McKinney Urged to Run for President

Meanwhile, another McKinney is a L-O-S-E-R.

McKinney Dad Loses

[quote]Originally posted by William1865:
McKinney Urged to Run for President

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I knew the Greens weren't politically sophisticated, but this would be an absolute death knell of their party. Instead of mainstreaming their message and making it palatable for even a sizable minority of Americans, they would further marginalize themselves behind the figurehead leadership of an out of control demagogue who can't even get reelected in her own power base. Forget reelected. She couldn't get renominated, which is far worse.

I am sympathetic to Cynthia McKinney & am outraged by the hatchet-job that was done on her by the mainstream media, the Georgia Democratic Party establishment & the Israel lobby. I have serious reservations about the Greens, however, because their political actions often seem to verge on simple nihilism, such as their running a candidate (again, with no hope of actually winning) against Paul Wellstone in Minnesota, arguably the most liberal/progressive voice in the U.S. Senate. (I guess they're thinking that if they can throw enough races to the Republicans & turn the government even further to the right that the revolution will commence that much sooner.) So in this case I'm not sure: I think Cynthia absolutely should fight back & refuse to go away quietly, but I don't know what can be accomplished through the Greens.

[quote]Originally posted by Billy:
they're thinking that if they can throw enough races to the Republicans & turn the government even further to the right that the revolution will commence that much sooner.

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That's a losing strategy -- but I wouldn't put it past some Greens to think it!

The Green's have done an about-face in New Mexico, where in several past elections they drew votes away from Dem. candidates to give the GOP the win -- such as in the 1st cong. district.

This year -- no Green candidate in that race.

McKinney should learn from Bob Smith's example -- leave the party -- you're gone from the party.

[quote]Originally posted by Billy:
../ the Greens['] simple nihilism [of] running a candidate... against Paul Wellstone in Minnesota, arguably the most liberal/progressive voice in the U.S. Senate...

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Or if not that (leaving some of his disappointing recent votes for the Ashcroft Way aside), something of a chickenshit:


Wellstone yanks anti-Bush web link after GOP criticism (Minn Star Tribune)

Look at the 'substance' of that criticism, from a party that called the last elected president a rapist and murderer. Balls! The Democrats are a party without a discernible spine.

[quote]Originally posted by Bill W:
from a party that called the last elected president a rapist and murderer. Balls!

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Yes elements of the Republican party claimed Clinton was responsible for, at least, the death of Vincent Foster, but that isn't the "party" calling him anything. That would be like blaming the Democrats for, well... Cynthia McKinney. But beyond that, I don't remember any rape allegations of any sort.

[quote]Originally posted by Bill W:


Or if not that (leaving some of his disappointing recent votes for the Ashcroft Way aside), something of a chickenshit:


Wellstone yanks anti-Bush web link after GOP criticism (Minn Star Tribune)

Look at the 'substance' of that criticism, from a party that called the last elected president a rapist and murderer. Balls! The Democrats are a party without a discernible spine.

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What I love about this is that Wellstone's spokesman says "it's surprising that NRSC attack machine doesn't take a day off, even on September 11." But the NRSC was simply asking Wellstone to stop running political ads and attacking President Bush on Sept. 11, which is construed by the Wellstone people as an "attack," even though Wellstone agreed, condemned the site and pulled his ad. So even to agree with Wellstone is to attack Wellstone. Beautiful.

Not to stray too far off-topic, but Wellstone lost credibility when he decided he is indispensible in Washington and renegged on his vow to serve only two terms.

As for the Greens in MN -- here's some news:

"Wellstone also must watch carefully for any drift of his supporters into the camps of Green Party candidate Ray Tricomo or Jim Moore, the candidate of Ventura's Independence Party.

Tricomo, a blind, unemployed teacher, scored a primary upset Tuesday over Ed McGaa, the candidate endorsed by the state Green Party organization --the latest event in a strange saga for the Minnesota Greens this year.

Before their state party convention, Minnesotan Winona LaDuke -- the 2000 Green vice presidential nominee on the ticket headed by consumer advocate Ralph Nader -- sent a letter urging the group to endorse Wellstone, whose record in many areas aligns with the Green Party platform.

Instead, the party endorsed McGaa, an American Indian author and Vietnam veteran who subsequently turned off some pacifist Greens with constant discussion of his war record.

Then, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that McGaa, in 1986, tried to cut a deal with South Dakota to move sewage ash to land he owned on an Indian reservation there.

That revelation led the state's top Green Party figure, gubernatorial nominee Ken Pentel, to withdraw his support for McGaa.

Tricomo provides a bombastic alternative, however. In an interview, he called for the impeachment of Bush and removal of Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld. He said that, if elected, his staff would include liberals such as Democratic Rep. Cynthia A. McKinney -- whose outspoken views contributed to her upset in Georgia's Aug. 20 primary -- and left-wing academic Noam Chomsky.

Noting the potential for a spoiler candidacy in a close race, Tricomo said he would not drop out or endorse Wellstone. The Greens have major-party status in Minnesota, allowing their candidates to participate in many debates and other events.

"You could wake up on Nov. 5 [sic] and find Norm Coleman the senator-elect, and I'll get the blame for it," he said.

Washington Post 9/12