Peggy’s story: The cruel cynicism of the voter ID crusade
Hans von Spakovsky, a former Fulton County Republican party official and now a star of the right’s nationwide effort to suppress voting through strict voter ID protocols, continues to pretend that in-person voting fraud constitutes a major threat to American democracy.
Yet when challenged to present evidence of such a threat, as he was in a recent article in The New Yorker, he continues to fail.
For example, in responding to the New Yorker article, von Spakovsky listed a series of recent alleged voting fraud cases that to his mind justified the expense, bureaucracy and obstacles to voting created by voter ID laws. They were:
——————-
– the Democratic nominee for Maryland’s first congressional district removed from the ballot after it was discovered that she had registered and voted in both Maryland and Florida in the 2006 and 2008 elections;
– an Arkansas legislator resigning after pleading guilty (with three other defendants) to committing voter fraud;
– a Canadian couple and a Mexican citizen arrested for illegally registering and voting in Iowa;
– a New Jersey resident convicted on multiple counts of voter fraud;
– three Indiana residents (including a former Democratic mayoral candidate) indicted for voter fraud;
– three Ohioans indicted for double voting;
– a Mexican drug dealer’s guilty plea for voting illegally in the 2008 presidential election;
– Florida’s discovery of nearly 200 non-citizens illegally registered to vote, and
– a city-council race in Vernon, Calif., overturned owing to voter fraud.
——————-
That’s the best he could do?
Once again, none of the examples could have been prevented through voter ID. Requiring a drivers license to vote, for example, does nothing to prevent non-citizens from voting because citizenship is not noted on the license.
Also note that none of the examples cited by von Spakovsky involved an organized effort to alter an election through fraudulent in-person voting. Several involved absentee balloting, the easiest and most popular way to abuse the electoral process. However, it is noteworthy that the Republican Party has in general tried to expand absentee voting without tightening oversight because that’s the means that many of its own voters tend to prefer.
Peggy Cobb
Which brings us to the story of 97-year-old Peggy Cobb of Sandy Springs, as related in an email from her son Bill:
——————-
“I now have a crystal clear, visceral understanding of why some politicians think voter ID laws are so important. The suppressive power of this law to deter people from voting is far greater than I realized. Meet my mother.
She is 97, in good health and with virtually all her marbles (bad hearing loss, though), living an active, independent life in Sandy Springs. She moved here four years ago or so. Had one knee replaced a couple years ago.
Peggy has voted in every presidential election since she was eligible, and most if not all others, too. She pays attention to this stuff more than a lot of people I know. She insists, often with me chafing, on hearing the other side.
She has a Fulton County voter registration card and has voted in every election when she’s been here. Her expired Indiana driver’s license used to be enough ID at the polling booth. No more.
But all she had to do was go to a driver’s services office, show the necessary documents, and get her Georgia Voter ID. Some waiting. No fees. Great deal.
So Peggy gathered up her voter registration card, some utility bills, bank statements, rent receipts and tax returns and went to Driver Services. They said “Great, you have everything you need. Except a birth certificate.”
She went back home and eventually figured out how to order a birth certificate from Minnesota, where she was born and married. Six weeks later, it arrived. Peggy returned to Drivers Services very enthusiastic, since the election was only a couple weeks off. They said “Great, you have everything you need, except the last name on your birth certificate isn’t the same as on all these other documents.”
Well of course not, she got married in 1943. What else could that middle initial “V” stand for except her maiden name, Vanstrom?
No Georgia voter ID card for Peggy without a marriage certificate.
I rarely ever see my mother near tears, but I did then. Some combination of rage and foreboding maybe. Luckily, the Minnesota county that has her marriage certificate is very user friendly. They even do same day turn-around and overnight delivery, if you pay for it. Time was short. $53. But UPS screwed up and misdelivered it, so Minnesota sent another one (no charge) to my house. My wife and I made sure one of us was home all day to sign for it.
Yesterday, back to Drivers Services. A friend drove her. They said, “Great, you have everything you need, except your Social Security number doesn’t match our system. Sorry, no exceptions.”
The friend, who had only bargained for lunch really, drove Peggy home to search for more papers with her Social Security number on it, then drove her to a Social Security office in Marietta. The agent could find nothing amiss, and gave her some papers.
Drivers Services finally relented and gave Peggy a Georgia voter ID yesterday, 5 days before the election. What would she have done without that determined friend?
