1,792 votes cast, Jill Stein received 1,223 of them, or 68%. Roseanne Barr, who had just entered the race in the last week, picked up 526 votes, or 29%. There were 35 votes for Kent Mesplay, and 8 votes for Harley Mikkelson

GPW reports that Roseanne Barr is very active on Twitter, and had tweeted a challenge to Bill Maher, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert to have both herself and Jill Stein on their programs.

They also report that Jill Stein is actively fundraising, has hired at least 3 staff onto the campaign, and has campaigned so far in California, Colorado, Delaware, DC, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Virginia, Wisconsin, and other additional states as well.

Jill Stein issued a short statement saying “It is great to have Roseanne Barr on the Green Party team. Let’s bring down the house!” Barr has similarly already made positive statements regarding Stein’s candidacy.

An email from the Stein campaign says that

Dr. Jill Stein, Green Party presidential candidate, begins a three day tour of Indiana and Ohio today with a visit to the Evergreen Cooperatives in Cleveland, accompanied by Cleveland City Councilman and Green Party elected official Brian Cummins and County Executive candidate David Ellison.

Saturday at 11:30am, Dr. Stein addresses the Green Party of Ohio Presidential Nominating Convention in Columbus.

This Sunday, as part of Indianapolis’ Occupy the Super Bowl protests, she rallies with supporters at the state capitol against anti-labor legislation such as “Right to Work for Less.”

The full itinerary of public events is viewable here: http://www.jillstein.org/events

Dr. Stein is especially interested in the Evergreen Cooperatives for providing one successful model, among many, for how economic democracy can provide employment and prosperity for stressed communities. In her recent People’s State of the Union address, Dr. Stein called for a Green New Deal providing for full employment and an immediate transition to a sustainable, more democratic economy. The Evergreen Cooperatives “are pioneering innovative models of job creation, wealth building, and sustainability,” and are, “employee-owned, for-profit companies are based locally and hire locally.”

On Occupy Super Bowl Sunday, at noon, Dr. Stein will rally with supporters and other labor movement advocates at the Indiana statehouse in Indianapolis. Dr. Stein is not only strongly opposed to so-called Right-to-Work legislation (RTW), her Green New Deal includes a “program of immediate creation of 25 million, publicly useful, sustainable, well-paying jobs,” according to a prepared statement. Stein will be joined at the rally by lifelong labor organizer Anthony Prince, and student activist Erika Wolf, both newly hired members of the Jill Stein for President campaign staff.

The Green Party has put out a press release welcoming Stein and Barr to the presidential race:

The Green Party of the United States welcomes two candidates into the race for the 2012 Green presidential nomination, Jill Stein and Roseanne Barr. Ms. Barr and Dr. Stein submitted paperwork to meet the Green Party’s requirements as of the evening of the Feb. 1 deadline.

“We are thrilled to have two strong women running for President as Greens,” said Darryl Moch, national co-chair of the Green Party. “We look forward to a race based on Green ideas and values, and to showing the Democrats and Republicans how to run without the corrupting influence of fat corporate campaign checks and corporate-funded attack ads.”

“Anyone hopeful about the Occupy Wall Street’s challenge to the status quo or disappointed by the Obama Administration’s broken promises of change now has a pair of candidates to watch. Anyone bored or irritated with the Mitt Versus Newt Show by now will be relieved by the breath of fresh air — maybe a Green gale force of righteousness — that’s about to come,” said Tamar Yager, also a national co-chair of the Green Party.

For more information about the candidates, visit the following sites:

Jill Stein: http://www.jillstein.org

Roseanne Barr: http://www.roseanneforpresident.com

2012 Press Information for Green Candidates http://www.gp.org/candidates/index.php

The nominee will be chosen at the Green Party’s national convention, July 12-15, in Baltimore, Maryland (http://www.gpconvention2012.com)

State Green Parties in California, Arizona, Massachusetts, the District of Columbia, and possibly Ohio are participating in primary elections. Other state Green Parties will choose the nominee they support and apportion delegates during statewide Green conventions. The Green Party currently has ballot access in 17 states. Greens expect to have the presidential nominee and other candidates on the ballot in at least 46 states and the District of Columbia on Election Day 2012.

Past Green Party convention sites and nominees:

2000: Denver, Colorado; Ralph Nader

2004: Milwaukee, Wisconsin; David Cobb

2008: Chicago, Illinois; Cynthia McKinney

“We consider it important to have strong women candidates at a time when women’s reproductive rights are under assult, from the Obama Administration’s decision on the morning-after pill to the Komen Foundation’s withdrawal of funding for breast cancer screening from Planned Parenthood. We’re proud that our presidential nominee in 2008 was a woman,” said Carl Romanelli, Pennsylvania Green and member of the Green Party’s International Committee.

132 Greens hold public office in the United States, including five mayors. The largest city with a Green mayor is Richmond, California, with Mayor Gayle McLaughlin. The Green Party and its candidates accept no money from corporate PACs.

Many Green candidates are promoting the “Green New Deal” in their campaigns (http://www.greenpartywatch.org/2010/08/11/62-green-candidates-endorse-green-new-deal). Greens have been active participants in the Occupy Movement; both Ms. Barr and Dr. Stein have appeared and spoken publicly at Occupy rallies.

