Smashing post, Pess. You've summarized a lot of what I've been thinking over the last few weeks regarding the VRA stall, election manipulation, and 3rd party-ism. You just did it a hell of a lot better.
Pessimist and I do differ on one thing - he tends to think that events such as these are more planned than I do. I tend to lean toward GOP operatives forming plans on the fly to maximize the opportunities they're given. The Voting Rights Act re-autorization screw-up was led by Steve King (IA-5, and God as my witness, he's the biggest embarrassment to this state), and a coalition of southern Congressmen wishing to elminate their oversight and bigoted anti-immigrant Represenatatives. These bozos saw an opportunity to pander to their racist base and took it with both hands. Party operatives OTOH quickly saw that the VRA's retraction or heavy modification could enable far more electioneering gimmicks than the obscene number they currently employ and got behind it.
Short of a Democratic fillibuster, *snort*, the VRA is toast and we're screwed, blued, and tattooed.
Posted by idiosynchronic at June 28, 2006 06:36 AMTook some days off from the internet news to move from one apartment to a bigger one to house all my hobby things. Am online at the school library but I think after this post, which I fully agree with, and I do INDEED care, I don't think I'll be in any hurry to hook up my internet at home. I was just telling my mom (who is the only "noncyber" person I know who seems to care) that the dems aren't doing shit and I'm very discouraged. I still can't get over Debbie Stabenow voting for the bankruptcy bill. She has some fucking nerve sending me mail requesting donations. Even my mom said she wonders about Carl Levin in his expensive-assed house.
Hope all is well with everyone here. I have to study for sign language.....
Al Gore's movie opens here on the 1st and I'll take my mom but for now, that's all I'm going to do civicwise.
Posted by Sharon at June 28, 2006 07:50 AMExcellent post. Depressing, but excellent nonetheless.
Posted by Marcus at June 28, 2006 08:01 AMHope all is well with everyone here. I have to study for sign language.....
Best of ewverything with your studies. Go for the doctorate. You will never regret the time you invest in it. Also, don't forget to take time to play.
Posted by phidipides at June 28, 2006 10:15 AMWe need to get the vote back to the American people. It would help if more than half of the eligible voters actually got out and voted. Pulling the Voting Act was wrong. That needs to be stated far more often by Ds.
Posted by Cali4nian at June 28, 2006 10:54 AMTwo points...
1) Not the first serious consideration of fiendish audacity masquerading as incompetence I've seen lately. Some interesting observations.
2) This is simple caudillismo.
Duh.
Hasn't done any of the rest of America any damn good. Any number of other places, either.
It's gonna be different here?
Short step from that to any number of unpleasantries.
See point 1).