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Doolittle, Delay, Pombo, NorCal Scammer's Trinity Collapses
The far right's political hold on the NorCal voters is disintigrating as additional scandals emerge, tying John Doolittle with former Texas Savings and Loan collapser, Pacific Lumber pension raider Charles Hurwitz..
The right-wing's hold on Northern CA began dissolving as a series of scams emerged linking Pombo, Delay, Doolittle to lobbyist Jack Abramoff, all of whom recieved generous campaign donations form this professional scam artist. However, the layers of deceit go deeper when looking at connections between 4th District Congressional candidate John Doolittle and Maxxam/Pacific Lumber CEO Charles Hurwitz..
Charles Hurwitz is most remembered for his role in the collapse of Texas Savings & Loan. Following the Texas Savings and Loan collapse Micheal Milken, Ivan Boesky and Charles Hurwitz were all recognized as collaboraters in this white collar criminal heist of pensions for junk bonds. Two of the three served time in federal prison for their criminal activity, one Charles Hurwitz remains free and now heads the Maxxam holdling corporation, who took over Kaiser Aluminum and Pacific Lumber during the eighties, then raiding worker's pensions to pay off junk bond debts from previous white collar criminal activities..
We can only wonder what would have happened if John Doolittle would have not interfered with federal banking regulaters (FDIC) who were investigating Maxxam's CEO for his involvement in the Texas S&L collapse that cost taxpayers billions. Would the ecologically destructive clearcutting acts of PL following Maxxam's takeover have ceased if Hurwitz was arrested in joined Milken and Boesky in their federal prison cells??
Here's some background of the Texas S&L collapse involving Hurwitz & Maxxam corporation;
"Junk Bonds, Looted Pensions and Ancient Forests
In October 1985, junk bond king Charles Hurwitz's global corporation MAXXAM took over Pacific Lumber with a $900 million deal that saw the notorious Ivan Boesky pocket $3 million. Boesky later, along with Michael Milken and broker Boyd Jeffries, was convicted and sentenced to two years time in federal prisons. PL's Directors were given hundreds of thousands as a result of their vote for the takeover.
MAXXAM quickly sold off many PL assets - Victor Welding Co. ($300 million); the San Francisco Pacific Lumber building ($35 million); and $55 million of PL's workers' pension funds was looted. The remaining $35 million in the pension fund was transferred to Milken's aptly named Executive Life Insurance, which then went bankrupt. Executive Life had purchased $300 million of PL junk bonds at the time of the takeover. PL's workers and the US Department of Labor sued MAXXAM successfully and got the pension funds restored.
From 1982-1988, Charles Hurwitz was the CEO of United Financial Group, the holding company for the United Savings Association of Texas. During that time the Savings and Loan (S&L) lost over $1.6 billion of depositors' money. The lawsuit that saw Milken plead guilty to mail fraud and other crimes (FDIC vs. Milken) showed that money from the S&L was diverted into the PL takeover. Hurwitz still owes the government $1.2 billion as a result of the collapse of the S&L.
Immediately upon the takeover, PL tripled the rate of logging; liquidating over 100,000 acres. MAXXAM has refinanced PL's debt several times. In 1998, PL collateralized $860 million of debt with Timber Bonds and now owes approximately $735 million -- just $15 million less than it owed in 1985. Which means that despite all the logging, the selling off of assets AND the public's purchase of 7500 acres for the whopping sum of $480 million, the company is worth pretty much the same now as at the time of the takeover."
read on @;
http://www.counterpunch.org/donnelly05142004.html
For ecoactivists following the traditions of Judi Bari, North Coast Earth First! and their allies were responsible for reporting on this info, originally uncovered by two LA Times reporters, though generally ignored by corporate media lackeys. Hurwitz is a great friend of GW BushCo., and is given a coat of immunity by most in the corporate media..
"Reps. John T. Doolittle and Richard W. Pombo joined forces with former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Texas to oppose an investigation by federal banking regulators into the affairs of Houston millionaire Charles Hurwitz, documents recently obtained by The Times show. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. was seeking $300 million from Hurwitz for his role in the collapse of a Texas savings and loan that cost taxpayers $1.6 billion.
The investigation was ultimately dropped.
