Appearing at the War Crimes Conference and Exhibition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney delivered a 17 minute address to the delegates. The speech, broken into two pieces to accommodate YouTube limitations is under the fold. Hat Tip to Black Agenda Report.
In two stories at Ballot Access News, Richard Winger covers efforts by Democrats in Illinois to run against Tom Tressler in the Green Party primary in Tressler’s bid to win the nomination for President of the Cook County Board, and to keep Green Bill Scheurer from running for Congress on the Green Party line.
In the Tom Tressler case, a person listed as a leader of the Young Democrats has filled out paperwork to run in the Green Party primary against Tressler. When Illinois Greens attempted to contact the Democrat they got no response. Ballot Access News links to this NBC News story about the situation.
In the Bill Scheurer case, the Democratic Party is simply taking the low road by challenging his petitions to appear on the ballot in the Green Party primary. Because the Democratic dominated state legislature has ended a policy of long standing that allows party officials to nominate candidates in races where no candidate filed to run in the primary, a system called “slating”, the Illinois Greens will have no candidate in that congressional race should the petition challenge succeed.
The Democratic Party pulled this same sort of anti-democratic stunt a few years back when they advised Scheurer to hire a ballot access team that planned to sabotage his petitioning effort. Scheurer sued in that case. The current effort to keep him off the ballot is covered at the Daily Herald.
On Nov. 3rd, voters in St. Paul, MN followed in the footsteps of their Minneapolis neighbors by approving the use of instant runoff voting in municipal elections by a vote of roughly 52%-48%. The St. Paul Green Party supported the measure, which faced organized opposition from a group called the Minnesota Voter’s Alliance. St. Paul’s dominant Democratic-Farmer-Labor party was split on the issue. IRV opponents have pledged to challenge the result in court, as they did after voters approved it in Minneapolis. Minnesota, where Jesse Ventura of the Independence Party was elected governor in recent years, could become the first state to use instant runoff voting on a statewide level. See the Pioneer Press for the full story.
GPUS Release:
WASHINGTON, DC — In the wake of a US House vote passing a Democratic health care bill (HR 3962), Green Party leaders and health care activists are calling for a defeat of the bill, calling it little more than a program to subsidize the insurance industry.
Greens are urging supporters of real universal health care to intensify efforts to win Capitol Hill support for Single-Payer/Medicare For All national health care.
“Democrats from President Obama on down know that Single-Payer is the best solution. They’ve said so. But instead of eliminating the waste and inefficiency of for-profit health insurance, the Democrats’ ‘insurance industry life-support’ plan would increase insurance company profits by forcing every American to purchase their inferior products. Many Democrats who previously supported Single-Payer have turned their backs, abandoning real universal health care out of loyalty to the President and their party,” said Midge Potts, Missouri Green candidate for the US Senate (MySpace.com/Midge_Potts_US_Senate).
The Green Party supports Single-Payer, which would guarantee quality health care for every American, allow patients to choose their health care providers, cut paperwork for physicians and hospitals, and reduce health care costs by a third by eliminating the for-profit insurance industry ‘middle man’ (http://www.gp.org/campaigns/health/single-payer). Greens advocate a Single-Payer system run by a not-for-profit trust of health care providers, health care advocates, and taxpayers, rather than by the federal government. The Democratic bill accomplishes none of these goals.
“Democrats want phony health care reform, Republicans want zero reform. Greens seek real reform by making health care a right instead of a privilege, just as we’ve made Social Security, education, and the protections we enjoy from fire and police departments a right for everyone,” added Ms. Potts, one of nine peaceful protesters arrested on November 5 at the Capitol Hill office of Sen. Joseph Lieberman until the senator agreed to stop taking campaign contributions from the insurance industry (video clip: http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=59896394&blogId=517420995).
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Since November 4th, we’ve learned of 7 more Greens elected in California, Colorado, Connecticut and Iowa. In addition to the 21 Greens elected on Nov. 3rd, that makes 28 Green victories this fall. Thanks to Brent McMillan of GPUS for tipping us off. read more »
Green Party (US) release:
• Green Party beachhead in California: Greens take a majority of seats on Fairfax Town Council; see Preliminary Election Day results for Greens at http://www.gp.org/elections/2009-videos/november-results.html
• ‘Send a Green to Congress in 2010′: Greens will reach out to voters who are disappointed by Obama and Dems but haven’t forgotten eight years of GOP misrule under Bush
WASHINGTON, DC — The Green Party made a strong showing in city council races across the US on Election Day, November 3, 2009.
Greens now make up a majority on the Fairfax Town Council in Marin County, California, where first-place finisher Pam Hartwell-Herrero joins incumbents Lew Tremaine and Larry Bragman. Fairfax becomes the fourth municipality in the US to have a Green majority, following Arcata and Sebastopol in California and New Paltz in New York.
