Something Rotten in Ohio

Gore Vidal is one of America's finest essayists. Especially on the politics of his own country.

Outside the oil and gas junta that controls two and a half branches of our government (the half soon to be whole is the judiciary), there was a good deal of envy at the late British election among those Americans who are serious about politics. Little money was spent by the three parties and none for TV advertising. Results were achieved swiftly and cheaply. Best of all, the three party leaders were quizzed sharply and intelligently by ordinary citizens known quaintly as subjects, thanks to the ubiquitous phantom crown so unlike our nuclear-taloned predatory eagle.

The rest of his current essay.
Plus link to Representative John Conyers (Democrat, Michigan) and his report on what happened in Ohio (pdf). It is, says Vidal, a 'valuable guide on how to steal an election'.