Socialist Party Campaign Clearinghouse News

La Botz Campaign Seeks Volunteer Campaign Coordinator

daschaich@gmail.com (David Schaich) — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 02:09:00 +0000

Dan La Botz, the Socialist Party candidate for US Senate in Ohio is looking for a volunteer to work as coordinator of his campaign. The position would last for four months and would involve the organization of speaking engagements, meetings, and other activities; work with volunteers and local committees; fund-raising; work with the media; the development of databases, listservs, e-mailings and e-social networks. Work would involve some travel in the state of Ohio. The coordinator would work under the direct supervision of La Botz and in coordination with local and state committees.

Applicant should have organizing experience in social movements, labor or politics and a demonstrated commitment to social justice. This position requires someone with organizational skills and experience: with the ability to multi-task, to manage schedules, and to show attention to details. Should be someone confident in dealing with people and have the ability to organize volunteers. Computer skills are essential, especially desirable are the ability to create and use data bases. Candidate should ideally have a car. Absolute equal opportunity.

The position would last from early July through the first week of November. Room and board would be provided and modest stipend of $100 per month, with the stipend increased to as much as $500 per month as quickly as fundraising makes that possible. This is a great opportunity to gain valuable experience organizing and coordinating a campaign, and to advance the cause of social justice. Candidates should send a brief letter, concise c.v., and three references and their contact information to: Dan La Botz at DanLaBotz (at) gmail (dot) com. (Put "Coordinator Position" in subject line.)

Dan La Botz, Cincinnati School Teacher, Socialist Party Candidate for US Senate in Ohio

daschaich@gmail.com (David Schaich) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:28:00 +0000

Dan La Botz, a 64-year old Cincinnati school teacher, has filed petitions with the Ohio Secretary of State to become the candidate of the Socialist Party for the U.S. Senate. La Botz, who needed 500 signatures to get on the Socialist Party primary ballot, filed petitions with approximately 1,200 signatures on Thursday, Feb. 18. La Botz, a long time labor and social movement activist, is the candidate of the Socialist Party of Ohio which is the state organization of the Socialist Party USA.

Speaking in Columbus after turning in his petitions, La Botz said, "I believe we need an alternative to the Republican and Democratic Parties. We have to stop the banks and corporations from controlling our political system. We must stop the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. We must bring our citizens single-payer health care. We must confront the environmental crisis, rejecting coal, petroleum and nuclear energy and prioritizing solar and other green solutions. We must create jobs for all at living wages. When private enterprise fails the government must step in to become the employer of last resort."

La Botz said he sees a growing, though still embryonic movement for social change, a movement to which his Socialist candidacy will speak. "We can see the growing frustration, alienation and discontent with our political system. We see it in the Tea-Baggers. We see it in the demonstrations for immigrant rights. We see it in workers voting against contract concessions that give away wages and health plans. We see it in the LGBTQ movement for gay and lesbian marriage rights. People want an alternative, and that alternative is the idea of a democratic socialist society with health care, education, housing, and jobs and justice for all."

Rejecting arguments that a third party cannot win and cannot have an impact, La Botz pointed out that given the political deadlock in Washington, one Senator in the U.S. Congress from a third party could exert enormous leverage on the political process. "But," he said, "my job will be to inspire people to fight back not only politically, but by fighting for secure jobs, higher wages and health care, resisting attempts to foreclose on and seize their homes, and demanding free public higher education such as many states had in the 1960s. We need a political movement that is the expression of a social movement."

"Working people make the country run," said La Botz. "And working people -- not the banks, corporations, and politicians -- should run the country."

Ohio once had a history as a Socialist Party stronghold, with Socialists elected by their labor union and working class constituencies to lead city government in Dayton, Hamilton, and other Ohio cities and towns. During the twentieth century railroad union leader Eugene V. Debs in the 1910s and 1920s and former Presbyterian minister Norman Thomas in the 1930s and 1940s served as the presidential candidates of the Socialist Party.

Stewart Alexander Backs Same-Sex Marriage Rights

daschaich@gmail.com (David Schaich) — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 06:38:00 +0000

A statement by Stewart A. Alexander, candidate for the Peace and Freedom Party's nomination for California Governor in 2010

In May 2009, the Los Angeles Times published an article entitled "Gay marriage a minefield for candidates for California governor;" however, Stewart Alexander, a candidate for California Governor, has taken a stand in the middle of that minefield and has thrust his campaign in the middle of the debate to achieve same-sex marriage rights.

In October, Stewart Alexander launched his campaign to become California's next governor calling for the legalization of same-sex marriages and the legalization of marijuana; these are two issues that most of the Republican candidates have consistently opposed and legalizing same-sex marriage has only been half heartedly embrace by some Democrats, to include California Attorney General Jerry Brown. The only two Democrats that championed same-sex marriage rights were San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa; both candidates backed out from the governor's race near the middle of 2009.

The Republican front-runner, billionaire Meg Whitman, may be prepared to spend what ever amount of money to become California's next governor; however, it would be a disaster for LGBT rights. Meg Whitman has flip-flopped on most of the issues. Recently, Whitman stated that she favored maintaining the legality of the 18,000 married gay and lesbian couples in California; however, she remains opposed to same-sex couples having the right to marry.

The only viable Republican challenger to Whitman's campaign is California's Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner. Like Meg Whitman, Steve Poizner is prepared to buy California votes; Poizner has already committed more than $15 million of his own funds toward his campaign. Stewart Alexander says "electing Poizner as governor would set back all the gains that lesbians and gays have achieved in the past 40 years."

Presently, in San Francisco there is a legal battle in federal court to determine whether same-sex marriages are protected by constitutional guaranties to protect minorities against the power of the majority to discriminate on the grounds of tradition and morality; it is expected the matter will eventually go all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Stewart Alexander is confident that Californians will be voting on the issue of same-sex marriage rights in November; however, Alexander says it is necessary to win the vote and to win the decision of the courts. Alexander was raised in the south and being an Afro-American, he says "denying the rights of minorities are usually based on discrimination". Still, with little or no money to finance a political campaign, Alexander is prepared to challenge a billionaire and the multi-millionaires in the California governor's race to defend the rights of minorities.

More on Mississippi ballot access

daschaich@gmail.com (David Schaich) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 18:57:00 +0000

Miss. ballot deadline dispute lingers
By Jack Elliot Jr.
Biloxi Sun Herald (Mississippi) (link)

Heard the true story about the guy who wanted on the presidential ballot in Mississippi?

He sends his qualifying papers by taxi to the Mississippi secretary of state's office. The cab driver arrives at 5 p.m. on the day qualifying is to end. The office is closed. The cabbie leaves the papers on the doorstep.

The filing deadline is unmet, and the candidate's name is left off the ballot.

