Howard Dean Calls for New Election in Florida House Race

By Jeralyn, Section Elections 2006
Posted on Thu Dec 07, 2006 at 01:29:44 PM EST
Tags: Christine Jennings, Howard Dean (all tags)

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Howard Dean took up Cristine Jennings' cause today, calling for a new election in the Florida House race:

State officials certified Buchanan as the winner by just 369 votes. But Jennings claims that touch-screen voting machines in Sarasota County malfunctioned in the U.S. House District 13 race and possibly cost her the election.

More than 18,000 Sarasota County voters who marked other races didn't have a vote register in the House race, a rate much higher than the rest of the district.

'There are 18,000 people who may have voted, and we don't know what happened to their votes. You can bet that if the Republicans were 500 votes short they'd be calling for a new election, and they'd be right,' Dean said.

This is the seat formerly held by Katherine Harris. The winner has been declared to be Republican Vern Buchanan.

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Howard Dean Calls for New Election in Florida House Race | 32 comments (32 topical)

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Maybe ppj can stay on topic. (5.00 / 0) (#21)
by Sailor on Thu Dec 07, 2006 at 09:58:48 PM EST

But I doubt it.

Maybe (1.00 / 0) (#25)
by jimakaPPJ on Fri Dec 08, 2006 at 08:51:51 AM EST

Maybe PPJ can speak truth to power.

;-)


: But I doubt it. (none / 0) (#27)
by aw on Fri Dec 08, 2006 at 08:59:44 AM EST

Washingon (1.00 / 1) (#18)
by jimakaPPJ on Thu Dec 07, 2006 at 08:33:38 PM EST

Maybe Dean can help get the last Gov race in the state of Washington straightened out.

I mean him being so interested in fairness and all.

: Multiple recounts (1.00 / 0) (#26)
by jimakaPPJ on Fri Dec 08, 2006 at 08:57:38 AM EST

The fact that the Republican Sec State did anything has nothing to do with the facts.
Besides. I thought the Left was all for multiple recounts..... of course six years is a long time for them to hold a position.
Cockles of my grinch like heart? Are you talking Christmas speak? Sir, how dare you. As a MugWump I am insulted by such a public display of religion.
BTW - When did you get out?

Is that electronic device square? (1.00 / 0) (#29)
by jimakaPPJ on Fri Dec 08, 2006 at 04:22:47 PM EST

BTW - My point is simple. If Dean is so concerned, why didn't he intervene???? Who cares what the Repub did... It is a simple case of right and wrong... Dean didn't step up to the bar, so we know that he is..... ready for this boys and girls? A partisan Demo, just as .......gasp...... Dark Avenger is!

And "family greeting?" You know, families haven't come up while you were "in."

Again, welcome back DA, no matter where you were.
The discourse was getting too refined.

Yada Yada Yada (1.00 / 1) (#39)
by jimakaPPJ on Sat Dec 09, 2006 at 08:39:00 AM EST

Well, if it was so bad and so obvious, why have you taken all this time and space??

The fact remains that Dean's actions are the actions of a partisan Demo. And his comments, and those who moaned only about the variois FL problems demonstrate what's wrong with problem fixing. People putting party and winning ahead of doing the right thing.

I think the word is "hypocritical."

Want another example?? Been plenty of tears shead about the Repubs doing something to the phone system of the Demos in a NE state during '04, but no one here has mentioned the slashed tires of the Repub vans in WI on election day, preventing them from transporting Repub voters...

And, of course, the Repubs do the same.

So Yada Yada Yada on, DA. I know you well!!

Ta! Ta!

The Repugs can't carp about this one, because (none / 0) (#1)
by scribe on Thu Dec 07, 2006 at 01:41:15 PM EST

their choices are pretty limited:

(1) if the Court denies a new election, the House still can require one, and
(2) the House can refuse to seat the Repug candidate, and
(3) the House can even declare the Dem candidate the winner, regardless.

And, given the Dem majority, their ain't much the Repugs can do about it. The Repugs should just roll over and take it.

More than fair (none / 0) (#3)
by squeaky on Thu Dec 07, 2006 at 01:54:35 PM EST

Refreshing to see a party in power be more than fair.


: it's indeed more than fair (5.00 / 1) (#4)
by scribe on Thu Dec 07, 2006 at 02:38:01 PM EST

to offer the Repug candidate a new election. Alternatives 2 and 3 are both wholly viable and "fair", under the Constitution.
Repugs should be glad for such a grace - their behavior surely hasn't earned it.

: Fairness equals (1.00 / 1) (#22)
by demohypocrates on Fri Dec 08, 2006 at 12:13:05 AM EST

rescinding a result we did not expect. Just redo an election absent any evidence of fraud. Based on this goofy standard, JFK would have lost Ohio. Pre-election rhetoric was that Repub control would be due to election fraud. Post election rhetoric was that it was a Demo mandate - except in on district....

All partisanship aside.... (none / 0) (#2)
by kdog on Thu Dec 07, 2006 at 01:49:48 PM EST

18,000 missing votes in a race decided by hundreds of votes is as big a problem as you can get in a democracy.

Every electronic voting machine in this country needs to be retired...stat. Maybe our next revolution will be voters taking hammers to the damn things.

Whine, whine, whine (none / 0) (#5)
by HeadScratcher on Thu Dec 07, 2006 at 02:56:33 PM EST

According to the article the state is still conducting an audit of the voting machines. Wait until an investigation is over before determining the results and offering the remedies.

