Casting Your Vote In 2012
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2012-11-05/casting-your-vote-2012
Polls show this could be one of the closest presidential elections in U.S. history. With the country so closely divided, the process of voting has come under increased scrutiny. Lawyers on both sides of the political divide are poised to respond immediately if a court challenge is needed. Hurricane Sandy has inserted additional uncertainty into the process. Norm Ornstein of the American Enterprise Institute,Richard Hasen of the University of California, Irvine,and Michael McDonald of George Mason University join Diane to discuss the latest early voting statistics, the potential for voter fraud and possible instances of voter suppression.
Guests
Norman Ornstein
resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and co-author of "It's Even Worse Than It Looks."
Richard Hasen
professor of law and political science at the University of California, Irvine, and author of "The Voting Wars: From Florida 2000 to the Next Election Meltdown."
Michael McDonald
associate professor at George Mason University and non-resident senior fellow at Brookings Institution.
Comments
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"It`s not who votes that counts,it`s who counts the votes". In 2004 Ohio`s Republican Sec. of State Ken Blackwell chose to count our votes at Kentucky`s office of the Bush re-election HQ.Then he discarded 175,000 provisional ballots,coming from major Ohio cities.With a 125,000 supposed lead,getting 175,000 Democratic votes put in the dumpster that is a heck of a win.
having heard about the show you are doing on monday I just wanted to chime in. I worked at the polls during early voting in NC and some people expressed concern/confusion at the beginning about the straight party vote not including the presidential race but at least in my location we had notices posted and most of the voters I encountered seemed to understand that a separate vote for President was required on the touch screen ballot. The vast majority of what I encountered went very smoothly. Everyone was generally polite and excited about being there.
My second point is that upon hearing that Ohio's Secretary of State Jon Husted is throwing up all kinds of obstruction to voting from throwing out votes to changing criteria by which votes will be accepted...why is election tampering on this scale not treated as what it is: treason. The potential consequences are so huge and the penalties are so small...how do we ever manage even the appearance of fair elections in this country? Why are UN observers not camped in every state on election day? (I know they're here in fairly small number but if this is way things are going to be they need to go on a hiring spree.)
It is no accident that movements for self-determination exploded after WWII, after the world fought off the Axis of Evil of Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan and Fascist Italy. In America, there were many positive manifestations of self-determination, including the disciplined, non-violent Civil Rights Movement, U.S. Supreme Court decision of Brown v Board of Education, Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the many U.S. Supreme Court decisions expanding Constitutional guarantees, including the right to vote by all U.S. Citizens. The Cold War fears of communism and reactions to the Vietnam War further tested this country's willingness to uphold those Constitutional guarantees. All this happened within thirty years after WWII. Yet, despite all these political upheavals, there was expansion of educational and economic opportunities, albeit with the constant fight to overcome racial and ethnic barriers. Last night, Bill Moyers had two political scientists who provided disturbing details of the geometrically increasing encroachment and pervasive control of our economy and our democracy by mammoth banks and large corporations beginning around 1975, while last week Frontline's Kai Ryssdal exposed the direct link between “independent” 501(c)(4)'s that use candidates as fronts to push the agenda of the secretive sponsors of these 501(c) (4)'s to upend both our democracy and open economy. Yet, we are having an election in which fears that the process is being manipulated by the very cabals who increasingly control our democracy and economy. Voters need to ask which candidate is allied with the cabals who are limiting open democracy and open economy and which candidate is not. The answer will be seen by seeing which candidate wants to protect an open, equally accessible and protected voting process to all.
Anne , From Fishers : I just wonder what message we are sending our children and teenagers. That it is okay to twist the rules, and cheat to win by any means necessary. That it is okay to sit a side your values as long as your view wins. How you win does matter . We seem to have forgotten that. If you want to see how we effect our kids go to speech competions and see how many of them act like Bill O'Reilly in discussion team and not a good example like Dianne. Some judges think its okay and give high marks. You think our kids cheating is not from our example? I wish our more centered churches would speak up. We have free will that seems to be getting lost, in the message. Love your show
Obviously, some standardization in the ballots is required. And obviously, there are those who see a benefit in preventing any kind of standardization. I heard earlier today that the ballot in Florida is 12 pages long; the result of about a dozen amendments to the Florida state constitution. Here in North Carolina, our ballot was both sides of one page. A huge difference.
