tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15887184.post113834727236063484..comments2023-10-11T05:17:09.763-04:00Comments on Athens Politics: New Voter ID Law SignedUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15887184.post-1144436626418981792006-04-07T15:03:00.000-04:002006-04-07T15:03:00.000-04:00There's still one thing that bugs me about the 'up...There's still one thing that bugs me about the 'updated' voter ID law. To quote the Banner-Herald article:<BR/><BR/>"Under this year's changes, a state ID would be provided free to anyone who needs one and the cards would be available at one location, at least, in each of Georgia's 159 counties."<BR/><BR/>Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the DMV office that's way out in the middle of nowhere and on none of the bus routes still considered to be within Clarke County? And the cynical side of my mind suspects that that will remain the only place to get an ID. Wonderful catch-22, to need a driver's license in order to get a non-driver ID...codeman38https://www.blogger.com/profile/09005307767833296869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15887184.post-1138629130620224892006-01-30T08:52:00.000-05:002006-01-30T08:52:00.000-05:00If that's the criteria, then I'd reckon 90% of leg...<I>If that's the criteria, then I'd reckon 90% of legislation that passes (what an appropriate term) is pointless.</I><BR/><BR/>I sincerely doubt it's 90%. Though the natural gas tax break is a nice example of it.hillaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11115290007190070450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15887184.post-1138467765347701312006-01-28T12:02:00.000-05:002006-01-28T12:02:00.000-05:00Lots of things can easily exist. It just bothers m...<I>Lots of things can easily exist. It just bothers me that legislation can be pushed through so easily when there's been no real case that it's actually necessary.</I><BR/><BR/>If that's the criteria, then I'd reckon 90% of legislation that passes (what an appropriate term) is pointless.Fishplatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06659287724786153421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15887184.post-1138415197494706542006-01-27T21:26:00.000-05:002006-01-27T21:26:00.000-05:00but there is a partisan component to this whole bi...but there is a partisan component to this whole bill - a component that was omitted from the bill - absentee voting.<BR/><BR/>Absentee voting has historically (recent history, that is) benefited Republicans far more than Democrats. There have been many documented and prosecuted cases of absentee voter fraud which almost certainly means that there were plenty that didn't get caught. Dead voters don't usually show up at the polling places (like many proponents of this bill like to pretend), they vote absentee. <BR/><BR/>Democrats did try to get absentee voting procedures introduced into the bill and the Republicans shot them down and shut them up every time.<BR/><BR/>Don't try to play that "the Dems didn't do anything" song on this one. A bill that can't even get introduced and assigned to committee never gets to the floor and, consequently, almost never gets into the news coverage. About the only way you can find out about stuff like this is to talk to the people who are regularly under the Dome.<BR/><BR/>Now, I'm not going to argue that the Dems have been as effective as they could have been because the facts are there that they weren't. But, when was the last time the entire House Black Caucus (along with other white Dems) walked out of a session in protest? Come to think of it, has that ever happened?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15887184.post-1138389753042694382006-01-27T14:22:00.000-05:002006-01-27T14:22:00.000-05:00By its nature, fraud is hard to prove. And, I'm no...<I>By its nature, fraud is hard to prove. And, I'm not sure it needs to be proven, because it can easily exist, and the bill prevents it without any undue burden on the voter.</I><BR/><BR/>Lots of things can easily exist. It just bothers me that legislation can be pushed through so easily when there's been no real case that it's actually necessary.hillaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11115290007190070450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15887184.post-1138386056828358972006-01-27T13:20:00.000-05:002006-01-27T13:20:00.000-05:00What. Voter. Fraud.If it is your contention that t...<I>What. Voter. Fraud.</I><BR/><BR/>If it is your contention that there was no voter fraud, prove it. <BR/><BR/>By its nature, fraud is hard to prove. And, I'm not sure it needs to be proven, because it can easily exist, and the bill prevents it without any undue burden on the voter. The same people that organize vans to take voters to the polls on Election Day can organize themselves to get peole to the Free ID Center.<BR/><BR/><I>I'll point out that all the purple dye did was ensure that nobody voted twice, not that the person was who they claimed to be or was otherwise entitled to vote.</I><BR/><BR/>That's all anyone is asking. One person, one vote. Can't vote in Clarke twice, can't vote in Clarke, then Oconee, etc. You should be qualified to vote by virtue of not being dead or too young to comprehend...beyond that, I don't have a problem with you voting once. If you vote outside your district to make something happen somewhere else, then your district is underrepresented, and you deserve the consequences.Fishplatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06659287724786153421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15887184.post-1138382844322963952006-01-27T12:27:00.000-05:002006-01-27T12:27:00.000-05:00While making it extremely clear that I'm not passi...While making it extremely clear that I'm not passing judgment on the Iraqi voting process, I'll mention that the purple dye had another purpose too.