Washington State governor's election

Big Phil · Post by **Big Phil** » 2004-12-08 12:29pm

For all those Washingtonians on the board, are you all as irritated and disgusted by what is going on in this recount as I am?

Three friggin recounts! And Christine Gregoire is still trying to change the rules so that she wins... Whether Dino Rossi would behave the same way I don't know, but I'm really disappointed in what I'm seeing.

Lord Zentei · Post by **Lord Zentei** » 2004-12-08 12:49pm

What's up with Democrats and their love of multiple recounts and disqualified ballots? First Florida 2000 and now this.

How come more Democratic voters than Republican voters screw up their ballots anyway?

Tom_Aurum · Post by **Tom_Aurum** » 2004-12-08 01:53pm

Answer- They don't. Republicans just spend more effort screwing up Democrat ballots than vice versa.

Quadlok · Post by **Quadlok** » 2004-12-08 02:27pm

Its been one great argument for runoff voting. Seriously, enough ballots were cast for other (disqualified) democratic politicians, like our current governor or Ron Simms, who lost the primary, to have swayed the election in Gregoire's favor.

Lord Zentei · Post by **Lord Zentei** » 2004-12-08 03:14pm

Tom_Aurum wrote:Answer- They don't. Republicans just spend more effort screwing up Democrat ballots than vice versa.

How do you figure? Do you have evidence for the Republicans screwing up Democrat ballots?

Glocksman · Post by **Glocksman** » 2004-12-08 03:16pm

Quadlok wrote:Its been one great argument for runoff voting. Seriously, enough ballots were cast for other (disqualified) democratic politicians, like our current governor or Ron Simms, who lost the primary, to have swayed the election in Gregoire's favor.

You're assuming that the voters would have then chose Gregoire.
This is false.
Most people I know vote candidate, not party.
A vote for some other Dem doesn't mean that the voter would have chosen Gregoire.
Hell, I voted for some Democratic candidates, but that sure doesn't mean I support the Democratic party in general.

Anyway, you'd think three recounts would be enough.
If there's to be yet another one, it should be of the entire state, not just of Democrat strongholds like King county.

The Duchess of Zeon · Post by **The Duchess of Zeon** » 2004-12-08 05:22pm

Glocksman wrote: You're assuming that the voters would have then chose Gregoire.
This is false.
Most people I know vote candidate, not party.
A vote for some other Dem doesn't mean that the voter would have chosen Gregoire.
Hell, I voted for some Democratic candidates, but that sure doesn't mean I support the Democratic party in general.

Anyway, you'd think three recounts would be enough.
If there's to be yet another one, it should be of the entire state, not just of Democrat strongholds like King county.

As an interesting fact, there was only one other candidate in the race, a libertarian who picked up more than 30,000 votes. Based on the general platform espoused by libertarian candidates, it is much more logical to assume that if there had been a runoff between Gregoire and Rossi that a majority of the libertarian votes would have gone republican and so Rossi would have easily been certified as the winner of the election.

Tom_Aurum · Post by **Tom_Aurum** » 2004-12-11 03:12pm

Lord Zentei wrote:
Tom_Aurum wrote:Answer- They don't. Republicans just spend more effort screwing up Democrat ballots than vice versa.
How do you figure? Do you have evidence for the Republicans screwing up Democrat ballots?

It's simple. I beleive as recent as the 2004 election republicans have been seen doing things like recording who comes in to vote, scaring away black voters, and other plain out foul play. No cases yet in Washington, but that wasn't my point.

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » 2004-12-11 03:15pm

Lord Zentei wrote:
Tom_Aurum wrote:Answer- They don't. Republicans just spend more effort screwing up Democrat ballots than vice versa.
How do you figure? Do you have evidence for the Republicans screwing up Democrat ballots?

Does the Diebold machines that recorded two thousands more votes for Bush than were cast in that county in Ohio count?

Tom_Aurum · Post by **Tom_Aurum** » 2004-12-11 04:16pm

Goddess, I think those machines should be thrown back in the dump where they belong. If it were my choice, I'd personally stick with the SCANTRON-like sheets, you know, the ones with every choice and canidate printed plainly, you just fill in the blanks with a pen, and still have a paper record of your vote.

Lord Zentei · Post by **Lord Zentei** » 2004-12-11 04:31pm

SirNitram wrote:
Lord Zentei wrote:
Tom_Aurum wrote:Answer- They don't. Republicans just spend more effort screwing up Democrat ballots than vice versa.
How do you figure? Do you have evidence for the Republicans screwing up Democrat ballots?
Does the Diebold machines that recorded two thousands more votes for Bush than were cast in that county in Ohio count?

Really?

Tom_Aurum wrote:Goddess, I think those machines should be thrown back in the dump where they belong. If it were my choice, I'd personally stick with the SCANTRON-like sheets, you know, the ones with every choice and canidate printed plainly, you just fill in the blanks with a pen, and still have a paper record of your vote.

And it's a hell of a lot cheaper too at that.

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » 2004-12-11 04:36pm

Lord Zentei wrote:
SirNitram wrote:
Lord Zentei wrote: How do you figure? Do you have evidence for the Republicans screwing up Democrat ballots?
Does the Diebold machines that recorded two thousands more votes for Bush than were cast in that county in Ohio count?
Really?

Check the archive board for Diebold and Ohio Recount. Should still be easily enough accessable.

Of course, you shouldn't be surprised. The head of Diebold said he'd deliver Bush the win this year, and there's been two or so occasions before this of Diebold machines screwing up in favor of the Republicans.

But it's all coincidence. Right?

Elfdart · Post by **Elfdart** » 2004-12-11 09:27pm

Not only that, but the Secretary of State for Ohio threw out thousands of voter registration forms because he claims they weren't printed on thick enough paper -even though there's nothing in the law requiring a certain thickness of paper.

The solution is to have uniform voting standards at least on a statewide basis, if not nationally. This won't happen anytime soon for the same reason that burglars who climb into the second story of a house don't kick away the ladder or cut the rope.

Another, more practical solution is "Don't get mad, get even." A hack Democratic Secretary of State should do the exact same thing to Republican votes in the next elections. He or she should come up with bullshit excuses to throw out the registrations and/ or votes, make fewer ballots and machines available in Republican precincts -everything Harris did in Fla. in 2000 and everything Blackwell did in Ohio this year. Then, when the GOP starts whining about it, politely inform them that payback's a bitch -just like Lynne Cheney.

Glocksman · Post by **Glocksman** » 2004-12-11 10:16pm

Democrats did the same shit during 1984 elections when they cheated Rick McIntyre out of his victory in the Indiana 8th district House race by throwing out enough votes during their 'recount' to give McCloskey the victory by 4 votes.

I remember it well.

Perhaps Tony Coelho, McAufliffe, and crew should consider Ohio to be 'payback' for 1984?