Wow…big news day, huh? I knew there was a reason I held off on the siren for the previous two items here (which, by all rights, each might have warranted one of their own!)
Two statements have been released today on the Green Party’s Cobb-LaMarche Website in regard to the impending joint Green/Libertarian recount in Ohio.
The first statement reports that a Delaware County, Ohio judge has issued a temporary restraining order “attempting to prevent Cobb from seeking a recount of the presidential ballots cast in that county.”
The order, according to the statement, was issued “without contacting or seeking any input from the candidates or their attorneys.”
I’m no legal eagle myself, but if true, that fact alone is certainly curious.
The Cobb-Lamarche media director, Blair Bobier, was more direct in a comment included in the release: “It makes you wonder if Delaware County has something to hide. Why else would they try to prevent a recount and issue an injunction without giving the candidates any notice to participate?”
The Green/Libertarian coalition (dubbed “The Glibs” by Olbermann, in a phrase that seems to be catching on) has asked a federal court to take jurisdiction of the matter, and “ultimately dissolve” the temporary restraining order.
I’d the expect the restraining order will in fact be eventually set aside, particularly given Ohio Sec. of State (and coincidentally Ohio’s Co-Chair for the Bush/Cheney Re-elect Committee) J. Kenneth Blackwell’s point-blank statement on MSNBC last night that “The Glibs'” recount would definitely be moving forward.
But guess who showed up in court today to come to “The Glibs” defense?!
That’s right! You may remember them from some of their well-publicized work earlier this year, the Kerry/Edwards campaign — it was announced in the second statement at the Cobb-Lamarche site — has filed briefs with the court intervening in defense of “The Glibs”!
Perhaps rumors of the Kerry/Edwards campaign has been slightly exaggerated after all!
Nah…
In any case, they showed up long enough for now to let us know they’re still breathing and paying attention, as Jesse Jackson indicated in several interviews over the weekend.
It’s also worth noting, by the way, as long as “The Glibs” have already won the American Patriots of the Year Award, that their press spokesman may also now be in line for the 2004 Chutzpah Medal of Honor due in no small part to this statement:
“We welcome the support of the Kerry-Edwards campaign for the recount and we call upon the Bush-Cheney ticket to offer their support for this multi-partisan effort as well.”
Touché, Ms. (or Mr.) Bobier! I welcome it as well!
Seeing as how this is clearly a case of yet another “activist judge” outrageously “legislating from the bench”, I have little doubt that the Bush-Cheney attorney’s limo should be arriving at the courthouse any minute to put their legal money where their faux-outraged political mouth is!
But for some reason, I shan’t be holding my breath.
(Thanks to BRAD BLOG tipster Tracy H for the heads-up!)
UPDATE 12/1/04: The Washington Post has now picked up this story!
LATER UPDATE 12/1/04: EXCLUSIVE details have been uncovered by the BRAD BLOG about activist Delware County, OH Judge W. Duncan Whitney! Click here for the new story!
It seems like instead of talking about a recount, we should be talking about a revote here. BTW, Romanians were also out there protesting their elections today.
Oh man that’s a great line:
"We welcome the support of the Kerry-Edwards campaign for the recount and we call upon the Bush-Cheney ticket to offer their support for this multi-partisan effort as well."
A Chutzpah Medal of Honor for sure!
Statements like this one give me reason to believe that the progressive / liberal / democratic
opposition is going to win in the long run. We have virtually all the funny people on our side. 😉
Thanks Brad.
Your right about the Chutzpah. I have been wondering when some one was going to ask Bush to get invloved.
Simon
I was afraid the issue had been effectively neutralized by the any thing for money (my country, my ethics, my democracy, your children) Bush propaganda corporate news media..I was thrilled to find your sight and thrilled to see the "move" is still alive… I am beginning to feel militant enough to start painting bulls eyes on the right wing judges, the right wing moral majority, the neo-cons, and everyone involved in stifling freedom. free thought and the truth….good thing I am a damned liberal…or I would
This judge is violating the Constitution and Voting Rights laws. He should be asked to leave office by the FEC.
This action by the Republicans election to steal the votes by discrimination, intimidations, and voting computer manipulation violates the right of the other party to have their votes counted…or re-counted.
Violations of the 14th and 15th Amendments plus the Voting Rights act make it possible, under the Constitution, to tell Ohio, Florida, OK, etc. (huge voting fraud by Republican even prior to the election having computer with no paper trail) their representatives violated the spirit of the election as well as the laws. They can not go to Washington DC and represent their state.
If we do not follow this Constitutional protection to keep our elections fair and honest, we don’t have a democracy. No action is too extreme when the ones in power refuse to give it up. Keeping them from not representing the people of their state is Consitutional where there is election fraud, etc.. They can’t continue to steal election after election and the citizens put up with it.
Our past Congress/President felt these Amendments and Voting Rights Acts were critical to preserving our democray. Why not the present administration? They oppose the rights of the other party to fair elections? Seems so to me.
Great blog Brad…this is exactly the stuff that HAVA (another Orwellian Rove/Cheney name) should have dealt with first since the Supremes (the epitome of activist judges) installed the boy king under "equal protection" supposedly. I guess we now see that it only meant equal protection for white republicans. BTW, I am a middle-aged gal who has a hard time reading the yellow-on-black format of your terrific site…any chance of going mainstream with something easier for us older folks to read? Thanks again for carrying the torch.
Didn’t the Republicans complain about activist judges,maybe they should be asked to join us,in protesting the overreach of this activist Judge.
