GOP believes it benefits by making voting difficult
Republicans believe — for valid statistical and historic reasons — that lower voter turnout increases their odds of success. So they have not been shy about using a variety of means, legal and otherwise, to try to keep voter participation as low as possible.
In Virginia, the state has begun an investigation into the destruction of voter-registration forms by a company that was hired by the state Republican Party. On Sunday, Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli sent out an email to his fellow Republicans, celebrating the fact that “when I looked yesterday, so far there are over 357,000 absentee votes cast. That’s barely over 70 percent of the 2008 total. That’s bad for them.”
In Ohio, Secretary of State Jon Husted, also a Republican, had to be forced by federal court order to open early voting to all Ohio citizens. Long voting lines over the weekend in Ohio testified to the importance of that ruling. Husted also had to be forced by court order to count votes that are accidentally cast in the wrong precinct because of poll-worker, not voter, error. Husted was more than willing to just toss those votes aside, stripping those who cast them of their right to be heard.
Furthermore, as the Toledo Blade reports, “Thousands of absentee ballot applications may have been rejected because Mr. Husted’s office did not send 33,000 updated registration records to local election officials until after the deadline for changes.”
The biggest problems, however, are occurring in a state all too familiar with election litigation and controversy. With immensely long lines already apparent throughout the state, Florida Gov. Rick Scott refused to extend early voting opportunities, breaking with the precedent set by his two predecessors in the office, both of whom were Republican. And in what may have been a freelance effort to shut down voting — nobody in an official capacity would ever approve such a stunt — early voting was interrupted Saturday at a Democratic precinct in Winter Park by the discovery of two “suspicious packages,” which had to be destroyed by a bomb disposal unit.
As Andrew Cohen writes in The Atlantic:
” … what is happening this weekend in Florida is simply unacceptable. According to a local election official interviewed by CBS News’ Phil Hirschkorn, the last “early voter” in line for Saturday’s truncated early voting in Palm Beach County finally got to cast a ballot at 2:30 Sunday morning, which means that voter waited in line for more than seven hours. In Miami, another traditional Democratic stronghold, the wait was said to be nearly as long. On Sunday, voters all over the state were begging judges and county officials for more time to vote.
This is happening not because of a natural disaster or a breakdown in machinery. It is happening by partisan design. Alarmed by the strong Democratic turnout in early voting in 2008, Republican lawmakers, including Gov. Rick Scott, reduced the number of early-voting days from 14 to eight….
If Florida’s election officials, and its Republican lawmakers, and its state and federal judges, all were required to stand in line for seven hours to vote, those long lines would go away forever. You know it, I know it, and so do those officials.”
No public official — no American patriot — ought to try to discourage fellow Americans from voting. No political party ought to advance its own prospects by trying to reduce rather than increase participation in the most fundamental rite and right of democratic self-government.
Because if that’s your route to power, you’re doomed to failure in the long term, and you ought to be.
– Jay Bookman
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558 comments Add your comment
I'm a liberal and believe everything I read and nothing the other side comes up with...cause we're smart and they are not
November 5th, 2012
1:35 pm
CNN poll out this AM has got to have Dems troubled . 49-49 tie with a +9 Dem sampling. Has Romney up 22 with independents. Being reported as a close race……Well, what else they gonna say…LOL
MANGLER
November 5th, 2012
1:35 pm
Things I notice when I’ve voted over the years. Having moved a few times in four States, my precinct was different each election. There were times when I was in a more heavily populated area which was , based on observation only, more heavily minority populated and by all antidotal evidence, Liberal. There were times when I was in a more suburban or wealthier part of town (gotta love apartment hopping sometimes) which was by all observational data, white and conservative. Every election I voted in when my district was urban and liberal was in a small room inside of a much larger library or civic center, was under staffed, had malfunctioning machines or they weren’t all operating on voting day, did not provide ballot descriptions ahead of time while waiting, or didn’t even have working A/C and was rather uncomfortable inside, and had very long lines, typically from 30 minutes to almost 2 hours on the Presidential election.
I wouldn’t have noticed the stark contrasts had each and every time I voted in a conservative district it was an entirely different experience. Each time was in a church (which I’ve always found odd), offered many more voting machines that the other precincts did, had so much staff they greeted you in the parking lot and were there at each bend or turn on the way into the building, handed out ballot initiatives for you to pre fill out or read while waiting in line, had A/C and was comfortable inside, and lacked a long line. Between immediate and 10 minutes was what I got each time.
