Here are readers' comments on opinion pieces we've published lately. Got a comment on our work? Send a letter to editor@tompaine.com .
Not Buying Russ Baker
Re: Election 2004: Lost Or Stolen? by Russ Baker
I am deeply saddened that you claim to have investigated election fraud in Ohio and come up empty. Your methods were almost as flawed as the election. I have examined the evidence myself and concluded beyond any doubt that no reasonable person could say that the Ohio results were not rigged. Shame on you!
Corbett Kroehler
Unfortunately, Mr. Baker follows the same path he accuses the contest attorneys of adopting, namely, making a case rather than a comprehensive consideration of facts.
He queries a BOE official who provides a credible explanation of how and why absentee voters' names were not on the poll books. An investigative reporter or serious researcher would have viewed the books. A serious writer—interested in more than making his case—would have pointed out that Don McTigue was under retainer for Ohio Dems and Kerry, both of whom had already announced the position they were adopting Nov. 3.
Rather than present unattributed information about exit polls by someone who knows something about Mitofsky's work a careful exploration would have contacted Mitofsky himself or someone else equally qualified—with a name attached to the information.
I could go on and on. This was an op-ed piece worthy of Fox, not the level of writing I expect on TomPaine.
John Burik
As long as people refuse to see the depths to which this administration will go to stay in power, it will never change.The more you allow them to steal, the bolder they will become. They have intent and they have the cojones, unlike us decent people. I'm tired of being screwed by my own people. I hate that you are contributing to my ravaging. So disappointed.
Kathy Dorce
Your article on the Ohio election results is heartbreaking. Do you really think President Bush was elected both times? Do you really think that the voting machine software being owned by a Republican is OK? Do you really think unverifiable vote results are OK?
I don't, and neither do most Americans, but they do not have a voice, because of media like this.
Pat Bugelski
I was very disappointed in the poorly researched and very opinionated piece that you published by Russ Baker on the evidence of election theft in Ohio. It appears that Russ read nothing that is available to all of us which documents Ohio's problems. The work by Phillips in Ohio, and the research of Freeman and others on the disconnect between the "exit polls" and the "reported" vote in Ohio and elsewhere is poorly understood and represented in his piece. You did your news magazine a disservice by publishing such an ill-informed piece for all of us to see. The election was stolen, and anyone who has followed the evidence since November 3 is well aware of that. Some better journalism on your part is sorely needed.
Bernie Elis
I'm writing regarding Russ Baker's article, Election 2004-Stolen or Lost? He concludes that the election wasn't stolen. That is absurd. I read about every irregularity since Nov 2nd. I read every detail by people who were there, by people who spoke to Rep. Conyers in his hearings, by professors who did statistics and analyzed results. I read lawyers' statements and black box voting statements, etc., etc. I read about the voter suppression, the incorrect info. given about where to vote, the provisionals not counted and the lack of security for the ballots. I read about the tampering by Triad and the fact that Diebold won't give us their software or code to look at. If Baker read everything I read and he thinks this election wasn't stolen, then he's extremely naïve and must be working for the other side. He better read the book The Best Democracy Money Can Buy and see how they did it in 2000. They've got it perfected after rigging 2000 and some elections in 2002.
Felicia Cerini