I bet it takes a long time to wade through that Florida ballot.
First off, thank you Diane, for performing the public service of covering this topic today.
Yesterday evening, I listened to a conference call from No More Stolen Elections! http://NoMoreStolenElections.org/ which is working to encourage people to set up Voter Assemblies on Wednesday to encourage people to share what they experienced while voting and can serve as a conduit for conveying information about irregularities in the election process to people who are poised to act whether the mainstream media chooses to report them or not. I hope you or your producers will take a look at the Web site and share this with your listeners.
Your listeners might also be interested to know that Greg Palast's new book, Billionaires and Ballot Bandits: How to Steal an Election in 9 Easy Steps (with introduction by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and comics by Ted Rall) is available as an honorware download here http://www.gregpalast.com/ballotbandits/ For folks unfamiliar with honorware, Palast et al. will give it to you free if you can't or won't pay, but they'd like remuneration for their efforts and provide a mechanism where you can donate for the work.
Thank you again for your work and in the hope you'll pass these along.
IT'S ALMOST OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Is it Wednesday yet?
In the Dayton Ohio area I was in several Obama for America field offices and people were working so hard. Getting out knocking on doors, making phone calls etc.
Can your guest please address how much money has been spent to possibly turn out a Senate, House standing that is status quo? How much money has been spent?
In the Dayton Ohio area I was in several Obama for America field offices and people were working so hard. Getting out knocking on doors, making phone calls etc.
Can your guest please address how much money has been spent to possibly turn out a Senate, House standing that is status quo? How much money has been spent?
From the NMSE front page:
We pledge: No More Stolen Elections!
WE REMEMBER Florida 2000, Ohio 2004, and Wisconsin 2011, and are willing to act this year if the right to free and fair elections is denied again.
WE SUPPORT efforts to protect the right to vote leading up to Election Day.
IF NECESSARY, WE PLEDGE to join nationwide pro-democracy protests starting on the next day, either in my community, in key states where fraud occurred, or in Washington, D.C., and if necessary, to demand a recount, investigation, and criminal prosecutions of those responsible.
###
If you hit the 'about us' tab, there is a link to a recording of the call I listened to last night for further information. I recall it started about six minutes late due to an errant 'mute' button, so if you hear a minute or two of muzak to begin, you might fast-forward a couple more.
mellifluous wrote:
"WE REMEMBER Florida 2000, Ohio 2004, and Wisconsin 2011"
But you forget MN, 2008? You have very selective memory, mellifluous!
It is pathetic and telling that the Republicans are doing everything in their power to disenfranchise voters. Clearly the only way they can win is to cheat.
If there is a tie in the Presidential race does the vote end up in the Senate or House? I have a bet running on this
The Klan showed up in Charlotte, NC this weekend with a truck showing an effigy of a hanged President Obama and others in an attempt to intimidate African-American voters. I sincerely hope Governor Romney truly appreciates who is supporting him.
The Klan showed up in Charlotte, NC this weekend with a truck showing an effigy of a hanged President Obama and others in an attempt to intimidate African-American voters. I sincerely hope Governor Romney truly appreciates who is supporting him.
mellifluous wrote: We pledge: No More Stolen Elections!
WE REMEMBER Florida 2000, Ohio 2004, and Wisconsin 2011
Wisconsin 2011??, if the recall which was based on nothing else except being sore losers was successful, that would have been a "stolen" election!
Better get a grip on what stolen means.
In U.S. history how does this present effort by Republicans to suppress the vote compare to other elections?
