Laurie left that Atlantic link. If you can not get to it, in essence it says that the GOP is working in battle ground states so they can disqualify votes in districts and votes that they disagree with. And to some extent that is true.
My response was. "Too conspiracy minded for me. The best thing the DEMs can do is start sounding like the party of reason, law, order, fiscal responsibility, etc. Unfortunately the Progressives are not allowing that." "I was just thinking how Jerry would interpret those GOP actions... "It is about time they cancel all those "illegal" votes" !!!!"
Laurie's response to that was "I think democracy in America will end in 2024. Are you concerned about this possibility?"
I guess I do not see our democracy coming to an end, though I am very sad that so many GOPers are delusional about 2020. 4 states and 7.5 million votes and they just can not admit that Trump go stomped on.
I am optimistic because at one point minorities and women could not vote, now they can. White conservatives are dropping like flies due to COVID and over doses. And I have to have faith that moderate people like me will swing the elections to more moderate positions. It may be screwed up for awhile, however I think we will continue to improve over time. Hopefully!!!
38 comments:
The former president of the United States worked to overturn last year's election results. He failed but now it seems he got closer to succeeding than many of us thought at the time. Now, he and his associates are working to conceal, the history, our history of those events from us. And he is still the leader of his party.
People can choose to be optimistic. They are free to believe the Democrats will save us in the end. But I am not so sure.
--Hiram
Republican leaders in these states would not have made these changes to the law unless they were willing to use them. The principled Republicans who did the right thing in 2020 are largely gone. Democrats in Congress have failed to take this threat seriously. All the pieces are lining up.
I still see both parties contributing to the polarization problem that is at the root of this problem.
The Progressives keep pulling on the boat, so the rope gets tighter and tighter.
As usual I wonder if they will ever be satisfied with our country?
"The Progressives keep pulling on the boat, so the rope gets tighter and tighter."
So the answer to policies one disagrees with is to undo the normal checks-and-balances in the electoral process? You can't "both sides" this, John. Only one party is subverting the democratic norms here.
"undo the normal checks-and-balances in the electoral process"
For better or worse, state legislatures control the State's voting processes until the Supreme Court says they violated the Federal Constitution.
So whatever the Republicans are doing in these States seems to be fair game so far.
All I am saying is that both sides keep raising the stakes in this game, so both sides keep pushing the bounds of "normal".
I mean just consider the DEM Voter Rights legislation that tries to take these powers from the states... That certainly is not "normal".
"I mean just consider the DEM Voter Rights legislation that tries to take these powers from the states... That certainly is not "normal"."
That's only occurring in response to Republicans passing laws like those that say state legislatures can toss out slates of electors regardless of what the actual vote was.
Oh I think the DEM desire for the FEDs to take over the Voting Rights from States goes back much further than that.
As I often say, I think DEMs really want to eliminate State's rights and control.
Why else would they constantly push to make things happen at the federal level?
I was pondering a future post earlier... Are there any States that offer the things included Build Back Better bill. I mean if they are such great ideas, I would think the Blue states would have implemented them long ago?
The Trump led GOP wanting to do away with free and fair elections is the root of the problem. There is no rational way to blame both sides for this. If the GOP doesn't like dem policies they should try to win elections fairly.
I tried to warn you back in 2015 how dangerous Trump would be as president. It has just taken longer than I thoughtit would for him to destroy the country.
How can you liberals be such drama queens?
"DESTROY THE COUNTRY"!!!!
Maybe you should move to a BETTER COUNTRTY. Where would that be again?
We live in the best most diverse most successful and chaotic country in the world. I am not sure what Liberals think an ideal country with 330 MILLION very different citizens would look like? And 45 MILLION of them were not even born here!!!
Living in a vibrant diverse society is messy and has its ups and downs... If you don't like it you should maybe stay on the merry go round. :-)
By the way, put blame where it belongs...
On the citizens who are stupid enough to believe Trump, FOX News, etc...
They are the only reason Trump has any influence at all.
Just a few months back, you were moaning about the prospect of Democrats getting rid of the filibuster and how Democrats would be risking peril by busting these norms. But changing laws to give legislatures power to override actual votes and preparing a coup is just "messy" and "ups and downs". It's no wonder the Benny Hill theme plays in my mind when reading stuff like this.
Actually I bemoan either party passing very partisan policy on thin majorities.
Therefore I support the Senate 60 vote super majority on major policy changes.
Otherwise we are going to be doomed to some violent policy whiplash.
If the the GOP takes the House and Senate in 2022, do you want them passing major changes with 51 votes? I mean we are still paying for their stupid unpaid for tax cut !!! And don't forget all those Judges and Justices.:-O
Please note that I said changes that conform with Constitution are fair game.
Do you think any State has gone beyond that limit?
If so, which one and why?
I understand that you want to control all the States and make them conform to your sense of "CORRECT". Why do you think you have the right to do that?
" I mean we are still paying for their stupid unpaid for tax cut !!! "
You can pass the tax cut with 51 votes.
"Do you think any State has gone beyond that limit?"
Sure. Even the ineffectual Biden Justice Department has sued regarding Georgia's changes.
"Why do you think you have the right to do that?"
The rules for federal elections are properly set at the federal level. If states want to have different rules for state or local elections, fine.
"Too conspiracy minded for me."
Raw Story: Mark Meadows possessed 'insane' blueprint for military seizing ballots after Trump's 2020 defeat
I understand that you want to control all the States and make them conform to your sense of "CORRECT". Why do you think you have the right to do that?
