's name looks awfully, awfully... out of place. I'm reminded of the OH-02 special election, when Jean Schmidt's home region reported last, too. Remember this?

Schmidt led by less than 1 percent with 88 percent of the precincts in. But she must have felt secure in knowing that the only uncounted precincts were in Clermont County, her home.

Uh huh.

<9:43 p.m.> (Tracy) The Rodriguez campaign has a team headed down to Webb County including campaign counsel and representatives. While this is happening Ciro is addressing the hundreds of supporters who have gathered at our headquarters on the South Side of San Antonio. A supporter just called in as well and asked if the banks in Laredo were closed.

[moobu2]

5. You can watch Web county results from the Web county Tx. site

It updates automatically every 5 minutes or you can refresh etc..
So far just all ZERO’s reporting.
http://enr.sos.state.tx.us/dem1county239.htm

[IndyOp]

6. MyDD: This has fraud attempt written all over it.

With 84% (or thereabouts) of the non-Webb county vote in the situation is as follows: Ciro 12,495 (56.85%), Cuellar: 7,939 (36.12%), Morales: 1,544 (7.03%). Projection: Cuellar 53.64%.

SSP just posted the following:

The Rodriguez campaign has a team headed down to Webb County including campaign counsel and representatives. While this is happening Ciro is addressing the hundreds of supporters who have gathered at our headquarters on the South Side of San Antonio. A supporter just called in as well and asked if the banks in Laredo were closed.

This is so much like OH-02 it is scary. This has fraud attempt written all over it. Notice that I say "attempt." Trying to committ fraud and succeeding are different things. Wanting to committ fraud and doing it are different things. Committing fraud and having it change who won an election are not always the same thing. I don't know what is going on, but it sure looks like they at least attempted something in Webb.

[suffragette]

8. This looks bad

and damn suspicious.

[autorank]

15. Just like Hackett - Schmidt, well worse. Are we eating our own?

"Scoop" Independent MediaElection Day.[br />
Election Day was a tense event for both candidates and their supporters. Turnout reached 25%, considered respectable for a special election. There were some changes in voting locations in Clermont County and a reduction in precincts in Hamilton County, a populous Cincinnati suburb. There were few if any major incidents reported by those attempting to vote. There were reports of Jean Schmidt campaigning within the 100-foot perimeter candidates must recognize around the precincts. Until mid evening, this encroachment charge was the only event to remotely qualify as an election irregularity.

The humidity crisis.

Then it happened: the “humidity” crisis. For pure drama, it could not have occurred at a more dramatic point in the vote tabulation. Of Clermont County’s 191 precincts, 100 had been counted. Then the Board of Elections announced that excessive humidity had caused ballots to swell, making them difficult to count. As a result, there would be a delay in the count. At this point, the election was dead even statistically, at 50% for each candidate. The 91 precincts in Clermont represented about 12% of the remaining vote. When the crisis was resolved, the 50-50% tie changed into a 52% to 48% victory for Schmidt.

------------------------

IndyOp, thanks for the post. The "touchscreen" problem in Webb may be like the "humidity" problem in Clermont Co. Ohio, special election OH 2nd.

I looked at Webb's election page. Looks like 21,000 voted early. Lots of time to fiddle with those results.

Keep us posted. RECOMMENDED.

[yourout]

7. Cuellar will win just outside the recount margin when his...

strongest districts come in at the end with just enough of a spread to avoid the recount.

Sound familiar?

[Sagan]

9. Where is the projection coming from?

I don't understand the source of the projected Cuellar win.

[IndyOp]

10. MyDD and Swing State Project...

They are projections - not promises - I hope they are wrong. The fact that the vote is delayed in only one county (Webb) which is a Cuellar stronghold is not wrong.

