USA Politics Thread - *No gun debate*

[Akira 0]

Quote[/b] ]

Is that likely to remain true?

Perhaps not as much as Americans would like. Clearly, as R&D opportunities increase elsewhere, ambitious young researchers have less need to emigrate to the U.S. And American polices aren't helping either. Increasing hassles with visas for graduate students and young researchers are slowing the flow of bright young minds. "Applications from international students for advanced science and engineering degree programs are down by a third compared to last year," warns Donald F. Boesch, president of the University of Maryland. "If this continues for a long time, it will mean trouble for U.S. competitiveness."

And this defines the use of the term "stifled" in CNN's article, compared with everything else the US government continues to do for funding and promoting R&D?

Nothing's perfect and, when it sometimes is, it doesn't last forever. There are going to be ups and downs on this issue that are affected from everything from the economy to foreign policy. It's always been that way.

But "stifled"?

Most likely by "stifled" they mean stem-cell....and rightly so. But Bush has been no patron to the sciences....unless it has to do with :

Quote[/b] ]The first Sunday following the first ecclesiastical full moon that occurs on or after the day of the vernal equinox;

This particular ecclesiastical full moon is the 14th day of a tabular lunation (new moon); and

The vernal equinox is fixed as March 21.

[theavonlady 2]

Most likely by "stifled" they mean stem-cell....and rightly so.

Ah! They meant "stemcelled". Sounds like "stifled" when it's muffled.

But Bush has been no patron to the sciences....

Based on what and how in comparison to previous US presidents and their administrations?

[EiZei 0]

The depotgate?

http://cbs.marketwatch.com/news....=google

Quote[/b] ]

Ridge to join Home Depot board

By Jennifer Waters, MarketWatch

CHICAGO (MarketWatch) -- Former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge will join the board of Home Depot Inc., replacing Roger Penske, the company said Thursday.

Shares of Home Depot (HD: news, chart, profile) , the nation's largest home-improvement retailer, closed at $39.59, off 13 cents.

Ridge, the former governor of Pennsylvania, was the first director of Homeland Security -- a federal department formed hastily in the wake of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. He left that post in late November, saying he wanted to pursue opportunities in the private sector.

"We are honored to have [Ridge] join our board, where we expect that his unique global experience and perspective will make a profound contribution to our company and our shareholders," said Home Depot Chief Executive Bob Nardelli.

Ridge is quite familiar with home-improvement projects. He was instrumental in a short-lived run on duct tape in early 2003, when he encouraged Americans to turn to the sticky substance and plastic sheeting as protection against terrorists using chemical and/or biological agents.

The move, which drew criticism from many corners, motivated many across the country to stock up -- to the extent that some retailers reported widespread shortages.

Both Home Depot and rival Lowe's Cos. (LOW: news, chart, profile) were among the big beneficiaries of the buying binge. Home Depot, in fact, went so far as to set up special Homeland Security displays nears it entrances to tout sales of duct tape, plastic sheeting, batteries and bottled water, among other safe-room supplies.

At the time, Ridge had just upped the color-coded security threat advisory to orange, the second highest level. That was lowered in November 2004 to yellow, in the middle of the five-level alert range.

[theavonlady 2]

The depotgate?

Duct Soup.

[Akira 0]

Quote[/b] ]Vladimir Putin, CBS News Loyalist

By JOHN F. DICKERSON

Sunday, Feb. 27, 2005

George Bush knew Vladimir Putin would be defensive when Bush brought up the pace of democratic reform in Russia in their private meeting at the end of Bush's four-day, three-city tour of Europe. But when Bush talked about the Kremlin's crackdown on the media and explained that democracies require a free press, the Russian leader gave a rebuttal that left the President nonplussed. If the press was so free in the U.S., Putin asked, then why had those reporters at CBS lost their jobs? Bush was openmouthed. "Putin thought we'd fired Dan Rather," says a senior Administration official. "It was like something out of 1984."