14th Amendment:
All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof are citizens of the United States and the state they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States, nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law; nor deny to any within its jurisdiction equal protection of the laws.
The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.
15th Amendment:
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
19th Amendment:
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.
Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
24th Amendment:
The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay poll tax or other tax.
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
26th Amendment:
The right of citizens of the United States, who are 18 years of age or older, to vote, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of age.
The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
_________________
The Constitution is the reason we think we have the right to make federal laws about voting.
Moose
So the process is working and the courts will decide.
As for the RAW Story... No wonder I want to keep the States in charge of their own elections. Last thing we want is the President having direct control over elections.
"The rules for federal elections are properly set at the federal level.
If states want to have different rules for state or local elections, fine."
Where are these FED rules defined?
What are the States doing that violates them?
"Where are these FED rules defined?"
Title 52 of the U.S. Code, not to mention Articles I and II of the U.S. Constitution.
...and every Constitutional Amendment regarding voting.
Moose
Second question?
What are the States doing that violates them?
I mean reducing days to register, stopping water drop offs, etc.
Is this really defined in those?
"What are the States doing that violates them?"
Non sequitur
Congress gets to make laws regarding voting.
Moose
Yes the Congress can pass laws.
Or they can refuse to pass laws.
And leave it to the states as is the current situation.
I will need to study the Justice Dept case against the Georgia laws further.
It seems kind of weak at first glance.
Nothing to see here.
Protesters filled the meeting room of the Spalding County Board of Elections in October, upset that the board had disallowed early voting on Sundays for the Nov. 2 municipal election. A year ago, Sunday voting had been instrumental in boosting turnout of Black voters.
But this was an entirely different five-member board than had overseen the last election. The Democratic majority of three Black women was gone. So was the Black elections supervisor.
Now a faction of three white Republicans controlled the board – thanks to a bill passed by the Republican-led Georgia legislature earlier this year. The Spalding board’s new chairman has endorsed former president Donald Trump’s false stolen-election claims on social media.
Reuters: Georgia Republicans purge Black Democrats from county election boards
How in the world did they ever end up with so 4/6th (66%) Black representation in the first place? And why did the election supervisor live outside the county?
The racial makeup of the county was 66.50% White, 31.05% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.67% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.65% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. 1.62% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
"But this was an entirely different five-member board than had overseen the last election. The Democratic majority of three Black women was gone. So was the Black elections supervisor."
" And why did the election supervisor live outside the county?"
It's not an elected position, therefore no residency requirement.
Does this make sense or not?
"In the sixth county, Spalding, the parties still choose two members each, but the fifth member is now chosen by local judges. (It used to be decided by a coin flip.) Those judges tend to be politically conservative; they appointed a white Republican to replace a Black Democrat on the election board, giving Republicans a 3-2 majority.
In Morgan County, the majority-Republican county commission reconstituted its election board, ousting two outspoken Black Democrats. In Troup County, a Black Democratic member claims the board shake-up was aimed at ousting her after she fought to increase voting access.
Reuters could not determine the exact split of Democrats and Republicans in the five counties that handed control to county commissions before and after their restructurings. That’s because board members’ party affiliation is not public information in Georgia, and board representatives declined to identify their allegiances."
"How in the world did they ever end up with so 4/6th (66%) Black representation in the first place? "
Oh, so *now* you're worried about disproportionate representation?
"Does this make sense or not?"
Sure it makes sense. The Legislature passed a bill that allows purging of election boards, and that's what is happening.
Cook Report says Democrats have slit their own throats
The dems have a harder time winning a majority of house seats because they value fair elections.
Sean,
I am an analyst, yes double the representation of Blacks does seem atypical and worth noticing. And apparently you have no answer.
I not sure if the change was rational or not the change is rational or biased?
I do not have enough information to evaluate. However you apparently do?
Laurie,
Kevin does seem conflicted...
Now here is a about GOP stupidity that we can likely all agree on.
Using tax dollars for a very partisan secretive non-scientific audit, and only targeting areas they lost.
What anti-Americans
"I am an analyst, yes double the representation of Blacks does seem atypical and worth noticing. And apparently you have no answer."
Perhaps you should "analyze" the underrepresentation of non-whites in Congress. Or the over-representation of non-whites being arrested for drug crimes. But, no, the makeup of one voting commission in Georgia is what you're analyzing.
"I not sure if the change was rational or not the change is rational or biased?"
All you need to do is look at which voting commissions are being changed using this law and which ones are not. It's self-evident. Just like the voting changes in other states -- who is being impacted and who isn't. It's staring you in the face, but you refuse to see it, because it benefits your ideology.
(And, BTW, we know that there was no significant level of voter fraud in Georgia in 2020 -- the entire state was recounted multiple times and audited.)
I am pretty sure I have an idea why Blacks are under represented in Congress and arrested more often. Generational poverty, broken families, under-education, high gang membership, unsafe neighborhoods, and all their causes.
I do not know which commissions are changing, just the ones that were deemed newsworthy.
I am fine with the Georgia results, however they are a democracy and have the right to change if they wish. Unless the SCOTUS disagrees.
I'm not going around the cul-de-sac with you on these again. Have a great day!
Sounds good. Have a great weekend!!!
Are We Doomed?
To head off the next insurrection, we’ll need to practice envisioning the worst.
You and those long The Atlantic pieces...
I am almost out of free views.
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