All precincts reporting - Johnson ahead by just over 500 votes

http://www.state.sd.us/sos/results/statwide.shtml ^ | 11/5/02 | SD SoS

[frmrda]

U S SENATE (L) EVANS KURT 3071

(D) JOHNSON TIM 167477

(R) THUNE JOHN 166949

[Congressman Billybob]

You are absolutely right, my friend. I put details concerning this on the "Fox News -- Johnson by 800" thread. I think it was in 1984 that the House seated a Democrat candidate when the official returns showed that the Republican had won.

The House "recounted" the ballots under its power as "the sole judge of the ... election of its Members." (Constitution, Article I.) The Senate has exactly the same power.

The only way that Thune will NOT be seated as the next Senator from S.D. is if Trent Lott blows it.

Congressman Billybob

On American Politics

Click for "to Restore Trust in America"

[twyn1]

Either they are citizens or they aren't

They're citizens, downtrodden, third-world class citizens (perhaps due to their willingness to kowtow to the Dem. party, , but let's not go there, eh ?)
The tax-exempt status of tribal lands etc. depends on signed treaties and other laws...my own tribe is not federally recognized (and does not wish to be) and we have no "roll" to belong to...we pay our taxes to the State of Virginia in the form of deer and other game...it's not like we're raking it in with casinos etc.

[FollowingTheGrace]

"The only way that Thune will NOT be seated as the next Senator from S.D. is if Trent Lott blows it. "

This is supposed to be comforting??!

[Post Toasties]

Is the Newsmax site down? I can't get on at all right now.

[Diddle E. Squat]

The GOP needs to vigorously and loudly pursue the recount based on fraud allegations not just in pursuit of this seat, but for LA also. The Dems tried shenanigans in several states, yet that fact may not be instilled in public perception since it didn't determine Senate control, didn't defeat Jeb, and didn't matter in AR. My guess is that the Dem in LA is now favored, because there isn't as urgent a need(control of the Senate) to propel anti-Dem votes to the polls for the runoff. However if the race can be emotionalized partially into a referendum on Democrat tactics, there MAY be a chance that Mary will lose(but it still will be an uphill battle.)

[Letitring]

Lott can't AFFORD to blow it. There is alot of grumbling about him here in his home State. We have LONG memories. :)

[sox_the_cat]

I've had trouble getting into Newsmax all morning, was able to get in once. Looks to be down now.

[ThinkingMan]

I know that there has been a large increase in voter registrations here. What disgusts me about this whole mess (besides the fraud) is that it should not even be this close. The number thrown around by the media in recent weeks was that 65% of the registered voters are registered Republican.

What that tells me is that there are a bunch of WHORES living out here hoping for free gimmees from the Federal teat. Either that or they are just to LAZY to get off their butts and go vote. I am sickened and embarassed by this whole thing.

I just called Thunes office and expressed my disgust with the obvious fraud and asked as a registered voter in SD for a recount. The gentleman that I spoke to said that it was still up in the air about the recount.

[Congressman Billybob]

Under S.D. law, the recount is automatic if the margin is less than 1/4th of 1%. This was. So Thune does not have to "request" the recount. It occurs without a request.

The recount would not delay in any way the independent federal criminal investigation of vote fraud on this very reservation.

As for "choosing" between a recount and a private law suit, Thune can merely wait for the end of the recount. Once that is over, he can then sue. So, contrary to the comment of the "expert" on Fox, Thune can use both routes, not one or the other.

From my experience, most of the "experts" on election law on TV have never been inside the US Supreme Court on an election law case. I have. Ten times. This is how it will go down.

