BREAKING: SCOTUS Rules Against Republicans In Ohio Voter Registration Controversy
By Jamie Friday Oct 17, 2008 8:16am
Ohio Republicans were just handed a defeat by the Supreme Court for the voter registration controversy:
The Supreme Court is siding with Ohio's top elections official in a dispute with the state Republican Party over voter registrations.
The justices on Friday overruled a federal appeals court that had ordered Ohio's top elections official to do more to help counties verify voter eligibility.
Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, a Democrat, faced a deadline of Friday to set up a system to provide local officials with names of newly registered voters whose driver's license numbers or Social Security numbers on voter registration forms don't match records in other government databases.
We will have video shortly of Pete Williams explaining the decision on MSNBC.
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thanks Damn good...thanks for the breaking news. I have been working on increasing registrations in Ohio since the Supreme Court Judicial Coup in 2000. Many of us have been working our asses off
Quite sincerely......thank you for working your asses off!!!
I'm heading to Demo headquarters Saturday in Suffolk County, NY to do phone banking all day. Should be lots of fun!
Good for you. We all have to do our parts. Vigilance is the key to our Democracy
FAILsville
www.filthyrichmond.com
Repubs sure musta been wrong to get ruled against.
No matter, it will just be grist for the mill for McCain's post election legal assault on the legitimacy of Obama's presidency.
I believe Obama may be charged with whistling at a white woman.
Is there any information as to how each Justice voted?
I believe each one raised his/her hand. (Har har)
No, there isn't any information on how individual justices voted. According to Marcy Wheeler at FDL it was a per curium decision and not really a fully argued case before the SCOTUS with majority and minority opinions.
per curium -- in other words, non of the righties on the court want us to know that they were in favor of the Dem. position.
LegallyBlonde (not verified):
Heh, not quite. :) Per curium decisions are often rendered in these situations. They had to decide it quickly and summarily in order for the decision to matter for the election.
And actually, if you listen to the report, the Republicans just got screwed by some very conservative jurisprudence. The feds can't force the states to do something, and private citizens can't sue to force the states to comply with federal law.
Must have been by some of those damn 'activist judges' repugs always complain about
ronhohn:
Hee hee. Actually, if you ask me, conservative "original intent" jurisprudence is the original judicial activism. I know the people who use the phrase simply apply it indiscriminately to decisions with which they disagree, but it's the conservatives who are so willing to say that the Constitution doesn't actually mean what it says. Instead, to them, it means what they think the framers intended it to mean, their words be damned.
While they did rule against the GOP it was on the basis of standing. They ruled that a private entity (the Ohio GOP) didn't have standing, under the Act, to bring the case in the first place. I have not read the act but it likely has to be filed by the Federal Government. Think I'll go read the act. =)
Sounds like the U.S. Supreme Court is taking the disenfranchisement of voters far more seriously than they did during the Supreme Court Judicial Judicial Coup in the selection of Bush in 2000.
good news
Kathleen (not verified):
I wouldn't celebrate too much. They decided nothing about voter rights. It was decided purely on Constitutional doctrine about lawsuits and forcing the states to comply with federal law.
Payback is a bitch. Finally justice has been served to the republican party. I hope congress can pass some kind of bill that will freeze interference from anyone trying to let people vote. I don't care if they are republicans or democrats. Everyone has that right. Everyone should be able to register and vote the same day in all states. They should make it easier not harder.
I agree that everyone has a right to vote but shouldn´t there be some way of verifying that each person voting is a citizen and only votes one time. I mean everybody that´s in the us should have a ss# right?
Remember when the Supreme Court stopped the recount in Florida in 2000. The Supreme Court basically selected President Bush in 2000. Sounds like they may have learned their lesson...since the American public basically lost all faith in our Justice system after that coup.
The GOP is panicing. They will do anything to maintain power. Their rule is coming to an end (hopefully). I hope after this election, Rupugs come to the realization that the GOP brand is totally diminished.
Yeah, but just remember one thing. Rats are still rats, even after they've fled the ship. Just because they're current brand is now useless, that doesn't mean these scum of the earth wont pop up elsewhere.
Um yea, sure, confusing. Seems like the voter purging is gonna be a bit more difficult this time around doesnt it, guess they just have to rely solely on the diebold machines flipping the votes, oh well.
Rush is trying to defend Joe the plumber. Hilarious.
McCain on Letterman http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PTWfRRJ8ZQ
"I screwed up!" No, actually John you got caught in a lie.
Lying and screwing up. Sounds like Bush to me, and he's not even in the White House yet!
Ohio GOP: fail
The corporatist elite in this country are officially running scared. They KNOW that this is going to be a national blowout...a complete repudiation of corporatism...and a sign that the American public is fed up.
