People actually think there's a difference between the Republicans and the "old USSR?" So sad, yet so funny at the same time.

Hey mb….

Did you know the USSR was for gun control, high taxes, big government, a multitude of socialized programs, radical change, etc. Wait a minute….that is the exact platform the Democrats are running on. Isn't that funny. the old USSR and the democratic party is in bed together. Let me guess, you are an Obama fan? I can gaurantee you that you can not name 3…2…that you can not name 1 thing he has accomplish. You follow like a sheep. He has not been specific about any "ideas" (he got from USSR and WWII Italy) In all of his speeches he only said the word change ( Does that mean I could make a good candidate if I write a speech and put in "Change" 50 times and "Move forward" 25 times? I better start campaigning right now. Bandwagoner

I gave over 20 years defending freedoms and the right to vote, and to have all votes counted. There are many more like me, some who gave their very lifes while defending these same freedoms and rights. Those who take it upon themselves to decide that even a single vote does not matter and stops counting should not be practicing politics under our constitutional law. If Esser was so certain of a McCain vistory, he should have simply kept counting to prove his point. Huckabee may have been cheated politically (that's politics, suck it up) however, approximately 1500 voters (American Citizens) were cheated by their trusted public servant. McCain and Huckabee should stand together, with the people of Washington state and demand that every vote be counted and Esser be canned. The GOP should jump on this band wagon to save the peoples vote if for no other reason than to save face.

to obvious:
They do vote in Russia, google it and find out how you are obviously wrong.

Two words. West Virginia.

If you're just going to rally behind the eventual nominee, why do you bother supporting anybody? They didn't share your beliefs at the beginning of the race but all of a sudden they do now?

Boy as a true Democrate for all of my voting life, this party going on in Washington State over not counting the votes is music to my ears! Ted Olson, bring your lawyers to Washington for Huck, what? you wont do that? So you think the Dems nomination will be decided by lawyers and court action to split the party, but guess what Ted, its happening in your back yard, get a taste of Florida! This is what Obamba needs in November to beat the sleezy evil republicans. I hope to see a campaign commerical reminding independant voters how sleezy the Repubs are and vote Democrate in November!

I couldn't wait to get up Sunday morning to see if Huckabee beat McCain in the Washington Caucus. I was almost certain Huckabee was going to sweep McCain I still hope he does. Only to turn my television on and find out the vote count was stuck on 87% and McCain was called the winner I was furious. I hope the lawyers stick it to whoever was responsible and held accountable. We need more politicians like Huckabee.

Florida Ohio, Ohio Florida, that's all you can think to say? Where are the lawsuits to back up your proof that the election was stolen? Where is the hard evidence. Here we have a man who decided to call off the count (according to the news) and you say Huckabee deserved it. What a bunch of idiots. Most of you shouldn't have the right to vote, and the way you think we won't have it for long. There isn't a glue strong enough to save this Republic. We sound like a third world nation waiting for the next dictator to overthrow the government. Don't worry about the world hating us, they are laughing to hard to care.

How wierd is this I watch Fox and they continue to push for Obama and push for Huckabee to give up. Yet in some strange twist of events CNN actually gives Huckabee a christian conservative republican a fair chance to speak up for himselves, in fact giving him more fair and ballanced reporting then Fox oooh its like stepping into the twigh lights zone. So since its clear that the pundits are trying their best to influence this election does this mean that Conservative leaning Fox feels that it would be easier for them to win if it were Mccain agianst Obama, and Left leaning CNN feels that they would have a better chance if it were Hillary versus a Huckabee. Does this mean that Fox feels its easier for them to win if they are competing against a Black guy, While CNN feels they would have a better chance at beating a Christian. Reading in between the lines of the messages both networks are telling is getting more and more disturbing.

"That leaves, McCain and Huckabee.

The old guy and the preacher.

Which brings up the philosophical question: Which one is closer to God?" –Jay Leno.

I loved it. (…for those religious nuts, aka, conervatives)

uhh, there was no voting in the soviet union, huckabeast

You people don't realize that caucuses are ways the politicians have invented

to nominate whom they choose, whether or not the winner is popular with

the voters. In some states, just 2,000 people decide whom gets the party's

nomination! Washington has a governor who won her office by just 200 votes…

many of them felons, dead people, or illegal aliens! WAKE UP AMERICA…

DEMOCRACY IS DYING UNDER OUR VERY NOSES.

Yea for "MIKE" I love the fact that you believe in "Miracles" So Do I.
The Lord watches everything. He loves everyone, Yes, I hope & Pray
for you, Keep on "Fighting & Believing" God Bless U.

obvious February 11, 2008 1:43 pm ET

there was no voting in the soviet union, huckabee. learn you friggin history. it's a communist country, not a democracy."

You are the one to learn some history. It was voting, but it was unanimous .. a la Obama's caucuses..

Throwing out vote??!! What possessed Esser to think this was okay? Since when does one man get to say that 1,500 peoples votes aren't worth counting? Sounds like Mr Esser is either afraid to count all the votes because he knows there is a valid chance McCain won't get them or he has totally over stepped his bounds as a Chairman people can trust with their votes. Either way he needs to be replaced. NOW!

So what does the republican party plan on doing? Just not counting the rest of the votes in Washington? I am not a republican but this absolutely deplorable. They called this race with 13% of the vote yet to be counted and McCain up by only a thousand or so votes. He had been trailing before. It's like they decided to wait until he was in the lead and then just stop counting.

Several here have made the claim that this is the same as the 2000 Presidential election where the vote was stopped. I would like to remind you of something. Gore payed lip service to counting all the votes, then filed suit to have only three of the six precincts recounted and challenged the votes of American soldiers in a war zone. Anyone claiming that the vote counting was stopped by the Supreme Court (which was liberal, not Republican) is practicing hypocrisy. Gore didn't intend to count all the votes or his legal challenge would have included the three more conservative precincts as well.

What was supremely rich was that, according to Paul Krugman (someone on the left), the New York Times editor that was involved in the after election multi-paper recount, Gore needed all six to win. There was one little caveate to this. You would have had to count chads in undervotes that you would have to ignore in the overvotes, and that with the most liberal of interpretations. They would not have survived any real challenge regarding fairness. Al Gore lost, even according to Paul Krugman. Gore lost because of undervotes and overvotes and Al Gore lost because he did not seek to count ALL the votes. His challenge was confined to the three more liberal precincts, which did not put him over the top. The Supreme Court was right to stop the unfair recounting only in certain precincts, but it gave the conspiracy believing left ammo when the conspiracy believing left dishonestly ignore the fact that Al Gore gave lip service to counting all votes but did not seek to count all the votes. What would the Supreme Court have done if he had sought to count all the votes?

Al Gore lost. He lost in all counts and recounts. He messed himself over by not seeking to count all votes. That was his only shot. Then it would have come down to ballot challenges. Al Gore lost on ballots that that Florida voters couldn't understand but fourth graders could. Al Gore lost when certain Florida voters did not properly go get new ballots when they made a mistake. Don't blame the supreme court. Blame Al Gore and his supposed Florida voters.

If the Florida voters had voted in Seattle, Gore would have won with more votes than residents, living or dead.

Only 242 votes behind with over 1500 left to count! Come on! It is clear to even a preschooler that Huckabee could be the vinner of Washington State! Washington State is disenfranchising and insulting the intelligence of their voters and the rest of this country by prematurely calling this race! This disgraceful conduct is not convincing Americans that their government can be trusted! COUNT THESE VOTES!!!
Trish
Indiana

That is disturbing. Moves like that is what discourages voters from casting their ballots. Every voter deserves to have their vote counted. Especially when it wasn't a landslide.

News flash for Romney supporters: Your candidate bowed out. At no time was he less convincing than when he declared he was withdrawing because he didn't want the US to surrender to Al Qaeda. If Mike Huckabee had had all that money and all that positive attention by the press (especially in the debates), he would have had 1191 delegates by now. Romney may have known how to make money in private life, but why anyone would have ever supported him is a mystery to me.

In fact, anybody can call anything they like before the count is completed.
You just have to take the responsibility of what you have called for.

For all of you democrats jumping on the bandwagon, let me point out three things. First, Hilary is calling for Michigan and Florida to be counted although she previously agreed with the democratic party and other candidates that they would not be counted. Second, it was not the republicans who challenged the Florida count in 2000, it was Mr. Gore. And not only did he challenge it, but (1) he sought to not count the votes being mailed from overseas knowing full well they would go strongly in favor of Bush, and (2) he only sought a recount in the heavy democrat counties, figuring the odds of missed ballots would be greater in those jurisdictions, rather than across the entire state. Finally, this is not uncommon. How many times have you seen races called with there is only 30% of a vote in and the spread is only 4-5% between the candidates. It happens all of the time. So please, be honest.

Huckabee is absolutely right!!!!! All of us voters should be screaming at what has happened here. It IS undemocratic to say the least. Who knows, in what other States has this and other voting irregularities been taking place. If we believe we are a free Nation, and that OUR VOTE actually COUNTS, let them look into this. To not to do so, would mean this country definitely HAS LOST ITS WAY

Tim wrote: You are comlpete fools!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Clearly.

Nick, Philadelphia PA February 11, 2008 12:47 pm ET
The Marxist establishment is being resurrected in the Obama campaign. His calls for "change" and "sacrifice" eerily echo the brutal Soviet and Chinese regimes.

Yeah…Stalin, Mao, Obama…..What's the weather like in over in the Fruitcake Dimension buddy?
But if it's broke, why fix it…."

Agree. But Americans do not know history so its easy to fool them with empty discourses.

The Soviet Union??

I didn't know Huckabee had a foreign policy agenda.

Chelsea, Columbia Falls, MT You have no proof of that…He would be out by now if he only stayed in to keep Romney out.

I WRITE A LOT OF GOOD STUFF AND YOU NEVER PUBLISH IT. SHAME ON CNN

Republicans sure whine a lot when when then tables are reversed. Maybe they just want to start another war , maybe because their candidates were so horrible this election time. At least they dropped out like flys very quickly. My cold heart goes out for them, corruption can only can last for so long. Next time pray harder. Huckleberry can stuff his pom-poms back were they came from now. ( in the wide stance area)

Thank god for Clinton and Obama

I find it interesting how half the people here are attacking the candidate and not the principle.

Not counting votes and declaring a winner is ridiculous. What makes America great is because everyone has, or should have, a chance to speak their mind. What's happening in Kenya and in places in the Middle East is because of fraud elections.

Huckabee is standing up for what is right. Yes, the 2000 election was a big controversy and this one is probably minute, but it was just as important that Gore stepped up for a recount in Florida as in any election, big or small. I'm sick of people criticizing candidates for the party they hold…grow up! These candidates all have different views and it only makes it worse when we cannot respect other people and their opinions. This country cannot survive as long as people are butting heads and attacking people personally.

If something is wrong, you do what you can to make it right.
Thanks Huckabee!

I see that the corrupt, lying, vote rigging Republicans are at it once again! Luke Esser is beyond arrogance, just who does he think is? This man should be held accountable to American citizens for his brash, illegal ( or it should be) action. To me, it is nothing short of vote tampering. I am not A Huckabee fan, nor would I ever again vote for a Republican, but all votes need to be counted. No election should be called by a single individual's whim, and I would really like to see the media stop predicting winners. All votes need to be counted and the elections themselves need to play out to the very end without interference from anyone or any political party.

I realize I am a Canadian and my view is not of consequence but I'm really shocked at the comments here!
Apparently, some feel because this took place 7years plus ago between Bush and Gore it should be just old hat if it happens again to a Republican as that evens the scale !

Fact is from where I'm sitting – wrong and corrupt is still the same regardless of what year, who is running, what party they belong to, or what name they have!

Give me a break!…Pundits call the projected winners all the time…I would like to see Mr. Huckabee's so called outrage directed at real honest-to-God issues like: The Economy, Iraq…How about some outrage at how the residing 'President' is the only one in the history of this country to be appointed by the Supreme Court -and the quagmire that has since ensued…I can think of all kinds of stuff that merits his 'outrage'.

Daniel F., who stated: :Why do conservatives have to be so extreme and senseless in their comments? Why do they always have to be so angry?" Because they're the ones, while they yell a lot about "freedom" are the ones who really want to take it away from the rest of us. This little bit of vote tampering a la the Stalin regime got a little too close for comfort for Huck.

This is for Jody Jones . . . Why would you want to vote for a president (Mitt Romney) who believes the Garden of Eden is in Independence, MO? I mean come on . . . you want a president who actually believes that??? You must be as ill informed as he is. You can look that up too. . . that's their belief . . . yep, that the Garden of Eden is in Independence, MO. No wonder they want Church and State separated; they want no one to know the depth of their delusions. (It was on a documentary that I watched . . . or you can look it up or perhaps you believe that also.) well you keep right on believing that . . .

Lynda we are NOT a democracy, thank God for that too, we NEVER have been a Democracy nor, hopefully will we ever be one! We are a Republic, as planned by our founding fathers, for a very good reason the mob mentality would otherwise drive us to some very bad directions. We see it now after the 6 years of the "rubber stamp" Congress and the rush to war against any reasoned odds (remember if you did not support ther Iraq war you were labelled a TRAITOR by our own Government). So please, while I feel it is improper to not count the votes in the system you have, realize what our country is based on and stop crying about a lost democracy. I urge you and others to read your constitution and see what were REALLY stand for and do not trust the stories you have been fed your whole life! I spent 21 years in the military (US Navy) to keep America safe FROM Democracy and do not want to see that effort wasted.

Huckabee is just whinning to get more TV coverage. He must be a "filler" for all of cable News. The last time I saw the count on Washington, Paul had 21 % an Romney had 16%. What happened to those votes?? Maybe Romney should have given his to Paul, after what McCain an Huckabee did to him in WV. My guess Huckabee is staying in long enough to get more delegates then Romney, then declare himself the best person for the VP slot.

I don't get it–Huckabee wins all/most of the counties according to CNN's county results, but McCain wins the state? The bad thing is that even if McCain did win fair and square, all the irregularities taint his victory. The party did McCain no favors, and I'm inclined to believe Gov. Huckabee probably did win the state pretty handily if your county level results are correct.

