[Sosfbay-discuss] Jim Stauffer's high handedly unsubscribingmefrom regional list

[Drew Johnson]

Jodi, Sounds good re: female vibes watcher.

Well, there's another list that most people are unaware of and that's the
one we are discussing Jim having kicked me off of with no process and no
discussion with The Council.  The list is called the SC-SM list and as I'd
previously posted its a list for both the Santa Clara and San Mateo
parties to communicate.  Jim holds an (IMO) extremely, extremely,
extremely narrow, cramped concept of what our two parties should be
communicating about on that list.  In his view it should only be info
between the two Councils re: regional info.  This is like treating it as
if it were the red phone between D.C. and Moscow or a fire alarm -- break
the glass to use.  As I'd said before, it was just hardly used at all
before I joined and apparently that's exactly the way Jim thinks it should
be used -- hardly at all.

But interestingly enough I was ON THE COUNCIL for Santa Clara when he was
trying to dictate to  me how the list was to be used -- no matter that his
position as Regional Rep is essentially a position under the
accountability of the County Councils of the region (in this case Santa
Clara and San Mateo) and that therefore HE SHOULD BE LISTENING TO THE
COUNTY COUNCILORS as to how WE CHOOSE TO USE THE LIST.

And since we have a party resource (not a Jim Stauffer resource) to help
us communicate between our two parties IMO we ought to actually use it and
NOT to treat is like something so precious we can never use it.  IMO thats
just plain silly.

So what if one of the Councilors chooses to communicate more than Jim
Stauffer enjoys.  Jim Stauffer's position as Regional Rep is subject to
the elected/appointed Council Councils and not the other way around.  Just
as Jim got it totally backwards and tried to harangue Caroline Yacoub for
holding him accountable, he seems to have the backwards idea that everyone
else is accountable to him and he is accountable to no one.  Well sorry
Jim, but we've got some news for you.  The Regional Rep is supposed to
serve the county parties and the County Councils, not the other way
around.


Green is True!

