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.

Kendra Ann Bryant

 

Kendra Ann Bryant, August 1966 -

VP candidate for Independent Republican (2020)

Running mate with nominee: Barbara Ruth Bellar (b. 1947)
Popular vote: 53 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

Dr. Barbara Ruth Bellar of Burr Ridge, Ill. filed as a candidate for US President as a Republican with the FEC on July 14, 2019. It appears she was something of a perennial candidate for a variety of local and state elective offices over the years. Bellar was described as a former nun, Army Reserve major, college professor, lawyer, and medical doctor.

Her running-mate was Kendra Bryant of Plainfield, Ind.

Bellar seemed to be a Tea Party type conservative Republican. Since her Presidential campaign was sort of under the radar, I find myself at a loss for information and wondering why she was not supporting President Trump's re-election bid.

At the same time Bellar was running for President as a write-in she was also on the ballot in her jurisdiction as a Republican for Clerk of the Circuit Court (she was unsuccessful in that race).

Bellar was registered as a write-in in at least 11 states. Almost half of her reported votes came from Maryland.

Election history: ?

Other occupations: ?

Notes:
Another mystery third party VP candidate.

Edward Charles Stowe

 

Edward Charles Stowe, August 31, 1976 -

VP candidate for Independent (aka Independent Republican) (2016)

Running mate with nominee: Deshon Porter (b. ca1973)
Popular vote: 0 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

Deshon Porter, based in Missouri, is a perennial candidate for a variety of offices. In 2016 he had a rather tentative run for the Presidency as evidenced by the headline on his campaign website, "Deshon Porter 2016?"--

Thinking about running for president 2016 ?
I am a online radio show host of the big d zone and the big d zone news But I love to run for office in 2012 I ran as a write in candidate for Boston city council as a write in candidate. Even though it did not work out in 2012 or when I first ran for president in 08 I will try again and keep trying untill I am elected! Americans need another choice to vote and I will do my very best to serve this great country! I  want run for president of the united states of america. It is time for a third party candidate that will be in touch with the voters.
As President one of my goals is to work on a help our veterans now bill this bill will ensure that veterans get the help they need when they come home from serving our great country.

Our Disabled Americans should not be forgotten as well better ADA laws bullying will be outlawed in every state.

Porter announced his Presidential run on Facebook, Nov. 14, 2013--

new campaign manager David Feickert press director Andrew Ray Bong running mate VP candidate  Edward Stowe  a great team for 2016! deshon porter 2016!

His electioneering on Facebook lasted from Nov. 2013 to Sept. 2015, when he dropped out of the race. Although he identified as a third party candidate on his campaign website, he thought of himself as running for the Republican nomination as well--

Jan. 4, 2014
BREAKING NEWS UPDATE BIG D COUNTRY! I have decied to do the big d zone news crossfire and interviews during the big d zone mix of talk and music only and will just help manage the news station. I can still let the news station air the crossfire and interviews that I put on my show but I will not be on the air with excat fm radio news wroldwide . The big d zone is a different show and is not to be a copy cat! but there are places that want me to be ! I will not talk about the same subject for 3 months people will stop tuneing in to the show! entertianment is one of my dreams and I will be DARN if anyone take my dream away from me! I AM NOT HERE ON THIS EARTH JUST TO EXIST TILL THE GOOD LORD CALL ME HOME NO I HAVE A JOB TO DO HERE! ONE TO BE A SHOW HOST TWO TO BE A GREAT HUSBAND SOMEDAY THREE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE AS PRESIDENT OR OTHER OFFICE! IT IS NOT OVER TILL I WIN!!!!!!!!!!!

Jan. 24, 2014
I am planing to start back up my campain for president in 2016 we must first meet as a team only then we will have another meeting on the air to get goals out there as we start things from getting more interviews  to team players and to who will do special campain shows we will be haveing more meetings

Oct. 2., 2014
Ok in 2016 I am running for president what are the main issues you want me to take up? my main platform is helping our veterans so they would never have to wait for the service they fought for. college students not giving up on their dream helping the disabled to have better jobs. letting people on social security have a better savings account did you know that we are not allowed to have more the $2,000 in the bank if single married is $3,000 we can not live off of that?

Dec. 5, 2014
Ok so they will not cover the little guy running for president right ? well I guess now that I am on I heart radio and tune in stitcher and can dorants on KCAA. I  guess I will be forced to make the announcement yet again about 2016! wow! do I have to let them know about 2020 run as well early?

Dec. 30, 2014
Do anyone mind a president who can not finish college due to lack of money force to jump hoops I thought I will tell you if I am never going to finish college do not get mad at least I tried.

Mar. 30, 2015
My name is Deshon Porter I am 41 from Springfield MO I am married to a wonderful woman Donnell Porter. I am running for president  in 2016.  I am GOP  and Springfield tea party member. I stand for Israel  we should help them. and the right of the poor  middle class disabled persons college students veterans.  I am for a balance budget   but not on the backs of the poor or the disabled. The way to do it is with less aid meaning money to other countries, just give them military  aid and supplies but no money we need the money here. stop bailing out banks and help out the people. A veterans now bill to help new members and veterans not after they come from training or war but when they say yes to serve our great country, when they serve so do their families serve as well. Colleges need to stop raising the price to go to school making it harder to get a degree. I want to say yes this country is a christian nation!  I am pro life pro a real marriage between a man and a woman. I have more to say in the next coming weeks

Apr. 1, 2015
On April 24 or the 26 I will make my announcement plubic about my  Presidential run in 2016.No one is talking about my run for president in the main stream news . This must be made known that I am very serious  about this! Why do they not see that I will make a difference by throwing my name into the hat as they say? As a careing American Christian I will stand for Isreail , college students will be able to get a degree people who serve our great country will not wait to get the help they need to help their families. Standing for real marriage between a man and a woman! People who are disabled will not be forced to get a low or almost no paying job we deserve the same chance to work at a better paying job. No employment testing people need jobs now! We can have a balanced budget but not on the backs of the poor middle class ! Only give help to other countries by military aid and goods not in money we need the money right here! We must take a stand to get our country back!

Apr. 10, 2015
This is a reminder that on 4/26/20155 at 7 pm I will put in my bid to run for  president of our great country!  It is time to let the world know about my intentions on running for the GOP nomination for president of the USA . We need a leader who is a christian I will share my vision for our great country. This election is more important just to only be for the big name candidate.It is time for the people's voice to at last be heard.

