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Subscribe to RSSFlorida Democrat Earl K. Wood and Alabama Republican Charles Beasley won their respective elections but they will not take office.
Both men died weeks before the November 6 election yet managed to beat their very much alive opponents by comfortable margins.
Wood died on October 15 from natural causes at age 96, during his campaign for a 12th term as Orange County Tax Collector in Orlando, Fla.
Criticized for rarely coming into the office while collecting a $150,000 salary and $90,000 pension, Wood initially announced he would step down, only to change his mind when a longtime political foe made plans to seek the seat.
Wood's wide name recognition after almost half a century in office scared off several serious contenders. His name remained on the ballot and he took 56 percent of the votes to 44 percent for a Republican who promised to eliminate the office altogether if elected.
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Beasley, 77, died on October 12, possibly due to an aneurysm, while trying to reclaim his old seat on the Bibb County Commission in central Alabama.
Beasley's name also remained on the ballot and he won about 52 percent of the vote. His Democratic opponent, incumbent Commissioner Walter Sansing, took the loss especially hard.
"It is a touchy situation. When you are running against a dead man, you are limited as to what you can say," Sansing told Reuters.
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He blamed people voting straight Republican tickets for his loss.
In Orlando, Scott Randolph, an outgoing Democratic state legislator and state party activist, was selected by his party to receive votes cast for Wood and he will assume the office. In Alabama, the governor will appoint a new commissioner with input from local Republicans.
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The difference between these two candidates and most other politicians is that these two are also dead from the neck down.
Well informed voters?
this is a perfect example of why we need term limits. the guy is in office for 50 years, and is 96 years old? Hardly ever shows up for work, yet collects $150k salary AND a $90k pension to boot? Absolutely ridiculous.
Its always Florida! Why? What is in the drinking water? It seems that elections and Florida=screwups! Thanks for giving us Bush instead of Al Gore, Florida! What is the average IQ in Florida....oh wait, that will end up with hanging chads or some other dumb thing.
@leprechauan1230: I was wondering how he managed to collect the salary AND the pension. It seems like you should collect one or the other. He probably has a 24-year-old wife who will continue to collect that pension for another 50+ years...
Must really suck to lose to a dead guy, that's really telling someone how much you dislike em, vote for a dead man over them.
It's not the water, it's that almost every brain dead kook from every state has moved here, therefore our sane to kook ratio is out of proportion. I hear people throughout the south east are complaining about all the Floridians moving there. Just trying to escape the brain dead immigrants we have.
Wood was elected by dead people so it's okay.
Time for the ACLU to spring into action. Better re-check those VOTES for FRAUD.
The voters in Orange County were aware of Woods passing. In line there were flyers that let you know that he had passed. They also knew that a vote for him would automatically go towards his Democratic successor. Bottom line is the voters wanted a Dem NOT a Repub to take his place.
Doesn't say too much for the other candidates! LOL
No offense but perhaps there should be an age limit???
Never mind an age limit. Lets just make sure they have a pulse.
I'm sure they will do less damage to the country than many politicians who have a pulse.
Yeah, anybody under 50 isn't smart enough to run or even vote.
Everyone is blaming the dead people. What does this tell us about the "NEW" young voters? I hope Obamacare covers stupid!!
96? yea that old coot was too darn old to still be in office and thats a lot of money. he cant enjoy that @!$%# at that age. Age limit.. and Lee your fricken stupid, your just mad your republican lost and he cant drive us deeper into recession. not to mention all the other things he was going to cut. All you old people think things were great when you were young like in the 1950's and 60's.. and they were however it isn't that time anymore and America is changing, people are changing so you better change with them. America is dumbing down or the rest of the world is catching up. Well some of the world is because there are countries smarter than us, we just seem to think we are better than everyone else when were really not
Singlen8,
You're right about the Romney driving us deeper into debt, but let's see Obama's 2nd term can get done he promised to get done in the 1st term.
Covers, encourages and supports.
Singlen....
Why so angry? Did you vote for Woods? Americans were forced to dumb down.
Singlen8...
