From dbedellgreen at hotmail.com Sat Jun 3 01:58:05 2006 From: dbedellgreen at hotmail.com (David Bedell) Date: Sat, 3 Jun 2006 01:58:05 -0400 Subject: {news} Drug reform candidates in CT, AL, and MD References: <1149283729.4605344.aee7d608c71d0557.1815a92c@persist.google.com> Message-ID: Drug War Chronicle Feature: Drug Reformers Take the Third Party Path in Bids for Statewide Office 6/2/06 http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/438/reformcandidates.shtml Frustrated by the two major parties' indifference -- if not downright hostility -- toward ending the decades-old war on drugs, at least three prominent drug reform leaders have launched bids for statewide office as third party candidates. In Alabama, US Marijuana Party founder Loretta Nall is running for governor on the Libertarian Party ticket. In Connecticut, the state's most prominent drug reformer, Cliff Thornton of Efficacy is running for governor as a Green. And in Maryland, Common Sense for Drug Policy's Kevin Zeese is running a unity campaign under the banners of the Green, Libertarian and Populist parties. While the odds of any of them actually winning their races are long, all three told DRCNet they are in it to win -- and to show the major parties they risk voter defections if they fail to address growing public disaffection with the drug war. And while none of them are so far being accorded the dignity of having their candidacies measured by major opinion polls, all hope to break that barrier between now and November. Down in Alabama, Loretta Nall is adding pizzazz to a campaign already replete with notable characters -- one of the leading Democratic contenders, former Gov. Don Seigelman, will be in court on corruption charges on next week's primary day. Challenging Gov. Bob Riley for the Republican nomination is former Alabama Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore, who hopes to transform his stance against the Constitution and in favor of placing the 10 Commandments in courthouses into a path to the statehouse. Early polls show Riley defeating both Moore next week and either of the Democrats in November. In Alabama, Nall will be facing off against the two major party candidates to be decided next week -- if she can get enough signatures to get on the ballot by primary day, June 6. "Right now, I'm focusing all my energy and mo ney on getting signatures. It's going to be a nail biter," she said. "The Republicans and Democrats don't have to gather signatures, but third parties do, and if we get on the ballot and don't get 20%, the party loses its status and has to re-qualify with more signatures," she said. For Nall, it all started with drug policy, and the issue remains central to her campaign. "Drug policy is a huge part of my campaign and I don't back away from it. After all, I got my start from the cops kicking down my door," she said, referring to the minor pot bust that started her on down the path to activism. "I work it into all my speeches; it's the first thing I talk about in candidate forums. Because the drug war is so pervasive, I can connect it with all sorts of issues." Nall is working other issues as well, running as a pro-immigration reform and anti-Patriot Act and Real ID Act candidate, but the media is fascinated with her drug policy stance, she said. "People want to know where I stand on issues like immigration and education, but the reporters always want to ask about drugs. The public knows where I am on drug policy." Although running under the Libertarian banner, Nall doesn't quite fit the mold. "I'm a libertarian, but not a big L one. In fact, I find myself agreeing with liberal Democrats more than anybody. I would say I'm liberal socially and conservative fiscally," she said. "I want our Alabama National Guard troops out of Iraq, and that resonates -- if the rednecks down here are tired of whipping brown skinned peoples' asses [Iraqis], Washington needs to take notice," she said. "We also need to make biodiesel a big issue -- we can't afford this $2.50 a gallon for gas business. And we need education reform and Washington out of our classrooms." In Connecticut, Cliff Thornton is facing off against Republican Gov. Jodi Rell and Democratic challenger Dannel Malloy, the mayor of Stamford. Things are off to a good start, he told DRCNet. "The campaign is going pretty well, although we don't have a lot of money in the coffers," said Thornton. "We've been getting great media attention and real good articles. Since I announced in January, we've had pretty close to an article a week somewhere in the state. The media likes what I'm saying." The mainstream candidates aren't addressing key issues, Thornton said, and part of his role is to redirect the focus. "I want to get these people to talk about the issues," he said. "How many people are talking about the war in Iraq? How many people are talking about the war right here? How many people are talking about the race issue?" For Thornton, who has made a career of calling for an end to prohibitionist drug policies, hammering at the issue makes perfect sense. "Drug policy is a big part of my campaign. That's what I'm known for. Cliff Thornton and drug policy do not separate. After all, drug policy is two degrees from everything. Transportation issues and full health care for all in Connecticut are not drug policy issues, but again we're talking about the money. Programs don't happen because we're spending money on the drug war." So what does Thornton talk about? "I definitely talk about what we did in Hartford and the white paper that resulted," he said, referring to last fall's symposium bringing together Connecticut political and law enforcement leaders, public health experts, and drug law reformers and the progressive drug policy positions that resulted from that conference. "I also tell them that cannabis should be legalized, that we should have heroin maintenance, and that drug use should be de-stigmatized. This is a public health problem, not a law enforcement problem." He also talks about crime. "We've had 16 shootings since last Wednesday," he noted. "They're saying they're not directly drug-related, but all these people are coming from drug-infested areas. You have to ask how many of these kids that did these shootings had parents in prison or in the drug trade. How many of them saw the cops continually harassing people?" he said. "The mayor and police chief are talking the same old talk, but you can't just keep doing the same old failed thing over and over again. We've been at the drug war for a century, and we just keep doing the same thing and getting the same results. How can we expect things to change if we just keep doing the same thing?" Thornton is running as a Green, and beyond advancing the drug policy agenda, he also wants to make the Greens a viable alternative in Connecticut. "As drug policy reformers, we're way ahead of the local party people," Thornton said. "The Greens couldn't get the press to pay attention, but I know how to get the press." If only he could be as successful in fundraising, he said. "We're not so good at that; we've only got about $30,000." Thornton acknowledged that his prospects for victory are slim, but said he expected to show well. "I want to garner between 10% and 25% of the vote in November. The key is to show that you can lead and win with drug policy reform," he said. In Maryland, Zeese, a veteran of the 2004 Ralph Nader presidential campaign, is up against Democratic contenders Rep. Ben Cardin and former NAACP head Kweisi Mfume and Republican candidate Lt. Gov. Michael Steele in the race to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Paul Sarbanes. Early polling shows Cardin leading Steele by 10 points, while Mfume versus Steele is currently a dead heat. In a close race, a Zeese candidacy could make the difference. "I'm running on issues of peace, justice, democracy, and prosperity, and the drug issue comes in under justice," said Zeese. "I always mention it. I always mention that Maryland has the most racially unfair drug enforcement system. Of our drug prisoners, 90% are African-American. This is selective enforcement, and we also saw that when Maryland became one of the first states to be sued by black drivers for racial profiling," he said. "But this is an issue that really comes up only with African-American audiences. With white audiences, it's probably more a negative than a positive." Except, perhaps, on college campuses. "Drug policy reform resonates well on campus," he said. "When I address an audience, I always ask what they want to talk about. Almost always, it's the Patriot Act, Iraq, the deficit, corporate power, but on college campuses, they want to talk about the war on drugs and they want to talk about weed." For Zeese, the campaign is much broader than drug policy. "I focus a lot on the Iraq war, the divide between rich and poor, and the corruption of our political system," he said. "I talk about how people feel unrepresented, and I hit my common themes on justice issues, civil liberties, the Patriot Act, and the drug war, but the two big issues are war and peace and rich and poor." Zeese rejected the notion that third party candidacies are "spoilers," and he chided the drug reform movement for not backing his campaign. "I'm always appalled by drug reformers who support Democrats who support the drug war," he said. "We complain about spineless Democrats and then we vote for them. It's really asinine for drug reformers to think the Democrats are going to be their saviors. You're voting for people who want to put your friends and families in jail. Can anyone point me to the Democratic Party's leadership on drug reform? The drug reform movement is showing its level of political maturity by not getting involved in this race," he said. "If you want to talk about spoilers, for the drug reform movement, the spoilers are the two main parties." Zeese has no illusions about his prospects. "Winning would be a real long shot, but that's what it's about, and it's a lot like pushing boulders uphill. It's a constant battle to be taken seriously," he said, noting that he is beginning to get some mainstream press attention. "I would like to win this battle, but I think I would be successful if I can create a three-way race where I'm included in the polls and debates and my impact on the race is clear," he said. "If I do well, that will be a signal to the parties they are out of touch with the voters." -- END -- PERMISSION to reprint or redistribute any or all of the contents of Drug War Chronicle (formerly The Week Online with DRCNet is hereby granted. We ask that any use of these materials include proper credit and, where appropriate, a link to one or more of our web sites. If your publication customarily pays for publication, DRCNet requests checks payable to the organization. If your publication does not pay for materials, you are free to use the materials gratis. In all cases, we request notification for our records, including physical copies where material has appeared in print. Contact: StoptheDrugWar.org: the Drug Reform Coordination Network, P.O. Box 18402, Washington, DC 20036, (202) 293-8340 (voice), (202) 293-8344 (fax), e-mail drcnet@ drcnet.org. Thank you. From apbrison at hotmail.com Sun Jun 4 11:01:39 2006 From: apbrison at hotmail.com (allan brison) Date: Sun, 04 Jun 2006 11:01:39 -0400 Subject: {news} !!!! Petitioning !!!! Message-ID: An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From greenpartyct at yahoo.com Sun Jun 4 21:02:14 2006 From: greenpartyct at yahoo.com (Green Party-CT) Date: Sun, 4 Jun 2006 18:02:14 -0700 (PDT) Subject: {news} Greens Presidentail Campaign support committee Message-ID: <20060605010214.76497.qmail@web81403.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Dear United States Greens, Now is the time to lend your talents, passion, and energy to the Grassroots Movement, more ready than ever, for a shift in the US political landscape towards the values of Non-Violence, Ecological Wisdom, Social and Economic Justice, and Grassroots Democracy. The Green Party of the United States Presidential Campaign Support Committee works to bring those values to the people and government by supporting the work of Greens in bringing the American people an effective Green Party Presidential campaign. We have work to do. We need your help. As a standing committee of the Green Party of the United States, the committee is made up of dedicated Green volunteers from State Green Parties. Each state party is entitled to nominate members to represent and support their efforts at building the Green Party and offering the American people Green options at the National level through the work of this committee. Much of the work is done by committee over email, and monthly teleconference meetings. The following are our committee's objectives: A. The PCSC will liaison between candidates and Ballot Access Working Group to formulate and implement ballot access strategy; B. The PCSC will create and maintain a list of initial points of contact, bylaws, and election laws for each state and caucus to provide as resource to the candidates (before the convention) and nominee (after the convention); C. The PCSC will assist state parties in creating and conducting a process that gets grassroots input into determining presidential preference and selecting delegates to the nominating convention. [Prior to the Nominating Convention the PCSC will assist state parties in polling their membership to determine potential candidates and will publish the results of the poll, as well as sending a letter to all potential candidates consisting of the results of the poll and our contact information as a committee so that potential candidates may reach us to make use of our available support services]; D. The PCSC will coordinate public debates between candidates for the GPUS nomination; E. The PCSC will lead and organize efforts to open the presidential debates to Green Candidates and work to raise awareness of open debates. F. The PCSC will lead and liaison between the ANMC, Media Committee and candidates on coordination of a pre-nomination candidate forum and post nomination campaign launch at the National Nominating Convention. G. In cooperation with ANMC, Media Committee and Webmaster, the PCSC will create and maintain an official pre-Convention web site to provide candidate information, resource links and tracking of the delegate selection process, and a post-convention web site to display the results of the nominating convention and provide links to the presidential candidate's official web site. H. The PCSC will provide coordination for communication between the GPUS committees and the candidates (before the convention) and nominee (after the convention); I. The PCSC will assemble legal resources and advisors on issues of federal election law where appropriate and necessary; J. The PCSC will provide coordination with the CCC regarding cooperation between nominee and down-ticket candidacies. K. The PCSC will develop, and administer GPUS candidate questionnaire to potential candidates and make available candidate responses to State Parties through the GPUS web site, National Committee delegates, Caucus delegates, and State Chairs. If any or all of these activities are of interest to you, please consider joining us! We are readying ourselves for an important and lively 2008 Presidential season, and need the help and input of all Greens. To join, contact your State Party to let them know you are interested in representing your state on the GPUS Presidential Campaign Support Committee. You can contact Co-Chair Phil Huckelberry at phil @ mcleancountygreens . org for more information about the committee and how to join. In Service to the Green Electorate, The GPUS PCSC -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From justinemccabe at earthlink.net Mon Jun 5 09:50:26 2006 From: justinemccabe at earthlink.net (Justine McCabe) Date: Mon, 5 Jun 2006 09:50:26 -0400 Subject: {news} Fw: USGP-INT Could Greens be part of Czech coalition government? Message-ID: <011001c688a7$03c42520$0402a8c0@JUSTINE> > http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/36640/story.htm > > Czech Green Party Makes Regional Breakthrough > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > CZECH: June 5, 2006 > > PRAGUE - Support for the Greens in the Czech general election has made > them the first environmental party in eastern Europe to win seats in > parliament, results showed on Saturday. > > A relatively obscure group until former Environment Minister Martin Bursik > took over as leader a year ago, the Green Party had 6.3 percent of the > vote with most ballots counted, just above the five percent needed for > parliamentary representation. > > "I have to thank our voters. After all, people who cast votes for us were > giving votes to a party that wasn't in parliament. That takes more courage > than voting for well established parties where there is no risk," Bursik > told a jubilant crowd at the party election headquarters. > > With a policy mix of liberal economics and environmental causes, Bursik > has brought the party to prominence with his down-to-earth style, riding > trams with a rucksack over his shoulder instead of travelling in > limousines. > > He stayed out of the negative campaign waged by the two main parties, the > rightist Civic Democrats and ruling Social Democrats, earning the > admiration of former President Vaclav Havel, who endorsed the Greens > during the campaign. > > Projections show the Greens with seven seats in parliament and they are > likely to be asked by the rightist Civic Democrats to join a coalition > with the centrist Christian Democrats. The grouping would have 101 seats > in the 200-seat lower house. > > All three parties have similar economic policies on lowering the tax > burden, and reforming health care and pensions, although the Greens would > like new taxes on energy. > > > http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,13509-2211143,00.html > > Chaos after Czech election > By Roger Boyes > > > THE Czech Republic, one of the most prosperous of the new European Union > states, was plunged into political chaos yesterday after a closely fought, > mud-slinging election that left the two main groupings in a dead heat. > > ?If you think that I?m just going to admit defeat and shake the hand of my > opponent, think again,? said Jir? Paroubek, the Prime Minister, known as > ?the bulldozer? for his stubbornness. > > Despite a flourishing economy, his Social Democrats gained 74 seats in the > parliamentary election compared with the 81 seats captured by the > conservative Eurosceptic Civic Democrats, led by Mirek Topol?nek. > > But neither party could put together a coalition of more than 100 seats ? > too few to govern convincingly in the 200-seat parliament. > > President Klaus said that his Civic Democrats should have the first chance > to form a government and that Mr Paroubek was out of order. ?I will not > tolerate the questioning of the results of a free election,? he said. > > Mr Paroubek, who during the election campaign was hurt by allegations that > he had links to the Prague underworld, is threatening to go to the Supreme > Court to ask for a recount, but most Czech observers believe that he will > have to accept defeat. > > The key party in coalition talks will be the Greens, who won 6.3 per cent > of the vote and seem likely to become the first Green party to enter an > East European parliament. > > If the Civic Democrats gain a firm mandate there will be a significant > shift in financial policy. Mr Topol?nek wants to introduce a 15 per cent > flat rate of tax so that the Czechs can match the turbo-economies of the > Baltic republics. The Czech economy is flourishing and its GDP per capita > is now higher than that of Portugal > > http://www.ceskenoviny.cz/news/index_view.php?id=192175 > > Topolanek to present list of ministers to Klaus -- Aktualne.cz > > Prague- Mirek Topolanek, chairman of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS), > which won the June 2-3 general election, will have a list of ministers in > his new cabinet prepared at Monday's meeting with President Vaclav Klaus, > the server Aktualne.cz. informed. > > > The list will be completed on the basis of a ODS-led coalition with the > Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL) and the Green Party (SZ). > > Topolanek said today he would like to responsibly negotiate on a new > cabinet which will attempt to win confidence in the newly elected Chamber > of Deputies. > > Klaus has invited Topolanek to talks at the Presidential Office at Prague > Castle for Monday, 9:30 a.m. > > The list of the ministers' names was completed less then 24 hours after > the election results were announced on Saturday night. > > The server says that it was practically sure that the ministers on the > list would actually never assume their posts in reality. > > "It is just a formal attempt," a member of the ODS broad leadership, who > requested anonymity, told the server. > > According to the prepared scenario, Topolanek will submit the names of his > ministers to Klaus who will officially assign him with forming a new > government. > > Topolanek's cabinet will then ask the new Chamber of Deputies for > confidence at the lower house constituent meeting in the second week of > June. > > "We expect the cabinet not to win confidence as it can reckon only with > 100 votes of the right and centrist deputies," the source told > Aktualne.cz. > > Though the right-wing ODS won the elections to the Chamber of Deputies > after ten years, it is not able to reach a majority together with its > potential coalition partners as the left-wing parties, the Social > Democrats (CSSD) and the Communists (KSCM), have a half of the seats in > the 200-seat lower house. From justinemccabe at earthlink.net Mon Jun 5 10:56:26 2006 From: justinemccabe at earthlink.net (Justine McCabe) Date: Mon, 5 Jun 2006 10:56:26 -0400 Subject: {news} Fw: USGP-INT New Zealand Greens choose party leader Message-ID: <017701c688b0$38bd0090$0402a8c0@JUSTINE> > http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10384864 > > Greens name non-MP as leader > > UPDATED 5.45pm Saturday June 3, 2006 > By Ruth Berry > > The Greens have elected Russel Norman as their new male-co-leader, > bypassing MP Nandor Tanczos. > > About 200 delegates and party members attended the Greens' AGM, where > preferential voting was used to fill the co-leader's position left > vacant by Rod Donald's death last year. > > Under the voting system, the winning candidate needed a 50 per cent > majority and it was thought second and third preferences might have to > be calculated in, but Dr Norman won outright. > > The other two candidates were Auckland's Dave Clendon and former MP Mike > Ward. > > Dr Norman, the party's election campaign manager, is pledging to broaden > the party's support base. > > He said he did not believe that not being an MP would handicap him, as > it would enable him to focus on building the party within the community. > > Co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said he would have the same duties and > responsibilities as would a co-leader who was an MP. > > Dr Norman said he would focus on better communication of the party's > core messages on issues such as sustainability, climate change and > public transport and "broadening our support in the suburbs and > provincial towns". > > He downplayed suggestions from some detractors that he would pull the > party to the left. > > "We have a social justice dimension to our party, but we are very much > focused on issues of sustainability and the environment," he said. > > He believed Mr Tanczos had "suffered to some extent from 'the shooting > of the messenger'. Nandor was the person who told the truth that > prohibition of cannabis wasn't working and he has to some extent paid > the price for that." > > Mr Tanczos praised Dr Norman and said he was "behind him 100 per cent". > > The MP has battled image issues within the party as well as outside of > it and said it had played a key role in the contest. > > "It probably was the deciding factor...that I'm a dreadlocked > Rastafarian, that probably was a single factor for many people," Mr > Tanczos said. > > He refused to express his disappointment over this however. "My view is > that it doesn't matter, it's not important." > > Ms Fitzsimons said: "This is a new beginning for the Greens. Rod has > left very large shoes but I know Russel will put his own stamp on the > position, as Rod did, as we work to advance the Green vision > sustainability, justice, democracy and peace." > > --- > | Sent via usgp-int > | To unsubscribe, please send a message to usgp-int-request at gp-us.org > | with ONLY unsubscribe in the message > --- > From justinemccabe at earthlink.net Mon Jun 5 10:57:52 2006 From: justinemccabe at earthlink.net (Justine McCabe) Date: Mon, 5 Jun 2006 10:57:52 -0400 Subject: {news} Fw: USGP-INT Analytical piece on UK Greens in May 4th local elections Message-ID: <017c01c688b0$6c105870$0402a8c0@JUSTINE> > http://www.socialistunitynetwork.co.uk/activate/Election2006/greens03.htm > > The Green Party Result > > Peter Cranie, Green Party NEC > > Our target at this election was a media friendly 100 council seats. > Internally we were looking at this as a top performance, expecting to get > somewhere in the mid-80s as a minimum, but satisfied by our result of 91 > councillors, a gain of 20 on the night, with several holds and no losses. > We narrowly lost out on (100 votes or less) further seats in Enfield, > Gosport, Lambeth and Kirklees. What makes this more remarkable is that > this was an election that did not include the Green strongholds of > Brighton and Lancaster, both of which will have all-out elections next > year. The victory in this week?s by-election in Scarborough is an example > of why we expect our councillor number to tick up to the mid-90s ahead of > the 2007 elections. > > The most interesting aspect of the campaign for us is that we were able to > compete with the big three parties for airtime. Our national credibility > was high, primarily because we were contesting 30% of all the seats up for > election, just short of our highest ever total achieved in 1990. > Considering that none of the major parties actually have 100% coverage, we > appeared to be a credible, emerging force because we stood wherever we > could. > > Our second reason for enhanced credibility at this election was our > targeting strategy at a local level. We were well placed to make 15 to 30 > gains and this was based on years of work in the local areas and having > already established political groups on a number of councils. > > Thirdly, the political agenda moved onto our territory for a whole week of > the campaign. The Conservatives fought hard to display their green > credentials, but we had prepared a briefing with their dismal record at a > local level. This was picked up on by the media, who then also caught out > the Cameron green spin in other respects. For the Tories it was a > successful campaign largely because Labour and the Lib Dems did really > badly. > > For a week the Liberal Democrats disappeared from media view, with Ming > Campbell completely off the political pace, and when he did emerge he > walked into not just one, but two planned Green ambushes. In Norwich, > Campbell staged a visit due to mounting local pressure. He was assaulted > by a dismal record of the Lib Dems in Norwich and local government > generally, the local incinerator campaign backed by the Lib Dems and the > fact that a Lib Dem councillor had earlier in the year been found guilty > of misleading the public over a proposed road scheme. Unsurprisingly the > Greens took 4 seats from the Lib Dems in Norwich. If we manage to take > just two more next year, which is highly likely, Greens will be the > official opposition group on the council. > > A week later, Campbell visited Liverpool on the day we were able to > announce our second defection of the campaign, from the Lib Dem group > here. Our councillor went on record criticising the dismal Lib Dem > recycling rate and highlighting that the Lib Dem council still paid higher > mileage allowances for bigger cars, for both councillors and officers. > Needless to say, the Lib Dems actually lost three seats to Labour in > Liverpool, completely bucking the national trend. > > It is clear to us that the Lib Dems have made the wrong tactical choice as > leader. Campbell is steady and uninspiring and at the very best, you can > say he is getting bad tactical advice. Fortunately for the Greens, the > alternatives are not plausible at the moment, which means that Campbell is > likely to take them all the way up to the next General Election. Lib Dem > support amongst voters is not entrenched in the same way that Labour or > Conservative loyalty can be. Steady is not going to enable the Lib Dems to > make much progress and is already looking like a defensive position ahead > of the next General Election. Their vote is soft and Greens, once > established, can quickly erode their electoral base. > > Despite the media frenzy over the far right, we continued to steadily make > the news, particularly at a regional level and in the written media. Under > BBC reporting guidelines, political parties have to be running campaigns > (plural) locally and regionally, and we were therefore able to justify our > coverage through our sheer number of candidates. Single or small number of > seat parties struggled to make a media impact at the local level, with the > exception of the far right BNP. > > I am conducting some separate research into their gains at this election. > Outside of Barking and Dagenham, the gains were not spectacular, but I > have observed that the far right parties are exploiting gaps left due to > the targeting policies of all other parties. In Liverpool they managed a > second place finish in Norris Green largely because the Lib Dems abandoned > the area this time to defend other seats while the Conservatives had > abandoned it long ago. > > The Greens stood a candidate in this ward but we did not campaign here. If > the only leaflets presented to voters are from the Labour or BNP, it is > unsurprising that the far right make this kind of advance. It is a > difficult situation, because Greens and other left parties must target our > limited resources in a way that helps elect their own leading candidates > as councillors. However it is clearly unacceptable to give any far right > party a clear run into second place and the political credibility that it > allows them. Further work must be done on this subject. > > Labour got a bloody nose, but this is unlikely to be terminal for Blair > yet. He seems determined to stay in office for 10 years, at least, or > possibly 11 so that he can outlast Thatcher. Labour MPs could remove him, > but the party as a whole seems to have become so supine, that they are > likely to wait it out knowing he will not renege on his pledge to step > down before the end of his term. However, the longer he remains, the more > likely we will see a repeat of the Major 1992 election in 2010, rather > than a "big bang" Euro + General Election in 2009. Unless the economy > looks as though it is heading into the buffers in 2008, I would now expect > a five year term from this Labour government. > > > > Results on the Left > > > > Salma Yaqoob?s election in Sparkbrook in Birmingham is to be applauded. > British politics will be better for her presence and I look forward to > seeing her continue to make mainstream politicians uncomfortable with her > astute insights and ability to expose the pre-conceptions of her fellow > interviewees. It may also be possible for Respect to win a second or > possibly third Birmingham seat in 2007 on the back of her personal > political reputation. However, with just 3 seats out of 18 from outside > London, there is a considerable work to do for Respect to establish a > national profile. > > Respect now has two high profile significant figureheads in Galloway and > Yaqoob, both of whom are capable and engaging media figures. Outside of > London and Birmingham however, Respect?s has only one other area with > elected representatives, which is Preston. This is also the only area > where they have a councillor with an SWP background. If Respect fails to > secure re-election in Preston in 2007 it will be interesting to see how it > evolves from its current form, with all of its elected representatives > owing less to the SWP?s organisational strengths and more to their > community based support. > > This will be a huge opportunity for Respect to move forward but I would > expect some tension as the agenda is less influenced by the mass movement > focus of the SWP and increasingly by the practical concerns of its elected > councillors and the people they represent. How this plays out, with votes > on difficult issues at conferences and at local meetings, will be > interesting. Should a "packing the meeting" approach be used to force > through SWP rather than local priorities, there is likely to be conflict > that could rapidly escalate. Respect?s own internal structures will need > to be reformed to prevent this happening. > > If as expected, Galloway departs in 2009/10, Respect can call on Salma > Yaqoob as an equally capable national figure to speak for them. With > either Galloway or Yaqoob as a focus, I would expect Respect to remain on > the British political scene for some time. Losing Galloway to a future > career in the media is now widely expected. Losing Yaqoob would be > catastrophic for them. > > Quietly but noticeably, the Socialist Party have built up an impressive > reputation at a local level, gaining and holding their 7 seats by > retaining a strong community focus, and working at a local level. I?d > particularly highlight the election of Dr Jackie Grunsell in Kirklees on > the back of the Save Huddersfield NHS campaign. This shows that genuine > community involvement, irrespective of political background, can enable > committed progressive candidates to get elected. > > The Community Action Party in Wigan is still the main opposition party > there with 15 seats, presenting a genuine left of Labour alternative to > the local voters. Despite the Labour Party?s strong attempts to drive out > the CAP, they continue to offer sensible alternatives to New Labour > policies being trickled down to a local level. The IWCA remain a feature > in Oxford politics and once again demonstrate the value of genuine > commitment to the local community. > > What is an overall disappointment is that there was no radical shift to > left of centre parties at a national level. Even the Liberal Democrats, > fighting on the soggy middle ground, largely failed to benefit from the > Labour?s bad night, with the Conservatives seen as the victors. Only in > areas where there is an established record of alternative parties working > hard in their local communities, or exceptional personalities such as > Galloway and Yaqoob, have breakthroughs for left parties happened. > > > > Where Do We Go From Here? > > > > This site is dedicated to unity, but as always, we as Greens remain a > tricky proposition for everyone else on the left, because we don?t neatly > fit into the left/right spectrum viewed in a historical context. On a > positive note, informal understandings at a local level were developed in > many areas of London. This was in line with the guidance I outlined in my > 2005 post election debrief on Socialist Unity Network. Lambeth was a good > example of this. Local Greens allowed Respect a clear run at their target > ward of Vassall. These informal arrangements with the Greens were not the > exclusive preserve of Respect, and in a number of areas, there were > similar informal understandings with the Liberal Democrats. > > Realistically there are also going to be contests where Greens and Respect > are in competition, but it is how these contests are perceived by the > respective parties that is important. A post election SWP briefing > (08/05/06) obtained by the Green Party states: > > "It's also worth noting that in Preston, Newham and Tower Hamlets the > Green Party ran spoiling candidates, which meant that we lost at least > three seats!" > > Greens don?t share this view of electoral competition, perhaps because we > have been contesting elections for a lot longer and have a much more > realistic expectation of what electoral co-operation involves. To give > examples, we could equally point to "spoiler" Labour Party candidates in > Huddersfield, "spoiler" Liberal Democrats in Widnes or even Respect?s > "spoiler" candidate in Hackney where we got one candidate elected but our > second candidate missed out by less than 51 votes. The Greens and Respect > are electoral competitors and these situations should be expected in this > stage of the electoral cycle. > > Electoral results have to be viewed in this way without resorting to > negativity. A view that Respect have some entitlement to Green votes or > expect that Greens should step down or not contest important strategic > areas ahead of proportional elections to come, is unrealistic. It is > absolutely clear that Respect, like the Greens, are looking to the longer > term and are intending to compete at these proportional elections, where > we will be in direct competition for votes. > > The SWPbriefing goes onto make the following point: > > "The next national set of elections in 2 years time will be the entirely > different European elections and the Mayoral and GLA elections in London." > > Respect are planning to step up their activity in the run up to the Euro > 2009 elections nationwide. The Green Party will be standing more > candidates and increasing our activity in the seats we are standing in as > we seek to add to our current tally of 2 Euro MPs. It will be interesting > to see whether the Socialist Party also intends to stand list candidates > in the London GLA elections in 2008 and the Euros in 2009. > > It is clear that there are fundamental differences in the Green approach > to politics compared to the tactics (necessarily) adopted by Respect, > UKIP, the Socialist Party and unfortunately, the BNP. The Greens will > contest seats citywide in urban areas wherever possible, in an attempt to > compete for coverage with the big 3 parties. The benefits to us are a > national election broadcast, better local media coverage and a reputation > for trying to match upwards, not downwards, with genuine ambition to > become a major player in British politics. > > The tactics adopted by Respect and other parties, of serious targeting, > are often borne out of necessity and an inability to get the sheer number > of candidates needed. Targeting brought an outstanding result in 2005 with > the election of George Galloway. Greens had to adjust to this political > shock and at the time there was little room for complacency about this > potential electoral competitor that could possibly affect us. A year > onwards there is a sense amongst Greens that any threat to us in terms of > local elections, the Welsh Assembly, London Assembly or Euro Elections > from Respect is diminishing rapidly. > > The demographics that enabled Galloway to win in Bethnal Green and Bow, > and for Respect to elect 12 councillors in Tower Hamlets are unique. The > circumstances in which the 2005 election result occurred were also unique > and no Labour MP will make a similar voting mistake during their term of > office, although it is to be hoped that Labour will avoid ever taking us > into an American led war ever again. > > Outside of London and the outstanding presence of Salma Yaqoob, Respect > has very little in place to suggest that it can get established > nationally. Unlike the organic growth of the Socialist Party in particular > areas, or the progress of IWCA, Respect are being forced to graft a > political movement into the potentially favourable local political scenes > in Liverpool and Manchester. This is a difficult task and like the Greens, > Respect can only instantly prosper in new areas if existing campaigners > and political activists can be persuaded to come on board. > > Leading members of the Green Party Executive are driving socially > progressive politics into the heart of the Green agenda. We will continue > to have issues arising out the fundamental decentralist nature of the > Green Party, but these are also being assessed constitutionally. I am now > satisfied that that the manifesto we will present in the Welsh Assembly > elections next year, the London Assembly elections in 2008 and the > European Elections in 2009, will be one suitable for voters who want > progressive, left of Labour candidates elected in future PR elections. > > The criticism that the Greens are all white and middle class is no longer > valid. In the last year the Black and Minority Ethnicities group within > the Greens has made tremendous strides. Our language project has enabled > us to put up speakers for interviews on Tamil TV network, Channel S and > other non-English language stations during these local elections. The fact > that over 20% of our staff and volunteers in our offices are B&ME and that > we stood our largest total of B&ME candidates ever nationwide is an > indication that things are rapidly changing within the Green Party. > > Only the Greens have the ability to appeal beyond the small demographic > that is left politics. Our message is that there is a fundamental issue of > Climate Change. This can only be dealt with by major changes to our > thinking, lifestyle and consumption and require a global vision as well as > a local focus. These are also changes that will make society a better > place to live and improve the quality of life for most people. Such > clarity of thinking, honesty and a sense of purpose attracts people with > no political orientation and those currently unhappily mired in the soggy > centre ground of politics. > > Green strategy is based on a tipping point timescale that requires radical > action and intervention within 20 to 25 years. It is not enough to follow > the European Green model of 5 to 10% support and a role in coalition > politics that often requires difficult compromises and unsatisfactory > electoral arrangements. It is not enough simply to hold the balance of > power of councils, implementing useful policies but hamstrung by the > conservatism of others. We must become the main opposition and then gain > control of councils to implement practical but radical action. > > It is also not enough for us to gain a foothold in national politics and > become a minority partner in a coalition government. Our aim must be more > ambitious. Our 92 elected councillors are the evidence that we are > continually building support even under the first past the post system. We > will have well over 100 councillors at this time next year and our first > Welsh Assembly members. The Scottish Greens are likely to gain councillors > all over the country to link up the national political presence and the > local grassroots activity under the new PR system for electing Scottish > councillors in 2007. > > Green politics is the growing force. It is the future in British politics > and has a global resonance. The door is wide open for radical, progressive > activists on the left to join us and to make a practical difference in > local, regional and national politics. > > > --- > | Sent via usgp-int > | To unsubscribe, please send a message to usgp-int-request at gp-us.org > | with ONLY unsubscribe in the message > --- > From greenpartyct at yahoo.com Tue Jun 6 07:09:13 2006 From: greenpartyct at yahoo.com (Green Party-CT) Date: Tue, 6 Jun 2006 04:09:13 -0700 (PDT) Subject: {news} Fwd: [usgp-coo] Campaign support available Message-ID: <20060606110913.53650.qmail@web81403.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Greg Gerritt wrote: Date: Mon, 05 Jun 2006 21:43:59 -0400 From: Greg Gerritt To: national comm votes , national comm affairs CC: CCC list , CCC associates Subject: [usgp-coo] Campaign support available Greens, please forward this to all candidates and potential candidates in your state. greg gerritt gpri co chair CCC TO: all Green candidates and campaigns FROM: Coordinated Campaign Committee, Green Party of the United States RE: support from the national party - Targeted Resources & Matching Funds program - NEW RESOURCES, NEW QUESTIONNAIRE, NEW DEADLINES! Next Deadline - July 1, 2006 The Coordinated Campaign Committee's job is to help you win. As an elected committee of the Green Party of the United States, we assess the viability and strategic context of state and local campaigns nationwide -- especially small campaigns with a budget under $20,000 -- and we direct the national party's limited resources toward the campaigns where they will have the greatest impact. The questionnaire is online now and available at http://www.gp.org/committees/campaign/campaigntarget.shtml Please note that the CCC has shortened and simplified the process. If you don't need monetary resources, but would like access to other resources, simply fill out the very short application available at http://www.gp.org/committees/campaign/application_2_pt.shtml If you would like a campaign contribution, please fill out this application http://www.gp.org/committees/campaign/quest.shtml This year's cycle for monetary contributions is as follows. First cycle - March 1 deadline (CCC will respond by March 15) second cycle - July 1 (CCC will respond by July 15) third cycle - Sept. 15, (CCC will reply by October 1st. Note, funding may not be available for this cycle.) Applications for non-monetary contributions will be accepted on a rolling basis. A response will be given to the campaign within 3 weeks. Resources available from the national party include: - Website Templates - Media support - Use of National Donor Lists for district or selected zip codes - Use of volunteer lists - Advice regarding the campaign's ballot access plan, fundraising plan, field plan, and media plan - Monetary contributions And, as always, the CCC offers several campaign manuals to educate Green candidates and campaign staff about running for office. http://www.gp.org/committees/campaign/manual.shtml If you have any questions or need any help with the questionnaires, please contact Brent McMillan, political director of the Green Party, at (202)319-7194 or brent at gp.org. We look forward to hearing from you -- and thank you for carrying the Green banner this year! Resources Subcommittee Coordinated Campaign Committee Green Party of the United States Jen Walling (IL) jwalling at law.uiuc.edu 217-493-9455 Sally Kim (NY) green_sallyk at yahoo.com 518.364.2968 Greg Gerrit (RI) gerritt at mindspring.com 401-331-0529 Alternates Robb Tufts (MD) rtufts812 at yahoo.com _______________________________________________ Natlcomvotes mailing list To send a message to the list, write to: Natlcomvotes at green.gpus.org To unsubscribe or change your list options, go to: http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/natlcomvotes If your state delegation changes, please see: http://gp.org/committees/nc/documents/delegate_change.html For other information about the Coordinating Committee, see: http://gp.org/committees/nc/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Paid for by Thornton For Governor ,Donna Byrne-McKee, treasurer- www.VoteThornton.com email: info at votethornton.com Tim McKee NEW cell (860) 778-1304 or (860) 643-2282 Cliff Thornton for Governor- Campaign Manager- National Committee member of the Green Party- Connecticut -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From greenpartyct at yahoo.com Tue Jun 6 15:53:21 2006 From: greenpartyct at yahoo.com (Green Party-CT) Date: Tue, 6 Jun 2006 12:53:21 -0700 (PDT) Subject: {news} NY- Working Fam. and Indepedence Parties back Pro-War Hillary Message-ID: <20060606195321.7063.qmail@web81414.