GOP demands new election as disputed votes emerge

The Washington Times ^ | 1-08-05 | Valerie Richardson

[Seattle Conservative]

Washington state Republicans yesterday filed a lawsuit calling for a revote in the tight 2004 gubernatorial contest that saw Democrat Christine Gregoire top Republican Dino Rossi after two recounts by 129 votes. "Most Washingtonians don't believe this has been a valid election," said Mr. Rossi, who filed the Election Contest Petition along with the state Republican Party in Chelan County Superior Court. "They want a revote to make sure our state has a legitimate governor," he said. "We've gathered strong evidence that shows many of the votes in this election were improperly cast. I believe a revote is the only good solution."

//snip

The postelection fracas, complete with the specter of voters rising from the grave, has stunned those who associate such Election Day shenanigans with the machine-style politics of old Chicago, not a good-government state like Washington.

//snip

Another discrepancy lies in the King County vote total, where about 3,500 more votes were cast than there are registered voters. Election officials had pared the number down to 1,200 yesterday after reviewing registration documents, but Republicans noted that the figure was still high enough to reverse the outcome.

"[Mrs. Gregoire] wants to sweep us under the carpet and hold on to what she's got," said Miss Lane. "The fact is, there are many more improperly cast ballots than her margin of victory."

Mrs. Gregoire is scheduled to be certified by the Democratic-majority Legislature Wednesday, although Republican legislators plan to push to have her inauguration postponed until the legal challenge is decided.

[Seattle Conservative]

Some of this is a collection of a couple of articles seen lately; however, I wanted to post it since this was on the front page of the Washington Times (finally getting some national attention :-) It's also interesting to see how they write the story compared to the liberal rags in Seattle - - I love the part " postelection fracas, complete with the specter of voters rising from the grave, has stunned those who associate such Election Day shenanigans with the machine-style politics of old Chicago"

I also hadn't heard that "Republican legislators plan to push to have her inauguration postponed until the legal challenge is decided." Given the Dims control both houses, I doubt they'll be successful; but, I'm glad they're going to do this!

[Old Phone Man]

What's good for the goose is good for the gander, especially in a close race such as Washington State...

The Democrats started this....I suspect that the so called close election four years ago wasn't close at all in Florida. It's obvious that wholesale democratic cheating was going on....What do you expect, though, from a political party that backed that rotten, lying, Bubba after he dropped his drawers in the Oval Office..

A Party that backs the killing of 60 million unborn babies has NO ethics...Cheating means NOTHING to them!

[cake_crumb]

I listened to Rossi's presser yesterday afternoon. I am SO glad he's got the gumption to do something about this, rather than go the easier, "I'll show the Democrats I'm better than this and graciously drop it for the good of everyone" route.

'Bout time it got some national attention too. IMO, part of the Ohio hype was to cover Washington up. Now I'd like to see John Kerry's contribution to fiasco splashed on the front pages.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Rossi should set up a government in exile, name a cabinet, etc. If its going to be a farce, he should get a band to play.

[Savage Beast]

"The postelection fracas, complete with the specter of voters rising from the grave, has stunned those who associate such Election Day shenanigans with the machine-style politics of old Chicago, not a good-government state like Washington.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! Democrats?!?? Washington?!?? Good-government?!??? Hahahahahahahahahaha!

Washington's beginning to make Democrat Lyndon Johnson's Texas shenanigans and Democrat John Kennedy's mafia ballot-box stuffing look like amateurish child's play--not to mention the Democrat high jinks in Arkansas.

"Another discrepancy lies in the King County vote total, where about 3,500 more votes were cast than there are registered voters."

You gotta hand it to the Democrats! They don't let a little inconvenience like principle get in their way.

"You believe in principle. I believe in politics."

I guess this comes under living up to...uh...make that down to your beliefs.

[Savage Beast]

That's a good idea. It's also a good question.