The effort to help Hurwitz began in 1999 when DeLay wrote a letter to the chairman of the FDIC denouncing the investigation of Hurwitz as a "form of harassment and deceit on the part of government employees." When the FDIC persisted, Doolittle and Pombo — both considered proteges of DeLay — used their power as members of the House Resources Committee to subpoena the agency's confidential records on the case, including details of the evidence FDIC investigators had compiled on Hurwitz."
entire article @;
http://voiceoftheenvironment.org/oldgrowth/article.php?id=742
This prompted NCEF! activist Karen Pickett to write additional articles exposing the multiple levels of corruption that enable white collar corporate criminals to remain in positions of power;
"Because of the PL connection, the savings and loan failure caught the attention of activists, and intrepid citizen investigators uncovered Hurwitz's slimy manipulations for federal banking agencies. It ultimately caught the interest of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the Office of Thrift Supervision, which filed claims against Hurwitz and Maxxam, charging violations including gross negligence and reckless investing. Proposals for settlement at the time included the innovative "Debt for Nature" swap idea, where Hurwitz would make good on the money he owed taxpayers through the transfer of PL assets-forest acreage that would be transferred into public hands. But this wasn't sufficient for Hurwitz and his allies.
DeLay and Pombo came galloping in to rescue their buddy Hurwitz. After scathing letters from DeLay denouncing the investigation, Pombo and California Representative John Doolittle used the HFTF's subpoena power to obtain confidential FDIC documents. The FDIC objected, and it asked the HFTF for assurances that those internal documents would not end up in Hurwitz's hands. But that is exactly what happened when Pombo and Doolittle quietly entered confidential documents into the Federal Register in 2001, shortly after the World Trade Center attacks. That was enough to damage the FDIC's case sufficiently, and the case was dropped in 2002.
But even that's not the end of the story. Hurwitz continued his counter-action against the FDIC, and against long odds, he prevailed last Summer. Judge Lynn Hughes, another right-winger from DeLay/ Bush country with ties to Hurwitz, awarded the corporate raider an incredible $72 million for having to suffer through being investigated, which "dampened Hurwitz's entrepreneurial energies." Part of the tit for tat here, of course, are the contributions Hurwitz made to these clowns. He donated not only to DeLay's campaign fund, but also to DeLay's legal defense when he was called up on money-laundering charges. Hurwitz has also slid money across the table to Pombo and Doolittle."
entire article @;
http://www.earthfirstjournal.org/articles.php?a=890
For people involved in saving the redwoods from Maxxam/PL's relentless chainsaws of clearcutting destruction, we seriously wish for the success of 4th District Democratic candidate Charles Brown, the only reasonable option available in this election year to dethrone the criminal John Doolittle..
"Breaking News – Another FBI Probe of Doolittle
November 3rd, 2006
The Washington Post reports this morning that yet another Federal investigation of John Doolittle is underway.
In a front-page story, the Post details how John Doolittle accepted a $29,400 luxury junket from a group that was acting as a front for the Korean and Malaysian governments. This group also paid Doolittle’s wife $30,000 directly for “book keeping,” a payment that has drawn the scrutiny of FBI investigators. The Justice Department is conducting an on-going investigation of the web of direct payments made to spouses of Members of Congress directed through phony nonprofit groups controlled by convicted briber Jack Abramoff and disgraced Congressman Tom DeLay.
Doolittle is also under investigation for other payments made directly into his personal bank account from front groups controlled by Abramoff and funded by Abramoff’s clients."
read on @;
http://www.charliebrownforcongress.org/index.php
(NOTE- EF! activists and author personally does not believe that Democrats will solve our problems for us either, however the 'lesser evil' option of choosing Democrats like Charles Brown on Nov 7th, 2006, who are often easier to negotiate with and maintain some levels of reasonableness and integrity not found at all within these three individuals discussed above)
Charles Hurwitz is most remembered for his role in the collapse of Texas Savings & Loan. Following the Texas Savings and Loan collapse Micheal Milken, Ivan Boesky and Charles Hurwitz were all recognized as collaboraters in this white collar criminal heist of pensions for junk bonds. Two of the three served time in federal prison for their criminal activity, one Charles Hurwitz remains free and now heads the Maxxam holdling corporation, who took over Kaiser Aluminum and Pacific Lumber during the eighties, then raiding worker's pensions to pay off junk bond debts from previous white collar criminal activities..
We can only wonder what would have happened if John Doolittle would have not interfered with federal banking regulaters (FDIC) who were investigating Maxxam's CEO for his involvement in the Texas S&L collapse that cost taxpayers billions. Would the ecologically destructive clearcutting acts of PL following Maxxam's takeover have ceased if Hurwitz was arrested in joined Milken and Boesky in their federal prison cells??