The candidate sues.

A year of legal wrangling later and Brian Moore is back at square one. He's the Socialist Party USA presidential candidate in 2008 who wanted to be on the Mississippi ballot as the Natural Law Party nominee.

U.S. District Judge Tom S. Lee in Mississippi threw out Moore's lawsuit in March.

A panel of 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans reversed Lee but abstained from reaching its own conclusion. The panel said the election dispute "is based on an interpretation of uncertain state law, which should be resolved at the state level before we consider wading into a constitutional thicket."

The 5th Circuit panel suggested Lee do the same so the issue could be dealt with in the Mississippi courts.

Moore's attorney, Mark R. Brown of Columbus, Ohio, says procedurally Moore would file suit in state court, while Lee would put the federal case on hold. Once the Mississippi court ruled, Lee could then reconsider Moore's challenge.

"We're happy to be back in court ... kind of look at it as a partial victory. We haven't won the whole game yet," Brown said.

Brown says such parallel proceedings are not uncommon, especially in cases where a federal appeals court is looking for guidance from a state court before going off and interpreting a state law.

"The key is - and this is Mr. Moore's position and my position - we need to straighten this out for future elections for whoever it is who runs," Brown says.

Moore's argument is that the secretary of state's office shouldn't have closed at 5 p.m. on filing day. Moore says Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann should have kept the office open until midnight. He says nothing in state law governing the filing deadline for presidential candidates sets a 5 p.m. deadline.

Moore says Hosemann, by his actions, was enforcing a deadline without legislative direction and devising his own rules for candidates to get on the ballot.

Hosemann is steadfast in his position.

"The secretary of states office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every business day unless closed for the holidays designated by the Legislature and the governor," Hosemann said in a statement. "This is as required by Mississippi law. The office will not extend its hours of operation for any election filing unless the Legislature changes the hours."

In court papers, Hosemann denies Moore's constitutional rights to political participation were compromised by his office closing at 5 p.m.

Hosemann and Moore agree that some election statutes set deadlines of 5 p.m., just not the one addressing presidential candidate filing.

There, according to the 5th Circuit panel, is the conundrum.

Hosemann, the panel said, "has made it plain that he intends to enforce the 5 p.m. deadline in future elections."

Hosemann contends it is unlikely that Moore or any other presidential candidate will miss a deadline again.

Lee had found Moore's arguments to be moot because the election was over and because Moore and other candidates were now on notice that the filing deadline is 5 p.m.

That is beside the point, said the 5th Circuit panel.

The 5th Circuit panel said while the issue is moot for Moore related to the 2008 election, the filing deadline controversy could resurface unless some court clears it up.

"As long as the complained-of deadline is in place, future candidates in Mississippi will be subject to it and will need to conform to its demands. Thus, the effects of the deadline will persist," the panel said.

Fifth Circuit Says that Mississippi "10 Minutes Too Late" Case is Not Moot; Tells Lower Court to Settle the Issue

daschaich@gmail.com (David Schaich) — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 19:06:00 +0000

Fifth Circuit Says that Mississippi "10 Minutes Too Late" Case is Not Moot; Tells Lower Court to Settle the Issue
Ballot Access News (link)

On December 18, the 5th circuit issued an opinion in Moore v Hosemann, 09-60272, the case filed by Socialist Party presidential candidate Brian Moore last year, when the Mississippi Secretary of State refused to accept his presidential elector paperwork because it was submitted at 5:10 p.m. on the filing deadline. The Secretary of State rejected the paperwork because it arrived ten minutes after he had closed his office. The building itself was still open, so the paperwork had been left at the door of the Secretary of State’s office.

On March 10, 2009, the U.S. District Court had ruled against Moore, saying the case is moot. The District Court said, “It does not seem reasonably likely that other prospective presidential candidates will fail to timely file their qualifying papers before the Secretary of State’s office closes at 5 p.m. on the date of the qualifying deadline.”

But, the 5th circuit disagreed, saying, “The Secretary has made it plain that he intends to enforce the 5 p.m. deadline in future elections. He adds that the chance is very small that Moore or any other presidential candidate will miss the deadline again. That is beside the point, however. As long as the complained-of deadline is in place, future candidates in Mississippi will be subject to it and will need to conform to its demands. Thus, the effects of the deadline will persist.”

Therefore, the case goes back to the U.S. District Court, to settle the main issue. Moore’s case depends on the fact that Mississippi election laws do specify an hourly deadline for some kinds of paperwork. However, the law governing filings of presidential electors does not mention an hourly deadline, so the implication is that if the paperwork comes in on the deadline day at any hour, it is timely. The 5th circuit opinion also says that the U.S. District Court should refer the case to the Mississippi state courts, because generally, federal courts do not interpret or construe the actual meaning of state laws; that is a job for state courts. Therefore, probably a state court will eventually make the decision as to whether Moore’s paperwork should have been accepted.

The decision is by Judge Jerry Smith, a Reagan appointee, and is co-signed by Judge Edith Jones, another Reagan appointee, and Judge Harold DeMoss, a Bush, Sr. appointee. This is the first time the 5th Circuit has issued an opinion favorable to a minor party or independent candidate since 1996, when it invalidated a Texas law requiring independent candidate petitions to include the voter registration affidavit number of each petition signer. That case was Texas Independent Party v Kirk, 84 F.3d 178.

"Ten Minutes Too Late to File" Case Argued in 5th Circuit

daschaich@gmail.com (David Schaich) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:03:00 +0000

"Ten Minutes Too Late to File" Case Argued in 5th Circuit
Ballot Access News (link)

On November 4, the 5th circuit heard arguments in Moore v Hosemann, 09-60272, the case that arose in 2008 when presidential elector declarations of candidacy for Brian Moore were turned in to the Mississippi Secretary of State at 5:10 p.m. The office was still open, but the Secretary of State said they were ten minutes too late. Brian Moore was the Socialist Party presidential candidate, although in Mississippi he had been nominated by the Natural Law Party, a ballot-qualified party.

Mississippi election laws do specify that 5 p.m. is the deadline for many other kinds of paperwork, but says nothing about 5 p.m. for anything concerning presidential elections. The Mississippi Secretary of State said he had his own regulation about that, but Article II of the U.S. Constitution says only state legislatures can write election procedures concerning presidential electors.

Judge Edith Jones seemed unsympathetic, but she might have been playing devils’ advocate. Judge Harold DeMoss seemed very interested in the case and asked tough questions for both sides. Judge Jerry Smith only asked about whether the case is moot.

Socialist Party Gubernatorial Candidate video interview

daschaich@gmail.com (David Schaich) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 06:35:00 +0000

Greg Pason, Socialist Party candidate for Governor of New Jersey, was interviewed by Comcast Newsmakers on 16 September 2009.

