Ohio - Separate Voting Rights For Democrats (Less) And Republicans (More)

Interesting news. Seems in Ohio, when back in 2004, lots of people did not vote because of the excessively long lines, sort of fixed that problem for the 2008 election. Except, Obama took the state, so in 2010, the Republicans in the state, decided it would be a good idea to allow liberal voting rights for those districts that are primarily Republican, but restrict voting rights for those districts that are primarily Democratic.

Now, in heavily Democratic cities like Cleveland, Columbus, Akron and Toledo, early voting hours will be limited to 8 am until 5 pm on weekdays beginning on October 1, with no voting at night or during the weekend, when it’s most convenient for working people to vote. Republican election commissioners have blocked Democratic efforts to expand early voting hours in these counties, where the board of elections are split equally between Democratic and Republican members. Ohio Republican Secretary of State Jon Husted has broken the tie by intervening on behalf of his fellow Republicans. (According to the Board of Elections, 82% of early voters in Franklin County voted early on nights or weekends, which Republicans have curtailed. The number who voted on nights or weekends was nearly 50% in Cuyahoga County.)

"I cannot create unequal access from one county board to another, and I must also keep in mind resources available to each county,” Husted said in explaining his decision to deny expanded early voting hours in heavily Democratic counties. Yet in solidly Republican counties like Warren and Butler, GOP election commissioners have approved expanded early voting hours on nights and weekends. Noted the Cincinnati Enquirer: “The counties where Husted has joined other Republicans to deny expanded early voting strongly backed then-candidate Barack Obama in 2008, while most of those where the extra hours will stand heavily supported GOP nominee John McCain.” Moreover, budget constraints have not stopped Republican legislators from passing costly voter ID laws across the map since 2010.

Fortunately, one can expect lawsuits to stop this from being truly implemented.

Good-bye America

I am ambivalent about politics of late. Somewhere between 2005, when I had started up my blog, and was very passionate about the slow take-over of our democracy by the “right wingers,” and today, where seven years of outright lying, a lackadaisical news media, and a misdirected and ill-informed public, I’ve given up. Literally. With the promises made by a presidential candidate in 2008, who won (in my mind) with overwhelming support, and the follow-up of consistent failure to keep those campaign promises, coupled with a very real embrace by said president of certain ideologies that are antiethcal to the very nature of our democracy (i.e., renditions, killing American citizens abroad without warrants, trials, and the like, deporting more people out of this country than Bush ever did, failure to properly and timely embrace the GLBT issues that he ran on, etc., and not to mention the very same reliance on the banking industry that his opponents also embrace) have molded me into a non-believer in today’s version of our democracy.

This is a fully corrupt nation, with zero regard for the 99% of those that make up this country, work hard, and have tried to believe in the greatness of America. Instead, we have countries disparaging America based on the hypocrisy of its ideology vs. the practice. We prop up dictators, deal with our enemies, and wage wars on innocent people and nations. We are trillions in debt and yet not a single legislator on any level of government is taking up the mantle and running with the torch for the American people.

I had a guy tell me yesterday at my local watering hole that it is the corporations like GE, the oil companies, and others, that “pay the majority of taxes” in this country. I literally almost fell off my bar stool. I told him he really must stop watching Fox news, stop reading the Wall Street Journal, and for goodness sake, turn off talk radio. You will not get the truth from such areas, and that is why you, my friend, are ill informed.

