A public apology

[bluestateguy]

I was wrong to make such a post and I hope that you will accept my apology. I was angry today and I made remarks that were in contradiction to the principles of democracy that I try to stand for. I repudiate what I said, and I urge others not to adopt that foolish course of action.

[Walt Starr]

1. If somebody asks me to sign for Nader to be on the ballot, I'll sign

I have never refused to sign a petition to get an issue or a candidate on the ballot as long as I've been a registered voter and I won't start now.

This is democracy in action. I welcome all candidates.

[bluestateguy]

3. Oh, I might sign!

"Homer Simpson, 723 Evergreen Terrace, Springfield TX"

Heh heh!

[Walt Starr]

5. You would affect the signature drive

for about ten seconds.

[Capn Sunshine]

4. Why worry about Nader?

I thought Kerry was the electable candidate. This means there's nothing to worry about.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

10. Agreed.

We'll have a strong enough nominee, and a party so united, that the Nader vote will be insignificant this year.

[waldenx]

2. nominate a Dem that isn't disgusting

that would end Nader's drive.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

6. Those are illegal, unethical, undemocratic, and unnecessary tactics.

IMHO

[Walt Starr]

7. I agree 100% with the last three

The first one is a felony in some states.

[ixion]

8. absolutely. I agree.

and it's what we spend so much time here accusing the repukes of doing. very sad, indeed.

[cornermouse]

9. The old double standard?

Bad if they do it, but good if we do it? No thanks. As the first reply stated; its called democracy. Anyone that wants to run should be allowed to do so.

By the way, which candidate did you originally support?

[bluestateguy]

12. Clark

I am a team player, however, and I now fully intend to support the Democratic nominee, as do Howard Dean, Al Sharpton and Dennis Kucinich.

[cornermouse]

15. Team player doesn't excuse cheating or dirty tricks.

That's just wrong. Its unfortunate that you don't recognize that fact.

[bluestateguy]

17. Who cheated?

I'd like to know. I certainly don't want to support a cheater. Please enlighten me and the others here with sources and links so that we can know who cheated and what the cheater did.

[Walt Starr]

20. You have advocated cheating

Signing a fake name on a petition for a ballot intiative or candidate is FRAUD. It is cheating. It is illegal, and in most states it is a felony.

You have also opened up DU to liability because you have advocated DUers breaking the law.

[edzontar]

24. Why not direct your energies to something positive?

You could--and probably should--get into serious troube for doing stuff like this...

[DRoseDARs]

11. Orrrrr...

...You could NOT resort to standard Republican-grassroot tactics and respect their attempts at opening up the republic to more mainstream presence of third parties. I think enough people realize that Bush needs to leave that Nader won't be as much of a draw of votes. I don't know if his votes helped "lose" the election for Gore in 2000 or not, but I certainly wish I had just held my nose and voted Democrat that year instead of Green. Being from Nevada, our votes don't count for diddly, but it's the principle of the thing.

[bluestateguy]

13. Your vote in Nevada does count

Al Gore only lost it by 4 points. Nader didn't swing the state, but it would have been closer w/out him. By the way, John Kerry voted against making your state a nuclear waste dump.

[billbuckhead]

18. Basically Nadir did a LIHOP regarding the 2000coup, he took their money...

and he said he would take their money again on NPR this afternoon.

[Walt Starr]

14. But,...but....but

That's LOGICAL!!!

If you're dead set against Nader being on the ballot, simply do not sign. Now there's an answer!

Suggesting that people commit fraud on legal documents may be illegal in and of itself and could be opening up DU for liability.

Thank you for seeing how bad of an idea the original posters suggestions are.

[edzontar]

16. This suggestion is unethical and undemocratic

I have never refused to sign a single ballot petition and never will.

If you don't want to sign, don't.

What you suggest may well be illegal, and if it is, you should think twice about advocating it here.

[Walt Starr]

19. Signing a fake name is fraud

and is a felony in many states.

Advocating it here may have opened up DU to liability.

[edzontar]

21. There seems to be no limit to the stupidity of these folks

I hope DU has some good lawyers on retainer.

[LawSchoolLiberal]

28. I'm

looking for some work for the summer still!

[IndianaGreen]

25. Exactly, it is making DU a co-conspirator to election fraud

Despite the fact that the author of this thread has deleted his offensive language, the damage has already been done.

I saved the screen!

[Walt Starr]

26. I'm sure more than you have a copy of it

and I'm sure we'll be hearing about how DU advocates election fraud on multiple rightwing sites over the course of the next week.

[IndianaGreen]

22. What you are advocating is illegal--it is election fraud!

What are you afraid of?

[abbyhoffman]

23. Why

so you can vote for another rich white boy who has never had to work a day in their life?

Kerry born Rich white boy
Bush Born Rich white boy
Edwards born Rich white boy

There is no differnce between those three except the (R) & (D) and thats Naders point! I'm Voting for Nader

[IndianaGreen]

27. here is a story about people charged with forging names on ballot petition

Petitioning watchdog group urges citizens to be vigilant

By Charles E. Beggs, Associated Press Writer

SALEM - The campaign to repeal the legislative tax increase is just a few days old, but both sides are already playing hardball.

A union-backed watchdog group said Wednesday that it plans to closely monitor the paid workers who are getting ready to collect signatures for the referendum campaign, which aims to give voters their say on the $800 million tax package.

Formed in 2001, the Voter Education Project played a key role in last year's election season. Volunteers observed petition circulators and videotaped some for irregularities.

As a result of their complaints, two paid petitioners pleaded guilty to criminal charges of forging names on petitions. Signature challenges by the group also played a part in preventing initiative petition activist Bill Sizemore from getting any measures on the ballot.

http://www.theworldlink.com/articles/2003/09/18/news/news05.txt

GOP leaders again wailed about the evils of partisanship, since none of the Democratic offenders was in danger of doing jail time. On the other hand, Dem candidates haven’t been accused of forging names since the days of ex-Congressman Peter Kyros (whose cronies got caught, back in 1976, because they signed many of the phony signatures in distinctive green ink).

http://www.portlandphoenix.com/archive/features/02/04/19/Diamon.html