Republicans against ballot access

It well known that the GOP is hell-bent on making it more difficult for people to vote. In nearly a dozen states Republicans have passed new voter ID and early voting laws specifically targeted at groups they fear may vote Democratic. Their cries of "voter fraud" are itself a fraud on the American people. Voter fraud is virtually nonexistent in the U.S.A.

Not content with keeping people from voting, Republicans in several states, including Virginia, are working overtime to keep candidates off the ballot. Yesterday, over objections and legal challenges by the Virginia GOP, the State Board of Elections ruled that former congressman and Constitution Party nominee Virgil Goode qualified for the presidential ballot in the commonwealth. The board also certified Libertarian Party and Green Party candidates for the ballot.

With some help from the Green Party in collecting signatures (Greens like his stand on increased spending for passenger rail), Goode submitted over 20,500 signatures to the State Board of Elections. The law requires 10,000 valid signatures of registered voters with a minimum of 400 in each congressional district.

Will Goode's presence on the ballot impact the outcome of the presidential contest in Virginia? Apparently the state GOP believes the former congressman's name recognition and extreme right wing views will be attractive to tea party and xenophobic types that are a major block of GOP support in the commonwealth. There is some evidence to support that point of view. Late spring and early summer polls that included Goode's name showed he might pick up 5-9% of the Virginia vote with nearly all of that coming out of Mitt Romney's political hide. Virgil won't lay that many eggs, but even if he only lays one or two, in battleground Virginia the yoke will be on Romney.

Mitt Romney is the nominee only because $$$ made him the last man standing in a field crowded with wackos. He's flipped and flopped on nearly every issue under the sun. His Mormon religion isn't trusted by the evangelicals in the GOP. The only reason Romney even has a chance is Republican's over-the-top fires of hatred of President Obama that are stoked daily by Karl Rove and the Koch brothers money and slick ads. With their nominee neither liked nor trusted it is no wonder Virginia Republicans are horrified that Virgil Goode is on the ballot - he is everything they want Mitt to be!

We can expect the GOP, with help from the wild man in the Attorney General's office, to keep the challenges going if for no other reason than to raise questions about Goode in voters' minds in hopes it will reduce his appeal. Goode will be their morning-after excuse (couldn't be a crummy nominee or a bankrupt party) when Virginia's 13 electoral votes end up in the Democratic column for the second straight time!

Goode Deal

Virgil Goode, the eccentric former congressman from Rocky Mount, Virginia captured the Constitution Party's nomination at its Nashville convention yesterday. James Clymer, a Pennsylvanian who has been the party's chair for more than a decade will be Goode's running mate.

Goode promises to attract disaffected Republicans and Democrats, saying,"Romney's and Obama's positions are not all that different. There's not much distinction. My position would be significantly different from either of them." Mirroring the Constitution Party platform, Goode wants to close the borders and sharply curtail programs like food stamps, foreign aid, and defense. The platform, and presumably Goode, also support life begins at conception laws (like the controversial trans-vaginal ultrasound), repeal of the 17th Amendment, reversing the "surrender" of the canal to Panama, and reestablishing the religious basis of all education. Reading the platform is akin to jumping into a time machine and finding your way into the minds of men such as Edmund Ruffin.

The Constitution Party has qualified for the ballot in just 15 states, but Goode and party officials promise they will be on many more ballots by Election Day. In Virginia Goode will begin circulating petitions - he needs at least 400 valid signatures in each congressional district and 10,000 statewide.

Hopefully Goode will qualify for the Virginia ballot. He will prove attractive to the Fire-Eater types in the tea party who despise President Obama and who, with no other choice, might hold their noses and vote for Romney. With a close race in purple Virginia that could make all the difference for the Commonwealth's electors and the White House. Goode's presence on the ballot could stir the pot in the 5th District congressional race as well.

So Virgil, welcome to the presidential race. May your appeal be irresistible to the birds of a feather now flocking together in the Grand Old Party.

Why did the chicken cross the road?

A couple of paid ads in today's Staunton paper are of interest:

Perhaps reflecting the fractured local GOP, the Constitution Party of Augusta is having an organizational meeting at the Waynesboro Public Library this week. Appealing to far right Republicans, the ad promises a (unnamed) speaker and discussion on "means and methods of reasserting our Liberty!!" You may recall the Constitution Party had a booth at some county fairs and was attempting to get Chuck Baldwin on the ballot for president. Baldwin eventually ran on the Independent Green ticket in Virginia. 

The other ad titled "Message to Staunton and Augusta County Republicans" was paid for by the John Brownlee for Attorney General campaign. The ad promotes a reception for the candidate hosted by Chief Jim Williams and Dr. Steven Nichols. Both of these gentlemen serve in appointed positions that, while quite political, are generally seen as nonpartisan. Williams is Staunton Police Chief and Nichols is Superintendent of Staunton Public Schools. So why did these well known men cross the long and winding road into clearly partisan turf? Will conservative Republicans who support Ken Cuccinelli for AG sit idly by? Will Democratic leaning members of Staunton City Council cry foul? We may have a bird's eye view to any blowback. 

The conservatives' choice

Shenandoah Valley conservatives are caught in a tight spot. They instinctively know that John McCain does not represent them or their views. They do not trust John McCain whose "maverick" reputation means to them he'll be kissing up to conservatives one day and stabbing them in the back the next. Sarah Palin energized the most conservative folks in the GOP during the weeks following the convention, but as her lack of qualifications and knowledge have been exposed, her ethical lapse documented, and the realization that she'd be a heartbeat away sunk in Palin has paled. She is now a drag on the McCain campaign.

