Homestretch for Illinois Congressional Seat Election

Candidates for Illinois' 5th Congressional District Seat

Article and Photo by Kevin Gosztola

On February 23, 2009, the 5th District of Illinois held al candidates’ forum which included more than 20 people vying for the Congressional seat vacated by Rahm Emanuel who took the post as President Obama’s White House Chief of Staff early this year. This special election has been a circus, with Democrats, Greens and Republicans eagerly jockeying for the coveted office. And while Democrats presumed to battle between themselves, it was the “fringe candidates” who offered a breath of fresh air from the conventional wisdom.

Organizers separated the forum into two segments: the first featured only Democrats; the second included Republicans and Greens. Despite this segregation of parties, it proved suprisingly effective in highlighting the key issues and solutions that differentiate them from one another.

It was Green Party candidate Matt Reichel’s response to a question on Section 8 housing during which the forum took a spontaneous turn. Reichel suggested that domestic issues could be solved once we end the wars and cut the military budget. This was the first time that the Middle East Wars had been brought up. The audience broke out in uproarious applause while the moderator struggled to regain control by asking  Reichel to “answer the question.”

Fellow Green Party candidate Deb Gordils seconded Reichel’s answer and added that it was time that people suspend their loyalties to the Democratic Party and vote Green. She too was told by the moderator to “answer the question.”

During the course of the forum, the independent Republican Jon Stewart (no relation to Comedy Central), had surprised listeners with his support for untraditional Republican solutions, including amnesty for illegals and single-payer health care. When he also agreed with Reichel and said you can take care of domestic problems by ending the killing of people, the crowd applauded loudly. Ironically, the moderator’s efforts to gain control and stifle the enthusiasm only instigated further laughter.

Other Green candidates in attendance were Matt Fredrickson and Simon Ribeiro; other Republican candidates included Greg Bedell, Tom Hanson, and Daniel S. Kay.

Kevin Gosztola studies documentary filmmaking at Columbia College in Chicago and is a YP4 2009 Fellow. He is an At-Large Senator for the Student Government Association and is working to create a Student Civic Collective and increase funding and resources for political and social student organizations on campus. He has also served as a researcher and Production Assistant on several documentaries during the course of the 2008 election, including Polidoc Productions’ “Seriously Green.”

Peter Camejo, Socialist Activist and Third Party Warrior Memorialized

Peter Camejo Memorial – Ralph Nader’s Speech from Polidoc on Vimeo.
Hundreds gathered in Berkeley to celebrate the life of political activist and unabashed Socialist Peter Camejo. Renown for his consistency of purpose in the battle to reform politics as usual, Camejo succumbed to a cancer, but not before he had finished his last book, an autobiography.

And while autobiographies have become a little more common place, Camejo was anything but common. He was a fiercely dedicated advocate for civil rights, a committed friend to many, and a relentlessly hopeful socialist. He fought tirelessly on behalf of third parties and made three gubernatorial runs in California. Ronald Reagan had called him the most dangerous man in politics. Laughable and true.

People attending the memorial where the event was held were alight with laughter as they listened to delightful stories of Camejo’s past and his vision for the future. He will be missed and condolences go to his family. Others speaking at the memorial included Camejo’s wife Morella, and brother Antonio Camejo; friend and former running mate, Ralph Nader; Cindy Sheehan; Matt Gonzalez; Gayle McLaughlin; Dr. Agha Saeed.

Thanks for your continued subscription. If you have an insight or piece of news that seems to fit our blog, please feel free to contact us.

Peter Camejo, Socialist Activist and Third Party Warrior Memorialized

Peter Camejo Memorial – Ralph Nader’s Speech from Polidoc on Vimeo.
Hundreds gathered in Berkeley to celebrate the life of political activist and unabashed Socialist Peter Camejo. Renown for his consistency of purpose in the battle to reform politics as usual, Camejo succumbed to a cancer, but not before he had finished his last book, an autobiography.

And while autobiographies have become a little more common place, Camejo was anything but common. He was a fiercely dedicated advocate for civil rights, a committed friend to many, and a relentlessly hopeful socialist. He fought tirelessly on behalf of third parties and made three gubernatorial runs in California. Ronald Reagan had called him the most dangerous man in politics. Laughable and true.

People attending the memorial where the event was held were alight with laughter as they listened to delightful stories of Camejo’s past and his vision for the future. He will be missed and condolences go to his family. Others speaking at the memorial included Camejo’s wife Morella, and brother Antonio Camejo; friend and former running mate, Ralph Nader; Cindy Sheehan; Matt Gonzalez; Gayle McLaughlin; Dr. Agha Saeed.

