Today is primary day and 3.5 million Flori

Sunday, August 31, 2008

TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

INDEPENDENT VOTERS

REFORM -- More on Oregon Open Primary!
  • Oregon Open Primary Gives All Voters a Say in Who's on the Ballot in November (by Sal Peralta, The Hankster)
  • Old foe in Poe update (State Journal Register) Cahnman defeated then-Ald. CHUCK REDPATH in the 2006 Democratic primary to get a general-election shot at Poe in the 99th House District. In that race, Cahnman made a push for open primaries in Illinois a key issue. Poe opposed the idea before the primary, but when about 80 percent voted for open primaries in an advisory referendum on Springfield ballots that election, Poe did an about-face.
  • Letter: Open the primary (The Capital-Journal - Kansas City) It is the consent of the governed that grants the power and the money to vote — not the parties.
  • Washington Election '08: Get ready for the main event (Bellevue Reporter) The new system - called the Top Two - no longer guaranteed that a Democrat and a Republican would move on to the general election. In some King County districts, it will be two Democrats vying for the seat.

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Oregon Open Primary Gives All Voters a Say in Who's on the Ballot in November

by Sal Peralta, August 30, 2008

During the coming months, various interests will be debating the Open Primary system that will be on Oregon's ballot as Measure 65 this November.

WHAT IS THE OPEN PRIMARY?

The Open Primary will create a single primary in which any Oregon voter may vote for any candidate on the primary ballot, and the top two candidates will move on to the general election.

Opponents of the measure have expressed concerns that the Open Primary will raise the cost of our elections, take the power to nominate candidates away from political parties, and harm minor political parties, effectively denying them a spot on the November ballot.

GIVING EVERY VOTER A VOICE

The Open Primary is about giving all voters a say in who will appear on the ballot in November. Oregon's current system discriminates against the 400,000 Oregon voters who are not affiliated with a major party. Because these voters do not have a choice on the May Primary ballot in the most important races, most of them choose to stay home.

Democrats, who had a contested Presidential Primary turned out 77 percent of their voters in the May election. 55 percent of Republicans turned out, while the turnout among non-affiliated voters and minor party members was less than 30 percent -- mostly because they had nothing to vote for except for possibly a local ballot measure or a non-partisan primary.

Even opponents of the measure, such as Lewis and Clark Professor, Paul Gronke, a partisan Democrat, concede that the Open Primary will likely increase turnout among non-affiliated voters by at least 3-5% -- though proponents, such as former Secretaries of State Phil Keisling and Norma Paulus, contend that the increase in turnout will likely be much higher across all political parties and NAV's.

GIVING EVERY VOTER A CHOICE

During the current election cycle, 44 percent of legislative races, including 8 out of 15 senate races, and 2 out of 5 statewide races, will not be contested in November, meaning that the primary election may result in a candidate being elected to public office despite only having the suport of 12 to 13 percent of voters in a given legislative district.

The general election in such races is really more of a coronation than a contest. The Open Primary will give voters in many of these uncontested districts an honest choice in November.

WHAT ABOUT MINOR PARTIES?

Though it is true that some legislative changes will need to be made in order to protect the ballot status of most minor parties in Oregon, and the federal status of all political parties, there is no reason to suppose that these housekeeping measures will not move through the Oregon legislature.

MORE BALLOT ACCESS, NOT LESS

Under Oregonʼs current system, minor political parties do not appear on the primary ballot. The Open Primary will give them access to the primary ballot for the first time in the history of the state.

Moreover, the Open Primary will give Independents and other minor parties that choose to cross-endorse candidates more ballot access, not less. Under the current system, minor political parties that choose to cross-nominate candidates may not have their names printed on the ballot. Under the Open Primary, every political party will have the power to endorse candidates and have those endorsements appear on the ballot.

A FAIRER ELECTION CALENDAR

The current system also sets up an election calendar that badly discriminates against minor political parties.

We cannot guarantee credible Independent candidates a one-on-one general election -- the only type of election where minor party candidates have any chance of winning -- until June or later. In some cases, as in House District 29 where the Independents ran Terry Rilling, a former Mayor of Cornelius, we did not know whether we would have a one-n-one race until August 26th.

In another case, we have cross-nominated Joel Haugen for US Congress. Haugen won the Republican nomination with more than 70 percent of the vote, and was the unanimous choice of the Independent Party's nominating caucus. But the only way for him to appear on the ballot as an Independent is for him to give up his Republican nomination, meaning that he could face a Republican opponent in November if the Republicans hold a nominating convention in the next few weeks.

WHAT ABOUT THE COST OF ELECTIONS?

Oregon is one of only three states that has no limits of any kind on political contributions. We need campaign finance reform to help restore government to the hands of the People of this state. However, those concerns are quite independent of this particular measure, and it is worth mentioning that both Paulus and Keisling are on record as being in support of a reasonable system of contribution limits and/or publicly financed elections.

CONCLUSIONS

The Open Primary will result in a less polarized Oregon, and an Oregon where non-affiliated voters and Independents have a greater role to play in our democratic process. In my view, Independents and non-affiliated voters will benefit from playing on a more level playing field, rather than one that is slanted to benefit the major political parties.

