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Political Hay
A Full Nelson on Voting Rights
Bill Nelson, Dick Durbin, and Eric Holder ham it up as only Democrat demagogues can.
TAMPA — Those who don’t believe it’s going to be a long and nasty 11 months before Election Day should just look at how Attorney General Eric Holder and Democrats across the country are accusing Republicans of attempting to keep Democratic core constituents — minorities, young people, the poor, the disabled, etc. — away from the polls.
These charges are a symptom and preview of that party’s campaign, which promises to be built on little more than attempting to gin up racial and social class resentments. My sources in the Democratic National Committee tell me that group is considering changing its anthem from “Happy Days are Here Again” to “We Wuz Robbed.” (See November 2000.)
Requirements for voting have gotten a bit loosey-goosey, in Florida and elsewhere, over the past few cycles. In many jurisdictions people need do little more than show up at polls, with or without credible ID, in order to be handed a ballot. There have been well-documented instances of fraud, particularly involving third party groups registering voters.
Rules for obtaining an absentee ballot are particularly slack, with some counties insisting on little more than a pulse for receiving one (though when past practices in Chicago and select other precincts are considered, insisting on a pulse may be a step in the right direction). Any attempt of late to make voting more secure, no matter how reasonable, has been branded by Democrats as an attempt to disenfranchise their voters.
In order to save taxpayer money and to make voter fraud more difficult, the Florida Legislature last year passed legislation that reduces early-voting days in the state from 14 to eight while requiring that third party organizations that register voters turn in registration paper work within 48 hours. (This last requirement is in response to incidents in Florida where third parties did not turn in registration paperwork at all.) Several other states passed similar measures.
In Florida Democrats have reacted to these measured steps in much the same way Dracula reacted to sunlight. Reading or listening to Democratic leading lights one would have to conclude that Jim Crow is back in town. In a press release from Florida Democratic U.S. Senator Bill Nelson, running for re-election this year, we read this: “The right to vote is, and always has been, at the foundation of our democracy. But this fundamental right is under serious attack right now, in Florida and more than a dozen other states. Many believe a handful of super-rich conservative activists are behind an orchestrated effort to keep millions of seniors, younger voters, and minorities from casting ballots next year.”
On reading this, I sent a case of de-caf directly to Nelson’s Washington office. He and his staff clearly already have a well-thumbed copy of Saul Alinsky’s playbook and etiquette manual.
As delusional as these charges may seem, Nelson had no difficultly getting his Democratic colleague Dick Durbin of Illinois, a state with a colorful history of voting practices, to go along with the gag. Durbin, chairman of the Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law of the Senate Judiciary Committee, will hold an “investigative field hearing” in Tampa in January because, Durbin says, Florida’s new law “will almost certainly disenfranchise a wide swath of the state’s young, minority, senior, disabled, rural and low income voters.”
Neither Nelson nor Durbin have said how the new law will keep these Democratic constituencies from the polls, or in any way inconvenience them.
“Absolutely not,” said Lane Wright, Florida governor Rick Scott’s press secretary, when I asked him if Florida’s new law put up any barriers to any eligible Floridian voting. “Governor Scott signed this bill to ensure that Florida’s elections are secure and free of fraud.” He said. “Every eligible Floridian is free to vote. We have confidence the system is free and accurate.”
Wright said while the law cuts back on the early voting days it allows the same number of hours for the polls to operate, including on weekends. In the two-week system there were hours that polls were open but very few voters showed up. The new system is more efficient and because of weekend hours allows even more voters an opportunity to vote at their convenience.
“There’s absolutely no evidence whatsoever that the new law will lead to any voter suppression,” said Chris Cate, communications director for the office of the Florida Secretary of State, the agency that administers voting in Florida.
Cate said the process of registering to vote and then to make address changes ahead of elections is very easy. Voters wishing to make address changes at the polls on Election Day will have to vote by provisional ballot, which will only be counted after the county Supervisor of Elections Office verifies that the voter is legit. But address changes before Election Day are easy now and can be made by phone or by email.
The chief sponsor in the Florida House of the bill that created the new law is unimpressed with the charges against it. “There’s nothing in the election bill that limits the voting rights of anybody in Florida,” said Dennis Baxley (R- Ocala). “What it does is protect our elections from mishaps and mischief. On early voting we didn’t cut one hour, just changed the schedule so polls could be open all day.”
