The Right To Vote

I went to election judge training the other day. I was surprised, but shouldn't have been, at the Republicans in the audience who loudly objected to allowing people to vote. The only people they thought should be allowed to vote should come in with a voter's registration card. (They seemed to also feel they should have probably lived in the neighborhood for years and have lots of money.) "Why do we allow people to vote with just a drivers license even if they are on the voter roll?"

The GOP administrators also had a scornful attitude toward the Department of Justice and Congress for not allowing them to hold the election however they wanted and for requiring procedures to ensure a fair vote. The e-vote trainer also repeatedly warned people to keep the media out, to keep politicians out, and to make poll-watchers jobs difficult.

Thom Hartman is on fire and I am sure is making thousands of new fans on CSPAN. CSPAN has been broadcasting talk radio shows all week. Thom is a liberal Limbaugh with passionate arguments for democracy but unlike Limbaugh has reasonable broadcasts. Hartman is polite and manages to be enthusiastically liberal without being shrill. Lots of facts and lots of respect for viewers opinions. A great patriot who I liked before he had a radio show.

Ashcroft trying to limit vote in states.

Four years ago today Gallup had Bush with a 7% lead. Bush actually lost by 0.5%.

There is still time to volunteer to drive people to the polls and help campaigns. Good Democrats don't vote alone, grab your friends. If you can't contribute money, go make phone calls or volunteer for election day. There are lots of little jobs around in the campaigns and the parties.

Local Texas races from Off the Kuff

TODAY IS LAST DAY OF EARLY TEXAS VOTING

(Later - over 400,000 early voters this year - 240,000 in 2000 for Harris County.)

For over six months Bush has been attacking Kerry. This would be crazy for any President but this one. Only if you don't have a record to stand on you do you run an entire campaign against your opponent and with no plan for the future.