What’s On Your Ballot?

by | Oct 20, 2020 | Politics | 341 comments

For many people, the real reason to vote is to have a voice in the various propositions, questions, referendums, amendments and local issues that are put forth every election cycle.

Here in Maricopa County, Arizona, along with the various council and mayoral elections, we have two major propositions and the opportunity to throw some judges out.

 

First, let’s take a look at Proposition 207.

Prop 207 would legalize recreational marijuana. With a ton of restrictions, graft, regulations, and taxes, of course. And graft. Did I mention graft?

Findings and declaration of purpose
The People of the State of Arizona find and declare as follows:

1. In the interest of the efficient use of law enforcement resources, enhancing revenue for public purposes,
and individual freedom, the responsible adult use of marijuana should be legal for persons twenty-one years of age or older,
subject to state regulation, taxation, and local ordinance.

2. In the interest of the health and public safety of our citizenry, the legal adult use of marijuana should be
regulated so that:

(a) Legitimate, taxpaying business people, and not criminal actors, conduct sales of marijuana.
(b) Marijuana sold in this state is tested, labeled and subject to additional regulations to ensure that consumers
are informed and protected.
(c) Employers retain their rights to maintain drug-and-alcohol-free places of employment.
(d) The health and safety of employees in the marijuana industry are protected.
(e) Individuals must show proof of age before purchasing marijuana.
(f) Selling, transferring, or providing marijuana to minors and other individuals under the age of twenty-one
remains illegal.
(g) Driving, flying or boating while impaired to the slightest degree by marijuana remains illegal.

Of course, there are already tons of regulations applying to the medical marijuana industry here, which included the establishment of the medical marijuana fund, consisting of fees collected, civil penalties imposed and private donations. If Prop 207 passes:

D. ON THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS AMENDMENT TO THIS SECTION, THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT SHALL TRANSFER THE FOLLOWING SUMS FROM THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA FUND FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES:

1. $15,000,000 TO THE ARIZONA TEACHERS ACADEMY FUND ESTABLISHED BY SECTION 15-1655. (SP’s note: Wait, what? Oh, right, graft.)

2. $10,000,000 TO THE DEPARTMENT TO FUND THE FORMATION AND OPERATION OF COUNCILS, COMMISSIONS AND PROGRAMS DEDICATED TO IMPROVING PUBLIC HEALTH, INCLUDING TEEN SUICIDE PREVENTION, THE MATERNAL MORTALITY REVIEW PROGRAM, IMPROVING YOUTH HEALTH, SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION, ADDRESSING ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES, THE ARIZONA POISON CONTROL SYSTEM ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION 36-1161, THE ARIZONA HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PLAN, THE CHILD FATALITY REVIEW TEAM ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION 36-3501 AND THE CHRONIC PAIN SELF MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.

3. $10,000,000 TO THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OF HIGHWAY SAFETY TO DISTRIBUTE GRANTS FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES:

(a) REDUCING IMPAIRED DRIVING, INCLUDING CONDUCTING TRAINING PROGRAMS AND PURCHASING EQUIPMENT FOR DETECTING, TESTING AND ENFORCING LAWS AGAINST DRIVING, FLYING OR BOATING WHILE IMPAIRED.
(b) EQUIPMENT, TRAINING AND PERSONNEL COSTS FOR DEDICATED TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT.

4. $2,000,000 TO THE DEPARTMENT TO IMPLEMENT, CARRY OUT AND ENFORCE CHAPTER 28.2 OF THIS TITLE.

5. $4,000,000 TO THE DEPARTMENT TO DISTRIBUTE GRANTS TO QUALIFIED NONPROFIT ENTITIES THAT WILL PROVIDE OUTREACH TO INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY BE ELIGIBLE TO FILE PETITIONS FOR EXPUNGEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 36-2862 AND WILL ASSIST WITH THE EXPUNGEMENT PETITION PROCESS. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DISTRIBUTE GRANTS PURSUANT TO THIS PARAGRAPH ON OR BEFORE JUNE 30, 2021.

6. $2,000,000 TO THE DEPARTMENT TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC SECURITY AND OTHER STATE AGENCIES, A SOCIAL EQUITY OWNERSHIP PROGRAM TO PROMOTE THE OWNERSHIP AND OPERATION OF MARIJUANA ESTABLISHMENTS AND MARIJUANA TESTING FACILITIES BY INDIVIDUALS FROM COMMUNITIES DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY THE ENFORCEMENT OF PREVIOUS MARIJUANA LAWS. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS PARAGRAPH, “MARIJUANA ESTABLISHMENT” AND “MARIJUANA TESTING FACILITY” HAVE THE SAME MEANINGS PRESCRIBED IN SECTION 36-2850.

7. $1,000,000 TO THE DEPARTMENT TO FUND PROGRAMS AND GRANTS TO QUALIFIED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS FOR EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH RELATED TO CHAPTER 28.2 OF THIS TITLE.

8. $1,000,000 TO THE SMART AND SAFE ARIZONA FUND ESTABLISHED BY SECTION 36-2856.

The arguments for and against are pretty much what one would expect from having watched these initiatives play out in other states.

Cops, most politicians, suburban soccer moms, and Mormons & Catholics are against. “Vote No to save our children and our communities, and keep our roads safe.”

It was fairly amusing to me to receive the General Election Publicity Pamphlet from the Secretary of State’s Office. This includes 70 pages on the Proposition, with many, many letters against the measure (more than one from several of the same writers): horror stories of teenagers “going bad” after being exposed to pot at college; teenagers having mental breakdowns after trying a joint; teen suicides caused because pot is a “gateway drug.” Now, I am not saying that bad outcomes happening to kids or teenagers is not tragic. It surely is. I am unclear, however, how legalized recreational weed for adults over 21 is going to either help or hinder these horrible situations.

If you’re playing along at home, OF COURSE our current authoritarian governor is against.

In 2016, Arizona voters rejected legalizing recreational marijuana because it was a bad deal based on false promises. Today, the same is true with this new ballot measure. That’s why I’m asking you to vote “NO” again.

We know from states that have fully legalized marijuana that it has real consequences: more deaths on highways caused by high drivers, dramatic increases in teen drug use, and more newborns exposed to marijuana.

Fully legalized marijuana puts the future of Arizona’s drivers at risk. In Colorado, every 2½ days someone dies in a marijuana-related traffic death. That’s not what we want for Arizona. We want safe roads.

The next generation of Arizonans, our kids, also face a real risk from legalized marijuana. States that have legalized marijuana have significantly higher teen drug use than states that have not, and Colorado leads the nation in first-time teen marijuana use. That’s not what we want for our next generation.

It’s not just our teens at risk — it’s also babies. Large hospital organizations in Colorado are now trying to repeal legalized marijuana as they are finding more newborns exposed. Nearly 50% of newborns who were tested had marijuana in their systems in one major hospital.

The ballot measure promises new tax revenue for a variety of causes, but states like California and Massachusetts have only raised a fraction of what was promised. The promises are great, and yet the money never seems to materialize or do what’s been promised.

Arizona has a bright future, but fully legalized marijuana doesn’t need to be part of it. The current system with medical marijuana is serving the people who need it for health-related reasons. We don’t need the wholesale expansion that fullthrottle legalization will bring. Please vote “NO.”

Doug Ducey, Governor, State of Arizona, Phoenix
Sponsored by Arizonans for Strong Leadership

One of our former governors, the impressively named (and very colorful*) John Fife Symington III, is encouraging a Yes vote. Here’s his letter in support.

Smarter Government, Safer Arizona

As former Governor of our great state, I am keenly aware of how important it is to defend liberty and to conserve scarce government resources. I also know that to accomplish these goals we must constantly re-evaluate our policies in the face of new evidence. Today the evidence is overwhelmingly clear: criminalizing law-abiding citizens who choose to responsibly consume marijuana is an outdated policy that wastes precious government resources and unnecessarily restricts individual liberty. A far more logical approach would be to respect the right of adults to choose to consume marijuana while regulating and taxing its production and sale.

The Smart and Safe Arizona Initiative strikes this appropriate balance. It allows adults to legally possess and consume small amounts of marijuana in private, but it strictly regulates the production and sale of marijuana in order to protect our citizens. For example, this initiative bans marijuana “gummy bears” and marketing that would appeal to children, and it establishes significant penalties for selling to minors. It also strictly limits the number of dispensaries ensuring that our neighborhoods do not become oversaturated. Further, it protects employers who wish to maintain a drug-free workplace, and it provides tools to law enforcement to prevent impaired driving. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, it frees up law enforcement to deal with more serious issues that actually jeopardize public safety.

Simply put, the Smart and Safe Arizona initiative allows us to expand individual liberty and to protect public safety all while generating hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenue for the State without raising taxes. In government we call that a rare win-win-win. Please join me in voting Yes for Arizona.

The Honorable Fife Symington
19th Governor of Arizona

John Fife Symington III, Former Governor, Phoenix

 

For me, it’s simple. I ask two questions before voting on anything.

1. Is this initiative Constitutional?

2. Does this proposition generally result in people being more free than previously?

 

Proposition 208 This act may be cited as the “Invest in Education Act.” What it really contains is a tax on incomes exceeding $250,000 for “teacher salaries and schools.”

Findings and declaration of purpose
The People of the State of Arizona find and declare as follows:

1. All Arizona students deserve a certified, qualified teacher in their classrooms and to learn in the safest
possible environment.

2. Years of underfunding by the Arizona Legislature have led to crisis-level teacher shortages and woefully
inadequate support services.

3. Additional permanent funding is needed to develop, recruit and retain qualified teachers, hire counselors,
close the achievement gap, improve career and vocational education for Arizona students, prepare Arizona students for good
jobs and careers and meet Arizona employers’ need for a skilled workforce.

