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Goo-Goo America
Say you've got a global agenda that's far too important to leave to chance -- wars to fight, quagmires to feed, interests to protect, secrets to hide.
Staying in power is crucial.
This presents a big problem in an election year -- heart-stopping, even -- for the Republican Party. Consider the basic numbers, as compiled recently by the Associated Press: In the 28 states that register voters according to party affiliation, more than 2 million Democrats have been registered, in highly energized get-out-the-vote drives, over the last two years, while, simultaneously, Republicans have lost nearly 344,000 voters in those same states. Nationwide, AP informs us, there are about 42 million registered Democrats right now and about 31 million Republicans.
However, in applied, as opposed to merely theoretical, democracy, there are things you can do about a numbers problem like this - legal, quasi-legal and blatantly, wildly, desperately (but undetectably) illegal. And the GOP, in its virulent neocon incarnation, is going to do all of them. In impolite, non-mainstream-media circles, it's called cheating.
Indeed, "this is an all out Republican war on democracy in which we will be witnessing an unprecedented 'troop surge' between here and November," Brad Friedman, whose blog sounded one of the earliest and most clarion voices of warning about election fraud, wrote recently in the U.K. Guardian. Friedman quoted conservative guru Paul Weyrich, who back in 1980 mocked the idea of democracy and good government as "goo-goo syndrome," and bluntly stated: "As a matter of fact, our leverage in the elections quite candidly goes up as the voting populace goes down."
Keeping the voting populace down -- among target groups, of course (African-Americans, students, Native Americans, Hispanics, the poor, the young) -- has been core Republican strategy throughout the Rove-Bush era, from the bogus ex-felon purges of voting rolls in 2000 that disenfranchised thousands of mostly African-Americans in the South and gave Florida to George W. Bush, to a dizzying array of dirty tricks in 2004 (check out "Fooled Again" by Mark Crispin Miller or the documentaries "Uncounted" and the just-completed "Stealing America Vote by Vote"), to . . .
Well, they're at it again, of course, targeting the most vulnerable and the most Democratic-leaning populations, such as, in a stunning display of cynicism, people whose homes were recently foreclosed on, but this time they don't have a free hand. The most crucial news of the 2008 election season is that "Goo-Goo America," if you will -- good-government, democracy-committed America -- is up and out of its complacency in growing numbers.
"In 2004, we were blindsided," long-time voting-rights activist Harvey Wasserman told me. But this year, no way. People are starting to feel a deeper cry of citizenship, to get involved in the process in a new way, whether it be by signing up as election judges or poll watchers, or by becoming indie media types and videotaping what they see going on.
"We think it is actually within reach to get a fair election in 2008," said Wasserman, who is one of the organizers of the Ohio Election Protection conference, in Columbus Sept. 26-28 (see http://www.freepress.org/doit.php?strFunc=display&strID=377&strYear=2008 for details).
This is a rallying cry, not a reassuring bedtime story. We can't go back to sleep about the mechanics of our elections any more than we can give up on the issues of war and peace, the national direction and America's relationship with the rest of the world. The stakes are far too high.
"There are many problems in American democracy," writes Kevin Zeese in Op-Ed News, in a comprehensive roundup of disenfranchisement attempts around the country. "But, if we are unable to get these two basic things right -- registering voters and counting the vote accurately -- then not much else matters because the democracy is a farce and a fraud on the most basic fundamentals."
The problems and potential problems with hackable electronic voting machines, sloppy ballot chain-of-custody procedures and other matters related to the voting process itself are enormous and troubling, and I will address them as the election nears. For now, I focus on the basic fact of power. Its tendency to corrupt is known, documented and filed away under "history."
But history is occurring right now, as the election season progresses, mostly under the mainstream media radar, and it often looks like latter-day, de facto racism. For instance, in Macomb County, outside Detroit in the swing state of Michigan, Republicans have gotten ahold of foreclosure lists to challenge the addresses of (mostly African-American) registered voters, even as the GOP sits on an anti-predatory lending bill in the state legislature. Lose your home, lose your vote.
