New York: More on Mayor Bloomberg, Independent candidate for President
Michael Goodwin writes in his Daily News column [Mike in '08? Dream on, May 31, 2006] that Mayor Bloomberg can't run for Prez as a Dem because he left the party, and he's too liberal for the national Repubs. "That leaves only a third-party opening, the longest of long shots. He'd have to organize, or buy, a field operation to get on the ballot in all 50 states.
Pennsylvania: Russ Diamond rally June 1st
The Committee for an Independent Voice has endorsed Ron Dellums in the Oakland mayoral race. In an email, CIV says the endorsement is based on Dellums' history and activities in support of political reform:
Independent voters are expected to determine the outcome of the June 6th election. This is an important opportunity for independents to leverage our growing numbers and elect a candidate who is committed to an open, inclusive, non-partisan political process. If we are successful, it will send a message to other politicians that if they want our votes, they will have to support these issues.
We urge you to vote for Ron Dellums on June 6.
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
Forward this email to everyone you know who is concerned about ending partisanship and political corruption;
Speak to friends, co-workers, family, neighbors and others who live in Oakland and share this information.
Committee for an Independent Voice
Whither the New York Independence Party?
New York: Is it the Post? Only their hairdresser knows for sure....
California: Westly appeals to independent voters, will they vote?
The Hankster received this email from Ed Packard, the Dem candidate running against his boss Nancy Worley (Ed is the director of the elections division in the secretary of state’s office) for Alabama Secretary of State. [see Stephen Gordon's comments from the Hammer of Truth on The Hankster from May 19] Ed has just posted a statement, in response to Gordon and other indies in Alabama who support him, that advocates for a much lower signature requirement for independents and third parties to get on the ballot. Bob Friedman, long time political activist and Chair of the Alabama Independent Movement, calls Ed “a true independent because, unlike his opponent, he’s more concerned about fair elections and an even playing field than about ideology.”
Now available in paperback for $19.95! Published on demand by iUniverse... It's revolutionary!
Changing horses in midstream: Why it's harder
By Ronald Brownstein and Janet Hook Los Angeles TimesMay 21, 2006 ...But today's wave of dissatisfaction is crashing into a political structure that is much more stable than in 1994. It now is tougher to beat House incumbents or to win Senate seats in states that usually back the other party in presidential elections.... more
Issues are the election lure to re-engage voters
Governor hopefuls need to focus on five factors to spark voters' interest
May 21, 2006 Salem Statesman Journal-- The Ron and Ted shows bored Oregon voters during the primary election season. Although Republican Ron Saxton and Democratic Gov. Ted Kulongoski handily won their respective party primaries, more than 60 percent of Oregon's registered voters didn't bother to vote.... Maybe having a credible independent in the gubernatorial race, state Sen. Ben Westlund, will spice up the campaigns and draw voters' attention this summer and fall. There certainly is no shortage of issues to discuss.... Let's hear the governor candidates admit that. Then let's hear them specify what actions, if any, state agencies should take in dealing with undocumented immigrants, their families and businesses that employ them.
And one last request as Westlund, Saxton and Kulongoski -- and their supporters -- campaign during the next five months: Focus on these issues. Not each other.... more
Shockwave shatters Pa. politics
By Brad Bumsted, Debra Erdley and Mike Wereschagin TRIBUNE-REVIEW Sunday, May 21, 2006 ...It's not unusual for the talk-show circuit to bash legislative pay raises, but this time it was different. Russ Diamond realized that July 14.
Diamond walked into the Downtown Lounge, a sports bar in the mid-state town of Lebanon, for dinner. Instead, he got an earful from his nephew, a 20-something who usually couldn't care less about politics. On this particular night, he couldn't stop railing against Senate Majority Leader David "Chip" Brightbill, R-Lebanon, one of the pay-raise architects.
"He laid into me," said Diamond, a business owner who had flitted in and out of politics with a failed congressional bid in 2004 and an aborted local school board race that year.
His nephew's belligerence gave Diamond more to chew on than his pub food: If his usually-uninterested relative was so angry, Diamond reasoned, perhaps he wasn't alone.
The next day, Diamond bought the domain name >a href="www.pacleansweep.com/'>http://www.pacleansweep.com">www.pacleansweep.com for $182.47, threw together a Web page featuring a clip-art sheep, and wrote a screed about the need to send packing each of the 228 state legislators up for re-election in 2006. .... more
Democrats should make own primaries
Richard Langley May 21, 2006 Orlando Sentinel ...The open primary concept is a perversion of the political process. If the Democrats and others want to vote in a primary, let them field candidates and support them. A cross-over primary defeats the purpose of a multi-party system.
