AP Story on Yahoo! News: 400 Demand Recount in Ohio (RATE NOW RATE NOW!)

[geo]

Hi all,

Wasn't there thousands out there? We may need to e-mail yahoo! news and AP for a correction.

Here is the link to the story and don't forget to rate it high! At least it is being covered somewhat accurately! :) :)

COLUMBUS, Ohio - About 400 protesters gathered outside the Statehouse on Saturday to support a recount of the presidential election in Ohio and call for an investigation into Election Day irregularities. http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=5&u=/ap/20041204/ap_on_el_pr/ohio_vote

Warmly,

George

(edited to add RATE RATE RATE RATE! to header and fix a typo)
(edited again to add NOW! and to mention that even if the story gets a 2.96 rating, if we show that an unusual number of people took the time to rate the story it helps. If they see a story that produces an even amount of 1's and 5's they know they have a good topic. This is where we win over the freepers who post 1's on all the recount stories.)

[Stand and Fight]

1. RATE THIS STORY -- KEEP THREAD KICKED

This story is being rated down by our collective arch nemesis, the FReepers. So, be sure to go to the site and rate it because it has a rating of 2.96 with under 200 votes. Thanks friends!

[Quakerfriend]

2. Kick!

[mod mom]

4. i was there I would say 1500 to 2000

The rally started at 1 and weather conditions were bad because of a cold wind, so strong it knocked over equipment and tables, Some people came late and others left early because they came underdressed.

[noclonyofthechimp]

30. that's a far cry from 400! Thanks from Floridah

[kk897]

64. My husband and I say less

more like 1K tops, probably less than that. But we were in the middle of the crowd and many not have gotten a good overview.

[geo]

66. do you feel/think the 400 number is accurate, or still low?

And did you see the comment I made about calling AP to offer them better info and possibly a soundbyte? :) -G

[kk897]

70. 400 may have been accurate, depending upon what time it was

there was a band playing there (a good one, I thought, but don't know who it was) at about 12:30, when my husband and I arrived. Around 1 to maybe 1:20, maybe later, there weren't that many people, and 400 would probably be close to the truth. About the time Fitrakis began to speak, though, there were many more, maybe upwards of a thousand.

As we were in the middle of the crowd, though, I don't think I could say without a doubt that my numbers were accurate. Also, I've read that crowd numbers are just plain hard to estimate for anyone (save a Rainman type, I guess).

[geo]

74. seems they took a conservative number... no pun intended. :)

:) -G

[Patsy Stone]

21. at 5:15 - sooooo...

it's 2.96 with 700+ votes

[s-cubed]

3. KICK

[geo]

5. kick

kick

[Verve]

6. Rated it a 5. However, the story is good, the title is pathetic! n/t

[DemGa]

7. Rate this story up, it won't last long on Yahoo. n/t

[Vincardog]

8. Done Had to hit the AP link first

[shesemsmom]

9. Kicked

[Shalom]

10. Protestor Count was tabulated by Diebold & ES&S....

any further question ?

[geo]

11. hmmm....

I thought it was Sequoia. :P -G

[intelle]

14. This is a dupe

Same AP story here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=112431&mesg_id=112431

[geo]

17. but through yahoo! we can rate it to help keep it on the front page...

:) -G

[noclonyofthechimp]

38. kick

[BrklynLiberal]

12. AirAmericaRadio said 1500 protestors......

but also said there was virtually no news media coverage.
Wonder whose numbers AP/Yahoo was depending on???

[geo]

13. It's holding steady at 2.96!! How is that possible!!!

Do the Free Republic folks really bash recount stories this badly?

We need to show them our persistence. :) - G

[New Earth]

16. maybe some people are pissed off at 400# report

or at the misleading picture making it look like there were about 30 people there :eyes:

[geo]

24. I was thinking that might be hurting the results, but with all the DU

5's, there would have to be quite a few 1'a in there too. :) -G

[intheflow]

59. How is it possible that the rating doesn't ever change?

That seems suspicious. What is the liklihood of the left and the right posting opposite ratings at a consistent pace like that? Where is TruthIsAll when you need him?

[FULL_METAL_HAT]

77. I'm collecting the "exit polls" on this geo :^)

It seems oddly holding at 2.96 despite the addition of, oh lets see, 1200+ votes... not a budge from "2.96" ... hmmmmm

:^)

[geo]

15. kick

kick

[noclonyofthechimp]

18. Has anyone noticed that yahoo has been covering a lot of stories that

the MSM refuses to about the election?

[geo]

22. It seems like yahoo! has been picking up momentum on the recount

issue over the last week... not bad.. all the rating efforts we go through must be getting their attention.

