ROCKY ANDERSON TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT -- NEW POLITICAL PARTY
If you were involved in getting Bush Inc impeached for war crimes you probably remember Rocky Anderson, the Salt Lake City mayor who spoke so passionately about ethics. He has announced that he will run for president in 2012 on the “Justice Party” ticket, a new political party he is forming with Kevin Zeese, Margaret Flowers and other sterling revolutionaries. There are some links at the bottom of this email to articles you can read. I attached his wiki bio. Imagine the possibilities if we all stampede into this new party! How long would it take for a revolution to succeed?
Their preliminary agenda is attached. (Strategic Dialogue on the Formation of a Major New Political Party) A glimpse:
1. Corporatism - http://october2011.org/pages/corporatism firmly establish that money is not speech, corporations are not people, only people have Constitutional rights, end corporate influence over the political process, protect people and the environment from damage by corporations.
2. Wars and Militarism - http://october2011.org/pages/wars-and-militarism end wars and occupations, end private for-profit military contractors, reduce the national security state and end the weapons export industry. War crimes, crimes against humanity and crimes against peace must be addressed and those responsible held accountable under international law.
3. Human Rights - http://october2011.org/pages/human-rights end exploitation of people in the US and abroad, end discrimination in all forms, equal civil rights and due process for all people.
4. Worker Rights and jobs - http://october2011.org/pages/workers-rights-and-jobs all working-age people have the right to safe, just, non-discriminatory and dignified working conditions, a sustainable living wage, paid leave and economic protection.
5. Government – all processes of the three branches of government should be accountable under domestic and international law, should be transparent, and promote the rights of people to participate in decisions which affect them.
6. Elections – all citizens 18 and older have the right to vote without barriers, all candidates have the right to be heard and to run and all votes should be counted.
7. Criminal justice and prisons – end private for-profit prisons, adopt evidence-based drug policy, prisoners have the right to humane and just conditions with a focus on rehabilitation and reintegration into society, abolish the death penalty.
8. Healthcare – create a national, universal and publicly financed comprehensive health system.
9. Education – all people have the right to a high quality, publicly-funded and broad education from pre-school through vocational training or university.
10. Housing - http://october2011.org/pages/housing all people have the right to affordable and safe housing.
11. Environment - http://october2011.org/blogs/kevin-zeese/proposed-statement-environmental-committee-october2011org - adopt policies which effectively create a carbon-free and radio-active free energy economy and that respects the rights of nature.
12. Finance and the economy – end policies which foster a wealth divide and move to a localized and democratic financial system, reform taxes so that they are progressive and provide goods, monetary gain and services for the people.
13. Media – airwaves and the internet are public goods, require that media be honest, accurate and accountable to the people.
14. Food and water – create systems that protect the land and water, create local and sustainable food networks and practices.
15. Transportation – provide affordable, clean and convenient public transportation and safe spaces for pedestrian and non-automobile travel.
Articles
http://turningpoints.iomaire.com/index.php/2011/11/02/had-enough-yet/
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/53014248-90/anderson-party-rocky-ballot.html.csp
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocky_Anderson
ROCKY ANDERSON
RossC. "Rocky" Anderson(born September 9, 1951) served two terms as the 33rd mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah, between 2000 and 2008.[1] He is the Executive Director of High Road for Human Rights.[2] Prior to serving as Mayor, he practiced law for 21 years in Salt Lake City, during which time he was listed in Best Lawyers in America, was rated A-V (highest rating) by Martindale-Hubbell, served as Chair of the Utah State Bar Litigation Section[3] and was Editor-in-Chief of, and a contributor to, Voir Dire legal journal.[4]
As Mayor, Anderson rose to nationwide prominence as a champion of several national and international causes, including climate protection, immigration reform, restorative criminal justice, LGBT rights, and an end to the "war on drugs." Before and after the invasion by the US of Iraq in 2003, Anderson was a leading opponent of the invasion and occupation of Iraq and related human rights abuses. Anderson was the only mayor of a major US city who advocated for the impeachment of President George W. Bush, which he did in many venues throughout the United States.
Anderson's work and advocacy led to local, national, and international recognition in numerous spheres, including being named by Business Week as one of the top twenty activists in the world on climate change[5], serving on the Newsweek Global Environmental Leadership Advisory Board,[6] and being recognized by the Human Rights Campaign as one of the top ten straight advocates in the United States for LGBT equality.[7] He has also received numerous awards for his work, including the EPA Climate Protection Award,[8] the Sierra Club Distinguished Service Award,[9] the Respect the Earth Planet Defender Award, the National Association of Hispanic Publications Presidential Award,[10] The Drug Policy Alliance Richard J. Dennis Drugpeace Award,[11] the Progressive Democrats of America Spine Award,[12] the League of United Latin American Citizens Profile in Courage Award,[13] the Bill of Rights Defense Committee Patriot Award,[14] the Code Pink (Salt Lake City) Pink Star honor, the Morehouse University Gandhi, King, Ikeda Award, and the World Leadership Award for environmental programs.[15]
Formerly a member of the Democratic Party, Anderson expressed his disappointment with that Party in 2011,[16] stating “The Constitution has been eviscerated while Democrats have stood by with nary a whimper. It is a gutless, unprincipled party, bought and paid for by the same interests that buy and pay for the Republican Party."[17]
Life before law and politics
Ross C. "Rocky" Anderson was born in Logan, Utah, one of three children of Roy and Grace Anderson.[18] His parents both worked at a local lumber yard, Anderson Lumber Company, founded by Rocky's great-grandfather, a Norwegian immigrant carpenter who had converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (also known as the Mormons).[19]
Anderson was raised as a Mormon, and was a practicing member of that predominant religion in Logan,[20] but he has described his disagreement with certain doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ, particularly the denial, before 1978, of the priesthood and temple ceremonies for African-Americans, whose dark skin, according to the Mormon Church, was "the mark of Cain,"[21] and the teachings of Brigham Young that "a white person who 'mixed his seed' with a 'Negro' should be killed."[22] Anderson has described his belief, from a young age, that the L.D.S. teaching of personal moral abdication through obedience to people in positions of authority was dangerous and counter to the principle of personal moral responsibility,[23] in which Anderson deeply believes.[24]
Andersonstudied ethics, political philosophy, and religious philosophy[25] in college. He also explored theological issues in depth,[26] including the unique doctrine of the Mormon Church that worthy men and women can become gods and goddesses,[27] and determined that the best course for him was to intensely consider ethical choices, then set certain moral guideposts for his life, and focus on trying to live accordingly, without regard to the doctrines of any organized religion.[28]
While expressing the importance of some fundamental moral lessons he learned as a young member of the Mormon Church, and while describing the value he places on his Mormon heritage,[29] Anderson has spoken out about the L.D.S. Church's discrimination against gays and lesbians,[30] comparing its public campaigns against equality for members of the LGBT community with its history of racial discrimination. Anderson has written about his views on this issue[31] and appeared in the documentary film, "8: A Mormon Proposition."[32]
During high school, Rocky played lead guitar in a rock and roll band, The Viscounts, and worked at a cabinet and roof truss plant. He also shingled roofs during his high school years. After graduating from Ogden High School,[33] Anderson attended the University of Utah, during which time he served as Treasurer for Sigma Chi Fraternity[34] and worked at various jobs, including as a truck driver, a roofer, and manager of a gas station.
[●]Anderson received a bachelor's degree in Philosophy, graduating magna cum laude.[35] After reading existentialist literature and several works on ethics, religious philosophy, and political philosophy, he had a "powerful epiphany. We can't escape responsibility; there's no sitting out moral decisions, and whenever we refuse to stand up against wrongdoing we're actually supporting the status quo."[36]
After graduating from the University of Utah, Anderson worked at several jobs. He built buck fence at a ranch in Wyoming, tended bar in Salt Lake City, drove a cab, waited tables at a restaurant, worked at a methadone clinic, typed trucking bills, and worked at a construction job.[37] He started graduate school in Philosophy at the University of Utah, then traveled to Europe and lived and worked for a few months in Freiburg, Germany before returning to the United States to attend law school.[38]
In 1978 Anderson graduated, with honors, from The George Washington University Law School,[39] attaining a J.D. degree.
