It is a shame that a court allowed Robin Carnahan to effectively put the kibosh to democracy in Missouri. I am glad that at least Bill McClellan spoke out against Carnahan’s abuse of her office.

Why is it that such a fit is being raised about Rev Wright and nobody
is asking questions about McCain’s relationship with [until his death]
Jerry Falwell who claimed that 9/11 was entirely due to the sins of
America and Rev. Hargee who claimed that the people of N Orelans
deserved Katrina because there was going to be a “gay parade”
a day or two later.
And why not ask about his close relationship w G. Gordon Liddy,
a criminal from the Nixon scandal days.
F Atkins

Looks like more on the Koster campaign’s willingness to do anything to win - now, evidence of sloppiness with the laundering of funds through campaign committees: Campaign committee donates $26,900 in laundered money to Koster, files limited activity statement with Ethics Commission.

Bridge the Voting Divide:
A Letter today explains how easy trivial it would be to satisfy the voter id problem
by getting a birth certificate.
The writer obviously is not familiar with the Indiana law, which requires that
the id have an EXPIRATION DATE which is after the date of the election.
I don’t think birth certificates have your expiration date.
He says that the
birth certificate costs only $15. But this is the equivalent of a poll tax,
which the US Supreme Court declared illegal several decades ago.

An “elite” writer on this subject a few days ago said that the problem was
trivial since everyone had to use a photo id to “get on an airplane, rent a
video, etc.” I’m thinking of my 90 year old mother who died a few years
ago. A “farm girl” born in the 19th century, she never learned to drive (so did not have a driver’s
license), never flew in an airplane … she got a long quite well without a
photo id. Young folks today are so “elite” that they are unable to understand
that the poor and the elderly live different lives than they.

F. If you want to to discuss Falwell, fine, lets have that discussion. But dont compare racists to Revererand’s.

On other Obamessiah news, how nice of him to tell us that America is tired of hearing about Wright. We got tired of him in about 6 weeks (including vacation time), but it took Obamessiah 20 freakin years to get tired of him? Or was it simply more political expedient to throw him under the bus with granny now?

#3 D,
In addition to your arguments, many older people don’t have birth certificates. It just wasn’t deemed that important at that time.
In an article in the Post, it said that 1% of Indianna’s population does not currently meet the SCOTUS approved Voter ID requirements. Many recent elections have been decided by that small of a margin. So, it is important.

Why would that legislature compare it to renting a video–a completely commercial enterprise who has a main concern of getting ther merchandise returned. That same video rental and airline ticket require a credit card, too. Something I am thinking the poorest do not have.

The state of Missouri had already identified every registered voter who did not possess either a driver license or state identification card. These people could have a free identification card. The statute made it easy as can be but some people want to continually complain because if a photo ID were required they could no longer go into a poling place and vote for those who they know never vote by impersonating them.

There is no logical reason not to identify yourself before casting a vote(and a utility bill does not tell me who you are). If not, let’s use purple ink on the finger to assure one person one vote.

D. Ferrel…

The 1966 Supreme Court Decision declaring poll taxes to be unconstitutional dealt with a tax of which the intent was to bring money into the state government. It presented a burden with no benefit to the election process.

The recent Court decision looked at the burden and found that it was outweighed by benefit. The Court declared that the state had a vested interest in ensuring that the person casting a vote was indeed that person.

It wasn’t until the 1980s that many states started putting photos on the driver’s licenses.

Times they are a changin’!

It’s hard to prove it when someone impersonates another at the voting booth. Some states have caught people doing it, so it does occur.

I agree with the Court; the benefit outweighs the burden. As far as the previous Court decision; always remember -Document outweighs doctrine.

