Jeb at it again: Ex-felons Face New Twist in Voting

[G_j]

http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/072404Z.shtml

Ex-felons Face New Twist in Voting
By Debbie Cenziper and Jason Grotto
The Miami Herald
Friday 23 July 2004

Gov. Jeb Bush has decided to eliminate paper applications for felons seeking to recover their civil rights, and attorneys assert that the move will thwart thousands of potential voters.

Days after a Florida appeals court demanded that the state provide more help to felons who want their right to vote restored, Gov. Jeb Bush introduced a new policy that civil rights advocates say circumvents the will of the court and threatens to exclude tens of thousands of potential voters.

Last week, the First District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee unanimously ruled that state prison officials must follow the law and provide newly released felons the necessary paperwork and assistance to get their full civil rights back.

That would include a one-page application for a formal hearing before the Florida Clemency Board - the only way an estimated 85 percent of felons will ever get their rights restored.

But instead of providing the application, Bush decided to scrap it altogether. On Wednesday, he announced that felons will now have to contact the Office of Executive Clemency when and if they want to apply for a hearing to have their rights restored.
..more..

[maxpower]

1. Why

Why do these thugs keep getting away with this crap. Where is the outrage?

[porphyrian]

3. Most people aren't aware, if it doesn't affect them personally.

And some who it does affect personally don't even realize it yet. The problem is that most people in Florida have no idea how shitty Jeb! is because they don't work for the state. People in Tallahassee sure know what a fucking asshole he is, but most of the Florida votes come from the rest of the state.

[linazelle]

2. More racism....

With the overwhelming number of incarcerated being blacks who vote democratic this is just shameful.

[G_j]

4. Bush to Urban League today:

"No, I know, I know, I know. The Republican party has got a lot of work to do. I understand that."

[GreenPartyVoter]

5. With all his official state "business" to care for, I wonder when Jebbie

finds time to attend his Klan meetings?

[Joanne98]

6. They're using this felon purge because they know

that blacks have been unfairly targeted by racial profiling. The way to stop this long term trend is to get more white males charged with felonies. If we demanded tougher laws for white-collar crimes and then targeted conservative white males in their thirties, we could at least send a message to the GOP that enough is enough.

[G_j]

7. better idea

stop racial profiling

[yardwork]

8. I dunno, I think you may have a good idea there...

I can think of several white men who ought to be charged with felonies right now. Their names are W. Bush, Ashcroft, Rumsfeld, Cheney....