Independent Greens affiliate Independence Party of Minnesota in the black
2012 - The Rise of the
Independence Party of Minnesota! Indy Greens of Virginia sister party.
I am proud to report that your Independence Party is strong,
and secure - and while campaign finance reports aren't due until the end of January 2012, as your treasurer I can tell you
that we are the only major party in the state that's in the black. You can rest assured that we continue to stand as
the ONLY party of true fiscal responsibility.
Help Us Enact Real Reform
Please consider helping the Independence Party march into 2012 with an even bigger edge over
the GOP and the DFL. Make your most generous contribution on our secure website. Your contribution of $25, $50, $100 or more will help us get our message out by building a state-of-the-art website
and expanding our growing social media presence. Strengthening our state legislative candidate fund will help us elect
our strongest candidates to the legislature to enact real fiscal reform.
Know that your political dollars will go toward putting Minnesotans
first. Help us move Minnesota forward by taking action and contribute now!
Hard at Work in 2012
I want you to keep me extremely
busy. With campaign finance reports due at the end of January, I need for you to really make me work hard as your state
party treasurer. In return, I hope to see each each and every one of you participate in our statewide precinct caucuses
on Tuesday, February 7. There's strength in numbers - and if 2010 was any indication of the need for reform - I hope
2012 is even more successful for the Independence Party of Minnesota!
Thank you for your continued support, and may 2012 prove to bring real change and real
representation for the people of Minnesota!
With best regards for a transformational New Year!
Sally Paulsen
Treasurer and Interim Secretary
Independence Party of Minnesota
Green Party Women
Green Party works to put women in politics
Green Party leader Elizabeth May says the hard work is just beginning.
When May was elected to the House of Commons on May 2, she began contacting other female members and soon helped form
a new all-party women’s caucus to tackle some of the issues facing women in politics.
http://www.saanichnews.com/news/136444618.html
Iceland Green Party minister steps down.
31 dec 11 @ 6:03 pm est
Welsh Green Party names woman leader
Welsh Green Party names woman new leader
Pipi Bartolotti
The campaigner against an incinerator in Newport, where she lives, Ms Bartolotti also went with ships taking
aid to Gaza.
She said: “I’m proud and humbled to be leading the Wales Green Party at
a time when our message of solving economic and environmental challenges together is desperately needed.
“People deserve to be represented by a party prepared to present sturdy policies to bring Wales through
the difficult years to come.”
Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2011/12/31/welsh-green-party-names-new-leader-91466-30037173/#ixzz1i9jn7zfW
Tex Wood, Independent Greens of Virginia,
A modest proposal
by Tex Wood
“Only the organized get to play.” Attributed to David Stockman.
“Sticking with what we’ve got will get us what
we’ve got.” Tex Wood
The
current, surprising, active reaction (Occupy Wall Street, the 99%ers, 99ers, the Redneck Party, the generally insulted and
enraged) to the status quo and to having permitted (and voted for) the hijacking of our government by huge
corporations, bankers, and other silk-suited SOBs serves those participating in the civil actions with some satisfaction…hollow
and in-effectual as these actions are in a practical sense.
Our problem is not in Washington, never has been. The problem is out
here…amongst us, even though some of that usis actually actively protesting, granted, but to no discernible,
practical result.
We
also consistently elect Republocrats to Congress, as salient an example of the Stockholm syndrome as can be found.
Wanna fix it?
The sole and singular activity that has to be agreed upon is
simply stated: replace all the Republocrats in Congress with any people who are not Republocrats, not one of them.
All other issues are irrelevant hot air.
We now know who the present Congress serves
(i.e., not us).
Replace
ALL of them. Forget the Presidency; it’s too late for that now.
But there is time to collect petition signatures to put anyone who
is not a Republocrat on the ballot for the U.S. House, even though ballot access laws vary from state to state.
Your Congresspeople or Senators might act
as if they are listening to you, but their consistent actions reveal they work for BIG money even though you (not BIG money)
voted them into office. If you do not feel conned, you should feel conned because you have been conned.
