N.M. Gov. Richardson against recount?

[EMunster]

Please tell me Richardson is just being coy, so as not to appear like blackwell (knowing the law will force his hand?)


December 13, 2004

N.M. Judge Refuses To Intervene in Presidential Recount Decision

By Deborah Baker
The Associated Press
SANTA FE — A judge refused to order an immediate statewide recount of presidential votes, saying the matter should wait until the state canvassing board takes it up on Tuesday.
The board's chairman, Gov. Bill Richardson, reiterated his opposition to a recount, saying it "will not reform our election laws."

more --
http://www.abqjournal.com/elex/apcount12-13-04.htm?rrc

another by a local reporter:
http://www.abqjournal.com/elex/272565elex12-14-04.htm?rrc

[imenja]

1. I can only conclude he believes it went fairly

My understanding was that he was fairly attentive to the vote counting process in his state.
Could it be a question of cost?

[shance]

2. Bill Richardson should be impeached for trying to stop a necessary

recount.

How can one conclude things went "fairly" other than turning a blind eye to all the irregularities and fraud coming from so many different states, including their own!!

[imenja]

3. It looks like the parties need to fund the recount

The article states that Richardson objects to taxpayers paying the $600,000 cost. The Greens and Libertarians seem to want to pay only $114,000 and feel $600,000 is too much. It seems that money is the issue and that they need to figure out what the actual cost is. If it truly is $600,000 the third parties will have to come up with it.
Richardson would probably be more amenable if the recount weren't funded from monies he needs for police, schools, etc... The states are very badly strapped economically these days because of huge cuts in dollars allocated to them by the federal government and declines in tax revenues from the economic downturn. Some of these super rich Democrats like George Soros and Teresa Heinz could even fund
some of it themselves.
Impeachment is a pretty serious charge to wage, particularly toward a Democratic governor. We have so few as it is. I'd like to know more about what the state of negotiations are between the two sides and if there have been serious efforts to come to some sort of resolution of the financial concerns.

[RaulVB]

4. Wow, good explanation!

I have to say that I agree with you for the first time.

[Peace Patriot]

7. Such short term thinking!

"...huge cuts in dollars allocated to them by the federal government and declines in tax revenues from the economic downturn..."

You'd think he would want Bush out! Now!

Kerry needs those 5 New Mexico Electoral Votes, and a couple more--if Ohio's 20 Electoral Votes go into limbo (deducted from Bush but not added to Kerry), Kerry will need 7 votes to tie, and 8 to win.

[imenja]

8. Communicate your brilliant long term thinking to Cobb and Richardson

If you have a solution I'm sure Cobb and co. would love to hear it.
The election isn't going to be overturned, and Richardson knows it. That's no doubt why he doesn't want to fund the recount. The particulars all hinge on New Mexico's laws on the issue and how the courts interpret it. I'm sure they'd love to hear any solutions you have that could solve the problem.

[Zan_of_Texas]

33. Maybe there's been a nudge and a wink --

he's been discussed as a possible VP or Pres. candidate in the future -- wouldn't want to rock the boat, though?

[imenja]

35. Richardson? pres candidate too

Could very well be. If the Democrats are refusing recounts to play ball with the Republicans, which may be the case, they are making a big mistake. It won't help them, and the Republicans would never reciprocate.

[jamboi]

9. Sorry that's lame. We wouldn't accept that from a Republican, we can't

from a Democrat either. Nothing should stop us from investigating and verifying whether we should have confidence in our electoral process. Richardson is dead wrong by saying it won't help us fix the system. How can we know how bad things are if we aren't allowed to measure? Its absolutely vital. Not only that, but doing it in NM will make it easier to get Republicans on board if there's Dem hanky panky. It doesn't threaten *'s electoral numbers.

[trayfoot]

17. Right, jamboi

I have a good friend who lives in NM (lawyer), and he has filled me in on Richardson. Seems that Richardson was pissed that he didn't get the VP nod from Kerry. So, according to my friend, he did not work hard for the Dem vote. Also, according to my friend who has followed Richardson's career for many years, Richardson seems to be cut out of the same cloth as shrub - spoiled and vindictive. So, if my friend is right, this latest effort to diss the recount could be more "sour grapes" on Richardson's part. Don't know - just passing along the info that I've been given.

