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by Ronald Hardy

Future Focus for the Green Party (an open thread)

October 31, 2008 in Green Party Watch

Cynthia McKinney and Rosa Clemente both state that they are in this race to build a movement. Others have said that a vote for McKinney & Clemente is a vote toward party building and movement building.

Where is the Green Party heading? How has 2008 been different than 2004? How does 2008 impact 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012?

It has been pointed out that Green Party candidates in America have declined in numbers compared to other Parties, particularly the Libertarians, but how do you explain the growth of Green Party candidates in Arkansas, Illinois, Michigan, the heartland of America? How does this “heartland” growth coincide with the perception that the Green Party is now the Black, Brown and Green Party (with Red Socialism tucked inside…)? Will we see a surge in candidates over the next two years?

Where will the Green Party fit in the post-election political landscape? With the Wall Street Bailout and looming Peak Oil, will New Urbanism, Sustainability, & Local Economics become key issues that the Green Party can wrap around? Will the war(s) ever end? How will the Green Party influence the urgency of health care, alternative energy, and green jobs? What about the housing crisis? will the Green Party be offering solutions that resonate with the American people?

What should Greens in America do?

Here is Head Roc, Change in America:

This is an Open Thread (but aren’t they are?), please speak your mind.

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by Ronald Hardy

Sandy Amborn for State Representative (Maine D.120)

October 31, 2008 in Grassroots Democracy, State Party News

Sandy Amborn
District 120 in Maine (Munjoy Hill area of Portland) is an open seat. Three political newcomers are running for it: Republican Peter Doyle, a software developer; Democrat Diane Marie Russell-Natera, self-employed; and Green Party candidate Sandy Amborn, a research assistant at Idexx Laboratories. This is the kind of race that anyone could win, especially in the Portland, Maine area. Sandy Amborn, who maintains a campaign blog, can win it.

In 2006, Green Party candidate Ben Meiklejohn took 43% of the vote running for this seat, coming in 2nd out of three candidates. in 2004, Green Party candidate Pamela Jean Cragin took 35.6% of the vote in the 120th, coming in second of 3. Can Amborn pull in enough votes to put her over the top?

From a profile of the race in the Portland Press Herald:

Amborn said the Legislature should consider raising more money by imposing a tax on bottled water and eliminating or revising some corporate tax breaks.

“I do think we need more revenue,” she said. “I think we need to look at ways to do that that don’t burden low- and middle-income people.”

Amborn said she would be a strong advocate for a single-payer health insurance system and for state efforts to promote clean energy and help residents cope with high home heating oil prices by subsidizing weatherization and setting tougher energy efficiency standards for buildings.

(photo from the Portland Press Herald)

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by Ronald Hardy

List of 73 Green Party Candidates running for State Legislature

October 31, 2008 in Grassroots Democracy, State Party News

73 Green Party candidates are seeking election to state legislative offices around the nation.

Illinois is fielding the largest slate of state legislative candidates at 18, followed by Maine with 10, Michigan with 7, Arkansas & Connecticut with 6 a piece. Other states with state legislative candidates include Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington, and West Virginia.

These candidates are on top of 69 Green Party candidates for U.S. House of Representatives, 7 candidates for U.S. Senate, and 2 candidates for Governor. There are over 200 Green Party candidates on the ballot on Nov. 4 (or Dec. 6).

Below is a list of the 73 candidates running for State legislature:
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by Ronald Hardy

Jason Wallace for Congress – (Illinois 11th CD)

October 31, 2008 in Congressional Campaigns

Jason WallaceJason Wallace is the Green Party candidate for U.S. House of Representatives in the 11th District, Illinois. Wallace is a 26 years old Iraq War Veteran and a student at Illinois State University. He is an engaging person, active in his community, and committed to improving the lives of those around him. And he’s polling around 9% in this hotly contested race.

The 11th District race is an open seat after the retirement of Jerry Weller, leading to a battle to grab the open seat. The Democratic candidate, Debbie Halvorson, has raised more than 1.7 million dollars, and another 1.4 million dollars in advertising is coming directly from the Democratic Party. (source). The Republican candidate, Martin Ozinga III, has raised 1.1 million dollars. Jason Wallace created a self-imposed fund raising cap at $10,000 (Calling it 10K08), stating “…While other campaigns are raising hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars in special interest money we want to let you put your two cents in as a real voter instead of cutting back-room deals with the political machine.”

