News From Wisconsin

Republicans just don't want people to go vote this Tuesday.

That's a bold assertion, true. But check out this article in Madison's Capital Times about some shitty behavior on behalf of the Dave Magnum campaign and the College Republicans:

UW-Madison students in six residence halls received misleading information this week about how to vote, triggering allegations of dirty tricks.

The Dave Magnum for Congress campaign and the College Republicans took responsibility and apologized for the mailing Friday evening, insisting it was an honest error.

But a progressive group called it a deliberate attempt to confuse student voters. And University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor John Wiley, saying he was concerned that students might not know where to vote, had e-mails sent to all students Friday afternoon containing correct information.

A flier carrying a photo of Magnum, the 2nd Congressional District Republican candidate, urged students to "vote at the polling place of your choice." It was mailed to students in numerous residence halls, university spokesman John Lucas said. The flier listed five locations on campus where students could "choose" to vote.

But in reality, each student is eligible to vote in only one place. Each residence hall is assigned to a specific polling station.

And you thought we lived in a democracy. Of course, the slimy fucks at the Magnum campaign and the UW College Republicans instantly claimed that, oops, they made a mistake, you see. Their mistake, I'm sure they think, is that they got caught trying to suppress voters. Because, you know, god forbid that people actually get to express their wills at the polls.

It could be worse, though. You could be an African-American living in Milwaukee:



From Sierra Club web logger John Barry, via Daily Kos. Image hosting thanks to our good friend Errol.

That's right. And it's fucking sickening. And infuriating. I'm very tired of these rotten motherfuckers trying to keep people from voting. Goddammit, this system is supposed to value everyone's input, not just the point of view of a few (yes, I'm being incredibly naive here. I know that, so piss off). Also, the allegiance of the citizens is supposed to be to the republic, not to a faction therein.

Speaking of which, I thought I'd share this instantaneously classic bit with all of you, from Slate:

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla.—"I want you to stand, raise your right hands," and recite "the Bush Pledge," said Florida state Sen. Ken Pruitt. The assembled mass of about 2,000 in this Treasure Coast town about an hour north of West Palm Beach dutifully rose, arms aloft, and repeated after Pruitt: "I care about freedom and liberty. I care about my family. I care about my country. Because I care, I promise to work hard to re-elect, re-elect George W. Bush as president of the United States."

I know the Bush-Cheney campaign occasionally requires the people who attend its events to sign loyalty oaths, but this was the first time I have ever seen an audience actually stand and utter one. Maybe they've replaced the written oath with a verbal one.

High fucking holy fucking living fuck.

Can you believe that shit? I mean, did everybody have an armband with a GOP symbol on it, too?

God damn it. This is America. We do not swear fealty to fucking individuals. But there they stood, 2000 of them, pledging personal loyalty to that little Bush bitch, that helpless cheerleader, that red-painted corporate whore.

Wake the fuck up, people. We're dancing on the edge.