Category: Uncategorized

Tennessee holds a presidential primary on March 1, 2016. Presidential candidates’ names appear automatically if the Secretary of State determines that they are discussed in the news media. But candidates for Delegate get on the ballot with a different procedure. For the Republican convention, anyone can appear on the ballot as a candidate for Delegate if he or she submits a petition signed by 25 voters. Any registered voter may sign; Tennessee does not have registration by party.
Candidates for delegate must say whom they are pledged to support at the convention. They certify that, if …read more

According to this story, Congressman Alan Grayson, who represents much of Orlando, Florida, doesn’t believe that Ted Cruz meets the constitutional qualifications to be President. Grayson, a Democrat, says if the Republican Party nominates Ted Cruz, that litigation will result. …read more

The Arizona state government has told the U.S. Supreme Court that it won’t file a response in Arizona Libertarian Party v Bennett, 15-598. This is the case in which the Libertarian and Green Parties are fighting the law that says only the two largest parties should have their own checkbox on the voter registration form. The Libertarian and Green Parties are also on the Arizona ballot and they nominate by primary, just as the Democratic and Republican Parties do.
The Arizona law is especially harmful to the Green Party, because it never has enough registered members to remain ballot-qualified. …read more

Recent reports have pointed out that professionals in intellectually driven industries are taking psychedelic drugs to enhance their productivity and creativity. A recent article for the Rolling Stone interviewed an anonymous businessperson “Ken” who regularly took small doses of LSD to help him with work.
“Microdosing has helped me come up with some new designs to explore and new ways of thinking. You would be surprised at how many people are actually doing it. It’s crazy awesome,” Ken said.
This is the first time something like this has appeared in the news in years, so it’s shocking to many people that psychedelic …read more

Kristin Bantle, a sixteen-year veteran police officer, received notice of her termination from the Steamboat Springs, Colorado Police Department on August 15 – the same day she had her first court appearance on a contrived charge of “attempting to influence a public official.” The convergence of those events was appropriate, given that they constitute official retaliation against Bantle for publicly criticizing the SSPD’s “culture of fear and intimidation” and its “militaristic” approach to law enforcement. Her trial on a fourth-degree felony charge is scheduled to begin on December 1.
Bantle has rejected several proposed plea deals, the terms of which she …read more

The Limestone County Republican Party (in Alabama) has denied primary ballot access to a candidate for District Attorney, on the grounds that the party doesn’t think she is sincere when she says she is a Republican. See this story. …read more

Presidential candidates are free to be raising money now so as to qualify for primary season matching funds. However, the FEC won’t release any such funds until January 4, 2016. It seems likely that in January, two presidential candidates will start receiving the funds. Martin O’Malley has already raised total contributions of $3,234,569, according to his September 30, 2015 campaign finance report, so it seems inevitable he has raised at least $5,000 in each of 20 states, in small amounts (only $250 per donor counts).
Jill Stein also expects to qualify by January 4, 2016. Her campaign …read more

(RT) — Bavaria police have received some brand new protective gear that officers will don while managing high-threat security crisis. The uniforms however – particularly the oddly-shaped helmets – have drawn some sarcastic remarks.

The new gear was unveiled this week in Munich by Joachim Herrmann, Germany’s interior minister. The Class-4 protection suits featuring an overcoat with ceramic composite plates and a titanium helmet can stop high-caliber bullets fired by an assault rifle.
OMG! In Bayern wird die Polizei zur Darth Vader Armee umgebaut https://t.co/h9I8VITzhc #polizei #bayern #darthvader pic.twitter.com/LAJaeFN2Hn
— Nadine Schildhauer (@N_Flux) November 25, 2015

The design of the helmet is apparently meant …read more

Open Democracy, a worldwide on-line news source based in Great Britain, has this story about the Working Families Party of the U.S. …read more