The Boston Red Sox (news) — yes, the Boston Red Sox! — are World Series (news - web sites) champions at long, long last. No more curse and no doubt about it. Ridiculed and reviled through decades of defeat, the Red Sox didn't just beat the St. Louis Cardinals (news), owners of the best record in baseball, they swept them for their first crown since 1918.
Just to rub it in the craw for the Yankees, I just saw two shots of what looked like tons of Red Sox fans among our men and women overseas, specifically in Baghdad ...
Posted by: Edward Yee ||
10/27/2004 11:46:25 PM ||
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I can't wait to see Kerry's comments: "I am so proud that my beloved Red Sox swept all seven games of the World Championship of Baseball. They even won the clinching game by a score of 2-0, with Eric Lowe pitching a masterful game. Matt Damon led off the game with a donger, and Tricky Trot Nixon drove in a pair with a double hit. Somewhere, that beloved Red Sox immortal Willie Mays is smiling.
"P.S. - I served in Vietnam with Ted Williams, who taught me how to fly fighters."
Posted by: Tibor ||
10/28/2004 0:32 Comments ||
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"The other individuals all show similar characteristics, and over a time range that now extends from as long ago as 95,000 years to as recently as 13,000 years ago -- a population of hobbits that seemed to disappear at about the same time as the pygmy elephants that they hunted," said Bert Roberts
Pygmy elephants? Gor blimey! as me old Gaffer might say...
SHE stands a metre tall, has a brain the size of a chimpanzee and her knuckles reach down to her knees - meet homo floresiensis, pin-up girl of the scientific world.
The newly discovered species of human, dubbed "the Hobbit", is being hailed as the most significant scientific find of the past century and was unearthed by NSW archaeologists.
Named after the Indonesian island of Flores where she was found, the female is thought to have been 30 years old when she died of natural causes.
Scientists have pieced together an image - with the male of the species pictured right - of a hairless, dark-skinned dwarf with a comparatively small head, countersunk eyes, flat nose, big teeth and mouth jutting forward with virtually no chin.
But what has scientists at the University of New England, Armidale, so excited is that the species lived as recently as 13,000 years ago - long after homo sapiens began walking the planet.
"It's a totally different human species which lived side-by-side with us for 40,000 years at least," Associate Professor Mike Morwood, an archeologist on the dig, said.
"It means two different types of human existed at the same time. To say we're excited's an understatement.
"Never in our wildest dreams did we think we'd find such a complete specimen. We were expecting tests to show the date of the bones to be around 100,000 years old.
"When it came back at 18,000, we thought it was a mistake. But it's right."
Further excavations in the Liang Bua cave site in July and August have unearthed remains 13,000 years "young".
Associate Professor Peter Brown, also of UNE, added: "Finding a spaceship would have been less of a surprise. This sort of species was supposed to have been extinct for a long time.
"Then we find a brand new species on Flores - yesterday, in archaeological terms.
"We don't know how they got there because Flores is very isolated. We discovered stone tools and evidence of rock formations, suggesting the species used fire.
"Although the brain size tells us they weren't as bright as us, it's clear information was processed in the same way."
The team believes homo floresiensis was wiped out by a volcanic eruption about 12,000 years ago.
"If it hadn't been for that eruption, this species would still be on the planet today," the University of Wollongong's Professor Bert Roberts said.
The team told Nature magazine Flores until recently was "a kind of Lost World".
#1
Not to offend the relatives, but I read this article first and took note of these key lines:
"The specimens' ages range from 95,000 to 12,000 years old..."
"Inbreeding certainly would've been a danger."
"Now, scientists are more puzzled by the specimen's jumble of features that appear to be borrowed from different human ancestors."
I think these guys are jumping to awfully wild conclusions based on one incomplete skeleton and some other fragments, all with a wide range of dates.
Posted by: Tom ||
10/27/2004 20:44 Comments ||
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#2
Having heard some media reports on this. Beware the clueless journalist syndrome. Its well established that island populations frequently become dwarf or giant variants. That is they are not a separate species and it seems to happen quickly - a few tens of generations. The fact they are small in no way implies a separate species. Think the opposite of Somoans or Fijians.
#3
However, the accounts sound eerily close to the Hawaiian "Menehune":
http://tinyurl.com/3wfxo/
Menehune lack a lot of the mythological attributes assigned to fanciful critters like leprachauns. The stories surrounding them are downright ordinary. They are described like a non-competing neighbor tribe that just died out.
#4
There are also legends of furry bipeds (besides orangutans) of various different kinds all through Malaysia and Indonesia; the best-known of these in the west is the "Orang Pendek;" I was under the impression, however, that they were supposed to be more apelike, and more solitary, than the creatures described above.
Posted by: Phil Fraering ||
10/27/2004 22:04 Comments ||
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#2
Our Papi, Who art in Fenway
Hallowed by thy team.
Thou kicketh ass,
On Yankee grass,
And at home, as you did in the Bronx.
Give us this year our shiny rings,
And forgive us our talk of curses,
As we forgive those who talk of curses against us.
And lead us not into extra innings,
But deliver us from errors.
For thou art the Schilling,
And the Pedro,
And the D-Lowe,
For ever and ever.
Damon.
Posted by: Steve ||
10/27/2004 8:20 Comments ||
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#3
We're so paranoid up here that I half expected this morning for the Globe to have a headline like "Sox On Verge Of Historic Collapse" under Dan Shaughnessy's (the father of The Curse of the Bambino, which he's made a cottage industry) byline.
I'm not putting this one in the bag until they got a 15 run lead in the bottom of the ninth with 2 out and nobody on and Cabrera's in the process of throwing over to first for the final out.
A STUDY aimed at discovering the perfect way to pee has stumbled on a greater problem — Westerners can't squat. A world-first study, which compared the Western loo with a seat to the developing-world squat type, delivered a surprise for researchers. They found volunteers were falling off the toilets because they could not hold a squat position for more than 30 seconds. "We were quite sure squatting would be far superior to the Western toilet position, however we have a problem now ... one third of the population is unable to squat," Professor Ajay Rane said.
Prof Rane, head of obstetrics and gynaecology at James Cook University, has spent years studying the perfect pee to help one million Australians — including 300,000 men — who have a weak bladder. His study was conducted over two years using 100 women. It compared peeing styles using the squatting position and the "perfect" position on the conventional toilet, which involved volunteers putting their feet flat on the floor and leaning forward. Equipment called a uroflowmeter was attached to each toilet to collect data such as how fast volunteers could urinate, their maximum speed, average speed, how long it took to attain maximum speed and the volume of urine. Patients were then scanned to determine how much urine was left in the bladder.
Prof Rane said data found there was little difference between the two toilets when it came to doing the perfect pee. But he said the study ran into problems when it was found one-third of the women couldn't squat for longer than 30 seconds without falling over. He said further studies were conducted on 240 school children and this found a person's ability to squat dropped off about the age of 12, when a "stiffness" set in. Prof Rane said there was anecdotal evidence squatting could help improve bowel function, reduce the incidence of haemorrhoids and prevent bladder dysfunction in men and women. Squatting could also help with prostate problems, he said. "It should be encouraged, even if you don't want to use it for the purposes of toileting," Prof Rane said. "People might think this is funny, but there's much to it than just fun, really." A second study involving 500 people is planned for next year.
Posted by: tipper ||
10/27/2004 1:38:58 AM ||
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Having lived for years in Asia with a bad knee that prevents me squatting, I have experimented with a number of techniques to use squat toliets None of which solved the problem (and without going into how diarohea and alcohol exacerbate it).