May 4, 2015
There been a big mistake a few weeks aga I announced that I am running for president of the United States the it comes to my surprise that when another candidate announced that he is running it say he is the only African American running in the race!not true.

May 27, 2015
Who cares anymore about the media keep saying that there is now 6 GOP candidates running for President let the record show that on the big d zone I announced  but that is OK. You know I have the best citizens of big d country. Me and the princess have to get to two bad  days in June before we can get to the best day in June next week we Will be engaged for one happy year. At least my princess did not overlooked me. Thnk ypu my sweet Donnell Porter for never giving up on me. One day the media will not overlook me or my princess. With the lord  on our side we are winners    Meida will know that we are news as well. So I do not carei if I get overlook I have the Lord my pincess and the best citizens on the inernet radio so there !

June 15, 2015
To the media who do not know about my announcement on the show  and still not recognize me as a republican candidate for President THERE IS 12 NOT 11 !!! IDIOTS !!! I WILL BE DRAFTING MY VETERANS. NOW TO PROVE THAT I A M VERY SERIOUS ABOUT THIS I WILL BE DOING SPEECHES ON THE SHOW!!! AGAIN THERE IS 12 REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES NOT 11 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! RANT OVER!!

Sept. 16, 2015
I still have time to run for congress instead of running for president. Iwill not get notice.

Sept. 20, 2015
First Radio show host then bakers  Deshon Porter forced to drop out of the president race due to same sex marriage anger. Kim Davis  who didn't give marrage to same sex couple due to her christian belief's and now DR. Ben Carlson! Just because he said that Muslims shouldn't be president now they want to silence him to? What is wrong? They the Muslims tried to  stop people from saying pork or pig because it offending them Carlson have just as the same rights as Donald Trump have. I thought we lived in a country that it is OK to agree to disagree, now people are killing dreams just because of a belief? The bakers have had the right not to bake a cake for a same sex wedding but now they lost their bakery You mean to tell me that you can not even say a certain group shouldn't be president and they will tell you not to run? I can say that Donald Trump is too rich to be president he is a billionaire and already successful he don't need to be president. Well Carlson have The same freedom of speech as all Americans that lives in this country! To DR. Carlson please keep running for president don't let the status quo and the Muslims silence your voice our country need you. Stand up for your rights to free speech.

Sept. 22, 2015
I thought that I was going to run for president in 2016 instead I dropped out angry with the Supreme Court in June deciding to side with same sex marriage . that same day as the ruling I got so angry that I quit and announced on my radio show. But I Still wanted to run for office and make a difference in the state of  Missouri. So I found out that I am of age and can run for Congress. The 7 district where me and my princess wife  live in is held by congressmen Billy Long. I hope to win his seat it is time for a outsider to represent our district our rights and freedoms. Yes I have no experience in office but I am a citizen of this country and I care I watch the news pray and I want to do something about what our district is going through.  Slogan serving God first then country.Here is the new campaign website.

In Nov. 2015 Porter endorsed Dr. Carson for President. In Feb. 2016 he backed Sen. Cruz.

On May 29, 2016, Porter offered this reflection--

I wish I could have stayed in the 2016  race ! Would have gave voters another choice on the ballot. We are forced to choose between Trump for the Republican side and maybe Hillary Clinton?  Come on Bernie Sanders!  I wanted Ted Cruz to stay in for he is a Christian! We don't have the lesser of two evils at all. What would it be like if I was elected President? For starters there will be no plan parenthood ever, no more killing of innocent babies. No doctors would be allowed to do that at all. Second I would do is choose a new head of the VA to help our veterans get better treatment here in our own country to let veterans go to any hospital for care. To help them to stay in there homes and not be put on the streets. We must end homelessness and poverty. People who have disability shouldn't have less money forced to fend for themselves they must have a cost of living increase. Just like our seniors have to choose between food and medicine they should have more money as well. We need a better trained military not weakening. How by cutting the raises of Congress and the Senate. The IRS is gone there will be a simple tax return  all college loans will be forgiven  for the department. Education will be closed there will be another opportunity for aid for college one way is to make college free if not a four year college at least a two year college and make scholarship easy to get for deserving students don't make them jump hoops. Schools will be given back to state and local government only ,  Homeschool with be a right! Health care  Obama care is a thing. of the past   there will be Porter care my wife Teri Donnell Porter who will be a wonderful first lady  will be in charge of  the Porter care team that will  bring our healthcare system back into shape. Pre existing condition will still qualify for Porter care. NASA will be back in full capacity but not sending people to Mars there is no way to come back or  people will die along the way. Let's send them to planets other than the moon that is close to earth. We will stand by Israel and help our Jewish friends for if we do we will be blessed if not we will be cursed. No more inaugural events in cold weather it should be done  in the spring time. When the weather is nicer. War should only come to another country under Congress vote not till then we send troops into harms way for our freedoms.

In a Youtube presentation June 18, 2016, Porter sort of re-entered the race when he said he was open to having delegates in the Republican, Democratic, and Green parties cast their votes for him at their conventions. He also stated he was running for President in 2020.

In the general election of 2016 he voted for Jill Stein of the Green Party. Porter also announced shortly before the election he would be running for the City Council of Springfield, Mo.

Running-mate Stowe's Facebook indicated support for the Electoral College, a celebration of gun culture and fishing, and defending what he described as the "Confederate battle flag." Stowe lived in Maysville, Ark. and backed Trump in 2016.

Election history: none

Other occupations: truck driver

Notes:
In a bittersweet postscript, Porter had married in 2014 but became a widower Aug. 28, 2016.

Jeffrey Ryan

 

Jeffrey Ryan

VP candidate for Unaffiliated (aka Independent Republican aka TARFU Party) (2016)

Running mate with nominee: Corey Christian Sterner (b. 1978)
Popular vote: 6 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

Shortly after the 2012 Presidential election, Corey Sterner of Colorado kicked off his own campaign for the White House. His "POTUS Project" seemed to rely heavily on social media. Sterner provided a thoughtful preface to his electioneering--

Sometime in early 2009 I became disillusioned with the political theatre on perpetual display in America. In particular, the hysteria caused by TWO parties, TWO candidates, and TWO campaigns in the build up to the election of the President of The United States (POTUS) every four years. Truth be told, for the previous decade I had enjoyed the show and gladly participated in it. Early on I even bought into one side’s message wholeheartedly. But a chasm grew during that decade between two ideologies which I will, for easy consumption, label conservative and liberal. The American electorate appeared to be more divided than ever and the election of 2008 seemed a sober testament. I found myself opposed to tenets on both sides but, as I had obediently done in prior elections, pushed them to the back of my mind so I could focus on the topics the candidates were focused on. After all, I was at the mercy of their agendas along with the framing of them by a leviathan mouthpiece apparatus: The Media. An entity with which I had absolutely zero influence as an average voter. My disillusionment ultimately made me question how and why voters bought into either side’s platform, along with the process by which those platforms were sold to us.

