Democracy in Washington State, San Diego, and the Ukraine

The Claremont Institute ^ | January 3, 2005 | Ken Masugi

[Stoat]

Democracy in Washington State, San Diego, and the Ukraine

 

Reading accounts of the Washington election for governor in the national papers makes the Republican request for a recount sound like loser's sour grapes. But there is a deeper issue that makes the episode surprass San Diego, even if doesn't near Ukrainean proportions. The conservative Republican challenger ran narrowly ahead of long-time Democratic pol, Attorney General Christine Gregoire, in the original election (261 votes) and then the first recount (42 votes). But, the second recount, by hand, put her ahead (by 129 votes), with her margin of victory increased with the discovery of previously uncounted ballots in the State Democratic stronghold of King County (Seattle and its suburbs). By itself, the narrowness of the defeat combined with the two previous victories would be enough to burden the staunchest of hearts and get the most hardened electoral veterans to call "foul."

But, as Powerline publicized, there is some evidence of deep scandal--namely a considerable overvote in King County. Thirty-five hundred more votes were recorded than the number of certified voters listed. This overvote could have provided the Democratic votes sufficient to provide Gregoire with her margin of victory.

The Washington State blogsite to go to is Sound Politics. The key blog entry is by Stefan Sharkansky. I've been home here in my native Tacoma for New Year's, and I find the coverage of this side of the race frustrating: As far as the MSM are concerned, the race is over, and there is only some grumbling on the other side. Only the Seattle Times gives significant credence to the other side. It reported Dec. 31:

"The number of King County ballots counted in the final tally was 899,199 — 3,539 more than the number of participating voters reported in the county's list.

"County elections officials said they are examining the data to resolve the discrepancy. An updated voter list will be released by the end of next week, they said.

"King County Elections Director Dean Logan said it is not unusual to find a discrepancy that must be reconciled through a painstaking comparison of computer data and other records after votes are counted. He said that two recounts have meant the county could not do that work as quickly as usual.

"But the discrepancy in this election appears to be larger than usual.''

To make matters worse for Republicans, the Republican Secretary of State has stood up for positions favoring the Democrats. Consider this favorable profile in the Tacoma News Tribune (which had at least mentioned the overvote issue).

But the local papers have been otherwise blank about the details provided by Sound Politics. Some of this might be attributable to a general weariness and a desire to finally get the Nov. 2 election over with. There are partisan motives as well, of course. We'll see how this gets reported after the overvotes are explained or explained away at the end of this week.

MONDAY UPDATE: For yet another instance of a precinct having far more ballots issued than voters, revisit Sound Politics.

But why would a second election resolve anything, it might be asked. Washington State's unusual reliance on absentee voting makes fraud easier to perpetrate, as Sound Politics' Jim Miller predicted back in October. Moreover, the Democratic majorities in the State Senate and House would never agree to a revote. It would be nearly impossible to generate the requisite public outrage for the partisans to turn against their own party and Governor. Public opinion needs to lead the way.

Here, another example bears recollection as well (I don't recall my source on this): John Thune's victory over Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle. In 2002 Thune narrowly lost, but he did not contest the result. He could not be derided as a whiner. Dean Rossi should keep this in mind, as Maria Cantwell's senate seat comes up for election in 2006. If independent forces can help portray Rossi as not only the victim of a robbery but a manly spirit, it would do him and the (small d) democratic cause well.

San Diegans should keep this in mind as they reflect on the results of their election and the scandals enveloping the city. There, a strict adherence to the rules concerning write-in ballots appeared to produce a mayor who received fewer votes than his rival. The Washington State example shows what happens when the rules permit willful individuals from altering election results. Better to suffer with strict rules. As for San Diego's other problems, that's one reason we have the FBI.