<BR/><BR/>One of the best PR moves I've seen from the US Government. It provided a great visual for the tv cameras and the front pages.Cufflink Carlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14800684128912206226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15887184.post-1138380649944069932006-01-27T11:50:00.000-05:002006-01-27T11:50:00.000-05:00Doubtful. Logistically, that would be pretty diffi...Doubtful. Logistically, that would be pretty difficult. Which is not to say that it won't be logistically difficult here as well.Cufflink Carlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14800684128912206226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15887184.post-1138380491922611982006-01-27T11:48:00.000-05:002006-01-27T11:48:00.000-05:00This is going to sound like I'm playing partisan p...This is going to sound like I'm playing partisan politics or just being snarky, when I really am not. But I really am curious ... did Iraqi citizens have to present some sort of photo ID when they went to the polls?Jmachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13949705691074218937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15887184.post-1138378761162135142006-01-27T11:19:00.000-05:002006-01-27T11:19:00.000-05:00Good point, although if you don't have an ID, ther...Good point, although if you don't have an ID, there are still places to cash checks, I think. <BR/><BR/>It's a better version, and if it weren't for the pretty partisan motivation behind it in the first place, I'd be happier about it.<BR/><BR/>Still, as we've said on the blog a number of times, one of our major problems with the original law was the "poll tax" aspect of it. That aspect is gone, and I don't have a problem with making people prove who they are. I just have a problem with making people pay for the right to vote. <BR/><BR/>Sure, I'm still a little uncomfortable with requiring yet another government-issued ID card, but such is life in the 21st Century.Cufflink Carlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14800684128912206226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15887184.post-1138378361244574322006-01-27T11:12:00.000-05:002006-01-27T11:12:00.000-05:00Its a good bill. I think you should have to show ...Its a good bill. I think you should have to show ID to vote. <BR/><BR/>And now that anyone can get one for free, it might allow others in our society who couldn't cash checks, rent movies, etc. actually do so.<BR/><BR/>BBAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15887184.post-1138374176878071132006-01-27T10:02:00.000-05:002006-01-27T10:02:00.000-05:00The Legislative Black Caucus, all of whom are Demo...The Legislative Black Caucus, all of whom are Democrats. (Unless that black Republican from down around Macon has joined; he hasn't last I heard) They did a lot of the heavy lifting on this issue, in addition to the ACLU, etc, not to mention a lot of rank-and-file Democrats.<BR/><BR/>I would concur with aquarius' comments about the Democratic party organizations, on just about every level. <BR/><BR/>This is probably an indication of future trends in the Democratic Party, where the state and local organizations are going to be less and less relevant, and the heavy lifting is going to be done by individuals and groups that work outside the organized party structure.Cufflink Carlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14800684128912206226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15887184.post-1138371630968407622006-01-27T09:20:00.000-05:002006-01-27T09:20:00.000-05:00What. Voter. Fraud.I'm not saying anything negativ...<I>What</I>. Voter. Fraud.<BR/><BR/>I'm not saying anything negative necessarily about Georgia Democrats by saying it wasn't them who forced the revision of the bill. Just pointing out that they don't deserve the credit. The ones who made noise did what they could.hillaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11115290007190070450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15887184.post-1138369465962406132006-01-27T08:44:00.000-05:002006-01-27T08:44:00.000-05:00I'm with Hillary on this one, it was the ACLU and ...I'm with Hillary on this one, it was the ACLU and their attorneys that fought this law after it was initially approved by Justice.<BR/>Not the democratic party, not this one locally, which can't organize it's way out of a hat... not the State party, who barely took up the issue at all... but the ACLU.<BR/><BR/>aquariusrizingAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15887184.post-1138368880371172622006-01-27T08:34:00.000-05:002006-01-27T08:34:00.000-05:00Yeah, but there really is only so much Democrats c...Yeah, but there really is only so much Democrats can do. Last year, they boycotted the vote and attempting to get several alternative bills discussed, but when the folks in charge refuse to have any of it, whaddya gonna do?<BR/><BR/>I think Publius is right ... the courts gave them a second chance, and they made the most of it. It ain't the best bill in the world, but it's a heckuva lot better than the original.Jmachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13949705691074218937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15887184.post-1138368707971518532006-01-27T08:31:00.000-05:002006-01-27T08:31:00.000-05:00It seems to me that most state Democrats did dick ...It seems to me that most state Democrats did dick on this issue. The courts are the ones that did their job.hillaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11115290007190070450noreply@blogger.com