It is hard to stand for truth and justice when there are so many politicians that have jumped on the bandwagon of corrupt methods of gaining and maintaining their free ride in government. “Can I please have some more” is the cry of the populace with the answer from the politicians being “hell fucking no” even as they cash their social security checks, get their federally funded (or state mandated) insurance coverage that is denied to anyone not in politics, and tell the average worker to go fuck themselves. Hell, the thought that the 1% think it’s okay (for example, Scranton, PA) to cut police and firefighter’s pay to minimum wage ($7.25), even after a court ordered the mayor NOT to do that, is just to mind boggling for me. The 1% are clearly not aware that to live in today’s America, minimum wage just does not cut it. And to believe that the majority of Americans want to suck off the teat of the government (the only people the suck off the teat of government ARE the politicians) is preposterous. A decent wage, the ability to put a roof over you and your family’s head, and raise your children with a decent education, has now gone the way of a “dream” and is actually, according to many politicians, no longer a “right” for Americans. The only “rights” that these politicians believe in is their right to pillage and destroy the America I grew up in, and turn our government into a corporate owned subsidiary. One person, one vote? Got rid of that. Power to the people? Got rid of that. A decent working wage? Got rid of that. Home ownership for the average American? Got rid of that. Where a corporate executive can work one day, retire, and take home $44 million in severance, bonuses, etc. (think Duke Energy’s CEO Bill Johnson), while there are millions and millions of people (including many Iraq war veterans) who are literally homeless, on the streets, with no real income in sight, as well as the rampant starvation of our children, I get sick to my stomach. And to top it off, a great deal of this rhetoric is pumped up by the false assertion that these politicians and their supporters are merely following Christian (read “bible”) themes, which totally distort the reality of what “Jesus” actually preached (according to some relevant history that seems to be methodically erased from the propaganda of what current Christianity means to this country).

Many of our elected officials are boneheads and seriously stupid. Deranged and empowered by corporate fueled laws and rights that come hand-in-hand with corporate money, it is time for me to check out. The power of the people, or the lack of it at this point, will be demonstrable in the 2012 elections, when it becomes obvious that millions of people will be disenfranchised as voters, where gerrymandering has resulted in lopsided and illegal power grabs, and where many more millions like me will simply fail to show up to cast our worthless vote.

Good-bye America. I will dream of your resurgence in the future. I only hope I live long enough to see the second Revolution and the fight to regain the rights that constitutionally belong to the American people.

Obama Administration Not In Line With Moratorium On Foreclosures

What a stupid, pompous and Bush like stance, coming out of the White House.

White House senior adviser David Axelrod signaled Sunday that the Obama administration is opposed to a national moratorium on foreclosures, even as pressure from Congress, labor unions and consumer groups mounts for the federal government to take action.

Calling the growing evidence that lenders have used inaccurately prepared and even fraudulent documents to foreclose on homes a "serious problem," Axelrod said it had already "thrown a lot of uncertainty into the housing market that is already fragile."

"I'm not sure about a national moratorium, because there are, in fact, valid foreclosures that probably should go forward, and where the documentation and paperwork is proper," Axelrod said Sunday on CBS' "Face the Nation."

Tell me again, why I should support this administration and vote this election?

[cricket sounds]

Even with the mounting evidence of bank fraud in foreclosures, and with several banks (BofA for one) completely putting a hold on all foreclosures in all 50 states, THIS ADMINISTRATION "is not sure" that is the best way to go? For whom? The banks, of course. This is an administration, to be sure, that has NOT GOT IT'S PRIORITIES set to help the people. Please, please, don't be caught up in the orations of the President. Don't get fooled because he can talk in complete sentences and Bush couldn't. Their goals are one and the same, and these past two years shows that ... in fact, it shows the Obama Administration taking Bush's position to the extreme. Government transparency? Check. Health care for all (with public option)? Check. I have repeated this shit over and over, so no need to go into the record again. We all know Obama and friends ain't all that.

UPDATE: From the great Glenn Greenwald:

"...there is no shortage of Democrats and progressives who hurled all sorts of accusatory rhetoric at Bush and Cheney for -- as Hayden put it -- "state secrets, targeted killings, indefinite detention, renditions, the opposition to extending the right of habeas corpus to prisoners," etc., yet now either turn a blind eye to or actively defend Obama as he does exactly the same thing, and sometimes worse."

Long piece, but precisely what is in my head that I can't bang out on the computer any better.

Bell Officials Resign, Finally

Three officials in a Los Angeles suburb whose high salaries sparked statewide outrage will step down from their jobs, the city's mayor said Friday.

