Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist

Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist
Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Md Troopers Assoc #20 & Westminster Md Fire Dept Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist
Showing posts with label Elections and voting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Elections and voting. Show all posts

Sunday, November 02, 2014

States ditch electronic voting machines | TheHill

States ditch electronic voting machines | TheHill:

"By Cory Bennett - 11/02/14 09:00 AM EST

States have abandoned electronic voting machines in droves, ensuring that most voters will be casting their ballots by hand on Election Day.

With many electronic voting machines more than a decade old, and states lacking the funding to repair or replace them, officials have opted to return to the pencil-and-paper voting that the new technology was supposed to replace.

Nearly 70 percent of voters will be casting ballots by hand on Tuesday, according to Pamela Smith, president of election watchdog Verified Voting."

http://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/222470-states-ditch-electronic-voting-machines

'via Blog this'

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Monday, November 05, 2012

Delegate Nancy Stocksdale weighs-in on the 7 questions on the Maryland election ballot

Delegate Nancy Stocksdale weighs-in on the 7 questions on the Maryland election ballot

Carroll County Delegate Nancy Stocksdale wrote in an e-mail on November 1, 2012 http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/2012/11/delegate-nancy-stocksdale-weighs-in-on.html



Many have asked my opinion on the ballot questions. There are so many conflicting TV ads and even mailings from "Republican Leaders" which have confused the issues.

This is how I voted and the reason why:

Against Question 1.   If passed, this would require candidates for the ORPHANS COURT JUDGES in Prince Georges County to be lawyers. I believe lawyers can run for these offices and if citizens elect them, they can serve, but I don't believe other citizens should be discriminated against.

Against Question 2  This is the same as question 1 except it applies to Baltimore County.

For  Question 3   This amendment removes elected officials from office upon the conviction of a felony rather than waiting until the sentencing. As the law is now, the elected official can appeal and appeal and stay in office.

Against  Question 4     This law permits illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition at our state supported colleges and universities. I believe that if children were brought here illegally, they should follow the procedures to become legal. Federal Law prohibits employers from hiring illegal people so after the taxpayers pay to educate them, they are not legally allowed to work.

Against  Question 5 The Congressional Redistricting Map just does not make sense. It has been gerrymandered so that no one can be fairly represented in Congress. For example, what does Ocean City have in common with Taneytown or what does Garrett County have in common with Montgomery County?

Against Question 6   This law redefines MARRIAGE as we know it. In recent years, same-sex couples have been given many of the rights they have requested such as hospital visitation rights. They have been offered "Civil Unions," but they want the term "Marriage" changed. This has far reaching ramifications such as changing the school curriculum and dangerous consequences for ministers who preach from the Bible. Although they argue that ministers would not be affected if they did not want to perform a wedding ceremony for a same-sex couple, look what has happened to the Catholic hospitals and doctors who now must perform abortions and provide birth control.

Against Question 7 This law expands gambling in Maryland. This is a bad bill for the citizens in Maryland.

1. The schools are funded by a formula called "The Thornton Formula" and this determines how much money each school system should receive. The money from gaming will go into the EDUCATION TRUST FUND. This will free up general fund money which is normally spent on education to be used for other things. Just as money has been taken out of THE TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND, money will be taken out of the EDUCATION TRUST FUND for other things.

2. Last year several bills were introduced to "lock" the transportation trust fund so the money would only be used for transportation purposes. These bills failed. That fund was raided for many other uses. I don't Trust money in these trust funds to go for their intended use.

3. The "Republican Leaders" Michael Steel and Audrey Scott, from whom you have received mailings live in Prince Georges County and the law is written so that the local jurisdiction where the casino is located will receive a large percentage of the tax revenue. That is the reason they are in favor of this bill.

4. In May, a Special Session was held to raise your taxes and this gaming bill lowers the taxes for the casino owners.

5. SCHOOLS WILL NOT RECEIVE ANY MORE MONEY THAT THE THIRNTON FORMULA REQUIRES. EVEN THE TEACHERS KNOW THESE STATEMEENTS IN THE AS ARE NOT TRUE. I HAVE BEEN ON THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE LONG ENOUGH TO SEE ALL THE SPECIAL FUNDS RAIDED AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER. THEY PROMISE TO "PAY BACK" BUT DON'T. Please vote against this bill and let the legislature come back in a regular session where all interested parties have an opportunity to have input.

