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Ray Ovac
Joined: May 12, 2004
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Great website about politics and the media
October 30, 2004 - 10:37 AM
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Check this site out:
http://freethinkingfriends.blogspot.com
This is a site that has discussion about and a dissertation on the influence of the media on politics. In fact, is the "home" site of an email campaign dealing with this issue.
The blog is built by a good friend of mine for whom I have provided some help.
He also has this site:
http://electoralmap.blogspot.com
which I have been helping him with...it's a great site for tracking the US Presidential Elections.
Please spread the word and tell your friends!
God Bless!
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Ray Ovac
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Re: Great website about politics and the media
October 31, 2004 - 02:49 AM
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Originally posted by BrianK
In 2000 there was plenty of wrong stuff going on in Florida beyond stupid voters and "hanging chads." Some polls were blocked!
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2000/dec2000/flor-d13.shtml
Brian,
I'm a little bit disappointed in you citing an article from, "The World Socialist Web Site" as valid proof of anything. I agree that there are problems with mainstream media, but these guys don't exactly have a 'balanced' view of all issues.
In reality, there were problems with voting in Florida and these problems disproportionately affected minorities. However, there are some clear distinctions that need to be made:
1 - There was clearly NO intent to disenfranchise any voters nor was there any evidence of anything remotely looking like a 'conspiracy'. There was poor management, but not by design.
2 - The issue of 'blocked polls' actually stems from a single event where a police vehicle temporarily blocked a roadway while an officer was actually investigating complaints. I have more references on this that I will try to post tomorrow. There were *no* other incidents that were verified.
3 - How do I know this? The US Commission on Civil Rights did a detailed and extensive investigation on the Florida election question and found that there were no other legitimate claims of 'blocking'. Further, they concluded no intent to prevent or limit anyone from voting. Still, they did find that there were *unintentional* circumstances that unfairly made voting more difficult for some minorities. Their Executive Summary of the report from this investigation says:
"Conclusion
The Commission found that the problems Florida had during the 2000 presidential election were serious and not isolated. In many cases, they were foreseeable and should have been prevented. The failure to do so resulted in an extraordinarily high and inexcusable level of disenfranchisement, with a significantly disproportionate impact on African American voters. The causes include the following: (1) a general failure of leadership from those with responsibility for ensuring elections are properly planned and executed; (2) inadequate resources for voter education, training of poll workers, and for Election Day trouble-shooting and problem solving; (3) inferior voting equipment and/or ballot design; (4) failure to anticipate and account for the expected high volumes of voters, including inexperienced voters; (5) a poorly designed and even more poorly executed purge system; and (6) a resource allocation system that often left poorer counties, which often were counties with the highest percentage of black voters, adversely affected."
This report goes on to say that a majority of these problems were caused in counties where the election boards were controlled by Democratic leadership...thus making the claim of 'Republican Dirty Tricks' insane.
So, there were problems...but they were hardly intentional or part of a conspiracy to prevent African Americans from voting.
Again, I'll get more information about this...this is really one of those stories that has been so mischaracterized that everyone seems to accept the idea of "an intentional conspiracy" as fact when the reality is that it is a myth.
More importantly, though, Martin Sheen was doing an ad for OHIO voters...and I can promise you that with an African American Secretary of State and Democrat - controlled election boards in all major cities (Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Toledo, Youngstown, Dayton, Akron, Canton) that Sheen's allegations in Ohio are simply scare tactics.
The point on the blog, I think, was that Sheen is especially one of the Hollywood types who could care less about the "truth" in Ohio as long as his guy gets elected.
I agree that Republicans are probably playing games just like the Dems...but if you asked the average journalist or American watching the news he/she would tell you that voter intimidation of minorities and general election fraud is only committed by Republicans. A DNC guide to local election headquarters suggesting to fabricate stories of voter intimidation even where it does not exist confirms that this *IS* a conspiracy designed to 'get out the vote' by angered minorities who believe that "the man" wants them to not vote.
Again, another reason why I will be happy when Wednesday rolls around (assuming that the Lawyers don't get their way)!
God Bless!
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Brian
Joined: Jan 22, 2004
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Re: Great website about politics and the media
October 31, 2004 - 12:09 PM
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I yanked this off your first site and thought I'd say something:
"Martin Sheen spreads false accusations
"It appears the Republicans and George Bush don't want you to vote. Beware of their dirty tricks. We simply cannot trust them.""
Actually I started a thread "Voter Tampering? Again?" in the General section. Check it out. Yes, the Repubs have engaged in dirty tricks. Unfortunately the Dems aren't immune to dirty tricks or I would be screaming a little louder about this. In 2000 there was plenty of wrong stuff going on in Florida beyond stupid voters and "hanging chads." Some polls were blocked!
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2000/dec2000/flor-d13.shtml
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Brian
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Re: Great website about politics and the media
November 1, 2004 - 07:58 AM
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The info in the article I posted is common knowledge. That's just one article. Attack the info...not the source. That's a classic Bush tactic! ; )
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Cicero
Joined: Feb 1, 2004
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Re: Great website about politics and the media
November 4, 2004 - 03:35 AM
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Originally posted by BrianK
The info in the article I posted is common knowledge. That's just one article. Attack the info...not the source. That's a classic Bush tactic! ; )
LOL - better just scare people to death ! In times of fear people dont change leadership - and they did not.
Ave Futuria
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