It seems to me it is time to have election expenses capped to make it a more equal playing field. Easy for me to say, as we, in Canada have caps, and a shorter election campaign period for our elections. But the heavy scent of power-hungry, monied individuals and corporations is a toxic one that will kill democracy.
I totally agree. Our election campaigns are so long and require so much money. The main benefactors seem to be television networks and campaign committees. Partly I blame the voters for not paying attention to who is running and what their performance background is. I was born in Canada but have been a US citizen since 1967, so I'm glad to hear you still have limited campaigning. We used to have short campaigns too. Somewhere between 1970's and 1990's things got haywire. Now we get at the most one year total out of a two year House of Representatives member, the other year is lost to eternal campaigning. It's time Americans stood up and objected to this practice. Another bad practice is lobbying, neither Senators nor Congress Persons bother to read full legislation on which they are to vote, their staffs and lobbyists summarize what things they think are important and pass it on to the "boss". In Red State legislatures it is even worse, ALEC writes the legislation and the legislators just act on it verbatim.
It has been doing that since dumbass Roberts came out with the approval of citizens United. Now corporations governed by republi-demoms can control the vote.
It no doubt will & quite possibly in our lifetimes! Citizens United has been more damaging to our country than the recent SCOTUS overturning of Roe!! If the Dems don’t find a way to get this egregious decision overturned, politics & the money used to indenture candidates in certain offices will only get more extreme & trend to the illegal side. It would be great if the US considered adopting a few of Canada’s policies especially a Medicare for All styled national health care program & a cap on the amount of money that can be spent to support any one candidate. Shortening the campaign schedule could also help immensely to control the about of money spent especially for House Reps who seem to always be in campaign mode. Perhaps Prof Reich would know how to push these ideas forward into mainstream issues??
I think a cap would be a great idea but a guy by the name of Roberts disagrees and his is a god next to these political pigmies. Seems the pigmies are scared of their shadow and can't give Roberts a shove. GET OUT Robert s you big weenie. Try dog catcher court and you should do well.
Oh, I certainly wish there were some way of ensuring voters were informed/competent/sane before casting a vote.
Alas, anything that requires some bar to be set is open to severe abuse. Someone would have to decide whether the bar was reached, and your right to vote then becomes subject to their opinion of you.
Below 90? That may be good for the government ant hills but human communities should buy about 140 - 180. There are already many idiots around to lead people ashtray.
This is scary, especially the wins of trump backed Secretaries of State. The Democrats in those States will have to buckle down and fight to the finish. A daunting task, but not impossible
Being a "Michigander" I've been watching carefully what has been happening in this election. I was so sorry that Andy Levin lost his bid, it's the first time in decades that a "Levin" hasn't represented our state. My hope is that he will run again in the future, we need him. The dems are playing with fire tossing their support against Meijer for a pro-Trump conspiracy theorist candidate. Dems better win in November or we'll be stuck with this guy. I have faith that Governor Whitmer will hold her position against Tudor Dixon, another conspiracy extremist and anti-choice radical. They key of course, is that Michiganders get to the polls in droves, it's the only action that can protect our state now.
Prof.. Reich did an excellent job of summarizing Tuesday’s Primary Voting results. As the professor stated We must alert our fellow Democrats about the necessity of electing Democratic Secretaries of State and All positions up for election in November. For the future of the USA… Vote Democratic Down the Line!
And there you have it! This is what we have become, not what we might become. It will take a humongous effort on the part of the polis to save us. This is what CITIZENS UNITED has given us. And most Americans have no idea what's going on around them. Most Americans don't know what an Autocracy is but they are about to find out! Dr Reich knows what an autocracy is and that's why I call him a Cassandra! They will listen, Dr Reich, when it is too late, after the fact.
What I've seen no comment on anywhere is this: yesterday - along with the other primaries mentioned here - OH had a special election to supplement the primary. That was done because the gerrymandered voter districting map was ruled by the conservative OH Supreme Court unconstitutional 3 times previously, and a 4th unconstitutional ruling was just handed down. The voter districting map we used is unconstitutional, but it's getting a pass. The OH SC gave the wank-publicans to fix the map - but only for the November election. Further, it seems that the wank-publicans are playing for time in an attempt to vote those justices off the court and have Tweety-freak Q-servatives replace them. I fully expect we'll end up in a position where the vote count, along with who wins the elections will be who the BOE >says< they are. My confidence in the OH BOE has been shaken in recent days.