The bottom line is...every single poll...not the bullshit public consumption polls that you see on TV that are presented to give the media a "horse race" and something to talk about....the REAL polls...that the campaigns see and base their strategies on. You know..."the GOP has polling that shows...." or..."the Democrats polling shows..."...you NEVER actually see the poll results...you are simply told the direction of the poll...those polls show this is going to be a ROUT.
McCain is going to get buried and he is going to take the GOP with him. The Democrats are going to wind up with the White House and veto proof majorities.
The SCOTUS has sent a signal...and that signal is...if the GOP thinks it is going to start contesting contests at all levels in a variety of states....they should not bother. The door is closed, because...the SCOTUS is NOT going to interject itself into elections at a time of great division in the country between haves and have nots, between races, between genders, etc. They ain't gonna do it.
They have proclaimed the system fair...and may the best man/woman win.
PERIOD.
I like the way you think but I'm gonna keep my fingers crossed anyway.
Tho I'm disgusted by McCain and think Obama'd be a better president by several orders of magnitude, based on Obama's FISA vote I don't think the corps of America are really that concerned about the end of corporatism any time soon.
L&P,
It ain't over til it's over. I signed up to be a pollworker to do my part.
One terror attack, comin' up! Unless someone pops a particular candidate. Again, it ain't over til it's OVER!
I'm wondering if Warren County Oh was going to pull the same stunt of a false terrorist attack alarm. Considering their Commissioners voted the OK to do it, 7 days before the election in 2004.
after 2000-2004 we don't have these voting figured out? it's like somebody doesn't want the system fixed.
Not "like" at all.
Somebody doesn't want the system fixed.
The Sixth Circuit Republicans, who previously dismissed a Democratic challenge to Sec. Blackwell's voter suppression efforts for lack of standing, miraculously found that the Republicans had standing to challenge a Democratic Secretary of State. The Supremes slapped them down in a simple, two-page Order.
For some real entertainment, read the en banc opinion of the Sixth Circuit. Compare the mental gymnastics that the majority undergoes to find standing to the simple Order from the Supreme Court that says, "ummm, that would be No!"
Well OBVIOUSLY the SCOTUS is trying to subvert the very fabric of our democracy!
Damned activist Judges!
Just saw Letterman, (Australia), I had to mute McLiar most of the time, and I couldn't look him in the eye. I thought it was really difficult for Dave, He really wanted to nail him, but Mcliar kept interrupting and using all of his vicious tactics to avoid answering him, and bullshitting like hell, I think Dave wouldn't stoop to that level. I hope he doesn't let up on him. I think he really wants to get Palin on to show her up for what she is. McLiar was lying when he said he could see if she could come on. There is no way they would expose her to Dave. But I felt Dave needs to let the country know of his concerns. He is worried like the rest of us about Mrs Mooselini.
Harry...I hear you. All it means from the corporatist perspective is a redirection of money from one party to the other. I understand that. BUT...the big picture is that crumbs MUST be thrown down to the masses...in the form of public assistance...improved healthcare...etc...it's "steam control" for those of you that read Bonfire of the Vanities...it is to keep order. Anarchy is bad for business.
Che...just remember where you heard it first!! ; 0 )
I've been talking about this for a year and a half. This decision did not surprise me at all.
it was a per curium decision and not really a fully argued case before the SCOTUS with majority and minority opinions.
The Court told them to go fuck themselves.
In Latin!
I am hoping this is a big blow to the Republicans in their attempt to dis ACORN nationwide. I think some of the 200,000 registrations the OH Republicans were trying to throw out must have been ACORN registrations. Any thoughts or actual facts?
naschkatzehussein (not verified):
It would depend on the kind of challenge brought to whatever ACORN is alleged to have done. The decision ultimately affirms that private entities do not have standing (i.e. are not allowed to file lawsuits) to force a U.S. state to comply with federal law. And that's all it says.
Challenges brought against other states are now dead. At least the challenges going to court. The Republicans can still bring public political pressure on officials to comply with their version of the law. And they can always figure out a way to sue ACORN itself.
Is that why Palin stopped mentioning him? Look how fast the repugs threw him under the bus.
link pls.
Of course that is the reason. But someone needs to tell Wolf Blitzer and Lou Dobbs, the closet-Republicans and Obama-haters at CNN, though they won't admit it, that this happened. They are still talking about Joe as if he is fresh news!
