Stop Marginalizing Independent Voters Through Election Laws Set by Partisan Legislators

INDEPENDENT VOTERS

• Obama Shouldn't Use Bush's Reelect Strategy - Bush-Cheney '04 may have scraped through a victory, but the same tactics won't work for Obama. John Avlon on five reasons 2012 is different. (The Daily Beast)
• On the Agenda: Independent voters still up for grabs in 2012 (By: Harvey Kronberg, YNN Austin) Independent voters broke left in 2008, galvanized by a visceral dislike of Sarah Palin combined with anxiety that John McCain was over his head facing the possible financial apocalypse. While there is not yet a Republican candidate to contrast, the 2012 independent voter is now deeply unhappy with Barack Obama.
• Discrimination denies independent voters fair access (By OMAR H. ALI, News Record Greensboro NC) Across the world, here in North Carolina, where my own little family now lives and where I teach history at UNCG, I am part of a different movement for democracy. I am part of a movement of independent voters who do not want to be marginalized through election laws and regulations set by Democratic and Republican legislators.

John Avlon: Closed Primaries Too Easily Hijacked by Ideologes and Partisan Hacks

OPEN PRIMARIES

• Christine O'Donnell: Exhibit A for getting rid of closed primaries (By John Avlon, CNN Contributor) The lesson: Closed partisan primaries are fundamentally unrepresentative. They're too easily hijacked by ideological activists and party hacks beholden to special interests. And because these local primaries are the gauntlet that candidates have to run, they lead directly to the culture of hyperpartisanship that now threatens to paralyze our capacity for effective self-government.
• Primaries now 'the elections' (LETTER Clarion Ledger) Whether it's called "open primaries," or just equal right to vote by everyone, we need a system that gives everyone an equal voice, rather than independents being shut out of the "primaries" where most officials are chosen, and then have to pick between two party hacks in the general election.

Independent Voters: 40 Percent of the Electorate, Not Just Some Demographic Group

INDEPENDENT VOTERS

• CBS Panel Cool on 'Far Right' GOP Candidates, 'Bush Looks Like Abraham Lincoln' (By Brad Wilmouth, NewsBusters) Avlon agreed that the GOP candidates are "far right": "That is a fundamental problem with the Republican Party that has moved from center right to far right, increasingly, and, look, independent voters are 40 percent of the electorate, the largest and the fastest growing segment. So this isn't just some, you know, demographic group you got to appeal to."
• Dan Walters: Older Democratic politicians clogging up the waiting line (By Dan Walters, Modesto Bee) Top Two: Regardless, it will empower the growing ranks of independent voters. And it may compel candidates to make wider appeals, rather than concentrating on the ideological true believers who have tended to dominate closed party primaries.

CBS Early Show: Independents Talk with John Avlon and Margaret Hoover About the Debt Debate

INDEPENDENT VOTERS
Independent voters pin blame in debt gridlock CBS News VIDEO (CBS News)
"The Early Show on Saturday Morning" put together a panel of independent voters to address the question. They were joined by two analysts of different political stripes who happen to be husband and wife: Margaret Hoover, who was an aide to President George W. Bush and is the author of "American Individualism: How a New Generation of Conservatives Can Save the Republican Party," and John Avlon, the senior political columnist for Newsweek and The Daily Beast.

Some of the independents were:
SUSAN SIMPFENDERFER, 48
JACK WYRICK, 28
MATT AMARAL, 23
JEFF STEVENS, 44
CANDICE HARRISON, 25
JESSIE FIELDS, 55
NICK JOHNSON, 62
SHANNA BROWN, 21
EILEEN KAUFMANN, 6

Deficit talks strain Obama's bipartisanship goals - He took office with a promise to overcome partisanship in the political process, but with debt negotiations apparently collapsing, the president's options are narrowing. (By Peter Nicholas, Washington Bureau, LA Times) But if no solution emerges in time to avoid a default, Obama may revert to a more partisan role rather than try to mediate between the parties.

Independence Day, Cont.

INDEPENDENT VOTERS

In 2011, it's truly independents day (By John Avlon, CNN) Our first president, George Washington said, "I was no party man myself, and the first wish of my heart was, if parties did exist, to reconcile them."