We should be outraged. My man Huck deserves to be heard.

Mr Esser should be ashamed and resign. The US preaches and forces democracy on the world yet doesn't practice it themselves. Perhaps voter turnout is low because people don't want to waste time voting when their vote isn't counted and a single person decides who wins. Perhaps Mr Esser couldn't count high enough to count the other 1500 votes.

All WA voters should be ashamed at this.

If Huckabee becomes president (very unlikely) we can then compare him to British rule back in America's early days. Huckabee wants to change the Consitution to reflect HIS religious preferences. This country was based on freedom from religion and Huckabee has his greedy fangs ready to sink into our most sacred documents and rule of law.

Buck-up Hucakbee. Nobody likes a winer.

FOR THE GOOD OF THE PARTY??????? Let the People of the United States of American VOTE…. It is starting to look like Florida Chads, The Republicn Party does not need the news trash, (good for the party) sounded pretty for Rommey, what makes you think if he hadn't run for office that Huckabee would have gotten and won some of his states? CNN let us voice, you have been against Mike Huckabee from the start, you jumped to McCain only after Rommey bailed out. he could have finish, just spending to much of his own money. Wolf, let the people VOTE> Vicki

To sophia nyc,

Hi, if you were referring to Mike Huckabee's reference to the "Soviet Union," I don't think you should worry about anyone being offended. The Soviet Union doesn't exist anymore. It broke up in the 1990s into the nations of Russia, Belarus, and others.

well said heather brewer!!!! everyone should be outraged as americans!!! it's time to expose all of the dishonesty that is involved in election results! i have a feeling this is been going on for awhile………………we need to not accept it as "dirty politics" as usual!

Esser apparently forgot he's only supposed to throw out votes for the Democrat.

This is to most of the announcers during the primaries and caucasas , that you tend to interupt , give your projectiions from exit polls etyc.

I see you have found a way to give projections (exit polls) even though you have been asked not to project the out comes. I was watching the results the day that the Presidents speech was coming up . Wolf interupted an analyst that was giving some good information to us, to show us the President getting into his car.There were several people watching your program and everyone thought this was rude and who in the hell wants to or cares that he is getting inyo his car anyway.

It seems to me and people I have talked to, that the most important thing to your program is that you are first to project a winner.We like to view the returns on our own , as it is more exciting and fun between friends.I am also tired of a show host asking an analyst a question and then interrupting them in the middle of a sentence. I feel this very rude and shows the incompetenceof the host.

The friends i am referng to are between the ages of 31-72. We have decided that we will find another channel to watch the returns.We are getting real tired of egotistical show hosts.
Goodbye CNN except for Lou Dobbs

I completely agree with Mike Huckabee that every LAST vote should be counted. Votes not being counted is what got George Bush into office for two terms and with him being president for that two terms he really has gotten our country into a really big mess. The worst mistake our country made was not counting votes but just saying Bush got the majority in the last election in some of the states. If votes are actually counted and get the right person (which by the way is a Democrat) in office as president a lot of changes would be made and our nation wouldn't be in or nearing a recession. Also a lot of our military personnel would be alive instead of dead. The war needs to be ended and a Republican WILL NOT DO THAT.

Welcome to Ron Paul's life. No media attention, blacklisted from polls and debates, and generally pooped on. Get used to it Huck! the mainstream doesn't want you or Dr. Paul! Accept it!!!!

Gov. Huckabee doesn't go far enough when he says that all Republicans should be outraged that the result was called before all the votes were counted; he should have said that all Americans should be outraged. One man, one vote is THE most fundamental right we share in our Constitutional democracy. We all need to demand in every instance that every vote be counted, regardless of who's ahead by how much and when.

I really, really, really wouldn't want Huckabee to the next president. However, he is absolutely right that ever vote should be counted. It makes NO SENSE at all that they wouldn't just count them all. Crazy.

This kind of "hype/reactionary" reporting shouldn't have happened. Huckabee needs to quit being a little girl and the media needs to do a better job of getting facts correctly to the public so "paranoia" news doesn't become internet fodder.

It is high time that all officials are elected by popular vote using standardized "absentee ballots" with every single vote counted, regardless of how long this takes. The delegate system must be abolished. Our present system is ridiculous.

Um, I'd like to believe that my vote counts. I think that's why people do not come out to vote, because they seem to think that their vote means nothing. Well, when you see votes being thrown out, as we have seen within the last decade, it does shift this democracy, into a less of a democratic country.

So, about, 1500 people's votes did not count. They took the time to make up their minds, and come out and vote. So, not counting them, IS a BIG slap in the face. All votes should count, regardless of what predictions say.

It's called Karma. Now he knows how Bush got elected. Recount? Please.

The media has tried to kill Huckabee's campaign at every turn. Huck was polling very well about 2 weeks before Super Tuesday. So the media tried to tell everyone it was a 2 man race. They were short sighted and took none of the south into consideration. Im 100% sure that that tactic did cost him Missouri and probably Oklahoma. How different would this thing be if the media and the far right reported the truth? Missouri alone would have been a 116 delefate swing. For all of you Romney people out there your plan backfired badly. We would probaly still have a 3 way race had the reporting been truthful and fair. These votes need to be counted.

Also, this thing is not over. The convention WILL be brokered. Huck only needs 57% of the delegates for that to happen. He will still win Texas, Mississippi and North Carolina. If he takes Virginia it is almost surely a brokered convention.

So, you McCain haters and Roney supporters need to vote Huckabee if you do not want McCain to get the nod. Look at the numbers and do soome research and you will see the same thing.

I am becoming more uncomfortable the way our political system seems to be unfolding this year..first delegates may decide the candidate over the people's will and the delegates are not be required to vote i(pledge) n the peoples voice, and now an election is called before ALL votes are counted? What is going on in America..is this what they call the Greeing of America? Corporate rules over the citizen? Certainly this is not the inital intent of our system…

Practically every day there is something else that arises that point out how unfair this country is getting toward its citizens. To call a race early when there are votes yet to be counted is nothing but wrong.The party that made this decision should be jailed.

I just check Fox Noise and this story is not even on the top page, not even in small print. that shows me all i need to know. When Huck is right, the republicans want to kill his momentum, that's why fox wont give this air time. Thanks CNN for being fair and ballanced….. Ooopps. I mean the most trusted name in news.

Just a thought, if this was November, and this was Florida, wouldn't the press be yelling foul? What happened to every vote counts? I just came from a Huckabee Rally in Virginia Beach. The crowd voiced it's displeasure with Washington's vote counting or lack of counting. He needs to stay in this race, he is the voice of reason, the voice of the true conservative, he has my vote tomorrow, and my vote will mean something. There is no such thing as a wasted vote, and shame on the press for insinuating that there is.

Huck – you should consider changing your party affiliation and running independant. A lot of people would support your agenda and you could make the Republicans lose the election as a spoiler. This would teach the Republican party to handle things democratically.

Huckabee 2008 on the Independance Ticket

Welcome to the world we Ron Paul supporters have been living in ever since New Hampshire.

It does ring a little hollow to us, however, when Huckabee says "all Republicans should be outraged." He has not been outraged until the vote didn't go his way.

Huck is Right! I'm a resident of Washinton and this is not the first time the Republicans in this state have trided to rip off an election. remember the Gov race? If I could I'd vote Huck just to screw the party. Besides, he is the only nice person still running.

Hey huck. what do you expect freom the low life republicans? think florida, ohio. supreme court.

Funny that Huckabee wonders about vote counting and questions how it's done. Does he not remember the presidential election of 2000 or does it just depend upon who is involved?

This guy is such a hypocrite and scary to boot!

I wasn't aware that there was a lot of voting going on in the former Soviet Union.

Thanks Mike!

YES…actually it is somewhat like the Soviet days…the ruling party controlled everything, irregardless of the peoples wishes…somewhat like the (Super deligates) that we have…doesn't matter what the people say or how thay vote, these SD step in and nominate the candidate of their choice….after all, the "People" don't know what is best for them….yeah !!!! just like the Soviet Union…

I agree with Huckabee, to tell him to drop out, is like the communist party way of doing things.
Because of this, My vote will go to Huckabee when our turn here in Ohio comes around. We will show that dishonesty is not tolerated in USA elections.

Let's Go Huckabee!

Alabama's Primary was open until 7 pm. At 5:00, news agencies projected Huckabee the winner. Whether right or wrong, I chose not to vote when I saw the projected results.

How much money do you think Huckabee has made from religion?

Hucka-wannabe,

Just go away please! You're irrelevant, and have out-lived your 5 seconds of fame. You're not going to win… period.

Why don't you just go back to pushing for higher taxes and more spending (oh, and bashing mormons). You're despicable

At least if Huckabee were to win, the United States would not become the United Socialist States of America.

On the other hand, if Hillary were to win, we would be in HUGE trouble!! Then again, at least we would no longer need to worry about elections after she's installed as our dictator.

When the court's decision is to his benefit, like in the 2000 election when the Supreme Court decided Bush was the winner, Huckabee was all for it.
Now that the court's decision goes against him, he yells 'unfair'.
What a hypocrite.

The fact that we, the American public, allows this type thing to go on, says a lot… Back in the day we would have raised hell-now we sit on our hands and accept these things. WE NEED TO STAND UP & NOT ACCEPT a lot of things, in particular anyone messing with the counting of our votes-one of the few things we have left. I don't know about you, but I want to know now more than ever who really won Washington state. Let's get those 1500 votes counted ASAP! And by the way, Huckabee was my Governor, and he did a very good job. He did a lot for our state & he never embarrased the people of Arkansas like some past Arkansas Governors…..

I absolutely agree that to declare a winner before the votes are counted is outrageous and totally un-American. It shows wishful thinking by the people in charge, which as far as I am concerned, disqualifies them from positions of responsibility. If this is not dealt with rapidly and properly, America is no longer America. Then patriots will have to step forward,and shed a little blood to renew the tree of liberty.

He is losing so he is mad! This is what Romney had to deal with… can't this guy get the message!!!

You reap what you sow…

Let's keep moving to the right and make Joe proud…. Stalin that is.

Surprise surprise. First the republicans stole elections from the democrats gore/ kerry. Now they're stealing it from each other. Way to go….sounds like family values to me.

there was no voting in the soviet union, huckabee. learn you friggin history. it's a communist country, not a democracy.

McCain had better step up to the "do what is right" platform here and make the state count out every last ballot in these caucauses. If he cannot promote a fair and complete election, then he will lose my vote in tomorrow's Maryland primary, and in the general election.

More Mike Huckabee please. He is so exciting & inspiring to listen to without the yelling. John McCain is boring & same-old Washington bureucracy. If Mike has a platform, he can win! We could have a brokered convention & right now, many would welcome it! I'm sick of seeing Obama & Hillary whine & complain with no new ideas. That's nothing new. We have that in Washington now. Nothing will get done because the people don't have a voice. Mike is the real deal.

Is he joking, or does he actually think Republicans shouldn't commit voter fraud against other Republicans? Why all the outrage? Does he still think he's a good guy? Too late, Darth. You turned to the dark side long ago.

Sounds a lot like the early call by the Supreme Court in Florida in 2000.

as a democrat, i am extremely disappointed by the number of my fellow democrats who have

Joe? Joe Lieberman? Is that really you? You don't have to go by "Bob" Joe, we know who you are.

You are what is known as a concern troll. You also fail to grasp the irony of situation.

Are you rady to "get over" the Bush Administration or do you just want four more year of the same?

The results of this count mean absolutly nothing. NOTHING AT ALL. It doesnt matter who wins this. It comes down to how many delegates each candidate have during the state convention. Huckabee could have 20 percent of the vote and McCain with 40%. If McCain didnt get this retarded supports as delegates then Huckabee would win. The kicer is, is that Ron Paul's supporters know how this works and they are own the majority of the delegates. Any monkey can write a name down. The people who do their research are those that make a difference in this sort of election process. Why do you think McCain wins the primaries? Maybe its because they are moron and all they know how to do is push a freakin button.

I'n not for either Huckabee or McCain, but was still very surprised when I saw McCain declared the winner on CNN TV with only 87% of the votes counted and only a couple hundred votes differece. I couldn't believe that CNN accepted it and that no one else questioned the declaration besides Huckabee's campaign.

The fact that they refuse to count the 1500 votes is a clear sign that they do not want Huckabee going into tomorrows race with a significant push. Anyone could take 2 hrs and count them, but I guarantee that right after the voting tomorrow, they will decide to count the votes. Its not so much that Huckabee would sweep Saturday, its more that McCain would get ZERO, and zero sticks in peoples minds a lot more.

It was perfectly fine in the 2000 election and I don't remember Mike Huckabee or any Republican complaining about it. Unfortunately, that's the precedent that was set by that sham of a fair election back then, where any state official can determine which votes will be counted and which won't. You are correct Mr Huckabee, every vote counts and every vote should be counted, however, you have only your party to blame for the shift to more Soviet Union like election procedures.

I agree with "Scott". Huck will not be the party nominee. Someone on CNN remarked the other night that Hickabee will not drop out of the primaries/caucuses because he wants to show up at the Republican convention with more delegates than the "rich guy". He does dislike Mitt Romney so much.
Mitt Romney will get my vote in the Texas primary, not McCain nor Huckabee. Thank you

It's about time SOMEONE in the Republican party called it like it is.
This country is not free.
The media has ALREADY decided for the American people who will be allowed to run, and who will be allowed to win.
The traitorous media did everything it could to deny us the entire field of candidates- especially the ones that were WORTH VOTING FOR- Dennis Kucinich was essentially silenced and made invisible by the media. currently, Mike Gravel is ALSO treated like he does not exits. WHY? Because they are an anti-Bush candidates, who stand for EVERYTHING that this nation needs.
Now they are undoing the rest of the candidates that stand in their way to their chosen candidates- the war-mongers. Uninterrupted money for the military and oil corporations. That is their aim.

Go Hillary!!! When Hillary becomes president there are a lot of people going to be big time upset. I wonder what Rush Lumbagh or whatever his name is will do. Go back to his pain pills I would imagine.

What ever happened to the New Hampshire re-count? Wasn't Florida stopped by the courts?

What is going on in our democracy?!! Why wouldn't they count American's votes!!??

