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Did The GOP Establishment Steal the WA Primary for McCain?

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Nicole Belle's picture
Mom, Wife, Media Critic/Political Analyst, Blogger, Austen Fanatic, Unapologetic Liberal NicoleBelle@crooksandliars.com
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92 Comments
James's picture

Perhaps they had a McCain Moment and simply forgot to count the final 13%.

xoites defends Constitution's picture

Nothing changes.

Filthy Harry's picture

Get OUT of here. No American would EVER tamper with election results. We're AMERICA!!!!

dharmabum's picture

Just because the GOP declares McCain to be the winner doesn't mean he is. Only 87% reporting? What's going on here?

enor's picture

...and this surprises whom?

M(sh)itt's picture

Isn't it obvious? Ron Paul won, and they can't have that.

It looks like a recount will be in order, just like in New Hampshire.
Don't you just love living in a 3rd world banana republic where international election monitors simply refuse to monitor our elections because they are not up to standards? They will watch elections in dirt poor countries in Africa and Central America, but not the good ole USA.

And of course, since Mitt Romney is out, his sons will be joining the military posthaste.

rk's picture

Is this not exactly like what happened in Keneya? As far as I remember it almost led to a civil war there.

Rico's picture

Time for international inspectors and monitors of elections. Oh wait...they only do that in 3rd world countries. Nevermind.

maxson's picture

Wait...I thought the Republican establishment was trying to sabotage McCain's presidential bid? I'm so confused.

Jack's picture

Republicans rig elections? That's unpossible.

GuyCybershy's picture

I noticed the same thing on Super Tuesday with the Alaska results, it seemed to take much longer to count Republican votes than Democrat votes. How else could a complete maniac like McCain win except by cheating?

Rico's picture

GuyCybershy @ 11:

I noticed the same thing on Super Tuesday with the Alaska results, it seemed to take much longer to count Republican votes than Democrat votes. How else could a complete maniac like McCain win except by cheating?

It's a dress rehearsal for November.

Bystander's picture

Has anybody else noticed that the News stations are now able to use the exit polls to call the election... This is the first time they have been accurate since Florida 2000...

Reverend J's picture

Aw man, now I'm going to have to bust out that tin foil hat again.

ferrofluid's picture

GuyCybershy @ 11:

I noticed the same thing on Super Tuesday with the Alaska results, it seemed to take much longer to count Republican votes than Democrat votes. How else could a complete maniac like McCain win except by cheating?

"Can you picture what will be

In a...desperate land

And all the children are insane"

pretty much sums it up ;)

kaT's picture

I think it's time for liberals to stop ragging Republicans about the same stuff that's going on in the Democratic Party. The fix is in for BO.

Ginger Winchester's picture

I live in Washington state and participated in my caucus yesterday - and find it hard to believe that McCain had any kind of footing within the state. Everywhere you go in conservative areas, there are GOP signs for Ron Paul - not McCain. So, yes, I'd believe that the GOP stole it for him.

Independent Moron's picture

I know that vote totals always slow down when you get up to the 98 or 99% range since the remainder are provisional or absentee ballots...but how can you get stuck at 87% for a caucus? Did the people at several of the meetings get drunk afterwards, pass out, and neglect to notify the pertinent officials about the results?

A McCain loss to Huckabee or Paul would not fit within the acceptable Republican view of the world. A Paul win would signify that at least in one state, a portion of their party rejected the "Stay in Iraq until Jesus returns" strategy, while a Huckabee win would show that the argument about his inability to win outside the South or the Bible belt is fallacious. If Huckabee could win in the Northwest, why not elsewhere? That would harm the party plan of carrying out the usual--if belated this year--coronation of one candidate.

ysbaddaden's picture

I wonder if weird percentages like this 87% reporting will be the norm from here on out? It sounds like mccan't could get the nomination without the support of the base, from people who don't even belong to the same party he does.

GuyCybershy @ 11:

I noticed the same thing on Super Tuesday with the Alaska results, it seemed to take much longer to count Republican votes than Democrat votes. How else could a complete maniac like McCain win except by cheating?

I agree - and what's even stranger is the fact that FAR fewer people voted Republican. Look at the numbers - and the crowds at the caucuses yesterday. It was visibly evident that voters were going for Obama or Hilary (mostly for Obama - even old white men who'd never voted for a Democrat before had insisted that they would vote for Obama before they'd vote for Hillary or McCain).

McCain did NOT win yesterday. But I guess if an electronic voting machine SAYS he won, and you have no paper ballot to prove it, then I guess he won..... riiiight....

Bulldog Guckert's picture

Don't forget who won WA-R in 1988.

The fundies are an extremely potent grassroots force in Washington State Republican politics, particularly in caucuses.

James's picture

kaT @ 16:

I think it's time for liberals to stop ragging Republicans about the same stuff that's going on in the Democratic Party. The fix is in for BO.

Oh, oh. The McCain via Hillary supporters are arriving.

Homer's picture

Could anyone clarify for me - who actually runs the primaries? Are they run by state election boards (who should then announce winners) or are they run by the parties? I guess I've never thought about the detail on that. Thanks in advance.

ferrofluid's picture

kaT @ 16:

I think it's time for liberals to stop ragging Republicans about the same stuff that's going on in the Democratic Party. The fix is in for BO.

I think most Dems, Lefties and Progressives types always assumed that one of the DLC approved would get the ticket,
they are the ones with connections to the big money lobbyists both domestic and foreign.

"you get what you pay for..."

Homer's picture

... and if they are run by the parties - who pays for them (e.g., ballots, polling officials, etc)?