A. THE STUDENT SUPPORT AND SAFETY FUND IS ESTABLISHED

D. ON OR BEFORE JUNE 30 AND DECEMBER 31 OF EACH YEAR, THE STATE TREASURER SHALL TRANSFER ALL MONIES IN THE STUDENT SUPPORT AND SAFETY FUND IN EXCESS OF THE AMOUNTS PAID PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION B OF THIS SECTION AS FOLLOWS:

1. FIFTY PERCENT AS GRANTS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS, IN PROPORTION TO THE WEIGHTED STUDENT COUNT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15-943, PARAGRAPH 2, FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR CHARTER SCHOOL FOR THE PRIOR FISCAL YEAR, FOR THE PURPOSE OF HIRING TEACHERS AND CLASSROOM SUPPORT PERSONNEL AND INCREASING BASE COMPENSATION FOR TEACHERS AND CLASSROOM SUPPORT PERSONNEL.

2. TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT AS GRANTS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS, IN PROPORTION TO THE WEIGHTED STUDENT COUNT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15-943, PARAGRAPH 2, FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR CHARTER SCHOOL FOR THE PRIOR FISCAL YEAR, FOR THE PURPOSE OF
HIRING STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES PERSONNEL AND INCREASING BASE COMPENSATION FOR STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES PERSONNEL.

3. TEN PERCENT AS GRANTS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS, IN PROPORTION TO THE WEIGHTED STUDENT COUNT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15-943, PARAGRAPH 2, FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR CHARTER SCHOOL FOR THE PRIOR FISCAL YEAR, FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING MENTORING AND RETENTION PROGRAMMING FOR NEW CLASSROOM TEACHERS TO INCREASE RETENTION. THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION SHALL PRESCRIBE THE FORM AND FORMAT OF MENTORING AND RETENTION PROGRAMMING SUPPORTED BY MONIES TRANSFERRED PURSUANT TO THIS PARAGRAPH, EXCEPT THAT THE EQUIVALENT OF ONE FULL-TIME MENTOR MAY BE ASSIGNED TO NOT MORE THAN FIFTEEN NEW CLASSROOM TEACHERS EMPLOYED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR CHARTER SCHOOL. IF A SCHOOL DISTRICT OR CHARTER SCHOOL RECEIVES MONIES PURSUANT TO THIS PARAGRAPH IN EXCESS OF ITS NEEDS FOR MENTORING AND RETENTION PROGRAMMING, THOSE EXCESS MONIES MAY BE USED FOR TEACHER RETENTION.

4. TWELVE PERCENT TO THE CAREER TRAINING AND WORKFORCE FUND ESTABLISHED BY SECTION 15-1282.

5. THREE PERCENT TO THE ARIZONA TEACHERS ACADEMY FUND ESTABLISHED BY SECTION 15-1655

F. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION:
1. “CLASSROOM SUPPORT PERSONNEL” MEANS ANY NONADMINISTRATIVE SCHOOL PERSONNEL, INCLUDING CERTIFIED PERSONNEL, WHO PROVIDE CLASSROOM SUPPORT AND INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES AS PRESCRIBED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT GOVERNING BOARD OR CHARTER SCHOOL GOVERNING BODY, INCLUDING LIBRARIANS, NURSES, COUNSELORS, SOCIAL WORKERS, SPEECH PATHOLOGISTS, BEHAVIORAL COACHES AND PSYCHOLOGISTS.

2. “MENTORING AND RETENTION PROGRAMMING” MEANS REGULAR, JOB-EMBEDDED, IN-PERSON, ONE-ON-ONE FEEDBACK THAT IS FOCUSED ON INSTRUCTION AND ENSURING NEW CLASSROOM TEACHER QUALITY, SUCCESS AND RETENTION.

3. “NEW CLASSROOM TEACHER” MEANS A CLASSROOM TEACHER WHO IS IN THE TEACHER’S FIRST, SECOND OR THIRD YEAR OF TEACHING.

4. “STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES PERSONNEL” MEANS ANY CLASSIFIED, NONADMINISTRATIVE SCHOOL PERSONNEL WHO PROVIDE STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES AS DEFINED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT GOVERNING BOARD OR CHARTER SCHOOL GOVERNING BODY, INCLUDING CLASSROOM AIDES, MEDIA SPECIALISTS, HEALTH ASSISTANTS, SECURITY PERSONNEL, STUDENT FOOD SERVICE PERSONNEL, CLERICAL STAFF, STUDENT TRANSPORTATION PERSONNEL AND SCHOOL SITE
PLANT OPERATORS.

5. “TEACHER” MEANS ANY NONADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL, INCLUDING CERTIFIED TEACHERS, WHO INSTRUCT STUDENTS OR SUPPORT STUDENT ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AS PRESCRIBED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT GOVERNING BOARD OR CHARTER SCHOOL GOVERNING BODY, INCLUDING CLASSROOM TEACHERS, EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHERS, MENTOR TEACHERS, INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES AND ACADEMIC INTERVENTIONISTS

 

And on and on and on.

If you are really dying to read all the verbiage, you can begin on page 127 of the General Election Publicity Pamphlet.

 

For me, it’s simple. I ask two questions before voting on anything.

1. Is this initiative Constitutional?

2. Does this proposition generally result in people being more free than previously?

 

Then we have the retention of judges

Many places I’ve lived have not given the opportunity to get rid of Superior Court (and above) Judges, so I am intrigued and slightly encouraged by this. Of course, I am not familiar with most of them, so I am doing some research this week to see if there are any I feel should be retained, which is doubtful. For example, I already know I’m voting to get rid of Timothy Thomason, although he eventually “allowed” the gyms to reopen, but only because the State hadn’t come up with a reopening plan.

“The Court is very mindful of and deferential to the Governor’s efforts in keeping the citizens of this State safe. That is precisely why the Court upheld the Executive Orders and found only that post-deprivation procedural due process was not provided … Complying with this Court’s Order will cause no irreparable injury.

“The Governor claims only that ADHS will be inconvenienced by having to implement a process for applications to reopen … [T]he process to be designed by the Governor and ADHS could be as simple and straightforward as the Governor or ADHS want it to be … Inconvenience is no justification for depriving citizens of their Constitutional due process rights, even during a pandemic.”

The Executive Orders were and are flat-out unconstitutional. But, we should be “allowed” to have due process in fighting them, instead of the Courts just tossing them out. Fuck off, slaver!

Anyway. The above-linked Publicity Pamphlet has information and a handy rating system for judges.

Public Input Throughout the Process

This year, as every election year, the JPR Commission sought public input from citizens who have had direct experience with judges and made its decisions using that input. In 2019, approximately 52,000 surveys on judges were distributed to attorneys, jurors, litigants and witnesses. The JPR Commission held public hearings open to anyone wishing to speak about the judges up for retention this year. The JPR Commission accepts signed, written comments about merit-appointed judges at any time.

The Pamphlet has a chart like the following for each judge and justice.

Most are pretty much like this. So, when I come across an outlier, I am curious.

Six votes against meeting Judicial Standards? Judicial Temperament rated 64% by the responding attorneys? I suspect I will either loathe this woman or love her. Research ahead!

I’ll also be spending time this week looking into the Appeals Court judges and Supreme Court justices.

Oh, what does the chart look like for Thomason?

Thank goodness he has perfect Integrity, Judicial Temperament and Administrative Performance!

I’ll likely have a follow-up after I do the research on the judicial branch.

 

So, those are the major election issues here. What’s on YOUR ballot?

 

 

* Seriously YOU MUST go read his bio!

 

About The Author

SP

SP

I've got an idea! How about we just stick to the Constitution as written and then the government can leave me the fuck alone.

341 Comments

  1. westernsloper

    I haven’t opened it yet.

  2. Caput Lupinum

    Just candidates. The only places with ballot initiatives in PA this go around are Allegany and Philadelphia counties, and I don’t live in either.

  3. UnCivilServant

    There are five and only five offices on the ballot, no propositions. And the DA is running unopposed.

  4. DEG

    As former Governor of our great state

    I read this as “Governor of our former great state”.

  5. Rhywun

    What’s On Your Ballot?

    No idea. Usually I get a booklet in the mail with that shit in it but nothing so far.

    I have vague plans to vote old-school, on election day. I suppose I should life a finger and find out what gonna be on there.

    • db

      Old-school? Like, with pitchforks and tar and feathers?

      • Rhywun

        No, I’ll save that for when I storm City Hall.

      • zwak

        A mostly peaceful storming, no doubt.

  6. Yusef drives a Kia

    Trump, John James and Jack O’Malley, don’t know enough about the other stuff yet

  7. Animal

    What’s On Your Ballot?

    Assholes.

    • Sean

      My local state rep doesn’t piss me off. In fact, I think he’s decent to good.*

      *That’s my version of high praise.

      • Charles Easterly

        Sean,

        Hopefully he will take your comments as positively as they were meant/you qualified them.

      • Sean

        He recently knocked on my front door. I got to tell him I approve to his face. The following Monday he was a speaker at a pro 2A rally.

  8. db

    If you guys were fortunate enough to live in a proper state with a Professional Legislature like Pennsylvania, you wouldn’t need to be bothered with such questions. Here, the Professional Legislature knows they don’t need to ask for the help of the lowly civilians.

    • Rhywun

      You wouldn’t expect it but here in NYC we always have around 4 or 5 propositions. Most of them are arcane government chair-shuffling, the rest are the expected throwing money at things like teachers.

    • Caput Lupinum

      I think I had a stroke reading that. I’m gonna lie down until the world stops smelling like toast.

      • Sean

        Do you taste pennies?

      • UnCivilServant

        No, pennies are filthy.

      • Cancelled

        Is there enough copper in a modern penny to taste pennies?

