VA Recount: Obenshain just conceded.

[FSogol]

Herring wins by 866 votes out of 2 million!

Democratic Sweeeeeeepppppp!

[countingbluecars]

1. Wonderful news! n/t

[displacedtexan]

2. Excellent!

Thanks for posting this!

[PunkinPi]

3. Great news, thanks!

[riqster]

4. Another example of why we must always GOTFV! nt

[SoapBox]

27. +1

[Aerows]

48. +1000 n/t

[Tom Rinaldo]

5. Proof that not all elections can and/or will be stolen

I don't know what voter technology is used in Virginia but it is a purple state with a Republican Governor and Attorney General still in office. It's just good to remember this sometimes. All of our elections are not rigged, even close contests still can go either way. I continue to be upset about poor security on e-voting machines, insufficient paper trails and the like. But here was an election where a shift of 500 votes could have flipped it to Republicans and the Democrat was certified and that was validated again in the recount. We still have to fight for safer elections but while we do we also have to keep hustling to win them with whatever systems may still be in place at the moment.

[FSogol]

6. +1. Well said. n/t

[questionseverything]

14. this race was only won because activists

kept careful watch over the numbers...the 3000 "found" votes in fairfax county were the key to this win

so it might of been "rigged" and was unrigged by citizens

funny how people describe virginia as purple when there are 5,245,777 dems registered to vote compared to 1,053,327 repubs...shouldn't that be a smoking gun all on it's own when the repubs win any race?

the boysko/rust race should of been looked into also,those reported results were dramatically different than the reported results in the top 3 races

[Tom Rinaldo]

18. Yes, an important point. That's why I wrote "can and/or will" be stolen

The emphasis is on the final results. I have no doubt that many elections "can" be stolen, I believe that efforts to steal elections do take place - not always at the highest levels though sometimes maybe there also. As you accurately point out, a big part of what prevents some elections from actually being stolen is the vigilance of activists.

[busterbrown]

43. And yet where is the Obama push back on the electronic voting machine acquisition surge over the..

the past few years?

[Tom Rinaldo]

46. Right. Where? But your reply and others point to why I made my intitial post

Despite the efforts of those tempted to not honor the legitimate will of the voting public, and largely because of the efforts of those fighting to make sure that that will is honored, a Democrat just got elected AG of Virginia by less than a thousand votes. The public believed the results were very close, this election was not one that would have raised widespread suspicions had the Democrat lost without obvious irregularities apparent.

This time activists and dedicated public servants made the system work, or at least prevented it, in the final analysis, from seriously malfunctioning. Hats off to them.

[riqster]

62. Not just Obama. Dems in General have done fuck-all about this scandal.

Last edited Thu Dec 19, 2013, 06:37 AM - Edit history (1)

Shit, I was online starting when Bob Ney started taking Diebold coin to write the boondoggle that became HAVA. Trying to get people to stop these devices from bring used.

And Dems in party positions, those who were in office, the admins of message boards and forums... All of them called we election integrity activists Kooks and other such crap. And took the same attitude as all the other ignorant fucks who didn't listen until it was too late.

[FSogol]

34. It was also won because Democrat Creigh Deeds changed the recount laws after

the close election for AG in 2005.

[Todays_Illusion]

71. Wrong: Republicans changed the law while the recount was being done. What is your source?

But sure, show us your source.
http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2013/11/virginia-voter-id-attorney-general-obenshain-herring

[FSogol]

76. The VA law changed via the legislation after the election in 2006. You are referring to

Cuccinelli's monkeying with the law during this election.

Like sources? How about SB35 from 2008:

Recount procedures; ensures that logic and accuracy tests are performed after programming tabulator. (SB35)
Introduced By

Sen. Creigh Deeds (D-Bath)

Description

Elections; recount procedures. Requires hard copy optical scan ballots to be rerun through appropriately programmed tabulators in recount proceedings. Present law provides that the tabulator printout will be sufficient unless it is unclear or the court orders the ballots to be rerun. Amends § 24.2-802, of the Code of Virginia. View Full Text »
Outcome
Bill Has Passed
03/27/2008 G Approved by Governor-Chapter 682 (effective 7/1/08)

http://www.richmondsunlight.com/bill/2008/sb35/

If you look over Deed's history, he is the major advocate for fair elections in the Commonwealth.

So actually, Mr. Friendly. You are wrong.

[onenote]

70. Where do you come up with numbers for "registered" Democrats and Republicans in VA?

There is no party registration in Virginia.
And if the "missing" 3000 votes were part of a "rigging" of the election, they wouldn't have ever been found.

