Campaign 2014: The Epic Struggle To Win The Senate And Change Nothing

[GrinCDXX]

Re: Campaign 2014: The Epic Struggle To Win The Senate And Change Nothing

On a related topic, there is a voter suppression (IMO) measure on the MT ballot this year to scale back early voting and election day registration. I received my ballot in the mail a few days ago and the description of the amendment began with something to the effect of "An amendment to the state constitution to protect the integrity of elections...". In a similar amount of space they could have simply stated what it was. "An amendment to the state constitution to reduce the early voting period and eliminate election day registration." How this kind of stuff flies, I don't know.

 

[Bob Gray]

Re: Campaign 2014: The Epic Struggle To Win The Senate And Change Nothing

I've got some sympathy with the RWNJ who thinks it'd a slippery slope to barcoding us. (Although my God the configuration manager in me knows how much easier everything would be if we had RFID... NO! Step away from that thought...!)

In that case, devolve it to the states. Universal, FREE voter ID issued by the states to every voter. In addition, the state can still accept any other form of ID (or none if it wishes) at the polls. If the state has not met the requirement of providing the necessary free universal voter ID by 90 days before the election then they are unable to bar people with no ID from the polling place.

The way it stands now, there are about a dozen documented cases of voter fraud every election, and in response the GOP is trying to make it difficult for hundreds of thousands if not more of voters to vote in an obvious attempt to steal elections. That's just pure evil. Where are all those righty libertarian groups screaming about how the state is infringing on a fundamental right of citizenship?

Or does it turn out that was all just self-serving BS the whole time?

I'm ok with a universal free voter ID on the state level, assuming they aren't handed out whilly-nilly to anyone. I don't know all the details, but we have something similar I believe in Arizona. I got a voter ID card after registering, and I can bring that in to vote (or use other means to ID). I believe it's updated once in awhile or if you move or whatever. I've been voting by mail for a little while now (the polling place I went to was really slow and waiting hours to vote, even in off elections, isn't so fun), so I haven't used it lately, but that's how it worked for the last few elections I went to the polls.

 

[Kepler]

Re: Campaign 2014: The Epic Struggle To Win The Senate And Change Nothing

On a related topic, there is a voter suppression (IMO) measure on the MT ballot this year to scale back early voting and election day registration. I received my ballot in the mail a few days ago and the description of the amendment began with something to the effect of "An amendment to the state constitution to protect the integrity of elections...". In a similar amount of space they could have simply stated what it was. "An amendment to the state constitution to reduce the early voting period and eliminate election day registration." How this kind of stuff flies, I don't know.

It's the same reason why "The Act to Rescind Our Civil Liberties, Revoke Habeas Corpus, Shred the Bill of Rights, and Turn the Country into a Perpetual Surveillance State" was called "the Patriot Act."

When fascism came to America, it was wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.

 

[Bob Gray]

Re: Campaign 2014: The Epic Struggle To Win The Senate And Change Nothing

It's the same reason why "The Act to Rescind Our Civil Liberties, Revoke Habeas Corpus, Shred the Bill of Rights, and Turn the Country into a Perpetual Surveillance State" was called "the Patriot Act."

When fascism came to America, it was wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.

I don't recall the Patriot Act having anything to do with a cross, but, don't let that stop you one of your pet paranoias.

 

[GrinCDXX]

Re: Campaign 2014: The Epic Struggle To Win The Senate And Change Nothing

It's the same reason why "The Act to Rescind Our Civil Liberties, Revoke Habeas Corpus, Shred the Bill of Rights, and Turn the Country into a Perpetual Surveillance State" was called "the Patriot Act."

When fascism came to America, it was wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.

Point taken, but I'd argue that playing this sort of game for measures that are directly decided by the electorate is worse.

 

[Kepler]

Re: Campaign 2014: The Epic Struggle To Win The Senate And Change Nothing

I don't recall the Patriot Act having anything to do with a cross, but, don't let that stop you one of your pet paranoias.