Baxley calls the complaints about the new law “overtly political.” He says, “There has to be accountability in third party registration. When you pay people to get signatures they’re going to create them. A lot of that happened.”
About the Author
Larry Thornberry is a writer in Tampa.
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Brian Mc| 12.15.11 @ 6:59AM
The accusation is proof enough for any liberal, or ignorant, or, is that the same thing? Joseph Goebbels would be so proud.
This is gonna get ugly.
oldfart| 12.15.11 @ 8:59AM
Agreed - this is France after the King and Queen had their heads removed. To accuse is to convict. What they fail to remember is revolutions that start this way tend to end up eating their own.
Timothy L. Pennell| 12.15.11 @ 7:08AM
Okay. So, what do we know about this situation?
Apparently, what we've learned is that Democrats believe that their BASE, is too stupid to get the Proper Identification for Voting. Maybe they're right? We know that in 2000, they were too stupid to put an X in the Proper Box, on the Butterfly Ballots being used in Florida, at the time, even though EVERYBODY was sent a Practice Ballot, with detailed instructions on how to use it, MONTHS before the Election. When the Democrat Base couldn't "Figure it out" and did what they always do, which is to SCREW UP everything they get their hands on, these very same Democrat Pompous Asses, ran around all over their Slobbering Lover's Sunday Shows, BLAMING the REPUBLICANS. It didn't matter to them, at all, that these ballots were Concocted, by a DEMOCRAT.
Which brings us to today.
What are "VOTING RIGHTS" exactly? Are they just the Right to Cast a Ballot? Is that it? Or is it the Right to have your Ballot COUNT? Is it the Right to a Fair Election? Don't the Democrats want a Fair Election? I know that they've been Long Distance Lovers with the Juntas in South America, for as long as I've been alive, but do they want to mimic the kinds of "Elections" that Castro or Chavez put on? Are we Putin's Russia, now? Are we Iran?
We have Democrat Controlled Cities, that REFUSE to scrub the names of the DEAD, from their Voting Rolls. It is the Blue States that REFUSE to get the Military Ballots out, in time for them to Vote, EVERY ELECTION, even though they have 2YEARS to get ready. Here, in Ct. The Mayor of New Haven ( A Sanctuary City where the number of MURDERS is off the Chart, and there's a Statue honouring The Latin Kings Gang) is Petitioning the Governor to allow Illegals to Vote in Municipal Elections. We have a Political Party that will do ANYTHING to get Power. "By Any Means Necessary". It's not just a slogan.
Eric Fast and Furious, is concerned about Minorities, Young People, and the Poor. We already know what he thinks about WHITES. They don't count. He's running a BLACKS ONLY Justice Department, where, if a White has a complaint about a Black? "TOO BAD! Get lost! May I have the next Black in line, please?" Obviously he's not that partial to Mexicans, otherwise, he might have given those 2,000 High Powered Weapons to a Colombian Drug Cartel, so they could kill Colombians, instead of Mexicans being MURDERED by their Drug Cartels, with OBAMA'S GUNS. (The buck stops there)
So what we're left with is a Death Dance by a Political Party that can read the Writing on the Wall. Isn't that right, Barney? They can't Run on anything they've DONE. They haven't DONE anything. No Jobs, Shovel Ready or otherwise. In fact, they're in the process of BLOCKING JOBS that the Canadian Pipeline will create. They're BLOCKING JOBS all along the Fracking Route. Pennsylvania is booming. South Dakota has an Unemployment Rate of 3%. What's Michigan's? What's California'? What's New York's?
This is fixing to be the MOST CORRUPT ELECTION that this County's ever seen. Our young Pharaoh is already underway with a Scorched Earth Election Strategy, and I predict that U.S. Cities will BURN, come Summer. The usual Far Left suspects are apoplectic, that their best Voting Fraud Apparatus, is about to be disassembled. They will not give it up without a fight. If you think that HAMAS' Deliverer - ABU HUSSAIN - has Divided this Country already? You ain't seen nothing, yet.
They want Power, and they will do, whatever they feel they have to, to WIN.
"What does it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and lose his immortal soul?" JESUS CHRIST.