MyDD.com < http://www.mydd.com >

Swing State Project < http://www.swingstateproject.com / >

[IndyOp]

11. Charming: Cuellar's campaign manager voted for him illegally in 2004

Check this out from April 27, 2004:
<http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA27.01A.NZ.State.Recount_0427.6c063b78.html>

U.S. Rep. Ciro Rodriguez is expected to try to beef up his legal case against Democratic nominee Henry Cuellar today, introducing an amended lawsuit that alleges more than 500 people who voted in the primary here are registered at vacant addresses or at homes where they do not live.(...)

The San Antonio Express-News visited some of the residences in question Monday based on information provided by Rodriguez's attorney, Buck Wood.

In one case, a primary voter with the same name as Cuellar's campaign manager, Colin Strother, is registered as living with Cuellar's parents in central Laredo.
The Cuellars, in an interview with a reporter Monday, said no one named Strother lives there.

Told of the allegation, Cuellar spokesman T.J. Connolly said that when Strother agreed to work on Cuellar's campaign, he was given a salary and the option to live in a rental property at Cuellar's parents' home.

Strother reportedly registered and voted at that address, although he has been living with his wife in another location outside of District 28 as part of her employment compensation. The two have been planning to relocate to the Cuellar residence, but furor over the campaign has kept them from doing so, Connolly said.

[Wilms]

12. Hang a link on that. n/t

[Cocoa]

13. the BBVers will declare fraud no matter what

they came to that conclusion before the vote happened.

Any election results, and any events on election day, will serve one purpose for the BBVers: to prove the conclusion they already came to.

Have fun with the exercise. :hi:

[GuvWurld]

17. it's all about the election conditions

I'm not sure who is or is not a BBVer but I can see that current election conditions make it impossible to know the true outcome...I don't talk in terms of fraud...just that these election conditions guarantee inconclusive outcomes and leave no basis for confidence in the results reported...see the Voter Confidence Resolution.

So what I want to know is how the People are going to prevent illegitimate results from being accepted and what the People are going to do to stop undue power and authority from being bestowed?

[IndyOp]

20. Rodriguez' lawyers have impounded the ballots in Texas --

He seems to be concerned:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x416015#416034

:kick:

[kster]

29. You are sleeeeeeeeepy

the voting machine makers will do no wrong, the voting machine makers will do no wrong, the voting machine makers will do no wrong :boring: :boring: :boring:

[Wilms]

30. .

[Twist_U_Up]

55. whoaaaaa ..............

if you rotate that counter clockwise does it reverse the effects ?

[Steve A Play]

34. Correction please, or, Do you have a link to that?

I've been working with BBV (Black Box Voting.org) for a couple of years now and have had the opportunity to work directly with Dr. Hugh Thompson here in California to PROVE to our elections officials that the machines are not secure. I have also worked with dozens of other people associated with BBV.org to help analyze tens of thousands of documents gathered through thousands of PRRs submitted under the FOIA. I have also spent hundreds of hours a year for the last three years doing research, and supplying information, for other voting rights organizations across the country. I guess that makes me a "BBVer" or "Bevbot" as some here are so fond of calling us. With that said, I'd like to correct a few assumptions you have made.

"the BBVers will declare fraud no matter what, they came to that conclusion before the vote happened."

False. We at BBV.org have been working with local activists and elections officials across the country and recognize that, like in any other endeavor, the vast majority of the people involved are honest, hard working people, doing a difficult, demanding job to the best of their ability and with the information they have. We do not immediately assume that any election that uses electronic voting is presumed to be hacked. To my knowledge, no one at BBV has even brought up this election, much less made any predictions as to who was going to win. If you have a link to prove otherwise I'd like to see it.

What we at BBV.org are doing is helping to teach activists and elections officials alike how to audit and safeguard our elections. We audit elections, and when we do find evidence that we can't prove that the election is legitimate, we question the evidence presented and demand answers. When we find, or are provided with, evidence that an election may have been compromised, we alert the public and pass the evidence on to the authorities and legislators who can do something about it. That's why Bev and crew are in Florida right now. They have met with, and passed on evidence to, the FBI about what was given to us as "public records" documenting the 2004 election.

