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Maybe crabby poll workers should keep their opinions about Ted Kennedy to themselves
By adamg on Tue, 09/09/2014 - 8:24am
UPDATE: The poll worker is now an ex-poll worker.
A Roslindale resident went to vote early at the Conley School today. As you might expect, it wasn't at all crowded. She reports she got into the back room (the school has two rooms for voting) just in time to hear one of the poll workers educating the room on his political beliefs:
Older gentlemen cracking wise about Ted Kennedy being a murderer; because that's so funny and appropriate for a polling station!
Before that, he was going on and on about how we should get rid of one-third of our politicians at every level. Just rubbed me the wrong way.
I said something to the cop who checks you out and he asked him to keep it down. And then he apologized for offending me (while I stood there waiting for my husband). But it was really a sorry/notsorry apology. It was surreal and I couldn't believe none of the other volunteers called him out on his BS.
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Comments
O-fish-l is a poll volunteer?
Who knew?
Poll workers are employees
In Boston, Election Poll Workers set in place to oversee voting are actually City of Boston employees for one day - the day of the election - and are paid a limited stipend equivalent to about $9/hr. It is a single day appointment with no benefits.
Persons who are poll workers are required to attend a 2-3 hr class once per year to learn or refresh their job expectations and review changes - if any - in voting laws. It takes shorter time for those experienced, and longer for the newbies.
The election day starts at 6 AM to open and set up the polling place by 7 AM. Blank ballots have to be accounted-for and counted to assure what was sent matched a receipt that traveled with the ballots from City Hall. There is an opening and closing process that must be witnessed by at least 2 people to assure all ballots and machines are handled properly.
Throughout the day Inspectors (the people that check you in and out) oversee the rules and periodically check the count on the machine with their check-in and check-out books. At the end of the night all 3 must agree or you get to stay there late until you figure out what happened. A clerk assigned takes minutes of all of the things that happen including unruly people, problems with aggressive campaign workers, when someone needs assistance (the blind for example), when people go to dinner and lunch, and anything else of note, including the periodic calls from City Hall to check in on you.
A Warden oversees the rules and works with people who need to change addresses, are lost and don't know where to vote, or who have recently moved and want to vote even if they are not on the voter list. The law requires that every opportunity is afforded a person in order to allow them to vote, even if it is hand-counted for a host of reasons at the end of the night.
Quite often poll workers are subject to people who feel they can change the voting laws on site, don't like the choices given to them, and often fail completely to fathom why in a party primary, you cannot have one of each ballot because they like someone on each of them.
Of course there are write-ins. At this point Mickey Mouse has easily won several national elections. He just failed to get enough signatures to be on the official ballot. It happens. What a waste.
The issue as described is not condoned and it is the responsibility of the site warden to take action and if necessary either dismiss the poll worker or get clearance from city hall to do so. City Hall sends roving overseers out several times a day to make certain all is well as well.
Much of this is not seen by the public. They get to come in, vote, and get on their way. It is a very long day (and night).
After the ballots leave the polling place they are taken by the police officer to city hall to be checked in. Once in the door they are clocked and their paycheck ends for the night. However, if something is amiss with the box and bag they brought in, they must remain and guard it until an election commissioner audits the contents and dismisses them. This means they are guarding your votes off the clock. Those people working at City Hall pull all-nighters.
The other unsung heros are the custodians of the buildings used as polling places. They cannot go home until the poll workers clear all of the ballots and processes. If they are lucky they leave by 8:30 pm. If not... well get a cup of coffee or a pillow.
Then every so often something shines that makes it all worth while. Like the guy that voted and came back to the check in table to shake everyone's hand with tears in his eyes. He had just become a citizen and it was his first time voting in the USA, and an experience where he didn't have to duck a beating or risk getting shot, but was greeted with respect and a smile and addressed as "sir."
We take too much for granted.
I can't recall even a single
I can't recall even a single time that I've voted in the city of Boston in which I hadn't heard someone standing in line loudly make disparaging remarks about Obama and/or democrats. It's disheartening that local conservatives can't be more respectful of the voting process.
Yeah, but asshats in line,
Yeah, but asshats in line, that's not too surprising. Poll workers should mind their p's and q's. The job of a poll worker is to facilitate the democratic process, not to soapbox, and if you can't keep your political opinions to yourself for one day, don't volunteer to work the polls.
