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OK, I am checking out of my room in Rockville, after the PDA Conference... big group of mega-Rethugs from AZ also leaving after being here since ?? for the Inaug.
So I am trying to get by in the outdoor corridor. 'Thugs are blocking the way with about 80,000 pieces of luggage, and of course they are ordained by God to be there so they aren't moving. Bragging to each other about all the Rethug souvenirs they got cheap over the snowy weekend, such as "Republican Parking ONLY" signs, ball caps, embroidered shirts (very fancy) etc. So I stand there. One one puff-haired blonde woman looks at me, notice my Green Party Ohio Recount button and says:
"Oh look! She has Ohio Recount on. How FUNNY!"
Me: No ma'm it is not funny at all. Ten of thousands of minority and low-income voters were denied their civil right to vote due to lack of adequate machines, suppressive tactics in challenging voters, and registration tampering. Not to mention all 57,000 "glitches" and machine "irregularities" reported otherwise.
Puff-Hair: Well I HOPE all those recounts are over. They are, aren't they?
Me: No ma'm, there are several court cases still pending in Federal and State Supreme Court in several states.
Puff-Hair glares.
Me: Some voters, mostly African Americans, waited in a cold rain as long as 10 hours to vote. It is reported that one gentleman in his 70s had a heart attack and died.
Another Rethug Woman: O well you can't be sure that it was caused by waiting to vote! Maybe he was just going to have the heart attack anyway!
Me: Well I'm not a cardiologist, but being a 70-some year old, standing out in the cold rain for hours and hours waiting to vote couldn't have done him any good. You don't want to see our Senior Citizens standing in the rain for 10 hours to vote DO YOU??
Woman #2: Well... no, nobody wants that.
Me: Do you know that you don't have a Constitutional Right to vote? It is only a "state" right. Whether you are Republican, Democrat, Green, or Polka-dotted makes no matter -- we need a Constitutional Amendment, guaranteeing the right to vote. Plus all the problems in our voting could be improved if we had legislation requiring voter verified paper ballots and better machines. (to Puff-Hair) Would prevent a lot of problems with these recounts. Would make it easier to make sure that everyone's vote is counted. You DO want every vote to be counted DON'T YOU???
Rethugs: Umm... yes... sure... of course... (etc)
Me: Now you all are Republicans from Arizona. I know that Senator McCain supports voting reform but I am sure he would like to hear from his party and constituents that you all support him on this. We wouldn't want him to think that Republicans don't back the right to vote and don't want to have everyone's vote counted, would we????
Rethugs: Um... no... you're right... etc.
Me: Well, bye now have a safe trip and don't forget to contact Senator McCain and all your other officials... oh yes, and keep voting! Hopefully your vote will always be one of those that gets counted!
(Me: big smile, walk away singing "Jeepers Creepers, what about these Freepers" just under my breath)
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