Sooner Be Blue

Mostly politics, a few current events, a squirt of seltzer down yer pants .. a little blog for my rambles and rants.

2008/10/10

Could there be riots at the polls?

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@ 07:53 AM (1 month, 22 days ago)
"States Illegally Remove Voters from Rolls"
 
Gah, this is all we need...what with wingnuts already running around ranting about ACORN and how the black/brown hordes are stealing elections and making American unsafe for "real Americans."
 
Damn those unscrupulous ACORN workers who got paid per person, who signed up bogus names from the phone book, the Dallas Cowboys and even a cat...
 
But really, Republicans want to kick up as big a fuss as they can about so-called "voter fraud"...so they can cast doubt on the election results and pave the way for post-election recounts.
 
Yes, this kind of crap goes on in both parties...should I bring up what Kathy Harris and the GOP did in Florida in 2000 -- taking 80,000 (black) people off the voters' lists because they had the same name as a felon?
 
Some cheating and manipulation in a national election is inevitable. As long as the cheating happens in a fairly random manner, it doesn't affect the end result very much, as the law of averages tends to balance everything out.
 
The story below isn't accusing one party or the other. When I read it, it made me shudder, thinking about what could happen election day...flaring tempers...riots...
 
From The New York Times: "Tens of thousands of eligible voters in at least six swing states have been removed from the rolls or have been blocked from registering in ways that appear to violate federal law, according to a review of state records and Social Security data by The New York Times.
 
The actions do not seem to be coordinated by one party or the other, nor do they appear to be the result of election officials intentionally breaking rules, but are apparently the result of mistakes in the handling of the registrations and voter files as the states tried to comply with a 2002 federal law, intended to overhaul the way elections are run.
 
[T]he screening or trimming of voter registration lists in the six states — Colorado, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Nevada and North Carolina — could also result in problems at the polls on Election Day: people who have been removed from the rolls are likely to show up only to be challenged by political party officials or election workers, resulting in confusion, long lines and heated tempers.
 
Some states allow such voters to cast provisional ballots. But they are often not counted because they require added verification. [..]"
 
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/09/us/politics/09voting.html?bl&ex=1223697600&en=ce240ad3162ac5ac&ei=5087%0A
 
Folks, if this happens to you, do not accept a provisional ballot...they are often just tossed away due to the work required to process them. Demand to see an election official to remedy the situation.
 
If your state offers early voting, take advantage of it.
 
I will post this again, check your registration status, see if you are on the voter rolls:
 
http://www.canivote.org/
 
http://www.votersunite.org/info/RegInfo.asp
 

"That one"

@ 06:55 AM (1 month, 22 days ago)

[Since my blog host was down for a couple of days, I didn't get to post this...but dang it, I spent time writing it...besides, I want it in my archives]
 
John McCain's YouTube Moment:
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ed-k1xOCsMs
 
No, I don't think it was racist, but it *was* arrogant and disrespectful.
 
The CNN focus group, especially Independents, didn't like it either. Even the Republican talking heads in the CNN newsroom said McCain was "condescending."
 
His extreme derisiveness towards Barack Obama, unwilling to call him by name, seriously undercuts the notion that McCain can be a cool operator on the world stage.
 
YooHoo John McCain -- you are soon going to call That One "Mr. President."
 
The early polls say Barack Obama came out on top in this debate...that makes it three zip for the Democrats.
 
But we didn't learn anything new. A blah debate, really...mostly stump speeches from both of them.
 
We were promised an interactive "town hall"...where audience member could quiz the candidates live, and Brokaw would channel the questions asked by citizens online. It could've been exciting, with Obama and McCain freed from podiums and mixing it up a bit.
 
Yet, Brokaw complained about time and chided the Senators if they attempted to do something interesting. Odd contrast to the last debate when Lehrer practically begged them to engage with each other.
 
The dozens of town hall "real people" were just TV props, not allowed to make a peep except to ask their questions, let alone a follow-up or reaction shot.
 
So, the debate organizers failed. Considering our national crisis and record voter registration, we voters are paying more attention to this political process than ever before, and we deserved something better...like seeing our candidates put on the spot, to free fall or defend their positions.
 
Too, it must be said that both campaigns negotiated debate rules so that their candidate would not make a mistake.
 
Obama did well, he not only once again spoke directly to the viewers AND the group in the room, repeatedly referring to them as "You"... he also answered the questions thoroughly, with fully formed thoughts, a beginning, middle and an end.
 
McCain was all over the map, shifting focus. I thought he took a hit when he denied the "Bomb Iran" song. I mean, who hasn't seen the tape?
 
Obama is simply outclassing McCain on substance, and also style...both in this debate and the first one. Even a Republican in CNN's newsroom said Obama displayed stature, presidential stature, when McCain attacked him. He sat on that stool and he smiled...proving that he can handle tough moments.
 
One of the debate highlights was when Obama turned McCain's condescending "Senator Obama doesn't understand" against him. Notice how the approval lines go up:
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZAqVm1eAXg
 
For me, getting us out of that Iraq mess is the best reason to vote for Barack Obama. Period.
 
McCain has to be the first ever presidential candidate to talk about his need for hair plugs in a debate...and while Obama was speaking, McCain sometimes wandered all over the stage like he was lost. I feel a couple of good SNL debate skits coming on...
 
One thing Barack Obama seems to have learned from Clinton - to hang around after the debate to work the crowd. Maybe McCain walked off the stage and left the hall early because he thought he did poorly in the debate...
 
BTW--I did finally find something that I agree with John McCain on -- that we need a steady hand at the helm, but that hand is Barack Obama's.
 
Don't worry John...you'll soon have time to get that hair transplant. James Carville says you can call the dogs in and wet the fire, this hunt's over.
 
Barring unforeseen circumstances, that is...