Friday, July 09, 2004
Why will Bush even be on the ballot if the GOP can't follow election law?
Had the GOP not bullied five states (okay, four states and D.C.) into compliance then their unprecedented late convention this year (in September rather than July) would disqualify George W. Bush from appearing on the ballot in Alabama, California, Maryland, Illinois, and the District of Columbia. Rather than comply with existing election law in five states, the GOP has bullied the states into changing their laws.
1. Alabama: required qualified parties to certify by August 31.
2. California: required qualified parties to certify by August 26.
3 D.C.: required qualified parties to certify by August 31.
4. Illinois: required qualified parties to certify by August 27.
5. Maryland: required qualified parties to certify by August 31.
All five of these states changed their laws this year in order to allow the GOP's late convention. Two of them actually made a special dispensation law to allow an extension in this election only (California and Illinois).
Why did the GOP want to hold their convention so late? Because a new set of finance laws apply after a candidate is nominated at the convention. Any funds collected prior to the convention can no longer be used. The GOP wanted to ensure that it could spend all of the money that it has collected before the convention. So, from July through September the GOP is running on unlimited funds (whatever they can collect for the "un-nominated" George W. Bush) while the DNC is limited to post-convention campaign funds.
Why didn't the DNC have a late convention as well? Hmm... I don't know. Perhaps they like to play by the rules or perhaps they didn't think they could get the rules changed just for them.
Just another example of the GOP changing the rules rather than playing by them. Happened last election and is happening again in this one.
1. Alabama: required qualified parties to certify by August 31.
2. California: required qualified parties to certify by August 26.
3 D.C.: required qualified parties to certify by August 31.
4. Illinois: required qualified parties to certify by August 27.
5. Maryland: required qualified parties to certify by August 31.
All five of these states changed their laws this year in order to allow the GOP's late convention. Two of them actually made a special dispensation law to allow an extension in this election only (California and Illinois).
Why did the GOP want to hold their convention so late? Because a new set of finance laws apply after a candidate is nominated at the convention. Any funds collected prior to the convention can no longer be used. The GOP wanted to ensure that it could spend all of the money that it has collected before the convention. So, from July through September the GOP is running on unlimited funds (whatever they can collect for the "un-nominated" George W. Bush) while the DNC is limited to post-convention campaign funds.
Why didn't the DNC have a late convention as well? Hmm... I don't know. Perhaps they like to play by the rules or perhaps they didn't think they could get the rules changed just for them.
Just another example of the GOP changing the rules rather than playing by them. Happened last election and is happening again in this one.
All articles in this archive are used under "fair use" as they are important to the national discussion of whether or not the people of this country are being deceived by their government. These articles are used as evidence in that discussion.