Goo-Goo America has to rouse itself and rise to the challenges of this election season, because power doesn't bow to principle unless it has to -- unless principle itself has a power base.
- Posted in
74 Comments so far
Show AllElection fraud is an issue that never went away; it has simply been ignored by the corporate media and squelched by a reactionary judiciary.
The fact that the neocons stole the past two elections - most notably in Florida and Ohio - is beyond dispute. Of course, so is global climate change but there remain plenty of wilfully ignorant fools (Inhofe) who will never admit that it is so.
q
I have previously called for UN election monitors. We need them more than any other country does because the stakes here are much higher.
"I have previously called for UN election monitors."
From which nations would you like to see the UN draw such monitors?
q
please, please, please, UN bail us out of our mess becasue we can't do it alone. you have shown such great wisdom and power and have avoided all contreversy, scandal, and greed.
rediculous
shut up and pay up or go to jail loser.
what are you talking about?
oh, and another name calling episode, how witty.
I would think that we could monitor our own elections better than any outsiders. I doubt many would care what UN observers had to say anyway.
Geeze, you and the commenter above, assuming youse ain't trolls, Canada, Denmark -- all the countries which can hold elections with paper ballots an get them counted in less than 6 hours, except when the results are close and then a recount is done automatically with no bullshit.
____
There's a glory in the morning because the earth turns 'round and a promise in the evening when the sun goes down
Bush banned them during the 2004 election. I'm assuming that means normally they do monitor the elections.
Are you shitting me? Bush banned election monitors? Can he walk on water too?
How about the Carter Center? Jimmy Carter and his people have monitored elections in many third world countries. Seeing that we're headed that way, they'd be right at home.
First of all, all of the other parties should challenge any results where we know that ANY Republican cheating has occured - this includes NOT conceding on November 5th! (I say this even though I do not support Barack Obama and do not believe he is qualified or worthy of the Presidency.)
I also believe there needs to be greater outrage at the purging of the rolls, the suppression of voting, the all out cheating that occurs within the Republican party machine.
And we should bring a class action suit for fraud against the Republican party. They are ripping US off, and destroying OUR democracy. (and yes, I know Democrats who do it should get the same treatment).
I believe that without cheating the Republicans will not win this year, and McCain can only get elected through the electoral college by cheating.
"Keeping the voting populace down -- among target groups, of course (African-Americans, students, Native Americans, Hispanics, the poor, the young) -- has been core Republican strategy throughout the Rove-Bush era..."
But disenfranchising thirty party presence has been the mainstay for all within "The Party" for decades. If you really want me to show concern for the Republican vs. Republican-Lite charade, you'll have to start at the beginning... inclusion has a higher priority over counting "The Party" results.
Until you can demonstrate an understanding of that fact, I won't be crying at your runner-up campaign party.
You all deserve to lose. You are the problem. Wah-Wah Koehler.
While the author was complaining about Republican dirty tricks, I didn't get the feeling that he was specifically championing the Democratic candidates. I do agree with you that a truly fair election process would include third-party types.
The real problem is that the rich and powerful get to control the elections because only those with tons of money can get on the ballot in the first place. We need to outlaw the sale of campaign ads in media. We need to choose our candidates based on their qualifications, positions and ideals, instead of who can spend the most money on advertising campaigns.
"While the author was complaining about Republican dirty tricks, I didn't get the feeling that he was specifically championing the Democratic candidates."
Do you really believe that? If so, then what was the point of his post? Why did the post only refer to Republicans and Democrats? Why did the post only highlight Republican deception?
I think you might be someone who needs a second read. I certainly didn't get the feeling that his objection to Republican tactics benefited anyone other than Democrats... as such, I don't feel much compunction for alarm. To me, it's just "The Party" in-fighting over who gets to pocket the loot during the next four years.
As the system is currently designed and maintained, we only really have two legitimate choice... vote and validate The Party... or do not endorse the system that disenfranchises you.
