Excellent. This is a great point. DailyKos should get in on this as well. WAY TO GO........!
Posted by s at October 14, 2006 02:42 PMYou have a good point, but the numbers are already in. The GOP held onto a majority in both the Senate and House. It was surprising --- but what can you do? There was no paper trail left.
Posted by Tigger at October 14, 2006 03:23 PMWe were just discussing this and how the Repubs might accomplish it: best guess would be something like programming in every third Democratic vote to be entered as a Republican one. This is very disheartening, very scary and yes, you're absolutely right, it's a narrative that needs to be OUT THERE, immediately. Poll watchers, legal types, and exit pollers should be in every precinct.
Posted by dannyboy at October 14, 2006 05:17 PMThere needs to be media coverage in the lead-up to the election about past voting irregularities, a recap of Ohio '04 (will there be more voting machines in dem districts this time around?) and investigations before the election into voter polls, etc. I couldn't agree with you more. Even the republican governor of MD is urging people to use absentee ballots because he doesn't trust the system.
Posted by CG at October 14, 2006 05:24 PMTo add: how do we get this to happen?
Posted by CG at October 14, 2006 05:25 PM"We know that the GOP has its 72-hour operation and will dump millions the next three weeks into defending those GOP seats by smearing their Democratic challengers."
And "smearing," I take it, is the exclusive province of the GOP. Well Maybe...the Democrats have the corner on racist, bigoted commentary: have you been following the viciousness directed at Michael Steele in Maryland?
"We know that the GOP took control in 1994 of dozens of formerly Democratic seats not by a national tidal wave, but rather by a small national aggregate margin of well less than 100,000 votes amongst those captured Democratic seats."
You do not like the results, but admit it was a majority? This was the result of a vote? What would you prefer...never mind, I already know the answer.
"Having attorneys on the ground to deal with the issue after the fact isn't sufficient anymore."
Actually, I think that what you want is attorneys deciding the vote: trial attorneys to whom the Democratic Party is beholden.
Steve (et al) you have to get off the schtick that the GOP is stealing elections...it is not working. Consider, just for a moment, that the electorate is rejecting your ideas.
EXCELLENT Steve. One would think that the Democratic Party would have already thought this through and had a plan in place. Being pro-active now is the only way we can help to insure a lawful and legal election. Your plan is the only way that we can put a spotlight on this election, and make damn sure the GOP realizes that they won't steal another election without repercussions. Where do we go from here?
Posted by Judith at October 14, 2006 06:23 PM"Where do we go from here?"
Therapy?
Posted by Bagley at October 14, 2006 06:24 PMIgnore Baggy, he's scared.
Posted by Judith at October 14, 2006 06:26 PM"Ignore Baggy, he's scared."
Not at all, Judith. Care to elaborate (that means: add detailsor clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way...usually in writing)
Yes, thank you for asking: I am educated.
Posted by Bagley at October 14, 2006 06:40 PMWell, thanks to TLC for the bandwidth.
Not much in th way of entertainment here this evening: Judith and Seven of Six.
Steve, just an observation: you need more entertaining posters....or at least posters that are not...well never mind. No challenge with these two.
The left side of the blogosphere has become so shallow.
Good night all.
Posted by Bagley at October 14, 2006 06:59 PMbags must have just been getting ready to clock out!
He missed my last post on the open thread.
Just got off vacation and sure have a hell of a lot to catch up on. Caught bits and pieces off other sites but nothing like TLC!!
Steve sorry about your Bro, best wishes.
Sad to hear about the changes. Change can be good for all concerned.
Your bit on Muckdog was the best laugh I've had in a week! Of course my favorite line when Muck would post was 'dogpile'! And we would all gang up on him. I do feel sorry for him.
I'm only half way through the week's posts and comments! As usual, some of the funniest commentators are at TLC!
Seven of Six, I am honored to be put in the same catagory as you.
Posted by Judith at October 14, 2006 09:13 PMWow, what a week at TLC!!
Posted by Seven of Six at October 14, 2006 09:13 PMNo, no...it is I, Judith my dear, who is honored!
Posted by Seven of Six at October 14, 2006 09:35 PMtwo words
DIE BOLD
I dunno...hope to hell im wrong
Posted by marblex at October 14, 2006 09:36 PMI think Tristero has the right idea: If the GOP loses they will try to organize massive demonstrations saying that the Democrats cheated.
