Looking Into The Acme Crystal Ball

Wile E. Coyote is an interesting study. No matter what he tries, nothing works. He designs (with the help of the venerable Acme Corporation and its subsidiaries like Indestructo) elaborate schemes to trap the elusive Road Runner. They never work. The Road Runner is always too fast or too clever and Coyote’s schemes always backfire with spectacular results. And yet he can’t stop. He just has to catch the Road Runner. It’s a compulsion. He forgets that there is other game that won’t require the huge outlays of time, talent and treasure to catch.

Sound familiar? It should. Think about Christian “conservatives” who, like the Coyote, just can’t stop trying to capture the Republican Party. No product in the Acme catalog seems to help. The Republican Road Runner always taunts them with an obnoxious BEEP, BEEP, as if to laugh and say “keep trying, sucker.”

The sample provided below is especially illustrative. Watch closely from about the 4:50 mark to the end. It’s a perfect illustration of what Christians can expect from the Republican Party. The quality of the Indestructo hollow ball is the only limiting factor to the number of circuits the Coyote can make in the ordeal. No one knows yet what the limiting factor is for the number of circuits Christians can make.

Watch and chuckle. Then think about it.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dl3t8-Tv9f0[/youtube]

NO on State Issue 1

This entry is part 1 of 5 in the series 2008 Election Issues

“This past May, the Ohio General Assembly passed House Joint Resolution 3, which placed Issue 1 on the ballot.  Previously, taxpayers have paid more than $300,000 to advertise information about initiatives that ultimately did not qualify for the ballot.  But, in an effort to build voter confidence in elections, ease elections administration and save valuable taxpayer dollars, Issue 1 seeks to establish clear timelines for filing and reviewing initiative petitions, thereby avoiding the aforementioned problem.”

Or so says Ohio State Senator Larry Mumper. Mumper claims that the purpose of Issue One is to “save taxpayer money” and to “establish clear timelines for reviewing petitions.” The reality is far less flattering to state legislators.

Several citizen initiative petitions and constitutional amendments which have proven to be embarrassing to state legislators have been not just successful, but have passed by wide margins, often despite legislators efforts to sabotage them.

Issue one reduces the amount of time available to petitioners to get approval by 35 days. An examination of the history of these initiatives and referendums reveals that some of the true grass roots efforts would have failed had they not had those 35 days. You can know with a confidence approaching metaphysical certitude that legislators know it. And they are also aware that a number of them were embarrassed by their lack of support for and efforts to defeat the issues which passed by those wide margins. They also want a monopoly on what laws and amendments are passed.

The passage of Issue One would make it much more difficult for local activist groups with limited resources to get issues that the legislature refuses to move on or passes in error on the ballot for an initiative or referendum. It also makes certain that heavily resourced groups, often from out of state (e.g. ACORN) have an advantage in the initiative and referendum arena.

In short, Issue One will seriously weaken an important weapon in the arsenal of truly local citizens groups, while giving heavily resourced outsiders an advantage. It will allow state legislators to ignore the will of the electorate in controversial issues and pass half-way measures without fear of citizens embarrassing them at the ballot box with an initiative or referendum.

Vote “NO” on Issue One

Resolution Of The Ohio Constitution Party State Committee In Emergency Session Pursuant To Authorization By Unanimous State Convention Vote Of April 2006 And A Failure Of The Constitution Party National Committee To Do Its Duty

This entry is part 11 of 11 in the series Nevada Disaffiliation Archives

A Resolution to express the intent of the Officers and Committee members of the Constitution Party of Ohio to withdraw the Constitution Party of Ohio from involvement with the national Constitution Party, its National Committee and its National Executive Committee as a result of the continued lack of principled adherence by the latter entity to the Constitution, Bylaws, Platform and binding resolutions of the Constitution Party in relation to the Nevada state affiliate situation.

