As of mid January 2015, more and more of the “usual suspects” have hinted at making a run for President on the Republican ticket. Some have already announced exploratory committees. Here are a few thoughts on those considering a ride in the GOP Clown Car for 2016 Jeb Bush: Considered to be one of the “moderates” of the Republican Party which make his viability with the Tea Party base in question. He is known for being the first governor to back and enact Stand Your Ground. He cut services to Floridians in order to give breaks to corporate interests in the State. He also is accused to have manipulated the voting system in Florida along with Kathleen Harris to cage voters and pull resources from more liberal and minority areas of Florida in order to give Florida to his brother George in 2000. Did I mention he’s George W. Bush’s brother?

Ben Carson:  A gifted and proven neurosurgeon who has appeared to have taken a liking to conservative politics and being a pundit for Fox News. Sadly in doing so he’s shown himself to be oblivious to the real world. He compared the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to Slavery. To prove his point, he made up quotes from folks like Lenin.  He is unabashedly hateful of President Obama. Despite what it has done for him, he is dismissive of the Civil Rights movement, is obsessed with what he sees as the moral decay of our nation.  He has compared ISIS to the rebels in this country in the 18th Century that founded our nation. The man should stick to medicine where he can help rather than out of touch destructive anti-social rhetoric that divides a nation and her people.

  Chris Christie: How can I put it, he’s Tony Soprano incarnate except that Tony was far better at being a hood than Chris could ever be. As governor of New Jersey he’s used his office to promote himself and destroy those he sees as being in his way. He’s under suspicion and possible federal action for his involvement in BridgeGate. He’s suspected in funneling Hurricane Sandy support to his “people” while thousands are still awaiting financial assistance to rebuild. He loves  to talk tough and threatening, especially to women. Under his leadership, New Jersey is near the bottom of every economic measurement coming out of the recession. Finally, although Governor, he has spent most of his second term out of state. However, as they say in Joisey “whadda you gonna do bout it?”

Ted Cruz: Born to a Cuban oil man in  Canada to an American mother.  His father is now some kind of racist spiritual leader. So he is admittedly born on foreign soil to a man who isn’t an American. Why would anyone have issue with that? Ted has a striking resemblance to another kook in the Senate who did more to create uproar to give himself notoriety by the name of Joe McCarthy. Only difference is McCarthy did go to war, Ted avoided it. He’s a staunch conservative who is very proud of his accomplishments in the Supreme Court in Heller. Even has an almost “Godly” painting of him presenting the case hanging in the office. A very humble man indeed. He had a filibuster in the Senate which actually wasn’t a filibuster at all where among other things he read Green Eggs and Ham. Ted was very useful to President Obama and the Democrats while trying to help his notoriety open the door for the Senate to approve a record number of Obama appointments. He was confused early in 2014 when he thought he was still a member of the House of Representatives and worked to shut down the government from there costing the United States $24 Billion. Ted has actually done more to help the President and the Democratic Party by his delusions of grandeur and pure stupidity than anyone else in the Tea Party caucus. Carly Fiorina:  Former CEO of HP who was successful in having HP stock lose over 50% of its value during her tenure and laid off 30,000 employees. She was forced out by the board, no one can explain why. She’s never held elected office, but not for lack of trying. She tried to take Barbara Boxer’s seat and lost by over 10 points. She still thinks of that race because four years later, she’s still paying off her debt for running that campaign. Like most in the GOP clown car playing to the Tea Party base, Carly sees herself as being right of anyone else who claims to be right, right over the edge it would seem. She is dismissive of the success of the Californian economy since Jerry Brown took over claiming the little people aren’t doing well. I imagine some of those were former HP employees. Lindsey Graham: A Gulf War 1 veteran who served in the Air Force since he loves how the uniform matched his eyes. He served heroically in the Judge Advocates office in South Carolina. He’s still waiting to be awarded a Purple Heart for a nasty paper cut he received opening an envelope that contained invitations to an Air Force Cotillion. He is joined at the hip with Senator John McCain who calls Lindsey his “illegitimate son”. Lindsey is quite simply a chicken hawk in every sense of the term. He talks war and blames the President for being responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths that he could have personally avoided by committing American Soldiers to go and die while killing hundreds of thousands of others.  He is afraid that ISIS terrorists will come to this country and “kill everybody”. He’s so afraid, he doesn’t even feel safe in his closet.

Mike Huckabee: He’s making another try for the Presidency. He once won the Iowa Caucus like other GOP candidates who were never heard from again. He sees himself as a moral Christian conservative running for the moral fiber of the nation. He likes to complain about the parenting of the Obama’s by allowing their children to listen to unwholesome lyrics from the likes of Beyonce’. Mike knows good wholesome music having himself played on stage with Ted Nugent who has a popular song about raping a 13 year old and has admitted to having sexual relations with girls under the age of 18. Mike’s stage partner also avoided the draft by literally shitting in his pants at the Draft Board office. But Mike is a good father to his son who at age 18 found a stray dog, hung it from a tree, slit its throat then stoned it to death. Oh, and the Huckabees love to eat road kill.

Bobby Jindal: Despite what many have said, Bobby wasn’t the inspiration for Alfred E. Newman. Alfred was Bobby’s inspiration. Another strong conservative who refuses to expand Medicaid resulting in the needless deaths of thousands each year. Bobby doesn’t place much concern about medical science, he knows better. He actually conducted his own exorcism on a college girl to make her feel so much better. You do have to hand it to Bobby, he really thinks the Tea Party base would vote for someone who looks like he does.

Sarah Palin: The Master Chef of Word Salad leaving all with a craving for Ranch Dressing, the Maverick herself Sarah Palin is hinting at her own run for 2016 which only means she’s low on cash again and has another book to sell. People often speculate whether she’s on drugs when she speaks to handpicked crowds of the truly insane. However I believe if she did do drugs, she would make better sense. Tina Fey truly owes her career to Sarah, or as I like to point out, Tina has the sense of humor and Sarah is the joke.

Rand Paul: Son of Ron who like his father is prone to the Paul 5 minute rule. He will start off saying something clear and positive that makes the most sense but after 5 minutes will dwell off to some really bat-shit crazy something. Rand actually unlike the others in this clown car presents himself fairly well to a lot of Americans, providing he doesn’t talk longer than 5 minutes. It’s going to make for some fairly short or very entertaining debates I suspect. Problem with Rand is he is of the ilk of his namesake, Ayn Rand. Believes in Austrian Economics favored by another Austrian many know about and is opposed to the Civil Rights act that he favors. Still trying to figure that one out. He went on for more than five minutes when presented with that question.

