Stop the Presses! Blogmaster Wrong About Early Voting!
Elsewhere on this blog, I repeated the oft-heard story that suggests there is something "fishy" about the early vote in Giles County. "It’s the first vote counted, and the last reported," so the story goes. Well, as it turns out, that isn’t exactly the case... (Click on "comments," below, to continue reading.)
posted by J. Kendrick McPeters | 3:10 PM
226 Comments:
This morning, I was at the Lexis-Nexis "Tennessee Code Annotated" site, looking up something unrelated to early voting, when I suddenly got the idea to do a search on "early vote" and see what it turned up. One of the hits was on TCA 2-6-304. -- "Procedure of counting board."
And the part that caught my eye was-- (e) If a county election commission authorizes the use of a mechanical or electronic voting machine for early voting, the commission shall remove the vote totals according to rules promulgated by the coordinator of elections. Votes must be removed from the machines in such a manner so that no vote totals can be associated with any candidate at the time of removal. In addition, the election commission shall be required to provide notice to all candidates and political parties of the place and time when the vote totals will be removed from those voting machines. In no event may the votes for any candidate be totaled until after all polls in the county are closed.
So, it sounds like the Election Commission can take the early votes off the machines, but only by transcribing them in a way that "no vote total can be associated with any candidate at the time of removal," and in the presence of the candidates. That sounds like a procedure that would be pretty tough to cheat. And then, as the last sentence says, the actual counting of votes can't be done "until after all polls in the county are closed." In other words, assuming that I understand what this says, the people that count the early vote start counting at the same time the folks counting the regular votes start counting. So, there's no particular reason that it should be the first reported, after all.
And that would be especially true, considering that the early vote counters have to manually open and count all the absentee ballots as well-- presumably after the polls have closed. So that probably justifies it being the last vote reported.
It turns out that the State of Tennessee, by mandating these time consuming "day of the election" procedures, has even less trust in the election officials than I do. Personally, I say if these people can be trusted to be honest after the polls have closed, then they might as well be trusted before they close. In other words, they might as well be allowed to count the early and absentee ballots first, exactly as uninformed people (like me) always assumed they did.
Anyway, I deeply regret spreading this particular urban legend. I should have known there was a plausible explanation for such mysterious behavior, and researched the issue before I spoke. But, I've never claimed to be perfect, and this is a great example of my making a boneheaded mistake.
My deepest apologies go out to the men and women of the Giles County Election Commission. There's not much excuse for repeating a lousy rumor like I did, but at least I said what I did under my own name, rather than cloaked in anonymity. And I promptly did what I could to retract the story, in as public a manner as I could. So please take all that into consideration, and try and find it in your heart to forgive me. Thanks.
Have candidates been told of their right to be there when this is done? I have never known this.
Kendrick,
Perhaps you could contact Kathy Bassham and have her explain on this blog exactly what happens. From what I understand, with the new machines, everything is done electronically. There was a paragraph or two in the paper about this also and it was written to stop the incorrect rumors.
Oh my was the blogmaster right after all. I herd Mrs Bassham on the radio just a few hours befor the polls was to close say, "I promise the early vote will be counted first" but when the votes was in low and behold when was the early vote announced? I think it was last but the way wksr announcers reported the results who knows for sure.
Why are you guys always so critical? If you aren't happy here....just catch a bus.
Mr. McPeters,I appreciate your apology on behave of the Giles County Election Commission & my staff. We worked very hard during early voting and preparing for election day. We have an absentee counting board to count all paper ballots. We had five elections on August 3,so the ACB had a lot of paper ballots to count. T.C.A. mandates the precedure for doing this, as you have stated. With the retention judges on the general ballot, it took longer than we anticipated. I regret that I said the early votes would be the first to be reported, but it could not be helped. The machine totals were entered, but we could not get a final early voting total until the ACB finished. We always try to report the early votes first.
Yes, every candidate was notified when the Giles County Election Commission will certify the election results. (August 9 @ 9AM)
Thank you for explaining the law on how paper ballots are counted.
Kathy Bassham
Chuckles...you made n ass of yourself, wouldnt you say?
Well anonymous how do you mean?
Mrs Basham apologized for saying one thing and doing the opposit. The radio station in thier odds n ends still has david adams as a loser in his race while the newspaper has him winning so who is confused?
If everthing I said was true then how did I make me anything but truthful?
chuckles,
According to WKSR and the Election Commission office the three commissioners for District three are Adams, Risner and Beets. WKSR is correct.
Chuckles.....your grammar and spelling are astounding. As your buddy said...we are waiting to be impressed!
OK anonymous you got me. I checked the confused list an it was me. The radio had it right and the paper had it wrong their was so much stuff spining in my head I got it backwards. Sorry bout that, as the kids say "my bad."
To the other anonymous thanks for the compliment, I had some teachers that was impressed that way, in fact they even said the same thing sometimes... chuckles you are astounding. I don't understand that last part though I thought if I was astonding that would be impressive to.
You continue to make an ass of yourself. Amazing!
Mrs. Bassham,
Have you or any member of your staff ever given the early vote totals to a candidate or anyone else before election day or early A.M. of election day?
To Anonymous,
We cannot give totals to a candidate or anyone else for that matter, because the T.C.A. laws prohibit getting totals before the polls close at 7 PM. This means that we cannot retrieve machine totals until 7 PM. Furthermore, the absentee counting board cannot give us the absentee (by mail) ballots until 7 PM. Unfortunately, the ACB sometimes takes longer to count ballots, especially when they are as big as the 8/3/06 general election was.
