It just hit me why Richardson impeded the vote count in 2004

[Horse with no Name]

For those who are not aware, there was a huge undervote for President in heavily Democratic areas in New Mexico in 2004. There were court proceedings underway for a massive recount by the Green Party because it looked as if we might have been able to prove that Kerry had won NM which would have thrown a different light on the outcome in Ohio and how Kerry responded to it. It would have surely decreased the amount that was needed to gain in OH to actually win the election.
In the middle of all of that, Richardson (a "supposed" Democrat) ORDERED the machines to be wiped. For no good reason. They didn't NEED the machines...nothing to be gained or lost if they sat and waited for the particulars to be worked out regarding the recount.
But no, they were wiped. Thus ending any hope at that time of being able to prove election fraud.
In 2004...Richardson wasn't in the position to run for President.
I have always guessed he was hiding something, but now, I think he just took advantage of the opportunity that was afforded him.
I think it might be possible that he "overlooked" the election fraud in order to set himself up for a 2008 run.
If he could block Kerry from winning...it would ensure a Republican victory in 2004 and pave the way for his own campaign.

[Skink]

1. Poitics maybe...

:shrug:

[snowbear]

2. Yeah... sure.

[Horse with no Name]

3. Then give ONE good reason he ordered the machines wiped?

:shrug:

[President Kerry]

4. I don't buy your accusations.

I happen to think Richardson is a decent man. It's not even certain he's going to run in this campaign. Got any links to support your inflammatory claims?

[Tellurian]

13. getting into a nice comfortable chair..

sitting back and..

:popcorn:

[Horse with no Name]

20. Which "claim" do you consider inflammatory?

We can start with that.

[President Kerry]

98. No politician would stop a recount or wipe out votes during a recount

in a close race. Do you have any links on it? I've got nothing against you, just questioning the authenticity of the story. As for Richardson as politician, he's a smart, level-headed politician familiar with credible experience in energy and foreign policy, and overwhelmingly popular in a swing state, in addition to being Hispanic. I really feel that having all that in one person can put us over the top, if he can raise his profile and do it right.

[janx]

31. He is a decent man and a very good governor.

He's very popular around here, tinfoil theories aside. ;-)

[Horse with no Name]

34. There is NO doubt that citizens of NM like him

and it doesn't bother me in the least if you keep him.

[kaycesf]

35. Half of the Dems that voted in '06 did NOT pull the lever for him.

Richardson is not liked in NM. And further, everyone here knows there are funny money deals going on. As well, Hispanics don't trust him because he plays both sides of the aisles.

He's only out for himself.

I'm a New Mexican. I can't tell you how many people gag when you mention his name!

[ISUGRADIA]

58. Half the Democrats? Where did you get those numbers?

Looks like he won reelection in a landslide to me.

[janx]

65. He got 69% of the vote--

the largest, for governor, in the state's history.

[EFerrari]

73. Sure. He's a "decent" man who sits back and lets voters be defrauded.

Please save me from "decent" men.

[seabeyond]

85. why did he do it. regardless of hte reason, why did he do it. it was clear

election fraud in nm.

[acmavm]

5. Let him run. Remember, they're all just running for the honor of being

the nominee of he Democratic Party. Unless they're Joe Liebermann and they're running because they're a totally opportunistic worthless whore.

Is you theory possible? Maybe, who knows? That will be some nice mud to toss around during the primaries. The guy let us wallow in four more years of bush** fronting for the neocons because he was looking out for what he could gain out of the situation. Just what we need, another Liebermann.

[demnan]

6. Do you have a link

or anyting to substantiate this claim?

[Horse with no Name]

17. Here is one link regarding the undervote

Which I will point out that our Election Reform forum folks are crack at this stuff--if you want more, then you might mosey over there and see for yourself
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=203&topic_id=23054

[Horse with no Name]

23. And another

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=203&topic_id=47573

[Horse with no Name]

32. And another

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=203&topic_id=49989

[kster]

63. MORE LINKS HERE........

http://organikrecords.com/corporatenewslies/state.htm#nm

[New Earth]

107. see these threads

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x3173296

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x465461

[Junkdrawer]

7. Did Kerry ever cry "Foul"?

:shrug:

[Kerry fan]

19. Yes, he did. Along with several other people.

Including John Conyers.

