With Democrats outnumbering Republicans in Ventura County and other GOP strongholds about to fall, the tensions are running high between the paid staff people in the streets that are getting paid per signature or registration for their party they collect.
Recently, there has been more allegations that Republicans have been using subterfuge to trick people into becoming Republicans. There have been stories of lying to voters or changing forms after they have been turned in. Click here to read more about that.
The Republicans are now claiming that Democrats are the group behind dirty ticks across Southern California. They have sent out a threatening letter to the Democrats to get them to back off.
Because of the contested senate campaign both parties are using paid staff to register voters. This use of party resources doesn't appear on the state senate candidates' campaign finance disclosure forms, so we don't really know how many people are working across the district or how much money is being spent.
If you see a signature gatherer they are bound by law to tell you if they are getting paid for signature. Ask them who is paying them and post here the details.
I pretty sure that rule bending, coercion, dirty tricks, even theft have been a part of the American political scene since there was an America.
Was it "Boss" Tweed who said "Vote early, vote often!"
It's out there, and when it's discovered it needs to be dealt with no matter who "done it".
I personally think that ANY AND EVERY petitioner, or voting registrar should be required by law to clearly state what organization they are sponsored by, whether they are paid or not and how much per signature/registration, and EXACTLY who, in the case of initiatives, put that measure on the ballot.
I NEVER sign petitions that I have not researched independently. When I've moved about the County, I NEVER have allowed any group to do that registration for me, I got the forms and mailed them in myself directly to the registrar of voters.
Meanwhile, did Dems do something shady? Probably. Have Repubs done something shady? Probably.
I'm sorry, but it is the American way when it comes to politics to lie, cheat, steal, finagle, register the dead to vote, misrepresent, fudge/dodge the question or issue, rig the Supreme Court, and spin doctor the truth. You can add "swift boat" to that list too it appears!
Any protestation to the contrary is a lie.
My next question to someone who denies that is:
"What else are you lying to me about"?
This is the same law firm that was retained by the local Republican Central Committee to fight the Election Office's ethics violation. And it is the same law firm that gives talks on what a PAC or IEC can or can't do.
Joe O'Neill is an attorney so it will be interesting what his take is on everything.
I'm sure all lawyers involved will make some money from someone.
Maybe this is the same firm that is representing Jose (Joel) Angeles as well.
I'd respond to the letter with two words: UP YOURS!
Katie,
I am sure that even many of your most ardent critics would agree with your statement:
I'm sure all lawyers involved will make some money from someone.
I am waiting to see if any side will be able to prove and convince law enforcement to so something.
Brian, I'm no lawyer but it seems like it is a prophylatic bid for the Vote Blue filing or maybe it is a punishment for it. Joe O'Neill can file against them for free because he owns his own firm. I see this going on for a long time - which means $$$ for the Republican Party. I don't know if Joe will expect to be reimbused from the Dem party. Hard to say.
Vote Blue is a very shady group that makes wild claims with nothing to back them up. Even a lot of Democrats don't want anything to do with them.
Nothing wrong with Vote Blue. They just organized a huge luncheon a few weeks ago that was a Who's Who of Democratic movers and shakers. All the local Democratic candidates showed up -- from HBJ to Pavley to county school board.
Secretary of State Debra Bowen was the keynote speaker. I doubt she'd come down to speak for a "shady" group.
You can bet your bottom dollar that Phony-Tony is behind the letter. His slime flows in all directions. He probably sent his gumba Jose to knock down the kid collecting voter registrations, then dropping an Obama bumper sticker while running away. Phony-Tony will do anything to win this election. After all, if he loses, it is back to the unemployment line or Wasco.
Grab your soap-on-a-rope. He and his gumba will need it where they are going.
Why were the Vote Blue two begging people to attend for weeks if it was a whos who? Bowen was making the rounds showing up at any rally or meeting just like every other elected in the state right now. Vote Blue is being exposed for their lies and shady dealings. There is more to come.
No begging. It was well attended.
No shady deals. That's the Strickland organization's speciality.
You have nothing whatsoever but blog bluster.
You REALLY can't see the pattern here?
First, FarRight candidates all over the country were instructed to get involved with some sort of alternative energy effort so they can claim to be both green and pro-energy independent;
Second, they were instructed to lie about their opponents and, when challenged on those lies, lie again...and again...and again;
Third, they learned to lie about their own records and, when challenged on those lies, lie again...and again...and again;
Fourth, they've learned that when trapped in their lies, they are to change the subject;
Fifth, when that doesn't work far right candidates are taught to turn against their accusers and blame them for forcing them to resort to lying;
And now the latest instructions are to raise the issue of voter fraud at state & local levels, despite that in every election in the past twelve years these issues have been investigated ad nausea and have turned up no evidence of an organized attempt to commit election fraud...except in the cases of the FarRight being behind that fraud.
The same identical issues that Strickland & Company are raising are being raised in the same manner and on the same schedule across the country by the same ilk...as they were instructed to do so.
I feel sorry for the GOP and the fact that they know they can only hope to win if they cheat. Maybe they should be the GOC "Grand Old Cheaters". Only Republicans have been convicted of voter fraud.
Interesting that an arrest was made regarding voter registration by an outfit hired by the state GOP. I had heard from a reliable source this week that a VC College student was recently duped into believing she had registered as a DTS but got back confirmmation that she registered as a Republican. This just isn't right.