Republican Reed faces GOP wrath over recount decisions

[Ruffhowse]

OLYMPIA — On Christmas Eve, Secretary of State Sam Reed took a little of what has been precious free time during the gubernatorial recount to e-mail about 25 close advisers he calls his "kitchen cabinet."

Reed told them that his role overseeing the recount — a role that meant the Republican would soon certify the Democrat the victor in the race — had created "some very raw nerves and emotions."

"While I anticipate emotions calming down as time goes by, there are certainly people very angry with me now — including some very good friends and supporters," Reed wrote. He closed by saying any advice would be appreciated.

It wasn't exactly advice he got back a few hours later from his friend of 30 years, John Giese, a Republican political consultant and close adviser to Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi.

"How convenient to blame 'emotions' for the mass discontent within Republican ranks over your handling of the major legal issues in this gubernatorial recount," Giese wrote to Reed and his fellow members of the kitchen cabinet.

"I am one of those who has no intentions of supporting you in the future either, because you didn't listen."

Giese's e-mail may be the clearest sign of Republican discontent with Reed's handling of the recount. On talk radio, in conservative blogs and elsewhere, Republicans have questioned his party loyalty, his choice of attorneys, his hands-off approach with county auditors and nearly all the decisions he made that led to his certification of Democrat Christine Gregoire last Thursday as governor-elect by a 129-vote lead.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2002138732_reed03m.html
____________________
It's amazing that it takes a member of the liberal wing of the Republican party (yes, we do have liberal Republicans in the State of Washington) to actually follow the law and not partisan interests in elections. Katherine Harris should take lessons from Reed about honesty and integrity to the public.

[Rainscents]

1. Reed is letting Democracy work...

the way it was meant to work! Good for you Reed!!!:kick:

[HuskiesHowls]

2. Do we need to be sending emails, showing support?? n/t

[quaoar]

3. Reed is paying the price for having integrity

He failed to follow the Harris/Blackwell Method of vote counting and decided to actually count the votes properly, thus assuring the end of his career -- unless of course he switches parties.

[snippy]

6. Integrity has become an unforgivable sin to republicans.

All decent republicans should see Reed's experience as a wake up call.

[Mist]

8. They excoriate him for being honorable-love those Rethugs! n/t

[merwin]

12. Not necessarily. I'd vote for Reed. He's proven himself to be honest.

So what if he's a Republican? If the far right hates him, that means that he's probably a trustworthy guy.

[tanyev]

4. "Republicans have questioned

...his hands-off approach with county auditors" Because you're supposed to strong arm auditors into producing the results you want? Or are they wistfully remembering the glory days of Enron/Arthur Andersen? Sounds like Reed is actually an ethical public servant.

[SemperEadem]

24. well, if they're anything like the thugs in Ohio

intimidating black voters and interfering with them voting...

http://movies.internetvetsfortruth.org/voting/video_the_vote_ohio.mov

VIDEO THE VOTE
11-02-2004 (3:30 minutes)
Dave Pentecost is one of a number of volunteer filmmakers who worked with Michael Moore to document election day conditions at polling sites throughout Ohio. This film shows what racism and voter intimidation looks like.





from the site:
http://mysite.verizon.net/res7dhyg/id3.html

[trogdor]

32. GOoPers think this is some kind of SPORT or something.

Where arguing with the ump even when the ump is right is perfectly acceptable, the people be damned.

[kodi]

5. the GOP is pissed off that one of their own did not queer the deal?

what level of ethics does that reveal?

[UpInArms]

7. contact info here

[e-mail]
Washington Secretary of State
Legislative Building
PO BOX 40220, OLYMPIA WA 98504-0220
[phone]


my thanks are winging their way to him

[merwin]

15. Thanks for that info! I was looking for it on their website

so I could send him a "thank you" and let him know he has my support in the future.

There's crooked Democrats as well as crooked Republicans. Reed has shown himself to be a fair and honest person, and definately deserves support. He's the kind of Republican that is hard to find these days among the far right neo-cons who's only goal is to win, at any cost.

That's just my 2 cents though.

[Razorback_Democrat]

9. Fuck him, he's a pubbie

why should i feel sorry for his poor decision making in party choice?

[baby_bear]

18. Because he gives the result credibility

If the SOS had been a Dem, this wouldn't have worked (unlike in Ohio, where Blackwell seems to get cover from every direction).

A Blackwell would not work in WA State.

b_b

[leesa]

10. Good. Let a Republican get pissed for being chastised when

he doesn't goose step with the facists.

[sendero]

11. Those Republicans...

... want to recount and recount until they get the result they want.

If that doesn't work, they call for a revote.

