Tracing the local origins of the vote-fraud myth
Those who have followed Fulton County politics for a long time will recognize the name Hans von Spakovsky. Back in the ’90s, as a local lawyer active in Republican circles, he started raising allegations of serious voting fraud that somehow never quite seemed to pan out.
Hans von Spakovsky
Apparently, however, somebody somewhere recognized that the fraud allegation itself, even if merely a myth never bolstered by evidence, would be useful in justifying a push for more restrictive ballot laws that might tamp down Democratic turnout. It allowed von Spakovsky to take his schtick national, in time nailing a job in the voting rights section of the Bush Justice Department in which he tried — vainly, despite all the resources of the federal government — to establish that in-person vote fraud posed a clear and present danger to American democracy.
It might be too much to say that von Spakovsky singlehandedly created the mythology of voter fraud, but it clearly created him, serving as a hobbyhorse that he rode to prominence in conservative circles.
Jane Mayer, writing in the current New Yorker, tells his story well, along the way documenting multiple examples in which cases of in-person voting fraud cited by von Spakovsky seem to melt away like desert mirages upon closer inspection. His career is a great example of the power, and the danger, of a useful lie.
ADDENDUM: While we’re on the general topic, it might be useful to try to squelch early, fringe stirrings on the left alleging a conservative conspiracy to fix voting machines in Ohio. As the theory is spun at Truthout.org:
“Through a closely held equity fund called Solamere, Mitt Romney and his wife, son and brother are major investors in an investment firm called H.I.G. Capital. H.I.G. in turn holds a majority share and three out of five board members in Hart Intercivic, a company that owns the notoriously faulty electronic voting machines that will count the ballots in swing state Ohio November 7. Hart machines will also be used elsewhere in the United States.
In other words, a candidate for the presidency of the United States, and his brother, wife and son, have a straight-line financial interest in the voting machines that could decide this fall’s election. These machines cannot be monitored by the public. But they will help decide who “owns” the White House.
The claim is nonsense and without backing in fact. If you’re going to make charges or even raise suspicions of that grave nature, you need much more than a knee-bone-connected-to-the-thigh-bone argument of the sort offered here.
Otherwise, you’re no better than the von Spakovskys of the world.
– Jay Bookman
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725 comments Add your comment
They BOTH suck
October 23rd, 2012
4:19 pm
Keep
And when he finds it, he is going to post the evidence and show the Bookman bloggers up or at least he said something along those lines when he was going on and on about those 100k Marta drivers……
You still looking Ben?
Try Bing or Yahoo if Google hasn’t been able to provide that information
Ben Shockley
October 23rd, 2012
4:19 pm
“Ben, you cannot be as dim in real life as you pretend to be here.”
Funny, I was just thinking the same thing anout you, Brocephus, and getalife
josef
October 23rd, 2012
4:20 pm
IMAM
“Ben, you…made a fool of yourself”
G-d made the fool, you’re just commenting on H-s awesome wonder…
USMC
October 23rd, 2012
4:20 pm
“what color is the sky in your world, Jay?”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5huSHqkjQvs
Matti
October 23rd, 2012
4:21 pm
Mr. Bookman,
I appreciate that you’re not willing to give in to conspiracy theories. Doing so would sort of negate everything about what you do that matters.
However, I have worked in the information technology field fore more than two decades, and have befriended quite a few supergeeks along the way.
Q: Are they jacking up voting machines in a few key precincts in Ohio?
A: I have no way of knowing, and therefore cannot claim to know.
Q: IS IT POSSIBLE for programmers to create and install nearly identical programs rigged with an alternate output?
A: Yes, it is, but I do not ask you to take my word for it. (WTF does MATTI know anyway?) Any competent software developer could tell you how that can be done, though the ability to follow along varies with the listener.
Hint to the journalist: Dell has a local office here, with a division of highly-skilled “security” specialists. Maybe one of them will tell you something on (or mostly likely off) the record.