Putting on the ballot and voting into office
anyone who is not a Repubocrat will accomplish an improvement over thestatus quo. Venting on the WEB or
in the streets is an in-effective waste of time and energy accomplishing nothing practical. Those thinking that
the Republocrats will ever listen only have to see that the Republocrats have never listened, have never listened, have never
listened, have never listened, and have never listened. They aren’t listening now. Think they
ever will? They will do whatever someone with a more expensive suit on tells them to do. (So all we
have to do is buy a bunch of expensive suits?)
If
you’re not getting candidate signatures on petitions, you’re wasting your time and energy. If you dither
much over who those candidates will be, that time is wasted. Anybody not a Republocrat will be an
improvement. Your current Representative or Senator, cordial though he or she may be, is one of Them, a functionary
for Big Money, which has recently slurped up two or three trillion of our tax money for Them. …and
some people still splutter the word socialismwhen they cannot even spell fascism, much less know
what it is. A variant of socialism builds our roads and school…used to build hospitals and public parks
for all us tax payers, but such a comment is a digression.
Ideally, the non-Republocrat candidate will have some age and a bachelor’s degree,
not be some slogan-spouting ideologue; however, your pet goldfish would suffice. First requiring any potential
candidate to deliver his or her first 100 VALID petition signatures for him or herself will eliminate most hot airbags.
Or you can vent on the net or blog or protest
in the streets and wind up with the same trash in Congress, which has delivered us this nauseating mess, their having convinced
many of us that we went broke caring for our old, our ill, our poor, and our wounded. For those two-to-three trillion
dollar bailouts, we could have put a doctor on every block and built mansions for our homeless, probably cured most cancers,
and had change left over.
In
most states, a petition signature is not an endorsement of the candidate, but support of that person’s right to be on
the ballot so that person can campaign, stating what he or she will do so the voters can decide. Campaigning without
a place on the ballot is senseless.
The
first step is to contact your state board of elections. TRIPLE check whatever you’re told, getting everything
in writing or on an e-mail. If you dither and blather, the deadlines will pass, and you can go back to self-indulgence
on a blog or on the net and on the streets and splutter away.
Collecting signatures is an arduous undertaking. Opening up with asking
if a person is a registered voter generally gets a positive response. Spend no more than a minute getting any signature. Don’t
be de-railed by every gnat and mosquito’s wing that falls on the rail. If the person signs the petition,
fine. If not, move on, and keep moving.
Anything except gathering petition signatures is useless hot air.
Sincerely,
Tex
Wood Woolwine, Va. (The
Tex Plan)
P.S. Another
waste of time would be trying to contact me. There is nothing to discuss. If you find yourself in a
group that wants to argue and posture, just move on. Get the signatures; put someone not a Republocrat on the ballot. That,
folks, isn’t easy, and you will have to do it.
(The actual election should you get a non-Republocrat on the
ballot…well, the electorate is in a conditioned trance to vote Replublocrat and accustomed to becoming a citizen of
a Third World Country. Good Luck ! God Speed! Forward this. Blog it; tweet it [riiiight]. I
have no proprietary interest in this essay.)
# # #
Tex Wood is a co-founder, and central committee member of the Independent Greens
of Virginia and U.S. Marine Corps veteran.
Syrian Green Party opposition activist and Green Party politician attacked
A Green Party politician and Syrian opposition activist has
been attacked and injured in an assault in Berlin. Authorities are looking into whether the attackers had links with the Syrian
secret services.
German police
say a local politician in Berlin who is active in the Syrian opposition has been injured in an attack by two men in his home.
The Green Party said it suspected the Syrian
secret services of being behind the attack on Ferhad Ahma, who represents the party on a Berlin district council. Ahma is
also a member of the Syrian National Council, an opposition coalition group.
Police said the 37-year-old Ahma suffered serious bruises and other wounds in the
attack, but declined medical treatment.
Attack with metal bars
In a statement, the Greens said two men claiming to be policemen came to Ahma's flat at around 2 a.m. on Monday
and beat him with metal bars and clubs when he opened the door.