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Distributed by the Green Party of the United States Green Party http://www.hawkinsforsenate.org For immediate release: June 3, 2006 For more information: Howie Hawkins, 315-425-1019, hhawkins at igc.org Green Party Anti-War Candidate Hawkins Stands Alone for US Senate After Working Families, Independence Nominations Statement by Howie Hawkins It wasn't even close at the Working Families Party convention today: 93.6% for Hillary Clinton, 6.4% for Jonathon Tasini. No surprise here. Working Families passed an antiwar resolution, but that was merely posturing for the widespread antiwar sentiment in New York. When it came to real world consequenses, the Working Families Party backed the pro-war candidate, Hillary Clinton. What else would one expect from a party that instead of supporting a single-payer state health insurance plan is pushing a Clinton-style compulsory private health insurance plan? WFP's campaigning for the so-called Fair Share for Health Care Act for NY would have the state government subsidizing the rapacious private insurance companies that waste 30% of health care expenditures on bureaucracy, profits, and excessive salaries for top managment. Medicare, our national single-payer system for seniors, runs on 3% overhead. Of course, private health insurance companies don't want to cover the older Medicare beneficiaries because they get sick more and are not profitable. So we get "socialism" for the unprofitable coverages and capitalism for profitable coverages -- and leave 2.9 million New Yorkers and 49 million Americans uncovered. And WFP -- the branch of the Democratic Party designed to co-opt potential independent electoral insurgencies on the left through cross-endorsement or fusion candidacies -- is campaigning to patch up the most irrational and inefficient system of health care financing in the world. Meanwhile, the Independence Party dropped all pretenses of being an independent alternative at its convention today when it backed major party candidates for all statewide offices, including Hillary Clinton for US Senate. But the good news is in the US Senate race there will be no confusion --the Green candidate will be the clear anti-war choice. A Zogby poll earlier this week found that 32% of New Yorkers would vote for an "unnamed anti-war candidate" vs. 38% for Clinton and 31% for other and undecided (a percentage that is close to the hard core Republican vote). The task now for the Green Party and the wider antiwar movement is to attach a name, Howie Hawkins, to the "unnamed anti-war candidate" who already has about one-third support and to inform New Yorkers that the anti-war candidate is within striking distance of winning. http://www.hawkinsforsenate.org Checks can be made out to: Hawkins for Senate 2006 P.O. Box 562 Syracuse, NY 13205 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From justinemccabe at earthlink.net Wed Jun 7 12:04:38 2006 From: justinemccabe at earthlink.net (Justine McCabe) Date: Wed, 7 Jun 2006 12:04:38 -0400 Subject: {news} Fw: USGP-INT Norway, social and economic justice, Norway ejects Wal-Mart from $240 billion fund Tue Jun 6, 2006 Message-ID: <025001c68a4c$147e58d0$0402a8c0@JUSTINE> ----- Original Message ----- From: "juliawillebrand" To: Sent: Tuesday, June 06, 2006 6:16 PM Subject: USGP-INT Norway, social and economic justice, Norway ejects Wal-Mart from $240 billion fund Tue Jun 6, 2006 Dear IC, While doing a bit of research for my run as GPNY 2006 Comptroller candidate, I was googling for examples of Government entities which are investing ethically... And I found the article below. I prize instances of Green core values being applied. And thought y'all might enjoy seeing this. BTW the issues and programs for my comptroller campaign are being worked on now. If any of you have suggestions for reading or programs let me know. Greenly, Julia How to Invest $200 Billion ... Ethically Norway pumps three million barrels of oil from the North Sea daily, and is now the world?s third largest exporter of oil, after Saudi Arabia and Russia. But how can Norway save this wealth for future generations? 3/28/2006 :: The answer: Funneling the revenues into The Norwegian Government Pension Fund. Currently the fund receives attention not only because it is one of the largest retirement funds in the world, but also due to its newly implemented ethical investment guidelines. Tore Mydske, representing the Norwegian Ministry of Finance, which is responsible for the fund, answers the ethical questions: WHY DOES THE GOVERNMENT PENSION FUND HAVE A STRONG ETHICAL PROFILE? The ethical guidelines were adopted by the Norwegian Parliament in 2004, and are based on two premises. First, the fund is an instrument for ensuring that a reasonable portion of the country?s petroleum wealth should benefit future generations. So it needs to be managed with focus on generating a sound return in the long term. Second, the fund should not through its investments contribute to unethical acts, such as violations of fundamental humanitarian principles, serious violations of human rights, gross corruption, or severe environmental degradation. HOW ARE THESE ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS OBSERVED? The ethical basis for the fund is promoted through three different measures From greenpartyct at yahoo.com Thu Jun 8 15:26:39 2006 From: greenpartyct at yahoo.com (Green Party-CT) Date: Thu, 8 Jun 2006 12:26:39 -0700 (PDT) Subject: {news} More Voting Problems in Primaries-Electionline Weekly-- June 8, 2006 Message-ID: <20060608192639.86612.qmail@web81412.mail.mud.yahoo.com> listadmin at electionline.org wrote: From: To: Subject: electionline Weekly-- June 8, 2006 Date: Thu, 8 Jun 2006 15:17:00 -0400 electionline Weekly - June 8, 2006 electionline.org I. In Focus This Week Omen of Things to Come? California primary bedeviled by bumpy 6/6/06 vote By M. Mindy Moretti electionline.org SAN DIEGO-The devil was in the details as Californians went to the polls on the sixth day of the sixth month in the sixth year. And though the Armageddon feared by some hexakosioihexekontahexaphobics (and voting advocates) didn't quite materialize, it was still a bumpy day all over the Golden State for voters and election officials. In a state with a hodgepodge of voting systems in place, there was a hodgepodge of problems on a day when only around 30 percent of the state's voters cast their ballots: In Merced County (ES&S), problems started early with pens used to mark the ballots bleeding through to the opposite side of the ballot. In Orange County (Hart InterCivic), there were reports of paper jams in printers and instances of machines not working at all, forcing voters to use paper ballots. In Contra Costa County, 35 of the AutoMark machines used for accessibility (5 percent of the total purchased for the county) broke down. And in Ventura County (Sequoia) polling places reported problems throughout the day with the machines rejecting ballots. Not all of the problems were machine-related though. In San Joaquin County, dozens of poll workers either canceled at the last minute or simply failed to show up Tuesday morning. Deborah Hench, the county's registrar, told the Modesto Bee that in addition to polling places opening late because of the lack of poll workers, she had to use untrained workers which resulted in a lot of troubleshooting for Hench and her staff. And in the "nothing's sacred" category, in Contra Costa County, a poll worker's car - with voting equipment inside - was stolen. San Diego voters say good-bye to optical scan In San Diego County, where a special election in the 50th Congressional district to replace convicted Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R) was held at the same time as the primary, turnout was similarly light, despite the race's perceived status as a bellwether for the fight to control Congress this fall. The handful of problems - late polling place openings and incorrect ballots - were also fairly typical for a primary election. "Nothing out of the ordinary," Registrar of Voters Mikel Haas told the North County Times. "As far as the voters go, few if any were impacted or inconvenienced as far as we could tell." Besides the special election, what made Tuesday's election in San Diego County different was it was the last time voters used optical-scan machines (Diebold AccuVote-OS) before the county completely transitions to DREs (Diebold AccuVote-TSx). Plagued by problems with DRE machines in 2004 - many voter card encoders broke down and there were no paper ballots to replace them - the county switched to optical-scan machines. However, after more problems with optical-scan machines, the county is now preparing to go back to DRE machines but this time with a state-mandated, voter-verified paper trail. With at least one DRE per polling place for accessible voting, Tuesday's election gave poll workers an opportunity to familiarize themselves (or, in some cases re-acquaint themselves) with the Diebold TSx system that two years ago was decertified by then-Secretary of State Kevin Shelley because of security concerns. "This is a good opportunity for us because hopefully it will give us a chance get any kinks worked out before the fall," said a poll worker in Rancho Bernardo who asked not to be identified. "We're giving people the option of using the DREs if there is no one who needs to use it, but honestly most people are sticking with the paper ballots." Throughout the county on Tuesday, voters seemed ambivalent about the impending switch to new machines. "I'm not really sure what all the fuss is about," said Jim Thorn who had just finished voting in Escondido. "I mean we learned how to color in circles in elementary school and I'm not sure why we can't stick with that." At "The Spot," a restaurant in La Jolla, much of the lunchtime conversation focused on the election. The group of weekday regulars stationed at the bar seemed equally divided both in their politics and their thoughts on the new voting equipment. "We've definitely had some problems in the past and hopefully once we make the switch to the new machines in the fall, those problems will be over," said Ed Thompson of University City. "I don't know, to me it's sort of like throwing the baby out with the bathwater," chimed in Walt Stone. "I don't think the problems we've had in the past are going to go away with new machines, there will just be different problems. I can guarantee you right now that when people go back to the polls in November and they are forced to use the new machines, it's going to be a mess." Everyone in the group of friends who had already voted, regardless of their opinions on optical scan versus DRE, all said that when they went to the polls that morning they used the optical scan ballots. "This has all just been so chaotic. When they keep changing things around all the time, it's no wonder people don't vote. People really don't like change, even if - and that's a big if - if it's good for them," said Patricia Henson who emphasized her statement by pointing out that everyone at the lunch counter sat in the same seat every day and usually ordered the same food. And for Mario Cruz, who works in La Jolla but lives in the eastern part of the county, change is in fact his biggest concern. "Honestly, I don't so much care about what sort of machine I vote on, but I do care about where I vote," Cruz said. "They've moved my polling place three times now and honestly, if they move it one block further, I probably won't vote any more." II. Election Reform News This Week The new optical-scan voting system in Montgomery, Ala. has the added and perhaps unanticipated advantage of reducing lines at polling places. The Montgomery Advertiser reported that lines in precincts during Tuesday's primary were less than five minutes in some places, representing "a first-time experience on election day." In a related story, South Dakota voters complained that casting ballots on AutoMark hybrid voting systems, which employ a touch-screen interface to assist in filling out optically-scanned ballots, took a lot longer than paper and pencil methods, Keloland.com reported. Termed alternatively in press reports as "glitches," "kinks" or "failures," the Mississippi debut of touch-screen voting machines was plagued with problems no matter how they were defined. Some of the most acute problems were in two counties, where machines were down for nearly half the day, The Clarion Ledger reported. Results from Allegheny County's (Pa.) May primary will be certified this week despite failed efforts to locate more than a dozen missing optical-scan ballots, The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported. The margin of victory in the closest race exceeds the number of missing ballots, officials said. Security and reliability concerns about the new generation of voting machines have given two companies producing hybrid voting systems "a leg up" in the voting system market, The New York Times reported. AutoMARK machines will be in use this year in more than 30,000 precincts, adding up to sales of more than $100 million, while smaller manufacturer Avante is just beginning to win contracts around the country. (Registration required.) III. Opinion This Week National: Voting systems; 2004 election Arizona: Voter ID Arkansas: Voting systems, primary California: Election administration; vote centers Colorado: Voting systems, primary; II Iowa: Voting systems Maryland: Early voting North Carolina: Early voting, primary Ohio: Partisan election officials Pennsylvania: Voting systems, II Utah: Voting systems Vermont: Drive-through voting West Virginia: Voting systems, p! rimary Wisconsin: Voting systems (Some sites require registration.) --------------------------------- electionline Weekly and electionline.org ALERTS are produced by the staff of electionline.org, a non-partisan, non-advocacy research effort supported by The Pew Charitable Trusts and administered by the University of Richmond. More information about the Project and up-to-the-minute news on election reform throughout ! the week can be found at electionline.org. To unsubscribe from this and future messages from electionline.org, please click here. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dbedellgreen at hotmail.com Thu Jun 8 18:43:42 2006 From: dbedellgreen at hotmail.com (David Bedell) Date: Thu, 08 Jun 2006 22:43:42 +0000 Subject: {news} Richard Duffee in Stamford Advocate In-Reply-To: Message-ID: Note: Richard will be at the Fairfield chapter meeting this Sunday, June 11, 2006, 4 PM: 230 High Ridge Rd, Stamford (home of Pat Kane) Directions: From Merritt Parkway, take Exit #35 (High Ridge Rd, Rte. 137). Turn right off exit and go 2.3 miles. #230 is on the right just after a small island/park; please park at roadside. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stamford Advocate 6/7/06 Stamford man might enter 4th District race Mark Ginocchio Staff Writer STAMFORD?The state?s Green Party may turn to a Stamford man in an attempt to get on the ballot in the 4th Congressional District race. Richard Duffee, 57, who moved to Stamford a year ago, will meet with party officials from the Fairfield County chapter this weekend to discuss his potential candidacy in the congressional race against U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Bridgeport, and Democratic challenger Diane Farrell. If the party likes his pitch, Duffee could get the nomination at a convention later this month, officials said. Duffee is a poet, writer and environmental lawyer who last year taught chemistry and environmental science at the Stamford Academy charter school. Duffee?s top priority would be fixing the country?s ?failed? foreign policy, he said yesterday in a telephone interview. The Bush administration?s recent actions in Iraq and in other parts of the world have violated international law and have made the United States a ?rogue state,? Duffee said. The Bush administration is ?digging a deep hole?they need to behave legally,? he said. Duffee?s potential candidacy comes two months after Bridgeport resident Stephen Miller announced he was gathering signatures to run on the Green Party ticket. Miller, 63, who promised to clean up what he characterized as campaign finance ?corruption,? said yesterday he was dropping out of the race because of a lack of party support and media coverage. ?I couldn?t get the name recognition to win an election,? he said. ?I wasn?t going to run if I couldn?t win.? A former Wall Street stockbroker and money manager with no political experience, Miller said he was ?hanging it up? and would probably not pursue political office in the future. Duffee is another newcomer to politics. Born in Philadelphia, he has taught law, English and science in Chicago, Hudson Valley, N.Y., and India. He received a bachelor?s degree in philosophical psychology from the University of Chicago; a master?s degree in English from State University of New York at New Paltz; and a certificate in international and environmental law from Pace Law School in White Plains, N.Y. Most recently, Duffee taught high school juniors and seniors at Stamford Academy for four months before leaving in December. Justin Cosell, assistant director of curriculum at Stamford Academy, said Duffee was ?not a good fit here? and that was why he left. School officials would not elaborate. Duffee said he works independently as a writer of essays, poetry and fiction. After viewing Duffee?s Web site, Green Party officials said they were intrigued by his potential. ?He seems very intelligent and well-informed on the issues,? said David Bedell, secretary for the party?s Fairfield County chapter. ?He brings an international perspective to the race.? Duffee said he hopes to bring national attention to the party if he is nominated. Although he doesn?t want to think of himself as a spoiler, he is concerned by Democrats who initially voted for the Iraq war rather than opposing it like many Green Party members. ?Third parties have always been marginalized in the U.S.,? he said. ?People always say we?re spoilers, but I don?t want to spoil anything. I just want another set of ideas to be represented.? From dbedellgreen at hotmail.com Thu Jun 8 19:15:10 2006 From: dbedellgreen at hotmail.com (David Bedell) Date: 8 Jun 2006 16:15:10 -0700 Subject: {news} RE: Fw: bumper sticker design In-Reply-To: Message-ID: ACLU-Connecticut 2006 Civil Liberties Conference Date: Thu, 08 Jun 2006 23:15:09 +0000 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed Great range of issues addressed. This could also be a petitioning opportunity. I hope to attend after Pete Bowman's memorial service. http://www.acluct.org/takeaction/2006civillibertiesconferen.htm ACLU-Connecticut 2006 Civil Liberties Conference Theme: "Defending Liberty in Connecticut" Saturday, June 10, 2006 The Grand Courtroom, Quinnipiac University Law School Open to all - $10 Suggested Donation, $5 for Students Agenda 11:30 a.m. - Registration/ Boxed Lunch 12:00 - 1 p.m. - Keynote Address - Safe and Free Topic: "National Security and Civil Liberties" Ann Beeson, National ACLU Associate Legal Director 1:10 - 2:25 p.m. - Civil Liberties Roundtable, Part 1 - Civil Rights Moderated By: Renee C. Redman, Legal Director, ACLU of Connecticut Panelists LGBT Rights - Anne Stanback, Executive Director, Loves Makes a Family Fair Housing/Rights of the Poor - Shelley White, Litigation Director, New Haven Legal Assistance Women's Rights/Reproductive Freedom - Cindy R. Slane, Commissioner, Permanent Commission on the Status of Women Voting Rights - Joyce Hamilton-Henry, Executive Director, DemocracyWorks Immigrants' Rights Michael Boyle, Immigration Attorney, Law Offices of Michael Boyle 2:35 - 3:50 p.m. - Civil Liberties Roundtable, Part 2 - Criminal Justice Moderated By: Renee C. Redman, Legal Director, ACLU of Connecticut Panelists Police Practices/Sentencing Disparities - Norman A. Pattis, Criminal Defense Attorney, Law Offices of Norman Pattis Capital Punishment - Robert Nave, Executive Director, CT Network to Abolish the Death Penalty Drug Policy Reform - Alain Lopez, Board Member, A Better Way Foundation Prisoners' Rights - Nancy Alisberg, Managing Attorney, State of Connecticut Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. - Closing Address - Racial Justice Topic: "Truth and Reconciliation: Coming to Grips with the Legacy of Lynching in America" Cynthia Carr, author of Our Town: A Heartland Lynching, A Haunted Town, And The Hidden History of White America 5:00 - 5:15 p.m. - Closing Remarks Danielle Williams, Development Director, ACLU Foundation of Connecticut Roger C. Vann, Executive Director, ACLU of Connecticut Don Noel, Chair, ACLU of Connecticut Board of Directors 5:15 - 6:00 p.m. - Book Signing with Cynthia Carr From roseberry3 at cox.net Sat Jun 10 19:35:00 2006 From: roseberry3 at cox.net (B Barry) Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2006 19:35:00 -0400 Subject: {news} Agenda for 6-12-06 EC meeting at Greater Hartford Chapter office Message-ID: <20060610233444.VURR17255.eastrmmtao01.cox.net@BarbaraBarry> at 418-A New Britain Avenue, Hartford, CT 7pm 1. Discussion about the proposed contract from Kenneth Krayeska to work with Cliff Thornton. 2. Update about the status of the CTGP Website. 3. Update regarding the most effective use, if needed, of the ctgreen.org and ctgreen.com sites. 4. Need to find out from SCC and David Bedell about the various listservs: a) which listservers are being used? which are not being used? b) who wants off of the listserves? Who wants to get on the listserves? c) clarify who is to monitor the listserve activities? 5. Need to stop the 800# for the CTGP as the phone company is in bankruptcy; Mike DeRosa was to try to clarify which other phone companies might be useful for our purposes; need to get new 800 phone number for the new phone company. 6. Was the contact for the national newspaper changed from Tom Seviigny to Tim McKee, GPUS representative.. 7. Need people to develop/update CTGP position papers on issues/concerns e.g. Property taxes, school taxes; eminent domain; 85% ethanol; etc. 8. Update regarding the number of petitions collected so far. 9. Any candidates for lt. governor and comptroller for the CTGP? 10. Develop agenda for the 6-27-06 SCC meeting. 11. Development of CTGP literature for use at any chapter or state events. 12. CTGP budget and expenditure suggestions. 13. Any news or notice of events or requests or concerns from the chapters to CTGP? 14. Any additions. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From efficacy at msn.com Sun Jun 11 08:33:58 2006 From: efficacy at msn.com (clifford thornton) Date: Sun, 11 Jun 2006 08:33:58 -0400 Subject: {news} Fw: Charleston Gazette Editorial: Prohibition - Causing drug violence? Message-ID: Mike D, this is the guy that has the syndicated radio for NPR.--You corresponded with him. Please, Please see if you can get this going at WWUH and Wpkn. Cliff ----- Original Message ----- From: Dean Becker To: aro at drugsense.org Sent: Sunday, June 11, 2006 2:06 AM Subject: ARO: Charleston Gazette Editorial: Prohibition - Causing drug violence? 'Scuse me, but I'm proud of being quoted by a newspaper editor, (with my "mantra";) http://wvgazette.com/section/Editorials/2006060922 June 10, 2006 The Charleston Gazette: Prohibition a.. Causing drug violence? THIS week's mass murder in a drug-infested St. Albans suburb raises a troubling thought: Much of America's criminality and gun violence among addicts and illegal drug dealers apparently is spawned by the nation's harsh prohibition of narcotics. Almost a century ago, the United States plunged into Prohibition, the criminalization of alcohol. Immediately, illicit dealers began supplying bootleg booze in the shadows. Gun battles erupted between rival rum-runners. Prisons were crammed with alcohol offenders. Police and judges were bribed to overlook "speakeasy" bars. Street gangs and the Mafia grew in that grotesque time. After Prohibition was repealed, alcohol became legal under state regulation - and the wave of alcohol crimes faded. Today history is repeating itself, via criminalization of disapproved drugs. Illicit dealers supply banned substances in the shadows. Gun battles erupt between rival operators. Prisons are crammed with narcotics offenders. Police and judges sometimes are bribed to look the other way. Street gangs and the Mafia profit from the lucrative trade. So do Muslim terrorists who control Afghanistan's opium poppies, and Latin American cartels in control of cocaine production. Local American peddlers carry guns, so they won't be robbed of their cash or stash. They sell to children or anyone able to buy. Addicts commit robberies to get money for daily fixes. Impure mixes by amateur suppliers cause overdose deaths. U.S. taxpayers spend $69 billion a year on the "war on drugs" - including the gigantic cost of arresting, trying or imprisoning 1.6 million Americans annually - but the war is being lost, because narcotics abuse remains as extensive as ever. The situation is bizarre. A national organization of current and former police officers, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, calls for legalization of all drugs and control of them through public health agencies. LEAP would license legitimate suppliers of purified substances - and yank their licenses if they sold to children. LEAP speaker Dean Becker says: "The day we regulate drugs to adults, we eliminate easy access for our children, we evaporate the worth of Osama's heroin stash, we negate the Colombian drug cartels, we basically eliminate overdose deaths, and we begin to restore respect for the U.S. system of justice now tainted by black market billions." LEAP official Mike Smithson says America's prohibition of narcotics puts the drug business into the hands of armed criminals, producing "a St. Valentine's Day massacre every week." He referred to the famous 1929 event in Chicago, when seven rum-runners of the Bugs Moran gang were mowed down in an illegal liquor warehouse by the rival Al Capone gang. Legalizing alcohol again in 1933 gradually took gunfire out of the booze business. If America likewise legalized narcotics and regulated them through health agencies, would today's drug murders, police cost and prison expense similarly be eliminated? This newspaper long has called for legalization of marijuana, which is no more harmful than beer. LEAP advocates that step for all narcotics. Congress and West Virginia's Legislature should study this question - but don't hold your breath while you wait for change, because nearly all politicians brag about being "tough on drugs." Thus they guarantee that the narcotics trade will remain in the hands of criminals. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Attachment: http://drugsense.org/temp/part637.html -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From efficacy at msn.com Sun Jun 11 09:14:16 2006 From: efficacy at msn.com (clifford thornton) Date: Sun, 11 Jun 2006 09:14:16 -0400 Subject: Fw: {news} Fw: Charleston Gazette Editorial: Prohibition - Causing drugviolence? Message-ID: Also, This group called LEAP www.Leap.cc is planning a speaking tour through Connecticut in Aug., Sept., Oct., time frame They cannot endorse our candidacy but will convey the message that I do. This is a very powerful organization which consists of law enforcement type people. I have worked with them many times over the years. ----- Original Message ----- From: clifford thornton To: ctgp-news Cc: KEN krayeske Sent: Sunday, June 11, 2006 8:33 AM Subject: {news} Fw: Charleston Gazette Editorial: Prohibition - Causing drugviolence? Connecticut Green Party - Part of the GPUS http://www.ctgreens.org/ - http://www.greenpartyus.org/ to unsubscribe click here mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org Mike D, this is the guy that has the syndicated radio for NPR.--You corresponded with him. Please, Please see if you can get this going at WWUH and Wpkn. Cliff ----- Original Message ----- From: Dean Becker To: aro at drugsense.org Sent: Sunday, June 11, 2006 2:06 AM Subject: ARO: Charleston Gazette Editorial: Prohibition - Causing drug violence? 'Scuse me, but I'm proud of being quoted by a newspaper editor, (with my "mantra";) http://wvgazette.com/section/Editorials/2006060922 June 10, 2006 The Charleston Gazette: Prohibition a.. Causing drug violence? THIS week's mass murder in a drug-infested St. Albans suburb raises a troubling thought: Much of America's criminality and gun violence among addicts and illegal drug dealers apparently is spawned by the nation's harsh prohibition of narcotics. Almost a century ago, the United States plunged into Prohibition, the criminalization of alcohol. Immediately, illicit dealers began supplying bootleg booze in the shadows. Gun battles erupted between rival rum-runners. Prisons were crammed with alcohol offenders. Police and judges were bribed to overlook "speakeasy" bars. Street gangs and the Mafia grew in that grotesque time. After Prohibition was repealed, alcohol became legal under state regulation - and the wave of alcohol crimes faded. Today history is repeating itself, via criminalization of disapproved drugs. Illicit dealers supply banned substances in the shadows. Gun battles erupt between rival operators. Prisons are crammed with narcotics offenders. Police and judges sometimes are bribed to look the other way. Street gangs and the Mafia profit from the lucrative trade. So do Muslim terrorists who control Afghanistan's opium poppies, and Latin American cartels in control of cocaine production. Local American peddlers carry guns, so they won't be robbed of their cash or stash. They sell to children or anyone able to buy. Addicts commit robberies to get money for daily fixes. Impure mixes by amateur suppliers cause overdose deaths. U.S. taxpayers spend $69 billion a year on the "war on drugs" - including the gigantic cost of arresting, trying or imprisoning 1.6 million Americans annually - but the war is being lost, because narcotics abuse remains as extensive as ever. The situation is bizarre. A national organization of current and former police officers, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, calls for legalization of all drugs and control of them through public health agencies. LEAP would license legitimate suppliers of purified substances - and yank their licenses if they sold to children. LEAP speaker Dean Becker says: "The day we regulate drugs to adults, we eliminate easy access for our children, we evaporate the worth of Osama's heroin stash, we negate the Colombian drug cartels, we basically eliminate overdose deaths, and we begin to restore respect for the U.S. system of justice now tainted by black market billions." LEAP official Mike Smithson says America's prohibition of narcotics puts the drug business into the hands of armed criminals, producing "a St. Valentine's Day massacre every week." He referred to the famous 1929 event in Chicago, when seven rum-runners of the Bugs Moran gang were mowed down in an illegal liquor warehouse by the rival Al Capone gang. Legalizing alcohol again in 1933 gradually took gunfire out of the booze business. If America likewise legalized narcotics and regulated them through health agencies, would today's drug murders, police cost and prison expense similarly be eliminated? This newspaper long has called for legalization of marijuana, which is no more harmful than beer. LEAP advocates that step for all narcotics. Congress and West Virginia's Legislature should study this question - but don't hold your breath while you wait for change, because nearly all politicians brag about being "tough on drugs." Thus they guarantee that the narcotics trade will remain in the hands of criminals. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Attachment: http://drugsense.org/temp/part637.html To be removed please mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org _______________________________________________ CTGP-news mailing list CTGP-news at ml.greens.org http://ml.greens.org/mailman/listinfo/ctgp-news ATTENTION! The information in this transmission is privileged and confidential and intended only for the recipient listed above. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify us immediately by email and delete the original message. The text of this email is similar to ordinary or face-to-face conversations and does not reflect the level of factual or legal inquiry or analysis which would be applied in the case of a formal legal opinion and does not constitute a representation of the opinions of the CT Green Party. The responsibility for any messages posted herein is solely that of the person who sent the message, and the CT Green Party hereby leaves this responsibility in the hands of it's members. NOTE: This is an inherently insecure forum, please do not post confidential messages and always realize that your address can be faked, and although a message may appear to be from a certain individual, it is always possible that it is fakemail. This is mail sent by a third party under an illegally assumed identity for purposes of coercion, misdirection, or general mischief. CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the sender by e-mail at the address shown. This e-mail transmission may contain confidential information. This information is intended only for the use of the individual(s) or entity to whom it is intended even if addressed incorrectly. Please delete it from your files if you are not the intended recipient. Thank you for your compliance. To be removed please mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From efficacy at msn.com Sun Jun 11 09:24:14 2006 From: efficacy at msn.com (clifford thornton) Date: Sun, 11 Jun 2006 09:24:14 -0400 Subject: {news} The 2006 World Cup: Will Racism Come Home to Roost? Message-ID: This subject of race and white privilege will slowly creep into the campaign and we have to ready for it. The question will probably be raised on ("Face the State"---Al Terzi, CH 3--he is on our side) when I will appear Sunday, June 18th at 10:00am. Please check local listing. In many respects running as a Green is like being "Black" Edge of Sports June 9, 2006 The 2006 World Cup: Will Racism Come Home to Roost? By Dave Zirin and John Cox The most watched tournament in the universe, the World Cup, opens today amid fears that an open and violent racism could upstage the games, humiliate its German hosts, and provide an international platform for Neo- Nazi swill. The rising number of attacks on non-whites in Germany, combined with a spate of racist sloganeering and taunting of black soccer players throughout Europe, has set the stage for an unprecedented display of racism on a global sports stage. The argument here is that the German government and the EU have only themselves to blame. These are chickens coming home to roost. The sewers where Neo-Nazis nestle, have been buzzing with using the World Cup as political platform since the day Munich was awarded the games. The German government, however, dutifully ignored the Reich rumblings, preparing instead for the corporate bonanza that accompanies the Cup. Yet the current climate could have been easily predicted if German officials had bothered to lift their face from the haystacks of Euros or recognize the repercussions of their own rhetoric. First there has been the growing pattern of "football racism" across the continent. In late February, Cameroonian FC Barcelona star Samuel Eto'o almost walked off the pitch after being showered by "fans" with monkey chants and peanuts. Last November, Messina's Marc Zoro picked up the ball and threatened to walk off the field because of racist chants from followers of Inter Milan. These are only the most well publicized stories. There are countless tales of players of African origin being treated, in the words of one, "worse than dogs." This has gotten even more play in the United States as US star DaMarcus Beasley has recounted tales of monkey noises and tossed banana skins that trail him every time his foot touches the ball. This has been aggravated by the rise of anti-immigrant sentiment in Europe that has of course become de rigueur in the United States as well. Shaun Harkin, who played for Coleraine FC in the Northern Irish League and captained Brown University's soccer squad to the NCAA quarterfinals, now works as an immigrant-rights activist in Chicago. He said to us, "The racist abuse players have faced across Europe is an aspect of the growing backlash against immigrants. Immigration from former European colonies has grown. As in the United States, immigration has been necessary for many European economies and a source of cheap labor-but immigrant communities have also been a convenient political scapegoat in a continent riddled with unemployment and increasingly anxious conditions for workers dealing with the repercussions of deepening neo-liberal policies." In other words,t he German government wants to have it both ways: it's proper to foment anti-Muslim bigotry, tighten immigration restrictions and attack asylum seekers, but anti-black racism shouldn't be allowed to sully our reputation or diminish the grandeur of this highly profitable spectacle. Their political head was firmly ensconced in the sand until a man named Uwe-Karsten Heye upturned the apple car. Heye, a former spokesman for the Social Democratic-Green coalition government, said, "There are small and mid-sized towns in Brandenburg and elsewhere where I would advise anyone [in the country for the World Cup] with a different skin color not to go. They might not make it out alive." Heye, a co-founder of an anti-racist group called "Show Your Face," was slammed for his comments. In Brandenburg, State Premier Matthias Platzeck, a fellow Social Democrat, called his words an "absurd slur of a whole region that is no way justifiable." Wolfgang Bosback, a leading Christian Democrat parliamentarian, denounced Heye for singling out Brandenburg. But Bosback was at least equally alarmed by the prospect that such comments would damage the tourist industry, saying it would be "fatal" if Heye's comments kept people from Germany. The government found, however, that people both at home and abroad were more concerned with the message than the messenger. As a columnist in Berlin's daily Die Tageszeitung wrote, "the fact that non-Germans or non- white Germans can barely move around in safety is [the real] scandal," not Heye's comments. Spurred to action, Interior Minister Wolfgang Sch??uble promised that his government would "not tolerate any form of extremism, xenophobia or anti-Semitism." Sh??uble's solution, from the Dick Cheney school of diplomacy, is to station tanks outside soccer stadiums. Sch??uble, it should be noted has "balanced" his promises of combating racism by adding, "Blond and blue-eyed Germans can also become the victims of violence, sometimes attacked by those who don't have a German (family) background." The international soccer body FIFA has made toothless pledges to combat racism at the Cup. Their plans include two "anti-racism days," where banners will be draped at each game reading, "Say No to Racism"- although they will be taken down at beginning of the game. This is what a FIFA spokesperson called a "clear message." Thank goodness some players have taken stronger stands. In last month's European club championship, French superstar Thierry Henry sported an armband promoting an antiracist campaign called Stand Up Speak Up. Henry pushed his sponsor Nike to produce black and white intertwined armbands that demonstrate a commitment against racism. So far, they have sold more than five million. "That's important in making the very real point that racism is a problem for everyone, a collective ailment," Henry said to Time Magazine. "It shows that people of all colors, even adversaries on the pitch, are banding together in this, because we're all suffering from it together." In addition to Henry's initiatives, Muslim and Christian religious leaders organized a very successful Berlin game in early May. The best hope for a Cup without racism won't be found in the CDU's tanks but in the numerous antiracist groups in Germany that will be on the ground, including Football Against Racism (FARE), a European-wide network that has pressured FIFA to take concrete measures. FARE speaks for the majority of the world when they say that they want to see the 'beautiful game' played without the cancer of racism." But if the ugly head of hate is raised, the blame should extend beyond the thugs. [Dave Zirin is the author of "'What's My Name, Fool?': Sports and Resistance in the United States" (Haymarket Books). John Cox is an assistant professor of History at Florida Gulf Coast University, and hopes to see Mexico shock the world in Germany.] _______________________________________________________ portside (the left side in nautical parlance) is a news, discussion and debate service of the Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism. It aims to provide varied material of interest to people on the left. For answers to frequently asked questions: http://www.portside.org/faq To subscribe, unsubscribe or change settings: http://lists.portside.org/mailman/listinfo/portside To submit material, paste into an email and send to: moderator at portside.org (postings are moderated) For assistance with your account: support at portside.org To search the portside archive: https://lists.portside.org/pipermail/portside/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kumfry at yahoo.com Sun Jun 11 19:39:45 2006 From: kumfry at yahoo.com (Kenneth Humphrey) Date: Sun, 11 Jun 2006 16:39:45 -0700 (PDT) Subject: {news} Fw: Charleston Gazette Editorial: Prohibition - Causing drug violence? In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <20060611233945.58937.qmail@web32809.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Don't overlook WHUS-this alternative station is every bit as involved in the stuff WWUH and WPKN is. Ken Humphrey-Windham --- clifford thornton wrote: > Connecticut Green Party - Part of the GPUS > http://www.ctgreens.org/ - > http://www.greenpartyus.org/ > > to unsubscribe click here > mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org> Mike D, this is the guy that has the syndicated > radio for NPR.