As Moveon.org noted in an email to its members, "This is devastating: The Supreme Court, following the most circular logic you've ever read, has struck down an essential part of the Voting Rights Act. Some advocates are saying the Voting Rights Act has been gutted entirely. (2.)
"In short, the Voting Rights Act allows the federal government to stop discriminatory voting laws from being enacted by the states. And it's been working. Just last year, new laws were struck down in Texas, South Carolina and Florida—arguably three of the most important states for upcoming elections. (3.) Two of those defeated laws were deemed flat-out racist. (4.)
"Today's ruling clears the way for states with conservative legislatures to implement whatever voting laws they want. And it gives power to Congress to determine what, if any, states should now be covered by the VRA.
"This was right-wing judicial activism at its worst...
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"The Supreme Court is opening the floodgates to a wave of conservative organizing to pass discriminatory laws state by state.lland voter suppression is one of them.
"...here's a preview of what we'll do:
"In short, the Voting Rights Act allows the federal government to stop discriminatory voting laws from being enacted by the states. And it's been working. Just last year, new laws were struck down in Texas, South Carolina and Florida—arguably three of the most important states for upcoming elections. (3.) Two of those defeated laws were deemed flat-out racist. (4.)
"Today's ruling clears the way for states with conservative legislatures to implement whatever voting laws they want. And it gives power to Congress to determine what, if any, states should now be covered by the VRA.
"This was right-wing judicial activism at its worst...
"The Supreme Court is opening the floodgates to a wave of conservative organizing to pass discriminatory laws state by state.lland voter suppression is one of them.
"Push Congress to pass a fix. The Voting Rights Act was renewed with overwhelming majorities as recently as 2006. And the Supreme Court explicitly left the door open to Congress taking action to put the heart back in the Act. And Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid just promised to take action.5
"Push for a constitutional amendment: Our friends at ColorOfChange are leading the charge for a constitutional amendment to enshrine the right to vote in the Constitution. If we have the resources, we'll make sure that MoveOn members around the country are plugged in as the amendment fight builds steam.
"Proactive state-level legislation: We should be expanding the right to vote—not restricting it. States like Minnesota and Colorado are among those leading the nation on voting rights' expansion, with initiatives like online voter registration, same-day voter registration, and other initiatives."
1. "Supreme Court Strikes Down Key Part of Voting Rights Act," The New York Times,July 25, 2013
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=291071&id=70112-10041638-kA9zqpx&t=5
2. "Supreme Court Guts Voting Rights Act," Colorlines, June 25, 2013
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=291078&id=70112-10041638-kA9zqpx&t=6
3. "South Carolina voter ID law struck down," CBS News, December, 23, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=291073&id=70112-10041638-kA9zqpx&t=7
4. "Justice Department bars Texas voter ID law," The Washington Post, March 12, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=291072&id=70112-10041638-kA9zqpx&t=8
5. "Harry Reid: Senate 'will act' on Voting Rights Act," Politico, June 25, 2013
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=291086&id=70112-10041638-kA9zqpx&t=9
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=291071&id=70112-10041638-kA9zqpx&t=5
2. "Supreme Court Guts Voting Rights Act," Colorlines, June 25, 2013
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=291078&id=70112-10041638-kA9zqpx&t=6
3. "South Carolina voter ID law struck down," CBS News, December, 23, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=291073&id=70112-10041638-kA9zqpx&t=7
4. "Justice Department bars Texas voter ID law," The Washington Post, March 12, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=291072&id=70112-10041638-kA9zqpx&t=8
5. "Harry Reid: Senate 'will act' on Voting Rights Act," Politico, June 25, 2013
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=291086&id=70112-10041638-kA9zqpx&t=9
For whatever reason, Conservatives know the changing racial demographics in America pose a danger to their front group - the GOP - equivalent to man-made climate change and uncontrolled overpopulation on the rest of the world.
Notwithstanding the new-found power of the former inmates in the GOP asylum, the "Tea Partiers" in the Republican Party, the GOP-appointed shysters on the Supreme Court have gone a step further to prolong - or squelch - the death of the GOP at the polls.
The difference between the Conservative power structure of the past and today has been one of candor, "candor" representing avowal of every idea that Americans should hate as opposed to lying about their ideals - something conservatives hadn't done since john Adams losing his reelection run against Jefferson...until the rhetorical Truth Train of the Romney campaign fizzled when the 47 percent did as Romney predicted.
He was wrong in one important respect: he should have lied like Conservative winners had always lied. Some campaign consultant will finally remember his Machiavelli and advise the GOP to get back to basics and lie -- non-white voters tend to be skeptical of candidates in a participatory democracy who believe the upper classes must rule.
In a departure from our usual format, we are listing the stories and opeds that appeared over the 'net soon after the decision was announced, letting you see the complete scenario:
The difference between the Conservative power structure of the past and today has been one of candor, "candor" representing avowal of every idea that Americans should hate as opposed to lying about their ideals - something conservatives hadn't done since john Adams losing his reelection run against Jefferson...until the rhetorical Truth Train of the Romney campaign fizzled when the 47 percent did as Romney predicted.
