Dave Chandler

Time to End Colorado Democrats' Majorities?

I favor voting for third party candidates when possible -- we need to break the corporate political parties duopoly power over government. More choice will mean greater representative democracy and empowerment of the people.

However, this November, in the event there isn't a third party candidate in your Colorado state senate or house district, it maybe time to give the Repuglicans a crack at rolling back the more egregious moves by the Dimocrats to take more of our money -- during a recession -- and passing more oppressive laws.

Two years ago I stated my opposition to any more taxes being levied against working class Coloradoans (Time for Colorado to Say "No New Taxes!) ... I haven't changed my mind.

At the Colorado Independent in a news item titled "End of an Era: Colorado Moves to Tax Online Purchases", it is reported that:

Under the new law, the companies selling the product will be required to either charge state sales tax with the initial purchase or inform Colorado customers by mail – both at the time of the sale and at the end of the year – that they owe the state taxes on their purchases. It also requires out-of-state-companies, as a safeguard, to give the state a list of their Colorado customers and total purchases at the end of each year to the state Department of Revenue can collect taxes from those who haven’t paid.

The sales tax is regressive -- period. Dimocrats and Repuglicans, both, should be working on ways to eliminate it completely. I favor a progressive state income tax, for instance. But the idea of the state government tracking down all of our internet purchases is a bureaucratic intrusion too far, in my opinion.

I don't like raising taxes on my diet soft drinks, either. And, frankly, I don't like the direction of the medical marijuana "regulation" legislation that the state Dimocrats are talking about.

Unless the increasing out-of-touch Colorado state Dimocrats rediscover their alleged "common man" roots, perhaps the time has come for them to be in the state legislative minority again for awhile.

Chandler Stands for American Values

Dave Chandler, candidate for U.S. House in the 7th CD, today called upon all other contenders for this office to repudiate the "Military Commissions Act" and reject endorsements from representatives that voted for it.

"Unless you believe that the central government of the United States is infallible, never makes a mistake, then rejecting habeas corpus in this legislation is a terrible violation of one of the great principles upon which this nation was founded," said Chandler. "Imagine that a human being held by the U.S. government at Guantanamo or some other secret prison is completely innocent -- how horrible is it that there is no way for this injustice to be remedied because Bush has thrown habeas corpus into the trash."

Chandler pointed out that the Declaration of Independence says, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

"The magnificence of the American Revolution was an insistence that there were values and principles that applied to all human beings on this Earth," explained Chandler. "The founders of our country understood that there couldn't be infallible kings or governments. It was the concept of universal human rights and that all people are equal before the law that made American democracy unique and special."

"And now Bush, radical Republicans and enabling Democrats have thrown those lofty principles in the garbage for reasons of crass, fearmongering politics."

Chandler said that Democrat Ed Perlmutter especially should renounce the endorsement he received from Colorado U.S. Senator Ken Salazar. "Salazar voted for this monstrous legislation. Perlmutter is a lawyer and Salazar is a former Colorado attorney general -- they both should know better."

"Of course, Republican O'Donnell should announce his rejection of this law. In no way is an all-knowing, all-powerful central government a 'conservative' value."

Chandler said that he reaffirms his commitment to the Constitution and the values articulated in the Declaration of Independence. "My candidacy is all about Principle Before Politics. To paraphrase Benjamin Franklins's famous quotation, I have never let Bush fearmongering persuade me that we should put temporary safety over the liberty and freedom that has made this such a great nation."

Vote for freedom and democracy! Vote for Principle Before Politics!

Vote to Renew Our Republic!

Chandler for Congress!

Link: Court Told It Lacks Power in Detainee Cases | Washington Post

Moving quickly to implement the bill signed by President Bush this week that authorizes military trials of enemy combatants, the administration has formally notified the U.S. District Court here that it no longer has jurisdiction to consider hundreds of habeas corpus petitions filed by inmates at the Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba.

In a notice dated Wednesday, the Justice Department listed 196 pending habeas cases, some of which cover groups of detainees. The new Military Commissions Act (MCA), it said, provides that "no court, justice, or judge" can consider those petitions or other actions related to treatment or imprisonment filed by anyone designated as an enemy combatant, now or in the future.

Beyond those already imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay or elsewhere, the law applies to all non-U.S. citizens, including permanent U.S. residents. ...

