10 October, 2008 (02:20) | democracy, politics, election 2008, John McCain, Barack Obama, government, opinion, GOP, Bush, Republicans, Obama, democrats, news, election | By: Catherine Morgan
Eligible voters are being removed from the voting rolls in many swing states. This is very troubling, and the problem will not be fixed before the coming Presidential election.
From The New York Times…
Tens of thousands of eligible voters in at least six swing states have been removed from the rolls or have been blocked from registering in ways that appear to violate federal law, according to a review of state records and Social Security data by The New York Times.
The actions do not seem to be coordinated by one party or the other, nor do they appear to be the result of election officials intentionally breaking rules, but are apparently the result of mistakes in the handling of the registrations and voter files as the states tried to comply with a 2002 federal law, intended to overhaul the way elections are run.
Still, because Democrats have been more aggressive at registering new voters this year, according to state election officials, any heightened screening of new applications may affect their party’s supporters disproportionately. The screening or trimming of voter registration lists in the six states — Colorado, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Nevada and North Carolina — could also result in problems at the polls on Election Day: people who have been removed from the rolls are likely to show up only to be challenged by political party officials or election workers, resulting in confusion, long lines and heated tempers.
Some states allow such voters to cast provisional ballots. But they are often not counted because they require added verification.
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1 October, 2008 (20:36) | John McCain, election 2008, democracy, working moms, family, government, Sarah Palin, video, education, Barack Obama, politics, opinion, Obama, Bush, women, Republicans, youtube, children, economy, news, parenting, democrats, election | By: Catherine Morgan
This is beyond a MUST SEE. This is a MUST, MUST, MUST SEE.
See more from this young man here.
Comments: 1
30 September, 2008 (03:37) | government, family, election 2008, democracy, recession, Barack Obama, Sarah Palin, foreclosure, video, money, politics, opinion, healthcare, youtube, Bush, Republicans, democrats, news, gas prices, economy, GOP, election | By: Catherine Morgan
So, the bailout was rejected, and the DOW tumbled 777 points. Is it the end of the world as we know it? Let’s take a closer look at the bailout. What are the pros and cons? How did we get here? Who is to blame? And, most importantly…What do you think?
My personal (non financial expert) opinion: If you don’t have much money, you probably haven’t lost much. If you have a bunch of money, you might have lost a bunch.  Of course, as always, the middle class will be hurt the most from this crisis. They are already struggling, and bailout or no bailout, the middle class stands to pay the greatest price. But, that’s just my opinion, and I’m no financial expert.
Understanding the bailout…
How does this affect the presidential election?
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29 September, 2008 (14:30) | John McCain, election 2008, government, foreclosure, breaking news, democracy, politics, democrats, Republicans, news, economy, opinion, election | By: Catherine Morgan
From Market Watch…
The U.S. House rejected on Monday a proposed $700 billion financial bailout package supported by the Bush administration, the Federal Reserve and the congressional leadership of both parties. The vote was 205 for and 228 against. The rejection of the plan could mean disruption in financial markets and another attempt by officials to craft a compromise plan that will get a majority vote. The administration had been pushing for quick movement on the bailout, which officials have warned is necessary to avert serious consequences for markets and the economy. Some critics said the plan was a giveaway to the very companies that created the crisis, while others said it amounted to socialism.
UPDATES…
From The New York Times…
In a moment of historic drama in the Capitol and on Wall Street, the House of Representatives voted on Monday to reject a $700 billion rescue of the financial industry.
From The Moderate Voice…
In a major upset, the US House of Representatives has voted against passage of the $700 billion bailout bill. The vote was 228-205 against. Democrats voted 141-94 in favor of the measure while Republicans voted 131-67 in opposition to the proposal. There are now discussions as to whether or not a new vote sometime later today.
Reacting to the news, the Dow Jones is down by a range of 400-600 points. At one point the drop was over 700 points so it does seem that the market is stabilizing somewhat.
Henry Paulson is disappointed about rejected bailout…
Rachel Maddow…
From The Associated Press…
A White House spokesman says President Bush is very disappointed in Monday’s House vote rejecting the administration’s rescue plan for the nation’s financial industry.
“There’s no question that the country is facing a difficult crisis that needs to be addressed,” said spokesman Tony Fratto. He said the president will be meeting with members of his team later in the day “to determine next steps.”
