The trial is in recess for the long weekend. It resumes 9:30 Tuesday morning.
It was nice to wrap up the week with another own goal. The Democrats went into their post-failure-to-get-summary-judgment-plan-B strategy to parade all of the other county auditors and their shortcomings in front of the judge in order to prove to him that the election was so badly f*cked up he can't possibly set it aside
The net effect is that the Democrats only helped the Republicans' case. They showed that the election was a little sloppier than the Republicans did while only confirming that King County was an anomalous mess.
The last witness was Benton County election administrator Brenda Chilton. She admitted that her county failed to reconcile all of 7 ballots! The Democrats want this to mean that "All elections have mistakes. So let's go home now."
On the other hand, Benton County counted 67,690 ballots, which implies an error rate of about 1 in 10,000. That still shouldn't be considered acceptable for an election this close. But if King County ran that smoothly they would have had ... only about 90 questioned ballots, not the 2,000 or so that have been identified.
Have a great weekend.
Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at May 27, 2005 05:54 PM | Email ThisAll true!! But did the GOP lawyers point this out? If so I missed it. Please tell me they did.
Posted by: Beth on May 27, 2005 06:05 PM...And to all of our service men and women, past, present and future, a BIG THANK YOU! You are the reason we have a voice and a vote.
Enjoy the weekend folks....
Splat out..
Posted by: Splatter on May 27, 2005 06:11 PMThat's not the case here. The magnitude of the "signal" is deafeningly loud. The patterns of "irregularities" suggests clearly that there was some form of fraud going on. As Stefan has suggested... maybe it is "distributed fraud" where it is difficult to identify the perp, but the end result is the same.
Based on what I've seen and heard so far, I'll go out on a limb and predict that the judge throws this mess out.
Posted by: Mark on May 27, 2005 07:26 PMRichlandRookieRick :)
Posted by: RookieRick on May 27, 2005 07:31 PMShe was irritating and often pretended to be much stupider than she is, but she was at least coherent.
Or is this what the real lucy sounds like on a Friday night?
Posted by: RookieRick on May 27, 2005 07:49 PMLucy, Nelson et al you know who you are.
Posted by: pbj on May 27, 2005 08:16 PMAnd... why hasn't a a reputable news source done that anyway? I mean the TNT or the EH or the KCJ?
Posted by: Al on May 27, 2005 08:26 PMEither Lucy has been into the BC bud, or this idiot is an imposter... at least HL knew how to spell
never mind no evidence Saddam killed anyone.
You're right, it was Martians who started the Iran/Iraq war, butchered the Shia in the south, and gassed the Kurds in the North. Oh, and they were also the ones who fed his opponents into wood chippers, tigers, and were responsible for the mass graves containing thousands of bodies we keep finding.
You are such an idiot.
Posted by: Mike H on May 27, 2005 08:40 PMLike most Mainstream Americans SP readers are tolerant of other people's ideas, but do not tolerate bigots.
I hope Stefan, or someone else with their hands on the plug, is watching so this particular HL IP can be axed.
Posted by: Deadwood on May 27, 2005 08:43 PMWith the Republicans scoring big this week in the contest...many of the liberal Democrats in Western Washington will be trying to drink their sorrows away....
Expect an increase in Domestic violence and road rage and of course drunk driving accidents.....I guess I could add that illegal drug dealing and usage will be at an all time high...(no pun intended...)
So y'all be careful out there this long weekend and if you see a deranged liberal (you will know them instantly) foaming at the mouth - blathering on about felons, fraud and county reconciliation process (or in HL's case - vietnam, Nixon, Kerry, Gore, etc..)...steer clear!
Posted by: Deborah on May 27, 2005 08:59 PMPerhaps hl is not responsible for all the posts with his/her name attached, since anyone can post using just about any name. Would it be fraud to use someone else's known pseudonym? No one person could possibly be that delusional. Since this is Memorial Day weekend, I will refrain from even commenting on the above quote.
Please remember our men and women in uniform, past and present. Their sacrifice is why Americans have the freedom voice our opinions, whatever those opinions may be.
Gosh she is both clueless AND entertaining. What a combination. Kinda like .....yeah.
More seriousness. Dont' y'all forget what Memorial Day is all about. Semper Fi.