WHEREAS, the Constitution Party of Ohio is a duly constituted and recognized state affiliate party of the national Constitution Party, independently organized and chartered in the state of Ohio and;

WHEREAS, the Constitution Party of Ohio has pledged, as have all other recognized state affiliates to the national Constitution Party, adherence to the Platform of the Constitution Party, including the no-exceptions position relative to abortion, and;

WHEREAS, the Constitution Party of Ohio, along with other state parties and individual national committee members have petitioned the national Constitution Party on numerous occasions for the resolution of the non-compliance of the Nevada state affiliate party, the Independent American Party of Nevada, to the no-exceptions abortion plank of the platform, and;

WHEREAS, the Independent American Party of Nevada has knowingly retained a chairman who advocates the killing of preborn children (abortion) in cases of rape, incest, life and/or health of the mother and fetal deformity, and said chairman has openly and publicly communicated and published said views, and;

WHEREAS, the Independent American Party of Nevada has placed on the ballot candidates at both the federal and state levels who have acknowledged holding such exceptions, while having the endorsement of the Nevada state affiliate of the national Constitution Party, and;

WHEREAS, the resolution to disaffiliate the Nevada state affiliate for non-compliance to the national Constitution Party constitution, bylaws, platform and binding resolutions was rejected by the Constitution Party national committee meeting in Tampa, Florida by a vote of 41 yeas and 57 neas, and;

WHEREAS, the founder of the national Constitution Party, Howard Phillips, publicly stated that the Nevada state affiliate was in compliance with the constitution, bylaws, platform and binding resolutions of the Constitution Party, while still holding the aforementioned exceptions and supporting candidates with such exceptions, and;

WHEREAS, the principled positions upon which the Constitution Party was founded, and the platform upon which the Constitution Party of Ohio relied as a statement of the national party’s commitment to “principle over politics” has been abrogated by the actions taken by the national party at the Tampa meeting, and;

WHEREAS, the Constitution Party of Ohio is committed to the original intent of the Constitution Party’s “principle over politics” statement of vision, mission and platform, and;

WHEREAS, it is evident that the national Constitution Party will not exercise appropriate party discipline in the matter of the Nevada state affiliate;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Constitution Party of Ohio withdraws from participation with the national Constitution Party, such withdrawal to include the withholding of financial payments and donations to the national party, withholding of individual contact lists as the property of the Constitution Party of Ohio, retention of the name “Constitution Party of Ohio” for the exclusive use of this entity as stated under the bylaws of the Constitution Party of Ohio, withholding of any ballot line access in Ohio for the Constitution Party of Ohio, said line not to be granted unless by majority agreement of the state convention of the Constitution Party of Ohio to any candidate picked by the national Constitution Party convention for the office of President of the United States, and;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Constitution Party of Ohio calls on the national Constitution Party to re-commit to a truly principled, 100% Pro-life position which would require of party officers and candidates, at local, state, and national levels submission to such position, or discipline of said individuals or affiliate parties for violating such position, and that under no circumstances can the Constitution Party of Ohio join in the support of parties or candidates, at any level of government, who willingly violate this principled position.

Adopted by unanimous vote of the state Committee of the Constitution Party of Ohio on May 13, 2006.

Letter From Ohio Constitution Party Executive Committee To Chairman Clymer Withdrawing From Participation But Retaining Affiliation With The National Constitution Party

This entry is part 10 of 11 in the series Nevada Disaffiliation Archives

Chairman Jim Clymer

Constitution Party

23 N. Lime St.

Lancaster, PA  17602

5/17/06

Dear Chairman Clymer,

Pursuant to a vote of the Ohio Constitution Party State Committee in emergency session on May 13, 2006, which was called in accordance with a resolution passed unanimously at our State Convention on April 8, 2006, a resolution regarding participation in National Party functions was passed unanimously. The text of that resolution is attached.

