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There was a story in the July 31, 2012 Berkshire Eagle about Rep. William “Smitty” Pignatelli being fined $250 for a ‘campaign finance gaffe.’  His campaign treasurer worked for the town of Lenox, which is a violation of campaign finance law.  The full story is pasted at the end of this diary.

In response to several media inquiries for a statement from me I released the following:

I would not want to be found in violation of campaign finance laws.  I’m surprised that Representative Pignatelli stated to the Berkshire Eagle that he was not aware of the matter until OCPF did its investigation.  I can reasonably assume that the town of Lenox had notified his treasurer, Ms. Pero about the matter in August 2011.  It should have been an easy matter to research and take appropriate action then.  I have high praise for the Office of Campaign and Political Finance.  OCPF staff and its web site have always been extremely helpful in assisting candidates like Rep. Pignatelli and me to comply with the campaign finance laws of Massachusetts when a modest effort is made by such candidates to learn the rules.

My statement continues, along with relevant appendices.

Continue reading My Opponent’s Campaign Finance Gaffe

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About time the candidate got a nickname. “Dr” is so stuffy (seriously, btw–this “Dr.” business is a misguided tactic. One of Dr.Stein’s strengths is that everyone thinks of her as “Jill.” That’s a plus, even, maybe especially, in a big-time race).

But I’m curious as to whether Ms. Stein has ever touted this, or whether Mr Bie is making it up as he goes along:


“Marijuana is the key to our climate and energy needs…. the US can fulfill all its current energy usage and needs merely by growing Hemp for seed oil and biomass… Jill Stein with her Green New Deal will initiate sweeping reforms that will Legalize Marijuana and institute a Hempen Clean-Energy-based Green Economy. With Hemp, we can raise our own fuel that doesn’t cause Global Warming. Hemp grows so fast, that the US can be energy-independent in a matter of weeks, with never a need for Fracking, Pipelines, “Natural” Gas, Gasoline, Oil, Coal, or Nuclear Power. Drilling Alaska and the Gulf indeed!

”

I’m all for legalization, and “Ganja Jill” certainly caused my ears to prick up, but a hemp based economy?  

Continue reading “Ganga Jill Stein” and the Hempen-Clean- Energy-based-Green- Economy

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Will write more about my experience at the Green Party Nominating Convention in Baltimore, MD, but for now, you can watch it live:

Watch live streaming video from greenpartyus at livestream.com

You can also catch it on C-SPAN, and I’m very excited that Democracy NOW! has based their show out of Baltimore to cover the Green Party convention in depth.

Continue reading Green Party nominating convention live streaming
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The Green Party’s presumptive nominee for President, Dr. Jill Stein, met a groundbreaking threshold over the weekend by securing enough financial support in 22 states to qualify for the Federal Election Commission’s primary matching funds.

With taxpayers (voluntarily) doling out funds to two third party candidates in this election (Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson ironically qualified in May), the issue of whether the bipartisan (Democrat-and-Republican-controlled) Commission on Presidential Debates can justify its exclusive, anti-democratic charade will itself become a topic for debate.

Watch Stein’s brief message about this breakthrough, and read her full statement below the jump:

Continue reading Stein campaign makes Green Party history, qualifies for federal matching funds
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