He was wrong in one important respect: he should have lied like Conservative winners had always lied. Some campaign consultant will finally remember his Machiavelli and advise the GOP to get back to basics and lie -- non-white voters tend to be skeptical of candidates in a participatory democracy who believe the upper classes must rule.
In a departure from our usual format, we are listing the stories and opeds that appeared over the 'net soon after the decision was announced, letting you see the complete scenario:
"Supreme Court guts key part of landmark Voting Rights Act," http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/25/us-usa-court-voting-idUSBRE95O0TU20130625
"Supreme Court Shreds Key Provision of the Voting Rights Act," http://www.nationaljournal.com/domesticpolicy/supreme-court-shreds-key-provision-of-the-voting-rights-act-20130625
"Three Ways The Supreme Court Gutted Voting Rights Today," http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/06/25/2209911/three-ways-the-supreme-court-gutted-voting-rights-today/
"Justices Alito and Kennedy Mansplain Away Your Rights," http://rhrealitycheck.org/article/2013/06/25/justices-alito-and-kennedy-mansplain-away-your-rights/
"Why voting rights are under assault," http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/06/25/1218798/-Why-voting-rights-are-under-assault
"Justice Alito mocks female justices on the bench, Alito rolled his eyes and shook his head at Justice Ginsburg on Monday -- it wasn't the first time he's acted out," http://www.salon.com/2013/06/25/justice_alito_mocks_female_justices_while_on_the_bench/
"Bernie Sanders Blasts The Supreme Court For Taking Us Back to Jim Crow Era Voting," http://www.politicususa.com/2013/06/25/bernie-sanders-blasts-supreme-court-jim-crow-era-voting.html
"Two Hours After The Supreme Court Gutted The Voting Rights Act, Texas AG Suppresses Minority Voters," http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/06/25/2212281/two-hours-after-the-supreme-court-gutted-the-voting-rights-act-texas-ag-suppresses-minority-voters/
"Ku Klux Kourt Kills King's Dream Law, Replaces Voting Rights Act With Katherine Harris Acts," http://truth-out.org/news/item/17204-ku-klux-kourt-kills-kings-dream-law-replaces-voting-rights-act-with-katherine-harris-acts
"An Assault on the Voting Rights Act," http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/26/opinion/an-assault-on-the-voting-rights-act.html?hp&_r=0
"What the Supreme Court Doesn’t Understand About the Voting Rights Act," http://www.thenation.com/blog/174973/what-supreme-court-doesnt-understand-about-voting-rights-act#
"Justice Ginsburg Slams Supreme Court’s ‘Hubris’ In Fiery Dissent On Voting Rights Act," http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/06/ruth-bader-ginsburg-voting-rights-act-dissent.php
"Constitutional Accountability Center Condemns SCOTUS Voting Rights Act Ruling," http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/constitutional-accountability-center-condemns-scotus-voting-rights-act
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| We're sorry, but you're just the wrong color. |
After flexing their muscles in 2000 with the judicial coup de etat known as Bush v. Gore to the Citizens United Decision (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens_United_v._Federal_Election_Commission), allowing their candidates and initiatives and referenda to be financed secretly - just like the Cosa Nostra did in the last century, and with the "personhood" of corporations allowed by a previous Conservative Bench - to today's decision killing the heart of the Voting Rights Act.
Before the enactment of the Voting Rights Act in 1965, it was improbable that any African Americans voted, and unless the Senate Judiciary acts promptly, with the dubious compliance of the Conservative House.
"Supreme Court can’t stop demographics," http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2013/06/25/supreme-court-cant-stop-demographics/?hpid=z2
The SCOTUS has slapped us in the face with this decision - an act that thrilled racist Southerners, and embarrassed non-racist Southerners - and we must fight back against fascist judges.
They restarted their War against Women last year and restarted the War Against non-Whites this year on June 25th.
Monies must be raised again, and in higher amounts. Polls have to be monitored, and lawyers readied to challenge the new voter i.d. laws readied for the next elections that have surfaced on the same day as the decision, made at 10:00am in anticipation that the Court was fixed.
The following is a prediction from someone who dislikes predicting events in such a complex field - politics:
The Conservatives will enhance and increase their efforts exponentially their expertise at vote fixing, vote theft, voter intimidation, voter and voter registration suppression, and any other method at their disposal to Fix The Vote including packing the courts with their shyster hacks.
Congress won't fix it and the White House can't.
Impeachment is a no-go (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impeachment) and the only strategy is to step up the fight every two years. Only when the Congress is recaptured by the people, with the Quislings and Blue Dogs also assigned to the dustbin of history.
When the 2 percent is without protection of their paid office holders, when judges are outed for their Conservative rulings, and when school boards and regulatory agencies are purged of Conservatives and their Sheeplets and fellow travelers, the greediest of the rich among us will still continue their relentless pursuit of power and wealth and the subjection of the 98 percent.
Unless Conservatism is criminalized.
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"In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart. I simply
can't build up my hopes on a foundation consisting of confusion, misery and death."
Anne Frank
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Anne Frank
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