The Ongoing 2020 Election: Maricopa County Recount

[Breccia]

Well, guess I'll just make this a new thread since the existing one was closed.

So let's talk about the recount of Maricopa County, Arizona. There have been recent developments, but before we talk about those, let's talk about how we got here.

Trump and his most devout cultists have continued to push the "Stop the Steal" as-yet-unproven conspiracy theory since he lost and all the way through a murderous insurrection and out the other side. We all saw it. This included the swing state of Arizona, of course, because Trump supporters were so adverse to the idea of their never-broke-fifty-percent-approval cult leader who murdered half a million of his own people somehow losing a popularity contest, that they just decided the only way Trump could lose, is by someone cheating. They flailed about, sometimes melting into black goo at a literal shit show (landscapers have fertilizer) and filing dozens of lawsuits, none of which worked.

However.

The Party of Trump holds the majority in the AZ Senate and they decided to hold a recount of their own.

Whoops, sorry, I meant to say, they decided to outsource it to non-AZ-govt employees. Enter Doug Logan, the CEO of Cyber Ninjas, yes that's really his company's name, who was known for such things as

I'm tired of hearing people say there was no fraud. It happened, it's real, and people better get wise fast

-- Dec 2020

With all due respect, if you can't see the blatant cheating, [sic] malfeasence and outright voter fraud, then you are ignorant or lying

-- also Dec 2020

The Republican Party handed over the recount to him. Yep.

So here's what we don't know about the recount, led by a QAnon supporter. Oh, right, he follows and retweets Ron Watkins, a known QAnon conspiracy theorist who claims Trump had 200,000 more votes than shown.

Things we don't know:

• How much the recount will cost
• What percent of the recount is paid for by AZ tax dollars and what percent by private donations
• Who's making those private donations
• Who's doing the recount (Logan basically said they were retired law enforcement, but nothing else. We have nothing about their party affiliation, for example)

Things we do know

• The press are not allowed.
• With one exception. One reporter managed to get a job as an observer. This reporter has publicly said that she was not given any kind of training on how to observe, in order to keep the counters honest.
• We also know the Cyber Ninjas brought blue-ink pens to the recount. As any teacher, student, or American with common sense would either suspect or outright know, Scantron forms filled in with black or blue ink tend to get read as well as pencil. That's why Arizona law prohibits black and blue ink pens in the room of a recount. Which, incidentally, the reporter already knew and had to tell Doug Logan.
• The Democratic Party tried to sue to stop what in all ways appears to be a farce, to be told by a judge they would have to pay $1 million to offset costs of pausing the recount. Understandably, the Democratic Party refused. The recount is therefore ongoing.
• And Trump has publicly praised this recount effort.
• Hey, remember when Biden said something about a court case while the jury was sequestered and Party of Trump members got upset? How do you think they fel about Trump announcing his support of an ongoing recount? That sounds like hypocrisy to me.

It’s really, really important to us that we have integrity in the way we do this count and in the results that come out of it. And it’s really important to us that there’s full transparency in everything that we do

-- Doug Logan, Thursday, with a straight face

It's pretty clear what the intent is here.
1) A group heavily biaesd towards Trump is giving another group heavily biased towards Trump the ability to say the election was stolen, without showing their evidence, and will pay them to do it.
2) This group already has proven not just unwillingness to do the job fairly, but limited ability to do the job legally, having been caught ironically not red-handed enough bringing in tools prohibited by AZ law because they can be used to alter voting results.
3) Trump's rabid fanbase will immediately grab this opportunity by the pussy to say "WE TOLD YOU THERE WAS FRAUD!" without looking even a little into the chain of events, because they want this to be true.
4) Other states with GOP legislatures that voted for Biden will follow suit, attempting to sow as much confusion and mistrust as possible.
5) Judges won't do shit. Biden won and the results were certified. It's also highly unlikely that, not only was there such massive election fraud to flip the results (AZ was close, Biden won by 12,000 but that's still far higher than election fraud's ever been proven to be), but somehow, Doug Logan and his biased, largely unobserved, apparently questionably competent team will find this fraud that nobody else has...and that they can provide objective proof of this beyond reasonable doubt.
6) When these repeated attempts to overthrow the election continue, and continue to fail, purple states' Republican legilstatures will use it as an excuse to pass voting restrictions that just to happen to be harsher on Democrats, what a coincidence.

