Introduction to New Writer & Greens Locked out of Presidential Appointments
I would like to first introduce myself as the newest writer to www.greenpartywatch.org.
My name is Richard Rhodes. I am the first EVER third party student in the over twenty five year history of the Graduate School of Political Management at the George Washington University, I will be graduating in December of 2009 as the program’s first EVER third party graduate. I have previously worked in the Green Party of the United States National Office as an Assistant to the National Staff (www.gp.org), with the Green Institute as an Independent Researcher (www.greeninstitute.net), and spent two stints working for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) the first as intern and the second as an Legislative Assistant (www.norml.org). I am currently residing in Arlington, VA.
I will primarily be focusing my writing on news concerning the national party and the war on drugs, especially the despicable campaign against cannabis smokers that our nation has implemented since the passage of the Marihuana Tax Act in 1937.
Now with introduction’s over, on to the topic at hand.
President Obama has been in office for approximately five months now. In this time he has shown his true colors of allegiance to the duopoly by making the following Republican appointments or nominations:
1. Utah Republican Governor Jon Huntsman to serve as U.S. ambassador to China (Formerly deputy U.S. trade ambassador, appointed by George W. Bush, and former U.S. ambassador to Singapore, appointed by George H.W. Bush.)
2. Former Republican Representative Ray Lahood (Illinois’s 18th District) to serve as Obama’s Secretary of Transportation
3. Robert Gates: Defense Secretary under George W Bush from 2006 to 2008, former Director of Central Intelligence under George H.W. Bush, and involved in the Iran-Contra scandal, was kept on as Defense Secretary by Obama
4. Republican Senator Judd Gregg was nominated by Obama to be his Secretary of Commerce in February of this year, luckily Gregg eventually declined the nomination
Worse, Obama has yet to make one single nomination of a Green. Change cannot just be some stupid little ploy to get people to elect you. President Obama owes the country a true change in how politics in our country have operated, and the nomination of a Green would have been (or still could be, although no one hold your breath on this) a great signal to the country that he is not just campaign slogans.
We are glad to have you here, Richard!
The differences between the Dems and Reps is shrinking, and it is getting harder and harder to figure out who is co-opting whom…
Welcome aboard, Richard!
If anyone out there questions the need to end the war on drugs, read Allison Kilkenny’s column about her conversation with Jack Cole of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition:
http://trueslant.com/allisonkilkenny/2009/05/19/cops-say-to-legalize-drugs/
What do you mean you’ll be the first third party graduate? Do you take classes based on party? How do you know you’re the first third party graduate?
Richard,
Welcome. Thank you for raising this important subject.
Many talented and successful Green Party people are available. They could do an outstanding job in the Obama Administration.
May I request you write about what Green Party leaders, elected officials, or gifted Green Party members should be in this administration.
I’d like to see Winslow Wheeler, author of “The Wastrels of Defense”, and former chief of staff of the U.S. Senate appropriations committee, as the Obama Secretary of Defense. Mr. Wheeler gave a detailed presentation about three years ago at a Green Institute event about cutting wasteful government spending.
Medea Benjamin of Code Pink would add a positive Green Party voice at the State Department.
Gail “for Rail” Parker of Virginia’s Independent Greens belongs in a leadership role at the Transportation department to push for High Speed Rail nationwide, cut dependence on foreign oil in half, save lives.
Former congressman Dan Hamburg of California would be excellent for Housing and Urban Development.
How about Reverend Billy for Chaplin of the House of Representatives…
Richard Carroll, and Rebecca Kennedy of Arkansas Green Party would be dedicated patriots anywhere in the administration.
Ross, I think he means that he is the first third party graduate in that he is a graduating student who belongs to a minor political party. I think that he may have done research himself on knowing that he is the first third party graduate.
Thanks to all, and I am pleased to be writing here.
Ross: I asked around and spoke to the dean of the program as well as several of the professors of the GSPM about the past history of graduates of the program and found out that every single graduate so far has been a Democrat or Republican. There had been a few Independent’s in the past, yet none of them finished the program and graduated, thus when I graduate I will become the first ever Independent or Third Party student to graduate from the program.