New Jersey Democrat Challenges Socialist Party Petition

daschaich@gmail.com (David Schaich) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 00:01:00 +0000

New Jersey Democrat Challenges Socialist Party Petition
Ballot Access News (link)

The Socialist Party's only candidate for the legislature in New Jersey this year has been removed from the November 2009 ballot, even though he submitted 150 signatures to meet a requirement of 100 signatures. Tino Rozzo had been running in Assembly District One, in the southern tip of New Jersey. Signatures are presumed to be valid unless a challenge is filed. Rozzo's petition was challenged by a Democratic Party activist.

New Jersey elects its Assemblymembers every two years. In the last election in this district, in 2007, there had been no minor party or independent candidates. Each district elects two members. The 2007 vote had been: Democrats 27,420 and 23,978; Republicans 22,075 and 21,489.

Rozzo last ran for this seat in 2003, when he received 770 votes. Rozzo did not fight the recent challenge to his petition, and will instead be the Socialist Party's candidate for Lieutenant Governor. Under a new procedure in New Jersey, each gubernatorial candidate during July must choose a Lieutenant Governor running mate. The gubernatorial candidates of the Democratic, Republican, and Libertarian Parties, still have not chosen their Lieutenant Governor candidates.

Socialists second-largest party in Oklahoma?

daschaich@gmail.com (David Schaich) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 00:10:00 +0000

This Oklahoma Gazette article on ballot access quotes a Common Cause official saying that, "the Socialists were the second-biggest party in Oklahoma for a while".

Richard Winger of Ballot Access News says this is an exaggeration, but he adds: "The Socialist Party got 20.8% of the gubernatorial vote in 1914", and "after the 1914 election, the Socialist Party had 6 state legislators in Oklahoma", compared to 22 Republicans.

Even if we weren't the second-largest party in the past, you can help make us the largest in the future!

Brian Moore Files Court Brief Against Mississippi

daschaich@gmail.com (David Schaich) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 01:05:00 +0000

Brian Moore Files 5th Circuit Brief Against Mississippi
Ballot Access News (link)

On June 8, Brian Moore, the 2008 Socialist Party presidential nominee, filed his brief in Moore v Hosemann, 09-60272, in the 5th circuit. The issue is whether the Secretary of State should have accepted the paperwork to put Moore on the ballot last year.

Mississippi election laws generally specifiy that certain paperwork is due by 5 p.m. of the deadline day. However, the law does not set a time deadline for paperwork involving presidential elector candidates; the law merely says the deadline is 60 days before the general election. Therefore, a neutral person would probably maintain that papers delivered on the deadline day are timely, if filed on the evening of that day. If it is impractical for a state office to remain open past 5 p.m., a reasonable state office would probably accept paperwork by the start of business on the next day, if the paperwork had been shoved under the door during the night. However, the Secretary of State did not accept the paperwork, which arrived at 5:10 p.m. on the deadline. The Moore lawsuit argues that the Secretary of State was wrong. It also argues that, in any event, the U.S. Constitution requires that state legislatures set the rules for presidential elections, and that the Secretary of State had no authority to administratively set a 5 p.m. deadline when the legislature itself had not done so.

It may seem that the practical significance of this lawsuit is small. On the other hand, this type of dispute is surprisingly common. Paperwork for candidates is frequently filed in the last hour on the deadline day, and there have been many legal disputes over whether or not the paperwork was submitted barely in time, or barely out of time.

Radio Free Kansas Interviews Brian Moore

daschaich@gmail.com (David Schaich) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 18:30:00 +0000

(Brian Moore was the Socialist Party's candidate for President of the United States in 2008.)

Mike Caddell of Radio Free Kansas interviewed 2008 Socialist Party USA Presidential Candidate Brian Moore on Friday, 20 March 2009. A recording can be found on Mike's website, part of Radio Free Kansas. Mike recently interviewed Ray McGovern, former CIA agent and social activist; and Cindy Sheehan, antiwar activist.

Brian's interview was initially aired Thursday evening, 19 March, at 10 PM Central Time, and will be on online until 27 March.

Technical notes: Brian's interview begins at 5 minutes and 40 seconds, then is interrupted at 13 minutes and 20 seconds. The interview has to be restarted at 15 minutes and 40 seconds. If you move ahead to minute 23, the interview can continue, without having to listen anew to the start. The interview ends at 57 minutes and 25 seconds. The actual interview length is about 42 minutes long.

Historic Socialist Notes: Kansas' involvement with socialism began in the 1890's, with the collapse of the Populist Movement. It was mostly popular in the southeastern part of the state. In 1901 the Socialist Party of Kansas joined other socialist parties nationwide to form the Socialist Party of America at a unity convention in Indianapolis. The Kansas group was already known worldwide as a hub of socialist activity due to a weekly Socialist newspaper published by Julias Wayland, in Girard, Kansas. The paper was called "Appeal to Reason," and had the largest circulation of any weekly in America, with 760,000 readers. Eugene V. Debs, Upton Sinclair, Helen Keller and Jack London were its regular contributing writers.

Highlights of the 42 minute interview:

(Minutes 9-13 ff) Brian spoke of his entry into the party, and his knowledge of the socialist party's history. He acknowledged that socialism gained publicity in the 2008 campaign due to government bailouts, the red-baiting and fear-mongering of McCain and Palin and Joe the Plumber, along with Obama's comments about "re-distributing the wealth." (Minutes 23 ff) Brian criticized Obama extensively as a "capitalist," taking large amounts of contributions from Wall Street and the finance community, has plans of retaining 50,000 troops in Iraq and increasing American troops in Afghanistan by 17,000 more initially.

Brian also spoke of capitalism being selfish, based on greed, and that it operates at the expense of our natural resources with "self-interest" being the motivating factor. He summarized socialism based on a communal sharing and the workers determining the products and services to our fellow man for equal benefit. (30 minutes ff) Brian spoke of ballot access for minor political parties and candidates as "the civil rights issue of the future."

(40 minutes ff) Brian criticized the Democratic and Republican parties, President Obama and the corporate and special interests of controlling America with their wealth and power. (42 minutes ff) Brian spoke of the history of "radical reform that came from the Midwest, and from farmers who migrated from Europe, and brought their social ideas with them." Brian said there was "no reason to fear radical ideas" or radical thought. Radio Host Caddell spoke of seeing "No recovery in sight," and thought that the "Bailout won't work." Brian concurred, and said that the Socialist Party "needed to develop specific plans to prepare" for any transition from capitalism to socialism in order to "avoid the country falling into the hands of dictators, right wing or left wing."