And the results and the cases are still ongoing.

One of many cases.

Prosecutor says presidential recount rigged in Ohio county

M.R. KROPKO
Associated Press

CLEVELAND - Three elections workers in the state's most populous county conspired to avoid a more thorough recount of ballots in the 2004 presidential election, a prosecutor told jurors during opening statements at their trial Thursday.

Witnesses testified that, two days before a planned recount, selected ballots were counted so the result would be determined.

"The evidence will show that this recount was rigged, maybe not for political reasons, but rigged nonetheless," Prosecutor Kevin Baxter said. "They did this so they could spend a day rather than weeks or months" on the recount, he said.

http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/16486387.htm

[babylonsister]

8. Nom. I wish we had proof, but it makes sense. Given the state

of our country and depth of despair within our party at the unfolding travesty that is *, that'd be lower than low. Just the thought sure does nothing to endear him to me.:mad:

[Horse with no Name]

48. None of the naysayers are back

now that the evidence is in the thread.:eyes:

[5X]

99. I just became a naysayer because none of your links support the claim.

In fact, one link shows Richardson supporting paper ballots,
not wiping of machines.

[xultar]

9. I disagree. I don't think that is very sound because he's a longshot regardless.

[blm]

80. I think it Richardson was doing it all to protect both Clintons. Bill closed books

on very real crimes of office by Bush1 and the establishment powers know that they can count on Hillary to do the same for Bush2.

Richardson was doing what would best protect HIS old boss and that administration's legacy.

You don't close the books on so many serious issues and crimes like IranContra, BCCI, Iraqgate and CIA drugrunning and not become tainted with the coverup.

[roody]

83. This seems more plausible than Richardson's own

presidential run.

[blm]

87. Here's the significance of the coverups and the REAL LIFE consequences for this country.

http://www.consortiumnews.com/2006/111106.html


Connects to EVERYTHING that is happening today.

[seabeyond]

86. this is how i am seeing it all making sense with bush clinton bush clinton

bullshit

[Sanity Claws]

10. I don't buy this

I don't have another theory to offer but I just don't believe your theory.

[babylonsister]

27. Do you have any theories on why he destroyed the voting records/proof,

because I don't. I don't understand what the hurry was.

[Sanity Claws]

29. As I said in my message, I have no other theories.

All I know is that I'm not willing to jump to such a horrible conclusion about a Democrat without further information. I'll probably keep this in the back of mind and think about some more if I hear other negative things about him.

[mod mom]

11. It is definitely sad how lead dems turned their back on their base voters and

swept the fraud under the rug.

[truedelphi]

69. Could it be that Richardson has to keep the machinery from

being examined - because his own election was helped by that machinery? (Some two years earlier)

Were the machines the same in 2002 as is 2004? would be one of my questions.

After just reading the Wikipedia entry on him, he seems like a very centrist Dem at the least,
and a Gate Keeper for the repukes at the worst.

A great deal of his life is spent dealing with the Energy policy, surrounded by the samne self-serving Energy plicy types we see surrounding Bush.

His dad was an executive at CItiBank.

I am just speculating. I mean, just because you say you are a Dem doesn't mean you don't pull the sheep's clothing off in order to crawl in between the sheets in your own little Wolfie
birthday suit and get some sleep, all the while dreaming of the pay-offs from your friends the Energy fiends.

[mod mom]

79. This is the only conclusion I could draw about the silence of many Dems

after '04, they want to control who their candidates are. After 2000, they should have known better, and some did. Why did so many sit silent instead of joining Conyers, the House Judiciary Dems, CBC, and Sen Boxer?

[Emit]

12. I've thought this for a long time

I know a person in NM who was already to participate in the recount when Richardson pulled the rug out -- she and I discussed this at the time. There were rumors even back then that he had his eye on a Presidential run in '08.

