Conversations on African American Voters and Independents 2008, Challenge to the Clinton Machine

How black voters took on the Clinton machine -- see Lenora Fulani in action in Harlem, African American Day Parade, September, 2007, video #1, and video #2....

And read more here on The Daily Voice

TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

FLORIDA
Tuesday's primary vote breaks turnout record (Herald Tribune)

NEW YORK

• N.Y. Republicans endorse McCain (Ithaca Journal)
• Obama builds consensus (LETTER to Ithaca Journal)
• No Clinton-Giuliani `rematch' in NY (AP) Neither McCain nor Obama will be able to lean on independent voters who propped them up in Iowa and New Hampshire. New York's 2.4 million independents can't vote in primaries.
• Who is Best For Our Community Obama or Clinton” (Meeting), Grand Council of Guardians Inc. Presents a Community Town Hall Forum “Who is Best For Our Community Obama or Clinton” (from the Obama website) Also, see "Let the People Decide" on hankstertube part 1 and part 2 -- marchers for the Committee for a Harlem Debate between Clinton and Obama.....

MASSACHUSETTS

• WNEC poll focuses on Mass. vote - 48% of indies undecided, If the general election were tomorrow, 30 percent said they would support Clinton and 16 would vote for Obama. (WNEC MassLive)
• Mitt miss dismissed, Weld: Romney doesn’t need Mass. (Boston Herald) unenrolled or independent voters - who outnumber Republicans and are key in the Bay State primary because they can cast ballots for either party - prefer McCain 47 to 20 percent.

MISSOURI

• Obama emerges as primary pick (Truman State University Index) 26 percent of Missourians who intend to vote do not identify themselves with a political party. Comparatively, 60 students in the Index survey indicated that they do not identify themselves with a political party
• Open Missouri primary offers voters a candidate buffet, and no trail (By Jo Mannies, St. Louis Post Dispatch)

OKLAHOMA
Busted for Petitioning the Government for Redress of Grievances: Paul Jacob Update (Third Party Watch) Kim Wright and Oklahoma Independents defends citizen initiative

ARIZONA
Stanton: Clintons' toxic turn doesn't faze Obama (Tucson Citizen)

THE POLLS

• New Poll: John McCain Would Beat Either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama (LifeNews.com) Rasmussen: McCain holds leads in part because he does well with independent voters. McCain does better than either Democrat with independents in the new survey, but especially when Clinton is his opponent. Against the former First Lady, he leads 52% to 31% with unaffiliateds.
• NH: Traditional Polling Methods Do Not Work for Nontraditional Candidates (Huffington Post)
• The Fight Goes On! (The Conservative Voice) independents are leaning left and voting McCain

OPEN PRIMARIES
EDITORIAL: Utah vote may make big impact (University Journal Editorial Board)
Campaign spotlight to shine on Wisconsin, Calendar, tight races raise state's profile (Journal Sentinel)

TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

• OR: John Frohnmayer independent candidacy gives voice to opposition to the two-party system. (Register Guard )
• CO: Parties nervous about drop of party registrants, rise of unaffiliated independents (Denver Gazette)
• Congressional Dems: To the right, to the right.... (Wall Street Journal)
• Dem candidates address Iowa's Brown & Black Forum (Wall Street Journal)
• Dems at Iowa Heartland Presidential Forum (BlackAmericaWeb.com)
• Polls, caucuses, primaries: Most 'superdelegates' remain uncommitted (Boston Globe)
• Instant Runoff Voting would democratize elections (The Nation editorial)
• Virginia GOP rescinds voter loyalty oath (Daily Press)
• "Corrupt" CNN? Why immigration was the big issue at the Repub CNN/YouTube Debate (CBS News)
• The T-shirt produced by the Committee for a Harlem Debate between Clinton and Obama got quite a bit of coverage this weekend, including Maureen Dowd's article in Sunday's New York Times
• LOOK WHO'S COOL ON OBAMA (NY Post)
• Black Leaders Torn Over Endorsement (Washington Post)
• Obama's power breakfast with Bloomberg (Chicago Sun Times) and (NY Post) and (KDKA - PA)
• Showtime at the Apollo, featuring Barack Obama. Why Wait (Jack Turner-Jack and Jill Politics)
• Right to Recall (Daily Journal)
• New York State's Highest Court Agrees to Hear 2nd Case on Internal Party Governance (Ballot Access News)
• The gentry liberals: They're more concerned with global warming and gay rights than with lunch-pail joes. (By Joel Kotkin and Fred Siegel, Los Angeles Times)