--You corresponded with him. Please, > Please see if you can get this going at WWUH and > Wpkn. > > Cliff > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Dean Becker > To: aro at drugsense.org > Sent: Sunday, June 11, 2006 2:06 AM > Subject: ARO: Charleston Gazette Editorial: > Prohibition - Causing drug violence? > > > 'Scuse me, but I'm proud of being quoted by a > newspaper editor, (with my "mantra";) > > > http://wvgazette.com/section/Editorials/2006060922 > > June 10, 2006 > The Charleston Gazette: Prohibition > > a.. Causing drug violence? > > > > > THIS week's mass murder in a drug-infested St. > Albans suburb raises a troubling thought: Much of > America's criminality and gun violence among addicts > and illegal drug dealers apparently is spawned by > the nation's harsh prohibition of narcotics. > > Almost a century ago, the United States > plunged into Prohibition, the criminalization of > alcohol. Immediately, illicit dealers began > supplying bootleg booze in the shadows. Gun battles > erupted between rival rum-runners. Prisons were > crammed with alcohol offenders. Police and judges > were bribed to overlook "speakeasy" bars. Street > gangs and the Mafia grew in that grotesque time. > > After Prohibition was repealed, alcohol became > legal under state regulation - and the wave of > alcohol crimes faded. > > Today history is repeating itself, via > criminalization of disapproved drugs. Illicit > dealers supply banned substances in the shadows. Gun > battles erupt between rival operators. Prisons are > crammed with narcotics offenders. Police and judges > sometimes are bribed to look the other way. Street > gangs and the Mafia profit from the lucrative trade. > So do Muslim terrorists who control Afghanistan's > opium poppies, and Latin American cartels in control > of cocaine production. Local American peddlers carry > guns, so they won't be robbed of their cash or > stash. They sell to children or anyone able to buy. > Addicts commit robberies to get money for daily > fixes. Impure mixes by amateur suppliers cause > overdose deaths. > > U.S. taxpayers spend $69 billion a year on the > "war on drugs" - including the gigantic cost of > arresting, trying or imprisoning 1.6 million > Americans annually - but the war is being lost, > because narcotics abuse remains as extensive as > ever. The situation is bizarre. > > A national organization of current and former > police officers, Law Enforcement Against > Prohibition, calls for legalization of all drugs and > control of them through public health agencies. LEAP > would license legitimate suppliers of purified > substances - and yank their licenses if they sold to > children. LEAP speaker Dean Becker says: > > "The day we regulate drugs to adults, we > eliminate easy access for our children, we evaporate > the worth of Osama's heroin stash, we negate the > Colombian drug cartels, we basically eliminate > overdose deaths, and we begin to restore respect for > the U.S. system of justice now tainted by black > market billions." > > LEAP official Mike Smithson says America's > prohibition of narcotics puts the drug business into > the hands of armed criminals, producing "a St. > Valentine's Day massacre every week." He referred to > the famous 1929 event in Chicago, when seven > rum-runners of the Bugs Moran gang were mowed down > in an illegal liquor warehouse by the rival Al > Capone gang. > > Legalizing alcohol again in 1933 gradually > took gunfire out of the booze business. If America > likewise legalized narcotics and regulated them > through health agencies, would today's drug murders, > police cost and prison expense similarly be > eliminated? This newspaper long has called for > legalization of marijuana, which is no more harmful > than beer. LEAP advocates that step for all > narcotics. > > Congress and West Virginia's Legislature > should study this question - but don't hold your > breath while you wait for change, because nearly all > politicians brag about being "tough on drugs." Thus > they guarantee that the narcotics trade will remain > in the hands of criminals. > > > --------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Attachment: > http://drugsense.org/temp/part637.html > > To be removed please > mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org > _______________________________________________ > CTGP-news mailing list > CTGP-news at ml.greens.org > http://ml.greens.org/mailman/listinfo/ctgp-news > > ATTENTION! > The information in this transmission is privileged > and confidential and intended only for the recipient > listed above. If you have received this > transmission in error, please notify us immediately > by email and delete the original message. The text > of this email is similar to ordinary or face-to-face > conversations and does not reflect the level of > factual or legal inquiry or analysis which would be > applied in the case of a formal legal opinion and > does not constitute a representation of the opinions > of the CT Green Party. The responsibility for any > messages posted herein is solely that of the person > who sent the message, and the CT Green Party hereby > leaves this responsibility in the hands of it's > members. > > NOTE: This is an inherently insecure forum, please > do not post confidential messages and always realize > that your address can be faked, and although a > message may appear to be from a certain individual, > it is always possible that it is fakemail. This is > mail sent by a third party under an illegally > assumed identity for purposes of coercion, > misdirection, or general mischief. > > CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: If you have received this > e-mail in error, please immediately notify the > sender by e-mail at the address shown. This e-mail > transmission may contain confidential information. > This information is intended only for the use of the > individual(s) or entity to whom it is intended even > if addressed incorrectly. Please delete it from > your files if you are not the intended recipient. > Thank you for your compliance. > > To be removed please mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com From justinemccabe at earthlink.net Tue Jun 13 09:44:34 2006 From: justinemccabe at earthlink.net (Justine McCabe) Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2006 09:44:34 -0400 Subject: {news} Fw: USGP-INT Greens Make Election History in South Australia Message-ID: <012201c68eef$81f569b0$0402a8c0@JUSTINE> > Greens Make History in South Australia > > On the 18th of March 2006, the Australian Greens SA made history with > South Australian voters electing their first ever Greens Member of > Parliament, Mark Parnell. Mark was elected to the Legislative Council of > the South Australian Parliament, also known as the Upper House. It was a > nail biting two weeks after the election while the votes were being > counted and re-counted, and preferences were redistributed, until the > final result was known. It was both a feeling of elation and relief when > Mark won the final seat out of 11 seats up for election. > > Mark has spent the last 16 years working in the non-profit community > conservation sector. His last role before being elected to Parliament was > as South Australia's only dedicated public interest environmental lawyer. > In 10 years at the Environmental Defenders Office, Mark helped many > thousands of South Australians to use the law to protect the environment. > Mark has also taught environmental law at all three South Australian > Universities. > > The Greens election campaign was focussed around a few key issues such as > climate change and renewable energy, education, health (especially mental > health), and saving our River Murray and Coorong (the mouth of the River) > from ecological disaster. Our campaign theme was ?For a Better World, > Vote Green? and our public messages were positive, and offered an > alternative to the business-as-usual policies of the major parties, Labor > and Liberal. > > With six of the 22 seats in the Legislative Council being held by > independents and minor parties, neither the government nor the opposition > hold a majority, (each side holds only eight seats), providing an > opportunity for the Greens to influence the parliamentary agenda. Of the > six independents, there is one Democrat, one No Pokies campaigner, one > anti-drugs (zero tolerance) campaigner, two Family First Party members > (the religious right), and our one Green representative. With this mix > there will surely be interesting times ahead. > > > > Cate Mussared > Convenor (2005-2006) > Election Campaign Committee > Australian Greens SA > 239 Wright St > Adelaide SA 5000 > Australia > www.sa.greens.org.au > From efficacy at msn.com Tue Jun 13 18:42:24 2006 From: efficacy at msn.com (clifford thornton) Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2006 18:42:24 -0400 Subject: {news} info Message-ID: Cliff will be on "Face the State" with Al Terzi on Sunday, June 18 at 11:00 AM. Thornton for Governor PO Box 1971 Manchester CT 06045 VoteThornton at yahoogroups.com WWW.VoteThornton.com 860 657 8438 -H 860 268 1294-C 860 778 1304-Campaign Manager 860 293 0222-Field Coordinator Paid for by Thornton For Governor Donna L. Byrne-McKee, Treasurer -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From roseberry3 at cox.net Wed Jun 14 07:12:55 2006 From: roseberry3 at cox.net (B Barry) Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2006 07:12:55 -0400 Subject: {news} Emergency SCC meeting, Monday, 6-19-06 at Portland Public Library Message-ID: <20060614111235.FRUK17255.eastrmmtao01.cox.net@BarbaraBarry> 20 Freestone Avenue, Portland, CT phone: 860-342-6770 at 7PM Purpose: a) potential hiring of state-wide petition coordinator; b) need to organize and get updates regarding the petition campaign for state-wide offices. Note: Regular monthly SCC meeting will still be held on Tuesday, 6-27-06 at Portland Public Library at 7PM. www.mapquest.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dbedellgreen at hotmail.com Wed Jun 14 07:34:30 2006 From: dbedellgreen at hotmail.com (David Bedell) Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2006 07:34:30 -0400 Subject: {news} Re: Agenda for 6-12-06 EC meeting at Greater Hartford References: <20060611131412.9017589C3B0@gandhi.greens.org> Message-ID: I can respond to some of these topics: > > 5. Need to stop the 800# for the CTGP as the phone company is in > bankruptcy; Mike DeRosa was to try > to clarify which other phone companies might be useful for our purposes; > need to get new 800 phone number for the new phone company. I suggest looking at Earthtones.com--100% of profits go to environmental groups. Working Assets also offers a phone service. Compare prices. > 8. Update regarding the number of petitions collected so far. I count 1,333, which Ken Krayeske added to others he knows to make 2120. Anyone who has petitions please contact us so we can compile the running tally. > 9. Any candidates for lt. governor and comptroller for the CTGP? I know Cliff is still looking for a Lt. Gov. candidate. For Comptroller, surely there is a professional accountant or bookkeeper somewhere in the Green Party? They don't have to do anything, just lend us their name and bio to publish. It will look good on their resume. > 11. Development of CTGP literature for use at any chapter or state > events. Can we get one flyer that lists all the candidates? David Bedell From efficacy at msn.com Wed Jun 14 07:34:03 2006 From: efficacy at msn.com (clifford thornton) Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2006 07:34:03 -0400 Subject: {news} Emergency SCC meeting, Monday, 6-19-06 at Portland Public Library References: <20060614111235.FRUK17255.eastrmmtao01.cox.net@BarbaraBarry> Message-ID: We need someone for New London to show at this meeting to make sure we have enough votes for the hiring of Ken Krayeske for field coordinator. Cliff ----- Original Message ----- From: B Barry To: ctgp-news at ml.greens.org Sent: Wednesday, June 14, 2006 7:12 AM Subject: {news} Emergency SCC meeting, Monday,6-19-06 at Portland Public Library Connecticut Green Party - Part of the GPUS http://www.ctgreens.org/ - http://www.greenpartyus.org/ to unsubscribe click here mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org 20 Freestone Avenue, Portland, CT phone: 860-342-6770 at 7PM Purpose: a) potential hiring of state-wide petition coordinator; b) need to organize and get updates regarding the petition campaign for state-wide offices. Note: Regular monthly SCC meeting will still be held on Tuesday, 6-27-06 at Portland Public Library at 7PM. www.mapquest.com To be removed please mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org _______________________________________________ CTGP-news mailing list CTGP-news at ml.greens.org http://ml.greens.org/mailman/listinfo/ctgp-news ATTENTION! The information in this transmission is privileged and confidential and intended only for the recipient listed above. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify us immediately by email and delete the original message. The text of this email is similar to ordinary or face-to-face conversations and does not reflect the level of factual or legal inquiry or analysis which would be applied in the case of a formal legal opinion and does not constitute a representation of the opinions of the CT Green Party. The responsibility for any messages posted herein is solely that of the person who sent the message, and the CT Green Party hereby leaves this responsibility in the hands of it's members. NOTE: This is an inherently insecure forum, please do not post confidential messages and always realize that your address can be faked, and although a message may appear to be from a certain individual, it is always possible that it is fakemail. This is mail sent by a third party under an illegally assumed identity for purposes of coercion, misdirection, or general mischief. CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the sender by e-mail at the address shown. This e-mail transmission may contain confidential information. This information is intended only for the use of the individual(s) or entity to whom it is intended even if addressed incorrectly. Please delete it from your files if you are not the intended recipient. Thank you for your compliance. To be removed please mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From efficacy at msn.com Wed Jun 14 07:36:22 2006 From: efficacy at msn.com (clifford thornton) Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2006 07:36:22 -0400 Subject: {news} Re: Agenda for 6-12-06 EC meeting at Greater Hartford References: <20060611131412.9017589C3B0@gandhi.greens.org> Message-ID: > 9. Any candidates for lt. governor and comptroller for the CTGP? Jean said she would contact Bessy Reyna to see if she would first of all meet with me and secondly accept the job. Cliff ----- Original Message ----- From: David Bedell To: ctgp-news at ml.greens.org Sent: Wednesday, June 14, 2006 7:34 AM Subject: {news} Re: Agenda for 6-12-06 EC meeting at Greater Hartford Connecticut Green Party - Part of the GPUS http://www.ctgreens.org/ - http://www.greenpartyus.org/ to unsubscribe click here mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org I can respond to some of these topics: > > 5. Need to stop the 800# for the CTGP as the phone company is in > bankruptcy; Mike DeRosa was to try > to clarify which other phone companies might be useful for our purposes; > need to get new 800 phone number for the new phone company. I suggest looking at Earthtones.com--100% of profits go to environmental groups. Working Assets also offers a phone service. Compare prices. > 8. Update regarding the number of petitions collected so far. I count 1,333, which Ken Krayeske added to others he knows to make 2120. Anyone who has petitions please contact us so we can compile the running tally. > 9. Any candidates for lt. governor and comptroller for the CTGP? I know Cliff is still looking for a Lt. Gov. candidate. For Comptroller, surely there is a professional accountant or bookkeeper somewhere in the Green Party? They don't have to do anything, just lend us their name and bio to publish. It will look good on their resume. > 11. Development of CTGP literature for use at any chapter or state > events. Can we get one flyer that lists all the candidates? David Bedell To be removed please mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org _______________________________________________ CTGP-news mailing list CTGP-news at ml.greens.org http://ml.greens.org/mailman/listinfo/ctgp-news ATTENTION! The information in this transmission is privileged and confidential and intended only for the recipient listed above. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify us immediately by email and delete the original message. The text of this email is similar to ordinary or face-to-face conversations and does not reflect the level of factual or legal inquiry or analysis which would be applied in the case of a formal legal opinion and does not constitute a representation of the opinions of the CT Green Party. The responsibility for any messages posted herein is solely that of the person who sent the message, and the CT Green Party hereby leaves this responsibility in the hands of it's members. NOTE: This is an inherently insecure forum, please do not post confidential messages and always realize that your address can be faked, and although a message may appear to be from a certain individual, it is always possible that it is fakemail. This is mail sent by a third party under an illegally assumed identity for purposes of coercion, misdirection, or general mischief. CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the sender by e-mail at the address shown. This e-mail transmission may contain confidential information. This information is intended only for the use of the individual(s) or entity to whom it is intended even if addressed incorrectly. Please delete it from your files if you are not the intended recipient. Thank you for your compliance. To be removed please mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From smderosa at cox.net Wed Jun 14 08:14:02 2006 From: smderosa at cox.net (smderosa) Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2006 08:14:02 -0400 Subject: {news} RE: 800 # service costs In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <20060614121142.HVRK17255.eastrmmtao01.cox.net@userb649154f63> To everyone: I changed the 800 # ring to my cell phone yesterday per Ex. committee decision on this issue. I am open to any alternative service ideas please get me phone number and contact info. Change should go into effect in 24 hours or so. Our 1-800 number is 888-877-8607. We are paying 3 cents per minute with above company plus a small monthy fee(less than $3) per month. Regards, Mike DeRosa -----Original Message----- From: ctgp-news-bounces at ml.greens.org [mailto:ctgp-news-bounces at ml.greens.org] On Behalf Of David Bedell Sent: Wednesday, June 14, 2006 7:35 AM To: ctgp-news at ml.greens.org Subject: {news} Re: Agenda for 6-12-06 EC meeting at Greater Hartford Connecticut Green Party - Part of the GPUS http://www.ctgreens.org/ - http://www.greenpartyus.org/ to unsubscribe click here mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org I can respond to some of these topics: > > 5. Need to stop the 800# for the CTGP as the phone company is in > bankruptcy; Mike DeRosa was to try to clarify which other phone > companies might be useful for our purposes; need to get new 800 phone > number for the new phone company. I suggest looking at Earthtones.com--100% of profits go to environmental groups. Working Assets also offers a phone service. Compare prices. > 8. Update regarding the number of petitions collected so far. I count 1,333, which Ken Krayeske added to others he knows to make 2120. Anyone who has petitions please contact us so we can compile the running tally. > 9. Any candidates for lt. governor and comptroller for the CTGP? I know Cliff is still looking for a Lt. Gov. candidate. For Comptroller, surely there is a professional accountant or bookkeeper somewhere in the Green Party? They don't have to do anything, just lend us their name and bio to publish. It will look good on their resume. > 11. Development of CTGP literature for use at any chapter or state > events. Can we get one flyer that lists all the candidates? David Bedell To be removed please mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org _______________________________________________ CTGP-news mailing list CTGP-news at ml.greens.org http://ml.greens.org/mailman/listinfo/ctgp-news ATTENTION! The information in this transmission is privileged and confidential and intended only for the recipient listed above. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify us immediately by email and delete the original message. The text of this email is similar to ordinary or face-to-face conversations and does not reflect the level of factual or legal inquiry or analysis which would be applied in the case of a formal legal opinion and does not constitute a representation of the opinions of the CT Green Party. The responsibility for any messages posted herein is solely that of the person who sent the message, and the CT Green Party hereby leaves this responsibility in the hands of it's members. NOTE: This is an inherently insecure forum, please do not post confidential messages and always realize that your address can be faked, and although a message may appear to be from a certain individual, it is always possible that it is fakemail. This is mail sent by a third party under an illegally assumed identity for purposes of coercion, misdirection, or general mischief. CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the sender by e-mail at the address shown. This e-mail transmission may contain confidential information. This information is intended only for the use of the individual(s) or entity to whom it is intended even if addressed incorrectly. Please delete it from your files if you are not the intended recipient. Thank you for your compliance. To be removed please mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.8.3/362 - Release Date: 6/12/2006 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.8.3/362 - Release Date: 6/12/2006 From efficacy at msn.com Wed Jun 14 08:22:44 2006 From: efficacy at msn.com (clifford thornton) Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2006 08:22:44 -0400 Subject: {news} RE: 800 # service costs References: <20060614121142.HVRK17255.eastrmmtao01.cox.net@userb649154f63> Message-ID: "We are paying 3 cents per minute with above company plus a small monthy" Who is the above company ----- Original Message ----- From: smderosa To: 'David Bedell' ; ctgp-news at ml.greens.org Sent: Wednesday, June 14, 2006 8:14 AM Subject: {news} RE: 800 # service costs Connecticut Green Party - Part of the GPUS http://www.ctgreens.org/ - http://www.greenpartyus.org/ to unsubscribe click here mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org To everyone: I changed the 800 # ring to my cell phone yesterday per Ex. committee decision on this issue. I am open to any alternative service ideas please get me phone number and contact info. Change should go into effect in 24 hours or so. Our 1-800 number is 888-877-8607. We are paying 3 cents per minute with above company plus a small monthy fee(less than $3) per month. Regards, Mike DeRosa -----Original Message----- From: ctgp-news-bounces at ml.greens.org [mailto:ctgp-news-bounces at ml.greens.org] On Behalf Of David Bedell Sent: Wednesday, June 14, 2006 7:35 AM To: ctgp-news at ml.greens.org Subject: {news} Re: Agenda for 6-12-06 EC meeting at Greater Hartford Connecticut Green Party - Part of the GPUS http://www.ctgreens.org/ - http://www.greenpartyus.org/ to unsubscribe click here mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org I can respond to some of these topics: > > 5. Need to stop the 800# for the CTGP as the phone company is in > bankruptcy; Mike DeRosa was to try to clarify which other phone > companies might be useful for our purposes; need to get new 800 phone > number for the new phone company. I suggest looking at Earthtones.com--100% of profits go to environmental groups. Working Assets also offers a phone service. Compare prices. > 8. Update regarding the number of petitions collected so far. I count 1,333, which Ken Krayeske added to others he knows to make 2120. Anyone who has petitions please contact us so we can compile the running tally. > 9. Any candidates for lt. governor and comptroller for the CTGP? I know Cliff is still looking for a Lt. Gov. candidate. For Comptroller, surely there is a professional accountant or bookkeeper somewhere in the Green Party? They don't have to do anything, just lend us their name and bio to publish. It will look good on their resume. > 11. Development of CTGP literature for use at any chapter or state > events. Can we get one flyer that lists all the candidates? David Bedell To be removed please mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org _______________________________________________ CTGP-news mailing list CTGP-news at ml.greens.org http://ml.greens.org/mailman/listinfo/ctgp-news ATTENTION! The information in this transmission is privileged and confidential and intended only for the recipient listed above. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify us immediately by email and delete the original message. The text of this email is similar to ordinary or face-to-face conversations and does not reflect the level of factual or legal inquiry or analysis which would be applied in the case of a formal legal opinion and does not constitute a representation of the opinions of the CT Green Party. The responsibility for any messages posted herein is solely that of the person who sent the message, and the CT Green Party hereby leaves this responsibility in the hands of it's members. NOTE: This is an inherently insecure forum, please do not post confidential messages and always realize that your address can be faked, and although a message may appear to be from a certain individual, it is always possible that it is fakemail. This is mail sent by a third party under an illegally assumed identity for purposes of coercion, misdirection, or general mischief. CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the sender by e-mail at the address shown. This e-mail transmission may contain confidential information. This information is intended only for the use of the individual(s) or entity to whom it is intended even if addressed incorrectly. Please delete it from your files if you are not the intended recipient. Thank you for your compliance. To be removed please mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.8.3/362 - Release Date: 6/12/2006 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.8.3/362 - Release Date: 6/12/2006 To be removed please mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org _______________________________________________ CTGP-news mailing list CTGP-news at ml.greens.org http://ml.greens.org/mailman/listinfo/ctgp-news ATTENTION! The information in this transmission is privileged and confidential and intended only for the recipient listed above. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify us immediately by email and delete the original message. The text of this email is similar to ordinary or face-to-face conversations and does not reflect the level of factual or legal inquiry or analysis which would be applied in the case of a formal legal opinion and does not constitute a representation of the opinions of the CT Green Party. The responsibility for any messages posted herein is solely that of the person who sent the message, and the CT Green Party hereby leaves this responsibility in the hands of it's members. NOTE: This is an inherently insecure forum, please do not post confidential messages and always realize that your address can be faked, and although a message may appear to be from a certain individual, it is always possible that it is fakemail. This is mail sent by a third party under an illegally assumed identity for purposes of coercion, misdirection, or general mischief. CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the sender by e-mail at the address shown. This e-mail transmission may contain confidential information. This information is intended only for the use of the individual(s) or entity to whom it is intended even if addressed incorrectly. Please delete it from your files if you are not the intended recipient. Thank you for your compliance. To be removed please mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From smderosa at cox.net Wed Jun 14 08:24:56 2006 From: smderosa at cox.net (smderosa) Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2006 08:24:56 -0400 Subject: {news} Green Times Quote: Please Write Articles and get them to me ASAP In-Reply-To: <20060614121142.HVRK17255.eastrmmtao01.cox.net@userb649154f63> Message-ID: <20060614122235.MCST9931.eastrmmtao04.cox.net@userb649154f63> Dear fellow Greens: Below find a quote I got from Jon Harden of the Harford News for CT Green Times. If you have someone who can come in lower or some contacts please e-mail contact info and phone #: Please write articles and get them to me ASAP(50-200 words esp. pictures). Eric DeVos a computer expert is willing to do the layout and Albert Marceau will do distribution to most of the state to various locations that he presently brings alternative papers to. I would like to get at least one edition(four pages out) ASAP(especially about out petition campaign): From: Hartfordnews at aol.com [mailto:Hartfordnews at aol.com] Sent: Tuesday, June 13, 2006 6:55 PM To: smderosa at cox.net Subject: Newspaper Quotes Mike, Prices for 10,000 copies of tabloid (11" X 17") newspapers printed on newsprint are as follows. 4 pages $484.00 8 pages $871.00 12 pages $1180.00 Jon Harden Hartford News -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.8.3/362 - Release Date: 6/12/2006 From smderosa at cox.net Wed Jun 14 08:52:41 2006 From: smderosa at cox.net (smderosa) Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2006 08:52:41 -0400 Subject: {news} RE: 800 # service costs In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <20060614125020.CJJG16402.eastrmmtao06.cox.net@userb649154f63> The company is One Star(old name)/Telrite(new name). Telrite's customer service number is 1-800-482-0000 Thanks, Mike DeRosa _____ From: clifford thornton [mailto:efficacy at msn.com] Sent: Wednesday, June 14, 2006 8:23 AM To: 'David Bedell'; ctgp-news at ml.greens.org; smderosa Subject: Re: {news} RE: 800 # service costs "We are paying 3 cents per minute with above company plus a small monthy" Who is the above company ----- Original Message ----- From: HYPERLINK "mailto:smderosa at cox.net"smderosa To: HYPERLINK "mailto:dbedellgreen at hotmail.com"'David Bedell' ; HYPERLINK "mailto:ctgp-news at ml.greens.org"ctgp-news at ml.greens.org Sent: Wednesday, June 14, 2006 8:14 AM Subject: {news} RE: 800 # service costs Connecticut Green Party - Part of the GPUS HYPERLINK "http://www.ctgreens.org/"http://www.ctgreens.org/ - HYPERLINK "http://www.greenpartyus.org/"http://www.greenpartyus.org/ to unsubscribe click here HYPERLINK "mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org"mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe @ml.greens.org To everyone: I changed the 800 # ring to my cell phone yesterday per Ex. committee decision on this issue. I am open to any alternative service ideas please get me phone number and contact info. Change should go into effect in 24 hours or so. Our 1-800 number is 888-877-8607. We are paying 3 cents per minute with above company plus a small monthy fee(less than $3) per month. Regards, Mike DeRosa -----Original Message----- From: HYPERLINK "mailto:ctgp-news-bounces at ml.greens.org"ctgp-news-bounces at ml.greens.org [mailto:ctgp-news-bounces at ml.greens.org] On Behalf Of David Bedell Sent: Wednesday, June 14, 2006 7:35 AM To: HYPERLINK "mailto:ctgp-news at ml.greens.org"ctgp-news at ml.greens.org Subject: {news} Re: Agenda for 6-12-06 EC meeting at Greater Hartford Connecticut Green Party - Part of the GPUS HYPERLINK "http://www.ctgreens.org/"http://www.ctgreens.org/ - HYPERLINK "http://www.greenpartyus.org/"http://www.greenpartyus.org/ to unsubscribe click here HYPERLINK "mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org"mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe @ml.greens.org I can respond to some of these topics: > > 5. Need to stop the 800# for the CTGP as the phone company is in > bankruptcy; Mike DeRosa was to try to clarify which other phone > companies might be useful for our purposes; need to get new 800 phone > number for the new phone company. I suggest looking at Earthtones.com--100% of profits go to environmental groups. Working Assets also offers a phone service. Compare prices. > 8. Update regarding the number of petitions collected so far. I count 1,333, which Ken Krayeske added to others he knows to make 2120. Anyone who has petitions please contact us so we can compile the running tally. > 9. Any candidates for lt. governor and comptroller for the CTGP? I know Cliff is still looking for a Lt. Gov. candidate. For Comptroller, surely there is a professional accountant or bookkeeper somewhere in the Green Party? They don't have to do anything, just lend us their name and bio to publish. It will look good on their resume. > 11. Development of CTGP literature for use at any chapter or state > events. Can we get one flyer that lists all the candidates? David Bedell To be removed please HYPERLINK "mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org"mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe @ml.greens.org _______________________________________________ CTGP-news mailing list HYPERLINK "mailto:CTGP-news at ml.greens.org"CTGP-news at ml.greens.org HYPERLINK "http://ml.greens.org/mailman/listinfo/ctgp-news"http://ml.greensorg/mailman /listinfo/ctgp-news ATTENTION! The information in this transmission is privileged and confidential and intended only for the recipient listed above. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify us immediately by email and delete the original message. The text of this email is similar to ordinary or face-to-face conversations and does not reflect the level of factual or legal inquiry or analysis which would be applied in the case of a formal legal opinion and does not constitute a representation of the opinions of the CT Green Party. The responsibility for any messages posted herein is solely that of the person who sent the message, and the CT Green Party hereby leaves this responsibility in the hands of it's members. NOTE: This is an inherently insecure forum, please do not post confidential messages and always realize that your address can be faked, and although a message may appear to be from a certain individual, it is always possible that it is fakemail. This is mail sent by a third party under an illegally assumed identity for purposes of coercion, misdirection, or general mischief. CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the sender by e-mail at the address shown. This e-mail transmission may contain confidential information. This information is intended only for the use of the individual(s) or entity to whom it is intended even if addressed incorrectly. Please delete it from your files if you are not the intended recipient. Thank you for your compliance. To be removed please HYPERLINK "mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org"mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe @ml.greens.org -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.8.3/362 - Release Date: 6/12/2006 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.8.3/362 - Release Date: 6/12/2006 To be removed please HYPERLINK "mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org"mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe @ml.greens.org _______________________________________________ CTGP-news mailing list HYPERLINK "mailto:CTGP-news at ml.greens.org"CTGP-news at ml.greens.org HYPERLINK "http://ml.greens.org/mailman/listinfo/ctgp-news"http://ml.greensorg/mailman /listinfo/ctgp-news ATTENTION! The information in this transmission is privileged and confidential and intended only for the recipient listed above. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify us immediately by email and delete the original message. The text of this email is similar to ordinary or face-to-face conversations and does not reflect the level of factual or legal inquiry or analysis which would be applied in the case of a formal legal opinion and does not constitute a representation of the opinions of the CT Green Party. The responsibility for any messages posted herein is solely that of the person who sent the message, and the CT Green Party hereby leaves this responsibility in the hands of it's members. NOTE: This is an inherently insecure forum, please do not post confidential messages and always realize that your address can be faked, and although a message may appear to be from a certain individual, it is always possible that it is fakemail. This is mail sent by a third party under an illegally assumed identity for purposes of coercion, misdirection, or general mischief. CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the sender by e-mail at the address shown. This e-mail transmission may contain confidential information. This information is intended only for the use of the individual(s) or entity to whom it is intended even if addressed incorrectly. Please delete it from your files if you are not the intended recipient. Thank you for your compliance. To be removed please HYPERLINK "mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe at ml.greens.org"mailto://ctgp-news-unsubscribe @ml.greens.org -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.8.4/363 - Release Date: 6/13/2006 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.8.4/363 - Release Date: 6/13/2006 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dbedellgreen at hotmail.com Wed Jun 14 20:22:25 2006 From: dbedellgreen at hotmail.com (David Bedell) Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2006 00:22:25 +0000 Subject: {news} listservs In-Reply-To: Message-ID: The topic of listservs was raised at the last Executive Committee meeting: > 4. Need to find out from SCC and David Bedell about the various > listservs: > > a) which listservers are being used? which are not being used? COMMITTEE/CAUCUS LISTSERVS: Frequently used: CTGP-media at yahoogroups.com CTGP-candidates at yahoogroups.com CTGP-elections at yahoogroups.com Occasionally used: CTLavenderGreens at yahoogroups.com CTGP-communications at yahoogroups.com Seasonally used: CTGP-internal-elections at yahoogroups.com (used at time of internal elections--the annual convention) CTGP-presidential at yahoogroups.com (every 4 years) Rarely used: CTGP-BRPP at yahoogroups.com CTGP-fundraising at yahoogroups.com CTGP-budget at yahoogroups.com CTGP-legislation at yahoogroups.com ctgp_diversity at yahoogroups.com CHAPTER LISTSERVS: Frequently used (>5 postings/month): centralctgp at lists.riseup.net FairfieldCountyGreens at yahoogroups.com hamdengreenparty at yahoogroups.com newhavengreens at yahoogroups.com nhgreensannouncements at yahoogroups.com nlgreens at yahoogroups.com Occasionally used (<5 postings/month): FairfieldCountyGreens-newsletter at yahoogroups.com (1 issue/month) hartfordgreens at yahoogroups.com nectgreens at lists.riseup.net tollandcountygreens at yahoogroups.com Rarely used (not every month): shorelinegreens at yahoogroups.com WesternCTGreens at yahoogroups.com Discontinued: greenparty_west_hartford at yahoogroups.com nbgreens at yahoogroups.com Don't know (I'm not subscribed): greenpartyctnw at lists.riseup.net Women's Caucus gpcwc at lists.riseup.net > > b) who wants off of the listserves? Who wants to get on the > listserves? I believe all the listservs have an automatic unsubscribe function. To get on a listserv, in some cases there is an automatic subscribe function, in others the list manager must approve. > c) clarify who is to monitor the listserve activities? On the listservs that I manage, I've not had to monitor the tone of conversation or guard against personal attacks or anything like that (the problem is usually too LITTLE interaction). I've occasionally had to ban a spammer from a list. I think I've now set all my listservs so new members are moderated; i.e., there is a probationary period where postings must be approved by the manager. This prevents the professional spammers who subscribe and try to post spam. Each chapter should encourage its members to join the chapter listserv and participate. Not everyone can make it to meetings, but this allows them to be connected. Chapter officers should post regular updates and announcements to their chapter listservs. David Bedell From efficacy at msn.com Thu Jun 15 06:27:16 2006 From: efficacy at msn.com (clifford thornton) Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2006 06:27:16 -0400 Subject: {news} Green Thumbs Up Message-ID: We are getting the press, this article also appeared in the New Haven paper as well. There was an article last week in the Waterbury Republican. There will be five such articles in the next week or so. I will be on face the state this Sunday 18th. Tom Monahan's channel 30 on the 30th. So let us write letters to the editor. http://hartfordadvocate.com/gbase/News/content.html?oid=oid:158633 Green Thumbs Up Connecticut?s Green Party revs up with Cliff Thornton?s bid for the governor?s chair on a drug decriminalization platform by Adam Bulger - June 15, 2006 NICK LACY PHOTO Cliff Thornton, the Green Party candidate for governor. Derek Slap, spokesman for John DeStefano?s bid for governor, said he hadn?t paid much attention to Cliff Thornton?s campaign. The New Haven mayor is considered more progressive than Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy his rival for the Democratic Party?s gubernatorial nomination and I thought DeStefano?s campaign might be watching Thornton, the Green Party candidate for governor. Slap noted, positively, that Thornton is the first African-American to run for governor in the state, and said that after looking at Thornton?s website, he had a sense of d?j? vu. ?On the major planks here, I think there are a lot of similarities between what the Green Party cares about and what John DeStefano cares about,? Slap said, noting that the campaigns line up on health care, election reform, death-penalty opposition and medical marijuana. But Hartford native and Glastonbury resident Thornton, a long-time drug legalization advocate and first-time political candidate, saw a clear distinction between his campaign and the campaigns of DeStefano and Malloy. ?I?m not insane. They?re insane,? Thornton said. Their insanity, he said, stems from support of drug prohibition. ?DeStefano and Malloy are applying the same tactics that have been employed for almost a century, in and around drug prohibition. We have had almost a century of the war on drugs,? Thornton said. ?Yet there are more drugs selling for cheaper prices on our streets than ever before. Would you say it?s time to look at something different than what we?ve been doing?? Through the organization Efficacy, which Thornton ran with his wife Margaret until he accepted the Green Party?s nomination in April, Thornton clocked in a decade advocating drug legalization in the U.S., Canada, England and New Zealand. He bristled at the notion that he was a one-note candidate, though. ?There are a lot of other things. I?m against the death penalty, I?m for the estate tax. I have a universal health care plan,? Thornton said. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thornton?s race is part of the Green Party?s first bid for statewide office. New Haven political activist Ralph Ferrucci, who ran for New Haven mayor in 2003, is running for Senate, and officials within the Green Party said they are looking for candidates for all state offices. With approximately $20,000 in their campaign war chest, the Greens have more resources than ever before. But they still have work to do. ?We?re a party that?s in the process of rebuilding, quite frankly. We?ve had an office we haven?t had a chance to fully staff,? Tim McKee, Thornton?s campaign manager, said. In order to get Thornton on the ballot, the Greens need 15,000 signatures by Aug. 9. McKee said they currently have just under 1,000. Meanwhile, the party is still reeling from defections and from a divisive 2004 election. ?I think people know that the 2004 presidential race split us quite a bit. Locally, people like [New Haven alderwoman] Joyce Chen switched and became a Democrat. [Hartford City Council member] Elizabeth Horton-Sheff left because she thought we were talking too much about international issues like the war. Quite frankly, this is the first time we?ve had to talk about statewide issues,? McKee said. Thornton was optimistic about the race. ?We?re going to win. We?re not going to place or show. It?s not about how Rell is untouchable or how we?re taking votes away from the Democrats. But if we do, so be it. They?re not doing shit anyway,? Thornton said. We want your feedback. Email abulger at hartfordadvocate.com Email editor at hartfordadvocate.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: news-6376.jpeg Type: image/jpeg Size: 18082 bytes Desc: not available URL: From greenpartyct at yahoo.com Fri Jun 16 07:41:28 2006 From: greenpartyct at yahoo.com (Green Party-CT) Date: Fri, 16 Jun 2006 04:41:28 -0700 (PDT) Subject: {news} Feedback wanted- National Greens want to create Congressional campaign committees Message-ID: <20060616114128.12282.qmail@web81408.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Dear CT Greens, This is Green national business and i want your feedback. I am leaning towards voting for this to create ways to help our local Senate and House candidates. Please read the proposal and give quck feed back if you have any concerns. Tim McKee National Committee person for CT Greens 860-643-2282 Proposal ID: 223 Proposal: Creation of National Green Party House and Senatorial campaign committees Floor Manager: Marc Sanson, msanson at gp.org Voting ends at Midnight Pacific Time Background: The Democratic and Republican Parties each have three national committees with high contribution thresholds, in which each individual contributor is allowed to give up to $26,700 annually to each committee. These committees are the Democratic National Committee, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (which campaigns for Democratic House candidates), the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the Republican National Committee, the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee (which campaigns for Republican House candidates), and the National Republican Senatorial Committee. An individual can give more than $26,700 to a national party in a year by giving to two or more of these committee, but cannot give more than $61,400 in the aggregate to all non-candidate political committees in a two-year (odd-year first) period. All other parties have, at most, one Federal-Election-Commission-recognized national committee, such as the Green National Committee. Other parties are eligible to also have House and senatorial campaign committees. None have exercised that option yet. The effect of having Green Party House and senatorial campaign committees would be to substantially increase the total amount of money an individual can give in a year to the national party. While an individual can give up to $26,700 to a party?s national committee each year, that individual can give up to $61,400 in a particular year to a national party by giving to the national committee, the House campaign committee, and the Senate campaign committee of that party. One can argue whether it is a good thing that the older parties are allowed to do this. But, if we are to seriously challenge the two older parties, we have to use the rules that are available, even while we work to change those rules. Just as the Green National Committee has the theoretical power to do, these committees would be allowed to make much larger direct contributions to Congressional campaigns than the standard individual contribution limit, as well as to make large coordinated expenditure campaigns on behalf of our Congressional candidates. These committees would have wide-ranging powers to spend their money on other party-building activities such as ballot access drives and support for non-federal campaigns. But, the main point of having these committees is the opportunity to raise a lot more money for the national party and compete with the two ruling parties under the rules they have written. This proposal was originated by the Coordinated Campaign Committee, which endorsed this proposal and passed it on for consideration by the larger party on May 15, 2006. The Finance Committee then signed on as a co-sponsor on May 15, 2006. Proposal: 1. The Green National Committee hereby calls for the creation of the National Green Party House Campaign Committee. Said committee will be populated originally through an election called by the Steering Committee, and operate under the original bylaws laid out below. This committee will be a separate entity from the Green Party of the United States, with its own treasury accounts, but will be answerable to the Green National Committee in the ways listed in the bylaws detailed below. The Green National Committee recognizes this newly-created committee as the national House campaign committee of the Green Party, and will support efforts for it to achieve recognition as such from the Federal Elections Commission. 