Just watch, by this time next week, Ins-Hannity is gonna go NUCLEAR on this issue calling out Dems for destroying democracy. Guarantee it.
for any of my doubtful friends who believed i was against you voteing for obama take notice , my objections were allways because of his blindness on the war in iraq and afganistan and the restoration of our rights bush stoled from us, anyway i voted tuesday here in indiana and voted straight democratic ticket, that doesnt mean i wont still bitch about the wrongness of both wars no matter who wins!
Tyree, if you stop bitching I AM leaving the country!
promiss?
LOL!
Yes!
I will no doubt die here. :)
you VOTED...that is what counts.
Now...you have a RIGHT to bitch! LOL!
I have to take exception to this statement.
I have a right to vote (and i will) but i also have a right not to vote and my first amendment rights remain intact no matter what.
Perhaps "justification to bitch" would be a more accurate phrase. :)
of course you do.
But...if someone doesn't vote...IMO...what right do they have to bitch.
It's like the guy that bitches about the local baseball team and never watches a game! LOL!
They have a right to bitch.
What if the election was between Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter?
Would you vote?
I sure as hell wouldn't.
Would you complain?
You bet your ass!
xoites,
I'd still vote. I'd just vote for a third party candidate.
As much as I still think we should vote for Obama to prevent the mass suicide that would be a McCain administration, I do understand the many voters out there for whom both candidates are genuinely unacceptable, and who are voting for Nader or Barr or McKinney. While I don't personally believe that there is so little difference between Obama and McCain as to make the choice impossible for me, I applaud the dissenters for voting their consciences.
It's always better to cast a ballot, and be counted. To let the state know that you're not sitting it out just because you disapprove of its inevitable officers. Even if no one else were on the ballot but Limbaugh and Coulter, I'd write in someone.
Or never, never bought a tee shirt or a baseball cap.
It's like not wanting to be accountable or to support the corporate choices we have, that screw us either way.
So you see, not voting for Bush/kerry/obama/clinton gives me way more right to bitch about the bankrupted catastrophe, I had nothing to do with it, but I have to pay the consequences. So the dillwads that got exactly what they wanted best not complain about the high costs or anything else, I say STFU and enjoy our mutual misery while you listen to me bitch at how stupid you are. :P
KUCINICH> the only real choice.
Troll flag Kucinich is not in the race.
Been watching Carlin, eh?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dqsNrmXgP0
At the 2 minute mark he makes a funny observation about not voting at all gives him a right to complain since he didn't pick ANY of them!
And a whole lot of shit that relates directly to our current economic woes. Pfft, Carlin had this bullshit dialed in ages ago:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KReZyAZLI0
I'd give up my citizenship! LOL!
I will state the obvious.
What the broadcast fails to mention, the matching can mean that using an initial for your middle name on your driver's license and having it spelled out on your voter registration could be a mismatch that would drop you from the voter list and there is no duty do this long before the election and to notify you if you're dropped.
Oh, yes, a local registrar of voters could start with the list of Democrats and independents and not be able to get to the list of Republicans, in time. And this is just unfortunate, not the "crippling threat to the most precious right of Americans, the right to vote" (McCain) like when Mickey Mouse submits a registration application to vote and it is pointed out to the registrar as not being a good application.
Bank Tied To John McCain's Son Goes Under
I'm glad that eligible people are not going to be disenfranchised. But is it usual for there to be so many "micky mouse" registrations, or is the GOP just playing politics as usual? I know many cities and states are really hurting (and Ohio is one of them), so there probably isn't alot of money to spend on verifying excessive numbers of registrations. These people create a catch 22 so that if you don't verify, then the election is described as 'stolen', but if you do try to verify, you can't because there is no time or money. I just hope Obama wins with a landslide so we don't repeat the national trauma of the 2000 election.
http://christiansvoteobama.org
We've already had two mickey mouse elections...the least we can do is let the rodent vote.
The Right wing Dominionists have been influencing Ohio politics for some time now,going back to Ken Blackwell. His right hand man?Pastor Rod Parsley,McCains' "spiritual advisor".BTW,Parsley is an Assembly of God group,like John Hagee and Sarah Palin-ALL are connected.Understand now why McCain picked Palin.Wasilla Assembly of God ring a bell?Here's some info:------------Here's why McCain may have stepped away from Rod Parsley
by dogemperor
Fri May 23, 2008
The past few days have seen a remarkable level of spin--actually, downright waffling--from John McCain regarding his relationship with two neopentecostal dominionist pastors and actually soliciting his dominionist "bona fides" from them.
Not two weeks ago, John McCain was heralding both John Hagee and Rod Parsley as "spiritual advisors"; this is quite the change from today, where he has rejected John Hagee's endorsement as well as Rod Parsley's (in what is a beautiful example of 20 Mule Team DKos (and Talk to Action) action).