The Russians did not let the matter drop. Later, during the leaders' joint press conference, one of the questioners Putin called on asked Bush about the very same firings, a coincidence the White House assumed had been orchestrated. The odd episode reinforced the Administration's view that Putin's impressions of America are often based on urban myths fed to him by ill-informed aides. (At a past summit, according to Administration aides, Putin asked Bush whether it was true that chicken producers split their production into plants that serve the U.S. and lower-quality ones that process substandard chicken for Russia.) U.S. aides say that to help fight against this kind of misinformation, they are struggling to build relationships that go beyond Putin. "We need to go deeper into the well into other levels of government," explains an aide. --By John F. Dickerson

Absolutely beautiful.

Link

[theavonlady 2]

Absolutely beautiful.

I read about it elsewhere yesterday.

While I had to laugh, it's pathetic and frightening that this is the leader of a country the size and strength of Russia.

[Akira 0]

Absolutely beautiful.

I read about it elsewhere yesterday.

While I had to laugh, it's pathetic and frightening that this is the leader of a country the size and strength of Russia.

Quote[/b] ]"And that's why -- there was an earlier question about has the President said anything to people in his own party -- they're reminders to all Americans that they need to watch what they say, watch what they do. This is not a time for remarks like that; there never is."

[theavonlady 2]

Sorry, I don't understand your point.

Also, where are you quoting from?

[Akira 0]

Sorry, I don't understand your point.

Also, where are you quoting from?

The point is (if I have to spell it out) is that while the Bush Administration is criticizing Putin for his handling of free press, TBA has attempted similiar controls, Moher, Churchill, CBS, etc. as examples, under the guise of "patriotism."

And that quote is from Ari Fleischer, former White House Press Secretary, responding to what they preceived Bill Maher meant.

You can find it here near the bottom.

[theavonlady 2]

while the Bush Administration is criticizing Putin for his handling of free press, TBA has attempted similiar controls, Moher, Churchill, CBS, etc. as examples, under the guise of "patriotism."

Please details the TBA's involvement in any of the 3 examples you've given.

Or are you simply looking to land an intern job in Putin's office?

[Akira 0]

Quote[/b] ]Or are you simply looking to land an intern job in Putin's office?

Yes thats what I'm trying to do. *rolls eyes*

Quote[/b] ]Please details the TBA's involvement in any of the 3 examples you've given.

Umm. Did you not read my above quote from Ari Fleischer? After the White House position was given, advertisers jumped ship from Politically Incorrect. No one seemed to care that 1)Fleischer didn't even know what Maher said or in what context and was going on "what the media reports" were, and 2)That the White House, as a matter of public policy, now basically said to all media outlets and shows..."Watch what you say." From that Maher Effect is everything that follows.

[theavonlady 2]

Umm. Did you not read my above quote from Ari Fleischer? After the White House position was given, advertisers jumped ship from Politically Incorrect. No one seemed to care that 1)Fleischer didn't even know what Maher said or in what context and was going on "what the media reports" were, and 2)That the White House, as a matter of public policy, now basically said to all media outlets and shows..."Watch what you say." From that Maher Effect is everything that follows.

Since I'm not familiar myself with what Maher said, I'll one-up Flesiher and not say anything about that.

Now, what about CBS and Chief Churchill?

[Akira 0]

Umm. Did you not read my above quote from Ari Fleischer? After the White House position was given, advertisers jumped ship from Politically Incorrect. No one seemed to care that 1)Fleischer didn't even know what Maher said or in what context and was going on "what the media reports" were, and 2)That the White House, as a matter of public policy, now basically said to all media outlets and shows..."Watch what you say." From that Maher Effect is everything that follows.

Since I'm not familiar myself with what Maher said, I'll one-up Flesiher and not say anything about that.

Now, what about CBS and Chief Churchill?

The Bill Maher Affair was the first post 9-11 step. It signaled exactly what the administration thought as far as free press public policy. Basically "watch what you say" and even questioning the US and its President and its motives is "un-patriotic."

Churchill's essay had been out 3 years before conservatives pointed it out and started screaming bloody murder. Three years? I guess the Independant Thought Alarm in Colorado was broken. Three years and now conservative groups are doing everything from trying to have him fired, to being tried for treason (and its associated death penalty). Treason?? Republicans from the State straight to the Federal level have thrown their voice into the firestorm. I know you want specific proof where the White House unequivocally stated publically "shut down the free press," but seriously...you think they will openly say something to that effect?

