AND THE POLITICIANS STILL DON’T GET IT …
Another week, another round of excuses from the bureaucrats and elected officials who brought us the “Richland County Robbery” – a shameless and flagrant example of election fraud geared around the passage of a $1.2 billion sales tax hike.
Here’s a quick boilerplate summation for those of you unfamiliar with how things are done in South Carolina …
Two years ago, efforts to pass this $1.2 billion tax hike in Richland County, S.C. failed by just 600 votes. Dead set on getting their money, Republicans and Democrats on the county legislative delegation took over the local election commission in 2011 and installed their own election director – who of course is all sorts of connected to the tax hike movement.
Voila!
When Election Day 2012 rolled around, there were mysterious shortages (and malfunctions) of voting machines in precincts that voted heavily against the tax increase two years ago – leading to seven hour wait times in some precincts. These shortages and malfunctions resulted in an election being conducted in violation of a state law that mandates at least one operable voting machine per every 250 registered voters. Understandably, thousands of people were forced to give up their bid to cast a ballot – and thanks to this illegal voter suppression, the sales tax hike passed by a 52-48 percent margin.
Who are the forces behind this rigged election?
Just look at the “leadership” of Richland County – and the City of Columbia, S.C. – and you’ll be able to assemble a lineup in no time. Hell, one of the State Senators who serves on the county’s legislative delegation is the brother-in-law of one of the election commission members – one of several familial entanglements associated with this scam.
You think that this Senator – Democrat Joel Lourie – really wants answers here?
Almost as bad as the politicians who perpetrated this robbery, though, are the ones who continue to act as though this whole thing was just an instance of “incompetence” that needs to be fixed moving forward.
“The reality is apparently someone made a mistake. It happens. I get that,” S.C. Rep. Nathan Ballentine wrote on his blog. “Now, as delegation we have to fix this mess so that it never happens again.”
No, dumb ass … that’s NOT what this is about. This is about undoing an illegal election.
Of course we have to excuse Ballentine’s ignorance on the subject given that he’s been completely tuned out – filling his large noggin’ with other things.
“I should probably thank him, I learned from Sen. Joel Lourie that I did not vote for the legislation that merged our Voter Registration and Election Commission,” Ballentine acknowledges in his blog post. “I was absent that day.”
Huh? We know doing his public duty hasn’t been on Ballentine’s radar lately, but it seems as though getting involved in something this essential to the free and fair functioning of our democratic processes would be worth his time.
Apparently not …
Here’s the bottom line: The “Richland County Robbery” isn’t an example of incompetence that needs to be fixed moving forward – it’s an example of criminal election fraud that must be addressed retroactively.
How do we do that? By tossing out this fraudulently approved sales tax hike and forcing its supporters to put it back on the ballot next time. To let these results stand is to endorse election fraud and voter suppression.
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25 comments
Nathan Ballentine = Dumbass
Smartest thing I’ve read all day.
I couldn’t stay for the whole dog and pony show yesterday. But I was there for the two servings the the Dems served to Dumbass Ballentine. Once when referenced the Chairman as Speaker and the second time when Senator Lourie gave him and ass kicking. Referencing he would never received his appointment to the Rec. Commission. I thought Nate was going to explode. It was so funny. He must have raced home to get the sand out of vagina..
Ballentine is a self-absorbed politician who is always looking for ways to focus attention on himself. Have you ever read his blog? What a bunch of tripe!
I think all Nathan was filling his noggin with were visions of grandeur of an appointment, or support from President Romney for his run for Lt. Governor. Well, that’s gone down the crapper.
Nathan was part of the delegation who voted for McBride! He has been trying to distance himself from this situation since it occurred. In fact on election night, he kept tweeting that he was doing his best to get the situation corrected. By that time the horse was out of the barn!
I’m glad Lourie put this idiot in his place! I’m sure Nathan will try to play the vicitim! Richland County is the victim here, Nathan.
I attended the pony and dog show yesterday and I must say that Lillian McBride’s command of the English language leaves a lot to be desired. Even reading from her prepared notes and having three weeks to prepare for the “public investigation” she is both a discredit to her job and employees. Her lackey Ms. Crum needs to go away.
Liz Crum is Jean Toal’s lackey, not Lillian McBride’s. Crum’s total and complete alligence is to Toal and the SC Democratic Party elite.
If you have evidence of a crime, report it. Don’t just keep babbling about it. There’s a legal process to correct an illegal election, but you just keep saying it was illegal and offering nothing as proof except cronyism.
Nullify the sales tax increase voting results, have another vote on it, or else in 2014.
Vote out every member of the legislative delegation, especially “No-Doze” Jackson.
This is after firing “Playdough for brains” McBride and her entire staff.
Investigate how much in kickbacks McBride is paying from her salary, which, by the way, is $172,000 per election.
I quess that it would be too mush to ask that you produce any evidence that your charges of fraud are true. Absolute incompetence, while inexcusable, does not constitute fraud. The bottom line is that the results were not what you wanted, so as usual, rather than accept you are in the minority, you rant and rave and make baseless accusations.