Rick Perry: Future LensCrafters spokesman and former Governor of Texas Rick is really one of the best clowns in the GOP car. This is his second time going for president. If he tries a third time he may forget about it. He recently was very frank when he said the presidency “isn’t an IQ test.” Who better then to run for it. While considering a run he is under indictment in the State of Texas for abusing his authority. However Rick isn’t concerned, except if he is convicted he may not be able to go with Sean Hannity to the Rio Grande on boat with a sub machine gun hunting immigrant children again.

Mitt Romney: Going in for the third time. The ultimate flip flopper in that he said he wouldn’t run again before saying he’s now considering it. There’s not much more to say about Mitt that wasn’t clearly brought up in his last adventure. All the tapes from the 2012 campaign still exist. The 47% tape is still there although Mitt now says he’s running for those in poverty. Now that “ObamaCare” exists and is growing in popularity maybe Mitt will now take credit for it since it was modeled under his plan in Massachusetts, though he denied it was. The only thing certain about Mitt is that you know whatever his position was one day will be changed another day. Marco Rubio: Hopefully Marco will hydrate properly before taking the debate stage. An interesting man Marco, was in favor of a comprehensive immigration reform bill until he found out the Tea Party opposed it so he’s now opposed to it. So much so he may just now be in favor of deporting himself to satisfy them. Marco isn’t a scientist so he’ll take it upon himself to reject the findings of 97% of climate scientists and say the climate change is a hoax. Another good move considering he’s from Florida. A Cuban-American opposed to immigration reform and Floridian who’s not concerned about his state being swallowed up by rising oceans. He was really upset with President Obama opening up negotiations with the Cuban dictator Castro. So much so he’s willing to do all he can to stop what the majority of the nation supports, like some kind of dictator. When this is done, maybe he and Ted Cruz can form a new act at the Havana Tropicana  when full diplomatic relations are restored. Rick Santorum: Is running again. Maybe that should be rephrased? He’s a strong morale Catholic who may be the first to be excommunicated by Pope Francis for being openly opposed to the Papacy. As with the others who are returning to the GOP clown car this time around, Rick is destined to be the same candidate as before, only in a new sweater vest. At least he has Foster Friess to bankroll him yet again.

Donald Trump: Donald possibly entering the clown car this year will be huge, HUGE. Of course he will have to actually answer questions about his finances. He may actually have to show what his “people” found in Hawaii about the President’s birth certificate that he has yet to disclose to the public. If he did, that would be huge, HUGE. Donald’s relevance is quickly slipping away as no one watches his NBC show anymore and only FOX and Friends ever have him on. It’s slipping so bad he may end up on his own “Celebrity Apprentice” as another has been Celebrity contestant.

Scott Walker: Scott is another ultra Ayn Rand type conservative who thinks he can get the Tea Party to accept him as he then pivots to pretend he is a moderate Republican. Again, like his fellow GOP governors, Wisconsin is not doing as well economically as her neighbors. He, like Christie and Perry could be facing criminal charges over the John Doe investigation still ongoing.  Like Mitt Romney he’s another flip flopper saying anything he hopes will get him elected. He’s also a Koch Brother favorite though he can easily be fooled by someone pretending to be David Koch on the phone. Scott is both weak and destructive and may actually end up being the nominee this year for the simple fact of being the least known and least repulsive of the others considering to run.

Who’s to say who will or won’t finally go in for the nomination in 2016 and who will actually be given the opportunity to lose in November. Fact is as the above list demonstrates, the GOP have too many flawed personalities considering a run. This is a repeat of 2012. They will destroy each other in the primaries because all have baggage that can and will be exploited. The real issue for 2016 isn’t who will win the presidency, but who will be in the Congress that president will get. POTUS may end up being more of a side show this time around.

The first amendment to the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution reads:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Of the five rights spoken of in this amendment the last one “to petition the Government for a redress of grievances” is seldom spoken of. It essentially says that as citizens of the United States, if we have issue with our government we are permitted to bring these issues to the government and be heard.

This is a fundamental principle of English Common Law. It dates back to the Magna Carta; it is addressed in the Declaration of Independence in the line:

“In every stage of these Oppressions We have petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.”

In the mid 1830’s there were 130,000 requests to the Congress to advocate for the end to slavery. In fact in 1836 the Congress imposed a “Gag Rule” that tabled all anti-slavery petitions. John Quincy Adams and members of the House were able in 1844 to repeal this gag rule citing that it ran contrary to the rights granted in the first amendment.

In our early years of our Union and even during the Civil War and beyond, citizens of the United States were able to petition the government for redress of grievances with little obstruction. They were not only able to go directly to Congress to meet with their House or Senate member, they were able to proceed to the White House and meet with the President himself.

In today’s world, in theory you have the right to contact your member of the House or Senate via letter, text, phone, fax, email, etc. In reality very few of these “petitions” make it to that member. Instead they end up with some aid. The same is true for the President. Lobbyists have first crack and have time scheduled to meet with our “representatives” in Congress, sadly very few of us poor ordinary citizens share in that perk.

The recent election and the fact that nearly $6,000,000,000.00 was spent on the midterms gave me an idea. Most of this money actually came from a few billionaires, corporate executives (both foreign and domestic) that thanks to Citizen’s United can provide unlimited funds to our representatives to spend for campaigning to get us ordinary people to vote for them. These handful of people control the “free speech” in the form of money to get certain people of their choosing elected to the government to serve. Whether they serve their constituents or those who provide them money on a national level is something left to the imagination of the beholder.

The Koch brothers funded 44,000 political ads for their candidates in 2014:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/09/04/one-out-of-every-10-ads-run-in-the-2014-election-have-ties-to-the-koch-brothers/

To the tune of over $100,000,000.00:

http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/the-koch-network-spent-100-million-this-election-cycle-20141104

They are obviously one of the major coordinators of our representatives in Congress and State Houses across the country. Another lobbying group, The National Rifle Association spent $11,500,000.00 on Senate and Governor Races across the country in 2014:

http://www.politico.com/story/2014/09/nra-senate-governor-races-2014-111049.html

And the list goes on. Major corporations, lobbying groups and billionaires funding friendly Senate, House, Governor, State House candidates across the country who are simply expected to cater to their redress of grievances. Open Secrets is a good site to get a bigger picture, though still incomplete due to Citizen’s United about these organizations and people:

https://www.opensecrets.org/

So rather wasting time talking to a low level aid in Washington DC or your State capital to petition your government for a redress of grievances as guaranteed by the first amendment of the United States Constitution, why not go straight to the source? Let’s contact these people and organizations directly. They have the resources, the money, the staff to hear our issues with government and they obviously have more power over them than the people they theoretically represent.

