Arizona Supreme Court puts the ‘Top Two Primary’ initiative on the ballot – now defeat this terrible idea

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

After a series of court cases in which the "Open Government/Open Elections'' initiative was off the ballot, then on the ballot, then off again, the Arizona Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the "Top Two Primary" initiative back on the ballot in November. 'Top 2' primary can be on ballot, state's high court rules:

The Arizona Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that a hotly contested proposition to create a so-called top-two primary system can remain on the Nov. 6 ballot. The ruling came just one day before the hard deadline for printing the ballot, which will have nine propositions.

The Open Elections/Open Government initiative, or Proposition 121, would change the current system — in which candidates are winnowed down through party primaries — to one in which all candidates for a given office appear on a single primary-election ballot. Party labels would be optional. The top-two finishers would then advance to the general election. The system would apply to all local, county, state and federal offices, except for presidential elections.

Supporters say the top-two system would lead to more centrist policies by attracting more voters, particularly independents, who typically do not vote in primaries.

There is no empirical evidence to support these claims made by the
proponents of this initiative. They are perpetrating a fraud on the voters.

Let's
be clear what this initiative is really all about. The Chamber of
Commerce establishment Republicans have lost control of the
Republican Party to the Christian Reconstructionists and Dominionists,
and the Birthers-Birchers-Secessionists fringe groups who have hijacked
the GOP and purged the Chamber establishment Republicans from the GOP.
The Chamber of Commerce establishment Republicans want "their" party
back.

But rather than fight this civil war within the GOP, the Chamber of
Commerce establishment Republicans want to rewrite the rules for everyone. We are all to be punished for their failures as establishment Republicans. How is this fair or just?

Backers have a simplistic belief that this "top two primary" will
magically allow more "moderate" Chamber of Commerce establishment
Republicans to get elected — with the added bonus of denying voters any
real choices in November by eliminating minor political parties from the
general election ballot (Green, Libertarian, Americans Elect), and even
Democratic candidates in many Republican voter registration heavy
districts, perhaps even statewide races. This initiave will thus disenfranchise voters.

I have posted at length about the lack of merit for this initiative:

• The latest Goo-Goos gone bad: The top two primary (11/28/11)
• The Open Elections/Open Government Act initiative – 'silver-bullet naivete' (12/6/11)
• Ivory tower political theory meets cold hard reality: the false premise of the 'top two primary' system  (6/3/12)
• California's experiment with the 'top two' primary was an epic failure (6/12/12)
• The Arizona Republic shills for the Open Elections/Open Government initiative (6/13/12)
• More trouble for the 'Open Elections/Open Government Act' initiative (7/5/12)
• Open Elections/Open Government Act initiative oral arguments this Friday (7/31/12
• Washington state's Top Two primary results (federal) (8/8/12)

Unfortunately, the Chamber of Commerce will spend whatever it takes
to pass this initiative, and they will enjoy lots of free advertising
from the opinion writers at the establishment Republican newspaper, The Arizona Republic. Head cheerleader Laurie Roberts is probably posting a gushing GOPropaganda piece as I am writing this.

Here are the groups that have formed in Arizona to oppose the ballot initiative:

Save Our Vote
Opposes the Open Elections/Open Government initiative
Chairman: Tony Bradley, campaign manager for U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar
Other key members: Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery, former U.S. Rep. John Shadegg

Safeguard Arizona’s Future
Opposes the Open Elections/Open Government initiative
Chairman: Ronald Ludders
Other key members: Mark Rogalski

StopTopTwo.org
Opposes top-two primary proposals across the U.S., including the Open Elections/Open Government initiative
Founder
and CEO: Christina Tobin, head of Free & Equal Elections
Foundation, former ballot access coordinator for Ralph Nader’s 2008
presidential campaign and Libertarian candidate for California secretary
of state in 2010

Now defeat these "Goo-Goos gone bad" — Proposition 121 is a terrible idea.