Mike
Posted by: MikeF on May 27, 2005 09:53 PMShe would also know that no ever claimed that Iraq was responsible for 9/11, other Michael Moore, MoveOn.org and their ilk.
Everyone have a great Memorial Day, and a heartfelt THANK YOU to all veterans and especially everyone taking the fight to the enemy in Iraq and Afghanistan!
Posted by: Fred on May 27, 2005 10:19 PMThis summary is the best I've seen written so far, anywhere.
Posted by: who'dathunk? on May 27, 2005 10:33 PMWouldn't want to offend the Democratic base.
Posted by: Bill on May 27, 2005 10:38 PMChances are good that the illegal evidence supplied by Rossi is clear and convincing enough to Judge Bridges - and when the provisional and voterless ballots get thrown into the mix as they should, Rossi will be ahead at the final count, regardless of what the Dems try to pull out their collective orifices. However, they need to be more convincing in proving proportional reduction.
Remember, Judge Bridges had some doubts about the methodology before it was laid out more clearly and he may still have some doubts, which will weigh in when he makes his judgment.
Expect the MSM spin to heighten next week especially near the conclusion of the trial, unless a single event interrupts their agenda. Both sides are being tenacious - this is kind of a heavyweight fight, where a clear cut victory must be scored by the challenger (Team Rossi) in order to claim the title (new election). So far the R's are ahead on points and have scored several knockdowns, but it is the 8th out of 15 rounds and alot can happen. If it is a draw the rest of the way - the belt will probably not change hands - bottom line. If one of the Republican lawyers could step up the shrewdness comparable to that of a Jerry Spence, that would help.
Posted by: KS on May 27, 2005 10:41 PMBill....
That was priceless!!
Posted by: Deborah on May 27, 2005 10:52 PMWe like to call Kevin by his nickname of Stefan. It's kind of an inside joke we have with his mom.
Posted by: huh? on May 27, 2005 11:54 PMThat would be an interesting diagram!...
Are you asking *Stefan*? I noticed you asked *Kevin*..but I'm not sure if we have a Kevin here...?
Posted by: Deborah on May 27, 2005 11:58 PMYou know the one that all steps prior to the third recount lead into and where there is no relationship between what went in and what comes out.
Posted by: DeadManVoting (aka Iguana) on May 28, 2005 01:27 AMThe idea of conducting a fair and impartial sampling didn't get through to her. it just isn't part of the picture.
Posted by: Baynative on May 28, 2005 06:40 AMHeh. Not even the moonbats here in Ohio buy that... or, if they're still that delusional, they keep quiet about it. (Even the moonbats in my union - and there's no lack of 'em - stopped whining about a week after the election)
But seriously, the stench of desperation in HL's posts reeks all the way over here.
Posted by: Snowy Owl on May 28, 2005 07:36 AMThe standard of proof for fraud being a disparity between exit polls and the vote totals? Interesting.
Ok. Haven't looked too deeply into that one, as I am not in Ohio, but the petitioners weren't even willing to start a court case on that basis. When we are done here, I'll delve more deeply there.
On the subject of Nicole Way. Have to tell you, she was an empathetic person on the stand. I felt for her. She was 'doing her job' and found herself playing with the big boys. On TV, having to justify her understanding and practices, having her skeletons exposed, subject to ridicule and judgement by the state. It was sad. I felt for her.
The problem isn't/wasn't Nicole. Yes, so often we find people in positions to which they are not able to perform. Yes, we find, particularly in government, people who are so insulated that they fail to see their duty and perform honorably to the societal expectations. Yes, we see so many out there who think 'that's the way we do things' is acceptable. And Nicole fell into that arena.
I blame the leadership. The leadership sets the tone. The leadership sets the expectations. The leadership is responsible and accountable for the actions of their organization. The leader MUST hire honorable and dutiful subordinates who can be trusted to hire people down the line that will perform their duties in an exemplary manner. Ron Sims FAILED! Logan - FAILED. Huennekens - FAILED!
I am sure that after watching her performance to that of the Adams, Spokane, Stevens county auditors, Nicole felt completely devastated. They were credible, she was not. And, the whole state got to see it.