Bangkok Bob's picture

Time to hide the Troll food. they're coming in from under the bridges.

SassySandy's picture

I believe we all but do live in a third world country. We are the only non third world country with no universal healthcare. The only non third world country that still enforces the death penalty, and I believe we have the highest infant mortality rate of any non third world country. I am not sure, but I think infant mortality rates are a leading indicator of the health and wealth of any country on the whole.

Truth B Told's picture

If the republican establishment (actually THE ESTABLISHMENT for both parties) did steal the primary elections in Washington (and also possibly NH) would any of the mainstream democrats actually care? Or do they only care when the vote is rigged against their slate of candidates?

Filthy Harry's picture

kaT @ 16:

I think it's time for liberals to stop ragging Republicans about the same stuff that's going on in the Democratic Party. The fix is in for BO.

Only a clinton supporter would consider people voting for someone 'the fix' lol.

mudshark's picture

this just gives the GOP time to "fix" it.
then to destroy the evidence.
S.O.P.

CafeenMan's picture

kaT @ 16:

I think it's time for liberals to stop ragging Republicans about the same stuff that's going on in the Democratic Party. The fix is in for BO.

When did O'Reilly become a dem? And since when is he running for office??? :)

Shared Humanity's picture

kaT @ 16:

I think it's time for liberals to stop ragging Republicans about the same stuff that's going on in the Democratic Party. The fix is in for BO.

Pretty pathetic. Do you ever tire of this?

CD's picture

It's kinda obvious that fans of hate radio a/o foxnoise aren't voting for McCain so one has to wonder just how the hell he's winning.

Albatross's picture

This has been another edition of "Republicans Eating Their Own!"

JerryO's picture

Truth B Told @ 28:

If the republican establishment (actually THE ESTABLISHMENT for both parties) did steal the primary elections in Washington (and also possibly NH) would any of the mainstream democrats actually care? Or do they only care when the vote is rigged against their slate of candidates?

Exactly...
Democrats=Republicans
Republicans=Democrats

I have one word....DIEBOLDED. A word that will probably be added to American lexicon to mean manipulated elections. It's all smoke mirrors to continue the ullision of a democracy. The powers that truly run the country probably already have decided who the next King will be. The perpetual debates, the primaries, and the actual election itself is probably nothing more than a 'quaint' tradition as a show for the Masses.

FreedomOfInformationAct's picture

"Did The GOP Establishment Steal the WA Primary for McCain?"

Probably...with the backing of rotten rudy and ahnold, I am sure there is some election fraud going on, just as Bradblog.

mudshark's picture

the way I see it,The Dem party is pretty much split 50/50 on who's going to be the nominee.given the choices.As for the "fix is in for Obama".
Give it a rest

FreedomOfInformationAct's picture

correction...

just ask Bradblog.com

Lollimom's picture

James @ 22:

kaT @ 16:

I think it's time for liberals to stop ragging Republicans about the same stuff that's going on in the Democratic Party. The fix is in for BO.

Oh, oh. The McCain via Hillary supporters are arriving.

I actually heard about a year ago, and from a source that knows better, that the fix was in for Hillary Clinton, and that she would be the dem nominee.

After seeing what happened to all the other dem candidates, I have no reason to believe that things have changed. The two candidates who represent corporate interests just happen to be the final two candidates in this so-called race.

Either the electorate is woefully fickle and not really all that interested in healthcare reform, an unending war, etc., or something else is going on.

I believe something else is going on.

FreedomOfInformationAct's picture

A clinton/obama ticket would be unstoppable...just remember that...we need change, and both these democrats are better than any candidate the GOP could annoint, and together they would be decisive in defeating and reversing the wrong course this nation is going down because of the neocon bush/cheney regime.

David Aquarius's picture

Considering this is the same GOP faction that tried to get Dino Rossi governor back in 2004, I don't doubt the count is fixed.

The modern GOP is corrupt from Bush all the way down to the prissy old ladies in Bellevue(WA). It is said that Nature abhors a vacuum, well Republicans abhor the truth.

It's only natural.

moondancer's picture

LOL The campaign hasn't even started yet and the USS McCain has taken another torpedo. They have to cheat to keep him from getting swept by a second tier candidate. Listing 8 degrees, time for the gooper rats to abandon ship.

justabill's picture

It is VERY strange that they can't post the results from caucuses until monday. It's not like there are votes that may still need to be counted. They have to do a count before the caucusgoers can leave. It may take a few hours longer to get the results called in but still, at that point they are done, and I'm pretty sure they aren't still there trying to count them. I have to agree with Josh. Something just don't jive.

FreedomOfInformationAct's picture

DEAD AGAIN: GOP Initiative to Grab California Electoral College Votes Fails to Meet Deadline for June Ballot
Off Again On Again Dirty Trick Scheme Now Off Again...For Now
CBS News Report Reveals Apparently Fraudulent Signature Gathering by Supporters...
BLOGGED BY Jon Ponder ON 12/7/2007 8:11AM
Guest blogged by Jon Ponder of Pensito Review, with additional reporting by Brad Friedman
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=5413

[please just post links]

FreedomOfInformationAct's picture

CBS News Catches Republicans in Dirty Trick

Rick Jacobs| BIO | I'M A FAN OF THIS BLOGGER

Posted December 4, 2007 | 12:37 AM (EST)
________________________________________
Read More: 2008 Election, Arnold Schwarzenegger, California, California Electoral Votes, California Republican Party, CBS Evening News, CBS News, Courage Campaign, Daily Kos, Electoral College, George Bush, Rudolph Giuliani, Rudy Giuliani, Breaking Politics News

