The state has a bunch of Bananas — well, 20 of them — registered as the Banana Party. And there are three rocking members of the Aerosmith Party.

In case you were wondering, there’s one Honest voter. Another is In Between and one is appropriately registered Individualist.

Four voters are Realist Party members and, incongruously, one makes up the Realists Party.

There are some more conventional party affiliations too, even excluding the “big third parties” like the Green Party, Libertarian Party, and Constitution Party. The Conservative Party has 423 registered members, the Liberal Party has 280 registered members, and the Tea Party has 161 registered members.

Some voters mix politics and religion in their chosen party names.

There’s 1 each in the God and Gods parties, 1 in the Jesus Party, 3 in the Catholic Reg, 4 Baptist, 1 Christ Co, 133 Christian, 2 Christian Prog, 2 Theocrat, 2 Rastafarian, 1 Kingdom of God, 2 Nondenom and 1 Muslim.

Political and social stances are common statements.

Louisiana has 12 registered Communists, 1 Marxist, 3 Socialist USA members, 9 ChrstnSocialists , 5 Dem Socialists, 2 Anarchy, 2 National Socia, 1 Black Panther, 1 BlackPanther, 1 Monarchist, 1 Minimalist and a Discordian.

Some registrants could have had problems spelling the names of their selected parties or the deviation could have been deliberate, considering there are 451 voters registered as Indenpendent, 1 as Ndependent and 59 registered as Lilbertarian.

With all of that said, Louisiana definitely has a reason to be proud of its registration statistics.

Sailor Jackson, director of communications for the secretary of state’s office, said Louisianans take pride in registering to vote.”Louisianans take their voter registration very seriously,” he said. “Of all possible voting citizens 18 years and older who can be registered, 83 percent of them are registered. Louisiana is in the top five states in the nation for our registration numbers.”

Of course, some of those registered voters are members of the Monarchist Party, Depends Party (is that the adult diaper or the situational answer?), and the Mug Wump Party–so perhaps you can’t say they take it “seriously”.

Thanks to Randall Hayes, we have a full list of the registrants according to the Louisiana Secretary of State as of January 3, 2012, which I will list below:

Democratic: 1407917
Republican: 773183
None: 625226
INDEPENDENT: 43014
Libertarian: 4813
Reform Party: 1383
Green Party: 1369
OTHER: 1057
INDENPENDENT: 451
CONSERVATIVE: 423
LIBERAL: 280
TEA PARTY: 161
CHRISTIAN: 133
CONSTITUTION: 119
PRUD ACT RSLTS: 111
AMERICAN: 102
MODERATE: 74
OPEN: 69
SOCIALIST: 63
INDEPENTANT: 60
LILBERTARIAN: 59
DANSEREAU: 57
INEDEPENDENT: 55
UNDECIDED: 41
CONSTITUTIONAL: 39
RADICAL: 30
REPUBLIC: 30
MAJOR: 26
NON PARTISAN: 26
INDEPEMDENT: 23
COMMUNIST: 22
UNAFFILIATED: 22
CONFEDERATE: 21
LIB: 21
BANANA: 20
TEA: 19
UNDECLARED: 19
PROGRESSIVE: 17
NEUTRAL: 16
WHIG: 16
FACIST: 15
ANARCHIST: 13
CENTRIST: 13
LIBERTAIN: 13
INDEPENDENCE: 12
JEDI: 12
NON-PARTISAN: 10
ChrstnSocialist: 9
LIBRAL: 9
3RD PARTY: 8
PRESIDENTIAL: 8
REFORMIST: 8
SOUTHERN: 8
U S TAXPAYERS: 8
WARD: 8
EARTH FIRST: 7
FEDERALIST: 7
NAT SOC: 7
PRIMARY: 7
SEGREGATION: 7
INDEPENDENT LA: 6
INDIVIDUAL: 6
TAX PAYERS: 6
BULL MOOSE: 5
DEM SOCIALIST: 5
DEM.REP: 5
PATRIOT: 5
POLITICAL: 5
POPULIST: 5
BAPTIST: 4
BI PARTISAN: 4
CONSERVATIST: 4
DEMOC SOCIAL: 4
NATURAL LAW: 4
PEACE&FREEDOM: 4
PRIVATE: 4
REALIST: 4
STATES RIGHTS: 4
AEROSMITH: 3
AMERICAN FIRST: 3
AMERICAN INDEP: 3
CATHOLIC REG: 3
DEPENDENT: 3
DEPENDS: 3
LA TAXPAYERS: 3
LIBERALIST: 3
MODERN WHIG: 3
NON PARTISIAN: 3
PRO LIFE: 3
SOCIALIST USA: 3
WHITE: 3
ANARCHY: 2
BEST: 2
BI-PARTISAN: 2
BIPARTISAN: 2
BLACK: 2
CAJUN: 2
CHRISTIAN PROGR: 2
CIVIL LIBERTAR: 2
COMMITTEE: 2
COMMON SENSE: 2
COMMUNITARIAN: 2
CONFIDENTIAL: 2
CONS: 2
ENVIORMENTAL: 2
FREE: 2
GREEN PEACE: 2
HAZAL: 2
KINGDOM: 2
LABOR: 2
LIBERAL REP: 2
NATIONAL: 2
NATIONAL SOCIA: 2
NATIONALIST: 2
NATURAL: 2
NEW PARTY: 2
NON-DENOMIN: 2
NUNYA: 2
PAR: 2
PERSONAL: 2
PIRATE: 2
PROHIBITION: 2
RASTAFARIAN: 2
Republitarian: 2
RIGHT TO LIFE: 2
SPLIT: 2
TAXPAYERS: 2
THEOCRATIC: 2
THIRD PARTY: 2
WORKERS: 2
AID: 1
AM INDEPENDENT: 1
AMER CONST: 1
AMER MOHICAN: 1
AMERICA: 1
ANARCH: 1
ANTI-PARTY: 1
BLACK PANTHER: 1
BLACKPANTHER: 1
CHOICE: 1
CHRIST CO: 1
CHRONIC HIWAII: 1
CITIZEN: 1
CONSERVANCE: 1
CONSERVATED: 1
CU TAI WOU: 1
DISCORDIAN: 1
DIXIECRAT: 1
DRUID: 1
FREE RADICAL: 1
FREE THINKER: 1
FREEDOM MOVEMT: 1
FREEDOMIST: 1
FREEMANS: 1
GDI: 1
GOD: 1
GODS: 1
GOVERNMENT: 1
GRASS ROOTS: 1
GREENPEACE: 1
GREENTREE: 1
GYPSY: 1
HONEST: 1
HUMAN: 1
HUMANITARIAN: 1
IMPERIALIST: 1
IN BETWEEN: 1
INDEPENDANCE: 1
INDIVIDUALIST: 1
JasonJohnLeMair: 1
JEFFERSONIAN: 1
JESUS: 1
KINGDOM OF GOD: 1
LEAGUE OF SOUT: 1
LIB.REPUBLICAN: 1
LIBERAL DEM: 1
LIBERAL REPUB: 1
LOYALIST: 1
MARXIST: 1
MEADOW: 1
MILLENNIUM: 1
MINE: 1
MINIMALIST: 1
MONARCHIST: 1
MOOR: 1
MOTHER: 1
MUG WUMP: 1
MUSLIM: 1
NDEPENDENT: 1
NONPARTISAN: 1
NUTRAL: 1
PACIFIC ISLAN: 1
PARTY OF ONE: 1
PEOPLES CHOICE: 1
PROG DEM: 1
PRS: 1
RAINBOW: 1
REALISTS: 1
REP-AMERICAN: 1
RIGHT: 1
RIGHTWING WHIG: 1
SOC-DEM: 1
SOCIAL: 1
SOUTHERN PARTY: 1
SOUTHERN REF: 1
SUB GENIUS: 1
SURVIVALIST: 1
THEOCRAT: 1
UNION: 1
UNITED NEUTRAL: 1
UNITED REPUBLI: 1
UNITED WE ST: 1
UNITY: 1
USA: 1
WORKING CLASS: 1
Y: 1

Former Louisiana Governor Buddy Roemer today became the first candidate to announce that he will seek the nomination of Americans Elect, an advocacy group that is trying to put a third, split-party ticket on the presidential ballot.