You probably can’t truly appreciate the physical and emotion toll this ordeal has taken on Peggy. She definitely can’t believe it.
“Why is Georgia doing this to me! Do they want me not to be here? I thought government was supposed to make voting as simple as possible. I don’t understand it!”
I explained the reason for Georgia’s anti-fraud requirements with a joke I heard a long time ago. It begins with a guy standing around constantly snapping his fingers.
“Why are you doing that?” someone asked.
“I’m keeping the elephants away.”
“What? There’s never been an elephant within a thousand miles of here!”
“See, it’s working.”
The reality, of course, is much more mean-spirited and pernicious. Peggy got the joke right away. But she’s still not happy. It’s not funny. At all.
——————-
No, Peggy’s not happy. In a later message, she herself spoke of her frustration with what she calls “Beautiful Georgia, my adopted state as I finish life’s journey.” Voting absentee, she says, “seemed sensible.” But on the other hand, she wanted to once again feel the excitement of voting in person, on Election Day.
“This year 2012 held new significance … my last year ever to vote in a presidential election. I wanted to feel part of this great privilege, wanted to again walk out of my precinct tapping my Georgia Peach voter sticker. Even if the day were dark, gloomy and cold, the sun would be shining.”
But “government intrusion stripped me of my established legal right to vote in 2012 unless I complied with new restriction laws…. I will vote in person on Nov. 6 but my spirit is broken. Trust in the government of my adopted state is shattered, a cruel joke.”
– Jay Bookman
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1,304 comments Add your comment
cmac
November 3rd, 2012
11:11 pm
Yea …. prove who you yo say you are … sounds pretty damn oppressive to me. You liberal pieces of poop are all the same!!
josef
November 3rd, 2012
11:11 pm
JM
“Kam would be better off without any brain at all”
You trying to win him over to your side…
Jm
November 3rd, 2012
11:11 pm
Josef
I don’t gamble
Jm
November 3rd, 2012
11:14 pm
Josef
I’m not on any side
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
November 3rd, 2012
11:16 pm
Betty — I HATE Bama!! And it’s not even a deeply seated historic hate. I started hating Bama because of the Cam Newton, (my husband is an Auburn Grad — he’s hated them forever).
I WANT an SEC team to be in the “big game” and i know that neither Florida NOR South Carolina is ready, (Georgia DEFINITELY isn’t ready — their coach is not “savY” enough in play callling; everyone already knows what he’s going to do every down………run); LSU is still shaky on offense so it HAS to be BAma.
It’s just that the idea of cheering for Bama gives me hives…………
=====================
josef, i don’t know what’s up!! I do, however, just for fun (and strictly for EDUCATIONAL purposes…..wink, wink); look at gay porn every now and then.
That picture is NOT porn, however it IS risque……..
Perhaps Mr. U put a block on your computer so that you couldn’t look at any hot guys beside him.
josef
November 3rd, 2012
11:16 pm
CLOUD
“I’d gladly dip my finger in an ink that wouldn’t wash away for 3 months.”
Sh*t! That’s twice I’ve agreed with you…oh, nooooo!
JM
Yeah, I caught my error…but you should…give something back and feel good about doing your part to make amends for the past…just ask Tundra and getalife!
Orange12
November 3rd, 2012
11:18 pm
Even if Alabama somehow pulls this out they might not be number one tomorrow. Good call on your pick thus far Deb.
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
November 3rd, 2012
11:19 pm
The Dumbing Down Continues…………..That righty is something else……….
Why defend fraud in the voting process..? Why..? It’s like the charter school debate
Cloudodust
November 3rd, 2012
11:20 pm
Debbie-Do— Really..? Why the heck are you not in Buckhead tonight instead of sitting in front of this clusterbang called a blog..? I’ve a son that goes to transvestite shows in ATL and is voting DEM. Think I’ll write him out of the will..!
Cloudodust
November 3rd, 2012
11:21 pm
josef–Stick w/ me…
josef
November 3rd, 2012
11:23 pm
DDR
That may be it…but I tell ya, and I’m not bragging, the boy has kept it..still got that Mark Spitz swimmer’s body and that touch of gray, well…what can I say? He still turns heads and not just at the old folks home…
And the gay porn…strongly suspect you ain’t the only one…you’ll just admit it. educational purposes, of course…
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
November 3rd, 2012
11:24 pm
O12 — but how far would they fall if they won by 2 or 3? LSU IS a tough team and they’ve only lost once in Death Valley in the past 4 years.
