The hotel in Wenatchee has excellent Wi-Fi. Who knew?
Today is the big day. Will Judge Bridges side with common sense and rule that election officials can't just keep counting ballots again and again and get different numbers every time without also showing that every ballot has a voter and every voter a ballot? Or will he side with the Democrats and Josef Stalin and rule that he who counts the votes makes the rules and doesn't have to obey any laws?
Watch on TVW starting at 9am and post your observations in the comments!
Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at June 06, 2005 06:50 AM | Email ThisHopefully Judge Bridges will side with the people and rule for a new election. In a few hours we'll know the results.
Again thanks.
Mel
I believe 570-KVI is going to have live coverage.
Posted by: MikeF on June 6, 2005 07:29 AMNaw... probably not. But who knows?
Posted by: Dan on June 6, 2005 07:33 AMRegardless of how this turns out, the work is not done. Get the brooms ready, there is some house cleaning to do in Olympia.
You can be sure that next on the agenda for the Dems is social engineer and business taxes. I've conducted my own informal poll and 6 of the 7 business owners I've spoken to have already begun to quietly investigate moving their firms out of state.
The light at the end of this tunnel may indeed be an oncoming train.
Thank you Stefan for all your hard work, all your comments and explanations, and for doing so in a level-headed, respectful manner. I really appreciate you and all your hard work regardless how this turns out. No one can say that you did not do all you could to bring to light the horrors in King County.
Waiting with bated breath and fingernails chewed to the quick:)
Posted by: Hanna on June 6, 2005 07:46 AMhl's post proves you cannot believe anything a leftist says.
To think you and I used to be on the same team as little as a month ago is making me question a lot of things these days. I want to thank you for your continuous string of mindless, empty posts.
There are a lot of what I'll call "good Democrats" who have debated credibly in this forum, during this trial.
Unfortunately, you are not one of them.
Posted by: who'dathunk? on June 6, 2005 08:13 AMD'oh!
Posted by: ScottM on June 6, 2005 08:15 AMThink of lucy in terms of your washing machine - politics, like your laundry, needs a good agitator to lift out the dirt and wash it down the drain.
Posted by: Good Morning, Governor Rossi on June 6, 2005 08:18 AMWhy don't you contribute to the Tip Jar??....you've used this site more than alot of us.
Posted by: Susu on June 6, 2005 08:32 AMSame here. I hope I am wrong.
Posted by: otto on June 6, 2005 08:38 AMI suggested that in emails to Lisa Brown (Senate Demo leader), Frank Chopp (House Demo leader), and former AG Gregoire's office. None of the three even responded to my emails (although they were extremely respectful, and I didn't identify myself with any party).
I haven't heard what happened to that $750,000. I imagine it was returned to the Kerry and Dean campaigns by the state Dems, and we the taxpayers picked up the tab. If Wetmeat was so compelled to write a column chastising the R's for spending taxpayer money on this trial, he should have written the same chastising the D's for passing a $750,000 bill to the taxpayers for the hand job (I mean, recount).
Posted by: Spokane Repub on June 6, 2005 08:43 AMNobody has done more to expose incompetence and likely election corruption in King County that you. That includes doing more than the very people we PAY to manage elections and who are responsible for incompetence, fraud, and corruption when it occurs.
Yes, I am talk about YOU, good home trained Ron Sims. I would seem good home training does not include ethics in your case.
Posted by: BananaLand(aka Iguana) on June 6, 2005 08:47 AMMy fear is that a Dem win will encourage worse behavior and no improvements will happen, just another coat of whitewash on the election building.
Posted by: Jack on June 6, 2005 08:48 AMIt amazes, just how corrupt, and unethical, the Democrat Party has become, or always was?
The DNC desperation is growing...
Washington State will not be the last time, they will try to steal an election.
Lucy,
You can't even keep to your own word...how sad.
Posted by: misplacedtexan on June 6, 2005 08:50 AMIf I may smack my mandibles for a minute... good job, Stefan. I don't know how Judge Bridges will rule (although I'm trying to be pessimistic; a pessimist can only be pleasantly surprised), but one thing is certain: you have made a difference. Single-handledly you have made changes. Kudos to you.