Oh, I won't.

To be fair, the cross was small compared to the Enormous Bag of Gold that fascism was carrying.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: Campaign 2014: The Epic Struggle To Win The Senate And Change Nothing

Texas is going to get entertaining.

http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2014/10/10/?entry=2067

A federal judge provided a scathing reminder of Texas’ history of discrimination against blacks and Hispanics in striking down the state’s voter identification law on Thursday evening. She had plenty of room to do it: Her opinion ran to almost 150 pages.

The Texas attorney general’s office said it would appeal Judge Ramos’s ruling “to avoid voter confusion in the upcoming election.”

The attorney general of Texas is hilarious.

 

[joecct]

It's the same reason why "The Act to Rescind Our Civil Liberties, Revoke Habeas Corpus, Shred the Bill of Rights, and Turn the Country into a Perpetual Surveillance State" was called "the Patriot Act."

When fascism came to America, it was wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.

Didn't Wilson do that in 1917, Lincoln in 1862 and Adams in 1802??

What was done then does not make it right now.

 

[Bob Gray]

Re: Campaign 2014: The Epic Struggle To Win The Senate And Change Nothing

Nobody interested in Saddam Hussein's lobbyist donating to the AZ Dem candidate for governor? I figured that was at least good for a little chuckle.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: Campaign 2014: The Epic Struggle To Win The Senate And Change Nothing

Nobody interested in Saddam Hussein's lobbyist donating to the AZ Dem candidate for governor? I figured that was at least good for a little chuckle.

It is pretty funny. I'd say the Democrat is toast after that revelation.

 

[Kepler]

Re: Campaign 2014: The Epic Struggle To Win The Senate And Change Nothing

Didn't Wilson do that in 1917, Lincoln in 1862 and Adams in 1802??

What was done then does not make it right now.

We're great defending rights until it's hard.

 

[Kepler]

Re: Campaign 2014: The Epic Struggle To Win The Senate And Change Nothing

Why on earth do women find Republicans repulsive?

 

[Old Pio]

Re: Campaign 2014: The Epic Struggle To Win The Senate And Change Nothing

I'm ok with a universal free voter ID on the state level, assuming they aren't handed out whilly-nilly to anyone. I don't know all the details, but we have something similar I believe in Arizona. I got a voter ID card after registering, and I can bring that in to vote (or use other means to ID). I believe it's updated once in awhile or if you move or whatever. I've been voting by mail for a little while now (the polling place I went to was really slow and waiting hours to vote, even in off elections, isn't so fun), so I haven't used it lately, but that's how it worked for the last few elections I went to the polls.

You just don't get it. Inner city black folks have some special unique problem negotiating the DMV the rest of us don't. Ironically, during the Clinton administration, we passed something called Motor Voter, designed to encourage those same black folks who can't get ID cards at the DMV. . .to get ID cards at the DMV. One solution to this "problem" might be issuance of Social Security cards with photos for those who want them. Of course, there would be some special problem inherent with that solution that would only affect black folks.

 

[walrus]

Re: Campaign 2014: The Epic Struggle To Win The Senate And Change Nothing

There are counterfeit 50s so I reject all currency.

I don't think its the first time nor will it be the last

 

[Rover]

Re: Campaign 2014: The Epic Struggle To Win The Senate And Change Nothing

You just don't get it. Inner city black folks have some special unique problem negotiating the DMV the rest of us don't. Ironically, during the Clinton administration, we passed something called Motor Voter, designed to encourage those same black folks who can't get ID cards at the DMV. . .to get ID cards at the DMV. One solution to this "problem" might be issuance of Social Security cards with photos for those who want them. Of course, there would be some special problem inherent with that solution that would only affect black folks.

This was covered in PA before the 2012 election. PA passed an ID law the year of the election, but said they're free if you go down to the DMV. Problem solved, right? Wrong. If you've ever been to the DMW, you'd know what came next. Hours long lines for people trying to hit the registry during lunch break because they aren't open on weekends. Who controls DMV staffing and hours of operation? That's right - the same people who passed the ID law! Pretty convenient, especially after passage the law's leading proponent declared that this would ensure Romney won the state. Oh, this guy was the GOP House Speaker I believe.

