There are serious discrepancies in the vote tabulation in this race. We should be able to trust our voting process, no? This is still America, and fair is fair. All West is asking for is a fair, honest tally of the votes and let the chips fall where they may. Seems reasonable to me, considering the documented discrepancies.
Former Florida elections chief on West-Murphy: ‘How do you get away with doing a partial recount?’ George Bennett, Palm Beach Post, November 13th, 2012
Former Florida Secretary of State Kurt Browning, a three-decade veteran of Florida elections, says he understands why Republican U.S. Rep. Allen West would be “a little steamed” by Sunday’s disputed partial recount of early votes in St. Lucie County.
...Browning, who was Pasco County’s elections supervisor from 1981 to 2007 and Florida secretary of state for five years after that, said it’s unusual for a recount of optical-scan ballots to produce such a large change in vote totals — 667 lost votes for Murphy and 132 lost votes for West.
“If I were Allen West and my opponent lost 600-plus votes, I’d be a little steamed. Because how many votes would he lose if you did a full recount?” Browning said.
What of the repercussions for the election in general?
Not sure from a legal/technical standpoint, but a West victory would sure focus a lot of new attention on alleged vote fraud in the presidential race.
Romney "lost" four important swing states by a combined total of just over 400,000 votes (FL 73,858, OH 103,481, VA 115,910, CO 113,099). With these states he would have won the election. Wouldn't take much "manipulating" to skew a state's results like this.
Which makes West's fight down in Florida not only important for him, but important for the nation, IMO.
There are three "auditors" from the Florida SecState's office on-scene all weekend; fingers crossed they are fair and impartial.
Also, St. Lucie County Supervisor of Elections Gertrude Walker was admitted to a local hospital yesterday, but try as I might I've found nothing online to indicate why she was admitted. I've read that one of the reasons the canvassing board agreed to the retabulation is the box of 304 uncounted votes that was found in Ms. Walker's office yesterday...
Like West or not, we in America have a right to KNOW our voting process is fair and honest. If we can't trust our elected officials to play by the rules, what's the use of even having elections?
What I said is a West victory would sure focus a lot of new attention on alleged vote fraud in the presidential race.
What I implied is...it's a damn shame that we can't hold an election in this country and be 100% SURE of the vote count. Fair is fair, Dem, Rep, Ind or otherwise. An HONEST election, and let the chips fall where they may. We - America - should settle for nothing less.
The left would be more likely to commit voter fraud than the right any day of the week. Because...like Bengazi and like abortion, and like Hostess, it is not that big of a deal to them.
Not to mention the people who could not care less, ... as long as they get their foodstamps and welfare checks and medicaid cards and who are working under the table as well. Who also will NOT take any fulltime low/medium paying jobs because they would LOOSE their current benifits and end up with less total income/benifits at the end of the day. They just soo used to it now... and too scared to risk a new job.
So yea... I don't doubt there was some voter fraud on the left... and if there was...and they knew... they would look the other way... as the left allways do if it benifits thier cause.
I'm glad you brought up the 2000 Flordia Presidental election. Our country is still paying for that blunder!
Nice pivot.
Funny deal: I'm a conservative, typically vote Republican, yet I was pulling for Gore in 2000, as it seemed like he was getting the short end of the proverbial vote-stick.
I find it interesting that you invoked, in so many words, Mr. Bush. Truly, the gift that keeps on giving. Interesting also to note that Palm Beach County was a key player in the 2000 debacle. History may not always exactly repeat itself, but it often rhymes.
Speaking of blunders we're still paying for, I wonder if America will EVER dig ourselves out of the hole that is 0bama. Doubtful in my lifetime.
What's extra-depressing is that v.2 will undoubtedly be worse than v.1...
Borderless corporatism may be a threat to justice and freedom. However, relative to statism and leftism and islamism, it utterly pales in comparison.
What most corporatism alarmists seem to miss is that it is the big govt corporate-cronyism that enables the troublesome big corporatism in the first place.
