With 95% of precincts reporting, boston.com and other Massachusetts media outlets have reported NO results yet of the Massachusetts Green-Rainbow Party Presidential Primary as of 11 p.m. Eastern.
Despite the fact that Obama was on the Democratic Party ballot uncontested, and Romney was declared the Republican victor with only 3 precincts (of 2,054) reporting, Massachusetts [...]
Green Party Watch
IPR contacted the Socialist Equality Party’s presidential nominee Jerry White with three questions about his campaign. Though White did respond initially, party chairman Joe Kishore answered instead.
The Socialist Equality Party is a Trotskyist party affiliated with the International Committee of the Fourth International. In 2008, it nominated Jerry White, who was also the party’s 1996 presidential nominee. In protest of ballot access laws, the party did not appear on any ballots in 2008.
IPR: How is the Socialist Equality Party different from other Socialist parties such as the Party for Socialism and Liberation and Socialist Party USA?
Kishore: There are many groups that describe themselves as socialist, and we will be writing more on these tendencies in our election coverage. There are, however, basic political differences that separate the SEP from these organizations. The SEP, for example, advocates a break with the official trade unions and the establishment of independent rank-and-file committees to fight against the dictates of the corporations. We oppose any conception that the Democratic Party can be pushed to the left. Our program is based on an international perspective. We oppose identity politics, which seeks to divide workers along racial or gender lines, rather than uniting them on the basis of their common class interests. A more detailed presentation of the perspective of the SEP can be found in our program (socialequality.com/program) and in our statement of principles (http://socialequality.com/
IPR: The Socialist Equality Party did not appear on any state ballots for the 2008 presidential election. Will this change in 2012? Are there any ballot access efforts at this time?
Kishore: We will be seeking ballot access in some states. However, anti-democratic ballot laws make it almost impossible for third parties to get ballot access in many states. In those cases, we will be running an aggressive write-in campaign.
IPR: What are some of your policy proposals? How would you implement these as president?
Kishore: The basic outline of our election can be found here: http://socialequality.com/node/2059
We insist that workers have basic social rights, including the right to a job, the right to a livable income, the right to education, health care and a secure retirement. We call for a multi-trillion dollar public works program to put to work everyone who needs a job. Such a program will also serve to rebuild cities and infrastructure and meet the needs of the entire population. It must be paid for through a massive redistribution of the wealth. The giant banks and major corporations must be transformed into publicly-owned entities, controlled democratically by working people.
Two points to stress, however: 1) It is not for us a matter of simply winning office and implementing policy as one person. The entire political system is undemocratic and devoted to upholding the interests of the capitalist class. Our election campaign is aimed at fighting for an independent political program of the working class, in opposition to this political system. We are fighting to build a mass movement of the working class, which seeks the abolition of capitalism and its replacement by a social system based on human need, not private profit–i.e., socialism. Socialism can only be achieved through mass social struggles. 2) We fight for the international unity of the working class. The interests of workers in every country are fundamentally the same, and socialism is impossible in the United States alone.
Paul Gottfried, a prominent and ridiculously prolific paleoconservative, (search his name at Amazon and see what I mean) encourages Ron Paul to run third party in his latest essay. The essay addresses Romney, Santorum and Paul. Below is the relevant part about a Paul third party run:
The only way Ron Paul can have any clout at the national level is through a third-party challenge. He has no reason to imagine that the GOP will make room for him or his son. A better way to shake up things than by living with an empty hope is to seize the spoiler’s role. Make it hard on the GOP establishment to go on ignoring the real small-government conservatives. But this is only possible if Ron Paul acts boldly, by causing the GOP to lose disastrously in November.
Gottfried seems to accept at face value the idea of a Romney Paul primary alliance, but I know others have disputed that any such alliance is in place.
From the Toledo Free Press:
Running for any seat in the Green Party is more like an obstacle course than a race.
First, you need to gather signatures to appear on the ballot. That number depends on what the desired seat is, but for the U.S. Senate election you’d need at least 500. (Major parties [...]
Green Party Watch
From OaklandNorth.net:
The Oakland Green Party held a public forum Friday evening at Humanist Hall in downtown Oakland, where members of other political parties as well as members of the public were invited to brainstorm ideas for Oakland’s future and form an alliance before the next city government election.
The Green Party panel [...]
Green Party Watch
On January 23, 2012, Ron Paul Radio started broadcasting as a source of information and discussion for the principles of liberty as taught by Congressman Ron Paul. It currently has 22 hosts and twenty different programs, discussing monetary policies, civil liberties, non-interventionism in foreign policy and other topics which pertain to the events and issues in this country. The programs are varied, and, curiously, the hosts list political persuasions from “Democratic Tea-Partier” and “Voluntaryist/Agorist”, as well as featuring several men who have been long-time activists in the Libertarian Party.
