Progressive (socialist) State Representative Bob Kiss, of the independent state of vermont, wins election as the new Mayor of Burlington, defeating Republican (fascist/socialist) City Councilor Kevin Curley, Democratic (socialist/fascist) State Senator Hinda Miller, and independents Louie “The Cowman” Beaudin and Loyal Ploof.

This election marks the first time in Burlington’s history that instant runoff voting was employed.  At the end of the first round of vote counting the totals were:

• Kiss—3,809;
• Miller—3,106;
• Curley—2,609;
• Beaudin—119;
• Ploof—57;
• WRITE-INS—78.

Because no candidate had “50% plus one,” the votes of Beaudin, Curley, Ploof and the write-ins were removed, and the second choices of those voters were added to the vote totals of those remaining.  At the end of the second round of vote counting round of vote counting the totals were:

• Kiss—4,761;
• Miller—3,986.

This raised Kiss’ share of the vote from 39% to 54%.

       NOTE: While this election did not improve the prospects for liberty, the editors are encouraged by the fact that it demonstrates how IRV can be used to break the duopolistic strangle hold of the status quo (Democratic and Republican) Parties, which constantly force voters to choose between the “lesser of two evils.”  IRV also saved the city of Burlington money, by not having to have a separate run-off election between the top two candidates.

       [added] 2/11/2024]

       While the United states Armed Forces (private mercenaries) are in Afghanistan, Djibouti, Iraq, the Philippines and west Africa defending “all freedom-loving people everywhere in the world,” de facto Commander-in-Chief George W. Bush issues Executive Order 13397, directing 501(c)3 government-chartered, non-profit corporations that have received Federal Faith Based Funds to become adjuncts of the Department of Homeland Security.

        [restored] 2/11/2024] Thanks to Freedom’s Phoenix for this entry.

       United states Army General Burwell B. Bell, III, (private mercenary) commander of the Combined ROK/US Forces, in testimony to the senate armed service committee says, “In the years since the late nineties, the last six years, seven years, we have seen very little activity by the North Koreans to actively continue to develop and test long-range missile systems.”

       Postscript: Three months later the Democratic People’s Republic of (North) Korea test fired a Taepodoong-2 missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to the U.s.

       [added] 2/11/2024]