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liberal N proud
liberal N proud's Journal
liberal N proud's Journal
September 17, 2012
http://woub.org/2012/09/14/ohio-ballot-board-lengthens-description-issue-2
The republican Secretary of State is not happy about this thing even being on the ballot let alone the challenge that the language has to be clear.
An Ohio Redistricting Amendment, also known as Issue 2, is on the November 6, 2012 ballot in the state of Ohio as an initiated constitutional amendment. The measure would create a 12-person citizen commission to draw legislative and congressional district maps. According to supporters of the measure, the commission would create districts that would reflect the state's geographic, racial, ethnic and political diversity. The initiative would also bar lobbyists and elected officials from joining the commission.
http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Ohio_Redistricting_Amendment_(2012)
This is one of those deceiving ballot issues that on the outside sounds like a great deal but in the end, it allows the republican controlled legislature to create a permanent panel to address redistricting. A panel that is not accountable to anyone and whose members cannot be removed for any reason by the way the language is written.
More dirty tricks by the republicans to affect elections that they would not otherwise win.
Cosspost in GD
There is another Issue 2 on the ballot in Ohio
Remember last year when we had to fight to save collective bargaining, the ballot issue was called Issue 2.
Well, the republicans are up to no good again and this time it involves how redistricting is done in the future.
Issue 2 language is still being worked out due to several court cases challenging the confusing language.
The Ohio Ballot Board met Thursday to rework its description of Issue 2.
That would change the process for shaping congressional districts.
The Ohio Supreme Court calls the original ballot language for the redistricting proposal "defective," saying it "misleads voters."
The Court said the state had to come up with a new description of Issue 2.
That sparked a war over words between the members of the Ballot Board.
The Republicans argued the only way to be clear was to put more of the exact wording from the constitutional amendment on the ballot.
"We can either put the complete language or we can do a summary," said Republican Sen. Keith Faber. "But if you do a summary, you have to make sure you don't get it wrong. Well, in this time period, at this crunch, my fear is that if we do a summary, we're going to get it wrong because frankly, I didn't draft the confusing selection process that's in the constitutional amendment."
Including that part added more than a page and doubled the length of the text that will appear on the ballot.
The Supreme Court decision came after Voters First, the group behind Issue 2, sued the Ballot Board.
Organizers say they're still unhappy with the wording.
"It's going to take voters a long time to wade through some of the more technical language in the beginning of the ballot language," said Ann Henkener of Voters First, "and you're going to have to be very persistent and stand in the voting booth for a really long time to get to what the court described as the core of the issue, which is the criteria, which is getting politically-neutral districts."
That would change the process for shaping congressional districts.
The Ohio Supreme Court calls the original ballot language for the redistricting proposal "defective," saying it "misleads voters."
The Court said the state had to come up with a new description of Issue 2.
That sparked a war over words between the members of the Ballot Board.
The Republicans argued the only way to be clear was to put more of the exact wording from the constitutional amendment on the ballot.
"We can either put the complete language or we can do a summary," said Republican Sen. Keith Faber. "But if you do a summary, you have to make sure you don't get it wrong. Well, in this time period, at this crunch, my fear is that if we do a summary, we're going to get it wrong because frankly, I didn't draft the confusing selection process that's in the constitutional amendment."
Including that part added more than a page and doubled the length of the text that will appear on the ballot.
The Supreme Court decision came after Voters First, the group behind Issue 2, sued the Ballot Board.
Organizers say they're still unhappy with the wording.
"It's going to take voters a long time to wade through some of the more technical language in the beginning of the ballot language," said Ann Henkener of Voters First, "and you're going to have to be very persistent and stand in the voting booth for a really long time to get to what the court described as the core of the issue, which is the criteria, which is getting politically-neutral districts."
http://woub.org/2012/09/14/ohio-ballot-board-lengthens-description-issue-2
The republican Secretary of State is not happy about this thing even being on the ballot let alone the challenge that the language has to be clear.
An Ohio Redistricting Amendment, also known as Issue 2, is on the November 6, 2012 ballot in the state of Ohio as an initiated constitutional amendment. The measure would create a 12-person citizen commission to draw legislative and congressional district maps. According to supporters of the measure, the commission would create districts that would reflect the state's geographic, racial, ethnic and political diversity. The initiative would also bar lobbyists and elected officials from joining the commission.
Support
Voters First is the main group in favor of the measure. The organization spearheaded the initiative effort.
