JK's Involvement in Investigating

[Steely_Dan]

Subject: JK's Involvement in Investigating

With all due respect for the discussion on a different thread concerning whether Kerry is actively involved in contesting the election.....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

I wanted my post here because I would really like to know if are just in a "wishful thinking" mode...

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I would want nothing more than to believe what this article is saying. In fact, there is a part of me that really believes that this is what JK is doing. Or...let's just say, I wouldn't be surprised. - Yet, I want to file that article under "wishful thinking...."

As a devil's advocate...I still have some questions concerning if this is actually what the Kerry camp is doing...

I can't see how the Kerry camp can successfully keep their intentions quiet. That is to say...how can they conduct an investigation without the Bush team knowing? I can't believe that the Bush administration isn't keeping their eye on this possibility. I mean...they know what Nader is doing...I think they can put 2+2 together....Can anyone counter this point?

I think that while there are "obvious problems" with much of the election...exit polls not matching, voter intimidation, etc. There is no getting around the fact that in many cases....there is NO PAPER TRAIL...making it virtually impossible to make any sort of case.

Second question: Isn't the deadline for filing "complaints, etc. already passed? I thought it was ten days. I'm sure that their are other avenues of recourse, but....

Third point....It is my belief that whatever they were going to find, they would have found by now. Is anyone else (impatience aside) that feel that if this trap were to be sprung, it would have happened already?

Anyway...not trying to throw water...I just don't want to get my hopes up to have them later dashed upon the shore of despair. I'm not into emotional rollercoasters...it makes me barf.

-Paige

[Doohickie]

1. I've been wondering about the deadline for asking for recounts, etc.

And I think you can't really protest a vote total until it's official, right? I mean, I would think if there's a 10-day window, it would start from the time the official results were made public, which for most states is something like 10-12 days after the election.

[neener3]

2. Nah, His voice sounds

too much like Katheryn Hepburn in her 80s. We live in a sound bit era and a raspy voice turns people off!

[Stinky The Clown]

3. It really doesn't matter who knows

IMHO, if this is, indeed, a Kerry campaign tactic, they've done it right. This is about framing .... keeping their promise to get every vote counted. They've turned the lights on. If there happens to be any cockroaches, they'll scatter and allow themselves to be stepped on.

[bugslsu9]

4. Two Words, Ralph Nader

The only way to keep anything like this quiet is by using a surrogate. When Kerry and Nader me in June, I think it was June, do you honestly believe that this issue did not come up? There is a reason they did not divulge the content of their chat, except to say it was a productive meeting.

What Nader is doing is the exact right strategy; look first in a state that John Kerry won, and then move to those he didn't. NH was just the first step, to appear impartial. Ohio, as we know is the next step.

I may be deluding myself, but I think that John Kerry specifically asked Nader to remain in the race for this reason. Tell me I am wrong. Hell, I don't know if I believe it myself, but if there is massive voter fraud, the only way to uncover it without a repeat of 2000's Sore Looserman is precisely this.

[LisaL]

6. Kerry and Nader are not cooperating on anything.

In fact, Nader had an open letter to democrats asking them why they won't stand up for themselves and ask for recounts. Nader couldn't even sumbit a check when he requested a recount. Kerry did not ask Nader to remain in the race "for that reason". I am sorry, but deluding oneself is not a good idea in any case.

[bugslsu9]

7. Why else would he have asked for the recount?

He gains nothing politically from doing so. Lizzy, I even said in my post, that I wasn't sure if I believed it myself, but it is a possibility. One thing is clear, Nader has exactly ZERO to gain by doing this.

[Mr X]

8. because we asked him to do it

[bugslsu9]

9. At Least Someone Else Can See it Too.

[htuttle]

10. Nothing to gain?

Do you know how many Democrats I've heard apologizing for saying bad things about Ralph Nader in the last couple days?

I trust the Green Party's motives more than Ralph's at this point, but even they must see that being the 'White Knight' who comes in to do what the DNC would not do is going to look pretty good to the Democratic rank-and-file.

If the Green Party gets anywhere on this at all, expect their numbers to go up in future elections.

[hippiechick]

15. Ralph is NOT a Green, nor did he run as a Green in 04.

Please note that in the future.
Thank you !


:hippie:

[htuttle]

16. Oh, I'm well aware of that

But David Cobb, who DID run on the Green Party ticket, is also requesting a recount in Ohio. I don't think Nader can do anything there because he was kept off the ballot.

I think the Greens will come out of this much better than Nader, but I expect that Nader's reputation will see some rehabilitation if he continues to push for a NH recount.

[LisaL]

14. Well, we all know Nader likes attention.

Also, Nader was asked by voters to do that.

[henslee]

5. I was thinking along these lines -- that of course Rove knows but what are

his choices? Get all uptight, make a ruckus. JK's response is hey, man, just counting the votes, what's wrong with that? Someone posted something much earlier about voter fraud trumping vote count and the implications of proesecuting such fraud might be.

[klebean]

11. kerry strategy quasi mainstream now

I've read AP, MSNBC reports and just now on CNN Headline news:
"Fact Finding Mission: Kerry's lawyers checking, not challenging results."

[newyawker99]

13. Hi klebean!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[demwing]

12. We Can NOT Recount in Ohio Until We Finish The Count

The provisional ballots get started tomorrow, I believe.

Once those are done, lets look at how close the count is in Ohio. If its close enough, recount happens automatically.

Otherwise Kerry, the Dem party, or 5 Ohio Kerry Delegates have to ask for a recount and show lawful reason why it should be granted.

One step at a time.

[htuttle]

17. Or a recount can be paid for like the Green party is trying to do

The vote does not have to be super close to 'buy' a recount. He's got the money, after all.