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Do we need to have a leadership huddle about Bernie Sanders? Personally, if there are Greens that want to support Bernie, I won't be upset with them. But if there are party leaders that are considering it, we need to have a huddle right now. This is our private council discussion area. What are councils thoughts on this? I would like this to become the basis of an official blog, NOT a proposal, but a joint statement issued by our party prior to the Annual Meeting. There should be NO QUESTION where our leadership stands when it comes to candidates running in opposing parties, particularly when we have our own candidates seeking the same office.
I believe party leaders should be supporting Green Party candidates, not Democratic candidates. We have scarce resources in terms of money and people's time and those should be spent wisely, promoting our values, our party, and our candidates.
There has been discussion of this issue on the National Committee website and it seems to come down to this. Lots of registered Greens are probably going to re-register as Democrats to be eligible to vote in the Democratic Primary next year. They will probably contribute to Bernie's campaign efforts up through then. Bernie is pledged to support whomever wins. This will weaken the Green Party nationally and in Colorado in my opinion but “HOPE” that the Democratic party will be changed for the better and move to the “LEFT” springs eternal among some Progressive leaning folks, given that our system is locked in a two party duopoly.On the National list it has been pointed out that the Populists merged with the Democrats in 1911 and onward but got kicked in the pants over time. Like screwed.There are significant Jill Stein vs. Bernie issues, not the least being her stand on military aid to Israel and Bernie's blind spot here. I believe as most people on the National Committee do that it would betray the work of the Green Party builders to in anyway commit the good name of the Green Party and its meager resources to support of Bernie. And we should probably know that the corporate Dems will fight Bernie and win leaving those Greens without representation in the Democratic Party. They will or may probably come back Green. We can wish them well in their Quixotic effort but we have already said that playing the two party game is deadly to a healthy democracy and a healthy planet. Lets keep it clear. The Green Party operates out of a different narrative about the past and future of our country, and state. We believe that narrative to be true.
I don't believe the Democrats will nominate Bernie. They perceive Clinton as more electable in the general. Greens who want to switch parties around and play the game may do so, but I question the effectiveness of playing the game. I would go so far as to say that the GP running a candidate for president is playing the game. Unless the system is changed, the outcome will be the same. We need candidates to run for local offices that they might actually have a chance if winning. My two cents…
This should not be private council discussion.The Green Party of Colorado, which values decentralized, grassroots democracy, must invite general input before telling the membership where the leadership stands.To quote from GPUS 10 Key Values, "FEMINISM . . . . We call for the replacement of the cultural ethics of domination and control with more cooperative ways of interacting. . . . We should remember that the process that determines our decisions and actions is just as important as achieving the outcome we want."
Greater Boulder Greens discussed our chapter's policy with respect to the Sanders candidacy in June, arriving at the following consensus.1. The Greater Boulder Green Party will not spend time or resources to influence the outcome of any political party's candidate selection process. I.e., no support for Bernie from the Greater Boulder Green Party.2. The Greater Boulder Green Party is an openly welcoming organization for people who subscribe to the Green Party's 10 Key Values. Members' activities outside the Green Party, including association with other political parties, is entirely at the individual's discretion and is not a matter of interest to the Green Party. This policy applies equally to elected leaders and general members.
Steve Saint – want to let you know we're trying to include some time on the agenda at the annual meeting to introduce (reintroduce) Art Goodtimes and ask him to talk about the importance of running candidates in local races. Hope to see you at the meeting!!
Lots of registered Greens are probably going to re-register as Democrats to be eligible to vote in the Democratic Primary next year. . . . "HOPE" that the Democratic party will be changed for the better and move to the "LEFT" springs eternal among some Progressive leaning folks, given that our system is locked in a two party duopoly. . . . We can wish them well in their Quixotic effort but we have already said that playing the two party game is deadly to a healthy democracy and a healthy planet. Lets keep it clear.
I have struggled with the question of whether "taking over the Democratic Party" (which Thom Hartmann advocates) versus "creating a multi-party political system" (which 60% of Americans want, Gallup poll) is the more worthwhile effort.My answer mirrors Bob's. Even if the Democratic Party could rid itself of Republicrats, nominate candidates who are invested in the party platform instead of their big donors, and achieve solid legislative majorities, we would STILL have the same two-party system of government that George Washington decried and urged the American people to resist.The Green Party of Colorado is well-positioned to answer the call from 60% of the population who have lost faith in two-party government and want a third major political party with candidates to vote for.
I appreciate your leadership in this issue Bill. Certainly it is appropriate for the leader of any organization to call for a discussionfrom the leaders when there is a question of the organization's members spending time and effort on a different organization. I have said this in our meeting and will repeat the following. The Green Party candidates sacrifice a lot to run as candidates and deserve the loyalty of its members at every level. I saw even when I ran for office that a member decided to return to their former friends and old organization rather than support my stand, which I preferred seeing rather than to have the member try to say they were a supporting a Green Party and not its candidates. It seems in the Greater Boulder Green Party there was some conflict as to attention given to the democrat presidential candidate Bernie Sanders initially. I am hopeful that in the meetings to come there will be no time provided for discussion of another party's candidate unless equal or more time is provided for our own Green Party presidtial candidates. I should add here that I have myself with my chapter made a small deviation from the national platform in one area. Certainly not in such an extreme way as to support Bernie Sanders and his idea of ignoring the killings in order to continue to take over Palistinian land in Israel, but weare in support of the ColoradoCare health plan. I still support the national platforms endorsement of National Single Payer, but I also realize that there is not an option for that policy in the US. Also I understand that Canada derived their public healthcare system by beginning with one province at a time. I know this is another discussion, but thought while I am here it should be made known.
I am in favor of “supporting” Bernie. I would encourage a strategy of supporting Jill up to just before the election, and then, assuming Bernie is the Dems selection, ask her supporters to consider voting for Bernie. I do not see the need to switch parties to vote in the primary. Anyone wanting to help Bernie can be just as effective with a donation to his campaign (and one to Jill's campaign). Bernie is a bit of a breath of fresh air in spite of differences on some key issues. I do not believe in trying to fix the Dem party. We need a multi-party system and IRV. We will be much further from that goal if Hillary or one of the current Republican clowns gets into office.FYI - most of the AJ Greens who attend our monthly meetings disagree with me, so this is not an AJ Greens position, just mime.I am OK with a private initial discussion and then presenting some well-thought out ideas to the open forum. Is anyone reading the general forum or are most of the posts from the council?Michael HaugheyAJ Greens
Michael, You asked:
Is anyone reading the general forum or are most of the posts from the council?
There have been 2 topics and 1 reply on the General Forum this year:
- In May: announcement of Andrea Merida's candidacy for GPUS National Steering Committee
- In June: question about the date of the 2015 state meeting and 1 reply (to go to private council discussion for the answer)
There have been 15 topics and 100 replies in Private Council discussion this year.
Michael, You wrote:
I do not see the need to switch parties to vote in the [presidential] primary.
Lots of people get confused about this. There is no presidential primary election in Colorado.The only reason a Bernie supporter would need to register as a Democrat is to attend Democratic Party precinct caucus on March 1, 2015 and be a delegate for him at county, state and national Democratic Party conventions. As you say,
We need a multi-party system and IRV.
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