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Newsletter of the Green Party of Ohio
Vol. IV, No. 3, Feb. 8, 2004
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Contents
1. State Party News – Convention Results, Signature Gathering,
Terry Lodge’s “Rant of the Day”
2. National Party News – National Convention Details
3. Special News Items of Interest – by Grant Lawrence
4. Opinion: Newsletter Editorial – David Cobb for President, Letters
to the Editor
1. State Green Party News
A. Convention Results
Selected items from the Draft Minutes for the 2004 Green Party of Ohio
State Convention
Green Party Presidential Candidates David Cobb and Kent Mesplay addressed
the Convention and answered questions.
Presidential Poll - First Round Votes (note that Ohio’s Delegation
to the National Convention is bound by State Rules to vote for these candidates
in the same proportion as their first round votes as shown below. If Ohio
seats 23 delegates the delegate count for each candidate is shown below.
Ohio Delegates may only vote at the Convention for individuals who the
Delegation decides are declared candidates for the Nomination)
Ranked in Order of Votes (for those who got enough votes to win a Delegate)
David Cobb, 39.3%, 9 Delegates
Peter Camejo, 21.3%, 5 Delegates
Lorna Salzman, 13.5%, 3 Delegates
Ralph Nader, 6.7%, 2 Delegates
Paul Glover, 4.5%, 1 Delegate
None of the Above, 4.5%, 1 Delegate
Kent Mesplay 3.4%, 1 Delegate
Dennis Kucinich, 2.2%, 1 Delegate
Since none of the candidates gained a majority of the votes we moved
an IRV process and in the Seventh Round of that process David Cobb won
a majority of the votes, with the results in detail below:
David Cobb, 50.5%
Peter Camejo, 26.4%
Lorna Salzman, 23%
David Cobb was declared the overall winner of the Green Party of Ohio
Presidential Poll.
Logan Martinez led a panel discussion on Grassroots Campaigning. Logan
is a State Coordinating Committee member from Dayton and a member of the
National Candidates Coordinating Committee. On the panel were:
a) Bob Fitrakis, publisher of the Free Press (www.freepress.org) in Columbus
and a Green Party Candidate for Columbus City Council and the Columbus
School Board in 2003.
b) Chris Glassburn, currently running as a Green candidate for a State
House seat in Cleveland’s southwest suburbs, Cuyahoga County.
c) Rick Otten, Treasurer of the Green Party of Ohio, currently running
as a Green candidate for a State House seat in Eastern Franklin County.
d) Rich Stevenson, State Coordinating Committee member from Cincinnati,
currently running for a State House Seat.
Delegates to the National Convention were elected. Since only 18 people
put their names forward for 23 seats, all were elected. They are: David
Berenson, Tyler Boone, Tim Bruce, Russ Buckbee, Kimberly Burgas, Kate
Curry, Paul Dumouchelle, Patti Fridrich, Chris Glassburn, Tiki Kai Krismano,
Gwen Marshall, Logan Martinez, Scott Nass, Rick Otten, Anita Rios, Nathan
Ruggles, Priscilla R. Smith, Rob Smith.
On this topic the Convention later passed a proposal to empower the Coordinating
Committee to select and certify additional delegates and alternates for
Ohio. The applicants must have been registered with the Green Party of
Ohio by 1/31/04. The Coordinating Committee must seek delegates for gender
balance and to represent historically under-represented groups consistent
with the previously established rules. Thus they must seek 5 women including
at least one person of color to fill the delegation. The Coordinating
Committee shall hold open applications for delegates until April 10th,
2004.
The Convention passed a resolution regarding a War Crimes Tribunal to
investigate the 2003 Iraq Invasion. The full text is available at www.ohiogreens.org
Patti Fridrich, State Coordinating Committee member from Kent presented
a discussion on Urban Sprawl.
Gwen Marshall presented a discussion on Education.
Dave Berenson presented a discussion on a Universal Healthcare Single
Payer Plan in Ohio called the OhioCare Plan. This may be pursued in the
near future as a "citizens's initiative" to get a law passed
in Ohio.