Posted by: Voice of Reason on June 6, 2005 08:54 AMAs for the decision today, my apologies if I am less than confident. The evidence is totally in our favor, and judge Bridges seems like a reasonable guy, I simply have no faith in the courts anywhere.
Posted by: The Dude on June 6, 2005 08:56 AMIf you do a little searching - and I didn't save the link and don't care to do it again - you will find a little story written by hl - he tells us how he was riding his motorcycle through AZ and he decided to name his bike (and later his band) after an unidentified headless corpse that someone found in a garbage bin. The band never got off the ground - and alas he found a new use for the corpses tag name.
May be more than anyone ever wanted to know about him, but it helps me understand just where he's coming from...
Posted by: Julie on June 6, 2005 08:56 AMGas went down 9 cents last week anyone notice?
Must be all that Newsweek stuff was true.
No news here? Seattle isn't following this??? Incredible.
Posted by: who'dathunk? on June 6, 2005 09:01 AMWOW!!!
Posted by: who'dathunk? on June 6, 2005 09:03 AMHA! Too funny Judge!
"Voters who should send the message."
Posted by: Editor on June 6, 2005 09:04 AMIf this is your introduction to the surprising choices of mainstream press coverage, welcome to the dark side.
There are a lot of other things that the press has decided unimportant and not worth mentioning.
Posted by: Bostonian on June 6, 2005 09:04 AMMaybe they are scared of the result (I hope)
danw - gas went down 9 cents, so libs feel the government deserves it. Incredible!
Posted by: Fred on June 6, 2005 09:05 AMWho was he talking to? The audio feed sucks...
Posted by: Rich on June 6, 2005 09:09 AMWho was he talking to? The audio feed sucks...
Posted by: Rich on June 6, 2005 09:11 AMThe audio keeps going out.
Posted by: rolling eyes on June 6, 2005 09:13 AMNow, the question arises, if the courts refuse to enforce the laws already on the books, what's the point of passing new laws? Are the courts any more likely to enforce new laws than they are to enforce the old laws?
And what's the point of continuing to work through the "democratic process" if the officials in charge of that process are unrestrained by any law requiring them to report their returns accurately?
Posted by: ScottM on June 6, 2005 09:30 AM"Voters in Washington are treated on the honor system...elected officials do not have the right to challenge their qualifications."
"In 2004 there were no databases to check for registered felons."
He's burning the professors testimony.
He's going to rule against the republicans. I'm sick.
Posted by: Paul on June 6, 2005 09:34 AMHave a nice day.
Posted by: Bivouc Ponzetti on June 6, 2005 09:36 AMI sure hope he throws out the election anyway, but I sure don't like his tone about "no evidence.... no evidence... no evidence..."
Sheesh!
Igor
Posted by: igor on June 6, 2005 09:37 AMThis judge said, in no uncertain terms, that the election system is flawed, which necessarily means that the rights of legal voters are being abridged, and he said he fears the legislature just made the problem *worse*. If the legislature won't fix the problem, who will? The judge said the voters can fix the problem by electing new people, but that's begging the question, since we have to use the admittedly flawed system to do that.
Semper Fi.
Mike
Good judge.
I was going to volunteer to be a poll-watcher this November. Why bother? I'm going to put 10-15 provisionals straight into the Accuvote instead. I'll be home by lunchtime, and I'll exercise my franchise the way the Democrats want me to.
Posted by: Larry on June 6, 2005 09:44 AMWonder how long his judgeship will continue in a bastion of "intelligence and common sense" like Chelan County?
"Revolution Anyone"
Scott
Posted by: scotto51 on June 6, 2005 09:46 AMYa might want to save the Dom for another day
cheers!
More specifically, King County is going to get away with incompetence and fraud. Completely sad.
I only hope that come the next governor's election Dino will win with such an overwhelming amount that their fraud won't matter.