      • Caput Lupinum

        Hmm… nope, I taste caramel or maybe butterscotch, with hints of vanilla, but no pennies. Might be the whiskey.

      • Spudalicious

        Soak the penny in the whiskey until it’s shiny, and then try it again.

  9. LemonGrenade

    Two proposed constitutional amendments:
    One to make redistricting the responsibility of an appointed ‘bipartisan committee’ which is not subject to being voted out, so that’s a no from me
    One to create a special exemption from personal property tax on a vehicle for veterans with a 100% service connected disability. I love veterans, but fuck you, no, no special exemptions for everyone, just lower everyone’s taxes instead.

      • LemonGrenade

        I just paid over two grand in personal property taxes to the great commonwealth of virginia, so i may be a touch sensitive about other people getting ‘deals’ at the moment.

      • Ted S.

        This, although we don’t have such onerous vehicle taxes here in NY (surprisingly). $62.50 for a two-year renewal on my 2004 Subaru.

      • blackjack

        JEEZ! How do ya’ll afford to not fix the worst roads in the nation (ours, not yours.) Our registration cost about 5-600 a year if the cars less than ten years old and maybe 150 per annum if it’s older. Plus smog and mandatory insurance and the highest gas prices by a wide margin.

      • Rhywun

        Oh, I’m sure we find other ways. Kind of like how most states with no income tax find other ways to gouge you.

      • Sir Digby Classic

        Kyrie eleison! $500-600/vehicle/year?!? I’d rather be in Cali Columbia….

        Fuck all that noise.

      • SUPREME OVERLORD trshmnstr

        it was a shock when I got the first car tax bill in VA. “Wait, I have to pay you over a grand for what????”

      • SUPREME OVERLORD trshmnstr

        oh, and the roads were garbage there, so they were obviously appropriating it for other purposes.

      • Cancelled

        Matthew 22:21

        The single strongest argument against Biblical inerrancy.

      • Ted S.

        I make less than $15/hr and paid over $1k in state income tax last year.

      • LemonGrenade

        I’m pretty sure I went through every curse word I had in my vocabulary when I got my first personal property tax bill, and then invented a few that were just raw syllables of rage.

      • UnCivilServant

        Property taxes are immoral.

      • Ted S.

        robc has a sad.

    • db

      I’d consider it if it were a “multipartisan committee” and all decisions were to be unanimous, with all disputes mediated by Lord Humungus, “old school.”

      • LemonGrenade

        I’d change my vote under those circumstances, too.

  10. SUPREME OVERLORD trshmnstr

    No ballot initiatives for me. Just a bunch of local positions that I know near nothing about.

    I didn’t vote in any of the local elections, nor in any unopposed elections.

  11. KOVIDKristen

    Lots of bonds (nope!) and a Constitutional Amendment that looks interesting:

    Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended
    to establish a redistricting commission,
    consisting of eight members of the General
    Assembly and eight citizens of the
    Commonwealth, that is responsible for drawing
    the congressional and state legislative districts
    that will be subsequently voted on, but not
    changed by, the General Assembly and enacted
    without the Governor’s involvement and to give
    the responsibility of drawing districts to the
    Supreme Court of Virginia if the redistricting
    commission fails to draw districts or the General
    Assembly fails to enact districts by certain
    deadlines?

  12. Sean

    1. Trump
    2. Communists

    • Yusef drives a Kia

      ^this right here,

      • TARDis

        For me it’s:

        1. A slowed continuation of the slide towards worldwide totalitarianism.
        2. The end of the world as we know it.

      • Yusef drives a Kia

        So, the Shithouse is going up in flames, it’s just a matter when?

      • TARDis

        It’s a question of velocity apparently.

  13. Ted S.

    I’m assuming that if UCS doesn’t have any ballot questions on his ballot, I don’t either. Other than that, there’s President/US House/State Senate/State Assembly; I don’t think there are any local offices up for grabs.

  14. LJW

    Kansas has one measure, the no right to abortion amendment. It would be a state constitutional amendment that says you have no right to an abortion.

    Our county is voting to eliminate food requirements for bars. A silly law, but at the same time there aren’t many bars that it would effect. However it will help the breweries.

  15. Aloysious

    What’s on my ballot.

    No on any attempt to raise taxes. No in general. No to Democrats. No to almost every incumbent, which means in Idaho no to Republicans. No, no, no.

    I don’t remember off the top of my head if there are any libertardians on the ballot or not.

    • Aloysious

      JHFC. Too many noes, apparently.

  16. Aloysious

    What’s on my ballot.

    No on any attempt to raise taxes. No in general. No to Democrats. No to almost every incumbent, which means in Idaho no to Republicans. No, no, no.

    I don’t remember off the top of my head if there are any libertardians on the ballot or not.

      • pistoffnick

        You have my attention!

      • LemonGrenade

        Kristen Bell’s best work.

      • DEG

        Sounds like that guy needs a safe word.

      • Toxteth O'Grady

        Saw my first Jo sign today.

      • UnCivilServant

        I didn’t know you lived near her.

    • Cancelled

      Any study of this would need to somehow control for exposure to marxism at college, which I suspect has much more to do with ‘going bad’ than a couple joints, or even a gram or two of China White.

  17. Ted S.

    Now, I know I may have mentioned graft in relation to Prop 207, but you ain’t seen nothing yet, kids.

    This guy hasn’t, either.

  18. Trials and Trippelations

    Wasn’t planning on voting, but this made me double check that there are no iniatiaves on the ballot.
    There are not, so I’ll be staying at home hopefully laughing along with everyone here

  19. westernsloper

    Fuck teachers and anything that takes more stolen money to fund them. They might be the most self described mostest important profession on the planet. They think others people’s money is theirs even if said person does not send snot nose little fucks to their schools. “For society” they say. Fuck them. I don’t give two fucks if you are too stupid to educate your own kid and he grows up not even smart enough to hang sheet rock. Since my life has changed and my retirement looks less and less like it will be a dream, I am now dreaming of living long enough to one day be one of those retired people who sits in on classes to monitor what is taught and then refrain myself from bitch slapping a teacher while I politely tell them they are a retard. (they have training courses where I work and I read their propaganda before the meetings)

    I was also always against retaining any judge, but I may be changing my thoughts on that.

    • Ted S.

      They might be the most self described mostest important profession on the planet.

      Maybe #2 behind journalists.

    • Sean

      *raises hand*

      I fuck a teacher. She’s non-union though. Does that still count?

      • Drake

        Thank you for your service.

      • Caput Lupinum

        *also raises hand*

        My girlfriend is a private (((school))) teacher. I think I’ll record one of her rants about the public school teachers she deals with, they’re hilarious.

      • Sean

        You moved farther away, but if you ever meet my gf, on her drink #2, ask her about illegal immigration.

      • Caput Lupinum

        Oh, that’ll be fun if they’re both in attendance. The girlfriend’s parents are legal immigrants, they have no patience for illegals, and that viewpoint definitely got passed on.

      • westernsloper

        Some teachers are fine. I have seen more than a few that I would fuck. NOT MY POINT! I just get inside info to local politics and ya, they think they are owed any sort of money that might me left in any fund anywhere be it in rainy day funds or reserves or just any money. Our nation spends more on education than anywhere on the planet and……………..We get Antifa.

      • Cancelled

        Fuck a commie before she can fuck you!

      • westernsloper

        Closest I got was almost a commie.

      • blackjack

        My kid’s teacher had a Black Lives Matter mask thumbtacked onto the whiteboard and he zoomed into it while showing the assignment. It’s the second fucking grade! I had to write down the assignment or I wouldn’t have even seen it.

      • westernsloper

        Aaah, man, I am in no position to tell anyone what to do, but get that kid out of that class if you can. Or tell the teacher to leave that out of class. What does that have to do with what an 7 year old needs to know?

      • blackjack

        Yeah, I doubt there’s any other options. I just have to provide a counterpoint to it. We have 80-90% commies for teachers out here. There’s always home schooling or private, and if they keep up with the video school, I just might go that way. Doesn’t seem very different, anymore.

      • zwak

        Hang a Trump/MAGA sign up behind the kid, and if there is any bitching at all, point to the stupid mask.

      • DEG

        The teachers I’ve fucked were all unionized public school teachers.

        It’s part of why they are all ex-girlfriends.

    • LemonGrenade

      Something like twenty teachers at my son’s high school alone will not be returning to in-person instruction, if and when the schools ever reopen, because they consider themselves ‘high risk’. As a result, one of the dependencies on whether or not the schools in our district can reopen is how many substitute teachers they have available, because every teacher that refuses to work in the classroom will require a full time substitute to do the P of their job that is babysitting. I’m not bitter, I passed beyond that back in May.

      • LemonGrenade

        That should be 50 percent plus, not P

  20. westernsloper

    I also know there are a lot of ballot measures on my ballot but like I said I have not opened it yet. It is easy to get things on the ballot here. Shit, we got Kanye!

  21. blackjack

    We have like twenty props on ours. There’s one to modify (repeal) parts of prop 13, the limitation on property taxes. The only yes for me is the one to override the legislature on the outlawing of independent contractors status for Uber/Lyft and food delivery services. If it fails, we are basically kicking these gig-economy companies out of California.

    I have two criterion as well, for determining my vote. Does it force the government to tax and/or spend less (regardless of who’s money it is) and does it reduce restrictions on mine or anyone else’s liberty. It’s an easy standard to apply, and my sample ballot would take me less than 1 minute to determine, IF the state AG wasn’t such a mendacious cunte. I have to weed through his bullshit and then consult outside materials just to figure out what the real effects of these props are.

    Judges are always hard to determine. We get way less info on our candidates here. Like, their name and occupation and that’s it. This time I know two of the candidates personally. One was a motorcycle customer and he’s a great guy, I’m voting for him. The other took an accident case of mine and never lifted a finger. My wife finally handled it for me. When the case settled, he filed for a lien claiming a massive amount of billable hours, so we had to shuffle through that bullshit, on top of doing the whole case ourselves. You can guess how I’m voting on that one.