Another tip:
Comparing something to “birthers” does not automatically make it untrue, any more than comparing the rat in your basement to Micky Mouse renders it magically non-existent.
Pizzaman
October 23rd, 2012
4:22 pm
To the snaky aircraft carrier person. That wasn’t snaky, it’s the truth. One modern ship has the capabilities of a fleet of WW1 or WW2 ships. And even Saint Ron “wanted” a 300 ship Navy but never got it. As retired Navy I think we need to cut 2 AF fighter wings and build 2 more carrier battle groups. But I’m not in congress. Willard looked completely outclassed when he tried to compare modern weapons and weapon systems to the past. But he got “Obamanized”. Waxed by Obama. Experience counts and Willard is laking.
Ben Shockley
October 23rd, 2012
4:22 pm
Bookman says illegal aliens are afraid of the law.
Funny stuff.
Brosephus™
October 23rd, 2012
4:22 pm
too long, didn’t read, thanks for playing though
Typical conservative. If it’s more than 3 sentences or not written in crayon, you can’t deal with it. LOLOLOLOL!!!!!!!!
—————————
Jay
I think he’s even more dim in real life if you ask me.
Jay
October 23rd, 2012
4:22 pm
OK, Ben, let’s walk through your scenario slowly, shall we?
1.) You allege that illegal immigrants can get drivers’ licenses.
2.) Using said driver’s license, they register to vote.
3.) They then show up at the precinct, show their driver’s license, and vote. Since the drivers license does not indicate citizenship, how exactly does a voter ID requirement solve this supposedly serious problem that you’ve outlined?
Is that simple enough for the dim-bulb persona you project here?
Ben Shockley
October 23rd, 2012
4:23 pm
“I think he’s even more dim in real life if you ask me.”
In real life you’d be parking my car and bagging up my to-go order.
Thulsa Doom
October 23rd, 2012
4:23 pm
Brocephus,
You keep bringing up the exception and not the norm. It does not apply and as has been pointed out that if someone is truly elderly in most of these bills there is a requirement that the state issue that person an id free of charge. Nevertheless I think that since the Dems seem to oppose reasonable measures of making elections as clean as possible we should just go to the low tech purple ink finger plan. But something tells me the ACLU would oppose that to as an unreasonable constraint.
Brosephus™
October 23rd, 2012
4:23 pm
Jay
Draw it out in crayon. That might help him out more.
Rightwing Troll
October 23rd, 2012
4:24 pm
“LIB LOGIC
There is no voter fraud, because we don’t allow checking ID at the polls, and the resulting lack of examples of voter fraud PROVES there’s no voter fraud.”
WINGNUT LOGIC
We know it exists and we need to stop at nothing to prevent it… even if we can’t prove it exists…we know it does so that PROVES it does…
Ben Shockley
October 23rd, 2012
4:25 pm
“Is that simple enough for the dim-bulb persona you project here?”
Most conservates (probably ALL conservatives) are outraged about drivers licenses for illegals. I posted that by way of proving the lengths to which liberals willgo to get illegals on the dole and then get them voting (D)
Thanks for playing though.
josef
October 23rd, 2012
4:25 pm
Question…
Which country’s citizens have the highest opinion of the United States?
Brosephus™
October 23rd, 2012
4:25 pm
In real life you’d be parking my car and bagging up my to-go order.
Yeah right. Like I’m actually going to park your Power Wheels and put your GI Joe’s in a bag for you.
TaxPayer
October 23rd, 2012
4:26 pm
Republicans also think the earth is 9000 years old. They learned so much in their faith-based classes. None of which can be challenged by the way since it is all based on faith. Voter ID fraud is yet another prime example of the Republican faith-based education. As is their belief in global cooling. And a woman’s ability to just turn off that little baby making function at will in order to prevent a pregnancy. Share more of your Grimm’s Fairly Odd Tales with us, cons.