So you have issues about Climate Change, Polluted Water, Air, and Land. Destroyed infrastructure petition Koch Industries at:

http://www.kochind.com/newsroom/contact_us.aspx

You have issues about Gun Sense, Gun Violence, Lack of full Universal Background Checks, Keeping weapons away from criminals, mentally disturbed, foreign nationals, contact the NRA at:

https://contact.nra.org/contact-us.aspx

Check out Open Secrets, see what organizations and people fund which candidates on which issue and if it’s an issue you wish to petition the government for redress, contact the donor base regularly, insistently and get your family and friends to join in. Send them your letters, faxes, texts, call them, and go see them in person. Hey, these are the guys funding your government so they should be able to hear from you regarding you first amendment right to petition for redress. To deny you such a right would be unconstitutional.

Let’s get started on this now and through to 2016 and beyond. They want to own our government; they need to listen to us.

Though I often ridicule Republicans on my Twitter account and this blog, I must point out that I joined the Republican Party myself in 1979 when I turned 18. I considered myself a conservative back then, though over the years as I have grown, matured and saw the world in a more interconnected way. I began to move more towards the center, even left on some issues. That is why I call myself a moderate. Now even though I go after the GOP, it’s their leadership and party platform, I’m not actually going after rank and file Republicans unless some attack me and my views on a personal level on Twitter. Although historically there have always been sniping across the aisles between the Democrats and Republicans, up until the Clinton administration, both parties would meet up in the middle, work out compromises that helped both sides and the nation as a whole and move forward.

Republicans do have a rich and honored history in this country. It was the party that restored the nation after the Southern states seceded from the Union; it was the party that passed the 13th amendment that once and for all ended slavery on this continent. It was the party that broke up the Trusts, who’s monopolistic existence stagnated our economy, it was the party that ended child labor, it was the party that gave the Democrats enough votes to pass Civil Rights in the 60’s, and it was the party that brought us the EPA. They worked and fought with the Democrats to make this a better nation for her people. These are historic facts.

One thing to note though, the Southern Dixiecrats in the 1960’s were the ones who made it difficult for Lyndon Johnson to pass Civil Rights, so the GOP helped him get the votes for that and Medicare. The Dixiecrats were so upset with this, they left the Democratic Party. They still exist today, they are known as the Tea Party. They didn’t pop up over night, but Republican strategists seeing the anger in the South over the passage of Civil Rights created the “Southern Strategy” and this extreme right wing, racists who once were part of the Democratic Party switched to the Republican Party and the rest is history.

The former Dixiecrats who are now Republicans began to grow and take over control of the Republican Party that took them in for their own strategic national ambitions. They began to conflate “conservatism” with “bigotry” especially when the “Moral Majority” joined in with the former Dixiecrats to impose more control over the Republican Party. Mr. Conservative himself, Barry Goldwater warned his party and the nation of the dangers of allowing extreme religious influence over the governing of his party and nation. What he predicted has come to pass. He said religious people won’t compromise and compromise is essential in governing a nation.

Since the implementation of the Southern Strategy the divide between the Republicans and Democrats continued to grow. Despite this, on important issues, compromise was still reached across the aisle for national reasons. Then Newt Gingrich began the “no compromise” standard in the House during the Clinton administration. Instead of working with the other side for the good of the nation, they placed power and control over an extreme right wing agenda as a singular goal. Compromise wasn’t in their lexicon.

In the years that followed, those Republicans who still indicated a willingness to work across the aisle were primaried out of their office. This movement moved to the Senate and again, the moderates in the party were marginalized and removed from office. This was when the Republican Party who placed their own power over the needs of the people and began to become a travesty. They became a party that would be unrecognizable to Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Eisenhower, even Nixon, Ford and Reagan.

The election of Barack Obama, twice by majority popular vote in this nation, resulted in the Republicans becoming a smaller, lockstep organization, easily controlled by big money interests using extreme ideologues from the Tea Party to do their dirty work. While this was going on, many left the Republican Party (as many also left the Democratic Party) out of frustration that no compromise was being reached. Keep in mind, the Democrats did and continue to want to compromise. They worked with GOP leadership when they ran both chambers of Congress, they inserted Republican amendments into the Affordable Care Act that none of the Republicans would then vote for. To the outside, it would appear that neither side would compromise. However the fact is it’s only the Tea Party controlled GOP that won’t compromise on anything. Any Republican caught talking to a Democrat in Congress is branded a RINO by the Tea Party and primaried out of office.

Not all Republicans are the extreme right wing fringed bigots like those who ascribe to the Tea Party fraction. However, the Tea Party who is funded by big money interests, both domestically and internationally (thanks to Citizen’s United) is calling the shots today for the Republican Party. If you don’t fit within their litmus test, you’re a RINO and will be removed from office. Rank and file Republicans feel an obligation to vote party each and every time regardless of what they think of their candidate. However, it is worthy to note the five million fewer Republicans voted in 2012 than did in 2008. Republicans are being turned off by the discourse. However, the fewer people who vote, the more extreme the outcomes when the votes are counted.

Rank and file Republicans, those the Tea Party call RINOs can save their party and get this nation’s economy and status in the world moving forward again. It’s a difficult decision but one that would bring honor and greatness back to the Grand Old Party of Lincoln, vote Democratic in the midterms.

If they vote out the extreme Tea Party backed candidates in all elections, it would be a devastating blow to their control of the party. The rational moderate wing of the party can move back into leadership and repair the damage created.

If rank and file Republicans would get out and vote en masse for Democrats, then perhaps they can put up some decent candidates in 2016 that would create a real positive debate for how we as a nation can move forward, not dissolve into bitter partisan bickering to our ultimate demise.

By weaning yourselves of the extreme right wing fringe, you become a party of the people, you won’t have to rely on voter suppression to win office, and you will get support of majority of Americans on key issues that actually unite us. Well most of us, the Tea Party oppose everything the majority of the nation wants. That’s why this nation is obstructed.

