June 19, 2005
Kudos To The PI
Kudos for this
editorial. Here
are the key paragraphs.
The onus still remains with [Dean] Logan, and with [Ron] Sims. Conducting fair and accurate
elections is a fundamental role of the county and flaws in that area can and should reflect on the
county executive's record.
. . .
The system is not necessarily the solution. The solution is more often the leadership that
employs it. Logan and Sims still have a long way to go to in restoring voter confidence in the
elections system. It's appropriate that their employment futures depend on their success in this
crucial area.
If Logan and Sims can't (or won't?) fix the elections office, they ought to go. That's clear
enough, and it puts the responsibility where it ought to be.
As many of you know, I would go farther than the PI. I have already concluded that Ron
Sims either can't or won't fix the elections office. And I think the management problems
there probably can be found in other parts of the county bureaucracy, as well.
More and more I am beginning to think that Ron Sims is an accomplished politician, but a hopeless
executive. It isn't hard to find examples of that combination. John Kerry is not the worst
politician in the world, as he showed by winning the Democratic nomination and by coming closer to
Bush than I expected. But he is a hopeless executive, as Newsweek told us — after the
election was safely over. The continuing mess at the elections office makes me suspect that
Sims and Kerry share more than just their party affiliation.
Posted by Jim Miller at June 19, 2005
11:33 AM | Email This
1. Sims can't fire Logan because Logan has the scoop on Sims' role in election fraud. He probably has that info going all the way to Gregoire.
So, don't expect Sims to be firing Logan any time soon.
2. Why is Dean Logan not being called to task for putting a worker on paid leave for over two months because she threatened to go to the press??? What were they trying to hide?
3. Exactly, sgmmac. We know what they are trying to hide.
Sims and Gregoire - an uncomfortable pairing it would seem to me - are caught their web of deceit with people like Logan. The longer Logan sticks around, or is allowed to stick around, the more obvious it is that Sims and Gregoire orchestrated an election machine in order to when last November.
They can't get him out of the picture until they find a way to buy him off. Just giving a high school educated guy a job at the pay level he is in right now ain't gonna work because we would all know that he is not qualified to be, for example, a senior manager at the state's environmental Gestapo department.
So, he's got about the only job in the state in which someone can make a claim, however tenuous, that he should be paid what he makes. Until someone in their circle steps up to provide something equivalently lucrative for about the same low level of work (or perhaps no work at all), he is sitting right where he is.
4. The demotion of Bill Hunnekens is not going to solve anything. Most citizens see this for what it really is. We are not fooled for one minute.
It's going to take more than moving Bill Hunnekens. It's going to take more than tossing Ron Sims out of office and his predecessor canning Dean Logan.
We were deceived in the worst way. We were told this mess was cleaned up. I certainly had no reason to pay attention to King County elections over here in Whitman County. Until Nov. 2004.
We have some fine auditors in the counties in this state. Many are not. Thankfully, they are elected and we can do something about that. We can at least remind them they work for us. That does help with the checks and balances. I personally plan to speak with the Whitman County Auditor when she comes up for re-election. I want to know what kind of procedures she has put in place to ensure we don't have 783 mishandled provisional ballots and known felons voting. If I am satisfied, she is looking out for me, Jo Q Citizen, I will vote for her again. If I'm not, I won't.
Look at the P-I opinion piece. The poll on the bottom says a lot. Right now, it says 55.7% should have an elected official vs. 41.6% appointed. 2.7% don't care.
I know one thing, this has taught me one helluva good lesson. Get involved and stay involved. If we truly care about the direction this state is going, we need to make sure this "culture" the judge talks about, won't continue.
5. Let me see if I can help put this in perspective. Many years ago King 5 did an investigation and found illegal voters. King County officials did a variety of things for show and then told the public, that we have fixed things and you can now have confidence in fair elections.
Then King County got caught sending out absentee ballots late, not at all or with the wrong candidates on the ballot to folks. There was much concern and King County officials again said that they had taken steps to fix things and that the public can now be confident in fair elections.
Then it happened again and again. That is when Mr. Logan was brought in. When he was brought in the King County officials said that they had taken steps to fix things and that the public can now be confident in fair elections.
The King County Council reviewed a Citizen Election Oversight Committee Report in the Spring of 2004 that warned about a number of problems likely to happen in the November election. The King County officials once more said they had reviewed the report, taken critical recommended recommendations and taken steps to fix things and that the public can be now confident in fair elections.
Personally, I don't believe King County officials will really change things until they are forced to by a court. I am said that Judge Bridges didn't take this on.
Personally, as a resident of Snohomish County, I feel that some King County voters should file a class action civil fraud lawsuit against King County officials for claiming year after year that the voting problems have been fixed when they have not. It will take a judge's threat of someone spending time in jail or the County Budget being significantly fined for each day out of compliance, before any officials at King County take this seriously.
6. Hopefully the P-I editorial board will remember their words when it comes time to endorse a candidate for KC Executive.
