Gingrich and Perry Disqualified from Va. Primary

PoliticsDecember 2011 • Views: 29,795

The Republican car continues disgorging clowns. In all my years watching politics, I’ve never seen such a ridiculously incompetent slate of GOP candidates: Gingrich, Perry disqualified from Va. primary ballot.

Former House speaker Newt Gingrich and Texas Gov. Rick Perry failed to submit enough valid signatures to qualify for the Virginia primary ballot, state GOP officials said Friday evening and early Saturday.

The Republican Party of Virginia announced early Saturday that Gingrich and Perry failed to submit 10,000 signatures of registered voters required to get their names on the ballot for the March 6 primary.

“After verification, RPV has determined that Newt Gingrich did not submit required 10k signatures and has not qualified for the VA primary,” the party announced on Twitter.

The rejection is a significant setback for the Gingrich campaign since he is leading the polls in Virginia among likely Republican voters and is seen as a strong contender for the nomination.

But they want to run the country!

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83 comments

Kragar Sat, Dec 24, 2011 10:13:08am

Youtube Video

Kronocide Sat, Dec 24, 2011 10:13:21am

Their registration drives were hampered by Voter ID issues.

goddamnedfrank Sat, Dec 24, 2011 10:13:28am

Insider reports that 2000 of Newt's signatures didn't have addresses with them. If true then Newt's campaign is just unbelievably inept and likely knew, or should have known that they were short on valid names when they submitted.

Cinnabar Sat, Dec 24, 2011 10:13:40am

So that means Virginia Republicans can choose between Luap Nor and Mittens? Well, after that we'll know the exact size of the Not-Romney coalition.

Four More Tears Sat, Dec 24, 2011 10:16:56am

re: #4 C1nnabar

So that means Virginia Republicans can choose between Luap Nor and Mittens? Well, after that we'll know the exact size of the Not-Romney coalition.

Santorum and Bachmann are still in it, right?

Cinnabar Sat, Dec 24, 2011 10:17:54am

re: #5 JasonA

Santorum and Bachmann are still in it, right?

Haven't the ABR folks already eliminated them?

Slumbering Behemoth Stinks Sat, Dec 24, 2011 10:20:40am

re: #5 JasonA

Santorum and Bachmann are still in it, right?

RON PAUL!

:ugh:

Kronocide Sat, Dec 24, 2011 10:21:57am

Ron Poll!

Slumbering Behemoth Stinks Sat, Dec 24, 2011 10:22:46am

re: #8 BigPapa

GIT OUTTA MAI HAED!!!

Charles Johnson Sat, Dec 24, 2011 10:26:07am

Andrew Sullivan backs down on the Ron Paul endorsement:

[Link: andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com...]

It's just pathetic to see this. It didn't take a genius pundit blogger of the year like Sullivan to notice that Ron Paul is an extreme right wing crank, but it took one to write a few thousand words tying himself in knots to try to justify endorsing this crank.

So now he writes another thousand words to "reconsider" something that should have been damned obvious in the first place.

jaunte Sat, Dec 24, 2011 10:28:14am

Contrary to Sullivan, I think Joe Klein is absolutely right with the quoted comment:

The newsletters went out under his name. They are replete with hateful filth. They disqualify him from the presidency. The idea that someone else wrote them and Paul didn’t read them is utter nonsense–even if true, it would be a devastating commentary on Paul’s executive abilities.

Achilles Tang Sat, Dec 24, 2011 10:35:43am

Ho Ho Ho
Merry Christmas everyone. Busy busy kitchen here.

William of Orange Sat, Dec 24, 2011 10:36:58am

This circus never ceases to amaze me!!

William of Orange Sat, Dec 24, 2011 10:37:48am

re: #2 BigPapa

Their registration drives were hampered by Voter ID issues.

Somehow saying "karma is a bitch" doesn't say enough...

Obdicut Sat, Dec 24, 2011 10:40:11am

So who's left?

And with Palin 'considering' a run, isn't she not able to do that, what with issues like this?

SpaceJesus Sat, Dec 24, 2011 10:40:57am

they should all be disqualified from every ballot for being completely insane

Political Atheist Sat, Dec 24, 2011 10:42:22am

re: #15 Obdicut

So who's left?

And with Palin 'considering' a run, isn't she not able to do that, what with issues like this?

