Posted on 02/04/2005 5:33:17 PM PST by Mike Fieschko
WENATHCEE - A Chelan County judge has refused to order a revote in Washington's achingly close governor's race.Superior Court Judge John Bridges ruled today that he doesn't have authority under state law to order a statewide, second election, as requested by the Republican Party.
The Republicans are contesting the election of Democrat Christine Gregoire, who was named governor only after winning a second recount of ballots over Republican Dino Rossi. Gregoire won by just 129 votes out of nearly three (m) million ballots cast.
Earlier today, Bridges dismissed all the counties and county auditors from the case.
That simplified the case from 81 parties to four. The remaining parties are the Republicans suing the secretary of state, and the Democrat and Libertarian parties who intervened.
However, Bridges did not dismiss the case, as requested by Democrats.
It's likely headed now for the state Supreme Court.
Republicans hope to go to a trial where they can argue they have uncovered enough problem votes to outweigh Gregoire's 129-vote margin of victory over Rossi.
This was going to the state Supreme Court regardless of how this judge ruled.
Do I need to ask which side the libertarians are on in this suit?
So, if R's can't get the relief they are requesting, is the election vacated? Who takes the helm until a new election can be held?
Grip the ankles tightly, grit your teeth and count to ten, in hopes it'll all be over soon.
He can void the election and vacate the Gov. seat though.
Lt. Gov. Owen, a Democrat.
So the result of fraud would still be a theft of power.
Hmm...I understand the argument. The State Supreme Court, however, certainly does have the authority to order a revote. But I am not optimistic.
I mean, Gregoire's "victory" is sooooo obviously fraudulent that even Democrats ought to be able to smell the stench.
What do you expect to happen, BTD?
I'm still trying to figure this out. Of the universe of things that could happen... this wasn't among the things I thought were likely.
There is a certain logic to it, but I'm not sure yet that the judge is right about not being able to order a new election.
Even so... Gregoire is not the rightful Governor, and she should be removed. Whether I can live with some months of Brad Owen is another matter. He would at least have the air of legitimacy.
I hate to say it, but it sounds like the judge made the right decision: If he indeed didn't have the jurisdiction to order a new election, then to do so would have been the kind of judicial power-grab we despise. Sometimes you have to take the bitter with the sweet.
Also, as other posters said, this one was going to the state SC, period. It's far from over.
Waiting to be turned into a CD (Double rimshot.) Seriously, being the annoying little Sore Losetarians that they are, as usual.
I agree that the judge made the right move. I don't believe that lower level judges are possessed of sufficient authority to order momentous changes. His ruling seems to be favorable to the Republicans, and stopped short of the revote due to concerns of overstepping bounds. We'll see how this plays out at the WA SC.
I would hope they are supporting the Republicans, since the RATS have taken over the Senate again. They are planning on bringing up legislation that previously failed when the Republicans had control, like gun control bills.
In this case the Libertarian candidate was a flaming feminist lesbian who took way more votes from the Democrat than the Republican. If she had not run, the Democrat would have probably won by 16 or 17 thousand votes and we would not be talking about this today.
Your uninformed shot at Libertarians is uncalled for.
So where is the usual secession legislation that the eastside Republicans try every year? This year it would get some traction.
Let Gregoire govern King, Snohomish, parts of Pierce, and Thurston - and let the rest form a new state. One that is business oriented.
The good news for Democrats was Bridges' ruling in Chelan County Superior Court that Republicans must show any illegal votes were cast in favor of Gregoire, and not Republican candidate Dino Rossi. There would have to be enough illegal Gregoire votes to erase her 129-vote victory margin.That's a tough one. How do you discern how people voted? For instance, the 300+ provisional ballots King Co. ran through prematurely...how could Rossi possible determine how they voted? Same question on the voterless ballots---there's no way to assign them by candidate.
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