I reacted in the way I usually do when I’m trying to figure something out – I read. I started at ground zero with our country’s founding documents. Quite different to read those as an informed adult instead of an oblivious child the way most of us do in secondary school. I followed them with personal works by our Founders themselves. Then with material that inspired them. Next came Presidential biographies. Eventually came the works of contemporary black sheep like Ron Paul, someone who is routinely marginalized by controlling interests (read: TWO parties and leviathan media) yet roundly embraced by moderate voters as a voice of reason. Along the way I re-discovered the works of John Locke, ideological progenitor to the American experiment. I was so inspired by his ideas that I convinced my wife (God bless her) to name our first-born son after him. It was he who inspired Thomas Jefferson’s “certain inalienable rights, among them life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”. And at some point in 2010 after much literary ingestion, I revised my worldview. My political beliefs were razed and reconstructed with sound material. The modern process by which our President was (s)elected looked absurd to say the least. I was compelled to reject that process, the TWO parties, and all of the bullshit. Replacing it all was a determination to square my new worldview with the tilted edifice surrounding me. As I recalled the letter and spirit of our nation’s founding, I felt empowered to place myself within said edifice. Not to support it, but to level it in however small-scale I could. Even if the result was visible and satisfying to me alone.

I wondered why I couldn’t run for President. I wondered why, for that matter, any constitutionally qualified citizen couldn’t run themselves. I found no good answers then and I find none today. If our political state of affairs is as complex and nonsensical as it appears, then how can it be fixed? On whom can we rely to fix it? As long as we voters support the status quo, can we reasonably expect anything to change? Are we voters as polarized as election results indicate? Or does it just appear that way because a wilderness of differing opinion is ominously funneled into a simple A/B choice every four years? The answers and solutions, in my mind, rest with individuals: Me. You. Us. Remember that The Republic our Founders gave us depends on a rugged individualism, expressed on as small a scale as single citizens and as large a scale as an entire nation. That scalable trait is what earned our independence, lest we forget.

So in my own small corner of this vast sphere, I’m restoring my political sanity by attempting to run for President. I realize dear reader that ‘sanity’ is seldom a term attached to such an endeavor. I’m also not so stupid to believe I actually have a chance of winning within the dysfunctional system in place, but that’s not the point. The point is to reject the collectivist nonsense I’m coerced by every four years in favor of something far more simple and principled. To never again cast a vote for a candidate, party, or process that doesn’t represent me or make sense. To regain the power I’ve naively conceded as a voter. Somehow the concept of running by and for myself makes perfect sense. Who better to represent my precise political beliefs than me?! Who better to represent yours than you?! To some, ESPECIALLY to those satisfied with the status quo, this concept is ridiculous and threatening. But I’m certain that it would bring a smile to the face of any one of our Founders if they were alive, for it is exactly what they intended for a government OF the people, BY the people, and FOR the people.

The POTUS Project will navigate our dysfunctional system and illuminate that which is obscured or otherwise unknown to the average voter. For instance, does a candidate really need tens of millions of dollars in their war chest to run? Behind the fundraising, sound bites, speeches & crafted imagery, what does a campaign actually do to legally qualify their candidate? These are but two of many questions I have. And the best way for me to answer them while conducting myself in accordance with all of the above is to run as a candidate. I invite you to follow my progress through my blog and official Twitter account @sterner2016.

“Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now”. – Goethe

Sterner's platform, assembled here from his campaign website, Twitter, and Facebook, included--

-More Cowbell, Less Government
-... The aim of my campaign is simply to demonstrate how anyone meeting the constitutional requirements for the POTUS can reject status quo politics and run for themselves. I also want to demonstrate how this can be done in a manner that precludes federal filing requirements or the raising/spending of campaign finances. In the end I hope it inspires others to run for themselves as candidates.
-It is time to evict these gangsters from the offices they hold. How? For starters I suggest you adopt a policy of voting ALL incumbent gangsters out of office. Regardless of which color they fly, red or blue, every politician who has been in office should be replaced after one term. The only reason they wage their turf wars is to preserve and extend their time in office. Once they’re voted in, they care only about being re-elected. So they adopt policies and positions that are most expedient in ensuring that result whether it’s good for their constituents or not. And every American is caught in the crossfire. So vote them out, every last one of them. It’s a disgrace that congress men and women maintain their offices for decades.
-Cut taxes across the board.
-Libertarian attitude regarding Gay marriage, legalizing marijuana, and abolishing the War on Drugs.
-Gun Control – I’m a staunch defender of the second amendment. The federal government should not violate your liberty in deciding how to protect your life when it is threatened. But I also support common sense improvements in the background check process. Similar to the requirements for a concealed carry permit, training on firearm use, safety, and laws should be required prior to firearm purchase. More thorough training should be required to secure a concealed carry permit. Those on a no-fly list should not be permitted to buy a firearm. Those with a diagnosed history of mental illness should be subject to a much longer waiting period and in some cases outright denial of purchase. In short, more extensive cross-referencing should take place prior to purchase authorization. I am not in favor of magazine capacity limits or assault rifle bans.
-Repeal Obamacare.
-Pro capital punishment.
-Raise the minimum wage.
-Reagan conservatism, or classical liberalism, has no real kinship with Trumpism. These worldviews and styles deserve different parties.

The selection of fellow Coloradan Jeff Ryan as running-mate was announced July 1, 2016.

The Sterner/Ryan ticket were registered write-ins in Colorado, where they earned 6 votes. The fact both candidates were residents of the same state would have posed a potential problem in the event of their victory.

In Dec. 2016 Sterner began his 2020 quest for the Presidency, but the campaign appeared to have lost steam by Aug. 2017.

Election history: ?

Other occupations: ?

Notes:
Ryan is something of a mystery third party VP.

Eric David Seiley

 

                                                       Above: Seiley ; Below: Perry

Eric David Seiley, February 23, 1947 (Boston, Mass.) - February 10, 2021 (Lone Tree, Colo.)

