NAACP President calls on LA Gov to Stop Elections

[Anita Garcia]

President Gordon sends letter to Governor Blanco requesting that she stop the election in New Orleans scheduled for April 22nd.

From NAACP Press Release <http://www.naacp.org/news/2006/2006-03-17.html>:

Louis Keller, New Orleans' Registrar of Voters, has testified he believes the elections should be delayed in order to insure all citizens their right to vote. Secretary Ater has testified that if the elections are delayed, he can implement out-of-state satellite voting to ensure displaced citizens will not be forced to travel hundreds of miles to vote.

and

The displaced voters face several hurdles to voting created through no fault of their own. For example, many of them were forced to move several times, as late as March 15th due to FEMA hotel evictions, and have not received information concerning the upcoming elections. Louisiana Secretary of State Al Ater has no mechanism in place to reach these voters with information.

Gordon said, ''Although Ater continually assures us he has plans in place to educate displaced voters, this message has not yet been conveyed to our citizens in Atlanta, Houston, San Antonio, Los Angeles, and other cities with large numbers of displaced black New Orleanians; In fact, at least weekly Ater's website changes with substantive clarifications.''

and

Gordon also asked Gov. Blanco to consider establishing satellite voting locations in cities such as Atlanta and Houston, where thousands of Katrina victims have relocated. In addition, Gordon indicated that ''voters need additional time to forward their out-of-state addresses to the state, to register to vote, and to receive and return their absentee ballots.''

[EFerrari]

1. The Thuggery can't argue that they can't reach these voters

AND that relief resources are being used wisely and are being tracked.

And that is exactly what they are trying to do.

What happened to "every vote COUNTS"?

:kick:

[Anita Garcia]

2. NAACP Issues Call to Action

NAACP
March Rally
Operation N.O. Justice
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Baton Rouge State Capitol
12 - Noon
We will march on the State Capitol!

[fooj]

97. KandR!

Peace.

[Anita Garcia]

114. Thank you!

[EFerrari]

3. Another version of this call to action, found yesterday:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=417494&mesg_id=417552

National Black leaders act to stop ‘illegal’ election

by CC Campbell-Rock


NAACP President Bruce Gordon declared that “the elections scheduled for April 22 are in fact illegal elections.” If they go forward, most Black voters will probably be excluded and unable to participate in determining New Orleans’ future.
Photo: NAACP

[Anita Garcia]

4. Thanks, for info. This March Rally is NEW development

NAACP continues to staff Voting Assistance Centers and collect information on those voters who will need assistance getting to the polls.
NAACP just issued this call to action to march on State Capitol in Baton Rouge. More information regarding transportation and meet up points will be posted at the Peace in Pink Shoes site. We will be providing shuttle busses to and from New Orleans and other surrounding parishes.
NAACP also just issued call to action for April 1, 2006 March Rally in New Orleans. NAACP will be assisting with transportation from Texas and Arkansas. Again, as I receive the approved information I will post at Peace in Pink Shoes.

[EFerrari]

5. Awesome! I've crossed posted your thread to the

Elections forum.

[Anita Garcia]

6. Thanks, I'm posting in state forums.

We have approval to provide bus transportation from Arkansas and Texas to the New Orleans March Rally on April 1st in New Orleans.

[goclark]

101. I like his style so far! Wear them out Bruce, wear them out!

[autorank]

106. Here is the history on "Katrina's Voters"

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0603/S00016.htm#">THE DISENFRANCHISEMENT OF KATRINA'S SURVIVORS

[pitohui]

7. it's a done deal, feds approved on thursday

the elections are going forward on april 22, as per u.s. justice department's approval of the plan thursday march 16

agree or disagree, the elections are going to happen and energies are prob. better spent educating and contacting voters if you are an orleans resident and have a stake in a particular outcome

as i am not an orleans resident, i am going to bow out of further comment on this one

[Anita Garcia]

8. We shall continue to fight this disenfranchisement of the vote

by both the federal and state governments.

[EFerrari]

9. We will resist this. And we should resist this travesty.

I am not a NOLA resident either, but I am a voter and I'll be damned if I sit by and allow one more act of disenfranchisement on my watch.

:kick:

[Anita Garcia]

11. It is like the war

There was a period in between threatening to invade and the actual invasion when we all knew that it was a "done deal". We protested anyway.

Then there was the stolen election and the re-election and on Inauguration Day, we protested anyway.

That is what these protests on March 28th and April 1st are about. There is a very slim chance that the DOJ will change the position of the federal government and even a slimmer chance that the Louisiana legislature or Governor will do something to stop the election. But we shall protest anyway.

This is a travesty. We will not be deterred.