Also, although the actual vote counting machines remained, the electronic roster that automatically tally the number of voters checked in against the registered voters and votes cast, they opted to use the pre-electronic paper rosters that must be counted manually at the end of the day, and are subject to being recounted by officials who will >say< what those numbers are, if the count the judges report don't tally with the values those officials say they expect. I don't >know< that anything improper is taking place, but it wouldn't surprise me in the least. I'm sure there'll be far more "rational explanations" than I can possibly respond to.
Just heard on the evening news: one of the sitting OH Supreme Court justices announced today that she has no plans to run for reelection.
Funny that when Dennis Kucinich's district was gerrymandered nobody in power complained. His district and another was connected by a short parcel that is underwater at high tide, which by law is not supposed to be. A few mentioned this, but it was swept under a carpet.
Was the map ruled unconstitutional 4 times? That's the OH Supreme Court mentioning it, on top of 2 referenda that were passed state-wide for a non-partisan voter districting commission , in an attempt to eliminate gerrymandered districts - ignored by the wank-publicans as simply and effortlessly as you comment does. You may be telling it like it was - as you understand it - but your little "what about-ism" is certainly not >telling it like it is!<
No doubt. However, I think he has some residual virtue about him. After all, he was on the leading edge of implementing fairly restrictive pandemic measures, while totally supporting Amy Acton, whereupon the OH General Assembly shut him down as Acton was run out of office in fear for her and her family's well being. Not that I'd trust him, I think he's more a Cheney Republican privately. He doesn't seem to have bought into the big lie, and never - to my reckoning - ever supported it. Let me hasten to add, I'd never vote for him unless the Democrats were to revive Stalin and run him! I simply don't despise him, or Kasich, for that matter, whom I've come to like a bit, being on record as thinking the big lie is a load of bullshit. BOTTOM LINE: I think we could do worse than DeWine - a lot, lot worse.
I couldn't remember what it was, but had in the back of mind that DeWine had at least one redeeming asset or attitude, for a rethug, since becoming governor. Kasich should have gotten the R nomination in '16, he is not all bad, would never get my vote, but,,, Just think we may have never had to endure the bat shit crazy under belly of the republican party the trumpster demanded and commanded.
I feel badly for the OH relatives who live there but not too badly bec they are all hopeless Evangelical right wing voters who were also Trumpers! But I just might share ur post with the one younger relative who is a Dem voter & might be interested in knowing this info.
Thank you for the run down good man. Please see my comment for your last post about how we have reason to look up. I feel you will like it. It is about aligning our spirits and how I feel we are starting to do that with what you are doing.
Start putting together animated videos that connect election deniers to the end of democracy, social security, medicare any modicum of a safety net. Show why sec of state are critical in a democray. Do it in animation which seems to be the preferred presentation
That a country this size has virtually no prerequisites for holding office other than money says it all. I honestly don’t see how our democracy will survive. The hopeful moments are being overtaken by reality.
I live in a state a Democrat hasn’t won since President Clinton, I’m not sure what I can do beyond spreading the word to friends and family in other states.
Derek, There are phone banks for candidates all over the country. I live in New York, and I was on the phone with Kansans for the last week for the abortion ballot initiative, Arizonans every day for weeks before that to get them to vote in the Democratic primary yesterday just to get them habituated to voting, and will continue to call Texans four times a week for Beto. I have cleared most of my afternoons and evenings so that I can be ready to jump on a phone bank twice a day. Every vote counts. You can have an important effect. We have one chance. Please take it.
Thank you so much, Donna, for the tip and for your volunteer work! I had hoped someone would fill in facts. I'm a New Yorker too, and spent a few weeks of the Kerry-Bush campaign staying w/ my brother and his activist wife as a purple state volunteer. She designed my role, so I didn't need to plan it. Some of the best experiences and memories of my life—even if the state turned scarlet permanently and the morning after a Vancouver friend emailed info on expatriating.
