The Curious Case of Alvin Greene

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Why bother? It's not a competitive seat.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

I know in Massachusetts, veterans are able to have their veteran status listed on the ballot.

If so, that's beyond stupid.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

In 2008 for one of the judicial elections I voted in the first round just for the candidate whose name most sounded like a stripper's.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

I'm actually more interested in why it costs that kind of money to file for election? Seems it's not even a deposit? How can that be constitutional in any democracy? Pretty perv.

I'm more bothered by the fact that you can be denied a public defender if you aren't poor enough.

As for why the deposit is so high though, remember that this is South Carolina, which has never exactly been a bastion of good democratic practices. They can't get away with the poll taxes anymore but this is different.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

That's how most states do it. In Minnesota you need either 2000 signatures or a $400 fee for Senate, and that's the stiffest requirement for any office. I'm not sure how many signatures SC requires, but that is a pretty draconian filing fee regardless.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Some of it may be to do with the fact that Greene is Black, not mixed.

But... well... for a total nobody to be a Senate paper candidate? Not state house, county sheriff (of a major county), whatever? When's the last time that happened? Great Depression era?

Not that uncommon really. Hell we have a solid example only two years ago: https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=2008&fips=30&f=1&off=3&elect=0

I also think Chuck Hagel's opponent in 2002 was a truck driver or something. And McCain's in 2004 I believe was a middle school teacher though granted he ran a relatively serious campaign.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Some of it may be to do with the fact that Greene is Black, not mixed.

But... well... for a total nobody to be a Senate paper candidate? Not state house, county sheriff (of a major county), whatever? When's the last time that happened? Great Depression era?

Not that uncommon really. Hell we have a solid example only two years ago: https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=2008&fips=30&f=1&off=3&elect=0

I also think Chuck Hagel's opponent in 2002 was a truck driver or something. And McCain's in 2004 I believe was a middle school teacher though granted he ran a relatively serious campaign.

Also with some research it appears that Byrd's 2000 opponent raised literally $0. Figure might be somewhat inaccurate for obvious reasons, but the point is clear.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

BTW I'm curious who this black candidate for Governor in Mississippi was that useful idiot mentioned. It obviously wasn't in 2000 like he said because Mississippi has its gubernatorial elections in odd years and in 2000 Mississippi had a white Democratic Governor (Ronnie Musgrove who was elected in 1999.)