Bob Koehler on San Diego: A Vote of No Confidence

[GuvWurld]

http://www.commonwonders.com/archives/col350.htm

A Vote of No Confidence
Democracy left to languish in living rooms, garages

By ROBERT C. KOEHLER
Tribune Media Services

June 15, 2006

“Before his swearing-in, Bilbray said he looked forward to replacing the images of airplanes that used to decorate the walls with photos of surfboards and sailboats.” — USA Today

Unfortunately, the immigrant-bashing Brian Bilbray wasn’t talking about decorating his dorm room. California’s newest congressman is moving into the Rayburn House Office Building, specifically the office vacated by Randall “Duke” Cunningham, bribe taker extraordinaire, who is now serving eight years in prison. Bilbray edged past Democrat Lorraine Busby in a special, allegedly closely watched election on June 6, allowing Republicans to hold the 50th District in traditionally conservative San Diego County.

And the folksy detail about Bilbray’s taste in poster art, in lieu of reportorial outrage, seems to signal that, once again, America has moved on from a shoddily conducted election — making Congress seem about as trustworthy as a New Orleans rebuilt atop the toxic waste stirred up by Hurricane Katrina. Somebody’s going to get sick from this sooner or later.

Indeed, the “democracy extremists” out there — the ones who take procedural integrity seriously, especially in the era of electronic voting — are sick already.

MORE...

[lindisfarne]

1. This is good; Tribune Media Services has picked it up. Although San Diego

is a bit buried (sending voting machines home with poll workers in San Diego county), it's there.

[Stevepol]

2. Koehler's a great writer. This article in Common Dreams deserves R's.

[kster]

3. I was just gonna run "silent scream of numbers"

again for the "newbies" in the house. K&R......

[Joanie Baloney]

4. I know why Busby lost...

Because it's FRANCINE Busby. Not Lorraine Busby. :crazy:


"Bilbray edged past Democrat Lorraine Busby in a special, allegedly closely watched election on June 6, allowing Republicans to hold the 50th District in traditionally conservative San Diego County."

All us SD voters were going..."Who da heck is Lorraine Busby?? Oh darn...guess I'll vote for the other guy."


(I emailed Bob Koehler and let him know.)


JB

[MindPilot]

5. Let me be the first to welcome you to DU!!

Really, really dumb move to so blatantly compromise the chain of custody like that. This one is pretty clear cut, there is no way the results can be (honestly) certified. .

Although the cynical part of me says reality is those machines were probably way safer in a poll-worker's home than in a warehouse someplace where Diebold technicians could have unfettered access.

Still don't make it right.

[Joanie Baloney]

7. Correction made

Bob Koehler answered my email and the article has been corrected to say "Francine" now. Yay!

"Bilbray edged past Democrat Francine Busby in a special, allegedly closely watched election on June 6, allowing Republicans to hold the 50th District in traditionally conservative San Diego County."


http://www.commonwonders.com/archives/col350.htm

[Wilms]

6. K&R n/t