Judge Richard A. Posner and ballot access laws
Oh how I would love to see a debate between Judge Richard Posner and Richard Winger about ballot access laws and democracy.
Richard Winger has just shared with us his article in "The Election Law Journal", the nation's only peer-reviewed journal focusing on election law.
How Many Parties Ought To Be on the Ballot?: An Analysis of Nader v. Keith
240k pdf document
Download from my blog
Download from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. publishers. Their main page is http://www.liebertonline.com/
That out of the way, I believe Richard Winger rips Judge Posner's arguments to shreds in Judge Posner's and the Seventh Circuit's recent ruling on Nader v. Keith. Nader v. Keith was Ralph Nader's lawsuit to gain ballot status in Illinois for the 2004 Presidential election, after ANTI-Democratic Party State Chair and Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan's staff worked to kick Ralph Nader off the ballot.
More at my blog.
6 comments:
Illinois is a terrible state for ballot access. The laws and culture are terrible for Democracy.
If we had Congressmen who cared more about the people and their tights than the self-interest of the established elites, we would have seen an impeachment resolution filed against Judge Posner for either Abuse of Power or Insanity.
If Judge Posner had any sense of honor he would resign in disgrace today. However, it is clear that Posner lost any sense of honor he may have had a long time ago.
RANDALL SHERMAN
Secretary/Treasurer, Illinois Committee for Honest Government
Chicago
Making ballot access for independents and third parties less formidable in Illinois could be a topic for Con-Con since the chance of the General Assembly doing so is slim to none.
Randall Sherman has a lot of chutzpah talking about reform when his so called Illinois Coalition for Better Government had John "Quarters" Boyle and Ron "Little Pistol" Calichio with them stealing quarters and carrying illegal guns. Randall Sherman has oppossed most of the reformers on the lakefront including the distinguished Violini family and Alderman Smith among others.
Langdon Neal makes a ton of money in eminent domain and real estate.
Theresa Petrone is 11th Ward alderman Balcers mother in law.
The problem is that the election board is bought and sold by Daley.
Article III. Section 3 - Illinois Constitution: "All Elections Shall Be Free And Equal"
Maybe we need to define equal in the Constitution. Should be self evident that equal means any individual should have an equal opportunity to be on the ballot, meaning the same requirement. I appreciate the thought but think Con-COn will help with this issue. Getting rid of the Madigan/Jones dictatorship is our best hope. There we go. Term limits on legilsative leaders. As if they would care what an independent libertarian thinks anyway.
Almost 2/3 of the GA will be unopposed in November and they like it like that.
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