"Any election results, and any events on election day, will serve one purpose for the BBVers: to prove the conclusion they already came to."

I have to say that you are half right about that statement. "BBVers" have already come to the conclusion that the current electronic voting systems, their costs, and the laws governing their use, do not offer adequate oversight of elections or protection of our precious right to have our ballots counted as cast, especially at their increased costs. We actually do use each and every failure of the system and technology to prove that point and I believe that's a good thing. I say half right because we don't use "any" "results" or "events" to "prove" our conclusions, only those that actually do prove them.

Again, please provide a link to substantiate your claim that we have overstepped our claims. So far, the courts have sided with us when considering our evidence.

The ball's in your court. Time for your exercise.

(Just a hint, the exercise is much easier if you don't use such a broad brush! :hi: )

Steven P. :kick:

[Junkdrawer]

37. LOL: Cocoa will ridicule BBVers no matter what...

:rofl:

[IndyOp]

14. THEY'VE IMPOUNDED THE BALLOTS in TEXAS!!

Oh.My.God. A Democratic Candidate who anticipated and is fighting Election Fraud?!?!?!

I AM IN LOVE with CIRO RODRIGUEZ!!

Kudos to madfloridian!
<http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x600706#601849>


"Just in from the local news E-voting in Webb county has caused Henry Cuellar's numbers (his precincts down along the border) to come in late. Any surprise? He won by 56 votes last time.

Ciro just said, "we have already sent attorneys down to Webb and Zapata counties and the ballots have been impounded."

He looks very confident and Henry looked shaken. The tone in the local media is pro-Henry."

<http://agonist.org/sean_paul_kelley/20060307/e_voting_in_webb_county>

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[Wilms]

16. Good. Impound the ballots. n/t

[Melissa G]

18. Kickin for Ciro taking a stand! HE ROCKS! n/t

[NastyRiffraff]

19. Thank God for Ciro!!!

I was afraid it was going to be the same ole, same ole....not FIGHTING for a clean election.

You go, Ciro!!!

[autorank]

23. Are these the counties where LBJ pulled his election B.S.? n/t

[okasha]

24. No.

[RagAss]

21. They're loading the code....Fascists bastards...!!!!

[Clara T]

22. UPDATE 3

Update 3: MyDD has a comprehensive round-up. The E-voting issues are really, really bad folks. There's like a total embargo on information here. It's really screwey. We're probably looking at the first stolen election of 2006, as someone noted at MyDD. The shenanigans are so obvious and so over the top. I am just glad Ciro's got his legal act together this time.

http://agonist.org/sean_paul_kelley/20060307/e_voting_in_webb_county

[EFerrari]

25. kick

[file83]

27. As of "11:04pm" it's going to Cuellar (48%).....

CD 28- 68 % Reporting
Henry Cuellar- 16,705 or 48%
Victor Morales- 2.145 or 6%
Ciro Rodriguez- 15,408 or 45%

SOURCE: http://www.justanothermatt.blogspot.com/

Well whaddya know, the DINO has just cinched it. I hope Ciro has some kick ass attorneys that will straighten this election fraud out.

[Sydnie]

28. If neither get 50%, doesn't it cause a run off to happen? n/t

[IndyOp]

38. It looks like there will be a run-off in 30 days:

From SwingState Project:

From Ciro to the netroots: "As far as I am concerned we are in a run-off. We will be picking up our signs from the polls and re-using them in thirty days. Until we know exactly what happened today in Webb County, this race is not over.

"I wouldn't be here if I hadn't gotten the support of the online community. It's been overwhelming to see how people can make a difference, and make things happen by coming together, even if it an hour of blockwalking, a few phone calls or $20 and $40 dollars at a time. We must have the final word in who our leadership will be, not the special interests, and we must keep up this fight. I want to think the thousands who have given their time and resources to push this campaign forward.

