Some people have sent emails to me concerning the notice in the Coeur d’Alene Press today that Assistant US Attorney Nancy Cook would be the on-duty AUSA Tuesday in Coeur d’Alene to take complaints of voter fraud. For several years now the US Department of Justice has designated one or more AUSAs in each federal judicial district to take these types of complaints on general election day. Here is the DoJ press release explaining it further.
Rock n’ Roll. I wonder if this will just be lip service? Sure hope ol’ Danny Boy
has his election department on their toes. Nah, on second thought it will probably be business as usual…… S_N_A_F_U.
Comment by Ancientemplar — October 30, 2010 @ 2:41 pm
Ancientemplar,
Not exactly lip service. The DoJ Civil Rights Division does pay close attention to violations of federal voting laws (Black Panthers with clubs excluded, of course). Most of our issues are intrastate, mess-ups by the Boobs in Boise and Tote-a-Vote Dan. But, absentee ballots through the mail and from other states do provide a federal nexus even in local elections.
Comment by Bill — October 30, 2010 @ 4:11 pm
I think it is imperative that we complain to these entities if we believe or suspect voter fraud. Not just one or two of us but a whole bunch of us, thus they will consider the issue more seriously and take action.
Comment by Stebbijo — October 30, 2010 @ 7:22 pm
Sure, let’s rely on the feds so they can build their bureaucracy with more lawyers in Justice to resolve our LOCAL state and county issues.
Comment by Gary Ingram — October 30, 2010 @ 7:32 pm
Gary, what else do you do? I am SICK of it. Our own state officials are relying on federal laws to push their own state and LOCAL agendas via our own STATE judicial system. People like me don’t care anymore, I just want to see them in orange jumpsuits and handcuffs.
Comment by Stebbijo — October 30, 2010 @ 7:53 pm
Stebbijo and Gary,
I’m with Stebbijo on this one. When LOCAL officials are clearly unwilling to address LOCAL problems because those LOCAL officials are lazy, incompetent, or corrupt, then yes, it is time to bring in the Feds.
We need to change the wording “Welcome to Idaho” signs at our borders. Thanks to our LOCAL officials, the wording ought to read “Welcome to Idaho. FOR SALE TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER. Outside help not wanted.”
Here’s a news flash, Gary: The feds are no more interested in becoming involved in LOCAL issues than you are in having them come in. Frankly, the feds do have better things to do than clean up behind incompetent and lazy and corrupt LOCAL officials. That “Clean-up on aisle Idaho” is the job of the state and local officials. But when state, county, and local officials are unwilling, incompetent, and/or corrupt AND the public finally gets fed up, the public will demand that the feds step in. On the continuum of public corruption, just as with alcoholics and drug abusers, it’s called “hitting bottom.” It won’t be pretty if and when it happens. But your and my federal tax dollars are going into the financial plans of the federal law enforcement agencies, the US Attorneys, and the federal court system, so I wouldn’t necessarily object to seeing some federal agents put federal handcuffs on LOCAL corrupt officials. And I really wouldn’t mind seeing some of those same LOCAL corrupt officials in front of a Federal District Court judge in Boise rather than in front of our LOCALly-elected District Court judges who might be just a wee bit swayed by the social, financial, and political influence wielded by the LOCAL mopus erecti standing in front of them.
Comment by Bill — October 31, 2010 @ 7:13 am
Idaho Reporter
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U.S. attorneys will field election-day complaints
By Brad Iverson-Long
October 28th, 2010
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Voters noticing problems can also contact county and state officials
Idahoans who face problems at the polls on election day can pick up the phone to report their problems.
The U.S. attorney’s office announced that it will take calls on election fraud, voting rights abuses, and voter intimidation for the Nov. 2 statewide general election.
Voters can also notify poll workers, county clerks offices, or the Idaho secretary of state’s office of any potential wrongdoing on election day.
“Election fraud and voting rights abuses dilute the value of voting and corrupt the essence of our representative form of government,” Wendy Olson, Idaho’s U.S. attorney, said in a news release. “They are crimes against both the individuals affected and the people of the United States, and will be dealt with promptly and aggressively.”
Several assistant U.S. attorneys will handle calls from voters. Idaho voters with complaints can contact George Breitsameter at (208) 334-1211. North Idaho voters can call Nancy cook at (208) 667-6568. Voters in east Idaho can call Jack Haycock at (208) 478-4166.
Read the U.S. attorney’s news release below
U.S. ATTORNEY NAMES ELECTION DAY CONTACTS
United States Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced today that attorneys will be on duty in Boise, Coeur d’Alene and Pocatello on Tuesday, November 2, to take complaints of election fraud or voting rights violations for the general elections.
Assistant U.S. Attorney George Breitsameter will serve as the District Election Officer for Idaho, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights abuses in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters. He is located in the Boise office and can be reached at (208) 334-1211. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy Cook will handle calls in north Idaho. She is available at (208) 667-6568. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Haycock will take calls from eastern Idaho. He can be reached at (208) 478-4166.
The FBI will also have agents available in its Boise office to handle complaints of election fraud, intimidation, suppression and other election abuses. The FBI can be reached at (208) 344-7843.
Comment by LTR — October 31, 2010 @ 7:45 am
I have to agree with Stebbijo and Bill. What does it matter if we run up legal fees trying to defend the law? The local corrupt officials are just gonna tax the hell out of us for personal gain anyway. I would RATHER see it go to GOOD use trying to expose these CRIMINALS.
Comment by concerned citizen — October 31, 2010 @ 7:45 am
“Voters noticing problems can also contact county and state officials.”
hee. hee.
I wonder if they typed that with a straight face?
Comment by CDAShenanigans — October 31, 2010 @ 9:31 am
CDAShenanigans,
That is a great question, because it ignores the possibility that county and state officials are the problem.
The DoJ position as articulated by USA Olson also ignores the very real possibility of election result manipulation in its various forms can occur at times other than when the polls are open on election day. Why do I get the distinct feeling that Holder’s DoJ is intentionally clinging to an outdated model for dealing with election manipulation?
Comment by Bill — October 31, 2010 @ 9:41 am
On the other hand , the DOJ needs to point out the ‘chain of command’ so to speak when voters have complaints. They can’t just outright call incompetent officials on to the carpet if we do not take those channels and this area has gone far and beyond the call of duty to proove that those channels do not work.
Comment by Stebbijo — October 31, 2010 @ 10:07 am
Assistant US Attorney Nancy Cook told me today the Federal Government does not want to tell the State of Idaho how to run their elections.
Comment by LTR — November 2, 2010 @ 5:45 pm
LTR,
Pretty much what I told Gary in #6 above.
Comment by Bill — November 2, 2010 @ 7:26 pm