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Buying More votes....
DrafterX Offline
#1 Posted:
Joined: 10-18-2005
Posts: 98,535
Another cash infusion to the tune of $16 million is pouring into Florida from billionaire Mike Bloomberg, who pledges to pay the court fines and fees of nearly 32,000 Black and Hispanic convicted felons who have been hindered from voting.

Bloomberg hopes the initiative will remove the red tape for the approximately 1 million felons in Florida, who, if allowed, would likely vote Democrat in the upcoming election.

“We know to win Florida we will need to persuade, motivate and add new votes to the Biden column,” according to a Bloomberg memo, the Washington Post reported. “This means we need to explore all avenues for finding the needed votes when so many votes are already determined.”

“The data shows that in Florida, Black voters are a unique universe unlike any other voting bloc, where the Democratic support rate tends to be 90%-95%," the memo continued.

The state's Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, previously signed a bill which stipulates that felons must pay all fines, restitution, and other legal financial obligations before their sentences could be considered fully served, and allow them to participate in voting.

Activists and legal experts have said the bill disproportionately blocks Blacks and poor constituents from voting, but a court ruling in early September upheld the legislation. The issue is made even more pressing by the upcoming elections in November, particularly because Florida, with its Republican-held legislature, is a key battleground state, with 29 electoral votes up for grabs.


Film at 11.... Not talking
delta1 Offline
#2 Posted:
Joined: 11-23-2011
Posts: 28,778
$16 Million? hah....peanuts...

compared to Trump's gift of $13 Billion to Puerto Rico in effort to buy the votes of Puerto Ricans now living in Florida...

worse, Bloomberg's gift is his own money...Trump is giving away somebody else's... the public's money
DrafterX Offline
#3 Posted:
Joined: 10-18-2005
Posts: 98,535
apples and oranges.... not even close.... Mellow
HockeyDad Offline
#4 Posted:
Joined: 09-20-2000
Posts: 46,119
delta1 wrote:
$16 Million? hah....peanuts...

compared to Trump's gift of $13 Billion to Puerto Rico in effort to buy the votes of Puerto Ricans now living in Florida...

worse, Bloomberg's gift is his own money...Trump is giving away somebody else's... the public's money



I thought Trump was just releasing money the legislature funded.
HockeyDad Offline
#5 Posted:
Joined: 09-20-2000
Posts: 46,119
Bloomberg isn’t very shy about using his money to buy elections.
delta1 Offline
#6 Posted:
Joined: 11-23-2011
Posts: 28,778
both are fruits...

just as both gifts of money are attempts to buy votes...

if Trump wasn't pandering for votes, why did he wait three years to send desperately needed money to Puerto Rico, during which time people suffered and died...

why wait until a month and a half before his re-election?


the reality is that Trump is such a disliked person among Puerto Rican voters (73% disapproval), they're gonna take the money and give him a finger in return

and who knows how many former criminals, stout citizens the lot, will bother to exercise their franchise?
DrafterX Offline
#7 Posted:
Joined: 10-18-2005
Posts: 98,535
Mellow
HockeyDad Offline
#8 Posted:
Joined: 09-20-2000
Posts: 46,119
“Exercise the franchise” sounds like “showing them the ropes”.
HockeyDad Offline
#9 Posted:
Joined: 09-20-2000
Posts: 46,119
delta1 wrote:


why wait until a month and a half before his re-election?


Maybe the forms were filled out incorrectly.
frankj1 Offline
#10 Posted:
Joined: 02-08-2007
Posts: 44,215
or they ran out of Bounty, the Quicker Picker Upper
delta1 Offline
#11 Posted:
Joined: 11-23-2011
Posts: 28,778
HockeyDad wrote:
“Exercise the franchise” sounds like “showing them the ropes”.


phew...I thought you were gonna say "polishing the knob"
rfenst Offline
#12 Posted:
Joined: 06-23-2007
Posts: 39,255
Here is what the people voted on to amend Florida's state constitution: ram27bat

No. 4 Constitutional Amendment Article VI, Section 4. Voting Restoration Amendment This amendment restores the voting rights of Floridians with felony convictions after they complete all terms of their sentence including parole or probation. The amendment would not apply to those convicted of murder or sexual offenses, who would continue to be permanently barred from voting unless the Governor and Cabinet vote to restore their voting rights on a case by case basis.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Florida_Amendment_4

I voted against it thinking F'em because I don't believe felons should get the right to vote.
rfenst Offline
#13 Posted:
Joined: 06-23-2007
Posts: 39,255
HockeyDad wrote:
Bloomberg isn’t very shy about using his money to buy elections.