We do not get the totals until after 7 PM. By the way, it was after 9 PM before the ACB finished counting, and we had to add their totals to the early voting machine totals. So, the answer to your question is NO.
Mrs. Bassham,
I was not just inquiring about the election on August 3rd this year, however I have my doubts.
How about past elections? Did family members of you or any of your staff obtained the early vote totals and pass them on to a candidate and what would be your reaction if I told you I have information that is exactly what happened?
Did Mrs. Bassham not clearly explain to you the process? Please refer to her above post. They do not have access to any totals before the polls close. So how could they pass on information to others?
I would think that's the reason why the election commission staff do not gain access to any totals til the polls have closed It removes any chance for impropriety. For goodness sakes, get over your loss!
To the two Anonymous above,
Anonymous No 1: If you will refer to my first question and the second, you can see they are different! In the Free Press, Mrs. Bassham stated, “she called and got permission to get the totals before the polls closed in order to use the machine at the Vo-Tech precinct.” That is clearly before 7:00pm.
Anonymous No 2: You would think??? If you don’t clearly know then why did you post at all?
I did not ask a question to either of you. My questions are for Mrs. Bassham, not the general public that don’t work at the election commission! I would sugest you know what you are talking about before you jump to someone’s defense!
Trust me, I know what I am talking about and..since this is a "free speech" blog, I will defend whomever I choose! Are you perhaps angry because you lost your election bid?
Anonymous, Sunday, August 13, 2006 1:27:42 PM
I am not and never was a candidate for anything especially not in politics and besides I am too old! The point I was making is, unless you know for a fact yourself something is not true, you can end-up with egg on your face.
I am waiting for Mrs. Bassham to answer my last question.
Yes, under the direction of the Giles County Election Commission, I did call Coordinator of Elections, Brook Thompson, to report that one of the voting machines at the TN Tech precinct was not working. I asked if the Infinity Machine Representative could print the totals and program the machine to use at the TN Tech. We were given permission to do so. The printed tape and the vote card were placed in a sealed envelope and locked in a box. As I stated before, we did not unlock the box until 7 PM, as required by T.C.A.
If you have a complaint, please report it to the Giles County Election Commission. Mr. Henry Inman is the Commission Chairman. By the way, we are always looking for poll workers, so let us know if you would like to work at the next election, which is 11/7/06. Thank you.
And likewise, when you "assume" too much and are wrong......what does that make of you?
How foolish...if early vote totals were passed on to ANY candidate, please explain how that could affect the outcome of an election? Get a life please!
Simply means that the workers in the election office have broke the law, if that was done!
They broke no law! How much more explanation is needed on this subject? Even Kendrick McPeters conceded that to be practically impossible!! Didn't Mrs. B. make it clear enough for you? Can we move on?
Mrs. Bassham,
Thanks for the post but you failed to answer this question.
How about past elections? Did family members of you or any of your staff obtained the early vote totals and pass them on to a candidate and what would be your reaction if I told you I have information that is exactly what happened?
my goodness you musta lost your mind to challange the integatry of a real govment offical. Don't you know when they get swore in they become imune to doing anything wrong. Well maybe with the xception of in Memphis or Nashvile or sum other big place. Wait didn't they fire the manager of cornersvile not long ago. I furgot about that mayor in Cooper Town. Wait a minut now didn't that happen hear some years back with our mayor.
Well you shouldn't talk bad about folks anyway even if you do just ask a questions. What they might do aginst the law ain't near as bad as you making a big to do about it. You must be one of them trouble makers.
Hi Chuckles, Are you directing your comment to me for asking questions of Mrs. Bassham? I am not talking bad about anyone, just asking legitimate questions!
It ain't that you was mean or talked bad about nobody it's jest that you ought to not be askin no questions even if they was legitimate. I thought you must be a stranger cause folks round here don't cater to no question askers.
I just wanted to keep you from being talked a bout as a trouble maker. I didn't want you to take offence. I wasn't being critical
Chuckles,
I know Mrs. Bassham she is a great lady and I know her family members also. I am not trying to be a troublemaker, I just have questions and I want answers!
If I ran an office and a possible leak got out, I would want to know about it.
There couldn't have been leaks because the election commission office doesn't even gain access to ANY totals til the polls close. What is so hard to understand about that? Even Mr. McPeters admitted that.
Anonymous..why not get a friend to read the previous posts and help you to understand what Mrs. B. said. They have no way of getting any totals til the polls close. That being the case, how could they "leak" any information to anyone? Even if they could, tell me what effect that would have on the outcomes, since the voting has ceased at 7 pm? Even Kendrick McPeters admitted it would be nearly impossile! Can we NOW move on and get over it?
No I don't think we should move on!
Haven't you ever heard the old saying, where there is a will, there is a way! I believe anything is possible.
Ok...where there is a will there is a way. Sounds like a threat to me. I would suggest that you start naming names and offenses. By the way, leave your name so their attorney can get in touch. Why not ask Mr. mcPeters about the supposed "leaks" that may have occurred? What is it that you can't seem to comprehend about this? Get past it.
Get past it! Get past it! Get past
it! Sounds like a broken record to me.
It will be much more than a broken record should you name those you are charging and should your name "leak" out!
Let's do this one more time. How can the election commission give out early vote totals when they can't get them til after the polls have closed? What difference would it make anyhow, since nobody else can vote at that time, other than those who are still in line?
I wonder if someone isn't a sore loser here? Just a hunch.
I ain't lost nothing. So your barking up the wrong tree.
Such a simple thing to grasp. Even we dumb southerners get it!