[riqster]

28. There is a mix in that state. TSD and optical scan units.

Both of which can be hacked with relative ease by an insider.

Turnout is the only way to defeat a hack.

[Shana]

47. We use two different types of voting machines

For many years we used touch screen voting machines. Several years ago a state law was passed mandating that all new machines must have a paper trail and so we've been moving to an optical scan system. Most jurisdictions have been using a combination of both machines in recent elections, which happen every year in Virginia. There has been a push by the Board of Elections to encourage people to start using the optical scan machines, which allow for faster voting. After all, any number of people can work, reading ballots, filling in the little ovals next to the candidate they're voting for, all at the same time. The only slow down happens at the optical scan machine as each ballot is fed through. You can watch the counter tally that your ballot has been accepted. All the ballots are collected in a locked portion of the machine under the scanner. At the end of the day both sorts of machines print out a tally of the votes cast on that machine.

While the touch screen machines have no paper trail, I have never heard of any problems with them here, unlike other states. That said, I always have used the optical scan machines when available because I want there to be a paper trail for my vote. BTW I'm a Democratic precinct captain in Fairfax County.

[questionseverything]

57. so what was the story in the 86th district?

boysko barely wins in fairfax....looking at the results precinct to precinct and comparing the lt gov race to the delegate race the dem drop off is astounding

for example herndon 1......lt gov race dems 1015/reps 621
86th dems 689/reps 967

results like that should set off alarms

[Coyotl]

58. Proof that election that have already been stolen can be turned around by activist investigators

Let's not forget, at one point Herring had lost and then the activists pressed hard at the last minute pointing out where the missing votes were!

[blue14u]

63. Getting out and

voting does matter, and when we do we WIN!

We just have to get people registered and to the polls...

VOTE=WIN!!!!

Congrats to VA again.

[brooklynite]

7. Technically, not yet...press conference at 3 PM.

[brooklynite]

8. Live stream of consession speech

@13NewsNow BREAKING : We will have LIVE streaming of @MarkObenshain press conference at 3pm #vaag http://www.wvec.com/news/regional/236331771.html … … #va

[freshwest]

9. Thanks for keeping on this! Good news. May it forshadow more changes there in 2014. n/t

[johnnyreb]

10. 2 minutes-- time for another kick!

[Zorra]

11. Great news, thanks. Geez, if only the Supreme Court would have permitted the recount in Florida

during the 2000 selection of Bush...

Al Gore would have been Prez for 8 yrs. instead of Bush, and this country and this world would be a 10,000% better place for everyone and everything to live in, in every way, right now.

[WinstonSmith4740]

17. True.

I remember Scalia stating the reason they were shutting down the recount (after years of screaming about "state's rights&quot was that if the recount showed that Gore had actually won (which the 2 independent recounts DID) it "...would cast a pall on the Bush Presidency."

Gee, ya think?

[BlancheSplanchnik]

25. grrrrrr

[libodem]

80. True

I agree.

[MineralMan]

12. An excellent result!

[WinstonSmith4740]

13. Sweeeeeeeeettt!!

Now, Republican state officials can either sit up and take notice that people will not stand for these jerks trying to legislate morality, OR they'll claim the problem was that Cuccinelli, etc. weren't "conservative enough", so they have to go harder right next time.

Let's see, now...which way do you think it'll go?

[11 Bravo]

15. Out-fucking-standing! Thanks for staying on top of this, FSogol!

Now we need to hold on to Herring's vacated Senate seat, or else the Repugs will gain a majority in that body.

[DFW]

16. That's the way uh-huh uh-huh I LIKE it!!!!

If EVER there was a doubt that every vote counts, or that getting out the vote in a contested state in an off-year election is vital, this should forever dispel that doubt.

[SoCalDem]

19. 2558 precincts..866 votes.. (why disenfranchisement is so important)

If even ONE vote per precinct had been disqualified.. we have a different and ugly result..

[malaise]

20. Go Dems

Clean sweep!!!

[Raine1967]

21. Gotta KICK THIS AGAIN!

I heard the news on the radio running errands earlier. This is just wonderful news!

I'm proud of Virginia and it's activists. Particularly David Wasserman of the Cook report for noticing the irregularities. Benjamin Tribbitt and Brian Schoeneman (yes, a Republican) deserve a lot of credit as well for wanting real accountability and working together to get the counts right in Fairfax County.

WE SWEPT!

[freshwest]

31. True, kudos all, even to the GOPher. Some actually believe in people voting... n/t

[Raine1967]

36. Schoeneman is a GOP'r I actually respect.

I pretty much disagree with him about everything, but...