    The other interesting one is for city attorney. There’s some hippy asshole who thinks law enforcement should be politicized and we need to be much softer on crime. Then There’s Jackie Lacey, out current gestapo overlord. Her husband threatened to kill BLM protesters for knocking on his door. He aimed a gun at them, had his finger on the trigger and told them he would shoot them if they didn’t leave. Of course, Lacey made a million excuses for him and he was never even cited. I’m going to leave that one blank. I hate both of them.

    • blackjack

      Almost forgot, if it’s a red vs blue question, I’m voting pure red. Those blue people are as scary as any I’ve ever seen.

      • one true athena

        Gascon is a protege of Chesa Boudin’s up in SF. He’s terrible. Block his ass at all costs. Jackie at least isn’t a Soros minion.

        (and fyi, her husband had three charges brought by the CA Atty Gen office. LA County DA kicked the case)

        Though it probably won’t matter depending on some of those propositions.

  22. Drake

    In NJ, the Governor and state legislators are in odd years. There are some questions, legal pot and a few others I assume will pass. I usually vote no on all of them but might vote yes on the pot.

    • whahappan

      #metoo. And straight R on everything else.

    • westernsloper

      Who hasn’t seen UFO’s?

      • Cancelled

        Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder.

      • Drake

        I for one have not identified every flying object I’ve seen.

      • mexican sharpshooter

        Irrelevant. Has your governor ever mobilized a national guard unit and attempt to invade the Grand Canyon?

        Gov. Symington did it.

      • Cancelled

        What was in the Grand Canyon? Anasazi elder vampires? Anasazi elder vampires suck! I’d have gone nuclear!

      • mexican sharpshooter

        The Feds, obviously.

        The federal gov. closed down the park due to one of the shutdowns 8n the 90’s. So he he decided it should be open, and the state would pay for the upkeep for the duration of the shut down.

        But he planned ahead enough to know he may need to open it by force.

      • Cancelled

        That is awesome. That would get me to vote for him.

      • westernsloper

        I like it!

      • UnCivilServant

        I’ve identified every flying object I’ve seen.

    • SP

      Definitely part of the “very colorful” I referenced.

    • Old Man With Candy

      SP was reading me his bio last night. Every time it got to, “Holy shit, really????” she’d say, “Wait, there’s more!”

      Easily the most interesting man on the planet.

    • kinnath

      I think he was governor while I was there: 85 to 92.

      I certainly remember his name.

      • dbleagle

        After you read about Fife you need to read about his predecessor, Ev Meacham. “As governor, Mecham was plagued by controversy almost immediately after his inauguration and became the first U.S. governor to simultaneously face removal from office through impeachment, a scheduled recall election, and a felony indictment.”

        His Wiki bio is here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evan_Mecham

        After Ev they state amended the Constitution that you had to have 50% +1 to win. The next election? Nobody won and they had to hold a run off. The state then amended the constitution again.

  23. blackjack

    Whoever wins, I hope they lay some stimulus on me.

  24. The Gunslinger

    Couple proposals on my ballot in addition to the judges and university bullshit and uncontested crap.

    A proposed constitutional amendment to allow money from oil and gas mining on state-owned lands to continue to be collected in state funds for land protection and creation and maintenance of parks, nature areas, and public recreation facilities; and to describe how money in those state funds can be spent.

    A proposed constitutional amendment to require a search warrant in order to access a person’s electronic data or electronic communications.

    I will be voting in person but haven’t researched the proposals yet.

    • Rhywun

      Yeah you always have to be extra careful with propositions because they often mean the exact opposite of what they imply. It’s like they’re written by crafty lawyers or something.

      • TARDis

        I just go with “NO”.

        Well, except for selling booze on Sunday, but that was years ago.

      • Cancelled

        And that is why they now draft them so that voting no approves the proposition.

      • TARDis

        I hope not. Now you have me paranoid. I will have to read the amendments to my state constitution more carefully.

      • Cancelled

        I’m not making it up. Tax increases are frequently worded such that a no vote implements the tax increase.

  25. Sean

    I got notified one of our vendors went under due to the China virus. Sad!

    Seriously, it’s pretty fucked up, and we will all probably be seeing this over the next couple months.

  26. Gustave Lytton

    I voted a straight R ticket as a fuck you to the commies running the state. My wife, who strongly dislikes Trump’s persona but hates Biden/Harris/the insane left even more did the same.

    Voted no against every measure and levy.

    The soil and water conservation district wants a permanent funding source for empire building. Fuck you, no.

    Fire district, generally good guys, but has been in expansion mode in consolidating with other districts is trying to go to the merged district’s higher rate and acts in non fiducial manner. Because it’s not there money.

    Campaign finance reform. Bullshit subversion of the first amendment. No.

    Decriminalize various drugs. Sounds good. But tax and regulate the shit out of them. No. Don’t need to grow government further and get them hooked on yet another revenue stream.

    • blackjack

      Government gets more money=no

      Government gets more power over any body=no

      Prop 22 is the only yes for me. I kinda like Uber and Lyft and outlawing them seems like a bad thing to endorse. I hate cabs and love paying an extra twenty bucks to get food delivered to my door.

      • TARDis

        You’re a good tipper. Can I bring you a sammich?

      • blackjack

        People in other places seem to pay less, but out here it’s about 3-4 for delivery, 9-10 for some kind of “processing” fee and about 5-8 for a tip.

      • Rhywun

        ? In NYC it’s generally free delivery over ten bucks + tip.

      • blackjack

        Nevermind, I forgot you live in Antifa land. They all kind of run together out here.

      • Gustave Lytton

        In the long run, they’re all dead.

  27. pistoffnick

    Don’t know, don’t care.

    I’m trying to order my life such that it doesn’t matter which brand of shithead is in power.

    The game is rigged! The only winning move is not to play.

    • SUPREME OVERLORD trshmnstr

      I’m trying to order my life such that it doesn’t matter which brand of shithead is in power.

      It’s getting harder and harder to do that, unfortunately.

      • pistoffnick

        It is, yes, it is.

  28. leon

    We have a slew of constitutional amendments, and two zone change approval propositions.

    I voted yes on both cause I don’t want to tell people how to deal with their property.

    • UnCivilServant

      And if the zoning changes are there to prevent people from doing what they would have previously been able to because some connected person didn’t like it?

      • leon

        Then I would vote against, but I read the propositions and that’s not the case. In both cases the owners asked for the zoning to change, it was approved and then it was challenged by people with no property ownership of the land. So now it’s being voted on.

      • SUPREME OVERLORD trshmnstr

        it was approved and then it was challenged by people with no property ownership of the land

        The proposition to hang those challengers by their toes would get my vote

  29. LJW

    Dozens of former intelligence officials sign letter warning Hunter Biden story could be Russian disinformation

    “But in the letter, signed by those including former Trump administration officials, the authors said they were “deeply suspicious that the Russian government played a significant role in this case.”

    Though they did not provide new evidence, the authors stated that they had “devoted significant portions” of their lives to national security and that they see “Russia as one of our nation’s top adversaries. Most importantly, the signatories said, they believe that American citizens “should determine the outcome of elections, not foreign governments.”

    Elections should be decided by deep state agents damn it!

    • Drake

      Totally trustworthy people.

      • blackjack

        Yaeh, back in January, before the douchebag was even the nominee, they could have came out with this and saved their favorite street gang, I mean political party, a lot of grief. Instead they thought they’d go for collusion part two and hide it forever. It’s literally exactly what Trump was accused of. We spent untold millions and lost all faith in most of our institutions trying to pin that on Trump, with zero effect. Some computer repairman got all the goods and handed it over for nothing and they couldn’t be bothered to lift a finger! Fuck them all.

      • Breet Pharara

        The lesson in 1984 is to trust leaders the press and experts. ~ A Different Moron

    • leon

      This is the same play as with Hillary. “Sure it’s all true, but it’s illegitimate for the American public to see what they candidates that they are voting for are corrupt.”

      Add in the juicy “we have no evidence but we’re really sure this is the Russians, like we said last time. And lied about last time”

    • Breet Pharara

      “Russia as one of our nation’s top adversaries.”

      The 1980s are calling to ask for their foreign policy back. ~ Some Moron

  30. The Bearded Hobbit

    My state will vote for Biden as well as then entire slate of D candidates. Every single judge will be re-instated, every bond issue will pass. My vote is useless.

    • The Bearded Hobbit

      Our dumb-fuck bitch governor just piled on more restrictions. And she will be re-elected in a landslide. Can’t wait until I can get the hell out of here.

      • commodious spittoon

        I’m looking at rentals in South Dakota. Dunno what I’ll do out there but I’m through with this state.

      • commodious spittoon

        My ideal job is looking after a summer resort in the winter, and spending summers in a tower looking for forest fires. And as rarely as possible dealing with anyone.

      • db

        ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKE COMMODIOUS SPITTOON A DULL BOY. ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKE COMMODIOUS SPITTOON A DULL BOY. ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKE COMMODIOUS SPITTOON A DULL BOY. ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKE COMMODIOUS SPITTOON A DULL BOY.

      • db

        ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKE COMMODIOUS SPITTOON A DULL BOY.

      • commodious spittoon

        I think I’ve resigned myself to going loveless and childless into the ether… I don’t mind the prospect. I couldn’t justify myself to any woman who’d have me, and I can’t justify myself to myself as far as reproducing goes… god forbid I have to justify myself to a child I offered up to the world. I miss sex but not enough to justify the world of hurt that it brings in its wake. So the thought of spending months alone isn’t unwelcome. I hate having to deal with people. I hate myself most of all, that frictional interface wherever I have to be outward facing with people. I just want something where I’m paid a mediocre wage to be all alone.