According to Catherine Turcer, chair of Voters First, at the time of the signature submission deadline on July 4, 2012, "We're celebrating Independence Day the way that you should. Thinking about our forefathers; thinking about the quality of our vote; thinking about what we as voters can do to actually make a difference."[3]
Opposition
The Cincinnati USA Regional chamber stated, "Oppose Ohio Issue 2, Ohio Redistricting: The Ohio redistricting amendment, if passed, will establish a 12-person citizen commission to draw General Assembly and congressional districts following the decennial census. The Chamber opposes Issue 2 and urges a “no” vote because it removes accountability to voters. If passed, Issue 2 would replace elected officials with an unelected, unaccountable, citizen commission with unlimited funds to redraw congressional and General Assembly district lines, while excluding some Ohioans from serving on the commission."[4]
Voters First is the main group in favor of the measure. The organization spearheaded the initiative effort.
According to Catherine Turcer, chair of Voters First, at the time of the signature submission deadline on July 4, 2012, "We're celebrating Independence Day the way that you should. Thinking about our forefathers; thinking about the quality of our vote; thinking about what we as voters can do to actually make a difference."[3]
Opposition
The Cincinnati USA Regional chamber stated, "Oppose Ohio Issue 2, Ohio Redistricting: The Ohio redistricting amendment, if passed, will establish a 12-person citizen commission to draw General Assembly and congressional districts following the decennial census. The Chamber opposes Issue 2 and urges a “no” vote because it removes accountability to voters. If passed, Issue 2 would replace elected officials with an unelected, unaccountable, citizen commission with unlimited funds to redraw congressional and General Assembly district lines, while excluding some Ohioans from serving on the commission."[4]
http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Ohio_Redistricting_Amendment_(2012)
This is one of those deceiving ballot issues that on the outside sounds like a great deal but in the end, it allows the republican controlled legislature to create a permanent panel to address redistricting. A panel that is not accountable to anyone and whose members cannot be removed for any reason by the way the language is written.
More dirty tricks by the republicans to affect elections that they would not otherwise win.
Cosspost in GD
September 15, 2012
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/15/13864179-power-east-coast-via-wind-doable-with-144000-offshore-turbines-study-says?lite
There is a poll at the bottom of the page: Q: Should the U.S. encourage offshore wind power?
Study: 144,000 wind turbines at sea could power East Coast
Power East Coast via wind? Doable with 144,000 offshore turbines, study says
Placing wind turbines off the East Coast could meet the entire demand for electricity from Florida to Maine, according to engineering experts at Stanford University.
It would require 144,000 offshore turbines standing 270 feet tall — not one of which exists since proposals have stalled due to controversy and costs. But the analysis shows its doable and where the best locations are, says study co-author Mark Jacobson, a Stanford professor of civil and environmental engineering.
It would require 144,000 offshore turbines standing 270 feet tall — not one of which exists since proposals have stalled due to controversy and costs. But the analysis shows its doable and where the best locations are, says study co-author Mark Jacobson, a Stanford professor of civil and environmental engineering.
The first large-scale offshore wind farm was proposed in 2001 off Massachusetts' Nantucket Island. But vocal opposition, including from political heavyweights like the Kennedy family, are seeking to block the $2.6 billion Cape Wind project, arguing the 130 massive turbines would mar views and endanger boat and air traffic.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The question that I would first ask" critics, Jacobson told NBC News, "is would they rather have a coal or natural power gas plant in their neighborhood, which affects their health and that of their children as well as their quality of life and property values, or an innocuous turbine that they could barely see during those times when they were actually looking offshore."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The question that I would first ask" critics, Jacobson told NBC News, "is would they rather have a coal or natural power gas plant in their neighborhood, which affects their health and that of their children as well as their quality of life and property values, or an innocuous turbine that they could barely see during those times when they were actually looking offshore."
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/15/13864179-power-east-coast-via-wind-doable-with-144000-offshore-turbines-study-says?lite
There is a poll at the bottom of the page: Q: Should the U.S. encourage offshore wind power?
September 14, 2012
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/14/us/politics/fossil-fuel-industry-opens-wallet-to-defeat-obama.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20120914
The article goes on to blame Obama for the high gas prices and how the republican majority helped block climate change legislation.
Fossil Fuel Industry Ads Dominate TV Campaign against Obama
New York Times
WASHINGTON — When Barack Obama first ran for president, being green was so popular that oil companies like Chevron were boasting about their commitment to renewable energy, and his Republican opponent, John McCain, supported action on global warming.
As Mr. Obama seeks re-election, that world is a distant memory. Some of the mightiest players in the oil, gas and coal industries are financing an aggressive effort to defeat him, or at least press him to adopt policies that are friendlier to fossil fuels. And the president’s former allies in promoting wind and solar power and caps on greenhouse gases? They are disenchanted and sitting on their wallets.
This year’s campaign on behalf of fossil fuels includes a surge in political contributions to Mitt Romney, attack ads questioning Mr. Obama’s clean-energy agenda, and television spots that are not overtly partisan but criticize administration actions like new air pollution rules and the delay of the Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada.
As Mr. Obama seeks re-election, that world is a distant memory. Some of the mightiest players in the oil, gas and coal industries are financing an aggressive effort to defeat him, or at least press him to adopt policies that are friendlier to fossil fuels. And the president’s former allies in promoting wind and solar power and caps on greenhouse gases? They are disenchanted and sitting on their wallets.
