One of these things is not like the others

Republicans like free and fair elections...and like counting all the votes...in other countries:

Powell Calls Re-Run Election an 'Historic Moment' for Ukraine

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell says Sunday's re-run presidential election in Ukraine appears to have been free and fair, and that it is an "historic moment" for that country....But Mr. Powell said Sunday's re-run election, ordered by the Ukrainian Supreme Court after the initial November 21 vote marred by fraud charges, had been conducted more transparently, with fewer reports of pressure on voters and with more balanced media coverage.

He said Ukrainians can "truly be proud of this achievement" and urged them to set aside the divisions of the campaign and work together.

"We congratulate Ukrainians for the courage they displayed in standing up for their democratic rights," he said.

Gregoire Wins Hand Recount, Rossi Won't Concede

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Democrat Christine Gregoire says the race is over and she's ready to get down to work as Washington's next governor.

Republican Dino Rossi says Washington has neither a clean election nor a legitimate governor. He refuses to concede. Republicans are asking counties to take one last look at ballots that the GOP says should be included now in light of court decisions.

Blackwell Doesn't Want To Be Interviewed In Vote Challenge

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell has requested a protective order to prevent him from being interviewed as part of an unusual court challenge of the presidential vote.

Blackwell, in a court filing, says he's not required to be interviewed by lawyers as a high-ranking public official, and accused the voters challenging the results of "frivolous conduct" and abusive and unnecessary requests of elections officials around the state.

About 40 people who voted for president Nov. 2 have challenged the election results with the Ohio Supreme Court. The voters cite irregularities including long lines, a shortage of voting machines in minority precincts and problems with computer equipment.

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Late afternoon open thread

Anything interesting happen while I was out? Read More......

Yushchenko Wins in Ukraine

So, this is what happens in developing democracies when elections are stolen. The people rise up, and justice eventually prevails. Bloomberg is reporting that Yushchenko won by a pretty good margin....a mandate margin even.

Viktor Yushchenko claimed victory today in the rerun of Ukraine's presidential election, pledging to end ``criminal power'' in the former Soviet state. Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych vowed to appeal the vote count.

Yushchenko took 52 percent to Yanukovych's 44 percent, the Central Election Committee said, with 99.9 percent of votes counted. Yanukovych said he would ``never recognize'' the results, while European observers said the election was fair.

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Saint Reggie screws over low-income elementary school

Gosh, and he seemed like such a nice religious right bigot guy.

From ESPN:

A low-income elementary school is still waiting for a $50,000 donation promised five years ago by NFL star Reggie White to create a college tuition fund for 85 students.

"I'm really disappointed," Harrington Elementary Principal Sally Edwards said this week. "I think it's sad that we promised something and we didn't deliver."

White made the pledge in 1998 when his team, the Green Bay Packers, was in Denver for a preseason game against the Broncos. He gave a large cardboard mock-up of check, made out to Harrington Elementary, to the Rev. Leon Kelly, an anti-gang activist who steered White to the school.

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Did Rummy say Flight 93 was shot down over Pennsylvania?

Weird. Read More......

22,000 Dead v. Reggie White: What's News?

Staying in watching too much t.v. because the temp. outside is 14.

I'm having a hard time seeing how the death and deification of Reggie White merits as much air time as the tsunami that killed 22,000 people. And, is CNN ever going to mention White's hate-filled past?

And, I know traveling this Christmas was rough for a lot of people. Getting stuck in an airport really blows. But, I still have to think that a tsunami wiping out your village makes for a rougher holiday. Read More......

When trolls attack...

First off, happy holidays to all. I've been up in Boston on dial-up for the last few days, so not so much by way of posts for me. We got nearly a foot of snow last night and I'm going out to play. :)

Before I do, I wanted to note an observation I had reading some of the comments this morning. We've had plenty of debates back and forth whether to ban trolls, ignore trolls, encourage people not to feed the trolls, etc. Personally, I find trolls useful. They are a good meter of how good my argument is based on how many trolls post to the thread.

If you haven't noticed, there is a scale of troll agitation:

1) Snarky - A red state themed nickname when they post
2) Scared - You're going to lose every election if you talk that way, you're doing yourself more harm than good, etc.
3) Terrified - So many typos I can tell the troll realizes that when enough people hear this, their world is coming to an end

Number one, snarky. Sometimes these trolls are even funny. Number three, terrified, I get such a laugh out of these I enjoy it all the more.

Number two is a bit more of a debatable case. Like I'm going to take advice from a troll? Are you kidding me? Like you're even giving me advice out of the goodness of your blackened, frosty heart? Of course I'm not, nor does the troll expect me to. The purpose of the "scared" post is simply to attempt to demoralize the opposition. It's plain as day psych ops.

Personally, I get quite a kick out of the "scared" posts. However, I find that they bring out the worst in otherwise great posters on our side. So, open discussion, what to do with the trolls in the New Year? Keep them around? Ban them back to the hell from whence they came? What do you think? Read More......

Over 14,000 killed in giant tsunami

Jesus. Read More......

Evening open thread

Man, I just saw a mouse. I don't think I've ever seen a mouse in a house before. It freaked me out. Cute. But freaky. It's 1 AM. I really don't need to see strange things moving in the bathroom at this hour. Ok, going to bed now. Mwaaaaaaaaa...

Chat. Read More......