Kat Swift of Texas Calls Out for Action

Kat Swift, Texan Green, reminds us that "We are the change we seek" in her introductory remarks at the 2008 Green Party National Convention Presidential Candidate Forum in Chicago, IL on Friday, September 11.

With Cynthia McKinney taking the nomination, Swift sets her mind on her next race, and it is a race she has a great chance at winning in her town of San Antonio, which is no cow-pokin' town. She would represent about 100,000 people from her district. Outlook appears good as dissatisfied constituents have already come out in support of her and offered to throw fundraising parties. Stay tuned.

Polidoc Crew Prepares for Green Party Convention

We will be off the blog radar for the next week, as the producers immerse themselves in projects leading up to the Green Party Convention, July 10-13 . We will update you on the Green Party Convention on site in Chicago where the Party's Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates will be selected.

Green Party Presidential Candidates Face Forward

When the Green Party Candidates face off for a debate, well, it's really more of a team sport, where the players know that the end goal is to lift the party image higher.

Lots of highlights in this Miller Politics show which I would like to illuminate, but I'm pressed for time as production is stealing away my blogging time.

Poignantly, it was the generous respect the candidates offered one another that leaves the impression that, though the nominating convention may be short, it will also be sweet.

Listen to the last of the 2008 Green Party Presidential forums (billed as a debate) on Blog Talk Radio's Miller on Politics show.

Green Party Presidential Candidates to Debate on Miller Politics Podcast Show

Dan Miller offers a nonpartisan political podcast show on which he interviews candidates of all stripes. He's a very mellow host who lets people explain their positions fully.

This Saturday, at 5 pm, he is hosting a debate with Green Party Presidential Candidates. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/millerpolitics.

The 1.5 hour show is recorded live and there is usually an opportunity to call in and ask questions. You can also listen to the show anytime afterwards.

Youngest Presidential Candidate, kat swift, Achieves Electability

Happy Birthday to the youngest candidate for US President, kat swift, who just turned 35 and now qualifies for the high office.

One of swift's priciple platform issues is egalitarianism and she points to the age
requirement of Presidential candidates as one of those isms that is Unconstitutional.

"For my birthday," swift said, "I want every person who doesn’t
benefit from the system in place to do something that makes
one happy, followed by an action that will take away one piece
of support given to those with power over their lives. Something
as simple as not using gas one day, or diverting that $20
donation from a media-preferred candidate to food for four
homeless people in your ‘hood."

Speaking of ageism, Ralph Nader, inveterate of the political scene, has come out with a strong platform stance on allowing 16 year olds to vote. It has met with heavy criticism in some arenas, while it has appealed to the young. However, civic engagement is part of everyone's right, and Nader argues, duty.

Who should vote? Who should run? Who should take part in our democracy? Feel free to comment.

Gotta Love Them Texas Cowboys

Those Texas legislators, most of whom are Republicans, know how to wrangle in the straying herd - just cut 'em off at the knees. Ballot Access Laws in Texas require that petitioners collect signatures within a 10 week period.

The hitch is, petition signers must not have voted in the primary and the 10-week period is after the primary. Green Party Presidential candidate and Texan Kat Swift said that it is impossible to accumulate the necessary signatures this year. Record breaking turnout for the primary made finding qualified signers a mission of finding the proverbial needle in a haystack. However, she did seem to find a good deal the day she went to her neighborhood fiesta dressed as her childhood hero Wonder Woman.

Ralph Nader has complained that those rules are keeping him (and others) off the ballot, but Texas Representative Leo Berman thinks it's just fine.

Just to show how things work in the Texas legislature, take a look at this house session vote. Good for a laugh.




For more info:

Dallas News: "Nader Says Texas Law Keeping Him Off Ballot"

Ballot Access News does a great job of reviewing some of the gerrymandering that goes on down there in the Lone Star State.

Kat Swift, US Presidential Candidate, Ballot Access Crusader

Kat Swift, US Presidential Candidate, Ballot Access Crusader from Polidoc on Vimeo.

Kat Swift, Green Party Presidential Candidate Crusades for Ballot Access in Texas

This short video represents Kat Swift, Green Party Presidential Candidate, in some of her efforts to help her political party gain ballot access. Kat's unabashed and gentle style offer a surprising glimpse of the challenges she faces.

If you like this video, please take the time to visit WGBH - Boston (http://lab.wgbh.org/open-call/election2008/rate-pitches) and vote for "Seriously GREEN: Kat Swift - Presidential Candidate" as your favorite short film on the topic of "My Political Story." The winners will be broadcast nationwide. It will be available to vote for after Monday, May 5, 2008. Thanks!

The Polidoc Crew

Faith Before Science Leaves Greens In the Cold

While presidential frontrunners Clinton and Obama have refused to debate over matters of Science at the Science Debate 2008 on April 18, the Democratic candidates are eager to address issues of Faith at the Forum on Faith Issues on April 13. McCain has not yet committed to either. Logistical conflict has been cited, but given the importance of Science, why does it get the short shift?