Tell us, Harry Reid. When you look in the Mirror. Do you like what you see? Do you like what you've become? I wonder what GOD thinks. Seeing as how, your not getting any younger, I'm sure you'll find out, soon enough.
Good luck with that.
Dollface| 12.15.11 @ 8:17AM
Actually, the major part of the Democrat base that is affected by election integrity laws can't get the proper ID because they are dead. They require proxies to vote for them.
SUBVET| 12.15.11 @ 11:24AM
TLP.....when summer comes I guess it's time to sound the "klaxton" and shut the hatches.......I can here it now Cary Grant sounding off "DIVE DIVE ....blow negative to the mark" and the pink boat slowly disappears into the depths of the ocean.
Your scaring the viewers...........
crookedwren| 12.15.11 @ 7:38AM
This is NOT just a method to win, it's a winning method to tear down our Constitutional Republic. If they can gin up that class warfare thing, then the road to communism and Bolshevism isn't completely dead.
On Cavuto the other day, I heard a woman proclaiming how good it was to shut down our ports.
The Bolsheviks used those who worked at the ports in old Russia -- and the rest you know -- that is, if you were born before 1973. If not, that history has been hidden from you by those who want their amended version of Maoism to take hold here -- so that the elites can legally steal the wealth of this great country.
There's a method to their madness.
And the media is our own version of TASS.
Ken (Old Texican)| 12.15.11 @ 7:44AM
Well spoken Timothy.
It's going to be a looooong 11 months.
martin j smith| 12.15.11 @ 8:02AM
It is up to the Republican Party,the Presidential Candidates and voters to tell the Socialists to go stuff it.
The Republican Establishment had better get their gonads in order or this election will be lost to voter fraud. End of story.
Mike Hawk| 12.15.11 @ 8:12AM
Republican Establishment ?? Gonads?? They need a spine first.
tsd| 12.15.11 @ 3:23PM
Forget Repub or Demo, this is about doing what is right by the rules. Either you are for fair elections by people who are part of our country and can prove it.... no more, no less. If that is not going to be the case then why should any of us have to follow the rules??
L. Ross| 12.15.11 @ 8:28AM
This morning, as I was driving in to work, I heard this discussion on the radio. A social worker who works with the homeless explained how difficult it can be for marginally sane, drug addicted street people to get a photo ID. For years, my own mother was able to cast her husband's absentee ballot, since he was far too senile to accomplish that himself. I just want to ask the question, do we really want the senile, the marginally sane, the mentally retarded, the demonstrably felonious, and the drug addicted to vote? That was never the founding fathers vision for wise self government. In my opinion, we have taken our worship of voter enfranchisement to ridiculous levels. If you don't have the discipline and wherewithal to obtain a government issued identification, I don't feel you have the requisite judgement to determine the future of the nation.
John Navratil| 12.15.11 @ 10:13AM
L. Ross,
To add to that, registering to vote has never been difficult. It was much easier than getting a driver's license which so many seem to have no difficulty obtaining.
SUBVET| 12.15.11 @ 11:26AM
GOV. ID = FEMA CAMP
Lullabys, Legends and Lies| 12.15.11 @ 8:56AM
How do these disenfranchised voters buy cigarettes, because despite that fact that I'm clearly over 18 (clearly!!), I still have to show ID? Strange? So how do they cash their Paychecks, their Social Security checks, or their welfare checks, or their unemployment checks (or a combination of all of them)? How do they explain it to the Cop that pulls them over for speeding, that they don't have their ID? You "have" to have ID, period (or at least I have to)!! The only place you "don't" have to have ID it appears, is when you go to vote. Strange? It's funny how the only States that have a real problem with showing ID before you vote, are all Democratically controlled States. But that's only because the Democrats know, that the only way they can win is to cheat, and cheat they will!! So on Election Day, as they go to the polls, and they stop to cash a check, then stop to pick up a pack of cigarettes, and then get pulled over by a cop for making an illegal U-turn, they'll have no problems showing their ID, that is until they walk in to vote, then all of a sudden, they don't have ID anymore. It's B.S.!! I guess if you only have one valid ID, you can't get back on line again , and vote as Donald Duck a few minutes later? Strange? No, not strange, it's B.S.!!