VP candidate for Independent Republican (2016)

Running mate with nominee: David Jeffrey Perry (b. 1963)
Popular vote: 15 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

Dave Perry's 2016 campaign webpage For the Presidential election of 2016 provided a biography--

​In February of 1983 Mr. Perry joined the United States Marine Corps, where he worked as a 0311 Infantryman, Mr. Perry later went on to perform Embassy Duties, serving in places such as: Calcutta, India, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
 
In 1989 Mr. Perry joined the Marine Reserves and was assigned to the 4th Light Anti Air Missile Bn. Mr. Perry was initially a radar operator but worked his way up and in 1990 was promoted to the Rank of Staff Sergeant and later promoted to Platoon Sergeant.

August of 1990 brought new adventures for Mr. Perry as he was hired by the Santa Cruz Police Department where he went on to have a 23 year career, Mr. Perry faced many difficult times including being run down by a car-driven by a man with multiple felony convictions and being the first on scene to witness the tragedy of seeing two of his fellow officers murdered.

Mr. Perry retired in 2013 and moved to Tennessee, where he was inspired to get involved in the political process because he believes the nation needs a positive change.

"We can no longer put politics before the people, We can no longer have a President condemning Law Enforcement Officers and inciting violence by such rhetoric. Furthermore, I want to restore integrity to the White House. To reduce our national debt, create real and sustainable jobs, and to get control of government spending. No longer will we write a blank check without first evaluating the value and determining if the money will be spent in the best interest of the tax payer."  

- David Perry.

David Perry a real American, a real person, a real man we can trust.
Meet the Candidate

David Perry is a man ready to make a change, a Man on a mission to make America a better place. A man firm in his ideals and integrity.

Mr. Perry was born in Santa Cruz California on July 10th, 1963. He graduated from Soquel High School.

Perry's running-mate was Eric "Rick" Seiley of Colorado, who he had no doubt met when they were fellow law enforcement officers in Santa Cruz.

The campaign did not provide a detailed platform that I can locate, but one assumes that since they were running as Independent Republicans in the general election they were Right of center and apparently not satisfied with Trump as the standard bearer.

The Perry/Seiley ticket gained 4 write-in votes in Kentucky and 11 in Colorado.

Election history: none

Other occupations: US Navy, law enforcement

Buried: Fort Logan National Cemetery (Denver, Colo.)

Notes:
Raised in Lake Charles, La.
Seiley's death in Feb. 2021 was attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Joyce Meyer

 

Joyce Meyer

VP candidate for Independent Republican (aka Republican Independent) (2016)

Running mate with nominee: Stephen John McCarthy (b. 1953)
Popular vote: 97 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

"Stephen John McCarthy, Irish Catholic" of Fairborn, Ohio registered for US President with the FEC on Dec. 23, 2015 as a "(Republican) (Independent)." At the top of the form he noted, "I am a little bit handicapped. I can only see out of one eye." Under the form line for name of campaign committee McCarthy wrote, "I am a American citizen I vote and pay taxes." He included the fact he was age 61 and single in the portion where his address was required.

McCarthy, who worked as a custodian for an auto dealer, did run in the Republican Presidential primary in New Hampshire and received at least a dozen votes.

His platform was a conservative one. He was quoted by the press, "I’m exactly like Ronald Reagan would be if he was here. I’m conservative. I don’t believe in big government and all the (expletive) that’s going on."

McCarthy opposed Obamacare and Gay marriage. He supported the idea of legally requiring a balanced budget. He wanted to amend the entire US Constitution and added "God is the real founder" of the document.

Although McCarthy's running-mate Joyce Meyer could be the same as the well known evangelist (it wouldn't be the first time a celebrity was appointed VP without permission) the name is common enough for me to hesitate assigning any particular individual to his Vice-Presidential selection until more information is provided.

McCarthy/Meyer were registered as write-ins in Maryland and Minnesota. All of their votes came from the former state.

Election history: ?

Other occupations: ?

Notes:
Another mystery VP.

John Ellis Reid

 

John Ellis Reid, November 14, 1943 -

VP candidate for Independent Republican (aka Unaffiliated aka Patriot Party) (2016)

Running mate with nominee: Janet Louise Reid (b. 1946)
Popular vote: 53 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

Janet Reid, a nail technician in Rigby, Idaho ran something of a stealth campaign for President. It appears her running-mate, John Reid, was her husband.

Other married couples who ran as a ticket include Marvin Edward Perkins/Dorothy Louise Perkins - Independent (1980), Henry R. King/Sandra M. King - Independent (1984, 1988, 1992), David C. Byrne/Karen Byrne - Common Citizens of the United States of America (2000), Stanford Eugene Andress/Irene Altahelle Markley Deasy - Unaffiliated (2004), Debra Joyce Renderos/Oscar Renderos Castillo - Independent (2004), Oscar R. Renderos/Debra Joyce Renderos - Independent (2008), Debra Joyce Renderos/Oscar R. Renderos - Independent (2008), Christopher Michael Padgett/Linda Aileen Padgett - Independent (2012), Louis Todd House/Suzanne Marie Dudgeon House - Independent (2012), Zoltan Istvan Gyurko/Lisa Marie Memmel - Transhumanist Party (2016), Khadijah Maryam Jacob-Fambro/Milton Lewis Fambro III - Loyal Trustworthy Compassion Party (2016), and Jennifer Joy Vogel-Walcutt/Christopher Barrett Walcutt - Non Affiliated (2016).

Although I could not locate any direct electioneering material, Reid's social networking suggested a politically conservative leaning.

The Reid/Reid ticket were registered as write-ins in at least 7 states and no doubt garnered more votes than the 53 reported by Maryland. Many states simply lump all write-in results into one generic category. The fact both of the Reids were residents of the same state would have posed a potential problem in the event of their victory.

Election history: none

Other occupations: programmer at Celina Group Insurance

Notes:
Originally from Pataskala, Ohio.

Robert Gainey Young

 

Robert Gainey Young, October 29, 1943 (Asheville, N.C.) -   

VP candidate for Independent Republican (2016)

Running mate with nominee: Michael Bickelmeyer (b. 1959)
Popular vote: 6 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

Michael Bickelmeyer, a security officer from North Royalton, Ohio filed with the FEC in Nov. 2013 as a Republican for the 2016 Presidential election. On Aug. 1, 2016, Bickelmeyer, now of Brunswick, Ohio filed with the Ohio Secretary of State as a write-in. His running-mate was Robert Young, also of Brunswick.