Drew


On Thu, July 17, 2008 12:56, jodi embry wrote:
> Dear All:
>>From the understanding that I have as a member of the Green P., I know of
>> two lists. One for discussion of topics and news, the other of of Party
>> actions. Someone might clarify this and also from being at meetings until
>> the last year, I think that a woman Vibes Watcher is a good idea.
>
>
> --- On Thu, 7/17/08, Drew Johnson <JamBoi at Greens.org> wrote:
>
>> From: Drew Johnson <JamBoi at Greens.org>
>> Subject: Re: [Sosfbay-discuss] Jim Stauffer's high handedly
>> unsubscribingmefrom regional list
>> To: sosfbay-discuss at cagreens.org
>> Date: Thursday, July 17, 2008, 7:28 AM
>> On Wed, July 16, 2008 07:58, Caroline Yacoub wrote:
>> > Okay, so Tian's not on that list, and I'm not
>> on that list. My question
>> > is: exactly what is this list, and why are Tian and I
>> not on it?
>> >   Caroline
>>
>> Hey Caroline and all,
>>
>> Okay this is a valuable question.  The list in question is
>> called the
>> SC-SM (Santa Clara - San Mateo) list.  Our two county
>> parties form what is
>> called a 'region'  (The 'Silicon Valley'
>> Region) for the purposes of Green
>> Party of California (GPCA) self governance.  It is the
>> Silicon Valley
>> Region which is about to get together for the picnic you
>> have put
>> together.  Theoretically a region could also provide more
>> support,
>> structure and resources for candidates and campaigns as
>> well, but mostly
>> its just a way to select a representative -- Regional
>> Representative or
>> RR.  And note that the 14th Congression District crosses
>> into both
>> counties of the 'Silicon Valley Region', so for the
>> race that Carol
>> Brouillet is running, both counties need to provide
>> support.  Currently
>> Jim Stauffer serves as the Alternate RR but since there is
>> no RR other
>> than him he basically serves as the RR.
>>
>> The Regional Representatives participate in the GPCA's
>> Coordinating
>> Committee (CC).   The CC runs the day to day affairs of the
>> GPCA in
>> between General Assemblies (GA).  GAs are actually the
>> highest authority
>> within the GPCA, but since they are only occasional (2 or 3
>> times per year
>> -- one is coming up in August in Orange County), there
>> needs to be a way
>> to get business done the rest of the time and the CC
>> provides that
>> service.
>>
>> Unfortunately over the past number of years the CC has been
>> ground to a
>> halt by what I call the Factional Fanatics.  There are
>> basically two
>> Factions that hate each other's guts and are apparently
>> more interested in
>> gaining their own power and defeating the other faction
>> than in the good
>> of the party.
>>
>> One faction is lead by Mike Feinstein who's highest
>> claim to fame so far
>> is being the former Mayor of in the LA area.  The other
>> faction claims
>> that Mike Feinstein financial improprieties more than 10
>> years ago and
>> they persist in crusading against MF and his followers in
>> the LA Region
>> and all over the state.  The other faction was previously
>> led by Jo
>> Chamberlain who is from San Mateo ie. in our own Silicon
>> Valley Region and
>> who was the RR from our region until she resigned recently
>> which put Jim
>> Stauffer in the role.  Jo had previously been active in the
>> national party
>> as well and served as a CoChair to the Green National
>> Committee (sorta
>> like Howard Dean but with 7 Howard Deans instead of just
>> one).  From what
>> I could see (admittedly from a distance) Jo provided the
>> tactical genius
>> for her faction.  The rhetorical and strategic genius of
>> that faction was
>> Peter Camejo (several times Green gubnatorial candidate and
>> who ran as an
>> independent in 2004 as Ralph Nader's VP candidate.
>>
>> Confoundingly enough I've found that all of the members
>> of these two
>> factions deny being in a faction themselves and can only
>> identify their
>> opponents as being part of a faction.  This includes top
>> members of the
>> faction.  Mike Feinstein himself denies being a part of a
>> faction!!!  And
>> denies being a leader of said faction!!!  Jim Stauffer is a
>> fairly loyal
>> footsoldier of the JC/PC faction.  when  I've pointed
>> this out to him he
>> exploded in anger and totally denied it.  I suppose that
>> might be one of
>> the items he would call a 'lie' by me.  I suppose
>> facing truths that Jim
>> is in denial about like that he's a rageaholic and that
>> he's a key member
>> of the JC/PC Faction are uncomfortable I'm guessing.
>>
>> There's another structure called GDI (Greens for
>> Democratic Indepence)
>> that overlaps with the Jo Chamberlain/Peter Camejo faction.
>>  GDI is
>> nationwide and essentially could be called Greens for Nader
>> and Camejo
>> because that is pretty much their function.  They are
>> constantly harping
>> on this ideological concept they have called 'One Green
>> One Vote'.  I
>> won't get into it here, but I will say that while it
>> sounds good, they
>> place far too much emphasis on this ideological construct
>> and what it
>> boils down to is that they think the GPCA should dominate
>> the GP-US and
>> deliver the GPCA ballot line to Nader.  Jim Stauffer is
>> pretty
>> uninterested in national politics so I don't think
>> he's really a part of
>> that national faction.
>>
>>  Jim has been a long term member of the CC and indeed I
>> think at one point
>> served as one of the CoChairs of the CC as well as serving
>> as the Liaison
>> to the Secretary of State. So he has provided a LOT of
>> service and has
>> been with the party almost since its start.
>>
>> While its absolutely true that Jim is hard working and
>> super knowledgable,
>> he also has these problems with his behavior as you got a
>> sample of the
>> other day when he insulted you and a number of others on
>> this list.  These
>> unaddressed behavioral problems make him scarey to be
>> around and many