Not to go lightly on Nicole, for one should never accept a job that they do not have the ability to perform in an honorable fashion, in a complete manner to their duties. She failed to remain aware of the duties as they related to her capabilities, and failed to nip that in the bud when she should have. But that's a much smaller piece than the responsbility of her leadership for putting her there in the first place. (Abdication leads to using 'seniority' to fill positions, and that may have happened here as well)
I am sure that Nicole has read this blog to see the reviews. Most of the players in this case do, including the honorable Judge, I am sure. I hope that everyone focuses less on the inadequacy of Nicole, and does focus on the larger issue of how prevalent problems are in KC. And how the leadership is ultimately responsible for putting people in place incapable of performing to an acceptable degree.
So, lay off Nicole. :)
Steve
Posted by: Patches Pal on May 28, 2005 08:11 AMLet me explain this a little. In strong union towns the union enforcement goons (read Democrats) are a real and present danger. Someone who voted for Bush would not be willing to say he did, even to a pollster, for fear of retribution. To avoid problems they just tell the pollster that they voted for Kerry. This is the reason for the "secret ballot." After all what you tell the pollster is really irrelevant unless you want to challenge an election based on coerced polls.
The enforcers use anything from scratches down the side of your car to capping. It is just easier and means nothing to tell the pollster you voted for Kerry.
Aside from that, I'm sure that what you're putting forth has some truth to it. How unfortunate that these militant dems consider it their God-given right to hurt people who won't 'tow the line'
Posted by: Michele on May 28, 2005 09:19 AMHello-- fraud!
Posted by: Michele on May 28, 2005 09:21 AMThanks to those who made this holiday--thanks for the REASON! My flag flies every day, not just holidays. (and not just on election days!!!)
Shark--great job as usual--rest up & hit them again! Disclose the entire voting mess. Purge the system. Fire the incompetent. Take our lumps, (hopefully LEARN OUR LESSONS) and make some REAL changes for once. No reason to tolerate this year after year. No more excuses.
Posted by: Jimmie-howya-doin on May 28, 2005 09:31 AM"no evidence Saddam killed anyone"
I really enjoyed the way that you lined it out in your last post. I have always thought that a person's ability to see the "Big Picture" clearly was based upon the respect and humanity they are willing to include in their world view.
You have a fine world view.
It's incumbent upon all of us to make ourselves aware of what has happened in this election contest and to remain committed in pursuit of justice, but anger and bitterness cloud the vision and do not add much to understanding.
Justice tempered with mercy. That's my schtick too.
Posted by: MichaelC on May 28, 2005 09:51 AMGood analysis.
I propose a different view. The analogy to a boxing match needs help. I think that the devastating blows already took place and they were landed by the Republicans, but everyone appears to be standing. Bridges has a great p0ker-face and he is so unflappable that I think the democrats may now be in position for the uphill battle. Let me explain.
If I were Bridges, at this point my question would be:
How in the world do you expect me to accept the notion that all of this is a combination of coincidences, benign prevarications (white lies), and rascally-rabbit style lovable huggable, but reasonable let alone acceptable ineptitude?
There is more than enough evidence of reasonable certainty that – had the King County Elections board done their job properly – Dino Rossi would have been elected. Despite the democrat’s over-statement of the rigor demanded by a clear and convincing burden, it essentially means simply “reasonable certainty of the truth.”
I think (hope) Bridges is smart (conservative) enough to recognize that amongst the confusion of this imbroglio exists clear discernable patterns that indicate misdeeds not coincidences, intentional lies meant to deceive, not fish stories or niggling canards, or would-be intra administrative CYA, and a deliberate design of obfuscation, not reasonably acceptable mistakes made by beleagured non-partisans in the hurly burly of an election.
NEXT WEEK In the real world, and using your simile, I would say that at this point – the democrats are out cold on the deck and next week we will see if their counsel can raise the dead. You will see an old formula repeated over and over again:
“Don't look at that guy out cold on the mat – listen to me. He's not really dead, here's why he's not really dead, and here's a summary of what I told you about why he's not really dead. It is just not REASONABLE to believe that he is dead. ”Figurative wordiness notwithstanding, the die is cast, and you can’t un-ring a bell – but whether he is out cold or not is a matter for Bridges to decide and I believe that it is already decided. All the Republicans need do is point quietly with poise to the guy out cold on the mat. The rats can not raise the dead, but they can make it worse for themselves and I think that is the way they will go.
