Tim Robbins vs. New York City

Last week, I featured a story about Tim Robbins, one of my least all time favorite actors, TV or movie personalities, and to be quite frank, human beings.

Now, it’s time for Tim Robbins vs. the city’s Board of Elections—Round 2. And, this one is a real good round. Not for Mr. Robbins. But, for the city! Enjoy.

You will remember that the actor caused a ruckus on election day, when he went to vote at the YMCA on West 14th Street and found his name wasn’t in the poll book. He refused to cast a paper ballot, claiming that paper ballots are often just thrown away and never counted. So, he got a court order to allow him to pull the lever.

Mr. Robbins complained, “This is just one example of how difficult it is to vote in the US.”

Well, not so fast Mr. Robbins. In a letter to Robbins yesterday, the board said he went to the wrong polling place because he’d moved from West 15th Street to West 19th on February 19, 2004, so his voting location changed to West 20th.

Then, the real kicker, the problem wasn’t noticed earlier because he hadn’t voted in recent elections, the board said.

Oh, how appropriate, on so many levels, this is so appropriate! Let’s recount (to borrow a 2000 election term):

1) Tim Robbins caused a ruckus because he couldn’t vote on election day.
2) So, Robbins goes all the way to court to get a court order to allow him to vote.
3) Mr. Robbins says that his problem shows just how difficult it is to vote in America.
4) Now, the truth comes out. Mr. Robbins went to the wrong voting place.
5) Why? Oh, simple. He hasn’t voted in recent elections!
6) Imagine that.
7) Wonder what was so difficult about previous elections? What stopped him from voting in those elections?

I know we should not laugh at other people’s stupidity. But forgive me as I do in this situation!

Some advice Mr. Tim Robbins? Before making a scene and blaming America for being a difficult place to vote, be sure to vote often enough to know where your polling place is! Remember. You can’t blame them for moving the polling place—you are the person who moved! And when you move, most of the time your voting place moves!

I love the rest of this story!

A Dose of Reality

I will admit something to you. I do not like Tim Robbins. Do you know the name? He’s an actor and lives with Susan Sarandon. He won’t marry her, but cohabitates with her. There aren’t many people in the world that I really don’t like, but he ranks at the top of the list.

Why? Well, Mr. Robbins is an actor and well-known liberal activist. And, he always seems to have to have his way—no matter what. And if he doesn’t get his way, the threats start.

Well, apparently, Mr. Robbins didn’t like the way he was treated on election day this year. According to reports, he became enraged when officials at his usual polling location in New York informed him that his name was not on the register. Polling authorities asked him to fill out a provisional ballot instead of using the machine.

But, Mr. Robbins refused. His reasoning? Simple. He said that he doesn’t trust paper or affidavit ballots because “oftentimes those things get lost or thrown away." So he did not submit his and asked to speak to a supervisor.

Next, Mr. Robbins stayed in the voting place and asked to see someone from the Board of Elections. He told the poll workers that he wasn’t going to leave until someone from the Board of Elections came and explained to him why he wasn’t being allowed to vote—why his name had been taken off the voter rolls.”

The supervisor called a police officer called over. At that point, Mr. Robbins screamed, “Are you trying to intimidate me?”

Mr. Robbins wasn’t about to give up so easily. He was so determined to vote, that he went all the way to the City Board of Elections to obtain proof that he was a registered voter.

Here was his reasoning, in his own words: “While I was waiting, according to poll workers, 30 people in the first five hours of voting have been taken off the rolls, so you do the math on that. Six per hour, per district across America…If anything it seems like a random thing, but in randomness there are numbers. And there have been in the past. This is just one example of how difficult it is to vote in the United States.

Well, I’ve got some words of wisdom for Mr. Robbins—try voting in Iran, or Russia, or Venezuela. If he thinks it is so tough here, go somewhere else. I really tire of these Hollywood actors and actresses threatening people because they are so “famous.” The threats ring hollow now. How many times can they threaten that they will leave our country if this or that doesn’t go their way? Go already. Leave. Take your talents and move. If you don’t love the country and our system of governance, so be it—there are plenty of countries that might accept you. See how much your celebrity status gains for you there.

Am I being unfair? Too harsh? Let me know your thoughts.