(45 minutes ff) Brian spoke of Cuba and its economic rights in the areas of health, education and housing and how it is putting the United States to shame, especially "in light of the Cuban Embargo that we have imposed such economic hardship on Cuba for the last 50 years." Caddell stated that Cuba appears "more self-sufficient" than America. (50 minutes ff) Mike Caddell quoted a Dr. Palmer Johnson who sees the American empire as imploding, along the closing of military bases overseas, and an imminent economic collapse. Brian concurred and stated that the Socialist Party's platform reflected those same thoughts. Brian gave the Socialist Party USA website, name of its monthly publication, the "Socialist," and informed the public that the SP's national office was located in New York. Brian urged people to Google the Socialist Party USA in order to find the website as well.

Brian said it is "difficult for minor parties to win electorally in our system, but still possible." Some Socialists, Brian stated, believe "the only road to socialism can only be achieved through violent overthrow of private corporations through the workplace, and not through the electoral process."

(Minutes 52 ff) Radio Host Caddell spoke of "aid to the elderly" in America, in the early part of the 20th century, as "only coming from charity organizations and individuals." Brian stated that "It was not until 1935" did our country institute a social security system," thanks to the socialist ideas and advocacy." Brian said there is "no reason to fear a radical transformation of our society," calling for the need for "More Americans to have radical tendencies, without fear or trepidation." Mr. Caddell concurred, and said he defined the word "radical" as "a study of the root of the problem."

Brian again addressed the need for more third parties in America to overcome the power of the media and private corporations, and to "change the judicial court decisions that have given equal powers to corporations as much as to citizens."

The interview ended at 57 minutes and 25 seconds. Mr. Caddell then continued the program with news from Radio Pacifica in Berkeley, California, with news about Israel and the Palestinians, an interview with Ray McGovern and a story on the power of the Israeli lobby group, AIPAC.

Brian thanked host Mike Caddell for the contributions the state of Kansas has made for Socialism in America.

[Note from Brian: Radio host Mike Caddell's wife is a practicing physician, who was one of a small group of physicians across the state of Kansas to provide abortions when a fellow Kansas physician was murdered by an anti-abortion fanatic seven years ago. Recently Dr. Caddell returned to medical school for training in another medical specialty].

Neil Cavuto to Interview Stewart Alexander

daschaich@gmail.com (David Schaich) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 22:00:00 +0000

Stewart Alexander, candidate for the Peace and Freedom Party's nomination for California Governor in 2010, will appear on the Fox News Channel show Your World with Neil Cavuto. Alexander's appearance will be aired this Wednesday, 4 March at 4 pm Eastern (1 pm Pacific).

Support Ballot Access Reform in Connecticut

daschaich@gmail.com (David Schaich) — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 20:45:00 +0000

A statement by Todd Vachon, 2008 Socialist candidate for US Congress from Connecticut's Second District.

Please take a moment to support this incredibly important measure in CT.

The CT General Assembly's Committee on Government Administration and Elections (GAE) is currently reviewing HB6436. This bill proposes to reduce the number of petition signatures required for minor parties to gain ballot access from 7,500 for President to 1,000 and from 2,500 for congress also to 1,000. Furthermore this bill will allow petitioning parties to turn in their signatures to the Secretary of State's office as opposed to the town clerks of 170 different townships.

Please, please, please, as a voter and believer in democracy submit a short statement supporting this bill!

You may email your statement to len.greene (at) cga (dot) ct (dot) gov. Label it as "statement in support of HB6436" and include your full name and home town at the bottom of your message.

Having more voices, more diversity and more options will enhance our democratic process and certainly open up public discourse in ways that have been continually shut out by the two major parties.

You may view my testimony which I gave today in support of this bill here.

Socialist spars with free-market jihadist

daschaich@gmail.com (David Schaich) — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 21:12:00 +0000

All Hail Comrade Lindsey Graham
By John Nichols
The Nation (link)

South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham's usual allies are not impressed with the Republican senator's suggestion that the time might have come to start nationalizing banks.

"Did hell just officially freeze over?" grumbled Fox News host Stuart "I am refugee from (British socialism)" Varney, "A top Republican senator says he is open to nationalizing our banks..."

So opened a segment where Varney welcomed Brian Moore, the Socialist Party's 2008 presidential candidate, to the cable redoubt of yahoo economics.

Moore agreed with Comrade Graham's prognosis.

Varney did not.

And it made for a bizarre (yet oddly refreshing) five minutes of something akin to debate about the current economic crisis.

The smirking Varney spent most of the program spouting nonsense about "the Politburo" to Moore, a thoughtful democratic socialist whose views are more in line with those of Franklin Roosevelt than Joe Stalin.

Noting that Social Security, unemployment insurance and child labor laws were all socialist ideas that were embraced by Democrats -- and Republicans -- and are now cherished by the American people, Moore turned the tables on Varney, reminding the host that, "Capitalism has sapped our economy. We are on the verge of collapse..."

Moore even got to ask why, at this point in the crisis, trillions of federal tax dollars are still being streamed into the accounts of big banks that are bent on squandering it.

Of course, Fox is ridiculous, and Varney's inability to distinguish between democratic socialism and Stalinism is pathetic

But rare is the American television program that lets an actual socialist spar with a free-market jihadist.

That's the refreshing part.

One need not be a socialist to recognize the need of socialist ideas in a debate that is painfully unrealistic if the range of responses to the crisis runs from a Republican longing for the return of Reaganomics to a Democratic longing for Bill Clinton's kinder-gentler variations on Reaganomics.

So kudos to Fox, kudos to Moore and kudos to Comrade Lindsey Graham for inadvertently opening up a discussion of bank nationalization, socialism and -- dare we say it? -- rational alternatives to making more of the mistakes that got us into this mess.

Socialists, Greens and Others to Testify About Write-In Vote Count Errors

daschaich@gmail.com (David Schaich) — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 20:41:00 +0000

A message from Todd Vachon, 2008 Socialist candidate for US Congress from Connecticut's Second District.

Hello Everyone,

As you may know, there were many problems with the November election write-in vote counting. I will be joining some folks from the Green Party and other independent candidates to testify before the state legislature's Government Administration and Elections Committee (GAE).

The committee is reviewing a bill to improve voting integrity in CT. This bill, HB-6441, has provisions to improve reporting and can be viewed online here.

Testimony will be taken tomorrow morning in Hartford. If you feel that you may have been disenfranchised in the last election and would like to testify as well, please let me know if you are free.

The Nation: Socialists support capping executive pay

daschaich@gmail.com (David Schaich) — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 00:36:00 +0000

Donald Trump and the Socialists Versus the CEOs
By John Nichols
The Nation (link)

There has been a good deal of grumbling from Wall Street about President Obama's proposal to cap CEO pay at companies that accept federal bailout money.

The line of complaint generally comes around to the question: "How can you get good help for $500,000?"

