Thursday, July 09, 2009
TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS
Ok, so the independent movement went left (by going right) -- a story that the MSM seems to have completely missed, and now the media is fixated on percentages of independents who now disapprove of Obama. Not so fast says Chris Cillizza in The Fix -- it's where independents will go in the midterms that the Dems have to watch out for!
- REVIEW of Committee for a Unified Independent Party President Jacqueline Salit's How the Independent Movement Went Left by Going Right by Darrel Manson in Hollywood Jesus - "Pop Culture from a Spiritual Point of View") NOTE: Darrel is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and a member of the Green Party, living in southern California.
- Independents edge away from Obama (By: Ben Smith, Politico) “This is a huge sea change that is playing itself out in American politics,” said Democratic pollster Doug Schoen. “Independents who had become effectively operational Democrats in 2006 and 2008 are now up for grabs and are trending Republican...."
- Independents backing away from Obama (By DOUG THOMPSON, Capitol Hill Blue)
- Not so fast, says Chris Cillizza -- Obama is still very strong among independents: The Most Important Number in Politics Today (Chris Cillizza, Washington Post/The Fix) It's the midterms you have to watch out for....
- Sarah Palin, crazy or brilliant (Joshua Lobdell, Detroit Conservative Examiner) Independent voters by a 55%-34% simply want Palin to leave the national stage...
Arnold goes up against California Teachers Association -- again!
- Schwarzenegger holds his ground on budget (Carla Marinucci, Matthew Yi, San Francisco Chronicle) Schwarzenegger's recent resolve may be a product of his short political timetable: He cannot run again because of term limits, but he is keenly concerned about his legacy - and eager to put reform measures like an open primary and a rainy day fund before voters.
NEW YORK CITY POLITICS
Democratic Party losing ground in the face of growing independent movement in NYC:
- Queens City Council member Tony Avella wants a bigger fight against Bloomberg than what Bill Thompson is putting up.... Little-known Democrat still in NYC mayor's race (SARA KUGLER, Newsday)
- Wayne Barrett: The Empty-Suit Board of Ed (By Wayne Barrett, Village Voice/Runnin Scared) To see how far we've come, the last Board of Ed president was Bill Thompson, who rode that job into his current position as comptroller. Robert Wagner and David Dinkins were Stringer predecessors whose records as Manhattan borough president carried them into Gracie Mansion, and former Bronx Borough president Fernando Ferrer was the last Democratic nominee for mayor. Now, not all the clowns are in Albany.
LAST WORD
What are all those Obama-istas up to now? The database still belongs to the DNC. But are they having conversations with their neighbors???
- An Army Untapped (By Harold Meyerson, Washington Post) This year, however, the administration has asked far less of that list and received, not surprisingly, far less in return. Organizing for America (formerly Obama for America), which maintains that list within the confines of the Democratic National Committee, has asked those 13 million Obamaites to "create a conversation within their communities," in the words of one DNC official.
Labels: Arnold Schwarenegger, Barack Obama, independent voters, Jacqueline Salit, Mayor Bloomberg, open primaries, polls
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS
Voters will have to see through the mud that will be slung by the parties against open primaries in California
- Less than a year from now: Freedom from ideological gridlock? (By Thomas Elias, San Diego Source/Daily Transcript)
LOCAL INDEPENDENT POLITICS
Governor races start up -- and here are some interesting independent campaigns to watch:
- VA: Poll: McDonnell at 49% and Deeds at 43% (By Jim Nolan, Richmond Times Dispatch) According to Public Policy, McDonnell has picked up more support among independent voters and holds a 54-33 advantage over Deeds in that category.... Deeds has a 4-1 edge over McDonnell among blacks, who came out in unprecedented numbers last fall and helped Barack Obama carry the state.