And looking around at who was in those precincts voting was also very telling. Discouraging urban liberal voters is something I’ve seen every time I’ve voted. If you’re angry about that in an urban liberal setting, get out and see what your neighboring suburban conservative polling stations look like at the same exact time. Then you’ll be furious.
DannyX
November 5th, 2012
1:35 pm
“Do you suppose the DEMS are going to again go with David Boies to dispute outcome if GOP wins?”
Maybe they should call the Republican lawyer that handled the Minnesota senate fight a few years back.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
November 5th, 2012
1:36 pm
They’re not being round up like sheep, which for all intents and purposes, is how the Democratic Party attempts to exploit early voting.
So, getting people to the voting booths is exploiting early voting? You admit you subscribe to the what Jay is railing against here.
Mr. Snarky
November 5th, 2012
1:36 pm
“Mr. Snarky – Absentee ballot seems to work.”
Not if you don’t have much advanced notice.
Voting should be easy…obviously controls should be in place, but one person being deprived of their vote is a terrible thing. That is why we should err on the side of voter encouragement vs. fraud prevention.
Jay
November 5th, 2012
1:36 pm
Stevie Ray, I don’t know who they’ve hired, and I very much hope I don’t learn who they hired, because that would be a very bad sign. But I have no doubt whatsoever that both parties already have a full contingent of lawyers straining at the leash to be sicced on the other side.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
November 5th, 2012
1:37 pm
CNN poll out this AM has got to have Dems troubled
Not at all.
Vote for 2 Pot Pies in every Oven
November 5th, 2012
1:38 pm
Hi folks do you know in the constitution of Usa there is no federal are that you are made to vote//Not in any law..Just have right vote at age 18 in all states….Look it up folks now Jay not cause Neal Boortz use be on AJC till they fired off…Further more if turn out is huge rommey will win if other well for more years of lettin Muslims take over Usa!
Justin Addison
November 5th, 2012
1:38 pm
I’m using Granny’s beetles to predict the election. They’re saying Obama. But, hey, I’m Justin Addision, so what do I know?
I'm a liberal and believe everything I read and nothing the other side comes up with...cause we're smart and they are not
November 5th, 2012
1:39 pm
If Obama wins, I will come on here and give congrats. Book it…..How about any of you if it’s the other way?
STEVIE RAY
November 5th, 2012
1:39 pm
JAY
Where is Clarence Darrow when you needed him?
Who was the cretin who argued in favor of Citizens BS? He must be pretty damn good to pull that off…or the guy who got Roberts to re-define mandate as tax…
Mr. Snarky
November 5th, 2012
1:40 pm
Hmmm…if you can’t convince people of your position, you deserve to lose…plain and simple. All this BS about democrats “rounding people up” to vote is nuts. If you don’t want democracy, move to China.
ideasbm
November 5th, 2012
1:40 pm
I cannot believe anyone with the Chicago mafia, who has stolen a many of elections for the Dems, would say anything about voting fraud. Kennedy comes to mind. But what the republicans want is a fair election free of fraud and voting often just like Bookman does. What a fruitcake he is and all of the people on this string that agrees with him. This is coming from an independent voter.
larry
November 5th, 2012
1:40 pm
If people are tired of the President and the Republicans believe so strongly in their message, then why are they trying to keep people from voting ?
By the way, I am a voter ID supporter. I dont support the way the states are implementing it.
But why are Republicans so intent on keeping people from voting ? Did they ever think they might be keeping Republicans from voting ?
I dont understand.
joe
November 5th, 2012
1:41 pm
When you have to present ID to buy alcohol, board an airplane, access a political convention, etc, then why is it presenting ID to vote is anything different? Where is the outrage when you go to the supermarket to buy a damn six pack? It’s the same thing.
The only reason Libs want to make an issue of this is because it directly affects illegals, who in turn affect Dem candidates. Case closed.
I'm a liberal and believe everything I read and nothing the other side comes up with...cause we're smart and they are not
November 5th, 2012
1:42 pm
Amen Joe. You nailed it
KARMA - you reap what you sow
November 5th, 2012
1:42 pm
What you do will come back to you.
DannyX
November 5th, 2012
1:43 pm
Remember the “well, they ask for id at the bank to cash a check”, and all the other examples given to defend the voter id laws?
Well how about this. Internet voting. After all I can pay bills over the internet and even make deposits through the internet now, without showing id!
Republicans would hate internet voting, they hate democracy.
Krystal'sBalls
November 5th, 2012
1:43 pm
Just as I stated Lil’ Ray Ray.., and spend the next 4 years watching you whine like a little baby who soiled his diaper. Cheers!