[Stoat]

Ken Masugi is the Director of the Center for Local Government. Its purpose is to apply the principles of the American Founding to the theory and practice of local government, the cradle of American self-government. Dr. Masugi has extensive experience in government and academia. Following his initial appointment at the Claremont Institute (1982-86), he was a special assistant to then-Chairman Clarence Thomas of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. After his years in Washington, he held visiting university appointments including Olin Distinguished Visiting Professor at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Dr. Masugi is co-author with Brian Janiskee of Democracy in California: Politics and Government in the Golden State (Rowman & Littlefield, 2002). He is co-editor of six books on political thought, including The Supreme Court and American Constitutionalism with Branford P. Wilson, (Ashbrook Series, 1997); The Ambiguous Legacy of the Enlightenment with William Rusher, (University Press, 1995); The American Founding with J. Jackson Barlow and Leonard W. Levy, (Greenwood Press, 1988). He is the editor of Interpreting Tocqueville's Democracy in America, (Rowman & Littlefield, 1991).

He is author of numerous essays and reviews of works on political theory, constitutional law, public policy, and films. Dr. Masugi has also published in the popular press, including the Los Angeles Times, Orange County Register, Washington Post, Washington Times, National Review, and the Weekly Standard.

The Claremont Institute Ken Masugi

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Here, another example bears recollection as well (I don't recall my source on this): John Thune's victory over Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle. In 2002 Thune narrowly lost, but he did not contest the result. He could not be derided as a whiner. Dean Rossi should keep this in mind, as Maria Cantwell's senate seat comes up for election in 2006. If independent forces can help portray Rossi as not only the victim of a robbery but a manly spirit, it would do him and the (small d) democratic cause well.

Dino doesn't care about 2006. Dino cares about a stolen election, happening now...and so do those of us who know what's going on. If he had turned and walked away from this, he would have disappointed an awful lot of people.

If they get away with it now, they can get away with it again.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Ping

[Kitten Festival]

The researcher left out the grandaddy case study of them all: VENEZUELA, certified by Jimmah Cottah himself as all free and fair. Wonder why.

[taxesareforever]

"County elections officials said they are examining the data to resolve the discrepancy. An updated voter list will be released by the end of next week, they said.

Gives them just enough time to contact Ohio and secure a list of additonal voters.

[Kitten Festival]

I'm from San Diego and the only reason I didn't vote in this mess is that I got caught in LA traffic and had to vote provisional right there or else nothing.

My feeling is: they all suck, I would take Murphy above the others but I am not going to be too upset if Frye walks away with it, based on the fact that she ran on a transparency platform, which is what the city desperately needs, and she really did attract more votes. C'mon, it was a write-in, people! Technicalities strike me as disgusting if someone can actually win under write-in conditions. That said, I am ok whichever way this goes. If Frye doesn't get it this time, she is darn sure to get it next time. I wish her well and hope for the best.

[sharkhawk]

Except it was a run-off election. A way to make sure the winner gets 50% of the votes. IMHO, none of her votes should have been counted in the election.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

There is a big difference between South Dakota and Washington. South Dakota is a Republican State that was becoming more Republican. Democrat Senators are an anomaly which eventually corrected itself. Washington is not Republican and we can't count on trends making an eventual Republican win inevitable.

[Stoat]

In addition to the excellent links provided in Dr. Masugi's article above, people interested in the Washington election may wish to regularly check Orbusmax

Orbusmax ™ Northwest News - 'Around The World In 80K'

There's a frequently-updated section on the Washington election as well as other news pertaining primarily to the Pacific Northwest.  It's sort of like a Northwest version of the Drudge Report.

[rockrr]

Do you think if we wrote it in blood, it would sink in? How many times does it need to be repeated?

Dino hasn't expressed as interest in a Senate seat. He isn't a political whore like Christine (Da Grinch) GreGore.

If

we

don't

stop

her

her

and

now

there

will

be

no

stopping

them

EVER......

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

I'm surprised at the number of people that think the best thing to do is just roll over and let them take this one, as blatant as the cheating is. I normally associate conservatism with real men (and liberals with groin-kicking). Dino is acting like a real man. I would like to see him backed up in that.

[Political Junkie Too]

. In 2002 Thune narrowly lost, but he did not contest the result. He could not be derided as a whiner. Dean Rossi should keep this in mind, as Maria Cantwell's senate seat comes up for election in 2006.

This person misses the point. He assumes that all that Rossi wants is power, and that if he can't get it as Washington State's governor, he'll seek it as their Senator. The flaw in that thinking is the difference between an executive position and a legislative position, and the difference between an office in Olympia and an office in Washington, DC.