Deborah Baker presented a discussion on Local Organizing.
B. Signature Gathering
FULL MOBILIZATION OF THE PARTY TO COLLECT SIGNATURES TO PLACE OUR CANDIDATES
ON THE BALLOT. It's very important that we make an all out effort to get
as many of these candidates on the ballot as possible.
Rick Otten – Statehouse seat in Eastern Franklin County, Chris
Glassburn – Statehouse seat in Cuyahoga County, Frank Doden –
US Congress for Fairfield/Yellow Springs & parts of Central Ohio,
Rich Stevenson – Statehouse seat in Cincinnati.
Contact Logan Martinez or any of these candidates for details –
loganmartinez@hotmail.com
C. LODGE'S RANT-O'-THE-DAY:
Terry Lodge represented the Green Party of Ohio in our lawsuit against
the State of Ohio regarding ballot labeling in 2000.
To the FCC, a request from the Boobs and Body Parts Fairness Campaign
From: "Terry Lodge" <tjlodge50@yahoo.com>
Subject: To the FCC: A request from the Boobs and Body Parts Fairness
Campaign
To the Members of the Federal Communications Commission:
I wholly agree that an inquiry into the carefully-rehearsed, staged exposure
of Janet Jackson's surgically-enhanced cleavage is of the highest priority
for the FCC. In fact, the bluenoses at the Justice Department should impose
a heightened alert setting - perhaps Code Red - over this catastrophe.
The horrifying principal evidence in this priority investigation should
be played, replayed, and yes, replayed again on all networks for weeks
to come, so that the public will know fully of this threat to our grave
national insecurity over sex. I certainly wish the Federal Communications
Commission well in its quest to finally cleanse our privatized, media-concentrated
airwaves of every disgusting hint at the existence of warmth, intimacy
and the nonviolent exchange of love between the genders. But your efforts
must go farther, and that's why I'm writing. I'm making a plea on behalf
of increased TV coverage for other parts of the body - specifically, the
shredded, mangled, pulped, bloodied, detached limbs and heads of U.S.
troops that continue to spew from the dozens of bloody bombings, mortar
and rocket attacks in Iraq. These violent detachments and decapitations
are never aired. Perhaps a concerted FCC effort toward the showing of
fewer tits and more body bits would help address the FCC's twin goals
of affording the media-consuming American public more choices, even as
it diverts their minds from acting upon their dirty-minded sexual proclivities.
And so, I'm demanding as urgent an investigation into the chronic absence
of gaping, bloody, hamburgerized limbs and skulls from our TV screens,
as has been undertaken into the presence of Janet Jackson's boob on those
same screens. To assist the FCC, I'm placing the full resources of my
"Boobs and Body Parts Fairness Campaign" at your disposal so
that we might get to the bottom (oops, apologies, no sexual innuendo intended)
of this remarkable discrepancy.
Please help; a Red Alert may hang in the balance.
Terry Lodge
2. National Party News
A. Selected Items from “GREENSWEEK”
http://www.gp.org/greensweek/index.html
Green Party of the United States: http://www.gp.org
NATIONAL: Read the Green Party rebuttal to President Bush's State of
the Union address and the Democratic Party's response: www.gp.org/press/pr_01_20_04.html
(January 20 pre-speech rebuttal) www.gp.org/press/pr_01_23_04b.html (January
23 follow-up rebuttal)
NATIONAL: Essential information about the Green Party's 2004 National
Nominating Convention, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from June 23 to 28, 2004,
and presidential candidates:
- Convention information: www.gp.org/convention/process.html
- Registration https://secure.gpus.org/convention/
- Presidential candidates, nomination process
www.gp.org/convention/process.html
- David Cobb for President www.votecobb.org (may be under
construction) groups.yahoo.com/group/Cobb4President
- Lorna Salzman for President www.lornasalzman.com
groups.yahoo.com/group/Lorna4President/
- Redraft Nader groups.yahoo.com/group/RalphNader2004/
- Draft Camejo www.DraftCamejo.org
groups.yahoo.com/group/camejoforpresident/
- Carol Miller: contact carolmiller@newmexico.com
- Kent Mesplay for President www.presidentkent.org
Reminder for all Greens running for public office: make sure you're in
the
3. News Items of Interest
by Grant Lawrence - grantlaw@buckeye-express.com
A Record of Lies or Stupidity?
