Even as Seattle Times reporter Keith Ervin reports that Superintendent of Elections Bill Huennekens was at least tacitly involved in the conspiracy to falsify the Mail Ballot Report, the rest of the Seattle media establishment is spinning feverishly to cushion the damage to Ron Sims and Christine Gregoire.
Here is Joni Balter's editorial in today's Seattle Times. It's an appalling attempt to downplay government officials' crimes of deceit that appear to have caused the losing candidate to be inaugurated as governor -"Bad judgment, errors in county elections" is -
The mail-ballot report represents more trouble at county elections but it does not amount to a falsified document, as we understand how things transpired. The state Republican Party Web site proclaims King County elections officials admit fraud. They do not.The Seattle Times might as well assign its editorials about King County government to one of Ron Sims concubines.
And meanwhile in the P-I --
the only mention of the fraudulent Mail Ballot Report this week is this footnote-like line buried in today's article on the election contest, the point of which is to say that "The task facing the Republicans is not an easy one"
With an eye on the Supreme Court, the GOP also will introduce evidence about a range of elections errors in King County, such as failing to follow state regulations for tracking absentee ballots and compounding that by providing misleading accounts of those ballots.Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at May 21, 2005 09:58 AM | Email This
The P-I has rendered itself null and void. Frankly, I think they want the P-I to go broke...and are doing a great job of making that happen. I know lots of folks, myself included, who have written short, succindt letters to the editor that never, ever get in. All you have to do is look at the lack of balance in letters to know where they are coming from.
Fortunately, the P-I is not the Judge. The Seattle Times is going to look mighty fair and reasonable by the time this contest is over.
Joni Balter---is she into witchcraft?? I wonder if Joni and Huennekens got together what their children would look like?? Oh...I forgot...Joni is pro-abortion!
Posted by: Mr. Cynical on May 21, 2005 10:14 AMOnce the mound of evidence tops the even Olympic heights, even the MSM, has to start to pay some homage.
Posted by: JCM on May 21, 2005 10:25 AMRight.
Posted by: ScottM on May 21, 2005 10:27 AMIn fact, the number reported by KC Elections for total absentee ballots received was not "arrived at by flawed methodology." It was simply false, and the officials knew it was false.
Posted by: ScottM on May 21, 2005 10:52 AMFrom what is now known as we understand how things transpired, neither Way nor Fell tried to affect voting or change the outcome of the election. They did not stuff the ballot box or try to turn away valid votes as near as we can tell. From what is now known, none of that. As we understand it, they introduced ballots that don’t belong, and turned away valid votes, but that is neither ballot stuffing, outcome influencing, or fraud, that we know of. Of course not.
Because we can never prove the extent that this bad judgment influenced the outcome of the election, we must fairly assume that it didn't.
The intentionally falsified mail-ballot report represents more trouble at county elections but it does not amount to a falsified document, as we understand how things transpired. The state Republican Party Web site proclaims King County elections officials admit fraud. They do not as we understand how things transpired. As any sensible person knows, good judgment dictates that truth is only true when it is not false and fraud is only fraud if it is not something that isn't fraud, and this is not fraud.
Just bad judgment, and errors. And we mean it . . . really
"bad judgement;" victim status; not my fault; it's the 11-year sunspot cycle; it's the ozone layer; hey--did I forget Ron Sims' "no HOME TRAINING!!!"
Every 7-year-old knows right from wrong. Stop the pandering & report the darn truth.
Posted by: Jimmie-howya-doin on May 21, 2005 11:02 AMFalse information in a sworn certified document doesn't make it false because it supports the outcome the left wants.
The left intends well, so anything (laws, morals, truth, facts) that thwarts the accomplishment of their intention is thereby evil.
See how simple it is to be a lefty. What you feel is good is right. It stupid and evil radical right wingers that think that the laws should be followed are the problem.
Posted by: JCM on May 21, 2005 11:03 AMIf you're required to reconcile two numbers, starting out by falsely claiming that those two numbers are equal is not "flawed methodology." It is fraud.
Posted by: ScottM on May 21, 2005 11:08 AMNo pulitzer for them!
It seems as though the MSM is having a *bi-polar* moment with this election contest....Or - that the line is being drawn between the printed news and the TV news.... Just yesterday, local TV news stations ran poll results showing the public's unfavorable opinion of Gregoire. The polls also showed an overwhelming opinion among the people of this state - that Rossi had actually won the November election.
Today - the newspapers were falling over themselves trying to be the first and the loudest to minimize the Way and Fell revelations of fraud and Logan and Sims involvement!