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
November 5th, 2012
1:44 pm
I wonder what the over/under would be on the number of folks I’m going to have to ban by Wednesday evening.
Well, if the librul Democrat (Marxist Kenyan Communist) wins, I hope you ban this #1 Foxy Lady after she gets on here and tells us Republicans to do a lewd act. It’s always the same with her but I never seen you ban her.
ragnar danneskjold
November 5th, 2012
1:44 pm
Democrats believe they benefit by eliminating all integrity in the voting process. If you want to invalidate the selection of an honest vote, don’t allow simple identity verification – makes it a lot easier to cheat.
Democrats similarly believe they benefit by allowing felons to vote, and people who have no meaningful historical tie to the country – the quid pro quo is “more welfare.” Vote buying, the Illinois way.
Joe Hussein Mama
November 5th, 2012
1:44 pm
Ima Librul — “a simple picture ID might work cowboy….but we know Dems won’t like that”
Of course not. Picture IDs are too easily forged; any illegal immigrant could manage to vote if we set the bar that low.
What are you, some kind of minority-loving anti-American crazoid? Letting illegals vote?
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
November 5th, 2012
1:46 pm
If Obama wins, I will come on here and give congrats. Book it…..How about any of you if it’s the other way?
I’m a liberal and believe everything I read and nothing the other side comes up with…cause we’re smart and they are not
September 6th, 2012
10:22 am
Gonna be a sad little tribe here in November. They Believe the narrow news they hear, which is all doctored.
And the capitulation continues.
Too funny!
ad
November 5th, 2012
1:47 pm
Joe – where is your proof that illegals voted? I certainly agree it would be wrong, but just haven’t seen anything saying it is real. They’d have to be on the voter rolls, or have to be impersonating someone who is on the rolls, but isn’t going to show up. Heck, there are Republicans who have gone on record saying that the whole idea is to keep the turnout low and that it could mean as much as a 3% swing in some states. Voting by the dead and illegals is really fun to talk about – like any science fiction.
Mr. Snarky
November 5th, 2012
1:47 pm
“The only reason Libs want to make an issue of this is because it directly affects illegals, who in turn affect Dem candidates. Case closed.”
Yes because illegals are looking to take risks. They sneak across the border and make their way to the swing states and vote illegally so Barack Obama will be President.
JamVet
November 5th, 2012
1:47 pm
If Obama wins, I will come on here and give congrats.
Under which name?
Mitt the Morpher?
LOL…
randy
November 5th, 2012
1:47 pm
Jm supports his claim that Jay is spinning the truth by failing to identify a single fact that Jay listed that is untrue or even slightly misleading. Regardless of whether they were ultimately successful in every single attempt, the point remains that Republicans in Florida and other states are subverting democracy through voter suppression.
Don't Tread
November 5th, 2012
1:47 pm
“No political party ought to advance its own prospects by trying to reduce rather than increase participation in the most fundamental rite and right of democratic self-government”
Yeah, I guess that’s why there “wasn’t enough evidence” to prosecute the Black Panthers, right?
And “increased participation” by those who have no right to vote is perfectly OK according to liberals, too.
DannyX
November 5th, 2012
1:48 pm
joe, I can buy a ticket from an airline on the internet. I guess we should allow internet voting.
ad
November 5th, 2012
1:49 pm
Don’t tread – same question I asked earlier – where is all this voting by illegals happening? Who has been arrested? Is this a fact or something you heard on Fox News?
STEVIE RAY
November 5th, 2012
1:50 pm
KRYSTAL
We are screwed either way…I’m not supporting either….both represent the status quo…I’m within a couple-three decades of strapping on the diapers again…
Doggone/GA
November 5th, 2012
1:50 pm
“Yeah, I guess that’s why there “wasn’t enough evidence” to prosecute the Black Panthers, right?”
That’s right. Because the “Black Panthers” were not involved.
Joe Hussein Mama
November 5th, 2012
1:50 pm
R. Danneskjold — “Democrats believe they benefit by eliminating all integrity in the voting process. If you want to invalidate the selection of an honest vote, don’t allow simple identity verification – makes it a lot easier to cheat.”
How terrible for you that I’ve advocated — here on Jay’s several times — a national ID system with a MUCH higher level of security and integrity than anything any conservative poster here has done.
Your supposition is just plain wrong; your dishonesty is on display and your partisanship obvious. The fact of the matter is that Republicans don’t have a serious approach to the problem and only advocate feel-good quick fixes that don’t actually seal the loopholes; besides that, they don’t bother to address the security holes in the absentee voting system.
When you’re ready to get serious about the problem, Rags, get back to me. Until then, stop blowing smoke and wasting time.
