Ok, I admit, I’m a little bit fascinated. I’m fascinated by the number of persons (and total respect if such includes you — it’s only a fascination), but at the number of persons who suggest that the corruption we’re seeing and sensing is happening in a singular political party. Maybe it’s a deduction of the lesser of two evils, so-to-speak, omitting, however, that “lesser” infers that both are still evil.
Let me not suggest that either the Democrats or Republicans are wholly evil (although I know many are lured to think otherwise). But it seems painstakingly obvious that Washington is broken and the system is corrupt. There is clear crookedness in both parties. For example, witch-hunt or not, it doesn’t take any rocket science nor thirty more indictments to discern that there is something unscrupulous in former Pres. Trump’s behavior. It also doesn’t take any indictment to know there is some sort of duplicity in the Biden family business, especially with Hunter at the head. (I’ll spare any reference to House Republican George Santos or Senate Democrat John Fetterman.) The bottom line is that corruption exists within both parties, and turning a blind eye toward one is what prompts the aforementioned fascination.
That said, as has been documented here — and I might add, is gaining national attention and momentum — No Labels, a political organization that has been promoting nonpartisan governance since 2010 — has been working diligently to provide American voters with an “insurance policy” for 2024. Poll after poll show approximately 70% of us don’t want either Joe Biden or Donald Trump to be President. Our nation is deeply dissatisfied with both gentlemen for various reasons. To be blunt, they are each divisive (albeit in their own, unique way), and to be even more frank, they are arguably too old. Hence, if that is again America’s choice, No Labels will provide a “unity ticket,” with both a Democrat and Republican on the ticket. They are only preparing for the possibility; they have not yet committed to do so. It depends on who the establishment nominates, as the commonsense majority knows we can do better than Biden and Trump.
As part of the preparation, therefore, No Labels is currently focused on nationwide ballot access. That takes time. Look, though, at the response of the establishment…
Time out — my apologize. Let’s first briefly review what the parties officially state in regard to election integrity and our voices being heard. It’s eye-openingly relevant…
From the Democrats: “Democrats will strengthen our democracy by guaranteeing that every American’s vote is protected. We will make it a priority to pass legislation that restores and strengthens the Voting Rights Act, and ensure the Department of Justice challenges state laws that make it harder for Americans to vote. We will make voting easier and more accessible for all Americans…”
From the Republicans: “Our platform is centered on stimulating economic growth for all Americans, protecting constitutionally-guaranteed freedoms, ensuring the integrity of our elections, and maintaining our national security. We are working to preserve America’s greatness for our children and grandchildren.”
Now, though, look at their actual efforts at election integrity, as shared via an update from No Labels this week:
“Ten months ago, No Labels submitted more than enough petitions to get on North Carolina’s 2024 presidential ballot, with plenty of time for officials to review them. Getting on states’ presidential ballots is part of our Insurance Policy 2024 to potentially offer our ballot line to a bipartisan Unity ticket if the two parties insist on saddling the country with presidential choices they don’t want.
In North Carolina, after almost a year of mysterious delays, the Democratic-controlled state elections board last week affirmed our signatures … but then they said they would indefinitely wait on certifying our ballot access while the Board Chair conducts an additional review process with no precedent and no objective standard.
We know a pattern when we see one. When the left-progressive North Carolina Green Party sought a spot on the state’s 2022 U.S. Senate ballot, state Democrats went to court, arguing that the Greens would ‘harm Democrats’ electoral prospects because [our] candidates will have to compete …’
The Greens had met all the requirements, but the board said it needed to investigate claims of signature fraud. And then it unanimously reversed itself.
In federal court, the Greens said 20 of its signatories reported being contacted by people claiming to be from the Green Party and pressuring them to tell election officials they never signed the petitions. Otherwise, the Green Party would split the Democratic vote, they were told.
In all, a sickening partisan spectacle. But please don’t single out North Carolina election officials. In Arizona, the state Democratic Party has sued to knock No Labels off the ballot there. One of its arguments is that No Labels would “harm Democrats’ electoral prospects because [our] candidates will have to compete …”
And in Maine, amid our registration effort, the Democratic secretary of state took the unprecedented step of sending a targeted mailing directed at all 6,456 citizens of Maine who had recently registered as No Labels Party members, questioning if they meant to join No Labels and casting aspersions on our organization.
These aren’t coincidental cases of overdoing the red tape. This is rank partisan obstructionism aimed at protecting entrenched power.”
Friends, the parties are fighting to keep No Labels off the ballot. That is not democracy. That is not election integrity. That is about power. It’s also sadly about corruption.
Respectfully…
AR