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]

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

We ARE doing it, and I believe that ample evidence supporting Mr. Rossi's cause is poised to rapidly expand and grow to the point where the local as well as the national press simply can't hide from it any longer.  I believe that we are right on the cusp of this:

KIROTV.com - Campaign 2004 - GOP More Voting Discrepancies Found

The mountain of evidence supporting Mr. Rossi is like the proverbial elephant in the living room to the media, but it is growing at such a rate that they will be forced to confront it.

This, coupled the growing sentiment for a re-vote by many independents even some honest Democrats is creating a situation never before encountered in this state, and quite likely nowhere else in the U.S.  A Mount Everest of evidence is something that's awfully hard to hide from.

Our main enemy is time.  The evidence must be effectively presented before the swearing-in.  After that, things get far more difficult.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

I saw Dino on Special Report (FNC) the other day; it was good to see him laying out some of the details. He makes a very positive impression, too - comes across as very reasonable. I'd like to see him do more of that.

[Stoat]

I saw Dino on Special Report (FNC) the other day; it was good to see him laying out some of the details. He makes a very positive impression, too - comes across as very reasonable. I'd like to see him do more of that.

That's great!  I agree that more public exposure would be a big help, and I believe that this will happen very soon.  The upcoming court challenge will be an excellent opportunity to present evidence to the public at the same time.

[Splatter]

The numbers keep climbing. Now wouldn't that be odd if the vote/voter discrepancy totaled 10,000 ballots?

"During the first count of ballots, two days before certification King County announced it had 10,000 more ballots than it originally thought. These additional ballots benefited Gregoire."

[gop_gene]

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.

I would love to be wrong, but I don't really think Rossi's situation is analagous to Thune's: Thune was running in a heavily republican state during a presidential year on the same ticket as a president of his own party who was very popular in SD, whereas Rossi will be running in a democrat state in an off-year election. Plus, unless a good number of people have long memories and are willing to take it out on Cantwell, she is in a stronger position this time, she will be running as a democrat incumbent in a blue state. And--while left-wing states may have no problem electing a republican to state office (governor, treasurer, secretary of state, attorney general), they often don't have that attitude when it comes to electing one for statewide federal office (senator).

[Stoat]

"The numbers keep climbing. Now wouldn't that be odd if the vote/voter discrepancy totaled 10,000 ballots?"

"During the first count of ballots, two days before certification King County announced it had 10,000 more ballots than it originally thought. These additional ballots benefited Gregoire."
 

It would be an interesting 'coincidence', wouldn't it?  I wouldn't put anything past the Dems here in Washington.  They are so utterly corrupt and skanky...they will do ANYTHING to retain power.

Don't forget....a statue of LENIN has stood in Seattle (well, Fremont) for around a decade or so, with no objections from the City.

I am so embarrassed to be a Washingtonian....  "sigh"

[Robert357]

Very good article, if he would have tied the democratic/judiciary mischief that occurred in Montana house race and that of the Ohio Presidential race posturing by Democrats, it would have been even more comprehensive.

Thanks for the post!