Chruchill is just another example of the Maher Effect, albeit a late one, that stems from Fleischer's original statement. One the other side, you don't see the White House trying to shut up the 700 Club when they say The Devil lives in the Middle East and that we need to kill everything there.

CBS is a completely different fish. A casualty of their own excitement and the Bush campaign machine. The only fault is in where CBS got their information, not the information itself. There are plently of witnesses and official paperwork that states that Bush wasn't there. Too bad that never became the issue. It should be noted that the information wasn't proven false, and CBS only stated that there are "questions" about where it came from. It should also be noted that of the people "fired" by CBS, no one has actually left, all have hired lawyers, and CBS is tightly reigning in what Rather can talk about in interviews and only allowing him "tightly controlled" interviews. I doubt we've heard the end of it, if the media even decides to follow it now.

[theavonlady 2]

I know you want specific proof where the White House unequivocally stated publically "shut down the free press," but seriously...you think they will openly say something to that effect?

Thanks for confirming this to be another tinfoil hat conspiracy.

Quote[/b] ]One the other side, you don't see the White House trying to shut up the 700 Club when they say The Devil lives in the Middle East and that we need to kill everything there.

I haven't heard the WH say that. Do you hear these voices often?

Quote[/b] ]CBS is a completely different fish. A casualty of their own excitement and the Bush campaign machine. The only fault is in where CBS got their information, not the information itself. There are plently of witnesses and official paperwork that states that Bush wasn't there. Too bad that never became the issue. It should be noted that the information wasn't proven false, and CBS only stated that there are "questions" about where it came from. It should also be noted that of the people "fired" by CBS, no one has actually left, all have hired lawyers, and CBS is tightly reigning in what Rather can talk about in interviews and only allowing him "tightly controlled" interviews. I doubt we've heard the end of it, if the media even decides to follow it now.

Yes, we're eating the tinfoil now.

[Akira 0]

Quote[/b] ]Thanks for confirming this to be another tinfoil hat conspiracy.

I know you gleefully eat up whatever the White House says and are quick to dismiss anything that goes against your hero Bush, but take into account 1) Ari Fleischer's very public statement, with 2) what has happened in the press and too the press post-9/11. Yes its all tinfoil hat conspiracy when academic press freedom is openly threatened. Yes its a tin foil hat conspiracy when the Pres Secertary openly says that Americans need to watch what they say and do.

I guess you are just used to that in Isreal.

Quote[/b] ]

I haven't heard the WH say that. Do you hear these voices often?

I didn't say the WH said that, have you lost all English reading comprehension? Or do you actually just have no idea what the hell I'm talking about so are therefore incapable of making a fair judgement?

Quote[/b] ]One the other side, you don't see the White House trying to shut up the 700 Club when they say The Devil lives in the Middle East and that we need to kill everything there.

Quote[/b] ]Yes, we're eating the tinfoil now.

Link 1

Link 2

Less than 10 days later:

Link 3

Quote[/b] ] "CBS News and I have reached an amicable resolution."

How does one reach an amicable resolution to a possible career ending firing? Unless of course something has been "taken care of."

But of course its all hogwash and doesn't matter since it criticized your Second God Bush.

[theavonlady 2]

Link 1

z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z

Quote[/b] ]But of course its all hogwash and doesn't matter since it criticized your Second God Bush.

I've said it more than once: I am not a fan of George Bush.

But hogwash is hogwash no matter what you try spicing it up with.

[Akira 0]

Quote[/b] ]I've said it more than once: I am not a fan of George Bush.

Blah blah yadda yadda yadda...

Right. And billybob ain't a Republican.

Your actions and statements say otherwise...

Quote[/b] ]Quote (Akira @ Feb. 28 2005,19:23)

Link 1

z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z

"zzzzzzzzzzzzz" is right. You counter a press article with a BLOG??

And you are awful quiet on the 700 Club. I guess perhaps since you agree with their views.

[theavonlady 2]

You counter a press article with a BLOG??  

Isn't it amazing?