[aquart]

28. If he did it, I don't care about his reason.

If he did it, I'd like him to hang. I wondered what the hell was happening in New Mexico. I'd thought of him kindly when he sheltered the runaways from the Texas Leg. But things got all weird during the election.

I hope someone's investigating. I hope there's evidence one way or the other.

If he did it, may he never sleep.

[kaycesf]

43. Why do you think Richardson was chaffing at the bit to run

the Democratic Convention in Boston. He was elected Governor, and for two plus years he was NEVER in his office, never doing anything for my state.

He has had his sights on the Presidency from the beginning.

The man has very quickly been working for NM for the last six months? Gotta have some kind of record if he's going to run for '08, ya think?

And this whole "He will bring Hispanic Votes" is a big laugh here. The Hispanics (Northern New Mexicans especially) despise him! He's done nothing for them, the poorest in our state.

I'm sorry. I know that I will be flamed for talking against my own Governor, but he is seriously bad trouble.

I can't tell you how hard we fought for Richardson and his Sec. of State to purchase the safe voting machines before '04, and meeting after meeting we were either ignored or put off. SOS went ahead before our last meeting was scheduled, without notifying us, and announced she had purchased new machines. All of which were the hackable ones. (see my post above)

It's so annoying for me to see pro-Richardson posts, because most people haven't a clue. And it saddens me.

[Emit]

76. You see no pro-Richardson posts from me

Since you're from NM, I have a question. I had read that Richardson owns a company with our NV Senator, John Ensign, and that Richardson owns a casino in Las Vegas or some such thing. Do you know if that is true? There is a Bill Richardson who used to own the Mandalay Resort with the Ensign family, but I have no idea whether this is the same Bill Richardson. Any input?

Thanks! And, welcome to DU.

[Auntie Bush]

113. Thanks for cluing us in. Now I'm in the know!

I just posted that I'd like to see a Clark/Richardson ticket. I've now changed my mind...unless someone can convince me these criticisms are false.

[Raksha]

59. Yes, there were rumors to that effect at the time.

And I believed them, because why else would a Democrat sabotage his own party like that? I decided then and there that if Richardson decides to run I will NOT support him in the primary. I haven't changed my mind either. I don't need "proof." Just the very fact that he stopped the recount is enough.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

14. Interesting. BTW, does anyone know a lot about him? Some

time ago here someone (NM insider) posted that he was unelectable - because
he had some major skeletons - he has skirt-chasing issues. Never heard
more about this.

[Morgana LaFey]

45. I know enough about him to know I'd not like to see him President

He comes off as a very nice, decent man -- but he's a corporate kiss-ass. A DLC type. Snuggles up big time to energy corps, which are pretty much without exception bad (exploitative, greedy, etc., etc., etc.)

[FogerRox]

89. Right on Morgana.

He likes "Clean coal" too. NYT recently explained the problems with it.

[Emit]

71. Rumor has it that he'll do well here in Nevada

I have no plans for supporting him, however. But, he's seen as a centrist here.

He's been a Congressman, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, U.S. Secretary of Energy and chairman of the 2004 Democratic National Convention that nominated John Kerry for the presidency. According to the article below, he had hoped to be the VP nominee in 2000.

Anyway, here's something I came across:

While serving as energy secretary, scientist Wen Ho Lee was unjustly accused of espionage activities at the Department of Energy facility at Los Alamos. Lee was later exonerated, pleading guilty to a technical offense. The judge in the case publicly apologized to him for his ordeal, and the U.S. government, the Associated Press, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Washington Post paid a total of $1.6 million for damage to his reputation.

Richardson was accused of personally leaking the scientist's name to the press. In congressional testimony, former Department of Energy security chief Notra Trulock said Richardson was the source of the leak, but Richardson denied the charge in a sworn deposition, and no additional proof was ever offered. The Albuquerque Journal's Adam Rankin reported that, in a lawsuit, Lee's attorneys conducted a wide ranging search for proof of the charge, including interviews with 20 witnesses and an effort to force reporters to disclose their sources without ever proving the case against Richardson.

http://www.newsreview.com/reno/Content?oid=oid%3A258118

[stillcool]

15. I remember that...

actually I remember way too much to be an ardent supporter of any political party member. But, the only hope of change lies within the democratic party or....V

[davidwparker]

16. I had that as my #2. My #1 was it was for Hillary with him as VP.

All the work the Dem establishment did for Hillary '08 and nobody wants to come to the party. It just shows how out of touch the Dem establishment is and how the 2006 victories was *-fatigue plus the work of the net/grassroots.

