I'll be working at the polls again, so won't be blogging on Tuesday.
Be sure to vote if you haven't already voted by mail. If you have an absentee ballot and haven't cast it yet, do NOT put it in a mailbox on Tuesday. That's not good enough to ensure it will be counted. It has to be postmarked on Election Day. To ensure your vote will count, take it to a post office and ask to have it postmarked at the counter. Or you can drop it off at any polling place. King County polling places are listed here.
This is an important election here in King County. The choice between David Irons and Ron Sims could not be more clear. A vote for Irons is a vote for integrity and accountability. A vote for Sims is a vote for corruption, fraudulent elections, ridiculous boondoggles and a culture of secrecy and retaliation
Elections should generally not be about how well elections are conducted -- but our Elections Office is now in a perpetual crisis and few people other than the most partisan Democrats think that's acceptable. Even after all the scrutiny, Dean Logan still couldn't account for the ballots in the primary and no sensible explanation has been offered. If you want more of Dean Logan and his fraud, dishonesty, disregard for the law and refusal to take responsibility for his work, then by all means vote for Ron Sims. If you're as sick and tired of reading about Dean Logan as I am sick and tired of writing about him and you want to restore clean elections, then vote for David Irons.
More endorsements from some of the Sound Politics contributors, here
Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at November 08, 2005 01:23 AM | Email ThisRon has lost my trust and my faith in his ability to lead this county. I voted for him twice, but never again.
And really, what does a county executive need to do but hire competent subject matter specialists, and yet Ron Sims constantly has management crises brewing in just about every critical department.
But the bottom line is, I want my vote - hard-fought for by my grandmothers - to be counted and counted correctly.
Vote today for David Irons, and remind a friend to vote for David, too.
Posted by: Proud Voter on November 8, 2005 01:53 AMDavid can not do it all on his own, he needs a council majority so that he can make the changes needed to get the job done.
With so much of what is being done at the state level being driven by King County, and the balance of power on the King County council at stake, your vote for Steven Pyeatt is critical.
His opponents fought a bloody battle in the primary that left them broke not just financially but in every other way.
Everything has worked to make this race winable and all it will take to get the job done is for EVERYONE that wants change to take a few minutes to cast their ballots.
A vote for Steven Pyeatt and David Irons will turn the tide at King County.
Posted by: Steven Pyeatt on November 8, 2005 03:03 AMIf you are happy, VOTE!
If you are MAD, VOTE!
If you are appathetic, VOTE!
If you're (you get the idea!)
Every time you exersize your right to VOTE, you validate the lives lost to give you that FREEDOM!
Posted by: Arky on November 8, 2005 04:39 AMWith any luck, the margins of victory will be big enough that I won't have roll out the election accuracy calculators this time around....
Posted by: Ironman on November 8, 2005 06:19 AMBush/Cheney is up for a vote today?
Posted by: Robert on November 8, 2005 07:46 AMHas your attorney mulled over the possibility of filing a writ of mandamus against either Norm Maleng or the U.S. Attorney (or both) that would, if successful, require their offices to investigate election law violations at the KC Elections office?
Posted by: Speed_King on November 8, 2005 08:10 AMThe gentleman sitting at the ballot box remarked "I trust those are signed properly."
I looked him right in the eye and said "I trust they'll be counted properly."
He burst out laughing...
Sadly, I only wish I knew if he was laughing WITH me for the absurdity of my remark or AT me for my ridiculous expections of the vote counters.
However, the Accuvote machine was not working properly. It showed a 'Total Count' of 5, I inserted my ballot, it took it, and the counter remained at 5.
I informed the poll workers, and they said they'd been having problems with it this morning and they'd have to call it in again.
This was precinct 36-1754, McClure Middle School on Queen Anne hill. I phoned my local PCO (also my uncle) and let him know. However, since our precinct normally votes 80% for Jim McDermott, maybe it's a good thing that the Accuvote isn't working.
Posted by: Larry on November 8, 2005 09:29 AMWe have a similar boon-doggle proposed here.
reviewjournal.com
Posted by: juspassinthru on November 8, 2005 09:30 AMI decided to READ fully my absentee ballot to make sure I complied with all requirements. Did I need a pencil or a certain type pen, etc.
In my absentee ballot in the last line of directions the first word is "inititial"
Looks like spell check is beyond their capacity.
Posted by: kam on November 8, 2005 09:44 AMDon't be so gleefully anxious.
Your party lost their chances to unseat GW Bush through corruption and you don't get another one.
None of it is working so go crawl back into your hole.
This was NOT an Irons sponsored event, just a group of friends who agree we need a change and wanted to do something to show our support this morning. I encourage all that have signs to go out in their own communities and do the same. It's time for a change. Vote for David Irons!!!!!!
