Thune Response to Close Vote

KSFY ^ | 11-7-2002

[unspun]

News

Thune Response to Close Vote

After hours of meeting with his campaign staff, Congressman Thune addressed his supporters about the narrow margin of defeat during his race for the U.S. Senate.

Thune: "After a long night and a long morning, the preliminary results of last night's election show Senator Tim Johnson with a 528 vote advantage. The next step in the process is the official canvass of the election results. A canvass is done after each election, and the results will be released as soon as that process is finished. Essentially, the canvass is our election system's process for checking everyone's math."

"If there is a change in the numbers or evidence of irregularities after the official election canvass, I will look at pursuing the next step in the process, which is a formal recount."

"However, I do not wish to put the people of South Dakota through this process unless it is absolutely necessary. Therefore, if there is no change in the vote totals or any irregularities after the official canvass, we will pursue no further action and the results will stand."

"I called Senator Johnson this morning to congratulate him on today's results. I'd like to thank my supporters and all those who've worked so hard on my behalf over the course of the last year. No one would be happier than I to see those numbers change as the process continues. However, if the numbers stand, I am prepared to accept the outcome and know that my supporters and all those who have stood with me during this process will accept the outcome as well."

[Conservative_Rob]

Maybe Johnson could replace Dashole in two years, eh?

[Sal]

I have sent sent the following analysis to the Thune Campaign.

Good, but please see #58 on this thread. Would you please also send it to the FBI and perhaps Fox?

Yeah, I know the FBI should be able to figure it out for themselves, but their track record isn't real good and it might
help to have them know that WE know this info.

Most of the media will NEVER acknowledge your information, but Fox just might.
And that just might force the rest of them to focus on this fraud. Maybe. Thanks.

[hchutch]

I'm not saying ignore the fraud.

But look at it from a different perspective. The media and the Dems are DESPERATELY looking for something to hang their hat on.

If you are Joe Sheeple, who are you more likely to believe, the RNC, DNC, or FBI? No contest, it's the FBI. If it is the RNC pushing it, they will get hammered and race-baited big-time. That can be guaranteed. Do NOT put that past the Dems, and do NOT make the mistake of assuming the media will give our side of the story a fair shake.

On the other hand, if the FBI comes out with indictments laying out probably cause that there were "X number of fraudulent registrations traced to the Demcoratic party of South Dakota" and X is greater than the margin of victory, then the Republicans can "with great regret" vacate the seat, and order a special election. What will Daschle and the DNC do, race-bait the FBI?

[Redbob]

Do you suppose those election workers were as dilligent in darkening marks on ballots for Thune as they were for Johnson?

[Sal]

Tim Johnson's future could be very bright if he were to repudiate the corruption by truly digging for the facts regarding his narrow margin.

In a better world than the world of Rats you would be right. In the Rat world, he'd be dead. Literally.

[Redbob]

"Yet here in Alabama our RAT governor cannot accept a 3085 vote loss,..."

You should have seen 'Pepe' Sanchez here in Texas; down by about 200,000 votes Tuesday night, he refused to concede!
Might have had something to do with the $70 Million he spent on the campaign...

[Robert_Paulson2]

yes and sometimes an lady with a name like "running tears" gets caught forging signatures and burning absentee ballot applications... and sometimes she doesn't.

This vote is more than suspect. There may be SIGNIFICANT voter fraud by dems in DASCHLE'S home state. Imgagine that.

[stevio]

So what was her response? Does it seem like they are going to follow through?

[#3Fan]

Yeah, if the investigation that started in October comes up with anything then that'd give him firm ground for that.

[MAKnight]

The question is, of course ... how do you rectify the problem if the election is proven as being significantly influenced by fraud?

i.e. The FBI could very well cross-check the sign-in list at the Shannon county precincts and then go back and verify that these people exist and that they voted. This could mean having signature comparisons, etc.

What then? If they discover that a large enough number of votes in those counties cannot be traced to voters, can the results for the Senate race be cancelled? I don't know how possible it is for the fraudulent votes to be weeded out. Do South Dakota absentee ballots have something on them to identify who sent them in?

Is there anything in the law (Federal or South Dakota state law) that allows a special election to be held in these circumstances? There is a distinct possibility that this could go to the Supreme Court.

Any SD Freeper with more info?

[KriegerGeist]

"Pubs think they have got 51 votes, so what does it matter. But,5 or 6 are RINOs who won't vote for conservative SC justices. And if you have 2 deaths or retirements or defections (net) the Senate, after this great victory, flips to the Democrats. I heard Chaffee on TV warning the Republicans not to go too far with hard policies like making the tax cut permanent. Bush needs every vote. He can't afford to split the difference on a Senate seat."

I agree with every single word you said!
Lincold is already "Chaffing" to switch and is holding ths "Jumping Jeffords" thing over their/our heads! I know that Hillary is already either bribing him or threatening him with a wisper of "remember Vince Foster" in his ear!
I am almost certain tha it is not "if" Chafee switches....it's "that he is going to...just when"?
Bush ahas a huge backlog of judges and 50 bills that passed the House to get passed and Chafee wants to "approve" each one or jump?
Thune is needed as badly as a Republican in the run-off election in Louisiana next month.

Remember, the Clintons did not fade away...they can make others fade away...mysterious accidents and ceashes and suicides and their list goes on.
Only a 5 to 10 seat margin could be considered with the Clintons arround.
Last, Collins (RINO-ME) and Snow (RINO-ME) might as well be Democraps as well as Lincoln chafee and Arlan Specter (RINO-PA). WE need Thune! PERIOD!

[lilylangtree]

Using the email address you posted, I also sent Mr. Thune an email demanding that he request a recount. Thanks for the email address.

[UsChickens]

"What the hell was invasive about it? I gladly cooperated and everyone I know did the same. Only a criminal or illegal would not cooperate and feel invaded! "

You obviously received the short one as I did. Some people received a more extensive one that (trust me) was invasive. I don't remember what all was on it but it went WAY over the top. I heard about it on an education egroup and a few people were really upset by it and refused to participate.

[Steven W.]

I also sent an e-mail as follows:

Hi,

We've been following Mr. Thune's race this past year and wished to express our appreciation for his candidacy, regardless of outcome.

We did wish to write / e-mail, however, and urge you to ask for a recount to ensure that the process is fair and complete.

Certainly the margin of supposed victory is well within the margin of victory.

In addition, and more importantly, research appears to suggest that a considerable amount of voter fraud took place and, while it's not necessary for Mr. Thune to make such suggestions in asking for a recount, we believe it's terribly important to the future of our entire democracy that such a check be enforced to ensure that those who might defeat fine candidates through fraudulent electioneering are not allowed to be even further rewarded by their efforts.

Please recount!

Thank you

[ContentiousObjector]

I think a lynching mob for the Libertarian canidate might be more appropriate

[sunshine state]

In regards to your remarks re: Johnson's decency in this matter: The first remarks I heard from Johnson after the initial results came in were "this was a clean election", etc. I find it suspicious that he brought it up right away. He hadn't even been asked about it. Maybe just my paranoid mind...

[VOA]

bump

[beckett]

Nice letter. You hit all the right notes.