I'm a democrat, but still people, FAIR IS FAIR.

This is an outrage!

Huckabee's a fine one to talk after some of the tricks he and McCain pulled against Romney. Don't have to ask him how it feels. Is he really surprised – what goes around comes around.

We will have to rally behind McCain no matter what our first choice. Romney said it when he stepped down. We must strengthen our party to beat the Democrats in November.

God Bless you Romney… and thank you for showing love for our country and keeping our best interests at heart. You didn't 'lose' … you proved your integrity and honor.

Mitt Romney for Vice President!! : ) We can hope, right?

I don't like huckabee at all but they definitely should have finished the count.

Interesting that the Republicans can't even hold a fair election amongst themselves!

Anyone wanting to understand the full depth of the voter fraud in the last two general elections should read 'Armed Madhouse' by Greg Palast. An absolutely incredible book.

What is this McCain has election locked up ?
What if (heaven forbid) he is not here in November or January ?

What a baby! This is politics. When McCain and Huckabee conspired to prevent Romney from winning in West Virginia it was all fair, but this is un-fair. This was a caucus not a primary. The count was just a straw vote. Huckabee, your not worthy. What a joke of a candidate!

pour more fuel on the fire, why do they think theycan't win unless they cheat

Kinda hurts when repukes are on the other end of it, hey Huck? He was the governor of my state (but not MY governor) for ten long years. Like George Bush, I thought he would never leave. He was a horrible governor and would make a worse president. He is a money grubbing, spineless, thin-skinned preacher in devil's clothes. Take my word for it…..you better beware. If you think G.W. Bushie is bad…….wait 'til you see this one in action….just as dumb and a lot more greedy. He was constantly having to go before the ethics commission to explain gifts received and money spent. He pardoned more criminals than all of the governors of the surrounding states combined…..one pardon resulted in a murder in Missouri. You get what you vote for…..the present administration is proof of that.

This nation is leaning more and more toward Communism. Where is our democracy?

Huckabee compared the declaration of victory to the old Soviet Union. He only needed to go back to Florida for the Bush Gore contest where the vistor was chosen but the not-so Supreme Court.

as a democrat, i am extremely disappointed by the number of my fellow democrats who have used this comment section to compare this washington state issue with what happened in florida, and also use it as a pulpit to bash republicans… get over it people, grow up, focus, and get on with your lives and the issues at hand..!

Huckabee know what if feels like to be Ron Paul and for that I sympathize with his cause. Disgrace continues. God help us.

We're not supposed to let elections be decided by the Supreme Court, either, but that's the way it goes sometimes. Of course, there's a lesson to be learned here — we DID alet the Supremes decide the election of 2000, and look at the results! So, in a way, Huckabee's position is all to valid.

I totally agree with Mike Huckabee! This is a democratic nation. Many races have been won or lost by a few votes. ALL votes should be counted; no jumping to conclusions allowed.
And I furthur agree that there should be no "winner take all" in the primaries. That doesn't accurately reflect the opinion of the people.

And let me inform the media that it's not just the "Evangelical Christians " who are voting for Huckabee. Many other patriotic Americans are very conservative as well as very practical in their thinking and agree with Huckabee's no nonsense approach to government.

REMEMBER. IT'S THOSE THAT COUNT THE VOTES THAT DECIDE THE OUTCOMES. IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO RON PAUL SINCE HE GOT IN THE RACE.

This makes me angry and I'm a democrat !!

But at the same time it sounds very familiar……..

If Huckabee is for the party winning in08…He should step aside and unite the Party behind McCain. He is a small mind in a big political world.

I think you should all quit bad mouthing CNN. You don't have to listen to what they have to say. You can always turn on the AM radio and listen to Mr. Excellence in Broadcasting, Rush! And if you don't believe he is the best, just listen to him for 10 minutes and he will tell you how excellent and objective his comments are. Or then again you could listen to Fox News, we all know how sincere and objective their reports are.

A pastor in the White House, hmph! Thomas Jefferson would throw up at the idea!

While I think Mr. McCain's military record is commendable, and he has been commended, however; that is not a necessarily a reason to vote for him.

I think the candidate with the least amount of political debt is Obama. He gets my vote.

I also think any of the candidates, Republican or Democrat, will be an exponetial improvement over Dubya! Lighten up. Its gonna be OK!

The Marxist establishment is being resurrected in the Obama campaign. His calls for "change" and "sacrifice" eerily echo the brutal Soviet and Chinese regimes.

What???? Marxism is on life support! There's no money it. Just ask the Chinese.

Seriously are you so afraid of words like "change" or "sacrifice" that you have haul out the old Marxist scarecrow to beat?

Can Huckabee win at the national convention if he stays in, or are McCain's delegates committed and unable to change their votes?

CNN will probably not print this (my tame comments seem to stay in "moderation" forever), but as a staunch Obama supporter that would never vote for Huckabee, I agree with him. This crap only shows the state of democracy in this country — and we have the nerve to try to "spread democracy" in other parts of the world.

Its getting to the point that in the United States of America, WE will need election monitors to make sure that elections are fair. HOW PATHETIC!

Obama 08

To the person who said that this was Huckabee whining, I suggest you move to a country where it is acceptable to not count all votes!

His reasoning is ABSOLUTELT legitimate and both Paul and Huck supporters should demand a full accounting for votes and call for Esser's position to be released since he doesn't believe our voices count!

You BET this adds fuel to the Huckabee and Paul campaigns!

I lost respect totally for Huckabee when he said in one of his speeches that the reason why he was staying in the race was just to 'watch himself.' Like some ego trip or something. I really think there is something wrong with the man.

Romney showed integrity and love for this country when he stepped down in hopes that the Republican would rally behind McCain. Romney said that he 'hated to lose' and I'm sure he does – but he put his love for this country before 'self'. If Huck keeps it up, he'll guarantee either Obama or Clinton winning the election, and Romney's predictions will come true – there is no doubt.

I don't think anyone's ego – especially Huckabee's – is worth us losing our party and the election this November.

Good for the Washington caucus. If you want a soviet-style leadership, look no further than the far right wing of evangelicals in the GOP. Mike Huckabee is very scary, since he feels very strongly that this is a "Christian" nation.
Funny how right-wing Christians like to use that tag, when their actions are exactly what their movement's namesake fought against 2000 years ago. If Jesus were among us today, the GOP would label him a liberal troublemaker.

I think the best thing for the Republican party is if Huckabee challenges the McCain win in Washington. The more division is sown within the GOP by the so-called religious "right" the better for this country. It will force the Republicans to either embrace their ultra-religious "base" or finally come out of the closet and say "we were just paying lip service to your beliefs anyway."

Why should he act so stunned when the early call is such typical behavior for the party he belongs to –"we've got the power to do it, so we're going to do it, and don't bother to question our motivation to do so because that would just be un-american".

I'm not a Huckabee supporter but I'm a democracy supporter and Huckabee is absolutely right here, how in the world do they stop counting the votes with 1500 more to go and only a couple hundred votes apart at the stop? Unbelievable. Goes to show you, you always gotta watch folks! And I still believe there's something fishy about the New Hampshire results.

Rev. Huckabee can forget ever becoming President of the United States! This country does not need a preacher; it needs someone who is presidential material. Huckabee and his supporters (what few he has!) seem to have forgotten that there is a thing called "Separation of Church and State". If he wants to preach, he should build a church and starting preaching. He is hardly presidential material!! He should drop out now instead of continuing to make even more of a total fool of himself than he already has!

Kathryn Irby
Metairie, LA

The whole election process is archaic. The whole delegate/electorate process is a holdover from when it took months to get information from one side of the country to the other, and it was easier to tabulate by representatives of each area and not the exact number of votes. The delegate process state by state is just a mirror of the national electorate process. One vote should equal one vote. You should not be able to loose the popular vote and win the election. I'm a Republican and I still don't think it was right for Bush to win when he "really" didn't have the most votes. Scrap the whole system and let every vote count equally. One vote = one vote.

Huckabee '08

I never heard Huckabee say one word when the Florida race was being contested. Now he knows what the rest of us Democrats know. You cannot trust the Republicans to be honest. Read every newspaper in the last six years and you will see one dishonest Republican after another.

Every American should be concerned about this regardless of party, particularly when there is an establishment candidate who is being challenged but someone who is non-conventional. If only 242 votes seperated McCain and Huckabee, I don't see how this elected offical called the race for McCain. And the fact that he's not apologizing or realized what he's done is a shame.

Interesting comparison between Romney and Huckabee. Huckabee keeps fighting a losing battle and cries foul when things don't go his way. Romney bows out gracefully, saying it's for the good of the party and the country. The wrong man bowed out. Huckabee's a baby.

In Soviet Russia, race calls YOU!

This absurb call by the Washington Republican chair is highly irregular. I have never heard of vote counting being stopped at 9:30 in the evening with only 1500 votes left to be counted and only 200 votes separating the competing candidates. Something stinks here! Count the votes!!!

I just think it's pretty sad that I was EXPECTING something like this to happen. I think it's pretty sad that we live in a country that is supposed to be "free" yet we don't even know for sure if WE are actually electing our presidents. If he knew what the results were going to be then they should have counted all of them. That is the most ridculous thing I've ever heard.

All of the votes should be counted when it is that close!!!!
It is obvious who Esser wants to win.

Apparently he never heard of Florida or Ohio.

I just listened to this conservative retard speak on MSNBC…He's backing McCain…Huckabee deservesa recount..This is a country that prides itself on democracy. Isn' that why were in Iraq to start democracy it was the Repubs idea ..just like them not to follow through with ANYTHING. Go Hillary…beat the men down.

With as few voters having a say in the caucus voting, I think every vote is critical and to have called off the voting was criminal. Some of the other comments have spoken to the caucus process and other things I have read lead me to believe that he caucus process is just to open to manipulation. Only about 10 percent of the registered voters actually vote in a caucus. So states that use the caucus are only reflecting a sample vote for the state. Not a popular vote by any means!

Why does Washington have this vote counting problem every election. It seems they just keep counting and recounting until they get the results that they want.

Maybe they have dumbed down their education to the point that they can't count more than 6000 ballots.

Once again, Republicans are in the news for stealing the American peoples' right to choose who we want to represent us. If I steal a car, I have committed a crime against the owner, and I go to jail. Refusing to count votes is stealing too, and should be treated like a heinous criminal act committed against all Americans!

I can't believe I'm saying this, but Huckabee is absolutely right. That's why we were all screaming about Florida nearly 8 years ago. Hanging chads? toss'em. The votes have to ALL count. That's kind of the whole point, right?

not that I like Huckleberry, but he does make a point. point is, there hasn't been an honest election in years. we are led to believe our vote counts and makes a difference, but the reality is that big business and the international bankers control the process. to think otherwise is to bury your head in the sand

He didn't seem to think it was unfair in West Virginia… He is such a sore loser. Thanks to his selfish desires, we will be without Romney.

The Soviet Union? It sounds more like what the Republicans did in 2000.

"If I don't win the election, this is like the Soviet Union?" My God, what a power-hungry bastard. Give him the election, you might as well be turning the country over to the Soviets…

Where was Huck when the Supreme Court ordered FL to STOP COUNTING BALLOTS, throwing the election to Geo Bush? Doesn't feel good does it Huck?? Hmmmm?

Corruption is deep and systemic in Washington State. The fact the Seattle hails itself as "America's Smartest City" gives some indication how nearsighted urban liberals can get. Republican or Democrat, folks will try to get away with anything they can here because they know the people aren't all that bright. It's good to have an outsider cry foul.

If you are supposed to count the votes cast, then count all the votes and if you can't then go home or be fired plain and simple do the job with integrity or quit. Men have died for the right to vote so if a man in Washington decides to not count all the votes then FIRE him and get a person who'll do the job. This goes on both sides of the aisle and I think maybe it is time to get rid of both parties who only seem to want to stay in power not really make any positive changes for our country.
We are beginning to here from both sides we should vote for this canidate because they have the best chance to win in November…..how about looking at the individuals and asking who has the best ideas and who will be the best leader. Dem's and Rep's. are looking alot alike and just watching out for their own butts.

CNN Called the Link "Angry Huckabee: Is this Soviet Union? "

Gov. Huckabee was absolutely fantastic and hardly looked angry in the least bit. In fact, he nailed the issue and threw it back in the face of Communits News Network. The tone of the reporter, however, demonstrated CNN's anti Huckabee bias and pro-liberal position. All you have to do is listen to the adjectives to know were CNN stands. You liberal posters on this site, though, pulling out the 2000 election results are absolutely bitter.

Yeah, and what about the voter discrepancy in Ohio in 2004 that handed Bush the election?

You've seen nothing yet, wait until November in the general election where there will be no paper trails for a recount. What does this tell you?

You got my vote now Mr. Huckabee.
And I am an independent that use to vote democratic.

I find it ironic when people claim they are not controlled by the media, yet where do they go to express their political frustrations? Going to CNN's website isn't going to do you a lot of good. When was the last time you saw a news source disclose a huge scandal? This story is mere slight of hand.

I have to agree with Governor Huckabee on this. It seems to me that this is also happening on the Democratic side too.

When ever Obama is not doing as well as Clinton they wait and wait and wait to see if is he catches up (all they way to 99%) – but, if Clinton is lagging they are ready to call the races with only 30 & maybe 35% if we are lucky.

Does any one else notice this too??

I agree 100% with Heather Brewer. We all took the time to go out and vote, so count them. This should be upsetting to all of us. It could be your guy next!

This isn't about McCain or Huckabee. It is about a process that is governed by law. But it doesn’t take a lawyer to see that Luke “The Truth” Esser is in violation of the electoral process.

Huckabee needs a lesson in Soviet history! And maybe he should take a second look at the 2000 presidential election… maybe he won't feel so dog-gone wronged!

Will someone from the Wa GOP please explain to everyone outside of WA how the caucus system works? Let everyone know that when one "votes" for delegates at the local caucus, delegates cannot be awarded because they will just change not because of successive county and state meetings which further reduce the number of delegates and concentrate the leader's support.

