From Richard Winger at Ballot Access News:
Darrell Castle, the Constitution Party’s vice-presidential nominee in 2008, had been seeking the party’s 2016 presidential nomination. However, he has withdrawn from the race because of health concerns.
Darrell Castle Withdraws from Constitution Party Presidential Nomination Race
“and insisted that any merger, or even any meeting happen on their terms.”
Makes sense, since the other parties mostly consisted of a few activists and maybe some email lists. The IAP consists of perhaps as many as a hundred committed activists. The AIP consists of maybe a dozen. The AFP consists of maybe half a dozen nationwide? So, yeah, it makes sense that the CP (which is by far the largest of these orgs and the only one with money and people behind it) should have the upper hand in negotiations.
I am registered to vote in Soldotna, Alaska; House/precinct 30-250, Senate District O
I was born 1/3/1963 in Great Falls, Montana.
My father is John W. Myers, born a citizen in Wenatchee, Washington. Both of his parents were natural born American citizens too,
My mother is Nancy A. Myers(Whitaker-Gardner), born a citizen in Great Falls, Montana, Both of her parents were natural born American citizens too. Her lineage goes back to the Mayflower.
I hope that helps.
“This will be a turning point for the CP. Either we will embrace a proactive outreach to the voters and support candidates willing to put it all on the line, or…
Personally, I am hopeful that the grassroots will make the right choice, and the convention will be recognized as a moment of rebirth for the CP. The CP cannot continue on in the fossilized internal customs of the past and expect to grow and thrive. We must reach out to the youth and to those independents and constitutionalists who really have no other place to go. The Republican Party continues to implode, will the CP precede them on the ash heap of history? ”
Very good point, J.R.
J. R.,
Your last post was interesting reading.
Please post your voter registration address. Date, place of birth and names of birth parents and when they became citizens of the U. S., viz., at birth or naturalization?
Looking at the AIP from the outside, the AIP seems moribund. They seem uninterested in running candidates (nothing down-ticket), and uninterested in promoting their ideas.
The AIP brags about their many registered voters, about being the “third largest party” not only in California, but in the entire U.S. But they seem uninterested in doing anything with all those voters. Even if many of them registered by accident, you’d think the AIP would want to exploit the benefits of being a state-recognized party.
Even LP purists want the LP to grow, provided their principles won’t be compromised. But the AIP seems to want to remain tiny. That is their goal. To remain tiny, and in charge of their tiny party, and pat themselves on the back for having so many registered voters.
This will be a turning point for the CP. Either we will embrace a proactive outreach to the voters and support candidates willing to put it all on the line, or…
Personally, I am hopeful that the grassroots will make the right choice, and the convention will be recognized as a moment of rebirth for the CP. The CP cannot continue on in the fossilized internal customs of the past and expect to grow and thrive. We must reach out to the youth and to those independents and constitutionalists who really have no other place to go. The Republican Party continues to implode, will the CP precede them on the ash heap of history? Or, will the CP delegates act boldly to chart a new course into the future by taking advantage of the GOP collapse and the hunger of Americans for bold opposition candidates and a true political home? Time will tell. I pray for the latter. The Salt Lake City Convention is only three months away. I hope to make appearances in Boise, Lansing, Mississippi and other areas prior to that time. Ultimately, our fate is in G-d’s hands.
P.S. No apologies for reaching out to the California AIP. I am happy to try to make amends there.
“your “efforts” consisted of making a few phonecalls to the various factions and hoping they could put aside their tiny kingdoms to play nice–as if that was a new idea. It wasn’t and it was pretty much always going to fail.”
Yep, and that’s how I learned that the LP is the only viable and well-organized minor party that will restore constitutional government & individual freedom. I learned that the very hard way, but oh well.
“The CP had reached out to the IAP before, the AIP before, and the America’s First Party (not really a party, but whatever) before.”
Yeah, when the CCTUC’s predessor- the ‘Clarion Call To Converge Committee’ was trying to reach out to all the parties, the CP didn’t really take the merger talks seriously and insisted that any merger, or even any meeting happen on their terms. Though at the time, the then AFP national chair (Dan Charles) was a real prick that was also unreceptive to the idea of merger and made excuses, and resolutions, that rejected the CCTCC’s efforts (even though the founder of the CCTCC was a member of the AFP himself), but it was known that Dan also deeply hated Howard Phillips for religious reasons.