This "crazy uncle Ron Paul " aka GOP desperate housewives scenario is a true testament to a field of candidates that all fall far short of simple reasonable expectations.

The TP beat out the moderates down to a single questionable man. So Republican voters will hold their collective noses and put up an awful candidate. The rationale is that not voting is giving the other guy a vote. Maybe that plays for party members. Maybe it plays in the general.

But lots of indies will cast votes in open primary states like California. That rationale does not play so well for indies. Certainly not for me in a primary. I doubt Huntsman will still even be in by next June. I have to wonder what will even be on the ballot by way of a protest vote.

Simply Sarah Sat, Dec 24, 2011 10:42:25am

re: #15 Obdicut

So who's left?

And with Palin 'considering' a run, isn't she not able to do that, what with issues like this?

There's not actually any chance that Palin could run outside of being a write-in candidate. And there's not actually any chance she'd run. She's just wondering why people aren't paying attention to her anymore.

SanFranciscoZionist Sat, Dec 24, 2011 10:42:37am

Anyone here seen "The Lion In Winter"? Remember the scene where Geoffrey tells his father "You'll make me king because I'm all you've got left," after Henry realizes John is plotting against him?

I'm sort of seeing Mitt in that role right now.

Kronocide Sat, Dec 24, 2011 10:42:41am

Ron Paul quotes:

Capitalism should not be condemned, since we haven't had capitalism.

Having federal officials, whether judges, bureaucrats, or congressmen, impose a new definition of marriage on the people is an act of social engineering profoundly hostile to liberty.

When one gets in bed with government, one must expect the diseases it spreads.

You wanna get rid of drug crime in this country? Fine, let's just get rid of all the drug laws.

And my favorite Paulism:

Do you think gold is money?

RadicalModerate Sat, Dec 24, 2011 10:42:58am

re: #15 Obdicut

You know, I almost am hoping that there isn't a clear victor in the primary season, just to see how big of a circus the Republican Convention will be this summer. The craziness that would come from the floor speeches there would be a sight to behold.

SanFranciscoZionist Sat, Dec 24, 2011 10:43:46am

re: #15 Obdicut

So who's left?

And with Palin 'considering' a run, isn't she not able to do that, what with issues like this?

Palin is doing the routine from The Producers. "Make the check out to Cash."

"That's a funny name for a SuperPac!"

William Barnett-Lewis Sat, Dec 24, 2011 10:44:12am

re: #2 BigPapa

Their registration drives were hampered by Voter ID issues.

That would be so funny if true...

Holidays are Family Fun Time Sat, Dec 24, 2011 10:46:24am

morning all

wrenchwench Sat, Dec 24, 2011 10:46:43am

re: #10 Charles

Andrew Sullivan backs down on the Ron Paul endorsement:

[Link: andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com...]

It's just pathetic to see this. It didn't take a genius pundit blogger of the year like Sullivan to notice that Ron Paul is an extreme right wing crank, but it took one to write a few thousand words tying himself in knots to try to justify endorsing this crank.

So now he writes another thousand words to "reconsider" something that should have been damned obvious in the first place.

My, there is a lot of stupid stuff in there. Starting with this:

I write and think in real time.

Like the rest of us are able to manipulate time somehow, or he totally lacks the ability to read over his drivel before hitting "post", then he ends with this:

And so, until Paul fully explains this incident, in the kind of way Michael Tomasky recommends, I have to say there is an alternative, as I described at length in the endorsement: Jon Huntsman. He's what my super-ego tells me is the right choice. My id remains with Ron. But I write with the rational part of my brain, or at least I try to.

His "id" is a moron. And it seems to be able to put one over on his super-ego on a regular basis.

RadicalModerate Sat, Dec 24, 2011 10:47:05am

re: #2 BigPapa

Their registration drives were hampered by Voter ID issues.

As instrumental as Perry was in getting Voter ID implemented in Texas (along with his helpful closing of Department of Public Safety offices in heavily Dem-voting districts, due to "budget cuts"), this is a very, very sweet irony.

wrenchwench Sat, Dec 24, 2011 10:49:58am

re: #21 RadicalModerate

You know, I almost am hoping that there isn't a clear victor in the primary season, just to see how big of a circus the Republican Convention will be this summer. The craziness that would come from the floor speeches there would be a sight to behold.

I wonder what kind of circus they could produce even if Romney is the clear victor, just out of mindless frustration.