Your Mileage May Vary.

Sal Peralta blogs at OregonIndependent.com

TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

INDEPENDENT VOTERS

REFORM
  • Majority rule: Minnesota’s electoral system doesn’t work well in multi-party environment (Timberjay Newspapers) which is why state leaders need to start taking electoral reforms, such as the instant runoff, seriously.
  • We need instant runoff voting (LETTER to St. Petersburg Times)
  • Cincinnati Asks Voters to Decide Whether to Use Single Transferable Vote for City Council (Ballot Access News)
  • IRV: beyond the top-two primary - The current debate over whether the top-two primary violates party rights, confuses voters, or props up the secretary of state as the restorer... (Seattle Times)
  • Six proposals, including term limits, head to voters (Memphis Commercial Appeal)

THIRD PARTY NEWS
McCain, Pennsylvania GOP try to block Barr from ballot (by Libertarian Party, SmallGovTimes.com)

Friday, August 29, 2008

Hankster readers are against US involvement in Iraq

Hankster Presidential Primary Poll

I have just taken down the Newsvine poll that had been running over the course of the primaries. Final tallies:

Ron Paul - 50 votes
Barack Obama - 32 votes
Dennis Kucinich - 15 votes
Hillary Clinton - 7 votes
John McCain - 6 votes
John Edwards - 6 votes
Other - 22 votes (Sorry -- these votes didn't get recorded by candidate)

One thing is clear: Hankster readers are against US involvement in Iraq.

obama







is on the field!

TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

INDEPENDENT VOTERS
Obama Nomination Occurs on Lyndon Johnson’s 100th Birthday (Ballot Access News) Unfortunately, the U.S. Justice Department has consistently interpreted the Voting Rights Act to not apply to state laws that disenfranchise minor party and independent voters. Congress needs to pass a new Voting Rights Act.


CONTROVERSY: OREGON TOP TWO PRIMARY

CAMPAIGN
  • Obama faces balancing act on attacks (Ben Smith, Politico) David Axelrod, Obama's top strategist: “He will read everything Barack’s going to do or say just to get a sense of whether it seems like old politics.”
  • A 'Maverick' Nominee, But Still The Same GOP-McCain Clinched Nomination Without Winning Over Conservatives, But Party Leaders Doubt Ideological Shift (by James A. Barnes, National Journal)
  • Long way to go yet (Indian Country Today) But despite the dramatic victories of the American civil rights movement, the United States cannot claim moral authority as long as indigenous peoples in America suffer the highest rates of poverty and suicide.
  • Top Obama aides counting on new voters to win in November-Newly registered Democrats will offset any lag for Obama among traditional party voters, Plouffe and Axelrod said Thursday at a Monitor breakfast. (Christian Science Monitor)

REFORM
Golisano expands reform effort to national politics, contributes $1 million to Obama campaign-Iraq, deficit, energy are top priorities (Buffalo News)

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Dem convention live-blog

Dem convention live-blog

Dem convention live-blog

Live-blogging Barack Obama's acceptance speech







6:42pm: Ok, I'm a blogging sucker! I'm home, I've done my grocery shopping and dropped off my dry cleaning, there's a beautiful sunset (as usual) from my studio in Queens NY, and I'm watching CNN. My computer is on.... Why not go ahead and make a few comments on this eve of the final act of the Democratic Party nomination of the candidate who will most likely be the first black president of the US?

So many themes, so little time!

But that's ok, I have CNN and MSNBC and NY1 and FoxNews and all those guys to parse it for me... maybe I'll take a look at some of the blogs as well...

So, join me for a minute or two, and enjoy the sunset!
- Hankstering for you!



6:56pm Ok, it's not that dark, I had the camera set on "twilight"... Also, I can't guarantee that all the pix might end up at the top of the blog... not sure why that is, something about blogger, no doubt.....





7:07pm -- entrance of son(s) and daughter(s) of Martlin Luther King, Jr. after a very moving video (this is the anniversary of the 45th commemorative March on Washington, when MLK gave his "I Have A Dream" speech) and lots and lots of historical emotion.


No doubt this is a great moment for Americans -- black, white, brown, red and yellow. And, just to mention Dr. King was not a Democratic Party spokesperson. He was responding to the need of the community, and helped build a movement that ordinary black people engineered..... (just had to say that....)



7:38 Ok, the pictures are going to appear at the top of the post, and all the words will be down here, but the sunset is really wonderful, so you'll hopefully enjoy it immediately!