We protest for those whose rights are being stolen, we protest for those who can not protest in person and we protest for ourselves, because it is our diversity, our common challenges that shall propel us forward.

We shall overcome.

[EFerrari]

14. I sent this to my Green network in Los Angeles. Tomorrow

I can send it to the San Francisco Greens.

We just keep walking, Anita.

:toast:

[bleever]

10. K&R.

[Keseys Ghost]

12. Covington Peace Project Endorses Operation N.O. Justice!

[EFerrari]

15. Excellent!

:kick:

[Crazy Guggenheim]

13. You're doing good work down there Anita! K&R.

:popcorn:

[Crazy Guggenheim]

16. Anita, the link was has been cross posted at ...........

Voting Issues at DW

:popcorn: :applause:

[EFerrari]

17. Hey -- we need some votes here. And,

that popcorn looks good. I'll share if you do.

[Crazy Guggenheim]

19. Sure! I've got plenty!

:popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:

[EFerrari]

20. LOL! You're just Crazy.

:toast:

[Anita Garcia]

18. Thanks, I'm going to check it out!

[Keseys Ghost]

21. It's time for DIRECT ACTION!

Every election in this nation MUST be protected from the corrupt power elite!

[EFerrari]

22. Exactly, Keseys Ghost.

:kick:

[Anita Garcia]

25. If we don't stand for these people, who will?

[EFerrari]

26. We are these people. Enough with the rigged elections

with the voter intimidation.

These are OUR elections.

This is OUR franchise.

This is ALL we have, folks.

:kick:

[kster]

23. kick.nt

[EFerrari]

24. Thanks, kster.

:kick:

[EFerrari]

27. Kick for one family who gave everything to civil rights

[Anita Garcia]

28. Back to Baton Rouge - March 28th

Fifty years ago in Baton Rouge, La., black citizens banded together to fight the segregated seating system on city buses. They quit riding for eight days, staging what historians believe was the first bus boycott of the budding Civil Rights movement.

The Baton Rouge episode inspired the Montgomery, Ala., bus boycott led by the Rev. Martin Luther King, but was largely forgotten.
. . . .
In 1953, 80 percent of bus riders were black -- and Reed knew that a boycott would send an economic message.

"Historians believe it was one of the first times blacks in the South organized to challenge segregation," Elliott says. "Yet most people here -- even the African-American bus drivers -- don't know about the Baton Rouge bus boycott."
. . . .
"Before Dr. King had a dream, before Rosa kept her seat, and before Montgomery took a stand, Baton Rouge played its part," Sternberg says.

-NPR June 19, 2003- <http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1304163>

[SophieZ]

92. Thanks, Anita!

I listened to that NPR story. I knew nothing of that.

Very interesting!

[NanceGreggs]

29. K'd & R'd!!!

:kick:

[Anita Garcia]

30. Thanks! Baton Rouge and Civil Rights

For more on the historical significance of Baton Rouge and the civil rights movement see: LPB "Signposts to Freedom, the Baton Rouge Bus Boycott" <http://www.lpb.org/programs/brbusboycott/background.html>

[NanceGreggs]

36. You're welcome.

The day after Katrina hit, I said to my husband, "They're going to make it impossible for these people to vote next year," and he said, "I was thinking the same thing."

It's a sad day in America when you can actually foresee, without hesitation of thought, how the GOP is going to f*ck with people's voting rights the minute they see an opportunity to do so.

[vademocrat]

31. Tears of rage reading this - recommended

How can we have come to this in my lifetime? This government & propaganda press have written off an entire section of our country while making sure we all know that the purple finger battalion is winning in Iraq.

I'm not even going to type the words I'm saying right now...I don't often cuss but boy, when I do...

[livvy]

32. K&R n/t

[Horse with no Name]

33. An "interesting" thread on the same subject

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=651791

[WePurrsevere]

34. K & R... This is not acceptable... there should be a delay if it will..

resolve the problem of citizens not being able to vote due to being displaced through no fault of their own. (Actually the fault lies with BushCo but I'll stop there or I'll go on a long rant).

[EFerrari]

35. It's a multilayered dessert of a problem. But this action

will call much needed attention to it.

We stand with the displaced, disenfranchised voters of NOLA -- and of the WHOLE FRICKEN GULF COAST.

:kick:

[EFerrari]

37. I'm walkin' to New Orleans

[Keseys Ghost]

38. All activist organizations should support this action!

Please contact the groups you work with and seek endorsements.

[EFerrari]

39. Send the OP everywhere!

This is your vote.

This is your vote.

Don't let them take your vote away.

