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Even though Illinois won't be inundated with presidential candidates like Iowa or New Hampshire, we will be able to boast one thing that residents of those states will not — the Green Party's national convention.
The Green Party will hold its convention July 10-13 next year at the Chicago Theatre. The recently renovated (and finally re-opened) Blackstone Hotel will serve as home base for 1,500 or more participants — though we doubt there will be anything even remotely resembling the "smoke-filled room."
The main attraction to the state is apparently the relatively strong showing in the gubernatorial race by Rich Whitney. Though he obviously didn't win, we still look back fondly to the race as proof that small is beautiful when it comes to elections. At the very least, a three-party race serves as a reminder that Democracy does not have to be limited to two sides, with all other parties told to make like a tree and get out.
The July date won't give the party's pick as much face time with the nation as other candidates, which we think is a relief. That's not because we're afraid of a threat (perceived or real) from a Nader-esque candidate who may steal votes from Democrats, but because we will be dead tired of presidential hopefuls all up in our grill for the past two years. Perhaps an anti-war, pro-environment candidate will seem like a knight in shining armor to some by that time, especially with all of the other horses beaten nearly to death. Then again, maybe he or she will seem like the court jester. Either way, it will spice things up a bit.
Image via home.ican.net.
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Funny how that logo looks just like BP's.
Hey, nothing wrong with a pot-filled room...
alicia dorr is my favorite columnist. so feisty!
You'd best mean that sincerely matty, because I do think she brings a fresh voice and perspective to the site.
Knee jerk college liberal is a "fresh perspective?"
Have you been reading this site?
I do think she brings a fresh voice and perspective to the site.
That explains a lot.
As fresh or as knee jerk as a Daley lite perspective allows. But hey, I'm doing personally o.k. so I guess I shouldn't complain, as long as I get mine.
I've said this since Nader's 2000 debacle ...
Why does the Green party feel it has to start with the top office? What profession other than politics makes people think they can start out as CEOs? Wouldn't it make more sense for the Green party--or any third party, for that matter--to invest in local and state offices, building grass-roots support, before trying to take on the presidency?
I'll never vote for any third party that doesn't first hold at least a few chairs in congress. Otherwise, they're not serious about change ... they're just another batch of posers making a power grab.
Nader's debacle? I'm a proud Nader voter. I would have voted for Gore not been so cowardly including picking that idiot Lieberman. And are you gonna blame Nader on a cowardly Kerry debacle or was that because Howard Dean. But I agree with you on your point of laying a stronger foundation
You might as well vote for one of the real knights in shining armor at the Renn. Faire. If the Green Party really cared about bringing multi-party politics to the US, they'd be focusing on electoral reform, not bottom-tier runs at high office.
Guest 1O, this is why it's important to actually read deeply about political movements at least on a national level.
How do you think the right wing grew so much? While Goo Gooo libs were talking forming coalitions with moderates and republicans for electoral reform, the right wing movement was building a grassroots base to push their red white and blue brand of political lunacy. This movement started with local “dog catcher elections” and moved up the totem poll.
This is why I respect them more than Goo goo liberals and moderates, because they are not afraid to get down and dirty with working folks as oppose to hanging out with the wine and cheese crowd only
Holla!