The other day that Markos Zuniga (Daily Kos) scolded his own minions, and in effect to the to "shut the hell up" about Kerry winning Ohio. It was, IMHO, a rare moment of clarity.
Us liberal bloggers like to brag that we live in the "reality-based community". It's kind of hard to be reality-based when people are claiming that Kerry won with no hard evidence to the contrary. Was there fraud? Sure. There always has been. Was the GOP ready to steal the election if necessary? No doubt. But they didn't have to steal this one. This wasn't 2000. Bush rode his fucked up war to victory, whether we like it or not. History will judge us right, but until then, we're stuck with the results.YesterdayNow, I was open minded at first, letting the fraudsters do the analysis, ready to pounce if the smoking gun was found. But after myriad diaries crying wolf, claiming that this was the evidence to seal the deal, well, it got old. Then it got counterproductive, then it got embarrassing.
After giving this much thought, I am signing on to the notion that indeed, Democratic Representatives and Senators should contest the Ohio electors tomorrow. That was not my opinion a week ago, but it is now. I've changed my mind not because new evidence has been presented, or new arguments have arisen, but because, in the climate of today, right now, this moment, I believe that Congress is in a tactical position to make a difference.Ah, contest the Ohio electors as a form of political grandstanding. Good luck with that. I'm sure the voting public will be quick to forgive and forget that Democrats couldn't concede an election they clearly lost by invoking a maneuver they could not even bring themselves to use in 2000...I do not believe any evidence exists to claim that Kerry definitively received more votes in Ohio than Bush, and I believe the oft-cited exit poll evidence, in particular, is weak. But this election needs to be contested on more fundamental grounds; as an objection to the behavior of partisan election officials, unwilling to take seriously the sacred nature of their duties.
Congress meets today in joint session to approve the electoral votes from the 2004 presidential election. In order to mount a challenge to the Ohio electors Representative John Conyers, who's already indicated he will challenge, needs to get one Senator to challenge as well. Word is California Senator Barbara Boxer is close to becoming that necessary one Senator. Beached whale Michael Moore is urging Senators to take a harpoon for the conspiracy totting Deaniac of the world, and Keith Olbermann, even on his sick bed, is ready to hunker down at MSNBC headquarters for round-the-clock coverage. I can't wait... I smell a PR fiasco of epic proportions...
Oh by the way, there is an election that is still in doubt where this kind of scrutiny could help, but it's not the presidential election. Actually there's two elections that fit that bill...
Update: The challenge has begun. You can watch the prescribed 2 hour debate at CSPAN.



Comments (26)
Let them bleat.Eve... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Russ | January 6, 2005 2:02 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Let them bleat.
Every time Boxer opens her yap, a steel worker in Pennsylvania says to himself "Why do I vote for those people?"
1. Posted by Russ | January 6, 2005 2:02 AM |
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Posted on January 6, 2005 02:02
2. Posted by Jane | January 6, 2005 2:08 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
So he's a flip flopper too.
2. Posted by Jane | January 6, 2005 2:08 AM |
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Posted on January 6, 2005 02:08
3. Posted by Mark | January 6, 2005 2:57 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Dude, Stealler fans don't vote for Boxer. She is elected in California where the Govenator started The reform movement we have been waiting for today... real budget reform.
Forcing the hand of the girlie men by calling a special assembly session.
3. Posted by Mark | January 6, 2005 2:57 AM |
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Posted on January 6, 2005 02:57
4. Posted by -S- | January 6, 2005 3:28 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Yeah, I'm marvelling at Barbara Boxer, among others, too. I honestly do not know what in Sam Hill is wrong with her, but something certainly is.
4. Posted by -S- | January 6, 2005 3:28 AM |
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Posted on January 6, 2005 03:28
5. Posted by -S- | January 6, 2005 3:31 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Here we go again and again, Democrats just sure that if they just recount and rehash enough times, they'll have a coupla hundred more ballots...from...SOMEwhere. I mean, Michael Moore SAYS they exist, so they MUST. Argh.