If you are a member of The Party and want me to enable your continued destruction of America... make your case. But remember, I'm not buying into your "little slice of fear" tactics. I want substance and examination of issues beyond Hope and Change (more of the same).
Well, maybe I'll play "push here stupid" and vote for The Party... perhaps when polar bears walk on water.
Democracy is won, or lost in increments. There is no way to make any change if we don't have fair elections. That is something that we keep fighting for. The next step would be to fight for a more fair system like instant-runoff-voting where a third party would actually stand a chance. We also need to eliminate the electoral college. But until the elections are made legal fair and transparent, we can never make headway towards a progressive future.
It's a tug-of-war. We need to keep pulling, all together in the less corrupt and less disastrous direction. If we give up and let go of the rope, we'll all be speaking-in-tongues at the end of a Palin presidency.
"There is no way to make any change if we don't have fair elections."
There is no way to make any change if we don't allow real choice... otherwise "fair elections" as you call them, are meaningless.
What I mean by "fair", is a new system such as instant-runoff-voting. Third party candidates like Nader or Cindy Sheehan will never stand a chance without it.
But of course, if we allow for what semblance of "fairness" that we now believe to have in our current system to be stolen from us while we watch and do nothing..... well then how can we ever expect to make any progress in the direction we are pulling.
It's obvious that what's won can be lost.... from both sides. Meaning that we can get what we want if we fight for it and fight to keep it.
Nader and Sheehan will never get elected because they are the fringe-left with no real constituency. No offense, of course.
You have an ability to ignore what I clearly communicate. I don't agree with you and stated why... you just repeated yourself as if I couldn't understand you.
Your politics have led to this total amalgamation of parties into "The Party". I don't agree that there's enough difference to bother voting. All within The Party obey their corporate masters without question.
I will not validate something which I no longer believe serves me or my country.
That you would do so without question, speaks volumes.
And the Democrats are fighting ID requirements. So what's the difference ?
Btw, Obama engaged in his own brand of suspect politics to get his Illinois State Senate seat.
http://74.125.45.104/search?q=cache:eleBZtjF3CMJ:www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-070403obama-ballot,0,1843097.story%3Fpage%3D1+barack+obama+knows+his+way+around&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us
(Pardon the cache link, it looks like the Chicago Tribune REMOVED this unflattering article about Saint Obama.)
I also believe that McCain and Obama should not be allowed on the Texas ballot, as neither of those parties followed the rules they were obligated to obey in order to get a line ballot this year. Those 34 electoral votes would therefore go to my least favorite candidate - Bob Barr - since he is the only one legally on the ballot (however, I do think the insanity that has prevented McKinney and Nader from being on the ballot is a major scandal that we need to look at very closely; there needs to be one set of rules for ALL political parties - and then those rules need to be followed).
And one of the biggest dirty tricks of all, gerrymandering, has yet to be mentioned...
Your Sec. of State controls this.
Oops. Duplicate post.
It is a problem, but in California, the Secretary of State is not the one doing it, it is the members of the legislature that are predominantly Democrats. We are gerrymandered to hell and gone here. When one district turns over to another party, it is worth MONTHS of news. Getting rid of this problem would be the basis for democracy taking hold in California. That doesn't mean that it would be more progressive, (or less probably) but it would mean that our reps would HAVE TO LISTEN to the voters and not just count on re-election because their district is safe.
Without this change, no politician will listen to their constituents, they will continue to know better for us than we ourselves do.
Unfortunately , in Ohio, Sec. Bruner is TRYING to stop it, but, we have such a huge majority of GOP in Columbus, I dont know if she wil fight hard enough.
This is exactly how Mike Turner, who lost in a bid for Mayor of Dayton, gerrymandered his way to the House of Rep.The GOP love him so much,they give $1 million to his campaign e very time he comes up for re-election.
The district he "represents" is mine--a largely urban, district, that , I would say, is not onthe "wealthy side". To combat the horrors of poor people having control over their own lives, hte GOP in Columbus drew up a district that is laughable--if it werent so sad. It "swings down" to grab a big swath of rich evangelical voters who bought up land south of Dayton in white flight.
