Local Dems Go After Security National
I've already mentioned the finger pointing going on regarding supposed intimidation at the polls by some that took exception to Marina Center supporters' activities at the polling places.
Now the Humboldt Democratic Central Committee has gotten into the act asking for anyone that witnessed any intimidation tactics to step forward and contact the District Attorney's office.
I told our very own Greg Conners- who sent me a copy of their release- I felt this was a bad move. Why? I don't see how it does anybody any good to get involved and drag out what I believe to have been simply an unfortunate situation.
I have a hard time believing there was any deliberate intimidation. Some innappropriate or maybe rude behaviour? Perhaps. I don't know. I wasn't there.
I could actually see how some of the Arkley and Marina Center hater types might feel a bit intimidated by a bunch of "uniformed" opposition present at their polling place. I suspect- and we've seen a lot of that anti- Marina Center vitriol here- some of the antis probably felt having the Marina Center supporters present was akin to having the Ku Klux Klan there.
But the Klan they weren't, and I can't imagine anyone, who was involved politically enough to wear a campaign button, being intimidated enough to not go ahead and vote.
If they weren't wearing any campaign related material, how would the Marina Center supporters know enough about how they were going to vote to single them out and intimidate them?
I think this is silly finger pointing by opponents of the Marina Center to try and throw more dirt on Security National and Marina Center. The Democratic Central Committee would have been wise to stay out of it.
**********
As an aside, I noticed mention on a few other blogs a couple days ago that, since the Democrats did pretty well nationwide, we haven't heard much from them as far as accusations of voter fraud, as we've heard so much of the last so many years. Can't be any fraud involved when you won, can there?
I can't wonder if this intimidation finger pointing might be our local version of the voter fraud game? If Neely ends up just barely losing, will her supporters claim it was a result of intimidation at the polls and take the election to court?
I should hope not, but it wouldn't surprise me. Politics do seem to have gotten ugly around here over the last few years, haven't they?
posted by Fred Mangels @ 8:25 AM
34 comments
34 Comments:
The local dems are standing up for Democracy. We are sure to hear from those who don't trust the vote and like low voter turn-outs. Funny how some of those types always write as "anonymous".
Thanks for the plug, Fred. I hope you are wrong and it all turns out to be healthy for the community somehow.
I can totally understand as I was also harassed on Tuesday at the polls.
I saw what could only be described as a 60's hippie-reject stepping out of his '72 Impala, which hadn't been washed in at least three years (both the hippie and the Impala).
His ZZ Top beard hung down almost to his beer gut.
I smelled a whiff of marijuana on his clothing along with other extreme scents.
This older man came up to me wearing at least five "slate" pins on his plaid jacket. I mean the whole enchilada of Neely, LaVallee, Glass, Abrams, and Kuhnel. Frightening!
It was an obvious advocacy and at a polling precinct no less.
He said, "Hey" to me, but as I was petrified to say anything in return.
I was in too much fear to vote.
Where can I file a formal complaint with the Humboldt County District Attorney?
Please, I need your help as my voting rights were violated. We must file a lawsuit against the evil slate immediately.
I hope too god rio cell and fortuna invade arcata and bring republican rule to this socialist hell hole.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Greg said ......... who really gives a rat's ass what Greg says?
"local dem's standing up for Democracy", oh yes Comrade Conners! You are still nothing but a whiner and sniveler.
9:20 wrote, "Please, I need your help as my voting rights were violated. We must file a lawsuit against the evil slate immediately.".
I'm sure you say that mostly in jest but, seriously, that's what gets me about stuff like this. And that includes campaign finance reform type issues.
We end up using this sort of stuff to just beat ourselves over the head with it and nobody wins.
Kind of like war for the sake of war.
Fred - actually, there are numerous allegations of fraud and suppression, particularly in Florida and Virginia. It's just not making news because for the most part it's moot.
As for the Sec Nat, I didn't see anything inappropriate except for list hogging, but I've already talked about that.
Vote fraud (stealing) is well documented in other states, but this DCC stuff sounds like conspiracy delusion. This is the committee that had a couple prominent members back Meserve.
Well, from my observation Democrats DO seem to scream about voter fraud louder (generally) than Republicans everytime they lose. It's strange because while I agree with them on many issues, they come off way more shrill, hysterical, and infantile than Republicans, EVEN IF THEIR POINT MIGHT BE VALID. But who knows? Maybe being shrill, hysterical and infantile is what it takes to capture the public attention these days.
Regardless, gridlock is always nice. I would think as a libertarian you might feel that way?
If "they" would have won they wouldn't be saying squat!
It must be a Bush-Cheney-Rumsfeld conspiracy to suppress the civil liberties of the American people.
Rio Dell and Fortuna don't need to invade. The Bay Area Gentrification croud is moving up here and backing candidates like Stillman and Wheetley. And Arcata's Republicans are going along for the ride!
