2020 Election
Apr 18th 2020, 7:13 pm
#2611
WTF?
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Homeostasis
Posts: 79,367
Re: 2020 Election
I watched 'real time with Bill Maher' last night; always appreciate his show even when I don't agree with him. Last night, he had on a Texas republican that I've never heard of before - Dan Crenshaw - quite an interesting guy to listen to. The above topic came up a bit, and he did mention that Texas allows for 'early voting' in person for 2 weeks prior to the election, suggesting that perhaps anyone who is concerned about voting 'in person' on election day can vote any time in this 2 week period. Did I get that right?
This link covers some of the interview with him:
https://www.real-time-with-bill-maher-blog.com/ (scroll down to third entry). at minute-marker 12:15, he specifically mentions the early voting.
This link covers some of the interview with him:
https://www.real-time-with-bill-maher-blog.com/ (scroll down to third entry). at minute-marker 12:15, he specifically mentions the early voting.
To answer your question, yes, Texas has early voting. I almost always vote early, tbh. Early voting is very popular so, even when you vote early, there's always some foot traffic coming and going.
Apr 18th 2020, 7:22 pm
#2612
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 211
Re: 2020 Election
I'm guessing there are far fewer places to vote early than than there are precincts open on Election Day? So the early voting locations may be just as dense with people, and thus no safer during the pandemic?
Apr 18th 2020, 7:32 pm
#2613
WTF?
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Homeostasis
Posts: 79,367
Re: 2020 Election
Sure but the overall effect is lighter traffic in general. In the 2018 midterm I voted on election day and had less than a 5 minute wait. It really does depend on where in Texas that you live though.
Apr 18th 2020, 7:36 pm
#2614
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2007
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 13,111
Re: 2020 Election
Dan Crenshaw is a bit of an arsehole, but he ain't stupid. It was amusing to see Maher made to look so poor at his job once again.This new format really does not help Maher, The one to one interviews expose his poor ability as an interviewer, he normally only has to do it once and the show gets raised by the panel section. I am baffled by why they dont have multiple simultaneous guests on the show now. The guests were always the saving grace of his show, and the one on one interactions the low point. Now we just have a series of one on one catastrophes. I am finding I am drawn to the show as car crash TV. It is also exposing his American exceptionalist elitist attitudes more, as there are not those bank of guests to balance it out.
Apr 18th 2020, 7:41 pm
#2615
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2007
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 13,111
Re: 2020 Election
I tried to watch that when it aired but, for whatever reason, Bill Maher was really pissing me off. Sometimes that happens.
To answer your question, yes, Texas has early voting. I almost always vote early, tbh. Early voting is very popular so, even when you vote early, there's always some foot traffic coming and going.
To answer your question, yes, Texas has early voting. I almost always vote early, tbh. Early voting is very popular so, even when you vote early, there's always some foot traffic coming and going.
Apr 18th 2020, 8:15 pm
#2616
Democracy advocate
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 12,460
Re: 2020 Election
I haven't watched 'Real Time' in months, but I do record it. Last night, I decided to catch up. I watched about 4 episodes in a row. Was quite interesting to see the progression of his 'seriousness' towards the virus. I thought last night's was one of the best; the pollster lady was awesome (I hope and pray she's right!), Crenshaw was at least 'interesting', and I really, really enjoyed the part with Fareed Z. Andew Sullivan is also always worth a listen; he's in a bad place right now!
Apr 18th 2020, 9:28 pm
#2617
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 2014
Location: Lauren's Co. SC by way of Palmetto, Florida
Posts: 3,265
Apr 18th 2020, 9:38 pm
#2618
Account Closed
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 0
Re: 2020 Election
I guess I was spoiled in California with voting, I have never actually had to vote in person, it was always mail, my first election was in 2000, and they let me vote by mail, and now its been mail for the last 15 years since I can't physically vote in person, but seems weird some states make voting by mail so difficult.
