Voting across the country is in chaos. Our state by state patchwork of voting rules, laws, ID's, machines, processes, poll worker training and counting can only be described as third world. I believe these systemic flaws contribute to the national malaise about voting participation. For many it is a pain in the butt. Others, a huge inconvenience. For many a discouraging experience.
Ok, many of you are not going to like this from a recent transplant from Texas no less. But I'm going to give you my truth as I saw it with my own eyes.
I argue that when you vote, your vote should be for the Party. I do not buy the concept "I vote for the candidate, not the Party". Sorry, but it is not unsophisticated or unthinking to vote a "straight ticket" in the case of partisan elections.
It is well understood by communications experts that fear is an extremely powerful emotion to reverse. The RNC is executing a powerful national campaign of fear, based mostly on ISIL and Ebola. It is grounded in their national and local messaging strategy that government doesn't work, especially an Obama/Pelosi government.
Overrunning towns, pillaging, plundering, setting fire, torture, burning at the stake, rape, burning children alive, enslaving, beheadings, sacking places of worship, taking body parts for trophies, destroying libraries, cannibalism, crucifixions, opening bodies for swallowed treasure. A special place in paradise for warriors. Justice for infidels. Slaughter of their own. Robbing and keeping the riches.
Apparently he's got another tell all book about to come out. Timely, Leon, given that we've got a hugely important election next month with your "fellow" Democrats in the cross hairs of the party of hate.
IS (variously ISIS, ISIL) has recruiting centers set up, employing sophisticated social media to lure desperate young people from middle eastern countries with youth unemployment rates as high as 29%.
The First State sent three busloads of concerned citizens to the September 21 massive and largely media-ignored Climate March in New York City. Reports claimed 400,000 marchers and I believe them, given the shoulder to shoulder shuffle we joyfully experienced on Sunday at Central Park Avenue.
I am privileged to know and to have worked with Former Congressman Craig A. Washington of Bastrop and Houston Texas who shared this with me. He represented well the good people of Barbara Jordan's district after having served in the Texas legislature.
Ok, then. From the President's speech we're sort of at war with ISIL? Not exactly war, according to John Kerry, but sorta. Let's just call it large scale counter terrorism, he says. More like humanitarian bombings.
The right accuses President Obama of not "leading", and horror upon horrors, not having a strategery, err, strategy. They are amplified by much of the mainstream media who, with the right, succumbed to the same sky is falling bait fed by the right in 2003.