4 Years Ago Today: Voter Rolls in at Least 19 States Being Purged

The more things change, the more they stay the same. . .

ORIGINAL POST: October 2, 2008

Conservatives often rail about "voter fraud," where dead people, illegal aliens, criminals, and unregistered voters allegedly vote--apparently for Democrats. The cases have been pretty thin, with people convicted of voter fraud numbering somewhere around a few handfuls. Maybe not even enough to matter in Palm Beach County, Florida in the 2000 election.

But election rigging--a specialty of Republicans--is real, and much more effective. By various means, they attempt to sway elections, and probably (almost certainly, by my estimation) even decided both elections for George W. Bush.

Image from source, BradBlog

Unfortunately, the issue apparently isn't very sexy to your average American, and only crops up in the news right before an election. Usually to late to do anything about it. And just as unfortunately, even when the rigging becomes known, very few people go to jail for it (Karl Rove, anybody?). You'd think in America that people messing with thousands of legitimate voters would be a big deal. But if they care at all, they're worried that Mickey Mouse cast one vote in Chicago or something. If they're going to focus on an illegal voter, you'd hope they'd finally go after Ann Coulter.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Even if you don't want to read this article, I urge you to click the link at the bottom of the story, and find out if you are registered to vote. Even if you know you are, it doesn't mean you haven't been "purged." It's an easy and useful tool, and took me all of two minutes.

[Excerpt]

BS News: New Study Details Massive Voter Roll Purges Underway in At Least 19 States

Tonight's CBS Evening News finally covered what may well be the November Surprise that we've been trying to warn about for months here at The BRAD BLOG: Massive voter roll purges being done in secret, with little or no oversight, and often under federal Justice Department cover, in states and counties around the country. . .

Read more at: BradBlog

Obama Wins on Karl Rove's Own Electoral Map

Photo from source, Politico

Something peculiar has happened to Karl Rove. The FOX "News" commentator (and, in a conflict of interest, John McCain advisor) usually seizes upon any crumb, any tidbit of any story in order to boost Republicans, and attack Democrats. But this morning's edition of FOX "News" Sunday, was uncharacteristically--um--honest?

I don't know what to call it, because I know that even when Rove sounds forthright, he's up to something. But his electoral map of the United States, made from scrutinizing polls from all over the country, shows Barack Obama decidedly ahead. Like way, way ahead.

This threw me for a bit of a loop, because if what Rove says is true (and I suspect it is), it would be more in character for him to simply ignore the map altogether, and spin in another direction. Is he putting it up to scare FOX's heavily "Republican base" audience? And what was his bit at the end about voters in Clark County, Nevada (home of Las Vegas, and well, me) who don't exist? I live here, and I've never heard that.

"Voter fraud" is a common GOP bogeyman, alleging that there are people voting who shouldn't be, spurred by Democrats, in order to throw elections. Trouble is, how ever many dead, illegal or ficticious "voters" there are alleged to be, they pale in comparison to the legitimate voters that Republicans are attempting to scub off the rolls, or otherwise disenfranchise.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Check out BradBlog for details on vote suppression.

[Excerpt]

Obama clinches on Rove map

With 30 days until Nov. 4, Karl Rove projects that Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) would get at least 273 electoral votes – three more than are needed to win – if the presidential election were held today.But Rove warns that this race is “susceptible to rapid changes,” so no definite prediction is possible. . .

Read more at: Politico

Voter Rolls in at Least 19 States Being Purged

Image from source, BradBlog

Conservatives often rail about "voter fraud," where dead people, illegal aliens, criminals, and unregistered voters allegedly vote--apparently for Democrats. The cases have been pretty thin, with people convicted of voter fraud numbering somewhere around a few handfuls. Maybe not even enough to matter in Palm Beach County, Florida in the 2000 election.

But election rigging--a specialty of Republicans--is real, and much more effective. By various means, they attempt to sway elections, and probably (almost certainly, by my estimation) even decided both elections for George W. Bush.

Unfortunately, the issue apparently isn't very sexy to your average American, and only crops up in the news right before an election. Usually to late to do anything about it. And just as unfortunately, even when the rigging becomes known, very few people go to jail for it (Karl Rove, anybody?). You'd think in America that people messing with thousands of legitimate voters would be a big deal. But if they care at all, they're worried that Mickey Mouse cast one vote in Chicago or something. If they're going to focus on an illegal voter, you'd hope they'd finally go after Ann Coulter.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Even if you don't want to read this article, I urge you to click the link at the bottom of the story, and find out if you are registered to vote. Even if you know you are, it doesn't mean you haven't been "purged." It's an easy and useful tool, and took me all of two minutes.

[Excerpt]

BS News: New Study Details Massive Voter Roll Purges Underway in At Least 19 States

Tonight's CBS Evening News finally covered what may well be the November Surprise that we've been trying to warn about for months here at The BRAD BLOG: Massive voter roll purges being done in secret, with little or no oversight, and often under federal Justice Department cover, in states and counties around the country. . .

Read more at: BradBlog

Vote Fraud: A Matter of Perspective

Photo from Slate.com

Nearly everything in our country seems to have taken on a partisan bent. Gas prices? Conservatives say, "drill here, drill now!" even though refining is at near capacity. Liberals say, let's conserve, and change our ways. Never the twain shall meet.

But when it comes to voter fraud, the two sides are even further apart. Liberals (like me) are concerned about vote caging (confirmed by Greg Palast, BradBlog and others), voter intimidation, electronic voting machines without paper trails, and many other kinds of fraud. Conservatives? They're interested in votes by illegal aliens and dead people. Offenses which number far, far less than those stated before.

FOX "News", ever mindful of their conservative masters, are of course more concerned with the last--and least problematic--example.

[Excerpt]

On FOX voter registration fraud most newsworthy of election rigging techniques

FOX News is breaking out the quadrennial scare topic of "voter fraud," bundling isolated incidents and turning it into a coordinated election-theft meme. They do this without ever mentioning election fraud and voter suppression tactics perfected by Republicans like vote caging and voter roll purges that disenfranchise tens of thousands, mostly African-Americans, or manipulation of electronic touch screen tallies. Unlike FOX News, BradBlog follows election tampering year-round and is a treasure trove of articles and facts. . .

Read more at: Newshounds.us

Karl Rove, Vote Tampering and Threats in Ohio

Image from source, Brad Blog

I don't think we'll ever know everything Karl Rove has done to subvert the ideals of America. We may never even know the half of it. But it is gratifying to see a trickle of information come out, on various subjects. I'm hoping that the dam will burst, and that Karl will be washed away in a flood of scandal. . .and flushed. And hell, while I'm beating this metaphor to death, he can be processed at the George W. Bush Sewage Plant!

[Excerpt]

Rove Threatened GOP IT Guru If He Does Not 'Take the Fall' for Election Fraud in Ohio, Says Attorney

Karl Rove has threatened a GOP high-tech guru and his wife, if he does not "'take the fall' for election fraud in Ohio," according to a letter sent this morning to Attorney General Michael Mukasey, by Ohio election attorney Cliff Arnebeck. . .

Read more at: Brad Blog