Nope. He is not.
HockeyDad Offline
#14 Posted:
Joined: 09-20-2000
Posts: 46,119
Did not know this but:

10.43% of the Florida population is disenfranchised
1,686,318 total Floridians are disenfranchised.
Florida has the most disenfranchised citizens in the United States.
Florida has the highest disenfranchisement rate in the United States.
23.3% of black voters in Florida can’t vote because of felony disenfranchisement.


It’s kinda funny that Bloomberg is gonna sit up in New York while funding 32,000 black and Hispanic felons in Florida onto the voting rolls. What could go wrong?
Smooth light Offline
#15 Posted:
Joined: 06-26-2020
Posts: 3,598
Buying stature with money, little men with money to burn. Vain glory.
rfenst Offline
#16 Posted:
Joined: 06-23-2007
Posts: 39,255
HockeyDad wrote:
Did not know this but:

10.43% of the Florida population is disenfranchised
1,686,318 total Floridians are disenfranchised.
Florida has the most disenfranchised citizens in the United States.
Florida has the highest disenfranchisement rate in the United States.
23.3% of black voters in Florida can’t vote because of felony disenfranchisement.


It’s kinda funny that Bloomberg is gonna sit up in New York while funding 32,000 black and Hispanic felons in Florida onto the voting rolls. What could go wrong?


He better act fast b/c the registration deadline is October 5th. I predict there will be at least one lawsuit, if not two or more, before then.

Also, IIRC the felon voter list has already been formally purged from "the system." Wonder if they backed it up?

FL supreme court is stacked in favor of the governor. Trump and the governor made that happen. But hey, the court did just spank him unanimously in another matter.....

ram27bat

The sad irony in all of this is that Blumberg paying everything off (court fees, legal fees and costs, restitution, etc.) is truly an economic benefit to society But it still feels unclean.


Biggest question for me is why the hell did it take the D's so long to figure this trick out? Did they try to sandbag the R's?
HockeyDad Offline
#17 Posted:
Joined: 09-20-2000
Posts: 46,119
I wonder if Bloomberg will fill out all the forms correctly.

32,000 felons cut loose on the I-4 corridor. Maybe they will even run for local office.
rfenst Offline
#18 Posted:
Joined: 06-23-2007
Posts: 39,255
Bloomberg raises $16M to help Florida felons regain right to vote

Associated Press

TALLAHASSEE — Just days after Gov. Ron DeSantis won a court victory to keep felons from voting until they’ve paid off fines, restitution and court fees, billionaire Mike Bloomberg has stepped in to help them pay off the debts.
The former Democratic presidential candidate has helped raise more than $20 million so that felons who completed their prison sentences can vote in the presidential election. Bloomberg also has pledged $100 million to help Joe Biden win Florida.

A federal appellate court ruled on Sept. 11 that in addition to serving their sentences, Florida felons must pay all fines, restitution and legal fees before they can regain their right to vote. The case could have broad implications for the November elections. Florida has 29 electoral college votes that are crucial to President Donald Trump’s hopes of staying in the White House.

Under Amendment 4, which Florida voters passed overwhelmingly in 2018, felons who have completed their sentences would have voting rights restored. Republican lawmakers then moved to define what it means to complete a sentence.
In addition to prison time served, lawmakers directed that all legal financial obligations, including unpaid fines and restitution, would also have to be settled before a felon could be eligible to vote.


The Florida Rights Restoration Coalition had raised about $5 million before Bloomberg made calls to raise almost $17 million more, according to Bloomberg advisers.

“The right to vote is fundamental to our democracy and no American should be denied that right,” Bloomberg said in a statement released Tuesday.

“Working together with the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, we are determined to end disenfranchisement and the discrimination that has always driven it.”

The money is targeted for felons who registered to vote while the law was in question and who owe $1,500 or less. That accounts for about 31,100 people, Bloomberg advisers say.

In a state that decided the 2000 presidential election by 537 votes, that could be critical in a year when polls show Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden in a dead heat.

Organizers for the group say they aren’t targeting people registered with a particular political party.

“To hell with politics, to hell with any other implications or inuations, at the end of the day it’s about real people, real lives, American citizens who want to be a part of this,” said Desmond Meade of Orlando, the group’s executive director who led the push to pass Amendment 4. “People with felony convictions have had their voices silenced for so long.”
The Florida Rights Restitution Council said other donors include John Legend, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, MTV, Comedy Central, VH1, Ben & Jerry’s, Levi Strauss & Co., the Miami Dolphins, the Orlando Magic, the Miami Heat and Stephen Spielberg.
BuckyB93 Offline
#19 Posted:
Joined: 07-16-2004
Posts: 14,165
In my opinion, you haven't completed your sentence until all of the terms of it are fulfilled. This includes jail time, probation, parole, paying for court fees, restitution, community service, fines to the state and the victims.

