Poll: Don't blame Bush for difficulty in voting (Fla.)

The Miami Herald ^ | Sun, Sep. 29, 2002 | TYLER BRIDGES

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Posted on Sun, Sep. 29, 2002

Poll: Don't blame Bush for difficulty in voting
BY TYLER BRIDGES
tbridges@herald.com

Late-opening precincts, malfunctioning machines, missing vote totals: Who was to blame for the primary Election Day mess in South Florida?

Not Gov. Jeb Bush, most voters say, despite efforts by Democrats Janet Reno and Bill McBride to convince them so.

Three out of four Florida voters put the blame for the Sept. 10 election problems on local election officials, poll workers or voters themselves, according to a new Herald/St. Petersburg Times survey of 800 voters statewide.

Only 16 percent pointed the finger at Bush, while 36 percent blamed local election officials, 23 percent named voters and 14 percent said poll workers.

''The problem was with the local training,'' said Sandra Glinn, a Reno supporter and one of those surveyed. ``I'm not sure why the governor should be blamed.''

Reno, McBride and other Democrats point to Bush because he is the state's top elections official and because, after the Legislature last year approved a measure overhauling Florida's voting system, the governor said election problems had been solved.

Bush has responded that elections are organized by local officials and that no counties other than Miami-Dade and Broward reported major difficulties.

Despite the problems this year and two years ago -- when a post-election recount delayed the outcome of the presidential election for 36 days -- most voters expressed confidence in Florida's voting system.

Nearly three in four voters agreed with the statement that future elections will reflect the will of voters, while only 19 percent disagreed.

And by a 69-23 margin, voters believe that officials will solve the problems before the Nov. 5 general election.

The supervisors of elections in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, David Leahy and Miriam Oliphant respectively, have sought and received promises of help from other officials. The assistance will include better training of poll workers and more technical experts at polling precincts in case machines don't work properly.

''They've got plenty of time,'' said Elizabeth Butler, a Miami Springs homemaker who was surveyed. ``We're the laughingstock of the country. There's something wrong with us if they can't.''

Pam Hendricks is among the skeptics.

''I don't trust the voting system in Florida,'' said Hendricks, a Davie resident who responded to the poll. ``It has become very foreign.''

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[Joe Brower]

Republicans are very reluctant to confront Dems

Heh heh heh. You haven't met me, then. $:-) I view politics as the conduct of war by other means.

As for your talking points, right on. One of my favorites is hitting them with "Who's going to pay for it?" and "Say hi to the new 5% Florida income tax!". I also like to say "The choice is simple: More Freedom or more welfare."

As for the "voting mess", I point out that: "The problems are always in the same places with the same people. Democratic-dominant counties run by Democrat election reps elected by Democrats. Are we noticing a pattern here? These people can't even handle a simple election in a single county, and they propose they can the whole state. Obviously they're incapable."

When I want to be less nice, I just say, "You can't fix stupid".

[Fracas]

My political friends refer to me as 'Leah Atwater'; I take no prisoners. When you have them on the ground, put your foot on their neck and don't let up! And after Atwater? Sun Tzu! LOL.

Cowgirl, one advantage of an incumbent is that the Governor has many opportunities to be on t.v. - and people can SEE him and make up their own mind. Jeb looks like he has a lot of class; he has empathy but he's not afraid to make tough decisions. He has a big state to cover, but he seems to be on the road a lot. When people meet him, they like him. Dittoes GWB.

Joe, you chose one of my favorites: How are you going to pay for it?. Of course, that only works with those who are smart enough to know it isn't the 'corporations', as though corporations are buildings and furniture without people.

I must admit I've not used 'you can't fix stupid'. I like that and will add it to my repertoire.

Along with my partner, I'm compiling a list of retorts to Dem allegations. With your permission, we'll add this one to our list!

[The Other Harry]

I think I saw where Miriam Oliphant is paid $122,000 a year. That seems like a lot for someone who can't train people how to use a voting machine.

[windchime]

"Dems find a phrase and repeat it until it's the accepted thought"

Their success at this is undeniable. It's like a drumbeat everyone eventually starts to move to. I don't recall this strategy being employed until Clinton/Carville..... "It's the economy stupid." Maybe the Dems were just more subtle prior to '91.

