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Subscribe to RSSMembers of the Oglala Sioux Tribe in South Dakota, a heavily Democratic group, are getting only six days for early voting in the presidential primary election, while the rest of the state gets 46. Their lawsuit is described in a story published Monday by 100Reporters, a new investigative reporting group.
The man they are suing is Jason Gant, who is not only the secretary of state, which means he oversees elections in South Dakota, but also the treasurer of a Republican Party political action committee.
Stephanie Woodard has the story at 100r.org.
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This wouldn't be a partisan ploy would it???? Heavens no, it couldn't be. It's more likely someone's not too bright. My guess is it's Jason Gant. Hhhhmmmmm???
Gotta love conservative logic. If these people had been voting Republican, it would have been an immediate issue that needed to be addressed. Since they're largely Democrat, it's a partisan ploy that's a threat to our democracy.
You can't have your cake and eat it too, Pilot.
You would be right, however, there are SEVERAL other "red sates" that have limited their voting time as well as tightened their policies for the types of id you need to show, proof of current address, etc. which will also PREVENT people who are living in a shelter or homeless from being able to vote. These are clearly Repubs. trying to prevent Dem. voters from exercising their right to do so. There are a few talk shows that are talking about this right now, but since all the mainstream media wants to show is the Romney vs. Newt battle, it hasn't become common knowledge and the public outcry hasn't reached beyond those states.
Voter fraud rarely occurs by individuals voting twice or by them voting under an alias or other persons name. Voter fraud occurs when steps are taken to prevent or impede groups of voters (usually inner city democrats) from reaching the polls. We have seen the Republicans do this by under-staffing polling places in democratic districts (Ohio in 2004), by making robo-calls in democratic districts that give the wrong date for the election, and by their current push for photo ID requirements, since many inner city poor do not have drivers licences. This is just one more example.
Procrustes - it's not the Republicans' responsibility to staff polling places in Ohio, it's the Board of Elections responsibility.
Personally, I see nothing at all wrong with people having to prove their identity at voting time. Even if they live in a Shelter, do they not have a license, or other ID of some sort? Their SS card? Birth Certificate? Something? This is not to prevent Legal voters from voting, but to prevent ILLEGALS from voting.
What I don't understand is why are they getting time for early voting to start with? Are there no election places where they live? Are they not going to be there? I can see if they are going to be out of town, but the whole tribe?
Procrustes - it's not the Republicans' responsibility to staff polling places in Ohio, it's the Board of Elections responsibility.
It is the responsibility of the Sec. of State. Which I believe in the case of Ohio, is a republican.
Janine - they're going beyond just "proving your identity". People are supposed to bring not only PHOTO ID (which excludes birth certificates, Social Security cards, etc) but also proof of address. That weeds out anyone who doesn't have utilities in their name, recently moved, lives in a shelter, etc. etc. etc.
All because the GOP figures those aren't "their" voters anyway.
You need to look no further than this example to see what Republicans around the country are doing in passing anti-voter laws. Laws that almost exclusively disenfranchise historical Democratic blocks of voters.
The GOP is nothing more than a front for a Crime Syndicate.
.
UnitedStates1776
There you go again, spewing nonsense. Did you read the article? What I got from it was the fact that counties need to pay for their early voting expenses and then submit the bill to get reimbursed. This particular county wants to do things different so they sue. Typical liberal way of doing things. They are too broke to afford 46 days of early voting but feel that someone else should foot the bill. If they're too broke for early voting they should just go vote on election day and STFU.
This entitlement mentality is going to ruin America.
1/20/2013 - the end of an error
RealAmericansFirst,
They want proof of address to show you are suppose to be at that polling place, you live in that district. Guess you have never voted. Try a Driver license or a State Issued I.D most State issued I.D.'s are free or cheaper then a driver license, and they have a photo. Most shelters will also find a way to get you to a place that will issue you the I.D.
Let the tribe count jelly beans in a jar to be able to vote. It worked in the South many years ago and it looks like the GOP would like to use it again.
bubba - A lot of older people (heck, even some younger people) don't have a driver's license.
To get even a state issued ID, many states require an official birth certificate, which is not available for a lot of older people, especially people of color.
And a lot of states don't allow college students to vote where they go to school - they'd have to make a trip back home just to vote.
Under Texas' new voter identification law, you're allowed to flash your gun permit as valid voter ID, but not your student ID card. Now, how blatant is that?
It is preventing the student vote in particular that I consider very troublesome. These kids deserve the right to vote, many for the first time, without a lot of unnecessary hassles. But since many of them vote Democratic, Republicans are just looking for ways to prevent that.
Republicans are the ones who are ultimately the most guilty of voter fraud. Take the example of Florida back in the 2000 election. Republicans used a crafty ploy of outsourcing the task of identifying felons who can not vote and removing them from the voter rolls. Unfortunately a whole lot of people who were not felons were erroneously removed and could not vote. The company that did this was a big campaign donator for Republicans. So typical of their underhanded sneakiness.
You do NOT want to mess with people's right to vote. Ohio has made it more difficult to do absentee balloting. I am on the road every week, so voting in my polling place is impossible. If they continue down this path, it will be ME suing them!