Here's some background of the Texas S&L collapse involving Hurwitz & Maxxam corporation;
"Junk Bonds, Looted Pensions and Ancient Forests
In October 1985, junk bond king Charles Hurwitz's global corporation MAXXAM took over Pacific Lumber with a $900 million deal that saw the notorious Ivan Boesky pocket $3 million. Boesky later, along with Michael Milken and broker Boyd Jeffries, was convicted and sentenced to two years time in federal prisons. PL's Directors were given hundreds of thousands as a result of their vote for the takeover.
MAXXAM quickly sold off many PL assets - Victor Welding Co. ($300 million); the San Francisco Pacific Lumber building ($35 million); and $55 million of PL's workers' pension funds was looted. The remaining $35 million in the pension fund was transferred to Milken's aptly named Executive Life Insurance, which then went bankrupt. Executive Life had purchased $300 million of PL junk bonds at the time of the takeover. PL's workers and the US Department of Labor sued MAXXAM successfully and got the pension funds restored.
From 1982-1988, Charles Hurwitz was the CEO of United Financial Group, the holding company for the United Savings Association of Texas. During that time the Savings and Loan (S&L) lost over $1.6 billion of depositors' money. The lawsuit that saw Milken plead guilty to mail fraud and other crimes (FDIC vs. Milken) showed that money from the S&L was diverted into the PL takeover. Hurwitz still owes the government $1.2 billion as a result of the collapse of the S&L.
Immediately upon the takeover, PL tripled the rate of logging; liquidating over 100,000 acres. MAXXAM has refinanced PL's debt several times. In 1998, PL collateralized $860 million of debt with Timber Bonds and now owes approximately $735 million -- just $15 million less than it owed in 1985. Which means that despite all the logging, the selling off of assets AND the public's purchase of 7500 acres for the whopping sum of $480 million, the company is worth pretty much the same now as at the time of the takeover."
read on @;
http://www.counterpunch.org/donnelly05142004.html
For ecoactivists following the traditions of Judi Bari, North Coast Earth First! and their allies were responsible for reporting on this info, originally uncovered by two LA Times reporters, though generally ignored by corporate media lackeys. Hurwitz is a great friend of GW BushCo., and is given a coat of immunity by most in the corporate media..
"Reps. John T. Doolittle and Richard W. Pombo joined forces with former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Texas to oppose an investigation by federal banking regulators into the affairs of Houston millionaire Charles Hurwitz, documents recently obtained by The Times show. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. was seeking $300 million from Hurwitz for his role in the collapse of a Texas savings and loan that cost taxpayers $1.6 billion.
The investigation was ultimately dropped.
The effort to help Hurwitz began in 1999 when DeLay wrote a letter to the chairman of the FDIC denouncing the investigation of Hurwitz as a "form of harassment and deceit on the part of government employees." When the FDIC persisted, Doolittle and Pombo — both considered proteges of DeLay — used their power as members of the House Resources Committee to subpoena the agency's confidential records on the case, including details of the evidence FDIC investigators had compiled on Hurwitz."
entire article @;
http://voiceoftheenvironment.org/oldgrowth/article.php?id=742
This prompted NCEF! activist Karen Pickett to write additional articles exposing the multiple levels of corruption that enable white collar corporate criminals to remain in positions of power;
"Because of the PL connection, the savings and loan failure caught the attention of activists, and intrepid citizen investigators uncovered Hurwitz's slimy manipulations for federal banking agencies. It ultimately caught the interest of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the Office of Thrift Supervision, which filed claims against Hurwitz and Maxxam, charging violations including gross negligence and reckless investing. Proposals for settlement at the time included the innovative "Debt for Nature" swap idea, where Hurwitz would make good on the money he owed taxpayers through the transfer of PL assets-forest acreage that would be transferred into public hands. But this wasn't sufficient for Hurwitz and his allies.
DeLay and Pombo came galloping in to rescue their buddy Hurwitz. After scathing letters from DeLay denouncing the investigation, Pombo and California Representative John Doolittle used the HFTF's subpoena power to obtain confidential FDIC documents. The FDIC objected, and it asked the HFTF for assurances that those internal documents would not end up in Hurwitz's hands. But that is exactly what happened when Pombo and Doolittle quietly entered confidential documents into the Federal Register in 2001, shortly after the World Trade Center attacks. That was enough to damage the FDIC's case sufficiently, and the case was dropped in 2002.
