Greens, grow up and vote Democratic

[wyldwolf]

Dupe? Didn't see it...

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/133616_greenparty05.html

[JohnKleeb]

1. well if the democratic party put up the big tent again they would

and I am a dem by the way,

[Mel]

2. Right On!! JK

I second that!

[Forkboy]

3. Yes...insulting people always makes them like you

sheesh

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

4. Did you read the editorial?

If you're insulted then you must be really hypersensitive.

Hey I've got a suggestion. Why don't the Greens start their own website?

[gully]

24. Here, Here!!!!

"Hey I've got a suggestion. Why don't the Greens start their own website?"
:kick:

[Ardee]

5. Dear author

While I note that the tone of your piece is nonconfrontational, though it does lambast the democrats pretty darn well, I must disagree with the premise therein.

This lesser of two evil stuff wont float with me and Ill tell you why;
firstly it simply encourages candidates to remain unoriginal, insincere and middle of the road. There must be an incentive for politicians to reach out to the grassroots and away from the corporate lobbyist waving buckets of money at h/her.

Secondly I want my candidate to speak clearly and honestly to me, which h/her will not do if we simply vote democratic regardless of message and conviction.Howard Dean is a perfect example of one who reads polls ,sees a vacuum, changes his message completely to win the WH. Sorry Howie supporters but the guy is, was and ever will be a conservative.Id have more respect for him if he admitted his conservative agendas while vermont governor even if only to say " Im sorry I was wrong and Ill never do it again"....Ok so thats silly..:silly:

Latly, I do not want this electorate to fall back to sleep if a vichy democrat is elected, as the corporate stranglehold on america will not be ended by a Dean presidency. Sorry Im not really picking on him honest.Many folks are waking up to the Bush evils and if we must have another four years of that evil to arouse this nation and restore it to a more kinder and gentler country then so be it!

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

6. In other words idealism above all.

Sorry. In the great game of life it's results that count. You don't get an A for effort.

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

21. Deleted message

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[Ardee]

20. You call it idealism others may disagree

If you bothered to read the platform of the Green Party you might find it strikingly similar to that of the "former" Democratic Party's own.........Some might say that it is ridiculous to vote for a slightly more intelligent version of Bush, or that electing a neodemocratic conservative is not what they want for their nation. Some might see past the narrow and shallow stance that you take and look to a vision for this nation that is, apparently, beyond your comprehension....pity

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

22. I read the Green platform and call it Socialism.

Sorry but I believe in the free enterprise system provided there are proper safeguards.

But let me suggest something we should both agree on. A second George W. Bush term would not be a good thing.

Do you agree with me or are you still stuck on the Ralph Nader slogan that there's no difference between Bush and Gore?

[Ardee]

23. what I do believe

is that there is no merit to your smarmy and inaccurate responses. I think that you do not seek to exchange ideas but only to pompously and arrogantly insist that your way is the only way.

There is in fact a difference between Bush and Gore, one of which is that the DLC supported Bush far better than it served Gore! But, despite your inaccurate distortion of Nader, I guess you care little for truth and accuracy, there is less difference between Dean and Bush. Unfortunately there is less and less difference between the GOP and the neodemocratic leadership.........

You may prattle all you wish about Greens being socialist, that reflects only upon you and not them. No demographic shows that to be anywhere near the truth, again that word you disrespect so much.......

[acerbic]

8. A completely hypothetical question that popped into my mind:

Would the Greens vote Democratic if the Democrats promised to do everything they can to abolish the de facto two-party system by introducing proportional representation on all levels?

[zaea]

9. Yes, Greens would step aside...here's why

The Democrats ensured that the Greens would run another Presidential Candidate by:

(1) failing to change the ballot access laws, many of which currently *require* the Green Party to run a Prez candidate in order to remain a party (and be able to run for local offices, which is what the Greens primarily want to do),

(2) unfairly and inaccurately labeling them as the "spoiler" of the 2000 election

(3) attacking them as though they are all Democrats (more than two-thirds have never been registered Dems).


If the Dems would have worked to fix our election system by instituting instant-runoff voting, ease ballot access laws, and work towards other electoral reforms, the GREENS ABSOLUTELY WOULD STEP ASIDE.

[election_2004]

10. Yep, that'll persuade them...

<note the sarcasm in my subject heading>

Wow, what an intelligent and well-thought out argument. :eyes:

[tedoll78]

11. It's not an issue of growing-up..

"Do I want to keep Bush in office, where he'll do infinitely more damage than a Lieberman/Dean/Edwards/etc, or do I want to sacrifice my idealism, realizing that in a winner take-all-system, I can still have some of what I want? Hmm.. do I want to get some of what I want or the very opposite, making it that much harder to get some of what I want in the long run? Do I want more war and blood on what would be my accomplice hands, or do I want to save some lives? Hmm.. Do I want a chorus line of Scalia, or do I want the wisdom of Stevens? Hmm.. I'm not sure. I think I like the bloodshed and theocracy. Yep, that's the ticket!"

