The 2008 US Presidential Election Thread

[bluejeangirl76]

Judge rules Ohio homeless voters may list park benches as addresses

I'm with Stu on this. The humor of the headline aside, someone should not have to forfeit their right to vote because they are homeless.

Oh, nice... so it's good to know the homeless lady stinking the diner vestibule up with the scent of urine and old feet as she shouted obscenities into a payphone's upside down handset will be entrusted with the reasoning capacity to elect the leader of our nation. Do the 20 baby dolls in her trash filled buggy get to vote, too?

Hmm. Wonder where for ever you pulled that eample from.

[Rhiannon]

Oh, nice... so it's good to know the homeless lady stinking the diner vestibule up with the scent of urine and old feet as she shouted obscenities into a payphone's upside down handset will be entrusted with the reasoning capacity to elect the leader of our nation. Do the 20 baby dolls in her trash filled buggy get to vote, too?

So you think we should have a voter aptitude test? Who decides the thresholds?

Do you think people with Alzheimer's should vote? I'm not contesting anyone's right to vote. I'm saying some people shouldn't.
Voting is a serious responsibility and pertinent to maintaining a working democracy. Voter aptitude could be demonstrated just by having sound mind. That's all. That is pretty easy to gauge.

[Steve Cherry]

Why?

Because we're talking about a pre-determined date you have 4 fucking years to plan for!!! It's not a surprise party at the McDonald's play house for your neighbor's obese kid. Actually, isn't election day on the first Tuesday of November every 4 years??? Man, what a fucking inconvenience.

I agree with this. Apart from absentee ballots, if you're going to be in your county on election day, then go stand in the long ass line and be miserable with the rest of us. If you aren't registered in time, then piss off, and get yourself situated better next time. If you can't be arsed to register yourself by the deadline then how much do you truly care about the election. See ya, adios, no vote for you.

So, your pov is "stand in line" all day, and when polls close, they close. It's not a matter of being registered in time, as the people voting 2, 3 or 4 weeks early are registered. If anything, those folks voting early make your "stand in line" day much easier.

[Tito]

They need to get rid of early voting. This is a joke.

Why?

The reason we have election day on a Tuesday is way way way back, way back before the Chicago Fire, the San Francisco earthquake, way back to the horse and buggy days. People wouldn't vote on the Sabbath, and due to not so expedient travel back then, a standard trip to the polling place took an entire day. So it's been on a Tuesday ever since.

Now, some say, well, vote on a non workday. What is a non workday? People work every day. So we vote on Saturday. No, that favors the rich and wealthy as generally the less fortunate work service jobs which are open on weekends. So what if there is early voting? What does it hurt? You still only get one vote only.

Incorrect on all accounts. One day is all you need (weekend or Tuesday). Even though it has always worked, now we need 3 weeks to vote? If you can't make the day to vote, you can always get an absentee ballot. I have in the past early voted (once), absentee (once), and usually, like this year, vote of election day. I have never had a problem voting, why do others have a problem. I am willing to compromise and move the day and/or extend the hours. I'm even willing to say vote two days: Monday and Tuesday or Saturday and Tuesday. There should be no problem voting then.

Most people do not work on the weekend. Some do but no nearly most. They don't work 24 hours either and again they can always get an absentee ballot. All early voting does is increase the likely hood of fraud and is way too expensive to operate. As far as one vote only, LOL. All early voting does is allow these special interest people/groups get people to the polls, who do not care and really don't want to vote and only vote because of the money they get paid to vote or the sandwich they get after they vote.

[Rhiannon]

Hmm. So let me ask you this. If this is your argument, how can you argue Stevew2 being allowed to cast a vote? He seems to me to have great difficulty in spelling his own name, let alone a three syllable word.

Steve may not be Samuel Langhorne Clemens, but he is of sound mind.

[Saint John]

how can you argue Stevew2 being allowed to cast a vote?

All kidding aside, I've talked to him on the phone and he's a piano tuning, middle-class, good American. That's how.

[Gin and Tonic Sky]

Judge rules Ohio homeless voters may list park benches as addresses

I'm with Stu on this. The humor of the headline aside, someone should not have to forfeit their right to vote because they are homeless.

Oh, nice... so it's good to know the homeless lady stinking the diner vestibule up with the scent of urine and old feet as she shouted obscenities into a payphone's upside down handset will be entrusted with the reasoning capacity to elect the leader of our nation. Do the 20 baby dolls in her trash filled buggy get to vote, too?

Gotta aprreciate the beauty of that image...... ha

[strangegrey]

how can you argue Stevew2 being allowed to cast a vote?

All kidding aside, I've talked to him on the phone and he's a piano tuning, middle-class, good American. That's how.