ATL Tiger
November 5th, 2012
1:51 pm
“joe, I can buy a ticket from an airline on the internet. I guess we should allow internet voting.”
try getting on the plane without an id
I'm a liberal and believe everything I read and nothing the other side comes up with...cause we're smart and they are not
November 5th, 2012
1:51 pm
DannyX…you might buy a ticket, but you won’t get on a plane until your rectum has been examined.
Common Sense
November 5th, 2012
1:51 pm
“Wisconsin State Journal is latest of 33 newspapers to flip endorsement from Obama in ’08 to Romney for president”
One has to wonder as the end of the race approaches, why not just one, but 33 newspapers that supported Obama in 08 have chosen to state publicly that Obama is not the best choice.
You can dismiss it at your own risk. But no POTUS making the right choices would have this occur
Joe Hussein Mama
November 5th, 2012
1:51 pm
ad — “Joe – where is your proof that illegals voted?”
Ask the cons where *their* proof is.
Joe Hussein Mama
November 5th, 2012
1:52 pm
DannyX — “joe, I can buy a ticket from an airline on the internet. I guess we should allow internet voting.”
It’s part of the plan I’ve advocated.
DannyX
November 5th, 2012
1:53 pm
“Joe – where is your proof that illegals voted?”
Yea where is the proof, joe? Maybe in Gwinnett County or a couple North Georgia counties with large illegal alien populations? Must be plenty of minorities on those school boards, county commissions, and other countywide offices.
Whoops, in fact in Gwinnett there is only 1 minority officeholder.
ragnar danneskjold
November 5th, 2012
1:53 pm
Obama makes his best pitch
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=obama+throws+baseball&mid=FFDE6BAD10400C88CD92FFDE6BAD10400C88CD92&view=detail&FORM=VIRE6
jewcowboy
November 5th, 2012
1:53 pm
“If you believe the lies you are saying, then the cops should not be allowed to ask for your ID when you get pulled over, or a liquor store to ask for an ID, right? Do you losers realize that you can get a free ID card from the state? I guess the airlines should not ask for ID”
Again, I need to ask, what botard equivocates buying a beer or airline travel with one of the most fundamental and precious rights enshrined by the Founding Fathers into our Constitution?
STEVIE RAY
November 5th, 2012
1:54 pm
FINN/IMALIBERAL
Both sides are anxious…there are more suffering from tightsphincteritis about the outcome than all the xanax in distribution could alleviate…
Joe Hussein Mama
November 5th, 2012
1:55 pm
DannyX — “Yea where is the proof, joe? Maybe in Gwinnett County or a couple North Georgia counties with large illegal alien populations? Must be plenty of minorities on those school boards, county commissions, and other countywide offices. Whoops, in fact in Gwinnett there is only 1 minority officeholder.”
I know, right?
The cons are all up in arms over picture IDs — which can be FORGED — and they somehow think that will fix the problem they’re worried about.
ragnar danneskjold
November 5th, 2012
1:55 pm
Dear Joe @ 1:50, I respectfully note that Jimmy Carter has also been a forceful advocate for photo id as prerequisite for voting. So you may modify my blanket statement to exclude you and Mr. Carter.
STEVIE RAY
November 5th, 2012
1:55 pm
BEST ever quote regarding the BLACK PANTHERS…
“I’m sorry I ruined your little black panther party..”
Forrest Gump
ad
November 5th, 2012
1:56 pm
If you’re GOP, why not just admit that you’d like to suppress voter turnout? It fits right into the narrative that Dems want to take money from the “producers” and give it to the “moochers” in exchange for votes. Of course, it doesn’t matter that people supporting Obama are producers, too; and, it doesn’t matter that moochers can be billionaires wanting a new sports stadium or to raid your company’s pension fund with their leveraged buyouts.
Steve-USA
November 5th, 2012
1:56 pm
“Republican lawmakers, including Gov. Rick Scott, reduced the number of early-voting days from 14 to eight…”
8 days to early-vote seems plenty to me.
GT
November 5th, 2012
1:56 pm
Wonder if the Georgia right ever thought of relocating some of their surplus voters to the battleground states. There are polls saying they may poll 70% in Georgia, which may be 400,000 more votes than they need. Seems to me they should have done a freedom bus ride in reverse and taken some of that bigotry up north. Moved in some abandon houses say in Ohio and registered to vote, tip the election.
I'm a liberal and believe everything I read and nothing the other side comes up with...cause we're smart and they are not
November 5th, 2012
1:56 pm
Oh boy, if Obama wins, I’m excited about higher taxes, more entitlements, higher energy cost, more regulations, fewer jobs,higher premium less choice health care, 5-7 trillion more debt….all kinds of goodies.
