Osama '08!!

Upchurch · 10th October 2008, 12:34 PM

Oops

Quote:

''No question this is an honest mistake innocently done,'' said Edward McDonough, the Democratic commissioner. ''We catch almost everything.''

''This was a typo,'' said Republican Commissioner Larry Bugbee. ''We have three different staff members who proof these things and somehow the typo got by us.''

Ausmerican · 10th October 2008, 12:47 PM

Do you think it is possible to feel more embarrassed than the mentioned "three different staff members who proof these things" feel today?

Upchurch · 10th October 2008, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by Ausmerican

Do you think it is possible to feel more embarrassed than the mentioned "three different staff members who proof these things" feel today?

Before or after they have to apply for unemployment?

corplinx · 10th October 2008, 12:53 PM

Can we just call him Barry-O to reduce the chances of career ending typos?

Ausmerican · 10th October 2008, 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by Upchurch

Before or after they have to apply for unemployment?

"And why did you leave your last job sir? Ohhhhh, I see...."

geni · 10th October 2008, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by Upchurch

Before or after they have to apply for unemployment?

I doubt that proof reading ballot papers is a perminant job in any case.

Typo? a is next to s and you might lose the b so maybe.

Skeptic · 10th October 2008, 01:03 PM

I can easily believe such a typo happened, since we tend to read (and write) whole words in context, not read letter-by-letter. I don't think mixing "Osama" with "Obama" -- both words seen often enough lately, God knows -- means more here than writing "they're" for "their" or "it's" for "its".

Upchurch · 10th October 2008, 01:12 PM

Oh, I can easily believe it was an innocent typo. What I have a harder time with is three editors missing it. I think geni is right that this was not a permanent job. I'd be willing to bet they weren't actually experienced editors.

I've worked with experienced editors. They will bloody up a piece I thought was near perfect.

Not that I think this is indicative of anything other than a mistake.

Peephole · 10th October 2008, 01:17 PM

When trying to hit the B key, my fingers also often hit the S key.

(for comic effect, check out where those keys on your keyboard actually are)

jj · 10th October 2008, 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by corplinx

Can we just call him Barry-O to reduce the chances of career ending typos?

Well, the last politician to go by "Barry" (G) was certainly one of the good guys.

XBoxWarrior · 10th October 2008, 02:36 PM

Originally Posted by Peephole

When trying to hit the B key, my fingers also often hit the S key.

I'll assume sarcasm...But what a BS answer...it's not an SB deal, it's BS.

Whiplash · 10th October 2008, 02:45 PM

I've made the opposite mistake a couple times recently when discussion terrorism with friends and co-workers. Saying "Obama" instead of "Osama" and (honestly) quite unintentionally.

Ausmerican · 10th October 2008, 10:28 PM

Originally Posted by Whiplash

I've made the opposite mistake a couple times recently when discussion terrorism with friends and co-workers. Saying "Obama" instead of "Osama" and (honestly) quite unintentionally.

I am outraged!

Octavo · 11th October 2008, 02:43 AM

Originally Posted by Ausmerican

I am outraged!

Look everyone. Ausmerican is outraged.

tomwaits · 11th October 2008, 03:18 AM

osama written on NY county ballot

The Painter · 11th October 2008, 03:35 AM

At least they used his first name and not his middle name. Imagine; Hussein Osama, yeah that'll bring in the votes.

Kidding aside even Uncle Teddy has trouble with Osama, oops, I mean Obama's name;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YaRpx3LphI

Puppycow · 11th October 2008, 06:02 AM

Originally Posted by Upchurch

Oh, I can easily believe it was an innocent typo. What I have a harder time with is three editors missing it.

That is hard to believe. On a ballot, what is more important to check than the spelling of the candidates' names? A typo anywhere else on the ballot is one thing, but misspelling the candidate's name? Especially this misspelling.

I assume they will send new ballots, right?

Alferd_Packer · 11th October 2008, 02:33 PM

Don't the campaigns proof them as well?

Skeptic · 12th October 2008, 02:53 AM

Originally Posted by Peephole

When trying to hit the B key, my fingers also often hit the S key.

(for comic effect, check out where those keys on your keyboard actually are)

(Shrug)

Most typos are not like that at all -- they're not the result of hitting a wrong key, but of typing one familiar word instead of another familiar word. We tend to think (and type) in words, not letters. This seems to be exactly what happened here: both "Obama" and "Osama" naturally appear frequently in politics nowadays.

Ever typed "their" instead of "they're" or "you're" for "your", Peephole?

