Morning Reads for Monday, November 5
The day before an election is the least politically informative day on the calendar, so here’s what you need to remember today: You know nothing. You’re like Jon Snow in the final round of Jeopardy. Are you looking forward to your Thanksgiving dinners and your Christmas lists? Well, tough noughies, pardner, there’s 24 more hours of campaign nonsense to ruin this day. Here’s a small sample:
Stacey Abrams is running a campaign with the closing argument of “Vote against voter suppression.” It’s absurd on it’s face, of course, but hey, this is 2018 and anything goes.
Secretary of State of Georgia Brian Kemp has registered more voters than any other Secretary of State in Georgia’s history. So take that, you “voter suppression” fabulists.
There’s no telling whether Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp has actually been the victim of a breach of the voter registration database, or if the alleged breach is a campaign stunt. Unfortunately, Sec. of State Kemp doesn’t have a record that defaults to “trust him.” The State Representative who blocks me on Twitter has filed an open records request to find out more. We might know more tomorrow night.
If you want to reflect on an absolutely brilliant campaign strategy, consider that of Stacey Abrams. Allegations of “voter suppression” have been the theme of her campaign and fueled much of the out-of-state money that has allowed her to make Georgia’s race for Governor competitive, with new and infrequent voters showing up in record numbers. Abrams and Kemp have tussled for years about the usually boring process of voter registration. Now, Abrams finds herself within the margin of error of becoming the first female African American governor in America largely by telling voters that her opponent is trying to keep them from voting. Any parent knows that nothing motivates young people to do something more than telling them they can’t do that thing. Will it work? We will know more tomorrow.
New voters in Georgia have shown up in record numbers. Does this portend doom for Republicans? Or do Democrats have to get their policies in line with a generation of voters showing up for the first time? Or both? You’ll know more tomorrow night.
Will it be close? Yes. Close elections are actually more common than you might think, and NPR compiled a list of the closest.
PS: There is no such thing as voter suppression. Period. I’ve been in the campaign consulting business for a couple of decades, and short of showing people weapons and threatening them, you really can’t stop people from showing up to the polls in large numbers.
President Trump was in Macon for a rally, (Yawn.) So what? Did he bring new voters to the Republican side, or did he just re-animate his supporters? You will know more Tuesday night.
Tomorrow’s elections certainly seem to have more at stake for Democrats than Republicans, in a weird way. After 2016’s surprising results, “I don’t think there’s a Democrat in this country that doesn’t have a little angst left over from 2016 deep down,” said Stephanie Schriock, president of EMILY’s List, which spent more than ever before — nearly $60 million in all — to support Democratic women this campaign season.
“Everything matters and everything’s at stake,” Schriock said. You’ll know more tomorrow night.
In case you missed it, there are local referenda on the ballot tomorrow. Such as a bond issue to fund parks in Brookhaven, which has drawn anonymous opposition. You’ll find out if the measure is approved tomorrow, but you will probably never know who funded the mailers to oppose it.
OMG, white people problems! Or, why Georgia might have another new city: “I see the Waffle Houses and the McDonald’s, the Walmart and the dollar stores,” she said. “I’m thinking, ‘Is this all I can have?’ There’s no fresh farm-to-table, no parks, no entertainment.”
There are also five proposed amendments to the state Constitution on tomorrow’s ballot. Learn about ’em all here.
Remember, remember, it’s the fifth of November… Let’s not forget that today is Bonfire Night in England in remembrance of Guy Fawkes, who tried to blow up Parliament in 1605. Spoiler alert -he was caught, tortured and hanged. Happy midterms!
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Mike Hassinger
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https://chamblee54.wordpress.com/2018/11/03/chamblee54-voters-guide/
Here is the chamblee54 voters guide. Unlike real life, if you don’t like what you read, you can skip over the text and look at the pictures.
Whatever happened to the secret ballot? It seems like people feel obligated to telling people about their choices. IMO, you vote a secret ballot. Who you choose is nobody’s business.
Mike, it’s not surprising that voter registration is up since the population is up as well. Offhand, do you know how RV gains compare to population increase, say for the last 20 years?
Also, in your view is voter suppression or voter fraud a bigger problem in Georgia?
Wrong place.
Kemp ‘registered voters’ in the sense that he processed their applications… which he is required to do by law. And which he appears to be trying to NOT do as much as possible. Or at least poorly.
Spin is alive and well. Most registrations we’re gathered by others. All Kemps office did for those registrations was process paperwork, or in some cases not.
Actually…there is a Trader Joe’s in Midtown
The GaGOP’s initial Georgia voter ID legislation that required voters without a driver’s license pay for a picture ID pay in order to vote wasn’t a poll tax. And dozens of counties not having even one place to purchase a state picture ID wasn’t a barrier to voting. At least for anyone about their business.
“There is no such thing as voter suppression. Period.” Or a poll tax. They’re fake news.
I wish I could get paid to say stuff like that.
Actually, no I don’t.
Because businesses in the No.1 state for business can’t comprehend socio-economics without name attachments. And hey, it worked when Stewart Avenue was rechristened Metropolitan Parkway.