Is he really a piano tuner or is there a label I'm missing here?

[Skylorde]

Do you think people with Alzheimer's should vote? I'm not contesting anyone's right to vote. I'm saying some people shouldn't.
Voting is a serious responsibility and pertinent to maintaining a working democracy. Voter aptitude could be demonstrated just by having sound mind. That's all. That is pretty easy to gauge.

I do understand the point you are making, my point is this. Can you imagine both parties trying to come to a consesus on who's eligible and who's not? BIG LOL

Also, you can not assume that every homeless person suffers from a mental deficiency. Even the addicts are perfectly lucid..when they aren't high

[Steve Cherry]

how can you argue Stevew2 being allowed to cast a vote?

All kidding aside, I've talked to him on the phone and he's a piano tuning, middle-class, good American. That's how.

Ok, I buy that, but explain how somebody like a George W Bush gets to vote? He isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer.

[bluejeangirl76]

Oh, nice... so it's good to know the homeless lady stinking the diner vestibule up with the scent of urine and old feet as she shouted obscenities into a payphone's upside down handset will be entrusted with the reasoning capacity to elect the leader of our nation. Do the 20 baby dolls in her trash filled buggy get to vote, too?

Hmm. So let me ask you this. If this is your argument, how can you argue Stevew2 being allowed to cast a vote? He seems to me to have great difficulty in spelling his own name, let alone a three syllable word.

Don't be in here on post number 6 singling out and making fun of members. Not cool.

A person's typing is not necessarily indicitive of intelligence. My sister in law is a journalist and and editor and works for the Chicago Tribune, but in personal emails, you wouldn't think she knew what a shift key was. Just because steve doesn't proofread, edit and spellcheck his posts on a music messageboard doen't mean he's stupid.

[S2M]

Oh, nice... so it's good to know the homeless lady stinking the diner vestibule up with the scent of urine and old feet as she shouted obscenities into a payphone's upside down handset will be entrusted with the reasoning capacity to elect the leader of our nation. Do the 20 baby dolls in her trash filled buggy get to vote, too?

Hmm. So let me ask you this. If this is your argument, how can you argue Stevew2 being allowed to cast a vote? He seems to me to have great difficulty in spelling his own name, let alone a three syllable word.

Don't be in here on post number 6 singling out and making fun of members. Not cool.

A person's typing is not necessarily indicitive of intelligence. My sister in law is a journalist and and editor and works for the Chicago Tribune, but in personal emails, you wouldn't think she knew what a shift key was. Just because steve doesn't proofread, edit and spellcheck his posts on a music messageboard doen't mean he's stupid.

A little gay, yeah....stoopid, not one iota.....

[bluejeangirl76]

Judge rules Ohio homeless voters may list park benches as addresses

I'm with Stu on this. The humor of the headline aside, someone should not have to forfeit their right to vote because they are homeless.

Oh, nice... so it's good to know the homeless lady stinking the diner vestibule up with the scent of urine and old feet as she shouted obscenities into a payphone's upside down handset will be entrusted with the reasoning capacity to elect the leader of our nation. Do the 20 baby dolls in her trash filled buggy get to vote, too?

Gotta aprreciate the beauty of that image...... ha

She's not making that image up, either. Saw it myself.

[lights1961]

GO MCCAIN. pick him to win with 285 electorial college votes... all the close battleground states will go to him that our 3 points or less in Obamas favor today. Why three factors.. college kids party dont vote.... white guys always go vote..and some of them were for Hillary... and wont vote for obama...and well... the Regan Democrats will come home to McCain.

[bluejeangirl76]

GO MCCAIN. pick him to win with 285 electorial college votes...

Its "electoral". Uh oh... you can't spell. No vote for you.

[S2M]

GO MCCAIN. pick him to win with 285 electorial college votes... all the close battleground states will go to him that our 3 points or less in Obamas favor today. Why three factors.. college kids party dont vote.... white guys always go vote..and some of them were for Hillary... and wont vote for obama...and well... the Regan Democrats will come home to McCain.

If you think McCain is winning this election, you are daft.

[Steve Cherry]

Don't be in here on post number 6 singling out and making fun of members. Not cool.

A person's typing is not necessarily indicitive of intelligence. My sister in law is a journalist and and editor and works for the Chicago Tribune, but in personal emails, you wouldn't think she knew what a shift key was. Just because steve doesn't proofread, edit and spellcheck his posts on a music messageboard doen't mean he's stupid.

Can it, whore. Post number 6? I already told you, or posted, that I was and have been a serious lurker. Whether it is my 6th post or my 456th post, doesn't mean crap. I like the guy, and felt like poking a little fun at his expense.
Deal with it.

