Topic: Target Behrends and Springborg
started by: minnow
Posted by minnow on Aug. 25 2003,3:42 pm
According to the Tribune poll...if it's even partially accurate, appears Behrends and Springborg will be the easiest to topple in the next elections. These two are toast!
Posted by hoosier on Aug. 25 2003,4:19 pm
You notice the two that voted against the court house are the favorites? All Belden is going to prove with this poll is how out of touch he is with what the people think.
Posted by jimhanson on Aug. 25 2003,5:11 pm
Looks like more manipulation of the Tribune poll. Here are the votes at Noon and 4 P.M., with percentages converted to actual votes:NOON 4 pm CHANGE
Mullenbach 19 31 +12
Belshan 20 35 15
Behrends 06 10 4
Mathiason 14 48 48
Springborg 02 05 3
NONE 13 22 9
TOTAL 79 151 91
Are we to believe that out of 91 votes cast in that time period, 53% were for one person--3 1/2 times more than for the next highest vote-getter? I don't think so!
Posted by Ole1kanobe on Aug. 25 2003,5:25 pm
Well Jim, you seem to have stumbled on what most people would call 'stuffing' the ballot box.It is actually simple to do, you just delete the cookies from your machine, reload the web site and you can vote again.
The Tribune is using a real cheap-a$$ voting script. Anything worth its weight records votes cast by IP address, not just a cookie.
I know that the Trib's poll is conducted like this because a certain person that I used to work for wanted to stuff the box on a poll and asked me if I knew how to do it. It wasn't very hard to figure it out.
Just one more reason that you should not trust these 'polls' that the Tribune puts out and treats as the truth.
What a bunch of lamers they have at the Trib.
Posted by minnow on Aug. 25 2003,5:30 pm
It's very revealing. It shows us Mathiason not only reads the forum, and is a troll poster...but he's stuffing the ballot box as well! 
Thumbs down
Posted by jimhanson on Aug. 25 2003,5:46 pm
This is the second poll that has been tampered with, that I am aware of. On the Trib Forum, I posted the same thing about the Library poll--whenever the "new site" got behind in the polls, it would have a sudden spurt of new votes. After watching and documenting the spurts, I reported it.Dustin Peterson mentioned the way to "stuff the ballot box"--and also that THE COMPUTERS IN THE LIBRARY HAD NO COOKIES--VOTE AS MANY TIMES AS YOU LIKE! I wonder how the LIBRARY supporters voted.
Cheating in a non-binding vote? Have these guys been taking lessons from Chicago's Mayor Daly "machine"? Dylan doesn't like to hear the word used--but "SHAME"!
Posted by Ole1kanobe on Aug. 25 2003,5:51 pm
Well, you get what you pay for. They must have raided the free script archive somewhere on the internet. It works in a pinch, I guess, but if are actually going to use the figures for something, you have to be responsible enough to use the correctly safeguarded equipment and scripts.Seems like the Trib's info gathering methods could use an overhaul.
Posted by shaker on Aug. 25 2003,9:38 pm
Why should We be supprised? Its business as usual in A.L.
Posted by MADDOG on Aug. 26 2003,10:18 am
The poll is gone, Belden pulled it already. Took his toys and went home again.
Posted by hoosier on Aug. 26 2003,10:42 am
LMAO, you're kidding me? I just checked it at about 9:30am. Mathiason I believe had around 28 percent, Belshan had around 24 percent. Mullenbach was right up there also, but Mathiason and Belshan were the winners. I wonder how Belden will try to explain this one away. Maybe he will call us the obsessed majority, LOL. Boot Belden
Posted by jimhanson on Aug. 26 2003,12:32 pm
Can we expect to see something like this posted where the poll used to be located?"Due to abuses by our readers, the Tribune's poll has been suspended indefinately"?
Or, how about
"Due to abuses by our SUBSCRIBERS, publication of the Tribune has been suspended indefinately"?
"It's a poor workman that blames his tools....."
Posted by Liberal on Aug. 26 2003,12:41 pm
I'm glad he removed it. The poll was in poor taste in the first place. This isn't a freakin popularity contest, it's our county government.