Really? That's an interesting theory. Why is it that democrats are ALWAYS the ones pushing for lax voting laws? A team of journalists went to the New Hampshire primary and simply gave the names of 10 deceased people and all 10 were given ballots. None of them cast them, but it underscores the problem of having NO voter identification. In one election, there were over 900 dead people who voted, and some of the races in that precinct were closer than 900 votes. Whether democrats want to admit it or not (and I think they don't), voter fraud is the NORM in many areas.
Bruce -That so called "team" that went to New Hampshire to try and prove voter fraud was the kid Fitzgerald - yes the same kid who put on a pimp suit and falsely edited tapes on Acorn - who was arrested for trespassing at Senator Mary Landrieu's office in Louisiana and was put on probation and now has been arrested for attempted fraud in New Hampshire
As the Attorney General of New Hampshire said "you don't commit fraud to prove fraud"
New Hampshire since 2000 to present has had .0001% incidences of fraud
Plus this kid is not a journalist by any means and has worked for Andrew Bretbart who is a right wing rabble rouser
Bruce,
I saw that same story, and it was confirmed that there had been no voter fraud in New Hampshire until those journalist committed it... So if the repugs are trying to prove voter fraud by committing then I guess it would be the NORM.
Barbara
So if a left wing nut job used the name of a deceased person to get a ballot it would be OK?
And the tapes were not edited. ACORN personel were more than willing to help a couple with their prostititution scheme.
Marie
Get over Florida 2000. If anything illegal occured we would be 100% sure because of all the whiney libs looking into everything. Gore LOST, America GAINED.
JH - The United States lost and is still paying for it. Why is it the GOP is all for voter fraud when they benefit? But, they try to keep legitimate voters from voting because they know it will cost them the election?
J.H. You think W. was a good, or even competent President?
Yes - far better than President Obama.
History will tell an entirely different story than todays liberals tell.
1/20/2013 - the end of an error
I see the collapse nazi's are out today. Stand back - I don't want anyone to get hurt when this thing comes down.
JH--You can't even come up with an original slogan.
Janine, there's no issue of illegals voting. I'm not aware of even a single demonstrated case of an illegal alien voting in an American election.
The tapes were proven to be edited, JH.
Wrong again, JH. It's been amply demonstrated that Republicans blocked thousands of people from voting by falsely labeling them as felons. And America suffered greatly as a result, due to Bush's 8-year reign of error.
Strike three, JH. And you need to change that to 2017, because Obama's going to win this year. Unlike Bush, he doesn't need to cheat to do it either.
JH - you're lying about ACORN employees. The tapes were edited to portray them as helpful and dishonest - James O'Keefe as a rw hero. Instead, the truth is that employees were on record as reporting the "pimp" to the authorities as soon as he left the building. They called the police immediately and gave them all the information regarding child prostitution plans. They talked to him and encouraged him so that they could report as much as possible. They then lost their jobs when that dishonest punk went public with his doctored video. I'm Sure O'Keefe lost no sleep knowing that people that did the right thing are on unemployment if it means he got some camera time. It's the Breitbart/Fox way, doncha know.
The problem is not and has never been voter fraud. There has never been a national election that was found to be influenced to the point of the election being declared for the wrong person. However, over the years there have been documented cases of voter suppression that have caused voting discrepancies resulting in the election going to someone not representing the legal voting majority.
Not even the Bush 5 year investigation was able to find voter fraud in any significant numbers.
J H keep dreaming. G W Bush will go down in history as the worst president alone side Republicans Harding, Grant , and Nixon. The only thing that might save him from hitting the bottom was 9/11 unless they find in the future that he knew it was going to happen and did nothing to stop it. Or was so incompetent that he didn't know what it meant by "Osama bin Laden determined to strike in US" which was in his PDB of August 6, 2001. Over 5 weeks before 9/11
Bush responsible for millions of lost jobs and near collapsed economy
Obama is getting businesses to hire again with the economy now getting strong again
Jan 20, 2012 article
http://www.arounddublinblog.com/2011/01/job-market-picking-up-steam-2011/
Uh, JH? The ACORN employee in that video immediately called the police after the video. The video, I should note, that was filmed by a convicted criminal.
bubba-1946427
State issued ids are not free in california they used to cost 10$
How do you get Welfare if you don't have a PHOTO ID?
How do you open a bank account without a PHOTO ID?
How do you Buy a house without a PHOTO ID?
How did you get a Social Security Card with out a PHOTO ID or Birth Certificate prior to getting a SS number when you are born??
How did you get a Check cashed without a PHOTO ID?
How did you use a Credit Card without a PHOTO ID?
How did you function in Society without a PHOTO ID???
How do you register to vote without a PHOTO ID??
Just answer my questions an I may see your argument against requiring a PHOTO ID to vote.
@ slodon
I opened my kids' first bank accounts when they were infants. NO photo ID required!
I have "require photo ID" written on my credit card and I am RARELY asked to show it.
Here, in Connecticut, a state-issued photo ID costs $10 (at least it did the last time my son renewed his)
Pretty much the response I expected. Who CARES who filmed it? That's completely beside the point. It simply proved that anyone can approach the desk and give a name and get a ballot. That shows a COMPLETE lack of security and integrity of the process. And leave it to the democrats to act all belligerent and threaten to prosecute them for voter fraud for exposing the system...