Ballot Access News reports that the Associated Press has this story about Roseanne Barr’s announcement that she is seeking the Green Party presidential nomination; here is a Los Angeles Times story about Barr’s candidacy.

Kent Mesplay was featured in the Bloomington Alternative (H/T Green Party Watch).

This article at Green Party Watch has biographical information about four candidates (Stein, Barr, Mesplay and Mikkelson).

Green Party Watch also reports that Cindy Sheehan wrote

In the last election, I supported the Green Party candidate, Cynthia McKinney and her running mate, Rosa Clemente. Unfortunately, the Party is not entirely functional (which party is?), even if many of us do support its 10 Key Principles.
I have also been impressed by the other woman seeking the nomination, Jill Stein–she is bright, articulate, well-informed, truly progressive and dedicated to public service–but if push came to shove, I would support Roseanne.

Barr was a supporter of Sheehan in her race for Congress.

For further information, please call (405) 310-8533

NORMAN, OKLAHOMA — The RJ Harris 2012 Presidential Campaign is pleased to announce that RJ will be attending the Manhattan NY Libertarian Party Convention and Debate this Saturday January 21, 2012 and sharing the stage with a host of excellent Libertarian Statesmen.

The rising presidential candidacy of one of Oklahoma’s native sons is gathering attention across his home state and word of it is spreading rapidly through Native American Nations across the Republic since RJ Satank (Sitting Bear) Harris of the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma could be the first Native American ever elected President. People across America are also beginning to take notice and are responding to RJ Harris’ message of more freedom and less government intrusion.

Of course there is more reason to take notice of RJ’s campaign than just him being the only Native American in the race; he is also a three-time combat veteran, career Army National Guard Officer, 2010 Oklahoma Tea Party and Senator Rand Paul endorsed Congressional Candidate and prominent leader in the nation-wide grass-roots Liberty Candidate movement.

But where is the buzz coming from, and how is it growing so fast from a Libertarian Party candidate? RJ says, “…we are using innovative information technologies and social media outlets to reach far more people than is usually done by traditional campaigns. In the May 2011 Gallup Poll 52% of Republicans and 33% of Democrats said they are ready to throw out BOTH parties responsible for the $15t debt, three foreign wars, the Civil War on Drugs and more federal socialism than our grandchildren’s children can ever pay for. In response to this voice from the people I am offering my Presidential Campaign for consideration and it is being well received.”

Contributing to this momentum has been favorable news articles from across Oklahoma and from political blogs across the internet with RJ and his presidential campaign prominently featured in many Oklahoma news papers for its leadership in the drive to get the Libertarian Party on Oklahoma’s 2012 Presidential ballot. And if all this was not enough RJ is coming off winning debate and poll performances at the Illinois Libertarian Party state convention, the Houston Texas Libertarian Party convention as well as winning several national straw polls of Libertarian activists. Additionally, recent internals indicate that RJ has retained strong support among the Liberty Movement even as New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson has now joined the Libertarian Party Presidential Nomination.

“Gary’s entry into this race will bring some serious star power to our nomination process and allow this excellent field of Libertarian Candidates and Statesmen to show our metal against the Republican and Democrat big-government progressives. I have no doubt that we will prove ourselves up to this task as each and every one of us will be needed to help the eventual Libertarian ticket implement the promised restoration of our Constitution and this Republic. I look forwards to sharing the stage with Gary and the other Libertarian Candidates in Manhattan.” RJ Harris

Dear IPR,

I know the Gary Johnson / LP thing is brewing and thought [some of the IPR readership] might be interested in my two cents.

I used to be a fan of Gary Johnson. This arose mainly out of his public opposition to the War on Drugs. Even early in this presidential campaign I was happy to see Johnson involved.

My positive attitude toward Johnson changed recently.

Sometime in the past few months Johnson made a deal with the devil. Not the metaphorical Satan, but a real world demon of modern politics, Roger Stone.

Stone endorsed Johnson as a presidential candidate. The Johnson campaign posted Stone’s endorsement on their campaign website. A few days ago a Stone interview with Johnson, consisting entirely of glowing statements from Stone and soft-pitch questions, was posted on Vimeo.

It’s real simple. Stone is evil. Anyone who knows anything about Stone knows he’s evil. He brags about being evil, proud of the reference to him as a “dirty trickster”.

There’s two possibilities:

1. Johnson is frustrated with the campaign and naively sees Stone as a way out of that; or

2. Johnson knows that Stone is evil and has chosen to work with him anyway.

One other thing – Stone is no friend of the LP. He tried to manipulate the 2010 LPNY convention into getting Kristin Davis as the candidate. He threatened that if Davis was not chosen they’d create another ballot line and use the world Libertarian in that line to create voter confusion.

“unless we can reach some accomodation Kristin wont be attending the convention. … In that case we’d prefer to petition on our own party onto the ballot- litigate over the word LIBERTARIAN”

He also showed he was working with Republican candidate Carl Paladino at the same time as with Davis:
“If you ran for AG I could get Paladino to let you ride on both his GOP … and Tea Party petitions- and thus get in the GOP primary for real and get a second line.”

When the election was over, Stone bragged about his role in damaging the LPNY.

I admit that for me it’s not just about the LP.  It’s personal.  Roger Stone engages in the politics of personal destruction.  He’s extremely good at it.  And I was one of his victims.

But you can also see my disdain for Stone from our early e-mail exchange long before Stone attacked me personally.

