[EL] ELB News and Commentary 11/8/11

Tue Nov 8 09:46:32 PST 2011

Two of the recall elections listed in the 26 (the Quilcene, WA, fire commissioners) will not be on the ballot until 2012, I think.  The hearing simply determined whether the charges against the Commissioners were sufficient to qualify as misfeasance or malfeasance under Washington law and thus sufficient for Washington’s rather stringent requirements for recalls.  The proponents still have to collect signatures to place the measures on the ballot.

Bill 

________________________________

From: law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu [mailto:law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu] On Behalf Of Rick Hasen
Sent: Tuesday, November 08, 2011 8:22 AM
To: law-election at uci.edu
Subject: [EL] ELB News and Commentary 11/8/11

Must-Watch Colbert Segments on Super PACs and Coordination with Candidates <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25160>  

Posted on November 8, 2011 9:10 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25160>  by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>  

It is not easy to make the complex world of campaign finance comprehensible, much less entertaining. One unanswered question in the current campaign finance world is whether Super PACs may feature candidates in their ads if they do so far enough out before the election.  For background on the issue, see this post <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=24164>  linking to this NYT report <http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/13/us/politics/ben-nelsons-campaign-ads-may-break-new-ground.html?hp>  on Ben Nelson and this <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=24143> WaPo report <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=24143>  on American Crossroads seeking to emulate and expand on the Nelson strategy.  The American Crossroads request for an advisory opinion with the FEC is here <http://saos.nictusa.com/aodocs/1188794.pdf> .

Stephen Colbert took this issue on last night, with some help from Trevor Potter, and it was brilliant performance art.  Not only did Colbert feature a segment explaining <http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/401673/november-07-2011/colbert-super-pac---issue-ads>  the issue.  He followed it up with a segment with <http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/401674/november-07-2011/colbert-super-pac---issue-ads---trevor-potter> Trevor Potter explaining that Colbert’s Super PAC is submitting comments on the American Crossroads AO request, and an actual ad <http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/401632/november-07-2011/colbert-super-pac-ad---undaunted-non-coordination>  coordinated with presidential candidate Buddy Roemer (who not coincidentally has made campaign finance reform his signature issue).

I criticized Colbert for playing with fire <http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/08/11/pm-first-moves-from-colbert-super-pac/> with the “Rick Parry” issue, and maybe this is playing with fire too.  But he’s done more to educate the general public about the troublesome nature of super PACs than anyone else in the media or academia.

Below the fold I’ve reprinted the Colbert comment on the American Crossroads AO.

Continue reading → <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25160#more-25160> 

  <http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D25160&title=Must-Watch%20Colbert%20Segments%20on%20Super%20PACs%20and%20Coordination%20with%20Candidates&description=> 

Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10> , election law "humor" <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=52>  | Comments Off 

“Fairfax County braces for election confusion after voter database glitches” <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25157>  

Posted on November 8, 2011 8:53 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25157>  by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>  

WaPo reports <http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/fairfax-county-braces-for-election-confusion-after-voter-database-glitches/2011/11/07/gIQAOCVlwM_story.html> .

 <http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D25157&title=%E2%80%9CFairfax%20County%20braces%20for%20election%20confusion%20after%20voter%20database%20glitches%E2%80%9D&description=> 

Posted in election administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>  | Comments Off 

“Lawmakers Struggling Through Pennsylvania Redraw” <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25154>  

Posted on November 8, 2011 8:49 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25154>  by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>  

Roll Call reports <http://roll.cl/uWHKin> .

 <http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D25154&title=%E2%80%9CLawmakers%20Struggling%20Through%20Pennsylvania%20Redraw%E2%80%9D&description=> 

Posted in redistricting <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=6>  | Comments Off 

” Who can vote? Maine and Mississippi consider opposite directions” <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25151>  

Posted on November 8, 2011 8:46 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25151>  by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>  

The Christian Science Monitor reports <http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Elections/2011/1108/Who-can-vote-Maine-and-Mississippi-consider-opposite-directions> .  TPM offers Maine GOP Ad: The Gays Are Trying To Impose Same Day Voter Registration <http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/11/maine_gop_ad_the_gays_are_trying_to_impose_same_day_voter_registration.php> .

 <http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D25151&title=%E2%80%9D%20Who%20can%20vote%3F%20Maine%20and%20Mississippi%20consider%20opposite%20directions%E2%80%9D&description=> 

Posted in election administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18> , The Voting Wars <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60>  | Comments Off 

Colbert on OWS <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25148>  

Posted on November 7, 2011 8:40 pm <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25148>  by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>  

Don’t miss Parts I <http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/401092/october-31-2011/colbert-super-pac---occupy-wall-street-co-optportunity---stephen-on-location>  and II <http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/401261/november-01-2011/colbert-super-pac---stephen-colbert-occupies-occupy-wall-street-pt--2>  (especially Part II discussing Citizens United and whether corporations are people).  Hilarious!