Legal career and activism while practicing law
Upon graduation, Anderson returned to Salt Lake City to practice law. He tried several jury trials in federal and state courts and handled appeals before the Utah Court of Appeals, the Utah Supreme Court, the United States District Court (in an appeal from Bankruptcy Court) and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.[40] Anderson had an extremely diverse legal practice and represented plaintiffs in dozens of major cases.[41] Anderson practiced law for twenty-one years in Salt Lake City, beginning as an associate with Berman & Giauque and serving as a shareholder in Berman & Anderson; Hansen & Anderson; Anderson & Watkins; and Anderson & Karrenberg. He specialized in civil litigation in several areas, including antitrust, securities fraud, commercial, products liability, professional malpractice, and civil rights law. In many instances, he represented individuals who had suffered harm at the hands of corporations or government agents, including plaintiffs in the following cases:
• Bradford v. Moench: A consumer rights lawsuit in which Anderson asserted a novel securities law theory and achieved, in a precedent-setting decision, broad protections for depositors in inadequately insured “thrift and loan” companies.[42]
• Scott v. Hammock: A lawsuit in which Anderson represented a young woman who suffered from sex abuse perpetrated by her adoptive father. During the course of the case, Anderson challenged the secrecy claimed by the L.D.S Church regarding non-penitential communications by the defendant with his Mormon bishop.[43]
• Universityof Utah Students Against Apartheid v. Peterson: A case in which plaintiffs successfully asserted their First Amendment rights to symbolic speech after the university administration ordered them to remove shanties used to protest the university's investments in South Africa. (Anderson filed an amicus brief for the A.C.L.U. in the case.)[44]
• Armstrong v. McCotter: A civil rights case involving a young mentally ill man, Michael Valent, who, while incarcerated in prison, died from a pulmonary embolism after being strapped naked in a restraint chair for 16 hours solely because of conduct linked to his schizophrenia.[45]
• Bott v. Deland: A civil rights case that established, for the first time, protections for the rights of incarcerated people under the Utah Constitution far broader than under the US Constitution. In that case, the Utah Supreme Court also agreed that financial damages, not limited by state statute, are available for violations of the protections provided for incarcerated people under the State Constitution.[46]
• Regan v. Salt Lake County: A class action challenging invasive searches, including strip searches, of women held on minor violations at the Salt Lake County Jail.[47]
• Prettyman v. Salt Lake City: A civil rights case involving the excessive use of force by police, resulting in the breaking of a rod in the plaintiff’s back.[48]
• Hale v. Loader: A lawsuit that involving sexual abuse of a female prison inmate by prison personnel.
• Harding v. Walles: A civil rights case involving the sexual abuse of a male prison inmate by a prison guard.[49]
Andersonalso helped spearhead reform of Utah’s child custody laws.[50] He worked to institute a program to help those who do not qualify for assistance through Legal Aid or Legal Services, but who are unable to afford to pay a full fee for legal representation.[51] Anderson served as Chair of the Litigation Section of the Utah State Bar Association[52] (when the Litigation Section was recognized by the Utah Bar Association as the Section of the Year[53]), and as President of Anderson and Karrenberg, a Salt Lake City law firm.[54]
When he was practicing law, Anderson was affiliated with several non-profit organizations dedicated to protecting civil rights, providing educational opportunities for economically-disadvantaged children, improving the penal and criminal justice systems, and strengthening legislative ethics. He served as president of the boards of the ACLU of Utah,[55] Guadalupe Schools,[56] and Citizens for Penal Reform, which he founded.[57] He also served as a board member of several other community-based, non-profit organizations, including Planned Parenthood Association of Utah[58] and Utah Common Cause.[59] On behalf of Common Cause, Anderson lobbied for stronger legislation pertaining to ethical conduct by elected officials and for campaign finance reform. Anderson was quoted in the local daily newspaper as follows:
"Do you think that lobbyists do this stuff [giving lawmakers everything from courtside Utah Jazz tickets and breakfasts at the exclusive Alta Club to graphite golf clubs] out of the kindness of their hearts?' he asks. 'They do it so they can influence the legislator, and that's a bribe."[60]
While he was practicing law, Anderson opposed the Reagan administration's efforts to overthrow the government in Nicaragua and its support of the death squads in El Salvador. He organized two trips to Nicaragua for dozens of Utahans to see for themselves what was happening there, contrary to what the Reagan administration and much of the mainstream media were reporting.[61] He also debated the Commander in Chief of the Contras, Adolfo Calero. Anderson was quoted about his views concerning U.S. policy and actions in Nicaragua as follows:
"After 70 years of U.S. control of Nicaragua, what did the Nicaraguan people get? Only poverty. I don't think the American public should sit back and let their tax dollars support the Contras (who are) killing the Nicaraguan people.' The U.S. government is among the greatest international outlaws in recent history, Anderson said, and is involved in 'pure and simple terrorism' against Nicaragua. 'The U.S. government violated every applicable standard of international law, every applicable international treaty,' he said."[62]
Moved by the tragedy experienced by friends and family members of several women who were murdered in the Salt Lake City area, and by the failure of Salt Lake City police detectives to solve the crimes, Anderson worked without charge for many months reviewing documents and locating and interviewing witnesses. His work, along with the efforts of other people, led to the eventual grand jury indictment and conviction of a man for one of the murders.[63]
Congressional campaign
After winning a contentious primary election against Kelly Atkinson by 11%, [64] Anderson ran for Congress as the Democratic nominee in Utah's Second Congressional District in 1996 against Republican Merrill Cook.[65] Without any financial help from the Democratic Party (some local Democratic "leaders" viewed Anderson as being "too liberal" because of his support of the ACLU, his opposition to U.S. policy toward Nicaragua in the 1980's, and his opposition to the death penalty[66]), he garnered over 100,000 votes in the district.[67] Despite Cook's 98% initial name recognition and the expenditure of almost $1 million by Cook of his own money, Anderson received 55% of the votes cast in Salt Lake City, versus 39% for Cook[68]. As Anderson has described, the issue of same-sex marriage formed the heart of Cook's campaign against Anderson.[69]
Mayor of Salt Lake City
Andersonran for Mayor of Salt Lake City in 1999, defeating 10 other candidates in the primary campaign, before winning 60% of the vote in the general election against opponent Stuart Reid.[70] He won re-election by a 7% margin against Frank Pignanelli in 2003.[71]
Anderson's two terms in office were extremely eventful, with Anderson playing a leading role in hosting the 2002 Winter Olympic Games[72]; pushing the police to pursue Brian David Mitchell, instead of the wrong person suspected by police detectives, in the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart[73]; organizing and co-hosting dozens of mayors for three consecutive years at the Sundance Summit[74], founding the Salt Lake City International Jazz Festival, providing national and international leadership regarding climate protection, carrying on a successful national campaign to require that airports across the country screen all checked luggage,[75] expanding the area's light rail system,[76] significantly expanding protected open space[77], implementing an innovative and highly successful restorative justice program[78] and creating a city-wide after-school and summer youth program.[79] Many of Anderson's achievements were described in his State of the City addresses [80] and listed in a document provided to the public shortly before he left office.[81]
Andersonchose not to run for a third term so he could push for reforms of U.S. human rights policies and practices through grassroots organizing.[82]
Environmental/climate protection programs
Considered perhaps the "greenest" mayor in the United States,[83] Anderson gained international renown for his Salt Lake City Green Program[84] - a comprehensive effort to improve sustainability and reduce the City's environmental footprint – achieving a 31% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from municipal operations in 3 years. Elements of the program, which Anderson described as covering "everything from dog waste to nuclear waste,” included initiatives to improve the efficiency of the City’s fleet and use of electricity, measures to make Salt Lake City more bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly, and cogeneration plants at the City’s landfill and wastewater treatment facilities that recapture methane to generate electricity. [85]