They BOTH suck
October 23rd, 2012
4:26 pm
“You keep bringing up the exception and not the norm.”
Sort of like documented cases of voter fraud as opposed to the hype and hysteria that some on the right portray………. right?
Rightwing Troll
October 23rd, 2012
4:26 pm
“In real life you’d be parking my car and bagging up my to-go order.”
Why do you need a car? Based on the volume of your posts, you never go anywhere… too bad volume != quality…
Jay
October 23rd, 2012
4:26 pm
Matti, many things are possible. But there’s a vast difference between saying something is possible and saying it occurred or will occurred.
All systems can be hacked. When we had paper ballots — still the preferred method by many conspiracy theoriests on the left — entire boxes of votes could be and were made to disappear.
MANGLER
October 23rd, 2012
4:26 pm
Jay, I think you sunk Bens battleship, with his own bayonet!
Ben Shockley
October 23rd, 2012
4:27 pm
Funny how libs view the six-figure-income guys like me who pay their own bills in life as the dimbulbs, and the welfare queens, foodstamp recipients, and non-bathing-occupiers as the “enlightened.”
Funny stuff…..
Thulsa Doom
October 23rd, 2012
4:27 pm
“One modern ship has the capabilities of a fleet of WW1 or WW2 ships.”
Isn’t that just common sense to just about everyone. But is it not also common sense that opposing Navys such as perhaps China’s may be growing and that total armaments and firepower of enemy forces has likewise become more potent- thus necessitating a larger Navy to oppose them?
Brosephus™
October 23rd, 2012
4:27 pm
Doom
You keep talking about the exception, but you have no idea or proof of what the exception is vs the norm. You’re assuming just as much as I am. We don’t know the truth. We can only assume. That’s the point I’m trying to get across to you.
As I said, if the laws are consistent and cover 100% of the voting process, I’m all for it. If they are to remain as they are now, we’re better off dipping our fingers in ink. It’s sad that a low tech country can have better elections than we can. That should be embarassing to us all.
Rightwing Troll
October 23rd, 2012
4:29 pm
Ohhh… a boast… six figures? Well now, that changes my whole opinion of you… I guess money CAN”T buy class…
They BOTH suck
October 23rd, 2012
4:29 pm
Thulsa
Is that what the Joint Chiefs and the top admirals in the Navy are saying?
Maybe they are, I don’t know that answer.
Thulsa Doom
October 23rd, 2012
4:29 pm
They both suck,
Voter fraud is also damn near impossible to prove on the spot. Any reasonable person in this debate understands that.
Ben Shockley
October 23rd, 2012
4:29 pm
“Republicans also think the earth is 9000 years old. They learned so much in their faith-based classes. None of which can be challenged by the way since it is all based on faith. Voter ID fraud is yet another prime example of the Republican faith-based education. As is their belief in global cooling. And a woman’s ability to just turn off that little baby making function at will in order to prevent a pregnancy. Share more of your Grimm’s Fairly Odd Tales with us, cons. ”
Be careful…Brocephus HATES people who attack straw men.
Your hatred of Christians is duly noted though, and we thank you for your honesty.
josef
October 23rd, 2012
4:29 pm
BEN
“Most conservates (probably ALL conservatives) are outraged _______________”
You could’ve just left it there and let folks fill in the blank…
No offense meant to the conservatives (real ones, that is) who do know how to think for themselves and don’t need the latest memo, since the same thing could’ve been said about a good number of so-called liberals…
Jay
October 23rd, 2012
4:29 pm
Yeah Bro.
Frankly, I don’t know which is worse: Intelligent people pretending to be dumb, or dumb people pretending to be intelligent.
Rightwing Troll
October 23rd, 2012
4:31 pm
“Your hatred of Christians is duly noted though, and we thank you for your honesty.”
Bro just hates the psuedo-christians… he’s fine with the real ones.
