Jill Stein is suing to get into the presidential debates

[Axiom_Blade]

According to Wikipedia, this has been tried twice before: once by Ralph Nader in 2000 and once by Gary Johnson in 2012. This is the first time a suit has been pursued on constitutional grounds, however.

Green Jill Stein Is Fighting for Open Debates and Real Democracy

...the status quo polices the political discourse via the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD), a vehicle constructed by the two major parties to maintain their duopoly. In 2012, Stein and Green vice-presidential candidate Cheri Honkala were arrested for trying to enter a presidential debate sponsored by the CPD.

This year, Stein is starting early by joining other third-party contenders who have been excluded from CPD debates as plaintiffs in a historic legal challenge to the commission’s practices. Initiated by the group Level the Playing Field, the lawsuit seeks to open up the 2016 debates to alternative candidates and alternative views.

 

[The Big Dog]

According to Wikipedia, this has been tried twice before: once by Ralph Nader in 2000 and once by Gary Johnson in 2012. This is the first time a suit has been pursued on constitutional grounds, however.

Green Jill Stein Is Fighting for Open Debates and Real Democracy

Nothing says real democracy like a Judge ordering an organization to add a bunch of back of the ballot dead end kids to the debate. Plus, where is the cutoff? The Republicans, The Democrat Party, the Greens and the Silly Party are added, isn't the Very Silly party going to sue to be added? one would think so.

By the way, didn't Ross Perot participate in a debate?

Yep, he did. Game over Greens

 

[Spindrift]

Nothing says real democracy like a Judge ordering an organization to add a bunch of back of the ballot dead end kids to the debate. Plus, where is the cutoff? The Republicans, The Democrat Party, the Greens and the Silly Party are added, isn't the Very Silly party going to sue to be added? one would think so.

By the way, didn't Ross Perot participate in a debate?

Yep, he did. Game over Greens

Game on.

The rules changed after Perot's first run. He wasn't allowed in for his second run.

They do propose limits on who can participate, it's not a free-for-all.

http://time.com/3929644/presidential-debates-lawsuit/

 

[TragicMonkey]

The Monkey Party of Monkeys and Taut Pecs demands participation as well! A Muppet is to be made in my likeness and I will provide its voice via conference call. The Constitution specifically discusses debate Muppet-by-proxy in Article 2, and it was elaborated further in the case Sanity v Monkey, 1799. Sanity lost, it always does.

 

[The Big Dog]

I just saw the complaint. Pretty impressive. If you have access to pacer you can look it up, the caption is:

Tarquin Fin-tim-lim-bim-whin-bim-lim-bus-stop-◊◊◊◊◊◊-◊◊◊◊◊◊-Olè Biscuitbarrel v. Commission on Presidential Debates

The Judge is Johann Gambolputty... de von Ausfern-schplenden-schlitter-crasscrenbon-fried-digger-dingle-dangle- dongle-dungle-burstein-von-knacker-thrasher-apple-banger-horowitz- ticolensic-grander-knotty-spelltinkle-grandlich-grumblemeyer- spelterwasser-kurstlich-himbleeisen-bahnwagen-gutenabend-bitte-ein- nurnburger-bratwustle-gernspurten-mitz-weimache-luber-hundsfut- gumberaber-shonedanker-kalbsfleisch-mittler-aucher von Hautkopft of Ulm

 

[C_Felix]

I just saw the complaint. Pretty impressive. If you have access to pacer you can look it up, the caption is:

Tarquin Fin-tim-lim-bim-whin-bim-lim-bus-stop-◊◊◊◊◊◊-◊◊◊◊◊◊-Olè Biscuitbarrel v. Commission on Presidential Debates

The Judge is Johann Gambolputty... de von Ausfern-schplenden-schlitter-crasscrenbon-fried-digger-dingle-dangle- dongle-dungle-burstein-von-knacker-thrasher-apple-banger-horowitz- ticolensic-grander-knotty-spelltinkle-grandlich-grumblemeyer- spelterwasser-kurstlich-himbleeisen-bahnwagen-gutenabend-bitte-ein- nurnburger-bratwustle-gernspurten-mitz-weimache-luber-hundsfut- gumberaber-shonedanker-kalbsfleisch-mittler-aucher von Hautkopft of Ulm

Should I find this:
a) Funny
b) Thought provoking
c) something else I can't think of

 

[The Big Dog]

Should I find this:
a) Funny
b) Thought provoking
c) something else I can't think of

all three. It is a commentary regarding the complexities associated with a multiplicity of political organizations vying for political office.