Roemer, who has gained little support in his attempt to win the Republican presidential nomination, said he will continue his primary race and will run as a Republican in the Americans Elect contest. Voters registering with Americans Elect will choose their nominee via the Internet. If nominated, Roemer will have to choose a running mate from a different party.

Of interest to third partiers–Governor Roemer was elected Governor of Louisiana as a Democrat. He then switched to the Republican Party. As far as I know, his seeking the ballot-line of Americans Elect does not require any change in registration, so he has not changed from that. For his ticket to be deemed “qualified” by Americans Elect, he must pair with a member of another party.

Former Louisiana governor and Republican presidential candidate Charles “Buddy” Roemer has not been invited to participate in any major debate, and said he may just have to consider becoming a third-party candidate to get noticed.

“If I’m going to be shut out of every debate, I suppose that’s something I’m going to look at,” he said. “I’m a proud Republican, but I’m a prouder American. This is not about my party, this is about my nation.

“I think people are hungry for the truth, and I want to give it to them,” said Roemer, who visited with the Portsmouth Herald’s editorial board on Wednesday.

The truth, he said, is that America is being run by a Congress “ripe for corruption,” financed by corporations and “super” political action committees that are skirting the law.

“If you want the kids in Occupy Wall Street not to smell the stench, clean up the corruption,” said Roemer, who this week slammed New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg for breaking up the encampment by police force.

“Everything’s done on a wink and a nod,” he said of corruption in Congress. “You retire as a congressman one day and you get a $2 million job the next. How will America grow jobs again if it’s this corrupt?”

That kind of plain and passionate talk, seasoned with southern charm, was evident throughout his meeting with the editorial board.

Governor Buddy Roemer likely does not realize how difficult it is to get on the ballot as an independent, but there are rumors of individuals in his native Louisiana organizing for this very purpose.

The Louisiana Secretary of State’s web page has election returns for the state election of October 22 here. Scott Lewis, the Libertarian candidate for Governor, polled 1.22% in a race with ten candidates. Although that is not especially noteworthy, it is far better than the only other instance when the Libertarian Party ran a candidate for Governor. That other time was in 2007, when the party’s candidate only polled .20%.

In the October 22, 2011 election, the Reform Party candidate for Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner, Belinda Alexandrenko, polled 5.69% in a race against a Republican and a Democrat. The Secretary of State’s web page has her listed with “(R)” after her name, but on the ballot she was on as a Reform Party candidate.

Click here to read Ballot Access News comments on this article

Related Articles:

October 13, 2011: Louisiana Gubernatorial Poll Shows all Democrats Combined Only at 10%
September 8, 2011: Louisiana Candidate Filing Shows Few Candidates for Statewide Office
July 2, 2011: Louisiana Governor Vetoes Bill to Let Independent Candidates Have Ballot Label “Independent”

Connecticut Senator Andrew Maynard (D-Stonington) has introduced Proposed Bill 778, which cuts the number of signatures for statewide and U.S. House candidates, in the general election, down to 1,000 signatures. Current law requires 7,500 signatures for statewide candidates, and signatures equal to 1% for U.S. House candidates, which is always close to 3,000 signatures in midterm years and 2,400 in presidential years. The bill was introduced at the request of the Libertarian Party. In 2008, Connecticut was one of the five states in which the Libertarian Party was unable to place Bob Barr on the ballot. The other states in which Barr didn’t appear were West Virginia (which has since reduced its signature requirement), Louisiana, Maine, and Oklahoma (where a bill is pending to reduce the signature requirement).

Thanks to Marc Montoni for this news.

On January 14, Alaska Representative Max Gruenberg (D-Anchorage) introduced HB 77, to provide for a top-two election system for state office and congress. The bill says that anyone who doesn’t qualify for the general election ballot may file as a declared write-in candidate for the November election, even if that person ran in the primary and didn’t place first or second. The bill also lets candidates choose any party label. The label can be the name of a qualified party, or it can be the name of a “political group.” “Political group” is defined in Alaska law as “a group of organized voters which represents a political program and which does not qualify as a political party.” There are no numerical or organization requirements to be a political group, so in essence a candidate could choose any label, and the label need have no connection with how the candidate is registered to vote.

