Saying that IPR’s Trent Hill had done him a “great honor” by including him with Ron Paul, Lew Rockwell nonetheless says he “cannot accept” the “very kind offer” to be listed as a candidate for vice president in Louisiana. Rockwell does say he loves the idea of having Paul on the ballot, though.
The Paul/Rockwell ticket was dreamed up by Louisiana Ron Paul activists in the wake up the supposed Bloomberg/Paul ticket in Virginia. In both of those states, candidates need not fill out any paperwork and can appear on the ballot without their permission — unless they actively oppose it. It appears Rockwell would do just that.
Paul had previously stated his non-opposition / non-encouragement of his placement as a vice-presidential candidate on Virginia’s ballot. It remains to be seem if he’d oppose his nomination for president.
MN only requires 2000 signatures to get a candidate on the ballot. It’s probably a good idea to get 3000-4000 as a cushion of valid names. I haven’t ever heard anything about a law where you can’t sign if you voted in the primary. But there may be one.
paulie, I don’t have the time to look up the specific statute # but in MN, signing the ballot access petition is the equivalent of voting for that candidate in the primary election for that office. It is illegal to sign a petition for a candidate and then vote for that office in the primary.
“Isn’t LA also the state where the other Republican candidates combined together as a “Freedom Slate†in the primary caucuses to screw Ron Paul out of any delegates?”
Yes,that is Louisiana. And that wasnt the only foul play,either. Over 300 “provisional ballots” were not counted. These ballots included my wife’s, who had registered at the same time as me. AND I WAS A CANDIDATE FOR DELEGATE! So how could she have possibly not made it onto the list? At any rate, when I left the site of the District 6 caucus (Baton Rouge) at midnight, our state-coordinator and regional coordinator told me, “We’re winning in every district statewide”.
Something happened between then and the final vote tally.
I’ve heard some talk in MN about having such an effort but I’m not warm to the idea. The problem we’d have is that most of the people gathering the signatures would be Baldwin and Barr supporters and if they get anyone else who signed for Baldwin or Barr then the signatures would be thrown out for BOTH candidates.
Are you sure that is the case in MN? I am considering a petition job there, and would be less likely to go if I am limited to one party only.
Isn’t LA also the state where the other Republican candidates combined together as a “Freedom Slate” in the primary caucuses to screw Ron Paul out of any delegates? Sounds like as good a place as any to put him on the ballot.
I think it’s fantastic.
Ron Paul is the face of American dissatisfaction with the Federal Government. I wish I could vote for that. A big total sends a message that a similarly big total for Barr or Baldwin, even if possible, wouldn’t.
Also, becuase its a rockin idea. =)
Yeah. You already said those, and I said they were good reasons.
GE,
The main reasons is this – Because we can.
But there are, of course, alternative motivations.
1.) We figure Paul will hurt the duopoly
2.) Paul will poll at least 1% in a close race, showing LA GOPers that we wont always close into the fold.
3.) It’s a great way to kick off the campaign for liberty–especially since there are no Ron Paul Republicans running for Congress in LA.
4.) If we score 5%, we get to make a party. This party will likely serve as a sort of “Ron Paul Party”, though in all likelihood–it will simply dissapear after November.
I could give you any number of reasons “why not” for any possible question.
Your reasons in the affirmative are good ones.
SovereignMN,
This isnt really an “option” for me as much as it is an “alternative strategy”. If we can keep this Ron Paul activists excited and voting for pro-liberty candidates (especially third-party candidates), the CP and LP will benefit in the future and down-ticket.
I’ve heard some talk in MN about having such an effort but I’m not warm to the idea. The problem we’d have is that most of the people gathering the signatures would be Baldwin and Barr supporters and if they get anyone else who signed for Baldwin or Barr then the signatures would be thrown out for BOTH candidates.
IMHO the Paul option set sail months ago. It’s something that could have been done months ago but it wasn’t. It’s too late now…time to move foward with Baldwin.
GE,
Why not?
There are thousands of people across my state who want to vote for Ron Paul,but will instead vote for John McCain or Barack Obama.
This changes that,and further destroys the duopoly. If we score 5%, we can form a party using the ballot label (Louisiana Taxpayer’s Party) that will be officially recognized.
But–as I said originally,why not?
Why are you doing it, Trent?
GE,
“Trent – What does your involvement in this effort have to say about your support for Baldwin? Are you still the Youth Coordinator for the Baldwin campaign?”
I dont know. Im still Baldwin’s Youth Coordinator until I hear otherwise,but this story just went public. There could be some ramifications, I suppose.
Rep. Goldwater Jr, Lt. Colonel Karen Kwiatkowski, Walter Block, and Gov. Gary Johnson.
Brandon – Those candidates would demand to be taken off.
Here’s another though. If someone can put Paul’s name on the ballot, could someone else put Romney, Huckabee, Clinton, and Edwards on as well. Get enough high name recognition people on the ballot that someone could win the state with a really low amount.
Paul has to “consent” to being on the ballot by not demanding to be taken off.
I don’t see how the GOP could penalize him if he had absolutely nothing to do with the ballot drive and he appears only in a handful of states (at most). Then again, it is the rotten to the core GOP…
I agree Paul’s VP shouldn’t be Barr or Baldwin.
Does anyone know which states would allow for this kind of ballot placement, without the candidate having to approve their name? It would be interesting to find out for Minnesota. I know the state only requires 2000 signatures, and it would be easy to collect them when enough Paul supporters from MN show up at the Rally on Sept. 2.
I think Paul might object to being a presidential candidate, though. There’s a difference between being listed as VP under Bloomberg, an obvious draft effort, and being listed at the top of the ticket — a direct threat to McCain, for which the Republicans can penalize him. I also think having any attachment to either Barr or Baldwin (i.e. Paul/Barr, Barr/Paul, etc.) would be tantamount to an endorsement in the GOP’s evil eyes.
I’m eager to see how this thing comes together. I don’t think Trent or anyone else trying to put Ron Paul on the ballot diminishes their preference for Baldwin or Barr. It gives the people who will write-in Ron Paul no matter what a real chance to have their vote count.
Trent – What does your involvement in this effort have to say about your support for Baldwin? Are you still the Youth Coordinator for the Baldwin campaign?
Oh–and the Louisiana Taxpayer’s Party will be the name. It will represent no national entity.
Rockwell doesnt believe in being involved in elective politics at all–yet he supported Ron Paul for President, formally endorsed him, gave him the maximum donation, endorsed Murray Sabrin for Senate, gave HIM the maximum donation,etc etc.
No–this is just Rockwell not wanting to be on the ballot,lol. I dont blame him. We have some other choices. Rockwell DID suggest someone.
Put either Drew Brees of the Saints or Chris Paul of the Hornets (though neither is 35 yet). We could have Paul & Paul.
This is not surprising. I don’t think Rockwell believes in voting ( I doubt he even voted for Ron Paul) or being involved with elective politics at all.
I also don’t think he’s a great choice anyway.
The label is Taxpayers Party.
That’s a shame. I hope a replacement can be found to get Ron Paul on the ballot here.
How about Walter Block for VP? He supported the Ron Paul campaign, and he lives in Louisiana, which couldn’t hurt.
Did Rockwell recommend any replacements Trent?
Whats the deal, Trent? What party would they represent?