Backgrounder: Unity 08

I must confess that when Unity '08 first came out, I was skeptical. Bipartisan political join hands across the water for the sake of America... Well, I thinks to meself, it's a bit harder than that after all... isn't it? And by all means please see the wonderful actor Peter O'Tool in Venus, it's worth the trip...

Neverlethess, here's some links to some of the current thinking about Unity 08, born of a liberal desire of a third party (without doing the hard hard work)? Well, you decide:

Essentially, Unity 08 was formed as a sort of BIPARTISAN MoveOn.org in May last year by a grouping of Democrats Hamilton Jordan and Gerald Rafshoon, who gained political fame for their role in electing Jimmy Carter 30 years ago, as well as Doug Bailey, a media adviser to former president and representative Gerald R. Ford (R-Mich.) and former Maine governor Angus King, an independent.... :
Their website: http://www.unity08.com/
LATEST NEWS FROM BALLOT ACCESS NEWS (RICH WINGER)Unity.08 Sues Federal Election Commission January 12th, 2007 On January 10, 2007, Unity.08 sued the Federal Election Commission. Unity.08 is asking for an injunction allowing it to raise as much money from individuals as it can, during 2007. The case is Unity08 v FEC, 1:07-cv-53, filed in U.S. District Court in Washington DC.
Federal campaign laws that control how much money individuals may contribute to candidates cannot pertain to groups that don’t have any candidates or that don’t support any particular candidates. Nevertheless, in October 2006, the FEC ruled that no one may contribute more than $5,000 to Unity.08. Unity.08’s complaint says, “Unity08 has no candidates, and is in no way supporting or opposing any person as a candidate, clearly identified or otherwise. Under these circumstances, the FEC cannot legitimately be preventing Unity08 from corrupting a federal election or creating the appearance of corruption in the electoral process.”
The case was assigned to Judge Richard Roberts, a Clinton appointee. http://www.ballot-access.org/2007/01/12/unity08-sues-federal-election-commission/

THE FOUNDING:From the Internet to the White HousePolitical Veterans Work to Organize Bipartisan 2008 Ticket With Online BallotingBy Jim VandeHeiWashington Post Staff WriterWednesday, May 31, 2006; Page A04LINKA group of old Washington hands has launched a campaign to remake Internet politics, taking a forum that until now has been associated with ideologues and angry partisans and using it to start a movement culminating in a bipartisan presidential ticket in 2008.
The group is called Unity08, and no one would accuse its founders of thinking small. They include Democrats Hamilton Jordan and Gerald Rafshoon, who gained political fame for their role in electing Jimmy Carter 30 years ago, as well as Doug Bailey, a media adviser to former president and representative Gerald R. Ford (R-Mich.). They are being joined by former Maine governor Angus King, an independent.... http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/30/AR2006053001139.html?referrer=email&referrer=email&referrer=email

'Unity '08' Seeks Third Party Path
Doug Bailey
Unity '08 Founders Council
Tuesday, June 27, 2006; 12:00 PMWashington Post
Doug Bailey , a member of the Unity '08 Founders Council, was online Tuesday, June 27, at noon ET to discuss the group's goal of a third party option in the 2008 presidential elections. Unity '08 is comprised of political consultants, both Democrat and Republican, who feel that neither party is providing adequate leadership for the country. The group hopes to put forth a presidential ticket with one candidate from each side of the partisan divide.
Bailey is also founder of The Hotline, a political newsletter, and former political media consultant to President Gerald Ford .
The transcript follows.... http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2006/06/15/DI2006061501406.html