I want an SEC team to play in the big game — but I want the BEST team to play. And the best team is Bama…..this year. Next year, knowing the SEC, it could be anybody.
Jm
November 3rd, 2012
11:24 pm
Josef
I give to the preservation of wild lands
And I buy original native american artwork directly from the artists
That’s giving back IMO
josef
November 3rd, 2012
11:26 pm
CLOUD
josef
November 3rd, 2012
11:26 pm
CLOUD
Tundra Dude
November 3rd, 2012
11:26 pm
Josef:
make amends for the past (??)
As a Euro immigrunt, I know not of what thou speaketh…..
josef
November 3rd, 2012
11:28 pm
Well, there’s another repeat…
JM
I don’t know nuthin bout no Native American art…but some of that Indian sh*t is pretty good…so, what do you collect…?
Orange12
November 3rd, 2012
11:29 pm
Deb,
This might be crazy. But, I’m going to go out on a limb and say if Alabama loses UGA wins the SEC. As far as how far they would drop if they win by 2 or three. I think they would drop to #2 as K State looked pretty impressive against Okie State.
Rabbit
November 3rd, 2012
11:32 pm
Want to know why the cynicism: here’s Romneys lying game plan its criminal
“Late in her 2006 re-election campaign, then-Gov. Jennifer Granholm unleashed a TV ad accusing her Republican opponent, former Amway CEO Dick DeVos, of moving hundreds of thousands of American manufacturing jobs to China.
The ad’s premise was a lie, as Granholm tacitly acknowledged in her 2011 memoir, “A Governor’s Story.”
Like most U.S. companies, Amway had secured permission to expand into the lucrative Chinese market only by agreeing to manufacture the products it wanted to sell to Chinese consumers in Chinese factories; contrary to the TV spot’s implication, no “American jobs” had been exported to Asia.
But the deceptive ad succeeded, Granholm recalled, in redirecting “the anger DeVos had turned at me right back at him.”
Jm
November 3rd, 2012
11:33 pm
Josef
Mostly Hopi, Navajo
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
November 3rd, 2012
11:34 pm
Cloud my second bestest friend EVAH! (my sis-n-law is the first), performs at the club!! I go to see him a lot of times; and sometimes we hang out while he’s dressed “up”.
It’s soooo funny to see guys hitting on him while he pretends he’s not interested!! He must get at least 5 phone numbers every time we’re out. I only get 3!
===========================
josef, I LOVE gay porn!! Derrick Burts (?) is my all time favorite — he’s sooooo educational! Dudley calls my watching gay porn a “sickness”; and he even goes into the kitchen gets a cup of water, prays over it, and “baptizes” me with it!
I just find the whole genre so educational. I mean when you think about it, men are the biggest liars and hound dogs in the world, (no disrespect), so when guy hits on another guy with a line, does the hittee actually believe the lie that the hitter told? Or, is he just pretending ’cause he wants the same thing?
===============================
Man, LSU is marching down the field like a bunch of soldiers invading a country!!! This game is GOOOOODDD!!!
Cloudodust
November 3rd, 2012
11:35 pm
Deb-Do—Here’s my Left wing voting record : McGovern over Nixon (Yeah, I was draft bait but never protested the war. Told my Dad I’d go if drafted You..?) Clinton, twice. That’s it for the Left. No mas, no more…btw, the vagina in my house owns me..! Don’t need the government telling me anything I don’t already know..!
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
November 3rd, 2012
11:35 pm
And the best team is Bama…
Not tonight.
josef
November 3rd, 2012
11:36 pm
TUNDRA
It’s a running joke between me and getalife…he has contributed greatly to the reconstruction of the Chitamacha language… more seriously, however, the buffalo bucks have been put to good use on many a rez for educational and cultural preservation efforts… and even off the rez…linked this one here the other p.m.
http://www.wsfa.com/story/17047597/poarch-creek-indians-donate-2m-to-schools
moonbat betty
November 3rd, 2012
11:39 pm
What!?
Bam a goes down?
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
November 3rd, 2012
11:40 pm
Sippin’ Crown in respect for getalife.
moonbat betty
November 3rd, 2012
11:40 pm
Rut ruh!