Posted by: megs on June 6, 2005 09:48 AMBut, since it has happened, it is time to do what I think should be done:
1) Split King County
2) Kick Sam Reed out
3) Keelhaul Dean Logan
4) Wait for 2008
2) Get behind Cascade county as a "message to King County"
3) Rossi for Senator!
Posted by: John on June 6, 2005 09:49 AMThis is why the founding fathers gave us the right to keep and bare arms!
Posted by: In Hiding on June 6, 2005 09:49 AMSo there's no crime. And nothing to throw out.
Nice that he threw out the votes for Rossi and Bennett.
Posted by: steve matlock on June 6, 2005 09:50 AMthey've got a better feed
Posted by: Tex on June 6, 2005 09:51 AMLooks like there needs to be more Republican election workers so they can act "properly enough" to get a Republicans elected.
Posted by: blurp on June 6, 2005 09:51 AMThis seems to me like a truck load of sugar for them!
Posted by: BananaLand(aka Iguana) on June 6, 2005 09:51 AMFrom here on it's just who can steal the most votes, Republicans are at a deficit here, since they have no experience and a disinclination to violate written law, but hell it's open season now, my 3 dogs are already "legal" voters, the goldfish is beginning to complain about his disenfranchisement.
Oh and that guy is a real windbag, could have summed it up in 2 minutes
Posted by: Finney on June 6, 2005 09:52 AM
No possible way to overturn election on illegal votes, unless you cat get all the illegal voters to swear under oath that they voted illegally.
No possible way to overturn election on illegal votes, unless you cat get all the illegal voters to swear under oath that they voted illegally.
Bridges disagrees w/you on every point.
(court concludes)"certification of Miss Gregoire is confirmed".
you can now dig into that crow!
Enjoy!!
You can't say that I and others didn't try to prepare you for this. The law was clear, and the evidence non existant. I think the following is the last word on this:
"There is no evidence that ballots were changed, the ballot box stuffed or that lawful votes were removed from either candidate's ballot box," Bridges said.
Posted by: JDB on June 6, 2005 09:55 AMYou win, King Sims, Ms. Fraudoire, crooked elections officials, and smarmy liberals in general, and all that's left to say is:
Kongratulations Kommandant Fraudoire. Next time, please use a little more lube. Ouch.
Posted by: Scott on June 6, 2005 09:55 AMOf course, most Republicans are too nice to pick up a rock and throw it through a window.
Posted by: blurp on June 6, 2005 09:56 AMThe Petitioners dropped the ball.
Posted by: Splatter on June 6, 2005 09:56 AMBridges disagrees w/you on every point.
(court concludes)"certification of Miss Gregoire is confirmed".
Are you "twisting in the wind" yet?
Posted by: John on June 6, 2005 09:57 AMHe said that 1,6xx votes were illegal and therefor needed to be deducted from the total.
However, he never said how they should be deducted, just that there was no scientific method presented in the Court to do so.
So, that leaves the Supreme Court to decide how those illegal votes should be deducted.
Posted by: BananaLand(aka Iguana) on June 6, 2005 09:58 AMNo, the Judge ruled that if you can't prove cheating, you have no claim in court.
Posted by: JDB on June 6, 2005 09:59 AMScott
Posted by: scotto on June 6, 2005 10:00 AMWow, so anyone that wears earrings now is a homo.
A few of my marine buddies would be intrigued on that one. I'll have to go inform 'em.
It's a sad day for our state. It's also evidence that we need dramatic election reform. Think that will happen with the current legislature and governor?
The next step is to vote as many of them out as possible.
Posted by: Bivouac Ponzetti on June 6, 2005 10:01 AMIn order to change this, we must change the statute. The legislature, controlled as it is by Democrats, will refuse to address the problem. It is up to us to force the change. It's time for an initiative.
Posted by: Nathan Azinger on June 6, 2005 10:02 AMPosted by JDB at June 6, 2005 09:59 AM
I just love the way you said that JDB.....Kinda like if you don't get caught stealing the car, your not a theif....
So much for morals and values....
Just what I suspected all along.