I have news for them.....At this point the people only see:
*FRAUD*,
*NOVEMBER ELECTION*,
*POLLS SHOW PUBLIC FEELS ROSSI RIGHTFUL WINNER*,
*LOGAN KNEW ABOUT ERRORS*,
*REED STATES THAT LOGAN REPORTED EXCLUSIVELY TO SIMS*
*LARRY PHILLIPS INVOLVMENT*
*POLLS SHOW PUBLIC FEELS GREGOIRE DID NOT WIN ELECTION*
*KING COUNTY CANVASSING BOARDS KNOWLEDGE PRIOR TO CERTIFICATION*
*NICOLE WAY ABSENTEE COUNT REVELATIONS*
*GARTH FELL REVELATIONS*
*REVELATIONS ABOUT THE LIMITS OF THE DIMS AND GEMS VOTING SYSTEM SOFTWARE*
*KING COUNTY VOTE TALLIES POSTED ON WEBSITE DURING THE ELECTION AND RECOUNTS WERE UNRELIABLE*
*MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS WITH LOGAN AND HUENNEKENS DEPOSITIONS*
*PAUL BERENDTS RUSHES - DAMAGE CONTROL FOR THE DEMOCRATS*
(Oh..By the way..the word on the street is - the Democrats have now lost Boeing Employee support for Gregoire......they don't want to look like fools anymore..)
Flawed methodogy is to use a methodolgy that you beleive to be accurate but which turns out to be inaccurate.
Fraud is to use a methodolgy you KNOW to be incorrect and in fact not the methodolgy you are SUPPOSED to be using and certifying it as accurate.
I have been very slow to jump on the fraud band wagon myself. While I thought the KC machine to be flagarantly inept, I am now certain that they knowingly lied on an official document when they had to have known that the inaccuracy of their results could have affected the outcome of the elction. It may not constitute an attempt to influence the election, but it does constitute fraud.
No official union stance yet...
I live in a *Boeing* community (Kent, Covington, Renton....) I have many friends and relatives employed with Boeing. We have been arguing back and forth over Gregoire since the November election....(It just drives me nuts how they could be supportive simply because their union said to..)
Over the past 2 weeks I have talked with several of these *died in the wool* Democrat supporters and every one of them has now changed their stance on Gregoire support! It's like there was a memo sent out!
Anyway - I have not heard of *official* Employee Union support - however, *something* has happened to change the minds of individual employees toward support for Rossi. This is how things happen at Boeing....First there are signs of a *sea change* among the employees...then official announcements follow...
It will be interesting to watch as the trial begins....I know I was left speechless with the about-face of family and friends! It's like they suddenly woke up and couldn't wait to tell me how they REALLY felt about Gregoire!
Posted by: Deborah on May 21, 2005 12:19 PMViolating a law is always poor judgement, we just enforce some laws better than others.
What might have happened if the reports were lawfully filled out? Who knows. It might be that Logan et. al. would have been forced to investigate sooner and come up with answers last December rather than in late May....
Posted by: Jack on May 21, 2005 12:24 PMLogic is not your forte Ms Balterdash, but dishonesty certainly is.
Posted by: otto on May 21, 2005 01:48 PMA couple of trolls have also reversed course - something's up. Could they be resigned to that fact of the election being thrown out, and are looking to jettison Greg-Gore? This doesn't smell right.
Posted by: Dogbert on May 21, 2005 02:44 PMOn a separate point: After the first Ervin article came out, Alan Prell of KIRO, called it fraud, just as most of us here did. I don't find reason to give him credit very often, but I have to in this case.
(I didn't hear how Dave Ross reacted. If he followed the pattern that he has before in such amtters, he got some Democratic spokesman on to explain it away.)
One thing both Seattle papers have to watch out for: There is no enough evidence so that a big out side newspaper might get interested and come in and take the story away from them. Or even one of the smaller Washington newspapers. With the depositions being made, the story no longer requires big resources (of the kind that the Time s and PI have) or exceptional skills (of the kind that Stefan has) to cover.
If that happens, the publishers are going to be very unhappy with the managements of the two papers.
Heh....Dogbert...
So many people in this blog think alike! (But it's scarey when the trolls start thinking like us....)
I noticed that an attorney for the Teamster Local Union 117 was present for the deposition of Nicole Way.....Thought that was odd...Could there be a change in the tide with respect to union Democrat support in the State?
It seems like things begin to change right around the time John Kerry was here for that failed fund raiser! Or was he here for another reason...?
I don't trust these criminals.....They are global and go by a brilliant playbook of deception....
Keep your eyes open...