It was at this point that I reached out to Paladino, forwarding him Stone’s e-mails.

Me, 4/20, 6:01 pm:

Carl,
When we met last week, I did not have the impression that Roger Stone was on your campaign team. … he is speaking to me as if he has some sway over you – “I could get Paladino to let you ride on ….” …  It was my impression that you were campaigning as someone different from the usual politicians. If you’re working with Roger Stone, in the way he describes, then you don’t seem that different to me.

So while I am motivated by my personal experience as Roger Stone’s victim, my view of him was the same beforehand.

I have reached out to various members of the Gary Johnson campaign team, asking that he publicly disavow Roger Stone. I have also expressed my concerns to many libertarian friends.

Gary Johnson may seek the LP nomination, but it is not assured. He should be aware that having Roger Stone on his team is a serious negative for many.

On another note, people should wonder who Stone is working for. Is Johnson paying him? Or is Stone “volunteering” as he has said. If he is volunteering, who is really paying? In the 2010 campaign. Paladino money flowed to the Davis campaign. Is Romney paying Stone? Obama? Is Johnson really an insurance policy for the establishment in case Ron Paul wins the GOP nomination?

These are questions I hope members of the LP and LNC will ask before they swoon over Gary Johnson.

Warren

–

Warren Redlich, Esq.
PO Box 970244
Boca Falls, FL 33497-0244
888-733-5299
Fax: 518-708-8752
http://www.redlichlaw.com

Tobin has a long history of work on ballot access and election reform issues and founded the Free and Equal Elections Foundation in 2009. She also coordinated Ralph Nader’s ballot access efforts in 2008 and was the Libertarian candidate for Secretary of State in California in 2010.

Green Party: 3,033 (0.27%)
Independent American Party: 51,535 (4.55%)
Libertarian Party: 7,111 (0.63%)
Non-Partisan: 181,960 (16.05%)
Other: 3,945 (0.35%)

California’s most recent voter registration statistics are from February 2011.

American Independent Party: 417,567 (2.43%)
Green Party: 113,118 (0.66%)
Libertarian Party: 92,246 (0.54%)
Peace and Freedom Party: 58,470 (0.34%)
Other: 121,019 (0.70%)
No Party Preference: 3,507,119 (20.41%)

Alaska’s most recent voter registration statistics are from

Alaskan Independence Party: 14,866 (3.01%)
Libertarian Party: 8,073 (1.64%)
Non-Partisan: 80, 833 (16.38%)
Undeclared: 183,045 (37.08%)
Constitution Party: 29 (.01%)
Green Party: 2,130 (0.43%)
Veterans Party: 1,427 (0.29%)

New York’s latest registration statistics were reported on November 1, 2011.

Conservative Party: 140,137 (1.32%)
Working Families Party: 38,290 (0.36%)
Independence Party: 398,830 (3.75%)
Green Party: 18,331 (0.17%)
Other: 3,059 (0.03%)
Blank: 2,135,863 (20.08%)

On the New York Times blog “The Caucus”, a post entitled “Occupy Protestors Down on Obama, Survey Finds” has some interesting numbers for Greens:

Dr. Panagopoulos described the protesters as “disgruntled Democrats.” Sixty percent of those surveyed said they voted for Barack Obama in 2008, and about three-quarters now disapprove of Mr. Obama’s performance as president. A quarter said they were Democrats, but 39 percent said they did not identify with any political party. Eleven percent identified as Socialists, another 11 percent said they were members of the Green Party, 2 percent were Republicans and 12 percent say they identified as something else.

Read the full post at The Caucus.

As the Occupy Wall Street movement continues to gain momentum, Green Party activists and candidates are in the thick of the action. In these videos, Cheri Honkala, candidate for Philadelphia Sheriff, Reverend Billy Talen, former candidate for NYC Mayor, and NY Green Party organizers Mark Dunlea and Michael O’Neil report from the belly of the beast:

Cheri Honkala visits Occupy Wall Street from Jason Bosch on Vimeo.

UTICA — The city mayoral race is going green. Robert Clemente, 53, on Tuesday announced he will be running for mayor on the Green Party line – meaning five people are in contention for the position. Clemente acknowledged he is starting late in the race, but in the remaining time before the election, he plans to talk about issues, solutions and a vision for improving Utica, he said.

During his announcement Tuesday at F.T. Proctor Park, Clemente spoke about various goals for saving the city money, and many ideas had an environmental focus. One of his main initiatives would be to take over street-lighting from National Grid and build toward medium-scale municipal power generation using methods such as solar panels, he said. “We will think green, live green and save green,” he said.

Read the full article at the Utica Observer-Dispatch.

“The Empire”, politics blog of WNYC (the leading National Public Radio station in New York city) has this lengthy story about Jesus Gonzalez, the Working Families Party nominee in the September 13 special election, Assembly, 54th district.

Gonzalez is one of three 2011 minor party nominees in special legislative elections who might actually win. The other two are Libertarian Brendan Kelly, in the special election in New Hampshire, and Mark Miller, Green Party nominee in Massachusetts. The New Hampshire special election is today, September 6; the Massachusetts election is October 18.