#6,
The state identified every registered voter who didn’t a valid ID? When did they do that? Not when the legislature passed the law 2 years ago, because I had neither but was a legally registered voter. When I went into the recently privatized DOR offices to obtain my free ID they refused to give it to me because I wasn’t over 65. So in fact ‘these people’ you refer to might have tried and been refused.
Now I recognize that the employee at the Deer Creek DOR office was wrong. But she is paid $8 a hour with no benefits. Do I expect her to care to protect my right to vote. No I don’t. But I do expect my Government to care, and issues like this suggest to me they don’t.
Perhaps it would be easier to address the ‘voter fraud’ problem we have if those who complain about it could ever site a proven instance of it actually happening. Until then we are just guessing and people will be left out.

“But I do expect my Government to care, and issues like this suggest to me they don’t.”

Richard (post #8) THAT might be the funniest line written here in quite a long time.

No, “they” don’t. Ever. not about you, not about me, not about anyone else.

Want a friend? Buy a dog.

As soon as the dems take back state government, we can stop fretting over voter ID. Remember, in Missouri it would still have to be proposed, be passed, be signed and be subject to legal challenge (based on our state constitution and our own facts on the gound in this state) before its execution at the polls would ever see daylight.

#1, we were eyewitnesses to democracy in 2006 when Amendment 2 passed. So you don’t get to use the tiny embryos to distort the electoral process this year. There is still the affirmative action ban that might get enough dolts to sign petitions to get it on the ballot, and you can still fondly reminisce about the DOMA (homophobe amendment) in 2004.

> As soon as the dems take back state government, we can stop fretting over voter ID.

Because Democrats want EVERYONE to vote … illegal immigrants, felons, dead people, cats and dogs …

Do cats vote Democratic? I better make sure mine turn out in November. Thanks for the insight Nick!

From the Des Moines Register….

McCain plan to reform health care: It’s scary

The proposal should scare the heck out of the millions of Americans who rely on employer-based coverage. Iowans who have tried to buy affordable coverage on their own know they need more than a tax credit and good health. Sometimes they need a winning lottery ticket.

Buying individual policies means having your health history reviewed. It means not having the bargaining power and protections that come with being part of a plan offered by an employer. And it’s expensive.

EAGLETON, STEPHEN A. 06PS-PR02972 Co-Guardian ELAINE EAGLETON, INCAPACITATED AND DISABLED PR Guardian/Conserv - Adult 11/01/2006
ST LOUIS, MO Circuit 21 St. Louis County Probate St Louis County
EAGLETON, STEVE 21S98-02262 Defendant JOHN KEEN V STEVE EAGLETON AC Small Claims over $100 10/16/1998
ATLANTA, GA Circuit 21 St. Louis County St Louis County

EAGLETON, STEVEN A 21C90-21382 Defendant
THOMAS H BALLMAN V STEVEN A EAGLETON AC Pers Injury-Other 10/15/1990
Circuit 21 St. Louis County St Louis County
EAGLETON, STEVEN A 21601700 Defendant
THOMAS H BALLMAN V STEVEN A EAGLETON CC Pers Injury-Other 10/19/1989
CLAYTON, MO Circuit 21 St. Louis County St Louis County

EAGLETON, STEVEN 21C91-24440 Defendant
GRANAT & WOLFF V STEVEN EAGLETON AC Suit on Account 10/30/1991
Circuit 21 St. Louis County St Louis County
EAGLETON, THOMAS F SC87662 Respondent MISSOURIANS AGAINST HUMAN,APP V ROBIN CARNAHAN,RES AP Tran to SC- Post Opinion 05/09/2006
ST. LOUIS, MO Supreme Court of Missouri Supreme Court of Missouri Supreme Court

EAGLETON, THOMAS F WD66495 Respondent MO AGST HUMAN CLONING, APEL V R CARNAHAN, RES AP Civil Appeal Circuit 01/27/2005
ST. LOUIS Western District Ct of Appeal Western District Ct of Appeals Western Appellate
EAGLETON, THOMAS F WD66496 Respondent ARCHBISHOP BURKE, APEL V R CARNAHAN, RES AP Civil Appeal Circuit 01/27/2006
ST. LOUIS Western District Ct of Appeal Western District Ct of Appeals Western Appellate

Should St. Louis pass a workplace sound law to protect orchestra workers?