I am happy to spread the word, Derek. You may find that you reach more than a few over time. Mostly, I hope you find it meaningful. Enjoy the interesting ones, and toughen your skin against the abrasive ones. Don't take it personally, and hang on tight to your sense of humor!
Wow 1/2 of this country still needs to wake up. Republicons stop using that strange nasal spray the republicon leaders gave you. It does NOT do anything for Covid however it is l own to drop a person's IQ by 40 points
I'm other news: After testing it has been found rjY republicon iQs have dropped 40 points over the last 6 years
The mark of a true GQP loser: "If I don't win this election, it's because of fraud!"
Our Supreme (gag and choke) Court said the EPA shouldn't make decisions because they were not elected. The Supreme Court wasn't elected, so that shouldn't be a consideration!
Our laws have far too many loopholes for the wealthy to exploit. Close up one and another takes its place. When flaw (sic) makers are millionaires, they also work to protect their fortunes.
I'd suggest having candidates take a psych and a poly (lie detector) test, but they'd whine it was against their Constitutional rights. What they do goes against our Constitutional rights.
It seems to me it is time to have election expenses capped to make it a more equal playing field. Easy for me to say, as we, in Canada have caps, and a shorter election campaign period for our elections. But the heavy scent of power-hungry, monied individuals and corporations is a toxic one that will kill democracy.
I totally agree. Our election campaigns are so long and require so much money. The main benefactors seem to be television networks and campaign committees. Partly I blame the voters for not paying attention to who is running and what their performance background is. I was born in Canada but have been a US citizen since 1967, so I'm glad to hear you still have limited campaigning. We used to have short campaigns too. Somewhere between 1970's and 1990's things got haywire. Now we get at the most one year total out of a two year House of Representatives member, the other year is lost to eternal campaigning. It's time Americans stood up and objected to this practice. Another bad practice is lobbying, neither Senators nor Congress Persons bother to read full legislation on which they are to vote, their staffs and lobbyists summarize what things they think are important and pass it on to the "boss". In Red State legislatures it is even worse, ALEC writes the legislation and the legislators just act on it verbatim.
It has been doing that since dumbass Roberts came out with the approval of citizens United. Now corporations governed by republi-demoms can control the vote.
It no doubt will & quite possibly in our lifetimes! Citizens United has been more damaging to our country than the recent SCOTUS overturning of Roe!! If the Dems don’t find a way to get this egregious decision overturned, politics & the money used to indenture candidates in certain offices will only get more extreme & trend to the illegal side. It would be great if the US considered adopting a few of Canada’s policies especially a Medicare for All styled national health care program & a cap on the amount of money that can be spent to support any one candidate. Shortening the campaign schedule could also help immensely to control the about of money spent especially for House Reps who seem to always be in campaign mode. Perhaps Prof Reich would know how to push these ideas forward into mainstream issues??
I think a cap would be a great idea but a guy by the name of Roberts disagrees and his is a god next to these political pigmies. Seems the pigmies are scared of their shadow and can't give Roberts a shove. GET OUT Robert s you big weenie. Try dog catcher court and you should do well.
Have we considered a law that lunatics can't run for office ? If so why are we not using it to fix this lunatic problem?
Perhaps an IQ test should be administered to every candidate. A score below 90, sorry, you don’t qualify. (Bye bye MTG!)
I realize you’re (somewhat) joking, but moving back to the days of Jim Crow isn’t a good idea.
Somewhat joking, yes. But, there appears to be a need for some sort of means testing. Constitutional knowledge and understanding may be a good start.
Oh, I certainly wish there were some way of ensuring voters were informed/competent/sane before casting a vote.
Alas, anything that requires some bar to be set is open to severe abuse. Someone would have to decide whether the bar was reached, and your right to vote then becomes subject to their opinion of you.
Below 90? That may be good for the government ant hills but human communities should buy about 140 - 180. There are already many idiots around to lead people ashtray.
Good laugh, Love the idea!
All nations would benefit from such legislation. 😵💫
Any port in a storm!