Posted by: mimi on November 8, 2005 10:16 AMYou sound like a liberal plant.
mimi's comments were uplifting. Perhaps we will win.
Posted by: swatter on November 8, 2005 10:36 AMWe correctly criticize Sims and company for awful election procedures and then we do a similar thing with our challenges.
Folks..this doesn't help us or our democracy.
Also, why can't we find more folks like Rob McKenna? Totally above board guys...conservative thinkers who are full of integrity. Instead we seem to find people who have tons of integrity issues.
Until we change...this will always be a Democratic stronghold.
Posted by: RightThinker on November 8, 2005 11:39 AMIt goes back to 'why in the world would any sane individual want to run for office in today's environment?'
Posted by: swatter on November 8, 2005 11:45 AMIf Ron Sims & Company had did their jobs years ago, the KCRP would not have had to stoop this low. I commend them for taking the flack for the challenges.
If the MSM had put the errors on the front page, day after day, and the blatent coverup by logan and sims, day after day, the KCRP would have had more time to campaign rather than do the detective work of KCE.
I don't even live in KC, but every damn illegal vote in KC, cancels my legit voter here in Lewis Co., in a State wide Race/Initiative.....
Just my 2 Cents....But it affects ALL WASHINGTON VOTERS.....
Posted by: Chris on November 8, 2005 11:58 AMThe reason that any political party has awful election challenges is that IT'S NOT THEIR JOB!
It is King County Election Commission's job to enforce our voting laws and to guarantee that we are not disenfranchised. They refuse to do their job. So the state GOP party tried it, and - surprise, surprise - they didn't do a perfect job.
Do you think the state GOP should HAVE to do this? Of course not. But Ron Sims, Dean Logan, and Judge Bridges made this course of action necessary.
What's your point? That people who are forced to do other people's jobs often don't perform the job without flaws? Gee, go figure.
Posted by: Larry on November 8, 2005 12:16 PMJust another low-water mark for our "ethical" MSM...
Posted by: SnoCo Voter on November 8, 2005 01:26 PMThroughout her life Shanti Mai has studied numerous traditions and techniques with many teachers. She now draws on all of them in her work, but credits the lineage of Ramana Maharshi and 17 years of single-parenting her four children as having been her greatest teachers.
As a child, Shanti Mai thought and spoke a lot about God and studied metaphysical topics independently while still in elementary school. Born into a professional and abusive military family, her life taught her, of necessity, to be able to "read" many different types of people, and forced her into the role of healer. Her first client was herself!
She graduated with a B.S., Cum Laude, in the mid-70's, planning, originally, to head to grad school to become a teacher of the Deaf. Shanti Mai has worked in such diverse capacities as:
Teacher of Transcendental Meditation to military personnel in Europe
Night school German teacher for Irish Businessmen
Lead Teacher of the Head Start Program on a Reservation
Substitute teacher specializing in problematic Junior High Schools
Resident manager of a group home for schizophrenic adults
Sign language interpreter for Deaf college and university students
Freelance Editor/Co-writer (current, part-time)
About Shanti Mai's Work
Shanti Mai draws clients who, though they may not know how, are willing to take an active role in their lives and in their healing process.
She begins by helping the client to silence their mind, becoming fully centered in the present moment.
Shanti’s focus is on helping her clients to see exactly where they are right now. In this silence of mind, it is possible to see and know your obstacles – and options – allowing you to heal and to make better choices. Shanti Mai empowers her clients through teaching.
Reading the present moment can clarify relationship and work issues, bring resolution to hurts and fears, help you access your intuition - and present new options for your life. It can also bring communication with a pet or a deceased loved one - or bring insight into current health issues.
As a minister, Shanti Mai provides customized Life-Transition Ceremonies - available for returning clients:
Birth
Coming of Age
Marriage & Commitment
Final Passage /Death
Mediation with an emphasis of understanding the other's perspective and fears is available. Sessions start out one-on-one, as developing compassion for the other helps us in claiming our own lessons. Seeing how the other serves as our own mirror, whether the other person seems to "get it" for themselves or not, can help us to handle what we can change, which is - merely ourselves.
For another explanation of Shanti's work, see Testimonials.
Many of the testimonials are from clients whose sessions were 15 - 20 minutes long. The main factor is the readiness or "ripeness" of the client. Longer sessions are recommended for the sake of privacy, for deep-seated issues and for those in a healing crisis. Special offers are available to returning clients who join Shanti Mai's Yahoo group.