Posted by: Bluebeard on June 6, 2005 10:04 AMPosted by JDB at June 6, 2005 09:59 AM
I just love the way you said that JDB.....Kinda like if you don't get caught stealing the car, your not a theif....
So much for morals and values....
However, with the limited amount that I have been able to catch, I've figured out a few things.
I grew up in Seattle. Born and raised, 18 years. Once I turned 18 and graduated I joined Uncle Sam's Misguided Children and went on to be stationed in a few spots around the globe. I got out around 2003 after a little stint in the Sand Box, and I spent 2 months in the states processing paperwork to go right back overseas and work as a contractor for the (I'm sorry, brothers, Semper Fi) Air Force.
I grew up typical Seattle I suppose, pretty liberal parents, went to an "alternative High School" and all that.
I will never live in Washington State again. I would rather live in Kyrgyzstan. You see, they had a botched election here not too long ago, and instead of some judge upholding an obviously illegal candidate, the people took it into their own hands and went to the "White House" (where the president conducts official business, or what passes for it here) and protested until he fled the country. There was some looting for a day or two, but in a relatively short period of time everything calmed down and now they've started work to hold elections free of Akayev's grip and control (which was pretty severe).
I don't see that happening in WA. You can't tell me that 1600+ voters that you can't identify much less verify don't have something to indicate about an election that was "won" by 129 votes. That is simply unrealistic.
Basically, I am trying to indicate that a former Soviet Satellite state has one up on my home. So much for the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Posted by: Aaron on June 6, 2005 10:05 AMPosted by JDB at June 6, 2005 09:59 AM
I just love the way you said that JDB.....Kinda like if you don't get caught stealing the car, your not a theif....
So much for morals and values....
Posted by JDB at June 6, 2005 09:59 AM
I just love the way you said that JDB.....Kinda like if you don't get caught stealing the car, your not a theif....
So much for morals and values....
Posted by JDB at June 6, 2005 09:59 AM
I just love the way you said that JDB.....Kinda like if you don't get caught stealing the car, your not a theif....
So much for morals and values....
Welcome to the Banana Republic of Washington.
Posted by: ScottM on June 6, 2005 10:08 AMOur laws need to be fixed to remove as many cheating "aids" as possible.
Posted by: Jack on June 6, 2005 10:13 AMThe decision implies that illegal votes will count (and maybe twice!) and election laws can be vilolated at will without consequence. The only glimmer of hope is that these findings maybe counter to precident and reversable by the WSSC.
It is such a long shot, however, that they will accept the case.
Posted by: StephenR from Houston on June 6, 2005 10:16 AMJosef Stalin
Seems like the former government wher I lived just up and moved.
Posted by: Aaron on June 6, 2005 10:16 AMThe 1678 votes were subtracted from the total for the purposes required by the SOS office for determining signature totals for future initiative and the such.
And this is OK with you? Aren't you the slightest bit embarrassed?
Posted by: ScottM on June 6, 2005 10:22 AMIt appears that Judge Bridges ruling was more of a simple sound bite answer to Durkans long winded closing argument..
He mentioned the validity of 2.8 million legal votes over the 2000+ illegal votes - as did Durkan in her closing..
He mentioned the 4 certified Felon Statements indicating they voted for Rossi....and mentioned that the Petitiners provided no proof that felons voted for Gregoire..(as if certifications from felons could be considered reliable..)
He chose to question Gill and Katz proportional analysis - as recommended by Durkan in her closing...
His entire decision appears to have been made from the Intervenors closing argument - with little regard to the Petitioners evidence and findings during the trial....
I don't understand why......Doesn't make sense to me.. I'll have to ponder this awhile..
Regardless of the Supreme Court take on the Judges ruling in appeal - it is obvious now - that the responsibility of a fair and uncorrupted election is up to us - the people. And we must do all we can to insure that this fraud, error, and ignorance never happens again in King and other counties in this state!
It appears that Judge Bridges ruling was more of a simple sound bite answer to Durkans long winded closing argument..
He mentioned the validity of 2.8 million legal votes over the 2000+ illegal votes - as did Durkan in her closing..