BTW, as a result of this video there are not serious debates in the NH legislature about ways to tighten up their process. Also as a result of the videos taken at ACORN they were defunded and disbanded. Shoot the messengers all you want, but it DOESN'T change the damning message.
I love it how the Reps can show their stupidity without even realizing it.
So, where's the SD Attorney General? Oh, yeah, he's a Republican, too. It is definately time that the Rethuglicans get whacked regarding voter disenfranchisement. During the 2000, 2004, and 2008 elections they prevented hundreds of thousands of duly registered voters from casting ballots. The local election supervisors would not push back against them. They were able to get persons disenrolled who had not voted in the most recent election. Voters showed up with registration cards in hand and were denied their constitutional right to vote for national office. This has been going on in the swing states since Reagan was first elected. I know life-long residents, native Floridians who were not allowed to vote. The choice whether or note to vote is for the individual to decide, not a political party!
Olde Sarge...all you had to say was Florida. I know decorated war veterans from multi generational Florida lineage who have had simple misdemeanors turned into felonies simply because they were Democrat. That is about as low as you can go.
Yes, it is easy to dish it out. The Dixiecrats will come around again and not too soon.
Of course they vote democrat, they get government money.
@crystal-569996:
This comment really does show your ignorance, both about the average Democratic voter, and more so about Native American tribes and why they receive assistance from the government, and how they receive that aid.
First of all, most Democratic voters, like most voters period, do not receive government money at all. We simply believe that when someone is financially destitute rather than simply looking the other way we should help our fellow citizens.
More too the point on this particular story. Native Americans do not receive government aid in the traditional way that you try to make it sound. Some tribes do receive funds from the Government, and other receive land use rights or goods for the reservation (food and other needed items). The exact nature of what they receive comes down to treaties that were signed between the Tribe and the U.S. government. It is actually just recently (last 20-30 years) that we started to abide by these treaties and right some of the many wrongs done throughout the history of our nation with regard to Native Americans.
Given that these treaties must be followed whether by a Democrat or Republican run government, no they aren't voting primarily Democratic because "they get government money".
If you feel like learning instead of just trolling read "American Indians, American Justice" by Vine Deloria, Jr. and Clifford M. Lytle. It is a great read that gives a good overview of the Native American situation and how we got to where we are today. It is a bit old (1983) but still very relivent and gives a very detailed history of the U.S governments dealings with Native Americans.
I grew up next to a reservation, and every month, they would get their money, get drunk and fight. They owned half the land in the area but rather than work it, they leased it to farmers. We worked in the summer to go in and clean up their housing, and by the next year it was a mess. That is what you get when you get "free" money, you don't appreciate it. I know we did them wrong, but there is not one alive that was involved in the fighting. All you have to do is show you have (I think) 1/4 Native American blood and you are entitled.
And you are the typical lib, always passing out someone else's money to make yourself feel benevolent. And your ignorance is showing- the democrats depend on voters who take government money.
Crystal-569996, you've got SOME nerve disparaging Native Americans because they receive government funds. YOU and ever other American is sitting on land stolen from these people right before they were slaughtered in a genocidal manner. Nice comment. try thinking sometime. You might even like it.
Crystal, liberals don't want to steal other people's money; they just want to appropriate it for ways that will help society in general. The main disagreement between liberals like me and conservatives (or right-of-center independents) like you on the welfare issue is how it will affect society. Liberals like me advocate for a generally progressive tax code and higher rates mainly so the government can appropriate funds to help people below the poverty line. Conservatives like you oppose that due to its communistic nature, and prefer to have lower taxes to boost the economy so there will be less poverty. Both opinions have merit, and both are equally good. So why don't we just use both??? When the government can afford to give tax cuts, it could in order to promote growth (but it must be correctly targeted). But the government should also invest money in raising the standard of living for the American people, especially for lower-class citizens. And Native Americans DESERVE the help that we give them. I mean, I know that there is fraud and what not, but we took these people's land and wiped them off the face of the Earth. You know that Ahmadinejad wants to wipe Israel off the face of the Earth??? We wanted to do that with the Indians, and we almost did. Killed over 90% of 'em. Plus many Native Americans are in poverty. So I think the survivors deserve the money and land that we give (or return, based on your philosophy) them.
Freshie, I am a conservative leaning Independent. I have no problem whatsoever in helping the poor. What I do have a problem with is the class we have created with our benevolence. We perpetuate the cycle of Gimmee gimmee Gimmee, with nothing being given back to society.
We need to change the welfare system in requiring those receiving it TO give back. Require them to work or donate their time to worthy causes such as Soup kitchens, parks, whatever they are capable of doing. Require them to get their education so that they can be trained for something they can earn a living at. Expect them to take more responsibility for themselves and their children.
Thomas Jefferson: Democracy ends when you take from those who work to give to those who don't.
Janine- We can agree, on some of your points, what I find objectionable, is at this time of recession and downturn of the economy, that many like to put the blame on the poor and working poor. That it is somehow all Dems on the dole. Yes the poor etc tend to be Dems, why? Because we are the party that believe in safety nets, and believe we are all Americans, and don't believe in class warfare!
Well Janine, please do tell, who will pay for this education you say you want to "require"? How about working in the soup kitchens, you volunteering to babysit? And FYI sweets, the system was reformed. Maybe if you'd actually bothered to check into it instead of sitting on your high horse in judgement you'd know that. Sure hope you need assistance one day. Will rather enjoy seeing you have to swallow a does of your own BS.