Until then the contract you made with the courts as terms of your punishment is still open.
DrMaddVibe Offline
#20 Posted:
Joined: 10-21-2000
Posts: 55,394
Time for the chain gang and hard labor to return.

Pay THAT off Mini-Mike!
DrMaddVibe Offline
#21 Posted:
Joined: 10-21-2000
Posts: 55,394
rfenst wrote:
I voted against it thinking F'em because I don't believe felons should get the right to vote.


Why? Redemption isn't possible?

If they've fulfilled their obligation they should be able to vote. That would truly be disenfranchising and take away their ability to be represented. Now, while serving out their sentence...NO. Like the law stated fulfill your obligation to the letter and vote.
rfenst Offline
#22 Posted:
Joined: 06-23-2007
Posts: 39,255
DrMaddVibe wrote:
Why? Redemption isn't possible?

If they've fulfilled their obligation they should be able to vote. That would truly be disenfranchising and take away their ability to be represented. Now, while serving out their sentence...NO. Like the law stated fulfill your obligation to the letter and vote.

Redemption is over-rated.
DrafterX Offline
#23 Posted:
Joined: 10-18-2005
Posts: 98,535

House Judiciary Committee member Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., told "Hannity" Tuesday that he has spoken with Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody about potentially launching a bribery investigation into former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

"I believe there may be a criminal investigation already underway of the Bloomberg-connected activities in Florida," Gaetz told host Sean Hannity.

Bloomberg, who briefly joined the race for the Democratic presidential nomination earlier this year, has reportedly raised more than $16 million for the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition.

Under the Florida state constitution, convicted felons can regain their voting rights after having served their time. However, a law enacted by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis states that felons must pay all fines, restitution, and other legal financial obligations before their sentences could be considered fully served.

"[Under Florida law] it’s a third-degree felony for someone to either directly or indirectly provide something of value to impact whether or not someone votes," Gaetz explained. "So the question is whether or not paying off someone’s fines and legal obligations counts as something of value, and it clearly does.

"If Michael Bloomberg was offering to pay off people's credit card debt," Gaetz added, "you would obviously see the value in that.

"[W]hen you improve someone’s net worth by eliminating their financial liabilities, that’s something of value," he went on. "Normally, it would be very difficult to prove that that was directly linked to impacting whether or not someone was going to vote. But they literally wrote their own admission."

A Bloomberg memo first reported by the Washington Post read: “We know to win Florida we will need to persuade, motivate and add new votes to the Biden column. This means we need to explore all avenues for finding the needed votes when so many votes are already determined.”

“The data shows that in Florida, Black voters are a unique universe unlike any other voting bloc, where the Democratic support rate tends to be 90%-95%," the memo continued.

"The law is clear this is something of value," Gaetz reiterated, "and I am encouraged after my conversation with the attorney general. I hope we have good law enforcement all over the country looking for the cheating and the tricks that these Democrats are going to try in this election."


Film at 11.... Think
rfenst Offline
#24 Posted:
Joined: 06-23-2007
Posts: 39,255
DrafterX wrote:

House Judiciary Committee member Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., told "Hannity" Tuesday that he has spoken with Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody about potentially launching a bribery investigation into former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

"I believe there may be a criminal investigation already underway of the Bloomberg-connected activities in Florida," Gaetz told host Sean Hannity.


Bloomberg, who briefly joined the race for the Democratic presidential nomination earlier this year, has reportedly raised more than $16 million for the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition.

Under the Florida state constitution, convicted felons can regain their voting rights after having served their time. However, a law enacted by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis states that felons must pay all fines, restitution, and other legal financial obligations before their sentences could be considered fully served.

"[Under Florida law] it’s a third-degree felony for someone to either directly or indirectly provide something of value to impact whether or not someone votes," Gaetz explained. "So the question is whether or not paying off someone’s fines and legal obligations counts as something of value, and it clearly does.

"If Michael Bloomberg was offering to pay off people's credit card debt," Gaetz added, "you would obviously see the value in that.

"[W]hen you improve someone’s net worth by eliminating their financial liabilities, that’s something of value," he went on. "Normally, it would be very difficult to prove that that was directly linked to impacting whether or not someone was going to vote. But they literally wrote their own admission."

A Bloomberg memo first reported by the Washington Post read: “We know to win Florida we will need to persuade, motivate and add new votes to the Biden column. This means we need to explore all avenues for finding the needed votes when so many votes are already determined.”

