One of the most intense fights that we are set to see on the American political stage over the course of the next few years will undoubtedly be about voting rights, and rightly so.  This is an issue that is intrinsic to the freedom of our nation, as secure and fair elections are the only way in which we can truly exercise our democracy. The issue has been foolishly split down the middle, into the predictable party pools where the narrative will mutate and radicalize until the argument is far from the middle ground it deserves, and a stalemate occurs in Washington DC. And while our elected imbeciles officials continue to play politics with this all-important issue, the American people have let their opinions be known in a recent poll that seems to contradict much of what the Democratic position has become of late. Amid plenty of partisan rancor over election integrity and voter suppression, a new national poll indicates that most Americans support requiring voter identification to cast a ballot and easier access to early voting. And a survey by Monmouth University released on Monday also indicates that the public is more divided on expanding voting by mail. Eight out of 10 of those questioned in the poll support requiring voter ID, including 91% of Republicans, 87% of independents and 62% of Democrats. Just over seven in 10 – 71% – say in-person early voting ahead of Election Day should be made easier. That includes 89% of Democrats, 68% of independents and 56% of Republicans. Voter ID has been a key sticking point in negotiations over future elections, with Democrats showing little enthusiasm for requiring American voters to provide identification to cast their ballots. This latest poll seems to weaken their position in the argument, however, and could send…

For months on end, a never-ending series of protests-turned-riots have plagued the city of Portland, Oregon. Night after night the northwestern locale rages, as protesters march in the street, commit arson, clash with cops, and generally relish in their new role as liberal nuisances to the citizens of the city. Things have gotten so bad, in fact, that a large contingent of the city’s riot police coordinated a mass resignation from that portion of the force. That makes the timing of the city’s latest tourism push all the more asinine. Portland ran a pricy full-page Sunday ad in the New York Times promoting tourism after the Portland police riot squad quit Thursday. “Some of what you’ve heard about Portland is true. Some is not. What matters most is that we’re true to ourselves,” Travel Portland wrote in the ad that could have cost up to $250,000. “You’ve heard a lot about us lately. It’s been a while since you heard from us,” it continues. “After a year of encouraging visitors and locals to support small businesses here and from a distance, it’s time to issue an invitation to come back to Portland,” the ad states. “Two sides to the same coin that keeps landing right on its edge. Anything can happen. We like it this way.” The ad also says “new ideas are welcome” in the city, a place where “you can be yourself.” “This is the kind of place where new ideas are welcome — whether they’re creative, cutting-edge or curious at first glance. You can speak up here. You can be yourself here,” it continues. Of course, the taxpayer money used to procure this ad could have been spent on any number of the projects that would have helped secure the city from these anarchistic rabble-rousers.