LoungeMachine
11-07-2006, 12:08 AM
Read a Pacific Northwest, liberal perspective on world, national, and local politics. From majestic Redmond, Washington - the Northwest Progressive Institute Official Blog.
Monday, November 06, 2006
Republican desperation reaches new high
Republicans are so saddled with the heavy weight of corruption and sleaze that Democrats have seemingly become the default option for many voters - irregardless of each party's agenda or candidates.
The Republicans are trying to change that.
Tim Daly from Clarendon got a call saying that if he votes Tuesday, he will be arrested. A recording of his voic email can be found online here. http://www.webbforsenate.com/media/phone_message.wav
The transcript from his voice mail reads:
"This message is for Timothy Daly. This is the Virginia Elections Commission. We've determined you are registered in New York to vote. Therefore, you will not be allowed to cast your vote on Tuesday. If you do show up, you will be charged criminally."
Daly has been registered to vote in Virginia since 1998, and he has voted for the last several cycles with no problem. He has filed a criminal complaint with the Commonwealth's attorney in Arlington.
That's one example. Here's an illustration of what the NRCC, via "Conquest Communications" is doing all over the country:
Your phone rings, there's a brief recorded intro that makes it appear the call is from a Democratic campaign or related group, and then a pause, and then a recorded message. If you hang up it calls you back six or seven times or more.
The goal is to make people think they are being harassed by the Democrats, and piss them off enough to change their votes. It works well enough to potentially flip some close races.
This is clearly illegal under some statutes & regulations, arguably illegal under others. It appears to be going on across the US, using the same format and methods.
More on fighting back against these illegal calls is available here.
Republicans will do anything to maintain power. Anything. If they're willing to attempt to illegally prevent voters from exercising their civic duty, they're undoubtedly also willing to tamper with electronic voting machines and vote-counting equipment to prevent Democrats from winning.
Yes, it's cheating. Yes, it's illegal. Yes, it's immoral. But Republicans don't care. They talk a good game about values and responsibility, but peel back the layers of rhetoric and you can plainly see that Republicans are desperate. Incredibly desperate to hang onto power at any cost.
Laws don't matter. Integrity doesn't matter. The Constitution doesn't matter.
Only winning does.
And ironically, Republicans are in the position they're in right now because they and their agenda have been a failure. They're not interested in governing, so we've witnessed poor decision making and terrible mismanagement of our nation's treasury, resources, and public lands.
Republicans have a huge infrastructure to back up their frame, their world view, and it's working in overdrive right now. As Lakoff has noted, a significant number of Americans actually believe in this strict father frame.
Others buy into what the Republicans are selling out of greed and self interest (like Frank Blethen). They have a short list of what they want, and if they can get it from the GOP, they'll shelve their other concerns.
Look at George W. Bush. He is flatly telling voters not to elect Democrats, because if they do, the terrorists will win and taxes will go up. It is laughably absurd! It doesn't even make sense! But you can see what the intent is: scare the electorate into voting Republican.
Monday, November 06, 2006
Republican desperation reaches new high
Republicans are so saddled with the heavy weight of corruption and sleaze that Democrats have seemingly become the default option for many voters - irregardless of each party's agenda or candidates.
The Republicans are trying to change that.
Tim Daly from Clarendon got a call saying that if he votes Tuesday, he will be arrested. A recording of his voic email can be found online here. http://www.webbforsenate.com/media/phone_message.wav
The transcript from his voice mail reads:
"This message is for Timothy Daly. This is the Virginia Elections Commission. We've determined you are registered in New York to vote. Therefore, you will not be allowed to cast your vote on Tuesday. If you do show up, you will be charged criminally."
Daly has been registered to vote in Virginia since 1998, and he has voted for the last several cycles with no problem. He has filed a criminal complaint with the Commonwealth's attorney in Arlington.
That's one example. Here's an illustration of what the NRCC, via "Conquest Communications" is doing all over the country:
Your phone rings, there's a brief recorded intro that makes it appear the call is from a Democratic campaign or related group, and then a pause, and then a recorded message. If you hang up it calls you back six or seven times or more.
The goal is to make people think they are being harassed by the Democrats, and piss them off enough to change their votes. It works well enough to potentially flip some close races.
This is clearly illegal under some statutes & regulations, arguably illegal under others. It appears to be going on across the US, using the same format and methods.
More on fighting back against these illegal calls is available here.
Republicans will do anything to maintain power. Anything. If they're willing to attempt to illegally prevent voters from exercising their civic duty, they're undoubtedly also willing to tamper with electronic voting machines and vote-counting equipment to prevent Democrats from winning.
Yes, it's cheating. Yes, it's illegal. Yes, it's immoral. But Republicans don't care. They talk a good game about values and responsibility, but peel back the layers of rhetoric and you can plainly see that Republicans are desperate. Incredibly desperate to hang onto power at any cost.
Laws don't matter. Integrity doesn't matter. The Constitution doesn't matter.
Only winning does.
And ironically, Republicans are in the position they're in right now because they and their agenda have been a failure. They're not interested in governing, so we've witnessed poor decision making and terrible mismanagement of our nation's treasury, resources, and public lands.
Republicans have a huge infrastructure to back up their frame, their world view, and it's working in overdrive right now. As Lakoff has noted, a significant number of Americans actually believe in this strict father frame.
Others buy into what the Republicans are selling out of greed and self interest (like Frank Blethen). They have a short list of what they want, and if they can get it from the GOP, they'll shelve their other concerns.
Look at George W. Bush. He is flatly telling voters not to elect Democrats, because if they do, the terrorists will win and taxes will go up. It is laughably absurd! It doesn't even make sense! But you can see what the intent is: scare the electorate into voting Republican.