Now that the Dems have controls of state houses and governerships, and both houses of congress, they should make voting their number one priority since it is the basis of a democracy. This will have a far greater impact and make a grander statement than listening to another Democrat whine about election irregularities.

By the way, I have often skipped specific offices while voting. I hear it's not too uncommon.

: Whine? (none / 0) (#6)
by squeaky on Thu Dec 07, 2006 at 02:59:41 PM EST

The only whine in this thread is yours. I guess that we will have to start getting used to it.

: Do you mean? (none / 0) (#7)
by kdog on Thu Dec 07, 2006 at 03:06:00 PM EST

they should make vote counting a priority? I agree. Step # 1....get rid of the shady machines.

: Don't presume to tell the Dems (none / 0) (#11)
by Al on Thu Dec 07, 2006 at 04:18:27 PM EST

what their priorities should be.

Go Howie! (none / 0) (#8)
by Lora on Thu Dec 07, 2006 at 03:11:03 PM EST

Good for Dean. That's the Howard Dean I respect!

new elections (none / 0) (#9)
by diogenes on Thu Dec 07, 2006 at 03:20:08 PM EST

This is the party that objects to having voters show picture ID, even if it is provided free, as a requirement of voting. Big city political machines (usually Democratic, as in Daley in 1960) would have a lot to lose if this happened.

How about a compromise-redo this election and also pass a bill requiring onsite and absentee voters to show ID to get ballots (would reduce dead people voting, after all).

: Party? (4.00 / 1) (#10)
by squeaky on Thu Dec 07, 2006 at 03:48:36 PM EST

Nice hijack diogenes. This thread is about defective machines. Had the FL voters were required to have ID it would have has no impace on the problem.
Also, many Democrats do support a free voter ID.
Jimmy Carter and Andrew Young, to name a few vocal supporters.

Voting problems are everywhere (none / 0) (#12)
by plumberboy on Thu Dec 07, 2006 at 04:49:37 PM EST

This problem is happening all over the country.In a local race here in Michigan the circuit court Judge race was won by less than a 100 votes in a two county wide race.The loser of course asked for a recount at which point it was determined that 16 precints worth of ballots were stored wrong so they couldn't be recounted.The winner of course was a area good ole boy republican.This problem seems to end up with republicans winning a lot.

Don't care if one party is benefitting more (none / 0) (#13)
by Che's Lounge on Thu Dec 07, 2006 at 05:24:28 PM EST

Just get rid of the machines! (Gawd I feel like I'm in an "Animatrix" segment)

and get rid of the optical scanner... (none / 0) (#14)
by dutchfox on Thu Dec 07, 2006 at 05:46:06 PM EST

machines, too. There are problems with them, too.

Just use paper ballots for all elections! Canada does; small towns in Vermont,too (where I'm from).


: Yes (none / 0) (#15)
by squeaky on Thu Dec 07, 2006 at 05:50:35 PM EST

paper ballots are the thing.. by mail makes a lot of sense too.

: Or Mechanical (none / 0) (#16)
by kdog on Thu Dec 07, 2006 at 06:16:38 PM EST

The mechanical voting machines work just fine too.

Personally (none / 0) (#17)
by scarshapedstar on Thu Dec 07, 2006 at 06:39:27 PM EST

I like the idea of open source voting machines.

Did anyone else notice ... (none / 0) (#31)
by Sailor on Fri Dec 08, 2006 at 07:42:50 PM EST

... it's yet another psychotic epidode of 'all about jim' and not whether the vote in FL is so bad that it should be redone?

Of course the incoming majority dems can sit anyone they choose, it's the law, but they prefer to have an actual vote... you know, where all the ballots are counted?

ppj endorses torture and indefinite detention for American citizens, (want links? I'd be happy to provide them on the next open thread, or thread about torture ... which will probably happen sooner), why would anyone respond to the fact he also doesn't think fair elections should be held?

: Sailor - We have an open thread (1.00 / 0) (#38)
by jimakaPPJ on Sat Dec 09, 2006 at 08:26:14 AM EST

You wrote:

I'd be happy to provide them on the next open thread,

: Do it. (none / 0) (#33)
by jimakaPPJ on Fri Dec 08, 2006 at 07:58:11 PM EST

Sailor - Provide all the links you want. Just don't quote things out of context.

: Yes about jim (none / 0) (#36)
by squeaky on Sat Dec 09, 2006 at 01:40:03 AM EST

Like magic create a diversion.
tho ppj is way too obvious. Great liars are great magicians

Ta Ta (none / 0) (#32)
by jimakaPPJ on Fri Dec 08, 2006 at 07:56:28 PM EST

Hmmm. I point out that Dean is a partisan Demo and you get your jockey's in a wad and toss of a couple thousand words...

yada yada yada

Nothing has changed.

Ta Ta!

And don't forget: (none / 0) (#34)
by aw on Fri Dec 08, 2006 at 08:44:57 PM EST

PPJ:

The fact that the Republican Sec State did anything has nothing to do with the facts.

Sometimes I wonder how this country functions at all.

Yada Yada Yada (none / 0) (#41)
by jimakaPPJ on Sat Dec 09, 2006 at 11:57:15 AM EST

Dark Avenger .... still struggling, eh?

Well, an extended absence does make one rusty.. some points...

I merely noted the NH thing, didn't make any judgement..and yes I knew it was either settled or appealed...

BTW - Do you remember this??? Link

So Yada Yada Yada along, DA.

Ta Ta youall!!