2012?

  1. redphilly
    redphilly
    I'm curious what plans the SP has for 2012.

    I heard a rumour that there's talk of a Cindy Sheehan/Dan LaBotz ticket. Truth? or wishful thinking?
  2. chegitz guevara
    chegitz guevara
    I'm sure there's talk, but it's wishful thinking on the part of some.

    Sheehan has not yet made a decision as to whether or not she's running. If she does, my guess is it's unlikely she will run on the SP ticket, but rather, will run an independent socialist unity campaign. If she announces before our convention, we might forgo our own candidate and endorse her. If she does it after we pick a candidate, we'll be running against her.

    I think it's unlikely Labotz will seek the Presidential nomination, as his primary organization, Solidarity, has its head so far up the Green Party's ass, that it opposes any independent socialist campaigns that compete with the Greens. More likely, dual members like Labotz will try and keep the SPUSA from running any Presidential candidate. But, one never knows.

    It's possible Wharton will seek the nomination. He's got the ego for it. I don't think he could win it, though.

    We got about 10 months to figure it all out, depending on when the convention is. Hopefully we get a lot of revs showing up to the next convention. A lot of our delegates had to stay home last time because of the economy, while the NY liberals showed up in force.
  3. redphilly
    redphilly
    I quit Solidarity in part because of the Green Party/Nader fixation. Generally a centrist grouping with a few good folks. I'd be very interested to know what the SP will do.
  4. Zeus the Moose
    Zeus the Moose
    I'm sure there's talk, but it's wishful thinking on the part of some.

    Sheehan has not yet made a decision as to whether or not she's running. If she does, my guess is it's unlikely she will run on the SP ticket, but rather, will run an independent socialist unity campaign. If she announces before our convention, we might forgo our own candidate and endorse her. If she does it after we pick a candidate, we'll be running against her.
    She may not run as a Socialist Party candidate specifically, but in states where the Socialist Party already has ballot access (such as Florida and Ohio) it seems to make sense that we'd supply the ballot line for her.

    There's always the vice-presidential spot as well. If Sheehan does decide to run, and doesn't have a vice-presidential candidate picket out, there might be some wrangling as to who that would be. Personally, I don't see a problem with having the vice-presidential candidate vary from state to state, as it would mean more people on the ground. That said, I'm liking the sound of a Sheehan/Luzietti ticket

    I think it's unlikely Labotz will seek the Presidential nomination, as his primary organization, Solidarity, has its head so far up the Green Party's ass, that it opposes any independent socialist campaigns that compete with the Greens. More likely, dual members like Labotz will try and keep the SPUSA from running any Presidential candidate. But, one never knows.
    There are probably still a number of Greens who would support a Sheehan presidential campaign though, so this definitely isn't as clear cut as it otherwise might be.

    It's possible Wharton will seek the nomination. He's got the ego for it. I don't think he could win it, though.
    At this point, Stewart Alexander has declared his intention to seek the nomination of the Socialist Party (as well as the Green Party, don't know what he's thinking about there.) I was a pretty strong supporter of Alexander last time around, but considering how he seems to have developed politically since, I doubt I'll be supporting him for the nomination in 2011. As for Wharton, who knows what's going on in his mind.
  5. Independent Socialist
    Independent Socialist
    Stewart Alexander has run a good campaign and has accumulated a good amount of buzz. He was the Socialist Party USA vice-presidential candidate in 2008. He has announced the he would like Dan LaBotz as his running mate. My organization, United Left, has a page supporting his campaign in California (www.stewartalexander2012.blogspot.com)