Yusupha, let's try this. Is 1000 votes (absentee ballot) more than 800 votes
(APRC majority)? Now if one argues that the 1000 votes can be explained by
vote-buying and one is successful with that argument, has one not overturned
the APRC majority? What is then the point in pursuing other possible causes
of the election 'defeat'? When people are discussing one topic, it makes
little sense to bring in other topics that involve other complications you
do not want to get to. If this is getting too complicated for you, I will
try and give you another breakdown on Monday. I have limited access to the
internet during weekends. In short, I was talking about vote-buying because
it was the TOPIC of my debate. To me, that vice got rid of the APRC
majority. I did not need to speculate about other issues such as
voter-apathy without conducting a poll. I already had APRC stalwarts (Baba
Jobe) proving my contention.

Moving to the figures you used. Now I understand the fundamental problem we
have. Yusupha, you are trying to be experts in a field you have little
understanding of: ELECTIONS. You do not even know the difference between a
by-election and a general election. You see, by-election and parliamentary
elections are not one and the same thing. General elections and presidential
elections are not one and the same thing. A by-election is an election in a
SINGLE constituency to fill a vacancy arising during a government's term of
office. In our general elections, ALL the constituencies are up for grabs.
So parliamentarians also participate in general elections. Although you said
that you NEVER used general elections figures, that is exactly what you did
when you sent me the Kiang results of 1997. Those are general election
results, not by-elections. I hope you get the difference now. General
elections is not synonymous to presidential elections and by-elections
synonymous to parliamentary elections. Now, once you get the difference, go
re-read what I said to you on this topic and you will realize why I said you
were engaged in fuzzy math when you used these figures to premise your whole
argument.
KB


>From: Yusupha C Jow <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: My opinion. - Kebba Dampha
>Date: Fri, 18 May 2001 18:27:04 -0500
>
>Dampha:
>The main cause you highlighted was vote-buying: plain and simple.  For you
>to deny this right now, is simply dishonest.  This has been the main theme
>of your argument from day one.  Look at what you wrote here:  I am
>convinced God was with me when I found this..  Are you a liar or did you
>just forget what you wrote? I'll give you the benefit of the doubt
>
>
>"My personal view is that the majorculprit here was vote-buying. You see,
>if one has that view, one will notthen turn around and blame the UDP
>leadership for not putting forward a goodmessage or not being up to the
>job. That was where I was coming from when Isaid that we should not be too
>hard on UDP (in this instance). I do notbelieve it was their fault that
>they lost the election. This is my personalview. You may disagree with
>that. Fine. I will try and convince you if Ican, if not, I will just let
>you be."
>
>On the following long winded argument, I can't believe that you think I am
>not aware of the difference.
>
><<How many times did I have to tell you that you have to distinguish people
>that
>did not vote for UDP because they did not vote at all from people that
>voted
>for APRC instead of UDP. The first set of Kiangkas that did not vote at all
>could have eradicated the victory margin. I frankly cannot figure out how
>can I simplify this further for you.>>
>
>Also, in my last post I stressed to you that I analyzed the parliamentary
>elections of 1997.  Kiang East was one of the constituencies then.  The
>2001 by-elections was held top replace those who perished during the
>unfortunate car crash.  Now tell me how analyzing voter turnout levels by
>comparing statistics from the two is wrong?  This, unless it is you who
>does not know the difference between a by--election in Kiang and a
>parliamentary elections in Kiang:  They mean exactly the same thing.  The
>fact that I painstakingly took time to forward the statisticss from
>parliamentary elections to you should be ample evdidence that I did use the
>right information.  The mistake was simply a typo and it would be honest of
>you to point out your mis-statement.  I never used general election
>results. Yet you try to slight me for making a typo.
>
>Have a nice day!
>
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