But even that's not the end of the story. Hurwitz continued his counter-action against the FDIC, and against long odds, he prevailed last Summer. Judge Lynn Hughes, another right-winger from DeLay/ Bush country with ties to Hurwitz, awarded the corporate raider an incredible $72 million for having to suffer through being investigated, which "dampened Hurwitz's entrepreneurial energies." Part of the tit for tat here, of course, are the contributions Hurwitz made to these clowns. He donated not only to DeLay's campaign fund, but also to DeLay's legal defense when he was called up on money-laundering charges. Hurwitz has also slid money across the table to Pombo and Doolittle."
entire article @;
http://www.earthfirstjournal.org/articles.php?a=890
For people involved in saving the redwoods from Maxxam/PL's relentless chainsaws of clearcutting destruction, we seriously wish for the success of 4th District Democratic candidate Charles Brown, the only reasonable option available in this election year to dethrone the criminal John Doolittle..
"Breaking News – Another FBI Probe of Doolittle
November 3rd, 2006
The Washington Post reports this morning that yet another Federal investigation of John Doolittle is underway.
In a front-page story, the Post details how John Doolittle accepted a $29,400 luxury junket from a group that was acting as a front for the Korean and Malaysian governments. This group also paid Doolittle’s wife $30,000 directly for “book keeping,” a payment that has drawn the scrutiny of FBI investigators. The Justice Department is conducting an on-going investigation of the web of direct payments made to spouses of Members of Congress directed through phony nonprofit groups controlled by convicted briber Jack Abramoff and disgraced Congressman Tom DeLay.
Doolittle is also under investigation for other payments made directly into his personal bank account from front groups controlled by Abramoff and funded by Abramoff’s clients."
read on @;
http://www.charliebrownforcongress.org/index.php
(NOTE- EF! activists and author personally does not believe that Democrats will solve our problems for us either, however the 'lesser evil' option of choosing Democrats like Charles Brown on Nov 7th, 2006, who are often easier to negotiate with and maintain some levels of reasonableness and integrity not found at all within these three individuals discussed above)
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Don't waste your vote on the Democrats!
Vote Green!
Vote Green!
In this election for 4th Congressional seat there is no Green candidate running, only Democrat (Charles Brown) Republican (John Doolittle) and a Libertarian (Dan Warren) who along with C. Brown is also in favor of U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq, though Warren is not likely to win. In this election Charles Brown is most likely to dethrone Doolittle, and is a worthwile vote, especially given the multiple levels of Doolittle's corruption scandals with lobbyists Abramoff, Hurwitz, etc..
My vote from Oroville went to Charles Brown, many Butte Greens in Oroville and 4th district will likely vote for C. Brown..
The 4th Congressional district is also prone to robo-calls that seek to villify C. Brown, seems like the Republicans just can't get enough of their dirty tricks in at the last minute to obfuscate the real issues of Doolittle's scandals..
"Post Covers Robo-Calls in CA-04
The Washington Post has a very good article (”It’s a Candidate Calling. Again.“) on the Republican party’s use of automated phone calls (robo-calls) to bombard potential Democratic households with ads deceptively designed to appear as if they originated from the Democratic candidate. The intent is to so anger the potential voter that he or she either switches to a Republican vote or, more likely, doesn’t bother to vote at all. The article did find a voter in Roseville, though, who isn’t buying it and sounds like she’ll take it out on Congressman John Doolittle
Pamela Lorenz, a retired nurse in Roseville, Calif., called her own experience “harassment as far as I’m concerned” and said, “If I were voting right now, the opponent who’s doing this, he’d be off my list for throwing that much trash.”
Hour after hour and day after day for two weeks, Lorenz’s home has received the same NRCC recorded message attacking Charlie Brown, the Democrat who is challenging Rep. John T. Doolittle (R) in a hard-fought battle in northeastern California. “It is a recorder calling,” Lorenz said. “I can’t call it back to get them to stop.”
"
read on @;
http://www.transparentgrid.com/wordpress/index.php
My vote from Oroville went to Charles Brown, many Butte Greens in Oroville and 4th district will likely vote for C. Brown..
The 4th Congressional district is also prone to robo-calls that seek to villify C. Brown, seems like the Republicans just can't get enough of their dirty tricks in at the last minute to obfuscate the real issues of Doolittle's scandals..