... Habeas corpus, a Latin term meaning "you have the body," is one of the oldest principles of English and American law. It requires the government to show a legal basis for holding a prisoner. A series of unresolved federal court cases brought against the administration over the last several years by lawyers representing the detainees had left the question in limbo. ...

... A number of legal scholars and members of Congress, including Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), have said that the habeas provision of the new law violates a clause of the Constitution that says the right to challenge detention "shall not be suspended" except in cases of "rebellion or invasion." Historically, the Constitution has been interpreted to apply equally to citizens and noncitizens under U.S. jurisdiction.

Link: U.S. Jailed Man Once Tortured by Taliban | Associated Press

Abdul Rahim insists he's an apolitical student who fled a strict father. But he's fallen into a black hole in the war on terror in which first the Taliban and then the United States imprisoned him as an enemy of the state.

Arrested by the Taliban in Afghanistan in January 2000, Rahim says al-Qaida leaders burned him with cigarettes, smashed his right hand, deprived him of sleep, nearly drowned him and hanged him from the ceiling until he "confessed" to spying for the United States.

U.S. forces took the young Kurd from Syria into custody in January 2002 after the Taliban fled his prison. Accusing him of being an al-Qaida terrorist, U.S. interrogators deprived him of sleep, threatened him with police dogs and kept him in stress positions for hours, he says. He's been held ever since as an enemy combatant.

Rahim's story is one of several emerging from the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay as defense lawyers make bids to free their clients while the Bush administration tries to use a new law to lock them out of federal courts.

A Message You Can Trust

Colorado 7th Congressional district candidate Dave Chandler's press release from Thursday, September 28, was noted in today's Rocky Mountain News.

That press release was in response to Republican candidate Rick O'Donnell's call for sending more U.S troops to Iraq. Dave observed that Rick could practice what he preaches and enlist.

But the main topic of the Rocky's report today is not about O'Donnell's or Perlmutter's postion on how to end the Bush-ordered occupation of Iraq. It is about the controversy arising from the attack by Perlmutter on O'Donnell's 'national service' idea with the Democrat attempting to scare voters by using the word "draft" to conjure up images of military conscription for young people.

Chandler sent out a press release directly addressing this issue last Friday. You can read it in the post immediately preceding this one.

Dave said that more important right now is the negative tone of Perlmutter's campaign.

"Rick O'Donnell is wrong, in my opinion, in the very substance of his proposals. So, I don't understand why the Perlmutter campaign has to fearmonger."

"This is the kind of 'politics as usual' that demonstrates -- no, the Perlmutter message is not one that you can trust. And it shows that we need real change, not just a slogan about change."

"I'm an independent thinker who -- because of my refusal to play the big money, special interest campaign contributions game -- will put first the best interests of all the residents of the 7th district."

Dave Chandler has, in fact, a 'message you can trust' because he does 'practice what he preaches'.

Voters have a real opportunity this election to decide for change in action, and cast their ballot for Dave Chandler for U.S. Congress.

Link: Service-Year Squabble | Rocky Mountain News

... Meanwhile, 7th Congressional District Green Party candidate Dave Chandler criticized O'Donnell for issuing a recent press release that called for putting more troops in Iraq.

Chandler, an advocate for quick withdrawal of troops from Iraq, said O'Donnell should practice what he preaches and enlist in the U.S. Army.

"It is typical Republican hypocrisy coming from Rick O'Donnell that he is willing for other people to go risk their lives for the war he heartily supports," Chandler said.

Time for a Fresh Approach

Dave Chandler's campaign for the U.S. House for Colorado's 7th Congressional District issued this press release today:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 6, 2006

Yes, Perlmutter Campaign is Lying

(Arvada) - The Perlmutter campaign is indeed lying about what Rick O'Donnell said.

In an October 3, 2006, press release, the Perlmutter campaign described Rick O'Donnell's idea of a 'national service corps for men' as "drafting all teenage boys in their final semester of high school to serve as border patrol agents."

"In this case, what Perlmutter is saying is misleading in such a purposefully way that it amounts to a lie," said Dave Chandler, candidate of the Green Party for U.S. House for the 7th Congressional District. Calling O'Donnell's idea a "draft" is clearly meant to evoke scary images of military conscription," said Chandler.

"We're seeing a pattern of fearmongering in the Perlmutter campaign," Chandler said. "They dredged-up an eleven year old article O"Donnell wrote about Social Security to scare people, they tried to scare people about the Last Chance landfill, and now this."