Holidays are Family Fun Time Sat, Dec 24, 2011 10:50:20am

I have so much to do today and I don't want to do any of it.

Why are the holidays so much work?

Kronocide Sat, Dec 24, 2011 10:50:48am

re: #26 RadicalModerate

I should of put a sarc tag. It was not meant to be a factual statement.

Call it Predictive Irony.

lawhawk Sat, Dec 24, 2011 10:52:08am

re: #10 Charles

How surprising. /

It's yet another reason why I never thought particularly well of Sullivan and could never understand how he managed to gain the following he has.

Slumbering Behemoth Stinks Sat, Dec 24, 2011 10:52:40am

re: #28 ggt

One thanksgiving we just said "fuckit" and got a bunch of stuff from Boston Market. Don't suppose they'd be open for Xmas.

Holidays are Family Fun Time Sat, Dec 24, 2011 10:53:21am

re: #31 Slumbering Behemoth

One thanksgiving we just said "fuckit" and got a bunch of stuff from Boston Market. Don't suppose they'd be open for Xmas.

I wish.

No, I just really hate the disruption of routine.

Probably indicative of some undiagnosed disorder .. .

Holidays are Family Fun Time Sat, Dec 24, 2011 10:55:08am

re: #31 Slumbering Behemoth

One thanksgiving we just said "fuckit" and got a bunch of stuff from Boston Market. Don't suppose they'd be open for Xmas.

In Chicagoland, I'm sure I could find a restaurant or two open --a Jewish Deli at least . . .?

sagehen Sat, Dec 24, 2011 10:56:24am

re: #31 Slumbering Behemoth

One thanksgiving we just said "fuckit" and got a bunch of stuff from Boston Market. Don't suppose they'd be open for Xmas.

Do like the Jews -- Christmas is a day for Chinese food.

Gus Sat, Dec 24, 2011 10:59:03am

Love this.

@jpodhoretz John Podhoretz
Paul apologists: the Ron Paul Newsletter was actually written by Glenn Greenwald, so it's Ok.

Slumbering Behemoth Stinks Sat, Dec 24, 2011 11:00:14am

re: #32 ggt

No, I just really hate the disruption of routine.

Yup. Had to forgo my usual "leisurely coffee drinking while smashing zombies" routine this morning.

Holidays are Family Fun Time Sat, Dec 24, 2011 11:01:45am

re: #36 Slumbering Behemoth

Yup. Had to forgo my usual "leisurely coffee drinking while smashing zombies" routine this morning.

That sucks.

Now, we will be overrun by Zombies and it will all be your fault!

Atlas Fails Sat, Dec 24, 2011 11:05:05am

What a fucking joke state-by-state primaries are. Seriously, how can anyone (outside of Iowa, New Hampshire, or South Carolina) think this is a good idea? National primaries are only a matter of time imo, but how long will this unfair and stupid process be dragged out?

Lidane Sat, Dec 24, 2011 11:05:36am

This is hilarious. And Newt leads in the polls too.

Comedy gold.

Holidays are Family Fun Time Sat, Dec 24, 2011 11:06:00am

re: #38 Atlas Fails

What a fucking joke state-by-state primaries are. Seriously, how can anyone (outside of Iowa, New Hampshire, or South Carolina) think this is a good idea? National primaries are only a matter of time imo, but how long will this unfair and stupid process be dragged out?

Dog and Pony show that takes too much time and costs too much money.

zora Sat, Dec 24, 2011 11:06:24am

“After verification, RPV has determined that Newt Gingrich did not submit required 10k signatures and has not qualified for the VA primary,” the Republican Party of Virginia wrote on its official Twitter account early Saturday morning. The party announced Friday evening that Rick Perry had failed to meet the qualifications as well. That leaves the race in the state between Mitt Romney and Ron Paul. Other candidates did not submit signatures.

Read more: [Link: www.politico.com...]

Holidays are Family Fun Time Sat, Dec 24, 2011 11:14:10am

re: #53 zora

Read more: [Link: www.politico.com...]

The Professor didn't know that? I thought he knew everything.

Pompous Ass.

Decatur Deb Sat, Dec 24, 2011 11:14:36am

re: #44 BigPapa

Gingrich attacks Va. for keeping him off ballot

I think I know where the failure occurred.

