Civil Discourse Now

Where the far left and far right overlap for fun and enlightenment

Dear Mr Musk: You got a long row to hoe...

The latest is that “Elon Musk has said that he’s formed a new political party, but it’s unclear what steps — if any — he’s taken to do so, or how the effort might affect upcoming elections.” [FN1] So Dear Mr Musk: starting a political party in the land of liberty isn’t easy. 1/16

You know pesky laws of physics from rocketing into space & regulatory statutes from conquests in business, but more imposing are election laws & not like SCOTUS tossed in Citizen’s United, [FN2] where the Roberts Court pulled up even w/the Taney Court [FN3] 2/16

as Worst SCOTUS of All Time. Ever. A body of law, developed over decades, was outweighed on the scales of justice by corrupt thumbs. [FN4] Laws of physics & simple regulatory statutes pale compared to laws for corporate entities known as “political parties.” 3/16

You might be unfamiliar w/“not for profit” corporations. [FN5] Indiana, [FN6] as an example, gives us context. Indiana statutes classify political parties: 2 “major” political parties’ primaries are paid by the State. The 2 “majors” get automatic ballot access in the gen’l & 4/16

they can restrict who runs. [FN7] It’s tough even for a rich guy. [FN8] A new party faces a ton of barriers. There are petitions to circulate and get signed just to get on the ballot. Lots of signatures invariably get tossed. [FN9] Signatures are illegible or the address a voter 5/16

lists on a petition is not the same address as when they first registered. There’s a reason for all this. The people who write the statutes & who determine the statutes are constitutional are from the same 2 parties. I’ll suggest a light read, [FN10] w/a one-line summary: 6/16

“[P]olitical scientists have found that the Democrats and Republicans ‘have built themselves virtually impenetrable barriers against challenge by new parties.’” [FN11] Indiana laws allow these NFPs [FN12] to operate w/very little interference ... well, none. 7/16

Courts get all warm & fuzzy when they talk about rights of association of political parties in the morning, and have dinner & drinks in the evening w/their party chairs. I’m not done. Remember the Citizens United case? You’ll never believe this. A lawyer for Citizens United 8/16

was James Bopp, Jr. He’s from Terre Haute & signed off on the corporate documents for the Indiana Republican State Committee under which the Indiana Republican Party is an assumed business name. The Committee is not for profit, so there’s no stock. 9/16

Voters can’t buy shares & take over the party. Party rules refer to bylaws, but I tried, twice, to get copies of the bylaws. Don’t worry, though. You’re starting a new party, not trying to take over a party already established. That’s worse. 10/16

The 2 majors’ leaders love the illusion that a system they designed works for anyone else. Yeah, sure. Each State’s laws can be different w/some far worse than Indiana’s. Who knows how many States copied Bopp’s work? I can't wish you luck. I don't like you or your beliefs. Sincerely & all that. 11/16

Footnotes:
FN1. Meg Kinnard, KTLA5, 7/7/25.
FN2. Citizens United v FEC, 558 U.S. 310 (2010).
FN3. Taney, Roger, C.J., 1836-64, who wrote the racist decision in Dred Scott v Sanford, 60 U.S. 393 (1857). 12/16

FN4. One would be remiss to neglect naming Justices Thomas, Alito, Kennedy, and Roberts, C.J. as first ballot shoo-ins for the Corruption Hall of Fame.
FN5. At least a corporation intentionally “not for profit.” 13/16

FN6. The 19th State (admitted 12/11/1816) is south of Michigan, west of Ohio, and still at least 20 years shy of the 20th Century. You should be familiar w/Indy. I understand that your brother’s eateries there are quite good. Seriously.
FN7. See, Indiana Code, Title 3. 14/16

FN8. Casey Smith, “Indiana Election Commission, state Supreme Court rule against John Rust, removing him from ballot,” Indiana Capital Chronicle, 2/27/24, accessed 7/7/25.
FN9. Usually, and assuredly coincidentally, in a total that leave the petitioner just a few short of the minimum required. 15/16

FN10. “Developments in the State Regulation of Major and Minor Political Parties, 82 Cornell LRev 109 (1996).
FN11. Id.
FN12. Short for “not for profit.” 16/16

Views: 4

Comment

You need to be a member of Civil Discourse Now to add comments!

Join Civil Discourse Now

Videos

  • Add Videos
  • View All

© 2025   Created by Mark Small.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

My Great Web page