That was quick. At first, the three vowed to fight the city's anger, and even went so far as to say they could not be fired, and that they had unique severance packages should they be forced to resign.

I am not sure who, outside of Southern Californians, were actually following this story. Bell is a really small community/city. But how these three were able to do what they do, is explained here:

The highly paid members of the Bell City Council were able to exempt themselves from state salary limits through a little-noticed city ballot measure during a special election that attracted fewer than 400 voters.

Council members in Bell earn nearly $100,000 – a salary that has prompted an inquiry by the Los Angeles County district attorney. A state law enacted in 2005 limits the pay of council members in "general law" cities, a reform prompted by the high salaries that leaders in the neighboring city of South Gate bestowed on themselves.

But the year the law passed, the Bell City Council held a special election with only one item on the ballot. It asked voters to approve a measure calling for Bell to convert to a "charter" city.

By doing this, it allowed the city council to circumvent the law that controls salaries for its members, and this was done on the sly and away from the knowledge of the actually people of Bell. In fact, only one city council member was unaware of the salary increases, and he appears to be the one that blew the whistle on it. I think the moral here is one needs to vote, and one needs to read the laws upon which you are voting for or against. This is what happens when there is apathy in voter turnout.

At least the scumbags are out of jobs. Hopefully, unless they are required to pay back their salaries, they invested well! Just a joke, son, just a joke!

Let's Go Halter!

Voting going on in a few primaries today, including California. I voted by mail. I did notice something odd, though, about California's primaries this year. It seems that I could have opted to vote in the Democratic and Republican primaries, although I am not sure why I would. I realize there was also an initiative on the ballot to make the primaries "open." But when it was actually time to fill out my mail in ballot, and I read the process to make sure I didn't make any mistakes, I saw this provision that said I could have asked for a mail in ballot for the Democratic or Republican primary. I'll scratch my head over that for a while and figure it out later.

I have contributed twice now to Halter's campaign to defeat Blanche Lincoln in Arkansas, and am proud that my dollars are going to help elect more progressives to Congress.

Over at DownWithTyranny, they have a post up indicating what a massive failure the teabaggers' choices are having, especially in California. It's not really projected that any of their candidates will win in their primaries -- so much for representing the "true" Americans in this country!

So, if you're in a state that has an election today, be sure to vote. It's the only way we Americans have of changing what is going on in politics. The corporations with their big money can influence Washington, but only we, the people, actually have the right to vote. Make sure yours counts.

2010 Might Be Another Banner Year For Democrats, After All

You know, I was pretty sure I was just going to sit out the 2010 election this year because, as most of my readers know, I am not a fan of Obama anymore, based on his lack of progress on his promise of changing America. And, I'm not buying any logic that being president is "hard work," either.

Also, I was pretty sure, based on what most of the liberal and progressives were touting on their websites, that we all felt the same way, and were willing to let the Republicans take over the majority, even if it was by default.

However, unexpectedly, for all of us, the teabaggers came along. They don't really bother me, except for their lack of knowledge about government and their deep reverence for all things Fox. But, they are a problem for the Republican party, because the teabaggers hate many Republicans, if not most, as well.

So, if you add that to the mix, plus the recent actions in the Senate by the whining Republicans who are refusing to let government do its job (never mind the fact that all the Republicans in Congress have en masse voted no on every bill, regardless of how much the Democrats, much to liberals' and progressives' chagrin, catered to their needs and wishes), it's not looking so bad for the Democrats this 2010!

The teabaggers represent a MINORITY of Americans. Fox news (as well as the right wing hate talk radio shows) coupled with all print media (right wing or liberal) and TV (cable and non-cable) only reach approximately 10% of the 300+ million Americans. See my post here from 2008 that indicates 90% of Americans do not get their news views from quote main stream media unquote.

There are more registered Democrats than Republicans, and the base of the teabagger movement is close to 100% Republican in origin (give or take a few percentage points). Which, pretty much rules out any effective takeover of Congress in 2010 by the Republicans!

