Tag Archives: key values

R68 and The Alliance for Real Democracy – the scoop

Posted on August 16, 2008 | Leave a comment

The controversy continues over the “movement of resistance and protest” at this year’s DNC in Colorado.
I’ve been reading an lot of commentary and articles in Green circles and blogs about this, and here is what I have gleaned so far.

The two major groups involved in organizing protests at the DNC are Recreate ’68(R68) and the Alliance for Real Democracy(ARD).

It seems the entire controversy surrounds philosophies of non-violent vs. violent resistance, with R68 supporting more non-pacifist type resistance than the ARD (see more below on their respective philosophies). One of the key values of the Green Party is non-violence. So there are Colorado Greens who vehemently have denounced the R68 over their philosophy of civil resistance and have allied themselves with the ARD. (Not to mention that they are hastily attempting to take McKinney off the ballot line there because she is speaking at the R68 event in addition to the ARD event. Not a good move for Green politics).

Now I’ve also read claims that the ARD is very co-opted and includes member organizations such as Code Pink which is said by some to be pro-Democrat and gives the cold-shoulder treatment to the Green Party.

The schedule for the Alliance for Real Democracy has released their schedule of events which I found at Slapstick Politics.

You can read more at:
Green Party Watch
On the Wilder Side

I have posted some things below from both the R68 and ARD websites on their principles and issues. Note that R68 does not openly advocate violent resistance, however if you read between the lines, they support the actions of those who choose that method. The ARD openly does not condone any type of violent resistance.

About R68 (from its website):
R68 agrees with the proposition, POTESTAS IN POPULO, “all power comes from the people.” What stands between the people and power are the party machines. The parties were devised as a means to represent the people. Today they represent nobody, not even party members, but only party bureaucracy. The people have been left without appropriate institutions for their representation. We intend to create those institutions!
Statement of Non-Violence and Principles
Continue reading →

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Update on Colorado Green Party/DNC issue

Posted on August 15, 2008 | Leave a comment

It looks like there is going to be a mediation process initiated with the greens in Colorado. Hopefully this will yield favorable results. I will post here what happens.

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Controversy in Colorado over DNC activities

Posted on August 15, 2008 | Leave a comment

On the Wilder Side has nicely posted, with references to Green Party Watch’s article, about the controversy happening over the Green Party of Colorado’s unhappiness with the McKinney/Clemente campaign’s participating with recreate68. The controversy seems to be hinged on approaches to demonstrating and the possible compromise of the key value of non-violence.

The Colorado Green Party is so upset over McKinney’s participation with the recreate68 folks, who advocate civil disobedience as part of their activities in disrupting the DNC, that they are attempting to take McKinney off their ballot line.

So there are two things here for me:

First, as pointed out on On the Wilder Side’s blog, we are all peace activists desiring the same outcome – speaking out against injustices and calling the Dems on their BS. Yes, the approaches vary, but hey. These are desperate times calling for desperate measures. I personally advocate non-violent civil disobedience.

Second, how unfair of the Colorado Greens, as one fellow Green has put it, strip away the rights of the Colorado voters by taking McKinney off their ballot line? McKinney has been voted in as the Green Party Presidential Candidate and she needs to be on all ballot lines where there are ballot lines.

I support the Colorado Greens in speaking out about their disagreements with other groups and with the McKinney campaign’s actions, however I do not agree with the actions they are taking – it just contributes to the already existing factionalism that exists in the party. Just when there has been more unity on issues than ever in the GPUS (in my observation).

I sincerely hope that all involved parties can come together and discuss this and come to some terms of agreement – even if it is to disagree and move on with respective activities at the DNC – but please do not remove McKinney/Clemente from the ballot line in Colorado!

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Comparisons between Obama and McKinney on Key Issues

Posted on August 4, 2008 | 4 comments

Comparisons between Obama and McKinney on Key Issues

(Compiled by Bruce Gagnon, member of Maine Greens and Mainers For Cynthia McKinney Committee.)

Impeachment: Cass Sunstein, an adviser to Barack Obama from the University of Chicago Law School, says that prosecuting criminal conduct from the Bush Administration. risks a “cycle” of criminalizing public service and Democrats should avoid replicating retributive efforts like the impeachment of President Clinton–or even the “slight appearance” of it. Cynthia McKinney, before leaving the Congress in 2006 introduced impeachment resolution against George W. Bush.

