E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSThe presidential campaigns are continuing to wage an aggressive back and forth, especially in Ohio. But the devastating impact of Sandy will likely put a wrench in residents' plans to vote, and the tallying of those votes. NBC's Chuck Todd reports.
With Election Day just one week away, state officials along the eastern seaboard are assessing the devastation done by Hurricane Sandy, which swept through the Northeast corridor and hit New Jersey and New York hardest.
For the second day, early voting was canceled in Maryland, while some in-person absentee voting locations in northern Virginia were closed, and early voting was suspended in six counties in West Virginia, a state hit by high winds and heavy snow.
Gary Hershorn / Reuters
Floodwaters surround a car parked on a street in Hoboken, New Jersey Oct. 30, 2012. Sandy, one of the biggest storms ever to hit the United States, roared ashore with fierce winds and heavy rain near Atlantic City, New Jersey after forcing evacuations, shutting down transportation and interrupting the presidential campaign.
But the looming challenge was for counties in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut where the storm surge flooded schools and other locations designated as voting sites next Tuesday. Election officials in coastal counties were struggling to assess whether power outages might force changes in some of next Tuesday’s polling locations.
The potential for disruptions to voting on Nov. 6 could depress voter turnout in storm-affected areas of New York and New Jersey, for example, but President Barack Obama is still likely to carry those two states with no difficulty.
In Nassau County, N.Y., where the south shore was inundated by the storm surge and where there are more than 900,000 registered voters, towns such as Oceanside and Long Beach are now under a foot or more of water.
Related: Campaign pause set to lift on Wednesday
Nassau County Board of Elections Commissioner William Biamonte said Tuesday that he and other officials were still trying to reach the emergency contact people at each of the polling locations in the flooded areas, but they’d been unsuccessful, as cell phone service was out in parts of the county.
Before the storm hit, officials mapped polling locations in what FEMA designates as Category 1 storm areas: 68 of Nassau County’s 400 polling locations are in that flood-prone zone.
“The real issue is power,” Biamonte said. “If we still have massive power outages a week from today, there are few options.”
One of them: when voters come to a polling location, they would be asked to fill out the ballot used in the county’s optical scan machines and instead of scanning them at the polling location (which is the normal procedure), those ballots could be taken to the county board’s office and scanned there. This option, he said, would delay the tallying of results by a day.
MSNBC's Chris Jansing talks with NBC's Pete Williams about the impact Superstorm Sandy may have on the election, and the issues that would surround a possible postponement of the presidential election.
Biamonte said he expects voter turnout of about 670,000 in the county next Tuesday but is concerned that about 300,000 of those voters, who vote only in presidential elections, will be unfamiliar with the optical scan machines the county has adopted since 2008. That unfamiliarity might add another element of confusion on Election Day.
But “come hell or high water – which is what we just had – were going to be voting next week,” Biamonte said.
As in New York, and in New Jersey too, power outages, massive flooding, and impassable streets are making it difficult for officials along the coast to assess polling locations.
“We’re talking about relocating polling locations,” said Jason Varano, assistant supervisor of the Ocean County, N.J., Board of Elections. “We don’t know what we’re going to do. We have no plan yet.”
But he stressed, “We’re taking an assessment of everything. By tomorrow night, when roads are safe to drive down, we’ll have a better assessment.”
The county clerk’s office in Toms River, N.J., has extended its hours to accept vote-by-mail ballots. The office will stay open until 9 p.m. tomorrow through Saturday and open Sunday as well until 4 p.m., said Scott Colabella, the Ocean County clerk.
Colabella added, however, that the clerk’s office currently does not have power and had to move its phone lines.
In New Jersey, anyone can vote by mail without an excuse. Voters can request a ballot at a county clerk’s office until 3 p.m. Monday.
Ocean County – one of the hardest hit areas in the state with its 45 miles of coastline stretching from Point Pleasant to Seaside Heights and down to Long Beach Island – has 411 precincts and 250 polling locations.
Monmouth County, N.J., with its 27 miles of coastline directly to the North of Ocean, was also severely impacted. Its offices were closed Tuesday.
Varano, who said county officials are coordinating with and awaiting more guidance from the state, said it will probably be five or six days before they know exactly the extent of the damage and what the county will realistically be able to do about voting.
“Right now,” Varano said, “there are massive amounts of numbers of people without power” and that has meant he’s having a “hard time getting in touch with” some of those in charge at polling locations. His office is open, but doesn’t even have Internet yet, he said.
Ocean County cast about 275,000 votes in the 2008 presidential election and is one of the most Republican counties in the state.
In Connecticut, Secretary of State Denise Merrill will be holding a conference call at 10 a.m. Wednesday with at least 200 town clerks and voting registrars across the state in order to assess whether changes in polling locations might be needed next Tuesday.
Merrill spokesman Av Harris said state officials do not yet know if some polling locations will need to be moved due to power outages or storm damage.
Meanwhile, several counties in West Virginia were still under blizzard or winter storm warnings as of 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.
“We’ve been calling counties that are under blizzard or winter storm warning – they’re measuring the snow not in inches but in feet – and even though some of these places have gotten slammed, they’ve still managed to open their early voting sites,” said Jake Glance, a spokesman for West Virginia Secretary of State Natalie Tennant.
As for contingency plans for next Tuesday, Glance said most of the state’s 55 counties use touch-screen voting machines that can rely on battery power if electricity is still out in some places.