7:53 pm Lots of music of the people. It's actually a wonderful production. Not as spectacular as the Beijing Olympics, but hey, we're Americans! What do you want? Philosophy AND syncronized swimming??? (Cheryl Crow singing)



8:26pm What I was trying to say about MLK's I Have a Dream speech is that MLK was a leader of the people, not a party politician. While Barack certainly comes "from the people", as do we all, and not from the Party, his leadership tonight is being recognized by the Party and they're hoping he's one of them and not particulary one of "us" -- the people. There's a big difference in the interests of the people and the interests of the Party. Barack Obama will have to make his way through this.
8:47 Ok, enough of that. I was hoping to hear my friend Omar Ali Tonight Listen live to Omar Ali: Thursday, August 28, 2008 8:35 pm (EST) The Bev Tyler Show http:/www.waok.com/ but all I hear is a lot of applause for now speaker Al Gore.... hmmmm.... Omar would no doubt be talking about what independent voters think about his convention....
Ok, let's go see what the stratosblog has to say now:
Alaskans are gathering to view the speech according to JuneauEmpire.com
Here's some more rhetoric on how Obama needs to not be rhetorical... at Cross Party Lines...
And meantime, The "Open Primary" Debate Rages On at Free Citizen!
10:23pm Obama is speaking now. High energy from the crowd of course. He's basically re-capping the primary pitch, speaking about and to the people he met while campaigning... There probably won't be anything of note in this speech, but we'll see. I'll be interested to hear if he never utters the words "Democratic Party". He's anti-Republican, anti-McCain, but you don't hear a lot of pro-Democratic Party talk here... "It's time for us to change America and that's why I'm running for President!"

open primaries


Oregon Top Two Primary Measure 65/ Recent Washington Primary Results

ROUND UP ON OREGON OPEN PRIMARY REFERENDUM
  • Bradbury announces his bid for governor in 2010 (Politicker OR)
  • Bradbury likely to run for governor in 2010 (Jeff Mapes, The Oregonian) Dem Bradbury (who is being criticized by Repubs) said he will work with a group that is trying to encourage other states to adopt Oregon's vote-by-mail system.
  • Why have primary elections? (West Seattle Herald) The real question is why we have these elections. One obvious reason was to wrest and keep control out of political party hands.
  • In Our View: Top two primary is a huge success (The Columbian) The warning about Washington state’s top two primary echoed off the Cascades with near-hysterical alarm: “We could end up in the general election with two candidates from the same party! Oh, my gosh!”.... It is not the parties’ sacred nominating process; it is the people’s semifinals leading up to the November finals.
  • Top-two primary (LETTERS to Seattle Times)
  • The morning after the Washington primary (Jeff Mapes, The Oregonian) it's more likely that you would see two candidates of the same party advancing not in a swing district, but in a heavily Democratic or Republican district.
  • Top-two primary: So much for THAT argument (Kari Chisholm, Blue Oregon)
  • All Working to Plan in the 27th Legislative District (Tacoma News Tribune/Political Buzz) Opponents of the Top Two primary predicted all sorts of funny business if a system was created that let two candidates from the same party to advance to the general election. But the only race in the state where something out of the ordinary is taking place is in Tacoma's 27th.
  • Editorial: ‘Top two’ primary is fairest of them all (Corvallis Gazette Times)

TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

INDEPENDENT VOTERS
  • CUIP Wins the Right to Intervene in Idaho Republican Case (Ballot Access News) Independents have legal standing as defendants in effort to exclude independents from primary
  • Democrats gain ground, but GOP still rules in AZ (Arizona Star) And the number and share of those not interested in affiliating with any of the recognized parties went up by nearly 94,000. They now total more than 27.1 percent of eligible voters, and they will be eligible to vote in Tuesday's primary, under a state law that allows them to select which party's primary they want to participate in.

REFORM
Gerrymandering a key culprit in California budget mess-Proposition 11, which would strip the Legislature of its power to draw state Senate and Assembly district lines, is desperately needed. (George Skelton, Capitol Journal, LA Times)


THIRD PARTY NEWS
  • Alaskan Independence Party Does Well in Blanket Primary (Ballot Access News)
  • What happened to Pat in 2000?-Third Partyism (NorCal Council of Concervative Citizens) Russ Verney once chaired the New Hampshire Democratic Party and secretary Jim Mangia was a (albeit fairly moderate and low-key) gay-rights activist..... He also should have not have gotten involved with Lenora Fulani.
  • Fuuniest News of the Election Season (Riley Dad's Weblog) In 1988, the Democratic and Republican Parties missed a similar Indiana deadline. Lenora Fulani sued the State Election Board to force the Board to enforce the deadline.... This year, the Texas Libertarian Party and Bob Barr are the only ballot-listed presidential candidates on the Texas ballot, so the Texas Libertarian Party could, if it wished, bring a lawsuit. However, the result of the lawsuit would probably be to get the deadline declared unconstitutional; no court would order that Obama and McCain be kept off the ballot.

CAMPAIGN
Golisano Goes National, Backs Obama (NY Daily News/Daily Politics)

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Campaign '08: The Mushroom and the Cucumber

Cartoon by Alice Rydel

TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

REFORM
The Parties Oppose The "Open Primary" (Steve Rankin, Free Citizen)

LOCAL INDEPENDENT NEWS
Poll: Many Minnesotans would support independents (Minneapolis Star Tribune) 77 percent of the state's likely voters say they would consider voting for an independent or third-party candidate

MEDIA
  • Everyone Trashes The Media — Especially The Media (NPR.org) The press is trying to figure out what the heck it will look like as the previous economic models are disintegrating and major newspapers are falling apart.
  • CNN Worries About 'Too Liberal' Democratic Convention (NewsBusters.org)

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Talk/Talk: It Won't Be Hillary

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Below are excerpts from this week's Talk Talk, It Won't Be Hillary. Every Sunday CUIP's president Jacqueline Salit and strategist and philosopher Fred Newman watch the political talk shows and discuss them. Here are excerpts from their dialogue on Sunday, August 24, 2008 after watching "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" and "The McLaughlin Group".