Barrack Hussein Obama….Mum Mum Mum…
Madge From Accounting
November 5th, 2012
1:57 pm
Anybody hear of this one before?
There is news developing that TAGG ROMNEY owns voting machines in Ohio!
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/10/19/1147245/-There-is-news-developing-that-TAGG-ROMNEY-owns-voting-machines-in-Ohio
I googled it and came up with a few articles nothing more………
Matti
November 5th, 2012
1:57 pm
Actually, Republicans believe they benefit by eliminating all integrity in the voting process. If you want to invalidate the selection of an honest vote, don’t allow **simple** identity verification – make it too complicated for the poor and elderly.
Republicans similarly believe they benefit by enabling unidentified special donors — people who have no meaningful historical tie to the country to dump unlimited amounts of money to the candidate they want to purchase. The quid pro quo is “welfare for the rich.” Vote buying, the Citizens United way.
ragnar danneskjold
November 5th, 2012
1:57 pm
Derek Hunter funny: “Liberals are warning about riots if Obama loses, Republicans are promising jobs if Romney wins. Which vision more closely represents hope?”
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
November 5th, 2012
1:58 pm
Oh boy, if Obama wins…
Doubling down on the capitulation.
Common Sense
November 5th, 2012
1:58 pm
“Again, I need to ask, what botard equivocates buying a beer or airline travel with one of the most fundamental and precious rights enshrined by the Founding Fathers into our Constitution?”
Alas, there is no Constitutional right to vote for POTUS.
ragnar danneskjold
November 5th, 2012
2:00 pm
Our president finally advocates a policy we conservatives can get behind: “Voting is the best revenge”
luangtom
November 5th, 2012
2:01 pm
Just one question to ask…..If this sitting President did so well during his first-term, why is it so close right now?
ATL Tiger
November 5th, 2012
2:02 pm
Public Opinon polls favor Voter ID Laws
Jay’s earlier piece about Benghazi was a joke. He is still defending the lies about a youtube video. Where is his outrage at CBS witholding a 60 min video catching the President in a lie?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZvVMkWkCok
ad
November 5th, 2012
2:02 pm
Joe HM, I believe I was asking the cons where their proof was. There are too many joes on this board.
td
November 5th, 2012
2:02 pm
Jay
November 5th, 2012
1:12 pm
“perhaps name calling today is drop in bucket.”
now that, Stevie Ray, is 100 percent guaranteed. I wonder what the over/under would be on the number of folks I’m going to have to ban by Wednesday evening.
It depends on who is winning. If Romney is winning then I will predict that you are going to have to give several of your most loyal regulars a huge timeout. If Obama is winning I doubt that many of your right leaning regulars will come on and post but you will probably get a lot of people off the sports blogs that you will have to ban.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
November 5th, 2012
2:02 pm
“Liberals are warning about riots if Obama loses…
El Rushbo is a liberal?
If the polls tighten and they get real close, then I don’t — it was a legitimate question somebody asked because these people, if they’re told, these rabid leftists, if they are told this a slam dunk and it’s over, and Romney wins this thing, it could get bloody out there.
Doggone/GA
November 5th, 2012
2:02 pm
“Liberals are warning about riots if Obama loses, Republicans are promising jobs if Romney wins. Which vision more closely represents hope?”
Funny…I heard it the other way around
ragnar danneskjold
November 5th, 2012
2:02 pm
Dear Matti @ 1:57, by “welfare for the rich” you mean “quit stealing individually earned wealth.”
Joe Hussein Mama
November 5th, 2012
2:03 pm
R. Danneskjold — “Dear Joe @ 1:50, I respectfully note that Jimmy Carter has also been a forceful advocate for photo id as prerequisite for voting. So you may modify my blanket statement to exclude you and Mr. Carter.”
Carter’s actually advocated for a National ID system, much along the lines of what I recommend. So I will modify your blanket statement to indicate that you’re once again pointedly leaving out things that make you look bad.
Mick
November 5th, 2012
2:03 pm
ragnar
Why do I and so many others find it difficult to believe romney promising jobs? Maybe because his record as governor was abysmal concerning jobs or is it because at bain his specialty was wrecking companies, squeezing out all the assets for himself and other cronies, then let the company wither on the vine. There’s just no proof or record to believe in that empty promise…
USA Patriot
November 5th, 2012
2:03 pm
Hey, KosherCowboy – you need to read up on the Constitution, there is nothing in it about “the right to vote”. There are many clauses and amendments detailing ways people can’t be denied the ability to vote, but nothing about voting as a “right”.