"Thank you from the bottom of my heart for each and every kind word, dollar bill and one cent."

:kick:

[Sydnie]

39. That is good news!

If they actually have a run-off, he will need funds won't he? Should we start thinking about getting a little money his way?

[IndyOp]

42. It is over - Rodriguez conceded.

I don't know what triggers a run-off in Texas. Nothing in Texas seems to work the way one would expect it should.

:(

[autorank]

31. Results from TX Cuellar 18,315 Rodriguez17,268; Webb 8148 to 789 Cuellar

http://enr.sos.state.tx.us/dem1race5.htm?x=0&y=565&id=996

...	        Henry	Victor	Ciro D.
County	        Cuellar	Morales	Rodriguez	Total	   Precincts	
...	...	...	...	                Votes	Reprot   Total
ALL COUNTIES	18,315	2,563	17,268	        38,146	  239	  276
Early	        12,772	1,334	 7,923	        22,029	

WEBB	        8,145	454	  789	        9,388	    0	   30
Early	        8,145	454	  789	        9,388	  

WILSON	        1,198	249	1,503	        2,950	   25	   25
Early	          374	 90	  561	        1,025	 

ZAPATA	        1,410	 58	  242	        1,710	    1	    8
Early	        1,410	 58	  242	        1,710	   ...	

I have some questions.  Webb & Zapata were the counties in
question.

Why does Webb have "O" "precincts
reported"?

Is Cuellar related to every person in WEbb and Zapata
Counties?  Why the huge margins there?

Why are Cuellar voters so much more adamant about voting
"early" than Rodriguez voters?

10 to 1 in Webb and 6 to 1 in Zapata raise some questions.

I'm not familiar with the politics down there.  But if Webb
and Zapata were held back then maybe we're talking about a
good old case of "Texas hold 'em."  Keep the ballots
in your "controlled" locality held back, e.g.,
through machine problems or "humidity" (OH, 2nd,
Hackett).  Find out how many votes you need, and, as if by
magic, Flutie throws a 90 yardlong bomb.  Well Flutie really
did it.  This looks strange.

Good luck Texans!

[autorank]

32. Webb County, TX & Election Fraud

Rodriguez Asks SOS To Investigate Webb County Voter Irregularities
by Vince Leibowitz @ 4:55 pm. Filed under 2006 Texas Elections
http://capitolannex.com/2006/02/25/rodriguez-asks-sos-to-investigate-webb-county-voter-irregularities/

It seems as though this year’s CD-28 primary is shaping up like last cycle’s. Ciro Rodriguez’s camp has already seen enough to make them smell voter fraud and call for an investigation by the Secretary of State, including 51 people aged 100 or over casting ballots. From their press release:

An abnormally high number of voters in Webb County aged 90 years or older prompted an attorney for the Ciro Rodriguez congressional campaign to request an investigation by the Texas Secretary of State. During the first 4 days of early voting, 93 votes were cast by people 90 or over and 51 were 100 or older.

In a message addressed to Kim Thol, Programs Specialist for the Elections Division of the Secretary of State, Luis Vera requested “an immediate appointment for an inspector for Webb County.” Vera reminded Thol, “Webb County has a long history of allegations of voter fraud.” In the 2004 primary election, Vera added, “the fraud made national news.” He was referring to the controversial election between Henry Cuellar and Rodriguez in which ballots, “discovered” days after the polls closed, eventually swung the election to Cuellar by a narrow 58 votes.


According to the 2002 Statistical Abstract of the United States, something like 1.5 percent of the nations’ population is over 85 (linked census data here). So, this does seem to be an abnormally large number, although to determine if it is out of whack, we’d need to know the total votes cast. Either way, though, it seems suspect.