As a former resident of Wash, I know from first hand experience and stopped attending. If Huck's support is from SE Wash and East of Seattle and some district in Eastern WA, then these delegates will be reduced in number at the county convention, and further reduced in number at the state convention. And, if McCain leads in most other districts and counties, he will end up with a larger margin, if not all, after county conventions. What matters is how many county's you can carry to the state convention.

Keep in mind, the person you nominate at the local caucus is not committed to you, they can change their mind for the next level when they are pressured, and they do. Witness what happened in 1976 to Reagan. Bottom line – the voter's "vote" and desires don't count in this structutre. There can't be fraud when the voter's initial vote carries little weight due to the process. With this process, the outcome is predictable. I can see why counting stopped. End result will not change.

It seems like yesterday when Republicans were labeling people with “Bush Derangement Syndrome” when they questioned the Florida recount.

Poor conservatives. It’s a little late to complain about fair elections out of “principle” – that ship sailed in 2000.

Of course, what do you expect from the party that seems to believe that “freedom of speech” is the freedom to parrot GOP talking points (otherwise you’re a traitor and a hippie), “freedom of religion” is the freedom to be any kind of Protestant, and a “fair election” is any election (rigged or not) where a Republican beats a Dem.

Boo Hoo Huckabee. You reap what you sow. Keep blabbing that message of intolerance. Your big mouth proves you are not worthy of representing any of us. Now you know what discrimination feels like. How does it feel to be small ?

The vote should be counted, let the chips fall where they may, and, McCain not crying foul along with Mike Huckabee, makes him appear more like "Bush Lite" every day. (Ok that and Bush's apparent endorsment, the Fox News Romney and McCain train, and oh, Karl Rove's endorsement?!)

Additionally, there is no need to rush to appoint a nominee, this should be a contest, for both sides: so, as the media is really pushing McCain and Obama – I'm a Huckabee supporter, but I have to say – Go Hillary! (She's now my second choice – thank you Washington Rep. Committee

Why has CNN's coverage of Sen. Obama decreased so much? It's impossible to turn on and continue to watch your news with only the shortest of "sound bites" being heard from Sen. Obama while it seems Hillary and Huckabee, (neither of whom is making the progress or having the success of Sen. Obama), are all you can see. Secondly, please allow us to hear the same amount of each candidate's speech so we can interpret and analyze the information for ourselves. Believe it or not, the American people don't need the "warmed over", sometimes partial and always "spun" view of the multitude of "talking heads" on your channel.

I think the real point is that the rules of the democratic process were not followed. it makes no difference if Hukabee was going to loose anyway, the rules exist to maintain order and to keep away the spectre of "election rigging, " that did indeed happen in totalitarian countries such as the mentioned Soviet Union.

This election is about, which lesser evil to support for……

One thing for sure…my vote WON'T go for OBAMA….

Well since America is in such dire straits due to NeoCon Republican meddling that sabotaged democracy here the last two "elections", it is poetic justice if one of their own gets a taste of it too. If the ACTUAL winners of that last two elections ended up IN the White House, America would not be alone, feared and despised in this world.

Well well, Huckabee now knows what it feels like to be treated like Ron Paul.

The system is broken down and no longer Democratic in nature and no longer like any Republic that is recognizable. I wondered how long it would be before they turned on their own kind, and I got my answer.

As the good former minister knows, do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Let's see… backroom deal to snatch caucus from Romney, stays in race to snag votes from Romney, and now, when the same thing happens to him, it's not politics, it's election, Communist bloc style? Hard to work up some tears over this.

I agree with Huckabee exactly. This is what has been going on since the inception of this campaign. For some strange reason the news media are the ones that are driving the outcomes. We are upset. Although, I am not Republican, this is what is going on with Clinton and Obama. It is unfair and has got to stop. Also, how ridiculous that CNN keeps calling ;their staff the best political news analysts or whatever. Give me a break. Anyone at CNN is labeled "the best" according to them. Do you think we are stupid? The same thing happens with your inane slogan "keeping them honest". How dumb do you think we are? YOu use the same slogans over and over and over again, and makes one want to turn off your channel and never listen again. Please please go back to the professionalism of people that just report the news and knock off these sensationalistic, shallow, introductions as well as your narrow viewed manipulative attempts at directing the votiing outcomes. People are sick of it!

It's funny that Republicans are crying foul when they call the vote early…like they didn't do eight years ago, and it's twice as funny to me that it's now a Republican crying foul this time…about his own party.

I am very upset that the Republican party in Washington state seems to think over 1,000 votes don't count. The race had only 250 votes between Huckabee and McCain at the time counting stopped. It is entirely possible that the winner could have been Huckabee. Is this America or isn't it? Does everyone who is an adult citizen have the right to have their vote count or not? In this case it doesn't matter who you hoped would win. This is a matter of fairness in our election process. I say go Huckabee and fight for what's right; that all votes be counted.
To those who suggest that Huckabee is a sore loser and needs to grow up for demanding a vote count, I think they must not value the ideals on which this country was founded. Americans want to be represented in government not have someone else decide for them. I hope that CNN has the guts enough to keep putting this story at the top of headlines.

Yet this is the same guy that will tell women they can't control their own
medical destiny, the same guy that wants to take away others rights because
of his own dogma..The same guy that is propped up and counts himself
among people that would like to create laws around their strict version of
"christianity and anyone that doesn't follow there little cult or anything they
don't belive in should leave or be persecuted. That sounds pretty Soviet to me
there Huckleberry..You and your party and your silly cult are more about telling
people what they cant do than what they are free to do based on your interpretation
of a dogmatic book, thats pretty Soviet like..

Huckleberry, You need to take a look in the mirror and realize that your a hypocrit
and a phoney. Your ilk (religious salesmen) are leeches on society, you produce
nothing and take from others that do by conning them into giving you money for
doing your little floor show every week..Your nothing more than a sleezy salesman.
Oh, and he Earth isn't 6000 years old either…

The republicans should be used to this by now. Heck they did it in 2000 and 2004 to the democrats so now it's time to fix the elections for who they want to win the primary.

I love it when people get a taste of their own medicine.

Now…at last…Huckabee knows how the rest of us have felt for the past 8 years.

Typical of west coast liberals who call themselves Republicans. Why did Washington have an election at all?

Typica Republican hypocrisy. Quit crying foul, Huck. Remember Florida and Ohio and who's been President for the last 8 years?

The system we have in the United States SUCKS compared to other countries. Here we have too parties that still use appointed ‘delegates’. The Republicans can get a nominee before half the nation has even voted, thanks to winner take all states for delegates, and key states who have lots of delegates. Even if Huckabee started winning big in states it won’t be enough, because McCain has a huge lead in delegates. The voice of those who have not votes yet does not matter. The Democrats appear to have a better system of using delegates Until you add in ‘Super Delegates’. This system also does not represent the people fairly at all. What’s it going to take for the parties to start representing the people fairly? States to leave the Union?

What good does it do us to get out and vote if they aren't going to even going to count our vote ? The whole election process is messy and complicated. Many people don't want to have to go running up to stand in a line for hours on end several times throughout the year . I want to vote once, in Nov. and that's it.

Go Ron Paul !!

So where is Pat Paulson when we really need him? chuckle

ps: For you youngsters he was a comedian who always claimed at every presidential election that he was running for president and his platform and policies were always pretty funny.

Every vote counts. And we all know what happened 2000 and 2004. We Americans didn't like it then and we shouldn't let people get away with it now. I think every politician in this race should be outraged, and the fact that they are not should say something about there values. We have had 8 years with a president we didn't vote for, is this what we have to look forward to? I think it is sad.

The Marxist establishment is being resurrected in the Obama campaign. His calls for "change" and "sacrifice" eerily echo the brutal Soviet and Chinese regimes.

Yeah…Stalin, Mao, Obama…..What's the weather like in over in the Fruitcake Dimension buddy?

But if it's broke, why fix it….

What else could be expected from republicans…

Mike Huckabee is right – sort of – but in these Republican primary selection elections, the vote from one major sector of citizens is not counted.

I am speaking of the independent/unaffiliated voters.

Democrats have a portion of their votes come from "Kingmakers" whom advocate for the unaffiliated voters. The Republican nominee is purely determined by party members. To date, Democrats have a significant leg up on Republicans and this was the reason for their success over the last century.

Republicans, however, can become successful if they designate A SMALL NUMBER OF VOTES to unaffiliated/independent voters. Whether through Kingmakers (yuck) or opening up their primary election polls (preferable) OR BOTH, something should be done to consider winning the popular vote.

McCain's smartest move right now would be to send in his own lawyers to recount/challenge the votes. It would take the wind out of the sails of the SS Crybaby and establish McCain as the candidate who will fight for equality even at his own expense.

There's something to be said about making a conclusion once "all the votes are in". Ashame Mr. Huckabee doesn't extend the same standard to weighing the merits of modern science against creationism.

I didn't vote for him, but I think Huckabee is right. If the election of 2000 has been any lesson, it is that every vote counts. In a close race, it ain't over 'til it's over; every vote must be counted.

No way would the honorable GOP play dirty politics? It's unheard of that the Grand Old Party would do such a thing. Huck must be wrong…

What did he finally figure it out? I knew this as a small child. Our government is so messed up, how do you think Bush became president anyways.

Correction – down to one person, not done to one person.

Politics American Style … at least in the Soviet Union you knew your vote wasn't going to be counted. In America, your vote isn't counted, but the media's pomp and circumstance sure make you think it does. Wake up and realize that big corporations rule this nation and they put on Hollywood style shows to fool you into thinking otherwise. CNN has chosen Obama (Cheney's cousin) and Fox has chosen McCain.

No question – count every vote and if you're not sure, count it again. Simple.

I vote for OBAMA and I have not much in common with Huckabee but if the facts are on his side, then he is right ! This way of manipulating the election outcome is not that new though. It's just more disturbing to the one who gets cheating. The other side usually does not mind … so much for democracy.

It's about time somebody called the national parties out on their tactics. They pretend to give the people a choice but rig the result for insiders. At the very least, Huck can help purge the process.

Isn't it great when the special interests work not in your favor as well as in your favor. Join the new American way. Hucky

An election official decides to stop counting with 13% of the votes still uncounted and only 200 votes separating the two candidates. And the consensus is that Huckabee should shut up and accept it???

This isn't about Huckabee, you unpatriotic morons. It's about the right–or lack thereof–for every American to have their vote counted.

"It doesn't matter if the vote was fair or not, as long as my candidate won." Republicans disgust me.

The caucus idea is identical with voting in a communist party when people would raise their hands to elect the party leaders and the party expected unanimity.

Even there, the voting of the president was a private matter.

Why is this archaic caucus method maintain in the US anyway? It simply makes votes unequal.

This is all a ploy.

If Huckabee ends his campaign, then McCain has no real reason to pound the pavement and his donations dry up. His free press also goes away.

With Huckabee still plugging away, McCain stays on the trail and keeps fundraising for the General Election. In addition, McCain keeps his name in the headlines all through the Primary Election season.

If Huckabee quits, the only coverage McCain gets is how the conservatives hate him.

I think all votes should be counted, but I also believe Huckabee should have thrown in the towell a long time ago.

Funny hearing a Republican cry foul for this. The Democrats in Florida in 2000 and the Democrats in Ohio in 2004 had more than a couple thousand votes not counted. In Florida there was at least one precinct who's votes were 'lost'. Thousands of primarily black voters conveniently left out. I guess it's OK to whine when the shoes on the other foot.

I can't believe that people are comparing this to the Bush/Gore fiasco in Florida and implying that Huckabee should not request that ALL the votes be counted. Don't you remember they DID recount the votes in Florida… SEVERAL TIMES! Bush won! But regardless, this is NOT a recount situation. This is one individual refusing to count votes in the INITIAL vote count and instead trying to deliberately falsify the results of an election in Washington. He should be prosecuted! ALL of the votes need to be counted in Washington and lets see who the real winner is.

Rather than sounding like something from the "Soviet Union," Huckabee probably would have seemed more candid if he had observed that stopping the vote-count before all votes were counted sounds like, hmmm, I dunno, maybe like Republican shenanigans in Florida and Ohio? Welcome to America as run by the GOP, Huckster!

This is just WRONG!

I hope Huckabee gets his count even tho I would not vote for him.

Hello america, anybody home?
The entire process is a joke. What makes us any different from those countries that have “general elections” where other candidate’s votes are dismissed? I do understand why the rest of the world refers to us as “stupid Americans”. We send our sons and daughters to die on foreign soil for the ideas of democracy; meanwhile back home we sit back and watching those very ideas die without a fight. Does anyone else find it funny that every candidate has the same opinion on OUR government when it comes to big business? They all say the same thing, which is “let businesses be” or we have to trust the people. This is short for “Ok, boss (businesses) we’ll leave you alone”. America used to be “for the people and by the people”. It’s now “for the businesses to buy the politicians to squeeze every last dime from the people.

Even as a Democrat I believe what was done is wrong.
Little changes slid into big changes if you leave them unattended.
J

Mike, Mike, Mike. tsk, tsk. Your naiivite is showing. This is ithe way the GOP has always operated. They decided who they want and then the voting just happen as it should to obtain that result. If you don't like this unfair and stacked system, you can always resign from the party and become a Democrat or independant.

Oh, By the way, John McCain already has all the delegates he needs to take the nomination. You can't beat him. So forgive us for referring to him as the presumptive nominee.

Democrats want to count ALL the votes; illegal or not.

Republicans want to count till THEIR candidate wins; illegal or not.

You and I don't count.

(it's not who votes, it's who counts-em).

It's odd to me that so many commenters believe that Bush stole the 2000 election. A neutral third party recounted all the ballots after the election was over and found that Bush would have won under any recount scenario. It usually takes a generation or two for people to believe in revised history. You're managing to do in in less than a decade.

This is exactly why the Republican party is in trouble… Talk about a tarnished election result; someone should be facing some serious vote-tampering charges. It Does NOT matter who you wanted to win, in a close count it is flat wrong to call it early in favor of your candidate..

Go Huckabee! I'm think that the former gov. should not be dismissed from the race because voters in states that haven't had primaries yet should be able to voice an opinion. If McCain is the only candidate, then the rest of us are left voiceless, aren't we? Wherever one's alligences stand, one can surely recognize that the winner was declared too soon. I view this as another way to "muscle" Huckabee out of the race. There should be more candidates – let there be a big debate at the RNC or let us have a country-wide primary. What's the point of the convention and state-by-state primaries if it's done to one person?

