...that eventually, the Green party needs to grow to the point where it gets federal matching funds. But McKinney and Nader started too late this election cycle. They needed to be raising money and setting up headquarters in all 50 states in 2005, right after the last election. They waited too long, and now the chances of them getting 5% is slim. But if they do, I'll cheer, as long as McCain isn't the 44th POTUS.

Please, on Nov 5th 2008, start the national Green Party campaign for 2012. Don't pack up and go home for 3 1/2 years. You need at least 4 years to build a big enough grass roots base to run for President. Start immediately, and don't give up.

by John R Moffett (89 articles, 18 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 697 comments [14 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Oct 28, 2008 at 8:48:55 AM

Yes, "the Green party needs to grow to the point where it gets federal matching funds."

Point of order: Nader gained matching government funds, but it did not get him the right to have the Federal Elections Commission force the Networks to include him in the two candidate presidential debates in 2000! (nor in 2004).

That's becaue Ralph Nader just goes home after the election and we don't hear from him for another three and half years, even if something like 9/11 happens!

Which brings us to comment writer John R Moffett's second important urging,

 "Please, on Nov 5th 2008, start the national Green Party campaign for 2012." - and 2016 and onward one might add!

Yours truly quickly sought to contact Moffett, and start a movement of two toward supporting (journalistically and otherwise) such a year around dissidenting political party having a spokesperson for every current issue.

Having someone, so to speak, from the left of him on issues, namely, McKinney, would help Obama to be seen as in the center, so to speak, for those who insist on seeing side against side rather than interests influencing and characterizing policy debates.

For even one who writes from the viewpoint that capitalism is unreformable and believes that trying to reform capitalism makes one complicit in its iniquities, would root for good deeds and intentions of those who feel compelled to work from inside the system. 

(While still more appreciative those who are on the outside, working to replace capitalist economics with something more sane, honest, fair, scientific, ethical more rationally beneficial for, and exponentially protective of, humanity and its planetary home.)

 

 

 

 


 

 


 

by Jay Janson (105 articles, 0 quicklinks, 7 diaries, 117 comments [4 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Oct 28, 2008 at 11:45:23 PM

We all know McKinney will not win a single electoral college vote, but her candidacy is important for its visibility, using the opportunity to spread awareness of the Green Party and its progressive platform.

The positives that could come out of this is election of Greens to US Congress or in local positions. When the Dems co-opt the ideas of the Greens, its a win for the people, though a loss for the party.

by Gustav Wynn (77 articles, 65 quicklinks, 5 diaries, 421 comments [34 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Oct 28, 2008 at 10:06:44 AM

The possibility of Palin getting into the White House and re-establishing the influence of the religious right, is simply too dreadful to contemplate.  A vote for McKinney (or Nadir for that matter), however principled, will only benefit the McCain/Palin ticket.

 I plan to vote as one comment advises: Pay the piper by voting for Obama, and vote Green down-ballot to build party strength for the future.

by Stokey Pipes (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 29 comments) on Tuesday, Oct 28, 2008 at 1:13:51 PM

Interesting piece. Especially since I have been an open, public supporter of Cynthia McKinney as long as I have. I will never support Obama and neither does Cynthia McKinney, specifically because of O-Bomb-Thems support of illegal, immoral and racist wars on poor people of color in the Middle East, silence on the very real issue of poor folks and people of color being disenfranchised in 2000, 2004 and probably 2008 etc etc. 

 

I also know, as this piece shows that the Green Party will destroy itself by those who have used the McKinney campaign to attack the Nader campaign. I have witnessed this phenomena too many times to not realize that it is a deliberate policy by some. Probably from inside the Democratic Party.

 

Not to worry though, once the National Greens self implode from this series of self inflicted wounds, those Nader supporters and McKinney supporters who know that the rotten, corporate corrupted two party system are the problem and not the solution, will work on something else. We are already working on working together and building something much better after this election.

It will be bigger, better and stronger. Trust me. resistance to the rotten, corporate corrupted two party system is alive and well. Be of good cheer progressives and radicals. Be of good cheer. 

