Nov 09 2012

If only he’d had a decent budget and campaign staff

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It might have also helped if he’d made a few public appearances, but that would have been difficult, given that he’s dead. In the election of Paul Broun (moRon, Georgia), Charles Darwin got 4,000 write-in votes.

Next time, we’ll get him.

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20 comments

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1

Christoph Burschka

9 November 2012 at 10:44 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

… “Anyone but Broun,” “Anyone else” and various permutations of that sentiment, with “Big Bird” and “Bill Nye, The Science Guy” also earning ballots.
2

Reginald Selkirk

9 November 2012 at 10:46 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

Meanwhile: Dead candidates win elections in Florida, Alabama
3

PZ Myers

9 November 2012 at 10:49 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

So there’s hope for Charles, then?
4

F

9 November 2012 at 10:49 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

I take it no one else was running? One of the other write-ins was “Anyone but Broun”.
5

johnwoodford

9 November 2012 at 11:08 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

We could have gotten him, but only if we found the kids with the rings:

“By your powers combined, I am…Charles Darwin.”
6

xmnr

9 November 2012 at 11:27 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

Yes, he was unopposed.
7

robro

9 November 2012 at 11:29 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

From what I understand from my mom, who is from SW Georgia, it’s not uncommon for the long dead to vote, so why not win elections. Seems only fitting.
8

phiknight

9 November 2012 at 11:41 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

I was sad that 16000 people in Athens still voted for Broun, but I’m glad my vote was still heard. lol
9

zb24601

9 November 2012 at 11:54 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

I’m afraid Charles Darwin does not meet the residency requirements. But then again, neither did Mitt Romney when he ran for governor. Mitt retroactively changed his tax fillings to make it look like he met the requirements. Maybe Mitt can help Charles with that. I hear his schedule has cleared up a bit.
10

Esteleth, Elen síla lúmenn' omentielvo

9 November 2012 at 12:01 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment

Charles does not meet the residency requirements – or the citizenship requirements for that matter.

But then, neither does Jesus, and how many people write him in?
11

glodson

9 November 2012 at 12:07 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment

Here’s the third place finisher in a Virginia Senate Race.

Dead people and nonhumans are sometimes the better choice.
12

davem

9 November 2012 at 12:17 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment

Meanwhile: Dead candidates win elections in Florida, Alabama

And you tell them from the brain-dead how, exactly?

But seriously, 96 years old, not turning up to the office, and still collecting $240,000? Then you still vote for him , although he’s dead? WTF is wrong with you guys?
13

DLC

9 November 2012 at 2:47 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment

At least Darwin’s brains are being used, unlike Mr Broun’s.
14

sharculese

9 November 2012 at 3:58 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment

I take it no one else was running? One of the other write-ins was “Anyone but Broun”.

Georgia’s been redistricted since I lived in Athens, but assuming that nothing’s changed (and I don’t see any reason why it would have), there’s a line drawn through the Athens area that’s designed to crack the university vote and create two safe Republican districts. It was created by a lovely fellow name of Paul Broun.

When evolution thing happened, someone, I think PZ actually, linked to a statement from the local Democratic party saying that while they sometimes manage it, a lot of times they can’t find anyone willing to undertake the thankless task of challenging him.

Also, Paul Broun is an all purpose tool who once tried to use a late night session to slip in an amendment defunding section 5 of the voting rights act, only to get chewed out on the floor of the House by civil rights hero John Lewis.

http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2012/05/10/john-lewis-objects-and-paul-broun-backs-away-from-attempt-to-gut-voting-rights-act/
15

gardengnome

9 November 2012 at 5:44 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment

So how many votes did Jesus get then?
16

peterh

9 November 2012 at 7:30 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment

@#15:

Too many.
17

MattP (with every passing comment, I want ever more to DIAF)

9 November 2012 at 10:23 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment

My write-in vote was for “burning bag of dog shit” because I found it an accurate description of Broun (dumb, dangerous, damn disgusting to clean up after).
18

MattP (with every passing comment, I want ever more to DIAF)

9 November 2012 at 10:38 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment

It brought a grin to my face as I typed it and now seeing it mentioned on wonkette brings me a bit of glee in an otherwise depressing week.
19

Lynna, OM

10 November 2012 at 8:37 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

On last night’s program, Rachel Maddow covered the write-in results for Charles Darwin. She was delighted.

Maddow prefaced the Darwin results with a roundup of the Republican doofuses that sat on the Science Committee in Congress, and those that will now sit on the Science Committee. Republicans still hold a majority in the House of Representatives, so we will be stuck with dunderheads who seem to have missed all science classes beyond third grade, (and who missed all new developments in scientific fields since 1950.)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/#49768091 (7:34 minutes long)

The segment ends with an improved (evolved) recipe for an Old Fashioned whisky cocktail.
20

carbonbasedlifeform

11 November 2012 at 6:51 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

we will be stuck with dunderheads who seem to have missed all science classes beyond third grade, (and who missed all new developments in scientific fields since 1950.)

1950? Try 1850.