Click here to read Ballot Access News comments on this article

Related Articles:

September 3, 2011: Working Families Party Chooses its Own Nominee in Brooklyn Legislative Race
August 3, 2011: Blue Oregon Has Lengthy Story on Working Families Party
July 24, 2011: New York Special U.S. House Election Will Have 3 Candidates on Ballot

New York fills the vacant 9th district U.S. House seat on September 13. Three candidates are on the ballot: Democrat David Weprin, Republican Bob Turner, and Socialist Workers nominee Christopher Hoeppner. All three candidates debated on Queens Public TV on August 23. The debate will be broadcast on four dates: (1) Friday, September 2, at 7 p.m.; (2) Friday, September 9, at 7 p.m.; (3) Sunday, September 11, at 10 p.m.; (4) Tuesday, September 13, at 10 a.m.

Click here to read Ballot Access News comments on this article

Related Articles:

August 10, 2011: Siena Research Institute Poll for Special New York Congressional Election Ignores One of the Three Ballot-Listed Candidates
July 24, 2011: New York Special U.S. House Election Will Have 3 Candidates on Ballot
July 16, 2011: Socialist Workers Party Submits 7,080 Signatures in Special New York U.S. House Race

It is very hard to know what people think about Muslims and Islam and whether they harbor prejudices. It is even more difficult to know the motivations behind actions taken that could be perceived by some to reflect negative opinions or sentiments about certain groups of people. Nevertheless, facts are facts and you can draw your own conclusions with respect to the information provided.

On August 26, 2011, Dallwyn Merck, Secretary of the Libertarian Party of Queens County, announced a “Call Your Dog Mohammad” Campaign. In a notarized statement, he said, in part:

I, Dallwyn Merck, hereby initiate a “Call Your Dog Mohammad” campaign. Every time you see your dog or any dog licking or sniffing its own penis, testes, vagina or anus, or that of another dog, I urge you to say to the dog in a loud voice, “STOP IT MOHAMMAD”.

On August 15, 2011, Ronald S. Ramo, Treasurer of the Libertarian Party of Queens County, wrote a letter to the New York City Parks Department challenging the presence of a “Celebrate Ramadan” sign located in one of the Flower Fields at Columbus Plaza in downtown Brooklyn, New York. In that letter, he wrote, in part:

I was in Columbus Plaza today, and I noticed there was a sign
declaring Celebrate Ramadan. I would like to know if this sign was installed with the approval of the NYC Parks Dept. and if so, was any compensation paid to the city for such use. Lastly, could the NYC Parks Dept. please provide me any memo or other opinion papers that determined such a sign does not violate the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

On August 8, 2011, John Procida, Vice-Chair of the Libertarian Party of Queens County, discussed the issue of Muslims, Sharia Law & Immigration suggesting the possible need for special interrogations and de-brain washing of Muslim immigrants. In an e-mail, he wrote, in part:

I do have reservations about Muslims having the ability to integrate with our culture…sharia law is absolutely anti-American. I believe in a free society, but we do not have to permit the intentional planning and destroying of our government and our constitution. I think that Muslims might have to go through a special interrogation. They should be required to swear to obey the laws of our government and denounce sharia law. Possibly a de-brain washing class would be required. Remember we did outlaw the Communist Party for similar reasons and intent. With all that said, the Koran says that they can lie in order to expand their faith. So how valid would Muslims swearing an oath be anyway?

In the New York Libertarian Party, there has been anti-Muslim sentiment for quite some time. It was most actively evident when Warren Redlich, a devout Conservative Jew, was seeking the gubernatorial nomination of the New York Libertarian Party in 2010 against Sam Sloan (a/k/a Haji Mohammed Ismail Sloan), a devout Muslim who speaks Khowar (a language spoken in Chitral, Pakistan) and has been married three times and has eight children by five women. Sam Sloan was denied the opportunity to communicate with the 400-500 prospective delegates in advance of the Nominating Convention and, therefore, was not able to encourage them to attend the convention to support his candidacy. Warren Redlich was then handed the gubernatorial nomination with only 27 delegates voting in his favor. Two subsequent lawsuits filed by Sam Sloan regarding the delegate list issue and actual fraud he claimed took place during the vote (when delegates placed scraps of paper into a passing hat) were both dismissed on technical grounds.

Sam Sloan was strongly backed by Dr. Tom Stevens, Political Director and State Committee Representative of the Libertarian Party of Queens County. Dr. Stevens stated the following with respect to his support of Sam Sloan and his view of different religious faiths:

I did not care what religion Sam Sloan belonged to. There was no doubt in my mind that Sam Sloan was more libertarian than Warren Redlich. Redlich was a registered Republican Party member whose main theme was that government should “stop wasting money”. Sloan, on the other hand, had been a Libertarian Party activist for many years and was running on a platform that was fully libertarian.

It sickened me to see the whispering campaign and anti-Muslim comments made about Haji Mohammed Ismail Sloan prior to the New York Libertarian Party’s Nominating Convention in 2010. It also disturbed me to see NYLP insiders use their power to deny Sam Sloan a fair shot to campaign for the gubernatorial nomination.

The discrimination I observed inspired me to invite Hamdi Rifai, an American-Muslim attorney active in American-Islamic affairs, to address the Libertarian Party of Queens County on September 11, 2010 to speak on the topic of “Who Is The Enemy In America’s War On Terror?”.

I recognize there are religious zealots and extremists in all cultures and in all religions. We need to combat ignorance and intolerance with reason and logic. I fully support the right of all people to free speech and to live their lives as they see fit so long as they do not initiate force against others. Every person’s right to life, liberty and property should be respected.

