…continues apace — this time through ACORN, who is endeavoring to cast doubt on the validity of representative democracy and free and fair elections.
At least, that’s what Jimmie Bise argues:
Let me restate something in this post.. ACORN has no intention for these illegal registrations to be voted on election day. Its aim is to create a crisis of confidence in our electoral system so that later it can claim that the system is “broken”. That goal is coming along quite nicely. The New York Times sets it up:
Still, because Democrats have been more aggressive at registering new voters this year, according to state election officials, any heightened screening of new applications may affect their party's supporters disproportionately.
Let me remind you that the primary reason that heightened screening exists is because of rampant ACORN registration fraud in 2004 election. How’s our confidence in the election? Well, let’s ask this former judge (via Stacy McCain).
Former state Supreme Court Justice Sandra Newman said Friday she has no confidence in the integrity of the electoral process in Pennsylvania as a result of the extensive voter registration effort by a community group with ties to Barack Obama.
I’d say that ACORN is right on track.
I needn’t repeat my argument that the aim of the New Left, having adopted “progressivism” as its retro face, and having strategically moved its base back into the Democratic party among the “liberals” it once spat at for being hopelessly bourgeois and unwilling to engage in the kind of immediate, violent happenings of the radical set, has been to soften the face of radicalism, reframe it as “moderate” by dint of empty populism, and to package it for the masses in a pleasing and “historically important” candidate — one who represents the apotheosis of the progressive strategem: a young, charismatic minority candidate who promises hope and change without having to answer to how he plans on bringing such about, a man whose appeal is based on soaring oratory, the multiculturalist PC push of our media, corporate, and and educational institutions, historical timeliness of his candidacy (and its supposed “symbolism” and how such symbolism will be embraced by the “rest of the world”), and the outward advocacy of a progressive media culture trained with activism in mind by our “top” journalism schools.
There can be little doubt as to the ideology under which Obama forged his political identity — from his early communist poet mentor to the New Left radicalism of Ayers to the socialism and communism of the New Party and the DSA in Chicago to the Black Liberation Theology he absorbed for twenty years under a “spiritual advisor” who blamed the government for the creation of AIDS and the Jews for the class divisions brought about by the capitalist menace.
The press — and many progressive bloggers — have worked overtime to keep these associations either secret or, once revealed, to keep the significance of the associations minimalized, often through the most tenuous and downright pathetic rhetorical maneuvers.
Still, when you have the press making arguments that voter fraud is not a big deal because it isn’t likely to have much of an effect, you realize — if you haven’t been either swept up in the power hungry machinations of the progressive leadership or else are the useful “low-intelligence voters” who the progressive elite count on to vote a particular way, having used the state and the insinuation of progressive ideological “truism” into our institutions to “mold” the perfect useful idiots — that America has lost its way politically.
And I say that not from the perspective of party, but rather from the perspective of ideology. Classical liberalism is slowly being replaced by the statism of soft socialism, protected by a “progressive” ideology designed to guard its own gains as it move inexorably toward cheerful authoritarian control.
If and when what some are calling the “Cold Civil War” comes, it will be fought along ideological lines between neo-Jacksonians and the coastal elites — the former not wishing to be ruled by the latter, and the latter indignant that the former would refuse to be so ruled, and absolutely adamant that they will no longer be subject to the “ruling” whims of their inferiors.
I, for one, welcome our new progressive overlords.
So with a moratorium on foreclosures, I’d like to pull a reverse ACORN and save 3 months worth of mortgage payments. Then tell them, “Oh, I thought Barack was going to let us pass 3 payments without the man coming down on us.”
Then when the banks totally collapse, I’ll own the place. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to finish filling out the paperwork for claiming two dogs and a horse as dependents.
We ought to expect to see massive defections from the erstwhile “conservative” ranks should Obama and his allies win this election. There is no stronger ruling “principle” than the opportunism of the mushy middle. Roosevelt was a practical political genius when he set this up. Makes the battlelines clear as crystal though.
Baracky and his socialisms will tear this country apart but it’s not like it’s an accident. Even if he loses he gets to score a huge gash in my America. He’s a marxisty penis I think.
Obama has Elvis in a headlock.
The suckiest sucking suck is that McCain will still be in the Senate.
I’m giggling because I just realized that if the Red States tried to secede after this election, and failed, future historians would ascribe their attempt to “racism.” Giggle, giggle, giggle.
Damn! Spent a few days writing a post on this and Jeff writes it up in a few sentences…
Good work!!
True. But you have to remember, the coastal elite just does not like it when the neo-Jacksonians express their disapproval of the coastal elites. I mean, that’s just so… judgemental.
Good post, Jeff. Excellent big-picture perspective and a solid presentation of each related fact.
