They stole Florida in 2000 while we watched. They stole Ohio in secret. How will they steal this one? Sarah Palin is the key. Don't believe me? Read on.
When McCain announced Palin as his running mate, I was truly puzzled. The choice made no rational sense. She isn't strong where McCain is weak. She doesn't bring a big state (Like PA or OH), she has no virtues and, as we've read here, plenty of vices.
After weeks of pondering, I remembered a book I read and wrote about.
In 2004, Mark Crispin Miller published Fooled Again: How the Right stole the 2004 election and why they'll steal the next one too (unless we stop them)
In the book Miller analyzed the Bush "win" in Ohio (and other states). If you recall, the right wing media claimed that Bush won Ohio because the evangelical Christians came out in force and tipped the election in Bush's favor. Miller examined this claim, took a hard look at the number and concluded that it was all a bunch of lies.
What really happened was that the Republicans purged voter roles, hacked voting machines, short changed democrat-leaning voting districts of voting machines, etc. In short, did everything they could to keep Ohio from going to Kerry by suppressing or stealing votes.
(In fact it was relatively easy for them to do it. They had Ohio Secretary of State and Bush zealot Kenneth Blackwell helping. But I digress.)
Big surprise, the crap continues. If you haven't already heard, here are some examples examples from the Voter Suppression Wiki. Even our beloved John Conyers recognizes the problem.
So how does Sarah Palin fit into all of this? When the Republicans steal this one, they'll want to "blame" someone or something for their miraculous win. Once again, they'll cite the "fundy" vote energized by the selection of Sarah Palin. Don't believe me? Read what Mark Crispin Miller wrote a week after I bounced the theory off of him via email.
Why They Chose Sarah Palin.
I invite you to spend some time at Mark's site. Warning, you'll get pissed and won't be able to sleep tonight.
ARB