7. Where were Sims and Locke this week, I see there was alleged vote-rigging in Iran. Were they by any chance vacationing (like Gregoire is most of the time on taxpayer expense) in Iran!
8. Just to note: You mentioned Kerry coming in closer to Bush than you expected. I think that due to the thousands of discovered fraudulent registrations in the heavily democrat county containing Milwaukee, Bush probably did win Wisconsin and deserved to take those electoral votes.
As we've discovered here in Enron county, clearly--clean voter rolls are not in the interest of democrats. How unfortunate for the country
9. GS, say--we heard that Logan was out of town this week. Someone ought to see if he was moonlighting in Iran!
10. sorry for all these posts, but I just want to say again---if Irons doesn't win, that is just a clear sign to get out of Enron/King County with our lives and start Cascade County. Then they may still add in extra Dem votes in Seattle, but at least they won't be able to throw away any more Rossi precinct votes! I nominate Dave Irons as the first Cascade County Executive, if it goes that way.
11. Is anyone just a little bit concerned over the fact that this very same King County Elections Dpt. will be in charge of counting the ballots in November 05 in a race between Sims/Irons. Perhaps that's why Logan is being kept on.
12. I hope that we get some independent group like Stef to review voter registrations before November since this seems to be the only legal chance to challenge voters. Check for felons, dead people, out of county residents, and people registered with county building addresses--knowing that this is the elections department job we pay for, but in all reality will never happen.
I'm cautiously guarded as Michelle has stated over the type of election we'll see in November. My vote will be at a polling place instead of mail in ballot and I will watch it get fed into an accu-vote machine before I walk away.
13. I read today, where the Democrats in Iowa are going to begin automatic reinstatement of felons voting rights....
Now - when a felon has served his time, his right to vote will automatically be restored - rather than having to go in front of a judge or satisfy financial obligations connected with his crime first....
Sound familiar? Just wait! Iowa Dems are trying to set a precedent here for the other liberal Democrat-run states...just in time for the next election.....
Oh - I forgot! According to Jenny Durkan and Judge Bridges - Felons in our state would most likely vote Republican?.........(oh yeah..sure they would...)
14. Deborah--Felons voting? What next ex-cons joining a PAC to soften criminal statutes, legislation and penalties? Extending welfare, unemployment payouts, and non-discriminatory hiring rights to the recently incarcerated? This is a very bad idea.
15. I got my "David Irons for KC Executive" bumper stickers this weekend. Along with those they sent some others from propertyrights.org that say "65% Land Grab. What's next----fixed elections???"
Ha
16. We need Jimma Cawta up here to see we gits us a fair lecshun in 05
17. As Stephan has posted on numerous occasions, what we really need is more Republicans getting involved at these elections and no longer just assuming that King County Elections will process our votes correctly.
I saw a David Irons booth at the Freemont fair today collecting campaigning. They were also gathering signatures for I900 and I912 (dropped off my signed initiatives by the way). We need people on board with the primary goal of removing Ron Sims, allowing the removal of Dean Logan, and the Election power temple will start to crumble. Real election reform is then possible. We need more Republican Poll watchers, more Republican poll workers (I signed up and have already been given a work location in both the primary and the 2006 election), help in scrubbng the King County voter rolls prior to the election, and finally donations to the Republican candidates.
The Democrats believe they got a real mandate in Gregoire with a supposed 129 vote victory. They may have won this battle, but she has no chance in the war that has just begun.
18. Good for you GS! I may contribute monetarily to a good candidate running against Ron Sims even tho I live way over here on the east side of the state. That race, as it turns out, does affect the whole state, sad to say.
19. CC-Great point. The upcoming race for Executive does affect the entire state of Washington, and it will take all of us getting involved however we can to get rid of Sims. David Irons campaign website has lots of ways for people to help out. Please, let us all commit to putting this wonderful energy towards ousting Sims!
20. It is unfortunate, but so goes the Sims race so goes the next governor election! The whole state has a stake in this 2006 race. There is nothing local in Ron Sims.
21. Kinda OT, but I remembered that Ronald Reagan died a year ago this month so today I pulled out the tape of his funeral. Oh my, inspiring to the hilt! And that recessional, Mansions of the Lord, still gives me chills. If you want inspiration, definitely pull out your tape of it and prepare to receive. Brian Mulroney was marvelous, W was wonderful, really--all the speakers were so moving. Puts in focus what we are trying to do and inspires to push on and do what's right; in this case, get Ron Sims out of office and clean up King County for the sake of everyone.
22. Michele, way to go! I've got the David Irons for KC Executive, re-elect Rossi, and I-912 stickers on the back of my urban assault vehicle. Based on the number of single finger salutes I've gotten in the last 2 weeks, it's fair to say that there are a lot of people extremely agitated by the upcoming voter revolt in November.
Don't wait for Chairman Vance or the party to start the campaigns. Every one of us must take the initiative in their own way to evangelize and be part of the grassroots effort to inform neighbors, friends, work colleagues and people we meet as to the importance of their vote in November.