He said Tennant’s office has been exploring the option of deploying generators in certain precincts to keep lights on and machines operating if electric power is still out next week.
In Maryland, Gov. Martin O’Malley issued an executive order Tuesday ordering early voting centers to be open between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday after the hurricane forced cancellation of early voting on Monday and Tuesday.
NBC's Domenico Montanaro contributed to this story
Leave a Comment:
Polling places may have to move to a BARGE!
True that , Sees!
I so hope that they do get everything figured out and that people can recover from this disaster quickly and safely. I think opening voting centers early to allow those that can vote now to do so is a great option as well.
That's what GOP calls a 'GodSend'...golden opportunity to move polling places out of the reach of Democratic voters.
All will be well, by election day, there will be loads of adjustments between now and then for a fair election.
Romney/Ryan with Governor Christie at their back. (Real leadership for the US)
Pigotry,
Is that because all the Democratic voters live in one place and the Republican voters live in another? When I looked for a place to live, the political preference of my future neighbors was never a consideration. How is it that the east coast has Democratic enclaves that the Republicans could take advantage of? Do you have any tangible data to back this up or did you just see this as an opening to take a swipe at Republicans? Sounds like a lie to me, but, oops, only Republicans lie, isn't that right Pig? What a conundrum???
Oh here we go, this is what you'll hear when Romnney wins; "they cheated, they cheated, they cheated!!!!!....blah, blah, blah........"
Zman, don't say it won't happen. It did in 2000 and is set up for this year with the Republican Gov asst.
Listen my friends
And you will see,
What King Obama
Has done to you and me.
On January twentieth
Two thousand and nine,
He took control
We started our decline
.
With record unemployment
And people forlorn,
Our tax money spent
Poverty the Norm.
With free phones for some
And EBT cards too,
The lazy ones come
Freebies from me and you.
On November the sixth
Two thousand and twelve,
You must go vote
Or were going to hell.
The country deserves better
Than the King and Moochele
,America must survive
And ring the liberty bell.
John D. USN 71-77
I think pigotry is spreading the notion that all Democrats are incompetent, and they need the government to tell them when to vote, where to vote, how to vote, and to drive them to the polls. While Republicans just figure out on their own when to vote and go and vote.
Is that the idea pigotry? Any law that affects voting, every democrat in the world comes out screaming! "It disproportionately affects democrats!!" The law affects everyone the same, but it disrupts the democrats efforts to manipulate people into voting for them with their pre-election voting drives.
They go to the confused, frustrated, run-down, and promise them everything they want to hear, if only they vote for them. The problem is, the democrats are unable to fulfill these promises (How many promises did Pres. Obama break?). But they don't care, as long as the false promise, and free rides, get them out to the polls and voting democrat.
So true! Here in Oregon we only vote by mail and to do that you need to PURCHASE a stamp. I have been waiting for the liberals to start ranting about voter suppression because this will affect the democrats unfairly.
Like those billboards saying voter fraud is a crime: a republican sees it and says "DUH", a democrat sees it and thier head explodes, it's insane!
My friends and family in Oregon are sending in their votes with the forever stamps on them. Those who don't happen to have stamps are being given stamps by friends and relatives. No problem, they're happy to vote DEMOCRAT.
Hey, Mike259? As a poet, you're no Sam Coleridge; but it appears to me that your grasp of history is pretty shaky too. I guess there's no point in urging you to pull your head out and try to grow a heart in that black, toxic hole in your breast; but the least you could do is come up with lies and slander that are at least remotely plausible! Even Romney isn't trying to pretend that everything was peachy and life was great under Bush- oh wait...
Sure, but what's they're excuse NOT to vote?
No postage stamps?
Postage stamps are a poll tax. Voting by mail must be banned.
But if your a democrat, I'm sure the government can mix some postage stamp in with your food stamps.
Funny- I never thought about the postage stamp issue. On the other hand, since absentee ballot fraud is a lot more easily perpetrated, no wonder democrats are silent about it.
Why don't more New Jerseyans vote absentee? Quite frankly, because absentee ballots are not treated equally to early vote ballots- and we don't have early voting.
For an absentee ballot to even be opened on election day, the vote spread between candidates has to exceed the number of absentee ballots received. Opening and counting them is a pointless exercise if, for example, candidate A wins over candidate B by 100,000 votes, and only 20,000 absentee ballots are mailed or otherwise delivered.
Early vote ballots in states that allow it are counted, and add to the spread.
I still contend that the basic election day balloting, with absentee ballots for those who cannot get to the polls is the best way. There were folks who voted before the debates had even started- how many want those early votes back?
There should be a ban against voting before the first debate.
Think, please, ZMan, Joe, NJ No's, and The Mikes of all Varieties…seriously, please think.
There are monitored public places ALL OVER for Oregonians to drop off their ballots. It's only sent in by mail if that's the way the voter chooses to do it. It's pretty simple.
How do I know this? I just voted. In Oregon. For the President.
And, just for the record, I actually was on Food Stamps. And as you go and give yourself that odd smug look you sometimes do in your mirror, will you also please try - for one single time - to stop and think what it might be like in someone else's life? Free your mind for just a minute and try to picture it.
I'm educated. White. I went from being a married women with three kids who was able to run my small business from my home, that I owned, to getting a serious, incurable disease that sent my ex running for the hills, put my house as underwater as those on The Jersey Shore right now (bless their hearts), shot my credit skyrocketing due to the medical bills, and forced my 3 kids to face the rest of their childhoods with me doing my absolute best to take care of them.