There wouldn't have been resignations at CBS if it weren't for the blogs promoting the forged documents story that the mainstream media closed an eye to to begin with.

Surprise! Surprise!

[Akira 0]

Quote[/b] ]Isn't it amazing?

There wouldn't have been resignations at CBS if it weren't for the blogs promoting the forged documents story that the mainstream media closed an eye to to begin with.

Surprise! Surprise!

LOL

Oh man you had me rolling on the floor with that one.

Yes. Your mighty right-wing blog was responsible for that.

[billybob2002 0]

Quote[/b] ]Right. And billybob ain't a Republican.

WTF...

Quote[/b] ]Yes. Your mighty right-wing blog was responsible for that.

It was those "right-wingers" that first started the BS alert..

[theavonlady 2]

Quote[/b] ]Isn't it amazing?

There wouldn't have been resignations at CBS if it weren't for the blogs promoting the forged documents story that the mainstream media closed an eye to to begin with.

Surprise! Surprise!

LOL

Oh man you had me rolling on the floor with that one.

Yes. Your mighty right-wing blog was responsible for that.  

All of a sudden you don't beleiev in press articles?

Bit of hypocracy in the span of 2 posts on your part, don't you think?

Charles Johnson's great blog is Little Green Footballs. But you knew that.

[shinRaiden 0]

Yes, Washington State still has no Governor...

On Feb. 22nd, the Washington State GOP announced that they had determined that at least 1108 felons without restored civil rights voted in the November election and cast a ballot for Governor, along with 45 votes statewide cast on behalf of deceased persons, 10 votes cast by people who voted more than once in Washington, and five votes cast by people who voted in Washington and another state, along with an unknown number of votes cast in the name of registered voters that are involuntarily commited to mental institutions or declared incompetent residents of nursing homes.

This in a race that allegedly was decided by only 129 votes.

King county, the largest county in the state, had 884 of those 1108 known felon votes, and also has an admitted net variance of approximately 2000 more votes than votes. What the county refuses to provide evidence of, and is in violation of elections laws, is the individual precienct variances. The estimate is that if each precienct variance is tabulated, the total variance is actually approximately 9 500 votes, but the county elections board refuses to release or admit to the existance of that report to the media or to the state secretary of state's office.

In testimony before the King county council, the council-appointed director of elections suggested that the state association of county auditors independently review the actions and results of the King County Elections Board. However, internal emails of that group obtained less than a week prior to that testimony disclosed an institutional bias favoring this elections director by a large majority of that organization.

The elections director also indicated that the elections dep't assumed that the secretary of state's office or the judicial dep't kept those records. The elections director was informed by the council that they were advised by the secretary of state's office that the SoS presumed the county auditor/elections director maintained that list. The net result of this is that when a record of a conviction is forwarded to the elections dept, the registration is revoked, but there is no record kept, nor any way to prevent that person from successfully registering even a week later.

The elections dep't director also testified that federal law requires that they automatically accept and register all recieved voter registrations, but contrary to established practice in other counties, King County makes no attempt to validate the registrations after acceptance. The county to the south, Pierce county, just this past month returned a report from the auditor's office to the county prosecuter's office to execute proceedings to revoke the voter's registrations of approximately 75 illegaly registered felons.

The hearings in Chelan county regarding th election are still continuing, and the expectation is that the election contest will go to trial in mid April. The judge has said that he does not believe he has jurisdiction to call for a statewide revote or special election, but that he does have jurisdiction to set aside the election, not that it matters anyway, as it will be expedited to the state supreme court, and possiblely to the US supreme court, and Gore v. Bush '00 will have plenty of precedent along the way.

[Akira 0]

Quote[/b] ]All of a sudden you don't beleiev in press articles?

I don't see any mention of the Rathergate blog, nor the two guys that run it.

Quote[/b] ]Bit of hypocracy in the span of 2 posts on your part, don't you think?

Soon as ya point some out I'll respond.

Quote[/b] ]Charles Johnson's great blog is Little Green Footballs. But you knew that.

No wonder you like it. The front page alone is dominated by anti-Islamic stories, not to mention his obvious right-wing bais.

You do enjoy blogs don't you?

Quote[/b] ]Yes, Washington State still has no Governor...

