June 2004 - Delegates

Live from Milwaukee: support David Cobb and a safe state strategy?
by dan＠testpattern.org 26 Jun '04

26 Jun '04

Hi fellow Greens, I'm here in Milwaukee, in between the Presidential Candidate Forum and the CA Delegation Meeting and wanted to share this with you. I met Austin King and Louie Mercer from Madison, Wisconsin. Austin is a 23- year old Alderman, elected when he was 21 by running on raising the minimum wage. He beat his opponent 2-1 even though he was outspent by nearly 3-1. It didn't hurt that his opponent was 32 ("an old fogy"), not a Badger, and wanted to raise taxes on beer kegs! http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/council/District08/index.html Austin is one of several people I've met here who are genuinely concerned about Peter Camejo's decision to run with Ralph Nader on an Independent/Reform/Green/ Left ticket. Austin said that "Nader is the reason why I'm in politics," but believes that our choice of a candidate this weekend is ultimately a referendum on the party. Are we a political party or an advocacy group? Austin believes the answer is that we are a party, and for this reason should support Cobb as our candidate, and oppose a move to give Nader/Camejo our endorsement. There will be two ballots cast to select our nominee. I'd bet that most votes on the first ballot will go to Cobb or Nader/Camejo, but neither will get a majority. What happens on the second ballot is anyone's guess. Will those who voted NOTA or for other candidates pick Cobb or Nader? Austin is now working to form a bloc of voters who: * support David Cobb, NOTA or are uncommitted * want to defeat Bush in November * support a safe state strategy His proposal is that we coordinate our efforts and vote as a bloc, to whom we're bound on the first and for Cobb on the second. I'd like your thoughts and promise to pass them along to other delegates in attendance who aren't checking their email. I've posted some audio from tonight's presidential candidate forum. From top to bottom, you'll hear Salzman, Mesplay, Camejo and Cobb. http://www.testpattern.org/sanfrancisco Peace, Dan

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Re: [Delegates] Re: Live from Milwaukee: support David Cobb and a safe state ..
by PabloQ＠aol.com 26 Jun '04

26 Jun '04

Don, Ralph Nader was indignant at the notion that he might have to run in a contested primary for the Green nomination, and therefore decided not to run in our primaries. Now he wants to come out of the convention on equal footing with a candidate who ran in the primaries and won a plurality of delegates. It's not a compromise Nader is after, it's a coup. This isn't about whether we're a movement or a party, it's about whether we uphold the principles of grassroots democracy, responsibility, and future focus, or we don't. Nader supporters want to thumb their noses at the democratic process--just as Ralph has. If they succeed, we will be neither a movement nor a party; we will be moribund because we will have surrendered our commitment to our principles. Our party is barely hanging on to ballot status in California. Our greatest appeal is that we have been a *party* of principle. If we aren't that, we probably shouldn't be surprised if we lose ballot status and start losing local elections we could have and should have won. Most of us don't need the Green Party to make us activists, or to express our displeasure with the parties. We need the Green Party to sustain our hope that we can exercise political power to build a better world. We need the Green Party to build a non-corporate alternative to the corporate parties. I hope my hope is still alive at this time tomorrow. Paul Quick

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Re: Live from Milwaukee: support David Cobb and a safe state strategy?
by Don Eichelberger 25 Jun '04

25 Jun '04

At 11:09 PM 6/24/04 -0700, Michael Alterman wrote: >if we are not a political party, and if >building a third party capable of challenging the corporate duopoly is not >our primary purpose, then I and many others have put in hundreds of hours of >volunteer work under some very misguided assumptions. Michael, et al- I have been helping build the Green Party since the mid-1980-'s, before it was a party. At the time, it was a coalition of non-demrepubs, looking for a better way of doing business. It was never part of our strategy in building the party that we would become only another political party, more interested in self servingness than in building a true patchwork majority. But there are a lot of independent thinkers out there who will not join Green Party, for whatever their reasons, yet they have just as much of a critique of the repubdems as we do. In the name of Party unity, we are asked to turn our backs on that constituency. In the name of movement unity, it is incumbent on us to work with that disaffected group, which COULD be a majority, and work for real, systematic change. Don "><"<>"><"<>"><"<>"><"<>"><"<>"><"<>" Organizing is Sorting in to smaller piles, Then dealing with them. Don Eichelberger Abalone Alliance Safe Energy Clearinghouse http://www.energy-net.org San Francisco Green Party http://www.sfgreenparty.org California State Green Party Issues Working Group Co-coordinator http://cagreens.org/giwg/ Green Community/GreenWorks project for sustainable small businesses http://www.sfgreenworks.org 2940 16th St., #309 San Francisco, CA 94103 phone 415-861-0592 done(a)energy-net.org done(a)greens.org

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Let's defeat Bush and support David Cobb
by Medea Benjamin 23 Jun '04