It’s all about real estate value. The population of Stockbridge grew from 9853 in 2000 to 25637 in 2010. It’s right next to I-75 so there will be a hot real estate market for a while.
From one of my favorite movies,
Def in my top 10 fave movies list.
Kemp’s office delivers the social security numbers and birthdates of 6.2 million Georgia voters on silver platters to everyone that asked for voter information in late 2015. A researcher reports the SoS voter database is wide open to hackers in August 2016, the same month Kemp declines federal help to help prevent hackers from manipulating the system.
Russian attempts to manipulate US voters at that time were fake news, with Kemp saying: “they now think our whole system is on the verge of disaster because some Russian’s going to tap into the voting system. And that’s just not— I mean, anything is possible, BUT IT IS NOT PROBABLE AT ALL, THE WAY OUR SYSTEM IS SET UP” [emphasis added, what can I say, I don’t know how to bold or italic in commenting]
Meanwhile the database remained wide open to primitive hacking for over another six months. Third time is the charm with current indications being that the entire voter database was wide open at a totally different place for hacking for months if not years. Quite the set up. In-house, so without KSU to fire, it’s Democrats fault.
Who knew lightning would strike the same place at the same time of year for three years running? Now there’s absurd on its face. But don’t worry, Kemp and wholly controlled Republican state government has got this, again, except when they don’t.
The current vulnerability (and its still there…I just checked) would allow someone to obtain access to voter records and make changes…like add a hyphen or change spelling…not that I am saying it has happened. The MyVoter page does not ask for credentials when you look for your info…I wont go any further in description, but thats a huge gaping hole.
(I have only mentioned what has been reported in several publications)
Reading the AJC story, the Democratic party was told about this issue by a third party.
It reads like Brian Kemp is lying and the issue is with his oversight of the office.
“The latest round of competing allegations arose when an outside computing expert contacted the Democratic Party of Georgia on Saturday, telling them he had found a way to obtain anyone’s voter registration from the state’s My Voter Page and voter registration site, according to emails obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The expert also contacted David Cross, an attorney for a group suing Kemp over the security of the state’s electronic voting machines. The Democratic Party and Cross shared the emails with the AJC.
Cross reported the concerns to the FBI and to an attorney for Kemp’s office Saturday. The FBI also reported the concerns to Kemp’s office, according to an email sent to Cross from the FBI agent he shared the information with.”
https://www.ajc.com/news/state–regional-govt–politics/allegations-hacking-and-insecurity-arise-before-georgia-election/8WHvGe3pooMBJVbneMgHfO/
I won’t have time to read them until tonight, and maybe won’t even then, but e-mails at the center of Kemp’s investigation are here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UmvGullKTRxXA_q-GVHoN3pgBRghgcE-/view?&&iaccess=ODYwOWYxZjItMDBmMS00ZjBkLWIwOGMtYTI0YWU1NGQyOGYyfDExLzUvMjAxOCA4OjU3OjQ5IEFNfGVtYWlsha
Thank you. They confirm what the AJC printed. Kemp is so nefarious. Owes money and will not pay it back. Ducks all responsibility for doing his duty. He will be so bad in office.
Should Trump order the plug pulled on FBI and HSA investigation of Kemp’s incompetence, perhaps the House of Representative can take up the investigation.
That first line was hilarious!
Politico says Handel could lose…not sure if I buy that one
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/11/05/2018-elections-midterms-race-ratings-960752
Could? Sure. I wouldn’t bet on it though.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=43mV-jApjmI
This you tube personality believes the Georgia Democratic Party hacked the voter registration apparatus. He also asks, “Does Georgia have early voting?” Bless his heart.
Sad Obama and Abrams barely fill Forbes Arena that holds 6000, being in such a large City. Then Trump comes to Chattanooga and packs a 11,000 seat arena with 1000-2000 outside.
Large crowds of chanting nationalists will MAGA.
Trump also has a large traveling fan base. Example, the guy in this story who would shot his own sister (and is my second cousin’s first cousin on his mom’s side), goes to events not only in Wisconsin, (which from his home to Mosinee is a 5 hour drive), but other states.
https://www.rawstory.com/2018/11/wisconsin-conservative-admits-hed-shoot-sister-face-trump-know-passionate/
It all depends on whether you actually believe BS like this:
Trump Tells Georgia Rally: ‘There have never been crowds like this, just so you understand, in the history of politics’
Doesn’t he have any actual work to do?
I guess I shouldn’t complain. I would probably be less happy if he stayed in DC and ‘worked’.
The Brookhaven Park Bond referendum is just the latest in a series of skirmishes between two schools of thought. Basically, Brookhaven was a sleepy wide spot on Peachtree Road for decades, and many people, myself included, liked it that way. In fact, the area had, at one time, been a city that chose to unincorporate itself. We were largely ignored by DeKalb County because getting to us meant a long drive from Decatur. On the other hand, we were long ignored by our elected U.S. Representative for many years because we weren’t her political base. In any case, there were others in what is now Brookhaven who longed for their moment in the sun. Dunwoody would have nothing to do with it, and Chamblee was too downmarket. In the fullness of time, Chamblee has become upscale, and Buckhead is slowly creeping up Peachtree into our lives, like it or not. So there’s been a motive to act.