I think that by staying in the race Mr. Huckabee is making a statement to the Republican party…"A lot of people don't want to vote for McCain" – I am one of them.
So would this race be better run if McCain has no competition at all! I think not, Mr. McCain will still have to prove himself to be the party's leader. He has a long way to go. Many people who consider themselves "Republican will have a hard time voting for McCain and may just vote for a democrat.

Bad move by Esser, but it's time for Huckabee step aside.

Quote from another article: "I know the pundits, and I know what they say: The math doesn't work out," Huckabee said Saturday morning at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington. "Well, I didn't major in math; I majored in miracles. And I still believe in those, too."

Huckabee is a tard. "I majored in miracles"? Are you kidding me? How are there people out there who actually voted for him? Whoever among you that did should have your voting privileges revoked because you are obviously a tard also. Maybe Huckabee should brush up on his math because 723 > 217.

I am reminded of a football game, team A was leading team B 100 to 0 at half time, Team A decided not to come out for the third quarter. After 10 minutes into the 3rd. quarter, team B scored. Hucklebee, maybe you will catch Romney in the Fourth Quarter, who knows. (Delegate Votes) Keep plugging along, it seems to me your only reachable goal is to get more delegates than Romney, even though he quit at half time………

Stalin got it right; "Victory goes to those who count the votes."

He's right. I'm no republican but the press seems to be in love with a few candidates, McCain being 1 and Obama overwhelmingly so —- to the point of cult like obsession.

EVERY vote counts! Count them all!

It's hard to imagine a Republican being surprised by voter fraud from the GOP and their 'field operatives'. Remember FL in 2000? Ohio in 2004? Do the names Blackwell and Katherine Harris ring a bell? Well, Huck didn't stand up then so he can sit down now. Even better, maybe he should send Chuck in to pull a Texas Ranger on them…come to think of it, didn't Bush own the Texas Rangers at some point?

I couldn't believe my ears when I had heard that 1000 or more votes didn't seem to matter in the state of Washington. What a disgrace to the democratic system which we as Americans stand for. It doesn't matter if John McCain was still the winner in that state, every American that has a right to vote, and has the right to have their vote count. This decision made by the state's party chairman was and will always be in my mind an act of total hipocracy toward's the democratic system that we as Americans choose to live. What a sad day to be an American.

Shake your pompom, Huck!

Mike Huckabee, were you asleep during the 2000 and the 2004 Presidential elections? Both were crooked.

Huckabee sure drop from the race, he doesn't have a chance to win more delegates than McCain , we don't need another president with the same mentality of Bush in the Withe House, and if for recounts we are in 2000 Gore won the elections , but the Supreme Court gave the presidency to Bush that was a huge mistake , look at the mess Bush put us economically and the war in I Iraq that he started with lies and now we can't get out of there , the republican party is the most corrupted party , I don't know why they call them selves christian and pro- life, when in the war in Iraq a lot of people lost their lives, that is not been pro -life I call it been lier and non christian

I'm with Jennifer in Virginia, N , and Pat – Don't all VOTERS votes count?
What's going to happen at election time?
IS THIS A SIGN OF ANOTHER FLORIDA? VOTES ONLY COUNT WHEN THE LOUDEST MOUTH IS HEARD NOT THE VOTERS ! Just because McCain was leading dosen't MEAN he will always be. Maybe he ( and his cronies are) nervous? I think he should be. We don't really want another WAR to straighten out the economy or the U S political problems.

HOW DO YOU THINK BUSH GOT BACK INTO OFFICE FOR THE SECOND TIME!!!? THIS ISN'T NOTHAN NEW FOR REPUBLICANS. THIS IS HOW THEY GET DOWN….THE ONLY THING IS, ITS HAPPENING TO ONE OF THERE OWN.

GOBAMA 08-12

So the Repubs can cry foul and it is OK? Let's talk Florida 200 and Ohio 2004? Huckabee go home to Arkansas

Ah –

The "evangelical" Christian minister in his best form – throwing stones at anyone who would get in his way. Why does "christianity" have such a bad name in the U.S. – because there is nothing Christian about it.

Huckabee probably win Washington after it is all said and done. People need to really look at what a great person Huckabee is and really throw their support to him and vote.

"When will U.S. elected officials going to stop calling other nations names?", names like 'Great Satan', and 'Evil Empire'? huh sophia?

FOR EVERY VOTE TO COUNT YOU HAVE TO COUNT EVERY VOTE!

OK, so Huckabee is out, and crying foul play like ALL politicians would do in this
sort of situation. And then I see all these control words such as: liberal, conservative,
democracy – that, if you really pay attention, are strategically used to keep people in
their little boxes of ignorance and therefor easily controlled by who?… a bunch of
ACTORS who look nice in front of the camera, promising this and that to serve
AMERICA, but who are only going to serve THEMSELVES & SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS & BIG BUSINESS. Welcome to Hollywood U.S.A.

It should be clarified that 242 are not individual votes, but weighed figures districtwise. The actual vote fifference is 2%, difficult to bridge when the remaining
not counted votes are only 13%, given the overal tendency.

A real stupid move by this fellow Esser. It must be stated that also 4% of the DEM's votes remained unaccounted

The question is: Could Esser decide such move he alone, or this was approved by the electoral commission. And if so, were there none Huckabee supporter to protest t?? Possibly they were to lazy to continue counting ??

Anyway, the counting should be resumed immediately. Washington is joining New Mexico as a less than capable counting state !!

TOM

For somebody like Huck who refers to the bible all the time
Here is goes
Why, then, do you look at the straw in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the rafter in your own eye?
Matthew 7:1-29

Countries all over the world rely on popular vote overall, no delegates, no electoral votes, none of this malarkey.
This whole complicated system is intended to just confuse people (or get them tired and not involve) lets the politicains decide for themselves and disregard our opinion. If we just counted popular votes, on a first round to get the first two top candidates, and a second round two weeks after to determine the best, everything would be so much clearer, plus a lot of money and time in campaigning would be saved!
And yes this is the way most countries like France, Italy, Japan, Germany, Canada, UK etc. function! Not really the USSR Huck!

Perhaps Mr. Huckabee now realizes what goes around comes around… remember Florida and Ohio. Remember how GW Bush got into the White House? Why anyone still thinks that we in the US have fair elections is beyond me. What was done by the republicans in the Washington primary may be a disgrace, but it's not new. More disgraceful is what they have done to our country in the past 8 years. I never would have believed that this country could fall so low in such a short time, but it's not the same country I used to be proud to live in.

Why cry foul now…..this is what happened when Bushie got elected when they just stopped counting.

Huckabee should get his recount. But I think it is very self-centered of him to stay in this race when Republicans need to unite now. The race in November is going to be tough. Huckabee is destroying the party's chances of winning in November.

Be a hero Huck and bow out with some dignity.

We just don't want anything to get in the way of King John McCain and Queen Hillary Clinton the newly annointed sovereigns of the American Empire!!! All hail the King and Queen.

My wife and I live in Washington State. Imagine our surprise when we found that there had been a caucus in Washington on Friday and it was all over! Our primary is scheduled for February 19th! Now we feel our votes don't matter. Somehow, this state's position in both parties have been determined without a statewide vote. Some people apparently knew about the caucuses, but we never were informed.

This is sneaky and I would think, totally illegal.

I for one and so tired of dirty politics, slanted media and all the postulating that has been allowed by the american public for far too long! Glad to see Huckabee crying foul – lets just hope he doesn't give up when the media only gives slight attention to this issue that doesn't have anything to do, really, with their top picks for president.

anybody else NOT okay with the media choosing our next president for us?

Wow. Vote fraud from the Republicans. I am shocked!! Shocked!!! It is true that the Republican will eat their own when convenient.

Conservatism translates into "religious fanatic" — are there any moderates other than Lugar left in the Republican party?

Let the games begin. This time the dirty tricksters may just implode.

John McCain has all but locked up the Republican Nomination for President.

Is it any wonder with all this talk of Republicans "uniting" behind the "eventual nominee" that the state chairmen would cast the results in favor of McCain?

With such an insurmountable lead in delegates and endorsements, Republicans are closing ranks around McCain.

Huckabee can either get on the bus, like Romney did, or get run over by it.

Well, All I can say is he's right. If we still consider this country to be the land of the free then every vote shold be counted, regardless who's winning. I've known Mike Huckabee sense he was a baptist preacher in my home town. This is a man who is trying to make a difference for the better in this country.

Republicans only get outraged when Janet Jackson has a wardrobe malfunction during the High Holy day of Super Ball. The Reverend Governor Huckleberry could try taking to the Supreme Court. No need to count all those votes just they could just appoint him. It worked for George W. Bush!

Fair is fair. Didn't we learn this lesson a few years back? Don't call the winner until all votes counted. Go for it, Huck!

I drove fifteen miles to get to my caucus location on Saturday and had to bring my one year old son who was crying and complaining the whole time because he usually takes his nap at the exact time of the caucus. We put up with getting moved around from room to room to manage the crowd and listening to organizers try to communicate instrcuctions to hundreds of people without the benefit of a loudpseaker. It took over two hours. If I had gone through all of that and then had my vote not count because Esser decided he had a hunch about the outcome, I would be enraged. In fact I am enraged, despite the fact that I voted in the democratic caucus (go Obama!) and not the republican one. My republican friends and neighbors deserve to have their votes counted, every last one of them, or else why did any of us go through all of the effort to be part of the process?

This has absolutely nothing to do with republican or democratic opinions. Huckabee is unequivocally correct with his disgust. This is sorely a matter of principal. I am a registered democrat, but I am an american that believes in democracy and justice. If we can't uphold such a simple principal such as actually counting every vote that was represented, then we really are do nothing different than the old Soviet republic, China, Cuba, or many other nations where you are told who's going to be your new political leader(s).

You have to be a complete moron to make this into a republican or democrat issue instead of a "right" verses "wrong" issue. Period! What's the sense of any of us making an effort in voting if we suspect that my vote will not be counted just because someone in the media, or political advocate says that my opponent has won already anyway. So why bother finishing a constitutional right to american citizens. One of the main reasons why the US is in the state it's in now, because too many people will not stand up for justice.

I don't like Huckabee but why don't they just count the votes? I think McCain still wins but what is the issue counting 1500 more votes?

calling a winner before all votes are counted is not what the people want. It sounds like corupt machine politics and at this time in hystory one would think we have moved past that. This makes me very angry and I am gonna watch it carefully to see if it is corrected. bernadine

If this is the way our votes are counted it's no wonder we keep ending up with sorry candidates. RIGGED

You want to know a good way to get even less republicans to show up and vote. Prove to them that there vote doesn't even matter and let Esser's decision stand. Man i wish our primary meant something. More delegates for Huck guaranteed

Go HUCK!!!!

Gee, kinda sounds like FLORIDA circa 2000 doesn't it?? I don't see how the Republicans can claim Jesus and God as their own when they do nothing but LIE CHEAT and STEAL at every opportunity. Like Satan, they are incapable of telling the truth.

Republicans outraged over vote rigging ? Isnt that what they do best ?

Maybe Mike is in the wrong party

Why do we bother to go to the polls and vote if ALL of the votes are not counted,regardless of who is the winner. This gentlement (I use the term loosely) who stopped the counting of votes in Washington is evidently "dirty". I think Mr. Huckabee has every right to complain. This is America and I for one would want my vote counted.

whaaaaaaaa whaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

I don't believe the Soviet Union had free elections in the past!

Huckabee who?

well, this debate is certainly non-partisan, isn't it?

I declare shennanigans!

1. Put your tail between your legs and take it like a man ( if a republican can ) and admit you lost.
2. Welcome to Bush world of fuzzy math.
3. Part of being a Christian (sic) is humbling oneself, vanity I think is a sin.
4. Maybe in 4 years if people remember you might have another chance, but not in my book.
5. See ya "LOSER"

No, Huck.. this is EXACTLY what we do in American elections. Its why our whole electoral system is so heavily rigged.

Funny how when this happens to Huckabee, he cries like a baby but when this happens to Ron Paul, the media totally ignores him. It would be great if Ron Paul actually wins this after Huckabee gets the recount–sweet revenge! Also, I wonder where those 14% Uncommited Votes go??

If this is the game the Republican party in playing this early in the primaries count me out. McCain doesn't get my vote. This is disgraceful to do to Huckabee. He has every right to continue and be treated fairly. This is exactly why I changed my party affiliation this year to Independent.

I don't blame Mr. Huckabee, 1500 votes is quite a bit to just be tossed. It seems like they are so eager to put Mc Cain as the man, news media included.
This whole election process has gotten ugly, and disgusting. The news media is so bias and let their true feelings show and try to influence people.
GO GET'EM HUCKABEE !!!!!

Poor AJ, still living in the past and still delusional! What a pathetic and sad a life AJ and his/her ilk lead!

But just for the record, please name some votes that were NOT counted in Florida. This has been investigated ad nauseum, and in every instance the conclusion was that all votes were counted properly. Remember that it was the DEMS that tried to invalidate the overseas votes of our service men. Now THAT is REAL disenfranchisement!

Now go return to your spaceship with Kucinich and buzz off!

Welcome to the real (Republican) world, Hukster. Now you have a small inkling of what Democrats felt when Republicans and stole the elections in Florida (2000) and Ohio (2004) through election fraud. It's your Party–whine if you want to.

Huckabee said: "That is not what we do in American elections. Maybe that's how they used to conduct it in the old Soviet Union, but you don't just throw people's votes out and say, 'well, we're not going to bother counting them because we kind of think we know where this was going.'"

What do you mean, "That is not what we do in American elections?" Read your history. Powerful people have been buying and selling American elections for years. The game is rigged. Pure and simple. Seems like we're not so dissimilar to the old Soviet Union after all.

What country am I in? Does any of this give you goosebumps? Are you all so used to the media rhetoric, and Bush's deceit, that you find this OK to just stop counting the votes? Bush has a hand in this, no doubt. What a bunch of criminals. And all you people can come up with is the GOP crying foul is funny because of the Bush count last election? No wonder this country is in trouble with the likes of people commenting here.