5. Posted by -S- | January 6, 2005 3:31 AM |
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Posted on January 6, 2005 03:31
6. Posted by Simon | January 6, 2005 3:51 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
So I decided to check it out since you raised it. Markos posted the one but he sure as hell didn't post the other one (the one stating that the contesting should occur). It looked like it was someone of his bullpen.
Whether it's Markos' opinion, I don't think it's clear at all. I think it's a bit of CYA...
6. Posted by Simon | January 6, 2005 3:51 AM |
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Posted on January 6, 2005 03:51
7. Posted by Rosemary | January 6, 2005 5:22 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
My, my, my. I pray, Dear God, President Bush will play hardball these 4 years. Don't defend yourself, make them responsible for their words and actions. They want every vote counted? Not if you're in the Military! Not if you're in a red district! HA! They want power, plain and simple. Na na na na na. You can't have it, you fools!
7. Posted by Rosemary | January 6, 2005 5:22 AM |
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Posted on January 6, 2005 05:22
8. Posted by Jim | January 6, 2005 6:43 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
You know, the feds spend millions and millions of taxpayer dollars on different academic studies. Why don't they do a study on what caused the damage to the brains of Lberals? Is the damage a result of psychological or physiological circumstances such as bumping their heads on the toilet? Is there a mutated Liberal gene? Do Liberals indeed have metal plates in their heads, as alleged by talk show host Mark Levin? Inquiring minds want to know.
By the way, here's another example of Liberal pathology:
Film mogul Oliver Stone claims that people didn't go to see his movie "Alexander" because it takes place in the Middle East and it reminded movie-goers of Bush's war in the Middle East.
8. Posted by Jim | January 6, 2005 6:43 AM |
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Posted on January 6, 2005 06:43
9. Posted by Allan Yackey | January 6, 2005 6:49 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Yesterday the KerryEdwards campaign sent out an email under John Kerry's name. It is a long one, but the first part reads:
"No American citizen should wake up the morning after the election and worry their vote wasn't counted. No citizen should be denied at the polls if they are eligible to vote. And, as the greatest, wealthiest nation on earth, our citizens should never be forced to vote on old, unaccountable and non transparent voting machines from companies controlled by partisan activists.
Tomorrow, members of Congress will meet to certify the results of the 2004 presidential election. I will not be taking part in a formal protest of the Ohio Electors.
Despite widespread reports of irregularities, questionable practices by some election officials and instances of lawful voters being denied the right to vote, our legal teams on the ground have found no evidence that would change the outcome of the election.
But, that does not mean we should abandon our commitment to addressing those problems that happened in Ohio. We must act today to make sure they never happen again.
I urge you to join me in using this occasion to highlight our demand that Congress commit itself this year to reforming the electoral system."
The words "demand that Congress commit itself this year to reforming the electoral system" are in bold in the original.
The email claims to have been sent to three million email addresses.
It might be an interesting day.
9. Posted by Allan Yackey | January 6, 2005 6:49 AM |
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Posted on January 6, 2005 06:49
10. Posted by Jack Tanner | January 6, 2005 9:07 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
'Was the GOP ready to steal the election if necessary? No doubt.'
Take a trip to Washington and see who's doing the election stealing, asshole.
10. Posted by Jack Tanner | January 6, 2005 9:07 AM |
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Posted on January 6, 2005 09:07
11. Posted by pat | January 6, 2005 10:17 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Jim - Stone is a genius! This also explains the failure of the equally dismal film: Troy. Maybe he could work an angle to cover 2004's mega-failure: King Arthur.
Best not to remind him that sales of the book, Gates of Fire, remain brisk (even though it's about a coalition of European types who don't give a damn what the rest of the world thinks and defeat a mad King from the environs of Iraq).
