GOP trying to suppress the Libertarian Party

[BigAppleBucky]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/15/us/politics/gary-johnson-the-libertarian-partys-presidential-nominee-worries-republicans.html?src=twr

Around the country, Republican operatives have been making moves to keep Mr. Johnson (the Libertarian candidate) from becoming their version of Ralph Nader, the Green Party candidate whose relatively modest support cut into Al Gore’s 2000 vote arguably enough to help hand the decisive states of Ohio and Florida to George W. Bush.

The fear of Mr. Johnson’s tipping the outcome in an important state may explain why an aide to Mr. Romney ran what was effectively a surveillance operation into Mr. Johnson’s efforts over the summer to qualify for the ballot at the Iowa State Fair, providing witnesses to testify in a lawsuit to block him that ultimately fizzled.

Libertarians suspect it is why Republican state officials in Michigan blocked Mr. Johnson from the ballot after he filed proper paperwork three minutes after his filing deadline.

And it is why Republicans in Pennsylvania hired a private detective to investigate his ballot drive in Philadelphia, appearing at the homes of paid canvassers and, in some cases, flashing an F.B.I. badge — he was a retired agent — while asking to review the petitions they gathered at $1 a signature, according to testimony in the case and interviews.

The Karl Rove win at any cost philosophy at work.

[Ludovic]

Was the paperwork purposely delayed until the deadline is passed? If not, how long until after the deadline is passed would not qualify as win at all costs? The next day? The next week? Should the deadline have meaning at all?

[elucidator]

Verily,it is written, that whatsoever shall go around, therefore shall it come around. And whomsoever shall covet his maidservant’s ass, thereupon shall he be bitten.

[Wesley_Clark]

the democrats have tried to suppress the green party too, it goes both ways.

[levdrakon]

Reported for lameness. Mods please close.

[Lord_Feldon]

Libertarians suspect it is why Republican state officials in Michigan blocked Mr. Johnson from the ballot after he filed proper paperwork three minutes after his filing deadline.

Isn’t that what deadline means? I mean, it’s a deadline for a reason. If you could squeak in after the fact, it would be a maimline or a wiggleline (I’m not sure if it’s something that kills you or something that doesn’t move).

[Punoqllads]

If I had a nickle for every lame BBQ Pit thread I’ve seen, I’d have a dollar sixty five.

But this really should be in Elections.

[Miller]

@Punoqllads

But this really should be in Elections.

Good call.

[Miller]

Also:

They let retired FBI agents keep their badges? That seems… not wise.

[Ethilrist]

@Miller

Also:

They let retired FBI agents keep their badges? That seems… not wise.

I remember an SNL skit… “Ex-police! Freeze!”

And, darn that big government. Kind of ironic, really.

[digs]

@levdrakon

Reported for lameness. Mods please close.

Ohmigosh, it’s suppression of a thread on suppression!

BROUGHT TO YOU BY YOUR DEPARTMENT OF REDUNDANCY DEPARTMENT

[Damuri_Ajashi]

They’re doing the same thing with Virgil Goode in Virginia.

[Robot_Arm]

@digs

BROUGHT TO YOU BY YOUR DEPARTMENT OF REDUNDANCY DEPARTMENT

I know you; you’re the chairman of the Pedantic Society.

[Czarcasm]

@Damuri_Ajashi

They’re doing the same thing with Virgil Goode in Virginia.

They’re moving his threads to the Election forum?

[Double_Foolscap]

@Robot_Arm

I know you; you’re the chairman of the Pedantic Society.

It’s the Pedantry Society.

[John_Mace]

@Damuri_Ajashi

They’re doing the same thing with Virgil Goode in Virginia.

Virgil Goode is the name, and I ran on the ConParty train
'Til the GOP came down, and tore up my ballot again.

[BrainGlutton]

@Double_Foolscap

It’s the Pedantry Society.

So long as the boys are cute, who cares?

[BrainGlutton]

@Wesley_Clark

the democrats have tried to suppress the green party too, it goes both ways.

Have they? Serious question.

[Really_Not_All_That_Bright]

Who cares? “OMG, they refused to accept paperwork filed after the deadline! Help! Help! We’re being repressed!”

[Derleth]

The Libertarian Party suppresses itself by having idiotic ideas that most of the country disagrees with. It’s had decades to build a constituency and it’s never risen to the level of a serious national party. It isn’t all about our two-party system, it’s about the fact most people, when they hear Libertarian ideas, disagree with them. Blaming another party is not going to change that.