[LiberalLibra]

12. You said hell would freeze over when????

That is the day that Greens will get a brain and help get Bush out of office.

[Ardee]

19. How very mature of you....NOT

What a perceptive and inciteful comment.....not

How intellectually valid....not

Amazingly to the point of the entire Green political philosophy.......not

A rather large waste of everyones time.........definately

[CheshireCat]

13. Greens in SC

While there are still many Greens in the SC Party that want a Green candidate, most believe exactly as the author. Most of the Greens I know are working for Kucinich and Dean. They understand what is at stake.

All the intolerance of Greens is counter-productive. Most Greens once voted Democratic, and they will again in 2004 unless Lieberman gets the nomination.

They are not stupid - their goals are just different than some of you. They feel that the 2-party system is bad for democracy.

I know many Greens who say they would even vote for Lieberman. More than I can say at this point!

[zaea]

16. Greens are not ex-Democrats

When will lifelong Democrats wake up to the reality that Greens are not just pissed-off, former Democrats? The Green Party has a substantially different agenda--not to mention values--than the mainstream of the Democratic Party.

Approximately 2/3rds of the Greens *were not* registered Dems. In fact, almost 20% of Nader's 2000 vote came from registered Republicans.

The fact is, the Green Party merges local, grassroots democracy and support for local, community-based business (which appeals to some Repubs) with the social values of diversity, environmental protection, and social justice (which appeals to many Dems). It's a different party....and it's the *only* one that has been growing, Ds and Rs included.

[CheshireCat]

17. The Greens I know

were mostly Dems before the Green party was formed.

Yes, they have a different agenda than most Dems today, but so do I. We are the forgotten leftwing of the Democratic Party. Still, most progressives in my area voted Democratic for President because it was the lesser of two evils.

Since the Green Party was formed, many progressives here have joined. In 2000, most of my comrades voted Green. Couldn't talk them out of it. After a few years of the Bushistas, these people have changed their minds about voting Green for president in 2004.

BTW, in SC, you do not register by party.

I agree with most of the Green Party platform, but I understand the need to get rid of Bush.

[bigwoody]

14. Careful, you'll make them mad. To spite people that they have 90% in

common with, Greens might vote Green again or not at all? How about voting to remove assholes you have 0 % agreement with? Maybe they figure EIGHT years of chimpy's environmental assault will open the door for a Green president, tear it down and start over from scratch. Just like bush/cheney in Iraq, tear it down-rebuild it over and over.:nuke:

[sujan]

15. Yeah, All for one party system

Hate diversity of opinions.

:puke:

[damnyankee2601]

28. We already have a 1-party system.

It's called GOP oligarchy. If you want to get rid of it before it consolidates power, you'd better put your ego and dogma aside and vote Democratic.

[stevesssss]

18. "URGENT" from Terry McAuliffe

As a progressive non-Democrat, I would certainly like to get rid of the Bushies, but the Democrats need be a real choice. I just got one of those fake "Fed-Ex-oid" things with a fake tracking number, plastered with "URGENT", mailed bulk rate. The DNC wanted my money and my opinion. How am I to take the DNC seriously when they employ the marketing techniques of herbal virility pill companies? What sort of pathetic morons are supposed to respond with money to an insult to their intelligence? Is it too much to ask the Democrats to keep the appeals and arguments at an adult level? That might distinguish them from the Repugs.

[DrRock]

25. greens

I agree with the green party on a lot of issues. I think they have some great ideas. But they have to think in terms of baby steps. Get out there, make your voice heard, and open up some people's minds. But come election time, they need to realize that without getting rid of Bush & his cronies, they will NEVER have a chance. Let's get some fair leaders running this country first, then the fringe parties will maybe have a chance to become less fringe as time goes on. At least I hope so.

[CWebster]

26. Make sure they have someone they can vote for

then.

[acerbic]

27. Kucinich and Dean support instant runoff voting

...which should highly interest Greens. Anyone else?

http://www.fairvote.org/

[VermontYankee]

29. Return of the green Luddites

http://news.com.com/2010-1071-5061904.html

All of this is excerpts from the article:


By Declan McCullagh
August 11, 2003, 4:00 AM PT

Being an activist means always having to find something new to complain about.

For much of the past decade, environmental activists have voiced fears about bioengineered crops. Engineered crops such as soybeans, corn and canola are popular in the United States, because farmers can reduce the amount of pesticides released into the environment, but pro-environmental groups have successfully campaigned against them in Europe
....

A recent 72-page report from Greenpeace warns of the dangers of nanotechnology. An introduction from Greenpeace's Doug Parr sets the tone for the piece, claiming that nanotechnology-created "materials should be considered hazardous until shown otherwise."

Huh? Abandoning technologies that can protect the environment is hardly the most logical stance for a pro-environment group to take. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, for instance, is already looking into and funding the development of nanomaterials that can reduce harmful emissions, aid recycling and filter gaseous pollutants


http://news.com.com/2010-1071-5061904.html

[0007]

30. Don't see much difference between the two parties

I don't hear much outraged dem leaders. A third party would be good for everyone.