2. The Green National Committee hereby calls for the creation of the National Green Party Senatorial Campaign Committee. Said committee will be populated originally through an election called by the Steering Committee, and operate under the original bylaws laid out below. This committee will be a separate entity from the Green Party of the United States, with its own treasury accounts, but will be answerable to the Green National Committee in the ways listed in the bylaws detailed below. The Green National Committee recognizes this newly-created committee as the national Senate campaign committee of the Green Party, and will support efforts for it to achieve recognition as such from the Federal Elections Commission. 3. If the Green National Committee does not have standard rules in place for holding ranked-voting elections at the time an election is called to populate the House or Senatorial campaign committee, then the Steering Committee will conduct said election under the rules that were used to elect the Delegate Apportionment Committee. Original bylaws of the National Green Party House Campaign Committee I. Purpose: The National Green Party House Campaign Committee (NGPHCC) exists to promote the campaigns of Green Party candidates running for the United States House of Representatives, to support ballot access drives to enable such campaigns, and to support other party-building activities. II. Composition: A. The voting membership of the NGPHCC shall consist of (i) All members of the United States House of Representatives who were elected to that office as nominees of state parties affiliated with the Green Party of the United States (GPUS); and (ii) Nine additional members, nominated by members of the Green National Committee (GNC) of GPUS, and elected by the GNC, using the standard rules for proportional elections set by the GNC. The committee members elected by the GNC shall serve until their successors are elected, but in no case may serve more than fourteen months without standing for re-election. It will be the responsibility of the NGPHCC to call for elections and of the Steering Committee of GPUS to conduct such elections. B. The Treasurer shall be appointed by the NGPHCC, and serve at the pleasure of the NGPHCC. If the Treasurer is not an elected member of the NGPHCC, then the Treasurer shall not have a vote. C. Vacancies on the NGPHCC shall be filled through nomination and proportional election by the GNC. D. Any person who is a member of the National Green Party Senatorial Campaign Committee or of the Steering Committee of GPUS may not simultaneously be a member of the NGPHCC. III. Conduct of business: A. A simple majority of the current membership is required for meeting process motions and removal of the Treasurer. B. A 2/3 majority of the current membership is required to make all other decisions. IV. Amendments to these bylaws: Amendments to these bylaws may be proposed by a two-thirds majority of the NGPHCC. Such proposed bylaw amendments must then be ratified by a simple majority of the GNC in order to take effect. -- End bylaws of the National Green Party House Campaign Committee -- Original bylaws of the National Green Party Senatorial Campaign Committee I. Purpose: The National Green Party Senatorial Campaign Committee (NGPSCC) exists to promote the campaigns of Green Party candidates running for the United States Senate, to support ballot access drives to enable such campaigns, and to support other party-building activities. II. Composition: A. The voting membership of the NGPSCC shall consist of (i) All members of the United States Senate who were elected to that office as nominees of state parties affiliated with the Green Party of the United States (GPUS); and (ii) Seven additional members, nominated by members of the Green National Committee (GNC) of GPUS, and elected by the GNC, using the standard rules for proportional elections set by the GNC. The committee members elected by the GNC shall serve until their successors are elected, but in no case may serve more than fourteen months without standing for re-election. It will be the responsibility of the NGPSCC to call for elections and of the Steering Committee of GPUS to conduct such elections. B. The Treasurer shall be appointed by the NGPSCC, and serve at the pleasure of the NGPSCC. If the Treasurer is not an elected member of the NGPSCC, then the Treasurer shall not have a vote. C. Vacancies on the NGPSCC shall be filled through nomination and proportional election by the GNC. D. Any person who is a member of the National Green Party House Campaign Committee or of the Steering Committee of GPUS may not simultaneously be a member of the NGPSCC. III. Conduct of business: A. A simple majority of the current membership is required for meeting process motions and removal of the Treasurer. B. A 2/3 majority of the current membership is required to make all other decisions. IV. Amendments to these bylaws: Amendments to these bylaws may be proposed by a two-thirds majority of the NGPSCC. Such proposed bylaw amendments must then be ratified by a simple majority of the GNC in order to take effect. -- End bylaws of the National Green Party Senatorial Campaign Committee -- Resources: None. These committees are expected to be a large revenue source for national party building. CONTACT: Brent White References: Code of Federal Regulations, Title 11, Chapter 1, Part 110 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_06/11cfrv1_06.html Contribution limits 2005-2006 http://www.fec.gov/pages/brochures/contriblimits.shtml -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From efficacy at msn.com Fri Jun 16 15:04:04 2006 From: efficacy at msn.com (clifford thornton) Date: Fri, 16 Jun 2006 15:04:04 -0400 Subject: {news} Green Candidate for Governor Calling for Drug-Policy Reform Message-ID: This is a front page article http://tcextra.com/cgi-script/csNews/csNews.cgi?database=WJ.db&command=viewone&op=t&id=267&rnd=761.9413200300187 Green Candidate for Governor Calling for Drug-Policy Reform 06-16-2006 -- By MICHAEL MARCIANO Editor HARTFORD - With Gov. M. Jodi Rell's approval rating hovering near 80 percent and two Democratic mayors fighting to unseat her, news about the Connecticut Green Party hasn't occupied much front-page space. But that may be about to change, according to the party's candidate for governor, African-American and retired businessman Clifford W. Thornton. Thornton, 61, is an acquaintance of Ralph Nader's who was in town for the funeral of the consumer advocate's mother in February. He is running on the Green Party ticket first and foremost as a drug-policy reformer who believes the continued war on drugs has been a failure. "I've already won because I'm getting people to talk about the issues," Thornton said in a telephone interview. "The other candidates are going to avoid the drug war left and right but the drug war is connected to everything we're talking about." Thornton said the Green Party is in the process of setting up its campaign headquarters on New Britain Avenue in Hartford and that he is interested in talking about issues that Democrats and Republicans typically avoid. "Eighty-five percent of the people are fed up with the federal Congress, so I think we have a good chance," Thornton said. "People want to talk about the issues as opposed to talking about this same-sex marriage thing. That's one of the reasons I'm running. I'm interested in making the Green Party a strong, viable party and reaching the tens of thousands of people in this state who think they don't have a voice in government. I'm going to raise the issues that no one else raises." Thornton's dedication to drug-policy issues stems from his younger years. His mother died of a heroin overdose when he was 18 and he initially believed drug laws should be harsher. He believes now that if heroin use had been legal and supervised by doctors his mother might have survived. After spending 25 years in middle management at Southern New England Telephone, Thornton became an activist with the Connecticut-based nonprofit group Efficacy, which he founded to raise awareness about drug-policy reform, crime prevention and public-health issues. He has spoken to more than 200,000 people in the United States, Columbia, Canada, Europe and New Zealand as a member of the organization and has completed more than 400 radio shows on the topic of drug-policy reform. Thornton acknowledges that some people in opposing parties have already labeled him as a "one-issue candidate" but he contends that drug-policy reform affects all aspects of life, from the economy to public safety and family issues. "It's two degrees from everything in society," he said. "I understand that and most people don't - even within the Green Party." As Thornton begins to garner media attention in newspapers and on television, Connecticut Democrats may already be looking at him as a potential spoiler, ? la Nader in the 2000 presidential election. "The Democrats are already coming at us, saying we're going to take votes away from them and I say 'Rightly so. You deserve it. You're not talking about anything.'" Thornton now lives in Glastonbury with his wife, Margaret. He has five grown daughters. For more information about his candidacy, visit www.votethornton.com. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From efficacy at msn.com Sat Jun 17 04:34:09 2006 From: efficacy at msn.com (clifford thornton) Date: Sat, 17 Jun 2006 04:34:09 -0400 Subject: {news} Fw: Univision 18 Message-ID: FYI My understanding is that that this station will reach all of Connecticut, parts of Rhode Island and Massachusetts. This is the premier Latino station. We are moving, onward and upward. We also have made contact with Bessy Reyna, Latina poet, activist and columnist. ----- Original Message ----- From: Ulysses Arrigoitia To: efficacy at msn.com Sent: Thursday, June 15, 2006 11:54 AM Subject: Univision 18 Mr. Thornton: As per our conversation we have set a tentative 20-minute interview with you at our office on June 27, 2006 at 11:30am. We will call a week prior to confirm. Thank you and look forward meeting you. Regards, Ulysses Arrigoitia General Manager Entravision Communications Corporation Hartford-New Haven-Springfield-Holyoke WUVN-TV | WHTX-LP | WUTH-CA One Constitution Plaza 7th Floor Hartford, CT 06103 (P) 860-278-1818 ext. 13 (F) 860-297-0267 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From efficacy at msn.com Sun Jun 18 15:34:44 2006 From: efficacy at msn.com (clifford thornton) Date: Sun, 18 Jun 2006 15:34:44 -0400 Subject: {news} Tough Glare For Fabrizi Apologies Issued After Mayor's Name Surfaces In Drug Case Message-ID: Connecticut is now known as Corrupticut. Please write letters to the editor. letters at courant.com http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-fabrizi0617.artjun17,0,2239846.story?page=1&coll=hc-headlines-home CONNECTICUT NEWS Tough Glare For Fabrizi Apologies Issued After Mayor's Name Surfaces In Drug Case June 17, 2006 By ARIELLE LEVIN BECKER and EDMUND H. MAHONY, Courant Staff Writers BRIDGEPORT -- The allegations were dicey - the result, federal prosecutors said, of an accidental release of information. But the news that a man charged with drug trafficking had claimed Bridgeport Mayor John Fabrizi could be seen on video using cocaine left resident Linda Palmer with only one reaction. "In Bridgeport, God only knows," the 56-year-old grandmother of four said, clasping her hands across her face as she sat under an umbrella on the sidewalk outside her home. This was the same city, after all, that lost its previous mayor, Joseph P. Ganim, to federal prison, where he's serving a nine-year sentence on corruption charges. And in a city where many residents still recall Ganim with nostalgia, the allegations seemed to make little dent in the impressions many already had of Fabrizi, a lifetime Bridgeport resident who can often be found in local diners or on the radio, pledging to fix neighborhood blemishes. Fabrizi has not been charged with any crime, and is not a focus of a drug investigation. The allegations against him surfaced from an inadvertently unsealed document, and led to an unusual series of events that left a federal prosecutor apologizing to the mayor. Fabrizi admitted to "poor personal choices," though he stopped short of detailing them or saying whether he had ever used cocaine. The allegations were contained in a summary of interviews FBI agents began conducting 11 months ago with Juan Marrero, a defendant in a major drug distribution case. Marrero told the agents, among other things, that Bridgeport Democratic Town Committee member Shawn Fardy, who is a defendant in yet another federal drug case, claimed to have a videotape of Fabrizi using cocaine. The allegations were reported Friday by the Connecticut Post. U.S. Attorney Kevin J. O'Connor said Friday the Post was able to examine the interview summary after the document was inadvertently placed in a public file in U.S. District Court in Bridgeport on Thursday. Because FBI interview summaries often contain secondhand, uncorroborated allegations, they are typically not made public. O'Connor said his office sealed the document Friday and he apologized for what he called the oversight that made it briefly public. O'Connor said he personally apologized to Fabrizi's lawyer, Robert Goulash of Bridgeport, and "I also disclosed that the mayor is not a target of this drug investigation." "It should not have been filed in a non-sealed manner and once we learned that it had been, we took steps to seal it," O'Connor said Friday morning. "We made a mistake and I accept responsibility, the office accepts responsibility. I apologized to the mayor as well as to anybody else who might have been named or referenced therein. Those types of things should not be in the public domain, particularly when we are not asserting charges against any of these individuals." According to the Post's report on the FBI document Friday, Marrero told FBI agents that he never personally sold drugs to the mayor. But he said that he once provided Fardy with 15.5 grams - about half an ounce - of cocaine after Fardy told Marrero "Fabrizi was coming over" and "needed a hit." A source familiar with the FBI document said Friday that the Post account accurately reflects its content. But the source said that Marrero, who has known Fardy for years, never claimed to have seen the videotape and has no independent knowledge that it exists. About a year and a half ago, rumors of drug use by Fabrizi began circulating in Bridgeport political and legal circles. Fabrizi took office in 2003, after Ganim resigned following his conviction on 16 federal corruption charges. Marrero is one of the lead defendants charged in a wide-ranging conspiracy to distribute cocaine and oxycodone in Fairfield Country and the Naugatuck Valley. He was arrested on Feb. 19, 2005. Fardy is charged with conspiracy to distribute narcotics in a separate case and was arrested on May 17. Attorneys for Marrero and Fardy declined to discuss the case Friday. Marrero told FBI agents he has known Fardy since the two were teenagers and began selling him significant quantities of cocaine four or five years ago, according to the Post account. Fabrizi, meanwhile, declined to say whether he had ever used cocaine, but expressed remorse for what he called casual, social actions. "I have made some poor personal choices that in retrospect I kick myself for making," he said Friday. "But I've moved beyond that, and I've elected not to make those choices anymore." Fabrizi said he is unaware of a videotape. The mayor spent part of the day in New Britain, finalizing an agreement on a Bridgeport redevelopment project. He said he has no plans to resign. Word of the allegations drew mixed responses in Bridgeport Friday - and, in some circles, not much notice. Most days, Jonathan Mathias said, you can hear the local gossip in his deli, Jams Good Food Fast on John Street, down the block from the mayor's office. But Friday, he said, the alleged drug use barely drew a word. "From what I've seen, it's a nonissue," he said. Perhaps it was because people want to focus on good things in the city, like new construction and work on existing buildings, he said. Or because of the nature of the claims. "I'm sure it's a personal problem," he said. "The city's going to carry on." As they lunched at Frankie's Diner on Barnum Avenue, Frances Ciuci, 86, and Helen Felisko, 79, said they already had their opinions of the mayor, a "people person" they knew from the interviews he often conducts on WICC-AM radio. "I think the mayor's doing the best he can," said Ciuci, a Barnum Street resident for 60 years. "The streets are well taken care of." Others made light of the nature of the accusations. "If the president could smoke and not inhale and have sexual encounters with an intern ...." Maria Fanell said of former President Clinton as she sat outside the Bridgeport Center office building on Main Street Friday afternoon. Then she trailed off. The allegations should be investigated, she said. But like many residents Friday, Fanell, who grew up and works in Bridgeport but now lives in Shelton, was more concerned with the current state of the city. In her view, it wasn't good. "We need Ganim back!" she called out. It was a common refrain among Fabrizi supporters and bashers alike, who credit Ganim with transforming the city. The allegations seemed to have little effect on people's opinions of the current mayor; those unhappy with his job said they were hardly surprised, while those who supported him said they wouldn't pass judgment until all the facts came out. Except Jewelsteine Desruisseaux. The 42-year-old mother of three boys said she'd been pleased by Fabrizi. That is, until her oldest son told her, "Ma, the mayor's getting high." When he said he didn't see why cocaine was illegal, she tried to explain that everyone makes mistakes and you shouldn't follow what everyone else does. Still, she said, mayors are supposed to be role models. And when her son said he figured Fabrizi would get away with it, she knew it was a problem that wouldn't go away. If videotaped proof does exist, she said, there's only one course of action for the mayor to take. "He needs to apologize, admit to it and step off," said Desruisseaux, a Bridgeport native who now lives in Stratford but returns for family events, like a day in Washington Park with her nieces and nephews Friday. Bridgeport politicians also had strong words for the mayor. State Sen. William Finch, D-Bridgeport, said Fabrizi needs to be more forthcoming with voters. "Perhaps he can turn a negative into a positive," he said. "Maybe he can use this dark episode to work with the youth to try to get them to stay away from drugs." State Rep. Christopher Caruso, a Democrat who lost to Fabrizi in a mayoral primary in 2003, said he was disturbed by the allegation. "He's compromised his office," Caruso said. "The mayor is deeply involved with the same drug underworld that's killing our kids and ripping our community apart." Thornton for Governor PO Box 1971 Manchester CT 06045 VoteThornton at yahoogroups.com WWW.VoteThornton.com 860 657 8438-H 860 268 1294-C 860 778 1304-Campaign Manager 860 293 0222-Field Coordinator Paid for by Thornton For Governor Donna L. Byrne-McKee, Treasurer -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: blackpix.gif Type: image/gif Size: 35 bytes Desc: not available URL: From efficacy at msn.com Sun Jun 18 17:33:26 2006 From: efficacy at msn.com (clifford thornton) Date: Sun, 18 Jun 2006 17:33:26 -0400 Subject: {news} Great Seeing You: Candidate for Governor Calling for Drug-Policy Reform Message-ID: Mr. Brittain was the lead attorney in the landmark desegregation case Sheff VS. O'neil. Cliff ----- Original Message ----- From: jbrittatty at comcast.net To: clifford thornton Sent: Sunday, June 18, 2006 1:06 PM Subject: Great Seeing You: Candidate for Governor Calling for Drug-Policy Reform Dear Governor: It was great to see you on Saturday. I will send you some money to add my name as an endorsement of your candidacy. List me as supporter in all public references. -- John C. Brittain 2513 Gadsby Place Alexandria, VA 22311 703/979-0062 jbrittatty at comcast.net -------------- Original message -------------- From: "clifford thornton" This is a front page article http://tcextra.com/cgi-script/csNews/csNews.cgi?database=WJ.db&command=viewone&op=t&id=267&rnd=761.9413200300187 Green Candidate for Governor Calling for Drug-Policy Reform 06-16-2006 -- By MICHAEL MARCIANO Editor HARTFORD - With Gov. M. Jodi Rell's approval rating hovering near 80 percent and two Democratic mayors fighting to unseat her, news about the Connecticut Green Party hasn't occupied much front-page space. But that may be about to change, according to the party's candidate for governor, African-American and retired businessman Clifford W. Thornton. Thornton, 61, is an acquaintance of Ralph Nader's who was in town for the funeral of the consumer advocate's mother in February. He is running on the Green Party ticket first and foremost as a drug-policy reformer who believes the continued war on drugs has been a failure. "I've already won because I'm getting people to talk about the issues," Thornton said in a telephone interview. "The other candidates are going to avoid the drug war left and right but the drug war is connected to everything we're talking about." Thornton said the Green Party is in the process of setting up its campaign headquarters on New Britain Avenue in Hartford and that he is interested in talking about issues that Democrats and Republicans typically avoid. "Eighty-five percent of the people are fed up with the federal Congress, so I think we have a good chance," Thornton said. "People want to talk about the issues as opposed to talking about this same-sex marriage thing. That's one of the reasons I'm running. I'm interested in making the Green Party a strong, viable party and reaching the tens of thousands of people in this state who think they don't have a voice in government. I'm going to raise the issues that no one else raises." Thornton's dedication to drug-policy issues stems from his younger years. His mother died of a heroin overdose when he was 18 and he initially believed drug laws should be harsher. He believes now that if heroin use had been legal and supervised by doctors his mother might have survived. After spending 25 years in middle management at Southern New England Telephone, Thornton became an activist with the Connecticut-based nonprofit group Efficacy, which he founded to raise awareness about drug-policy reform, crime prevention and public-health issues. He has spoken to more than 200,000 people in the United States, Columbia, Canada, Europe and New Zealand as a member of the organization and has completed more than 400 radio shows on the topic of drug-policy reform. Thornton acknowledges that some people in opposing parties have already labeled him as a "one-issue candidate" but he contends that drug-policy reform affects all aspects of life, from the economy to public safety and family issues. "It's two degrees from everything in society," he said. "I understand that and most people don't - even within the Green Party." As Thornton begins to garner media attention in newspapers and on television, Connecticut Democrats may already be looking at him as a potential spoiler, ? la Nader in the 2000 presidential election. "The Democrats are already coming at us, saying we're going to take votes away from them and I say 'Rightly so. You deserve it. You're not talking about anything.'" Thornton now lives in Glastonbury with his wife, Margaret. He has five grown daughters. For more information about his candidacy, visit www.votethornton.com. Thornton for Governor PO Box 1971 Manchester CT 06045 VoteThornton at yahoogroups.com WWW.VoteThornton.com 860 657 8438 -H 860 268 1294-C 860 778 1304-Campaign Manager 860 293 0222-Field Coordinator -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From roseberry3 at cox.net Mon Jun 19 02:58:14 2006 From: roseberry3 at cox.net (B Barry) Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2006 02:58:14 -0400 Subject: FW: {news} update regaring Short Emergency SCC meeting, Monday, 6-19-06 at Portland Public Library Message-ID: <20060619065818.HUFF17255.eastrmmtao01.cox.net@BarbaraBarry> From: ctgp-news-bounces at ml.greens.org [mailto:ctgp-news-bounces at ml.greens.org] On Behalf Of B Barry Sent: Wednesday, June 14, 2006 7:13 AM To: ctgp-news at ml.greens.org Subject: {news} Emergency SCC meeting, Monday,6-19-06 at Portland Public Library 20 Freestone Avenue, Portland, CT phone: 860-342-6770 at 7PM Purpose: a) potential hiring of state-wide petition coordinator; b) need to organize and get updates regarding the petition campaign for state-wide offices. c) possibility of Betsy Reyna running as lt. governor. Note: Regular monthly SCC meeting will still be held on Tuesday, 6-27-06 at Portland Public Library at 7PM. www.mapquest.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- An embedded and charset-unspecified text was scrubbed... Name: ATT00004.txt URL: From justinemccabe at earthlink.net Mon Jun 19 09:10:57 2006 From: justinemccabe at earthlink.net (Justine McCabe) Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2006 09:10:57 -0400 Subject: {news} Fw: USGP-INT Former German foreign affairs minister to teach at Princeton Message-ID: <026601c693a1$ce759d30$0402a8c0@JUSTINE> Subject: USGP-INT Former German foreign affairs minister to teach at Princeton > > Former German foreign affairs minister to teach at Princeton > > June 17, 2006, 3:35 PM EDT > > PRINCETON, N.J. (AP) _ Germany's former Minister of Foreign Affairs, > Joschka > Fischer, will be joining Princeton University's teaching staff this fall > for > a yearlong appointment, officials announced Saturday. > Fischer, 58, who served as minister of foreign affairs from 1998 to 2005 > and > is also a member of parliament, will serve as the Frederick H. Schultz > Class > of 1951 Professor of International Economic Policy, according to > Princeton's > Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. > "I am pleased and excited to join the faculty of the Woodrow Wilson School > at Princeton," Fischer said in the release on the school's Web site > announcing his appointment. "This is an excellent opportunity to begin > important projects with my new Princeton colleagues in the areas of > trans-Atlantic and global politics, and collaborate with strategic > institutions and individuals in Europe and America." > Fischer will co-teach the undergraduate "International Crisis Diplomacy" > course in the fall and an international relations graduate seminar in the > spring. He will also serve as a senior fellow at the Wilson School's > Liechtenstein Institute of Self-Determination and a fellow at Princeton's > European Union Program. > "He combines a lively and perpetually curious intellect with a wealth of > experience grappling with some of the most important issues of our time," > Anne-Marie Slaughter, dean of the Woodrow Wilson School, said in the > release. > Fischer, who joined Germany's Green party in 1982 and held various > government positions since 1985, will also have an appointment with the > Council on Foreign Relations in New York City during his time in the U.S., > the school said. > > Copyright 2006 Newsday Inc. > http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-nj--princeton-germanm > 0617jun17,0,7366543,print.story?coll=ny-region-apnewjersey From efficacy at msn.com Tue Jun 20 05:29:28 2006 From: efficacy at msn.com (clifford thornton) Date: Tue, 20 Jun 2006 05:29:28 -0400 Subject: {news} WE Conn Greens are in North Carolina blogs Message-ID: http://www.thepoliticalagitator.com/curmilus/167/Green+Candidate+for+Governor+Calling+for+Drug-Policy+Reform.html Thornton for Governor PO Box 1971 Manchester CT 06045 VoteThornton at yahoogroups.com WWW.VoteThornton.com 860 657 8438-H 860 268 1294-C 860 778 1304-Campaign Manager 860 293 0222-Field Coordinator Paid for by Thornton For Governor Donna L. Byrne-McKee, Treasurer -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From efficacy at msn.com Tue Jun 20 09:16:24 2006 From: efficacy at msn.com (clifford thornton) Date: Tue, 20 Jun 2006 09:16:24 -0400 Subject: {news} Ballot Access!! Message-ID: Dear all, One of our volunteers was on WPLR radio where Molloy and De Stephino were debating everything. He asked the question why isn't Cliff Thornton on? They booth said until he gets Ballot Access we are not considering him. What made me feel good was De Stepino said he sounds like a GREEN. So lets get cracking. Cliff Thornton for Governor PO Box 1971 Manchester CT 06045 VoteThornton at yahoogroups.com WWW.VoteThornton.com 860 657 8438-H 860 268 1294-C 860 778 1304-Campaign Manager 860 293 0222-Field Coordinator Paid for by Thornton For Governor Donna L. Byrne-McKee, Treasurer -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From apbrison at hotmail.com Tue Jun 20 12:14:43 2006 From: apbrison at hotmail.com (allan brison) Date: Tue, 20 Jun 2006 12:14:43 -0400 Subject: {news} 'War on drugs' produces inner-city battlefields Message-ID: An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: journal.gif Type: image/gif Size: 7154 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: email_this_article.gif Type: image/gif Size: 101 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: voice_opinion.gif Type: image/gif Size: 82 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: printversion.gif Type: image/gif Size: 101 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: @Topx Type: application/octet-stream Size: 43 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: bannerad.asp_ADLOCATION_4000_PAG_461_BRD_985_LOCALPCT_50_AREA_486_VERT_6543_NAREA__barnd_1424 Type: application/octet-stream Size: 43 bytes Desc: not available URL: From efficacy at msn.com Wed Jun 21 05:43:37 2006 From: efficacy at msn.com (clifford thornton) Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 05:43:37 -0400 Subject: {news} Mayor's Drug Admission Puts Rumors In The Open Message-ID: http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-fabrizi0621.artjun21,0,6766421.story?coll=hc-headlines-local CONNECTICUT NEWS Mayor's Drug Admission Puts Rumors In The Open June 21, 2006 By EDMUND H. MAHONY, Courant Staff Writer While Bridgeport Mayor John Fabrizi emotionally admitted to city employees on Tuesday that he had abused cocaine and was seeking treatment, some political insiders were calling the mayor's drug use an open secret and his admission long overdue. Gossip about Fabrizi's drug use - he has been referred to as a bon vivant in his hometown newspaper - has been part of the city's political fabric since the 1990s. ADVERTISEMENT In 1998, with then-Bridgeport Mayor Joseph Ganim floating his name as a gubernatorial candidate, then-city council President Fabrizi sought local political advice on how to best position himself for a move into the mayor's office. "Get rid of the nose candy," one of the political insiders recalls telling Fabrizi. The insider said Fabrizi was told that voters could accept reports that he enjoyed a few cocktails - Fabrizi also said Tuesday that he has given up alcoholic beverages - but that persistent rumors about illegal drug use could be toxic to his political aspirations. A year later, Bridgeport restaurateur Michael Rizzitelli, whom mutual acquaintances called a close friend of Fabrizi's, was found dead in his home from acute cocaine intoxication. In 2005, not long after prosecutors disclosed a sweeping narcotics distribution case in Bridgeport, a gaggle of news reporters alternated between city hall and the federal courthouse, chasing rumors that Fabrizi would be charged or, at a minimum, chased out of office by allegations of drug use. Political supporters again advised him to disclose that he had a drug problem and was seeking treatment, according to a Bridgeport political source. Fabrizi was not charged with anything. But apparently there was something to the media's suspicions. The same narcotics prosecution, targeting brothers Juan and Victor Marrero, prompted Fabrizi's admission a year later. The U.S. attorney's office said earlier this week that it inadvertently made public an FBI document in which Juan Marrero told agents an alleged drug dealing colleague of his claimed to have a video recording of the mayor using cocaine. When reporters for the Connecticut Post in Bridgeport confronted Fabrizi with the videotape claim, it set off the events leading to the mayor's admission Tuesday. Juan Marrero reportedly told FBI agents that the man who claimed to have the video is Shawn Fardy, a political colleague of Fabrizi's. Fardy, who was indicted two weeks ago on allegations of conspiring to distribute cocaine, was a member of Bridgeport's Democratic Town Committee until his resignation this week. A legal source familiar with the drug cases said Tuesday that Fardy denies having a videotape showing Fabrizi using drugs and denies ever claiming that he did. After examining the records of Fabrizi's city-issued cellular telephone, reporters for the Post found that someone using the phone called Fardy 13 times between October and December 2004. At about the same time, telephone records filed by prosecutors in federal court show, Fardy was calling Juan Marrero to obtain cocaine that he then passed onto customers. After first denying that he knew Fardy, Fabrizi this week conceded to the Post that Fardy is a friend of his brother, Mark. And the mayor acknowledged calling Fardy on occasion. Fabrizi's admission of drug use could be used in court, said Jeffrey Meyer, an associate law professor at Quinnipiac University and a federal prosecutor until 2004. "To me it's difficult to imagine our federal and state prosecutorial authorities are simply going to stand by and have one of the most prominent elected officials in Connecticut admit to this kind of illegal conduct without any kind of criminal sanction," said Meyer. U.S. Attorney Kevin O'Connor said last week that Fabrizi was not a target of the drug investigation that led to the filing in court of the FBI report containing the videotape allegation. He said FBI reports, which summarize statements made by witnesses but are not always corroborated, are typically filed under seal and apologized to Fabrizi for the release. "Nothing has changed from the U.S. attorney's comments on Friday," Tom Carson, a spokesman for the office, said Tuesday. Some adversaries have called for Fabrizi to resign, while supporters pressed him to be more forthcoming after he said last week he had "made poor choices in the past." Cecil Young, a city sheriff who listened to Fabrizi's address, said the mayor had misled voters for nearly two years and should resign. "He needs help," Young said, adding that he wants proof Fabrizi sought treatment from a licensed professional. "If I was busted for something like that, I would lose my job." Dr. Jay Berkowitz, a psychiatrist who works with substance abuse patients and a friend of Fabrizi's, said he arranged for the mayor to get drug treatment. "He's made every appointment," Berkowitz said. "He's been very compliant with his treatment." Keith Rodgerson, a Democratic city councilman, said he expected Fabrizi's past drug use would be a new wrinkle in the city's already notorious political culture. "Bridgeport politics is real rough and tumble and bloody," he said. "I think that this will just make it all the more bloodier come the mayor's re-election." Courant Staff Writer Arielle Levin-Becker and The Associated Press contributed to this story. Contact Edmund H. Mahony at emahony at courant.com. Thornton for Governor PO Box 1971 Manchester CT 06045 VoteThornton at yahoogroups.com WWW.VoteThornton.com 860 657 8438-H 860 268 1294-C 860 778 1304-Campaign Manager 860 293 0222-Field Coordinator Paid for by Thornton For Governor Donna L. Byrne-McKee, Treasurer -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From efficacy at msn.com Wed Jun 21 08:15:27 2006 From: efficacy at msn.com (clifford thornton) Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 08:15:27 -0400 Subject: {news} Thornton's Focused On Failed Drug War In His Run For Governor Message-ID: http://www.theday.com/re.aspx?re=bc4b30c4-b175-4005-92a4-c667c1d95f13 Thornton's Focused On Failed Drug War In His Run For Governor By Ted Mann Click name for author info, most recent articles ... Published on 6/21/2006 in State ? State News If there is a list of words to exclude from a politician's official campaign biography, it's a fair bet that "heroin" is on it. And yet, there it is, bearing its baggage of addiction, shame and despair, in the first sentence of Clifford W. Thornton Jr.'s description of who he is and why he believes he should be governor. Thornton is the Green Party's candidate for governor, and, as he tells it, the only one of the four seeking the job who will try to tackle the single most important issue facing Connecticut's cities and the state at large: "No one's talking about the drug war," Thornton says. That war, in Thornton's view, is a failure, overly expensive, inhumane to the addicted and ineffective at preventing the sort of violence that has gripped neighborhoods in Hartford, New Haven and elsewhere in recent months. A retired businessman who worked at SNET, the telephone company, for 25 years, Thornton also founded Efficacy, a nonprofit group dedicated to reforming the nation's drug policy by legalizing, decriminalizing or "medicalizing" currently illegal drugs, from marijuana to cocaine and heroin. That conviction has a personal origin: Thornton's mother died of a heroin overdose when he was 18 years old. The candidate says his initial enthusiasm for strict prohibitions on illegal drugs soon gave way to a disenchantment with prohibition and a belief that a focus on treating and managing serious addictions will be safer and cheaper for society as a whole. "There are two basic questions here one has to ask," Thornton said in a recent interview. "The first is: Has the war on drugs been successful? The second is: Are people ever going to stop using drugs? To both of those questions, the overwhelming response is: No. Before we can go anywhere else, we've got to answer those questions in their entirety." Thornton's solution would be to legalize marijuana and hemp outright and to "medicalize" - offer regular doses, administered in a medical setting - cocaine, heroin, Ecstasy and methamphetamine to those who are currently addicted to the drugs. Other currently illegal substances would be decriminalized. Thornton casts his position as one of taking the courageous approach, of raising a subject no one else is willing to discuss. His opponents - Gov. M. Jodi Rell, Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy and New Haven Mayor John DeStefano - say that's nonsense. "She is not in favor of decriminalizing drugs," said Rich Harris, a spokesman for Rell's campaign. "Nor has she been ducking the issue, despite what Mr. Thornton might say. The issue, after all, is primarily a federal one since it is federal law that deals with the vast majority of penalties for trafficking." And Harris said Rell had addressed the state's policy on drug use and drug penalties. By way of an example, he offered Rell's veto of a bill that would have dropped the level of crack cocaine that an individual must possess to trigger a mandatory minimum prison sentence, which was intended to equalize penalties for crack and powder cocaine. Rell's veto message urged advocates to achieve that equality instead by raising the amount of powder cocaine necessary to trigger a mandatory minimum sentence. When just such a bill was passed, Rell signed it. Malloy's campaign manager, Chris Cooney, says the candidate does not support legalizing drugs but would accept medicinal marijuana in some circumstances, if prescribed by a doctor. "Dan has also said a certain percentage of the population is prone to addiction to alcohol and drugs," Cooney said. "If you legalize drugs, you are just logically opening up that population that's prone to addiction to become addicted." Rell's staff said she has no position yet on proposals to allow the medical use of marijuana. DeStefano, who will challenge Malloy for the Democratic nomination at an Aug. 8 primary, said Tuesday that he also does not have a position on medicinal marijuana and that he considered legalization efforts to be an unwise move. "I don't think legalization is a solution," he said. Thornton said he was confident, however, that the tide would turn in his direction. "Most of the politicians, most of the academics, most of the police force, they favor what I'm saying in private," Thornton said. "But they don't feel comfortable coming out in public, and see, what I'm trying to do is create that atmosphere that they feel comfortable coming out." Asked if he had any concerns about collecting the 7,500 signatures needed to petition for a spot on the ballot, Thornton was even more self-assured. "We're going to get on the ballot, no problem," he said. Thornton for Governor PO Box 1971 Manchester CT 06045 VoteThornton at yahoogroups.com WWW.VoteThornton.com 860 657 8438-H 860 268 1294-C 860 778 1304-Campaign Manager 860 293 0222-Field Coordinator Paid for by Thornton For Governor Donna L. Byrne-McKee, Treasurer -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: masthead.