This year’s presidential election has spurred massive registration drives. States are hiring extra help to process applications and to implement new procedures required under the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), passed by Congress in 2002. But will these new voters have their day at the polls? States were required to comply with two HAVA mandates by January 2004: provisional balloting… return to article
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Reader Comments (35)Page 1 of 1 pagesVotes count when voters know what they’re voting for or against. The media has contributed to the ignorance that permeates the voting public. Here’s just an example of what the public does NOT know....
WHAT PRICE APATHY? A Look at Media Indifference to Iraqi deaths.
If they knew....maybe, just maybe, they’d be outraged.
http://tvnewslies.org/html/what_price_apathy_.html
Posted by Reg on Oct 31, 2004 at 3:15 PM The world is fucked - literally - I hope every dumb prick that voted for Bush gets screwed over the next four years along with the rest of us, or even better, when more terrorist acts occur, its bush supporters who die - cos thats what he wants form you - blood. I curse you america, may every Nuclear power station meltdown, may your water turn to poison, may your children be stillborn and retarded, may you know poverty, hatred, intolerance and greed, may your air turn to soot and loved ones suffer horribly, then, only then will you realise why a 16 year old boy can listen to the lies of other older men, then strap on tnt and kill themselves and innocents, then you will see what you have done to our world - I hope you do piss off N Korea and start WW3, then it’ll be over.......
Posted by Reality on Nov 3, 2004 at 6:24 AM Reality, you really need to get a grip. Meds might help. . .
Best of luck to you. With attitudes such as the one you apparently have, you are really going to need it!
Posted by yeahThatsHelpful on Nov 3, 2004 at 10:39 AM Reality: If you’re in America I suggest you pack your bags along with all the other losers who can’t bear to remain here under a Republican government. Or you can console yourself by the Democratic gains in the Senate. Haah hah loser. Daschle being out of a job is really the icing on the cake. I wish I had taped James Carville last night (long before CNN chalked up Ohio for Bush) as he hung his head and bemoaned the death of his party. Time to rethink things, Dems. Looks like catering the elitists lefties in California and the Northeast can only get you so far.
Posted by Sal on Nov 3, 2004 at 12:58 PM November 2, 2004 was a great day for America!
George Bush received more votes than any President in our nation’s history.
George Bush received a majority of the votes cast - while Bill Clinton always received less than 50%.
Republicans have expanded their hold on both the Senate and the House.
Tom Daschle has been given his pink slip.
With the Executive and Legislative branches nailed down, our next acquisition will be the Supreme Court.
We have collectively told the looney left to go away and let the grown-ups run the country. Or, in the immortal words of Theresa Heinz Kerry, we told you all to “Shove it!”.
I know that you people thought it was really cool when that looney bitch sneaked into the Republican convention with her useless protest against Dick Cheney. In fact, she was profiled in a positive light on this very site. But I told you then to laugh it up while you could, because the time was coming when you would all have your sorry asses handed to you. I was right, you were wrong. Deal with it!
So, goodbye George Soros, MoveoOn.org, Michael Moore, Tom Daschle, Jimmy Carter, Dan Rather, Al Gore, Bruce Springsteen, Ben Afleck, Barbara Streisand, Garrison Keilor, and all of the other nutjobs who now hang their heads in shock, depression, and disgust. But most especially, goodbye to the two Johns and their clueless wives. You gave it your best shot, and you lost - big time. The power you thought was your birthright has eluded you yet again, and your misery is music to my ears.
Buh-bye to all of you,
The Patriot
Posted by Patriot on Nov 3, 2004 at 1:52 PM Dear Patriot,
You will soon eat your own words. Current investigations into the corrupt Bush Administration will take on new energy. New investigations are soon to be brought to light.
We will never forget 9/11. Nor will we ever forget Valerie Plame, Abu Graib, Iraq and Afganistan lies, Halliburton and the rest.
As my fellow signers of the Declaration of Independence can attest - this George will soon regret the prolonging of his reign.
Posted by John Penn on Nov 3, 2004 at 2:15 PM John wrote: “Dear Patriot, You will soon eat your own words.”
