Why Not Fraud?
First to step out of the right hand corner was John Cornyn of Texas. Floated something he had read in Politico; it didn’t. None of Cornyn’s stings, stung. Departing the ring before the first was over; Cornyn mumbled something about butterflies and bees, or maybe it was something about Dinah. Next, Senator Lindsey of South Carolina would show his fellows how it was done; how to handle an uppity black women. Stepped in; wham never knew what hit him. Lindseee went down without even a sarcastic whimper. Time to bring in the heavyweight favorite from, and now of, Louisiana — in the right corner — John Kennedy. What is that on his lips, all over him? Is that molasses? Ref should check Kennedy’s notes for the presence of a foreign substance, of a fact. Leads off the round with a set of his very best question-interruption feints. Then tries another. Then another. Somewhere along about his fifth question-interruption feint attempt, Kennedy begins to realize that what he is seeing up close is the floor and that his face is the mop.
Irony is, these good old boys are from the same south that for a century had said that blacks weren’t qualified for public office and shouldn’t be allowed to even vote just took a mental whupping from a big beautiful black women in a white hat. Stacy, dear, you were way way too merciful with their dumb asses.
These Three Lilliputians of the US Senate were in turn interviewing the one and only Ms. Stacy Abrams of Georgia about Georgia’s newly enacted voting laws, something Ms. Abrams knows quite a lot about. No amount of training could have prepared them for this contest, they were simply out of their class.
All of which brings us to the question at hand: why are the former confederate states (FCS), if they are to be believed, so afraid of voter fraud? If they really are in such angst, why not go after the fraudsters instead of the voters? Somehow the role of ghost-busters seems fitting this mendacious lot.
These are the very same duplicitous bastards who would have very limited restrictions on who can purchase and own a gun; insisting instead that any control come via arrests for acts committed with a gun. That they have the right to own a gun, but a woman shouldn’t have the right of choice, that their right to own a gun is more important than a woman’s right to choose, or someone else’s right to vote.
Why make it harder to vote? Why the bassackward voter suppression thing? Because that’s precisely the intent. It is not about voter fraud at all. If it were, they would resort to their usual crime and punishment trope. It’s all about voter control; about who gets to vote.
Have you ever considered that the Republicans know something we don’t know about vote fraud? It’s like the Lazarillo de Tormes story where the blind man knows Lazarillo is taking three grapes at a time because the blind man himself was taking two and Lazarillo wasn’t calling him on it. Maybe most R votes already fraudulent, or at least enough of them to throw elections are.
When I volunteered as a Democratic county officer in NC, I heard rumors that many of the absentee ballots coming from elderly care facilities were being marked by staff for Republican candidates. I never saw proof, but it was something we felt we were up against.
NC is also the state where confirmed Republican absentee ballot fraud rings have been uncovered:
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/central-figure-north-carolina-absentee-ballot-fraud-indicted-multiple-counts-n976991
It’s right out of the Karl Rove playbook to accuse the other side of what you are doing.
There is one issue; just one issue, that overshadows ALL OTHERS. The most foundational issue, common to all, is voting rights. There is no more important issue than expanding voter rights and stopping blatant voter suppression. By not focusing like a laser on the most critical and foundational issue of all — voting rights — I am seriously worried that Democrats are going to undermine what may be a one-time opportunity to save democracy as we know it. Typically, Democrats try to push too much, too fast, beyond the middle ground of basic, widely accepted support for necessary reforms — the so-called Overton window. As the 2022 midterm election approaches there is no time to waste. If Dems lose their narrow political control in the midterms, all is lost. Reforms must be accomplished well in advance of November 2022, to allow time for implementation. I don’t see a focused effort to make that happen.
See: “Voting Rights Plus Everything Else”
https://tinyurl.com/99vhav5s
Well said, J.P.
It is of critical importance to immediately stop the aggressive Republican strategy of implementing multiple voter suppression laws across the country and casting doubt about the integrity of the U.S. election system.
If we are to preserve the democracy, I believe Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) should appoint Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) to head a special bipartisan committee to develop a voting rights bill to stop voter suppression and preserve voting rights for all American citizens.
