Posted on 11/12/2009 6:18:26 AM PST by EternalVigilance
Word in from NY 23 that Conservative Doug Hoffman now trails by just 3000 votes as the official tabulation process continues. "The new vote totals mean the race will be decided by absentee ballots, of which about 10,200 were distributed." Among the absentee ballots that remain uncounted are "military and overseas ballots received by this coming Monday (and postmarked by Nov. 2)..."
But Bill Owens "was quickly sworn into office on Friday, a day before the rare weekend vote in the House of Representatives. His support sealed his party's narrow victory on the health care legislation."
By what right does anyone declare and act on an election outcome before all the votes are counted? Whatever candidates do to declare or concede victory, elections are decided by what the people do with their votes, not what the candidates do with their speeches. Or at least that's the way its supposed to be when government of, by and for the people still functions.
Sad on this day after veterans day, to reflect on the fact that among the votes still uncounted when Owens was being sworn in are many cast by people who are right now risking their lives in service to their country. Yet we let ambitious political parties hijack the electoral process in a fashion that sends the clear signal- your votes don't matter.
By such carelessness does a free people discard the respect for their sovereignty that is the essence of liberty. I assume that if the vote turns out to favor Doug Hoffman, Owens will have to give up the seat he would thus prematurely have assumed. But maybe not. After all, once the candidates and the Parties agree to an election outcome, why should the voters matter?
It's ironic that when it comes to ignoring the Constitution's eligibility requirements for the Presidency, the politicos want us to accept the notion that all that matters is the electoral majority. Now when it comes to deciding who's sworn in after an election, the people's votes remain uncounted, and all that matters is the candidates' declarations of victory or concession. For those willing to understand, this little episode reveals the truth. Once respect for the Constitution and its principles has been discarded, we'll quickly discover that the notion of majority rule has been thrown away as well. The American people will find themselves cast down, to languish as other peoples have historically done, under the boot heel of arrogant elites who will resume their accustomed place as the dictators of human destiny.
Hoffman’s big surge unfortunately, probably came after most of the absentee ballots were already filled out and mailed.
Ping to my #19.
The idea that they can be is preposterous.
Then why did Hoffman concede?
My understanding, and someone correct me if I am wrong, is that concessions mean exactly nothing. Final, certified vote counts count, not concessions. They are not legally binding they are a custom, a formality, a niceity, a classy thing to do (if you are sure you lost) but carry no legal weight.
He conceded because Hoffman, at the time, crunched the numbers and said those absentees wouldn’t make a bit of difference.
But, now the vote total does seem narrower than they were anticipating....
I think my statement on the thread that the math isn’t there may be a bit too hasty.
That is why he conceded though. He would have to win an unusually large number of the absentees, which he may have.
“When are conservatives going to stop giving away their lunch money to bullies?”
I have often said Conservative pols need to grow a pair, but I like the way you put it.
Concession doesn’t matter. Votes do.
Concession is a formality and a nice way to bow out, but if for some weird reason the person conceding wins, the presumed victor becomes the loser.
They don’t win just because the other guy conceded.
Would it still be over in that case? If so, what's to stop all future elections managed by Democrats to have confusing announcements in close races?
-PJ
I said that too that night—how come we don’t wait to count absentee ballots? So what if it slows down the process.
It’s like saying the votes aren’t needed.
Yes, I have heard that the district won’t even exist in 2010. But if it does, it will go back to the GOP.
Thank RINO Scum like Newt, Dede and the NY-23 local GOP DIABLO party booses for messing this up. Their sh*t helped get ObamaCare passed.
They almost never change the outcome, and Hoffman knew that. However, he appears to be doing rather well, so it may need to be taken into consideration.
My bet is the vote total will end up below 1000, but still a non-Hoffman win unfortunately.
In Canada, broadcasting the results of the vote nationwide is prohibited, with stiff penalties for violators, until the polls close in the West for that reason.
The gov’t also wants to prevent vote switching out West based on the Eastern results.
I agree with you. In their effort to be the first to report, these organizations do a disservice to voters.
Exactly. Is this country worth fighting for or not?
We need a little more Churchill and a lot less Pansy in the Republican party. We have to fight them in the trenches...just couldn’t resist.
easy way to resolve those issue is to just open and close all polls simultaniously regardless of time zone.
Elections are decided by the people, not by concession speeches by politicians.
My bet is the vote total will end up below 1000, but still a non-Hoffman win unfortunately.
It will depend upon how many ballots there are, locals where they are from, etc. I had read earlier that there were something less than 6,000 of the almost 11,000 issued absentee ballots returned. There figure will have changed as they have now reached the final turn in date. Under those numbers Hoffman would need them to break for him in a very high percentage, maybe 4 to 1 or better.
Frankened.
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