TonyPalmeri.Com Update For Nov. 10, 2004
1. No Website Updates From 11/11 - 11/15: Because I will be in Chicago participating at the annual meeting of the National Communication Association, there will be no updates to TonyPalmeri.Com from November 11 through November 15.
2. Election Results, Enemies of Democracy, and the Real Spoiler: The Time For Tony Palmeri campaign for 54th District State Assembly received 9% of the vote (2,673 votes). The Palmeri campaign raised and spent about $4,000--the establishment party candidates spent at least 10 times more than that and also benefited from much special interest group spending. Keep in mind that the Palmeri campaign called for a state run, universal health care program, an anti-poverty strategy for Oshkosh, an end to all corporate tax loopholes, raising taxes on people making more than $200,000 per year, public financing of political campaigns, a "citizens caucus" to replace the corrupt closed partisan caucuses, a repeal of the anti-environmental "Job Creation Act," restoration of independence to the Department of Natural Resources Secretary, a minimum wage that's a living wage, a freeze on UW tuition, and legalizing gay marriage. That we got 9% of the voters to sign on to this platform in a district where the Democrat and Republican were running hard is incredible and bodes well for Green politics in Wisconsin and the nation as a whole.
Unfortunately, the day after the election I received some very ugly emails and phone calls from big-D Democrats throwing the "spoiler" charge at me. Some of these notes had threatening tones, but most were just narrow minded and seemed ignorant of the obvious: EVERYONE HAS A RIGHT TO RUN FOR OFFICE AND EVERY VOTE HAS TO BE EARNED. People who refuse to recognize these obvious points are the true enemies of democracy.
But there is a serious "spoiler" issue at work in any American election featuring multiple candidates. I ended up submitting an op-ed on this topic to the Oshkosh Northwestern: http://www.tonypalmeri.com/realspoilers.htm
The Northwestern published an edited version of it: http://www.wisinfo.com/northwestern/news/opinion/stories/opinion_18500346.shtml
Even the former bass player for Nirvana understands the need for electoral reform: http://www.fixour.us/
3. Greens Urge Veto Override: Justin Mitchell of the Lake Winnebago Greens delivered this statement at the November 10, 2004 meeting of the Winnebago County Board of Supervisors: http://www.tonypalmeri.com/veto.htm
4. Weapons of Mass Democracy: The Democratic Party spent over $20 million this year to keep Ralph Nader off of state ballots. Ya' think maybe some of that money could have been used to try and mobilize another few hundred thousand voters in Ohio? Ya think? My latest Media Rant deals with Nader's visit to Oshkosh http://www.tonypalmeri.com/mediarants32.htm
5. Norman L. Miller, RIP: One of Oshkosh's great citizens passed away recently. Here's my tribute: http://www.tonypalmeri.com/normmiller.htm
6. Palmeri to cohost Eye on Oshkosh: The most popular public affairs progam on Oshkosh Cable Access Television is Melanie Bloechl and Cheryl Hentz's "Eye on Oshkosh." Melanie wants to step down from the show for a while, and she and Cheryl asked me if I would step in as cohost. I said of course. Cheryl and I will start taping some shows late in November, and I'll stay on until Melanie is ready to come back. Many people have asked me if "Commentary" with Jim Mather and I will come back; after the holidays I plan to start the process of getting the show back on the air.
Former Mayor Bloechl was very supportive of my assembly campaign. She wrote a letter: http://www.tonypalmeri.com/bloechlfortony.htm
and she performed with City Councilor Paul Esslinger on a radio ad: http://www.tonypalmeri.com/melaniepaul.htm
Peace,
-Tony