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Acts of Quiet Desperation: Wisconsin Recount Edition
It is quite sad to see so many well-meaning and otherwise intelligent Americans embarrassing and deluding themselves that Hillary Clinton didn’t lose the election held over two weeks ago.
I hear many using words like mourning, markers of the kind of feelings that follow an actual death. If that is the case, then it is time to move on into some form of acceptance.
In addition to the clueless bleating about the electoral vote not matching the popular vote (you win at baseball with more runs, not more hits), Hillary Clinton is now being urged by a group of prominent computer scientists and election lawyers to call for a recount in three swing states won by Donald Trump. The story, somehow, despite the scientists not speaking on record and only to the Clinton team in private, has gone viral across the same media (HuffPo, Vox, you know them) that never saw the flaws in Candidate Clinton and still doesn’t.
The group believes they’ve found “persuasive evidence” results in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania may have been manipulated or hacked. Let’s take a look at that.
The sole evidence presented so far, according to New York magazine, which broke the story is (emphasis added):In Wisconsin, Clinton received seven percent fewer votes in counties that relied on electronic-voting machines compared with counties that used optical scanners and paper ballots.
Based on this statistical analysis [NOTE: this is not a statistical analysis, just counting], Clinton may have been denied as many as 30,000 votes; she lost Wisconsin by 27,000. While it’s important to note the group has not found proof of hacking or manipulation, they are arguing to the campaign that the suspicious pattern merits an independent review — especially in light of the fact that the Obama White House has accused the Russian government of hacking the Democratic National Committee.
So let’s unpack that:— Assuming the counting is accurate, there is no known connection between the vote tally and anything else. At best this is a correlation, in likelihood it is just a tally. There is no evidence of any suspicious pattern. Ballots are not “patterns.” They’re just ballots.
— There is no evidence of any hacking or manipulation. Even if it is true (a big if given the lack of evidence) that someone connected with Russia hacked the DNC, that does not in any way connect to a handful of voting machines in Wisconsin reviewed as a very small sample.
— Though pitched as a “Save Hillary” effort, there is no evidence to suggest any recount would favor Clinton.
— The reporting on this says the scientists have shared the information only with the Clinton campaign. Why not the Justice Department? If they really have something, it is evidence of a grave felony. Why not share it with the people who can really do something about that? Put up or shut up time.
— Are these otherwise intelligent scientists really, truly, claiming that Russian hackers reached into individual voting machines in Wisconsin somewhere to throw a small number of votes Trump’s way?
Bottom Line: Some people didn’t like the election results so they are throwing themselves on the ground like a soccer player trying to claim a faux foul.
Disclaimer: I hate Trump. I hate racism and sexism and nazis. I am not now, nor have I ever been, a racist, or sexist, or nazi. This is not a pro-Trump article just because it criticizes Clinton in part. Stop acting like *ssholes. Please.
Copyright © 2020. All rights reserved. The views expressed here are solely those of the author(s) in their private capacity.
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Bruce said...
1Teh Donald played by DEM Queen HELL’$ “RULE$” And WON ! That said, ALL teh precedential candidates Were ‘fighting for teh fund of it’ FRAUD$ !!
11/23/16 11:18 AM | Comment Link
Rich Bauer said...
2Peter, you left out Russian agent. Dont want to give DS any excuse to start another waste of the taxpayers money.
11/23/16 11:57 AM | Comment Link
Rich Bauer said...
3It is hysterical to see the Daily Kos take the place of the lunatic fringe from Breitbart as the party out of power. Paranoia equilibrium.
11/23/16 12:14 PM | Comment Link
John Poole said...
4And so the nightmare continues! So Stein feels she is responsible for Trump’s win? Poor thing-How stupid is that. And to think my vote for her seemed a sane thing to do on Nov 4th. Has Hillary secretly promised Stein a cabinet post? Could be!
11/23/16 2:25 PM | Comment Link
Rich Bauer said...
5You have to admit the Dems are beating a dead horse. But just imagine the civil war we would have had if the scary black man lost the popular vote by 2,000,000 and occupied the WHITE House.