Newman: The choice of Joe Biden resembles John Kennedy's choice of Lyndon Johnson. And that's a key thing with Obama trying to project a Kennedy image, which would be a big plus.

Salit: Not to mention that Caroline Kennedy was on Obama's VP search committee. OK, here's the counter attack: Yes, Biden brings all those things, but the choice highlights Obama's weaknesses. He had to go to somebody like Biden, a six-term senator who's experienced in foreign affairs, etc. and while he brings those plusses to the ticket, the minus is that it shines a light on Obama's weakness in that area. So, effectively, it's a negative for Obama.

Newman: Obama's going to have the light shone on his weaknesses in any event. Another spotlight isn't going to add a whole lot more light. If you're lit, you're lit.

Read Talk Talk in its entirety here.

wind power


TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

CAMPAIGN
  • Obama's manager ignoring national polls (Chicago Tribune/The Swamp) "McCain has more strength with independent voters than most Republicans. We as a party can be bunned out about that, but we've got to deal with it."
  • Manager: Hispanics, independents key-Obama campaign also seeking support of Colorado's blacks, young voters (The Coloradoan)
  • Obama holds lead in Pennsylvania, poll shows (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Mr. Obama is the favorite among independent voters, white women and blacks, and Mr. McCain leads among white men, blue-collar workers and Catholics.
  • Penny throws support to McCain (The Mankato Free Press) Penny said he told McCain several years ago he’d be willing to help if his former colleague decided to make a second run for the presidency.

THIRD PARTY NEWS
Ralph Nader’s Ballot Labels (Ballot Access News)

Monday, August 25, 2008

Independents support Barack, Does Barack support independent voters???

Don't get me wrong -- I will most likely pull the lever at my school in New York City for Barack Obama and his running mate (I would think Joe Biden is THE likely the best choice of the hour!)

Obama's campaign and the Democratic Party will depend on support from independent voters to win the Presidency.

My gut instinct from my personal interactions with many independents across the country is that independents are supporting Obama with reservation.

Again, independents are not partisans. Independents are not Democrats or Republicans who LEAN independent. We are not independents who LEAN Dem or Repub.... We are voters who are ANTI-PARTISAN. We support a platform of open primaries, open debates, fair process for third parties. We support democracy and a voice for the American people.

Our best to Barack. Without political reform, it won't make a difference. But give it your best shot!!
-NH

It's Showtime in Denver!!!!

Chris Matthews has kicked off the NBC coverage of the Dem convention in Denver tonight with a little Jerry Springer action . Matthews says he likes (and in fact appears to genuinely revel in) talking with the "real" people.

The "real" people Matthews is reveling in are rabid partisans who are either pro-Hillary and/or anti-Obama (at this point, what's the difference???) Many of these folks will vote for John McCain because they support conservative triangulating party politics.

But hey, it's "exciting" tv. The pundits are talking fast and furious, lest they lose their audience. And who cares about the country anyway?

After all, the MSM has decided that Americans are into the excitement. In spite of the fact that 40% of the electorate now identifies as independent -- and seemingly NOT part of the partisan divide.

Hmmmm..... my money's on the independents and independent-minded voters in the country.

TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

REFORM
  • OREGON REPUBLICANS & DEMOCRATS TEAM UP TO END THIRD PARTY COMPETITION (NewsWithViews.com) "Try to imagine the sheer horror of having both Democrat and Republican Parties under the control of the liberal-left. It'll be the downfall of the United States and will open the door to the Internationalists who believe America is simply a cash-cow for the world," said Baker. [NOTE: This publication should be called News With Right Wing Hysteria]
  • Arriving Michigan Delegates to Democratic Party National Convention Finally Freed From 'Half Of One Vote' Punishment Mandate (Marketwatch) Without any public hearings, the majority of 110 State Representatives, and 38 State Senators were co-conspirators in the popup of Public Act 52 of 2007 ("Closed Early Michigan Presidential Primary") signed by Gov. Granholm on September 4, 2007.
  • Early voting kicks off in parish (The Natchez Democrat) This is the first election cycle in which closed primaries are being used in Louisiana, Ensminger said.“We have always had open primaries, and a lot of people crossed party lines to vote in an election, but hopefully there won’t be too much confusion,” she said.

CAMPAIGN
  • Poll: Obama leads by 5 points in Colorado (Washington Times) Among independent voters, Mr. Obama took 43 percent, Mr. McCain 34 percent, Green Party candidate Cynthia McKinney 2 percent, with 31 percent undecided.
  • Poll: McCain leads Obama in Colorado (The Denver Post) In the poll Independent voters split between the two candidates, with 46 percent favoring McCain to Obama's 44 percent.
  • PRESIDENTIAL RACE: Nevadans give McCain edge-But undecided voters hold key to election (Las Vegas Review Journal) Obama had a lead among Nevada independent voters, 40 percent to 34 percent, with 26 percent still undecided.
  • Wild West No Longer a Lock for GOP (CQ Politics)

Sunday, August 24, 2008

mao




Zedong

and the people of China

Avant-Garde Olympic Closing Ceremonies

I'm watching the closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics and I must say, this is the most avant-garde production I have ever seen outside Fred Newman's Castillo Theater.

