Most of the sheeple who can vote are members of one or the other of those parties and will be happy it's been made easy for them. Your point will be entirely lost on them.
It would certainly be amusing if it stuck.
Libertarian Party & Bob Barr file suit in Texas alleging Obama/McCain illegally on ballots
- Thread starter Bob Hubbard
- Start date
Most of the sheeple who can vote are members of one or the other of those parties and will be happy it's been made easy for them. Your point will be entirely lost on them.
It would certainly be amusing if it stuck.
Empty Hands
Senior Master
No one said it's OK, but it will happen. The partisans on both sides will find sweet, sweet justifications to salve their consciences (if they have one) while the mushy middle will be extremely unlikely to care, in the even more unlikely event that they notice in the first place.
Empty Hands
Senior Master
Yes, but who those reps are is determined by the popular vote. Each party has its own slate of electors that will be appointed if and when they win the vote.
OP
- Thread Starter
- #24
Press Releases › Rules Must Bend to Allow McCain, Obama on Texas Ballot with Barr
August 28, 2008 11:45 am EST
Atlanta, GA - Though Texas election law sets an Aug. 26 deadline for political parties to file their candidates for president and vice-president, John McCain and Barack Obama must work around the law to get on the ballot alongside Libertarian presidential candidate Bob Barr.
"Agents of the GOP are twisting the law to have Bob Barr thrown off the ballot in Pennsylvania," says Russell Verney, campaign manager for Barr and a former campaign manager for Ross Perot, "while the law has to be twisted for them to get on the ballot in Texas. Rules are rules, except when they inconvenience those who make them."
According to Texas Election Code § 192.031 , a political party is allowed to have their candidates on the ballot if "the names of the party's nominees for president and vice-president" are submitted before "5 p.m. of the 70th day before" the presidential election.
Given that neither the Republican Party nor the Democratic Party nominated a candidate before Aug. 26, it would be impossible for either party to file under Texas law.
"Third parties are never given second chances when it comes to getting on the ballot," says Verney. "And third parties are often thrown off the ballot for the most minor infractions of ballot access laws. In Texas, we have a clear deadline that was not met by the Republicans and Democrats, but it is all but certain that some way, some how, the establishment candidates will find a way on the ballot. Some people are just above the law."
A spokesperson for the Texas Secretary of State's Office claims that both parties "filed something" on time, despite the fact that neither party had nominated a candidate by the deadline as required by Texas law.
"We agree that unreasonably early deadlines are absurd," says Verney. "We've run into them in states like Oklahoma, West Virginia and Maine during our fight for ballot access across the nation. But if third parties are required to adhere to the law, then we expect the same for the candidates of any other party. Maybe this will show Republicans and Democrats what it is like to be on the wrong side of ballot access laws."
Libertarian Party presidential candidate Bob Barr represented the 7th District of Georgia in the U. S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003.
August 28, 2008 11:45 am EST
Atlanta, GA - Though Texas election law sets an Aug. 26 deadline for political parties to file their candidates for president and vice-president, John McCain and Barack Obama must work around the law to get on the ballot alongside Libertarian presidential candidate Bob Barr.
"Agents of the GOP are twisting the law to have Bob Barr thrown off the ballot in Pennsylvania," says Russell Verney, campaign manager for Barr and a former campaign manager for Ross Perot, "while the law has to be twisted for them to get on the ballot in Texas. Rules are rules, except when they inconvenience those who make them."
According to Texas Election Code § 192.031 , a political party is allowed to have their candidates on the ballot if "the names of the party's nominees for president and vice-president" are submitted before "5 p.m. of the 70th day before" the presidential election.
Given that neither the Republican Party nor the Democratic Party nominated a candidate before Aug. 26, it would be impossible for either party to file under Texas law.
"Third parties are never given second chances when it comes to getting on the ballot," says Verney. "And third parties are often thrown off the ballot for the most minor infractions of ballot access laws. In Texas, we have a clear deadline that was not met by the Republicans and Democrats, but it is all but certain that some way, some how, the establishment candidates will find a way on the ballot. Some people are just above the law."
A spokesperson for the Texas Secretary of State's Office claims that both parties "filed something" on time, despite the fact that neither party had nominated a candidate by the deadline as required by Texas law.
"We agree that unreasonably early deadlines are absurd," says Verney. "We've run into them in states like Oklahoma, West Virginia and Maine during our fight for ballot access across the nation. But if third parties are required to adhere to the law, then we expect the same for the candidates of any other party. Maybe this will show Republicans and Democrats what it is like to be on the wrong side of ballot access laws."
Libertarian Party presidential candidate Bob Barr represented the 7th District of Georgia in the U. S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003.
OP
- Thread Starter
- #25
As expected, both parties are now on the ballot, because a spokeswoman for the Texas Secretary of State’s office stated that, “Upon further checking, both parties filed before the deadline. We expect their amended filings after both parties finish their nominating process at the conventions.”
