Kerry backs recount effort

[Freddie Stubbs]

By CHRIS McGANN
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER CAPITOL CORRESPONDENT

OLYMPIA -- Former presidential candidate John Kerry contributed at least $200,000 of unused campaign contributions yesterday to help fellow Democrat Christine Gregoire keep the governor's race alive and pay for a statewide hand recount.

"John Kerry really came to our rescue," said state Democratic Party Chairman Paul Berendt. "But our ability to pay for a statewide recount is still subject to money which is not in. ... We are working to move heaven and earth to get all of the money we need."

Even with Kerry's substantial donation, Gregoire and the Democrats had not yet raised the $700,000 down payment they need by 5 p.m. tomorrow to launch the new count.

Republican Gov.-elect Dino Rossi won the election after a mandatory recount of 2.8 million ballots by just 42 votes.

more: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/201970_governor02.html

[Viva_La_Revolution]

1. One more quiet clue.....

That Kerry is paying attention? Scuse me while I get down on my knees and PRAYYYYYYYYY! O8)

[malachi]

7. If you're right. why didn't he pay the full $700k out of the $15-$50mill

he still has in campaign funds? Could he being doing just enough t make it look like he's engaged to cover his ass?

[OneTwentyoNine]

10. My first thought when I got E-Mail from Gregorie wanting money...

Man...I've given to Kerry until it hurt,and then nothing from Kerry after this fraud election. Now the DNC and Gregorie want another donation.

Get it from Kerry,he has used little or none IMO.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

2. Is there a reason he can't put down all of the money?

[Debbi801]

3. I was wondering that too...

If he has that huge surplus left over from the election, why doesn't he pay all of it?

Debbi

[NVMojo]

6. do we know who is paying those 17,000 attorneys?

[NVMojo]

4. all I could send today is $20

so I appreciate what he sent in comparison.

[cyn2]

5. Grateful that he's "paying attention"

Wonder why he couldn't put up more.

[ginnyinWI]

20. maybe there are limits to what any one group can donate? n/t

[Freddie Stubbs]

13. Perhaps there are contribution limits?

:shrug:

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

15. I guess that's what I'm asking

but $200k sounds high for a limit if there is one.

[Freddie Stubbs]

16. It may be higher because it is for a recount fund,

rather than a general election fund. It may also be higher because it is from a political committee rather than an individual. But to tell the truth I really don't know. :shrug:

[Moderator]

8. Could you do a favor

edit your subject line to add ( Washington governors race)
That will help make the headline different than the Ohio recount posts...of which there have been many duplicates.

Thanks!

[Freddie Stubbs]

12. It won't let me change it

You can't edit this message because the editing period has expired.

[Ms_Mary]

14. Yes, I got excited when I saw the title. Bummer. nt

[0007]

9. This is interesting......

"Blackwell reversed rules on provisional ballots in place in the spring primaries. These allowed voters to cast provisional ballots anywhere in their county, even if they were in the wrong precinct, reflecting the chief rationale for provisional ballots: to ensure that those who went to the wrong place by mistake could have their votes counted. The result of this decision -- why does this not surprise? -- was to disqualify disproportionately ballots cast in heavily Democratic Cuyahoga County.

Blackwell also permitted the use of electronic machines that provided no paper record. The maker of many of these machines, the head of Diebold Co., promised to deliver Ohio for Bush. In one precinct in Franklin County, an electric voting system gave Bush 3,893 extra votes out of a total of 638 votes cast."

more.......http://www.commondreams.org/views04/1130-21.htm

[bemildred]

11. Is Kerry feeling the heat?

But why not cough up enough to do the job?

[Straight Shooter]

17. I called and donated and the guy said the phones were ringing off the hook

As for Kerry's extra money, didn't he return that?

[Freddie Stubbs]

18. No, he has not

[Peace Patriot]

19. Kerry is likely...

...hanging onto enough money for his OWN recounts and lawsuits. ($200,000 is a pretty good chunk--it makes the WA recount fundraising feasible, and gave it a great start.)

Would someone here please post CONTACT INFO for donating to the WA governor's election recount effort?

Cobb is now trying to raise $88,000 for their own costs of the recount in 88 OH counties. They've got about $16,000 so far. To donate (or volunteer): http://www.votecobb.org

Cobb et al raised $150,000 in four days (mostly from small internet donations) to post bond on the state's recount costs. Go, bloggers!

I understand that the Kerry-Edwards campaign intervened in the Ohio state election officials' lawsuit against Cobb; it was taken to federal court and I believe that Cobb won (yesterday), but there is a confusing Knight-Ridder news report about this. I will look into it further.

As I understand it, the Ohio recount is a go (all 88 counties). Nevada also looks like a go (and maybe New Mexico). They need both money and volunteers (to observe the recount, and other activities) for all three states.

And this is where I wonder about the K/E legal funds. Maybe they're helping--I don't know. Maybe they're looking at the Cobb fundraising as a gauge of public sentiment. (It's certainly interesting that they intervened soon AFTER Cobb raised all that money so quickly!) I don't doubt that feasibility, politics, and public sentiment are part of their decision-making process.

Letters-emails-phone calls to Kerry-Edwards NOW!

Kerry Fax: [phone]
Kerry Campaign (phone) 202-712-3000, (fax) 202-712-3001
http://www.democrats.org/contact
Ohio Democrats 614-221-6563 (voice), 614-221-0721 (fax) [e-mail]

http://www.thepen.us/e-fraud.html (has setup to send letters to all three at once--Kerry, DNC and GAO)

There is already overwhelming evidence of suppression of black voters in OH and FLA--just as in FLA in 2000--and, given Congr. John Conyers' (and 15 others') request for a GAO investigation of this election, and Jesse Jackson's involvement--I imagine that there WILL be a House delegation of black members approaching the Senate with a petition NOT to certify OH (and maybe also FLA), as there was in 2000--that famous scene in "F9/11" in which the black House members could not get even one Senator to sign their petition.

If all else fails--and this election is not overturned by the recounts, lawsuits and other on-going efforts--what is going to happen this January, when that petition arrives AGAIN? Will the Democratic Senators once again fail the black community and the voters? Or....

I have a dream!

Imagine--yes! yes! John Kerry himself arises to sign the petition. Then John Edwards. Then ALL the Democratic Senators. ALL sign. Yes! Every one of them! Redeeming themselves en masse. Saving the Republic. Saving democracy. Restoring our right to vote.

Oh, I will cry. Yes, I will weep and shout for joy!