The party of no, of violence, of intolerance, of hatred, of racism, of bigotry, of homophobia, of war, of religiosity, of lies, of deception, of greed, of white power (I could go on, and on, and on) will most likely not be representative of this country come 2010. They simply don't have the numbers, despite what the main stream media tries to say to the 10% that watch/read/listen to them. And, with Jerry Brown in the mix for Governor of California ... (grins) I guess I might have to just go to the polls in 2010 after all!

Don't Hold Your Breath Waiting For An Economic Stimulus Plan For America

I don't think it matters if the Senate were made up of 75% Democrats, they would still be unable to steer this country out of the recession, and keep a depression from hitting.

Lowering expectations for quick passage of an economic stimulus bill, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid rejected setting "some false deadline" for delivering legislation to President Obama, in favor of a more deliberate approach that allows Congress to get the package right "the first time."

Congressional leaders had hoped to hand Obama a completed economic assistance package immediately after he is sworn in on Jan. 20, but that timing looks increasingly doubtful as the legislation grows in complexity and size. In separate interviews this morning, Reid (Nev.) and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said the process could take another six weeks.

The Guvment was sure quick in handing out "stimulus," oh, I am sorry, "bailout" money to their rich friends in the financial industry and on Wall Street. But come up with a plan that will help AMERICA from completely unravelling financially? Now, that will take, what -- months and months, first for the Democrats to argue amongst themselves (because, after all, any assistance to AMERICA cannot be too liberal or progressive), and then battle the obstruction from the Republicans (because, after all, that is all they know how to do).

I will repeat myself -- I don't believe Obama is going to make any headway as a president, at least insofar as AMERICA and AMERICAN interests go, for probably half his presidency (two years).

I am hopeful, though, that on the foreign front, Obama will be able to make a dramatic turnaround, both in this country's reputation abroad, and in the ability of this country to right the wrongs of the past eight years.

Hunker down, folks, it's going to be a bumpy ride. And to you Democrats that think nothing has changed and are still operating from the same core principals of the past eight years, beware of 2010. 2006 was the first wave of the American people's statement to Congress. 2008 was the second wave, and boy, it was a doozie, including electing a black man as president. If you politicians don't pay attention, 2010 will wipe out all of the obstructionists, both Republicans and Democrats.

Bruce And Barack

Tomorrow, we will finally be singing a new tune.

Great Timing, California GOP!

The California GOP filed an FEC complaint today, just hours after Obama's grandmother died, alleging:

"Obama for America violated federal law by converting its campaign funds to Senator Obama's personal use," the release stated. "Senator Obama recently traveled to Hawaii to visit his sick grandmother. This was the right thing for any grandson to do -- at his own expense -- but it was not travel that his campaign may fund."

Nice work, dipshits. That should put a few of the undecideds over to the deciding for Obama tomorrow!

Yes We Can

I filled out my absentee ballot and will mail it in tomorrow. I voted for Obama and Biden. It's time for change in America.

NOBODY, And I Mean That As ZERO People Polled Believe The Economy Is Getting Better

No Americans say that the national economy is getting better, 13% say it is staying the same, and 82% say the national economy is getting worse.

H/T to Crooks and Liars for the graphic.

For those that keep insisting that Americans want four more years of the same eight years of pillaging and raping of the American economy, I give you the above poll!

ZERO people believe this country's economy is getting better. That's a big negative - a fat 0 - nada, no one, zippo! And we are supposed to believe that the Republicans are not only going to win the presidential election, but that they will retake Congress? There's not enough hallucinogens available to even remotely buy into this concept.

Well, It's Official

“With eyes firmly fixed on the future, in the spirit of unity, with the goal of victory, with faith in our party and our country, let’s declare together, in one voice, right here, right now, that Barack Obama is our candidate and he will be our President. Madame Secretary, I move that the convention suspend the procedural rules and suspend the further conduct of the roll cal vote — all votes cast by the delegates will be counted — and I move Senator Barack Obama of Illinois be sleceted by this convetion by acclamation as the nominee of the democtaric party for president of the United States.”