One need not be a
One need not be a conservative to dislike some things that capital-D Democratic.
There's a difference between
There's a difference between making critical remarks and derogatory comments.
It is different if it is
It is different if it is somebody standing in line vs a poll worker. It still might be rude, but a random voter voicing opinions is not as big of a deal as a poll worker who is there to make sure that everyone feels safe to vote.
conservatives everywhere seem
conservatives everywhere seem to have great disdain for the voting process.
Report this to town clerk or city clerk's office
It is very important to report this to the authority that runs elections in your town or city.
Well
He was 100% about getting rid of (at least) 1/3 of our politicians. "Politics" was never supposed to be a career, yet now we have people (on both sides of aisle and at every level of government) who have never held a a job they weren't elected to.
Oh, and Kennedy did kill someone...not quite murder, but someone died because of his actions. Not an appropriate joke, but it's still amazing how selective people's memories are. I'd guess that if that happened today, he'd be in jail...or at least (I hope) not reelected.
Says you and says him
...and keep your opinion to yourself if you're a poll worker, no matter how "right" you're convinced that you are.
Who gives a fuck?
It's still illegal.
And you seem to have neglected to include the calculations you performed to determine that "1/3" (at least) is the magic number that needs to be eliminated.
Sorry
Maybe it's 1/5, 4/5, 4/7, 3/8, 1/3. The point is we have a bloated "ruling class" that is inefficient and costly.
OK
How about we start by eliminating your reps and senators? OK with you?
Sure
Just increase the size of the districts covered.
Brilliant!
Yeah, I like that - give you less representation, give you less voice, make your elected officials beholden to more interests and more big-money influence. Where will you be then?
There's a way out of this. Just say, "Looks like I didn't really think this thing through" and bow out.
In case you have not noticed
MA has had exactly that going on for years in the Federal arena as the Commonwealth ages and more people move west and south.
Due to each state having two senators regardless of population, we already have less representation than Vermont or Wyoming.
Nail it.
It amazes me how people other people on pedestals.
Thomas Jefferson raped his slaves...he has a monument. smh.
- The original SoBo Yuppie.
Laura Bush killed someone too
Laura Bush killed someone too, aso it seems that people in politics are not the greatest people, yet I don't understand why you are defending the actions of someone hurting the integrity of the voting process, I thought conservatives were all into that these days.
Laura Bush Killed a Guy
http://youtu.be/9hnN5oF-WUc
And?
How many times was she reelected? What offices did she hold? Are the building a library in her honor?
They already built a library
They already built a library in Laura Bush's honor, in 2009, the Laura Bush Community Library in Austin TX.
She also is represented in the George Bush Library and Museum in Dallas. From their website:
Bush was reelected a 2nd term
Bush launched a sovereign nation without legitimate basis. His made concious decisions that resulted in Americans dying. Yet he was reelected and still has not faced a war crimes trial.
Yeah, I think it's called
.."electioneering" and is supposedly prohibited within some defined distance from a voting area.
Someone with more knowledge of process than I will hopefully provide details.
He was probably just there to make sure the 'coloreds' don't try a spot of voter fraud as it is so endemic and a very important issue for teahadists.
This, of course, led to a bit of multi tasking as it is always important to vilify the late Senator at every turn like it's some right wing cred rosary to read aloud.
And those electioneering rules are just insidious over regulation, unlike the 'real regulation' to keep an eye on votor fraud.
How is?
Complaining about a dead Senator "electioneering"? He isn't running, nor is anyone he's related to, and it's a primary, so you're voting for candidates who are all members of his party.
Exactly.
But we "progressives" never miss a chance to try to stifle speech with which we disagree.
It's not electioneering
He was commenting about a dead man who wasn't on the ballot. Were he talking about someone on the ballot, that would be electioneering. What he's doing was being boorish.
I agree that it was unprofessional talk, but it's not like the guy can influence the outcome of the election. If you think that is the case, go back to the Conley at 8 and make sure they report what is on the slip.
I've never done it, but working the polls for 13 hours would appear mind numbing. They often have trouble finding people to do it. It's my precinct, and I've never had issues with people there, so I am willing to cut them some slack.
But let's not forget the important part- VOTE!!!
Thanks Waquoit.
I was confident someone solid from here would cover the process nuance. For all I know it extended to parties, etc.