Donald Trump--who knows a thing or two about attracting executive talent, or at least plays someone who does on TV -- thinks that's silly.

The other night, CNN's Larry King asked the Trump Organization CEO what he thought about the president's plan to set some executive pay limits:

KING: Is Obama right or wrong to go after these executives with salary caps?

TRUMP: Well, I think he's absolutely right. Billions of dollars is being given to banks and others. You know, once you start using taxpayer money, it's a whole new game. So I absolutely think he's right.

The Socialists agree.

Here's a statement from Brian Moore, who was the Socialist Party candidate for president last year--and who made the very good point that, despite what Sarah Palin said, Barack Obama was neither a capital "S" nor a small "s" socialist:

SPRING HILL, FLORIDA, February 5, 2009 -- President Barack Obama, who on Wednesday imposed $500,000 caps on senior executive pay for the most distressed financial institutions receiving federal bailout money, saying Americans are upset with "executives being rewarded for failure," has joined his 2008 minor party opponent who called for executive caps throughout the presidential election campaign.

Brian Moore, the Socialist Party USA presidential candidate in the 2008 presidential elections, stated on the "Issues" page of his presidential website (www.votebrianmoore.com) to "Cap and reduce corporate profits and excessive executive salary levels while fostering the transfer of corporate ownership and control to workers."

Moore continually advocated in his radio and television interviews, and in debates and presidential forums throughout the 2008 presidential campaign, that there should be a "worker/CEO ratio of no more than 5 to 1."

The Socialist Party platform also states in its "Economics" section that "We call for...a maximum income [for executives] of no more than ten times the minimum."

Moore does embrace Mr. Obama's criticism of corporate executives when the President was recently quoted that such exorbitant pay is "exactly the kind of disregard for the costs and consequences of their [corporate and capitalistic] actions that brought about this crisis--a culture of narrow self-interest and short-term gain at the expense of everything else."

Moore further added in point 32 of his website's "Issues" page that "During transition to full worker control, [we should] require the private sector to implement a fairer economic system of consumer costs, profit-margins and regulation of services and products."

The former Socialist candidate said that he disagrees with the President's quote, as reported today in the New York Times (Thurs., Feb. 5, 2009) that "We don't disparage wealth. We don't begrudge anybody for achieving success. And we believe that success should be rewarded...but what upsets people are executives being rewarded for failure..."

Moore disagrees with President Obama's mindset, arguing that that is the trouble with capitalism, it focuses on profit and individual success and wealth instead of focusing "on production for the needs of the community instead." Moore contends that "success can also be rewarded under socialism, but not exorbitantly, or at the expense of the common good." "That is where we differ from Mr. Obama and his capitalistic mindset, his capitalistic political party and the faltering capitalistic economic system which our country is presently burdened by," the former socialist candidate stated.

Moore says that Socialism stands for "a fundamental transformation of the economy," and that only a "global" transformation from capitalism to democratic socialism will provide the conditions for international peace, justice and economic cooperation.

Moore argues that Socialism is seeking a "classless society," one that is fairer and more egalitarian, and where the majority of citizens can benefit from a more democratic economic system, instead of rewarding only the select few at the top. "An executive salary cap, as a bailout condition, is a good start, in our direction toward socialism," Moore happily stated.

So there you have it.

Obama may be struggling to get Republicans and Democrats together. He may even be struggling to get mainstream Democrats and Blue Dog fifth columnists on the same page.

But the president has united Donald Trump and the Socialists.

Just the extremes? Perhaps. But the American people are with Trump and the Socialists. Polls consistently show that roughly two-thirds of Americans (63 percent in a USA Today survey) say it is "very important" to limit the pay of executives whose firms benefit from the plan.

Obama's $825 Billion Stimulus Plan offers too little, too late

daschaich@gmail.com (David Schaich) — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 20:23:00 +0000

A statement by Stewart A. Alexander, candidate for the Peace and Freedom Party's nomination for California Governor in 2010

Within the past two years, Democrats in Washington DC have spent more than $1.5 trillion to help rescue the struggling U.S. economy out of the worst recession since the Great Depression; now, both Houses of Congress are fast-tracking a stimulus package for President Barack Obama that will likely cost the nation more than $1 trillion. Socialists nationwide are rejecting this new call for deficit spending and are calling for programs that will meet the short and long term needs of the nation and create immediate employment for the millions of working people that are unemployed or under-employed.

The massive spending proposals that are now in the Senate and House will cut taxes while offering limited benefits to veterans, seniors and colleges students; and the proposals will offer some relief for the millions that are now unemployed. Millions of seniors that are Social Security beneficiaries would receive a one time $300 payment under the Senate's version of the economic recovery plan. Veterans receiving disability or pension payments would also receive a one time cash bonus of $300.

In addition to the cash bonus, the Senate's stimulus plan would provide tax relief for individuals and couples. According to the Associated Press, individuals would receive "$500 per-worker, $1,000 per-couple tax cut for two years, costing about $142 billion." The plan would also include tax benefits for businesses to claim tax credits on past profits; the plan would also include tax credits totaling $31 billion to boost renewable energy production.

Other provisions in the stimulus plan would provide limited aid to the poor and unemployed. The Associated Press reports the Senate plan has "$40 billion to provide extended unemployment benefits through Dec. 31, increase them by $25 a week and provide them to part-time and other workers." Presently, unemployment nationwide has climbed above 7 percent and many economists believe unemployment may reach double digits before the end of 2009; in some regions of the U.S., unemployment is now above 15 percent. At a time when hundred of thousands are joining the ranks of the unemployed monthly, much more will be needed by Congress to put the nation back to work.

Within the past year, Congress approved a $168 billion stimulus package that failed to jump start the U.S. economy. That program provided more than 135 million Americans a one time payment of $300 to $600 to help boost the U.S. economy by energizing consumer spending; the program failed to produce any positive results while increasing the national debt. Also, within the past year, Congress has invested more than $1.5 trillion to help rescue wealthy billionaires, troubled banks and Wall Street.

During the final weeks of the Bush administration, Congress approved a massive $700 billion bank bailout that has failed to free up credit for the banks that were burdened with troubled assets. Just last week, Congress release the addition $350 billion of the $700 billion Wall Street bailout package, the Trouble Assets Relief Program (TARP), to the Obama administration. Now President Obama and Congress are preparing to take a gamble with $825 billion on another trial-and-error approach that will likely produce minimal results and will not create jobs for the millions of working people that are now unemployed.

With less than 10 days in office, President Barack Obama has indicated that his $825 billion economic stimulus package will energize the U.S. economy and create future jobs for more than three million Americans; socialists believe millions of jobs can be created by the end of 2010 by addressing the critical needs that are now being faced by working people everywhere. Addressing the health care needs of 49 million working people, that are now uninsured, and more than 120 million Americans that find health insurance unaffordable, is an item at the top of the socialist agenda. Socialists are calling for a single-payer health care system that will provide coverage for everyone; a system that will provide useful, long term employment for working people.