CBS Weekend News broadcast a solid view of desperate Republicans who know that they cannot win the 2008 presidential election unless they resort to dirty tricks. As I have written here since August, Republican operatives, many with ties to Rudolph Giuliani, have been attempting to place on the June 2008 California primary ballot an initiative that would change the way electoral college votes are allocated from the traditional "winner take all," to a proportional system that allocates electoral college votes by congressional district.
We all dislike the Electoral College, but this is just a simple dirty trick. If it were equitable, the Republicans would have joined with Democrats to sponsor such initiatives and legislative changes in all of the big states across the country. Even Governor Schwarzenegger, still officially a Republican, says "changing the rules in the middle of the game" is a "loser's mentality." And that's just what we see. If you can't beat 'em at the polls, change the rules, change the way you count votes, do anything but face reality.
The CBS story speaks for itself. It came about because dedicated online activists including a graduate student at UC Santa Barbara who is a diarist at Daily Kos, caught signature gatherers for the dirty trick initiative lying to students to get them to sign the petitions. They used children's cancer care as bait for to switch people to signing the dirty trick initiative. The Courage Campaign (disclosure: I am founder and chair) received a call from the intrepid blogger and activist. Our staffer, Erik Love, captured the whole sordid mess on video. You can see Erik's story here at Daily Kos.
This is one example of the mainstream media reporting the news, not reporting commentary masquerading as news. Have a look. And if you feel so inclined, check us out at the Courage Campaign to lend a hand.
Comments and article source
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rick-jacobs/cbs-news-catches-republic_b_75...

FreedomOfInformationAct's picture

The plot to rig the 2008 US election
Johann Hari
Published: 29 November 2007

In the long, hot autumn of 2000, the world was shocked by the contempt for democracy shown by the Republican Party. They knew their man had lost the popular vote to Al Gore by half a million votes. They knew the majority of voters in Florida itself had pulled a lever for Gore. But they fought – amid the confetti of hanging chads – to stop the state's votes being counted, and to ensure that the Supreme Court imposed George W Bush.
Today, that contempt for democracy is on display again. In California right now, there is a naked, out-in-the-open ploy to rig the 2008 presidential election – and it may succeed.
[deleted--too long]
http://comment.independent.co.uk/commentators/johann_hari/article3204034...

FreedomOfInformationAct's picture

Behind The GOP's Dirty Tricks Campaign To Divide California's Electoral Votes
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-dreier/gop-dirty-tricks-campaign_b_7...
Peter Dreier
GOP Dirty Tricks Campaign Seeks to Divide Californias Electoral Votes
Posted November 4, 2007 | 06:00 PM (EST)
________________________________________

The following piece was produced by the Huffington Post's OffTheBus.

Let the candidates kiss the babies, raise money, and issue position papers. Meanwhile, while voters and reporters are watching the TV debates, a small group of right-wing GOP donors and political consultants (several with close ties to Rudy Giuliani) are maneuvering to hijack the November 2008 election by changing the rules in mid-contest. Their plan: change California's winner-take-all system to require that electoral votes be awarded based on how individual congressional districts vote for president. If their plan goes into effect, Democrats fear that the Republican candidate could capture 20 of Californias 55 electoral votes, which is enough to win the White House.
The GOP wizards have until November 29 to gather 434,000 valid signatures (2.78 percent of the state's 15.7 million registered voters) in order to qualify for the June 2008 statewide ballot.
Since the plan was first hatched in July, it has gone through a number of starts and stops because the GOP was initially unable to raise enough money to gather signatures and was hampered by infighting between GOP donors and consultants. But in late October GOP Rep. Darrell Issa, one of the richest and most ambitious members of Congress, came to the rescue with a big check and a new team of veteran Republican operatives.
[deleted--please don't do long cut & pastes. Link the article and maybe provide an excerpt.]

FreedomOfInformationAct's picture

Dems see plot in electoral vote plan
GOP's Dunsmore first link in alleged conspiracy connected to Giuliani
By Steven Harmon, MEDIANEWS SACRAMENTO BUREAU
Article Last Updated: 10/29/2007 07:02:42 AM PDT

SACRAMENTO — The players may have changed in a revived effort to award California's precious electoral votes by congressional districts. But the dots, Democrats claim, still connect to one person: Republican presidential contender Rudy Giuliani.
Exhibit One in the Democrats' case for conspiracy is Anne Dunsmore, who is leading the ballot measure's fundraising effort, which organizers hope to get on the June 2008 ballot.
Dunsmore is a veteran GOP fundraiser who brought in more than $200,000 for President Bush in 2000 and 2004. She also happens to have been Giuliani's top fundraiser before quitting on Sept. 26.
Dunsmore said she quit — just days before the end of the third quarter for campaign finance reports — because she couldn't meet Giuliani's fundraising demands.
But Democrats are suspicious about the timing. Her departure came shortly after the original initiative drive stalled — in part, if not entirely, because of concerns that the measure's only significant financial backer initially remained anonymous. That backer also was a fundraiser and policy adviser for Giuliani.
Democrats say they doubt Dunsmore ever left Giuliani's side — at least in spirit. She has said that she still supports the former New York mayor and believes he is the GOP's best chance to win next fall.
[deleted--too long. Just link and excerpt]
http://www.insidebayarea.com/argus/ci_7311053

FreedomOfInformationAct's picture

An electoral plot falls apart
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
The threat dissipated almost as quickly as it emerged. But many California Democrats are not about to shrug and move on. They want the Federal Election Commission to investigate the trail of money behind the ballot measure that would have radically altered the way California's 55 electoral votes are distributed in 2008 - in a way that was likely to boost Republicans.
[deleted--too long]
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/02/EDM8SHRDP.DT...

http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2007/10/california_vote_6.html

http://www.calitics.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=3938

FreedomOfInformationAct's picture

Democrats want feds to investigate electoral college ballot effort
Carla Marinucci, Chronicle Political Writer
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
(10-01) 16:50 PDT San Francisco -- Democratic Party activists said Monday that they have filed a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission charging connections between backers of Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani and a GOP-supported ballot measure that could have changed California's winner-take-all electoral college system to benefit Republican candidates.

