image by Sean Lynn
Yes, Cthulu is running for President of the United States. You can even see his filing papers. He is listed as Dr. Ourlordandsavior Cthulu with H.P. Lovecraft as his authorized campaign committee. If you google Cthulu for President, you will find pages of websites devoted to his cause. He has at least two competitors for the Communist Party nomination, The Antichrist, and Batman Notbrucewayne. There may be more; I did not read them all. Other candidates are Dat Phat A$$ (Republican Party), Jesus Christ (unaffiliated), Obiwan Kenobi, Yoda, Satan, Pawter of Gryffindor, Darth Vader, Mickey Mouse, Tronald Dump and dozens more in the same vein.
According to Slate back in 2006, usually 250 candidates apply in any Presidential election cycle. This year we have a whopping 1,754 of them running for President with the greatest number of jokester candidates ever.
Candidates are not required to register their candidacy until they spend more than five thousand dollars but they may file if they wish. After that $5,000 threshold, there is much more accountability. Ralph Nader, back in 1996, pointedly did not file any papers and came in fourth place.
Anyone can file. You can click on the names and read the filing papers of each and every candidate on the Federal Election Commission website. There is no filing fee. The government does not want to discriminate against long-shot candidates. That’s a good thing right? Evidently there is no Identification required either. The form asks nothing pertaining to the requirements of becoming President, such as citizenship or age.
This notice at the bottom of the form,
Submission of false, erroneous, or incomplete information may subject the person signing this Statement to penalties of 52 U.S.C. ยง30109.
must be for decoration.
Can’t we get some respect for the office of President? Apparently not.
This growing number of crank candidates is another reflection of the growing lack of esteem and respect the voting public has for campaigns, elections, politicians, and political office. Unlike my image above, Cthulu devoted websites have the slogan
Why vote for the lesser evil?
Can’t get much more disdainful or despairing than that.
In the past, the office of President was venerated. It is a position of massive responsibility. It’s weighty. It becomes a burden to those who hold it. It requires great academic and cultural intelligence, great knowledge of how the world works and how our government works, fortitude, patience, and diplomacy. An in-depth understanding of the history of our nation is greatly helpful too.
Anyone who has to manage so many irons deserves our help, our cooperation, our prayers, and our respect.
Any ideas on how we can bring back the respect or are we, in fact, being a part of the end?
