NY 23- Has the majority ruled? - ALAN KEYES

Loyal to Liberty ^ | November 12, 2009 | Alan Keyes

[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.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

Not that I would have expected Hoffman to know all that detail... but the GOP House leadership should have known... but they weren't on Hoffman's side anyway, were they?

Nope. Better Hoffman does, the more egg on their faces. It's a sad commentary to think that that might have been their primary consideration . . .

[Major Matt Mason]

3000 votes doesn't sound like a lot, but it is a tough gap to overcome in a congressional race. How many absentee votes actually will fall to Hoffman? How many to Owens? A win is still unlikely, but Hoffamn should have held off on conceding the race.

[oprahstheantichrist]

"When are conservatives going to stop giving away their lunch money to bullies?"

The day Sarah's sworn in.

[ntnychik]

We’re witnessing the slow strangulation death of American republican self-government and liberty.

Sad that our New Tone and politeness is helping speed the process along.

Sen. Coleman's fight to retain his seat, though ineffective, cost Harry Reid many months of going without Al Franken's vote. Too bad Doug Hoffman didn't think of waiting until the absentee votes (heavily military) were counted. Nancy would have had one vote less to pass the House healthcare legislation.