Green Party Watch

There are around 3 million ethnic Turks in Germany, and German Green and Parliament member Cem Ozdemir is one of them. This weekend he was elected co-leader of the German Greens to serve along with Claudia Roth. Ozdemir is the first German politician of foreign descent to ascend to the leadership of a political party in Germany.

From Hurriyet:

“What is important for me is not my election as a person of Turkish origin but my election despite this fact. Whatever one’s roots are they can be elected,” he said. “I want to invite all to be engaged in politics. I come from a working class family. If I could achieve this triumph others may well succeed as well. Every segment is part of our society.”

From the International Herald Tribune:

“I want a society where everyone has an equal chance, regardless of where they come from,” Ozdemir said in his acceptance speech at the Greens’ congress in the central city of Erfurt.

Hurriyet
International Herald Tribune
BBC

The Milwaukee Examiner reports on Cynthia McKinney’s election night address, focusing on her calls to continue to demand the change that her supporters fought and voted for:

The Green Party’s 2008 presidential candidate, Cynthia McKinney, called on her supporters to maintain pressure on President-elect Barack Obama and “organize, mobilize [and] agitate” to ensure that true change comes to the White House.

McKinney, who received about 1 percent of the popular vote in last week’s election, said that while Obama’s election provides the country with an opportunity to change direction after eight years of a “rogue government,” nothing will happen unless those on the political left continue to be active in pushing a progressive agenda.

“We have to create that torrent that is going to end war and occupation, that’s going to end social injustice,” McKinney told her supporters.

Although McKinney fell far short of the 5 percent vote margin she was hoping to achieve, she said she looked forward to engaging the incoming administation in a dialogue “that reflects our values.”

She also criticized the 2008 presidential campaign for its lack of substantive discussion of such issues as NAFTA, a livable wage for working people and universal health care for all Americans.

Video below
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Legend has it that in A.D. 64 the emperor Nero (A.D. 37 – A.D. 68), last of the Caesars, set fire to Rome to see ‘how Troy would look when it was in flames’ and to serve as a suitable background for a recitation of his poetry while accompanying himself on the lyre.” Recent history in Iraq indicates that the Maliki government is seeking to fiddle while Kurdistan burns.

“TIKRIT, Iraq (AFP) — Thousands of Sunni and Shiite Arabs took to the streets across Iraq Saturday to defend Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki against criticism from leaders of the country’s Kurdish minority. Demonstrations were held in the northern Sunni town of Tikrit — the hometown of executed dictator Saddam Hussein — the once-restive Sunni town of Hawijah, and the mostly Shiite southern cities of Karbala, Najaf, Nasiriyah, Samawah, and Hilla, AFP correspondents said.”

There is a rising tide of actions by both the government in Baghdad and the sectarian militias and political parties to provoke conflict so they can prevent the implementation of Article 140. “Kurdish Parliamentary President Adnan Mufti led the session [of the Kurdish Parliament] to discuss bringing regional armed groups into line with the Iraqi army as well as power-sharing arrangements with the Kurdistan Regional Government and the central government in Baghdad. On the topic of the Peshmerga, the Kurdish militia, Parliament noted the force is the legitimate protector of Iraqi Kurdistan, according to the state constitution.” It is vital for Kurds in the Diaspora and in the region to present the Kurdish issue to governments that have disregarded it far too frequently in their policies.
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In a post at their website, the Colorado Green Party is promoting the Transpartisan Alliance, which claims to be a way to bring liberals, conservatives, libertarians, greens, independents and everyone else together.

Transpartisanship acknowledges the validity of truths across a range of political perspectives and seeks to synthesize them into an inclusive, pragmatic whole beyond typical political dualities.

Sponsors include the League of Women Voters, who often refuse to allow smaller party and independent candidates to participate in the debates they sponsor, the Liberty Coalition, a Ron Paul off-shoot, Common Cause, Mobilize.org, and the National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation.

The website lists a number of individuals and groups involved. Here is a list of the group’s “Advisors”, including the Green Party’s political director, Brent McMillan.

Cynthia McKinney sent an email to supporters today urging them to help elect Malik Rahim to Congress:

We all know the importance of having someone of conscience in the United States Congress, someone of unbending commitment to our values and not just another representative of “business-as-usual” politics. Malik Rahim proved his mettle when we all watched in horror as events unfolded in New Orleans and the Gulf States. What a shame that African-American Hurricane Katrina survivors have had to file a discrimination lawsuit against Louisiana’s Road Home program in order to earn their right of return. With Malik in Washington, our own internally displaced population can finally see justice–and not just abundant hot air–delivered from the halls of the U.S. Capitol. We need Malik now and now Malik needs us. Bill Jefferson, the incumbent, has been indicted on 16 counts of corruption charges. We need Malik in that seat! For those of you who are close to Louisiana, please consider giving Malik a weekend to knock on doors and make important voter contact in the lead-up to the December 6 Louisiana General Election. Please visit http://www.votemalik.com/ and make a contribution today!