As part of the Salt Lake City Green program, Anderson committed Salt Lake City to the Kyoto Protocol goals in 2002 (despite the U.S. not doing the same).[86] He mandated that all city buildings use energy-efficient light bulbs and replacing SUVs in the city fleet with high efficiency, alternative fuel vehicles.[87] Anderson almost doubled the city's recycling capacity in one year.[88] The City surpassed its Kyoto goals in 2006, seven years ahead of schedule.[89] In 2003, Anderson received the Climate Protection Award from the United States Environmental Protection Agency[90], and the Sierra Club acknowledged his environmental work with its Distinguished Service Award.[91] In November 2005, the Salt Lake City Green program led to the receipt by Salt Lake City of the World Leadership Award for environmental programs, presented by the World Leadership Forum in London.[92]
Anderson exemplified "green living" by his personal example, including xeroscaping of his entire yard[93]; his installation of solar panels at his home; recycling all recyclable materials; and his use of cold water detergent, fluorescent bulbs, thermostat timers, and a natural gas car.[94]
While serving as mayor, Anderson informed and inspired other municipal officials about the importance of educating constituents about climate change and of taking measures to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.[95] For three consecutive years, he organized and co-hosted with Robert Redford and ICLEI the "Sundance Summit: A Mayors Gathering on Climate Protection," attended by dozens of mayors from throughout the United States. At the Sundance Summit, mayors learned the science of climate change, how to communicate regarding the causes, consequences, and solutions to climate change, and best practices in cities implementing ground-breaking climate protection practices.[96]
Andersonalso spoke on the subject of the climate crisis at side meetings at United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP) meetings in New Delhi, Buenos Aires, and Bali, and at conferences throughout the United States and in Sweden and Australia. [97]
During Anderson's tenure as mayor, he created the "e2 Business" program, recruiting local businesses to implement major sustainability practices[98] and led a national campaign against the environmentally and economically destructive use of plastic water bottles -- what he has called "the greatest marketing scam of all time."[99]
Tobacco
Andersonis an ardent opponent of tobacco use and has supported legislative measures limiting smoking and taxing tobacco products.[100]
Minority/LGBT communities
Anderson, whose 2002 Olympic theme was "Strength Through Diversity,"[101] advocated repeatedly for the interests of minority communities in Salt Lake City. In December 2001, state and federal officials organized a raid at the Salt Lake City Airport that selectively enforced immigration laws against undocumented employees, who were arrested, imprisoned, and lost their jobs.[102] In response, Anderson created the Family to Family program, which made it possible for Salt Lake City families to provide direct emotional and financial assistance to the airport workers and their families, while gaining a better understanding of the plight of immigrants.[103] Additionally, the Mayor spearheaded a challenge to English-only legislation in Utah in 2000,[104] and later spoke at large demonstrations for comprehensive immigration reform.[105]
Anderson received the League of United Latin American Citizens’s first-ever “Profile in Courage” award,[106] as well as the National Association of Hispanic Publications’ Presidential Award, in 2006.[107]
Andersonsigned an executive order in 2000 implementing a full-fledged affirmative action program in City hiring[108]. This program led to historic levels of ethnic minority hiring and retention in City government.[109] The percentage of the City government's workforce from the ethnic minority community increased more than 30% in seven years and the number of City administrators, in higher paying positions, from the ethnic minority community increased more than 85% since 2000. Thirty-two percent of Anderson's appointments to City boards and commissions, and one-third of the staff in the Mayor's Office, were people of color[110].
Andersonalso signed executive orders that extended benefits to domestic partners of City employees,[111] and banned discrimination against City employees on the basis of race, creed, gender, or sexual orientation.[112]
Along with Jon Huntsman, Sr., Anderson co-convened the Alliance for Unity, a non-partisan group of religious and community leaders working to build bridges between diverse people throughout Utah.[113]
2002 Winter Olympics
After working with Mitt Romney and leading Salt Lake City through the 2002 Winter Olympics, Anderson handed off the Olympic flag at the closing ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.[114] One of Anderson’s key achievements was working effectively with the Utah State Legislature and Mitt Romney in making certain that public safety needs would be adequately financed. Romney later said, "I think a lot of people would look at (the Olympic funding deal) and say it was a minor miracle. [Rocky] was instrumental, key, in reaching a solution."[115]
Andersonendorsed Romney's subsequent 2002 gubernatorial bid in Massachusetts. [116] Romney later endorsed Anderson’s 2003 mayoral re-election campaign.[117] Anderson has criticized Romney's changes in positions on certain issues since he decided to run for president of the U.S.[118] “The Mitt Romney who ran for and served as governor of Massachusetts was a very different Mitt Romney than has been running for President of the United States… the real Mitt Romney — the Mitt Romney we all knew and [who] served as governor of Massachusetts — was very reasonable, very moderate — he felt that Roe versus Wade should be the end of the debate on choice; supporter of stem cell research — he was not the right-winger that he seemed to be when he decided he would run for President of the United States.”[119]
Crime and restorative criminal justice
Andersonwas a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition[120], a bi-partisan group with a stated goal of "making the public safer by getting illegal guns off the streets." The Coalition was co-chaired by Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.[121]
Andersonrestructured Salt Lake City’s criminal justice system and, after reviewing the peer-reviewed literature indicating that DARE is ineffective in reducing drug use, discontinued the DARE program in Salt Lake City schools.[122] He supported implementation, instead, of programs -- ATLAS and ATHENA -- that have demonstrated success.[123] He called for an end to the failed "war on drugs" and for better drug prevention education, implementation of harm reduction policies, and the availability of substance abuse treatment on demand. He also successfully lobbied President Clinton to grant a commutation of a lengthy prison sentence imposed on a Salt Lake City man who had already served several years in a federal penitentiary for his first and only conviction for violation of drug laws.[124]
Instead of pushing for more minor offenders to be sent to jail or prison, Anderson built innovative restorative justice programs, which earned him a nomination for a second World Leadership Award.[125] He implemented reforms ensuring that mental health courts channeled mentally ill criminals into mandatory treatment programs rather than putting them behind bars. People arrested on drug charges, or for prostitution or soliciting prostitutes (as well as several other types of offenses), were sent through a comprehensive course of counseling rather than automatically being handed criminal convictions and sentences for incarceration. The results were better and the costs were far less than those entailed in pursuing the traditional retributive approach.[126]
Economy
As mayor, Anderson was a strong advocate for local businesses, saying, “Loyal, locally-owned businesses deserve our support. When we 'buy locally,' our economy is strengthened and our quality of life is enhanced. Consumer dollars are regenerated within our community and we help preserve the charm and uniqueness local businesses provide.”[127]
Andersonpromulgated an administrative rule providing that, in considering bids, the city would give preference to companies paying a living wage to their employees. One Republican legislator called it the "Rocky loophole" and was intent on closing it. The Utah Legislature then passed a statute prohibiting cities from giving such preference.[128]
Establishing a reputation as a fiscal conservative, during the period 1999 to 2007, Anderson increased Salt Lake City's general fund reserve balance by more than 62%, from $20.3 million to $32.6 million.[129]
Opposition to War in Iraq and related human rights abuses, and call for impeachment
Called by Amy Goodman "one of the most outspoken critics of the Bush administration and the Iraq war,"[130] Anderson was a leading opponent of the invasion and occupation of Iraq by the U.S., both before and after the invasion, and was the only major city mayor advocating the impeachment of President Bush and Vice-President Cheney.[131]
He spoke often against the Iraq invasion and occupation, and for impeachment,[132] including at several large rallies and state and federal legislative hearings, in Salt Lake City;[133] Olympia, Washington[134]; New York[135]; and Washington, D.C.[136]; and on national television and radio programs hosted by Amy Goodman,[137] Bill O'Reilly,[138] Keith Olbermann[139], and Tom Ashbrook[140]. He also engaged in a notorious live debate with Sean Hannity about Iraq and impeachment[141].
