Islamic/Muslim politcs in the USA?

I was trying to look up some research on any Islamic or Muslim political parties trying to have a voice in US politics, and became intrigued by an islamic advocacy group called the American Muslim Alliance.

It is not a political party. A glance over their Web site leads to a mission statement that states, among other things:

1. To get qualified Muslim Americans elected as delegates to the Democratic and Republican state and national conventions.
2. To get a qualified American Muslims elected to the US Congress.
3. To develop long-term Muslim political strategies.

I was especially intrigued by:

• The AMA is in the business of producing American Muslim leaders for the American mainstream and our ultimate goal is to earn the right to co-author America’s vision of itself and its destiny.

Now, I know I'm a paranoid cuss. I make no excuses for it. That's how I am. But I think over other places where Islam has been given authority, and I shudder. In Iran, women have been stoned to death for being the victim of a rape. In Afghanistan, men were beheaded for having beards too short. Riots, and worse, break out because of disagreement over which sect of Islam will have the rule that holds authority. Will that society operate under Sharia law, or Shia? Sunni?

To be honest, I see no such indications that the Alliance intends to impose Muslim Law on the USA at all. But, paranoiac that I am, I can't help but wonder what, exactly, they intend to co-author.

A Party for Pot?

Another political "party" I'm not sure qualifies. But that's for you, the reader, to decide for yourself.

The Pot Party

At its basic level, the party is what it's name implies. In their words: A movement to pretty much decriminalize marijuana …

There are certainly more organized and active groups advocating this idea. But this was the only one I located trying to portray itself as an alternative political party. The site includes many references to an online "virtual government" called US Parliament. They almost seem to have more activity in that online government than in "Real Life" politics. Although a look at US Parliament's site seems to suggest they advocate a change in the election system to mirror what they practice online.

Read the links, and decide for yourself.

EDIT: Found another party. I'll cover it another time. I want to look at the Right next.

Worker's Party USA, A Party, or Just a Group?

I hesitated to post anything about this political party, primarily because I don't see a party platform, nor any candidates for office. The Workers' Party - USA , based out of Chicago seems more to be a vehicle for one man's expression of Marxist-Leninist views. That man, Michael Thorburn, died in June of 2007.

While the site is certainly advocating action against a set of policies with which it disagrees, and actually does so quite eloquently (if a bit within a stereotypical communist formula), perhaps this site gives rise to the question of what a political party is. Need one have candidates, and/or a party platform?

Decide for yourself. Here's the link to this party's site: http://www.workersparty.org/

Libertarian Party Nominates Barr

A quick apology. Life interfered, and this blog wound up ignored for some time. I hope to be back for good now.

Having said that, I'd like to start with the announcement that the Libertarian Party has nominated former Congressman Bob Barr as their candidate for President of the USA. From the LP's Web site:

"We're proud to present to the American voters Bob Barr as our
presidential nominee," says Libertarian Party spokesperson Andrew Davis.
"While Republicans and Democrats will fight for their own power in November,
Libertarians will fight for Americans.

I must admit I was surprised. Bob Barr has always struck me as a fairly right-wing Republican during his time in Congress. I believe he was even one of the leaders of the impeachment movement during Bill Clinton's administration, since he was Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee at that time. In fact, it took 6 rounds of voting before Bob Barr won the nomination, after which Wayne Allyn Root was chosen for the Libertarian candidate for Vice-President.