Tim,

I think we need to establish some perspective.

Does anyone really think that mistakes WON’T occur in election counting?

And is every mistake that occurs the result of perfidy?

We’ve been playing baseball in this country for a LONG time and we STILL can’t avoid mistakes. (We’re talking ‘officials’ here, of course. We all know the players, in baseball AND politics are flawed; we’re hoping the officials can maintain sanity. Order?)

Another source of ‘order’ would seem to be the ‘impartial’ media. However, if every voting impropriety results in the ‘bloody red flag’ being hoisted, then you’re not really providing a service. You have, in fact, become part of the problem.

I agree with you to some extent. Voting problems are something that is a fact of life. My particular problem with it however occurs when it targets a single voting block. Too often to groups of disenfranchised voters are supporters of a single candidate or party, and this to me is bothersome. In this case, it is well know that Obama draws a large area of his support from independent voters, which are systematically being disallowed from voting in this primary. To me this sounds like dirty tricks that have happened across the country, most recently in LA.

If this were happening across the broad base of primary voters i could count it as mere irregularities that just happen, however it seems too often that is targeting Obama’s demographic.

Trey,

Good and valid point. However, we only hear what the media reports. And would you not concede a bias against HRC or towards BO? I think that case can be made.

I’m not discounting ‘tricks.’ If that be so, who’s to blame? Thee and me who blithely stand by whilst the parties make the ‘rules’ to suit which ever faction happens to hold sway at the moment.

I’m curious about the ’silence’ of Howard Dean in all this. He’s NOT the ‘quiet type.’ One has to wonder what’s at work. Is Dean BO’s choice for running mate?

Since when do workers in a polling place GET NO TRAINING?

Must be the repubs are in charge. LOL!!

DD,

Interesting point, particularly about dean. I think that the chance of a candidate picking the chairman as a running mate would be stretch, but could potentially happen. I think that it would be more likely to be a more moderate member of the democratic party (which I think is ludicrous).

As far as the media bias it can be argued that different venues give different takes and non outward support to both candidates. Some of the none traditional media such as slate.com, huffington post, seem to do a substantial amount of balanced reporting. Mainstream media seems to have pick up on obama pretty well and who can blame them. it is all about ratings, but it is also because of them that clinton is still in the race and edwards is not. If you look at the cnn blog, there is more mention of clinton in the past year than obama. The ebb and flow of media coverage for presidential candidates moves like the tide. Although I am looking at it though Obama colored glasses i find that while their might be a slight edge to obama, the media have given equal coverage to the two leading candidates. This can be argued against very strongly I realize.

I find that the voting irregularities that occur often happen to groups of voters that do not have a majority voice. It were the 45-65 year old women whose ballots were not getting counted, their outrage would be strong enough to bring about a change in the way we run elections, but while it is still minorities and independents voting in a democratic primary, the chances of their voices of outrage being heard are slim

Trey,

You’re probably right about Dean and being Chairman. And you’re for sure right about the media and their fixation on ratings.

I was reading something about Fox, Super Sunday, Sports, Super Tuesday and the inter-connection.

I would LOVE that all this ‘attention’ centered on things that matter but frankly, it does not. You couldn’t fit a cigarette paper into the gap between BO and HRC on issues. They are one. But such a situation is anathema for ratings and the Right is as colorless as a 50’s TV, so the media HAS to create stories on the Democrat race. And stories we get.

By the way Tim, you kinna cheapen the Florida thingie by calling it out every time there’s a voter irregularity.

In Florida, a Prez was crowned; in CA the margin of victory for HRC was altered.

It’s an embarrassing mess, yes, but by elevating it to the level of catastrophe, the real ‘problem’ gets lost among the histrionics.

Back to the media thing. I like the way that Clinton is now using the NYT and Krugman as the new Bill Clinton of the campaign. Would be nice to at least keep the banter somewhat productive and positive.

(Jed Clampett)

At least you guys are touching around the right topic here… I was doing a little reading this weekend and came upon a little observation.

America has stated that it is a christian country and believes in the Power of God to create harmony and stability in the world. Yet, in it’s desires to spread capitalism, it exports a great deal of chaos. It puts weapons in the hands of those that would use them to advance their political aims and unleash misery upon their own people. This it totally contrary to the tenets of democracy and an insult to those who truly believe in Religion and it’s mission to help the earth attaint it’s freedom.

There are some of us who hold the voice of reason here, we try to look at the issue from different perspectives and then comment on the perspective we feel is more like our own, these folks are ruled by harmony. They recognize the need for unity and justice and are willing to voice their opinion on it though the forces of chaos are allied against them.

There are also those who merely parrot the point they are espoused to regardless of how absurd or proven to be false that point may be, they curse and spit venom at others who don’t hold their views and refuse to even take a second look at their position. These folks are ruled by chaos and willingly work their ‘magic’ to produce more chaos and strife.

Those who have understanding now realize that the lie has to be dismantled. That those who stole the reigns of power with the teapot dome scandal and their decendants are alive and well in our world and their way of doing things is permeating our most valued public institutions, unfortunately, these individuals have learned that money precludes accountability and have no problem making more of it by exploiting others and stealing from their own nation at a time of war.

The president is by definition the premier Law Enforcent Officer of the land. We have seen the current administrations distaste for law enforcement, accountability or truth. We’ve also witnessed their passionate espousement of bigotry, secrecy, obfuscation, suppression and outright
‘dissasembling’ (dissembling for those of you who don’t recognize the quote), as well as an ability for destruction of the english language. One with an open mind… and eye, and the power to understand has to realize that those who use those tactics are allied with the forces of chaos rather than harmony… this is clearly evidenced in the Administration and it’s chorus of parrots in the congress who support his every whim. Why do the american people allow this?
Is the illusion of prosperity enough to $ell out your principles? There are only two candidates left who, in my opionion, are agents of harmony rather than chaos, and two opportunists waiting for their chance to hold the keys to the treasurym, not to mention the voices of reason who have been made to give up their efforts, or have been effectively PR’d out of the race as cooky.

We are at a crossroads in the history of the planet. We are faced with the elimination of our way of life as we know it… which may be a good thing. The question is, will we make the transition peacefully in harmony and prosperity, or chaoticaly, violently and with destruction and misery.
The first option makes the world prosper, humanity recognizes it’s positon in the wheelwork of nature and works to protect it’s homeword, it’s heaven.
The other option leads to famine, disease, waste and decay that will allow a ‘chosen few’ to remain in power and exert their evil will upon us.
The choice is yours, do you work to sow chaos, or help to bring about harmony? Just remember, we have the power to change our world back to the paradise it once was, or continue on the bellicose path and turn the planet into the hell that has been warned about. Just remember, your breatheren are not your true enemies, the real enemy is much harder to pinpoint. You must look deeply and use your link to spirit to find the real truth.

I hope my brothers and sisters are able to choose the path that leads to a reign of harmony and prosperity instead of the path that leads to a rain of chaos and misery. The choice is yours, the voice is yours, don’t let them drown you our or make you quit!!!

Thanks Jed, very refreshing. I agree we are at a crossroads, and it is our decisions about which direction the country can move.

Testing