Mrs. Bassham,
Thanks for the post but you failed to answer this question.
How about past elections? Did family members of you or any of your staff obtained the early vote totals and pass them on to a candidate at any time?
This is the question I am asking Mrs. Bassham to answer not anyone else.
Mrs. Bassham and her staff couldn't give out early voting totals because they do not have them before the polls close. What is it that you don't understand about that? Why not scroll up to the top of this blog and read Mr. McPeters' apology for his remarks about the election commission?
And you know what? I don't care who you want to answer your question. I take offense that people like you can't accept the election results. It appears you want to blame someone else for it. By the way, your question has been sufficiently answered at least four times on here.
anonymous do you work in the office of the election commission?
No member of my family has EVER been given early vote totals in ANY election. I can say with certainty that the same holds true for my staff. As stated numerous times on this blog, the totals are not retrieved until the polls close at 7 PM. So the answer to your question is the same as it was on my August 12 post. The answer is NO.
Anonymous:
There is absolutely no way I would work there and have to put up with the likes of you. So my answer to your question is also NO!
I wouldn't blame them if they all quit and let you run the place. Would that satisfy you? Probably not.
To Kathy,
Thank you for taking the time to answer my question and I plan to speak with you. I ask a simple question from you and before you could answer it, several other people jump to a conclusion of their own and start acting like I had declared war.
To Anonymous Monday, August 14, 2006 9:59:48 PM
I am retired so I have no aspirations to run anything.
Did she not answer your simple question at least twice?
Anonymous Tuesday, August 15, 2006 6:31:15 AM
If you will read both questions you will see the wording is different.
No, you aren't "claiming" that there was any wrong doing....just innocently planting a seed of distrust? You guys are sooooo good at that! And that is exactly why so many people in this county are "stirred up" as you call it. Thanks a lot! Mr. Barrett, you lost fair and square along with another whiner or two. Can't you just accept that without trying to discredit others?
Someone must be a little touchy in
the courthouse!
I rather think someone is touchy who wants to be in the courthouse!
Are we getting anywhere close to that slippery slope of slander or defammation of character here? Just wondered.
I wish that you condemning and confused folks had as much integrity as Mrs. Bassham. Anyone who has worked with her or had any association with her knows what an honest person she is. She makes sure everything done in that office is done to the letter of the law, and if you know her like you say you do, then you know that this is true. The election is over, take a breath and get on with your life.
Just because the election is over doesn't mean people can't talk. Free country!
Talk...or.....whine?
whine, that sounds like what you are doing!
No one ever said that you didn't have the freedom to talk. It is a shame that you use that freedom to unjustly create an accusing atmosphere against good people that are just trying to do the best job that they can in an honest way. If you are so unhappy then why don't you take Mrs. Bassham's advice and volunteer to work at the next election and see for yourself? I believe she said it would be on November 7, 2006…
Sorry, I have a job!
I always question your intentions. I have already heard the results of your seed planting around town. Shame on you again, Mr. Barrett! I have heard the talk that something "fishy" is going on with the early voting process!
And hell no, I do not work at the courthouse. The only time I ever go there is to purchase a car tag or to vote early!
Would you not take offense if you were the one being scrutinized?
I must be a pinhead or an anal buffoon for having a lack of knowledge!
I have been scrutinized on this blog for the last five months so why should anyone else be any different.
Oh, there you go again.....questioning someone's honesty and integrity. Well let me tell you something...and I am angry now....you have no right to judge anyone's heart in terms of character! Doesn't your Bible teach that you shouldn't do that?
Again, thank you for planting the seeds of doubt that you claim you had nothing to do with. But you are clever. You stopped short of making slanderous remarks.
Shouldn't Mr. Barrett then consider publishing an apology to Mrs. Pollard and the commissioners he made unfounded assumptions about in another section of this blog? Not likely to happen is it Mr. Barrett, being that you and only you can surely prove that any comments you make are the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Should the recent election results not tell you that people are very tired of your constant criticism of others? All the knowledge in the world will never make up for the things you say to others.
You miss the point again. Suggesting that you are clever has NOTHING to do with judging you spiritually. Judging one to be clever would be equivalent to saying someone is handsome. Do you see the difference? And, you missed another point. I was not mad previously, but you angered me this time! So, you were wrong all along rather than right. Just wanted to clear up your misunderstandings.
Now, now Mr. Barrett, there you sit again nit-picking words. Please allow me to make things a little clearer for you. We are POSTING comments on the blog, therefore I must have meant that you should PUBLISH your apology to Mrs.Pollard in the newspaper. But wait, what was I thinking in suggesting such a thing, when such PUBLIC apologies are reserved only for the important ones such as yourself. By the way, You Aren,t Mad About Anything Are You? I don,t think I could bear it if YOU WERE CROSS WITH ME!!!
I'll tell you right now, it will be
a very difficult thing to get anything you want published or on the radio unless you are a member of a certain click!
all you conspiracy believers HAVE LOST YOUR MIND.
At east we had a mind to lose! OOPS!
Such a condescending and arrogant attitude....regarding one who disagrees with him as no less than a fly on the wall.
How can a man like you be enlightened about anything? You already have the gospel on any topic and the rest of us are wrong...or lack knowledge.
Anonymous why don't you just admit that Mr Barrett has made you look utterly foolish and get off his back. Personally I find his comments very refreshing and informative and not a bit arrogant or condescending. Did you ever consider the possibility that the one with the attitude might be you.
You don't see the arrogance and condescending attitude in that man? On the contrary, the only person who makes him look foolish is himself. He invites attacks on him by the way he talks to people. What puzzles me is why you cannot see that.