:kick:

[pitohui]

55. actually

people in the area may have different opinions on how much longer the vote should be delayed

"all" activists don't agree on everything and "all" activists certainly are not going to agree that elections should be put off much longer, that is quite undemocratic on the face of it

when giuliani (spelling?) tried to put off the election in new york city, how did that go over with the progressive community?

[BlackHeart]

73. This is the thought I was having...

...is there any precedent for delaying an election? Did they delay in NYC?

[Anita Garcia]

77. the election was delayed once already

Our point is that it is not really an election if the people can't vote.
It is something else. It is not an election.
Section 5 of Voting Rights Act allows for the DOJ to stop or delay an election. Unfortunately, the DOJ has just given pre-clearance for the April 22nd election.

[understandinglife]

40. K&R.

Be The Bu$h Opposition - 24/7

[TomInTib]

41. K&R!

[stevedeshazer]

42. sfexpat2000, I just gave this thread vote #50

You called for it in this thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=106x27321

[EFerrari]

46. I thank you, sir. The return on your investment will be fulsome.

:hug:

WE DON'T LET OUR VOTES BE STOLEN IN ANY WAY OR IN ANY FORM.

WE ARE NOT IDIOTS.

WE ARE A COMMUNITY OF VOTERS.

AND WE WILL STAND TOGETHER TODAY.

[Canuckistanian]

43. K&R

For the REAL residents of NOLA.

[EFerrari]

47. For voters everywhere.

We KICK!

:kick:

/oops

[mod mom]

44. Katrina-the ultimate GOP suppression technique.

[EFerrari]

45. No kidding. We will not let this stand.

:hug:

:kick:

[benddem]

48. a friend

whose mother was evacuated from NOLA told me they won't give them absentee ballots. This is ethnic cleansing in this "christian" nation.

[EFerrari]

56. We have to AGREE to that first.

And this lady will not.

Let's back the NAACP with all we have.

Every vote denied is OUR vote denied.

[Anita Garcia]

67. Have your friend call 1-866-OUR-VOTE n/t

[garthranzz]

49. Another Perspective

First, a caveat: I'm involved, heavily, in one of the campaigns (not mayor). My candidate has been a very strong supporter of New Orleans, before and after Katrina, particularly its Black citizens. Still, I have a vested interest in the matter. Nonetheless, I think that the issue is not a simple one. Many of the displaced New Orleanians will not be returning. So, when providing for absentee or satellite voting, one question that must be addressed is: how do we determine citizenship when domicile - the normal standard - cannot or does not apply? (There are a number of approaches, but the issue must be addressed.) There's another issue: delaying the vote effectively disenfranchises those that are here and rebuilding. A number of new - and very progressive - candidates are running for all the offices, attempting to displace the corruption endemic here. Delaying the election will also delay implementing plans and generating activity (to use a neutral word) needed for the recovery.

Whether or not the election is delayed, these are also considerations. Regardless, the election won't be a Rethug takeover.

[EFerrari]

52. Nope. Delaying the election cannot disenfranchise the voters

who were privileged to stay in place or to return in time to vote.

Our first priority as progressives is to make sure every eligible voter votes.

Period.

[garthranzz]

61. Privileged? PRIVILEGED?!?!

No one was "privileged" to stay here. Even those who suffered minimal property damage suffered tremendous social and emotional losses. Yes, there are some who stlll take the Shrub route, that nothing's changed or we can gloss over what happened. But the vast majority, of whatever category, know that, while retaining its core, in some radical and critical ways the city must change. Everyone who is here fought, on some level, to be here.

That said, while I agree that as Americans (which takes priority over being a progressive) we must do what we can to ensure every eligible voter has the right and ability to vote (not the same thing as making sure they vote), we also must ensure a fair election - meaning that only those eligible to vote, vote. And if justice delayed is justice denied, then the concept of an election delayed is an election denied remains at least plausible. Not holding elections keeps in power those who may least deserve it. And isn't delaying elections anti-democratic (in both senses of the word)?

I am only suggesting that the issue is not simple, but that a number of complex variables must be considered. For instance: how long should the election be delayed? What percentage of the displaced would have voted before Katrina? What percentage still consider themselves New Orleanians? What of those who are here, and those waiting to return, whose rebuilding plans, or very return, depends on implementation of new laws and initiatives, which cannot or will not be passed given the current political structure?

The NAACP should have the opportunity to make its case, but just because the NAACP is making the case doesn't mean it is the best case for all New Orleanians. It may be, but it is not necessarily so.

[EFerrari]

64. Okay. What would you suggest that all those displace black voters do?

I'm all ears.

:)

/s

[garthranzz]

102. Why just the displaced Black voters?

Let's talk about the displaced voters, because race, sex, religion shouldn't matter. Of course the vast majority of displaced voters are Black, but there are thousands of displaced whites, as well.