If you weren’t such a racist probably you’d have convinced thor. Of course I can say the same for myself so who am I to talk…
While I agree that this is part of ACORN’s plan, they also want the fake registrations to be voted on and to throw the election in a specific direction. They don’t just have one goal here.
It will be neither civil nor cold for long.
7. Comment by Salt Lick on 10/14 @ 11:31 am #
I’m giggling because I just realized that if the Red States tried to secede after this election, and failed, future historians would ascribe their attempt to “racism.†Giggle, giggle, giggle.
Vermont’s been trying to secede before this election, like, forever. See Vermont Commons and Second Vermont Republic.
Wonder what present historians ascribe to that.
Then again, the only blacks in Vermont are on the bus passing through to Montreal, plus Curtis the BBQ guy in Putney.
IMHO, the obvious fakes are the chaff, to overload the system, so that the not-obvious fakes make it past. Then, come election day, absentee ballots, or early voting, they take the carefully assembled list of not-obvious fakes, dole them out and go ’round voting them.
I’ll regret this, but…
You’re in disagreement with all of the man’s site and the work therein, thor. Kindly consider not bullshitting me.
Than? Because? In order to? Ergo?
To what aim? What end? To what merit? What’s that code for?
By that measure, man survives on cryptic relativism. I say Humans survive on freedom and self-determination. Actually. On principle. Just ideals.
Every man has a philosophy, thor. Maybe you’ve heard all the whispers in-closet.
Ah, but have you heard the whisperer in the darkness? Have you seen the color out of space? Have you had dreams in a witch house, beyond the wall of sleep? Have you climbed the mountains of madness, felt their cool air? Have you gone through the gates of the silvery key, into the nameless city?
Have you faced the rats in the walls of the shunned house? Have you felt the lurking fear of the evil clergyman, while in the vault, imprisoned with the pharoahs?
Well? Have you? HAVE YOU?!
Maybe it’s just that thor needs to come out of the closet. And stay out.
It’s that I’ve seen more of the world.
Gosh, he’s probably almost as smart as Biden!
[…] counsels people to say that they are being paid on a per-registration basis, then one has to ask, as Jeff does here, what purpose such systematic violation is supposed to serve. Republicans continue to mount the […]
Thor thinks he’s the only one who’s lived abroad, I guess.
Bologna, where I lived, is a beautiful socialist paradise. Unfortunately, everything closes at 7.
My ink is from Ireland. I ate steak breakfasts and polenta on the coast in Spain. I drank 10cent Belgian Ale in Budapest, smiling inwardly at the Hungarians paying $50 for Budweiser.
Reading Celine is not living. Thor’s like Brenner in Westworld: he thinks he’s a cowboy but there’s something about him that fairly screams “manufactured by nerds.”
The smart people run. The smart tough people stay and torch the glorified toaster.
Comparing World Travels With thor The Romantic Libertarian. No, it’s not a Discovery Channel program but it’d make an interesting thread…
I enjoyed my visit to that communist paradise formerly known as Czechoslovakia back in ’86. I loved entering a country with barbed wired and tank traps for its front door. The joy of food shopping in the stores as to finding an item was made easier by the absence of items. The lovely camp ground that used big old original Bud barrels as a cabin. The pleasure of returning the monolopy money issued to its rightful commie owner on departure. But above all that the cloud from Chernobyl that waft through the air that sometimes I think was arranged just for my visit.
God dammit! All the work I put into that last comment, and NO ONE NOTICED!!!
You’re a pack of Philistines, all of you!
I thought it was lovingly crafted, Rob.
Since I’ve long known I’m a whaja-ma-call’t, pag-a-phillysteens, I’d didn’t figurr you’ld giv’a ‘alf a shite on’t Robbers, so said nuttin’. Pardin th’oversight.
I actually laughed aloud, Rob. It was indeed humorous.
Either that or thor is on a whole ‘nother plane and we’re all jackasses. Because special knowledge just isn’t special if everybody knows it, see?
Rob, Lovecraft would have been proud.
There’s a line I’ve seen used by several people, most recently by Eric Flint in the Belisarius series: “Why do evil people think they have a monopoly on ruthlessness?” Obama and company have never realized that its’ their supporters in major urban areas who are totally dependent on a functioning infrastructure to deliver all of life’s necessities.
A country boy can survive.
Thank you. Pity I had to beg for the appreciation, tho.
*sigh*
Just a tiny glimpse into the world of Jeff. It’s frightening, really.
You paid $50 what for a Budweiser? Not the original, because that’s my fav and it don’t cost $50-dollars in Hungary unless it comes with a blowjob.