The current incarnation of Ron Paul Radio started when Hank Xavier, a long time political activist and media entrepreneur realized that several top level domains were available for the Ron Paul Radio brand. After Xavier had purchased the .net and the .org domain names over a year prior, Xavier’s business partner Corey Moore, a student at Kent State University in Ohio majoring in electronic media communications and long time libertarian activist, made the decision to use them to revive the Ron Paul Radio Network. Moore subsequently posted to The Daily Paul website to gauge the community and was surprised to discover that there was indeed a great deal of interest in the project. After receiving some seed money from a generous donor, Moore decided to move forward as the General Manager and Technical Director of the project, later bringing on Xavier to act as Station Manager. Together, the two men designed and built the website while Moore built the broadcast infrastructure from the ground up and Xavier got busy managing the administration of the network. In Jan 2011 Xavier finalized the deal to purchase the premium top level domain name and ronpaulradio.net became ronpaulradio.com. Moore and Xavier have over 10 years of combined web based media production experience; both men have had various featured radio programs on several networks. Moore is most well known for hosting a program and podcast called “The Voice of Radical Dissent” as well as having been a whistleblower regarding elements with the Libertarian Party establishment. Xavier, otherwise known as Hx, is a well known radio commentator online, often remembered for his fiery rhetoric and radical ideas. Their stated purpose is to further the principles of Dr. Ron Paul and to stay on message. After the election, their plan is to keep the discussion of these principles going, but plan to make a transition to a brand name that is not restricted to strictly representing the views of Dr.Paul.
Jake Digman co-hosts a show with Nicholas Burdohan called “The Diggs Show”. Their show features discussions and guests with many different political views. Jake has a long history with the LP of Ohio, and is currently running for Summit County Central Committee. He has a colorful professional history, including being ring announcer for NAAFS Cage Fighting TV show . Nicholas is currently Executive Director of the Summit County Libertarian Party.”The Digs Show” can be heard Saturdays 12 to 2 PM Eastern time.
On Sundays, you can hear Mr. Alan Pyeatt on his “Liberty Lighthouse Project”. He discusses current events from an historical perspective, bringing a clear understanding of how our founding fathers planned for and championed the principals of personal liberty. He is on between 4 and 5 PM Eastern on Sundays, and will expand to 2 hours soon. Alan is a civil engineer who was raised in Texas, but resides in California. He has many years of experience in music, radio, and film. He ran for Congress in 2008, and is currently a member of the California Executive Committee of the Libertarian Party.
Libertarian John Jay Myers from Texas hosts a weekday program with Republican Austrian School economist Jarrod Atkinson. They discuss current events from a Libertarian standpoint. Their show, called “Freedom Fried”, airs Monday through Friday from 3 to 4 Eastern time.
Some of the other hosts and programs you can currently hear on Ron Paul Radio are Scott Horton of Anti-war Radio; Sovereign Curtis, with discussion of Free State Project in New Hampshire; David Nickerson’s “Comedy Caucus”. and “Freedom Files” with James Burns. Programs are available on podcast shortly after they’re aired.
You can listen to Ron Paul Radio here. If you’re interested in supporting the station, or possibly becoming a host yourself, contact Hank Xavier at hx@ronpaulradio.com or coreymoore@gmail.com.
(Madison, WI) – The Wisconsin Green Party is conducting a Presidential Primary by mail, with ballots sent to all dues paying members of the Party this week. Mailed ballots must be returned by March 2nd, the day before the WIGP State Nominating Convention and Spring Membership Meeting.
The Primary ballot includes four candidates. Roseanne Barr (CA) [...]
Green Party Watch
From the Illinois Green Party:
In conjunction with our online Presidential Primary, Greens will be hosting presidential caucuses around the state in February. These caucuses will be opportunities for people to learn more about the presidential candidates and to confer with other Greens.
This list of caucuses will continue to be updated as [...]
Green Party Watch
The Minnesota Green Party is holding caucuses on Tuesday, February 7th. The caucuses will make decisions about candidates for 2012 elections, including presidential candidates. Here is the list of caucuses from the GPMN website:
The following locations have been confirmed for Green Party caucuses. You can also call the Green Party office at 651-288-2820, [...]
Green Party Watch
On February 6th, in the afternoon, “Green Party” is trending on Yahoo.
Also, a New Jersey media outlet is reporting that in the poll of TMZ (a celebrity gossip website), Roseanne Barr for President is trailing Obama by only 3%. And, the news story also lists by name Green Party Watch, and the other nominees for Green Party President 2012 (Jill Stein, Kent Mesplay and Harley Mikkelson).
(excerpt from) newjerseynewsroom.com
Comedian Roseanne Barr seeking Green Party presidential nomination
Monday, 06 February 2012 07:16
An informal TMZ opinion poll has Roseanne trailing President Barack Obama by only three percent, 39 percent to 36 percent, with Mitt Romney coming in at 25 percent…*
*Note: Some sites are reporting the poll as Barack Obama 38% to Roseanne Barr 35%.