Ashcroft Seeking Control of Voting Rights

[G_j]

Ashcroft Seeking Control of Voting Rights

http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/103004U.shtml

Bush Seeks Limit to Suits Over Voting Rights

By David G. Savage and Richard B. Schmitt
The Los Angeles Times

Administration lawyers argue that only the Justice Department, not the voters, may sue to enforce provisions in the Help America Vote Act.
Washington - Bush administration lawyers argued in three closely contested states last week that only the Justice Department, and not voters themselves, may sue to enforce the voting rights set out in the Help America Vote Act, which was passed in the aftermath of the disputed 2000 election.

Veteran voting-rights lawyers expressed surprise at the government's action, saying that closing the courthouse door to aspiring voters would reverse decades of precedent.

Since the civil rights era of the 1960s, individuals have gone to federal court to enforce their right to vote, often with the support of groups such as the NAACP, the AFL-CIO, the League of Women Voters or the state parties. And until now, the Justice Department and the Supreme Court had taken the view that individual voters could sue to enforce federal election law.

But in legal briefs filed in connection with cases in Ohio, Michigan and Florida, the administration's lawyers argue that the new law gives Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft the exclusive power to bring lawsuits to enforce its provisions. These include a requirement that states provide "uniform and nondiscriminatory" voting systems, and give provisional ballots to those who say they have registered but whose names do not appear on the rolls.
..more..

[LTR]

1. Can we just get rid of these people already?

Can't wait until Kerry takes control.

[BootinUp]

2. Breaking: Ashcroft sent packing

Nov. 3, 2004.

[randome]

5. Sorry.

Won't happen until Jan 20th or whenever it is that Kerry takes office. That's plenty of time for the Pukes to do more damage.

[G_j]

6. at least as far as this issue goes

by Jan 20th the damage could be have already been done.

[G_j]

14. LOL

well you know what I mean anyway.. :-)

[BootinUp]

7. Well, if you want to be picky

Of course he will still be in office until then, but I differ as to how much damage he can do during the lame duck period.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

3. I heartily suggest...

That all and sundry make sure they share this story far and wide.

[kayell]

4. Fox seeks control of protecting henhouse.

[salin]

8. Why does Ashcroft hate Democracy?

Why does he hate us for our freedoms?

[lil-petunia]

9. because he is a frigging neochristian terrorist.

Our freedoms are an affront to his sense of control and power.

[salin]

10. he should be given his proper title: Chief Prosecutor

for the talibornigan. Ever get the feeling he is just drooling in anticipation of unfurling his version of the dept of vice and virtue?

[Rjnerd]

27. Don't you mean "chief persecutor"

A prosecutor is supposed to have cause, evidence, etc. Persecutors just need a pulpit.

[gjb]

22. Because he's the first of many Dominionist Taliban Mullahs....

Goto:

Yurica Report

Infiltrating the U.S. Military
Gen. Boykin’s “Kingdom Warriors” On the Road to Abu Ghraib and Beyond

By Katherine Yurica

October 12, 2004

Take a valium first. It's not a pretty picture.

[lil-petunia]

23. makes you want to wash your hands, your monitor, etc.

crazy

[MADem]

26. There ought to be LIMITS to freedom, dammit!

Didn't you get the word? weewee put it out YEARS ago!

[BevHarris]

11. Voter-unfriendly territory

amazing, isn't it?

But remember, HAVA only came into being in late 2002. As far as I know, all remedies available before HAVA are still available.

Of course, we also have judges who throw voting cases out like yesterday's trash, so the problem is even larger than Ashcroft's dictatorial reign.

[ahem]

13. Agreed...

the problem goes way beyond Ashcroft. It's hard to believe in this day and age that we have to fight so hard for voter's rights in America!

[OutsourceBush]

12. nazi bastard, how will we ever get rid of these criminals

[Deja Q]

15. * lawyers? Well, we know where that's headed.

Fucking usurpers of the greatest document ever written.

The people have a right to vote and damn well should have a right to enact litigation. Not just a partisan judicial system, especially when we saw how they voted against the truth last time.

[Cat Atomic]

16. These are the guys who want to "spread democracy" around the world?

I'm amazed that anyone buys that shit. They've shown nothing but contempt for democracy.

[G_j]

17. quite a role model

the US has become. Amnesty Int. just pointed out how the "War on Terror" is eroding human rights around the globe.
:-(

[Mandate My Ass]

18. Scariest.Article.Ever

Tuesday has taken on even more urgency, if that's even possible.

[G_j]

21. but we're supposed

to feel safer.

[porphyrian]

19. This guy is scared of calico cats...

What the fuck are we doing with him as Attorney General?

[high density]

20. Why are we trying to force "democracy" on the Middle East...

...when it's eroding so quickly in our own country?

[peace4all]

24. speaking of Halloween

how did we get all these monsters in charge?

[StupidFOX]

25. He's just covering up that ugly boob of democracy

;)