What Can We Do Now to Clean Up the 2018 Elections?

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Thursday July 20, 2017 · 8:31 AM PDT

2017/07/20 · 08:31

We have gone through a phase in this country where it was considered irresponsible to question how badly our voting processes were compromised. Since 2016, however, many concerns have been voiced and validated.

Of grave concern is the Russian interference in our elections. We can’t have trustworthy elections when voting machines and voter registrations have been or are capable of being hacked, no matter who is doing the hacking. Gerrymandering skews voter intent. Caging, laws designed to keep specific demographic groups from voting, and flat out cheating distort the democratic process upon which this country was founded. Now we have voters withdrawing from the election process for fear of being the focus of Trump’s intrusion into their voter registration information.

It is progress that we have acknowledged the problems. Now, what are we going to do about it?When we talk about winning in 2018 I still see the same solutions proposed: more Democrat voter registration, getting voters to the polls, the classic get-out-the vote strategies. We can’t vote ourselves out of the nightmare we are living in when the voting itself is corrupted.

I want to know what we can do now to clean up the 2018 elections. My local voting is done on paper ballots so starting local is not the answer for me. I want to know if there are organizations I can donate to who are actively suing to challenge individual states about their questionable voting processes like gerrymandering, caging, and using unreliable voting machines. Is there an organization actively working to promote paper ballots? What is available out there that I can support to clean up 2018 elections?

Poll

32 votes Show Results

Are you concerned about 2018 voting irregularities seriously distorting the will of US voters?

32 votes Vote Now!

Are you concerned about 2018 voting irregularities seriously distorting the will of US voters?

Very

24 votes

Sort of

4 votes

I'm neutral

0 votes

I don't think it's that bad

0 votes

4 votes

Police Presence in Denver

bluebrain

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday August 25, 2008 · 10:03 AM PDT

2008/08/25 · 10:03

Yesterday, I watched with grave concern as a convoy of riot-gear-clad cops were shown moving into a section of Denver where protesters were blocking downtown streets. You may have been politically concerned, too. We know that Faux News is salivating over the possibility of showing violent events directed at the Democrats in Denver.

But I am concerned personally, too. Deep in the heart of Denver, at ground zero for the Democratic National Convention, stands one cop--a cop who is a member of my family, a cop that I love very much. That police officer is there to protect the rights and safety of you as delegates and attendees to the Convention, and to protect the rights and safety of those who are protesting.

Like most of you, DKos has been my lifeline to sanity since Bush's second "election" in 2004. I have been awed by the expertise and insight, have doubled over at the blazing wit that crops up constantly and have been touched by the empathy and compassion shown by so many of you. I have come to value and trust the majority of the members of this community. That's why the current propensity of some posters here to characterize the cops as "not us" is distressing to me.

Poll

25 votes Show Results

Will you help keep the cops at the DNC safe?

25 votes Vote Now!

Will you help keep the cops at the DNC safe?

Yes I will do whatever I can.

4 votes

I will at least examine my beliefs about cops and see how they behave this time.

6 votes

If the cops can carry this convention off with no violence, they are my heros (and heroines)

7 votes

Sorry, hit over the head too many times in '68.

1 vote

I will never try to help a cop.

7 votes

McCain to Attend Sturgis Rally at Buffalo Chip?!

bluebrain

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday July 29, 2008 · 10:36 AM PDT

2008/07/29 · 10:36

This is not meant to be a substantive diary.

However, when I saw that John McCain is scheduled to be at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis, South Dakota that newsflash seemed too good to keep to myself.

Poll

97 votes Show Results

Where will John McCain show up next?

97 votes Vote Now!

Where will John McCain show up next?

Telephone booth opening in Peoria.

8 votes

Fumbling with the hose and his note cards at a gas station in Salt Lake City.

23 votes

At a Budwieser beer bash in a University of Colorado dorm room.

5 votes

On a nude beach in Florida, to talk about the dangers of sun exposure.

20 votes

At an old folks home in Myrtle Beach (doesn't he look young?)

15 votes

At a computer in Chicago being shown the wonders of the internets tubes.

11 votes

In California, standing on Ronald Reagan's grave.

15 votes

Other, please explain in comments.

0 votes

Bush Unveils New Economic Stimulus Plan

bluebrain

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday April 20, 2008 · 10:07 AM PDT

2008/04/20 · 10:07

Many Americans are set to receive $600 checks over the next couple of months as part of George W. Bush's economic stimulus package. Unfortunately, some say it is not enough, citing the increased fuel and grocery costs currently hitting the beleaguered American consumer.

Now new information is emerging regarding the second part of Bush's economic plan to address these concerns.

The new program is called The Good Luck, Americans, Stimulus Program.

bluebrain

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday January 30, 2008 · 10:12 AM PST

2008/01/30 · 10:12

My support for John Edwards has never been for him vs. Hillary or Obama. It has always been about John Edwards vs. the corporations, the vast right wing conspiracy, the wealthy, and the elites.