[orpupilofnature57]

18. The guy that talked him in to wearing the Car-Hart did more

to make it clear that Kerry wasn't decisive about Kerry's Self-Image image. It was like Kkkarl knew all we need to do is get him to wear the coat.

[jen4clark]

21. I have a good friend in NM

and she was very very suspicious (and pissed!) when Richardson did this in 2004. She has never had much good to say about him (both before and after this). I think you bring up an interesting point and from what I've heard about him it wouldn't surprise me. My friend says that he was a do-nothing Gov. until recently.

[kaycesf]

38. Hi Good Friend! Here's what I posted at KOS:

(I don't know how to post here, so wish me luck!)

READ THIS AND ASK YOURSELF WHY!!!!!

SNIPPET:

John Boyd: Mr. Chairman, speaking on behalf, my name is John Boyd, and I speak on behalf of both candidates. And I'll be brief under New Mexico, or applicable New Mexico Statutes 1-1-14 ad sic, the application was timely made, and the amount of the deposit, which I believe was $114,000, has been confirmed as the appropriate amount of deposit for a statewide recheck as requested. And on the basis, and on behalf of those candidates, we would respectfully request that the board approve the application and allow the recount.

Richardson: Now I will ask for statements from representatives of other candidates. Senator Kerry...President Bush... let's see, Ralph Nader...God, now I've entered a slippery slope, there are a whole bunch of other...(laughter, unintelligible)...and any other, any other candidate...no...

I'd like to make a few comments on the motion and the application. First of all I wanna commend the Green and Libertarian Parties for their sincerity in pursuing this issue. But I have to state that I believe a recount is not necessary. I don't think the recount will change the outcome of the race. President Bush carried New Mexico, according to certified results, by almost 6,000 votes. I think in New Mexico we need to be looking forward and not back.

(((YEAH. INSTEAD, HE WANTS YOU TO LOOK FORWARD TO BILL RICHARDSON FOR PRESIDENT IN '08! AND FORGET ABOUT RECOUNTS THAT JUST MIGHT MAKE KERRY A BIGGER WINNER OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN NM... THAT WOULD BE A BURR IN BILL'S BUTT WHEN HE RUNS AGAINST KERRY IN 'O8!)))


And that's why I will be proposing a comprehensive election reform with the Secretary of State, in the next legislative session.

(((Really! Then why didn't he listen to many of us who tried to explain to him and his Secretary of State, prior to '04, about how our Diebold/Sequoia/Es&S Machines were easily hacked, and tried to explain about Gems Tabulators, and his Secretary of State told us it was too complicated and she didn't have time to listen, and besides, she "knew which machines to get... not to worry.".... which machines ended up being the Diebold/Sequoia/Es&S Machines! All hackable...!)))


I will propose uniformity in our election code so every voter in every county will play by the same rules. I want a paper trail for all machine ballots cast. I want election officials properly trained.

(((Richardson made sure these new paper trail machines were there for HIS re-election, and sorry, the officials I spoke with said they were never trained.)))

yada, yada, yada.......


Read full transcript here: http://www.iwantmyvote.com/lib/downloads/references/2004-12-15_nm_board_transcript.pdf

End of story is that he wrote this letter very soon after the 2004 election, all too little, too late:


http://uvotenm.org/richardsonletter.html


NOTE: Any politician that doesn't uphold our Constitutional right to vote, doesn't find it necessary or convenient, monitarily or otherwise, for a recount when he knew there were problems with these machines around the country, doesn't deserve to be President of the United States!

[Horse with no Name]

46. THANK YOU!

Very much. This should be THE reason not to support Richardson in a Presidential campaign.