This year’s campaign on behalf of fossil fuels includes a surge in political contributions to Mitt Romney, attack ads questioning Mr. Obama’s clean-energy agenda, and television spots that are not overtly partisan but criticize administration actions like new air pollution rules and the delay of the Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/14/us/politics/fossil-fuel-industry-opens-wallet-to-defeat-obama.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20120914
The article goes on to blame Obama for the high gas prices and how the republican majority helped block climate change legislation.
September 13, 2012
McCain coming to Romney's rescue calls the President's foreign policy "feckless"
A day after he and many fellow Republicans showed restrained reaction to the White House's response to the deadly attacks against American diplomats in Libya, Sen. John McCain on Thursday ripped into President Obama for “feckless foreign policy” he said is harming Middle East relations.
“What this is all about is American weakness and the president’s inability to lead,” he told TODAY’s Savannah Guthrie.
http://todayonthetrail.today.com/_news/2012/09/13/13843702-john-mccain-obamas-feckless-foreign-policy-fuels-mideast-violence?lite
September 10, 2012
http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/10/13780546-romney-camp-dont-get-too-worked-up-about-the-latest-polling?lite
Romney campaign trying to calm their base...
Romney camp: 'Don't get too worked up about the latest polling'
Responding to the early polling showing President Obama with a bounce -- and lead -- after the two conventions, Romney pollster Neil Newhouse argues in a memo to reporters that the presidential contest "has not changed significantly."
"Don't get too worked up about the latest polling," Newhouse writes in the memo. "While some voters will feel a bit of a sugar-high from the conventions, the basic structure of the race has not changed significantly. The reality of the Obama economy will reassert itself as the ultimate downfall of the Obama presidency, and Mitt Romney will win this race."
"Don't get too worked up about the latest polling," Newhouse writes in the memo. "While some voters will feel a bit of a sugar-high from the conventions, the basic structure of the race has not changed significantly. The reality of the Obama economy will reassert itself as the ultimate downfall of the Obama presidency, and Mitt Romney will win this race."
http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/10/13780546-romney-camp-dont-get-too-worked-up-about-the-latest-polling?lite
September 9, 2012
Liar Liar Pants on Fire Ryan on Farce the Nation today
September 9, 2012
Where is Romney today?
He takes a lot of breaks from the campaign, leaving Ryan to do the pitch.
I question Romney's physical ability to serve. The Presidency is a very demanding position. Is Romney able to do the job?
September 8, 2012
http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/06/obama-would-be-big-favorite-with-fired-up-base/
This is why the republicans keep putting up voting restrictions and trying to disenfranchise voters. They know the odd are completely against them!
Get Out the VOTE!
If every eligible voter was allowed to vote, Obama would win no questions asked
Obama Would Be Big Favorite With ‘Fired Up’ Base
There’s one advantage that President Obama has that Mitt Romney probably doesn’t. If he can get a good turnout from his base, he’ll be the heavy favorite to win in November — even if Mr. Romney gets a strong turnout as well.
On average over the last five public surveys, 35 percent of registered voters identify themselves as Democrats and 30 percent as Republicans. That advantage is down somewhat for Democrats since 2008, but it is an advantage nevertheless.
On average over the last five public surveys, 35 percent of registered voters identify themselves as Democrats and 30 percent as Republicans. That advantage is down somewhat for Democrats since 2008, but it is an advantage nevertheless.
In the regular, likely-voter version of our “now-cast,” Mr. Obama is estimated to have a 68 percent chance of winning the Electoral College in an election held today. But on the basis of registered voters, he would be a 91 percent favorite. Instead of being ahead in the popular vote by a hair over one point, he’d be expected to win by around four. And he’d be projected to win 322 electoral votes, rather than 291.
http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/06/obama-would-be-big-favorite-with-fired-up-base/
This is why the republicans keep putting up voting restrictions and trying to disenfranchise voters. They know the odd are completely against them!
Get Out the VOTE!
September 7, 2012
Eastwood tries to explain the chair...
Eastwood was personally invited to speak at the RNC in Tampa by Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, but when campaign officials asked for specific information about what he would say in the speech, the star said he was reluctant to provide details.
"They vet most of the people, but I told them, 'You can't do that with me, because I don't know what I'm going to say," Eastwood told the newspaper.
Eastwood revealed that the idea to talk to the empty chair came to him while he waited in the Green Room just minutes before he took the stage. "There was a stool there, and some fella kept asking me if I wanted to sit down," he said. "When I saw the stool sitting there, it gave me the idea. I'll just put the stool out there and I'll talk to Mr. Obama and ask him why he didn't keep all of the promises he made to everybody."
http://movies.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=755994>1=28101
The chair was a last minute idea
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