The New York Libertarian Party moved to suspend the memberships of Sam Sloan and Dr. Tom Stevens before the year was out. Sam Sloan was removed as a member of both the Manhattan Libertarian Party and the New York Libertarian Party. Dr. Tom Stevens resigned his membership in the Manhattan Libertarian Party and resigned his Life Membership in the New York Libertarian Party. Both remain active promoting liberty and tolerance in the Libertarian Party.

Former Green Party mayoral candidate Alex White is now seeking a spot on City Council…

“I thought the mayoral run went very well. I was running against two very strong candidates, and I was running on a party that no one had heard of,” said White. “So I thought that 9 percent was very well done in that situation. I’m looking to build on the momentum I’ve generated there.”

Thanks to Howie Hawkins’s relative success as the Green Party candidate for governor in 2010, the party is assured a ballot line in any election in New York state for the next four years…

Also running for elected office are Howard Eagle, Mary Adams and Wallace Smith, who will challenge for seats on the Rochester Board of Education. The three candidates are members of a group called the Community Education Task Force, which has been trying to bring about change in the city schools for several years. Eagle, a retiredRochester School District teacher, has run unsuccessfully for a school board seat several times in the past decade. Chris Edes will run for the Monroe County Legislature in the 24th District, which includes parts of the city of Rochester, Brighton, and Henrietta. Edes previously ran for several elected positions as a Libertarian candidate.

Tom Jensen, who currently serves on the Hamlin Planning Board, will run for town supervisor…

White’s recent mayoral run gives him the highest profile of any of the Green Party candidates. He said Wednesday morning that a number of recently-enacted initiatives, such as the installation of LED lights in city buildings, were ideas that he brought to the table in his mayoral run…

“Sure, it would be great if I’m the guy in the chair at the end, but I’ll be happy if Rochester is a better city[," said White.]

The meeting will take place August 5-7 at Green Fest in Alfred, western New York; Greens will begin planning for the 2012 elections, including the presidential race; Elizabeth May, Canadian Green member of Parliament, and economist David C. Korten to speak via Skype

Media credentialing page: http://www.gp.org/forms/media (also linked here: http://www.gp.org/committees/media/kit.shtml)

WASHINGTON, DC — The Green Party of the United States will feature an array of candidates and guest speakers at its 2011 Annual National Meeting at Alfred University in Alfred in western New York, from Friday, August 5 to Sunday, August 7.

The meeting will take place at the fourth biennial New York Green Fest, “a gathering of folks interested in exploring the politics and practices that will help enable us to live in a sustainable world, and sharing a weekend of good discussions, good food, and good music” (http://nygreenfest.org).

Among the speakers will be leaders in the campaign to ban hydrofracking (hydraulic fracturing), an environmentally destructive and dangerous technique for accessing gas in the Marcellus Shale beneath Pennsylvania, New York, and other states (see http://nygreenfest.blogspot.com/2011/07/hydrofracking-activists-join-green.html and http://gp.org/greenpages-blog/?p=2440). David Cobb, 2004 Green nominee for President, will speak on the need to abolish corporate ‘personhood’ and restrict the political power of corporations (see http://www.movetoamend.org).

Elizabeth May, Canada’s first elected Green Party member of Parliament, will speak to Greens at the meeting by Skype. David C. Korten, economist, co-founder and board chair of YES! Magazine, and author of ‘When Corporations Rule the World’ and other books (http://livingeconomiesforum.org/author-bio), will also address the meeting by Skype.

“There are many people throughout the US, including Green elected officials and community activists, who are thinking, talking, planning, and working for a sustainable energy economy despite lack of broader government engagement,” said Peter LaVenia, co-chair of the Green Party of New York State (http://www.web.gpnys.com). “Many of them will be coming to the meeting in Alfred or will speak to meeting participants via Skype. Alfred is the perfect place for Green Fest (http://www.alfred.edu/campus/going-green.cfm).”

Several Green candidates from New York and other states will attend the meeting, speak at press conferences, and be available for interview. At least one candidate for the Green presidential nomination, Kent Mesplay, will be present. A preliminary list of candidates who plan to attend the meeting is appended below.

David Doonan, Green Party member and mayor of Greenwich, New York, will also be at the meeting.

For a list of presenters and other speakers at the meeting, with short bios, visit: http://nygreenfest.org/presenterbios11.html

For a draft schedule of panels and forums, see http://nygreenfest.org/detailedschedule.html

Green Party leaders at the meeting will begin organizing for the 2012 election season, including the presidential race. The party will nominate a candidate for the White House at its 2012 national convention. The 2011 meeting in Alfred will also feature Green Party panels, workshops, meetings of the Green National Committee, and other events.

The meeting is open to the media and public. Press conferences will feature Green candidates for public office from across the US, with a special press conference on Friday, August 6, for women candidates hosted by the party’s Women Caucus (http://www.gp.org/caucuses/women/index.php). Journalists are encouraged to register ahead of time, at the Green Party’s media credentialing page (http://www.gp.org/forms/media). Registration for media will also take place on site during the meeting.

Alfred is about 80 miles from Rochester and 90 miles from Buffalo. For directions to Alfred University and Green Fest, see: http://nygreenfest.org/directions.html

GREEN CANDIDATES at the Green Party’s 2011 Annual National Meeting

Mike Bernhard, for Town Board member in Afton, New York.