That was some powerful stuff, tonight.

Michelle Sold It Tonight

Well, I know I wasn’t going to blog about the presidential election, because I have a hard time dealing with the FISA vote by Obama. But, watching Michelle Obama speak at the Democratic convention this evening really made me "feel" about my country as I used to feel when I was a young adult, against the war in Viet Nam and a supporter of women’s rights, and civil rights.

The fact that Barack’s acceptance speech will be held on the 45 anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington led by Dr. King, where he gave his most famous speech, is not lost on me, and the fact that Barack is biracial.

I know many of you have been enjoying my respite from political commentary and the fun updates about my grandson, Zaire. Something many of you do not know is that he is also biracial in that his father is black.

I was more appalled at the "Spirits of Denver" party.

I just got an invitation for the "Spirits of Denver" party, which as you'll see below, will be the place to be to get reactionary corporate PAC money.

Beta Night Club,1909 Blake Street Denver, Colorado
August 25, 2008 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Here are the sponsors. See if you can figure out the pattern:

Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (lead sponsor) 2008: 59% Dems, 41% Reps 2006: 48% Dems, 48% Reps 2004: 39% Dems, 61% Reps 2002: 32% Dems, 68% Reps

National Association of Chain Drug Stores 2008: 66% Dems, 34% Reps 2006: 24% Dems, 75% Reps 2004: 22% Dems, 78% Reps 2002: 40% Dems, 60% Reps

ClearChannel 2008: 54% Dems, 46% Reps 2006: 40% Dems, 60% Reps 2004: 38% Dems, 62% Reps 2002: 38% Dems, 62% Reps

Federation of American Hospitals 2008: 54% Dems, 46% Reps 2006: 35% Dems, 64% Reps 2004: 40% Dems, 60% Reps 2002: 31% Dems, 69% Reps

Duke Energy 2008: 39% Dems, 61% Reps 2006: 26% Dems, 74% Reps 2004: 24% Dems, 76% Reps 2002: 30% Dems, 70% Reps

National Association of Home Builders 2008: 45% Dems, 55% Reps 2006: 45% Dems, 55% Reps 2004: 33% Dems, 67% Reps 2002: 38% Dems, 62% Reps

US Chamber of Commerce 2008: 39% Dems, 61% Reps 2006: 18% Dems, 82% Reps 2004: 24% Dems, 76% Reps 2002: 10% Dems, 90% Reps

American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (Coal industry front group) Lockheed Martin 2008: 57% Dems, 43% Reps 2006: 42% Dems, 58% Reps 2004: 41% Dems, 59% Reps 2002: 39% Dems, 61% Reps

Daimler 2008: 48% Dems, 52% Reps 2006: 35% Dems, 65% Reps 2004: 32% Dems, 68% Reps 2002: 41% Dems, 59% Reps

AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals 2008: 45% Dems, 55% Reps 2006: 28% Dems, 72% Reps 2004: 30% Dems, 70% Reps 2002: 30% Dems, 70% Reps

Amgen 2008: 45% Dems, 55% Reps 2006: 34% Dems, 65% Reps 2004: 27% Dems, 73% Reps 2002: 25% Dems, 74% Reps

Verisign 2008: 47% Dems, 53% Reps 2006: 21% Dems, 79% Reps 2004: 37% Dems, 63% Reps 2002: 55% Dems, 45% Reps

We've spent the decade working to strip Republicans of their governing majorities, majorities enabled by these (and many more) PACs. Now, seeing the political winds turn, they are working feverishly to buy the Democratic Party so that government can continue the same destructive policies that have gotten us to today's messes.

While Obama may not be taking PAC money, most other Democrats aren't following suit. And while there are many PACs friendly to progressive principles, the group hosting and funding this party is not. Unfortunately, I fear this may be one of the hottest parties in Denver this week. Not so unfortunately, I suspect my invitation is hereby revoked.

