Dear Mr. Maki:
You lost me when you started tossing around the F word.
I remember when people were calling Nader the same thing, and calling me an names for supporting him. Boy, did that change my mind! I read people calling me an idiot and hating on me, and I said, gosh, these people are right, I'm going to stop being an idiot, and vote for the person they want me to vote for! In fact, their campaign was so effective, I voted for Nader 4 times (not all in the same election, of course).
As long as there's somebody like Rocky Anderson, Jill Stein or Darcy Richardson in the race, you don't need to worry about me voting for somebody like Ron Paul, but I'm not going to be hurling names and insults at people like Mike Whitney, for example, who makes a good case for voting for Paul:
http://www.counterpunch.org/2011/12/30/ron-paul-and-the-killing-machine/
or Dave Lindorff, who writes compellingly about the demonization of Ron Paul:
http://www.counterpunch.org/2011/12/27/why-the-establishment-is-terrified-of-ron-paul/
Alex Cockburn quotes John Walsh doing the same:
http://www.counterpunch.org/2012/01/06/into-the-tumbrils-with-them/
He goes beyond Lindorff in offering this refutation to the idea that Paul is a racist: "the head of the NAACP in Austin who has known Ron Paul for 20 years says that the man can in no way be considered a racist"
Ron Paul is no doubt a lot of thing that we don't like, but with his uncompromising defense of the Bill of Rights and the Constitution, he's far less of a fascist than the current commander in chief. I'm unfamiliar with your writings; please let me know how often you call Obama a fascist, I'm lookng forward to your response.
On Sun, Jan 15, 2012 at 1:11 PM,
<wytheholt@cox.net> wrote:
When will liberals, progressives and leftists actually become fully engaged in the electoral process?
http://my.firedoglake.com/alanmaki/2012/01/14/when-will-liberals-progressives-and-leftists-actually-become-fully-engaged-in-the-electoral-process/
By: Alan Maki Saturday January 14, 2012 12:39 pm
Rocky Anderson and Jill Stein have just as much of a chance of being elected as Ron Paul. And so does Darcy Richardson.
You know, losing is losing; it really doesn't matter how much you lose by if you leave behind an organized movement ready to meet the next electoral challenge.
Ron Paul is a fascist but he and his John Birch Society are not exactly a bunch of dummies--- after all, they have hoodwinked what looks to be thousands of progressives across this country into building a fascist base for them. People who were first hoodwinked into supporting Obama and now, disappointed with Obama, hoodwinked again to support this rotten racist Bircher Ron Paul.
The important difference between supporting Ron Paul and supporting Rocky Anderson, and most notably Jill Stein and Darcy Richardson, is that you are participating in building a progressive movement that will bode us well beyond 2012.
If you really want Ron Paul to have a chance at winning why don't all of you Ron Paul supporters just order publications from the racist and anti-Semitic John Birch Society to pass out since Ron Paul's victory would require a mass fascist base?
Obviously the likes of PDA, Progressives for Obama, Campaign for America's Future are really NOT for building a progressive base in the Democratic Party as they claim or else they would get behind the campaign of a real progressive Democrat like Darcy Richardson who is challenging Obama in the primaries; plus Darcy is not only a true progressive, he is a proven vote-getter.
While those of you who are spending your time (actually wasting your time) organizing a fascist movement that stands in opposition to everything you say you are for by supporting Ron Pau), Darcy Richardson needs 8,000 signatures by January 31 to get on the ballot in Wisconsin.
We are talking Wisconsin here. I'm sure everyone knows what has been happening in Wisconsin.
This would require only 80 people collecting signatures for one weekend.
In terms of dollars this would only cost about $7,000.00 to $9,000.00. This would cover gas, leaflets, food and lodging for 80 people for one weekend of petitioning.
For less than $10,000.00 we can put someone like Darcy Richardson on the ballot in Wisconsin.
For less than another $50,000.00 we can then develop real progressive opposition to Obama in the Democratic Primary in Wisconsin.
Think about this: 600 people contributing $100.00 each could punish Obama in Wisconsin and simultaneously be building the progressive movement; not only in Wisconsin but serve as an example of what progressives can accomplish across the country.
If the Wisconsin Democratic Party really believed in just the concept of democracy they could have placed Darcy Richardson's name on the Wisconsin primary ballot at no cost to them or anyone. But, the Democratic Party doesn't believe in democracy. What a dangerous thought; that voters casting their ballots at a primary election should actually have more than one person to vote for. Wouldn't that be just the pits to have more than one candidate in a Primary Election?
When the Chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party, Mike Tate, was asked to place another name on the ballot his response was, "Only Obama's name will be on the Primary ballot... if you don't like it, sue me." (I suppose someone is going to ask me to prove this by providing a link?)
Does anyone except Obama supporters who believe Obama has delivered us into a "Wonderful New World" have any reason to believe Darcy Richardson's name should not be placed on the Wisconsin Primary ballot? If anyone has a reason I would like to hear it.
If there are no reasons not to put Darcy's Name on the ballot then what are we waiting for?
All it would take is 900 people contributing $10.00 each to put Darcy Richardson's name on the ballot by January 31.
Are any of you Ron Paul supporters willing to put up the money?
How about it? Are you willing to pull $10.00 out of your pocket?
I am guessing that if FireDogLake made a special appeal as was done for OWS and the New Progressive Alliance were to join in and we all made pitches on our blogs, facebook pages and put our e-mail lists into action along with make some quick visits to a few friends we could do this.
No one would be paid; all we would be doing is covering the expenses for 80 people for one weekend.
Wisconsin law stipulates that a minimum of 1,000 signatures (and no more than 1,500) MUST come from each one of the 8 Congressional Districts in Wisconsin.
If someone will volunteer to take on the responsibility of raising the money, I will volunteer to recruit 80 people to go to Wisconsin to place Darcy Richardson's name on the Primary ballot.
Of course, we could just forget about the fundraising and 80 to 120 people could come together in Wisconsin to help put Darcy Richardson's name on the Wisconsin Democratic Party Primary Election Ballot.
Come on; are we willing to give real progressive politics a chance?
Interested? Give me a call---
--
Alan L. Maki
Director of Organizing,
Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council
58891 County Road 13
Warroad, Minnesota 56763
Phone: 218-386-2432
Cell: 651-587-5541
Primary E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net
E-mail: alan.maki1951mn@gmail.com
Blog: http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/
--
I want to play in your town for you and 2 of your friends.
http://eventful.com/performers/matt-love-/P0-001-000156481-4/demands 