Rabbit
November 3rd, 2012
11:40 pm
Now Mitt Romney, who until recently liked to portray himself as a champion of unfettered capitalism, is desperately borrowing from the Granholm campaign’s bag of demagogic tricks with his own ad spot targeting Chrysler, General Motors and the Obama administration’s decision to rescue both companies from insolvency.
From Detroit Free Press
Jm
November 3rd, 2012
11:42 pm
Ot
Ot
josef
November 3rd, 2012
11:42 pm
DDR
@ 11:34
Oh, the stories I could tell!
JM
I really like the Southwestern jewelry/pottery…for painting, I’m partial to the Southeasterners. I’m fascinated, though, by the Northwester/Alaskan…amazing stuff…
Cloudodust
November 3rd, 2012
11:43 pm
Had ‘Bama 24-13 over LSU…We’ll see come sun up. Sleep that extra hour. Rest is a key to survival. As the family Georg von Trapp sang so well, So long, farewell…
moonbat betty
November 3rd, 2012
11:44 pm
Boom!
Jm
November 3rd, 2012
11:44 pm
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
November 3rd, 2012
11:35 pm
And the best team is Bama…
Not tonight.
LinkReport this comment
- and kam is wrong. Again. And again. And again.
Jm
November 3rd, 2012
11:45 pm
Josef
I love native American art
Orange12
November 3rd, 2012
11:45 pm
Wow, Bama scores. 51 secs left.
Rabbit
November 3rd, 2012
11:45 pm
Too early Bama comes back
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
November 3rd, 2012
11:46 pm
This might be crazy. But, I’m going to go out on a limb and say if Alabama loses UGA wins the SEC. As far as how far they would drop if they win by 2 or three. I think they would drop to #2 as K State looked pretty impressive against Okie State
O – No way!! You see Georgia winning the SEC Championship game? GEORGIA?!?
Oh snap!! Bama just scored!!!
Ok back to you — KState haven’t really played any REALLY tough guys. I look at KState the same way I look at Ohio State or Notre DAme. They haven’t been TESTED yet.
moonbat betty
November 3rd, 2012
11:49 pm
Roll tide!
Great win.
Brosephus™
November 3rd, 2012
11:50 pm
getalife
Much respect bro… What in the hell did Mett eat today?
getalife
November 3rd, 2012
11:51 pm
Good game Bro and Alabama fans.
josef
November 3rd, 2012
11:52 pm
DDR
Yow-suh…got that to pull up…and not to worry, you’d be surprized just how much like him (especially back in the day) that looks!
Orange12
November 3rd, 2012
11:53 pm
Deb,
First of all Ohio State is on probation. They aren’t going anywhere. K State is BCS #2. Notre Dame? I don’t think so. Oregon beat So Cal by 1 tonight. If Christmas comes early for Alabama and they remain # one, it will be by the skin of their teeth. Like I said call me crazy for picking UGA over LSU. I don’t think UGA beats BAMA.
Orange12
November 3rd, 2012
11:54 pm
GEtalife,
Excellent game. Mett looked pretty good. Tough way to lose.
Brosephus™
November 3rd, 2012
11:55 pm
Orange 12
Bama will stay #1. You get bonus points for winning at night on the road in Baton Rouge. I hate playing in Baton Rouge….
getalife
November 3rd, 2012
11:55 pm
Bro,
I don’t know who that quarterback was.
Great game, I thought we might eek out a win but your quarterback did a great job that last drive.
moonbat betty
November 3rd, 2012
11:55 pm
LSU rocked.
Hats off to them tigers.
getalife
November 3rd, 2012
11:56 pm
Orange,
Thanks it was a classic SEC battle.
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
November 3rd, 2012
11:58 pm
Cloud:Deb-Do—Here’s my Left wing voting record : McGovern over Nixon (Yeah, I was draft bait but never protested the war. Told my Dad I’d go if drafted You..?) Clinton, twice. That’s it for the Left. No mas, no more…btw, the vagina in my house owns me..! Don’t need the government telling me anything I don’t already know..!
I voted for Clinton (once), Gore ( and I’m PROUD of that fact!! Just think what a different world/America we would have now if Gore would’ve won. No TWO WARS, no crash, no bank bailouts…..), Kerry, and Obama, (twice).
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
November 3rd, 2012
11:59 pm
Tough loss for the Tigers. Great final drive for Alabama.
I still think the Tigers were the better team tonight.
Brosephus™
November 3rd, 2012
11:59 pm
getalife
Mett was on fire!!!! If the SEC realigned and moved Bama to the East, I would not shed a tear. If I didn’t say it already, I hate playing in Baton Rouge.