A study on the best way to use a squat toliet, for those who can't squat would be a important advancement in human understanding. Not to mention a valuable public service.
He said further studies were conducted on 240 school children and this found a personâs ability to squat dropped off about the age of 12, when a "stiffness" set in.
See - that's the problem with education today! By the time kids graduate, a lot of them can't do squat!! ;)
#5
"Prof Rane, head of obstetrics and gynaecology at James Cook University, has spent years studying the perfect pee to help one million Australians â including 300,000 men â who have a weak bladder."
Aussies can stand (or sit) proudly -- this is far more useful than what we Americans get out of UC Berkeley.
Posted by: Tom ||
10/27/2004 8:02 Comments ||
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#6
If the squatter is called a "bomb sight". How come so many guys miss?
#11
I guess MooreOn was right, "We don't know squat" after all.
Posted by: Jack is Back! ||
10/27/2004 10:15 Comments ||
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#12
Do they think the world will switch over to the perfect method once they find it? Who cares if it's perfect or not? This is insane on so many levels I thought for sure it was scrappleface.
#13
Westerners also have an aversion to open pit cess pools.
Posted by: ed ||
10/27/2004 10:27 Comments ||
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Back during the Vietnam War, US troops noticed the "Charlie squatting in the bush" phenomenon. Having been raised from birth to what you might call "deep squatting" or "full squatting", with the buttocks resting on the heels, as adults they were able to do this for extended periods of time, something most westerners couldn't do, or learn to do. It was also noted that this bowed their legs slightly, which meant that they couldn't handle long distance running as well as some straight-legged westerners.
#15
Unrelated to squatting, aren't Americans wealthy enough to finally afford tall toilets? The typical American Standard, even the illegal big tank Canadian production toilets are still way too low. They seem to be designed for children and people under five feet tall, with really narrow buttocks.
#16
God wants every American to have a big tank, a 12 gallon single flusher! It's our birthright and they are made in America by good unionzed workers at where else American standard! Ever Man a King and for every King an American Standard Throne! Long live the easy flusher!
#19
You can keep the squat toilets, thanks. I prefer to relax on the throne, rather than expend energy holding a position. The squat toilet is just nasty, it's the worst thing about living in Asia. Most places have real toilets, but some don't and the realization that you're going to actually have to use a squat toilet is not pleasant.
High-speed rail service between Tokyo and earthquake-hit Niigata prefecture was suspended after a magnitude 5.7 temblor struck the region at 10:40 a.m. local time, East Japan Railway Co. said. A woman and two children buried in a landslide since the first jolt on Oct. 23 were rescued. Four people were injured in today's quake, Kyodo News reported, citing the Niigata prefectural government. The tremor shook buildings more than 100 miles away in Tokyo. More than 100,000 people have evacuated their homes in the stricken region since Japan's deadliest quake in a decade killed 31 and injured 1,771 since the first jolt on Oct. 23, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said on its Web site.
Posted by: Mark Espinola ||
10/27/2004 3:43:08 AM ||
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On October 20, a Saudi court in Deerah near Riyadh sentenced Brian Savio O'Connor, a Indian Christian resident in Saudi Arabia, to ten months in prison and 300 lashes for selling "alcoholic beverages", this according to Middle East Concern (MEC), an organisation dedicated to the fate of Christians in the Middle East that has been monitoring the case of the Protestant man from the south-eastern Indian state of Karnataka.
Brian O'Connor, aye, and that's a fine old Indian name.
Mr O'Connor has been incarcerated in Olaya prison since March 25 after the Muttawa, the Saudi religious police, abducted him from home and tortured for 24 hours in a mosque. He was later charged with preaching Christianity, selling alcohol, drug use and possession of pornographic videos.
Another "alk runner", there seems to be a lot of those in Saudi.
He has always denied the charges, but has acknowledged leading Bible studies in his home for expatriate Christians after the authorities published information in the local press whereby non-Muslims could practice their religion at home. In practice, religious freedom does not exist in the country except for Muslims and any religious activity outside Islam is considered a felony. In his October 20 court hearing, the judges found him guilty of selling alcohol but did not mention any of the other charges: drug use, evangelisation and, after September 15, possession of pornographic videos.
Why waste time making up all those charges when one fake crime will do.
After reading the sentence, the court asked Mr O'Connor if he accepted this decision. He declined thus appealing the decision. He was warned that under Saudi law the higher court would most likely increase the sentence if it, too, found him guilty.
Bet that cuts down on the appeals.
During the hearing Brian asked why the religious police who arrested him were not present as had been announced at the previous hearing. He was told that they had given their statement at a private hearing. According to the MEC and Mr O'Connor's family, the Muttawa did a good job at trumpeting up the alcohol charges. He was found in possession of banknotes—whose serial number the Muttawa had taken down—that had been used by an agent paid by the police to purchase the alcohol.
Did they take down the serial numbers before or after the fact?
MEC sources claim that the O'Connor file has now moved to the "Departure" section of Olaya prison indicating that he might be expelled from the country after Ramadan.
As a act of kindness and compassion, no doubt.
Posted by: Steve ||
10/27/2004 10:10:19 AM ||
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Bay Watch and Bay Rum.... a deadly combination.
Ignoring stiff opposition from Islamist deputies, the emir of Kuwait Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah opened the new session of the National Assembly (Parliament) yesterday with an ambitious reform program for women including the right to vote and seek public office in all elections. The Cabinet in May approved a bill to amend the election law granting women the franchise. The bill was signed by the emir and sent to Parliament. "This is a historic move," said Mouna Al-Dashti, who has been campaigning for women's rights in Kuwait for years. "We hope this time we get positive results." With the government seen more determined than ever, the bill has a good chance of passing through the assembly, analysts said yesterday. Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Ahmad Al-Jaber has been lobbying the parliamentarians on this issue for weeks. The bill is believed to have at least 15 firm supporters in the 50-seat Parliament with a further 12 regarded as persuadable. Because Cabinet members can also vote in the assembly, the bill could muster as many as 35 votes, enough to pass.
Posted by: Fred ||
10/27/2004 10:28:24 PM ||
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For Subscribers only. Here's the entire article.
Cubans rushed to change dollars into local pesos as President Fidel Castro's communist government prepared to end circulation of the U.S. currency after a decade.Many lined up anxiously to change their dollar savings only to be told they would have to wait until Thursday. Mr. Castro said Monday night that Cuba is ending cash operations in the currency in response to tightened U.S. sanctions. Foreign executives said the impact on their operations will be negligible. Diplomats saw the move as a clever bid to rake in dollars the cash-strapped state needs to import food and oil.
As of Nov. 8, the Central Bank decreed that Cubans, foreign residents and tourists will have to use locally printed convertible pesos, pegged at present to the dollar, for cash purchases in stores, restaurants and other businesses. A 10% commission will be charged for changing dollars into pesos, but not for other currencies. Ordinary Cubans said they are paying for the ideological war between Washington and Havana. Some said they would ask relatives in Miami to start sending euros. The dollar was legalized in 1993 after the fall of the Soviet Union plunged the island into economic crisis. Most dollars are sent by relatives in the U.S., an estimated inflow of $1.1 billion a year that has helped keep the economy afloat.
Posted by: trailing wife ||
10/27/2004 5:01:22 AM ||
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Of course, Fidel will be first guy in the line to do this, right?
Right?
#3
Better yet ban all US-Cuba money transfer. Why should Cuban exiles in America be propping up Castro. Let the underage-whoring Euro-john be the mainstay of the Cuban economy.
