Blaine Taylor, 61, wants to be president. Trouble is, the state refuses to place the Towson writer on February’s primary ballot because he is not considered a “viable candidate,” defined as a candidate generally recognized by the news media, or one who collects 3,200 signatures from Maryland residents. Taylor, a Vietnam Army veteran and former congressional press secretary, has appealed to the state’s Attorney General and is awaiting a response.

In your opinion, what constitutes a “valid candidate?”

What the constitution says one is, and not what Maryland says at present. My position is that Maryland is in violation of the U.S. Constitution, which stipulates no such conditions. The Founding Fathers required no such nonsense! If I was allowed to run for Congress three times and for the U.S. Senate once, it stands to reason that I can run for the presidency.

Why not just get folks to sign a petition?

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That’s a moot point legally, because the state is contravening the federal Constitution by requiring it, and is forbidden to do so by law.

What’s your presidential platform?

No more foreign wars of adventure overseas, end the war of terror on us by ending all U.S. foreign military aid to Israel, bring U.S. troops home from the 130 countries where they are stationed now and spend that projected $2.4 trillion on our pressing needs here at home instead. We need to enact universal health care, abolish the Electoral College, expel all 12 million illegal aliens, repeal Roe versus Wade and end global warming.