Peirce campaign disses League of Women Voters
They caught one of Blackwell's toadies on video claiming that it is "federal law" that debate participants have at least 15% poll support. They were quite right to nail that; it has only applied to Presidential debates, it is not "law", and it shows that Blackwell supporters have not-a-clue about that thing called Federalism (i.e., Ohio has the right and power to run its state elections as it sees fit, even including charging a poll tax to vote for governor). But, contrary to the panel in the youtube show, it has been many years since the League of Women Voters ran the Presidential debates, as the LWV would not rig their debates in the Duopoly's favor, and the Duopoly would not play otherwise (somewhat like the current situation in Ohio). The 15% rule is the creation of the Bipartisan Debate Commission, which took over from the LWV. "Bipartisan" of course is not "nonpartisan". All it would take to change the 15% rule would be for a Duopoly candidate to refuse to play by it. This will never happen.
It's too bad the Peirce video had that error in it. But it's understandable, and not nearly as horrible as this little Blackwelloid stunt:
On a side note that’s just funny, while we were driving down to Cinci from Cleveland, we happened to get passed by one of Blackwell’s SUVs carrying what looked like his campaign manager. We paced them for long enough for me to lean towards the window and flap my arms like a chicken. The next thing I know, they actually were stupid enough to pull behind us and turn on the flashing blue lights (who knew the Secretary of State had such perks?). Of course, they quickly turned them off and sped past us while glaring out their windows. I think the multiple Peirce stickers might have been a clue that abuse of power would have been a really stupid idea.
What would the bust be for? Terrorism? Dangerous driving? Playing chicken on a freeway?
Comments
Posted by: Stephen VanDyke
Posted on: October 6, 2006 06:18 PM
Hey Jeff,
I know the CPD handles the presidential debates, but they are still a private organization and the 15% rule is nowhere on any lawbooks (it's purely unconstitutional and discriminatory).
However, a private organization like the CPD or LWV can legally have a bar for admission.
On the flip side, us calling Blackwell and Strickland chickens because they're obviously afraid to debate or acknowledge an economist like Peirce is the most direct and correct course of action for us to take.
They are both hiding behind the skirt of the LWV rules (they could over rule them at will) and we're calling them on it.
Sooo.... chickens they both are!
:)
Posted by: Jeffrey Quick
Posted on: October 7, 2006 08:19 AM
My point was the misidentification in the video; there's no point in offending an organization which is not to blame. LWV hasn't always been totally easy to work with; in the early 80s an Ann Arbor Libertarian referred to them as the "Plague of Women Vipers", for reasons I can not now remember. But overall they have certainly been more fair than the CPD. I'd also argue about whether the CPD is really a "private" organization. It may be de jure, but de facto it exists to further a government objective.
But the main point is: the speaker was a ninny who doesn't know his law, the 'Fraid Chicken laid an egg, and it's time to put both the strutting roosters in the freezer, that being the only positive contribution to the Ohio economy that they'd ever make.