Posted by hoosier on Aug. 26 2003,12:44 pm
Agreed Liberal, even I thought it was in poor taste, it seemed to me Belden was just trying to prove to all of us that we were actually the obsessed minority. Just one more thing that blows up in his face.
Posted by repdan on Aug. 28 2003,9:34 pm
Don't be so sure about being part of the minority but then again you might be. But the poll would have no relationship to this. Polls like this are for entertainment and are billed that way by people that host them.Try not to jump to conclusions about ballot suffing and inexpensive tools by the Tribune. Even if you could prevent people from voting more than once, there are still ways to beat the system. I have gotten e-mails from people who say something like "go here and support"....and then give you the link. Some of lists contain several hundred people.
If I wanted to, and I don't I could broadcast about 900 people in Freeborn County and alert them to the poll. Not all 900 of them would respond, but enough would to throw the poll off.
Posted by repdan on Aug. 28 2003,9:35 pm
What make you think it will be easy to beat them? At this point, I would not bet against them.
Posted by rosebudinal on Aug. 28 2003,9:44 pm
Do you mean beat the polls (vote more than once) or beat the two that will not be elected?
Posted by repdan on Aug. 28 2003,9:45 pm
I mean beat the two.
Posted by rosebudinal on Aug. 28 2003,9:52 pm
okay, thanks. I think that the voters have a problem with the inavailiblity of Springborg and his changes in residency since he first came to serve. Yes, that seems personal but the public may feel that his personal life reflects his decision-making abilities as well.
Posted by repdan on Aug. 28 2003,10:05 pm
That could very well be. It may seem personal, but many time that is how people vote. In fact, that type of thing may hurt a candidate more than their voting record.
Posted by rosebudinal on Aug. 28 2003,10:10 pm
Wouldn't be the first time. Garry Hart comes to mind as a perfect example.
Posted by minnow on Aug. 28 2003,10:14 pm
Springborg doesn't own a home in the county.
Posted by rosebudinal on Aug. 28 2003,11:08 pm
Not any more his bro. sold it. He now lives around the corner, needed to get a place in his district, also has a country home with "friend", but his name is not on the deed.:rock:
Posted by hoosier on Aug. 29 2003,7:21 am
Repdan, I have no doubt that for the most part we are in the majority on almost all issues. We use the term obsessed minority because thats what the Tribunes chickencrap little editor calls us so he doesnt have to listen to what we have to say. And by the way, I will take that bet, in my opinion, Mathiason will probably be reelected. But commrade Behrends and Springborg have served their last term and rightly so. We will do everything in our power to see to it. I believe the people have had enough of their kind of government.
Posted by repdan on Aug. 29 2003,10:06 am
What make you sure you are in the majority? I'm not saying you are not, but since most people don't let their opinions be known I don't think you really know. I would suggest that you may be listening and talking to people who see things your way which can lead you to think that most people feel the same way. Let me give you an example from St. Paul, and I shake my head when it happens there. There are 81 House Republicans. When we meet and talk about an issue and how we feel about it, it's not hard to get 70 of us to agree on something. But then some people are surprised when the rest of the State does not see it the same way. This is not unique to our party but I think part of human nature.
Posted by minnow on Aug. 29 2003,10:15 am
Regardless...it's really just a moot point now that the damage is done, the big money spent. I mean how much worse can it get....wait a minute...don't answer that!
Posted by hoosier on Aug. 29 2003,10:32 am
Repdan, I would agree with that. But the same would go for someone trying to label us as the obsessed minority would it not?
Posted by MADDOG on Aug. 29 2003,10:40 am
Hoosier and Repdan, We ARE the majority, the difference being we ARE the VOCAL minority of the majority. Just as Obe1 said in another thread, a lot of people are afraid to speak out. A lot of these same people have heard of this "financial ruin" threat that R.G. made.
Posted by Ole1kanobe on Aug. 29 2003,11:12 am
Exactly, how is it a government FOR the PEOPLE, BY the PEOPLE when those that govern personally threaten citizens when they try and get involved? (but if the citizens are willing to follow in line right behind those that govern, they are 'safe' from threats of retribution)It would seem that, at least on a local level, government has become for the few, by the few. Mainly special interests.
