Never mind that the Republicans were a day late in submitting Dubya for the ballot in Florida. We’ll overlook that for some reason. (Do you suppose the Republicans would have done the same for Kerry? But I digress…)
We’ve pointed out before the necessity to watch out for Florida where brother Jeb will do anything and everything to steal the state once again for brother George.
And now this. As reported by Reuters and caught by Josh Marshall, who reminds us that the GOP is the self-proclaimed “Rule of Law” party:
The Florida Democratic Party reacted with outrage, calling the move “blatant partisan maneuvering” by Gov. Jeb Bush, the president’s younger brother, and vowed to fight it.
In a memo to Florida’s 67 county supervisors of elections, Division of Elections director Dawn Roberts said the uncertainty of Hurricane Ivan, which could hit parts of the state by week’s end, forced her to act. [emphasis mine]
No. This isn’t an Onion story! The report continues…
A hearing on a permanent injunction is scheduled for Wednesday. But Roberts said Hurricane Ivan, which is headed for Florida’s Gulf coast, had raised “a substantial question as to when such a hearing” will be held.
As a result, she said, Florida’s Department of State had filed an appeal against the temporary injunction. The appeal application automatically lifts the injunction, allowing the counties to put Nader’s name on overseas absentee ballots, which must be mailed by Saturday.
“I’m in disbelief,” said Scott Maddox, chairman of the Florida Democratic Party. “This is blatant partisan maneuvering on the part of Jeb Bush to give his brother a leg up on election day.”
“They are trying to get ballots printed with Nader’s name on them,” said Maddox. “I am astounded that Jeb Bush is willing to defy the judiciary to help his brother.”
…
Gov. Bush said he agreed with Roberts’ decision.
“It’s up to the judge to determine, based on the law, whether Nader should be on the ballot or not,” Bush said. “But while that process goes on, we cannot put ourselves in the position where the ministerial role of the supervisors cannot be fulfilled.”
Maddox noted that Tallahassee, the state capital where Davey sits, is not expected to be directly hit by the hurricane. He said the circuit court could hear the case as scheduled on Wednesday and rule immediately.
In addition, the case is before the Florida Supreme Court, which could also rule at any time, he said.
Remarkable.
Wouldn’t working feverishly to keep Nader off the ballot also come under the auspices of "anything to win"?? Somehow I am suspicious you won’t see it that way. Maybe I am just jaded.
Ed,
The issue is whether the Reform Party qualifies to be on the ballot in Florida. It doesn’t. And to use Ivan (which now may not even HIT Florida) to defy the law, is just wrong.
Each state has different laws. Personally, I don’t care if Nader is on the ballot (he is in Maine). But it isn’t the role of the executive to subvert state law to achieve a favorable result. Any true conservative would be against such a move.
Teddy, as usual, is right of course. But let’s humor Ed for a second. He said:
"Wouldn’t working feverishly to keep Nader off the ballot also come under the auspices of "anything to win"??"
What examples do you have of this, Ed?
Bush will win whether or not Nadar is on the ballot.
If the law was broken in Florida, then I am sure there will be a lawsuit to righ the wrong or something to that effect.
Yeah…people who bring lawsuits are major assholes. Screw those ambulance chasers. Real Men don’t sue.
http://www.centerjd.org/press/release/020126.htm
One would be hard pressed to find worse hypocrites than George W. Bush and Ken Lay. They push for laws to immunize corporations from liability for harming consumers. But when they think they, their families or their businesses have been wronged, they run right to court.
George W. Bush. In 1999, Bush sued Enterprise Rent-A-Car over a minor fender-bender involving one of his daughters in which no one was hurt. Although his insurance would have covered the repair costs making a lawsuit unnecessary, Bush sought additional money from Enterprise, which had rented a car to someone with a suspended license. In this case, Bush seemed to understand one of the most important functions of civil lawsuits — to deter further wrongdoing. The case settled for $2,000 to $2,500. Burger, Timothy, “Bush sued Enterprise Rent-A-Car over daughter’s fender bender,” Daily News, August 26, 2000; “Bush sued rental agency over fender bender,” Houston Chronicle, August 26, 2000