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Who's On Third?

© Ken Goldstein

Leonard Peltier: Peace and Freedom Party - www.peaceandfreedom2004.org/lpeltier - Native American activist, Nobel Peace Prize Nominee, and [depending on your point-of-view] political prisoner Leonard Peltier is using the Presidential campaign to draw attention to his case and his cause.

Like Cobb and Nader, Peltier is also somebody I like and admire. But a serious Presidential campaign needs to be about more than one issue. I'm pleased that more people will be exposed to Mr. Peltier's plight through this process, but that's about it. Free Leonard Peltier? Yes! Vote Leonard Peltier? I don't think so.

Michael Badnarik: Libertarian Party - badnarik.org - I'm surprised that Mr. Badnarik has not received more attention during this election cycle as a leading conservative alternative to George W. Bush. While each of the above would be described as liberal or progressive, the Libertarians are the only party with national ballot status that pushes the conservative small government agenda and has been open about declaring the War in Iraq as a failure and a mistake. If he raises enough money to get his ads played on TV (see them on the website), Badnarik could prove to be a problem for Bush yet.

Other Candidates - From the Far Right to the Far Left and Back Again:

Michael Anthony Peroutka: Constitution/American Independent Party - www.peroutka2004.com/ - "God, Family, Republic" kind of says it all.

Walter Brown: Socialist Party - www.waltbrownforpresident.org - - Roger Calero (or James Harris): Socialist Workers Party - www.politics1.com/swp04.htm - - John Parker: Worker's World Party - www.politics1.com/wwp04.htm - - Bill Van Auken: Socialist Equality Party - www.socialequality.com/candidates.html --- Aren't they worried about splitting the Communist vote?

Gene Amondson: Prohibition/People's Choice Party - Earl F. Dodge: Prohibition Party of Colorado - www.prohibition.org --- Repeal the repeal of prohibition!

Charles Jay: Personal Choice Party - www.charlesjay.com - This is one ticket where you might want to vote for the VP candidate: porn star Marilyn Chambers.

Independent write-in candidates: Sterling D. Allan - Harry W. Braun III - Georgia Hough - Darren Karr - John Joseph Kennedy - "Average Joe" Schriner - Dan Snow - A.J. Wildman

Well, that was a lot of fun, and I hope you do take a look at some of those candidate's web sites, but in two weeks we've got a serious choice to make. If nothing else, this election is a referendum on the Presidency of George W. Bush.