Free Republic

I ordered a transcript of a court hearing from the court reporter. Based on conversations with the court reporter, it is obvious that he is not going to give the actual verbatim transcript of what was actually said in court. He claims he transcribed the nearing from a digital recording. He is also refusing to provide me with a cipy of the digital recording, obviously because there will be some substantive differences betwenn the digital recording and his transcript. He claims that I am not entitled to a copy of the digital recording on which the transcript is based. He...

OLYMPIA—The Evergreen Freedom Foundation (EFF) applauds Governor Christine Gregoire’s emergency relief efforts on behalf of the state, demonstrating that in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina, we are Americans first, Washingtonians second. “Public health and safety go to the heart of government’s purpose and justify the governor’s commitment of state resources to aid in relief efforts,” said Jason Mercier, Senior Budget Analyst for EFF. “Along with the official response from the state, now is the time for Washingtonians to show once again their generosity by donating aid to Katrina’s victims.” The near total breakdown of government in New Orleans now being...

A petition to recall washington governor Christine Gregoire will be heard in the Thurston County Superior Courtroom of Judge Richard D. Hicks on Friday, June 24, 2005, at 9:00 am. Here its the proposed ballot synopsis prepared by the attorney General: BALLOT SYNOPSIS The statement of charges alleges that Christine Gregoire, as Washington State governor has committed the following acts: 1. Violated her oath of office by knowingly failing to take action to stop illegal and unconstitutional practices of the Washington State Supreme Court creating the position of "supreme court commissioner" and obstruction justice in cases exposing official and judicial...

Voters irked ballots didn't count By Keith Ervin Seattle Times staff reporter List of affected voters Todd Stansbury, a Marine stationed in California between tours of duty in Iraq, flew home in October to cast his absentee ballot. But he and his parents, Bellevue residents Ken and Wendy Stansbury, now know that their votes weren't counted in the election that put Christine Gregoire into the governor's mansion with a 129-vote margin. King County election officials yesterday released the names of 96 voters whose valid absentee ballots were mistakenly left in their original envelopes. The uncounted ballots were discovered between March...

To Dawn Morrell State Legislator, Puyallup I began writing to you in early December about problems with the Governor's election. You waited more than a month until after you had certified and inaugurated Christine before condescending to respond. Your form response claimed that the legislative role in certification was merely clerical. In the hour and a half that I spent discussing this with Jim Kastama (Democrat State Senator, Puyallup) he completely disavowed any support for such a limited legislative role. No reasonable reading of the State Constitution or understanding of constitutional principles can support your contention. The reason for the...

A small, weekend item in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer was missed by many, yet it's another example of a dubious trend: liberal Democrats switching between journalism and partisan political positions..... (AND) Election Decision Live Blogging GOP Loses First Round In Gubernatorial Challenge...

A state judge has upheld the election of Washington Governor Christine Gregoire. In turning back the Republican challenge to the Democrat, Judge John Bridges says there was no evidence of fraud in last fall's election. The judge did find there were more than 1,600 illegal votes, but he says it's up to voters to fix errors in the state's election system. Republicans have said they will appeal to the state Supreme Court.

WENATCHEE, Wash. - The political fate of Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire hangs in the balance this weekend while a small-town judge decides whether her paper-thin victory was valid. During two weeks of trial, Republicans argued election errors, illegal votes and fraud stole the election from GOP candidate Dino Rossi. Democrats countered that the errors were innocent mistakes and said Republicans lacked enough evidence to justify tossing a governor out of office. Chelan County Superior Court Judge John Bridges will announce his decision Monday. The stakes could not be higher for Gregoire, who has pursued her agenda in the Capitol as...

WENATCHEE, Wash. - Both sides delivered closing arguments Friday in Washington state's disputed governor's race, with Republican lawyers insisting the results must be thrown out to restore public faith in the system and Democrats asking a judge to uphold Gov. Christine Gregoire's 129-vote victory. On Monday, Chelan County Superior Court Judge John Bridges will decide who's right — and who is rightfully governor of Washington state. During the trial, Republicans argued election errors, illegal votes and fraud stole the election from GOP candidate Dino Rossi. Democrats countered the errors were innocent mistakes and said Republicans lacked enough evidence to justify...

WENATCHEE, Wash. (AP) - A judge said he would rule Monday on whether the 2004 gubernatorial election should be nullified. Chelan County Superior Court Judge John Bridges' announcement came Thursday, as Democrats were nearing the end of their defense of the disputed election, which Democrat Christine Gregoire won by just 129 votes. Republicans challenging Gregoire's victory have focused on errors in the Democratic stronghold of King County, the state's most populous and home to about a third of the total votes statewide. They contend the errors indicate fraud and want the election overturned to allow a new contest between Gregoire...

WENATCHEE, Wash. - The state elections director testified Tuesday that he believes the problems in Washington's incredibly close 2004 gubernatorial election were innocent mistakes. "I saw inadvertent mistakes and errors of human beings who were working their hearts out," said Nick Handy, who was appointed to the post. He said he disagrees with his boss, Secretary of State Sam Reed, a Republican, who has called the problems in heavily Democratic King County "appalling." Handy testified as a trial to determine whether the results of the election should be thrown out entered its second week. Democrats are trying to defend the...

