[Pnp-wg] Introductory Comments

[George Grosch]

Greg and Company

I like the idea of Greg going back and developing a timeline from the last
election cycle so we can discuss how to best meet the needs of the next
General Election cycle.

I appreciate Fred's comments and agree with much of what he says but would
like to offer some comments as to the assumptions he makes:

		"It has been very difficult, actually impossible, for the
Greens to mount a serious nation-wide campaign -- anyone who was intimately
involved in either of the Nader campaigns or the Cobb campaigns knows this
is true.  All the campaigns failed to be really national campaigns."

Yes it has been hard for Greens to mount a serious national campaign but for
the purposes of planning I am assuming that part of what we are charged to
do includes setting a clear path to running a truly national campaign. 

		"So I think we need to discuss a little about what are our
goals in the 2008 elections for the presidential campaign before we can work
through the important questions that Phil raises. These goals should be
based on the recognition that it is extremely unlikely that a Green will win
the election."


I agree we need goals but I am opposed to basing those goals on a
presumption of not being able to win. Our strategy should assume and frame
the circumstances under which a Green Candidate could win. As an elected
official I always understand that I can lose an election but I always run to
win. If the day ever comes when I run to make a point without the incentive
or desire to win I will retire. We should expect no more or less from our
parties candidate. To do so would be to insult the intelligence of the
candidate and the electorate.

		"The goals may be expressed in things like a very clear
electoral platform that speaks both to the progressive movements and to
constituencies in the country that we wish especially to reach, influence
and/or recruit. They may include special efforts to gather information from
the states that might help making a more organic and synergistic link
politically and organizationally between the national campaign and the state
and local campaigns, including prominent local candidates. They may include
projected financial goals. They may include a systematic literature effort
and plan for the progressive media to address key questions that we know
will come up, for example: whether a Green presidential campaign is the best
response to the Democrats or Republicans or whether we should have a
different, nuanced strategy; recognizing that discussion will take place
inside the Green Party as well outside it."

All good ideas that should be considered for discussion.

		"We should be developing our process so that we act
commensurate with the resources we have, not those we would like to have. I
hope that Green Party candidates are announcing much earlier than last time
and that we have our convention in late 2007."


Agreed, although the candidate has some power to influence the amount of
money available for the campaign. We must remember that we are the party
with Grassroots Democracy as a core value and we can use that to our
advantage to run and win at the national level. I believe that no amount of
money can beat a grassroots movement with a mobilized electorate ad well
organized campaign. When the people of America begin to take up the cause of
the Green Party the media and money will follow.


My set of assumptions about the process and product:

*	Greens can and will win at the national level

*	People follow LEADERS who articulate VALUES that represent their
values and GREEN VALUES (Ten Core Principles) ARE the values of 
America!

*	Greens can win at the national level without money and major media
exposure 

*	To accomplish this we must develop a national strategy that builds
the Green Movement by registering voters, building state Green Parties, and
getting ballot access in all 50 states.


Our job is to help clear the path to building this movement. Look at the
reform movement of the Progressive era, no money, no media, just feet on the
street in city after city, factory after factory, mine after mine...We are
the grandchildren of that movement and we can and will win.

Thanks for listening. I look forward to working with all of you.

George Grosch
Pacific Green Party
Corvallis Oregon 





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