John Avlon: Trump has already burned his bridges with most independents

2012

Why Trump can't run as an independent (By John P. Avlon, CNN Contributor) As an independent myself, I usually cheer the prospect of any independent campaign. It shakes up the arrogant assumption that our elections are wholly owned subsidiaries of the two major parties and their respective special interests. But Trump has already burned his bridges with most independent voters by choosing to go full "birther" and pander to the far-right wing of the GOP.

John Avlon: The president has to lead on deficit reduction

John Avlon says President Obama has to lead on deficit reduction, but unless the President is willing to lead on election reform and support the growing ranks of independent voters in the country, there won't be any real change.


2012
Be in the know: Today's political bullet points (CNN/John King USA) From John Avlon: This speech is critical for repairing the president's credibility with independent voters – and he should not think that merely returning to his 'raise taxes on everyone making over 250k' riff will cut it – either politically or practically. The president has to lead on this issue and the time is now.

Can Independents Reform America?

national conference of independents

Saturday, February 12, 2011
Skirball Performing Arts Center

at New York University

(the conference is free but you must pre-register)


Program Highlights

New Documentary
Watch the premier of the latest political documentary by Jackie Salit, the President and Founder of IndependentVoting.org.  This multimedia presentation covers the impact of the independent movement on the Obama White House, on Congress, on the political parties and on a cross section of political forces.  This cutting edge documentary is a great introduction to independent politics.  It explains the relevance of the independent movement to urgent social, economic and cultural problems in America.

Talk/Talk
Hear a "Talk/Talk" conversation with Jackie Salit and Dr. Fred Newman, the Stanford-trained philosopher, playwright, author and pioneer of independent politics. Talk/Talk is a Newman/Salit specialty - think Charlie Rose, Oprah and Aristotle all rolled up into one! 

Panel Discussion
Moderated by Jackie Salit and IndependentVoting.org General Counsel, Harry Kresky with:

•     Theresa Amato, Ralph Nader’s Presidential Campaign Manager in 2004;
•     John Avlon, Senior Political Consultant, TheDailyBeast.com; Founder, No Labels
•     Lenora Fulani, Co-founder, IndependentVoting.org
•     Michael Hardy, General Counsel, National Action Network
•     Douglas Schoen, pollster and author
•     Former California Lt. Governor Abel Maldonado
•     James Mangia, Executive Director, St. John's Well Child & Family Center and Founding Secretary, National Reform Party
•     Cathy Stewart, Chair, New York County Independence Party
•     Bradley Tusk, Founder, Tusk Strategies; Campaign Manager Bloomberg 2009

Mock Trial
Are you a fan of Law and Order, The Good Wife, or even Judge Judy?  If so, you don't want to miss this.  We will be staging a mock trial to explore a fictional (but not improbable) "people vs. the parties" controversy. A cast of prominent civil rights and election lawyers, actors, elected officials, and a famous "surprise witness" will stage a courtroom trial and in the process shed light on the growing conflict between parties' rights and voters' rights.

Dispatches from the Movement
Get the inside scoop from IndependentVoting.org’s leaders on what's happening on the ground, behind the scenes, in the hallways of power and on the street corners, as independents intensify their efforts to enact structural political reforms like open primaries across the country.  This is independent politics straight from the source.

Discussion and Dialogue
Conference attendees will have the opportunity to discuss the days’ proceedings in an open mic session, not to mention the chance to meet and mingle throughout the day.

Register here or email national@cuip.org

Book review "Independents Day, Awakening the American Spirit"

I recently blogged my review of John Avlon’s book Wingnuts. Though I may have come across as quite critical it was still a good book by a good author and a great independent. And, he has at least one more book published than I do. So be that as it may, on to the next book review.

I recently loaned from the library here in Syracuse (Utah) a copy of Lou Dobbs book INDEPENDENTS DAY. Dobbs and Avlon share a similar populist slant, and much of the underlying power to the people content is found in both books. At this point I have only finished the first four chapters of Independents Day, and I must say WOW! I don’t agree with every jot and tittle of what Dobbs is saying, but I do agree with most of it and it is well written. I’m sure he’s a perfectly capable writer, but I’m sure he has a darn good editor too. The book reads well and I really identify with the independent sentiments and concerns he has written about. He has also done something very helpful when referring to historical events and characters he provides a brief recap for those of us 'not in the know' (which all too often includes me).

I have 10 excerpts from the front flap, introduction and chapter 1 that I will post over the next couple of weeks. Tonight is just the inside flap.