Interviewed by Wolf Blitzer on CNN after an anti-war rally marking the fourth anniversary of the invasion and initial occupation of Iraq, Anderson advocated the impeachment of President George Bush, saying:
"This president, by engaging in such incredible abuses of power, breaches of trust with both the Congress and the American people, and misleading us into this tragic and unbelievable war, the violation of treaties, other international law, our constitution, our own domestic laws, and then his role in heinous human rights abuses; I think all of that together calls for impeachment".[142]
Anderson also did not spare criticism for the Democratic Party, saying:
"The fact that anybody would say that impeachment is off the table when we have a president who has been so egregious in his violations of our constitution, a president who asserts a unitary executive power, that is absolutely chilling."[143]
In 2006, he expressed his view of the Democratic Party as follows:
"But what do I have to say about the Democratic Party? I’m ashamed, really, of how little leadership there has been. There has been just tremendous timidity on the part of the party, generally, although there have been a handful of exceptions. But, you know, we had one member of the United States Senate vote against the PATRIOT Act, the blank check that was given by Congress to this president, I think in total abrogation of the role of Congress under separation of powers and under the power to make war, to declare war. They gave that away to a president that didn’t have his facts straight and, I think, was manipulating the intelligence to sell this war."[144]
Andersonresearched, wrote, produced, and narrated a major multi-media piece on the Iraq invasion and occupation, as well as the case for impeachment.[145]
Human rights advocacy
Understanding that grassroots organizing and mobilizing is a source of tremendous power for positive social and economic change, Anderson decided after serving almost eight years as mayor of Salt Lake City that he would not run for re-election and, instead, devote himself to educating, motivating, and mobilizing people to push elected officials and others to take action to prevent or stop major human rights abuses.[146] Anderson has stressed the importance of people at the grassroots level advocating for progressive change, stating, “We keep expecting elected officials will do the right thing, and the fact is they never do unless they’re pushed.”[147]
In January 2008 he founded High Road for Human Rights, a non-profit organization formed to achieve major reforms of US human rights policies and practices through unique, coordinated, and sustained grassroots activism, complementing the work of other human rights organizations.[148] The principle underlying the organization is that politicians don’t do anything unless pushed. High Road is a bottom-up, grassroots based organization founded “to make it clear there will be short-term political costs for those who continue to ignore these kinds of problems… Every time a congressperson or senator comes home and they hold a meeting, there [should be] a group there pushing on the same issues,” according to Anderson.[149] High Road has a growing membership base and active local teams of people who meet and work together to bring about change.[150]
The organization has a broad-based membership, with an Advisory Committee composed of prominent human rights, environmental, and political activists, as well as artists, actors, and writers, including Ed Asner, Harry Belafonte, Lester Brown, Hillary Brown, Ben Cohen, Daniel Ellsberg, Ross Gelbspan, Susan Joy Hassol, Mark Hersgaard, Mimi Kennedy, Paul Rogat Loeb, Edward Mazria, Bill McKibben, Yoko Ono, Gus Speth, Winnie Singh, Sheila Watt-Cloutier, Elie Wiesel, and Terry Tempest Williams.[151] High Road for Human Rights primarily addresses five issues: torture and the undermining of the rule of law, genocide, slavery, the death penalty, and the human rights implications of the climate crisis.[152]
Andersontestified before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee during a hearing on September, 25, 2008 concerning executive branch abuses of power[153] and spoke at rallies organized by High Road for Human Rights, calling for accountability for torture[154]. He has also researched, written, produced, and narrated two multi-media pieces on torture and the undermining of the rule of law.[155]
For his work on human rights matters during his tenure as Executive Director of High Road for Human Rights, Anderson received the Morehouse University Gandhi, King, Ikeda Award and the Bill of Rights Defense Committee's Patriot Award.[156]
Criticisms of President Obama and the Democratic Party
After President Obama’s election, Anderson was instantly critical of many of his policy positions and staff selections, such as Susan Rice, whom Obama appointed as United States Ambassador to the United Nations. Anderson faults Ms. Rice for “doing nothing” to stop the 1994 genocide in Rwanda as a staff member of the National Security Council.[157] (Rice is notorious for having been more concerned with the political repercussions in the upcoming congressional election than with ending the genocide in Rwanda, when she said to NSC colleagues, "If we use the word 'genocide' and are seen as doing nothing, what will be the effect on the November election?"[158]) Anderson was also critical of the appointment by Obama of John Brennan as his counterterrorism adviser because Brennan, as a member of the George W. Bush administration, publicly supported wiretapping, “enhanced interrogation,” and the “rendition” of war-on-terror suspects to offshore prisons beyond the reach of American law.[159] Anderson also pointed to Obama’s complete change of position after he received the Democratic nomination for president on the question of immunity for telecom companies that illegally cooperated with the Bush administration's warrantless wiretapping program. Deeming himself to be “non-partisan” in his critiques of policy, Anderson has subsequently gone on to fiercely criticize the Obama administration in numerous areas, alleging that in certain spheres it has a worse record than the Bush administration. For instance, he has stated as follows:
“I don't know what people were expecting, all this hope and change nonsense.... There's no question that we're seeing a continuation and even in some instances a worsening of our republic under this administration. The Obama Administration has contended that no documents stamped as secret by a government agent should ever be allowed into evidence by our courts. That even goes beyond what the Bush Administration did.”
Andersonhas emphasized the discrepancy between Obama’s position as a candidate for the 2008 presidency, and the actions he has actually undertaken as President, stating that “President Obama has betrayed us in almost every single way from being a candidate to being the President of the United States.”[160] Anderson has pointed to Obama’s failure to close the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, refusing to prosecute what Anderson deems to be the “war criminals” of the Bush administration, continuing renditions, violating the War Power Clause of the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution by committing military troops to Libya without congressional authorization, and continuing, and even expanding, the occupation in Afghanistan.[161] Anderson has stated that Obama is “the least deserving recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in the history of the Nobel Peace Prize.”[162] Concerning Obama's betrayal of the rule of law, Anderson has commented as follows:
"The complacency that has allowed wars of aggression, wars of choice, we weren't forced into them, they were totally illegal wars under international law, the kinds of war crimes that took place, with people just saying, even our current president, 'Oh, let's put that behind us. Let's not call people to account. Let's not enforce our laws… “If these people had robbed the gold bullion out of a government safe, would we just say, ‘Let bygones be bygones; forget the rule of law?"[163]
Andersonhas pointedly criticized Obama for violating the Convention Against Torture, to which the US is a signatory, since every signatory to the convention is required to prosecute or extradite for prosecution those responsible for torture, something Obama refuses to do. Anderson has pointed out that, when the U.S. Senate ratified the Convention Against Torture, President Ronald Reagan stressed that the Convention requires prosecution or extradition of anyone responsible for torture.[164]
Andersonhas stated that despite his earlier belief that the Bush Administration would be merely an “aberration” in the history of the US, “President Obama has institutionalized some of the worst abuses of the Bush Administration.”[165]
Controversies
State Senator Chris Buttars of West Jordan publicly denounced former Mayor Rocky Anderson for having "attracted the entire gay community to come and live in Salt Lake County" after a Dan Jones poll indicated strong support for allowing domestic partnerships. In the 2004 election, 63% of the city population voted against banning same-sex marriage, in agreement with Mayor Anderson.[166]
In 2000, Anderson asked the Salt Lake City Police Department to end its participation in the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program. He told DARE officials: "I think your organization has been an absolute fraud on the people of this country... For you to continue taking precious drug-prevention dollars when we have such a serious and, in some instances, growing addiction problem is unconscionable."[167]
Critics charged Anderson with being insufficiently opposed to teen drug use and with failing to propose any alternatives. In fact, Anderson introduced the ATLAS Program to the Salt Lake City School Board, which voted to implement the program.[168] Anderson also created the Mayor’s Coalition on Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs, and has advocated for the implementation of proven drug prevention, treatment, and harm-reduction programs. In 2005, the Drug Policy Alliance presented him with its Richard J. Dennis Drugpeace Award.[169]
In August 2005, Anderson violated Salt Lake City policy when he used $633.74 in public funds to purchase meals and alcoholic beverages on two occasions for musicians who performed at the Salt Lake City International Jazz Festival and for visiting mayors from throughout the country. A local newspaper published four consecutive front-page articles to the story, and portrayed the purchases as "bar tabs."[170]
When interviewed in September 2005 by the Deseret Morning News, Anderson stated that he disagreed with the policy, that providing hospitality to out-of-town visitors is an important mayoral function, and that exceptions to the policy had been made previously.[171] The policy was subsequently changed to allow appropriate purchases of food and alcohol when entertaining out-of-town guests. Mayor Anderson reimbursed the City with his private funds for expenditures incurred while entertaining visiting mayors.[172]
The Deseret Morning News soon created more controversy with its coverage of an interview Anderson gave to The Guardian newspaper in London. Leading with the headline, “LDS Church Not Taliban, Rocky says,” the paper implied that Anderson had compared life in Utah to life under the Taliban.[173] Anderson emphasized that the comment, intended to be light-hearted, was not directed toward the state or its residents, nor toward The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Rather, he said, the comment was directed toward local media, particularly the Deseret Morning News, who had originally characterized his alcohol and food purchases at a local restaurant as "bar tabs," and which had run articles about the fact that a Salt Lake City Reads Together book selection contained profanity. Jeremiads soon appeared on the editorial pages of the Deseret Morning News and other Utah newspapers. Anderson singled out the Deseret Morning News and other media outlets for deceptive, biased reporting in a statement[174] about the publication and in a speech on media ethics[174] to an annual banquet of the Daily Utah Chronicle.