Almost certainly on land stolen from those "drunk Indians".
"That is what you get when you get "free" land, you don't appreciate it."
Uh, Janine, that's not a quote from Thomas Jefferson. (close, but no cigar)
But these are:
"It is the old practice of despots to use a part of the people to keep the rest in order."
"I know of no safe repository of the ultimate power of society but the people. And if we think them not enlightened enough, the remedy is not to take power from them, but to inform them by education."
And one that's not Thomas Jefferson, but I like it anyway:
Freshieee, How is it the federal governments job to "take care" of people? Is your state not capable of doing this? Where in the constitution does it say it is the feds problem to help people "below the poverty" line? Why does your state not have a safty net for these people?
Article I, section 8 of the U. S. Constitution:
"Congress shall have the power to lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts, and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common defense and general Welfare of the United States."
Now, what part of that don't you understand, sonmanvb?
Crystal, It's not your fault the weak minded liberals can't stand to hear the truth. If they feel so @!$%#ing guilty about taking away Indian land then they need to relocate to another country.
Uh Griff.....
Are you saying you feel "good" about it? How could you imagine that a good can come about because of an evil done?
Crystal-569996 You are an ignorant slut. You grew up next to a reservation (doubt it) and that makes you an expert on Indian affairs? You have no idea and never will so you really should shut your knob suckers before you prove to everyone else that you are no more than a racist, uninformed cracker biotch. No one cares what you think, especially when it's wrong. Get a life and quit trolling and spewing your stupid cracker biotch thoughts. Unless that is you care to step on the res I live on and express your thoughts. But of course you wouldn't do that, you only do that anonymously.
She probably wouldn't even know where to look for a res, or realize that she even drove through one, etc.
Even tho this is not an accurate quote, you do realize Thomas Jefferson owned about 140 slaves, right? Not exactly the best example of backing up your stance on taking from those who do the work.
Freshiee -
You got it partially right - "liberals don't want to steal other people's money; they just want to appropriate it".
What's wrong with appropriating your own money by earning it? And the way you are using the term, appropriating is stealing - whether in the form of taxes or outright theft.
So sad that you cannot see the ethical problems here, but then this is what happens in today's liberal education system. It seems that children cannot be taught mathematics and science effectively, but they sure know all of the talking points of liberalism.
Olde Sarge,
Just read on the msnbc Arizona newsvine that Arizona recently purged it's voter registry of voters who have not recently voted....... Also, governor Brewer recently failed in her lawsuit to throw out redistricting maps drawn by an independent committee, as was mandated by voters in 2000. Brewer insisted the redistricting maps should be drawn by the state legislature which is controlled by republicans........All major officials in the Arizona state government are republicans.
GOOGLIE, you are suspended for a week for violating rules # 1 and # 5 of the Code of Honor.
Watch the Democrats a little closer, you'll find the same stupidity.
When the day comes that we have US Congressmen and Women looking out for the Citizens of the United States we will have truly moved forward.
What do you want from a bunch of RED NECKS!
You talking about the Indian's? Liberal's are so extreme if they don't agree with you they call you names..
Such two faced low lifes
Yeah names like tar baby..socialist..commie...Obummer.......and your RNC chairman comparing the POTUS to that ill fated cruise ships captain? Low life? Look in the mirro excaliburgc.......
More name calling refutes your Credibility.
Does anyone else see the conflict of interest here?
1)He is Sec State and in charge of elections
2)He is treasurer of a SuperPAC...
Something smells fishy here
Don't see a problem here since most of the Indian votes are normally filled out for them so I don't see why they can't fake all the voting in six days. It's vary rare to find some place that votes 100% Democrat with the exception of Indian Reservations where it is the norm. I think they run them like they do the homeless vote around Milwaukee, WI where they pick them up in a van and give them a pack of cigarettes and instruct them as to who they need to vote for - the normal Democrat stuff. Throw some cut tires in there on the GOP Get-out-the-vote vehicles and you're good to go.
Wow, do you really believe that? I am a Native American Indian, a Viet Nam veteran, was in law enforcement for over 20 years and you think I have someone tell me how to vote. We had people like you on our reservation starting rumors just like yours. When we secured affidavits showing the lies and sent them to the U.S. Atorneys office nothing was done. Just because I am the minority of the minority does not mean I do not care about my Country, I fought for the right to vote in the Armed Forces and now at home and if you check you will find that per population we serve in the armed forces more then any other minority group. Some of our memebers have Sacrificed thier lives for the right to be treated equal. Pila maya yelo (Thank You)
So your position is that only the "right" people should be allowed to vote?
The "right" people being those who agree with you?
Beyond the obvious bigotry of your statement (assuming that all Native Americans must be either dumb enough or spineless enough to allow someone else to take their vote) it is also wrong. You claim that 100% of Native Americans voting Democratic is the norm, this is not true. The norm is 80-90%, which is not far off from other minorities at all. If you actually study the numbers you would see a trend that shows minorities and poor people both vote overwhelmingly Democratic on a regular basis. Given that many reservations include both (though there are also many reservations with very well off people depending on the tribe, and more importantly there are many Native Americans who do not live on reservation and are part of the middle class or upper class of this nation just like everyone else) it is not surprising that they would vote overwhelmingly Democratic as well.
