Filed under: election 2012, politics, Uncategorized | Tags: 2008, 2012, Alabama, democrats, discrimination, Florida, georgia, Hew Hampshire, indiana, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, minnesota, Mississippi, Ohio, Pennsylvania, politics, republicans, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, virginia, vote, voter id laws, voter suppression, Voting, Voting rights, West Virginia, Wisconsin
There are approximately 314,000,000 people living in the United States. In 2008 a little over 129,000,000 voted. According to a link I found on factcheck.org (http://www.factcheck.org/2009/01/2008-voter-turnout/) 61.6% of those that could legally vote did.
It’s amazing to me that more people don’t vote. Voting may be one of the greatest rights we have in this country. Second amendment enthusiasts keep your panties on, until I’m able to own a nuke I don’t want to hear a word from you, but that’s another argument for another day.
Campaigns are constantly trying to encourage voters to vote. Right? Well…yes and no. They want you to vote, but only if it is likely you will vote for them. That’s how you win, right? Wrong. I agree, you should energize, convince and campaign for people to vote for you, but you shouldn’t disenfranchise others or create laws that make it harder for others to vote.
Is this really a problem?
Yes, in fact it is. There are 19 states that have been hard at work attempting to change their laws that make it harder for some to vote. They are: Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Texas, Kansas, and Wisconsin.
Here’s a breakdown of each state’s political leadership by party.
Total Democratic Control of State Government:
West Virginia
Governor – D
Senate – D
House – D
Majority of State Gov has Democratic Control:
Rhode Island
Governor – Independent
Senate – D
House – D
Total Republican Control of State Government:
Alabama
Governor – R
Senate – R
House – R
Florida
Governor – R
Senate – R
House – R
Georgia
Governor – R
Senate – R
House – R
Indiana
Governor – R
Senate – R
House – R
Kansas
Governor – R
Senate – R
House – R
Maine
Governor – R
Senate – R
House – R
Michigan
Governor – R
Senate – R
House – R
Mississippi
Governor – R
Senate – R
House – R
Pennsylvania
Governor – R
Senate – R
House – R
Ohio
Governor – R
House – R
Senate – R
South Carolina
Governor – R
Senate – R
House – R
Tennessee
Governor – R
Senate – R
House – R
Texas
Governor – R
Senate – R
House – R
Virginia
Governor – R
Senate – R
House – R
Majority of State Gov has Republican Control:
New Hampshire
Governor – D
Senate – R
House – R
Wisconsin
Governor – R
Senate – R
House – D
Are you noticing a trend? The majority of prohibitive voter id laws are in red states. Shocking? Not hardly.
Here’s a nifty little link which will take you to a website with an interactive map of the US. You can simply click on your state to get voter laws. You may want to check it out as we near election season.
http://campusprogress.org/articles/interactive_map_voter_suppression_efforts_by_state/
Filed under: election 2008, politics, Uncategorized | Tags: georgia, Jim Martin, saxby chambliss, Senate seat
Damn. Not much to say beyond that.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/02/AR2008120200761.html
Filed under: election 2008, politics, Uncategorized | Tags: georgia, Jim Martin, republican, saxby chambliss, senate, Senate seat
Hopefully it won’t take long to see some results. I’ve got my fingers crossed that Jim Martin is the next Senator to represent the State of Georgia. I for one will throw a party if Saxby Chambliss is the next Republican casualty.
This outcome of this seat will tell if the Democrats will get their much needed and wanted 60 seat majority. Now if someone would just give me some damn numbers, I’d be a happy camper right now.
Updates…well maybe I should have kept my mouth shut. We are getting smoked in Georgia right now. Only 9% is in, but if this keeps up I’m going to bed one sad puppy. The link below will take you to resuts.
http://www.wjbf.com/jbf/news/election_results
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/02/georgia.senate/index.html
Filed under: election 2008, politics, Uncategorized | Tags: georgia, Jim Martin, Ludacris, run off, sarah palin, saxby chambliss, Senate seat
Another little tid bit that makes you double check the validity of the source. Apparently Ludacris is on his way to campaign for Jim Martin. I’ll admit this perplexes me a bit…what’s up with Georgia??
Although, I guess I’d rather have Ludacris than Sarah Palin…but hey that’s just me.
http://www.ajc.com/traffic/content/metro/stories/2008/11/30/gasenate1201_web.html
Filed under: election 2008, politics, Uncategorized | Tags: georgia, Jim Martin, Max Cleland, run off, saxby chambliss, Senate seat
Saxby Chambliss. Every time I hear that name the first thing that comes to mind is the little vomit taste in my mouth. I’ll admit, I’m no lover of the freshman Senator from Georgia. In fact, I really just feel pure rage and utter contempt. Max Cleland is the second thought that flashes through my mind, or maybe it’s the first and it causes the vomit taste.
I’m hoping the good old boy from the South takes a tumble. I guess like everyone else, I’ll have to wait for the results from the run off on December 2nd to see if the Democratic Challenger, Jim Martin, has done enough to swing the state of Georgia into the land of purple.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/16058.html
Filed under: election 2008, politics, Uncategorized | Tags: 60, georgia, Jim Martin, saxby chambliss, senate, Senate seat
Many polls have Chambliss and Martin in a pretty tight race. Some have Chambliss leading, but within the margin of error.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/11/ga-senate_tight_as_a_tick.html?nav=rss_blog
Filed under: election 2008, Uncategorized | Tags: Al Franken, alaska, georgia, Jim Martin, Mark Begich, minnesota, Norm Coleman, Paul Wellstone, recount, runoff, saxby chambliss, senate, Senate seat, Ted Stevens
Okay. Just when I thought we were done, I’ve realized we are not! WHOO HOO!!
I earlier called Alaska for convicted felon (isn’t that fun?) Ted Stevens, but Begich is gaining steadily. He is now leading by 2,374 votes. Alaska…I’m getting prouder by the count.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gZXmpL3-GlWbhbGKemFmCm_bPPmQD94HKMN80
In addition, we have a Senate run off in Georgia. Jim Martin is seeking to upset the Republican Party’s nasty Saxby Chambliss. Yeah, I hate that guy. I know I’ve mentioned it before, but it really doesn’t get old for me. I’ve also mentioned every Democrat possible should get their behinds to Georgia to give Jim Martin a hand…and that includes our President Elect Barack Obama.
http://news.bostonherald.com/news/2008/view.bg?articleid=1133013&srvc=2008campnews&position=4
And the final race to reach 60 brings me to one of my favorite states, Minnesota. This is Paul Wellstone’s seat. It will always be Senator Wellstone’s seat to me. They are currently getting ready to start the recount between Al Franken (I’ll admit I’m a fan…love that guy’s books) and Norm the suit wearing worm Coleman. Now from what I hear the recount may favor Franken. Apparently the districts with issues are Franken friendly territory, so keep your fingers crossed!
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2008/11/18/minnesota-recount-hands-diverse-board/
So…we need Alaska, Georgia, and Minnesota to see our dream of 60 come true. Keep your fingers crossed…or better yet, uncross those fingers and make some phone calls!!!
Smart Liberal and Female 