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 16090 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: nothing.gif Type: image/gif Size: 43 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: ico_graph.gif Type: image/gif Size: 102 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: ico_endstory.gif Type: image/gif Size: 47 bytes Desc: not available URL: From efficacy at msn.com Wed Jun 21 11:22:24 2006 From: efficacy at msn.com (clifford thornton) Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 11:22:24 -0400 Subject: {news} Drug laws are meant for nobodies, not Bridgeport's mayor Message-ID: Wednesday, June 21, 2006 Chris Powell Drug laws are meant for nobodies, not Bridgeport's mayor By Chris Powell 06/21/2006 John M. Fabrizi could be mayor of Bridgeport for another two decades and not have done his city and Connecticut the service he has just done by getting caught using cocaine while mayor and a member of the City Council. The mayor's drug use was discovered incidentally during a federal investigation aimed at someone else and was disclosed last week by the Connecticut Post when an investigative document was filed in court without the usual secrecy. Fabrizi first fudged about having made "poor choices." When it quickly became clear that fudging wouldn't do politically, he confessed at a meeting with the newspaper's editorial board and made a tearful admission and apology at an assembly of city employees at City Hall. "I thought that these were personal, private matters to me and my family, that I could deal with these issues with my family and myself," the mayor told the assembly at City Hall. "I now recognize my actions affected many others, and I want to apologize to my family, my friends, and the people of Bridgeport." The mayor, a Democrat, stressed that he had not used cocaine for a year and a half and added that he had stopped drinking alcohol a few months ago as well and had gotten medical treatment. He means to stay in office, though there are calls from both parties for him to resign. Among those urging the mayor's resignation is a Republican who challenged Fabrizi for mayor three years ago, Rick Torres, who asks: "How do we explain to children that drug use is dangerous and can ruin your life if the top guy is a drug user?" That is a good question but it is not the foremost question. The foremost question is how anyone can sustain himself in public office after admitting to many felonies, since every possession of cocaine in Connecticut is a felony, a serious crime, a crime punishable by more than a year in prison. Part of that question is why this particular felony should be, as the mayor suggests, forgiven completely for a white, middle-aged, middle-class guy who happens to be part of the government and political establishment while every day in Connecticut it is NOT forgiven for dozens of poor, uneducated, and unskilled people from racial minorities and even for some ordinary white people as well. After all, Connecticut continues to imprison people even for involvement with a drug much less potent than cocaine, marijuana. But Fabrizi will not be prosecuted and, despite the shame he says he feels, does not plan to give up his place of honor, the city's highest office. Thus the Fabrizi case raises the question of the criminalization of drugs; indeed, it impugns the whole rationale for criminalization. Yes, drug use is dangerous and can ruin life -- for SOME people. Though it's a terrible idea, OTHER people, like Fabrizi, can make recreational use of drugs and continue to function adequately or even well. This is only obvious. But the law ignores the obvious and, doing so, causes problems far worse than the problems of drugs -- the problems of drug prohibition, the creation of a vast and violent criminal underground; the destruction of the cities as the main battlegrounds of the futile but never-ending "war on drugs"; thousands of murders and maimings every year, many of them involving innocent bystanders; the fantastic overhead of a huge prison system; and the compromising of justice with the double standard so glaring in the Fabrizi case -- sympathy, forgiveness, and medical treatment for the criminal with a light complexion and a familiar face, brutal punishment for the people with dark complexions, the people who dominate Connecticut's prison population. And for what? To prevent some people from making "poor choices" in their personal lives, when the response to such "poor choices" in all other respects is medical treatment? As a matter of justice, equality, and propriety, Fabrizi should resign as long as what he has admitted doing remains a felony and as long as others who have done what he has done remain in prison. But if he should remain mayor of Bridgeport, at least Connecticut will have an enduring proof that its drug laws and criminal-justice system are shams, meant to be brought to bear only on the weak. --------- Chris Powell is managing editor of the Journal Inquirer. ?Journal Inquirer 2006 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: journal.gif Type: image/gif Size: 7154 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: @Topx Type: application/octet-stream Size: 43 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: bannerad.asp?ADLOCATION=4000&PAG=461&BRD=985&LOCALPCT=50&AREA=465&VERT=6543&NAREA=470&barnd=89 Type: application/octet-stream Size: 43 bytes Desc: not available URL: From smderosa at cox.net Wed Jun 21 12:10:50 2006 From: smderosa at cox.net (smderosa) Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 12:10:50 -0400 Subject: {news} FUNDRAISER FOR HARTFORD GREEN PARTY OFFICE Message-ID: <20060621161052.SUR17255.eastrmmtao01.cox.net@userb649154f63> Dear Greens and friends: The fund raiser for the Hartford Green Party office is this Thur. June 22, 2006 between 7PM and 9PM at Steve Fornier's home in Hartford CT . Steve Fornier's address is 74 Tremont St , Hartford, CT. Right off Farmington Ave in the West End of Hartford. Many great food dishes and beverages will be served. Meet Cliff Thornton,Green candidate for CT Governor and Mike DeRosa, Green candidate for CT Sec. Of The State. See you there, Mike DeRosa 860-919-4042 P.S. If you can't make it but would like to send a check, make it out to the Greater Hartford Green Pac and send to Mike DeRosa 48 Village Dr. #204 Wethersfield, CT 06109 Paid for by the Greater Hartford Green Pac, Rob Pondolfo treasuer -- -- -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.9.2/370 - Release Date: 6/20/2006 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From justinemccabe at earthlink.net Wed Jun 21 12:53:42 2006 From: justinemccabe at earthlink.net (Justine McCabe) Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 12:53:42 -0400 Subject: {news} Fw: [GPUS-PAX] REMARKS BY MAYOR VILLARAIGOSA REGARDING THE SOUTH CENTRAL FARM Message-ID: <012d01c69553$416c0420$0402a8c0@JUSTINE> REMARKS BY MAYOR VILLARAIGOSA REGARDING THE SOUTH CENTRAL FARM Office of the Mayor City of Los Angeles ANTONIO R. VILLARAIGOSA FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Joe Ramallo June 13, 2006 213-978-0741 REMARKS BY MAYOR VILLARAIGOSA REGARDING THE SOUTH CENTRAL URBAN FARM As you know, this morning Sheriff's deputies began evicting farmers and activists at the South Central Farm. Today's evictions are unfortunate and come at the end of a tumultuous turn of events that at times was not always discussed in public due to the nature of real estate negotiations and the discussions that various parties were having with the property owner. In light of today's events and the fact that it appears that the owner will not accept a proposal that meets his asking price of $16 million - I felt it was important to brief you today. Today's events are unfortunate, disheartening and unnecessary. After years of disagreement over this property we had all hoped for a better outcome. I'd like to be clear about what has transpired. The property owner asked for $16 million * and last week, after 10 months of negotiations and efforts by my staff and others from the Trust for Public Land and the Annenberg Foundation * a proposal for a full-price, $16 million purchase was made by the Annenberg Foundation to the property owner. The foundation expressed a clear, sincere interest and commitment by its trustees to acquire the property for $16 million dollars. This morning, in a conversation with the property owner I reiterated my confidence in and support for the Annenberg purchase. Even after meeting his asking price, Mr. Horowitz told me that he would not sell the property to the Trust for Public Lands and the Annenberg Foundation. Everyone involved who cares about this garden and who cares about the farmers who have built an oasis in a sea of industry and concrete has done everything possible to meet the property owner's demands. First it was about price, well*. we met his price. He set the bar very high and we met it. Now the bar has been moved. I understand a businessman's need to invest and make a profit. I also have a high respect for and will defend property rights. That is the spirit under which we all operated when trying to negotiate and resolve this issue. But I also believe that we are called upon by a sense of community and civic duty to do the just and right thing. I had hoped that the landowner would have heeded that call. For those who say that there is no plot of land for urban farming in South LA, you should know that the City will continue plans to relocate farmers to an alternate 7.8 acre site, which has the capacity to house 200 garden plots. Already, 30 farmers have been allowed to begin cultivating the land located at 111th St & Avalon. We want to make sure the farmers are properly relocated. In addition, there are about 100 more plots located around the City that we have identified for community gardens. # # # _______________________________________________ Peace mailing list Peace at lists.gp-us.org http://lists.gp-us.org/mailman/listinfo/peace _______________________________________________ Peace mailing list Peace at lists.gp-us.org http://lists.gp-us.org/mailman/listinfo/peace From justinemccabe at earthlink.net Wed Jun 21 12:56:33 2006 From: justinemccabe at earthlink.net (Justine McCabe) Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 12:56:33 -0400 Subject: {news} Fw: USGP-INT Green mayor in Galway, Ireland Message-ID: <014701c69553$a80daad0$0402a8c0@JUSTINE> > http://www.galwayindependent.com/news/7684.html > > Galway Going Green > > by Keith Lynch, Galway, Independent > June 21st, 2006 > > Galway City?s first ever Green Party Mayor was elected at the Galway City > Council AGM this week. > In his first speech as Mayor at City Hall on Monday evening, Niall ? > Brolch?in paid tribute to outgoing Mayor, Brian Walsh and proceeded to > outline an extremely ambitions agenda based on the ?greening of Galway? > for his time in office. > > He said he was hoping to have at least one permanent Park & Ride system in > place in the city within a year. > > The new Mayor also highlighted the issue of transport in Galway and called > for an integrated transport solution to the problem. He called on the > council to seriously consider the introduction of a light rail system in > Galway City and the new Mayor also called for immediate work to begin on > the Western Rail Corridor. > > Mayor ? Brolch?in also said he hopes to ensure that access to Galway?s > newest museum remains free. The museum is to open on Friday 30 June and > access to the facility will be free for July, August and September, but > the new Mayor hopes to extend this indefinitely. > > Mayor ? Brolch?in also promised to improve sporting and community > facilities in the city and said he intends to address the lack of these > facilities in Knocknacarra. > > Parks were another issue on the new Mayor?s mind, as he promised to ensure > more parks are opened in the city along with ?more trees?, ?more shrubs?, > and ?more flowers?. > > He also said he supports the plans of extending the prom and said > something must be done immediately with Mutton Island, which is almost > operating at full capacity. > > There were no surprises at the city council AGM on Monday night with the > election of Cllr ? Brolch?in, who represents the South Ward of the city, > as Mayor. > > After Brian Walsh formally stepped aside after a year in office, Labour > Cllr Tom Costello nominated Cllr ? Brolch?in as Mayor. Fine Gael Cllr John > Mulholland seconded the nomination. > > Fianna F?il Cllr Michael Leahy nominated fellow FF Cllr John Connolly; a > nomination seconded by Cllr Michael Crowe. The councillors voted along the > lines of the their three year old pact in the subsequent vote, which meant > eight votes for Cllr ?Brolch?in and six for Cllr Connolly. Sinn F?in Cllr > Daniel Callanan abstained from voting. > > Councillor Billy Cameron is the city?s new deputy mayor. Cllr Tom Costello > nominated the labour councillor to serve as Cllr ?Brolch?in?s deputy. Cllr > Mulholland seconded the nomination to which there were no challenges. > > --- > | Sent via usgp-int > | To unsubscribe, please send a message to usgp-int-request at gp-us.org > | with ONLY unsubscribe in the message > --- > From greenpartyct at sbcglobal.net Wed Jun 21 14:26:51 2006 From: greenpartyct at sbcglobal.net (Green Party-CT) Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 11:26:51 -0700 (PDT) Subject: {news} feedback wanted- Greens to support "Voters for peace" pledge-- i am strongly infavor Message-ID: <20060621182651.11462.qmail@web81412.mail.mud.yahoo.com> If you have concerns about this national proposal, please email to this address or call 860-643-2282 BackgroundThe Green Party of the United States is a party of peace and as such might be willing to support efforts to gather signatures for the following Voter's Pledge: "I will not vote for or support any candidate for Congress or President who does not make a speedy end to the war in Iraq, and preventing any future war of aggression, a public position in his or her campaign." Gathering signatures for this pledge seems to be the main impetuous of the VotersForPeace organization and its supporters. Supporting organizations appear on a list which signers can check off. If approved the Green Party of the United States will be submitted as a supporting organization and Greens everywhere will be able to check off the Green Party as their organization. I will follow up after the vote (if approved) with VotersForPeace to list us as a supporting organization. Since time is of the essence this proposal could follow an expedited vote or if there are objections then it should follow the normal 3 week voting cycle. ProposalThe Green Party of the United States, hereby, agrees to sign on as a supporting organization with VotersForPeace and the Voter's Pledge ResourcesCONTACT: Richard Scott, Box 641, Scottsdale, Az 85252, 480-990-8531 or rscotttoo at hotmail.com Referenceshttp://www.votersforpeace.us/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Paid for by Thornton For Governor ,Donna Byrne-McKee, treasurer- www.VoteThornton.com email: info at votethornton.com Tim McKee NEW cell (860) 778-1304 or (860) 643-2282 Cliff Thornton for Governor- Campaign Manager- National Committee member of the Green Party- Connecticut -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From greenpartyct at yahoo.com Wed Jun 21 15:28:57 2006 From: greenpartyct at yahoo.com (Green Party-CT) Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 12:28:57 -0700 (PDT) Subject: {news} (THORNTON PRESS RELEASE) AFRICA AMERCIAN GREEN CANDIDATES TO WATCH IN 2006 Message-ID: <20060621192857.20099.qmail@web81413.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Thornton for Governor PO Box 1971, Manchester, CT 06045 www.votethornton.com PRESS RELEASE- JUNE 21, 2006- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Cliff Thornton, Green Party Candidate for Governor (860) 657 8438-Home or (860) 268 1294-Campaign cell Tim McKee (860) 778 1304-Campaign Manager Press Release Home | Press | Print African American Green Candidates to Watch in 2006 GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES www.GP.org Monday, June 19, 2006 Contacts: Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, mclarty at greens.org Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene at greens.org African American Green candidates to watch in 2006 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- African American candidates running as Greens for public office in 2006 have taken the lead on international, national, and local issues in the 2006 races. "African-American Greens are giving leadership in the only political party that aptly expresses the desires and aspirations of our community. Here in the nation's capitol, the fact that an African American Green organized the city's major Juneteenth celebration and received the full support of the DC Statehood Green Party demonstrates real Green values," said Michele Tingling-Clemmons, chair of the Green Party's Black Caucus . The 2nd Annual DC Juneteenth Celebration and Music Festival took place Sunday, June 18 at the African American Civil War Memorial . Below are many of this year's African American Green candidates; others may be added as the election year continues. Aimee Allison, running for Oakland City Council (District 2) in California, received 39% (3794 total votes) of the vote (nearly three times the number she received in last year's special election) on Tuesday, June 7, placing second, and now advances to the November 7 run-off election. Ms. Allison's success demonstrates her campaign's ability to unite Greens and other progressives, labor unions, and African-Americans in the most racially and economically diverse district in Oakland. Her district 2 race is part of a larger movement in Oakland that is challenging the business-as-usual politics that have put the interest of developers and corporations ahead of the people who live and work in Oakland. "The African-American community, among others, has suffered under city policies that result in more dangerous streets, failing schools, and gentrification. We're fighting back and we will win," Ms. Allison said. http://www.aimeeallison.org Ren?e Bowser, a labor lawyer and the D.C. Human Rights Commissioner, is running for reelection in her Advisory Neighborhood Commission race (ANC 4D02) in Washington, D.C. and is currently the highest ranking African American Green woman holding elected office. To view a video clip of Ms. Bowser's rebuttal to President Bush's 2006 State of the Union Address, visit . http://www.dcstatehoodgreen.org Ed Boyd, candidate for Governor of Maryland and a veteran of the U.S. Navy, has joined the Baltimore Pledge of Resistance in its call for a full investigation into possible involvement of the Baltimore Police Dept. with NSA spying on the group's activities. Mr. Boyd has also called on Democratic gubernatorial frontrunner Martin O'Malley and Gov. Robert Ehrlich to return over $30,000 in campaign contributions that came from Constellation, the parent company of Baltimore Gas and Electric. BGE seeks to increase Marylanders' energy rates by 72% by July 1. http://www.EdBoydforGovernor.org Aaron Dixon is challenging Maria Cantwell for her U.S. Senate seat in Washington state. Mr. Dixon's rebuttal to a May 4 op-ed column by Ms. Cantwell in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, in which he sharply criticizes her support for the Iraq War, can be read on his web site. http://www.dixon4senate.com Nammu Mohamed, candidate for County Council in Richland County, South Carolina, is focusing his campaign on the needs of local families. "Families and children in Richland County need more than just words from the council, they need action," said Mr. Mohamed. "From jobs to education to juvenal justice, the county has let the people down long enough. It's time to elect a defender of children and families to the county council." http://www.VoteNammu.com Alvin Portee, like Mr. Mohamed, is also candidate for County Council in Richland County, South Carolina, and is speaking up on behalf of young people. "Children are being left behind here in Richland County, and I intend to put children first instead. From protecting them from gentrification of their family homes to protecting them from junk food, the county government must do right by our children," said Mr. Portee. http://www.AlvinPortee.com Winston Sephus, Jr., candidate for Wisconsin State Treasurer, is running with several clear goals: to become one of the first Greens elected to statewide office in his state; to create independent oversight regarding the two-party duopoly grafts and corruption, to maintain ballot status for the Wisconsin Green Party, and to encourage minority involvement in third party politics. http://www.sephusfortreasurer.org Cliff Thornton is running for Governor of Connecticut with the endorsement of the Green Party and help from third parties and others to address the important issues facing the state, including education, the drug war, race, poverty, health care for all, and a living wage. "We need politicians so committed to their jobs that they are willing to lose it to make the right decision," said Mr. Thornton. "Any politician not willing to risk election does not deserve to be elected in the first place. The Green Party of Connecticut has those politicians." http://www.votethornton.com Rick Tingling-Clemmons is running for Advisory Neighborhood Commission 7D05 in Washington, D.C. Mr. Tingling-Clemmons currently serves as the Black Caucus delegate to the Green Party's National Committee. http://www.dcstatehoodgreen.org Leon Todd is the Green candidate for Lt. Governor of Wisconsin. http://wisconsingreenparty.org/pages/elections/candidates/todd Donna Warren is running for the office of Lt. Governor in California. "People don't know what the Lt. Governor does because the current and past Lt. Governors never took a leadership role to guide the State Senate to pass legislation for the people" said Ms. Warren. "It's time for the guys to step aside and let a woman do her job. I will lead the California Senate to stop the proliferation of prisons, enact a living wage for all workers -- migrant and citizen, completely fund our schools, stop the gouging of consumers at the gas pump, end the death penalty, boost California's ailing economy, and amend California's Three Strikes Law to violent felonies only." http://www.donnawarren.com Rev. Antonio Williams of Columbia is running for the U.S. House of Representative in South Carolina's Sixth District. "I am asking the voters to answer one question. Who represents them in Congress? For too many of us, no one does," said Rev. Williams. http://www.AntonioWilliams.org For more Green campaign listings, news, photos, and web sites, visit the GP candidate spotlight page http://www.gp.org/2006elections/ and the Green elections database , with a list of all 2006 candidates. MORE INFORMATION Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org 1700 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 404 Washington, DC 20009. 202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN Fax 202-319-7193 "El Futuro es Verde / The Future is Green" National Meeting of the Green Party of the United States in Tucson, Arizona, July 27-30, 2006 http://www.gp.org/meeting2006/ http://www.pimagreens.org/gpusanm/index.html search: elct -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From efficacy at msn.com Wed Jun 21 20:32:32 2006 From: efficacy at msn.com (clifford thornton) Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 20:32:32 -0400 Subject: {news} The case of the cokehead mayor: Why not one law for all? Message-ID: This could be the straw that broke the camels back. This mayor has been on TV, Print, and radio for the last two days. With help from drug policy people in the state we may bring this subject to the forefront for weeks. http://www.journalinquirer.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16818156&BRD=985&PAG=461&dept_id=565859&rfi=6 Wednesday, June 21, 2006 Editorials The case of the cokehead mayor: Why not one law for all? 06/21/2006 Yesterday Mayor John M. Fabrizi of Bridgeport called a press conference and cried. He said he'd used cocaine while mayor. Advertisement He apologized to his friends and family, "to all the people of the city," and maybe Lewis the Cat was on the list too. Like the Steve Martin character of years ago who confessed he'd shot his girlfriend, the mayor said he kind of blamed himself. He also said he would not resign. He said that, bottom line, he's been a good mayor. And most observers who know something about it seem to agree that Fabrizi has been a good mayor. But is that what we are talking about here? Say a 10th-grade history teacher gets busted for drugs. Does he get to keep his job? Even if he has done a great job at what he does? You pick the example: Cop. Minister. Short-order cook. Let's say that one of them used to use illegal drugs, but all along he was able to do his work and do it well. Does he get a pass? How about a single mother? Let's says she lives in a tough neighborhood in Bridgeport and is poor and unemployed. She gets swept up in one of those big busts the authorities like to conduct to show they are fighting the drug war. (Mayors always applaud them.) And she gets arrested. Does she get another chance? No. She loses her kid and goes to jail. Or the UConn student who gets busted in a raid? Does he go to jail? Probably not, but his career is ruined before he begins it. Even if he says the obvious, which is that he is responsible for his own stupid choices. Even if he says so on TV and weeps. Which thing do we believe in? Second chances and treatment? Or the "war on drugs" and destroying lives and jailing drug users? Let's decide. If it is OK for the mayor to be a functional user, why not anyone else? Suppose a bus driver or airline pilot says, "Hey, man, my record is impeccable. I have never had an accident. I just happen to use crack instead of Budweiser on Friday nights." Do we cut that guy a slack burger? Well, at least, as one town employee in Bridgeport said, the mayor brought this revelation out himself. That took guts. Uh, no, he didn't. There was an inadvertent release of an FBI document in which an alleged drug dealer claimed his "associate" had a videotape of the mayor using cocaine. And then the Connecticut Post got hold of it. U.S. Attorney Kevin O'Connor actually apologized to Fabrizi for the accidental release. O'Connor said last week that Fabrizi was not a target of the feds' drug investigation. Think he would do that for a black kid with a record in Bridgeport? Sorry to embarrass you. We were actually after someone else. We'll be moving along now. The mayor said, "I will do everything, and I mean everything, I can to redeem the respect and the support of you, the employees of the city of Bridgeport, and of you, my friends, and of you, the great people of the city of Bridgeport." He added that he had put all this behind him. Certainly he must hope that he has. Look, Fabrizi seems like a decent guy. And there but for the grace of whatever higher power protects or bestows dumb luck go any of us. But there are two issues here. No. 1: Do actions have consequences? We live in a time in which public officials and others of great power (in the corporations, the media, the church) preach consequences for those who are young or powerless but accept none for themselves. They either say that bad things just happen and no one is really to blame or, "I cried. Can we let this one go?" The list is long: The head of GM drives the company into the ground and gets a big bonus. Cardinal Law covers up child abuse and gets a sweet sinecure in Rome. The head of the CIA and the national security adviser say there are WMDs in Iraq, both are wrong, and one gets a medal while the other gets a promotion. Remember Lord Carrington? He showed us the way. It's simple. You screw up, you have to pay. At least a little. It's just too easy to apologize if there is no consequence. That brings us to issue No 2: If we don't think drug use is criminal for some people, why is it for others? And if we don't really think recreational drug use is like theft or arson, why don't we decriminalize it and stop jailing people for it? Many of us think we should decriminalize. The mayor is not on a par with predecessor Joe Ganim, who went to jail for graft. But let's have one system for all. Either prosecute Mayor Fabrizi or let all the potheads, crack users, and junkies out of the state's prisons and jails. ?Journal Inquirer 2006 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: journal.gif Type: image/gif Size: 7154 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: @Topx Type: application/octet-stream Size: 43 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: bannerad.asp?ADLOCATION=4000&PAG=461&BRD=985&LOCALPCT=50&AREA=407&VERT=6543&NAREA=407&barnd=6664 Type: application/octet-stream Size: 43 bytes Desc: not available URL: From roseberry3 at cox.net Wed Jun 21 22:26:25 2006 From: roseberry3 at cox.net (B Barry) Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 22:26:25 -0400 Subject: {news} 6-27-06 SCC meeting at Middletown Russel Library, 7pm to 8:45pm closing Message-ID: <20060622022630.UIKR9931.eastrmmtao04.cox.net@BarbaraBarry> Time: 7pm to 8:45pm closing Place: Middletown Russell Public Library, 1st Floor, Reading Room #2, 123 Broad Street, Middletown, CT. Phone: 860-347-2528 Facilitator: to be determined. A. Preliminaries: 1. (1 minute): Introductions of attendees and chapters. Recruit timekeeper. 2. (1 minute): Identify attendees who are NOT voting representatives. 3. (1 minute): Adopt ground rules. 4. (2-4 minutes): Approval of tonight's proposed agenda, additions and deletions. 5. (2-4 minutes): Comments and approval of 5-30-06 SCC and 6-19-06 emergency SCC minutes. 6. (2-4 minutes): 6-12-06 EC meeting presentation by Barbara Barry and approval. 7. (2-4 minutes): Treasurer's report by Christopher Reilly. B. Proposal: 1. CTGP EC proposes that each chapter provide at least one article for use for CTGP literature, CTGP candidates and for the CT Green Times newspaper. Suggested articles are about issues/concerns/positions that the GP chapter has taken. Suggested article should be 50 to 500 words. C. Reports: 1. (15 minutes): CTGP petitioning drive so far, strategies to achieve our goal, who/when will petitions be notorized prior to handing in to register of voters in CT towns. 2. (30 minutes): CTGP candidates, events, literature, items, getting message to media and into polls. 3. (5 minutes): U.S. Green Party report by CTGP representatives: Tim McKee and Charlie Pillsbury. 4. (5 minutes): Budget Committee suggestions 5. (10 minutes): Discussing articles and petition papers for the "CT Green Times" newspaper. 6. (5 minutes): Update regarding CTGP website. 7. (5 minutes): Update regarding CTGP listservs. 8. (2 minutes): Update regarding CTGP 800#. 9. Soliciting ideas/people from the chapters for our 2007 legislative agenda/V.O.T.E.R. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From roseberry3 at cox.net Wed Jun 21 22:40:04 2006 From: roseberry3 at cox.net (B Barry) Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 22:40:04 -0400 Subject: {news} FW: 11-21-05 EC meeting of CTGP at Torrington Town Hall Message-ID: <20060622024007.VBFP9931.eastrmmtao04.cox.net@BarbaraBarry> Executive Committee of CTGP Meeting of November 21, 2005 Torrington Town Hall Rm 206A,Torrington CT Meeting started at 7:15PM Submitted by GPCT Secretary Barbara Barry DeRosa Attending: Judy Herkimer, Northwest chapter and CTGP Treasurer: Mike DeRosa Co-Chair, Barbara Barry DeRosa, Secretary: both from Greater Hartford chapter. Bob Eaton observer from Northwest chapter; acted as timekeeper. Justine McCabe facilitator. A. Preliminaries: 1. Introductions and roles of the attendees to one another: Mike DeRosa, Barbara Barry DeRosa, Judy Herkimer. Observer: Bob Eaton. Facilitator: Justine McCabe. 2. Adoption of ground rules: modified consensus process; need for attendees to raise hand so facilitator can recognize the person and allow that person to speak. 3. Discussion and development of agenda for 11-29-05 SCC meeting. Proposals of: organizational restructuring/action plan per Kelly McCarthy and Aaron Gustafson: co-chairs; storage and cataloging of SCC meetings and tape recording; usual chapter reports; committee reports are on agenda. a) Additions were added to agenda: JH: should the EC meet in December 2005? JH: should the SCC meet on 12-27-05? BB: review and approval of minutes from 10-25-05 SCC meeting, non-quorum; Facilitator: review and approval of 6-05 and 7-11-05 EC meeting minutes. BB and MD advised that they were approved by a quorum at SCC meeting of 9-29-05. JH was under the impression that only the EC could approve the EC minutes. BB advised that at the suggestion of JH and with the approval of all EC members since 5-05, EC meeting minutes had been put on SCC meeting agenda for approval. All EC and SCC minutes are on the listserv. By consensus: the 6-05 and 7-11-05 EC meeting minutes were not put on agenda. JH: process committee: does the EC wants to do a proposal regarding person not in good standing in CTGP? JH: discussion of Secretary's minutes in general. MD: treasurer's monthly report. MD: discussion regarding recruitment and vetting of CTGP state and federal candidates for 2006. MD: discussion of budget committee suggestions/talking points. Is not a proposal. Facilitator requested that secretary allocate 5minutes for each report and not 2 minutes. MD: secretary of state and voting regulations; discussion of whether minor political parties will get campaign financing from state. BB: modified consensus process training session that was done 11-13-05. JH: what is CTGP going to do about voters who have lost their party affiliation after the CTGP did not garner 1% of voters in municipal elections. This happened to a Litchfield Green. The register of voters, removed this voters party designation as CTGP. JH contact at Secretary of State's office indicated that there is a statute to support the register's actions. BB: treasurer's quarterly report to Secretary of State's election office. JH: annual meeting and internal elections: get venue, date established. JH: develop list of chapter representatives to SCC. b) no deletions. Writing of this proposed EC agenda by facilitator, determining how long to talk about each item and setting order of EC agenda: 15 minutes. 4. Discussion about next EC and SCC meetings in 12-05: 1. JH: suggest no EC and SCC meetings in 12-05 due to difficulty getting a quorum, the holidays and there is not much business to attend to right now. Would this EC committee want to come forward with a proposal for no EC or SCC meetings in 12-05, and start again in January? BB: willing to have EC and SCC meetings in 12-05. However, I have to work until 7pm on 12-12-05 in Glastonbury. However, I can be available after that especially if the EC meeting is in the greater Glastonbury area or greater Hartford area, as I have access to Routes 2 and 3. I am sorry but this is per my employer. I have no control over this. MD: suggest: have EC and SCC meetings and that EC reaffirm meeting the 2nd Monday of month. JH: allow SCC to decide if EC and SCC should meet in 12-05. MD: suggests an hour social prior to 12-05 SCC meeting. Facilitator: requested members follow the process and raise hands. EC meeting time: Kelly and Aaron can meet 1st and 2nd Monday of every month but not the 3rd Monday of each month. 3rd Monday of each month is JH: though EC was to meet the 3rd Monday prior to the next SCC meeting? BB: we discussed that but settled on the 2nd Monday of every month knowing that some months are shorter and other months are longer so the EC meeting might be closer to the SCC meeting (last Tuesday of every month) than some other months. JH: 2nd Monday of every month is fine for me for the EC meeting. Question for BB: why did you not put out a notice put out for the EC meeting? BB: not solely the provision of the secretary. Each of the CTGP officers can initiate the EC meeting arrangements. I was under the impression, that since the next EC meeting was to be in Torrington, per prior agreed upon rotation, Judy was arranging it and would advice us as soon as she had finalized plans. No one (of officers) contacted or emailed me about any arranging an EC meeting for 11-05. Facilitator: need clarification from the by-laws what the secretary's role is regarding this. MD: we are all adults. Numerous emails have been sent out regarding whether or not people have availability for today or tomorrow or on such and such days of the month. We have sent emails and get no response. We have no phone numbers (for each other). Not everyone looks at their emails all the time. We heard (from Kelly and Aaron) at 4:15pm today, that they were not available tomorrow either (in addition to today). I have a commitment to Middletown GP on 12-12-05 but I can easily delegate responsibility to Vic in that chapter. Facilitator: any blocking concerns to extend this discussion? Consensus: no. JH: I booked this room for 8-05 and 9-05 and 10-05 for the 2nd Monday of all 3 of those months. I have emailed everyone. I have emails from Mike and Barbara that they were available but they have chosen not to come. Kelly and Aaron were very clear that their focus was on Kelly's campaign. Also Kelly booked one of those Mondays with a student and she chooses not to reschedule that. I have been available as we committed from the beginning and I find communication from me sending out emails to people have not be responded to in a timely fashion. At all. We agreed to a certain Monday and need to agree to it. JH: change location of the venue of the next meeting to accommodate Barbara's work restraint. Agreeable to another date but let's target the 1st of the year to get back on track. Everyone is an adult and has an obligation to block it out on their calendar and to come to meetings. MD: perhaps we can choose for next month between Monday, 12-12-05 or Tuesday, 12-13-05. If it is Monday, 12-12-05, that will allow you, Barbara, to make the meeting at 7:15pm perhaps in Hartford at the (Greater Hartford Green Party) office Facilitator: time is pressing. Kelly and Aaron are available for 2nd Monday of the month. Do you want to consider the 1st Monday of next month? BB: I have a doctor's appointment on the 1st Monday of next month, 12-5-05. I think we have agreed to the 2nd Monday of each month. The 2nd Monday of January is 1-9-06. Facilitator: 2nd Monday of the month is the EC meeting, 12-12-05 pending approval from next SCC meeting. MD: Barbara cannot make the 12-12-05 meeting until 7:15pm. Facilitator: do we want more time to continue this discussion. Consensus: yes. Must raise hands to talk and be recognized by facilitator. MD: need to clarify if the EC meeting can start at 7:15pm so Barbara can make it. Facilitator: you are proposing that all EC meetings start at 7:15pm. MD: no. Only start at 7:15pm for 12-12-05 meeting. JH: I am not willing to start a meeting at 7:15pm. It is okay if we bring the tape and start the meeting. Facilitator: are you willing to start at 7pm and Barbara can come late. Any objection? BB: I have a clarifying question. Facilitator: do you have an objection to the consensus of what has been agreed upon? BB: I have a clarifying question. Facilitator: it is not appropriate at this point. So please put your hand down. MD: there is no consensus. Facilitator: we will begin at the meeting at 7pm on the 2nd Monday of the month. Barbara who cannot come at 7pm will come late. Is there any objection to that? BB: yes. Facilitator: Do you want to give more time? MD: I do. I believe there are 2 people in this room, who do. Facilitator: are you willing to stand aside? BB: no. Facilitator: the meeting next month will begin at 7:15pm. BB: no. So from 7pm to 7:15pm on 12-12-05 EC meeting, there will be no secretary recording. Facilitator: someone else will have to take notes. BB: I have a clarifying question. Facilitator: Barbara, I do not think you understand the process here. I'm sorry. I hope I can help educate and we all can educate, about this. We haven't assigned more time to this. Consensus: 3 more minutes. BB: My concern is that as a duly authorized recorder of the meeting from the CTGP members, you will not have a recorder of the meeting on 12-12-05 for 15 minutes. That was my clarifying question. MD: I do not think 15 minutes will make or break a meeting. I do not understand your objection to this. Perhaps you (JH) can explain it to me? JH: I'm satisfied with you taping the 15 minutes. I travel a long distance and I need set times that I come and go and you already said taping is okay. Facilitator: Barbara are you willing to stand aside and come at 7:15pm? BB: I am willing to come about 7:15pm. That is the earliest. I usually work later actually. If it is within about a 15 mile radius of Glastonbury, I should be able to make it at 7:15pm. Facilitator: we seem to be at a stalemate about this. If there is no consensus to this, the proposal is to start at 7pm and Barbara you will come late. Proposal: EC meeting to start at 7pm on 12-12-05. Vote: majority opposed. BB: if we cannot get consensus about the 12-12-05 meeting, then perhaps we need to meet another time. Facilitator: Judy: are you willing to start at 7:15pm? JH: can we take this off the agenda tonight and take it to the email to allow Kelly and Aaron to discuss this. Facilitator: anyone opposed to this? Consensus: no. (Total time to discuss date and time of next EC meeting: 30 minutes.) 5. Discussion regarding Treasurer's report: 10 Minutes was allocated for the Treasurer's report. JH: This is a very straight forward part of treasurer's report, there is nothing extraordinary on the numbers (gives hand out to EC). Down below are a few items. We have conference call capabilities (using our 800 line number). I need receits from people. For tapes, for copying, postage. If it is considered an in-kind donation, that's fine. And that's it. I working to make it easier and accessible for people to do it (credit card donations) autonomously and to get down those monthly costs (for credit card charges). BB: Will we have estimated time when the billing and crediting process for our 800 number (whose offices are located in New Orleans) will be more functional. JH: It's all being transferred out of New Orleans to Florida. It is well on its way for the billing and crediting process. BB: We have talked about using teleconferencing in the past and we have talked about having meetings open to members, there are positive and negatives in everything and that might be one of the negatives because not everyone may be able to attend to see state officers in action (using teleconferencing). JH: Conference calls can be set up so there are speakers, people who can interact, and those who can just listen. They have that capability. MD: Judy, I went on the internet to get the monthly report that you sent into the state. I notice a donation by Ed Savage of West Hartford CT for $80.00. Will that be credited to the Greater Hartford Green Party total because 30% of all state donations go back to chapters? JH: It went to the West Hartford Chapter. MD: There is no West Hartford Chapter. BB: There has not been a WH chapter for over a year and half. They came back and folded back into Greater Hartford. Facilitator: Excuse me please raise your hand, Mike you asked Judy a question Judy are you want to respond. JH: It went into West Hartford's. BB: We don't have any West Hartford chapter as noted on this treasurer's report. Facilitator: Since we have a previous treasurer here, Bob, Bob Eaton: it was always credited to the West Hartford chapter. BB: West Hartford voted to not be a chapter anymore and they voted to join the Greater Hartford Chapter. That's why we are called Greater Hartford. BE: I was not aware of that, it never was brought up at last year's executive meeting, I talked to Ed Savage about it. So I understood there was a West Hartford chapter. MD: There's actually a moment when the change happened. Ed sent a hundred dollars to the State Treasurer and said that money should be deposited in the Hartford chapter's account total. Which it never was. I will get a copy of the check from him. It was probably two years ago. It never went to our Hartford's two person PAC at the time because we did not have a two person PAC at the time. And that is the reason he sent it through, and that hundred dollars was never deposited into our (Greater Hartford chapter) totals. But that is the moment at which the West Hartford chapter dissolved and if you call Ed he will tell you that all those members re-joined our chapter. I am not saying anyone is doing it maliciously. I am just pointing this out. Facilitator: Is there a way just to get on with this, that you in consultation with Bob and the previous past treasurers can confirm the time and get this clarified? BE: Maybe Judy could call Ed (Savage). Facilitator: Clarify when that changes over took place. JH: It's bigger than that. What he's saying is correct, in that there is a big code map and there are two other things , there are existing chapters ,probationary chapters, chapters that no longer exist, but they still have headings. And there is a corresponding zip code map that obviously needs to be updated because if the zip code map that this created off of saying that West Hartford zip code is going under the West Hartford chapter, that no longer exists. Then the zip code map needs in the software to be recreated. And make all of those zip codes go into the Hartford chapter. Facilitator: Any more on this? MD: I have one other thing. I was able to get to the (quarter) report that you put out to the state through a series of steps that Chris Reilly sent to me, otherwise I would not have been able to find it. I am just throwing this out as a suggestion. Since you don't want to give reports out at meetings or to me, that maybe you could just do the steps on paper so people would know how to get in there, the state site. For the sake of transparency it might be appropriate or easier for the members to that. Facilitator: Do you want to respond to that? JH: Duly noted. MD: I have another question. $600 was deposited from Rachel Goodkind for the specific use of the Women's Caucus. This is brand new as far as I can tell. My understanding is that if money comes in identified from a specific source from the outside. It can be identified for a specific source from the inside of the organization. That has been the pattern we have had since day one. So in the old days our chapters did not have individual two person PACs. Consequently, if the Greater Hartford chapter had an event the past treasurer's would put this aside and say this money is allocated for Hartford because they raised this money on their own. But I have never heard of someone on the outside giving money without it going through the SCC. In my opinion, any money that comes through for a specific purpose should be passed by SCC. Because we on the EC do not have the authority to spend more that $50. Facilitator: Judy, do you want to respond? JH: Donations was researched, request was researched with previous treasurers, and through the documentation of the minutes of the state, of the SCC, and it was ascertained and determined that the money can be earmarked and targeted. And that's why that decision was made. And as treasurer when donations come in they don't necessarily have to go through the SCC. MD: Can I ask you one question? Facilitator: How much time do we have? BE: We're overtime. MD: So we need another two minutes? Facilitator: Hang on. Do you want to have another two minutes? Consensus is reached for another two minutes. MD: Can you name me one other example of this happening and could you name the specific example of when this happened in the past? That someone from the outside designated a specific amount of money for a specific task, not from inside the organization. Facilitator: Judy can, hold it. BB: I am waiting for the answer. And then I have a question. Facilitator: Look . I am the facilitator. We don't operate that way. If you want to ask a question ask a question. BB: I am waiting for the answer. JH: Our observer, the previous past treasurer, might be able to answer that because I can't off the top of my head, if there is any earmark of funds before. And I think there has been. BE: One case I know of, ask Bruce (Crowder) a question with the Hartford chapter, all the money went to the Hartford chapter specifically. Bruce told me that can be earmarked. MD: Can I clarify that? MD: As I said, in the years past we have had a lot of the local chapters, that do not have two person PACs. Therefore they would have an event; they have to legally declare that money, that can't say to the state," were writing this off the books".' So they would run it through the state PAC and it was put aside (for chapter usage). Because it was an event that happened only in Hartford, or only in New Haven, it didn't just happen just in Hartford. That was an internal allocation of money for the convenience of the chapters, until Hartford got a two person PAC. New Haven got a two person PAC. This is something completely different. This is money coming from the outside that is designated for a specific purpose, but isn't being authorized by anybody. BB: What was the situation when moneys went to Hartford event or a Hartford chapter that you're talking about? There are events that the state participates in that we (Greater Hartford chapter) have no knowledge of. BE: When ever I talked to past treasurers' about whether money can be designated, I have been told that it can be designated. Someone from Torrington can designate that they want all the money to go for. BB: So. Facilitator: Excuse me , please raise your hand. BB: I just raised my hand. Facilitator: You don't seem to understand. I am trying to educate you of this process. Its different from Robert's rules. OK. You all are getting off about a particular discussion that is not raised by Judy's report. Just to remind you that Rachel Goodkind as a person within the party to the caucus. Just so you remember that and she moved subsequently. So this is another agenda item , you have a bunch of other things on the agenda, do you want to spend more time talking about. MD: I just want to make one more comment. Facilitator: Excuse me. Do you want to give more time to talk about this? MD: Absolutely Facilitator: Are you willing to put it aside? You have other things on the agenda. BB: I would like to have an answer to my question. Facilitator: We're beyond that, Barbara. We have allotted an amount of time for this. BB: The consensus is we want answers to our questions. Facilitator: At certain times. After you have allotted time. You have to stop. MD: Sure. Let's move on, will bring it up at another time. If we can't get answers now we will get answers later. 