[20121101 sdosm Stocksdales view of 7 questions]

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Kevin Dayhoff is an artist - and a columnist for:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoffTwitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff
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E-mail: kevindayhoff(at)gmail.com
My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/
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Monday, September 10, 2012

Democrat Wendy Rosen Withdraws from Congressional District 1 Race

Democrat Wendy Rosen Withdraws from C.D. 1 Race
Democrat Candidate Challenging Cong. Andy Harris
Had History of Voter Fraud
Marylanders for Joe GettySeptember 10, 2012
Many Republicans in Annapolis, including myself, have sponsored legislation to require voter identification with a photo i.d. at polling places on Election Day.

During the bill hearings, we are always met with a loud chorus by Democratic legislators that: "There is no evidence that voter fraud has ever occurred in Maryland!"

What a surprise then to learn today that the Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in C.D. 1 has engaged in voter fraud. According to TowsonPatch.com, Wendy Rosen has withdrawn from the November election because of evidence that she illegally voted as a resident of two states (Maryland and Florida) since 2006.

To read the full article on TowsonPatch.com, click here


Candidate Wendy Rosen at Tawes Crab Feast in July 2012             
 Democratic candidate Wendy Rosen (center) has withdrawn from the November election for Congressional District 1, MD.


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Friday, December 09, 2011

The New York Times Breaking News Alert: Supreme Court Steps In to Review Texas Redistricting

Breaking News Alert
The New York Times
Friday, December 9, 2011 -- 8:03 PM EST
-----
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2011/12/09/us/politics/AP-US-Supreme-Court-Texas-Redistricting.html?_r=1&hp
Supreme Court Steps In to Review Texas Redistricting

The Supreme Court on Friday evening agreed to hear a tangle of lawsuits over how elections in Texas next year for its state legislature and for Congress are to be conducted.

The court stayed orders from a special three-judge court in San Antonio, Texas, which had issued electoral maps late last month that seemed to help Democrats and Hispanic voters.

The justices ordered the parties to file briefs on a brisk schedule, and they will hear arguments on Jan. 9. The Supreme Court must move quickly if next year’s primary and general elections are to proceed in an orderly way.

Friday’s order did not say what election officials in Texas are meant to do in the meantime. Primaries are scheduled for March, and candidates have been filing under the court-drawn maps... 
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2011/12/09/us/politics/AP-US-Supreme-Court-Texas-Redistricting.html?_r=1&hp

Read More:
http://www.nytimes.com/?emc=na

The New York Times Breaking News Alert: Supreme Court Steps In to Review Texas Redistricting
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Tuesday, October 26, 2010

The SEIU, Harry Reid, And Voting Problems

The SEIU, Harry Reid, And Voting Problems


Did you know that the SEIU represents the voting machine technicians in Clark County (Las Vegas), Nevada? Is it any surprise, as we noted earlier today, that there was a voting glitch in Clark County, Nevada? The glitch caused Harry Reid’s name to be automatically checked on the ballot before voters had indicated who were they were supporting.

Business Econ Unions SEIU, Elections and voting fraud, Elections and voting, People Reid Harry US House, Politics corruption, 
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Monday, October 25, 2010

DAYHOFF: Vote against local hunger by bringing canned goods to the polls

DAYHOFF: Vote against local hunger by bringing canned goods to the polls

EAGLE ARCHIVE

By Kevin Dayhoff

... on Nov. 2, along with your vote, please bring along a can of beans, or soup -- or even marinated asparagus spears -- to take along with you to the polls.

This election, Carroll County is going to continue a unique tradition started with the November 2008 election.
It's a humanitarian effort of neighbor helping neighbor that, to the best of my knowledge, is a one-of-a-kind initiative in the nation.
One of the things that make Carroll County special is that no matter how many changes occur over the years, we always maintain our priorities by looking out for one another.
This year, Martin Radinsky, Frank Baylor, Kelly Buie, Bob Mitchell, David and Laura O'Callaghan have again organized the Election Day food drive to support Carroll County Food Sunday. Volunteers will beat polling places throughout the county to collect the nonperishable canned goods.
Last week, Radinsky said that in November 2008, Carroll County voters filled seven 150-cubic foot containers with donated food. In an interview with Radinsky back in 2008, he said he wanted "to build (the food collection effort) into a Carroll County habit for elections in the future."