11. Posted by pat | January 6, 2005 10:17 AM |
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Posted on January 6, 2005 10:17
12. Posted by shark | January 6, 2005 10:43 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
This is GREAT! Between bashing a latino nominee, appearing soft on prisoner treatment and contesting the election, the Dems have assured the GOP of attaining a filibuster-proof majority in the mid-terms.
These idiots find themselves in a hole and keep digging.
They think 4 years of nasty political warfare will help them? Yeah, because it worked so well the last 4 years.
I laugh at their pain
12. Posted by shark | January 6, 2005 10:43 AM |
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Posted on January 6, 2005 10:43
13. Posted by julie | January 6, 2005 10:55 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I hope someone is keeping a running total on how much this nonsense is costing the taxpayer. These people and their incessent whining is boring the hell out of me.
13. Posted by julie | January 6, 2005 10:55 AM |
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Posted on January 6, 2005 10:55
14. Posted by Debra | January 6, 2005 10:59 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I received the e-mail from Kerry...
What a load of hog waste. I was fuming at the thought of some LFL getting ahold of my e-mail address and ruining my day with such drivel
14. Posted by Debra | January 6, 2005 10:59 AM |
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Posted on January 6, 2005 10:59
15. Posted by Les Nessman | January 6, 2005 12:38 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Nice. So, liberal Democrats are willing to tear down our whole system of voting, just because their guy lost.
These Democrats are anti-American assholes.
15. Posted by Les Nessman | January 6, 2005 12:38 PM |
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Posted on January 6, 2005 12:38
16. Posted by Brad | January 6, 2005 1:56 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
There's nothing anti-American about this process. Barbara Boxer is wthin her rights as a Senator to challenge the Ohio vote results, with the aim not of overturning the election but of fostering congressional debate--and thereby bringing greater national attention to--the highly flawed voting process itself. Americans need to know about these irregularities, and that includes Washington State too. How many of you would be in favor of a Washington State senator challenging the vote certification for Governor there? Probably all of you.
16. Posted by Brad | January 6, 2005 1:56 PM |
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Posted on January 6, 2005 13:56
17. Posted by Steven J. Kelso Sr. | January 6, 2005 2:16 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
The Republican's need to standup and call the democrats what they are, power-hungry bullies.
Are the dems gonna get away with stealing the election in Washington?
17. Posted by Steven J. Kelso Sr. | January 6, 2005 2:16 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on January 6, 2005 14:16
18. Posted by Brad | January 6, 2005 4:52 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Way to go, Joser! Couldn't said it better myself. There's no room for intellectual debate in this blog, just immature ad hominem and a lot of monkey hollering.
18. Posted by Brad | January 6, 2005 4:52 PM |
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Posted on January 6, 2005 16:52
19. Posted by Ernie | January 6, 2005 5:23 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Why is it that only Democrat counties have the problems? Dade, and King counties.
19. Posted by Ernie | January 6, 2005 5:23 PM |
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Posted on January 6, 2005 17:23
20. Posted by Henry | January 6, 2005 5:31 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Brad, Joser, actually those "ahem-liberals" are threatening to get rid of a certain part of the constitution itself, or didn't you notice?
I do remember in my high school history classes about something pertaining to the electoral college in the "almighty Constitution".
By the way, the amendment process, which you claim is "president who tries to curtail the constitution any time he needs to", is also outlined in our Constitution.
Oh, and by the way, I'm sure it wouldn't be that hard for people to volunteer to work as poll workers, or to get more polls. THERE ARE WAYS TO DO IT. My mother was a poll worker in Bakersfield, California (in a very conservative county), and she was saying that their polls was a huge auditorium, they were letting people take their ballots and prepare them all over the place, then when it came time to actually vote, touch the screen, it took 2 seconds. There wasn't really a line because they were shuffling people through like crazy.