Enjoy,

Randy

"In his bestselling War on the Middle Class, Lou Dobbs reported from the front lines of a conflict that threatens to tear our country apart: the war that the government and big business have waged against working Americans. But in every war there comes a counteroffensive, when resistance arises, stirred by the fundamental human desire for dignity and self-determination. Independents Day is a rallying cry for a new vision of what the country could—and by all rights should—be in the twenty-first century.

...there are signs that the public has begun to reclaim its voice in the national dialogue

What has happened to America? Lou Dobbs opens Independents Day with a critical and sobering view of where we stand today, and how a century of misguided policy and misplaced values has brought us here. A government that was created to be of the people is now one dominated by elites; a government intended to be by the people has become one run by politicians who are unresponsive to the needs and will of the American citizens who voted for them; a government founded for the people has become instead a willing partner in serving the demands and interests of business. The casualty of this betrayal of our national legacy is nothing less than democracy, and Dobbs charts its tragic effects in every aspect of our society. From the expenditure of trillions of dollars to underwrite a war in Iraq that the great majority of voters does not support, to an administration that has brazenly done away with public accountability while amassing debt that will burden taxpayers for years to come, to a steady decline in jobs, education, and health care, we stand on the threshold of a future that only a generation ago would have seemed inconceivable.

What has happened to America?


But with the most important election in years facing us in 2008, there are signs that the public has begun to reclaim its voice in the national dialogue, asserting its right to be heard in a new, vitally engaged populism. Having been failed by Republicans and Democrats alike, the electorate is rejecting the pointless turf wars of partisan politics and confronting the genuine challenges that face us with a passionate commitment to the ideals of independence and equality and to the common good. Independents Day is a stirring celebration of the emergence of this populist spirit, and an inspiring vision for an America that will flourish by honoring the cherished principles on which it was founded."

Citizens Union John Avlon: Increased Interest in New York for Open Primary System

Citizens Union spokesperson and independent journalist now with CNN John Avlon testifies - via phone - before NYC Charter Revision Commission in favor of Top-Two open primary (nonpartisan election) for city elections. Citizens Union presented 50 recommendations to the commission that would encourage voter participation. Under the current primary system in NYC, 1.5 million voters are excluded from the decisive first round of voting.





"Yes, there is an uptake of independent voters in New York, but let's also discuss the election cycle. The "obvious reasons" for unions and other special interest groups to oppose this reform because their impact is greater in a closed partisan election. In addition to the dysfunction we have seen in Albany, the hyperpartisanship we see in Washington, there is increased interest in an open primary system."

Citizens Union Backs Nonpartisan Elections in New York City

The New York Times reports that Citizens Union is now backing nonpartisan elections. Here's Citizens Union's report. From the Times:

In a reversal, a prominent government watchdog said Wednesday that it now supported eliminating the role of parties in city elections, adding momentum to an effort to bring the issue before voters in November.

The group, Citizens Union, had opposed the idea of nonpartisan elections seven years ago, when Mayor Michael R. Bloombergcampaigned for it. His effort was handed a decisive defeat by voters.

But in a report released on Wednesday, the group said that turnout had grown so low and elections so preordained that parties should lose their domineering power.

“We want to reduce the gamesmanship,” said John P. Avlon, who led a task force that studied the City Charter for six months. “It’s a remedy to our current problems. Its time has come.”

"Wingnuts" book review

A couple of weeks ago I was traveling on one of the more remote stretches of the Interstate Highway System between Fillmore and Nephi Utah. There isn’t a lot of FM radio reception to be had on this stretch, so I flipped the dial over to AM where I can tune stations from more distant locations as the sun sets lower. On this particular evening, I was able to pick up a right leaning independent radio host who was interviewing the Constitution Party candidate for U.S. Senate from Utah. I can appreciate a healthy skepticism of candidates of the Big 2, but the gist of the Constitution Party tenets seem polar opposites to me.

The radio show guest, Senate Candidate Scott Bradley more or less stated that we need to get back to the constitution in its original form (I'm paraphrasing from memory). He went on to postulate that every public or civic action could and should be settled by an examination of the U.S. Constitution. And therein is the paradox. This approach would mean city governments could be done away with and that state legislatures would only need to carry out those duties specifically detailed within the constitution. However, the constitution was a framework for a system of self-governance “by and for The People”. The Bradley plan is kind of a throw it out and embrace it at the same time kind of logic.

