COUNTDOWN to ELECTION DAY – Part III
COUNTDOWN to ELECTION DAY – Part III
MORE & MORE I am reading and hearing that WE THE PEOPLE of the US will be VERY GRATEFUL when the campaign season is over on TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6. Are YOU?
Are YOU too sick & tired of the invasion of our lives and homes by campaign propaganda from every candidate for elective office which is the MORE OFFENSIVE this year because of the development of the SUPER PACs! HELP! I am among citizens of the US who BEG our legislators – state and national – to SAVE us from another such political campaign cycle! Please!! First and foremost, ROBO-CALLS should be PROHIBITED! WHY NOT?!
I think WE THE PEOPLE of the US ought to become more aware of OTHER POLITICAL SYSTEMS in which CAMPAIGNING is more focused. Consider our neighbor, “Elections in Canada” – scroll down to the section, “Length of election campaigns.”
Read this portion of the article and you will find out that the minimum length for campaigns for a national election is 36 days. There is no legal maximum except that the Charter requires Parliament to sit once every 12 months, so never can a campaign season exceed about 300 days.
The reality is that the longest campaign season was the 1926 election which lasted 76 days. The election campaign season in 2005-2006 lasted 55-days! I wish for a campaign season of no more than 60 days! What do YOU wish for? (NOTE: I do agree with the Canadian minimum of 36 days.)
Following our countdown to Election Day, I’ve posted on my WE THE PEOPLE blog:
“COUNTDOWN to ELECTION DAY” on November 1.
“COUNTDOWN to ELECTION DAY – Part II” on November 3.
Now, today, “COUNTDOWN to ELECTION DAY - Part III” and I plan on “COUNTDOWN to ELECTION DAY – Part IV” tomorrow.
I was happy to read the New York Times editorial, “Upholding Democracy, Ballot by Ballot.”
VERY SAD to read, “In Iowa and Wisconsin, the Romney campaign has given its poll watchers misleading or incorrect information — for instance, that voters should show an ID in Iowa, where none is required — which could create disputes and long lines, most likely in Democratic precincts.”
If you want to read more, check out the article, “GOP training materials for poll watchers misleading, state elections officials say” published in last Thursday’s Cap Times.
I agree with the Times editorial calling for a VERY HEAVY VOTER TURNOUT in the 2012 General Election as ONE of the ways to undermine the restrictions on voting! “Public outcry, with support from the courts, may eventually remove these threats to democracy. For now, those who contribute to a heavy turnout on Tuesday will send a message that Americans reject any underhanded effort to place political gain above a franchise for which people have given their lives.”
So far, it appears that WE THE PEOPLE of WI are demonstrating with our VERY HIGH VOTER TURN-OUT that we do NOT support infringements on our VOTER RIGHTS! The final tally after voting at the polls on Tuesday will tell us. I voted early using in person absentee voting. Have YOU voted yet? Will you vote on Tuesday?
SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT TODAY – The New York Times “On this day” feature reminded me that today is the date on which Barack Hussein Obama was elected 44th president of the US. “ON THIS DAY - On Nov. 4, 2008, Barack Hussein Obama was elected the 44th president of the United States, as the country chose him as its first black chief executive.”
I always prize reading the E-edition of the Gazette when it is accessible online early. Today, I want to salute Gazette Editor-in-Chief Scott Angus for his candid discussion in his weekly column, “Editor’s Views” about the Presidential endorsement published in today’s Gazette! I agree with Scott that today’s endorsement in the Presidential race should NOT be “surprised.” For sure, anyone and everyone who reads the Gazette regularly do KNOW well the REPUBLICAN ownership of the Gazette. Remember: “He who pays the piper calls the tune.”
Read Scott’s statement “While the board typically takes votes on which candidates to support, Bliss sometimes invokes executive privilege and makes the call himself on the higher offices. You can do that when you own the press.” Yes, the owner has special control.
This is NOT unlike ABRAHAM LINCOLN’s vote with his cabinet on the EMANCIATPION PROCLAMATION. The cabinet voted it down. Announcing the vote, President Lincoln stated that he voted FOR the Emancipation Proclamation and that single vote was the “majority.” Reality!
Regular readers of my WE THE PEOPLE blog KNOW that I do NOT agree with the Gazette’s Presidential endorsement today.
I do HOPE you vote! The countdown continues and I follow the GAB’s OFFICIAL COUNTDOWN regularly. As I post this on my blog – the countdown is: 2 Days – 1 Hour – 7 Minutes – 45 Seconds. If you want to check on the countdown NOW as you are reading WE THE PEOPLE blog, use this link to see the countdown clock posted by our WI Government Accountability Board, “Voter Information Center.”
Here we go…
Mr. E.
John Eyster lives in the Edgerton area. He is an adjunct professor of political science at UW-Waukesha and an advocate for democracy/civics education in Wisconsin high schools. John is a community blogger and is not a part of The Gazette staff. His opinion is not necessarily that of the The Gazette staff or management.
Nov 6, 2012 at 12:58 a.m.
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I was seriously considering to vote for Thompson, but the fact they robo called me every day very early in the morning the last couple weeks, I can not possibly vote for him now. Banning robo calls would be what the totalitarian would do. I say let them continue on. It's a great way to KILL a campaign! I think both Romney and Thompson may lose because they went to this futile, and pathetic strategy. For the 2-3% they actually reach who truly were undecided (I was one, in the WI senate race) they simply turned most away from possibly voting for them with the endless robo calls.
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With PAC's now having unlimited power in putting up $$$ to elect their puppet to give them endless corporate welfare, I personally believe they should simply be able to BUY a persons vote, legally!!
