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Tag(s): Democratic; Diebold; Election Recounts Protests; Kucinich-Dennis; Money; New Hampshire; State
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January 16, 2008 at 15:53:49

Kucinich NH Recount Update

by Phil Lindsey Page 1 of 2 page(s)

www.opednews.com

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Chapter One:

Per contact with Kucinich principals, it is Kucinich's intent to count 100% of the votes statewide.

The SoS of NH, with the insistence that the recount start today, is applying the roughly $27,000 to the areas which are of greatest interest to Kucinich. When the money (the $27M) is nearly exhausted, a request will be made by the SoS for the additional monies.

The money must come directly from Kucinich, or his campaign, and not from the public. Otherwise, it would be great fun to have everyone in NH (and the rest of the world) line up outside the SoS's office with cash in hand to pay towards the costs of defraying the expense. But, for Kucinich, it is only a matter of getting the rest of the money together to take care of the costs of this recount.

It is absolutely not fair to characterize this recount attempt as "ala Nader". It is simply a matter of the much ballyhooed "fair and honest officials" of the much ballyhooed "hand counting state" of New Hampshire that caused a situation where a partial payment was made, rather than payment for a full recount.

We've heard so much about New Hampshire's tradition of "citizen involvement", and about the sterling reputations of the officials at the SoS's office, and about all the other paragon virtues of the state, that the actions of SoS Gardner (and those who rush to his defense) are enough to make one gag. What hubris !!

Gardner's actions in this instance are a public eyesore and make ex-SoS of Ohio Ken Blackwell look like the Dalai Lama !!

The first primary in this nation has a great bearing on who will be elected President. If New Hampshire wants the distinction of being first, it should act first class as a lesson to the rest of the nation.

And for those who wish the rest of the nation to divert its eyes from New Hampshire, while NH acts so shamefully, and who want other Americans to BEG Presidential candidates not to pursue their Constitutional rights to a recount, and who claim a recount is of "no use" and "will make matters worse" because "Without a full investigation into NH decisions and practices, we will continue to have sham Diebold elections.", I would remind them that the NH disaster is of your own making.

An investigation into the decisions and practices of NH is something that New Hampshire ER activists should be attending to, not the other 49 states. Don't make the other 49 states beholden to your own failure to control Diebold in your own state.

And don't ask, or tell, the Presidential candidates to refrain from asking for recounts in tainted elections, just in order to take the heat off the miserable job being done by New Hampshire officials... or the NH ER activists that tout their own state as the be-all, end-all of state elections.

Clean up your own house first. You make sure there is a "full investigation into NH decisions and practices" in New Hampshire.

Then we will feel comfortable in listening to your advice.

Phil

Update:

As of 1:00 PM CST, the Republican recount has not yet started due to uncertainty about receipt of funds.

The Democratic Recount, however, is proceeding currently, but there is a huge MAYBE attached to this.

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www.ShowMeTheVote.org

Voting Rights activist and HCPB advocate in Missouri. Founded ShowMeTheVote.org in 2005.

Co-Convenor of Diversity Coalition-KC

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3 comments

A Man Concerned About The Current State Of America.
Brad EvansA Man Concerned About The Current State Of America.

If we donate to Dennis, would it get the job done?

I don't care for his domestic policy, but if this helps root out the Diebold machines; I would donate to his campaign.

Thoughts?

by Brad Evans (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 158 comments) on Wednesday, January 16, 2008 at 5:57:29 PM

Having lived six decades now, I've had a lot of experiences! Grew up in a family often oppressed because of our faith - we stood for peace and against war, and for the rights of all regardless of ethnic background. Active from youth in peace and civil rights. Vietnam-era draft resister. Worked for a while for peace and social justice groups, and then became a civil servant. Felt a call to a consistent life ethic, and am currently serving as President of Consistent Life. All this is out of Chr...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Bill SamuelHaving lived six decades now, I've had a lot of experiences! Grew up in a family often oppressed because of our faith - we stood for peace and against war, and for the rights of all regardless of ethnic background. Active from youth in peace and civil rights. Vietnam-era draft resister. Worked for a while for peace and social justice groups, and then became a civil servant. Felt a call to a consistent life ethic, and am currently serving as President of Consistent Life. All this is out of Chr...

to see more of bio, click on member name

What if the Recount shows a problem?

If the recount demonstrates a significant problem with the original count, does Kucinich get his money back? Maybe you can justify a charge to a candidate if it can be seen as a frivolous request, but if it is proven that the original counting was flawed, why should the whistleblower have to pay for blowing the whistle?

by Bill Samuel (3 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 278 comments) on Wednesday, January 16, 2008 at 6:31:41 PM

I am a 61 year old grandmother---an old leftie. Used to be a dairy farmer---am now disabled, and am living on SS-Disability. I love OpEd news and if I ever get into a more solvent financial situation, I will contribute. I value the site. Don't know how to do a photo---am a techno-neophyte.
Char StellamarisI am a 61 year old grandmother---an old leftie. Used to be a dairy farmer---am now disabled, and am living on SS-Disability. I love OpEd news and if I ever get into a more solvent financial situation, I will contribute. I value the site. Don't know how to do a photo---am a techno-neophyte.

I'm with you Bill

Isn't is amazing that Dennis Kucinich who can't possibly gain anything personally from this effort is the only Democrat willing to take a stand to protect, or I should say restore integrity to our electoral process??? It is an outrage that he has to pay and it is even more outrageous that NH is eager to show the rest of the nation that their election was fair and every vote was counted accurately. We should all be donating to this cause---it is afterall our own and our kids future that hangs in the balance

by Char Stellamaris (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 35 comments) on Wednesday, January 16, 2008 at 8:56:20 PM