Tonight's guests include:
Steve Kornacki, co-host of “The Cycle” on MSNBC and senior writer for Salon
Rick Hasen, professor of Law and Political Science at UC Irvine, and author of "The Voting Wars: From Florida 2000 to the Next Election Meltdown"
And here's executive producer Bill Wolff with a look at tonight's show:
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I would not cry to long for Sheldon Adelson or Karl Rowe as they will probable list Adelson's $100,000,000 and whatever millions Rowe spent as gambling losses on there 2012 Federal Tax returns. Ha Ha I Love it
I'm a Floridian... and so tired of the problems with voting in my state! What's it going to take? And guess what - it's on track to get worse.
In Miami-Dade the ballot was ten sides (five pages) long. There was a 851,645 person turnout in Miami-Dade. So... early voting notwithstanding, they had to scan 8,516,450 sides. Even if it scans both sides at the same time... we're talking millions of pages being scanned in one night. And the county actually has "more than 1.2 million registered voters… and as many as 829 precincts on Election Day." It's just an insane amount of scanning for one night. The Miami-Date Election Supervisor's office reports that in one of the precincts, the last vote was cast at 1:30 am. I believe this ballot debacle is the reason.
Well, get ready, because it's about to get worse. What they had in Florida last night was just the ballot summary. Starting in 2013, the entire text of the amendment may be on the ballot.
Here is the relevant text of Florida Election Law (emphasis mine):
101.56075 Voting methods (4) "By December 31, 2013, all voting systems utilized by voters during a state election shall permit placement on the ballot of the full text of a constitutional amendment or revision containing stricken or underlined text."
This has to get changed, but to be honest, I wouldn't even know where to start.
I wrote more stuff about this on my personal blog so I wouldn't get too long-winded here.
Fran, here in Oregon we get our ballots in the mail 21 days prior to an election. We sit down at the kitchen table and review candidate statements and pro and con statements regarding ballot measures in the Oregon State produced Voters' Pamphlet.
It took me less than twenty minutes and a cup of coffee to complete my ballot. It was then sealed in a secrecy envelope on which there is no way to identify me. I then placed the sealed secrecy envelope in a slightly larger envelope that has all of my computer readable personal voter registration info printed on the outside. I then signed it so my signature can be compared with my voter registration card on file at my county elections office. I then can mail it back or deposit it into a locked box at any number of local government offices.
The elections staff compares my signature, verify that it is mine, log me in as someone who has voted. The secrecy envelope is removed and placed in a ballot box. The outer envelope with my signature is saved.
(There must be an identical number of secrecy envelopes and signed envelopes at all times.)
Secrecy envelopes are opened and counted by a scanner and logged and the results are published.
We've been doing elections this way for years without any allegations of fraud - until this year. A Republican elections office worker was found to be looking at each ballot she reviewed to see if a particular contest was left blank. If so, she completed it for the Republican contender. She was immediately fired and will face criminal charges.
Totally agree with Bruce. I am now an Oregon resident who has lived and voted in 7 states and Oregon has THE BEST system period. The amazing and detailed voter info pamphlet and everyone voting by mail. This is the template they should be discussing.
Priority #1: get rid of Scott!
I just woke up from my afternoon nap. Not wise. I dreamed Obama was a Jefferson conservative.
how can the repubs have a mandate in the congress when their approval rating is in the single digits?
Rachel is on fire tonight. Thank Rachel.....can't leave the TV and get my pop corn, cause you are making me happy just listening to you. Calling out those once red states with the fraudulent Governors shows the gop that they can not operate that way any more. Threaten the middle class and the poor with voter suppression and see what happens......you lose.
The Rachel Maddow Opus. And what a magnificent opus it was! It should make conservatives' heads spin like Linda Blair. And then they'll get nauseous like Linda Blair.
And THEN! The Devil will be cast out!
The Nov. 7, 2012 Rachel Maddow A-Block as Bush 43 Evil Mastermind Non-Reality-Based Universe Exorcism!
Dear Wolff , your lighting and camera crew are clearly amateurs. I would have used an orange filter. .
So tired of the abortion, Obama and all the dems are sinners, why are abortion issues only addressed like this once every 4 years, using such horrible hate towards others in the name of God over these issues. Why must the government solve this? I thought Republicans wanted less government? Where are all the churches and religious rights now and what can we all do to eradicate abortion, I am ready, lets all get together across the land to help with finding a way to eradicate the need or at least diminish it?