In October 2005, local politicians accused Anderson of improper spending of public money. This time the issue was travel to Italy related to the 2006 Winter Olympic Games.[175] Anderson responded that the trip to Turin was to continue the longstanding Olympic tradition of delivering the Olympic message and did not cost Utah taxpayers any money. The Salt Lake City District Attorney cleared Anderson of any wrongdoing in the case.
On June 12, 2007, following a meeting in a City Council workroom, Anderson was involved in a physical and verbal confrontation with downtown real-estate developer Dell Loy Hansen. After challenging Anderson to speak to him, Hansen reportedly knocked Anderson off-balance. Anderson responded by threatening to "kick [Hansen's] ass."[176] On June 18, a spokesman for Anderson indicated that the possibility of legal action against Hansen was being explored.[177] It has since been determined that no charges will be filed.[178]
[●]On August 11, 2011, major news media in Utah reported that Anderson had denounced the Democratic Party and resigned his membership with it. Anderson wrote in his letter to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee that "Until the Democratic Party shows some spine and draws a line in the sand -- that an end to the tax breaks for the wealthy needs to be part of any debt/budget bill -- please take my name off your list."[179] He added that "I'm done with the Democratic Party. As I said on Amy Goodman's show a couple years ago, I've put my 'Proud Democrat' coffee mug in storage. I think now I'll just throw it in the garbage and have done with it" and that "The Constitution has been eviscerated while Democrats have stood by with nary a whimper. It is a gutless, unprincipled party, bought and paid for by the same interests that buy and pay for the Republican Party."[180]
Third-Party Run in 2012 U.S. Presidential Election
On November 29, 2011, the Salt Lake Tribune quotes Anderson as saying, "I'll be announcing my candidacy," for the 2012 presidential nomination of a new national political party. This party was not named, though it was later reported to be called the "Justice Party." Its formation is reported to have been discussed among Anderson; Margaret Flowers, a medical doctor and proponent of a single-payer health plan; Kevin Zeese, an organizer of the Occupy D.C. movement; and former U.S. Rep. John Anderson, who ran for president as an independent in 1980.[181]
Personal life
Anderson, a resident of Salt Lake City, is twice divorced and now single. He has one grown son.
See also
Notes
1. ^List of mayors of Salt Lake City
2. ^High Road for Human Rights
3. ^Deseret News, S.L. Attorney to join 2nd District race
4. ^Ross C. Anderson, “Changes in Federal Discovery Rules: A Legacy of Chaos, Ineffectiveness, and Diversion from Real Solutions,”", VoirDire, Winter 1998, p. 11.
5. ^Business Week "Individual Achievers: Individuals who stand out for their efforts to cut gases that cause global warming"
6. ^Deseret News, "Rocky is selected to advise Newsweek"
7. ^Interstate Q: "HRC names the “Top 10″ straight advocates of LGBT equality"
8. ^[1] United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): "Exceptional Committment: 1998-2009 Climate Protection Award Winners"
9. ^Deseret News, "Sierra Club to give award to Rocky"
10.^Deseret News, "Hispanic Group gives Anderson an Award"
11.^[2] The Salt Lake Tribune, "Rocky gets award for drug policy reform"
12.^[3] Bill Moyers and Barbara Ruth: "Backbone Campaign Recognizes Two Progressive Heroes"
13.^Deseret News, "Rocky receives award from League of Latin American Citizens"
14.^"Grassroots News: Patriot Award: Rocky Anderson"
15.^Environmental News Network, "Salt Lake City Has Won the World Leadership Award in London"
16.^[http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/52371987-90/anderson-arner-done-guard.html.csp The Salt Lake Tribune, "Rolly: Rocky Anderson says adieu to the Democratic Party"
17.^Former SL mayor Rocky Anderson divorces himself from gutless Democratic Party,Deseret News, Aug. 12, 2011
18.^NNDB Profile of Rocky Anderson
19.^NNDB Profile of Rocky Anderson
20.^Rocky Anderson, "A Call for Compassion," Dialogue - A Journal of Mormon Thought (Vol. 42 No. 2 Summer 2009), at v
21.^[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_people_and_The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints Black people and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
22.^Rocky Anderson, "A Call for Compassion," Dialogue - A Journal of Mormon Thought (Vol. 42 No. 2 Summer 2009), at v
23.^Rocky Anderson, "A Call for Compassion," Dialogue - A Journal of Mormon Thought (Vol. 42 No. 2 Summer 2009), at v-vi
25.^The Other Rocky, The Nation
26.^[4] "The New Utah" Time Magazine
27.^Mormonism and Christianity
28.^[http://articles.latimes.com/2002/feb/23/news/mn-29477/2 "Rocky's Road to Progress", LA Times
29.^Ross C. Anderson, " 'But They Didn't Win': Politics and Integrity," Dialogue - A Journal of Mormon Thought (Vol. 31 No. 1 Spring 1998), p. 107.
31.^Rocky Anderson, "A Call for Compassion," Dialogue - A Journal of Mormon Thought (Vol. 42 No. 2 Summer 2009), p. v.-vii
32.^http://movietrailers2.com/8-the-mormon-proposition/873 8: A Mormon Proposition (From LoveFilm)
33.^"Restore Ogden High School" pamphlet
34.^[http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMB7F5_Sigma_Chi_University_of_Utah_Salt_Lake_City_Utah Sigma Chi - University of Utah - Salt Lake City, Utah - Fraternity Houses on Waymarking.com]
35.^"Rocky Anderson Addresses the Humanists of Utah"
36.^"The Other Rocky", The Nation
37.^http://articles.latimes.com/2002/feb/23/news/mn-29477/2 Deseret News, S.L. Attorney To Join 2nd District Race
38.^"Rocky's Road to Progress" LA Times
39.^http://www.gwu.edu/~magazine/archive/2004_law_summer/docs/feat_utah.html Freedman, Jamie. "GW Law's Utah Connection," GW Magazine, Summer 2004]
40.^http://www.wildutah.net/8-9-00/index.htm Andersen v. McCotter, 205 F.3d 1214 (10th Cir. 2000); SLW/Utah, L.C. v. Griffiths, 967 P.2d 534 (Utah Ct. App. 1998); Bauchman for Bauchman v. West High School, 132 F.3d 542 (10th Cir. 1997); Andersen v. McCotter, 100 F.3d 723 (10th Cir. 1996); Bott v. DeLand, 922 P.2d 732 (Utah 1996); Ross v. Schackel, 920 P.2d 1159 (Utah 1996); Salt Lake Child and Family Therapy Clinic, Inc. v. Frederick, 890 P.2d 1017 (Utah 1995); Scott v. Hammock, 870 P.2d 947 (Utah 1994); Bradford v. Moench, 809 F.Supp. 1473 (D. Utah 1992); Webb v. R.O.A. General, Inc., 804 P.2d 547 (Utah Ct. App. 1991); Carter v. Utah Power & Light Co., 800 P.2d 1095 (Utah 1990); Naugle v. Witney, 755 F.Supp. 1504 (D. Utah 1990); Scott v. Hammock, 133 F.R.D. 610 (D. Utah 1990); Webb v. R.O.A. General, Inc., 773 P.2d 845 (Utah Ct. App. 1989); Bradford v. Moench, 670 F. Supp. 920 (D. Utah 1987); State v. Strand, 720 P. 425 (Utah 1986); Goddard v. Hickman, 685 P.2d 530 (Utah 1984); State v. Strand, 674 P.2d 109 (Utah 1983); Frampton v. Wilson, 605 P.2d 771 (Utah 1980); Hughes v. Housley, 599 P.2d 1250 (Utah 1979). ]
41.^Reported cases reflect the diversity of Anderson's legal practice, which included hundreds of cases not reported. See footnote 38 supra.
