Today's selection comes from Joseph Stalin:

It is enough that the people know there was an election. The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything.

The 2000 Election, anyone?  Anyone?  These games and tactics regimes play are absolutely nothing new.  The right to vote is sacred, rivers of blood have flowed to ensure that we get to vote.  However, the citizenry are basically at the mercy of election officials to do their job honestly and fairly.  The whole Al Franken situation in Minnesota right now is a perfect example.  By all indicators and sources he won the election, but Norm Coleman is asking the courts to use some magical vote counting schemes so he can win.  Last point, whenever there is a close election in this country the entire system breaks down.  Apparently the only way to be sure who won is if it is a blowout.