Didn’t the Republicans complain about activist judges,maybe they should be asked to join us,in protesting the overreach of this activist Judge.
Thanks for the update on Ohio. Just imagine the uproar if the winner of the lottery in any state was in question because of tactics like the vote fraud in Ohio. Where is the national outrage over our stolen election?
Voted and donated Kerry, but invested in w victory. Momma didn’t raise no fool! I was emailing about voter fraud since 2000. Evoting since 2002, and I knew we could expect fraud in 2004. Anybody not in commodities (PIMCO resource bond fund, in my case) and precious metals is asleep at the economic wheel. You have about 3 years to prepare – and then POW the great stagflation from 2003-2010 steamrolls over all. Thanks for trying Brad! I DO send your stuff around. Voter fraud should be on everyones’ lips. And ask your repub friends if systemic fraud is ok, if it supports their side!!!
I agree…I want a national revote…enough "errors" and "fraud". I just don’t trust the outcome anymore and I’m fearful that despite all the recounts we do, certain counties that voted electronically without paper trail will still leave us with an invalid election.
I call for a national revote, with Canada-style paper sheet ballots, HAND COUNTED with big scrutiny from international observers, the media, and citizen groups.
That’s the way to have a fair election
Jamie Foxer…
Me too…I want a national revote with only paper ballots monitors from Canada & Germany to train election officials.
I want ballots counted in public and the media group out of reporting….no results until they’re all in. Othewise, they call the winner. To reverse it is very difficult. I can wait a week for counting..or more. I can do without "reporters" spinning for a Bush Red State win. It is all election fraud what the media has done for the elections since Bush took power.
Judges and election officials have not served their citizens fairly in Ohio, Florida, New Mexico, North Carolina, and OK. They should be fired…jailed…and disbarred. They committed election fraud and treason.
Why should the bushies join in this recount effort? They will just say that they see no evidence of the need for recount and therefore they will not get involved. They always have an excuse &/or reason ready to go so they can do what is in "THEIR" best interest.
—–Judy.
There is a national outrage over the election from many Democrats. They have a right to be angry. Three stolen elections mainly from Republican election officials and manipulated computers.
Why don’t you see it on the media Judy? Plain as the fact they won’t show protests…they silence us.
Stolen elections, lies on the media, corrupt government officials and media, arrests of the journalist who are only there to report stories….etc. all smell of Fascism to me.
Do Republican members of Congress think this is "family values" policy? We would consider God on their side? Did God steal votes and tell people to be silent? Nope…go forth and reveal to all the good news.
Peter King Movie Clip — a must see
http://www.whatreallyhappened.c.../peterking.mov
Nancy Pelosi’s daughter Alexandra filmed it summer of 2003 at White House BBQ. Mentioned in USA Today: LINK HERE
This judge, can now be arrested, along with stepin’ fetchit Blackwell, on a federal law of trying to impede the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
All we need are someone to arrest both of them (can a citizen’s arrest bust be done regarding fed laws?), and an amicus curie to take the case (it is doubtful that any prosecutors wishing to remain employed, would step up to the plate (though it is true, that the coward dies a thousand deaths. Just look at Michael Moore on Leno the other night).
This judge, can now be arrested, along with stepin’ fetchit Blackwell, on a federal law of trying to impede the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
All we need are someone to arrest both of them (can a citizen’s arrest bust be done regarding fed laws?), and an amicus curie to take the case (it is doubtful that any prosecutors wishing to remain employed, would step up to the plate (though it is true, that the coward dies a thousand deaths. Just look at Michael Moore on Leno the other night).
Right On Folks…
Paper Ballots…Counted By Hand…in Public. Starting NOW.
Re-Vote OHIO! Or ReVote the Whole USA– We all have the time for that. NOW!
Fraud–Across the Country AGAIN…. Stolen Elections… E-Votes Kill Our Democracy– DieBold She Did– Dead Democracy.
RE-VOTE Ohio. ReVote Ohio! RE- Vote Ohio!
I agree – we need a total re-vote DONE ON PAPER! 😥
If the judge is as described by the son above, he may be genuinely trying to save taxpayers of his county money where the main problems are likely in urban areas. However, he is still ignoring Ohio law which sets the cost at $10/precinct. Although I have not read the judge’s ruling, if his basis is the cost is too high, as it seems to be, he is going against his state’s statute. This is not a judge’s job absent real constitutional violations, which in fact what recounts are designed to prevent. The $10 was set by the legislature, presumably as a balance between cost for the counties and feasibility for voters questioning the result. The judge may not like the amount set by statute or may have good reason in his mind to think the recount is unnecessary in his county. Nevertheless, his ruling appears to be in contempt for the law, which is not only unseeming but frankly criminal. My apologies to the judge and his son, but a judge not upholding the law is one of the worst things that can happen in a republic under the rule of law. Moreover, recounts have to be statewide to be legitimate and if it costs money for smaller counties with honest voting, that may be regrettable but is unavoidable. If they have a problem they should talk to the Secretary of State and the larger counties for not ensuring a legitimate voting process statewide., and thereby imposing costs on smaller counties.
Whoops, I was responding to the comment of someone purporting to be the judge’s son, at this Brad Blog article:
https://bradblog.com/archives/00001010.htm
The comment begins like this:
Democracy Hater, Jr. commented on 12/2/2004 @ 9:08pm PT…
I’m one of the "Activist" Judge’s five adult sons. Some FACTS:
1. Five sons all voted for Kerry . . .