"This is not a niche debate, the future economic success of the United States depends on out-performing the competition with smart people and smart ideas. Without the best education system and aggressive investments in basic research and development we will become a second rate economic power. We hope the candidates for president take this very seriously."

-Craig Barrett

Chairman, Intel

Green Party Presidential Candidates would love to take this seriously, but they were not invited, nor even responded to when inquiries were made, according to Green Party Presidential candidate Kent Mesplay, Ph.D. of Science. He along with fellow Grassroots Presidential candidates Kat Swift and Jesse Johnson will stage their own debate in Pennsylvania mid-April, both to discuss their deep concerns related to Science and to protest their non-representation at a forum where they feel they have some stake in being heard.

The supporters of the Science Debate 2008 include a list of prominent institutions, company executives and politicians. It has been planned for months, but what do you do if you throw a debate and no one shows up?

Depending upon what happens to Clinton in the next few primaries, perhaps after Pennsylvania's, the organization will hope to have a debate in Oregon before the state's primary in May.


resources:
Science Debate 2008
Forum on Faith
Plan B for the Science Debate

Ralph Nader Announces His Candidacy For the Presidency

Many Greens Wonder Whether He Will Pursue the Green Party Nomination or Seek a Party-Splitting Endorsement

On Sunday morning,Ralph Nader announced his Independent run for the Presidency on "Meet the Press" citing issues of civil liberties and ballot access as driving him into the race. Nader charged the Democratic candidates with taking issues such as single payer health care, labor law reform and the bloated defense department budget “off the table”.

On Thursday, February 27 he will hold his first public address in Washington, DC and announce his running mate. In the past, he has run with Winona LaDuke, Medea Benjamin and Peter Camejo.

Nader’s declaration met with mixed reactions from Democrats as well as some Green Party members. Democratic Candidate Senator Hillary Clinton stated that Nader’s candidacy is “…unfortunate” and “It’s not good for anybody, especially our country.” She cited Nader’s run with the Green Party against Al Gore saying “Nader prevented Gore from being the Greenest President we could have had.”

Senator Barak Obama commented: “Ralph Nader deserves enormous credit for the work he did as a consumer advocate. But his function as a perennial candidate is not putting food on the table of workers.” He also downplayed the impact of Nader’s candidacy, saying "I think anybody has the right to run for president if they file sufficient papers. And I think the job of the Democratic Party is to be so compelling that a few percentage of the vote going to another candidate's not going to make any difference."

This response from Obama is, at least, refreshing compared to many Democrats, who are determined to win the next election at any cost, according to Progressive Radio Talk Show Host Ed Schultz. As an example, Democratic party operators sued Nader during his 2004 run to try and keep him off the ballot in a smattering of states. Defensively, Nader is suing the DNC for infringing the rights of third parties to attain ballot access.

While many Greens are relieved and thrilled that Nader has committed to a run, others are unsure what this means for their Party as they apportion delegates. Nader has already decisively won the Green Party’s primary contest in California. If Nader runs outside the party, will he still receive a motherlode of delegates from the Green Party of California? How does this impact the other candidates vying to be on the top of the Green Party ticket, including former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, who has won the Green Party primaries in Washington, DC and Illinois and came in second behind "undecided" in Arakansas.

Political Director of the National Green Party (GPUS), Brent McMillan said, "Clearly, Ralph would be one of the front runners if he chooses to seek the Green Party's nomination. We currently have a great field of candidates that are campaigning aggressively for the nomination. We believe that seeking the Green Party's nomination will ultimately be of greater value than running as an independent."

Nader's camp assures that he intends to seek the nomination, but if that effort is challenged, will the independent State Green Parties ignore the national party's nomination and offer Nader a party splitting endorsement? This choice wreaked havoc within the party in 2004 and many are concerned that another split will fracture the Party while it needs to be coming together. Most Greens want a candidate who will run hard - in their name.

Green Party Presidential Candidates Kent Mesplay, Jesse Johnson and Kat Swift

Three of the four Green Party Presidential candidates met in Scottsdale, AZ this last weekend to help with a signature drive to get the Green Party on the state's ballot. Though the party gained ballot access in Arizona after the 2000 election, the Greens have to regain their ballot lines for the upcoming contest. Green Party Presidential candidates Kat Swift and Kent Mesplay pounded the pavement for signatures at a parade and festival on Saturday and Presidential candidate, Jesse Johnson helped with Sunday's efforts.

They felt that Nader's lack of commitment to run as a Green is disrupting the Party. While Nader can expect to pull many votes from Greens, many party organizers and members feel that it is time for the Green Party leader to be a party member.

“It’s frustrating," said Swift. "We (grassroots candidates) are totally excluded from consideration by members of the party because the focus is on whether or not Nader is going to run. It leaves us all up in the air and doesn’t help build cohesiveness in the party, which is why we are all running. We’re all trying to build the party and win the nomination and then get behind whomever does win the nomination, move forward and win the election.”

