What if we were suddenly back on the ballot ? Did anyone notice that we are not ?
We're looking to get into Federal Court this week.
We think that we had enough signatures if not for the bogus town designation that often confuses voters, volunteers and even practiced petitioners. After all it's all about the intent of thousands of signatories and voters, not a hand full of hacks willing to let a paid gun go in manipulate the system to the incumbents advantage.
Of course if we were miraculously back in it, we'd come out swinging in a real hard way. Might even go so far as label opponents closet socialists. The reality might be an unsympathetic judge or a missed deadline. Time and money is always a problem. But if we can get an unnecessary requirement tossed forever, that alone would be a happy ending. Stay tuned.
The damage this has done to any semblance of a campaign is severe. Demanding placement in debates, public appearances, fund raising all are put on hold. Given the size of the district and the paltry grassroots resources, even a write-in campaign is severely strained. But if voters in the outskirts, like Otsego or Essex county had a choice that was not one of the usual two, maybe even the snarky pollsters and pundits could ready some openness for the next poor idealist who might try in '08.