- MA: Campaign 2010: Cahill to split party, switch to unenrolled (By Jim O’Sullivan/State House News Service, Bedford MA Minuteman)
- NE: Sen. White moves toward race with Terry (By Robynn Tysver, OMAHA WORLD-HERALD)
- FL: Lining up to be next governor of Florida (Historic City News) Peter Allen: The Riverview resident, 60, founded the Independence Party of Florida in 2001. The electrical contractor wants third parties to demand an open primary.
MJ
- "Would There Be A President Obama Without Michael Jackson?" (by Jim Buck, Jim Buck Blog)
- "I want his children to know there was nothing strange about your daddy, it was strange what your daddy had to deal with." - Rev. Al Sharpton yesterday at the Michael Jackson Memorial, Staples Center, L.A. (Politico)
NEW YORK POLITICS
2 independent State Senators speak out for reform: Sen. Pedro Espada has been joined by Sen. Frank Padavan in calling for fair rules for everyone in the NY State Senate... - 30 DAYS – NO RESULTS-Senate mess enters second month (BY PETE DAVIS, Queens Courier)
- GOP has a plan; Espada said he knows Dems who are ready for vote for it (By DAVID LOMBARDO, Legislative Gazette)
- Golisano Defends Coup (Politics on the Hudson)
- Ending state Senate mess would be easy - Albany lawmakers just need to come together, right now (Bill Hammond, Daily News)
- Gov. urged to appoint No. 2, break Senate impasse-A Queens assemblyman, reform groups call on governor to appoint a lieutenant governor who could break tie in Senate, but some question the legality of such a move. (By Erik Engquist , Crains New York)
ELSEWHERE
No one expects much opposition to Judge Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the Supreme Court, endorsements are rolling in, but the jury is still out...
- Sotomayor's Critics and Fans (Posted by Prerana Swami , CBS News/Political Hotsheet)
- Bloomberg Steps Up (Again) For Sotomayor (Elizabeth Benjamin, Daily News/Daily Politics)
Labels: Florida Independence Party, Frank Padavan, independent voters, Massachusetts, Mayor Bloomberg, Michael Jackson, Nebraska, open primaries, Pedro Espada, Sotomayor, Virginia
Sunday, July 05, 2009
Fireworks over the Hudson
from Chelsea Piers
NYC Independence Party July 4th Celebration
Come field petitioning with us in Queens!
Happy Independent Independence Day!
Labels: Fourth of July, Mayor Bloomberg, NYC Independence Party, petitioning
Friday, July 03, 2009
Friday Nite Hankster Chat: Fourth of July Independent Style!
Just got home from a petitioning shift with Bronx IP activist Michelle Pepe (recent graduate of Iona College in New Rochelle, NY) in Queens County Council District 31. VERY successful shift - we brought home 9 in 4 hours!
Labels: Eric Ulrich, grassroots organizing, independent politics, Iona College, NYC Independence Party, NYC Republican Party, petitioning, Queens politics
TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS
- Out in Arizona, Examiner.com says independent voters have become a force in Arizona, Repubs are losing ground. "Currently there are 880,128 Independent/unaffiliated voters in Arizona, a 6.8 percent gain from last November to total 28.4 percent of the state’s electorate."
- California struggles with their budget crisis, and Time Magazine ran a piece that included the open primaries solution: To relieve the logjam in California politics, momentum is growing for an open primary system, in which the two top vote getters in the primary, regardless of party, would face each other in the general election. Proponents believe it would loosen the grip of partisan ideologies and make it easier of moderates to win elections. In addition, a redistricting reform won narrow approval last November and proponents of good government keep trying to lengthen the state's term limits on legislators.
- The New York Times headline for their article on Mayor Bloomberg's candidate screening yesterday with the Working Families Party At Working Families Party Forum, Bloomberg Declines to Toe the Liberal Line, highlights the Mayor's independence...
- Here's the latest in a wide-ranging public dialogue about whether the US is becoming socialist under the Democrats...., Walt Lucas a blogger since 2004 at Rough Stock is " A happily married guy from Esparto. Two kids, three dogs, twenty seven cows, thirty two horses and two cats. Blogging on Politics, Yolo County, Family Life and my constant search to become what God wants me to be", indeed believes the Dems are carrying us down a road to "watered down socialism". He offers this commentary in the Daily Democrat out of Woodland CA...
