Author Topic: Edwards: "We can wait." (Read 501 times)

rpm · « **on:** November 03, 2004, 01:29:52 AM »

Edwards looks like he's callin out the dogs.

Nash · « **Reply #1 on:** November 03, 2004, 01:33:12 AM »

I was takin' out the trash not five minutes ago, and I swear to god, I just saw Jimmy Baker climbing into a plane.

Git yer game face on.... 11 days to go?

This is high drama. If anything, you Yanks sure know how to put on a show!

rpm · « **Reply #2 on:** November 03, 2004, 01:34:10 AM »

I'm tellin ya!:rofl

Captain Virgil Hilts · « **Reply #3 on:** November 03, 2004, 01:35:08 AM »

I'm almost willing to bet on it. I'm getting more sure every minute that the lawyers are massing for the assault.

Here's the issue:

The margin is currently over 125K. If there are 250K of provisional ballots, Kerry would have to win well over 75% of all of them, and I have not seen him hold that margin anywhere.

rpm · « **Reply #4 on:** November 03, 2004, 01:37:33 AM »

It's gonna be a squeaker any way you look at it.

Stang · « **Reply #5 on:** November 03, 2004, 02:09:43 AM »

It's not gonna be a squeaker at all. I live in Ohio, saw things first hand going smoothly without any kind of irregularities to speak of as did friends of mine throughout the state. Ohio law is very clear about the procedure of recounts and such. I think we were lucky to have so many lawsuits filed before election day, the courts here worked overtime to get all the pre-election issues hammered out before the polls opened here in the morning. There really is no leg for Kerry to stand on here, though I fear the thought of losing two elections in a row by such a close margin will cause the Democrats to go down swinging for no other reason than to swing.
My only fear is the punch card ballots 70% of voters used here in Ohio. After the hanging chad fiasco four years ago it might be possible for Kerry's lawyers to get some kind of recount ordered based solely on the fear that somehow the ballots were counted incorrectly, though again the law here I think covers this quite clearly. There is no "hanging chad" in Ohio law, only 2 of the 4 corners have to be detatched from the chad for the vote to count (think of this like a door opening on it's hinges, basically an "open door" equals a vote) so basically, if there's air in the chad, it was counted already. Moreover after the controversy four years ago it would be foolish for anyone to not make sure they detatch the chad completely to make sure their vote and voice be heard.
Bush has too much of a lead, there is almost a statistical impossibility of the provisional ballots coming in 90% in favor of Kerry, absentee ballots in OH tend to favor the Republicans and Ohio law gives Kerry's lawyers very little room to play with.

It's over, lets get on with everyday life. A 3 million vote lead in the popular vote is a crushing blow to Kerry. As Larry King said at one point tonight, "The people have spoken."

rpm · « **Reply #6 on:** November 03, 2004, 02:17:54 AM »

Stang, they were saying people were still standing in line and voting at 10 pm. To say it went smoothly is kinda stretching it.

Stang · « **Reply #7 on:** November 03, 2004, 02:28:24 AM »

Not at all rpm, quit trying to read things into it that aren't there. Every voter was allowed to vote and the turnout was huge, therefore people were in line waiting until roughly 10pm. One other reason attributed to this was the ammount of time it took people to vote, and someone actually filed a lawsuit on this point! lol! Imagine if they hadn't been allowed to vote. THEN there would be something to contest.

It's over.

And I'm not even a Bush guy lol.

Gunslinger · « **Reply #8 on:** November 03, 2004, 02:28:33 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by rpm
Stang, they were saying people were still standing in line and voting at 10 pm. To say it went smoothly is kinda stretching it.

Seriously 10PM.....why so late?

Captain Virgil Hilts · « **Reply #9 on:** November 03, 2004, 02:32:51 AM »

Polls are often manned by the elderly (God bless them, we owe them a great debt), and understaffed. Don't expect light speed from the polls. They had near 75% turnout. Long waits are to be expected.

Stang · « **Reply #10 on:** November 03, 2004, 02:33:08 AM »

Read my post

The weather was bad too, probably delayed people getting to the polls in traffic after work. There were huge, I mean HUGE lines of people waiting, turnout was enormous. Even in the morning I was hearing reports of people waiting up to 3 hours to vote. That good enough?

Widewing · « **Reply #11 on:** November 03, 2004, 02:33:24 AM »

Democrats have been doing phone polls on a possible legal challenge since 6pm eastern. There is growing concern that the backlash would be considerable.

Meanwhile, the states not yet called are all about to be called for Bush. The lead in Ohio is insurmountable even with all provisional ballots counted (these will likely break the same way as the the rest of the state). If there was any significant voter fraud, it was in Philly and benefitted Kerry. Absentee votes are overwhelmingly military votes, and the military went for Bush by slightly over 80%. In Lincoln's re-election in 1864, the military vote was ignored by the democrats. Yet, Lincoln received 88% of the military vote and that sealed his win.

Deal with it folks, Bush has won and will start his second term with the House comfortably in Republican control and the Senate theirs with two new seats added. Final totals will show a 3%-4% popular vote margin and about 300 electoral votes.

Meanwhile, a major military action is jumping off that will clear out western Iraq and Falujah of insurgents and terrorist camps.

Rumor is that the Bush administration's first major piece of legislation in 2005 will be tort reform. He will also get to select the next two Supreme Court judges (anticipating two retirements)

So what's ahead for 2008? Rudy vs Hillary is my guess.

My regards,

Widewing

Stang · « **Reply #12 on:** November 03, 2004, 02:37:00 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Captain Virgil Hilts
Polls are often manned by the elderly (God bless them, we owe them a great debt), and understaffed. Don't expect light speed from the polls. They had near 75% turnout. Long waits are to be expected.

Exactly. At my poling place there are three sections, split up for the three districts in my precinct. Two of the three clipped along all day with people coming in and out quickly, but the third (had to be mine gawd damnit) had a line out the door into the street all day. Basically it came down to the efficiency of the staff checking you in and getting the ballot to you, etc. They were old, but very nice

Everyone was very patient and respectful, being mindful of what it means to be able to vote, especially in such a huge election.

rpm · « **Reply #13 on:** November 03, 2004, 02:37:09 AM »

The way MSNBC was putting it was there was a greater turnout than voting machines could handle. They wound up handing out paper ballots to people who were in line at 7pm to suppliment the machines. Even with paper ballots, thet still have to process the people. I'm sure people got to vote, it just ran into snags.

Stang · « **Reply #14 on:** November 03, 2004, 02:43:17 AM »

Snags, yes, but does anything ever go exactly as planned? Again, everything reported seems to indicate voting went without relative incident with the poll workers doing an outstanding job given the large turnout.