Posted by: ed ||
10/27/2004 10:07 Comments ||
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Cuban President Fidel Castro's decision to ban the use of U.S. dollars and charge a 10 percent fee to exchange for local currency shows an economic embargo against his country is working, U.S. officials said. A 42-year-old embargo by the U.S. is ``squeezing the regime and causing them to take extreme measures that underscore its own inherent weaknesses,'' U.S. State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said at a press briefing in Washington. The changes, slated to take effect Nov. 8th, would forbid Cubans from accepting dollars for transactions and require they use pesos instead, according to the government's resolution. The decision affects hotels, bars and car rental agencies and applies to both foreigners and local residents.
Banks in Cuba will charge a commission of 10 percent for people seeking to exchange the U.S. dollars into pesos, according to the resolution. Remittances from the U.S. may have reached as high as $900 million in 2003, according to the UN commission. ``When they prevent their people from spending dollars and require them to exchange them for a 10 percent commission, that's pretty draconian,'' Ereli said.
Posted by: Mark Espinola ||
10/27/2004 3:49:44 AM ||
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A rebel leader said Tuesday that Haiti's U.S.-backed interim government must meet demands to rebuild the storm-devastated city of Gonaives or face a revolt like that which drove out President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Rebel leader Winter Etienne also told The Associated Press in an exclusive interview that his men would try to help end turmoil by rooting out bandits who have hampered aid getting to the city, but said the government must start rebuilding. The rebels, whose insurgency led up to the February ouster of Aristide, have made demands before and backed down — such as their recent threat to descend on the capital of Port-au-Prince to end violence that has claimed at least 61 lives in less than a month.
But the latest move appears part of a strategy to increase pressure on a government made fragile by the devastation last month from Tropical Storm Jeanne. It killed some 1,900 people, left 900 missing and presumed dead, and 200,000 others homeless in Haiti's third-largest city of Gonaives. Etienne made a long list of demands, including the construction of up to 200,000 homes, rebuilding roads, rehabilitating blocked canals filled with contaminated water and sewage and giving each student $55 for uniforms, shoes and school fees. Etienne said his group told interim President Boniface Alexandre on Tuesday morning "that if he cannot respond positively, clearly and precisely to all the demands of the community of Gonaives, that he must turn over power to someone else who can."
"And we want ponies, too!... I've always wanted a pony..."
Posted by: Fred ||
10/27/2004 10:16:17 PM ||
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Sure this isn't Scrappleface? The only danger from Haiti is that they might impede the supply of major league baseball players from the Dominican Republic. Otherwise, they are totally and completely irrelevant.
Turkmenistan has celebrating its independence holiday with a huge parade in honour of President Niyazov, also known as Turkmenbashi. Mr Niyazov, who is president for life, watched as the military, Turkmen horsemen and others paid tribute in the main square of the capital, Ashgabat. The assembled crowd shouted: "Great leader, great leader". There had clearly been months of preparation for Wednesday's parade. In bright sunshine, the Turkmen army marched through the marble square, shouting "Turkmenbashi, Turkmenbashi", saluting at the balcony where the leader was just visible. Rows and rows of identical black horses came next, their hooves painted gold, and their riders in gold sashes and traditional white lambskin hats. Behind them danced hundreds of school children around a huge model of Turkmenbashi's book of sayings, the Rukhnama. The book is required reading in schools and now stands alongside the Koran in mosques. The festivities are yet another expression symbolising the authority's regime, and the blurring between Turkmenistan the country and Turkmenbashi the man.
I think he's working up to "Turkmenbashi, Living God.
Posted by: Steve ||
10/27/2004 9:14:23 AM ||
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At least he's not the "Dear Leader". Yet. *grin*
Posted by: N Guard ||
10/27/2004 9:34 Comments ||
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EFL; hat tip to the Brothers Judd.
TGA, is this your doing? [:-)]
Europe's top-selling newspaper, Germany's tabloid daily Bild, endorsed George W Bush for United States president on Tuesday, saying he would do a better job fighting terror and not ask Berlin to send troops to Iraq. Bild, in what a spokesperson said was likely the first US election endorsement in its 51-year history, said Bush was a known quantity in Europe and had a better sense than Democratic challenger John Kerry of what Washington could expect from its transatlantic partners. "Bush knows that Europe and Germany do not have the military capacity for a significantly larger commitment of troops beyond their current deployments abroad," Bild journalist Hugo Mueller-Vogg said in the editorial . . . . "With Bush, we know what to expect. No one knows what John Kerry stands for and where he wants to lead America and the world." . . .
Posted by: Mike ||
10/27/2004 7:00:33 PM ||
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"No one knows what John Kerry stands for and where he wants to lead America and the world."
...and that includes John Kerry.
Posted by: Dave D. ||
10/27/2004 19:45 Comments ||
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Another set of foreigners who must think somebody voting in the election will be influenced by their opinion. Wrong again.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis ||
10/27/2004 20:02 Comments ||
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#3
This wonât change my vote but I did find it very surprising. My impression was that German media was entirely against Bush. Iâm hoping TGA will comment.
#4
Hey, no matter what you say Mrs. D, if Bild says vote Bush, I'm voting Bush. Good grief, you're really bashing the foreigners today!
[Actually, this is a tabloid -- they're trying to get attention. Don't take it too seriously.]
Posted by: Tom ||
10/27/2004 21:16 Comments ||
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#5
I think Bild is taking the 'realistic' approach to things. For whatever his faults, as the Germans see him, Bush will continue to beat tub on the bad guys. He doesn't threaten Europe and he doesn't demand German soldiers. He is also unequivocally powerful and is recognized as the leader of the other world powers--which leads to stability. For comparison, the democrats can only offer Clinton and Carter as real examples. Both of whom were weak-kneed disasters that forced Europe to be more assertive and take over the American foreign policy deficit.
#6
"Bush knows that Europe and Germany do not have the military capacity for a significantly larger commitment of troops beyond their current deployments abroad," Bild journalist Hugo Mueller-Vogg said in the editorial
Translation: Bush knows we're a sorry sack of shit that can't haul our butt in a bucket beyond the autobahn without a lift from Uncle Sam.
#7
Man, this is pathetic any way you look at it. It's not that they love Bush, you see, but because they are deathly afraid of being asked to help out. And of course they couldn't say no to Kerry since he represents (in their minds) the kindler, gentler, pacifist America (the anti-Bush). Good grief.
Posted by: Rafael ||
10/27/2004 22:18 Comments ||
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#1
For those of you who might have difficulty reading hobbit-font, or who are baffled by Aris' total lack of context, here's the meat of the article:
While Ireland, the UK and the ten new EU members remain outside the passport-free Schengen zone, Switzerland yesterday (26 October) signed up to join.
Switzerland will be the third non-EU country to join Schengen. Iceland and Norway are already members.
The name "Schengen" originates from a small town in Luxembourg where seven European Union countries signed a treaty, in June 1985, to end internal border checkpoints and controls.
Posted by: Mitch H. ||
10/27/2004 17:07 Comments ||
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#2
While Ireland, the UK and the ten new EU members remain outside the passport-free Schengen zone
That's technically accurate, but misleading AFAIK. The ten new EU members are outside the Schengen zone in the sense they've not implemented it yet: they have nonetheless signed to be a part of it, and will be so in a couple of years, just as Switzerland. UK and Ireland have on the other hand opted out, not signing it.