You are exactly right anonymous 4:52:52pm. Why would he feel that everyone owes him an explanation for every single thing they say. If I'm not mistaken (and we already know that Mr.Barrett will be sure to let me know that I am) our right to freedom of speech is just what it says, it isn't freedom of speech with an explanation. We don't need to explain why we feel towards him the way we do--we just do! I will always choose to be an average person with the average knowledge and be known to be a caring and fair person than have the most knowledge of everyone and only use it to hurt and belittle everyone around me. PLEASE, someone snatch that pedistal from underneath him!!!
AMEN!
Mr. Barrett,
Please do not let, in my eyes these dumb butt people get under your skin. I know you are to smart for that anyway.
GB
yeah right! hahahaha
Would calling someone a pinhead or an anal buffoon help that person to change?
anonymous/ Monday, August 21, 2006 4:11:01 PM are you david bailey’s sibling?
Oh gee! Why don't we just be friends now that the election is over and go outtttt of townnnn and
get our strawberry daquaries. Since I don't drink, I'm not sure I
spelled that correctly.
Well why would you want to go and get a drink then. Explain
Doesn't everyone say they don't drink?!?! We know better, when they
can go out of town.
Didn't you guys know you was supose to shop at home?
Could it be that one of the unsuccessful candidates for election is getting DANGEROUSLY close to slander? But remember who sowed the seeds of distrust for the election commission staff? Need I say more? Unbelievable!
It was Kendrick McPeters initially. But he was gracious enough to apologize for sowing those seed when he discovered he was wrong. But Mr. Barrett picked up on it and just wouldn't let it go!
Ok Allen, I apologize for that remark. But you did suggest a possibility of wrong-doing. That is what I was trying to say. I realize that you never actually questioned anybody's integrity. So again, my apologies. But I still disagree with you on many points.
Apologies accepted?
Mr. Barrett, why do you waste your time on this blog dealing with such anonymous morans. They can't even understand what you say; it goes way over their head. They turn your words around then acuse you of things you never said. They acuse you of whining when they are the whiners. They show their lack of intelligence every time they put you down. They acuse you of calling people names when they are the ones calling you names. They acuse you of putting others down when they put you down. They acuse you of judging, when they judge you. You seem to be a very concerned citizen of the county. If people would listen to you, maybe they would be enlightened on some things, but they find their comfort in not knowing -- if they don't know, then they don't have to deal with it. I'm sorry that your have been beat up on by those anonymous unhappy people on this blog. I admire you and again, I don't know why you waste your time trying to get through to such close minded people as have responded so negatively and mean spirited to you. As a native Pulaskian, we're not all as mean spirited as others.
How many times does anyone have to explain the anonymity thing to some of you? Why don't you complainers petition Mr. McPeters to remove the "anonymous" selection from this entire blog?Yeah, we all could use some enlightening from Mr. Know-It-all, couldn't we?
Mr. Barrett, why don't they put you in charge of elections and then I am sure things would be right? You seem to have the answers.
More seeds of distrust, Mr. Barrett? Shameful.
Mr. Barrett,
Quite interesting and to anonymous, seeds of distrust: I will never believe that one of the candidates in the past election, did not know the results of the early voting, before the general public did.
To Anonymous:
What difference would it have made anyhow if a candidate had known or not? The procedure for counting early votes has been explained and explained and explained on this blog, and you STILL can't let it go???? Why can't people like you and Mr. Know-It-All stop spreading the suggestion of "wrongdoing" by good people at the election commission?
Oh well, some people are just smarter than others, I suppose! But you are wrong and should be ashamed of what you are doing with this one!
Suggesting and actually making accusations are two different things, but.....there is a fine line between them. Why don't you guys call for an investigation if you smell any rats??????
To Mr Pinhead
I guess based on your coments you don't listen to the weather report? After all the weatherman is probably just trying to stir up trouble by reporting that it's raining. I'm sure you'd never consider the possibility that they are actualy trying to help us prepare for a better future.
Seems like living in your dream world with out any signs of reality might be how you got the name "pinhead".
To Pinhead, As far as the results, no it makes no difference. But, if you sat at the polls all day in the heat and make sure you hade someone at every poll in the county, while that candidate had absolutely no poll workers at ANY of the polls in the county and only rode by and laughed, wouldn’t you be suspicious and a little upset?
Why would I be suspicious and/or upset? I voted early, because that is the simplest remedy to long lines at the polls on election day. Think. We were all encouraged to vote early to avoid those long lines. And since the majority didn't do that, you and a few others have the nerve to cry foul! SHAME ON YOU! Next time, why don't you complainers vote early? Such a simple concept.
To Charley'O
I don't know why these individuals are continuing to "suggest" the possibility of wrong-doings at the election commission. But we can surely thank them for sowing those seeds. Perhaps they have nothing better to do than to run around causing strife?
By the way, I got the name Pinhead from Mr. Barrett. Being called one prompted me to go ahead and use the name. You assume I am male? You do understand the concept behind the word "assume", don't you?
To Anonymous:
So it appears that you are suggesting there was some sort of collusion between "that" candidate and the election commission? Interesting. Why not name names here and, by the way, leave yours. Wouldn't you rather have the opportunity to prove that in a court of law?
Pinhead, Monday, September 04, 2006 6:48:50 AM
A voter would not be suspicious or upset but if you were a candidate you might have a different opinion. It had nothing to do with avoiding long lines and early voting except, that is the largest box and if you can take the early votes, a candidate will win. If you know the outcome of the early voting, then a candidate will not worry about working the polls on election day. Also, why do you think one candidate did so much conniving to influence the early votes if it is not so important? I don’t understand why you think I was complaining about people voting early, I did so myself.
