Time For Campaign '09

[Guest]

There was probably an unprecedented amount of real interest in and passionate discussion of Campaign '08 throughout the nation. And there's one thing that might be agreed upon by all: an obscene amount of money was spent promoting candidates with messages that were either half-truths or outright lies.

It may be difficult to measure how much harm was done this time to the democratic process, but we have known for years that negative, sensational messages are a powerful influence on many voters, and that those voters get much of their information from television.

How about if we start the Campaign of '09 and ask the new Congress for real election reform? It would fit nicely in the new platform of CHANGE. For a start we could keep it real simple -like the Brits from whom we got our democratic ideals. Just ban all political campaign ads from television.

[Guest]

staring with the polls open first in California then progressively working Eastward.
This way those on Pacific time will feel like they have a vote that counts before being called by the networks.
And that brings up #2 no calling a winner until all polls are closed and counted.

These have as much a chance as any other reform tha make sense...NONE.

BTK

[Guest]

I wholeheartedly agree doing away with TV campaign ads. Positive or Negative. I just can't stand them anymore. Also robo-calls should be banned. I loath them even more than the TV ads.

I disagree with waiting until every vote is counted to call it. They have the technology now, why not use it. And this particular election was important to the entire world. I think, more than ever, it put a lot of people at peace to know who the winner was asap. :)

[Guest]

And, #3...start a constitutional amendment process to do away with the electoral college and make our presidential election based strictly on the majority of the popular vote.

The Democrat in Wyoming should have as much say as the Republican in Washington DC. Right now, neither of their votes count for much as their results are pretty predictable.

This would also force candidates to campaign evenly across the country rather than focusing on a few battleground states.

The electoral college made sense when our country was young, information was slow to be disseminated, and transporation/communication was primitive. Times have changed.

I'm really suprised after the 2000 election debacle that there wasn't a concerted effort to make some changes in the election process.

I agree on campaign finance reform too. There were obscene amounts of money spent on these elections.

[Guest]

It will be a cold day in :cus: before we see any reform in our political process. The foxes own the hen house and aren't about to upset THEIR egg basket for anyone. It's had to see there will ever be finance reform or term limits or anything that the people want in reform. Politicians are by and part well meaning in intent, but are hopelessly addicted to the position and getting re elected.:boxing2:

[Guest]

for the realities of the needs of we the people.

They are elected and they KNOW we the people will do little (usually nothing) to hold them accountable.

A good example...Stevens in Alaska a found guilty multiple felon gets reelected.
He is a classic example (both parties have more than their share of dregs just like him) of the tolerance we the people have shown.

The answer to reform is with the will of the people, unfortunately we the people just will not create a ground swell to make the elcted officials be what was intended.....REPRESENT.

Nothing will change until there is a ground swell created leading to a rebellion that is sick and tired and not going to take it anymore.

Until then....the silent majority gets what it deserves....nothing!

Just take note how lobbyists get more than their share of REPRESENTATION.

How about a ten million "we the people" march on Washington?
Or let's get more local and have multitudes plan to inundate their REPRESENTATIVES local offices.
The solution is simple. The execution is impossible.

Felons, thieves, whore mongers, cheaters, liars getting elected....convicted and reelected. What a testimony to apathy.

BTK

[Guest]

I don't think any election should be called until the entire nation has voted. I don't think there should be exit polling either. This is just another media manipulation. When the media announceed that Florida had gone to Gore, before the polls had even closed, it cost Bush 10,000 votes. How many votes did it cost him in the western US, not to mention other candidates? I think we can wait one day to get the results. While I'm at it, I think early voting has got to go. I have early voted whenever it was legal, but I never felt that it was right. Too many things can happen. Some states vote a month ahead of time.

[Guest]

Sally Jo, you are absolutely right about early voting. It is an open door for voter fraud. Election day should be election day with absentee ballots restricted to those unable to be there because of service to this country. This can be done under the law. Banning of exit polling would, however, constitute a limitation on free speech.

Campaign Finance Reform will never be heard from again. The McCain-Feingold bill put in place a workable system for the presidential election. This time, both candidates pledged to work within the parameters of this act. Our President-elect changed his mind and opted out and went for unlimited private donations. Given the disparity in funds available, no serious candidate will ever again live by these guidelines.

[Guest]

Early and absentee voting to me is great! Not everyone has the luxury of being in-town on election day or has time-from-work to get to the polls. Since those vote tallies are not made public until after the election, no harm with it - and all good.

Any restriction on free speech regarding candidates or issues is not a good thing to me. The First Amendment is a key reason we have a country at all, and hobbling it in any fashion is a recipe for disaster. That includes the so-called "Fairness Doctrine" as well. If the "fairness Doctrine" become's an administration's means to silence critics, the next thing to go are these chat boards. "One small step to silence, one giant leap towards...."

Exit polls will always be there, and I can't see how they can be silenced. Keeping official results for the Presidential election (the rest can be published!) sealed until Hawaii's polls close are another thing altogether.

And most of all - voter-imposed term limits! Mine are 3-terms for a US Representative and 1 term for a Senator. If we let them stay in office for 10-20-30 years, it's OUR fault when the Congressional approval rate is so low.

[Guest]

SteveZ People could still vote absentee if they were going to be out of town or a shut-in. Polls could stay open longer hours on election day. Make elections Tuesday and Wednesday. If people want to vote badly enough they can. With extended early voting I feel there is just to much chance of fraud. There is already enough as it is.

[Guest]

SteveZ People could still vote absentee if they were going to be out of town or a shut-in. Polls could stay open longer hours on election day. Make elections Tuesday and Wednesday. If people want to vote badly enough they can. With extended early voting I feel there is just to much chance of fraud. There is already enough as it is.
Voter fraud is a matter of identification and residence verification, and when we laugh these of, fraud occurs.

Being required to provide reliable identification which verifies name and residence does not seem like any restriction on liberty. Having a means to verify that a person is not registered to vote in multiple jurisdictions seems a necessity. Voter fraud should be treated as criminal fraud against the government and prosecuted as such - up to 5 years in jail.

Organizing the homeless to vote sounds so noble, but is done in the manner of vote-buying, only this way the price has dropped to a dinner and a warm bed for a night.

[Guest]

not so fast with the reforms............

I've allready ordered my bumper stickers....


GO NEWT !!!!