"But as Republic Report exclusively reported last month, the Center to Protect Patients' Rights is part of a universe of front groups financed by David and Charles Koch, the petrochemical billionaires, as well as several other billionaires, as part of an election-influencing effort. New reports this week about the brothers' strategy indicate that they will now use this constellation of front groups to finance $400 million of a $1 billion campaign in outside money to defeat President Obama and congressional Democrats. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Mitt Romney's Super PAC, and several nonprofits controlled by Karl Rove, will furnish the other $600 million."

And yet we continue to lecture other countries around the world about the value of "free and fair" elections...

Grand_Moff_Joseph: And yet we continue to lecture other countries around the world about the value of "free and fair" elections...

And when they actually hold free and fair elections, we reserve the right to bomb the shiat out of them if we don't like the outcome.

After this election, Citizens United will likely go down as the absolute worst decision in SCOTUS history.

Grand_Moff_Joseph: After this election, Citizens United will likely go down as the absolute worst decision in SCOTUS history.

Well...Dred Scott probably has it beat in terms of negative impact, but it's close.

FloydA: Grand_Moff_Joseph: After this election, Citizens United will likely go down as the absolute worst decision in SCOTUS history.

Well...Dred Scott probably has it beat in terms of negative impact, but it's close.

Fair point indeed. This would be a very close second though, as you said.

Grand_Moff_Joseph: After this election, Citizens United will likely go down as the absolute worst decision in SCOTUS history.

I imagine the discussion went like this.

"We can't just pay to win an election"

"What if we pay the Supreme Court to let us pay to win an election"

"Brilliant"

Well, I doubt Congress would let that happen.

But, this purge feels, I dont know the right word...it feels wrong, strange, worrisome.

I understand if someone is conservative, but how can anyone be Republican? This is so anti-democratic and corrupt. Ugh.

coco ebert: I understand if someone is conservative, but how can anyone be Republican? This is so anti-democratic and corrupt. Ugh.

Today's GOP is the greatest threat that America has ever faced.

I really, truly never imagined in my worst nightmares that I would type those words and actually believe them. Really depressing.

cman: Well, I doubt Congress would let that happen.

But, this purge feels, I dont know the right word...it feels wrong, strange, worrisome.

As if thousands of voters cried out, and were suddenly silenced.

FrailChild: You can't disenfranchise someone who is dead, or doesn't exist, or isn't a citizen...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaUsT9MLMlA

But you can easily disenfranchise people who have 'similar names' and, say, purposefully do so in a sloppy manner.

As much as I enjoy following politics, I don't think for a second that it's anything more than theater. Major policy calls are made in the shadows, and the decisions are handed to the figureheads we elect for implementation. The fact that the elections themselves are corrupt and rigged at the state level is just a small part of a much larger problem.

Ned Stark: Headso: The disenfranchisement is really the creepiest part of the republican agenda. I could live with the religious nuttery and I get that rich people want to pay less taxes just like middle class people so that's just business but the whole trying to make it so people can't vote is truly a disgusting thing to do in this country of all places.

Because THIS COUNTRY!!! has a notably spotless record, eh?

Especially when it comes to dealing with people of color

FrailChild: This is all kind of ridiculous. I remember having fights with people who wouldn't agree to require showing a driver's license or photo ID card (which you have to have proof of citizenship to get) to vote.

You need a photo ID to purchase alcohol but not to vote? So much muddying of the waters just so you can hate on Republicans.

Let's wake up.

The argument is is that there will be people who are just too poor to be able to afford an ID. Although it may not seem like much money, it still is of a concern that should be looked into. If the state government gave the ID's away without any fees, then this would be a nonissue.

FrailChild: You need a photo ID to purchase alcohol but not to vote?

You can post a false equivalency on fark and not get called out for it?

FrailChild: If this was a problem both sides wanted to solve

Please elaborate on this widespread voter fraud that warrants denying law abiding citizens the right to vote.

If there actually was a problem, then maybe this wouldn't be such a big deal.

FrailChild: cman: The argument is is that there will be people who are just too poor to be able to afford an ID. Although it may not seem like much money, it still is of a concern that should be looked into. If the state government gave the ID's away without any fees, then this would be a nonissue.

I've heard that argument and it is complete BS. The state gives away everything from healthcare to money to food regularly. What's stopping a push for a charity voter ID card program? If this was a problem both sides wanted to solve, there wouldn't be an issue.

Frankly, I dont know.

FrailChild: This is all kind of ridiculous. I remember having fights with people who wouldn't agree to require showing a driver's license or photo ID card (which you have to have proof of citizenship to get) to vote.

You need a photo ID to purchase alcohol but not to vote? So much muddying of the waters just so you can hate on Republicans.

Let's wake up.

This is about 50 joe jacksons with IDs and voter registration cards getting purged from voting roles because one Joe Jackson died.

FrailChild: cman: The argument is is that there will be people who are just too poor to be able to afford an ID. Although it may not seem like much money, it still is of a concern that should be looked into. If the state government gave the ID's away without any fees, then this would be a nonissue.

I've heard that argument and it is complete BS. The state gives away everything from healthcare to money to food regularly. What's stopping a push for a charity voter ID card program? If this was a problem both sides wanted to solve, there wouldn't be an issue.

If you require something that costs money in order to vote, you are charging money to vote. This is called a poll tax. It is illegal.

It is very much an issue.

FrailChild: This is all kind of ridiculous. I remember having fights with people who wouldn't agree to require showing a driver's license or photo ID card (which you have to have proof of citizenship to get) to vote.

You need a photo ID to purchase alcohol but not to vote? So much muddying of the waters just so you can hate on Republicans.

Let's wake up.

Shut up, you ass. You should be extremely concerned about this because the pendulum swings both ways and will be the other side on the chopping block at some point. Suddenly it will be a problem.

Literally. Put aside labels for a moment and think about this in black and white. Voters are being removed from the polls and forced to prove their identity, they are being removed in a crass and hamfisted manner, and the leadership of the movement is ideologically opposed to the demographic that is most affected by the purge. This doesn't concern you? Maybe because it's happening to the other team? One day it may be your team, will it be worrisome then? Or will you laugh about it and say it's nonsense and doesn't matter?

It matters, no matter who it is happening to. We should all be up in arms about this, and I can only hope the DOJ actually does its job and doesn't simper and whine while the purge continues.

Epoch_Zero: FrailChild: If this was a problem both sides wanted to solve

Please elaborate on this widespread voter fraud that warrants denying law abiding citizens the right to vote.

If there actually was a problem, then maybe this wouldn't be such a big deal.

Well, it is also a matter of principle. Democracy is an important part of the American way of life, and anything that would damage the institution should be fought against. This is how both sides see it. The right believes that there is too much corruption, and one of the fixes should be showing an ID card. The left believes that such a program would hurt the process of voting. As you can see, this is a highly complex issue