That was a great game though. I don’t think I can do many more like that. Good thing I get my extra hour tonight, or I would be one grumpy mofo tomorrow.
Orange12
November 3rd, 2012
11:59 pm
Bro,
I don’t know. That was a little too close for comfort. If you guys would have lost. I would have had to vote a straight DEM ticket. Can you imagine how I was feeling?
getalife
November 4th, 2012
12:04 am
Bro,
Baton Rouge is a tough place to play but you broke our home winning streak
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
November 4th, 2012
12:05 am
Oh wait!! I voted for Obama 6 times!!! I used some dead people’s electric bills!
==========================
Bro — BAma eeked out that win by the skin of their teeth! I don’t know what happened to LSU at the end — it was like their DC was paid off by a Bama booster to make those bad defensive calls or something!!
================
O12 — I KNOW about OSU, however their’ STILL ranked in the top 5 – I don’t think they’re that good. I also don’t think that KSU has PROVEN they’re that good either. KSU is ranked higher than Oregon Ducks, I think they’re over rated.
===========================
josef — does Mr. U know about your sordid past?
moonbat betty
November 4th, 2012
12:05 am
I guess bam a needs to go pro?
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
November 4th, 2012
12:06 am
getalife
Silly coaching mistakes cost LSU the game. Too many going for it on 4th down and that dumb trick field goal didn’t fool anyone.
moonbat betty
November 4th, 2012
12:06 am
I guess bamabshould go pro?
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
November 4th, 2012
12:07 am
I still think the Tigers were the better team tonight.
Me too Kam — however, their kicker will need a big hug after this game. He must feel awful.
old timer
November 4th, 2012
12:08 am
Man there are a lot of comments on this subject. Do you read them all before posting your comment? Does Jay? Let’s see. Jay wants to see my pee pee. Does this make him a perv? Anyway, ROMNEY WILL WIN, WE NEED A REAL LEADER. ROMNEY, ROMNEY, ROMNEY. WOO HOO!!!!!!!
getalife
November 4th, 2012
12:09 am
Kam,
Coaches had a bad night but the players gave it all they had.
Les will take some heat after this one.
Brosephus™
November 4th, 2012
12:11 am
Orange 12
I didn’t expect it to be a cakewalk. That’s only the 2nd time that Miles has been beaten on a Saturday night. It just so happens that both teams were ranked #1 at the time.
Orange12
November 4th, 2012
12:12 am
Betty,
This is a repost.
http://collegefootball.scout.com/2/1235581.html
Brosephus™
November 4th, 2012
12:13 am
Guess I’m gonna go take a nap before work. I’ll catch y’all later. Say a prayer this evening for APD and their families. They lost two officers in a helicopter crash tonight.
josef
November 4th, 2012
12:14 am
DDR
“josef — does Mr. U know about your sordid past?”
Well, yes,,,or at least SOME of it! Funny thing on that. Back when we were still getting to know you and he was hearing from the gossipy (and envious) set more of the details than were really necessary, and was wondering, my old que*n friend Aunt Chris, told him, “but just look at it this way, if he’s giving all that up for you, that must mean you’re something extraordinary…” He was, and is. He was exactly what I had been looking for all along…I’m one lucky b*stid, I am…
Orange12
November 4th, 2012
12:15 am
Deb,
O12 — I KNOW about OSU, however their’ STILL ranked in the top 5 – I don’t think they’re that good”
They are ranked in the AP which means squat for Bowl Games. The only one that counts is the BCS.
Steve-USA
November 4th, 2012
12:16 am
Bama was in a coma in the second half then all of a sudden they march down the field and score. It made me very happy but I was shocked they did it.
Saben has a place up at Lake Burton that he is selling. I bet he would have lunch with you if you paid the asking price…$10.95 million.
Orange12
November 4th, 2012
12:19 am
Yeah Bro, I remember both games well. I just think K State is going to overtake Bama. I could be wrong. Ask kamchuck he will tell you.
RF
November 4th, 2012
12:24 am
“He was exactly what I had been looking for all along…I’m one lucky b*stid, I am…”
Oh that we should all be so lucky, but I am an optimist!
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
November 4th, 2012
12:26 am
josef: He was exactly what I had been looking for all along…I’m one lucky b*stid, I am…
It is something when you find that ONE isn’t it? Even when you’re not looking or even thinking about looking and then BAM! There he goes. That one person who isn’t perfect, but who’s perfect for YOU.
