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DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#35476: Oct 26th 2012 at 4:01:56 PM

I really don't like this whole electronic voting thing.

Neither do I, at least not at this level.

But the increased use of electronic voting is inevitable at this point.

Sen. Harry Reid suffers minor injuries in Las Vegas car crash

edited 26th Oct '12 4:02:32 PM by DeviantBraeburn

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
RadicalTaoist scratching at .8, just hopin' from the #GUniverse Since: Jan, 2001
scratching at .8, just hopin'
#35477: Oct 26th 2012 at 4:18:39 PM

Closed electronic voting machines. Something that's hardwired to not be tampered with, and that enters the data on a nonrewritable medium: CD-Rs work well. It should also have no internet connection or any physical means of accepting data outside of voting input.

Share it so that people can get into this conversation, 'cause we're not the only ones who think like this.
Linhasxoc Since: Jun, 2009
#35478: Oct 26th 2012 at 4:21:47 PM

Personally, I love optical scan ballots (where you fill in bubbles, SAT-style, or connect arrows to represent your vote). You've got an actual paper record, and because the actual voting is done on a paper ballot you can do it even without power, but you get all the benefits of machine-tabulated votes. The error rate is pretty low, too–around 0.7% is what I've heard.

Pykrete NOT THE BEES from Viridian Forest Since: Sep, 2009
NOT THE BEES
#35479: Oct 26th 2012 at 4:22:17 PM

Yeah, the working families thing is a bit much. Who hires your election officials?

The Secretary of State is for the most part in charge of state elections, and the incumbent has...a bit of a record screwing with it.

For example, she threw out a shitload of initiative petitions because they didn't have staple holes (most street-collected petitions are held by clipboard) on the basis of suddenly "reinterpreting" the initiative requirements to specifically need staples despite not mentioning them at all.

She also changed the Labor and Industries seat election to the general election instead of the primaries, thus disproportionately benefiting the Democrat candidate due to higher turnout. While it does make more sense to have it there, the fact that she did it immediately before it would have happened and without telling said candidates in advance is...shady.

She also hasn't been enforcing or obeying campaign limit laws we put on the books in 2006 — though granted that one's legally justified via a clusterfuck of idiots not reading the measure who refused to pass an amendment that would let us pass restrictions while simultaneously passing the restrictions themselves.

edited 26th Oct '12 4:33:45 PM by Pykrete

DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#35481: Oct 26th 2012 at 4:36:18 PM

Remember that guy who hung his chair after Eastwood's speech at the Republican Convention?

The Secret Service payed him a visit.

edited 26th Oct '12 4:36:39 PM by DeviantBraeburn

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
RadicalTaoist scratching at .8, just hopin' from the #GUniverse Since: Jan, 2001
Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#35483: Oct 26th 2012 at 4:49:38 PM

It really bothers me that some of the people in the comments don't see why this is a big deal. Even ignoring the racist implications shouldn't it be obvious why threatening the life of the president is a bad idea? I mean could you imagine what would happen if something symbolic of Mitt Romney (any ideas as to what?) was set on fire? Fox News and Limbaugh would have a field day and people would probably be screaming about liberal threats and extremists or some bullshit.

HilarityEnsues Since: Sep, 2009
#35484: Oct 26th 2012 at 5:06:31 PM

[up]A copy of the Book of Mormon stuffed with hundred dollar bills?

DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#35485: Oct 26th 2012 at 5:06:52 PM

[up][up]

"Guys some nobody in California hung a shoddily made Obama effigy, quick send the Secret Service!"

The more you think about it, the sillier the idea seems.

edited 26th Oct '12 5:08:02 PM by DeviantBraeburn

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#35486: Oct 26th 2012 at 5:10:44 PM

I think the secret service thing is overkill but that does't mean people shouldn't be able to understand why this is a problem.

DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#35487: Oct 26th 2012 at 5:17:23 PM

John McCain To Snooki: I Miss You

"I hope you're happy," Mc Cain said in addressing Snooki. "I hope everything's fine with your baby and I wish you'd get rid of some of those jerks you're hanging around with."

....

Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?