[jen4clark]

49. Hey baby!!!

I was hoping you'd show up!! I've been talking about you on all the Richardson threads! LOL!!

You know formatting is same as on kos except you use brackets instead of <

I tried to show you what a bracket is but when I enter one and preview it comes out as a <

[Crabby Appleton]

81. bracket

bracket = [

[Junkdrawer]

22. In PA, we have a Dem Governor who worked HARD for voting machines...

with no Voter Verified audit trails.

But then, PA is the land of smoke-filled rooms and corrupt deals.

Deals are cut. "Give us the state government and you can have the Presidential elections."

[Kerry fan]

24. I don't know what his reasons were

but, he definitely interfered.

Actually, I think there were several "prominent" Democrats who didn't want Kerry to win. One being James Carville.

IMO, many, many "Democrats" wanted 2008 to be open. I put Democrats in quotes because I don't feel they have really been very Democratic.

There were reports that Richardson was very "nervous" and "acting wierd" that day. Maybe he got word from Carville that they had to make sure that 2008 was open for Hillary?

I saw Richardson on TV shortly after the election and he did NOT seem to be the same man that I had seen prior to the election.

God only knows what goes on with our corrupt politicians, both Republicans AND Democrats.

What's a poor concerned citizen to do!

[whometense]

25. I haven't forgotten what happened either,

OR forgiven, I and swear I won't.

Your theory is the one that's occurred to me as well.

[wisteria]

26. Opportunist, that is the way I view Richardson. I think your post have a lot of validity. n/t

[Smarmie Doofus]

30. This part's confusing:

>>>we might have been able to prove that Kerry had won NM which would have thrown a different light on the outcome in Ohio and how Kerry responded to it.>>>


Are you saying that if Kerry had won NM, he would not have needed Ohio?

[Horse with no Name]

33. The margin in Ohio would have been considerably less

As it was, Kerry thought that even with a recount in Ohio, he couldn't get the votes he needed to win.
However, the probability that the "lost" votes in New Mexico--and indeed the state going to Kerry-- would have gone to Kerry...it surely would have made a difference.

[Tellurian]

37. Specifically, if Ohio was lost and NM went to Kerry

would Kerry have won the Presidency?

[Horse with no Name]

40. Not with NM alone

But chances are with a win in NM, Kerry would have contested Ohio...which we now know was definitely a fraudulent election.
So Kerry would have been President.
New Mexico was a piece of the puzzle.

[bunny planet]

36. Greg Palast has a whole chapter on the New Mexico shenanigii in the 2004

election in Armed Madhouse and he doesn't have such good things to say about Richardson's role in it.

[JCMach1]

77. He places primary blame on NM Sec. of State though

:(

[alittlelark]

39. I flew to NM for 'Election Protection' in 2004

I woke up to my sis (I'm from NM) telling me Kerry had conceded.


Richardson is old school NM mafia mixed w/ the superiority of being in Clintons cabinet. I distrust him to the nth degree. In Alb the voting system was changed from touch screen to optiscan moments before the actual 'election day' voting began. I will never forget the guy that ran past me saying he was in a hurry (and didn't need info) - he came out 20 minutes later.


A WAY yuppie lookin' guy voting in one of the poorest districts in NM?

[kaycesf]

41. Many many many in NM consider Richardson a thug.

Honestly.... but read my post above "Hi Good Friend..."

Bill Richardson ONLY pays attention to his money-grubbing Politicos.

[alittlelark]

42. He is an 'Old School' NM politico.

You are in SF...Tell me more about yourself.

[kaycesf]

47. What do you want to know?

Yes, I am in Santa Fe. I was working the Wes Clark campaign until he stepped out, but before Wes entered the race I was already aware of the election fraud. I worked for Kerry after Wes stepped out. Many of my own Dems never understood what GEMS tabulators were, because all of my signs said "NO MORE GEMS TABULATORS." My signs attracted many, and many questions were asked, and I had to explain so much to the DEMS! Early on many didn't understand there was a problem with the machines.

I went to the Roundhouse (that's our NM capitol building) to meet with others to try to talk with Giron-Vigil (SOS).

