Bush's brother at centre of row over Nader nomination on Florida ballot

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uselections2004/story/0,13918,1304899,00.html

Florida and Jeb Bush, the president's brother, were once more at the centre of a legal row over the presidential election yesterday, after Governor Bush's administration intervened to ensure Ralph Nader was on the state ballot.
Florida Democrats, fearing Mr Nader will take votes away from them, accused the state government of flouting a court order last Wednesday that removed the third party candidate and veteran consumer activist from the ballot, on the grounds that the group sponsoring him, the Reform party, was not a nationally recognised party.

Mr Nader's lawyers challenged the verdict but his name remained off the state ballot pending the appeal. However, Governor Bush's secretary of state, Glenda Hood, has stepped in and submitted her own appeal which automatically suspended the court order, putting Mr Nader back in the running just in time for absentee ballots to be posted to 50,000 US soldiers and other overseas voters by a Saturday deadline.

"This is blatant political manoeuvring by Jeb Bush to give his brother a leg-up on election day," the Florida Democratic party's chairman, Scott Maddox, said. "And it's just plain wrong."

Once Mr Nader's name was on absentee ballots, the state government would use the fact to strengthen the case to include it on all ballots across Florida on election day, Mr Maddox claimed.

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[NMDemDist2]

1. Maddox was on Ed Schulz today and said "They are CHEATING"

"I'm not afraid to say that Jeb Bush is using state resources to cheat!"

great interview... www.wegoted.com

[jean]

2. Maddox was on the radio this afternoon saying the R's are cheating

plain and simple. They used RNC lawyers AND Florida State attorneys to plead for Nader - this is beyond the pale.


He said Jeb Bush and crew want to get the ballots printed with Nader on them regardless of the court decision. They figure once the ballots are printed and distributed there's no chance to pull them back.

[Eloriel]

3. Of course they are (and have) and good for him for saying so. n/t

[Gregorian]

4. So does this mean the 2004 election has already started?

And we thought the convolutions of 2000 were intriguing...

[DeepModem Mom]

5. kick

[DoYouEverWonder]

6. I called the FL Sec of State's office yesterday

and told them they might as well cancel the election, since Jeb is going to do whatever he has to, in order to make sure his brother steals the election again.

[DeepModem Mom]

7. Well said, DYEW -- I called, too

n/t