Mighty Righty
November 5th, 2012
2:03 pm
Democrats believe they benefit when there are no requirements at all to vote. They prefer to allow non citizens, residents of other states, drunks, winos and even dead people. Democrats are famous for paying people to vote and to commit registration fraud. The examples of ACORN are well known and numerous. Democrats know they have no chance in a national election if voters are restricted to those who live in the district or state where their vote is cast, or that the voter be sober, registered, mentally competent and alive. Obamacare was rammed through congress because of a Minnesota democrat precinct where 500 more people voted for the Democrat Senatorial canidate, Al Franken, than were living in the precinct at the time. That election fraud gave the Democrat party a fillibuster proof majority in the Senate which resulted in a majority of the american people who opposed Obamacare to be disenfranchised by a dishonest political party and have their representation stolen by Democrat election fraud. That the election fraud was upheld by the Democrat controlled Minnesota Supreme Court is another example of politics being more important than the law and representive of the ease with which our country can be stolen right under our eyes… That is one example of many election frauds committed by the national Democrat party. We Republican prefer honest elections. It is a shame that Democrats prefer theft.
DannyX
November 5th, 2012
2:03 pm
“Voting is the best revenge”
For Republican governors try to suppress the vote.
I'm a liberal and believe everything I read and nothing the other side comes up with...cause we're smart and they are not
November 5th, 2012
2:04 pm
What do we do with the 4 million Obama phones in the warehouse if Obama loses?
southpaw
November 5th, 2012
2:04 pm
Madge @1:57
Did this come up in your search?
http://www.snopes.com/politics/romney/votingmachines.asp
If not, take a look. It’s a good read.
Joe Hussein Mama
November 5th, 2012
2:04 pm
Luangtom — “Just one question to ask…..If this sitting President did so well during his first-term, why is it so close right now?”
I was asking that same question in 2004.
stands for decibels
November 5th, 2012
2:04 pm
“Why can’t people just vote on election day?? Sheesh!”
Some people have to work.
Also too: Some people remember 2000, and 2004.
ragnar danneskjold
November 5th, 2012
2:04 pm
The pollsters in 1980 said it was a dead heat, slight advantage to the democrat incumbent.
ad
November 5th, 2012
2:05 pm
luangtom
November 5th, 2012
2:01 pm
Just one question to ask…..If this sitting President did so well during his first-term, why is it so close right now
————
Well, have you ever heard the football announcers tell you in a 31-7 game that’s in its last 5 minutes to come back after the commercial because you never know what might happen?
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
November 5th, 2012
2:05 pm
If Romney is winning then I will predict…
I will predict that gasoline will be less than $6 a gallon tomorrow.
GT
November 5th, 2012
2:05 pm
ragnar danneskjold the talk shows yesterday are worried if Romney loses that the paranoia of the south may be at the ER stage. One of the writers that has covered the south for 30 years said he has never seen the mindless, baseless, pure paranoia stirred up in the south. I see it thick as mud down here, people physically sick over this election, and you rd show the way by suggestioning racial riots, I guess rednecks are a race.
Doggone/GA
November 5th, 2012
2:05 pm
“Alas, there is no Constitutional right to vote for POTUS”
Ahhhh! A refinement to the Constitutional argument. And you are correct, but we DO have a Constitutional right to vote for the electors who vote for the President.
WHAT MAKES PEOPLE VOTE REPUBLICAN?
November 5th, 2012
2:06 pm
What makes people vote Republican? Why in particular do working class and rural Americans usually vote for pro-business Republicans when their economic interests would seem better served by Democratic policies? We psychologists have been examining the origins of ideology ever since Hitler sent us Germany’s best psychologists, and we long ago reported that strict parenting and a variety of personal insecurities work together to turn people against liberalism, diversity, and progress. But now that we can map the brains, genes, and unconscious attitudes of conservatives, we have refined our diagnosis: conservatism is a partially heritable personality trait that predisposes some people to be cognitively inflexible, fond of hierarchy, and inordinately afraid of uncertainty, change, and death. People vote Republican because Republicans offer “moral clarity”—a simple vision of good and evil that activates deep seated fears in much of the electorate. Democrats, in contrast, appeal to reason with their long-winded explorations of policy options for a complex world.
http://www.edge.org/3rd_culture/haidt08/haidt08_index.html
I'm a liberal and believe everything I read and nothing the other side comes up with...cause we're smart and they are not
November 5th, 2012
2:06 pm
The guy who is sweating right now is the supplier of the EBT cards to the government. He has a lot riding on this thing.