[shance]

19. Nail meet head. Thank you Jamboi.

Absolutely. We would NOT accept this from a Republican.

You and I know its not about Dem versus Republican. Its about fairness versus right and wrong.

Bill Richardson should do whats right for Democracy and to establish more confidence in the voting process within his own state, (as well as nationwide) regardless of political affiliation.

Richardson appears to be either minus some spine or, minus some spine.

[imenja]

23. links?

Fair point. Do you know the extent of evidence/ complaints concerning New Mexico? Do you have any links you can point me to?

[electropop]

30. Hey John & John!

How about a few bucks here huh?

[jamboi]

5. Well, I don't like to throw stones, but it makes me wonder if the Dems

are pretty dirty in NM too. That would be tremendously disappointing cuz Richards struck me as being pretty cool. But standing in the way of a recount is really making me wonder about him. Its just not right.

[shraby]

6. Totals look pretty funny to me:

Kerry.....370,942
Bush......376,930

Justice of Supreme Court

Ed. Chavez (D)....414,881
Ned Fuller (R)....305,025

Judge Court of Appeals

Michael Vigil (D)...404,887
Paul Barber (R).....313,944

The Dem. Judges both got more votes than Kerry

[jamboi]

10. Could Richardson have a deal with Republicans? n/t

[Razorback_Democrat]

14. Or maybe the Clintons n/t

[jamboi]

20. Not following you. Spell it out for me please. Being from AR...n/t

[moesse]

11. Chavez at least is an incumbent

and that may explain part of why he got more votes? Just a guess. Don't know about Vigil.

[Senator]

12. Seens like Vigil is a big name there...

...as the judge who ruled is Carol Vigil.

And the Secretary of State is Rebecca Vigil-Giron.

(from the posted article)

[saracat]

28. Richardson is a big DLCer.

Think Al From. Think WSJ.

[Fly by night]

13. If New Mexico needs more money to recount, we need to find it!!!!!

This AP story was just sent to me. If the Greens and the Libertarians need more money for the recount in New Mexico, we need to find it for them (including getting President-elect Kerry to contribute a large amount, as he has done in other recount contests.) We need to do that BECAUSE:

--- There have been numerous reports about suspicious vote counts/patterns in New Mexico.
--- A recount could easily find 5,989 more previously uncounted votes for Kerry than for Bush.
--- A recount could switch 2,995 incorrectly counted votes for Bush to Kerry.
--- Either one of these scenarios gives Kerry the New Mexico electoral votes.

Thus, it will be infinitely easier to "flip" the Land of Enchantment than Ohio or Florida. But most importantly, since New Mexico is a decidedly more sympathetic state and Bill Richardson is more honest/ethical than a yacht-load of Repuke governors, any fraud or intentional "glitches" found in New Mexico will demonstrate conclusively that the Busies committed fraud. THAT is what we are trying to accomplish at this moment.

I don't mind Bill Richardson (who should be our first Hispanic President BTW) posturing in a way that suggests that he would rather spend New Mexico dollars on other needs, because none of our states should have to be going through this process. We're not the ones who slipped the turd in the election punchbowl -- that was the Busies. That would make the fraud that we are "forced" to discover in New Mexico with our own money even more damning, IMO.

So please, communicate with any Greens/Libertarians, Kerrynistas and/or New Mexicans you know and tell them not to take "no" for an answer at today's New Mexico Election Board hearing. Hell, I'll sell some firewood here in Tennessee and contribute to the cause myself.

Don't let an undiscovered New Mexico "glitch" steal our Christmas, for lack of enough money at this critical junction. If you're buying me a Christmas present, I would rather have a nice card under the tree saying "I sent your gift money to New Mexico to do what's right to save our democracy." Well, you could buy me a cheap box of pinon incense also -- I wouldn't mind that. But send most of your gift money to the Land of Enchantment.