A multi-party system is healthy for the political process. It provides opportunity for contrasting policies and beliefs. My opinion is that we should do whatever is necessary and legal to prevent the opposing party from participating in Republican primaries.... more
Strayhorn touts poll Houston Chronicle blog May 19, 2006 ...The respondents in the Survey USA were 35 percent Republican and 41 percent Democrat., and the Democrats overwhelmingly disapproved of Perry. The April survey had a poll sample far closer to the Texas electorate: 38 percent GOP, 31 percent Democrat and 30 percent independent.
The bad news for Perry in the Survey USA polls is that he is not doing well among self-identified independents, who tend to be the swing voters in Texas. In the May survey, 58 percent of the independents disapproved of Perry. In April, 53 percent disapproved.... more
Todd J. Gillman:Texans on ethics committee keeping busy Friday, May 19, 2006 ...The new White House press secretary, Tony Snow, has taken command of the briefing room, leaving predecessor Scott McClellan free to lounge, catch up on sleep – and schmooze with Jay Leno.
"I was hanging out at the pool earlier today, getting a workout ... it's really nice to have a life again," he told the Tonight Show host.
It was an especially appropriate venue to reveal the real reason he quit: "I was showing up too much in your monologues," he told Jay.
Still no word on whether he'll help the independent bid for Texas governor by his mom, state Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn. ... more
OR Primary: Post-mortem By: GOB · Section: Diaries RedState blogMay 19, 2006 ...State Senator Ben Westlund (I-Bend) will take care of the problem for him, drawing suburban moderates and disaffected liberals with his strong pro-health-care and pro-gay-rights stances, combined with a proven record of fiscal conservatism. Conventional wisdom is that Westlund, despite having left the Republican Party mere months ago, will draw about 2-1 from the left over the right. It's bad enough to make the normally genial governor, in addition to criticizing Saxton right off the bat, add in a jab at Westlund's "change of stripes." ... more
Kulongoski wins teachers union endorsement 05/20/2006 By BRAD CAIN / Associated Press KGW -- After being snubbed by public employee unions in the Democratic primary, Gov. Ted Kulongoski received a major boost Friday night when the influential Oregon Education Association endorsed his re-election bid. ... more
Sure he got his way, Meeks will not run
School deal keeps him out of governor race Chicago TribuneBy Rick Pearson and Ray Long, Tribune staff reporters. Tribune staff reporters Diane Rado, John Chase and Maura Possley contributed to this report Published May 20, 2006 -- State Sen. James Meeks folded his potential challenge to Gov. Rod Blagojevich's re-election on Friday after the governor agreed to push a multiyear plan for reforming state schools.... more
DEMOCRATIC PARTY Al Gore well prepared for 2008
By WAYNE MADSENwww.onlinejournal.comMiami HeraldMay 19, 2006
The man served two terms as vice president under a popular president. He then lost the presidency in a razor-thin election. After eight years, he repackaged himself and won the race for the White House and was reelected in a major landslide.
The man was Richard Nixon. What he did in 1968, Al Gore could repeat in 2008. Like Nixon, Gore faces a nation divided by an unpopular war. And like Nixon, Gore could transform anti-war anger and general public malaise into votes. Moreover, Democrats, moderate Republicans and independents are eager for a change, and Gore could emerge as a central agent for change in 2008..... more
Anger, apathy won Oregon primary 05/19/2006 Associated Press KGW.....A likely factor is the rise of the independent voter. Eighty percent of the state's 500,000 independent voters did not participate Tuesday, according to a survey of 16 county election offices conducted by The Oregonian newspaper.
Independents were not allowed to have their say in the Republican and Democratic races for governor, leaving them to decide lower profile and often uncontested races. There were also no statewide ballot measures to generate interest. .... more
Let independents vote a complete ballot in primary May 19, 2006LetterSalem Statesman Journal LETTER: C'mon, Oregonians -- you can do better than this in regards to a poor voter turnout.
Oregon has a stupid law that will not let independent registered voters vote a complete ballot in the primary. Only the registered Democrats and Republicans can vote a complete voter ballot. This stinks!
If this were changed, perhaps there would be a better impact on the better choices, resulting in fewer political plums.