Darrell Jackson made certain to point out at the beginning of the testimony that she address the claims that she is tied to the penny-sales tax folks. He also asked if she was related to Frank McBribe. She said no. FITS, it was obvious he was singling you out as the source of what he referred to as ‘conspiracy theories.’ What say you, FITS?
There are only two (2) plausible expanations here:
1. Complete incompetence
2. Intentional corruption of the process
If the answer is #1 then Lillian McBride should be fired
If the answer is #2 then Lillian McBride should go to jail
All other discussion is a smoke screen to obscure the obvious
No question about it from here.
Notice that she had 3 weeks in hiding to be coached, and then, of course, she uses the excuse “someone else was at fault”.
That doesn’t butter my biscuit at all.
Three weeks she has nothing to offer but some unknown and or unnamed individuals created the cluster fuck. Wonder was long time political hack lawyer Steve Ham hiding? Corruption at its finest a few steps from the Shitcago gang.
Anybody heard from Harpo? Vincent Sheheen? I.S. Leevy Johnson? Sam Tenenbaum? Dwight Drake? Alex Sanders? Who are the state’s Democratic leaders?
They can vote themselves a sales tax increase in RC all they want. As a LexCo resident I will just keep my business closer to home.
If you eat at Liberty’s in the Vista (let’s pretend that the food is worth what they charge in the first place), it is my understanding that you would be forking over an additional 10% in total taxes, 7% standard + 2% Hospitality + 1% “Penny Tax”. If you eat at Terra for example, you can look out the window at the Vista/Downtown landscape and save 3% on the bill. Now I’m not saying that’s quite apples to apples, but the bill would be about the same.
On a nice night out that would be $3-$5, which could be buying me breakfast or tipping a great server a little extra. Add those to the list of things I’d rather put my money toward instead of more local government waste.
What case can you make to lure me back? Don’t say convenient parking…
McBride will be your new server!
Actually, in elections, incompetence is a crime as long as it is willful incompetence. “An officer, other than a manager at any election, on whom a duty is imposed by this title, . . . who wilfully neglects such duty or engages in corrupt conduct in executing it is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than three years.” With “this title” being Title 7 (Elections) and one of the duties being to provide 1 machine per 250 voters. Unfortunately, there is nothing in there about having a new vote due to incompetence.
This posted on facebook by the City of Columbia in the past half an hour.
“Richland County Delegation is accepting applications to fill (2) vacancies on the Richland Election Commission. All applications will be accepted until Wednesday, December 5, 2012 at 2 pm.
For an application and additional information, please contact Kim Janha at 803.576.1907 or email janhak@rcgov.us.”
Why such a short period for submitting applications! Who has already been “chosen” for these exalted positions?
Fits – follow up on this new development and keep us posted.
Yeah, I am dying to know what’s behind that!
We saw this coming which is why we resigned. I don’t look good in orange. Miz Lilly will not be fired. As Dj say, “She know too much.”
Since it was a ballot measure to increase the tax can a ballot measure be included at the next possible election date to reduce the tax?
While we’re at it a ballot measure ought to be included to reduce the LexRich$5 slush fund from the fraudulent bond referendum.
You want a crime? This election is just one aspect of a master plan criminal minds collude with one another. The election of Mayor Benjamin was the defining moment. He crashed his car, crippled a woman, and the party was on for a take over of Richland County. Not sure if Sheriff Lott is involved in any of this, I say he is not. I like Lott. Nothing wrong with committing a few wrongs, then going straight. That is how life works. The real POS’s are those who make the wrongs then make a living from them, fucking anything that moves or gets in their way. This election fraud was seemingly planned way back by another cabal of evil doers, this one in Richland County.
Sponsors: Senators Jackson, Courson, Scott and Lourie
makes one wonder who and why did someone resurrect LT Gov Ard from the dead…Courson?
Introduced in the Senate on March 15, 2011
Introduced in the House on April 6, 2011
Last Amended on April 5, 2011
Passed by the General Assembly on April 14, 2011
Governor’s Action: May 9, 2011, Signed
Summary: Richland County Election Commission and Board of Registration to merge
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number
——————————————————————————-
3/15/2011 Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 3)
3/15/2011 Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary
(Senate Journal-page 3)
3/30/2011 Senate Recalled from Committee on Judiciary
(Senate Journal-page 16)
3/31/2011 Senate Read second time (Senate Journal-page 17)
3/31/2011 Senate Roll call Ayes-6 Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 17)
4/5/2011 Senate Amended (Senate Journal-page 26)
4/5/2011 Senate Read third time and sent to House
(Senate Journal-page 26)
4/6/2011 House Introduced, read first time, placed on calendar without
reference (House Journal-page 11)
4/13/2011 House Read second time (House Journal-page 38)
4/13/2011 House Roll call Yeas-59 Nays-0 (House Journal-page 38)
4/14/2011 House Read third time and enrolled (House Journal-page 13)
5/5/2011 Ratified R 37
5/9/2011 Signed By Governor
5/13/2011 Effective date 05/09/11
5/17/2011 Act No. 17
View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
3/15/2011
3/30/2011
4/5/2011
4/6/2011
(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)
(A17, R37, S692)
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 7-27-405, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE RICHLAND COUNTY ELECTION COMMISSION AND THE RICHLAND COUNTY BOARD OF REGISTRATION, SO AS TO COMBINE THE RICHLAND COUNTY ELECTION COMMISSION AND THE RICHLAND COUNTY BOARD OF REGISTRATION INTO A SINGLE ENTITY.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
Board of Elections and Voter Registration established
SECTION 1. Section 7-27-405 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 312 of 2008, is amended to read:
“Section 7-27-405. Notwithstanding another provision of law:
(A)(1) There is established the Board of Elections and Voter Registration of Richland County, to be composed of five members appointed by a majority of the Richland County Legislative Delegation.
