Look, it’s clear from your posts that you:
a) dislike Newt; and
b) are shilling for the powers-that-be in VA.
All of which is fine. But the bottom line is that there’s somethins seriously wrong with a system that only puts 2 of 7 legitimate candidates on the ballot. The threshold for gettin on a PRIMARY ballot should be pretty low.
Contrary to sentiments expressed by some who are conflating the two, this is an entirely different situation than qualifying to VOTE. Apples and oranges. I doubt there’s any danger a candidate will be elected twice. Or a non-citizen or felon will be elected.
We should fight election FRAUD...but if Buddy Freaking Roemer wants to run in the GOP primary and can get a few people to sign petitions to put him on the ballot, he should be on the ballot.
This has Romney stink all over it.
Hank
There’s something clearly wrong with a candidate set who can’t meet the rules for ballot access. Is it the fault of the rules? Well, Romney and Ron Paul both followed the rules and made it on the ballot, so apparently it IS possible.
I haven’t picked a candidate yet. When Perry failed last night, I was ready to support Gingrich as the only close-to-conservative left. But he didn’t make it either.
I am going to defend the RPV to the extent that attacks on it are rediculous. I’m not an RPV member, I’m not even a republican committee member, having dropped out in the fall of 2008. But I have personally met all three statewide leaders, and they are all honorable men who I cannot imagine would subvert the ballot process for a candidate.
And there’s no way the RPV is trying to throw things to Romney. I would note that McDonnell is close friends with Perry, and Perry came here in September to raise money for the RPV. I was half-expecting McDonnell to endorse Perry, but wasn’t sure since Perry faltered in the polls. McDonnell is a solid conservative, a bright star, and endorsed Fred Thompson in 2008.
I’ve eaten dinner with Bill Bolling. He is a solid conservative, a likeable man, does his job well, and is an honorable christian who wouldn’t play games for his candidate, even if he could which he can’t because he doesn’t have much control over the state apparatus anyway.
And Ken Cuccinelli needs no support from me, although I’ve spoken with him before and I do support him. We all know his credentials — and to think he would let the RPV get away with anything is absurd.
So if anything wrong DID happen, I fully expect McDonnell and Cuccinelli will step in and make it right, if they can. And they will have more sway than some Facebook postings or rantings from commenters on their web site.