October 22, 2004

Did I say Fascists?

NYT Headline if you missed it: Ohio GOP enlisting thousands of voter challengers, to "check" up on voters at the polls and directly challenge their ability to vote while people are trying to vote. It would be one thing if there was the slightest reason to believe this was anything but intimidation and an attempt to gum up the works and prevent people from voting. I presume they are stopping short of physical intimidation - on they other hand, why would one necessarily assume that? Dirty tricks are one thing, but a REVIVAL of aggressive, organized voter intimidation is a direct assault on democracy.

This is bananna republic bullshit; they are laying out a road that might end up in real violence. (Ohio already had a recent history of riots) The courts and attorneys general need to get incredibly aggressive, and fast, to back the rule of democratic law.

1 Comments:

Blogger JAB said...

The very first day in Poli Sci, I learned the J-curve theory, which identified sudden disappointment of rising expectations, rather than further steady oppression, as the usual catalyst for violent rebellion. If this is how it's going to be in Ohio, think what might happen in Florida, completely unready to face hundreds of thousands of new voters.

Perhaps we could distract most of the Republican goons with free golf coupons and a half-off hot wings special at Hooters.

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to them, volunteer Angelina Jolie will host a hot-tub party for Democratic voters where they also receive a free car.

October 22, 2004 at 8:56 PM  

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