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Court bans Nader from Pa. ballot
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ^ | Wednesday, October 13, 2004 | Tom Barnes

Posted on 10/13/2004 4:34:07 PM PDT by pittsburgh gop guy

Court bans Nader from Pa. ballot Wednesday, October 13, 2004

By Tom Barnes, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

HARRISBURG -- Commonwealth Court today issued its long-awaited decision on the independent presidential candidacy of Ralph Nader, ordering the consumer advocate off the ballot in Pennsylvania.

The court said it had reviewed 51,273 petition signatures submitted by Nader campaign workers and found only 18,818 were valid -- far short of the 25,697 valid names he needed to run for president in Pennsylvania.

Commonwealth Court ruled in favor of eight objectors, most of whom were from the Pittsburgh area, who had gone to court after criticizing the validity of thousands of petition signatures that Nader had turned in to the state in August in an effort to get a spot on the ballot.

Democratic Party officials were also upset by the Nader petitions, claiming that many signatures appeared spurious.

In his lengthy opinion, President Judge James Gardner Colins said he has served longer on Commonwealth Court than any judge in the court's history and has reviewed more nominating petitions than any other judge in the court's history. That set up the following statement from the judge:

"I am compelled to emphasize that this signature-gathering process was the most deceitful and fraudulent exercise ever perpetrated upon this court." He said the conduct of the candidates, Nader and running mate Peter Camejo, "shocks the conscience of the court."

Colins noted hat the names on the petitions included Mickey Mouse, Fred Flintstone and John Kerry.

Democrats were cheered by the decision because they feared Nader would siphon votes from people unhappy with President Bush -- votes that likely will go to Democratic challenger John Kerry if Nader isn't on the ballot in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania, with 21 electoral votes, is considered an important swing state in the presidential election, where Republican Bush and Democrat Kerry are running a close race.

The Commonwealth Court's decision, however, leads to an important question -- what happens in several counties throughout the state, including large ones such as Allegheny, Philadelphia and Montgomery, where absentee ballots have already been mailed out with Nader's name on them? Will a second ballot, one without Nader's name, have to be sent out to those voters?

Allegheny County sent out between 25,000 and 30,000 absentee ballots last week, said county Elections Division Manager Mark Wolosik, who was checking with county lawyers today on how to proceed.

The ballots were sent out last week, he said, because "there was a possibility that the voters wouldn't receive their ballot and have a chance to complete it and return it by the deadline'' of 5 p.m. Oct. 29.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Culture/Society; Extended News; Front Page News; Government; Politics/Elections; US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS: ballotaccess; election; nader; napalminthemorning
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Just got a little tougher for W. to win PA - which I never thought he would anyway....
1 posted on 10/13/2004 4:34:07 PM PDT by pittsburgh gop guy
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To: pittsburgh gop guy

Nader----

"He was a victum of the great compromise----"

Just to quote John Prine


2 posted on 10/13/2004 4:36:59 PM PDT by Founding Father
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To: pittsburgh gop guy

I bet all of those absentee ballots will be the basis of a huge lawsuit if JFK loses Pennsylvania.


3 posted on 10/13/2004 4:37:34 PM PDT by satchmodog9 (Murder and weather are our only news)
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To: pittsburgh gop guy
Colins noted hat the names on the petitions included Mickey Mouse, Fred Flintstone and John Kerry.

Ouch.

4 posted on 10/13/2004 4:38:24 PM PDT by Lurking Libertarian (Non sub homine, sed sub Deo et lege)
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To: pittsburgh gop guy
Just got a little tougher for W. to win PA - which I never thought he would anyway

Do you really think that the people that are going to vote for Ralph Nader won't vote for him because he is not on the ballot?

This is all a stall tactic by the Dims to delay sending out absentee ballots. So they can disenfranchise our military vote!

5 posted on 10/13/2004 4:38:38 PM PDT by rocksblues (Sorry John, we remember and will never forget your treason!)
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To: pittsburgh gop guy

OK. From the precedent creted here for a strict standard to verify the validity of signatures, the same standard should apply to verify the identity of newly registered voters, including my daughter. She will have no problem showing a driver's license or other ID. Can the same be said of the multiple voters in Philly?


6 posted on 10/13/2004 4:38:58 PM PDT by Vigilanteman (crime would drop like a sprung trapdoor if we brought back good old-fashioned hangings)
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To: pittsburgh gop guy
OK. From the precedent created here for a strict standard to verify the validity of signatures, the same standard should apply to verify the identity of newly registered voters, including my daughter. She will have no problem showing a driver's license or other ID. Can the same be said of the multiple voters in Philly?
7 posted on 10/13/2004 4:40:00 PM PDT by Vigilanteman (crime would drop like a sprung trapdoor if we brought back good old-fashioned hangings)
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To: satchmodog9

Lawsuit already filed as they were under orders by judge not to send out absentee ballots until the ruling. Though I think there was another case filed today on behalf of soldiers that conveniently will not have time to send their ballots in.