Republicans, take a chance, vote Democratic this year to show your party leadership you are done with the racist, misogynist, bigoted homophobic, anti-science wing of your party. Bring it back to greatness. It’s really up to you. By doing so, you also improve a nation, not just a party.

“When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the loser.” Socrates

Last week, the annual Right Wing Fringe Clown group known as the “Values Voters Summit” met again. As to be expected, the speakers at the event provided enough insane, inane and comical sound bites to keep political pundits and comedians thankful to the God they may or may not believe in. Conservative so called Christians flock to this event, those who proclaim their “Christianity” uber alles yet do very little that Jesus Christ advocated for from his teachings in the Bible. This group is filled with those who truly believe in Creationism over Evolution, the universe is only 6,000 years old and man lived with Dinosaurs.

They also go so far as to place this somewhat unenlightened spin of the faith to conflate it with our nation’s founding and the intent of our founders. They misinterpret, misrepresent and simply miss the entire point of the separation clause of our Constitution. Despite the true historic facts and documentation of the era, they proclaim that we were founded as a “Christian Nation”. This led me to have some fun and post this pic on my Twitter Time Line with the caption, .Jesus Rides Into DC to Write the Constitution (Thanks for the Retweets)

Now this group who’s straw poll named Ted Cruz as their nominee for President in 2016 (forget the foreign born irony on this straw vote) had of course, Sarah Palin speak to them. The half term governor of Alaska gave a word salad talk to the gang filled with gaffes that will keep Comedy Central, SNL and late night comics busy for weeks. In addition to moving the White House to 1400 Pennsylvania Avenue, Sarah decided to invoke some prop humor reminiscent of Carrot Top by making her version of the “latte Salute” to our President to the delight of the crowd.

So in the spirit of those who participated in the Values Voters Summit and in keeping with the humor demonstrated by Sarah, I posted this pic on my Twitter Time Line with the caption, Jesus has a Salute for Sarah Palin. (again, thanks for the retweets)

I soon received an @ mention on my Time Line from Dan Gainor that proclaimed me to be:

Dan Gainor ‏@dangainor  Sep 26

Anti-Christian bigot>>> @azmoderate

I had no idea who this guy was. Apparently last July he trolled my account on something another, but I never responded back because I found his reasoning and facts to be, shall we say, groundless and not worth my time.

However, to immediately make an allegation like this prompted me to respond. While doing so I also decided to research this guy on Google.

What I found is that he is the Vice President of Business and Culture at the Media Research Center, a right wing conservative group dedicated to use “sound scientific methods” to prove there is a liberal bias in media that undermines American values. Among it’s financial supporters, ExxonMobile. This group also runs NewsBusters. Throughout it’s existence, MRC has been thoroughly debunked and called out for their lack of true journalistic standards and lack of “sound scientific methods.”

I also found that Mr. Gainor is a regular media guest on FOX and the corporate owned “liberal Media”. I read a transcript of an interview he had with Thom Hartmann where he had his ass handed to him. I also see his name prominently displayed and written about on Right Wing Watch where his assertions are always clearly debunked using “sound scientific method.”

I found he is adamently opposed to gay rights based on his flawed interpretation of the Bible (keeping in mind nowhere in the New Testament does Jesus say anything about homosexuality). I also viewed his time line on Twitter and his interactions with others. I was astounded to see he regularly attacks others on Twitter with no true provocation, something known as “trolling”.

Also I noted that few if any other twitter accounts, even those on the right come in to defend or support him. Also, for a right wing media star who’s been on Twitter since 2008, he has relatively few followers of his own, around 6,100. I delighted in that although I’m strictly amateur, have no media coverage or platform, have only been on twitter since 2010 and regularly block followers; I have nearly 10,000 followers (I have more quantity and quality of followers than Mr. Gainor) But I digress.

So I responded to him in the only way I knew, snark. I advised him:

Eclectic John ‏@azmoderate  Sep 26

@dangainor You got it wrong my friend, I’m the Anti-Christ to all those who call themselves “Conservative Christians” which is an oxymoron

So he responded back to me and decided to add in two more accounts that weren’t even involved in the thread, @Karoli and @LibertyCara

Dan Gainor ‏@dangainor  Sep 26

@cando161 I hate bigots. Which applies here. @azmoderate @Karoli @LibertyCara

Others began to join in the thread, @cando161, @BarrieLouise, @KatEdmiston, @upayr, @franco91hou, @MarieMemePayne, @Kuku_Sabzi, @JuliaWolfe @FroschHaus and @Ronc99. All confronted Mr. Gainor with his positions and asked him questions to back up his claims. He provided few answers and when those he did provide were debunked with evidence, he went on with the slander.

When confronted with the Beatitudes and other teachings of Christ, he would deflect. He would projects that “liberals” are telling others how to practice their religion while he actually demands how true Christians must pray. I then found a Huffington Post link where Mr. Gainor offered to pay someone to beat up Congressman Alan Grayson, so I posted:

Eclectic John ‏@azmoderate  Sep 26

@dangainor @cando161 @Karoli Curious Danny, you gonna offer money to someone to assault me? http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/20/dan-gainor-right-wing-med_n_653252.html …

To which he responded:

Dan Gainor ‏@dangainor  Sep 26

@azmoderate Nope. clearly you can’t take a joke. Typical for libs. @cando161 @Karoli

Now that was funny. Considering this whole thread began because of my joke regarding Sarah Palin.

The argument continued to the next day. We tried to remind Mr. Gainor of the Separation Clause. He insists that it merely says that Government cannot interfere with religion but doesn’t restrict “Christianity” from interfering with government. He refused to accept that the wall was established to protect both religion and government from each other. He also refused to accept that under the First Amendment, all religions are equal to one another, Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Taoist, etc. even Atheism.

No faith or lack of faith trumps the other in this nation per our constitution. Further as per our founders, we are a “Secular” government, not a Christian Government. Apparently, Mr. Gainor is a fellow at the David Barton Historical School of made up Jefferson Quotes.

Mr. Gainor is of the belief that the founders established this nation as a Christian Nation, he doesn’t accept the wording in the Treaty of Tripoli that was ratified by Unanimous Consent in the Senate (a Senate comprised of our founding fathers) and signed by Conservative John Adams that stated clearly “As the Government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian Religion…” (November 4, 1796).

Again, we asked Mr. Gainor to point out anything in the Bible or Constitution to back up any of his claims. He continued to avoid, dismiss and insult. Then I asked him:

Eclectic John ‏@azmoderate  Sep 27

@dangainor @kimoco @freedom2marry @holybullies Where is “God” mentioned in the Constitution?

