Tuesday, April 26, 2016

CALIFORNIA COURTIN'

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Well, it has started – last Friday afternoon (4/22) I received my first 2016 Presidential Primary political phone call – a recorded message from The Donald asking me to vote for him to make America great again.  Isn't that the same day he had a new delegate guru describing how his candidate is evolving to be more presidential?  

I expect many prospective California voters are being called and  many others not formally committed are being contacted, too. That's also why I'll probably hear from all the rest of the candidates -- Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, any others left by June, or newcomers (this crazy year anything is possible).  I can handle this vote-seeking attention just this one year since California likely won't garner such attraction again.  
 
I’ll be interested to see what other candidates I hear from and when, before May 23rd  -- that’s the date by which California voters must register (if they haven't already), or re-register their political affiliation ((if they want to change), to vote in this Presidential Primary election.  

We will have six party ballots from which to select one, depending on our registration status for this Presidential Primary election June 7, 2016:                      
         
  • 3 will be closed to all California voters but those registered members of each respective party                 Republican, Green, Peace and Freedom.
  • 3 will be open to all California voters in addition to registered members:  Democratic,  American     Independent, Libertarian 
There’s been some confusion in California with some voters believing they were registering as Independents learning recently they’re actually registered as members of the American Independent party – likely quite opposite political philosophies.   So, state government election officials have hastened to change registration forms to rectify that situation.  Meanwhile, those whose intent was to register as Independents are double-checking their voting status. 

This is a portion of the now corrected California voter registration form:   
                     Political Party                    (Item 14)   

                    ·  The person registering to vote may indicate which (if any) political    
                             party they prefer                
                    · Currently, there are six qualified parties:

                          · American Independent (not to be confused with “independent”

                             voters who do not wish to affiliate with any party); Democratic;

                            Green; Libertarian; Peace and Freedom; Republican

                    ·A person may choose not to state a party preference by marking “No Party

                         Preference”.

                    ·Under current State law, “No Party Preference” voters

                              ·may vote for any candidate for statewide or congressional office.

                              ·may not be able to vote for some candidates in a primary election

                              for President of the United States or party committees
                    
This confusion in California’s registration ballot was not designed to make voter registration more difficult for citizens.   That is unlike some other states where efforts have been made to deliberately complicate the voter registration process -- make it more difficult for some voters to register instead of easier --  under the guise of making it more secure from abuse which has not been documented as even being a problem.  We do need to be able to vote.

(Sorry about any small print as Blogger doesn't seem to be following the regular size print I selected then later tried to correct after finding it had been arbitrarily reduced by the print size troll.)



          

21 comments:

  1. We had our first call last evening. Interestingly it was only for Bob wanting to know if he would support Hillary in the primary. That means we'll have another call wanting to know if I will support Hillary in the primary. Grrrrr I'll start screening our calls better. I don't normally answer anything I don't recognize on the caller ID. I hate using the phone and Bob thinks every call should be answered but he's too slow sometimes and misses one which is upsetting to him. Oh boy, this is going to be fun.

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    1. Yep! Sounds like more phone calls coming to your house -- to answer or not to answer -- depending on who's monitoring the phone.

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  2. The only calls we get are the Democratic party and we don't donate to the party. I guess Oregon is not big enough to warrant much else. As registered democrats, who cannot vote out of party, it'd only be Bernie or Hillary anyway. The call this morning from an eager young guy trying to get us to donate to the Democratic candidates was good. He was so excited and knowledgeable but it didn't do him any good. I don't trust parties but we are donating to Senate campaigns outside of our state where we hope to get the Senate back in Democratic hands-- not that it often matters a lot in the end sadly

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    1. I guess the only reason to contact you before the Primary would be if a candidate was trying to get you to change party registration. No doubt come general election time after final candidates are selected you may start receiving literature and/or calls. Makes sense to be financially supporting Senate candidates for reasons you describe -- perhaps doing so matters more than you think.

