Malice & Incompetence - does it really matter which it is?

[mdhunter]

I'm fed up with the recount and election fraud movements being labeled conspiracy theories. It is even more disheartening that respectable journalists, as on NPR today, are parroting this line.

There are perhaps innumerable examples of election irregularities from the 2004 contest. The overwhelming majority of these seem, in one way of another, to have helped the President gain re-election, and Republicans generally in more local races.

There are but two explanations for this situation. First, the conspiracy. That it was an attempt, with some degree of orchestration, to systematically rig the vote to favor Bush. Second, that the errors were more or less due to chance or other mitigating factors not directly related to tampering.

The first is still in the realm of conspiracy, no matter that it seems even to me to be more plausible, due to a lack of concrete evidence of widespread tampering and orchestration. Before I'm flamed, note that I wrote that I, nevertheless, think it to be the more plausible. The second scenario indicates that the voting system generally is inaccurate and inconsistent enough that will always miscount the votes, greatly affecting what seems to be the trend of close elections.

The first scenario is attributed to malice, the second to incompetence. And, I'm not sure that which it is makes as much difference as the underlying truth - that end result of both is a shaken confidence in our democracy resulting from poorly executed elections.

So, let us, and the media, stop confusing one potential explanation for an event with the event itself. Attributing the voting irregularities to massive fraud may yet prove to be vindicated, though it is still somewhat suspect. But, it's being borderline conspiracy theorist does not mean that the event it's trying to explain isn't true. Something is not right here at the ranch; I don't care, in the end, how it came to pass, I just want people to know about, to care about it, and to do something about it.

[tanyev]

1. Very good point.

Even if Blackwell isn't malicious (which I believe he is), then he is certainly incompetent beyond belief and the proceedings in Ohio should be investigated accordingly.

[wanderindiana]

4. The Blackwell for Governor Letter

Mr. Blackwell takes full credit for "delivering Ohio" for Mr. Bush.

As the Ohio official charged with enforcing state electoral law and the co-chair of the Bush-Cheney campaign, he is involved with organized efforts. Though the dual roles constitute an obvious conflict of interest, Blackwell would not have been able to deliver Ohio for Bush were he not SoS--were he unable to have issued the many orders regarding registrations, provisional ballots, and recount procedure that violated Ohio electoral law.

Blackwell's actions were not born of incompetence; his actions were willful abuse of power.

[newyawker99]

5. Hi wanderindiana!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[ClassWarrior]

2. Let's hope folks eventually realize it's malice - criminal malice.

...cuz the Radical RW has had a free ride for four years aboard the incompetence train.

NGU.

[Inland]

3. Or both--malicious cheating made possible by incompetent tabulation