Over-matched by Democrat "Poll Observers" on Election Day

I was over-matched, unprepared, and overcome as a Republican poll observer last Tuesday.  Along with two others, while we were working Project Orca for Romney, our Democrat "poll-observing" counterparts ignored the rules, kibitzed with voters, and even attested signatures on voter registration forms with their own signature.

I volunteered to work as a Republican poll observer for the Romney campaign.  I was trained to use a web-based application from my smartphone which tracked which supporter or independent had voted.  From my position behind ballot inspectors, I was to check off the names of voters as they stated their name - when I could here them.  Most voters handed the inspectors their license when approaching them.  When they did state their name, most of them leaned forward so only the inspector could hear.  The inspectors would repeat their name, but because they had their back to us, often times we couldn't hear them.

We were supposed to use the Project Orca website to log voter's names, but the website never became available.  Alternately, we had printed copies of the lists in order to check off names.  We would phone in the results throughout the day.

Our Democrat poll-observing counterparts sat with us but often left the poll-observing designated area to stand among themselves off to the side by the entrance to the polling place.  We later learned that our counterparts were all lawyers.  We wondered why and later got our answer.

One lawyer was profiling voters as they entered.  If a voter looked Hispanic or Latino and had a glazed look on their face when they walked in, she got up, approached the voter, and began to speak Spanish.  When we cried foul, she would sit down, but only briefly.

Around 6:00 p.m. the line to register to vote was very long (NH allows people to register to vote on the day of an election). Because the line was so long, there was significant concern among poll workers that they would not be able to register everyone in line. This is when our lawyer friends jumped into action.  They requested that they be deputized to be city clerks to assist with new voter registration.   Democrats were worried that people would either not bother to register because the line was so long or that they would leave the line.  The city's head clerk arrived and asked that everyone help.  Not wanting to leave the job entirely to the Democrats, we all joined in.  Next thing you know, I'm working for the city helping with voter registration handing out applications and pens.

The application required name, address, and either a NH driver's license or the last four digits of your social security number - no proof of citizenship. It also required three signatures: one by the application, another by a witness that the applicant's signature was theirs, and another by the city.   I was standing by the table where voters were being processed when I heard a city worker ask a Democrat poll observer where they were supposed to sign since he signed the line witnessing the applicant's signature.  Wait a minute!  Why was a city worker asking a Democrat-poll-observing-lawyer-now-deputized-to-process-voter-registrations where to sign?  I joined a discussion on the other side of the room and asked why was this guy signing voter registration forms?  I was told he was speeding up the process.  Really?  How?  By having all the paperwork signed when registrants were being processed.  I said that this guy has no business signing anything.  I didn't think signing up to help meant that someone could sign voter registration forms.

Then, a representative from the state's Attorney General's office arrived to sort out what city workers were to do with applications that were signed by this lawyer.  After making a few calls, she advised city workers to sign the line approving that voters be added to the checklist.

City workers were delighted that the the line wait went down from thirty minutes to fifteen minutes, and to no waiting around 7:40 p.m.  The poll closed promptly at 8:00 p.m.  The moderator was happy, city workers were happy, voters were happy, and the Democrat poll observers were no where to be found.  I then went back to become a poll observer - I guess.

During the initial training, we were advised to call a phone number where we could report any potential irregularities.  I made several calls during the day.  Overall, I was totally unprepared and completely over-matched.  While us Republican poll observers were checking off names so that potential supporters who had yet to vote could be called to urge to get to the polls, Democrats stretched (broke?) the rules, took advantage of  the chaos, and worked the voter crowd.  From a strategic perspective, it was a much better "plan."  This is what happened in one ward in one city in NH.  Imagine what was going on in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida.

Republicans must figure out a way to counter this strategy.  Otherwise, they will be out-matched on election day for the foreseeable future.

The Scarcity Mentality

There's a subplot at work in the world.  It's whether we have too much or not enough; whether we have all that we need or that we haven't got enough

Politically speaking, Democrats subscribe to the Scarcity Mentality while Republicans subscribe to the Abundance Mentality. Democrats think that stewardship means we need to limit ourselves because their isn't enough.  Republicans believe that stewardship is for protecting abundance.

Any policy that does not help people become "the best version of themselves" is a scarcity mentality. Saving trees and puppies is a scarcity mentality.  Developing resources, creating opportunities, and saving the unborn is the abundance mentality.

"Saving the middle class" is scarcity.  Ensuring that the middle class has access to the same opportunity as all Americans is abundance.

Entitlement is scarcity; accountability is abundance.

Universal healthcare is scarcity; a multiple-payer, market and value-based healthcare is abundance.

"Buy gold" is scarcity; investment in currency is abundance.

