It says here:
California currently has a "modified" closed primary system. SB 28 (Ch. 898, Stats. 2000), relating to primary elections, was chaptered on September 29, 2000 and took effect on January 1, 2001. SB 28 implemented a "modified" closed primary system that permits unaffiliated ("decline to state") voters to participate in a primary election if authorized by an individual party's rules and duly noticed by the Secretary of State.
Alas, there's a crucial difference between "declined to state" and "stated a third party." So, barring election fraud (i.e. helpful polling place worker insists on handing me one major-party ballot or the other, as allegedly happened a lot in Florida last week), guess which candidates are available to me Tuesday? Some of them have links to their official sites here.
(Since life is short I'll cut to the point: My big choice would be between George Allyn Root and Alden Link, and would partly depend on whether Link has any plausible shot at the nomination.)
George Phillies gave me a Facebook ad recommending himself specifically as a way to "Vote Against the War." Say no more. (except: how do you get the surname Phillies?! couldn't his ancestors have had the foresight to become Eagles? or even Mets?)
Michael Jingozian wants to "Prosecute the Bush Administration for War Crimes." Next...
Bob Jackson: At first blush I could go for a Business owner, registered professional engineer, Eagle Scout, family man. Nothing here is a deal-breaker, though I admit that "unacceptable economic and social disparity in America caused by creeping socialism" gave me a "Wait, what?" feeling. And here: "Libertarians are for the promotion of maximum freedom for each person. [...] However, I am a Christian and I personally believe that abortion is wrong." A threshold requirement for any presidential candidate should be the ability to present issues cogently without non sequiturs, even if they're brutally disarmingly honest non sequiturs.
According to Daniel Imperato: "My strategy for Iraq is to implement an immediate cease fire, strengthen our troop base, and join with the Arab states for a long-term peace solution." (emphasis added) Is that how it works with insurgents? I didn't get the memo. I don't think anyone would oppose the concept of a ceasefire. Good luck getting nameless, faceless, gutless guerrillas to respect it.
Christine Smith has a blog. Last entry is titled "The Hopelessly Enslaved - Awake!" and begins I received quite a few responses to my recent (Jan. 23) opinion piece "Abolish the Federal Income Tax and replace With Nothing,". Like the incrementalist that I am, here's where I back away slowly.
Robert Milnes (link goes to a text interview, not a candidate site) is a progressive activist from New Jersey who seeks to lead a "Progressive Alliance" campaign, uniting the Libertarian and Green parties. Several passages in that interview led me to realize this isn't quite my guy.
According to the article posted at his web site, Alden Link has a fairly simple idea: Nuclear power for all. I could actually go for that. He also wants to convert the UN Building to a casino. I bet George Allyn Root didn't even think of that! Further research will be needed to see if Link stands any chance of winning the nomination.
Steve Kubby (according to Wikipedia) announced his presidential campaign at Seattle HempFest. Not surprising, since medical marijuana is his signature issue. "Immediate, unconditional withdrawal from Iraq" -- at least he's not actively calling for a ware crimes prosecution.
Dave Hollist needs to look into line spacing. An exercise for the reader is why his idea of "Contract Insurance" is just wrong.
Barry Hess is running for president, yet the top Google hit for his name is his Hess for Governor site? OH, SNAP: He might not be notable enough for Wikipedia.
John Finan: I didn't even need to get any further than the Google Search results page: I would like to offer our nations [sic] assistance to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in his aspirations to have a successful nuclear program.
And finally Wayne Allyn Root. Here's his position page, very helpfully targeted to a broader audience who might not already be grounded in libertarianism 101. And Wikipedia reminds me that he already has TV fame as a football picks guy. So for all I know he has a groundswell of support among people angry they can no longer play on-line poker for money.
Posted by Matt Bruce at February 3, 2008 01:06 PM