Pecos Pete| 12.15.11 @ 10:30AM
LLL: Off the subject, but I'm curious how King O's appearance at your place of business was received by the troops?
Lullabys, Legends and Lies| 12.15.11 @ 12:05PM
Pecos P: I was supposed to go to the "big" speech yesterday myself, my First Sergeant thought it be funny to have me scowling at our Commander In Chief during the whole thing, but I realized the that I had made an appointment last week, that I couldn't get out of (AKA: real work). So I was very disappointed!! Because I had a "very" good question to ask him, if he opened up the floor for questions (I think I would've gotten in trouble though if I had asked it, but I don't care). But a few of the Soldiers in my Company went, and they took pictures, and got his autograph (good for them, I guess?). Then when I saw them late in the afternoon, a few of them tried to high-five me, or to shake my hand, but I didn't fall for it. I don't want no "Socialistic" Cooties on me (I actually said Commie Cooties, but I thought I'd clean it up for this post), I hear those things don't wash off once you get them. But actually, most of the Soldiers who did go, they said it was a real long and boring day, just to watch a speech that lasted 20 minutes. Most of them were "told" to go by the way, they didn't volunteer for it. I guess the higher ups, didn't want the President to have an empty house?
TrueBlue| 12.15.11 @ 2:31PM
Usually what happens, and then they have to stage the pictures where the majority of the crowd are minorities with one or two token white guys so they can say he has mass appeal.
Anthony| 12.15.11 @ 9:05AM
It's endgame now folks. Photo ID is such a no brainer, that the only conclusion for opposition to this is deliberate voter fraud, pure and simple. There is NO argument that can be made in support of doing otherwise, and it's damn time we took the left on with this intentional destruction of our form of government.
Hell, even unions demand photo IDs to vote in their thug elections!!! In another attack on our system, yesterday, the lefty mayor of New Haven, CT came out and asked the CT legislature to allow ILLEGAL ALIENS to have the right to vote in municipal elections.
Even this was too much for lefty Gov. Malloy, who merely said of this insane idea, that " he was not comfortable with it". Wow, now there's a strong condemnation if I ever heard one!!
The outrage from bloggers at the lefty Hartford Courant was so bad, the Courant, like the good lefty propaganda organ that it is, removed the story from it's online edition totally.
The only thing that suprises me about Mayor De Stupido's idea, is that it comes too late to catch fire for the 2012 election, to help Obozo steal it. But watch for this concept to move full speed ahead for all elections.
It's game on with the left to see how fast they can complete the transformation of America,while the R establishment worries about Newt!!
Purp| 12.15.11 @ 9:24AM
This article is so full of innuendos and 1/2 truths it's funny.
There is little evidence of voter fraud ever happening : http://www.truthaboutfraud.org/
Take a read of this and then calm down.
Voter suppression is a different story and that's what all these Republican Governors and Legislatures have engaged in under the cover of "voter fraud" inhibition.
Why in a country that professes to be "free" with a Constitutional principle of one man/one vote do we want to do anything to deny anyone the right to vote?
Remember, whites will be in the minority in 20 years - you want to be treated like second class citizens when you are a minority? I don't ... so calm down and work to help everyone, legally, is able to vote. Since voting is local, do you really think the neighbors cannot vouch for someone who doesn't have an ID for whatever reason?
Even the League of Women Voters has pulled out of the voter registration drive in Florida, saying the rules are too onersome. And, they've been registering voters for 80 years !!!
Doorgunner| 12.15.11 @ 9:59AM
You. Are. A. Bare-Faced. Liar.
And we are really tired of it. I'll see your cheesy website, and raise you one plus a congressman: "Ballotopedia" documents fraud, and former congressman Artur Davis recently acknowledged and discussed the practice.
GFY after you burst into flames, scumbag.
Purp| 12.15.11 @ 12:52PM
Wrong, but you can't fight facts, so you call names ... typical low intelligence move.
Doorgunner| 12.15.11 @ 1:56PM
You presented no facts. None. All you scumbags have are the lies you keep repeating endlessly until they seem true to some people. Indiana has had Voter ID since before 2010- who was denied the vote?
That's right; no one.