I'd rather hire a 63 year old than a 23 year old in my area of marketing. I will then pay the 63 year old a WAGE for doing the job. Wages paid to an older person for doing their JOB are because that is what is expected. You work, you get paid. It has nothing to do with the person being to old to "enjoy" the money. See, that is the difference between a young democrat, and a wise republican. You work, you get paid. You enjoy the fruits of your work because you were rewarded for your labor.
Where do we begin... Mr. young democrat - the word is either "you're" or "you are". I'm guessing you didn't do well in school? Secondly, how is the added 6 TRILLION in debt accumulated under BHO working for you??? Projections by every entitity put the deficit in the neighborhood of 20 TRILLION over BHO's second term... Every minute of every day marks a new record level for our deficit... Maybe the republicans should stop fighting and pass every spending measure BHO wants. Run the deficit up to a cool 24 TRILLION over BHO's second term. See if ignorant responses like yours still fly...
I agree with you there. America has definitely hit the brakes in education. I struggle to make it happen, but my kids go to private school. My kids will not be held hostage to the status quo of the public school system - handcuffed to the slowest kid in the class - handcuffed by the NEA who refuses to turn the system 'upside-down' and reinvent the wheel FOR THE GOOD OF OUR CHILDREN AND THIS NATION! Let's hear it for them... "YEA UNIONS!" Anyone can argue with me if they want, but numbers don't lie when comparing public school educated people to private schools. Private schools play by different rules, and are turning out America's best and brightest!
Listen you old fool both Reagan and Bush presidencies resulted in deep recessions and huge budget deficits. Check your memory.
Let's see, 3 1/2 years of Obama debt exceeding 8 years of Bush debt. Got it!
Subtract the costs of:
Bush's Wars
Bush's Tax Cuts
Bush's Expansion of Government (Homeland Security)
Bush's Bailout of Banksers (plus Obama's continuation of said bailout policy)
---------------------------
You didn't do that, did you? Well? And why not?
and obama's continuation of those wars
and obama's continuation of those same tax cuts
and obama's expansion of government (obamacare)
Most people can be blind and ignorant to their own leadership.
Johnathan... See 2.13 for the answers to your questions.
Your party blames Bush for all our problems, then turn around and maintain all what you called "bad".
Who is the bigger fool, the fool of the fool who follows?
We got Ashcroft as Atty General because he lost an election to a dead man. Shouldn't your candidacy end with your death? Just sayin'
Shaka, yes, Mel Carnahan to be exact, his wife took his place when he was elected. Glad people woke up the next election and that nightmare is over!
shouldnt there be someone else from political party to replace a dead person b4 election night?
I kinda feel bad for who ever were running against them you know. They lost to dead guys. These two that passed must of been bad arse!
It's different in Chicago. There, dead people elect the candidates.
They reelected Jesse Jackson Jr., who for practical reasons is close enough to dead. Zombies pretty much vote a straight ticket, and No on sewer bond issues. A high turnout of the Zombie voting block pretty much requires a decaying infrastructure. The fact that Chicago is quite open to paying high salaries and benefits to people who provide little to nothing in return for tax dollars is ample evidence of the Living Dead. Progressives try to mask themselves off by saying they are Liberals, but if you look closely, none holds a real job. Sort of like vampires who can't function in sunlight.
Steve, did you happen to see that video about "The Voting Dead?"
I wonder how many dead people cast votes in the election on Tuesday.
@raleigh dolly: At least enough to get Obama back in office.
Question:
If GOP rule is a panacea to what ails us, why do Red States (particularly in the South):
Must be Chicago's fault.
So what happens now? Thanks a LOT, article...
From the article:
When it comes to politics the old adage holds true "the masses are ass%&s". This is classic proof.
These were not the only two..Had one in Texas also..
They are fighting over whos gona replace his seat before his body gets cold..
"a Republican who promised to eliminate the office altogether if elected".
They don't even care anymore if the lies they tell SOUND PLAUSABLE.
Where lese but in America can this happen? Voters vote blindly without analysing the consequences to folllow. That is why if life gets worse for Americans we can only blame ourselves for voting in a prsident who is a total failure. As I say....only in America this happens!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We have to stop voting for people because we like them but instead vote for the most qualified person and that includes our current president who has been a total failure.
