The Green Party has a candidate

The Green Party has a Presidential candidate.

From the AJC:

McKinney wins Green Party nomination

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, By Jeffry Scott, July 12

CHICAGO — Former Georgia congresswoman Cynthia McKinney reassumed the national political stage Saturday, winning the presidential nomination of the Green Party of the United States at the party's national convention here.

Amid chants of "Paint The White House Green" and signs proclaiming, "Truth. McKinney 2008," McKinney revved up a crowd of about 350 Green Party delegates from 38 states who elected her on the first ballot.

"I am asking you to vote your conscience, vote your dreams, vote your future, vote Green," McKinney told the convention in a 30 minute speech following an address by her running mate, hip hop artist and political activist Rosa Clemente.

She was joined by her father, former Georgia representative Billy McKinney; her mother Leola, and her son Coy, on the stage in the elegant Michigan Avenue hall where the Chicago Symphony Orchestra performs.

[...]

Since last fall, McKinney has campaigned in 30 states on the slogan "Power To The People" and a platform that calls for single-payer universal health care, the immediate withdrawal of American forces from Iraq and Afghanistan, the creation of a Department of Peace, and reparations for African-Americans.

[...]

She as much conceded winning the presidency was not her goal in her speech Saturday. She said the thrust of her campaign would be to get 5 percent of the vote in November, effectively establishing the Greens as a third party that would not have to fight state-by-state to get on the ballot every four years.

"We are in this to build a movement," said McKinney to roars from the crowd. "A vote for the Green Party is a vote for the movement that will turn this country right-side-up again."

ABC notes that you may remember her for a couple of things:

1) Her alleged altercation with a Capitol Hill Police Officer.

2) "What did this administration know and when did it know it, about the events of September 11th?"

In our opinion, just the sorts of things you'd want in a presidential candidate...

The Nation has some notes on her platform:

Resolutely anti-war and anti-imperialist, firmly committed to defending individual liberties and determined to hold the outgoing president and vice president to account – as a member of the House in 2006, McKinney introduced the first articles of impeachment against President Bush – McKinney is an ardent advocate for national health care, expanded education spending and energy policies that emphasize mass transportation and conservation rather than rewarding oil-company profiteering.

And, as she notes, "I have a record of standing up on all of these issues."

We are leaning towards taking Molly Ivin's advice - and urging those who (electorally) can, to vote Green this November. 5% from those states that are solidly red or blue can't be too hard to achieve, right?

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UPDATE: Wikipedia lists two other minority parties that theoretically have a shot at a majority of the electoral delegates in play: The Libertarian Party, and The Constitution Party.

The Libertarian Party has nominated Bob Barr to be its presidential contender.

Robert Laurence "Bob" Barr, Jr. (born November 5, 1948) is the Libertarian Party nominee for President of the United States in the 2008 election. He is a former federal prosecutor and a former member of the United States House of Representatives. He represented Georgia's 7th congressional district as a Republican from 1995 to 2003.

Barr attained national prominence as one of the leaders of the impeachment of President Bill Clinton. Barr joined the Libertarian Party in 2006, and until May 2008[citation needed] served on its National Committee.

Barr was born on November 5, 1948, in Iowa City, Iowa to Bob and Beatrice Barr. His father, a West Point soldier, moved the family to various locations around the world while pursing his career in civil engineering. The second of six children, Bob Jr. spent his boyhood in Malaysia, Pakistan, Panama, and finally Tehran, Iran (Something in common with Mr. Obama...) where he graduated from Community High School in 1966.

Barr returned to the United States, attending the University of Southern California and joining the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity in 1967 (where as of 2008 he holds the position of Grand Histor). Barr also joined the Young Democrats of America, and rallied against the Vietnam War. His parents disapproved, and threatened to cut off financial support if he continued his "flaming liberal" activities. During this time, Barr's mother introduced him to the work of Ayn Rand. (Mrs. Barr, have you no shame?) This fostered a new-found appreciation for conservativism, and prompted Barr to join the Young Trojan Republican Club. Barr completed his B.A., cum laude, from University of Southern California in 1970.

Barr earned a master's degree in International Affairs from George Washington University in 1972, and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in 1977. From 1971 to 1978, Barr was employed by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

[...]

In 2002, he was described as "the idol of the gun-toting, abortion-fighting, IRS-hating hard right wing of American politics".

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The Constitution Party has nominated Chuck Baldwin.

Charles "Chuck" Baldwin (born May 3, 1952) is an American political figure, activist in the Constitution Party, and pastor of Crossroad Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida; located in Escambia County on the far northwestern Florida Gulf Coast. In 2004, Baldwin was the Constitution Party nominee for Vice President, and on April 26; Baldwin was named as the 2008 presidential nominee.[1] Baldwin hosts a weekly radio program and writes a weekly news column carried on his website and on the VDARE.com site as well.

A former member of the Republican Party, Baldwin has been a longstanding critic of U.S. President George W. Bush. Baldwin is known as a staunch opponent of what he calls the "New World Order", the "North American Union" and amnesty for illegal immigrants. Baldwin has also suggested reopening the investigation into the September 11, 2001 attacks, believing that the 9/11 Truth Movement have a right to have their conspiracy theories investigated including the possibility of U.S. government involvement in the attacks.