The resolution passed by the Ohio State Convention empowered the Ohio Constitution Party Executive Committee to make decisions, subject to State Committee approval, regarding potential responses to the actions of the National Committee regarding the discipline of the Nevada Independent American Party affiliate to the Constitution Party. The decision of the Ohio Constitution Party Executive and State Committees is contained in the resolution of May 13, 2006.

The Ohio Constitution Party is withdrawing from all co-operative activity with the National Constitution Party as regards payment of donations, dues and assessments, provision of new contact information since they are our property, attendance at any and all party meetings, withholding of access to our ballot line except by majority vote of our State Committee. Furthermore, the Constitution Party of Ohio retains ownership of that name and similar names for our exclusive use.

Under no circumstances may this letter, the attached resolution or any other communication be construed as a disaffiliation from the National Constitution Party. We are withdrawing from active participation, not our affiliation.

Sincerely holding to principle over politics,

Chuck Michaelis

Chairman, Ohio Constitution Party

Letter To Pastor Chuck Baldwin From Ohio Executive Committee Requesting That He Keep His Promise To Bring A Resolution To Disaffiliate The Nevada IAP If No Compliance With The Columbus Resolution Is Forthcoming

This entry is part 5 of 11 in the series Nevada Disaffiliation Archives

Executive Committee

Constitution Party of Ohio

1255 N. Hamilton Rd.

Columbus, OH 43230

Pastor Chuck Baldwin

PO Box 37070

Pensacoa, FL  32576

Dear Pastor Baldwin,

Thank you for your service to the party as our vice-presidential standard bearer in the 2004 presidential race. We also thank you for the continuation of your efforts to return our republic to the respected position it once held among the nations of the world as a beacon of the bright light of truth, honor and adherence to principle that only the disciples of Jesus Christ can cause to shine through His Holy Spirit on a pragmatic, compromising and evil world.

As you will recall, you stood on the podium during the debate on the Nevada resolution in Columbus last September and publicly pledged to the national committee that you would offer a resolution disaffiliating the Nevada party if no solution to the problem of the Nevada party’s non-compliance with the platform and the San Antonio resolution were proposed. To be specific, the San Antonio resolution requires state party organizations to comply with the 100% pro-life with no exceptions provision of the party platform in order to obtain help and support from the national party and remain in good standing. That plank and resolution have been repeatedly, openly and willfully ignored by the Nevada leadership in running and endorsing candidates, as you know.

The time approaches for a just and proper resolution to the problem to be presented for the review and approval of the national committee. The national committee’s instructions to the executive committee as its subordinate per Article III of the by-laws were quite clear and on this basis we are respectfully requesting of you the following;

That you refuse to be a party to meetings between the Chair and Nevada party officials in which certain members of the executive committee are not made privy to the information of what has transpired in the meetings and/or have been excluded from notification that the meetings were pending or had taken place.

That you refuse to be a party to meetings between the Chair and Nevada party officials in which back room deals are made which openly flout the will of the national committee members regarding a special dispensation being given to Nevada party leadership regarding adherence to the party platform stating our 100% pro-life, no exceptions stance and the San Antonio resolution which reiterates this position and was adopted unanimously by the national committee including the Nevada party.

That you be prepared to fulfill your honorable obligation to present a resolution disaffiliating the Nevada party if the proposed resolution does not meet the exacting requirements of the resolution as passed by the national committee in Columbus in September.

If you cannot do this, we believe that you need to be the person who introduces a resolution rescinding the passage of the San Antonio resolution. This is the only avenue which will be left open to the party since it requires that state party organizations adhere to the 100% pro-life with no exceptions plank in order to be the recipient of help and support from the national party organization.

That if you find yourself unable to fulfill your pledge of honor to do these things as stated before the national committee in Columbus, that you must resign from your executive committee duties forthwith and apologize to each and every member of the national committee.

Pastor Baldwin we trust that we can count on you to act on these pivotal issues in a manner that complies with your statements of faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We believe you to be a man of your word and pray that you show the leadership qualities we have come to expect of our presidential ticket standard bearers, thanks to the demonstrated leadership of Michael Peroutka and yourself on this matter.