6. Discussion On Minutes: Facilitator: Okay. We're going to move on. We have the elections, and the minutes to go over. JH: The minutes that the secretary has been putting out do not fit any format that I have ever experienced. They certainly don't follow structure for modified consensus. I would like to read the one blurb from the proposal on minutes: The Secretary of the Green Party will take the minutes of all SCC and a tape recorder may be provided as a backup, the minutes should include the following date, time and place of the meeting. List of people attending, people eligible to vote, time meeting was called to order, approval of previous minutes, and any amendments, reports, and announcements and other information. Proposals amendments and final results of any votes taken. Time of adjournment next meeting, time and location. Main person taking the minutes. Proposals with any friendly amendments shall be recorded, and accurately transcribed. Minutes should be sent to chapter representative within one week after the meeting. Copies of the minutes will be distributed at the next meeting. Corrections should be recorded in meetings and approved. Minutes that I have been reading have been holding a quality a lack of objectivity to them. They are not factually based. You are interjecting your own personal bias into the minutes. I am asking that you follow, if you need an example to follow, I will provide that to you. That you follow the outline and try to hold on to your objectivity. BB: I take minutes and then I take my notes and then I enhance them by listening to the tapes. As I told you before, that I have taken minutes that are verbatim from the tapes, and sometimes people forget what they have said. But instead of putting things in quotes, I have not. So it's a little hard to be biased when you're doing something that literally, what someone is saying. I would appreciate having that format because I haven't seen it. The only thing that is different is sending things out to reps a week later. It is a little hard to do, since we don't have a list to send to the reps. as you indicated earlier in this meeting. So if you share that with me, that would be great. JH: I would like to put this on the agenda for the SCC. BB: Do you have a proposal? JH: I have one right here. BB: If I can have an e-mail address that would be great. Sooner rather than later. Facilitator: Barbara, one of the things that might be helpful to you that came out of this workshop , the trainers say that what you actually report , proposals, amendments, and the upshot, could be pretty concise. That means decisions that were made. Registered opposition, there is a vote, one person wanted to vote for that. I will be happy to dig out something. BB: As you can see, there are notes that say, consensus was achieved, something was deferred for time constraints. When votes are taken, I say: 4 against , so many abstentions, so many for. Maybe we need to use bold letters so that people can see them easier. JM: So Judy you're going to provide that to Barbara, and were going to talk about this further. MD: I didn't get a lot of questions answered about the Treasurer's report. I would like to put that on the agenda for the SCC also. Facilitator: Just hang on will get to that. 20 minutes left. 7. Discussion of Elections 2006 Facilitator: You wanted to talk about elections, Mike. MD: We have a lot of e-mails floating around about what we're going to do in 2006. I think that it is important that we give leadership to this organization. Positive leadership. So that we can accomplish our real goals. And our real goals are to win elections. We came real close to winning elections this time. And in a couple of places we fell down. There are two people now within the Green Party who want to run for U.S. Senate. Ralph has announced his candidacy and there is another person who may want to primary Ralph. So I think it is incumbent upon this committee to begin the process of finding candidates, or if possible maybe we need to set up a candidate committee. And that may want to be something that we talk about in December and January. Who ever is going to take over this organization has to give leadership to having good candidates running. There's talk on e-mail by David Bedell, he has put forward about running an entire state slate: Governor, Secretary Of State, Treasurer, Controller etc. So do we want to do this? Or don't we. I think the advantages of doing this are that we can get permanent ballot access status, and address some of the things that came up that Judy have mentioned on numerous occasions about our folks being short changed. Have the ability to call themselves Greens and register as Greens. I also think this is a nice campaign to raise the anti-war specter. There was a vote yesterday in the congress. Our Democratic party colleagues are saying "oh we have to stop the war" but then when it comes to a vote only 3 of them voted against the war last week. So I think this is an opportunity for us in 2006 to compare and contrast our opponents and what our position is on the war in Iraq, on single payer, on election reform , on breaking through the barriers that we have for minor parties, and so forth. I think that's where we should be. I would propose that we ad hoc, or we should go through David Bedell, set up a committee that will encourage people to run for office in 2006. Facilitator: Is that what you would like your fellow EC people to consider here? MD: I would like to hear what they think we ought to do. And the other thing is whether they want to set up a committee, either inside or outside this committee to look for candidates. JH: I have been involved in an e-mail exchange. I think the dialogue needs to start as he said. I don't feel I am a leader in this party. I feel I am a servant of the SCC. And that we are a community based organization. And if the SCC, I would always defer back to them. Maybe in the form to create a committee. Or instead of creating one more committee, try and get it into a committee that already exists. And we have the opportunity to join that committee. Facilitator: Mike proposals having some structure that would do this, act on it, your saying to have it part of the SCC. BB: I think if I remember Kelly's action plan. There is something about a candidate's committee. So this would be the place for this. MD: I would suggest that we bring David Bedell to our next meeting, if he is willing to talk about this issue, quite frankly a lot a stuff, and I agree with you the SCC should be the place where this goes. But quite frankly there is such a back log of things, and we get into the minutiae of process, instead of focusing in on results, because results are going to make the difference between life and death of this party and the world that we live in. If we don't stop this war soon, this war is going to destroy this country. And I think there are a lot of people out here, according to the polls, over 58% of the people want out of Iraq as soon as possible. Are they willing to back Democrats who essentially support this war? To me that is our function right now. We should be articulating in every aspect of our party the fact that our political opponents refuse to take action. They want to talk about these things but they don't want to take action. I am going to make a proposal that at the next EC meeting that we ask David Bedell to come to our SCC meeting to speak about getting candidates in place for 2006. JH: You should approach him to come to SCC meeting. Get him on the agenda. David Bedell needs to speak to a broader group than SCC. BB: I can't see why he can't come to our meeting and send the message to the chapters to jump start this effort. JH: Do you want him to come to this SCC meeting in December? MD: I think both, I don't think there is a problem. November 2006 is a hop, skip ,and a jump away. In my opinion we have to have in place, a petitioning campaign, we have to find candidates, if were going to have stand-in candidates they have to be approached now. This is stuff that has to be done immediately. My proposal is: Go to the SCC, have David come, and come to the EC meeting if there is an EC meeting in December. Facilitator: Your proposing that he come to the November SCC meeting? MD: Yes, and if we can fit him in to speak fine. But what ever it is, will put him in as part of a report or what ever. Then he could back to the EC meeting. If people here don't think this is an important issue, fine. But I think he should speak to us about this. Facilitator: We have six minutes left. JH: The EC is not a place for strategy. We are administrators. We have the function to make agendas, to smooth out problems. We're not the body, that's the SCC. The SCC to committee and then report back. Facilitator: Let me stop you here for a moment. Do you want David to come to the November meeting and see how it goes. MD: Sure. BB: If David can come, and make it, he can tell us what has happened already. Consensus is reached on having David Bedell come to the November meeting with an update. 8. Discussion On Budget: Facilitator: We have the last thing which is our budget. We have our guest, Bob Eaton. BE: I sent this e-mail out to get the ball rolling. Just to stimulate about thinking about it. You can say it is horrible. I would like to get feed back from. Have you seen this? (passes out copies). I sent this e-mail to you guys and others and so you can pass that along. If you would like a spread sheet so you do your own manipulation, we could that. This is just to get it started. This may not go the SCC. MD: I suggest that we talk about putting in money for a newsletter that would first start off as an e-mailed delivered newsletter. BE: How much would that cost? MD: We would need to get someone to collect e-mails from our members. Whatever that costs. Maybe you could hire someone to call our members and get their e-mails or put all e-mails into a list for an e-mail newsletter blaster. I would like to see a printed newsletter in the future, but we are probably not able to afford that as we have in the past. BE: I don't even know what people want out of budget. And let me be honest, some of the things from my research, we never had an actual budget in the past. Don't be afraid to come forward with ideas or take on the budget yourselves. JM: Is there anything else before we close the meeting. BE: If you get it out and you know anybody who you want to be involved in the process more, ideas, to help with the processes so, don't be shy, let's talk about it. If you want me to put something up with what's changed before then. I'll certainly make that available. MD: I had some questions about the Treasurer's report. What I will do is ask those questions when she gives her report. Facilitator: We're almost out of time. BB: Judy, you have another item. Would the Executive committee reach out to the Process committee regarding people not in good standing. Is that what your talking about. MD: Judy, you can discuss it, we have 2 more minutes. It's on the agenda let's talk about it. JM: You want to talk about it Judy? BB: Judy she said she wanted to on the agenda. She wanted it on this EC agenda JH: Not interested in discussing. MD: One final word. My questions of the treasurer are not malicious questions. I am not saying You're doing anything wrong. I just want some answers to some of these questions. I will raise them when you give your report and in a respectful way. Just a procedural issue that should be clarified one way or the other. So we're all on the same page. Meeting ends at 9PM. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From roseberry3 at cox.net Wed Jun 21 22:48:28 2006 From: roseberry3 at cox.net (B Barry) Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 22:48:28 -0400 Subject: {news} minutes from 12-12-05 EC CTGP meeting Message-ID: <20060622024830.NLAH15470.eastrmmtao02.cox.net@BarbaraBarry> 12-12-05 EC meeting at Greater Hartford Chapter's office, 12-12-05 Place: 418-A New Britain Avenue, Hartford, CT. Time: 7:35PM Attendee's: Barbara Barry, Secretary of CTGP; Michael DeRosa, Co-chairperson. Not attending: Judy Herkimer, treasurer, who was aware (by several e-mails) of time and place of this meeting; Resigned co-chairpersons: Aaron Gustafson and Kelly McCarthy. No observers. General discussion: last SCC meeting of 11-29-05: consensus: have today's EC meeting and 12-27-05 SCC Meeting. Agenda for 12-27-05 SCC meeting: Preliminaries: Do usual including: approval of 11-29-05 SCC and 12-12-05 EC meetings; Treasurer's monthly reports from 10-05; 3rd quarter treasurer's report to CT Secretary of State office; Reports: Usual chapter reports; Women's Caucus to report on the recent Modified consensus training; U.S. Green Party report from Tim McKee, CT rep. to GPUS. Tom Sevigny apparently has resigned from Green Party activities: reason: unknown. V.O.T.E.R. report from Mike DeRosa including potential CTGP lawsuit against State of CT; discuss election laws. Budget Committee suggestions/talking points. David Bedell: discuss CTGP potential candidates for 2006. Fill vacancies of Process Committee. Discuss possible speakers at SCC meetings. Internal Elections committee needs to start up for election of CTGP officers. Make meeting a social event, too. Bring food/beverage. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From roseberry3 at cox.net Wed Jun 21 22:50:55 2006 From: roseberry3 at cox.net (B Barry) Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 22:50:55 -0400 Subject: {news} minutes from 1-9-06 CTGP EC meeting Message-ID: <20060622025057.HDX26910.eastrmmtao05.cox.net@BarbaraBarry> Minutes of 1-9-06 CTGP EC meeting Place: Greater Hartford Green Party's office; 418-A New Britain Avenue, Hartford, CT. Time: 7pm. Attendees: Mike DeRosa, co-chairperson; Barbara Barry, Secretary; Absent: Treasurer: Judy Herkimer who did not respond to emails regarding suggested site and this previously planned EC meeting for the 2nd Monday of every month. 11-05 Resigned co-chairpersons: Kelly McCarthy and Aaron Gustafson. 1. set agenda for 1-31-06 SCC meeting: SCC Meeting 1-31-06 Likely Place: Mike to contact Vic Lancia of Central chapter regarding arranging for Portland Public Library, Mary Flood Room, 20 Freestone Avenue, Portland, CT Phone: 860-342-6770 Time: 7PM to 8:55PM Facilitator: to be determined A. Preliminaries: 1. (2-3 minutes): Introductions of attendees and chapters. Recruit timekeeper. 2. (1 minute): Identify attendees who are NOT voting representatives. 3. (1 minute): Adopt ground rules. 4. (2-4 minutes): Approval of tonight's proposed agenda, additions and deletions. 5. (2-4 minutes): Comments and approval of 12-27-05 SCC minutes. 6. (5 minutes): 1-9-06 EC meeting presentation by Barbara Barry and approval. 7. 15 minutes): Presentation of Treasurer's monthly reports of October, November, December and January. 8. (15 minutes): Presentation of Treasurer's 3rd quarter and 4th quarter reports to Secretary of State's Office. Reports: 1. (5 minutes, each for): Chapter reports. 2. (15 minutes): Women's Caucus report including recent Modified Consencus Training. 3. (10 minutes): U.S. Green Party report by CTGP representatives: Tim McKee. 4. (5 minutes): V.O.T.E.R. report from Mike DeRosa. 5. (15 minutes): Budget Committee suggestions/talking points from Bob Eaton, former treasurer. 6. (20 minutes): Internal Elections committee for CTGP officers. 2. bring forth any proposals presented to EC for SCC meeting -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From roseberry3 at cox.net Wed Jun 21 22:53:48 2006 From: roseberry3 at cox.net (B Barry) Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 22:53:48 -0400 Subject: {news} minutes of the 2-13-06 CTGP EC meeting Message-ID: <20060622025351.OMDA17255.eastrmmtao01.cox.net@BarbaraBarry> Minutes of the 2-13-06 EC meeting. Location: Office of the Greater Hartford Green Party, 418-A New Britain Avenue, Hartford, CT. Time: 7:15pm to 7:30pm Attendees: Mike DeRosa, Co-chairperson of CTGP; Barbara Barry, secretary of CTGP. Absent: Judy Herkimer, Treasurer of CTGP. 2 co-chairpersons resigned in 11-05. Observers: none. Need to formulate the agenda for next SCC meeting on the last Tuesday of February i.e. 2-28-06. Site: Mike to contact Vic Lancia of Central chapter regarding getting a facility. Facilitator and timekeeper: to be determined. Identify attendees who are not voting representatives. Adopt ground rules. Approval of the proposed agenda, any additions or deletions. Treasurer's reports of: October, November, December and January and 3rd and 4th quarter reports sent to the Secretary of States office, elections committee. Clarify if a check from the treasurer has been sent to Chris Reilly as approved by the SCC in 11-05. Clarify how we can guarantee that our CTGP treasurer will respond in a timely fashion for payment for the convention mailing. It is unknown if our CTGP treasurer is aware of the convention and mailing. Was an e-mail sent by the Internal Elections Committee (Jean deSmet) to the treasurer regarding this? Approval of 1-31-06 SCC meeting minutes. Approval of 2-13-06 EC meeting minutes. Chapter reports. Internal Election Committee: Should brief information about the state-wide candidates be sent with the ballot for potential endorsement? The ballot will also allow CTGP members to vote for internal CTGP officers. Who will write the fundraising request and who will sign it. Traditionally, it has been signed by the co-chairpersons. However, we only have one co-chairperson. Women's Caucus to discuss the facilitator training that was provided in November 2005. V.O.T.E.R. about the 2-15-06 meeting at noon with CT Senator DeFonza, D-New Britain in the LOB (legislative office building), Room 2200 re: possible revisions to the recently passed "campaign finance reform" (CFR) regulation. Potential speaker: if any potential CTGP candidate for state-wide slate. Anti-war rally on 3-18-06 in places like New Haven and Hartford. Should we march en masse? No proposals have been sent to the secretary, as of today. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From roseberry3 at cox.net Wed Jun 21 22:57:10 2006 From: roseberry3 at cox.net (B Barry) Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 22:57:10 -0400 Subject: {news} minutes from the CTGP EC meeting Message-ID: <20060622025712.XGNV9931.eastrmmtao04.cox.net@BarbaraBarry> Minutes from 3-13-06 EC meeting. Place: 418-A New Britain Avenue, Hartford, CT. Attendees: Barbara Barry, Secretary of CTGP; Mike DeRosa, co-chairperson of CTGP; Absent: Treasurer: Judy Herkimer. Resigned as co-chairpersons in 11-05: Aaron Gustafson and Kelly McCarthy. Observers: none. SCC meeting to be 3-28-06. Place: to be determined: Mike to contact Vic Lancia Facilitator: to be determined. A. Preliminaries: 1. (2-3 minutes): Introductions of attendees and chapters. Recruit timekeeper. 2. (1 minute): Identify attendees who are NOT voting representatives. 3. (1 minute): Adopt ground rules. 4. (2-4 minutes): Approval of tonight's proposed agenda, additions and deletions. 5. (2-4 minutes): Review and approval of 2-28-06 SCC meeting. 6. (2-4 minutes): Review and approval of 3-13-06 EC meeting. 7. (15 minutes): Presentation of Treasurer's monthly reports of: October, November, December, January and February by treasurer of CTGP: Judy Herkimer. 8. (10 minutes): Presentation of Treasurer's 3rd quarter and 4th quarter reports to the Secretary of State by CTGP treasurer, Judy Herkimer. Reports: 1. (20 minutes): Discuss and determine what, if any actions, this SCC recommends regarding the actions of CTGP Treasurer: Judy Herkimer regarding her: a) changing control of our CTGP post office box without permission to ? and related actions; b) changing the CTGP checking account and added another checking account: without authorization and declines to provide the officers of this CTGP with current information since 10-05; c) making some CTGP payments but not others; d) has not attended any CTGP meeting since 11-21-05 EC meeting at Torrington Town Hall; e) has not advised EC or SCC of treasurer's activities. f) declines to provide CTGP with a deputy treasurer. g) declines to pay for the CTGP 4-22-06 Convention mailing of ballots. 2. (25 minutes): Internal Elections committee by Jean deSmet: time and place of 4-22-06 convention; paying for the 4-22-06 election ballot; list of volunteers to help run the 4-22-06 convention; the candidates who have met the 3-19-06 deadline; of the convention? 3. (2-4 minutes, each for): Chapter reports. 4. (10 minutes): U.S. Green Party report by CTGP representatives: Tim McKee. 5. (15 minutes): V.O.T.E.R. report from attendees. 6. (15 minutes): Budget Committee suggestions. 7. (25 minutes): Discussion about CTGP candidates for federal, statewide and municipal elections; any new candidates. 8. (15 minutes): Women's Caucus report including recent Modified Consensus Training 9. (5 minutes): announcements 10. Any additions. www.mapquest.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From roseberry3 at cox.net Wed Jun 21 23:27:04 2006 From: roseberry3 at cox.net (B Barry) Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 23:27:04 -0400 Subject: {news} approved minutes from CTGP 12-27-05 SCC meeting Message-ID: <20060622032707.DWMZ26910.eastrmmtao05.cox.net@BarbaraBarry> Approved Minutes of CTGP SCC Meeting 12-27-05: quorum requirement: met Place: Portland Public Library, Mary Flood Room, 20 Freestone Avenue, Portland, CT 06480-1818 Phone: 860-342-6770 Time: 7PM to 9PM Facilitator: Charlie Pillsbury. Timekeeper: Tim McKee Voting attendees: Central: Vic Lancia; Fairfield: David Bedell, Paul Bassler; Greater Hartford: Barbara Barry, CTGP secretary; Michael DeRosa, co-chairperson; Rob Pandolfo; New Haven: Charlie Pillsbury, Allan Brison, Northeast: Jean Desmet, Tolland: Tim McKee; A. Preliminaries: 1. (1minute): Introductions of attendees and chapters. Recruit timekeeper. 2. (1 minute): Identify attendees who are NOT voting representatives: Cliff Thornton. 3. (1 minute): Adopt ground rules. 4. (2-4 minutes): Approval of tonight's proposed agenda: no change; additions: speaker: Cliff Thornton, potential CTGP candidate for governor in 2006. CT campaign finance reforms. Deletions: # 7 and #8 due to lack of presence of the CTGP treasurer, deputy treasurer or representative or report to this body. Also delete report from Women's Caucus due to lack of a representative. 5. (4 minutes): Comments and approval of 11-29-05 SCC minutes: approved by consensus. 6. (3 minutes): 12-12-05 EC meeting presentation by Barbara Barry and approval by consensus. 7. 15 minutes): Presentation of Treasurer's monthly report: deleted. 8. (15 minutes): Presentation of Treasurer's quarterly report to Secretary of State's Office: deleted. Reports: 1. (5 minutes, each for): Chapter reports Greater Hartford by MD: continue with our office; lending library; Greater Hartford PAC, c/o 50 Congress Street, Unit 201, Hartford, CT 06114. Developing a food co-op: needs to be finalized. New Haven by AB and CP: developing a website for New Haven chapter; to have policy development forum in 1-06; trying to get 2-3 people to regularly respond to the national/local medial on daily and as needed basis about CTGP concerns in New Haven; New Haven has it's own campaign finance regulations for major and the board of alderman, only. (Works on matching basis.) The New Haven chapter proposed this campaign finance reform after Yalies supported public finance. New Haven is one of 3 municipalies allowed by the CT legislative law to experiment with municipal campaign finance. New Haven Chapter wants to challenge the State of CT campaign finance reform law either by legistation or lawsuit. Fairfield by DB: encourages people to file for campaign committees and apply for petition. Discussed having a Green challenge to Christopher Shay in district #4 of congress. Chapter to approach Norwalk regarding potential area to try for instant run off voting. Had the Working Families Party knocked off the democrats in mayoral race against the Republican. Central by VL: to show movie: Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price on 1-9-06. Working with Russell (Middletown) Public Library about Black History Month to present on 2-13-06 at the Salon: to show film about the 5000 year history of Africa and Jim Crow laws. Vigil on 12-24-05 was warmly received regarding: peace on earth: got press coverage. Northeast by JD: continue with community TV weekly show for just less than a year. We will be doing 10 key values. Format: skits and Q & A. Trying to re-contact the UCONN Greens (who contacted us) to encourage meeting in other chapters and officers. Continue weekly protest at Wal-Mart with a coalition of groups including Working Families Party, NOW and Peace and Justice. Mostly it is Greens that show, regularly. Tolland by TM: did not report. 2. 2. (15 minutes): Women's Caucus report including recent Modified Consensus Training; deleted. 3. 3. (10 minutes): U.S. Green Party report by CTGP representatives: Tim McKee (Thomas Sevigny has resigned from this rep. & all GP positions as of 12-05): People are trying to impeach GPUS officers and more candidates are running for office nationwide; David Esecu of New Haven Chapter is on the National Dispute Resolution Committee. 4. (5 minutes): V.O.T.E.R. report from Mike DeRosa: CT campaign finance bill was passed at 4am at a special session of the CT legislature and then signed into law by Gov Rell in early Dec. 2005. No other campaign finance law in other states require petitioning for the 3rd parties. This petitioning requirement and allowing unlimited "in kind" donations from Democrats and Republician state Party PAC's makes this law. likely, unconstitutional. CT Green Party to have a meeting in 1-06 with CTACLU, Roger Vann and Tom Swan of CCAG and Andy Soure, Common Cause. Other groups might be interested in opposing this: Libertarian and the Working Families Party and perhaps the League of Women Voters. If a larger coalition is formed then that might help to change this law by legislation. Governor Rell wants to change some aspects of the campaign finance when legislature resumes in 2-06. Discussed and consensus achieved: CTGP will challenge this campaign finance law in the legislature and in the courts. Goal: Eliminate petitioning and the unfair financial advantage of the 2 major parties. 5. (5 minutes): Budget Committee suggestions/talking points: suggest chapters and EC review and come back to SCC with suggestions. 4. 6. (20 minutes): Internal Elections committee for CTGP officers and Candidates for 2006 by David Bedell: Ralph Ferrucci of New Haven is running against Joe Lieberman, U.S. senator; Nancy Burton will consider running for CT attorney general, if CTGP asks her to run. She has loss her license to practice law. Nancy does not find any requirement that the attorney general be an attorney. She is very eager to bring up in her campaign why she had her license taken away from her. Audrey Cole declines to run for any office this year. David Bedell suggests Mike DeRosa for Secretary Of State. Discussed CTGP could determine if/who they will run candidates for state-wide offices at either SCC meeting or the CTGP convention in March 2006. Encourage these potential candidates to come to SCC meeting. May want a Saturday meeting to meet the candidates. CTGP Internal Elections Committee is likely to include: Jean deSmet, Tim McKee, David Bedell, perhaps: Ed Debrule, Andy Doer, Ed Savage, Eric, Discussion: candidates for co-chairperson cannot be on the committee, The candidates can be at the CTGP convention: likely to be held 3-18-06 or 3-25-06. Both are Saturdays. Try to get the New Haven Labor Council building in New Haven for site. 5. Potential candidate for CTGP governor: Cliff Thornton, founder of Efficacy in Hartford: an organization promoting legalization of drugs and peaceful alternatives to the U.S. "war on drugs". He is also active in all facets of the fight to reform the criminal justice system. He started doing public affairs at WWUH and developed Efficacy due to concerns all over the world. He has spoken to about 4,000 people in 450 venues over the past 3 years. People do not want to discuss it but it is really our #1 concern. He has spoken to the city governments of Hartford, Bridgeport, Waterbury and New Haven. He gets funding. GP has best chance to be a 3rd party. Education and law enforcement budgets are the top 2 budgets in every town/city. So decrease the law enforcement budget and you will get more money for education and other needs. So every year in CT, 35 million dollars can be used for other things. . -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From roseberry3 at cox.net Wed Jun 21 23:39:46 2006 From: roseberry3 at cox.net (B Barry) Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2006 23:39:46 -0400 Subject: {news} minutes from the 2-28-06 CTGP SCC meeting Message-ID: <20060622033948.OZHV23863.eastrmmtao03.cox.net@BarbaraBarry> Minutes from the 2-28-06 SCC Meeting of CTGP, quorum was met. Place: Portland Public Library, Wagner Room, 20 Freestone Avenue, Portland, CT Phone: 860-342-6770 Time: 7PM to 8:55PM Facilitator: Tim McKee Voting Attendees: Central: Vic Lancia; Fairfield: Paul Bassler and David Bedell; Greater Hartford: Barbara Barry, Secretary of CTGP, Mike DeRosa, co-chairperson of CTGP, Rob Pandolfo; New Haven: Mary Jo Deppisch; New London: Chris Nelson; Northeast: Jean deSmet and Chris Demont; Tolland: Tim McKee; quorum was met. Non-voting attendee: Jan Caudler. Preliminaries: 1. Introductions of attendees and chapters. 2. Identify attendees who are NOT voting representatives. 3. Adopt ground rules. 4. Approval of tonight's proposed agenda: done, Additions: if/which anti-war demonstration to endorse and Deletions: Presentation of Treasurer's monthly reports for: October/November/December and January and presentation of Treasurer's 3rd quarter and 4th quarter reports to Secretary of State's Office: due to lack of presence of treasurer of CTGP: Judy Herkimer or a deputy treasurer or any reports sent to EC or SCC; Women's Caucus report including 11-05 Modified Consensus Training; Budget Committee suggestions; and discussion about picketing the New Haven office of U.S. Representative Rosa DeLaura who has sponsored a Congressional bill against 3rd parties/minor parties. . U.S. Green Party report by CTGP representatives: Tim McKee. 5. Review and approval of 1-31-05 SCC minutes by consensus. 6. 2-13-06 EC meeting presentation by Barbara Barry and approved by consensus. Reports: 1. Internal Elections committee by Jean deSmet: Convention is 4-22-06: will use locked ballot. Paying for the election ballot was discussed: another communication to CTGP treasurer, Judy Herkimer, will be sent regarding treasurer's need to pay for CTGP internal elections mailing. We will use the election ballot to test for support for state wide candidates. This convention will not endorse the state-wide slate. Rather it is being used to elicit feedback from the greater body of the CTGP regarding each of the potential candidates on a state-wide slate. Then the convention feedback will be presented at the SCC meeting for discussion. Discussed state regulations when running state-wide candidates and what our CTGP bylaws require. Consencus regarding potential candidates for state-wide slate at the convention: each candidate will be voted on regarding being a candidate on the state-wide slate. As of yet, we, have no candidate for lt. governor or comptroller. David Bedell urges someone to run for congress. A fundraising letter will be in the internal elections mailing will include a list of CTGP activities over this past year. Chapters need to enlicit volunteers to run the convention. For internal elections: will include "none of the above" and will take nominations from the floor. Motion by David Bedell passed by consensus: designate an endorsement review committee to submit a report on all the potential candidates for the state-wide slate and send to SCC and each chapter. Then the SCC will vote on each potential candidate at the next month's SCC meeting. People will be allowed to put themselves in nomination for state-wide slate, from the floor of the convention. But the SCC must vote to support each candidate. Chapters need to send mailing lists to Jean deSmet. Mike DeRosa: start the petitioning now for the state-wide slate. If need be, there are mechanisms to add or change names on the state-wide slate. 2. Chapter reports: Northeast: CT ACLU person, Roger Vann, will be speaking at 2pm on 3-18-06. Exact place to be determined. Greater Hartford Chapter: fundraising dinner on March 2, 2006 at 7:30pm at the home of Steve and Ruth Fournier. All are welcome. 3. V.O.T.E.R.: Mike DeRosa: group is doing op-ed pieces. Events: Discussion about endorsing the anti-war rallies on 3-18-06 in New Haven and and 3-19-06 in Hartford: Concensus: Greens endorse to concept of anti-war so will endorse both events. Meeting ended due to time (8:55PM). -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From roseberry3 at cox.net Thu Jun 22 00:00:55 2006 From: roseberry3 at cox.net (B Barry) Date: Thu, 22 Jun 2006 00:00:55 -0400 Subject: {news} Minutes from the 3-28-06 SCC meeting of CTGP Message-ID: <20060622040057.FLCY26910.eastrmmtao05.cox.net@BarbaraBarry> Minutes from the 3-28-06 SCC meeting of CTGP Place: Middletown Russell Public Library, Reading Room #1, 123 Broad Street, Middletown, CT 06457 Time: ***** 6:30PM to 8:30pm closure of the Library***** Phone: 860-347-2528 Facilitator: Tim McKee Timekeeper: Vic Lancia Voting Attendees: Central: Vic Lancia and Steve Krevisky; Fairfield: Paul Bassler and David Bedell; Greater Hartford: Barbara Barry DeRosa and Michael DeRosa; New Haven: Jerry Martin, Allan Brison- Tolland: Tim McKee. Non-voting attendees: none. A. Preliminaries: 1. Introductions of attendees and chapters. Recruit timekeeper. 2. Identify attendees who are NOT voting representatives. 3. Adopt ground rules. 4. Approval of tonight's proposed agenda, additions: actions by Judy Herkimer, treasurer of CTGP and Thomas Sevigny; deletions due to non quorum: review and approval of 2-28-06 SCC meeting; Review and approval of 3-13-06 EC meeting; presentation of Treasurer's monthly reports of: October, November, December, January and February by treasurer of CTGP: Judy Herkimer: Presentation of Treasurer's 3rd quarter and 4th quarter reports to the Secretary of State by CTGP treasurer, Judy Herkimer. Proposal for independent, professional internal audit of CTGP by 5 CTGP members. Deletions due to lack of representation: Women's Caucus report including 11-05 Modified Concencus Training. Deletion: budget committee suggestions; report from national representative to GPUS; V.O.T.E.R.due to time restraints. Reports: 1. Discussed actions of CTGP Treasurer: Judy Herkimer regarding her: a) changing control of our CTGP/Chris Reilly post office box without permission to unknown person and related actions; b) changing the CTGP checking account and added another checking account: without authorization and declines to provide the officers of this CTGP with current information since 10-05 SCC meeting which she attended; c) making/honoring some CTGP payments but not others; d) has not attended any CTGP meeting since 11-21-05 EC meeting at Torrington Town Hall; e) has not advised EC or SCC of treasurer's activities. f) declines to provide CTGP with a deputy treasurer since 5-23-05 EC meeting (her 1st as treasurer); g) declines to pay for the CTGP 4-22-06 Convention or the mailing of ballots for internal officer election. (By CTGP bylaws, officers are only to remain in office for one year, then the CTGP must have another election. Last CTGP election was 4-05.); h) presented a 5-7-05 document to the CT State Elections Enforcement Commission stating, incorrectly that Thomas Sevigny was current chairperson of CTGP. Thomas was last elected CTGP chairperson 3 years ago. Judy was a member of the CTGP internal elections committee which counted the CTGP convention ballots which elected herself to be treasurer, Co-chairpersons: Michael DeRosa, Aaron Gustafson and Kelly McCarthy and Barbara Barry DeRosa as secretary. Why did she present 4weeks later on 5-7-05, that someone whom was not elected to be chairperson in 4-05, was the chairperson? 2. Internal Elections committee by David Bedell: time and place of 4-22-06 convention Central CT State University or New Haven Labor/Teachers Council; Michael DeRosa will take a document to the Sec. of State Elections Enforcement Commission to notify the State that the CTGP will be having a convention, 4-22-06. 3. Chapter reports: Central by Vic Lancia: Clift Thornton, potential candidate for governor for the CTGP is to speak at The Salon, at the Buttonwood Tree, 605 Main Street, Middletown, 06457 on 4-10-06 at 7PM about The War on Drugs. New Haven by Jerry Martin and Allan Brison: chapter has sent out a newsletter to every registered Green and people whom meet the definition of being a member of CTGP over the past 2 years In the New Haven and Hamden areas. The chapter plans on using this as an updated list of New Haven Greens and to get up to date with every new registered Green in the area. And will get updated list of every registered Green, every month from register of voters. Jerry also indicated that New Haven is trying to develop a website for themselves. David Adams of the Shoreline Chapter of CTGP advised Allan that he is no longer functioning as a Green member. Fairfield by David Bedell and Paul Bassler: someone might be interested in running for the U.S. 4th Congressional District and collecting petitions. Fairfield's convention to endorse candidates will be in August 2006. Greater Hartford by Michael DeRosa: had a fundraiser at the home of Steve and Ruth Fournier which raised $300. David Ianno might run for 1st State Senatorial District. He also spoke at the anti-war rally as a Vietnam Veteran for Peace; we are still working on the food co-op; we attended both the New Haven and Hartford anti-war demonstrations; Ben Manski is to speak at a Clash Collective event at UCONN this weekend. Discussed that the following chapters have dissolved: West Hartford in June of 2004, and Shoreline apparently after 6-05 SCC meeting and New Britain after 11-05 elections. Discussed lack of participation since 11-29-05SCC meeting of the Northwest, and West chapters. Hamden attends irregularly. Barbara Barry: Neither the EC nor the SCC adopted the use of 'probation" of a chapter. Rather it was the personal suggestion/email of Kelly McCarthy while she was co-chairperson of the CTGP. However, she never made it as a proposal to the EC or SCC. Last meetings Kelly attended was the 8-30-06 SCC. She then resigned as co-chairperson around 11-11-05. Aaron Gustafson last attended the 7-06 SCC meeting. The last EC meeting they attended was 7-11-06. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From apbrison at hotmail.com Thu Jun 22 12:12:50 2006 From: apbrison at hotmail.com (allan brison) Date: Thu, 22 Jun 2006 12:12:50 -0400 Subject: {news} RE: The results of your email commands Message-ID: I have two questions about this listserve: 1. Who is the moderator? 2. How do I tell folks how they can subscribe? NOTE: I am already a subscriber to this listserve. How do I tell others how to subscribe? Please respond if you know or have any ideas as to the answers to these questions. I have been trying to find out for months. Allan Brison New Haven Greens Co-Chair newhavengreens listserve Owner/Moderator From greenpartyct at yahoo.com Thu Jun 22 16:46:00 2006 From: greenpartyct at yahoo.com (Green Party-CT) Date: Thu, 22 Jun 2006 13:46:00 -0700 (PDT) Subject: {news} RE: The results of your email commands In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <20060622204600.57100.qmail@web81410.mail.mud.yahoo.com> : http://ml.greens.org/mailman/listinfo/ctgp-news/ is how to subscribe to this listserve allan brison wrote: I have two questions about this listserve: 1. Who is the moderator? 2. How do I tell folks how they can subscribe? NOTE: I am already a subscriber to this listserve. How do I tell others how to subscribe? Please respond if you know or have any ideas as to the answers to these questions. I have been trying to find out for months. Allan Brison New Haven Greens Co-Chair newhavengreens listserve Owner/Moderator ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Paid for by Thornton For Governor ,Donna Byrne-McKee, treasurer- www.VoteThornton.com email: info at votethornton.com Tim McKee NEW cell (860) 778-1304 or (860) 643-2282 Cliff Thornton for Governor- Campaign Manager- National Committee member of the Green Party- Connecticut -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From greenpartyct at yahoo.com Fri Jun 23 10:43:06 2006 From: greenpartyct at yahoo.com (Green Party-CT) Date: Fri, 23 Jun 2006 07:43:06 -0700 (PDT) Subject: {news} FYI- National Greens conference call minutes-(how we are doing nationally) Message-ID: <20060623144306.99365.qmail@web81405.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Dear Greens folks, As your national committee member, along with Charlie Pillsbury, I am forwarding the minutes of the national committee STEERING committee. I want to try to keep you as fully informed as possible. I highlighted anything i think you might finding interesting. These are notes on the business of the party. Tim McKee 860-643-2282 hhart at blue.weeg.uiowa.edu wrote: Date: Thu, 22 Jun 2006 19:36:03 -0500 From: hhart at blue.weeg.uiowa.edu To: natlcomvotes at green.gpus.org Subject: [usgp-coo] GPUS SC Conference call, 6/19/006 - Minutes ( GPUS SC Conference Call Monday, June 19, 2006 9:00 p.m. EDT Jody Grage, Budd Dickinson, Holly Hart, Jake Schneider, Brent McMillan, Gwen Wages, Emily Citkowski, Marc Sanson, Rebecca Rotzler Facilitator: Gwen Timekeeper: Budd Observer: Jason Nabewaniec, GPoNYS Calling in for a portion of the call: SundiataTellem, recent co-chair of the Black Caucus 1. STAFF REPORTS a. OPERATIONS - Emily i. Emily sent her work report just before call. She invites any questions and/ or feedback on the style, amount of information, etc. ii. Spanish translation: We now have two documents written and edited by native Spanish speakers. One is the 10 Key Values with one side Spanish, one side English; another is on Immigration. We will consider having copies printed. They will be printed in the next issue of Green Pages. iii. Merchandise and Media Committees review of online Green bookstore: Merchandise Committee thinks this is a great idea. MerchCom co-chair Jon Olsen will contact Media Committee, Platcom and Rebecca Rotzler to set up a conference call to work out next steps. b. POLITICAL DIRECTOR - Brent i. CCC The Green Party is currently at 302 candidates for the year. The GPUS National Committee has just adopted the CCC's Senate- and House-CCC proposals. The CCC's goal is to get the Senate committee started first, with a goal of raising 50 contributions of $250 each from a variety of states: goal of $10,000 for the Senate committee. The plan is to submit advisory opinion for FEC recognition. for full national committee status for the Senate committee first, There is no precedent for what we're trying to do, so we will see how it falls out. ii. Ballot access update Illinois' petition drive ends June 26; it's looking good, they are getting a cushion. New York needs 15,000 valid signatures and are aiming for 25,000; their drive runs July 11 through August 22. They are hiring a petition coordinator. If Malachy McCourt, their gubernatorial candidate, wins 50,000 votes, GPoNYS will re-gain official party (ballot) status.ext step is 50,000 votes for official party status. MO, and MD have ballot campaigns coming up later in the year. c. FUNDRAISING - Brent i. Brent asked for input for re-solicitation message. Suggests highlighting work party is doing to get out the message that the Green Party is the Real Peace Party, and how what GP is doing is building up a structure to achieve peace. Brent will continue writing and send a draft to the SC list. ii. West Coast Fundraising Assistant: Hiring committee interviewed Carlotta Abrams on Wednesday and have offered her the position. She has done fundraising for the Pacific Green Party in Oregon. A small correction is needed in the contract, which the SC will take up online. Carlotta Abrams will be notified right away, and will begin July 1. 2. BLACK CAUCUS - Gwen, Sundiata Tellem Sundiata Tellem, recent co-chair of the GPUS Black Caucus, joined the call to report on activities and state of the Black Caucus. There have been several meetings of the BC in the past year. Sundiata has sent an extensive written report to the national office on activities and campaigns. During his tenure as co-chair, he sent monthly reports on request to those interested and to his state party's co-chairs. Activities have involved television appearances lectures, appearances with Cindy Sheehan, and with Black Green Party candidates. The call addressed concerns that the Black Caucus had not been in compliance with their bylaws, specifically the need to hold an officer election. and lack of communication. Members have avoided participating due to acrimony of a few people, so it has been hard to meet quorum for business. Some volunteers have not followed through on sending out timely announcements. They would like to do an online election, and have been working with Hugh Esco to set up a program. Rebecca is willing to call members to help notify them of the upcoming election. 3. TREASURER'S REPORT - Jake i. Last week's treasurer's report showed about $19,000 in accounts payable and about $16,000 in the bank . About $9,300 is owed in state sharing. Concern about going into national meeting with an little cash. PROPOSAL, Jake: that GPUS postpone paying out state sharing until the first week of August, after the national meeting. AGREED 4. VOTING QUEUE - Holly ADOPTED #222 - SC: Resolution to Amend the Rules and Procedures on Steering Committee Adopted, 6/19/06 ___________ Discussion of whether SC will put out an amendment in response to potential Yes vote. The Yes vote was not forthcoming. PROPOSAL for SC to propose an amendment to Proposal #222 VOTE Jake - No Marc - No Rebecca - No Gwen - Yes Holly - No Jody - Yes Bud - Yes PROPOSAL FAILED #223 - CCC: Creation of National Green Party House and Senatorial campaign committees Adopted, 6/19/06 _________________ CCC would like this to be part of this campaign cycle. PROPOSAL, Gwen: get language from political director and CCC, the SC will consider it online and send to the voting queue to go out next week. AGREED UNDER DISCUSSION #224 - AZGP: GPUS sign-on as a supporting organization with VotersForPeace and the Voter's Pledge Discussion through 6/25/06 Voting period: 6/26/06 - 7/2/06 Floor manager: Hart// 1/2 #225 - WAGP: Resolution to Support the Work of the Nonviolent Peaceforce Discussion through 6/25/06 Voting period: 6/26/06 - 76/2/06 Floor manager: Grage/ 1/2 5. ONLINE ELECTION to Fill SC Co-chair Vacancy The online election will be taking place partly during the national meeting. Discussion on whether to amend the process to postpone the election until after the national meeting; truncate the process to 1 week of discussion; or stick with the timeline specified in the bylaws. AGREED that the secretary will send out the announcement calling for nominations again. and not propose to alter the policy. Noted that the timeline was in error; that will be corrected for the re-posting. 