CptColumbo · 12th October 2008, 06:23 AM

When I read about this in the paper yesterday I thought sarcastically, "well this is will probably blow over and be forgotten quickly."

Mistakes happen, but this is a stupid one given the recent troubles with ballots in other states. Hopefully the printer and the proofreaders eat crow for quite a while.

geni · 12th October 2008, 07:20 AM

Originally Posted by Skeptic

(Shrug)

Most typos are not like that at all -- they're not the result of hitting a wrong key, but of typing one familiar word instead of another familiar word. We tend to think (and type) in words, not letters. This seems to be exactly what happened here: both "Obama" and "Osama" naturally appear frequently in politics nowadays.

Maybe but the a being right next to s is somewhat sugestive of what happened in this case.

Meadmaker · 12th October 2008, 07:38 AM

At least this was in a solid blue state. Imagine what would have happened if we had a situation analogous to Palm Beach County Florida in 2000?

I'm picturing Obama behind by 500 votes in order to get the Presidency, and arguing about whether they should revote any ballots where "Osama" appeared.

gtc · 12th October 2008, 02:34 PM

Quote:

On Row 1A, Barack Obama's name is spelled Barack Osama — a name bearing an unfortunate resemblance to terror mastermind Osama bin Laden - but further down on the Working Families line it is spelled correctly.

What do they mean by the Working Families line? Is this a different party that nominated Obama?

Damien Evans · 12th October 2008, 07:32 PM

Originally Posted by gtc

What do they mean by the Working Families line? Is this a different party that nominated Obama?

It's an addition by Kevin Rudd.

UserGoogol · 12th October 2008, 08:50 PM

Originally Posted by Meadmaker

At least this was in a solid blue state. Imagine what would have happened if we had a situation analogous to Palm Beach County Florida in 2000?

I'm picturing Obama behind by 500 votes in order to get the Presidency, and arguing about whether they should revote any ballots where "Osama" appeared.

That was my initial reaction. In New York it's mostly harmless, but something like that could be a real problem to say the least. (I mean, it's looking like it will not come to something that close, but it would still be unpleasant if even a state not necessary to win the election could be swung by such a minor detail.)

gtc · 12th October 2008, 10:52 PM

Originally Posted by Damien Evans

It's an addition by Kevin Rudd.

President Rudd, has a ring to it.

Damien Evans · 12th October 2008, 11:06 PM

Originally Posted by gtc

President Rudd, has a ring to it.

Anything to get him out of Australia...

(Or, at least off the TV)

gtc · 13th October 2008, 12:40 AM

Originally Posted by Damien Evans

Anything to get him out of Australia...

(Or, at least off the TV)

Well, I figure he already spends enough time over there, he may as well become their leader too.

10th October 2008, 12:34 PM	#1
Upchurch Papa Funkosophy Join Date: May 2002 Location: Funky Town (STL, MO) Posts: 23,426	Osama '08!! Oops Quote: ''No question this is an honest mistake innocently done,'' said Edward McDonough, the Democratic commissioner. ''We catch almost everything.'' ''This was a typo,'' said Republican Commissioner Larry Bugbee. ''We have three different staff members who proof these things and somehow the typo got by us.''

10th October 2008, 12:47 PM	#2
Ausmerican Illuminator Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 3,381	Do you think it is possible to feel more embarrassed than the mentioned "three different staff members who proof these things" feel today?
Ausmerican Illuminator Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 3,381	__________________ Everyone must believe in something. I believe I'll go canoeing. Henry David Thoreau

10th October 2008, 12:53 PM	#4
corplinx JREF Kid Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 8,944	Can we just call him Barry-O to reduce the chances of career ending typos?
corplinx JREF Kid Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 8,944	__________________ In the tradition of "Stop Silvia!" Stop Hal Bidlack: http://skepticalcommunity.com/forums...hp?f=1&t=28671

10th October 2008, 12:54 PM	#5
Ausmerican Illuminator Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 3,381	Originally Posted by Upchurch Before or after they have to apply for unemployment? "And why did you leave your last job sir? Ohhhhh, I see...."
Ausmerican Illuminator Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 3,381	__________________ Everyone must believe in something. I believe I'll go canoeing. Henry David Thoreau

10th October 2008, 01:17 PM	#9
Peephole Master Poster Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 2,245	When trying to hit the B key, my fingers also often hit the S key. (for comic effect, check out where those keys on your keyboard actually are)
Peephole Master Poster Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 2,245	__________________ 911science

10th October 2008, 12:49 PM	#3
Upchurch Papa Funkosophy Join Date: May 2002 Location: Funky Town (STL, MO) Posts: 23,426	Originally Posted by Ausmerican Do you think it is possible to feel more embarrassed than the mentioned "three different staff members who proof these things" feel today? Before or after they have to apply for unemployment?