Attempts to redraw the district, under a Dem Gov. have been "outmoneyed". It doesnt help that our atty. gen. had to leave office in disgrace. He was better than Blackwell, but, I really resetn that, having FINALLY gotten a dem gov. in Ohio, Marc Dann just couldnt resist screwing around and taking money.
It is largely up to Dems what happens in Ohio. I am not one, and they are not so "open" to Independents this year.
The gerrymandering is a nationwide problem. It is one major reason why the politics has become so polemical. To ensure their reelection the politicians gerrymander their districts into subdivisions that make up a narrow demographic. That becomes their base and they pander to it. Their incentive to compromise is eliminated because they want their constituents to vote for them again and again and agan.... Term limits and publicly financed elections would be a start to regain some moderation in the political system.
Republicans = abuse of power, guilty of treason. When are they going to be held accountable??
Republicans=Democrats=Endless War
Antiwar voters have NO OPTION with the major parties. It's MORE WAR with a blunt face or MORE WAR with a softer face, but it's still ALL WAR, ALL the time in imperial America today.
The only options are to boycott or write in a third party. They say a third party is a wasted vote, but if enough of us do it, it sends a message. The Dems will have to ask themselves why they didn't capture this vote. Write in Ron Paul. How can you vote for Obama in good conscience when he also promises more aggression? I can't do it!
I would like to agree with you, but I heard the same logic in 2000 when Nader swayed a large number of voters, and allowed just enough room for Bush to elbow in. There is no way that you can convince me that Gore is just as bad as Bush or that a McCain/Palin would not be any different from Obama/Biden.
I do agree that there seems to be no anti-war choice, and that is a travesty. But it does matter who gets in, and maybe more importantly, who doesn't.
Instant-Runoff-Voting and eliminating the electoral college (as well as of course legal and fair voting, which is the point of the article) is the only way that there will be a true democracy.
Not only is your cause-effect claim about 2000 demonstrably false, but also it has been refuted countless times.
One more time: voting for someone whose positions are opposed to yours makes a farce out of voting.
Refuted by Naderites, who never seem to want to acknowledge their role in the government of the last eight years. Votes deflected to Nader were one of the factors of many in the travesty that led to eight years of Bush. You want to vote Nader, go ahead. You want to argue for Nader, or try to convince me to vote for him, go ahead. But please don't think you all can self-righteously wash your hands and blame the Democrats. Take a little responsibility for your actions.
I'm still waiting to hear the DPA mathematicians explain how 90,000 Democrats who voted for Nader count so much more than the 300,000 Democrats who voted for Bush in Florida in 2000. The actual difference in the election was: the voters bounced from the rolls by W's brother; the early Fox TV call by W's cousin; and the shutdown of the recount by Cheney's hunting pal.
The only thing I'm having trouble washing from my hands is all this Iraqi blood.
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http://cagreens.org/alameda/city/0803myth/myth.html
Dispelling the Myth of Election 2000
The Green Party’s explanation of the Florida vote...-interesting
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Check out the documentary 'Uncounted: The New math of American Election', if you haven't already
http://uncountedthemovie.com/
Get serious. Evidence, and not characterization of others, is what matters here.
It's ok, you're not the only person these days who gets everything ass-backwards. Even Gore himself admitted to Nader that he didn't cause him to lose in 2000, but you addicted Nader bashers are so programmed to believe it that no amount of evidence will convince you otherwise. Live in your dreamworld that Nader is the big bad reason for 8 years of Bush hell, when as serious professor says, it's been proven false countless times. You have to have a devil, it's Nader. No sane person is going to take you seriously.
Every time Nader is mentioned here it's like a pavlovian red light goes on and the Naderites take the offensive. If he's not mentioned some Naderite (see below) will mention him in any unrelated discussion just so the red light goes on and sets off the other Naderites. By "no sane person" don't you really mean "no sane Naderite?" Because I'm beginning to believe there is no sane Naderite.
