I don’t have a problem with them checking signatures because that’s exactly what they should have been doing each and every time. I also don’t have a problem with making the candidates follow each and every rule and that the candidates should never assume that the rules were the same as last time. However, I do have a problem with undated letters and changing the rules in the middle of the game. Rule changes should be at least 6 months out and publicized so there is no question they have been changed. Any and all letters must legally be signed and dated and filed within the jurisdiction. All such letters should also be certified mailed to each candidate.
I’m wondering if they can change the rules. Does VA have some sort of intent form to be placed on the ballot? One would think it did since the candidates must have Form XYZ or whatever numbered form to have the signatures on. Form XYZ should have official instructions attached. Those original official instructions should remain in effect.
“Someone” knocked out Cain because he was in the top tier. Now “someone” is going after Newt. That “someone” is the GOP. Yeah, the Mittens fix is in. With VA’s no write in for their primaries, the only solution is to throw the vote to Paul. Sure, he batty but that would scare the GOP and they need scaring.
Under VA law there are two tracks to get on the ballot.
The first track is party choice. The party can use whatever arbitrary rules they want. For example, the party could say anyone who got 25% or more on the last ballot is automatically on the next ballot (grandfathered in).
The second track is to submit 10,000/400 verified signatures that jump all the hoops required by the state. The second track has been in place since 1999.
If you can pass either track #1 or track #2 you are on the ballot.
Under the track #1 the VA GOP decided that anybody who submits 10000/400 sigs is in, with no checking of the sigs. This was the VA GOP rule in 2008. Since all the 2008 candidates submitted 10000/400 sigs nobody was checked. (The Dems have a similar no-check rule AFAIK.)
Because of the Osborse lawsuit in October, the VA GOP decided to change their track #1 rule, raising it to 15000/600.
Newt submitted only 11,000 and thus fell out of track #1. Newt was bounced because he also didn’t pass track #2.
The point is until now *nobody* has ever required to pass the much more stringient track #2 method and jump all the hoops. Yes it has been in the VA lawbooks since 1999 but it has never been enforced until now for either party (AFAIK).
If the letter shown above wasn’t published at the last minute, Newt and Perry would be on the ballot right now.