I knew Dudley for about two years before i really saw who he was. I just considered him as my best friend’s brother; but then when i actually took the time to really look at him; i knew he was it. I fought it, i just didn’t like the idea of hitching my wagon to a military man, i didn’t want my mother’s life, but you don’t pick the person you fall in love with; the universe does.
Yep — if you find someone who loves you and LIKES you for you with all your faults then you are a lucky B##st#rd!
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
November 4th, 2012
12:27 am
I just think K State is going to overtake Bama. I could be wrong.
You also just thought gasoline would be $6 a gallon by now, so your powers of prognostication are nonexistent.
Bobby
November 4th, 2012
12:28 am
Idiots, where in the H0%k does it say in the Constitution that you have a right to vote? It does not. Jay your following of liberals never ceases to amaze me…..
josef
November 4th, 2012
12:28 am
RF
You’ll know it when it comes…there’ll be no further question…you just have to keep looking, and hey, no reason not to have some fun looking! Seriously, though, I don’t know what it was I did in the last life to deserve this in this life, but it must’ve been good…
josef
November 4th, 2012
12:34 am
DDR
“Even when you’re not looking or even thinking about looking and then BAM!”
About the LAST thing I was looking for that night…I was looking for a brawl! You’ll get your chance to read THAT story…
“… LIKES you for you with all your faults…”
What faults?
But, yes…
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
November 4th, 2012
12:38 am
What faults?
HA!!
AND………I’ll “read” about it? Thinking about another book? One not rated “G”?
labman57
November 4th, 2012
12:40 am
The (publicly stated) rationale for all of the restrictive voter ID laws emanating from Republican-controlled state legislatures — “voter fraud”.
There is a world of difference between voting fraud (i.e., fraud perpetrated by the voter at the precincts on election day) and voter registration fraud. There is very little evidence for the former in the U.S. (other than that being perpetrated by O’Keefe’s not-ready-for-prime-time players), yet conservatives are hell bent on enacting legislation to combat it, suggesting an ulterior motive is at play.
Mailing out voter registration forms to non-eligible or nonexistent individuals is not, in of itself, election fraud. Completing and submitting said forms is a form of election fraud, but these acts would not affect an election unless the regional election authorities validated the registrations and then somebody actually attempted to vote using this fake registration.
If Republicans sincerely want to tackle real election fraud, then they should focus their efforts on deceptive practices used to prevent some citizens from voting, as well as what happens to the votes after they are cast.
In other words, election fraud DOES exist … except that the fraudulent party is not the voter:
- it is the political party tactician who attempts to mislead a subset of the public with respect to date and/or location of the voting process, or the hired thug who attempts to intimidate selected citizens who show up to vote,
- it is the opposition party’s tactical team which fronts faux candidates to run against an authentic party candidate in state primary elections,
- it is the contracted or county voter registration worker who throws out registration forms, or the state official who decides that some registration forms or provisional ballots “appear” to be fraudulent (e.g.., the last name ends in “-ez”),
- and it is the local election official who conveniently misplaces ballots or runs out of ballots at precincts that traditionally vote Democrat.
With respect to the voter ID legislation being pushed forth by Republican-controlled state legislatures, GOP legislators should simply cut to the chase and proclaim that the only Americans who have a legitimate right to vote are those who are registered members of the Republican Party.
josef
November 4th, 2012
12:45 am
DDR
Actually, I’ve been working on it and I have you to thank (or blame!). I’m hoping for a PG. Seriously, though, you are the one who set me to thinking that maybe, well, I do have something to say to young gay people along the lines of “it does get better.”
As you know, whenever somebody comes in with the pity party, I tend to get a little huffy, saying if you want to look back at “all that” as a voyage of misery, deliver me. I could tell stories to make your hair stand on end, but why? I’m happy as a dead pig in the sunshine despite (or maybe IN spite) of that and, looking back, it’s been one helluva ride. Maybe that IS something young gay folks out there need to know…it DOES get better…
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
November 4th, 2012
12:54 am
Maybe that IS something young gay folks out there need to know…it DOES get better…
Yes they do need to know this — especially young gays in the south. Especially young black gay males. A lot of them are so confused, hurt and frustrated; and on the verge of suicide or WORSE.
