I don't have a dog in this fight, but...

[Lamplighter]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

Thaddeus McCotter was awesome, but lost his congressional job in 2012
due to arcane ballot access matters*. It should not have happened,
I'm certain it was his staffers' fault as was alleged, and he deserved better.
But in any case, it's unlikely that he will ever again be in politics....

I followed up on your post about Mr McCotter in our Book of all Truths, Wikipedia,
and it does appear as tho it was his staff that were responsible for his political demise.
Several members of his staff were found guilty and served jail time for forging (my phrase)
signatures on ballot nomination forms which resulting in the signatures being removed.

But I'm not seeing what you mean by "arcane ballot access matters"
Was it only a problem with the numbers, or do you suggest there were other political games being played ?

At this point of my readings, I would put the events in the same category as
what seems to be going on with Chris Christy and the Washington Bridge business.
Christy denies all "knowledge or involvement", but some of his staff appear to be deeply involved.

But as with the military's chain of command, the boss "knew or should have known",
what the staff is doing. And if not he/she is still complicit because he/she should have
trained or otherwise shown subordinates the legal or appropriate ways to run their shop.