[deleted--please stop posting long cut and pastes and full articles. Just link it.]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/10/02/MND2SHTNQ...

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/02/MND2SHTNQ.DT...

Strawberrybitch's picture

Hey Freedom, darlin' could ya summarize a little for us hard of seeing folks. That's waaaaay too much small print.

MargeAggedon's picture

They're just practicing for November.

Freedomofinformationact, maybe you could post the links and we could go there and read the articles. That way it wouldn't take up so much space here for C&L

Zac's picture

FreedomOfInformationAct, would you please shut up? No one cares about your stupid blog, nor do we care about the California electoral votes (which was already mentioned here on C&L days ago).

Independent Moron's picture

Heh

In Lynnwood, nearly 500 Republicans jammed Silver Creek Community Church, sprawling out in a concrete-floored gym and into side rooms. Initiative guru Tim Eyman exhorted the crowd to unify behind the party's eventual nominee — especially given Washington's Democratic leanings.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2004174808_caucusrep10m.html

If your argument for supporting a candidate is that he is going to be the eventual nominee anyway, that is kind of pathetic. Actually, if McCain is already the nominee, why shouldn't a Republican(or a Democrat if the situation was reversed) vote their conscience? One might argue that this is throwing your vote away, but voting for someone just because they are bound to receive the nomination is just as pointless.

"Ooo, look at me. I cast my vote for someone that I despise but a winner is me because he will get the nomination anyway."

M(sh)itt's picture

rk @ 7:

Is this not exactly like what happened in Keneya? As far as I remember it almost led to a civil war there.

In the USA we lie back and enjoy the rape.

miss_kitty's picture

Did The GOP Establishment Steal the WA Primary for McCain?

Probably. They've been practicing on the state's Dems for the last few years....

Truth B Told's picture

M(sh)itt @ 56:

rk @ 7:

Is this not exactly like what happened in Keneya? As far as I remember it almost led to a civil war there.

In the USA we lie back and enjoy the rape.

Not that shooter in Kirkwood, MO

DC's picture

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Former Secretary of State Colin Powell, a Republican who served under President Bush, said Friday he may not back the GOP presidential nominee in November, telling CNN that “I am keeping my options open at the moment.”

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/02/09/colin-powell-may-support...

Even Powell has had enough of the Corrupt GOP.

FreedomOfInformationAct's picture

okay, thanks sb..

Giuliani fundraiser gave big bucks to state ballot measure
Carla Marinucci, Chronicle Political Writer
Saturday, September 29, 2007
(09-28) 17:42 PDT San Francisco --
A major New York fundraiser for GOP presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani has been revealed as the money man behind a proposed ballot measure that would have changed California's winner-take-all Electoral College vote system - and likely benefited Republicans.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/29/MNSESGGJB.DTL

California Voters Have Right to Know Who Financed, Aided , and Abetted Attempt to Rig the Electoral College
By Frank D. Russo
The proposal to change the rules of the 2008 Presidential Election in the middle of the game by placing a measure on the June 2008 California primary election ballot was reprehensible by itself. By the time the wheels came off this wagon and all those who formed the committee to push it had resigned, the veneer of evenhandedness and fundamental fairness had worn off--to the point that when read the title and summary of the measure it polled between 25 and 30% according to pollster Jim Moore. The fact that it applied only to California and not to any of the "red states" was telling and it was denounced in newspaper after newspaper in editorials and throughout the internet.
http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2007/10/california_vote_6.html

Giuliani Up To His Ears In Dirty Tricks
by: David Dayen
Tue Oct 02, 2007 at 21:18:49 PM PDT
Frank Russo has so far had the best coverage of Rudy Giuliani's involvement in the Dirty Tricks campaign to steal a bunch of California's electoral votes. It appears that practically everyone associated with this campaign had a tie to Rudy Giuliani in some form or another. We already knew that the lone funder, laundered through a hastily assembled LLC in Missouri called "Take Initiative America," was actually the chair of Giuliani's northeast funding operation named Paul Singer. What we didn't know was that this laundering, crafted to skirt the strict election laws in California, was part of a pattern of interlocking front groups that would hide who was behind this whole thing - perhaps even the candidate himself. This quote is from Chris Lehane, who was running the opposition to the Dirty Tricks campaign and was in a position to delve pretty deeply into what was going on here. (I know not everyone here's a fan of Lehane, but this sounds genuine)
http://www.calitics.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=3938

A lesson for Democrats from all 50 states to learn from…take action earlier rather than later, don’t wait for November 2008!
GOP-backed bid to reform California's electoral process collapsing
Carla Marinucci, Chronicle Political Writer
(09-27) 22:59 PDT San Francisco -- Days after a controversial organization began collecting voter signatures for a ballot measure to change California's winner-take-all primary, a founder of the GOP-backed group says its major players are resigning - and the group will fold - due to lack of funding and support.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/28/MN72SG62P.DTL