"Our intelligence officials estimate that Saddam Hussein had the
materials to produce as much as 500 tons of Sarin, mustard and VX nerve
agent." - President George W. Bush, State of the Union Address, Jan.
28, 2003
"The security of the world requires disarming Saddam Hussein now."
- President George W. Bush, March 17, 2003
"We've begun the search for hidden chemical and biological weapons
and already know of hundreds of sites that will be investigated. No terrorist
network will gain weapons of mass destruction from the Iraqi regime because
the regime is no more." - President George W. Bush, May 1, 2003
http://www.rense.com/general48/saddam.htm
Before the Iraqi War, American intelligence officials claim it was widely
known that there were no Weapons of Mass Destruction.
Ah, only the President didn't know. How Convenient.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0%2C12271%2C1136351%2C00.html
Free Trade Great Only for Some
Contracting jobs overseas is 'simply the latest manifestation of free
trade', a top White House economic aide said in defense of a practice
used by American companies.
Hey, free trade is all the rage unless it's a little old lady trying
to get a discount on her prescription drugs by purchasing from Canadian
suppliers. Well, that is illegal!
http://business-times.asia1.com.sg/story/0,4567,106065,00.html
More Information on the Whitewash
Not only are the British public right about the Hutton investigation
being a whitewash for Tony Blair, but British specialist Doctors voice
their concern that the evidence given at the Hutton Inquiry regarding
the death of Dr. David Kelly doesn't support suicide. Kelly, you may remember,
supposedly killed himself after being revealed by the British government
as the one giving information to the BBC about the lack of evidence for
the WMDs. The Doctors said that they dispute that Dr Kelly could have
died from hemorrhage or from Co-Proxamol ingestion or from both.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/letters/story/0,3604,1131833,00.html
Voting Machines Could Be Exploited
Computers that Maryland voters will use in the March primary contain
"vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malicious individuals,"
according to programmers who tested the equipment.
Excuse me, but I think that is likely the point of using the machines.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=548&e=20&u=/ap/voting_machines
Homelessness Will Grow Hatred
A United Nation Agency said that it may not be able to cope with the
numbers of Palestinians made homeless by Israelis.
Feeding the cycle of hatred and violence, the Israelis are assured an
enemy for years to come and maybe that is the plan.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3428517.stm
Mad Cow Disease Causes classical CJD
Recent animal tests indicate that eating infected beef may also cause
another form of the disease, classical CJD, forcing scientists to re-examine
assumptions about the nature of the deadly disease and raising fears that
it may be more widespread than previously thought.
http://www.unknownnews.net/040122madcowb.html
Britain is likely to be plunged into an ice age within our lifetime by
global warming, new research suggests.
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/environment/story.jsp?story=484490
Few Bothered by Matrix
It sounds like a sci-fi thriller: a super computer program that gathers
dossiers on every single man, woman and child -- everything from birth
and marriage and divorce history to hunting licenses and car license plates.
Even every address you have lived at down to the color of your hair.
The good people of Utah were disturbed by the project, and have put pressure
on the state government to bow out. But most of America likes living in
a technological police state because George W. is a good Christian.
http://www.unknownnews.net/040130matrix.html
4. Opinion
David Cobb for President
Editorial – by Paul Dumouchelle, Green Party of Ohio Newsletter
Editor
The Green Party of Ohio has pledged the majority of its delegates to
the National Convention and the Green Party’s Presidential Nomination
to David Cobb. I voted for David Cobb. To do so I had to change my ballot,
I had already recorded a vote for Peter Camejo as my first choice and
David as my second choice. I changed my mind the morning of the Convention
after hearing David speak.