A former congressman admits fraud, but you scumbags act like he doesn't exist. Documented cases of vote fraud exist in every state in the nation and you baldly low that it ain't so.
One citizen; one ID; one vote. Works for anyone who Isn't a lying scumbag.
Riff Raff| 12.15.11 @ 5:25PM
I see "Purpleguy" is back. Same old accusations and hyperbole. Same old avoidance of truth and facts. Same old BS and name calling.
JmsA| 12.15.11 @ 11:31AM
Onersome? Did you mean onerous?
Purp| 12.15.11 @ 12:52PM
ya okay
JmsA| 12.15.11 @ 11:41AM
Onersome? Did you mean onerous?
Indy| 12.15.11 @ 12:04PM
From the League of Women Voter's website "5 things you need to know on election day, I've provided item #2 below
"Bring I.D. You may need to show I.D. at the polling place. To be safe, bring your driver’s license or another photo I.D. In some places, a current utility bill, paycheck or other document that includes your name and street address may also work."
http://www.lwv.org/content/5-t.....ection-day
The risk of fraud is real, internal controls are lacking in many states especially when you consider same day voter registration and early voting. Is it really too much to ask that we make sure only legal citizens vote, that's not voter supression. The requirement voters provide a valid photo ID mitigates risk. If voters don't want to vote in person and don't have IDs, they can always vote absentee...voter supression, really?
Purp| 12.15.11 @ 1:02PM
Let me clarify for you, since you are mixed up. This has nothing to do with showing a valid ID - show a valid ID, that's fine.
"Voter fraud" is the enabling of voting by committing a fraudulent act. This is well documented and out of over 100 million voters, there were 50-60 cases of voter fraud over the whole country in 2008. That's a fact.
"Voter suppression" is the act of inhibiting a legal voter to vote. By cutting the the early voting period from 2 weeks to 1 week, by disallowing same day registration and voting - these are voter suppression techniques, that have nothing to do with making sure a voter is legal, now does it?
This is what the Republican Governors and legislatures have done in various states - Why have they done this?
Doorgunner| 12.15.11 @ 2:17PM
But Voter ID was already in place in the heavily minority city of Indianapolis in 2010; where are horror stories of citizens denied the right to vote?
Oh yeah, there aren't any.
And another thing, liar; if there x number of convictions for a certain type of crime within a given time period and locale, do you really think anyone believes "x" is the number times that crime occurred? Everyone knows which way the Democrats bet.
Purp| 12.15.11 @ 4:34PM
Can't you read? This is not about having an ID.
And, you cannot deny that Republican Governors and Legislatures have made it harder to vote with all their latest "clamping down". The question is "WHY?"
Grow up and stop the name calling - it says way more about you than me.
BTW - the Wisconsin people have gathered more than 500,000 signatures which is what they need in order to stage a recall election to get rid of that horrible Koch Brothers shill of a governor they have.
Doorgunner| 12.15.11 @ 6:56PM
Scott Walker is an excellent governor, I look forward to helping elect him at least a couple more times.
It will only be harder to vote for people who do not possess the legal right to vote. The far-fetched scenarios put forth as unconstitutional impediments are just more lies by shameless leftist shills such as yourself.
And you are a lying scumbag.
Purp| 12.18.11 @ 11:35PM
You sure protest a lot about lying ... and you know what they say about protesting too much, dontcha? Have a nice day.
TrueBlue| 12.15.11 @ 2:35PM
Your logic is flawed since many blue states have a habit of not scrubbing their registered voter list whenever someone dies, and yet those people keep voting... Of course it shows up as nothing illegal happening, they were registered voters! It happens in Washington state practically every year.
Purp| 12.15.11 @ 4:35PM
Prove it... where's your facts? Otherwise it's hearsay, innuendo ... something "we all know is true" which is total bs without the facts. Facts please, you know those pesky details that don't support your argument....
Riff Raff| 12.15.11 @ 7:11PM
This is YOUR tactic. You have no facts, only misquotes, non-sequiturs, and nonsense.
Purp| 12.18.11 @ 11:37PM
you can look up any of the facts that I present - but you're too lazy to do so. I did give a link to an article about voter fraud - did you read it? I didn't think so. So stop complaining until you do some reading and thinking - get away from the right wing propaganda machine for 10minutes and think. If you don't read articles from the other points of view, you are brainwashed.