"Post Covers Robo-Calls in CA-04
The Washington Post has a very good article (”It’s a Candidate Calling. Again.“) on the Republican party’s use of automated phone calls (robo-calls) to bombard potential Democratic households with ads deceptively designed to appear as if they originated from the Democratic candidate. The intent is to so anger the potential voter that he or she either switches to a Republican vote or, more likely, doesn’t bother to vote at all. The article did find a voter in Roseville, though, who isn’t buying it and sounds like she’ll take it out on Congressman John Doolittle
Pamela Lorenz, a retired nurse in Roseville, Calif., called her own experience “harassment as far as I’m concerned” and said, “If I were voting right now, the opponent who’s doing this, he’d be off my list for throwing that much trash.”
Hour after hour and day after day for two weeks, Lorenz’s home has received the same NRCC recorded message attacking Charlie Brown, the Democrat who is challenging Rep. John T. Doolittle (R) in a hard-fought battle in northeastern California. “It is a recorder calling,” Lorenz said. “I can’t call it back to get them to stop.”
"
read on @;
http://www.transparentgrid.com/wordpress/index.php
Here's the latest from transparent grid. The misnomer 'spoiler' is more accurately portrayed by the lack of instant run-off voting, that allows for true debate in the electoral process, instead of the duopoly domination by pro-war Democrats & Republicans;
"November 9th, 2006
Libertarian Spoiler in CA-04?
Two weeks ago I wrote that the Libertarian candidate in the CA-04 was polling at 5% despite that only 0.67% of the districts registered voters had called themselves Libertarians. I noted that the CATO Institute had written a report that libertarians were the unaccounted for swing vote in this election cycle and wondered aloud whether these particular voters would stick with the Libertarian or come around to a major party candidate.
Looking at the results in the California 4th, that may have been true. Unfortunately for Charlie Brown, the presence of Dan Warren, a Libertarian, may have prevented his election.
Charles Brown (Dem) 97,088 45.7 %
John T. Doolittle (Rep) 104,456 49.3 %
Dan Warren (Lib) 10,639 5.0 %
Sandy Levinson at Balkinization points out the role of third candidate “spoilers” in races across the country this election:
In Montana, the Libertarian candidate got 2.1% of the vote, far more than the margin between Treaster and Burns. I assume that most of those votes would have gone to Burns had it been a forced choice."
Read on @;
http://www.transparentgrid.com/wordpress/index.php
Other people have received the label spoiler. Green party Candidate for Governor Peter Miguel Camejo was banished from debates when his economic insight caused both Democrat and Republican candidates to flush with embarrassment. Thereafter neither Green not Libertarian candidate were allowed entry to the remaining debates and stood outside with protesters..
Instant runoff voting is the preffered choice in a diverse democracy that allows more than the two dominant parties to dictiate the dialogue. We demand greater public participation in the electoral process, and manifested in the form of instant runoff voting!!
"Instant Runoff Voting Overview
Instant runoff voting allows for better voter choice and wider voter participation by accommodating multiple candidates in single seat races and assuring that a "spoiler"-effect will not result in undemocratic outcomes. Instant runoff voting allows all voters to vote for their favorite candidate without fear of helping elect their least favorite candidate, and it ensures that the winner enjoys true support from a majority of the voters. Plurality voting, used in most American elections, does not meet these basic requirements for a fair election system that promotes wide participation, and traditional runoff elections are costly to the taxpayer and often suffer from low voter turnout.
Instant runoff voting is a winner-take-all system that ensures that a winning candidate will receive a majority of votes rather than a simple plurality. In plurality voting -- as used in most U.S. elections -- candidates can win with less than a majority when there are more than two candidates running for the office. In contrast, IRV elects a majority candidate while still allowing voters to support a candidate who is not a front-runner. IRV is a sensible method in single winner elections.
IRV allows voters to rank candidates as their first choice, second choice, third, fourth and so on. If a candidate does not receive a clear majority of votes on the first count, a series of runoff counts are conducted, using each voter’s top choice indicated on the ballot. The candidate who received the fewest first place ballots is eliminated. All ballots are then retabulated, with each ballot counting as one vote for each voter's favorite candidate who is still in contention. Voters who chose the now-eliminated candidate have to support their second choice candidate -- just as if they were voting in a traditional two-round runoff election -- but all other voters get to continue supporting their top candidate. This process continues until a candidate receives a majority. (~ source: Center for Voting and Democracy)"
read on @;
http://www.democracyinaction.com/dia/organizations/Greens/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=161
Since John Doolittle returns to office in the 4th district, the investigations into scandals with Abramoff, Hurwitz and other corporate lobbyists will continue..
"In key aspects, the Hurwitz case follows the pattern of the Abramoff scandal: members of Congress using their offices to do favors for a politically well-connected individual who, in turn, supplies them with campaign funds. Although Washington politicians frequently try to help important constituents and contributors, it is unusual for members of Congress to take direct steps to stymie an ongoing investigation by an agency such as the FDIC.