So.....you ARE suggesting some sort of collusion? Care to name names (including yours) and make accusations now? Please do so.
It looks like the sore losers are bent on keeping something stirred up. Suggestion: take a deep breath and move on. You lost, OK?
Anonymous Monday, September 04, 2006 2:10:10 PM “Collusion”
Who are you directing you post?
anonymous, i didn't lose anything!
Which candidate did so much conniving to "influence" the early votes? And how was that accomplished? Please tell it all. Inquiring minds want to know.
Isn't it amazing what a little "suggesting" can do?
Nobody knows the results of the early voting until sometime after the polls have CLOSED. Hasn't that been expalined enough for you on here? I'm a dumb southerner, and I understand the concept.
If you live in Giles County you know dog gone well which candidate did the conniving.
To the "dumb southerner who understands the concept".
Which part of the explaination where it was revealed that the early voting machines were indeed closed out early and the totals were known by at least one person don't you understand?
The reason so much suspicion continues is because the explination spin keeps changing.
When a clear explination is given that does not contridict an earlier explination perhaps people will get a little more accepting.
Name that person....don't forget to leave your name too!
No, the reason the suspicion and distrust keep hanging around is because of people like you and Mr. Know-It-All....or should I refer to him as the Johnny Appleseed who sowed no seed? Laughable, indeed!
This thing with early voting has been explained to you several times, and you still suspect or "suggest" impropriety? Perhaps this speaks to your intelligence. But, I'm sure you know how to spell explanation, don't you?
At any rate, people like me have to go to work now. Do you?
Anonymous Wednesday, September 06, 2006 6:40:26 AM You have assumed all the anonymous posts are by Mr. Barrett and me, but you are wrong. He signs his name and I know several of the posts are not mine. I will name the person I don’t have any suspicions about and that is Mrs. Bassham. I will leave my name just as soon as you leave yours. Whether or not I work, is none of you business.
I NEVER accused Mr. Barrett of anonymously posting. Why would you "assume" that? He is much to proud of himself to post anonymously!
As for work, I "assumed' you had nothing better to do than to be on here making suggestions. And who I am makes no difference, because I'm not accusing anone of wrongdoings. Oh, just look at the time; I must go to work now. Bye.
Anonymous above,
I have NEVER accused anyone at the election office of wrongdoing and your assumption of me is dead wrong!
Maybe you will get over-time at work.
Touchy, aren't we? However, there is a difference between accusing and suggesting.
If my assumptions about you were wrong, then I apologize. But I think you and I would agree that planting seeds of distrust is harmful...simply because many people like to believe the worst. Then rumors get started. You know the routine, don't you?
I could use the extra money for overtime, but I would rather not do that. Life is much too short for working it away. Wouldn't you agree?
Ok, add "devoid of pride" to the list of names. The reason some people cannot post their names on here has been explained to you at least two or three times. Why can't you grasp the concept? I could be reactive like "some people" and say that fools' names like fools' faces oft appear in public places. But I have more class than that.
Please don't presume about my little one-dimensional world. By the way, I'll be happy to compare IQ results with you any day! I just don't like the attitudes of arrogant and conceited people who think they know it all. So, consider me the Sinclair Lewis WITH a cause. I point it out. And, in all honesty, you have a more than abundant supply of both qualities. And you talk to me about lack of character! Laughing here.
OOOPS! Just look at that clock. I have to go to work now. Do you?
I wasn't bragging about my IQ. No, I was merely pointing out that you are not the only person on earth who knows how to think. I suggested that comparison to let you know that I am not some idiot simply because I so strongly disagree with your views and find your arrogance and condescension distasteful. And you didn't call me a name...merely a descriptive term?
Well, you sir, are no Einstein. Yet, you continue your semantics exercises and your know-it-all attitude. Surely, I am not the first person who has pointed that out to you. And don't forget...it was you, not me, who suggested that people who do not post their names are devoid of pride.
Just trying once more to clear up YOUR misunderstandings. Surely you can appreciate that.
Finally, I am a professional. What about you?
And you never heard of Sinclair Lewis?
To Still Anonymous,
For someone that is constantly looking at their clock and bragging that you have to go to work just doesn’t make any sense, since you are able to post so many times, you’re gonna be late again!
You bright people just can't stop making fun of us dumb people. hahahahahaha
Anonymous,Friday, September 08, 2006 1:18:44 PM
I see hahahahahaha is back, surely you can think of another response, can't you?
Please get back to the Topic!I am tired of every topic taken over by people like you trying to out smart Mr. Barrett.
That is a great idea...stay on message. The problem is, he continues belittling those who oppose him. And I take him to task for that. Isn't that debate? But, perhaps you are right. What's the use anyway?
Or Jack the Ripper? You are so(for lack of a better term) out of touch. You just love contention. I even recall some years back, you referred to a minister as a knucklehead because he didn't agree with you. Do you remember that? It was on your Sunday morning inspirational messages on the radio. I heard you say it more than once.
And you present your view in a respectable manner? Hardly so. That is precisely why I take issue with you. Calling someone ignorant and devoid of whatever you deem them devoid of, is certainly no way to debate. Is it? Or, am I mising the essential tenets of debate?
Yes, I am a professional. Not of the variety you "suggest" that I am.
Were Bonnie and Clyde professionals? How about Blackbeard?
