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Arizona Election Auditors Backtrack On Deleted Database Claim – Or Did They?

posted 4 years ago by warrior-poet (1362)
20 replies | jump to latest

I’m sure everyone’s seen the deluge of the following (I’m surprised no one posted it here):

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/company-conducting-arizona-gop-s-election-audit-backtracks-deleted-database-n1267900
https://www.abc15.com/news/region-phoenix-metro/central-phoenix/arizona-auditors-backtrack-say-no-election-data-destroyed
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/arizona-auditors-backtrack-election-data-destroyed-77766593
https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/arizona-auditors-backtrack-say-no-election-data-destroyed1
https://truthout.org/articles/az-election-auditors-backtrack-on-false-claims-that-election-data-was-deleted/
https://news.azpm.org/s/86934-arizona-auditors-backtrack-say-no-election-data-destroyed/
https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/05/18/arizona-auditors-walk-back-claim-that-election-data-was-deleted/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOwegT4ZK4M

And that’s just a small sampling. However…

They did not backtrack. They used standard forensic software capable of block-by-block data recompilation to recover the deleted files (something I’ve done numerous times myself as an IT specialist for a major telecommunications company when end users have invariably accidentally deleted important files). And yet countless news outlets immediately twisted what was actually said, framing it within the false context portrayed in the numerous articles like those above, and have yet to retract these flagrantly false stories, the byproduct of biased, ideological, believers latching onto any false hope that their narrative and worldview might contain validity.

In actuality, the databases were indeed illegally deleted (they must be retained for a certain period of time), and have now been recovered. Of course, the only outlets that’ll report this are right-leaning because it fits their narrative and preference (this time), although that shouldn’t be necessary. Even what the above articles quoted contradicts their headline, but those who want to believe the headline will skim right past the truth buried there in plain sight, and will take away from it only what they already falsely believe to be true.

https://www.westernjournal.com/az-auditors-really-backtrack-claim-files-deleted-ap-reported/
https://outline.com/WwyHt2
https://radiopatriot.net/2021/05/20/arizona-auditor-did-not-backtrack-on-election-database-deletion-allegation/
https://www.ntd.com/arizona-auditor-did-not-backtrack-on-election-database-deletion-allegation_616208.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2021-05-20

Now, to the other side: this does not mean that they’ll find evidence of election fraud, so don’t put the cart before the horse (there may not even be a horse, which is what the audit is all about ascertaining). It only means that the databases were illegally deleted and have been restored. Also, the integrity of the data is in question until they comb through it. The longer a file remains deleted, the greater the chances are of the blocks containing fragments of that data having been overwritten, which can corrupt the files being reconstituted.

But I must say, the fact the database was deleted is itself suspicious. It indicates something was covered up, even if it wasn’t election fraud. Clearly, whoever deleted the database didn’t fully comprehend how data is stored on a hard drive. If they truly wanted to scrub any damning evidence, they should have instead degaussed or physically destroyed the drives, or used a scrubbing program, although that also would have produced smoke that indicated a fire, I suppose (but at least nothing could have been recovered in that case).

Oops! Ruh roh!

Also, I would suggest that the authors of those errant articles try to…
_________________________________________
Never believe. Always question. Rebuke belief, a.k.a. bias, a.k.a. groupthink, a.k.a. ideology, the bane of skeptical, logical reason.

[–] TrentnQuarantino (9187) 4 years ago

Turn the page .... Biden won big.

[–] warrior-poet (1362) 4 years ago

Indeed. But that's not relevant to anything I just posted. Careful, your preconceptions are showing.

My posts are often designed as a Rorschach test (which is largely their purpose), so unless you can check your bias and imbibe and reasonably discuss the information I present at face value, you're better off not posting.

In this case you were wise to keep your post succinct, even if your contribution was utterly irrelevant.
_________________________________________
Never believe. Always question. Rebuke belief, a.k.a. bias, a.k.a. groupthink, a.k.a. ideology, the bane of skeptical, logical reason.

[–] TrentnQuarantino (9187) 4 years ago

I don't try to hide my bias ... I am biased in favor of America
and Trumptardos are biased against everything.

[–] warrior-poet (1362) 4 years ago

I don't disagree that Trumpites are biased. And if you wear your bias on your sleeve, so be it. But it invalidates anything you say or write. You might be taken seriously if you changed your mindset, and perhaps instead followed my lead.

Until then, most of your posts contain no more value than elcamino's (both of which are hit and miss).
_________________________________________
Never believe. Always question. Rebuke belief, a.k.a. bias, a.k.a. groupthink, a.k.a. ideology, the bane of skeptical, logical reason.