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TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

With so many voters protesting the exclusionary two-party system by becoming independents, the Parties get more desperate. Here's the latest on Virginia and Idaho open primaries:

• Virginia GOP Gets Strict on Voting-Demand for Loyalty Pledge at Primary Targets Crossovers, Independents (Washington Post)
• Bar at the ballot-Court closes voters out of candidate selection (Daily Press - VA)
• Judge rejects lawsuit seeking to close Idaho primary (The Oregonian)
• Loyalty Oaths? (Rocktown Weekly VA)
• Loyal sheep (Tricities.com - VA)
• Federal judge chucks lawsuit seeking to close Idaho GOP primary (Montana's News Station-KPAX)
• Editorial: The GOP accepts no presidential dissent-where's a third party when you need one? (Roanoke Times)

Race and gender in 2007:

• Democrats seek to quell racial tensions in state Senate contest (By Jo Mannies, St. Louis Post Dispatch)
• Race, gender come to forefront of presidential race-Many black women debate voting for Clinton vs. Obama (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
• Obama coming to Harlem (Politics on the Hudson)

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TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

• Michigan non-affiliated voters can choose their ballots (D or R that is), parties will decide if they can vote in primary (Roseville Press Tribune)
• N.H. Libertarian Party Wins Lawsuit Over Voter List (Ballot Access News)
• In Florida, Dems may risk losing some of their support from independent voters because of the primary controversy. (Miami Herald Tribune)
• Arizona's new breed of independent voters is strongly against the war in Iraq and is breaking for Democrats (arizona daily star)
• Democrats See Health Care as Top Issues; Republicans Say National Security-Independent voters said the government corruption were their big priorities. (Associated Content) * Independent Iowa Letters in Play for Ron Paul (FreeMarketNews)
• Michigan Primary set; key Dems off ballot-Clinton is the only top-tier candidate on the Democratic ballot. The other Democrats on the ballot are Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich, Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd and former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel. All Repubs will be on the ballot (The Detroit News)
• Black voters focus on Clinton, Obama (Chicago Tribune)
• On Oprah and our votes (Clarence Page - Chicago Tribune)
• Iowa win vital for Obama, poll says, It could be proof for black voters (Detroit Free Press)
• Clinton tops Obama among African-Americans (Politico)
• Black voters tilt toward Clinton: study (Boston Globe)
• Oprah and Babs are OK; Gore is the rock star (Chicago Sun Times)
• Obama’s Night at the Apollo (New York Press)

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TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

• Michigan voters prefer open primaries with no party declaration, but the parties want names and addresses (Battle Creek Enquirer)


• Without term limits in California, there'd be no competition at all -- but not without nonpartisan redistricting.... (Daniel Weintraub in Sacramento Bee)


• Who's standing for Perot Voters? Not Lou Dobbs.... (Ben Smith, Politico, in CBS News)


• New Hampshire Adwatch: McCain--too little too late--Courts Independents (AP Google)


• Virginia voters will have to sign loyalty oath to vote in Repub presidential primary (WVEC Hampton Roads)


• Oklahoma pols seem worried: For I&R issue, collect 160,000 signatures in 90 days, and make sure your petitioners reside in the state -- and there's no residency requirement for orgs that oppose the issue (National Review)


• Bloomberg appeals, but won't run the race (Huffington Post)