You'd think the news would mention that one of the States is essentially leaderless for almost 5 months....

[shinRaiden 0]

Washington Vote mess timelines:

November:

Quote[/b] ]

Nov. 2: Election Day. Gregoire leads by 7,000, less than 0.6% votes -- with about 88% counted. Many combat troops ballots were not counted: Washington was the last state to mail military ballots.

Nov. 3: Hundreds of "provisional ballots" cast in Seattle precincts given out improperly to voters without valid ID. The vote tally vacillates wildly.

Nov. 6: Gregoire's lead narrows to less than 4,000 votes.

Nov. 8: SoundPolitics.com calls the race for Rossi, after a day of wild fluctuations.

Nov. 9: Rossi closes gap, pulls ahead by 2,123 votes.

Nov. 10: Rossi ended the day up by 3,492.

Nov. 12: A crying Paul Berendt and the Dems sue King County to violate privacy of voters whose provisional ballots might be disqualified. Ignoring ethics and GOP protests, Democrats turn in more than 400 “signed†affidavits. Vote tally spreadsheet.

Nov. 14: The WSRP fights back.

Nov. 15: The vote count gets even screwier. Dean Logan says “voter-signed documents†delivered by a political party equal to in-person or mailing.

Nov. 16: 10,000 Magical Mystery Ballots appear. “Distributed vote fraud†discussed. Rossi up by 19.

Nov. 17: Rossi wins by 261 votes. State law triggers recount.

Nov. 19: Before machine recount begins, “a recount recount is likely,†Berendt says, if not the whole state, at least individual counties that they think merit a closer look.

Nov. 20: The risks of third-party affidavit gathering are outlined.

Nov. 21: GOP files federal suit against King County and the Secretary of State: election workers were “enhancing†ballots themselves. Judge denies request for a temporary restraining order based on King County’s assurance that 1) ballots are not being irreparably altered, and 2) “enhanced†ballots are segregated and available for later review. Vance calls the situation in King County “a mess:†Ballots clearly marked for Dino Rossi are not being counted, and are not being stored securely.

Nov. 22: Recount results in Rossi leading by 42 votes.

Nov. 23: King County vote counters surgically enhance 710 previously rejected ballots. Snohomish County discovers 224 brand new magical mystery ballots. The Democrats call it a "tie."

Nov. 24: Recount finishes with Rossi ahead by 42. Gregoire says: "We want to have confidence that the person who is sworn in in January is the person who was elected.â€

Nov. 25: "I think the machine count is going to be more accurate than a manual count," said Dean Logan, the elections director. "You introduce another human interface into the process. There's a margin there for errors to be made." Berendt adds, wiping away tears: "This is a Karl Rove-driven operation in this state [that went for Kerry]. We are not going to let the… Republicans steal this election from Chris Gregoire."

Nov. 26: Amid calls for a recount, 336 mystery ballots appear. The WSJ takes notice.

Nov. 30: The secretary of state certifies the result of the machine recount, making Rossi the winner by 42 votes. Gov. Dan Evans explains why a hand recount results in more errors. Dems hold Candlelight Vigil. When asked “Who died?†they respond, “Democracy.â€

December:

Quote[/b] ]

Dec. 1: Democratic National Committee (Gregoire) sends out “Action Alert†with poor math: “Only 42 votes separate my Republican opponent and me. That's a difference of 0.0014 percent. The error for voting machines is somewhere between 1 and 2 percent, or 1,000 times as great as the vote difference.†The actual error rate is closer to 1 in a million.

Dec. 3: Democrats seek a hand recount of the 2.9 million ballots cast in the governor's race with financial assistance from John Kerry and the Muckleshoot Casino.

Dec 5: Snohomish and Yakima Counties hand count electronic votes. The vote might be decided “by lot.â€

Dec. 7: The WEA, purportedly a union, sends out an urgent memo asking its members to "Please sign up to serve as a Democratic Party observer.†During a 1996 recount, Attorney General Gregoire advised that state law did not provide for the changes that the Washington Democrats now demand.

