"He just blew Florida for John McCain,"

[gatorboy]

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1008/Crist_extends_voting_hours.html?showall

Crist extends voting hours

This is a very big deal: Florida Governor Charlie Crist, to the shock and dismay of Florida Republicans, just moved to extend early voting hours, a move likely to widen the Democrats' lead under a program on which the Obama campaign has intensely focused.

"He just blew Florida for John McCain," one plugged in Florida Republican just told me.

The Buzz reports:

At a hastily arranged news conference, Crist said the right to vote is sacred and that "many have fought and died for this right." He said he consulted a leading Democratic legislator, Rep. Dan Gelber of Miami Beach, before issuing his order, and that Gelber knew of a similar order issued by Gov. Jeb Bush in 2002 that dealt with helping voters deal with new equipment.

As to the perception that more early voting helps Democrats, Crist said: "This is not a political decision. This is a people decision."

Democrats had urged the extension, which means that votes will be cast 12 hours a day, not eight hours a day.

[Lex]

1. Isn't it great that the MORE Americans vote, the better it is for the Democrats?

nt

[Sarah Ibarruri]

2. Crist wants to be re-elected in Florida and is not about to ruin his chances by pissing off Dems

Florida is changing!

[pnorman]

21. I know very little about Gov. Crist.

I know a lot more about Florida, but mainly from the internet. But I seem to recall that in 2006, Crist had conspicuously distanced himself from the electoral fray ("false memory"? Perhaps, but I welcome correction). Absent proof to the contrary, I'll conclude that he was acting in good faith in this, rather than for crass political considerations.

I'm frankly of the "Left",and have been of that persuasion for all of my adult life. But I support Obama without reservation, NOT because he's anywhere NEAR my "politics", but because he's the ONLY candidate with a chance of winning, who presents a chance of HOPE for the future of Humanity (and the World too). Perhaps, Governor Crist (like Colin Powell, and many other Republicans) feels the same way.

With good reason, the present financial crisis is being compared to Hoover's Great Depression. But unlike that period, there will NOT be a stalled but viable economy that needs to be "jump-started". No, it has been systematically hollowed out by degrees, and starting with Reagan. That makes the recover FAR more difficult. That is NOT a job for Pappy Yokum & Daisey Mae (Ms. Moonbeam McSwine?).

pnorman

[mtnester]

35. I think he may have his sights set even higher

since the Repub party will be in shambles for years, I smell distancing or a third party attempt or some spin on a NextGenRepub (or pick a spin name for it)


Or(and this is not my call, only those in Florida who know this man can do that) he is a real American who just happens to be a Republican. Not all of them are evil scumbag mouth breathers. Some of them understand that voting is one of the single most patriotic things you can do, and trying your best to discourage that in any way is simoply Un-American, un-patriotic and is a blatant violation of our democracy. It should be EASY to vote, not hard.

[firedupdem]

3. This goes to show you that their hope is to suppress the vote by

any means necessary. They are a sorry bunch...that's for sure.

[Tatiana]

4. Crist just stood up for Florida voters and told McCain to F- off. OK, now what say you, Georgia?

Because the lines to vote in Georgia are RIDICULOUS. I'm thinking someone should file a lawsuit.

[Eric J in MN]

8. Georgia is being sued, but it's over purges.

Georgia is removing voters from the rolls, telling them they're not citizens (when they are citizens, and in spite of HAVA banning systematic purges within 90 days of a federal election.)

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/10/09/cbsnews_investigates/main4512526.shtml

[RubyDuby in GA]

37. Are you kidding? Idiot SonnyBubba Perdue is so far up the Republican Master's ass

that he wouldn't dream of doing something like this. Georgia is already going to be close - if he opened the polls longer, those pesky black people might show up and vote :sarcasm: (but I guarantee you that is exactly what the GOP in this state is thinking)


On edit: from the DPG Chair:

ATLANTA - Democratic Party of Georgia Chair Jane Kidd sent the below letter to Secretary of State Karen Handel, expressing her concerns about problems with the advance voting process.

October 28, 2008

The Honorable Karen C. Handel
Secretary of State
via facsimile and overnight delivery
214 State Capitol
Atlanta, Georgia 30334

Dear Secretary Handel:

I am writing to share my concerns about the early voting process with you. I am sure that you've seen the widespread reports about long lines, six to eight hour wait times, and other major problems at the polls yesterday. As you can imagine, these shortcomings raise serious concerns for the Democratic Party, as I am sure they will for Republicans, Libertarians, and independent voters as well.

We have known for months, since before Georgia's record-setting Presidential primary in February, that turnout would be extremely high. We have known that both the Democratic and Republican parties, their candidates, and even your office itself are encouraging voters to avail themselves of advance and early voting. And, we have known since advance voting began that large numbers of voters are doing just that. I am just mystified that your elections division is seemingly so unprepared for the wave of voters we all knew was coming.

Since the voting process began, our office has received numerous reports indicating that a major source of the problem is that, in many precincts, only two computers are allotted for checking in voters and verifying their identification and eligibility. Beyond the widely-reported problems yesterday with your statewide database, we believe that the number of check-in computers is inadequate. There is simply no reason for voters to wait in line, often outside a polling place with no place for seniors or disabled persons to sit and rest, because the Elections Division failed to provide the necessary resources for a turnout that has been predicted by both the Republican and Democratic Parties, the media, outside groups, and your office itself, to be extremely heavy.

I would also like to commend those county Boards of Elections which showed leadership and initiative by moving to keep early and advance voting locations open later, and opening additional voting locations. But their leadership and initiative is not enough.

