Roemer divorces GOP, plans binging with new mate

Former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer today announced he’s getting a divorce for the second time, citing lack of spousal affection despite the fact he’s such a great catch, but also partly to blame for the situation by his infatuation with another.

Roemer, who divorced Democrats over two decades ago, said goodbye to the Republican Party, whining that he should have gotten more support from Republicans because he’s a former Member of Congress and governor. So what; at least another Republican ex-governor, Harold Stassen, kept running and losing nominations for the presidency without being taken seriously – even when he had comedian Pat Paulsen as a competitor – and didn’t blame everybody else but himself for his lackluster showing.

He now formally confirmed he would seek the quasi-party Americans Elect pseudo-nomination, as well as that of what’s left of the Reform Party. Neither looks promising to promote the Roemer brand. With AE, he has his own comedian problem, as the way this organization works – its leaders vet prospective candidates for what they see as congruity with its message, then present finalists to be chosen by Internet voting to represent the group in whatever states it was able to secure a ballot place on – he might end up having trouble making the cut when he can’t get more people excited over his candidacy than non-candidate funnyman Stephen Colbert.

Even if he does participate in and win the popular online nomination, he has no chance to be elected. Not only will the organization not supply him directly with funds, it almost certainly will not be on the ballots of all 50 states plus the District of Columbia. While it has been certified on 16 to date and about as many are in the works, about a dozen states have such stringent laws regarding political party general election ballot access, such as requiring formal party structures, that courtroom challenges would have to be launched successfully to overturn these laws by state ballot deadlines. Any nominee stands no chance until there is access in all 51 electoral units.

Although perhaps if the AE board, which the evidence suggests its effort is an attempt to siphon votes away from the Republican nominee in order to reelect Democrat Pres. Barack Obama, lets Roemer in and he does win the popular vote, he may have better ballot access than through the Reform Party. Once able to provide public funding for its nominee, because of infighting the party qualified for only Mississippi’s ballot in 2008. Its ability to get on even as many ballots as AE is questionable and it will have little or no money to contribute to its candidate. Just like AE, it does not provide a way to win the presidency, only to play spoiler – if you’re even enough of a quality candidate to do that, butterfly ballots inclusive.

Roemer never has understood that his conspiratorial message – forces beyond the public’s control rule the country and, not coincidentally, are keeping his campaign down – lacks any credibility and fails in the marketplace of ideas, despite far more coverage by the media than any other candidate with so little public opinion support (in fact, that’s why it fails him, because people learn of and then reject his simplistic agenda). Changing the vessel doesn’t alter that, and again raises the question of whether he simply is deluded, craves relevance, or has another hidden motive for continuing trying to force him on us.