Posted by: Deborah on May 21, 2005 04:50 PMNot good enough. According to the poll posted yesterday(?), Rossi beats Cantwell in a head to head. (Though it was for Senator in that poll) Maybe they can ask Bill Clinton to move into the state now and try to keep the legal challanges going until he achieves residency.
Posted by: Eyago on May 21, 2005 05:11 PMSo... Bubba would have no problem.
Posted by: Al on May 21, 2005 05:31 PMI guess that will stick as the 'phrase of of the decade' here in the NW;
especially when we have the snazzy bio-research lab here in Seattle; "Sims-quality" security guards; ooops--hey--a little black plague never hurt anyone--they "certified" the containment checklist; there was no 'fraud!'
hypno-time: watch the swinging pendant and slowly repeat..."home training...home training..." home fries--ooops--i thought about breakfast;
Seattle Times (double-stepping): "It's just bad judgement etc etc " Yea? a loaded diaper is what it is--full of ***** !
Posted by: Jimmie-howya-doin on May 21, 2005 06:57 PM* They did not stuff the ballot box or try to turn away valid votes. None of that.
How many times have I told you - don't say what you're not! You are really saying what you are. See above for example. The editorialist gave the game away.
For the trolls, if they are still here, consider Nixon's famous quote: "I am not a crook!"
'nuf said.
Posted by: mac on May 21, 2005 08:47 PMJuly 28, 2003
Council Acts to Upgrade King County Election System
The Metropolitan King County Council today appropriated $1,267,237 toward improving the operation of the county’s Records, Elections and Licensing Services Division.
“Restoring confidence in the election process begins with moving decisively to shore up the current system,” said Councilmember Dow Constantine, chair of the Labor, Operations and Technology Committee. “This short-term fix will allow us to lay the groundwork for the comprehensive overhaul that we believe must take place before the 2004 presidential election cycle begins.”
Following the late mailing of absentee ballots in three elections, the Council’s elections consultant and the Washington Secretary of State made a series of recommendations to upgrade the election process and improve the operation of the division. The majority of funds approved by the Council will be used to strengthen efforts to get absentee ballots out on time for the 2003 primary and general election. At the same time, the Executive and the Council have agreed on initial funding to begin an expedited process to upgrade the voter registration system in preparation for 2004.
“These funds are needed to strengthen the foundation of the current election system,” said Councilmember Larry Phillips. “When the 2003 election cycle is complete, we’ll be able to focus our resources on ensuring that the mistakes of the past are not repeated in a year when we’ll be electing a Governor and a President.”
Read more about this legislation on the King County Council’s LEGISEARCH system at http://mkcclegisearch.metrokc.gov and type in “2003-0285”
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From Legistar:
Drafter
Clerk 07/24/2003
..title
AN ORDINANCE making an appropriation of $1,267,237 from the current expense fund; and amending the 2003 Budget Ordinance, Ordinance 14517, Section 26, as amended.
..body
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. Ordinance 14517, Section 26, as amended, is hereby amended by adding thereto and inserting therein the following:
RECORDS, ELECTIONS AND LICENSING SERVICES - From the current expense fund there is hereby appropriated to:
Records, elections and licensing services $1,267,237
PROVIDED THAT:
Of this appropriation, $100,000 shall be expended only for outside expert assistance for the 2003 primary and general elections.
-------------------------------------------------
A motion was made by Dow Constantine that this matter be Recommended Do Pass Substitute. The motion carried by the following vote:
Yes: 5 - Larry Phillips, Cynthia Sullivan, Pete von Reichbauer, Dow Constantine and Larry Gossett
No: 0
Excused: 2 - Jane Hague and Rob McKenna
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This matter was Amended
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A motion was made by Larry Phillips that this matter be Passed. The motion carried by the following vote:
Yes: 13 - Cynthia Sullivan, Carolyn Edmonds, Pete von Reichbauer, Kathy Lambert, Larry Phillips, Dwight Pelz, Rob McKenna, Dow Constantine, Steve Hammond, Larry Gossett, Jane Hague, David W. Irons and Julia Patterson
No: 0
Excused: 0
With a nod to the Times financial problems you should start another recurrent heading similiar to the moronrail one called "Die Seattle Times, Die".
Posted by: Bill K. on May 21, 2005 10:51 PMI believe the Seattle Times is trying to commit suicide in their Sunday paper tomorrow....
What a pathetic ploy to try to sway public opinion right before the trial....
I cannot wait to read the comments on tomorrows Times story about their opinion - that even with the felon voters - Gregoire would win....and those incredibly *unscientific* methods they used to reach this bizarre conclusion!
I am embarrassed for the Seattle Times...
Writing to the paper is a waste of time, my future letters will be to their advertisers letting them know I will not be a patron of any business that advertises with Seattle print media.