Nobody interested in Saddam Hussein's lobbyist donating to the AZ Dem candidate for governor? I figured that was at least good for a little chuckle.

Ummm...who cares? 1) we haven't heard about it, 2) The Onion covered this back in 1996, when it sent out campaign checks from fake orgs like Pedophiles for Perot or Illegals for Buchanan. In fact I thnk Pitchfork Pat was the only one to reject the check, most likely because he got so little contributions he was depositing them himself.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: Campaign 2014: The Epic Struggle To Win The Senate And Change Nothing

This was covered in PA before the 2012 election. PA passed an ID law the year of the election, but said they're free if you go down to the DMV. Problem solved, right? Wrong. If you've ever been to the DMW, you'd know what came next. Hours long lines for people trying to hit the registry during lunch break because they aren't open on weekends. Who controls DMV staffing and hours of operation? That's right - the same people who passed the ID law! Pretty convenient, especially after passage the law's leading proponent declared that this would ensure Romney won the state. Oh, this guy was the GOP House Speaker I believe.

C'mon. Old Pio knows none of those people have jobs, so the DMV being open on weekends is irrelevant. Geeesh.

 

[Bob Gray]

Re: Campaign 2014: The Epic Struggle To Win The Senate And Change Nothing

Ummm...who cares? 1) we haven't heard about it, 2) The Onion covered this back in 1996, when it sent out campaign checks from fake orgs like Pedophiles for Perot or Illegals for Buchanan. In fact I thnk Pitchfork Pat was the only one to reject the check, most likely because he got so little contributions he was depositing them himself.

Um, somebody's a bit grumpy today. And your dates are off, as the donation was in 2001, so The Onion would be quite impressive if they covered it in 1996, not that what you reference has anything to do with the AZ Dem gov candidate taking money. I noted I didn't think it mattered much, but was just an interesting tidbit. I guess you are just in full partisan mode with the elections coming up. Stop for a moment and take a breath and smile.

 

[Bob Gray]

Re: Campaign 2014: The Epic Struggle To Win The Senate And Change Nothing

You just don't get it. Inner city black folks have some special unique problem negotiating the DMV the rest of us don't. Ironically, during the Clinton administration, we passed something called Motor Voter, designed to encourage those same black folks who can't get ID cards at the DMV. . .to get ID cards at the DMV. One solution to this "problem" might be issuance of Social Security cards with photos for those who want them. Of course, there would be some special problem inherent with that solution that would only affect black folks.

What's your problem? I don't get what? You aren't making much sense here. I merely said I was ok with a voter ID card of some sort. Now if you said I didn't get it and then commented on what I said, that would make some sense at least.

 

[Kepler]

Re: Campaign 2014: The Epic Struggle To Win The Senate And Change Nothing

This is a good opinion piece about KS, SD, etc.

The first is that these Democrats are campaigning with gusto in small towns and rural counties. There is a very large part of America that Democrats can’t win without appealing to rural voters, and as Democrats have become more oriented over the years toward focusing on big cities and the suburbs, they have sometimes forgotten to reach out to folks in small towns and on farms and ranches. That has made red states redder, and it has made it harder for Democrats to win a majority in the House. But Democrats in the Plains States are making campaigning in small towns and rural counties a cornerstone of their campaigns.

This has been a huge weakness in the DCCC and DSCC for as long as I can remember. Good to see some people are starting to figure out that you can't win every district with TV ads.

 

[Craig P.]

Re: Campaign 2014: The Epic Struggle To Win The Senate And Change Nothing

Texas is going to get entertaining.

http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2014/10/10/?entry=2067


The attorney general of Texas is hilarious.

He'll be even more hilarious when the derps elect him governor.

(And his successor will probably take the derp to 11 too.)