Judge throws out suit seeking to void election of Rep. Bilbray

[aggiesal]

By Philip J. LaVelle
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

August 30, 2006

A Superior Court judge yesterday dismissed a lawsuit that sought to void the June 6 special election of Republican Rep. Brian Bilbray, saying only the House of Representatives has jurisdiction to challenge the election of its members.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20060830-9999-1mi30vote.html

What does this mean?
It means that the House can swear in anybody they want, before the election is certified, and we can't do anything about it.

I was helping this lawsuit trying to gather voting information for Paul Lehto.

[bluestateguy]

1. I'm shocked

[seriousstan]

2. the House unanimously voted to swear Bilbray in on June 13

are there no Dems in the House?

[aggiesal]

3. Are you implying that the Dem's could have stopped it? n/t

[seriousstan]

4. I am implying nothing. I am stating that it was a unanimous vote.

Dems included. If you are implying that the Dem did/should have voted with the Reps because they couldn't change the outcome then I disagree with the "tuck your tail and follow your master" attitude.

Are you implying that you support their gutless show?

[aggiesal]

5. No. Only that ...

if the dems all voted against confirmation, would Bilbray still be a congressman.
I'm assuming that he would be.

I guess in the larger picture, what scares me is that, with the republicans in charge, why bother having elections. They can just swear in anyone they want, constitutionally, and we would have no legal or election recourse.

[mirandapriestly]

6. Heard about this on Tom Hartmann show this AM

he was shocked. I didn't realize the democrats also voted. What has become of our country? democrat politicians included, when they vote along with the rethugs, we really don't have any recourse.

[seriousstan]

8. Well I guess the only thing to do is slit your wrists.

It's all hopeless and we have no recourse.

FUCKING QUITTERS!!!!

[aggiesal]

9. Who do you mean as the quitters?

Because I'm not quitting. I'm certainly not going to slit my wrists.
Only that the ramifications of this judges decision literally makes elections just a nusance.
Once a person is sworn in, you can't get them out of office. Legal system just said so.
And if the repubs, don't like the election results, they can swear in who they want.

This needs to be changed.

[xchrom]

11. they MAY have voted for because of future

legal circumstances like this.

in that hope{:eyes:} that the repukes would return the favor if the shoe were on the other foot.

[seriousstan]

13. And if my aunt would grow a penis she would be my uncle.

Highly unlikely.

[xchrom]

14. lol -- i was only guessing.

and it's official -- i have met the ONE person whose mind wanders to stranger corners than mine.

lol -- congratulations.

[slackmaster]

10. Democratic Candidate Francine Busby could have filed a protest

But she says she didn't know about the federal statute that would have allowed it.

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/08/30/news/top_stories/7_05_458_29_06.txt

:eyes:

[Supersedeas]

7. Bush version of Democracy

[zreosumgame]

12. yep, pretty much

only high-lights how deep treason is entrenched in the GOP

[stepnw1f]

15. That is Sincerely F'ed Up!

Sometimes I feel as if the Democratic Party is complacent in helping the GOP turn this nation into a fascist dictatorship. Sorry fellow DUers, but we have a major problem in our political party. We may need to revolt.