Did that involve Food Stamps? You already know the answer.
What would you have had me do?
And don't respond by saying that 'I'm just one unusual case'. It's not true. Every person I met in this journey who had to do something similar has stories similar to mine. And they also had to make the choice. In. order. to. eat.
I would just really appreciate you not lumping everyone and everything together, and making huge assumptions about people. You just never know. And after all, isn't that what makes our country great in the first place?
Plus, just because you are voting for the Republican candidate, I don't automatically post that you must be angry, defensive, and strangely non-trusting due to something rough from your childhood that you haven't dealt with.
Nor do I think that because of this behavior you have trouble with meaningful relationships.
I don't assume you didn't go to -or finish- college or that you consistently blame others for why you are not as successful as you thought you'd be by this age.
Just because you're not voting for Obama, you don't hear me talking about all the times you've wanted to put your time where your mouth is by really attempting to take part in an organized religion, only to think to yourself as you're doing it that you'd much rather be drinking beer and watching football. Even if it's usually alone or only with other males who are just like you.
It's not like I say that you pick on people who are different than you because you secretly feel bad about yourself and especially bad about the fact that you know this and yet can't admit it or talk to someone about making it better.
I won't even bring up that you are so angry right now because of reading this post, but you won't do anything productive to work out that anger, so you'll probably just make someone else in your life feel bad and then you'll feel bad, too, because you'll know it's because of this silly internet post and the person in your life will think it's about something serious and/or sincere.
And, finally, I'll never assume that because you have voted or will be voting for Mitt Romney, that you badly do air guitar because you're insecure about dancing in public, that you need to shave, and that you secretly always loved 'Will and Grace' but would never have admitted it.
Nope. Not me. I'm just going to picture you like any other open-hearted, smart, interesting American.
May God Bless and comfort those affected by this terrible storm!
I hope those you can do it safely, will vote . . . but when your house is flooded, you have other things on your mind.
.
and if you want the FACTS of how Myth Robme treated disaster victims in Mass when he was Gov, look at this:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/30/mitt-romney-flooding_n_2042886.html?utm_hp_ref=politics
.
. . . and what the Lyin' Ryan budget would do to victims of disasters:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/29/paul-ryan-budget-fema_n_2040878.html?ref=topbar
.
Meanwhile, I wish Myth Robme, Panderer in Chief, would stay home . . . he doesn't care about at least 47% of the people affected - we know that from his own words.
O & JOE! because ObamaCare(s) :-)
Simply amazing. What those men said in the article about Romney never even being seen in a slicker touring damaged areas really sticks with me. The other, and more important part of that article is the men agreeing with each other that Romney just didn't get the whole governing thing or how infrastructure worked. Yeah, get me to the quickest voting booth! That's who I want running a WHOLE Phuking country! This man has got to be beaten(in the election) in a clear and present way!
Yes, let's rely on an even more biased media site than NBC. Huffington is by far radical leftist - so what value do these links really hold unless you want to believe nothing more than the absolute radical?
Maybe you should actually read the article. The article cites two political figures who served in MA at the same time as Romney was governor.
AlaskaGirl
Here in the lower forty eight we don't believe anything from the Huffington Post. Go have another drink and look at some reliable news sources.
JH ...
You don't speak for me JH and I live in the lower 48 as do a LOT of others who actually like Huff Post.
Obama/Biden 2012
We in the lower 48 don't believe anything from FOX news either.......kinda like that JH? why don't you go find a reliable news source.
Anyone who likes Huff Post has half a mind to vote for Obama the half wit.
Romney/Ryan 2012
I am sorry for all the half wits in this country because they are going to be very upset after the elections. The shellacking will continue because most Americans have seen the progressive/liberal agenda and will soundly reject it on November 6, 2012. And I am speaking for over 50% of Americans. I hope more than 54%.
Kathryn - Maybe like MSNBC? Pathetic.
How about a reliable poll like Rasmussen? That will scare the half wits.
JH, here in the "Great Land" that is Alaska, we know a chum(p) when we see one, and you are about as big a chump as they come. People like you degrade journals like Huff Post because you know deep in your soul that their journalists aren't hacks. Rasmussen is a reliable poll? LOL Oh, that is priceless. Thanks for the "belly laugh"!
I'll bet it's a hell of a "belly" too. You are a liar!! You've never seen me. Where did you see the chump? I think you meant Layton. Lean forward libbies, all the way until you fall over.
Have you got a more reliable polster than Rasmussen?
Romney/Ryan 2012
1/20/2013 - the end of an error
Alaska Girl- the only libbys in the Great Land are hippies living in unincorporated areas of the state so they don't have to pay taxes or dog mushers. Oh I forgot, there are a few who live in Los Anchorage. Which one best describes you?
Oh, wow, you two are some piece of work. Straight out of Conservative casting. JH, I guess you don't know what chum is, do you? I know you are a chump, but I put the p in parenthesis to use the word as "chum" also. I'll let you figure out what chum is. onermailliw, or is it william in reno? You do realize how stupid you sound when you refer to Anchorage as "Los Anchorage" don't you? I can assure you that I don't live in either of the locations that you have described. If you, on the other hand do live in Reno, you have my heartfelt condolences. Peace, dudes! LOL
Romney/Lyin: Turning Americans into Liars one Republican at a time.