President Obama has introduced various programs that will possibly produce long term results for the capitalists ruling elite; however, these programs will not put food on the table for the millions of working people that are now unemployed or under-employed today. Those program include building and repairing bridges, increasing the production of alternative energy, modernizing federal buildings, computerizing medical recording within the next five years, and investing in science, research and technology.

Socialists believe the current "financial crisis" is not just a temporary setback or because of the lack of regulation in the financial sector; the collapse of the financial sector is indicative of the total failure of the capitalist economy. Socialist Party USA recently stated, "As socialist, we understand that there can no longer be any rational debate on the question of pursuing the "free market" as an alternative to the compelling urgency for a socialist transformation of society. The need of the largest capitalist firms to wipe out competition has already led to the centralization of economic power, but in the form of private ownership of an unaccountable ruling class of professional speculators, not of working people."

It is unlikely the proposed $825 billion stimulus package will have a measurable impact on a national recession that is moving like a category five hurricane. The U.S. recession is deeply related to the expanding global recession; it is likely the U.S. government would need to invest more than $10 trillion dollars into the economy to accomplish any measurable results. Even if such funding were available, socialists believe a socialist transformation of society is necessary; this will require radical demands on the existing system, demands that challenge the basic assumption of a capitalist market economy while pointing the way to a new society.

California Budget Needs More for Education, Less for Prisons

daschaich@gmail.com (David Schaich) — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 06:12:00 +0000

A statement by Stewart A. Alexander, candidate for the Peace and Freedom Party's nomination for California Governor in 2010

It has been less than six years since Californians went to the polls to recall former California Governor Gray Davis, now Californians are faced with a budget crisis that is quickly going from bad to worse under the leadership of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. With a ballooning California deficit and weak economy, Peace and Freedom Party and Stewart A. Alexander continues to call for more state funding for education and less funding for California prisons.

The Associated Press reports that "The governor asked the Legislature to cut $400 million from schools immediately and take away $4.4 billion beginning in July." Further more, the AP reports "Schwarzenegger also asked for the early release of more than 22,000 state prison inmates over the next two years." Sacramento Democrats have called for deeper cuts in education along with regressive measures that will hit low-income and working families the hardest.

Alexander and the Peace and Freedom Party are rejecting the proposals of the Democrats and Governor Schwarzenegger to cut funding for education and are calling for much deeper cuts in prison funding. While running as a candidate for California lieutenant governor in 2006, Alexander proposed a prison population reduction of 50,000 non-violent inmates to ease the over crowded prison system. Alexander says "The governor's proposal to release 22,000 inmates does not go far enough; greater cuts in prison funding are necessary and it will help avoid making unnecessary cuts in education."

Due to the California budget crisis, that is projected to swell to $41.6 billion by 2010, education will take big hits from kindergarten through university level. Wednesday of this week, the University of California Board of Regents voted to cut freshman enrollment this fall by 6 percent and will immediately freeze the pay of top administrators. School districts statewide will be making cut-backs, laying off teachers and staff members to cut cost.

Alexander says, "Governor Schwarzenegger and Sacramento Democrats should not punish our children due to their poor leadership as public administrators." Peace and Freedom Party and Alexander support free education from kindergarten through university level.

On March 16, 2009, thousands of students will gather in Sacramento at the Capitol Building for a march and rally to protest the budget cuts to education and cuts to community colleges. Stewart Alexander is encouraging students to join the march and rally to keep the community colleges open. For more information regarding the time, location and date for the Mass Community College March/Rally in Sacramento, call (415) 585-2121.

Socailist Party retains ballot qualification in Ohio

daschaich@gmail.com (David Schaich) — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 05:25:00 +0000

According to Ballot Access News, the OH Secretary of State ruled that all parties that were ballot qualified in 2008 remain qualified in 2009. This means that the Socialist Party USA remains a ballot qualified party in Ohio this year, even though Moore/Alexander didn't meet the OH legislature's threshold of 5% of the vote for qualified parties to retain ballot access.

This is something we could have easily gotten re-declared in court this year regardless, since the SP has already met the federal court's default standard for ballot qualification in Ohio and the Ohio legislature has still neglected to pass a constitutional ballot qualification method of its own. This declaration by the Secretary of State, however, alleviates us from having to go to such trouble.

News coverage of Gaza protest organized by Brian Moore

daschaich@gmail.com (David Schaich) — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 00:34:00 +0000

(Brian Moore was the Socialist Party's candidate for President of the United States in 2008.)

Middle East Delicate Topic, Even In Peace Group
By Tony Marrero
Tampa Tribute, Hernando Today edition (link)

BROOKSVILLE -- The Middle East crisis is so divisive that even members of the local peace group can come down on opposite sides.

Several members of the Nature Coast Coalition for Peace and Justice declined to participate in a demonstration Wednesday at the corner of U.S. 19 and Cortez Boulevard to oppose Israel's campaign against Palestinians in Gaza and forcing the U.S. government to condemn the action.

Judy Lee of Spring Hill was among them.

"It's pointless," said Judy Lee, a member of the group since for the last seven years. "I feel having an anti-Israeli (demonstration) is the same as supporting Hamas."

Lee told coalition Chairman Brian Moore she wouldn't be attending for that reason. The group should have had a meeting first to determine whether there was a consensus to hold the demonstration, Lee said.

"It's a group action," she said. "If it's going to represent the group, then the group as a whole should be consulted."

There simply wasn't time, Moore said.

"People are dying," he said. "Sometimes you have to take actions like this. You don't have the luxury of having meetings."

The coalition has about 160 members on its rolls, and 30 of those could be considered active members, Moore said.

He called about a dozen members and found there was enough of a consensus to hold the event without having a formal meeting. By then, more than 500 Palestinians had been killed, Moore said.

Moore said he also is sensing some hesitation among loyal Democrats in the coalition to be critical of President-elect Barack Obama. One member said the group should "let the dust settle" and give Obama a chance to take office and see what kind of action he takes, Moore said.

"Now that Obama's about to be in power they don't want to do anything to jeopardize him," he said.

Fourteen people showed up Wednesday, waving signs with slogans such as "Stop the siege in Gaza" and "Obama: People are dying ... say something."

The group, which has frequently demonstrated against the Iraq war, got the typical mix of supportive and negative reaction from passing motorists. But Moore said there seemed to be a higher number of negative responses - mostly the middle finger - this time around.

He wasn't sure why, but his hunch is that the United States has supported Israel, and people see any challenge of American policy as unpatriotic.

