(1) Voter ID, (2) eliminating weekend early voting, (3) restricting voter registration drives, (4) selective polling place challenges by so-called poll watchers designed to either intimidate voters or discourage them by slowing down the lines so much that they get discouraged and leave, and (5) “guilty until proven innocent” purging of voter registration rolls.

If Voter ID were a serious voting integrity endeavor, it would be implemented for 2014, giving people ample notice and opportunity to take care of things. Any moron can tell this is designed to affect the outcome in 2012.

I listened today to a Washington Post reporter describe her visit to the Philadelphia DMV to observe what people attempting to get government issued ID were encountering. NOTE: Philadelphia has one of the highest percentages of non-driver adults in the country. She illustrated the situation with the example of a 54-year-old, lifelong resident and voter.

First, with less than two months to go to the election and an estimated 18% (nearly one out of five) of Phily registered voters not having a drivers license (the only government issued photo ID most people have), there were no special lines or extra hours for people seeking photo ID for voting purposes. Second, with all the forms to complete and the waiting in line, it took more than four hours. The voter in this case was an employed woman who had to take a day off from work to get her ID. Did I mention that most of the people in this situation are black and/or elderly?

There is virtually no evidence anywhere, and especially not in Pennsylvania, of voter impersonation fraud — which is what Voter ID is supposed to prevent. Most voter fraud, to the minuscule extent it exists at all, has to do with absentee ballots, which Voter ID does nothing about.

My greatest fear is not that Romney will win. It’s that he will win, and the outcome will be directly and provably traceable to these carefully orchestrated voter suppression efforts in a few key states and counties. Should that happen, it will be a Pyrrhic victory. His presidency will be seen as the most tainted and illegitimate in U.S. history. It will be the most shameful thing since Jim Crow.

You might as well say that driver’s license laws are discriminatory and restrictive.

Library cards are also discriminatory and restrictive.

Alcoholic beverage purchase requirements are discriminatory and restrictive.

ID requirements to get on an airplane are discriminatory and restrictive.

Gun purchase laws are discriminatory and restrictive.

The list goes on and on.
So does Fortney – he is definitely an abrupt movement – you know: a jerk.