Rather than attempting to spread nonfactual crap like this you should start trying to understand why it is that these voter blocs stay away from the Republican party.
Yup or maybe we could even solicit a few SCOTUS judges to steal the elections? How many cigs did the GOP pony up for that???
YOU wouldn't see a problem... now would you Dan?
My Great-Great Grandfather went into what was then "Indian Territory" (west of MN) as a bachelor fur trapper and came home 3 years later with a wife and 2 young children. This was back before there were many Europeans in that territory and in fact, his wife had no "date of birth" ... my Grandfather looked very much like the pictures of Oglala elders I have seen. We had suspected Native American ancestry before my aunt did the family tree for the Mormon church, but her finding her Great Grandmother had no birth date and a name of Mary (which was the common name given to Native American wives by the Scotts-Irish) but no "maiden" name cinched it. Can I PROVE it? No. But my mother was repeatedly asked what tribe she belonged to and now I am receiving the same questions.
I was raised IN the military by my career officer father. I have a Bachelor's of Science in Business AND a minor in Sociology. I am a member of Phi Eta Sigma - the National Scholastic Honor Society for Freshmen at 4 year universities (you have to have had a 3.5 GPA) and I made my qualification in my first semester AFTER being out of school post-High School for over 5 years. The idea that Native Americans are stupid really shows your own bigotry and suggests your own intellectual level... and let me tell you, it suggests that you are nowhere close to APPROACHING my own.
Where did you learn those neat tricks?
Only six days!!! Oh my, maybe someone should go out and tell them an election is coming up! Sheesh
what I read the Indians seem to be drunk most of the time and would not vote likely anyway. What a shame. Indian core values would be more conservative than Liberal if the Liberals would quit feeding them booze and making them dependent on the Government from entittlements.
If in fact what you say is true..That the Indians seem to be drunk most of the time. Did it occur to you up there in your white azz ivory tower..that they drink to block out the likes of you and your ilk? No offense intended tho............
Sounds like you have intimate knowledge about being drunk all the time on governemt assistance.
Ron Van Kirk - "only six days" is not the issue - the issue is why should one group of citizens have 46 days and another group 6? Answer that please
What if your election district told you Ron you've got six days to get out and vote but your neighbor who lives up on hill "take your time sir, after all you've got forty six days to turn in your vote"
Would you feel discriminated against or would you say - thank you kind sir for even giving me any time to vote? Get my point?
I am a fullblooded Native American and I am considered a professional in the field of education. I would like to respond to those racist replies, but I just don't know where to begin, it's disgusting.
I am from the southern part of the U.S. but have traveled the country from time to time. South Dakota is one of my least favorite states to travel through because of a mindset of many in that state. I don't like being followed around convinience stores as if I'm going to steal something and I prefer to not being made to wait for a long time to order at eating establishments, both things happened to me and my family while in South Dakota. These two things seem trivial, but it is reflective of the values of many non-Native American people from that area. I could only imagine being treated as if I were less than equal, or a thief, "on a daily basis". Those racist views are a combination of experience, handed down values, and a false sense of superiority that is nurtured through time. Not the most appealling lifestyle, to be sure, however I guess it's all they have.
As far as goverment handouts or entitlements to Native Americans, that is a complete untruth. Those federal monies (woefully inadequate) are continuing payment for land and resources that were given up through treatys. My tribe does receive a payment for about 1/3 of the land that was forcibly given up in the state of Nebraska, I get a check for about ten dollars a year. My tribe was moved from Nebraska to Oklahoma, we numbered 10,000 people plus when relocation began. When they got to Oklahoma there were about 900 people that made it (blankets were handed out along the trip that were infected with smallpox). These people were not allowed to continue thier tribal ways of life after removal, young children were taken away from families at put in boarding schools (no vacations) and were beaten for speaking thier Native languages. Much worse things things happened during that time period, but I will stop there, it's way too long for this thread.
I'm not asking for anything, but here are a people who deserve to be treated with some degree of respect for simply surviving. The equal voting opportunities seems like a small thing to ask, maybe somebody out there has a good answer.
ghostdog - thank you for your post - I honor you
Ghostdog - it is obvious 6 days compared to 46 is unfair. Unfortunately people are to busy bashing the other side to care (as evidenced by most of the posts). What is morally right-what is fair and honorable no longer seems to matter if it's coming from the wrong party and what is immoral or unethical doesn't bother some when it comes from their party. It is a sad thing to watch.
Thank you ghostdog for a very sane post. Your friend from the home of the peace pipe.
So no one is saying they can't vote? I say the state should just cut funds and make the early voting for everyone 6 days.
Reminds me of a new job that was created at work. People in other positions complained that this new job was easier than theirs but paid 1 grade higher than what they made. Solution was not to bump up their pay, but to bump down the pay of the new position. All in the interest of "fairness".
People are constantly screaming for fairness. In practice the economic solution to "fairness" is to bring others down rather than the costly alternative of boosting up others.
The Republicans would just love to end minority power
"They're all just too upitty" they say - behind closed doors mostly.
Republicans are not racists but racists are Republicans
You got six days they say. Well then the others say you can kiss my....we'll see you in court.
rob99, have you even read of the history of the dem party?
We fought a civil war because the dems wanted to keep salvery.