The bill should be brought before Congress for final passage within the next six (6) months to allow time for the U.S. voting infrastructure to implement the requirements.
We cannot continue to be distracted by other seemingly critical issues. Until voting rights are preserved and protected THERE IS NO MORE CRITICAL ISSUE! Other issues can be addressed now and in the future once voting rights are assured.
What is that I’m missing in re Joe Manchin?
Ken, trying to respond if I understand your question.
Joe Manchin is the roadblock in the Senate to approval of voting rights legislation. He says, and is firm, that he will not support elimination of the filibuster and will not support a “carve out” of the filibuster for voting rights legislation. Also, it is doubtful that voting rights legislation could be approved for reconciliation. At the same time, Manchin claims to be for voting rights and basic democratic principles and is a strong advocate for working with Republicans and bipartisanship. It’s time for Manchin to put up or shut up. He cannot stand by while most Republicans are attempting to pass voter suppression laws at the state level which will be in effect before the 2022 midterms if no federal action is taken. And currently, no Republicans will support the Democratic voter rights legislation under consideration. Manchin must take the lead on developing acceptable voter rights legislation that at least ten (10) Republican Senators will support. I also agree that the current Democratic voting rights legislation is too broad and needs to be focused on just voting rights. Like I have said, other very controversial aspects of campaign financing and many election reforms can be dealt with later after basic voting rights have been secured and voter suppression stopped before the 2022 midterms.
I don’t know where Joe Manchin stands on anything. Is he Robert Byrd reincarnate? Does he even believe in voting rights? Doesn’t he have to deal with McConnell? What would be Mitch’s price for one republican vote?
Is he, like Mcconnell, but a shake-down artist?
Ken:
Manchin is a man of convenience. To wit:
Individuals who willingly accepts unideal circumstances and situation presented in their lives, because of their convenience. Circumstances and situations that would require effort, and challenge to change.
Persons of convenience will accept whatever opportunities that comes their way as opposed to seek them out. They wait for the “right” opportunity to manifest itself, and attempt to capture that moment.
Ken & Run75441, Here’s a pretty good run down on Manchin if you’re interested. [https://tinyurl.com/ndae96xr]
Manchin is a political animal and comes from a long bloodline of the same. As said, the moment and opportunity is his. While we may not like him or the moment, it is what it is, and he currently holds a significant amount of power in the U.S. Senate. Keep in mind too, that Manchin holds the “party switch” card in his hand and yes, McConnell would pay dearly for that. (this was used by Jim Jeffords, back in 2001 to break the 50-50 logjam)
The point now is how can Manchin and his power be used to get at least most of what is desired in the way of voting rights. As I have said above we need voting rights legislation to stop voter suppression and we need it now within the next six (6) months to allow implementation before the 2022 midterm.
I am certainly open to any means to make that happen, but I see very few options. My suggestion of Manchin, a bipartisan committee, and hope for possibly ten (10) Republicans is one path that I can actually hold hope for.
I cannot see the current path of Democrats on HR1 & SR1 getting even 50 Senate Democratic votes and they will be arguing about it well into 2023. Getting rid of the filibuster, reconciliation and a “carve out” for voting rights, all seem impossible at this time.
Other suggestions??? Without voting rights nothing else matters.
J.P.
I will read it in a bit. Just got home last night and “still” groggy after a week away looking at houses. The market in the Southwest is really stupid right now and will crash. The factor for us is whether to buy with little money down (I can get 2-5/8% interest rate) with little money down (5% or even less [even 0%]) or wait for the crash and suck up what people are going to turn over. Not just home buyers out there, flippers, investors, banks, etc. Builders are doing lotteries and demanding non refundable earnest money too. Pirates . . .
As I wrote in a letter to Manchin:
Manchin is a man of convenience because he can be now and hold a nation hostage the same as Republicans have done under President McConnell. I have no manner of forcing him other than as a citizen who will write a brief letter to embarrass the shit out of him to which he will throw it off. I do not disagree with your premise of putting him in charge during his final(?) term. Dems need to corner him and give his moment of fame as a Senator who solve an issue or as as the hollow person I think he is who will spout words and take “no-action.”