BLOGGED BY Brad Friedman ON 9/27/2007 10:18PM
BREAKING: GOP's CA Electoral College Initiative Scam Dead, Says LA Times
LA Times is reporting tonight that the good guys may have won one for a change...
BREAKING NEWS: Electoral initiative backers give up
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=5110

Breaking News: Republicans Give Up Scheme to Change Electoral College for California
By Frank D. Russo
September 27, 2007. 1 comments. Topic:

The Los Angeles Times will be reporting tomorrow that the somewhat mysterious group that has been backing an initiative to change the Electoral College to split California's votes along Congressional District lines are giving up the ghost on their drive to place the measure on the ballot. This, according to the LA Times blog, Top of the Ticket.
http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2007/09/breaking_news_r.html

GOP Abandons CA Electoral "Dirty Trick" Initiative
by lordmikethegreat, Fri Sep 28, 2007 at 01:06:29 AM EST
Great news! - Todd
According to the L.A.Times
Plagued by a lack of money, supporters of a statewide initiative drive to change the way California's 55 electoral votes are apportioned, first revealed here by Top of the Ticket in July, are pulling the plug on that effort.
In an exclusive report to appear on this website late tonight and in Friday's print editions, The Times' Dan Morain reports that the proposal to change the winner-take-all electoral vote allocation to one by congressional district is virtually dead with the resignation of key supporters, internal disputes and a lack of funds.
They also are running out of time... needed to have signatures in by November for the June ballot. Democratic leaders will keep an eye out to make sure that this dirty trick doesn't rear its ugly head again... the one concern, IMO, would be for them to try again and have it be on next year's *November* ballot and somehow be retroactive...
http://www.mydd.com/story/2007/9/28/02818/5341

BREAKING NEWS: Electoral initiative backers give up
Plagued by a lack of money, supporters of a statewide initiative drive to change the way California's 55 electoral votes are apportioned, first revealed here by Top of the Ticket in July, are pulling the plug on that effort.
In an exclusive report to appear on this website late tonight and in Friday's print editions, The Times' Dan Morain reports that the proposal to change the winner-take-all electoral vote allocation to one by congressional district is virtually dead with the resignation of key supporters, internal disputes and a lack of funds.
The reality is hundreds of thousands of signatures must be gathered by the end of November to get the measure on the June 2008 ballot.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/

Electoral College Hijinks
By Kevin Drum
Sep 28, 2007
________________________________________

(Political Animal) ELECTORAL COLLEGE HIJINKS....Remember that cute little piece of skullduggery Republicans have been backing that would split California's electoral votes by congressional district instead of awarding them all to a single candidate? Long story short, California is reliably blue and a Democratic presidential candidate could normally expect to win all 55 of the state's votes. Under the new proposal they'd probably split about 35-20. Democrats would instantly lose 20 electoral votes.

So clever. So sly. So dead:
The Times' Dan Morain reports that the proposal to change the winner-take-all electoral vote allocation to one by congressional district is virtually dead with the resignation of key supporters, internal disputes and a lack of funds.

....Opposition was lead by Democratic consultant Chris Lehane who received financial backing from donors such as Stephen Bing, like Lehane a Hillary Clinton backer who saw any threat to keeping all of California's electoral votes as unacceptable.

"We want to to make sure this is not the Freddie Kruger of initiatives," Lehane said today, "that comes back to life. We'll continue to monitor it."
The LA Times promises a full report on the debacle later tonight.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/09/28/politics/animal/main3306598.shtml

Truth B Told's picture

DC @ 59:

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Former Secretary of State Colin Powell, a Republican who served under President Bush, said Friday he may not back the GOP presidential nominee in November, telling CNN that “I am keeping my options open at the moment.”

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/02/09/colin-powell-may-support...

Even Powell has had enough of the Corrupt GOP.

Oh, please. Look deeper than just the surface of the water. There's a deep lake of deceit.

Powell is a member of the CFR and other elitist organizations that recruit from Democratic and Republican parties.

FreedomOfInformationAct's picture

whew, okay last one really!!! sorry about the flood, but they really REALLY want to steal this election, again.

• REJECT THE REPUBLICAN POWER GRAB IN CALIFORNIA!

http://www.fairelectionreform.com/

CALIFORNIA SCHEMIN':
09.27.07

http://www.tnr.com/blog/the_plank?pid=146961

http://mediamatters.org/items/200709260008

Mystery man's key role in move to change Electoral College rules
Carla Marinucci, Chronicle Political Writer
Thursday, September 27, 2007

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/27/MNNCSDUH6.DTL

Shadow Money Funding Republican CA Efforts Exposed!!!
Shadow Money
Republicans are making a move in California that would greatly benefit their efforts to retain the White House. ABC7 News wanted an answerer to our question: Who's behind this effort? A shadowy GOP group not even located in California!
Watch the Video here!
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=politics&id=5677389

Shadow Money Funding Republican CA Efforts
By Mark Matthews
SAN FRANCISCO Sep.26 2007 (KGO) - Republicans are making a move that would greatly benefit their efforts to retain the White House. ABC7 News wanted an answerer to our question: Who's behind this effort?
In the last presidential election, John Kerry won California and got all of the state's 55 electoral votes.
The initiative backed by Californians For Equal Representation would've split the state by congressional districts and George W. Bush would've picked up 22 of the 55 votes.
If it goes that way in 2008, it will be much harder for a Democrat to win the White House.
Last week when questioned, the reply given was "It's a bunch of people from California trying to do right by Californians," said Kevin Eckery, Californians For Equal Representation
ABC7 News was curious on where the funding for the CFER is coming from. We pressed him by suggesting that some have speculated the money could be coming from a big red state like Texas, which wouldn't be fair considering that like California, Texas doesn't split it's electoral votes.
What Kevin Eckery didn't tell us was that all money for the California Initiative Drive is coming from a lawyer in Missouri.
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=politics&id=5677389

Constitutional Calvinball in California
"Media Matters"; by Jamison Foser
Fri, Aug 24, 2007 8:28pm ET

http://mediamatters.org/items/200708250001?f=h_top

FreedomOfInformationAct's picture

sure, the GOP would 'never' (sic) ever (sic) think of committing election fraud, right karl?

