The Constitution Party

Presidential Candidate: Chuck Baldwin
Vice-Presidential Candidate: Darrel L. Castle
Party Founded: 1992
Interesting Fact: The Constitution Party ranks 3rd of all political parties in the United States in terms of registered members (366,937*).

Can you call yourself a "doctor" of something if your Ph.Ds are honorary? Could you elect a man who calls himself "Dr. Baldwin" if you knew he only had a Masters degree?

The Baldwin/Castle Doctrine:
No foreign government or world government body or entity, not even an ally or neighbor of the US is allowed to own any portion of US roads, airports, homes, buildings, lands, waters, resources (oil, gas, precious metals, minerals, etc,), religious facilities (no matter what faith), stocks, bonds, US treasury notes, businesses, banks, military bases or military assets or manufacturing facilities in the US regardless of how much the foreign governments donate to the political campaigns or private fortunes of US officials, elected or bureaucratic, or even to the US treasury.

The Constitution Party is kinda like the Libertarians, but with a Christian bend (or angle). They're generally for less government, but more Jesus (though not necessarily officially; Chuck is a pastor of a big-time Christian church in Floreeda).

From the Constitution Party's platform:
"Our federal republic was created by joint action of the several states. It has been gradually perverted into a socialist machine for federal control in the domestic affairs of the states. The federal government has no authority to mandate policies relating to state education, natural resources, transportation, private business, housing, and health care, ad infinitum."

Chuck has a radio program. It is considered to be the most influential voice in the Florida Panhandle for conservative principles. That's almost as good as being a "community organizer!" Don't tell his listeners, but Baldwin has been both a registered Republican and Democrat, thought not at the same time. And to keep it spicy, Baldwin himself said, "I believe the South was right in the War Between the States, and I am not a racist. Neither do I believe that the leaders of the old Confederacy were racists. " Maybe true, definitely controversial.

Chuck'll be 56 next January.

links:
Constitution Party Homepage
Chuck's Homepage
*I already told you. I'm not citing anything.

The Socialist Workers Party

Presidential Candidate: James Harris
Vice-Presidential Candidate: Alyson Kennedy
Party Founded: 1938
# of times the candidate has been convicted of a felony: 1

John McCain has received a great deal of press because he selected a female for his vice-Presidential running mate. James Harris is just as progressive, yet we don't hear quite as much noise from the media on this one. Could it be that Alyson Kennedy just doesn't have the "naughty librarian" feel of Sarah Palin? (She doesn't.) Or could it be that she knows too much: She recently "completed a fact-finding trip to Edinburgh, Scotland; London, England; and Stockholm, Sweden, meeting with workers, youth and immigrants." That would give her the edge in foreign policy experience, although I couldn't find out whether or not she'd ever visited Alaska.

Calero has a few other issues that may prevent him from being elected - or at least accepting the position of President - should he win the popular and electoral votes on November 4. First, he's been convicted of a felony for selling marijuana. Second, he's not a natural-born citizen (how do these people get on the ballot?). And finally, he's a freakin' commie!

But in all seriousness, Calero's party has been around for much longer than any of the ones we've discussed so far. The SWP was founded in the 1930s and has fielded candidates for President in each of the last 15 elections, dating from 1948.

"Under the lash of the bosses’ profit drive, our labor ends up not transforming nature to the betterment of humanity, but poisoning the air, soil, and water on which society depends. Protectionist aggression among capitalist powers—and more so against the semicolonial world—rears its bellicose head.

"As capitalists plead poverty to rationalize their disregard for the welfare, health, and safety of workers and the public, the socialist campaign demands an end to business secrets. Open the books! Let’s find out! Nationalize the energy industry, including the coal mines, and run it under workers control to enforce job safety, halt pollution of the environment, and make energy safe and affordable.

"We must establish a workers and farmers government that can abolish capitalism, reorganize society in the interests of the vast majority, and join in the world struggle for socialism."

Hmmm, so we're pitching communism. Let's take a look at a list of current communist/socialist states in the world today:

People's Republic of China,
Republic of Cuba
Democratic People's Republic of Korea (yeah, that would be North Korea)
Laos
Socialist Republic of Vietnam

And now countries that have collapsed under or fought to end communism during the last 40 years... (list not complete):

The USSR (Russia and newly created states coming out of that breakup)
East Germany
Czechoslovakia
Hungary
all of the former Yugoslav Republics
Romania
Bulgaria

Out of the two lists, which one has more examples of places you'd like to live?

And dont pitch that old song about Cuba's medical care. If it was so great, Cuban athletes, professionals and anyone else capable of stringing together a shitty raft made of empty milk jugs wouldn't be trying to come to America. Defecting at an international sporting event doesn't exactly speak volumes about your living situation, and taking your chances floating across the ocean in hopes of hitting Florida (seriously, if Florida is looking good, it must really suck in Cuba) sounds more like a death wish. But if you think taking that chance is better than continuing to live in your home country, who am I to tell you to stay.

Roger will be 39 in January.

links:
Vote Socialist Workers!