10th October 2008, 12:55 PM	#6
geni Anti-homeopathy illuminati member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: UK Posts: 26,570	Originally Posted by Upchurch Before or after they have to apply for unemployment? I doubt that proof reading ballot papers is a perminant job in any case. Typo? a is next to s and you might lose the b so maybe.

10th October 2008, 01:03 PM	#7
Skeptic Banned Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Behind the chessboard Posts: 18,361	I can easily believe such a typo happened, since we tend to read (and write) whole words in context, not read letter-by-letter. I don't think mixing "Osama" with "Obama" -- both words seen often enough lately, God knows -- means more here than writing "they're" for "their" or "it's" for "its".

10th October 2008, 01:12 PM	#8
Upchurch Papa Funkosophy Join Date: May 2002 Location: Funky Town (STL, MO) Posts: 23,426	Oh, I can easily believe it was an innocent typo. What I have a harder time with is three editors missing it. I think geni is right that this was not a permanent job. I'd be willing to bet they weren't actually experienced editors. I've worked with experienced editors. They will bloody up a piece I thought was near perfect. Not that I think this is indicative of anything other than a mistake.

10th October 2008, 01:23 PM	#10
jj grumpy old skeptic Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Deep in the rain Posts: 18,513	Originally Posted by corplinx Can we just call him Barry-O to reduce the chances of career ending typos? Well, the last politician to go by "Barry" (G) was certainly one of the good guys.
	__________________ The Power to Quit

10th October 2008, 02:36 PM	#11
XBoxWarrior Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Down in the Treme... Posts: 1,232	Originally Posted by Peephole When trying to hit the B key, my fingers also often hit the S key. I'll assume sarcasm...But what a BS answer...it's not an SB deal, it's BS.

10th October 2008, 02:45 PM	#12
Whiplash Acting like a maniac Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Shipwrecked and Comatose Posts: 5,389	I've made the opposite mistake a couple times recently when discussion terrorism with friends and co-workers. Saying "Obama" instead of "Osama" and (honestly) quite unintentionally.
	__________________ Ken Buddha.. a smile, two bangs, and a religion. On the ricochet.. it's gonna hit you. It's always funny until someone gets hurt.

10th October 2008, 10:28 PM	#13
Ausmerican Illuminator Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 3,381	Originally Posted by Whiplash I've made the opposite mistake a couple times recently when discussion terrorism with friends and co-workers. Saying "Obama" instead of "Osama" and (honestly) quite unintentionally. I am outraged!
Ausmerican Illuminator Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 3,381	__________________ Everyone must believe in something. I believe I'll go canoeing. Henry David Thoreau

11th October 2008, 02:43 AM	#14
Octavo Available Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Cape Town Posts: 841	Originally Posted by Ausmerican I am outraged! Look everyone. Ausmerican is outraged.

11th October 2008, 03:18 AM	#15
tomwaits Master Poster Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Chicago, IL, USA Posts: 2,288	osama written on NY county ballot

11th October 2008, 03:35 AM	#16
The Painter Banned Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: New York Posts: 2,656	At least they used his first name and not his middle name. Imagine; Hussein Osama, yeah that'll bring in the votes. Kidding aside even Uncle Teddy has trouble with Osama, oops, I mean Obama's name; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YaRpx3LphI

11th October 2008, 06:02 AM	#17
Puppycow Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Japan Posts: 15,764	Originally Posted by Upchurch Oh, I can easily believe it was an innocent typo. What I have a harder time with is three editors missing it. That is hard to believe. On a ballot, what is more important to check than the spelling of the candidates' names? A typo anywhere else on the ballot is one thing, but misspelling the candidate's name? Especially this misspelling. I assume they will send new ballots, right?
	__________________ “Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them. With Major Major it had been all three.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

11th October 2008, 02:33 PM	#18
Alferd_Packer Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 7,216	Don't the campaigns proof them as well?
	__________________ No laws of physics were broken in the writing of this post

12th October 2008, 02:53 AM	#19
Skeptic Banned Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Behind the chessboard Posts: 18,361	Originally Posted by Peephole When trying to hit the B key, my fingers also often hit the S key. (for comic effect, check out where those keys on your keyboard actually are) (Shrug) Most typos are not like that at all -- they're not the result of hitting a wrong key, but of typing one familiar word instead of another familiar word. We tend to think (and type) in words, not letters. This seems to be exactly what happened here: both "Obama" and "Osama" naturally appear frequently in politics nowadays. Ever typed "their" instead of "they're" or "you're" for "your", Peephole?