Uh-Oh, the Huck is mad!!! Na'h, na'h I'm just playing. To be honest, I never thought in a million years someone would compare us to the Soviet Union. Man, is the economy really that bad??? Boy, this is some serious stuff but I don't think you would want to say what the Huck is saying. Slow down Huckster, we're not that bad of an economy, we're pretty good. I know its bad times but take a deep breath and relax……

As a Democrat, I hope McCain wins the Republican nomination as that will all but guarantee a Democratic President. America will never vote in a grumpy, old, stubbor, arrogant, war hawk like McCain…

He is absolutely right, and I think its ridiculous that anyone is posting that he's "whining." This is not fair play.

If you want to know why there is no unity in America just look at the hate filled posts on this site! For everyone whining about the 2000 race, you should be behind Huckabee in this effort to stop another show of corruption in the political system. Also, there is a difference in whining and fighting for what is right. The Democrats had a right to fight in 2000, and they did. Good for them! But, why are you now saying that Huckabee should not fight the same injustice in this election?

Huck, after that little backroom deal you did with McCain over West Virginia, you have no effing right to question the way any other state does their caucus.

Whine, you must not know what your talking about because the win in WVA was not dirty due in part to him. Simply put, Romney did not have enough votes to carry and the McCain voters switched to Huckabee, which is the logical thing to do. Now, what's happening in WA is alittle dirty.

Of course Huckabee is helping the Rep in prep for Nov. Way I see it, Huckabee staying in the race keeps McCain on his toes and his A game. McCain needs to stay on his A game in order to prove he is the right man to many. If Huckabee would have bowed out, McCain would not have great incentive to campaign strongly because the Nov. election is months away!

I am outraged once again to see what is taking place in this election. I agree with others that the media had decided long ago that it would be Romney vs McCain. I used to be a fan of Anderson Cooper though I'm not anymore after watching the last debate before Super Tuesday. NOBODY should have to sit up there and beg for their voice to be heard as Huckabee had to do. If CNN had given him a fair shot to be heard, things would be different right now and the proof is in the votes that are taking place now.Though it may be too late for him, thanks to the media. I would encourage everyone to go onto to Huckabees website and look at the blogs of people that were at the polls in Washington. Even if you are not a Huckabee fan, at least find out what has really gone on there . All the media is reporting about is that Huckabee is challenging the votes. There is more to the story than they just stopped counting.

Rational Americans know that John McCain, Barrack Obama and Hilary Clinton are all members of the same party. While Muke Huckabee is not the ideal candidate, Mike Huckabee is the only candidate who is not left of Jimmy Carter.

Please give us a better choice than McCain v. Hilary or Obama.

Regardless of the "presumed winner" all votes should be counted. This is an outrage, and even more of an outrage that none of the news outlets have covered it. This undermines any remaining trust that voters have in our political system.
We all should applaud Governor Huckabee for speaking out against what clearly is in incompetent GOP voting chairman in Washington.
All elections must follow the rules regardless of who we expect to win the election.

Huckelberry has no credentials to be President, buuuuuuut nobody is wrong all the time ( well, except the inept/dangerous President we're stuck with).

When a guy is right its not right to ignore him.

Good for you Huckelberry!

Huckleberry, get a life. Where were you when the candidate that lost was selected by the Supreme Court in 2000, and the same loser was appointed again in 2004 by the Diebold voting machines?

Doesn't surprise me that this happened in Washington. In the governors race in 2004, more people voted that were registered, be that have been cold in the grave for many years even cast ballots

Did he expect anything else? It's been happening since day one of this demoractic debacle called the primaries of 2008. The "system" wants a McCain/Clinton ballot and that's what you're going to be handed one way or the other. Get ready for more war, the NAU, and an economic disaster, folks.

you're right…washington state is becoming the soviet union…can't wait till we can vote in some new leadership here.

We cannot change the system. This is how the system works now.
Read John Grisolms new book, The Appeal.

In a world where they say every vote counts, it is disheartening to see a state cast a side hundreds of votes as if they didn't matter. If someone took the time to cast their vote then it should be counted no matter who they voted for. Be it in a land slide or a close race. Every vote counts.

Pardon me, but did not Mr. Huckabee tell Wolf blitzer of CNN News, That he would welocme john mccain as his running mate for the presidency of the United States, now he wants to challenge the republicans in Washington.
Pears to me his is as screwed up as the rest of sicko's running the republican party.
HUH.

Why do you think I became disillusioned with the Republicans? They are disingenuous and corrupt. If they messed up their own primary, how can I believe that they won't coerce national elections! I demand a full recount just because we need more democracy. Every vote should count.

This is how it was done in Soviet Union for sure. But he forgets that this has been the new GOP in the last 8 years and Soviets were very democratic in comparison. I would argue there was even more meritocracy over there if not democracy!

Huckabee, I agree with you!! I don't care if you are a DEM or REP You do not have the right to make a decision concerning votes. All of these leaders are phony anyway, if they were not running for the President of the U.S., they would probably be on vacation some where. Bunk of phonies. PUT your trust not in man. And the media is glorifying Obama and Hillary, yet not one of them is speaking on things pertaining to national security. OBAMA and HILLARY! what will you do if another 9/11 happens? Will you sit around like BILL and let them go or will you send a message and bomb them to kingdom com over and over until they get the message or would you sit down at the dinner table with you enemy and have peace dinner…..

Poor John McCain – he "won" the Repub presidential nomination (based mainly on the fact that he WASN'T Mitt Romney, Fred Thompson, Rudy G., et al) and now he loses against a candidate who most saw as the weakest in the field. Repubs sold their philosophical soul to the far right-fringe and this now the devil coming for his due. Good luck!

As much as I genuinely disagree with and distrust Huckabee, I am in agreement with him here.

ALL votes should ALWAYS be counted and saved for a possible re-count.

I am a Floridian afterall………

I agree with Huckabee on this one. While he may not have a shot at the GOP nomination, it is the principle at stake here. Esser, or whatever his name is, has basically told those 1000+ votes that they do not count and do not have a voice/say. I think it was a huge mistake on his part and makes him look like an utter fool. Even if they do a recount, which I believe they should because it is morally right, and Huckabee ends up losing at least we can say that it was fair. Huckabee is NOT whining to all you losers who say he is. He is standing up for what's right and the people who cast their vote in the state of Washington and did not get them counted. Huckabee is a true competitor and he is a great candidate. Too bad America didn't see that early enough and the media is strongly oppose to him!

Pretty ridiculous. Esser is a disgrace. I'm an undecided voter but this is not the America I know and love. There is no winner until all votes are counted.

Don't blame Huck for crying foul. He'll need everything he can get to delay the primary until the convention. Then like James Garfield… win the hearts and minds of all.

Why Not the take away the right to vote! The rest of our rights and money have been taken away
They are probly thinking the public dosent matter anyways they dont know enough to vote for anyone If you are American you should be mad no matter what Party,Age,Gender,Race, 1 person Did not go to war for us to have this vote The Guy Who said that they are all done counting should be Fired for not upholding the rights of the people in that state who is he to tell us what do do with OUR country I dont care if huckabee was losing by 1,000 votes or a million votes

Governor Huckabee does indeed have a valid point. Due process must be carried out and every vote counted. Shame on these Washington state Republican party officials who won't allow Senator McCain to either win or lose fairly. Perhaps the GOP convention should be moved up to May Day.

Its too bad for Huckabee really.. I wish we only had one party and then stand everyone up for the public to vote on. Instead we get to vote for who the government decides we should vote for. Not one for sure who will try to change the unfair tax system. Oh no..

Maybe Huckabee should get some of his favorite activist Supreme Court jurists to pre-empt local law and just declare him a winner like they did in Florida. So, Mr Huckabee, why should only Republicans be outraged by vote fraud. Would it be okay with you if it were some other party?

GO HUCKABEE, you narrow-minded pinhead, you guarentee a Democratic win!

Yeah I agree with another poster….Republicans all across the nation were "OK" with Florida's votes not being counted for Al Gore (who actually won the state) because their candidate won. But now this? Maybe the entire Republican Party is like the 'Soviet Union' if they did that right? They even got Bush's daddy's supreme court to crown him ruler. Yep, Soviet Union…Republican Stye. That's what is in store for America with Republicans in charge!

Huckabee has just as much a right to stay in the race as any of the other candidates. He was right the other day when he said that this is an election and until he can't win he should fight on if he wants to. Just because the news says John McCain will win doesn't mean Huckabee can't keep trying. Until there is no chance for him to win, him and any one else who wants to stay in the race and fight on (Hello Ron Paul) can and SHOULD do so.

For the record I'm a democrat and not a fan of any of the republican choices. But fair is fair.

No to McCain, No to Huckabee, No to Ron Paul, No to Republicans, Just Say No.

You would think that with 7 years to reflect on the Florida debacle–the Republican Party would be a little less cavalier about the electoral process.

Just goes to show you–Republican Party dirty tricks didn't die with Nixon, in fact it appears the tradition is alive and well. Even when it comes to one of their own.

What did you seriously expect from the Republican party? Do you really think these are honest, good people?

I think the most humorous comment posted was this, by Eric:

February 11, 2008 10:35 am ET

The Marxist establishment is being resurrected in the Obama campaign. His calls for "change" and "sacrifice" eerily echo the brutal Soviet and Chinese regimes.

I believe 'change' is the buzzword for all of them, including Weatherman Romney, and 'sacrifice'? Wow. Was Kennedy's 'Ask not what your country….." an appeal to socialism? I had no idea!

Gas up your Hummer and ignore all calls for sacrifice for the sake of freedom!

dont they know republican votes dont count in washington.

Well, call the waambulance! For ANY Republican to cry foul over the votes not all being counted after the debacle in 2000 is sheer hypocrisy.
What's good for the goose, whiners…

Hasn't Huckabee been the man crying about NOT whining?

What about the politicking in WVA that got YOU the win?!? Same kind of good 'ole boys….it's OK when YOU are on the giving end of the "dirty" but not on the receiving! If it was dirty in WA, it was dirty in WVA.

Are you REALLY trying to help the Republicans win in Nov? I don't think Huck has a REMOTE chance to win in November…..but he majored in "miracles"! (I do believe in miracles…..I just don't believe in running for POTUS on his bigoted religious platform.)

Ummmm.

Republicans in Florida? The Florida county with all the problems in 2000 Election was run by Democrats.

Get your facts straight!

Now he knows what us RP people have been screaming about and what we stand for. This is why we have had a problem from day one with these type of GOP tactics.

I guess the shoe is on the other foot. Remeber what happened in Florida 2000 when our votes were not counted? Sorry Mike, what comes around goes around. Why don't you ask your buddy Bush if he can get the surpreme court to help you out too! Go for it Gomer!

Oh quit crying, its not like you're going to win anyway! Atleast Romney had some dignity!!!!! Go play your guitar Huck Finn!

This coming from someone who wants to replace the Constitution with the Ten Commandments!!!

I feel the same way Mike!

Well well well.. The other side gets to see what it feels like now. He should have lunch with Gore and Kerry.

I'm not a Republican so no comment either way regarding Huckabee vs McCain but as an American I will say Huckabee is right on this one.

"The right thing to do" ? Its real simple Esser. Count every vote. As for WA state, which seems to have real problems there on both sides of the aisle, I would point out to Esser the "Law of Unintended Consequences". A good part of the electorate is sick and tired of the cronyism and minimizing of the common man's vote. It is manifesting in big ways this election cycle. You Esser just threw a couple more logs on that fire. Huckabee thanks you.

Republicans aren't the only ones upset about this BS. Democrats, Independents, etc. all believe in the democratic process, and this Democrat despises those people from ANY party would try to steal ANY election.

(No – that is not a shot on the 2000 Presidential election – that is water {and blood – sorry, couldn't resist!} under the bridge…. )

Oh wake up Huckabee. This IS the Soviet Union. That sound you hear is the Constitution being torn to shreds during the Bush years. The fact that you are surprised is amazing.

I am getting sick and tired of political parties and news organizations "calling" elections before the final count. Their interference is destroying our election process.

We need a guy like Huckabee to expose Republican crap.

What is with our need to know the results right now ?
Not to get off thread but any election there should be NO results broadcast untill the last polling place is closed – in a national election no results should be released untill the last polling station is closed in hawaii

How many people decide not to vote because there candident is behind when it is there turn and they think it won't matter

Huckabe is correct – you don't toss the votes unless Bush is running then it is all right

Just proves your vote doesnt count anymore…. 8 years laters and we STILL have election issues… Amazing!

Pretty pathetic that some people commenting here are trying to blow off Huckabee's argument on the grounds of a past event that he can't be proved to have had anything to do with. So if votes get tossed out once, nobody can complain about it happening again? What a great precedent to set. It's Huckabee's right to get this decision overturned, and I sure hope that he does.

Furthermore, not that I'm trying to claim that there hasn't been some questionable, if not downright precariously scandalous, actions in prior elections by the Republicans. But please don't try to tell me that the Democratic party is any more a pillar of virtue in elections. Both parties are full of frauds, like it or not. Just hope that someday some good people can change that.

I agree with Gov. Huckabee – the democratic process is based on the premise that every vote needs to be counted – and that every vote is important.

Shame on the Washington Republicans – apologize and recount all votes!

He wasn't complaining too much when his and McCain's back room politics got him the win in West Virginia. Now that Romney is out of the race there is no one for these two to pick on.

"Esser has said he remains confident he made the right call."

Umm…Esser? We don't need you to make a call, we need you to count the freaking votes. What part of that is so mystifying to you?

This is as bad as Gore trying to get absentee military ballots tossed out in Florida in 2000 because he knew they'd go for Bush.

I agree with senator Mike H.

An oldie but a goodie,
they are bringing out the old commie threat.

Good lord, will these Republicans start looking forward instead of backward.

I cant help but notice a recent report on some of Huckabee's campaign donors has quietly disappeared. It appears they have linked large campaign donations to several televangelists that are also currently under federal investigation for defrauding their followers and mis-using their gifts to the church to buy private jets, expensive cars and homes. I was under the impression that churches and religious organizations were not allowed to do this for fear of losing their tax exempt status? This exposes Huckabee as nothing more than a dishonest criminal that has no business being the leader of our country. Perhaps this is a cloud with a silver lining – if he did get the Republican nomination, I honestly feel the GOP would lose in November and I think they know this. His type of religious extremism is a danger and would do nothing to help us regain our status in the world, let alone our lost allies.