Rude yes, illegal no
It would be illegal if he were expressing an opinion about a candidate on today's ballot.
He represents the talk radio demo.
These people are aging out and hitting cemeteries near you in large numbers.
And being replaced by
...young born-again-peckerwoods left and right.
Where they will vote straight
Where they will vote straight ticket (D) for the rest of their un-life.
Yes, won't it be nice when
Yes, won't it be nice when they all die off? Then we can all think the same without any pesky counter opinions!
Yay!
Yes, won't it be nice when
The key is think, which this poll worker and many other of the talk radio/Boston Herald demo rarely participate in. How anyone here is doing anything but chastising the poll worker, even if you are a repub, is hard to understand.
Goodness. You don't value
Goodness. You don't value opposing opinions because you think the people giving you those opposing opinions don't think.
And you don't see anything wrong with your outlook at all.
There is no way possible people have different perspectives, different values than you and different opinions. No, they are unthinking radio listening, boston herald reading morons. Is that it?
You don't value opposing
Feel free to provide some evidence to the contrary.
The counter opinions?
24/7 of Faux Newscorp et al? That potpourri of wing nut opinion?
Well what do you
Expect? That propaganda channel, MSNBC isn't available on basic cable. These are retirees after all, many who are living on a budget. Not everybody can watch TYT or read Salon.
Ahhh, the old "Faux" News
Ahhh, the old "Faux" News canard. That gets pulled out when people of opposing opinions can't be reconciled.
Does it ever get old?
Here's your problem. You
Here's your problem. You think Fox has "opinions." The phrase you're looking for is "purposefully misleading and incorrect propaganda that's harmful to the country."
I don't watch Fox or any of
I don't watch Fox or any of those cable "news" shows, but obviously you do. Again, don't you get tired of it all? It seems to me that many people cannot understand how someone can have a different view on things, so it's easy to blame a cable station because it's the only way that person can justify that maybe they don't have all the answers. Like I said, I don't watch Fox but I've had that thrown in my face at U Hub before because I dared voice something different. You can disagree with me, that's fine, but isn't this silly?
I find the lefts fascination with Fox news tiresome. No skin off my teeth but to me it is a lame way to get out of a discussion. And, those that do blame Fox news for all the ills in the world can't see their own stubbornness.
Like I said, does it ever get old?
The Pee Wee Herman defense
I know you are but what am I.
Sorry, don't see what you're
Sorry, don't see what you're trying to say.
Faux is a 24/7 orgy of
bashing all things with a D and all "mainstream media". This glass house of righteousness is incredible fragile.
And George W. Bush is still
And George W. Bush is still some sort of evil supergenius that controls/ set into motion events occurring almost 6 years after leaving office in some corners of MSNBC's programming (Melissa Harris-Perry, particularly)
The effects of his disastrously bad decisions...
... will linger for quite a long time. After all, the boneheaded geopolitical decisions made by the UK and France after WW1 are still haunting us almost 100 years later.
No that was
Dick Cheney
Does it get old that there's
Does it get old that there's a massive corporation hell bent on destroying the country? No. No, I think it's pretty safe to assume that doesn't "get old."
If you silence the voice of
If you silence the voice of the brave man who still rants about Ted Kennedy years after he's already dead, you've truly done democracy a disservice. Who will speak for the wingnuts!
Rubs Me The Wrong Way Too....
Dude clearly doesn't know what he's talking about... Getting rid of 1/3 of politicians at every level isn't nearly enough!
Partisan politics at City Hall too
Every time I have to go to the Office of the Parking Clerk I see that someone in the office has a "Miss Me Yet?" George W. Bush calendar. It has always struck me as inappropriate that a government employee is allowed to publicly display something within a government building that disparages the current head of that government. And I would feel the same if it were directed at a Republican.
That just confirms what kind
That just confirms what kind of terrible people work in the parking enforcement office. They think taxing the rich is class warfare, but nickel-and-diming working people is good government.
This thread is still too
This thread is still too light on positive comments about Edward M. Kennedy. I'll start:
He's celebrating his fifth year of sobriety.
That's Edward Kennedy. Not
That's Edward Kennedy. Not Theodore.
Haha damn, I was trying to
Haha damn, I was trying to remember his middle name and totally flubbed his first.
