Recall doubt scares off voters ABSENTEES: Early balloting dropped immediately after ruling

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | Friday, September 19, 2003 | Mark Simon

[Checkers]

A geyser of voter participation in the Oct. 7 recall election -- nearly 500,000 absentee ballots have already been cast -- has slowed to a dribble since Monday's federal appellate court ruling postponing the election until March.

Elections officials around the state say there has been a dramatic drop in absentee balloting and voter registrations.

The numbers had been about what elections officials see for a regular statewide election for governor -- a level they consider extraordinary in light of the strange, off-year timing of the recall election.

"I think people think the election has been called off, and it really hasn't," said Madelyn De Justo of the Marin County registrar of voters office. "It's unbelievable, the falloff."

A tally by the California secretary of state shows that as of late Thursday afternoon 498,064 absentee ballots had been cast -- delivered by mail or by those walking into county offices to vote absentee on the spot.

The volume of ballots already cast has prompted some to assert that the federal court's ruling, if it's upheld, will disenfranchise more voters than the punch-card technology that prompted judges to postpone the election.

Continued at http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/09/19/MN256236.DTL

[pawdoggie]

And where is Bush and company in all of this?

Unfortunately, Bush and company harbor pipe dreams of winning Mexifornia in '04, and will do nothing that might be perceived as "anti-Hispanic" (read: "anti-illegal Mexican immigrant").

[w1andsodidwe]

I would be more concerned about applications for absentee ballots. If I was voting absentee, and had a ballot, I would hold off sending it in until I knew if the election was going to happen.

[poet]

"Ummm ... I think he has been trying to appoint new Judges and is being blocked by the Dems."

That's true, however, he is not fighting for their receiving a vote by the full Senate. He's not saying anything about the RATS mis-use of the filibuster. A comment by a sitting President carries a lot of weight.

"As for him coming out and commenting on this .. Why??"

It would be good to know where he stands on this issue. He has commented on a State issue relative to giving 3,000,000 illegals a pass, so, why not this State issue?

"There is nothing he can do about it, this a state issue and is a judicial issue, which the USSC will slap these activists judges down like they always do."

Yes, it's a State issue, but, once again, a public chastisement from him would be good to hear, after all, he didn't hesitate to publicly chastise his own Senate leader about a stupid comment.

---

[mrobison]

Yep, just think about it: by trying to "protect" the rights of 40,000 minority voters, they've destroyed the rights of hundreds of thousands of other voters whose votes will now never be counted.

[Mo1]

That's true, however, he is not fighting for their receiving a vote by the full Senate. He's not saying anything about the RATS mis-use of the filibuster. A comment by a sitting President carries a lot of weight

He has commented many times about the Libs blocking the vote.

As for Lott .. Lott has only himself to blame for what happened.

Why is it always Bush's fault. Why can't the people who screw up take responsibility for their own actions.

I'm not saying Bush should not be criticize for anything .. But how about we do it for things he actually does.

Why is it that many want the Fed Gov to stay out of State issues ... but when things dont go the way they want .. Then they want the Fed. Gov to bail them out?

Bush didn't appoint these activist Judges .. Clinton and Carter did. but with that said .. the USSC will slap them down like they always do

[Sabertooth]

I think he has been trying to appoint new Judges and is being blocked by the Dems.

As for him coming out and commenting on this .. Why??

Because "Take back the Senate!" didn't get us the conservative judges that were promised.

Since the GOP Senate lacks the will and courage to make the Democrats at least bleed for their filibuster, and since a filibuster-proof Senate majority is a phantasmic pipedream, the President is going to need to storm the bully pulpit and take the case against Leftist judicial tyranny straight to the American people.

The Democrats changed the rules. The President needs to respond with some rule changes of his own.

[poet]

"Why is it that many want the Fed Gov to stay out of State issues ... but when things dont go the way they want .. Then they want the Fed. Gov to bail them out?"