Indy| 12.15.11 @ 4:16PM
Here's an example of how fraud can occur. On the first day of early voting, I can go cast a ballot. On that very same day or any other voting day, I can go to a different polling place and say I am (insert my neighbors name or any other registered voter) and give the correct address (with the internet finding all of this information is easy) and cast a ballot. Would I be committing voter fraud, yes but how likely is it that I would be caught and that's my point. The potential for fraud is real, internal controls are lacking in many states, certainly mine. You accuse me of being mixed up, fine that's your opinion. I do happen to know something about internal controls, there material control weaknesses throughout the voting process and it begins with voter registration. In my state, you can go online and download a form, attest that you are (a US citizen, a legal resident, not registered in another county / state, at least 18, and a few other requirements) people who want to commit fraud can lie and fill out the form and mail it in...bingo, they are registered. Why are you so opposed to strengthening the voting process?
Requiring a valid photo ID mitigates risk, the states have made allowances in the law to provide valid photo IDs free of charge to the poor so why not strengthen the process and mitigate risk?
Purp| 12.15.11 @ 4:42PM
Have you ever been an election judge? I have and I can tell you that there are rolls of voters, by precinct, that are checked and when you come in to vote, your name is checked off and that's it, you cannot vote again. Can someone get around this, perhaps - but that's not what I am complaining about.
Voter suppression is what the latest moves by the Republicans does. Not reduction in voter fraud. Name one change that keeps someone from defrauding the voting process. And don't say and ID - they can be bought and sold like candy by those intent on fraud.
I've already named several ways voter turnout is suppressed by the Republican changes. It also affects all of you as well - less hours for voting, no right to register/vote on same day (although Maine Voters rejected that move), reduction in early voting time, and there's more. What would any of these changes do to change fraud - they don't, they simply make it harder to vote = suppression. But why would they do that? Can anyone answer?
Indy| 12.15.11 @ 5:07PM
How do you stop someone from voting under a different name? I understand I can only vote once under my name but a person can register under false names / address and likely get away with it.
A valid photo ID would strengthen our voting process and sorry, I don't by voter suppression as an argument against requiring an ID. We can agree to disagree, no I have not been an election judge but I do about internal controls. Whatever the number of illegal aliens are in this country, a widely reported number in the media is $11 million, how many of these could impact an election? What was the margin of victory for Sen. Franken? Let's put politics aside and improve the voting process.
Purp| 12.18.11 @ 11:39PM
MY GOD - do you people ever read? I am 100% for showing an ID to vote. Now can we stop talking about that?
Voter suppression is different - it inhibits legal voters from voting by making it more difficult to vote. What part of that do you not get?
Ground Control| 12.15.11 @ 11:28PM
Purp, you couldn't clarify butter. This IS about showing a valid ID. Illegal aliens VOTE in this country. They swing elections. Fact. Not fiction. Your denials are meaningless.
Purp| 12.18.11 @ 11:40PM
Not to me it isn't ... Having an ID is good, period. Why do you keep arguing with me, when I say good, fine, ID is good. That is not the big problem in next election. Voter suppression is.
Kevin| 12.18.11 @ 12:42PM
That's funny because Denver , CO in 2008 they found 16,000 cases of voter fraud. Sure beats your 50-60. And that is just Denver. Imagine the rest of the state and the rest of the Country.
Purp| 12.18.11 @ 11:41PM
Alleged voter fraud is not voter fraud, honey. Show us the convictions, since it is a felony. Show us please.
tsd| 12.15.11 @ 3:32PM
More BS from the fools with fake facts they say "says it all" It takes less to have a simple voter ID system than all the talk about it. It does nothing to intimidate people who should be allowed to vote, get it NOTHING!!!! Only cheaters would not want a simple rule in place to make sure it is one vote for one legitimate voter. We do this everywhere without a thought... I cannot walk into a public meeting at any level and vote on things, why? because I do not belong! This is so simple and so right... why do all the self claimed liberal intelligentsia become so stupid every time this issue comes up????
Purp| 12.15.11 @ 4:45PM
Once again, voter IDs is not my problem. Prove who you are, I get it, I agree with it. One vote, one person, legal.