11/23/16 4:27 PM | Comment Link
Mitch said...
6Analytical side of brain processing appropriate response….
Analytical side of brain processing appropriate response ……
Appropriate response found….
What Peter said.
M
11/23/16 4:58 PM | Comment Link
Mitch said...
7Well…. This is something new for a president to do….
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38067813
M
11/23/16 9:17 PM | Comment Link
Mitch said...
8Strange that none of this is being covered by mainstream. Opps… Sorry. Forgot where we live…
Not defending him…. It is nice to see a president remember who comes when you really need help…
http://bluelivesmatter.blue/trump-calls/
M
11/23/16 9:26 PM | Comment Link
teri said...
9I had an email this morning from some group asking for me to donate to Jill Stein’s recount effort. She has raised $2 mm of the $2.5 mm needed to do a recount. I’m not sure what the money is for (sounds like an awful lot for just a review of the tally), nor why it is required (a candidate who loses and wants a recount has to pay for the recount themselves?), nor why a candidate who couldn’t possibly have won anyway wants to be involved. Oh, wait, she isn’t contesting the results on behalf of herself, but on behalf of Clinton. Clinton, one might note, conceded before Trump hit the magic 270 electoral college number, and has expressed no interest in a recount.
You can see a chart of the latest vote counts here (disclaimer: I’m not sure how often this is updated, but I think the numbers are as accurate as any available, given the fact that some states are still counting):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_2016
It would appear that the pot-heads over in the Libertarian Party bled off far more votes from Clinton than the Green Party did, although it is highly doubtful that someone who voted Libertarian would have voted Clinton. Much more likely they would have voted Republican if they hadn’t voted Libertarian. But anyway, looking at the Stein votes, there are only TWO states where if ALL the Stein votes had instead gone to Clinton, it might have pushed her over Trump. Those are Wisc. and Mich. So, let’s zero out the Stein votes in those two states, give the votes to Clinton, and say that she won them. Wisc. has 10 EC [electoral college] votes, and Mich. has 16.
That still only gives her another 26 electoral college votes, and takes 26 from Trump. Trump won the EC 306 to 232. Altering Wisc. and Mich. would make it Trump 280 and Clinton 258. So he’d still have over the 270 mark and would still win by the EC system.
It’s a mystery why Stein wants to involve herself in this or spend any money on it, given that Clinton herself doesn’t seem to give a shit, and it sure doesn’t make any difference in the outcome anyway.
We have a problem with the voting machines. (George Soros, who loves fucking with other countries and starting fake, controlled “color revolutions” in other countries to overthrow legitimate governments, owns the voting machines used in 16 states. Think about that for a minute.) We have a problem with gerry-mandering, restrictive voter ID laws, and the shutting down of polling places. (The Democrats were very good at closing the polling places early in states where it was likely that Sanders would take the primary. But the Republicans are topnotch at closing polling places altogether across the country during the general election.) We have a problem with giving people access to register to vote in the first place. Our elections are more questionable and more easily jiggered than those in almost every other western country.
Funny how the Democrats didn’t care about any of that until Clinton lost the election.
I voted Stein because I like the Green platform. But I almost didn’t vote at all because I think it is pretty much pointless now. Abysmal that she is shilling for Clinton now.
And I fucking hate Trump.
The election turned out just the way the plutocracy wanted. Clinton; the people lose. Trump; the people lose.
11/24/16 5:03 AM | Comment Link
Mitch said...
10Hey Teri,
Here’s the answer your looking for.
How many votes does Arizona have?
http://www.google.com/search?q=Arizona+elector+harassment&oq=Arizona+elector+harassment&gs_l=mobile-heirloom-serp.3..30i10.2968.34797.0.35777.32.29.0.3.3.0.802.8619.3-1j0j10j3.14.0….0…1c.1.34.mobile-heirloom-serp..16.16.8713.Ke4dP85Url8
M
11/24/16 5:45 AM | Comment Link
Mitch said...
11Standing Rock update.