Regards, Obvious

He might be mad at VA, but he loves SC and their quaint flag choices:

[Link: video.foxnews.com...]

wrenchwench Sat, Dec 24, 2011 11:14:59am

re: #52 ggt

Nice, Newt taking personal responsibility for his campaign.

How does that work in the Oval Office?

He would blame Obama for everything.

It can't be fixed in one term!!

Kronocide Sat, Dec 24, 2011 11:15:09am

re: #53 zora

OMG this is epic Fail.

Holidays are Family Fun Time Sat, Dec 24, 2011 11:15:09am

bbiab

abolitionist Sat, Dec 24, 2011 11:16:33am

re: #49 Lidane

I think other countries get it right when their entire election season is done in a matter of weeks. This shit of dragging out a Presidential election for 18 months is ridiculous.

However, it allows time for media and ordinary citizens to look into the backgrounds of the candidates. Not that we've been particularly good at that.

Slumbering Behemoth Stinks Sat, Dec 24, 2011 11:17:23am

re: #47 jaunte

Yup. When I heard the news that our SEALs killed Bin Laden, I thought "radical, dude".

/wait, what?

sagehen Sat, Dec 24, 2011 11:18:43am

re: #59 abolitionist

However, it allows time for media and ordinary citizens to look into the backgrounds of the candidates. Not that we've been particularly good at that.

We've been *very* good at that -- why do you think there's been so many implosions? We found out all kinds of interesting stuff we didn't know about these people until the last couple of months.

jaunte Sat, Dec 24, 2011 11:19:25am

Gingrich, who lives in the Washington suburb of McLean,
[Link: www.politico.com...]

Yes, that's McLean, Virginia, where presidential candidates don't have to be aware of their own state's voting laws.

wrenchwench Sat, Dec 24, 2011 11:19:47am

re: #57 BigPapa

OMG this is epic Fail.

Makes me wonder what they mean by "aggressive" write in campaign.

We will force them to give us pencils!!11! And room on the ballot to scrawl on!!1!

William Barnett-Lewis Sat, Dec 24, 2011 11:21:29am

We need a single national primary. Hold it on July 4 with the General Election ether on Saturday or made a National Holiday. It's time to stop pretending there is anything special about these early primaries. That's really all there is to it.

Mostly sane, most of the time. Sat, Dec 24, 2011 11:21:39am

I am still for a rotating system in which the states go five at a time, and on a rotating basis. Everybody gets a turn to be first. (Would suck to be put with California, though.)

Can you tell I've never lived in a early primary state? I'm tired of my primary vote not mattering.

Decatur Deb Sat, Dec 24, 2011 11:23:08am

re: #65 EmmmieG

I am still for a rotating system in which the states go five at a time, and on a rotating basis. Everybody gets a turn to be first. (Would suck to be put with California, though.)

Can you tell I've never lived in a early primary state? I'm tired of my primary vote not mattering.

Come be an Alabama Democrat, then none of your votes will matter.

PhillyPretzel Sat, Dec 24, 2011 11:23:19am

re: #64 wlewisiii
I like it. It makes sense which is why it will not be done. /

abolitionist Sat, Dec 24, 2011 11:24:08am

re: #61 sagehen

We've been *very* good at that -- why do you think there's been so many implosions? We found out all kinds of interesting stuff we didn't know about these people until the last couple of months.

I'll admit that 18 months of campaigning isn't so good, but 8 weeks may be too short. Ron Paul's rancid newsletters were decades ago, yet he was a candidate in 2008.

Mostly sane, most of the time. Sat, Dec 24, 2011 11:24:14am

re: #66 Decatur Deb

Come be an Alabama Democrat, then none of your votes will matter.

I'm about to vote in a special congressional election that is tilted heavily towards the woman I have no intention of voting for.

SanFranciscoZionist Sat, Dec 24, 2011 11:25:25am

re: #65 EmmmieG

I am still for a rotating system in which the states go five at a time, and on a rotating basis. Everybody gets a turn to be first. (Would suck to be put with California, though.)

Can you tell I've never lived in a early primary state? I'm tired of my primary vote not mattering.

Someday I'd like to be courted for my vote for the presidency. Ads, callers, smear campaigns...

My zip code makes me so obviously a Democrat that no one ever, ever bothers.