23 Jun '04

Want to Get Rid of Bush and Grow the Greens? Support David Cobb By Medea Benjamin I spent a sleepless night last night thinking about the Nader/Camejo ticket and the Green Party¹s dilemma. I love and admire both Nader and Camejo, and have had a close working relationship with both of them for many years. I totally support their anti-war, anti-corporate, pro-democracy message. But I don¹t think their campaign will bring us any closer to the world we want to build. The Nader/Camejo ticket can¹t win, will create tremendous division within the progressive movement and might well help elect George Bush. This would be disastrous for our party, our county and our planet. In my many trips post 9/11 to Iraq, Afghanistan and Israel/Palestine, I have seen firsthand how Bush¹s policies have led to the deaths of countless innocent victims (yes, countless, because the Pentagon refuses to count them). I have seen too many women in anguish over the deaths, the maiming, or the illegal detainment of their husbands, sons and daughters. And here at home, I have spent many nights crying with the fathers, mothers and wives of US servicepeople who have been cut down in their prime thanks to Bush¹s wars. George Bush has made our nation the most hated nation on the planet, seriously endangering our safety here at home and overseas. His twin policies of massive tax breaks for the rich and unnecessary wars are making it impossible for us, the richest nation in history, to provide decent public education for our children, decent health care for our elderly, decent public transportation for our cities. And for us Greens desperate to see our nation break out of the fossil fuel economy into to the age of clean energy, Bush¹s intimate ties to the oiligarchy will keep us on disastrous path of oil wars and global warming. Let¹s be clear. This election is a referendum on the Bush administration. The world is watching and waiting with bated breath to see if the US people will reject the Bush agenda. When I was last in Iraq, Ghazwan Al-Mukhtar, an Iraqi engineer, said, ³Saddam Hussein was a bastard, but this was not a democracy and we didn¹t elect him. So his evil deeds were not done in our name. Can you say the same thing for George Bush?² We owe it to ourselves and to the global community to make sure that Bush is no longer allowed to speak in our name. We all know that Kerry and the Democrats don¹t represent our values and aspirations; otherwise we wouldn¹t have joined the Greens. Kerry¹s support for the invasion and occupation of Iraq is particularly infuriating in light of his courageous stance against the war in Vietnam. I do feel that it is our responsibility during this presidential campaign to protest Kerry¹s stand on issues from the war to the Patriot Act to ³free trade² agreements. But John Kerry is not George Bush. So how can we be part of rejecting Bush AND building a progressive party? We can do that by supporting David Cobb. David will spend his time strengthening local Green parties and local candidates, as he has been doing so successfully the past several years. David will focus on states that are not swing states. His ³safe state² strategy will allow us to make common cause with our progressive allies, both Democrats and Independents, who feel strongly about the need to remove Bush. His commitment to having a woman vice president will make the Greens attractive to people who have become weary of all-male tickets. And unlike a Nader/Camejo campaign that will alienate so many of our natural allies, David¹s campaign will put the Greens in a much stronger position for growing post-November. Let¹s be part of a growing, exciting coalition of unions, students, communities of color women¹s groups, environmentalists, peace organizations, religious folks and millions of outraged individuals who are determined get George Bush out of the White House. Let¹s show them that the Greens understand this historic moment. Let¹s support David Cobb so we can help defeat Bush and grow the Greens! Medea Benjamin, cofounder of the human rights group Global Exchange and the women¹s peace group Code Pink, ran for US Senate in California on the Green Party ticket in 2000.

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Fwd: [Greensfornader] Delegates: Which way in 2004?
by PabloQ＠aol.com 23 Jun '04

