Paul Cline, Grand Forks, letter: AG’s opinion: Reasoned, factual — and wrong
July 6, 2012 at 7:05 pm in Grand Forks Herald
While there is no doubt that the attorney general’s opinion is correct, it is a sad day when bureaucratic considerations trump the intent and spirit of the law. Continue Reading
I find this very interesting but I’m going to wait with my comment until the Flying Nurse has a chance to give us his opinion first on Paul Cline’s letter.
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Paul Cline is FN
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I think that was tj’s point.
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I guess I herped when I should have derped.. Subtlety was lost on me this morning I guess.
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No big deal. tj has learned to be pretty subtle in her old age.
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old age?
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Better put on those bifocals, tj.
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what?
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This commentary is up to the usual standards for this writer. The opinion is right, but it is wrong. OK. That leaves me with the question; why write this letter if you have nothing to add to this debate.
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I’m just sad that I can’t vote Libertarian. Perhaps as a write-in.
Do-Nothing Dalrymple has GOT to GO.
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The whole point of the editorial was that it does not matter if this guy is a joke. Bureaucratic considerations are not an acceptable reason to keep someone off the ballot. If he got the requisite number of votes during the primary, his name should be on the ballot.
I’m Libertarian & I’m not sure I’d vote for him, but now I don’t even have that option. That is wrong.
If America is to work, freedom must trump bureaucracy. Neo Nazi have to be allowed to march in the Jewish part of town & burning the President or the flag in effigy must be protected.
When we start silencing dissent the bad guys have already won.
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The bad guys won a long time ago. It’s just that their mischief is becoming more and more flagrant.
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I agree, the guy is a complete non-factor and there isnt a chance in heck i would vote for him.
I would vote for
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..not sure what that was all about but….
I would vote for Obamas twin before i would vote for him.
I agree with the Libertatrian platform, however, Ron Paul this guy isnt.
But he does deserve to be on the ballot if he received the required number of votes.
Bureaucracy is a big problem in this nation.
Put him on the ballot.
btw…. If he wins, he may move to Bismarck.
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Something that struck me is that Reimer will likely appeal this to the Supreme Court. If he’d gotten his application in a few days early, this clerical thing might have been caught in time. It’s very easy to run for office in ND, but you must COMPLETE an application. There’s nothing important here. Well, except for possible proof of a candidate’s disregard for the Attorney General and his own lack of ability. If he wants to make a good impression, he should take his medicine and run as a write-in. Oh, and follow the law next time.
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Ricky Berg’s application was incomplete just two years ago and he still remained on the ballot.
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marv: I make a simple statement defending the Attorney General and the Secretary of State and you come back with an example of the same two people breaking the law two years ago. Anyone with a first-grade education would assume that there was something different about that case, but not you. What grade are you in? This particular case is so simple and you and flying nurse are defending it. I’m done here. You win.
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Plus, he probably submitted it early enough to correct any clerical errors, just as Riemer likely could have and as I mentioned earlier. You don’t know what you are talking about. Nice try.
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If yhou go by just the facts it seems open and shut. Unless there was some situation that prevented him from meeting the deadline then all the candidates are on the same playing field. This would seem to come under the old “If you snooz you loose” adage. Unless there a circumstance beyond his control then he and his party didn’t make it.
Ok…I guess the intent though is that it probably wouldn’t make a huge difference to allow a late entry because they had a problem getting a running mate on time. That’s true, and in this case it probably wouldn’t make a big difference one way or other. But what if it was someone with a lot of support from any party? Would we be willing to be so forgiving if they didn’t meet the requirements and then took the election? Like I said…Pretty cut and dried…
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Sometimes law enforcement is a little gray, but this isn’t like driving 59 in a 55 zone. As you said, it’s cut and dried. You can ask the Attorney General if 5 plus 5 equals 10.Challenging the resulting opinion to the ND Supreme Court would hurt your popularity. Your hypothetical case would be treated exactly the same way, but no candidate worth electing would put themselves in such an embarrassing position.
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nothing is black and white in politics anymore.
Things that have been legal/illegal for 236 years per the Constitution are now not so legal/illegal.
Its all about getting the right people on the court to spin it in a way you want to hear.
Who would have thought we would see the day the President could force people to spend their money on a purchasing a service/product that they didnt want.
Black and White? Not anymore.
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Yes, Capt, things are not as simple as they used to be. On the subject of this news piece, this is as elementary as two plus two. There is simply no controversy here, period.
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Alvin, the more I read your thoughts, the more I like ya! This is exactly the kind of thing we try to teach our kids…follow the directions! It’s easier that way.
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Thanks, M. Something that confuses people is thinking that this is about politics. It’s actually election laws or simple directions as you say. Election laws require you to not cross over when voting in a primary. Should we start counting votes on these defective ballots? Of course not. Follow directions, man and please don’t waste the courts time when you don’t.
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If I can quote old folklore: “there is no there,there”. The law is clear. Move on.
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