[Rhiannon]

Do you think people with Alzheimer's should vote? I'm not contesting anyone's right to vote. I'm saying some people shouldn't.
Voting is a serious responsibility and pertinent to maintaining a working democracy. Voter aptitude could be demonstrated just by having sound mind. That's all. That is pretty easy to gauge.

I do understand the point you are making, my point is this. Can you imagine both parties trying to come to a consesus on who's eligible and who's not? BIG LOL

Also, you can not assume that every homeless person suffers from a mental deficiency. Even the addicts are perfectly lucid..when they aren't high

I agree with that point... I'm saying it scares me that governing bodies are now ok'ing park benches as residences.

[Saint John]

how can you argue Stevew2 being allowed to cast a vote?

All kidding aside, I've talked to him on the phone and he's a piano tuning, middle-class, good American. That's how.

Is he really a piano tuner or is there a label I'm missing here?

He really tunes pianos for a living. At least that's what he's always told us. Do you have that Jerky Boys skit going through your head, Frank? I know I did the first time he said that.

[whirlwind]

Hallelujah!! We are gonna party!!

maybe we will! i'm in santa monica, you?

Sherman Oaks!! Meet ya halfway!!

Stay away from the downtown Chicago rally on election night if Obama does not win.

[Tito]

Judge rules Ohio homeless voters may list park benches as addresses

I'm with Stu on this. The humor of the headline aside, someone should not have to forfeit their right to vote because they are homeless.

I agree but how do you then verify that they are who they say they are and that they live where they say they live?

I agree with PC and Stu as well. I don't mind everyone voting legally once. But you need to have a place of residence to verify you are eligible to vote there. In theory, the democrats can import 100k "voters" from New York and Illinois or Republicans 100k "voters" from Utah to Ohio to sway the election. On a smaller scale, it would be easier for a congressional district that is deep blue or red to "move" voters into a neighboring battleground district to vote and sway an election.

Personally, I think the law should be you must either own your property or rent apartment,etc. to vote. If you are recently homeless and prove you lived in the state/district up until that time I wouldn't have a problem with them voting too. But, the drunks/mental cases living in cardboxes or under the bridge (for years) - fuck them, they do not deserve to have a vote.

[S2M]

Don't be in here on post number 6 singling out and making fun of members. Not cool.

A person's typing is not necessarily indicitive of intelligence. My sister in law is a journalist and and editor and works for the Chicago Tribune, but in personal emails, you wouldn't think she knew what a shift key was. Just because steve doesn't proofread, edit and spellcheck his posts on a music messageboard doen't mean he's stupid.

Can it, whore. Post number 6? I already told you, or posted, that I was and have been a serious lurker. Whether it is my 6th post or my 456th post, doesn't mean crap. I like the guy, and felt like poking a little fun at his expense.
Deal with it.

I can't believe you just called here a whore. Now THAT was uncalled for. She didn't deserve it. Ican't even type right now...

[Jana]

Here in Florida open precincts for early voting has been eight hours a day and on weekends a certain amount of hours. Governor Charlie Christ (Republican) has just changed it to twelve hours a day weekdays and extended hours on weekends due to such heavy voter turnout and long lines. On election day last time I only waited an hour. It's going to be crazy next Tuesday. I've never seen such voter turnout in Florida.

[Tito]

I agree but how do you then verify that they are who they say they are and that they live where they say they live?

That's a good question....and I cannot come up with a viable answer. The integrity of the election process must be tantamount. Perhaps all eligible voters register one time with some form of government ID, their face then scanned into a central database and verified at the polling place with facial recognition software. That would negate the need to even check ID's then.

Yea, that's a big pain in the ass, expensive and has big brother written all over it.

You also have deal with absentee ballots. Perhaps registered voters can be given a unique voter ID. When the ballot is turned in, that ID is checked against a national database to ensure that ID hasn't been used already and also cross referenced with the social security death index.

The vast majority of the loopholes can be closed with technology but would we want to go that far and would we want to give the government that kind of data?

No way. I have no problem with showing a state ID card though.

[S2M]

Here in Florida open precincts for early voting has been eight hours a day and on weekends a certain amount of hours. Governor Charlie Christ (Republican) has just changed it to twelve hours a day weekdays and extended hours on weekends due to such heavy voter turnout and long lines. On election day last time I only waited an hour. It's going to be crazy next Tuesday. I've never seen such voter turnout in Florida.

That is, since '99.......

[Tito]

Why?

Because we're talking about a pre-determined date you have 4 fucking years to plan for!!! It's not a surprise party at the McDonald's play house for your neighbor's obese kid. Actually, isn't election day on the first Tuesday of November every 4 years??? Man, what a fucking inconvenience.