I agree with Huck. What blatant tyranical power move.

It would serve America, the RNC, and John McCain's reputation well if McCain would strongly reques Esser finish counting ad let all the votes count.

Where was this Republican phony when Florida did the same to Al Gore???
It seems that hypocracy lives on…

Any of you from Virginia, Maryland, or D.C. who don't like what Esser did, show your support of free choice and democracy by voting for Huckabee on Tuesday! We want to show loud and clear that the GOP establishment DOESN'T control OUR CHOICE! Show the media and the world that we choose freedom over corruption. Please, all you who remain undecided, Huck needs your vote to change the course of the GOP to something fresh and positive. PLEASE be a part of our voice getting heard! Ron Paul supporters, you can understand how corrupt the GOP establishment is because your candidate has constantly been shut in a box by them. Please rally with us in the Huckabee camp in Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. to combine our ballot shouts so that we can make ourselves heard far louder together than we could separately. Conservatives and freedom fighters unite!

In public, both party's politicians support the shouts for "true democratic elections" and spend millions monitoring "fair practices" in other countries where we stick our unwelcome noses in their elections.

If their elections are askew, where do we think they learned to do it?

There is nothing 'democratic' about our elections. If votes counted, votes would elect candidates. Instead, we "sort of" vote, hoping delegates and SUPERdelegates don't have a different cause or opinion – and then – we must count on the Electoral College doing the right thing.

Bottom line is – people do not elect people. Politicians and money elect politicians. Politics in America is corrupt, dirty and commonly "for sale". Maybe we should release thousands of jailed pot smokers and replace them with our politicians. Let them fight it out in the yard. Winner take all.

How is it that people is ba are backing the idea that Obama is the better democratic runner to go against republican McCain when he himself will not willing to debate against his opponent. Isn't his line… Can we do it? Yes we can! Bob the Builder would never turn down the job.

Huck is very much in the right. It is not over until the fat lady sings and she was not even warmed up yet. Washington State has to wait until all of the votes have been counted before announcing a winner.

Jody – - – I agree that Huckabee and McCain have played some tough punches in this election so far. But please don't pretend that Romney has been this innocent, squeaky clean participant. He pulled some low blows too.

His backing out was a financial decision. His camp made some bad decisions and judgment calls and Huckabee's camp has made some great calls. McCain seems to be benefitting somehow.

This is what the primary process is all about for POTUS race selections.

Every vote does not count in elections, otherwise we'd be getting ready for the end of the Gore administration.

I once heard, "Opinions are like armpits. We all have them, and they all stink!"

None of us knows what is going to happen. Personally, I think this has been the most exciting primary ever! No matter what you think of Mike Huckabee, this Washington primary is quickly turning into a scandel!

The party is here to serve the people, not the people to serve the party! We each have a voice, we each have liberty and a choice. I will not "shut up" and go away, nor will those who are ready run the race that is not finished for the Presidential nominations. You don't have the right to cancel my vote before the race is finished and it is not! My vote counts, and it counts for Mike Huckabee. I do not serve the "Party," I am an individual with just as much of a right to my vote as a McCain voter, or a Clinton voter, or a Paul voter, or an Obama voter. Quit telling those of us who have not voted yet, that we are to serve the "party" and our vote does not count. I think the "leader" and those following are running scared and they want us to quit instead of staying in and completing that which we started.

I would never teach my kids to be quitters. You always finish what you start even if it gets difficult – it is what you believe in. That same quality is why you have an America to live freely in today my friend. If it were not for the perseverance, hard work, and standing up for what you believe in of the pilgrims, thirteen original colonies, great leaders of courage and our armed forces, you would not even have your freedom or your vote. We are here to nominate a person NOT a party.

If there's anyone out there that actually believes we live in a democracy, I want your kind of faith (or medicine). Heck, the whole delegate thing is about as confusing as can possibly be. This persons wins the most votes, but this person actually wins the contest, etc.

I consider myself a fairly educated person, but I don't have a clue of what's going on… Couldn't even tell you how my supposed representers in government voted on this issue or that. I will start paying attention though because I believe in life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Its washington state… if you didnt know that's in the northern part of the country. You weren't gonna win that even if they took 20 days to count. Stick to the south bc the folks at microsoft, seatles best, and starbuck would take a bullet to the knee cap before voting for you.

Don't forget, the sleeper candidate Ron Paul is still in the race. Once people do a little research for themselves instead of relying on media, they will see what he is about to accomplish.

Waaaaooooowwwww. Mike Huckabee woke up from his coma!

It's not just about Republicans. We as Americans need to prevent this type of action, period. I long for the day when 300 million strong Americans stand up for US, instead of some political figure. Does anyone honestly believe that Obama, or anyone else for that matter will bring so called change? Please, you're going to be quite disappointed. WE are the only ones that can bring about change, and unity is the only way to solve our problems. And furthermore EVERY vote should be counted at all times.

300 million against lobbyists
300 million against big insurance
300 million against crooked politics

Be aware that, that is"their" biggest fear. Polarizing us is "their" mission.

Unity for America….

Oh boy—i didn't hear McCain whine like this in 2000 when Taft and all the
top republicans in Ohio did everything they could to sway the vote towards
Bush. haven't forgotten about that Taft! and that's just what he did.
Did you hear McCain whine like this? No you did not.

Finally Huck and Al Gore have SOMETHING in common!

Funny, I don't remember Huckleberry having the same reaction in 2000.

Not counting the votes is outrageous! There should be a counting of ALL votes, no matter what the situation is. This is a democracy, in case Washington state needs to be reminded…..

What does he know about the Soviet Union anyway???

Why do conservatives have to be so extreme and senseless in their comments? Why do they always have to be so angry?

If there is one valid comparison to make regarding the Soviet Union's repressive and secretive face, it would be the existence of that prison in Guantanamo. That would be the U.S. version of Siberian gulags…

Huck can dish it out, but he can't take it. He has been extremely dishonest as he said he didn't feel good about running a negative ad about Romney and then he invited all the media for a press conference where he showed them the ad. He said he only showed them so they would believe he really had one. (The media didn't fall for it–they knew they'd been taken) He not only wanted his ad run for free but he also wanted to look like Mr.Righteous for not running it. He could have easily told the media to ask the TV stations if he really had an ad ready to run and they could have easily found out without Smuckabee showing them the ad. Of course, that would have defeated his purpose, wouldn't it. Decietful, calculating and coniving–is that the sort of President you really want? He is so phony. And he's a religious bigot.

Oh come on, how long does it take to count the remaining 7% of the republican caucus count. This smells fishy.

Cathy Slater, MD

McCAIN is riding on a 'bubble' wave that he is the presumptive republican nominee
But to get beaten TWICE in Nebraska and Louisiana does show how weak a presidential candidate he can be

McCAIN is too OLD to be playing dirty politics
You can't be a WINNER until the election is OVER
STOP LIVING IN THE CLOUD, GRAND PA McCAIN
BESIDES, YOU ARE NOT A TRUE CONSERVATIVE!

HUCKABEE IS RIGHT!

BUT VOTE FOR A TRUE CHANGE, NOT LIARS AND CHEATERS – VOTE DEMOCRAT!

VOTE OBAMA '08!

YES WE CAN

Quit whining, Mike.

U.S. Supreme Court & another court both agreed Florida results were correct. Democrats just didn't have the backbone to take it and sissfied their lawyers down to challenge it unsuccessfully. We are a nation of laws that's way Huckabee will get a recount in Washington.

I may not like Huck, but he's right on this one.

You can't simply call the game due to media interference and personal opinion. You have to fight it out to the end. Only then can you have a real winner.

I could understand if McCain was getting 85% or higher of the vote. But the race in WA was fairly close for the duration. Esser shouldn't have called it early, and there should be a recount. I believe that McCain will still get the state, but it's the least they can do to recover from this blunder.

Why do we bother to have an election? We are asked to vote but in the end somone else is deciding. Our constitution starts out with "We the people…" Every vote should count! Get rid of super delegates and let every vote count .

Yes We Can!

Obama or Clinton wins, doesn't matter. America deserved change for better future and better role in world policy!

I think Huck is right, let the votes be counted, if your man will win then have faith in the votes cast. We see what happened in 2000.

These manipulations by the two major parties amount to election fraud at the general election level also, because our choices are constrained by pseudo primaries that are rigged, and by general election access rules that disable third party entries.

Party leaders need to be sent to jail for doing this stuff. I'm serious!

He didn't say anything when they did it to the Democrat aka Gore

Krautish greeting from good old Germany: Go on, Mike Huckabee and don´t give up! Don´t let them count you out.
I personally enjoy if underdogs are on the move. It seems that there are many folks that just dislike if Mike Huckabee is winning and therefore stop counting ballots before the last one has been counted. This behaviour is very arrogant and is not treasured here in Germany either.
Kind regards from a Jerry near Hamburg!

The Corporate Media is not at fault, the Washington Republican chairman is at fault. A curse on your house Mr. Chairman. Oh, and perhaps even more importantly Mr. Chairman, what kind of leading by example is this for our young people? Do you really believe that lies, cheating, and stealing is the message we want our youngsters to hear?

Regardless of how any of us feel about Huckabee as a person or as a candidate, or how corrupt we've all come to accept the political system is, Huckabee is right to point out obvious corruption when he sees it. So was Kucinich when he and the other "minor" candidates were being railroaded out of the debates (and the media).

Any candidate we elect will be beholden to certain powers within the existing system. Instead of wondering whether this type of activity would be decreased under a certain administration or not, the better question we should be asking ourselves is: how can we change the system?

Isn't this par for the course for Republicans? I mean they've done this time and again. Now they are doing it to one of their own because they want him to drop out. I hope he continues to pursue this matter and focuses a spotlight on this problem.

Huckabee,

Stop your whining. Romney was right behind you on in the Washington caucuses. If he hadn't suspended his campaign, you would have been completely irrelevant in the state. He'll beat you in the primary on the 19th.

I'm a McCain supporter, but I agree with Huckabee's outrage. How hard would it have been to count the rest of the votes? Poor decision.

GO HUCKABEE!!! Always standing up for what is RIGHT!

No Mike, it's not communism it's Socialism. Everyone is so confused and tired of politics (a year and a half now) and so many people are losing their jobs and houses that we cannot agree with spending millions and millions and millions to get elected( how many of those millions would have saved Americans from such devastating hurt? And it seems like you folks don't really care as long as you get elected).

This would be laughable if it weren't so very Republican and disgusting. We don't need to count the remaining votes, we think we know which candidate is going to win,, in fact we'll make sure they do win. Fascist unAmerican fixed corporate elections are what the Republican Party has brought to us. But lets face it boys and girls, it's only ok when it is somebody else losing, huh Huck?

What kind of a message do we send to younger voters when a race is called before all votes are counted? Also, my home state of Texas has not even had its primary yet, and the Republican field has already been narrowed for me by other states, with media interference. Now my governor wants Huckabee to drop out so that I have no choice at all in my vote.

Governors, make your endorsements, but let me have a choice. State election officials, let me know my vote really does count. Media pundits, quit influencing the vote by calling races early.

Give it up Mike you're making your party look bad you need to rally behind McCain if the Republicans have ANY shot of holding onto the white house. In fighting is going to do nothing but make you weaker!

Dear CNN,

I can only think of the last election when George Bush lost the vote in Florida but won the state and the presidency. I'am sure Mike Huckabee was praising that decision.

I don't agree with Huckabee with his policies, but I agree with him here. If they still haven't called New Mexico for either Dem with a thousand vote difference, they shouldn't have called this one.

go Rommnny!

how can he did not said the same when the supreme court gives the election to bush in 04?.

Your headline "Angrey Huckabee" but in no way was Gov. Huckabee angry! I believe you misspelled angry. I cannot help and think the media is putting a spin on Huckabee so McCain is elected. Media would prefer a less righteous individual to justify their lifefstyles, & I understand that . This is why you allow extreme & untruthful left wing comments but are afraid to allow articles like this one that expresses the truth.

Voters long for the return of Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and Fair elections.
Today we get neither.

Way to go NORMA! American Idol? YOU should be President!

So lets see… It is often said that americans are apethetic when it comes to voting and that not nearly enough of us take the time to get out and do it. If my vote may not even be counted, what is my motivation? This current system seems to make voting a waste of my time…

* Eli Manning 08″!!!!

I am a Republican and I am getting to the point I don't trust the Republican party because of things like this. Just count the votes!

Now the Republicans don`t like their own rules !!!!! Anyone remember how Bush got into office the first time???? Meaby Huck needs to try the Supreme Court !!!!! Now that would be worth watching———-

I dropped my ballot off at about 10:00 PM, and agree with Huckabee's sentiment. Elections represent just one aspect of the many un-American qualities creeping into Washington politics.

I think that huckabee is right, this is bullcrap. I've always had the suspicion that all these elections are rigged by the election officials. This proves it. Bush stole the election twice, and as long as we allow them to, they will keep rigging the results. Just like the lies about the 9/11 fiasco, and the lead up to the Iraq war.

This should be challenged to the full extent. It is outrageous!!!! There is no common sense to calling an election with a margin of less than 250 votes difference and 1500 still to be counted. Is someone being paid off here????
The people of Washington should be outraged. Mike Huckabee should not have to send lawyers—the people of Washington should take this up as an issue. What ever happened to fair-mindedness???? Washatonians—stand up and be counted!!!!!!! AND LET AMERICA KNOW THE REAL RESULTS OF YOUR ELECTION—NOT JUST ONE MAN'S OPINION OF WHAT HE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE. DON' T LET THIS BE YOUR LEGACY!!!!. If the votes are totally counted and Mike Huckabee is the loser–so be it—however, if John McCain is the loser–so be it.

Winning…losing, who cares. But, the arrogance of Luke Esser is astounding. We have a democratic process in this country. For Esser to take matters into his own hands is unconstitutional. Our rights are slipping through our hands people. America needs to wake up.

p.s. I'm not a Huckabee supporter.