Anonymous, Friday, September 08, 2006 4:34:18 PM
Have you ever met Mr. Barrett, spoken with him in person or have you formed your opinion of him by reading his posts?
Reading his posts only solidified my impression of him. I already knew of his prowess. Wouldn't that be shallow of me had I formed my opinions solely on the arrogance displayed on this blog?
I'm sure Mr. Barrett is a decent man, but his manner of talking down to others is degrading and irritating.
Mr. Barrett,
Could this be none other than, Mr. Gonzales, the professional, trying to debate you?
Mr. Gonzales has a bit more class I suspect.
Anonymous/Mr. Gonzales has class:
Earlier this year I attended two school board meetings and when a man, don’t know his name, and Mr. Chris Morris asked to speak, I had never seen such arrogance as Mr. Gonzales displayed. I wouldn’t call that class!
I was merely comparing Dr. Gonzales with you, Mr. Barrett. Based on that comparison, I would say he has a lot of class.
I am not Mr. Barrett!
Laughing here...who said you were? The message was for Mr. Barrett. Everyone knows he always signs his name. Where have you been? Be careful; he may accuse you of wanting so badly to be him that you are starting to believe you are.
I was just reading through some older posts on the blog and found a couple of particular interest. They are found under.... That "Taj Mahal" School Central Office Building. The dates are posted anonymously and are as follows: July 18 at 5:29 p.m. and July 19 at 9:08 p.m.
I just thought these might be refreshing to some people.
I thank one of the most funnyest things on this blog is reading the things Mr Barret rites to people who try to put him down or get smart alicky with him.
There is one anonmous that just keeps on trying to make Mr Barret look bad but mr Barret just keeps making him look like some kind of dunce. I'm stil laughing anonmous saying he had to go to work and mr barret said that he'd better hurry up and go cause the organ grinder liked to start on time.
What I don't understand though is why that anonmous guy don't go over to mr Barret and get his money and make him leave town. If what he said is true? Of course if it ain't true he should be a man an just apologize. I really thank hejust bit off more than he can chew and ever time mr Barret gets the best of him he just gets madder and madder. Its just to funny to me, maybe i'll start keeping score.
Hey score keeper.........Mr. Barrett is the one who makes himself look bad. And how do you know that the anonymous person is a guy? Why not read those two posts mentioned above and you will see for yourself why more than just one person takes issue with him?
You are right. This is all just too funny, particularly how he gets the best of those who challenge him.
The name was bucketmouth not score keeper, but why would anyone expect you to know that.
I red the two post above yours an saw nothing bout mr Barret that was negative. One of the post wasn't even about him. The third post above was from you.
I guess you may have a point about me knowing you're a guy. Here's the clues it's very obvious you don't have the brains of a woman or the balls of a man so that really does put you in the in not so sure group don't it.
Read this slowly bucketmouth...those two posts in question were on that "Taj Mahal" blog. Yep, they DO "suggest" strongly that I of undetermined gender am not the only perosn who takes issue with arrogant people.
Bucketmouth,
I have been thinking about this blog thing, and have come to the conclusion that it is neither helpful nor productive to try and match wits with people on here. We will never change each other, so it becomes pointless and, at best, upsetting. So, I yield the last word to you and anyone else who wants to comment. I will join others who finally decided to leave. Have a good day.
Anonmous; I read your entry very, very slowly like you said so I wouldn't miss anything and guess what? Your statement came out dumber than before. First of all you don't say nothing that would clearly indecate that you were talking abouta blog entry under "Taj Mahal". This is the problem you seem to have many times, you thank something and assume that because you thank it, that everbody else automatically know what your thanking.
The second problem with what you wrote is that their ain't no entries for 18 & 19 July under the "Taj Mahal" topic.
I hope you don't slink away until after you take mmr barret money or apologize to him for what you said.
anonmous, I did what you said and read what you wrote real slow and guess what? What you said was even dumber than it was the first time.
1st of all you didn't say nothing about the information being under the topic "taj Mahal". This is one of the things that you do a lot, you thank of a thang and because you thank it you believe everbody else knows what your talking about, that is really arrogance don't you thank.
The 2nd thing is that their ain't no entries for 18 or 19 July or August or June under the "Taj Mahal" blog tread. So is their some place else you ment but didn't say?
3rd I hope you ain't goin to slink away before you take mr Barret money or apologize for what you said he done.
Suggested readings for today:
John 13:34-35
Galatians 5:26
Romans 12:16
Make the appropriate application.
It looks like those two posts mentioned were said to have been under the "Taj Mahal" subject. They are actually found under the "Hey Candidates" subject. Very interesting reading.
I don't thank....I think. What about you?
To Sept 11 anonymous
PROVE IT!!!!!!!!!
Ain't this the second time mr barret has tried to give away 1,000 dollars? I seem to recall him writing something like that in the newspaper. why is he so anxious to get rid of hismoney. He must be rollin
And several people on this tread blasted me when I asked, if anyone at the election office knew the election results before the public!
I was NOT implying Mrs. Bassham did anything wrong then or now, however I still have a number of questions unanswered.
I guess i ought to have believed mr barret from da begining. I lurned a mighty lesson.
Sowing seed for fall planting?
If you will read The Tennessean for
Sept. 9, 2006, you will find an article entitled "Voting machines flawed, suit says". There is a law
suit in Memphis over these machines.
Excuse me the date was Sept. 6, 2006.
To anonymous, “sowing seed for fall planting” My brother and I learned a valuable lesson as preteens. We were helping our father plant peas in our garden and he told us, when we finished planting the peas, we could go to the creek to swim. So, we had this great idea to just put the peas in an old stump and cover them and off to the creek we went early.