"This is so typical of the 'poltics as usual' style taken by the campaigns of the tired, old, establishment parties. You can understand now why Americans get cynical about government and politics. This is why voters should look for the kind of fresh approach that I represent," said Chandler.

The O'Donnell campaign in retaliation put out a press release the same day accusing Perlmutter of "spewing lie after lie."

"There they go again," Chandler said, reprising what he said during the KBDI-TV broadcast debate about the bickering and attacks between Perlmutter and O'Donnell. "We're all sick and tired of the constant, shrill squabbling. O'Donnell's proposal is not one that I support, but we cannot have a reasonable debate if one side is purposefully distorting what the other side says."

"You cannot be the 'freedom' candidate and support mandatory, non-military service for young men," said Chandler arguing against O'Donnell's idea. "But you also cannot tout yourself as the candidate of 'change' and "trust and integrity" if you distort and try to scare people about what your opponent is saying," said Chandler referring to the Perlmutter campaign.

Don't Vote Democrat (Don't Vote Republican, Either)

Dave Comments:

For voters in Colorado's 7th Congressional District, here is short article (below) I found this morning at The Huffington Post.

Here in the 7th CD what we have in effect are two incumbents running against each other. O'Donnell postures as the heir apparent to 'Both Ways' Bob Beauprez -- and Perlmutter takes a slight edge in Democrat voter registration to imply that his election is a done deal.

We need things to change in this country ... many, many folks agree with that sentiment. Voting for the nominees of the two big, establishment, "incumbent" parties is going to only result in the same old tired rhetoric and same old tired 'solutions'.

Voters in this district have an opportunity to send to the U.S. House of Representatives a delegate that will offer new ideas, be free from special interests, and take a new perspective to Washington, D.C. You don't have to agree with everything I propose, I would be just one of 435 representatives ... but just think of the the message it would send that Coloradoans really do support genuine reform and making government more representative of the people.

I agree with this fellow, Greg Saunders. Don't vote Democrat. But don't vote Republican, either. Vote with courage to renew our Republic.

Vote for Dave Chandler.

Dave

Link: Don't Vote Democrat | Greg Saunders/The Huffington Post

I'm not kidding. If the last week is any indicator of what we've got to look forward to in a Democratic Congress, then don't bother. The last time they were in charge we got the Patriot Act, the Iraq War resolution, and the Medicare drug bill. Now with every poll supporting the Democrats and the Republicans on the ropes, these cowards are still afraid to throw the first punch.

Instead, we see the torture issue (yeah, that's how far we've sunk) being co-opted by a group the media have dubbed the Republican "Rebels" whose grand act of rebellion consisted of giving the President the right to do whatever he wants. Charles Peirce has it exactly right :

And the Democratic Party was nowhere in this debate. It contributed nothing. On the question of whether or not the United States will reconfigure itself as a nation which tortures its purported enemies and then grants itself absolution through adjectives -- "Aggressive interrogation techniques" -- the Democratic Party had...no opinion. On the issue of allowing a demonstrably incompetent president as many of the de facto powers of a despot that you could wedge into a bill without having the Constitution spontaneously combust in the Archives, well, the Democratic Party was more pissed off at Hugo Chavez.

This was as tactically idiotic as it was morally blind. On the subject of what kind of a nation we are, and to what extent we will live up to the best of our ideals, the Democratic Party was as mute and neutral as a stone. Human rights no longer have a viable political constituency in the United States of America.

Since the Democrats don't seem to be interested in convincing the public to vote for them, then here's a better idea: This November vote against every incumbent on the ballot. Whether they're part of the Republican, Democrat, or Connecticut for Lieberman parties, throw out the whole damn lot of them. If the choice is between a party that openly supports the destruction of habeas corpus or a party that's too timid to take a stand in favor of basic human decency, then I'd rather just roll the dice and try to start over with a clean slate.

Udall Votes to End Net Neutrality

If you have to pay more or wait longer to get to your favorite web site in the near future, send your thanks to Colorado Democrat U.S. Representative Mark Udall.

In the U.S. House of Representatives last night, the Communications, Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act of 2006 (COPE) was passed 321 to 101.

This bill contains the provision that ends net neutrality -- Mark Udall was one of those YES votes.

Udall first voted for the Markey amendment that would have retained the principle of net neutrality -- BUT, in the end, when it really counted, on final passage, Udall voted YES. In other words, Udall can say he was for net neutrality before he was against it.