Shanti Mai lives on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state (USA) and travels to Seattle; and Portland, Eugene, and Ashland, Oregon. She also offers Satsang - see Calendar page under the Eugene heading.
Prices for private and Phone sessions:
30 minutes, $45.00
45 minutes, $60.00
1 hour, $75.00
Don't lose faith. Every vote does count, look at Florida '00 and King Co. '04. The enemies of Liberty count on discouraging people from participating in the system.
They expect folks to throw in the towel, the want you to think your vote doesn't count, they want people to sit at home at think it doesn't matter.
Around 60% of people eligible to vote are registered. Out of that 60% on average only slightly over 50% turn out in any given election. That means in an average election only 30% of people who can vote do.
Now in a tight race where the winner garners just over half the vote that means that the winner will receive the endorsement of just over 15% of those who could have voted.
15% of us determine who wins office.
15% of us determine the course of the country.
15% of us determine who makes the laws for all of us.
It is pathetic, dark and depressing that so few of us care to vote.
Remember, please think about this, while it easy to be distracted, discouraged, and ultimately disenfranchised by the shenanigans of a few. Remember the cost of not voting, and voting.
Your right to vote was bought and paid for in blood.
We have a blood debt to pay. We honor that debt by voting. More than that voting is a duty imposed on us by the generations gone before who paid the price to establish this Republic where the power resides in the hands of the people. To elected and send our representative to handle the business of government.
We elect them not to rule or reign. But to go about the business of the the people, for the people and by the people.
By not voting, we allow them, the corrupt, the power hungry, the elites who would impose what they think is best, we allow them the opportunity, give them the room to do as they will.
We shirk our duty, and allow someone who does not reflect the will of the people to have their way. They can claim "I won the election," elected by 15% of the people.
Hardly what was intended for this country.
In King Co. if enough do not participate Sims get reelected. That would amount to tacit approval of the last year.
Not voting amounts to approval of KCE.
There is zero chance of turning things around by sitting out the process.
Vote.
Cast a ballot. In favor of the last 9 years of governance or against the last 9 years.
If your disgusted with the way things are going in KC vote for Irons.
If enough people vote, and vote for change they cannot cheat enough to win.
So what if they can generate 5000 extra votes. If enough of us who want change vote. Irons wins by 10,000.
They only win when we do not vote.
VOTE.
Take your inheritance, your birthright and vote.
Don't be cheated out of your right.
Don't give in.
Don't give up.
Add your voice, your vote.
Posted by: JCM on November 8, 2005 02:27 PMSo if Irons appears to be winning later tonight, how much would you pay to be a fly on the wall in Logan's office as he sweats it out knowing that he is going to be FIRED!
There I go again day dreaming.
I could tell she was purposely trying to make voters feel uncomforatble about showing their identification..( a liberal). She spoke extremely loud and snotty to voters who happened to be on her list...(She's lucky I wasn't ..) She made one elderly gentleman repeat his address - though he told her it was right in front of her on the list! He had his identification - yet she made a big deal about how showing ID is the law and he must repeat back his address to her...All the while using a loud and completely unnecessary
authoritative voice! She couldn't have been more than 21 years old... She was trying to make poll voting an unpleasant experience and she was trying to make showing ID painful!
I asked my regular poll worker if I would be voting at this location in the next election or would we be all absentee? (pointing to the loudmouth liberal poll worker across the room...) She smiled and shook her head..then said she didn't think the county had enough support to go all mail voting....We agreed though - that lack of citizen support never seems to stop Ron Sims from implementing laws, ordinances and major changes.....
There was a very good turnout at the polls. I'd say KC has under estimated voter turnout this time! People just want Ron Sims out.
Posted by: Deborah on November 8, 2005 02:56 PMGo vote. NOW.
Good grief, you wanna just hand it to the Democrats?!
Posted by: Bostonian on November 8, 2005 02:57 PMSo disappointing.
Posted by: Democratfor Irons on November 8, 2005 03:25 PMThey are allowed to start counting at the time the polls open to speed up the count of absentee ballots, but results aren't released untill 8pm. KIRO-TV hasn't reported anything and won't until after the polls close... if KOMO did, they would have to be basing it on their own exit polls.
And according to the exit polls, Kerry beat Bush by about 5-10% We all know how that really turned out
Posted by: Mike H on November 8, 2005 04:25 PMSo? This is King County, it's not like anyone would stop you.
Posted by: Mike H on November 8, 2005 05:29 PM-The choice between David Irons and Ron Sims could not be more clear. -
Wow! For once, Stephan was right!
Irons got CREAMED!
Time to find some sane conservatives, guys. These insane ones are driving your party into the ground.
Posted by: AmazedByRightWingHate on November 9, 2005 03:15 AM