Audrey Clement, for Arlington County Board, Virginia, in the 2011 general election (http://www.AudreyClement.org). Ms. Clement is a member of the Green Party’s national steering committee.

Joe Duffy, for Alderman in Hornell, New York. Mr. Duffy is chair of the Steuben County Green Party.

Howie Hawkins for Common Councillor of Syracuse, New York. The Green Party of New York State regained ballot status in 2010 as a result of Mr. Hawkin’s Green campaign for Governor.

Cheri Honkala, for Sheriff of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (http://www.cherihonkala.com) in the 2011 general election. Ms. Honkala founded the Kensington Welfare Rights Union and the national Poor Peoples Economic Human Rights Campaign. She was included in Philadelphia Magazine’s list of 100 Most Powerful Philadelphians and was named Philadelphia Weekly’s “Woman of the Year” in 1997.

Cecile Lawrence, candidate for the Tioga County Legislature (District 3), New York, , in the 2011 general election. Ms. Lawrence, who will conduct a workshop at the meeting, was the Green Party’s candidate for US Senate from New York in 2010. A member of Tioga Peace and Justice, she testified at hearings towards the passage of the New York State Managed Care Bill of Rights.

Kent Mesplay, candidate for the Green Party’s nomination for President (http://www.mesplay.org). Dr. Mesplay also sought the nomination in 2008.

Anita Rios, candidate for City Council in Toledo (District 4), Ohio, in the 2011 general election. Ms. Rios ran for Lieutenant Governor of Ohio in 2006 and 2010 and is former of the Green Party’s national steering committee.

Jay Sweeney, for Supervisor in Falls Township, Pennsylvania, in the 2011 general election (http://www.jaysweeney.org). Mr. Sweeney currently serves as Auditor in Falls Township.

By Wayne Allyn Root, Former Libertarian Vice Presidential Nominee and creator of ROOTforAmerica.com

The U.S. economy is crumbling. Businesses are collapsing in record numbers. Jobs have disappeared. Tax revenues are down dramatically. Coincidence?

Everything happening today under Obama resembles the storyline of Ayn Rand’s famous book, Atlas Shrugged, one of the most popular books of all time, selling over 7 million copies. Now, under President Obama, Atlas Shrugged has come to life. Rand prophesized a country dominated by socialists, Marxists and statists, where looters, free loaders and poverty promoters live off the productive class. To rationalize the fleecing of innovative business owners and job creators, the looter class demonized the wealthy, just as Obama and his socialist cabal are doing in real life today.

The central plot of Atlas Shrugged is that in response to being demonized, over-taxed, over-regulated, and punished for success, America’s business owners were disappearing — dropping off the grid, and refusing to work 16-hour days to support those unwilling to put in the same blood, sweat and tears. They were going on strike. Because of that the original proposed title of “Atlas Shrugged” was “The Strike.”

They were going on strike to teach that civilization cannot survive when people are slaves to government. That without a productive class of innovative business owners willing to risk their own money and work 16-hour days, weekends and holidays, there are no jobs and no taxes to pay for government. If you punish the wealthy, the risk-takers, the innovators, you kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. In Obama’s America, fiction is becoming fact.

The lesson of Atlas Shrugged is that without the $100,000+ earners paying into Social Security, there are no pensions for the poor and lower middle class. Without the wealthy owners of million-dollar mansions paying $25,000 and $50,000 annual property tax bills, there is no funding for public schools. Without the wealthy paying into Medicare, there is no “free” healthcare for the elderly. Without capitalists motivated by profit, there are no discoveries to eradicate polio or create miraculous cancer and AIDS drugs. Without capitalists motivated by profit, there are no jobs, period! That is what happens when the producers of society go on strike to protect themselves from the looters.

Ayn Rand was warning the looters that there are consequences to their overzealous actions. She was warning that if the productive classes felt used, demonized, ripped off, and taken for granted, they would go on strike — stop working, retire early, go underground, or move to places where achievement is celebrated and they feel appreciated.

The latest U.S. Census proves Ayn Rand right. Under Obama the wealthy are striking, voting with their feet. They are moving to low-tax red states in droves, escaping from high-tax blue states where they are being demonized and punished by the millions.

The Census proves that Obama’s tax and spend philosophy is a dismal failure, an economic disaster killing jobs. It is no coincidence that 1.9 million FEWER Americans are working than before Obama’s stimulus. It is no coincidence that jobs are not returning to the private sector. It is no coincidence that tax revenues have dropped dramatically and cannot support Obama’s bloated Big Brother government. The innovators, risk-takers, and wealthy he demonized and punished are on strike.

The high tech revolution has killed the progressive-liberal tax-and-spend dream. Because of the Internet, email, Facebook, Twitter, Skype, Satellite TV, I-phones, I-pads, and cell phones, business owners are no longer prisoners of Big Brother. Take a look at states where the latest Census shows Americans moved during the past decade: Nevada, Texas, Arizona, Florida, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alaska, Virginia — all low- or no-tax red states, states that lead the USA in economic freedom.

Now look at states they escaped from: New York, New Jersey, California, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Illinois, Michigan. Taxpayers, business owners, jobs creators, retirees with assets are fleeing the high tax, big spending, Big Brother states — the states being run like Obama is running the nation.