WENATCHEE, Wash. - A judge Friday refused to throw out a Republican challenge to the election of Democratic Gov. Christine Gregoire, saying voters deserve a full accounting of how the balloting was conducted. The Democrats asked for a dismissal after the Republicans rested their case following four days of testimony aimed at proving that errors, illegal votes and fraud combined to deprive GOP candidate Dino Rossi of victory last fall. The Republicans are asking Superior Court Judge John Bridges to nullify Gregoire's 129-vote victory and open the way for Rossi to be declared the winner or a new election held....

Judge Allows New GOP Allegations of Fraud in Washington Governor's RaceBy Rebecca Cook Associated Press Writer Published: May 24, 2005 WENATCHEE, Wash. (AP) - A top King County elections official on Tuesday denied knowing about an absentee ballot report allegedly falsified by county workers while counting ballots in the 2004 governor's election. Elections Superintendent Bill Huennekens, testifying in a challenge to Washington state's 2004 gubernatorial election, said the Democratic-leaning county that includes Seattle had absentee ballots but added: "I don't know that we have an exact number." He also acknowledged the report did not include 96 unopened, uncounted ballots that...

p>Union membership has its benefits, including a crime-free life. So says Paul Berendt, chairman of the Washington state Democrat Party, who was quoted on May 23 by the New York Times: “The Republican base has always been nonunion, white, blue-collar males, and that’s who the felons are in the state of Washington.” Perhaps this explains recent actions by the Washington Legislature and Governor Christine Gregoire. By funding a contract that forces tens of thousands of state employees to pay union dues, the Democrat-controlled legislature may have been attempting to push more workers toward a crime-free lifestyle. Delaying the pay raise...

WENATCHEE, Wash. - The judge hearing a challenge to Washington state's 2004 gubernatorial election agreed Tuesday to let Republicans introduce evidence that Democratic-leaning King County recorded several hundred more votes than it could account for. Republicans allege errors and possible fraud in the county, which includes Seattle, helped Democrats steal the election for Christine Gregoire, who beat Republican Dino Rossi by 129 votes out of 2.9 million cast. "The evidence is overwhelming that there was unbelievable neglect in King County and, we believe, outright fraud by high-ranking King County officials," GOP attorney Dale Foreman said Monday. Democrats had tried to...

The trial to determine whether Christine Gregoire stole the governor's election last November began today at 9am Pacific time. (I can save everyone a lot of time . . . SHE DID! . . . . but for some reason the lawyers insist on playing their silly games. My link is to TVW (essentially local C-SPAN), which is broadcasting the trial live on regional cable, and streaming on their website. More coverage is available here on NWCN as well. This is a landmark trial, as it looks to expose massive 'Rat corruption and voter fraud.

WENATCHEE, Wash. (AP) -- Even though Democratic Gov. Christine Gregoire has been in office for months now, the legal battle over how she got there is still far from over. Republican Dino Rossi is challenging Gregoire's 2004 victory in the closest statewide election in national history, alleging widespread problems including illegal votes cast by felons and dead people. The challenge was to go to trial Monday. Chelan County Superior Court Judge John Bridges moved the case to the county auditorium to accommodate the scores of attorneys, reporters, politicians and spectators who planned to attend. Rossi, a former state senator and...

It was a great meeting with several Washington FReepers today. Over pizza at the Pizza Factory in Burlington, we were conspiring to do damage to the DemocRATS in general and Hillary and Gregoire in particular. Thanks for the company and conversation -- no excuses (and her son, who did not participate in the conspiracy), JDoutrider, Hank Rearden, baynative, and Doodle2(sp?) (Mrs. baynative). Hillary and Christine, the criminal activity can last only so long. For Hillary, her demise will be Peter Paul's civil trial and the documentary on the Hollywood fundraiser. For Christine, her demise will be the trial that begins...

More and more reports are emerging of the extent to which Democrats were willing to go to try to influence the 2004 election. Well, their tactics worked in Washington State. Our Republican candidate for Governor, Dino Rossi, actually won the election. Then he won the recount. Then Democrat-controlled King County "found" 566 new votes just in time for the second recount, enough to overturn the results of Election Day and the first recount. The new result? Dino Rossi "lost" by 129 votes. But consider the following facts in Washington state; 943 felons illegally voted 49 dead people voted 3 people...

State Democrats say their latest research shows that Republican Dino Rossi cannot overcome Gov. Christine Gregoire's 129-vote victory under any theory proposed in court. Even using the GOP's method of analyzing alleged illegal votes in the November election, the Democrats claimed, Gregoire would win by 67 votes. Former two-term Gov. Gary Locke -- the man Gregoire replaced in the Statehouse -- accused Rossi of "fighting for himself at the expense of the citizens of this state." He and state Democratic Party Chairman Paul Berendt called a news conference yesterday to urge Rossi to drop his lawsuit. Our question is, 'Why...