From NY Times’ Op/Ed Wednesday…
Florida’s Legislature, like Ohio’s, is controlled by Republicans. Throughout American history both parties have shown a willingness to try to use election law to get results they might otherwise not win at the polls. But right now it is clearly the Republicans who believe they have an interest in keeping the voter base small. Mr. Blackwell and other politicians who insist on making it harder to vote never say, of course, that they are worried that get-out-the-vote drives will bring too many poor and minority voters into the system. They say that they want to reduce fraud. However, there is virtually no evidence that registration drives are leading to fraud at the polls.
But there is one clear way that Ohio’s election system is corrupt. Decisions about who can vote are being made by a candidate for governor. Mr. Blackwell should hand over responsibility for elections to a decision maker whose only loyalty is to the voters and the law.
Sorry OT, but this is for the newbies to look at, its too good to let it go
Read this here
An article about the Fellowship Foundation
This one always gets me, because it was started as a front for reining in unions, dig around, you might find out that your Democratic Rep belongs to this creepy outfit, I know Hillary belongs to it, the Wal-Marter that she is
Elizabeth Baumgartner gets 45 for contempt in Ohio link here
Brad,
I’m glad to hear that someone writing for the NY Times has some common sense.
Blackwell should have recused himself long ago. Now if only more people continue to speak out about this. . . .
Oh for heaven’s sakes, about time! But why wait to publish the day AFTER the election? I suppose its better than nothing. There’s still a little while to implement a remedy before November.
After being caught having what he called "accidental" shares in Diebold…
I think it’s obvious..
Blackwell should have absolutely NOTHING to do with the electoral process in Ohio.
Gee, what awakened the Gray Lady? An attack of the vapors? How unheard of! Blackheart has to go! Duh! No golf? Oh ho! Flog on! (I wax palindromic, please forgive me.)
OK. let’s see the silver lining in this.
Instead of massive efforts with tables in malls "Have you registered to vote?" "No." "OK, sign here, and here, and here."
We’ll have to have actual education programs and efforts that drive people to take PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY for being registered.
"Have you registered? Do you KNOW whether you are still registered? Did you receive your notice? Do you know how to check? When was the last time you voted?"
The basic message: YOUR VOTE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU OWN — MAKE SURE IT IS SAFE.
Really, it’s a better message than: "Sign here and you can be done thinking about voting."
They may be doing us a favor, though we will now have to get serious about refining the way we do registration drives. The end result may be much more well-empowered voters who understand how their votes are being stolen from them, not lazy voters who go to the polls unprepared and leave at the first sign of trouble.
Charlie L
Portland, OR
Keep up the great Blogsphere work. I am a MA resident who is now informed and very upset about Blackwell. I have sent emails to three Ohio newspapers concerning Blackwell. Also, I have sent emails to several MSM newspapers expressing disappointment that Kennedy’s report on voter fraud via Diebolt electronic voting machines is not receiving front page headlines and Editorial prominence. Everyone: email, email email. "It is not over until the fat lady sings."
"The end result may be much more well-empowered voters who understand how their votes are being stolen from them, not lazy voters who go to the polls unprepared and leave at the first sign of trouble."
Ah! and herein lies the rub.. First, MOST Americans are too busy trying to eek out a living to spend "serious time" dealing with voting. AND, Corporate America has then addicted to "shopping", so you can’t expect people to stop mid-spree and "learn" about voting. Also, we have a culture where those that aren’t "eeking by" are "super busy" (or so the comercials would have you believe) with running here and there to get shopping done, get the kids to the soccer game, get the dry-cleaning picked up, get dinner started, get the baby from day-care, take the dog to the vet, etc. etc. etc… You get the idea. "Life is too busy to take time out to learn to vote"..
Americans are fat and lazy, and those that aren’t are very busy (likely trying to distract themselves from the failed Country looming just below the consumer-surface). You can’t expect to "exact change" about voting until you make it a SERIOUS point in our society. Voting doesn’t make Corporate America money (in fact, if everyone became educated voters, they would lost a LOT of money for their Board.. they do NOT want "more voting", they want less and less, by those greedy assholes who don’t care about the masses).
Education in this country has failed us. We’re working more hours and more jobs these days to get ahead. More and more people have less and less time/desire to be involved because it’s not a value instilled in us at any level (for most people). Until we force Corporate America to pay better wages, allow people to work less and still have a livable wage, we’ll not have much success in getting people to spend their "valuable time" worrying about "voting".
I also don’t think voting (or registering) should be a chore. It SHOULD be as simple as "signing here and here".. It should also be CLEAR what district people live in, where they should vote, etc. Send out information to EVERY HOUSEHOLD every election so we know what’s what. Oh.. wait.. that takes money that no one wants to spend on our Democracy, right?
I’m trying to get the idea across to my daughter how important all of this is.. but I have a hard time convincing MYSELF that it’s worth it when I keep reading more and more about all the corrupt politicians out there. Both parties are loaded with "rich folks" who pander to get into power.. Average people are EXCLUDED from the process by design (current design, not historical) so most people just decide not to deal with it. The old addage "chose the lessor of 2 evils" was never logically valid to me, so I don’t vote (but will likely start soon) because I can’t support criminals who want to hurt me after lying to my face about wanting to help me.
If you want to get more people interested in the system, the system has to change to encourage it. To get the system to change, you have to put in people who will change it.. Hmm.. what was that.. catch.. drop.. 35.. toss 19.. erm.. Oh.. yeah.. Catch-22..
For Czaragorn: If you’re a palindromist, maybe we can have some fun here by creating them, with an electoral fraud flavor. A couple of possibilities:
Yen (re flip)=Pilfer (Ney) (expose of Ohio, 2004)
No I won’t, now: Ion (Soncho declining to resign)
Everyone across the country needs to get behind the Democrat running for Secretary of State. Her name is Jennifer Brunner and she’s an election expert. She’s a former judge and is well respected in election law circles. The Republicans have vowed to fund her opponent well to keep the Secretary of State’s office in Republican hands. This just means more of Blackwell-like antics and vote suppression. With Ohio likely electing the next president in 2008. This November 2006 is the most crucial election in the country. Visit Jenniferbrunner.com and donate whatever you can today!
#10
I dunno, Robert…palindromes take too long for me to compose! My brain’s not as advanced as yours, I think. I’m stickin’ with limericks:
Oh there once was a country that claimed
Its electoral system was gamed
But the powers that be
Seemed unable to see
That the process was crooked and maimed
They continued to vote at the polls
On machines that were chock-full of holes
Led by rogues they should oust
reminiscent of Faust
‘Til old Satan showed up for their souls
Ken Blackwell needs to go to prison, that’s all there is to it. He is as corrupt a Repuglican as there has ever been.
Ohio should be proud.
Unfortunately, they probably are.