That does it! - PhillyBlog

thomast · #1 (**permalink**) 11-01-2004, 11:53 AM

I was starting to consider sellling out completely and voting for Kerry tomorrow. But these freaking "Honk for Kerry" folks outside of City Hall are getting such an enthusiastic response, that I can't think straight or get any work done! David Cobb it is, then.

How many votes will this effort garner? Why aren't these enthusiastic sign holders out in the neighborhoods, leaving literature and maps to polling places, instead of annoying the entire center city work force?

niel · #2 (**permalink**) 11-01-2004, 11:58 AM

So that's what all the honking's about. I'm over at Penn, near 36th & Spruce, and obviously we have them here too. I agree, it's pretty irritating. I'd hate to be teaching a class in Williams Hall today.

chrissayer · #3 (**permalink**) 11-01-2004, 12:03 PM

Come on ThomasT. A few horn honks, compared to the systematic nationwide effort by Republicans to surpress the vote.

Here's one from WV

Quote:

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

Contact: Stephen Skinner
sgskinner@mac.com

REPUBLICAN PARTY DECEIVING VOTERS IN WEST VIRGINIA

Charles Town, W.V., Oct . 31, 2004 – Democratic leaders in one of the
nation’s most hotly-contested battleground states are receiving reports
of voter suppression activities that can be traced back to the
Republican Party. The suppression activities have continued despite
warnings from officials in Berkeley and Jefferson Counties.

“These phone calls are outrageous and illegal,” says Michael Cassell,
Chairman of the Jefferson County Democratic Party. “They are designed
to suppress the vote for John Kerry and all democrats. The republicans
were warned before, but they continue to break the law”

In mid-October, John Smalls, County Clerk in Berkeley County, W.V.,
sent a letter to the Eastern Panhandle Republican Party about phone
calls that were traced back to its headquarters. The calls made to
Democrats in this tri-county area 60 miles northwest of Washington,
D.C., informed Democratic voters they were either not registered at
all, or would not be able to vote on election day.

At that time, Republican Party spokesperson Mary Diamond admitted that
some mistakes may have been made. She said the calls were made to
determine if people were registered to vote.

When he learned of the activities in neighboring Berkeley County, John
Ott, the top election official in Jefferson County stated, “This is an
improper act.” He encouraged voters to contact authorities if they
receive improper phone calls.

In the last few days, suppression activities have spread to Jefferson
County. Several voters have received phone calls telling them that
they are not registered despite the fact that they are.

“These calls are being made by people who claim they are calling from
Democratic headquarters in Charles Town,” Cassell said. “They trick
voters into revealing personal information, and then tell them they
cannot vote.”

“He told me I was not a registered voter,” said Bill Jackson of Charles
Town, of the phone call he received. “Later when I found out that he
was not calling from Democratic headquarters, I was outraged. I wonder
how many other voters have gotten these calls.”

“This is exactly the kind of dirty trick Republicans tried in Florida
four years ago.” Cassell says. “I’m calling on the US Attorney to
prosecute these illegal phone calls. ”

Same stuff is happening in Florida and Ohio - all tracked back to Republican campaigns or BC04 offices.

I think you're just cranky because your limp wristed liberal Mt. Airy team got shooshed by my PhillyRats.

thomast · #4 (**permalink**) 11-01-2004, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrissayer

Come on ThomasT. A few horn honks, compared to the systematic nationwide effort by Republicans to surpress the vote.

Such an effort would not be an effective strategy for the Dems, which is the only reason they have not adopted it. A systematic nationwide effort to bankrupt and silence an opponent's campaign through legal challenges, with little or no regard for those challenges' legal merit, did seem effective to them, and so they were only too happy to embrace it. How many nomination petition signers have been disenfranchised by this immoral and anti-democratic effort?

chrissayer · #5 (**permalink**) 11-01-2004, 01:45 PM

You still lost to the powerful Philadelphia Rats.

web_guy · #6 (**permalink**) 11-01-2004, 02:32 PM

The "Honk for Kerry" folk were out in force on Saturday too. I wasn't going to vote for him, but then I heard some guy honk his "La Cucaracha" horn and I was sold. But then the Bush folk told me they were going to hassle black people who tried to vote, and it's always good to be on the winning side of racism. Now I'm just torn.

Dave · #7 (**permalink**) 11-01-2004, 02:36 PM

I wasn't going to vote for Kerry either, then I was walking down Fairmount Ave on Sat and some truck drove past with a bullhorn telling me to remember to push the big button to vote all Democrat, which I'd forgotten to do, so I guess now I'll be voting for Kerry.

seand · #8 (**permalink**) 11-01-2004, 02:53 PM

I was swayed by that clever Lick Bush & Dick in '04 tee, myself.

Actually, re: the trucks with bullhorns, anyone else fondly remember those jaunty hip hop "Ed (skratch) Ed (skratch) Ed Rendell" messages from the last general election?

chrissayer · #9 (**permalink**) 11-01-2004, 03:22 PM

Not a campaign thing: I always loved the stationwagon with the casket on top and the dead guy on the roof. Funeral music blaring.

Made me want to try some drugs.

Odd thing was, it was someone over in Parkside area - but he used to run the damn thing around CC all the time.

chrissayer · #10 (**permalink**) 11-01-2004, 05:46 PM

Thomas - I found a MeetUp site for you.

http://www.kerryhatersforkerry.com/

And Mickey Kaus over at Slate has joined up. His statement on why he's voting for Kerry is a classic.

http://www.slate.com/id/2108954/