Welcome!
This has long been a dream of mine. As I have been interested in politics for a long time, I have noticed that the two-party system is a bit of a joke. It is my opinion that a two-party system is basically a one-party system. Afterall, we have pro-choice and pro-life Republicans and pro-choice and pro-life Democrats. Give me a break.
The truth is that the American people are not fairly represented in Washington. Congress is not representative of America in the areas of: race, gender, economic status, or POLITICAL VIEWS.
We need a multi-party system. If 10% of the people are Libertarians, or Greens, Or Socialists, or whatever, they should be proportionately represented. That was the original purpose of democracy and we have gotten away from it.
It is my belief that if all the parties are able to debate and propose their ideas, the best ones will win out. This is the idea of competition, another bedrock of our society.
I encourage everyone to VOTE THIRD PARTY. Regardless of which one. Except for some very rare exceptions, I always vote for a third party candidate if there is one on the ballot. If there are more than one, I choose the one I like best. If only one, I vote for him or her even if they are more out of line with my beliefs than the two major parties.
All Third Parties should share one goal: Open up the system. No one of them can do it on their own, but together we can.
James
Libertarians expect to protest Republican convention
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Claiming that the only permit they need to peaceably assemble is the First Amendment to the Constitution, members of the Manhattan Libertarian Party have announced that they intend to gather on the Great Lawn at Central Park on the eve of the Republican National Convention to protest the war in Iraq and the Patriot Act.
The Republican convention will be held in New York City from Aug. 29 to Sept. 4.
"If you ask the government for permission to protest it, you deserve to be told no," said Manhattan LP chair Jim Lesczynski, referring to the city's denial of permits to other organizations that have requested permission to hold protests on the Great Lawn on Aug. 29.
So the Manhattan LP won't be asking for permission -- since they've already been given permission by the Bill of Rights to "peaceably assemble," Lesczynski noted.
"Organizers will not be available to negotiate with the New York Police Department, because this protest will have no organizers," he said. "Absolutely nobody is in charge. Libertarians are individuals, not a collective."
Nader faces obstacle in Green Party's Cobb
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Ralph Nader faces an unlikely rival in his latest effort to boost his presidential campaign: David Cobb, a lawyer from Northern California.
Cobb sounds the same policy notes as Nader: Both oppose the war in Iraq and support universal health care, stronger environmental protection and stricter regulation of business. Both want to change the two-party system, and both want President Bush defeated.
Cobb has even worked as Nader's political ally. He helped build the Green Party's organization in Texas when Nader first ran as the group's presidential standard-bearer in 1996. Then he served as the party's general counsel and managed Nader's Texas campaign when the consumer advocate was the Green nominee in 2000 - a candidacy many Democrats say cost Al Gore the White House.
Libertarians launch lobbying blitz to pass anti-torture bill
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WASHINGTON, DC -- The Libertarian Party has joined a coalition of human rights groups working to pass Senate legislation, expected to come up for a vote on Wednesday, that would reaffirm the ban on torture by the U.S. government.
"It's both shocking and disgraceful that anti-torture legislation is even needed in the United States of America," said Joseph Seehusen, executive director of the Libertarian Party. "Torturing prisoners is the kind of conduct expected from thuggish, Third World dictators -- not from a government that claims to believe in democracy and human rights."
The U.S. Senate is expected to vote today on legislation authored by U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-IL, that would reaffirm the U.S. ban on torture. The bill, which will be offered as an amendment to the Defense Authorization funding bill for fiscal 2005, requires the Defense Department to issue new regulations prohibiting torture and reporting those rules to Congress.
Arizona LP runs full slate of congressional candidates
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Arizona Libertarians recently filed a full slate of candidates to run for U.S. Senate and House this November in the state, something not even the Democrats managed: At least one House district will not feature a Democrat candidate.
And they used a unique recruitment tool: Instead of relying on over-worked party officials to do the recruitment, a "group of dedicated freedom activists ... formed their own organization specifically for this purpose," said Jason Auvenshine, state LP chairman.
The group, known as "the L Factor," recruited many of the candidates, and the LP's primary contribution was maintaining statewide ballot access for the party and getting voter lists from the state, Auvenshine said.
"We created an environment where activists were encouraged to form their own organizations to accomplish political goals, rather than relying on ... those with official titles to accomplish them.
"Then we got out of the way."
And it worked: Every voter in the state will have the opportunity to vote for at least one Libertarian this November.
