[candidate-development] [Platform] Nader/Gonzalez - no other choice I am afraid

Tue Mar 11 19:29:13 EDT 2008

Bill,
I hear you loud and clear.  Is that because of repetition or knowledge?

On Tuesday, March 11, 2008, at 05:16  PM, BillCunningham wrote:

> We are like people in Bedlam, saying the same things over and over, no 
> one is really listening, there is no conversation. This is what it's 
> like to go crazy.

> Would someone please explain how the coming presidential campaign will 
> either develop our organization or relieve the distress of a single 
> sentient being in the real world?
That is but one of many questions that should be asked about 
participation in presidential campaigns.

> Are we not about to waste another precious year of our lives, not to 
> speak of our fortunes and our sacred honor, just so that we and a 
> bunch of free riders can cast a protest vote in November to hush our 
> bad consciences?
My life is not so precious as that of those who can still act in ways 
that I am no longer able.  But I would like it to be of use

> God knows we have no right to a clear conscience.
Fortunately I will continue to avoid a conscience formed by monotheism 
as easily as I have done
most of my life.  Must be my white European immigrant privilege.
But I am quite ready to accept that I may have a few years worth using.
GW
Elie Yarden
MRGRA

>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
>> From: "Walsh, John" <John.Walsh at umassmed.edu>
>> Sent: Mar 11, 2008 12:49 PM
>> To: BillCunningham <etwee at earthlink.net>
>> Cc: Merelice <merelice at gmail.com>, Platform Committee 
>> <platform at green-rainbow.org>, candidate development 
>> <candidate-development at green-rainbow.org>
>> Subject: Nader/Gonzalez - no other choice I am afraid
>>
>> Hi Bill et al,
>> This is not a choice that was made lightly - believe me.  But after 
>> the blocking of the compromise apportionment resolution, #324, by a 
>> 34% minority - and after the abject failure of the national party to 
>> put any infrastructure in place for ballot access or fundraisng, I 
>> reluctantly conclude that the GPUS - unlike the GP of CA or GRP here 
>> in MA is a corpse.  It cannot mount a serious campaign at the 
>> national level - unless Nader/Gonzalez becomes a sufficient threat to 
>> the Dems that they pour money into the GPUS.
>>
>> So what to do?  Well there could have been an alliance with the 
>> resources Nader and the GPUS could have brought to the table - but 
>> that was ruled out by the DemoGreens and others in key positions at 
>> the national level.  Not to mention the apparently racist action 
>> taken by the same group against former Black Panther, Elaine Brown.  
>> You have seen the undemocratic actions of a small clique since the 
>> state convention who defy the co-chairs and use their possession of 
>> party resources to decide things.  Same thing happens one hundred 
>> fold at the national level. The idea of one Green- one vote has been 
>> trashed to eliminate the influence of CA and NY and others.  Nine 
>> months ago I did not believe how bad it was  and I even defended the 
>> GPUS in a CounterPunch article.  Boy, was I wrong! Talk about egg on 
>> one's face.
>>
>> So what to do?  Stand by and chant "Om" while another million Iraqis 
>> are slaughtered at the hands of the government to which I pay taxes 
>> and against which I can help run candidates?  Not for me.  I have 
>> only one ethical course I am afraid.  So I will stick with the GRP 
>> but I will work for Nader/Gonzalez.
>>
>> And I hope the GPUS candidate (which might NOT be Cynthia in the end 
>> since she may be entering law school in September and I do not know 
>> how she can do that and run a campaign) will be as civil to Ralph as 
>> he has been to Cynthia and the GPUS.  We can run synergistic 
>> campaigns here.  Elections are not a zero sum game.
>>
>> It is time to move on at the national level.
>>
>> John V. Walsh
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: BillCunningham [mailto:etwee at earthlink.net]
>> Sent: Tue 3/11/2008 11:50 AM
>> To: Walsh, John
>> Cc: Merelice; Platform Committee; candidate development
>> Subject: Re: [Platform] Fwd: New Mexico
>>
>> So that means Gonzalez quits the GPUS and an effort is underway to 
>> split people away nationwide.
>>
>> To my thinking, neither Nader or the current GPUS has any plan to 
