North Carolina Voting - and Consistency

[Cow Poke]

Just can't face the truth can you CP.

How bout the truth of you supporting NAMBLA and defending them at every turn, Jim? Do you support them less today?

[Starlight]

How bout the truth of you supporting NAMBLA and defending them at every turn, Jim? Do you support them less today?

CP, if Jim had ever voted for NAMBLA the way you voted for Trump, your point might be relevant.

[Bill the Cat]

CP, if Jim had ever voted for NAMBLA the way you voted for Trump, your point might be relevant.

Considering NAMBLA isn't something you can vote for...

[Cow Poke]

CP, if Jim had ever voted for NAMBLA the way you voted for Trump, your point might be relevant.

Is it hotter in the summer than it is in the city?

[carpedm9587]

I was talking about general political scumbaggery to undermine the democratic process. Everything from gerrymandering, to voter purges, to voter ID, to the recent lame-duck-session coups taking place in Wisconsin and Michigan where during the transition period the existing Republican majorities are selectively stripping power away from the positions democrats are going to occupy soon. That last one probably needs its own thread, but it's true scum-of-the-earth Banana Republic type stuff, hence my nickname of "Banana Republicans" for those doing it.

The Republican party consistently and regularly acts to undermine democracy in the US, and I find it despicable, and although the Dems occasionally aren't pure on the subject either, it is by far and away not a both sides are equally bad thing.

It is not clear to me that either party is beyond reproach with respect to any of these things. Both parties gerrymander - the Republicans were just better at it in 2010/2012 - and now it looks as if the Dems are likely to take a page from their playbook for 2020/2022. Dirty tricks to suppress opposing votes are done on both sides. Fortunately, a significant amount of it appears (to me) to be solo actors taking the initiative without the approval of the main party. The exception is decisions to close polling places and put legal impediments in place to reduce voter turn-out. That appears to be more Republican than Democrat, as far as I can tell.

As for the rest - lying about the opposition - throwing mud - engaging in hyperbole to cast the opposing side in the worst possible light - these are political tactics as old as this country. I suspect they are not limited to this country.

[JimL]

It is not clear to me that either party is beyond reproach with respect to any of these things. Both parties gerrymander - the Republicans were just better at it in 2010/2012 - and now it looks as if the Dems are likely to take a page from their playbook for 2020/2022. Dirty tricks to suppress opposing votes are done on both sides. Fortunately, a significant amount of it appears (to me) to be solo actors taking the initiative without the approval of the main party. The exception is decisions to close polling places and put legal impediments in place to reduce voter turn-out. That appears to be more Republican than Democrat, as far as I can tell.

As for the rest - lying about the opposition - throwing mud - engaging in hyperbole to cast the opposing side in the worst possible light - these are political tactics as old as this country. I suspect they are not limited to this country.

Except that democrats in congress introduced legislation that would end gerrymandering, and you won't see republicans signing on to that bill. The problem is that republicans can see the writing on the wall, so to speak, i.e. that they can't win without cheating, and gerrymandering is just one of the many cheating tactics that they employ.

[Cow Poke]

It is not clear to me that either party is beyond reproach with respect to any of these things.

A) Correctomundo
2) Welcome back!

[rogue06]

Except that democrats in congress introduced legislation that would end gerrymandering...

And they (including Schumer and then Senators Clinton and Obama) voted overwhelmingly to build a wall along the Mexican border in 2006.

Politicians are big at making symbolic, empty gestures when they are confidant that's all they are but when it looks like what is approved will actually happen then, just like the wall, they quickly high-tail it in the opposite direction.



Oh, and from someone who works for what Time magazine described it as the "nation's pre-eminent liberal think tank" from this year:How Maryland Democrats pulled off their aggressive gerrymander

And the well left-of-center Huffington Post: Maryland Democrats Went Too Far In Gerrymandering. The Supreme Court Appears Unsure What To Do About It

As the far left Mother Jones candidly describes it, “Democrats added a strange-looking appendage to the district, reaching all the way down into the affluent Washington DC, suburbs to scoop up Democratic voters. More than 360,000 people were moved out of the district, and nearly as many were moved in. It went from solidly Republican to reliably Democratic; the Cook Political Report identified it as the biggest district swing in the country.”

