The Democrats stole two Senate seats--and still it wasn't enough ~ WSJ.

The Wall Street Journal. editorial page ^ | November 14, 2002 | The Wall Street Journal. Editorial Board

[Elle Bee]

It's not enough for John Thune to just talk about "unethical" voting practices.

Republican John Thune threw in the towel on his South Dakota Senate race yesterday, notwithstanding the suspicious circumstances under which he lost by a mere 524 votes. We think that at a minimum he owed his many supporters a recount.

[finnman69]

BIG CHIEF STUFFING BALLOTS

[SD Badlands]

It's easy to tell me to be patient. Apparently you don't have Daschle and Johnson representing you in the Senate. I've been patient for six years and we were in a position to take one of those seats. I don't want to practice patience, I want a new Senator.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

Remember "Sore Loserman" in Florida? Fast forward to last week's RAT debacle in Florida and neighboring Georgia. "Sore Loserman" was a part, maybe a big part of that. The people in Florida sided with Jeb and Kathleen Harris, not Clinton, Carville, Reno and McBride. They remembered.

We, who are partisan and know what we believe in politically, like red-meat political fights.

The great unwashed masses out there who fancy themselves independents and moderates, and who decide every election in this nation, like tame, gentleman politicians.

That's why Bush's "new tone" worked so effectively in the election. Thune simply wants to live (politically) to fight another day in South Dakota.

You have to admire his patience (which reminds me of W's patience) as unnerving as it can get to be.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

Well, you at least have hope for the future. I have Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell as Senators. And that's not going to change for a good long time.

[Salvation]

**As Mr. New concedes, "this could all be a coincidence." But "this trifecta of late results, high turnout and unusually strong support for the Democratic nominee should, if nothing else, arouse suspicion."**

Coincidence this is NOT!

I believe that John Thune is currently taking the high road to avoid all the mud-slinging that would arise out of challenging the fraudulent vote.

Why?

Because he will be back to challenge Daschle and he will WIN!

(Of course, all these voting irregularities will have been investigated by other individuals and then solved with the presence of poll watching and stricter voter identification.)

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

Backbone in a party of invertibrates is not rewarded, i.e., Hatch, Ashcroft; Lott, Specter, et. al.

Oh rats rear ...... Bush, Gov. Bush, Cheney, Congressman DeLay, Rumsfeld, Rice, Scalia, Thomas, Nickles, Gramm, Graham, ............

[Tribune7]

I think Fund has nailed it - Thune figures that in heavily Republican SD, he'll have his shot in the future, so it's not worth "sullying" himself in a recount catfight now.

What I fail to see is how a recount will sully him. He appears to be allowed one by right. It's not like he's asking for something special or the law to be changed.

[billhilly]

"Well, you at least have hope for the future. I have Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell as Senators. And that's not going to change for a good long time."

You live in what Ann Coulter would refer to as a girlie state. The entire left coast is rotting.

[SD Badlands]

Why are there so many in this forum who believe Thune will beat Daschle? A year ago, when Thune announced he was running against Johnson, I thought he would certainly beat this boring, liberal-voting, Daschle-clone. Very few in our state were emotionally attached to him. They LOVE Daschle here. He is a cult hero. I don't think he has a chance against Daschle. Daschle has a political network inside and outside this state that would strangle ANYONE in SD. They voted for Johnson BECAUSE TOMMY TOLD THEM TO!!!!!

[JasonC]

They don't want to look like Gore in 2000. Unless they have smoking gun proof, they do not attack the process. You and I and they all know that the Dems are cheating regularly. But jumping up and down and waving arms about it does not help, without proof. I do not like this state of affairs, but I do acknowledge it.

[VRWC_minion]

What if Thune had his share of fraud. This might be a mexican stand off.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

You live in what Ann Coulter would refer to as a girlie state.

Not only can Ann Coulter call my state anything she wants, she can call me anything she wants.

As long as she calls me.

[txrangerette]

Absolutely right, Tallguy. The Senate
has the power NOT to seat Johnson. It
would be the REMEDY if DOJ finds fraud
to a sufficient degree. I back Thune.

I am repulsed by the Thune bashing.

[WatchOutForSnakes]

Amen

[Free the USA]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[Miss Marple]

Hey, I know it sounds like I don't have any sympathy. I have to figure out a way to get rid of a democrat senator, Evan Bayh, because I don't want him, either! It will NOT be easy, that's for sure!

All I am telling you is that the recount is NOT the way to solve this, and also making loud accusations will cost Thune and the Republicans in your state, because the MIDDLE people will not like it, and you still won't win the recount.

It is both a practical and politically smart decision by Thune.

[Poohbah]

Which is an intrigal part of the forensic audit / recount

No, it isn't. The ballots are worthless. The last time we did a "forensic audit/recount" was in 2000, in West Palm Beach, Florida.

[d14truth]

Daschle, Johnson, and McAuliffe know how Johnson won the election, as does 'THE JUDGE'. In His 'good and perfect timing' will justice be served. I pray that the 'deceivers' will come to the Truth.

[mwl1]

They voted for Johnson BECAUSE TOMMY TOLD THEM TO!!!!!

Yes, Daschle conned them (including thousands of Republicans) into believing that a vote for Johnson would preserve the RAT majority in the Senate.

Well, it didn't. Stupid for them. Daschle cannot say in 2004, vote for me to remain majority leader. He ain't and he won't be.

Bush-Thune are going to scare Daschle out of seeking re-election. He does not want to face Thune with Bush at the top of the ticket.

It is deliciously ironic that Daschle used Johnson to save his majority. Daschle fraudulently got Johnson re-elected, and now it is Daschle who is political toast in his home state.

[WatchOutForSnakes]

I would be more likely to remember someone who fought for the people that voted for him, forget about fighting for himself. I would remember someone who fought for voters that had their votes negated by fraud and cheating, that's who I would remember. Not someone who is looking out for himself in a possible future race.