Later, to our horror, the peas grew out of the old stump and our behinds we got some licks!
I hope you can now understand the need for truth and honesty in all branches of our government, because sooner or later it will appear, just like our peas.
Oh, I completely understand. Trust but verify, right? Then, keep on verifying?
Sowing and planting IS the same thing..if you are sowing seeds of mistrust and doubt.
It's ok to ask questions. The electorate has that right. But isn't it all in the way one asks?
Mr. Barrett,
I think you just figured out the anonymous problem.
Mr. Barrett,
Sorry, that was my post and not the person you asked the question.
With my underdeveloped intelligence and lapparent lack of honesty, let me just say that I find it useful in dealing with "some people" to answer their question with one of my own. Do you comprehend my logic here? Have you, with all your intelligence, ever considered that one catches more flies with sugar than with salt?
Perhaps you are a pinhead, anonymous? How dare you to challenge someone of Mr. Barrett's intelligence!
to anonymous
Sounds like you have experience with catching flies but why would anyone want to catch a bunch of flies flies? I hope you're not pulling the wings off, are you?
How asinine.
To anonymous, you sure like to dish it out but boy you sure can't take it.
childish
Anonymous sorry I can't call you childish I have too much respect for children. Have you ever tried to put some facts with your name calling assumptions? The facts are what seperate the small minded big-mouths and people of character.
Crock..have you ever considered becoming a comedian...or comedienne?
Mr. Barrett:
My rejection of YOUR truths is more to the point. Let me paraphrase your statement. You are actually saying that I lack intelligence and honesty because I do not agree with you. Isn't that about right? As for my knowing you personally, you are right.....I don't. But that has absolutely nothing to do with my dislike for people who posit themselves as the gatekeepers and champions of truth, integrity, and intelligence.......regardless of who they are personally. But I will take issue with any of them, just as I do with you. Nothing personal, of course.
Mr. Barrett
You suggest that I have a closed mind. How do you know that? Oh, let me guess. It's because I do not agree with you. Furthermore, I seriously doubt that you and I have very much in common. Just my uninformed observation.
Anonymous your mind ain't closed it's missing.
Sorry Jess, my mind is open and keenly aware of what the complainers and whiners are trying to do. I would hope you would become a bit more open-minded yourself. Try it, you might like the improved vision.
It's 10 o'clock do you know where your voting machine is?
Oh no, we are back to the voting machine thing again? Goodness, some candidates lost and some won. Why don't we just accept that and move on? Talk about sour grapes!
I don’t think you should jump to the conclusion it is sour grapes. Did you read the article on MSN yesterday? The message was “don’t trust voting machines.”
I have no grapes to sour, or a dog in the race and could care less who won and who didn’t. To me politics is just a bunch of “bs” so I just vote and take what they say with a grain of salt.
I read the article and found it very interesting and added a new perspective to the entire issue of using voting machines, but heaven help us if we have to go back to the old method of counting.
Where's Mr. Barrett on this issue? I miss his timeless words of wisdom and knowledge. Being facetious again!
To Facetious,
There are already post on this thread by Mr. Barrett about the voting machines.
His "seeds of mistrust" are on this thread for sure. So, are you saying that you take his word as gospel on all issues? Surely not!
To Saturday, October 07, 2006 9:36:12 PM
I am saying exactly what is in my post on Saturday, October 07, 2006 5:13:30 PM.
Calm down! You are going to get an ulcer.
To Sunday, October 08, 2006 7:24:05 AM
Which post are you responding to?
To Seeds of Distrust: Looks like you may have to eat your own words.
What do you have to say about the recent Princeton University research on how easy it is to hack into the currently available voting machines without a paper trail to match the votes along with the machines?
Researchers reveal 'extremely serious' vulnerabilities in e-voting machines
by Teresa Riordan · Posted September 13, 2006; 12:46 p.m.
In a paper published on the Web today, a group of Princeton computer scientists said they created demonstration vote-stealing software that can be installed within a minute on a common electronic voting machine. The software can fraudulently change vote counts without being detected.
"We have created and analyzed the code in the spirit of helping to guide public officials so that they can make wise decisions about how to secure elections," said Edward Felten, the director of the Center for Information Technology Policy, a new center at Princeton University that addresses crucial issues at the intersection of society and computer technology.
The paper appears on the Web site for the Center for Information Technology Policy.
The researchers obtained the machine, a Diebold AccuVote-TS, from a private party in May. They spent the summer analyzing the machine and developing the vote-stealing demonstration.
"We found that the machine is vulnerable to a number of extremely serious attacks that undermine the accuracy and credibility of the vote counts it produces," wrote Felten and his co-authors, graduate students Ariel Feldman and Alex Halderman.
In a 10-minute video on their Web site, the researchers demonstrate how the vote-stealing software works. The video shows the software sabotaging a mock presidential election between George Washington and Benedict Arnold. Arnold is reported as the winner even though Washington gets more votes. (The video is edited from a longer continuously shot video; the long single-shot version will be available for downloading from the center's site as well.)
The researchers also demonstrate how the machines "are susceptible to computer viruses that can spread themselves automatically and invisibly from machine to machine during normal pre- and post-election activity."
Felten said that policy-makers should be concerned about malicious software infecting the Diebold AccuVote-TS and machines like it, from Diebold and other companies. "We studied these machines because they were available to us," the researchers wrote in their Web posting. "If we had gotten access to another kind of machine, we probably would have studied it instead."