The history of the Middle East crisis is long and complex, but in the end it comes down to self defense, Lee said.

"How long do people lob grenades in your back yard before you try to stop it," she said.

President Bush has taken that stance, saying Israel has a right to defend itself against the indiscriminate firing of rockets by Hamas into its neighbor.

Doris Taylor also declined to participate Wednesday. Taylor fully supports the peace agenda, but on the Middle East conflict, she said she simply isn't ready to take sides.

"I have mixed feelings," Taylor said. "I've been hearing about those rockets being fired into Israel for quite some time."

Moore's response: "It's a humanitarian crisis and we have to recognize that there's an inordinate amount of deaths and injuries on one side than the other, and it just seems like there's a better way to solve this problem."

Both Lee and Taylor said they won't let the disagreement cause there support for the coalition to waver, though.

"I do have my heart in the peace group," Lee said.

Reporter Tony Marrero can be reached at 352-544-5286 or lmarrero (at) hernandotoday (dot) com.

Schwarzenegger's Tax Proposal Unfairly Targets Working People

daschaich@gmail.com (David Schaich) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 01:17:00 +0000

A statement by Stewart A. Alexander, candidate for the Peace and Freedom Party's nomination for California Governor in 2010

As the State of California continues to slide deeper into the worst budget crisis in the state's history, Peace and Freedom Party and Stewart A. Alexander launched an attack on Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's budget proposal; Stewart Alexander says, "It will benefit the rich and tax the poor."

Mr. Kevin Akin, Chairperson for Peace and Freedom Party, says Governor Schwarzenegger's tax proposal is a "savage attack on working people." Instead, the Peace and Freedom Party has urged an "emergency 5 percent tax on California's richest one percent to help resolve the state's budget crisis."

Stewart Alexander says the "governor's tax proposal continues to demonstrate that the governor lacks the ability to lead the State of California." While running as a candidate for California lieutenant governor in 2006, Alexander repeatedly criticized Schwarzenegger on California budget issues. Alexander says, "California's economy has experienced major set-backs under Schwarzenegger's leadership."

Governor Schwarzenegger's budget proposal will seek to close California's $41 billion budget deficit by raising taxes on consumer services, a shorter school year, reducing the dependent care exemption on state income tax returns, a $12 billion hike on vehicle registration and a sales tax increase.

Kevin Akin says, "The sales tax is a regressive tax that falls far more heavily on working people and the poor. Together with the governor's proposal to reduce the per-child income tax exemption by a brutal two-thirds, this would result in the worst shift from progressive to regressive taxation in California's history."

Alexander emphasize that Schwarzenegger should focus on putting Californians back to work rather than taxing what little income that is earned by most working people. Alexander has proposed creating jobs in the building and construction industry by restoring and repairing millions of California homes and creating jobs by bringing automobile manufacturing to California.

To address California's immediate budget woes, Alexander says Schwarzenegger should take the advice of the Peace and Freedom Party. This week, Kevin Akin summarized the budget-related proposals of Peace and Freedom Party as follows:

Raise income taxes on the most prosperous five percent of taxpayers -- the highest rates on those making the most.

Lower sales taxes, and aim for their elimination.

End property taxes on modest owner-occupied homes, take the cap off property taxes on corporations.

Enact an emergency five percent capital tax on the richest one percent of Californians.

Ban the wastefully expensive contracting-out of state, country and city jobs.

Release non-violent drug offenders and others servicing excessive sentences; transfer 25 percent of prison funds to education.

Enact a universal single-payer health care for better care at less cost.

Eliminate the undemocratic 2/3 vote requirement for budget and finance decisions by the Legislature.

End the stranglehold of the big-money Democratic and Republican parties by enacting proportional representation in the Legislature, giving a voice to all points of view in Sacramento.

Photo of Gaza protest organized by Brian Moore

daschaich@gmail.com (David Schaich) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:27:00 +0000

(Brian Moore was the Socialist Party's candidate for President of the United States in 2008.)

Coalition takes peace protest roadside in Weeki Wachee
By Will Vragovic
St. Petersburg Times, Hernando County edition (link)

Members and supporters of the Nature Coast Coalition for Peace and Justice hold signs at U.S. 19 and State Road 50 in Weeki Wachee on Wednesday. The coalition organized the demonstration to protest the conflict in the Gaza Strip, the failing economic system and other issues. "We have a conscience, and there are innocent civilians dying" in Gaza, coalition chairman Brian Moore said on his blog. "We've been getting everything from honks to fingers today," he said of the demonstration.

Stewart Alexander will Enter 2010 Race for California Governor

daschaich@gmail.com (David Schaich) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 00:06:00 +0000

(Stewart Alexander was the Socialist Party's candidate for Vice-President of the United States in 2008.)

During the 2006 California Election, Stewart A. Alexander was a candidate for California lieutenant governor; Alexander was on the statewide ballot representing the Peace and Freedom Party. During the 2008 General Election, Stewart Alexander was the U.S. vice presidential candidate for Socialist Party USA. Now, as the State of California continues to reel in a deepening financial crisis, Alexander believes he is the right person to be the next California governor.

Stewart Alexander is making his announcement to run for governor at a time when California has a critical budget crisis that may balloon to a $41 billion deficit by 2010. Alexander says most of California’s financial woes have less to do with the national recession, "California has a leadership problem."

Alexander admits that fundamental changes must occur on a national level to ease the financial burden that is mounting on local and state governments; "the occupation in Iraq and Afghanistan, and advancing U.S. imperialism is costing lives and creating financial hardships on millions of working people in all 50 states to include California."

As a candidate for California governor, Alexander’s campaign will focus on creating jobs, establishing affordable health care, and providing free education through university level. First, Alexander believes it is necessary for California to establish a single payer health care system to insure that the health care needs of all are protected.

Alexander has introduces several plans that are designs to bring hundreds of thousands of good paying jobs to California. A strong advocate for mass transportation and fuel efficient vehicles, Alexander wants to bring automobile manufacturing back to California building electric cars. Must recently, Alexander introduced a plan that would create good paying jobs in the building and construction industry providing low interest government loans for home improvements.

Alexander says his bid to be the next California governor is a grassroots effort; "It is a campaign that is about change. The entire U.S. economy needs a fundamental transformation, focusing on production for the needs of the many, not the profits for the greedy few."

Post-election interview with Brian Moore by Tulane University student

daschaich@gmail.com (David Schaich) — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 16:15:00 +0000

What were the main objectives of the SPUSA and Brian Moore in the 2008 campaign? Do you feel that the 2008 campaign was successful?

To promote the Socialist principles and platform; to encourage the populace not to be afraid of our political party that has a rich heritage in our country and which makes up the social fabric of our society today (i.e. child labor laws, women's suffrage, collective bargaining, 40-hour work weeks, workers compensation, social security, unemployment insurance, etc.). Also, to encourage membership in our party and to encourage others to run for political office on our party's behalf.

