Lawyers to "prowl" polling places in Florida.

[madfloridian]

It appears that the Democratic lawyers will "prowl", and the Republican lawyers will keep the Democratic lawyers in line.

The GOP controls every aspect of Florida's voting, and the Florida state Democratic leaders usually stay in line and don't make waves.

Yet they feel the need to use the word "prowl" in connection with lawyers who are concerned about the No Match No Vote law.

Don'tcha love it?

Pre-Election fight brings in lawyers, accusations

From the segment titled "Lawyers to prowl polls."

Lawyers to prowl polls

In another pre-election skirmish, the Obama campaign has publicly asked for thousands of lawyers to come to Florida and monitor polls for irregularities or problems. Greer this week said Democrats were intending to use the lawyers to guide or advise voters before they entered the polls, an action that would be illegal.

"We're going to be watching the process carefully," Greer said.

State law bars campaigns from pressuring voters entering the poll. But each party registers lawyers or other "poll watchers" to be in the voting location to keep an eye on any problems.

Ron Meyer, a longtime Democratic lawyer, said he has instructed poll watchers to notify lawyers outside a voting location whether a voter has been asked to cast a provisional ballot and then to offer assistance in making sure their vote is eventually validated.

Meyer said Republicans have as many lawyers on hand for elections as Democrats, and said "Mr. Greer's own party has plans to do what they can do to slow down the process" by challenging voters or "causing a disruption at the polls so that workers have to address these kinds of issues instead of just letting people come in and cast their ballots."

Greer said Republican poll watchers will obey the law and join with Democrats in ensuring a fair election. Longtime election observers say the pre-election shenanigans have increased since 2000's razor-thin election in Florida.

And Kurt Browning, Secretary of State, in charge of elections and answering only to Charlie...needs to wash his mouth out with soap.

"Browning said Florida's election system is among the nation's most reliable and open....Florida is still in the shadows of 2000, which just disgusts me. People out there believe Florida is not going to get it right. And I vehemently disagree with them."

There are a lot of us disgusted, Kurt Browning. That No Match No Vote law you decided to enable weeks before the election...even some election supervisors are upset.

[trashcanistanista]

1. They should be in the precint, all day and watching

everything that transpires. Every precint in the country should have one poll watcher, every single one.

[jkshaw]

2. "Browning said Florida's election system is

among the nation's most reliable and open."

(Pause for laughter.)

[madfloridian]

7. Pathetic, isn't it?

They really believe it is.

[stillcool]

3. I wonder..

Do Floridians trust the way their state government conducts elections?

[madfloridian]

4. Those who are paying attention don't trust them one bit.

Not any of them.

[MattP]

5. I hope we are not counting on Florida to push us over the top

I think no matter how many people intend to vote for Obama in Florida there is now way the people that control the vote count in Florida will let him win it, just look at 2000.

[madfloridian]

6. Lordy, me, too.

There's a possibility, but the GOP is so in control of the voting mechanisms.

[demo dutch]

8. I'm just anticipating all kinds of shit, the Lee country Sheriff today illiustrates what's to come!

[madfloridian]

11. The way the Democrats here divided the party during the primary....

shunning those of us who stood up for the DNC and Governor Dean...their silence in the face of the No Match No Vote law...I could go on.

It doubly adds to my worries. Why would Dem state leaders want to antagonize people who care about the party and are activists?

Yes, I do worry, but there is really no one taking a stand on things on the state level.

[Elidor]

9. Funny, I've always heard them called "monitors" before

They are monitoring the polls, are they not? "Prowl" is a weasel word.

[madfloridian]

10. Exactly...the use of the word "prowl" was intentional.

Meant to show a negative picture of the Democratic lawyers. The reporter is very good at stuff like that...as you say "weasel words."

[Cha]

12. Rec'd~ They can get down dirty

and prowl, slink, and stealth around as long as they make sure all's Kosher at the polls and the repukes aren't trying to suppress voting!

Who else thinks Democratic Lawyers prowling at polling places on election day sounds wonderful!