The bill’s provision for electing a Lieutenant Governor is awkward. Unlike the other top-two states (Louisiana, Washington, and California), Alaska elects a Lieutenant Governor jointly with the Governor in November. However, in the Alaska primary, the offices are voted on separately. HB 77 says the gubernatorial candidate who places first in the primary may choose, as a Lieutenant Governor running mate, either the person who came in first, or the person who came in second, in the primary. Then, the gubernatorial candidate who placed second in the primary must run with the Lieutenant Governor candidate who placed either first or second but who was not chosen by the other gubernatorial candidate. This could force the gubernatorial candidate who had placed second in the primary to run with someone from an opposing party. For example, if in the gubernatorial primary a Republican placed first and a Democrat placed second, but in the Lieutenant Governor primary two Republicans placed first and second, then the Democratic gubernatorial candidate would be forced to run with a Republican Lieutenant Governor candidate.

Also at Ballot Access News:

On January 13, former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards was released from federal prison. See this story. Edwards is the person who invented the “top-two” election system. He not only persuaded the Louisiana legislature to pass the idea in 1975; he also carried on a high-powered campaign to persuade the U.S. Justice Department, Voting Rights Section, to approve the idea. The Department had previously rejected the idea when Mississippi had passed it.

Edwards believed the top-two system would make it easier for conservative Democrats to continue to win elections in Louisiana. Louisiana has been using that system for state and local elections for the past 35 years. Louisiana used it for congressional elections between 1978 and 2006, and during those years, no incumbent member of either House of Congress was ever defeated for re-election (except in 1992 when, because of redistricting, incumbents had to run against each other). Washington state started using the top-two system in 2008, and no incumbent member of Congress from that state has been defeated for re-election either, since top-two has been in effect.

The Libertarian Party of Florida voted on their Sunday night, November 14th State Executive Committee phone conference to endorse Dallas, Texas as the site for the 2012 Naional Convention. The vote was unanimous.

See previous discussion here.

The issue will be decided at this weekend’s LNC meeting.

“WHEREAS the Libertarian Party can grow only by attracting new members and supporters, and

“WHEREAS libertarianism is a unique political philosophy, distinct from both contemporary liberalism and contemporary conservatism, and

“WHEREAS we need the support of both former liberals and former conservatives who have come to realize that libertarianism and the Libertarian Party offer a better path to achieving a just, humane and prosperous society

“The Libertarian National Committee hereby resolves that our party, its representatives and staff should always state clearly and unequivocally that we welcome individuals from across the political spectrum who now accept the libertarian principles of self-ownership and non-aggression.”

Although no particular person or incident is mentioned in the resolution, the speculation has been that it was, like the recently passed Florida LP resolution to boot Wayne Root off the LNC and LNCC, precipitated by statements Mr. Root made in an interview with a Las Vegas magazine, such as:

I’m kind of re-creating libertarianism. I’m just not going to follow the traditional roots. I’m a Ronald Reagan libertarian. Traditional libertarianism mixes in too many things that are liberal.

At this time, it is not yet known whether this item will be on the meeting’s agenda.

One item which is definitely on the meeting agenda is the time and place of the 2012 national convention.

See also: Libertarians: Left, Right or Neither?

LP: Wherefore the urge to purge?

On October 27, Louisiana held a televised U.S. Senate debate in which six candidates participated. See this story. The debate sponsors invited each political party nominee, and also invited anyone who had either held elected office recently, or who had raised or spent $50,000. That enable two of the independent candidates to be invited. Participating were Republican incumbent David Vitter, Democrat Charlie Melancon, Libertarian Randall Hayes, Reform Party nominee William McShan, and independent candidates Mike Spears and Ernest Wooton.

Anyone can watch the debate using this link, which is at the TV station’s web page, wdsu.com.

