On May 5, Ed Noonan, state chair of the American Independent Party of California, changed the state party’s webpage to show that Chuck Baldwin is the party’s presidential nominee. The AIP is the California affiliate of the Constitution Party, which nominated Baldwin last month in Kansas City.
However, Noonan told me on the telephone on May 7 that he still will work to nominate Alan Keyes as the presidential candidate of the American Independent Party. Noonan feels that Keyes would run a more vigorous campaign than Baldwin will. The AIP state convention will make the decision in Sacramento in June.
Idiot.
If Keyes accepts these stolen goods I will have no respect for him. Although each state has the right to place who they want on the ballot, they have pledged to have the candidate nominated at the convention on their ballot. The only was that you could legitimately put another candidate on the ballot is if the nominate candidate did not stand for the parties principles.
That’s the problem when you elect old men, who have nothing to do with their time. I don’t know what Noonan thinks. He has NO political experience.
The convention is over and choice was made. Either Ed should get with the program or get out unless he’s trying to destroy the California AIP.
TELL IT LIKE UT IS TRENT.
Please don’t be unkind to Mr. Noonan. If his state party decides to disaffiliate with Constitution Party before submitting candidates for the November election, there’s no obligation to provide the slot for the Constitution Party nominee. If he persuades others in his party of the wisdom of his preference, well, that’s a pretty good example of leadership. As I see it, Alan Keyes is, by far, the best choice for president. I’m delighted that such parties as the AIP are still considering him. I’m involved in petition drive here in Maryland to start a new Maryland Independent Party right now. This all-volnteer effort started less than two weeks ago, and we just might get our 10,000 signatures this week, long before the August 4 deadline to get ballot access for November election, and just in time to get a slot on the ballot for a special congressional election to be held in June.
“As I see it, Alan Keyes is, by far, the best choice for president. I’m delighted that such parties as the AIP are still considering him.”
Steve, do you agree with Keyes’ interventionist views, or do you just think he is a bigger name and will get more votes?
The American Independent Party of California has every right to nominate the person it prefers (as does the Alaskan Independence Party and others). That right is both legal and moral.
This all reminds me of 2004 when we (reformers) tried to get the Green Party of California to nominate the Nader-Camejo ticket. They would not do it; neither would the Peace and Freedom Party nor the Natural Law Party. What an astounding abdication of responsibility to the voters of California! I ended up voting for the Kerry-Edwards ticket but my first choice was Nader-Camejo. I thought about voting for the Peroutka-Baldwin ticket but I decided (among other reasons)that Senator Kerry has a much better grasp of the need for the separation of church and state than does Mr. Peroutka. I actually voted for Michael Peroutka in the primary election – at the time I was a member of AIP.
What’s the filing fee for a presidential candidate in California? In most states, isn’t is something like several THOUSAND dollars?
Well, I suppose if the AIP is willing to foot that bill, than they can place whomever they want on the ballot. The golden rule, right? He who has the gold makes the rules.
BTW, does Chuck Baldwin have the resources to PAY all of these filing fees? How many states is he ballot qualified for now? Time for some $1000 a plate hot dog dinners.
Doremus Jessup- sounds like you need to subscribe to B.A.N. There are only two states with filing fees and they both only require $500.
Why would he do this if Chuck was nominated overwhelmingly at the Constitution Party Convention??? Chuck has a lot of guts and he is a new face. He is the only one saying the things that everyone wants a politician to say. I think if he is marketed and gets his Baldwin2008 site up, thousands of REAL conservatives will vote for him!
The AIP has always certified the CP nominee and for it not to happen in 2008 would simply be evidence of a hijacking. My friend, Mr. Shulin, is not aware that the California state party is overwhelmingly in support of Baldwin and it is simply a matter of Noonan, Seidenberg and Robinson trying to disenfranchise many people who have been involved in this party for many years.
This is being attempted, not so much FOR Keyes, as it is out of spite because many people within the state and national party have objected to the current irresponsible leaderhip, which most recently inolved our illustrious chairman trying to round up a posse to effect a citizens arrest on the Mayor of San Francisco. This was just the latest in two years filled with wacky behavior. Another high point was Noonan’s promotion of dividing California into two different states (Old California and New California) based entirely on whether a county had voted Democrat or Republican. I kid thee not.
Red, I doubt whether Ed Noonan has the faintest idea what an interventionist or a non-interventionist is.
“The AIP has always certified the CP [Constitution Party, not Communist Party USA – as we leftists know the CP as] nominee,” as Gary Odom wrote. However, before 1992 the AIP went its own way. In 1984, as a matter of fact, the AIP was affiliated with the Populist Party (nationally) and nominated that Party’s candidate, Bob Richards.
Since I am no longer involved with AIP, I don’t know if what Gary wrote (about what is going on) is accurate or not. I am not concerned too much with the personality conflicts. I am more fascinated in what is happening on the more purely polictical level. The personal stuff is interesting, though.
By the way,which “major party” (according to Ed Noonan) is Old California and which one is New California?
The Alaskan Independence Party Chairman has announced today that she will honor the AIP commitment to place the CP nominees (Baldwin/Castle) on the Alaska ballot ine this year.
Hi Red –
Keyes was the only Republican in the 2000 presidential debates to stand up and proclaim opposition to our intervention in the Kosovo unpleasantness. And none of the Democrats voiced such opposition in their debates. So I respectfully think your characterization of Keyes’ views as “interventionist” is much too broad to be very useful.
I enjoyed participating in several of the conference calls before the Constitution Party convention where CP delegates were invited to talk with Dr. Keyes. Many of them asked him questions and follow-up questions about foreign policy-related matters. I found his answers to be thoughtful and thorough, including his discussions of the Constitutional aspects.
Keyes does not embrace the call for USA to withdraw from the UN. He agrees that much disadvantage has flowed to USA from our UN participation, but that represents a failure of our own leaders that we can remedy without withdrawing. I agree with Keyes that the advantages of being a member, and of being the host, are so important to us that withdrawing now would be a very poor choice.
Red, “interventionist” is often used in your blogs, here and elsewhere. But I never really captured what are YOUR views are regarding “intervention”? Can you please enlighten me a bit more?
Steve, thank you for you input on Keyes. I too believe he is the MOST QUALIFIED candidate running. Who else has years of experience working with foreign policy? Keyes wants for the people of this country to accept MORAL and personal RESPONSIBILITY with LESS government “intervention” in our lives. We are a nation of people unwittingly allowing ourselves to become dependent on government, when we are to be a self-governing nation.
When Keyes was Ambassador to the UN during the Reagan Admin, his objective to being there was not to “support” the UN, but to be our “watch dog” and make sure they didn’t try to “intervene” on our country’s consitutional rights. We need to be involved with the UN if we are to protect ourselves.
I too enjoy the conference calls with Alan. What other candidate attempts to make time twice a week to have candid discussions with the voters of America? HE IS FOR THE PEOPLE…FIRST…ALWAYS!
God Bless Alan Keyes, for he is one solidly grounded man. America needs a President of his calibur. I see no others willing to STAND UP for ME like he does.