Ben Shockley
October 23rd, 2012
4:31 pm
Taxpayer…
Your commander-in-chief, Barack Obama, professes to be a Christian, has attended Christian churches all his life, and has publicly stated that he accepts Jesus Christ as his savior. Is he just a stupid fairy tale believer like all the other Christians you mock?
Brosephus™
October 23rd, 2012
4:31 pm
Frankly, I don’t know which is worse: Intelligent people pretending to be dumb, or dumb people pretending to be intelligent.
Me either. It’s funny as hell exposing them though.
They BOTH suck
October 23rd, 2012
4:32 pm
RWT
Most who brag about what they make are very insecure or do not make what they claim but say they do because they are very insecure……………
Yes there is a common theme there
josef
October 23rd, 2012
4:32 pm
What’s wrong with bagging groceries and parking cars? Sounds like honest work for folks to low down and sorry or too faux uppity to do it themselves…
H.E. Pennypacker
October 23rd, 2012
4:32 pm
The economy in Central Ohio, the swingingest part of the biggest swing state is improving with unemployment down to 5.7%. Don’t tell Jack Welch or Donald Trump or they will blow a gasket.
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2012/10/23/regional-unemployment-september-central-ohio.html
Ben Shockley
October 23rd, 2012
4:33 pm
Libs get whipped in a debate with Ben, then claim victory and congratulate themselves.
remarkably like the presidential debates
LMAO
TaxPayer
October 23rd, 2012
4:33 pm
Ben’s six-figure income:
$1000.00
Pizzaman
October 23rd, 2012
4:34 pm
RB for “gynette” @ 4:11 :
Your comment shows a complete lack of understanding of the “voter registration” process. Once “properly registered” by my registering authority I should be able to show up at the polls with the registration card they sent me. They verify the signature and I vote. Why do you think you have to sign an absentee ballot. Voter ID is a blatant attempt by RedneckRepublicans to limit or eliminate the vote of historically Democratic voters. Long ago the Southern Democrats had “literacy tests’ and “poll taxes” to do the same thing.
They BOTH suck
October 23rd, 2012
4:34 pm
Thulsa
And it exists on a grand scale because you and other on the right says it does?
If it even half as bad as many on the right claim, how do Republicans win any elections?
Is there a conspiracy on the part of the Democrats to win some and lose some so it doesn’t look so obvious?
Matti
October 23rd, 2012
4:34 pm
Mr. Bookman,
Fair enough. I never said it was happening. I said it is totally possible, as it always has been back when we were voting with paper, and before that when cavemen were scratching their votes out on stones. (Cavewomen were not allowed to vote or own caves.)
I also said I read about the Romney voting-machine investment in Forbes. No conclusions were drawn by me, only the possibility of questions regarding conflicts of interest. Do you find me unreasonable in any way for reading Forbes? I like to vary my sources, and welcome your recommendations.
Brosephus™
October 23rd, 2012
4:34 pm
Be careful…Brocephus HATES people who attack straw men.
Nah, I don’t HATE anybody. I’m just enjoying exposing you for the intellectually dysfunctional fraud that you are. Anybody with a six-figure income knows how to google something to find at least one example to back their assertions.
gm
October 23rd, 2012
4:36 pm
USMC shows why he is a true Georgia idiot
Obama is leading Ohio, Mich, double minded Romney is losing in his home town, if he was so good at Gov why is he losing by 30 in Mass, when Obama lost the first debate even MSNBC said he lost, when Obama beat Mitt twice the low informed Fox scum bags refuse to admit it.
When will these white conservatives males get it? You are not the only one voting, Obama has a 30 point lead among Latinos, Blacks, and a 8 point lead among women, the idiot agreed with the President all night, yet wants to be Commander and Chief, ha, ha,
TaxPayer
October 23rd, 2012
4:36 pm
Ben,
Our president Obama is a Muslim from Kenya with no birth certificate. Keep the faith-based larning ALIVE! By the way, he also supports abortion and gay marriage. And he’s a s-o-c-i-a-l-i-s-t.