Watch the video.
Under the rules of engagement, the laws of the united states, and a shit load of statues and precedence…. The actions of “law enforcement” or SO illegal.
The protesters….. They were not doing anything other than be there.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/21/dakota-access-pipeline-water-cannon-police-standing-rock-protest
M
11/24/16 7:17 AM | Comment Link
chuck said...
12I voted for Jill, and looking into my crystal ball, I won’t again after this BS (same for he).
11/24/16 7:33 AM | Comment Link
rich bauer said...
13We should all support the recount and hope.for chaos to ensue, The rest of the world will be a safer place when we are fighting at home.
11/24/16 7:35 AM | Comment Link
Mitch said...
14Once upon a time….
A Long time ago…. In a place later called Holland…..
The ‘workers’ there got pissed off at the owners… Elites (insert ) your own word)….
They used to throw their wooden shoes, called ‘Sabo’ into the pumps and mills wooden gears…. Thereby destroying the machinery…
Hence… The word ‘ sabotage’ was born…..
Not saying that is what needs to happen…. But…..
Anyone up for a road trip….. Maybe a little game changing?
The idea that this is happening on ‘Thanksgiving’…. Just pisses me off.
As my wife ships them blankets,….wood stoves, food by the ton….and… Body amour…. Gas masks…. Again…. Under her own name.
Got to love her….
So…… Who’s up for some ‘civil disobedience’????
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wll5jwyVYiw
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_bOQNdymQBE
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GrrsvrQ_3JU
M
11/24/16 8:20 AM | Comment Link
Mitch said...
15The really stupid part….
This nation has been at war for 15 years…. Our military is not segregated….. It takes all kinds… Black, white, Asian….. Native American….
And… Our military teaches all sorts of nifty stuff ….ALL sorts of nifty stuff.
So…. Even if succed in bullying these people into submission….. And complete their damn pipe…..
It will still leave Hundreds of miles of pipe there…. Forever….. For these highly trained…. Highly pissed off people…. To screw with…. Forever…
Just damn DUMB !!!!!
M
11/24/16 8:29 AM | Comment Link
John Poole said...
16The Stein “thingee” is a mystery for now. Maybe she wants a gig at the Clinton Foundation? It seems unlikely Trump will give her an ambassadorship for this chicanery.
11/24/16 9:23 AM | Comment Link
Andrei said...
17Been watching Hot Fuzz yesterday – a 2007 British comedy starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. When one of the antagonists calls Pegg’s character “fascist” and he retors with “hag”, I couldn’t help but wonder if the screenwriter foresaw the 2016 US election.
11/24/16 9:46 AM | Comment Link
Mitch said...
18Andrei,
What’s the saying….
Art imitates history???? Something sort of like that.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
M
11/24/16 9:57 AM | Comment Link
John Poole said...
19The rcount brouhaha purposely avoids the premise that the “pollsters” got it terribly wrong. If any change is needed in our election procedures is should be that polling should be outlawed and “projections” about turnout and preferences banned from the airwaves and print. It is always a way to try and influence the results. Duh!
11/24/16 10:39 AM | Comment Link
Richard said...
20The article says we didn’t see Hillary’s flaws and are still behind her…You can bet your life. As far as flaws are concerned Donald Trump invented the word. There has never been a candidate so corrupt and so flawed as Donald J. Trump. The writer of his article is either blind, hard of hearing, or just as corrupt as his candidate. Hitler was just as wanted by the people of Germany that were bamboozled by his charisma, and most of all by his lies. If Trump remains in office I dare say that before the year is out we will be in a serious conflict involving nuclear power. I would like to see the look on the faces of his supporters explaining to their children why they are dyeing from radiation poisoning.
11/26/16 11:04 AM | Comment Link
Bruce said...
21Hoo-Ah! The Clinton$tein MON$TER : IT’$ A BRIBE ! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xos2MnVxe-c Now it’s on to teh ExtortY’all college and let’s win there!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvVm9eG6Wbg
11/26/16 11:51 AM | Comment Link