The opening and closing ceremonies were truly a showcase of creativity, innovation, performance, fearlessness, and collectivity. But also of great great beauty. A most beautiful performance.

Hats off to the Chinese people.

They should be very very proud. And speaking for at least some of the American people, and possibly some portion of the world's people, WE are very very proud of the Chinese people and their committment to twisting our perceptions of space and time. We have all grown another head!

Beijing, Beijing
Ch
Xie xie
Toa chi
Doh je
Gracias
Graci
Arigato
Merci
Thanks

text message


TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

INDEPENDENT VOTERS
  • The Misunderstood "independent" (Mulitpartisan Minnesota) I just had my second conference call Sunday with CUIP, which stands for the Committee for a Unified Independent Party.
  • Denver and the West are perfectly situated to showcase Democrats' call for national change (Greeley Tribune) From October 2000 through June of this year, unaffiliated voters were the only group to gain registration statewide, comprising roughly 34 percent of the electorate.
  • How the West Will Be Won (Wall Street Journal) Keep your eyes, nonetheless, on our thundering herds of political mavericks and unaffiliated voters, and prepare for a challenging ride in 2008 and 2012.

REFORM
CAMPAIGN

Friday, August 22, 2008

It's a Media Affair

The MSM is all abuzz with speculation on Barack Obama's VP pick, which is supposed to be announced "at any minute"...



It's going to be a text message.



This gives the MSM more time to speculate so that the MSM can continue to speculate.



Hmmmm....



I was invited to a party tonight, so I suspect I might miss the announcement.



However, I'm sure that Sen. Obama will make the right choice for his campaign, given the available choices.



In the meantime, independent voters will be celebrating the first legal win as standing in the Idaho primary litigation....



Everyone: Carry on!

TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

REFORM

CAMPAIGN
Obama has 7-point lead on McCain in Michigan (DETROIT FREE PRESS) Perhaps most striking is Obama's 17-point edge among independent voters

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Hankster on SIRIUS Channel 110 at 5:30 ET today

If you tune in to Channel 110 Indie Talk The Blog Bunker with Joe Salzone this afternoon, you'll hear Constitutionalist Party candidate for President Chuck Baldwin, and then Nancy Hanks responding and commenting on third party politics at 5:30. Hope you can catch it!!

judge for yourself

tilting at winmills

TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

INDEPENDENT VOTERS

REFORM

CAMPAIGN
Obama Suffers Big Mac Attack (Black Voices/Blogs) Independent Voters prefer Obama 47 percent to 36 percent.

THIRD PARTY NEWS
Ron Paul 2008: Quest for the Vice Presidency (Reason Magazine) VA Ind. Green Party chair: I've been talking with all three of the major minors, and what I've suggested is that they call new conventions to nominate this ticket. Mike Bloomberg-Ron Paul in 2008??

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Idaho Ruling Marks First for Independent Voters

Independent Voters Win Right to Intervene and Defend Idaho’s Open Primary System in Federal Court Litigation

Independent voters and two groups representing independents were today granted intervener status in litigation concerning open primaries.

U.S. District Court Judge B. Lynn Winmill ruled from the bench, granting independents the right to be a full party in the litigation. The decision marks the first time independent voters have been accorded this status in an open primary case.

“The Republican Party is attempting to restructure the electoral system of Idaho out of narrow partisan interests,” stated lead counsel for the independents Harry Kresky. “As a result of today’s decision, independents will be involved in all phases of this litigation—the outcome of which will directly impact on every independent in the state.”

The Idaho Republican Party brought the suit in an effort to end the system of open primaries and force the state to institute partisan voter registration. They opposed the intervention by independents. Eleven independent voters from Twin Falls, Salmon, Filer and Jerome, along with two groups which represent independent voters --The American Independent Movement of Idaho (AIM) and the Committee for a Unified Independent Party, Inc. (CUIP) -- filed the Motion to Intervene into Idaho Republican Party v. Ysursa on July 1, 2008.

Mitch Campbell, founder of the American Independent Movement of Idaho, was the initiator of the Motion to Intervene. Campbell and other independent voters in Idaho and across the country have championed the cause of open primaries, particularly as the number of voters who consider themselves independents has grown. Today nearly 40% of American’s describe themselves as political independents.

Jacqueline Salit, president of CUIP which has active networks of independent voters in more than 35 states, stated in her declaration to the court, “Independents have a direct and immediate interest in the outcome of this litigation. CUIP believes that this litigation is of national significance and if plaintiffs prevail it will encourage partisans in other states with some form of open primary to seek to close them.”

“We’re looking for free choice here. We believe that every person should have the right to vote for the candidate of their choice in every election,” said Campbell. “Closing the primaries is a move by a hard-line faction within the party to control the candidate selection process at the expense of democracy.”

Today’s decision comes one day after neighboring Washington State conducted its “top two” primary. Oregon state voters have placed an initiative on the ballot to create a system similar to Washington’s.