FreedomOfInformationAct's picture
Ron's picture

They were stuck at 37% for quite a while after the Democrats had completed and announced Obama had won. Maybe they just quit counting with McCain narrowly ahead.

xargaw's picture

kaT @ 16:

I think it's time for liberals to stop ragging Republicans about the same stuff that's going on in the Democratic Party. The fix is in for BO.

I don't know how you can say that. Clinton has the machine and has been gearing it up for four years. The fact that Obama is where he is today is miraculas and indicative of the will and hard work of his supporters. No candidate in history has had a popular, former President spouse championing their campaign. The fact that Clinton is not way way way out front is a testement to her polarizing candidacy and Obama's skill. Obama has icaptured people outside the Democratic Party and people that have never engaged in politics before. That is not a "fix." That is what happens when people are inspired, energized and have new found hope that their country can change for the better.

jackpine savage's picture

Homer,

States finance primaries, and in many cases use them for referendums, local primaries, proposals, etc.

Parties finance caucuses, which tend to be significantly cheaper because most of the organizing/work is done by volunteers.

The MI primary cost the state $10M, and accomplished nothing except provoking lawsuits in the future.

As i've heard the arguments, its kind of a toss up. But personally, i think that a national holiday for caucusing would be our best bet. For one, it would save a lot of taxpayer money. But more importantly, it makes people get out and talk to each other. There have been a lot of stories concerning the chaos of the caucuses, but that's mostly because they expected numbers far lower than they got.

The big plus, in my opinion, to caucuses is that there is an initial vote and then periods where supporters of each candidate are allowed to debate each other in attempt to win uncommitted voters. Maybe i just like the idea because i'd be the asshole who kept everybody there longer, refusing to budge from "uncommitted" until my neighbors had a nice long political talk...and i'd do this even if i knew before hand who i'd be voting for.

There have been a lot of really great stories about the enthusiasm, community, and excitement from people who've caucused this year too. But its a system that requires solid organization.

Homer's picture

Jackpine
Thanks for the info - I couldn't understand why the GOP was announcing the winner in WA and not the state election board

Cat Atomic's picture

I'll bet the CPAC crowd is none too happy about this. Too bad they've spent the last 8 years mocking the idea of election fraud.

Hey-- how does it feel to have your own corrupt machinery used against you, nitwits?

King of Kings's picture

Does a bear shit in the woods?

lafin gas's picture

In order to fix an election, the final vote must be close. The GOP decided that McCain was going to be the next dictator, but would loose by a large margin to Edwards so they fixed the Democratic primary so a women or a black man was running against the old fart, thinking the results would be closer and they could flip them easily! So stop all this accusation BS and step back and see what is really going on!

ConcernedCanuck's picture

kaT @ 16:

I think it's time for liberals to stop ragging Republicans about the same stuff that's going on in the Democratic Party. The fix is in for BO.

Typical Clinton supporter. Divide and conquer or "I win or nobody does" mentality. Clinton supporters wonder why everything everybody says about Hillary's candidacy (divisive, shallow, Bushlite) is being said, and then they turn around and prove it.

CoIntelPro's picture

what happened to the ron paul vote?

FreedomOfInformationAct's picture

[deleted--FreedomOfInformationAct, why are you re-copying the link from the original post? If you have something to add to the discussion, please do so, but STOP COPY and PASTING. All you're doing is hogging bandwidth.]

CoIntelPro's picture

kkkaT @ 16:

I think it's time for liberals to stop ragging Republicans about the same stuff that's going on in the Democratic Party. The fix is in for BO.

doing your best to be racist but not sound racist, aren't you? pathetic racist concern troll behaviour. your disguise is too thin.

CoIntelPro's picture

FreedomOfInformationAct @ 74:

A Little Weird
02.10.08 -- 12:25PM By Josh Marshall
As you know, John McCain lost two of the three contests yesterday. He was losing narrowly in Washington state and then pulled ahead by a narrow margin (less than two points) toward the end. But then with 87% of the returns counted, the Washington state GOP, which runs the caucuses stopped releasing results. That left us and a lot of other news organizations in a bit of a quandary last night since it looked like McCain was going to pull it off. But as late as 1:30 AM on the east coast promised new results kept failing to materialize.

Then over night the Washington state GOP put out a press release announcing McCain the winner based on the 87% returns. Now, I think it would be borderline for a media organization to declare one candidate a winner when the margin separating first and second was 1.8% with 13% of the results still uncounted. But for the officials holding the election to declare the result on that basis is simply bizarre. But that's what they did.

The release says final results are not expected to be available until Monday.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/177811.php

Is Diebold part of the equation? Inquiring minds and Ron Paul supporters want to know!

ConcernedCanuck's picture

CoIntelPro @ 75:

kkkaT @ 16:

I think it's time for liberals to stop ragging Republicans about the same stuff that's going on in the Democratic Party. The fix is in for BO.

doing your best to be racist but not sound racist, aren't you? pathetic racist concern troll behaviour. your disguise is too thin.

kaT pretends to be a Clinton supporter, but always has every republican talking point as fact. Concern troll? Naw, just a troll without concern.

