Bob Barr Sues to Remove McCain, Obama from Texas Ballot

[Vogon_Glory]

Bob Barr sues to remove Obama, McCain from Texas ballot
Libertarian presidential candidate wants to remove both John McCain and Barack Obama from the ballot in Texas and has filed suit to eliminate the major-party candidates from consideration by Texas voters.

His argument is that the Democratic and Republican parties technically violated state election law by delivering written certification of their nominations by 5 p.m. 70 days before the Nov. 4 election.

"The seriousness of this issue is self-evident," the lawsuit states. "The hubris of the major parties has risen to such a level that they do not believe that the election laws of the State of Texas apply to them."

<snip>

http://blogs.chron.com/txpotomac/2008/09/bob_barr_sues_to_remove_obama.html

[tblue]

1. Damn. I'd almost send him some money.

[anneboleyn]

6. Wouldn't Texas be the biggest electoral vote loss for McCain?

Not counting swing states -- sorry, I am too lazy to look it up right this second! Of course, I really doubt this will go anywhere.

[tblue]

9. It would be McHUGE!

[jenmito]

16. It's 34 EVs! n/t

[GodlessBiker]

2. I'll consent to Obama being removed if McLame is, too.

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. He has a valid point concerning respecting the election law.

[my3boyz]

4. Fine by me! LOL That is a McCain state! Sorry to the Dems that live in Texas though. LOL

Seriously, that would never happen. You see what a mess it was for the DNC to deal with Michigan and Florida.

[Obamarulz11]

5. Hurts the GOP more than us

[nam78_two]

7. I think he has a point.nt

[mucifer]

8. barr hates mcstupid more than he hates Obama this is clear

[mrreowwr_kittty]

10. Go Bob Go!!

Stand by your principles. :patriot:

[Hansel]

11. Awesome. nt

[BzaDem]

12. If this happened, it wouldn't make it more likely for Obama to win outright, but it would make it

more likely for the election to go to the House.

Then again, it isn't going to happen. ;)

[anonymous171]

13. Good idea. Lost electoral votes for McCain.

[mucifer]

14. It's fun that he's making noise in Texas.

Maybe he can get lots of votes.

:)

[blue_onyx]

15. This could be interesting

Well, it would be hard to argue for the punishment of states in the primary for not following the rules and then not enforcing the rules in the general election. But I have a hard time believing that Obama and McCain will be removed from the ballot. Barr may have an valid argument but I just don't see things going his way. Not having the main candidate on the ballot in the state with the third largest population/electoral votes would be shocking and odd.

[aquamarina]

17. Yes, do it - McCain loses Texas's 34 EV and Obama wins!

[Fleshdancer]

18. 34 electoral votes

I would laugh my ass off if Barr won this! :rofl:

[LooseWilly]

19. Can you imagine the GOP trying to get their supporters to write-in...

Well, write-in anything. Seems like a huge chunk of GOP voters are GOP voters cause they're dumb.

Sounds brilliant... let Texans write in major party candidates if they want to vote for them! Let's see what happens!!

[tedoll78]

20. If the lawsuit succeeds,

Obama would be smart to begin a "Vote for Barr" campaign in Texas. We'd see Barr win over any McCain write-in effort, which - if Obama fails to cross 270 - would throw the election into the House.

[Benhurst]

21. God forbid our government or our two major political parties be

held accountable to anything so trivial as the law.

[Bad Thoughts]

22. Would this not set a precedent?

Barr might go state by state, eliminating the candidates on technical issues. It would be nice if McCain couldn't win Texas, but what if Obama couldn't win California?

[tedoll78]

25. It's Texas law.

From the article, there's already a precedent set in 2006 on this exact topic. The court would have to flip-flop on itself in order to rule against Barr.

I'm betting that the Texas Supreme Court comes-up with a Bush v. Gore-like bullshit ruling in order to keep McCain and Obama on the ballot, complete with extremely twisted pseudo-logic.

[anneboleyn]

39. Wow. I wonder if it will actually go anywhere, or just get tied up until after the election?

Or because it is a challenge to *this* election, would the case have to go through sooner?

[Benhurst]

28. Yeah, that we are a nation of laws, not men.

But then that would be too much like the old Republic when they kowtowed to that silly old Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Three cheers to Bob Barr on this.

[quakerboy]

32. Right then

Here's the thing. Whether they are removed in texas or not, if there was any technicality that could take California away from Obama, the repubs would see it pressed to the absolute limits. So I support Barr all the way on this. It hurts us none, but potentialy helps us. Even if the only result is to force the R's to focus more resources on the write in win, it is worthwhile for us.

If I had the money to have donated the max to Obama, I would now be donating to Barr to support this effort and his work in other states. It is no more than the R's did with Nader or Lieberman.

[Mojambo]

23. I hope he wins. n/t

[TheKentuckian]

24. I think it would be super tough for McHoover to get to 270

without Texas.

I don't buy into this much at all though.

[krawhitham]

30. 253 needed without Texas

[WeDidIt]

40. NO! 270 will ALWAYS be the number required!

Don't kid yourself. That number cannot be altered by any action of the state. If no candidate wins 270 electoral votes, it goes to the House, no ifs, ands or buts.

[Cosmic Charlie]

41. it's still 270, Texas would just go to Barr making it impossible for McCain to win

[msallied]

26. Of course he won't win, but damn that's hilarious!

Could you imagine the shitstorm this would cause? Oh my god... lol

[scarface2004]

27. even though us lonely obama texans would lose out on a

resentment vote...it would kneecap the old asshole, so i m rootin for bob!!

[nam78_two]

33. You Texan Dems rock

I really feel for you guys :hug:...being blue in a red state is really demoralizing :pals:.

[WeDidIt]

29. If Barr wins, that nearly guarantees Obama will be president

McCain losing 34 electoral votes guarantees he won't get to 270. Worst case scenario, it goes to the House where Dems currently hold 27 delegations and expect to pick up more.

[Happyhippychick]

31. Is he taking financial contributions?

[LisaM]

34. Works for me.

Who did file by the deadline?

[quakerboy]

35. If he were to by some miracle win

Would that potentially even Give Obama a chance at Texas?

I'm just thinking back to the Primaries. Obama supporters may be outnumbered in texas, but they damn sure have the enthusiasm edge. And for the write in, one would think that might even make a difference.

Probably wishful thinking, and I have doubt that Barr will win out on this one anyway, but wouldn't that just throw a wrench in All the calculations.

[Barack_America]

36. I concur! Take 'em off the ballot! Rules are rules!

Man, would that put a dent in McCain's EC tally.

:rofl:

[Samantha]

37. State election laws DO apply to them

The U.S. Constitution delegates the right to run elections to the States (was reminded of this by Bois). The State has no choice but to abide by those laws as written into each State's Constitution by its legislature. There is no option to change that State Constitution prior to an election without violating the U.S. Constitution. To make an amendment, one has to wait until after the current election and change their law before the next one.

Knowing the Republicans, however, they will probably find a way.... Everything does not have to be legal, it just must work to their advantage. Win at all costs, you know the drill. They will be calling their judicial friends and Constitutional lawyers tonight.

Sam

[Waiting For Everyman]

38. That would totally screw McStooge.

[WeDidIt]

42. They'll rule in favor of Obama and McCain, guaranteed

It will go to purpose of the law and since the presidential race was the most important race, no ballots were going to be printed until after the second of the two major parties held their national convention.