Darcy George Richardson

 

Darcy George Richardson, December 6, 1955 (Pittsburgh, Penn.) -  

VP candidate for Alliance Party (aka Independent aka Independent Republican aka Reform Party of the United States of America aka Natural Law Party aka Independence Party) (2020)

Running mate with nominee: Roque De La Fuente Guerra (b. 1954)
Popular vote: 28,098 (0.02%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

Perennial candidate Rocky De La Fuente had an interesting year in 2020. He initially ran for the Republican Presidential nomination and at the same time entered the Republican primary for the 21st congressional district in California. In the latter race, his son was running in the primary as a Democrat. In all of these cases, victory proved elusive.

Although De La Fuente had initially filed with the FEC as a Republican on May 16, 2019 he went on to gain the Presidential nomination of the Alliance Party on Apr. 25, 2020. On June 20, 2020, the Reform Party also nominated De La Fuente, just as they had in 2016. The Natural Law Party jumped on board and backed his candidacy as well. His 2020 running-mate in each of these cases was Darcy Richardson.

Richardson has a long history with third parties, both as a candidate, political operative, and historian. He is the author of A Nation Divided: The 1968 Presidential Campaign (2002) as well as several works on the history of third parties in US politics. I must say I have consulted his research several times in the course of constructing this blog.

Richardson's fascinating career has included working with Eugene McCarthy during the former US Senator's final two runs for the Presidency in 1988 and 1992. Darcy was the National Chair of The New Democrats during that same time period. He has been a consistent champion and activist for challenging the Republican/Democratic duopoly. In 2018 he was the Reform Party's nominee for Governor of Florida. On July 15, 2019 he had filed with the FEC for President as a Reform Party candidate, but later withdrew as other options surfaced.

More than any other person in my generation, Richardson's political journey is basically the history of third parties in late 20th/early 21st century America. No doubt I am missing a few entities here, he has also been linked as candidate or campaign worker with the Democratic Party, Citizens Party, Consumer Party, New Democrat, Boston Tea Party, Reform Party of the United States of America, Peace and Freedom Party, just plain Independent, Alliance Party, Socialist Party of the United States of America, Independent Republican, Independence Party, Natural Law Party, and Minnesota Progressives. It is possible he holds the record in this regard among third party VPs.

Although the Alliance Party was a new entity it was comprised of several older political parties now operating under one name. The Party's website offered a summary of their genealogy--

How the Alliance Formed

America’s growing dissatisfaction with a failing, polarizing two-party system and recognizing there is strength in numbers and a deep desire to put people and country over politics and greed, eleven independent political parties merged under one banner - The Alliance Party.

On October 14, 2018, in Denver, Colorado, three political parties - the American Moderates Party, the Modern Whig Party and the American Party of South Carolina - agreed to merge to create The Alliance Party.  On January 4, 2019, the Alliance Party officially registered with the Federal Elections Commission.

The following parties merged into the Alliance after the merger of the original three.

    Independence Party of Minnesota (2019)
    American Alliance Party (2019)
    Independent Party of Connecticut (2020)
    American Delta Party (2020)

Prior to the 2018 meeting, six independent parties had merged into the Modern Whig Party between 2008 and 2016.

    USA Party (2008)
    Veterans Party (2008)
    American Centrist Party (2010)
    Center Party (2010)
    National Centrist Party (2011)
    American Moderate Party of California (2016)

Discussions are under way with other independent, grassroots parties and organizations to join the Alliance.

Rather than issuing a platform the Party released a "Manifesto" with a message they viewed as pragmatic and centrist. Instead of picking through this long document, I'll focus on two items that seem to get to the core of their philosophy as it relates to the issues of 2020. First, their requirements in order to be a candidate under their banner, as found in the Nov. 2020 website--

All Alliance candidates are held to high expectations and requirements, because public service by way of elected office is among the highest of callings.

We require, monitor and enforce term limits for all of our federal and state legislative offices.

In addition, we require transparency from candidates when running for office and while serving in office. Requirements for federal and state legislative include fully disclosing all contributions during campaigns and while in office; providing redacted copies of their 1040 personal tax returns from the most recent three years; providing annual disclosure of all income received while in office during the preceding year, including the source and amount.

We expect all Alliance candidates and elected officials to demonstrate civility, honesty, tolerance and humility in their interactions with others. Each candidate enters into a written agreement with the Alliance with regards to these expectations. You may find the State and Federal Agreement HERE, and the Local Agreement HERE. [I did not include hot links here--SW]

We expect all Alliance candidates and elected officials to function as pragmatic problem solvers. Functionally, this requirement means country over party; progress over ideology; with an emphasis on constituent concerns and needs.

The second item I found to be pertinent in regard to the peculiar state of the union in 2020 and the Alliance Party's standpoint came from Richardson's Vice-Presidential nominee acceptance speech on Apr. 25, 2020--

Hello everyone. It’s an honor and a privilege to be addressing the inaugural national convention of the Alliance Party, a party — as fate would have it — emerging on the American political scene in one of our nation’s darkest moments, an uncertain period in which the United States may be facing its greatest challenge in modern history.

The deadly COVID-19 pandemic, which has already claimed more than 53,000 American lives while exposing the inadequacies of the U.S. health care system, coupled with what will almost certainly be an ensuing deep recession or, more likely, a depression from which we are unlikely to soon recover, presents a most unpredictable future for all of mankind.

As national chairman James Rex — I love Jim, he’s great — has eloquently pointed out, the twin crises facing this country demonstrates just how ill-prepared the special interest-​dominated duopoly was in preparing for the kind of pandemic the country is now facing. Knowing that the kaleidoscopic impacts of climate change multiplies the threats of infectious diseases, and given the SARS, the Zika virus, MERS and Ebola outbreaks in recent decades and the very real possibility of a more widespread global pandemic in the near future, both parties share in the blame for this country’s unforgivable lack of preparedness.

As Jim has said repeatedly, the United States had ample warnings — decades, actually — yet our leaders had done little or nothing to prepare the country for the kind of pandemic we’re now tragically experiencing. How pathetic that the United States, once the manufacturing marvel of the world, had to rely on life-saving ventilators, masks and other basic Personal Protective Equipment from counties like China and South Korea at the outset of this deadly crisis.

Making matters worse, President Trump squandered at least eight weeks at the ​beginning of this health crisis calling the coronavirus a “hoax” — and that was only four months after he shuttered the U.S. Agency for International Development’s PREDICT program, which was responsible for identifying and combating new emerging viruses. The President’s slash-and-burn approach to the scientific wing of the federal government also includes trying repeatedly —and sometimes with success — to cut funding for the CDC’s unit for fighting global pandemics. Shame on him.

But the Democrats, who have been reduced to second-guessing the Republicans in recent years, also share in the blame. They, too, have neglected science and research as federal funding for basic research in these critical areas has shrunk markedly over the past two decades during Democratic and Republican administrations alike. The Democrats controlled the House for half that period and, likewise, held a working majority in the U.S. Senate for ten of those twenty years.

​The forthcoming campaign will undoubtedly be a difficult one, but I am deeply honored and humbled to be part of this much-needed effort. I know that Rocky — the favorite son of all fifty states and of every country that still looks to the United States for leadership — feels the same way.

Following a steady forty-year decline, one in which our middle class was virtually hollowed out through misguided trade deals such as NAFTA, the Alliance Party, in my view, is the party this country has been waiting for — a party determined to end, once and for all, the hyper-partisanship and extreme polarization of American politics and, most importantly, a party capable of returning the United States to its historic, independent and positive role as a force for good around the globe.

We should once again be a beacon to the rest of the world, especially at a time when most nations are gripped with fear and uncertainty. We’re Americans, after all.

