Posted on 11/03/2002 6:07:39 PM PST by sweetliberty
We have just returned to Budge's house to do the FReep report because there is a lot of information to report.
In attendance were Budge, Travelgirl, The Battman, parsifal, Don Frivoinai, sweetliberty, and another FReeper who, for reasons you will come to understand shortly, needs to remain anonymous until after the election.
We arrived at Budge's around noon to get everything set up for the maiden FReep of the Arkansas Hog Wild FReepers and the FReepmobile. We got to the site around quarter after 1 and finished up some signs and headed over to the convention center to await the arrival of XXX42 and his horde of Rats. There we were joined by several folks from the Hutchinson campaign and there were quite a few folks who came down from Mount Ida. There ended up being about 30 of us on the outside.
During the wait, we were informed of quite a few "questionable" things going on. For starters, there was one young man who is active with Tim Hutchinson's campaign who was threatened with arrest if he didn't leave the premises. He had done nothing to provoke this action other than they knew who he was. One of the FReepers who is a poll watcher was also threatened with arrest when she tried to go inside the convention center. Another young man who is a Hutchinson aide had a ticket to the event and because he had been seen talkiing to the "opposition" he was not allowed in, being told that it was a private event and they could exclude whoever they wanted to. There was also a group of black folks who were with us so this young man passed his ticket to one of the black guys, who removed all his campaign stuff and went in incognito, laughing saying that they'd never suspect a black guy. Will give you his report later.
Nobody would tell us what door Clinton would be entering by so we took a chance and hung out on one side of the building where they said the car would drive by. True to form, XXX42 was late by nearly an hour. But here is the great part. We were positioned between 2 entrances. One was a major side entrance. The other was a small, fenced-in service entrance by the garbage dumpsters. Well, guess which one he used. Think....which would be most appropriate. Yep, you guessed it. The snake slithered in through the garbage entrance. And he got a look at our signs. It was a classic moment in FReeperdom.
There was a whopping 500 people or so there for the "event". There were few enough people that there was a Jehovah's Witness convention going on in the building at the same time. When Clinton arrived the Jehovah's Witnesses started leaving. At that time we didn't realize that there was another event going on and Travelgirl and The Battman asked one of the cops on duty why everyone was leaving. He responded, "if Clinton entered a room, what would YOU do?" When the Jehovah's Witnesses left, the parking lot started clearing out.
Anyway, we may have to flesh in this post after we all get home because there is a lot to tell, but there is certain information that it is very important to get out there NOW! Back to our "spy". When he came out, he said they were running it like a church service, and the whole focus was on how the evil Republicans are trying to keep them from voting. They were saying that we have all the poll watchers this election to prevent THEM from voting. Now, here is the clencher. They were told that there would be attorneys posted at every precinct to prevent poll watchers from challenging ANY ballots. Now, mind you, one of our poll watchers has already had massive problems with them at the polls during early voting the past couple of weeks and has been advised to retain an attorney. They have had the sherriff remove her from the polls twice when she had done nothing inappropriate...only challenging ballots for improper or no ID. There is an all out campaign by these people to intimidate the poll watchers and then turn around and accuse us of voter intimidation. This is serious and at least one person has some legitimate fear. I can't really elaborate at this point. The reason we wanted to get this up right away is to get other FReepers on the case to get this publicized and contact appropriate media, political and legal sources to alert them that Republican poll watchers in this county are likely to be facing an organized, all-out Rat attack. Any help that FReepers can offer is needed!! Make phone calls, send letters. Whatever you can do. Post your ideas as well.
Of course WE should be the ones getting the media play, but the media being the "information" arm of the Dim machine, well, whoya gonna call??? A much tougher battle when the enemy controls the flow of information disinformation, no?
Anyway, I've also noticed several posters calling for a backup group that could be called in by a poll watcher when things get a little dicey. Personally, I'm not so sure that's a good idea. Getting a large group confronting another large at a polling place is a formula for potential trouble IMO. You know how the Ministry of Information would handle that! What might work better, is if the people working the polls think there's backup available in the event things heat up....you know how rumors get started ; ) In that same vein, I think one of the reasons Pubbies did so well this election cycle is the word was on the street that the polls were being watched, not just by Pubbies, but by the DOJ also. It probably kept lotsa dead voters away on election day.
IMO, one or two poll watchers holding their ground, just like STR did, is the best way to handle the fraud in hostile territory. Less liklihood there will be an escalation of hostilities when our lone ranger is berated by the evildoers ; ) What we should absolutely do is put law enforcement on notice in addition to notifying poll workers. If LE is put on notice and they allow one of the good guys to be set upon by the Dim/NAACP hacks, they'll have some hard questions to answer.