We had to pass at least 2 amendments to help get the former slaves thier rights.
We had to pass a civil rights law to keep the dems from passing even more jim crow laws.
Please check the history of your party.
President Lincoln ran on an anti-slavery format against a democrat
Do you think the white Southerners who were Democrats before Nixon's "Southern strategy" are Democrats today? Or did they all go over with George Wallace when civil rights came along.
You know, the GOP will say up is down, war is peace with a straight face 'til the cows come home. But fewer people are buying it every day.
So it turned the other way when LBJ gave the blacks voting rights etc. right? Now the good ol boys belong to the Republican party. What the heck happened??? lol
Sonman - Go back to school. The southern democrats at the time were conservative; they wanted to conserve slavery. The Republican party at that time was liberal.
Minority voter suppression efforts by Republicans are a key legislative action in every state they are in the majority. Constitutional rights are again infringed upon for partisan gain. It is nothing short of fascism and dovetails with other power legislation such as enabling state bureaucrats to take over and disband local governments. In Michigan, five cities are under state control already, as local mayors and city councils, duly elected, have been overthrown by the governor and are now ruled by bureaucratic dictators that report to the governor. Civil rights and civic rights are under siege. Republicans are intending, not to serve in government, but to rule government and attack individual freedom.
Look at what the repubs did to the country in the 8 years of Bush. They destroyed the economy, started 2 wars and gave away billions to the rich and big pharma. They created nearly 7 trillion of the national debt and their CORPORATE MEDIA now reinforce the fantasy scenario that Obama did all this. The rest of the lap dog press just repeat talking points and call it journalism.
How much more destruction can they want to inflict on America? What do they get out of destroying the country? How can the population be such sheep? They should be tarred and feathered like shysters of old and run out of town on a rail...
Be glad that you won't have to suffer the consequences in about 40 years. I have to. My generation has to. Ah well; Americans are accustomed to assuming burdens. I just thought my generation would have to saddle only global warming and overpopulation, but I guess we could take a shot at reforming the global economy. Hopefully we keep the GOP out of this reforming equation: after what they did to screw us up, I wouldn't vote for one if they were the ONLY party in the nation.
How many years will you dumocraps run against bush?
When you repubtards quit bashing President Clinton and President Barak Obama!!
Forever then. . .
Forever indeed.
And the decision is yours: stop with the anti-Obama BS and then we will stop reminding you of the mistake you made in nominating Bush.
Until then:
OBAMA BIDEN 2012
DEATH TO THE GOP 2012
THANKS A LOT FOR THAT IDIOT BUSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why does anyone get "early voting"? We have an official election day. Either vote then or absentee ballot. Period.
This is the smartest writing I have read so far. I agree we have an official election day. That should be the only one other than absentee ballots that should be allowed.
A couple states only have Vote By Mail...not to be confused with Absentee Ballots.
As states look for revenue to cut, this way of voting will become a more attractive option. However, many states resist this alternative as it does not allow for much variance in who votes.
For those of you who think democrat voters unamiously receive some sort of welfare need to check out a map of RED and Blue states showing which of those states receive more funds from the Federal Government than their state pays in federal taxes... now that's welfare!
Why the hell shouldn't there be early voting? There should be as few obstacles as possible put in the way of Americans participating in our own government.
Calvinius - when I lived in New Jersey and was an elected official we had time tables - every state sets their own rules - however we did not set rules for one people against another - manning the polls what I found was young Hispanic women running from New York , panting hoping not to miss their vote - and the men - the most beautiful handwriting I've ever seen - all taught by the Catholic nuns
Now I live in Washington State - we send in our ballots - not one group against another - is not what it should be ?
people smarten up vote the righties out of office. G.O.P.(group of phonies)
This is about the only place I can come and get a laugh in the morning. You really think this is going to change the course of this country and the Republicans are all demons? Grow up children. Following your logic to the end one would surmise most of you are bigots and abusers of many stripes. If you don't see the correlation then maybe you shouldn't even be here.
Amen
Curt, and if you were able to infer that from the other statements here, then maybe you need to seek professional help. There is no logic to your statement whatsoever.
Curt- I believe in voting for people that represent your views - if you are that much of a cynic then you should not vote at all But if you go down that road then change will never occur - READ -LEARN- and only till then can you give a vote!
Somebody hang that stupid ass "so-called American politician" HIGH!!!
Ignorance can not be tolerated at any level of politics!
And yet we have obama,reid and pelosy
And illiterate citizens that can't spell a proper name correctly. Sad indeed.
Where are Jim, Tim, and Franklin now?
Here's a quick look into the three former Fannie Mae executives who brought down Wall Street.
Franklin Raines - was a Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Fannie Mae.Raines was forced to retire from his position with Fannie Mae when auditing discovered severe irregularities in Fannie Mae's accounting
activities. Raines left with a "golden parachute valued at $240 Million in benefits. The Government filed suit against Raines when the depth of the accounting scandal became clear.
Tim Howard - was the Chief Financial Officer of Fannie Mae. Howard "was a strong internal proponent of using accounting strategies that would ensure a "stable pattern of earnings" at Fannie. Investigations by federal
regulators and the company's board of directors since concluded that management did manipulate 1998 earnings to trigger bonuses. Raines and Howard resigned under pressure in late 2004. Howard's Golden Parachute was
estimated at $20 Million!