[up]

Still, Freedom of Speech and all that jazz.

edited 26th Oct '12 5:18:52 PM by DeviantBraeburn

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
TheyCallMeTomu Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
#35488: Oct 26th 2012 at 5:22:37 PM

Freedom of speech does not extend to threats of violence.

Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#35489: Oct 26th 2012 at 5:23:19 PM

[up][up]Freedom of speech does not guarantee you freedom from criticism. Frankly I find the fact that anyone would defend his actions appalling.

[up]Isn't that only direct threats?

edited 26th Oct '12 5:23:48 PM by Kostya

Joesolo Indiana Solo Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
Indiana Solo
#35490: Oct 26th 2012 at 5:25:15 PM

Death threats in general are not protected. EG, some people who said they wanted to kill rebecca black got visits from the police.

I'm baaaaaaack
TheyCallMeTomu Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
#35491: Oct 26th 2012 at 5:27:39 PM

In particular, death threats against the president are not protected.

DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#35492: Oct 26th 2012 at 5:28:11 PM

[up][up][up]

I'm not sure being visited by the Secret Service is a form of criticism.

edited 26th Oct '12 5:28:40 PM by DeviantBraeburn

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#35493: Oct 26th 2012 at 5:33:16 PM

What? No, I'm saying people shouldn't be defending him. My statements are directed at the people that say this is okay because it's free speech not what the government did in response.

I mean it's also free speech if I say someone should kill Mitt Romney but I can guarantee if I did that and it got a lot of attention Fox would rake me over the coals.

edited 26th Oct '12 5:33:56 PM by Kostya

DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#35494: Oct 26th 2012 at 5:36:04 PM

[up]

True but this guy got a little more than criticism.

What I'm trying to say is,

Being yelled at by Fox News and Limbaugh =/= Being visited by the Secret Service.

edited 26th Oct '12 5:36:24 PM by DeviantBraeburn

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#35495: Oct 26th 2012 at 5:38:50 PM

Like I said it's overkill but I can see why they might have done it. Obama is the president of the US and this guy didn't just criticize him he did something that could be construed as a threat.

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#35496: Oct 26th 2012 at 5:44:45 PM

What Romney said about gays as governor should be spewed all over the airwaves.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#35497: Oct 26th 2012 at 5:57:40 PM

[up]

The quote was from 2005, that's too old to be relevant. Its like Obama talking about wealth redistribution in the 1990s.

Besides Gay Rights aren't going to sway anyone at this point. Anyone who is pro-gay rights is voting democrat or independent (excluding pro-gay people who don't feel strongly about the issue and are voting Republican for some other reason, and delusional fools like GO Proud).

Although mentioning some of those things he did as Governor might slightly help the Obama campaign.

edited 26th Oct '12 5:58:33 PM by DeviantBraeburn

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
Completion oldtimeytropey from Space Since: Apr, 2012
oldtimeytropey
#35498: Oct 26th 2012 at 7:08:43 PM

Hanging politicians in effigy is an extremely common thing in the United States.

[up] This. People who feel strongly for gay rights are under a concept known as identity politics which means they will hop, and be extremely loyal, to the political party that supports their cause. Which means pro-gay rights voters are already Democrat and are already voting and already feel strongly about the election. And after their cause has completed its goals, they (and the group they are a part of/support) will remain with that party for the rest of their life in extremely high numbers (70-100%) and will be easier for the party to get them out to vote.

So long as the opposite party doesn't one-up them sometime afterwards like the Democrats did with the Republicans with the civil rights act.

Political science FTW. I liked that major. Once I got to my second year, though, I dropped it like a hat.

edited 26th Oct '12 7:16:41 PM by Completion

Morven Nemesis from Seattle, WA, USA Since: Jan, 2001
Nemesis
#35499: Oct 26th 2012 at 7:18:39 PM

The value of such stories isn't in changing peoples' vote, it's in motivating them to go and vote.

A brighter future for a darker age.
Completion oldtimeytropey from Space Since: Apr, 2012
oldtimeytropey
#35500: Oct 26th 2012 at 7:19:37 PM

Identity voters are typically highly motivated already.


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