December 31, 2004
CERTIFIABLE:
Doubts linger as Gregoire win certified (David Postman, 12/31/04, Seattle Times)
As has been the case since Election Day, much of the attention is focused on King County. Republicans are asking questions about why the county's list of registered voters who cast valid ballots in the election shows about 3,500 fewer people than the total number of votes certified in the race.
Posted by Orrin Judd at December 31, 2004 9:54 AM
It's pretty clear something fishy went on in this election. Rossi could follow Thune's example and take the higher road and then challenge Cantwell for Senate in '06. But it appears Rossi wants the governorship and has asked for another vote.
Posted by: AWW at December 31, 2004 10:07 AMThere were still 3,500 fewer votes than registered voters? Across the continent, Ed Rendell sneers derisively at the King County Democrats' meger voter turnout abilites compared to his native Philadelphia.
Posted by: John at December 31, 2004 10:41 AMJohn: Although it's a very bad sentance, I think he's saying that there were 3500 fewer voters than votes.
Posted by: David Cohen at December 31, 2004 10:49 AMDavid: If that's the case, then I apologize to the King County Democratic Party -- topping even Saddam Hussein's 100 percent voter turnout total for his last re-election is an impressive achievement, indeed. Philadlephia politicians will no doubt be headed for the Pacific northwest this upcoming year for seminars in preparation for the 2006 elections.
Posted by: John at December 31, 2004 11:18 AMI'm a Washingtonian. The worst was seeing a smug Gregoire come on the TV last night to proclaim that her victory proved "Washington is no Florida." The gall.
Posted by: Frosty at December 31, 2004 11:57 AMIt should surprise no one that a woman who stole money from tobacco companies would also steal an election.
Posted by: carter at December 31, 2004 2:58 PMThe same sort of people who say that Bush doesn't have a mandate are already making noises that nothing in the past two months diminishes Xine's authority as Governor or Seattle (or is that Mayor of Washington?)
As for "taking the high road", the time for that sort of acquiesence ("Thank you sir, may I have another?") to Dem perfidity has passed. It's time to start making a stink about their corrupt electoral behavior. If nothing else, if what has happened these past two months can take place in a supposedly clean state like Washington, what goes on elsewhere? It means no one is immune. Will be interesting if any other states treat this as a cautionary tale.
Posted by: Raoul Ortega at December 31, 2004 5:38 PMRaoul: indeed. After all the Dem. handwaving about the GOP "theft" of Florida in 2000, the time is right to stand up and say "Sure, let's make sure elections are fair. Let's have Congress investigate how King County can have more votes than voters." I can't wait to see Dionne, Blumenthal, Pelosi, etc. try to defend that.
Posted by: PapayaSF at January 1, 2005 2:49 AMDionne, Blumenthal, Pelosi, etc. would just just call GOPers "cry babys" and "sore losers". They wouldn't defend anything, they would just attack and defame.
Posted by: Dave W. at January 1, 2005 12:18 PMI don't know much about Rossi. But as a non-Washingtonian, I'd prefer to have another Republican in the US Senate.
Posted by: J Baustian at January 1, 2005 3:13 PM