"I'll try" is scarcity' "I will" is abundance.

"Whatever" is scarcity; "Why not?" is abundance.

"They say" is scarcity;  "Says who?" is abundance.

This fall, listen to where each candidate is coming from.  Will they protect scarcity or abundance?

What Real May Flowers Bring

As they passed Lucia’s house, her mother and sister were at the door with some neighbors. “Aunt Maria Rosa,” Jacinta cried out with joy, “we saw Our Lady again! It was at Valinhos!”

“My, what little liars you turned out to be! As if Our Lady would appear to you wherever you go!”

“But we did see Her,” Jacinta insisted. “See here, Our Lady had one foot on this twig and the other on that one.”

“Give it to me. Let me see.” Jacinta gave the branch to Lucia’s mother. The mother’s face showed great surprise as she put the branch to her nose. “What does this smell of?” she said, continuing to smell it. “It is not perfume, it’s not incense nor perfumed soap; it’s not the smell of roses nor anything I know but it is a good smell.” The whole family gathered and each wanted to hold the branch and smell the beautiful odor. “Leave it here, Jacinta. Someone will come along who will be able to tell what kind of an odor it is...."

As she came in I sensed a magnificent fragrance which I could not explain, [explained Ti Marto.] I stretched out my hands towards the branch saying, ‘What are you bringing in, Jacinta?’

“It is the little branch on which Our Lady placed Her feet." I smelled it but the odor had gone.” Our Lady did not have to perform a miracle to prove Her case to him.

[From The True Story of Fatima, http://www.fatimacrusader.com/truestory/pdf/tspg34.pdf]

I've recently committed to weekly Eucharistic Adoration.  I stopped in this past Wednesday.  As I was approaching the chapel door, I smelled a tremendous fragrance of flowers. It made me pause and look around.  To my right about 30 feet away, was some kind of bush in full bloom. To my left, was our St. Bernadette Grotto.  The statue of Our Lady was adorned by a wreath of flowers upon her head.  I stood there a few more minutes gazing the grotto.  I then turned and went into the chapel.

After I was finished, I left the chapel.  As I was walking past the grotto, now to my right, I suddenly remembered the passages above from The True Story of Fatima. The fragrance was gone. 


Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
And blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus.
Holy Mary, mother of God,
Pray for us sinners, 
Now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

Joe Pa Got 'Too Big to Fail'

The recent sex abuse crisis facing Penn State reveals a glaring weakness in the entire Penn State enterprise: lack of courage.  Courage was contained to a 50x120 yard piece of turf.

I've been trying to figure out what compels someone who has witnessed a grown man sodomizing a 10 year-old boy to do virtually nothing.  And then for other people to get the same reports, claim to have done something, but in the end, with no follow through, have also done virtually nothing.

I think it's all because of 'Joe Pa.'  I mean more than the man - the legend and all that surrounds it and defines Penn State.  To believe that reporting this kind of crime when it happened would somehow have tarnished 'Joe Pa' is lack of courage.  To not follow through after a poor response by your boss is a lack of courage (albeit - progressively more courage required).

To report the crime when it happened would not have tarnished the reputation of anyone except the accused.  This is not the kind of thing you can find out when you interview someone for a job.  It's deviant behavior that perpetrators work hard to hide.

To keep this dirty little secret for so long really meant that everyone became to know. An entire 'system' became infected with lack of courage. Outward appearances became only a facade.

Time to see The Wizard.

Repentance - Thoughts During This Easter Season

His name was Dismas. For way too long he had to bear the insults and the jokes hurled at a man he didn’t think deserved it. These people’s emotions were out of control! But not the man to his right; he was in perfect control. Gestas was even insulting this man. What a fool! Other than the occasional grunt of discomfort from the enormous pain this man was enduring, the man to his right said nothing.  He almost looked upon them with pity. Not revengeful pity; but a deep loving remorse.

How could a man under such intense suffering seem to love these enemies of His? Finally, Dismas had had enough. “Have you no fear of God,” he asked Gestas, “for you are subject to the same condemnation? This man has done nothing criminal." Then, he said to the man to his right, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

"Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise," said Jesus to a perfect confession from a contrite penitent.

To repent is to “feel or express sincere regret or remorse about one's sin. But, one must first recognize sin. Recognizing sin means understanding that we don’t get to define right or wrong for ourselves. Right and wrong are defined for us by God. It has been handed to us through the Ten Commandments. Next, we must recognize the consequences of sin. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” That’s pretty clear.

Lastly, we must recognize the Sacrament of Penance is a sacrament instituted by Christ for the forgiveness of sins. The very first command Jesus gives to the Apostles the first time He appears to them after his resurrection is “(Jesus) said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.’“ That’s pretty clear too.