PNagy Loc: Missouri City, Texas

Very true. The Republican Party has far fewer supporters, but those in the fold are more fervent. A far higher percentage of them votes than Democrats. Almost any measure that reduces the voter turnout benefits them. There have been other Republican documents that expose them as overtly mentioning the need to suppress the vote in order to win. Busy as I am today, I cannot look for the documentation. Just watch; our rabid right wing friends will call both of us liars.

les_stockton Loc: Eastern Oklahoma

When you can't document, you label the opposition.

John 1813 Loc: Lancaster, NY

If you look at the Congressional Budge Office reports rather than the Faux News propaganda, you will find that federal spending is lower today, the annual budget deficit is lower today, and annual federal revenue is lower today than when President Obama took office. But lets not let facts cloud the issue.

PNagy Loc: Missouri City, Texas

Obviously you are one of those extreme leftist liberals. here are the facts: If the economy shows any trauma Obama is responsible. If it picks up, that is because the Bush tax cuts are kicking in. Obama caused the current budget deficit because he is a tax and spend liberal commie Muslim born in Kenya. Just take my word for it, please. Whatever you do, don't look at any data that lists Obama's itemized budget proposals juxtaposed with the GOP proposals and the final budge bill. Long live factspeak from Fixed News.

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

Why don't we break this down a little bit just for grins, not that I am a Bush apologist as I am not really that big of a fan of the republican party as they are hardly different than the democrats as they both lie to us for political gain. But to deny the democratic role in the housing crisis is laughable, to try and deny that the democrats were not happy with the lax financing requirements that allowed for no income verification and up to 125% loan to value financing on homes is down right deceitful, as it was the democrats in congress that pushed this and their army of regulators who harassed banks who tried to not make these loans.. It is true that Bush went along and expressed his satisfaction that home ownership in our country was now within everyone's grasp. The dems vehemently fought against republican efforts to look into the risk associated with Fanny Mae and Freddy Mac, this is not only a matter of record, but a Youtube search will return tons of video. Now I hate what the bankers have done to this country probably more so than you do, if you want to get into Sarbanes Oxley and all that crap I guess we could but just know that the dems do not come out as clean as you would like them to. Now, as to Bushes spending record goes there is no comparison between the Bush administration and this current administration.

During the first 7 years that Bush was in office the deficits totaled $1.547 trillion for that 7 year period ( http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/Historicals ), a number very close to this presidents annual budget deficits. In his last year in office the last deficit that Bush presided over totaled $459 billion which included not only spending for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, but and additional $168 billion in stimulus money earlier in the year. There were conservatives that had been critical of the Bush deficits, but when he rolled out his $700 billion TARP program if you think back and you are honest you will remember that at that time a strong debate amongst conservatives erupted, so it is not so quite accurate to say that conservatives said nothing. The current administration rolled into office and immediately set a new standard for deficit spending that has dwarfed the Bush record, like I said, Bush averaged just over $200 billion a year during his first 7 years in office but president Obama’s smallest deficit to date is $1.293 trillion and other than lip service, he has shown little concern over governmental spending or any interest in reviewing the federal budget line by line as he promised to rid the federal government of waste, fraud, and duplication. He has had multiple commissions and task forces that have bought real reform suggestions and policy suggestions that would have started him on a path towards what I would term as fiscal sanity but showed little interest in their policy suggestions and conclusions. Lastly I would note that when Bush came into office our outstanding national debt was something in the order of $5.9 trillion and as your side has pointed out so many times our country was enjoying surpluses so his tax cuts were not so out of line given the environment in which they were passed especially if you will recall that the country was in a recession following the dot.com bubble. What happened after 911 changed things considerably, and there is validity in criticizing president Bush for putting us into 2 wars and ramping up the TSA and Homeland security with providing no method for paying for the additional expenditures. As far as the heavily criticized prescription drug program it is interesting that the Bush program was far less costly than the program that the democrats tried to push through congress, but as the democratic program failed it is Bush’s name that has been hung on the unfunded program which was actually a savings as compared to the democratic alternative. More over during negotiations with the pharmaceutical companies president Obama forewent the opportunity to renegotiate the drug program in return for support and pharmaceutical sponsored advertising for his Affordable Healthcare Act. Should president Obama gain a second term the federal debt will increase to a number larger than $20 trillion before he leaves office, these numbers are staggering, sorry if conservatives were a little late in waking up to the insanity of DC fiscal policies.

Now the president spends as if there is to be no consequence to his spending, but what does he have to show for it other than failure? What is interesting is that a significant portion of our youth are waking up and realizing that it is they that will be left with the tab... the baby boomer generation has failed in it's responsibilities to the prosperity of this country, we are and always have been the me generation and that shows in our expanse of the federal debt and our unwillingness to make the sacrifices to come to terms with it... we can only hope that those who follow will have more common sense.

