Please use this thread to encourage others. I am doing this not to get a pat on the back but to provoke or encourage other to ask others for signatures as well. I do not want to hear someone in June say that they wish they knew that someone else was getting signatures back in December for they would have gotten some as well. As Charlie Brown would say, "Ugh!"
Get excited; watch the "vimeo's on the CST website that teach people how to ask for signatures. I did and it is encouraging and confidence-building. We need 890 citizens to get 50 signatures each (incorporating the rate of rejected signatures) or we need citizens to pay an organization to get signatures. Ray, is it about $1/each to pay someone else? For instance, if we got 20,000 signatures would we need to pay someone $24,500 to obtain the others (to reach 44,500 signatures)? So far I am at 2 signatures and I just started today. I recall the saying: Do not despise humble beginnings. We only need 44,498 more:
I would guess a dollar per raw signature might be about right at this time but as the deadline draws closer the price goes up as well. Another factor... Americans Elect have not yet begun petitioning in Indiana nor have the Greens. The Libertarians already have ballot status so they will not be competing for signatures or paid petitioners which is also a great reason to get the drive completed as soon as possible.
Up to 4.
People are generally happier now with Christmas approaching. My busy season is from Jan 4 - May 15th so now is the time to do it. Also, people will be generally grouchy with 20 degree wind chills and general cabin fever. Then in the spring the GOP nominee will be settled so voters will start digging in their heels. Recently I researched and printed a small part of two articles on the 1992 election in case I get push-back from the "This will just cause what happened in 1992...". One article cites that Clinton was up by 21 points on Sept 22, 1992, and the other is dated Oct 26th showing that Perot getting back into the race was causing Clinton's lead to shrink. Another point I will make (if needed) is by asking them, "Will you be voting for who you think is the best candidate, the 2nd best, or the 3rd best? They will say, "The best one." Then I will reply by saying that if Gingrich or Romney is the best then you don't have to worry about anybody voting for the 2nd best, will you?" If needed I can add, "People voting for the 3rd candidate are not going to be voting GOP anyhow, so it's not taking a vote away." I will use myself if needed, by saying "Gingrich/Romney is not getting my vote so they are not losing my vote." Sorry if I am coming across a little cold today. I will be as diplomatic as I can and am basically thinking of 3 relatives who will probably be giving me some push-back on signing the petition by citing the Perot thing...
10 sigs
Regardless of which state you are from, please make an entry under the section of your state to let us know how many signatures you have obtained. Hopefully it will encourage others to jump aboard.
The Indiana total is still a long way off, but to quote from the movie "Facing the Giants", "I'm preparing for rain".
Ballot access laws may be changed, we may have a big donation in the future which would allow us to hire petitioners, more people may jump on board to gather signatures, etc.
Doing nothing is not going to attract people who want to do something big.
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Also, one person asked for another petition and stated that he could get 5 more. Another person took one home for her spouse to sign.
I have/had enough signatures to put the CP on the Arizona ballot for 2012, but was told by the Arizona CP that National does not want the signatures. I've PO'd a lot of backers who worked hard on the Arizona reservations as well as in Tucson and NE Arizona, so they will most likely not do the same petitioning for ME as an Independent.
National is so caught up with the corrupt Virgil Goode that they can't see past the few dollars they think he and Edens Curve and any past lobbying efforts can bring to the party. In that case, we are DONE as a party.
JL Mealer
http://mealer2012.com
This thread has nothing to do with Arizona or the national HQ or Virgil Goode. Please stay on topic. This is about Indiana and the efforts being put forth by one individual to set an example for us all.