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.

[jackbill]

I don't know the legalities of his stance. I do know his vacuous and cowardly statements have sent a message of despair to many Republicans who are concerned about this issue. I also know that his wimpery will only serve to embolden the Democrats to arrange more, and ever more sophisticated fraud in the future.

Seems that a lot of people on this thread are being a bit over-emotional and are not thinking. They don't seem to understand the simple statement: "If they have a recount, they would just be recounting the fraudulent votes". Do you understand what that means?

Suppose that Thune could prove that there were 1 million illegal votes. What could he do about it? With the secret ballot, nobody knows for whom those 1 million illegal voters voted. Therefore, there is absolutely no way to get them thrown out. That's the law.

You've got to stop the illegal voters BEFORE they vote. Once they've voted, it's just too late.

Use your brain. Think.

[MHGinTN]

Thune is putting his political future above the rights of SD voters! If he will not fight for the right of the legal voters, what makes anyone think he has enough integrity to represent the state? I sincerely hope SD puts Thune on the dungheap of SD fraudulent elections, because he is complicit in vote fraud by not opposing it to the max and instead allowing the fraud to go unchallenged by him. If he hasn't the integrity to represent his voters, he isn't worth electing!

[SD Badlands]

If it were a nationwide election, Bush-Thune could possibly scare Tommy off. It won't happen in a SD election. The only chance we have of getting rid of him is for him to run for Pres (no longer a probability) or cashing in his chips and walking away for the big bucks (a possibility).

[d14truth]

On 'patience'--

Senators Boxer and Feinstein for 10 years, going on 12; and, Governor 'Doofus' for 4 years going on 8. Oh, Lord, how long? I've heard that 40 years is not beyond the realm of possibility. {;~)

[js1138]

I think the Republicans won this time by casting the dems as cheaters and whiners. The dems face uphill battles in the next two senate elections. Better to keep everyone focused on the dem's treachery than allow them to say everyone does it.

[Coop]

It might be distasteful to not fight for what's right, but the Senate is in Republican hands, and certainly Thune will be given a position.

That's almost verbatim what folks were saying in 2000 about Ashcroft.

Then Jeffords jumped the aisle.

[d14truth]

I would think the 'integrity' of the South Dakota citizens and media would demand the recount, not the 'supposedly defeated' candidate. "Do not invite yourself to a seat at the head table, let others extend the invitation."

[Coop]

We may see Mr Thune in a high visibility appointed position in the administration or we may see him kick dassholes butt in 2004.

If popular statewide officeholder Thune can't defeat a freshman Senator, what makes you think a loser (not a personal insult to John Thune, just a result of this election) out of office can defeat a powerful Majority/Minority Leader (perhaps former leader) assuming he runs?

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Good post!

[Poohbah]

If popular statewide officeholder Thune can't defeat a freshman Senator, what makes you think a loser (not a personal insult to John Thune, just a result of this election) out of office can defeat a powerful Majority/Minority Leader (perhaps former leader) assuming he runs?

If Thune lost due to vote fraud, it will be obvious by 2004 (given that 30 federal agents are working the case of Red Earth Running Dog Poop or whatever the heck her name is, and the THREE indictments handed down, there may yet be some felony convictions), and Daschle is going to have one hell of a time not getting tarred.

[Cuttnhorse]

You are right on the mark...there is nothing wrong with requesting a recount in a close election, and it should not be construed as a "career-ending" political act. Gore was within his rights in Floriduh and Thune should have done the same thing in South Duhkota.

Also, what makes anyone think Thune will beat Dashole in the next Senate election? He couldn't beat a lesser candidate in Johnson...and Republicans don't need more weaklings in the Senate...we have an ample supply.

[Coop]

And we are going to scare Daschle out of seeking re-election in 2004. GWB will be on the top of the ticket, and Daschle cannot say, split your ticket to keep me as the majority leader. Daschle is now political toast. Ironic that he needed Johnson to save his hide and now because Johnson won fraudulently, Daschle has undone his own career.

I'm glad you're so certain of this. Dasshole won last time with a staggering percentage of the vote. All those voters aren't suddenly going to turn on him because he may not be the Majority Leader at that time. He'll still have tremendous influence and power if he chooses to run again.

[galt-jw]

if I had voted for this guy, I sure would feel chumped

of course, I am not that gullible in the first place to vote for a statist, anyway.

[mwl1]

If popular statewide officeholder Thune can't defeat a freshman Senator, what makes you think a loser (not a personal insult to John Thune, just a result of this election) out of office can defeat a powerful Majority/Minority Leader (perhaps former leader) assuming he runs?

Because Daschle conned thousands of Republicans into stupidly believing that voting for Johnson could preserve Daschle as the senate majority leader.

These voters won't be fooled again. Daschle's position at home has been greatly weakened. He may in fact be scared into retirement facing a Bush/Thune headwind on the top of the ticket in 2004.

[Cuttnhorse]

...now it is Daschle who is political toast in his home state.

Don't count on it. I was in SD for a week in October, in the Deadwood, Lead area and asked a lot of people how a state like South Dakota could elect the likes of Daschle. The uniform reply was..."yeh, he's kind of embarrassing, and I personally can't stand him, but he does a lot for the state."

With this attitude, Daschle will wip Thune like a red-headed stepchild...if Daschle runs. I don't think he will run for re election...he is going to hate being in the minority.

[Cuttnhorse]

Red Earth Running Dog Poop or whatever the heck her name is...

LOL!!

[GaryP11111]

I think there are several things to consider. The White House may have regarded a bitter Senate seat custody battle as detrimental to getting the needed Democrat votes for a homeland security bill passed during the lame duck session. Also, once Talent is certified the winner in Missouri, he immediately becomes senator and the Good Guys take control of the senate; could the new majority refuse to seat Johnson until an investigation into voter fraud is concluded?

[Coop]

If Thune lost due to vote fraud, it will be obvious by 2004 (given that 30 federal agents are working the case of Red Earth Running Dog Poop or whatever the heck her name is, and the THREE indictments handed down, there may yet be some felony convictions), and Daschle is going to have one hell of a time not getting tarred.

I hope the first part comes to pass, though I'm not holding my breath. And I frankly think Tiny Tom's too smart to be tarred.

[Francohio]

Suppose that Thune could prove that there were 1 million illegal votes. What could he do about it? With the secret ballot, nobody knows for whom those 1 million illegal voters voted. Therefore, there is absolutely no way to get them thrown out. That's the law

Absolutely correct. That is why in every state there are provisions for throwing out entire elections.

Now, instead of Thune's mealy-mouthed wimpery, he had said:
"Folks I am inclined to spare this state the turmoil and expense of another election at this time, and so I am not going to contest this election. However, I am going to spend every waking moment of the next two years cleaning up the corrupted and dishonest registrations in this state. I will not rest until every party and state official who comitted an illegal act in this election is brought to justice, and if proven guilty, subject to the full penalty provided by law. Furthermore, I promise my supporters that I shall lend full support to a national effort to do the same in every state."

You see, Jackbill, I know almost nothing of the facts in this state election, except that sources I trust tell me it was crooked. But I do know what Thune said about it. What I am telling you is that the man, instead of sending a message that would have made me proud of voting for him, sent a message of wimpery and accomodation to the enemy that encourages the bastards to further trample my rights as a voter.

[Coop]

Because Daschle conned thousands of Republicans into stupidly believing that voting for Johnson could preserve Daschle as the senate majority leader.

Some of those Republicans voted for Johnson because they like split government. And some voted for Johnson because they may be registered as Pubbies but they vote for Dems. That will not change in 2004, and Dasshole is more popular and more powerful than Johnson.