RixPix Loc: Miami, Florida

I agree especially where I live in Florida. I as in line to vote in the 2008 election when a bus like those used at hotels pulls up and unloads 25 elderly people some mobile some in wheel chairs. Then the driver to talk to the people instructing them to fill out their ballots McCain she even marked some of the ballots herself as the old folks were not capable of moving their arms. I am talking old here. slack jawed and glassy eyed. While all this was going on I voted and turned my ballot. When I was leaving I had to walk past the bus it was not from a retirement community as I had suspected but a charter with McCain magnetic signs on the sides and back. Now, I cannot read the minds of those older citizens and did not know their intent, maybe some didn't even know where they were but that sure looked like voter fraud to me.

Schwabo Loc: Florida

how can there be a budget deficit, if there is no budget? What a way to run a business or a government?

ole sarg Loc: south florida

You have a choice because there are only 3 ways to improve the economy

1. Have he government spend to create demand

2, Have corporations spend to create demand and thereby employ more folks

3. Have consumers spend to create demand

Two and Three are not happening because consumers are tapped out - there money was transferred to the wealthy and corporations are not going to spend till there is demand

Ipsofacto The government has to spend!

If the government does not spend then everyone on this site will be selling their equipment for food and lodging!

Anne

I am amazed at how many people are so oblivious to the voter fraud problem. I worked the polls for several years in Georgia and saw first hand the attempts at fraudulent voting and the abuse. Anyone not willing to provide valid proof of residency/citizenship needs to become better educated. You can't get a library card without proof of citizenship. More dead people are voting in some states then the breathing ones. Common sense needs to prevail, not political maneuvers.

Archy Loc: Lake Hamilton, Florida

Really...now you can tell us how you really think.............

ole sarg Loc: south florida

Anne:

The numbers and studies do not bear you out. I would like some citations on this. I shown you mine, now lets see yours.

ole sarg Loc: south florida

See:

http://brennan.3cdn.net/c176576c0065a7eb84_gxm6ib0hl.pdf

One of the most comprehensive studies on voter fraud.


Case Studies by State

Missouri, 2000

The 2000 election was hotly contested in Missouri, and various irregularities led to inflated claims of widespread fraud. Many of these fraud claims were later used to support the call for restrictive ID requirements. We examined each of the allegations of fraud by individual voters -- the only sort that ID could possibly address -- to uncover the truth behind the assertions.

The allegations yielded only six substantiated cases of Missouri votes cast by ineligible voters, knowingly or unknowingly, except for those votes permitted by court order. The six cases were double votes by four voters -- two across state lines and two within Missouri -- amounting to an overall rate of 0.0003%. None of these problems could have been resolved by requiring photo ID at the polls.

Continue reading "Missouri, 2000" »

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Missouri, 2001

The St. Louis primary election for mayor is generally considered the guarantor of success in the general election. In 2001, various irregularities led to inflated claims of widespread fraud. Many of these fraud claims were later used to support the call for restrictive ID requirements. We examined each of the allegations of fraud by individual voters -- the only sort that ID could possibly address -- to uncover the truth behind the assertions.

The allegations yielded absolutely no substantiated cases of individuals knowingly casting invalid votes that counted. Accordingly, none of these problems could have been resolved by requiring photo ID at the polls.

Continue reading "Missouri, 2001" »

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Missouri, 2004

The 2004 election was hotly contested in Missouri, and various irregularities led to inflated claims of widespread fraud. At the same time, Missouri citizens were debating a proposal to require restrictive identification of each voter at the polls, and the fraud claims were used to support the call for ID. We examined each of the allegations of fraud by individual voters -- the only sort that ID could possibly address -- to uncover the truth behind the assertions.

The allegations yielded only two substantiated cases of individuals knowingly casting invalid votes that counted -- two voters, each voting twice. This amounts to a rate of 0.0001%. None of these problems could have been resolved by requiring photo ID at the polls.

Continue reading "Missouri, 2004" »

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Missouri, 2006

The 2006 election was hotly contested in Missouri, and various irregularities led to inflated claims of widespread fraud. At the same time, Missouri citizens were debating a proposal to require restrictive identification of each voter at the polls, and the fraud claims were used to support the call for ID. We examined each of the allegations of fraud by individual voters -- the only sort that ID could possibly address -- to uncover the truth behind the assertions.

The allegations yielded absolutely no substantiated cases of individuals knowingly casting invalid votes that counted. Accordingly, none of these problems could have been resolved by requiring photo ID at the polls.

Continue reading "Missouri, 2006" »

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New Hampshire, 2004

Various individuals questioned the integrity of New Hampshire’s 2004 elections. The allegations led to inflated claims of widespread fraud, of the sort commonly used to support restrictive identification requirements for voters at the polls. We examined each of the allegations of fraud by individual voters -- the only sort that ID could possibly address -- to uncover the truth behind the assertions.