He mentioned the 4 certified Felon Statements indicating they voted for Rossi....and mentioned that the Petitiners provided no proof that felons voted for Gregoire..(as if certifications from felons could be considered reliable..)
He chose to question Gill and Katz proportional analysis - as recommended by Durkan in her closing...
His entire decision appears to have been made from the Intervenors closing argument - with little regard to the Petitioners evidence and findings during the trial....
I don't understand why......Doesn't make sense to me.. I'll have to ponder this awhile..
Regardless of the Supreme Court take on the Judges ruling in appeal - it is obvious now - that the responsibility of a fair and uncorrupted election is up to us - the people. And we must do all we can to insure that this fraud, error, and ignorance never happens again in King and other counties in this state!
It appears that Judge Bridges ruling was more of a simple sound bite answer to Durkans long winded closing argument..
He mentioned the validity of 2.8 million legal votes over the 2000+ illegal votes - as did Durkan in her closing..
He mentioned the 4 certified Felon Statements indicating they voted for Rossi....and mentioned that the Petitiners provided no proof that felons voted for Gregoire..(as if certifications from felons could be considered reliable..)
He chose to question Gill and Katz proportional analysis - as recommended by Durkan in her closing...
His entire decision appears to have been made from the Intervenors closing argument - with little regard to the Petitioners evidence and findings during the trial....
I don't understand why......Doesn't make sense to me.. I'll have to ponder this awhile..
Regardless of the Supreme Court take on the Judges ruling in appeal - it is obvious now - that the responsibility of a fair and uncorrupted election is up to us - the people. And we must do all we can to insure that this fraud, error, and ignorance never happens again in King and other counties in this state!
It appears that Judge Bridges ruling was more of a simple sound bite answer to Durkans long winded closing argument..
He mentioned the validity of 2.8 million legal votes over the 2000+ illegal votes - as did Durkan in her closing..
He mentioned the 4 certified Felon Statements indicating they voted for Rossi....and mentioned that the Petitiners provided no proof that felons voted for Gregoire..(as if certifications from felons could be considered reliable..)
He chose to question Gill and Katz proportional analysis - as recommended by Durkan in her closing...
His entire decision appears to have been made from the Intervenors closing argument - with little regard to the Petitioners evidence and findings during the trial....
I don't understand why......Doesn't make sense to me.. I'll have to ponder this awhile..
Regardless of the Supreme Court take on the Judges ruling in appeal - it is obvious now - that the responsibility of a fair and uncorrupted election is up to us - the people. And we must do all we can to insure that this fraud, error, and ignorance never happens again in King and other counties in this state!
When I heard the judge say that state law dictates that we assume the inherent goodness and honesty of those running our elections, I gagged and then spewed coffee all over my monitor.
He was speaking of a group that needed three recounts to find all the lost ballots, contact all the felons, stuff all the boxes necessary to change the outcome of the election.
The idea that after all we've seen about Logan & Co. we should be giving them the benefit of the doubt is quite preposterous to my mind, and it's an invitation to more of the same kind of chicanery in the future.
I have lost my faith in the integrity of the electionn process in King County. Unfortunately, judge Bridges, even in not invalidating the election could have done something in his ruling to call KC on the carpet and at least increase the liklihood of better integrity there in future elections. He chose not to do that.
I will continue to *believe* that this election was stolen, and believe that it's now more likely than ever that the same thing can and will happen again in the future.
Posted by: Bivouac Ponzetti on June 6, 2005 10:29 AMIn any case, I don't think there's any way the Supremes wll overturn Bridges.
Posted by: ScottM on June 6, 2005 10:29 AM*I* say the next move is to go DIRECTLY to the Feds and start screaming "FRAUD!"
...but that's just MY opinion, because I have absolutely no faith in the Wash. Supreme Court...
Igor
Posted by: Igor on June 6, 2005 10:31 AMThe judge ruled that the felons that testified are credible witnesses.
The judge ruled that 168 absentee ballots were found but don’t matter in the outcome of the race.
The judge ruled that 1678 illegal ballots should be subtracted from the total votes cast in the election, and not from any candidate(s).
