Blistering Conservative Opinion On Wisconsin Voter ID Law
The Supreme Court blocking the Wisconsin Voter ID Law temporarily this week got the headlines. But more important may have been a dissent in the 7th Circuit by Reagan appointee, Richard Posner:
Posner is, by far, the most widely cited legal scholar of the 20th century, according to The Journal of Legal Studies. His opinions are closely read by the Supreme Court, where the battle over the legality and Constitutionality of Photo ID voting laws will almost certainly wind up at some point in the not too distant future. That’s just one of the reasons why this opinion is so important.This opinion, written on behalf of five judges on the 7th Circuit, thoroughly disabuses such notions such as: these laws are meant to deal with a phantom voter fraud concern (“Out of 146 million registered voters, this is a ratio of one case of voter fraud for every 14.6 million eligible voters”); that evidence shows them to be little more than baldly partisan attempts to keep Democratic voters from voting (“conservative states try to make it difficult for people who are outside the mainstream…to vote”); that rightwing partisan outfits like True the Vote, which support such laws, present “evidence” of impersonation fraud that is “downright goofy, if not paranoid”; and the notion that even though there is virtually zero fraud that could even possibly be deterred by Photo ID restrictions, the fact that the public thinks there is, is a lousy reason to disenfranchise voters since there is no evidence that such laws actually increase public confidence in elections and, as new studies now reveal, such laws have indeed served to suppress turnout in states where they have been enacted.
The full opinion is here.
Copyright 2014 Liberaland
By: Stuart Shapiro
Stuart is a professor and the Director of the Public Policy
program at the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers
University. He teaches economics and cost-benefit analysis and studies
regulation in the United States at both the federal and state levels.
Prior to coming to Rutgers, Stuart worked for five years at the Office
of Management and Budget in Washington under Presidents Clinton and
George W. Bush.
24 responses to Blistering Conservative Opinion On Wisconsin Voter ID Law
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tracey marie October 12th, 2014 at 20:45
Now let’s here the rwnj’s opinions on why this is wrong…because, maybe, could happen will be the arguments. The fact is the right is running scared and know they are losing the battle for Americans.
tracey marie October 12th, 2014 at 20:45
Now let’s here the rwnj’s opinions on why this is wrong…because, maybe, could happen will be the arguments. The fact is the right is running scared and know they are losing the battle for Americans.
KABoink_after_wingnut_hacker October 12th, 2014 at 20:53
Conservatives have to cheat because they have nothing to offer the American people other than government shut downs, scare tactics, superstition, paranoia and being wrong about everything for the last 40 years.
Their political ads are now only about attacks, fear and never about new ideas or solving our problems.
They’ve simply lost the ability to govern because:
1) They don’t even govern when given the opportunity.
2) They’re all paid shills beholding to the highest bidder…and that ain’t you and me.
3) They are a desperate, old, white, bigoted and dying demographic who will say anything.
At this point no voter should believe a single word any republican says.
Wayout October 16th, 2014 at 18:05
And we should believe the Democrat-in-Chief Obama, the proven liar?
red-diaper-baby 1942 October 18th, 2014 at 00:56
Oh for crying out loud. Go find your own blog and stop trolling here. You’re “way out”.
red-diaper-baby 1942 October 18th, 2014 at 00:50
They lost — or rather, relinquished — the ability and even the will to govern the moment they decided that “government isn’t the solution, it’s the problem”. Once you say that, your only logical choice is to stop governing, and to do what you can to obstruct those who want to do so.
These people don’t win nation-wide elections nowadays, but they have enormous power in the individual states and in Congress. If only we could vote them out of Congress and the Governor’s mansions!
KABoink_after_wingnut_hacker October 12th, 2014 at 20:53
Conservatives have to cheat because they have nothing to offer the American people other than government shut downs, scare tactics, superstition, paranoia and being wrong about everything for the last 40 years.
Their political ads are now only about attacks, fear and never about new ideas or solving our problems.
They’ve simply lost the ability to govern because:
1) They don’t even govern when given the opportunity.
2) They’re all paid shills beholding to the highest bidder…and that ain’t you and me.
3) They are a desperate, old, white, bigoted and dying demographic who will say anything.
At this point no voter should believe a single word any republican says.
Wayout October 16th, 2014 at 18:05
And we should believe the Democrat-in-Chief Obama, the proven liar?
red-diaper-baby 1942 October 18th, 2014 at 00:56
Oh for crying out loud. Go find your own blog and stop trolling here. You’re “way out”.
red-diaper-baby 1942 October 18th, 2014 at 00:50
They lost — or rather, relinquished — the ability and even the will to govern the moment they decided that “government isn’t the solution, it’s the problem”. Once you say that, your only logical choice is to stop governing, and to do what you can to obstruct those who want to do so.