Democrats are against gerrymandering -- except when they're the ones doing it.

[carpedm9587]

And you're going to claim this is because he has neither the time nor the money to obtain one? And you're an mean old ogre and would refuse to assist him?

I was responding to the statement about how rare it was that people would not have driver's licenses. I said nothing beyond that.

According to Georgia's requirements, his expired license is a valid ID.

I do not think Mass has those voter ID requirements, so I have no idea what they would do with an expired license.

You realize this is really straining credulity, yes?

Not really my concern...

Again, is the reason she has no license because it's horrendously expensive or incredibly time consuming?

She has no driver's license because she is fairly high-strung and the idea of the driver's tests freak her out - similar to my son's situation.

So, let's see - the Boston dude qualifies with an expired license.
The college student no doubt has a college ID - and had to experience all kinds of expensive and time consuming activities to enter and maintain his/her college education.
Your son has you to assist him (you've told me you do this kind of thing) in getting some kind of photo ID, so we'll disqualify him as being barred because it's "way too expensive and way too time consuming".

Next?

You seem to be under the mistaken impression that I was making an argument related to voter IDs. I was responding to one part of your message: "And I don't know of any high school students who don't get their driers license before leaving high school, let alone college students."

My point was that this is not particularly rare.

[carpedm9587]

Do they have photo IDs?

My son travels extensively with me. He has a passport. My brother-in-law tells me he's never needed one and doesn't have one. My niece has her college ID. She tells me she has about a 50% success rate with it at bars.

[JimL]

And they (including Schumer and then Senators Clinton and Obama) voted overwhelmingly to build a wall along the Mexican border in 2006.

Politicians are big at making symbolic, empty gestures when they are confidant that's all they are but when it looks like what is approved will actually happen then, just like the wall, they quickly high-tail it in the opposite direction.



Oh, and from someone who works for what Time magazine described it as the "nation's pre-eminent liberal think tank" from this year:How Maryland Democrats pulled off their aggressive gerrymander

And the well left-of-center Huffington Post: Maryland Democrats Went Too Far In Gerrymandering. The Supreme Court Appears Unsure What To Do About It

As the far left Mother Jones candidly describes it, “Democrats added a strange-looking appendage to the district, reaching all the way down into the affluent Washington DC, suburbs to scoop up Democratic voters. More than 360,000 people were moved out of the district, and nearly as many were moved in. It went from solidly Republican to reliably Democratic; the Cook Political Report identified it as the biggest district swing in the country.”

Democrats are against gerrymandering -- except when they're the ones doing it.

Except that they, the democrats in congress, introduced legislation that would put an end to gerrymandering on both sides. Do you think it will get any republican support?

[Cow Poke]

I was responding to the statement about how rare it was that people would not have driver's licenses. I said nothing beyond that.



I do not think Mass has those voter ID requirements, so I have no idea what they would do with an expired license.



Not really my concern...



She has no driver's license because she is fairly high-strung and the idea of the driver's tests freak her out - similar to my son's situation.



You seem to be under the mistaken impression that I was making an argument related to voter IDs. I was responding to one part of your message: "And I don't know of any high school students who don't get their driers license before leaving high school, let alone college students."

My point was that this is not particularly rare.

Did you not have a good Christmas? You seem a tad snippy.

[rogue06]

Except that they, the democrats in congress, introduced legislation that would put an end to gerrymandering on both sides. Do you think it will get any republican support?

Except they, the democrats in congress, overwhelmingly voted to build a wall along the Mexican border but now oppose it. Just like this their vote was nothing but a symbolic, empty gesture which they'll suddenly oppose if it looks like it would become law and something done about it.

[Cow Poke]

Except they, the democrats in congress, overwhelmingly voted to build a wall along the Mexican border but now oppose it. Just like this their vote was nothing but a symbolic, empty gesture which they'll suddenly oppose if it looks like it would become law and something done about it.

It's always easy to vote for something you know will never happen.

[Mountain Man]

Did you not have a good Christmas? You seem a tad snippy.

His behavior does not strike me as the least unusual. This is pretty much how he always acts.