Ted Kennedy did more for
Ted Kennedy did more for Massachusetts in a year than you will do in a lifetime.
Ted Kennedy was a very bad
Ted Kennedy was a very bad evil man its shocking people still love him after what he did to that poor woman.
I have a document
..in my desk from when he interceded with social security on behalf of my dying grandma who never signed up for it.
It was one of my mother's prized possessions along with the invitation Aunt Blanche got from JFK to the inaugural in appreciation for her work as a pavement pounder during his campaign.
Politicians have been known to have messy lives that don't fit the purity narcissism endemic in the zealot sides of the right and left.
The right is better at mobbing and getting their goons elected. The left is better at sniping and carping and getting the right's goons elected.
Scott Brown, W and Cheney were all very appreciative.
Teahadists finally seem to be past their expiration date. They showed us they could emulate the progressives by blowing an election in Delaware in 2010 and the ensuing years indicated further decline
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christine_O%27Donnell
It's a nice trend actually as perfection is rarely a friend to good in a world that is fairly short on both.
I don't know about that.
Pi is used just about everywhere.
His name was Edward, not
His name was Edward, not Theodore. If you're going to insult a dead man at least get his name right.
Jackass kicking down a barn, that's you
"Any jackass can kick down a barn, but it takes a carpenter to build one." - Sam Rayburn
And what barns have you built? Did you ever save a refusenik, or work to get access for people with disabilities, or get battle armor for a soldier? Did you care for your brothers' orphaned children? Did you help those who have less privilege than you? Did you work to secure the rights of others to vote?
Ted Kennedy came from privilege, but unlike so many of the privileged today, he understood its obligations and always worked to fulfill them. His privilege helped him do this -- he had access to resources that you and I won't ever had. That's why he was able to do so much for others. But all the resources in the world are useless when they're bestowed on a jackass who can't do anything but bray and kick down what others build. So, regardless of whether you start from privilege or from nothing, you still have to make that decision, whether you want to be a carpenter or a jackass. Ted Kennedy was not only a carpenter, he was one who kept on building no matter how loud and long the jackasses brayed or how hard they kicked.
So what are you? Jackass or carpenter?
Barnburner
Some men just want to watch the barn burn.
I miss Ted Kennedy very much.
I miss Ted Kennedy very much. We were lucky to have a very productive Senator represent us and his constituency services are sorely missed. But you can't gloss over the fact someone is dead, mostly because of him. Look, I'm from Boston Irish that adore the Kennedy's. In fact, relatives from Ireland come to look at a picture of my father and JFK (both PT boat vets), they hang pictures of JFK next to the Pope - to this day! But you cannot deny the Kennedy men have issues, especially with women and alcohol. They are forgiven maybe more than they should be and I think the younger generations of today are not as forgiving, nor should they be.
Simplistic thinking
You are suffering from the same kind of simplistic thinking that wants everything to be completely one way or the other. People like you use the word "but" often in places where it just doesn't make any sense, as you did above. You'd better hope you never make a mistake in this life, and that if you do, other people don't use such simple-minded "logic" to judge you.
But you cannot deny the
Yes, and they are the only politicians in the history of the U.S. who have ever had such issues. Thus, it is crucially important that they be mentioned at every possible opportunity.
The Kennedy clan can't be
The Kennedy clan can't be compared to any other politicans I know of. The power that family held, the adoration of people who thrust them into office because of their family relations and connections and most importantly - their name. I've never seen another political family like it. Roosevelts come to mind but there aren't as many of them.
The Kennedys remind me...
..of the Gracchi -- of ancient Rome -- but there were only two of them.
There are families like the Kennedys
The Bushes (2 Presidents, 2 Governors, 1 Vice President, 1 Senator, and yes that is 4 people, but 3 generations and the possibility of a third President)
The Clintons (only 2, but that is a single family with a lot of Democratic Party power going back to 1988)
The Udalls (someone from the area can straighten me out, but they are all over the southwest. Perhaps the Mormon Kennedys, with a much longer time with power and influence)
I would argue that were JFK to last until his second term, his luster would have faded. I suppose that the number of descendants of Joseph P. that had at least fair careers in politics would put them higher up the list. Like the first 2 families I listed, there was and is a sizable population that just don't like them.