I have spent my life as a teacher, therapist, social worker and professor trying to make a difference for those who have had the cards in life stacked against them. At several times during my life, there have been policies in place that supported my work, notably the policies articulated by John and Robert Kennedy and put in place by LBJ.

bluebrain

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday July 11, 2007 · 1:41 PM PDT

2007/07/11 · 13:41

George W. Bush thumbs his nose at the American public more outrageously every day. Why? Is he trying to provoke us into impeaching him?

Poll

143 votes Show Results

Why is Bush escalating his provocation of the American public?

143 votes Vote Now!

Why is Bush escalating his provocation of the American public?

Because he can.

11 votes

Because no one has ever put meaningful curbs on his behavior, ever.

86 votes

Because he is compelled to destroy anything he touches.

11 votes

Because he knows Democrats will never try to impeach him.

21 votes

Because there will be political advantage if he can lure Democrats into impeaching him.

12 votes

Other, please pontificate in comments.

2 votes

Bush:"Our nation is compassionate" as Chavez pays for Pine Ridge heating shortfall.

bluebrain

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday March 11, 2007 · 4:44 PM PDT

2007/03/11 · 16:44

George W. Bush was in Brazil on Friday trying to present himself and his administration as compassionate conservatives to a whole new group of countries, since we in America have laughed that one off long ago. Meanwhile, Hugo Chavez and CITGO have donated $635,000 to help residents who are out of electricity, propane and wood heat their homes on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

Poll

63 votes Show Results

Would you rather:

63 votes Vote Now!

Would you rather:

Trust George W. Bush to be generous and compassionate?

1 vote

Depend on Hugo Chavez to keep you from freezing to death?

10 votes

Elect a Democratic president who will make sure that America cares for her own?

51 votes

Other, please comment below.

1 vote

Buy Buy, Baby, Buy Buy

bluebrain

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday November 30, 2006 · 3:52 PM PST

2006/11/30 · 15:52

Well, 'tis the season. The 2006 Christmas season (or holidays, if you prefer) are upon us. What are you doing reading this? Why aren't you out shopping? Don't you understand that you are no better than the terrorists if you aren't buying, buying, buying?

This is also the time of year when your reward for supporting our economy like a good patriot is that consumer abuse goes into high gear. It's around the rest of the year too--the cable bill that includes Fox News as part of the unnegotiable package, the unnecessary indignities after you've paid for your ticket at the airport, the expensive health, home and auto insurances that aren't worth the paper they're written on. But this is the season when customer abuse is in your face.

When I was a child, my great-uncle owned an upscale menswear store in a mid-sized town. He and his salespeople lived and breathed the old adage, "The customer is always right." The customer was king in his store. Preferences were respectfully solicited and honored. Everyone who worked in that store flat out appreciated their customers. After all, those customers' satisfaction represented job security. When was the last time you were treated like a valuable customer?

Ours is called a "service economy." So here's my question: Where's the service?

bluebrain

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday October 05, 2006 · 6:40 PM PDT

2006/10/05 · 18:40

I hate cold-calling. In fact I absolutely loathe it. I hate it when people do it to me and I hate it worse when I'm the caller. So why do I find myself one night a week on the phone cold-calling? Because I can't live with myself if I don't volunteer to do SOMETHING about the abortion ban abomination that currently is law in South Dakota.
Most voters in South Dakota have received the push poll in which one of the questions was "Would you vote to uphold the abortion ban if you knew there were exceptions for rape and incest?" Of course, there are no exceptions in the law for rape or incest or problems with the mother's health--the pregnancy continues unless the mother's death is imminent. Some people think they are voting on whether or not to restrict abortion. They do not realize we already have a standing law in place and the current vote is to undo that law. To see some of the responses I heard from SD voters follow me below the fold. Read More

Class of 2006: Sending My Son Out into BushWorld /First Diary

bluebrain

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday August 28, 2006 · 10:01 AM PDT

2006/08/28 · 10:01

I've long been a political junkie, like many who come to DailyKos--strategizing, going door-to-door, persuading, policy making, meeting political stars, donating, experiencing the "agony of defeat" and the absolutely addicting high of winning. Sometimes, with all the activity, the fact that politics is about quality of life for all people can get lost in the shuffle. My son has just graduated from high school and I've been thinking a lot about what kind of quality of life he and his friends from the class of 2006 will have. There's more. Read More

RSS

What Can We Do Now to Clean Up the 2018 Elections?

Police Presence in Denver

McCain to Attend Sturgis Rally at Buffalo Chip?!

Bush Unveils New Economic Stimulus Plan

You Don't Get It

Is Bush Trying to Provoke Impeachment?

Bush:"Our nation is compassionate" as Chavez pays for Pine Ridge heating shortfall.

Buy Buy, Baby, Buy Buy

South Dakotans' Responses When Called about Voting Against the Abortion Ban

Class of 2006: Sending My Son Out into BushWorld /First Diary