Mark Crispin Miller: Our Rigged Elections: Elephant in the Polling Booth

[kpete]

OUR RIGGED ELECTIONS
The Elephant in the Polling Booth
By Mark Crispin Miller | October 1, 2006 (page 1/3)

To say that this election could go either way is not to say that the Republicans have any chance of winning it. As a civic entity responsive to the voters' will, the party's over, there being no American majority that backs it, or that ever would. Bush has left the GOP in much the same condition as Iraq, Afghanistan, the global climate, New Orleans, the Bill of Rights, our military, our economy and our national reputation. Thus the regime is reviled as hotly by conservatives as by liberals, nor do any moderates support it.

So slight is Bush's popularity that his own party's candidates for Congress are afraid to speak his name or to be seen with him (although their numbers, in the aggregate, are even lower than his). It seems the only citizens who still have any faith in him are those who think God wants us to burn witches and drive SUVs. For all their zeal, such theocratic types are not in the majority, not even close, and thus there's no chance that the GOP can get the necessary votes.

And so the Democrats are feeling good, and calling for a giant drive to get the vote out on Election Day. Such an effort is essential—and not just to the Democrats but to the very survival of this foundering Republic. However, such a drive will do the Democrats, and all the rest of us, more harm than good if it fails to note a certain fact about our current situation: i.e., that the Democrats are going to lose the contest in November, even though the people will (again) be voting for them. The Bush Republicans are likely to remain in power despite the fact that only a minority will vote to have them there. That, at any rate, is what will happen if we don't start working to pre-empt it now.

Even though this election could go either way, neither way will benefit the Democrats. Either the Republicans will steal their "re-election" on Election Day, just as they did two years ago, or they will slime their way to "victory" through force and fraud and strident propaganda, as they did after Election Day 2000. Whichever strategy they use, the only way to stop it is to face it, and then shout so long and loud about it that the people finally perceive, at last, that their suspicions are entirely just—and, this time, just say no.

much more at:
http://www.commondreams.org/views06/1003-32.htm

[Benhurst]

1. Recommended #4

[Stevepol]

2. K&R!!!

[glitch]

3. K & R thanks for posting.

I doubt anyone here is buying the current fox spin that the republicons were gaining in the polls before the Foley scandal. We all need to anticipate some event that will make their "surprising comeback" in the polls plausible, for the sole purpose of making their election theft deniable.

[Helga Scow Stern]

6. LA Times was spinning GOTV numbers with evangelicals, just like

last time. Crispin Miller says this is more of the same old strategy as last time.

[glitch]

9. They do seem to be playing by the same playbook.

There is no way these people are smarter than ours, they just win by cheating and doing things we would never do.
I am hoping that this time our smarties are on to them and catch them in the act. And then expose them for the traitors they are, and prosecute and convict and imprison and get punitive damages and break up the election fraud machine. That's all.

[Marnieworld]

4. Isn't it all too late now?

Election theft has a much more public face now, not as derided as improbable but actually a mainstream concept. SO there's been great progress since 2004 in promoting awareness of the problem. Yet, I don't think that there's been enough done to actually prevent it and I will be shocked if the GOP loses any power whatsoever in Nov. I will scream if I hear (read) one more person say the Dems just need "enough" votes to "cover the spread" of the stolen votes. If someone is hacking in real-time they will do it with the numbers that are needed to get the result they want. So it really doesn't matter what the dem total is if they can just change things to what they want. Perhaps next time there will be enough of a change,paper ballots, if there is a next time.

Sorry to be a downer. I hope I'm wrong.

[Helga Scow Stern]

5. Crispin Miller agrees.

He says it's already stolen, but that it's essential for Dems to turn out in huge numbers anyway.

[glitch]

7. And this time catch them at it.

I was hoping that was the plan in 2004, maybe this time we will have a coordinated investigation and prosecute them for their treason.

[Marnieworld]

11. Yah but

His point isn't that strong. High turn out will make it harder for them to explain away the theft? That's it? Since when do they need anything to help them. First no one challenges weird results even asking for an explanation. Then if they have to come up with something they say Gay marriage or security and then tell Democrats they suck and that's why they lost. That's what they said the last time they stole it. When there is a 12 point difference between a poll and a result (Max Cleland) and a triple amputee vet incumbent gets voted out what was the explanation? The voters thought he was soft on security. Move along.

I can understand if MCM doesn't want to sound as hopeless as I do. It is going to take a revolt from an informed electorate. But regardless of turnout it will be stolen. The response afterward which is his true point will determine how much longer they can get away with it. When will we get a democracy back?

[philly_bob]

8. VOTE ANYWAY! /nt

[glitch]

10. MAKE THEM STEAL IT! Otherwise, we can't catch and convict them. nt

[Fiendish Thingy]

12. k&r - Yes, MAKE THEM STEAL IT! NGU! n/t