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barking_iguanaSo get this. The national Republican Party (a year and a half ago) schedules its convention after the Illinois filing deadline for candidates to submit petitions to be on the November ballot. Presumably there were some Illinois Republicans who were in on the scheduling and could have warned there might be a problem, but they must have said they could take care of it. Or maybe Rove just told them the had to take care of it and everything would be okay. Like in Iraq.
So the Democrats say 'sure, we'll let Shrub on the ballot', but only as part of bill that also allows easier voter registration and also (being Illinois Democrats, after all) contains modifications to the election law that would help incumbents.
The Republicans, who control one house of the legislature, balk at that (it's the easier voter registration they object to, of course, not the incumbent-protection) and say they'll take it to the friendly Federal District Court and get a court order putting the unlawfully procrastinating Shrub on the ballot. (Judging by a comment I saw posted, the Court of Appeals for that region is not partisan, but I'd guess it wouldn't get that far in time.)
The Democrats, I guess, don't want to look like they're denying the voters a choice (Kerry's going to win the state, anyway) so they agree to attach a special Shrub exception to another law, and the Republicans agree. But there's a problem. The Illinois Constitution says
For ongoing updates, the consensus among the several blogs I've seen is that this Libertarian blogger obnoxious is the guy to read, if you can stomach him.
So what would be the effect of no shrubbery on the Illinois ballot? It would depress turnout on both sides. But I think it would hurt the local Republicans more than the Democrats. Some Democrats would turn out to vote for Kerry; fewer Republicans would turn out to write in Shrub. The Democratic Senatorial candidate is a rising star who would also turn out many voters; the Republican is a non-entity whose messy divorce is blowing up in his face. I'd guess that somehow or other Shrub will be there, but if not, I think it will help local Democrats around the state considerably.
As corrupt and machine-driven as New Jersey politics is, I think I'm glad I don't live in Illinois.
So the Democrats say 'sure, we'll let Shrub on the ballot', but only as part of bill that also allows easier voter registration and also (being Illinois Democrats, after all) contains modifications to the election law that would help incumbents.
The Republicans, who control one house of the legislature, balk at that (it's the easier voter registration they object to, of course, not the incumbent-protection) and say they'll take it to the friendly Federal District Court and get a court order putting the unlawfully procrastinating Shrub on the ballot. (Judging by a comment I saw posted, the Court of Appeals for that region is not partisan, but I'd guess it wouldn't get that far in time.)
The Democrats, I guess, don't want to look like they're denying the voters a choice (Kerry's going to win the state, anyway) so they agree to attach a special Shrub exception to another law, and the Republicans agree. But there's a problem. The Illinois Constitution says
The General Assembly shall pass no special or local law when a general law is or can be made applicable. Whether a general law is or can be made applicable shall be a matter for judicial determination.Presumably, the Democrats won't challenge the surrender they've already agreed to make. But the Libertarians, who apparently have a grudge against the Republicans for recently throwing them off the ballot for invalid signatures, might.
For ongoing updates, the consensus among the several blogs I've seen is that this Libertarian blogger obnoxious is the guy to read, if you can stomach him.
So what would be the effect of no shrubbery on the Illinois ballot? It would depress turnout on both sides. But I think it would hurt the local Republicans more than the Democrats. Some Democrats would turn out to vote for Kerry; fewer Republicans would turn out to write in Shrub. The Democratic Senatorial candidate is a rising star who would also turn out many voters; the Republican is a non-entity whose messy divorce is blowing up in his face. I'd guess that somehow or other Shrub will be there, but if not, I think it will help local Democrats around the state considerably.
As corrupt and machine-driven as New Jersey politics is, I think I'm glad I don't live in Illinois.