#4
Not entirely sure. I don't believe that Schengen by *itself* gives rights of residency and employment. However the article seems to be saying that Switzerland is also signing an additional agreement about the "free movement of persons" and I think that in EU-lingo that includes rights of both employment and residency.
Gay couples wanting to get married in Nova Scotia this fall will have to be declared husband and wife — at least until the province gets its paperwork finished. Some of Nova Scotian same-sex couples who fought for the right to be legally married are angry over the terminology. Same-sex marriages have been legal in the province since a Nova Scotia Supreme Court decision last month. Five other provinces and territories had earlier delivered similar court decisions.
#2
Do husbands and wives have different legal responsibilities or status in NS? Who has to do the dishes? Who shovels the snow? Who gets the kids?
Posted by: Mrs. Davis ||
10/27/2004 8:48 Comments ||
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I think this is going to present problems for us when we absorb the greater part of Canada after the election. Or weren't we going to absorb Nova Scotia?
I'll have to go check the Secret Plan...
Posted by: Fred ||
10/27/2004 17:52 Comments ||
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#4
The "public" Secret Plan, or the SECRET Secret Plan?
This is getting so confusing. Maybe we should just nuke 'em all...
A Florida man has been charged with attempting to run over controversial Republican congresswoman Katherine Harris with his Cadillac. According to the below Sarasota Police Department report, Barry Seltzer, 46, told cops that he was simply exercising his "political expression" when he drove his car at Harris and several supporters, who were campaigning last night at a Sarasota intersection. Seltzer allegedly drove up on a sidewalk and headed directly for Harris before swerving "at the last minute." Harris told officers that "she was afraid for her life and could not move as the vehicle approached her," according to the report. For his part, Seltzer--who's a registered Democrat--told cops, "I intimidated them with the car. They were standing in the street." He added, "I did not run them down, I scared them a little!" That explanation did not stop investigators from arresting Seltzer for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a felony. Harris, Florida's former secretary of state, is best known for her role in the aftermath of the state's disastrous 2000 presidential election.
Posted by: Fred ||
10/27/2004 5:16:04 PM ||
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#1
Maybe she should consider an armed bodyguard. Next time someone tries that brand of "political expression", they'll get a nice reward for their efforts: a bullet in the head.
#2
Well, I guess we know Barry can hold a grudge. Some of the local Dims are still seething about Harris declaring Bush the winner in Florida 2 weeks after the election as she had to by state law as I recall. And in her statement she even aluded to the fac the though the recount was underway she had no choice but to declare a winner according to the law. Yet the Dims still wanted her to break the law, curious
#3
Read the Police report. Barry's not playing with a full deck.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis ||
10/27/2004 18:05 Comments ||
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Full deck or not his is a now going to be a Fellon and is pretty typical odf teh frothy ranters I see in many tech sites. He isn't an exception to the rule by any means.
This election is going to be wild!
U.S. election officials are scrambling to recruit and train enough poll workers in time for Tuesday's national elections, USA Today reported Wednesday. The federal Election Assistance Commission estimates it is short 500,000 workers for the necessary 2 million poll workers to run a national election."This is crunch time," said Paul DeGregorio, a member of the commission, which was created two years ago to administer funds and advice to state and local administrators. "Election officials are really scrambling to fill the polls with workers."
Recruiting efforts on college campuses and among corporations and local governments have helped but have fallen short of what's needed, the newspaper said. Part of the problem is the hours are long -- anywhere from 12 to 15 hours on Election Day, plus training sessions beforehand. And the pay is low, ranging from $50 to $100. Another issue is senior citizens often come forward without necessary skills. "Some senior citizens do not have an ATM card or even a microwave, and we're asking them to utilize technology completely foreign to them," said Karen Crete, training director in Sarasota County, Fla.
Posted by: Mark Espinola ||
10/27/2004 9:44:30 AM ||
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You know what? I'm burned out. I've been through the seething, the fretting, the arguing with moonbat relatives. Now I'm just going to go in, vote, and sit back and watch the fun. If this country wants to vote for suicide Kerry, go for it. But I'm just going to lay back and enjoy the fireworkes.
#2
What oh what will we ever do? How did the US ever have uninterrupted electons for over 200 years?
2 million for 300,000 polling places? Sounds like a case of government overstaffing to me. Heck Mickey D's serves more people with less staff, and they even feed you.
Posted by: ed ||
10/27/2004 10:33 Comments ||
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For perspective, the entire active US Army is around 500k, before our 'esteemed' members of Congress got around this year to hiking the number up another 25k. It was at 750k at the end of the first Gulf War.
Simple solution, fewer voting locations with longer lines and further delays in the getting the numbers tallied for the instant news reports. God only knows how Americans coped with slow returns prior to the invention of television. It's not like the President takes office on Thanksgiving.
Posted by: Don ||
10/27/2004 10:44 Comments ||
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#4
In New Jersey, they just go down to the Bada Bing to find poll workers...just bring some singles for tipping...
The Broward County Supervisor of Elections Office pointed a finger at the U.S. Postal Service on Tuesday for nearly 60,000 missing absentee ballots, but took the blame for having a phone system that was being overwhelmed by calls from frustrated voters. While the post office denied responsibility for the missing ballots, Broward County commissioners, anxious to void another failed election, offered to send county employees to help with the phones. Dozens of employees could begin assisting the elections office today to answer telephone calls and to process voters at the 14 early voting sites. "What we are seeing is unprecedented, so if the supervisor of elections needs our help, we will help," County Mayor Ilene Lieberman said. "It's a week to the election, and voting is a basic right in our country."
Just six days away from the general election, the Supervisor of Elections Office has fielded hundreds of complaints from people that have yet to receive their absentee ballot. Countless more have been unable to get through to election officials to complain or get their questions answered. "I tried for the last week or so to call the elections office and it's just busy continually," said Paula Zubatkin, 70, whose four-week-old request for an absentee ballot has gone unanswered. "I want to vote." Election officials also said they launched an investigation and found that many of the missing ballots -- 58,000 of them -- were sent on Oct. 7 and Oct 8. The problem, they say, lies with the post office. ahhh yes, if all else fails, blame the mailman ..There is more
Posted by: Mark Espinola ||
10/27/2004 9:38:29 AM ||
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#1
Oh I'm sure they will turn up.
With simular looking signatures and all voting for Kerry.....
#2
In San Francisco, the best place to look for misswing ballots is the Bay. Have they a bay in Miami?
Or they might be with the DMX.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis ||
10/27/2004 9:44 Comments ||
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#3
Wonder how many were suppose to go to an APO or FPO in Iraq or Afghanistan? Time for a Federal Law to protect our servicmembers from these late printings and mailings.
Posted by: Don ||
10/27/2004 16:13 Comments ||
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2000 Vote Broward County, FLA
Algore__________387,703__67%
George W Bush___177,902__32%
others____________9,538___1%
Total___________575,143
(Florida Election Board)
60,000 absentees splitting about 40,000-20,000
in accordance with 2000
means a 20,000 vote margin suppression of Kerry vote that we accomplished through no fault of our own.
Delicious. 39 times the margin in 2000...
Makes up for the union-goon attacks and vandalism elsewhere...
Subscribers only. Here's the entire article. Anxious Americans Overseas Wait for Absentee Ballots As Election Interest Soars
From liberal-minded expatriates in this laidback artists' colony to Orthodox Jews pouring over Biblical commentaries in Israel, Americans abroad are lining up to vote in large numbers, believing their ballots could provide the margin of victory in this year's presidential race. Around the world, the Nov. 2 U.S. election has stirred deep passions among the four million to six million Americans estimated to live overseas. Most remember well the results of the 2000 election -- when Al Gore won the popular vote but George W. Bush won the presidency after Florida shifted the electoral vote in his favor. It was Florida's absentee ballots that gave President Bush his 537-vote victory.