She includes a recent interview with Malik Rahim, from the Pittsburgh City Paper:
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Jay Sweeney of Falls Township, PA, has written a letter of thanks to local Green Party chapters and those who voted in the recent elections. Jay also thanks the LWV and local media for their efforts. Maybe other Greens should consider a similar letter.

The Riverside /Brookfield Landmark reports on a tax hike which died at the ballot box while all sorts of green initiatives won the voter’s approval. They also report on the success of local Green Party candidate Jerome Pohlen. We have the voters on the issues…now we need more effective and adequately funded local campaigns to make the voter’s wishes into reality.

Media Mouse, based in Grand Rapids, MI, picked up a GP press release and expanded on it for their readers.

The Day is reporting on efforts in Connecticut Greens to be sure all Cynthia McKinney and Rosa Clemente’s votes are counted. They ran as write-in candidates in that state.

This piece in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette about the new State Legislature mentions Richard Carroll, the newly elected Green Party member to the State Legislature, and his future political affiliation:

Harrelson said Rep.-elect Richard Carroll, a Green Party member from North Little Rock, caucused with the Democrats.

“We’ve asked him if he wants to be a member of the Democratic Party, and he said that he felt obligated to the Green Party,” said Harrelson.

“I think his feelings may change because, of course, we’ll seek a Democratic candidate for House District 39 in two years if he is still a Green Party candidate, so we are going to talk him into changing parties,” Harrelson said.

Carroll said he wants to concentrate on working on legislation for next year’s session now rather than deciding whether to run as a Democrat or Green in 2010.

Carroll drew No. 90 for seniority.

Carroll decided to serve on the House Public Transportation Committee and the House Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs Committee.

What I find ironic about this is that the Democrats refused to run against the Republican Congressman in Arkansas, but feel obligated to run against an apparent ally in Green Party legislator Richard Carroll. Kudos to Carroll to sticking with issues over political affiliation. If he does a great job as a legislator and serves his constituents, he ought to be able to hold his seat as a Green in 2010.

From the Arkansas Greens:

More than a week after the election, Elizabeth McCoy, Green Party candidate for Chicot County Assessor trails the Democrat by one vote. Ballots from three precincts may be missing. The County Clerk refuses to open the one missing absentee ballot that has arrived, opting rather to order 8000 new ballots for a runoff. Since there were only two candidates in the race, a runoff may not be an option.

The Chicot County Election Commission will be meeting at 9 AM Thursday to decide on what action to take: declaring a winner, holding a runoff election, or doing a recount, and/or charging the Arkansas Green Party $1100 for the recount.

I don’t know what to say. I’m shocked. The Ark. Greens shouldn’t have to pay for a recount, but if they have to they should, and we should help them pay for it. Why can’t they just count the damn ballots?

In a press release from GPUS today a number of victories on election day are applauded.

In Congressional races, GPUS recognizes Arkansas specifically for Rebekah Kennedy’s record 20.59% return in her U.S. Senate race, and Arkansas Green Deb McFarland’s 23.33% return running for the U.S. House of Representatives. Combined with Richard Carroll’s election to the Arkansas State Legislature…

Arkansas Greens showed the most dramatic electoral growth of any state Green Party.

Overall, Green Party candidates for the U.S. House brought in 568,791 votes in 2008 not including Malik Rahim’s Dec. 6 election, more than doubling the number of votes U.S. House candidates received in 2006 (252,550). Also recognized is the record number of candidates running in Illinois (54), and the success of the West Virginia Mountain Party in their first election cycle in affiliation with the Green Party. Jesse Johnson earned 4.5% of the vote in his run for Governor of West Virginia, the highest percent for an “alternative political party” candidate in West Virginia since the Socialists in 1912.

More…
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As you may know, five “mystery” Greens ran for office in Florida. I say mystery because they were unknown to anyone in the Green Party, were recent registrants in the Green Party, and were pretty much un-reachable by Florida Greens. Ballot Access News says their being on the ballot had no discernible impact on the outcome in their races.

Peter Camejo was the California Green Party candidate for Governor and was also Ralph Nader’s running mate in 2004. He died earlier this year and this article lays out plans for a public memorial of Camejo’s life.

The DC Statehood Green Party is calling on the Democratic Party, now fully in control of both houses of Congress as well as the Whitehouse, to grant statehood to Washington DC.

Peace Action posted a detailed story about Malik Rahim, Green Party congressional candidate in New Orleans.