It's not just the electoral college that's important it's also the local races for Congress, senate, state offices and local offices.
In Virginia the State Board of Elections mails a Voter ID card that can be used when voting. It identifies the county, precinct, and districts: Cong, Sen and Hse, along with locality information. And it's free, and an update is sent after redistricting.
In U.S. history how does this present effort by democrats to cheat compare to other elections?
It is pathetic and telling that the democrats are doing everything in their power to cheat. Clearly the only way they can win is to cheat.
It's obvious the RNC is systematically denying civil rights. Where is the Justice Dept. with a RICO grand jury?
How many times do I have to hear the term "nightmare scenario" today. I think I've heard it at least two dozen times and it's only 10:30 am. It'll be a lot of work, but it's not the end of the world to wait a couple weeks for ACCURATE counting of the vote. I want my vote to count, whether I cast it early or not!!
In Nevada a woman was arrested this weekend on suspicion of voting twice at two different polling locations. During early voting, poll workers enter the voter's registration before the voting machine is activated. If the voter tries to vote a second time an alert flashes on the poll worker's screen. (http://www.lasvegassun.com)
Provisional ballots take days or weeks to deal with such issues.
I am so ashamed that Americans had to resort to shouting "let us vote" outside of the election office in Florida. I feel this should be offensive to all Americans, no matter what party they support. Imagine what people in fledgling democracies in the Arab world or elsewhere will think when they see this after all the blood they have shed for democracy? I cannot believe that so many people playing politics with voting feel like they will be on the right side of history after blocking people from voting just to get their party officials elected. Will they be proud tell their grandchildren this story of how they won this election years from now? Guess i'm just a naive idealist. I am willing to volunteer anywhere, anytime, to make it easier for everyone to vote-that will be my goal for the next election.
Jokr What?
Jokr8790: Klanwatch and the Southern Poverty Law Center report on fascist activity at election time, but never uncover who or what finances such terror activities. Whom do you think it is? Billionaires? Intelligence agencies? Church groups? Karl Rove? I wonder, because I know some Klan people in Gaston and Lincoln county (NC), and they have unexplained resources. Someone is backing these losers, maybe as a counterinsurgency measure to thwart democracy and free speech. Maybe if the "watchers" followed the money they themselves would be labeled terrorists and spies, even by Obamanauts. (and I voted for Obama) Wealth power makes a mockery of elections.
I'd like to add support for the notion that bureaucratic incompetence added to long lines in Florida. I moved here from Virginia just after the last election and it is far easier to request an absentee ballot in Florida (I'm in Miami-Dade). I did so once I learned my ballot was 12 pages long! The ballot includes 12 constitutional amendments, charter amendments for the municipality where I live, non-binding straw ballots - a ridiculous number of issues, not to mention that it must be printed in English, Spanish and Creole. Because folks from different municipalities can vote at any of the early voting locations, each ballot is printed individually while the voter stands and waits! There must be a more efficient way!
Refused the vote in Florida is like a day without orange juice.
Electors do NOT have to be chosen in early December. David Boies blew it. See, eg, Hawaii in 1960.
ecgberht wrote:
mellifluous wrote:
"WE REMEMBER Florida 2000, Ohio 2004, and Wisconsin 2011"
But you forget MN, 2008? You have very selective memory, mellifluous!
So refresh my memory: where in that contest was there selective voter suppression, imported mobs that interrupted the functioning of election officials abetted by the local constabulary, the destruction of legal ballots, state Secretaries of State certifying results who were also Republican campaign co-chairs, Supreme Court decisions that sought to uniquely evade precedent, tampering with electronic voting systems, the mysterious and untimely death of a witness/participant in tabulation fraud or legalized bribery from corporations not even obliged to reveal the sources paying for political advertising? Because these are all elements of the three elections and outcomes cited by NMSE!
From our previous interactions, you seem to think you're a lot smarter than I am and as you know, I really am no expert on that election. If there is an actual parallel here, rather than your customary false equivalences, please enlighten me.