Washington Post: Dispute over New Black Panthers case causes deep divisions

"Security" patrols stationed at polling places in Philly

Dispute over New Black Panthers case causes deep divisions


Washington Post Staff Writers 


On Election Day 2008, Maruse Heath, the leader of Philadelphia's New Black Panther Party, stood in front of a neighborhood polling place, dressed in a paramilitary uniform.

Within hours, an amateur video showing Heath, slapping a black nightstick and exchanging words with the videographer, had aired on TV and ricocheted across the nation.

Among those who saw the footage was J. Christian Adams, who was in his office in the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division in Washington.

"I thought, 'This is wrong, this is not supposed to happen in this country,' " Adams said. "There are armed men in front of a polling place, and I need to find out if they violated the law, because in my mind there's a good chance that they did."

The clash between the black nationalist and the white lawyer has mushroomed into a fierce debate over the government's enforcement of civil rights laws, a dispute that will be aired next week when the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights unveils findings from a year-long investigation.

Two months after Election Day, Adams and his supervisors in the George W. Bush administration filed a voter-intimidation lawsuit against Heath and his colleagues, even though no voters had complained. The Obama administration months later dismissed most of the case, even though the Panthers had not contested the charges... http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/22/AR2010102203982.html?wpisrc=nl_natlalert


Washington Post: Dispute over New Black Panthers case causes deep divisions
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Monday, August 09, 2010

MD Senate Republican Slate: Maryland Fails to Provide Timely Ballots to Our Troops

MD Senate Republican Slate: Maryland Fails to Provide Timely Ballots to Our Troops

The Senate Republican Caucus has joined with the House Republican Caucus in opposition to the waiver requested by the Maryland State Board of Elections so that ballots do not have to be sent to military and civilian personnel serving overseas in compliance with federal election laws. The full statement follows:

(Annapolis, MD) Today, The Joint Republican Caucus of the Maryland General Assembly released the following statement in response to the Maryland Board of Elections' request for a waiver of the federal Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act.

"This federal law exists to ensure that those who are fighting to defend our democracy, have the opportunity to participate in it" said House Minority Leader Anthony O'Donnell. "This waiver request is just one more slap in the face to the Maryland men and women who are serving our country, and a reminder that the O'Malley administration and Democrat leaders in the legislature consistently disregard the importance of, and sacrifices made, by those honorable citizens."

"I am dismayed that the Maryland government can't provide better support for our troops. We teach our children the importance of democracy and participating in elections. However, through their inaction, the liberal Democrat monopoly in Annapolis has ignored the very people who risk their lives so that we can continue to have these freedoms." said Senate Minority Leader Allan Kittleman.

The MOVE Act was signed into law by President Obama last October, and requires that states ensure that ballots are sent to military voters serving overseas at least 45 days before the election, due to the unavoidable delays associated with delivery into sometimes dangerous areas.

"If compliance is impossible, according to the Board of Elections, why wasn't the legislature approached about a solution" continued Delegate O'Donnell. "Why wasn't this brought up as an issue until now? Our Maryland citizens serving overseas deserve more consideration than appears to have been given to this issue. The Democratic leaders previously gutted legislation intended to give a well-deserved benefit to military retirees, and attract and retain these highly skilled personnel who are essential to economic growth and prosperity. They then enacted legislation hindering the ability of our armed services to recruit a new generation of well-trained, admirable citizens giving back to their communities through military service. It is disgraceful, but not surprising that this waiver request is but one more example of a lack of consideration and respect for active duty military and veterans by the O'Malley administration and Democrat leaders in the legislature in Maryland."

In 2005, the Ehrlich administration introduced legislation that would exempt 100% of military retirement income from state income taxes if the retiree had served 20 years of active duty. The legislation was first amended in committee to cut the exemption in half and eliminate the exemption for retired officers, and was then killed. Retired military personnel households spent over $2.5 billion on goods and services in Maryland when this legislation was introduced, and are an integral part of Maryland's economy as they transition their extensive training and skill sets into the private sector.

"Unfortunately, the Democrat leadership has not learned what our neighboring states have known for quite some time, exempting 100% of military retirement income from state income taxes is a tremendous economic stimulus tool. Therefore, in addition to being the right thing to do for those who have sacrificed for all of us, giving a greater tax break to veterans would help to energize our economy and create new jobs in Maryland" continued Senator Kittleman.