Let me answer your question with a question: if you were displaced, and voting was important to you, what would you do? If you were traveling, for business or pleasure, and realized you would not be home in time to vote, what would you do? I would take the initiative and make sure I had an absentee ballot. The voter must assume some responsibility. Consider what the Blacks in Louisiana and Mississippi went through in the '60's to vote. They defied conscious and rascist attempts to prevent them from voting. While there may be some rascists in Louisiana politics :sarcasm: there are legal and constitutional mandates for elections. There is no conscious attempt to prevent citizens from voting in this case, only an attempt to find a workable solution in a bad situation. I don't want the election delayed (hmm, interested play on words there) because that will delay the recovery. (Can we make delay a verb, like bork?) I do want every eligible voter to vote, for all the obvious reasons.

One solution - I don't know if it's still on the table, but it was proposed, was that satellite polling places be set up in the main cities - Atlanta, Houston, and I think Jackson, MS and Memphis. There already will be satellite polling places in major cities in Louisiana - Shreveport, Baton Rouge, etc.

And it may be worthwhile considering a massive ad campaign - though who should pay for it (the bankrupt city? the state? the feds? pubic interest groups like the NAACP? Free media time? some combination thereof?) needs to be dealt with. The campaign might be very simple: if you're a displaced New Orleanian and want to vote in the April 22 election, contact the Sec. of State of LA for absentee or satellite polling information. Then list the information and phone numbers.

Another solution is the old bus-them-in standby. Since there are satellite polls on the edges of Louisiana, organize and bus the voters to the polls. (During the Essence Music Festival in July, and during Mardi Gras and Jazzfest, tens of thousands of people make their way to New Orleans, many for only a day. It can be done en masse.)

Frankly, I think action would be more effective than threatened lawsuits that probably won't work. And I know that the major candidates are aware of the displaced New Orleanians. The major candidates are spending time in Houston and Atlanta, at least. If the candidates knew that forty or fifty thousand voters - two hundred thousand - would be either absentee voting or getting to the state to vote, that would send a powerful message.

And if the NAACP's letter to Blanco and threatened lawsuit made headlines, so would a call for an influx - a caravan - of voters.

[EFerrari]

103. They've refused to set up satellite polling places.

But to back up, you ask why I say "black voters"?

Excuse me but, you still have to ask? Did you ride out Katrina in a soundproof booth?

There will be an influx, a caravan, of voters. No matter what kind of illegal bullshit they try, we will confront it. We will use any legal means to challenge the disenfranchisement of voters, black, white or rainbow colored.

Never again. Lather, rinse and repeat. Progressives will stand with the NAACP because WE NOW KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE TO HAVE YOUR VOTE STOLEN.

We may have been stupidly ignorant before. Never again.

I pity the poor bureaucrat that has to deal with us.

peace,
Beth

[garthranzz]

107. Excuse me, but...

Go to nola.com and look under the Election Guide for the chart about voting dates.

And look at the Apr 13-15 - there are satellite polling places set up around the state of Louisiana. They have not set up satellite polling places out of state.

And I think you missed my point - and sarcasm :sarcasm: - WHEN IT COMES TO VOTING, RACE, CREED, ETC. SHOULD NOT MATTER. IF WE ARE TALKING ABOUT DISPLACED VOTERS, LET'S TALK ABOUT ALL DISPLACED VOTERS. LET'S BE COLOR-BLIND ABOUT THIS! It's not a racial issue, it's a legal issue. WHILE SOME MAY WANT TO LIMIT BLACK PARTICIPATION, MOST OF THE CANDIDATES - YES, THE WHITE CANDIDATES - WANT THE PEOPLE HOME AND WANT THEM ABLE TO VOTE. BUT WE ALSO WANT TO REBUILD THE CITY AND IT CAN'T BE DONE WITHOUT AN ELECTION.

AND - AGAIN - THERE ARE LEGAL ISSUES. I AND THE CANDIDATES I KNOW WOULD WELCOME A CARAVAN AND AN INFLUX OF VOTERS.

Again and again: don't confuse what's happening in New Orleans with what happened during Katrina. Bush let the city drown. Those of us who are here, and those of us who are not yet here, are rebuilding it. And we won't bring back the racial divides of the past. Under any guise.

Don't simplify a complex issue. Here in New Orleans, it's not us versus them, black versus white. Not for most of us, anyway.

[cap]

108. How can you be responsible for voting

if you literally have no resources for transportation? You had scads of extremely poor people plunked thousands of miles from their home. These are the folks being denied the vote. Not middle class people with an almost maxxed out credit card.

No one is addressing the long term for these folks... If they are coming back they have the right to vote. If not, that is one sad day... I dont have the answer to that one.