Progressives be afraid, be very afraid. If Obama is re-elected, these valuable producers will pick up and leave America altogether. There is a big world out there begging them to come. Places like Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Monte Carlo, Belize, Costa Rica, Panama, Bahamas, and Cayman Islands are low-tax havens that appreciate business owners and their sacrifices. They welcome wealthy ex-patriates. They celebrate individual achievement. They reward instead of punish business owners and financial risk-takers. They are wonderful places to live and are aggressively pursuing Americans.

I am just one small businessman, a third-party Libertarian political leader. Yet I personally have heard from thousands of fans, friends and supporters who have left America, are thinking of leaving America, are visiting other countries right now to decide where to go, or making preparations to leave in case Obama is re-elected. Just as Ayn Rand predicted, business owners are going on strike. Permanently.

The high tech revolution has freed them to run their businesses from anywhere in the world. The same high tech tools and toys that toppled a powerful and invincible 30-year dictator in Egypt and now threaten to topple powerful leaders throughout the Arab world, also offer mobility and freedom to U.S. taxpayers. Obama better learn the lesson of Mubarek before millions more business people decide they do not need to put up with looters, free loaders, and politicians who despise them.

Atlas is shrugging. Ayn Rand is saying “I told you so.”

And The Strike has begun.

Wayne Allyn Root is a former Libertarian vice presidential nominee. He now serves as Chairman of the Libertarian National Congressional Committee. He is the best-selling author of “The Conscience of a Libertarian: Empowering the Citizen Revolution with God, Guns, Gold & Tax Cuts.” His web site: www.ROOTforAmerica.com

#1) WEAPONS OF MASS DISTRACTION:
This is all ridiculous. The economy is melting down by the day. We are entering a second Great Depression. Why is Weiner-mania the biggest headline in the country for weeks now? Is the media’s goal to distract the masses from seeing the stories that are really important? Perhaps this is why America is in such trouble in the first place. Our minds should be on saving the economy and reversing job losses. Instead all the media and the masses care about is sex and scandal.

#2) WEINER-MANIA IS NOT ABOUT SEX:
Weiner-mania is actually not about sex. John Edwards had sex. John Ensign had sex. Governor Rick Sandford had sex. Weiner is just a sex pervert. He is nothing more than a high tech flasher with an electronic raincoat. Any man that shows his naked body parts to complete strangers has a problem. But a Congressman? Weiner is mentally ill and self destructive. We don’t want guys like Weiner anywhere near our laws.

#3) HIGH SCHOOL NERD COMPLEX:
I’ve diagnosed Weiner’s problem. These sexual issues, perversions and addictions always relate to a nerd who couldn’t get “it” in high school. It bothers them for the rest of their life. No matter how powerful they become, they can’t stop thinking about high school. They carry low self-esteem with them the rest of their lives. “The high school nerd complex” ruined Congressman Weiner’s life.

#4) WEINER-SPITZER:
Where does Weiner go now? Weiner is qualified for 2 things. First he could become head of the IMF (International Monetary Fund). He’d fit right in in France. Or he could join Eliot Spitzer at CNN for a new TV show called “Weiner-Spitzer.” It has a nice ring to it!

Wayne Allyn Root is a former Libertarian Vice Presidential nominee. He now serves as Chairman of the Libertarian National Congressional Committee. He is the best-selling author of “The Conscience of a Libertarian: Empowering the Citizen Revolution with God, Guns, Gold & Tax Cuts.” His web site: www.ROOTforAmerica.com

New York State held a special U.S. House election on May 24, 2011, to fill the vacant 26th district seat. The official results by party: Democratic 42.77%; Republican 32.15%; Tea Party 9.03%; Conservative 8.18%; Working Families 4.67%; Independence 2.14%; Green 1.06%.

In November 2010, the results in this same seat had been: Republican 58.99%; Democratic 26.39%; Conservative 9.41%; Independence 5.21%.

In the May 2011 election, the Conservative and Independence Parties had cross-endorsed the Republican nominee; the Working Families Party had cross-endorsed the Democratic nominee; and the Tea Party and the Green Party had each run their own nominee. The Tea Party nominee was Jack Davis and the Green Party nominee was Ian L. Murphy. The winning Democrat was Kathy Hochul and the Republican nominee was Jane Corwin.

The Socialist Party U.S.A. does distribute red cards to members willing to “subscribe to the principles” of the party, but another leftist group, the Democratic Socialists of America, prefers online registration, with members using a virtual shopping cart to pay yearly dues of about $60 by credit card — Marx be damned.

In some ways, the Left remains locked in place. Its three major national parties are still confined to cramped Manhattan offices that are plastered with gaudy posters and honeycombed with pamphlets for distribution and envelopes for stuffing.

But in other ways the landscape has changed significantly. All three parties are finding the Internet to be a fruitful recruiting tool and believe their message has been given a fresh, beguiling appeal by the failures of capitalist symbols like Lehman Brothers and by debacles like the billions of dollars in securities tied to subprime mortgages.

“The economic crisis of 2008 gave us new life,” said Billy Wharton, a co-chairman of the Socialist Party, who grew enamored of socialism while battling tuition increases as a student at the College of Staten Island. “We have ideas for resolving the economic crisis, and people began to listen to them.”