Labels: independent voters, Mayor Bloomberg, open primaries, socialism
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Happy Independence Day!

Hey hey Hanksteristas! I'll be out slogging around in the neighborhood tomorrow petitioning to put Mike Bloomberg on the ballot (as an independent, of course!) on the NYC Independence Party line.
Labels: Alaska Independence Party, Fourth of July, Hankster Friday Nite Chat
personal democracy forum 09
TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS
- Gallup finds independents ideologically diverse
- Open primaries: what California needs
- Romney would win 2012 Repub primary -- IF they shut down open primaries and keep out independents....
- New York fusion voting gives weight to third parties
- Where does Pedro Espada get all that chutzpa??
- Stop the presses! Political consultant gives up on "change"!
- Albany partisan struggles inside the parties
- How Mayor Bloomberg improved NYC schools
- Personal Democracy Forum -- personal and bi-partisan
Labels: California open primary, fusion voting, Gallup polls, independent voters, Mayor Bloomberg, Mitt Romney, New York State Senate, Pedro Espada, Personal Democracy Forum
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
pennsylvania indies all out for open primaries!
TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS
- California parties scurry in face of demand for open primaries...
- New York mayoral control faces deadline in Albany
Labels: Abel Maldonado, independent voters, Mayor Bloomberg, mayoral control, New York City schools, open primaries
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Talk Talk: LONG SHOTS
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Labels: Fred Newman, Iran protest, Jacqueline Salit, Talk Talk, Tiger Woods
TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS
- Independent gov in Michigan's future?
- Sotomayor has 64% independent support for Supreme Court confirmation
- Political Common Sense for America: The Creation of the Franklin Party By Brian Boeheim (NEW BOOK EXPLORES THE NON-‘SENSE’ IN PARTISANSHIP–Republicans vs. Democrats, Left Wing vs. Right Wing, Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off!) from HotIndieNews.com
- Check out Mayor Bloomberg at the Personal Democracy Forum 2009 yesterday -- Mike talks about politics then and now... via Skype from Jazz at Lincoln Center
Labels: independent governor, independent voters, Mayor Bloomberg, Sonia Sotomayor
Monday, June 29, 2009
Personal Democracy Forum (PDF) 2009
Labels: #pdf09, Andrew Rasiej, Democracy, government, Mayor Bloomberg, Personal Democracy Forum, technology
Sunday, June 28, 2009
TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS
Salit: Well, that’s a problem.
Newman: I would say so.
Salit: Yes. And, you’re saying, what if it’s the case that the very thing that we need to make this thing work can’t be done, or can’t be done now, that it can’t be done at this stage of human development.
Newman: Alright. Let’s agree that that’s what I’m saying. What about that?
Labels: Fred Newman, FreeObama.org, Grand Illusion, independent voters, Jacqueline Salit, open primaries, Ralph Nader, Ron Paul, Talk Talk, Theresa Amato
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Friday Nite Hankster Chat: Man in the Mirror

I'm somewhat surprised at the heft of emotion that I feel at Michael Jackson's death yesterday.
Labels: conservatism, Larry King, Man in the Middle, Michael Jackson, Morning Joe, The Hankster, weirdness
Friday, June 26, 2009
so long michael jackson
TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS
- Russia Today: Americans want to throw off the partisan straightjacket
- Independents of faith must remain independent in the midst of politician sex scandals
- California reform
- New York City mayoral control of schools -- Bloomberg warns of chaos without it, Black Star News warns of educational apartheid, and Randi Weingarten quits UFT to go national
Labels: independent voters, Mayor Bloomberg, mayoral control, open primaries
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
ny ny
TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS
- WSJ: independent voters are the canaries in the mine of American politics...
- Log Cabin Repubs endorse Mayor Bloomberg...