Afghanistan: Obama says we must add 10,000 troops and win in Afghanistan because it is the “right war.” McKinney is opposed to the Afghanistan war and wants us out right away.

FISA Bill: Sen. Obama voted in favor of the Bush FISA surveillance bill. Former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney was opposed to the bill.

Experience in Congress: Cynthia McKinney served 12 years in the US Congress. Barack Obama has been in Congress for 3.5 years. They both served in their state legislatures in their respective states.

Iraq: McKinney calls for a “quick and orderly” withdrawal of all U.S. forces and mercenaries now occupying Iraq. While in Congress she opposed funding for the occupation. Obama calls for a “responsible” and “honorable” withdrawal and has recently changed his withdrawal timeline to 16 months after elected. Obama also uses the term “redeploy” which means move many troops onto the big US permanent bases in Iraq and also move many to bases in nearby Kuwait so they can be sent back into Iraq when needed. Obama voted for most Iraq occupation appropriations.

Military Spending: Obama calls for increasing the military by at least 92,000 troops and supports increases in military spending. McKinney has long been an opponent of increased military spending and while in Congress often took on former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld in House hearings demanding answers to her questions about what happened to the $2 trillion the Pentagon lost.

Public Financing of Elections: Obama recently changed his position and now refuses to participate in public financing of the national election. McKinney supports public financing.

Trade Issues: Obama’s economic adviser, Austan Goolsbee from the University of Chicago, last February urged the rightwing Canadian government not to pay too much attention to Obama’s campaign critiques of NAFTA, explaining that the candidate’s rhetoric was “more reflective of political maneuvering than policy.” McKinney opposes NAFTA, CAFTA and all the rest of the so-called “free trade” agreements, which are “anti-union” and institutionalize corporate profits and priorities.

Africa: Obama supports the creation of the new Pentagon Africa Command (AFRICOM) saying that the command will “facilitate” fighting terrorism on the continent. McKinney opposes the new command saying “the last thing Africa needs is AFRICOM, U.S. soldiers, or a School of the Americas-type relationship with Africa.”

Paid for by Mainers for Cynthia McKinney

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Springmeyer/Valdez Gov slate in Utah

Posted on August 2, 2008 | Leave a comment

In the absence of any Green Party candidates in Utah, I have decided to support the Utah Governor/Lt. Governor candidate team of Bob Springmeyer and Josie Valdez. On his facebook page, Bob identifies his political views as Fiscally Conservative, Socially Liberal, Green.

Bob is working towards improving health care and wages for Utahns, addressing energy and environmental issues and eliminating government bureaucracy.

More about Bob Springmeyer

Josie “has been a community activist and organizer since she first arrived in Utah in the early ’70s.
After Josie’s retirement from the SBA, she served on the cabinet for Mayor Rocky Anderson as Director of Diversity for the City of Salt Lake.” Josie especially advocates for women and minorities.

More about Josie Valdez

This team is running on the Democratic ticket. I thought about this very carefully before deciding to formally support this team, since I feel that the Democratic party is just as bad as the Republican party, really. When I read about the values that these two candidates embrace, I became convinced that electing this team to the Hill would be of benefit to Utahns.

Besides, Bob rides a bike and the campaign lawn signs are Green! So I’ve put one in my yard.

Don’t worry, I’ve already suggested to Bob a switch to the Green Party. I’ll keep working on that.

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PAINT THE WHITEHOUSE GREEN

Posted on August 1, 2008 | Leave a comment

Thanks to Oregon Green Party Delegate Steve Geiger for posting this:

and from Seriously Green for this:

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GP RELEASE News, highlights from the Green National Convention in Chicago

Posted on July 12, 2008 | Leave a comment

GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org

For Immediate Release:
Friday, July 11, 2008

Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, cell 202-904-7614, mclarty@greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene@gp.org
Ruth Weill, National Convention Coordinator, 414-350-2107, ruthweill@gmail.com
Patrick Kelly, Illinois Green Party Media Coordinator, 773-203-9631, media@ilgp.org