      • blackjack

        Well, there’s this. that’s all I got.

      • commodious spittoon

        LOL Is that Todd Rungren himself? He’s mostly woman already.

      • blackjack

        OK, how about?

      • Festus' Mustache

        Cucked by Steven Tyler. He had some good tunes back in the 70’s though.

      • Plinker762

        We can buy up Murray and make it a Glib outpost.

    • db

      Sounds like it’s not “your” state.

      • The Bearded Hobbit

        Correct. “The state where I reside.”

  31. R C Dean

    As an Arizona resident, I thank you for enacting my labor.

    My concern is that Trump and pot legalization are negatively correlated. Repub turnout for Big Orange means pot loses, and vice versa.

    • The Bearded Hobbit

      Right. “Freedom for me but not for thee”

  32. creech

    Well, only two weeks to go. It looks to me (I’m going with about 80% certainty) that Biden will win with at least 300 electoral votes. That also makes it probable the Dems take the Senate (narrowly) and retain the House. So the question is: “Other than three Supreme Court justices, what actions of Trump will survive the first two years of President BidenhertimeHarris?” The Trump legacy will be entirely swept away (except for said justices) and hardly a Republican will even be mentioning Trump during the 2022 midterms. What say you guys? What Trump actions will survive??

    • Breet Pharara

      Whatever the polls say, the Biden campaign is not acting like it’s a lock. After the debate in Ohio, they hightailed it out of there. Not a single event there even though it’s in “toss up state” territory according to the polls. Obama did a stop for him in Michigan, despite Michigan heavily leaning to Biden. Bringing in your big guns for a relatively safe state and not even trying to campaign in toss ups?

      The polls are crap and the enthusiasm gap is real. This is a tight election, and I won’t believe otherwise until election night proves me wrong.

      • blackjack

        They’re acting like it’s a lock because they plan on cheating. The polls are just one element of the scheme. Biden can’t be bothered to answer a single question or make a single event. He only talks to ball cupping sycophants who desperately want him to win. None of this is how to win an election, unless you plan to cheat, like last time only better.

      • Breet Pharara

        Maybe Jo Jo can play the roll of Jill Stein this go around and demand recounts in Broward, Detroit and Phillie and find more ballots cast than the number of people who voted.

        A clean win by someone is preferable, but I’m fully expecting to go to bed with mail-in ballots still being counted in Dem strongholds and Bush V Gore 2:Electric Boogaloo

    • blackjack

      Trump’s going to win. The Dems will cheat. The supremes will just keep me hanging on and finally rule for Trump. The dems will get even crazier. We might not make it through all of this, but that’s what I think will happen. The polls are all calculated to help Biden. When they cheat, they will say, “wha? didn’t you see where he had a 13 point lead?”

    • Rhywun

      Lots of lower judges?

    • Ownbestenemy

      In your scenario I wouldn’t even label the three supreme court justices as having a chance. I would suspect either relgated to nothingness via expansion of the court or faux impeachment of at least Kav. and Barrett.

    • LemonGrenade

      Specifically to your question “What Trump actions will survive?” I think the only, and most important, will be that he exposed just how craven, petty, malicious, unprincipled, duplicitous, and greedy our ‘betters’ are.

      But I still think he’s going to win, and hopefully by enough they can’t cheat their way out of it.

    • Gadfly

      I think Biden will most likely win, but that it will be close and he won’t be over 300 (I think the results will be something similar to what Leon posted today). If the Dems sweep (although I think it’s possible they don’t take the Senate), then in addition to the judges I think Trump’s tax cuts will also stay. The Rs will vote lock-step against tax increases (it’s one of the few things they’re usually good on) and the Ds will not have more than a 3 seat Senate majority, and considering how many of the rich folks support the Ds I’d imagine they’d be able to buy off 3 Senators.

  33. Gustave Lytton

    Two things I fucking hate in a hotel room:

    Drains left plugged
    Trash bags not opened and too small for the container so they fall in when you use them.

    Room was half assed cleaned after the last stay. But they put Hilton’s sanitary theatre sticker on the door so that debris by the vanity in the bathroom and the hairs on the desk and in the shower must not be real.

    • blackjack

      Crack whore’s shooting at Johns, next door and then the police arrive, at three A.M.?

    • egould310

      Sorry to hear that. I just checked into the AC by Marriott in Salt Lake City and it is so nice. Very modern, impeccably clean. The space is really nice and comfortable. The bathroom and especially the shower are awesome. Watching the Doyers sipping some vodka.

      • leon

        How long will you be in town? Maybe a glibs Meetup?

      • egould310

        A meetup would be cool, but I’m on a tight schedule and will have to work in the evenings. Plus, I’m going to do inventory counts in Logan and Ogden and Taylorsville tomorrow. Another day went *poof!* Yeah, my time is at a premium right now.

        Also, the Uinta taproom/restaurant is closed. 🙁 That’s my go-to lunch spot in SLC.

      • Gustave Lytton

        Gin and ginger ale here.

      • egould310

        Cheers!

    • db

      If we ever get back to normal and I have to start traveling to our various locations again, I’m going to wear a GoPro on my forehead and start a Youtube channel doing “unboxing” videos, but checking in to hotel rooms. These days I stay in “good” hotels, but often there’s some weird shit you find in the rooms when you first go in.

      Best one I ever stayed in was about 20 years ago and I thought I’d save the company a little money by staying in an EconoLodge. Long story short, crazy front desk lady, required a deposit for the phone, no soap or shampoo, room looked like it had served as the primary location for a few hundred porn casting videos, and the next morning, I walked out to see a Lamborghini parked next to my car.

      Checked out immediately, and checked into the Hampton Inn a mile down the road. After that, I have never stayed in a budget hotel when on the company’s dime since.

      • Gustave Lytton

        There’s extended co-workers who will book Super 8 or lower. Eff that. Choice Hotels and Best Western are too variable, imo, so I cut off at IHG now. I still feel like I’m skating on thin ice when it comes to travel, but my manager hasn’t said anything so far. Since Covid, I’ve stuck to Hilton family (mostly Hamptons because that’s what’s available where I need to go and why book more when the in-house restaurants or lounges are closed?) so I can choose my room, check in, and check out on the app and don’t need to interact at the front desk theatre.

      • Plinker762

        I’ve had good luck with Best Western and Choice. Just checked into a BW in Bellingham.

      • Festus' Mustache

        What, no dead Hooker in the box-spring? Piker.

  34. grrizzly

    https://ballotpedia.org/Massachusetts_2020_ballot_measures

    Massachusetts Question 1, the “Right to Repair Law” Vehicle Data Access Requirement Initiative is on the ballot in Massachusetts as an indirect initiated state statute on November 3, 2020.

    A “yes” vote supports requiring manufacturers that sell vehicles with telematics systems in Massachusetts to equip them with a standardized open data platform beginning with model year 2022 that vehicle owners and independent repair facilities may access to retrieve mechanical data and run diagnostics through a mobile-based application.

    Massachusetts Question 2, the Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative is on the ballot in Massachusetts as an initiated state statute on November 3, 2020.

    A “yes” vote supports enacting ranked-choice voting (RCV) for primary and general elections for state executive officials, state legislators, federal congressional and senate seats, and certain county offices beginning in 2022.

    Leaning yes on 1, though I don’t like imposing additional requirements on car manufacturers.
    No on 2. It will likely benefit even more far-left candidates.

    • Drake

      I’d probably vote yes on 1. I bought the car, I own the software and the hardware.

      • Plinker762

        I this “standardized open data platform” something that already exists?

  35. Don escaped Duopoly

    MEM: we’re seeing Trump and Biden ads here, 300 miles from any voters to speak of in a toss-up state

    for the down-ballot draw?

    • leon

      Missed your take on My predictions this afternoon. Even gave you a mention in it.

      • Don escaped Duopoly

        I saw your posting but haven’t read it yet; frankly, I’m not around here much lately and have somewhat been waiting for this all to blow over.

        I’m still of the same mind as to what moves the needle in states that matter: for every person who wants to vote Trump and hasn’t done so before, there are four people who failed to vote against him who won’t miss their chance this time. Most of the yapping comes from partisans: people whose votes are not going to change; they’re loud, but they don’t remotely matter; they’re priced into the market. The question is what changes, and change is not going to favor this incumbent.

        The vote theft angles may soothe some, but it just ignores that Trump ran an EC gauntlet in 2016. 538 was right: Herself would have won the EC three times if that election had been held four times. Trump’s not pretty or lucky enough to run any more gauntlets.

        That said, I would hate to see a blue Senate: as it was with BHO44, a check on Mr Biden is vital.

      • UnCivilServant

        I am of the mind that for everyone who lamented not voting against trump who’ll make sure to do so this year, there are four who’ve been driven into the president’s camp and are champing at the bit to vote for him.

      • R C Dean

        Wow. It’s autocorrecting “Biden” for “Harris”. That was quick.

  36. dbleagle

    Mailed my ballot back yesterday.

    Only a few Honolulu County proposals, NO to all. None decrease gov spending or increase individual liberty.

    OMB got my Prez vote. Both as a huge “fuck you” to the Dems for being socialists, and to the LP for putting up a candidate that says I must support BLM’s goals.

    I voted for the LP candidate to replace Tulsi. Like Tulsi she is a vet. Unlike Tulsi she is active in trying to reduce my tax burden.

    No other LP available for the other offices so voted for GOP.

    I did NOT vote for any candidates for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA). I never have and never will vote for any OHA position.

    OHA is an openly racist government organization that spends state tax money to discriminate against the bulk of Hawaii’s residents. I am not understating this. OHA exists to spend money on, and rent state land to, only people of a native Hawaiian descent. It is also spectacular in the breath and scope of graft. Until the US Supreme Court ruled in 2000 (Rice v. Cayetano) only native Hawaiian residents could vote in the elections to choose the OHA members- even though everybody pays the taxes to support OHA.