“The data shows that in Florida, Black voters are a unique universe unlike any other voting bloc, where the Democratic support rate tends to be 90%-95%," the memo continued.

"The law is clear this is something of value," Gaetz reiterated, "and I am encouraged after my conversation with the attorney general. I hope we have good law enforcement all over the country looking for the cheating and the tricks that these Democrats are going to try in this election."


Film at 11.... Think

Legally, no way this will fly because they don't even have to vote. It is not an imperative.

Even though a high percentage (98.2%) of the ex-felons who vote will choose to vote and on their own and will almost entirely vote for Democrats. So what. Every one's vote is a private thing. Lest anyone forget, right or wrong this is nothing more than typical, hardcore, Florida politics. All this follows the governor purging all ex-felons from the state voter list, which disenfranchise all ex-felons.

The real problem here is the Supreme Court of Florida, which is responsible for approving all proposed constitutional amendments before they are placed on the ballot before they . They missed clarifying the legally vague provision that went to federal court. Both sides have unclean hands, so to speak. Neither is innocent of pre-election maneuvering like this.

Again, I blame the legal vagueness and the subsequent litigation going on on the Florida Supreme Court.
DrafterX Offline
#25 Posted:
Joined: 10-18-2005
Posts: 98,535
The intent is more than clear.... Mellow
Smooth light Offline
#26 Posted:
Joined: 06-26-2020
Posts: 3,598
Do illegal aliens get the vote of felons when their records cleared or just deported.
DrafterX Offline
#27 Posted:
Joined: 10-18-2005
Posts: 98,535
DrMaddVibe wrote:
Why? Redemption isn't possible?

If they've fulfilled their obligation they should be able to vote. That would truly be disenfranchising and take away their ability to be represented. Now, while serving out their sentence...NO. Like the law stated fulfill your obligation to the letter and vote.


we're talking about felons... these people weren't in jail for stealing a loaf of bread to feed their families... they knew the consequences going in and committed the crimes anyway... Mellow
HockeyDad Offline
#28 Posted:
Joined: 09-20-2000
Posts: 46,119
DrafterX wrote:
we're talking about felons... these people weren't in jail for stealing a loaf of bread to feed their families... they knew the consequences going in and committed the crimes anyway... Mellow


Stealing a loaf of bread is what got Jean Valjean locked up.

With Florida felons voting I think the war on drugs in Florida might need to negotiate a surrender.
DrafterX Offline
#29 Posted:
Joined: 10-18-2005
Posts: 98,535
HockeyDad wrote:
Stealing a loaf of bread is what got Jean Valjean locked up.


but it gave him plenty of time to practice his Gregorian chants.... Mellow


was he allowed to vote..?? Huh
rfenst Offline
#30 Posted:
Joined: 06-23-2007
Posts: 39,255
DrafterX wrote:
The intent is more than clear.... Mellow

To you and me, yes. Legally, I don't think so...
rfenst Offline
#31 Posted:
Joined: 06-23-2007
Posts: 39,255
HockeyDad wrote:
Stealing a loaf of bread is what got Jean Valjean locked up.

With Florida felons voting I think the war on drugs in Florida might need to negotiate a surrender.


War on drugs in Florida?
DrafterX Offline
#32 Posted:
Joined: 10-18-2005
Posts: 98,535
no different than Obama promising to pay the black communities mortgages in exchange for their vote I guess..... Mellow
Speyside Offline
#33 Posted:
Joined: 03-16-2015
Posts: 13,106
Wow, doing something legal for political gain. Has that ever happened before? Go love you some McConnell and some Trump. I do not think I have complained once about the GOP push for the next SOTUS member because they are doing something legal. So is this.
DrafterX Offline
#34 Posted:
Joined: 10-18-2005
Posts: 98,535
ok, Trump should play the same game.... how about Trump offering to pay up to $1,500 for your vote..?? how will that go over in the liberal media..?? Mellow
Smooth light Offline
#35 Posted:
Joined: 06-26-2020
Posts: 3,598
Fake news will say" I didn't get my$1,500."
DEM'S gave them a offer.

🤑
rfenst Offline
#36 Posted:
Joined: 06-23-2007
Posts: 39,255
DrafterX wrote:
ok, Trump should play the same game.... how about Trump offering to pay up to $1,500 for your vote..?? how will that go over in the liberal media..?? Mellow

That's all? No way, man.
DrMaddVibe Offline
#37 Posted:
Joined: 10-21-2000
Posts: 55,394
Speyside wrote:
Wow, doing something legal for political gain. Has that ever happened before? Go love you some McConnell and some Trump. I do not think I have complained once about the GOP push for the next SOTUS member because they are doing something legal. So is this.