News and highlights from the Green Party’s 2008 National Convention in Chicago

Key links:
• Green Party web site, with updated links to news articles on the convention http://www.gp.org
• 2008 Green National Convention: Live Green, Vote Green http://www.greenparty2008.org
• Media credentialing http://www.gp.org/forms/media
• Video of Green presidential candidates http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/presidential-videos.php
• Links to Green Presidential Candidates’ web sites http://www.gp.org/committees/pcsc/index.shtml
• Green candidate database for 2008 and other campaign information: http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
• Green Party News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
• Green Party Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
• Green Party ballot access page http://www.gp.org/2008-elections

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS — The Green Party of the United States opened its 2008 national convention at the Palmer House Hilton in downtown Chicago on Thursday, July 10 and continued with numerous meetings on Friday.

Greens are also preparing for the party’s presidential nomination, which will take place on Saturday, July 12, at the Chicago Symphony Center, 220 South Michigan Avenue.

Reporters, bloggers, and others covering the convention may register on site on Saturday, or may fill out the media credentialing form (http://www.gp.org/forms/media) in advance.  The Saturday schedule is appended below.

On Friday evening, the four candidates for the Green presidential nomination — Jesse Johnson, Kent Mesplay, Cynthia McKinney, and Kat Swift — participated in a forum moderated by 2006 Illinois gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney, who drew over 10% of the vote.  The forum, titled “A Presidential Debate That Matters,” took place at the Palmer House Hilton, where Greens have been meeting since Thursday morning.

Some highlights of the Green National Convention so far:

Green presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney has announced her running mate, Hip-Hop activist and journalist Rosa Clemente:
Statement by Ms. Clemente: http://www.runcynthiarun.org/node/296
Ms. Clemente’s web site: http://www.rosaclemente.com

The Green Party’s Black Caucus accredited Ms. McKinney’s parents, Billy and Leola, as delegates in order to allow them to enter all four of the Caucus’s votes for their daughter during the voting process for the nomination.

Press conferences on Thursday and Friday featured dozens of candidates for public office.  Among them:

• Jesse Johnson is seeking the presidential nomination but has won the Mountain Party’s nomination for Governor of West Virginia.  He spoke Friday morning about the West Virginia’s environmentally disastrous mountaintop removal, in which the state’s pristine landscapes have been blasted to access to coal, in the process spoiling nearly half of the nation’s headwaters and exacerbating droughts in the South.  Mr. Johnson called West Virginia ‘ground zero’ in the energy crisis and in the advance of global warming.
http://www.jesse4wvgov.org
http://www.jesse08.org

• Farheed Hakeem talked about her growing involvement in the Green Party and decision to run for public office as a Green.  A former Green mayoral candidate and currently a candidate for Minnesota State Representative (District 61B), Ms. Hakeem has rebuffed Democratic Party efforts to recruit her, saying that her Green Party membership gives her the leeway to pursue ideals that would not be possible in the either of the two established parties.

• Omar Lopez, running for Illinois District 4 member of the US House of Representatives, discussed his role organizing for the March 10, 2006 march for immigrants’ right in Chicago, the model for the national May Day marches and rallies across the US a few months later.

Schedule for SATURDAY, JULY 12: Green presidential nomination

Location: Chicago Symphony Center, 220 S Michigan Avenue
Media Check-In: Mezzanine
The Media Registration table hours: 8 am – 5 pm (flexible)
Press Conference Room: Grainger Ballroom, Mezzanine Level

• 9 am: Press briefing and news conference with Green presidential candidates; on-stage program begins

• 9:30 am: Keynote speaker Cliff Thornton

• 9:45 am: Adoption of the 2008 Green Party Platform

• 10:45 am: Keynote speakers Kathy Kelly, Malik Rahim

• 11:15 am:  Speeches by the four Presidential Candidates

• 12 noon: Lunch

• 1 pm: Keynote speakers Omar López, Dr. Jill Stein

• 1:30 pm: Voting, state roll call

(Times for events after this are tentative, depending on how long it takes to complete the nomination process)

• 2:30 pm: Vice Presidential acceptance speech (nominee will be introduced by Pat LaMarche, 2004 Green nominee for Vice President)

• 3 pm: Presidential acceptance speech (nominee will be introduced by David Cobb, 2004 Green nominee for President), followed by photo op for all Green candidates and the nominees