This is similar to the case in 2000, where there was a plan to organize nationwide protests if Gore lost the popular vote but won the electoral vote.
To continue with my last comment, the idea of protests would be to undermine the legitimacy of the Dems win. If there is a big D victory, that can't be changed, but the R's will want to establish a narrative which suggests that the D's cheated, which gives a basis for Bush acting against them, or even ignoring Congress completely
Posted by Marky at October 14, 2006 09:50 PMMarky, Like a Reichstag incident or something similiar?
That would be my worst fear! Then blame it on terrorists! Thus closing down Congress!
Having the people in fear again!
And what if something happens to another liberal SCOTUS member, then we're really fucked!
I bet that bitch Pelosi will get the anthrax mailing she deserves for appeasing the terrorists, eh?
You can just hear the wingnuts cheering if she is poisoned, or even if she just gets a hoax threat.
Actually, I think that what you want is attorneys deciding the vote: trial attorneys to whom the Democratic Party is beholden.
shorter Baggy: "Leave no rhetorical talking point behind."
There is no way in hell you are keeping a straight face while typing pure rhetoric like that.
Just remember Baggs, it is those same lawyers that you complain about that helped secure Bush's faux victory in 2000.
Consider, just for a moment, that the electorate is rejecting your ideas.
Be happy to, Baggs. Just as soon as verifiable elections are held. Sorry, but I'm going to have to give a weee bit more weight to statistical anomolies that are way outside the boundries of the margin of error rather than your assurances that eveything is just A-O.K. Question is, why are you opposed to verifiable elections.
So, do you get paid by the post, or is it just a right-wing salaried putz position?
the Democrats have the corner on racist, bigoted commentary:
That's true. Them and the niggers. Did I write that or just think it?
I researched this a bit for a dkos diary. The DNC claims to have a system in place. How sophisticated it is and how well it could respond to fraud and/or very close, contested races is not clear. The number for accessing the system is 1-888-336-8683.
Perhaps the better system is being developed at http://www.velvetrevolution.us . This is what is called their election protection project. Go there and give money to make sure it's as good as we can get.
Posted by Philip at October 15, 2006 08:44 AMhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/14/AR2006101400792.html
Party Games
Democrats and Republicans need to stop playing with voter fears.
Sunday, October 15, 2006; B06
HOW COME, when Maryland Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) expresses no confidence in state election officials and urges voters to use absentee ballots, Democrats squawk about a conspiracy to suppress the vote, but when Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan (D) says the same thing, there is silence? Given the importance of voting, playing politics in this way isn't forgivable.
Voting problems that Maryland experienced on primary day in September remain a real cause for concern. In Montgomery local election officials inexplicably forgot to deliver the computer cards needed to power the voting machines. Poorly trained workers and no-show judges caused problems in Baltimore City and Prince George's County. Glitches with the electronic poll books used to sign in voters cropped up across the state. Unfortunately, these legitimate issues have become blurred by assertions -- so far unfounded -- that there are problems with the reliability of the electronic voting machines. While we think that a paper trail for electronic voting is a prudent idea, the primary day voting breakdowns did not involve the voting machines, which worked without incident.
It is important that the state's political leaders not add to the confusion with suggestions that paper is the only safe way to vote. Instead of sowing unease that could well give pause to prospective voters, Mr. Ehrlich and Mr. Duncan should be focusing on the constructive steps that they are taking to try to ensure a smooth election. Mr. Ehrlich, for instance, deserves praise for his efforts to recruit state employees to work the polls by offering them administrative leave. Similarly, Mr. Duncan has made it possible for county technical experts to help election officials. There have been other encouraging signs such as the Maryland State Bar Association leading a drive to get its members to volunteer.
No doubt, the attention paid to the voting problems has put state and local election officials on notice as to exactly what is at stake on Nov. 7. And their jobs are the least of it.
Posted by Post Editorial Board at October 15, 2006 08:26 PMYes! There are times when the Bush Doctrine is appropriate - not in foreign policy, but in dealing with Bush.
1. Unilaterality [act on our own, just rather than reacting]
2. Pre-emption [come out swinging, just rather than reacting,]
3. Strength [with everything we've got]
4. Evangelical Democracy [it's an American thing!]
Posted by Mickey at October 15, 2006 09:03 PM