Dec. 8: Counties begin recounting ballots by hand. Paul Berendt contends that the 15,000 illegal, spoiled or otherwise disqualified ballots are associated with 15,000 imaginary legal voters who cast valid votes for his candidate.

Dec. 9: Gregoire claims she didn't know about the Democrats' motion to the Supreme Court to count all of the previously rejected ballots, although her web home page advocates the lawsuit.

Dec. 13: King County discovers 561 new ballots. "I've said all along, 42 votes out of 2.9 million is literally a tie," Gregoire says.

Dec. 14: King County finds more votes. The state Supreme Court unanimously rejects the Democratic Party's petition to force counties to reconsider about 3,000 invalidated ballots -- including the 700-plus from King County -- in the hand recount.

Dec. 15: 22 more magical mystery ballots are discovered bringing the total to 595. 24 votes vanish from Skagit. An audit of the DSHS shows that thousands of people who are dead or lack Social Security numbers are getting millions of dollars in benefits.

Dec. 16: King County canvassing board votes to start to verify the 573 magical mystery ballots. Snohomish County reduces Rossi's lead by 44 votes. Dean Logan explains that 100 voters were informed their signatures were not in the database… However, there are no consequences for a voter who fails to update signature. Even voters who fail to update signature, are sent a ballot, without being told their ballot would not be accepted.

Dec. 17: GOP seeks a temporary restraining order blocking King County from counting the newly discovered ballots. With every county reporting but King, Rossi maintains 49-vote lead in the hand recount.

Dec. 18: King County finds 150 more magical mystery ballots. King County's 561 573 735 mystery ballots: “the county cannot locate voter registration cards for 2/3 of them, most of these voters were contacted months ago, asked to validate their signatures but failed to do so… the county is attempting to “validate†the ballots using driver license records, property tax records, signatures from ballot initiative petitions and other inappropriate means.

Dec 19: A chronology of voting problems for the last 6 years.

Dec. 21: Berendt says Gregoire is winning statewide by eight votes -- without counting the newly discovered ballots from King County. County officials do not confirm his report. “King County election workers were told as early as May that if an absentee ballot came in without a matching signature on file they were required to make a concerted effort to verify that the vote was valid. King County election workers routinely violated state law by counting such ballots without making any attempt to verify the signatures."

Dec. 22: King County's unofficial results give Gregoire 10-vote lead. The Supreme Court rules that King County may reconsider the 700-plus mistakenly rejected ballots. Meanwhile, Precinct 1823 has 763 registered "active" voters: 527 of them list as their residence address 500 4th Ave -- the King County Administration Building, including a judge who works, but doesn’t live, there and voters who reside overseas, in violation of state law. Paul Berendt, speaking of Democratic candidate Christine Gregoire, says “God has placed her" in the governor's office.

Dec. 23: Gregoire “wins†the recount by a margin of 129 votes, after King County counts the newly discovered ballots and certifies its final results. “Keep the faith," Gregoire tells supporters. "The election process is working exactly as it should." King County's canvassing board certifies the final results after reviewing the newly discovered ballots.

Dec. 24: Almost all tally changes favored Gregoire in the recount.

Christmas: Gregoire says: “I think we have been a model to the rest of the nation and the world at large about how an election system, as close as this one is, can be done with the highest of quality... I am proud of it and I think it's an inspiration."

Dec. 26: Some voters are genderless.

Dec. 27: Hundreds of voters are found to have registered at storage facilities or mail stops, not at residences as required by law. Secretary of State’s office confirms it is trivially easy for anybody to register and vote fraudulently: there are very few safeguards to prevent voting abuses and false registration.

Dec. 28: Public disclosure requests and distributed vote fraud.

Dec. 29: Rossi calls for a new election, saying problems with the recount cast a cloud of doubt over legitimacy of governor. This is confirmed by thousands of obvious data errors: voters are recorded as having registered in 1904; 258 who are recorded as having voted in future elections. Several deceased people have been found in the voter rolls: one passed away as long ago as 1998. And finally, King County numbers don’t add up: more votes than voters. Meanwhile, the media is nowhere to be found.