I’m so glad you’re writing this!! PG or X would be the very best rating; but since it’s for the young ones, i guess you’ve got to tone it down a bit.
Make it also about the great love that you’ve found since you’ve found yourself.
oh and don’t forget to add a chapter on parenthood and the relationship that you’ve had with your children,
And one more, don’t forget to add conflict resolution and how to make it OUT without loosing your life.
It’s gonna be a great book!!
=================================
labman57 — great post!
Oscar
November 4th, 2012
12:55 am
Bobby
November 4th, 2012
12:28 am
Idiots, where in the H0%k does it say in the Constitution that you have a right to vote? It does not. Jay your following of liberals never ceases to amaze me…..
_______
It’s there. You just have to be able to read at a least a fourth grade level in order to find it.
Steve
November 4th, 2012
12:57 am
It now seems apparent that:
Islamic terrorism is alive and well, NOT out of business as declared by Obama;
Obama is sure to lose due to the economy; Benghazi BS; and debate performance;
The current president is incompetent, ill-advised, inept, and will be replaced.
When I first saw the image of Obama sprinting down the stairs from AF1, and then speaking while donning the post storm CIC Sandyman “bomber jacket”, I literally laughed out loud. He is a joke.
The threat of riots is increasing…”back to the crop fields” spoken by a 9 year old at OBAMA rally… more guns and ammo being purchased ahead of election… highest number ever on food stamps and SS disability…20 years sucking up to Rev. Jeremiah Wright…, pals with Ayers and Dornan…, CZARS to avoid Senate review…, disregard for representative governance through regulations…,
AND YOU STILL FOLLOW THIS MAN? ARE YOU THAT weak AND DEPENDENT?
RF
November 4th, 2012
12:58 am
“Maybe that IS something young gay folks out there need to know…it DOES get better…”
And they need to hear it, with raw honesty, from those who know. Those who have had the most influence in my life were those who knew the highs AND lows of life. Young folks need those role models. Write it and we’ll all be waiting to read it!
josef
November 4th, 2012
1:03 am
LAB MAN
I second DDR…
DDR
The hard part of this has been trying to get across the idea of “knowing your place” and how all that plays out with the gay thingie…how what looks like an “advantage” to others, may be what it is you’re having to overcome and what looks like a “disadvantage” may well be your greatest source of strength. That, bottom line, you have to break with those “expectations” and define yourself for yourself and, most importantly, never take yourself TOO seriously…
DawgDad
November 4th, 2012
1:04 am
I don’t give one hoot about what some party official says, or a sob story about someone inconvenienced by having to produce their necessary identity papers. I have to file tax returns, so NO sympathy from this corner whatsoever on that count. Besides, this does not speak to the issue at all. When a person votes who is not legally authorized to do so that vote negatively impacts the proportional value of every other vote, which should be ONE per person. If you believe otherwise, you are are in effect seeking to deny my constitutional rights as a citizen.
Jay, I’m just as interested in protecting the integrity of YOUR vote as I am mine. If you don’t care, that’s fine, many people have fought and many have died to protect our constitutional rights and freedoms knowing others were not fully appreciative.
You can pretty easily discern which is the principled position on this issue just by scanning the blog replies.
josef
November 4th, 2012
1:10 am
RF
Back when I was coming to terms with self and went looking for things to read, all it seemed I could find was, at best, the Proustian but more often either the totally hopeless or the John Rechy-Bourroughs meaninglessness. Then, bingo, there was E. M. Forester’s “Maurice,” with its message that you don’t have to buy into that sh*t….
I was lucky enough to have some great role models (and protectors)…and I am grateful for them every day of my life…
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
November 4th, 2012
1:19 am
The hard part of this has been trying to get across the idea of “knowing your place” and how all that plays out with the gay thingie
Yes but the young are so impatient AND so easily dissuaded. They havenot yet learned how to overcome; most are still wet with their mother’s milk around their mouths.
================
Oh well it’s late and Dudley wants the lights out so he can get some sleep. Ya’ll be good and I’ll c u later.
josef
November 4th, 2012
1:25 am
I’m being paged, too…so, g’night…it was real, it was fun, and it was real fun…
Peace
November 4th, 2012
5:38 am
RF @ 12:44
Actually, ONE vote can decide an election. It doesn’t take ONE PERCENT. I’ve seen it happen.
Joel
November 4th, 2012
7:22 am
Voter ID laws are there for one simple reason–to restore faith in the lie of democratic legitimacy.