------------------

In the early 1980s Webb County had four school districts with twenty-seven elementary, seven middle, and six high schools. Laredo was the site of Texas A&M International University and Laredo Junior College. From the time of Texas's admission to the Union until the 1950s, Webb County was staunchly in the Democratic camp. Despite occasional challenges from Republicans and independents, Democratic presidential candidates have prevailed in every election since the county was established, and the Democratic partyqv has dominated in state and local elections. The county population was 99,258 in 1980 and 133,239 in 1990. Laredo, with 122,899 residents, accounted for more than 90 percent of the population. Persons of Hispanic descent formed the largest ancestry group with 93.9 percent. Other towns in the county included El Cenizo (1,399), Bruni (698), Mirando City (559), and Oilton (458). In recent years uranium mining has emerged as a significant industry, and at least one coal mine was operating in the late 1980s. International trade and tourism, however, appeared to constitute the most important future sectors of the economy, with Laredo serving as a major gateway to Mexico.

http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/WW/hcw5.html

[autorank]

33. Zapata County, TX & Election Fraud (from 2004 Dem primary)

Politics

District 28 brings back the bad old days
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/politics/stories/MYSA04.01A.recount_new_0404.236b516e.html

Web Posted: 04/04/2004 12:00 AM CST

Rebeca Rodriguez
Express-News Staff Writer

LAREDO — It reads like fiction, the bitter Democratic primary battle in the 28th Congressional District.

More coverage

* Robert Rivard: Something flunks the smell test: Déjà vu in deep South Texas
* LBJ's controversial election to the Senate part of a legacy of ballot fraud
* District 28 brings back the bad old days

But the missing votes, small-town politics, finger-pointing and soured friendships that have made it one of the more bizarre elections in Texas's colorful history are all too real.

After almost a month, Laredo lawyer Henry Cuellar has the most votes, but the winner remains in doubt. And the ballots sit in six triple-locked blue metal boxes inside a carpeted bank vault in Zapata.

Also in doubt is the political future of Ciro Rodriguez, a seven-year veteran of Congress who's on the verge of being unseated by two batches of ballots that mysteriously were not tabulated election night.

----------------------



From the turn of the century through the 1970s the county's population fluctuated between 3,800 and 4,400. Between 1980 and 1990, however, the area grew rapidly, as retirees and others attracted by the reservoir came to take advantage of the low cost of living. The population was 6,828 in 1980 and 9,279 in 1990. Although the number of Anglo residents had increased, the county remained overwhelming Hispanic; in the 1990 census 81 percent of the population identified themselves as Hispanic. In 1990 the largest town was Zapata, with 7,119 inhabitants. Politically, Zapata County has been a traditional Democratic stronghold. Although Republican presidential candidates won a number of contests during the early years of the century, Democrats outpolled their Republican counterparts in every election from 1924 to 1992. Zapata residents have also generally supported Democrats in local and statewide races. Education levels in the county have generally been quite low, although the situation has improved. In the early 1990s the county had one school district with three elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school. Approximately half the high school graduates now attend college. Nearly three-fourths of the population is at least nominally Catholic, and the estimated combined membership of the area's churches exceeds 7,000. Recreation facilities in the county include the Falcon State Park,qv the San Ygnacio Historic District, Corralitos Ranch, and San Francisco Ranch. The Texas Tropical Trail, which links the counties of the lower Valley, runs through the area. There are extensive hunting opportunities throughout the year. Special events include the county fair, parade, and horse races held annually in Zapata.

http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/ZZ/hcz1.html

[eomer]

35. Maybe they had trouble with "clumped" ballots again.

That's what they called it in '04:

-snip-

In Webb County, which includes Mr. Cuellar's hometown of Laredo, a puzzling outcome: The total number of ballots increased by 115 - all of which went to Mr. Cuellar. He also gained 62 ballots that previously had been counted by machine as blank, while Mr. Rodriguez picked up no such votes.