Sincerely,

Charles S. Michaelis

Secretary, Ohio Constitution Party

Signing on behalf of the following Executive Committee and National Committee members of the Ohio Constitution Party;

James Burkhamer, Chairman

Dr. Patrick Johnston, Vice-Chairman

Barry Sheets, At-Large

Bruce Purdy, At-Large

Joe Rogers, National Committee

Other signatures will be added as the approval is received from Ohio Executive and National Committee members

CC: Constitution Party Executive Committee

Constitution Party National Committee

Letter To Chairman Clymer From The Ohio Executive Committee- Request For Records And Documents And Explanation Of The Chairman’s Activities Regarding Obtaining The Nevada IAP’s Compliance With The Resolution Passed In Columbus

This entry is part 3 of 11 in the series Nevada Disaffiliation Archives

Executive Committee

Constitution Party of Ohio

1255 N. Hamilton Rd.

Columbus OH 43230

Mr. Jim Clymer Chairman

Constitution Party

23 North Lime   St.
Lancaster,  PA 17602

Dear Chairman Clymer,

The Ohio executive committee applauds your action as chair in taking the initiative to meet with the leadership of the Nevada party. We can only assume you initiated these talks in order to discover what has motivated the leadership of that party to willfully violate the clear provisions of the 100% pro-life plank of our platform and the San Antonio resolution.

As a state party in good standing with the Constitution Party with the full privileges of membership on the national committee we respectfully demand answers to the following questions based on the right of oversight and review guaranteed by Article III of the Constitution Party by-laws;

Have you refused to accept the resignation of Mr. William Shearer from the Executive Committee?

Ohio recognizes that the chair must work with the leadership of state parties that are in violation of our Constitution, by-laws and resolutions of the party to determine if these violations are purposeful or inadvertent.  That question has been answered both directly and indirectly by the actions and statements of the leadership of the Nevada affiliate. Their violations of these documents, including the San Antonio resolution, were willful and repeated.

It is given that the Nevada affiliate and their leadership, as a condition of their affiliation with the national Constitution Party and its predecessor namesake, the US Taxpayers Party, agreed to the Constitution, bylaws and resolutions of the Party of their own free will.  Therefore, we must assume that the purpose of your recent discussions with the leadership of the Nevada affiliate was to present the case that they must either become aligned with the Party’s governing documents by resigning from positions of leadership within the Party affiliate or withdraw their affiliation with the national Constitution Party.

Due to the manner in which the meeting with representatives from the Nevada leadership was conducted, and we must assume that the discussions with those individuals was entered into with notification of only a portion of the entire membership of the Constitution Party National Executive Committee, there is an indication that a deal may be cut to allow the current leadership of the Nevada affiliate to remain in current positions with some type of reprimand.  Are you aware that any such agreement would be in violation of Article III of the by-laws wherein the actions of the Executive Committee and Chair are subject and subordinate to the will of the National Committee, as stated in the resolution passed in Columbus by members of that body.  Under that provision, we request an explanation of the reason why some but not all of the members of the National Executive Committee were notified of this meeting with the Nevada affiliate.

Additionally, during the National Committee meeting in Columbus, Mr. William Shearer, former chairman of the party and then-member of the National Executive Committee, publicly resigned from his position on the National Executive Committee.  It is now our understanding that you, as elected Chairman of the party, have refused to accept the resignation tendered by Mr. Shearer.  Pursuant to Article II section 2.4 of the by-laws of the Constitution Party, we respectfully demand that Mr. William Shearer not be permitted to vote in the National Executive Committee meetings.  This resignation is final until and unless its refusal is reviewed and approved by the National Committee per Article III of the by-laws of the Party.  Otherwise, it would be considered a reappointment to the National Executive Committee, also subject to the approval of the National Committee of the Party.

