The phone has been ringing a lot lately and the callers are pollsters. I always fail the first question: “are you likely to vote in South Carolina’s Republican Primary next week?”
The problem is that a lot of South Carolina Republicans aren’t going to vote either as candidates are being booted from the ballot right and left. Oconee County had so many candidates removed that Republican Party canceled the primary altogether. Statewide over 200 candidates have been dropped so far. Many removed from the ballot were challenging incumbents. In one Sheriff’s race where the current sheriff is retiring, no one qualified for the ballot. A few Democrats were also affected. Democrats are suing Republicans in one county for ignoring the Supreme Court and certifying candidates anyway.
Candidates can run as “petition” candidates if they can collect signature from 5% of registered voters in the area where they are running, and submit them by July 16.
The problem is that many candidates failed to properly file a Statement of Economic Interest (the rules are tricky). The parties are examining their slates statewide in the wake of a decision by the South Carolina Supreme Court that the paperwork was required.
One GOP candidate call it a “crying shame.” Ms. Conspiracy aptly observed:
If you don’t follow the rules, you don’t get to play.
Thanks to WSPA TV in Spartanburg for the story.
For more information, check scvotes.org.
Doc, this story has given me renewed hope, which is saying something, as I am an optimistic guy!
Here’s my takeaway:
It has been demonstrated repeatedly that stupid will vote for stupid, and cannot be dissuaded, as stupid is too stupid to know any better. An insoluble problem!
However, over time, as all of the stupids do their best to out-stupid one another, the stupid metastasizes into deeper stupid. Eventually, all of the stupids will be too stupid to get on the stupid ballot, forcing the stupid to vote smart or go home.
There, the stupid problem solves itself!
I expect to hear similar stories from other states soon. Congrats to South Carolina for taking the lead!
I like your assessment. Let’s truly hope so. About time that the Stupids out there “Darwin Awarded” themselves…politically speaking, that is.
Statement of Economic Interest ? They have trouble spelling Koch? (hint: it’s not spelled the way it sounds.)
I sent this article to Orly back when it was new:
Egypt Candidate Barred From Ballot Because Mother Held US Passport
http://www.theworld.org/2012/04/egypt-candidate-abu-ismail/
He was a “Conservative” too.
In fairness to the disqualified candidates, there are three forms that must be filed “simultaneously.” If the forms are not filed at the same time (even if all are filed before a deadline), they don’t count. One candidate filed the form electronically, but paper was required.