The result: Democrats and Republicans are working hard to capture votes abroad while expatriates are flooding their former home states with absentee ballots. As of September, the Pentagon -- in charge of supplying voter-registration applications -- had distributed over 5.3 million applications for absentee ballots, up from the roughly three million in 2000. In China, Democratic clubs have sprung up in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. In Europe, Republicans Abroad has hosted cocktail parties in capital cities in hopes of bringing out the expat vote for Mr. Bush. In Hong Kong, Brett Rierson, a 38-year-old former technology venture capitalist, quit his job to spend the past year setting up a Web site, www.overseasvote.com1, which has registered 66,000 voters, 40% of whom may vote in battleground states.
But with the election just days away, many expatriates are still waiting anxiously for their absentee ballots to arrive. In S'o Paulo, Felicia Smith, head of the Brazilian chapter of Republicans Abroad, says about half the people she registered have yet to receive ballots. A few feel so strongly that they plan to fly home next week to cast ballots in their former hometowns. "My absentee ballot hasn't come in and I'm getting nervous," says Jill Genser, an Arizona photographer who recently moved to San Miguel.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: trailing wife ||
10/27/2004 5:15:22 AM ||
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A battle in John Kerry's presidential election campaign may soon be fought at the altar rail, if senior traditionalists in the Roman Catholic Church get their way. Priests and bishops across America are being urged by members to refuse Communion to the first Catholic to run for the presidency since John F. Kennedy. The sanction would be imposed until Kerry abandoned his permissive views on abortion and other issues such as gay marriages. The campaign, which has the explicit blessing of the Vatican, is gathering force and Kerry's aides have been forced to visit churches before allowing him to attend mass. A Vatican official told Time: "People in Rome are becoming more and more aware that there's a problem with John Kerry and a potential scandal with his apparent profession of his Catholic faith and some of his stances, particularly abortion.''
Posted by: Mark Espinola ||
10/27/2004 4:54:32 AM ||
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#1
Too little too late -- only one Sunday and All Saints Day to go.
Posted by: Tom ||
10/27/2004 8:10 Comments ||
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#2
The Roman Catholic church should fix it's own problems (SEX SCANDAL et al), and keep it's pompous nose out of American polirics.
#3
The Pope ought to be told he can run his church any way he wants to, but his interference in this election is no more welcome than that of al G or el-Baradei. The Pope denying sacraments to make the American President dance to his tune was what Kennedy had to fight against. These jerks should stay on their own side of the Grennwich Meridian.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis ||
10/27/2004 8:34 Comments ||
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#4
I disagree with you. If you wish to be Catholic, then you follow the doctrine [not orders] of the church otherwise you are a Protestant. Classic example of wanting the tag of something, but acting in a different manner. However, that behavior pattern so fits the Senator.
Posted by: Don ||
10/27/2004 8:39 Comments ||
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#5
As I said, the Pope can run his church any way he wants. But Kerry's had this position for the last 20 years. Where's the Pope been? Why is Kerry the only Catholic legislator getting this treatment now? The Pope is trying to influence the election and that's wrong.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis ||
10/27/2004 8:44 Comments ||
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#6
The problem is not interference in an election. The problem is Kerry cloaking himself in yet another lie every Sunday and the church is too wimpy to enforce its own rules. The other problem is that Kerry knows he has excommunicated himself and yet he still takes communion. Those of you who are protestants can contemplate how you'd feel if Kerry came to your church and spit on the altar every Sunday. Those of you who are neither can contemplate how you'd feel if Kerry came to your house and peed on the front door every Sunday.
Posted by: Tom ||
10/27/2004 8:47 Comments ||
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#7
The whole question of excommunication of Kerry was not surfaced by the Church, but the press (Earlier Friday (4-23-04), Cardinal Francis Arinze (search) would not comment on whether it was right to give Communion to Kerry, who is Catholic. Arinze spoke to reporters while issuing a Vatican directive, commissioned by Pope John Paul II, that clamps down on liturgical abuses in Mass. The 71-page document does not address the question of pro-choice politicians, an issue reporters raised with the cardinal.
But once the question was asked, again and again by the press, a position by the Church had to be taken.
I agree that religion should not enter into the discussion. If Kerry choses to excommunicate himself from the Church, that's between him and his God.
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
10/27/2004 8:53 Comments ||
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#9
They could not comment until after the election just like CBS wil not be able to complete their investigation into Rathergate till after the election.
If Catholics are not going to treat the whole class of Catholic legislators, attorneys and doctors involved in the abortion business the same, then they are going to be open to charges of hypocrisy and trying to influence the election.
As a protestant, I suspect most of the Catholics watching Kerry "spit on the altar every Sunday" use birth control. What does that make them in the Vatican's eyes?
Foreigners out of our elections. Tax-exempt organizations our of our elections.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis ||
10/27/2004 9:01 Comments ||
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#10
Mike's full of #2.
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
10/27/2004 9:31 Comments ||
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#11
Tastefully said.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis ||
10/27/2004 9:39 Comments ||
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#12
If Kerry choses to excommunicate himself from the Church, that's between him and his God.
I agree with your sentiment but Kerry's actions regarding his religion merit examination as (yet another) character issue. Kerry persists in holding himself forth as a Catholic yet has apparently managed through his actions to excommunicate himself from his church. The fact that he continues to cynically and hypocritically profess a faith whose ideals he does not share is a worthy issue for voters to ponder in assessing his credentials to hold the highest office in our nation. For the record I'm neither Catholic nor even particularly religious.
#13
If you wish to be Catholic, then you follow the doctrine [not orders] of the church otherwise you are a Protestant.
If you want to follow the doctrine in your personal affairs, that's fine. But don't enforce doctrine on the rest of us that aren't Catholic. If that's a problem for you, then we'll simply have to refuse to elect Catholics. I'm not a Kerry supporter, but I've disagreed with how the Catholic church has behaved during the campaign. They need to be smacked down HARD for this sh*t.
Exciting Historical information you need to know about shipping Manure:
In the 16th and 17th centuries, everything had to be transported by ship. It was also before commercial fertilizer's invention, so large shipments of manure were common. It was shipped dry, because in dry form it weighed a lot less than when wet, but once water (at sea) hit it, it not only became heavier, but the process of fermentation began again, of which a by-product is methane gas. As the stuff was stored below decks in bundles you can see what could (and did) happen. Methane began to build up below decks and
the first time someone came below at night with a lantern, BOOOOM!
Several ships were destroyed in this manner before it was determined just what was happening. After that, the bundles of manure were always
stamped with the term "Ship High In Transit" on them which meant for the sailors to stow it high enough off the lower decks so that any water that came into the hold would not touch this volatile cargo and start the production of methane. Thus evolved the term "S.H.I.T," ("Ship High In Transit) which has come down through the centuries and is in use to this very day.
#15
BH - I totally disagree. The Catholic church is and should be left free to do as it pleases. If that damages the chances of Catholic candidates so be it, that's an issue for the church to consider. John Kerry is likewise free to put a stop to their interference with his Presidential bid any time he chooses. He need do no more than issue a statement formally severing his affiliation with the Catholic church and stating his regreat and his reasons for doing so.
#16
BH - I totally agree. Ain't this a great country?