23. Elvis, you mentioned Vance and it ruined my dinner. While pondering deep thoughts, I come to the conclusion he's our version of Howard Dean without the personality. Biggest loser yet somehow chairman of the party. Of course he's going to wait until the temp is just right before he gets into the water on the initiatives
24. I will be following this very closely from way over here on the east side of the state. You all are in my thoughts and prayers as you wage this campaign!
Michele, Can't believe it's been a year since Ronald Reagan died...
hmmm, wonder what my fine upstanding neighbors over here would think if I got a David Irons for KC exec bumper sticker?!
25. Hmm...
It's almost July, and I haven't seen any sign of a Ron Sims re-election campaign....?
Doesn't that seem odd?
I don't even hear the State Dem committee talking about him! And Paul Berendt isn't even crying ....
Could it be that his own party sees him as an inevitable loser in the County exec race this November and doesn't want to waste their precious money? Or - were they going to finance Ron Sims campaign with their refund of Gregoires hand recount - and it's taken longer than they expected?
Is this why they wanted to rob the people for 12% interest? To pay for a Ron Sims campaign?
Nah...I think they believe they can just steal another election and not waste money on some silly campaign...
26. Deborah, SOS Sam Reed supports felons voting rights being automatically restored when they serve their time in prison.......It was reported last week or the week before in the Olympian newspaper........... we will probably see it early next year in the legislature.....
27. "Deborah, SOS Sam Reed supports felons voting rights being automatically restored when they serve their time in prison......."
Who knew?
I mean that literally.....
Before the Democrats began using felons to strengthen their voter base...no one ever considered allowing their voting rights to be restored upon completion of their sentences..
This should make people wonder about Sam Reeds sudden (and timely) interest in this matter! Anything he can do to help the Democrats cheat! Whether it be feigning impotence in our current election laws, backing up the Dems in the election contest or assisting them in white-washing their illegal voter base....Sam's their man!
28. Gregoire says (although after her No New Tax Pledge and 10 billion + in new revenue, her words mean nothing anymore) that Ron Sims is a leader and if he loses his job in King County she will employ him. She owes him for her election win and will reward him with a huge salary and a position in her socialistic monarchy.
What will he do in this misadministration:
Could his new position be to ram the CAO land stealing state wide down the throats of all the citizens (except liberal downtown Seattle where they want us all to live in high rises riding their 10 Billion dollar train set)?
Prediction: The democrats will push the agenda of the CAO land steal throughout this state before she loses in 2008.
If you do not know what the CAO land steal is about in Rural King County, and you live anywhere in this state and have property, you better proactivly find out. Your property is most likely next to be taken with no compensation!
Ron Sims highly supports CAO and rammed it through his democratic Council - All 7 democrats voted for it!
David Irons - Against CAO, all 6 Republicans voted against it.
Not only do they steal 50% - 65% of your property with no compensation whatsoever, but you still get to pay soaring property tax increases on the land you cannot use!
So in ending, a bumpersticker slogan available from the www.Proprights.org website says it best:
"Sims, at least Kiss me before you screw me" NO CAO
29. 'And the blind will 'see'.'
Once again the Bible has been proven CORRECT!
Make a plan for the next election, get the best possible person to replace the 'bad-uns' and the 'ship' will be 'righted' and sail for calmer weather.
30. The article is in the Opinion archives. The name of it is: After election drama, change rests with voters" I could email it to you, if you would like.
31. You're all a bunch of useless idiots and your political party is a browbeating travesty of reason and civility.
32. Headless, Well isn't your latest post reasonable and civil. Go teach your school kids something constructive, if possible.
33. Deborah,
Regarding SOS Sam Reed and the felon vote--he may just be acting for his own self-interest. If he figures he can't get re-elected as a Republican, maybe he will run as a Democrat next time. In that case, the felons may help him hold his office!
Bill H
34. I think perhaps hl would prefer to browbeat and brainwash students. While he might work for a school district, I find it difficult to believe that anyone one would actually allow him to teach children. Say it ain't so, Mr. Lucy.
35. sgmmac - The problem is that, with school ending, headlice won't have any restroom toilets to clean and it has too much time on its hands.....
36. Well since headless doesn't have a computer, maybe summer vacation will give us a long deserved rest from the rants!
37. Sims want to do to the state what he did to King County.
My bumper sticker says: NO TAXATION WITHOUT UTILIZATION.
38. Nice shot re Sims/Kerry. Funny how the 'rats keep falling for these self serving freaks and can't see the damage they do to their own cause.
39. Wrongo sgmmac! My buddy George Soros bought me a computer and is keeping me in donuts and coffee all summer just so I can troll this site.
40. Guys, Headless is one troll SO not worth feeding. Just ignore
41. If getting out of prison restores voting rights anyone want odds on a "cost savings" measure passing just before an election and have an early release program? It could be timed so that part of the release package is a handful of absentee ballots (postage paid, naturally at taxpayers expense). Actually that is rather silly, after all felons vote R, according to the testimony.
42. While I'm encouraged with the P.I. and the recent tone of their article,They sure seemed to take their sweet time admitting this.