AlaskaGirl - Four good Americans died, and Obama lied. See you lefties like to throw around the word "LIE" and it works both ways. BTW, you might want to look at the lies Obama has told, but then it's o.k. because he's a liberal Democrat. FYI - ALL POLITICIANS LIE, Just some lie better than others.
@AlaskaGIRL -
First off, no, I will not read the articles. Politically, Huffington Post is sheer garbage, and extremely one-sided. Let me be a little more in depth with this: You stated that one of the articles had to deal with Romney and a couple of politicians beneath him within the state of Massachusetts correct? Well here is an eye opener for you. Romney was a republican elected to govern in a Democratic state, want to take a guess at what party those two you speak of were affiliated with? This is called nitpicking. Huffington is going to locate any, slight, ever so inconsequential, piece of trash that they can due to their bias. Frankly, at points, I have had a hard time receiving MSNBC/NBC's view points, but I at least get a balance between it and Fox (even Fox is terrible).
Now, off the media bias topic and onto another....
You're a child, so the relevancy of any of this, as far as you are concerned, is meaningless.
I live on Long Beach Island or at least I did. I don't really know if my house is still standing. We can't go back to the island for 7-10 days. Most coastal residents are scattered around N.J and Pennsylvania. How are we going to vote? It's the same situation in N.Y.
Lisa,
I can't IMAGINE what you must be going through! You know how to reach me, if there's anything I can do...
There is the 64K question..?
Lisa S,
I am glad you and your family are safe.
I am sure that the governor will have a statement about how you vote no matter where you are on Tuesday.
I hope you can hang in there until you finally know if you still have a house or not.
God Bless.
Feisty, My family's safe in the long run that's what really matters. Thank you for your support.
Northstar, Thanks for the good wishes.
Lisa just got in from helping some neighbors with storm damage myself. Looks like we all in the East have a lot to do in the next couple of weeks. Glad to hear that you and yours are safe even if you don't know if you are homeless or not. Don't worry about the voting thing it'll straighten itself out. You just look out for you and yours for a while. If there's anything an Old Country Boy can do you have but to ask and we'll see if we can't make it happen for you. After all where else am I going to get a steady supply of Anejo for the Reconstruction Party down at the the DDI this Friday.
IR, Thanks for the kind words. Don't worry the DDI will still have a steady supply of Anejo. This is going to be one hell of a clean up. Even inland this was powerful storm.
We have survived yearly storms like this for many years here in North Carolina. I certainly wish you a quick recovery from your loss. The devastation from these natural events can be numbing. Good luck and best wishes.
Lisa - best of luck to you and yours and your home. Same to all those on the East Coast.
lisa
I hope for the best for you and your family. Don't tell these guys on MSNBC that you need to vote for Romney or they'll wish all kinds of hell on you. They only treat you nice if you're on their side. I will wish you well no matter what your political thoughts might be.
Oh, Lisa- I am so sorry.
You can reach me through my newsvine page- anything I can do to help.
Lisa, It's good to hear that you and yours are safe..
.......property damage, only time will tell. I was completely stunned by the pictures of the rushing sea waters.....an angry sea is nothing nice.
Thanks everyone
This crisis has shown what an excellent President we have in President Obama - even Republican Governor Chris Chritise has praised his response to the storm. Mitt Romney, on the other hand, never fails to "f" up an unscripted moment. He doesn't have the depth or the temperment to be of use during an emergency, as we saw in his response to the attack on Libya. I don't want a "shoot first, aim later" type of President. Vote "no" to Romney!
Stupid, trite, petty, obnoxious, etc. Besides Christie knows where the aide will come from.
Its immoral to ignore global warming and the increasing frequency of natural disasters, and then cut the funding of the program that responds to those impacted by these forces. f u ck ya Mitt, it was you that used FEMA monies to the advantage of your state. Now, it looks like New Jersey and their key note speakin' governor needs a hand, I wonder if he will use the immoral FEMA assistance?
My house was flooded in April of 2011, I had flood insurance, but many of my neighbors would have been bancrupt without FEMA assistance. My state was overwhelmed and unresponsive.
The crazy thing to me is that that Mitt Romney doesn't even believe the @!$%# he has been saying. He is without a soul.
Great posts Amy and Mockingbird.
Ben. Oh Ben. Your posts so resemble to open, screaming, whining, foot stomping avatar you've selected for yourself. The problem is the foot stomping, whiny, it's my turn, I'll do what the Red Cross asked me not to and lie about Jeep candidate is the OTHER one ... i.e., YOURS!
Here's to the governors and the President continuing to work together to assist this country in voting next Tuesday.
Obama/Biden 2012
Yep, FEMA. Which won't be around for long if Romney/Ryan win. Their goal of privatizing FEMA is horrible. Imagine having a privately held company decide who was going to be saved first, who was going to receive aide, who was eligible and who wasn't. AND in the end all of this would be paid for....by your tax dollars. The only difference, some fat cat will profit off your tragedy.
Why not let FEMA do what it does so well, without profit margins, and without having to pay a middleman.
Gee a hurricane presents itself directly into the heart of the democratic jugular of the country just before election day; how ironic. Even the weather is trying to halt the advances.
What I really can't understand, is how you can be so blind to the fact, that Romney is not in any position to bring relief or aide from governmental sources to the areas affected by this storm. Your biased attitude is a perfect example of the lack of a true thought process Amy.
