One of the proposed questions for the 2006 ballot would, if approved by the voters, create a new state law that would prohibit the Governor from allowing any more Mass. National Guard troops to be sent to Iraq. I’m sympathetic with the goal, though it’s not clear to me that this approach to achieving it would be exactly, shall we say, legal (the organizers’ confident assertions of legality notwithstanding). Mike Dukakis tried something similar when he tried to prevent Mass. National Guard troops from being sent on training exercises in Central America, but he lost that battle in federal court (the intersection of state and federal law with respect to the National Guard is quite the legal morass; there’s some background on the legal issues in the Dukakis case here).
But the legal niceties are a matter for another day. The first hurdle for the sponsors of this initiative is to collect the required 66,000 signatures to put the question on the ballot. And to that end, the folks behind HomeFromIraqNow.org are trying a most interesting strategy: instead of (or maybe in addition to) putting signature gatherers in supermarket parking lots and on street corners, they are asking supporters of the initiative to print out an official petition, sign it themselves (and maybe collect a couple of additional signatures from friends or family members), and then mail it to the organizers. Essentially, instead of going for 660 petitions with 100 signatures each, they’re going for 66,000 petitions with 1 signature each!
A most interesting strategy – retail politics at its most retail. I’ll be very curious to find out whether it works.
Charlie ought to tell you that HCFA is pursuing a double-pronged strategy in this regard. They’re collecting signatures in supermarkets and the like, but you can also download the petition from the MassAct web site and mail it in.
We are pursing the two pronged strategy. Our goal is to collect 100,000 signatures by November 15th. Please join us. I am also identifying netroots organizers who can help us organize nationally and in MA through the internet. If you are interested send me an email at jethro@homefromiraqnow.org. If we are successful at getting this on the ballot it will be to signature gathering what election-by-mail has been for elections. If we fail we (or someone else) will have to start a few months earlier next time. So spread the word widely, collect signatures, recruit other people to collect signatures and spread the word and let me know if you have any questions.