(2) Two of the initial appointees shall serve two-year terms, and three of the initial appointees shall serve four-year terms. Upon expiration of the terms of those members initially appointed, the term of office for the members of the board is four years, and until their successors are appointed and qualify. Members may succeed themselves.
(3) In case of a vacancy on the board, the vacancy must be filled in the same manner as an original appointment, as provided in this section, for the unexpired term.
(4) A majority of senators representing the county and a majority of members of the House of Representatives representing the county shall appoint the board’s chairman. The chairman shall serve a term of four years and may be reappointed to that office for any number of successive terms without limitation.
(5) The board may choose to elect a vice chair, a secretary, and other officers the board considers appropriate. The initial director must be employed by a majority of the Richland County Legislative Delegation. Subsequently, the board shall employ the director, determine the compensation, and determine the number and compensation of other staff positions. Salaries must be consistent with the compensation schedules established by the county for similar positions.
(6) The director is responsible for hiring and management of the staff positions established by the board that report to the director. Staff positions are subject to the personnel system policies and procedures by which all county employees are regulated, except that the director serves at the pleasure of the board.
(B) The Richland County Legislative Delegation shall notify the State Election Commission in writing of the appointments made pursuant to subsection (A).
(C) The Board of Elections and Voter Registration of Richland County shall notify the State Election Commission in writing of the name of the person elected as chairman of the board pursuant to subsection (A).
(D) A member who misses three consecutive meetings of the board is considered to have resigned his office, and a vacancy on the board exists, which must be filled in the manner provided in subsection (A). This section does not apply to a member who presents a verifiable doctor’s certificate that illness prevented his attendance at a meeting.
(E) Except as otherwise specifically provided in subsections (A), (B), (C), and (D), the provisions of law contained in Title 7, relating to county boards of voter registration and county election commissions, apply to the Board of Elections and Voter Registration of Richland County, mutatis mutandis.
(F)(1) The Richland County Board of Voter Registration is abolished effective within sixty days after this section is approved by the Governor, and its functions, duties, and powers are devolved upon the Board of Elections and Voter Registration of Richland County, as established pursuant to subsection (A).
(2) The Richland County Election Commission is abolished effective within sixty days after this section is approved by the Governor, and its functions, duties, and powers are devolved upon the Board of Elections and Voter Registration of Richland County, as established pursuant to subsection (A).
(G)(1) The terms of the members of the Richland County Board of Voter Registration, regardless of when these members were appointed to office, or when their current terms would otherwise have expired, expire for all purposes upon the abolishment of that board pursuant to subsection (F)(1).
(2) The terms of the members of the Richland County Election Commission, regardless of when these members were appointed to office, or when their current terms would otherwise have expired, expire for all purposes upon abolishment of that commission pursuant to subsection (F)(2).
(3) Notwithstanding items (1) and (2) of this subsection or another provision of law, a person serving as a member of the Richland County Board of Voter Registration or the Richland County Election Commission may not be removed from office, and neither the board nor the commission may be abolished until this section has been given final approval by the United States Department of Justice.
(H) The annual budget for the Board of Elections and Voter Registration of Richland County may not be less than the average of the two annual budgets for the Charleston County and Greenville County Boards of Election and Voter Registration for the prior fiscal year.”
Time effective
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
Ratified the 5th day of May, 2011.
Approved the 9th day of May, 2011.
__________
BTW, these rascals moved to abolish this agency in less than 2 months time. Talk about efficient government. If they can do this, why, we can move mountains, couldn’t we? Maybe nullify the election and use county money to pay for another one? The election is criminally fraudulent. There are redundant layers of checks for having the proper number of machines in place, in working order. Right?
In less than an hour, using a computer at home one could 1) determine the number of precincts in the county, 2) determine the number of registered voters in each precinct, 3) using a calculator on said computer perform math calculations to determine how many voting machines would be needed at each precinct (assuming no changes in registered voters). You or I could do that and do a better job than McBride did. She had the office, its databases and staff. She could have had everything figured out months in advance and waiting for the election. Even total incompetence doesn’t explain this. Plus looking at the patterns of precincts that went hurting for voting machines and there is really only one explanation. She did what she was told to do and has a nice government job waiting for her when this finally blows over, even if she is removed from the elections office. Check up on her in a couple of years.