Posted by: Mrs. Davis ||
10/27/2004 10:29 Comments ||
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#17
BH, smacked down for what shit? How is the Catholic Church enforcing its doctrine on those that aren't Catholic?
This issue is not new; it's been around for at least the twenty years that I've been aware of it. The point is that Kerry claims to be catholic and publicly takes a position that is counter to church doctrine. The church is then forced to call John Kerry the catholic to the carpet and refuse him participation in the Eucharistic Meal until such time as he repents his support of the issues that run counter to Church doctrine. To not do so would be a disservice to John Kerry the catholic. If you think that this is meddling on the part of the Pope that is your perception.
If John Kerry were to renounce his Catholic faith this would be a non issue.
#19
Its the "Catholic" church--there's nothing wrong with Catholics and the Catholic heigharchy insisting upon CATHOLIC doctrine being followed.
I'm sorry that enforcing CATHOLIC beliefs might interfere with Mr. Kerry's charade of being one, but Mr. Kerry is the one that chose to play-act. The Catholic church has every right to enforce its rules.
#22
domingo: This issue has been around for a long time, but the Catholic Church didn't take Sen. JoKe to task until he started running for president. Where were they during his Senate career? For that matter if this is merely a case of enforcing doctrine instead of an effort to change national policy then why only target the presidential candidate? Does the CC keep tabs on Catholic journalists to make sure their opinions follow church doctrine? Troll weblogs for Catholics posting dissenting views?
The CC is trying to 1) force Kerry to toe the party line; or 2) dissuade Catholic voters from supporting him. In the first case, success depends on whether or not Kerry's Catholicism is, as Crusader says, a charade. But either way, it is interference. If this behavior on the part of the Church is acceptable to Catholics, then the solution for those of us who reject foreign meddling is to never vote for Catholic candidates.
#23
Remember, remember the fifth of November ,
Gunpowder Treason and Plot.
I see no reason why Gunpowder Treason
should ever be forgot.
The good old days, eh Crusader?
Posted by: Mrs. Davis ||
10/27/2004 16:30 Comments ||
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#24
Lighten up, Mrs. D. It's not about Catholics "taking orders from Rome". It's about whether or not you should represent yourself as a Catholic and take communion if you don't walk the walk and you don't talk the talk.
Posted by: Tom ||
10/27/2004 16:34 Comments ||
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#25
BH, consider if it were a secular organization.
For example, what if he were a member of the NRA and repeatedly voted for gun confiscation. Would it be OK for the NRA to say "Your membership is not welcome. We are advising our members not to support you, and we are not going to give you membership benefits?"
Or if he were a member of PETA and hunted geese. Could they say "he is not one of us, and our members shouldn't support him, and we are going to deny him membership benefits?"
Or perhaps he was claiming the support of veterans, while saying that they had raped and murdered civilians as a matter of policy. Would it be OK for a bunch of former POWs to say that veterans shouldn't support him? Um, that is, would it be OK for the VFW to deny him membership?
Nobody how important you and I might believe the election to be (and believe me, I think its REALLY important), the Catholic church is entitled to believe that its ETERNAL doctrines are important too.
It is about Rome trying to give orders to American politicians to tow the line. They should knock it off. This is nothing but foreign interference in an American election.
Americans can have the discussion you are suggesting without Rome ever saying a thing.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis ||
10/27/2004 16:41 Comments ||
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#28
Please take it easy, Mrs. D. The Church can attempt to enforce its teachings upon its professing members. If the person refuses, then he is not Catholic. It is a character issue. A "faith" that does not inform one's actions is no faith at all. If voters do not like Catholic beliefs, they should not vote for Catholic candidates.
#30
I agree they can do whatever they want to do to their members. But when the only member they choose to do something to is someone running for President and they do it the week before the election I think it is dumb politics and will be interpreted as an attempt by Rome to impose its will on the U. S. and that's a bad idea.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis ||
10/27/2004 16:45 Comments ||
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#31
I am always amazed at the way the emotion ramps up from seemingly reasonable people when the Catholic Church is involved. The mouth frothing is unbecoming.
Up the long ladder
and down the short rope,
To Hell with King Billy
and God bless the Pope.
#32
BH, you are full of shit. You think the Vatican should stop promoting Catholic values every time there's an election coming up? You won't vote for a Catholic candidate if that candidate happens to share common values with the Vatican? What if they happen to agree with your values too? You think freedom of religion means that our lawmakers shouldn't pass any laws that make value judgements or moral judgements? I've seen trolls that are less nonsensical and paranoid than you are. Grow up.
Posted by: Tom ||
10/27/2004 16:46 Comments ||
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#33
Gee, that's almost as convincing as the old saw about POSH being an acronym for "Port Outbound Starboard Home".
#34
You think the Vatican should stop promoting Catholic values every time there's an election coming up?
No, Tom. I'm saying that they weren't promoting their values until the election came up and one of their own was running. Fucking read the post before you start whining about it.
#35
BH
Most Catholics aren't in national debates espousing there catholicity and at the same time doctrine that runs counter to Catholic teachings. I said before this issue is not new; don't blame the Church for this media created dust up. As far Rome giving orders to American politicians, give me a break! That sounds like the shrieking of a left wing harpy. Exactly what orders has Rome delivered to Mr. Kerry? I sense an ulterior motive to the Church bashing.
#36
domingo: I sense an ulterior motive to the Church bashing.
You sense wrong. I'm just sick and tired of al-Guardian, CBS, George Soros, and, yes, the Catholic Church, trying to manipulate this election to their liking. As for the "Orders from Rome", that wasn't my post so don't put words in my mouth. I don't care if it's "Orders from Hoboken", it's still a strongarm tactic. It could have been handled in a quiet manner between JoKe and the Church. And it could have been held at any other time.
#37
BH: Truly, I'm not attempting to piss you off. But how could it "have been held at any other time" when Kerry himself keeps insisting on bringing up "I'm a Catholic, but..." and following up the "but" with anti-Catholic doctrine?
No offense, but if Kerry didn't keep trying to get BONUS POINTS off of his (alleged) religious beliefs, I don't think the Catholic Church would feel obliged to *correct* his "teachings" on these matters.
#38
But how could it "have been held at any other time" when Kerry himself keeps insisting on bringing up "I'm a Catholic, but..." and following up the "but" with anti-Catholic doctrine?
Yeah, I see your point. I'm not trying to offend anybody here either. Just getting a bit touchy about any hint of shenanigans. I can't wait until this election is over.
#39
He's done it in every election for the last 20+ years. Why pick on him this time?
Posted by: Mrs. Davis ||
10/27/2004 17:44 Comments ||
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#40
BH I agree about the election over and I got hot and apologize if I've offended anyone.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis ||
10/27/2004 17:45 Comments ||
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#41
Apology accepted, but it is dissapointing to see how a very nasty anti-Catholic streak runs just beneath the surface. You must be appalled that they let those Papists run for office at all!
#42
Not at all. And I hope many more run but that foreigners of all stripes keep their noses out of our elections.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis ||
10/27/2004 18:04 Comments ||
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#43
Not at all. And I hope many more run but that foreigners of all stripes keep their noses out of our elections.
I imagine they will (keep their noses out)...so long as those candidates attempting to pawn themselves off to voters as "Catholic" don't repeatedly espouse anti-Catholic doctrine.
#44
The bottom line with Kerry is the issue of abortion. The Church views this as taking a human life, a defenceless human life. I fully agree; "People in Rome are becoming more and more aware that thereâs a problem with John Kerry" People in Boston, Philly, Chicago, New York, even Hackensack, from one end of the nation to the other think Kerry has countless problems.