Legal papers available upon request.
For more information:
CUIP (
http://www.independentvoting.org/) is a national strategy center and organizing hub for independent voters with headquarters in New York City.

CUIP, 225 Broadway, Ste. 2010, New York, NY 10007
Sarah Lyons: 917-658-9885

AIM, PO Box 1785, Twin Falls, ID 83303
Mitch Campbell: 208-731-2345

Independents to intervene in Idaho primary lawsuit

By JOHN MILLER Associated Press Writer • Published August 20, 2008

The Olympian

A group of independent voters won a federal judge's permission Wednesday to join a court fight over Idaho's open primary elections.

U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill ruled that lawyers for the American Independent Movement of Idaho and the New York-based Committee for a Unified Independent Party could intervene on behalf of Secretary of State Ben Ysursa, who is defending Idaho's 36-year-old system..... (read more in The Olympian)

"Not Your Grandfather's Caucus"


When Arizona Grand Canyon Independent Voters set up a caucus for independent voters at the Showlow Senior Citizens Center, local press failed to post notice about the event. Local Arizona independent activists Geannie Schroeder and Scott Brannon were undetered when nobody showed up.


What's an independent activist to do? Move to the next corner!


Geannie and Scott moved their operation to the local library in Showlow, set up a table, gave out bottled water and cookies and signed up another dozen or so voters interested in political reform. A lot of folks walked by, but a lot of independents stopped and listened, says Geannie. She was motivated by the experience. The next move? The Safeway.


This is exactly the kind of grassroots activism that builds the independent movement!


Watch for Grand Canyon Independent Voters on your corner!


To contact Grand Canyon Independent Voters

Contact: Geannie Schroeder, Scott Brannon


Phone: 928-537-7699 or 928-242-4775

tough guy


Talk/Talk: Tough Guys?

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Below are excerpts from this week's Talk Talk, Tough Guys?. Every Sunday CUIP's president Jacqueline Salit and strategist and philosopher Fred Newman watch the political talk shows and discuss them. Here are excerpts from their dialogue on Sunday, August 17, 2008 after watching "The Chris Matthews Show", "Meet the Press" and "This Week with George Stephanopoulos".

Newman: OK. And back to McCain. The thing about McCain that is interesting and curious is that McCain did not make his national reputation as a tough guy. That's a part of his appeal. Actually, though, he made his national reputation as being something other than a tough guy. He was for cooperation across the aisle. He was open. He was for hearing what's best from the other side. Those aren't tough things to do. Some people might even perceive them as wishy-washy things to do. So, that's who he is. But now they're trying to transform him into a tough guy. Why? Because now he wants to court the Republican right. He wants to maximize the value of his relationship to Bush. So they've got a contradiction on their hands.

Salit: In other words, McCain's the guy who sat down with Ted Kennedy on immigration, the guy who got with Russ Feingold and does the McCain-Feingold bill...

Newman: George Bush is a tough guy. Not John McCain. McCain's a straight shooter, that was his whole image. And arguably, that's the opposite of being a tough guy.

Read Talk Talk in its entirety here.

TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

INDEPENDENT VOTERS
Arizona sees more independent voters (The Arizona Republic) 46% increase in independent registration over past 5 years

REFORM
Oregon Election Ballot Measures (KOIN - Portland) Measure 65 "top two" primary

CAMPAIGN
Obama Leads McCain, but His Margin Has Slipped (CQ Politics) Independent voters, who were split in the last poll, now lean towards the Democrats 45 percent to 39 percent.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

More conversation on Oregon Top Two Primary and Measure 65

This just in from Oregon Independent:

Dan is overstating the case a bit. The Working Families party supports M65, and the Independent Party of Oregon is split on the measure and will not take a position.

The Libertarians and Greens don't like it because they are more interested in running protest candidates than they are winning races.

I disagree with his analysis that M65 will remove general election ballot access for Independents and other minor parties. 44 percent of all legislative races are currently not contested, and the Republicans did not field a candidate in 2 out of the 5 statewide races (AG, Labor Comissioner) during this cycle.

As someone who has spent some time recruiting candidates, I would much rather play by the same rules that the major parties play under.

TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

Democratic Lawyer: Lawsuit Over Top Two Primary Possible (Oregon Public Broadcasting) In a top two primary the two candidates with the most votes advance - even if they’re from the same party.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Challenge to the Oregon Independence Party:

Thanks to a comment from Dan Meek, an Independent Party spokesperson and Portland attorney, (an independent partisan par excellence...) for bringing attention to the issue in Oregon about open primaries relative to third parties.

With all due respect Dan, it's not that I'm not aware of the content of Measure 65, it's that I care more about involving voters than parties (including minor parties)in the democratic process.

I am a strong supporter of independent parties (in fact, I am the Secretary of the Queens County Committee of the Independence Party of New York. And just by the way, we allow non-partisans to vote in our primaries!)

As a registered Independence Party member, I call on minor parties (Libertarian, Reform, Independence, Green, etc. etc.) to support independent voters in this matter. I think this is an issue of democracy.

Will the Oregon Independent Party step up to the plate for independents???