Over at Third Estate Sunday Review the authors blame racism within the Green Party ranks for not showing more love to Cynthia McKinney and Rosa Clemente in post-election evaluations.

My family will be moving to Simpsonville, SC by Thanksgiving. With 28 years of our married life and 55 years of married life for my in-laws, that’s a lot of stuff to deal with. In short, my posts here will be sporadic until after the move is complete.

Louisiana turned out one of the better showings for Cynthia McKinney on November 4, which may have been due to her embracing of the Reconstruction Platform and strong post-Katrina positions.

Malik Rahim is the living embodiment for post-Katrina reconstruction. In the days following Hurricane Katrina he founded the Common Ground Collective, a grassroots organization dedicated to bringing food, medicine and services to the people of New Orleans, supported by a grassroots network of donations and support. Malik Rahim was born and raised in New Orleans, and is dedicated to the people of New Orleans, including the hundreds of thousands of refugees who left the city and have yet to return.

Because of this year’s hurricanes, the election for U.S. Congress in the second district was postponed to December 6. Malik Rahim, the Green Party candidate, faces off against incumbent Democrat Bill Jefferson, who has been indicted on 16 counts of corruption. Also running are Joseph Cao, Republican, and Gregory Kahn, Libertarian.

This is the kind of race that Greens across the nation can get behind. It is local, it is about social and economic justice, it is about grassroots activism and about electing a representative to Congress that would truly represent and fight for his constituents.

If you are disappointed with the results of the Presidential campaign, put some energy and love into the Malik Rahim campaign for Congress. Greens across the nation are already donating and supporting this December 6 race. Please contribute and spread the word.

Green Party Political Director Brent McMillan is the guest on today’s Green Party Watch Radio. He will be discussing the election results of November 4th, the coming election in New Orleans, and other things as they come up.

First, Green Party Watch apologizes for the lack of posts following the election. It is not due to post-election slow down, it has been due to personal lives catching up. I had to go to a conference the day after the election and I just got home. I had little time to process results during that time, and little time to look forward.

Looking forward however is exactly what the Green Party is (and should be) doing though, although there are still many people looking backward on the election.

A few thoughts (of which only a few are my own):

• Can we look back at the 2008 elections constructively without casting blame, pointing fingers, or complaining? What can we identify as major challenges that we faced, and what are the solutions to overcome them in the future?
• Where did we exceed expectations?
• What impact did the 2008 race(s) have on ballot access, and what can the Green Party do to retain or expand ballot access?
• Should the Green Party pressure the “first 100 days” of the Obama administration? How? Will it matter if we do? How will (or should) the Green Party position ourselves in the shadow of the Democrat’s Government and the Republican Party’s decline?
• Should emphasis shift from national to local in terms of Green Party organizing and activism? Is there a “bio-regional” solution between the two that could benefit the Greens?  Can a better network of support be built regionally (New England, Atlantic Coast, Gulf Coast, Great Lakes, Middle America, Southwest, Rocky Mountains, Pacific Coast) that would be better positioned to strengthen local and state party organizing and activism?

This is an open thread meant to encourage discussion in the comments. There has been a lot of discussion in the comments this last week that I think is healthy dialog (mostly) and I think that this is an ideal format for hashing out differences and hatching new ideas.

Rebekah Kennedy, running for U.S. Senate in a head to head race against conservative Democrat Mark Pryor in Arkansas, took in 206,504 votes for 20.54% of the vote. This is the highest percent vote return of any Green Party candidate for U.S. Senate ever. Furthermore, 206,504 votes is the second most number of votes won by a Green Party U.S. Senate candidate ever, second only to Medea Benjamin’s 2000 Senate race in California (326,828). For a brief history of Green U.S. Senate candidates click here.

In Illinois, Kathy Cummings pulled in 115,621 votes for 2.56%, the fifth highest number of votes for a Green Senate candidate.

In Colorado, Bob Kinsey won 46,014 votes for 2.13%.

In Michigan, Harvey Mikkelson won 44,439 votes for 0.92%.

In Washington D.C., Keith Ware’s 14,602 votes netted him 7.45%, which puts him in the top 10 highest vote percents for Green Senate candidates.

Chris Lugo in Tennessee took 9,103 votes for 0.38&, and Steve Larrick in Nebraska took in 7,235 votes for 0.95%.

All told, these seven candidates won 443,518 votes, the most votes for a Green Party slate of candidates since the 2000 election, when Medea Benjamin and 9 other candidates brought in over 700,000 votes. This should be seen as a good sign for the Green Party.

My spreadsheet listing Green Party US Senate candidates is on Google docs, and it is mostly based on the excellent Green Party Election Database.