Posted on 01/16/2008 7:11:36 PM PST by atomic conspiracy
Withdraw from Iraq immediately. Eliminate the No Child Left Behind law. Legalize marijuana.
Those were just some of the goals stated by candidates at the Green Party presidential debate Sunday in San Francisco.
About 800 people of varying ages, economic backgrounds and political parties attended the "Presidential Debate that Matters" at the Herbst Theatre, where the five Green presidential hopefuls spent more time agreeing with one another than actually debating.
"We're not so much against each other as we are for each other," said one of the candidates, Kent Mesplay, an environmental engineer who also ran for the Green Party nomination in 2004. "We have to be because by no means is (the two-party system) a level playing field."
The nearly three-hour event was co-moderated by "Peace Mom" Cindy Sheehan and KPFA radio host Aimee Allison, who allowed the candidates timed answers to questions about the war in Iraq, illegal immigration, the farm bill and health care, among other subjects.
Nearly every answer was greeted with nods of agreement from the other candidates waiting their turns and by roars of applause from the audience, giving the forum a pep rally feeling.
Bay Area elected officials who are Green Party members - including Richmond Mayor Gayle McLaughlin, San Francisco Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi and San Francisco Board of Education member Mark Sanchez - also took the lecturn, urging the crowd to see the Green Party as the most progressive political option and not as a wasted vote.
"Please. This is serious. This is not a joke. This is about starting a real movement in this country," said candidate Cynthia McKinney to a standing ovation.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
PJ, here is a story on the Green Party debate Sunday. On Tuesday I looked on DU, KOs, and HUff for reaction threads to the GP debate, but I couldn’t find any. It was pretty much ignored. The DUmmies, KOmmies, and HUffies must have been too caught up in the Hillary-Barack contratemps.
No. But dolphins and polar bears will each get two seats each in the US Senate. Cynthia McKinney will graciously consent to vote on their behalf by proxy.
Coming to you soon: "The Chair recognizes the honorable organism from the North Pole." (So as not to be speciesists, all senators will henceforth be referred to as "organisms.")
man.......................that’s good stuff
LOL!
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