Seville is very nice. Then again, I played golf in Spain and lived over a year in Peru, so I’m down with the colonialists and spicks. There was a very famous Turkish model in Istanbul, a renowned painter in Saint Petersburg, a Syrian beauty in London – I banged so many distant women my cock should be in a Bennetton commercial.
Rob, paradoxes, focus.
…to package it for the masses in a pleasing and “historically important†candidate  one who represents the apotheosis of the progressive strategem: a young, charismatic minority candidate who promises hope and change without having to answer to how he plans on bringing such about, a man whose appeal is based on soaring oratory, the multiculturalist PC push of our media, corporate, and and educational institutions, historical timeliness of his candidacy (and its supposed “symbolism†and how such symbolism will be embraced by the “rest of the worldâ€Â), and the outward advocacy of a progressive media culture trained with activism in mind by our “top†journalism schools.”
Jeff, while I’ve long made these arguments piecemeal, you have connected the dots in a way that I nor I doubt anyone has read-EVAH! IMO, this is among your best pieces ever for summarizing the left’s push on our society, the methods they have used, and one possible long term outcome.
“If and when what some are calling the “Cold Civil War†comes, it will be fought along ideological lines between neo-Jacksonians and the coastal elites  the former not wishing to be ruled by the latter, and the latter indignant that the former would refuse to be so ruled, and absolutely adamant that they will no longer be subject to the “ruling†whims of their inferiors.”
I’ve never heard the term “Cold Civil War” before, but I can see the possibility of it coming; and that threat to our nation’s unity and identity scares the hell out of me. Now, more than ever, I realize that O! has to be defeated. Not just for some cheap party play, but in the interest of our nations future. With O!, Pelosi, and Reid there could be a “New Deal” v.2.0; a legislative agenda that could possibly change our nation forever.
We should all try to send a link to this essay to all of our friends and family, asking them in turn to pass it on. It’s concise nature will be easily understood, and hopefully will influence the thinking of some undecided voters
And it would be the worst Bennetton commercial ever.
Just sayin’.
thor, you’re the Wilt Chamberlain of PW, and just as believable!
Thor, old fellow: the fellows at the club say that you’ve been stealing my schtick, as it were. Not on, old thing, just simply not done. Very infra dig and all that.
[…] Jeff Goldstein… […]
Uh, typo – that should have been:
It always frightens me a little when I encounter someone that utterly unreachable, so clueless they pass from fool to madman. Creepy.
31. Comment by thor on 10/14 @ 7:20 pm #
You paid $50 what for a Budweiser? Not the original, because that’s my fav and it don’t cost $50-dollars in Hungary unless it comes with a blowjob.
Seville is very nice. Then again, I played golf in Spain and lived over a year in Peru, so I’m down with the colonialists and spicks. There was a very famous Turkish model in Istanbul, a renowned painter in Saint Petersburg, a Syrian beauty in London – I banged so many distant women my cock should be in a Bennetton commercial.
I’m instantly thinking the one with the skinny guy on his deathbed.
Don’t remember any other Benetton adverts.
Gee, I just think – bullshit!
I just think: overcompensation. Thor has told us he’s been hearing whispers in the closet, and now he’s trying to impress us with how promiscuously hetero he is.
Methinks she protests too much.
thor’s lived in more places than Bill O’Reilly, and Duncan MacLeod, of the clan MacLeod. Of course, on the intertubes, you can live anywhere, be anybody, and claim anything. Festivus for the rest of us!
“[J]ust remember, it’s not a lie if you believe it.” – George Costanza
I’ve been saying, or mainly thinking, that Thor is DEFINITELY gay (NTTAWWT) for weeks. That’s not a problem. The problem is he is a complete fucking retard. Jeff has him nailed (calm down, thor, that’s a metaphor). He’s a wannabe of impressive proportions.
I’m glad you’re impressed, faggot.
thor, have you ever banged an extraterrestrial? I want to know how life is on another planet.
Are you kidding, I married one.
Hmmm. I am reminded of the theme song from an old cartoon…ah, yes “In the World of Commander McBragg…in his world he’s a king, he can do anything! Or so says the brag of McBragg.”
I’ve lived and worked in the States, obviously, London, Lima and Moscow. It’s not bragging when it’s a simple fact, butthole.
Thor when did you first realize you were attracted to men?
Not that there is anything wrong with that….
I stole a car in Nairobi and ate Kosher in Beirut.
You guys are seriously confused. Yet it is very simple –
ACORN accepts REGISTRATIONS from individuals who collect them. Some of those people are not trustworthy and make up names for these registrations. ACORN is required by law to turn in ALL registrations they receive though they flag the suspect ones. On top of this, a registration is not a vote. There have been almost ZERO instances where a false registration was used to cast a vote. This is a total non issue designed to distract and confuse the foolish. Jeff, as per usual, is plenty willing to accommodate the fools. Note the contrast to GOP voter caging techniques and the 600k newly “suspect” registrations in Ohio, both of which will lead to actual disenfranchisement.