Ok churches and right wing, I will be waiting for your call.
The best way to reduce the rates of abortion is to make contraception available, either free or very inexpensively, to all women who want it. The best is apparently the implantable version (can't remember what it is called) that slowly releases the hormones.
Are you one that believes abortion didn't exist prior to Roe v Wade? All that did was make it so women didn't get butchered and killed having an abortion. Abortion will never go away. It will be legal or driven back to the back alley butchers. Or the wealthy will do as usual and go over seas. I don't advocate abortion. I'm pro-choice. Being a male, I have no say what women do. As should no male. But I notice it's 90% male speaking out against abortion. A women and her Dr. are the only ones that should be involved.
So tired of the abortion issue and calling each other hateful and vicious names in the name of God. Why must it be up to th government to stop abortion and to view democrats as killers and sinners, but only once every 4 years. American citizens, all the churches and organizations across America can't you start to work on eradicating the need without government? Call me when you get the movement going, do not call me a murderer because I care about the sick and the poor. I am ready to help eradicate abortion without the need for government intervention, are you?
How can the republican'ts have a mandate when the approval rating for congress is in the single digits?????
While I applaud Rachel's attacks on voter suppression, it is time to launch a larger attack on the voting machinery in general. I do not know what the problem is in Florida, but at least Florida allows early voting. Some states that do not - New York, Massachusetts, Minnesota,.. Early voting is generally available in red states but not in blue. Check out the map in Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_voting#United_States
It is time to make it easier to vote everywhere in this country. The default has to be easy access to the ballot. How about this for a trade - voter ID required, after a phase in period with the burden on the government to provide it to all, even if they have to go to the individual's home. In exchange, at least a two week early voting period, weekends and evenings included. Sufficient provision that no one waits more than 30 minutes to vote.
You might want to read my post at 3.1
Florida really needs to get its act together. Aren't they the least bit embarrassed?
Meanwhile, McCarthy disciple Allan West is demanding a recount. I'm sure the Supreme Court will step in to stop it. Oh, wait, they said Bush/Gore didn't establish a precedent. Clever devils.
I loved the picture on my home page on msn today.....the man who was painting in the different states on the cement floor last night .....left florida unpainted, and had put on his coat, hat scraf and gloves and was walking out the door. LOL
Would Rachel please post her initial speech from tonight's show? I want to email it to my dad.
Yes please! I need to copy and paste parts of it!
I want to memorize it for Thanksgiving with the relatives!
Me Too!!!!
And me!!
We all want it. God Bless.
Newt bases that on his years and years of experience and once again he is wrong.
fake nose was wrong, wrong, wrong. It was sure fun watching the fake noise cave.....no interest there. Crunch all the numbers you want, your numbers were wrong!!!!
The lists on tonight's show were the best ever! I've been a fan for a long time but this was the best show!
Ditto! Thanks, Rachel!
Just brilliant tonight. All Republicans who were shocked by last night's election results should watch the first segment of your show tonight.
We have a two-party system in this country, and it's very important that both parties be able to govern. Right now, we have one governing party, the Democrats, and one seemingly perpetual--and irresponsible--opposition party (they're still opposing Social Security, for goodness sake).
The Republican party is out to lunch. They do not have a governing philosophy. Instead, they have a campaign strategy. They've replaced rational policy and responsible government with an unholy allegiance to the 1980 Republican Party Platform. They stand for nothing; they stand against everything (to use a bit of hyperbole). They need to do a lot better--the country is counting on them.
Tonight, you said it much better than I could. Great job; it was wonderful to hear.
Please make available tonight's program's opening comments regarding the need for a viable Republican Party that can offer reasonable alternatives to identifiable problems. Thank you.
Rachel, congrats. You outdid yourself tonight inviting Repubs to join a fact-based world.
Please post that segment listing realities so we can forward it to those in need.