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  3. Hevk, I've been getting fundraising g emails constantly, but not so much with the phone since I never answer numbers I do not recognize.

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    1. Thank heavens I haven't had my emails polluted with political messages so far. I'm answering some of those calls intentionally as part of my informal research. ha!

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  4. I never answer calls from unknown parties. That solves that problem. E-mails are more difficult, but I never open them, so it's not that bad. And this election season I have not contributed to any candidates. I recommend this, because with everyone complaining about campaign finance, why make the problem worse by giving candidates money?

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    1. Usually, I don't answer unknown calls either, Hattie, and never do on my cell phone, but I'm just doing this on my landline as part of my "informal research project." ha Money to the presidential candidates may not be worthwhile, especially now, but perhaps select other candidates might benefit.

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  5. I'm the odd man out in this thread. I answer all phone landline calls, even the 'unknowns.' But I never answer on the first ring because the calls from those trying to sell you something dial 10 numbers at a time and the first one to answer gets the call and the others get a hang up. I like to know what the political calls say, whether from my chosen party or not. Plus sometimes medical related call backs come from numbers I don't recognize. I never, ever pledge money online or on the phone. If they want money they'll have to ask the old fashion way through the mail.

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    1. I'm on the Nat'l Do Not Call List but that hasn't kept calls from coming. I, too, generally allow my phone to ring multiple times before answering; likewise, when I expect call backs the numbers aren't always those I would recognize.

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  6. That American Independent Party sounds like a neo-Nazi outfit, or am I imagining things?

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    1. They're described as being theocratic, ultra-conservative; in recent years into activism more than fielding candidates to run for offices; George Wallace was once their Presidential candidate; other affiliations would likely merit thorough research.

      Here's a political party listing link with a AIP description you can scroll down to:
      http://www.politics1.com/parties.htm

      Here's a link describing the AIP Party and their current platform:
      http://usconservatives.about.com/od/alternativestothegop/a/IAP.htm?utm_term=american%20independent%20party&utm_content=p1-main-1-more&utm_medium=sem&utm_source=msn_s&utm_campaign=adid-1f4159ff-4f63-4323-9a24-da0e84734e78-0-ab_msb_ocode-35487&ad=semD&an=msn_s&am=broad&q=american%20independent%20party&o=35487&qsrc=999&l=sem&askid=1f4159ff-4f63-4323-9a24-da0e84734e78-0-ab_msb

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  7. It's been such an interesting political season! Our state (NY) already had its primary. I do wish there was more uniformity nationally regarding voting rules.

    The other concern I have is regarding the long waiting lines to vote in some parts of the country. I remember seeing on TV in the last presidential election these long lines of people waiting hours (!) in line to vote. It's just not right. I also believe that nationally there needs to be more than just one day to vote. I know that some states already have early voting, but not all do. OK, I'll get off my soapbox :-)

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    1. You make some important points about needed change. I hope the major political parties surviving this election primary re-align their systems so delegates reflect voters choices.

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  8. Our primary was held weeks ago, so the political calls are on hiatus for a while. However, my Facebook viewing is being cluttered up by political garbage, most of it supporting Sanders. I am not a big fan of Facebook, but like to zip through it now and then to keep up with activities of relatives and close friends. I'm offended by the political stuff, and hope I can get through the campaigns without canceling FB altogether.

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    1. Another reason to not visit my FB acct which I've really not used or added names to for years. My friends & family don't use it much or at all, either. Have Linked-In but since not looking for a job, don't use it either. Prefer to spend my time otherwise.

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    2. Dick you can block these messages and unclutter your Facebook news read.

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    3. I have been blocking them, but they just seem to keep popping up. Am getting tired of playing whack a mole.

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  9. Ah, those political phone calls. As soon as I answer the phone and hear the hesitation before the taped message comes on I promptly hang up !

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    1. Good idea for those unwanted pre-recorded calls.

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  10. The phone is very quiet now, but I imagine that will change when we near the general election.

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