Voter ID Live Blogging From Austin
I'm in a room full of follks dressed in red, surrounded by them, actually! They are all here, from all over Texas. I met one lady from the Rio Grande valley who is hispanic, and belongs to O.W.L.S. or "Objective Watchers of the Legal System. Because she is pro voter ID, she has been high demand to speak to the legions of reporters covering this "explosive" issue. I''ve never understood why it is considered so explosive? Doesn't everyone want to have (according to a flyer I've just been handed) "One (1) Eligible & Identifiable voter = One (1) LEGIMTIMATE vote"? If not, why not?
One excuse they use is "disenfranchising voters without ID's; i.e. black voters, elderly", etc. Do you know of any black friends who don't have a driver's license? Neither do I. For pete's sake, how do they get on an airplane?
Something tells me this will be like the interminable Senate hearing on this bill. Lots of folks standing around and chatting, no one calling it to order. Like last time I was in Austin, I found a parking place where I could back up where folks (mostly liberals herunue in Austin) can read my bumper stickers.. One says, "If guns kill people, do pencils misspell words?", another says, "Don't blame me, I voted for Palin", and my own "Dagney's Rant" (with http) Why Liberals are bad for America". I also have a big "W" with "thanks" under it. I like my Tahoe in its current condition.
The room is filling up. Many are here to testify to their experiences in theiir home county. The lady I met earlier told me, and the reporter who interrupted us to interview her, that the sheriff in her home county brought folks up from Mexico, gave them fake ID's and told them who to vote for! Why else would they be complaining about voter ID, if it isn't to cheat!?!
I've been told the House just broke for lunch, so unless they stay and jaw-jack in the cafeteria, we shouldn't be too far from starting the committee meeting, and hearing the hearings. If they 90% red-wearing occupants. Just spotted a couple of "old hippies" with "Vote NO to Voter Suppression" signs. Voter suppression? Where? Illegals? That was actually an argument used by a "bag lady" appearing woman at the Senate hearings. She believed illegals should have the right to vote in OUR COUNTRY! My guess, she's never had a family member in the military!
15 minutes from the start of the hearing.....I've never seen so many huge cameras! Should be interesting what gets highlighted on local media. Just saw a couple of ACLU lawyers. It could get very interesting!
I've got a couple of cameras over my shoulder. Wonder if DagneyT's head will be on TV tonight?
Just announced; short of a quorum and awaiting more members. sigh
Finally underway!
Randal Buck Wood; anti bill; Lawyer (go figure); 1) bill does require ID, needs to do more (WHAT?) Never found ANY non-citizen...heard of ONE. Therefore it's not necessary, seems to be the gist....must be citizens...provisional are not being counted, and should be verified. RVers are his big issue of folks who don't live here, but travel yet still vote by mail. He calls them "escapees". They vote by mail. He said signs saying "voter fraud will be prosecuted" scarespeople illegal voters off! Well DUH. He actually called them "voters". One of the committee clarified what is actually in the bill. Every red clad person 80% of the room, applauded. Cameras panned. So much for the 3 minute rule, thanks to questions from committee members.
Sitting next to Skipper Wallace, an author of the bill.....tell you more later. He was talking to an anti lawyer earlier, who complained about the room "full of red". You can guess who is also in red? Skipper tells me they'll take a pro-voter ID person next. This is going to on until the late night...but not with me here!
One excuse they use is "disenfranchising voters without ID's; i.e. black voters, elderly", etc. Do you know of any black friends who don't have a driver's license? Neither do I. For pete's sake, how do they get on an airplane?
Something tells me this will be like the interminable Senate hearing on this bill. Lots of folks standing around and chatting, no one calling it to order. Like last time I was in Austin, I found a parking place where I could back up where folks (mostly liberals herunue in Austin) can read my bumper stickers.. One says, "If guns kill people, do pencils misspell words?", another says, "Don't blame me, I voted for Palin", and my own "Dagney's Rant" (with http) Why Liberals are bad for America". I also have a big "W" with "thanks" under it. I like my Tahoe in its current condition.
The room is filling up. Many are here to testify to their experiences in theiir home county. The lady I met earlier told me, and the reporter who interrupted us to interview her, that the sheriff in her home county brought folks up from Mexico, gave them fake ID's and told them who to vote for! Why else would they be complaining about voter ID, if it isn't to cheat!?!
I've been told the House just broke for lunch, so unless they stay and jaw-jack in the cafeteria, we shouldn't be too far from starting the committee meeting, and hearing the hearings. If they 90% red-wearing occupants. Just spotted a couple of "old hippies" with "Vote NO to Voter Suppression" signs. Voter suppression? Where? Illegals? That was actually an argument used by a "bag lady" appearing woman at the Senate hearings. She believed illegals should have the right to vote in OUR COUNTRY! My guess, she's never had a family member in the military!
15 minutes from the start of the hearing.....I've never seen so many huge cameras! Should be interesting what gets highlighted on local media. Just saw a couple of ACLU lawyers. It could get very interesting!
I've got a couple of cameras over my shoulder. Wonder if DagneyT's head will be on TV tonight?
Just announced; short of a quorum and awaiting more members. sigh
Finally underway!
Randal Buck Wood; anti bill; Lawyer (go figure); 1) bill does require ID, needs to do more (WHAT?) Never found ANY non-citizen...heard of ONE. Therefore it's not necessary, seems to be the gist....must be citizens...provisional are not being counted, and should be verified. RVers are his big issue of folks who don't live here, but travel yet still vote by mail. He calls them "escapees". They vote by mail. He said signs saying "voter fraud will be prosecuted" scares
Sitting next to Skipper Wallace, an author of the bill.....tell you more later. He was talking to an anti lawyer earlier, who complained about the room "full of red". You can guess who is also in red? Skipper tells me they'll take a pro-voter ID person next. This is going to on until the late night...but not with me here!
Why else would they be complaining about voter ID, if it isn't to cheat!?!
Everybody knows it, but no one wants to think. It's all about: Let me look at the party songbook so I can repeat the proper chorus.
Reply to this