This is our moment. Let the Bloodless Revolution of the year Two Thousand and ​Twenty begin, ushering in a new and creative approach to the myriad issues facing our country which will once again make the United States of America a Gold Medalist nation in education, the environment and a world-class health care system while creating an innovative economy for the 21st Century that works for everyone, not just the investor class, or the so-called one percent.

Thank you and keep the faith. And stay safe everybody.

Something unexpected happened to the campaign on Aug. 15, 2020.  

The far Right and Christian-based American Independent Party in California, which had nominated Trump/Pence in 2016, chose De La Fuente as their nominee. But Richardson was bumped as the VP and replaced with Kanye West. Apparently this VP choice was accomplished without input from any of the nominees. De La Fuente said, "I was not consulted to see if I wanted Mr. West as my running mate ... Obviously, we're a weird— and I wanted Mr. Richardson as my running mate— but it was their decision and their decision only."

De La Fuente had entered the AIP primary in Mar. 2020, but came in second to Phil Collins, who was also the Prohibition Party nominee for President.

The Independent Political Report quoted Darcy Richardson--

“Please let Rocky know that if he runs with the unstable, bi-polar Trump-loving Kanye West in California that I will withdraw as his vice-presidential running mate nationally,” Richardson declared in a text message to [AIP official Mark] Seidenberg earlier today. “I’ve spent my entire adult life battling the duopoly and certainly DO NOT want my name associated with a candidacy that peripherally includes a Trump/GOP plant like the unhinged rapper….Bill Shearer must be rolling over in his grave.”

It should be noted that Richardson did remain in the race, or at that was my impression when I posted our interview Oct. 6, 2020. In it he said--

Rocky and I are on the ballot in Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee and Vermont.  We also hope to be official write-in candidates in a couple of dozen states.

Rocky is also on the ballot in populous California where --- much to my chagrin --- he's paired with unhinged, pro-Trump rapper Kanye West on the American Independent Party ticket, a remnant of segregationist George Wallace's 1968 presidential campaign.

https://thirdpartysecondbananas.blogspot.com/2020/10/darcy-richardson-2020-vp-alliance-party.html

West was also not pleased with being nominated VP, calling the AIP "deceitful" and issued a statement that included, "I am campaigning to be the next president of our great country — not vice president ... The political party in California that listed my name as its VP candidate has done so without my knowledge ... Californians, I ask for your vote for president and urge you to write in ‘Kanye West.’"

The De La Fuente/West ticket placed 5th out of the 6 positions on the California ballot with 0.34% of the vote in that state. It was by far De La Fuente's largest bloc of votes nationally.

The ticket with Richardson as the VP made the ballot in 14 states and registered write-ins in at least 5 more. The strongest results (with party listing) were in Rhode Island 0.18% (Alliance) -- Minnesota 0.17% (Independence/Alliance) -- Idaho 0.17% (Independent) -- Maine 0.14% (Alliance) -- Arkansas 0.11% (Independent).

Election history:
1979 - Cheltenham Township Commission, Montgomery County, Penn. (Democrat) - defeated
1980 - Pennsylavania State Auditor General (Consumer Party) - defeated
1983 - Cheltenham Township Commission, Montgomery County, Penn. (Democrat) - defeated
1985 - Cheltenham Township Finance Officer, Montgomery County, Penn. (Democrat) - defeated
1988 - US Senate (Penn.) (Consumer Party) - defeated
1990 - US House of Representatives (Penn.) (Democratic) - primary - withdrew
1990 - US House of Representatives (Penn.) (Independent) - defeated
1991 - US House of Representatives (Penn.) (Consumer Party) - special election - replaced by party
1992 - Independent Voters Primary (Mass.) - defeated
2010 - Lt. Governor of Florida (No Party Affiliation) - defeated
2012 - Democratic nomination for US President - defeated
2012 - Reform Party of the United States of America nomination for US President - defeated
2016 - Reform Party of the United States of America nomination for US President - defeated
2018 - Florida House of Representatives (Reform Party of the United States of America) - withdrew
2018 - Governor of Florida (Reform Party of the United States of America) - defeated
2020 - Reform Party of the United States of America nomination for US President - withdrew

Other occupations: steamship industry worker, manufacturing manager for an industrial heat treating equipment firm, financial analyst and operations manager, historian, author, campaign manager, political party executive

Notes:
Winner of the 1988 election was H. John Heinz III.

Nathan Daniel Johnson

 

Nathan Daniel Johnson, June 15, 1976 -

VP candidate for Independent (aka Non Affiliated aka Better for America aka Unaffiliated aka Courage Character Service aka Independence Party) (2016)

Running mate with nominee: David Evan McMullin (b. 1976)
Popular vote: 723,081 (0.53%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

Donald Trump's takeover of the Republican Party in 2016 while basically transforming it into his own personality cult was the basis for the exodus of longtime establishment members of that organization. Stalwart Republicans (many of them Neocons) and influential conservatives such as President Bush I and II and son/sibling Jeb and Marvin, Carly Fiorina, Lindsay Graham, John Kasich, George Pataki, William Bennett, Bill Brock, Bill Cohen, Robert Gates, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, Tom Ridge, William Ruckelshaus, Brent Scowcroft, George Schultz, Christine Todd Whitman, Paul Wolfowitz, Larry Hogan, Brian Sandoval, Rick Snyder, Jon Huntsman, Wlliam Milliken, Marc Racicot, Mitt Romney, Arnold Schwarzenegger, over a dozen sitting Republican US Senators, over 30 Republican members of the House, Slade Gorton, Barry Goldwater Jr., J.C. Watts, Bill Kristol, Sam Reed, Chris Vance, Steve Schmidt, Rick Wilson, Glenn Beck, Meghan McCain, Michael Medved, Tom Nichols, P.J. O'Rourke, Jennifer Rubin, George Will, and Meg Whitman (just to name a few) all refused to endorse their Party's nominee. A few of them left the Party entirely while others such as Sen. Graham did an about-face and became loyal Trump collaborators after Jan. 2017.

Some of them, such as President Bush I, Powell, and both Whitmans endorsed/voted for Hillary Clinton. Others endorsed Gary Johnson of the Libertarian Party or Darrell Castle of the Constitution Party. But the most unusual and spontaneous of the Never Trumpers was Evan McMullin who had gained the endorsement/vote of US Senators Lindsay Graham [!!!], Jeff Flake and Mike Lee, also Slade Gorton, Bill Kristol, Sam Reed, and Meghan McCain among others.

McMullin was a former CIA operations officer and staff member for the House Republican Conference. He announced his run late in the game, Aug. 10, 2016 and scrambled to gain ballot access in as many states as he could. He was printed on the ballot in 11 states and was a registered write-in in 24 more, giving him a far-fetched potential of 310 Electoral College votes. McMullin filed with the FEC as an Independent on Aug. 15, 2016.

Some of his statements during the campaign indicate he saw himself as the only true conservative Republican in the race. McMullin certainly was no fan of Hillary Clinton, who he called "corrupt," but Trump received the most criticism--

--"And I stand for limited government and for individual liberty, and I saw in this election that the choices that the two major party candidates offered, as well as other candidates in the race, weren't sufficient or weren't adequate for our country and for the American people. So a couple of months ago, I decided seeing that no one else would get into the race to offer the American people a better choice, I decided to get in and try to do just that."

--"Well, I think Donald Trump is just not trustworthy whatsoever. I mean, he has spent his entire life being in favor of late-term abortions and opposed to the Second Amendment and has even spoken in favor of single-payer healthcare, even in this election. He's defended Planned Parenthood, even in this election. And Donald Trump is not someone who can be trusted. This is a man who does not stand for anything other than himself."