FreedomOfInformationAct's picture

McCain's Washington washout3 hours ago by buckarooskidoo
But I admit to being stunned by John McCain's poor showing in my neighbor state of Washington last night. Washington state Republicans tend pragmatic and economic, rather than ideological/evangelical...there hasn't been anywhere near as ...
Make it Stop! Make it Stop! - http://somehistoricalperspective.blogspot.com/

McCain wins Washington's GOP caucuses, according to state GOP7 hours ago by Martina Stewart
Track the results of the Washington State Republican caucuses county-by-county by clicking here: Washington. Full story.
CNN Political Ticker - http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com - References
[ More results from CNN Political Ticker ]

Washington GOP Stops Counting Votes For McCain, Huckabee considers ...8 minutes ago by Kevin
Now, if the rest of the votes were counted, I don’t know that Governor Huckabee would be the winner, in fact, Senator McCain may even increase his lead. But 13% of Washington Republicans were denied the right to have their votes counted ...
Kevin Tracy - http://ktracy.com

Washington State GOP Declares McCain Winner of Caucuses After ...3 hours ago by Team Member
McCain is likely to be nominee and the Washington State GOP Chair knows that, and, for that matter, may be backing McCain. Up until the Washington announcement McCain was having a bad night. He had been trounced in Kansas and was losing ...
MCDAC Blog - http://mcdac.blogspot.com/

About that McCain Victory in Washington1 hour ago
McCain wins Washington as declared by the Washington GOP and most of the MSM. Or did he? Things are a bit fishy up in the land that never not rains.
Digg / upcoming - http://digg.com/
[ More results from Digg / upcoming ]

Going Inside the Numbers for February 9th on the GOP Side4 hours ago by Dr. Steven Taylor
A win for McCain (Washington), a win for Huckabee (Kansas) and a toss-up (Louisiana) as the delegate from Louisiana are as likely to go to the party’s nominee as to anyone else (ie, they could go to McCain). 20009 v. ...
PoliBlog (TM): A Rough Draft of my Thoughts - http://www.poliblogger.com

McCain wins Washington state Republican contest4 hours ago by politisite
John McCain won Saturday’s Washington state contest to pick a Republican presidential candidate, chalking up another victory in his almost-certain bid to represent the party in the November election, local media projected on Sunday. ...
POLITISITE: Politics from the RIGHT Side... - http://politisite.wordpress.com

The Neocons and John McCain3 hours ago by steve
Jim Lobe has a great profile piece on the movement of neoconservative sympathies in the Republican race and notes that a number of neocons and their chief pugnacious nationalist ally John Bolton have moved to support John McCain. This. ...
The Washington Note - http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/

John McCain opposed by 74% of of Washington State voters1 hour ago by Lance
Look at the Washington State numbers for their recent caucus (primary?). McCain: 26% Huckabee: 24% Paul: 21% Romney: 16% Uncommitted: 13% This puts McCain in opposition to 74% of the Republican goers in that state. ...
The Political Inquirer - http://politicalinquirer.com

http://blogsearch.google.com/blogsearch?hl=en&client=news&q=mccain+washi...

Truth B Told's picture

lafin gas @ 71:

In order to fix an election, the final vote must be close. The GOP decided that McCain was going to be the next dictator, but would loose by a large margin to Edwards so they fixed the Democratic primary so a women or a black man was running against the old fart, thinking the results would be closer and they could flip them easily! So stop all this accusation BS and step back and see what is really going on!

Thats not the only way.

If the powers that be - who do control both parties - put forward their slate of approved candidates on both sides of the illusory political spectrum, well, then they still win no matter who is chosen by the people.

Let me compare it to a huge land developer who has built all sorts of different franchises on the property, McD's, Burger King, Subway, Quiznos, Hardees...etc, etc. He owns all those stores, so no matter who you go to for your business (preference) the wealthy landowner is the one who reaps the profits. Each one has differences yes, but the reality is that the the daily receipts go into one bank account.

FreedomOfInformationAct's picture

Washington GOP Stops Counting Votes For McCain, Huckabee considers legal action
Washington state politics can be notoriously corrupt and it appears Governor Mike Huckabee might potentially be the latest victim of that corruption as the state Republican Party has stopped counting votes after looking at just 87% of the Republican votes. Throughout most of last night as the returns came in, Mike Huckabee was winning in the vote count, but a late surge in the tally for Senator McCain put him just 229 votes ahead of Governor Huckabee.

lafin gas's picture

Truth B Told @ 78:

lafin gas @ 71:

In order to fix an election, the final vote must be close. The GOP decided that McCain was going to be the next dictator, but would loose by a large margin to Edwards so they fixed the Democratic primary so a women or a black man was running against the old fart, thinking the results would be closer and they could flip them easily! So stop all this accusation BS and step back and see what is really going on!

Thats not the only way.

If the powers that be - who do control both parties - put forward their slate of approved candidates on both sides of the illusory political spectrum, well, then they still win no matter who is chosen by the people.

Let me compare it to a huge land developer who has built all sorts of different franchises on the property, McD's, Burger King, Subway, Quiznos, Hardees...etc, etc. He owns all those stores, so no matter who you go to for your business (preference) the wealthy landowner is the one who reaps the profits. Each one has differences yes, but the reality is that the the daily receipts go into one bank account.