I agree with this. Apart from absentee ballots, if you're going to be in your county on election day, then go stand in the long ass line and be miserable with the rest of us. If you aren't registered in time, then piss off, and get yourself situated better next time. If you can't be arsed to register yourself by the deadline then how much do you truly care about the election. See ya, adios, no vote for you.

So, your pov is "stand in line" all day, and when polls close, they close. It's not a matter of being registered in time, as the people voting 2, 3 or 4 weeks early are registered. If anything, those folks voting early make your "stand in line" day much easier.

I have no problem with polls staying open late if people are in line. Again, I am willing to extend hours.

[bluejeangirl76]

Don't be in here on post number 6 singling out and making fun of members. Not cool.

A person's typing is not necessarily indicitive of intelligence. My sister in law is a journalist and and editor and works for the Chicago Tribune, but in personal emails, you wouldn't think she knew what a shift key was. Just because steve doesn't proofread, edit and spellcheck his posts on a music messageboard doen't mean he's stupid.

Can it, whore. Post number 6? I already told you, or posted, that I was and have been a serious lurker. Whether it is my 6th post or my 456th post, doesn't mean crap. I like the guy, and felt like poking a little fun at his expense.
Deal with it.

I could have sworn there was an "alert button" here. Alright, we can do it the old fashioned way then.

[Ehwmatt]

Yeah, they're not playing for a win at this point. They're playing for a mandate...and they'll probably get it.

Maddow had this fantastic, creatively done football screen setup last night on her show. Despite any perceptive closure of a national poll gap....there are other very STRONG indicators that are showing just how much Obama will destroy McCain.

In the pictoral, Maddow equated several states to 50 yard line states...i.e. Florida, Ohio, NH, etc. Almost all of those 50 yard states are now strongly obama, as per polling. Then, she started to show some of McCain's 35 yard line states...like NC, Indiana....and 20 yard line states....like Montana.....If Obama is campaigning in those states (and mccain is forced to defend them)...

...this is not a case of the president kicking a fieldgoal for the win and coming out with slightly better numbers. This is a case of the president walking into the end zone without getting touched...and then strolling in again for a 2 point conversion, again, untouched.

It's going to be a rather bad loss for DisDain...

It's hard to imagine the media/pollsters getting it wrong for a third PotUS election cycle in a row, and I personally think Obama has it bagged, but Obama supporters should really tread lightly these next six days. Very recent history advises you to do as much. Tuesday will be interesting and relieving when it's all over, whatever the outcome.

Well, I dunno how you can get from what I wrote, that I'm implying that the pollsters are going to get it wrong...

I do believe that pollsters have had a hard time factoring in the right to their polls. People on the right, are historically less inclined to want to talk to pollsters...and on the left, you get very enthusiastic people. The polling agencies factor this into their models and the models are very scientific...so I will submit that to the effect of left vs right interaction w/ pollsters, I think after 2-3 presidential elections where the landscape has changed....they've got it dialed in well enough now.

What I don't think the pollsters are prepared for, adequately...is the so-called bradly effect (or even a reverse bradly effect). There *might* be a group of people that will be fearful of admitting they're going to vote against a black man, and actually do so when the curtain closes. At the same time, there might be a group of people that are afraid to say they're voting for a black man, and actually do so when the curtain closes. To the extent that one group cancels out the other....it's a non-issue. To the extent that one group will materially cancel out the other is something that I think polling agencies are going to have a VERY difficult time trying to sort out....I don't think they'll be able to iron out that until after this election.

Nah, I wasn't implying that you were saying they'd get it wrong. Just the opposite. I was noting the inaccuracies the last two times and kind of telling the people calling it decisively for Obama alredy to pay heed to recent years... I agree with you, after the last two I would think/hope they refined their methods, that's wht I was getting at with the "hard to imagine" bit

[Steve Cherry]

I can't believe you just called here a whore. Now THAT was uncalled for. She didn't deserve it. Ican't even type right now...

Wait a minute. I have seen so many posters call out others and cuss them out. Posters like St John, The Noble Cause and others say far worse stuff than this. Heck, Rossvaloryrocks called somebody a cocksucker and no one batted an eye!

[Tito]

GO MCCAIN. pick him to win with 285 electorial college votes... all the close battleground states will go to him that our 3 points or less in Obamas favor today. Why three factors.. college kids party dont vote.... white guys always go vote..and some of them were for Hillary... and wont vote for obama...and well... the Regan Democrats will come home to McCain.

Any other election this may be true. BUT Obama has a ground game that is unparalleled and the kids (even if less than expected) will turn out in greater numbers than before. Not sure about the Reagan Democrats, the amnesty plan probably killed that for him. Had he been a true conservative, he would have those voters no problem.