How about the Bushes, 2
How about the Bushes, 2 presidents, a senator, and another Bush governor who is mulling a run for president. You think Bush Jr got elected Governor and president (or even got into Harvard) for any reason other than his name? You have a lot of anger towards the Kennedys, but how that clouds your perspective on the power of the Bush name is crazy.
No one glosses over
No one glosses over Chappaquiddick, it comes up every time Ted Kennedy is mentioned in any context. Similar to how when discussing George W Bush one cannot gloss over the fact that many people died needlessly, mostly because of him.
It's not just Ted! The
It's not just Ted! The Kennedy men have a horrible record with women, starting with papa Joe.
But yes, it's just like the invasion of Iraq, or something.
But yes, it's just like the
Only with about 0.001% as many meaningless deaths.
Wow, way to respect veterans
Wow, way to respect veterans who gave their lives.
Um, what?
Um, what?
1) If they gave their lives, they aren't veterans.
2) It wasn't only members of the US military who died in Iraq.
These little distinctions often escape
..those in a rush to run their rosary.
And it's useless to suggest that lots of inhabitants of the afflicted war zone might have had acceptable druthers.
And as for trying to sell the importance of not stepping in the despicable shit of a conquest war with no clear aims squandering life and treasure, forget it.
You'll have to pry those pearls loose from their numbed and stupefied hands
Yes, again, well known and
Yes, again, well known and not glossed over by anyone. Yet brought up every chance possible by people to attempt to otherwise discredit the many good public deeds they did for many. As someone earlier said, hardly the first politicians with this issue.
The Situation has been handled
There was a reported situation at this polling location today. We have removed this poll worker and are looking into the incident. Poll workers are not allowed to express political opinions while at the polls. If you have any questions or experience any other voting issues please contact Boston Elections or your local town or city election board.
Thank you!
Thank you!
If this had been a citizens connect response:
"lol we moved the man it's aight now sotp complayng we got unda cuntrl. ty 4 da report"
More likely response
"This case has been closed" with a picture of a space saver moved to one side. :=)
Thank you, Ms. Cuddyer.
Thank you, Ms. Cuddyer.
Poll worker
is probably remembering the "good old days" of Dapper O'Neill and other asshats like him.
Hero worship
So because he wasn't a Ted fan he must necessarily be a Dapper guy? Is it illegal to question the character of a Kennedy, like insulting royalty or something? I can't even figure out what was so "offensive" about whatthis guy allegedly said. Did he say anything racist? Sexist? Homophobic? What's so offensive about saying we should replace 1/3 of our pols or whatever (essentially arguing for term limits)?
Well
He was pontificating about political issues while directing the political process.
I hope partisanship doesn't get tied up with this. What if it was the opposite? What if he was talking about dancing on Dapper's grave or was saying how happy he was that they gave out so few Republican ballots?
I do agree that this was much ado about nothing, though I see why he was removed. And I will once again note that being a poll worker is a lot tougher than people think it is. Sure it's one or 2 days a year, but it is long hours for low pay.
Yeah, I imagine they tell you not to talk about politics
at the poll worker training, so I really don't have an issue with his removal. Of course, the indignant complainer had already gotten some kind of apology and brought a cop-scolding down on the offender. Not sure it was necessary to go to City Hall, as the dude's comments weren't bigoted or anything, just cynical and disagreeable, and perhaps demonstrative of a limited understanding of the definition of murder.
Oh please
Deal with it. Talk about being overly sensitive. And people who are 'offended' are usually the type who themselves hold very obnoxious views on those who don't agree with their politics or ideology.
You want truly offensive? Aggressive and intimidating guys like 'new' black panthers 'patrolling' voting stations, and getting away with it.
And no, I AM NOT A 'NEOCON' or REPUBLITHUG. Just tired of the horseshit that passes for political discourse. The majority shouldn't be held hostage by 'radical' minorities on the left and right with an axe to grind. Tired of the political correctness and feigned outrage that's used to silence true descent.
Was it this guy?
https://www.facebook.com/SKforLG/posts/280469138807160
I just voted on my lunch
I just voted on my lunch break. One of the kind women that work at the polling jokingly told me I couldn't place my ballot in the machine unless I voted for people she liked.
I thought it was perfect timing as I was just reading this blog post.
We laughed then I helped her open her candy bar.
She did eventually let me place my ballot.
Cool story
Cool story
I fear silly season is afoot!
I fear silly season is afoot!