Yeah, I was only kidding myself to think that such parties would be smart and logical enough to understand they would be stronger and more effective unified then fractured and insignificant. Though most of the individuals in such parties are old and dying off now, so the issue will become moot in a decade while the LP keeps standing tall.
“How does one throw their hat in the ring for nomination in the Constitution party? What are the requirements?”
As a Nat’l ExCom member, I can strongly urge you to read the party platform – if you want to be a part that philosophy and political action, then file a intent to run with the FEC, set-up a website, and contact the chairman Frank Fluckiger ASAP. It would be wise to read The 5000 Year Leap by W. Cleon Skousen as well.
“only to be told by Gary Odom over the phone to stop talking to them and don’t bother on the AIP matter anymore.”
I wonder why. I’ve already explained. If the CP thought there was a chance at reconciliation and a California ballot line, they would’ve pursued it.
“You mean when they kept tight lipped about that one resolution against the CCTUC to the point that it wasn’t on the agenda.”
I don’t believe any of the resolutions were itemized on the agenda. But, it couldn’t have been too tight-lipped, as I found out the morning of that they were going to vote on it (About 10 minutes before…but enough time where if I were in the same hotel I could’ve run down and made my case). Point is, your “efforts” consisted of making a few phonecalls to the various factions and hoping they could put aside their tiny kingdoms to play nice–as if that was a new idea. It wasn’t and it was pretty much always going to fail. The CP had reached out to the IAP before, the AIP before, and the America’s First Party (not really a party, but whatever) before. I know because I encouraged Gary Odom to maintain communication with the first and last groups around 2007-2008. The AIP didn’t come to be a problem later, but I know they reached out to them consistently right after Keyes/Hoefling’s betrayal. As to your conspiracy theory–why would the CP not want to work with other parties and augment their strength? They’re the strongest faction BY FAR, so it is not threatening to them. Back in 2008 there was some positive talk about the IAP and Alaskan Independence Party as well as the Nebraska Party, but ultimately each wanted to maintain their own fiefdoms instead of becoming part of something bigger.
And yes, Josh oversleeping and not attending the convention is his fault, not anyone else’s.
“How does one throw their hat in the ring for nomination in the Constitution party? What are the requirements?”
Todd–contacting the Executive Committee is a good start. Then, set up a website and announce your run to this website. That’ll reach many CP activists and delegates.
“That’s because prior to that, the CP had made honest approaches and been rebuffed.”
Really? Because I was involved in the California mess back in 2008, and the Pro-CP faction wasn’t at all civil or conciliatory with the Pro-Keyes faction the whole time back then. And a year after that mess I tried to open dialogue with Robinson/Seidenberg, only to be told by Gary Odom over the phone to stop talking to them and don’t bother on the AIP matter anymore.
“Lol, do you mean when Josh slept through the meeting and then was surprised when the show wasn’t stopped in his absence?”
You mean when they kept tight lipped about that one resolution against the CCTUC to the point that it wasn’t on the agenda. So Josh, being super tired from his flight arriving late felt assured enough to not make an extra effort to go in early. And then afterward no one said a single thing to Josh about the vote until someone made a off-hand remark about it later?
Yeah, I guess it’s all Josh’s fault and not any of the CP folks that cared more about maintaining their established pecking order in their party and not work with any other parties.
“That’s news to me, since during the ‘CCTUC crusade’ days, the AIP was quite receptive to the idea of working with the CP and the other constitutionalist parties, while the CP was not.”
That’s because prior to that, the CP had made honest approaches and been rebuffed.
“In fact me and Josh got thrown under the bus for our efforts without warning back in the spring of 2013.”
Lol, do you mean when Josh slept through the meeting and then was surprised when the show wasn’t stopped in his absence?
How does one throw their hat in the ring for nomination in the Constitution party? What are the requirements?
“As for burying the hatchet, the CP made numerous approaches to Seidenberg and Robinson. They were rebuffed and made fools of many times. When one gets bitten enough times, one develops a reaction. of reflexively pulling away.”