Eco-Savvy Storytellers watching the greening of politics.

Peter Camejo, Socialist Activist and Third Party Warrior Memorialized

Peter Camejo Memorial – Ralph Nader’s Speech from Polidoc on Vimeo.
Hundreds gathered in Berkeley to celebrate the life of political activist and unabashed Socialist Peter Camejo. Renown for his consistency of purpose in the battle to reform politics as usual, Camejo succumbed to a cancer, but not before he had finished his last book, an autobiography.

And while autobiographies have become a little more common place, Camejo was anything but common. He was a fiercely dedicated advocate for civil rights, a committed friend to many, and a relentlessly hopeful socialist. He fought tirelessly on behalf of third parties and made three gubernatorial runs in California. Ronald Reagan had called him the most dangerous man in politics. Laughable and true.

People attending the memorial where the event was held were alight with laughter as they listened to delightful stories of Camejo’s past and his vision for the future. He will be missed and condolences go to his family. Others speaking at the memorial included Camejo’s wife Morella, and brother Antonio Camejo; friend and former running mate, Ralph Nader; Cindy Sheehan; Matt Gonzalez; Gayle McLaughlin; Dr. Agha Saeed.

Third Parties Offer Unity Platform to Expand Political Discourse

Experts Warn of Potential 2008 Election Cyber Heist

Ohio attorneys, pushing to convince a federal judge to lift the stay on a case alleging Republicans and Bush loyalists cyber-rigged the vote in Ohio in 2004, filed affidavits on Wednesday from two experts.

read more | digg story

Paul Calls on Voters to Reject Democratic and Republican Presidential Candidates

Ron Paul, whose surprising meteoric popularity stunned the Republican Party, has called upon third party Presidential candidates Ralph Nader, Cynthia McKinney, Chuck Baldwin and Bob Barr to attend a joint news conference proposed for Wednesday to encourage people to forsake the DNC and RNC Presidential candidates.

Ron Paul delegates were rebuffed at the Republican Convention held last week in Minneapolis, denied microphone time or opportunity to have their votes counted, according to delegates attending protests outside the RNC Convention. While Republican insiders said they tried to court Ron Paul delegates, many libertarian leaning followers remained resolute in their hopes to assert their emphasis on restoring Constitutional rights, which has failed to make the party’s platform as well as immediate withdrawal from Iraq and elimination of the Federal Reserve..

“The strongest message can be sent by rejecting the two party system,” Paul said in prepared remarks obtained by AP. “This can be accomplished by voting for one of the non-establishment, principled candidates.”

Nader and running mate Matt Gonzalez, who held Super Rallies in both Denver and Minneapolis during the two parties’ conventions, also invited Baldwin, McKinney and Barr to participate in their “Open the Debate” Super Rallies held in both Denver and Minneapolis during the two parties’ conventions. The Green Party Vice-Presidential candidate, Rosa Clemente enjoyed a ready audience at both venues.

The Nader campaign has just completed getting on their 45th state ballot. Despite this achievement for an independent candidate, news coverage has been slim for Nader, ironic since he was so vilified by Democrats and sneered at by Republicans for George Walker Bush’s win in 2000.

According to most recent polls, the Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain are neck and neck in the race. A unified voice from both libertarian and socialist leaning parties ( otherwise called fringe by the mainstream) could help to open up the debates and alter the depth of media coverage offered to all the candidates.

“This is the beginning of the realignment of American politics,” Nader said.

Slice of Green Ontario

Neighbors north of the US have less of a challenge when it comes to alternative parties, while in the US, members of such parties are often cast as unreasonable extremists, if seen at all.

This grassroots media campaign from Ontario, Canada by YouTube user “b1withme”, offers a glimpse at just how neighborly and non-extreme a Green Party person can be.

Eco-Savvy Storytellers watching the greening of politics.

Slice of Green Ontario

Neighbors north of the US have less of a challenge when it comes to alternative parties, while in the US, members of such parties are often cast as unreasonable extremists, if seen at all.

This grassroots media campaign from Ontario, Canada by YouTube user “b1withme”, offers a glimpse at just how neighborly and non-extreme a Green Party person can be.

Thanks for your continued subscription. If you have an insight or piece of news that seems to fit our blog, please feel free to contact us.

Slice of Green Ontario

Neighbors north of the US have less of a challenge when it comes to alternative parties, while in the US, members of such parties are often cast as unreasonable extremists, if seen at all.

This grassroots media campaign from Ontario, Canada by YouTube user “b1withme”, offers a glimpse at just how neighborly and non-extreme a Green Party person can be.