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/entertainment/stories.nsf/music/story/2A539D7DE98323148625743E001F840F?OpenDocument

#14 Nick,
What exactly is your point?
I’m not trying to be sarcastic, but you just quote some random court cases. Not every reader of this blog has access to court records. You might want to state your point.
I assume it has something to do with Tom Eagleton?

I am surprised that the ABCTE ultra-alternative certification process signed by Blunt last week did not get more attention for how bad of an idea this is for the entire state. I applaud those who want to be teachers, but I believe it takes more than 2 weeks of classroom observation and passing a computerized test to be considered “duly qualified”.

We have all heard of diploma mills, that will give you a bachelor’s degree with proper payment and pseudo-exams (read: without much study or work). The ABCTE program is really just a certification mill. What measures are in place to make sure the required bachelor’s degree is from a legitimate, regionally acredited university progam and not just the result of writing a check to the right people? After all, if it requires a bachelor’s degree and one get’s a bachelor’s degree from a “diploma mill”, we could see someone go from diploma mill to certification mill to the front of your child’s classroom.

Yes, there is teachers shortage. The solution to that shortage isn’t unqualified teachers any moe than the answer to world hunger is promoting anorexia.

Suzy, please tell us how bad of an idea it is to have professionals with real-world experience become teachers?

If this is a “certification mill” as you put it, won’t the administrators screening people for potential employment take that into consideration? There are several circuit breakers throughout the hiring process that are there to prevent people from going from mill to the front of your child’s classroom. But I digress, continue to beat your drum against the Blunt administration.

I believe real world experience is both valuable and helpful in the classroom. But, if these people are truly committed to becoming teachers, why aren’t they also committed to put in the time to learn proper classroom management procedures, assessment strategies, and how to address various learning styles? Why are they not willing to commit to a program that requires more than 2 weeks of classroom time?

Without this training, these are just short-term fixes as these unprepared folks will be the first one to suffer from burn-out. And, we are back in the same boat in a few years with a merry-go-round of these unqualified people.

The circuit breakers you speak of are unrealistic. In an ideal world, all schools would only hire the most qualified. However, some schools are made to choose between starting the school year with a substitute or starting with a person who is now deemed “duly qualified” under NCLB standards. Most will choose to try to abide by the NCLB rules because of the pressure to conform to those requirements.

Despite what you think, this isn’t drum beating against Blunt. Instead it is a defense of the teaching profession and our public schools.

Uh, yes it is Suzy, you just let your fingers do the walking on the keyboard.

You know what repulses me about this political administration? They reward failure, over and over and over. The latest example is the guy who got a state employee of the year award last Friday for not saving a woman trapped in a burning vehicle. My teenage son said he would be shamefully embarrassed if someone tried to reward him for failing to pull someone out of a burning vehicle. Thankfully, this will be the LAST employee of the year trainwreck for this administration. I pray for that poor girl who did not survive. To have a potential good samaritan stand up on a stage and accept an award from Governor Blunt for failing to save someone from burning to death is beyond comprehension and beyond disbelief.

Didn’t hear it Priscilla- give us the specifics please. Thanks.

Tim - The state had an employee appreciation day on Friday, May 2nd. One of the award recipients for employee of the year went to a Corrections worker for trying to save a woman trapped in a burning car. In the end, the girl died. Why would the state give this guy an award, when the story didn’t have a happy ending? I, like 95% of the rest of Missourians, simply don’t get these people. And I’m not sure it’s a republican/democrat thing anymore. Granted the good samaritan deserved a pat on the back for trying to help, but he didn’t deserve an employee of the year award. It is disrespectful to exploit this situation by placing it in an awards ceremony in the first place, and not only that, it is too sad of a story to celebrate. It made me cry, because I have a young daughter who could have been that girl.