Six Republicans Resign in South Dakota !

[mefoolonhill]

http://keloland.com/NewsDetail2817.cfm?Id=22,35221

Republicans Resign Over Questionable Absentee Ballot Applications

Tonight six people connected with the South Dakota republican party have resigned over questions surrounding absentee ballot applications.

The state director of the Republican Victory Program, Larry Russell is one of them, along with state republican party employee Eric Fahrendorf. Four independent contractors involved with the absentee ballot applications also resigned. They are Joe Alick, Nathan Mertz, Todd Schlekeway and Rachel Hoff.

Hoff was the notary whose signature and seal appeared on many applications from KELOLAND college students. But several students say only men were there when they filled out the forms.

Mount Marty student Cassandra Herout says, "All I know is they were gonna have the form notarized or audited or something before they sent it in. She was never present at all."

Now the party has a lot of paperwork to sort out.


More....

http://keloland.com/NewsDetail2817.cfm?Id=22,35221

[UpInArms]

1. there has to be more to this story

these people are hiding something - maybe something much bigger.

[cthrumatrix]

2. agree.... keep digging

[UpInArms]

18. maybe a little overzealous about numbers?

http://www.yankton.net/stories/041604/com_20040416028.shtml

excerpt:

The importance of getting out the vote was reinforced by a presentation from Larry Russell, a former Thune aide and House candidate who now works with the South Dakota Victory Campaign.

"This is our first opportunity since 1986 to have two of our three congressmen be Republicans," Russell said.

However, narrow vote margins have historically gone against the South Dakota GOP in key congressional races, Russell said. Democrat George McGovern won his 1962 race by 597 votes, or nine votes per county. Daschle won his first House race in 1978 by 139 votes, or two votes per county.

The 2002 Senate race was decided by 524 votes, or eight votes per county, Russell said. "One of four Republicans voted for Tim Johnson, while 10 percent of the Democrats voted for John Thune because they were pro-life and conservative," he said.

The 2004 races will again be decided by the slimmest of margins, Russell predicted.

"Most people have Christmas-card lists larger than what it takes to win this election," he said. "If we have 50 percent turnout for the June 1 special election, Larry Diedrich will need 117,000 votes to win."

were they attempting to manufacture a few votes?

[Jack The Tab]

3. SIX resignations! Someone has the dirt on these pukes..

I can't wait to hear Rush talking about it today!

[The Backlash Cometh]

11. Nothing will be said.

We'll see who really owns the airwaves. If it had been the other way around, the right-wing media would be connecting it to the Kerry campaign by the end of the day.

[bushisanidiot]

4. Repuke Voter Fraud. Why am I not surprised??

yes, i agree that there has to be more to this story otherwise 6 repukes wouldn't have resigned so quickly.

[spotbird]

8. But the Republicans are going to fix things.

Don't you trust them?


In the next few days, GOP party members will contact each voter who requested an absentee ballot through the party. They will ask for photocopies of their IDs as a legal alternative to notarization.

[bushisanidiot]

12. Absentee Ballots are how the repukes are gonna steal it again

I really think that the law needs to change on this. If you want to vote absentee I think you should have a damned good reason for why you can't make it to the polls like everyone else.

"I don't feel like waiting in line" is bullshit.

[bear425]

15. touchscreen voting machines are a good reason... n/t

[bushisanidiot]

22. Voters actually DO have brains. we don't need touchscreen and we don't

need absentee.

I'd rather make sure the election is fair rather than make voting so convenient for lazy people that it opens the door for fraud.

[bear425]

25. I live in Florida

We have many residents who live here part time and are not here during the election. Should they be denied Ab ballots?

Oh by the way, I am volunteering for the campaign. Actually working to make sure people are not denied the right to vote.

There are MANY people who will not be able to cast a vote if they cannot do so on an ab ballot.

If you want to make sure the election is fair, you will do your part too. Start by demanding a paper trail for those touchscreen machines.