[noclonyofthechimp]

32. exactly. I use them for my homepage but just changed the content. I

had no idea that one of their choices was a kerry/Edwards blog?

[geo]

33. really? very cool. I have them as a homepage too.. :)

:) -G

[noclonyofthechimp]

36. yepper!

[trudyco]

78. kick

[geo]

19. kick

kick

[geo]

20. kick

kick

[Stand and Fight]

23. Kicking it...

:kick:

[trudyco]

25. Just gave it a 5

[geo]

26. Keep it up! Over 800 ratings so far! The next highest count on

a yahoo! headline story is about Bush, Pakistan and Bin Laden... only 300 some took the time to rate that. Everything else has 60 or fewer ratings. :) -G

[Sporadicus]

34. Still Rated 2.96, 5:28 EDT, >900 Votes

I reloaded the page repeatedly, watching the votes tally up quickly; the rating didn't deviate from 2.96 the entire time. Is the rating being Diebolded? :tinfoilhat:

[texpatriot2004]

27. rated a 5 thanks for the link

[geo]

28. kick

kick

[geo]

29. We are in an obvious battle with folks who don't like recount stories....

We are edging up on 900 votes and the 2.96 holds... what the freepers don't realize is that the more they rate OUR story with 1's, the more yahoo! will know for a fact this is a hot story.

:) -G

[geo]

31. kick

kick

[geo]

35. almost to 1,000!!! Keep it up!! :)

:) -G

[geo]

37. kick

kick

[jamboi]

55. kick

[goodboy]

39. done...2.96 with 900 some votes...being freeped...nt

[geo]

41. but it'll backfire on them bigtime... the more 1's and 5's yahoo sees...

the more they'll know this is a hot story people will read. Yahoo! will take notice if they get an off the chart number of ratings on a story that was almost all 1's and 5's. This could be nothing but good. Let the freepers play our game. ;) - G

[geo]

42. We should keep up our rating drive until we see the number shift at least

to 2.98 or 3.0. :) -G

[Sporadicus]

40. With Over 1,000 Ratings, It Still Stands at 2.96! (5:39 PM EDT)

I find it hard to believe that every individual vote from DU is perfectly balanced by an individual vote from freeperland. The rating has stood rock-steady at 2.96 for over 200 votes? I smell a rat. Yahoo! News, consider yourselves busted!

[geo]

44. I dunno if it is yahoo! I think this could be a group just like us trying

to rate the story in mass. Does someone have a freeper login to see if they have a thread going? :) -G

[Political_Junkie]

48. As of 5:45

You have given the news article 400 Demand Recount at Ohio Statehouse a rating of 5.
Its current average rating is 2.96 with 1054 vote(s).

[IndyOp]

43. I rated it a "5" about

30 times -- unfortunately, the 30 votes I added didn't change the results as much as the final 27 people in the Florida Exit Polls caused the poll results to shift - from Kerry ahead by 1% to Bush ahead by 5%. It must be 'new math'!

I'll go vote some more later!

:kick:

[geo]

46. I hate new math. :) -G

Give me old school math anyday. :) -G

[bj2110]

45. Rated & Kicked n/t

[geo]

47. kick

kick

[geo]

49. We need to get it to 4.2 to be on the yahoo! top rated page... think?

think we can outpace the freepers? :) -G

[geo]

50. kick

kick

[geo]

51. Over 1100 and still at 2.96! :) -G

:) -G

[geo]

52. kick

kick

[geo]

53. kick

kick

[geo]

54. Freepers rate stories... found another example...

Arnold for president story has close to 500 ratings... very unusual for yahoo! news to have so many. They are at it. Btw, DON'T rate their stories. What yahoo! is most attracted to is a large number of people taking the time to rate the story. :) -G

[geo]

56. 1200and still at 2.96!!! Keep it up! :) :) -G

:) -G

[geo]

57. kick

kick

[intheflow]

58. Thanks for posting. I just noticed the low rating myslef.

Was happy to see it pop up as one of the top AP stories on Yahoo's front page, though.

BTW, I rated it--up to 1202 respondents, still 2.96.

