Absentee ballots tip toward Republican? NOT SO FAST

[PretzelWarrior]

a lot of people who felt robbed in 2000 and also in 2004...people who questioned integrity of votes through electronic voting have been getting the message. Randi Rhodes and others were asking people to go request absentee ballots so you can turn in something tangible rather than an electrical signal saved on a memory chip.

THis means the heavy absentee turnout in some states could be equal between votes for Obama and McCain. ANother thing.....who's to say a number of the traditional absentee ballots (from military folks) won't tip more toward Obama especially among minorities in the military?

I think the pollsters and pundits are trying to shape perception and do guesswork by fighting the last war. The game has changed.

[leftofcool]

1. Most of the military is largely Republican

and that U-Tube video with the soldier that got almost 12 million hits didn't help us

[EFerrari]

2. We know the officer corps is mostly Republican. We don't know

about most of the military -- the troops. And I'd go even further and say, if that dickhead Bush had gotten their votes in 2004, we'd have been hit over the head with it. But, that didn't happen.

I don't believe the troops are voting for McToast.

[JuniperLea]

3. I doubt that's the case now...

If there were more Pubbies than Dems, I think they would have made it a lot easier for our troops to vote!

http://hamptonroads.com/2008/10/overseas-ballots-rules-are-overly-complex

snip
...

McDonnell's opinion describes the tortuous instructions posted on the Web site of the Federal Voting Assistance Program, an agency responsible for voter education efforts. The thicket of drop-down menus, computer links and bureaucratic babble would likely stymie Bill Gates and U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts, much less a Marine stationed in Afghanistan.

Federal and state officials must find the proper balance between the competing goals of encouraging democratic participation and preventing fraud.

There is no evidence of fraudulent overseas votes in Virginia, but squishy and conflicting rules are an invitation for mischief.

Uniform federal standards for overseas absentee ballots, not to mention a better Web site, would be welcome reforms. But state officials can't ignore the problem and wait for a solution from Washington, D.C. They must determine whether the additional information required by state law is necessary to prevent fraud or whether those requirements can be stricken.

[EFerrari]

4. As far as I can tell, they've made it harder and less secure for our troops to vote.

What does that tell you? :shrug:

[JuniperLea]

6. They fear the troops are for Obama!

:bounce:

If they thought our troops would vote for McCain, there would be no problems at all... it would be effortless!

[EFerrari]

8. Hey -- what is that pretty graphic you have there?

It reminds me of a MotherPeace tarot deck. :)

[JuniperLea]

10. I've never heard of that deck! Cool...

I have several:)

I lifted this peace sign, entitled "Cosmic Peace" from the InterTubes. I'm asked about it every single day here on DU! It's a throw back to the hippie era, don't you think? I wish I knew the artist! This person could be making some honest cash if they'd put this on t-shirts, stickers, magnets, window clingies, etc. I'm thinking of printing it in color on a transparency and figuring out a frame... I want to hang it in my kitchen window! The light in the morning floods three rooms... it would be so cool... wooooo! Psychedelic!

:rofl:

[EFerrari]

11. It's cool and retro. This is part of the deck. I've had it since the late 80s:

The colors and shapes seem really familiar. lol

ETA: The artist seems to be Karen Vogel and, on the MP website, there's a testimonial from Alice Walker!

[JuniperLea]

12. Very cool!

You might have to read a reverse... and a sideways! LOL!

[happychatter]

5. Cash donations for Obama from the Military have far exceeded Republican donations

I don't have the link. This news is weeks, even a few months old.

Do you think that money is coming from the enlisted grades?

Why would C. Powell endorse Obama? His attitude reflects the military's desire for intelligent leadership. More than anything, the soldiers there are fearful that Iraq will turn into another Korea... long term occupation.

I don't buy this for a minute. Almost sixty years of military service in my immediate family (father, brother, myself, my son)... Kucinich delegates ALL.

This stereotype of soldiers as strict hawks, has scant connection to reality.

[PretzelWarrior]

7. bingo.

[Feron]

9. Lots of college students vote absentee. n/t