No, it isn't!

It IS against the law in the state of Florida.

Fla. Stat. § 104.061

104.061 Corruptly influencing voting.—

(1) Whoever by bribery, menace, threat, or other corruption whatsoever, either directly or indirectly, attempts to influence, deceive, or deter any elector in voting or interferes with him or her in the free exercise of the elector’s right to vote at any election commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084 for the first conviction, and a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084, for any subsequent conviction.

(2) No person shall directly or indirectly give or promise anything of value to another intending thereby to buy that person’s or another’s vote or to corruptly influence that person or another in casting his or her vote. Any person who violates this subsection is guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. However, this subsection shall not apply to the serving of food to be consumed at a political rally or meeting or to any item of nominal value which is used as a political advertisement, including a campaign message designed to be worn by a person.

History.—ss. 1, 3, ch. 6470, 1913; RGS 5918; CGL 8182; s. 1, ch. 19617, 1939; s. 1, ch. 20934, 1941; s. 7, ch. 22858, 1945; s. 8, ch. 26870, 1951; s. 1, ch. 65-379; s. 25, ch. 71-136; s. 35, ch. 77-175; s. 51, ch. 79-400; s. 21, ch. 81-304; s. 22, ch. 90-315; s. 616, ch. 95-147; s. 29, ch. 98-129.



Mini-Mike...get your stepping stool. You won't be able to use the toilet or sink without it!
DrafterX Offline
#38 Posted:
Joined: 10-18-2005
Posts: 98,535
rfenst wrote:
That's all? No way, man.



Laugh
HockeyDad Offline
#39 Posted:
Joined: 09-20-2000
Posts: 46,119
How about $500 and he’ll keep 32,000 voting felons out of your districts?
DrMaddVibe Offline
#40 Posted:
Joined: 10-21-2000
Posts: 55,394
HockeyDad wrote:
How about $500 and he’ll keep 32,000 voting felons out of your districts?


What is corruption, Alex. I'll take Quid Pro Quo for 100.


DrafterX Offline
#41 Posted:
Joined: 10-18-2005
Posts: 98,535
DrMaddVibe wrote:
However, this subsection shall not apply to the serving of food to be consumed at a political rally or meeting !



so, BigMacs & beers are legal..?? Huh
DrMaddVibe Offline
#42 Posted:
Joined: 10-21-2000
Posts: 55,394
DrafterX wrote:
so, BigMacs & beers are legal..?? Huh



Not for the Hamburglar!
DrafterX Offline
#43 Posted:
Joined: 10-18-2005
Posts: 98,535
well, he's a felon anyways... Mellow
Smooth light Offline
#44 Posted:
Joined: 06-26-2020
Posts: 3,598
The inmate will give Me B a stool, so they can sell 🎟️, to pack his sh*t easier.
rfenst Offline
#45 Posted:
Joined: 06-23-2007
Posts: 39,255
HockeyDad wrote:
How about $500 and he’ll keep 32,000 voting felons out of your districts?

He's got 12 days to pull the whole thing off. I don't think he can do it, unless he's been secretly preparing for a while. LOL. Now come the courts. Requests to move the deadline due to special circumstances and the like. Inability of the state to provide the felon list and all the info/data. Provisional ballots. What a cluster f8ck. The elections wouldn't end until January, once again.
delta1 Offline
#46 Posted:
Joined: 11-23-2011
Posts: 28,778
it's debatable that Fla. Stat. § 104.061 (2) applies...

no evidence that any promises to vote for anyone, or just to vote, were made in exchange...
DrafterX Offline
#47 Posted:
Joined: 10-18-2005
Posts: 98,535
are illegal alien felons included too..?? Huh
DrafterX Offline
#48 Posted:
Joined: 10-18-2005
Posts: 98,535
delta1 wrote:
it's debatable that Fla. Stat. § 104.061 (2) applies...

no evidence that any promises to vote for anyone, or just to vote, were made in exchange...


we can debate... but there's no denying what's implied and expected in exchange.... Mellow
DrMaddVibe Offline
#49 Posted:
Joined: 10-21-2000
Posts: 55,394
delta1 wrote:
it's debatable that Fla. Stat. § 104.061 (2) applies...

no evidence that any promises to vote for anyone, or just to vote, were made in exchange...



So, what is Mini-Mike giving felons in swing states money for again?
delta1 Offline
#50 Posted:
Joined: 11-23-2011
Posts: 28,778
did he get a pledge from any of the felons?

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