Dirty tactics in the presidential race

[elSicomoro]

Today is the first time that I've seen the Shit Boat Veterans commercials on local television here in Philadelphia. Come on, baby! Flog that dead horse!

[alphageek31337]

I need someone to help me confirm this, but if I heard the news correctly this evening, haven't some people in the Pittsburgh area been telling folks that, in order to prevent long lines, only registered Republicans vote on Nov. 2, and that Democrats should show up to the polls on the 3rd?

Edit: Also, I must assume that the Black Voter's League thing above is Republican BS, because despite the Magical Parade O' Minorites, black folks tend to vote Dem (though apparently Dubya has little problem courting the Mexican-American vote, what with his temporary work visas and such).

[404Error]

Originally Posted by alphageek31337

I need someone to help me confirm this, but if I heard the news correctly this evening, haven't some people in the Pittsburgh area been telling folks that, in order to prevent long lines, only registered Republicans vote on Nov. 2, and that Democrats should show up to the polls on the 3rd?

Uh, that's a joke email that's been circulating lately. There's also one that says if you support Bush, drive with your headlights on during the day, if you support Kerry drive with your headlights off during the night. (must be more of that Republican BS, huh?)

I think if anyone's so naive as to believe either one of these to be anything other than what they are, a joke, they're too stupid to vote in an election as important as this one.

[Happy Monkey]

This American Life on voter suppression. (RealMedia)

[richlevy]

I'm taking my son Jeffrey to the polls here in PA tommorrow. Jeffrey first voted in this years Democratic presidential primary. He has made up his own mind who to vote for and which party to register under, and when we went to the county clerks office to register him I was careful to list all of the parties, including none of the above. In theory, as a second-time voter he should have no problems.

Jeffrey is autistic. I'm taking my camera/videocam with me. For the primary this was to proudly record his first vote (my other son went to the polls by himself). For this election I do intend to have a picture of my wife and I and our two sons as they vote in their first presidential election. Unfortunately, I also may need to record any objections that come up. One of Jeffrey's bus drivers is a with the local Republican committee. He saw Jeffrey vote in the primaries. He's a pretty nice guy, but that doesn't mean that there may not be a challenge, even though there is no legal standing for one.

Jeffrey has it listed that he may need assistance. I do not want to be involved in assisting him. By my standards, nobody with any partisan beliefs should be in the booth with him. Unfortunately, in this election finding a non-partisan is tough. I'm going to have to rely on the poll workers to do their duty if necessary. Fortunately, Jeffrey will not let himself be influenced by anyone once he makes up his mind.

[Troubleshooter]

Originally Posted by richlevy

I'm taking my son Jeffrey to the polls here in PA tommorrow.

*snip*

Jeffrey is autistic.

*snip*

He's a pretty nice guy, but that doesn't mean that there may not be a challenge, even though there is no legal standing for one.

Please don't take this the wrong way but how autistic is he?

One of the biggest problems with democracy is the number of people that are unqualified to vote yet do so.

On the other hand, if with a bit of effort he is able to actually make a reasoned decision then I applaud you both because he is taking his responsibility more seriously than most.

On that nice guy note, does anyone actually know the full requisites for voting?

[xoxoxoBruce]

One of the biggest problems with democracy is the number of people that are unqualified to vote yet do so.

Oh really? I thought it was the number of people that are qualified to vote yet do not.

[xoxoxoBruce]

and when we went to the county clerks office to register him I was careful to list all of the parties, including none of the above.

I don't understand this, Rich. You mean you listed them for the kid to choose from?

[Troubleshooter]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Oh really? I thought it was the number of people that are qualified to vote yet do not.

Nah, there are way WAY more ignorant voters than there are qualified non-voters.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by Troubleshooter

Nah, there are way WAY more ignorant voters than there are qualified non-voters.

Ignorant and qualified are two different issues. :p
If there's a 35/40 % turnout your statement can't be true.

[richlevy]

Originally Posted by Troubleshooter

Please don't take this the wrong way but how autistic is he?

One of the biggest problems with democracy is the number of people that are unqualified to vote yet do so.

On the other hand, if with a bit of effort he is able to actually make a reasoned decision then I applaud you both because he is taking his responsibility more seriously than most.

On that nice guy note, does anyone actually know the full requisites for voting?

Citizenship, age, and residency. That's it.

It just so happens that there was an article in todays's Inquirer about Special-needs voters prepare for the polls .

Jeffrey has been working part time at a convenience store for 5 years. He is largely self directed. When a new job coach came on and told him to do something that he knew was wrong he corrected her.

I do not know how Jeffrey chose his party affiliation. If he did it becuase of what his parents believed, that is no different from many families. I have been very careful not to impose my beliefs on Jeffrey, but he does here my wife and I discuss politics and he watches the same TV commercials as anyone else. I will defend his choice even if he choses to disagree with me.

With the partisanship in this election and all sides being reminded just how important a vote is, there may be challenges. The Constitution and the law is on Jeffrey's side. He will make his choice tomorrow, hopefully with no need for assistance.

Everyone from gun users to pro-choice activists know the slippery slope argument. That is the argument that any restriction is a step on the path to prohibition. I would be loathe to go back to the days of written tests.

Such disfranchising laws included poll taxes, literacy tests, vouchers of "good character" and disqualification for "crimes of moral turpitude." These laws were "color-blind" on their face, but were designed to exclude black citizens disproportionately by allowing white election officials to apply the procedures selectively. Other laws and practices, such as the "white primary", attempted to evade the 15th Amendment by allowing "private" political parties to conduct elections and establish qualifications for their members.

[richlevy]

Well, I thought I would make it to election day but I was wrong. Sometime this evening my Kerry-Edwards lawn sign was stolen. I noticed it when I got home from work this evening.

I left a message for our police department and went to the local Democratic headquarters where I got two new lawn signs.

[Troubleshooter]

Originally Posted by richlevy

Jeffrey has been working part time at a convenience store for 5 years. He is largely self directed. When a new job coach came on and told him to do something that he knew was wrong he corrected her.

Regardless of his or your decision on who gets to screw us this term.

[Troubleshooter]

TO THE POINT ELECTION EVE HEADS UP #2

I have just been informed by Republican volunteers in southern Pennsylvania that registered Republicans 65 years and older are being systematically called and told that the location of their polling place has been moved, then given a wrong address.

Hundreds of Republican volunteers are now having to call these senior voters up and tell them about the dirty trick and to go to their regular polling place. If any of you have heard of similar dirty tricks in your area, please let me know at drjack@tothepointnews.com.

Bill Middendorf called me to explain that he can not publicly reveal details about John Kerry’s Other Than Honorable (OTH) Discharge as it would be a violation of the Privacy Act. He does, however, have complete confidence in Mark Sullivan, who was Bill’s Judge Advocate General when Bill was Secretary of the Navy, and who has revealed that Kerry’s OTH was expunged by Jimmy Carter.

The stor! y is now up on WorldNetDaily. For some strange reason, perhaps Matt Drudge\'s antipathy to the military, Drudge refuses to run it. The New York Sun will carry an article about it, written by Tom Lipscomb, tomorrow. The story of Kerry\'s OTH, breaking on election eve and election day, will have an impact.

Jack Wheeler


To The Point - The Oasis for Rational Conservatives. http://www.tothepointnews.com

[Happy Monkey]

It's getting down to the wire in West Virginia.

And more in Ohio (this is not from the Board of Elections).