To become a City, Brookhaven chose to provide police protection, parks, and property management (in the form of zoning and such). The police are a great success story, and property management has been a mixed bag. But, as of this writing, the parks have done okay with the current funding model. Not great, but okay. Like politicians worldwide, there is the notion that if enough money is thrown at a problem, things will work out.
The City formed a Committee to discuss park improvements, and after a lot of sincere work, they suggested spending something around $27m. Of course, that wasn’t enough, so the City Council members added another $13m in additional spending. In particular, one “improvement” is a water park-like feature that rings up at $4m. Which has set us on the course that we are currently embroiled in. It does not help that it is already a contentious campaign season.
Personally, I’m keeping my yap shut. I’ve already voted my conscience and am simply waiting for the results. But you have to wonder why it became important to bulk the bond up to $40m. And, you have to wonder when the next bond referendum will be for a new City Hall, Performing Arts Center, Conference Facility, and Luxury Hotel. We’ll see.
That said, whether this bond referendum passes or not will also be a mid-course vote of confidence in the City’s leadership.
Competition, baby! It’s the free-market. You have to be ‘better’ than neighboring communities to attract the employers and employable citizens.
Where to watch local returns tomorrow night? Channel 2? 11? Where is quickest and most reliable?
Sometimes http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/GA/
I mean it SHOULD be the Secretary of State’s website, but we all know it isn’t.
Don’t know for local, BUT if you want the best (and most fun to watch) national vote counter, Steve Kornacki will be live streaming directly on MSNBC.com between hoping over to cut into NBC & MSBNC coverage. Seriously, if you did not see his VA & NJ coverage last November or is county by county break downs on the Alabama senate, or the precinct vote counting for the special PA house seat which he covered live until 4:00 AM. – the man, his hand held calculator and the scribbling on the big board touch screen are amazing to watch. Not being partisan on this, I flip between all major networks on election night, but Kornacki is the best counter (IMHO) and just fun to watch.
WAGA (channel five) of course! Rhymes with MAGA.
I’m going to bed and look at the results the next morning. I’ll say “good morning” to Governor Abrams on Wednesday.
“PS: There is no such thing as voter suppression. Period. I’ve been in the campaign consulting business for a couple of decades, and short of showing people weapons and threatening them, you really can’t stop people from showing up to the polls in large numbers.”
By Mike Hassinger
First, Charlie and DD et al. Thanks for the flurry of high quality postings over the weekend. I am pleasantly surprised and I plan to review and respond to many of them as time permits. Also, these posting represented a diverse point of view on topics and avoided the echo chamber effect all too common today. However, I couldn’t resist the bait that Mike sunk in today’s Morning Reads (see above quote)”
Mike, the issue isn’t that conservative Republican majorities nationwide are suppressing the vote. They are year after year making it harder to register and vote. They are rejecting absentee ballots for ridiculous reasons (see Gwinnett County.) Can you explain why? There is zero evidence of widespread voter fraud. Even the outrageous lies of Trump that he won the popular vote had been debunked by his own election commission.
Why so much legislative energy on this issue? No proof of voter fraud but one hoop after another hoop has been implemented. Isn’t this the new poll tax? The new grandfather clause?
Why is this right less important than the right to keep and bear weapons? More laws to make it harder to vote but easier to buy a gun? Maybe the Republicans are trying to tell us something.
http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/11/trump-tweet-intimidate-voters.html?utm_medium=s1&utm_source=fb&utm_campaign=nym&fbclid=IwAR0NnhgXNvCgelBwg8-Ig50QI7YD98-KAeOfTWW5lh0FHUPmSSYPrTsKNYM
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/05/opinion/a-slow-motion-coup-in-tennessee.html?fbclid=IwAR0Nyz4uJMocZw-Azqi64q1OLjmVjnsBklApdGFqMajj4S311BSk2630ghE
Trump illustrates both his showbiz reality TV bona fides and his respect for the US military by having the military as function as ICE stunt doubles in laying concertina wire on the border to turn back the caravan invasion. MAGA.
Making Authoritarianism Great Again!
I don’t know what will happen tomorrow but I have to believe in our better angels.
That’s catchy. The president is sowing fear and stoking ethnic anxieties. Democrats are trying to punish him for weakening America, while the GOP is counting on it to retain power..
Well, isn’t this interesting…Publishing tallies beforehand?? Blatant attempt at surpression!
https://mobile.twitter.com/SaraCarterDC/status/1059667377284149248
Not illiterate. Just right. “Oops, I’m sorry”, they say. Fake apology!
I got home and had just turned on the TV last night, which was set to MSNBC from my morning news watch, when Chris Hayes did a fairly good explainer on what happened Having friends who work at the NBC station in Milwaukee, they get live test feeds all the time from the network not meant to air. My guess was the division that handles the incoming counts was doing a live server updating feed to graphic testing for Tuesday, and the All In studio crew switched BY MISTAKE to the live test graphics while on air. They noted the error in less then 4 mins.