Jim Johnson - A former executive at Lehman Brothers and who was later forced from his position as Fannie Mae CEO. Investigators found that Fannie Mae had hidden a substantial amount of Johnson's 1998 compensation
from the public, reporting that it was between $6 million and $7 million when it fact it was $21 million." Johnson is currently under investigation for taking illegal loans from Countrywide while serving as CEO of Fannie
Mae. Johnson's Golden Parachute was estimated at $28 Million.
*****************************************************************************************
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
FRANKLIN RAINES?
Raines works for the Obama Campaign as his Chief Economic Advisor.
TIM HOWARD?
Howard is a Chief Economic Advisor to Obama under Franklin Raines.
JIM JOHNSON?
Johnson was hired as a Senior Obama Finance Advisor and was selected to run Obama's Vice Presidential Search Committee.
Kinda makes you sick to your stomach.
Yeah, but it's all Bush's fault, waaaa waaaa
too bad it is a false premise that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac brought down the economy....lol
Actually the number 1 driver of our economy is the housing market.
True. I personally think that the housing market AND the financial market did us in equally. The housing market had lax regulation and improper loan giving (both on the part of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and on the private sector, like Countrywide) to those who could not pay back the mortgage. That, and we had lax regulation (yes, you heard me, LAX REGULATION) on Wall Street.
Fannie nor Freddie EVER originated a single loan. Period. Get a clue before posting, it's makes you look less like a fool.
I heard that the voting age is going to be raised to 26 or to when you live on your own out of your parents house.
Just where did you hear that? If that were to be the case then the consequences of that change might be a very negative one for the middle class, poor, seniors and the military.
At age 18 you are considered an adult, so, that would mean that law would also have to change to 26 or when you leave home. No more kids joining the military. In this economy, if more college aged kid's are moving back home because they can not find a job and more parents are moving in with there adult kids, because they have lost their jobs and can't kind another one that means no one will be voting.
Adult are becoming caregivers to their parents and parents are becoming landlord's to their kids. Who is left to vote.... Only the rich? You have to ask whose big idea is that.
Really it should be around 30 when your brain is fully developed. Also, I don't think I heard anything about giving special preference to any individual or group. Kind of a novel idea.
I heard the government is going to mandate satire classes in the K-6 curriculum. Apparently, a majority of adults no longer have the capability to determine whether someone is being humorous or not. Coincidentally, these same people when polled believed that tongue-in-cheek was either a genetic illness or a sexual act.
Of course, what do I know, I also heard that according to the Darwinian-based gameshow Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader, a supermajority of voting Americans are not. And we wonder why campaign reform can't work? Maybe we need voter reform instead.
tracy - What do you think about a grown man voting out of his son's unfinished basement in Massachusetts when he has two multimillion dollar houses in New Hampshire and La Jolla? Okay with you? I call that voter fraud
By the way the person who did this is running for President - and name why Willard of course and by the way he was over 30 years old
I guess laws don't pertain to him - only in your mind and his, the little people - oh wait maybe his mind was not fully developed
Amen and Amen !!!! Tracy you have hit the nail on the head !!
Nah! What we'll end up with is not a minimum age limit; we'll get a minimum income limit.
If ya didn't file 5 previous 1040's showing an adjusted income of, let's say, $75,000, then you can't vote.
This idea should be a big favorite with the hard right.
"Power to the correct people!"
I'm surprised everyone else has 46 days, that's just silly. Why do we need to have such a huge window to vote in?
gabber - I live in Washington State - I have thirty days where do you live?
Everybody knows that paranoid, conservative white people will try anything to block the voting rights of Native Americans or Black Americans or American women or just about anybody who is unlikely to vote for one of the ancient, inept, caustic white men.
They did it in the past, they will try to do it every chance they get...and they will claim moral superiority while committing their heinous crimes, just like their godhead Tricky Dick. It is the conservative way.
I think this racist needs anger management.
And paranoia treatment....
Although you will defend the conservative way (your way to the end). The rest of us know he's right.
Oh how astute and clever you are. Can I add mean spirited? But that's a given coming from conservatives!!
This is pure voter fraud, and the supreme court of the US sees no problem with this type of law. The republican supreme court is making decision that are making victims of the citizens of this country. Our Constitutional amendents are being destoried by the republican supreme court and when the government and republicans supreme court are no longer answerable to the citizens we will no longer have a democracy. This republican supreme court will go down in history as the catalyst of the end of democracy as it used to be in the US.
Do you know how long it takes to read the US Constitution?
http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html
How is it voter fraud? It is about funding for early elections that are paid for by each county in South Dakota. The issue is that the reservation has the majority of the county land and people, which can't be taxed because it is a reservation. If they want to have the luxury to vote early, another funding mechanism needs to be set up for that county, or pay with federal funds.
Was there voter fraud before there was early voting?
There is no law requiring early voting. It is set up as a convenience. The voting place needs to be staffed. Based on the original article, the payment for the 6 days of early voting came out of the Sheriff's budget.
Oh Gary;such drama........
I can make that vote in one day, Monte..... (For all you dumb asses out there, think "Name That Tune"-----)
I have never had a problem getting to the voting booths on election day. I have heard that some people are even crawled like cattle and taken to the voting booths.
That's how dumocraps have to vote tracy.