So you come in here and word for word parrot spin I have seen on TV and other websites hoot. Good job you progg overlords must be proud. Defending voter fraud is a tough job though so keep your chin up.
Would you have this same opinion if the NRA were sending in thousands of fraudulent ballots and having it’s offices raided by the FBI?
No, ACORN generates registrations, pretty much from anyone who can manage to work a pen. I’d tell you to try again, but that would be pointless.
soooo, how many fraud convictions must ACORN have before ACORN decides to change it’s process?
Defending attendance in a racist church for 20 years….0 dollars
Defense of voter fraud that supports your candidate….0 dollars
Defense of the actions of a domestic terrorist in order to protect your candidate….0 dollars
Raging case of PDS and BDS….0 dollars
Total loss of integrity, morals, and the ability to discern right from wrong….priceless.
ACORN hires and advises people to collect registrations FOR THEM. Complaints about their methodology are not new, they simply have refused to change their modus operandi.
ACORN is a partisan operation (ACORN FOR OBAMA t-shirts, for example) – and it just amazes me that everyone is pretending that they are simply non-political do-gooders.
Who says they are non-political do gooders. This is the free market at work, here, people.
As for defending voter fraud – how many fraudulent votes have been cast due to ACORN registrations, tough guy? It is a total distraction designed to whip up the fury of idiots like you. Nice work!
BWAH HA HA HAaaaaa. how bout you wait and comment on something you actually have knowledge about? oh sorry, it’s hoot.
Another point – who do you think benefits from a lack of confidence in the election process? The likely winner (Obama) or the likely loser (McCain)? Protip – you don’t need a PhD in literature to figure it out.
I bet Phil Graham probably registers fraudulent voters all the time. bastard.
As for Hoot’s assertion that ACORNs registration practices have never led to voter fraud …. well, you are basing that on what?
Item 43:
maggie, go fuck yourself you moron. Or get a job.
PHIL GRAHAM1!!! that’s who benefits.
aw, tell it to PHIL GRAHAM, hoot.
Hoot – you are aware that ACORN accept federal money, right? Yesterday, on the radio I heard an ACORN spokesman make the claim that they were a non-partisan organization (at east their get out the vote arm), which is a total … hoot.
Hoot – you are aware that ACORN accept federal money, right? Yesterday, on the radio I heard an ACORN spokesman make the claim that they were a non-partisan organization (at east their get out the vote arm), which is a total … hoot.
Free market? Taxpayer FUNDED.
obviously not, Carin. hoot is not about doing the homework.
hoot, there isn’t supposed to be a free market for votes. One person, one registration, one vote, one time.
Honestly, I think 63 should be deleted. I thought the new left were supposed to be intellectual, but all we get over here are profane assholes?
Pablo, I think hoot was under the mistaken perception that ACORN was privately funded.
no, no, Carin, I’m quite proud of evoking that one.
rotten little fruit
unrestrained by fact is hoot
his point is quite moot
I think his head exploded after hitting “say it.” Either that, or he’s slunk away.
As for defending voter fraud – how many fraudulent votes have been cast due to ACORN registrations, tough guy?
How many need to be cast before it becomes a problem in your book? Or, to be fair, in the book of the people who give you your talking points?
‘Cuz in my book, any positive integer greater than zero is unacceptable.
Now, if their point is to get ACORN in the headlines now, so that the public is desensitized to seeing them implicated in actual for-real voting fraud in November, would that change your mind (or, to be accurate, your script)?
I hope you do realize that even if ACORN is convicted of voter fraud these same people defending them now, (ie. they are just fake registrations none of them will vote, Republicans are just trying to change the subject this is a distraction, insert generic talking point 2356), will just point there finger at teh evil Rethuglicans and say they did it first. IMHO.
Shorter hoot – Voter fraud, yay!
Dimmer hoot – intellectual suppression is not your friend, even if it provides you comfort!
hoot, if you stand sideways in a stiff breeze, does your head whistle?
“Another point – who do you think benefits from a lack of confidence in the election process? The likely winner (Obama) or the likely loser (McCain)?”
Well, if the winner wins, then he’s the guy who benefits, right?
But if the likely winner suddenly loses, then is the winner the loser or the election process the winner or is it the loser and OH I’VE GONE CROSS-EYED.
Hoot: Your Choice in Libtard Comedy.
Andrew – reading isn’t your strong suit, eh?
no, hoot, reading is PHIL GRAHAM’S strong suit.