How the case will play with Bridges, we shall see. Whether it will survive the other Bobbie Bridges wacko et al at the State Supreme Court is another question entirely. If inclined – and given their liberal bent – they could find a figurative pimple of doubt on the a$$ end of a split hair. The question to me is— do they have the brass to stomp on the electorate?
Yes. What do you expect, they are liberals (the good people) and the ends justify the means.
Stay frosty and thanks for the comments. Have a good weekend.
I agree 100 percent with you on this. I too felt very very sorry for her. Her superiors are using her and she must know that by now.
I am following this case only because I want to know who really won this election. If it takes a judge to determine that, so be it.
I will be waiting for Whitman County Auditor Eunice "783 mishandled provisionals" Coker to testify. How she handles herself and explains in court, under oath, will determine whether or not I vote for her when she comes up for re-election.
Michele: I think "capping" is breaking your kneecaps... Not sure tho.
Liberals have no reason, logic, or common sense. Lying is perfectly acceptable to them. They operate strictly from emotion. HL or one of the others claims that Saddam didn't kill anyone and did not have weapons of mass destruction. How can any sane person make such a claim? Simple, they do not want it to be so therefore it isn't.
Liberals do not persuade, they intimidate. That is why they call names, use foul language, make false statements, etc. It is all a game of shutting up opposition. BTW, the more you address them the more thy feel empowered. It is senseless to even try to debate with them or argue back. Just TOTALLY ignore them, they are not worthy of your time.
BTW, foul language or even alluding to it is an extremely bad habit and counter productive. We should ask ourselves a question, "Who does it persuade and who does it turn against us?" No one is offended by not using bad language but many are offended if one does. It always hurts and never helps the writer.
Posted by: Ron A. on May 28, 2005 09:57 AMnumber of "failed to reconcile ballots" in all the rest of the counties
compare (and apply a matching ratio if necessary) the same to KC
throw out that other dem stronghold county if its throwing the numbers off (because the fraud that occured there makes KC's less shocking)
Posted by: Troll on May 28, 2005 12:04 PMFor a sampler of what the Dems are likely to be up to when the trial resumes, read Horses pitut.com and that will give you a flavor of the Liberal PINHEAD mindset where rules and principles are thrown out the window and the end result is all that matters. Call them anarchists. Goldstein's blog shows essentially what the people of the state are up against. They need to be beaten down, wacked up side the head with a 2 X 4 until common sense kicks in and they realize that they don't know what in the hell they are doing - and if their desires were to go unmitigated - when it is all said and done they have created a monster and they are only screwing themselves, as well as the rest of us.
Nuff said...
Posted by: KS on May 28, 2005 12:51 PMThere is no excuse for Nicole Way's lies. If she is not held fully responsible for deception on her own account there is no point in having courts. The distinction between truth and lies has become hazy enough without buying inot the liberals bu22$hit.
The idea that "leadership is ultimately responsible for putting people in place incapable of performing to an acceptable degree," implies that Nicole is too stupid or too weak to simply tell the god damned truth. I have no patience for this kind of sentimental justification of criminal activity. The liberal socialist culture in our society may condone depravity or make excuses for liars, but I do not accept them.
Nicole made a conscious informed decision to fall in with liars and theives (liberal democrats)and to decieve the voters. If she had half of the supposed feminine virtue touted about women in general today she could have aided everyone (not just the liberal criminals) a long time ago. Instead she sat on it until the court forced her to come clean, and even then she danced around deliberatly avoiding implicating anyone else.
Obviously the Republicans would have directly tied Nicole to Heunnekens, Logan, and others but they didn't have the evidence -- probably because she didn't provide it. Her seeming harmless lies were key in defrauding the State of Washington's citizens, and they cheated me out of the effectuality of my vote!!
B.S, about being gentle to Nicole Way.
I just about fell out of my chair when I read that. I mean, it didn't seem to help their case when they were doing it, but put in those terms it sounds downright stupid.
Posted by: Nathan Azinger on May 29, 2005 09:42 AM