As I See It
Who should decide who gets on the ballot?
To run for President of the United States, you have to be a natural-born citizen, and at least 35 years old. But you also have to get on the ballot, and that’s where things can get tricky. In Wisconsin, the six-member Wisconsin Elections Commission is tasked with deciding which candidates will appear on the state’s ballot. That work was completed last week, with eight candidates making the cut in the Badger State. That includes Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, of course, but also candidates from the Green Party, Libertarian Party, Constitution Party, the We the People Party, The Justice for All Party and the Party for Socialism and Liberation. The commission rejected democratic efforts to remove the Green Party and Justice for All Party. Democrats were concerned their presence on the ballot could hurt Harris’ chances for winning in Wisconsin. That seems petty. Yet, Robert F. Kennedy’s name will appear on the ballot, even though he has dropped out of the race, kissed Donald Trump’s ring, and doesn’t even want his name on the ballot. The chairperson of the Elections Commission suggested that a vote for a third-party candidate is a wasted vote, because not only is their candidate unlikely to win, if they did, they would not be able to follow the state law that requires them to have the ability to nominate electors. Those who vote third-party are well aware their candidate is unlikely to win. They are using their voices to protest the two-party system. Shouldn’t it be in the hands of voters to decide which party deserves their vote, and not the six members of the Wisconsin Elections Commission?
Libertarian Guy
September 3, 2024 at 10:24 am
Yes Scott, it is a sorry situation that we have a duopoly in this country. That means only the two major parties count and all other voices are to be ignored. It seems nearly every member of congress within each major party has to follow the party line. They are to speak with one voice. Kind of like the liberal school district of lacrosse president Juan Jimenez has decreed that individual school board members must tow the party line. There is no room for individuality within the major parties. And so Democrats and, I am sorry to say, Republicans continue to lead us off the fiscal cliff. That is to say: a national debt that grows year after year. An annual budget deficit designed to add to the national debt. Ever increasing government control over our lives. Government solutions to fix government created problems. Continuing and ever encroaching interference in the free market. Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security programs that are financially unsustainable. I could go on but subscribers to the two major parties will grow board. Keep voting for the same thing every election cycle and, well, you get the same thing.
I guess I will say thanks for bringing this to the attention of the community. The election commission does make the decisions and clearly makes efforts to keep people off the ballot and off the debate stage that they do not like. Libertarians have heard the wasted vote argument since 1971 when Nixon‘s wage and price controls led to the founding of the Libertarian party. Unfortunately, you could not resist making the snide comment about kissing Donald Trump‘s ring. But I understand, you are a Democrat and you cannot control your need to support your chosen team in the race to win the game over the Republican rivals. But this is not football. This is serious stuff with national and worldwide, implications and consequences.
Kevin
September 3, 2024 at 12:53 pm
SRS – why would you say RFK Jr kissed ‘Trump’s Ring’? Why wouldn’t you say that the democrat party no longer has the same platform as RFK Jr. Why wouldn’t you say ‘He left the democrat party, because the democrat party left him’. I mean that is what RFK said in public, isn’t it? Why are you spreading disinformation, I don’t think Trump leaned on RJK to leave the democrats. Trump is the least idealogical candidate in this race. He seems to be the only one with an independent mind.
Libertarian Guy
September 3, 2024 at 2:34 pm
Answer: The News Director is in a dual role. He’s a democrat using his personal opinion piece/platform to further the Democrat agenda. Sometimes he’s the News Director. And sometimes he Is simply expressing a personal opinion on AsI See It. This is acceptable because WIZM considers the 2 roles separate from one another even though overlap occurs sometimes.
walden
September 3, 2024 at 4:25 pm
The Real Answer: There is nothing acceptable about it. I could care less “WIZM considers the roles separate.” Only a fool would accept that as an answer. Editorializing is one thing but the taint of political bias permeates WIZM programming and most other local networks. It is yellow political journalism. That is why trust in media is gone, gone. Check out the hijacking of the Labor Day article on union festivities with a pic of the Dem candidates all lined up; it’s not about Labor Day, it’s about turning it into a Dem rally, according to WIZM.
The Dems had been sabotaging RFKs campaign for over a year and the media cheered it on thereby ensuring the strategy was successful. The lawsuits continue. Democracy, Dem style.
LG
September 5, 2024 at 12:42 pm
Just to clarify… WIZM, Midwest, family broadcasting, and SRS think the dual rules are acceptable. I however do not. I would not mind as much if SRS could be more objective as news Director. Unfortunately, the bias shows through in the content and tone of the local broadcast news.
Sean
September 4, 2024 at 7:50 am
if they want to play this game, put bidens name back on, remove Kamala, and give RFK his SS detail back.
Tom
September 4, 2024 at 10:15 am
kissed Donald Trump’s ring
He didn’t kiss his ring. Only a jackass would say that.
P.S. How is it that Biden wins the WI Dem Primary but is NOT on the Ballot??? And, one who has yet still to earn a single vote for President is? Where is Democracy in the Democrat Party? Never mind. Dems: Laws (rules) are not laws, Not-laws are.