42.^Bradford v. Moench, 670 F. Supp. 920 (D. Utah 1987); 809 F. Supp. 1473 (D. Utah 1992)
43.^Deseret News, "DISCLOSURES TO CLERGY DEBATED"
44.^University of Utah Students Against Apartheid v. Peterson, 649 F.Supp. 1200 (D. Utah 1986)
45.^[http://www.november.org/stayinfo/breaking2/DemocracyNow.html Democracy Now Radio, "It Happened Here First: Exporting America's Most Notorious Prison Officials to Abu Ghraib"
46.^Bott v. Deland, 922 P.2d 732 (Utah 1996)
47.^http://www.deseretnews.com/article/468912/SL-ATTORNEY-TO-JOIN-2ND-DISTRICT-RACE.html Salt Lake City Tribune, "Strip-search decree is history"
48.^Deseret News, S.L. POLICE ORDERED TO TURN OVER INTERNAL REPORTS
49.^Desert News, ACLU SUES PRISON OVER ALLEGED SEX ABUSE OFFICIALS FAILED TO TAKE PROPER ACTION WHEN GUARD COERCED INMATE, SUIT CLAIMS
51.^Deseret News, BAR LAUDS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE
52.^Deseret News, S.L. ATTORNEY TO JOIN 2ND DISTRICT RACE
53.^Utah State Bar Awards Recipients
54.^FindLaw, Anderson & Karrenberg, A Professional Corporation
55.^ACLU of Utah 50th Anniversary Celebration
56.^Salt Lake Tribune, Rocky Anderson's Speech, July 28, 2006
57.^Salt Lake Tribune, Rocky Anderson's Speech, July 28, 2006
58.^The Nation The Other Rocky
59.^http://mydd.com/users/craverguy/posts/the-mayor-who-should-run-for-president Salt Lake Tribune, Rocky Anderson's Speech, July 28, 2006
60.^"Lobbyists' Gifts To Lawmakers Hint of Bribery," Salt Lake Tribune (Associated Press)
61.^Deseret News, Anderson Proud to Back Demo Causes
62.^"War erasing Nicaragua progress, Utahns say," Deseret News, July 19, 1985
63.^Tom Smart and Lee Benson, In plain sight: the startling truth behind the Elizabeth Smart investigation (Chicago Review Press: Chicago 2005), 190-91
64.^Election Results from the Associated Press
65.^Deseret News COOK, ANDERSON BELIEVE FERVENTLY IN THEMSELVES
66.^Rocky Anderson, " 'But They Didn't Win': Politics and Integrity," Dialogue - A Journal of Mormon Thought (Vol. 31 No. 1, Spring 1998), p. 98-99.
67.^1998 Almanac - Utah - Rep. Merrill Cook
68.^The Nation, "Progressive City Leaders"
69.^Ross C. Anderson, " 'But They Didn't Win': Politics and Integrity," Dialogue - A Journal of Mormon Thought (Vol. 31 No. 1 Spring 1998) at 100
70.^KSL TV News, "Rocky Anderson Wins SLC Mayor's Race"
71.^Urban Planet: "Rocky Rolls"
72.^Deseret News, "Rocky makes the scheduled rounds — and then some"
73.^Tom Smart and Lee Benson, In Plain Sight - The Startling Truth Behind the Elizabeth Smart Investigation (Chicago Review Press: Chicago 2005), pp. 190-91; 282-83; 325-330
74.^ICLEI "Sundance Summit a success"
75.^Deseret News, "Rocky calls for tighter airline rules"
76.^The Globalist, The Greening of Salt Lake City
77.^Text of Rocky Anderson’s State of the City Address, January 17 2007
78.^Deseret Morning News, Jan 14, 2007, "Restoring hope -- Justice programs address offenders' problems"
79.^Deseret News, "Renovating Ottinger Hall"
80.^For instance, Anderson's 2007 State of the City address is found at: [5]
81.^Deseret News "Anderson ends 8 eventful contentious years as Salt Lake's Mayor"
82.^Salt Lake Tribune, "A 'sad' Rocky decides not to run again"
83.^Alternet "Is Rocky Anderson the country's greenest mayor?"
84.^Salt Lake City Green Program, official site. Accessed 28 September 2006
85.^Grist, "An interview with Salt Lake City mayor and green innovator Rocky Anderson"
86.^The Globalist, The Greening of Salt Lake City"
87.^Alternet "Is Rocky Anderson The Country's Greenest Major?"
88.^Alternet "Is Rocky Anderson The Country's Greenest Major?"
89.^Grist, "An interview with Salt Lake City mayor and green innovator Rocky Anderson"
90.^United States Environmental Protection Agency, "EXCEPTIONAL COMMITMENT: 1998-2009 CLIMATE PROTECTION AWARD WINNERS"
91.^Deseret News, "Sierra Club to give award to Rocky"
92.^Environmental News Network, "Salt Lake City Has Won the World Leadership Award in London"
94.^Deseret News, "Rocky runs on natural gas"
95.^The Climate Group, Interview with Rocky Anderson
96.^Grist, "Sundance getaway converts mayors into climate activists"
97.^Salt Lake Tribune, "Rocky at Australia climate panel"
98.^[http://www.matr.net/article-10476.html Montana Associated Technology Roundtables, "The e2 (environmentally and economically sustainable) program in Salt Lake City gains strength and members- Squatters sets an earth-friendly example"
99.^ABC, "Mayor Rocky Anderson's plastic water bottle ban affects fire fighters"
100. ^Deseret News, "Rocky targets public smoking"
101. ^Canku Ota, "Rocky Pins Down His Olympic Message"
102. ^The Future of Freedom Foundation, "The Feds’ Post–9/11 Airport-Worker Purge"
103. ^Deseret News, "Rocky receives award from League of Latin American Citizens"
104. ^Deseret News, "Anderson testifies about limitations of English-only law"
105. ^Democracy Now, "Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson Reacts to Unprecedented Immigrant Rights March"
106. ^Deseret News, "Rocky receives award from League of Latin American Citizens"
107. ^Deseret News, "Hispanic group gives Anderson an award"
108. ^Red Orbit, "Text of Rocky Anderson’s State of the City Address, January 17, 2007"
109. ^Deseret News "Rocky Anderson by the numbers"
110. ^Red Orbit, "Text of Rocky Anderson’s State of the City Address, January 17, 2007"
111. ^Fox News, "Salt Lake City Workers Get Domestic Partner Benefits"
112. ^LA Times, "Rocky's Road to Progress"
113. ^[http://www.deseretnews.com/article/864391/A-hopeful-Alliance-for-Unity.html DeseretNews, "A hopeful alliance for unity"
114. ^Olympics closing ceremony factsheet
115. ^Deseret News, "Rocky tackles S.L. issues with passion and fervor"
116. ^Youtube: "Romney for Governor of Massachusetts TV Ad - "Rocky""
117. ^Youtube "Mitt Romney endorses Rocky Anderson - 2003"
118. ^The Daily Beast, "Why Salt Lake's Mayor Lost Faith in Mitt"
119. ^[http://www.democracynow.org/blog/2011/6/13/former_slc_mayor_rocky_anderson_the_former_mitt_romney_was_reasonable_very_moderate Democracy Now, "Former Salt Lake City Rocky Anderson on GOP Presidential Candidates Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman"
120. ^Mayors against illegal guns - coalition members
121. ^Honestly Addressing the Causes and Consequences of Sexual Assault, La Caille, 6-19-01
122. ^Media Awareness Project "US UT: Anderson Calls DARE A Fraud"
123. ^"Mayor Rocky Anderson Talks About What It's Like to . . . Drop the D.A.R.E. Program," Interview by Alexandra Eyle, The Reconsider Quarterly, Vol. 1 Number 4 Winter 2001-2002, pp. 12-13
124. ^Deseret News "Rocky given credit for inmates release"
125. ^City Mayors, "Interview with Rocky Anderson, 14 January 2007"
126. ^The Nation "The Other Rocky"
127. ^Quality Growth: The Best Means of Achieving Sustained Economic Health and a More Livable Community
128. ^Deseret News"Senate OKs bill to curb Rocky's 'living wage' effort"
129. ^Ogden Studios, "Mayor Rocky Anderson- Portrait Reveal"