Yes, you may be correct on all counts but I am a little more optimistic in that I hope the Dems that are running are just playing the political game and are not bought and sold by the powers that be. If you are correct then I see no other option than an all out revolution. Time will tell but just in case, keep your powder dry!

FreedomOfInformationAct's picture

An informed electorate is a more reasonable electorate

Are the corporations, polls, and media collaborating to heist the election....to McCain?
by Kathryn Smith
http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_kathryn__080210_are_the_corporat...

John McCain and the Neocons' Usurping of the GOP
by Ryan Morrison
http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_ryan_mor_080209_john_mccain_and_...

Senator McCain and Brain Dead American Voters
by Frosty Wooldridge
http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_frosty_w_080208_senator_mccain_a...

John Bolton Supports McCain Because He's More Hawkish Than Bush on Iraq and Iran
Submitted by Sheila Samples
Speaking at CPAC,notorious Iran war hawk John Bolton emphasized his support for McCain, saying McCain proved he is "stronger" than the Bush administration with his statement on Iran. Bolton claims Bush is too "moderate" and has a foreign policy in "freefall" because he has yet to bomb Iran.
http://www.opednews.com/maxwrite/link.php?id=51667
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/08/bolton-mccain/

When Push the Lever Comes to Shove McCain...
Diary Entry by Sandy Sand
http://www.opednews.com/maxwrite/diarypage.php?did=6050

Bush: McCain will best carry out my agenda.
On Fox News today, Time’s Mark Halperin said, “The President behind the scenes has told people for months that he thought McCain would be the nominee. Even during some of those dark periods he still thought he could win. And also that McCain would be the best to carry forth his agenda.” Watch it:
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/08/bush-mccain-will-best-carry-out-my-a...

John McCain Email Against Impeachment
Diary Entry by Dom Jermano
February 6, 2008
http://www.opednews.com/maxwrite/diarypage.php?did=6014

Ryan From Portland's picture

ron paul won.

ferrofluid's picture

SassySandy @ 27:

I am not sure, but I think infant mortality rates are a leading indicator of the health and wealth of any country on the whole.

and the hideous numbers in prison (for profit)
I believe 2.2 million incarcerated plus another 2 million on probation who are technically non citizens,
plus the 'felons' permanently disenfranchised for life.
The US is rapidlly regressing back to a Greco-Roman style democracy,
with only the privileged elite being able to vote and be 1st class citizens.

Ken Smith's picture

Your headline should read "caucus" rather than primary. While Washington state uses both a caucus and a primary, only the Republicans allocating a portion of their delegates based on the primary results. However, the Washington state primary is scheduled for February 19.

Robt's picture

What is the deal over Wash. and McCain pulling it out of his arse(or hat)?

CPAC wants Romney, Rush, Coulter, FOX (Ailes &Murdoch), Bush family & Jeb working Florida for Romney.

Romney steps down because, " My campaign is helping Clinton and Obama which causes surrender to terrorists ".

But CPAC and Rushbo want to choose Romney over McCain and expect the rank and file to just vote their Authority hand fed candidate.

OH NO- Oh MY, McCain is not conservative. The man's entire life has been in the republican party and a conservative sycophant for his party over the nation. The GOP endorsed him in all his re election bids. Honored him with top conservative senate positions. Allowed him to participate in the presidential primary (twice now). If he wasnt a conservative then why didn't they ever run against him for his senate seat?

Republicans/conservatives. I'm telling you ! You need help and there are no medical plans that will accept you with these pre existing conditions.

Its like " Night of the Living Dead " on the GOP side right now.

Hear Coulter and Rush moaning in their slow staggering walk, " Brains, I smell Brains, I need brains ".

Craig Lister's picture

A friend was just telling me today that McCain is a political whore who bent over and took it in the ass in 2000 and 2004 letting the Reps smear him, his wife and adopted child in exchange for the candidacy in 2008 so they could install W to take the hits while they did their dirty work with our Constitution, our democratic form of government, our military and our economy. They knew there'd be a Democrat in the White House after 8 years of W and so they could screw McCain again by getting him to agree to the candidacy this round when it was obvious he wasn't going to win. It was also obvious McCain's light wouldn't turn on upstairs.

I know, I know, weird conspiracy crap but it feels kinda frighteningly plausible, doesn't it? Where is that tin foil hat o' mine?

Vicki's picture

I think most Dems, Lefties and Progressives types always

Well, when you lump Dems together with lefties and progressives, you give away where you are coming from. You idiots on the right keep screaming that Hillary is too liberal. Help! I need tranquilizers, restraints, a straight jacket, and padded cell.

Yeah, Hillary isn't George Bush. She is to the left of Bush, maybe a millimeter, micrometer, no ... a nanometer to the left of Bush. She is a zillion light years to the right of Richard Nixon and a trillion-zillion light years to the right of Barry Goldwater.

editor's picture

They are cheating and stealing elections already? Can you say Felony; for christs sake?

editor's picture

Cheating by simply forgetting to count some votes.

JF's picture

Just a hint : Before you export democracy, try having it at home !

THE PRIVATIZATION OF THE USA VOTING SYSTEM IS PRETTY MUCH OVER WITH...

LYNCHING BY LAPTOP 2

Those who cast the vote decide nothing. Those who count the votes decide everything." - Joseph Stalin

NOTHING HAS CHANGED SINCE 2000 !

NOW ENJOY DEMOCRACY SUCKERS ;)

Slippery Slope's picture

I'd have the Seattle US Attorney’s office look into it. I understand they like to vigorously pursue election fraud cases.

Oh. Wait. This is a Republican irregularity.

Never mind.

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