Breaking: An Attempt To Remove Bentley From Ballot

Okay, the election for Governor in a week and a half is between Robert Bentley and Ron Sparks, right? Well, there ARE those rumors about a write-in campaign for Bradley Byrne, but I figure if that effort isn't on everybody's lips by now, it won't amount to anything.

No, the surprising thing today is that somebody has filed a complaint to remove Bentley from the ballot. Former Birmingham City Councilman Jimmy Blake announced yesterday that he would file a complaint with the AG alleging a failure to follow disclosure rules, and ask that Bentley be removed from the ballot.
http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2010/10/former_birmingham_councilman_b.html

Jimmy Blake, a former Birmingham City Council member, called a press conference this afternoon to say he was filing a formal complaint with Alabama Attorney General Troy King seeking Bentley's removal from the Nov. 2 ballot.

Blake alleges that Bentley knowingly failed to comply with the state's Fair Campaign Practices Act when his campaign accepted an "in-kind" contribution from the AEA.

That contribution came in the form of a series of phone call blitzes that were produced by the AEA for Bentley. The "robocalls" went to more than 500,000 homes across the state during the closing days of the GOP runoff between Bradley Byrne and Bentley, an election easily won by Bentley.

Blake said if King does not disqualify Bentley from running for governor, he will file a lawsuit seeking Bentley's removal from the ballot.

What's next in this crazy election season? Aliens arriving and announcing that Nancy Pelosi is really one of their humanoid invasion robots?


Although no complaint has yet been filed, this is a rather explosive action. It's also something of a long-shot. An INCREDIBLE long shot.

In my opinion, it won't happen. If the AG or a judge actually disqualified one of only two candidates on the ballot just days before an election, all hell would break loose. Accusations of partisan politics would fly heavily, and the Democrats would win a short-term advantage but a long-term loss. NOBODY would like them again if their method of winning elections is to remove the other candidates so the voters don't have a choice.

I used to respect Blake... not so sure anymore. Push to investigate and have him punished according to the law? Yes. Advocate nobody vote for Bentley? Blake could do that, too. But remove one of the only two candidates on the ballot days before an election? How low do the Democrats have to stoop in order to win an election this year?

Do the Democrats REALLY want to be known as the party that seeks to deprive voters of a choice at the ballot box?

Bentley was chosen by the Republicans, and he is now the candidate. Live with him, guys, and vote your conscience.