In other words, this seems to be a variant of a false flag attack. Cyber Ninjas are being set up to fail, get turned into martyrs, and their tragic "deaths" used as a knowingly-false excuse to block the things that didn't even happen in the first place.

My concern is, these being formerly red now purple states, that we'll be looking at parts of the country where it becomes increasingly easy to get a gun, but increasingly hard to vote. A situation that could easily lead to violence. And in case you think it won't, *ahem* murderous insurrection.

The best way I see to get off this path is, of course, for what few unbiased observers Cyber Ninjas allowed to be in the room catch them cheating. This...will be tough, they're not allowed recording devices. But when talking about people as far gone as the rabid fanbase or as desperate as a Republican in an increasingly purple state, the only way for them to say "well the Trump ally conspiracy theorist with undisclosed funding and undisclosed workers caught with tools prohibted by AZ recount law because they change ballots, they found significant fraud, but we don't believe them" is if they're caught blatantly cheating. The good news? We already know there's a reporter, even if there's just the one, willing to spil the truth about the goings-on. If Cyber Ninjas intend to have an honest, legal recount, this won't be a problem. If they eject her, we know there's an issue.

For more on the issue, I think it's highly appropriate to post Rachel Maddow. I mean, if the Arizona Republican Senate can intentionally hire a Trump-backed QAnon conspiracy theorist, I think I'm allowed a lot of leeway.



And these sources as well.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/polit...ee8_story.html

https://apnews.com/article/governmen...73fd3531799f8d

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news...ns/7352274002/

[postman1782]

So, who wants to bet how many of the ballots they illegally change with their pens they used, since they aren't supposed to use Black or Blue pens? Also, who wants to bet how many ballots they claim were fraudulent? Guarantee they are going to try to say there is going to be enough to sway the election in Arizona at least, and there are going to be people stupid enough to think that there are other states that are just as fraudulent, based on some Qtard believing moron that is overseeing this, and the bullshit hacker group that is helping him.

[Howel]

So they only gotta find about 0.3 % of I guess even questionable cast votes, to then conflate that if such an average on a state wide scale, the 2020 results can be questioned in its validity.

0,3 %, behind closed doors, with limited oversight, by a private company who has stark alignment with the GOP, and already has shown an extreme incapability to follow easy rules to ensure its validity. Yeah...

Oh and also, even if they get discovered with tampering, that's barely even a loss for the GOP, because that tampering would still support their agenda of putting more barriers in the way of voting, because it has just been proven that it can be tampered with!

[Machismo]

Trumpsters just cannot accept that he lost. When you have spent the last several years living in an alternate reality where you believed Trump was a good President (or even the best one, ever), then the idea that such a great man could possibly lose, isn't even possible without massive fraud. This is why they continue to believe things like Qanon, and will keep believing all that shit until they are dead and buried.

Let them do their recount, and when they get caught cheating, then mock them for the shitty fascists and white supremacists that they are.

[s_bushido]

Yeah, but have you considered that if they don't keep recounting until they get the result they're looking for, it will just be harder for them to keep beating the "FRAUD!!!" drum? Where's your sense of empathy?

[Sunseeker]

Hot damn that is some of the shadiest shit.

[The Casualty]

This is the "South shall rise again" from our lifetime. Even comes with a shitty loser flag.

[Edge-]

https://www.azfamily.com/news/politi...de0c9c8e0.html

So more in, "Why it's a bad idea to give the ACTUAL physical ballots to a shady private company to do a recount in secret"...