[Anita Garcia]

111. You understand!

NOTHING like this has ever been allowed to happen.
Except, of course, when African Americans were denied the right to vote.
Many "tools" were used then, poll tax, lies, physical abuse, threats, etc.

Today, displaced voters who want to request an absentee ballot, must fill out a "Displaced Voter Affidavit". To most people in Louisiana (including Louisiana Revised Statute 18:200) an Affidavit requires a signature of the Affiant and Notary Public or 2 signatures of witnesses from the Parish of the Affiant's Parish and that means money or paying for the privilege to vote - sounds like Poll Tax from back in the day.

Today, displaced voters have to navigate the confusing SOS website to find out the "rules" for the privilege to vote - sounds like a 2006 version of the reading tests from back in the day.

[Anita Garcia]

110. You need the facts!

There will be no satellite voting open on election day.

Satellite voting is only available to those who registered to vote before September 25, 2005 - the day Hurricane Rita struck Louisiana.

Anyone who registered to vote by mail after September 25th (and most displaced voters could not return to NOLA to register to vote in person) have to vote IN PERSON during early voting at the New Orleans Registrar of Voter's office or on election day they have to vote IN PERSON at their residential polling place.

Of the 442 polling places in NOLA, 300 were destroyed. Those who have to vote IN PERSON on election day must find out if their polling place still exists. If it does not, they must find out where their new polling place is located. Only six (6) super sites have been set up to replace the 300 polling places.

The Louisiana Legislature denied the requests of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus to provide satellite voting on election day.

The Louisiana Legislature denied the requests of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus to provide satellite voting outside of Louisiana.

The Louisiana Legislature denied the requests of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus to provide satellite voting outside of Louisiana during early voting period and on election day.

The Louisiana Legislature denied the requests of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus to allow voters who registered by mail after September 25, 2005 to vote by absentee.

Basically people forced to live outside of New Orleans for the time being are being denied the right to vote. They must return to New Orleans and vote IN PERSON. That would be similar to forcing Iraqi's here in U.S. to return to Iraq to vote.

Please share these facts with your candidate.
For any questions call 1-866-OUR-VOTE.

[pitohui]

59. right, if election is delayed, NOBODY is getting to vote

it is disturbing that one of the biggest promoters of this on DU is not from the area, not sure if she has even visited this area

i just don't find it particularly progressive to continue on, with no vote, with the same FAKE democratic mayor who endorsed BOBBY JINDAL, i mean, hello? i don't quite see how people can shit on blanco (a real, lifelong democrat) and come out for nagin, a fake who switched parties ONLY to run for mayor of orleans and who has endorsed REPUBLICANS like bobby jindal

sheesh

with friends like this, who needs enemies?

[garthranzz]

Thanks

Somebody's got it.

:hi:

[EFerrari]

63. Thank you, pitohui, for the personal attack. I side with the NAACP

and with their greater wisdom.

Why haven't displaced citizens been provided with satellite polls?

Have an answer for that?

You can smear me from here to Sunday. I can take it. And I can also recognize a rigged election when it is shoved into my face.

Can you?

[Anita Garcia]

66. What is the candidate's position?

Wouldn't any candidate want a resident to be able to vote in the election?
Wouldn't any candidate admit that residents of New Orleans were taken from their residences and placed outside of New Orleans?
And wouldn't any candidate want any residents who are prohibited from returning and who also have an interest in participating in the democratic process to be allowed to vote in the election?
And wouldn't any candidate who truly supported equal protection of the laws to all consider the position of these groups when considering whether or not rights are being denied:
NAACP:<http://www.naacp.org/>
Rainbow/push:<http://www.rainbowpush.org/FMPro?-db=RPOfrontpage06.fp5&-format=rainbowpush/frontpage06/results.htm&-lay=front&constant=1&-find>
NOW:<http://www.commondreams.org/news2006/0314-01.htm>
National Urban League:<http://www.katc.com/Global/story.asp?S=4650755>
NAACP Legal Defense Fund: <http://www.naacpldf.org/landing.aspx?sub=66>

[stepnw1f]

116. I'm with You

this is bullshit!

[BlooInBloo]

50. ROFL!! Yah, like southern white folks would WILLINGLY..

... postpone an election so that black folks can vote.

Get real guys.

[EFerrari]

53. JUST WATCH US DO IT

:hi:

[BlooInBloo]

57. It would be the most welcome mistake I've ever made!

Let me know!

[EFerrari]

58. Come misstep with me. Support the NAACP.

Send Anita's OP everywhere.

We are not going to allow ONE MORE SINGLE INSTANCE OF VOTER SUPPRESION AGAIN.