Parsley, whilst less publicised than Hagee, wasn't exactly an improvement--and today we go into just why McCain likely dropped Parsley like a hot potato.
dogemperor's diary :: ::
McCain's second "Joel's Army" connection
John Hagee was not the only one of McCain's "spiritual advisors" to be a Joel's Army neopente megachurch leader.
Rod Parsley--head of World Harvest Church in Columbus, OH--is not only a major "kingmaker" in what is apparently the third generation of modern dominionist movements, but is by no means an improvement on Hagee.
As strange as it may sound to anyone who read about the coercive, chunder-inducing (occasionally literally chunder-inducing) statements by Hagee and crew, Parsley may actually be the more dangerous of the two.
Parsley's church--one of the largest megachurches in the US with a claimed membership of 12,000 people--is, much like Hagee's church and New Life Church in Colorado Springs, an "Assemblies daughter" with a close enough relationship it can be argued that these "Assemblies daughters" are still budding from their "parent". And--just like all the other churches mentioned--there's quite the heavy emphasis on "name it and claim it", "deliverance ministry", cell-churches, the whole nine yards. The church is huge on televangelism, having quite the broadcast network; the church even at one point had an "affinity" Mastercard that automatically deposited money to the church, and a direct-deposit account which automatically deducts tithes as well.
Of particular note, Rod Parsley is also apparently very good friends with fellow "Joel's Army" promoter John Hagee--Parsley is a leader in Hagee's "Christians United for Israel", itself a proven "Joel's Army" group who would like to see the scenario fictionalised in the "Left Behind" novels played out in Real Life.------------------BTW, this was published BEFORE McCain announced Sarah Palin as his running mate!
Daily Kos: Here's why McCain may have stepped away from Rod ParsleyMay 23, 2008 ... Rod Parsley--head of World Harvest Church in Columbus, OH--is not only a major .... Much of why Kenneth Blackwell lost was because of ...
www.dailykos.com/story/2008/5/23/144213/917/3... - 51k -
....you'd think that this would be a victory for Republicans along with all Americans, because as good Americans, Republicans should be interested and overjoyed at the notion of all people voting and our democracy being implemented to the fullest extent that we can manage. I mean, the more people vote, the more chance we have of electing a president that the majority of people agree is the best choice, right?
Oh wait....I see the flaw in my thinking now...Republicans aren't interested in real democracy.
Low Down Dirty Dogs. The Republicans are through and they know it, and then they have the nerve to still try to push this sh*T, even after the Supreme Court ruled. They thinks the rules are only for others not them. They have the same respect and understanding for the law as Silly Sarah. Lawyers my a*s, they must be equal in her educations and degree in Journalism. Ohioans you see how they have tried to squash your voices, show them at the polls by early voting and on November 4 by voting in a new administration. Vote the Democratic ticket all the way, it sends a message to them not to mess with you again!!
It seems that the Republicans are always bitching about trial lawyers, until they need one to sue some Democrat or another. This time they got just what they deserved. No more vote stealing in OHIO this time, I hope.
is a bitch. Better start coming up with responses to "The libs stole the election."
Yeah, I have one:
"Fuck you, you whining repug. Get out of my face so that I and the rest of the ADULTS can clean up the mess you and your big-mouthed friends sanctioned with your selfish attitudes and uninformed voting."
Of course, being a guy who post Carlin links, I am not sure why I bother to vote either, but I guess I am not ready to let go of the dream that is our democrac...just yet.
Do you eat with that mouth???
Colorado may be already stolen
http://www.gregpalast.com/rolling-stone-its-a...
If taking from one person and giving it to another is 'marxism', then what is increasing the debt by 5 trillion dollars?
The Republicans only care about counting the votes when the votes might be against their candidates. Plus, their obsession with "less government" worked against them this time, since I doubt SCOTUS would want to hold back a state and federal election this late in the game, just to add more unnecessary bureaucracy to the process. [Yes, I know this is the same SCOTUS which said nothing was wrong with Voter IDs. But the difference is that this would force Ohio to double and triple-check information already accepted into the system, rather than imposing that burden on the individual voter. So this decision also comes from the GOP's obsession with prioritizing the rights of the majority over the minority. Thus, the lesson here is that a hand in your favor can still be used against you.]
They pull this crap all the time. They don't want too many people voting. Bill Kristol just said that recently. The smaller the turnout, the easier it'll be for them to keep stealing. A headline today mentioned how one of Bush's buddies overbilled the Pentagon by tens of millions of dollars.
"Ohio Republicans were just handed a defeat by the Supreme Court for the voter registration controversy"
...hopefully soon to be followed by their ass.
Has this happened any where else?
http://wvgazette.com/News/200810170676
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