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Should We Even Bother To Vote?
By Joel Skousen

Many of you write of your discouragement given the behind-the-scenes control of both major political parties that I have described. It is precisely because the system is rigged, including collusion by the mainstream media (see below) that we should vote-but not for either of the perceived "lesser of two evils." There is no lesser of two evils. Anyone allowed to run for office in the two major parties is equally part of the same evil. Only the perceptions and verbiage is different. The substance is uniformly socialist and globalist. So, don't be fooled into believing what either Bush or Kerry say.

In my opinion, principled voters should only support one of the alternative "third parties." Any vote for a third party helps send a message to the establishment that you won't compromise your vote ever again, for illusory advantage. Conservatives should always remember that much more damage is done to the cause of liberty when a Republican holds office-precisely because conservatives tend to accept what a Republican leader foists upon them, without scrutiny. They would fight against a Democratic administration. America will NOT be worse off with John Kerry in office so don't be afraid to "waste your vote" on a third party out of the fear of "helping to elect John Kerry." We have sustained more damage to liberty and the constitution under George Bush than under any other president since FDR-and that includes President Clinton.

In registering a Third Party protest vote, I encourage you to use that protest vote in behalf of a third party that has the potential for growth and that has a standard of principles that will not betray our principles of liberty. My personal preference is for the Constitution Party. I also support most of what the Libertarian Party champions. Neither party will betray the Constitution, though they differ significantly on some important social and moral issues.

Constitution Party of Utah Breaks New Record

March 17, 2006 was an historic day for the Constitution Party of Utah, as well as for the National Constitution Party.  All of the statistics are not yet confirmed but it appears that at least 52 candidates filed for office on the Constitution Party Ticket as of the filing dead line on Friday, March 17th. The number of candidates who filed for office on the CP was more than all other minor party candidates combined. This is the largest number of candidates to ever file for office in any state since the party was founded in 1992. Not only is this number the largest number of candidates to file in any state, but, according to the Constitution Party Chairman Jim Clymer of Lancaster, PA, the Utah candidates are among the highest caliber candidates the party has ever attracted. Clymer has visited Utah three times during the last three years in an effort to help build the Constitution Party here in the state. Although the national party was founded in 1992, the Utah party was not organized until August of 2001 and was on the ballot for the first time in 2004. That year Utah gave the CP Presidential candidate, Michael Peroutka, the highest percent of the vote of all 50 states.  Alaska was second followed by Idaho.

The big news was the filing of one well-known and respected candidate who filed for the U. S. Senate against Orrin Hatch and the filing for all three U. S. Congressional districts by other candidates. Until his resignation earlier this month, Scott Bradley served as a member of the  Republican State Central Committee. He also founded the Constitution Commemoration Foundations which sponsors the annual Constitution Day celebration in Northern Utah. Mark Hudson a former state delegate to the GOP state convention filed for the First Congressional District. He will face Rep Rob Bishop on the November ballot.  Filing for the Second Congressional District was W. David Perry, a life long republican and a former city council member from Draper, Utah.  David brings a wealth of talent to the Constitution Party. Jim Noorlander, a highly respected member of the Republican Party from Sanpete County and also a recent state delegate to the Republican State Convention filed for Utah's Third Congressional District and will face Chris Cannon on the November ballot.

Both Scott Bradley and Jim Noorlander are well known and highly respected men both among their peers an in political circles. They are frequent quest speakers at both political and non political functions. Both men were guest speakers at the recent annual convention of the Utah Eagle Forum and shared the podium with Phyllis Schlaffley, Eagle Forum founder and president of that organization.
Constitution Party candidates filed for 11 of the 16 state senate seats up for election to the Utah State Senate this year.  All 11 of those races are three way races. CP candidates also filed 23 of the 75 state house seats up for election and 18 of those are also three way races.  In addition to these filings, a number of people filed to run for local county commission seats and other county races.  As of this writing, a number of those filings still need to be confirmed. Both candidates and residents who filed for office and who are joining the party are coming from both major parties in about the same percentage as those parties are represented in Utah.

Good News, indeed,
Frank Fluckiger.

CONSTITUTION PARTY CELEBRATES ELECTION VICTORIES!

From the Constitution Party National Headquarters

The Constitution Party made great strides in the 2006 election and can, for the first time, celebrate victory!

First of all, congratulations go out to Rick Jore, of Montana, who made history becoming the first Constitution Party candidate from any state to be elected to the state legislature, capturing the seat in Montana's 12th District. Jore actually won in 2004, by three votes only to see the courts throw out enough ballots to give the Democrat the victory. This year, in a rematch, he won convincingly, garnering 56.2% of the vote and drubbing his Democrat opponent.

Two candidates in Nevada's Independent American Party were also elected to office. Jackie Berg was elected Eureka County Clerk with 54.10% of the vote, easily topping Republican and Libertarian opposition. Also, Cel Ochoa will be the new constable in Searchlight, Nevada by virtue of winning 54.93% of the vote to defeat her Republican rival. Another feather in the cap of the Nevada Independent Party was the victory of IAP member Bill Wilkerson to the Elko School Board, in a non-partisan race. Congratulations to our soon to be incumbent office holders in Nevada!

The Nevada party did exceedingly well across the board, with its five statewide candidates receiving from 3.44% of the vote to 6.75% of the vote all in races with three or more candidates plus a "none of the above" option. Two Nevada state senate candidates received in excess of 32% of the vote and one received over 22% of the vote. These results were indicative of results received across the board by over 40 Nevada candidates.