Mr. Gainor’s only reference to that question was:

Dan Gainor ‏@dangainor  Sep 27

@kimoco We are endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights… @azmoderate @freedom2marry @holybullies

Well, that is from the Declaration on Independence, which although a stirring document listing our grievances to the King and stating why we were absolving all allegiance to his Crown, it was not then or now a governing document for the Colonies, the Confederation, or the United States. The Constitution is our governing document and nowhere in it does it mention God or Supreme being or Creator. Mr. Gainor, we are a secular government.

Mr. Gainor then decided to block me. Wonder why?

You are free to worship as you wish, you are not free to use the government of the United States under force of law or denial of rights to compel others to follow your particular brand of religion. All faiths and lack of faith have the same equal protections and the same rights. This is final, this is right, this is Constitutional. To believe otherwise is delusional.

One final note regarding the thread. Mr. Gainor decided to paraphrase my idol, Barry M. Goldwater when he stated that extremism in the Christian faith is good, sounding back to Goldwater’s “Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice.” Well Mr. Gainor, Conservative Arizona United States Senator Barry M. Goldwater was very clear on what he felt about conflating religion with governing this nation:

To impose a conservative view of religion upon an entire nation regardless of what their beliefs may or may not be is not conservative, in fact its’ radical. We are a nation of equal rights, privileges, opportunities and responsibilities. To not accept that is as un-American and Unchristian as you can get Mr. Gainor.

Just for Kicks and Giggles

The midterms are fast approaching and the more people we can get to the polls, the better the outcome will be for all Americans. It’s a matter of registering, studying the candidates and propositions and voting the entire ballot. So here are some links that can help you. Please send this to your family and friends and do all you can do to get them motivated to register and vote.

Here are links to use to find out how to register to vote in your area:

http://www.rockthevote.com/register-to-vote/?source=googlevr9&gclid=CM75rJK55MACFYdlfgodT34AYw

http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Voting/Register.shtml

Now don’t be so sure you are still registered. In many red states, they can and have removed people from the registered voters’ lists to suppress the votes. Use this site to see if you are still registered. If not, use the above links to reregister to vote:

http://www.canivote.org/

Do you need voter ID where you have to vote? These sites can help you in that regard:

http://www.headcount.org/voter-id-requirements/?gclid=CI-727-65MACFYqBfgodYyAA0w

http://www.demos.org/publication/got-id-helping-americans-get-voter-identification

Do you know your candidates? Here’s a site for those running for Congress. Research these people:

http://ballotpedia.org/List_of_candidates_running_in_U.S._Congress_elections,_2014

Here’s a site for those running for the US Senate:

http://www.senateconservatives.com/site/races

Here’s a site for those running for Governor:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_gubernatorial_elections,_2014

In addition to the above, check all the propositions up for consideration. Especially check to see who’s financially sponsoring these propositions. If they’re sponsored by anyone associated with the Koch Brothers like Americans for prosperity, The Heritage Foundation, Tea Party Express, ALEC, you know the proposition isn’t in your best interests.

Finally, when you show up at the polls, you may encounter groups like “True the Vote” who may be inclined to challenge your right to vote for anyone running for federal office. That is illegal. Keep this handy:

18 U.S. Code § 594

“Whoever intimidates, threatens, coerces, or attempts to intimidate, threaten, or coerce, any other person for the purpose of interfering with the right of such other person to vote or to vote as he may choose, or of causing such other person to vote for, or not to vote for, any candidate for the office of President, Vice President, Presidential elector, Member of the Senate, Member of the House of Representatives, Delegate from the District of Columbia, or Resident Commissioner, at any election held solely or in part for the purpose of electing such candidate, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.”

If encountered by anyone from such a group, contact the FBI, not local law enforcement. Also, take their pictures, film them in action. They are breaking federal law and should be held to account.

It’s no secret that those on the extreme right want to suppress the votes in all elections; it’s the only way their candidates and their propositions can win. The only way to get a government working for the interests of the majority of Americans is to get the majority of Americans to vote. Midterms are notorious for low voter turnout. Let’s make 2014 the exception and possibly a start of a new trend, high voter turnout for a higher quality government.

Paul Weyrich, Right Wing Conservative Strategist and one of the founders of ALEC tells it like it is:

Get registered, get out there, do your research and vote.

Ferguson, Missouri: according to the 2010 census:

Population: 21,203

Over the age of 18: 15,115

Whites: 6,206

African Americans: 14,297

Asians: 103

Native Americans: 80 

Others: 96

Identified by 2 or more: 421.

22% of the city lives in poverty.

The mayor is White.

Six City Council Members of whom 5 are white and only 1 is African American.

Ferguson’s population is 67% African American, yet its police force is only 5.6% African American.

Ferguson is a suburb of St Louis, the 6th most segregated city in the nation.

This year, only 12.3% of eligible voters casted a ballot. In 2013 only 11.7% and in 2012 only 8.9%.

Is it any wonder that with such low voter turnout, you end up with city government and city employees who don’t look like the city they’re suppose to serve.

As new reports in recent days have shown, there is a long history of distrust in the African American Community of Ferguson’s police department. The shooting of Michael Brown is seen as the latest episode of a generational problem for the town. The Police response to protests has been over the top, making the community look like an occupied military zone.

As of this writing; despite Missouri law, the name of the officer who shot Michael Brown has not been released. Officials are citing concern for him and his family’s safety. UPDATE: Darren Wilson has been identified as the officer involved in the shooting. To date he has yet to make a formal statement to the press nor has it been confirmed or denied he made a statement to his chain of command immediately after the shooting as required by most law enforcement agencies. Wilson is on paid administrative leave in an undisclosed location.

In press conferences, despite on-scene witness testimony describing the shooting and acknowledgment that Michael Brown was unarmed and was merely walking down the middle of the street when confronted by the officer, he is still referred to as a “suspect” by both Ferguson and St Louis Police.

It took the Governor of Missouri stepping in to appoint an African American Captain of the State’s Highway Patrol to calm the city down. This act was ridiculed by St. Louis Prosecutor Bob McCulloch (who beat his African American Opponent in the Democratic Primary) as an overreach of power and uncalled for. McCulloch has yet to indicate if and when he will file any charges against the police officer for whom there is overwhelming probable cause has committed a serious crime, possibly murder.