    • hayeksplosives

      Wow, I didn’t know that about the OHA. Blatantly racist and socialist.

      I feel a little sorry for the “oppressed” groups in these situations, because most of them would feel happy and unoppressed if they didn’t have lefties screaming at them that they are oppressed and powerless.

      • hayeksplosives

        BTW, who is OMB in the context of your prez vote?

      • RAHeinlein

        Orange Man Bad

      • dbleagle

        Is it: Office of Management and Budget or Orange Man Bad?

        The ballot is sacred and shall never be sha….I can’t.

        Don Don got my FU vote.

      • hayeksplosives

        Yep, I marked mine for The Donald and Pence.

  37. hayeksplosives

    crisis-level teacher shortages

    Bwaaahahahahahaha! That is rich.

    • Breet Pharara

      Yeah, everyone knows its the opposite. Too many teachers for the current amount of administrators to handle. Need to hire many more administrators. Many more.

      • hayeksplosives

        What about more counselors for preemptive grief struggle sessions for those Inevitable gun murders.

      • Breet Pharara

        Obviously those too. Probably need to upgrade their facilities as well. Oh and stress councilors. Not for the students; for the poor teachers dealing with the anxiety of COVID. Don’t worry though, they’ll get around to hiring more teachers next time you generously volunteer to give them more money 4 years from now.

  38. Cannoli

    I have some homework to do in the next two weeks. In addition to the races for President, both Senators, and Representative, my ballot has a dozen state and local races, two state constitutional amendments (it appears one would prevent taxes levied for one purpose from being used for other purposes, and the other waives sovereign immunity when they do something illegal or unconstitutional), a statewide referendum on property tax exemptions for charities, and a local sales tax.

  39. DenverJ

    WHAZ UP GLITCHES?!?!

    • The Bearded Hobbit

      Sup?

      • db

        Din?

      • Plinker762

        do?

  40. Threedoor

    CASA and Americorps, I’d totally vote to get rid of him for those offenses alone.

    • blackjack

      They do hang out in the same areas when they’re in L.A. The In-n-out where she got spotted is maybe a mile from the geotag on his methpipe pics.

      • db

        The one on Radford?

      • blackjack

        No, she was at the one on Cahuenga right near Lankershim. Geotags put Biden up in the hills off of Mulholland.

  41. DenverJ

    I am not doing any homework this year, for the first time ever. Straight part ticket (Republican, because the threat is just too great), no tax increases, and any changes to the state constitution “no” because I didn’t do my homework.

    • hayeksplosives

      I did my homework and it was all “no” on measures except for the one that rolls back the Uber/Lyft ban.

      Your “no” votes across the board is a safe bet.

      Never vote yes for giving a new duty to government.

      Never vote yes for a bill that was named for a person.

      • DenverJ

        Yup

      • blackjack

        That’s my take on the props. It sucks that it’s a narrow exception, but these people deserve to be contractors. Eventually, if they succeed, others will fight for exceptions too.

      • Sir Digby Classic

        Never vote yes for a bill that was named for a person.

        Holy crap, THIS!

        Well, if it imposed a restriction on government, I could see so. But A) the gov would just find a way to say “we now need even more $ for this”, and 2) how many times is this the name thing tied to actually limiting gov?

    • DenverJ

      Also, Colorado has been doing all-mail ballots for years now- makes one think of the old-timey laws when you couldn’t get booze on election day…
      Hell, I could be drunk and smoking crack, filling out my ballot right now.

      • The Bearded Hobbit

        old-timey laws when you couldn’t get booze on election day

        Modern times make it hard to buy drinks for votes on election day. Doesn’t mean it will ever change. Seems like we only lose freedom, never regain it.

        I’m shocked that the 55MPH speed limit was repealed.

  42. Chipping Pioneer

    Ballot Propos…

    NO

  43. Gadfly

    Voted today, in person, only took 15 minutes. Only candidates on my ballot, no referendums. I think TX may deliberately put referendums in the off years (I remember we had like 10 last year), which is probably for the best, as it reduces the number of low-info voters weighing in. I forgot that we were having local elections, since it wasn’t on my sample ballot, so I left most of those blank, with the exception of the mayor’s race since the mayor is literally the only local figure I ever hear anything about. Also no local referendums, which is probably because last time the schools tried to raise property taxes they got shot down, and there ain’t no way they’d get more sympathy this year.

  44. hayeksplosives

    I haven’t yet parted with my ballot. I would be happier if I could feed it into a machine and hear a little “sing” of acknowledgement. Even better, a tally scoreboard on the wall would increment.

    As it is, I don’t see how we can ever prove the election results are unmolested.

    • db

      Shareholder meeting votes for most companies are better audited than our elections. The blind faith put in our systems is astounding.

    • dbleagle

      Drop it off in a post office in a blue area. Do not mail it from a known or suspected “team red zone”.

    • Gadfly

      I would be happier if I could feed it into a machine and hear a little “sing” of acknowledgement.

      That’s what I had. Voted in person today (in Texas) and in addition to requiring voter ID they also had paper ballots that you feed into the voting machine, electronically select your choices, it prints out your choices in bar code and text version (so you can review), and you feed it into the ballot box machine that gives you a feedback screen saying your vote was successfully counted. IMO, that process should be the minimum standard for election security everywhere (minimum, because I’m sure it still has some flaws, but it felt much more secure than the processes I’ve experienced elsewhere).

      • SUPREME OVERLORD trshmnstr

        I wanted the ballot box machine to show my choices so that I could confirm that they were received correctly.

        In an ideal world, you would take the paper ballot home with you after the ballot box prints some private key on it. Then, you would be able to generate a public key to look up your (anonymous) vote online and make sure it was counted correctly.

      • Gadfly

        That’s my preference as well, but I don’t think you need two separate keys, since your name’s not on the ballot. That’s probably too complicated, but it would give me much more confidence in the elections.

      • UnCivilServant

        It’s the way PKI works, so I’m guessing that’s why Trashy defaulted there.

        My real issue is trying to get normies understand the process. I have to keep finding ways to make technical people understand, even though it doesn’t feel like a complicated process from a high level view (no, I don’t get into the cryptographic process itself)

      • SUPREME OVERLORD trshmnstr

        I don’t think you need two separate keys,

        I’m certainly not the right person to design a secure crypto system for voting, but I think that certain types of fraud would be easy with just a single symmetric key.

        The system would need to protect from 1) substitute votes (IOW, the vote needs to be matchable to its paper ballot in a way that isn’t easily spoofed)

        2) hijacked votes (IOW, it should be clear which one is right when there is a mismatch between the vote and the ballot)

        3) fake votes (IOW, there should be security that encodes the timestamp into the vote and makes it difficult to fake the timestamp)

        4) uncounted votes (authenticated ballots correspond to votes, else something bad happened)

        These are all solvable/solved issues, but they place a burden on the voter if you do them right.

        The one I don’t know how to solve is the voting for dead and/or non-voting people. Short of requiring in-person with voter ID, you can’t solve that problem. You would really need those requirements to be met for a secure election, anyway.

      • Ownbestenemy

        I was just working that through my head and thought, symmetric encryption definitely wouldn’t work.

        The answer is with your last musing of how do you generate the private key and allowing the voter to decide how many public keys they will have.

        Maybe a bio-metric marker when you vote but we know that would be pushed back as trying to get people with no hands not to vote. Maybe block-chain technology is the answer. Find that answer, make it foolproof accessible to everyone and not prone to politics and you sir will be the king of the universe.

      • Ownbestenemy

        Rabbit hole engaged.

      • J. Frank Parnell

        We should use blockchain for this!

        /guy who doesn’t understand blockchain but wants to use it for everything.

      • Ownbestenemy

        That makes too much sense. You need to report to your local Truth Commissar to begin your new education lessons.

  45. The Bearded Hobbit

    Too local.

    I love how that has become a meme here. Didn’t someone say, “All politics is local”?

    • The Bearded Hobbit

      “are”

      • whahappan

        Tip O’Neil, I believe.

    • UnCivilServant

      It is part of the founding saga.

      • Chipping Pioneer

        I may be forgetting my Glib history, but wasn’t that the main catalyst?

      • UnCivilServant

        It’s hard to say if it was the main catalyst or the last straw, but it’s inseperable.

      • Ownbestenemy

        Nope still too local.

  46. Ownbestenemy

    Here in NV we have 5 ballot initiatives:

    #1 Remove provisions governing for the elections and duties of the Board of Regents for state universities as designated by the Constitution and hand it off to the legislature and State law.
    — NO. Keep it Constitutionally bound.

    #2 Marriage between man and woman and remove that language from the Constitution.
    — This one was a NO. Not because I am some bigot, it has to do with further language in the proposal. The overall premise of the language is moot since Obergefell v. Hodges. I side with a State that wants that language in their Constitution. In the end, I would much rather we just get rid of state sponsored marriage.

    Where I have an issue is the proponents are trying to use this law to enact what appears to be good language that will protect clergy or other religious institutions from not being forced to perform the marriage, but that is too narrow in my view. It needs to be cast wide that any person in the State of Nevada can deny the recognition of the same-sex marriage (private parties; not government). I feel if enacted, the carved out religious exemption will be used to go after normal everyday persons for not immediately groveling at same-sex marriages.

    #3 State Board of Pardons Commissioners to meet at least once a quarter.
    — I am a YES on this. This at least forces the issue for the Government to appear to hear appeals rather than pick and choose the favored. I am sure it will be abused somehow though.

    #4 Guarantee Specific Voting Rights
    — NO, Positive rights always end up more a restriction than freedom.

    #5 Was removed

    #6 Electric Utility Service be >= 50% of all energy
    — Yeah, a big no. Let the market decide that one, in which Nevada has been doing.