Posted by minnow on Aug. 29 2003,11:35 am
Look...if we were in the minority...why...they would have let us vote on courthouse!
Posted by hoosier on Aug. 29 2003,1:32 pm
Rosebudinal, are you telling us that Springborg didnt live in his district for a time? They just had a special election in another county for that same reason. If that is what you are saying, it would be something worth checking into.
Posted by jimhanson on Aug. 29 2003,2:00 pm
| Quote |
| Look...if we were in the minority...why...they would have let us vote on courthouse! |
Posted by hoosier on Aug. 29 2003,4:12 pm
You beat me to it Jim, nice one Minnow.
Posted by MADDOG on Aug. 29 2003,5:16 pm
Hoosier:[/quote]Rosebudinal, are you telling us that Springborg didnt live in his district for a time? They just had a special election in another county for that same reason. If that is what you are saying, it would be something worth checking into.[quote]
He has always lived in his district, a while back he did same work with children and ocassionally had to sleep out of his district. His girlfriend that he may stay at, also is in the district. I asked him that quite a while ago.
Posted by MADDOG on Sep. 03 2003,11:25 am
County votes to hold trial night meetings. The third Tuesday of October and November. Vote passed 3-2, with Mullenbach and Behrends voting against it. I can only hope, the county was larger turnouts at these two meetings to show the board that people want to go to meetings.
Posted by 1adam12 on Sep. 03 2003,12:34 pm
Mullenbach says that meetings run 4-5 hours, and he doesn't want to stay up until 10:30 at a meeting.What the #&$$ are they talking about that takes up that much time? The city council certainly doesn't go that late. Is it because everyone has to talk slower so Gab and Mully can understand what's being said
.He doesn't think that more people will attend. Word needs to be spread so people actually know there is a county board meeting at night.
Posted by Ole1kanobe on Sep. 03 2003,9:49 pm
Right, this is an opportunity that people in this County may NEVER have again, unless the County Board can actually see that people will go to the night meetings, when they do not have to work. If people do not show up to these night meetings, kiss the opportunity goodbye forever...
Posted by repdan on Sep. 04 2003,6:15 pm
Well using that logic, Dave M must not have been re-elected.Being a retailer, I get to talk to lots of people everyday. My sense of where the people are at is that if the election were held again tomorrow, Dave and Dan would both be re-elected.
Posted by Madd Max on Sep. 04 2003,7:13 pm
| Quote (repdan @ Sep. 04 2003,6:15:pm) |
| Being a retailer, I get to talk to lots of people everyday. My sense of where the people are at is that if the election were held again tomorrow, Dave and Dan would both be re-elected |
Could Be. But the election is not tomorrow, it"s 14 months away and Dave and Dan will have to answer some hard questions before they can be re-elected. Wouldn't you think before anyone can say their re-electable we should at least see who is running against them.
Posted by GEOKARJO on Sep. 04 2003,8:32 pm
I talk to many people in my business too, Repdan is talking to people who can afford to have things fixed and spend hundreds of dollars, but there is a common man who is scrimping and saving, that I see in my business. Who are getting fed up with, study this, study that, and wasteful spending, the view of many is, they will have to move out of Albert Lea to find work and affordable living, So repdan may be right they could get re-elected.
Posted by minnow on Sep. 04 2003,10:29 pm
LOL 
Posted by repdan on Sep. 04 2003,10:53 pm
Max.I hate to bring this up but Dave Mullenbach and Dan Belshan are not for re-election in 14 months. They were both re-elected in 2002 which means they are not up for re-election until 2006. You make a good point about who is running against them, but using this same logic, one should not assume they are going to ran out of town on a rail.
Geo I hate to break it to you, but you have no idea who our customers are it seems. We have a wide cross section of people, but the average customer is the working person with a car that is over 5 years old. We sell a wide price range of products. If you think about it, the working person that you write about does a lot of business with us since they are keeping up an older car and not trading evey two years.
