Obama and Labor

Click here for the video.

Obama's remarks at the AFL-CIO sponsored Dem debate in Chicago's Soldier Field: "We're debating the most important foreign policy issues that we face, and the American people have the right to know. It is not just Washington insiders that are part of the debate that has to take place with respect to howwe're going to shift our foreign policy...." You can read a partial transcript here at Meng Bomin blog... and d-day considers "a realignment in the Democratic Presidential primary with a Washington insider/Washington outsider split."

Black Star News says: "For America to have a good cream of leadership, an Obama-Edwards campaign team would the best choice for this country. A Hillary Clinton choice is a no change policy and will in fact take America back to the bad old days of the 1990s. America wants to move forward and should go with the candidates that will help the country move forward...."

An Ordinary Person and Politics in America has a Question for Labor...

A note to Hankster friends:

• Florida: Both parties seek to claim them. You can read it here: (American Taino)


• Smirking Chimp for imp-chimpment


• Steve we miss you! (A New America-Nothing will ever be attempted, if all possible objections must be first overcome)--what are you thinking???


• Independent Debate Watch Monday July 23 -- CUIP....


• Stephen VanDyke and Hammer of Truth are also missed!


• Ordinary Person and Politics in America has taken a break... Our loss! What will it take to bring you back? Politics is dirty, but the challenge can be envigorating!


• On a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury and some words for STEVE HUNTLEY OF THE CHICAGO SUN-TIMES wants to silence Dennis Kucinich, Mike Gravel and Ron Paul. "Call me an elitist, but I'm tired of hearing Democrats Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel, Republicans Ron Paul and Mike Huckabee or any other candidate with no ... Well, read it yourself! (Godwhacker)


• Cudos to Registered Independent for a nice lollygag at Myrtle Beach....


• The ever-outspoken Swiftboat! doesn't hold back... No longer tin soldiers... What now?


• Shaun Mullen is alive and well on The Moderate Voice Is It a Constitutional Crisis?


• Third Party Watch keeps watch


• Rock the Debates has an interview with Tom Tancredo about including independents in the debates

Check out the independent blogosphere on the Hankster sidebar!

Conversations on Independence

Another good post on the Post by An Ordinary Person and Politics in America:

If the Post, Kaiser and Harvard really wanted to get to the heart of the matter on the phenomenon of Political Independents I would urge them to actually start talking with Independent activists and reformers who are trying to change the System. Hey it’s not hard to find them. I only started this blog two months ago and I’ve made plenty of contacts and spoken with many of these types of people.

I agree. Kinda makes you wonder, doesn't it?

Conversations on Independence

So, how are independent voters doing? MRF Buckley at NewsPopping: Internet Journalism Blog had this astute analysis of the debates and the candidates. LiberalArtsGuy at An Ordinary Person and Politics in America has developed a very interesting schmooze strategy for meeting other independents, and while you're there, check out Fence Sitter (Not!). And where can a passionate anti-war activist get a break? On CNN? No, baby -- On Swiftspeech! This is a great blog - not to be missed. And you'll want to read Jackie Salit's statement posted here on The Independent View: "Contrary to the statement by Senator Clinton, Iraq is not George Bush’s war. It is Washington’s war—signed, sealed and delivered by both political parties."

I'd say independents are doing quite well. What do you think?

Conversations on Independence

Candidates, candidates, candidates everywhere.... Daily Kos has an interesting poll going that is currently showing 265 votes for Al Gore (is he running? Djneedle83 points to a "strengthening volatility" among the "democratic/independent electorate"... ), 88 for John Edwards and 61 for Barak Obama. Hillary comes in at 15.... Meanwhile An Ordinary Person and Politics in America "Fixing a Broken System" points out that one of the big problems in the approach that Unity 08 takes is that it only appeals to people who identify with one of the major parties.