WRKF, the NPR affiliate in Baton Rouge, offered five minutes of unedited airtime to each of the twelve candidates in Louisiana’s U.S. Senate race. Seven of those candidates accepted the offer and their addresses were broadcast over the last several days. Each weekday morning, a different candidate’s address was broadcast at 6:30am and again at 8:30 am. Those accepting the offer were four independents, the Republican nominee, the Democratic nominee, and the Libertarian nominee (myself).

The candidate addresses are archived here:
http://www.wrkf.org/multimedia/index.php?id=244

Randall Hayes,
Libertarian nominee for U.S. Senator from Louisiana
www.anti-politician.com

The Libertarian Party will hold its first-ever Louisiana primary next month, when Anthony “Tony G” Gentile faces Randall Todd Hayes in the race for the U.S. Senate. It also will be the last one unless lawmakers change their minds on how federal elections should be held in the state.

Central Florida voters are going to see a new name at this year’s primary election. Seminole, Volusia and Orange Counties will be the first in Florida to have a Libertarian party primary. It’s making history for the state and could be a sign of where politics are heading. We’re accustomed to deciding who we want to represent us. Just pick your party. Democrat or Republican.

This year take a look at the first ever Florida candidates from a minor party and make it to the ballot to fight over the chair to be a state representative. The supervisor of elections in Seminole county says the new blood is a good thing. “It’s historic, it’s great,” said Mike Ertel / Supervisor of Election in Seminole County. “It’s going to be a good test on voter turnout and it’s just great for democracy to have folks that are in a smaller party, you know we may have a smaller political party here but we want to choose who our candidates are going to be.”

It’s the race between Franklin Perez and Ellen Paul that’s making headlines and history. It’s also a sign voters may be looking for a change, a chance to vote for someone other than a right or left wing party.

Rep. Wooton represents the parish which is geographically closest to the oil spill and is expected to make that his main issue in running. He is also a former Sheriff of Plaquemines Parish, a position he held from 1984-1992. Rep. Wooton becomes the 4th Independent member of the 105 member Louisiana House of Representatives. The Speaker Pro Tem is Independent Rep. Joel Robideaux.

UPDATE: Richard Winger has also reported that the Louisiana Libertarian Party will have a primary for the office of U.S. Senate.

there is a contested primary for the Libertarian Party U.S. Senate nomination, between Anthony Gentile and Randall Hayes.  Thanks to Hayes for this information.  This is the first minor party primary in Louisiana since at least the 1910′s decade.

Hayes previously ran for Congress in District 6 as a member of the Constitution Party. Anthony Gentile previously ran for Governor and Congress in District 1 as an Independent.

Dear Gov. Jindal:Thank you for the remarkable degree of restraint and dignity you have exhibited in your efforts to protect the State of Louisiana from the catastrophe that is now upon it. I am not one of your constituents, but I am on your e-mail list and as such I receive periodic updates in the form of letters from you. It is to one such letter,

http://click.bsftransmit1.com/ViewInBrowser.aspx?pubids=393|23|770819&digest=puot833Gl7pNP%2ffm0n6I4g

which I received in my inbox this morning, that I now refer.

In the first paragraph of that letter you state, “Yesterday, I accompanied a team of elected officials to observe state-led dredging operations underway at the northern end of the Chandeleurs Island chain…We fought the red tape and bureaucracy for many weeks, but we prevailed in getting this segment and five others approved by the federal government and funded by BP.”

Thanks for your persistence, Governor, but I don’t understand why you felt it necessary to crawl on your knees to the federal government for permission to save your state. By your own admission you lost several valuable, unrecoverable weeks of work.

Why not just start dredging, and if BP does not agree to provide temporary funds, ask the court (where I would already have sued BP) for a temporary restraining order against use of their world wide assets and operations until they at least fund the dredging operation. There are many fine law firms in Louisiana that would take that case on a contingent fee basis, but if none meet your specifications, I would be glad to do it.

In the second paragraph, you comment on the president’s speech and state that “speeches won’t stop the oil” and that “we need the federal government to understand we are in a war to protect our way of life and we want results.”