Posted by: Mark Espinola ||
10/27/2004 19:41 Comments ||
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#45
Mrs Davis, this is not "Rome Issuing Orders". This is the Vatican finally finding its voice, its backbone, and standing up for the moral positions the Church has had all along, but has been too timid to voice for fear of getting Catholics hurt.
In the US part of the Church, there has been a long standing effort to try to "go along to get along" and not get singled out, to fit in. And this has been at the expense of the faith and core values.
Those times are at an end. And, Mrs D, you ought to note that its US Bishops that are pushing to get the authority of the Church to speak up on this, most notably the Archbishops in St Louis and Denver.
Nobody in the Vatican is telling you anything unless you are Catholic. And the thing the Vatican is doing is pointing out that the Catechism of the Catholic Church says that if you wish to remain in communion with the Church, there are things that are off limits to you. Thats what makes you Catholic.
The "orders" Catholcis obey are all out there in a book called the Catechism of the Catholic Church. You might want to avail yourself of that, because your statements about "orders from Rome" belie your ignorance as to the requirements of the Catholic Faith on individuals to use a well-formed individual conscience to make moral decisions. The Church provides many things, like the Catechism, lives of Saints, doctrines and guidance to help properly form the individual Conscience, with the Gospel as its basis. All the Church can do is approve or disapprove of actions, and impose consequences on an individuals relationship to the Church. Its your decision, in the end, as to whether you choose to take the burdens that come with the faith.
And, I guess if you have problems with that, then you must have problems with anyone who lets that ancient Jewish foriegner named Jesus influence their decisions; after all, the Church He established roughly 2000 years ago still speaks with His voice, be it from a local pulpit in a Baptist Church, or a Cathedral in Rome.
#46
And BH, for someone accusing others of being FOS, you certainly are yourself. You sound almost like the KKK'ers who used to go after Catholics and Jews when they didn't have any Blacks around.
FYI, there has been a segment of the Catholic Church that has tried to hold candidates accountable for years. They have not always been heard, given the "nice guy" Bishops that kowtow to the political left in the US (remember "Liberation Theology" and the leftist priests?) have supressed them. BUt now the Church is changing, and being driven to the truth and acting on it.
This is not something new, nor is it something only used at the Presidential level.
In Colorado, one Senatorial candidate is pro-choice, and pro death penalty, the other is pro-life and opposes the death penalty even at the cost of some popularity in the election. Guess which one the scores higher in the "Catholic Issues" ratings (it cannot endorse, of course)? The first candidate is "Catholic", but the second candidate gets the support (he also happens to be Catholic). Its only incidental that the latter is a Republican.
What has changed is that the Church is finally waking up and realizing that it "go along to get along" that broguht it declining membership and the perv priest problems were a symptom of not making a hard and public stand on vital moral issues.
Cardinal Law of Boston was a proponent of being easy on the morals to fit in - and consquently he had the worst sexual scandals in his diocese. Cradinal Stafford and now Archbishop Chaput were much more absolutist and vocal about it, and established no-tolerance policies on sexual misconduct in the early 90's and also have been much stricter with morals. That has paid off with the Archdiocese of Denver being probably the "cleanest" major metro diocese.
So don't talk about what you don't know about, or else you will get called on it.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
10/27/2004 23:23 Comments ||
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#49
You sound almost like the KKK'ers who used to go after Catholics and Jews when they didn't have any Blacks around.
And you sound like the fucking moonbats who holler "Nazi" every time somebody says something they don't want to hear. I explained quite clearly why I have a problem with it. Don't try to make this into some bogus intolerance issue. Crusader pointed out that JoKe brought this down on himself, and I conceded that.
Democrats in Florida already are pursuing nine election-related lawsuits, accusing state election officials of conspiring to disenfranchise minority voters. Led by the Florida Democratic Party, the People for the American Way, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the AFL-CIO, the lawsuits target, among others, Florida Secretary of State Glenda Hood, who was appointed by Republican Gov. Jeb Bush, President Bush's brother. The suits say Republican officials refused to count provisional ballots, improperly disqualified incomplete voter registrations, established overly restrictive rules to disproportionately hurt minority voters and actively sought to disenfranchise blacks.
Matt Miller, a spokesman for the Kerry campaign, said Republicans are "trying to scare people away from the polls." But Mrs. Hood's spokesman, Alia Faraj, described the lawsuits as politically motivated, saying they were eroding public confidence in the election process by challenging "every single law we are following." The DNC has 10,000 lawyers on call, including six "SWAT squads" that are ready to deploy on the orders of Mr. Kerry and his campaign staff. The team is headed by Steven Zack, whose law partner, David Boies, argued for former Vice President Al Gore before the Supreme Court in 2000.
Posted by: Mark Espinola ||
10/27/2004 3:41:48 AM ||
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#1
For all you Linux guys and gals it appears the Democrat "SWAT team" leader Steven Zack is a parner in Boies law firm which is involved in the SCO vs IBM suit. Evil is as evil does.
This whole deal is sureal. All I can say is my ballot better get counted or I am going to give a lawyer a memory of their stupidity.
#4
'Provisional ballots' will be this election's hot button issue. Being that they are paper ballots for those 'unreported moves', no record of voter, previously moved voters, jurisdictional disputes (the main problem) incorrect precincts, or voters which did, or refused to produce proper indentification are all grounds under voting provisional, since no one can be turned away nor told they can not vote.
If there is a election eve tally a lot closer then I envision (Bush 52.3% Kerry 46.8%) then the provisionals ballots, which have to be counted by hand, could really slow things up and will likely head before the courts in 4 to 8 states. It could be weeks of harsh legal battles, a lot worse then Florida in 2000.
Posted by: Mark Espinola ||
10/27/2004 9:11 Comments ||
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#5
If the difference in the ballots measure within the margin of error we are in for a real lenghty mess, although I still can't believe that this race will be as close as its being portrayed.
The only real winners as usual will be the lawyers.
#6
I live in Florida, on the First Coast, in a small county with a 50/50 split of retirees and working families. We can vote early, up to 15 days before the election day, November 2nd. So, I voted yesterday. No problems but had to drive to the election office to do it. Maybe 10 to 15 waiting to go inside and 10-15 voting. But it was consistent. No hassles, no haranguers, etc. and no lawyers but as I said we are small and traditionally very strong Republican. It will be interesting to know the percentage of voters voting early.
Especially in Florida the slogan should be:
Vote early in case your dead by Election day!
Posted by: Jack is Back! ||
10/27/2004 9:46 Comments ||
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#7
Not wanting to stick my neck out too far, nor stand alone on my prediction of a BUSH landslide victory. Allow me to stand among the following folks that are more learned on the subject of scientific guessing:
As a professor of economics at Yale (Ray C. Fair), is known for creating an econometric equation that has predicted presidential elections with relative accuracy. His latest prediction shows that Bush will receive 57.5 percent of the two-party votes.
Larry Kudlow says the economic recovery makes President Bush's re-election all-but-certain - and he's predicting a landslide with House and Senate coattails.
Associate professor of political science at UMass-Amherst Jeffrey Sedgwick used an analysis of various polls to predict a "slam dunk" for Bush and a 15 to 20 seat Republican pickup in Congress.
#9
And I thought the surest indicator was the Redskins game before the election. If the 'skins win the incumbent wins. If they lose the challenger wins. Sucks being a Packer fan this week.