Mr. Rodriguez's lawyers said there could be no explanation other than fraud and tampering, noting the Webb County disparity and that the new Cuellar votes all came out of a segregated pool of early votes. They plan to ask a judge as early as next week to toss the election results.

Several university experts said that mechanical failings and corrections usually harm or benefit both sides randomly - in the same proportion as the overall vote - and that statistically, Mr. Rodriguez should have gotten at least some of the late-added votes since he won one-sixth of the initial Webb County tally.

Mr. Cuellar's attorneys attributed the new votes to the recount team's separation of "clumped" ballots that were stuck together and not counted by the optical scanning machine on election night.

-snip-

http://www.cs.uiowa.edu/~jones/voting/press/pres20040403.html

[IndyOp]

36. Humidity (clumping) makes it hard for Dems to win elections, don't it? n/t

:grr:

[mod mom]

40. New info:

sorry don't have time to look into this, but wanted to pass it on:


Opinion/Analysis

Endorsements Go DeLay's Way, But Opponents Say The Polls Don't

Coming around the far turn with the primary finish-line in sight, Congressional District 22 Republican challenger Tom Campbell is leaning hard on his polls, Democratic challenger Nick Lampson is flashing his wallet, and incumbent Tom DeLay is counting his endorsements.
Weekend Politics
<>
By Bob Dunn

Last week Campbell sat in a mobile campaign RV across a Houston street from an event in which 10 members of the Texas Congressional Delegation endorsed DeLay.

Campbell brushed aside the endorsements and instead emphasized a poll by OneNet, showing him with 47.7% of the votes in the Republican primary, to 38.4% by DeLay and 13.9% to “other.”

But the poll has a margin of error of 9% (it looks like they reached fewer than 200 Republican voters), which is pretty far out there. Thus, if 9% swung one way, DeLay could have 47.4% of the vote to 38.7% for Campbell, if you believe the numbers.

Campbell acknowledges 9% is a big margin, but insists that DeLay’s camp is attacking his and “he’s walking the neighborhoods for the first time,” because “his polls are showing the same thing.”

Lampson’s campaign chimed in on the polling, too.

http://www.fortbendnow.com/opinion/780/endorsements-go-delays-way-opponents-say-the-polls-dont


and the machines that were used:


Fort Bend County, Texas, uses Central Count Optical Scan, vendor: Election
Systems and Software, Inc. (ES&S), Model: AIS 550

(source:
http://verifiedvoting.org/verifier/map.php?topic_string=5std&state=Texas&cou
nty=Fort%20Bend )

[IndyOp]

41. It is over - Rodriguez conceded.

It is at MyDD.com -- sorry no permalink available -- < http://www.mydd.com >

"Last night we didn’t receive the outcome we had hoped for. The end result was true to the intentions of Tom Delay when he carved out this district for his friend — geographic rivalries won out over a true discussion of the issues for working families.

I congratulate Mr. Cuellar on his victory, however, and I hold no bitterness or ill will.

I do hope, however, that he takes seriously the message sent by over 47% of the voters — and by a community of progressive donors from across the country — that a Democratic congressman’s first responsibility is to stand up for the needs of seniors, of children and of working families.

Especially in South and Central Texas, where so many mothers and fathers have sacrificed their whole lives for their children, and so many veterans have answered the call of their country, we need a Democratic congressman to put his personal political ambitions aside and take a stand for Social Security, for quality, public schools, and for affordable health care for all.

The driving force behind our campaign was a group of volunteers who took such a stand — students, retirees, and working people from all parts of the District. For their commitment and dedication, Carolina and I will be forever grateful.

And I believe I speak for all our supporters and campaign team when I say that we were profoundly touched by the thousands of regular working families from throughout the country who helped fund our effort with their checks of $5, $10, and $20. They looked beyond geographic and cultural differences and sent a message that we are all Americans and that we must stand and act together to reclaim our government.