Wallace’s main campaign issues:

  • Veteran Funding and Care
  • Renewable and Sustainable Energy
  • Restoring Civil Liberties and Rights
  • Increased Funding for Public Education
  • Medicare for All – Single Payer Health Care

You can find out more and help support the Jason Wallace campaign at www.electwallace.us
(Above photo by soundfromwayout)

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by Ronald Hardy

Cynthia McKinney: Oppose Africom

October 31, 2008 in Presidential Campaign

ht: Dee’s ‘Dotes

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by Ronald Hardy

Rumors, Lies, Debates, Smears and Attacks

October 30, 2008 in Green Party Watch

This is an open thread. Speak your mind.

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by Ronald Hardy

Malik Rahim for Congress (Louisiana 2nd)

October 30, 2008 in Congressional Campaigns

Malik Rahim, Green Party candidate for U.S. House of Representatives in Florida’s 2nd Congressional District, will not be on the ballot Nov. 4. Because of Hurricane Katrina Rita Ike, the election will actually be on December 6. That gives Malik Rahim an extra month to organize and get the word out.

Malik Rahim’s race is a featured race for the Green Party, his work following Hurricane Katrina was an example of Green Values in Action. His role as a keynote speaker at the Chicago GPUS Presidential Nominating Convention was no accident, and his message is strong.

From his website:

Malik Rahim, born and raised in New Orleans’ Algiers neighborhood, has worked as an organizer for decades around housing and prison issues. During Hurricane Katrina, Malik stayed to assist the community and has been speaking out about racism and the failures of government exposed by the Katrina disaster.
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by Ronald Hardy

DC Greens Respond to Washington Post McKinney Piece

October 30, 2008 in Presidential Campaign

On Monday, the Washington Post published an article on Cynthia McKinney in the “Style” section entitled: “Stealth Candidacy“. While media coverage of the Green Party is rare from news publications such as the Washington Post, when it happens it is usually a wee bit negative. This article starts: “Spies. They’re probably in the room, she says ominously.” You can imagine the direction this is going to take from that start (or read it yourself).

Adding further insult to injury, the Washington Post chose to omit Cynthia McKinney from their Presidential Candidates web page, choosing instead to stick with Barack Obama and his three leading white male opponents (Chuck Baldwin was left off as well, as proof that it wasn’t a conspiracy against women).

The DC Greens have responded with the following release and well written response to the “Stealth Candidacy” article:

WASHINGTON, DC — The following response to an October 27 Washington Post article on Green presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney was prepared with the intent of submitting as a guest column.
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by deesings

A Presidential Candidate Who Gets It on Immigration

October 30, 2008 in Presidential Campaign

Cynthia McKinney Responds to Sanctuary Survey

Showing the vitality and importance of voices from outside the mainstream two-party political paradigm, Congresswoman McKinney puts forth not only a strong understanding of the complexities of these issues, but also a vision of real-world solutions. Her refreshing willingness to confront the broader social and economic realities which undergird international migration further demonstrates that practical solutions will not come from political compromises and “bipartisan” gamesmanship, but rather from rigorously-grounded assessment and analysis.

Simply put, McKinney gets it right.

Read the entire article.

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Avatar of Ronald Hardy

by Ronald Hardy

Green Party State Legislative Races

October 30, 2008 in Grassroots Democracy

The Green Party has XX candidates running for state legislative office across the US. The last Green to hold a state legislative seat was John Eder in Maine.