 

Former Green National Delegate 

by Michael Cavlan (15 articles, 0 quicklinks, 6 diaries, 538 comments [131 recommended, 2 rejected]) on Tuesday, Oct 28, 2008 at 11:51:16 AM

Much as I'd rather McKinney than Obama.... there's nothing I would do (like voting for a third party candidate or not vote at all) to empower McCain/Palin. I have no illusions about who Biden is and his allegiances nor do I about Obama and his all too willingness to do anything to appear moderate... nonetheless, I consider it highly egotistical or irresponsible to do anything to hand McCain/Palin a victory.  We, and the rest of the world cannot afford that.

We cannot afford another republican administration and certainly not one that'z a heartbeat away from becoming a theocracy run by an intellectually challenged bigot. 

Obama might be willing to back another war...and Biden might be beholden to Israel... but McCain is far more of a certainty of far right appointments and militaristic responses. Until the Greens of which I'm a registered member manage to get greater numbers and we can physically dismantle the "two party system"...I can't ignore which the greater of two evils actually is and must swallow my ideals for a moment and vote for Obama.

by chariotdrvr14 (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 159 comments [7 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Oct 28, 2008 at 1:05:40 PM

that the Green Party should grow in size and power.

I hope some day that the Republican Party will shrink, to become so small that it can be drowned in a bath tub.  I hope some day our elections will become contests between the Green Party and the Democratic Party. Until that day, my main focus will be on defeating Republicans and in my small way trying to bring that end about.

However, the path to that future world is not one of a sudden jump with the Green Party suddenly taking over the office of President.  The only way that a minor party can grow is from the grass-roots.  Greens should be running for local offices and perhaps for state legislatures, secretary of state, judgeships; maybe even dog-catcher.  All politics is local and the Green Party needs to build up from the bottom.  

Two years ago there was one candidate from the Green Party running for our legislature but this year the only Green candidate is running for president.  This is not at all a good trend.

by PrMaine (13 articles, 13 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 510 comments [22 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Tuesday, Oct 28, 2008 at 1:44:43 PM

the MGIP website-there are numerous candidates listed in Maine-State Senate, State lege, local committees and other official positions.

And Eder, the Green you alluded to, was re-districted out of the lege by-guess who-the Democrats, twice. 

There are many of us running now and more campaigns are shaping up for 2010. If just two positions for council in Portland fall to the Greens in that race, the entire city council will be Green.

We are coming-will you vote for us? 

by Jack Harrington (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 675 comments [70 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Oct 28, 2008 at 7:47:15 PM

and there were no Green Party candidates on the ballot other than McKinney.  None.

by PrMaine (13 articles, 13 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 510 comments [22 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Wednesday, Oct 29, 2008 at 7:48:26 AM

I bet over 20 Green candidates in Maine would be interested in learning that they were not on the ballot.

What part of the state? Portland has several running for council, school board, water board etc.

Check out the MGIP site, it may be of interest to you. You may just live in an area where there were no Greens running.

by Jack Harrington (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 675 comments [70 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Oct 29, 2008 at 1:37:49 PM

The Concord Monitor here in New Hampshire just published a sample NH ballot in today's newpaper. Not only is McKinney is not on the ballot, there is no mention of a green party anywhere.

If you want to vote for McKinney, and live in this bass-ackward state, you have to actually write her name in.

by Bill Cain (3 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 434 comments [67 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Oct 29, 2008 at 1:43:06 PM

I'd rather vote McKinney now and see McCain win than vote for Obama to prevent McCain from winning.

 

As much as the idea is disturbing, a McCain win would galvanize the voters towards people like McKinney. Four years of McCain would be a golden opportunity for third party candidates.

by jeff prager (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 188 comments) on Tuesday, Oct 28, 2008 at 2:49:31 PM

  ...the "galvanizing" you speak of will likely never occur if after these last 8 years of Bush's dismantling of enviromental protections already hasn't. What you'd be doing is inviting them to add more pro corporate laws to the books and more pro corporate anti enviromental Supreme Court appointments.

