Avlon says in his CNN post yesterday "Why centrist voters are fed up":
But photo-op centrism is, of course, not enough. It must be followed by substance. To really change the culture of Washington, we need to change the rules that reinforce this predictable partisanship.
The quickest policy cure would be to change the rigged system of redistricting that creates congressional 'safe seats' and replaces competitive general elections with closed primaries, where party activists reign supreme. Nonpartisan redistricting and open primaries would reward politicians who reach across the aisle, and would empower independent voters.
Can centrists and independents come together on these systemic policy issues? I think so! And because independents do (NOT) = centrists, we have a shot. (-NH)
And while you're here on The Hankster, don't skip Florida's redistricting issues, or a possible new Massachusetts independent party.
And as for New York -- what's going on in the Empire State? Well, the first independent mayor of New York City (Michael Bloomberg), backed by the NYC Independence Party county organizations (When does the county count more than the state? HINT: When the NYC IP is involved...) (Full disclosure, I'm the Treasurer of the Queens County Executive Committee of the Independence Party of New York, and a long-time activist for independent politics) gave money to the NY State Independence Party, which gave money to a local Repub operative who gave money to ____? Where will it all end? Hopefully, in the hands of the people.
Not really sure about this. But NY media is really excited. And a note about the "other" third party, the Working Families Party, which (having played a major role in the election of the "other" city-wide offices City Comptroller (former Queens City Councilmember John Liu) and City Advocate (Betsy Gotbaum's old job) is now under attack from the official election regulation bureaucracy. Small wonder...
Read on!
- Why centrist voters are fed up (By John P. Avlon, Special to CNN)
- GOP race draws crossover independents (by MARTIN BARTLETT / KVUE News, Austin TX)
- Drawing new lines: Erasing politicians’ self-interest in redistricting process (Ft. Lauderdale Sun Sentinel)
- Poll: Independent party seeks recognition (By Steve Adams, The Patriot Ledger)
- Mayor Bloomberg's money was able to buy silence concerning possible election miscues (ADAM LISBERG, Daily News)
- Replacing Hiram And Cleaning Up The System (By MICHAEL SCHENKLER) & Blast the Bosses; Chide The ‘Reformers’ (By HENRY STERN) Queens Tribune/Not For Publication blog
- Monserrate fights to regain lost Senate position-After judge denies appeal, disgraced politician accumulates 5,500 signatures to register in election (By Jeremy Walsh, YourNabe - Queens)
- How a Sale by Zuckerman Could Buy Murdoch's Backing for Senate (By JEFF BERCOVICI, Daily Finance - an AOL Money and Finance website)
- On Transit Advocacy, Working Families Party Misses the Mark Again (by Ben Fried, Streets Blog (a national "livable city streets" site)
- The Independence Party Tries a Buttoned-Down Appeal (By Azi Paybarah and Eliot Brown, Ny Observer)
- Forced Out By Failure To Nab Independence Line, Sears Vows To Make Future Run (By Chris Bragg, City Hall News) “The Republican Party needs the Independence Party. That’s the team that wins everything,” the source said.
- Sears nixes GOP Special Election nod (BY PETE DAVIS, Queens Courier)
- NEW YORK
- Candidate Zuckerman? (By: Michael Barone, San Francisco Examiner/Beltway Confidential)
- Settlement Reached in Suit Against Working Families Party (By MICHAEL POWELL, NY Times)
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