# Fox: 102 year old woman had to wait in line 3 hours to vote, "What's the big deal?" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 15, 2013, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-102-year-old-woman-had-to-wait-in-line-3-hours-to-vote-whats-the-big-deal/650380 "2013-02-15T14:15:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 17
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-102-year-old-woman-had-to-wait-in-line-3-hours-to-vote-whats-the-big-deal/650380/321 "2013-02-17T20:19:28Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > But I can’t recall any of them who rolls up their diploma to smack somebody in the face with it as often as you do. He’s the Star Jones of the board. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-102-year-old-woman-had-to-wait-in-line-3-hours-to-vote-whats-the-big-deal/650380/322 "2013-02-17T20:44:11Z")
**Bricker’s** preferred plan sounds more expensive than the limo service idea. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-102-year-old-woman-had-to-wait-in-line-3-hours-to-vote-whats-the-big-deal/650380/323 "2013-02-17T20:49:10Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > **Bricker’s** preferred plan sounds more expensive than the limo service idea. You think it’s more expensive to send someone a postcard than a limo? No wonder you’re struggling to keep up with this discussion. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-102-year-old-woman-had-to-wait-in-line-3-hours-to-vote-whats-the-big-deal/650380/324 "2013-02-17T20:55:32Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > You think it’s more expensive to send someone a postcard than a limo? No wonder you’re struggling to keep up with this discussion. I think you are too stupid to tell when someone is being facetious. It would be very expensive, however, to mail all voters a certified letter personalized with their voting data. A bit more costly than a postcard. It’s kind of nice to have a personal stalker, though, even one who is quite dim-witted. I probably won’t post again for a few hours, just so you know. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-102-year-old-woman-had-to-wait-in-line-3-hours-to-vote-whats-the-big-deal/650380/325 "2013-02-17T20:58:56Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > It’s kind of nice to have a personal stalker, though, even one who is quite dim-witted. I probably won’t post again for a few hours, just so you know. It’s hardly necessary to stalk you to know you’re a fucking moron. Also, the amount you seem to respond to **Bricker** it looks like you’re projecting a little here. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-102-year-old-woman-had-to-wait-in-line-3-hours-to-vote-whats-the-big-deal/650380/326 "2013-02-17T21:23:21Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > What, specifically, do you mean by “fixing it?” > > Are you literally, literally now, saying that it’s not fixed if even one person must wait longer than 3 hours? Yup. If some location has a three-hour wait, we identify that as a problem, and we attempt to make sure that it doesn’t happen next time. How was that not crystal clear from everything I’ve already posted? ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-102-year-old-woman-had-to-wait-in-line-3-hours-to-vote-whats-the-big-deal/650380/327 "2013-02-17T22:03:26Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > Has Oregon’s mail delivery been privatized? Or did that entire post you quoted fly right over your head? I don’t see an excluded middle here, either. Those are the choices. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-102-year-old-woman-had-to-wait-in-line-3-hours-to-vote-whats-the-big-deal/650380/328 "2013-02-17T22:15:32Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > Are you asking a question or making a statement? Or just collecting straw? > > No, I’m not opposed to mail-in ballots. I am very much opposed to idiotic hypocrites, though. > > Has Oregon’s mail delivery been privatized? Or did that entire post you quoted fly right over your head? No. Nor has any other mail service been privatized. So why are you able to use hypothetical unlikely future events as reasons against this scheme? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-102-year-old-woman-had-to-wait-in-line-3-hours-to-vote-whats-the-big-deal/650380/329 "2013-02-17T22:18:50Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > Yup. If some location has a three-hour wait, we identify that as a problem, and we attempt to make sure that it doesn’t happen next time. How was that not crystal clear from everything I’ve already posted? Come on… You’re still dodging. We “attempt to make sure.” Be more specific. You must realize that when you deal with metrics such as this, there are huge differences between “we work to avoid that, recognizing that the occasional outlier will happen,” and “we work to avoid that again at any cost.” You are deliberately not committing to a specific answer. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-102-year-old-woman-had-to-wait-in-line-3-hours-to-vote-whats-the-big-deal/650380/330 "2013-02-17T22:24:45Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > You know, there are quite a number of lawyers here on the Boards, ever since I was outvoted on the admission criteria that allowed such leniency. So, demographics being what they are, there pretty much has to be, some have publicly confessed their shame. > > But I can’t recall any of them who rolls up their diploma to smack somebody in the face with it as often as you do. We start with a legal question. Lobohan asserts a view of the legal question that is factually wrong. I certainly understand, in view of your loyalties, why you’d like this to be simply an unknowable conundrum. But it’s not. And Lobohan attempts to buttress his “Franklin and Bash” level understanding of the law by speculating I was a lousy litigator. In your view, I SHOULDN’T mention the inconvenient-for-Lobohan fact that I have a law degree and years of experience in criminal defense? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-102-year-old-woman-had-to-wait-in-line-3-hours-to-vote-whats-the-big-deal/650380/331 "2013-02-17T22:34:27Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > **Bricker’s** preferred plan sounds more expensive than the limo service idea. Even if we used certified letters… $4.26 per household, certified mail. $90 per hour limos. Yup. Since liberals believe profit is evil, their pretty little heads can’t handle big scary numbers. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-102-year-old-woman-had-to-wait-in-line-3-hours-to-vote-whats-the-big-deal/650380/332 "2013-02-17T22:50:34Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > You are deliberately not committing to a specific answer. I’m sorry you don’t like my answers. That usually happens when you’ve found yourself arguing from a ridiculous and/or incorrect position. You are not representing yourself well in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-102-year-old-woman-had-to-wait-in-line-3-hours-to-vote-whats-the-big-deal/650380/333 "2013-02-17T22:57:18Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > I’m sorry you don’t like my answers. That usually happens when you’ve found yourself arguing from a ridiculous and/or incorrect position. > > You are not representing yourself well in this thread. Ok, help me out. Answer with some specifics. Even in this reply, you take the time to castigate me, but still don’t say what you mean by “we fix it.” Just answer the question. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-102-year-old-woman-had-to-wait-in-line-3-hours-to-vote-whats-the-big-deal/650380/334 "2013-02-17T23:08:14Z")
Dude, what is your problem? I’ve said about a MILLION times in this thread that I am not proposing a specific solution and that in fact I recognize that there are likely multiple possible solutions. You don’t like that answer, because you want me to provide one specific solution so you can attack the particulars and prove how impractical and expensive my suggestion is. Except I’m not suggesting any specific solution: I’m identifying the goddamned problem. If you don’t agree that people having to wait in line to vote for 3+ hours is a problem, then you and I have fundamentally different ideas about what constitutes how to appropriately run a polling place. And if you genuinely think that fixing this problem will bankrupt us, send the economy into a depression, raise taxes by 50%, etc., then you are insane. (I do not think you actually believe those things. I think it is part of the little show you are trying to put on for us in this thread to show us how smart and logical you are, and it is failing because you are not arguing from a place of logic.) ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-102-year-old-woman-had-to-wait-in-line-3-hours-to-vote-whats-the-big-deal/650380/335 "2013-02-17T23:15:34Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > No. Nor has any other mail service been privatized. So why are you able to use hypothetical unlikely future events as reasons against this scheme? Why the hell not? You offered us the dim spectre of “voter fraud” and can’t do more than hypothesize how if there were better id, then prosecutors could prosecute the hypothetical “voter fraud”. Thus, performing the miracle of proving something by its absence of proof. Now, this is a chestnut. We install the voter ID plan. Then, in the unlikely event there are more prosecutions, you get to say “Aha! Voter fraud, just like I said!” And if there are no more prosecutions, two bits you’ll say “Well, my plan worked, ‘voter fraud’ has been effectively eliminated!” And you want to give somebody shit for hypotheticals? ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-102-year-old-woman-had-to-wait-in-line-3-hours-to-vote-whats-the-big-deal/650380/336 "2013-02-17T23:41:51Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > No. Nor has any other mail service been privatized. So why are you able to use hypothetical unlikely future events as reasons against this scheme? [Your](http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-07-24/best-fix-for-postal-service-is-to-take-it-private.html) [fellow](http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2011-11-25/opinions/35281208_1_post-offices-mail-delivery-private-sector) [conservatives](http://www.npr.org/2011/12/20/144014422/is-a-privatized-post-office-better) seem to think it’s a great idea, though. Did you miss the memo or something? I’m glad you don’t agree with it, but please don’t make it sound like I’m making shit up. The truth is if we privatize mail delivery, which many fiscal conservatives would love for us to do, people will distrust mail-in voting. We have to have a strong, government-funded post office that is free from the Congress bullshittery it is dealing with now. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-102-year-old-woman-had-to-wait-in-line-3-hours-to-vote-whats-the-big-deal/650380/337 "2013-02-17T23:42:04Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > I was thinking of **BobLibDem** , **BrainGlutton** – THAT hot-headed crowd. > > People in elected positions must by necessity tone down their hot-headedness. One thing I should have said at this point is: I don’t care whether or not you _win an argument_ with **BG** or **BobLibDem** or whoever. But they are not **evidence** of anything meaningful in a _debate about the larger world_. You are welcome to reach whatever conclusions you want about the liberals who post to this board. But _so fucking what?_ I really don’t care if you prove we’re a bunch of doucheheads. It has no meaning outside of this board. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-102-year-old-woman-had-to-wait-in-line-3-hours-to-vote-whats-the-big-deal/650380/338 "2013-02-17T23:58:23Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > He’s the Star Jones of the board. He’s getting kind of hard to tell apart from **Starving Artist**. He’s been trending douche-ier for several years now (I’m always amazed when someone posts a “you used to be so reasonable” type post, he’s been a shitstain for years now), but he seems to be getting stupider as he does. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-102-year-old-woman-had-to-wait-in-line-3-hours-to-vote-whats-the-big-deal/650380/339 "2013-02-18T00:07:38Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > . (Note to **prr** : this is a term defined by Kevin Drum several years back. It means attempting to define the nature of the other side by reference to extreme blog posts, comments to newspaper articles or on message boards, etc. that aren’t particularly representative of that side.) [Damned](http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Nutpicking) if you aren’t correct. Never saw that word before. Don’t think it’s in very common use, but you learn something every day, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-102-year-old-woman-had-to-wait-in-line-3-hours-to-vote-whats-the-big-deal/650380/340 "2013-02-18T00:34:36Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > We start with a legal question. > > Lobohan asserts a view of the legal question that is factually wrong. > > I certainly understand, in view of your loyalties, why you’d like this to be simply an unknowable conundrum. But it’s not. And Lobohan attempts to buttress his “Franklin and Bash” level understanding of the law by speculating I was a lousy litigator. > > In your view, I SHOULDN’T mention the inconvenient-for-Lobohan fact that I have a law degree and years of experience in criminal defense? I’m speculating that you’re a silly bitch. And if you think you’re gonna get conviction after conviction based on someone not calling after getting a note card in the mail, you’re a fucking stooge. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-102-year-old-woman-had-to-wait-in-line-3-hours-to-vote-whats-the-big-deal/650380.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-102-year-old-woman-had-to-wait-in-line-3-hours-to-vote-whats-the-big-deal/650380.md?page=18)