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I mean why not just call a person up, and be able to negotiate a real $$ price for their vote? So if Thompson's PAC calls me, I just say "well, I'd love to vote for you, but the Baldwin union PAC has offered me $500 for my vote...What can you do for me?" They offer $600, and then you go counter back to team Baldwin union PAC..I mean that is how free markets work!! No need to spend BILLIONS on useless robo calls and TV ads, just let them buy peoples vote for real money. The amount of $$ they are spending to get these undecided votes is literally hundreds of $$'s per person if you do the math (I have detailed it all out in other blogs in the past). Just allow them to buy a persons vote with real $$$. I'm sure the many unemployed in this country would be happy with a few hundred $$'s for their vote from these PAC's who have multi BILLION $$ war chests..You would get WAY WAY more participation in elections (we only get 50-60% turnout nationally in any given Presidential election), and peoples business savvy and negotiating skills would all be enhanced as well. I say pass the legalization of buying a citizens vote act!
Nov 5, 2012 at 6:18 p.m.
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I would suspect that after the Gazette's recent predictable endorsements, there are many who have once again come to the realization they no longer want their dollars supporting local media that invests and promotes against the People's own best interests. It would be interesting to learn how many subscribers have been lost this election year (incl. recalls) and how many specifically indicated Gazette endorsements or editorials were the reason. Follow-up article, John???
Nov 5, 2012 at 11:33 a.m.
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really? why remove my comment? I asked WHY are you taking up 4 pages of this blog section. It is bad enough you take up one.
watch out Jonny he may remove you.
Nov 5, 2012 at 11:22 a.m.
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Not only will I be grateful when this election is over, I will be grateful when eyster quits spewing his one sided, I am always right dribble over the internet and to his students
Nov 5, 2012 at 10:48 a.m.
Nov 5, 2012 at 8:24 a.m.
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Interesting youtube about liberals views on universities.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EffEaMXQA...
Nov 5, 2012 at 7:36 a.m.
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NVgrf I agree Rick has missed the boat on that one but that is not exclusive to the GOP I can give you countless examples of Liberals squashing my speech especially when I was in college. The crazies are all for free speech until they disagree with it.
Nov 5, 2012 at 6:31 a.m.
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Even more dems not wanting voter ID for ...reasons???
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article...
Nov 5, 2012 at 5:36 a.m.
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More "evidence" why dems don't want voter ID...unions registering illegals and then threatening them if they don't vote.
http://www.lvrj.com/opinion/how-many-non...
Nov 5, 2012 at 4:44 a.m.
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And to think he teaches kids. What a dufus!
Nov 5, 2012 at 4:12 a.m.
Nov 4, 2012 at 10:59 p.m.
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Careful NVgrf...Rick_Raff is very thin skinned.
If you hurt his feelings he will pout.
On second thought....don't be careful...he is hilarious, as is his Republican ilk.
Nov 4, 2012 at 2:24 p.m.
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Shop, the haters gotta hate. They can't tear themselves away.
Nov 4, 2012 at 1:18 p.m.
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To all of you Mensans who constantly complain about the caps and this blogger's writing, I have a little secret for you. I will not charge you for this information this one time only.- If you did not click on this blog, it would not bother you. I know that this type of complex thinking is a challenge for you, but ask someone what I am talking about if you need help understanding.
Nov 4, 2012 at 11:15 a.m.
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I am so glad to have done away with a landline years ago ... so much for robo calls. I DVR shows and watch them the next day so I can fast forward through all the lies from both sides. I support voter ID because I know I could easily vote in at least 2 states with the minimal requirements now in Wisconsin since the law is on hold. I won't because it is unethical and illegal but easily could. There are many items I would like to change about the national election ....One is the electoral college to popular vote so the candidates had to pay attention to people in all 50 states instead of 10 (or at least electoral college votes divided based on percentage of votes received in each state. Two is I would like to see NO states and Media able to report election results until the polls are closed and results are in from ALL the STATES. Believe the early reporting can affect the voting in the midwestern and western states. Really bad a few years ago when Florida reported totals and a winner when the state was not even done voting .... They seemed to forget that much of the Panhandle region is in the Central Time Zone instead of Eastern Time Zone. Also support term limits but that will go nowhere because it requires congressional approval first before nationwide ratification to amend the constitution so they will not vote to end their career jobs. IMO
Nov 4, 2012 at 9:47 a.m.
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John your analogy is flawed. The POTUS is not the "owner" of the cabinet and there is no pretense that POTUS will do as the cabinet votes. They are merely advisers. Much different than appearing to having a say on an endorsement. You should know better than to compare private business with government operations.
Nov 4, 2012 at 9:41 a.m.
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DrTalk, if he did that, he wouldn't be able to surprise us with Part V on Wednesday.
Nov 4, 2012 at 9:39 a.m.
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What is even more sad is the electronic voting machines marking Romney when Obama was their choice, just as they did for Bush when Kerry was the choice. Where is the outrage here?
Nov 4, 2012 at 9:27 a.m.
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What is even more sad is the electronic voting machines marking Obama when Romney was their choice. Where is the outrage here.
Nov 4, 2012 at 8:40 a.m.
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WiLL soMEone PlEase teLL Mr. Eyster that the constant cap and no cap is HaRd to ReAD and doES'nT make sENSe. iF he thInKs thiS makES his CoLUMN aTtenTioN geTting he IS RigHT but NOT FOR THE reaSON he would LikE tO THINK.
Nov 4, 2012 at 8:39 a.m.
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I see that Rick is another Republican who has little use for the 1st Amendment.
"How can a paper support Mitt and allow John to print this rubish?"
Nov 4, 2012 at 8:18 a.m.
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Mr Eyster,
Countdowns are supposed to count down, not up. You should have started with part 4.
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