Rightwing Troll
October 23rd, 2012
4:36 pm
I don’t know why anybody would come on an anonymous blog and brag about what they make, but we’ve got one making six figures and we’ve had a one-percenter here on occasion, as a matter of fact I believe I saw his particular nom de guerre here on this thread a minute ago…
Me? I’m proud of the $5.75/hr I make…
Thulsa Doom
October 23rd, 2012
4:36 pm
Brocephus,
Perhaps as you say its a difference in opinion of what the norm is regarding having ID. I can understand very elderly and in particular minority elderly people not having photo id. And I’m talking very elderly as in 80s or 90s. But for people between 18 and retirement age of 65-70 to be walking around not needing or wanting photo id is simply ridiculous. What manner of an idiot goes through life without a photo id for banking, employment,driving, etc.? Are they all planning on working for a family friend who won’t require a photo id? Perhaps I’m just not as easygoing about that level of ignorance and people putting themselves volutarily at that kind of self disadvantage in terms of employment and future.
Brosephus™
October 23rd, 2012
4:37 pm
Libs get whipped in a debate with Ben, then claim victory and congratulate themselves.
Dude, you are funny as hell. I’m thinking about doing a carnival theme for my daughter’s 5th birthday. How much would you charge to be the clown? It’s not like you would have to really tax your brain or anything.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
October 23rd, 2012
4:37 pm
Voter fraud is also damn near impossible to prove on the spot.
In person voting fraud may be proven in a number of ways. Proving it “on the spot” is not a requirement for criminal prosecution. It takes a lot of information. If it means voting more than once (and not some claim of a non-citizen voting), knowing a voter name who is registered, who has not voted already, where they vote, having address information to match voter rolls, etc. Not to mention that others may know that “person” and that cameras may capture you in the area.
But again, silly person, you have to have sufficient “in person voting” to impact an election. In most situations that requires hundreds, if not thousands of votes, for local elections.
Rightwing Troll
October 23rd, 2012
4:37 pm
TP,
heh… I was wondering if that included the digits after the decimal as well…
saywhat?
October 23rd, 2012
4:38 pm
At least Republican thinking is somewhat consistent. Maybe they make laws regarding non-existent voting fraud for the same reason they show up to wash clean dishes at homeless shelters.
Ben Shockley
October 23rd, 2012
4:39 pm
Any of you people doubting my income interested in a wager?
josef
October 23rd, 2012
4:39 pm
gm
Oh, and just what makes a “true Georgia idiot?” And besides, unless I’ve missed something along the way. I think, I’m not sure, that USMC is a Carpetbagging agent of Yankee imperialism…
Keep Up the Good Fight!
October 23rd, 2012
4:40 pm
The density is thick with these conned…….
gm
October 23rd, 2012
4:40 pm
So much for the right wing nuts saying young people are not excited and not comming out for Obama, notice the far right are quiet now? they see the lines of young people around the country waiting in line to vote for Obama.
Rightwing Troll
October 23rd, 2012
4:40 pm
Gambling is a sin Ben… a fine upstanding “christian” soldier like yourself should know that…
Jay
October 23rd, 2012
4:40 pm
Matti, the piece that you’re referring to was an op-ed piece published on the Forbes website by someone I’ve never heard of with no apparent training or background in journalism. There’s a vast difference in credibility between that, which is little more than a glorified blog, and something written by Forbes professional staff.
Brosephus™
October 23rd, 2012
4:40 pm
Doom
If we could do it, I’d take you through places like Winston Co in Alabama. That would probably open your eyes a bit and realize it’s not ignorance, as you suggest. People in small towns know each other. They cash checks without ID because they’ve known each other all their lives. It’s one thing in urban and suburban areas, and something entirely different when you get to the rural areas. There is no disadvantages as the people doing the employing are sometimes the very people who changed the diapers and such.