As for me, I support a different paradox, one embraced by the authors of the constitution; a system of by the people government that envisioned competing and divergent interests which made allowances for amendments and for differences to be voiced and settled. The Big 2 have embraced a very partisan model of what Mr. Bradley thinks will work; a top down autocratic inflexible application of the constitution as they understand it. Wrong. Though there are vast portions to be rigidly adhered to, the whole of the mission and intent is to establish a republic to be governed by the people—a statutory state of rigid flexibility if you will.

When I sat down to begin writing this, the Scott Bradley interview synopsis was supposed to be a segue into a review of John Avlon’s book Wingnuts, How the Lunatic Fringe is Hijacking America, so I better get started.

John Avlon is clearly an independent and a successful writer, but I started the book not looking for something to disagree about, but not wanting to be the centrist version of a super-ultra-mega-dittohead if you know what I mean. I would say I like 90% of the book. It is for the most part an insightful chronicle of the inciteful (its in the urban dictionary, good enough:). From a literary standpoint, Wingnuts is heavy on inflammatory quotes that are admittedly way over the top and problematic as the book indicates. I found the quotes overwhelming. They shed light on the crazy talk crowds, but I had a hard time keeping up with who was currently shouting.

My 10% disagreement was probably the first 10% of the book, predominantly his criticism of moveon.org and "Bush Derangement Syndrome". I'm not defending moveon.org, I am not even sure I've ever visited that website, but Mr. Avlon portrays radical reactions to Bush administration policies as "wingnutty". I was independently incensed by a number of Bush administration blunders, and I mean livid mad--and I voted for the guy......twice. Oops. I'll give you my personal stories.

First, I was in Iraq with the Army in 2004 and I was well, quite unimpressed about stories emerging about prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib and torture and injustice at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. I was particularly concerned about these abhorrent acts because it could and did elevate my personal risk of injury or death, though thankfully I came through unscathed.

Second, and this is still a very disturbing insult to me. I was driving to work in Draper, Utah, just listening to NPR when they broke a disturbing story that a U.S. Army and Navy whistleblowers revealed, without meritable dispute from the NSA, that NSA personnel were recording, transcribing, distributing and mocking intimate conversations between GI's in the Middle East and their spouses or partners here in the states.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTOoZYRYfM0
So, on this point, I will disagree vehemently with Mr. Avlon, I don't think any vociferous objection to that breach of the law and decency is vociferous enough. It is crazy and wingnutty NOT to be incensed by such immoral and illegal activity directed against the real warriors and their families in these wars.


All that being said, I am going to give Wingnuts 3.5 stars on my Amazon.com review for being better than average but not great. And now I have a new book to add to my booklist--"The Shadow Factory" by James Bamford.

Avlon: Closed Partisan Primaries Lead to Vicious Hangover The Morning After

Voters in California have the chance today to vote for open primaries. This from CNN's John Avlon:

But the most potentially game-changing item on the ballot will get the least attention: a referendum called Proposition 14, which would make all future primaries open and nonpartisan, fully enfranchising the state's millions of independent voters and making it less likely that pandering to the partisan extremes will dominate the election process and lead to inevitable gridlock.

The Black Agenda, Open Primaries, Centrists, and Extremists

Fred Newman talks about Tavis Smiley, the Black Agenda, Rev. Al Sharpton, Minister Louis Farrakhan, Jessie Jackson, Cornel West and Karl Marx. While campaigns are underway in Louisiana and California for open primaries that would allow independents and decline-to-state voters to vote (right now parties are allowed to exclude these voters), voters in many states are registering into parties in order to vote in primaries. Centrist John Avlon's new book decries political extremes as "wingnuts". NYC Dems don't want charter revision ballot referendum items this year.


TALK TALK

• How Should Black Leaders Relate to a Black President? A Controversy. (Talk Talk with Fred Newman and Jackie Salit) Newman: What substantial improvements there have been for the black community, have come through blacks and others, particularly whites, working together. So, if these issues are being raised from the point of view of whether the entire problem of inequality has been solved by the continued use of an integrated strategy, what you’re really saying, in my opinion, is that the entire problem isn’t solved, period.
• You can view Tavis Smiley's Black Agenda Summit on C-Span here

OPEN PRIMARIES

• LA: Frenzied election season starts (By William Johnson, Daily World) If there are ever two or more candidates from any of the officially recognized parties — Democratic, Green, Libertarian, Reform and Republican — then the closed party primary election kicks in.
• CA: Are Republicans moving too far right to be elected? (By Thomas D. Elias, Highland News) Only when all voters can vote in all primaries will candidates need to appeal to the broad middle ground, unrepresented in California for decades as the right wing rules the GOP and a far left/organized labor coalition controls the Democratic Party.