    Controversial is the marriage language question I know and probably lose my semi-libertarian creed.

    #3

    • Ownbestenemy

      #6 is supposed to be utilities >= 50% from ‘renewable’ sources. I am sure you all caught that meaning.

    • Gustave Lytton

      I said above I was voting against drug legalization, so let me know where I need to turn in my chit as well.

    • Gadfly

      It needs to be cast wide that any person in the State of Nevada can deny the recognition of the same-sex marriage (private parties; not government).

      Really, it should be that private parties can deny the recognition of any marriage, but I imagine that hill’s too steep to climb.

      #6 Electric Utility Service be >= 50% of all energy from ‘renewable’ sources
      — Yeah, a big no.

      Definitely a no, not only because the market should decide but also because they’ll probably only count solar and wind as ‘renewable’, which is just stupid.

      • Ownbestenemy

        The the marriage question, absolutely what you said.

        To the electricity question, we have one of the largest supplier of renewable energy, Hoover Dam, but I am with you, I do not think they count that as such.

        Hoover Dam generates 4 billion kilowatts annually and we sell off upwards of 95% of that to other states. Now if the question was to renegotiate contracts of that electricity then I might be a yes.

  47. mikey

    Just out of curiosity I tried reading the MaryJane and some other proposal. They were obviously written to be unintelligable. I tore the ballots up tossed them in the trash. I refuse to particiapate in chosing between bowls of shit soup and turd sandwiches to run my iife.
    Much younger mikey took voting very seriously and viewed it as a sacred civic duty. Something’s changed. Probabaly me. Doubt the soups and sandwiches have really changed.

    • Ownbestenemy

      General law should be able to be understood by a 1st grader with no questions.

      • db

        Still exceeds the intellectual capacity of many elected representatives.

  48. Gender Traitor

    The only non-office item on the sample ballot for my precinct (posted on the Board of Elections website) is a township 3.62 mill property (real estate) tax renewal for ROADZZ!!! I’m twixt and tween. Mostly I resent the fact that as far as I know, the township has no plans to repair the tiny connector street around the corner from me that was my preferred route out of our neighborhood. The street runs over a culvert, but the soil under the pavement was washing away, so the road has been closed for months and may be so for good. Now I have to turn left onto a state highway (with no traffic light, of course) to head for work. ::growls low in throat::

    (Local enough for you?)

    • UnCivilServant

      So no one with a brother in law who repairs roads wants to get that culbert fixed?

      • Gender Traitor

        No – I think all the trustees’ BILs work for the trash company that got the township’s contract.

  49. hayeksplosives

    Overheating my husband in the kitchen:

    cat: ~meow~

    Spouse:“Really? ‘Meow’? Isn’t that a little cliche?”

    • Ownbestenemy

      ….are you cooking him?

      • hayeksplosives

        The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover?

        No, stupid autocorrect as usual.

      • Ownbestenemy

        😉 I am sure there are times my wife wishes to overheat me.

    • Gender Traitor

      Overheating my husband

      New euphemism!

      • Sir Digby Classic

        I mean…yeah, although, just how mew ‘new’ is up for debate.

  50. KSuellington

    We have a bunch of crappy props in California and I will likely be voting no on all of them save the one that carves out a special exemption for Uber and Lyft. I hate that it isn’t just shitcanning the stupid law that screwed over all the contracted employees, but at least it will keep ridesharing happening here.
    More than anything I would love to see a Monty Brewster law passed. “None of the above” should absolutely be an option for all elected offices and if it wins then the office goes empty until another election and all those that lost cannot run in that next election. It would really make voting a hell of a lot more meaningful and fun. I especially hate to see people running unopposed, which I have seen a number of times here, at least once with Pelosi.

    • Ownbestenemy

      Before I threw it in the fire, I noticed it was quite thick. I think if your statewide election pamphlet is over 15 pages, you need to split the state up as it is too large.

      • KSuellington

        +1 State of Jefferson fan.

        I’ve had a few conversations with the wife about this very subject. There is no way the vast, vast majority of people are getting anywhere close to informed enough to vote on this much shit. Well, I guess that really is the point.

      • Ownbestenemy

        I apply it to laws too. If I cannot explain to a 5 year old what the law is, then it needs to be thrown out. Seriously though, I used the CA supplemental voter information packet to start about 5 bonfires.

  51. Gustave Lytton

    Multnomah Co. DA found another protestor to prosecute!

    https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2020/10/proud-boy-patriot-prayer-brawler-tusitala-tiny-toese-sentenced-to-6-months-in-portland-jail.html

    Circuit Judge Kathleen Dailey barred Toese, a Vancouver-area resident, from attending Portland protests for two years in that case

    Huh. I bet the ACLU was all over that as a restriction of his constitutional rights, just like they fought similar restrictions on antifa/BLM rioters.

    • Gustave Lytton

      2020’s Democrat controlled justice is just as corrupt as 1950’s Democrat controlled justice in the South was. Imagine that.

    • Sir Digby Classic

      Gotta love how it was the presence of the Righters that led to violence, and not the commies, according to the rag.

      • Ownbestenemy

        It is the last person seen doing wrong or the bastard child that gets the belt.

  52. Shpip

    We’ve had a couple of local perpetual candidates come along in the last few years. One ran for the state house in 2012 (didn’t get out of the primary), US House in 2016 (got bitchslapped by our Freedom Caucus incumbent) and state house again in 2016 (lost again). She finally gained a seat on the county commission last year. She’s the type of addled old hippie chick that one sees wandering around Whole Foods on a Saturday morning, complete with tie-dye t-shirt and hemp bags.

    Now, the Big College chair of the anesthesiology department is making a run for the state house, having lost in a run for state senate two years ago. She would be the girls’ PE teacher at the local high school if she didn’t go into medicine. Think “Janet Reno with a stethoscope.”

    Since I live in said college town, the amendments and proposals are a dog’s breakfast of bad ideas. I.e., an extra mill on property taxes for the schools, letting the county propose “growth management areas” that would prevent people from developing their property, “Identification and Elimination of Racial and Gender Bias in County Policies,” and the establishment of a county “Affordable Housing Trust Fund.”

    I’m voting against the serial candidate gas passer, and “no” on all the local charter stuff, which will all pass, because college town.

    • PieInTheSky

      Can addled old hippie chicks afford Whole Foods?

      • Ownbestenemy

        You’d be surprised at what the government allows to buy on welfare, so yes…yes they can and the average person that cannot qualify for welfare cannot afford.

      • Shpip

        This one can. She’s been teaching school in the county since 1994, and her husband is a Ph.D. Marriage & Family Therapist in town (he gets a good chunk of his clients from court-mandated domestic violence classes). They may not be formally part of the professorate, but they’re of a kind.

        If they’re not still driving around an old Volvo 240 wagon, it’s because they got a Subaru to keep up appearances.

  53. Sir Digby Classic

    I have no idea what’s on mine. I’ll try to vote in the morning, before an extended errand for the Mother Unit. Plan on a straight R/R&L combo, for the most part. Don’t know of any props, as Gadfly has pointed out.

    • Ownbestenemy

      These decisions by the socials might actually be an unforced error in Trump’s favor for the remaining votes.

      • hayeksplosives

        You give the electorate far too much credit.

    • PieInTheSky

      It’s good to start the morning reading something very stupid. Gets one ready for the day ahead.

  54. PieInTheSky

    These proposition things are foreign to me and I do not feel included by this post. SP needs to have a chat with the Glibertarians diversity and inclusion subcommittee.

    Good morning glibberati

    • EvilSheldon

      SP *is* the Glibs D&I subcommittee.

    • Ownbestenemy

      Mornin Pie. Don’t worry, in a couple of years the US will correct this notion that the People have a say in their lives and we will no longer have these pesky propositions.

      • PieInTheSky

        The whole popular vote on issues thing seems only to work in Switzerland, and even there it is starting to go down the wrong path. I shudder to think how it would go in Romania.

      • Ownbestenemy

        It works here until the people vote the wrong way, then it gets overruled. That one is always fun to bring up for proponents of popular/direct democracy. Just ask the multitude of citizens in various states where proposals were put up for popular vote, they were enacted, only to be overruled because of reasons.

    • Gustave Lytton

      It’s bad enough with the CanCon. Now we have to have a RomCon?

    • Sir Digby Classic

      the Glibertarians diversity and inclusion subcommittee.

      ?

    • hayeksplosives

      I hate the propositions because they are mob rule.

      I don’t like the fact that people who don’t pay income tax can vote themselves to a share of my income.

      • Sir Digby Classic

        Or, give a chunk of it to others because feels.

        “I couldn’t get you anything, so, I stole this person’s money and…here ya go”

  55. PieInTheSky

    our current authoritarian governor is against. – I read something somewhere online that was favorable of this governor from a liberty standpoint, maybe about occupational licensing. Is eh across the board authoritarian?

    • Ownbestenemy

      She could have shot him in the leg or something.

      • Sir Digby Classic

        Femoral artery, yes.

        “Groin”, yes. The euphemistic “groin”, a la Pee-Wee-in-Porky’s.

    • hayeksplosives

      Nice!

      But she could have heeded Joe’s advice and fired a couple or warning shots off the balcony and alerted the whole thing.

  56. CatchTheCarp

    In my US Congressional district in MO there is a heated race underway. Team Red has Ann Wagner, a lackluster but reliable long time incumbent running against Team Blue’s school marm Jill Schupp. Team Blue believes Wagner is vulnerable and have thrown a shit-ton of money into the race. The district has been historically Team Red but has been infested with many new Team Blue residents over the years. My prediction is a overwhelming victory for Team Red and that Team Blue pissed a bunch of money away. The plague of political commercials from both sides features ominous and foreboding soundtracks that were lifted from B movie horror flicks and have long become tiresome. The next 2 weeks can’t come fast enough. I review the records and reviews of Judges running for re-election and vote accordingly. I am in the minority, most voters can’t be bothered with such details and vote Yes. On the plus side I’ve seen a shift among my blue collar union friends who would reliably vote for Team Blue candidates for no other reason than their union told them to. That doesn’t seem to be case anymore, there is hope.