Well said Governor, but the federal government doesn’t care about your way of life, and that should be obvious. Get on with your own business and forget about Washington, and sue them, Governor – sue the federal government, too, as they are at least partially responsible due to their negligent delays.
In the third paragraph you state, “Unfortunately, President Obama did not announce an expedited process to end the drilling moratorium as we had hoped. We remain concerned that the administration does not fully understand the devastating impact an extended moratorium will have on our people.”

Governor, isn’t it obvious that this is a purely political decision on the part of the administration? You are the Governor of Louisiana, just drill and ask the federal government for nothing else. You must protect the people who trusted their state to your charge, Governor.

In your next to last paragraph you state, “On Monday, I joined fishermen, restaurant leaders, and seafood industry officials at the Acme Oyster House in New Orleans to call on President Obama to force BP to approve our state’s seafood safety plan.”

The Acme is a fine restaurant where I’ve enjoyed many meals. I’ll miss it if it is forced out of business. Governor, why don’t you seize the assets of BP – every last one of them – within your jurisdiction? I’ll bet that would get their attention, and some action on your seafood safety plan as well.

Finally, Governor, you are a good man and obviously a very caring and intelligent one. I understand that you have a legitimate degree from Harvard. Sue them, Governor, and go after their world wide assets. I’m afraid the people of Louisiana are going to need them.
In my next letter I’d like to ask you where the Louisiana National Guard is and if you think they might be needed in Louisiana for this catastrophe. Maybe we could think of a Constitutional way for you to get them back.

Good day, Governor, and good luck,
Darrell L. Castle

The common refrain in local political circles has been for over two years that the only way that Second District GOP Congressman Anh “Joseph” Cao could win re-election in his very Democratic-leaning district was for multiple credible candidates to divide the African-American vote in the general election. In a breaking story, this newspaper has learned that this possibility could soon become truth.
In an exclusive, long-time Orleans Sewerage and Water Board member Tommie Vassel, a political rising star in Crescent City and former Council candidate, has revealed that he will likely be a candidate in November’s election for the U.S. House of Representative. And, he will run as an Independent.
Moreover, the immediate past President of the national Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the Rev. Byron Clay of Kenner–a minister who extensive political connections amongst the Black Clergy–is being urged by many of the liturgical colleagues to run for Congress against Cao as well–as an Independent. Should he stand, Clay would join Vassel and the likely Democratic candidate, State Representative Cedric Richmond, in pitting three prominent African-American challengers against the sitting 2nd District Republican Representative.
Even in a highly Democratic, Black Majority Congressional seat like the New Orleans, South Kenner, and West Bank Jefferson district, two Independents dividing the vote with the Democratic contender might be enough to allow a Republican, elected in a political fluke, to win a second term.
And, even if Cao should lose, either Independent, Clay or Vassel, already enjoys enough political support that either has the potential of besting Richmond. In the “First Past the Post” system adopted in Louisiana Congressional elections almost six years ago, the victor could easily win with just 35% of the vote–or less.
Of course, viable Independent candidates are hardly just a local phenomena, but increasingly stand as an emerging reality in Congressional races across the United States.

The 2nd Congressional District is heavily Democratic, but currently represented by Congressman Joseph Cao because the incumbent Democrat in 2008, William Jefferson, was under corruption charges during the election–Cao won that race with 49.5% to Jefferson’s 46.83%.

The House and Governmental Affairs Committee approved the measure on a 9-7 vote after a motion to kill the idea died on a 9-8 vote.

House Bill 1390 now heads to the House floor.

“If we cannot live with $159 per diem, I shouldn’t say shame but….,” said state Rep. Dee Richard, No Party-Thibodaux, trailing off at the end of his sentence.

“I want to do something to show the Legislature wants to do something to reduce some of our costs,” said Richard, noting the state’s budget problems.

Per diem is the money lawmakers get to cover expenses while they are in session, attending interim committee meetings, legislative conferences and the like. The amount is tied to the rate federal employees receive when traveling in the Baton Rouge area.

The per diem amount is adjusted annually with the federal rate. Today, per diem is $159. It has risen from $113 in 2005.

