Early Voting for Idiots & the Insane

I took advantage of early voting today.

As soon as i joined the already long line, I became starkly aware that I reside in a retirement village, because the only person in the line younger than me was drooling on a teething ring.

There was a confusing amendment about allowing idiots to vote.

Proposed Constitutional Amendment No. 1

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC
Pursuant to Article 19, Section 22, of the Arkansas Constitution, the 86th General Assembly refers the following constitutional amendment to a vote of the people on November 4, 2008. Each elector upon voting his/her ballot shall vote for or against this amendment.

Stricken language would be deleted from the present Constitution. Underlined language would be added to the present Constitution.

State of Arkansas As Engrossed: S2/7/07 86th General Assembly
Regular Session, 2007 SJR 4 Referred Amendment #1
By: Senator Faris

(Popular Name)
AN AMENDMENT CONCERNING VOTING, QUALIFICATIONS OF VOTERS AND ELECTION OFFICERS, AND THE TIME OF HOLDING GENERAL ELECTIONS.

“AMENDING VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION CONCERNING VOTING AND ELECTIONS; PROVIDING THAT ALL PERSONS MAY VOTE WHO ARE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES, RESIDENTS OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS, AT LEASE EIGHTEEN (18) YEARS OF AGE, AND LAWFULLY REGISTERED TO VOTE; TO REPEAL THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE RIGHT TO VOTE SHALL NOT BE MADE TO DEPEND ON ANY PREVIOUS REGISTRATION OF AN ELECTOR’S NAME; REPEALING ARTICLE 3, SECTION 5 OF THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTIONAL PROVIDING THAT NO IDIOT OR INSANE PERSON SHALL BE ENTITLED TO THE PRIVILEGES OF AN ELECTOR; AND PERMITTING THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO ESTABLISH THE DATE AND TIME OF ELECTIONS AND THE QUALIFICATIONS OF ELECTION OFFICERS.*

Do they mean, yes I'm for idiots and insane people voting, or no I'm not? It seemed to mean the amendment would remove the restriction on the idiots and the insane...I guess if you can't understand it, vote "against"--unless you're an idiot or insane. But then, you wouldn't be voting today if you were an idiot or insane, because the amendment hasn't passed yet to allow that....though there is overwhelming evidence that idiots and the insane have always been able to vote, somehow....If i get to choose, however, I'd choose. um...NO.

If we DO allow idiots and the insane to vote i can just see it now--an ACORN bus pulls up with a load of all their newly registered voters and they're all wearing scrubs, and being herded to the polling machine by a chaperon in a lab coat.
Hey--do the schizophrenics get to vote once for every voice in their head?

Seriously. We need more clarity in the language for amendments. Even smart people like me are confused. How does that help the process? I am SO ready to change my residency to Colorado. You have no idea.


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*http://www.sosweb.state.ar.us/elections/2008_election_info/amendment_concerning_term_limits.pdf

Early Voting for Idiots & the Insane

Maybe, Just Maybe I was Wrong.

In several previous posts, I expressed my doubt that Hillary would be elected.

Apparently, I might soon be dining on fricasseed crow.

My opinion was based on my underlying frustration and contention that the American voting public couldn't possibly be open minded enough to put a woman in the White House...now, I'm not so sure. And there is some indication that Obama could win. A black man whose first and middle names are awfully close to a certain Iraqi dictator and a terrorist....that alone, shocks me....could it be that people are seeing the real issues, now? Is it possible that people care more now?? Now that their lives have been turned upside down for the last 8 years?

If Hillary or Obama make it to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, and gets to sit in the Big Chair, I'll be one chipper constituent--even more chipper if it's Hillary, as I'm not quite as excited about Obama--but way happier than if it's John McCain, another freakin' Republican. I would love nothing better than for my earlier predictions to be WRONG. I'd love to have my faith in the voting public restored by an overwhelming outcry for change.

But for some time, I've been a naysayer about that possibility. As this election enthusiasm floods the nation, I can see that I could be wrong.....I was always really clear that when election time swung around again, I'd be SPRINTING to the polling station like a hungry cheetah, and casting my vote for the Democrat (though i am a registered Independent). I am so thrilled that the name BUSH won't even be on the ballot, that i do a happy-dance, even when no one is watching.

I'm convinced that Hillary is highly qualified, due to her unique experience, and though Obama says all the right things and is an accomplished orator, I feel he doesn't have enough practical experience yet, though he's appealing in many ways.....be that as it may, I still wonder if American voters are ready for either a woman or a black man in the Oval Office. I hope one of them is elected, however. I'm actually a little hopeful about it now, as trending indicates that voters are motivated these days. With good reason.

Some voters are motivated in an insipid direction--like those who started a "Lou Dobbs for President" website. It's insipid not because Dobbs is an unappealing choice (I frankly respect him and his personal and political stance) but these individuals fail to recognize that a non-politico doesn't run just because there's a petition asking him to...and even if he did, it's far too late for him to jump in, so this movement is an inane waste of time and resources that could be better served with the Dems who ARE running.

So i sit chewing my nails and squirming in my armchair, my voting hand all atwitter, hoping for that Historical event to come to fruition.

Maybe, Just Maybe I was Wrong.

Hillary, and Hoping for Drastic

I've been riding around on my angst-wagon about this for so long.

I think that neither Hillary nor Obama will be elected as president, even if one of them gains the nomination. The only exception is if new voters tip the scales, and/or the Republican candidate screws up royally and/or the Democrat candidate does a splendid job of convincing voters. Barring those events, we are essentially giving away our chances of having a Democratic president in 2008. Hillary knows this, and I think this can be her one fatal mistake (unless she knows something we don't know--which is likely). She's running anyway, when she should be doing what I said before and supporting another Caucasian male for president and getting into the oval office after 4 years of being his vice president or other High Level position. That's the ONLY WAY she will get into the oval office. Her qualifications are beside the point--how sad is that?

And I must also mention my trepidation about OPRAH. In throwing her support behind Obama, I fear she has assured us all of at least another 4 years of Republican rule. Does she know something I don't know, too? Will she be the pivotal person who gets him elected? Or is she wasting her money and support on a long-shot, when she could be using it to insure we get a Democrat in the Oval Office?

And here's the other thing--even if every person eligible to vote, voted for Hillary or Obama or John Edwards, they STILL WOULDN'T BE ELECTED. We have that insipid Electoral College to thank for that. The popular vote is no longer the pivotal thing. Our votes are never REALLY counted. Again, a government of the people, for the people, and by the people is a THING OF THE PAST.

When are we going to take our rights back?

So for all of you who are hanging your hopes on us having a Democratic president, forget it. It's not going to happen unless something really drastic takes place. Perhaps that's possible, with the event less than a year away. But it would have to be a series of errors on the part of the Republican candidate(s) and the Dems doing everything right.

Hillary, and Hoping for Drastic