In the 2010 legislative session, legislation was introduced by the chairman of the Ways and Means committee that prohibits schools from releasing information regarding student scores on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test to military recruiters. This test is developed and maintained by the Department of Defense to measure vocational aptitude of potential enlistees.

"These three issues show a continuing pattern in Maryland where the liberal Democrat leadership displays anti-military philosophy in state policy" concluded Senator Kittleman.

To see prior posts about the 2010 Legislative Session of the Maryland General Assembly, visit our website atwww.mdsenategop.com or sign up to be our fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Maryland-Senate-GOP-Slate/289658452326?ref=ts

LABELS: , , ,,

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Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/ or http://kevindayhoffart.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/ or http://www.westgov.net/ = www.kevindayhoff.org Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net Explore Carroll: www.explorecarroll.com The Tentacle: www.thetentacle.com

Monday, June 22, 2009

SCOTUS Rules Narrowly in Voting Rights Case

SCOTUS Rules Narrowly in Voting Rights Case

Washington Post News Alert

Monday, June 22, 2009

Supreme Court Rules Narrowly in Voting Rights Case

The Supreme Court has ruled narrowly in a challenge to the landmark Voting Rights Act, exempting a small Texas governing authority from a key provision of the civil rights law. The court avoided the major constitutional questions raised in the case over the federal government’s most powerful tool to prevent discriminatory voting changes since the mid-1960s.

For more information, visit
washingtonpost.com

20090622 SDOSM SCOTUS Rules Narrowly in Voting Rights Case

Monday, November 17, 2008

At Westminster polls in 1920, the 'Women Disappointed Them'

At Westminster polls in 1920, the 'Women Disappointed Them'

By Kevin Dayhoff Posted on www.explorecarroll.com 11/16/08

Sunday Carroll EAGLE ARCHIVE

The fact that women gained the right to vote was a milestone that got mixed reviews in Carroll County after the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified on Aug. 18, 1920.

It was an argument four decades in the making.

In 1878, a constitutional amendment to grant women the right to vote was introduced by Sen. A. A. Sargeant of California. Suffrage supporters called the proposal the "Anthony Amendment," for Susan B. Anthony.

When President Woodrow Wilson delivered his State of the Union message to Congress in December 1916, women in the galleries unfurled a large banner that read, "Mr. President, What Will You Do For Woman Suffrage?"

In October 1920, after women were finally allowed to vote, local newspapers carried several articles about women and the election, according to research for the Historical Society of Carroll County by historian Jay Graybeal.

An Oct. 29, 1920, newspaper article carried the headline: "The Republican Meet, A Remarkable Gathering." The article read: "On Tuesday evening the Armory in this city was filled both to its seating and standing capacity with men and women voters of the county to hear the issues of the campaign discussed. ...

Read the rest of the column here: At Westminster polls in 1920, the 'Women Disappointed Them'

http://www.explorecarroll.com/community/1576/westminster-polls-1920-women-disappointed-them/

20081116 At Westminster polls in 1920, the 'Women Disappointed Them'

Saturday, November 08, 2008

CNN: Report: '08 turnout same as or only slightly higher than '04

CNN: Report: '08 turnout same as or only slightly higher than '04

November 6, 2008

From
CNN Associate Producer Martina Stewart

WASHINGTON (CNN) – A new report from American University’s Center for the Study of the American Electorate concludes that voter turnout in Tuesday’s election was the same in percentage terms as it was four years ago — or at most has risen by less than 1 percent.

Click
here to read the entire report.

The report released Thursday estimates that between 126.5 and 128.5 million Americans cast ballots in the presidential election earlier this week. Those figures represent 60.7 percent or, at most, 61.7 percent of those eligible to vote in the country.

“A downturn in the number and percentage of Republican voters going to the polls seemed to be the primary explanation for the lower than predicted turnout,” the report said. Compared to 2004, Republican turnout declined by 1.3 percentage points to 28.7 percent, while Democratic turnout increased by 2.6 points from 28.7 percent in 2004 to 31.3 percent in 2008.

[…]

In 2004, 122 million Americans voted in the general election.

[…]


Read the entire article here: Report: '08 turnout same as or only slightly higher than '04

Filed under: 2008 ElectionEarly voting

20081106 CNN Report 08 turnout same as or only slightly higher than 04

Friday, October 31, 2008

Vote “NO” on Early Voting

Vote “NO” on Early Voting

By Kevin E. Dayhoff The Tentacle Wednesday, October 29, 2008

On Election Day November 4, there are two statewide questions on the ballot to amend the Maryland constitutional. I will be voting NO on both questions.

