An interesting piece, but why do you assume that the 'Rats have an equal interest in making elections honest? I predict that Thune concession is just the first in a series of acts of appeasement that will ensure no meaningful investigation results are ever published. I hope I'm wrong, but I'm willing to bet I'm not.
"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."
This would not have precluded any of the strong and welcome steps outlined in CB's excellent post. Perhaps a strong statement, properly showcased, would have made Thune something of a national hero instead of a pathetic loser. More important, it just might have sent a message to the democrats nationwide that "the gloves are off, you thievin' sonsabitches. This is the last election you're even going to try to steal."
There are Freepers who maintain that fraud had "negligible" effect on the California, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Arizona, and other elections. That frauds took place in these elections is demonstrable. That's the only certainty, since statistically, NO ONE can now have a true count.
Another Certainty: No one can measure the effect fraud has on the turn-out of honest (but dumb) voters. "So what if I vote, they'll dump my vote," or "...so what if I vote ... there are so many illegals voting in my district that...." I have heard that, have you? I have been at polling places when the buses pull up. I can understand their frustration when they hear obviously unqualified voters being told, "we don't seem to have you on the list. Please fill out this 'provisional' ballot!"
The other thing wrong with me, and with many another freeper, is that we tend to put this fraud thing in MACRO terms. For damn sure the Democrats are dumping thousands of illegal registrations in districts where they know they can get away with it. But, the Democrats are also killing us with as few as 50-75 votes per precinct in non-urban settings.(sometimes those "Provisional Votes" turn real late at night. Or a 100 absentees suddenly materialize.)
A close election is not like Nuclear War. It's more like "4th and inches" or "4th and Goal" in football. Fraud is the 2-3% that gives the Democrats the game in the final seconds. National Democrat officials like Donna Brazile publicly tell their campaign people, "You get it close, we'll do the rest." The brazen bitch has also publicly said,"....the last 5% is ME!"
There are states on the table right now. NO MORE WIMPERY.