I'm not too sure why the rabbi has an opinion, unless he's a U.S. citizen...
A senior Israeli rabbi with influence among almost 150,000 American Jews ruled Tuesday that they should vote for President George W. Bush in the upcoming US elections, his office said. Rabbi Shalom Yosef Elyashiv, responding to queries from Americans residing in Israel, has decided that Bush is better for Israel than his competitor, John Kerry, said an assistant to the rabbi, Haim Cohen. Elyashiv's opinions are respected by large ultra-Orthodox communities, especially in Israel and the US. Elyashiv has strong influence over about half of all haredi Jews of European origin. "Apparently George Bush loves Israel and thus we need to vote for him," the rabbi said Tuesday, according to Cohen.
The rabbi does not usually rule on political matters, especially those that don't directly concern Israel. But Elyashiv decided that the US is a "kingdom of grace," or great friend to Israel, and thus the elections there can directly influence the Jewish state, Cohen said. About 140,000 American Orthodox Jews will probably abide by Elyashiv's decision, said Sam Heilman, an expert on American Jews at Queens College in New York. But Elyashiv is just confirming the theories of many analysts who believe most haredi Jews in the US vote Republican, Heilman said in a telephone interview from his office. "What's extraordinary is that the rabbi is addressing non-Israelis in a sense," Heilman said. "This confirms that the Orthodox community, by and large, is supporting Bush more than Kerry."
Posted by: Mark Espinola ||
10/27/2004 3:37:49 AM ||
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#1
Just to be fair if this guy is not a U.S. citizen, he needs to butt out.
That being said, I still hope Bush wins.
Im afraid though that the LLL is going to pull all the stops, and short of a clear majority, this is going to be tied up in the courts for a while.
Posted by: N Guard ||
10/27/2004 9:32 Comments ||
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#2
Another Furner who thinks he gets to tell us how to vote. Maybe we should start having the CIA influence elections again, only more openly.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis ||
10/27/2004 9:40 Comments ||
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#3
Rabbi Shalom Yosef Elyashiv, responding to queries from Americans residing in Israel, has decided that Bush is better for Israel than his competitor, John Kerry, said an assistant to the rabbi, Haim Cohen.
Read SLOWLY. Someone who respected him and held him in high regard asked him a question, he gave an answer. Someone else asked him the same question, he gave the same answer. After about 5 or 6 of these, he SHOULD publicise his answer so he can get back to what he believes is more important work. This is not a neo-Al-Guardian move where shitheads we despise organize a drive of like-minded shitheads to send what amounts to personalized junk mail that says, in effect, "You vote in a way that pleases us, and we will have a good opinion of you, because we think you were stupid to elect a moron last time."
The rabbi does not usually rule on political matters, especially those that donât directly concern Israel. But Elyashiv decided that the US is a "kingdom of grace," or great friend to Israel, and thus the elections there can directly influence the Jewish state, Cohen said.
To a true Evangelical Christian, that phrase, "kingdom of grace" is a jaw-dropper. I've NEVER heard a Rabbi say anything that so precisely pushed the right theological buttons for a key group of Israeli supporters.
I'm still trying to sort out what the heck happened inside my head when he said that.
#5
I wonder what he said in Hebrew - malchut chen? "grace", though an attribute of G-d is not AFAIK a central theological concept in any part of Judaism, though there may be historical references.
#7
Grace is THE thing in Evangelical Christianity. Heck, the issue of Grace and Salvation WAS the spark of the Reformation. Ya said it, Jules! It's way too little in supply!
And you're not kidding about the ultraorthodox part, LH. The guy made an allusion to sin being an uncurable cancer, and everyone panics thinking that he said that Cancer came from God and was uncurable. He also delivered an opinion on the use of hair in wigs that came from Hindu temples, and people are burning their wigs and asking about "kosher" wigs. There are at least two Knesset members who ask "how high?" when he tells them to jump.
I should probably amend my comment: One could expect maybe liberal or moderate Rabbis to say something like this as an ecumenical sop, but for an UltraOrthodox Rabbi to say this is significant: This is as close to a blessing of our nation that we're ever gonna get. I still don't know if he deliberately chose words that he knew would resonate with the biggest Block of Christian supporters of Israel, or the translator did the deed.
#8
an internet search finds NO references to "kingdom of grace" in english from any Jewish source - all references are Christian, and are theological ones, not to earthly states. There is a tradition of noting some states as good for the Jews, of which the oldest such tradition is the admiration for Cyrus, King of Persia. One says of a worthy gentile king, that he is like Cyrus. I presume that it is in this tradition that the rabbi is operating, but i dont know. I cant state authoritatively if it has any theological content at all - i think it has some (IE G-d willed that Cyrus should do what he did) but not comparable to what Christians mean.
#9
an internet search finds NO references to "kingdom of grace" in english from any Jewish source - all references are Christian, and are theological ones, not to earthly states. There is a tradition of noting some states as good for the Jews, of which the oldest such tradition is the admiration for Cyrus, King of Persia. One says of a worthy gentile king, that he is like Cyrus. I presume that it is in this tradition that the rabbi is operating, but i dont know. I cant state authoritatively if it has any theological content at all - i think it has some (IE G-d willed that Cyrus should do what he did) but not comparable to what Christians mean.
Dirksen burst on the national scene at the 1952 Republican convention. He was an active supporter of Taft for president and had been mentioned as a possible vice presidential nominee. Then millions of Americans saw him on television fighting against Dwight Eisenhower and shaking an accusing finger at Eisenhower's floor lieutenant, Thomas Dewey. "We followed you before and you took us down the road to defeat," Dirksen bellowed.
The LLL Dem race in 2008 will be a dilly. They'll be a frustrated at being shut out of the White House for a long, long time, and they'll be ready to do anything to win.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis ||
10/27/2004 9:34 Comments ||
Top||
#3
Also Truman dids some mighty unpopular things like replacing a certain General and recalling ex-servicemen for duty.
For subscribers only. Entire article posted.
Johnson & Johnson received Food and Drug Administration approval for the first spinal-disc implant to replace deteriorated natural shock absorbers between the bones of the lower back. Degenerated discs are a leading cause of back pain and disability. By replacing damaged discs with a durable implant, spine surgeons hope to duplicate the success that other doctors have had substituting implants for damaged knees and hips.
Surgeons commonly treat chronic back pain by fusing the bones around the degenerated disc. The surgery, performed more than 200,000 times a year, limits spinal flexibility and doesn't always relieve pain. "The majority of these patients would be suited for disc replacement," said Scott Blumenthal, lead investigator of a large clinical trial of the disc, and an orthopedic spine surgeon from the Texas Back Institute in Plano. "I feel comfortable that these patients will be better served with the artificial disc."
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
A Florida man has been charged with attempting to run over controversial Republican congresswoman Katherine Harris with his Cadillac. According to the below Sarasota Police Department report, Barry Seltzer, 46, told cops that he was simply exercising his "political expression" when he drove his car at Harris and several supporters, who were campaigning last night at a Sarasota intersection. Seltzer allegedly drove up on a sidewalk and headed directly for Harris before swerving "at the last minute." Harris told officers that "she was afraid for her life and could not move as the vehicle approached her," according to the report. For his part, Seltzer--who's a registered Democrat--told cops, "I intimidated them with the car. They were standing in the street." He added, "I did not run them down, I scared them a little!" That explanation did not stop investigators from arresting Seltzer for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a felony. Harris, Florida's former secretary of state, is best known for her role in the aftermath of the state's disastrous 2000 presidential election.