This place is becoming too expensive for me to keep living here. I'm a fairly liberal, but I may move to McKinleyville. I do better with rednecks than I do with yuppies.
will the yuppies create more jobs than the homeless and the socialists? If yes then I welcome them with open arms.
I'll take Arkies over Arkleys any day!
Is Winkler a socialist or a hippie? At least he has a vision. Alex will fix old houses, not create jobs. If Stillman hadn't gotten into this we would have Winkler in there. He would have created alternative energy jobs.
Anyone see Buhne Tribune with our very own Mark Konker (mresquan) counting absentee ballots?
Where's Greg Conners outrage???
He'd be demanding a congressional hearing if someone like Brian Morrissey was volunteering his time counting absentee ballots...
I'm sure there will be no shortage of outrage no matter how the election turns out-just remember the automatic recount will kick in at some point.
Funny how some of those types always write as "anonymous".
Greg, that's like taking potshots as renters versus owners. Not all Anonymice are the same!
2:57, yeah, one-issue candidates are great. That\'s why your boy lost. Same as Meserve.
This is just the first place I will attempt to correct the incorrect information that appeared under the photo of Mark Konkler that appeared in the Times-Standard this morning. Mr. Konkler is NOT counting absentee ballots. The panel on which he is serving is performing the required 1% manual recount of a randomly selected precinct which happens to be in McKinleyville. (Recounting the ballots voted at a precinct, already counted by machine and totals reported election night)
Only six people who ARE employees of the Elections Department have handled absentee ballots. Mark Konkler is NOT one of them.
Carolyn Crnich,
Humboldt County Registrar of Voters
See, folks; Anybody who's anybody in Humboldt County comes to Fred's Humboldt Blog.
C'mon Carolyn
I don't care what roles they play, having known and admittedly biased "volunteers" coming near any ballots in a closely contested is abysmal public policy....And is Bonnie's sister among the six employees who are counting the 4th district absentees?
Don't you think that a community divided so closely with such a critically intense final count, demands an abundance of discretion?
Your sworn responsibiity is to assure the voters that there is integrity in the process. How can you accomplish that when there exists at least the appearance, if not the presence of a (gently) manipulated count.
Your integrity and the public trust is on the line here.
Thanks for making the correction Carolyn.I didn't even notice that this morning when I read the paper.Buhne is all over it on his blog.I hope he makes the correction asap.
6:51 no Kelly is not counting any ballots. Instead of making accusations why don't you see what goes on there yourself instead of relying on second hand jargon?
Mresquan....6:57
No accusations...legitimate questions.
For what it's worth, I have been there.
I am concerned about the real and perceived integrity of the process. And a calming of the partisan angst.
(ok...some sarcasm here) I want you to know that I appreciate your taking the time away from your job and responsibilities to so generously volunteer in this way.
I suspect you are enjoying the attention?
Just as a tip, you should look up "jargon" before you use it again.
Wow! Mark Konkler donates his time and effort to the Humboldt County Elections office and this is the thanks he recieves? Come on, this is thankless work and I can assure you to not worry about Mr. Konkler's integrity. We do not have enough people like Mark contributing in this area as open minded activists. And then people wonder why more people won't participate in the public process. Well there you go.
7:56,If you think I am being partisan then make a claim against the 4 other workers and myself to the elections department,then contact the sec of state and make sure there is an investigation.
Of course you're right Richard...
"...this is thankless work and I can assure you to not worry about Mr. Konkler's integrity..."
and Mr. Konkler....I do sincerely thank you for your altrustic efforts and the generous donation of time.
Ok...Richard not thankless anymore.
I'll pass on the "sec of state" but I might make a mention to the spelling, syntax, sentence structure and content police.
Ok let's end this....it's becoming tedious. Besides the jargon is chafing
This whole thing is a result of the wrong information in a caption to a photo in the TS.
Mark Konkler has done good work, and he does not deny that people have a legitimate right to ask questions based on what was printed in the paper, but he has answered the question, and Carolyn has answered the question.
WE should all THANK them for coming in and clarifying things. The blogs are, more than anything else, a means of getting at the truth, and that is what happened here tonight. First in raising the questions, and then in answering them, quickly and truthfully.
It's hard work, Carolyn, we know that, and thank you. And to all the poll workers, and to people like Mark. Let the process work. It has worked for hundreds of years.
Does that mean if I sign my name Winston Churchill you'll believe I'm Winston Churchill?
Sincerely,
Abe Lincoln
sounds like Richard is running for office! Sucking up to everyone.
I made a post about it on my blog. He posted his plans on Wednesday, the day before the photo was taken.
Wait! Are you telling me the TS printed incorrect information and did crappy fact checking?!
Say it isn't so!!! I think I need to sit a spell.
12:37 Salzman or Marks? Neither on of them is running for office. What are you saying?
Post a Comment
<< Home