The Green Party (US) today released a short list of state legislative races to watch, on top of a much more thorough profiled list of candidates for offices up and down the ballot here. The press release today notes that of the state legislative races there are a few strong possibilities of victory on election day, and profiles four candidates:

• Richard Carroll is running unopposed, except for two write-in candidates, for an open seat in Arkansas State Representative District 39. He has strong union support, with endorsements from the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers (IBB), United Transportation Union, AFSCME, AFL-CIO, Arkansas State Electrical Workers Association, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, and the Central Labor Council of Arkansas, as well as the North Little Rock Fire
Fighters, Ride Free, and Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Mr. Carroll has been active in union organizing for 30 years, holding the offices of Vice President, and Recording Secretary of IBB Local 69, and Vice President, Recording Secretary, and Local Chairman of IBB Local 66

Campaign web site: http://www.newmenu.org/richardcarroll

• Farheen Hakeem, a popular political personality in Minneapolis, is running for Minnesota State House District 61B. Three candidates are seeking an open seat, and in recent polls Ms. Hakeem is running in a statistical dead heat for the lead. Ms. Hakeem, who has worked as a teacher and volunteers as a Girl Scout Leader, ran for Mayor of Minneapolis in 2005 as a Green and received 14% of the vote. In 2006, she ran for Hennepin County Commissioner (District 4) against a Democratic incumbent, drawing 33%.

Minneapolis Mirror article with video:
Campaign web site: http://www.farheenhakeem.org

• Ante Marijan, candidate for State Representative in the Chicago (District 2), received endorsements from the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune.

Campaign web site: http://www.11thwardgreens.org/

• Kent Solberg, candidate for State Representative District 27, received the endorsement of the Arizona Daily Star, the largest circulation newspaper in Tucson. He also qualified for Arizona Clean Elections funds, enabling him to run a well-financed campaign. The campaign has canvassed the entire district twice with 50,000 brochures each time, and just finished a series of three special rallies with live bands. Mr. Solberg, running an
issues-oriented campaign, has a very real chance to defeat one of the two incumbents.

Campaign web site: http://www.kent4house.org

A full list of Green Party State Legislative Candidates will be posted here soon. For a complete list of Green Party candidates in America see the Green Party Elections Database.

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by deesings

David Cobb: McKinney for president

October 29, 2008 in National Greens, Presidential Campaign

Found on The Arcata Eye

I am proud to say that I will be voting for Green Party member Cynthia McKinney for President of the United States this year.

….she realizes that real systemic change will require a broad and deep social movement linked to a political party rooted in that social movement. And she knows that principled progressives have been sold out and lied to by the corporate-controlled Democratic Party leadership.

Third parties have always been the voice of the people, especially during times when great changes are needed.  So if you want a U.S. foreign policy based on human rights, if you oppose the war in Iraq, if you support a living wage, if you want universal health care for all, please consider registering to vote as a member of the Green Party.

As a registered Green, you vote for peace, social justice, sustainability and grassroots democracy every single day.  How? Because your registration sends a powerful message to elected officials, to the media and to the entire world that you are committed to a fundamental transformation of how our government and our society operates.

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Avatar of Ronald Hardy

by Ronald Hardy

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette glowing endorsement of Richard Carroll

October 29, 2008 in State Party News

Although the Green Party candidate Richard Carroll is the only candidate on the ballot, and the newspaper notes that clearly, nonetheless the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s endorsement of Richard Carroll for the Arkansas State Legislature is a big deal. The paper admits the decision was easy since he was the only one on the ballot, but goes on to state “…we’re not so sure we wouldn’t be endorsing Richard Carroll today even if the Democrats and Republicans had fielded candidates.”

Why? Read on…

If there’s an honest, down-to-earth straight-shooter on this year’s ballot, Richard Carroll seems to be it. He told us he was considering a write-in candidacy but decided to go with the Greens: “I don’t have to agree with all their platform, but as long as I don’t disagree publicly . . . .” Join the club, Mr. Carroll. Who always agrees with their party of choice? But show us a politician who’ll actually say that, and the conversation is getting close to being honest.

There are other reasons for the voters in HD 39 to go for Richard Carroll. If it were up to him, he says, the state would remove the grocery tax completely. He talks (and talks a lot) about bringing more jobs to the Little Rock area, especially in light manufacturing. He says he wants more vo-tech opportunities for young folks. And-this is a big concern in House District 39, and should be-he says he thinks the state should be doing more to fight crime. (“I would like to help in any way I can at the legislative level to help fund extra officers and programs . . . .”) Sounds like a plan.

Sounds like a solid candidate.

Sounds like a Green Party candidate who deserves to win a House seat.

Our choice in House District 39 is Richard Carroll.