Richard’s House Bill 1390 would freeze the $159 from July 1 to July 1, 2012.

The first and loudest objection will be the one we cited earlier: Open primaries let everyone vote for anyone they want. But it’s important to remember that primaries are creatures of political parties, and their purpose is to choose political party nominees. In that sense, Louisiana didn’t really open the primaries. It abolished them.If allowing any registered voter to vote for any primary candidate was the goal, doing away with party registration and allowing everyone to request the ballot he or she wants to vote would have done the trick. If economizing on elections was the goal, well, Stalin and Hitler figured out startlingly effective ways to save on ballots.

The editorial serves as a good comparison between a state that is moving towards a Top Two system that has never used it, and a state that is considering going back to the system after having it for several decades. The editorial could just as easily have been written in California and seems to speak to the same concerns that many have about Proposition 14 in California.

We sent this out yesterday to the governor and the media…

http://www.floridagreens.org/content/press-releases/29-green-party-of-florida-calls-on-obama-and-crist-to-declare-state-of-emergency-in-response-to-oil-rig-disaster

GREEN PARTY OF FLORIDA

For Immediate Release – April 29, 2010
Contact:  Michael Canney  (352) 278 4031  alachuagreen@gmail.com

Green Party of Florida calls on President Obama and Governor Crist to declare immediate State of Emergency on Gulf Coast in response to oil rig disaster; all available federal and state resources must be mobilized to protect threatened communities and wildlife habitats in four states

Eleven oil rig workers died in the April 20 explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil drilling platform, operated by oil giant British Petroleum. The cause of the explosion is unknown, but as with the coal mining industry, attempts to introduce improved safety regulations have met with stiff resistance from oil industry groups such as the American Petroleum Institute and the Offshore Operators Committee

In addition to the tragic loss of life, the accident is certain to have dire consequences for Gulf of Mexico ecosystems. 700,000 gallons of diesel fuel that was stored on the rig went into the Gulf, and the latest reports indicate crude oil is gushing into the Gulf at a rate of 8,000 barrels (400,000 gallons) every day, from a depth of 5,000 ft. Earlier reports have downplayed the scope of the problem, but it is becoming clear that a massive ecological catastrophe is in the making.

The fast-growing oil slick, already covering several thousand square miles, presents an imminent threat to the coastal communities of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. Efforts by BP and the Coast Guard to contain the spill and mitigate its damage have thus far proven ineffective, and stopping the leak could take weeks or months. Whether it can be stopped at all is an open question at this point.

The Green Party of Florida calls on President Obama to declare an immediate State of Emergency for the entire Gulf Coast and the Gulf of Mexico, and for Governor Crist to do the same in Florida. Federal and state emergency management agencies must take immediate action to mobilize all available resources to protect coastal communities and wildlife habitats.

Florida news outlets have reported dead birds washing up on beaches as far south as the Tampa Bay area, and residents of Florida’s coastal communities are noticing a strong “chemical smell” coming off the Gulf. While there is no direct evidence linking the birds or the smell to the oil spill, a connection is likely.

Anita Stewart, a Tampa Bay area activist who helped organize the Hands Across the Sands events in February to raise awareness about the risks of offshore oil drilling, said the smell was very noticeable in the New Port Richey area on Wednesday. “This oil spill is going to have long term affects on Florida’s environment and wildlife, and eventually it is going to hit the Gulf Coast beaches,” Stewart says. “Tourism brings in about $57 billion to the state’s economy, and Florida’s tourism industry will take a big hit when crude oil tarballs and dead birds and fish are washing up on our beaches.”

Many Florida Greens are deeply concerned and speaking out about the oil spill disaster. Among them:

Henry Lawrence, co-chair of the Bay County Green Party and former county commission candidate: “We are now a week into this disaster, and it is clear that BP and the Coast Guard are not equipped to deal with a problem of this magnitude. Our beaches and our wildlife will be heavily impacted by this spill. A federal and state emergency must be declared and massive resources brought to bear, or else Gulf Coast communities in four states will be left to fend for ourselves as this oil spill heads our way.”