--"The notion that he would appoint Supreme Court justices who are constitutional conservatives, I think, is a real stretch to put it mildly. He's also said his sister would make a great justice. And she is certainly not a constitutional conservative. She's quite liberal, in fact. He's just not somebody who has any credibility on these issues. He is a big government-type of person, just like Hillary Clinton. And I am, I believe, truly the only conservative in this race."

--"I know dictators and authoritarians when I see them, and Donald Trump is one of them. I will do everything in my power to prevent him from becoming president of the United States."

--"Donald Trump appeals to the worst fears of Americans at a time we need unity, not division. Republicans are deeply divided by a man who is perilously close to gaining the most powerful position in the world, and many rightly see him as a real threat to our Republic."

--"I am unknown because I've avoided the limelight so that I could serve. In the case of Donald Trump, he has avoided service so that he could seek the limelight.

--"Trump has never sacrificed anything for this country, and in fact, he has attacked people who have. It just makes me sick to my stomach when I see him attacking the mother of a fallen hero or John McCain. It just makes me sick to my stomach that this guy thinks he's prepared to be commander-in-chief."

--"I think Utahns - and I won't speak for all Utahns - but my sense is that they have real issues with Donald Trump's lack of decency, with his bigotry, the way he's divided this country. That's not the Utahn way. I think they have issues with his attacks on religious minorities."

--"The idea that Donald Trump is a conservative is a complete farce. He is a conman who pretends to be a conservative."

Although Mindy Finn was McMullin's official running-mate, it was the "placeholder" name of Nathan Daniel Johnson that appeared on printed ballots in every case.

The idea of a placeholder VP has been a common element of third party Presidential electioneering for many decades, thanks mostly to the Byzantine laws of many states that are designed to prevent ballot access for those opposing the two major parties. But apparently the idea was new to McMullin's staff, who spelled out the Johnson-Finn problem on his campaign website--

Vote for Evan McMullin and Nathan Johnson
Friday, October 21, 2016 Posted by John Claybrook

Over the past week, we’ve been told by thousands of people that they are casting their vote for Evan McMullin. We are so incredibly thankful for these patriotic Americans standing up for what is right.

In this time, we’ve also received a lot of questions, which is understandable because what we’re doing has NEVER been done before.

The questions usually are:

    If Evan McMullin is on the ballot, why is his running mate Nathan Johnson?
    If I’m writing in Evan McMullin, for Vice President, do I write in Mindy Finn or Nathan Johnson?

Here are a few clarifying points:

    Almost every state requires a name for Vice President when qualifying for ballot access or verified write-in status.
    Almost all of these deadlines passed before Mindy Finn joined the ticket.
    Nathan Johnson is a trusted friend of Evan’s who was willing to fill in as a temporary placeholder in order to give voters across the nation a chance to vote for Evan McMullin.
    Therefore, if you are voting for Evan McMullin, write-in “Nathan Johnson” as the Vice President, because that is how our paperwork was filed with states and votes will be counted.
    In the event that the race is pushed to the U.S. Congress, House of Representatives, Nathan Johnson will resign and be replaced by Mindy Finn.

Sound crazy? We’ll be the first to agree with you! But please do remember that this is an unprecedented three month presidential campaign gaining tremendous momentum all across the nation.

We could be the first campaign in 48 years to win an electoral vote outside of the two party duopoly.

This has taken creativity and a deep desire to give the American people a candidate worthy of this great nation.

So, during early voting and on November 8, either vote or write-in “Evan McMullin” and “Nathan Johnson.”

Our nation deserves better!

Nathan Johnson turned out to a very mysterious figure and McMullin shared precious little about this temporary VP, leading some to believe he had a fictitious character as a running-mate. "He’s somebody I’ve known for years and who I trusted to play this role as a stand-in, in this position for the paperwork, but not be otherwise involved," said McMullin.

Johnson, of San Diego, really existed. Part of his life experience dated back to Utah, where one would assume is where he met McMullin. Before his identity was ascertained and verified, his mystery was a  brief social media sensation.

Although the McMullin/Finn ticket did not officially garner any printed ballot votes, the McMullin/Johnson team placed 5th nationally, finishing in third place in Idaho and Utah, two Mormon strongholds. In Utah, McMullin finished with a whopping 21.54% and in Idaho with 6.73%. Other states where he topped 1% were: Minnesota 1.80%, Virginia 1.36%, Kentucky 1.18%, Arkansas 1.17%, Colorado 1.04%, South Carolina 1.00%.

Election history: none.

Other occupations: US Army, legislative assistant for the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, consultant with Morgan Borszcz Consulting

Notes:
Not to be confused with Andrew Nathan Johnson, Prohibition Party VP for 1944.

Farley Merril Anderson

 

                                                      Anderson in a Ben Franklin costume

                                                                              Giordani 

Farley Merril Anderson, August 16, 1956 (Ogden, Utah) -

VP candidate for Independent American Party (aka Independence Party) (2016)

Running mate with nominee: Rocky Giordani (b. 1949)
Popular vote: 2,752 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

This one is sort of confusing. All indications in the documentation points to Farley Anderson of Utah being the 2016 Presidential nominee of the Independent American Party. The Green Pages wrote, "On 7 November 2015, the Independent American Party nominated Farley Anderson of Utah for President. The party has not yet named their Vice Presidential nominee."

The Party's Facebook post of June 11, 2016 reads, "Farley Anderson is running for president for the Independent American Party, as many of you know. I hope that you are at least considering voting for him this November. He is a faithful Christian, a strong constitutionalist, and is very knowledgeable. He has written several books, including 'The Restoration of Our Republic.' Again, please consider him when you contemplate how you will act this November."

Anderson's The Restoration of Our Republic was adopted by the IAP in 2013 as "its official plan and workbook." His "Proposed 28th Amendment" spells out how the Party stands on several issues--

Proposed 28th Amendment

The American Declaration of Independence Restoration and Recovery Act - (Draft)