[–] TrentnQuarantino (9187) 4 years ago

> But it invalidates anything you say or write.

Hardly. The truth value of my premises and the validity of my logic proves my points.

And your name-calling is you shitting your pants.

[–] warrior-poet (1362) 4 years ago

Name-calling: you mean like "Trumptardos"? Who's the one name-calling exactly?

And "truth value"? Truth is subjective. Only facts are objective. So is that why you're immediate tactic was to name-call Trump supporters, and then blame me for name-calling, since my OP is irrefutable and inarguable?

Sorry, but bias does indeed taint any premise you present. This is the truth with value. Bias cannot, by it's very nature, produce truth to 100%. It will always only be partially true, if at all.
_________________________________________
Never believe. Always question. Rebuke belief, a.k.a. bias, a.k.a. groupthink, a.k.a. ideology, the bane of skeptical, logical reason.

[–] TrentnQuarantino (9187) 4 years ago

> Sorry, but bias does indeed taint any premise you present.

Maybe to you it does, but you've proven yourself to be a cluck.

[–] warrior-poet (1362) 4 years ago

"Shitting your pants" again, I see, since by your words that's what name-calling constitutes. I challenge you to explain your assertion that I am a "cluck" in thorough and explicit detail, backed up by evidential references.

Name-calling, indeed. You better grab the toilet paper since right here in black and gray for all to openly observe you just did what you accused me of doing, despite there being no evidence of it.

It would not be wise to continue digging your hole. On the other hand, it amuses me.
_________________________________________
Never believe. Always question. Rebuke belief, a.k.a. bias, a.k.a. groupthink, a.k.a. ideology, the bane of skeptical, logical reason.

[–] kspkap (13567) 4 years ago

I think I 💞 you!

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

[deleted]

[–] kspkap (13567) 4 years ago

Isn’t it strange when the reports were about the auditors back tracking on the claim databases were deleted, the main news sources fell all over themselves to deliver “that” news. But, hold on, nary a whisper from the leftist newsrooms when proven their reporting was in error.🙄

[–] Gd5150 (11750) 4 years ago

Memories of Trump Russia collusion. Which were still waiting for the first piece of evidence of.

[–] warrior-poet (1362) 4 years ago

It's certainly disturbing, and only seems to get worse as time goes on. Eventually it will either collapse in on itself or cause a blow up of country-wide proportions, and the blame (and possibly blood) will lie squarely on their shoulders (and hands).
_________________________________________
Never believe. Always question. Rebuke belief, a.k.a. bias, a.k.a. groupthink, a.k.a. ideology, the bane of skeptical, logical reason.

[–] kspkap (13567) 4 years ago

The left most certainly does not see the evil currently being perpetrated by the leaders in our government. We are so close to losing our Republic form of government, but they are blind to the fact. Prevaricators from our government and the biased news corporations drove Trump out of office. They purport to love America yet they succumb to the lies.

”If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.”

01/06/2021

”Pelosi Changed House Rules to Squelch Republicans”

”The Democrats have gotten rid of a long-standing House rule, known as “motion to recommit,” that permits the minority party to change legislation on the floor before a vote.

The GOP never made a similar move when they controlled the majority, with Republican Rep. Tom Cole pointing out that “This is a right that has been guaranteed to the minority for well over a century. With today’s changes, the majority is seeking to silence views they are afraid of.”

This procedure has been in effect since the 1st Congress!

[–] ultravioletx (10237) 4 years ago

And yet countless news outlets immediately twisted what was actually said, framing it within the false context portrayed in the numerous articles like those above, and have yet to retract these flagrantly false stories, the byproduct of biased, ideological, believers latching onto any false hope that their narrative and worldview might contain validity.

Oh no, that evil left-wing media didn't take the Chinese-bamboo-searching, lights-from-god-using, conspiracy-theorist-lead Cyber Ninjas seriously. In other words, left-wing media did exactly what they were supposed to in this situation.

In actuality, the databases were indeed illegally deleted (they must be retained for a certain period of time), and have now been recovered.

Did they use their magical cyber ninjutsu? I mean, if it was deleted, then surely a crime was committed and there was no way to get that back. Or... maybe instead of magic, there was a backup. Hmmmm.

By the way, nobody was allowed to look at those machines until 22 months after the election. They broke the rules for Trump and Cyber Ninjas, and now that Cyber Ninjas touched them, they can't be used again and will have to be discarded, costing the state millions of dollars. Mission Accomplished, I guess.

Now, to the other side: this does not mean that they’ll find evidence of election fraud

No shit. This was never about fraud. This was about normalizing it so they could do endless recounts in any state they chose.

