Yesterday, a reader posted the following video in a comment to my post, and as I watched the video I wondered … is Florida an outlier or is this the face of the future for voting rights in this nation? Sadly, I think the latter may well be the case unless … UNLESS we all do our share by demanding that Congress pass federal voting rights legislation and vote those who refuse out of office in November! At least 42 states at last count had either passed or were in the process of passing laws that would restrict our right to have a voice, even a tiny voice, in our government. This is truly frightening, my friends … please do take a few minutes to watch the video.
Russians in the streets.
Ukrainians, everywhere.
Turn to them for examples.
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Good point, Roger.
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Jill, DeSantis, Abbott, Trump are all cut from the same cloth – they must facilitate cheating to win at all costs. When historians look back on this time, they will marvel at how a political party could claim cheating when they already were gerrymandering and passing restrictive voter ID laws, only to use the moment to legislate even more cheating.
Again, these restrictions relate to future demographics which are unkind to the party, where voter suppression and intimidation must be part of the tool kit. It also relates to the fascination of some with the autocratic Putin, who squelches debate. What they fail to realize that also includes their own.
When I saw a former Republican strategist named Steve Schmidt say these kinds of tactics are part of the plan, it scared me. This former GOP strategist said this during the 2018 midterms, which in his mind, were crucial for Democrats to win to counterbalance the autocratic bent of Donald Trump. I emphasize this was a former GOP strategist who said this.
Keith
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So true, Keith. I laughed when the Arizona audit by “Cyber Ninjas”, who were not in the least bit qualified to perform an audit, turned up only voter fraud by Republicans! Talk of the pot calling the kettle black! The fact that they cannot win without cheating should tell them something, should tell them they need to change their values, their message to the people. But alas, they are too blinded by their arrogance and greed to be able to see the writing on the wall.
What’s frightening to me is the number of people who will not hear the truth, who won’t look at facts, but are mesmerized by the racist, bigoted message of the GOP. They seem not to care if the party cheats, lies, and steals, as long as they are anti-LGBTQ, pro-Christian, anti-Blacks, and more. The party line today seems to be one of extreme bigotry in all forms.
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You and some of your readers may read her already, but this will surely make your blood boil and strike fear and make you want to think about that move, Jill.
https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/march-18-2022?token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjoxMDgxNTc3LCJwb3N0X2lkIjo1MDYzMDI5NSwiXyI6IjRvY3ZoIiwiaWF0IjoxNjQ3NjkyOTI1LCJleHAiOjE2NDc2OTY1MjUsImlzcyI6InB1Yi0yMDUzMyIsInN1YiI6InBvc3QtcmVhY3Rpb24ifQ.V8S9RKF-FRpJFpyzhFdMUKoysL5_3vYUmiflzphB8I8&s=r
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Thanks, Mary … I do get her daily newsletters and usually try to read them, but some days I just don’t get around to it. I had read this one, but I’m sure there are some of my readers who haven’t, so thank you very much!
Note to readers: Heather Cox Richardson’s nightly newsletter is available for free and it most always provides valuable insights.
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This new voter restriction bill sounds a little bit like a new kind of democracy. ;-/ Should we call it “Limited Democracy”? Simply horrible! xx Michael
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VERY limited … almost borders on autocracy, doesn’t it? I dread to see what the next 100 years will bring for this country, but then … I won’t be here to see it, will I? It is horrible, but the people of this nation have allowed it to happen with their arrogance and greed. Sigh. xx
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Here its nearly the same, Jill! We do not really know what some people behind the scene have planned for the world. Its less a conspiracy, than what money can buy. xx Michael
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Ah yes … in the long run, at the end of the day it all boils down to money, doesn’t it? The top 1% will rule, either directly or indirectly. The rest of us are but tools. Sigh. (Can you tell I’m a bit depressed tonight?) 😉 xx
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It seems that the US is on a path from democracy to autocracy. If you look at recent V-Dem Institute Democracy Reports You’ll find in each annual report a chart that compares the level of democracy of each country to what it was 10 years previous. And in successive reports from 2016 through to 2022, the decline in the US level of liberal democracy compared to 10 years previous has grown larger with each report. To me that indicates an accelerating rate of decline. Over recent years, the US has been one of those countries highlighted in red, indicating it has undergone substantial autocratization. You’ll also notice that it has slid steadily down the rankings. How long will it be before the US slips from a Liberal Democracy to an electoral democracy to an electoral autocracy to a closed autocracy? It might be sooner than you realise. I hope I’m wrong.
The reports do cover the time when the former guy was in office, but I wouldn’t lay the blame directly on him. I see him as being one of the symptoms rather the cause. The rot had set in well before he came to power.
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The only word I can think to describe this new law, along with 100,000 lessers words, is ABSURD, This makes a mockery of politics, democracy, justice, citizenship, and anything else you care to add. And, since only White Christian Males will be able to vote, there is no chance this law will ever be rescinded. Florida is now a Republican State, foever and a day. I’m surprised he did not mske it illegat for a Democrat candidate to run for office, because effectively that is what he has done.
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It could be over-ridden by federal legislation, but the Congress is too busy worrying about daylight savings time to be bothered passing the two voting rights bills! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
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i HOPPE THIS TWEAKS A FEW CONSCIENCES AND CAUSES SOME GOOD DEMONSTRATIONS.
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I hope so too, but I wouldn’t count on it. The greater likelihood is that other states will follow suit, or at least try to. Those of us who support equal rights, who understand that there is essentially NO voter fraud in this nation, seem to have lost our voices and the minority, the “conservatives” are having a field day passing stupid legislation willy-nilly. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
Cwtch
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That could be the UK. We had one case of voter fraud in the last election but now the Government is trying to bring in photo ID proof. Will cost the poorest £100 to get this just to vote. And yet they and it’s supporters rejected vaccine passport id as an infringement of rights…. I wonder why.
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I am always amazed when I hear things like this about the UK, for until the last few years … maybe until BoJo became PM … I thought the UK was so much more liberal, more compassionate, less racist than the U.S. Methinks you guys need to send Boris packing! But then … we needed to send Trump packing long before we did, and he’s still a threat on the horizon. Sigh. Hugs, dear friend! Need that coffee!!! ☕☕
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Thank you, Ned!!!
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