SanFranciscoZionist Sat, Dec 24, 2011 11:27:53am

re: #70 SanFranciscoZionist

Someday I'd like to be courted for my vote for the presidency. Ads, callers, smear campaigns...

My zip code makes me so obviously a Democrat that no one ever, ever bothers.

ALthough I did once call my old landlord to tell him we were moving, during election season. His wife answered, and sounded so hostile I assumed she thought he was having an affair, and I might be la otra.

I explained who I was, and she said, "OH. I'll get him. I swear, I'm never giving money to the Republican National Convention again, they just keep CALLING."

In my county, you can call all of the Republicans individually to get out the vote. Several times.

lawhawk Sat, Dec 24, 2011 11:29:31am

re: #40 ggt

State by state primaries do serve a purpose - they can help weed out candidates who are incapable of surviving the gauntlet of early primaries, but the flip side is that if your early states are outliers (far more conservative/liberal than average, demographics are more extreme than average), then the early states will foist more extreme candidates on the respective party than if a day of national primaries would do.

Moreover, a national day of primaries would eliminate the power that smaller states might potentially wield by eliminating a reason for candidates to go to anyone other than the big name states (CA, NY, TX, FL, OH, PA, IL, MA, etc.) by population. State by state gives smaller states a chance to influence, but the flip side is that spreading out the primaries means those at the tail end have no ability to influence the outcome.

No, what would probably be a good compromise would be a three week primary sprint. First week's primaries would be held on 1st Tuesday of February, and includes the traditional lead-in states. Second batch would be the following Tuesday, but have only a fraction of the votes needed to win (49% of delegates necessary to win by end of 2d week for instance). Third primary would be the Tuesday after that.

This way, you preserve some of the traditional lead-in states, spread the power to nominate among the states so that you may have to wait until the final primary results to know who wins.

But the powers that be don't want to change things, except to be first (and that pushes IA and NH ahead of everyone else - so it forces the primaries/caucus to the beginning of January to preserve the historical order).

makeitstop Sat, Dec 24, 2011 11:29:35am

re: #46 ggt

Most of the Northern Tip of VA is made up of Federal employees or lobbyists, IIRC. If they can't get enough signatures it's because they didn't want to.

As I understand it, VA's rules are that you can't just go to a major metro area and collect signatures - they have to be from counties across the state.

Sounds like a lack of a ground game on Newtie and Perry's parts.

lawhawk Sat, Dec 24, 2011 11:32:32am

re: #73 makeitstop

It was totally a massive fail of ground game, and in both cases, it's compounded by the fact that Newt calls Virginia home, and Perry supposedly has all kinds of money in his campaign fund - that both should have been able to easily get on the ballot by collecting the 10k signatures.

Perhaps both feel that Virginia is so totally going to Mitt that they're going to not even bother - it's only 50 delegates. But if things are as close as they want us to believe, that cuts the other way; they're purposefully leaving 50 delegates off the table (a 100 delegate swing against them).

tshinkle Sat, Dec 24, 2011 11:35:45am

You really would think these guys could have learned from the 2008 election cycle and simply forged enough signatures to qualify, like Obama did in Indiana.

Lidane Sat, Dec 24, 2011 11:39:44am

re: #66 Decatur Deb

Come be a ~~Alabama~~ Texas Democrat, then none of your votes will matter.

FTFY ;)

zora Sat, Dec 24, 2011 11:40:01am

re: #73 makeitstop

and they've had five months to collect the signatures. now the question is: can ron paul take va?

zora Sat, Dec 24, 2011 11:41:24am

btw, why does newt live in fake va?

Interesting Times Sat, Dec 24, 2011 1:00:36pm

re: #75 tshinkle

Obvious stalker blog troll is obvious.

tshinkle Sat, Dec 24, 2011 1:11:31pm

Troll or truth?

Surabaya Stew Sat, Dec 24, 2011 1:14:39pm

Don't feed the trolls!

Charles Johnson Sat, Dec 24, 2011 2:21:59pm

Another dead thread hero.

Dark_Falcon Sat, Dec 24, 2011 2:32:35pm

re: #77 zora

and they've had five months to collect the signatures. now the question is: can ron paul take va?

No, Romney will get more votes. But the new RNC rules for primaries held on Super Tuesday mean that Virginia's 49 delegates must be proportionally awarded. So even if Mitt Romney gets 2/3 of the vote, Crazy Uncle Ron would still get 15 delegates.

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