8 posted on 10/13/2004 4:40:47 PM PDT by Ingtar (Understanding is a three-edged sword : your side, my side, and the truth in between ." -- Kosh)
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To: pittsburgh gop guy
"I am compelled to emphasize that this signature-gathering process was the most deceitful and fraudulent exercise ever perpetrated upon this court."

Just wait til the VOTE FRAUD COMES THROUGH, CHESTER!

9 posted on 10/13/2004 4:41:17 PM PDT by atomicpossum (If there are two Americas, John Edwards isn't qualified to lead either of them.©)
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To: pittsburgh gop guy

> ... absentee ballots have already been mailed out
> with Nader's name on them?

Having just voted-early today (in another state), I was
wondering if PA might have this issue.

It doesn't seem like much of a problem though. It's little
different from a late-resignation candidate. The vote is
not counted for that office (as much as the Dems might
like to argue that Nader votes are Kerry votes).

I noticed on our ballots that neither the Socialists
nor the Communists (by name) had Presidential candidates
this year. Kerry fits their requirements. Little wonder
that they've endorsed him.


10 posted on 10/13/2004 4:41:42 PM PDT by Boundless
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To: Lurking Libertarian

Ouch is right.... These names are redundant.


11 posted on 10/13/2004 4:42:47 PM PDT by trashcanbred (Anti-social and anti-socialist)
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To: atomicpossum

Is Chester, PA still the filthy town is was for 80 years or did it change to become a wealthy burg of Philly? By your comment, I think the former still rings true. :(


12 posted on 10/13/2004 4:48:28 PM PDT by moonman
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To: pittsburgh gop guy
"The court said it had reviewed 51,273 petition signatures submitted by Nader campaign workers and found only 18,818 were valid -- far short of the 25,697 valid names he needed to run for president in Pennsylvania."

Why aren't states just as scrutinizing, when dealing with registration and voting, eh?

13 posted on 10/13/2004 4:49:42 PM PDT by unspun (RU working your precinct, churchmembers, etc. 4 good votes? | Not "Unspun w/ AnnaZ" but I appreciate)
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To: pittsburgh gop guy

What's the deal with Naderites? Grassroots rot? Or is it: 'The Lefter You Go, the Cheater You Get.'?


14 posted on 10/13/2004 4:52:27 PM PDT by Post Toasties
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To: moonman

The Chester Pa of many years ago was a center of activity and jobs. They had Lee Iococca and the Ford Plant, Baldt Anchor, Congolium, Teledyne Lars, Ranger Joe Ceral, Sun OIl, Sinclair oil, Sun Ship, Medfords, Scott Paper, Chester Beer Company & Boeing in Ridley. Chester was a working mans community and is now problem filled with schools taken over by the state. There are some decent people in Chester but many have moved away leaving the community struggling. Boarded up homes and drug shootings along with failing schools. I do not think it can be turned around. Race track gambling was approved and Chester will have a slot parlor and harness racing. I wish them luck.


15 posted on 10/13/2004 5:04:15 PM PDT by oldironsides
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To: pittsburgh gop guy

If only they reviewed voter registrations so thoroughly!


16 posted on 10/13/2004 5:04:20 PM PDT by thoughtomator ("!Allahu Snackbar" - the war cry of the pajamadeen - Let's stop VOTE FRAUD NOW! Write your reps!)
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Comment #17 Removed by Moderator

To: rocksblues

I was thinking the same thing. This election could take weeks if not months to finalize because the military won't be able to get their votes into the state on time and lawsuits will start springing up.


18 posted on 10/13/2004 5:29:14 PM PDT by pctech
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To: pittsburgh gop guy

fred flintson is a green!
I always assumed he was a paleo conservative


19 posted on 10/13/2004 5:55:57 PM PDT by escapefromboston (green lantern returns!)
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To: Stop_Neocons
[ He is a real populist, not a phony, bullsh*t populist like Jim Hightower. It's said he can't get his message across; I guess a prophet really is without honor in his own land.]

He is also an abject socialist. Since socialism is slavery by every measureable measure. He is also an idiot.. He is also a democrat being for democracy. This republic is no democracy. Democracy is mob rule.. perfect for islamic countrys.

20 posted on 10/13/2004 6:04:46 PM PDT by hosepipe (This propaganda has been edited to include some fully orbed hyperbole....)
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