"Ralph Nader has been accorded special draft status," said Mesplay. "When does that end? I have a feeling the way things are going, that at the time of the Convention, he will still be, in whatever way he can maneuver, a draft status candidate and that is just not good enough. We can respect Nader for being an Independent, but if he wants our ballot lines he has to take that extra step and register as a Green."

From California to Illinois and Pennsylvania, the discussion amongst Greens is hot and diverse. After tomorrow's announcement regarding Nader's selected VP, a profoundly new stage of the Green Party Presidential campaign will have been set.

Bay Area California Green Parties Host "A Debate that Matters"

Presidential Candidates vying for the Green Party nomination will debate on Sunday, January 13 at the beautiful Herbst Theater in San Francisco, CA from 2 pm - 4 pm.

Those in attendance include:

• Jared Ball
• Jesse Johnson
• Kent Mesplay
• Cynthia McKinney
• Kat Swift

Undeclared candidate Ralph Nader, who appears on the California ballot as well, will not participate in the debate, according to the most recent agreement, but will address the audience after the debate.

The debate will be moderated by Activist Cindy Sheehan and Bay Area Green Party members and office holders Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, School board member Mark Sanchez and former Supervisor Matt Gonzalez and On-Air personality Aimee Allison. Candidates will also address audience questions.

The debate, which was planned over this last month by Alameda and San Francisco County Green Parties, is very significant. It will be the only opportunity for these candidates to face off before Super Tuesday. Ralph Nader and Cynthia McKinney will be the major draw for the event. Greens are eager to hear the two leading candidates hammer at the issues that seem to escape the debates of the Democrats and Republicans. The Iraq War, Economic Justice and the Ecology will dominate the floor. Yet to be seen is how well will the the lesser known candidates appear against these two mighty contenders. They are each articulate and caring and informed in their own rights, but have only worked on local and state levels previously.

The short notice of the debate puts the less robustly financed candidates in a difficult position as they scramble to find a home at which to stay in the Bay Area. To not show up slices him/her out of a significant opportunity to get their message and name known on a national level. The debate will be videtaped and uploaded to YouTube and promoted on Green Party list-servs and websites.

Jared Ball of Washington D.C. returns to the Bay Area after having just campaigned in California in mid-December, despite the pressures of having a new baby at home and a professorial job. Jesse Johnson, who is challenging the West Virginia Election Board to get the Green Party on the ballot, was caught by surprise by the short notice; his delay in confirming his attendance resulted in his name not being included in on-air and print material. Kat Swift, the sixth candidate has made a sudden change as well and will be coming out.

Elaine Brown, activist and former Black Panther Party leader, removed herself from the race two weeks ago.

The video will be available several days after the debate. KPFA will be broadcasting the debate. Democracy Now and Polidoc Productions will be working together to create an archival video of the event.

Arkansas Green Party Candidates File For Presidential Primary

Cynthia McKinney, Kent Mesplay, Kat Swift and Jared Ball will appear on the Green Party ballot candidates on the Arkansas primary for President. Compare that to California or Illinois' list for an understanding of the many shades of green.

In California, in addition to the four already mentioned, Ralph Nader Elaine Brown and Jesse Johnson passed the Green radar.

In Illinois, Kat Swift and Jesse Johnson was passed over.

Delegates from other states will cast their votes during this summer's convention to be held in Chicago. Hopefully, that will give the final candidate enough time to effectively mount their final campaign for the November 2008 standoff.

read more | digg story

Illinois Nails Petition Deadline for Presidential Primary

The Illinois Green Party successfully gathered enough signatures for the following four candidates on the Presidential Primary Election in February.

• Jared Ball
• Howie Hawkins, stand-in for Ralph Nader
  
• Cynthia McKinney
  
• Kent Mesplay
  

It was Gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney 's 2006 run that achieved statewide party status and significantly eased ballot access requirements for the state's new but quickly growing party. This opportunity (and challenge) to place candidates on the state's primary ballot is a symbol of success, both for the state's party but for all the Greens. Being on the primary ballot will boost the visibility of the party in the state, itself the goal of many of the candidates.

During an interview at the Annual State meeting, Whitney said that meeting the two candidates who managed to make it there made a difference for him. Californian Kent Mesplay and Washington, D.C. Jared Ball had committed their campaign pocket book to demonstrate the importance of introducing themselves to the state's party representatives. Showing up seemed to have made a difference in the case of the Illinois petition drive as signatures were not collected for other grassroots candidates.

Three grassroots candidates who were placed on the California primary ballot but did not make it onto the Illinois ballot were:

• Texas activist Kat Swift
• Georgia's Elaine Brown and
• West Virginia's Jesse Johnson, who is also considering a gubernatorial run.

Neither Howie Hawkins who is a stand-in for Ralph Nader, nor Cynthia McKinney made it to the Illinois State meeting; however their international notoriety was enough to garner the support of petitioners who collected signatures on their behalves. McKinney was in Chicago at the time and did meet with party leaders to discuss a strategy for accruing signatures, which apparently went well.