Question 1 would amend the state constitution to allow early voting in Maryland and Question 2 will amend the Maryland Constitution to allow slots.

Let’s take a look at Question 1. This was placed on the ballot as a result of the passage of Senate Bill 1 during the 2007 session of the Maryland General Assembly.

Read the entire column here: Vote “NO” on Early Voting

http://www.thetentacle.com/ShowArticle.cfm?mydocid=2844

20081029 Vote No on Early Voting by Kevin Dayhoff in The Tentacle

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Vote No on Question 1 by the Joint Republican Caucus


VOTE NO ON QUESTION 1

House and Senate Republicans Oppose Early Voting Amendment

October 29, 2008

The Joint Republican Caucus comprised of legislators in the Maryland Senate and House of Delegates are urging citizens to vote against Question 1 - a constitutional amendment that would authorize early voting in Maryland.

“Until Maryland requires that a voter present a photo identification card at the polls, early voting should be rejected because it opens the door to greater election fraud in our state,” said Senate Minority Leader Allan Kittleman. “When organizations like ACORN create the fraudulent voter registrations throughout our country, there is no checks and balances on a voter’s identity under any early voting system.”

Ballot Question 1 authorizes early voting up to 10 days prior to Election Day, allows people to vote outside of the district and precinct they are registered, and authorizes absentee balloting on demand. The Democratic leadership in Maryland has repeatedly rejected legislation that would require voter identification at the polls as a safeguard against voter fraud.

“Early voting without the appropriate safeguards threatens the legitimacy of our elections,” said House Minority Leader Anthony O’Donnell. “This amendment not only authorizes early voting but also allows people to vote anywhere in the State, regardless of where they were registered. Given that Maryland does not require photo identification for voting, this provision is ripe for fraud. We call on the citizens of Maryland to protect the integrity of their elections and reject this constitutional amendment.”

The Maryland General Assembly passed provisions for early voting during the 2005 and 2006 legislative sessions. The early voting statutes were challenged on constitutional grounds in Lamone v. Capozzi and were overturned by Maryland’s Court of Appeals. Currently, the only way early voting can be authorized in Maryland is through a constitutional amendment.

“Maryland does not need early voting,” said Minority Whip Christopher Shank. “We already have provisions for absentee balloting. If you are unable to vote at the polls on Election Day you may request an absentee ballot and mail in your vote. This makes the entire early voting system both duplicative and unnecessary.”

“Early voting will push another unfunded mandate on local governments, requiring higher staffing and operational costs to open polling places for up to ten days prior to Election Day,” said Senate Minority Whip Nancy Jacobs. “As we saw in February’s Primary Election, local election boards are already having major difficulties finding election judges for a single Election Day. How are they going to be able to find them for additional days?”

20081029 Vote No on Question 1 by the Joint Republican Caucus

This week in The Tentacle

This week in The Tentacle

Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Vote “NO” on Early Voting
Kevin E. Dayhoff

On Election Day November 4, there are two statewide questions on the ballot to amend the Maryland constitutional. I will be voting NO on both questions.

Question 1 would amend the state constitution to allow early voting in Maryland and Question 2 will amend the Maryland Constitution to allow slots.

Let’s take a look at Question 1. This was placed on the ballot as a result of the passage of Senate Bill 1 during the 2007 session of the Maryland General Assembly.


Read the entire column here: Vote “NO” on Early Voting

http://www.thetentacle.com/ShowArticle.cfm?mydocid=2844


To Thine Own Self Be True
Tom McLaughlin
I am a Democrat and support Jennifer Dougherty and Barack Obama. I would support the Democratic ticket if the devil himself were on it. I am sure there are Republicans who feel the same way.


Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Election Worry
Roy Meachum
Readers may recall I take a certain pride in making up my mind well in advance about election personalities and issues. Not always, helas! This resolution on slot machines remains unresolved for me. I suspect I'm not alone. Please allow me to point out personal problems.


Unqualified To Be President – Part 2
Maude Franceschina
In yesterday’s column, I recited a litany of reasons Sen. Barack Obama is unqualified to be President of The United States. Today I’ll expand on that.