It’s not about being easygoing either. I have lots of family and friends who come from rural areas, and the way they live is completely foreign to people who live in urban or suburban areas.
Regnad Kcin
October 23rd, 2012
4:41 pm
Have you ever noticed? Whenever Ben “L’s his AO”, it means he just posted something he knows is a lie. Check some previous posts – you’ll see the pattern right away…
They BOTH suck
October 23rd, 2012
4:41 pm
Ben
Don’t let your insecurities get the best of you. They usually do, but fight the urge.
If you do not seek help at Charter, please seek help somewhere
Ben Shockley
October 23rd, 2012
4:42 pm
“Gambling is a sin Ben”
It’s not gambling. I know the outcome.
The silence is deafening.
josef
October 23rd, 2012
4:42 pm
BEN
Exactly why should I give a hoot what your income is? I don’t share a bed, blanket, bathroom or bankbook with you.
Rightwing Troll
October 23rd, 2012
4:42 pm
“It’s not about being easygoing either. I have lots of family and friends who come from rural areas, and the way they live is completely foreign to people who live in urban or suburban areas.”
Yep, locking their doors and hiding under the bed is not the way they live out there past the burbs…
Thulsa Doom
October 23rd, 2012
4:42 pm
They both suck,
I never said voter fraud exists on a grand scale and I’ve never seen a con on here propose that. You did.
I believe that it exists on a very small scale. Very small. The problem is that in a very tight election- Franken vs Coleman in Minnesota or Gore v W that it may amount to the difference in the election. The vast majority of the time it will make no difference. But in a tight, tight election it can be the difference.
They BOTH suck
October 23rd, 2012
4:43 pm
Regnad
Are you saying that Ben really means Lying MAO?
Rightwing Troll
October 23rd, 2012
4:43 pm
Ben… no, but I challenge you a few rounds of thumb wrestling…
bman.
October 23rd, 2012
4:44 pm
I’m trying to figure out if it’s worth it for me to get rid of everything, but my house and car. How much would i get monthly if i took complete and full advantage of the system?
Nothing wrong with laying low for the next 4 years
gm
October 23rd, 2012
4:45 pm
josef
You and the USMC idiot are the reason Georgia will never be in play in voting, not a Yankee, but thank God for them, you people in Georgia would still own slaves and dating your cousins,
Keep Up the Good Fight!
October 23rd, 2012
4:45 pm
josef: I don’t share a bed, blanket, bathroom or bankbook with you.
In conned minds, being homosexual would mean that obviously you have a desire to share with anyone. It’s uncontrollable, don’t you know.
They BOTH suck
October 23rd, 2012
4:45 pm
Thulsa
I’m not naive that it doesn’t occur, but again, if it is occurring even half the time that some on the right claim…… there should be more credible evidence.
I could be wrong, but the evidence does not meet the hype and hysteria.
Rightwing Troll
October 23rd, 2012
4:46 pm
“I believe that it exists on a very small scale. Very small. The problem is that in a very tight election- Franken vs Coleman in Minnesota or Gore v W that it may amount to the difference in the election. The vast majority of the time it will make no difference. But in a tight, tight election it can be the difference.”
Jiminy Crickets!!!
We’re literally standing by and watching a handful of billionaires buy/steal this election, and the wingnuts are all concerned about 100 votes nationwide?
Ben Shockley
October 23rd, 2012
4:46 pm
“Exactly why should I give a hoot what your income is? I don’t share a bed, blanket, bathroom or bankbook with you.”
I wasn’t bragging about my income. Six-figure income is nothing special in my family or in my work and social circles. I was musing about liberals mocking successful people as not so bright when it’s a stupid assertion on it’s face.
Now we have a bunch of people doubting my earnings. Anybody that wants to make a wager, just step on up.
Rightwing Troll
October 23rd, 2012
4:48 pm
“Now we have a bunch of people doubting my earnings”
More like a bunch of people mocking you and your “earnings”…
Keep Up the Good Fight!