I have lived here all my life. I understand the political games that have gone on or years.

Even though I supported Wes, I knew as many did that Kerry had many more votes. The final tallies didn't jive! Richardson did't want Kerry showing more votes. Why? Because he had his sights on '08. It's simple. So he wiped out the machines.

[Horse with no Name]

50. Welcome to DU

Your info is fascinating. Thank you.

[jen4clark]

51. Oh the stories she could tell...

I know you are usually quiet about Richardson because we try not to "talk bad" about Dems, but now that he's considering throwing his hat in the ring, I think it's most important that people are aware of who he is! Sing it out kaycesf! :pals:

[kaycesf]

53. Thanks everyone.

I was askeered to post here, especially about my own Gov. But I swear this man is not good for us!

[MoonRiver]

108. We want to know what's going on! So spill all the beans you have!

:D

Seriously, I don't know much about Richardson, so I REALLY appreciate learning what happened in 2004. Thanks!

And welcome to DU!! :hi:

[alittlelark]

52. I supported Wes as well

Sounds like you know the ropes.


PS- Most NMexicans have NO idea what Gems is.

[kaycesf]

54. GEMS. GEMS. God I know it. I sometimes feel like I"m the only one!

Let's hope Dems will get the paper trail going in every state, WITHOUT GEMS COUNTING THEM!

And no more Governor OR SOS candidates who can't be trusted with our votes! People need to look to their SOS candidates to make sure they have voter integrity!

[Virginian]

68. I am not sure how the NM machines work,

The machines we use do not have a paper trail (we are lobbying Richmond to require paper audit trails). We back up the machines on a little USB flash drive at the machine level and at the precinct level. Our machines will be needed in the following election and can't sit around as permanent data containers. We have already had three more elections on those machines since the '04 Presidential.

Without a paper trail, a revote on vaporware will always get you the same identical numbers.

[Stevepol]

88. With so few Dems even understanding the problems with the machines,

isn't it more reasonable to argue that Richardson was just ignorant rather than malicious?

Kerry wouldn't admit to knowing anything about the voting machines at the time and as far as I know still doesn't admit to know squat about them, as Mark Crispin Miller points out. And Kerry conceded almost before the results were in. If he'd had any real concept of the facts surrounding these machines and the ownership of the companies producing them, he surely would have waited a tad longer.

If Kerry and his staff were in la la land as re the machines, and he's got to be one of the most well-read politicos, how can Richardson be expected to know diddly squat about them?

I think a lot of the actions that have allowed these criminal voting machine vendors to destroy democracy in the US are just a result of ignorance.

Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems like the best explanation and I don't see too many people even talking about it as a possibility. Everything that happens isn't a deeply thought out political strategem.

[Joe Chi Minh]

92. Common sense dictates that you don't expunge all the ballots cast,

immediately after the election; particularly in a country where election fraud has been the rule rather than the exception - albeit to a far less outrageous degree. He had to have a motive, and clearly a reprehensible one in some measure - since he is presumably not mentally retarded.

[truedelphi]

112. Yes please let's not denigrtate good ol COMMON SENSE

Lately it's not been all that common

[Elwood P Dowd]

44. He was good buddies with Newt Gingrich during the NAFTA fight

Richardson never saw a job-killing free trade or outsourcing deal he didn't embrace back in the 90s.

[w4rma]

55. By wiping those machines he permanently eliminated his own chances for getting any nomination.

Whatever his reasons for destroying the evidence are.

[Horse with no Name]

56. I'm not so sure

There are MANY that think he is the greatest thing and when you mention this...they call you out as a liar or an alarmist.
I truly believe he is the ONE candidate that I could never support.

[Joe Chi Minh]

95. I think you're right. Fool me once....

[Hawkowl]

57. Absolutely incompetent if not corrupt

Any governor that can't deliver his state for the presidential candidate of his party doesn't deserve the nomination. Especially in a state as "close" as NM. He either is an incompetent politician with no political organization or a party traitor who refused to go along with the party nominee ala Lieberman. Richardson is another politician with delusions of grandeur who can kindly go fuck himself and spare the rest of us.