- Gov Paterson orders NY Senate to meet
- Independent Pennsylvanian says: Sign the petition for Open Primaries!! (Letter to Pocono Record)
- Mayor Villaraigosa supports open primaries!
- NYC schools doing better -- Bloomberg's case for mayoral control
Labels: Governor Paterson, independent voters, Log Cabin Republicans, Mayor Bloomberg, Pedro Espada
Monday, June 22, 2009
rain rain....
TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS
- A Nation of Independent Voters (Canada Free Press- By Daniel Greenfield)
- Sotomayor under attack for strength (Caller Times.com - Corpus Christi)
- Ron Paul, Pat Choate Praise “Grand Illusion: The Myth of Voter Choice in a Two-Party Tyranny” (Ballot Access News)
- Opinion: Leadership and courage are what's missing in Sacramento (By Abel Maldonado, Special to the Mercury News)
- A big opportunity for small biz (Crains New York) It's appropriate to thank Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Ms. Quinn for what they've accomplished—and to ensure they understand it's just a start.
- The Banana Republic of NY Public Schools (Huffington Post) Here's what the teachers are saying
- Mayor Bloomberg's school control bill gets first Democrat support in Brooklyn Sen. Daniel Squadron (BY KENNETH LOVETT, DAILY NEWS)
Labels: independent voters, Mayor Bloomberg, mayoral control, open primaries, Sonia Sotomayor
Sunday, June 21, 2009
TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS
- * Young voters: Obama's "change" message still resonates (Boston Globe)
- * Zogby/Scoop44 Poll: 70% of Young Americans Say Obama’s Promises of Change Match Actions (By Alexander Heffner, Scoop 44 blog)
- * St. Helena native Lee Pierce running for Assembly (By Doug Ernst, St. Helena Star - CA) Pierce said he’s also in favor of redistricting and open primaries, “to even the playing field.”
- * Pros, cons of Utah going with open-primary system (By Frank Pignanelli & LaVarr Webb, Deseret News)
- * Top-Two Proponent Has Factually Inaccurate Op-ed in Long Beach Press-Telegram (Ballot Access News)
- * Thomas Elias: Get ready to vote on open primaries for California (Press Telegram - Long Beach CA) ref. above
- * Time to include all the voters in primaries (LETTER: Pocono Record)
- * New York's Cleansing Coup (By JOHN FUND, Wall Street Journal)
- * Monserrate On His Young And 'Uninformed,' Pre-Democrat Days (Daily News/Daily Politics)
- * Albany Weather Report: Getting Heated (By Tom Robbins, Village Voice/Runnin Scared)
- * Working for free: On the campaign trail for billionaire Mayor Bloomberg (BY CELESTE KATZ, DAILY NEWS CITY HALL BUREAU)
- * Gotbaum Hits Cuts to Her Office As "Payback from Speaker Quinn" (By Roy Edroso, Village Voice/Runnin Scared)
- * Tim Gunn Voting for Bloomberg -- Why Shouldn't You? (by Jane C. Timm, Village Voice)
- * Tom Golisano Reportedly Considering Senate Bid (Austin Cassidy, The Jacksonville Observer) Note: Austin Cassidy is the Libertarian founder of Independent Political Report blog
- * Mayoral control of schools in New York (From The Economist print edition)
- * The Capitalist Manifesto: Greed Is Good (To a point) - (Fareed Zakaria, NEWSWEEK)
- * The Problem with Fareed Zakaria (The Atlantic online, by Derek Thompson)
- * Zakaria’s Capitalist Apologia (By Matthew Rothschild, Progressive.org)
- * The Return of Capitalism (By Fareed Zakaria, Washington Post)
- * TDCotE (xi): Littlle Zakaria Dresses Like Grownup (by Dollars and Sense, D&S collective member Larry Peterson)
Labels: Capitalist Manifesto, independent voters, Mayor Bloomberg, open primaries, Pedro Espada, political reform













