Board of Canvassers Mtg 7/23

[Betty Roupas]

I'm wondering if patriotm1 has received any answers regarding the nefarious Mi Tea Party petition. Is anyone taking action to try to stop this party from getting on the ballot??? Are any Tea Party or Republicans leaders acting on this? Does any one have any info??

[Sandy Ciaramitaro]

I understand t hat they got more than enough signatures to put this on the ballot. I do know that they were still out there getting signatures just two weeks ago at Livonia Mall, because a friend called and told me about it. I have heard noting else yet.

[patriotm1]

I will be there too and hope to speak and also deliver the text in a handout. It sounds like the Tea Party of Western MI and the Tea Party Alliance will attend as well. I confirmed with Dawson Bell (Detroit Free Press reporter who wrote on the subject) that he will be at the meeting.

It would be nice to coordinate a presentation with one or more Tea Party groups. At this late date, however, I am prepared to go it alone since it is not clear what the Tea Party's collective response will be.


My initial thoughts:

1.) Asking the MI Canvassers Board to review the petition signatures individually may / may not do anything since there were 60,000 names and only 38.000 were needed.

2.) Try to get the entire petition thrown out by suggesting potential legal action in view of various possibilities such as:
-- Unethical (if not illegal) -- raise specter of misrepresentation or fraud in the petition process. Would be helped by affidavits from signatories mislead. If no one steps up, say more time is needed to prepare a case.
-- Copyright on Tea Party name -- filer Steffek is individual disenfranchising Tea Party groups statewide, voters, and citizens. Tea Party Alliance of MI said they would be at the 7/23 meeting. Hopefully they come armed for bear.

-- Find a copy of the actual petition wording prior to 7/23 MI Canvassing Board Meeting, perhaps some insights.

3.) If cannot get entire petition tossed, try to get deadline for filing contests to the petition delayed as long as possible -- hopefully pushing back plans for filer Steffek and company so as not to be a factor in 2010 or 2012.

4.) If petition is approved, file suit against the State, Steffek, the new party, etc. Legal team needed for options here. Wrap up the new party for as long as possible with dissolution as the goal. This fraudulent petition effort is well funded behind the scenes and a lot is at stake. One can expect a fight. Get FreedomWorks involved since they have some resources.

On a sad note...It appears that Chetley Zarko, the conservative consultant who broke the fake petition story, died on July 21, 2010 at his apartment while sitting in a chair reading. What a shame. Hopefully there is someone who can pick up where he left off. He was also involved in some good work using the freedom of Information act to get teacher union information. Freedom is not free.

[Tom]

Betty,
Maribeth and I will be going to Lansing Friday to attend the meeting. We'll let you know how it turns out.
Tom