My reply: Funny, that’s what you people were saying BEFORE the election. Yes, yes, you’re always just on the verge of showing us a thing or two. Hope you’ll understand I’m not holding my breath till you do.
Have a nice day!
Patriot
Posted by Patriot on Nov 3, 2004 at 4:04 PM Patriot,
Your an asshole who voted for a moron who botched
9/11 and lied about the Iraq war in all aspects,
he totally messed up the economy, the environment,
destroyed civil rights and civil liberties, lies
constantly and got the Red States morons to worry
about gay marriage, the phony abortion issue,
and their surrogate penises, i.e., guns.
Hope Osama’s next attack wipes out you and your
family.
I also know that you are a coward and troll whose
been kicked off many other sites.
Go fuck yourself !
Posted by Michael Hardesty on Nov 3, 2004 at 5:15 PM It’s good to see that Michael Hardesty is back spewing his hatred against anybody who dares disagree with him. These lefties are such a tolerant crowd, wishing death on the families of people who Bush supporters. Hardesty, I would love to meet you in person and break every bone in your body for that remark. Anybody who would wish what happened to 3,000 people two years ago on anybody else is a class A piece of shit and you are no exception. You’re a certifiable head case and belong in a padded cell.
Posted by Ted on Nov 3, 2004 at 6:19 PM Michael,
I’m glad to see they’ve finally given you internet privleges at the institution. Probably good therapy to have you interact in a limited way with the outside world on a regular basis. I pleaded with them time and again to discontinue your shock therapy, as I suspected it was doing you more harm than good.
All the best,
Patriot
P.S. Are you still roommates with that guy that thinks he’s alternately Marilyn Monroe and Abraham Lincoln?
Posted by Patriot on Nov 3, 2004 at 6:21 PM This post has been removed by the In These Times webmaster. Please try to keep the discussion civil.
Posted by I'm Lovin' it....da da da da da..... on Nov 4, 2004 at 4:13 AM “patriot”, you bore me. You are nothing more than a Tucker Carlson wanna-be. Do not call yourself “Patriot” as when you do you are dishonoring the meaning of the word and the passion of what it takes to be a true Patriot. With your ignorant ramblings, you show that you do not love or understand our country and democracy, otherwise you would be questioning why this Administration continues to lie to its people and rules by secrecy. You appear to follow a president who loves corruption, greed and tyranny. Remember, your president has said publically that “Everything would be much easier in a Dictatorship, as long as I am the Dictator” and “You see, that’s one of the advantages of being President, I don’t have to answer to anyone. They have to answer to me.”
There is still time for you and others that are similarly warped in their values. Why don’t you do the right patriotic thing and fight to preserve the democratic values that the Bush Administration will continue to take from us during the next four years. Bush’s vision of America is not the America our soldiers died for in World War I and II, other wars before and after, and continue to die for. Americans have died defending our freedom of free speech, not the requirement of signing a loyalty oath and pledging obedience to the president. Americans have died to live free, not in fear as this president would have you do.
Posted by John Penn on Nov 4, 2004 at 7:44 AM To the piece of shit who signs his name “I’m Lovin’ it....da da da da da.....”
Care to name this country of yours or are you just going to criticize ours without bothering to subject yours to American critique? What exactly are “intelligent human rights?” You really sound like a champion of human rights, by the way, laughing at the people killed in the World Trade Center, the Oklahoma City bombing, Pearl Harbor, and the people killed by the sniper. Is that really funny to you? I can see that superior education system in your country really produces some good people. And what’s so funny about Iwo Jima? We WON. I guess that education you’re so proud of didn’t clue you in on that one. Go ahead and name your country and we’ll see how immune it is to criticism.
Posted by Ted on Nov 4, 2004 at 9:46 AM John Penn,
The Michael Moore routine isn’t working. (HINT: You guys lost!)
Now, go educate yourself. Okay?
Patriot
Posted by Patriot on Nov 4, 2004 at 11:25 AM Ted,
Are you the same rightwing psycho that used to post on the former Branden website ?
Look,imbecile, you are not the arbiter of what
is or is not “pro-American”, you are just another
rightist flamer who is non compos mentos in the
cognition department.