Mocking - how about some evidence on the FEMA asset allocation? Obviously you were operating their books? By the way, half of your statement really needs edited for spelling errors. Terrifying that someone of voting age has trouble reading, interpreting, and writing (let alone typing). *shiver*
Maybe if rise of the oceans began to slow and out planet began to heal like Obama promised, the hurricane wouldn't have been so severe. Another
broken promiselie by ObamaObama never said those things, people get kookier all the time. That sounds like something you might of heard a "news personality" spout out on Fox - or perhaps some tree hugging granola munching hippie in front of Starbucks. Definitely not words uttered by our President.
lolololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololol
Maybe if rise of the oceans began to slow and out planet began to heal like Obama promised..what Obama promised, the Republicans in Congress, blocked.
Most people are not thinking about this. I didn't think about this till this storm also. This will end up getting cut if they get into the white house.
Friend of Gravity - The vast majority of FEMA recovery work is already contracted.
May we all take note as to the leadership portrayed by Governor Christie; a bipartisan nation we must strive to become.
With Christie as an avid Romney supporter, I look forward to a Romney presidency filled with that same level of service to all citizens of the US.
Romney/Ryan 2012 for a "United" States of America
Romney NEVER said he'd cut FEMA only the NY Times did and of course alluded to by NBC, but I'd expect nothing less than the fear mongering lame stream media after all they have no record to tout for BO but you lapdogs will "fetch" anything to perpetuate the lie. Get ready to go out and earn your stuff, no more freeloading.
Amy, I find your political partisanship in this thread to be insensitive and offensive. I would hope that you would take this opportunity to lay paritsanship aside and wish those affected to have a quick and speedy recovery. I hope that we can repair the damage rapidly enough that all Americans will have an easy and safe opportunity to vote in the upcoming election. The more citizens that can vote, the better.
I am worried that the damage has preferentially affected traditional democratic strongholds, so all the more reason we need to do our best as a nation to repair the damage as quickly as possible. All Americans need to have the opportunity to vote.
Gee Amy, Please provide links to the legislation that Obama proposed that prevented the rise of the oceans beginning to slow and the planet begining to heal that Republicans in Congree blocked. This should be good.
Brian ...
True that. Utah has one of the contracts for electrical assistance and watching on the news this morning, we're just waiting to get somewhere to land to help out.
Obama/Biden 2012
Layton - What most people don't realize is that the majority of what FEMA does is take tax money and send it to contractors based on priorities set by other emergency management contractors. They don't even write their own plans. That's done by contractors with expertise in that area. Fluor and Jacobs are the two big ones that I can think of off hand.
Rocco-2976776 says:
This is a crass, ignorant statement.......
But you can keep to your talking points, Rocco!
I can just see Romney/Ryan version of FEMA. A company comes in and coordinates the clean-up effort. Everything is made right and then you receive a bill for their services. Private enterprise must make money you know.
Maybe if you sign a pledge to vote GOP/TP they won't bill ya'....maybe.
Xaziol: Say, I don't believe I've made your aquaintance before today, even though I've been a regular visitor to this space for some twenty-two months now. Based on how we were introduced, sir, I'm bound to say that I don't believe I've missed much.
I had to read your post a couple of times before i could get a handle on the point you were trying to make; for a moment I wondered if you're the guy who writes the tech pamphlets for Motorola phones. That convoluted, high-falutin', faux- sophisticate style seemed familiar somehow.
Lord knows Amy B. doesn't need the likes of me to stick up for her; her posts are a welcome oasis of both good humour and Yankee common sense in a swamp of know-nothing redneck jingoism. But seeing as how she's probably got plenty on her plate, allow me, Miss: For exactly the reasons you pointed out (very helpful of ya, X!), Mitt has no business barging around, interfering with the first responders, and generally making a big bloody nuisance of himself. Trust Mitt to take a tragedy like Libya or Sandy and try to exploit it for political gain- truly, the man has no shame.
It didn't escape my notice that you were attacking Amy for assertions that she did not make; your haphazard and clumsy attempt at wit is a perfect example of the lack of a true thought process- a fella like you oughtn't pretend to a level of education he doesn't actually possess.
Speakin' o' which! One rule that I had taken well to heart before I ever flew my freak-flag on this page was that when we see somebody attacking the grammar, spelling and punctuation of another poster, he's actually revealing either floundering desperation (as many Romney supporters are feeling in these final hours), or he's just a nit-picky little b****.
Now, go pick up your Legoes and let the grown-ups talk, there's a good lad.
How about option # 3: the other poster is indeed an ignoramus who should take an English class or two before offering up their opinions in a public forum. Nitpicking is one thing, but there are some truly atrocious writers out there. While not everyone can have a doctorate in English, but is it too much to expect some basic spelling, language and grammar skills?
@Fox
I actually enjoyed reading your response. The fact that I not only laughed, but also cocked my head to the side wondering where you judgmentally assumed my philosophies, leaves me flattered. So let's begin:
I do believe I was pretty clear on that matter. As has been evident, Romney has only issued statements concerning the matter. Since you are seemingly bored, how about locating some evidence that Romney has interfered with first responders. I didn't realize making a statement was considered interference, but I'll tell you what, I'll give you a pass on that. The way I see it, the only person(s) annoyed with Romney are the ones who are radical or with bias.