The judge ruled that the election stands and that the former AG is Gov.
The judge ruled that this is democracy.
We need to stop the yackety-yak and rise up and RE-CALL the former Attorney General.
First, we need to recall Bridges. Heaven knows I'm no lawyer, but even I can see that there was plenty of evidence that should have invalidated the election. IF NOTHING ELSE, the election certification was invalid/fradulent!!
Igor
Posted by: Igor on June 6, 2005 10:38 AMThe fight, however, was very worthwhile. Here is why:
1) There was a slim chance the election could have been invalidated. That was certainly worthwhile.
2) If the case had not happened, much of what is now known by the public would not have seen the light of day. Documenting the ineptitude and corruption was worthwhile.
3) You must realize that the Dems were certainly surprised that the election was even close in a Blue state like WA. This opportunity to highlight the problems (i.e., "theft") would not have been available if the election had not been close. The Repubs had to take this opportunity to go to court and let the evidence see the light of day.
I agree with some posters here that this was more about fighting the good fight in a likely loosing battle so as to gain ground and ultimate victory in the war.
We have won much ground on the national level, and as many say, a backlash against liberals and Dems is simmering and may reach a boil in the years to come. That backlash will be felt in 2006 and 2008 in this state.
I applaud the Repubs/Rossi for all the work to bring this case despite tough odds. The R party knew this was important to the long-term roadmap for success.
Tom in Bellevue
Posted by: Tom on June 6, 2005 10:46 AMThat's hopeless. There is no way Rossi is going to get justice from the WA SC. The conclusion is foregone, just like it was with Clinton's impeachment "trial" in the Senate. Rossi could haul 10,000 fraudlent voters into court who would swear they voted illegally for Fraudoire and the courts would still rule against Rossi.
Laying out a "roadmap" for appeal is nothing more than a cop-out. If Bridges thought there was an injustice done in the last election he could have acted to right it in his own court, not punted it to some appeals court. Fact is, he set an impossible standard for the plaintiffs, which made the whole proceeding nothing more than a kangaroo court.
Posted by: Interested Observer on June 6, 2005 10:48 AMMake sure you change your voting registration IMMEDIATELY to vote at your local precinct... DO NOT MAIL in your ballot... CHANGE BACK NOW!!! or risk having your ballot lost or misplaced...
CHANGE YOUR STATUS NOW. MARK "NO" in the ONGOING ABSENTEE REQUEST
http://www.secstate.wa.gov/elections/pdf/VoterForm_20040803.pdf
ALSO>>>> SOS SAM Reed is going to speak at a town hall metting in Stevenson Wash next Tues.
7:00 PM
At the Rock Creek Center.
710 SW Rock Creek Drive
I srongly incourage anyone available to show up and express your views in light of all that has just happened!!
Posted by: Terry Clark C on June 6, 2005 10:51 AMhttp://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/other/WA_CONSTITUTION.htm
Posted by: ScottM on June 6, 2005 10:52 AMI posted that at 10:26 and it hung - the site went down..so I posted it in another thread. I came back to this one and refreshed to see if the post ever took - It hadn't! I can't believe it finally processed through - and so many times!!
oh well....If I'd known it was going to repost so many times...I would have been more clever in my comments! heh..
Posted by: Deborah on June 6, 2005 10:54 AMSemper Fi!
FMF Doc
www . free republic . com/focus/f-news/1417532/posts
that King County by is own admission violated the legal requirements to certify the election and falsified a document to make it look as if they had obeyed the law?
If even conservatives don't understand the issues involved, then any effort to restore republican goverment to this state are doomed before we start.
Posted by: ScottM on June 6, 2005 11:08 AMYour story is very powerful and your disapointment in our state "government" is extremely apparent...and mirrored. It is a very sad day for those of us who desire to make Washington a better place to live for ourselves, and for our children.
Judge Bridges, as impressed with him as I was, just minimized the meaning of every Washingtonian's vote and gave the crooked government an open-ended, first-class ticket to anywhere.
We live in one of the most beautiful places in the country with everything available to us that any person would envy...excluding, of course, the right of the people to a fair and honest election.