Little more on the hypocracy
http://campaign.blog.bobbarr2008.com/2008/08/29/bob-barr-the-lone-star-candidate/
Little more on the hypocracy
http://campaign.blog.bobbarr2008.com/2008/08/29/bob-barr-the-lone-star-candidate/
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2006
- Messages
- 3,692
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- 176
Suuuuuure they did.
Welcome to the world of politics.
Why has Texas not just changed its law to match what's actually happening?
Why has Texas not just changed its law to match what's actually happening?
OP
- Thread Starter
- #28
More on this
http://www.ballot-access.org/2008/0...as-deadline-to-certify-presidential-nominees/
This article is a good read, detailing how the major parties have moved these deadlines around to accomidate themselves.
Also, http://blog.bobbarr2008.com/2008/08/29/bobs-busy-week/
http://www.ballot-access.org/2008/08/30/escape-hatch-for-texas-democrats-republicans/
Looks to indicate a legal way to get them on the ballot, though it seems to only apply to them, not 3rd parties.
http://www.ballot-access.org/2008/0...as-deadline-to-certify-presidential-nominees/
This article is a good read, detailing how the major parties have moved these deadlines around to accomidate themselves.
Also, http://blog.bobbarr2008.com/2008/08/29/bobs-busy-week/
http://www.ballot-access.org/2008/08/30/escape-hatch-for-texas-democrats-republicans/
Looks to indicate a legal way to get them on the ballot, though it seems to only apply to them, not 3rd parties.
OP
- Thread Starter
- #29
Looks like the Democrats at least really were late as their own notarized documents show. Also, the Republican's still haven't filled the proper documents. The Barr campaign is threatening legal action should Obama and McCain's names remain illegally on the Texas ballot.
I'm glad he's pushing the matter on principle. Texans will see John McCain and Barack Obama on their ballots though, even if they have to have a Texas Ranger at every polling site. (Which would mean appointing a whole lot more of them...)
OP
- Thread Starter
- #31
Why can't they be write-in's like the law requires? Certainly that is what anyone else who missed the deadlines is told. To be a write-in I mean.
Because of the huge amount of extra work it'd create for the state? It's not Texas' fault, after all, nor their citizens.
I'll have a good laugh if they're kept off, but it isn't the right thing to do.
I'll have a good laugh if they're kept off, but it isn't the right thing to do.
OP
- Thread Starter
- #33
What's the point of having the law then?
After all, the big-2 wrote the laws for their own benefit to make it harder for the 3rd parties to gain momentum.
You're right, it is alot of work, it's not Texas's fault, nor the citizens.
It is however the law, which should apply -equally-.
If they allow this, they should also allow any other parties that missed those same deadlines but who are otherwise within the law.
Won't happen though. Greens and Constitutionists are still write in's.
After all, the big-2 wrote the laws for their own benefit to make it harder for the 3rd parties to gain momentum.
You're right, it is alot of work, it's not Texas's fault, nor the citizens.
It is however the law, which should apply -equally-.
If they allow this, they should also allow any other parties that missed those same deadlines but who are otherwise within the law.
Won't happen though. Greens and Constitutionists are still write in's.
celtic_crippler
Senior Master
Sorry bro, but I have to call BS on that...It IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. Why? Because it's the law.
The law only works when applied to everyone equally regardless.
Law loses respect and legitamacy when it's not applied to everyone. The Dems and the GOP deserve no special consideration. No one should be "above the law."
Wild Bill
Green Belt
Another possible outcome is that Demicrats and Republicans get on the ballot, Libertarians sue and Texas has to change the law that hurts the other parties. Of course that means Texas will have to add yet another amendment to the state constitution.
Absolutely! It's a scam and they can't even follow the scam they set up for themselves. What's the point of having the law? I don't know--I presume it's for the logistical benefit of the State of Texas.
While it'd be satisfying to see the two big parties screwed on this, a lot of Texas voters would also be on the receiving end of that screw-job. Just think of the delays as every cowpoke in Texas has to ask the senior citizens working the booth how to fill out a write-in ballot. Who are you really punishing here?
Eh...I am not familiar with this syllogism.
On the one hand I agree...on the other hand, the two biggest parties, that garner 90+% of the vote, may indeed deserve some special consideration. It's not about being fair to them. This is a democracy. It's about being fair to the voters. That has to be the biggest consideration.
It's also a matter of simple common sense. You know they'll be a Republican and a Democrat on the ballot. These parties did not officially know who the candidates were going to be until the convention.
celtic_crippler
Senior Master
As of 9/14:
More: http://www.politicallore.com/electi...emocrats-republicans-miss-ballot-deadline/379
Why hasn't this story been covered by any major media? Or has it and I just missed it?
More: http://www.politicallore.com/electi...emocrats-republicans-miss-ballot-deadline/379
Why hasn't this story been covered by any major media? Or has it and I just missed it?
The media know it'll be fixed. Besides, it's all about Sarah palin right now!
OP
- Thread Starter
- #40
Yep. "Fixed".
