Joyce L. Arnold, Liberally Independent, Queer Talk, equality activist, writer.
You already know the answers to the question in the headline, right?
We’ll have no problem knowing where Mr. Obama and Mr. Romney are, most any day, between now and November 6. If, however, you might be interested in knowing where Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein will be, or Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson, you’ll probably have to do a bit of searching, unless one or the other happens to be in your neighborhood. And if the local press covers it.
I did take a look at the Stein and Johnson upcoming events pages, and it crossed my mind that one way to distinguish between the “third” party candidates and the Duopoly candidates might be the events at which they show up.
From JillStein.org:
Jill Stein will be speaking at the 2012 Seattle Hempfest on Friday August 17 at 6:40pm at the Main Stage.
For the last 20 years, the SeattleHempfest has been educating people from around the world in all things hemp and cannabis while we commune together in celebration.
Taking the stage at Hempfest certainly sets the Stein / Honkala ticket apart. As will Stein’s participation in the Rally for Jobs, Peace, and Planet in Rhode Island, on August 18. The event will be held in Providence, and will be sponsored by Green Party of Rhode Island, Occupy Providence, the Black PAC of RI, the RI Unemployment Council, the International Socialist Organization, various political Independents and other Progressive Activists. I’d say way too “progressive” for the Democratic Party in general.
Looking at Gary Johnson’s schedule, there is lot of “breakfast with” and “dinner with” type appearances, as well as an appearance on the PBS show “Overheard with Evan Smith,” on August 17. The one that stood out for me, however, in terms of setting apart the Johnson / Gray ticket is Johnson Speaking at Paul Festival. That’s the Ron Paul Festival, of course, August 24-26, 2012, in Tampa. I wonder, would Paul Ryan be comfortable at Paul Fest?
And speaking of Ryan, the Stein campaign released this statement: Obama cleared path for Ryan; Greens offer only alternative to austerity agenda, say Stein, Honkala.
In elevating deficit reduction to his highest priority and setting up the deficit reduction supercommittee in 2011, President Obama made it clear that benefits programs were on the chopping block and that he would negotiate with Republicans on how to curtail them. Now, Representative Paul Ryan’s budget is in the spotlight, which also threatens services that millions of Americans depend on.
I wasn’t able to find a statement from the Johnson / Gray campaign, specific to Ryan (if anyone does fine one, please put it in the comments). But this is on the general topic Stein addresses, from GaryJohnson.org:
Spending and the Deficit
Government spends too much because it does too much. Unchecked deficits are the single greatest threat to our national security. Unless we take significant steps soon, our federal debt will equal the entire economic production of the United States.
A perusal of campaign stops isn’t a precise way of distinguishing Libertarian and Green candidates from what we can surmise about the Democratic and Republican candidates from their daily schedules, but Hempfest and Paul Festival certainly do make rather distinctive statements in themselves.
I really wish I was in Seattle …
(Hempfest Logo via Hempfest
Paul Festival Logo via Paul Festival)
Oh, to be in Seattle.
I might even consider hearing both candidates…
I really wish I was in Seattle …
Hey, finally something we could actually find common ground on, Joyce Arnold.
If you can set me up with a score of 10g Strawberry Cough, I’ll send you a round trip air ticket to Seattle.
Seattle is a “common ground” many of us can agree on
OH!
Joyce, you gotta work on that. It would be worth the flight, because what an article you could write.
Thnking, thinking …
Joyce, is there any talk about a second-tier presidential debate being Created and U-Streamed? Space is available online, the cost would not be prohibitory expensive, and a mid October date is far enough away to propery plan and promote the first of three debates.
This could me another step towards offering voters a third choice. God forbid if the three debates were mentioned by a Colbert or TDS.
Perhaps, TM could become a moderator along with a Sam Seder and a Amy Goodman?
I love the idea, TPAZ. It’s one that should be mentioned loudly and frequently. I’ll do some looking around … I’ve not seen anything like that, but it could be out there, certainly.
I can’t think of a reason why it cannot be done. There is enough of a liberal infrastructure to make it happen.
Off the top of my head; three debates, with three moderators, on three smaller college campuses (with broadcast capabilities), in three swing states.
Someone will need to sketch out a shoestring budget and a sponsor(s) is needed. Perhaps a non-profit like the Roosevelt Institute or some activist with money or a company like Ben and Jerry’s or a fundraising drive by an alliance of bloggers and their readers. any group alined with the Democratic Party will shoot this idea down; know this.
I’m just spit-balling here but it’s enough to introduce the idea and start a conversation.
What a great idea.
Let me know what you find out, Joyce.
If the idea gains traction I hope you will consider participating.
I’ll get back with whatever I find out.