This is scary, especially the wins of trump backed Secretaries of State. The Democrats in those States will have to buckle down and fight to the finish. A daunting task, but not impossible
Being a "Michigander" I've been watching carefully what has been happening in this election. I was so sorry that Andy Levin lost his bid, it's the first time in decades that a "Levin" hasn't represented our state. My hope is that he will run again in the future, we need him. The dems are playing with fire tossing their support against Meijer for a pro-Trump conspiracy theorist candidate. Dems better win in November or we'll be stuck with this guy. I have faith that Governor Whitmer will hold her position against Tudor Dixon, another conspiracy extremist and anti-choice radical. They key of course, is that Michiganders get to the polls in droves, it's the only action that can protect our state now.
Opportunity to pick up 2 House seats.
Prof.. Reich did an excellent job of summarizing Tuesday’s Primary Voting results. As the professor stated We must alert our fellow Democrats about the necessity of electing Democratic Secretaries of State and All positions up for election in November. For the future of the USA… Vote Democratic Down the Line!
Yes, Ira.
And it is possible to make a contribution to the Democratic Association of Secretaries of State.
TRUMP SMELLS.
HE SMELLS BAD..
HE LEAVES A PUTRID STINK
AND A
FOUL DISGUSTING ODOR
IN THE MINDS
OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE
WHEREVER HE GOES...
And there you have it! This is what we have become, not what we might become. It will take a humongous effort on the part of the polis to save us. This is what CITIZENS UNITED has given us. And most Americans have no idea what's going on around them. Most Americans don't know what an Autocracy is but they are about to find out! Dr Reich knows what an autocracy is and that's why I call him a Cassandra! They will listen, Dr Reich, when it is too late, after the fact.
What I've seen no comment on anywhere is this: yesterday - along with the other primaries mentioned here - OH had a special election to supplement the primary. That was done because the gerrymandered voter districting map was ruled by the conservative OH Supreme Court unconstitutional 3 times previously, and a 4th unconstitutional ruling was just handed down. The voter districting map we used is unconstitutional, but it's getting a pass. The OH SC gave the wank-publicans to fix the map - but only for the November election. Further, it seems that the wank-publicans are playing for time in an attempt to vote those justices off the court and have Tweety-freak Q-servatives replace them. I fully expect we'll end up in a position where the vote count, along with who wins the elections will be who the BOE >says< they are. My confidence in the OH BOE has been shaken in recent days.
Also, although the actual vote counting machines remained, the electronic roster that automatically tally the number of voters checked in against the registered voters and votes cast, they opted to use the pre-electronic paper rosters that must be counted manually at the end of the day, and are subject to being recounted by officials who will >say< what those numbers are, if the count the judges report don't tally with the values those officials say they expect. I don't >know< that anything improper is taking place, but it wouldn't surprise me in the least. I'm sure there'll be far more "rational explanations" than I can possibly respond to.
Just heard on the evening news: one of the sitting OH Supreme Court justices announced today that she has no plans to run for reelection.
Funny that when Dennis Kucinich's district was gerrymandered nobody in power complained. His district and another was connected by a short parcel that is underwater at high tide, which by law is not supposed to be. A few mentioned this, but it was swept under a carpet.
Was the map ruled unconstitutional 4 times? That's the OH Supreme Court mentioning it, on top of 2 referenda that were passed state-wide for a non-partisan voter districting commission , in an attempt to eliminate gerrymandered districts - ignored by the wank-publicans as simply and effortlessly as you comment does. You may be telling it like it was - as you understand it - but your little "what about-ism" is certainly not >telling it like it is!<
Sorry if my memory may be a bit off.
Happens to the best of us.
DZK; Looks like DeWine expected to win again, right?
No doubt. However, I think he has some residual virtue about him. After all, he was on the leading edge of implementing fairly restrictive pandemic measures, while totally supporting Amy Acton, whereupon the OH General Assembly shut him down as Acton was run out of office in fear for her and her family's well being. Not that I'd trust him, I think he's more a Cheney Republican privately. He doesn't seem to have bought into the big lie, and never - to my reckoning - ever supported it. Let me hasten to add, I'd never vote for him unless the Democrats were to revive Stalin and run him! I simply don't despise him, or Kasich, for that matter, whom I've come to like a bit, being on record as thinking the big lie is a load of bullshit. BOTTOM LINE: I think we could do worse than DeWine - a lot, lot worse.