Yes, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette actually likes Richard Carroll.

You can read the

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by Ronald Hardy

Congressional Candidate Brouillet – “Controlled Demolition”

October 28, 2008 in Congressional Campaigns

Some politicians tip toe around issues, others lay them right out there for you.

Carol Brouillet, Green Party candidate for the U.S. House in California (14th CD) is laying them out and putting them on the air.

In this 30 second ad spot, which will run over 200 times in her district, Brouillet covers 9/11, Impeachment, the PATRIOT ACT, the financial bailout, and more in a “speak the truth and investigate” spirit.

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by Mato Ska

The Economy and the Wreck of the Hesperus

October 28, 2008 in Editorials

To the captains of finance and Congress and the administration:

The fact is that this crisis is no news to economists or financial observers . It has been coming for sometime as a result of the housing bubble and low Fed rates. To be honest with you it really is not greed or some unknown or unnamed moral failing at fault. The SEC was there the whole time, Congressional oversight was there the whole time.

It appears more likely that some sort of Gentleman’s Agreement was made where backs were scratched and favors made for convenience and mutual benefit. One example of such an agreement involved Connecticut Senator Christopher Dodd: “All of those companies had put substantial money behind Dodd: more than $200,000 from PACs and employees of AIG in the past six years. Another $200,000 from Bear Stearns. And six-figure donations from Lehman and other companies now struggling under bad mortgage debt.” Read the whole story for yourself and judge for yourself who else was in the same line as Dodd. The worst thing we can conclude is that things would have been better IF ONLY Congress had known.

Just don’t say BUSINESS WEEK didn’t warn us. This one has the Fed’s fingerprints all over it and now they think lowering interest rates will cure the addiction.

JULY 19, 2004 Is A Housing Bubble About To Burst? (Excerpt)
“As rising rates send mortgage payments higher, demand may cool. Today’s housing prices are predicated on an impossible combination: the strong growth in income and asset values of a strong economy, plus the ultra-low rates of a weak economy. Either the economy’s long-term prospects will get worse or rates will rise. In either scenario, housing will weaken. Caveat emptor. ”

THE WRECK OF THE HESPERUS (excerpts)
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The Skipper he stood beside the helm,
His pipe was in his mouth,
And he watched how the veering flaw did blow
The smoke now West, now South.

Then up and spake an old Sailor,
Had sailed the Spanish Main,
“I pray thee, put into yonder port,
for I fear a hurricane.

“Last night the moon had a golden ring,
And to-night no moon we see!”
The skipper, he blew whiff from his pipe,
And a scornful laugh laughed he.

At daybreak, on the bleak sea-beach,
A fisherman stood aghast,
To see the form of a maiden fair,
Lashed close to a drifting mast.

The salt sea was frozen on her breast,
The salt tears in her eyes;
And he saw her hair, like the brown sea-weed,
On the billows fall and rise.

Such was the wreck of the Hesperus,
In the midnight and the snow!
Christ save us all from a death like this,
On the reef of Norman’s Woe!

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Avatar of Ronald Hardy

by Ronald Hardy

Another Big Endorsement for Jesse Johnson

October 28, 2008 in Ecological Wisdom & the Environment, State Party News

The West Virginia Citizen Action Fund has endorsed Mountain Party Candidate for Governor Jesse Johnson. This is the second major endorsement in West Virginia for Jesse Johnson just one week before the election.

WASHINGTON, DC — The Jesse Johnson campaign for Governor of West Virginia was endorsed by West Virginia Citizen Action Fund

The Citizen Action Fund, a new political action committee formed by West Virginia Citizen Action Group, is the state’s oldest consumer protection and government watch-dog organization.

The endorsement, announced last week and reporterd in the Huntington Herald-Dispatch (“Citizen group announces endorsements,” Oct. 19) recognizes Jesse Johnson’s outspoken advocacy for West Virginians in public health, the environment, workers’ and consumers’ protections, transition to clean alternative energy, and other areas.

“The CAF endorsement clearly acknowledges Jesse as the gubernatorial candidate who will fight for the people of West Virginia instead of powerful corporate interests who’ve treated the state like a dumping ground,” said Lesia Angel, Deputy Commissioner of the Mountain Party.
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