It appears Bickelmeyer made little or no effort to gain the nomination of the Republican Party, but instead put his energy into directly participating in the general election.

Bickelmeyer's campaign website, which is rather cumbersome to navigate, consists of many pages that require downloading in order to view. They contain documents that to a casual observer might seem like oversharing, but at least no one can accuse him of dishonesty or not being transparent. Among other details, he informs us he has never married and provides some data concerning his mental health challenges including the number of times he has been hospitalized (3), the number of psychiatrists he has used (9), and what psychotropic drug has been prescribed (paliperidon). And unlike Trump, Bickelmeyer posted several years worth of tax returns.

His Mar. 27, 2015 document states, "I am certain that if our 310 million citizens in America would access my campaign website and do all the reading, no other Presidential Candidate would ever stand a chance next to me."

An inventor, his platform was hinged on three technological innovations of his own creation and he supplied a considerable amount of detail in his documentation which my brief summation really doesn't adequately cover. First was an air transportation system with heated runways on square airports. An industrial zone would be included. Second would be major recycling facilities on a huge industrial, but green, scale.

The third idea is where he earned his press attention. Called "A Gift for Children," he proposed a complicated weapons system that uses solar power to shoot death rays at our enemies. The satellite device could be lethal to individuals or to large swaths of land. It could also, he said, be used for taking out drug dealers and for pest control.

Registered as write-ins only in the state Ohio, Bickelmeyer/Young received 6 votes. A victory by this ticket might have been Constitutionally problematic as they were residents of the same state.

On Jan. 20, 2017 (Inauguration Day) Bickelmeyer filed with the FEC as a Republican for the 2020 Presidential election. On Sept. 30, 2020 Bickelmeyer filed with the FEC as a Republican for the 2024 Presidential election. I cannot identify any running-mates, as yet, in his 2020 and 2024 campaigns.

Election history: none

Other occupations: real estate

Notes:
Young is registered as a Democrat.
Vice included Bickelmeyer in their article, "Meet the Strangest Republicans Running for President Not Named Donald Trump."

Pedro Rafael Pierluisi Urrutia

 

Pedro Rafael Pierluisi Urrutia, April 26, 1959 (San Juan, P.R.) -

VP candidate for Independent Republican (2012, 2016)

Running mate with nominee (2012, 2016): Pogo Mochello Allen-Reese (b. 1971)
Popular vote (2012, 2016): ? (0.00%)
Electoral vote (2012, 2016): 0/538

The campaign (2012):

Persian Gulf War veteran and former exotic dancer Pogo Mochello Allen-Reese of Texas, a self-described "Slave of Jesus," made his first run for President in the 2012 election. His running-mate was Puerto Rican politician Pedro Pierluisi. Allen-Reese's stage name had been "Patriot Prancer." He was a commercial truck driver and an anti-abortion activist.

Allen-Reese mentioned his VP a couple times in Facebook--

Dec. 28, 2011
It is time to have our FIRST Puerto Rican Republican Vice President!

Jan. 3, 2012
Patriot Prancer Made it to Des Moines IA! A Truck Rear-ended a Car rubbernecking watching me Patriot Prance with OLE GLORY near the GREYHOUND Station!
 I am just like the Throughbreed Horse Secretariat! I may start from behind and WILL finish with the TRIPLE CROWN: Public Servant, President & Commander-in-CHIEF! GOD is on OUR SIDE! MY V.P. Pierluisi has to get BUSY! Time is wasting!

Pierluisi was the Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico, i.e., the island's delegate to the US House of Representatives. How Allen-Reese felt connected to him and whether or not Pierluisi agreed to be the VP is unknown. In any case, Pierluisi would not have been able to vote for himself even if the ticket did make it to the ballot (they did not) and there is some question if he could legally assume office.

The campaign (2016)

Allen-Reese once again chose Pierluisi as his running-mate for the 2016 election. He filed with the FEC in Jan. 2014 as a Republican under the auspices of the Reese Pierluisi committee. A Facebook entry early in the campaign read--

Nov. 7, 2013
I am back down to $4345.91 in personal campaign expenses.  Had to take out all my cash back payments.  This would have been double counting.  The FEC sent me a dictionary of New Forms 1 & 2 to complete.  It is a paperwork NIGHTMARE.  Will have to consult with my RUNNING Mate and Harvard Attorney Congressman Pedro Pierluisi. Help me get through this log jam mess.  Glad We are starting 2 years in advance!

Included in Allen-Reese's list of qualifications was that he "visited the birthplaces of both Presidents Washington and Lincoln."

As a warmup to the big election, Allen-Reese ran for Mayor of San Antonio in 2015 where he engaged in vitriolic personal attacks against some of his opponents. During one of the debates he simply got up and walked out. He placed last out of 14 candidates with 29 votes. His Presidential campaign apparently continued after the mayoral sidetrack, but not with the previous vigor.

Some of Allen-Reese's proposed Presidential appointments--

White House Chief of Staff - Haley Barbour
Attorney General - Pierluisi would also hold this position in addition to VP
Equal Employment Opportunity Commissioner - Julian Castro
Under Sec. of State - Edward Cox (Nixon's son-in-law)
Sec. of Commerce - Warren Buffet
Under Sec. of Labor - James P. Hoffa
Sec. of Hospitals and Health and Physical Education - Bobby Jindal
Sec. of Health and Physical Education - Arnold Schwarzenegger
FCC Chair - Oprah Winfrey

Election history:
2009-2017 - Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico (New Progressive Party)
2021-     - Governor of Puerto Rico (New Progressive Party)
 
Other occupations: attorney, Puerto Rico Secretary of Justice, Acting Secretary of State of Puerto Rico, De Facto Governor of Puerto Rico (2019),

Notes:
Pierluisi endorsed Biden in 2020.

Shaun Reynard Richardson

 

Shaun Reynard Richardson, 197-? (New Orleans, La.) -

VP candidate for Independent (aka Constitution Party aka Libertarian Party aka Independent Republican) (2016)

Running mate with nominee: Donald Eugene Lowe (b. 1979)
Popular vote: ? (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

Donald Lowe's 2016 campaign webpage described the hopeful as an "Independent, write-in, Constitution, Libertarian, Republican Alternate, Presidential Candidate." He was based in San Angelo, Tex. and seems to have been in the trucking occupation. He filed with the FEC on Apr. 5, 2015 as an Independent. A year later he refiled as a Libertarian and a month after that as a Republican. He indicated on Twitter he was also seeking the Constitution Party nomination.