I couldn't remember what it was, but had in the back of mind that DeWine had at least one redeeming asset or attitude, for a rethug, since becoming governor. Kasich should have gotten the R nomination in '16, he is not all bad, would never get my vote, but,,, Just think we may have never had to endure the bat shit crazy under belly of the republican party the trumpster demanded and commanded.
I feel badly for the OH relatives who live there but not too badly bec they are all hopeless Evangelical right wing voters who were also Trumpers! But I just might share ur post with the one younger relative who is a Dem voter & might be interested in knowing this info.
Thank you for the run down good man. Please see my comment for your last post about how we have reason to look up. I feel you will like it. It is about aligning our spirits and how I feel we are starting to do that with what you are doing.
Start putting together animated videos that connect election deniers to the end of democracy, social security, medicare any modicum of a safety net. Show why sec of state are critical in a democray. Do it in animation which seems to be the preferred presentation
You >may< be on to somethin'. Mentality! Good observation.
That a country this size has virtually no prerequisites for holding office other than money says it all. I honestly don’t see how our democracy will survive. The hopeful moments are being overtaken by reality.
I live in a state a Democrat hasn’t won since President Clinton, I’m not sure what I can do beyond spreading the word to friends and family in other states.
Derek, There are phone banks for candidates all over the country. I live in New York, and I was on the phone with Kansans for the last week for the abortion ballot initiative, Arizonans every day for weeks before that to get them to vote in the Democratic primary yesterday just to get them habituated to voting, and will continue to call Texans four times a week for Beto. I have cleared most of my afternoons and evenings so that I can be ready to jump on a phone bank twice a day. Every vote counts. You can have an important effect. We have one chance. Please take it.
Thank you so much, Donna, for the tip and for your volunteer work! I had hoped someone would fill in facts. I'm a New Yorker too, and spent a few weeks of the Kerry-Bush campaign staying w/ my brother and his activist wife as a purple state volunteer. She designed my role, so I didn't need to plan it. Some of the best experiences and memories of my life—even if the state turned scarlet permanently and the morning after a Vancouver friend emailed info on expatriating.
Thank you for the information Donna! I’ll be looking to make calls now, even if only a few people listen, that means something.
I am happy to spread the word, Derek. You may find that you reach more than a few over time. Mostly, I hope you find it meaningful. Enjoy the interesting ones, and toughen your skin against the abrasive ones. Don't take it personally, and hang on tight to your sense of humor!
I’ll be sure to take heed of your words, thank you!
Haha! Every call, of course! It is a great opportunity to practice intentional self-care!
Contact your local Democratic club or other support organizations for alternative volunteer opportunities?
Wow 1/2 of this country still needs to wake up. Republicons stop using that strange nasal spray the republicon leaders gave you. It does NOT do anything for Covid however it is l own to drop a person's IQ by 40 points
I'm other news: After testing it has been found rjY republicon iQs have dropped 40 points over the last 6 years
I stopped giving to Emily’s List when I found out they were supporting Dianne Feinstein.
Busch Valentine
So some connection to a famous "baron" . . A nurse and mother! Has to be caring . .
As for Not all that bright . .Bud's still Bud tho it's Lite . .
and Why should Arizona have the only Dem Karen . .#Veiled prophet
The mark of a true GQP loser: "If I don't win this election, it's because of fraud!"
Our Supreme (gag and choke) Court said the EPA shouldn't make decisions because they were not elected. The Supreme Court wasn't elected, so that shouldn't be a consideration!
Our laws have far too many loopholes for the wealthy to exploit. Close up one and another takes its place. When flaw (sic) makers are millionaires, they also work to protect their fortunes.
I'd suggest having candidates take a psych and a poly (lie detector) test, but they'd whine it was against their Constitutional rights. What they do goes against our Constitutional rights.