  57. Ownbestenemy

    “Jeffrey Toobin has been sidelined at a pivotal moment in the run-up to the presidential election. The reason: He exposed himself during a Zoom call with New Yorker colleagues in what he says was an accident. Here’s our full story,” Stelter tweeted with a link to his CNN article about the controversy.” /CNN

    While already childish, it is now grown into teenage years of “I slipped and it just fell into her” level of mockery of intelligence. Next we will arrive at the “this isn’t what it looks like”.

    • hayeksplosives

      It depends on what the definition of “is” is.

      That paragon of virtue, Bill Clinton, opened the floodgates. Now politicians can blatantly lie to our faces and smile smugly while doing so. No shame.

      • Sir Digby Classic

        Well, Toobin certainly shed his shame (as well as his pants).

    • hayeksplosives

      Nice.

      Won’t stop the Dems from rejecting the ballots harvested from non-Dem operatives.

  58. grrizzly

    Out of nowhere, I’m flying to Jacksonville, FL for six days around New Year. No idea what to do there, actually I kind of wanted to visit Tampa. We may still drive there. But at least it should be warmer than in Boston.

    • Sir Digby Classic

      Yeah–due to CLIMATE CHANGE!!!! Aaaaahhh…..Oooohhhh!! ?☠️\

      OK, I’ve had my fun.

    • grrizzly

      https://thedali.org/visit/safety/
      All staff and visitors required to wear face masks (worn over nose and mouth)

      They still have two months to drop this if they want me to visit their museum.

      • Shpip

        The Dali is a mighty fine museum, but it’s a helluva long way from Jax.

        If you’re spending a few days in the St. Pete area, I’m sure Brett L could help you out.

        I went to grad school in Jacksonville, but that was 28 years ago. Still, I could try to give you some pointers.

        pjshpip at gmail

      • grrizzly

        Thanks, just shot an email.

      • Sir Digby Classic

        As I understand it, modern, sold-to-the-public LRs are yuuuuge pieces of shit. A very good way to show off a waste of $. Then, there are versions that are supposedly prime examples of what LR is supposed to be.

        What’s the deal?

      • Sir Digby Classic

        *a very good way to show off that you wasted your $

      • Gustave Lytton

        Luxury SUV grown out of utilitarian workhorse brand, with typical British automotive quality. They were owned by Ford for a while.

        “Land Rover, making mechanics out of motorists since 1948”

        Or another way, compare a 1970 Land Cruiser with the current same model name but completely different vehicle.

      • Sir Digby Classic

        I get that. What is going on with the “there are bad versions, and, good versions” thing? As in, the piece of shit in video 1 vs. “Real Defenders”?

      • Sir Digby Classic

        Is it a case of too much modern tech/too complicated? I mean, I will never buy Ford again, so just them having had a hand in LR (not to mention the price) eliminates them from consideration for me. But, what’s going on with the various swings in quality?

      • Plinker762

        I have a ’72 Series III 88. Had to rebuild the transmission because the selector forks would wear and then trash the gears because they would only partially engage. Aluminum body with steel reinforcement driven in New England with salted roads didn’t work out too well either

        I pulled out the 4 cylinder and put in a V6. With the aftermarket overdrive it cruised the highways pretty well. It is apart in the garage now, waiting for a major rebuild.

      • Shpip

        I have a perfectly good tow vehicle for getting my Porsche to the track, so I’m not really in the market for a Land Cruiser (and the Sequoia is $30k cheaper and will do the same stuff I need).

        That said, I’m still a bit surprised that Toyota is pulling what’s arguably its halo vehicle from the US after next year.

  59. hayeksplosives

    A little over twenty years ago, the Florida election tally and subsequent drama had me glued to politics like I’d never been before.

    Born and raised in a red state, newly returned from years in Europe where Schroeder had just been elected—I was craving some “right” thinking individuals to be around.

    I tuned to talk radio for the first time in my life. Listened to Rush Limbaugh, though I though him bombastic. Then I found Jason Lewis, Michael Medved, Dennis Prager, Larry Elder.

    All very different perspectives from libertarian to conservatives. Just no lefties.

    I don’t think I listened to Rush more than a couple of months, but I listened to the rest for years at work, and they owe it all to Rush.

    I am going to avoid the psychosocial media for a few weeks after Rush’s death. I don’t want to know what the left says.

    • Tejicano

      “I am going to avoid the psychosocial media for a few weeks after Rush’s death. I don’t want to know what the left says.”

      I’m sure their glee will be disgusting in the extreme. I never really cared for him myself – too much over the top for me. But I was glad for his presence. Kinda like that neighbor’s noisy dog which barks a bit too much – but you know he keeps a lot of bad stuff away by his barking.

      • Sir Digby Classic

        I know him more from his TV show back in the 90’s than anything else. Although, i will say, I liked his tie collection he hawked back then. Very much a style of the times.

  60. Yusef drives a Kia

    Guten Morgen mien Froinds!, another inky black dawn over here, but not cold! maybe 50?

    • Sean

      Mornin

    • PieInTheSky

      hmmm google… that is 10… it was 4 here this morning… wine drinking weather…

    • PieInTheSky

      The Iron Cross sounds vaguely fashy

      • PieInTheSky

        Or maybe prussian… anyhoo potato potato

    • Sir Digby Classic

      “B-b-but…if we override it, he:

      – may not sign of on bills we really, really like
      – may veto bills we pass that are super awesome
      – not like us anymore”

    • Yusef drives a Kia

      at least we have the breweries, we can sit in peace, and food is optional, but usually tasty, other than the mask crap, life seems pretty normal around here.
      I also don’t socialize much, so what do I know

    • PieInTheSky

      People would have died

    • Rhywun

      House Democratic Whip Jordan Harris, D-Philadelphia, countered that supporting the override sends the message that eating at a restaurant is more important than saving lives.

      I… wow.

      I can’t argue with iron-clad logic like that.

  61. LCDR_Fish

    Havent managed to dig up ballot info for my county yet – but for town council, I figure i’ll vote for the two guys who came by my house personally to introduce themselves – both retired military (infantry BN/BDE commander and the other was an MP but also c-suite for a multinational after that).

    • PieInTheSky

      infantry ? lame

      • Yusef drives a Kia

        An American Man, trained to use a high powered suite of weapons, you call that lame?
        HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      • Tejicano

        I guess the commies only used infantry as cannon fodder so Pie’s image of them is as some kind of lesser solder that does his best to stay out of trouble. American infantry are a different animal altogether.

      • Tres Cool

        Having spent my time in aviation (MOS 15N), we tended to look down on the 11B (11 bush-beater, 11 gunBUNNY, etc) and other combat arms. A couple schools I went through culminated in a FTX, and let me tell ya- those infantry guys know how to live in the woods. Or desert. Or Jungle. Or mountains.

      • Tejicano

        My first 4 years I was Marine Infantry – that’s where the term “Grunt” came from. The gear we had back then was pretty much crap so it wasn’t much different than living like an animal.

  62. Tres Cool

    mornin’ ya’all

    Luckily, my store was stocked, so TALL CANS!

    • Yusef drives a Kia

      Sup Tres! Java and Bongers for breakfast, knock one back for me,
      Tall Cans!

    • Gender Traitor

      Mornin’, homey et al! TALL…CUP!! (In truth, a travel mug.)

      • Gender Traitor

        *taps mug to bottle*

      • Tres Cool

        /burps

      • Festus' Mustache

        Gesundheit!

  63. Festus' Mustache

    Mornin’ Glibbies! We have a Provincial election in three days time and it looks like the part of Fidel Castro that didn’t soak into Margaret Trudeau’s panties is facing a non-confidence vote in Parliament tomorrow which he might well lose and we’ll get another Federal election announced a year to the day after the last one. What is it with all of these Leftists calling snap elections during a “pandemic”. Could it be that they are banking on the goodwill that the MSM is granting them and their puppets in the public health service? Maybe keeping the oldsters at home? It’s like two or three Provincial contests so far.

  64. Tejicano

    I sent in my absentee ballot today by e-mail. I had to sign away my right to privacy but IDGAF. New Mexico is a blue state but who knows this year?

    • UnCivilServant

      I get it. Al this political theater is actually a subsidy for corn farmers.

    • PieInTheSky

      real butter or the fake stuff?

      • UnCivilServant

        Flavacol, the real fake stuff used in theaters.

      • PieInTheSky

        I actually found that for sale in romania, 40 Lei for 992g . Weird size why not make it a full kilogram

      • PieInTheSky

        I can assume it is supposed to be 35 so called “ounces”

  65. Festus' Mustache

    I don’t get all the different methods of voting down there. I’ve been voting off and on for nearly forty years up here and it has always been the same. Bring your card card and I.D. to a designated polling place, some old dear crosses your name off the list and hands you your ballot and then you go to a semi private area to get your Toobin on with a golf pencil. Fold the ballot (hopefully with a little special sauce) and return it to another Granny that inserts it in a slot cut out from a cardboard box. Done and done. Plus our voter registration is automatically mailed out to everyone that files a tax return.

    • Festus' Mustache

      Card card is the special card. Better than lowly old “card”.

      • Festus' Mustache

        That being said, I might just cast a ballot for the Libertarian kid, just for shits and giggles.

  66. ignoreLander

    “Legitimate, taxpaying business people, and not criminal actors, conduct sales of marijuana.”

    i.e., only those that will give Big Daddy Gubmint his cut conduct sales of marijuana.