<-->
Interestingly, a Jail Hurwitz! launched by an Earth First! outfit in Garberville charged Pombo and Doolittle with that crime...back in 2001, when the Congressmen sabotaged the FDIC investigation by revealing the agency's confidential records."
read on @;
http://achangeinthewind.typepad.com/achangeinthewind/2006/01/pombo_on_the_de.html
"November 9th, 2006
Libertarian Spoiler in CA-04?
Two weeks ago I wrote that the Libertarian candidate in the CA-04 was polling at 5% despite that only 0.67% of the districts registered voters had called themselves Libertarians. I noted that the CATO Institute had written a report that libertarians were the unaccounted for swing vote in this election cycle and wondered aloud whether these particular voters would stick with the Libertarian or come around to a major party candidate.
Looking at the results in the California 4th, that may have been true. Unfortunately for Charlie Brown, the presence of Dan Warren, a Libertarian, may have prevented his election.
Charles Brown (Dem) 97,088 45.7 %
John T. Doolittle (Rep) 104,456 49.3 %
Dan Warren (Lib) 10,639 5.0 %
Sandy Levinson at Balkinization points out the role of third candidate “spoilers” in races across the country this election:
In Montana, the Libertarian candidate got 2.1% of the vote, far more than the margin between Treaster and Burns. I assume that most of those votes would have gone to Burns had it been a forced choice."
Read on @;
http://www.transparentgrid.com/wordpress/index.php
Other people have received the label spoiler. Green party Candidate for Governor Peter Miguel Camejo was banished from debates when his economic insight caused both Democrat and Republican candidates to flush with embarrassment. Thereafter neither Green not Libertarian candidate were allowed entry to the remaining debates and stood outside with protesters..
Instant runoff voting is the preffered choice in a diverse democracy that allows more than the two dominant parties to dictiate the dialogue. We demand greater public participation in the electoral process, and manifested in the form of instant runoff voting!!
"Instant Runoff Voting Overview
Instant runoff voting allows for better voter choice and wider voter participation by accommodating multiple candidates in single seat races and assuring that a "spoiler"-effect will not result in undemocratic outcomes. Instant runoff voting allows all voters to vote for their favorite candidate without fear of helping elect their least favorite candidate, and it ensures that the winner enjoys true support from a majority of the voters. Plurality voting, used in most American elections, does not meet these basic requirements for a fair election system that promotes wide participation, and traditional runoff elections are costly to the taxpayer and often suffer from low voter turnout.
Instant runoff voting is a winner-take-all system that ensures that a winning candidate will receive a majority of votes rather than a simple plurality. In plurality voting -- as used in most U.S. elections -- candidates can win with less than a majority when there are more than two candidates running for the office. In contrast, IRV elects a majority candidate while still allowing voters to support a candidate who is not a front-runner. IRV is a sensible method in single winner elections.
IRV allows voters to rank candidates as their first choice, second choice, third, fourth and so on. If a candidate does not receive a clear majority of votes on the first count, a series of runoff counts are conducted, using each voter’s top choice indicated on the ballot. The candidate who received the fewest first place ballots is eliminated. All ballots are then retabulated, with each ballot counting as one vote for each voter's favorite candidate who is still in contention. Voters who chose the now-eliminated candidate have to support their second choice candidate -- just as if they were voting in a traditional two-round runoff election -- but all other voters get to continue supporting their top candidate. This process continues until a candidate receives a majority. (~ source: Center for Voting and Democracy)"
read on @;
http://www.democracyinaction.com/dia/organizations/Greens/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=161
Since John Doolittle returns to office in the 4th district, the investigations into scandals with Abramoff, Hurwitz and other corporate lobbyists will continue..
"In key aspects, the Hurwitz case follows the pattern of the Abramoff scandal: members of Congress using their offices to do favors for a politically well-connected individual who, in turn, supplies them with campaign funds. Although Washington politicians frequently try to help important constituents and contributors, it is unusual for members of Congress to take direct steps to stymie an ongoing investigation by an agency such as the FDIC.
<-->
Interestingly, a Jail Hurwitz! launched by an Earth First! outfit in Garberville charged Pombo and Doolittle with that crime...back in 2001, when the Congressmen sabotaged the FDIC investigation by revealing the agency's confidential records."
read on @;
http://achangeinthewind.typepad.com/achangeinthewind/2006/01/pombo_on_the_de.html
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