Paving the Way for a Crooked Election
by Ian Mosley
In the middle of an election beneath the shadow of a certain deeply disturbed woman and cursed by Diebold machines which have already caused both the Democrats and Republicans to demand a recount in New Hampshire, something very strange has happened. The Federal Election Commission is being shut down. The beneficiaries of the Diebold vote-stealing in New Hampshire appear to be Hillary and John McCain. The neocons would be perfectly happy working with either.
The Politico web site reports: “Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) just announced that the Senate will not clear four new appointees for the Federal Election Commission, meaning the panel that acts as a watchdog on political campaigns cannot function during the critical election-year period. Reid is blaming the White House for refusing to withdraw to allow a majority vote on the nomination of Hans von Spakovsky for a seat on the commission. Republicans want von Spakovsky approved as part of a slate of four FEC nominees or they will refuse to consider any of the nominees. Von Spakovsky was recess-appointed by President Bush to the FEC, but his term expires at the end of the year. Democrats have refused to allow his nomination to move forward, arguing that his actions while at the Justice Department disqualified him for the post. Bush, though has not backed down, and the matter has been at an impasse for the last four months. Sens. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) placed holds on von Spakovsky’s nomination, meaning Republicans needed 60 votes to approve his nomination over Democratic objections. Now, with the Senate moving toward adjournment until mid-January, Reid signaled that Democrats will not move any FEC nominations if they include von Spakovsky, meaning the commission will only have two of its required six members. Reid said he offered the GOP a straight majority vote on all the FEC nominees, including von Spakovsky, but the White House refused to accept that offer.” (more…)