While I don't know this, I get the feeling that some of the people that post here spend lots of time talking to people who agree withthem which tends to make them think they are in the majority. If someone questions this, there is no shortage of reasons (ie I am not talking to a wide cross section of people).
Posted by minnow on Sep. 04 2003,11:14 pm
Even Gabe conceded minority status on the courthouse issue(the big one) Repdan.Who do you think you're fooling? The working people who are fixing old cars, while at the same time wanting to throw money away on the other end?
At least $10,000,000 wasted just on lease revenue bonds!...partly due to the fact we can't refinace those.
Frankly...you don't "hate to say it" at all...you like it...
Posted by rosebudinal on Sep. 04 2003,11:38 pm
True, recently it happened to a lady named Jean something or other in Rochester. A older gentleman ran against her and he won.
Posted by Madd Max on Sep. 05 2003,10:03 am
Sorry Dan, I'm a little under the weather Whom I was writting about was Dan Springborg and Mark Behrends.
Posted by GEOKARJO on Sep. 05 2003,10:24 am
Just last night we were in conversation about or county gov,. Roger Bok, 7 of us sitting around we talked about the forum and one of the guys spoke up and said "well you can't do anything about it unless you are ready to get a good a$$ #%^ing." People actually believe this and are afraid to speak up. Maybe Gabes threat of finacial ruin got to some of these guys.
Posted by Navin on Sep. 05 2003,10:31 am
And it never occured to Repdan that he may only be talking to people who agree with him which tends to make him think he is in the majority. If someone questions this, there is no shortage of reasons ...
Posted by hoosier on Sep. 06 2003,7:52 am
Amen Navin!
Posted by repdan on Sep. 08 2003,9:55 pm
Navin (R. Johnson?),That occurs to me all the time, that is why I try to seek out people on the other side of the issue. In an prior post, I talked about seeing that all the time in St. Paul in our caucus we stand around yaking to each other and then seem surprised when the entire state does not see it our way. However, being aware of it helps keep me out of it.
Navin, in the majority on what issue?
Minnow, I must be a little slow here but what the heck are you talking about. How does fixing old cars and revenue bonds relate to the discussion?
Posted by Navin on Sep. 08 2003,10:21 pm
| Quote |
This is the kind of spontaneous publicity I need! My name in print! That really makes somebody! Things are going to start happening to me now. Navin R. Johnson |
Repdan, I was just trying to point out that your earlier post was rather presumptuous when you said
| Quote |
While I don't know this, I get the feeling that some of the people that post here spend lots of time talking to people who agree withthem which tends to make them think they are in the majority. If someone questions this, there is no shortage of reasons (ie I am not talking to a wide cross section of people). |
Posted by repdan on Sep. 08 2003,11:46 pm
Presumptuous when I said "while I don't know this, I get the feeling". Low standard for presumptuous. But then, you may be on to something afterall you did invent the optigrab.
Posted by 1adam12 on Sep. 16 2003,10:05 am
Looks like we have a candidate......Hart said he'd like to run for county commissioner next.
Posted by Ole1kanobe on Sep. 16 2003,3:36 pm
What is an optigrab?
Posted by Navin on Sep. 16 2003,3:52 pm
A chance meeting in 1978 between gas station attendant Navin R. Johnson and travelling salesman Stan Fox led to one of the greatest inventions of the modern technological era, the OptiGrab. Realising that his customer's glasses came off because continual removal had put pressure on the frame causing them to spread. Inspired by the tyre rods on a '72 Buick, Navin Johnson welded a little handle right in the center the vision frame, to put the pressure back on the bridge where it belongs. Fox took Johnson's invention with him and soon turned the tiny bit of twisted metal into a multi-million dollar business setting up offices all round the world. However, a number of prominent citizens, led by cross-eyed film director Carl Reiner, filed a $10 million class action suit against Johnson and his OptiGrab suing him for "the irresponsible selling of a product he didn't even test on prisoners."
Posted by rosebudinal on Sep. 16 2003,10:51 pm
I say go for it Kemlin!!!! He is one great kid who someday will be going places. He has had alot of opportunities and he has so far, always taken the right road.:)