In addition to ending net neutrality, according to Democracy Now!, this is also what the COPE bill Udall voted for will do:

Another provision of the bill would cut back the obligation of cable TV companies to devote channels to public access and fund the facilities to run them. And the COPE bill would replace local cable franchises with national franchises. The companies contend that this will create competition and lower fees but consumer groups and activists are concerned that it will take control and oversight away from local government as well as cut channel capacity for public, educational and governmental access channels or PEGs. The COPE Act would also permit providers to not provide service to low-income communities that they believe would be less profitable to serve.

Now we know what Qwest, T-Mobile and Level 3 Communications are getting for their latest $3,912, $1,500 and $5,000 contributions (OpenSecrets.org-May 29, 2006) to Udall. Of course there was the $5,500 from Qwest, $2,500 from T-Mobile, and $5,000 from Level 3 given to Udall during the 2004 election cycle.

The battle over net neutrality now moves to the United States Senate.

Please go to SaveTheInternet.com to find out what you can do to defeat this terrible piece of legislation.

Once again, we have an example of the truism ... "If you vote for a Democrat, you might as well elect a Republican."

Dave Chandler in the U.S. House of Representatives will not be beholden to the campaign contributions or Qwest or T-Mobile or Level 3 -- that is for certain. Isn't it time for a real change? We need the kind of change that remembers that the federal government works for ALL the people.

You Don't Have to Vote for the "Lesser of Two Evils"

If you vote for a Democrat, you might as well elect a Republican.

A few folks try and tell me that if the Democrats take the House of Representatives in November, somehow that is going to make a big difference in how this country is governed.

But then another vote on war a peace comes up and you see results like this: Colorado's entire Congressional delegation -- all the Republicans (except for the AWOL Beauprez) and ALL the Democrats -- voted for this justification for an attack on Iran if Bush decides that is what it is going to take to save GOP control of the House and Senate in 2006.

Remember, remember in November.

Consider this possiblity instead of yet again doing the same old thing and voting for the "lesser of two evils" ... if I'm elected to Congress, I'll join the House Democratic Caucus to give them a majority if that is the nationwide results. But, I will be a firm, definite voice and vote for peace and justice and equality. From the votes and statements of the incumbent Democrats and the two leading Democrats in the 7th CD nomination race, re-electing and electing them will not get you a positive, principled advocate for renewing our Republic.

Vote for principle before politics ... this time, vote Green.

Final Results Roll Call Vote

DeGette - YES
Salazar - YES
Udall - YES

Link: "Speaker Hastert Applauds House Passage of Iran Freedom Support Act" | U.S. Newswire

House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL) released the following statement regarding today's passage of H.R. 282, The Iran Freedom Support Act. The bill passed by a vote of 397-21.

"We are fighting the War on Terror on all fronts, and we understand that protecting American citizens from terrorism means keeping a watchful eye on nations like Iran. The United States and the international community should hold the Iranian government accountable for its behavior.

"This legislation sends the message that the United States stands firmly opposed to Iran's ambitions to acquire and develop nuclear weapons, and we urge them to stop participating in, planning, and pursuing international turmoil. It is our hope that the people of Iran can participate in a peaceful and stable Democracy."

Link: US House Moves to Impose New Sanctions Against Iran | VOA News

Ohio Democrat Dennis Kucinich, an opponent of the legislation, is among those arguing it is a step in the direction of military action.

"While this bill makes a point of so-called not authorizing the use of force against Iran, be assured this is a stepping stone to the use of force, the same way that the Iraq Liberation Act was used as a stepping stone," he said.

Central Government to 'Monitor' Your Allergy Relief

If I am elected U.S. Representative for the 7th Congressional District, I will be independent, a representative of ALL the people, and will vote for or against legislation based on what best serves the best interests of the majority of my constitutents.

The Patriot Act renewal that just passed with the help of Republicats Mark Udall and John Salazar and Ken Salazar, contains many infringements upon our civil liberties. But it also contains provisions that have nothing to do with combating terrorism.

New laws to fight the methamphetamine drug addiction problem in the country are part of this renewed Patriot Act. And the provisions are just as intrusive and abusvie as the rest of the Act.

Most offensive is that this government fight against the 'meth' abuse problem is going to inconvenience and 'monitor' you and me -- much more than it is going to disrupt professional illegal drug makers and sellers.

In this case, I side with the libertarian-inclined. Once again, in their zeal to be seen as "tough on crime" the establishment politicians pass laws that violate your rights and impede your ability to take care of yourself.

As related in the articles linked to here, starting this September, if your autumn allergies are in high gear, if your sinuses feel like they're full of sawdust -- you won't be able to stop in the local convenience store to buy some 'Sudafed' or other brand of over-the-counter pseudoephedrine. No, you'll have to find a store with a pharmacy. Then you'll have to make your request at the pharmacist's window, and you'll have to show a photo identification -- and you will have to register your name in a book and the amount of medication purchased. Of course, now the central government will keep track of your allergies ... and if you are doing something 'bad' with your 20 tab box of 'Sudafed'.

No doubt, for the methamphetamine abuse problem that has lead to the politician's typical over reaction, we can thank the low-life, sub-human purveyors of destruction -- the criminal drug pushers.

For all of this federal government instigated hassle and intrusion making your miserable allergy season even worse -- you can thank Mark Udall and the Salazar brothers.

Link: Making a Meth of the PATRIOT Act | John Berlau/Reason

If you thought al Qaeda or Iraqi insurgents were the major threats facing America, Rep. Charlie Dent (R-Pa.) says you're wrong. According to Dent, "The growing availability of methamphetamine is a form of terrorism unto itself." Many of Dent's colleagues apparently agree, so they've attached surveillance, "smuggling", and "money laundering" provisions to the reauthorization of the USA PATRIOT Act. These vast new police powers, contained in a new "Combat Methamphetamine Act" (CMA) and other provisions, serve no purpose in the ongoing and serious struggle against terrorism. One proposal could place millions of Americans who purchase cold medicine on a huge government watch list; ...

Ironically, some Democrats who objected to National Security Agency wiretaps in December actually championed provisions that step on privacy in the name of stopping meth. ...

The CMA would move cold medicines such as Sudafed behind the counter, on the grounds that their active ingredient, pseudoephedrine, is a potential meth component. In DiFi's [California Democratic U.S. Senator Diane Feinstein] words, the solution to this non-problem would include "requiring purchasers to show identification and sign a log book."

Once you sign for your medicine, your name becomes part of "a functional monitoring program" that would "allow law enforcement officials to track and ultimately prevent suspicious buying behavior of ingredients for meth production," according to a Feinstein press release describing a similar stand-alone bill. ...

The PATRIOT Act's new anti-meth provisions don't end there. One would classify "methamphetamine precursors" such as pseudoephedrine in the same manner as "Schedule II" drugs" like opium in order to set domestic "production quotas." And there are enhanced penalties and broadened definitions for "smuggling" and "money laundering" with no terrorism prerequisites.

Link: Restricting Cold Medicine Won't Curb Meth Use | Radley Balko/Cato Institute

The latest drug panic is over the rising use of methamphetimine. This time, the outrage seems to stem from the fact that some meth users not only make stuff in their own garages, but that a key ingredient, pseudoephedrine, can be derived from common cold and allergy medicines found in the local pharmacy. ...

According to the DEA's own website, most of this country's meth comes not from garage laboratories in the Midwest, but from clandestine "superlabs" in California and Mexico. These labs smuggle pseudoephedrine in bulk from Mexico and Canada and use it to manufacture street methempamphetamine, which they then distribute across the country. Cold and allergy medicine never enters the picture. ...

Laws like Talent-Feinstein and similar bills in statehouses across the country do little more than inconvenience cold and allergy sufferers. They also create yet another way for authorities to monitor and track our consumer habits. These laws also likely make common cold medicine more expensive for stores to stock and, therefore, more expensive for customers to buy. The registries and purchasing procedures will lead to longer lines at the pharmacy, particularly during cold and allergy season. ...

If Talent and Feinstein get their way, it will soon be impossible to buy common cold and allergy medication containing pseudoephedrine at stores that don’t have pharmacies. At stores that do, you’ll be asked to present identification and sign a registry, which will be monitored. Buy too much, and you could find yourself subject to investigation. Between sniffles, if your head’s clear enough, keep in mind that these hurdles lawmakers have thrown between you and cold-allergy relief will do little, if anything, to curb the actual use of illicit methamphetamine

U.S. Senate Democrats for More Tax Give-Aways to the Elite

Well, there it is on page 11A of this morning's Denver Post for Sunday, February 5, 2006 ... another example of how when you vote for a Democrat -- you might as well have voted for a radical Republican.

Colorado votes in Congress

$70 billion tax cuts

For: 66/Against: 31

Senators passed a bill to cut personal and business taxes by $70 billion over the next five years, more than offsetting $34.9 billion in spending curbs now moving through Congress on a parallel track ... A yes vote backed HR 4297.

Wayne Allard (R) --- Yes
Ken Salazar (D) --- Yes

Salazar was joined by ten other Democrats. There is simply not an organized and committed opposition in Washington to the Bushite looting of the national treasury. It is just as plain as the nose on your face, the real effect of voting for a Democrat means supporting the extremist Bush agenda ... you just get to keep the pretense of being against what the radical corporatists are doing to this country.

The solution to having a federal legislature full of radical Republicans and Republican-lites?

Register and support and vote for genuine, dedicated progressive -- GREEN PARTY CANDIDATES!

Green Party Ethics Can Save America

Super lobbyist Jack Abramoff has cut a plea bargin deal with federal prosecutors. Allegedly involved in this scandal are several members of the U.S. House and Senate. Prominent House members mentioned as involved are Tom DeLay and Ohio's Bob Ney.

Just recently California's Randy Cunningham agreed that he was guilty of accepting millions of dollars in bribes.

YET ... Democrats in the United States House of Representatives have not filed one single ethics complaint with the House Ethics Committee against these alleged miscreants! A complaint simple begins an inquiry -- why have Democrats turned a blind eye to possible graft, bribery and fraud?

BECAUSE ... they want for themselves the same big campaign contributions from the very same kind of corporate and special interest Political Action Committees and lobbyists. That's why.

And a look at their campaign contributors proves what they're really after. That is why we can make the following observations:

Mark Udall has not filed an ethics complaint to protect the integrity of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Diana DeGette has not filed an ethics complaint to protect the integrity of the U.S. House of Representatives.

John Salazar has not filed an ethics complaint to protect the integrity of the U.S. House of Representatives.

In the 7th Congressional District race, I make the following challenges to the other candidates: Will Ed Perlmutter, Peggy Lamm, Rick O'Donnell and Mark Paschall pledge right now that if they are in the Congress that they will file whatever complaints are necessary -- even against members of their own party -- to keep OUR government honest and ethical and accountable to us, ALL the people?

Will they pledge right now to work for meaningful campaign finance reform and lobbying reform that will take the big corporate money and gifts out of our federal legislative process? Will they pledge to support public financing of election campaigns?

I pledge those things and the national Green Party platform makes our commitment to government of the people, by the people and for the people -- crystal clear.

It really come down to this -- Democrats and Republicans are increasingly all part of the same corrupt political system that is ruining our republic.

The voting public knows this!

Link: Poll: Half Believe Congress is Dirty | CNN

About half of U.S. adults believe most members of Congress are corrupt, a poll released Tuesday suggests.According to a CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll, 49 percent of respondents said most members of Congress are corrupt. Although 46 percent of respondents said most aren't, the margin of sampling error -- plus or minus 4.5 percent -- makes it clear that the perception of congressional politicians is largely negative.Congress' image could emerge as an election topic, with 55 percent of respondents saying corruption will be "the most important" or a "very important" issue to consider when voting in November, when all 435 House seats, and 33 Senate seats, will be decided.

The only real change will come when folks like me and my fellow Greens are elected to office -- that might just be the start of a new American revolution that can bring honest representation to the citizens of our great land.

Join the effort to save our country. Promise yourself to vote for candidates that do not take PAC money; that pledge to not take ANY lobbyists' gifts or contributions. Be a courageous American!

Vote for Principle BEFORE Politics!

Dave Chandler

Link: Abramoff Pleads Guilty, Will Cooperate | Associated Press/Forbes

Embattled lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal charges of conspiracy, tax evasion and mail fraud, agreeing to cooperate in an influence-peddling investigation that threatens powerful members of Congress. In a heavily scripted court appearance, Abramoff agreed with U.S. District Court Judge Ellen Huvelle when she said he had engaged in a conspiracy involving "corruption of public officials." The lobbyist also agreed when she said he and others had engaged in a scheme to provide campaign contributions, trips and other items "in exchange for certain official acts." ... Abramoff's travels with former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay are already under criminal investigation. The lobbyist's interactions with the Texas Republican's congressional office frequently came around the time of campaign donations, golf outings or other trips provided or arranged by Abramoff for DeLay and other lawmakers. In all, DeLay received at least $57,000 in political contributions from Abramoff, his lobbying associates or his tribal clients between 2001 and 2004. Court papers released Tuesday also detailed lavish gifts and contributions that Abramoff gave an unnamed House member, identified elsewhere as Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, chairman of the House Administration Committee, in return for Ney's agreement to use his office to aid Abramoff clients.