Lowe provided a hard luck autobiography on the campaign website--

A little bit about me.

Born poor, raised on welfare. No father he a low life.

​Grandparents helped raise me. My mother is both physical and mental disabled but she did well raising me. I have 2 brothers and one sister.

​One brother and sister are black and white mix.

That brother was shoot and killed as a baby from a drive by shooting. They were after my low life father over drugs.

​My other brother died about age year and half old but we got him back.

​I was in jail before for writing bad checks for feeding a family and putting a roof over them. I never said I was the greatest candidate but I am just like many of you, one who does what it takes to get the job done. Sometimes we all make bad choices and we have to live with that.

I was married to a woman who divorced me cause I am bisexual and have been all my life. She got tired of sharing me. I know it not right to cheat on the person you married to but I did. I grew up doing groups and live shows and I told her I will not change and I will keep doing what I have been doing. She said she could handle that but I think she was fooling herself. I do not discriminate when it comes to committing adultery, man or woman, white, black, or somewhere in between cause I not there for anything else other than fun I should not be doing.

Now days I am turning my life to God and turning away from an extremely sinful life I once lived.

Thank you Jesus for not giving up on me.

​I have a daughter she was born in 1991. I was born in 1979.

Not even knowing she was born the mother moved out of state had the baby and gave it up.

​I got to see a photo of her when the mother came back so beautiful baby girl. I am one who will support adoption without question.

I have worked for about 60 companies through out the states getting ready for the hardest job I am going for.

I worked in 48 states as well.

I own a few companies as well not public trade.

Wetric Customs

​Wetric Energy Technologies

(worth $73.419 billion If I sold it)

The U.S. Government Army Core of Engineers met with me.

 $5 billion in 2005 is what I was worth. Any deal that could be fell through because Hurricane Katrina came to visit the USA in 2005.

In 2003 General ​Motors the auto maker offered $3 million in 2003. I said I don't think we in right category yet, they said "the check starts at $3 million."

​In 2000 I started the invention process. 2003 General Motors. 2005 I built it with maxing out the credit cards and only one single dime to my name. ( I had to laugh at that one dime.) I took what I built to the U.S. Army Core and they wanted it bad. As things just started to happen that storm blew in and no deal for me. It's ok because since then I was able to find ways to power just about anything on earth and even space machines as well.  

​Health Technologies

​(worth $50 billion if I sell. I have started talking to large companies world wide about making a deal.)

Wetric L.L.C.

​Wetric Nonprofit.

​On Health Technologies I took my energy system and other technology and came up with a device the can replace or assist the functions of the Human kidneys and liver.

A side note. I came up with a formula (process) to beat incurable cancers. (Could be worth $100 billion.)The way this works on some types of cancer that have no cure my formula should cure the person. It's a last chance use. The treatment for cancer now is hard but this you will have wished you were dead. I not joking. But if you can live through it you be happy you did.

​I am hoping to start human trails within about 7 years. Lot's of thing have to happen before they let human trails begin.

My energy, health, and science research are all self funded by me. Never took a penny to make any of it.

Cash wise I have none. I will not let myself become indulged of earthly things. I rather live my life for the work of God than to have any earthly things.

​It not easy to live like that. I do not even like to buy nice clothes. I have to have someone else use their credit card to buy me nice things and I pay them back or I return everything I not need. I can go buy a $1,000 worth of clothes at store then within a week I am taking almost all of it back. I think of people who need me more than myself. I have bought clothes for others, houses, cars , trucks and even suvs'. Helping others is rewarding helping myself feels terrible. Yes I know don't sound right but it how I am.

A friend of mine made a point when I told her I want to buy a car, she said why would you buy a car that your only going to give away anyways? My dream car is a 1979 Lincoln 4 door. Cause I do give almost everything away is why I have not bought one.  

So are you ready for a President who looks out for you?

IF so VOTE Donald Eugene Lowe in the November 2016 General Election.

Age 7 I dreamed of becoming President of the United States and now I am running for office. I must be nuts to try but what if I make it?

In God we trust. In Jesus name. Amen

Lowe's platform included--

-Unique take on gun control: "The States and the Federal Government have every right and even law to limit buying the bullets for your fire arms. You have the right to bear arms yes you do. Arms is a gun, a knife, and other means to defend yourself.  Bullets are not fire arms no matter what you think a bullet or a ball of metal is not a fire arm. Do I have your attention now? We the people can put any laws or rules about buying projectiles/bullets as we want and never violate Our Constitution of United States. ​The cost per bullet goes up, age and back grounds check can be done, limited bullets per person, limit bullets by state, even a drug test can be done just to buy a bullet if we like. We can also not sale bullets for some guns because we determine the gun it fits in would be unsafe to use in public. Now we the law makers can and will control guns based on the bullets/projectiles coming out of them.You still have the right bear arms but you may be hard to find the bullets to fire it. ( I sound like a mean prick,,,, but truth hurts.) ​The Constitution says nothing about projectiles for your fire arms."
-Against capital punishment
-Abolish the IRS. Replace income tax with national sales tax.
-Abolish the EPA.
-Merge the FBI and CIA.
-A libertarian position on abortion.
-Repeal Obamacare.
-Does not support same sex marriage.

On Mar. 16, 2016, Lowe wrote in Twitter: "My campaign for President is not for me. It is for the Will of God and what he wants for you."

Lowe's running-mate was described in the campaign webpage--

Mr. Vice President Shaun R. Richardson was born in New Orleans, LA and served in the U.S. Army for 7 years. He has been deployed at least in Iraq, Turkey, Kosovo, Poland. Hungary to name a few places as he severed in the Army. He has 3 achievement Medals.

​With rank of Sergeant and a Bachelors of Arts in retail management and 4 beautiful children and a wife to be, he is an honorable, great man to help me lead this country from the dark places of bad leadership and brighter tomorrow to come.

​Thank you Shaun for keeping America free and the still the greatest country on Earth.

I cannot find any reported votes for the Lowe/Richardson ticket.