On the evening of May 4, a day before he was to join dozens of billionaires convened by Warren Buffett and Bill Gates in Phoenix, Arizona to discuss how they might spend over half their wealth for “good works,” media entrepreneur, peace advocate and environmentalist, Ted Turner joined another billionaire, Peter B. Lewis (chairman of Progressive Insurance) and me at the New York Public Library to discuss a similar topic. C-SPAN covered the event.

The event was titled “Billionaires Against Bull, Going from Charity to Justice.” It was a far-ranging exchange before an audience as civically committed as some of the notables who were there, including Lewis Lapham of Lapham’s Quarterly, Amy Goodman of Democracy Now, Victor Navasky (Columbia Journalism School), Patti Smith (singer, poet and author), Mark Green (author of Losing Our Democracy), and Eugene Jarecki, (documentary film maker (“Why We Fight) and author of The American Way of War.

The launching point for our discourse was my work of political fiction “Only the Super-Rich Can Save Us!” Turner and Lewis were two of seventeen real, very rich persons, led by Warren Buffett, who in fictional roles decided to put their money, contacts and facilities behind a mass mobilization of the people to effect long-overdue redirections.

What are the chances of a small number of many mega-rich putting ample resources behind basic changes that benefit people but upset vested interests? Issues such as a living wage, Medicare for all, and cracking down on corporate crime were part of the agenda for the Meliorists featured in my book. The difference between justice and charity is taking on power to benefit people.

From ABC in Rochester:

In more than two dozen candidate’s forums throughout this campaign Alex White made it a point to present specific ideas and solutions to city voters. He firmly believes he challenged the two front-runners to begin conversations about the issues.

“I think they would have spent the whole time talking about the Fast Ferry, Neighbors-to-Neighbors, and whether or not the DUffy or Johnson administration was better at engaging the community,” White said in an interview on Wednesday. “I think I took votes from both of the candidates…”

While he won’t rule out another campaign in the future, White was quick to say, “I would hope that thre are other candidates that are as strong or stronger than me running on the Green Party line in the future.”

White also believes one of his campaign agenda items may be adopted by the new Richards regime. White said both Johnson and RIchards expressed support for his plan to install LED Street Lights in the city. White argues it makes sense, it’s easily possible, and it simply saves too much money in the future to be ignored.

From the Democrat and Chronicle:

The mayor’s 2011-12 budget proposal is due in mid-May. Also on the agenda is naming a deputy mayor and corporation counsel — jobs Richards once held. Richards plans to take office once election results are certified on April 11. He said Wednesday that he plans to speak with Johnson and Green Party candidate Alex White about carrying forward some of their ideas.

And the vote totals:

Tom Richards
Democratic Line — 12,270

Bill Johnson
Working Families — 7,914
Independence Party — 2,534

Alex White
Green Party — 2,182

NEW PALTZ – March 25, 2011 – The One Community Party today submitted petitions for the Village of New Paltz election. Pete Healey is running for Mayor, and Trustee candidates Sally M. Rhoads and Martin Sherow are seeking four-year terms. Trustee candidate Stewart P. Glenn is seeking a two-year term, filling the seat vacated by Patrick O’Donnell and currently held by appointee Robert Feldman. The petitioning period began February 15 and the final day to submit completed petitions is March 29.

While only 100 valid signatures are required for ballot access, the One Community Party gathered over twice that, submitting 247 signatures to the Village Clerk.  “Petitioning has never been so easy,” Healey stated. “It is clear that people are ready and eager to see the unification process move forward. We came out early as a full slate with an agenda that is clear and focused. Our platform is current, relevant, and receiving a great response at front doors all over this village. Nearly everyone I have spoken to has indicated that unification is a top priority, and this election will serve as an early referendum on the issue.”

The creation of the One Community Party is directly related to the ongoing study of unification options for New Paltz. The party is the only slate of candidates who have announced their intentions to support the study’s Working Group and Community Advisory Committee, ensuring that the efforts generated by the Local Government Efficiency Grant will not be in vain.

In addition to unification, the One Community Party is developing a broad platform which focuses heavily on transparency, quality of life, and community participation. Glenn explained, “We intend for the Village Board to be responsive, responsible, open and accountable in our dealings with the public. This will encourage volunteers who are the backbone of our government. Community members should be treated as partners, not adversaries.” The strategies to recruit and retain volunteers will initiate with the Fire Department and be extended to all committees and commissions.

When asked about challenging petitions, Sherow noted, “In the spirit of democracy, the One Community Party will not be submitting challenges to any petitions. We would like to win this race in the open, and anyone wishing to run for office should be supported in their efforts to do so. There has been far too much secrecy and negativity in New Paltz politics for many years, and we are committed to demonstrating the values of our administration from the very beginning.” According to Village Clerk Amanda Erikson, general challenges must be submitted by March 30, with a detailed challenge filed by April 1.

“The Village elections shouldn’t be about who you are, where you live, or what party you belong to. We are a diverse slate representing diverse interests and will work together to serve the interests of the entire community,” said Rhoads. “Our communications with each other and the public will be characterized by civility, respect, and honesty. This is the only way to find common ground and, quite frankly, the only way government can run effectively.”

To learn more, visit the slate website at www.OneCommunityNewPaltz.com. The Village of New Paltz election will be held on May 3, 2011 at the New Paltz Firehouse, 25 Plattekill Ave., from 12:00pm until 9:00pm.