“Patriot,” can’t you think of anything more creative than to recycle MY old lines ?????
God, but you are a tiresome bore.
We all know the W idiot won, I think it is fine
because now he gets to clean up his own mess
and plus four more years of him WILL KILL OFF
THE RIGHTWING.
Posted by Michael Hardesty on Nov 4, 2004 at 11:29 AM One more thing, Ted, you couldn’t whip yo’ way
out of a wet paper bag, you are simply another
loudmouth rightist coward.
No one is intimidated by you.
Posted by Michael Hardesty on Nov 4, 2004 at 11:33 AM michael i do believe it is the democratic party who has been killed off. Who needs two right wing elitist parties anyway? Who can they blame now. Mabe if they would have listened to Nader in 2000 instead of trying to blame him for their failures they would not lost this time. 100 million americans do not vote. I am ashamed to say i voted democrat, but not again. Not until they lay out a Euro-style socialist agenda and then stand behind it will i ever vote for them again.
Posted by Jim on Nov 4, 2004 at 12:20 PM The problem with you “patriot” is that it is you and your president who needs to be educated. You and he must have been among those that were left behind in school. You, your president and at least 51% of those who voted are simple minded and can’t handle complicated issues. You simpletons would rather argue a “cultural moral value” that gay’s should not marry, but can’t comprehend moral issues that include those living below the poverty level is at a record level and your president never once addressed it during his campaign, proving he doesn’t care. He says he is for affordable health care for all, including children, but has only sat by and watched as premiums go up an average of 10% per year for the last four years. He is only for selling out the environment, making his tax cuts permanent, funding the wrong war on terrorism thus causing the deficit to hemorrhage even more and needing to raid social security. Did you not see yesterday’s news where he will ask Congress to raise the debt ceiling because the government is running out of money due to his massive deficit increasing policies? I’m sorry, I must be getting too technical for you as I sense that if what you read doesn’t come with pictures and is not written in crayon, you won’t understand it.
Don’t lose hope though, during the next 4 years, those of you in the red states will become educated by those who are progressive and democracy will return.
Posted by John Penn on Nov 4, 2004 at 12:40 PM Jim & John,
I agree with both of you. All these rightist flamers do here is present the same old illogical
argumentum ad assertium.
Posted by Michael Hardesty on Nov 4, 2004 at 12:47 PM Are you kidding! Florida elected Bush a long time ago. Jeb and his hand picked monkeys cheat at so many levels that it was impossible for Kerry to win Florida unless he had a 30% lead.
4 MORE YEARS FOR BUSH TO FINISH BUILDING HIS BRIDGE TO THE 5TH CENTURY.
4 MORE YEARS OF INCOMPETENCE, CORRUPTION AND PATHOLOGICAL LYING.
4 MORE YEARS IN THE BANANA REPUBLIC.
Posted by Lefty on Nov 4, 2004 at 1:13 PM 4 MORE YEARS OF WAR PROFITEERING FOR PERSONAL GAIN.
4 MORE YEARS OF TRADING WITH THE ENEMY FOR PERSONAL GAIN.
4 MORE YEARS OF THE BUSH WAR IN IRAQ, OF DEAD AMERICAN SOLDIERS AND TRILLION DOLLAR DEFICITS SO THAT BUSH AND HIS FAMILY CAN PUT MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS.
4 MORE YEARS OF THE BUSH WAR ON PUBLIC EDUCATION.
4 MORE YEARS OF THE BUSH WAR ON THE ENVIRONMENT.
4 MORE YEARS OF THE BUSH WAR ON LIVING WAGES.
4 MORE YEARS OF THE BUSH WAR ON CONSUMERS.
4 MORE YEARS OF THE BUSH WAR ON THE VICTIMS OF MEDICAL ERRORS.
4 MORE YEARS OF THE BUSH WAR ON DRUG SAFETY.
4 MORE YEARS OF THE BUSH WAR ON PRODUCT SAFETY.
4 MORE YEARS OF THE BUSH WAR ON FOOD SAFETY.
4 MORE YEARS OF THE BUSH WAR ON THE FREEDOM OF RELIGION.
4 MORE YEARS OF THE BUSH WAR ON PERSONAL LIBERTY.
4 MORE YEARS OF THE BUSH WAR ON THE FREEDOM TO SPEAK.
4 MORE YEARS OF THE BUSH WAR ON TRUTH.
MY ENEMY IS, FIRST, GEORGE W. BUSH, HIS FAMILY, ADMINISTRATION AND FRIENDS.