Tracy...CRAWLED???? like cattle??? Cattle crawl??? OMG....and you think you are so above average intelligence? lol Sounds like an old Eddy Arnold song...Cattle Crawl......hahahaha!!!
I think Tracy at #20.1 meant "corraled" as in maybe "rounded up" in large buses???
Sometimes vans or buses are indeed the easiest way for groups to get to a voting place, especially if money for transportation is an issue. Also for those who are handicapped and need special services. Other times voting is taken to the facility, such as a nursing home, for those who are physically, but not mentally, handicapped.
Thank your good fortune that you have never had a problem getting to a voting facility, but not everyone finds it that easy, and I don't think we should make fun of them for their misfortune.
What, tracy can't figure out what he/she means?
I thought the indian reservations were "nations". I've heard of the SIOUX NATION before. Does that still give the Sioux vote if they are in their own nation?
I have heard the reservations can have their own laws like for instance opening casinos when many of the surrounding areas have no opportunity. That does sound like they govern themselves.
So, if they govern themselves then why do they still have the right to vote in the state that surrounds their nation?
If it is truly a nation, when i cross from US into say Canada I must follow their rules or get arrested. I don't have right to vote.
If I cross into indian Nation, doesn't the same rules apply? I don't have rights to vote for their HEAD COMMANDER or CHIEF.
Just curious about whether the indian nations really have a dog in this US Presidential race anyway...
I can see where it would take longer than six days to sober up, read the internet, and be told whom to vote for. Of course, being cognizant of when the voting days are, is important. Maybe we should make it 365 days for the poor downtrodden injins.
One thing I can't stand more than political corruption is the ignorance of "know-it-alls". Why do they feel they must word-vomit all over the internet with their biased bull? It's annoying and as a US Citizen, embarrassing. Do yourself a favor, ignorant ones, and catch up on your history! Use this amazing computer technology and educate yourself. I dare you. Heck, you just might find out you're part "injin" too - the great,great great grandchild of a Cherokee princess! lol
In terms of writing their own laws, an Indian "nation" is essentially no different from any other political subdivision such as a village, a town, a city, a county, a parish, a state, ad infinitum. But you know that, don't you? Don't you? If not, back to a civics, government and history classes for you -- which wouldn't be a bad idea for a lot of us. Long and short of it, if you must have it spelled out -- Indians are citizens and entitled to the same voting rights as anyone else.
Nathalie,
Actually, an Indian "nation" is much different from the political subdivisions you mention. They follow Indian Law as set by their tribe. That is why you cannot sue if you are injured at a casino that is on tribal land except through their tribal laws - you cannot sue through state or federal courts. Another example is that they are specifically exempted from federal discrimination laws, FOIA, OSHA, FLSA and others.
I haven't seen a village or a state that is exempt from any of these laws.
JB-1813207, you are suspended for a week for violating rule # 5 of the Code of Honor.
Soveriegn nation is just a catch phrase to give the natives false hope so they don't look for another form of govt. Just like freedom and democracy is a catch phrase used on the rest of America for the same reasons. It's just smoke blown up the ass.
The U.S. government made treaties with the Sioux more than 150 years ago and broke every agreement over and over. Result: the poorest communities in the U.S. Average life span is 48, suicides among men under 25 are overwhelming, ground is so poisoned from mining they can't grow food, rivers and streams have been discovered to be carrrying radioactive material, so no fishing. Why am I not surprised that some Nazi made if difficult for them to vote, particularly those Native Americans serving in the armed forces, of which there are a large number. We slaughtered them at Wounded Knee, and eviscerated every human right, why stop at voting?
Jan - Don't forget that American Indian children were forcibly taken away for long periods of time and brain washed against their families often with physical and sexual abuse and murder well into the 1950s which is bound to create problems for a community. Religions at various tribes were also outlawed until recently and the legal complexities between nations and the federal government make crime hard to deal with. This is not just something that happened a long time ago - it's a series of issues created by an existing government body that has continued to directly impact and harm a group of people to this day.
This current version of unequal representation is just the latest. I hope they win the lawsuit and are given equal time to vote.
_you.....nice handle....we have red sox nation, but we dont have to show a passport to get in....lol
It's about money.
The Oglalas’ suit demands that Gant advance impoverished Shannon County its share of Help America Vote Act funds
If I were the secretary of state I would limit all early voting to 6 days and tell them to put that in their pipe and smoke it.
Just like your trashy ass would smoke your meth in a pipe & collect welfare.
Careful, lets not talk about peoples mothers. They may not know who they are.
7,683 registered voters, 5,890 are Democrats; another 588 are Republicans. The rest are mostly Independents.
I believe in the right to vote but really who thinks this amount of votes going either way will give one party the state of S. Dakota?
Not the point, Tracy. They have the same voting rights as anyone else, and they are undoubtedly voting in more races than the presidential election.
They do. You need to read the original article.
So you're saying that people shouldn't bother to vote because their one crappy vote won't make a difference anyway?
No some on here are saying this is all so one party will win the presidential election. Per the headline of this article: Native Americans, given less time to vote for president, sue S.D.
tracy, Everyone's vote should be protected to the fullest extent possible, and all should have equal access to the voting process, this is America.
It is a Reimbursement program. Maybe they should put the money they are using for legal fees into the program and increase the days.