Well, well, well. Once in a while, the Concord Monitor can be useful (entire Letter after the jump):
Attack on Kimball is hypocritcalBy Howard Wilson / For the Monitor
August 31, 2011There is wholesale hypocrisy among New Hampshire Republicans who want to dump Jack Kimball as their party chairman.
On Aug. 26, the Monitor reported that Kimball believed he was signing a Libertarian candidate petition, rather than a petition for the whole party he actually signed. That petition was returned to him, yet he is still castigated for his signature.
Now look back to 2010, when several prominent Republicans signed candidate petitions on behalf of the Libertarian Party. Some of these people are now calling for Kimball’s removal as state chairman because he signed a party-wide petition for that same Libertarian Party. Those signing individuals include Kelly Ayotte, Jennifer Horn, Jim Bender and Bill Binnie. How do I know? Easy, I asked and they said yes – for which I presented them the candidate petition in 2010.
Like I said, well, well, well. Here are two folks openly advocating that Jack has done irreparable harm and that this "signing" is, in part, a firing offense. Yet, they both earlier signed a similar petition? Really?
Now, lest I be again accused of being sexist and a knuckle-dragging Neanderthal for offending delicate Political Correctness feelings (a supposedly derogatory status for which I have been accused in the past, but that is for another post about one of these names), yes, I did bold their names and not the two former male rivals of Kelly Ayotte – they are not the ones putting the hammer down for a dismissal. Heck *I*’ve sign such a petition in the past (er, at least I think I did) as it is a philosophy of mine that unless you are a Communist or hard core socialist (there are places I refuse to go), I’d probably sign such a petition – if you cannot win in the arena of ideas, you deserve to lose against an opponent.
Sidenote: that said, when I watched and listened to the candidate debate at the Word of Life Christian Fellowship last cycle [Yes, BRING back the Black Robed Regiment!], it was apparent why Libertarians generally lose.
At least I readily admit it – so where has their full disclosure been during all this? So, I’m waiting to see what their consequence will be….and am betting it may well be a long wait.
By Howard Wilson / For the Monitor
August 31, 2011
There is wholesale hypocrisy among New Hampshire Republicans who want to dump Jack Kimball as their party chairman.
On Aug. 26, the Monitor reported that Kimball believed he was signing a Libertarian candidate petition, rather than a petition for the whole party he actually signed. That petition was returned to him, yet he is still castigated for his signature.
Now look back to 2010, when several prominent Republicans signed candidate petitions on behalf of the Libertarian Party. Some of these people are now calling for Kimball’s removal as state chairman because he signed a party-wide petition for that same Libertarian Party. Those signing individuals include Kelly Ayotte, Jennifer Horn, Jim Bender and Bill Binnie. How do I know? Easy, I asked and they said yes – for which I presented them the candidate petition in 2010.
Similar conditions apply in 2011, with the secretary of state permitting use of the party-wide petition. A polite request is honored by a signature. End of problem? Not quite, apparently, as it presents an issue for some in the Republican Party to dump Kimball as state chairman.
The party-wide petition permits placement of a presidential candidate to be named after the national Libertarian Party convention chooses among the four announced candidates. What is the real difference among the two types of petitions available? Easy, for the moment: Candidate petitions may only be circulated from Jan. 1, 2012, to Aug. 8, 2012, when they must be delivered for certification to supervisors of checklist. And they must list all the candidates to be voted for on Nov. 6. The party petition may be used in the prior, off-year and requires four times as many signatures. And all candidates must still file the Intent form, with federal office and gubernatorial candidates paying the administrative assessment fee, by Sept. 11).
You choose whom to believe. Kimball honored his belief that everyone should have a chance to be on the ballot, if they are willing to do the work needed. Just as he honors the Tea Party for the issues it presents.
(Howard Wilson of Andover is a Libertarian candidate for the U.S. House in 2012.)