Other objectives were to raise issues and positions not addressed out of fear by the two major party candidates (end the Iraq war immediately, promote a socialized health system for all citizens and residents as an economic right, nationalize all for-profit corporations and the banks and institutions; object to the federal bailout; advocate full employment, housing and education; oppose nuclear power, militarily and commercially; reduce the defense budget in half; impeach Bush and Cheney, etc.; eliminate all intelligence agencies; promote a radical systemic economic system change)!

A final objective is to offer all Americans an alternative choice of candidates to provide them a vehicle to adequately express their protest of the system and support for new and radical ideas and for real deep change, not a superficial tinkering of reforming a broken economic and political system.

What were the greatest challenges of the 2008 campaign?

Gaining ballot access despite the cumbersome and monumental obstacles in almost every state; participating in any debates with the two major party candidates; gaining recognition and respect from the press and media; lack of funding and financial support for the campaign; partial failure by the party to support our campaign and to receive volunteer support in the individual states from party members for petitioning and financial support.

Running against a major party candidate with $650 million dollars, and his race was a major factor. Many people voted for Barack Obama solely on the basis of race. Even people in our own political party, and many others who traditionally vote third party or independent, overlooked the substance of the issues, and even his changing positions on the issues, solely because they felt electing a black man for the first time would forgive many injustices of the past, and paint a positive picture for the country to the rest of the world. Thus, I consider this election, an aberration, thereby adversely affecting all third parties and minor party candidates.

Do you feel that the media attention resulting in the claims that Barack Obama was a socialist (i.e. appearance on The Colbert Report, etc.) hurt or helped the SPUSA?

It definitely helped. Most Americans did not even know there were any other candidates for president than the two major party candidates, Obama and McCain. Secondly, even though McCain and Sarah Palin implied that "Socialism" was a dirty word, we were able to defend ourselves by accusing them of "red-baiting" and "fear-mongering."

Third, we were able to put a human face on our candidacy and our political party, and most people we had contact with had a positive image of our responses, interaction and common sense that we made in our interviews and arguments. Even my appearance on the Colbert show was perceived by many as "being game," "having a sense of humor," and not getting uptight. So I believe we gained from these experiences, accusations and the exposures turned out well (i.e. Colbert, C-SPAN, Fox-News three times, Al Jazeera TV, CNN twice, 30 national radio interviews, the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune, Tampa Tribune, St. Petersburg Times and the Milwaukee Journal; plus several French and German and Iranian communications).

Fourth, if "socialism" had not been brought up so frequently by the major candidates and the press due to the bailout, we would have been lost and stonewalled completely by the press and media. We received more attention this election, than in the past 70 years, due to the appearance and seeming relevance of "socialism" in this election.

What do you see in the future of the SPUSA?

Growth of the party and membership; more credibility with the press and media and with the populace in general; and a watershed to an alternative economic system when our capitalistic system fails and collapses. We will have to be ready and organized when that occurs.

Do you have any regrets about the way the 2008 campaign was run, or are there any aspects that you feel were especially beneficial?

Regrets: that we knew and understood the ballot access rules better and earlier and that we needed to put in place organizations of new SP members in each and every state where we felt we could gain ballot access: usually in states where the signature requirements are 1,000 to 2,000 and a few larger ones that do not exceed 5,000 required signatures. Had we been ready for that, we may have gotten on 20 states instead of 8 states, plus, being a write-in in 22 other states.

BENEFITS: Our exposure to the media and reasonably successful outcomes, our legal assistance in the state of Ohio, which turned out to be our best state (2,630 votes), the generosity of ideas and money on the part of certain key individuals who made the entire difference in our campaign.

I really do consider our campaign a success, despite the low votes.

2008 Presidential Candidate Challenges Florida Nuclear Expansion

daschaich@gmail.com (David Schaich) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 00:10:00 +0000

(Brian Moore was the Socialist Party's candidate for President of the United States in 2008.)

Environmental Concerns Over New Florida Nuclear Power Plant Proposals

Florida Expansions Protested; Urge Phase Out of Nationwide Plants

CRYSTAL RIVER, FLORIDA -- A civic activist and 2008 presidential candidate of the Socialist Party USA, expressed his concerns about two new power projects in Florida at a Nuclear Regulatory Community Hearing Thursday evening in Crystal River (Citrus County) Florida. His criticism was over the environmental impact of proposed construction of two new nuclear power sites for nearby Levy county, as well as his overall opposition to the existence of all other nuclear power projects nationwide.

Brian P. Moore, a nearby Hernando County resident, antiwar critic and frequent adult baseball league player in the parks of Citrus County, where the hearing was being held last evening, also testified on the negative environmental impact of the yet-to-be-built nuclear power plants in nearby Levy County. Moore indicated that the construction effort alone would cause havoc underground as well as in the nearby Gulf of Mexico waters, on its shores, as well as to the fish and fowl that occupy the surrounding Levy County areas of the proposed construction sites.

The former Socialist Party candidate held up two colorful signs during his short testimony at the end of the evening session, one sign in large red letters stating "No Nuclear Power Plants," and the second sign in red, stating "Phase Out All Nuclear Power Plants." At the bottom of the sign, it also spelled out his affiliation with the Socialist Party.

Moore had used the same bright signs at a previous nuclear regulatory meeting in Crystal River in June, as well as at other events during his 2008 presidential campaign.

The 65-year-old Moore, a semi-retired executive health care recruiter from Spring Hill, Florida, indicated that the platform of his political party, the Socialist Party USA, "opposes any new nuclear power projects" and calls for their "rapid phase out," plus, a "ban on exporting and importing of such hazardous and dangerous materials."

After testifying before the federal regulators, which was the last presentation by members of the audience, Moore mingled with the crowd, speaking with both anti-nuclear power people (some from out-of-state), as well as introducing himself to the Florida Progress Energy Power representatives, who are promoting the projects, and representatives from the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission as well.

Moore engaged Budd Haemer, Senior Associate of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, a Washingotn, DC law firm representing the power company. The Hernando resident also spoke at length with Douglas Bruner and Anthony Bowers, the Project Manager and Specialist, respectively, for the Emergency Preparedness Office of Nuclear Security & Incident Response.

Moore conveyed to Mr. Haemer, and his Progress Energy Associates, that he hoped Stephen Colbert, the Central Comedy comedian on TV, would invite Moore back to his program to state which was the "right direction to take, nuclear power or not." Moore added that he was confronted by Colbert in early October as a candidate as to whether he was "the true socialist, or if President-elect Obama was really entitled to that name."

Moore received a nervous laugh from the power company people after raising his question.