October 23rd, 2012
4:48 pm
I believe that it exists on a very small scale. Very small. The problem is that in a very tight election- Franken vs Coleman in Minnesota or Gore v W that it may amount to the difference in the election.
And because there might be a single election where it makes a “difference” (again, not proven), its ok to deny voting rights to thousands which would likely have a greater actual impact on elections? How silly? Do you often chase your own tail?
Ben Shockley
October 23rd, 2012
4:48 pm
“In conned minds, being homosexual would mean that obviously you have a desire to share with anyone.”
Another stupid straw-man/ad hominem post.
Liberals are boring……
Rightwing Troll
October 23rd, 2012
4:48 pm
Ben could buy this election…
Jay
October 23rd, 2012
4:48 pm
In my experience, income level is NOT an accurate gauge of intelligence.
Not even close.
Brosephus™
October 23rd, 2012
4:49 pm
Any of you people doubting my income interested in a wager?
I don’t give a rat’s ass about your income. Income has no direct bearing on intelligence or the lack thereof.
————————-
They BOTH
Did you see the funny Ben made on the first page @ 3:46 after I responded to one of his posts??? That dude has comedic chops. If he’s not a 6-figure comedian, he’s in the wrong line of work.
Thulsa Doom
October 23rd, 2012
4:49 pm
Brocephus,
I understand what you’re saying but I live in a rural area. Everyone that I know has photo id. And anyone who drives a car which is automatically most of us adults have a photo id. Anyone who drives in Winston, AL. has a photo ID or is at least supposed to.
Anyway, we should at least do the purple ink thing. I see nothing embarrassing about it. Sometimes low tech solutions work better than anything.Besides purple is a cool color even if Crimson is cooler.
Ben Shockley
October 23rd, 2012
4:50 pm
“In conned minds, being homosexual would mean that obviously you have a desire to share with anyone.”
Don’t tell anyone that I let you in on this secret, but homosexuals on average are more educated and financially successful than the general population, and quite a large precentage of them vote Republican.
Just so you know….
Pizzaman
October 23rd, 2012
4:51 pm
Tulsa Doom @ 4:27:
One of our Carrier Battle Groups has more firepower/capabilities than any other Navy, including England, Russia and China and we have 10. As retired Navy I’d like for see 12. I’d also like to see a balanced budget, health care for everyone, no crime and free education. But as I’ve said I’m not in Congress.
The President has no control, other than the veto, over Congress. So our Navy (Army, AF et all) are what Congress wants. Willard knew that when he issued the challenge. I think he got “Obamanized”, you don’t. Neither will get a 300 ship Navy or a 20 Fighter Wing AF or a 1,000,000 man Army in this economy w/o raising taxed. You want a more powerful military? Get rid of Grover Noequist!
Ben Shockley
October 23rd, 2012
4:51 pm
“In my experience, income level is NOT an accurate gauge of intelligence”
No, but it’s an indicator of attitude and work ethic.
They BOTH suck
October 23rd, 2012
4:52 pm
gm
I am a left leaner in this red state. Grew up here. Sorry to break your heart, go to up state New York, rural MI or a few hours north of San Francisco. They have folks who will fit any stereotype that you have of the south…………. minus the accent.
And at the end of the day, if you live here in GA, are you being made to stay here?
Thulsa Doom
October 23rd, 2012
4:52 pm
“its ok to deny voting rights to thousands which would likely have a greater actual impact on elections?”
Perhaps if I had said or implied it were ok to deny thousands the vote you would have a point. But I didn’t. So as usual you have no point. Back to the nonsense corner keep.
Ben Shockley
October 23rd, 2012
4:52 pm
“In my experience, income level is NOT an accurate gauge of intelligence”
Of course, liberals think it’s an indicator of oppression and racism.
josef
October 23rd, 2012
4:53 pm
GM
Shore punched yore bigot button, didn’t I? You’re funny…a dim wit, but funny nonetheless…
Good Fight…
But…but..I CHOSE that!