Apr 18th 2020, 10:44 pm
#2619
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 12,865
Re: 2020 Election
I guess I was spoiled in California with voting, I have never actually had to vote in person, it was always mail, my first election was in 2000, and they let me vote by mail, and now its been mail for the last 15 years since I can't physically vote in person, but seems weird some states make voting by mail so difficult.
Apr 18th 2020, 11:19 pm
#2621
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 12,865
Re: 2020 Election
I meant it wasn't "weird" in the sense that there is an explanation for making mail voting difficult or impossible. But, yeh, it's pretty sad that a democratic country wouldn't make it easier to vote, especially during the current pandemic. The "voter fraud" argument really is a smokescreen.
Apr 19th 2020, 12:02 am
#2622
WTF?
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Homeostasis
Posts: 79,367
Re: 2020 Election
I haven't watched 'Real Time' in months, but I do record it. Last night, I decided to catch up. I watched about 4 episodes in a row. Was quite interesting to see the progression of his 'seriousness' towards the virus. I thought last night's was one of the best; the pollster lady was awesome (I hope and pray she's right!), Crenshaw was at least 'interesting', and I really, really enjoyed the part with Fareed Z. Andew Sullivan is also always worth a listen; he's in a bad place right now!
... nuff said. Maher was still pissing me off though --- I found his attack on Crenshaw to be pointless and petulant. There are better ways to draw people out.I'm a fan of the show in general even though it bombs half of the time. I look forward to his opening monologues.
Apr 19th 2020, 12:08 am
#2623
WTF?
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Homeostasis
Posts: 79,367
Re: 2020 Election
I certainly don't worship the guy (Maher) and I agree, his interviewing style is not always great. He did not fare well with Crenshaw, who was far more coherent and respectful than Maher. But I thought Maher's opening interview with that 'democratic pollster' lady (name escapes me) was really good! She spoke so quickly and eloquently, he couldn't get a word in edgewise and she had a lot of good things to say! I hope shes right.
Apr 19th 2020, 12:27 am
#2624
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2016
Location: Northern California
Posts: 2,277
Re: 2020 Election
I have been watching the two part interview on Democracy Now with Noam Chomsky. I've always been an admirer of Chomsky, he is still very sharp at age 92.
"Suppose Biden is elected. I would anticipate it would be essentially a continuation of Obama — nothing very great, but at least not totally destructive, and opportunities for an organized public to change what is being done, to impose pressures."
"Trump, the sociopath, and Biden, who’s kind of a pretty empty — you can push him one way or another. This is the most crucial election in human history, literally. Another four years of Trump, and we’re in deep trouble."
https://www.democracynow.org/appearances/noam_chomsky
"Suppose Biden is elected. I would anticipate it would be essentially a continuation of Obama — nothing very great, but at least not totally destructive, and opportunities for an organized public to change what is being done, to impose pressures."
"Trump, the sociopath, and Biden, who’s kind of a pretty empty — you can push him one way or another. This is the most crucial election in human history, literally. Another four years of Trump, and we’re in deep trouble."
https://www.democracynow.org/appearances/noam_chomsky
“Gangster in the White House”: Noam Chomsky on COVID-19, WHO, China, Gaza and Global Capitalism
Last edited by johnwoo; Apr 19th 2020 at 12:30 am.
Apr 19th 2020, 5:22 am
#2625
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2007
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 13,111
Re: 2020 Election
Ahhhh .... it just dawned on me ... I watched 4 episodes last night; this was the opening 'one on one' interview from one of the last 'in-studio' shows. But I still can't find any reference to it! Let me do a bit of research ... she was really quite good to watch!
OK - found it; I was quite a bit back in the episodes! Rachel Bitecofer is the name.
OK - found it; I was quite a bit back in the episodes! Rachel Bitecofer is the name.
Last edited by Steerpike; Apr 19th 2020 at 5:35 am.