You are so right! Using Dem tactics in response to their accusations works. Unless the scenario/slogan has been assigned, they don't know what to say. Republicans are 'too nice' and usually don't participate in confrontational discussions.

Thanks for the ping!

[windchime]

"When you have them on the ground, put your foot on their neck and don't let up! And after Atwater? Sun Tzu! LOL."

Sounds good to me! They certainly have no reservations about doing the same.

[Joe Brower]

Yes, Sun Tzu is one of my favorites as well. I've read "The Art of War" in three different translations. One I like that you don't hear much: "If one waits by the river long enough they will see the body of their enemy float by". Lots of rivers here in Florida...

As for permission to use anything I come up with, please feel free. To me, it's like tossing an extra magazine to a buddy in the foxhole. Make every round count.

[Elkiejg]

"You can't fix stupid".

LOL -- that's fantastic - I can see a bumper sticker "DNC-YOU CAN'T FIX STUPID". What a money maker that would be for FR!!

[floriduh voter]

Keep me on. I can't remember if I'm on your til election list or not. Anyhow, BTTT. This is important to get out.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

I can't remember if I'm on your til election list or not.

Would I leave off the crew leader of the Jeb Bush Pit Stop? No way.

One more day to visit JEB BUSH PHOT PIT STOP SEPTEMBER.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

FYI - Please let me know if you want off my temp. ('til Jeb's reelected) Fla. ping list.

[Boatlawyer]

Oliphant's office is being audited. I wouldn't be surprised to see a reduction in her salary since she had to hire someone else aty + $100,000 to do HER job.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Harry, if you ever have a few hours to spare, do a Freep search on "Oliphant" and another on "Broward." The election problems leading up to primary day were well documented.

Alcee Hastings aid is now in charge of the committee that took over Broward's elections. Miriam's still on the job, still has that paycheck (and a few hundred thou. are missing from the Broward election funds). She's fine with the committee.

Broward, Reno stronghold. What happened? The press doesn't care as long as their "man" wins.

---

Check out this comment from Alcee Hastings in the SP Times last June:

"Janet Reno can't win," said U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings of Broward County, a Reno stronghold. "I told her that if she hadn't seen Waco burning enough, Bill Clinton kissing Monica enough, and Elian being snatched enough, then she should run for governor." He favors Bill McBride.

Link

The Sun Sentinel adds this after the election:-

U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Miramar, said nothing Oliphant is accused of rises to the level of misdeeds he thinks were committed by former Secretary of State Katherine Harris in the 2000 election. He said Bush would face the wrath of black voters in the November election if he removes Oliphant.

"I dare the governor to remove her," Hastings said. "He'll create a firestorm that will eclipse the one he created in the One Florida plan. He'll need Katherine Harris to count the votes for him again."

---

Did anyone see Hardball with Chris Matthews, Pat Caddell and a GOP Congressman - all said Dem. primary was fixed by party bigwigs so McBride would win. Apparently this is accepted by the press and pols!

36 posted on 9/13/02 11:12 AM Eastern by bluewater bird

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

"Who's going to pay for it?"
"Say hi to the new 5% Florida income tax!"
"The choice is simple: More Freedom or more welfare."

Joe, Fracas, your comments deserve a separate thread. We need those bumper sticker slogans, 15 second sound bites and "take no prisoners" talking points. "Bunk," is handy, but lacking.

Joe, thanks for the ammo!

[Joe Brower]

No charge. All for the cause.

.308 BUMP!

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Democrats plan extensive vote monitoring.

Terry McAuliffe's bringing his organized crime gang of lawyers to Florida again.

Freepers, call your local Supervisors of Election and let them know that you are not being represented - and that you are intimidated by having lawyers who already broke the law during election 2000 hanging around your polling location. Mention David Boise and his perjury in our courts, claiming that dimples were counted in Illinois, and the Mark Herron memo to disenfranchise our military votes, or the FSC who rewrote existing law to extend the recounts. Republicans have a solid case against Democrat lawyers....voter intimidation and attempted theft.