I REST WITH THE COMFORT OF KNOWING THAT GEORGE W. BUSH AND HIS FAMILY WILL SPEND ETERNITY IN HELL WITH THE REST OF THEIR ANCESTORS.
Posted by Lefty on Nov 4, 2004 at 1:22 PM Your right. I mean this is not any sort of victory
for the Left but Kerry’s win might not have been
either. Kerry was waffling on abortion, had an
Israel First plan for the Near East, was obsessed
with deficit reduction and his domestic agenda
was quite modest and uninspiring. The worst thing
about Bush as distinguished from all the other
neocon hacks is his religious fundamentalism.
The head of the Ayn Rand Institute, Leonard Peikoff, came out strongly for Kerry precisely
on this issue. The rightwing libertarian websites,
lew rockwell.com and antiwar.com were probably
the hardest hitting anti-Bush sites for the past
three years. So Bush is ultimately going to split
the Right too. The Christ Cult nuts and the Ayn
Rand is God nuts are not going to be forever coexisting. Of course if Hillary runs a Kerry
type campaign it could be a long GOP haul......
I do have sexual fantasies about Ms. Clinton but
I do not want to antagonize our kind webmaster
here so I’ll not go into them.........
I do think W will be either impeached or removed
for mental reasons, I could be wrong, but that’s
my take right now.
Posted by Michael Hardesty on Nov 4, 2004 at 1:59 PM Michael Hardesty wrote: “The Christ Cult nuts...”
-----
No doubt a sterling example of what liberals mean when they lecture the rest of us on tolerance and diversity.
Well done Michael. Looks like I’ll have to take back everything I ever said about liberals being the most consistently blatant hypocrites mankind has ever produced.
Patriot
Posted by Patriot on Nov 4, 2004 at 3:00 PM Sometimes I think what’s really wrong with this country is not the Bush administration or whinny liberals, but grown adults who have nothing better to do than taunt one another on the internet. Shame. Shame. Shame. You would better use your time arguing intelligently for or against the war or campaigning for or against abortion than threatening your fellow citizens.
Posted by Steve on Nov 4, 2004 at 3:22 PM Steve, I’ve always noticed that people such as yourself that posture themselves to be above the fray are usually below it.
Additionally, I long ago stopped casting my pearls before swine. Might as well try to explain quantum mechanics to a rock as to try to reason with lithium-deprived liberals.
Patriot
Posted by Patriot on Nov 4, 2004 at 3:36 PM They are the Christ Cult nuts, I do not think it
necessary to have to review the bloody 2,000 year
history of christianity at this point in time.
Let’s move on and spare us your “pearls”.
Posted by Michael Hardesty on Nov 4, 2004 at 5:42 PM Michael Hardesty wrote: “They are the Christ Cult nuts, I do not think it necessary to have to review the bloody 2,000 year
history of christianity at this point in time.”----------
Michael, your version of the facts is, well, to put it charitably, “creative”.
Oh, and by the way, the blood of all of those millions of aborted unborn babies stains the hands of every liberal. Are you looking forward to hell? It’s there, it’s real, and you’re going. And sadly, I suppose you’re so far gone into your dementia that it won’t be until then that you’ll realize you should have educated yourself, rather than allow yourself to be deceived by the lies of the evil one.
Have a nice day.
Patriot
Posted by Patriot on Nov 4, 2004 at 6:18 PM “patriot”
It is interesting that through your incoherent ramblings, you have not defended your president’s policies that favor only the rich, special interests and the evangelicals. Whereas, I believe Michael Moore is a bit extreme, he at least brings out the facts that should be debated. Unfortunately, he distracts from the real issues that should be debated by forcing his opinion on us as well.