We further respectfully demand the following pursuant to our right of review and approval guaranteed by Article III of the by-laws; Transcripts or descriptions of any negotiations or agreements made during discussions with the leadership of the Nevada party; All transcripts and minutes of the upcoming emergency executive committee meeting. All proposed solutions to the Nevada resolution made in said meeting; Transcripts, resolutions and minutes of the fall national committee meeting in Columbus.

Jim, we are making these requests for public records of the party as we have done in the past to no avail. We have all of the evidence of the willful ignoring of past requests on file. If we are, once again, forced to make a case in floor debate, despite promises that it would not be necessary, we will need these items for information.

As you know, our state provided the second highest vote total nationally for the Peroutka-Baldwin ticket. We know this is not due to our own efforts or even those of people like Cal  Zastrow, who was the key player in getting us on the ballot, but due to God who honored our faithfulness with His.

While Nevada, California and other states make artificially inflated membership claims, their vote getting performance is less than brilliant. Nevada claims 32,000 members and yet could only persuade about 1200 of them or less than 4% to come out to vote for our presidential candidate. California’s performance is only slightly better. They claim 330,000 members and got 26,600 votes from their members, about 8%. We in Ohio had 70 members and got 12,000 votes for Peroutka-Baldwin, a showing of over 17,000% of our members!

And how were we rewarded by the party for maintaining our principles and the resultant blessing of God? We were called names and otherwise publicly insulted by members of the executive committee during debate in Nashville. Also in Nashville, Cal Zastrow was congratulated for his work in helping several states including Ohio obtain ballot access and fired in nearly the same breath. The debate on the LeFemine resolution was allowed to turn into a logic and fact-free donnybrook. It came complete with false charges of religious bigotry and ad hominem attacks with use of insults like “American Taliban” by defenders of Nevada due to a lack of action from the chair.

In Salt Lake City, the executive committee voted to deprive us of our national committee hosting privileges. They then forced us to the expedient of parliamentary maneuver and debate to defend ourselves before the national committee where we were further insulted and harassed. Our delegation was present in the very hotel where the executive committee meeting was being held but no one bothered to seek us out to allow us the chance to defend ourselves in front of the committee.

You have repeatedly allowed debate, especially on the Nevada issue, to devolve from a spirited presentation of fact to emotional displays of fact-free rancor and bullying. We were called cannibals and Nazis by a member of the executive committee in public debate and falsely accused of religious bigotry while you did nothing to stop it from the chair. One of our members was told to sit down and shut up coupled with a blasphemy of God’s name by members of the Nevada delegation and still you did nothing from the chair. You improperly called a legitimate motion for censure by one of our delegation out of order. A bogus resolution of Nevada’s complete compliance with the platform was forced down the throats of the national committee only to discover 6 months later that it had been built on a foundation of patent falsehoods. A prominent member of the executive committee threatened one of our delegates that we had better not bring the Nevada problem to the floor in Ohio after we won the right to keep our meeting in Columbus.

Apparently, flash and inflated membership numbers are more important than integrity in the Constitution Party. Ohio has chosen to take the long approach in finding and training <em>qualified</em> candidates who are in for the long haul and know they will have to suffer the slings and arrows from our enemies who hate us for our maintenance of integrity and principle. If only they could rest assured that their party officials did not have to suffer the same treatment, not just from our enemies but from our purported friends who admonish us that we need to “get practical” in order to win. Eight per-cent turn out versus 17,000% tells the tale of the tape. We’ll stay with principle and integrity. It works.

We look forward to your prompt reply to these questions and requests.  Thank you.

Sincerely,

Charles S. Michaelis

Secretary, Ohio Constitution Party

Signing on behalf of the following Executive Committee members of the Ohio Constitution Party;

James Burkhamer, Chairman

Dr. Patrick Johnston, Vice-Chair

Barry Sheets, At-Large

Bruce Purdy, At-Large

Other signatures will be added as the approval is received from Ohio Executive and National Committee members

CC: Constitution Party Executive Committee

Constitution Party National Committee