The Voter ID Controversy

The voter ID controversy has sparked a voter bill from the Democratic congressional representatives that include Democratic Rep. John Lewis, who was in the thick of the 60′s civil rights movement. Read more about that here, where there is a link to the actual bill. Those against the new voter ID laws argue that it keeps the younger folks from voting, because of having trouble in obtaining documents such as a birth certificate due to costs. I do understand getting birth certificate when you no longer live in the state of your birth can cost up to $50.00. Yes, I agree the cost can be an issue.

My birth certificate was lost and I had to obtain one for a job a few years ago. Fortunately I live in the state of my birth. I ordered mine online and receive it in two days. It cost $14.00 due to shipping and handling. So the argument gets somewhat deflated in my example, because these young people will have to supply a birth certificate for significant employment among other things.  I hope the parents of those just starting out to vote know where they kept their children’s birth certificates.

The other argument is that there are elderly who voted for years and will not be allowed to vote from now on because they cannot secure a birth certificate to get a photo ID due to loss and/or being born at a time when recordings of births missed a lot of people, especially if you were not born in a hospital. I know many of you do not see this as a problem, but I do.

For example, 93 years old Viviette Applewhite who voted for decades will no longer be able to vote because of the new PA ID voter law. I have read some online comments challenging how Mrs. Applewhite is able to get prescription drugs without an ID.  There are a few (such as my 90 years old cousin) but really,  how many people do you see out and about in their 90s getting what they need on their own? It is usually someone younger getting their medicine. I take turns with my sister getting our mother’s prescriptions and we do not get asked for her ‘s or our IDs.

When I first went out in the work force in the early 70s, I was not required to provide a birth certificate. That changed for me some years later. Photo ID is far more a requirement these days than it was even when I was in my 20s. I do feel some provision should be made for registered elderly voting citizens like Mrs Applewhite who cannot obtain a birth certificate so they can continue to vote.

Now I do feel the voter ID laws are necessary to combat voter fraud, because there is evidence of it among Democrats and Republicans. I just feel the requirement of a birth certificate for a photo ID is easier to secure if you were not born in the earlier part of the 1900s.  This is hurting those among the voting elderly, but not so much the young voters.

My View is Changing on Primary Voting

This primary/caucus season is making me take a second look at open primaries. I have ranted in the past about registered voters being able to vote for whoever they desired at the primary level. Some can, but in 28 states others can only vote for the candidates of their political party registration as in my state of PA.

You may call this a flip-flop, but I see my changing attitude coming under “learning as you politically grow over the years.” This year, it is becoming more and more evident to me how open primaries are a detriment to the 2 mainstream political party candidates by allowing citizens from other political parties to vote. Many conservatives are angry over the perceived moderate, Mitt Romney  getting closer to getting the Republican presidential nomination. I hear and read conservatives blaming folks on the GOP side. But think!

There are and were Democrats and Independents in open primary states voting for Mr. Romney. Some because they kind of like him and maybe voting for him in November. Others because they hope it will cause more trouble with conservatives and keep them home or voting for a 3rd party, thus insuring a 2-term victory for Barack Obama. Because of the latter reason, I am glad only registered Republicans could vote in the PA primary.

Now there is just one more thing to consider in relation to voting. There was a poor Republican turnout in PA and in other states so far. What does that tell you about November? It tells me that too many Republicans are going to stay home, vote for someone who will not be winning again, or crossing over to the Democratic side. That does not bode well. Please tell me I am wrong.

Voted

Well, I voted in the closed PA primary. Firstly, I must tell you that I was lax and let my PA ID expire. PA just passed the Voter ID law. I felt so convicted that I spent the afternoon getting an up-to-date ID. Although the law will not be in effect until I vote in November, the poll workers were asking for ID as a practice run. I felt good about being able to show ID when I voted in the evening.

I have already ranted about not having the choice of candidates like the voters have in Iowa and New Hampshire. If the PA primary was held in January or February, I could have voted my heart. In April and after there is really no choice. Voting your heart at this late date for a candidate that clearly has no chance of securing the delegates to get the nomination is futile.

I voted pragmatically for Mitt Romney. I see people voted for Rick Santorum, my true choice, but he is officially out of the race. That is futility, which is not worth it. It is a wasted vote. My 2nd choice, Newt Gingrich does not have a chance. His candidacy along with Santorum’s has resulted in deep debt. That  is really the biggest result of their candidacies. Ron Paul never had a chance. A vote at this point for either one is also a wasted vote.

There were a few candidates vying to be the Republican challenger to Sen. Robert P. Casey’s seat. The candidate that I voted for lost. Tom Smith is the Republican challenger. I will vote for him in November against Sen Casey.  For me, the bottom line is a Republican sweep in November – Presidency, Senate and House.

Marion Barry a Sobering Indicator!

Let’s hear from Zo on Marion Barry being “a sobering indicator that Pres. Obama could get reelected.” Zo is right on the mark!

Rick is Out Before I Could Cast My Vote for Him

Well it is happening again. My PA primary is just too late in the primary/caucus season for me to be able to vote for Republican presidential candidate of choice. All voting for the Republican presidential candidates in primaries and caucuses should be done while most of the candidates still have an equal or at least close to an equal chance to win the Republican nomination. The PA primary should have been in the Super Tuesday or earlier.

I am ranting, because my chosen presidential candidate of heart and not pragmatics, Rick Santorum is out of  the race. I know I did say early on that he was another Mike Huckabee (my Republican presidential candidate of choice in 2008), but later, I wanted to be wrong and see him pull it off in being the Republican presidential nominee. I guess the polling showed that he was not going to win PA.

I though the RNC (Republican National Committee) decision to extend the season by having the delegates apportioned according to the number of votes per candidate for the first part of the season instead of winner take all would allow me a chance to vote for my  candidate of choice in a couple of weeks. But it did not help. Basically Mitt Romney is wrapping up the delegate vote.

My 2nd choice, Newt Gingrich who is still in the race, but does not have a chance, should have dropped out before Rick Santorum. Ron Paul who I found difficult to support never had a chance and I do not know why he even bothers. Here I am still hoping for the day when the PA Primary comes around I will have the same choice of candidates that those in Iowa and New Hampshire have. Pragmatically, that only leaves Mitt Romney who will get my vote in few weeks and in November. I am not happy, but I will not keep my vote home and help give Barack Obama another 4 years.

Santorum, Gingrich, Romney and Paul

Attaining the Republican presidential nomination in 2012 is not being wrapped up as quickly as it was in 2008 with John McCain or 2000 with George W. Bush. I am presently surprised that Rick Santorum is still a viable candidate. One of my Democratic family members asked what did Mr. Santorum do and did he not lose his last senatorial incumbent election in 2006? Even conservative talk show host Michael Medved noted some months back that Santorum’s senate loss did not make for a good presidential candidate.

Really, Rick Santorum has lasted this long, because those supporting and voting for him agree with what he is saying and not giving his prior election loss much consideration. Even though with the current delegate count, Mitt Romney at this point looks like he will be the Republican challenger to Pres. Obama in the fall. For me, it is Rick Santorum. Newt Gingrich runs a close second. Mitt Romney behind Santorum and Gingrich. Ron Paul is last on my primary voting list. Yes, I am struggling a little with voting conscience over pragmatism. In November, I will vote for the Republican presidential candidate against Pres. Barack Obama. That vote will come from both conscience and pragmatism.