23 Jun '04

At the bottom of this email is my response to the following. Paul Quick This is a one time mailing from Greens For Nader asking you to join our mailing list. You can join the list by going to http://www.greensfornader.net and entering your email in the address form. Below is an important message from Donna Warren to Green Party National Convention Delegates. Best Wishes, Forrest Warren asks delegates to support Nader/Camejo by Donna J. Warren, Former Candidate for Lt. Governor Please consider nominating Ralph Nader and Peter Camejo as our President and Vice-President candidates at our Milwaukee Convention. Ralph and Peter are the best candidates America could hope for. If we believe in the 10 key values of the Green Party, we will put differences aside and do what is best for all our communities. While I like David Cobb (he asked me months ago to be his running mate) and defend his right to run for the Green Party nomination, I must put the welfare of communities of color, poor communities, and all of our communities before my fondness for David. David will not get into the national discourse to articulate the Green position on the war, on poverty, on the environment, on health care, on prisons. David Cobb is a big fish in a little pond and no matter how we admire and support David, he will not be allowed into the national debates. In fact, the Democrats and their Republican cohorts are laughing at us because they know the nomination of David Cobb will dismiss our voice in election 2004. Look, I come from South Central Los Angeles. I lost my son to the crack wars brought in by Ronald Reagan. I sued the CIA for their complicity in bringing crack to the inner cities. I've watched the government rape my thriving community of its best and its brightest sending them to prison for life because of a so called war on drugs. I've seen those who survive prison succumb to the "blame the victim" mentality and forget where they came from. Without Ralph Nader and Peter Camejo speaking for our communities, we are destined to remain the fodder for war, the inmates in prison, and the families in food lines. We must nominate a candidate who will stand at the podium with Bush and Kerry and speak the truth. Bush is too evil to speak the truth, Kerry too much of a weasel. Only Nader can and will speak "truth to power" in the presidential debates. Only Nader can get into the presidential debates. David Cobb can't. Peter Camejo will travel from town to town, from community to community, and deliver our Green message. In any VP debate, Peter will be there. I am salivating thinking about Peter Camejo standing on the platform with Dick Cheney and bringing that scum down. Peter can match anyone John Kerry will choose for a running mate unless it's Al Sharpton or Dennis Kucinich who hold many of the same views we do. But don't be fooled. It won't be Sharpton or Kucinich. It will be a mealy mouthed supporter of murder of Iraqis and anyone else who gets in the way of the mighty United States. You can easily spot me at the convention. Please talk to me first before you cast a vote for David Cobb. We must have Nader/Camejo if we are to survive as a party. Don't relegate us to obscurity. Cast your vote for Ralph Nader and Peter Camejo. Thomas Paine said in the 1700's "If there must be trouble let it be in my day, that my child may have peace." Nader and the Green Party are voices taking on the trouble of our day so that we and future generations may have peace. _______________________________________________ Greensfornader mailing list Greensfornader(a)greensfornader.net http://lists.greensfornader.net/mailman/listinfo/greensfornader

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OK, I'm going
by PabloQ＠aol.com 23 Jun '04

23 Jun '04

After contemplating the events of the last 24 hours, I have decided to ignore my doctor's advice and go to Milwaukee. While I have tremendous respect for Peter Camejo, I agree that it subverts grassroots democracy for a prominent Green to sign on as running mate for a candidate outside our party, and then attempt to influence the outcome of our nominating process. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if I let that happen without a fight. I'll be there Thursday night. Milwaukee or bust. Paul Quick

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Will not be in Milwaukee
by PabloQ＠aol.com 22 Jun '04

22 Jun '04

Friends, Regrettably, for personal and health reasons, I will not be able to go to Milwaukee. Paul Quick

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urgent - some people not registered
by John-Marc Chandonia 07 Jun '04

07 Jun '04

Hi, I found out at the GPCA convention this weekend that Phil Willkie and Jim Dorenkott haven't sent in the required info to be accredited as a delegate. If you know how to contact them, please have them contact Stuart Bechman (phone (805) 522-4524 or email sbechman(a)sbcglobal.net) ASAP. They are supposed to be removed as delegates tonight if the info isn't in. Everybody who hasn't already paid the GPCA directly or paid the SFGP and had Dave Snyder send a consolidated check (I think that's just me, Susan, and Barry) will now have to pay the GPUS at the full rate unless you've got a travel stipend from the GPCA. Also, I'd like to welcome Ron Dicks and Medea Benjamin to this list: both applied to the GPCA directly and are currently alternate delegates (delegates who didn't apply through their counties can only be alternates, but it shouldn't matter since there are apparently not enough people). Hopefully, we can all discuss strategy together. Charlene Smythe is also in this category, but she's not on the list due to not having email. Can somebody (Kimm?) take responsibility for keeping her informed? Finally, I'd like to warn everybody about the platform: some planks look pretty bad (IMO) at present, and we'll only have a chance to vote the whole thing up or down in Milwaukee! The draft platform is currently at http://greens.org/~hhart/. Please send feedback ASAP to Budd Dickinson (budd.dickinson(a)sbcglobal.net) Unless you don't like medical research... I know I don't! JMC -- John-Marc Chandonia (jmc(a)sfgreens.org) http://www.dolorespark.org/

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rides to Plenary this weekend?
by John-Marc Chandonia 04 Jun '04

04 Jun '04

Hi, I'd like to suggest that everybody needing or offering rides to the plenary this weekend write to this list, then contact the other person directly by email or phone to set up the detailed logistics. I'm planning to leave from the Mission at around 8 AM on Saturday, and have 2 seats left in my car; I'll come back after the closing ceremony on Sunday, also with 2 more seats. Let me know if you need a ride. Also, this is another reminder to look at the two plenary packets in advance, and to print a copy for yourself or be prepared to share one: as usual, the username and password to access these documents are gpca and 10greatyears. JMC -- John-Marc Chandonia (jmc(a)sfgreens.org) http://www.dolorespark.org/

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will not be in Sacramento
by Philip Willkie 02 Jun '04

02 Jun '04

I will see you guies in Milwaukee.I am driving to the midwest with a friend leaving on June 4.I sent SFGP $50 and regisstered as a delegate with the state

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