6. ANNUAL MEETING i. Registration 74 paid registrations, $9,775; well ahead of where we were last year. Still one problems with the registration page, but that is being worked out. ii. Need to cut budget: we will figure out how much of the nat'l meeting needs to be recorded. Agreed that Campaign School was of most value. Audio budget is close to $1000. The proposed volunteer recording group has estimated the cost of high quality tapes for editing and archiving is about $1800 for 30 tapes, which is well over budget. We are suggesting we reduce the number of tape to maybe 20. iii. Update on approval of meeting facilitator. Six have been nominated. Secretary will send request for bios; then send this to the voting page for the approval vote. iv. Plenary planning - TABLE Marc will write up a draft. v. Peacekeepers - TABLE vi. Consensus method question - - TABLE vii. Credentialing/Dels/Alts List - plan is mostly set, will consult with former secretary for further details. Will have online spreadsheet and hard copy list of delegates/alternates. viii. Diversity Waivers Jake, Marc and Holly raised several concerns: The application form has just been sent to the NC list, although the SC had assurances from DivCom that it would be run by the SC first; Rebecca forwarded the DivCom subcommittee the information that the application is for fee waivers, not "scholarships," but the terminology used is still incorrect, although; there are several points not in compliance or that go far beyond the specific policy that created the waivers; this is going out just 1 month before the meeting; the secretary was to have been included in those receiving applications. PROPOSAL, Marc: To extend the application deadline to July 10, with July 15 s the decision date; To add the secretary to the list where applications are received; That correct phraseology be inserted in the text, with "diversity committee annual meeting funds application" substituted for "scholarship." AGREED 7. SC P&P's - Jody and everyone else - TABLE Some fine-tuning is left, otherwise this is nearly finished adn ready to review. 6/22/06 Holly Hart Secretary, GPUS Next Call: Monday, July 3, 2006 9:00 p.m. EDT _______________________________________________ Natlcomvotes mailing list To send a message to the list, write to: Natlcomvotes at green.gpus.org To unsubscribe or change your list options, go to: http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/natlcomvotes If your state delegation changes, please see: http://gp.org/committees/nc/documents/delegate_change.html For other information about the Coordinating Committee, see: http://gp.org/committees/nc/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Paid for by Thornton For Governor ,Donna Byrne-McKee, treasurer- www.VoteThornton.com email: info at votethornton.com Tim McKee NEW cell (860) 778-1304 or (860) 643-2282 Cliff Thornton for Governor- Campaign Manager- National Committee member of the Green Party- Connecticut -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From greenpartyct at yahoo.com Fri Jun 23 11:14:14 2006 From: greenpartyct at yahoo.com (Green Party-CT) Date: Fri, 23 Jun 2006 08:14:14 -0700 (PDT) Subject: {news} Nader speaking for Green candidates-Zeese and Boyd Message-ID: <20060623151414.18966.qmail@web81408.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Ralph Nader Speaks in Baltimore: ?Americans Need Moral Courage!? --> by William Hughes --> Ralph Nader at the U. of Baltimore ?Self-government isn?t just a slogan," Nader railed. "People need to be in charge, but in order to do that, they need to show up!? Baltimore, MD? -->On Saturday afternoon, June 10, 2006, Ralph Nader, a 3rd Party candidate for the presidency in 2004, spoke at a political rally held in a conference room at the University of Baltimore?s Langsdale Library. The primary purpose of the affair was to boost the candidacy of Kevin Zeese, who is running as an Independent candidate for the U.S. Senate in Maryland. In 2004, Zeese served as Nader?s press secretary. Nader?s message emphasized that Americans need a good dose of ?moral courage? to take on the corporate controllers of this country. A vast majority of the people, he said, need to get over ?their own sense of helplessness and powerlessness.? He railed against the fact that power in this country is exercised ?by the few? over the many. The reason for that, he explained, is that ?self-government isn?t just a slogan. People need to be in charge, but in order to do that, they need to show up!? The longtime champion of citizens? rights underscored how 46 million people in the U.S. don?t have any health insurance at all and claimed that ?18,000 a year die because they can?t afford it.? He lamented the fact that we live in a society that says, ?You either pay or you die.? He noted that 48 million people in the U.S. make ?less than $11 an hour? and charged that, because the government manipulates statistics, in reality, ?half of the population lives in poverty in the richest country in the world.? Nader has led the way on so many different fronts, he?s hard to categorize. Trained in the law, he has for decades championed the consumer and the fragile environment against the perpetual excesses of Corporate America. His book, Unsafe at any Speed, propelled his name into the public?s consciousness. Despite setbacks, he wrote that the essence of a citizen?s movement ?is persistence.? Born in Winsted, Connecticut in 1934 to Lebanese immigrant parents, Nader graduated magna cum laude from Princeton and with distinction from the Harvard School of Law. From Public Citizen to the Pension Rights Center, the many organizations he has helped to form and energize continue to be in the forefront of the struggle for social and economic justice. Nader praised the singing group Dixie Chicks for having "more courage than 150 members of the U.S. Congress." Nader praised the popular ?Dixie Chicks,? a country music group, for standing up against those who had abused and boycotted them for criticizing the Bush administration. He said that they came back with an album that ?stood tall and was one of defiance. They made no apologies. In their little hands, they had more courage than 150 members of the U.S. Congress.? Nader asked: ?Why do people vote against their own interests? The clear example of that, is the people who voted for George W. Bush.? He ripped into Bush for funding the Missile Defense Program (MDP) to the tune of $9.5 billion a year, while allowing AMTRAK ?to crumble.? He labeled the MDP ?a boondoggle that will never work. It is too easily decoyed.? Because of the huge deficits established by the present regime, Nader called Bush ?a taxer of grandchildren,? since they are the ones who will have to pay the debts, assuming there is still an economy around to allow them to do so. Nader concluded, ?The big secret in a democracy is that the people have the power. If they would realize it, exercise it, organize it and focus it, with a fraction of the their free time.? If the people want a living wage, universal health care, their public works restored to a decent level, to stop the tax cuts for the rich, to have clean water to drink and clean air to breath, he said, ?They need to get involved in the political process...get motivated.? If they don?t, he warned, they will get ?more criminal wars, fabricated wars...bringing home our dead soldiers, sick soldiers, traumatized soldiers." In order to turn the present situation around, he said, ?The people need to believe in themselves, believe that they have the power...and then to take action.? Kevin Zeese, who recently won endorsements for his bid for the U.S. Senate from Maryland?s growing Green and Libertarian parties, also spoke at the event. He is strongly anti-Iraq War and pro-environment, and opposes any U.S. attack on Iran. He criticized one of his opponents, Rep. Ben Cardin (D-MD), for telling the electorate that he?s for peace in Iraq, while he?s ?voting for the war? in the U.S. Congress. Cardin, he added, is also against any ?exit strategy.? Zeese said the U.S.'s ?lopsided? relationship with Israel means that ?the U.S. taxpayer is complicit in what is going on there,? and that the Israeli-Palestine question ?can?t be ignored any longer. It needs to be debated. It?s the root cause of our own security problems and the root cause of terrorism against the U.S.? Also speaking at the spirited affair was the Green Party?s nominee for governor of Maryland, Ed Boyd, a U.S. Navy veteran. Boyd charged, ?Marylanders are being ?Enroned? by the corporations.? One of the main problems confronting the state?s voters, he said, is that the local utility, Baltimore Gas & Electric (BGE), is planning to hike its rates a staggering 72% this July, a move he strongly opposes. He is demanding that the incumbent GOP governor, Robert Ehrlich and one of his Democratic challengers--Baltimore?s Mayor Martin O?Malley--return the substantial campaign contributions they have received from BGE?s parent company, Constellation Energy. Ehrlich, who also grabbed a $16,000 contribution in 2002 from the corrupt lobbyist Jack Abramoff, took in $54,000 from CE; while O?Malley, who poses as a foe of Big Business, reined in $45,000. As part of the event, R.B. Jones, a Baltimore-based journalist and poet, read three of his anti-Iraq War poems. Musical entertainment at the rally was provided by Bilal Salaam, a lively jambe drummer and rapper. --------------------------------- ? William Hughes 2006. Hughes, a Baltimore attorney, is the author of Saying ?No? to the War Party (IUniverse, Inc.). He can be reached at liamhughes at comcast.net. To see a video of R.B. Jones reading his anti-Iraqi war poems, visit here. Read more: Related stories from Google News --> -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From efficacy at msn.com Fri Jun 23 12:06:38 2006 From: efficacy at msn.com (clifford thornton) Date: Fri, 23 Jun 2006 12:06:38 -0400 Subject: {news} Gubernatorial hopeful says Bridgeport mayor should go to jail Message-ID: http://www.nhregister.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16827113&BRD=1281&PAG=461&dept_id=7576&rfi=6&xb=lekoy New Haven Gubernatorial hopeful says Bridgeport mayor should go to jail Angela Carter and Andy Bromage, Register Staff 06/23/2006 NEW HAVEN - Green Party gubernatorial candidate Clifford Thornton on Thursday decried Bridgeport Mayor John Fabrizi's forced admission that he abused cocaine and alcohol while in office as "a double standard" in the so-called "War on Drugs." "Powerful white politicians are held to one standard of behavior and poor brown and black people are prosecuted based on another standard for this same behavior," said Thornton, 61, the first black and the first Green Party candidate for governor in Connecticut. Published reports have revealed that Fabrizi's name had come up in documents related to a federal drug investigation. U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut Kevin J. O'Connor said Fabrizi is not the target of the extensive investigation and had not intended for the documents to become public. Fabrizi on Tuesday apologized to Bridgeport residents and city employees, saying his performance as mayor never was impeded by his substance abuse and he has no plans of resigning. Fabrizi declined comment Thursday on Thornton's stance. O'Connor's spokesman, Tom Carson, could not be reached for comment. Thornton said drug addiction should be treated as a public health issue, rather than a criminal justice matter. He has traveled the United States, New Zealand and England advocating the decriminalization of cocaine and marijuana and for allowing medical uses of those substances. But because of the enforcement laws on the books, Thornton said Fabrizi first should resign. "He should secondly be prosecuted and sent to jail and he should have a felony on his record like the tens of thousands of blacks, browns and poor whites in our prison system," he said. "It's time to get to the real deal here." Thornton also is the founder of Efficacy, a nonprofit that educates the public about drug policies and disparities in the criminal justice system. His Republican opponent, Gov. M. Jodi Rell, did not directly respond to Thornton's assertions but issued a general statement. "I was saddened to learn of Mayor Fabrizi's admitted drug abuse. He deserves credit for acknowledging his problem and his candor with the public is much-needed. He must continue to be open and forthcoming as he works to regain the trust of the citizens of Bridgeport." Stamford Mayor Dannel P. Malloy, the Democratic Party's endorsed candidate and a former prosecutor, said it is too early to know if Fabrizi would face legal action. "You have to be careful that a fair standard is applied to everyone. But as we stand here, the mayor is admitting to an addiction problem, which he says he is in treatment for. I know men, women, white and black in public life who made that kind of admission, got treatment and gone on with their lives," Malloy said. "And then I think there is an important public policy issue here. We want people to come forward and get treatment, so let us be careful what the message is that we send to our populous about seeking treatment," he said. Malloy will face New Haven Mayor John DeStefano Jr. in an Aug. 9 primary for the party nomination. The winner will go on to face the ever-popular Rell in November. DeStefano was unavailable for comment Thursday. Clifford Thornton ?New Haven Register 2006 Thornton for Governor PO Box 1971 Manchester CT 06045 VoteThornton at yahoogroups.com WWW.VoteThornton.com 860 657 8438-H 860 268 1294-C 860 778 1304-Campaign Manager 860 293 0222-Field Coordinator Paid for by Thornton For Governor Donna L. Byrne-McKee, Treasurer -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: bannerad.asp?ADLOCATION=4000&PAG=461&BRD=1281&LOCALPCT=100&AREA=452&VERT=349&NAREA=471&barnd=8935 Type: application/octet-stream Size: 42 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: clip_image001.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 17143 bytes Desc: not available URL: From efficacy at msn.com Fri Jun 23 12:31:05 2006 From: efficacy at msn.com (clifford thornton) Date: Fri, 23 Jun 2006 12:31:05 -0400 Subject: {news} Gubernatorial candidates don't call for Fabrizi to resign Message-ID: Friday, June 23, 2006 http://www.journalinquirer.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16828962&BRD=985&PAG=461&dept_id=161556&rfi=6 Top Stories Gubernatorial candidates don't call for Fabrizi to resign By Tom Breen, Journal Inquirer 06/23/2006 Should he stay or should he go? Bridgeport Mayor John Fabrizi's tearful admission this week of past cocaine use has raised questions not just about whether he should remain in office, but about the overall conduct of the war on drugs. None of the four people running for governor has called on Fabrizi to resign, although New Haven Mayor John DeStefano Jr., seeking the Democratic nomination, came close, saying he wouldn't tolerate the same behavior in his police chief. Only one candidate for governor -- Green Party nominee Clifford W. Thornton Jr., a retired businessman living in Glastonbury -- said the case shows a double standard that in turn suggests that drugs should be treated as a health problem rather than a criminal justice issue. The other two gubernatorial candidates -- Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell and Stamford Mayor Dannel P. Malloy, running against DeStefano for the Democratic nomination -- expressed concern for Fabrizi's well-being and said that greater efforts at drug rehabilitation should be made. DeStefano said Thursday he has thought hard about the predicament of his friend Fabrizi, since word of the Bridgeport mayor's past cocaine use became public last Friday. "John's a friend," DeStefano said. "I called him and wished him well over the weekend, and wished his family well. But my police department routinely arrests people for possession of cocaine." DeStefano stopped short of calling on Fabrizi to resign, but said the Bridgeport official should reflect on what his admitted behavior means in light of the oath he took when he was sworn into office. "If this were my police chief, I'd know what I would do, and that's about as far as I'm going to go with that," DeStefano said. "John needs to take some time and reflect on that." Thornton, the Green Party's candidate for governor, is the founder of Efficacy, a nonprofit organization that has concentrated on changing drug policy. In a statement Thursday, Thornton said the Fabrizi case shows a double standard in how drug laws are applied. "Powerful white politicians are held to one standard of behavior, and poor, brown, and black people are prosecuted based on another standard for this same behavior," he said. Thornton, who is black, called on Fabrizi to use this opportunity to urge a change in the focus of drug policy from law enforcement to public health. The Green Party candidate said the state should "medicalize" cocaine, with doctors administering regular doses to addicts to ensure safe consumption. However, state politicians can only shape drug policy to a limited extent, according to Rich Harris, spokesman for Rell's campaign. "It's primarily a federal matter in terms of criminalization," he said. "In the unlikely event it wanted to, Connecticut tomorrow could declare that all drugs are legal, but it wouldn't make a difference." Harris said Rell has helped focus state policy on treatment and rehabilitation for drug users, rather than simply incarceration, citing the Building Bridges program as an initiative designed to help convicted drug addicts not only recover, but find housing and work. Rell also worked with the legislature to change a bill that would alter the penalties for possession of crack cocaine. Since the penalties for possession of crack cocaine are more severe than for possession of more expensive powder cocaine, some legislators charged the law fell disproportionately on poor users. A bill sought to lower the penalties for crack, but Rell vetoed that, and worked on a compromise that raised the penalties for possession of powder cocaine, Harris said. "She worked with the legislature and the advocates, and made a better law," he said. In a statement this week, Rell said she was saddened to hear of Fabrizi's cocaine use. "He deserves credit for acknowledging his problem, and his candor with the public is much-needed. He must continue to be open and forthcoming as he works to regain the trust of the citizens of Bridgeport," she said. Malloy, who won the Democratic Party's endorsement at its convention last month, also expressed his concern for Fabrizi, and he praised the Bridgeport mayor for being frank. "While I'm disappointed to hear about these revelations, I'm glad to know that John has acknowledged his problems and is addressing them," Malloy said. Malloy opposes the legalization of drugs, said campaign consultant Roy Occhiogrosso, but is open to considering the possibility of a "tightly controlled" decriminalization of medical marijuana. "The mayor believes the war on drugs has not been fought intelligently," Occhiogrosso said. In a speech this week before a supportive crowd of Bridgeport city workers, Fabrizi admitted to using cocaine in the past, but said he hadn't used it in 18 months. The Democrat, formerly president of the Bridgeport City Council, became mayor in the wake of the corruption scandal that sent his predecessor, Joseph Ganim, to federal prison. ?Journal Inquirer 2006 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: journal.gif Type: image/gif Size: 7154 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: @Topx Type: application/octet-stream Size: 43 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: bannerad.asp?ADLOCATION=4000&PAG=461&BRD=985&LOCALPCT=50&AREA=410&VERT=6543&NAREA=410&barnd=1327 Type: application/octet-stream Size: 43 bytes Desc: not available URL: From dbedellgreen at hotmail.com Sat Jun 24 01:06:19 2006 From: dbedellgreen at hotmail.com (David Bedell) Date: Sat, 24 Jun 2006 05:06:19 +0000 Subject: {news} "Clean Beaches-Close Millstone" Rally Sunday June 25 In-Reply-To: <270.b894e4f.31cd3e6e@aol.com> Message-ID: Rally Will Tout Self-contained Cooling For Millstone By Patricia Daddona Published on 6/23/2006 in Region ?? Region Briefs A "Clean Beaches-Close Millstone" rally will be held at noon Sunday in Liberty Park. The rally is sponsored by the Connecticut Coalition Against Millstone and the Connecticut chapter of the Sierra Club. The coalition contends that Millstone Power Station's nuclear reactors in nearby Waterford pollute Long Island Sound. Dominion, the owner of the nuclear complex, could mitigate radioactive effluent by converting its cooling system, which uses ocean water, to a self-contained, closed system, coalition leader Nancy Burton said. Dominion disputes the organization's claims and maintains that radioactive releases in water and air are safely below thresholds set by the federal government. The park is at the corner of Main Street and Pennsylvania Avenue in Niantic. A march to nearby Hole-in-the-Wall Beach will follow the rally. The rain date is July 2. Patricia Daddona East Lyme The New London Day 6/23/06 From greenpartyct at yahoo.com Sat Jun 24 12:07:12 2006 From: greenpartyct at yahoo.com (Green Party-CT) Date: Sat, 24 Jun 2006 09:07:12 -0700 (PDT) Subject: {news} Listen to Cliff Thornton on WTIC AM1080 Bruce and Colin show (podcast) Message-ID: <20060624160712.49497.qmail@web81406.mail.mud.yahoo.com> This is a very interesting interview. Bill Currey former Democrat candidate for Governor and now Hartford Courant writer was also there and talks over Cliff. (He later said he was sorry to talk over Cliff in the interview.) http://www.wtic.com/pages/3029.php -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From apbrison at hotmail.com Sun Jun 25 12:05:25 2006 From: apbrison at hotmail.com (allan brison) Date: Sun, 25 Jun 2006 12:05:25 -0400 Subject: {news} Al Gore and The Inconvenient Truth Message-ID: An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From efficacy at msn.com Mon Jun 26 12:23:36 2006 From: efficacy at msn.com (clifford thornton) Date: Mon, 26 Jun 2006 12:23:36 -0400 Subject: {news} Green Party Connecticut governor hopeful: Let's end drug war Message-ID: http://www.norwichbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060626/NEWS01/606260303/1002 Green Party Connecticut governor hopeful: Let's end drug war By RAY HACKETT Norwich Bulletin COLCHESTER -- No one will ever accuse Clifford Thornton of shyness. The 61-year-old retired businessman and Green Party candidate for governor is passionately blunt in describing what he sees as the failure of government -- and unconcerned if some find his sharp and pointed criticisms offensive. "That's because I'm not a politician," he said during lunch last week at Peg's Vintage Diner in Colchester. "I'm not going to cater to you just to get your vote. I'm going to tell you the truth. And all great truths start as blasphemy. "What we need are politicians so committed to the job that they're willing to lose it," he said. Thornton, the first African-American to run for governor, is center piecing his gubernatorial bid on what he believes is the single most important issue facing the state -- and the nation. He advocates decriminalizing illegal drugs, and bringing an end to the 40-year war on drugs he said has done nothing to stem the tide of illegal drug sales or use. "The war on drugs is meant to be waged, not won," he said, adding billions have been spent building prisons and fighting the drug war with no tangible evidence of success. "That's money that could have been spent on education, transportation infrastructure, housing, economic development and myriad other programs." Decriminalizing illegal drugs, he contends, will have a positive impact on every other problem. "Do you know what the definition of insanity is?" he said. "It's doing the same thing over and over again, and each time expecting to get a different result. The war on drugs isn't working, but we keep fighting it. That's insanity." Being the first African-American to run for governor, Thornton said, means nothing unless it serves as motivation to other minorities to seek elected office. Race, however, is something different, and very much a part of his campaign. And he is particularly critical of organizations such as the NAACP, Urban League and black clergy that he claims have sold out their communities by turning a blind eye to the problem. "You've got to talk about race," he said. "Seventy percent of the people in jail on drug charges are minorities. And 70 percent of the drug overdoses are white people. The drug problem is in the headlines every day. And where are we seeing the problem? In the poor, mostly minority, inner-city areas. "Drugs are two degrees from everything in society," he said. "If you don't understand racism, classism, terrorism, white privilege and the war on drugs, then everything else will only confuse you." Thornton's radical views are not the rantings of a one-issue candidate seeking to shock voters. On the contrary, he is a well-respected authority and drug reform advocate who has lectured extensively across the country and the world. His mother died of a heroin overdose when he was 18, and he now believes if heroin use had been legal and supervised by doctors, she might have been able to lead a safe and healthy life. He is the founder of Efficacy, a 10-year-old nonprofit Hartford-based group focused on reforming the nation's drug policy, and he taught a graduate level course titled "Illegal Drugs and Public Policy" at Trinity College in 2002. He hopes his gubernatorial campaign will provide yet a larger platform and broader audience for his message. "I've been waiting 10 years for someone to step forward, but no one has," he said when asked why he accepted the Green Party nomination for governor. "This is a natural evolution for someone like myself." Reach Ray Hackett at 425-4225 or rhackett at norwich bulletin.com Originally published June 26, 2006 Print this article Email this to a friend Subscribe Now Zoom Photo Aaron Flaum/Norwich Bulletin Clifford Thornton is the Green Party's candidate for governor. PROFILE CLIFFORD W. THORNTON JR. a.. Age: 61. a.. Home: A Hartford native, now living in Glastonbury. a.. Occupation: Retired as a mid-level manager with Southern New England Telephone after 25 years. a.. Family: He and his wife, Margaret, are the parents of five grown children. a.. Political affiliation: 2006 Green Party gubernatorial candidate. a.. Advocacy: Founder of Efficacy, a 10-year-old, Hartford-based nonprofit group concentrating its efforts on reforming the nation's drug policies. a.. Web page: www.ctgreens.org/ On the Web: a.. Democratic Race for Governor story archive a.. DeStefano vs. Malloy, WATCH VIDEO of candidates' on major issues a.. Forums: Discuss the Democratic race for governor Related articles: a.. Green Party fights uphill battle against Democrats, Republicans -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: ad_arrow.gif Type: image/gif Size: 56 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: icon_print.gif Type: image/gif Size: 72 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: icon_mail.gif Type: image/gif Size: 74 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... 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Name: bilde?Site=A6&Date=20060626&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=606260303&Ref=AR&Profile=1002&MaxW=290 Type: application/octet-stream Size: 14468 bytes Desc: not available URL: From greenpartyct at yahoo.com Mon Jun 26 18:24:54 2006 From: greenpartyct at yahoo.com (Green Party-CT) Date: Mon, 26 Jun 2006 15:24:54 -0700 (PDT) Subject: {news} (NEWS RELEASE) THORNTON: USE LOTTERY TO FUND FREE COLLEGE TUTIONS Message-ID: <20060626222454.64707.qmail@web81409.mail.mud.yahoo.com> THORNTON FOR GOVERNOR PO Box 1971, Manchester, CT 06045 www.votethornton.com PRESS RELEASE- JUNE 27, 2006- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Cliff Thornton, Green Party Candidate for Governor (860) 657-8438-Home or (860) 268-1294-Campaign cell Tim McKee (860) 778-1304-Campaign Manager THORNTON: USE LOTTERY TO FUND FREE COLLEGE TUTIONS "Maintain a good GPA, get a free education" Hartford, CT- Cliff Thornton, Green Party candidate for Governor announced today that he would propose a plan that give Connecticut students free college tuition and fund it thru earmarked funds from the state's lottery and gambling earnings. The requirements of the program would be to maintain a 2.0 grade point average to get into local community college programs and 3.0 grade point average for 4 year schools. Thornton cited the state of Georgia similar plan of "HOPE" scholarships funded by gambling for free tuition for college as reasons why Connecticut must be completive in the education field and retain our best and brightest students. In addition to paying tuition and fees at state schools, the program would also pay the same amount towards a qualified student's Connecticut private-school education. The Georgia program, called "Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally," helps students at the state's universities, technical colleges and private schools, as well as GED recipients. Georgia students who attend private colleges and maintain a 3.0 GPA may be eligible for up to $3,000 per year in HOPE funds. In addition, students who earned a GED and wish to return to school to earn a high school equivalency degree may be eligible for a $500 grant. Since HOPE's inception in 1993, over Since the HOPE Program began in 1993, over $2.7 billion in HOPE funds have been awarded to more than 850,000 students attending Georgia's colleges, universities, and technical colleges. "Every student deserves the chance to earn a college education," Thornton said. "Providing free college tuition will expand hope and opportunity for thousands of hard-working Connecticut students." "In the fiscal year 2005, the CT Lottery provided $268.5 million to the state's General Fund, where it is used as a slush fund for all kinds of pet projects and pork barrel, why not dedicate it solely for free college tuition for our students?" Thornton explained. Thornton added "This also would create more jobs in the education institutions and those people would pay income taxes, local sales tax and other revenues, as the same with students who would stay here instead sending money out of state for college tuition. -30- http://www.dtae.org/hope.html Georgia Hope fund http://www.galottery.com/gen/education/hopeScholarship.jsp?focus=education Paid for -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From greenpartyct at yahoo.com Mon Jun 26 18:38:06 2006 From: greenpartyct at yahoo.com (Green Party-CT) Date: Mon, 26 Jun 2006 15:38:06 -0700 (PDT) Subject: {news} (NorwichBulletin)GREEN PARTY FIGHTS UPHILL BATTLE AGAINST DEM., REP. Message-ID: <20060626223806.78947.qmail@web81410.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Green Party fights uphill battle against Democrats, Republicans By RAY HACKETT Norwich Bulletin Connecticut's Green Party is the state's largest among two dozen "minor" political parties registered with the Secretary of the State's Office. There are 1,151 registered Green Party voters throughout the state, and 21 Greens currently hold lower level municipal offices. Eighty-seven Green Party candidates have sought elected office since 1985, and this year the party has endorsed candidates for U.S. Senate, House of Representatives (3rd District), governor, state treasurer, attorney general and secretary of the state. OAS_AD('ArticleFlex_1'); Because of its "minor" party status, candidates will need to petition themselves onto the Nov. 7 ballot. "We need 7,500 signatures and we have about 3,500 now," said gubernatorial candidate Clifford Thornton. "I don't see that as a problem. We'll get what we need by the Aug. 9 deadline." It will, however, be an uphill battle to win in November. The Greens have consistently put forth candidates for state and federal office without success. What success they have had has come at the local level. "That's why I think it's so important that we have a strong statewide ticket," said Jean de Smet of Windham, who has run for municipal office on the Green Party line several times. "The electoral process is very hard," she said, "and we've had our best luck in smaller races where there's minority representation rules or not a lot of candidates." But for many Greens, getting their message out is as important as winning. Even though she lost her bid in last year's election for first selectman, de Smet said it was a victory in forwarding the Green Party presence. "You lose the battle, but you win the war," she said. "I think the party has grown because we do get on the ballot and that gives us the opportunity to get our message out," added Tom McNally, another Green Party member from Windham. Reach Ray Hackett at 425-4225 or rhackett at norwich bulletin.com Originally published June 26, 2006 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From apbrison at hotmail.com Mon Jun 26 22:36:21 2006 From: apbrison at hotmail.com (allan brison) Date: Mon, 26 Jun 2006 22:36:21 -0400 Subject: {news} FW: Please cast your vote for the war on drugs Message-ID: An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From greenpartyct at sbcglobal.net Wed Jun 28 22:08:24 2006 From: greenpartyct at sbcglobal.net (Green Party-CT) Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2006 19:08:24 -0700 (PDT) Subject: {news} ACLU sues for ARKANSAS GP BALLOT ACCESS Message-ID: <20060629020824.81561.qmail@web81403.mail.mud.yahoo.com> ACLU sues for Green Party ballot access Wednesday, Jun 28, 2006 By Aaron Sadler Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - Green Party candidates and other third-party office-seekers have unconstitutional obstacles to ballot access in Arkansas, attorneys for the American Civil Liberties Union said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday. The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court asks a federal judge to order the state to comply with a 1996 federal court decision stating the rules for ballot access for new political parties and for independent candidates should be the same. Independent candidates for state office must obtain at least 10,000 signatures of registered voters to qualify for the Arkansas ballot. To be recognized as a political party, new parties must obtain signatures equal to 3 percent of the ballots cast in the last gubernatorial or presidential election - just over 24,000 signatures this year. The suit asks the court to declare the law unconstitutional and to order Secretary of State Charlie Daniels to recognize the Green Party. The ACLU sued Daniels, in his official capacity, on behalf of the Green Party and its gubernatorial candidate, former state Rep. Jim Lendall of Mabelvale. "I wanted to help the Green Party set up a party for the entire state so that each candidate doesn't have to go through the process to get signatures to get on the ballot," Lendall said. "It's an unnecessary impediment to ballot access." ACLU representatives announced the decision to sue the state at a news conference outside the federal courthouse in Little Rock. The Green Party submitted about 18,000 signatures to Daniels on May 30. The secretary of state rejected the petition to certify the party as a new party, saying it lacked the required 24,171 signatures. "The remedy is to put this party and its candidate on the ballot immediately," said Rita Sklar, executive director of the ACLU of Arkansas. "The point is equity." U.S. District Judge George Howard Jr. first ruled in 1996 that the 14th Amendment to the Constitution would require a political party to collect the same number of signatures as an independent candidate. The case involved the Reform Party of Arkansas. "The people have the right to hear from candidates with different political views, and the right to vote for the candidates that hold these views," Sklar said. The ACLU asked that Howard hear arguments in this matter quickly, so that Lendall may gain a spot on the Nov. 7 gubernatorial ballot. "The court first ruled on this issue back in 1996," ACLU lawyer Holly Dickson said. "In 10 years, the state Legislature has not amended the law to reflect that court's opinion that the requirement should be the same for a party candidate as well as an independent candidate. The lawsuit ... is as a result of the state's ignoring those directives from the court." Howard's 1996 ruling stated that statutes regarding party recognition were unreasonably burdensome on new political parties. After the decision, the Legislature changed some election laws - including moving from January to May the deadline for filing a petition to form a new political party - to ease restrictions on political parties, but kept the signature requirements intact. Attorney general's opinions in 1999 and again last year concluded that the changes met the requirements of Howard's ruling. In 2001, Howard ruled again, in a suit filed by the ACLU on behalf of the Green Party, that the differing signature requirements for independents and third parties remained unconstitutional. "I don't know how the court could be any more clear," Dickson said. "Your right to associate and share political views and establish a party means nothing if you can't get on the ballot and if you can't vote on those views and those issues." If approved for the ballot, Lendall would face Republican Asa Hutchinson; Attorney General Mike Beebe, a Democrat; and independent Rod Bryan of Little Rock. Bryan was certified for the ballot Monday. The secretary of state's office certified 10,052 of the 11,750 signatures the Little Rock record store owner submitted a month ago. Bryan, 37, has been campaigning around the state on a bicycle. Lendall, who served one House term in the late 1980s as a independent and three terms, beginning in 1999, as a Democrat, said he has been working for more than 30 years to improve ballot access for third-party candidates. He said he filed a series of lawsuits in the 1970s challenging the state's ballot-access laws. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Paid for by Thornton For Governor ,Donna Byrne-McKee, treasurer- www.VoteThornton.com email: info at votethornton.com Tim McKee NEW cell (860) 778-1304 or (860) 643-2282 Cliff Thornton for Governor- Campaign Manager- National Committee member of the Green Party- Connecticut -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From greenpartyct at yahoo.com Fri Jun 30 06:36:24 2006 From: greenpartyct at yahoo.com (Green Party-CT) Date: Fri, 30 Jun 2006 03:36:24 -0700 (PDT) Subject: {news} (NEW RELEASE) THORNTON: "1, 000 MORE POLICE OFFICERS" WILL DO LITTLE TO STOP URBAN VIOLENCE Message-ID: <20060630103624.50538.qmail@web81410.mail.mud.yahoo.com> THORNTON FOR GOVERNOR PO Box 1971, Manchester, CT 06045 www.votethornton.com PRESS RELEASE- JUNE 29, 2006- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Cliff Thornton, Green Party Candidate for Governor (860) 657-8438-Home or (860) 268-1294-Campaign cell Tim McKee (860) 778-1304-Campaign Manager THORNTON: ?1,000 MORE POLICE OFFICERS? WILL DO LITTLE TO STOP URBAN VIOLENCE ?MALLOY, DESTEFANO AND RELL DO NOT UNDERSTAND ROOT CAUSE OF CRIME? Hartford, CT - CLIFF THORNTON, GREEN PARTY CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR REACTED STRONGLY TO DANNELL MALLOY?S CALL FOR 1,000 MORE POLICE OFFICERS TO DEAL WITH URBAN VIOLENCE AS THE ? SAME OLD RHETORIC FROM OUT OF TOUCH POLITICANS TRYING TO OUT ?LAW AND ORDER? EACH OTHER, INSTEAD OF ADDRESSING THE REAL ISSUES CAUSING THE VIOLENCE?. Thornton, who was raised in Hartford and saw his mother die of a drug overdose, said ?MALLOY, DESTEFANO AND RELL are arguing over the same old programs that HAVE NOT WORKED and how many millions it will take for the failed programs. Common sense tell you that more and more ?youth programs? will do little when a kid can see he can make a thousand dollars a day selling drugs and is in desperate poverty. Throwing hundreds more in jail for drugs like the Malloy plan calls for will destroy more families, create more poverty not less. This will only make the situation worse! More and more of the legal and police officers are looking to groups like Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (L.E.A.P) with over 5,000 members ,for real solutions such as legalizing, Medicalizing and decriminalizing to fight crime. The plans proposed by Rell and the Democrats will only increase drug profits and drug crime. I am planning to bring people like these police chiefs and officers to tour the state and debate real solutions with these Gubernatorial candidates; real solutions from people who are in the streets everyday versus professional politicians trying to look tough. -30- -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From justinemccabe at earthlink.net Fri Jun 30 20:40:55 2006 From: justinemccabe at earthlink.net (Justine McCabe) Date: Fri, 30 Jun 2006 20:40:55 -0400 Subject: {news} Marine recruiter assaults demonstrators with baseball bat in New Haven Message-ID: <097201c69ca7$03fde440$0402a8c0@JUSTINE> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Peter Goselin" To: "Peter Goselin" Sent: Thursday, June 29, 2006 8:40 AM Subject: [al-awda-CT] Marine recruiter assaults demonstrators with baseball bat in New Haven > > The following is a statement that is being circulated regarding an > incident at the military recruiting station on Orange Street in New > Haven on Wednesday, June 28. A baseball bat-wielding Marine recruiter > engaged in an unprovoked assault on two demonstrators outside the > recruiting center and then seized the cellphone belonging to another > demonstrator who had witnessed and photographed the assault. There are > plans for a rally and press conference outside the recruiting center for > July 5 at 5PM. > > The National Lawyers Guild was contacted immediately after the incident > by organizers who were looking for legal assistance because, among other > things, the New Haven police were trying to discourage the victims from > making a complaint against the recruiter -- apparently at least one > officer expressed the opinion that having an anti-war demonstration > outside a military recruiting center was a "provocation." > > The question that this incident must raise is this: if a US Marine > recruiter, while safely ensconced behind a desk in an air-conditioned > office in New Haven, working in a position that plainly keeps him in the > public eye, feels free to use a baseball bat to beat a protester . . . > then how much restraint do we imagine that his compatriots use against > Iraqis? > > I would strongly urge people to participate in the rally on July 5. The > movement needs to respond in a strong and clear voice to violence > against demonstrators, and all the more so when it comes from government > personnel and is calculated to discourage political opposition. > > Peter Goselin > NLG-CT > > *********************************** > > A Marine recruiter assaulted two unarmed anti-war protesters > with a baseball bat in New Haven at a non-violent anti-war protest > at 5:40 pm. He also seized an anti-war protester's cellphone. This civil > rights violation occurred on 6/28/06 in front of the Orange Street > recruiting station. > About twenty anti-war protesters were holding a non-violent > demonstration in front of the military recruitment center in New Haven > in support of Suzanne Swift, a soldier who refused to deploy after being > sexually > assaulted, and First Lieutenant Ehren Watada, the first commissioned > officer to > publicly refuse orders to deploy to the Iraq war. > We believe that this assault violates the civil rights of the non-violent > protesters, as well as their right to free speech. The protesters plan > to return next > week to the recruitment center on July 5 to exercise their right to free > speech. We > will also hold a press conference at 5:00 pm 7/5/06. > > Police Officers Ratti (Badge #463), Hartnett (#4), and Knickerbocker (#80) > arrived and obtained the seized cellphone from the Marine. But he had > erased a picture of the assault. We did not confront the recruiters, since > we do not blame the soldiers for the war. The blame lies solely on a > government whose interests are contradictory to those of the soldiers. From justinemccabe at earthlink.net Fri Jun 30 22:15:20 2006 From: justinemccabe at earthlink.net (Justine McCabe) Date: Fri, 30 Jun 2006 22:15:20 -0400 Subject: {news} Fw: USGP-INT The story peddled by imperial apologists is a poisonous fairytale Message-ID: <09d601c69cb4$3438ecb0$0402a8c0@JUSTINE> > The story peddled by imperial apologists is a poisonous > fairytale > > Neocon ideologues are being given free rein by the media to > rewrite the history of Britain's empire and whitewash its > crimes > > By Priyamvada Gopal > > June 28, 2006, Guardian (UK) > > http://www.guardian.co.uk/britain/article/0,,1807642,00.html > > A resurrection is haunting the British media, the bizarre > apparition of "benevolent empire". It takes the form of > documentaries and discussions steered towards the conclusion > that colonialism was not such a bad thing after all and that > something of a celebration is in order. Trouble is, to get > there, some creative reworking of the facts is needed. After a > recent brouhaha about Britain's imperial history on Radio 4's > Start the Week - in which I took part - the presenter Andrew > Marr worried that the debate had been "pretty biased" against > empire: there was a lot of enthusiasm and a "warm nostalgia" > for empire, he suggested in the subsequent phone-in, even in > former colonies, "still something there, absolutely". > > Only the desire to recover some imaginary good from the > tragedy that was empire can explain the elevation of the > neoconservative ideologue Niall Ferguson to chief imperial > historian on the BBC and now Channel 4. His aggressive > rewriting of history, driven by the messianic fantasies of the > American right, is being presented as a new revelation. In > fact, Ferguson's "history" is a fairytale for our times which > puts the white man and his burden back at the centre of heroic > action. Colonialism - a tale of slavery, plunder, war, > corruption, land-grabbing, famines, exploitation, indentured > labour, impoverishment, massacres, genocide and forced > resettlement - is rewritten into a benign developmental > mission marred by a few unfortunate accidents and excesses. > > Soundbite culture thrives on these simplistic grand > narratives. Half-truths and fanciful