Blue pens.

Yes, blue pens. Why? Because reportedly that's what staff would work with when reviewing the ballots. Problem? The counting machines track blue ink, meaning there's the possibility that votes could be intentionally or unintentionally altered. Which is why red ink is the standard when recounting as it won't cause issues.

On Friday, a judge ordered Cyber Ninjas, the private company hired to do the audit, to provide documents outlining their procedures. Instead, today Cyber Ninjas filed a motion to seal the documents and keep the public and press out of the hearings.

When you're determined to keep something very normal and routine secret, it's usually not a good sign. And more?

Republican Senate liaison Ken Bennett told journalists earlier this week that he couldn't speak to the media due to a pending lawsuit. But last night, Bennett held a live question and answer session on a conservative platform called Telegram. "The Cyber Ninja people and the Arizona State Senate can't pick and choose among media people," says Barr. "They can't give access to OAN and then not give access to other media people."

Well, now it all just sounds like a pathetic political/PR game.

Reminder: Republicans hate democracy. Just can't stand it. Loathe it with a passion.

[Breccia]

"Cyber Ninjas filed a motion to seal the documents and keep the public and press out of the hearings."

Everything about this entire situation is loathesome, but this part is the part which goes in through the stupid door, buys six bags of evil, and leaves through the evil door.

Remember, this was done because of unfounded, no-evidence conspiracies that Something Was Done bla bla Stole the Election. The GOP hired a QAnon conspiracy theorist to do this. To have them look at all is pandering, to allow them to seal their process and records -- the exact problem they were hired to solve -- is proof this is just more "it's okay when my side does it".

Again: they're going to "find" something, "find" it while covering their methods and allowing no witnesses (illegally, perhaps) and refusing to allow accountabilty or a double-check. The GOP will push this into the courts, the lack of credible evidence means the courts will handwave this bullshit, and that will be taken as an excuse to pass stronger "election security" laws that have nothing to do with the issue at hand. Oh, and probably some people will get shot and killed.

[Endus]

Everything about this entire situation is loathesome, but this part is the part which goes in through the stupid door, buys six bags of evil, and leaves through the evil door.

Remember, this was done because of unfounded, no-evidence conspiracies that Something Was Done bla bla Stole the Election. The GOP hired a QAnon conspiracy theorist to do this. To have them look at all is pandering, to allow them to seal their process and records -- the exact problem they were hired to solve -- is proof this is just more "it's okay when my side does it".

Again: they're going to "find" something, "find" it while covering their methods and allowing no witnesses (illegally, perhaps) and refusing to allow accountabilty or a double-check. The GOP will push this into the courts, the lack of credible evidence means the courts will handwave this bullshit, and that will be taken as an excuse to pass stronger "election security" laws that have nothing to do with the issue at hand. Oh, and probably some people will get shot and killed.

Really, there should be a federal standard for recounts.

Any any fuckos who pull shit like this at the State level just face federal charges and lengthy prison sentences for their bullshit. "Oh, we didn't know black/blue pens could be used to alter ballots" "Cool, you're an idiot, you can get back to your life in 5-10."

Full transparency should be a minimum. At this stage, that should include publicly-accessible camera monitoring of the process. And not just some tiny camera off in a corner of the room, cameras over each counting table casino-style.

[Paranoid Android]

As I stated sooooooo many times the Republicans are trying to steal an election. No if this crazy bleep happens, not enough electoral votes to overturn. Yet they tried real hard and erroneously to steal from 4 states, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Arizona.

[cubby]

And they were given the actual ballots, the only physical evidence of the count, and they brought in pens? So when their done with their ironic fraud, no one will be able to go back and see what originally happened?

[Breccia]

Really, there should be a federal standard for recounts.

There should be a federal standard for federal recounts. Let Arizona spend money on local elections all they want.

