Massive free health clinic in Los Angeles pre-registers to avoid long waits

By GottaLaff

The new and improved streamlined registration system should provide some relief to the thousands of people who so badly need health care. Hopefully, the elderly and/or anyone else who finds it difficult, or even impossible, to stand in long lines will have a much easier time of it now.

Now let's hope there aren't long lines to pre-register:

Patients seeking treatment next week at a massive free healthcare clinic at the Los Angeles Sports Arena must pre-register in person Sunday, organizers said.

The requirement marks a significant change from how patients were seen when the first clinic was held last year in Los Angeles. More than 6,300 people got free healthcare then, but scores more waited in line only to be turned away because of a shortage of medical volunteers.

Organizers hope a new color-coded wristband system will reduce both waits and the number of people turned away from the clinic, which runs from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday to May 3.

Good idea.

These clinics are a godsend, and a lot of credit must go to Keith Olbermann, his producer Rich Stockwell, and anyone who donated to the cause. Because of that kind of generosity, Americans who have been forced to put off caring for their own bodies are now able to be seen and treated.

Lives are being saved.

Too bad Big Insurance doesn't have the same goal in mind for "their" America.

Voting Problems Roundup

By GottaLaff

Thom Hartmann is listing problems on his show, and here are some that CBS is reporting:

As of right now, one national voter protection group says it has received 27,000 reports of problems.

- In Virginia, problems at polling places have been reported from over ten locations all across the state, including Richmond, Portsmouth, Lynchburg, Chesapeake, Vienna, Newport News and Virginia Beach, according to voter protection groups. The most common complaints are about long lines. However, problems with voter registration and polling machines not functioning properly in several locations has also been reported. Some voters are reporting there have been no offers of paper ballots. And even as of 7am, Some polling places were not open.

- Rain in some areas of the state have been causing problems with the optical scanners because of wet ballots.

- In Pennsylvania, Bethlehem, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have reported a number of problems with voting machine malfunctions in, as well as major breakdowns at three precincts in Allegheny County. CBS Newshas confirmed with state officials that there have been machine malfunctions throughout the state.

- There have been reports of a few precincts in Philadelphia running out of paper ballots. People have been given provisional ballots in these cases.[...] State guidelines also dictate that these provisional ballots must be marked “emergency,” so they will be counted with the rest of the ballots today.

- The McCain/Palin campaign has sent out an email stating that Republican election board workers in at least six precincts in Philadelphia have been tossed by the Democrat judge of elections. The reason provided was that they are the “minority party.” They are seeking an injunction in court today for the improper removal of “credentialed” poll workers.

- In Ohio, voting rights groups have received reports out of Columbus that many people are experiencing problems with malfunctioning voter machines, resulting in long lines. In a few of these locations, they say, the machines are not working at all.

I'll keep my eyes open for more.

The IWRC* Palin crowd was "sparse, to say the least"

By GottaLaff

Way to "close strong", IWRC*:

LAKEWOOD, Ohio – It was not the best of beginnings for Palin Monday morning.

At the first of the Alaska governor’s six rallies of the day, there was plenty of room to spare. The crowd at Lakewood Park was sparse, to say the least, perhaps one of the smallest she has seen in weeks.

And then, speaking of Obama’s views on coal, she repeatedly stumbled on the word “bankrupting,” calling it “bankruptcing.”

A mental giant she's not.

Meanwhile, Rachel Maddow is on the radio machine with Thom Hartmann right now, both of them worrying about the election being stolen. They are also discussing "the new poll tax".

Several thousand military votes have already been lost, Hartmann says.

Let's hope that the huge turnout more than compensates for the problems, and that those in line stay in line and cast their vote, even if it takes 10 hours. Let's not let the system disenfranchise voters.

*"In What Respect, Charlie?"