12th October 2008, 06:23 AM	#20
CptColumbo Just One More Question Join Date: May 2004 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 9,130	When I read about this in the paper yesterday I thought sarcastically, "well this is will probably blow over and be forgotten quickly." Mistakes happen, but this is a stupid one given the recent troubles with ballots in other states. Hopefully the printer and the proofreaders eat crow for quite a while.
	__________________ I've been involved in a lot of cults, both as a leader and a follower. You have more fun as a follower, but you make more money as a leader.--Creed, "The Office" The tools of conquest do not necessarily come with bombs and explosions and fallout. There are weapons that are simply thoughts, attitudes, prejudices to be only found in the minds of men. Prejudices and suspicion can destroy, and a thoughtless frightened search for a scapegoat has a fallout all its own.--Rod Serling

12th October 2008, 07:20 AM	#21
geni Anti-homeopathy illuminati member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: UK Posts: 26,570	Originally Posted by Skeptic (Shrug) Most typos are not like that at all -- they're not the result of hitting a wrong key, but of typing one familiar word instead of another familiar word. We tend to think (and type) in words, not letters. This seems to be exactly what happened here: both "Obama" and "Osama" naturally appear frequently in politics nowadays. Maybe but the a being right next to s is somewhat sugestive of what happened in this case.

12th October 2008, 07:38 AM	#22
Meadmaker Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Detroit suburbs Posts: 11,450	At least this was in a solid blue state. Imagine what would have happened if we had a situation analogous to Palm Beach County Florida in 2000? I'm picturing Obama behind by 500 votes in order to get the Presidency, and arguing about whether they should revote any ballots where "Osama" appeared.
	__________________ Dave "War is Peace. Freedom is slavery. Particles are waves."

12th October 2008, 02:34 PM	#23
gtc Philosopher Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: the downunderverse Posts: 7,114	Quote: On Row 1A, Barack Obama's name is spelled Barack Osama — a name bearing an unfortunate resemblance to terror mastermind Osama bin Laden - but further down on the Working Families line it is spelled correctly. What do they mean by the Working Families line? Is this a different party that nominated Obama?

12th October 2008, 07:32 PM	#24
Damien Evans Up The Irons Tagger Join Date: May 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 25,297	Originally Posted by gtc What do they mean by the Working Families line? Is this a different party that nominated Obama? It's an addition by Kevin Rudd.
	__________________ WHAT CAN THE HARVEST HOPE FOR, IF NOT THE CARE OF THE REAPER MAN? - Death "Racism is a disease in society. We're all equal. I don't care what their colour is, or religion. Just as long as they're human beings they're my buddies." - Mandawuy Yunupingu, lead singer of Yothu Yindi

12th October 2008, 08:50 PM	#25
UserGoogol Master Poster Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 2,074	Originally Posted by Meadmaker At least this was in a solid blue state. Imagine what would have happened if we had a situation analogous to Palm Beach County Florida in 2000? I'm picturing Obama behind by 500 votes in order to get the Presidency, and arguing about whether they should revote any ballots where "Osama" appeared. That was my initial reaction. In New York it's mostly harmless, but something like that could be a real problem to say the least. (I mean, it's looking like it will not come to something that close, but it would still be unpleasant if even a state not necessary to win the election could be swung by such a minor detail.)
	__________________ Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity. -- Hanlon's Razor

12th October 2008, 10:52 PM	#26
gtc Philosopher Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: the downunderverse Posts: 7,114	Originally Posted by Damien Evans It's an addition by Kevin Rudd. President Rudd, has a ring to it.

12th October 2008, 11:06 PM	#27
Damien Evans Up The Irons Tagger Join Date: May 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 25,297	Originally Posted by gtc President Rudd, has a ring to it. Anything to get him out of Australia... (Or, at least off the TV)
	__________________ WHAT CAN THE HARVEST HOPE FOR, IF NOT THE CARE OF THE REAPER MAN? - Death "Racism is a disease in society. We're all equal. I don't care what their colour is, or religion. Just as long as they're human beings they're my buddies." - Mandawuy Yunupingu, lead singer of Yothu Yindi

13th October 2008, 12:40 AM	#28
gtc Philosopher Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: the downunderverse Posts: 7,114	Originally Posted by Damien Evans Anything to get him out of Australia... (Or, at least off the TV) Well, I figure he already spends enough time over there, he may as well become their leader too.