I've interacted with him a few times on the BoF (Book of faces... and while we have actual policy disagreements over things like, I'm a Dem and he's not... he's always been respectful. He's a straight shooter as far as I have seen. Rare in this modern day GOP.

He wanted to make sure His county and their election board did the right thing. I wish all politicians --no matter the side of the aisle -- did that.

Herring won this one. He got more votes, and everyone involved made sure this election was on the up & up. It's a good day for Dems and an even better day for democracy.

[Cha]

22. Awesome! And, there are those who advocate not voting.. silly

wabbits!

[riqster]

29. ^^^This^^^

[freshwest]

30. ^^^That's the truth!^^^

[riqster]

32. GOTFV!!!

[sheshe2]

55. Yup!

GOTV 2014~ Vote as if your life depended on it.

[KamaAina]

23. Has Cookoo called McAuliffe yet?

[mountain grammy]

24. Very good news indeed!

Let's kick ass in November!

[Uncle Joe]

26. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, FSogol.

[madokie]

33. F*ing A

good ass news. thanks

[trublu992]

35. Best news I've had this week can't be happier!!!!!!

[Gin]

37. Good news....a clean sweep.

Hope his seat stays dem.

[grantcart]

38. Landslide!!!

[great white snark]

41. Sweet!

[Botany]

78. Great Song!

[shenmue]

39. Blue is a wonderful color.

[rurallib]

40. I hope the new AG goes after the soon-to-be former governor

about some - uh - bribes and such. McDonnell deserves a new place to sleep.

[freshwest]

42. I prefer him working on undoing his dirty work, first. Don't spend political capital based on the

desire of the voters and their needs first. Leting the dust settle will prove he's not doing his job, but settling old scores. That is what the GOP in DC has been doing for years. The needs and rights of the people come first, then let time take care of the rest. Don't worry, the crook will get his.

[MerryBlooms]

44. Congratulations VA!

[pinboy3niner]

45. WOO-HOO!!!

In keeping with your sig line theme...

[Aerows]

49. VOTE

This is why we all must vote. We the People must go out in droves and VOTE because 900 ish votes means something.

[nomorenomore08]

50. Anyone gonna offer an argument against voting here? Didn't think so...

[Aerows]

65. 900 votes

It makes a difference!!!!

[oldandhappy]

51. Every vote counts!

Will be working precincts for the primaries and general elections. Plan to tell this story over and over!!

[Spitfire of ATJ]

52. The Republican wanted to apply for unemployment before the cuts took effect.

[MoonRiver]

53. YEEEEESSSSS!!

Just awesome!!

[WCLinolVir]

54. I thought it was weird that we elected two Dem's, but not the AG.

Good news indeed.

[Half-Century Man]

56. The Virginia republican election autopsy results are in

Cause of death: Nitwit Overdose.

[Coyotl]

59. Cuccinelli didn't disenfranchise enough Dem voters after all.

[HubertHeaver]

68. But it wasn't through lack of trying.

The GOP postmortem will lament that one less democrat per precinct would have turned the election.

[NBachers]

60. Yes!

[underpants]

61. Sweeeeeeepppppp!

LOVE IT!!

[blue14u]

64. K&R

[Snarkoleptic]

66. Fuuuuuu

dge yeah, baby!

[reACTIONary]

67. YES! 800+ FTW (nt)

[davidpdx]

69. Glad the recount is over and he won

Herring is going to need some serious disinfectant when he moves into the office after Kootch leaves.

[blkmusclmachine]

72. McAuliffee still sux

[nikto]

73. In AMERICA, it's UNFAIR...

When the GOP is not allowed to cheat.

Isn't the Repugnican right-to-cheat enshrined in The Constitution,
er, sump'n?

I am outraged.

[bluestateguy]

74. Get your brooms out!

Sweep!

[ReRe]

75. Oh Charlie Brown and Snoopy...

... just what I wanted! A cute little Christmas tree
and more Democrats in office in Virginia. Yes, Virginia, there IS a Santa Clause!

[Orsino]

77. I don't know exactly how Virginia's vote has been fine-tuned...

...but these repeated photo finishes stink. We know that gerrymandering, vote suppression and voter apathy are skewing thing, but how does it so often come down to just a few votes?

[Doctor_J]

79. DINO edges crazy teabagger!

a good thing, but not the least bit encouraging

[FSogol]

81. Bullshit. Democratic sweep in a southern state that is currently red.

What in Herring's voting record makes you think he's DINO? I'll wait.