LIVE: WA State Governor election-fraud trial begins

TVW (WA public affairs cable) ^ | May 23, 2005 | Hank Rearden

[HannaUSA]

So did Way wiggle out of the fact that she produced a falsified report or did they nail her? My audio pops on and off so much I couldn't tell.

[JDoutrider]

Today will be boring, but it's getting better all the time.

BTTT!!!

[bigfootbob]

There's been a lot of drama so far, but I'm getting concerned. I haven't seen anything yet that will cause the judge to overturn the election. Where's the beef?

[bigfootbob]

Speaking of which, when are the initiatives going to be available?

[bigfootbob]

Cool. We have organized teams that will be blanketing the county. We'll have a table at the Mall for 3 weekends at least. We'll have a presence next month at gas stations and all grocery stores that sell fuel.

Print out a copy of the pay increases and keep it with the signature gatherers, it has sparked anger in everyone I've shown it to.

I think this initiative has a damn good chance of qualifying.

[Vicki]

I am going to stick my neck out here and make my predictions. Judge Bridges will throw out the election. They will fall short of being able to prove fraud beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Supreme Court will uphold Bridge's decision, but the new election will be held in Nov. '06. The dems will declare a victory that fraud wasn't involved and will have another year to further damage the state.

[goodnesswins]

Where can we get the Pay info, bfb?

[bigfootbob]

Right here.

State salaries at-a-glance

5/23/2005, 6:09 p.m. PT

The Associated Press




(AP) — Here are the pay raises authorized by the Washington State Citizens' Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials:

GOVERNOR: Current pay is $145,132, rising to $148,035 this Sept. 1 and $150,995 on Sept. 1, 2006.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR: $75,865 now, $77,382 this September and $78,930 in September 2006.



SECRETARY OF STATE, TREASURER, AUDITOR AND INSURANCE COMMISSIONER: $101,702 now, rising to $103,736 and then to $105,811.

ATTORNEY GENERAL: $131,938 now, rising to $134,577 and then to $137,268.

SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT AND LAND COMMISSIONER: $103,785, rising to $105,861 and then $107,978.

SUPREME COURT: $137,276 now, rising to $141,394 and then $145,636.

APPEALS COURT: $130,678 now, rising to $134,598 and then $138,636.

SUPERIOR COURT: $124,411 now, rising to $128,143 and then $131,988.

DISTRICT COURT: $118,458 now, rising to $122,012 and then $125,672.

LEGISLATURE: Rank-and-file legislators, $34,227 now, rising to $35,254 and then $36,311. Speaker of the House and Senate majority leader, now at $42,227, rising to $43,254 and then $44,311. House and Senate minority leaders, now at $38,227, go to $39,254 and then $40,311.

[Spunky]

"I am going to stick my neck out here and make my predictions. Judge Bridges will throw out the election."

I am afraid that unless they prove that the illegal votes in King County were way beyond the precentage of illegal votes in other counties the Judge will not throw out this election.

Or unless it is proven that the numbers were manipulated during the hand recount or votes added or hidden during the hand recount.

Remember those illegal votes were there during the two machine counts where Rossi first won by 256? and again during the second machine recount of 42?

[Libertina]

BTTT Baynative, your assessement, as usual, is spot on. BTTT

[Hank Rearden]

I'm not sure if I got this right, but it seems to me that the judge just ruled that the "expert" statistical testimony is admissable.

How this affects the case beats me, as I haven't been able to follow closely the last couple of days.

[Hank Rearden]

Here's what Shark on soundpolitics.com is saying:

(2:36pm) Okay, I'm back. The big deal was that Judge Bridges apparently followed his M.O., and allowed evidence to be submitted while punting on what to do with it. As Croker Sack blogger "Micajah" posted in the comments:

The question to be decided was whether the expert testimony regarding "proportional reduction" was admissible. Judge Bridges didn't actually decide -- but he did make it clear that the GOP didn't persuade him that it is admissible.

He seems to be saying that he wants to move along and let the GOP pile everything they have in the middle of the floor -- and then he will pronounce judgment, perhaps sorting through some of the stuff on the floor and telling everyone what he thought about it in findings of fact.