2004 is a big year in many ways, what with the Presidential election, the war in Iraq and other pressing issues. It is also a big year for the Green Party of the United States.
The Green Party (GPUS, www.gp.org) is in the midst of what I would call an identity crisis, precipitated by Ralph Nader's decision to run as an Independent rather than going for the GPUS' Presidential nomination, a nomination he likely would have easily won if he had campaigned for it as he did in 2000.
As the GPUS approaches its national convention in Milwaukee June 24-27, there are three, primary contending positions as to what the Greens should do about the Presidential race:
nominate David Cobb (www.votecobb.org), nominate nobody and then endorse Ralph Nader (www.votenader.org), or don't run or support anybody. As things now stand and are likely to be the case come June 24th, the pro-Cobb and pro-Nader camps are roughly equal in numbers of declared delegates, both short of a majority, with "no candidate" likely to command between 5-10%. The decision as to what happens will probably lie with a block of uncommitted delegates that will make up between 10-15% of the total....
I fervently hope that all Green delegates to Milwaukee, whatever their position on the Presidential question, travel there in a frame of mind which appreciates the importance of what has been built...
In that spirit, below is my perspective on the pros and cons of prospective Green Party Presidential nominee David Cobb and prospective Green Party endorsee Ralph Nader. This listing is offered in the interest of seeking clarity about the major differences between them to allow for an informed debate and ultimate decision in Milwaukee, as well as to help non-Greens understand what is going on.He then goes the major pluses and minuses of every individual candidate, including (In my mind) the best reason to vote for David Cobb:
-A Cobb campaign will bring pressure to bear on Kerry to articulate better positions, if less so than Nader's campaign.
-He is committed to a campaign which is conducted in such a way that Bush is defeated, running all out in the non-battleground states while consulting with Green parties in battleground states as to the best approach to use there.http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=33&ItemID=5534If David Cobb won, and he got on the ballot in North Dakota, I would vote him because North Dakota:
-Is a safe * state
-Has 3 electoral votes
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