speculation, shorn of > academic protocols such as footnotes, can sound donnishly > authoritative. The racism institutionalised by empire also > seems to be back in fashion. The book accompanying Ferguson's > current Channel 4 series on 20th-century history, The War of > the World, tells us that people "seem predisposed" to "trust > members of their own race", "those who are drawn to 'the > Other' may ... be atypical in their sexual predilections" and > that "when a Chinese woman marries a European man, the chances > are relatively high ... that only the first child they > conceive will be viable." Not far from the pseudo-scientific > nonsense that once made it possible to punish interracial > relationships. > > Behind such talk and the embrace of the broadcasters is the > insistence that we are being offered gutsy truths that the > "politically correct" establishment would love to suppress. > This is the neo-conservative as spunky rebel against liberal > tyranny. Yet Ferguson peddles nothing more than the most > hackneyed, self-aggrandising myths of empire, canards once > championed by old imperialists such as Macaulay and Mill and > rehashed now by the Bush administration: western imperialism > brings freedom, democracy and prosperity to primitive > cultures. The myth decorates US and British foreign policy > spin while trendier versions have also emerged in platforms > such as the Euston Manifesto. By anointing Ferguson and his > fellow imperial apologists such as Andrew Roberts as semi- > official historians, the British media are colluding in a > dangerous denial of the past and lending support to > contemporary US imperial propaganda . > > The evidence - researched by scholars such as Amartya Sen, > Nicholas Dirks, Mike Davis and Mahmood Mamdani, Caroline > Elkins and Walter Rodney - shows that European colonialism > brought with it not good governance and freedom, but > impoverishment, bloodshed, repression and misery. Joseph > Conrad, no radical, described it as "a flabby, pretending, > weak-eyed devil of a rapacious and pitiless folly". Good > governance? More famines were recorded in the first century of > the British Raj than in the previous 2,000 years, including > 17-20 million deaths from 1896 to 1900 alone. While a million > Indians a year died from avoidable famines, taxation > subsidising colonial wars, and relief often deliberately > denied as surplus grain was shipped to England. > > Tolerance? The British empire reinforced strict > ethnic/religious identities and governed through these > divisions. As with the partition of India when 10 million were > displaced, arbitrarily drawn boundaries between "tribes" in > Africa resulted in massive displacement and bloodshed. Freedom > and fair play? In Kenya, a handful of white settlers > appropriated 12,000 square miles and pushed 1.25 million > native Kikuyus to 2,000 restricted square miles. Resistance > was brutally crushed through internment in detention camps, > torture and massacres. Some 50,000 Kikuyus were massacred and > 300,000 interned to put down the Mau Mau rebellion by peasants > who wanted to farm their own land. A thousand peaceful > protesters were killed in the Amritsar massacre of 1919. > > A collective failure of the imagination now makes it difficult > for us to think about the globe before European and American > domination. Greed and violence are hardly exclusive to one > culture. But colonialism destroyed or strangled possibilities > and potential for progress, such as Mughal Emperor Akbar's > "sul-e-kul" or "universal good" which underpinned his > governance. The scale of European imperialism inaugurated a > new chapter in the history of greed which still shapes all our > lives. Natural resources - cotton, sugar, teak, rubber, > minerals - were plundered in gigantic quantities. The Indian > textile industry was the most advanced in the world when the > British arrived; within half a century it had been destroyed. > The enslaved and indentured (at least 20 million Africans and > 1.5 million Indians) were shipped across the globe to work on > plantations, mines and railroads. The stupendous profits > deriving from this enabled today's developed world to prosper. > > The point isn't for Europeans to feel guilt, but a serious > consideration of historical responsibility isn't the same > thing as a blame game. Forgetting history is tempting but > undermines a society's capacity for change. > > Among the many facile assumptions encouraged by these imperial > apologists is that those who criticise colonialism are > absolving tyrants and bigots in Asia and Africa from > responsibility for their crimes. Of course it is possible and > absolutely necessary to condemn both. Indians must acknowledge > their culpability for atrocities during the partition, for > example. But that in no way exonerates the British Raj from > its pivotal role in the tragedy that led to over a million > deaths. > > A wilful ignorance of other people's cultures and histories > encourages the notion that freedom, democracy and tolerance > are intrinsically western. As Amartya Sen has argued, the > subcontinent has long been home to traditions of free-thinking > and debate. Participatory governance was not Britain's gift > (recall Gandhi's indigenous village republics), even if > parliamentary democracy as an institutional form was adopted > in some ex-colonies. Free trade is another mythical western > contribution to world history. Amitav Ghosh has reconstructed > the forgotten history of a vibrant trade culture between > medieval India and Africa. When the Portuguese arrived, they > demanded that the Hindu ruler of Calicut expel Muslims, > "enemies of the Holy-Faith", from his kingdom. He refused and > was subjected to two days of bombardment. > > Indeed, one legacy of European colonialism that we all reckon > with is the self-fulfilling prophecy of the "clash of > civilisations". The claim that east and west are bound to come > into conflict is merely an extension of imperial practice > which found it useful to seal off porous cultures into fixed > categories. This tragic "lie of the colonial situation", as > Frantz Fanon called it, rebounds on us tragically in the > terror unleashed in the name of Islam and Bush's "war on > terror". If we are to undo the destructive legacies of empire, > it won't do to invest celebratory falsifications with > credibility. To make sense of a shared present and look > towards a more humane future, we need to start with a little > informed honesty about the past. > > [Priyamvada Gopal teaches postcolonial studies at Cambridge > University and is the author of Literary Radicalism in India: > Gender, Nation and the Transition to Independence] > > ____________________________________________ > Julia Willebrand, Ed.D > Co-chair, International Committee, United States Green Party > Co-president, Federation of Green Parties of the Americas (FPVA) > 212 877-5088-- From ralphferrucci at sbcglobal.net Thu Jun 1 16:42:06 2006 From: ralphferrucci at sbcglobal.net (ralph ferrucci) Date: Thu, 01 Jun 2006 20:42:06 -0000 Subject: {news} Green Candidates/ Ballot Access Message-ID: ************PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY************** Hello Peace Activists and Green Supporters, There is just under 2 and a half months left to get the Green Party on the ballot. Your help is needed to ensure that we have ballot access for all Green Candidates including myself against Joseph Lieberman. If we are to oppose the war, we will need to oppose those who started this war. Joseph Lieberman is one of the leading proponents of this WAR. With your help we can make this possible. You can download a petition from my website at ferrucciforsenate.org Here is a calendar of what is going on this weekend. Your help will ensure us ballot access. DANBURY: Hat City Music Fesitival [Edit]? [Delete]? Date: Friday June 2, 2006 Time: All Day Author: ferrucci001 Type: Other? Street: http://www.hatcitymusicfestival.com City/State/Zip: Danbury JUNE 2-4 FREE! CityCenter DANBURY. HCMF is a three-day, outdoor music festival on the green in downtown Danbury, CT! Following the FREE outdoor performances each night the festivities continue on at numerous after-parties within walking distance, sponsored by Magic Hat Brewing Company. Participating venues include Tuxedo Junction, Two Steps, Cousin Larry's Cafe, City Alehouse and MonkeyBar. This years line-up combines a blow-out funk party, legendary reggae, jazz, alternative rock, underground hip hop, jam and classic rock! HARTFORD: Rap Concert [Edit]? [Delete]? Date: Friday June 2, 2006 Time: 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm Author: ferrucci001 Type: Other? Location: Hartford Civic Center Street: 1 Civic Plaza City/State/Zip: Hartford Hot Jam 5 featuring Sean Paul, DMX, Bow Wow, Chris Brown and More RIDGEFIELD: Dickey Betts and the Great Southern [Edit]? [Delete]? Date: Friday June 2, 2006 Time: 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Author: ferrucci001 Type: Other? Location: 80 East Ridge, Ridgefield playhouse Street: 80 East Ridge City/State/Zip: Ridgefield Former guitarist from the Allam Brothers Band NEW HAVEN: Gay Pride Block Party Outside of Gotham City Cafe at the corner of Church and Crown Streets on Saturday June 3rd from 6-9PM Also you can access the calendar by joining the listserve at CTGP-ballotaccess-subscribe at yahoogroups.com (this list is for ballot access opportunities only and will be deleted after ballot access is completed) Your help is greatly appreciated. -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text/enriched Size: 4024 bytes Desc: not available URL: From ralphferrucci at sbcglobal.net Tue Jun 6 15:24:59 2006 From: ralphferrucci at sbcglobal.net (ralph ferrucci) Date: Tue, 06 Jun 2006 19:24:59 -0000 Subject: {news} How Challengers Can Beat Incumbents Message-ID: This is from a magazine called winning campaigns. I have been focusing my campaign on the outsider but think this is a great opportunity for all candidates to do the same and help move the party forward. Ralp Many Advantages for Challengers in Campaigns Against Incumbents Sunday, June 04, 2006 By Holly Robichaud ? Most political experts strongly believe that 2006 is not the year of the incumbent and that voters are going to demand change. ? However, we will still see an overwhelming majority of incumbents being re-elected.? No matter how many so-called campaign finance reform laws are passed, elected officials still have the power of incumbency to raise money for their campaigns. ? This does not mean challengers lack an edge over incumbents in some areas and even in finances.? The key for challengers is to maximize their advantages especially this year when we will see a higher percentage of incumbents being defeated. ? Whether you are a Republican or Democrat, ?this year appears to be turning into an anti-incumbent year, so challengers should run a distinctive outsider campaign that emphasizes their independence from the status quo.? Campaign messages should include the buzz word ? change - rather than leadership.? Moreover, challengers should not use pictures or images with the Capitol in the background -- this only relates a message of incumbency. ? Probably the biggest advantage for challengers is their lack of record.? They have a clean slate and have only to take positions on issues that can help their candidacy.? For the most part they have no record for the incumbent to contrast or attack.? ?Incumbents, on the other hand, ?have accumulated a political track record to analyze and to criticize.? For example, any incumbent who has voted for a gas tax or to give drivers licenses to illegal immigrants will be extremely vulnerable this year. ? Incumbents are at a disadvantage when it comes to the cost of running a campaign.? Their campaigns are usually far more expensive.? Everyone assumes that they are flush with cash to pay for every type of service.? Their campaign staff wants all the perks including blackberries and quality office space.? ? Incumbents are expected to donate to every cause and to pay whether it is having their own booth at a fair, sponsoring the local school year book ad or buying all the various trinkets offered by non-profits for various causes..? All of these giving efforts can really drain from the bottom-line and rarely translates into votes.? Re-election campaigns can cost any where from 10 to 35% more due to all the expectations. ? Good challengers watch every penny and put their money into strictly voter contact programs which generate support.? Most volunteers understand that they will be outspent, so they will put up with cramped office, sharing a fair booth with the party?s local organization, having to pay for their own t-shirts, and the like. They don?t spend money on frivolities.. ? With incumbency comes responsibility.? Most elected officials feel a sense of ownership on the policies implemented. This is ?especially true when they are in the majority party.? This sense of ownership causes them to speak in technical terms on policies and issues.? Voters do not relate well to this.? ? On the other hand, challengers speak in plain, understandable and common sense terms which is a huge advantage when giving sound bites to the media or debating the incumbent. ? For those challengers who want to sound more knowledgeable -- avoid talking about HR.123, the alphabet soup government agencies or any other legislative jargon.? Normal people don?t speak like that outside of politics.? They don?t know what the FEC is ? and, for the most part, don?t care. ? Debating is always to the advantage of the challenger.? An incumbent never wants to be on the same stage as their opponent, because it gives them instant credibility.? However, voters and the media do expect candidates to debate, so challengers should call for a series of debates early in the campaign. However, the challenger must be aware of the differences between debating and giving a campaign speech. ? Incumbent campaigns are often overrun with bureaucracy.? There often is no clear-cut decision- making process and every staff member believes that they are a political expert.? This can make incumbents slow to react and very inflexible.? Challengers do not have a large bureaucracy and can strike quickly on an issue.? For example, when providing a press release or a draft fundraising letter for an incumbent, I can wait weeks or even months for an approval.? Most of my challenger candidates respond within 24 hours. ? In this day and age of cell phones, the internet, blackberries, and blogging, speed is ever so important. ? Probably the most important advantage of challenger campaigns that delivers victories is that not only the candidate, but the campaign team is hungry for a victory.? They are the campaigns overflowing with energy and enthusiasm.? Challengers are willing to expend shoe leather by door knocking and that can make all the difference in the world.? Once elected, many officials will not door knock for their re-election effort, preferring to reaxch the voters with slick mail pieces and other non-contact efforts. ? Despite incumbents having all the re-election perks of incumbency such as media attention, money, name recognition, and the power of the office, challengers do have some advantages that can help to level the playing field.? If you are a challenger embrace your advantages. ? Holly Robichaud has 17 years experience in managing campaigns at the local, state, and federal levels.? As a fund-raiser Holly has set records for statewide and local campaigns, and Political Action Committees.? Her grassroots fundraising and direct mail campaigns have received national recognition. -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text/enriched Size: 6145 bytes Desc: not available URL: From efficacy at msn.com Tue Jun 20 09:54:48 2006 From: efficacy at msn.com (clifford thornton) Date: Tue, 20 Jun 2006 13:54:48 -0000 Subject: {news} National Guard Ordered to New Orleans--Drug shootings?? Message-ID: National Guard Ordered to New Orleans By Cain Burdeau The Associated Press Tuesday 20 June 2006 New Orleans - Acting at the mayor's request, Gov. Kathleen Blanco said Monday she would send National Guard troops and state police to patrol the streets of New Orleans after a bloody weekend in which six people were killed. "The situation is urgent," Blanco said. "Things like this should never happen, and I am going to do all I can to stop it." One hundred National Guardsmen with law enforcement experience and 60 state police officers were to be sent to the city Tuesday. Up to 200 more troops would be deployed after that, said Denise Bottcher, the governor's spokeswoman. Earlier Monday, Mayor Ray Nagin had asked for as many as 300 National Guardsmen and 60 state police officers. It was the first time the National Guard has been used for law enforcement in the United States since the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Nagin had sought the troops after five teenagers in an SUV were shot and killed in the city's deadliest attack in at least 11 years. Police said the attack was apparently motivated by drugs or revenge. Also, a man was stabbed to death Sunday night in an argument over beer. "Today is a day when New Orleanians are stepping up. We've had enough," Nagin said. "This is our line in the sand. We're saying we're not going any further." Nagin said he would not allow criminals to take over when the city is still trying to recover from the hurricane. The mayor said troops should be posted in heavily flooded neighborhoods to free police to concentrate on hot spots elsewhere. Community leaders have raised fears that the violence could discourage people from moving back to New Orleans. The National Guard had as many as 15,000 soldiers in the city in the weeks after Katrina. As many as 2,000 stayed until February, said Louisiana National Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Pete Schneider. Blanco said plans were being crafted last week to step up anti-crime efforts, but the weekend slayings forced authorities to move faster. She said she was talking with New Orleans Police Chief Warren Riley about his exact needs. Riley assured residents that the Guard was "not coming in and taking over the city." "You will have to look for them to find them," Riley said. "They will not be uptown, downtown or in the French Quarter. Our people will be there. This will allow us to have more of our people there." The police force has been operating with depleted ranks. It has about 1,375 officers, compared with about 1,750 before Katrina. The city's pre-Katrina population of 465,000 has rebounded to about half its size. The governor urged the mayor to put a juvenile curfew in place. New Orleans has a curfew for juveniles, but Riley said it is not being enforced because there is no place to put young offenders. Blanco offered two warnings: "First, to parents, keep your teenagers off the streets and out of trouble. Second, to judges, I am urging you to keep hardened criminals where they belong - in jail and off the streets. We must protect our citizens." Nagin's request for help had been backed by the City Council. "If we don't have wind knocking us down, we have shooters knocking us down, and that's unacceptable," said City Council President Oliver Thomas. Reaction to the mayor's request was mixed. "As we tell people to come home, we have to keep these areas safe," said LaToya Cantrell, president of the Broadmoor Improvement Association, a heavily flooded neighborhood. "It's long overdue. Neighborhoods should not have been left alone to begin with. Pulling out was a mistake." But Sherman Copelin, president of the New Orleans East Business Association, cautioned that handing over some neighborhoods to troops unfamiliar with those areas could be a mistake, saying officials should not "let someone come in and be a housekeeper." The killings over the weekend brought this year's murder toll to 53, raising fears that violence was back on the rise in a city that was plagued by violent crime before Katrina drove out much of the population last year. Crime has been creeping back into the city: 17 killings in the first three months of 2006, and 36 since the start of April. At least three other people, ages 16 to 27, have been fatally shot in the same area where the five teenagers were killed early Saturday. In addition to Nagin's request for troops and state police, the City Council said it would consider increasing overtime for police to put more officers on the street. It also called for a "crime summit" within two weeks. "We have to deal with it now," Councilman Arnold Fielkow said. "If we don't make people feel safe in their homes, nothing will happen. Let's make this priority No. 1." -------- Associated Press writers Janet McConnaughey and Mary Foster contributed to this report. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From efficacy at msn.com Tue Jun 20 11:26:18 2006 From: efficacy at msn.com (clifford thornton) Date: Tue, 20 Jun 2006 15:26:18 -0000 Subject: {news} 'War on drugs' produces inner-city battlefields Message-ID: http://www.journalinquirer.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16812291&BRD=985&PAG=461&dept_id=569438&rfi=6 'War on drugs' produces inner-city battlefields By: Cliff Thornton 06/20/2006 Email to a friendPost a CommentPrinter-friendly Keeping guns out of the hands of criminals is a great idea, as far as it goes. Unfortunately it's not as simple as it seems. There are about 200 million guns in America. Combine that with a strong demand among criminals for guns and one begins to see the problem. Advertisement So who has all these guns? Places with the highest rate of gun ownership tend to be rural and small-town. But gun crime there is low. Most gun crime is in our cities. Why? In rural and small-town America, family structures are largely strong, so these communities are more stable. So the problem of violence in cities seems to have less to do with the availability of guns than with the dysfunctionality of families and the lack of a sense of community. What group in cities is largely responsible for the shootings that have become so common there? After declining for several years, the black teenage homicide rate began soaring in 1987. Guns did not become more available after 1987. No, after 1987 the "war on drugs" intensified as a result of crack cocaine. The "war on drugs" has lived up to its name by producing a war in inner-city America. The black market created in drugs by this war caused an epidemic of violence in cities. Lured by the huge profits created by drug prohibition, large numbers of poor, jobless young black people got into the drug business. Since drug dealers are likely to be carrying large amounts of money, they are at serious risk of robbery. Since they cannot rely on the police for protection, they must protect themselves. When drug dealers engage in commercial transactions with each other, there are no laws and courts to resolve disputes about the quality of goods sold. So disgruntled buyers often resort to violence. Similarly, addicts who sell drugs often end up consuming drugs they were supposed to sell or stealing cash they received in payment. Higher-level dealers, having no legal means of debt collection, then resort to violence too. For those unfortunate enough to live in one of the war zones created by drug prohibition, life has deteriorated. Neighborhoods have been ravaged by drug dealers shooting it out on the streets. Many families have fled. Police have raided houses damaged properties in the process. Houses have been abandoned and then occupied by squatters using and selling drugs. Families have been destroyed by shootings and by the imprisonment of fathers caught dealing or using drugs. As city neighborhoods have deteriorated, so have city schools. Reducing urban violence requires a direct attack on the social ills that cause so many young people to grow up believing that their own lives and the lives of others are worthless. Since more drug prohibition has not reduced drugs in cities, why should we expect that more gun control will reduce guns there? Legislators must consider not only immediate steps to get juvenile criminals off the streets but also the social ills that breed crime. The challenge is to reduce the motive for people to arm themselves. Convincing people not to own and use guns requires convincing them that they can survive in their neighborhoods otherwise. We must convince them that the police can be relied upon. Because police have been given with the impossible task of eradicating drugs, they are viewed as a sort of occupying army. Several studies have shown a link between police anti-drug activity and crime against people and property. A recent study by two Le Moyne College economists of more than 1,300 counties in the United States over seven years found that "the recent focus on marijuana law enforcement has been counterproductive for addressing non-drug crime." The study added: "By removing the legal restrictions against possessing marijuana and ending its sale in the underground economy ... fewer burglaries, larcenies, and motor-vehicle thefts are likely to be committed. A similar result also holds for marijuana sales with respect to the incidence of arrests for homicide and hard drug possession." We need to do four things: get the repeat violent offenders off the streets; curb the supply of illegal guns; end drug prohibition; and increase opportunity for city young people most at risk. The relationship between these things is at once strong and vague. For instance, if we somehow succeeded in reducing the number of illegal guns brought into in the state, that might raise their prices, causing increases in burglaries to steal guns locally, increased smuggling, and more crime to get the money for the now higher-priced guns. Only by simultaneously attacking all elements of the problem can we expect any benefit. To do only some of these things probably will only make the problem worse. Cliff Thornton founded Efficacy, a drug law reform organization based in Hartford, and is Green Party candidate for governor of Connecticut. He can be reached at Efficacy at msn.com. ?Journal Inquirer 2006 http://www.journalinquirer.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16812291&BRD=985&PAG=461&dept_id=569438&rfi=6 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... 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Name: bannerad.asp?ADLOCATION=4000&PAG=461&BRD=985&LOCALPCT=50&AREA=486&VERT=6543&NAREA=&barnd=1424 Type: application/octet-stream Size: 43 bytes Desc: not available URL: From justinemccabe at earthlink.net Wed Jun 14 21:11:24 2006 From: justinemccabe at earthlink.net (Justine McCabe) Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2006 01:11:24 -0000 Subject: {news} : GP RELEASE Greens issue wrap-up on Bilderberg conference Message-ID: <020501c69018$9c4e9b90$0402a8c0@JUSTINE> > GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES > http://www.gp.org > > For Immediate Release: > Wednesday, June 14, 2006 > > Contacts: > Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, mclarty at greens.org > Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene at greens.org > > > Greens issue wrap-up on Bilderberg conference > > > WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Green Party leaders today issued their wrap-up > assessment of the annual Bilderberg conference, to which no Green elected > officials, candidates, or party leaders were invited. > > The Bilderberg meeting, held this past weekend in a suburb near Ottawa, > Canada, hosted 130 world leaders, heads of powerful corporations, and > media representatives to discuss topics like free trade agreements, > increases in gas prices, and foreign policy such as the U.S. invasion of > Iraq. Despite the presence of leading media representatives and the > discussion of issues of national and world importance, the meeting is > secret and was unreported in the U.S. media. > > "The Democratic and Republican parties are well-represented at Bilderberg, > but Greens are never invited. Alas, we wouldn't fit in. The Bilderberg > conferences stand for everything the Green Party opposes -- concentration > of the world's wealth and power among a small group of elite corporate and > governmental leaders, whose agenda have become largely realized," said > Julia Willebrand, Green candidate for Comptroller of New York, who noted > reports that Bill Clinton was persuaded to support NAFTA as a result of > his attendance at at least one Bilderberg meeting in the early 1990s. > > Greens noted that one of this year's attendees is Ahmed Chalabi. Mr. > Chalabi, who is wanted in Jordan for bank fraud, helped provide false > intelligence about the presence of WMDs in Iraq, one of several fraudulent > reasons for the U.S. invasion in 2003. Mr. Chalabi, a favorite of the > White House and of U.S. warhawks and neo-cons, later became Interim Oil > Minister of Iraq at the same time that the U.S. was opening up Iraq > resources to foreign (i.e., U.S. corporate) ownership; he also now serves > as Deputy Prime Minister despite his widespread unpopularity in Iraq. > Greens called Mr. Chalabi's sinister presence typical of the Bilderberg > meetings. > > Other attendees at the meeting in Ottawa include former U.S. defense > policy advisor and Iraq War architect Richard Perle, former U.S. Secretary > of State Henry Kissinger, New York governor and possible presidential > hopeful George Pataki, Royal Dutch Shell chair Jorma Ollila, former World > Bank president James Wolfenson, banker David Rockefeller, Paul Gigot of > The Wall Street Journal, and the corporate heads of Coca-Cola. > > "Any meeting in which U.S. government leaders are gathering with other > nation's leaders, corporate honchos, political thinkers, and other > powerful world leaders needs to be reported in the media," said Bob Levis, > Green candidate for Congress in Wisconsin (5th District) > . "If the major media refuse to report on > Bilderberg because they're part of the same cabal, then something truly > ominous is taking place. This isn't conspiracy theory. It's conspiracy." > > > MORE INFORMATION > > Green Party of the United States > http://www.gp.org > 1700 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 404 > Washington, DC 20009. > 202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN > Fax 202-319-7193 > > Bilderberg Conferences: Recovered History > The Progressive Review > http://prorev.com/recovered7.htm#bilderberg.htm > > > ~ END ~ From justinemccabe at earthlink.net Fri Jun 30 22:46:52 2006 From: justinemccabe at earthlink.net (Justine McCabe) Date: Sat, 01 Jul 2006 02:46:52 -0000 Subject: {news} Israel's Appalling Bombing in Gaza Starving in the Dark By VIRGINIA TILLEY June 30, 2006 Message-ID: <09f001c69cb8$93ec72e0$0402a8c0@JUSTINE> http://www.counterpunch.org/ Israel's Appalling Bombing in Gaza Starving in the Dark By VIRGINIA TILLEY On the excuse of rescuing one kidnapped soldier, Israeli is now bombing the Gaza Strip and is poised to re-invade. It has also arrested a third of the Palestinian parliament, wrecking even its fragile illusion of capacity and reducing the already-empty vessel of the Palestinian Authority into broken shards. In the shambles, Palestinians may be observing one bitter pill of compensation: vicious angling by Fatah to reclaim control of Palestinian national politics and its rivalry with Hamas are now rendered obsolete. Even the dogged international community cannot maintain its dogged pretense that the PA is actually capable of any governance at all. The demise of the disastrous Oslo model, Israel's device to ensure its final dismemberment of Palestinian land and its fatal cooptation of the Palestinian national movement, may finally be at hand. Perhaps Palestinian unity again has a chance. But no one knows what will replace the PA. It is therefore not surprising that this transformed diplomatic landscape is absorbing the principal attention of an anxious international community. Nevertheless, politics should not be the greatest international concern. For over in Gaza, one appalling act must now eclipse all thoughts of "road maps" or "mutual gestures": on Wednesday, Israeli war planes repeatedly bombed and utterly demolished Gaza's only power plant. About 700,000 of Gaza's 1.3 million people now have no electricity, and word is that power cannot be restored for six months. It is not the immediate human conditions created by this strike that are monumental. Those conditions are, of course, bad enough. No lights, no refrigerators, no fans through the suffocating Gaza summer heat. No going outside for air, due to ongoing bombing and Israel's impending military assault. In the hot darkness, massive explosions shake the cities, close and far, while repeated sonic booms are doubtless wreaking the havoc they have wrought before: smashing windows, sending children screaming into the arms of terrified adults, old people collapsing with heart failure, pregnant women collapsing with spontaneous abortions. Mass terror, despair, desperate hoarding of food and water. And no radios, television, cell phones, or laptops (for the few who have them), and so no way to get news of how long this nightmare might go on. But this time, the situation is worse than that. As food in the refrigerators spoils, the only remaining food is grains. Most people cook with gas, but with the borders sealed, soon there will be no gas. When family-kitchen propane tanks run out, there will be no cooking. No cooked lentils or beans, no humus, no bread ? the staples Palestinian foods, the only food for the poor. (And there is no firewood or coal in dry, overcrowded Gaza.) And yet, even all this misery is overshadowed by a grimmer fact: no water. Gaza's public water supply is pumped by electricity. The taps, too, are dry. No sewage system. And again, word is that the electricity is out for at least six months. The Gaza aquifer is already contaminated with sea water and sewage, due to over-pumping (partly by those now-abandoned Israeli settlements) and the grossly inadequate sewage system. To be drinkable, well water is purified through machinery run by electricity. Otherwise, the brackish water must at least be boiled before it can be consumed, but this requires electricity or gas. And people will soon have neither. Drinking unpurified water means sickness, even cholera. If cholera breaks out, it will spread like wildfire in a population so densely packed and lacking fuel or water for sanitation. And the hospitals and clinics aren't functioning, either, because there is no electricity. Finally, people can't leave. None of the neighboring countries have resources to absorb a million desperate and impoverished refugees: logistically and politically, the flood would entirely destabilize Egypt, for example. But Palestinians in Gaza can't seek sanctuary with their relatives in the West Bank, either, because they can't get out of Gaza to get there. They can't even go over the border into Egypt and around through Jordan, because Israel will no longer allow people with Gaza identification cards to enter the West Bank. In any case, a cordon of Palestinian police are blocking people from trying to scramble over the Egyptian border--and war refugees have tried, through a hole blown open by militants, clutching packages and children. In short, over a million civilians are now trapped, hunkered in their homes listening to Israeli shells, while facing the awful prospect, within days or weeks, of having to give toxic water to their children that may consign them to quick but agonizing deaths. One woman near the Rafah border, taking care of her nephews, spoke to BBC: "If I am frightened in front of them I think they will die of fear." If the international community does nothing, her children may soon die anyway. The astonishing scale of this humanitarian situation is indeed matched only by the deafening drizzle of international reaction. "Of course it is understandable that [the Israelis] would want to go after those who kidnapped their soldier," says Kofi Anan (while the Palestinian population cowers in the dark listening to thundering explosions demolish their society), "but it has to be done in such a way that civilian populations are not made to suffer." Even as Israel bombs smash Gaza's roadways, the G-8 stands up on its hind-legs to intone, "We call on Israel to exercise utmost restraint in the current crisis." How about the Russians, now angling for position in the new "Great Game" of the Middle East? "The right and duty of the government of Israel to defend the lives and security of its citizens are beyond doubt," says Russia's foreign ministry, as though poor Corporal Shalit warrants any of this mayhem, "But this should not be done at the cost of many lives and the lives of many Palestinian civilians, by massive military strikes with heavy consequences for the civilian population." And what says noble Europe, proud font of human rights conventions, architects of the misi?n civilizatrice? "The EU remains deeply concerned," mumbles the mighty defenders of humanitarian law, "about the worsening security and humanitarian developments." Seemingly soggy phrases like "deeply concerned" are diplomatic code for "We are seriously unhappy." But under these circumstances, "remains deeply concerned" suggests that this staggering crime is just one more sobering moment in the failed "road map." Diplomatic bubbles of unreality in the Middle East are the norm rather than the exception, but at some point the international community must face the very unwelcome fact that it needs to change gear. A country that claims kinship among the western democracies of Europe is behaving like a murderous rogue regime, using any excuse to reduce over a million people to utter human misery and even mass death. Plastering Corporal Shalit's face over this policy is no more convincing that South African newspapers emblazoning the picture of one poor murdered white doctor over their coverage of the 1976 Soweto uprising. Israel has done many things argued to be war crimes: mass house demolitions, closing whole cities for weeks, indefinite "preventative" detentions, massive land confiscation, the razing of thousands of square miles of Palestinian olive groves and agriculture, systematic physical and mental torture of prisoners, extrajudicial killings, aerial bombardment of civilian areas, collective punishment of every description in defiance of the Geneva Conventions--not to mention the general humiliation and ruin of the indigenous people under its military control. But destroying the only power source for a trapped and defenseless civilian population is an unprecedented step toward barbarity. It reeks, ironically, of the Warsaw Ghetto. As we flutter our hands about tectonic political change, we must take pause: in the eyes of history, what is happening in Gaza may come to eclipse them all. Dr. Virginia Tilley is a professor of political science, currently working in South Africa. She can be reached at tilley at hws.edu. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jjc at optonline.net Wed Jun 7 05:29:55 2006 From: jjc at optonline.net (Jeffrey J. Cordulack) Date: Wed, 07 Jun 2006 09:29:55 -0000 Subject: {news} ECOS ANNUAL MEETING ~ Monday, June 12, 2006 Message-ID: <01C689F4.32413E80.jjc@optonline.net> ECOS ANNUAL MEETING ~ Monday, June 12, 2006 6:00 p.m. Reception ~ 7:00 p.m. Presentation ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Environmental Council of Stamford presents: THE STATE OF STAMFORD'S ENVIRONMENT Updates On Local Environmental Efforts & Issues Cove Island 'Bird Sanctuary' & Park - Dave Winston Stamford 'Urban Transit Way' - Johanna Paradis Animal Orphanage - Heather Bernachez Green Energy - Darek Shapiro Stamford EPB - Phil Berns And other briefings from ECOS 5 min. Presentations with 5 min. Q & A ~ Panel Discussion Afterwards Date: Monday, June 12, 2006 Schedule: 6:00 PM - Reception & Light Supper 7:00 PM - Feature Presentation Location: Stamford Government Center - 2th Floor Left Out Of Elevator. 888 Washington Blvd., Stamford, CT *Free parking in building* Note: Everyone is welcome. Bring a friend or a neighbor. While not required for attendance, ECOS Membership and donations will be accepted at the meeting. J Please RSVP to Jeff Cordulack: (203) 613-8813 or jjc at optonline.net J From cnall1 at charter.net Wed Jun 21 20:37:25 2006 From: cnall1 at charter.net (Loretta Nall) Date: Thu, 22 Jun 2006 00:37:25 -0000 Subject: {news} Re: The case of the cokehead mayor: Why not one law for all? References: <200606220031.k5M0Vx5D019287@am3.baremetal.com> Message-ID: <002401c69594$0162abe0$6601a8c0@ownerac53f5ff2> Wear it slap out Cliff!! I launched my campaign ads today You can listen to them here http://nallforgovernor.blogspot.com/2006/06/nall-launches-campaign-ads.html Loretta Nall http://www.nallforgovernor.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "clifford thornton" To: "ctgp-news" Sent: Wednesday, June 21, 2006 5:32 PM Subject: ARO: The case of the cokehead mayor: Why not one law for all? > This could be the straw that broke the camels back. This mayor has been > on TV, Print, and radio for the last > two days. With help from drug policy people in the state we may bring > this subject to the forefront for weeks. > > http://www.journalinquirer.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16818156&BRD=985&PAG=461&dept_id=565859&rfi=6 > > Wednesday, > June 21, 2006 > > Editorials > The case of the cokehead mayor: Why not one law for all? > 06/21/2006 > > Yesterday Mayor John M. Fabrizi of Bridgeport called a press conference > and cried. > > He said he'd used cocaine while mayor. > > Advertisement > > > > > He apologized to his friends and family, "to all the people of the city," > and maybe Lewis the Cat was on the list too. > > Like the Steve Martin character of years ago who confessed he'd shot his > girlfriend, the mayor said he kind of blamed himself. > > He also said he would not resign. > > He said that, bottom line, he's been a good mayor. > > And most observers who know something about it seem to agree that Fabrizi > has been a good mayor. > > But is that what we are talking about here? > > Say a 10th-grade history teacher gets busted for drugs. > > Does he get to keep his job? > > Even if he has done a great job at what he does? > > You pick the example: Cop. Minister. Short-order cook. Let's say that one > of them used to use illegal drugs, but all along he was able to do his > work and do it well. > > Does he get a pass? > > How about a single mother? > > Let's says she lives in a tough neighborhood in Bridgeport and is poor and > unemployed. She gets swept up in one of those big busts the authorities > like to conduct to show they are fighting the drug war. (Mayors always > applaud them.) And she gets arrested. Does she get another chance? > > No. She loses her kid and goes to jail. > Or the UConn student who gets busted in a raid? > > Does he go to jail? > > Probably not, but his career is ruined before he begins it. > > Even if he says the obvious, which is that he is responsible for his own > stupid choices. Even if he says so on TV and weeps. > > Which thing do we believe in? Second chances and treatment? Or the "war on > drugs" and destroying lives and jailing drug users? > > Let's decide. > > If it is OK for the mayor to be a functional user, why not anyone else? > > Suppose a bus driver or airline pilot says, "Hey, man, my record is > impeccable. I have never had an accident. I just happen to use crack > instead of Budweiser on Friday nights." > > Do we cut that guy a slack burger? > > Well, at least, as one town employee in Bridgeport said, the mayor brought > this revelation out himself. That took guts. > > Uh, no, he didn't. > > There was an inadvertent release of an FBI document in which an alleged > drug dealer claimed his "associate" had a videotape of the mayor using > cocaine. > > And then the Connecticut Post got hold of it. > > U.S. Attorney Kevin O'Connor actually apologized to Fabrizi for the > accidental release. > > O'Connor said last week that Fabrizi was not a target of the feds' drug > investigation. > > Think he would do that for a black kid with a record in Bridgeport? Sorry > to embarrass you. We were actually after someone else. We'll be moving > along now. > > The mayor said, "I will do everything, and I mean everything, I can to > redeem the respect and the support of you, the employees of the city of > Bridgeport, and of you, my friends, and of you, the great people of the > city of Bridgeport." > > He added that he had put all this behind him. > > Certainly he must hope that he has. > > Look, Fabrizi seems like a decent guy. > > And there but for the grace of whatever higher power protects or bestows > dumb luck go any of us. > > But there are two issues here. > > No. 1: Do actions have consequences? > > We live in a time in which public officials and others of great power (in > the corporations, the media, the church) preach consequences for those who > are young or powerless but accept none for themselves. They either say > that bad things just happen and no one is really to blame or, "I cried. > Can we let this one go?" > > The list is long: The head of GM drives the company into the ground and > gets a big bonus. Cardinal Law covers up child abuse and gets a sweet > sinecure in Rome. The head of the CIA and the national security adviser > say there are WMDs in Iraq, both are wrong, and one gets a medal while the > other gets a promotion. > > Remember Lord Carrington? He showed us the way. > > It's simple. You screw up, you have to pay. At least a little. > > It's just too easy to apologize if there is no consequence. > > That brings us to issue No 2: If we don't think drug use is criminal for > some people, why is it for others? > > And if we don't really think recreational drug use is like theft or arson, > why don't we decriminalize it and stop jailing people for it? > > Many of us think we should decriminalize. > > The mayor is not on a par with predecessor Joe Ganim, who went to jail for > graft. > > But let's have one system for all. > > Either prosecute Mayor Fabrizi or let all the potheads, crack users, and > junkies out of the state's prisons and jails. > > ?Journal Inquirer 2006 > > --------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Attachment: http://drugsense.org/temp/part1227.html > > Attachment: http://drugsense.org/temp/journal.gif > > Attachment: http://drugsense.org/temp/@Topx > > Attachment: > http://drugsense.org/temp/bannerad.aspXADLOCATION=4000XPAG=461XBRD=985XLOCALPCT=50XAREA=407XVERT=6543XNAREA=407Xbarnd=6664