130. ^Democracy Now, "Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson Slams His Friend Mitt Romney for "Flip-Flopping" on Abortion, Stem Cell Research, Torture in Attempt to Win GOP Presidential Nomination"
131. ^[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/22/us/22rocky.html?pagewanted=all New York Times, "In Utah, an Opponent of the ‘Culture of Obedience"
132. ^KSL News Radio, "Poll: Residents split over appropriateness of Rocky's anti-war speeches"
133. ^The Nation, "The Other Rocky"
134. ^Deseret News, "Rocky is calling for uprooting of Bush"
135. ^Salt Lake Tribune, "Rocky rips Romney for stem-cell, abortion, war and torture flip-flops"
136. ^Deseret News, "Salt Lake mayor flays Bush, Cheney in D.C. rally"
137. ^Democracy Now "Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson Slams His Friend Mitt Romney for "Flip-Flopping" on Abortion, Stem Cell Research, Torture in Attempt to Win GOP Presidential Nomination"
138. ^"Rocky Anderson Bill O'Reilly"
139. ^"Torture Accountability Action Day"
141. ^"Rocky Anderson Obliterates Sean Hannity at University of Utah Impeachment Debate"
142. ^The Raw Story, "Salt Lake City Mayor calls for Bush impeachment"
143. ^The Raw Story, "Salt Lake City Mayor calls for Bush impeachment"
144. ^Democracy Now "Salt Lake City’s Mayor Rocky Anderson: "This War Was Sold to the American People Largely by Fox and Other Members of the Media and We Were Lied To"
145. ^"Rocky Anderson's compelling case for impeachment"
146. ^People's Blog for the Constitution, "Patriot Award: Rocky Anderson"
147. ^City Weekly, "Rocky Times"
148. ^High Road for Human Rights, "Vision and Mission"
149. ^City Weekly "Feature | Rocky Times: Rocky Anderson is still on the case. Barack Obama had better watch his back"
150. ^High Road For Human Rights Teams
151. ^High Road for Human Rights, Our Team
152. ^High Road for Human Rights, Issues
153. ^Deseret News "Rocky Anderson calls for Bush impeachment at Congressional committee hearing"
154. ^Rocky Anderson - PART ONE - Torture Accountability Action Day - Thursday, June 25th
155. ^High Road for Human Rights - Rule of Law
156. ^Bill of Rights Defense Committee, "Patriot Award: Rocky Anderson"
157. ^City Weekly "Feature | Rocky Times: Rocky Anderson is still on the case. Barack Obama had better watch his back"
158. ^Samantha Power, "Bystanders to Genocide," The Atlantic, September 2001
159. ^City Weekly "Feature | Rocky Times: Rocky Anderson is still on the case. Barack Obama had better watch his back"
160. ^6/26/2011 Rocky Anderson on Rod Decker Show
161. ^6/26/2011 Rocky Anderson on Rod Decker Show
162. ^6/26/2011 Rocky Anderson on Rod Decker Show
163. ^Connect 2 Utah, "Rocky Anderson Slams Obama In 2News Interview"
164. ^Daily Kos "Protest Immunity from Prosecution for Torture: Uphold American Values and the Rule of Law"
165. ^6/26/2011 Rocky Anderson on Rod Decker Show
166. ^"The Thumb", The Salt Lake Tribune, 2005-10-23.
167. ^Vanderpool, Time (February 26, 2004). "Truth or D.A.R.E.?". Tucson Weekly. http://www.tucsonweekly.com/gbase/currents/Content?oid=oid:53955. Retrieved December 12, 2005.
168. ^May, Heather. "Prep Athlete Use Of Drugs Declines; SLC school board credits ATLAS program," The Salt Lake Tribune, March 7, 2002.
169. ^Salt Lake Tribune, "Rocky gets award for drug policy reform"
170. ^Statement by Mayor Rocky Anderson - November 4, 2005, "The Biased and Deceptive Reporting in the Deseret Morning News"
171. ^Deseret Morning News | Rocky's bar tab paid by the city
172. ^Deseret Morning News | Rocky to jettison alcohol policy
173. ^Younge, Gary (October 3, 2005). "If progressives can win in Utah, they can win anywhere". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1583651,00.html. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
174. ^ a b http://slcgov.com/mayor/Patrick/SPdailychronicle32706.pdf
175. ^Salt Lake Tribune - GOP chairman calls for an investigation of Rocky's spending
176. ^Jensen, Derek P (June 13, 2007). "Rocky, downtown developer in City Hall fracas that nearly comes to blows". Salt Lake Tribune. http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_6127662. Retrieved June 19, 2007.
177. ^Jensen, Derek P (June 19, 2007). "Rocky may yet fight Hansen…in court". Salt Lake Tribune. http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_6127662. Retrieved June 19, 2007.
178. ^Smeath, Doug (June 28, 2007). "No charges in Rocky-Hansen spat". Deseret Morning News. http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,680194563,00.html. Retrieved June 28, 2007.
179. ^Rolly, Paul (2011-08-11). "Rolly: Rocky Anderson says adieu to the Democratic Party". The Salt Lake Tribune (Salt Lake City: Kearns-Tribune LLC). http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/52371987-90/anderson-arner-done-guard.html.csp. Retrieved 2011-09-02.
180. ^Romboy, Dennis (2011-08-12). "Former S.L. mayor Rocky Anderson divorces himself from 'gutless' Democratic Party". Deseret News (Salt Lake City: Deseret News Publishing Co.). http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705389115/Former-SL-mayor-Rocky-Anderson-divorces-himself-from-gutless-Democratic-Party.html. Retrieved 2011-09-02.
181. ^Robert, Gehrke (2011-11-29). "Rocky Anderson returns -- this time shooting for nation's top office". Salt Lake Tribune (Salt Lake City: Kearns-Tribune LLC). http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/53014248-90/anderson-party-rocky-ballot.html.csp?page=2. Retrieved 2011-11-29.
References
· City Mayors profile of Rocky Anderson, published January 2007
· (unsigned article), "Progressive City Leaders", The Nation, June 18, 2005, p. 18-19.
· Extensive bio from 2003 reelection campaign website. Retrieved September 26, 2006.
· Official Mayor's office bio retrieved October 2004
· Brady Snyder, Tough Rocky also has a soft side Deseret News, September 24, 2003. Article about the 2003 mayoral race retrieved October 2004
· Erin Stewart and Kersten Swinyard, Are Rocky's methods hurting city business?. Deseret News, September 13, 2005. Retrieved September 2005
· Brady Snyder, Rocky's bar tab paid by the city, Deseret Morning News, September 28, 2005. Retrieved October 7, 2005.
· Deseret Morning Newseditorial board, Rocky and the Taliban, Deseret Morning News, October 6, 2005. Retrieved October 7, 2005.
· Ogden Standard-Examinereditorial board, Rocky vs. the Taliban, Ogden Standard-Examiner, October 6, 2005. Retrieved October 7, 2005.
· Heather May, GOP chairman calls for an investigation of Rocky's spending, Salt Lake Tribune, October 6, 2005. Retrieved October 7, 2005.
· Anti-war protest speech (video as recorded by CBS) by Rocky Anderson given on August 30, 2006. Retrieved September 2, 2006.
· Text of August 30, 2006 Speech (pdf)
· http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/null#29625383
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6153683903005498978&hl=en*********************************
http://local.sltrib.com/upload/2011/11/1322614241RockyPartyMeeting.pdf
Strategic Dialogue on the Formation of a Major New Political Party
Confidential, Do Not Distribute
NOTE FOR THE RECORD
Washington, D.C.