:toast:

[BlooInBloo]

60. You got it! I'll blog it!

That way there will be approximately 20 more people next week who know about the issue!

{grin}

[EFerrari]

62. That's how we get it done, my friend.

Thank you.

Beth

[madrchsod]

51. people from iraq can vote here

but our own people can`t?

[EFerrari]

54. Exactly! Please check out the NAACP link in the OP.

This is about ALL of us.

This is about our vote.

[Stephanie]

65. The SoS has been very busy - he doesn't have time for all this

http://sos.louisiana.gov/admin/press/press-index.htm

Louisiana Department of State
Public Information Section
P. O. Box 94125
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125

PRESS RELEASES - 2004 through 2005

March 17, 2006
SECRETARY OF STATE TO SPEAK AT LAKE CHARLES LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ANNUAL BANQUET
BATON ROUGE, LA – Secretary of State Al Ater will be the keynote speaker at the Lake Charles League of Women Voters Annual Banquet Thursday, March 23, beginning at 6 p.m. at Reeves Uptown Catering.

March 17, 2006
NEW ORLEANS’ FATS DOMINO TO BE INDUCTED INTO DELTA MUSIC MUSEUM’S HALL OF FAME
BATON ROUGE, LA -- Secretary of State Al Ater announces that New Orleans’ own Fats Domino will be inducted into the Delta Music Museum’s Hall of Fame during this year’s festival on April 1 in downtown Ferriday.

March 17, 2006
SECRETARY OF STATE TO SPEAK AT BOSSIER CITY ROTARY CLUB
BATON ROUGE, LA – Secretary of State Al Ater will be the guest speaker at the Bossier City Rotary Club Thursday, March 23, at noon at Chef Lee Restaurant.

March 13, 2006
SECRETARY OF STATE TO SPEAK AT LOUISIANA CLERKS OF COURT ASSOCIATION CONVENTION
BATON ROUGE, LA – Secretary of State Al Ater will be the keynote speaker at the Louisiana Clerks of Court Association Convention, Friday, March 17, beginning at 9:30 a.m. at Sam’s Town Casino in Shreveport.

March 10, 2006
FATS DOMINO TO BE INDUCTED INTO DELTA MUSIC MUSEUM HALL OF FAME APRIL 1, 2006
BATON ROUGE, LA -- Secretary of State Al Ater announces that New Orleans’ own Fats Domino will be inducted into the Delta Music Museum’s Hall of Fame during this year’s festival on April 1 in downtown Ferriday.

March 3, 2006
SECRETARY OF STATE TO SPEAK AT ROTARY CLUB OF SHREVEPORT
BATON ROUGE, LA – Secretary of State Al Ater will be the guest speaker at the Rotary Club of Shreveport Tuesday, March 7, at noon at the Holiday Inn Downtown.

February 24, 2006
SECRETARY OF STATE TO SPEAK AT DOWNTOWN ROTARY CLUB OF ALEXANDRIA
BATON ROUGE, LA – Secretary of State Al Ater will be the guest speaker at the Downtown Rotary Club of Alexandria Tuesday, Feb. 28 at noon in the Alexandria City Hall.

[Anita Garcia]

69. Yes, he's quite a catch.

I really wish he would just spend some time explaining the convoluted voting process to his employees.

When I called to check and see what the SOS were telling people, I asked if satellite voting machines would be open on election day. I was told, "yes". I said, "Are you sure? Because the site does not say that." She put me on hold and another lady came on and said, "No." I said, "Are you sure?" She put me on hold and then came back and said, "yes".

In fact, there will be NO satellite voting places open on election day. The SOS site does not say that. It just says that there are satellite voting places open during early voting period.

Of course, not all registered voters may vote at satellite voting places. To find out who can vote at satellite voting places, ask someone who knows or navigate the SOS web page or call SOS or call 1-866-OUR-VOTE - NAACP phone bank.

I suggest that you call 1-866-OUR-VOTE.

[EFerrari]

70. Wow. With that social calendar, I couldn't take care of

VOTERS either.

:puke:

[AtLiberty]

68. *BUMP*

[EFerrari]

71. Thank you.

:)

[EFerrari]

72. kick

[KitchenWitch]

74. Kicked and Recommended

I think it is reprehensible what they are doing down there.

[Anita Garcia]

76. Thanks, I do too!

Pretty unique situation, the people who are being screwed are not there to protest. We need to protest for/with them.

[KitchenWitch]

79. Absolutely!

Disenfranchisement is what got us here in the first place.

:grr:

[Keseys Ghost]

75. New Orleans election 'OKed' by Justice Department

New Orleans election 'OKed' by Justice Department
By Cain Burdeau, AP Writer
March 20, 2006


(AP) - Over the bitter objections of some black leaders, the U.S. Justice Department approved a plan Thursday for New Orleans' first elections since Hurricane Katrina.