 <http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D25148&title=Colbert%20on%20OWS&description=> 

Posted in election law "humor" <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=52>  | Comments Off 

“Mitt Romney Winning Fundraising Contest For Bush, McCain Bundlers” <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25145>  

Posted on November 7, 2011 4:15 pm <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25145>  by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>  

HuffPo reports <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/07/mitt-romney-fundraising-bush-mccain-bundlers_n_1080245.html?ref=politics> .

 <http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D25145&title=%E2%80%9CMitt%20Romney%20Winning%20Fundraising%20Contest%20For%20Bush%2C%20McCain%20Bundlers%E2%80%9D&description=> 

Posted in campaign finance <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>  | Comments Off 

“iPad Voting Rolls Out For Some Oregonians” <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25142>  

Posted on November 7, 2011 4:09 pm <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25142>  by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>  

Helping voters with disabilities <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/07/ipad-voting-oregon_n_1080691.html?ref=technology>  (not Internet voting).

 <http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D25142&title=%E2%80%9CiPad%20Voting%20Rolls%20Out%20For%20Some%20Oregonians%E2%80%9D&description=> 

Posted in election administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>  | Comments Off 

“Voter Fraud: Does It Happen?” <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25139>  

Posted on November 7, 2011 3:42 pm <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25139>  by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>  

Andrew Rosenthal blogs <http://loyalopposition.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/07/voter-fraud-does-it-happen/?src=tp> at the NYT oped page’s “Loyal Opposition” blog.

 <http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D25139&title=%E2%80%9CVoter%20Fraud%3A%20Does%20It%20Happen%3F%E2%80%9D&description=> 

Posted in election administration <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18> , The Voting Wars <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=60> , voter id <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=9>  | Comments Off 

Raskin and Richie on Gerrymandering in Maryland and Beyond <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25136>  

Posted on November 7, 2011 2:55 pm <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25136>  by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>  

Here <http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bs-ed-voting-districts-20111107,0,3418353.story> , in the Baltimore Sun.

 <http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D25136&title=Raskin%20and%20Richie%20on%20Gerrymandering%20in%20Maryland%20and%20Beyond&description=> 

Posted in redistricting <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=6>  | Comments Off 

“As Political Groups Push Envelope, FEC Gridlock Gives ‘De Facto Green Light’” <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25134>  

Posted on November 7, 2011 2:54 pm <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25134>  by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>  

ProPublica reports <http://www.propublica.org/article/as-political-donors-push-envelope-fec-gridlock-gives-de-facto-green-light> . As I’ve written in @Slate, the FEC is as good as dead. <http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2011/01/the_fec_is_as_good_as_dead.html> 

 <http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D25134&title=%E2%80%9CAs%20Political%20Groups%20Push%20Envelope%2C%20FEC%20Gridlock%20Gives%20%E2%80%98De%20Facto%20Green%20Light%E2%80%99%E2%80%9D&description=> 

Posted in Uncategorized <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=1>  | Comments Off 

Watch the Jack Abramoff Interview on “60 Minutes” <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25131>  

Posted on November 7, 2011 12:40 pm <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25131>  by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>  

Here <http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7387331n&tag=contentMain;cbsCarousel> .

 <http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D25131&title=Watch%20the%20Jack%20Abramoff%20Interview%20on%20%E2%80%9C60%20Minutes%E2%80%9D&description=> 

Posted in chicanery <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=12> , legislation and legislatures <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=27> , lobbying <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=28>  | Comments Off 

26 Recalls on Ballot Tomorrow <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25128>  

Posted on November 7, 2011 10:25 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=25128>  by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>  

Wow <http://recallelections.blogspot.com/2011/11/26-recalls-on-tuesday-recall-elections.html> .

 <http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Felectionlawblog.org%2F%3Fp%3D25128&title=26%20Recalls%20on%20Ballot%20Tomorrow&description=> 

Posted in recall elections <http://electionlawblog.org/?cat=11>  | Comments Off 

-- 
Rick Hasen
Professor of Law and Political Science
UC Irvine School of Law
401 E. Peltason Dr., Suite 1000
Irvine, CA 92697-8000
949.824.3072 - office
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rhasen at law.uci.edu
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http://electionlawblog.org

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