But this feels like a "testing the waters" move. If Cyber Ninjas "finds" anything, other GOP states will challenge their blue county results to "find" something.

- - - Updated - - -

And they were given the actual ballots, the only physical evidence of the count, and they brought in pens?

Yes. And they were caught, and promised to never do it again, also please everyone leave the room and turn your back please.

[cubby]

Full transparency should be a minimum. At this stage, that should include publicly-accessible camera monitoring of the process. And not just some tiny camera off in a corner of the room, cameras over each counting table casino-style.

Great idea.

- - - Updated - - -

Yes. And they were caught, and promised to never do it again, also please everyone leave the room and turn your back please.

Sorry...your post is fantastic, I'm just trying to wrap my head around this portion of it. The lunacy is astronomical. The malfeasance is boundless. And it seems the abyss is even closer than before.

Because if I understand correctly, any fraudulent activity (i.e. literally changing the vote on a ballot) done during this recount won't be traceable, because the original ballots are in the room with these buffoons.

[Breccia]

any fraudulent activity (i.e. literally changing the vote on a ballot) done during this recount won't be traceable, because the original ballots are in the room with these buffoons.

There's nothing Cyber Ninjas can do to "prove" there was fraud honestly. They were damn near literally hired to cause a massive hue and cry, claiming (again) fraud they can't prove. I don't think any serious judge will believe them, based on their proof of ignorance of the rules plus complete lack of oversight.

They're not looking for results, they're looking for an excuse to change the rules.

[Breccia]

I just remembered: we have a separate thread for this.

Republican says 'embarrassing' Arizona recount 'makes us look like idiots'

“Looking back, I didn’t think it would be this ridiculous. It’s embarrassing to be a state senator at this point,” Arizona state Sen. Paul Boyer, who previously supported the audit in Maricopa County, added on Friday, according to The New York Times.

Republicans in the Arizona state Senate advanced an audit of the 2020 election vote in Maricopa County last month, even after multiple audits since November found that the vote was counted accurately.

The Arizona recount is being carried out by the state Senate itself, after GOP senators used their subpoena power to call for election officials to hand over all of Maricopa County’s 21 million ballots, in addition to its voting machines and voter registration information.

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors tried to block the subpoenas. A judge, however, declared that the GOP lawmakers’ demands were valid and directed the officials to deliver the requested materials.

The bolded is concerning, but not crippling. "Okay fine, I'll let you look" is one thing, even is sighed while shaking your head. "Wait, you did what?" is another.

While the GOP is claiming this recount is "to restore confidence" there's nothing about this recount that could reasonably do that. Everything about it is being done at best incompetently and at worst with blatant attempt to rig the result. Yes, the rabid fanbase is too far gone, and have pre-determined the results were stolen when Trump said so without evidence or logic. But even a bad case has this working its way up several courts, so even if the upcoming case to block the recount's fake results happens to pick a MAGA hat Nazi, it'll get to a sensible (even if Republican-appointed) federal judge soon enough.

Plus, there's no federal law that would overturn the election results. Trump blatantly worked with Russia and he got to ruin the country for four years. Biden gets to fix it, no matter how much the rabid fanbase shrills.

[Belize]

Republican says 'embarrassing' Arizona recount 'makes us look like idiots'

Not the only thing that makes Republicans look like idiots, but they have to start somewhere...

[Edge-]

https://www.vice.com/en/article/93yy...zona-for-trump

Related: Republican voters in Arizona want to stage a non-violent coup. They want to invalidate all election results dating back to 2018 and replace elected officials with...themselves.

They claim to have evidence to support their lawsuit, however as of yet they have not presented any evidence.

Just a reminder: Republicans fucking hate Democracy now.

[s_bushido]

Just a reminder: Republicans fucking hate Democracy now.

Don't worry, democracy hated them first.

[draynay]

Didn't you get the memo? Its called "Tyranny of the Majority" now.