:kick:

[geo]

60. amazing it is holding the rating despite the influx of votes...

they must use the AVC Edge system to do the counting. :) -G

[geo]

61. kick

kick

[EMunster]

62. These are the competition????

• Experts Nix Endangered Status for Grouse Avg. Ratings 3.9 (AP )
• Danforth Quit U.N. Post to Return to Mo. Avg. Ratings 3.2 (AP )
• US Congresswoman denied Vietnam visa Avg. Ratings 3.8 (AFP )
• GOP Aide Was Prime Mover of Tax Provision Avg. Ratings 4.7 (AP )
• China Launches New Class of Nuclear Sub Avg. Ratings 3.4 (AP )
• AP: Navy Probes New Iraq Prisoner Photos Avg. Ratings 3.3 (AP )
• #3 U.S. Diplomat Submits Resignation Avg. Ratings 4.1 (Reuters )
• Bush Comments on Thompson Terror Worries Avg. Ratings 3.2 (AP )
• Bush Signs Internet Tax, Special Ed Bills Avg. Ratings 3.8 (AP )
• Environmentalists Lose on Spending Bill Avg. Ratings 4.3 (AP )

[geo]

63. yep. sad, huh. :) -G

:) -G

[geo]

65. kick

kick

[geo]

67. Just passed 1350 and still at 2.96!!! Keep it up!! :) -G

:) -G

[geo]

68. kick

kick

[geo]

69. kick

kick

[Vote4Kerry]

71. Just rated it

a 5 - Thanks for posting this!

[FULL_METAL_HAT]

72. WTF ?? current average rating is 2.96 with 1435 vote(s).

You have given the news article 400 Demand Recount at Ohio Statehouse a rating of 5.
Its current average rating is 2.96 with 1435 vote(s).

Anyone care to collect the "exit polls" on this? It sure doesn't seem to be moving...

[geo]

73. very odd indeed. :) -G

:) -G

[Digit]

75. done

[geo]

76. THIS THREAD IS BEING READ BY THE FREEPERS!

Ok. I was reading their site too, but I just had to know if they were messing with the rating on yahoo! because there is no way it should still be a 2.96 with all us showing our love for the piece.

Here is one of the posts:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
To: West Coast Conservative
The folks over at DU are fighting amongst themselves about this. Some people estimated 3000-4000 people there, but others said the 400 number was closer to reality.

I've said it before. This is the election that just keeps on giving.



3 posted on 12/04/2004 1:18:07 PM PST by TexasAg1996
-------------------------------------------------------------------

:) -G

[geo]

79. And to our freeper friends.. since you are reading...

Hi all over at FreeRepublic,

Since I know you read these threads now, I will take this chance to write you all a quick note. Please take what I am saying with the personal respect I intend it with. You'll see that outside of the term "freeper," which you have to admit is kinda catchy, I am one of the DU members that keeps the partisan rhetoric to a minimum.

I have only been to FreeRepublic once, today, just to look for evidence that you all were giving a good story a bad rating. I can't say that FR members are doing this, but I did find the above post that indicated that at least some members have a deep interest in seeing what we are discussing. This in itself isn't all that bad, but if it just an effort to play the rhetoric bit with each other, I would think your time is worth more than that.

This election has effected us deeply, and for some of us it has very little to do with a love for Sen. Kerry or a hate for Mr. Bush. We are concerned mostly with the condition of the vote system in this country. It just was not built to handle razor thin elections.

Regardless of one's interest in the outcome, any and all efforts to audit and otherwise account for each vote should be supported. The importance of fair, accurate and transparent elections is key to our democracy, as is consistency and equal protection. You won't see anyone more adamant for these things when it effects a Republican candidate than myself. I have written numerous letters on behalf of Republican recounts (which have happened across the country) and efforts to audit the vote. This is because the only thing I feel is worse than a President I don't want is a President we don't want.

When you look at the voting irregularities in this election they are compelling. I, for one, do not have a ton of faith that pursing these irregularities so vigorously will in fact change the election. (If it does, then likely it is because the election really should have gone to the other guy in the first place.) The goal is to make sure our election system is working.

Even more than checking for mere malfunctions, we also have major indications of fraud. This should be a HUGE red flag, no matter your party or candidate preference.

I hope that my letter inspires at least a few of you at FR to be patient with us as we explore the possibility that our votes didn't get counted the way they should. This isn't whining; this is counting the vote. You'll find we would (and do) support any Republican who felt he was cheated too. Like I said: I am personal evidence.

Now a quick note on why so many of us do not like Mr. Bush as a President. I will try to keep this as objective as possible because I only say this to promote understanding.

1) War crimes - many of us do not like the fact that Mr. Bush may have violated international law in our recent war efforts. His possible complicity concerns us.

2) Civil rights disappearing - I won't speak to abortion, because frankly thinking about it makes my head spin . Patriot Act II, which was penned and has been passing in pieces, is a very frightening document to many of us.

3) Debt from war spending.

4) Odd behavior and unprecedented secrecy just before and after 9/11.