For conservatives there are better and more principled choices for president who have qualified for the Virginia ballot.

Yesterday Bob Barr, the nominee of the Libertarian Party, campaigned in Virginia with stops at Liberty University and a meet-and-greet at Corned Beef and Company in Roanoke. At the Roanoke event, one Barr supporter summed up his vote this way:

"Both parties have lost it, what our forefathers intended for us to become," he said. "I believe in this movement. I am done voting for the lesser of two evils."

Others talked of Barr's strong libertarian ideas on the economy, health care, and welfare. Many in the crowd expressed a fear that McCain would pose the greatest threat to civil liberties.

Another candidate who should appeal to social and Christian conservatives is Chuck Baldwin. Mr. Baldwin, a minister, is the nominee of the Constitution Party, but is on the Virginia ballot under the banner of the Independent Green Party since the Constitution Party failed to get enough signatures. Baldwin is anti-abortion, supports school prayer, and believes Social Security is unconstitutional welfare. A few Baldwin signs have been popping up in the Shenandoah Valley, probably distributed through churches aligned with his beliefs.

If you are a principled conservative, there are other voting options for you on November 4. Candidates that speak to your concerns and issues. Candidates who, unlike John McCain, can be trusted to live up to their campaign promises.

Green eggs and ham

Who is the Independent Green Party of Virginia? Even after knowing, I'm not sure I know.

Also known as the Indy Green Party, it broke away from the Green Party in 2003. In 2008 they became loosely affiliated with the Independence Party of America. Their key issue seems to be fiscal conservatism (I wonder how they are reacting to today's socialization of the debt of big companies) and rail. They call themselves a "values conservative party" with the slogan "Fiscally Conservative, Socially Responsible" and "More Trains, Less Traffic." They also advocate "more candidates, less apathy" which apparently means they'll work with almost any minor party and independent candidates

It seems their guiding light is Glenda Gail "for rail" Parker, their 2008 nominee for U.S. Senate. Ms. Parker's central issue (one I might find some agreement with) is increasing rail opportunities for moving people and goods. 

The Indy Greens nominated (kind of a loose term because they'll apparently "nominate" about anyone opposed to one of the major parties) a number of candidates for the House of Delegates. Most received very few votes although one or two topped 30%. An Indy Green endorsed, not nominated, candidate for the Loudoun Co. Board of Supervisors won in 2007.

In 2008, the Virginia Indy Greens launched a petition drive to put Michael Bloomberg on the ballot for president (Ron Paul was VP). They got more signatures than needed but Bloomberg declared he was not a candidate. They flirted with the idea of nominating T. Boone Pickens as a way to promote his wind power/natural gas energy plan (which has some interesting aspects). When Pickens shunned them, the party turned to Chuck Baldwin of the Constitution Party as their nominee.

The Virginia Indy Greens have endorsed five candidates for House of Representatives, including Janice Lee Allen in the 6th district. As noted above, this probably means little since the Indy Greens apparently endorse almost any minor party or independent candidate who talks about fiscal conservatism. Allen is highlighted on the Indy Green website, but I didn't see any indication that she claims them on hers.

On a side note, a veteran Shenandoah Valley political reported told this old bird that talking to Ms. Allen is a frustrating hoot. She apparently jumps around with little focus, talking about an issue and shifting suddenly into some religious jargon, or relating it to something in her past. This particular reporter would just as soon not interview her again. Good luck!

Lonely Bird

One of the quietest booths at the Augusta County Fair has to be the Constitution Party. The coyote hunter is a close second.

The Constitution Party is attempting to get the 10,000 signatures needed to be on the Virginia ballot this November. The deadline is noon on August 22. According to their website, they've collected 9,000 signatures, but it doesn't appear they are adding many more at the Augusta County Fair. For one thing, the guy basically waits for fairgoers to come to him and few seem to be doing so. They just don't give a cluck. Also, you need more signatures than required since some will be declared invalid for not being registered voters and for other reasons. The party claims to be on the ballot in about half the states.

The Constitution Party's nominee is "Dr." Chuck Baldwin, a minister who attended Liberty Bible Institute at Liberty University. He holds two honorary doctorate degrees. Mr. Baldwin founded Crossroads Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida and is a conservative radio talk show host. The church boasts that it has hosted speakers such as the late Dr. Jerry Falwell, Pat Buchanan, former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore, and former Ambassador Alan Keyes.

Never heard of the Constitution Party? Their "Seven Principles" are:

1. Life: For all human beings, from conception to natural death;
2. Liberty: Freedom of conscience and actions for the self-governed individual; 
3. Family: One husband and one wife with their children as divinely instituted;
4. Property: Each individual's right to own and steward personal property without government burden;
5. Constitution: and Bill of Rights interpreted according to the actual intent of the Founding Fathers;
6. States' Rights: Everything not specifically delegated by the Constitution to the federal government is reserved for the state and local jurisdictions;
7. American Sovereignty: American government committed to the protection of the borders, trade, and common defense of Americans, and not entangled in foreign alliances.

Hum, which faction of which party should these guys be roosting in?

Also seeking a spot on the ballot in Virginia and across the country are Libertarian candidate Bob Barr, and independent Ralph Nader. Nader (so been there, done that) is attempting to get on ballots in 45 states and claims to be on 28 already and has finished his petition drive in Virginia. Some political pundits think Barr could attract 2-3% of conservative Republican voters if he is successful at getting on the ballot.