That is why I only vote for Sensible Party.

 

[Carnivore]

The Monkey Party of Monkeys and Taut Pecs demands participation as well! A Muppet is to be made in my likeness and I will provide its voice via conference call. The Constitution specifically discusses debate Muppet-by-proxy in Article 2, and it was elaborated further in the case Sanity v Monkey, 1799. Sanity lost, it always does.

Frankly, I'm horrified to discover that this is not already a part of Presidential debate process.

 

[NoahFence]

Nothing says real democracy like a Judge ordering an organization to add a bunch of back of the ballot dead end kids to the debate. Plus, where is the cutoff? The Republicans, The Democrat Party, the Greens and the Silly Party are added, isn't the Very Silly party going to sue to be added? one would think so.

By the way, didn't Ross Perot participate in a debate?

Yep, he did. Game over Greens

Why not make it based on numbers? If you can get X amount of supporters, you're in.

What are you afraid of?

 

[Axiom_Blade]

Nothing says real democracy like a Judge ordering an organization to add a bunch of back of the ballot dead end kids to the debate.

Nothing says democracy like having your presidential debates controlled by a private organization that is not accountable to the people. They are composed of people from the two major parties and they don't let anybody else in to debate. Nothing fishy here!

Plus, where is the cutoff? The Republicans, The Democrat Party, the Greens and the Silly Party are added, isn't the Very Silly party going to sue to be added? one would think so.

That's the same argument as "If we let gay people marry each other, next people will be marrying their sisters, and their dogs, and their kitchen appliances!!!"

 

[marplots]

Oh I know this ploy. I'm supposed to ask who Jill Stein is, right?

Nope, not gonna play.

 

[The Big Dog]

Why not make it based on numbers? If you can get X amount of supporters, you're in.

What are you afraid of?

Deal, 15%.

I Doesn't afraid of anything!

 

[The Big Dog]

Nothing says democracy like having your presidential debates controlled by a private organization that is not accountable to the people. They are composed of people from the two major parties and they don't let anybody else in to debate. Nothing fishy here!

Think about that, are you going to force the Candidates from the GOP and the Democrat Party to participate?? What if they told the Green Party Candidate to go get bent, who is going to force them to debate?

That's the same argument as "If we let gay people marry each other, next people will be marrying their sisters, and their dogs, and their kitchen appliances!!!"

No it is not, I never said anything about dogs, although my dog could get more votes than the Greens.

 

[Axiom_Blade]

Think about that, are you going to force the Candidates from the GOP and the Democrat Party to participate?? What if they told the Green Party Candidate to go get bent, who is going to force them to debate?

That's fine. Don't debate. Take your ball and go home. The presidential debates can be Libertarians vs. Green Party. That's what will be televised, and that's what people will be watching.

No it is not, I never said anything about dogs, although my dog could get more votes than the Greens.

Oh, U TROLE ME

 

[The Big Dog]

That's fine. Don't debate. Take your ball and go home. The presidential debates can be Libertarians vs. Green Party. That's what will be televised, and that's what people will be watching.
:

Yeah, on c-span3.

We are going to get a court order and force the major parties to give us the respect that has been eluding us due to our massive unpopularity with the American Electorate!

Green party slogan 2016.

 

[ehcks]

Oh I know this ploy. I'm supposed to ask who Jill Stein is, right?

Nope, not gonna play.

I'll play for you.

She ran for president in 2012. She only got half a million votes, but that was still three times more than the previous top polling female candidate.

 

[marplots]

I'll play for you.

She ran for president in 2012. She only got half a million votes, but that was still three times more than the previous top polling female candidate.

Not Ben Stein's daughter then?

 

[ehcks]

Not Ben Stein's daughter then?

I now learned that she named her son Ben. That's just mean.

 

[Trebuchet]

No it is not, I never said anything about dogs, although my dog could get more votes than the Greens.

They got enough in Florida in 2000 to make W Bush president. And their candidate wasn't even a member.

 

[Suddenly]

Why not make it based on numbers? If you can get X amount of supporters, you're in.

What are you afraid of?

Making the debates into a clownish spectacle. Forcing candidates with a chance of winning to debate the likes of Michael Badnarik or whatever bible thumper the Constitution Party trots out is nothing short of a bad joke that accomplishes nothing.

The Greens and Libertarians have a level of support so close to zero that it would be hard to create objective criteria that they can meet that won't easily be met by other third parties or attention whores like Donald Trump.


I'll bid it down to 10%.