5) The brazen use of rhetoric and psychological manipulation to sway the American people. I know this one is touchy, but if you really watch what is said through the years, you'll see that Mr. Bush's administration never really lies, but does tend to bend the truth so far it is barely recognizable. I don't mean that last comment to upset anyone; I am just conveying a common belief.

6) Associations and history - Some of the Bush family associations trouble us.

7) The fact that most every vote irregularity favored Mr. Bush also concerns many of us because it reflects on the scruples of those around him, and him as well. Also, we see a number of indictments in the circle Mr. Bush operates in. Just a few days ago I even saw that a few of his campaign managers were indicted for phone jamming democratic get out the vote efforts.

Once again, I write to promote areas that could be common ground for DUrs and FRrs. Fair, accurate and transparent elections, consistency and equal protection, and for what it is worth, some of our major concerns about Mr. Bush for your review. I am not a flaming democrat, and would vote for any reppublican candidate I truly believed in. Please take my words with the kindness and care I know FR members deserve as people.

Thanks for reading!

Warmly,

George

[Patsy Stone]

82. Perhaps...

we should start using "code words." :)

[geo]

80. 1500 and still at 2.96!!! Keep it up!! :) -G

:) -G

[roseBudd]

81. rate THIS crowd photo that did not accompany the story

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/041204/480/ohws10312042128

[Sporadicus]

83. Still Rated 2.96, >1500 Votes, 8:31 PM EDT n/t

[FULL_METAL_HAT]

84. If you kick this please post the time votes and avg :>

... while you're at it.

FWIW, a subject of:

kick 9:40PM 1604 2.96 n/t

would be great.

I'm collecting these "exit polls" for posterity :>

JIC here's the mysterious 2.96'er in question:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=5&u=/ap/20041204/ap_on_el_pr/ohio_vote

[FULL_METAL_HAT]

85. kick 9:46PM 1606 2.96 n/t

[regularjoe]

86. 1608 ratings 2.96 avg 6:51 pm PST n/t

[luaptifer]

87. 2.96 with 1618 vote(s).

You have given the news article 400 Demand Recount at Ohio Statehouse a rating of 5.
Its current average rating is 2.96 with 1618 vote(s).

[Cadence]

88. 1620 and at 2.96 WTF?

[Cadence]

89. Now it says 2.21 with 134 votes. It's like they started over.

[geo]

92. I just went back and it had 1633 votes at 2.96....

I just submitted the trouble ticket.... could they really be that fast??

Go Yahoo!! :) :) :)

They need to count all our votes still. I don't like vapor votes even in a local article election. lol

:) - G

[Cadence]

93. Are you sure? Go back and hit refresh when your there.

See what happens. The top of the story it says posted six minutes ago.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=536&ncid=536&e=6&u=/ap/20041205/ap_on_el_pr/ohio_vote


This is what I see.

Would you recommend this story?
Not at all 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 Highly
Avg Rating: 2.25, 136 votes

[Cadence]

95. Oh I see.

There are two different links...

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=536&ncid=536&e=6&u=/ap/20041205/ap_on_el_pr/ohio_vote


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=5&u=/ap/20041204/ap_on_el_pr/ohio_vote

[geo]

90. I just put in a trouble ticket with Yahoo!

Hi all,

I told them that I shared this story with literally hundreds of people and asked them to rate it. I told them how much coverage of this story means to us, and how disappointed that our input in the ratings didn't seem to make a difference. I also told them that Yahoo! was my homepage (which it is) and told them I am a fan (which I am). I asked them to e-mail me back with an explanation so I can share it with the hundreds of others who took the time to participate.

Let's see if they get the message. If not, I know a few hundred people who might want to write Yahoo! and see why they won't answer. ;)

The odds that it would stay at 2.96 from 200 votes through over 1600 votes, with all of us rating it, are not very high.

I hope the folks at FR can be patient with us while we make sure our Yahoo! vote counts. :) :)

Warmly,

George
p.s. This is so sad it is funny again. :)

[Cadence]

91. Go look now. It's like they started over.

[rockedthevoteinMA]

98. Its current average rating is 2.96 with 1642 vote(s). 10:46 PM

WTF?? Is it not changing at all???

[FULL_METAL_HAT]

94. 10:36PM 1638 2.96 n/t

[Pepper32]

96. current average rating is 2.96 with 1635 vote(s). *kick*

You have given the news article 400 Demand Recount at Ohio Statehouse a rating of 5.
Its current average rating is 2.96 with 1635 vote(s).

You have given this photo a rating of 5.
Its current average rating is 4.30 with 183 vote(s).

[annabanana]

97. post on GD.. we can rate it higher than this..............n/t

[geo]

99. NEW THREAD WITH NEW LINK....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x113741

:) -G