>> build the kind of movement party that will be needed in the 
>> years-prhaps even months-ahead. The only thing more chimerical in the 
>> U.S. than a purely electoral opposition party, is internecine 
>> fighting over which one has the correct line.
>>
>> Can you say IMPLOSION?
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: John Walsh <john.walsh at umassmed.edu>
>>> Sent: Mar 11, 2008 11:15 AM
>>> To: BillCunningham <etwee at earthlink.net>
>>> Cc: Merelice <merelice at gmail.com>, Platform Committee 
>>> <platform at green-rainbow.org>, candidate development 
>>> <candidate-development at green-rainbow.org>
>>> Subject: Re: [Platform] Fwd: New Mexico
>>>
>>> Wherever possible Nader/Gonzalez will seek a ballot line NOT as
>>> individuals but as a new party - name undecided.  That is my
>>> understanding.
>>> That party can then work to put folks on the ballot in the next
>>> campaign.  I think that the better GP parties (I include MA and CA)
>>> will in one way or other make an alliance or join with this new
>>> political entity.  Ralph does not want to use his last hurrah just to
>>> run a campaign.  It is to be part of a new movement just as was 2000
>>> but unfortunately the GPUS was hijacked and remains so.  Sad.
>>> john walsh
>>>
>>> On Mar 11, 2008, at 10:11 AM, BillCunningham wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi Merelice,
>>>>
>>>> No, what I mean is this. If Nader (say) ran in November on the line
>>>> of a party (say GPUS/GRP) and received 3 percent of the MA vote,
>>>> that would thereby secure the party's 2010 ballot line and official
>>>> status. But if Nader (say) gets 3 percent as an independent, that
>>>> doesn't secure anybody's future ballot line or status. Is that
>>>> right? That's why the phrase "money down the drain" made me think
>>>> of this question.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: Merelice <merelice at gmail.com>
>>>>> Sent: Mar 10, 2008 6:52 PM
>>>>> To: BillCunningham <etwee at earthlink.net>
>>>>> Cc: John Walsh <john.walsh at umassmed.edu>, Platform Committee
>>>>> <platform at green-rainbow.org>, candidate development <candidate-
>>>>> development at green-rainbow.org>
>>>>> Subject: Re: [Platform] Fwd: New Mexico
>>>>>
>>>>> (Forward to Need-to-know if of interest.)
>>>>>
>>>>> Hi Bill,
>>>>>
>>>>> Not sure I understand your question, especially your use of the 
>>>>> term
>>>>> "votes." But here are some points that might be relevant.
>>>>>
>>>>> Assuming the GRP offers Nader the convention delegates he earned in
>>>>> the GRP presidential primary, he could either decide to use them to
>>>>> seek the Green Party nomination (pretty unlikely from the sounds of
>>>>> things) or he could release them. The primary was the only time 
>>>>> that
>>>>> public "votes" are involved.
>>>>>
>>>>> Whoever wins the nomination at the Green Party's national 
>>>>> nominating
>>>>> convention in July (by winning over enough delegates) will then
>>>>> become
>>>>> the Green Party's presidential candidate in the November general
>>>>> presidential election.
>>>>>
>>>>> Should anyone (including Nader) wish to run as an independent
>>>>> candidate in November, they will need to follow each state's
>>>>> requirements (generally collecting sigs) for running in that 
>>>>> capacity
>>>>> -- as Nader is now doing in New Mexico. In other words, he has his
>>>>> work cut out for him. The GRP primary votes have no bearing on an
>>>>> independent candidacy. Nader apparently thinks he has a stronger
>>>>> field
>>>>> operation for getting on state ballots than the Green Party can 
>>>>> offer
>>>>> -- and stronger than he had in 2004 when he did not make it on the
>>>>> Mass. ballot.
>>>>>
>>>>> Merelice
>>>>>
>>>>> On 3/10/08, BillCunningham <etwee at earthlink.net> wrote:
>>>>>> Speaking of money down the drain, if Nader as a non-party
>>>>>> candidate gets enough votes to qualify for state ballot lines,
>>>>>> who gets to exercise that option?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Bill Cunningham
>>>>
>>>
>>> John V. Walsh, MD
>>> Professor of Physiology
>>> University of Massachusetts Medical School
>>> 508-856-3360 (Office)
>>> 508-868-1653 (Cell)
>>> john.walsh at umassmed.edu
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> Bill Cunningham
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> Bill Cunningham
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