I know they tried to make it sound like a bad thing but as long as they're doing it ..that's the main thing! Finally we're learning:patriot: :bounce: :party: :kick:

[Eyes_wide_ open]

13. I, for one, am damn grateful that the Obama campaign

is taking the all too real possibility of election fraud seriously and taking measures to counteract the problem. I'm grateful also, to those lawyers volunteering for this duty. If this keeps up I may even have to reevaluate my dismal opinion of that profession in general.

Three cheers for the prowlers!

[Cha]

14. I actually think it sounds

sexy! But, Democracy is sexy to me:bounce: :kick: :party: :toast: :patriot:

[madfloridian]

18. I agree. It's a great idea.

Cheers for the prowling lawyers.

[barack the house]

15. Well anyone athat saw 'recount' will know what the real story is there.

[KaryninMiami]

16. Of course they're open-- except for the source codes in the machines and

the fact that we are not legally permitted to COUNT THE BALLOTS if the results are so close that a recount is needed. It's open- openly fucked.

[madfloridian]

17. And don't forget...NO manual recount in spite of their promises. None.

Despite all the promises...no manual recount in close elections in Florida.

"There is not such a thing as a manual recount in Florida," said Florida Secretary of State Kurt Browning. "It is very dangerous to tell candidates that, yes, the law has a section that says 'manual recount' but we're not going to look at those ballots."

The reason: Despite pleas from Browning, lawmakers have not authorized a full manual recount of all ballots in close elections.

Instead, canvassing boards in each of Florida's 67 counties will only manually count the ballots that were not tabulated by machines that read marked-in bubbles or connected lines.

[Joe Chi Minh]

19. "... razor-thin" election? The word is, "annulled". It's not a difficult concept to grasp.

You don't need a higher education to understand it.

It means the effect on the election is the same as if it had never taken place. In the case of 2000, of course, there was no ambiguity about what happened: the Supreme Court, after voiding the election result, arbitrarily decided that the government of the country should be passed to the Republicans. It will be clear in the history books, so why should contemporary journalists fail this simple comprehension test?

[terrya]

20. Fantastic!

[voteearlyvoteoften]

21. Florida Poll Watcher

We had our training meeting last week for poll watching. They were very clear about the boundaries and the rules. So many people showed up...it was great! So we will have citizen poll watchers plus lawyers. I am wearing a peace sign:)and a blue shirt so maybe the Dem's voting will get a hint of who I might be supporting. Vote Baby Vote.

[alwysdrunk]

22. This is a good thing right?

This will make it way harder to to any 2000-type dirt. They need to do the same thing in Ohio and other states.

[madfloridian]

25. It's good....I just think the use of the word "prowl" is manipulative.

.

[a la izquierda]

23. For the love of god, can't we have some

international observers? Never, in my life, did I think it would come to that. But this is just too much.

[NoThirdBushTerm]

24. Oh please - democrats actually defending the vote?

Not likely.

Gore caved like a school girl with a skinned knee in 2000, and Kerry couldn't wait to capitulate the stolen (Ohio) vote in 2004.

Remember, in 2004, it was the Green and Libertarian candidates who paid for the recount in Ohio. Kerry and his famed "battallion" of lawyers never showed up.

Why?

Because democrats are pussies who won't stand up to republican thugs.

Flame me if you want, or, grow a pair and defend the vote on election day.

[gkhouston]

26. What, are they trading their suits for a pack of smokes rolled up in their t-shirt sleeves?

Or maybe they'll be dressed all in black, carrying oversized briefcases labeled, "SWAG"? :eyes:

[Speciesamused]

27. I work the polls here in Sunny Florida.

home of sun, sand, a delusional governor and a heartless Legislature.
I fear the worst. First off. Presidential Elections should have been made a
national paid holiday years ago. So that ever person in the country has an opportunity
To cast their vote. How hard could it be? But I will be working hand in hand
with any democratic attorneys where I am working the polls. Peace
:kick: :hi:

[NoThirdBushTerm]

28. Your orders

And when they come to steal the election, again, I expect you to stand and fight, and use any means neccessary to defend the popular vote.

Will you pledge to do that, or will you roll over and play dead when the mean, nasty republicans use harsh language and bully tactics like they did in 2000 or 2004.