• 4 pm: Press conference featuring Green nominees for President and Vice President

MORE INFORMATION

Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-7193
• 2008 Green National Convention: Live Green, Vote Green http://www.greenparty2008.org
• Media credentialing http://www.gp.org/forms/media
• Video of Green presidential candidates http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/presidential-videos.php
• Links to Green Presidential Candidates’ web sites http://www.gp.org/committees/pcsc/index.shtml
• Green candidate database for 2008 and other campaign information: http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
• Green Party News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
• Green Party Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
• Green Party ballot access page http://www.gp.org/2008-elections

~ END ~

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GPUS Presidential Candidate Forum

Posted on July 12, 2008 | Leave a comment

Ron Hardy of Green Party Watch has an excellent report on last night’s Presidential Candidate Forum.

Also, these reports:

Kim Wilder of On the Wilder Side.

Greens for Greens – Green Party Presidential Candidate Forum

News for Greens – Green Party Presidential Candidate Forum

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Cynthia McKinney Chooses Running Mate

Posted on July 11, 2008 | Leave a comment

Cynthia McKinney has chosen a Vice-Presidential running mate, New York City-based community activist and journalist Rosa Clemente. The New York City IMC conducted in interview with Ms. Clemente which can be viewed by clicking the story link below.

I am going to try to keep an open mind about Cynthia McKinney’s choice because I think it’s great to get more people involved in the party. However I am somewhat disappointed that she did not choose some already in the party who have been actively seeking nominations or who have been vying for the Presidential nomination already. My choices would have been:

SKCM Curry (who was actively seeking the VP nomination)
or
Jared Ball

Having said that, I do like what I read about Ms. Clemente and excited at the prospect of having two women of color running for these offices. Additionally, I feel it will attract a population of voting age people that have not voted in elections before.

Finally, I would hope that Ms. Clemente would set her sights on continuing her involvement in electoral politics with the Green Party and run for other offices in her area in the future.

It will be interesting to see how Cynthia McKinney’s choice affects her chances for obtaining the GPUS Presidential Nomination.
————————————–
Rosa Clemente helped found and coordinate the first-ever National Hip Hop Political Convention in Newark, NJ, which brought together over 3,000 people from across the country. Speaking afterward with The Indypendent’s Ana Nogueira, Clemente summed up her efforts: “If we don’t make some power moves now and in 2008, we aren’t going anywhere as a generation.”

2004 Indy Interview w/ Rosa Clemente, Likely Green Party Vice-Presidential Nominee

Rosa A. Clemente released the following statement:

“I am honored and excited to accept this invitation to run with Cynthia McKinney. Cynthia McKinney is a hero to me and many others across this country and around the world for her courage in standing up to George Bush while the Democratic Party establishment caved.

“This campaign is the opportunity the Hip-Hop generation has been working for. This is our time to address the issues affecting our communities – rising unemployment, the high cost of food and housing, a lack of quality public education and access to higher education, the prison-industrial complex, and unaccountable corporate media. These issues are not being addressed by either the Republican or Democratic nominee.

“I choose to do this, not for me, but for my generation, my community and my daughter. I don’t see the Green Party as an alternative; I see it as an imperative. I trust that my Vice Presidential run will inspire all people, but especially young people of color, to recognize that we have more then two choices. Together, we can build the future we’ve been dreaming of.”

Hip-Hop artist M1 says, “I’ve never voted in the Presidential election; I’ve never felt strongly enough about a candidate to. Knowing that Rosa Clemente is down with Cynthia McKinney’s run, I feel that now is the greatest opportunity for the Hip-Hop community to put our collective strength and power to the test and vote for someone who represents who we are and what we stand for.”

For more info visit:
http://www.rosaclemente.com
http://www.runcynthiarun.org

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Green Party Annual National Meeting Begins Today

Posted on July 10, 2008 | Leave a comment

Today marks the beginning of a very exciting weekend for the Green Party of the United States.

The Annual National Meeting is being held in Chicago. This weekend the Presidential Candidate for the GPUS will be chosen. Candidates vying for the nomination are:


Kat Swift —————————————— Cynthia McKinney

Kent Mesplay —————————————— Jesse Johnson

Green Party Watch will be covering the ANM with regular updates to:

I am not attending this year, but will be following closely as the event progresses.

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