Are we independents, ignorant people? Change this law and find out. I think you would be pleasantly surprised. We, as independents, do care enough to vote for all on the ballot.
-- John Kirk, Sciolink
Saxton may need to move right and left in months ahead 05/19/2006 By JULIA SILVERMAN / Associated Press KGW...Social conservatives remain wary of the Portland attorney, while some of the party's moderates were privately concerned by Saxton's noticeably more strident tone in the primaries.
That could force Saxton to navigate the tricky waters of running both to the right and the center in the months leading to the November general election, trying to entice independent voters while keeping conservatives on board. .... more
Hurray for Bloomberg, A One-Man Third Party
New York Observer By Michael M. Thomas
I wonder if other readers of the Times Op-Ed page are as aware of the mighty struggle that seems to be taking place in that venerated temple of received wisdom. It would appear that David Brooks has thrown down the gauntlet and seeks to unseat Tom Friedman as my-lips-to-all-asses, all-things-to-all-men purveyor of regime-justifying bromides. Personally, I think Mr. Friedman stands no more chance head to head with the odious Mr. Brooks than Salieri did against Mozart; whether it’s chamber music or intellectual sycophancy, mere talent has no chance against genius.... more
Why vote? Oregon seeks answers This state needs more inspiring campaigns, fewer disincentives to vote and open primary elections Thursday, May 18, 2006 The Oregonian ...Too, Oregon keeps clinging to a partisan primary system even as more and more Oregonians vote with their feet and register as independents, rather than Democrats or Republicans. Oregon just held a primary election that had the effect of deliberately excluding 450,000 independent voters. ... more
OREGON GOVERNOR'S RACE Thursday, May 18, 2006 David Reinhard The Oregonian ...Worse, this spring's Hill-Sorenson Democrats could have a vehicle for their discontent come fall. Voters who don't think Kulongoski's been aggressive enough in championing a sales tax or gay rights could find Sen. Ben Westlund's "independent" candidacy appealing. Suffice it to say, this kind of candidate isn't likely to take many votes from Saxton. Again, not good for an incumbent with low approval numbers. ... more
Waiting for Westlund to crash the party Thursday, May 18, 2006 The Oregonian ...Westlund has a dynamic challenge facing him: He must convince moderates -- who see no reason to reward Kulongoski with four more years -- that votes for the independent don't so split the field that the conservative block hands Saxton the keys to the governor's mansion. ... more
Immigration is testing loyalties to GOP
GORDON DILLOW Orange County Register columnistGLDillow@aol.com ...And while I'm not a political scientist – or a registered member of any political party – it seems pretty clear that if the president and the Republicans drop the ball on illegal immigration, if all the talk about border security and employer enforcement turns out to be just another dog-and-pony show, if immigration reform becomes a blanket amnesty, the Republicans are going to lose the Bridgetts of America.
And if they do, the Republican Party just might have to get used to the idea of having liberal San Francisco Democrat Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House.
That's an irony of the two-party system that's not lost on Bridgett – that if she and others like her desert the Republicans in sufficient numbers over the issue of illegal immigration, it could help hand over power to politicians who actively favor illegal immigration.
"I know, the Democrats are even worse" on illegal immigration issues, says Bridgett. "It makes you feel helpless, and hopeless."
Nevertheless, she says, there's a principle involved.
"I'm not party-loyal anymore," she says. "I will vote for anybody who will actually do something about this" – even if it's a third-party or independent candidate who is unlikely to win. ... more
Our View: Westly a simple choice for primary
Former eBay executive has shown he can work with the entire state to solve problems; Angelides has not
May 16, 2006 Merced Sun Star
The choice in the Democratic primary for governor is a simple one. California needs a chief executive who can pull together the many political constituencies required to resolve the serious problems facing the Golden State. Controller Steve Westly is a Democrat who can work with Republicans and independents. Democratic voters should support him on June 6..... more
MAY 19, 2006: NEWS: NAKED CITY Austin Chronicle
Independent candidate for Texas governor Kinky Friedman handed over to the Texas Secretary of State's Office, on May 9, 11 boxes of petitions containing nearly 170,000 signatures of Texans who hope to secure Kinky a spot on the November election ballot. "Today, the people of Texas are sending a message to the politicians who have run our beloved state into the ground," Friedman told reporters. "Its time to take our state back from the Republicans and Democrats who've caused this train wreck." .... more