On Nov. 22, 2016 Lowe issued a press release where among other things he said, "I know many will be confused by this, but it's true. It's still possible to stop President-Elect Trump from taking office. We both share the Republican presidential electors and this means that the Electoral College could still pick me ... When the other candidates withdrew, I announced I was running under the Republican Party. Next, I announced that I was challenging President-Elect Donald Trump and then I said I was skipping the general election and pushing onwards to the Electoral College ... I know almost everyone will be confused because I am doing something that's never been done before, but it could work." Joseph A. Glean had a similar concept when he ran in 2012.

In June 2017 Lowe filed with the FEC as a Republican candidate for President in the 2020 election. He refiled as a Libertarian in Oct. 2017 and then as a Democrat in Sept. 2018.

Election history: ?

Other occupations: US Army,

Notes:
Something of a mystery VP.

Marjorie Reilly Smith

 

Marjorie Reilly Smith, April 17, 1943 (Washington, D.C.) -

VP candidate for Independent (aka Independent Republican) (2012)

Running mate with nominee: Randall Allen Terry (b. 1959)
Popular vote: 9,284 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

Randall Terry was well known by 2012 as an anti-abortion activist who had been arrested scores of times in acts of civil disobedience. He also opposed all forms of birth control aside from abstinence, as well as working against the right-to-die concept (e.g. Terri Schavio). Prior to 2012 he had run for US Congress and the Florida Senate first as a member of the Right to Life Party and then a Republican. He announced his Presidential run in Jan. 2011.

RationalWiki has gathered some of Terry's earlier quotations to help set the stage--

"I want you to just let a wave of intolerance wash over you. I want you to let a wave of hatred wash over you. Yes, hate is good... Our goal is a Christian nation. We have a biblical duty, we are called on by God to conquer this country. We don't want equal time. We don't want pluralism."
—The News Sentinel, (Fort Wayne, Indiana), August 16, 1993.

"What this is coming down to is who runs the country. It's us against them. It's the good guys versus the bad guys. It's the God-fearing people against the pagans, and some of the pagans are going to church."
—Speech in Jackson, Mississippi, April 1992

"The next step, if at all humanly possible (and in 90% of the cases it is), it is to get our children out of the humanistic, brainwashing institution called public education. Frankly, it is a mixture of insanity and irresponsibility to turn our children over to our adversaries and their curriculum in a God-less education system (i.e., a system that teaches history and science without God)."
—Why Does a Nice Guy Like Me Keep Getting Thrown in Jail? (1993)

"America is under the judgment of God. And if we are ever going to rebuild this country, it must be under God's law. Our goal must be simple: We must have a Christian nation built on God's law, on the Ten Commandments. No apologies."
—Speech to "Cities of Refuge" campaign, Willoughby Hills, Ohio, July, 1993.

In 2012 he ran in the Democratic primaries for President, telling one reporter, "I want to pummel Obama. I despise this presidency. He is the arch child killer of the Western Hemisphere, so I'm going to go head-to-head with him." After basically being shown the door by the Democrats, he continued to run as an Independent. He was simultaneously running for a Florida position in US Congress as an Independent at the same time, which was interesting since he was a resident of West Virginia.

His campaign gained national attention for two events. First, he attempted (and failed) to show gruesome photos of aborted fetuses on his televised ads during the Superbowl but apparently was successful in other venues. Second, during a debate in Dec. 2011, Vermin Supreme glitterbombed Terry.

Critics pointed out that Terry's personal life was contrary to and hypocritical with his Christian family values rhetoric. Shortly after the election he was inducted into the Encyclopedia of American Loons.

Terry did not speak kindly about his major party opponents. On Obama: "He's a hybrid of a Marxist, a socialist, and a fascist." On Romney: "Obama with white skin ... He caved in to his state supreme court to give homosexual marriage. His policies are socialistic and fascist. Fascism being the wedding of big government and big business."

Terry's positions included--

-Making abortion illegal.
-Oppose corporate bailouts.
-Global warming is hoax.
-Build a wall to keep Mexicans out.
-Anti-Islam to the point of destroying the Quran in front of the White House in public protest.
-In favor of withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and Afghanistan.
-"The solution for the health needs of the poor rests with the Church."
-Cut the defense budget.
-Support the death penalty, "There are some people who I would offer to pull the switch. (I also believe that executions should be public, and that young men who are in trouble with the law should be required to view the execution.)"
-"Same sex marriage" is an affront to God and man. It violates Natural Law, and well as the Laws of God. Beyond that, it seeks to legitimize a sinful, self-destructive lifestyle. We cannot legitimize nor normalize that which is against the Laws of Heaven and Nature, and a behavior that is self-destructive."
-Pro gun culture.
-"We have plenty of regulations to protect our water and our air. The current 'green movement' is often driven by those who are anti-human (Malthusian) or anti-American (communists and socialists.)"
-Increase domestic oil drilling.
-Repeal the Patriot Act.
-Expand nuclear energy.
-"I think everyone who loves freedom should drive a great big, safe, SUV...and everyone who wants us to be slaves to the socialist state should drive an itty-bitty Hyundai."
-"I cannot say enough, nor say it strongly enough. Social Security is a scam. It is immoral; it is theft and compulsion driven, generational transfer of wealth. It is a Ponzi scheme. And it needs to be ended."
-"End the federal income tax now. The government has NO RIGHT to know what we make. Moreover, the graduated income tax is Marxist...straight out of the Communist Manifesto. Get rid of the income tax, and replace it with a federal income taxon ALL retail purchases."

Terry had two running-mates: In Colorado, Kentucky, and Nebraska she was Marjorie "Missy" Reilly Smith, and in Ohio she was Cathy Lewis. No VP was listed for Indiana or West Virginia. He was listed on the ballot in Kentucky, Nebraska, and West Virginia. He was a registered write-in in Colorado, Indiana, and Ohio.

Smith, an ardent anti-abortion activist who called the Democrats "the party of death," had run for the position of District of Columbia Delegate in 2010 as a Republican with Terry's support and advice. Some accounts say he was her campaign manager and the 2010 race was a trial run for the national 2012 contest. Her graphic television ads did get her a lot of attention, but not the elected position. She appeared to be the official VP while Lewis was a stand-in.

During the announcement of Smith's selection in late May, 2012, Terry said--

Missy Smith is articulate, unflinching, and beautiful. Her heartrending honesty about killing two of her own children makes her doubly formidable -- a true threat to the child killers and pandering politicians.