Beyond the poor community relations between City Officials and her people, despite the racial tensions that exist, despite the gross uncalled for show of strength, power and intimidation of local and St. Louis Police to townspeople and media, the issues of Ferguson go far beyond the township. It’s endemic to what this entire nation faces in this election year, lack of voter turnout that results in government that isn’t representative of its constituency and isn’t accountable to them.

This is true of local government, county government, state government and national government. If the majority of eligible voters won’t take the time to vote, to be heard, how can they expect a government to represent their needs and see to their best interests? How can they expect that government to hire government officials representative to the people they are hired to serve? How can they expect a fair, working and accountable government for the people they are supposed to represent?

Ferguson may be an extreme example, but it’s an example of what is true in this entire country, especially during “off year elections.”

Not enough people voting, resulting in the wrong people winning and governing only to the interests of the minority of people who voted for them and/or the money interests who paid for their campaigns.

In this country the one thing every American has if they are of voting age, is the right to vote. In midterms, less than 40% of eligible voters nationwide even take the time to vote. This results in unrepresentative government that is unresponsive to the majority of people they are to serve.

The only solution is for everyone to simply vote their interests.

Government of the people, by the people and for the people will not work if the people don’t take the time to vote. We need a government who is representative of our needs and our interests, not the privileged few. The more representative a government is to her constituency, the better it performs for that constituency

Get the word out, for better government services to include police and first responders, register and vote for those officials responsible for hiring, training and holding accountable the government servants who are paid for by your tax dollars.

“To Protect and Serve” should be more than a motto on a police cruiser’s door; it should be a calling for men and women to serve all of the people in the community they serve. Equal Justice Under Law.

MSNBC: Ferguson Lack of Diversity Goes Way Beyond Its Cops:

http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/ferguson-lack-diversity-goes-way-beyond-its-cops

Slate: Ferguson is Mostly Black, Why is its Government so White?

http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2014/08/14/ferguson_missouri_government_why_is_it_so_white.html

VOX: Why There Wasn’t Accountability for the Police in Ferguson

http://www.vox.com/2014/8/14/6002291/ferguson-police-st-louis-county-in-charge-jay-nixon-tear-gas-officer-fired

We are experiencing the least productive Congress in the history of our nation. The 113th is setting new records in obstruction, inaction, showmanship, and utter contempt of the people they’re supposed to represent and work for in Washington DC.

The Republican party has controlled the House of Representatives since the 2010 midterms. They took control away from a Democratic controlled House that was very  productive in passing legislation the nation wanted and needed. They were so productive, the GOP was able to rely on their base who hate any and all government and the historic voter apathy of Democrats during midterms to take control. Although they still do not control the Senate, they have enough in there to impose a record number of filibusters that has effectively stopped anything productive from passing in the Senate.

Why are the Republicans doing this? They themselves have made it clear from day one of the Obama Presidency, they wanted this president to fail. They met to ensure they would do all that they could to block as much as they could to make this president a “failed” president. Even if it was to push for and pass legislation traditionally favored by Republicans and conservatives, they would block it. They couldn’t care less about what this would do to the nation that elected them, because they place party power over the well-being of the nation. They knew they could count on a small fringe element of angry unthinking and quite suicidal nut jobs who rally under the pathetic banner of “no government” to support their cause. They knew that with the growing Tea Party movement, they could elect “anti government” representatives to government to help destroy government. As with most people who fail to think things out, they hadn’t figured out what they would do if they were successful. They know how to break things, but why would anyone then want to take control of something broken and beyond repair. Yes this is insanity.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/06/08/1098434/-Eric-Cantor-Paul-Ryan-Kevin-McCarthy-Plot-To-Sabotage-US-Economy-with-Frank-Luntz

So they took control in 2010 and started the most unproductive Congress in history. As a result, despite the needs of our country, to stick to their plan, this Congress hasn’t:

Passed any job bills

Extended needed Unemployment Insurance

Fund needed food stamps for those in poverty to include the elderly and veterans

Properly fund veteran services

Passed infrastructure repair

Passed immigration reform

Passed campaign finance reform

Passed sensible gun control reform

Passed voting rights reform

Passed equal pay reform

All of the above and more are things the majority of all Americans across all party affiliations support, but have been blocked or stalled in the Senate and especially in the Republican controlled House of Representatives.

What the House has passed (things mind you dead on arrival in the Senate) have been over 50 votes to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (also known as ObamaCare).

They have funded fruitless and expensive investigations into faux scandals like Benghazi, the IRS and Fast and Furious, all of which despite ongoing proof there is no “there there” they continue to push and push and push in hopes of coming up with something.

And now, despite the fact that no one is taking this course of action seriously, they are now voting to allow the House, not the full Congress, to sue President Obama.

Originally Boehner said he was going to sue, but wouldn’t elaborate over exactly what he would sue over. Only recently did he decide to sue over Obama not imposing a small business mandate in ACA that at the time Boehner and the House approved because it was after all slowing down ObamaCare.

However now that ObamaCare is proving to be successful:

with even 74% of Republicans who have gained coverage because of it approving of their coverage,

with no jobs being lost,

with no death panels created,

they now want to sue Obama for trying to stop what they wanted stopped. Not even Aaron Sorkin could write a better plot here.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2014/07/10/here_s_john_boehner_s_lawsuit_against_the_obama_administration.html

Perhaps this is why Congress has this sort of current popularity:

It is ironic that even with the deep recession created by Republican Policy during the Bush years, and the Republican stalling of government action to alleviate and reverse the recession and grow our economy, the productivity of the United States continues to improve. It is only the productivity of the US Congress that has declined.

This must end. If we are to remain the richest, most powerful and envied nation on the planet we need a government that is in tune with the American people. A government of, by and for the people as it were. A government deserving of the people they represent. The Republicans who play to the Corporate interests and the Tea Party fringe elements are already on record as being opposed to anything that will help America because by doing so it would make Obama look good.

This country is too important to allow this childish behavior to continue unchecked.

This inaction harms all Americans, harms the poor, working class, middle class and even some of the wealthy.

It harms Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, people of all political ideology.

It harms people of all faiths and those who don’t ascribe to any faith.

It harms US Citizens and non Citizens alike.

This harms all of us and all of us must act to correct this and send a message to any party wishing to have a say in Washington, you must place the American people over your party at all times which means working across the aisles and even working with a Black Democrat.

We all know who the obstructionists are, who they are aligned with. They must be voted out of office in November.