Wednesday, 23 November 2011
Participants (in alphabetical order):
Rocky Anderson; Margaret Flowers; Nancy Marcus Newman (by phone);
Jerry Peloquin, Linda Yahr; Kevin Zeese; Cletus Zeitz; Paul Zeitz
Discussion on Formation of Major New Political Party:
1. Group consensus that a major new political party is needed to address the challenges of our time;
2. The application of social media technologies has the potential to enable a broad-based mobilization; Outreach to purpose.com and other potential partners has already been initiated;
3. The new political party can be a voice for the grassroots and for people who stand for human rights;
4. Collective self confidence and wisdom of the American people can rule much better than our current political leaders; A large majority of the American people consistently support the following agenda:
1. Tax the rich and corporations;
2. End the wars, bring the troops home, cut military spending;
3. Protect the social safety net, strengthen Social Security and improved
Medicare for all;
4. End corporate welfare for oil companies and other big business interests;
5. Transition to a clean energy economy, reverse environmental degradation;
6. Protect worker rights including collective bargaining, create jobs and raise
wages;
7. Get money out of politics;
8. Improved health access and quality for all.
5. Evidence-based solutions through collective action are urgently needed;
6. Polling data uniformly indicate that a majority US citizens are in favor of
the formation of a major new alternative political party;
Discussion on Eliminating Corporate/Concentrated Wealth Money in Political System:
1. Group is aligned in the need to do whatever is necessary to eliminate corporate money and concentrated wealth in politics, including potentially amending the US Constitution;
2. Getting at the root of the problem corporate/concentrated wealth control of the political system can only be done through amending the U.S. Constitution;
3. Electoral reform, including elimination of the electoral college and advancing trustworthy balloting, is also supported by the US public and could also be advanced by the new party;
4. A Constitutional Advisory group can be formed with experts to advise the new party.
Discussion on Educating the American Public and a Community-Driven Political Party:
1. Group agreed that a major purpose of the new political party is to educate the public about the links between corporate money/concentrated wealth and the political system;
2. Group agreed that there is a major opportunity to build the party from the bottom up, with a focus on strengthening local communities to advance social, economic, and environmental justice;
3. Presidential candidate(s) for the new political party have a great opportunity to galvanize and build grassroots momentum;
4. Recognize the alignment of many concerns and principles of the Occupy
Movement and the new party;
5. The new party will be a major leadership force to boldly and urgently address the climate crisis.
Discussion on Attitude and Timing of Action of the Major New Political Party:
1. This has to happen now! We have no choice but to create an alternative to the broken, corrupt two-party system;
2. We are seizing the opportunity to create the new political party in the context of this moment in time:
1. Disenfranchisement of the American public with the political system;
2. Economic and climate crises;
3. Advent of the Occupy Movement;
4. Other factors
3. We are standing for the possibility that the 2012 Election cycle has the potential to be political realignment election cycle. There will be four major options for the American public:
1. Democratic Ticket
2. Republican Ticket
3. Americans Elect will be centrist bipartisan ticket selected through a public polling process in June 2012. There are many concerns about lack of transparency regarding the organization and financing of Americans Elect, including undemocratic rules regarding party affiliation of candidates;
4. The major New Political Party that we are forming will seek governing authority at the local, state, and national levels, starting with the 2012 election cycle.
4. Strong consensus that the formation is a long term endeavor. While we are initiating this effort for the 2012 election cycle, it will continue in 2014 and 2016 election cycles and beyond. The new political party must have a continuous presence, especially as it gains governing authority;
5. Critical for the major new political party to carefully select its candidates and its spokespersons;
6. Need to create a set of principles and to make sure that all participants and prospective candidates are aligned with the set of principles.
Action Priority: Ballot Access Initiative:
1. We need to get 700,000 signatures to get on the ballot in all fifty states;
2. Work in 3 early states must be initiated immediately as deadlines are pending in January and February 2012: Vermont, Mississippi, Hawaii;
3. New party will have to identify a leading expert to lead this effort around the country;
4. Ongoing dialogue with Richard Winger of the Ballot Access News:
http://www.ballot-access.org and others with ballot access experience including Christina Tobin of Free and Equal.
Action Priority: Outreach to Affinity Groups:
Outreach will be needed to intensify to a large number of key stakeholders:
1. Prominent Persons/Opinion Leaders;
2. Youth groups;
3. Women’s rights groups;
4. Latinos, African Americans and other minority groups;
5. Faith groups;
6. Unions/Worker Groups;
7. State by State, District of Columbia, and U.S. Territories representation;
8. Veterans;
9. Inclusive of a broad range of political affiliations, including Republicans,
Democrats, Independents, Greens, Libertarians, etc;
10. Others
Action Priority: Presidential Exploratory Committee:
1. Rocky Anderson was strongly encouraged to form a Presidential Exploratory Committee as soon as possible;
2. Other candidates will be encouraged to compete to be the Presidential nominee for the major new political party;
3. Donations are proposed to be $100 per person per election cycle for each candidate running for office to ensure that corporate money and concentrated wealth is not driving the policymaking of candidates that run for office under the major new political party;
Action Priority: Create a Steering Committee for the Major New Political Party
1. The Steering Committee will have the initial responsibility for organizing the new party;
Action Priority: Founding Convention, February 16-20, 2011 in Salt Lake City, Utah
1. Group agreed that the Founding Convention should be held in Salt Lake City on February 16-20, 2012;
2. Group acknowledged the logistics and support team in Salt Lake City that has been active for the past month preparing for this event;
3. Need to implement a Call for Delegates and a Call for Candidates; anticipate approximately 1500 people will attend;
4. Proposed Schedule:
· Thursday, February 16:
Arrival of Steering Committee, Platform Issues Committees, and others;
· Friday, February 17:
Committee Meetings; Platform Issues Committee Presentations, prepare;
Welcoming Reception for Delegates;
· Saturday, February 18:
Convention; Dinner with Keynote Address
· Sunday, February 19:
Convention
· Monday, February 20:
Convention ends: Departure of Delegates
5. Expected Outcomes of the Founding Convention, February 2012
a. Agree on rules, officers, structure, and governance of the new party;
1. Agree and approve Bylaws;
2. Agree and approve Fundraising policy;
3. Agree on Outreach Plan, including formation of State Committees and
ballot initiatives;
4. Agree on Presidential and Vice-Presidential level candidates;
5. Consider convening a National Assembly/Platform Convention, July 2012
6. Form “Platform Issue Committees” and process to develop 2012 Platform
to be adopted in July 2012;
It was proposed that we adopt the following 15 Platform Issue areas:
1. Corporatism - http://october2011.org/pages/corporatism firmly establish that money is not speech, corporations are not people, only people have Constitutional rights, end corporate influence over the political process, protect people and the environment from damage by corporations.
2. Wars and Militarism - http://october2011.org/pages/wars-and-militarism end
wars and occupations, end private for-profit military contractors, reduce the national security state and end the weapons export industry. War crimes, crimes against humanity and crimes against peace must be addressed and those responsible held accountable under international law.
3. Human Rights - http://october2011.org/pages/human-rights end exploitation of people in the US and abroad, end discrimination in all forms, equal civil rights and due process for all people.
4. Worker Rights and jobs - http://october2011.org/pages/workers-rights-and-jobs all working-age people have the right to safe, just, non-discriminatory and dignified working conditions, a sustainable living wage, paid leave and economic protection.
5. Government – all processes of the three branches of government should be accountable under domestic and international law, should be transparent, and promote the rights of people to participate in decisions which affect them.
6. Elections – all citizens 18 and older have the right to vote without barriers, all candidates have the right to be heard and to run and all votes should be counted.
7. Criminal justice and prisons – end private for-profit prisons, adopt evidence-based drug policy, prisoners have the right to humane and just conditions with a focus on rehabilitation and reintegration into society, abolish the death penalty.
8. Healthcare – create a national, universal and publicly financed comprehensive health system.
9. Education – all people have the right to a high quality, publicly-funded and broad education from pre-school through vocational training or university.
10. Housing - http://october2011.org/pages/housing all people have the right to affordable and safe housing.
11. Environment - http://october2011.org/blogs/kevin-zeese/proposed-statement-environmental-committee-october2011org - adopt policies which effectively create a carbon-free and radio-active free energy economy and that respects the rights of nature.
12. Finance and the economy – end policies which foster a wealth divide and move to a localized and democratic financial system, reform taxes so that they are progressive and provide goods, monetary gain and services for the people.
13. Media – airwaves and the internet are public goods, require that media be honest, accurate and accountable to the people.
14. Food and water – create systems that protect the land and water, create local and sustainable food networks and practices.
15. Transportation – provide affordable, clean and convenient public transportation and safe spaces for pedestrian and non-automobile travel.
* Need to develop agenda for the Founding Convention.
Action Priority: Name and Moniker for the Major New Political Party:
1. Justice Party was discussed and affirmed by the group as a good direction;
2. Not clear what a member of the Justice Party would be called;
3. Agreed to reach out to messaging experts;
4. Need to develop logo and tagline.
NEXT STEPS:
This group will convene by skype and/or conference call on Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at 9:30 AM Eastern time; 7:30 AM Salt Lake City time.