>> people report unwillingness to even put themselves in He
>> seems to
>> experience temper tantrums like you wouldn't believe.
>> It makes our
>> General Meetings very unpleasant and contentious at times.
>> He is what
>> some people call a Mood Transmitter.  When he walks in the
>> room the whole
>> emotional atmosphere of the room is effected (this is a
>> phenomenon that
>> not everyone experiences, but I and some others certainly
>> do and have
>> talked about it).
>>
>>  I would also characterize him as a 'control
>> freak'.   As we've been able
>> to see in these past few postings by Jim, even though he
>> hasn't been on
>> the County Council literally in years he treats the Council
>> contemptuously and as though he were not only more powerful
>> than a
>> Councilor.  He's not -- the RR is put into position BY
>> The Council.  The
>> Council is directly elected by the Green Party members and
>> so is in a
>> sense the most direct representatives of Grassroots
>> Democracy and
>> everything else in the party including the delegates to the
>> General
>> Assembly (GA) are determined by The Councils.   He also
>> seems to hold the
>> opinion that whatever HE defines the purpose of the SC-SM
>> list as should
>> automatically and absolutely be treated as law without
>> reference back to
>> the (actually more powerful and that which he's
>> supposed to be
>> accountable to) Councils.  He doesn't see a need
>> apparently to check back
>> with The Councils who essentially put him into his position
>> in the first
>> place and who has the right to recall, remove or replace
>> him.
>>
>> Jim has regularly demeaned Carol Brouillet (new member of
>> The Council and
>> highest vote getter).  He doesn't care for her radical
>> politics and
>> especially her emphasis on getting down to the truth of
>> what happened on
>> 9-11.  But Carol is not the only woman that Jim treats
>> contempuously and I
>> would not be the only one to point out that he seems to
>> have some kind of
>> issue going on with women generally.
>>
>> Although he might not say it right now Tian has also been a
>> regular target
>> of Jim's wrath.  Jim doesn't like that Tian can be
>> so dominating of
>> meeting time since Tian expresses himself so slowly during
>> meetings and
>> also that Tian sometimes reports unconfirmed rumours as
>> fact.
>>
>> Jim Stauffer's behavior is one of the primary reasons I
>> refuse to invite
>> any newcomers to the General Meeting.  Why should newbies
>> be subjected to
>> this unpleasantness?  It is quite possible that they will
>> be so turned off
>> they will leave and never return.  It was great that he was
>> absent at this
>> last meeting and frankly that might be a contributing
>> reason it went so
>> well.
>>
>>
>> Green is Connection!
>>
>> Drew
>>
>> >
>> > Drew Johnson <JamBoi at Greens.org> wrote:
>> >   Jim's mischaracterization that this was about
>> 'general discussion' is
>> > misleading and innacurate and therefore is irrelevant.
>> >
>> > Hitting a person is far from the only form of
>> violence. Month by month we
>> > have been subjected to Jim's violent attitude
>> towards any that disagree
>> > with him. I know for a fact that numerous people
>> (especially women
>> > because of his misogynistic attitudes) have been
>> turned off of our
>> > county's party and have not returned based on what
>> you call Tian his
>> > 'personality'. Its not his personality. Its
>> that he is an unrecovered
>> > rageaholic. He needs help but apparently doesn't
>> take steps to get Anger
>> > Management or whatever it is that would address his
>> issues. Just in the
>> > past few days a number of Santa Clara Greens have been
>> abused by Jim on
>> > the e-mail list. This arrogant and tyrannous behavior
>> is completely
>> > unacceptable of someone who we have entrusted with
>> being our Regional
>> > Representative to the GPCA Coordinating Committee.
>> >
>> > Further it is not Jim's perview to arbitrarily and
>> unilaterally take a
>> > GPSC County Councilor emeritus
>> > off any GPCA e-mail list. He is not the king of
>> anything. He did not
>> > have the right to act in such an emperious way.
>> >
>> > We can not afford to continue to turn a blind eye to
>> Jim's ongoing
>> > egregious toxic behavior, so we need to protect our
>> membership by removing
>> > the power investing in Jim's that he is injuring
>> other people and our
>> > party with.
>> >
>> > No I will not drop my requests to the County Council.
>> Absolutely not.
>> >
>> >
>> > Green is Safe!
>> >
>> > Drew
>> >
>> >
>> > On Wed, July 16, 2008 00:37, Tian Harter wrote:
>> >> I gotta agree that general discussion belongs in
>> the discussion forum.
>> >> I've not been on that list so I don't know
>> a "crime" was committed,
>> >> but I could believe Drew would post discussion
>> items beyond where they
>> >> go.
>> >>
>> >> I consider the rant below this a bit over the top.
>> Stauffer often acts
>> >> grumpy, but I have never seen him hit anyone. If
>> you allow for his
>> >> personality, he is a fine fellow traveler. Please
>> cut him a little
>> >> slack.
>> >>
>> >> When we have an activist that wants to do the work
>> Jim is doing quite
>> >> well, then is the time to vote him out of office.
>> Until then, I say
>> >> "Why can't we all just get along?"
>> >>
>> >> Tian
>> >>
>> >> Drew Johnson wrote:
>> >>> On Mon, July 14, 2008 19:20, Jim Stauffer
>> wrote:
>> >>>> Do any of you know what you're talking
>> about?
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> This quote is typically arrogant behavior from
>> Jim Stauffer. It falls
>> >>> entirely within his typical pattern of
>> behavior. How offensive can you
>> >>> get???
>> >>>
>> >>> This puts across the entirely elitist message:
>> "Watch out people, do
>> >>> not
>> >>> cross Jim Stauffer. He knows what's best
>> for you. Do not speak out
>> >>> against his outrageous rageaholic behavior
>> because he will slap you
>> >>> down.