Apparently having to wait in line to vote is called disenfranchisement. I WAS A DISENFRANCHISED 3RD GRADE SCHOOLER TRYING TO EAT LUNCH, I HAD TO WAIT IN LINE TO EAT CRAPPY GRADE SCHOOL FOOD. IT TOOK 25 MINUTES TO GO THROUGH THE CAFETERIA LINE, I WANT A RE-EATING PROCESS NOW!!!!! I WAS DISENFRANCHISED!!!!!
20. Posted by Henry | January 6, 2005 5:31 PM |
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Posted on January 6, 2005 17:31
21. Posted by Patrick Chester | January 6, 2005 5:48 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Way to go, Joser! Couldn't said it better myself. There's no room for intellectual debate in this blog, just immature ad hominem and a lot of monkey hollering.
Like, say, comparing people who don't agree with you to monkeys. You might want to get acquainted with a term known as "projection", Brad.
Ook ook.
*stumbles off to look for a banana*
21. Posted by Patrick Chester | January 6, 2005 5:48 PM |
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Posted on January 6, 2005 17:48
22. Posted by HowardDevore | January 6, 2005 6:12 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Actually while protesting the results is Boxer's constitutional preogitive, fixing Ohio IS NOT!
Article II, Clause 2:
Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector.
The presidential election in Ohio (or Florida, or WA...) is done as set forth by the OHIO Legislature,
Not Boxer.
Not the Florida Supreme court.
Not even the US Supreme Court.
22. Posted by HowardDevore | January 6, 2005 6:12 PM |
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Posted on January 6, 2005 18:12
23. Posted by Patrick Chester | January 6, 2005 9:10 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Have you heard of these structures called "paragraphs"?
Might help your case slightly, if it wasn't for the ranting oh-poor-me-you-people-will-not-agree-with-me part that comprises most of your posting.
You can just keep on flinging out your accusations and presumptions about those who don't agree with you. It probably helps with your martyr wannabe complex.
I know: make up another demeaning term to refer to those so blind that they cannot see your oh-so-deity-like wisdom! That'll bring them galloping to your side for fear of being seen as "narrow minded" or worse.
23. Posted by Patrick Chester | January 6, 2005 9:10 PM |
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Posted on January 6, 2005 21:10
24. Posted by julie | January 6, 2005 9:24 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Paragraphs? Heck, let him start with complete sentences. Joser! Subject - Verb- Object.
24. Posted by julie | January 6, 2005 9:24 PM |
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Posted on January 6, 2005 21:24
25. Posted by Patrick Chester | January 7, 2005 9:08 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Look up the term "projection", Joser. Your entire argument is a series of accusations followed by insulting presumptions about those who don't agree with them. Little things like "bible thumping, gay bashing, equal rights and free choice stunting, elitist repugnantcans" followed by an insincere apology and a childish "they do it too" attempt at defending your actions.
Re: martyr complex: your "oh woe is me"-level whinges when people disagree with your pronouncements. Presumptions that those who do are "scumbags" 'narrow minded" and they must be JUMPING on you. Oh the tragedy...
...and I said "deity-like" as in my guess for how you value your opinions, judging from how you treat people who don't find them valid. Was I wrong and you consider it to be equaling a mere bodhisattva's?
But I'm just a monkey, as Brad would say, so please continue. With luck, you'll find your views vindicated in 2006, in the "what?! the morons didn't vote for us again?!" way. It'll be fascinating to watch. Sad, too.
25. Posted by Patrick Chester | January 7, 2005 9:08 PM |
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Posted on January 7, 2005 21:08
26. Posted by Amelia_Martinez | January 9, 2005 3:48 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
i can't believe you guys waste your times reading some boring long articles man. how sad can you guys get????? 150%? im not surprised.
yo here in london its a different and better story. yo help the tsunami victims by donating money pleaseeeeeeee
from AMELIA MARTINEZ from LONDON, ENGLAND
26. Posted by Amelia_Martinez | January 9, 2005 3:48 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on January 9, 2005 15:48