That's NOT what people are upset about (I suppose some are), at least not me. I'm upset about voter suppression - the latest changes in voter registration rules and voting times and procedures makes it harder for people to vote - Why? Even with a valid, legal ID, it's harder to vote in some of these Republican states - why?
George S| 12.15.11 @ 9:25AM
I feel disenfranchised. I would like to receive 100 social security checks a month but the government won't let me make up 100 names and assign them a number.
Why do public sector unions send out ballots to their members only? If there is a right to vote -- to vote on a matter that affects my wallet -- then I Taxpayer should get a ballot. I feel disenfranchised.
If making up names is the new virtue of citizenship, then I should be able to make up a 100 names and apply for a social security number for each. A hundred checks a month would be a sweet retirement package.
How difficult would it be to have recall elections against conservatives if, say, a signatory had to show up in person and present ID prior to signing? You think the unions would get a half million signatures to recall a governor that way? Ah, but that is the point -- the ability to create a democracy to your liking.
tsd| 12.15.11 @ 3:35PM
Thanks George.... exactly correct!!
Purp| 12.15.11 @ 4:49PM
Then why doesn't the state send out ballots to everyone, 1 per person? It sends income tax forms to everyone, doesn't it? Seems a simple solution to me. then only taxpayers could vote and you all could shut up. For states without income tax, send a ballot to all people with driver's licenses, 1 per person. then only people with a valid ID could vote. Done. Simple. Cheap.
Because politicians, especially Republicans, but also Democrats don't want everyone to vote.
Oregonian| 12.16.11 @ 1:47AM
Actually, in Oregon, our ballots ARE mailed to us...to each registered voter. We can vote at our leisure then mail our ballots in by the deadline. Pretty cool, wouldn't you say? Even a "Purp" could stay in the basement in his 'jammies and not have to leave the house to vote in a national election. It's mind-boggling, I know.
Purp| 12.18.11 @ 11:42PM
Sounds like we should all have that ability. Hmmm, Oregon is a BLUE state, could that have anything to do with it? Why don't the RED states do this? Hmmm?
bill| 12.15.11 @ 9:41AM
No surprise, Sen. Bill Nelson does not believe in voting integrity because that would makes his re-election bid much more complicated and that voters ID would prevent voter fraud and that illegals will be barred from voting.
DOJ waged a war of attrition on states enacted the voters ID laws.
GOP House must conduct a congressional investigation on Eric Holder's DOJ over its overreach and abuse of power.
Without the voter ID laws, Sen. Nelson may get reelected for 6 more years.
We cannot let that happen. We must act now.
Minuteman78| 12.15.11 @ 2:08PM
"...how...voter laws...selects Democratic constituencies to disenfranchise." Well, constituencies such as Felons, Illegal Mexicans, Drug Addicts, Seniles, Multiple-ballot casting voters, Blacks who get bused in and given ciggies for voting "D"... sounds just like the Democrat Base to me! *LOL*
Nelson's scared to death he's going to get his leftist a$$ handed to him and he doesn't care how he wins. He started out in my home county of Brevard, FL some 30+ years ago as a semi-reasonable Dem, but has just gone totally Obama-grade leftist over the years. As have most of the "D" clan. Commies.
Seattlebred| 12.15.11 @ 2:17PM
"In a press release from Florida Democratic U.S. Senator Bill Nelson, running for re-election this year, we read this: 'The right to vote is, and always has been, at the foundation of our democracy.'" The good senator has a poor editor. More accurately: "The right to legally vote is, and always has been, at the foundation of our constitutional republic." Senator Nelson, please allow true, fresh air unencumbered access to your press releases.
Purp| 12.15.11 @ 4:54PM
Democratic Constitutional Republic ... Democratic comes first ... Republic last.
John Navratil| 12.15.11 @ 9:35PM
“Well, Doctor, what have we got—a Republic or a Monarchy?”
“A Republic, if you can keep it.”
-- Benjamin Franklin
Purp| 12.18.11 @ 11:47PM
Your Point?
"When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic." Benjamin Franklin.
Our "Republic" is in danger folks.
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither safety nor liberty." B. Franklin - thank you George Bush.
cicero| 12.15.11 @ 4:08PM
There was a reason for a property requirement for voting when the country was first established. Those were the folks that paid taxes. The revolution was fought because of taxasion without representation. Now we have representation without taxasion.