A list of Election Day highlights follows below. For a comprehensive report on Green results for Election Day 2009, visit the Green Party’s web site (http://www.gp.org/elections/2009-videos/november-results.html). More results will be listed on the page as they come in.
“The strong showing of Green candidates in 2009, especially among municipal candidates where Greens won 35% of all such races entered, shows that voters believe that Greens not only have good ideas but can govern effectively. When voters are given a positive alternative to the status quo, they will vote for it.” said Green Party co-chair Mike Feinstein, a former Mayor and City Councilmember in Santa Monica, California. (35% is based on 47 Green victories out of 133 municipal races in 2009.)
The Green Party is now turning its attention to the 2010 election.
“Our slogan for the midterm election will be ‘Send a Green to Congress in 2010.’ The Green Party will reach out to voters who’ve been frustrated by the broken promises of change from the Obama White House and Democratic Congress but haven’t forgotten eight years of disastrous Republican misrule under George W. Bush. We’re reminding Americans that they have more than two choices on Election Day. A few Greens in Congress will change the whole dynamic of US politics, ending the narrow corporate-approved pro-war range of two-party ideas,” said Ron Hardy, chair of the Green Party’s Senatorial Campaign Committee (http://www.gp.org/committees/gscc/index.shtml).
• ELECTION DAY HIGHLIGHTS
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The Marin Independent Journal reports that Pam Hartwell-Herrero finished first of six candidates for two seats on the Fairfax town council, joining fellow Greens Lew Tremaine and Larry Bragman to form a Green Party majority on the five-member council. read more »
The video below is from Ann Garrison, who has been covering the suppression of the Green Party in Rwanda. If you want more information about this I highly recommend her website.
From the Youtube description:
Rwandan security operatives and police broke up the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda’s attempt to convene in Kigali, Rwanda on 10.30.2009. I reported this on several blogs and on the OpEdNews, and notified KPFA Radio 94.1FM-Berkeley, which called me on 10.01.2009, with this result. Unfortunately they were not able to reach interim Rwanda Green Party leader Frank Habineza, but Frank can be heard in an on-the-ground BBC report, saying: “There is no rule of law in Rwanda! . . . If you want to keep us out of the elections, and you want to get 99% of the vote, then you have to say it! Enough is enough! We are going forward! We are not going back!”
(Thanks to Marnie for the video link)
Midge Potts, 2010 US Senate candidate in Missouri, is arrested at a single payer health care protest at Joe Lieberman’s office. (FYI: Midge Potts is wearing pink, black hair, the first one pulled out of the office by police)
Midge Potts explains her protest here.
Green Party activist and candidate Howie Hawkins is arrested in Syracuse New York at another single-payer health care protest (thanks to Green Change for posting this video):
The Green Party of Suffolk County New York announced that they now have three of their members elected as Co-Chairs of Green Party (US) National Committees:
The Green Party of Suffolk is proud to announce that its chair Roger Snyder and secretary Ian Wilder have been elected to be co-chairs of the Green Party of the United States (GPUS) Accreditation Committee (AC) and Presidential Campaign Support Committee (PCSC) respectively. Also Green Party of Suffolk executive board member Matthew Lavery was elected co-chair of the National Green Party House Campaign Committee (NGPHCC) early this year.
Clearly something good is happening in Suffolk County, and it is likely due to strong cohesive local green party chapters. such as the Babylon Greens.
read more »
Tuesday’s elections showed both how far the Green Party has come, and how far we still have to go. But it’s not over – on November 17th California Green Jane Rands is running for State Assembly in District 72.
Jane Rands summarizes her reasons for running on her website: “No one should be without clean water, clean air, health care, or an education, and yet so many people in our state are suffering because they cannot afford these things. If these and other issues like a sustainable economy, decentralized clean energy, equal marriage rights and campaign finance reform are important to you, then I ask you to consider voting for me in the Special Election on Nov. 17.” Her platform follows the excellent formula of adopting the four pillars of Green thinking to issues that affect her community, such as water shortages, offshore oil drilling, marriage equality, livable wages, single payer health care, overcrowded prisons, marijuana decriminalization, campaign finance reform, and the death penalty.
California has been very receptive to the Greens’ message when quality candidates like Jane Rands step into the arena. To find out more about her campaign and get involved, check out http://www.janerandsforassembly.com/ .
From gp.org:
Wins on Nov. 3, 2009
California
Pam Hartwell-Herrero wins her race for Fairfax Town Council, Marin County, CA. She finished first of seven candidates for three seats with 1,031 votes or 19.76%. http://www.co.marin.ca.us/depts/rv/main/CurrentElection/Results.htm She joins incumbent greens Lew Tremaine and Larry Bragman to form the third Green Party Majority on a City Council in California (Arcata 1996-1998) and Sebastopol (2000-2006) and fourth in US Green History (New Paltz, New York 2003-2004)
Jim Harvey won his re-election to Montara Water and Sanitary District, San Mateo County, CA.
