In Windham County there was a meeting yesterday between the leaders and activists of the local Progressive Party and Democratic Party. The mission was to encourage a greater degree of cooperation. This article was printed one day before the meeting:
Hoping to find common ground on a number of hotly debated issues around Vermont, Progressives and Democrats will meet in Marlboro this weekend in an attempt to bring the parties closer together politically in the upcoming election.
But can the two sides find enough give-and-take before Vermonters cast their ballots this November?
Marlboro Democratic Chairman Clarence Boston defines the meeting as an “involved and diverse coalition” of Democrats and Progressives seeking to set Vermont on the right path for the future. During this event, Boston is hoping for a progressive endorsement of some of the Democratic candidates in the county running for office.
“This isn’t a fundraiser. This is a party and it is progressive, it is left-wing, but it is not partisan,” he said. “It is ‘Can we come to terms?’ It is the old political saying ‘Let’s make a deal.’”
This is certainly not the first time the two parties have attempted to cooperate. In 2008 Anthony Pollina, the Gubernatorial candidate for the Progressive Party, was offered a chance to run, unopposed by any Democrat, in the Lt. Governor’s race if he’d drop out of the Governor’s race. He declined that offer.
THE PROG NEED TO STAY OUT OF THE GOVERNORS RACE!! NO MORE 3 WAY RACES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Progressive Parties response should be that you are a national party and you have the benefits of that, you cannot escape local politics. We will use your label to our benefit and supports candidates that hue our line thank you very much.
The Progressives should also get on board with the Second Vermont Republic or wind up damned with the rest of the Obama-supporting left.
[changeformissouri] Politics As Boys’ Club, National Journal, 5/30/10
…
Jane von Kaenel
(CongressDaily’s Erin McPike writes in this week’s National Journal:)
This election year isn’t looking too promising for female candidates.
Early on, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley rocked the political world by losing the special election to fill the Senate seat of the late Edward Kennedy.
Among the earliest signs of serious trouble for Coakley were the sexist remarks popping up. Teamsters were vowing, “I’m not voting for that broad,” according to a labor leader. At a GOP rally, one man reportedly shouted, “Shove a curling iron up her butt!”
Fast-forward to April, when a local chapter of the Ohio Republican Party sent out a mailer urging, “Let’s take Betty Sutton out of the House and put her back in the kitchen.”
Robert and TPR are both getting close to the solution, but not exactly there. the Progressive Party needs to disband and its members become independent, like the great Zero Hero, Bernie Sanders. Then encourage all Democrats as possible to become independent.
ditto! (as with William Jennings Bryant and the NATIONAL Progressive Party, the Henry Ross Perot and the Reform Party of 1892 …….)
Say goodbye, Progressive Party!
Pst…Progressive Party…they want you to capitulate, not cooperate!
TPR, right!
DON’T! They just want to suck you in to become members of the Democratic Party!
@ 4
Ideally I’d agree, however the Progs also have to deal with the reality that the Dems will not be going away anytime soon. The best thing for them to do then, would be to compromise from a position of strength (not weakness) to get some of their platform on the Dems agenda. If they can push the Dems into supporting Single Payer healthcare, progressive state pension plans, and have them oppose a re licensing to the Yankee nuclear power plant, well worth a coalition IMO.
Among the progressive party’s primary goals should be wiping out the Democratic party. Not becoming carbon copies of a corporatist party.
@2
Oh u
This is exactly the wrong thing for the progressives to do. End cooperation with the democratic party. Begin cooperation-vote coordination-with the Libertarian party.
Very interesting. Hopefully the progs can compromise from a position of strength and form a coalition.