In Detroit, when Kwame Kilpatrick wanted to insure his reelection, he had the folks in the group mental homes bussed to the polls. Rather than making it easier to vote, we should be making it harder. To vote, you should be able to pass the citizenship test given to potential immigrants. I know that raises the hue and cry about poll taxes and literacy tests from the old south, but it might result in rational elections.
The libs want everyone to vote. That way the have nots can vote the libs in who will give the property and work product of the minority to the have not majority. Works like a charm. The Athenians found this out, as did the Romans - the hard way. Our founders knew all about it, so they formed a republic, rather than a democracy. Well, now we have a democracy, and we will have to fight like hell to keep our lives, liberties, and property.
Purp| 12.15.11 @ 4:56PM
So you don't believe in one man, one vote? More than 50% of Americans pay federal taxes and another 38% of Americans pay state, local, FICA tax, so what's your point?
cicero| 12.15.11 @ 5:15PM
It is the difference between a republic, which the founders intended, and a democracy, which always ends in chaos and eventually the loss of liberty. I am not whining about the facts as they are - we are curreently a democracy. I am only saying that we had better get a handle on our voting proceedures, or we will be descending into chaos sooner rather than later.
shipley130| 12.15.11 @ 5:24PM
The democrats are very upset that their voter fraud scheme is going to be thrashed.
Richard Baker| 12.15.11 @ 5:26PM
cicero:
The lefties have this grand idea that they are the Right People to lead us forward into a totalitarian society regardless of the cost and destruction inherent in a democracy. Some of these clowns need to read about what a democracy did to ancient Greece but they won't. Their motto should be "don't confuse me with the facts, I know what I know." Also, they advocate a society for others that they don't want for themselves. Notice that many of the most vocal adherents of this nonsense are very well off. You think they are going to give this up? Not a chance.
Purp| 12.18.11 @ 11:48PM
sounds more like the right-wingers to me. you haven't been listening, if you disagree.
Richard Baker| 12.15.11 @ 5:31PM
By the way, as a Florida resident I find Nelson a joke and his ride on the Shuttle was a political payoff. To be fair, I thought Jake Garn and John Glenn had no business on the Shuttle, either. At $300-400 million a launch their "missions" were the most expensive junkets yet.
MikeN| 12.15.11 @ 5:54PM
The Constitution calls for voting in federal elections to happen on the same day. How can early voting or even absentee voting be justified?
For that matter, what about the millions living abroad who have no intention of residing in the US, who are voting absentee year after year in Florida?
Nite| 12.15.11 @ 9:10PM
Picture ID for voting was already in place prior to election of Rick Scott here in Florida. Scott shortened the early voting time from 7 days to 5 days (think I am right on # of days) but made the hours longer to vote. Scott and Legislature also made it harder for 3rd party groups to sign up voters. Remember ACORN? Democrats have no greater problem getting picture ID than Republicans or Independents. These measures simply make it harder to engage in voter fraud. By the way, I am hoping Bill Nelson is tossed out of office at this election. Heck, even my Democratic spouse won't vote for him.
POST American| 12.15.11 @ 10:33PM
---And have you caught those stealth
plans to have ilegal immigrants VOTING in
state and local elections --HERE!
Further, these reports of MASS sterilization
and depop ops in Peru ---as that country is
made 'friendly' for Globalist-RED Chinese economic,
and indeed, demographic, colonization.
And, into its tenth year, the aggressive
corporate GMO takeover of India's
small farmers, and the resultant
phenomenon of MASS suicide by farmers in its wake.
Reports say HALF the population of India's
farmers have done themselves in.
CHECK IT OUT!
That corporate EUGENICS borg,
otherwise known as the UN, is calling it
a 'disease linked to climate change'.
SO, KEEP A GOIN' KIDDIES------------
----------Fema camps n colostomy bags
-----------------JUST KEEP A GOIN' . . .
Lois C| 12.16.11 @ 9:08AM
It's so simple even an establishment Republican can understand it, the DemocRATs cannot win an election without cheating. Therefore, any attempt to make elections fair and free will be deemed 'racist' so they can divert attention away from the fact that they are cheating.