Congressman Billybob

On American Politics

Click for "to Restore Trust in America"

[cake_crumb]

"Oh, but they love to elect Democrats and hurt Republicans. Jerks. You know, maybe we need to support some Green Party canidates in these areas where the Lib people work out. LOL. Even up the playing field somewhat. :)"

Ack!! I don't think that's such a good idea...here're the California results. Note the numbers of the third party votes:

GOVERNOR
CANDIDATE	VOTE TOTAL	PERCENT
Davis (DEM)*	3109158	48%	WIN
Simon (REP)	2748548	42%
Camejo (GRN)	341309	5%
Copeland (LIB)	142594	2%
Gulke (AIP)	112174	2%
Adam (NTL)	76365	1%
% of precincts reporting: 98

Uhhh...BTW....anyone know what an AIP party means - LOL - no, seriously. I've never heard of the AIP party.

[cherry]

but the biggest dissappointment is not that the Indian reservations went so big of Johnson....it is why the rest of the state didn't?

isn't the rest of the state pretty republican otherwise....why has Thune struggled so much..

My take is this....we can let 8% of the population run an election or we can get our little arses out there to vote like we are supposed to...

If the average Joe in this country would show as much enthusiasm for voting ...hmmmmm????.

large groups of Hispanics, Indians, blacks, homosexuals, etc etc are out there getting registered and voting.

..I feel we have too many Bubba's who stay home and do nothing....

we need to start getting our voting base to actually vote and vote in large and expected numbers....then these kind of south Dakota elections would not take place....it would be a moot point.

[DownWithGreenspan]

....anyone know what an AIP party means - LOL - no, seriously. I've never heard of the AIP party.

It's the American Independent Party, which I think was originally a creation of the George Wallace-ites. If so, it probably runs candidates well to the right of a typical California Republican (as if that's such a difficult trick), but doesn't help the "cause" of getting somebody like Simon elected anymore than the Liberaltarians do.

DWG

[Congressman Billybob]

There were press reports before the election that Mrs. Daschle visited the Indian Reservations to hand out clothing. Giving "a thing of value" in return for a citizens "vote" is bribery in a federal election. The possible hard-ball way to resolve this is -- Daschle's wife does not go up on felony charges, and Johnson concedes and goes away quietly.

Congressman Billybob

[Mo1]

Did you just see Terry McButthead's speech on TV

Can you say Bitter

Wow ..$10 says Bill & Hilda wrote that speech ..

[twyn1]

not knowing a lot about Thune -- is there any obvious reason why he may not have "resonated" with the voters, esp. when most of the state voted Republican ?? Here in PA. we voted in (by a BIG margin) a Democrat governor, but most of the rest of the spots went to Republicans, some by huge margins (90%) -- the Rep. candidate for governor was colorless, ran an awful campaign, and never realy "hit" with the rest of the state, esp. after we saw the strong leadership of Schweiker *sigh*

[Tree of Liberty]

The only way that Thune will NOT be seated as the next Senator from S.D. is if Trent Lott blows it.

Well, given Lott's lack of a spine, what do you think Thune's chances are?

[agrace]

Yep, due to time change. Also said was that the Republicans are suspicious of why there were such late returns from those precincts, it doesn't make sense in light of the rest of the state and elsewhere.

[twyn1]

Mrs. Daschle visited the Indian Reservations to hand out clothing.

As I said on another thread (half joking)...I hope they cleaned and checked the stuff for typhus/smallpox before they accepted it

[cake_crumb]

"While I have alot in common with small "l" libertarians, the mere thought that somehow I helped elect an outright socialist prevents me from pulling that lever for a LP candidate"

THANK YOU!! That is a fundimental difference between you and what I usually term - and should have on this thread in that earlier reply - wingnut libertarians, who have no problem getting a socialist democrat elected because the conservative candidate wasn't "conservative enough."

When we argue that they're only hurting themselves along with the rest of the country, they get all stiff-necked and sniffy and tell us at least THEY voted their concience...or accuse us of being mindless sheep...well, you've been on some of those threads. You know the types I'm talking about.

[Elkiejg]

The only way that Thune will NOT be seated as the next Senator from S.D. is if Trent Lott blows it.

Another reason to DEMAND that Lott be replaced. We've proven we voters have the power - Washington would do well to listen to us.