>> >>>
>> >>> I say the party can not afford to put a
>> rageaholic into a position of
>> >>> power. How many have left our party because of
>> Jim's behavior. Its
>> >>> worth
>> >>> pointing out that Jim behaves consistently in
>> a consistently
>> >>> misogynistic
>> >>> manner. He's a white male and he knows
>> better than you (as in the above
>> >>> example). Just rollover people because Jim is
>> the tyrant and you have
>> >>> no
>> >>> right to question any of his hurtful behavior.
>> Like Bush, he is
>> >>> entirely
>> >>> above the shackles of any kind of check on his
>> actions. Thank you Jim
>> >>> for
>> >>> giving us a beautiful example of exactly what
>> we Greens are working to
>> >>> overcome in our world today.
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> Green is Connection!
>> >>>
>> >>> Drew
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>> Can any of you tell me the what list he
>> was removed from and the
>> >>>> purpose
>> >>>> of
>> >>>> that list?
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Have any of you read GPCA net etiquette
>> policy
>> >>>>
>> (http://cagreens.org/structure/email_etiquette.shtml) that
>> asks for
>> >>>> cooperation from participants on these
>> cost-free, advertising-free
>> >>>> lists
>> >>>> that the party provides for your use?
>> >>>>
>> >>>> And, finally, what right do any of you
>> have to tell the small
>> >>>> membership
>> >>>> of
>> >>>> closed, special-purpose list who they have
>> to allow as members and
>> >>>> what
>> >>>> messages they have to read?
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Jim
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>> kaisha_marie at comcast.net wrote:
>> >>>>> I appreciate Drew's posts and he
>> is the reason I'm green at all. I
>> >>>>> don't
>> >>>>> understand why his speech would be
>> limited in any green forum. What
>> >>>>> are
>> >>>>> the rules being violated specifically?
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> Green is unification,
>> >>>>> Kaisha
>> >>>>> Sent from my Verizon Wireless
>> BlackBerry
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> -----Original Message-----
>> >>>>> From: Fred Duperrault
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> Date: Sun, 13 Jul 2008 21:47:00
>> >>>>> To: Drew Johnson
>> >>>>> Cc:
>> >>>>> Subject: Re: [Sosfbay-discuss] Jim
>> Stauffer's high handedly
>> >>>>> unsubscribing
>> >>>>> me from regional list
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> I appreciate Drew's alerts, leads
>> and his comments. I'm sure he
>> >>>>> informs
>> >>>>> and energizes many Greens who rely on
>> the discussion list.
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> I see no harm.
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> Fred Duperrault
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> Hello All,
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> I agree with Drew. In these trying
>> times pretty much everyone, who's
>> >>>>> serious about this planet and it
>> turning GREEN someday, has something
>> >>>>> to say that is important. That is,
>> information about impeachment,
>> >>>>> ending war, healthcare for all, mass
>> transit, bicycling, etc., etc.,
>> >>>>> is all good and points towards a
>> GREENer planet. Thus, Drew's emails
>> >>>>> should be looked upon as a GOOD thing
>> that will help the GREEN party.
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> Cheers,
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> Randy W. Sandberg
>> >>>>> www.ENDinjusticeNOW.com
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> On Jul 13, 2008, at 6:34 PM, Drew
>> Johnson wrote:
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>> I vehemently protest this
>> unilateral action by Jim Stauffer. Jim is
>> >>>>>> not
>> >>>>>> the king of the e-mail list and
>> does not have the right to partake
>> >>>>>> in such
>> >>>>>> high handed behavior. This is not
>> a "green" way to operate. I
>> >>>>>> request
>> >>>>>> the County Council instruct Jim to
>> immediately reinstate my
>> >>>>>> subscription
>> >>>>>> to the regional list and make it
>> clear to Jim that this behavior is
>> >>>>>> completely unacceptable.
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>> Green is Ethical!
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>> Drew Johnson
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>> County Council Emeritus and
>> >>>>>> Elected Delegate the Green
>> National Committee (among many other
>> >>>>>> forms of
>> >>>>>> service I provide)
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>> ----------------------------
>> Original Message
>> >>>>>> ----------------------------
>> >>>>>> Subject: [SC-SM] Unsubscribing
>> Drew
>> >>>>>> From: "Jim Stauffer"
>> >>>>>> Date: Fri, July 11, 2008 18:12
>> >>>>>> To: "Regional List"
>> >>>>>>
>> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>> I'm unsubscribing Drew Johnson
>> from this list. He's been asked
>> >>>>>> several times
>> >>>>>> to stop posting general discussion
>> issues, and he refuses to do so.
>> >>>>>> This
>> >>>>>> list is defined for a discussion
>> of regional Green Party issues. The
>> >>>>>> GPCA
>> >>>>>> has a list-use policy and his
>> actions violate it.
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>> Drew is no longer on the SC County
>> Council, so his only purpose for
>> >>>>>> remaining on this list is to use
>> it to distribute his favorite
>> >>>>>> discussion
>> >>>>>> topics.
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>> If any of you San Mateo folks want
>> get his posts, you can add him to
>> >>>>>> your
>> >>>>>> discussion list.
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>> Jim
>> >>>>>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> >>>>>> SC-SM mailing list
>> >>>>>> SC-SM at lists.sonic.net
>> >>>>>>
>> http://lists.sonic.net/mailman/listinfo/sc-sm