This is the race that Rossi ran, and this is the fight that he should see to the end.

-PJ

[jonrick46]

Rossi wants, to no surprise to those who know him, the process of selecting our public servants to be clear of corruption. I heard him tell about 600 delegates in King County that he had added a sixth item to his list of priorities when he becomes governor: election reform.

[Stoat]

Agreed, and I don't think that Dr. Masugi is so far off the mark as some here are suggesting. If we continue reading past the section that you quoted to the very next sentence:

If independent forces can help portray Rossi as not only the victim of a robbery but a manly spirit, it would do him and the (small d) democratic cause well.

I would wish to politely suggest that all of this can be done while not conceding and continuing the fight, which I believe that he should.

There is a difference in being cast as a 'whiner' when you have no case and are obviously a juvenile, sore loser (Gore 2000) and being someone who has a legitimate case and has been genuinely wronged (Rossi 2004/2005).  In Rossi's case he must continue the fight but he must fight just as hard to have his case heard in the public square, something that the local and national press wishes to avoid at all costs.  Failing the second part of this fight would be nearly as disastrous as failing the first. 

Some here are drawing the inference that the author is suggesting Mr. Rossi should withdraw gracefully now so that he will have a chance at Cantwell's seat in 2006, but he doesn't say that.  I would suggest that the point is in not allowing the Left to spin this as sore-losing and whining Republicans now, because WHATEVER candidate opposes Cantwell in 2006 will be tarred by such a brush held over from this election.

[SoCalPol]

If Frye doesn't get it this time, she is darn sure to get it next time. I wish her well and hope for the best.

Your kidding. She is far left, the Unions who have
destroyed the city are her major supporters. As a 57 year
ntive of the city I know what that freak would do starting
with driving out businesses, she would clash with the military. She is an eco wack-o.
No need to worry about transparency with no city left.
You can't be anything near a conservative and think you
would want Frye of the far left.

[Kitten Festival]

OK, no Frye. I wanted Murphy anyway, but got stuck in Los Angeles traffic down by the Long Beach refinery.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

I would suggest that the point is in not allowing the Left to spin this as sore-losing and whining Republicans now, because WHATEVER candidate opposes Cantwell in 2006 will be tarred by such a brush held over from this election.

If we couldn't send Murray home to Shoreline and her tennis shoes, what makes you believe it matters, in terms of winning and losing, what the 2006 race against Cantwell will look like? If Nethercutt couldn't beat Murray, we are stuck with Cantwell, imo - no matter what happens. Unless, of course, some conservative celebrity runs against her.

[Kitten Festival]

As you say...I would have voted for Murphy but got stuck in traffic on the way down.

[Stoat]

If we couldn't send Murray home to Shoreline and her tennis shoes, what makes you believe it matters, in terms of winning and losing, what the 2006 race against Cantwell will look like? If Nethercutt couldn't beat Murray, we are stuck with Cantwell, imo - no matter what happens. Unless, of course, some conservative celebrity runs against her.

I would wish to politely disagree, and cite as my rationale the same points that I just made in my previous post.  It is ESSENTIAL that the evidence supporting Mr. Rossi's case be publicized as widely and loudly as possible, because that is one of our greatest strengths and greatest weapons.  Swing voters, moderate democrats and people who aren't tuned into politics will invariably be swayed to the Left by the traditional fusillade of lavishly-funded wall-to-wall spin that the Washington Democratic machine and their allies in the Unions and the press will spew.  However, hard, unassailable facts and solid proof of corruption will ultimately be a much more effective voice and will be solidly on our side if Mr. Rossi not only continues the legal fight but continues to fight to get the word out as well. 

Even now, thoughtful Democrats are sympathetic to the re-vote cause, as demonstrated by the numerous polls with huge majorities favoring a re-vote.  The important thing to do is to maintain the momentum, not only in the courts but in the press....that is where public opinion will be swayed and that is where the groundwork for 2006 will be laid.  This groundwork will affect whichever candidate the Republicans run.  The important thing is to make sure that the groundwork is solid and truthful, in our favor.  People will remember this.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Do you have any suggestions for how we should go about that?