Nader selects Green Party activist Peter Camejo as running mate
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WASHINGTON - Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader selected longtime Green Party activist Peter Camejo to be his running mate on Monday, a move sure to boost his chances of winning the Green Party's endorsement this week and its access to ballot lines in 22 states and the District of Columbia.
Camejo, an investment adviser from Folsom, Calif., had been one of two leading contenders for the Green Party's presidential nomination.
The announcement came in advance of the Green Party convention beginning Wednesday in Milwaukee. Nader, who ran as the Green Party candidate in 2000, is not seeking the party's nomination but he has pursued an endorsement from the third party.
"Camejo shares my concerns for economic and social justice as well as the urgent need to protect our environment," Nader said in a statement before introducing him at an afternoon news conference.
One Green Party leader said a Nader-Camejo ticket would have a very strong chance of winning the party's endorsement.
Presidential Debates Likely to Exclude Nader
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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The commission organizing the presidential campaign debates defended its decision on Thursday to set conditions for participation that are likely to exclude independent candidate Ralph Nader.
Presenting its format for the three proposed presidential debates, as well as one vice presidential debate, the commission said candidates could only be included if they had a chance of winning a majority in the Electoral College or had 15 percent support in the electorate in the polls.
Nader, seen as potentially drawing votes from Democratic challenger John Kerry, has poll support that's only in the low to mid single digits.
"We have no apologies to make," said commission co-chair Frank Fahrenkopf, a former chairman of the Republican party. "It's been a prudent and thoughtful exercise."
"We believe the 15 percent criterion is a fair and balanced number," added Paul Kirk, the other co-chair, who once headed the Democratic party.
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- Discouraging Democracy is never fair. The only thought give was how to make sure that no minor party is heard. We saw in 1992 what can happen if a minor party candidate has the chance to be heard!
Former diplomats call for Bush ouster
Foreign policy damages nation, group says
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Bush administration's foreign policy in Iraq and elsewhere has been a "disaster," and President Bush should not be re-elected, a group of former diplomats and military leaders say in a newly released statement.
The group, called Diplomats and Military Commanders for Change, held a news conference Wednesday to explain why its members feel "the need for a major change in the direction of our foreign policy," and underscore that they believe their concerns are bipartisan.
- Note that they are not promoting Kerry, just pointing out what most people already know; Bush has detroyed our international credibility, been ineffective on the war on terrorism, and cost many lives in a needless war based on false information.
Once again, we are faced with choosing the lesser of two evils. Although, truthfully, niether will be all that different.
Green Party's Choice of Milwaukee, WI Convention Site Highlights Importance of Third Parties in US History.
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The national committee of the Green Party selected Milwaukee, a city noted for its progressive history, values, and strong working class, as the convention location with the encouragement of recently retired Alderperson Don Richards and Social Development Commissioner Robert Miranda, both Greens, and national party co-chair Ben Manski. The convention will take place June 23-28 at the Midwest Center and the Milwaukee Hyatt Regency.
"Too many Americans believe that the two-party system has been the rule from the beginning of time," noted Illinois Green Charles Shaw. "Too few Americans know that, thanks to third parties throughout U.S. history, working people have a work week limited to 40 hours and enjoy good wages and benefits, child labor is outlawed, and women have the right to vote. The Black Panther Party, Peace & Freedom Party, and various socialist parties provided much of the organization and drive behind the civil rights and anti-Vietnam War movements."
Special Interest Strikes Again
Health lobby blocks mental health parity
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WASHINGTON (AP) -- Aided by House Speaker Dennis Hastert, insurance companies successfully have blocked legislation to make them provide equal coverage for mental and physical illnesses if their policies include both.
Green Party criticizes new political-party law
From the
Anchorage Daily News
JUNEAU -- An attorney for the Green Party of Alaska said Wednesday he believes a new law that determines what a political party must do to appear on the state ballot is unconstitutional.
A state lawyer, however, said the new law should settle a lawsuit filed last year by the Greens.
Attorney Kevin Morford represented the Green Party in its challenge of a previous state law that resulted in the party losing its status as a recognized political party.
Superior Court Judge John Reese issued a preliminary injunction in November in favor of the Green Party, saying it must be allowed to appear on the ballot this year. Reese has not issued a final judgment in the case.
Are We Crowning The New American Caesar?
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An interesting comment on another third party support blog.
Poll shows Kerry with 7-point lead over Bush
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Although this doesn't really pertain to third party candidates, there are some important points here;
"More than a third of those surveyed said they don't know enough about Kerry to decide whether he will make a better president than Bush"
This indicates that voters don't necessarily want Kerry, they just want someone other than Bush.