Did any of you actually read my post, or did you just see red? I said Nader voters weren't the only cause, they were one of many. But you apparently can't accept even that. Naderites can never seem to own up to their own responsibilities for today's America, and your responses prove it. You spend half your time telling us Nader's not responsible; in effect, I agree - he is IRresponsible.
Do you really think honest Ralphie wouldn't triangulate, compromise, and blow you guys off at the first opportunity if he had any real shot at being president? Anyone who thinks they can do that job has an over-inflated ego, and Nader's is now about as big as they get. He shows his face every four years to give you fringe voters an excuse to opt out of any responsibility for the mess you've helped create.
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VOTE NADER 2008 !!!!!!
End the wars
Bring the troops home
http://www.votenader.org/index.html
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Vote Alfred E. Nader for Prez.
Nader is great and sorely what the country needs at a time like this but he isn't going to get the support he needs in the House and the Senate to do so. Well, he could declare an immediate end to the war via executive orders but he'll face hostile opposition by both parties and a likely assassination attempt just FDR faced in 1934 and 4 other potential assassinations during his presidency. Also, since Nader can be made irrelevant, the two parties will file false charges against him and the media will prop up the impeachment machine and both parties are likely to remove him. Nader will need plenty of House and Senate independents in place of at least 35% of the seats in each of the Chambers if he's to go anywhere in getting his legislation passed. Good luck !
Prez. Nader doesn't need to pass any legislation. He only needs to occupy the oval orifice for four years to keep the class war aggressors out of it.
IRV, how can you have a true democracy when the people fail to vote their principles? Applying Kant's Categorical Imperative, if everyone votes their principles the advanced side of human nature prevails, and if everyone fails to vote their principles, the primitive side of human nature prevails. Simple choice, really.
This is how the Christianist Coup is going to go down:
McCain will 'win' the election, a la GWB, and will step down due to 'health concerns' within the first year, leaving a Third-Wave Christian Dominionist as acting president of the USA
McCain's reward? The $75 billion dollar buy-out of Mrs. McCain's Budweiser
That sounds exactly what could very likely happen. The infrastructure to allow it to transpire is well in place. Especially a media that loves a free story.
Hoa binh
"leaving a Third-Wave Christian Dominionist as acting president of the USA"
Truly we need to move away from granting the title of Christian and the assumption that they are dominant Christians to those who are using that title to enable and justify their crimes.
These groups practices more closely resemble some form of Dominionesque Neo-Satanism as far as I can tell.
This is how the Satanist coup is going down?
The empire is being forced to cut back on its domestic infrastructure. All the payouts at the top, whether political or economic, cost someone down the food chain. America is eating itself from the bottom up. We always have been ever since we first started.
Hoa binh
Gaming the elections is only part of the picture. Paul Weyrich is one of the persons who helped capture the GOP for the Goldwater faction after the defeat of Goldwater. For more on how the Goldwater faction took over the party see this:
http://www.ashbrook.org/articles/hartz-draftgoldwater.html
Likewise on the Democratic side, the FDR/JFK faction has been ousted by those who are not only imperialists, but conservatives on domestic issues. On the Democrat side, this was accomplished by open assassinations upon the Kennedy brothers.
Both political parties have been captured from within to move to the right, abandoning the left who can still, even today, be dismissed as heretical “Communists.”
Get over your fear of communism or stew in your own juices.
For everyone's general information, the threatened use of mortgage foreclosure lists to cage and challenge voters' eligibility by the Macomb county, Michigan Republican party has been formally challenged in federal court in a class action lawsuit on behalf of several Macomb county residents, the Obama campaign, and the Democratic National Committee as plaintiffs.
Hopefully, this latest pernicious GOP voter disenfranchisement tactic will be enjoined prior to election day as a violation of the federal civil rights and voting rights statutes, and as a violation of the First Amendment.
Bill from Saginaw
Where are Jimmy Carter and the Carter Center election observers when we need them?
Poet