The allegations yielded only two substantiated cases of individuals knowingly casting invalid votes that counted, and two more under investigation – these voters cast ballots from improper addresses. Even if all four involved fraud, this amounts to a rate of 0.0006%. None of these problems could have been resolved by requiring photo ID at the polls.

Continue reading "New Hampshire, 2004" »

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New Jersey, 2004

Partisan actors attempted to probe the accuracy of New Jersey’s voter rolls by comparing them with death records and with the rolls of other states. The reports led to inflated claims of widespread fraud, of the sort commonly used to support restrictive identification requirements for voters at the polls. We examined each of the allegations of fraud by individual voters -- the only sort that ID could possibly address -- to uncover the truth behind the assertions.

The allegations yielded only eight substantiated cases of individuals knowingly casting invalid votes that counted -- eight voters who voted twice. Given the number of votes cast in these elections, this amounts to a rate of 0.0004%. None of these problems could have been resolved by requiring photo ID at the polls.

Continue reading "New Jersey, 2004" »

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New York, 2004 and 2002

Two reporters attempted to probe the accuracy of New York’s voter rolls by comparing them with death records and with the rolls of other states. The reports led to inflated claims of widespread fraud, of the sort commonly used to support restrictive identification requirements for voters at the polls. We examined each of the allegations of fraud by individual voters -- the only sort that ID could possibly address -- to uncover the truth behind the assertions.

In a review of at least four different elections, the allegations yielded only two substantiated cases of individuals knowingly casting invalid votes that counted – two voters who voted twice. Given the number of votes cast in these elections, this amounts to a rate of 0.000009%. Neither of these problems could have been resolved by requiring photo ID at the polls.

Continue reading "New York, 2004 and 2002" »

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Wisconsin, 2004

The 2004 election was hotly contested in Wisconsin, and various irregularities led to inflated claims of widespread fraud. At the same time, Wisconsin citizens were debating a proposal to require restrictive identification of each voter at the polls, and the fraud claims were used to support the call for ID. We examined each of the allegations of fraud by individual voters -- the only sort that ID could possibly address -- to uncover the truth behind the assertions.

The allegations yielded only 7 substantiated cases of individuals knowingly casting invalid votes that counted -- all persons with felony convictions. This amounts to a rate of 0.0025% within Milwaukee and 0.0002% within the state as a whole. None of these problems could have been resolved by requiring photo ID at the polls.

Continue reading "Wisconsin, 2004" »

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Further state case studies coming soon.

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Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law
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Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

Yes, the broken window theory, how nice and Keynesian of you.. And just how does the president propose to do this? By funneling temporary grants to the states so that they can beef up their payrolls, add teachers, firemen, and police officers along with the payroll, benefits, and pension programs that come attached with them...

Oh!, but wait, local and state communities all over the country are just now beginning to come to terms with the budgetary deficiencies and the under funding of their benefits and pension programs.. JP Morgan has estimated that public pensions across the country may be as much as $4 trillion under funded. But, the great progressive answer is to just add more to those liabilities, and as the federal funding runs out then again the states will find themselves back in a similar position only worse!

Another thought might be to create an environment that will welcome spending and investment as consumers and businesses will see a brighter tomorrow, one where their concerns about future taxes have been mitigated, one where they will not have to concern themselves with the draconian Affordable Healthcare Act, one where GE does not get a free pass because not only have tax rates been lowered but flattened so that all are paying their share, and hey, the treasury sees additional revenues...

But no lets fix that broken window, lets throw rocks through perfectly good glass so that we can pay someone to fix it, surely that will stimulate spending and growth! The problem is is that it does nothing to create wealth creation, it only moves the resources that would be used to create new products and services in our society to replace what was completely serviceable in the first place... Federal spending is not the answer and but the federal government showing some responsibility and sense of limitations to its area of concern and ability to spend is... Do you really think that we will never have to pay down our debt?, and that the world will continue to lend to a government that is as lost as ours is? Do you not understand the disastrous effect that deficit spending and the FED's printing of money has on every family in this country especially those who are retired trying to squeak by on their limited investments... No your Keynesian crap did not work for FDR and it will not work for this president either.

John 1813 Loc: Lancaster, NY

Could you please provide us with some facts to back that all up?

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

LOL polling data does not back up your self gratifying claim that seems to cling to the notion that because "I and those I associate with think this way and most people are like me and my friends, therefore most people in the country are democrats..." but I will not go so far as to call you a liar, simply mistaken and not well researched. Dems do hold a slight edge but it is hard to tell just where those independents lean.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_party_strength_in_U.S._states

Very true. The Republican Party has far fewer supporters, but those in the fold are more fervent. A far higher percentage of them votes than Democrats. Almost any measure that reduces the voter turnout benefits them. There have been other Republican documents that expose them as overtly mentioning the need to suppress the vote in order to win. Busy as I am today, I cannot look for the documentation. Just watch; our rabid right wing friends will call both of us liars.[/quote]