Joe Hussein Mama
November 5th, 2012
2:07 pm
USA Patriot — “Hey, KosherCowboy – you need to read up on the Constitution, there is nothing in it about “the right to vote”. There are many clauses and amendments detailing ways people can’t be denied the ability to vote, but nothing about voting as a “right”.
If the Constitution explains how states and the Federal governmment *can’t* prevent you from doing something, it’s a dead certainty that that ’something’ is an individual right.
Tealiban Party
November 5th, 2012
2:07 pm
MiltonMan
November 5th, 2012
12:53 pm
Funny that Jay mentions absolutely nothing about Obama preventing military personnel from voting in Ohio:
If you are going to try to push your lies, then maybe you should have better evidence than some kooky right-wing nutjob website, also full of lies.
http://factcheck.org/2012/08/obama-not-trying-to-curb-military-early-voting/
DannyX
November 5th, 2012
2:07 pm
“They prefer to allow ”
And yet it was the Republicans that voted for W twice.
I’ll take “non citizens, residents of other states, drunks, winos and even dead people” over Republican voters any day.
Vote drunk, and stoned too!
ragnar danneskjold
November 5th, 2012
2:07 pm
Dear Luangtom @ 2:01, The last president re-elected with a smaller vote than his initial tally was Woodrow Wilson. The power of progressivism. Those who can think recognize their errors, and correct them; thinkers are not always enough, however.
Liberal Chicks are UGLY
November 5th, 2012
2:07 pm
And you accuse fox news of sounding hysterical? Seriously, this is just sad. One day before the election and this is the tripe you dig up?
Doggone/GA
November 5th, 2012
2:07 pm
you need to read up on the Constitution, there is nothing in it about “the right to vote”. There are many clauses and amendments detailing ways people can’t be denied the ability to vote, but nothing about voting as a “right”.”
YOU need to read it again. It details ways that people can’t be denied their RIGHT to vote. Reading comprehension is a good thing, why don’t you try it sometime?
jewcowboy
November 5th, 2012
2:07 pm
Right Wing Watch put up this video of Paul Weyrich, co-founder of the Heritage Foundation, to explain why the right wing engages in voter suppression. A explanation straight from the source.
“I don’t want everybody to vote. Elections are not won by a majority of people. They never have been from the beginning of our country, and they are not now. As a matter of fact our leverage in the elections quite candidly goes up as the voting populace goes down.” ~ Paul Weyrich
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN7IB-d7Hfw&feature=player_embedded
Matti
November 5th, 2012
2:08 pm
ragnar the rand cultist @ 2:02,
You clearly are confused about what the word “earn” means. When fat little heirs pay a lower tax rate on interest income they “earn” while out on their fancy sailboats, drinking french booze and snorting south american blow than a hard-working parent “earns” putting in a long day’s back-breaking work, then somebody’s not paying a fair share. But then, my words are probably lost on you, given your profession and how you “earned” your money. Too bad “conservatives” don’t respect work.
They BOTH suck
November 5th, 2012
2:08 pm
Ragnar @ 2:04
Really?
http://www.amstat.org/sections/SRMS/proceedings/papers/1981_011.pdf
independent thinker
November 5th, 2012
2:09 pm
Mitt’s base busy at work:
“”"”"”"”"”"The last place I would expect elder statesman George W. Bush to show his face would be the Cayman Islands, home to some of the world’s most notorious and nefarious financial intrigue. After the 9/11 attacks, U.S. investigators focused on secret Cayman Islands accounts thought to be used by al-Qaeda operatives to funnel money to the hijackers. Right around that time, Enron was collapsing as various shell companies its top executives established in the Cayman Islands proved not to be the promising new business ventures that Enron investors were led to believe they were.
At the time, the founder and head of Enron was Kenneth Lay, a good friend of President Bush. They were so tight, Bush liked to call him “Kenny.”
When you want to hide what you’re doing, the Cayman Islands is the place to go. Just ask Mitt Romney, who according to MSNBC invested up to $25 million in 12 Cayman Islands-registered funds. His old company, Bain Capital, has more than 138 investments in the Caymans and 40 secret offshore accounts.
This stuff really doesn’t look good when you’re running for president and you’re trying to distance yourself from the worst aspects of the previous Republican administration, or when you’ve been president and you’re trying to distance yourself from the worst aspects of your own administration’s behavior: an obsession with secrecy, an obsession with breaking the law under the cloak of secrecy, an obsession with trampling on First Amendment rights, sweetheart treatment of old friends like Enron and Halliburton. The list goes on and on.