That’s news to me, since during the ‘CCTUC crusade’ days, the AIP was quite receptive to the idea of working with the CP and the other constitutionalist parties, while the CP was not. In fact me and Josh got thrown under the bus for our efforts without warning back in the spring of 2013.
Cody does not understand the inner workings of the CP, if ever he did. The question is not about whether CP leadership approves of JR Myers’ reaching out to the AIP, it’s about whether JR Myers will be an effective candidate. My guess is that most of them will acknowledge that he has done great work in Alaska for their party, but is not a Presidential standard bearer. I expect a better known and more polished candidate will step forward from Party ranks.
Moreover, Myers’ being on the California primary ballot is a nice goodwill gesture, but ultimately it means nothing. He will lose it to Trump, but that doesn’t matter, the Executive will put whomever they please on the ballot regardless of primary outcomes and such.
The CP is not going to nominate JR Myers, neither is the AIP. That’s because he lives in Alaska and therefore can’t campaign much, doesn’t have money to contribute, isn’t even locally famous, and isn’t some superb campaigner for the party. His efforts will be applauded, but he isn’t going to bear the standard.
As for burying the hatchet, the CP made numerous approaches to Seidenberg and Robinson. They were rebuffed and made fools of many times. When one gets bitten enough times, one develops a reaction. of reflexively pulling away.
I’m aware.
Remember, most constitutionalist minor parties do not follow logic and reason much.
“there’s no reason why both parties couldn’t nominate him without having to work together.”
Question is, will they?
I realize why the CP has separated itself from the AIP, but there’s no way the party petitions onto the CA ballot. The AIP leadership likes Myers, there’s no reason why both parties couldn’t nominate him without having to work together.
The CP following psycho Don Grundmann’s approach, as well as allowing him to have a big say on that matter back in 2008 is likely what caused the then California Secretary of State to side with Robinson & Seidenberg on whom controlled the AIP, as well as the more legally prepared and meticulousness of the latter, compared to the former.
If the CP took J.R.’s approach in reaching out to the AIP and try to bury the hatchet with Robinson and Seidenberg, then there would be a better relationship and eventual reconciliation between both parties.
“but that isn’t what kept Hostettler from getting involved.”
What kept him from getting involved?
Anyone interested in why the CP justifiably has a strained relationship with the California AIP should read http://thecorruptionofalankeyes.blogspot.com/
One would think they’d actually want their candidate on the ballot in California.
“J.R. Myers isn’t a party stalwart? Didn’t he practically carry the party on his back in Alaska?”
Question is, whether the CP’s establishment- errrrrr, Executive Committee approves of him and tolerates him reaching out to their arch-enemies in the AIP?
… Eek, meant ‘go so far…’
“Cody might have heard such things, but that isn’t what kept Hostettler from getting involved.”
I admit, it’s what I’ve seen in some of the CP discussion groups on facebook, but they only goes so far behind the curtain on the CP’s internal matters.
J.R. Myers isn’t a party stalwart? Didn’t he practically carry the party on his back in Alaska?
Cody might have heard such things, but that isn’t what kept Hostettler from getting involved.
With that said, he won’t be getting involved. It IS a shame, as he is a perfect fit. There are two or three ex-congressmen who are in contact with the party pretty consistently but cannot be convinced to run. That’s got to be frustrating for the CP.
Castle is a nice guy, but he is not very interesting and is a poor speaker. He could put an energy drink to sleep. I expect if it gets to be convention time, he might jump back into things. Copeland doesn’t have a real shot, I don’t think. I expect a party stalwart to throw his hat in the ring.
Agreed with NF. I think he would have been the better candidate for them for 2016 as well as 2012, and for that matter I think he ended up being the de facto candidate in 2008 as far as actual campaigning went.
A real shame. He seems like a really good spokesman for the CP. I don’t agree with all his positions but he states them well and he seems very solid. I hope his health concerns are only temporary.
Plus I heard complaints in the CP about Hostettler and how many CP’ers see him as nothing but a opportunist that isn’t involved with the CP in any way.
You’re right. I almost forgot about J.R.
As did J.R. Myers’, especially since I’ve heard nothing of John Hostettler or any other rumored “names” of late.
Scott Copeland’s chances just went up now.