This is a great example of your bias. Please, do us all a favor, and explain "exploitation". I want to see the facts behind the tragedy in Libya, and I do expect both parties to discuss and hash this situation out to its bitter end. This is not exploitation, this is a collapse in preventable policy on behalf of the current presidency and its failed structure. So if that is what you consider exploitation, then sure, the man has no shame.
Onto the matter of Sandy, I didn't realize that Romney was using this catastrophe as a political gain, but alright, I'll let you have another one. Obama is also using it for political gain though. Of course, he also has a vested interest in the disaster, geographically, when it comes to his votes.
I have to say, the last quoted piece was tasteless from you.
Says the individual whom makes lackluster comments and assumes other's words are attacks...
My previous statement to Amy clearly can be made to you as well. A biased opinion is really deserving of criticism. Clearly, you believe that I am a Romney fan, and biased myself, therefore being hypocritical. Personally, I hate politicians. I will select the better suited for what I deem appropriate. I just find it ridiculous that individuals such as yourself, and Amy, can really spew the rhetoric as if you are on the campaign trail, without having any concrete evidence behind your assumptions. Truly, it sounds as if you have both been kicked off of the committee because you speak like Joe Biden (giggly and disruptive), and have a tendency of ruining their chances at getting into office. *gasp* I'm obviously pretty good at this assumption thing too huh?
I really do not think you have a foothold or ability to comment on my educational level, as I am quite sure that I know much more than you do when it comes to politics. Also, judging by how much time you took to ignorantly post that garbage, I would believe you are quite lonely and desperate for attention (you're welcome) - Here we go with the assumptions again!! (I am REALLY getting the hang of this!)
Who, is we? I have no problem stating that I'm nit-picky, and I can be so if I damn well please. As for the "floundering desperation" remark, go to www.youtube.com - I want you to do a search for Obama Campaign ads and watch them. Hell for that matter, look up Romney's also. They're both in floundering desperation. The snippets cut from points where there was more to follow, just to create an image of falsehood, love it. It really makes me want to jump up and vote for someone who plays such childish games without concrete facts.
Realistically, I could care less who you wish to get into office. I could care less if you want to continue your feverish complaint/rant, whichever you deem it. So I'll let you "grown-ups" go back to talking, I wouldn't want to interrupt such intelligent conversation of intriguing, unbiased, wonderfully natured, no matter how pathetic, conversation. Please, continue....
WELL! This is a fine surprise to greet me first thing on a dreadfully stormy morning; if your responses are a sign of how the rest of my day's going to go,it will be anything but dull. First, Michael L: Your point is well taken. Even the most meticulous poster will overlook an error in spelling or punctuation once in a while under the pressure of wanting to get their post up while the topic is still hot; however, those who simply don't possess the linguistic skills to communicate on an intelligible level should really just shut up.
On the other hand, if we could enforce some sort of convention that would keep stupid people from shooting their mouths off in public and thereby annoying those of us who did pass eigth grade, why, some 90% of our TV and radio content would vanish overnight, and then where would we be? We'd have to resort to reading books and having conversations! Oh, the horror...
Now, Xaziol- forgive me for assuming your gender when I say, BRAVO, Sir! I've just had my rhetorical arse handed to me by somebody with a clear and sure command of the Mother Tongue, and it would be the very zenith of pettiness for me to take issue with your specific points, given the way they were presented. Permit me to extend the possibility that, once I've 'drawn in my horns', you and I may be able to engage in a dialogue which, if it fails to effect any conversions amongst the audience, at least holds out the promise of being highly entertaining!
Allow me to (very briefly) address the points you raised in your excellent riposte (Unlike some notorious serial posters on this space, I actually have a life that has to be attended to):
1. A perfect example of my bias- oh, you betcha! I'm a dyed-in-the-wool Progressive partisan. Compared to me, Torquemada was a regular milksop. Beating ill-informed right-wingers briskly about the head and shoulders with egriegous examples of Republican hypocrisy and stupidity is almost a hobby for me.
2. "The last quoted piece was tasteless from you..." did you manage to miss that I'd repackaged your very own words to Amy B. and was firing them back at you, or were you complaining that my having done so was tasteless? Also, I wonder at your use of the word "lackluster";I seldom flatter myself that I can convert the committed, but always endeavour to entertain. If my previous efforts are wanting, I should maybe step up my game a bit.
I will be keeping a weather eye out for both of your handles in future, gentlemen! Thank you both and peace!
My tasteless comment was in reference to this statement:
However, I am well aware of your approach.
Aah the sarcasm which is greatly appreciated. I do not mind someone being petty to the point of clarifying points in a meaningful and exemplary way. I was hoping to see somewhat of a significant opposition.
No sarcasm was intended at all, and if that's how you're reading what was intended as a sincere compliment to the articulate and concise way that you marshalled and presented your original response, there's nothing I can do (and nothing I should say) about that. If a civil exchange of views is not in the cards, I'll just wish you luck and let it go at that.
Perhaps I read into it a little too in depth. Appreciate it though. As for my remark concerning any opposition to the aforementioned, I tend to enjoy critical debate. Hope to run into you again at some point. Have a good one!
Martial Law Obama?
Bong coo-coo
Bong coo-coo
Marital law wasn't even declared in Louisiana after Katrina by the POTUS (Bush). Do you mean declare a "State of Emergency", because - yes - that's what all sitting presidents have done in recent history after a natural disaster (quakes/floods/hurricanes). It's the first step in making sure aide and support is delivered to the areas that need it the most.