Felten said, "There is reason for concern about other machines as well, even though our paper doesn't directly evaluate them. Jurisdictions using these machines should think seriously about finding a backup system in time for the November elections."
Felten, a professor of computer science and public affairs who is known for his groundbreaking work in computer security, said that some of the problems discussed in the paper cannot be fixed without completely redesigning the machine.
Other problems can be fixed by addressing software or electronic procedures. "But time is short before the next election," he said.
According to the researchers' paper, the Diebold machine they examined and another newer version are scheduled to be used in 357 U.S. counties representing nearly 10 percent of all registered voters. About half those counties, including all Maryland and Georgia, will use the exact machine examined by Felten's group.
Felten said that, out of security concerns, the Diebold machine infected with the vote-stealing software has been kept under lock and key in a secret location.
"Unfortunately election fraud has a rich history from ballot stuffing to dead people voting," he said. "We want to make sure this doesn't fall into the wrong hands. We also want to make sure that policy-makers stay a step ahead of those who might create similar software with ill intent."
Princeton's Center for Information Technology Policy includes members from diverse departments, including computer science, economics, electrical engineering, operations research and financial engineering, sociology and the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.
I think Mr. Barrett is back. I wondered where he was but would speculate that he has been in-cognito these past few days spying on the local election commission. What a shame and a disgrace!
Sorry, I was watching CNN’s Situation Room last night, which had one of the Princeton University researchers as a guest. I didn’t see the first half of the program and decided to log on CNN’s website to learn more. I had taken the advice in the paper to go online and view the demonstration video before voting in August. I recognized the name of the machines and that is what caught my attention. Being new to this site I promise you until my friend told me, I didn’t know there was a post about Princeton’s research and report on this blog.
I don’t agree with a lot of Mr. Barrett’s remarks but I can’t let him be blamed with shaming or disgracing anyone. I apologize, next time I will read before I post.
I was simply making a joke about his being "incognito" and spying on the election commission. And, to think anyone might do that would be a shame and a disgrace. Just a little humor, you know.
I want to know what some of you think about the proposed amendment on the ballot calling for a yes or no vote on the marriage issue. It is apparently quite confusing, and the liberal media is responsible for much of that. A "yes" vote will allow the Tennessee state constitution to be amended to define marriage (in this state) as the union between a man and a woman. A "no" vote means that the constitution would not be amended. Can you connect the dots and see for yourself what will eventually follow should the "no" vote prevail? Here's a scenario. Two men go to the courthouse to be married and the judge has no choice but to marry them! It astounds me that this should even be a consideration. I hope good people will rally and vote a solid YES on amendment 1.
Blogmaster, the above post would be a good topic.
I can't imagine anyone arguing in favor of voting NO on that amendment! That is, unless they are confused and uninformed about the true nature of the proposal.
I think that just maybe the point.
And the media is helping all they can, of course!
I am neither confused or uniformed but I shall be voting NO on the amendment discussed above and YES on the amendment to freeze property taxes for the over 65's.
Tom...
So, you have no problem with two men or two women getting marrying? Help me understand that. OK? Your NO vote on that amendment would indicate that to be true.
Tom...
Connect the dots, please. I am now wondering about your sexual orientation, though it is nobody's business but yours.
I will be joining Tom in voting NO!
Please spare me the usual put-down and questions. I am a married grandmother raised in a Southern Baptist Church right here in Giles County and until this hot topic hits home, perhaps people will continue to be so judgmental of other people, not like them!
NO.... let your Bible judge homosexuality. It IS condemned, you know. Connect those dots...it can't be ignored by Christian people. This is not a matter of a person's rights but more a moral and spiritual issue...as you should well know! It has already hit home, hasn't it? But then again, I saw bumper stickers on cars parked at churches on Sunday morning that promoted pro-abortion candidates. Go figure.
My God...loves everyone and has taught me to NOT be judgemental and not to inflict my own beleifs on others.
My God tells me through His word that homosexuality is a sin! Can you deny that?
If you are so secure in your beliefs, why did you follow with a question of my approval?
I didn't ask your approval; I asked if you can deny what the Bible clearly teaches about homosexuality. Again, can you?
If you were raised in the church, you shouldn't even have to ask yourself that question. But, I suspect you are tripping over that liberal doctrine of personal freedoms taking priority over spiritual righteousness. Perhaps you were one of those with the pro-abortion candidate bumper sticker on your car? Were you? I'm not trying to attack you...just trying to understand your position. And, by the way, I never claimed to be a religious zealot, but I DO know what the Bible teaches about the matter (homosexuality being an abomination). I think you also know those teachings.
Where is WAB on this issue, since he is a preacher?
Yes WAB, we await your gems of brilliance and knowledge on the matter! Being facetious here.
To Thursday, October 26, 2006 7:17:33 PMI
As you can see in my post on Wednesday, October 25, 2006 6:46:46 PM, I didn’t ask you a question about your opinion. I plainly stated I would be voting no and in my second post on Thursday, October 26, 2006 10:08:33 AM as you can see I didn’t ask you a question either. I will not be judging, asking you questions,presuming you have your car bumper decorated with offensive stickers or calling you a liberal or conserative. No where in my post did I call you a religious zealot.
Nor did I accuse you of calling me a religious zealot. I was simply defining my position. I just don't understand how anyone can harmonize homosexual agendas with Christianity. Can you understand my frustration?
I would be interested in knowing what her pastor thinks about this.
Amen, Mr. Barrett. This is one time you and I agree and are on the same page.
That is so true, Mr. Barrett. It is unbelievable how church-going people support such deviance, all in the name of personal rights!
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