By - Farley Anderson
Independent American Party
2016 Presidential Candidate

WHEREAS the United States has a founding document, The Declaration of Independence, and original intent, as iterated in the Federalist Papers puts this document as the prime document and interpretive filter for all law, Constitutional conception, and interpretation; and
WHEREAS The Declaration of Independence lists specific grievances which caused our forefathers to rebel from England; and
WHEREAS These grievances contain certain underlying principles for which England was in violation of, but which America defended through the War of Independence; and
WHEREAS Today the Declaration of Independence has been removed from its proper role and is no longer considered authoritative as part of judicial, executive, or legislative law; and
WHEREAS This neglect has been a major factor in interpreting away the original intent of the Constitution; and
WHEREAS this has contributed to the oath of office losing its meaning by many who take this oath; and
WHEREAS The People of the United States recognize and reverence The Declaration of Independence as the pre-eminent document in the rise of American prosperity, protection, and individual independence; and
WHEREAS the People of the United States have within their power and authority to amend the United States Constitution to rectify abuses and restore this document’s proper role;
NOWTHEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT we as Americans under the banner of national unity, rule of law, equality, and representative government therefore come together to enact the following:
From this time forth the constitutionally-prescribed oath of office shall include the following words after the word Constitution… “and the principles of the Declaration of Independence.”
This amended oath of office shall be reissued to all public servants currently in office as well as for all newly elected and appointed representatives. Those who break this oath shall promptly be removed from office and be subjugated to prosecution for perjury. Furthermore, from this time forth, the principles of the Declaration shall be the foundational interpretive filter for the United States Constitution and all subsequent law. Congress is empowered with the responsibility to review, and cause to be removed from office oath-breaking federal judges.
The principles of the Declaration of Independence to be enacted upon retroactively are as follows:
1. The laws of nature and Nature’s God shall be applied equally to everyone including elected officials.
Thus all law will equally apply to everyone including elected officials, and any proposed legal exemption or exclusive jurisdiction of law is prohibited.
2. States are entitled to their separate and equal station, and likewise the people of these states are entitled to their separate and equal station. This equality includes the equal protection of “natural rights,” and disavows theft on an individual or collective basis.
Thus:
The 16th Amendment is repealed
The Federal Reserve Act of 1913 is repealed
The Affordable Care Act is Repealed
All regulatory agencies in which Duties, Imposts and Excises are not geographically uniform throughout the United States, such as welfare and redistribution of wealth programs, will begin a transition of termination, and will be eliminated altogether within 10 years of the ratification of this Amendment.
3. It is self-evident truth that all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, which includes freedom of conscience. Thereby government encroachment on the free exercise of religion shall cease.
Thus:
Taxation restraint upon political activism of churches shall cease
Force of law requiring a person or an independent establishment to violate their conscience in providing economic goods and services to other individuals or establishments shall cease
Atheism as the government prescribed religion shall cease, and it is thus reiterated that the U.S. Constitution only shall be the supreme law of the land
Let it be recognized that the Bible is an honored part of America’s birth and heritage
4. That the purpose of government is to protect the inalienable rights of all Americans to individual life—defined as human life beginning at fertilization, and ending at natural death—, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Thus:
The precedence established in the 1973 decision of Roe vs. Wade is repealed, and life, liberty, and property shall be protected, and not violated except within the framework of due process of law
In order to protect the sovereignty of the nation, state, and individual, legal immigration shall be enforced, and the borders of our nation shall be secure
5. A foundational natural law is that government derives its just powers from the consent of the governed, and not through usurpation or fiat authority.
Thus:
Executive orders apply only to the executive branch, and not to the general population of American people
Homeland security and all other federal authority agencies shall enforce only those laws which fall under the proper, constitutional role of the federal government
States and local governmental jurisdictions have the right to nullify those laws which they interpret as being outside proper authoritative channels
It is reiterated that spying on American citizens without their consent is a violation of the 4th Amendment, and shall cease
Proper election procedures allowing only registered voters and honest counting shall be enforced
The 17th amendment, removing state representation, is contrary to this principle and is repealed.

Meanwhile, an ex-boxer and film actor named Rocky Giordani of Banning, Calif. filed with the FEC under the Independence Party in Aug. 2015. His campaign webpage included an autobiography as well his stand on the issues--

My name is Rocky Giordani and I’m running for president of the United States of America. Who am I? I am a sinner saved by grace. I am a father, an American, a conservative, a Husband and a Christian. I also happen to be a card carrying registered member of the Morongo Indian Nation. I live on the same Indian Reservation where my Grandmother was raised. Considering my income, my bank account, the value of my home, my neighborhood, my education, the schools I went to and by every other definition I am a regular middle-class guy. I grew up on the mean streets and back alleys that surround the beaches in Dogtown, Venice California.

My father died when I was seven years old leaving his wife with five children and no husband to care for them. If not for the Social Security survivor benefits I don’t know how my mother would’ve raised her children. Occasionally my mother worked in a beer bar because that was the only employment she could find or was qualified for. There were times when my dinner was the scraps that my older brother left in his plate. As a teenager I learned to hustle pool, shoot dice, play cards and do whatever else I could to make money and feed myself. I graduated high school alternately living in a pool room or in my mom’s garage.

I’ve been an athlete all my life. After high school I did a little boxing. I did odd jobs for local businessmen like collect money that deadbeats didn’t want to pay. For 50%, if you owed money, you were going to pay no matter what. I became a notorious thumper and a bit of a scoundrel but people in our neighborhood paid their debts. I did some work as a bodyguard sometimes for celebrities but mostly for neighborhood businessman with enemies.

I’ve probably been in 1000 street fights and both of my hands are broken into mere Meat Hooks. Now, I’m ready to throw elbows with the suits in Washington D.C.

We still have time to change our American situation and this is our opportunity we must not lack the will to do what must be done, and we must get it right this time. We need someone that can listen to the will of the American people and transform it into what will be our future.

Never underestimate the power of the free American people if they have the will to make a change. My past has prepared me for what needs to be done. People will ask us, “What makes you think that some middle-class guy from the middle of nowhere can be the President?” My question to you is “Who’s gonna stop me?”

----

Rocky Giordani is a "Constitutional Conservative".

Rocky is a survivor because of the Second Amendment and promises to insure its longevity.  
 
Tough on Illegal immigration... Tougher on securing the border and has a plan that will actually accomplish those solutions Immediately.
 
Takes a very hard stance on Fiscal responsibility and a balanced budget. He's the only candidate with an actual plan to reduce spending, balance the budget and payoff the national debt without cutting out Medicare or Social Security or taking a dime from any other program.
 
Emphasis on strengthening and rebuilding the Military. Our Military has been Emasculated. Rocky says "We must rebuild it and pass a bill that forever earmarks a percentage of the GDP for the military".
 
Prioritizes taking a blow torch to the "Progressive Tax Code" that we are burdened with and replacing it with a "Fair Tax" that is acceptable to everyone. Rocky is the only Republican candidate to put forward a tax plan that is not progressive.
 
He's also the only Candidate that actually has a plan to alleviate the strain of Obamacare on the economy immediately and then to end it... A plan that will work.
 
This Candidate believes that the devaluation of the American Dollar is a huge threat to our nation. It must be strengthened and he has a comprehensive plan to strengthen the dollar and make it once again a global currency powerhouse.
 
Has a common sense plan to deal with and wipe out I.S.I.S and Islamic extremism and Jihadists both foreign and domestic without risking American lives.

On Aug. 27, 2016 the Independent American Party held their convention and somehow Anderson was no longer the presumptive nominee. Giordani was the choice of the delegates and Anderson became the VP.

The ticket held at least one event together--

Oct. 8, 2016
INDEPENDENT AMERICAN PARTY
Bible & Gun Rally
Come support your 2nd Amendment rights
with like-minded people !!
FRIDAY, OCT. 14
4 TO 6 P.M.
on the front steps of the Utah Capitol
Salt Lake City - south side
*  Meet and Greet  *
Rocky Giordani & Farley Anderson
IAP Presidential and V.P. Candidates
Bring your Bibles and your guns (open carry)
to show President Obama
that UTAH conservatives DO love
their Bibles & their Guns !!

As Election Day neared, Giordani addressed his followers on Facebook--

Oct. 28
I'm leaving Utah guys... I'm finished here so I'm heading back to SoCal to see my family so, I'll be dark for awhile. I just wanted to tell my amazingly loyal friends and my wonderful family... Thank you... I mean from the bottom of my heart, thank you.
I got into the race very late... The Independent American Party held their convention on August 27th 2016.
We've accomplished a lot in 2 months. Thanks to loyal friends like you We've already gained enough support to get on the ballot in every state in 2020...
Not easy to do.
I wrote an open letter on the IAP website announcing that I was going to Utah because I was convinced that Utah was where we would start the conversation that would put an end to the broken 2 party system and put an Independent in the White House in 2020.
I stated that If I could win Utah it would make it likely that neither candidate would have the minimum necessary to win the White House and the election would be decided by the House of Representatives.
Now all of the other Independent candidates have followed me to Utah and we are now "All of us" making our stand in Utah.
I will always be proud of what I have accomplished in 2016 regardless of the outcome of the election.
Mostly I'm so proud of my friends for their support that I swear it breaks my heart to think that I might let you guys down.
I started this fight with the GOP and the DNC and I promise to keep fighting until the reason for fighting is gone.
Rocky Giordani
Independent American Party
Presidential Candidate
Proudly the first ever from Venice California
Also the first Native American as I am a card carrying
member of the Morongo Indian Nation

The Giordani/Anderson ticket were registered write-ins in Kansas and on the ballot in Utah, where they finished 7th out of 10 with 0.24% of the vote in the Beehive State.