FGS
Point taken. I gather the RNC hasn't really addressed the issue of poll watchers very effectively??? Or, maybe they have, but until this year there was little interest from Pubbies on the ground? Didn't FR have a chapter that started up after the '00 elections that was to address voter(Dim) fraud in its various forms....maybe not; I coulda been dreamin'.
Anyway, conservatives will need to be watching the polls in even greater numbers come '04 because of the presidential thing. The very idea of us losing in '04 because of fraud, just gives me the willies! OTOH, maybe the Pubbies will have a better handle on the problem come '04. A few evildoers from '02 cooling their heels in the big house would go a looooooonnnnnng way in deterring more shenanigans, eh? I won't hold my breath...
FGS
Well, THAT's likely a dream, but I certainly agree. We cannot let our guard down just because the election is over. We may be over the current hump, but you can already hear the scheming buzz of the Rats in anticipation of 2004. They will just step up their efforts. We have to go forward with the firm commitment to each do our part next time around and in the meantime stay in communication with the party and with our representatives so that they know that voters are concerned and also that we might be assured that all that can be done is being done.
The Rats have a different goal than we. We have as our goal the preservation of the Constitution and the freedom of America. They have as their goal the attainment of power and the advancement of a socialist agenda. Believe me; they are just biding their time and looking for an opening and if we give in to them, even a little, they will try to take it all. It is essential that we stand on our resolve and not give an inch.
Thanks so much for your input FGS; you have very good ideas and well-worth thinking about; you also gave me an idea (to add to one I thought of earlier):
1. The RNC should be requested to put together, if not already, ALL training materials necessary for poll watchers, i.e., what is not allowed to be worn (emblems of party affiliation, etc.), their duties, their rights, including FEDERAL LAWS Protecting Poll Watchers (Congressman Billybob stated one, already, Civil Rights Act _______ (1828? note to self: need to check); FEDERAL LAWS pertaining to LE.
2. These materials should then be sent to each STATE RNC for completion. The STATE RNC would add the particular laws to be followed within their own state, including voting times (begin/end), etc.
3. Upon completion from both the FEDERAL and STATE level RNC's, the material should be sent to each precinct where they will make copies of the training manual and copies be made and given to each poll watcher AND LAW ENFORCEMENT. This way, LE will not have questions as to what is allowed, who to possibly charge with crimes of initimidation or fraud.
As I said, I don't know how much of this is in the training material already existing, or what organization compiles it, but I best STR could tell us.
Thanks for your input, Jeff.
nic
Yes, we know this to be true.....they are already, I'm sure, gathering together tactics of surprise for next election. We must be on the offensive with this, not defensive. Plans must also be in place....we can surprise them this way and possibly intercept/disrupt voter fraud plans.
Should that be scheming squeaks??? You make some good points, and you're right about one thing we shouldn't become complacent with this year's gains. The tide may be turning, but the RATS will not give up easily; in their addled minds they have too much to lose.
FGS
Now I didn't say parsy is full of s**t...However... LOL!
I think the RNC could be very helpful with generic materials for poll watchers, particularly regarding federal election laws. The problem as you stated is state and local voting procedures and laws can vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, thereby complicating the RNC's participation. I don't know what the best approach might be, but surely there are some RNC operatives on FR that could offer up some advice on this very important issue. My gut feeling is that we approach this at a lower level, say, the state's party organization where most of the local law's foibles are already known. I dunno???
Maybe we should consider starting a new thread dedicated to requesting input and advice regarding enhancement of the poll watcher program.
FGS
heh,heh I caught that and I gotta tell ya, I feel honored being confused with Freeper of the year!!! Yep, many hours spent on the petition threads that were indeed enjoyable; not to mention encouraging. I really like seeing Freepers in action; we could become a major force in this country if someone could ever learn the art of herding cats ; )
FGS
I wasn't planning on putting the last part of the interview up, but then decided what Meese said at the end, "They should have the opportunity to vote, but they only get to vote once. was very apropos since that is an old and longtime method of throwing elections.
I gotta hand it to Jim though; he does a pretty good job.
I had watched H&C (as usual) and sat bolt upright when Colmes started that. That is the actual transcript from Fox News. Don Friovinai and I were both busy as could be trying to answer posts and joining to be a FOX Fan so I could get the transcript. Well worth the tiny cost to do so!
All in all I would agree. Conservatives are an ornery lot, and not nearly as inclined to the herd mentality as some other groups we could name. Herding cats is a delicate operation at best and akin to teaching a pig how to sing. One becomes frustrated in the effort and it annoys the pig ; )
FGS
I think we've been on to them for years, but only now doing something about it.
Exactly, FGS! I said in an earlier post, we only have two years to combat this type fraud.
Hopefully this (long) thread will help us get organized.
I thought of this too. It should be done. If you (or someone else) would be willing to post it, I'd gladly help in its corroboration and pings going out.
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