LIVE THREAD: WA State Court Hearing on Rossi/Gregoire Governors Race

KING5 TV ^

[Hostage]

LOL....GREGOIRE BE GONE, in fact BE GREGONE!

[connectthedots]

i think you get the general gist of wnat my argument would be. The position of governor is too important to wait anothe nine months for an election.

[highpockets]

BTT

[GretchenM]

Ping to news article at post 338
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1336089/posts?page=338#338
gives more info than the thread I pinged you to

[GretchenM]

Ping to AP article at post 338 after the judge ruled:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1336089/posts?page=338#338

[ScottFromSpokane]

RCW 29A.68.090 just lays out the standard for proceeding with a contest:

http://www.leg.wa.gov/RCW/index.cfm?section=29A.68.090&fuseaction=section

Illegal votes -- Allegation of.
When the reception of illegal votes is alleged as a cause of contest, it is sufficient to state generally that illegal votes were cast, that, if given to the person whose election is contested in the specified precinct or precincts, will, if taken from that person, reduce the number of the person's legal votes below the number of legal votes given to some other person for the same office.

[GretchenM]

Just visited your home page. Your dad is one smart and honorable dude. Is he a registered FReeper?

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Judge just ruled, in essence, that the GOP is entitled to a re-vote. he is now making rulings on the different motions so the entire case can proceed to the state supreme court a fast as possible.

Let freedom ring!

[Hostage]

RCW 29A.68.090
Illegal votes -- Allegation of.
When the reception of illegal votes is alleged as a cause of contest, it is sufficient to state generally that illegal votes were cast, that, if given to the person whose election is contested in the specified precinct or precincts, will, if taken from that person, reduce the number of the person's legal votes below the number of legal votes given to some other person for the same office.

OKAY HERE IT IS.....

'...it is sufficient to state generally...'

and here's some math:

a = number of illegal votes for Gregoire
b = number of illegal votes for Rossi

a + b = 1000

X= total votes for Gregoire
Y= total votes for Rossi

X = Y +129

Delete the illegal votes

(X-a)-(Y-b) < 1 for Gregoire to become Gregone,

some algebra yields:

a > 564, or 564 of 1000 (56.4%) illegal votes went for Gregone.

This percentage is highly highly highly likely in King County.

The general formula is to show a > (N+128)/2 where N = the number of illegal votes.


Now the case will hinge on statistics or confirmed votes. The latter is not possible because of privacy.

If the statistical approach is turned down, it means no election cold ever be contested because of ballot privacy, i.e. no election would ever be contested.

Now the lawyers should have case law to back up a statistical approach or a 'general irregularities' decision. This is where the election will be decided.

[Hostage]

Thanks. I found it also while typing up post #629. Now we need to be sure the reporter was accurate.

[Timeout]

Another blogger here, following and reporting on the live feed from the courtroom.

Seems to disagree with the Times report.

I've never heard of the "also also" blog, but he sounds like a lawyer.
http://alsoalso.typepad.com/also_also/

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Woo-Hoo!! CA SoS Shelley resigns!

His fellow Democrat Party troth-mates gave him the boot. They can't risk having the light of truth shining on their nefarious activities. Their creedo: You can graft, but just don't get caught. If you get caught, you're out.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

He's striking the portion of the petition that requests the court to order a new election. He says the court doesn't have that authority.

If vote fraud is found, then who has the authority to remedy the situation? Is it back to the legislature?

[Splatter]

Great piece. Best I read so far.

The only real losers are WE THE PEOPLE, as usual.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Justice delayed is justice denied. This gives the usurpers time to consolidate their ill-gotten gains.

[torridjoe]

Hi. I co-founded AlsoAlso with a conservative Christian. I am a progressive agnostic. The two of us agree on many things, but also believe our differences can be discussed in a civil manner.

I'm not a lawyer, but I have been following the case very closely, and am quite familiar with the election contest provisions (RCW 29A 68), and the case law in Foulkes v Hays that figured prominently today.

My recap of the proceedings is here:
http://alsoalso.typepad.com/also_also/2005/02/newsbreak_chela.html

I welcome comments, positive or negative--but freep rules do not apply at our place. Be civil or be gone.

[torridjoe]

if you're referring to my piece, thank you.

[GretchenM]

Thanks, cms, for Finkbeiner's communique at post 511. I've seen him on TVW and been impressed with his grasp of issues.

[djf]

Rossi should be sitting on the steps of the State Supreme Court on Monday morning to appeal that part of the ruling.

In this particular case, the legislature either didn't provide a remedy that matched the circumstances, or provided a remedy that is impossible to achieve, which is no remedy at all.

In either case, it certainly could devolve upon the courts to have the power to order a new election.

[Splatter]

You authored "Also Also"? Perceptive, straight forward and informative. On par with SoundPolitics.. actually better at this point. Good job!