Michael Canney, co-chair of the Alachua County Green Party and green energy advocate: “The public has been heavily subsidizing the profits of Big Oil, Big Coal and the nuclear industry, and then when disasters occur we are left paying the bill for cleaning up the mess. The global climate crisis can’t be solved by staying the course. It is time to invest in an earth-friendly green energy policy that is based on safe and sustainable solutions for meeting people’s energy needs, instead of a policy designed to perpetuate super-profits for Big Oil and giant energy corporations.”Jennifer Sullivan, co-chair of the Hernando County Green Party and Nature Coast environmental activist: “The costs of this spill must not be passed on to taxpayers in Louisiana and Florida, who are already paying $3/gallon for gas and subsidizing tax breaks for Big Oil. Some of the damage done can’t be repaired, but citizens must demand that our government hold BP accountable to pay every penny of the clean up costs, which might turn out to be as big as the Exxon Valdez spill before this is over.”

Steve Showen, co-chair of the Miami-Dade Green Party: “It’s unfortunate that another deadly disaster had to happen to bring home the point that offshore oil drilling is a bad idea. ‘Drill Baby Drill’ leads to ‘Spill Baby Spill.’ Let’s hope we don’t wait for another major nuclear disaster to finally grasp that nuclear energy too is far too dangerous to be staking our future energy policy on.”

The Green Party of Florida advocates a  “carbon-free, nuclear-free” energy policy, based on aggressive conservation and efficiency measures and public investment in clean, safe and renewable energy technologies. This sustainable energy paradigm has the added benefit of producing thousands of new jobs, and stimulating a burgeoning new green economy.

#  #  #

For more information:

Green Party of Florida  Http://www.floridagreens.org
Green Party of the U.S. http://gp.org
GP Earth Day release on fossil fuel dangers  www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=311GPF Green Paper on Energy Policy (PDF): http://tinyurl.com/m2hz2w
GPF letter to Governor Crist on climate change 10/17/07 (PDF): http://tinyurl.com/nevjy5
GPF Press Release on energy policy 7/20/07 (PDF): http://tinyurl.com/kndz4f

Facebook:
1,000,000 Strong Against Offshore Drilling: http://www.facebook.com/dontdrill
Hands Across The Sand: http://www.facebook.com/HandsAcrossTheSand
Floridians Against Big Oil: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Floridians-Against-Big-Oil/134043516320

News:
St. Petersburg Times: Oil spill in Gulf of Mexico now worse than feared
http://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/water/oil-spill-in-gulf-of-mexico-now-worse-than-feared/1091194

AP – Crews Race to Contain Oil Spill After Rig Blast
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/04/26/crews-race-contain-oil-spill-rig-blast/

Oil Spills: A History Of Disaster (PHOTOS)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/29/oil-spills-a-history-of-d_n_555362.html

Big Oil Fought Off New Safety Rules Before Rig Explosion
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/26/big-oil-fought-off-new-sa_n_552575.html

On April 28, the Louisiana Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee passed HB 292. It moves congressional elections back to the pattern used between 1998 and 2006. There are no congressional elections until November. All voters use the same ballot, and that ballot lists all candidates. If anyone gets 50% or more in November, that person is elected. Otherwise the top two finishers face off in December.

Thanks to Richard winger for bringing this to our attention.

Rep. Robideaux is one of three independents in the Louisiana House and four in the legislature.

h/t to Richard Winger

DAVE ZIRIN: I was speaking to [former Green Party Congressional candidate] Malik Rahim, who I know you’ve had on your show before, a former Black Panther Party member, someone who has been a community activist in New Orleans for thirty years. And I asked him about the role that the Saints are playing in the city. And I expected Malik to be a bit of a skeptic about it. But Malik said to me, “I haven’t seen people in the Ninth Ward or in Algiers this happy since Katrina. And I haven’t seen African Americans and working-class whites talk to each other so much in all three decades since I’ve lived in New Orleans.” And I think it’s really helped by the fact that, more than any other team in the NFL, players who play for the Saints, post-Katrina actually live in the city and are part of the rebuilding effort in the city. So there’s a real connection there between team and city that, honestly, you just don’t see anymore.