Bush is “very disappointed” with the vote, Fratto said.
Erin Kotecki Vest from BlogHer - Bailout Measure FAILS House Vote
Here is Nancy Pelosi on a failed free market…
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23 September, 2008 (01:30) | government, democracy, recession, video, foreclosure, politics, opinion, law, youtube, news, economy, Bush | By: Catherine Morgan
Financial Crisis: Is The Bailout Constitutional? What do you think about the 700 billion dollar bailout?
Is The Bailout Socialism or Fascism?
From Blog Maverick…
Lack of transparency got us in to this mess, lets not let lack of transparency keep it messy. The government needs to immediately setup an exchange, it could be ebay.gov with more in depth description fields, for all I care. However they do it, EVERY asset the government will buy or sell as part of this buyout needs to be shown and described with the price the government is willing to pay or sell the asset for.
Why ?
To keep government honest.
Not that anyone in our government would ever put their own personal self interest first and over or under pay for an asset. Nor would they ever take those assets and then sell it for less than market value in exchange for “personal considerationsâ€.
I know it could never happen, but just to make sure it doesnt, we need to post the assets involved in the bailout and the prices paid. When the assets are sold, they need to post those prices as well
In addition, by posting the assets in an ebay like auction/sales environment, it would enable independent buyers to come in and buy the assets using private money rather than government money. The benefit of course is obvious. By adding liquidity to the process, the government could be responsible for less and sellers could get more.
This is the only way I can think of to get true transparency. Without it, i promise you that it will be IMPOSSIBLE to account for how much money was spent on the assets and how much cash was generated from the sales process and what the net cost or benefit to taxpayers is.
From The AP…
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21 September, 2008 (21:45) | election 2008, family, Barack Obama, video, democracy, politics, Obama, youtube, democrats, opinion, election | By: Catherine Morgan
Here is a guest post from community member Sojourner from Sojourner’s Place.
This week, I shook the hand of a man, just a man, and only a man
who was benevolent, admirable, & righteous
This week, I shook the hand of a man, just a man, and only a man
who was articulate, committed, & knowledgeable
This week, I shook the hand of a man, just a man, and only a man
who was open, brilliant & authentic
This week, I shook the hand of a man, just a man, and only a man who was moral & audacious
This week, I shook the hand of a man, just a man, and only a man.
Yet, I was inspired to believe ~ if it be God’s Will ~ that this
benevolent, admirable, righteous, articulate, committed, knowledgeable, open, brilliant, authentic, moral, audacious
Man, who is just a man, and only a man could be the catalyst for Change.
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18 September, 2008 (02:05) | election 2008, democracy, John McCain, Barack Obama, Sarah Palin, video, politics, opinion, youtube, Republicans, democrats, news, GOP, election | By: Catherine Morgan
Could voter suppression and intimidation affect the outcome of the presidential election? Will voters who have had their homes foreclosed on, lose their right to vote? Will college students be intimidated out of voting? How many ways will the Republicans attempt to suppress the votes of Democrats? Let me know what you think in comments.
Keith Olbermann on Voter Caging Story…
Obama Pushes Back Against Possible Voter Suppression…
ABC News’ Karen Travers and Arnab Datta report: The Obama campaign and DNC have filed an injunction in federal court as an effort to challenge what they deem as illegal voter suppression of people whose houses are in foreclosure.
The injunction is in response to the comments last week from the Macomb County (MI) Republican Party chairman, James Carabelli, who allegedly said: “We will have a list of foreclosed homes and will make sure people aren’t voting from those addresses.”
Voter Suppression In Virginia on College Campuses…
What party would feel comfortable lying about voter eligibility? What party would want to be portrayed as suppressing votes while touting its efforts to protect voter rights? The Republican Party of course. NY Times:
The widespread practice of students’ registering to vote at their college address has set off a fracas in Virginia, a battleground state in the presidential election. Late last month, as a voter-registration drive by supporters of Senator Barack Obama was signing up thousands of students at Virginia Tech, the local registrar of elections issued two releases incorrectly suggesting a range of dire possibilities for students who registered to vote at their college. The releases warned that such students could no longer be claimed as dependents on their parents’ tax returns, a statement the Internal Revenue Service says is incorrect, and could lose scholarships or coverage under their parents’ car and health insurance
All this despite a 1979 ruling by the United States Supreme Court that students have the right to register at their college address.