Subsidize corn, get big corn corporatism. Subsidize oil, get big oil corporatism. Subsidize phone service, get big telecom. Subsidize education, get massive inflation in the cost of educating. Subsidize poverty, get more of the masses dependent upon the state. Subsidize racism, get more racists and big "civil rights". Subsidize environmentalism, get big CO2 and govt control of nearly EVERYTHING. Subsidize poor health, get more unhealthy people. Subsidize medical care, get big pharmacy and big med and big insurance.
End the subsidies. End the coercive nanny state. Enforce the law. Ensure equal justice under the law, period. Let freedom reign!
The Founders knew these concepts; they literally fought for them.
With their honor. With their blood.
And often their lives.
And then set about to insure that Freedom, Justice and Liberty would reign not only for them, but, far more importantly, for their children, and grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
For US.
The insurance? The Constitution and the Bill of Rights, two of the most profound expressions of Liberty, Justice and Freedom in the history of mankind.
The Founders would not recognize America today. They would not understand how their struggles for OUR freedom could have been so easily forgotten.
LTC West is an honorable man, fighting for Liberty, Justice and Freedom, not for himself, but for his children, and his grandchildren, and his great-grandchildren.
For US.
West is a Warrior. West is a Patriot.
He is, in my opinion, an American hero.
I've followed the voting fiasco down in St. Lucie County, Florida very closely. Justice has NOT prevailed, and yet another election has been stolen from the American people.
Tyranny reigns, as Liberty withers on the vine.
These are dark times for America. I smell hard rain.
“For two weeks since Election Day, we have been working to ensure every vote is counted accurately and fairly. We have made progress towards that goal, thanks to the dedication of our supporters and their unrelenting efforts to protect the integrity of the democratic process. While many questions remain unanswered, today I am announcing that I will take no further action to contest the outcome of this election.
“While there are certainly still inaccuracies in the results and the actions of the St. Lucie County and Palm Beach County Supervisors of Elections rightly raise questions in my mind and for many voters, after much analysis and yesterday’s recount in St. Lucie County, our legal team does not believe there are enough over-counted, undercounted or fraudulent votes to change the outcome of the election.
“While a contest of the election results might have changed the vote totals, we do not have evidence that the outcome would change. Given the extremely high evidentiary hurdles involved in a successful challenge, I will not ask my generous supporters to help fund a drawn-out, expensive legal effort with little chance of success. Therefore, we will not contest the certification or challenge the seating of Congressman-Elect Murphy.
“Serving the people in the House of Representatives has been among the highest honors of my life, but this seat does not belong to me, or for that matter, to any individual. It belongs to the people. I want to congratulate my opponent, Patrick Murphy, as the new Congressman from 18th Congressional District. I pray he will serve his constituents with honor and integrity, and put the interests of our nation before his own.
“I must thank my wife Angela, and my daughters Aubrey and Austen for their support, patience, understanding and most of all, love. These are three of the toughest women I know. They have sent me off to defend our nation overseas at war and to Capitol Hill to serve our nation in the House of Representatives. They have all handled the challenges of these last few months, and the last many years, with amazing grace. I know they will be my side for whatever is our next chapter.
“I want to thank my congressional and campaign staff for their service, and most importantly, I want to thank all of our tremendous supporters who provided their time and money to power our campaign. I am humbled by the dedication and perseverance of our supporters, and their commitment to a free and prosperous America. I cannot thank them enough for all they have done for our campaign, but most importantly, what they have done, and will continue to do for our country. None of us should let the outcome discourage us. We should only redouble our resolve.
“Above all, I want to thank God for his blessings, and for blessing me with the opportunity to serve. Only God knows what is in store for each of us. I have dedicated my life to serving this nation, and the results of this election will not change my purpose. Just as I did in the deserts of Iraq and Afghanistan, just as I did on Capitol Hill, I will continue to fight for our Republic.
“Our nation will not overcome our challenges overnight ,and the road ahead for each one of us will not be easy. But this nation would never have become that shining beacon of light if our founders had chosen the easy path 236 years ago. We all must proudly continue their legacy.
“For the protection and preservation of our life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, I shall remain steadfast and loyal. God bless you and God bless these United States of America.” -- LTC Allen B. West
