Abolition Party Convention Nominates Walker and Jones.
Excitement hit the quiet town of Solvang, California, this St. Patrick's Day. Some town residents say it was the most exciting visit since the Prince of Denmark visited more than 70 years ago.
The Abolition Party held their nominating convention at the Solvang Festival Theater. The growing excitement for this April's contest for the Presidency and Vice Presidency at Our Campaigns has been spreading like wildfire!
From the convention ceiling were hung portraits of James Birney, Martin Van Buren, John Parker Hale, Gerrit Smith, John C Fremont, Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Walker, past Abolitionist Presidential nominees. This mix of Republicans, Democrats, Independents and Third Party candidates showed the wide appeal this party hopes will equate to a victory in this contest.
As no surprise to anyone, Thomas Walker was nominated on the first ballot. This was no surprise, as Walker was the only candidate running, following the withdrawal from the race of Frank Lautenberg and Bag of Dirt.
The real excitement came with the Vice Presidential balloting. The convention was shocked in having such a high quality candidate and person step forward as Dave Jones. Walker was heard to say, "I would have been toast had he challenged me." Jones received a 50 minute standing ovation.
The coast to coast team with the most promises to be an exciting entry into the campaign at Our Campaigns, and may be just the team to break the two party stranglehold our nation is in.
After the convention, Walker and Jones visited with people attending mass at Mission Santa Ines in Solvang. This was followed up with a grand tour at Vandenberg Air Force Base; another photo-op at the Avenue of Flags in Buellton.
The day of excitement was ended with a campaign kickoff get together and dinner at Pea Soup Anderson's of Buellton.
"Watch out for our team", Walker said, "for we are going to shake things up. When we win, all of us win!"
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Charity Basketball Game featuring OC candidates a success.
(Baltimore) The stands were rocking last night for what turned out to be an excellent display of skill and determination, as stars from OurCampaigns put on a great basketball game for the local fans.
The event was organized by Dave Jones, Vice Presidential nominee of the Abolition Party, with funds to go to the families of those who died in the March 6, 2004, water taxi accident in Baltimore Harbor.
Things started with a welcoming speech by former Maryland Governor William Donald Schaeffer. He asked if the Walker-Jones team were running as Democrats. When informed they were not, he put away his insult laden speech, and pulled out a complimentary one.
Next, Thomas Walker came out to the newly designated official song for his campaign, the theme from 2001 A Space Odyssey (anyone who has seen Ric Flair wrestle will know the tune). Other songs under consideration were : Lift Every Voice and Sing (James Weldon Johnson), Fight The Powers That Be (Public Enemy), Hands Across America (a forgotten song for forgotten Americans), and Ringo Starr's "Wrack My Brain", Walkers personal favorite. Many feel a song was selected in response to Likud Party candidate John Haring having picked an official song earlier in the week.
Representing "The Independents" were: Thomas Walker, Dave Jones, Darryl Dawkins, Slammin' Sam Lacey (Walker's childhood favorite) and Sean Elliott (who was there to support fellow transplant recipient Walker).
Representing "The Establishment" were: Scott Mattson, Bob Heaney, Matthew Easton, former Democratic Congressman from Maryland, Tom McMillan, and former NBA star and Republican, Earl "The Pearl" Monroe.
Someone suggested the possibility of a Donkey Ball game, but felt it would give an unfair advantage to Heaney, Easton and McMillan.
The game was constant back and forth pandemonium. With just 20 seconds left, Walker tied the game with a basket (after 18 missed shots earlier in the game). The establishment responded with a flurry of passes between Mattson, Heaney, Easton, McMillan and Monroe. At first it was hard to tell who made the shot, for they moved so fluidly. Two points down with 5 seconds to go, Jones launched the ball to Dawkins, who slammed the ball for a basket right at the buzzer. Any sort of overtime was out of the question, as Dawkins shattered the backboard, resulting in a 100-100 tie.
The final totals for The Independents were: Dawkins 41 points, Jones 27 points, Lacey 18 points, Elliott 12 points, Walker 2 points.
The final totals for The Establishment was a surprisingly even showing, as Mattson, Heaney, Easton, McMillan and Monroe each had 20 points.
Dave Jones was named player of the game for The Independents, while the honor was split five ways by The Establishment team.
All in all, it was viewed as a successful opening of the Abolition ticket campaign in Maryland.