From ColorOfChange.org
It’s the ugliest attack on voting rights we’ve seen in recent history–if you live in Michigan and you’re in danger of losing your home to foreclosure, Republicans will try to take away your right to vote. John McCain could stop this with a phone call, but he’s remained silent. It’s time to hold McCain publicly accountable for this strategy. Will you join us?
Demand McCain stop the attack on struggling homeowners’ voting rights
Voter Purging In Ohio?
Also See:
Voting-Rights Conflics Intensify
College Student Voting RightsÂ
Ohio Republicans Use Lawsuite To Fight for State’s Crutial Vote
Get The Facts & Get Involved
How do you think voter intimidation and suppression will affect the presidential election?
Comments: 2
15 September, 2008 (02:29) | John McCain, poverty, election 2008, government, recession, foreclosure, video, Barack Obama, democracy, politics, law, Bush, Republicans, youtube, democrats, opinion, GOP, news, election | By: Catherine Morgan
We live in The United States of America, home of the free. Where homeowners are free to vote, as long as they haven’t been foreclosed on. Are you o.k. with that?
Lose Your House, Lose Your Vote
The chairman of the Republican Party in Macomb County, Michigan, a key swing county in a key swing state, is planning to use a list of foreclosed homes to block people from voting in the upcoming election as part of the state GOP’s effort to challenge some voters on Election Day.
Homeowners in Michigan Lose Vote…
Property ownership has always had a troubling connection to voting rights in this country. When the nation was founded, only white property owners, a tiny fraction of the population, could vote. And while most states had dropped property requirements for voting by the mid-eighteen hundreds, we’ve seen more recently, with the promotion of Bush’s “ownership society” and the high premium placed on homeownership, that owning property again features prominently in our concept of economic citizenship.
Indeed, it’s a slippery slope from the belief that homeowners are truer stakeholders and fulfillers of the American dream to the notion that homeowners are more legitimate Americans. That’s just one of the many disturbing aspects of the recent revelation, as reported by the Michigan Meseanger, that the chairman of the Republican Party in Macomb County in Michigan is “planning to use a list of foreclosed homes to block people from voting in the upcoming election as part of the state GOP’s effort to challenge some voters on Election Day.”
From Pam’s House Blend…
In Project Vote’s statement, Teresa James says “The GOP’s plan is a cynical partisan attempt to suppress the vote of thousands of low-income and African-American voters, a replay of the 2004 threats of mass challenges…In America you get to vote even if you’re behind on your bills. All Americans–particularly those members of the community hit hardest by the economic crisis–deserve a voice and a vote on Election Day.”
Even if your house hasn’t been foreclosed on, can you really be sure your vote will be counted?
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10 September, 2008 (13:06) | John McCain, election 2008, democracy, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Biden, Sarah Palin, politics, opinion, women, Republicans, Bush, Obama, news, democrats, election | By: Catherine Morgan
Here is a guest post from community member Paula Hall - How Do We Vote
A lot of things catch my attention these days of general elections. It is an interesting time for the United States and for its image throughout the world. As there are two very different candidates for the most important office in the country, the first black man running to be the commander in chief and a woman for VP, one thought keeps coming back into my mind all the time. How do we really vote?
In conversations I hear people saying that it would be inadmissible for a black person not to vote for senator Barack Obama. Is that for real?
So, because the Republican Party has a woman on their ticket, does that mean we woman, no matter from each party, should vote for her party because she is also a woman?
How do we really vote? What is important to us as citizens? Women have always played an important role in politics, even if sometimes we were not aware of it. Women are the strength of every single society every where in the globe. There are more women in the work force than ever. Woman are making more money and are the heads of their families and are supporting many, many men.
What are we going to do in this coming up elections? How are we going to vote? Does color of skin and gender matter? Is that what defines a human being? Does it tell about a person character? Does it tell if they are best qualified to be the next President? What do you think?
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2 September, 2008 (01:30) | democracy, politics, opinion, election 2008, John McCain, video, bloggers, freedom of speech, GOP, law, Republicans, war, youtube, news, media, election | By: Catherine Morgan
Are we still living in The United States of America? Is it still the land of the free? I’m a bit confused. Since when do we raid homes of possible protesters, before they even have a chance to protest? Is it just me…Or is there something seriously wrong with this? Here is some commentary, raw video, and news clips…Let me know what you think about all of this in comments.
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