Glenn Greenwald keeps us abreast of the "secrecy" of that meeting, between the above-name industry corporate lobbyists and CEO's and the Democrats that have consistently voted a Bush agenda for said corporate and industry interests.

I watched the CSPan coverage because I knew it would be the least tainted in after convention coverage. It is interesting to hear the lame excuses and comments made by the people supporting a McCain presidency. I really cannot wait to see the Republican convention. The level of being out of touch with ordinary Americans will be so obvious at the convention based on the speeches and the comments made during that time.

As Michelle said tonight, and I paraphrase, it is time to base decisions on hope instead of basing them on fear.

s

Barack Obama Can Suck My Big Dildo

With Obama's vote on the FISA legislation today, he pretty much cemented the fact that I will stay home this coming November and not vote for a presidential candidate. I cannot, and will not, support someone who so brazenly discounts the basic civil liberties this country was founded upon, and which the Constitution of the United States stands for.

The country is in the tank, anyway. Not to mention the state of the world, which is very much in crisis mode. The sooner it all comes crashing down, the sooner sane people can start to build this world back up.

For now, I'm done with the presidential election, including any posts relating to it.

I will, however, continue to participate in the ActBlue netroots group that funds money to REAL Democrats, and helps fund critical races so that we can put out to pasture the FAKE Democrats (along with their Republican counterparts). It would be nice to have a legislative body that actually gave a shit about the Americans that elected it, to serve the Americans as it was designed to do. Unfortunately, it has become a corporate world, and ordinary citizens, millions and millions of them across the globe, are starving, homeless, under threat of violence from roving armies, gangs, thugs and politicians, and basically have no rights.

One could almost say ... the world is coming to an end. Soon, at your neighborhood theater.

Someone, Please, Smack Some Sense Into Zimbabwe

Not a good time to be a Zimbabwe'an.

The soldiers and ruling party militiamen herded the people of Rusape to an open field at the back of the local sports club and made their point crystal clear.

"Your vote is your bullet," a soldier told the terrified crowd.

Everyone knew what he meant.

UPDATE: Rival Out Of Race

JOHANNESBURG — The leader of Zimbabwe’s opposition party withdrew Sunday from a presidential runoff, just five days before it was to be held, saying he could neither participate “in this violent, illegitimate sham of an election process,” nor ask his voters to risk their lives in the face of threats from forces backing President Robert Mugabe.

Obama Finally Declared The Democratic Candidate For President

I am truly amazed that in my lifetime, I am seeing a black man as the candidate for President of the United States. I sure hope I see this man take it all, as well as have the progressives in all parties take over congress. It is time to reverse the damage that the Bush administration has inflicted on our country, and heal, heal, heal.

A true high five to Barack Obama.

Another Republican Seat Bites The Dust

Congratulations to Travis Childers' win in the Mississippi First District special election, which was open because Roger F. Wicker resigned effective December 31, 2007.

Slowly, but surely, Americans are voting overwhelmingly for Democratic candidates in traditionally Republican strongholds, which is definitely a harbinger of things to come.

2008 will bring us a Democratic president, a more secure Democratic Senate with enough votes to end the stupid "we now have to have 60 votes to pass any legislation," and a stronger Democratic House.

The times, they are a changing!

Who Needs A Paper Trail, Damn It!

TRENTON, N.J. - Legislation sponsored by a New Jersey congressman that would have reimbursed states wanting to adopt voting safeguards before the November presidential election failed to win approval Tuesday in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The bill, dubbed the Emergency Assistance for Secure Elections Act of 2008, fell short of the two-thirds majority it needed to pass, even after clearing a House committee unanimously. The vote was 239-178 in favor, with all but two Democrats supporting it and all but 16 Republicans opposed.

[snip]

Republicans opposed the bill because of the cost.

Yeah, right! Manipulating the electronic voting machines has been the linchpin of the Republican administration. Why in the world would they want "fair" elections? They don't believe they represent any constituents other than corporate donors (not that there aren't a few Democrats in this same group, Clinton -cough cough).