I saw segments on this on The Rachel Maddow Show over the last two nights, but seeing Meteor Blades' diary on the subject of the despicable actions by the Republicans in Ohio counties finding new and exciting ways to suppress Democratic voting rights roused me to share my thoughts.
I live in Georgia and am thus surrounded by Republicans and anti-Obama sentiment everywhere I turn. Therefore whenever politics come up, I try to acknowledge that the Republican Party (as opposed to the Tea Party which is worthy of nothing coming even close to respect) has some fine people behind the crazy mouthpieces. I try to not let my bias show too terribly and I acknowledge that the Democratic Party doesn't always work for the sole betterment of their constituents, but cares more for their own political agenda. I do this so that I can try and get some actual facts out there as to what the Republican Party is doing without being completely dismissed out of hand. And aside from that, while I support the Democratic Party and would love to live in a world where this current GOP doesn't exist, I genuinely believe the above to some degree (albeit getting smaller per news cycle).
What is happening in Ohio counties right now, though? It completely undermines that argument that I bring out when I'm trying to get any Republicans I know to see that the Republican Party has done some horrible things by giving them leeway by saying that the Democratic Party isn't perfect either. And it is undermined because in this scenario the Democrats show the true beauty of bi-partisanship, working together with the Republicans to give every American citizen (even right-leaning ones) the ability to perform their right to vote, while the Republicans prove the very worst of their critics correct by denying the same to voters that lean towards the Left.
I just can't even begin to wrap my brain around how horrible this is. Crystal-clear, in every way, shape and form these actions have proven that Democrats DO care about the US citizen and their right to vote since they voted unanimously to let the Republican-leaning counties have the early voting ... because it was RIGHT. On the other hand, the Republicans and John Husted proved unequivocally that they care ONLY about their party. Who gives a damn about the people?
"Not I!" they all call out with ominous cheer.
I feel a level of disgust and deep loathing for the GOP beyond anything I have yet experienced. Sadly, I believe there are depths to which they still can and will sink before this election cycle is over.