The last time marital law was declared in the US was in Montgomery Alabama (May 1961). Ironically related to black American's though, as it was to quell racist bigots and their acts of malfeasance.
That was 8 days till Bush did something I thought? I do remember they wouldn't let Cuba helped when they asked too.
Terri804: It was 3 days, and there are Federal Laws that prevented him from sending aid UNTIL it was requested by the states themselves. Other surrounding states to La, asked for and got help.
90% of the damage was caused by the Dems in charge in NO and La not using the Federal money they had been recieving for years on what it was supposed to be used on. Where were the corruption charges??? Those levies had been paid for, over and over, to be increased and the money was looted before it ever got there.
There is also the LITTLE detail about logistics. The SEVERE damage done by the CAT4/5 hurricane was about 100x more powerful than this CAT1 storm that hit NJ. Katrina ripped up CONCRETE from the roads. Houses were just slabs on the dirt. Sometimes you just can't fix some problems in an 'internet' instant. Sometimes, some problems, take a bit more time and people must be prepared to help themselves.
Say, Stunned? A little point of order, Mr. Chairman- correct me if I'm wrong (and there's those who'll gladly correct me when I'm right), but it seems to me that those levees were the responsibility of the Army Corps of Engineers, and the LousyAnnie/Nawlins Democrats had little to no say concerning anything that was done or not done to them.
Now, I spent too many years in the South myself to try to pretend that there wasn't just tons and acres and furlongs of corruption going on; but it seems to me that blaming the whole Katrina nut-cluster on the local Democratic patronage machine is the kind of fact-defying, desperate bald-faced lie that somebody like Romney might try. Oh, damnit...
Stunned, Katrina was a strong Cat 2/weak Cat 3 at it's land fall in N.O. Yes, it was crazy, but so was Sandy. Feel free to check out the roads in NJ where it tore them up.
Also the levess failed due to overtopping and subsequent erosion as well as improper design (per the USACOE) as well as failure to maintain by the USACOE.
It seems to be that just about everyone involved screwed up when it came to Katrina, from the local and state officials who failed to give proper warning for an evacuation to the federal government who were incredibly slow to react, including Bush who had to be shown footage of people standing on their roofs in New Orleans to even be aware of the severity of the disaster.
Moving Targets? Uh-Oh...
You were both gonna cry foul if you lost when they were stationary...
2-FACE:
LIE, Behind close doors: 47% pay no taxes and live off the Govt. Seniors, Retired, Elderly on assisted care, unemployed, students, low-wage earners including the Military, are you a leach? He doesn’t expect your vote since he plans to SHAFT you.
LIE, I’ll be good for everybody. “Liberal” governor to Rightie in the primaries to Centrist as candidate to Rightie reborn to Centrist in the debates to Moderate till ELECTION DAY to whoknowswhat. VOTE FOR ME SUCKERS.
LIE, nothing sinister about my tax reports and offshore accounts. Read "Mitt Romney’s Bailout Bonanza" by Greg Palast investigator of corporate fraud and racketeering and journalist. His 2009 tax report reveals how he made out from the auto bailout sending autopart factories and jobs to China.
From a Tax Justice Network study: wealthy individuals have up to $32 trillion of hidden money around the world in what are known as offshore accounts or tax havens, real estate and yachts not included. If he wants to buy the WH, Romney must show his offshore accounts and tax reports to see is he’s fit for any honest job.
Polls do not vote. The people do. If an individual is determined to vote? It does not matter where it is located. Get out the vote!
True but when you have your house filled with water and you have kids and family to think about, the last thing you can think about is voting.
I do feel like it would be unfair to those who are trapped by water, without transportation or otherwise unable to get to a polling place to not allow them to get to vote. Wait until it's all fair and everyone can make it. Moving the poll to where there is electricity is nice, but not helpful if the voters can't make it there.
Thought people might be interested in which party is primarily responsible for the huge debt in this country.
Shouldn't be any surprise to anyone. Notice that the Republican party uses the same tactics nationally as Romney used at Bain. Load them up with debt than transfer the money to the top 1%(Tax Cuts for wealth) or to Romney and his shareholders and leave someone else to repay the debts.
Diabolical, but it has worked for them so far. Wise up people and stop the nonsense.l
Obama/Biden
Thought people might be interested in which party is primarily responsible for the huge debt in this country.
Shouldn't be any surprise to anyone. Notice that the Republican party uses the same tactics nationally as Romney used at Bain. Load them up with debt than transfer the money to the top 1%(Tax Cuts for wealth) or to Romney and his shareholders and leave someone else to repay the debts.
Diabolical, but it has worked for them so far. Wise up people and stop the nonsense.l
Obama/Biden
When was the Most damage done 2006 to 2010 who was in control of Congress?
Yeah that's right Barney Frank, Nancy Pelosi, Dirty Harry Reid and the Leftists.
FILLIBUSTER was in charge.
Gonna need those waterproof ballots. LOL
As long as its not northern Virginia. That is a Democratic stronghold and the VA Republican governor McDonnell wil be licking his lips.
I hate to say this about McDonnell, I thought he was going to be the first gay Governor of VA. Because when he was working as attorney general. I knew him and the boyfriend he had at the time. Then when I saw a Tv ad when he was running. I was shocked the find out he had a wife and kids.