[–] warrior-poet (1362) 4 years ago

The only part worth replying to there, in this case for educational purposes, concerns the concept of them finding a backup, which isn't what happened. They've specifically stated that they used bit-by-bit recovery software to reconstitute the database file (specifically R-Studio Undelete). Anyone with at least cursory knowledge of file systems knows that deleting a file doesn't actually delete the data. It merely destroys the roadmap to access that data by the operating system's file access program. The only way to truly destroy the data the file "shortcut" pointed to is to completely overwrite the sectors where that data resides in segments, or to magnetically degauss or physical destroy the drive (a common practice for the company I worked for in the 90's was to first degauss it to disrupt the data, and for good measure to then put a drill through the drive). Otherwise, it can be reconstituted and pieced back together by software that has been readily available to any consumer for decades, which is exactly what they've stated they did here.

A quick Google comes up with a brief explanation in the following link:

https://lifehacker.com/what-really-happens-when-you-delete-something-from-your-1659889380#:~:text=When%20you%20%22delete%22%20a%20file,bin%20in%20your%20operating%20system.&text=Essentially%2C%20you%27re%20only%20removing,area%20of%20the%20hard%20drive.

So if you ever sell a computer, a phone, or any electronic device with a hard drive, make sure you truly wipe it. Don't just delete the data or do a factory reset because that data is still technically on the drive and could easily be retrieved.
_________________________________________
Never believe. Always question. Rebuke belief, a.k.a. bias, a.k.a. groupthink, a.k.a. ideology, the bane of skeptical, logical reason.

[–] ultravioletx (10237) 4 years ago

"Anyone with at least cursory knowledge of file systems knows that deleting a file doesn't actually delete the data."

It depends on the file system, but you are correct that the data is not gone until it's written over. They didn't fill the drive with new info, and they didn't swipe it with a magnet, so no harm no foul.

Now what about the 22-month rule that the machines were not to be touched? What about the complete lack of findings regarding the utter bullshit bamboo-finding lights?

The only reason why you are questioning the results of the AZ election is because an audit is being done there, not because of any findings. You're upset that the auditors' words were misconstrued, but you disregard the fact the auditors have found absolutely nothing, and it's being run by extremely partisan conspiracy theorists. You will bend over backwards for the audit, but anyone who critiques it is to not be trusted.

Yet you preach never believe, always question. This is why it's hard to take you seriously.

[–] warrior-poet (1362) 4 years ago

Good question about the 22-month rule. But it's not about not touching it. It's about maintaining the integrity of it. These auditors better watch what they're doing, but it's why they took copies of the drives to audit and are not auditing the original drives directly. And think about what this will mean if they undergo all this only to find no major evidence of election-changing fraud? Why would no one want that? I'm bending over backwards for the audit? Not sure what that even means.

I'm not upset about anything. Where you getting that nonsense from? That's not in my nature. But my goal on boards like this is to guide people away from belief and baseless assumptions, and toward a mindset of forming conclusions of probability based on currently available information. And I question the results of absolutely everything, or the claims made by absolutely anyone. That's the entire point of my posts here. You find it hard to take me seriously because you have yet to...
_________________________________________
Never believe. Always question. Rebuke belief, a.k.a. bias, a.k.a. groupthink, a.k.a. ideology, the bane of skeptical, logical reason.

[–] ultravioletx (10237) 4 years ago

"These auditors better watch what they're doing, but it's why they took copies of the drives to audit and are not auditing the original drives directly."

What do you mean watch what they are doing? All the machines have to be scrapped now because of the audit. It's going to cost millions thanks to a bunch of partisan idiots.

[–] warrior-poet (1362) 4 years ago

They haven't claimed that the machines have been comprised. They've claimed that because they've lost chain of custody, they can't guarantee that they haven't been compromised. I'm sure it's a bit of political posturing, but it also has some merit. But yeah that's exactly the type of thing I'm talking about. Everything the audit team is doing needs to be thoroughly documented, and every action they take directly on the machines (to my understanding all they've done so far is make copies of the drives, and that's what their analyzing) really should be observed by an independent third party, or at the very least extensively video recorded (there's quite a few photos and videos of it out there, but is it enough?) Otherwise, there will be just as much question about what they've done as the alleged election fraud itself, and it won't really accomplish anything, at least perhaps in regard to any reuse of the machines.

Time will tell (hopefully), but if there's question about the integrity of the machines post-audit requiring replacements, it's my opinion that those responsible for the audit should be responsible for the cost of doing so.
_________________________________________
Never believe. Always question. Rebuke belief, a.k.a. bias, a.k.a. groupthink, a.k.a. ideology, the bane of skeptical, logical reason.