I know that her witness for the babies as a vice presidential candidate will reach millions of Americans, and hopefully be instrumental in causing Obama to lose several swing states. I thank her with all my heart for joining me in this campaign. If we are successful in our mission, Missy will go down in history as an American Joan of Arc.

Smith added--

It is a great honor and privilege to accept the invitation of Randall Terry to be his Vice Presidential running mate in the general election. In my opinion, Randall is the greatest 'Warrior for Life' in American history, and a brilliant media strategist.

I killed two of my babies by abortion, and I know the private hell that millions of women live in day after day because of their 'safe legal abortion.' Abortion is murder, and I will do everything in my power to make it illegal.

No other person in our nation's history has done more to cause the killing of children as well as attack the Church and exploit women than Obama. The goal of our campaign is to cause a crisis of conscience in Catholic and Evangelical voters by showing pictures of babies slaughtered by abortion so that they refuse to vote for Obama.  I know we can achieve this goal by using graphic pictures in our television ads in certain swing states, and hopefully cause Obama's defeat.

Nationally Terry finished in 9th place with 13,108 (0.01%) popular votes. The Terry/Missy Smith ticket finished with 4 write-in votes in Colorado, 4th place in Kentucky (0.38%), and 4th place out of 4 in Nebraska (0.30%).

Election history:
2010 - District of Columbia Delegate (Republican) - defeated

Other occupations: real estate, author, editor, publisher, public speaker, founder of WAKEUP (Women Against the Killing and Exploitation of Unprotected Persons), radio talk show host

Notes:
Supported Trump in 2016 and 2020.

Andrew Peter Napolitano

 

Andrew Peter Napolitano, June 6, 1950 (Newark, N.J.) -

VP candidate for Independent Republican (2012)

Running mate with nominee: Ronald Ernest Paul (b. 1935)
Popular vote: 21,461 (0.02%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

Rep. Ron Paul of Texas announced in May 2011 he was going to run for the Republican nomination for President. Along with Jesse Ventura and Ralph Nader, Paul has long been one of the contemporary voices outside the mainstream of politics that can excite a base. After he basically dropped out of the running many of his followers refused to give up the fight and ran him as a write-in candidate in several states.

In June 2011 Paul told Fox News he would consider Andrew Napolitano for the Supreme Court. "I really admire Judge Napolitano," Paul said, "I think he would be good in any administration. I think he'd be grand on the Supreme Court." A year later, Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson in an effort to gain Paul's supporters, said he too would consider appointing Napolitano to the Supreme Court.

Also in June 2011, Paul was questioned by journalist Alix Steel, "If you had to pick one running mate, dead or alive, who would it be?" Paul answered he had not "thought that through ... but I sure do like Judge Andrew Napolitano."

Napolitano is a former California Superior Court judge with a taste for the culture of paranoia and a thirst for publicity. Politically he appears to be libertarian but tempered with old-fashioned Catholic conservatism. He found a fan base through his appearances via various venues on Fox, where he described himself as "the Ayn Rand of Fox News." Considered a sanctimonious crank by his critics, Napolianto has some unorthodox views on the Constitution and American history in general. He has also embraced a number of conspiracy theories, most notably the 9/11 Truther movement.

The Paul/Napolitano ticket finished with 0.16% of the vote in California. Nationwide Paul had an impressive 26,204 (0.02%) votes as a write-in in states where his followers had him registered. Maine (where Mark D. Willis was his running-mate) was his highest percentage (0.28%) but the lion's share of popular votes were from California. Other Paul write-in results were: Vermont 0.24%, New Hampshire 0.19%, and Rhode Island 0.14%.

Election history: none

Other occupations: judge, columnist, pundit, author, attorney, teacher, TV personality

Notes:
Napolitano was inducted into the Encyclopedia of American Loons in 2014.

Mark D. Willis

 

Mark D. Willis, June 11, 1969 (Alameda County, Calif.) -

VP candidate for Independent Republican (2012)

Running mate with nominee: Ronald Ernest Paul (b. 1935)
Popular vote: 2,035 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

Rep. Ron Paul of Texas announced in May 2011 he was going to run for the Republican nomination for President. Along with Jesse Ventura and Ralph Nader, Paul has long been one of the contemporary voices outside the mainstream of politics that can excite a base. After he basically dropped out of the running many of his followers refused to give up the fight and ran him as a write-in candidate in several states.

In Maine, Paul's name was registered on Sept. 24, 2012 by an Elector named Patrick Eisenhart. Mark Willis, who had been a Paul delegate and a member of the Republican National Committee from Maine, was listed as the running-mate. "Neither had any prior knowledge or had given their consent," Eisenhart told a columnist.

Willis said he had "nothing to do with it" and "I made the judgment call to just not do anything, keep it quiet, don't talk about it, don't draw attention to it."

In May 2012 Willis had been elected to the Republican National Committee and he also attended the national convention as a delegate for Ron Paul. The RNC disqualified the Paul delegates from Maine on technicalities and as a result most of the delegates from the Pine Tree State walked out of the convention.

The Paul/Willis ticket finished with 0.28% of the vote in Maine. Nationwide Paul had an impressive 26,204 (0.02%) votes as a write-in in states where his followers had him registered. Maine was his highest percentage. Other Paul write-in results were: Vermont 0.24%, New Hampshire 0.19%, California 0.16% (where his running-mate was Andrew Napolitano), and Rhode Island 0.14%.

In Jan. 2013 Willis made an unsuccessful longshot bid to unseat and replace RNC Chair Reince Priebus. Although the Paul/Willis ticket was an involuntary one, mainstream Republicans pointed to it in an effort to paint Willis as disloyal. The Republican Liberty Caucus endorsed Willis, who was also a member of the RLC himself.

Another anti-Priebus group endorsed Willis and included a little more about his politics--

Mark Willis is a strong proponent of restoring personal and economic liberty and freedom. He also advocates a limited federal government, and to that end, elimination of the TSA, the Departments of Education and Interior as well as the Environmental Protection Agency at the federal end and the Internal Revenue Service.

In Aug. 2013 Willis and a dozen others left the Republican Party stating in a letter, "We can no longer associate ourselves with a political party that goes out of its way to continually restrict our freedoms and liberties as well as reaching deeper and deeper into our wallets."

Election history:
20-- - Dennysville, Me. School Board
20-- - Dennysville, Me. Board of Selectmen

Other occupations: U.S. Army Counterintelligence Agent, computer security, farmer, attorney,  

Notes:
Fun factoid: I have a cousin in the Nashville area named Paul Willis.