No one wants to see Georgia's failed processes become a national news story. But today, it is clear that we are in a crisis, and it is unclear even if there is enough time for the remaining four million-plus Georgia voters to cast their votes in an efficient and timely manner. With that in mind, and on behalf of the Democratic Party of Georgia, I urge you to contact the Department of Justice immediately and request clearance to keep the polls open longer during the week and over the weekend, as well as on Monday, November 3.

In closing, I am certain that you understand that the right to vote is not a partisan issue. Long lines at polling locations affect all voters, regardless of their party. I hope you will act immediately and on behalf of all of Georgia's voters to ease the strain at the polls.

With kindest regards,


Jane V. Kidd
Chair, Democratic Party of Georgia

[kansasblue]

5. Safe votes locked away. No Oct. or November surprise can affect them.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

6. Well, I don't know too much about the guy

but Crist sounds like he's one of the few respectable Republicans left........anywhere. I don't know if he's serious about his feelings or is doing this for other reasons but :thumbsup: all the same!

[xfundy]

7. I was expecting a fellatio joke.

It's ok, I've got the mental image, which, unsurprisingly, took nothing to conjure.

BTW, is his sham marriage now called off?

[Beregond2]

12. Tee hee hee. Me too.

[Rocknrule]

26. Well some people do call Florida "America's willy"

:evilgrin:

[CreekDog]

9. an unecessary word picture

[PresidentObama]

10. Maybe Crist is pissed McCain didn't pick him, and he's positioning for 2012 making sure McCain loses

[chollybocker]

11. Predict Crist will cross the floor in Jan

and then come out.

[FatDave]

19. I'd bet against neither of those. (nt)

[Laelth]

25. Welcome to DU!

No response to your predictions.

The United States is a LIBERAL Country.

:dem:

-Laelth

[TxRider]

13. They should do this everywhere

Election day is going to be a disaster, with such high turnout lines will be very long, polls will have to be open very late...

The more early voting the better, regardless of partisan advantage or not.

[csziggy]

27. In our county, nearly 30% of the registered voters had voted by last Friday

After five days of early voting. This week we will have seven days of early voting, from now through at least Friday with 12 hours a day. Then 12 more hours over the weekend. I expect that 65 to 75% will have voted before Election Day. The polls will still be busy, but with only four early voting polling places clearing that many voters, I doubt there will be many long lines except at peak periods considering that 35-25% of voters will be spread over something like 150 polling places.

[Triana]

14. So - they've admitted then, that they are employing voter suppression tactics...

...to help McCain "win".

How BLATANT is that?

"He just blew Florida for John McCain,"

by letting people VOTE?!

[AZBlue]

33. EXACTLY!

Why are more people not focusing on that point??!

[Chovexani]

15. Isn't it telling that Democrats always want more people to vote

And Repukes always want less people to vote. That's because they know they are in the minority in this country. Well informed people who have the opportunity will vote Dem, it's just a fact.

[Terran]

16. Why do Republicans hate democracy SO much?

It's a mystery. :sarcasm:

[Gold Metal Flake]

17. How could extended voting hours hurt McCain?

Answer:

"Now many of our Christians have what I call the "googoo" syndrome. Good
government. They want everybody to vote. I don't want everybody to vote. Elections
are not won by a majority of people. They never have been since the beginning of our
country. They are not now. As a matter of fact, our leverage in the elections, quite
candidly goes up as the voting populus goes down."
Paul Wayrick has been a major consultant to every Republican candidate since Ronald
Reagan. He is a major consultant for the McCain campaign. While working for the
Reagan campaign, he spoke these words in a church at a meeting of Republican
activists and party leaders.

Oh.

[thatsrightimirish]

18. We should pressure Governor Strickland and Easley to do the same

Ohio and North Carolina are going to be important

[autorank]

20. Good for him. He tried to get ex felons automatically registered to vote

The A.G. stalled the automatic part so far fewer have been given the right to vote.

This is simply the right thing to do.

Crist will be one of the few governors spared the public outrage when there is a cluster#@%! at the
the polls.

Smart move politically.

[soccermomforobama]

22. Crist has also been the only Republican that has said ACORN

is not a bad group and that all the noise the Republicans have been making about ACORN is nonsense.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics/florida/story/727793.html

[autorank]

29. He's an interesting guy. These positions get him nothin in his base other than grief

and he'd ultimately making Florida a Democratic state. If he'd done all he planned on felon re-enfranchisement, that would have been stunning, 700,000 new voters in the stroke of a pen.
But still, these are positive actions. He was also smart enough to NOT be McCain's VP.

If he had, things would have been a lot rougher.

Check this out, from a while ago (Mar. 8, 2007)
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0703/S00134.htm

[briv1016]

23. "The people have spoke...the bastards."

[Secret_Society]

24. You have to respect Crist for this

[democrat2thecore]

28. Thank you, Governor.

I like the way Crist stood strong and said it like it was. He was clear and unequivocal.

[No DUplicitous DUpe]

30. Thank you, Governor Crist.

Maybe he did this, so he could sleep better at night?

[cui bono]

31. This is how it's done in a democracy dammit.

Even if he did it for re-election possibilities, it was the right thing to do.

[CreekDog]

32. Sheesh

some people will do anything to snag a vote.

[gatorboy]

36. Hey, It's Florida.

They've been doing it for so long that this is quite a shock to the system for them.

[Cali_Democrat]

34. The reich wing HATES it when dems, especially AA's, exercise their right to vote

And they want to export their form of "democracy" to the Middle East?

[Renew Deal]

38. So part of the republicans Florida strategy was disenfranchisement?

Shocking!