These folks would literally bitch about welfare mothers while they stand in line to cash a bribe check. They are that freaking hypocritical.

[purduejake]

27. We want to recount and recount until we get what we want, too.

But the difference is that we're not the ones causing the problems that necessitate a recount and we only want another recount because the processes used in the first recount were illegal and fixed just like the initial results.

[spotbird]

13. Reed is too honest to be a Republican.

If there is one thing that make a modern Republican's blood run cold its a fair election.

[Gothmog]

14. I just wish that Reed was SOS for Ohio

There are honorable men in both political parties and Sec. of State Reed appears to meet my definition of an honorable man. I just wish that he was SOS in Ohio.

[0rganism]

16. Before you write to thank Sec. Reed, ask yourself...

...if you'd be doing the same were Rossi leading by 100 votes.

It's certainly okay to thank Sam Reed for following the law, as his job requires, but are you only thanking him because he's certifying Gregoire instead of Rossi?

I have absolutely zero doubt in my mind that if Reed had followed the same process and Rossi had ended up on top that NO republicans would be complaining right now, not a single one. Their angst is so obviously and transparently partisan. I would hope Democrats would be more equitable in some sense, but my gut instinct is that this newfound gratitude is also oriented to a particular result, rather than the process itself.

It saddens me that something so basic as following the law has become a matter of organizational loyalties.

[SemperEadem]

26. Really

they should be more concerned about their behavior being beyond reproach, by following the letter of the law, than by pissing on the law for their own selfish gain.

Reed did what he swore he would do when he took office... I am glad that he at least has the integrity to 'take one for the team' on this and make sure that the election recount followed the appropriate means to resolution. The thugs of WA need to get some anger management treatment and get over the fact that they don't get their way this time--they've got 4 years and then they can try again.

[reprobate]

17. Said it before. The repug party is a criminal conspiracy.

Watergate

October Surprise

Iran-contra

election 2000

election 2004

etc.

etc.

etc.

Q.E.D.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

19. Just goes to show

It doesn't pay to be an honest Republican

[FM Arouet666]

20. Oh my, integrity from a republican

No wonder the party is up in arms. What is also very interesting is a recent Rush Fatball diatribe which he was complaining that democrats would drag an election through the courts and recounts and that the honorable republicans would never stoop so low. What a load a crap from pig boy, and as for Reed, yes he is a repug, but he should not be faulted for having integrity.

[NightOwwl]

21. So "fellow" Republican Griese says

"I am one of those who has no intentions of supporting you in the future either, because you didn't listen."

Sounds similar to "making an offer you can't refuse." So is Reed going to find a decapitated horse head in his bed tomorrow?

[progressivebydesign]

22. As a Washingtonian who voted for Gregoire, I DO appreciate Reed.

I'm tired of all this 'republicans are the enemy automatically' stuff. Reed is showing great integrity, even if he's paying a price of his political career. I will gladly send the guy an email..

I just read that Rossi and Vance have thrown down the guantlet.. they are challenging all over the state, the fact that there were more votes than official voters (which is common, because people move to new counties, mail from the military overseas, etc.). But the fuckers are going to sue to stop Gregoire from taking office.

Now Rossi.. I DO hate his stupid, smarmy ass. We don't need a fundie, real estate developer running this state. Why won't he just move to another state and try again, like Michael Huffington??

[daleo]

23. He seems like an honest man, from most postings

I think the Republicans will make an example of him. I expect a massive character assassination to be in the works.

[mrbassman03]

25. Yeah, he came into my political science class last year...

Was not the "take sides" kind of politician that is so common today.

[aikido15]

28. Sec. Reed's e-mail....send him a letter...

[e-mail] I just sent him a note of appreciation and support for honoring the law, not partisan politics.

[keopeli]

29. Just like moderate Democrats (DLC) are a dying breed...

...so are moderate Repubs. Reed, pro-abortion Republican from a Democratic District, may thrive if we ever return to the middle. But, since he chose to be Republican, he must lay in his own bed.

Reed is a prime example of a potentially effective Democrat.

He'll be fine as long as he can hold on. He'll have no problem being re-elected. He may even have a future. He handled this very high-profile election well.

Most Republicans in WA are the middle class kind that live in rural areas. The rich ones (McCaw, for example) are outnumbered by rich Dems by a lot.

Reed said he wasn't like Katherine Harris! He'll get a lot of popular support with that comment!

[keopeli]

30. Once in a while I vote for a Repub. Happily, Reed is a prime example.

[Supersedeas]

31. He "didn't listen"...to outside influence...the way Harris/Blackwell did??

[dave123williams]

33. Sore...Loser...Men...

[okieinpain]

34. WOW. be honest and they throw you out on your ass. WOW.