In Florida our candidates made impressive showings! C. Burt Linthicum received 34,528 votes and 28.9%of the vote for the 12th District State Senate seat. Ken MacPherson received 10,971 and 22.5% of the vote for State Representative in the 76th District!

The Utah Constitution Party did an outstanding job, running over 40 candidates. Scott Bradley, the candidate for US Senate, received 3.75% of the vote. Jim Noorlander, in the 3rd Congressional District won over 8% of the vote against incumbent Chris Cannon, while Congressional candidates Mark Hudson and David Perry received 3.1% and 1.5% respectively. Ed McGarr, in the 58th District State House race garnered 29.91% of the vote and was only kept from greatly exceeding that total by a full blown effort by the Utah Republican Party which feared that McGarr might actually win that seat. Through its high caliber candidates and their coordinated campaign effort under the able leadership of Chairman Frank Fluckiger, Utah has seen its membership grow and is on the threshold of electing candidates to office!

Ron Avery, the Constitution Party candidate for Congress in Texas' 28th Congressional District won 13% of the vote. This can be compared to the 4% of the vote received by recent Libertarian candidate Michael Badnarik, who was that party's most recent Presidential nominee, despite his pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars into the race in another Texas Congressional District.

John Langville, South Carolina candidate for state representative from the 28th District, received 19.4% of the vote.

The American Constitution Party of Colorado's efforts resulted in their maintaining ballot access for 2008.

In Illinois Chuck Broy won ballot access in Tazewell County by receiving 6 percent of the votes, while Chairman Randy Stuffleman conducted an estensive write-in campaign for governor.

In Idaho Jared Eastley won 22% of the vote in his race for state senate, while Katherine Frazier and Jaclyn Ann Crooks running for state house positions in three way races, received respectable votes at 3.6% and 3.3% respectively.

In South Dakota, Scott Bartlett received 4.5% of the vote in the 11th State Senate District, while Bill Scott received 8.2% of the vote in the 14th State Senate District. Meanwhile, South Dakota's candidate for Governor, Steve Willis, outpaced the Libertarian earning third place in that race.

Our Michigan affiliate, the U.S. Taxpayers Party, was once again able to retain their ballot position. Running over 30 candidates, the Michigan party proved the effectiveness of their candidate recruitment efforts.

John Gathings, candidate for State Treasurer, for Nebraska's Constitution Party affiliate, the Nebraska Party, maintained that party's ballot position by receiving 124,656 votes for 23.5%.

The American Independent Party in California ran six statewide candidates, and three for U.S. Congress. Gubernatorial candidate Ed Noonan received an impressive 48,672 votes.

Candidates running for the Pennsylvania State House had very good showings. Joe Murphy running in Pennsylvania's 38th District received 15.9% of the vote, Chris Graham running in the 40th District received 15.3%, and .Janet Serene, running in the 66th District captured 5.7% of the vote in a three way race.

Tom Kovach, of Tennessee's Constitution Party, ran as a Republican with the full endorsement and support of Tennessee's Constitution Party in the 5th Congressional District and received 27.9% of the vote in a four way race. Tom is a member of the Constitution Party's Veterans Coalition Executive Committee.

Mary Starrett, TV personality, conservative talk show host, and the dynamic candidate of the Constitution Party of Oregon for Governor, received 40,271 votes which amounted to 3.6% of the vote, a full percentage point more than the combined vote of the Libertarian and Green Party candidates. She ran against a liberal Republican and a liberal Democrat, and so worried the Republican establishment with her strong campaign that they even attempted to have her removed from the ballot!

Highlighted here are only some of the Constitution Party election results. We were represented by great candidates all across the country. The sacrifice they made in stepping forward and running for office gave them the all-important platform from which to speak out for Constitutional issues. They did a great job representing the Constitution Party and all deserve our gratitude for their tremendous efforts and for a job well done!

Survey Says: Americans Aren't Buying What Two Parties Are Selling

Posted 10 July 2007 - www.ConstitutionParty.com

Zogby Poll Shows Majority Eyeing Third Party

Lancaster, PA (July 9, 2007) The Constitution Party calls attention to a recent Zogby.com poll which reveals overwhelming voter dissatisfaction with the two parties currently controlling government.

67% of registered voters surveyed voiced unhappiness with the political status quo and called for a solution outside the Republican and Democratic parties.

The poll showed those most disturbed by the present system were those who considered themselves political independents - 80% said they were frustrated with the two party system.

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Bush Grants Presidency Extraordinary Powers

Directive for emergencies apparently gives authority without congressional oversight

Excerpt from WorldNetDaily.com, Wednesday, 23 May 2007

President Bush has signed a directive granting extraordinary powers to the office of the president in the event of a declared national emergency, apparently without congressional approval or oversight. The "National Security and Homeland Security Presidential Directive" was signed May 9, notes Jerome R. Corsi in a WorldNetDaily.com column.

It was issued with the dual designation of NSPD-51, as a National Security Presidential Directive, and HSPD-20, as a Homeland Security Presidential Directive. The directive establishes under the office of the president a new national continuity coordinator whose job is to make plans for "National Essential Functions" of all federal, state, local, territorial and tribal governments, as well as private sector organizations to continue functioning under the president's directives in the event of a national emergency.

"Catastrophic emergency" is loosely defined as "any incident, regardless of location, that results in extraordinary levels of mass casualties, damage, or disruption severely affecting the U.S. population, infrastructure, environment, economy, or government functions."

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