Paul Perkovic won his re-election to Montara Water and Sanitary District, San Mateo County, CA.
Curtis Robinson won his re-election to Marin County Board of Education Member, Trustee Area 6, CA. He finished first of two candidates with 2,385 votes or 61.01%. http://www.co.marin.ca.us/depts/rv/main/CurrentElection/Results.htm
Dana Silvernale won her race for Northern Humboldt Union High School District, CA. She finished third of four candidates for three seats with 3,239 votes or 22.7%. http://co.humboldt.ca.us/election/results/2009/Final%20Report.html#c-182
Connecticut
Three greens ran for New Canaan, CT Constable. All were elected! There were six candidates overall for six seats.
Cole Stangler finished fourth with 749 votes
Estela Lopez finished fifth with 666 votes
Hector Lopez was re-elected with 627 votes First, Second and Third received 2,349, 2,403 and 1,608 votes respectively. These are partisan races. http://www.newcanaan.info/filestorage/293/329/687/Election_results_11-3-09.pdf
Maine
Kevin Donoghue won his re-election to Portland City Council, District 1, Cumberland County, ME. He finished first of two candidates for one seat with 1,779 votes or 66%. http://www.portlandmaine.gov/voter/voter.asp
David Marshall ran unopposed for Portland City Council District 2, Cumberland County, ME.
Maryland
Dan Robinson ran unopposed for re-election to Takoma Park Town Council, Ward 3, Montgomery County, MD. He received 381 votes. http://www.takomaparkmd.gov/clerk/election/2009/results/index.html
Christine Nagle won her race for College Park City Council District 1, Prince George’s County, MD. She finished second of five candidates for two seats with 281 votes or 28%. http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2009/elections/md/city-councilor/1371/
Massachusetts
In Newburyport, MA:
Question #1 Shall a commission be elected to frame a charter for Newburyport?
Question #1 wins by a large margin Yes: 3,336 No: 1,233
Bruce Menin, who serves on the city’s School Committee, was elected to the Newburyport Charter Commission. He finished fifth of twenty candidates for nine seats with 997 votes.
Chuck Turner won his re-election to Boston City Council, District 7, Suffolk County, MA. He finished first of two candidates for one seat with 5,516 votes or 59.83% http://www.cityofboston.gov/elections/currentelections/
Minnesota
Cam Gordon was re-elected to Minneapolis City Council Ward 2, Hennepin County, MN. He finished first of two candidates for one seat.
Annie Young was re-elected to Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, Hennepin County, MN. She finished second of four candidates for three seats.
New York
Jennifer Dotson ran unopposed for Ithaca Common Council Ward One, Tompkins County, NY. http://www.tompkins-co.org/boe/2009/General/09%20Results/ITHACA%20CITY%20ALDERPERSON%20WARD%201.pdf
Mary Jo Long was re-elected to Afton Town Council, Chenango County, NY. She finished second of three candidates for two seats with 222 votes. http://www.co.chenango.ny.us/
Ohio
Dennis Spisak was re-elected to Struthers Board of Education, Mahoning County, OH. He finished third of four candidates for three seats with 1,695 votes or 22.1%.
Pennsylvania
Bill Smedley ran unopposed for his re-election to Nippenose Township Constable, Lycoming County, PA. He received 92 votes or 98.92%.
Jay Sweeney ran unopposed for Falls Township Auditor, Wyoming County, PA. He received 99 votes or 92.52%.
Gary Ruskin of Green Change has written an article titled “How US Politicians cheat on climate change“:
It’s easy to lie with statistics. Politicians do it every day.
Climate change is the latest example.
Look at the leading climate change bills in Congress. The main Senate bill — approved today by the Environment and Public Works Committee — proposes a 20% target for cuts in greenhouse gas emissions over 2005 levels by 2020. The bill passed by the House of Representatives sets a 17% target for greenhouse gas emissions cuts over 2005 levels by 2020.
Sounds good. Except it’s not.
Here’s the trick the Democrats are playing on you. They’re moving the goalposts.
In Ohio, Dennis Spisak, one of the first Greens elected back in 2005, fought back the huge Democratic Machine to finish 3rd and was re-elected to his seat on the Struthers City Board of Education:
Struthers Member of Board of Education
VOTE FOR 3
RONALD A. CARCELLI . . . . . . . 2,043 26.64
ROBERT NOBLE . . . . . . . . . 2,376 30.98
DENNIS S. SPISAK . . . . . . . . 1,695 22.10
DANNY YOUNG. . . . . . . . . . 1,555 20.28
In a city over 90% Democratic, Spisak was able to maintian his seat despite the fact that he has been very vocal writing editorials on clean energy, dirty coal, and various other pro-Green issues.
I went to New York City and all I got was this awesome picture of me and Rev Billy Talen on Election Night:
(image courtesy of j.bucher productions)
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