On April 12, Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks basketball team, was interviewed by Chris Wallace. At the very end of the interview Wallace referred to an earlier statement by Cuban that he might possibly run for president as an independent. Wallace said “the deadline has already passed in some states” and said, “You’re aren’t serious, are you?”
Cuban said “You just never know. I’m not gonna say ‘no’. I’m leaving the door open.” Here is a link to the interview. The part about running for president is at the very end.
Wallace is mistaken. Every state has some means for someone running for president outside the major parties to get on the ballot, in the period May through September. Furthermore, the U.S. Supreme Court said in Anderson v Celebrezze in 1983 that it violates the First Amendment for any state to have an early deadline for a candidate to file for the general election as a presidential candidate. John B. Anderson in 1980 didn’t declare as an independent until April 24, but he got on the ballot in every jurisdiction.
In 1924, Robert La Follette didn’t declare as an independent until July 4, and he got on the ballot in every state except Louisiana, and the Louisiana problem had nothing to do with an early deadline. Thanks to Ken Bush for the link.
How is he going to get signatures? Sounds like a real long shot.
If tbe Coronavirus lockdown ends, and he spends a lot of money, more than it would normally cost, to hire paid signature gatherers, he could still make it on the ballot in all 50 states plus DC. If this lockdown continues for weeks or months, he’d have to file lawsuits in a bunch of states, as would everyone else seeking spots on the ballot.
He’s just blowing hot air. He won’t do it.
Which gang might lose LESS votes — D or R ??? — ie get help for MC to divide and conquer.
Are the States now 100 pct DEAD due to CV-19 and the $$$ trillions in added Congress spending ???
IE — ALL power in the 218 + 50/51 gerrymander MONSTERS in the ANTI-Democracy USA Congress and the even worse 666 Monarch TYRANT Prez — with its total contempt for the Congress and Courts and any constitutional *rights*.
Unlike people who read BAN, people like Chris Wallace and Mark Cuban probably aren’t real careful about the distinction between independent and third party.
If you don’t take “independent” literally then Cuban could still easily seek the nomination of a third party that has halfway decent ballot access.
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2020/04/12/trump-coronavirus-pandemic-missed-signs/111540864/
Signs missed and steps slowed in Trump’s pandemic response
Jonathan Lemire, Zeke Miller, Jill Colvin and Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Associated Press Published 6:19 p.m. ET April 12, 2020
Washington — By the time President Donald Trump first spoke publicly about the coronavirus, it may already have been too late.
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How many books about the M-O-R-O-N DJT — sent from HELL to destroy Western Civilization ???
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2020/04/12/virus-hunting-agency-revived-trump-congress/111540452/
Trump, Congress scramble to revive virus-hunting agency amid pandemic
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More about the ANTI-science *perfect* MORON tyrant DJT.
eeyn – Which party? There are only three that will give him half way decent ballot access to build off of and Cuban ideologically doesn’t really fit with any of them. Cuban is OK with abortion, gambling, and gay marriage; wants to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord and is OK with the Dakota oil pipeline construction; and wants to increase gun control, is supportive of “economic stimulus” during recessions, and is fine with “enhanced interrogation” of suspected terrorists.
That pretty much eliminates the Constitution Party, the Green Party, and the Libertarian Party. I guess he could try building a large coalition of single state parties, but that would take quite a bit of work.
What’s your source for all his political views?
Cuban hates Trump with a passion. He would draw votes away from Biden. However he will never get the signatures needed as CoronaVirus will shut his chances down.
From what I’ve heard Trump and Cuban talk on the phone with each other a lot.
Jim, a lot of Libertarians have proven that they do not really adhere to libertarian principles, so Mark Cuban could just show up in the Libertarian Party, claim he’s a libertarian, and flash some money around, and he’d stand a good chance of winning the nomination. The LP’s Shiny Badge Caucus would go gaga over him.
Jim- Out of those three parties you mentioned the LP has historically been the most…flexible or unprincipled, depending on how you look at it.
Anyway I like shiny badges (really – it’s stupid to claim that money, name recognition, and media access shouldn’t count for anything). I forgave GJ for supporting police enforced dress codes for women, given that it was an offhand remark and he walked it back. We’ll see what Cuban is willing to walk back.
I love Trump, but I am beginning to like Mark Cuban.
Uh oh, an LP Shiny Badge Caucus member and a troll posting under a fake name both pop up on the same thread praising Mark Cuban. Is this a sign that Cuban is about to pop up in the LP, or just wishful thinking from Shiny Badge Caucus members and trolls?
If there is no physical Libertarian convention this year it might be tough for a “superstar” to get nominated. I would propose a virtual convention wherein ALL dues paying LP members (both national and state) are automatically delegates. I would announce this decision and state a membership date of record that is already past so an influx of new members could not occur and allow for a “takeover” just to nominate another “big name”. This would be reminiscent of the 1996 Reform Party nomination process. It would also probably get some media attention.