They must be replaced with those willing to compromise and work on behalf of all of their constituents, even those who don’t vote for them. At this time in history this means maintaining Democratic Control of the Senate and giving the House back to the Democrats. If the Republicans suffer this defeat in November, then perhaps they will shed themselves of this cancerous base of theirs, move back towards the center and work for the Nation, not the special interests. We need to do what our grandparents did in the 1930’s. That ushered in nearly 50 years of continued economic growth and success of our nation. We know what ended that (hint, his initials are Ronald Wilson Reagan).

Get registered, get informed, get motivated and get to the polls in November and let’s get a productive Congress worthy of all the people of this nation.

Article III

Section 1.

The judicial power of the United States, shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The judges, both of the supreme and inferior courts, shall hold their offices during good behavior, and shall, at stated times, receive for their services, a compensation, which shall not be diminished during their continuance in office.

Section 2.

The judicial power shall extend to all cases, in law and equity, arising under this Constitution, the laws of the United States, and treaties made, or which shall be made, under their authority;–to all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls;–to all cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction;–to controversies to which the United States shall be a party;–to controversies between two or more states;–between a state and citizens of another state;–between citizens of different states;–between citizens of the same state claiming lands under grants of different states, and between a state, or the citizens thereof, and foreign states, citizens or subjects.

In all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and those in which a state shall be party, the Supreme Court shall have original jurisdiction.

In all the other cases before mentioned, the Supreme Court shall have appellate jurisdiction, both as to law and fact, with such exceptions, and “under such regulations as the Congress shall make.”

This is a key line in Article III, section 2 of the United States Constitution that creates the Supreme Court of the United States. What this line says is that Congress has the right and obligation to regulate what the Supreme Court does. It was written as part of the Checks and Balances system the founders pushed to make sure that all three branches of Government were Co-Equal without one being “Supreme” to the other.

Many historic and legal scholars believe that at the time of the writing and ratification of the Constitution, the Supreme Court was seen more as the final step in the appellate process of the legal system to resolve disputes between the states, based on the Constitution and established law. Though they could question the “constitutionality” of a law passed by Congress and signed by the Executive, they had no authority to actually rule it as “Unconstitutional”. Nowhere in the Constitution does it say they have that authority. What the Constitution does say is that both chambers of Congress can enact legislation and the Executive can sign that legislation into law. Certainly the Supreme Court was never given the ability to “legislate from the bench” their purpose is to interpret from the bench and that was all.

Congress in the Constitution has the ability to regulate the Supreme Court and determine what they can or cannot act upon. That is clear and unambiguous in the reading of Article III, section 2. At no time in history did the Congress and Executive branch grant the Supreme Court the authority to make null and void a law passed and signed by the other two branches of government, only the ability to interpret and advice.

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/supremecourt/democracy/landmark_marbury.html

It was Marbury v Madison, where the Supreme Court gave itself the ability to determine if a law was constitutional and void it if they deemed it wasn’t. This act confounded then President Thomas Jefferson. Though pissed, he really took no action to what the John Marshall Court did. From that time forward however, there was a tenuous relationship between the Executive Branch and the Supreme Court. During the Jefferson Administration, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Chase was actually impeached in the House, but not convicted in the Senate. In Worcester v Georgia, President Andrew Jackson was so pissed at the ruling of the Marshall Court he was heard to have said, “John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it!” stating that in reality, without the other two branches of government, the Supreme Court has no authority to enforce its rulings.

The Supreme Court didn’t challenge the Constitutionality of any Act passed by Congress and signed by the Executive branch until 1857 with the Dred Scott decision, that was one of the major events leading to the Civil War. In fact, from 1789 through 2002 the Supreme Court only held 158 Acts of Congress and signed by the President as Unconstitutional.

Since 2002 through 2014, nineteen more Acts were found to be Unconstitutional. Each time they do so, they cite back to Marbury v Madison as their basis and justification to do this. They do not cite the Constitution or regulations from Congress, only the institution’s own act.

Currently the Justices of the Supreme Court, who enjoy lifetime appointments as do all Federal Judges are not require to adhere to the Federal Code of Judicial Conduct as are the rest of the Judges and Justices on the Federal Bench.

http://www.uscourts.gov/RulesAndPolicies/CodesOfConduct/CodeConductUnitedStatesJudges.aspx

If they were, there would be some serious issues to be brought against both Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas for their relationships with certain billionaire brothers who have had cases before them. There would also be issues with Chief Justice John Roberts and Samuel Alito for not holding true to many of the things they swore to uphold before the Senate during their confirmation hearings.

Any other Judge or Justice would be facing serious ethics review, if not disbarment for some of the conservative justices actions since taking the bench. But these “Supremes” feel they are above the law, above the constitution and above the ethical code of conduct expected of an attorney, let alone a Justice. But again why shouldn’t they? Who will hold them accountable?

The fact of the matter is, currently in the House, there is legislation being pushed to hold the Justices of the Supreme Court accountable to the Federal Code of Judicial Conduct.

If Congress wanted to act, they can use their unambiguous right under Article III section 2 to regulate how these Justices are permitted to conduct themselves. Congress has the ability to also impeach Justices. It has been done before.

However this current Congress won’t act as long as it is under Republican Control or if there are enough Republicans in the House and Senate to block long overdue and needed reform to a Supreme Court running amok in order to cater to the wealthiest of Americans over the needs of the ordinary Americans. From Citizen’s United through Hobby Lobby this Supreme Court is creating more damage to the fabric of this nation than at any time since Dred Scott.

Congress can act, but you need to elect a Congress willing to serve ordinary Americans to control a Supreme Court who’s only concern for a small but powerful oligarchy. So in reality, in this democracy or representative republic, whatever you want to call it, the Supreme Court isn’t the final say in any action of legislated law, its the voting power of the public, you, who have the final say. All you need to do is be active, tell your Congressional representative how you feel about what is going on in the Supreme Court and back it up with your votes.

As always, get educated, get motivated, get registered and vote. All branches of government of the people, need the people to exercise their vote.

We are all aware of the fringe right wing attempts to suppress votes in this nation. They say it’s to protect the integrity of the election process to fight back the .0000000000003% incidents of nationwide voter fraud. They say that requiring valid ID to vote isn’t an impediment. In of itself that may be true; however imposing certain ID from the Voter ID advocates (from Koch Brothers sponsored ALEC by the way) disproportionately impedes certain classes of people from being able to satisfy the requirement.

