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.

[Poohbah]

And I frankly think Tiny Tom's too smart to be tarred.

After the Siamese-Twin campaign he and Johnson ran...he's going to be tarred. It's kinda like being a Klansman at a lynching: most people won't believe you if you say "I didn't string him up, I was just holdin' this here rope when the poor nigra sorta suffocated."

[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.

[Timesink]

If Thune won't fight, he doesn't deserve the seat.

If the RNC won't fight, neither do we.

[SD Badlands]

Excellent post!!!!

[Cuttnhorse]

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.

Well said Franco...you have stated what all the armchair political stratagists on this thread have totally missed. The argument isn't about what may be right politically, but about what is RIGHT.

[grania]

Me: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.

You: That's almost verbatim what folks were saying in 2000 about Ashcroft. Then Jeffords jumped the aisle.

That's a good point. I don't like this numbers game because there can be unpredictable events and I'd prefer right vs. wrong. But meanwhile I can see that those in power have to pick their fights. Discrediting the AmericanIndian vote could backfire. That Louisiana Senate race might be a cleaner way to get another Republican seat.

Meanwhile, I don't wan't the Republicans spending all of their time until the next election cycle contesting close elections and getting tough with Sadam. I want a dialogue about our porous borders. I want a PBA ban. If the Republican votes are already there, why not move on?

I'm so conflicted about this...

[sweetliberty]

While it would be very sweet to see this doubtless defrauded would-be senator crucify Tiny Tommy next time around and while I can understand that perhaps he thinks he is taking the higher road by not resorting to the democRATS' mud-wallerin' tactics, I think he did have a responsibilty to the voters and to the party to ask for a recount and to raise issues about the obvious irregularities.

And what happened with the thread that was posted stating that according to South Dakota election law, any 3 voters in a precinct could ask for a recount? Was this ever done?

I am not so much concerned about this one election as I am about the implications of these kind of Rat practices which they obviously have no conscience about. To the Rats, the end justifies the means no matter how dishonest, illegal or even dangerous the means might be. Because of this, I can't stop thinking that this election, by a twist of fate, could have had a very different result.

Suppose that the race had gone as they expected it to in Georgia, Colorado and Minnesota leaving either South Dakota or Arkansas, 2 of the states where fraud was out of control, as a tie breaker. I'd venture the guess that it would have gotten very ugly and that the Rats would still be in power. In other words they would have been rewarded for their cheating with victory. As it turned out, they focused their energies in the wrong places leaving Republicans a comfortable margin of victory in states they thought they had in the bag and the results in South Dakota and Arkansas are irrelevant in the overall Rat picture. Neither are "significant" victories. All they have gained is 2 impotent senators whose legitimacy will always be in question. But what I fear is that dropping the ball based on having won the senate anyway establishes a bad precedent and does nothing to help us in our efforts to keep elections honest and above board. Every time they cheat and get away with it, and especially if they win, they are encouraged to step up those efforts in the future. Isn't it time we call the Republican party to account BEFORE the next election?

[CPT Clay]

I think that Jennifer Dunn could knock the block off of either of your currant Senators. Moms vs millionare's won't work for Murray anymore and Cantwell only one by 5000 or so votes from street people and Indian resevations. I Say choose one and go after her. A state needs someone in the Majority Byrd doesent run the appropriations any longer!!!

What a wonderful thread to read, again I am proud of freepers Knowledge, intellect and passion!!

[longtermmemmory]

Can Freepers still register to be poll watchers?

anyone have links to the LA supervisor of elections?

[Cuttnhorse]

Well said, and mega dittos.

I suspect that if we were looking at breaking a possible 50-50 tie in the Senate, holy hell would break loose in South Dakota...there would be screams for a recount.

[Coop]

You can also contact Terrell's campaign or the state GOP to volunteer.

[SD Badlands]

I posted this comment yesterday under a different topic, but I would like to reiterate.

If the Dems can steal an election in a state of 400,000 voters where county auditors know the voters and their families by name, think of how easy it would be in California, Texas or Florida.

For 12 months, the Thune campaign talked about concerns about voter fraud on the reservations. I live 17 miles from one reservation and 22 miles from another. I have friends on both. The tactics were unbelievable. I would not have the imagination to dream of the ideas let alone the cajones to try to pull them off.

Yet with all the radar up, they got it done!!!

You should ALL be very concerned about what happened here!!

[hattend]

After all the "every vote must be counted" rhetoric from the Dems in 2000, how could he be "beat up by Tom Daschle's political machine"?

That would be a huge mistake by the Dems. I'd demand a recount just to make them try to "beat" me up.

Something else must have Thune worried.

[sweetliberty]

You can bet on it, and then the Rats would capitize on it by making us look petty and like sore losers in spite of the fact that their gain was not honest. Honesty is not a motivator for these people.

If anything, I think that now is an ideal time for us to pursue voter fraud and doing so may actually intercept efforts in the next election which will be no less important than this one was. Now we can work quietly behind the scenes with no particular election results at stake and when fraud is discovered, which it undoubtedly will be if the results in these 2 states are scrutinized, then blow it wide open and have in place even before the next primary a plan for countering it. Of course all this may be counterproductive if we don't get rid of motor voter and the Rats will never sit still for having their pet fraud vehicle overturned.

[princess leah]

I say they call for a revote in Shannon County and have all the voters come in person to sign and vote and then lets see what the final result is...ALso, they need to bring proof of ID!

[sweetliberty]

Is ID required in South Dakota?

[CPT Clay]

South Dakota is a Republican State.

20,000+ saps bought little Tommies line about split govt,

If Red Earth and a dozen others go to prison, how likely is it that other will be tempted to hand out that $10?

South Dakotan's must routinely split their tickets or how else do you explain both Thune and Daschele winning overwhelmingly in the same election?

Thune has left himself in good position to challange Daschelle with George W. at the top of the ticket and a Republican Atlarge representative below. What is your call?

[SD Badlands]

no

[SD Badlands]

South Dakota voted for Santa Claus only to find out on Christmas morning that the fat boy in the red suit ain't coming!

See my post #109

[Phlap]

I stand corrected on the timing but my point is still valid.