Dec. 30: Secretary of State Sam Reed certifies the election, declaring Gregoire governor-elect, despite “total mess.†Private citizen Dan Stevens files notice of contested election. In Snohomish, more problems as their numbers also don’t add up, and10 people registered on January 1, 1900, 16 people registered in 1919, and 5 other people registered on various dates prior to 1910. King County Elections says even though Stefan found people registered at illegal addresses, they have no statutory authority to cancel their registrations.

Dec 31: 266 ballots seem to disappear, while 325 magically materialize. A petition demanding a revote is begun. The Seattle P-I calls a re-vote “preposterous:†this was a “generally well-conducted [laughingstock] election.â€

January:

Quote[/b] ]

New Year’s Day: Manual recount precinct canvass reveals 684 precincts with more voters than ballots and 725 other precincts with more ballots than voters, for ~1,512 ballotless voters and ~4,593 voterless ballots. Out-of-state press disrespects Rossi’s call for a fair election. Precinct 1823 has 71 more ballots than 272 voters who cast them, the largest discrepancy between ballots and voters in all of King County. Nearly all of the discrepancy is due to "provisional ballots".

Jan. 2: Irreconcilable accounting discrepancies in King County: willful ignorance or criminal negligence?

Jan. 3: Three precincts sharing polling place in Issaquah [2602, 3464 and "Gilman"] have total number of voting voters noticeably exceeding number of ballots counted. The Press continues to drag its feet.

Jan. 4: Two absentee votes were cast by Dustin S OCoilain, whose address is listed as a homeless shelter and the KC Admin building. Several of the largest counties have huge unexplained discrepancies, for a total of 8,400 more ballots than voters. Seattle P-I says “What’re ya gonna do?â€

Jan. 5: 348 provisional voters improperly put ballots directly into vote-counting machines at polling places: once entered, there is no way to separate them. In direct response to this, Gregoire says: “The idea of a redo I find to be absolutely ludicrous.â€

Two deceased voters are discovered, as well as 52 felon voters. In response, Berendt sends out a letter calling this the “most accurate election in state history.â€

Jan. 6: Two private citizens file election contests. BIAW investigators find 7 felons who voted in Snohomish County. Revotewa.com collects close to 150,000 petitions.

Jan. 7: King County Prosecutor, thanks to SoundPolitics tip, will charge double-voter. Dino Rossi and WSRP announce they will contest the election, and file suit.

Jan. 8: Rossi campaign shares its legal basis for the contest.

Jan. 9: Yet more documented dead and felon voters. WSJ reports on judge who registered at KC admin building, claiming Mexican mafia is out to get her.

Jan. 10: King County’s reported discrepancy of 1,217 voterless ballots, is off by 600 votes. A King County employee blows the whistle. Gregoire thanks MoveOn.org for their help volunteering to round up affidavits.

Jan. 11: Concerned citizens rally for a re-vote in Olympia. Stefan Sharkansky delivers great speech. KC Elections confirms that the unaccounted-for votes are indeed “around 1,800.â€

Jan. 12: Inauguration Day. Legislature scheduled to issue certificates of election to new office holders. Large majority of Washingtonians support a re-vote.

Jan. 13: The case for throwing out the gubernatorial election appears legally airtight. BIAW finds 76 more felon voters.

Jan. 15: Democrats suggest that purging rolls of felons is a bad idea. 35 voters are recorded as registered after 10/18 (the deadline), all of whom voted provisional on Nov. 2, but these were backdated in the database.

Jan. 16: Sec of State Sam Reed admits to King 5’s Robert Mak: “It's still hard to tell... the variables are such that it's hard to say for sure exactly who won.â€

Jan. 17: Jefferson County auditor Donna Eldridge says the huge discrepancy in King County is anomaly, no good explanation for it.

Jan. 18: Secretary of State agency rule mandates no certifications on elections unless the number of ballots matches the number of voters.

Links to regional and national news articles are found by clicking on the links to each month. The source site, SoundPolitics, is also compiling an independent database of registered voters so the public can see if they're really registered or not.

[Akira 0]

Washington Vote mess timelines:

Man. The TV News had a field day when the Dems ran out during Special Session here...wonder why not even a blip on the radar that I've seen (could be wrong or just watch the wrong news )

EDIT: I'm talking national media by the way.