Big fan of the show, but I have to take exception to one thing Rachel said in her impassioned speech about the election results, talking about the two parties: "... they both propose possible solutions to our real problems, ..." I hope that Rachel will not forget to factor in the toxic effect of big money in our political process, and harp on what I consider THE most important task of our democracy at hand: Campaign Finance Reform! The "possible solutions" make it sound as if ideology alone contributes to what the two sides construct as solutions to our many problems. In fact, they are in a never-ending cycle to pander to the contributors and lobbyists such that the "possible solutions" are themselves already corrupt and like NOT the *best* solutions! Please do not lose sight of this in your orations..
bad Rachel. bad Rachel !! using facts. not fair !!
It is truly amazing what people can do when they are told they can't,,
Keep up the good work Grand Obstructionist Party!!!!
Rachel - just finished the first 15 minutes of your show and I think I enjoyed it more than I enjoyed election night. I wish I could have your speech laminated and shipped to every voter I know.
She was fun to listen to. I loved it as well. I hope she prints it out some where to be duplicated.
Regarding the Rick Hansen interview,
If we want to change state elections and governments, keep Obama volunteers in place to educate the locals who support Obama to elect democrats in school boards, local and state government and the House and Senate elections just as the tea party and the religious right has.
Get the majority in both houses and the presidency and corruption out of all government by keeping the support machine going full time with rotating volunteers following an ongoing strategy.
Want to repair the infrastructure? Change the federal gasoline tax which is a specific amount per gallon to a percentage of the per gallon price as most sale taxes. In this way it reflects the price of gas and the amount of gas used keeping up with increases in gas prices just as the cost of maintaining highways and infrastructure does.
This is sensible and fair. What we have now is stupid!
AWwwww ~ Who Gives A Ratts A$$ Anyway ?????
Today Bill O'Reilly stated women, Hispanics and others who voted for President Obama did so because the 'want something'. I am a woman. I voted for President Obama. I'm intrigued - what is it that he thinks I want? A president with integrity? Yes! Fair and open voter registration? Yes! Fair and open elections? Yes! Conversely, did Mr. O'Reilly mean that those who voted for Mr. Romney don't want anything? hmmm
gop/tp ~ are Nothing but a bunch of Whiny Punks , Poor,poor spoiled little rich boys ! What a bunch-o-Gomers they are !
Consider this solution: Oregon has mail in ballots only. No problems in the 15 years I lived there. Ballots by internet are on the horizon, too. Waiting in lines to vote is simply archaic.
http://www.180movie.com
Here's another video Miss Maddow will never put on her show. Her commentary is never fair and balanced.
And she nor MSNBC have ever claimed to be "fair and balanced". That's Fox Lies claim. And if you're willing to let a mother die instead of an abortion, you can't claim to be ore-life. If you're not willing to take care of the unwanted kids, you can't claim to be pro-life. As most Republicans, you believe the fetus needs a voice right up til birth, then they're on their own. That's not pro-life. And no male should be telling a woman what she can or can't do with her body.
Not really Pro-life:
You lost. People have rejected your ideas of "pro-life". Get over it!
Sorry. I'll never accept the pure evil of deliberately killing an innocent child. El presidente (and many of Miss Maddow's fans) may consider such acts morally acceptable, even shortly after the child's birth. I do not.
By the way. If a late-term abortion fails, so the baby was born and is now crying on the abattoir table, what are the permissible ways for the abortionist to kill the child? Smother it in a plastic grocery bag or with a pillow? Slit its throat with the scalpel as it's now to late to do that with the child inside its mother? Pour bleach or drain cleaner down its throat? Is any method acceptable, or do you draw lines somewhere?
Not Pro-life:
Did the loss in this election make you COMPLETELY lose your mind??
WHEN did President Obama (yea I noticed your snipe - YAWN) and Rachel EVER say a child should be killed shortly after birth?????
Could you get any more graphic???? Or ridiculous???? You need SERIOUS mental help!!! it is OBVIOUS that you aren't helping your so-called "pro-life" cause with your insanity!!!!
If you REALLY are concerned that much about fetuses, then tell me WHAT you are doing to ensure that all babies that are born have loving parents and have medical care.
If you REALLY are concerned that much about fetuses, then tell me WHAT you are doing to ensure that women DON'T get pregnant when they don't want a child.
If you REALLY are concerned that much about fetuses, then tell me WHAT you are doing to ensure that their mothers get the health care they need and the support they need to ensure they have a healthy baby and are able to take care of it.
Otherwise, you are just another one of those nasty fools that wants to force YOUR will on women, and you could care less about what is in the uterus!!!