This is a crosspost from Bradblog, where Brad Friedman keeps a watchful eye on all things electoral;  the discussion was about the real voter fraud going on as caging by the Republicans, and how it is being camouflaged by a complicit media, using the ACORN contrivance for cover.

"Brad, before much longer, you will have the benefit a publicly exposed bona-fide conspiracy- to-commit-voter-fraud as a reference for your ongoing investigation...

Consider that the concerted and illegal efforts of Republicans to cage voters, was safe for them to get away with until November 2006.

Their arrogant, unrestricted use of caging, which you yourself have shown is illegal by most state and federal standards, could only be perpetuated without the enforcement of those laws.

Now consider the RICO laws; from the Wiki;
"The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (commonly referred to as RICO Act or RICO) is a United States federal law that provides for extended penalties for criminal acts performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization. It also provides a civil cause of action for those injured by violations of the act."

Lets not get too deep into the civil issue, every disenfranchised voter would be a legitimate victim, but that isn't my point. Consider the first part, which essentially extends guilt to conspirators who may not have been perpetrators of the actual crime.

Now, ponder the extended line of highly connected McCain campaign perps and Rove-connected wingnut rank and file who could be quite justifiably included in that legal lassoe, (Sampson, Goodling, Von Spassky, Griffin, Rove, etc. ad infinitum) the implications are startling.

If voter caging, with the intent of blocking legitimate voters, is a crime, then the list of guilty accomplices from the past 8 years who conspired to facilitate that crime is pretty easy to trace, and that intent easy to prove.

Simply ask; Cui Bono from fewer low-income and blue-collar voters?

Until the majority swung so hard against them in 2006, the Republican Party was the sole beneficiary of this voter fraud. By institutionally disenfranchising (which is a massive crime that requires a vast conspiracy of entrenched lawmakers) low-income and typically Democratic voters in micro-selected demographics like Ohio in 2004, they could push a closely divided public to the right of it's real center fulcrum.

And because they were in control of the Executive Branch, they agreeably ignored the clearly criminal caging committed by their own operatives, which in essence makes the Executive Branch co-conspirators in the crime of felony voter obstruction, and subject to the RICO laws installed in our legal code.

Had they abandoned their mischief this time around, they might have put some legal distance between themselves and their culpability. But this current vote-supression redux is one more bit of hubris, and exposes the entire house of cards to fresh scrutiny by the 111th Congress and their Commander in Chief.

Brad, your work has been instrumental in exposing the weak underbelly of this vote-suppresssion beast, you have revealed the very basic fact that they can not stand up to public scrutiny. Shine a light on their profanity, and they run for cover.

It's my guess there's an octopus in the middle of this RICO case. Just trace the still-active voter-caging strategists and perps back to their most powerfully connected roots. Anyone want to bet the scent of that old Texas Turdblossom, and the cowpie it rises from, stinks at the center of it all.

Don't let up. Keep after em'. You have slain a mythical anti-democracy dragon, that is not so mythical after all.

If the pen is mightier than the sword, then what's your keyboard worth?

They should send Mudcat out ahead of Biden and Bubba (yes, THAT Bubba) to set up some down-home events in WV, spend a few days there working the blue collar and rural areas.

Wouldn't that make a great post-election documentary?

Warning to all Republicans who value your voting rights...

Be on the lookout for a short, black and white mouse-looking character when you go to vote, he's known in voter fraud circles as "Mick" but many of us know him as Mickey Mouse.

This miscreant cartoon character has leapt off the little screen and has registered to vote, multiple times in every state.

This is a serious threat to the fabric of our democracy! (Not to mention the very facric of reality!)  If this mnouse is allowed to sabatoge the electoral process, we may never be able to fix the problem.

So, Republicans, be VIGILANT and stop The Mouse whenever you see him voting.  Rumors have it that Mickey's mol, Minnie, may accompany him, they look identical except that Minnie wears a bow.  Also, be on the lookout for their gang members, including a dog named Pluto and an angry little duck named Donald.

Former Mickey gang member Goofy is a life long Republican, so don't expect to see him there...