What you're saying is in effect, that America needs to be become even more of an obvious police state and world community pariah than it already is for people to wake up and rebel.

Problem is, given the type of spineless pro-corporate media we have ...this "waking up" will never happen the way you think it will and you'll find far right demogogues rising in place of progressive ones. Meantime, ...abortion will be outlawed and further enviromental protections dismantled to make way for Palin's love of oil and hatred of wildlife.

But you don't care because you want 'a green' candidate.

by chariotdrvr14 (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 159 comments [7 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Oct 29, 2008 at 10:12:43 AM

I would not recommend it to any voter is a closely contested state.  But in states like New York or California, where it is certain that Obama will carry the state, it seems to be a great idea to vote for the Green Party not only to help the Green Party to grow in the future but also to send a message to President Obama that there are many progressive voters in the country.  The idea seems to be at least worth considering seriously. 

by Nathan Nahm (9 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 138 comments [60 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Oct 28, 2008 at 5:28:23 PM

There is only one question, do we have enough time?

There are going to be some startling changes taking place in a very short span of time and the chaos that may well issue from it may make any future elections a moot point.

It's why I'd vote for McKinney even if I were in a swing state. Obama isn't going to be held in check and a lot of people aren't going to really like who shows-up for dinner once he takes power.

Of course she's not going to win, and as you've make clear that's not the point right now, but will we ever have an opportunity if most still follow false-leaders?

Because I can't help but believe that until harsh reality plunges it's barbed dagger deep into America's twisted soul and performs a major thinning of the herd will we ever have a chance for real change. And you can believe that there will be those that will continue to shout from their newly filled graves that you can live in denial of what they should have done.

by Mr M (8 articles, 0 quicklinks, 66 diaries, 2845 comments [654 recommended, 27 rejected]) on Tuesday, Oct 28, 2008 at 7:22:33 PM

I think Cynthia McKinney will make a great president but I believe she needed more time to indoctrinate herself with the American public before taking this shot at the presidency. I would like to see her throw this energy into building her political career more, it would have been nice to have her in this up coming congress but now she will lose out on both congress and the presidency.

by Sharon Roach (15 articles, 0 quicklinks, 7 diaries, 184 comments [2 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Oct 28, 2008 at 8:07:22 PM

This is a good point.  We know both the Democratic Party and Republican Party have sold out America, a 3rd party is needed (although it can be corrupted in the same way).  If you live in a swing state, and really support Obama, it would make no sense to vote for anyone else.  But living in a state where Obama either will win by a landslide, or McCain will, then voting for a 3rd party for the reason you stated makes good sense, which is probably why you won't see this idea expressed in the MSM.

by pft (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 601 comments [7 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Oct 29, 2008 at 3:04:54 AM

If McCain wins put your head between your legs and kiss your ass goodbye. If Obama wins put your head between your legs and kiss your ass goodbye. History and reality proves that America is not free or a democracy. But people just want to ignore all that and quibble over politics as usual instead of facing reality and working together to come up with a way to actually fix this insanity. We had better get prepared to kiss IT goodbye.

by arlen custer (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 7 diaries, 466 comments [69 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Wednesday, Oct 29, 2008 at 8:45:10 AM

Only 500 words

click here

by Robert Singer (31 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 138 comments [4 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Wednesday, Oct 29, 2008 at 10:15:27 AM

Nice idea but a dangerous one.  This strategy might work if we had honest voting protocol.  However, we do not.  With the hundreds of thousands being thrown off the voting lists, misinformation given to people about time and place for voting, illegal voter challenges and paper ballots not counted and last, but not least, fraudulent electronic voting, I wouldn't trust such a strategy in any state.  Even NY with it hold out level machines, many thousands have been disenfranchised, particularly in black and latin communities.  I think this strategy is playing with fire.

by tanya (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 37 comments) on Wednesday, Oct 29, 2008 at 6:49:01 PM

voting for a Democrat is playing with fire.

by Jack Harrington (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 675 comments [70 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Saturday, Nov 1, 2008 at 1:22:16 AM