An update on the new Americans Elect Party from Ballot Access News:
Last month, Americans Elect Party submitted approximately 21,000 signatures to qualify as a party in Nevada. This is three times as many signatures as are legally required. By January 7, the Secretary of State will probably have determined that the petition has enough valid signatures.
We both know people that worked in Kansas and it has been discussed on the petitioner grapevine. However, I’m not as convinced as Andy that they are actually finished there yet.
If it shakes a significant number of people away from straight ticket voting, other parties will do better down ticket.
“Richard Winger // Jan 7, 2011 at 3:46 pm
The elections people in the Kansas Secretary of State office say they have not heard that Americans Elect has been petitioning in their state, and certainly no such petition has been submitted.”
Richard, I know for a fact that Americans Elect has been petitioning in Nevada because I know people who worked on the petition drive there. Last I heard they were almost finished. They may be finished by now. Perhaps they haven’t turned the signatures in to the Secratary of State’s office yet or perhaps the person that you spoke to at the Secratary of State’s office didn’t know what they were talking about. I’ve heard from multiple sources that Americans Elect was petitioning in Kansas so I do not think that it was a rumor.
The elections people in the Kansas Secretary of State office say they have not heard that Americans Elect has been petitioning in their state, and certainly no such petition has been submitted.
Ross Levin // Jan 7, 2011:
” But it’s just more of the same…… I guess a best case scenario would be that they really do significant damage to the two party system in some way. But that’s very optimistic.”
[Lake: it really is a rigged game ——- isn’t it?]
Really, the last thing we need is another corporatist political option. That’s what this is. For the ruling class, this means that some anger toward them will be wasted in votes and activism on behalf of an astroturf operation (ie, Americans Elect) posing as some new kind of politics. But it’s just more of the same.
I guess a best case scenario would be that they really do significant damage to the two party system in some way. But that’s very optimistic.
never heard of them
You will…
@10 Bloomberg, Trump, et al are not short of ca$h. The full party petition gives them the most options. Tripling the signature requirement is impressive to challenge. They may eventually figure out they want a full multipartisan set of running mates.
Also, with respect to Pennsylvania “My pockets are infinitely deeper than your pockets, which is why we hired the two oldest silk stocking firms in Philadelphia to do our side of the case” and “remember, if you lose, you are paying their bills at their normal $800 an hour rates” is sort of like ‘we’re playing chicken, and I just threw my steering wheel and brake cylinder out the window’.
Apologies to young people who do not know the last reference.
never heard of them
Wow, tripling the signature requirement in Nevada sounds like overkill to me.
= Yep. Even if the rules were tougher, they still would’ve got on. But they still got on fair & square.
“paulie // Jan 7, 2011 at 8:04 am
@9 That depends on who is hired to do the work, as you know.”
Even if they hired droolie/jabronie petitioners the petition coordinator(s) should have done some type of validity check. Tripling the signature requirement in Nevada just does not seem necessary to me.
“However, the rumor I have heard is that they will be doing a full party petition in Alabama, which is about 40k valid, rather than the 5k valid independent presidential petition. If true, why?”
Americans Elect did the full party status petition in Kansas which requires 16,776 valid signatures rather just doing a petition to place a presidential ticket on the ballot which requires 5,000 signatures.
@9 That depends on who is hired to do the work, as you know.
@6 Yup, its the Unity 08 people all right
Correct, but this time the courts have cleared the way for their plans.
and the AEP is not concerned with making themselves a permanent third party
However, the rumor I have heard is that they will be doing a full party petition in Alabama, which is about 40k valid, rather than the 5k valid independent presidential petition. If true, why?
@5 Correct, they are tied in with No Labels. Bloomberg is involved with No Labels, but has vigorously denied any intent to run himself. Donald Trump has said he may run. I’m not sure to what extent they are or are not personal friends and/or political allies.
Ross, Richard and Irregular Times, thanks for the coverage.
Wow, tripling the signature requirement in Nevada sounds like overkill to me.
Damn straight it can’t work.
They got on the only way a group can get a presidential candidate on in Nevada. The 250 signature method won’t work for President.
Yup, its the Unity 08 people all right and the AEP is not concerned with making themselves a permanent third party or running any other candidates for office; their goal is to find someone they consider worthy enough to be their guy for 2012.
At least they got on the honest way, compared to that piece-of-sh*t’ Ashjian’s little group.
The Unity08 stuff isn’t speculation. iirc, they changed their name from Unity08 to Americans Elect. And here’s some stuff from Irregular Times about the No Labels connection:
http://irregulartimes.com/index.php/archives/2010/12/13/americans-elect-no-labels-connection-confirmed-by-nick-troiano/
http://irregulartimes.com/index.php/archives/2010/12/06/another-connection-between-no-labels-and-americans-elect-michael-bloomberg/
http://irregulartimes.com/index.php/archives/2010/11/09/americans-elect-team-establishes-connections-with-no-labels/
I’ve seen conspiracy/speculation on Dem/prog blogs claiming that Americans Elect is the electoral arm of No Labels, and a vehicle for someone like Bloomberg in 2012. Also seen similar speculation linking it to the Unity 08 effort.
George, that’s why I linked to Irregular Times…they’ve been doing the best job out of anyone covering Americans Elect.
Some readers may find amusing
http://irregulartimes.com/index.php/archives/2010/12/21/read-it-here-americans-elect-organizing-as-a-political-party-to-run-candidates-in-michigan/
Perhaps someone closer to the scene could say something more about who these people are?