These people don’t win nation-wide elections nowadays, but they have enormous power in the individual states and in Congress. If only we could vote them out of Congress and the Governor’s mansions!
Jake October 12th, 2014 at 21:55
Typical lazy Republicans – only Congress can raise taxes – they are trying to sneak their Voter Poll Tax through the back door by way of the Judiciary. Why is no Democrat challenging this bald-faced attempt to undermine the separation of powers – or is it all down to checks (in their back pockets) and (bank) balances?
Carla Akins October 13th, 2014 at 04:29
TAX THE CHURCHES
tiredoftea October 12th, 2014 at 23:25
Judge Posner is a straight up conservative judge who does not suffer fools. His thorough dismantling of the lunacy of the voter ID crusade will only slow down this effort, not stop it. That’s how ludicrous the extreme right has become.
tiredoftea October 12th, 2014 at 23:25
Judge Posner is a straight up conservative judge who does not suffer fools. His thorough dismantling of the lunacy of the voter ID crusade will only slow down this effort, not stop it. That’s how ludicrous the extreme right has become.
ExRadioGuy15 October 12th, 2014 at 23:43
Judge Posner is no Con. A Conservative believes that there is, indeed, “widespread voter fraud”. That makes Posner a GOP Progressive or Moderate. I’ve mentioned several times online about the “Secret Progressives” of the GOP, people who THINK they’re Cons but turn out to have Progressive views when you ask them about their political philosophies.
BTW: “widespread” voter fraud is a myth perpetuated by the Fascist GOP Con psychopaths designed to simply suppress Democratic votes, in the Fascist tradition. The latest large-scale study covered 2000-2013 and more than a BILLION votes in this country….the number of CREDIBLE “voter impersonation” instances? Thirty-one (31). The actual percentage of voter impersonation (the “problem” voter ID laws are supposed to solve) is so small that you need an electron microscope to see it. (actual percentage: .000003%). And, what few instances of voter fraud that do exist are mostly committed by Republicans. The GOP need to STFU about “widespread voter fraud” and try to win elections on good ideas instead of Fascist propaganda and fear-mongering….ssmdh
Dwendt44 October 12th, 2014 at 23:56
And very few of the handful of voter fraud would be stopped by voter I.D., out of the seven cases of voter fraud (2010) only one would have been prevented, MAYBE, by I.D..
ExRadioGuy15 October 12th, 2014 at 23:43
Judge Posner is no Con. A Conservative believes that there is, indeed, “widespread voter fraud”. That makes Posner a GOP Progressive or Moderate. I’ve mentioned several times online about the “Secret Progressives” of the GOP, people who THINK they’re Cons but turn out to have Progressive views when you ask them about their political philosophies.
BTW: “widespread” voter fraud is a myth perpetuated by the Fascist GOP Con psychopaths designed to simply suppress Democratic votes, in the Fascist tradition. The latest large-scale study covered 2000-2013 and more than a BILLION votes in this country….the number of CREDIBLE “voter impersonation” instances? Thirty-one (31). The actual percentage of voter impersonation (the “problem” voter ID laws are supposed to solve) is so small that you need an electron microscope to see it. (actual percentage: .000003%). And, what few instances of voter fraud that do exist are mostly committed by Republicans. The GOP need to STFU about “widespread voter fraud” and try to win elections on good ideas instead of Fascist propaganda and fear-mongering….ssmdh
Dwendt44 October 12th, 2014 at 23:56
And very few of the handful of voter fraud would be stopped by voter I.D., out of the seven cases of voter fraud (2010) only one would have been prevented, MAYBE, by I.D..
Carla Akins October 13th, 2014 at 04:29
TAX THE CHURCHES
Wayout October 16th, 2014 at 18:04
No ID required for voting? Then I shouldn’t need one to visit the Justice Department, the White House, fly on a plane, get healthcare, or any other of the hundreds of things that a citizen wants to do these days.
causeican October 28th, 2014 at 12:16
As long as the ID’s are provided for free and the cost of documentation is offset. If not it becomes a poll tax.
causeican October 28th, 2014 at 12:16
As long as the ID’s are provided for free and the cost of documentation is offset. If not it becomes a poll tax.
Wayout October 16th, 2014 at 18:04
No ID required for voting? Then I shouldn’t need one to visit the Justice Department, the White House, fly on a plane, get healthcare, or any other of the hundreds of things that a citizen wants to do these days.
causeican October 28th, 2014 at 12:16
As long as the ID’s are provided for free and the cost of documentation is offset. If not it becomes a poll tax.