[ISUGRADIA]

60. How does a Governor deliver a state?

If a candidate is mediocre like Kerry was, then the candidate is to blame. This is not the 1930s. Governors do not exercise iron fist control over their parties.

[Horse with no Name]

61. He had nothing to deliver except a legitimate vote tally

The rest would have taken care of itself.
Kerry wasn't mediocre.
He was screwed out of the Presidency and Gov Richardson was just as culpable as SOS Blackwell in Ohio.

[Hawkowl]

70. Exactly

That's what I'm talking about.

[EFerrari]

74. He wiped the machines. He's complicit. n/t

[slipslidingaway]

62. Thanks for the reminder about clearing the voting machines

prematurely.

http://www.truthout.org/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi/65/23443

snip>>

The Voting-Industrial Complex

New Mexico's Secretary of State, Rebecca Vigil-Giron, seemed curiously uncurious about Hispanic and Native precincts where nearly one in ten voters couldn't be bothered to choose a president.

Vigil-Giron, along with Governor Bill Richardson, not only stopped any attempt at a recount directly following the election, but demanded that all the machines be wiped clean. This not only concealed evidence of potential fraud but destroyed it. In 2006, New Mexico's Supreme Court ruled the Secretary of State's machine-cleaning job illegal - too late to change the outcome of the election, of course.

snip>>

Governor Richardson, who ducked the issue for three years, and his Secretary of State, once openly hostile to reform, had to relent in the face of the public uprising. In February of 2006, Richardson signed a model law requiring that all voting in the state take place on new paper ballot machines, with verifiable tabulating systems. Richardson now claims the mantle of leader of the voting reform campaign.

[Kurovski]

64. K&R. Very enlightening thread. Thank you.(nt)

[politicasista]

66. He looks sneaky

I haven't forgiven him either. JMO.

[AspenRose]

103. Me either.

And I don't know why I feel this, but I suspect if HRC gets the Dem nomination, she's going to name Richardson as her VP, no matter how much he denies it now.

He also denied wanting to run for president when he first ran for governor here (in NM) and now look at how things have changed.

I hope next time someone posts a "I don't know much about Bill Richardson" thread, they will be directed to this one (and the one about Wen Ho Lee I saw a while back). We see one of those threads at least once a week, if not more. And the same people (many of them in NM like me) have been trying to warn people.

[truedelphi]

67. The most excellent documentary "Stealing America"

Has a great deal of video about New Mexico activists
and all the undervotes

In one small New Mexican town, half the people did not vote for President <supposedly>

DOrothy Fadiman did a great job with her work on this one.

Visit her website www.stealingamerica.org

[babylonsister]

72. Thanks for the site, truedelphi. nt

[truedelphi]

110. The film footage also focuses on Kip Humphrey from Houston

I found it fun to discover one of my DU buddies on film

[EFerrari]

75. There were many brown and black votes stolen in NM and I always

wondered exactly what pile of you know what Richardson had his hands in.

[orleans]

78. mr. chairman of the 2004 democratic national convention: mr. dirty

underhanded asshole!

yes. i remember him wiping the machines.
yes. i remember him not allowing the votes to be recounted.
yes. i remember him not wanting to pursue shit.

he's dirty.
he's underhanded.
he's a thief.

and he doesn't deserve all the positive attention he gets on a possible run.

i had no idea why he would do such a thing. he *seemed* like such a nice guy at the convention.

but he's not.

he helped to throw the 2004 election

he should be jailed.

you're not off the mark here. and your theory is pretty good from where i'm looking.

[loudsue]

82. K & R. It is REALLY IMPORTANT that word gets out as to WHY

we don't support Richardson. It will do two things:

1) call attention to the corruptable nature of the vote counting machines, and

2) explain why we don't like Richardson, and why he shouldn't be a player in the upcoming elections.

:kick::kick::kick:

[seabeyond]

84. well, that is a reason. the fact is people knew nm had ef starting early voting

and not only was anything done it was in our face wiped clean and he felt no need to explain to us. i am right along the border. the same that was happening in that state was happening in south texas, thru el paso and into and thru out nm. he wiped it clean. boom. no investigating.

i was so pissed and am still pissed. i cannot validate his run without an explanation wh in the fuck he would do such a thing.