If I am reading this right, Giordani embraced the "stolen election" conspiracy theory and actually moved to Costa Rica after Biden was elected in 2020. He advocated that Trump should declare martial law, applauded the pardon of Flynn, and felt the COVID crisis was "phoney."  

Election history:
2010 - Governor of Utah (Unaffiliated) - defeated
2016 - Independent American Party nomination for President - defeated

Other occupations: author, Independent American Party Executive Committee, Republican precinct chair (1991), Vice President of Mineral Resources International, owner of Replenishing Press, Founder/President of Liberty and Preparedness Institute, Founder of Utah Independence Project

Notes:
Anderson is the father of 11 children.
BS, Oral Communications, Weber State University, 1980, the same school where the Weber Cooks series starring the dynamic Steven Eugene Reed were produced.

William Floyd Weld

 

William Floyd Weld, July 31, 1945 (Smithtown, N.Y.) -

VP candidate for Libertarian Party (aka Independent aka Independence Party) (2016)

Running mate with nominee: Gary Earl Johnson (b. 1953)
Popular vote: 4,489,359 (3.27%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

2016 provided an important opportunity for the Libertarian Party and continued their long-standing intraparty debate of practical compromise vs. philosophical purity. Both of the major parties were fielding candidates who were more polarizing than usual and many Americans were looking for an alternative. After two ballots at their convention the Libertarians once again selected Gary Johnson as their nominee. His running-mate was former Governor of Massachusetts William Weld. The LP ticket, with two ex-state executives on the ballot with high name recognition, actually had far more government insider experience to offer than the Republican team of Trump and Pence.

Johnson spent a considerable portion of his acceptance speech imploring the convention to select Weld as the VP nominee--

Now that said, we're going to move on to the vice president. And I understand that you get to choose the vice president, but I just want you to know if it's not Bill Weld, I don't think we have the opportunity of being elected president of the United States and that is not to take anything away from any of the candidates up here on the stage.

Jim Gray in 2012 did not make one national media appearance and don't think we didn't try to have Jim Gray be on the national media. Since Bill Weld announced that he is seeking the vice presidential nomination I would say at a minimum he has made 25 national media appearances.

And not to take anything away from any of the candidates, nothing away from any of the candidates, but Bill Weld was my role model. Bill Weld was Libertarian-Republican. Bill Weld was denied the nomination by Jesse Helms to be ambassador to Mexico because Jesse described him as pro-gay, pro-choice and pro-medical marijuana at a time when nobody else was talking about this.

It's your choice. We can go out there and we can make, and you have kind of sort of made a choice here already. And that is that we do have the opportunity to reach millions and millions of Americans.

Talk about fund-raising. The total amount of fund-raising, the total amount of funds since I've been in politics, directly or indirectly that I have raised is probably about $8 million. If you make that comparison with Bill Weld, the number is closer to a quarter of a billion dollars. It's a reality.  It is a reality and I'm asking you all to recognize that reality. And I'm also asking you to recognize that you did nominate me for president, and I'm hopefully going to get elected president of the United States.

The first consideration that people are going to look at when they look at a vice president, the first consideration, maybe the only consideration is, can that person actually step in and be vice president of the United States. I'm just going to ask you to make that determination with those that are on stage. I trust in all of you that moving forward that you can see, I hope you can see, the wisdom of this Libertarian Party exploding. And at a minimum, let's just not say, at a minimum I think we are in the presidential debates.

If it's not Bill Weld I don't think that that happens. If it is Bill Weld, and not to take anything away from anybody else that is on the stage. But if it is Bill Weld there's a real possibility that we can achieve major party status in this country. And who would have dreamed that that was possible four years ago?

Weld barely won the running-mate slot on the second ballot over Larry Sharpe, 441-409 votes.

The VP nominee found himself defending some of his past non-Libertarian stances such as support of Republican neocon military actions as well as his role in gun control as Governor of Massachusetts. "I was deeply concerned about gun violence, and frankly, the people I represented were demanding action. Sometimes, governing involves tough choices, and I had to make more than a few. Today, almost 25 years later, I would make some different choices ... Those who know me best and for the longest all know that I have always been a libertarian. I have said it many times, and it is true. Since law school, my bibles have always been The Constitution of Liberty, and The Road to Serfdom, by Friedrich Hayek."

But as the campaign neared Election Day, Weld came across as somewhat ambivalent about his role as a potential spoiler. Some of his statements indicated he preferred Clinton over Trump--

-The way Washington is trending, the wacko left and wacko right are heaving more closely into view ... I think the Republican Party’s going to split, this cycle or the next cycle ... One party will be Donald Trump’s party, which you could call the Know-Nothing Party ... based on hatred of immigrants and conspiracy theories and violent rallies.

-I have a platform ... As long as I’m a candidate for a legitimate political party, people pay attention to what I say, and I have a lot to say about Mr. Trump ... We are drawing 50-50 [from the two major parties], but that’s before people hear everything I have to say about Mr. Trump for the next seven weeks.

-This is not the time to cast a jocular or feel-good vote for a man whom you may have briefly found entertaining.

-Most families would not allow their children to remain at the dinner table if they behaved as Mr. Trump does. He has not exhibited the self-control, the discipline or the emotional depth necessary to function credibly as a president of the United States.

-This is the worst of American politics. I fear for our cohesion as a nation and for our place in the world if this man, who says he is unwilling to abide by the result of our national election, becomes our president.

-I'm one of those who thinks there's a hidden Trump vote of 3 percent — maybe more — of people who don't want to tell pollsters that they're voting for Donald Trump, so I'm not at all relaxed about the outcome of this election.

-You want someone who is calm. When you are governor or chief executive of a government, you make a hundred decisions a day and you get judged at the end of the year by how you did. If you have to stop and think ‘how can I take a swipe at someone in this situation,’ that is the last thing you want in a president of the United States ... In psychology, it’s called a malignant narcissist: someone who’s not happy succeeding unless everyone else fails at the same time ... Unfortunately, you could say that that happened a little bit with Mr. Trump’s success with his casinos in Atlantic City, because hundreds if not thousands of small businesses went down the tubes when Mr. Trump was rising there.

-I’m sick and tired of seeing her [Clinton] dragged through the mud by a man [Trump] who makes absolutely no demands on himself as to moral behavior, including common decency or truthfulness.

-I've known her for 40 years. I've worked with her. I know her well, professionally ... I know her well personally. I know her to be a person of high moral character, a reliable person and an honest person, however so much Mr. Trump may rant and rave to the contrary. So, I'm happy to say that, and people can make their own choices ... I'm not taking back anything I said about the massive difference between the two establishment party candidates. One would be chaos for the country I think and the other would be a very business-like and capable and competent approach to our affairs.

In Sept. 2016 there were rumors, according to journalist Carl Bernstein, that Weld would drop out of the race and endorse Clinton.

Johnson's ignorance of international affairs and some of his more eccentric public performances such as sticking out his tongue during a TV interview didn't exactly help the LP's credibility with outside independent voters, while valid doubts about Weld's commitment to the Party made activists wary they had yet another carpetbagger in their midst. But even so, 2016 turned out to be the highest total of the LP vote in any Presidential election, and the highest among third parties since Ross Perot in 1996.

In a remarkable finish, the Johnson/Weld ticket placed third and cracked 1% in every state. Their best results: New Mexico 9.34%, North Dakota 6.22%, Alaska 5.88%, Oklahoma 5.75%, Montana 5.64%, South Dakota 5.63%, Colorado 5.18%, Wyoming 5.13%, and Maine 5.09%.