[Supersedeas]

9. the best democracy that Republican money can buy...almost

[MSgt213]

5. These people need to stop doing everything and anything to get

republicans in office.

[spotbird]

6. It is absolutely stunning that the public perception is that

the Democrats are the party of voter fraud. Stories like these are about 10 times more likely to be about Republicans.

The question is will this fraud be enough to tip the election, or will voters come out in favor of honesty in government?

Never mind.

[Supersedeas]

26. the sound of crickets from Network Media, odd?

[amber dog democrat]

7. Repugs are reallly good at selctively choosing which rules to follow

I guess they did not think anyone would notice.

:)

[Aiptasia]

10. the FEC needs real reform

Hands up who wants to see some real reform, such as standardization of voting procedures, out of the Federal Election Commission?!

:hi:

[UpInArms]

20. Welcome to DU Aiptasia!

:hi:

[napi21]

13. THAT Notary swore to false signatures!! Do you realize how BAD that is?

I was a notary in PA a number of years ago, and I don't know what the penalties are in SD, but if I had been found guilty of such acts, I would have been guilty of aiding & abetting a crime. If the crime is Voter fraud, or registration fraud, I as the notary would be equally guilty. This is very serious stuff, and I'm really gla it came out 3 weeks before the election!

[CHICKEN CAPITOL USA]

14. too bad shrub will NEVER resign- he's planning to stay in for life

they'll have to drag him out by his ears (and rip out his earphone)
and cuff him while he's kicking and screaming(about terra)-
no matter who wins the election he will not leave-
God talked to him and told him he's Jesus.


The AWOL SOB didn't seem to have any trouble resigning (illegally in time of war) from his military obligations!
How could 50% of our population not see that shrub's a total idiot ??????
denial is the keyword-
they were fooled and just don't want to admit it.
Anyone can watch shrub speak for 5 minutes and realize his intelligence is well below average.
And this 50% in denial all plan on being rich next year (even though they can barely earn a living now) and they want to be in on those sweet tax cuts!

[UpInArms]

19. Welcome to DU CHICKEN CAPITOL USA!

:hi:

[MsMagnificent]

16. Oh. Gee. What a surprise. /sarcasm

[TrogL]

17. This can't be an isolated incident

I'll bet this is widespread, a matter of policy.

This should be investigated nationally.

[struggle4progress]

21. <snip> Among the six is Larry Russell, who sought the party's ...

... nomination for the special U.S. House election in June and most recently directed the GOP's get out the vote program. <snip>
Russell, who headed the Republican Victory operation, will be replaced by Herb Jones, manager of John Thune's 2002 Senate bid, according to Randy Frederick, South Dakota Republican Party chairman. <snip>

GOP accepts resignations over absentee balloting
http://www.aberdeennews.com/mld/aberdeennews/news/9895406.htm

[snippy]

23. Reminds me of the fraud, perjury, and forgery committed by republicans

as part of their accusations of election fraud committed by democrats in the 2002 South Dakota Senatorial election. It was an amusing irony that republicans used fraud, perjury, and forgery to accuse democrats of breaking the law. How very republican.

SD GOP busted for fraud

election.http://www.dailykos.net/archives/000705.html

Claims of voter fraud beget fraud claims

http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2002/12/14/news/local/news03.txt

[Zorra]

24. Republicans are working everywhere in the US, in every possible way,

to steal this next election. The 6 that were caught in South Dakota are just the tip of the iceberg.

Republicans know that they will be well rewarded by the Bu$h fascists for their dirty deeds in overthrowing our democratic government if Bu$h is re-selected.

Katherine Harris committed treason for Bu$h, and now she is a congresswoman.

They are traitors. When Kerry assumes office, the new Attorney General must begin a detailed and focused mass investigation into republican voter fraud, and all these republicans that are engaged in this conspiracy to commit treason by corrupting the democratic process need to go to prison for a very, very long time.

Because this is treason, and they are traitors, plain and simple.

[Ganja Ninja]

27. All I can say is, it's a good start. n/t