As educators, that inspiration will forever stay with Carolina and I as we take the next step in our lifelong commitment to public service."

[autorank]

43. Wow, has anybody explained this?

              Cuellar  Mor.   Rodriguez       
WEBB	        8,145	454	  789	       
Early	        8,145	454	  789	 

I mean we're talking 10.5 to 1 in a district legendary for
corruption.  At least in Jean Schmidt's home county, Clermont,
they did 58%-42% or something like that in her
"humid" victory over Hackett.

Oh well, the people not the politicians are the guardians of
democracy. 

[IndyOp]

44. I can't find anything - any statement from Rodriguez to

explain what happened with the "impounded ballots" --

:shrug: :grr: :shrug: :grr: :shrug: :grr:

[Avalux]

45. I spoke to Rodriguez's campaign manager this morning -

he told me because the margin of victory was so large for Cuellar in Webb County, they decided to not contest. Last time they tried, the race was much closer and they got nowhere so why bother.

He told me it's impossible to get Webb to cooperate - the do what they want.

[organik]

46. Where's a democrat with some balls?

Contesting elections like this might risk a politician's rep, but at least maybe the media would pay a little attention. Or not.

[IndyOp]

47. Thank you for the update and DAMN, DAMN, DAMN, DAMN -

They could've stolen and stuffed by a HUGE margin and we'll never, never know if they don't fight it. Who could step in and support them...? Where is the DLC on this? I think this is exactly the sort of situation in which the DLC needs to send a team of lawyers and computer security experts to fight for Rodriguez. It is a wonderful ideal to think that the 'little guy' can fight the dirty town hall and win, but this has to be a nationwide fight lead by the DLC.

Come on, Howard! Please! Help!

[Avalux]

48. It's upsetting to me because we are all Democrats -

but it seems to not make a difference when it comes down to it. I will support Cuellar, even though I'll have misgivings.

[IndyOp]

53. I know that here at DU we are supposed to support Dems, and

usually I do. I will not support *anyone* who supports beliefs and actions that I believe to be immoral -- such as profit before people & principle and such as being pro-war. From what I have read about Cuellar - here and there (sorry no links) he is to the right of Joe Lieberman. I believe that he is a Republican who has run as a Democrat to help the Republican party -- the Repubs can have him stand up and salute the Repub laws and leaders as a Dem -- a good example to the rest of the Dems -- an Uncle Tom.

I won't support Cuellar.

[Wilms]

49. Read the law first.

That's a DUers user name that I get a kick out of, because it really makes sense.

What are the recount laws, for instance?

[Avalux]

50. I have - too big a margin for a recount:

GROUNDS

1. Difference between number of votes received by petitioner and number of votes received by the person who was elected or is entitled to a place on the runoff election ballot is less than 10% of the number of votes received by the person elected or entitled to a place on the runoff ballot (same formula for votes for and against a measure).

Example: Jane Doe 2000
John Doe 1850
difference 150

10% of 2000 is 200, therefore, John may request a recount;

2. The number of votes received by ALL candidates in the race (not just the top vote-getters) is less than 1000; or,

3. An election judge swears that he or she counted paper ballots incorrectly (this must be certified by the Secretary of State, and it does not happen very often).

4. No ground required for recount of electronic system results. .

http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/laws/recounts.shtml

[Wilms]

51. #4 looks promising (except for Rodriguez' concession).

Would that includes VVPAT's assuming that a.) touchScreens were used, and b.) there is VVPAT?

[Avalux]

52. Don't know about VVPAT since it's not a reality yet -

I wondered about #4 also; even if Ciro has conceded, if someone else can force the issue. They did claim there were problems with their machines (hence the late reporting) - should be grounds for a recount.

[IndyOp]

54. Should be grounds for a recount - so is Ciro considering a recount?

Would it help if we contacted his campaign? I was lucky to be in on the initial push for the Cobb and Badnarik to recount Ohio -

:shrug: