Both the Peace & Freedom Party, and the American Independent Party, first qualified for the California ballot in January 1968. Both parties will choose presidential nominees in August. Peace & Freedom will hold its convention in Los Angeles August 4-5, and American Independent will hold its convention in Sacramento August 11. At this point, no one knows which candidate will receive either party’s nomination.
Recently, Reverend Wiley Drake of Orange County, California, said that he will seek the AIP nomination. He was the party’s vice-presidential nominee in 2008.
On July 10, Roseanne Barr sent an e-mail to the state chair of PFP, saying she is seeking the nomination of PFP. On the evening of July 11, Barr was in attendance at the Green Party national convention in Baltimore and participated in a forum there.
I think Roseanne Barr would make a great choice for the P&FP pres nomination. She would get the party a great many more votes than any of the others, and she would be a good counter-point to the two Leninists and the SP candidate.
Wiley Drake? That’s just silly. He’d be on the ballot in one state.
and what’s hilarious is that the AIP will probably consider him.
The P&FP describes itself as a socialist party. Roseanne is a wonderful person, but she is no socialist. Much better to have Stewart Alexander of the Socialist Party as the candidate. He is already on in several other states.
The California AIP also has the choice of giving its ballot position to Jack Fellure the Prohibition nominee. Fellure asked to be included on the AIP Presidential Primary in June, but was ignored. He still could be their nominee if they wanted him. At least they would have a national candidate and not just a candidate in one state.
On the other hand, it is sad this historic state party -which one time provided the California ballot position for well-known political personalities such as Governor George Wallace, Congressman John Schmitz, Governor Lester Maddox and Congressman John Rarick is being allowed to wither away. If they don’t want Fellure or even Wiley Drake, why doesn’t their state leadership show some political savvy and give their ballot position to former Congressman Virgil Goode – the Constitution Party nominee?
Again, why don’t they demonstrate some political savvy?
The P&FP nominated Ralph Nader, and he is no socialist either. And with Nader as the P&FP’s presidential nominee they got 100k+ votes for their presidential candaite, far more than they have ever recieved for a P&FP presidential candidate. I realize that does not necessarily build the party, but I think Barr is radical enough and well known enough that she could also draw a lot of votes.
If the P&FP effort of last year to build a national party had create a nation-wide party or proto-party, I would definitely say there should be an openly and aggressively socialist candidate.
Wow.
Great reporting Richard Winger.
I spoke with James Oogle just minutes ago at the Green Party convention. James confirms your reporting.
Yes, thanks for the reporting, Richard Winger. Unfortunately there are still more questions than answers at this point.