During the campaign Weld gave hints he might return to the Republican Party in order to run for President in the 2020 primaries, which is exactly what he did. The Trump forces, apparently threatened by some degree of Weld's potential percentages, successfully managed to make sure he was not a ballot option for Republican voters in the primary season in many states, seeming to confirm Weld's charge that the Republicans had morphed into an authoritarian personality cult bent on undermining the democratic process.

Election history:
1978 - Massachusetts Attorney General (Republican) - defeated
1991-1997 - Governor of Massachusetts (Republican)
1996 - US Senate (Mass.) (Republican) - defeated
2006 - Governor of New York (Republican) - primary - withdrew
2020 - Republican nomination for US President - defeated

Other occupations: U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts, chief executive of Decker College, member of the Council on Foreign Relations, novelist

Notes:
Winner of the 1996 election was John Kerry.
Worked on Romney's campaign in 2008 primary, voted for Obama over McCain in the general. Endorsed Romney in 2012, and Kasich in 2016. Voted for Biden/Harris in 2020.

Warren Griffin III

 

Warren Griffin III, November 10, 1970 (Long Beach, Calif.) -  

VP candidate for Independent (2016)
 
Running-mate with nominee: Brady C. Olson (b. ca2000)
Popular vote: ? (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

A candidate using the name "Deez Nuts" filed as an Independent for US President with the FEC in July 2015. Shortly after, it was revealed the true identity of this politician was 15-year old Brady Olson of Wallingford, Iowa.

Olson's campaign was given a boost when Public Policy Polling included Deez Nuts in surveys and the joke candidate did surprisingly well. Deez Nuts came to represent the multitude of choices for protest votes.  

The Deez Nuts campaign website indicated that the nomination from several parties would be welcome--

    Political Party Nominations I Am Considering Running For

    American Populist Party
    Citizens Party
    Independence Party
    Justice Party
    Moderate Party
    Modern Whig Party
    Reform Party
    Rent Is Too Damn High Party

The official Deez Nuts platform was actually quite sober in tone in contrast to the silly name of the standard bearer--

Illegal Immigration -- I believe that anyone who is found as an illegal immigrant in this country must be deported back to their country of origin, with the lone exception of being a minor.

Federal Budget & Government Spending -- I believe that the US Government should not be allowed to spend more than it makes from tax revenue. The reason we are in a budget crisis is because the two main parties refuse to compromise on this issue. Every federal official in either Congress, President, or the Cabinet, should immediately have their salary cut in half.  Once the budget is balanced, those salaries may slowly rise. If the budget returns negative, salaries go back to where they started.

Abortion & Same-Sex Marriage -- I feel that as equal human beings that we should be allowed to choose how to live our lives without being discriminated by one another. At the same time however, I also understand that people believe that Christian religion outweighs government policy. But America is no longer mainly Christian. It is Christian, Jewish, Islam, Hebrew, and many others.

Foreign Policy -- I support the work that John Kerry and the State Department did with the Iran nuclear deal, considering it took nearly two years to reach this point. Everyone wants a better deal, but that's the whole point of negotiating. Look at your wants, then their wants, and meet in the middle. Now is the time  being respected instead of feared by other nations. I also feel that we need to stop being a world watchdog and limit our positions in international conflicts.

Energy -- I support cutting subsidies to oil companies and giving tax incentives to individuals and corporations that implement green technology and renewable energy sources into their communities. I also support giving grants to communities for the purpose of installing municipal wind turbines, hydroelectric dams, and rooftop solar panels.

The Economy -- I support giving corporations tax incentives for the sole purpose of creating jobs IN America TO Americans FOR Americans. This will in turn stimulate the economy and make us more self-sufficient instead of relying on products from foreign countries.

Territorial Voting Rights -- I support giving citizens in our American territories voting rights. I also support giving American Samoan citizens automatic US citizenship. I would give Puerto Rico 3 electoral votes since Puerto Rico is bigger than many states. Guam, the US Virgin Islands, and the Northern Marianas all get 2 since they are smaller, but still incorporated territories. Finally, American Samoa would only get 1 since it is still considered an "unincorporated" territory. This would bring the total of electoral votes from 538 to 548. I also support giving all 5 territories plus Washington, D.C. 1 seat in the House of Representatives instead of non-voting delegates. This would bring seats in the House from 435 to 441.

The term "Deez Nuts" apparently traces back to a skit performed by rapper Warren G. (Warren Griffen III) in 1992 for Dr. Dre's The Chronic album. Feline Presidential candidate Limberbutt McCubbins, who was Olson's original inspiration for also filing as a flippant candidate, was the first choice as a running-mate for Deez Nuts. But it seems the cat turned him down, but no problem-- Deez Nuts' campaign was enthusiastically endorsed by Warren G., who offered himself as the VP. Olson had a Facebook entry on Aug. 21, 2015 that picked up the offer and ran with it, "The Nuts/G ticket?  - Would be an honor to have Warren as vice prez!"

Warren G. has his own political agenda, including education and prison reform, "These people going to jail for life for bullshit. You maybe stole a bag of chips (on your third strike) and get jail for life. Let's start providing better schools so they can learn and get a job so they don't have to steal."

Olson offered a political prediction on Feb. 9, 2016--

My prediction:
Cruz VS Sanders for the presidency.
If Cruz runs with Trump as VP he will win.
If Sanders runs with Clinton as VP he will win.
If Biden runs he beats all.

OK, so he was four years too early.

By Election Day Olson was called "the former candidate" in the press. As he explained on Facebook, Nov. 9, 2016, "I almost became a felon! In August (Just after PPP released a poll showing that Green Party candidate Jill Stein was trailing me in Texas) The Federal Election Commission sent me a letter calling for me to withdraw from the race. '...may pursue or refer action for false filing.' So I withdrew. Hey, I almost lost voting rights before I could vote! Well, next up I will run for Congress — when I am eligible — in 2024! Sky is the limit after that!" In the event of their victory, there would have been a Constitutional problem with Olson being not even half the required age to assume office.

2016 was a record Presidential election cycle for the number of outrageous candidates filing with the FEC, with Deez Nuts being among the most prominent in that category. The Aug. 18, 2016 FEC press release stated--

FEC Adopts Interim Verification Procedure for Filings Containing Possibly False or Fictitious Information

WASHINGTON – The Federal Election Commission today announced an interim procedure staff will follow to verify information in filings from the 2016 election cycle that appear to be unlawfully false or fictitious. The new procedure comes in response to an increase this election cycle in the filing of registration and statement of candidacy forms (FEC Forms 1 and 2) that provide patently false candidate or treasurer names, questionable contact or bank information, or material that does not relate to campaign finance, such as drawings, essays and personal court records.

The Commission has authorized staff to send verification letters to filers listing fictional characters, obscene language, sexual references, celebrities (where there is no indication that the named celebrity submitted the filing), animals, or similarly implausible entries as the name or contact information of the candidate or committee. These letters will:

    notify the filer of the potential penalties for false filings with a federal agency;
    note the seemingly false information (candidate name, contact information, etc.) that was filed on the relevant Statement of Organization (FEC Form 1) or Statement of Candidacy (FEC Form 2);
    direct the filer to file a letter either confirming or withdrawing the filing, or to file an amended Form 1 or 2, within 30 days of the date of the verification letter;
    indicate that withdrawing the filing or failing to respond to the verification letter will lead to the Form 1 or 2 being removed from the searchable candidate/committee filings database on the Commission’s website; and
    note that removal of the filing from the Commission’s searchable database does not waive the Commission’s authority to pursue or refer action for false filing under 52 U.S.C. Section 30109(a) or otherwise report such filings under 52 U.S. C. Section 30107(a)(9).

A staff working group will devise and recommend a prospective solution for the Commission’s consideration and implementation in conjunction with the Reports Analysis Division’s Review and Referral Procedures approval process for the 2017-2018 election cycle.