My choice of Camejo was based on his record as a long-time Green Party
member, his multiple candidacies for high-profile positions in California,
including a very respectable 4th place showing in the recent California
Governor Recall vote. Besides being the most prominent of the declared
candidates, I found his “Avacado Statement” (available at
www.ohiogreens.org) to be a strong statement of purpose for our party.
What was decisive for me, initially, is that I felt Peter Camejo was
more likely than David Cobb to avoid the nightmare scenario of betrayal
– the worst thing that I think can happen to a Green Party Presidential
Campaign – a last-minute withdrawal under pressure to aid the Democratic
Candidate. To Ralph Nader’s everlasting credit he had the integrity
to run to the end of the 2000 Presidential race. I consider a last-minute
withdrawal to be the worst possible scenario because the efforts of those
who support the Green Presidential Candidate should be considered sacred
sacrifices toward building a true progressive future for our country.
I consider them sacred because we are struggling “against all odds”
(David Cobb’s words) to build a truly just and sustainable society
and that struggle provides meaning to my life and many others and sacrifices
in this effort should be held inviolable, not something that can be bargained
away in the heat of late-campaign pressures.
On January 31 I changed my vote to support David Cobb because he convinced
me that he is committed to running to the end. While he has been associated
with the “Safe States” strategy concept (something I abhor)
he described his own concept as a “smart strategy” and he
said he would follow the lead of the State Parties in swing states like
Ohio. This is very important to me. I think we should run a strong campaign
in Ohio and if we, as a Party, decide to do that then David said he will
campaign here with us. David said, at a minimum, it was very important
that we get the Green Nominee on the ballot in Ohio.
Unlike Peter Camejo, David is running a strong, coherent campaign for
the nomination across the country. We should support David’s efforts
with more than just delegates at the National Convention. We must begin
work to get our eventual Nominee’s name on the ballot for the election
in November.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Dear Editor:
Your editorial (“Green Hope” – January 25) is outstanding.
It's making me rethink some things. Such as, how to vote in November.
I voted my conscience in the last presidential election and voted Green.
Yet, this time I've been thinking I've got to vote democrat because I
am absolutely beyond desperate to get Bush out of there. The Green Party
will suffer this year because of that desperation. It's insane, I know,
because a democrat won't change things much. Lately I've been thinking
about how much the president is simply a puppet of the people, and not
just the overly wealthy and powerful people. Everyday folks are oblivious
to their direct participation in and support of the policies that are
bringing them misery.
Voting Green means voting for hope. I'll pass it on.
Peace,
Beth Gehres
Dear Editor:
(Regarding the proposal calling for a War Crimes Tribunal for Iraq)
If we as a political party do not remain serious about serious issues
we are going to be marginalized even more than we currently are. While
I agree that the Pre-emption strategy is completely without precedent
or merit, show trials and mock courts are in no way going to raise the
status of this party or its leaders to serious players. Drafting a statement
condemning pre-emptive war is commendable and I believe correct. End it
there. We will be proved right in the long run.
Thank You
Michael Woehrman
Publication Details
The Green Party of Ohio Newsletter is published by the Green Party of
Ohio. www.ohiogreens.org The Mission of the Newsletter is to aggressively
promote citizen involvement in making real the Green dream for Ohio and
America as stated in the GPOH Platform, the USGP Platform and those parties’
formal policy positions.
The Mission of the Green Party of Ohio is to focus the political power
of the people to:
1. preserve and restore viable ecosystems,
2. establish social justice and equity,
3. foster participatory democracy,
4. promote and practice nonviolence as a means of conflict resolution,
and
5. ensure the rights of a community-based economic system for all people.
Letters to the editor are accepted but please keep them brief and the
Editor reserves the right to publish or not publish any such letter and
edit them to fit the newsletter format. The Green Party of Ohio Newsletter
does not represent official GPOH policy unless specifically stated. The
Green Party of Ohio Newsletter operates under the guidance of the State
Coordinating Committee Media Committee, which can be contacted through
the State Party Website. Paid for by the Green Party of Ohio Political
Action Fund (OH1066) PO Box 754 New Albany, OH 43054
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