Greets to all. My apologies for being out of touch for so long. Lots of family, personal and technical drama, none of which is worth going into.

But I'm thrilled to see the place is humming along without me, LOL!

I so need to do some maintenance, and hope to get to it this weekend, or the first part of next week, so heads up on that. I will let you know when I have a more specific time frame for the downtime.

Some of the upgrades and changes I'll make will, I hope, make posting here easier, and reduce the need for heavy moderation. We may have to endure the occasional troll, but I think we can handle it.

Since it's still Thursday as I write this, let me take the opportunity to say THANKS to all you Commoners for participating in this site, and of course all you do in your own communities, tales of which make this site so interesting.

Shoutout to users wrolley and AlexWalker:

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Greens urge Louisiana to drop all charges against the Jena Six, call for a national discussion of racial bias in criminal justice systems throughout the US

WASHINGTON, DC -- Green Party leaders called on the State of Louisiana to drop all charges in the Jena Six prosecution, and urged a national discussion on the US justice system's unequal treatment of African Americans and other people of color.

Greens will be among the thousands rallying in front of the Jena, Louisiana, courthouse on Thursday, September 20, as the next Jena Six trial begins. Many Greens and the DC Statehood Green Party have contributed to the Jena Six defense fund. (For background on the Jena Six, see the article links below.)

The Green Party of Louisiana , at its September 8 statewide convention, passed a resolution by consensus declaring, "We, as the Green Party of Louisiana call for the justice and freedom of the Jena 6, the Angola 3, Gary Tyler, and all other political prisoners."

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On Monday, September 24th, the Pennsylvania Ballot Access Coalition (www.paballotaccess.org) will sponsor a press conference/rally at the US Supreme Court, the 100 Block of Maryland Avenue, in Washington, DC. We are doing this to urge the US Supreme Court to decide to hear Rogers vs. Cortese, which is on their list for Sep. 24th. The Press Conference is scheduled for 9 am.

We are doing this in concert with the Pennsylvania and US Green Parties, along with the support of other individual and third parties.

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Greens, joining antiwar protests throughout September and October, hold Democratic leaders responsible for Bush's disastrous military and foreign policies

• 'Faux Peace Party' Dems are collaborating with Bush by supporting threats of an attack on Iran and by renewing funding for the Iraq War, say Greens.
  
  
  
• Greens call impeachment of Bush and Cheney an essential part of the demand for peace, urge Americans to be skeptical of GOP media propaganda blitz this week on the US troop surge.
  
  

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Chicago to host 2008 National Green Party Convention

Delegates from state Green Parties and caucuses in the party's National Committee completed their vote Tuesday, August 28th, with Chicago taking the lead over Detroit, Minneapolis, and Oakland. Chicago's proposal can be read at http://www.greenconvention2008.com. The convention will take place July 10 to 13, 2008.

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[Press release from GPUS]

WASHINGTON, DC -- The Green Party of the United States will hold its 2008 national nominating convention in Chicago, Illinois.

Delegates from state Green Parties and caucuses in the party's National Committee completed their vote yesterday, with Chicago taking the lead over Detroit, Minneapolis, and Oakland.

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Greens: Hurricane survivors deserve justice, after delayed relief, disregard for African American lives, massive displacement of residents, and exclusion from reconstructed New Orleans

WASHINGTON, DC -- The Green Party of the United States has endorsed the International Tribunal on Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, to be conducted in New Orleans, Louisiana, from August 29 to September 2, 2007.

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This is a remainder to submit your Op-Eds, Cartoons, Pictures or State Reports to Green Pages for the Fall 2007 issue. Please pass this on to your states, caucuses and committees.

Green Pages, the national newspaper of the Green Party of the United States,is looking for concise opinion pieces (op-eds) for the fall 2007 issue, as well as timely reports from states, caucuses, and committees. (Please see reports guidelines below.)

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[This news was noted at GC after the annual meeting, but this release, just published a few days ago, gives some background, and the official sheen. Welcome, Mountain Party members!]

Mountain Party Affiliates with US Greens,
Moves to Hold Primary Elections

Putnam Co., 8/12/2007 – West Virginia’s only third party voted to officially join the national Green Party US at their 2007 state convention in July. Jesse Johnson, Mountain Party Chair and Bob Henry Baber, vice-Chair convened the fourth convention since the party gained ballot status in 2000.

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08.15.2007 WASHINGTON, DC/OTTAWA, ONT. -- Green Party leaders in Canada and the US are alerting their respective parties and the public about the 'Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America' (SPP), a secretive deal between President Bush (US), Prime Minister Harper (Canada), and President Calderón (Mexico).

08.14.2007 WASHINGTON, DC -- Greens blame Democratic Party leaders for the bill's passage, and warn that mounting 'police state' measures are nullifying the Constitution and basic civil liberties.

08.09.2007 WASHINGTON, DC -- Greens express sympathy for bridge collapse victims and the people of Minneapolis, call for a major investment in public works and safety.

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Yesterday the Green Party of Minnesota put out a press release on last week's bridge collapse in Minneapolis.

August 07, 2007

The Green Party of Minnesota offers its condolences and shares in the grief of the many personally affected by the I-35W bridge collapse tragedy on August 1st. We are especially grateful for the heroic efforts made by fellow citizens and rescue workers who assisted those directly affected.

It is unfortunate that it takes a tragedy such as this to generate a reaction to our failing infrastructure in this country. Ralph Nader, the 2000 presidential candidate for the Green Party, has been addressing this concern for more than a decade. On July 27, 1999 he wrote an article in the Los Angeles Times entitled "Perspective on Federal Spending." In it he stated: "The debate over how to allocate funds must include how best to improve our great shared assets." His proactive opinions on protecting our country and its infrastructure along with our democracy have continuously been shut out from the mainstream debate, while the majority of our federal taxes are spent on an illegal and severely destructive war.

Hopefully out of the tears and grief will come the appropriate investigations and necessary funds to prevent future infrastructure tragedies. We also hope that replacement, where needed, will include building along more environmentally friendly lines.

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What's going on in the world?

For one thing, the AFL-CIO Democratic debate is tonight on MSNBC TV (and XM radio), starting at 7pm EDT. I'll be watching, will you?

This should be an opportunity for the candidates to discuss some bread and butter issues like NAFTA, health care, etc. with some depth. Or so we can hope -- with Keith Olbermann moderating, perhaps there is cause for a sliver.

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