According to l.p. Bylaws the states determine who their delegates are to the national convention, not national. So you can propose what you want but state parties have no obligation to agree to it. Some of them don’t care whether you’re a national member or not.
@Jim, I too would like some sources to look at for those political views you stated earlier
“Jim- Out of those three parties you mentioned the LP has historically been the most…flexible or unprincipled, depending on how you look at it.
Anyway I like shiny badges (really – it’s stupid to claim that money, name recognition, and media access shouldn’t count for anything). I forgave GJ for supporting police enforced dress codes for women, given that it was an offhand remark and he walked it back. We’ll see what Cuban is willing to walk back.”
Here we go again. Ladies and gentleman, this is an example over what is wrong with the Libertarian Party. Selling out principles for “shiny badge” credentials.
The LP sold out its principles with its presidential ticket nominations in 2008, 2012, and 2016, and we’ve got people in the LP who want to sell out again for the 2020 ticket, first with Bill Weld, but then he left the party, and then with Lincoln Chafee, who fortunately dropped out, and now there are people on here saying they’d sell out for Mark Cuban. Yeah, the guy is really rich, but he’s NOT a libertarian, so this should automatically disqualify him.
As for Gary Johnson, there was a lot more with him than his comment that the federal government should enforce a dress code, by banning Burqas. Johnson supported ending the income tax, and replacing it with the Fair Tax, which is a 30% national sales tax, which is disingenuously sold to the public as being a 23% tax, but it is actually a 30% tax. It also has other bad stuff attached to it, such as a rebate check, which essentially puts everyone on the country on welfare. One of the selling points from the proponents of the Fair Tax is that it is “revenue nuetral,” which means that it is designed to bring in just as much money as the present income tax brings in to the government. Johnson thinks that the proper use of government is to force bake shop owners to bake cakes for gay weddings in the name of being a politically correct Social Justice Warrior (never mind freedom of association). He also thinks that Bill Weld is the “original libertarian” and he wanted him as his running mate, and that Hillary Clinton is a “wonderful public servant.” I could go on with more things that were wrong with Gary Johnson, but hopefully everyone gets the point.
The Libertarian Party should pass on Mark Cuban, no matter how much money he has. Why? BECAUSE MARK CUBAN IS NOT A LIBERTARIAN.
Beware of the Libertarian Party Shiny Badge Caucus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLmB7RsGa3E&t=183s
ABOLISH THE SUPER TIMEBOMB MINORITY RULE EC.
1/2 OR LESS VOTES X EC GERRYMANDER AREAS HAVING A BARE MAJORITY OF ALL EC [NOW 270 OF 538]
= 1/4 OR LESS CAN/DO ELECT A PREZ/VP [ SINCE 1832 ].
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UNIFORM DEFINITION OF ELECTOR-VOTER IN ALL OF THE USA.
ALL EXECS – APPV PENDING CONDORCET.
Andy, don’t worry about Mark Cuban.
As an official dues paying, card carrying member of the Shiny Badge Caucus, I can tell you we’re still saving ourselves for Justin Amash.
But if Amash wanted Mark Cuban as his VP nominee of course we’ll give him what he wants.
Casual Observer – Good idea for a virtual convention open to all established LP members. However, your comments also seem to imply that the support for “big names” is largely from outsiders hijacking our conventions.
I’ve been voting LP since Ed Clark in 1980, a member since the early 90’s, and I liked and supported Gary Johnson. Bob Barr was a tougher pill to swallow but I swallowed it.
For what it’s worth — My favorite LP pres candidates were David Bergland & Andre Marrou. (btw, what’s AM up to these days?)
(ps- My best VPers were Toni Nathan and Nancy Lord.)
As of now Cuban would be far less worthy than those four of being elevated to LP standard bearer.
But for the 2020 election it would be wonderful if Cuban would vie for the LP nomination! The news coverage should be phenomenal.
Cuban at the LP (on-line?) convention debating the other potential nominees would make the eventual winner a better candidate – and be instructional to Cuban. To help prove himself LP worthy and fair-minded toward all minor parties & independents, he could help underwrite lobbying and lawsuits in states with unjust ballot-access (& ballot-retention) restrictions.
In my ideal scenario the LP delegates wisely choose someone else for the nomination — a candidate who’s at least a long-time 95% libertarian.
Then over the succeeding years we’d see if Cuban stays with the LP in spirit and assistance – and if so he’d make for an excellent LP candidate in 2024.
eeyn- I happen to believe that convention delegates are easily swayed. If people sitting in their PJs watching their computer screens in the privacy of their own homes are just as gullible I would be surprised.
BTW eeyn… I voted for Johnson in 2012 but NOT 2016. I couldn’t stand Weld. In 2008 I voted for Barr but wouldn’t have if Baldwin had been on my ballot. I’ve been voting LP since 1976 in general.
SAME reforms for LP esp — Natl/States/Locals.
TOTAL separation of delusional utopian NO govt anarchists vs. mini-govs.
Losers can form another party. Should have happened in 1970s.
PR
APPV
TOTSOP