Election history: none

Other occupations: rapper, record producer, owner of Sniffin Griffins BBQ  

Notes:
CBS News ranked the Deez Nuts campaign as the 14th "Wildest Moment" of the 2016 Presidential election season.

Jan D. Pierce

Jan D. Pierce, May 20, 1937 (Ohio) -

VP candidate for Independent (aka Independence Party) (2004)

Running mate with nominee: Ralph Nader (b. 1934)
Popular vote: 90,948 (0.07%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

Expressing a desire to not become beholden to the platform of any party, Ralph Nader announced he was running for President in 2004 as an independent. Yet he also sought the endorsement (rather than the nomination) of several already established third parties as a way to more easily acquire ballot access. The Reform Party, Independent Party of Delaware, and Independence Party did just that, making him their de facto nominee. Some parties were simply invented as a 2004 one-shot deal due to local requirements. For example, Nader ran in Alaska, Arkansas, and Maryland under the Populist Party name, apparently unconcerned of the legacy of white nationalist policies connected with the recent party of that name 1984-1996 and still a fresh memory.

Although Nader never joined the Green Party, it was under their banner that he was perceived, perhaps unfairly, as being the spoiler in the 2000 election and handing the White House to George W. Bush especially in Florida. The Green Party had some significant differences of opinion within their ranks on how to proceed in 2004. Generally speaking there were three factions at play here.

The first group desired to endorse Ralph Nader's independent run. Nader himself had announced in Dec. 2003 he would not seek the Green nomination, but later he realized the Party's endorsement would come in handy in terms of ballot access although he had no intention of joining the Greens himself. The pro-Nader faction was energized when a week before the Green convention Nader had selected GP activist Peter Camejo as his running-mate. Camejo in fact had won the most popular votes in the Green Party primaries for President.

The second group wanted to run a campaign with a "pure" Green candidate (David Cobb was the frontrunner) rather than ride on the star power of a political celebrity who was not necessarily in line with the Party platform. Cobb, a California attorney and Party activist, had worked hard to gain the nomination as he electioneered across the country gathering delegates.

The third group promoted the idea of sitting out the 2004 Presidential contest and instead concentrate on elections at the grassroots local level. A leaflet from this faction at the convention included, "Choosing No Candidate will allow Greens to build strength at the grassroots, avoiding a punishing national media fight we cannot win ... Our best route to national influence is building local power."

On June 26, 2004 Cobb won the nomination on the second ballot. He named Pat LaMarche, a Green Party activist in Maine, as his running-mate.

Unlike Nader/Camejo the Cobb/LeMarche ticket adopted a "safe state" strategy of not campaigning hard in swing states where they thought they could possibly tip the scales in favor of Bush. Cobb rationalized, "In California, Cobb-LaMarche's message is going to be, 'Progressives, don't waste your vote.' Because if a progressive casts a vote for the corporate militarist John Kerry in California, it does not help to unelect Bush, and you can only send a message that you actually support policies that you don't. That's a wasted vote. Simple message: progressives, don't waste your vote. In the other states where it's very much closer, we have the same, in-depth, scathing critique of both the Democratic and Republican parties, and then conclude with, 'but think carefully before you cast your vote.' You know, that is completely respecting the voter, and it is really challenging those voters to think about why we have a system where I have to vote against what I hate, rather than support what I want."

LaMarche suggested she just might pull the level for the Democrat on Election Day, "If the race is tight, I'll vote for Kerry."

A swath of the Left felt the Greens were capitulating to the Democrats far too much. The Vermont Green Party broke ranks and endorsed Nader/Camejo. Other Greens appeared to migrate to the Socialists in 2004, giving them a larger popular vote than usual.

Jan D. Pierce was initially a stand-in VP in several states, but by Election Day he remained on the ballot as the running-mate in a couple states. With Pierce's background as a union activist, Nader planned to place him in his Cabinet, "Jan Pierce, former Vice President of the Communication Workers of America, will be my Secretary of Labor." Pierce had been a supporter of the Democratic Socialists of America and an effort to build the New Party in the 1990s (not the same as the New Party of the 1960s).

In the four years since Nader last ran 9/11 had happened and the Bush administration was wrapping up their first term. Although President Bush called himself a uniter, not a divider, his economic policy, military initiatives, and interpretation of civil liberties under the Constitution seemed to widening the polarization of the country. Many in the Progressive side were willing to overlook Sen. Kerry's centrism and spent not a small amount of energy attempting to get Nader out of the race or off the ballots.

In one the most famous incidents in the 2004 campaign Bill Maher and Michael Moore got down on their knees and begged Nader on the Real Time television program on July 31, 2004 to drop out of the race.

There were others who agreed--

Keeping the Bush circle out means holding one's nose and voting for some Democrat. ... In a very powerful state, small differences may translate into very substantial effects on the victims, at home and abroad. It is no favor to those who are suffering, and may face much worse ahead, to overlook these facts.
–Noam Chomsky

I am going to run around this country and do everything I can to dissuade people from voting for Ralph Nader. ... this election will come down to a relatively few votes. ... I consider four more years of Bush a potential horror show for this country.
–Bernie Sanders

If Kerry is elected, we'll have a little ledge to stand on.
–Howard Zinn

Last time around, Nader attracted the support of a stellar list of left-leaning celebrities; Phil Donahue, Susan Sarandon, Michael Moore, Paul Newman, Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Eddie Vedder, and Ani DiFranco were all Naderites. That won't be the case this year.
-Mother Jones Magazine

A number of anti-Nader websites from the Progressive community sprang up: The Nader Factor, United Progressives for Victory, Vote2StopBush.org,  Dear Ralph, StopNader.com, Ralph Don't Run, Repentant Nader Voter PAC, Nader Watch Blog, Don't Vote Ralph, Ralph-Nader.info, Damned Big Difference, and Greens for Kerry (Change In '04).

"It's an ego-fueled Trojan Horse for the right wing," said Bob Gammage of StopNader.org, "The Republicans perceive (the Nader campaign) the same way we do: A vote for Nader is a vote for Bush. They're hoping ... they can confuse enough people to take the election away from Kerry."

Nader met with the Congressional Black Caucus in June. It did not go well. The CBC had asked Nader to drop out of the election and by the end there were raised voices, Nader was told by one member of Congress to "get your ass out" of the meeting, and Rep. Melvin Watt said the candidate was "just another arrogant white man, telling us what we can do. It's all about your ego, another [expletive] arrogant white man." Nader later demanded an apology for the language used in the meeting but never got it.

Some of the other attendees had choice words as well:
"He ain't playing with a full deck"--Rep. James Clyburn
"I don’t think he gets it ... The meeting was about strategy and the pragmatic planning to defeat Bush ... We told him how at strategic level, his candidacy defeats a common a goal ... We were particularly offended by Nader's exhibitionism, his selfishness and egotism"--Rep. Albert Wynn
"If he didn't understand what the meeting was about, not only is he an egotistical maniac, he's dumber than I thought he was"--Rep. Gregory Meeks

There was evidence the Republicans and far-Right groups were doing what they could to help Nader along, which was an unsurprising and old political practice by political parties helping the enemy of their enemy dating back to the early 1800s in US politics.

But as it was Nader's 2004 showing was faint compared to 2000. Rather than setting the foundation for a new progressive party, he was starting to be perceived by many as a perennial candidate for a personality-driven movement.