BEN
Family and social circles…I won’t play show-me-the-portfolio, but if you want to go for the family bone orchard and who “I run with…”
Ben Shockley
October 23rd, 2012
4:54 pm
Funny how libs will spend untold millions fighting voter ID laws, but won’t spend one dime or lift one finger to help any of the supposedly “disenfranchised” go get a free ID.
Jefferson
October 23rd, 2012
4:54 pm
Ben is full.
St Simons
October 23rd, 2012
4:54 pm
i love the smell of unhinged con in margaritaville (its 5 oclock somewhere)
They BOTH suck
October 23rd, 2012
4:54 pm
Bro
I read it. Typical BS Ben…………
Jay
October 23rd, 2012
4:55 pm
“No, but it’s an indicator of attitude and work ethic.
No, it’s not that either. I’ve known a good number of lazy people with high incomes, and hard working people with low incomes.
High-earning is generally an indicator that the person in question deems status and money as important. And I don’t mean that in any way as a criticism. It’s just a question of what you happen to put value on.
getalife
October 23rd, 2012
4:55 pm
They tried to cheat and got busted.
mitt had no idea what he was talking about last night.
Way out of his league.
Game over.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
October 23rd, 2012
4:55 pm
Doom, in your density, you spew nonsense. It has been demonstrated that lawful US Citizens are being denied the right to vote. Your speedos must be too tight for you to think.
Ben Shockley
October 23rd, 2012
4:55 pm
“Family and social circles…I won’t play show-me-the-portfolio, but if you want to go for the family bone orchard and who “I run with”
I don’t “come from money” like all the limousine liberals. We all worked for it. Thanks for the offer though.
jewcowboy
October 23rd, 2012
4:56 pm
“To believe the conservative theorists, you have to be willing to believe that it is possible to recruit a large number of people ”
You can barely get people to vote legitimately in this nation…to think that there is the vast group of people voting illegally is simply moronic.
Brosephus™
October 23rd, 2012
4:57 pm
Anyway, we should at least do the purple ink thing. I see nothing embarrassing about it. Sometimes low tech solutions work better than anything.
I’ve made the suggestion of switching to biometric registration. Since most places are using touch screen electronic voting, I don’t think it would be much of a stretch to add a fingerprint capture mechanism on the actual machine to verify the person voting as someone who’s registered to vote.
I would also remove all 3rd party registration and leave it to the secretary of state in each state to officially register people to ensure they are accurately ID’d and registered.
Ben Shockley
October 23rd, 2012
4:57 pm
“It’s just a question of what you happen to put value on.”
Maybe the poor have a values problem.
Be careful Jay, you might be a con
RB from Gwinnett
October 23rd, 2012
4:57 pm
“How much is your scenario taking place? And when the rightful person goes to vote, why are we not hearing he or she was denied because someone else already used their name?”
He moved, BOTH. As in he doesn’t “stay” here no more. He ain’t coming back to vote.
Jay, are you saying the poll workers should call the police on everybody who shows up with just a power bill? They’re not doing that, especially since its AN ACCEPTED FORM OF ID.
See you at the polls!!
See you at the polls!!
getalife
October 23rd, 2012
4:58 pm
ben is broke because people with money don’t brag about it or they get robbed.
St Simons
October 23rd, 2012
4:58 pm
oh they’re losing the swing states alright.
and we already know they’ll lie, cheat & steal.
I just can’t figure out why 39% of women ‘intend’ to vote for Lord Hairgel
stepford wives? women of the corn?
you call it corn, we call it maize
hahahaha
Jay
October 23rd, 2012
4:58 pm
To get back however briefly to the topic at hand, we’re almost 200 comments in and as far as I can recall, no one on the right has even attempted to offer hard evidence of voting fraud’s existence.