FYI to Dino Rossi supporters -- this evening the following statement went out...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Mary LanePosted by Brian Crouch at December 24, 2004 12:07 PM | Email ThisDec. 23, 2004 (425) 646-7202
Bellevue, WA – Today Dino Rossi issued the following statement:
“This is supposed to be the season for Christmas and Hanukkah, not campaigns, but this year, unfortunately, we don’t yet have a governor-elect.“Like many people across Washington, I’m very concerned about the integrity of this election process, and I’m also very concerned that not all votes are being treated equally.
“Earlier this week, I asked the Supreme Court not to change the rules of the recount. On Tuesday, however, the Supreme Court did change the recount rules, and allowed previously rejected ballots to be reconsidered.
“Many hundreds of previously rejected ballots in King County were counted, but there are hundreds more of wrongfully rejected ballots that remain uncounted. We have affidavits so far from 300 legal voters across Washington whose ballots were wrongfully rejected. The rules were changed for a select group of ballots in King County, but not for many other ballots all across the state. That is wrong. If the rules can be changed for a select group of voters in King County, then the new rules should apply to everyone, equally.
“Under the new rules established by the Supreme Court, if your vote was wrongfully thrown out through no fault of your own, your vote should be counted. Whether your signature was mistakenly challenged or whether you’re a member of the military who didn’t receive your ballot on time, your vote should count. Anything else is undemocratic.
“To make sure that every wrongfully disenfranchised voter has the opportunity to have his or her vote counted, we are going to take some time to follow up with county canvassing boards across Washington and ask those boards to reconsider wrongfully rejected ballots.
“I know many Washingtonians are hoping this will end soon, but I’m also sure that people across this state want a clean election and a legitimate governor-elect. At this point, we have neither.
“Finally, Terry and my children and I want to wish everyone a happy holiday season, and I again want to thank the people of Washington for their kind-hearted support.”
Ken
Posted by: Ken Hupp on December 24, 2004 01:06 PMEven if it means showing up in person at the King County elections office - I'm sure a few of us are more than willing to do that.
Posted by: Larry on December 24, 2004 01:59 PMUntil then, the only way to gain some sort of election legitamacy is to encourage legal filings to be reviewed and judged by the courts. Until each constituency feels they were able to present their concerns to a court of law and get a ruling, it will be just partisian bickering.
If Rossi doesn't go to court, Christine's governorship will be questioned more, not less. Where legitimacy is suspect, I'd rather the Supreme Court make a ruling than the King County canvassing board.
For example, here Dino calls King County ballots taht were wrongfully and previously rejected as "previously rejected" ballots, but the wrongfully and previously rejected ballots in other counties are simply called "wrongfully rejected" ballots.
Also, Dino states: “Earlier this week, I asked the Supreme Court not to change the rules of the recount. On Tuesday, however, the Supreme Court did change the recount rules, and allowed previously rejected ballots to be reconsidered."
But Dino then continues and calls anything less than having wrongfully and previously rejected ballots counted "undemocratic." So was he asking the state SC to not "change the rules" and keep the recount system undemocratic?
It cuts both ways, however. Christine is out calling for closure, an end to the madness -- but is she simply in the Christmas spirit or has she suddenly had a politically-motivated change-of-heart? Previously, she was calling for every vote to be counted, no matter the costs (both financially and time costs). Now, ironically, Repbulicans are espousing a "Count every vote" mantra.
Merry Christmas.
Posted by: Chris on December 24, 2004 02:05 PMThe hand recount violated the Fourteenth Amendment's "equal protection" clause two ways: different rules for different counties, and changes in rules in certain counties.
I don't give a rat's behind about reforming King County's procedures. And neither does King County! If wrongdoing is found, the perps will be fined or go to jail.
Start practicing now: Governor Dino Rossi . Get used to it.
Posted by: FedUpWithThis on December 24, 2004 03:24 PMOh--and stop subscribing to the times and PI--that biased headline "Third Time's a Charm" is just shameful. It should have read, "Gregoire only satisfied with however many recounts it takes to put her on top."
Posted by: Noel on December 24, 2004 08:38 PMAll along it was if the shoe was on the other foot, we would concede, we would never put the state through this...the democrats are trying to steal the election.
Now that the shoe is on the other foot, surprise, the republicans are doing everything that the democrats did...geez, what a bunch of lying, cheating, election stealing hypocrites.
Naturally, the republicans claim the democrats created this problem. BS.
It is all about saying and doing whatever needs to be said to get your guy in the office == even if what you say and do is 180 degrees from what you said or did before. A total embarassment.
Neither party has a leg to stand on. All you supporting Dino not conceding should be ashamed of yourselves for pretending you would do the honorable thing if Dino were behind after recounting.
Total, unmitigated hogwash.
Sad, again.
Posted by: tom on December 25, 2004 10:18 AM what did you expect dino to do?Just roll
over and play dead.look there is a bit of difference
here.Remember he won the 1st and 2nd counts.they
are trying to steal an election.Know one
here is being a hypcrite.Dino is just trying
fight for what he already won!!
No, I didn't expect him to roll over because he is a politician above all else (do, say, anything to get elected). Does this not make you scared about all his campaign promises? He said whatever he needed to to get elected...but as this shows, he can go back on his word without much effort.
You see, he asked Gregoire to concede after two recounts (with a third, as provided by law, pending). IF he truly had any conviction, any core beliefs, any sense of right-wrong, he could not possibly do something other than he asked his opponent to do now that the tables have turned.
Of course he's a hypocrite...this is the pure definition.
Posted by: tom on December 25, 2004 12:55 PMAnd Rossi is now exploring his *legal* options....as provided by law.
Why is it...that the Dems are only interested in the *law* as it pertains to THEIR victory?
Why is it...when Republicans stand up for themselves and finally refuse to lay down and die in the flurry of lies and fraud tactics launched against them...the Dems begin chastising them and claim they are acting like....like...gasp! DEMS!
Talk about the ultimate insult! To have a Dem call your assertivness - A Democrat tactic! ACK!
No matter how ugly this election gets, how far the Republicans have to push, how much King County fraud is exposed.......the Republicans will always proceed with grace and legitimacy and honor - none of which can be equated with the Dems.