• Barack Obama: Live at the Apollo!! (Amsterdam News), Obama speaks with the Amsterdam News and November 29th Community Board meeting conflicts with Obama Apollo appearance (UPTOWNflavor)

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TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

INDEPENDENT VOTERS:

• The People vs. the Parties: Washington case will help weigh party power vs. public interest (by Harry Kresky - Tacoma News Tribune)


• Arizona independents would rather skip the party primary game (East Valley Tribune)


• Arizona black Repubs worried about term limits (East Valley Tribune)


• Will independent voters in South Carolina lead? (Times and Democrat)


• Independent Mary MacElveen talks about Mike Gravel's unfortunate exclusion from the Dem debates (by Mary MacElveen - OpEdNews)

BALLOT ACCESS NOVEMBER ROUNDUP:

• Oklahoma Ballot Access Initiative Doomed by Oklahoma Circulator Restrictions (Ballot Access News)


• North Carolina, Doug Clark: State needs constitutional changes, too- I&R, better ballot access for independent parties (Greensboro News Record)


• Alabama Ballot Access Case Soon to be Before U.S. Supreme Court (Ballot Access News)


• Second Independent Elected to Louisiana Legislature (Ballot Access News)


• Illinois Governor Signs Ballot Access Bill (Ballot Access News)

IT'S A PARTY GAME:

• Giuliani campaigns in New Hampshire, raps Romney (Newsday)


• State of the States: Campaign '08 title fight heats up (By: Politico Partners)

OBAMA IN HARLEM:
Barack Obama is holding a fundraiser at the Apollo on Thursday, Nov. 29:

• OBAMA'S UPTOWN $WING A BID TO UPEND HILL (NY Post)


• Volunteers scramble to get pols on primary ballot (Newsday)

LOCAL INDEPENDENT CAMPAIGNS:

• Virginia: Independent candidate hopes to replace Davis-28 year old Lucky Narain for 1st CD in Hampton/Newport News (Daily Press)


• Delaware: Independent Party Chairman Says No More Fusion Candidates (WBOC-TV 16 Delmarvas News Leader Fox 21)

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Conversations on America and Debates

Checking in on my blogger friends, Existentialist Cowboy has a great post called America begins slide into third world status... This caught my eye after a conversation I had last night with an international procurement professional based in Atlanta who told me that he "used to be a conservative Republican" but is so PO'd about how politics is conducted now that he's becoming independent. EC remarks that "The unkindest cut of all is the Democratic sell out to the GOP! The result is the GOP has now "auctioned off" the office of President of the United States, an eventuality embodied in Mussolini's term: corporatism...."

In yesterday's Amsterdam News, Councilmember Charles Barron, who is one of the few black elected officials in New York City to go against the tide (or would that be "tsunami"?) to endorse Sen. Barack Obama, adds his voice to the call for a Harlem Debate between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in his article entitled, "My brother, Barack Obama: A winning stategy for NYC". [You'll have to pick up a print copy, it doesn't seem to be published online...] Here is what the Councilman had to say, "...Challenge Hillary Clinton to a debate at the Apollo Theater. I agree with Dr. Fulani, whose idea it was to have this debate. This will force Hillary Clinton to show up for a serious discourse of our issues as opposed to a coronation of her at Black churches...." [See Hankstertube for video of the Committee for a Harlem Debate between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama at the African American Day Parade in September, and the series of videos on the Trinity Church community meeting to discuss same...]

Is Hillary Clinton a slam dunk in New York City?

More video from the Trinity Church meeting of the Committee for a Harlem Debate between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Charles Billups of the Grand Council of Guardians and a founding member of the Coalition of Outsiders introduces Brooklyn Council member Darlene Mealy....

TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

Peoples campaign forces Hillary into Harlem:

• CLINTON BOPS OBAMA IN UPTOWN UPSURGE (NY Post)
• Hillary Clinton finds time for her base in Harlem (Newsday)
• Hillary’s Harlem Hegemony? Harlem Residents Feel Steamrolled, Silenced (Think on These Things)

INDEPENDENT VOTERS

• Political project looks outside party lines-UNITY 08 (Lawrence Journal World and News)
• Independents unhappy with Republicans-Undeclared voters likely to lean Democratic (Concord Monitor)
• All but Gravel Shun Fla. Convention (The Caucus/NY Times blog)
• Lack of hopefuls doesn't stop party-Hundreds of activists skipped the Florida Democratic Party's annual convention in wake of a boycott by seven of eight presidential hopefuls over the state's early primary. Quotes Gravel (Miami Herald)
• Huge undecided bloc puts state up for grabs (Orlando Sentinel)

LOCAL INDEPENDENT POLITICS

• California: Steve Wiegand: Is latest remap try also DOA? (Sac Bee)
• Indiana: Candidates tackle 2-party system, Keystone project (Indianapolis Star)
• Idaho: Court Sets Hearing for Idaho Lawsuit Against Open Primary (Ballot Access News)

Committee for a Harlem Debate between Clinton and Obama

On Monday, October 22, the Committee for a Harlem Debate between Clinton and Obama met at the Trinity Church, thanks to the invitation of Lonnie Shockley, to an overflow audience of NYC grassroots Dem and independent activists.

The first in a series of videos is featured at the top of The Hankster.

Don't miss this exciting community meeting of folks concerned about the tamping down of the dialogue as to the best choice for African Americans (an everyone) in our communities.

Hillary is a slam-dunk?
Obama not black enough?
So thinks the Dem Party.....
Think again -- independently!

In this segment, Coalition of Outsiders founding member Keith McHenry leads the charge to demand a debate at the historic Apollo Theatre (or another venue) in Harlem introduces Trinity Church activist Lonnie Shockley, who gives a "radical welcome" to Dr. Fulani and the diverse grouping of New York City community activists, saying that we need to "keep the focus on the politics in our communities. We're at a critical time."

WARNING: This is not about winning an election. This is about regular people coming together to dialogue about what's best for us the people in this critical election.... and beyond.

For more information and to become active go to independentvoting.org

• For video of the African American Day Parade to to hankstertube here and here
• For video of Lenora Fulani's press conference about the 2009 NYC mayoral race go to hankstertube here

And stay tuned! There's more to come!

Let the People Decide!

Hillary and Obama should debate! Let the people decide! Lenora Fulani (the independent mayor of Harlem) and the Committee for a Harlem Debate between Clinton and Obama marched in the Harlem African American Day Parade Sunday

New York City 2007 Obama Blackout

Every so often New Yorkers experience a blackout. We suffer hours or days or weeks depending on what neighborhood you live it. We blame ConEd. We walk home and light candles and complain to our neighbors.

This summer it might well not be ConEd's fault for once. We might just have a Dem Party blackout on Barack Obama. (And maybe the 2 are connected, given the control of the Dems over City politics, independent Mayor Michael Bloomberg's nonpartisanship notwithstanding...)

The "hot" item these days among New York City independents is the black establishment's swift and almost complete support for Hillary Clinton, no questions asked. But Lenora Fulani has something to say about that. In today's Black Star News, there's a commentary by Fulani called "Let the People Decide". She says:

Let me be very clear here. I have not endorsed Obama’s presidential campaign. Moreover, I am an independent and therefore not a voter in the New York Democratic presidential primary on February 5, 2008. But I am a political leader and I am concerned that the Democratic Party—including major Black Democrats—have shut down public discussion of critical issues affecting the Black community.

The Committee for a Harlem Debate Between Clinton and Obama will be marching in Sunday’s African American Day Parade to build the public call for a forum at the Apollo Theatre.

And Think On These Things - a self-proclaimed pro-Obama blog, in an article called Did The Clinton Machine Silence Debate Among Blacks In Harlem? links to an article from EURweb about Master P at Oprah Winfrey's Barack Obama fundraiser. Master P says that Hip Hop "is a way of keeping our kids off the street, it's taken them out of the dope game, out of the hustle game and turned them into businessmen...."

Discuss!