Nader was on the ballot in 35 states + DC and a registered write-in in 12 states finishing third nationally with 465,642 votes (0.38%). Of those, the Nader/Camejo ticket was on the ballot in 32 states + DC and certified write-ins in half a dozen more. In New York, Nader was on two different ballot lines, each with a different running-mate (with Camejo in the Peace and Justice Party, with Jan D. Pierce in the Independence Party). Pierce was also on the ballot with Nader in Alabama. Documents suggest Pierce would have also been on the ballot in Illinois, Ohio and Arizona as the VP if Nader had prevailed and been made a printed option for voters in those states, but that did not come to pass. Karen Sanchirico was the running-mate in Montana. Nader had no VP at all in 6 write-in slots.

The Nader/Pierce ticket finished with 1.13% in New York and 0.36% in Alabama.

After the election my friend and shirttail relative Robert C. "Bob" Bailey, who had once been one of the most powerful Democrats in Washington State, said he was not surprised at the re-election of George W. Bush. "Voters don't like to change Presidents in wartime, no matter how bad they are," was his view.

Election history: none

Other occupations: Secretary of the Ohio Labor Party, union activist, co-chair Rainbow Coalition Labor Commission.

Notes:
Registered Democrat.

Ezola Broussard Foster

Below: Florida's "Butterfly Ballot"

Ezola Broussard Foster, August 9, 1938 (Maurice, La.) – May 22, 2018 (Boulder City, Nev.)

VP candidate for Reform Party of the United States of America (aka Independent aka American Party aka Citizens First aka Independence Party aka Right to Life Party aka Freedom Party) (2000)

Running mate with nominee: Patrick Joseph Buchanan (b. 1938)
Popular vote: 438,032 (0.42%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

"Truly to speak, and with no addition,
We go to gain a little patch of ground
That hath in it no profit but the name.
To pay five ducats, five, I would not farm it."
--a military captain in Hamlet, attempting to explain the cause of a battle

The Reform Party had become low-hanging fruit for carpetbaggers in 2000. Thanks to Ross Perot's appeal and the hard work of his activists, the Party was at the turn of the century an organized network with (and here the starting gun for the political equivalent of the Oklahoma Land Rush  is fired) over $12 million in matching funds.

There were two potential candidates who had an honest claim to the nomination. Ross Perot himself declined to run. Jesse Ventura, who had made history when he was elected Governor of Minnesota as a member of the Reform Party in 1998, would also have been a legitimate contender if he had  wanted.

John Anderson, the former Republican who had run as an Independent for President in 1980 and Ron Paul the Republican who was also briefly a Libertarian when he ran for President under that banner in 1988, were also names that were bandied about as potential Reform Party nominees. Another name that had come up was Lowell Weicker, an ex-Republican who had served as Governor of Connecticut as a member of the independent Connecticut Party.

But when announcements were made there only three big names that were put forward: Donald Trump, John Hagelin, and Pat Buchanan.

Trump had been encouraged to run by Ventura. A Democrat until 1987, he had toyed with the idea of running for President as a Republican in 1988.  In 1999 Trump campaigned for the Reform Party nomination on a conservative platform but did endorse universal public health care and was more liberal on some social issues than he would be later in his political career. He said he wanted Oprah Winfrey as his running-mate. Roger Stone was his campaign director. By Feb. 2000 Ventura left the Reform Party and Trump withdrew from the race. Trump re-registered as a Democrat in 2001 and then as a Republican in 2009.

John Hagelin was running for President as the Natural Law Party nominee for the third election in a row. He was attempting to merge with the Reform Party and came close enough that his delegates from the latter party held their own convention. Unfortunately for Hagelin, the courts sided with Buchanan but that didn't stop the NLP candidate from sometimes showing up on ballots under the Reform Party label. In some states both Buchanan and Hagelin were on the ballot under the Reform Party name.

In 1992 and 1996 Ross Perot tended to avoid taking strong stands on cultural or social issues that created deep divisions among Americans. His main focus was economic. Pat Buchanan, on the other hand, had established himself as a Right wing "cultural warrior" when he ran for the Republican nomination for President in 1992 and 1996. When he began his campaign for President as a member of the Reform Party, he changed the entire premise for the existence of the organization, making it more of an affluent version of the Constitution Party in 2000. Rather than attempting to unite people with issues they had in common, Buchanan hammered away on divisive hot button social problems such as opposing abortion, Gay rights, Affirmative Action. He held views some called racist on non-white immigration. Using the slogan "America First" (which had previously been employed by fascist sympathizer, anti-Semite, white supremacist, and Holocaust denier Gerald L.K. Smith in his Presidential campaign), Buchanan offered no original ideas that were not already in the platforms of other Right wing political parties concerning foreign relations or the economy.

In spite of this he was able to elicit the support of former New Alliance Party Presidential candidate Lenora Fulani (later withdrawn) as well as future Socialist nominee Brian Moore. Klansman David Duke also hopped on board the Buchanan campaign, as well as members of the neo-Nazi National Alliance, bringing a contingent of White Nationalist support.

In New York he ran under the banner of the Right to Life Party and in Colorado under the American Party.

After considering James P. Hoffa and others, Buchanan selected Ezola Foster, one of his co-chairs from the 1996 campaign. The California-based Foster had made a name for herself as an extremely conservative African American activist. Foster was known for her views against immigration, abortion, and Gay rights. She defended the display of the Confederate flag. She said God brought slaves from Africa to America so "their descendants would know freedom." Her placement on the ticket confused several of Buchanan's more racist followers.

Foster became a controversial pick. Her membership with the John Birch Society was more than simply carrying the card, she was also part of their lecture circuit talent pool. She described the civil rights movement as a "revenge and reparations movement" and didn't think segregation was really all that bad even though she grew up in Louisiana as part of the oppressed community. Rev. Jesse Jackson and his ilk were "Leninist race-baiters" according to Foster.

Foster said "government schools," i.e. public education, were "socialist training camps." She opposed AIDS education in schools because she felt it promoted homosexuality. Foster was outspoken and hardline about illegal immigrant children. As a high school teacher she said she was persecuted for her conservative beliefs and was forced to accept worker's compensation 1996-1998 until she retired because of stress. She later said the "mental disorder" claim was faked but reporters uncovered she had suffered from depression since the 1970s and had recently been prescribed antidepressants.

The Buchanan/Foster team alienated many of the veteran Reform Party members including Perot himself. The 2000 ticket generally placed 4th around the country, behind Ralph Nader and the Greens. In Oklahoma and South Dakota they placed third but in both cases Nader was not on the ballot. There were 45 states with Foster as the VP. In Massachusetts for some reason the running-mate was William J. Higgins Sr., in Oregon no VP was apparently listed, and in Michigan Buchanan was a write-in.

Top results for Buchanan/Foster ticket: North Dakota 2.53%, Alaska 1.82%, Idaho 1.52%, Montana 1.39%, Wyoming 1.25%, Utah 1.21%, South Dakota 1.05%, Minnesota 0.91%, Louisiana-Arizona 0.81% each, Arkansas 0.80%, Nevada 0.78%, Indiana 0.77%.

On Election Day the notorious Florida "butterfly ballot" was thought to be partly responsible for taking votes away from Al Gore and giving them to Pat Buchanan.

By the 2004 election Pat Buchanan was back in the Republican camp, leaving the Reform Party in a state of wreckage. Foster ran for US Congress in 2001 as a member of the Reform Party but in 2002 joined the American Independent Party, explaining, "I'm a Constitutionalist, and it's the only party that recognizes the kingship of Jesus Christ. I'm 100% for that."

Election history:
197- - California State Assembly (Democratic) - defeated
1984 - California State Assembly (Republican) - primary - defeated
1986 - California State Assembly (Republican) - defeated
2001 - US House of Representatives (Calif.) (Reform Party of the United States of America) - defeated

Other occupations: high school teacher, author, President of Black Americans for Family Values, lecturer

Buried: Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery (Boulder City, Nev.)

Notes:
Catholic
Winner of the 1984 and 1986 races was Maxine Waters.