Posted on 02/26/2005 1:46:26 PM PST by mattnaugle
The Electric Chair for Katherine Harris and Ken Blackwell By Stephen Crockett Feb 26, 2005, 09:01
I think that Katherine Harris and Ken Blackwell deserve the death penalty for their actions as state election officials in the 2000 and 2004 elections. Current federal law does not permit the death penalty for their actions and Constitutional restrictions make it impossible to give them the electric chair by changing the law. However, I still believe that their actions in a morally sound legal system would see them on trial for their lives!
Katherine Harris as the Republican Secretary of State in Florida during the 2000 elections seemed to be using her office to promote the election of George W. Bush over the wishes of Florida voters. She was co-chair of the Bush campaign in Florida while serving as the top election official in the state. The conflict of interest was obvious. The potential for abuse was obvious. According to the investigative reporter and author Greg Palast, the actions of Harris and her office denied almost a 100,000 voters their right to vote or their right to have their vote counted. Almost all were Democrats! Details are available in Palast's book, The Best Democracy Money Can Buy.
Instead of being prosecuted for denying Florida citizens their vote, Republicans politicians created a safe seat in Congress for Katherine Harris. It looks likely that she will be seeking higher office in Florida. Since many of the voters who were illegally kicked off the voting rolls still have not been returned to active status, Harris has a chance of winning. Winning office by denying voters their voting rights should be a death penalty crime. In my opinion, any government official who uses their power to engage in a massive campaign to deny citizens their voting rights is committing a crime worse than treason in wartime.
Ken Blackwell as Secretary of State in Ohio during the 2004 election seemed to be trying to copy the Katherine Harris model. Voting machines were distributed to make voting difficult for Democrats. Crazy regulations that made registering difficult came out of his office. He played a key role in the Bush campaign while serving as the top election official statewide. An effective statewide hand recount was largely blocked because of Blackwell. Key state records are being denied access to the citizens of Ohio by his actions. Lawyers who challenge the vote recount procedures are being persecuted by the Republican Ohio Attorney General in legal actions on behalf of Blackwell. Many of the Ohio vote problems and Blackwell's role in them are documented at "Stolen Election 2004."
Denying voting rights to American citizens attacks the whole concept of American freedom. It is disgusting and morally repugnant. Something terrible has happened to the mindset of Republican leaders at the very top levels that makes winning power more important than American traditions, American values and American freedom. Our very American Democracy is being threatened.
The average Republican voter is unaware of the abuse. Most Republican voters would not put winning power over American traditions of free and fair elections. Democratic officeholders are in denial as well in many cases. Our election system simply stinks! Anyone who does not understand the weaknesses of our current voting system should read Black Box Voting by Bev Harris.
Only now, almost 5 years after Harris started purging the voting rolls in Florida in a partisan fashion, has the Democratic leadership in the US Senate made voting reform a legislative high priority. The Boxer-Clinton Voting Reform Bill is a great first step requiring a verified voting paper-trail, equal access to voting machines, advance notice of voting roll purges, etc.
However, we need to add stiff criminal penalties for any government official who denies the voting rights of large numbers of citizens. My liberal co-host on Democratic Talk Radio, Al Lawrence and I disagree on the penalty. Al Lawrence believes that they should face life in prison without parole. As the more conservative Democrat on our program, I support the death penalty in these types of cases. We both agree that crimes against American Democracy are the most serious types of crimes in existence next to genocide.
If I had my way, I would see Katherine Harris and Ken Blackwell strapped down to electric chairs and lit up like Christmas trees. The better to light the way for American Democracy and American Freedom!
Written by: Stephen Crockett (co-host of Democratic Talk Radio www.DemocraticTalkRadio.com).
I think it is only fair if they are going to apply such draconian measures in the case of Blackwell and Harris (if they are able to actually prove anything in a court of law) that the same measures be applied to those behind Christine Gregoireovich's seizure of power in Kiev Kounty, People's Republic of Washington.
Anyone got a problem with that?!
My daughters have both said "I hate you and I wish you were dead!". The disturbing part is that this supposed adult sounds like a three year old having a temper tantrum.
Note To Stephen Crockett:
Click the Pic
Hey, Crockett, Harris and Blackwell were dully elected by their constituents.
Which portions of the "ELECTED" don't you comprehend, you moron!
Somebody ought to slap your momma, to giving birth to such an idiot!
LOL. Magic-city.
I think he is on "magic" mushrooms.
"Ted Rall currently has an open challenge to show evidence of LW blogggers and writers threatening known Republcians."
Don't bother. This is Rall, the same idiot who thinks Pat Tillman deserved to die and encourages eco-terrorism. YOu are wasting your time with intellectual lightweights like Rall. The best way to deal with nuts like that is to not respond and choke 'em off all your media outlets.
"I know this is an ugly post, but I've gotta follow the rules."
That picture looks just fine to me. She goes a bit heavy on the makeup, but everyone's got their faults.
Jugding from this, I imagine she can ride and speak the truth. Now, can she shoot straight as well?
I saw the explanation further down about the article as opposed to the picture. I was just having fun anyhow.
They passed that milestone a long time ago.
There has long been a segment of rabble that foment mobs of ranting activists, inciting to extreme ends ... this is merely such a guy that has a megaphone for a day.
Turn it down ... turn it off ... ignore him.
He posted his article at DTR at 8:42 and has had a whooping one reply, as this is written. Here is what another DTR person said (excerpted):
"I am not sure just what I would chose for their punishment, putting them both on the front lines in Iraq sounds good... to have their future voting righs taken from them and also the bility to serve in any political capacity for the rest of their lives...and just for good measure big F's branded into their foreheads... By all means they should be put on trial and be held accountable for their actions...
I would challenge you to go that website and simply state that the post is objectionable and you disagree. The wait and see the crap they throw at you.
Guilty, even if proven innocent. They are serious nutcases over there.
These statements make their courage (Harris and Blackwell) more apparent.
I would gladly pull the switch if THAT asshole were strapped into "Old Sparky"
Why would you want to give Maine bears a bad case of the runs?
Did a thorough reading of ted's writings. I have come to the conclusion that he certainly must have gotten his ass kicked regularly in HS.....he sure seems the type
I have to admit, that was a bit callous of me, and I retract the bear part.
How about insects? ;)
What a poorly written article! Why, it reads like something one would expect from a public-school 9th-grader!
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