Link: Abramoff: The House That Jack Built | Think Progress

A comprehensive look at the potential scope of the "biggest scandal in Congress in over a century."

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Link: Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington Urges House to Finally Act on Corruption and File an Ethics Complaint Against Soon-to-be-Indicted Rep. Bob Ney

December 9, 2005

In light of the revelation today that prosecutors are preparing a bribery indictment against Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH), Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) is once again asking that a Member of the House forward CREW's complaint against Rep. Ney to the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. CREW has been searching for a member to file its complaint since March.

Only Members of the House are permitted to file ethics complaints.

"With today's news that a bribery indictment against Rep. Bob Ney is likely forthcoming, we implore a Member of the House to finally file an ethics complaint against Rep. Ney," Melanie Sloan, executive director of CREW said today. "We at CREW have been screaming from the rooftops about Rep. Ney's corruption for nearly a year. Our calls for an investigation into Rep. Ney's relationship with Jack Abramoff have fallen on deaf ears on both sides of the aisle. That should change with today's development."

Sloan continued, "the House has completely abdicated its constitutional responsibility to police itself. The House ethics committee's continued failure to act while the criminal investigations and indictments against Members of Congress pile up is a national embarrassment."

Rep. Ney was listed as one of CREW's 13 Most Corrupt Members of Congress in its Beyond DeLay report (www.beyonddelay.org).

Link: Group Blasts Dems for Not Filing Complaint on Cunningham | North County Times (California)

June 22, 2005

Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham and a Washington defense contractor continued their silence Tuesday about allegations that the Escondido Republican's relationship with the contractor may have influenced Cunningham to use his clout to help the company obtain millions of dollars in federal defense contracts.Meanwhile, a nonprofit government ethics group is blasting Democrats for failing to request that the House Ethics Committee conduct a formal investigation into the allegations. Cunningham, an eight-term lawmaker who represents the 50th Congressional District, is a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. Subcommittee members have influence over the defense budget, and opponents have alleged that Cunningham's personal business dealings with the contractor have affected his decisions on defense contracts. ... When a Congressional representative has strong reason to believe that a House member may have committed an ethics violation, any House member may request that the ethics panel investigate the matter. To date, no Congressional representative, Republican or Democrat, has filed such a request pertaining to Cunningham.

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Link: DEMOCRACY | 2004 National Green Party Platform

The power of civic action is an antidote to the corporate control of so much of our law-making and regulating. The pervasive abuse imposed by corporate power increasingly undermines our democracy, but the Green Party seeks to rekindle the democratic flame. As voting citizens, taxpayers, workers, consumers, and stakeholders, we unite to exercise our rights and, as Thomas Jefferson urged, to counteract the "excesses of the monied interests." Toward this end, we consider serious reform of campaign funding to be essential, as well as curbs on the influence of corporations on lawmakers and regulatory agencies.

The Green Party considers American democracy to be an ongoing, unfolding project that is dynamic and creative in nature. We are committed to the strengthening of our civil society, including the many mediating institutions at the community level that have always characterized our democracy. We seek to heal the alienation and apathy that has been cultivated in the citizenry by the power-brokers of the status quo. Righteous anger about the crippling of our democracy is rising in the land, and the Greens offer constructive alternatives.

Political Reform

1. Political debate, public policy, and legislation should be judged on their merits, not on the quid pro quo of political barter and money.

2. We propose comprehensive campaign finance reform, including caps on spending and contributions, at the national and state level; and / or full public financing of elections to remove undue influence in political campaigns.

3. All viable candidates at the state and federal levels should have free and equal radio and television time and print press coverage.

4. We will work to ban or greatly limit political action committees and restrict soft money contributions.

5. We support significant lobbying regulation such as strict rules that disclose the extent of political lobbying via "gifts" and contributions. Broad-based reforms of government operations, with congressional reorganization and ethics laws, must be instituted. At every level of government, we support Sunshine Laws that open up the political system to access by ordinary citizens.

6. We support increasing the role of independent expository agencies, such as the General Accounting Office.

7. We recognize individual empowerment, full citizen participation, and proportional representation as the foundation of an effective and pluralistic democracy.