[Kurovski]

90. Kick(nt)

[ray of light]

91. pretty amazing stuff!

[dsc]

93. No number of votes in NM or anywhere else would have reducted

the number of votes needed in OH.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

97. would_help_support

Kerry-Ohio_issues_though

[truedelphi]

111. Ah but shaving the number of "popular" votes from Kerry to Bush

Made Bush the "popular" winner

That fact allowed for all the repukes sounding at least a little bit logical by saying that we should quit whining and get over it.

[bobbolink]

94. So, what would be your speculation for his wrong-headedness on Wen Ho Lee?

If your scenario is correct, it certainly means that Richardson is a man of integrity.

:sarcasm:

[Horse with no Name]

96. I am not understanding what you are wanting here?

Because nowhere have I ever said Richardson was a man of integrity. I believe quite the opposite.:shrug:

[aikoaiko]

100. When there is incontrovertible proof, I'll support your position,

but until then it just seems like delusions of sour grapes.

[janx]

101. (cough)

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson Signs Sweeping Election Reform Package
April 6th, 2005

SANTA FE, NM- Governor Bill Richardson today signed a comprehensive election reform package incorporating several bills that initiate sweeping changes in New Mexico’s election process. The new law creates uniform standards for voter identification, ballot counting, voting machine records, and the training of election judges and poll workers.

“This legislation will ensure the integrity of our elections,” said Governor Richardson. “It will in no way discourage qualified people from voting, and most importantly, will make sure that every vote is counted.”

The final version of the legislation is Senate Bill 678, sponsored by Senator Linda Lopez, which included elements of Senate bills 680, 718, and 735. The Governor’s office worked closely with Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil-Giron, Attorney General Patricia Madrid, Speaker of the House Ben Lujan, Representative Ed Sandoval, the Chairman of the Voters and Election Committee, and Senator Lopez. The Governor also received a detailed set of analysis and recommendations from his Election Reform Task Force.

At today’s signing, held in the Cabinet Room at the State Capitol, Governor Richardson outlined the provisions of the bill, joined by Attorney General Madrid, Secretary of State Vigil-Giron, Speaker Lujan, Representative Sandoval, Senator Lopez, and other advocates and grass roots supporters of the initiative.

--snip--

more at link:

http://www.verifiedvotingfoundation.org/article.php?id=5696

[aikoaiko]

102. Is that link supposed to be the incontrovertible proof that

Richardson supressed evidence of voter fraud in order be a viable candidate in 2008?

I don't understand your reference.

[janx]

104. Quite the contrary.

Verifiedvoting.org stands by Bill Richardson. ;-)

[aikoaiko]

105. gotchya, thank you.

[truedelphi]

114. Sometimes the overall results speak as loudly

As the person under suspicion standing up and stating that they are responsible.

In other words, you might not have the smoking gun, but you have one or more possible motives, you have the fact that in this case, Richardson could have done otherwise. I mean, there are a whole dozen or more posses of voting activists in NM that could tell Richardson to do not as he did but quite otherwise - of course what old timey Democrat ever listens to a posse of voting activists?

Follow the money - it could be nothing more than that the Big Boys will install him as the vice president of whatever voting machinery company has their machines all over NM as soon as he is done being Governor.

[Horse with no Name]

106. What proof do you need?

The fact that there was an undervote? Check..it is in the thread.
The fact that he wiped the machines? Check..it is in the thread.
No sour grapes here. I have no reason.
I want us to have a good candidate.
This guy is more of the same. Corrupt to the core.

[aikoaiko]

109. Something more than a statistical undervote and wiping the machines.

Any confessions of tampering? Any payoffs on video? Any documents supporting your theory? Any direct proof at all?

Hey, I'll give it to you that your speculation could be correct, but without any real proof the assertion that Richards hid election fraud that cost his party the election so that he could be a viable candidate 4 years later just sounds like a bizarre smear.