The party said the attackers' Arab appearance and the fact that Ahma had received previous threats
led it to conclude that the attackers had links to the regime in Damascus.
Police say it is still unclear who carried out the attack.
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15631179,00.html
Independent Greens succeed where Newt fails
Since Ross Perot the Independent
Greens of Virginia have succeeded at putting statewide candidates on the ballot by collecting tens of thousands of signatures.
We respect and admire our neighbors. Get out there door to door and make our pitch.
That the millionaire former speaker of the House of Representatives has failed to make the Virginia primiary ballot
proves several things.
Independent Greens of Virginia run a disciplined, focused, petition
gathering effort.
As a recognized state party in Virginia the Indy Greens still operate
under more rigerous rules than Newt did.
Even with the less difficult rules, Newt failed, as did
in fact all the other candidates, save the noble Ron Paul, and that other hundred millionaire guy. Note this important
difference. The state chairman of the the two larger parties decide who makes their primary ballots.
For the non ballot qualified Indy Greens the more difficult standard applies. The state board of elections
checks every signature, and must verify and validate. So, when you remember this day, and deed, recall what a spectacular
hurdle the Independent Green Party - a conservative Green Party - has managed to clear year after year, election after election
- when the millionaires have failed. Finally the good news is simple. Good old American Green Party dedication,
hard work, heart, and belief gets the job done.
It is the work ethic that has built and sustained
these United States. From day one, when American University graduate Petra Kelly founded the Green Party it has
always been what we are about. So when you are looking for a Party with real American values. Look to your Independent
Greens of Virginia.
Bend it like Beckman a 1 per center as Green Party fights for 99%
24 dec 11 @ 9:47 pm est
German Green Party supports tax cuts
24 dec 11 @ 9:34 pm est
Green Party Santa - part of the 99%
Green Party Santa, Part of the 99%
See this new web site. Green Party
leaders organizing Occupy across the U.S. and the world.
http://www.gp.org/ows/
New Times feature on Hungarian Green Party leader
New
York Times:
Hungary’s Green Party in parliment fights ruling Government and
Fear ‘Demolition of Democracy’
Published: December 21, 2011
BUDAPEST — In less than two years
as a member of the Hungarian Parliament, Timea Szabo, Green Party says she has looked on helplessly as the ruling Fidesz
Party has used its two-thirds majority to tighten its grip on the news media and the courts, redraw parliamentary districts
in its favor and pack the constitutional court with supporters. On Jan. 1, a new “majoritarian” Constitution written
and ratified by Fidesz takes hold.
“They are preparing the funeral for the Hungarian Republic,”
The Green Party's Ms. Szabo said.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/22/world/europe/foes-of-hungarys-government-fear-demolition-of-democracy.html?pagewanted=all
New Zealand Green Party enters coalition talks with Conservative Prime Minister
Key wants long-term Green Party relationship
Prime Minister John Key has signalled he is interested in a long
term relationship with the Green Party that would see them potentially propping up a future National government by abstaining
on confidence and supply.
He will go into talks today with Green Party co-leaders Russel Norman and Metiria Turei and says he will be exploring
with them whether such a relationship is possible.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/6166368/Key-wants-long-term-Green-Party-relationship
Dr. Jill Stein, Green Party presidential candidate radio interview
19 dec 11 @ 6:22 pm est
Green Party welcomes troop withdrawal.
Green Party welcomes news of troop withdrawal
from Iraq, urges further steps for peace
GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org
WASHINGTON, DC -- Green Party
leaders welcomed the news of the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq by the end of December, calling the presidential order
more than eight years overdue. Greens urged President Obama to let the troops come home to be with their families for the
holiday, rather than stationed or redeployed elsewhere.
"We're glad that President Obama is calling all US military personnel home from Iraq and
has ignored Republican demands to prolong the occupation. The President is honoring a binding Status of Forces Agreement between
the United States and Iraq that President Bush signed. The US must make every effort now to help US troops return to their
civilian lives, especially those who've been wounded or have suffered psychological trauma because of the war. We owe the
troops a great debt and an apology for sending them to fight in a war based on deception and cooked intelligence," said
Carl Romanelli, Pennsylvania Green and member of the party's International Committee (http://www.gp.org/committees/intl).
Ukranian Green Party launches 2012 campaign
Ukrainian Green Party to participate in 2012 parliamentary elections
The Ukrainian Green Party will participate in the parliamentary elections in 2012.
Such a
decision was taken at the 21st extraordinary congress of the party in Kyiv on December 17, the party's press service reported.
A resolution on the party's participation in the elections was unanimously supported by all of the delegates
at the congress.
"Despite an actually discriminatory
election law with respect to the vast majority of parties in Ukraine - potential participants in the elections and their voters,
the Green Party of Ukraine will make every effort to overcome artificially created legislative obstacles and take an active
part in the 2012 elections," the party's leader, Denys Moskal, said.
http://www.interfax.com.ua/eng/main/89294/
Irish Green Party story of four years in government
How the Greens ended up stranded in the asylum of government - Dealing with the Devil of Economic
Collapse - when Greens predicted the demise.
A new book is out in Ireland. It describes
four years of a Green Party coalition government. A time when Greens had long said the financial sector, and especially
real estate was out of control.
"Things
seemed to go well enough until the fateful month of September 2008, when the bottom fell out of the economy – though
perhaps this should not have been such a surprise to the Greens as it seems to have been, since we are told that the party
had told the bankers before 2007 that mortgage lending had got way out of hand.
From then on the Greens learned what
it is to govern in difficult times, best captured in John Gormley’s speech in the Dáil in November 2010 when
he told Enda Kenny and Eamon Gilmore that before long they would find themselves in the asylum of government, their policy
choices almost nonexistent, getting no sleep at night and suffering nonstop criticism by day. The current administration may
be starting to empathise. "
More in the Irish Times about the new Green
Party book here:
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2011/1217/1224309196165.html
Live Streaming Dr. Jill Stein Interview
16 dec 11 @ 7:03 pm est
Dr. Jill Stein Presidential campaign for Ballot Access to Wisconsin
15 dec 11 @ 8:14 am est
Susan Boyle and Green Party cousin Danny Boyle have new CD
15 dec 11 @ 8:05 am est
Mike Ballantine joins race for Green Party presidential nomination
Mike Ballantine an educator and native of Pennsylvania has joined the race for the Green Party
nomination to President.
Ballantine has the most extensive web site. The 48 year old Ballantine
splits his time working in his wife's native Vietnam as an educator, and Pennsylvania. Mike Ballantine joined the Green Party
in 2002. More on Mike Ballantine here:
http://www.mikeballantine2012.org/about.html
Austrian Green Party supporting federal debt limit
Green Party support in Austria
for Federal Debt Limit
Chances
in Austria for a constitutional federal debt limit are increasing after the Green Party conservatives registered "movement"
and support. Green Party leader Eva Glawischnig said yesterday (Tues) she appreciated the hint of a change of opinion within the
ÖVP considering this aspect. The Greens said the increase of taxes on the wealthiest assets was a requirement to get
their support for the planned debt limit.
http://austrianindependent.com/news/Politics/2011-12-14/9736/Debt_brake_accord_more_likely
Greens ecstatic with record 14 Green Party elected
Greens 'ecstatic' to have 14 elected
The
Green Party is celebrating the election of Mojo Mathers as their 14th MP after special votes took their share of the party
vote and number of MPs to a record high.
The Green's share of the party vote increased from 10.62% on election night to 11.06% at the final
count.
Co-leader
Russel Norman said it's a proud day for the Greens and they are "ecstatic" to have 14 MPs.
"The 2011 election has delivered
us an historic result that cements our place as the third party in New Zealand politics," said Norman.
Green Party's MP Mojo Mathers is the first profoundly woman to make it into NZ's Parliament.
http://tvnz.co.nz/election-2011/greens-ecstatic-have-14-mps-4625646
FINAL RESULTS:
National:
47.31 per cent - 59 seats
Labour: 27.48 per cent - 34 seats
Green: 11.06 per cent - 14 seats
NZ First: 6.59
per cent - 8 seats
Maori Party: 1.43 per cent - 3 seats
Mana Party: 1.08 per cent - 1 seat
Act Party: 1.07
per cent - 1 seat
United Future: 0.6 per cent - 1 seat
Dr. Jill Stein conservative quest for Green Party nomination
Dr. Jill Stein "Fiscal Hawk" seeks Green Party presidential nomination, calls "Cut Spending!"
Stein calls on Obama to veto Military Authorization as "expensive,
un-American"
Posted
by Jill Stein for President
0pc on
December 01, 2011 ·
FlagJill Stein said today that if she were president she would
veto the pending National Defense Authorization Bill as needlessly expensive and because it violates civil liberties by restricting
the constitutional right to a fair trial. Stein is running for president as a Green Party candidate.
"Our constitutional liberties have been under attack
over the past decade, a victim of this unending war on terrorism. Congress wants to authorize the indefinite imprisonment
of American citizens, without charge, and that is wrong - and the very definition of un-American. If elected, I will restore
our political and civil liberty protections," said Stein.
The National Defense Authorization Act would eliminate protections against the use of the military
against our own citizens on American soil, as articulated by the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878. It would also empower the president
and our armed forces to detain U.S. citizens and others without trial based on unsubstantiated suspicions that such
persons have been involved in the attacks of September 11, 2001, or have supported Al-Qaeda, the Taliban, or “associated
forces that are engaged in hostilities against the United States or its coalition partners." Individuals could also be
tried before a military court or transferred “to the custody or control of the person's country of origin, any other
foreign country, or any other foreign entity.”
An amendment by Senator Udall to modify this section was rejected by the U.S. Senate on Tuesday.
Jill Stein also supports major cuts in the "massive,
bloated military budget." The Senate is voting this week on the full $682.5 billion Defense Authorization Bill. Passage
of the bill would mean that the amount the U.S. spends on its military would nearly be the same as the rest of the world combined.
"America needs a peace dividend
to invest in jobs, rebuild our nation's infrastructure, pay off student loans, stop foreclosures on homes, and invest in renewable
energy and conservation needed to stop the growing problem of climate change. The military budget needed major cuts ten years
ago, and since then Congress has doubled it," said Dr. Stein.
Even if Congress permits the 10% automatic defense reductions required in the wake
of the deficit reduction super-committee failure, defense spending would actually continue to increase since the reductions
are only cuts in reference to the rate of growth.
Stein pointed out that her views -- unlike those of most of the Republican presidential contenders
-- are similar to traditional conservative beliefs that oppose a large military and the use of our defense forces as the world's
policeman. Stein noted that fifty years ago, President Eisenhower, the commander of the Allied Forces in WWII, warned the
American people to be careful of the growing power of the military-industrial-Congress complex. The U.S. did not have a large
permanent army or arms industry before then, always scaling the military back after a war.
"We
need to bring our troops home not only from the Middle East but from most of the more than one hundred countries where we
have bases. Our massive military budget actually increases the security threat to the American people by undermining economic
security at home and distorting our foreign policy. It leads to the use of the military where it is an inappropriate and ineffective
response that exacerbates hostilities better addressed by diplomatic means. Right-sizing the military would not only lead
to a healthier economy at home but would also move us towards real security around the world."
http://www.jillstein.org/stein_calls_on_obama_to_veto_defense_bill
Congress stealing Americans rights again
Last week, Congress considered the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
This bill contains some of the most dangerous provisions we’ve ever seen: it would allow the government to imprison
anyone suspected of an offense deemed “terrorism-related” indefinitely and without trial—even US citizens.
Thankfully the Department of Defense, the FBI, and a bipartisan block of senators
oppose this bill, and President Obama has threatened to veto it if the dangerous provisions aren’t removed. Yet despite
this opposition, Senators Carl Levin (D-MI) and John McCain (R-AZ) are leading the charge to impose these detention authorities
on Americans in violation of our most fundamental rights and freedoms.