I also find it interesting that although you are anti-liberal, you apparently are reading “In These Times”, a liberal, progressive publication. If you are not and just want to post your twisted logic, you are only proving that you have your head stuck in the sand and ignoring reality. Using your logic, if a female aquaintance of yours is raped by someone you deem beneath you and she becomes pregnant and that pregnancy becomes life threatening, you would rather she die just to show God you care about the unborn. You (and your president) are so hypocritical. You are forcing her to commit suicide, which is also a sin in God’s eyes. Your president could care less if children live in poverty and have access to healthcare so that they can have a fighting chance to live a better life. Using your logic, you would rather save an unborn fetus, let the mother die, and have the kid live in poverty, without decent, if any, healthcare and would probably not reach the age of 18 because of the likelihood of being exposed to drugs and gang life. Where is the “morality” of that? That is reality, “patriot”. Get educated, get out and see that there is another America past your little red-neck town that needs a President that will help all of us. Who do you think you are that you have the right to choose what is best for a woman who faces these decisions that should only be hers to make? The choice that she must live (or die) with should only be hers.
Michael, I agree with you. The years of cocaine and alcholism have taken a toll on this president’s brain. Watch for the CIA report to expose all. He and Cheney sold out the CIA and FBI, they will no longer protect him. I believe they will trace the approval of Halliburton contracts to Cheney’s office. They can’t blame their messes on anyone else anymore. Rumsfeld’s day are numbered as well. Powell is set to retire, watch for his book!
Posted by John Penn on Nov 5, 2004 at 7:04 AM “Patriot”, What human being has the right to reside inside the body of another human being
against that person’s will ? No one has such
a right, there is no right to be born.
Eggs, spermatozoa, zygotes, embroyos, fetuses
are parts of SOMEONE ELSE’S BODY, they have no
rights at all, much less rights that supercede
the whole person’s body in which they reside.
Abortion is not murder and has never been legally
regarded as such even when it was illegal.
It is a highly responsible and moral act for a
woman to abort instead of bringing another
unwanted child into the world. Abortion has
played a major role in reducing both crime
and welfare rates. May there be many more !
As far as the history of Christianity there
are many works you can look up which document
my earlier assertion. It has been one of the
bloodiest cults in the history of mankind.
Posted by Michael Hardesty on Nov 5, 2004 at 10:36 AM John,
Moore is not extreme, he documents his assertions
unlike the rightist posters here and if anything
he understates the case by not going after Israel.
Posted by Michael Hardesty on Nov 5, 2004 at 10:38 AM John,
I largely agree with your remarks but Moore has
not “forced” his opinion on anybody, no one can
force anyone’s opinion. We all, for better or
worse, make up our own minds.
Posted by Michael Hardesty on Nov 5, 2004 at 10:43 AM Michael,
You are correct and perhaps I was a bit harsh with my critique of Mr. Moore. My comments were addressed more to statements he has made in the press since the release of Fahrenheit 9/11 that I thought may have detracted from its effectiveness. But then, my opinion was probably influenced somewhat by the relentless, biased spew from cable networks. I’m trying to take your advice and make up my own mind - I’m getting there.
Posted by John Penn on Nov 5, 2004 at 11:06 AM Thanks, John. I appreciate your thoughtful
comments. I’m not saying Moore is above criticism
either, I really reamed him out earlier this year
when he endorsed Clark.
But I thought he was on the money on 9/11 and I
was not a fan of earlier work, except for Canadian
Bacon, which I loved.
Posted by Michael Hardesty on Nov 5, 2004 at 12:32 PM Hey Patriot ya notice when us “iggorant” conservative types get on this site these libs all attck our little towns, humble upbringing, heritage, parents,education, and anything other than the issue? I just love to hear them denigrate me as a moron when they are such staunch defenders of homosexuality and abortion.twisted-twisted people.I guess its ok to have 2 guys butt slamming and killing babies but WE are the morons eh? Guns don’t kill people- abortion clinics kill people.
I especially like the part that says Michael Moore is not above critism. HA . That pompous overblown lying piece of furry whale excrement is ripe for nothing but critism.
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Posted by 4 more years. on Nov 3, 2004 at 2:51 AM 
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