Now for the AP story:
--------------
Monday, December 13, 2004

Election Board To Discuss Recount

The Associated Press

SANTA FE— The state Board of Canvassing meets Tuesday to decide the next step in a requested recount of ballots in the presidential race. The board's meeting is scheduled right on the deadline for notifying county election officials and precinct workers when to meet to start recounting ballots.

The Green and Libertarian presidential candidates have asked for the recount and deposited $114,000 with the secretary of state to defray the per-precinct and per-machine cost of the recount, as required by state law. On Friday, recount organizers urged state officials to expedite the new tabulation of votes.

"We are eager for the recount to get under way and be conducted in a meaningful manner so that we may ensure that democracy is served," Lowell inley, a lawyer for the candidates seeking the recount, said in a statement. The canvassing board is made up of Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil-Giron, Gov. Bill Richardson and Chief Justice Petra Maes of the state Supreme Court. Richardson has said he doesn't think a recount is necessary.

There could be an attempt at the meeting to potentially short-circuit the recount by requiring Green Party nominee David Cobb and Libertarian candidate Michael Badnarik to pay more money before the recount is ordered. Vigil-Giron has said the requested recount could cost close to $600,000.

Candidates who apply for recounts must pay the costs unless the outcome of the election is changed. That's not expected to occur in New Mexico, where President Bush defeated John Kerry by nearly 6,000 votes.

The Greens and Libertarians withdrew a request for a presidential recount in Nevada after elections officials said the cost would be more than $300,000.

http://www.abqjournal.com/elex/272371elex12-13-04.htm

[Fly by night]

Kick

[Fly by night]

16. Kick

[righteous1]

15. I don't think this is a matter of money n/t

[imenja]

21. the linked articles say it is

Do you have some additional information? There seems to be a dispute as to what the recount will actually cost.

[jamboi]

29. Whatever it takes. We need to get this done. n/t

[Karenca]

18. No Richardson is not being coy; ANOTHER NEWS ARTICLE: ----

In New Mexico, a district judge in Santa Fe refused to order an immediate recount of presidential votes, saying the matter should wait until the state canvassing board takes it up on Tuesday.

The board's chairman, Gov. Bill Richardson, reiterated his opposition to the statewide recount sought by the Libertarian and Green parties' candidates, saying it "will not reform our election laws."

The parties say a recount would point to possible problems with various types of voting machines.

Congress announces nationwide totals in January.

12/13/04 22:36 EST

Copyright 2004 The Associated Press.

http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/elections/article.adp?id=20041213223709990001&cid=946

[pat_k]

22. He needs to hear from us

We must have assurance that THIS election is free and fair.

Worry about reform after we inaugurate a President.

Until then, do whatever you must to assure the People that the election in your state accurately reflects the will of the citizens that reside in your state.

[Fly by night]

25. Call Bill Richardson and the New Mexico Greens

I've just done both and have emailed my NM friends to do the same.

Governor Bill Richardson's number: 505/476-2200

New Mexico Green Party: 505/473-3621

The Green I spoke to said that they do intend to go forward with the recount, even if the state requires them to come up with more $$. But they definitely appreciate the moral and financial support and believe that mucho calls to the Governor's Office today may help a lot.

So stop typing and start calling!!

[texpatriot2004]

24. Man that SUCKS! I had such admiration for him until this. n/t

[Guarionex]

27. me too....

my only guess is he is one of those democrats that is in doubt of his own idelogy and wants to shift to the Right....

screw em

[King Coal]

34. Richardson has a lot of republican support here.

He is a little shady.

[Fly by night]

26. Kick

[Fly by night]

36. Kick

[stirringstill]

31. Not Surprising.

If there is indeed election fraud in New Mexico, then Richardson will have to take the blame for governing over such an election. Since NM will not overturn the election, Richardson could lose much more than he would gain politically be opposing the recount. I do think we was helpful in delaying the final call of the state on election night.

[bluedeminredstate]

32. Just when I thought I couldn't feel

anymore disappointed in this nation...
It's quite surprising how wounded one can feel from the world's greatest democracy!