I want the Feds to stay out of our lives except to close our borders, keep a strong "non-social program" military, stop sending our tax dollars to repair the infrastructure(s) of foreign countries and repair America's deteriorating infrastructure(s), stop giving GRANTs to failing companies.

I just want the President to use the bully pulpit against people who have no regard for law and order.

What good do it do you followers of the modern small r republicans when they took control of the Senate and House?

They let a lowlife criminal and his equally lowlife wife off the hook for their misdeeds and lies. They passed GATT & NAFTA after only 4 hours of debate. Can you believe or have any respect for people who gave FOUR hours of debate for two treaties that will affect the American worker(s) for years to come? Also remember, it was a "lame duck" republican controlled Senate who did this.

There are two democrat parties, but, one of them calls themselves republicans. Very few of them have any personal integrity or honor.

Integrity & Honor are to politicians as water is to a lit match.

[LisaAnne]

Recall doubt scares off voters ABSENTEES: Early balloting dropped immediately after ruling

Ping

[Robert A Cook PE]

Gee.

What a coincidence!

Gosh.

Lots of people NOT voting in the recall - after a democratc-funded/inspired lawsuit.............

[Hostage]

Except for the fact that it was a ***Federal Court*** that has delayed the vote and possibly thwarted it.

Bush may have nothing to do with it but Congress has power to regulate jurisdiction of lower federal courts.

[Mo1]

The Democrats changed the rules. The President needs to respond with some rule changes of his own.

And how would you want him to change the rules?

And the Dems didn't change the rules .. the abused the rules ..

The 60 votes has been in place for years

[Mo1]

I just want the President to use the bully pulpit against people who have no regard for law and order.

I have no problem with Bush using the bully pulpit and yes I agree he needs to use it more

But it seems that many of your complaints are with Congress and not President Bush

[Sabertooth]

it seems that many of your complaints are with Congress and not President Bush

My criticisms are for the failures of the elected politicians of the Republican Party. I criticize Congress all the time, but President Bush is the leader of the GOP.

His desk is where the buck stops.

[Mo1]

I understand your point .. but how about slamming Congress as hard has some do with their slamming of Bush??

[Sabertooth]

I understand your point .. but how about slamming Congress as hard has some do with their slamming of Bush??

I think both are let off far too easily on this board.

It's going to take some serious criticism from the most loyal of the President and Congress' supporters to get them to take any notice.

I think that in many ways, the Republicans are far too overconfident entering 2004.

That the Democrats are generally traitors and fools is hardly an excuse for the unwillingness of the leadership of the GOP to roll up their sleeves and finally fight the fight we elected them to fight.

[Mo1]

That the Democrats are generally traitors and fools is hardly an excuse for the unwillingness of the leadership of the GOP to roll up their sleeves and finally fight the fight we elected them to fight.

I agree .. and no I don't think 2004 is in the bag. I been watching the Dems long enough and realize what they will do to win back control

I'm also not saying that many don't have legit complaints .. what I am saying is how some present it.

By saying one will vote for a Dem just to send a message does not grap my attention .. in fact it irritates me, because if some think that will work, they are fools and will end up more screwed.

[DoctorZIn]

Join Us…Your One Thread To All The California Recall News Threads!

Want on our daily or major news ping lists? Freepmail DoctorZin

[Checkers]

How do I join?

[CyberAnt]

BIG TIME!! They are well aware the majority of absentee voters are republicans. When they saw the absentee pouring in, what better way to stop it. Dispicable!

But .. it does show the desperate attempts by the liberals - and 2 of Rush's callers on Friday, who are democrats, were outraged at democrats and their treatment of Bush ..!!

[carra]

I have an absentee ballot that I will be sending in much closer to the election. I'm holding off so I can vote for the candidate most likely to win at election. I want to do my part to see we don't have Bustamonte as governor. My delay has nothing to do with the court decision.