Well, this is an ideal time to suggest that once the clean-up is complete after Sandy we take a long hard look at upgrading infrastructure, and not just bridges and tunnels and subways and roads. Use that $2T Romney wants to give to the DoD (who don't want it anyway) and apply it to starting to replace outdated power stations - the whole grid, for that matter, putting new lines underground, securing internet access, etc. Why hasn't Wall Street not set up a remotely-sited parallel system to kick in in the NYC centers are under water or otherwise damaged?
2T would not replace the whole grid. By the way, most of that is owned by private companies, not the government. We already pay for this in our electric bills. I don't want tax money going to support a private business.
The Stock Exchange (Not Wallstreet) does have DR sites (Ever since 9/11) for all the electronic infrastructure used to run the exchange, but you still have to get people to their job, a little hard when the streets are flooded and the subway is under water.
Some people rob with a knife or a gun; others with a fountain pen.
The American people will never forget that President Reagan quadrupled the national debt and the Bushes doubled it again. The GOP created the vast majority of the national debt, and their policies drove the economy off a cliff, and they're trying to duck responsibility by blaming Obama. Now they're adding insult to injury by doubling down on those failed policies with Rob-me, and they think we're too stupid to figure it out.
to Wordist 45: Stop drinking the Libtard kool-aid. The fact is that it took 230 years for the national debt to get to 10 TRILLION DOLLARS.
Obama, in only 4 years, HAS INCREASED THE NATIONAL DEBT BY OVER 60% to 16 TRILLION DOLLARS.
Obama has sunk the USA deeper into debt and poverty than any president the USA has ever had. Did you fail math?
If you think this is success, if you think this is someone elses fault, the dumbing down of America is truly complete.
And another thing, raising taxes on the "1%" only brings in around 50 billion a year in more taxes.
Obama is currently spending 1 TRILLION 600 BILLION more than is coming in... so after raising taxes on the "1%"..... there is still an annual budget shortfall of 1 TRILLION 550 BILLION dollars...
And you know who is going to get stuck with the bill?? THE MIDDLE CLASS. There aren't enough rich people to tax... that is why they are called "the 1%".
Hopefully tonight you and many others like you will go to bed less stupid.
Storm's havoc might force polling places to move
Move the polls for the Republican voters to a dry, safe place. Move the rest to some dank, wet, dark places if not into the bay.
Isn't that typically where blue state population centers already are?
There are not separate polling places for Republicans and Democrats. But I like the idea of moving the polling places to a comfortable dry place, how about the Internet and you can vote from home or your local library. Everyone with a SS number gets to vote once. The technical details would need to be worked out, but it might solve all the accusations of voter fraud and voter suppression.
That has got to be one of the dumbest suggestions I've ever heard. We can't even keep our information safe from hackers. And once they start Internet voting, that will become the Holy Grail of hacking, and eventually someone will break through. Plus, how would we know that the person who has the SS# is the one who actually voted?
Obama campaign offices, burned out embassy compound, Black Panther headquarters, neighborhood Mosque, the Hugo Chavez Cultural Center, David Axlerods garage, Lice infested tent belonging to MoveOn.org, Michael Moores film studio, Bruce Springsteens tour bus.......
Look for polling places to not just move - but to totally disappear in Republican controlled states. If they don't mind disenfranchising voters with their voter ID ploy, Republicans certainly won't mind blatant attempts to keep Democrats from voting - like not giving them a place to vote at all...
We should just postpone the election till everyone can vote.....it is possible.
We still have 6 days til election day. That should be enough time to organize an election polling station even if it is ran by a generator.
Postpone the Election?
Why because NY is a bastion of the Democrats?
Too effing bad.
How about you Leftists quit screwing with the Armed Services vote.
Romney now AHEAD in Florida, Ohio, and Colorado.
PSALM 11:06:2012
Ofoolya is the messiah I do not want
He leadeth me beside still factories
He fooleth gullible students into believing he will help them
He restoreth my faith in Republicans
He guideth me in the path of unemployment for his party's sake
Yea, though I walk through the valley of free cheese and bread line, I shall fear no hunger, for Ofoolya's bailouts are with us
Ofoolya has annointed my income with more taxes. My expenses runneth over income.
Surely poverty and hard living will follow me all the days of my life.
The Democrats and I will forever live in government housing.
AMEN
ROMNEY / RYAN 2012 how sweeet it is!
You better look again.This time with your eyes open,and quit mimicking Fox entertainment.
Move the polling places. What a great idea! After that, all we need to do is make sure the blacks, latinos, and young people don't know where they've been moved to. Why didn't I think of that? Oh. Forgot. I'm not a Republican.
Obama will lose anyway, so your point at best is academic.
it's apparent ROBME has never been through the hard times of the ordinary citizens '' fighting for their livelyhoods '' after such a devastating STORM. all i can say about republican conservative tea party of the greedy is HEARTLESS DESPERATE HIPOCRITS. '' TAKE YOUR CAN OF BEANS AND SHOVE THEM DEEP INTO YOUR OFFSHORE ACCOUNTS '' , IF YA'LL GET MY DRIFT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You should learn to spell if you're going to try to insult someone. Your ignorance really waters down your point substantially. You think Obama has ever had to fight for his livelihood? Step away from the kool-aid and smell the coffee.
~~If you're not outraged by the direction of this country, you're just not paying attention~~
ROMNEY / RYAN 2012 how sweet it is