IED n. ; 1. acronym for “improvised explosive device”, a term of derision for the perceived backward and amateurish way that the Islamic army rabble engages in combat 2. (post 2009) acronym for “improvised election deception” – a term named for the desperate, undemocratic, most likely illegal way Scott Brown won the MA Senate race in 2009 by having Tea Party people and their money flood into MA from outside the state making it appear MA people supported him, which is reminiscent of the border ruffians who stormed into Kansas from Missouri to disrupt democratic conventions in Kansas just prior to the Civil War in an episode that has been termed “Bleeding Kansas.”
Continue reading IED gets a second definition – by Larry Elyelections
Maine shows us the way, though with Clean Elections they’re playing with a different beast. I dare a single Massachusetts State Legislator who allowed Clean Elections to be destroyed without even going on the record to defend that move on Green Mass Group. I double dare you!
Maine Green Independent Party will run 18 candidates for state legislature in 2010
Posted March 18th, 2010 by Dave Schwab at Green Party Watch
AUGUSTA- On Monday, March 15th, the Green Independent Party of Maine turned in signatures to qualify 18 legislative candidates throughout the state, the second highest total in 12 years of holding official ballot status.
“We made legislative recruitment a top priority this year. With sweeping changes in electoral reform that came out of Augusta last year, we no longer need the governor’s race to keep party status. We turned our resources toward legislative seats, where we have better opportunity for success,” said Anna Trevorrow, Chair of the state Green Independent Party.
The party has nearly doubled its number of qualified candidates from 2008, and has expanded its geographic outreach. The Greens have qualified 15 candidates for State House and 3 for State Senate.
Continue reading Maine, Maine, show us the way!Fall Elections:
The deadline is February 23, 2010, to become an unenrolled voter if you’re presently registered with Democratic, Republican or Libertarian Party, in order to run in the fall election under the Green Rainbow designation. Best to check your registration today, if you’re thinking of running for office. See the Schedule link. (Un-enrolled candidates indicate their designation on their nomination papers before collecting signatures.)
Election Schedule 2010
http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/schedule_10.pdf
Candidate Guide 2010
http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/Candidates_Guide_10.pdf
Map of all Massachusetts Senate Districts
Map of all Massachusetts House Districts
Continue reading Feb 23 Last day to register as Un-enrolled voter for GRP candidates, November 2010 electionThis piece was written as part of GreenChange Blog Action Day. Learn more here.
I’m not going to pull any punches here. I detest the two party system. I believe that it undermines representative government. It makes our government more responsive to corporations than to citizens. It decreases the chances of progress and it results in many good ideas being shut out of the national political debate.
The limits imposed on this nation by the two party system are slowly leading to its demise. Partisan gridlock in Washington, outright corruption, the absurd difficulty of kicking out incumbents, corporate control of Washington, and the infamous backwardness of many local governments (among many things) are all symptoms of this same disease. And I do not use that language lightly.
Continue reading Thinking beyond the two party system