VOTING IN PRIMARIES

• Kansas and Ohio Voters Look to Change Voter Registration Before Primaries (The State Column)
• CO: Primary ballots begin to take shape-Candidates who don’t get party nod still could petition to run (Steamboat Pilot, By Tom Ross)
• NC: Today last day to register for primary - Voters must submit new applications, or change existing ones, by 5 p.m. (David Anderson, ENC Today)
• NJ: Monday is deadline for nominations for political office in June primary (By John Barna, NJ.com Gloucester Co.)

PROP 14

• Voices divided on Prop. 14's potential effects (James Rufus Koren, San Bernardino Sun)
• Proposition 14 Increases Right to Participate in Primary Elections (CA Voter Guide)

CENTRISTS

• The Rise of Political Extremism and the Decline of Decency -- John Avlon discusses his new book "Wingnuts" (By Jessica Rettig, US News & World Report)

NYC CHARTER REVISION

• Panel hosts citywide public forums in April (by Michael Lanza, Assistant Editor, Queens Chronicle) “Out of any one issue that was represented, it was probably the non-partisan elections — because there were a lot of people from the Independence Party who testified,” Queens Charter Commission member Ernest Hart said. 
• The charter reform we need; Emulate the Koch model (By Scott Stringer, The Villager) If this new commission is to succeed, its work must be geared to developing proposals for the ballot in 2011, not later this year.
• No Rubber Stamp for the Mayor (By DAVID W. CHEN, NY Times/City Room)

NEW YORK

• Mayor asks 50,000 political donors to think of NYC (By SARA KUGLER - AP) New York City sends millions of dollars to political candidates nationwide, and the average New Yorker gives 2.5 times more money to federal candidates than other Americans, according to Bloomberg. During the 2008 election cycle, candidates collected more than $114 million from New York donors, second only to California.

JP Avlon -- Photo-op centrism is not enough: Can centrists and independents come together on systemic policy issues?

A round roundup of what's on the minds of independent pundits and voters from Florida to Massachusetts to New York. Starting out with a little ditty from newly acquisitioned Daily Beast/former New York Sun journalist John P. Avlon (John P. Avlon is senior political columnist for The Daily Beast and author of the new book "Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe is Hijacking America.")


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!

INDEPENDENT VOTERS

• 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)

FLORIDA

• Drawing new lines: Erasing politicians’ self-interest in redistricting process (Ft. Lauderdale Sun Sentinel)

MASSACHUSETTS

• Poll: Independent party seeks recognition (By Steve Adams, The Patriot Ledger)

NEW YORK

• 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)

Dr. Omar Ali Guest on CNN Anderson Cooper 360 Friday Night: Independent Voters and the State of the Union

Dr. Omar H. Ali will be appearing on CNN Anderson Cooper 360 on Friday night at 10 pm, January 29th, to discuss independent voters and the State of the Union. He will be joined by Harvard University's David Gergen and Manhattan Institute senior fellow John Avlon. Dr. Ali is a professor of history at Towson University in Maryland and a national spokesperson of the independent movement. His book, In the Balance of Power: Independent Black Politics and Third Party Movements in the United States, has been described as a "landmark work" by The National Political Science Review.


The Hankster will live-blog this critical dialog. Please tune in and let me know your thoughts!

Jackie Salit on Minnesota Public Radio this morning

Devil is in the details for independent voters

Broadcast: Midmorning, 08/13/2008, 9:06 a.m.

Midmorning examines the role of independent voters in the upcoming election, and how well the candidates are speaking to them. New research suggests that detailed messages will not win the hearts of this group.

Guests
Akshay Rao: Professor of marketing at the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management.

Jackie Salit: Executive editor of The Neo-Independent Magazine and the president of the Committee for a Unified Independent Party, Inc. She ran both of Michael Bloomberg's mayoral campaigns on the Independence Party line in 2001 and 2005.

John Avlon: Contributor to Politico, RealClear Politics and the NY Post. He was deputy policy director for Rudolph Giuliani's 2008 presidential campaign. He is author of "Independent Nation: How Centrists Can Change American Politics."