Still smarting, huh?
He wasn't a failure. Hardly anyonel else could operate with so much obstructionism. Wake up and smell the hate...... Your own!!
caribbeangirl, so you are drinking the kool aid too? You do realize our lovely president was a complete failure for four years and if the same stats were on Bush, WOW. Bush wasn't even half as bad. But it's all good, you must have gotten a free phone loser.
I think he was talking about Bush's reelection.
Like 2 years controlling both the House and the Senate and Obama was still non-functional. You are correct.
This is an article for the morons who think we are a democracy. You have to mitigate the damage the "informed" masses can cause. Since we are a republic we mitigate it to some effect, but uninformed fools voting renders things like oh Dead people in office....sadly this is among the least damage idiots can cause at the voting booth. One need only look around Washington to see what happens when they elect the ones with a pulse.
Rodd Star,
The US is a republic. It seems it is also an insolvent corporation.
Can government get anything RIGHT!!!! This is ridiculous !!! Not to mention the money these old birds were making. Our government is a complete mess and these kinds of stories are down right embarassing. I wonder if his widow will keep colleciting his pension? Probably, why not, taxpayers can handle this.
I think the people made a wise decision,The only good politican is a dead one,I have no use for any of them,even
the dead ones.
"It is a touchy situation. When you are running against a dead man, you are limited as to what you can say,"
Uh... how about "Vote for me... I'm still alive" or "Don't vote for him, he's dead." Both make short but sweet bumper stickers & yard signs plus have the added value of being the truth.
this is how sad the american voter is...
The country knew this Tuesday night long before anyone found the Democrats electing dead people again.
Maybe we can create an R.I.P Party with a Grim Reaper or Skull & Crossbones as the symbol. We can vote for FDR, JFK, Abe Lincoln, Ike or even Thomas Jefferson for president! No where does it say in the Consitution that a presidential candidate has to have a pulse. Just have to be over 45 years old and be a natural born citizen. Imagine the super-pacs and the TV ads. Since an RIP Candidate can't talk they'd win every debate and dead men are 100% trustworthy... they never lie... except in a box.
Guess the fine folks in Orange County did not feel like saving themselves $150K/year.
What poor reporting. They missed the Candidate in Iowa. Pat Ward won her election even though she passed away from breast cancer last month.
I wonder how many other people they missed.
Looks like Clint Eastwood has two more empty chairs to talk to.
Despite that edge, Clint would probably still lose the debate.
And here I was thinking, like I normally do, that PEOPLE ARE STUPID, when during the election coverage, Bob Scheiffer (I don't know how to spell his name) was saying how it was the TEA PARTY that was rejected because Todd Akin and Murdock (can't remember his name - he beat out Luger in the Primary) lost, and I actually had a momemt of hope for the American Voter, because Missouri voted for Romney, but had the sense to reject Akin, and rejected Murdock even though the state repeatedly sent Lugar to DC, that Voters weren't just voting along party lines, were actually looking at the qualifications of candidates...
But this article brings it all back to reality....The American Voter ---- the American People, get what we deserve. If we elect dead people. If we realize that congress is broken, yet keep returning the idiots to office, because its the other people who need to reject their idiots. or whatever the excuse is, if we re-elect a President who is a failure.. then yes, we do deserve what we got.
If you thought Obama deserved to be re-elected, then ignore my last comment, but the rest stands.
I am moving to Florida in 2 weeks. I will straighten that $hit out.
OK in the case of Wood. He was elected by dead people.
Unnnnnnnnnnnnnnn believable! Lets make a law you have to be able to spell the candidates name before you can vote for them.
or at lease be able to list some of the free stuff you expect to get.
Chicago Black re-elected two criminals: one) Smith who was thrown out of the Illinois legislature by Democrats for political corruption, two) Jesse Jackson Jr who is under investigation for multiple corruption charges. Chicago Blacks elect criminals and gave Obama 98%!
Speaking of criminal acts..
How'd that Iraqi WMD lie work out? Anyone in jail for all the death & destruction caused as a result of the lie? No?
And to think you're worried about a few $$.
So much for the sanctity of life, eh?