You can be sure the Democrats would fight such a proposal tooth and toenail. If the votes were counted accurately, the Democrats would be thrown out of office.

[cake_crumb]

Looks like the left's "make every vote count" dogma is going to get drowned out by Rossi's "one voter for every vote" byte, heheheheh.

[Samurai_Jack]

Primarily because the United States is an association of individual States who have their own governments and constitutions. The Federal Government was conceived as an entity under the control of the several states, and not the other way around. The states would never have ratified a federal government that looks like thw one we have today. It was their biggest fear. We are trying to KEEP our republic.

In Holland you wouldnt have that issue because there are no independent provinces.

[sirchtruth]

Why do you US people not have a central registration of voters?

The constitution mainly. It's a state issue, not a federal one.

That's why the US is much better than any place in the world, we basically don't allow the federal gov't to dictate.

[sayfer bullets]

Why do you US people not have a central registration of voters? We in Holland never had these kind of problems.

It is important to note that expediency, in our constitutional republic, often does more harm than good. There are Consitutional ramifications of changing the election process.

[skimbell]

This is accurate. When the states started fooling around with "early voting" and "vote where you want" options they kicked the door open to exactly what is happening now. The democrats, who have a long and storied tradition in unusual voting practices, of course love this set-up.

What we need is a simple:

Register to vote.

Provide picture identification as well as proof of residency in order to register

Vote only where registered and only on election day.

If it's too big a problem to vote on the designated day, STFU and stay home!

[Seattle Conservative]

I totally agree with you!

This would also take care of some of the voting in 2 states we hear about on the east coast (e.g., NY and Fla). My guess is it may be happening on the left coast, too as many WA seniors go to AZ, CA or NM for the winter and/or have moved there but maintain a home here - -it just may not be as prevalent and/or has not been looked into out here.

[lawdude]

" If it's too big a problem to vote on the designated day, STFU and stay home!"

Easy to say but what about those of us who travel, or are unable to make it to a polling place due to physical limitations? Military? Let's put some thought into this!

[shield]

I'm glad they're going to do this!

ME TOO...the Republicans better get'em....the rats have gotten away with this type of crap for far far too long. ;o)

[Seattle Conservative]

not a good-government state like Washington.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! Democrats?!?? Washington?!?? Good-government?!??? Hahahahahahahahahaha!

I had to question and laugh at that statement, too. In all fairness to WA residents outside of the Peoples Republic of Seattle, I think at least some of the counties of the state have fairly good government and representatives (after all, Dino was my State Senator until he dropped out to run for Gov and Jennifer Dunn was my US Rep). However, most of the (s)elected State officials in Olympia and King County, leave a lot to be desired.

Outside of the fact that Dims want to hold on to power, I suspect that they're frantic about making sure Gregoire gets in as Rossi wants to clean house at all the agencies, and my guess is there could be a lot of skeltons in the closets that the Dims don't want the public to know about.

[marktwain]

When the states started fooling around with "early voting" and "vote where you want"

This was pushed and pushed by the Democrats. Most Republicans opposed it because of the ease of voter fraud. Notice when Democrats talk of election problems they say "every vote must count", where Republicans want to insure that every legitimate vote counts.

Consider that Democrats mostly control the Urban centers, where vote fraud has always been a problem, while Republicans have their base in the rural areas where strong traditions of morality and fairness minimize problems.

Republicans are generally a party of the religious who take morality seriously; Democrats a party of nonreligious or power-centered groups whose motto is to do whatever it takes to win.

[M Kehoe]

Unfortunately, voting in your country is going to become problematic. Why? The muslim birth rate. It is a ticking time bomb.

Welcome to FR.

5.56mm

[Proud2BeRight]

"Why do you US people not have a central registration of voters?"

Great question. Answer: Because the Democrats would never approve it. They capture a significant number of their votes through fraud. Dead Democrats, multiple votes per registered Democrat, stuffed false ballots, etc. are the only way any of them can retain power anywhere but the most leftist areas.