So why would George W. Bush, less than a week before the presidential election, go to the Caymans and give a top secret speech to selected audience members who, according to The Associated Press, were “forbidden” to discuss any of the contents of that discussion? Forbidden. Not, “we strongly discourage you from discussing this speech outside this room,” but “you are forbidden from discussing this.””"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”
http://dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com/2012/11/bushs-top-secret-cayman-islands-speech-youre-welcome-america.html/
Probably a Fox News sponsored fund raiser for storm victims – ya think?
Don't Tread
November 5th, 2012
2:09 pm
More crying about Citizens United? Too bad. That’s what happens when you try to limit the 1st Amendment rights of people you don’t like and it blows up in your face.
Doggone/GA
November 5th, 2012
2:09 pm
“If the Constitution explains how states and the Federal governmment *can’t* prevent you from doing something, it’s a dead certainty that that ’something’ is an individual right.”
Especially when it specifically states: “The RIGHT to vote…”
td
November 5th, 2012
2:10 pm
Taking people by bus to the polls and giving them a lunch or a little “walking around money” and tell them exactly how to fill out their ballots is the biggest voter fraud of all.
One weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) to vote in person at your local precinct with a voter id. Absentee voting must be for military or people out of the country only. If you can not make plans for one weekend every four years then you do not need to vote.
Tealiban Party
November 5th, 2012
2:11 pm
The world badly wants Barack Obama to be president, but either way American clout will still decline
http://www.canada.com/world+badly+wants+Barack+Obama+president+either+American+clout+will+still+decline/7500020/story.html#ixzz2BNQqDIcG
“The world would have voted for Obama out of hope in 2008,” Dominique Moisi, the highly regarded French historian and political scientist said the other day on a CNN talk show. “They would vote for Obama in 2012 out of fear.”
A sample of public opinion in 21 countries for the BBC published two weeks ago found that if the planet was a giant electoral college, U.S. President Barack Obama would win an unprecedented landslide on Tuesday. Thumping majorities in many countries, Canada included, supported Obama’s re-election.
Pakistan, which has more than its share of Islamic extremists, was the only country polled where people favoured Republican challenger Mitt Romney.
jewcowboy
November 5th, 2012
2:11 pm
“That’s what happens when you try to limit the 1st Amendment rights of people you don’t like”
“Corporations are people, my friend…of course they are.”
Jack
November 5th, 2012
2:12 pm
While Bookman wasn’t watching his dumpster, he was writing his columns for an Obama win or a Romney win. Since all the lastest polls favor Romney, he can put the Obama column in that dumpster.
gm
November 5th, 2012
2:13 pm
Thank you 1959 GOP for waking up the sleeping Giants, this is why Blacks, Latinos are breaking voting records thru out the country.
Then these people wonder why there party is filled with bigots, redecks, Nazis, white conservative males, tea party (klan) women who care less about their equal rights, but who benefit off f lib women and civil rights leaders.
Common Sense
November 5th, 2012
2:13 pm
“Alas, there is no Constitutional right to vote for POTUS”
Ahhhh! A refinement to the Constitutional argument. And you are correct, but we DO have a Constitutional right to vote for the electors who vote for the President.
Wrong. The State Legislatures get to decide how the electors are chosen.
Get Real
November 5th, 2012
2:13 pm
More liberal spew….the daily directive from Ms Cutter to all the liberal “journalistic-like” surrogates
luangtom
November 5th, 2012
2:14 pm
Joe Hussein Mama @ 2:04 PM …..I asked the same question of Jimmy Carter and Billy Beer.
Mighty Righty
November 5th, 2012
2:14 pm
I understand Obama has appointed a committee consisting of Janet Napolitano, Eric Holder and David Axelrod to investigate why after a week there are still millions of victims of hurricane Sandy with out food, water, clothing, medical attention and sanitation facilities. Axelrod said he thought the delay was due to an anti muslim film which was see in Hoboken. The good news is the Giants football gane yesterday was televised locally and will be rebroadcast just as soon as power is restored. Obama did promise if reelected he will personally get involved in the relief effort beginning in December and will work toward having most power restored by Christmas, excuse me, by Kwanza.
STEVIE RAY
November 5th, 2012
2:14 pm
This takes the cake…unbelievable..
http://dailycaller.com/2012/11/05/obama-promises-college-costs-of-23000-a-year-by-2022/
Talk about saying anything to get (college)votes…if he doesn’t get this on the path by 2016, in his memoirs he can blame congress or his predecessor for failure..blame back…and blame FORWARD!