One More Thing
Posted on November 5, 2006 Posted by John Scalzi 22 Comments
Holy crap, look at these Ohio polling numbers for state offices and the US Senate. The story that accompanies those numbers is here.
What would be really interesting is if all the Republican candidates won, 51 – 49%. If that happened, this building would probably be on fire before morning:
That’s the head office for these folks, incidentally. Located right here in the great state of Ohio! It’d be either them or the State House, frankly.
So, you’re saying Diebold could die bold? (Okay, so maybe that wasn’t as clever as I thought it would be…)
Nonono… what’ll be funny is when it comes back with Bush 51% and Kerry 49%. THEN the buildings’ll burn down.
Who needs due process?
Hang ’em high.
Clearly someone’s not had their caffeine.
Time to stock up on bottled water, canned goods, and propane.
Serious tinfoil hat territory. But just in case.
I find myself wondering how many Republican operatives are getting paid to create a “strong turnout” by keeping likley democratic voters away from the polls.
Given the massive (and fraudulent) disenfrenchisement operations they conducted in Florida in 200 and 2004, removing from the polls voters with hispanic last names due to “mistaken” identification as felons, the well known phone jamming case, Rove’s typical dirty tricks around elections, etc… I’d find it suprising if the Republicans *didn’t* try to directly steal a few races.
Expect phone calls tomorrow claiming that Democrats are molesting the unborn children of US troops in order to raise taxes to pay welfare to Al Qaeda members.
“Expect phone calls tomorrow claiming that Democrats are molesting the unborn children of US troops in order to raise taxes to pay welfare to Al Qaeda members.”
That may be true. But, y’know, at some point voters have to take responsibility for their votes. Anyone who would’ve voted for the Democrat, but changed their mind after hearing a push poll, is an idiot.
Anyone who looks at the flaming wreckage the GOP hath wrought and says, “Yeah, but Democrats would be even worse!” is an idiot.
Anyone who looks at the flaming wreckage the GOP hath wrought and says, “Yeah, but Democrats will raise taxes!” is an idiot.
If the GOP wins Tuesday, anyone who tells me any variation of the above excuses, will get smacked in the face. Metaphorically speaking.
But no, Karl Rove says otherwise… unless he’s lying. Maybe the polls he’s looking at are the final tally of votes.
“Just need to press this button here and email the results to the boards of elections and Bingo! We’ve won, again.”
Also, for those of us in Ohio, the Board of Education elections are also important, if you’re interested in the Evolution vs Creationism debate.
Tuesday, everyone keep this number with you:
1-866-OUR-VOTE
“If you see ANYTHING that looks like an irregularity — step away from the polling place to the legal distance (generally something like 100 feet, but you can look this up), call this number, tell them clearly which polling place you’re at and what’s going on, and let them know that you need someone there RIGHT NOW. They’ll have lawyers *driving around* waiting for this kind of call.
Also, if you’re in a place where this is legal (again, look this up), and you have any issues with machine voting, and you have a cellphone with camera, DOCUMENT the problem you’re having — with video if possible, but still shots if not. DO CHECK, however, if this is legal in your state/county/district. It’s not everywhere.”
(Please repost aggressively)
That may be true. But, y’know, at some point voters have to take responsibility for their votes. Anyone who would’ve voted for the Democrat, but changed their mind after hearing a push poll, is an idiot.
Well, yes, but really, the world is full of idiots. All the GOP needs to do is get enough of them to vote. They’re better at scaring idiots than the Democrats. Karl Rove could give lessons to PT Barnum.
Josh, actually I think Karl goes for those who “could vote” and the others he tries to discourage.
Expect phone calls tomorrow claiming that Democrats are molesting the unborn children of US troops in order to raise taxes to pay welfare to Al Qaeda members.
…who are illegal immigrants!
I don’t think “molesting” will be in that, though. That’s a subject they’d kind of rather we all didn’t think about much just at the moment.
“Expect phone calls tomorrow claiming that Democrats are molesting the unborn children of US troops in order to raise taxes to pay welfare to Al Qaeda members.”
Actually, they’re being even more under-handed.
They’re robo-calling voters with a message that starts out: “[Democratic candidate’s name] has some information for you.”
Then there’s a pause, during which most people would probably hang up.
After the pause, a bunch of hostile rhetoric is played – a message against the Dem candidate.
Apparently, this call is being made to people as much as 6 or 7 times, including during the early morning hours.
Most people will hang up after the pause, and will think it is the Democratic candidate calling and being an ass.
Steve, if by “discourage” you mean “illegally disenfranchise”, yep.
Mythago, c’mon, they’ll be using the gay version of the blood libel forever. They love calling GLBT people child molestors. They’ll never abandon that tactic any more than neo nazis will abandon the protocols of the elders of zion.
Josh, well they try that too. I’m commenting more on the “you really don’t want to vote anyway, do you, it’s such a hassel” gambits like “they’re all crooks” and “a vote is an acceptance of the system” and just general mud-slinging which turns people off to the whole process.
“Well, yes, but really, the world is full of idiots.”
No argument there. However, if the Idiot Vote carries the day on Tuesday, then that’s once (2002), twice (2004) three (2006) strikes, and the US is out, in the old democratic republic ball game. We will deserve whatever happens to us.
When I clicked the Diebold link, I don’t know if it was manifestation of a preconceived notion or a kind of visual-processing Freudian slip (or being able to see things as they really are, a la that Roddy Piper movie where the glasses allowed you to see that Yuppies were really alien zombies), but I first saw, “Diebold: We won’t rest” as “Diebold: don’t trust.”
I agree- if the American electorate drops the ball this time around, I wouldn’t blame Queen Elizabeth for reclaiming the US as part of of the UK.
Josh, the problem is that they’ve got at least one of their own doing the deed. Using the M-word (molestation) might remind voters of the other M-word (Mark Foley). They’ll be right back to it once his scandal dies down, of course.
I think that’s too subtle for them, Steve, they go with fear and hatred. It’s establisherd. It’s got history.
This is kinda late since the election is over. But watching this movie on Google video, makes you want to do some hurt.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7236791207107726851&sourceid=docidfeed&hl=en-CA
It is like getting DNA test results showing that you are not the father of the child you have raised. Can it be true that we have fraudsters running this country?
The building would be on fire if ‘pubs won, but since dem’s won it’s not.
Have you caught on yet why some people who agree with yoru politics might decide that they don’t trust dem’s?
Interestingly, I didn’t say that it would be on fire if the Republicans won; I said it would be on fire if “if all the Republican candidates won, 51 – 49%” — that is to say, there was obvious tampering with electronic ballots to result in a desired and pre-determined outcome. Which is a different thing entirely.
If you want to use my words to make a point, you need to make sure the words say something to actually support your point. Unless you’re making the case for electronic vote tampering, these words don’t.