Studies have clearly shown that these laws impact minorities, students, elderly and women, who coincidently tend to vote more moderate and liberal than those who advocate the IDs. In some jurisdictions a conceal carry license is sufficient but not a University Student ID. Incidentally it’s easier to get a conceal carry license than a University Student ID. The elderly and poor who do not or cannot drive aren’t likely to have drivers licenses. So of course they would be unable to drive to the few places in states like Texas where they can get a license anyway let alone be able to pay for it. While speaking of Texas, their voter ID laws makes it very difficult for women who just may have a different last name from when they were born from being able to vote. Some of the ID requirements advocated requires indigent poor people to come up with money they don’t have to get birth certificates. This is in effect a poll tax already declared to be unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

As we all know, these voter ID laws results in true election fraud in this nation in a transparent attempt to suppress the votes for any classification of voter who isn’t inclined to vote what is termed (mind you) a conservative right wing agenda.

However, it doesn’t end there. The GOP, using their wins in 2010 have gerrymandered districts to favor them in all races until the next Census in 2020.  In a 5-4 decision the Conservative leaning Supreme Court (with Scalia, Thomas and Roberts catered to by Koch sponsored right wing groups) overturned key proponents of the Voting Rights Act allowing unchecked new laws to be imposed to keep certain “other” people from being able to vote. As a result, these people are left with no recourse until after the election when it’s too late. Efforts are underway by the Justice Department to try to fix these blatant attempts to keep the majority voice from being heard in both local and national elections.

There remains “Get out the Vote” activities working on the theory that the more that show up, (those who normally sit out elections) who show up will counter efforts of the minority right wing fringe. However, while this is going on, there is this group that comes from Houston who has and continues to organize to thwart those efforts. They are called “True the Vote” and they are the focus of this rant.

They are a Tea Party off shoot formed in 2009 in Houston. They are sponsored by the Koch Brother’s front group known as Americans for Prosperity. They try to organize nationwide to get their own “poll watchers” to show up and challenge those they think shouldn’t be voting.

They have no formal affiliation with local government, they are a civilian force. By that, they are the same as Tea Party militia type like The Oathkeepers. They see only one kind of American, usually white and “conservative” (by their warped definition of conservative versus liberal).

In reality they are supportive of the oligarchic regime that their financial benefactors are working to establish via groups like American for Prosperity, The Heritage Foundation, Tea Party Express, The Oathkeepers; and their backers, Charles and David Koch and their 1% allies.

Working from a false premise of voter fraud, they send over “poll watchers” to intimidate people they deem as “suspicious” from voting.

Who do these people tend to be? They tend to be minorities of course. True the Vote were recently active in Mississippi at the request of ultra right wing neo confederate and sore loser Chris McDaniel, because of Thad Cochran making approaches to the Black Voters in Mississippi to support him. Fortunately they failed to keep enough from the polls, but they haven’t given up and promise to be very active in November 2014 to suppress the “other” vote from being heard.

Of interest is that True the Vote was one of the groups alleged to have been under scrutiny by the IRS over their tax exempt status. They still have their tax exempt status though no one can clearly identify the social service they provide to the community at large. Seems to me that voter harassment and intimidation is more of a social disservice to the community, but what do I and over 70% of the nation know anyhow?

True the Vote claim that Voter ID laws actually increased voter turnout in the states affected. Upon review of their research methodology it was shown that they were, of course lying. In reality, all but one state with new Voter ID laws ended up with lower voter turnout (which is their goal) on average of 3.8%. In a close, low turnout election, that can make a huge difference on outcomes.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rob-richie/true-the-vote-fudges-numb_b_2785093.html

Their methodology as “poll watchers” is to follow voters to the polling places, take their pictures, confront them on their legitimacy, and intimidate and harass them so they simply don’t follow through with voting. Keep in mind the “True the Vote” poll watchers have absolutely zero legal authority to stop anyone from exercising their rights to vote. So how best to confront these people if you encounter them at your place of voting?

First of all, print out and know the following Federal Statute that remains in full effect throughout the nation:

18 U.S. Code § 594

“Whoever intimidates, threatens, coerces, or attempts to intimidate, threaten, or coerce, any other person for the purpose of interfering with the right of such other person to vote or to vote as he may choose, or of causing such other person to vote for, or not to vote for, any candidate for the office of President, Vice President, Presidential elector, Member of the Senate, Member of the House of Representatives, Delegate from the District of Columbia, or Resident Commissioner, at any election held solely or in part for the purpose of electing such candidate, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.”

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/594

If you see them and they are intimidating you or other voters, take their pictures, let them know you are taking their pictures and if you are in a red state friendly to these cherubs of justice (like Texas) contact the FBI and let them know you are contacting the FBI:

http://www.fbi.gov/contact-us

If local law enforcement threaten you over you exercising your right to expose “True the Vote” let them know you will be contacting the FBI and Department of Justice over their actions.

http://www.justice.gov/contact-us.html

True the Vote is a sham organization and by you simply using their tactics against legitimate voters on these voter intimidators, you have the upper hand and the rule of law behind you.

Despite the best efforts of Republicans in both Federal and State governments, there is absolutely no “voter fraud” out there, certainly nowhere near enough to impact any election.

There is certainly not enough evidence to deprive thousands if not millions of their right to vote for their candidates as they see fit. A higher voter turnout has a result that better fits the majority view of the nation; a smaller voter turnout has a result of a small fringe element determining what the majority must be subjected to. This is why those on the right work tirelessly to reduce voter turnout. As I’ve posted before on other rants, you cannot overlook what GOP operative and founder of ALEC Paul Weyrich told a conservative group:

If those on the right truly valued individual rights of all Americans, they would respect everyone’s right to cast a vote without fear of intimidation and harassment. I have no problem with them voting their belief system; they should have no problem with the rest of us voting ours.

There is no voter fraud in this nation, only election fraud via easily hacked voting machines, corrupt partisan officials at offices charged with tallying the votes, voter caging and other voter suppression methods.

That is how election results are negatively impacted to not reflect the will of the majority of the people, not a handful of individuals over a 12 year span of time caught not being legally registered to vote trying to vote. That impact is infinitesimal and it’s an insult to use that to justify infringing on anyone’s right to vote. For that, there should be clear and quick justice. Those people are the ones who need to be identified, charged and prosecuted in Court, not ordinary Americans trying to vote their conscience.

Get registered, get educated, get motivated and vote the entire ballot of each and every election. That is your duty as an American citizen.