Rightwing Troll
November 4th, 2012
7:45 am
“If you’re thinking about voting for Mitt Romney, I would like to make this one plea: black people know who you are and they will come after you”
It’s OK scout, it was a joke… you can crawl out from under your bed now…
Thomas Heyward Jr
November 4th, 2012
7:47 am
Because this woman is probably a Romney/Obama-Bot, I could care less about her plight but……….It’s funny how the State DEMANDS all kinds of papers from her but if she should only ASK for a paper receipt of her ballot….the State Baulks.
.
It’s rigged.
Rightwing Troll
November 4th, 2012
7:48 am
We’ll see how all the wingnuts feel about the lie of voter fraud after the next time they have to renew their DL’s in GA.
They’ll be railing on about the DMV, and gubbimint, instead of the idiots who made the laws (whom they themselves elected…)
Thomas Heyward Jr
November 4th, 2012
8:09 am
The Private sector versus .gov————–
.
On Monday night, Hurricane Sandy hit the armory of the New York Army National Guard’s 69th Infantry Regiment, leaving the soldiers without power, hot water, or anything but the most rudimentary means of communicating with the outside world. So the next morning, the Regiment’s officers made an emergency plea — to the producers of the Victoria’s Secret fashion show.
As they had done for the last three years running, the lingerie company was holding its annual television event at the Regiment’s historic armory, located at 25th street and Lexington Avenue in Manhattan. For the show, the producers had hauled in eight massive 500 kilowatt generators. Of course, the producers said, we’d be happy to help. Hours later, the lights flashed back on.
“We were dead in the water until Victoria’s Secret showed up,” says Capt. Brendan Gendron, the Regiment’s operations officer.
.
sigh
stands for decibels
November 4th, 2012
8:15 am
Regardless, having to prove who you are is NOT voter suppression.
I’d love to hear you tell that to GOP voters who are disenfranchised by this lunacy.
stands for decibels
November 4th, 2012
8:19 am
AND YOU STILL FOLLOW THIS MAN? ARE YOU THAT weak AND DEPENDENT?
awww…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPAB3VaRmPc
A Simple Man
November 4th, 2012
8:21 am
My story:
Jay, I go to church with a woman who is here illegally (parents brought her). She is a black single mother. She told me that she has voted in the last three elections and will vote Obama in this election. She said that even though he is opposed to most of her principles they share the same skin color and that’s something I just wouldn’t understand. So, there you go. A real life story as valid as yours.
Thomas Heyward Jr
November 4th, 2012
8:35 am
A Simple Man
November 4th, 2012
8:21 am
My story:
Jay, I go to church with a woman who is here illegally (parents brought her). She is a black single mother. She told me that she has voted in the last three elections and will vote Obama in this election. She said that even though he is opposed to most of her principles they share the same skin color and that’s something I just wouldn’t understand. So, there you go. A real life story as valid as yours.
————————————————————————————————————————–
.
If you vote for Obama because he is black……..that’s cool.
If you do not vote for Obama because he is black………not cool.
.
So the prog logic goes.
Corbin Sharpe. I think, therefore I am...I think
November 4th, 2012
8:36 am
Good Morning everyone…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXu3_jK4QEM
Corbin Sharpe. I think, therefore I am...I think
November 4th, 2012
8:39 am
Thomas,
To me, it’s just I can’t vote for a man who is a leader of his faith and will lie so readily, by word and deed. Skin color has nothing to with it for me.
TaxPayer
November 4th, 2012
8:41 am
I saw an antiqued white person that said that she was going to vote for Mitt because she thinks that Obama is a Muslim athiest communist Kenyan that attended a Christian Church for twenty years.
A Simple Man
November 4th, 2012
8:42 am
Corbin,
Who you talking about? That comment applies to both and all of congress as well.
Thomas Heyward Jr
November 4th, 2012
8:42 am
Corbin Sharpe. I think, therefore I am…I think
November 4th, 2012
8:39 am
Thomas,
Skin color has nothing to with it for me.
————————————————————————————————-
Nor I.
I would actually even vote for a green New Jersiack , if that New Jersiack was a champion of individual liberty, peace,freedom, and the rule of law.
gogators
November 4th, 2012
8:44 am
so she had to go the extra mile to get her paperwork done i dont see what the problem is!!!!!!waiting for Jays blog on how the residents of NY and NJ feel about the regimes handling fo the Sandy response