The department still needs to approve a few polling place changes but otherwise gave its blessing to plans to hold elections for mayor, City Council and other posts on April 22. Department officials also said they will send observers to monitor the balloting.

Black leaders have charged that Louisiana officials have not done enough to ensure that voters scattered by the storm will be able to vote. The state plans to set up satellite polling places around the state for New Orleans residents driven from their homes, but chose not to create such stations outside Louisiana.

"Two-thirds of the eligible population has been disenfranchised," the Rev. Jesse Jackson complained after the Justice Department decision. "This is more onerous than the poll tax laws of 1965...."

http://www.louisianaweekly.com/weekly/news/articlegate.pl?20060320f

[Anita Garcia]

78. Thanks, the Louisiana Weekly is a good source for information

[EFerrari]

80. This is what we're up against.

Peaceful civil disobedience, anyone?

[Anita Garcia]

81. Or, not so peaceful, perhaps?

[EFerrari]

82. Now you're just teasing me.

Yes, no matter what I want to do, I commit to a course of nonviolent civil disobedience.

Until we get justice. Until all the voters in this land get justice.

[Anita Garcia]

83. Yes. It is righteous to be peaceful!

[EFerrari]

84. 101 VOTES, DUers!

DUers, You truly are the best.

[Tyranny of Evil Men]

85. Who's to say those displaced will ever return?

Voting in local and state government elections is all about serving the people that live there. If you were relocated after this storm whose to say that everyone will go back? What if 80% never go back or don't even have the desire to?

I can't imagine the changes in NOLA in the last 7 months but obviously the people there that stayed or came back do know what changes are going on. The issues that they face were not the same issues faced 7 months ago. If refugees in Atlanta or Houston aren't going to return or aren't living there how aware can they be of what the real issues are locally? Their votes may actually be more damaging than helpful.

I'm in no position to know the rightness or wrongness of my guesstimate but decisions on how to run local government need to be made by local residents.

[EFerrari]

86. Welcome to DU, Tyranny of Evil Men

:hi:

[Keseys Ghost]

87. The government has been an obsticle to return

FEMA trailers in Hope, AK?

The Bush Administration has erected roadblocks to New Orleans' recovery.

Local elections?

Do you think they'll have it fair and just by November?

This is a national problem; nota local one.

The Democratic base in the South has been disenfranchised.

ONWARD!

[Tyranny of Evil Men]

88. I'm Not Saying There Weren't Federal Problems

However the people living there know what the issues are.

Think about this for a minute.

If you were left in the Superdome, Convention Center or on a highway overpass would you ever feel the need or desire to return to a city or state that put you in that position? I wouldn't. I'd leave and never look back. There would be no place in my life for sentiment for that kind of expectation.

I wouldn't feel that it were up to me to rebuild. Then again I think you have to be insane to live in a city below sea level near the ocean or gulf coast to begin with.

The people that stayed or that returned know what needs to be done with local government. They know what is and isn't working. They know what leaders have or haven't been doing well. They know who deserves to be re-elected and who needs to be thrown out.

Rebuilding in NOLA and Lousiana has to reflect that reality. Maybe Blanco and Nagin lose primary challenges. It's up to the people to decide that. I lived in New York, Pennsylvania, Viriginia and Arkansas. Even though I may be registered in one or more states (Who knows how often they purge voter roles.) I can only vote where I live, how do I know what the local or state issues are where I used to live?

[Keseys Ghost]

89. Then, why have absentee voting for students, the military, anyone?

They leave home voluntarily. And yet, they can vote in their home town while they're away. Who's to say they will ever return?

I think you underestimate the love New Orleanians have for their home. I also think that if you are going to make assumptions without facts, facts no one has right now, you should err on the side of the individual's voting rights.

An Iraqi in Detroit can vote in a Bahgdad election, but a US citizen driven from his home cannot vote in a New Orleans election?

So, you think that if I am driven out of my home and cannot return, I lose my constitutional rights, fair statement?

If so, I disagree.

[Keseys Ghost]

90. Also...

The people who can't return know what the issues are: foremost, the main issue is that they've been unable to return.

Lose the vote; lose the right of return.

Welcome to the Big Republican Easy!

[EFerrari]

98. We ALL saw this coming.

We ALL did.

It's like the punchline to a bad joke, you can hear it across the room.

You all keep us posted because this one, we won't let go of. This one is the one we fight for.

Peace to you, Keseys Ghost.

[Tyranny of Evil Men]

93. The Military Example Is a Bad One

If a soldier, airman or soldier has an absentee ballot there are pretty good chance they'll have family or dependents in the district where they live. They may not live there during a 6-12 month deployment but their family does.

