[Rhodes22-list] Voting

[Brad Haslett]

Slim,

The fat lady hasn't finished yet!  Here is an article from the Washington
Times.  Tammy Lee may actually be in the race!

Brad

-----------------

 A surprise in Minnesota?<http://www.washingtontimes.com/op-ed/20061102-090359-2762r.htm>By
Barry Casselman
Published November 3, 2006
------------------------------
  Advertisement
MINNEAPOLIS. -- Every two years, there is at least one "safe seat" race that
turns into a surprise on Election Day. The sleeper this year may be the race
in Minnesota's 5th Congressional District. Late-breaking circumstance, in
this race, considered safe for the Democrats (here called
Democratic-Farmer-Labor or DFL), may produce an upset on election night.
    Although DFL candidate Keith Ellison does have a Republican opponent,
Alan Fine, the most serious challenger to win this seat, now held by
retiring DFL Congressman Martin Sabo, is Independence Party (IP) nominee
Tammy Lee.
    The Independence Party put Jesse Ventura up for governor in 1998. Mr.
Ventura won in an amazing upset that year. In 2002, the party nominee Tim
Penny received 16 percent of the vote. And as Mr. Penny discovered, in a
three-way race many voters will abandon the candidate in third place to cast
their vote for one of the frontrunning two.
    This is what is apparently happening this year with the statewide IP
candidates. But in the Minnesota 5th, IP nominee Tammy Lee is now widely
perceived to be in second place.
    The DFL nominee in this heavily DFL and liberal district usually wins
with 70 percent or more of the vote. Mr. Sabo, in 14 terms, did not have a
close race. When he unexpectedly announced his retirement early this year,
it set off a scramble among local DFL politicians to fill his seat. A dozen
sought endorsement at the district party convention. It was won in June by
populist black Muslim legislator, Keith Ellison. Although he did not win a
majority of the approximately 250 delegates, he led from the first ballot
on, and his opponents decided not to block the endorsement. Traditionally,
endorsement here means winning the primary and the November election, but a
number of unsettling revelations about Mr. Ellison caused three major DFL
figures to challenge him in the primary. These challengers said that there
had not been time enough after Mr. Sabo's announcement for proper vetting,
and that new revelations showed he was a "flawed"candidate.
    These revelations concerned Mr. Ellison's past. First, it was disclosed
that Mr. Ellison had been an active part of Louis Farrakhan's anti-Semitic
movement in the 1990s. Mr. Ellison said that he now renounced the Nation of
Islam leader, and apologized to the Jewish community. Second, it was
revealed that Mr. Ellison had left a long trail of unpaid traffic
violations, housing violations, and failure to respond to numerous campaign
violations. He did not deny any of this. His opponents branded him a
"scofflaw."
    Mr. Ellison nonetheless won the primary because his three opponents
split the 59 percent of the vote against him. He won 41percent and the DFL
nomination. At that point, it appeared the election was over since he would
face two opponents in November, and it was an overwhelmingly DFL district.
    Right after the primary, the Republican nominee, Mr. Fine, launched a
bitter attack against Mr. Ellison for his past association with Mr.
Farrakhan, and for his receipt of large donations from an American Muslim
group alleged to have ties to terrorism. Even among many Republicans, Mr.
Fine's manner was perceived to be too abrasive and confrontational. At the
same time, Independent candidate Tammy Lee emerged as a serious candidate.
Mrs. Lee was for many years a TV broadcaster, and later an executive for a
regional airline. Originally a DFLer, she had also been press secretary for
Sen. Byron Dorgan, North Dakota Democrat and communications director for a
statewide DFL campaign. A self-described "fiscal conservative and social
moderate," she then found her way to the Independence Party.
    As Mr. Fine's political fortunes sank, Ms. Lee's rose. Mr. Ellison has
conducted a very low profile November campaign and has scheduled no TV
advertising. Several DFLers have failed to endorse him, including the DFL
nominee for governor. Mr. Sabo, in what has been described as his "Norwegian
endorsement," went to Ms. Lee's office, had his picture taken with her and
authorized her to use the picture in her campaign literature. Significant
numbers of GOP and DFL political figures, including many mayors of the
suburban parts of the district (40 percent of the vote) have endorsed her.
The Minneapolis business community has poured money into her campaign. She
has made a major TV ad buy. Recently, she placed a full-page ad in the
largest newspaper in the state listing her endorsements.
    The St. Paul Pioneer-Press headlined that Mr. Ellison was in trouble and
Ms. Lee was surging. The Jewish community, with some exceptions, has
seemingly rallied around her candidacy (although she is Catholic and Mr.
Fine is Jewish). Mr. Ventura endorsed her on the cover of the gay community
(a large voter group in the district) magazine. Prominent GOP figures
reportedly asked Mr. Fine to withdraw. He did not, and will continue in the
race, spending his campaign funds to attack Mr. Ellison.
    A Green Party candidate is also in the race and is likely to win about 5
percent of the vote. (The Green Party traditionally is strong in
Minneapolis.) If major DFL constituencies (Jews, gays, seniors, women)
desert Mr. Ellison, this could become a very close race on Nov. 7.
    The DFL GOTV effort, one of the best in the country, still gives Mr.
Ellison the edge. He is on the party and labor sample ballots. Ms. Lee's
emergence has come late in the campaign, and many voters do not yet know who
she is. But there is a "buzz" about her campaign that is very reminiscent of
Ventura phenomenon when the "impossible" happened at the end of the
campaign.
    If she does win, it would be the upset of the year.

    *Barry Casselman writes for Preludium News Service.*





On 11/2/06, Brad Haslett <flybrad at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Slim,
>
> Agreed.  It should be simpler but the paper process is not without fault
> either.  Mayor Daley of Chicago was famous for delivering bundles of last
> minute ballots when needed.  I don't know what the is the answer but what a
> major PITA the process is.  We stood in line for an hour to vote a week
> before the election using electronic machines. I moved some money out of my
> savings account at Emmigrant Bank yesterday online and had to almost give a
> blood, urine, and sperm sample before I could complete the transaction.  May
> I suggest we get their software firm to design an Internet voting process.
>
> Brad
>
>
>  On 11/2/06, Slim <salm at mn.rr.com> wrote:
> >
> > Can someone please tell me why, in this day and age, we have problems
> > counting votes?  For chrissake, what could be simpler?  Why do some
> > states
> > use questionable methods like punch cards or now, electronic machines
> > and
> > online voting?  You KNOW the electronic voting is a disaster looking for
> > a
> > place to happen.  Some don't even require a paper back-up in case a
> > recount
> > is needed.  OF COURSE there will be hackers AND breakdowns.  What are
> > they
> > thinking?  This drives me crazy!  I know I'm being cynical but the
> > unreliability of these methods make me think they do it IN ORDER FOR
> > THEM to
> > f**k with the results!
> >
> > Here in MN we use one, big single sheet of paper with all the candidates
> > there and you use a black pen which they supply.  You make a mark next
> > to
> > your candidate and it's read by a machine much less
> > technical/susceptible to
> > mishaps than an online computer.  We've never had a problem counting
> > and/or
> > verifying votes in MN.
> > KISS!!!!!
> >
> > BTW, in Brazil, voting is considered more than a civic duty--it's a
> > personal
> > obligation and all businesses, schools, etc. are closed for the day and
> > almost everyone votes.  In this country what, 35% turnout?  Disgraceful!
> > I take pride in knowing that MN is among the highest turnouts in the U.S
> > .
> >
> > Slim
> >
> > __________________________________________________
> > Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> >
>
>