In Kenya it's fraud, in Ohio it's a miracle

A Courant headline on a McClatchy report in today's paper reveals possible fraud in the Kenyan elections:

Exit Poll In Kenya Implies Election Fraud

Funny that when the exact same thing happened in Ohio during the last US presidential election, I don't recall a newspaper that ran a headline or story claiming election fraud. Stranger still, while fraud has been all but proven in those Ohio elections, even now, no one seems to care.

And, in New Hampshire last week, there was a discrepancy between exit polls and the final count. Not only were there no cries of fraud, but commentators openly scoffed at the idea that vote count fraud could have take place.

One must also wonder at a Republican organization monitoring the vote in Kenya. If that isn't irony, I'll turn in my magnet.

Upset by the upset

While the mainstream press continues to ignore or pooh-pooh the idea that the Diebold voting machines may have delivered an inaccurate vote count in New Hampshire, Dennis Kucinich has filed a complaint with the NH secretary of state, asking for a recount.

Of course, conservative bloggers are already beginning to dismiss Kucinich as part of the "lunatic fringe." A lunatic fringe which would like a reasonable explanation other than, "Hillary cried."

Thanks to Michael Gill for the tip.

Have I jumped to the wrong conclusion

Earlier today I jumped to the conclusion that inaccurate polling methods, and a press corp which is lazy and incurious has given us eight years of bullshitting president, and now, an inaccurate read on the next election.

Now, some have raised the possibility (without any real evidence, mind you), that perhaps, the polling firms were not wrong, and that, like in Ohio in 2004, it's the Diebold voting machines which should be called into question.

In the minds of most Americans, this will fall into the category of crackpot conspiracy theory, but I personally, am done with dismissing these theories out-of-hand, when so much in history has proven these odd tales to be true.

Vote counters cook corporate books

Some disturbing news from Diebold, the makers of ATM and voting machines, including those which are used in Connecticut.

Seems Diebold is using unscrupulous accounting practices.

Doesn't build any additional confidence in casting a vote on one of their machines.

Middletown recount, and voting machine discrepancies

Two things are clear from the recount of votes in the recent election in Middletown, Republican Earle Roberts will stay on the Common Council and Bill Boyd will remain on the Board of Education.

What's also clear is that physical, printed votes are essential, since, the hand recount of votes demonstrated an even larger discrepancy in tabulated votes than was originally suspected.

Earle Roberts plans to complain to the Secretary of State about methods of recount. We should also complain that the voting machines don't seem to be working correctly.

And what's more disappointing is the low voter turnout. Earlier reported as 30%, it now seems likely that it was less than that. Democracy seems broken, and voter apathy is no way to make it better. The less people voting, the more likely it is that a few people are going to make the decisions that affect your life each day.

Now vote, motherfuckers

So, you don't feel engaged by Democracy. Who can blame you. After all, it seems like the fools are running the government at the local, state and federal level. But that's because enough of us don't vote to prevent the fools from running the government.

Maybe you can't make the council meetings, or get in the street and shout about war. But you can vote. People died to give you the opportunity to vote. People in countries where there is no vote, or the vote is meaningless (don't start, we'll talk about that later), would fight and die for the opportunity you have today. Cynicism is the mother of apathy. Apathy is the mother of dictatorships.

Here in Middletown, as in many municipalities, the vote is long. You don't have to vote for everyone. You don't have to vote party line. Vote for the people you know and trust. A no vote for a candidate you don't want, is a vote for his or her opponent. Just because there are eight candidates, doesn't mean you have to choose eight. Cast your ballot for responsive and responsible candidates.

I'm a lifelong Democrat. I've wavered in my support for the party of the ass often enough. Today I voted for two Republicans whom I think deserve a chance in town, David Bauer for Common Council and Catherine Johnson for Zoning and Planning.

You don't have to tell me who you voted for. Just vote.

Scratch ticket

This isn't exactly news, but I finally got around to watching the instructional video released by Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz's office. It's clear, and indeed, instructional, though not at all poetic, and a bit frightening when comparing the ballot to a "standardized test" (Ohmijesus!), or a "lottery ticket" (shit, we lost again!).

The optical scan voting machine in question, Accu-Vote Optical Scan from LHS Associates, is, in actuality a Diebold machine. The machine in question was put through its paces by UCONN researchers, and found imminently corruptible. Though to be fair to our Secretary of State, steps have been taken to address issues of corruptibility.

Though election days is many months away, be sure to watch the video, and be sure to ask for your "privacy folder" when voting!