If you're driven out of your home and relocated to Houston or Atlanta and have been residing there for 7 months you can vote where you are. Your constitutional rights haven't been lost. You can still vote.

If voting is such a strong driving force they can vote absentee. There's no need to delay an election just because an appropriate % according to one group or another hasn't applied for absentee ballots.

[Keseys Ghost]

94. "You poor people! Go where you're told! Vote where you're told!"

That's the bottom line here.

God bless america.

[EFerrari]

95. Good idea. You want to track down these voters

to give them absentee ballots?

No one else seems to want to. :eyes:

[EFerrari]

104. Last federal election, there were terrible problems

getting our deployed troops' votes counted.

Absentee ballots require an ADDRESS, which these people have been deprived of, having been driven from one hostile shelter to the next.

Give it up. If you're not with us, you're with the terrorists. Or, you might as well be, arguing against the voting rights of American citizens.

:)

[Anita Garcia]

112. Why are you bringing "family values" into this?

This is about YOUR individual civil right to vote.
There should be no test about whether or not someone else believes or does not believe that you have an intent to return or believes on does not believe that you really, really think you live in NOLA.

It is simple:
Let the people vote.
Don't make it hard for them to vote.
Make it easy for them to vote.

What is the downside to postponing the election?
The ONLY downside is political.
And this is NOT about politics.
Any candidate arguing that it is, should check their ego at the door to the Office of Registrar of Voters.
This is about securing the rights of ALL citizens to vote.

I am surprised that more outrage is not being heard from the 40% of NOLA citizens who have returned or who are living near enough NOLA to get to the polls.
Have they figured out that there will be NO satellite voting on election day?
Have the figured out yet where they will be voting if their polling place was one of the 300 destroyed?
If so, I presume a candidate explained it to them.
But then again, a lot of candidates' explanations to the voters have been incorrect. Hmmmm.
Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE to make sure your candidate's info sheet is correct!

[Anita Garcia]

91. Nope, I disagree

The voters who are displaced want to go back. Right now they can not. Hundreds of thousands of voters are displaced. Only 40% has returned.

It's as if half of the city took a long vacation at the same time. People on vacation get to vote in their city's election. Iraqis get to vote. You can vote in your town's election if you are going to be out of town during the election. These displaced voters are not getting to vote.

The situation in New Orleans in unique.
Nothing of this magnitude has ever happened in our country.
We need to address this and not sweep it under the rug.
This is not about politics or who will be elected.
This is about our right to vote.

[cap]

109. the displaced voters are deprived the right to make

decisions that will enable them to return ... that's what this is about.
People are just plunked down.

[Anita Garcia]

113. Right!

First they were plunked down and now their vote is being plucked away!

[Rainscents]

96. K & R!

[Imagevision]

99. 2000+ people from New Orleans are still unaccounted for as dead bodies

last week were found.

[EFerrari]

100. We don't let this slide. We don't let this disrespect of the dead

or for the survivors pass.

We stand tall with New Orleans and with the Gulf Coast.

:kick:

[AndyA]

117. And somehow, they'll all vote Republican in the next election!

Yep, dead people. Who could have predicted there'd be voter fraud?!?!?!? :eyes:

[EFerrari]

119. I seem to remember all kinds of "power outages" in

in NOLA, 2004. That's my memory, anyway.

[EFerrari]

105. Good night kick. Thank you, DUers.

:kick:

[Keseys Ghost]

115. Rebuild, but at your own risk, Nagin says

Monday, March 20, 2006

...In those so-called "delayed recovery areas," Nagin said, his administration will continue issuing building permits to all comers. But City Hall's pledge of cooperation comes with a strongly worded warning to people to rebuild there at their own risk, at least for the time being....

http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?/base/news-5/1142837778165910.xml

[EFerrari]

118. What do you make of that, Keseys Ghost? n/t

[ClintonTyree]

120. I hope they can delay this election for a while.........

even in the best of circumstances it doesn't stand much of a chance to represent the great cross-section of New Orleans' citizens. The rich, white folk's plan of the gentrification of New Orleans is well under way and I fear there is little that can be done to stop it. I truly hope I'm wrong. Every resource they can bring to bear should be used to ensure this election is above board and represents ALL of New Orleans' citizens, not just the rich.

[lies and propaganda]

121. YES! Blanco youve got another shot!

Stand up loudly for the Louisianans that voted for a female, Dem over shitty a shitty Bush pick. Stop letting them fuck La over.

[EFerrari]

122. Kick. 129 votes from DUers

:loveya

:kick

[faithnotgreed]

123. this needs to stay kicked

[EFerrari]

124. Yes.

:kick: