What's the Deal with the Green party?

[YEM]

What are their plans? Are they planning on running someone? Would they be satisfied with another 4 years of GWB over a dem like Dean? Anyone know what's going throgh the Green party's mind lately?

[La_Serpiente]

1. Ralph Nader

has set up a presidential exploratory committee. It is not definite whether he is running or not, but by doing this, he has shown interest in running.

And Green Party Candidate Matt Gonzalez might win in San Francisco. Pres. Clinton will be campaigning for Al Gore at Newsom's last campaign rally.

[Iverson]

2. here you go

And, by the way, thank you for inquiring first. Too few people do that.

This link:
http://www.gpus.org/president2004.html
... should be handy. Of those mentioned, probably David Cobb is the most serious of the bunch.

[YEM]

3. How will this effect the next election?

While I do agree with a lot of the green party's policies, I just can't deal with another 4 years of this crap. Can't the greens be convicned to just sit back this year?

[Iverson]

5. lots of common ground, lots of old ground

You certainly get no disagreement from me on the awfulness of Bush.
To convince Greens not to run a candidate for President in 2004, a majority of state delegations to the convention would have to vote that way.

My impression is that some will, but probably a minority. I can also assure you that the customary efforts to persuade, screaming insults, have the opposite effect. Since this is very much a state-by-state operation, I recommend dialogue with Greens in your state.

I am resisting arguing with you about the merits of your underlying assumptions because those have been done to death. Cheers.

[YEM]

7. It's not arguing. It's discussion.

We all have to meet in the middle here to make change. Change doesn't happen over night. Are you saying theat Greens would only embrace Kucinich and never a Dean?

[Iverson]

9. argument, discussion

When they are done well, these terms are nearly interchangeable, and that was my intent in usage. Although there are many perspectives, here is a handy list of possible forms of argument:
- formalized debate
- courtroom argument
- dialectic
- single perspective, one person to audience
- one-on-one
- academic inquiry
- negotiation with consensus as the goal
- internal argument with self
(see Wood, Nancy. _Perspectives on Argument_)

"Change doesn't happen over night."

Of course.

"Are you saying theat Greens would only embrace Kucinich and never a Dean?"

No.

[Terwilliger]

6. you're proceeding under the assumption that Greens have a strong influence

Many on this board would say that their support is negligible at best.

I just LOVE the disconnect.

[YEM]

8. Nader did get 3 million votes, correct?

That tells me the greens do have influence. 3 million votes changed the dynamics of the last election. I actually like Nader. I agree with a lot of his issues. I just think Dean is speaking more for me right now now. He is doing to me what other politicisans haven't in years. I'm actually excited again.

[Terwilliger]

10. good

well, if Dean has a strong enough message and can guarantee some solid liberal and progressive actions as POTUS, then he'll gain the support of those he needs to win the presidency

[poskonig]

4. I've had a few conversations with one.

The idea is that the Democrats are just as bad as the Republicans, and only when things get a lot worse will the public wake up and embrace socialists and Democrats like Kucinich.

I argue this is nonsense; it only gives the Republicans the bully pulpit and makes things worse. It is like giving quasi-Hitler types a huuuuuege megaphone to blame all of the nation's problems on their political opponents.