How is this possible? It sure smells of arrogance on the part of the Washington GOP Chairman.

McCain is really making his campaign look bad by not jumping on this. As a supporter of McCain's 2000 bid its really sad to see his shift to the right and embracing the Republican establishment. So much for the "maverick", I guess he got left in the 20th century. As much as I think Huckabee is probably a really nice guy, I think his policy being driven by his religion would be dangerous for America. We've already seen what happens when we have a president like that.

People actually think there's a difference between the Republicans and the "old USSR?" So sad, yet so funny at the same time.

"They" keep talking about how Americans are divided in so many ways…well this is sure one way to bring us all together, left or right or independent. This is more than errant voting machines. This is a blatant disregard for the American democratic process. I don't think Americans should or will take it anymore. This has to be the last straw. They're playing games with us. Hey, we Americans are easy-going. We have a certain tolerance for our government and our leaders…but we are by no means willing to give up a basic right. They work for US, right?

You moderators are simply censors in desguise. so much for the liberal media's idea of the first ammendment!

It's only 1500 votes. It'll probably be less effort to just count the things and be done with it. The right thing to do would be to admit that a mistake was made, then go count them. That will settle the issue quickly and let the Republican party stay focused on the November election. If it really is a shoo-in for McCain, then what do they have to lose?

Caucus in Washington needs reform. I amazed how they handled it. It was just like in IOWA caucus. No age or vote registration check. I saw at the caucus location in Bothell that 16 years old voted without any problem. I wonder if you can just go to another location and vote again since there is no checking and no question ask.
It's really a corruption in caucus as a whole.

Kind of like how Junior Bush won the election in 2000. What's new Republicans?

Althought McCain still probably would've won, calling an election with only 87% reporting is way too early regardless of how big the lead is.

Now Huckabee knows how Ron Paul feels!

So: when there is a tight margin between two candidates of less than 2%, and only 87% of the votes have been counted, right in the midst of such a cliffhanger, we stop counting and declare a winner?

I'm still waiting to see if Esser has a good explanation for what he did. It seems nothing less than election fraud. And apparently, when Huckabee's lawyer called to protest, the mighty Esser hung up on her!

I'm a Democrat for Obama, and have no love lost for Huckabee, and this still makes my blood boil.

Huck is so not ready for the Major Leagues – go back to Arkansas and sell used cars!
Let's recount all the States he won!
Get out of the race, Huck! You can't win – and not even a miracle will help you now ( didn't help those states you won on super tuesday – most had tornadoes)

I thought it was CNN's job to declare winners prior to the end of democratic political contests, not Party Chairmen – gosh, I'm confused…

Huck finally knows how it feels to be Ron Paul! Ha!

I feel this is ridiculous. The primaries are not over in all of the states and the
news media is calling for a McCain victory. This is not right. Did we not learn anything when Reagan was running and the news media declared him the winner prior to the close of all the polling stations and most of the West coast did not even vote?

I agree with Huckabee, this is America and we all have a right to vote and it should count.

Count the Washington votes in their entirety.

Karma sucks, doesn't it? That's probably about how Mitt Romney felt in W. Virginia. What goes around, comes around.

Norma/Mike USMC 95-99

Why all this accusation of the media?

Do you believe that all Americans get their information soley from TV?

How stupid do you think Americans are?

If they are so stupid that they "believe whatever the media tells them" then I guess this whole process is a waste of time and Hillary should have been elected a year ago when she was reported to be "inevitable".

Me I go do the research myself, read their webpages, where they stand on issues THEN go out and listen to the way they present themselves and make my decision. You can tell who does that and who just parrotts the media "Experiance" "Yes we can" "War Hero" "Conservative Values". Grow up people take the responsibility to do the work and make an informed decision and if you cannot do that at least stop complaining that others are telling you what to think!

The republicans are good at not counting votes. First in Florida in 2000, then in Ohio in 2004, and now they have already started in 2008. Old John Kerry was right " The biggest bunch of crooks I ever saw."

Hahahaha.

Irony, anyone?

Media is the king maker here; in Soviet Union it is different.

Eric– This article is not about Obama but since you insist. Obama is now telling people not only what they want to hear but what they NEED to hear! What an arogant bastard!

I am no Huckabee supporter, but I find myself in full agreement. It is one thing to "call the race" if you will, but only if you still intend to count all the votes. I had been under the impression all weekend that they had simply stopped counting and would be finishing today.

If Washington isn't going to finish counting, this is horribly wrong and needs to be corrected. Believe you me, I don't want Huckabee to win…but I don't want Democracy to lose either.

Mr. Huckabee, this is nothing new. It has happened in the last 2 presidential elections. Republicans will do anything to get their man elected.

Regardless of which party or which candidate or which state this affected, why would someone decide to just stop counting votes? Why don't they at least finish counting today? Does that not sound suspicious to anyone else?

Ha – Republicans don't like it when the same tactics they used against Gore backfire on them eh????

Huckabee's frustration isn't from the Washington primaries. Like Romney, he is frustrated that what worked for Republicans in 2000 and 2004 isn't working for him now. That is, pandering to the evangelical voters was a sure fire win in the Rove/Bush election. And Romney can't figure out why he didn't win when he had the most money. It worked for Bush Junior, but it didn't work for him.

What neither of these men can accept is that the country wants change. And Republicans want change so bad they went with John McCain of all people.

Huckabee's biblical quotes are politics of the past. Hopefully Americans will be smart enough to elect leaders based on their character, experience, and skills instead of which bag of dirty Republican tricks they use best.

People are STILL complaining about the Florida recount? Jeez… get over it, guys. They still did the recount and the electoral votes were properly allocated.

How about the same outrage over the Louisianna rule change at the last minute that cost Ron Paul a win in that state's caucus?

Fair is fair for everyone, not just Huckabee or McCain, or Clinton, or Obama. Any irregularity is remenicient of "machine politics" a la Soviet Russia – not just those that effect you, Mr. Hucakbee.

Joe

Huckabee, youve got "guys" waving pompoms for you? Well what did you expect? Republicans suddenly liking guys waving pompoms? Besides, it was republicans who did the vote counting in Florida, remember? You should be praising thier methods, they are your people!

Well this certainly puts a whole new spin on those who repeatedly trash Hillary
and Bill for what they call unscrupulous tactics and anything to win strategies!

To decide 1,500 votes are not worthy their time and effort for counting when a Candidate was losing by only 242 votes is the most blantant ,unethical, unscrupulous, corrupt political tactics to date!

I hope they are not going to get away with their obvious plan to put McCain in the lead anyway they possibly can even by corruption ! The people who are responsible for this underhanded ploy should be stripped of their position not only for this election but for every political count!

I just got to mention that I am sooooooo sick of seeing barach HUSSIEN obama
on TV. This is just not right and he is no way right for our country. It is some dumb, blinded, brainwashed voters in America.

It is looking more & more like the party bosses in both partys are/will be deciding the nominees …

all votes NEED to count and for that to happen they need to be counted.

Huckabee is right – to decide the winner of an election when there's a narrow margin and quite a few votes remaining to count is very reminiscent of the way Communist elections are engineers. This is disgraceful; Mr. Esser needs to be severely reprimanded for his misconduct.

Eric – the article was about Huckabee – how about staying on topic?

Re Huck – He's like a small child, am just waiting for him to take his bat and ball and go home!!

Let's not forget that, if all the votes are counted, Ron Paul could be the winner of WA. He was right behind Huckabee in a close 3rd place position when the counting was stopped.

None-the-less, what the news isn't tellnig you is that the vote in question is only a straw-poll. The truth of the matter is that WA is a cuacus state and Ron Paul seems to have won the majority of the delegates. There's a distinction in WA between the straw-poll and the delegate contest – no direct relationship. But, you'll never hear that from the MSM. As a matter of a fact, given that CNN has refused to post ANYTHING that I've written with Ron Paul's name in it, I doubt you'll even see this post.

Huck is right. You count all the votes, I don't care if 99% was going to McCain. I might not like Huck's views as much as the other candidates, but I would rather see him as the nominee than McCain. To just give the nomination to McCain is ridiculous.

I would add that not only should Republicans be concerned, but Democrats, Independents as well. In fact, ALL Americans should be concerned. This is about our democratic process. Voting is one of the few ways American voices are heard. No one should be complacent on this issue. You have to wonder who's next? What candidate, what state? Not only in this election but elections in years to come. And we have a huge general election coming up. Everyone should be outraged. We need to address this issue NOW, as Americans, not as left and right. This affects us all.

Hey Don't Cry foul NOW. Did you complain when it worked for BUSH???

What's an extra 1500 votes to count? Just count them and show the total. I'm pretty sure its not a big deal to finish this whole voting thing completely.

Is there any wonder about the discontent of our political process?

Americans now should be realizing the choices that they have. On the Democratic side, the people's votes will be decided by the mindset of the Super Delegates. When as staunch a Democrat as Donna Brazile has to say that whe will leave the party of the Super Delegates change the decision of the people, it is way past time to realize that we have to wrest control away from the party.
On the Republican side, who is the party leader to say that any votes don't count.
Again, just another example of why Americans dislike and distrust their politicians.
If you are reading this, take the time to add your note of anger against Washington State Republican politicians.

Jonathan I agree with you 100%. This will only push people away from the GOP more. I hope other states will not do something like this especially Texas that already asked Huckabee to drop out. That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Huckabee deserves a chance. It is his right as an American. This whole move is not good for the McCain camp.

I don't like Mike but he has a point and a very good one too…

There should be a 24 hour delay for all official winner results & corrinations … The instant democracy we have here in the US is a total sham …

The Corporate Media is to blame for this phenomea …

Another black eye for WA state elections.

As a Democrat, I never thought I would utter the words "Huckabee is right." But he is on this one. Esser shouldn't have done that.

Any way you slice it this was a bad move by Esser. If he really is a McCain supporter and believed McCain was going to win, he should have waited for the last few votes to be counted.
This is a more egregious example of vote manipulation than Florida. At least there the uncounted ballots were defective in some way.

Unless the caucus was already held, I agree with Huckabee. Don't call it before it is over. That doesn't let people have their say. Here is where the people have some say in their country's running.

Wow, I'm with Huckabee on this one. Every vote should be counted.

Isn't it amazing how the GOP eats their own?

Huck will get a lot of mileage from this screw-up by Esser, as well he should.

He better get used to it. Hasn't he been paying attention to what's been going on with the Dem side? Then there is the whole GE fiasco to go through.

Surprise! Typical Replubican shennanigans!

Hello Mr Huckabee;
Now you can get some idea of how democrates must of felt when we say Mr. Gore get cheated out of even a more important contest. The republican party manipulates resultes and will try to manpulate the next presidential election. What happen to fair elections?

We should wonder about the quality of reporting on CNN, if they can not even spell ANGRY.(NOT ANGREY)

He's absolutely right about this. No reason not to finish the count.

Of course, if you look at CNN's election stats, it looks as though Maine Republicans gave up on their count as well. They stalled out below 70%. It wasn't close, so nobody really cares, but is it so hard to finish counting?

I am TOTALLY shocked about someone who thinks he can control the vote of the people. Who can you trust these days? I don't blame the Huckabee campaign, I would be there with 100 lawyers to can this guy. His true colors have come out, he is evil.

I am a Mitt Romney supporter. Both McCain and Huckabee are dirty players, and they both deserve whats coming to them. We all know that McCain is really a democrate in disguise as a republican. So why not vote for the best democrate out of all of them. My vote will most likely go with Barack Obama.

So does Luke Esser think he is the new Boss Tweed??? Gimme a break!

Huck & Co will get a recount if they push it that far. They know which knife to dig into the WA Repub establishment. From the very conservative Seattle Times:

“This was an error in judgment by Mr. Esser,” a Huckabee campaign release said. “Washington Republicans know, from bitter experience in the 2004 gubernatorial election, the terrible results that can come from bad ballot counting.”

Keep evoking Chris Gregoire’s ‘04 election squeaker, Hucksters, & you’ll definitely get your way…

I tend to agree with him…this whole election is being run by the media. Someone needs go put a stop to it.

Will said, Mr. Huckabee!

Huck welcome to the world of Republican Politics. This has been happening for quite a long time and not just in the primaries, but also in the presidential elections. The American individuals voices is being suppressed and this needs to stop. I think that this election is the start of the end of our 2 party system. We need more people who are independent and who wants to go across party lines to actually help the American people and not give in to special interest and others.

Mr. Huckabee isn't the only candidate who is being ignored – CNN, Fox, CBS,NBC, ABC are all practically giving Obama the red carpet treatment. too. They hone in on what they think us viewers want to hear – not the truth. I'm sorry, but we've sunk as low in this campaign as we can – it hasn't been a fair election from the get-go.

I think we need a new rule for elections – declare the first person with 100 votes to be the winner. Then we could take all of this wasted money and put it to a better use. Let the media choose the winner like they do anyway. I personally like American Idol's way better – the people vote for their favorite. Doesn't matter if they have what it takes, perform better or actually know what they're doing – if they look good, have charm – go for it.

We in this country are no better than those that we criticize in other countries.
I'm glad Mr. Huckabee is contesting this. And, of course, you will all make him look like a poor loser because he's standing up to corrupt politicians. That's what you do.

Even though Huckabee has no realistic shot at the nomination, it was pretty lame of Luke Esser to call the race early. No one should be calling any race early regardless of the current vote tally. This is America. Every vote counts.

Give 'em Hell Huck!!! I love it.

Obama in 08!

He says Republicans should be outraged? But not outraged when the Supreme Court called off the counting in Florida. Interesting.

Huckabee still whining!

**rolls eyes** How dare he call foul when he only stayed in for Super Tuesday so Romney wouldn't win? Grow up alraedy.

The Marxist establishment is being resurrected in the Obama campaign. His calls for "change" and "sacrifice" eerily echo the brutal Soviet and Chinese regimes.

When will U.S. elected officials going to stop calling other nations names?

2 words: Florida recount.

Bad move on Esser's behalf. It will add more fuel to the Huckabee train!

McCain folks should be screaming NO themselves. Forcing McCain will only serve to push folks on the fence to Huckabee!

Oh, but it was perfectly OK in the Bush election for votes to be tossed…