[Sosfbay-discuss] New progressive 3rd party and the Greens place in multiparty democracy

[Drew Johnson]

While I don't feel certain of the details such as who, and when, as I've
been saying this year I do feel certain that a new progressive 3rd party
is likely to arise (one with lower standards than we Greens promote with
our 10KV).  The energy is there for it and people like Sheehan and
Kucinich and other progressive Dems are likely adherents.  While on one
level I feel disappointment that we Greens haven't been ready to fully
take advantage of the moment and be that party, I continue to think that
in the long run we can turn the upcoming new multiparty landscape to our
advantage to the extent we can live out our 10KV.

And of course impeachment is late but not 'too late, nor is it 'too
little'.  True we can not save the hundreds of thousands of lives already
lost or trillions flushed down the war toilet, but any life saved and
resource redirected to peace is worth the effort of our struggle.  Greens
have including our newly minted Green Cynthia McKinney have been in the
forefront of the impeachment movement all along and the investment in real
leadership we've accomplished will stand us in good stead as we make
impeachment happen and come into our own power in the new multiparty
landscape.


Green is Core!

Drew Johnson
GPCA

Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2007 06:47:22 -0800
From: "Sanda Everette" <sanda at greens.org>
Subject: Re: [usgp-dx] [usgp-nc] Delegate apportionment numbers
To: "John Walsh" <jvwalshmd at gmail.com>,         "NatlComm Affairs"
        <natlcomaffairs at green.gpus.org>


John,
I totally agree with you.  I was not a Green for Kucinich in 2004, but I was
still shocked that after the primary, rather than sticking to his values, he
endorsed in party's flag bearer.  I was probably naive to even expect that
of him. I continue to be amazed that progressives don't get that and think
he is the savior of the Democratic party....which I guess he is alluding to
giving up on after the 08 election.  I am also amazed the way he is being
celebrated now for introducing impeachment...too little, too late, when
Cynthia was doing it years ago with no support from the Democrats.  I have
heard the statement, that the Democratic party is where progressive causes
go to die.  My limited political education was expanded when that concept
was solidified for me after reading The Avocado Declaration by Peter Camejo.
http://www.mvp-seattle.com/Pages/ExtraPages/pageAvocadoDelecaration.htm  I
knew that I could never again vote Democrat.  Frankly, I was quite
disappointed by the number of truly sophisticated progressives who joined
the ABB camp in 2004. Yes, the Bush regime has been a nightmare of
devastation for this country...and the world, but the lesser of two evils is
still evil.

(I debated betwen replying only to you or moving to discussion list.  We are
no longer relevant on the votes list.)

On 11/13/07, John Walsh <jvwalshmd at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Kucinich - a new party?  Even then I would not trust him after his
> endorsement of Kerry in 2004.  You mean after November, 2008?  That is
> far too late.
>
> As for the Green image being a detriment, I do not think so.  It has
> enormous appeal in the suburbs and among the white middle class and
> upper middle class.  We are basically a social democratic party and
> such a party can gain more acceptance as Green.
> But that is not enough.  We in MA have coalesced with the original
> Rainbow which was formed by Mel King and whose name was adopted later
> by Jesse Jackson. We are the Green Rainbow Party, GRP, here in MA.
> This gives us a base among the urbanites - especially the poor and
> Black population.  This is very powerful idea if we could implement it
> properly, because it gives us the twin base that should be ours.
>
> Unfortunately there are problems in the propere implementation but the
> idea is there.
> john walsh (MA delegate)
>
> On 11/12/07, Sanda Everette <sanda at greens.org> wrote:
> > John,
> > snip
> >
> >
> > I don't think you will see Cindy Sheehan jump in.  Someone on her
> campaign
> > told me yesterday that after November, she and Dennis Kucinich are going
> to
> > start a new party.  They think the Greens can't get past the image of
> being
> > environmentalists.  Maybe they, like others, have us confused with
> > Greenpeace.  We need more visitbility, from a positive position of
> > solidairy. Gee, sometimes I wish we were acting like environmentalist,
> in
> > harmony with each other and the earth.  We barely can sustain an
> eco-action
> > committee.
> >
> > > Sanda, CA
> >
> > On 11/12/07, John Walsh <jvwalshmd at gmail.com> wrote:
> > >snip
>
> > > And then perhaps other national figures will jump in.  Cindy Sheehan?
> > > We wait.
> > > john walsh (MA delegate)
> > >