Monday, October 27, 2008
Commissioners’ Pie-In-The-Sky
Richard B. Weldon Jr.
Leaves reflect the autumn color palette in the Catoctin Mountains, a brisk fall breeze sends people scurrying along Market Street in downtown Frederick, and General Assembly members start thinking about making hotel arrangements in Annapolis.


House of Cards Burning Down
Steven R. Berryman
What had been “supply side economics” and the economic school of “rational expectations” is now both an experiment gone bad and a “Ponzi Scheme” exposed.


Unqualified To Be President – Part 1
Maude Franceschina
Okay, I have had enough. I would like to know how the majority of Americans are missing what is as plain as the nose on their faces.



Friday, October 24, 2008
Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan
Roy Meachum
Read the name again: Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan. General Colin Powell did, carefully. He noticed on the corporal's Arlington Cemetery marble grave marker the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. There were also the crescent moon and the star, sacred to Islam.


Beyond The Racial Divide
Derek Shackelford
Well, it is almost upon us. Everything that has been said and conjured up will come to a screeching halt on November 4th. That is when the real politics will begin.


Thursday, October 23, 2008
Down The Trodden Path
Chris Cavey
Election Day is two days short of two week away and the candidates are coming down the home stretch of the oddest presidential race in history. Do the two presidential candidates drive these oddities, or does the current situation of our economy?


Teaching Teachers A Little Respect
Joan McIntyre
Teachers, what do I say? I'm sorry you didn't get everything you wanted? I'm sorry you didn't get it the way you wanted? At this point, not so much anymore.


Wednesday, October 22, 2008
McCain for America – First
Kevin E. Dayhoff
Election Day is less than two weeks away. On November 4, I will be voting for the Republican Party nominee, Arizona Sen. John McCain and his vice presidential running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.


Nobel Prize, The Economy & McCain
Tom McLaughlin
Once again it is time for my yearly commentary on the Nobel Prize in Economics. Here, I try to make some sense of this award.


Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Fortnight Off
Roy Meachum
Unless you join the apparent throng voting early, the presidential election takes place two weeks from today. A fortnight, as the British sometimes portray the time. With that in mind, I turned on the last presidential "debate." I should have read a book instead.


Walking The Economic Line
Farrell Keough
Times are tight and even the government is recognizing the need to cut back – or at least, appear as if they are making budget cuts.


Monday, October 20, 2008
The Road Less Traveled
Richard B. Weldon Jr.
The esteemed publisher of The Tentacle has asked regular contributors to offer some words reflecting their preference for a particular presidential candidate over the other. The condition for submission was that the piece was supposed to reflect why we support our guy, not our critique of the opponent.


Voting Strategy for President
Steven R. Berryman
How can pollsters possibly get it right? Sampling and trend analysis, and picking the correct “target groups” would seem to be impossible efforts, based upon my informal surveys.

20081029 This week in The Tentacle

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Washington Times Editorial: What is ACORN?


The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, better known as ACORN, is under investigation by state and federal authorities for its voter registration drives. Allegations are that ACORN's get-out-the-vote efforts have produced thousands of fraudulent registrations. The probes are encouraging; America wouldn't be in position to criticize other nations of ballot-stuffing if it permits the same at home. What's most encouraging, though, is that House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio is calling for ACORN to be defunded. "The latest allegations of voter registration fraud by ACORN are further evidence that this group cannot be trusted with another dollar of the taxpayers' money," he said.

ACORN helped make the term "affordable housing" a Washington staple. So as the roots of the financial crisis are laid bare, take a hard look at ACORN.

ACORN has its roots in the community-organization teachings of Saul Alinsky, who mobilized Chicago's stockyard workers in the 1930s. The organization was founded as the Arkansas Community Organizations for Reform Now by Wade Rathke, a protege of George Wiley, the civil-rights activist who later engineered the Poor People's Campaign with his founding of the National Welfare Reform Organization. After fighting for "motor-voter" registration in the 1990s, which allowed people to register to vote at departments of motor vehicles, ACORN began expanding its voter registration activities. Since 2004 it has come under scrutiny for producing thousands of fraudulent registrations, and 15 employees intent on exploiting their pay-per-registration policy to make money have been indicted or convicted of voter registration fraud. But it didn't start out that way.

If the political left is an abstract concept for social justice and socialist sentiments, then ACORN is its avatar.

[…]


Read the entire editorial here: Washington Times Editorial: What is ACORN?

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/oct/10/what-is-acorn/

20081010 Washington Times Editorial What is ACORN?