We have lost the battle folks but we have not lost the war. Olympia needs to be cleaned out...that is where it starts. Bridges made ref to this in his opening. It is up to the PEOPLE to change the current situation, not the courts..which I heartily agree with.
We conservatives complain about activist judges writing the law instead of interpreting it. Bridges did what he was required to do under the law. Tho I also agree with many who believe that Bridges has a deffinate liberal slant it is irrellivant(sp? sorry product of public ed) to the issue here.
Dump the calls for revolution, violence and such. The best way to fight this is thru the ballot box not the bullet. Enuff of us should be sufficiently pi**ed off to make real change in the future...next time around..ROSSI for GOV and THE SHARK for SOS!!!!!!!!....just my 2 cents worth
Posted by: Blueknight on June 6, 2005 11:36 AMWe need to change those laws and tighten up loopholes and clarify all interpretations!
The problem is - to do so requires our legislature....and they very well may be the ones who profit most by doing nothing!
This is going to take some time to think about. We have a host of experts posting here from all professions relating to this...
Let's take a break - catch our breath - then regroup and come up with solid ideas to change things!
(scottm - I've been trying to log into Free Republic but the log in page just hangs...)
Posted by: Deborah on June 6, 2005 12:03 PMAs a student of history for most of my fifty-something years on this Earth, I have to say that what you are faced with in WA state is, in some ways, remarkably like what the Colonies faced in the mid-1770s. They were forced into a situation wherein the only way they could seek justice was to work within a system that was dedicated to denying them justice. Back then, what it came to was a group of farmers standing on a bridge in MA and getting shot at, and a certain Mr. Jefferson penning a certain document. There comes a time when the system has broken down so completely that it is impossible to "work within the system". Violence? No. Revolt? Well, maybe, of a kind. Ever hear of Gandhi?
Posted by: Interested Observer on June 6, 2005 12:39 PMI'm a Republican. I know my fellow Republicans are loathe to anti-law and order action because law and order is the mother's milk of civil society. We disdain unruly mobs of angry citizens. Under our system of checks and balances and separation of powers, the courts are the final venue for redress of grievances. But Judge Bridges has failed in his duty to accept this role by placing the good people of Washington under the paradoxical remedy of using a corrupted ballot box to rid themselves of the corrupted ballot box.
Republicans can sit on their haunches talking about "next time", complacent in the self-righteous indignation they hold as the mark of martyrdom, or they can get off their arses and deal with this the way real men would.
Is there no limit, no point at which we break and resort to other methods of saying "NO!" to this form of governmental abuse? You see, this wasn't just the candidates cheating or John Q. Citizen getting away with a couple extra votes. This was about a corruption machine placed to negate the expressed will of the people in relation to how state power and authority over your family, money and property will be vested should their will run country to the interests of those currently vested with that power.
I remember reading in these blogs that your last election did not have nearly as many errors as this one. Why might that be? The answer is that there will always only be enough "errors" necessary to negate the expressed will of those seeking a changing of the political guard.
Look at your election laws and look at who wrote them. Then ask yourselves, "Why were they written such by those people?" Then look at who is responsible at the state level and at the KC level for your elections. Ask yourselves, "Why are those particular people there?"
With Judge Bridges decision, WA state voters have eclipsed the limitations of ordinary remedies available to the citizenry. You have no way out of this through any of the three branches of state government. So now what?
One choice is to stay in the system and: 1). appeal the decision to the state supreme court. Do you think you'll succeed in getting your electoral process purified through that entity? or; 2). try to force your legislature to repeal and rewrite these laws. Think that will work? or; 3). How about a ballot initiative? Maybe, but you're back to who's counting the votes with that one.
Another choice is to continue to wring your hands in despair and blame the lawyers and the people in control of state government, etc..
Or you can recognize that you're the frog in the pot who too late realized he was being boiled alive because the heat was turned up ever so slowly on him while his attention was willingly diverted with other amusements.
A successful frog would take the leap.
Posted by: Kitty on June 6, 2005 01:59 PM