Read more: Phil Keisling: Leading Oregon Toward Socialism (?!) in the news 2006

Conversations on Independent Voters: Independents in Arkansas

Courtney Terry, a mom and grad student in Little Rock, Arkansas, came to independent politics because she didn't feel comfortable in a partisan world--and a world that so readily accepts poverty as a norm.

She is organizing a caucus of independents to talk about next steps and has been conducting a voter registration drive in her community.

Courtney told The Hankster that she comes from a family (from Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas) that just "doesn't feel like the partisan process includes them." "I've spoken with friends who think the third choice is always crazy," Courtney said.

Crazy? In a world gone mad, it would be crazy NOT to be crazy! --NH

Contact Courtney at courtneyterry@hotmail.com or Phone: 501-773-0877

Happy Independence Day!

Independent Voters Organize Statewide August Caucuses

According to the independentvoting.org website, the Committee for a Unified Independent Party (CUIP) is holding statewide non-partisan caucuses of independent voters in the following states:

STATE CAUCUS DATES
(please check back regularly for updates)
* * *
Arizona – Grand Canyon Independent Voters
Date: August 16th
Time: 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm
Location: Showlow Senior Citizens Building, 980 Brady
Hosts: Geannie Schroeder, Scott Brannon
Email: roooney@cableone.net, gciv@npgcable.com
Phone: 928-537-7699 or 928-242-4775
* * *
Arkansas - Independent Voters of Arkansas
Date: Sunday, August 31st
Time: 2:00 pm
Location: Central Arkansas Library System – Main Library – 100 Rock St. Little Rock AR 72201 East Room.
Host: Courtney Terry
Email: courtneyterry@hotmail.com
Phone: 501-773-0877
* * *
Alabama – Independent Alabama
Date: Saturday, August 16th
Time: 4:00 pm
Location: 1623 12th St. South, Birmingham
Host: Bob Friedman
Email: bobby3d@bellsouth.net or call: 205-902-9487
* * *
Connecticut – Connecticut's Independent-Minded Electorate (CIME)
Date: TBA
Host: Lorenzo Blake
Email: Lorenzo_Blake@yahoo.com
* * *
Colorado – Colorado Independent Voters
Date: Thursday, August 21
Time: 7:00 p.m. Mountain
Location: via conference call
For call-in number please contact Marcia Ford
Host: Marcia Ford
Email: ford2200@gmail.com
* * *
Georgia – Georgia Independent Voters, IMove
Date: Sunday, August 24
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: 2964 Whitby Rd., Doraville
Hosts: Audrey Mowdy, Murray Dabby
Emails: audie300@yahoo.com, murraydab@comcast.net
Phone: 770-934-8311
* * *
Idaho – American Independent Movement
Date: TBA
Host: Mitch Campbell
Email: mitch@americanindependentmovement.org
* * *
Illinois – United Independents of Illinois
Date: August 23
Location: TBA
Email: DavidCherry73@yahoo.com
Phone: 312-399-3166
* * *
Indiana
Date: Saturday, August 23
Time: 10:00 to 11:30 am
Location: St Joseph County Library, Lasalle Branch, South Bend
Host: John Booker
Email: bookeru@aol.com
Phone: 574-289-9326
* * *
Massachusetts – Massachusetts Coalition of Independent Voters
Date: Sunday, August 10th
Time: 11 am to 1 pm
Location: 75 St Rose St. Jamaica Plain
Host: Diane Whitehouse
Email: diwhite158@hotmail.com
* * *
Maryland - Free State Independents
Date: Saturday, August 30th
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Location: 49 West Coffeehouse, Annapolis http://www.49westcoffeehouse.com/
Hosts: Lise Fisher (Prince George Co.), Peter Taillie and Helen Spinelli (Caroline Co.), Harrison Demchick (Baltimore Co.), Joseph Gilday (Montgomery Co.)
Emails: freestateindependents@gmail.com, sunspice44@hotmail.com, hdemchick@gmail.com, ptaillie@dmv.com, josephgilday@cavtel.net
* * *
New Mexico – New Mexico Committee of Independent Voters (NMCIV)
Date: Saturday, August 23
Time: 10:00 am
Location: Java Joe's, 2801 Rodeo Road (on the corner of Rodeo Road and Camino Carlos Rey)
Email: avote4change@yahoo.com
Phone: 505-466-9894
* * *
Pennsylvania – Independent Pennsylvanians
Date: August 24th
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: Conference Call – please go to website and fill in contact form or contact Steve Bouikidis below
Host: Steve Bouikidis
Email: SBconnector@gmail.com
Call: 215-957-5073
Website: http://www.paindependents.org/
* * *
South Carolina – Independence Party
Date: TBA
Host: Wayne Griffin, Chair
Email: gbros@bellsouth.net
* * *
South Dakota – South Dakota Voice of Independents
Date: August 13th
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Rapid City Public Library
Downtown – 610 Quincy St.
Date: August 16th
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Spearfish Public Library – Grace Balloch Memorial Library
Host: Kim Wright
Email: sdindvoice@gmail.com
* * *
Tennessee
Date: Thursday August 28th.
Time: 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Location: 952 Windrowe Drive, Nashville
Hosts: Tom & Cindy Morrison, Omar Ali
Emails: morrisonsound@mindspring.com , omarhali@vanderbilt.edu
* * *
Washington – Independent Voters of Washington
Date: Sunday, August 24
Time: 2:00 pm
Location: Bellevue
Host: Bren Antos
Email: brenant@premier1.net
Phone: 425-260-2235
* * *
Wisconsin – Wisconsin Group for an Independent Voice (WiGiv)
Date and Time: TBA
Hosts: Hopi Gesteland
Email: marygesteland@gmail.com

TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

INDEPENDENT VOTERS
  • Independent voters have shaped the 2008 Presidential Election (DAKOTA 21)
  • More R.I. voters register as Democrats (Providence Journal) Independents down from 55% to 48%

REFORM: Oregon Measure 65 would help independent voters in Oregon
  • Voting experiment might come to Oregon (The Oregonian) Minor parties like that the Top 2 system improves their access to the ballot. They no longer need to gather 1,000 signatures or hold a convention to qualify. But that better access is only to the primary ballot, which attracts less attention and fewer voters than the general election.
  • Wash. voters to try new open primary on Tuesday (KTVZ Central Oregon) Political parties are expected to oppose the measure.

CAMPAIGN
  • Democrats gather picnic, politics (Havasu News Herald) But independent voters are gaining ground – almost 30,000 voters have not declared a party affiliation – and Dave Tunnell of Lake Havasu City said that’s good news for the Democrats.
  • Campaigns connect online and in person (St. Petersburg Times) Social networking and political campaigning...
  • How Democrats can mine the West-The party's message appeals to the region's growing population of independents. (By Ken Salazar, LA Times)

LOCAL INDEPENDENT NEWS
  • Tilling the soil of the Texas political landscape (By: Harvey Kronberg, News Austin 8) Almost one third of this once bedrock GOP community now consider themselves as politically independent.
  • Mayor Bloomberg on Virginia ballot as candidate for President (NY Daily News)

Sunday, August 17, 2008

golden

TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

INDEPENDENT VOTERS
  • Voters Want Barr, Nader in Debates (Examiner) Among independent voters, 69% favored Barr's inclusion in the debates. 59% favor having Nader in debate...
  • Independents are loving 2008 (John Laird, The Columbian)

REFORM
  • Lights out for parties? Tuesday’s top two primary could signal a new political era for Washington state (The Columbian) “Parties have no constitutional right to be part of the primary system,” says former Oregon Secretary of State Phil Keisling
  • Washington voters offer preview to Oregon’s Measure 65 (The Register-Guard) Joseph Cornwell, vice chairman of the Libertarian Party of Oregon, said his counterparts in Washington oppose the new format because it makes it harder for third parties to access the general election ballot. “It’s not exciting,” he said. “It’s basically taking a choice away from the voters by pushing out any of the smaller parties.”

CAMPAIGN
  • NORTH CAROLINA: Obama Backers Mobilize in Bid to Wrest State From Republican Grip (New York Times) Democratic registration in the state is soaring, with 45,000 new registrants since May, and 7,000 new Republicans. About 44,000 have registered as unaffiliated.
  • Colorado crucial in presidential race (Vail Daily) Republicans have a slight edge over Democrats in this university town of 130,000, 32 percent to 30 percent. But the dominant voting bloc are the unaffiliated voters with 38 percent.

LOCAL INDEPENDENT NEWS: No challenge to Tennessee open primary
  • Memo outlined two courses for Davis to contest primary vote (Kingsport Times News)
  • Davis Concedes Primary to Roe (Bristol Herald Courier) Tennessee Republican Party officials voiced relief that Davis decided against a messy squabble over state election law.
  • Davis concedes, says delay designed to point out that Roe won with 'illegal votes' (Kingsport Times News)

Saturday, August 16, 2008

TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

INDEPENDENT VOTERS
  • Zogby Poll: Majority Want Libertarian Bob Barr Included in Presidential Debates (by Press Release - OpEdNews)
  • Poll: Obama by a nose (The Charlotte Post) Independent voters are split on the candidates, with Obama ahead with 37 percent compared to 32 percent for McCain. Barr, a former Republican congressman now on the Libertarian ticket, has 14 percent of the independent vote, while Nader has 4 percent.

REFORM
Washington voters offer preview to Oregon’s Measure 65 (The Register-Guard)

LOCAL INDEPENDENT NEWS
Text Of Rep. Davis' Concession Statement (Greeneville Sun) "The right of political parties to determine their own nominees goes to the core of the associational rights guaranteed by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, and it has been upheld by the Supreme Court of the United States...."

Friday, August 15, 2008

Celebrity?- My Barack Obama Ad 8/3/08

by Stephen Cohen

Levon Helm at Newport Folk Festival 2008

August message from Jackie Salit


TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

REFORM
  • New era unfolds in congressional races (Concordia Sentinel - LA) Along the way, or in the past few years, activists in the Democratic and Republican parties decided they preferred returning to closed primary elections
  • It's time to rethink California's defective constitution (Mercury News) e've passed more than 500 adjustments since our constitution's adoption in 1879 (compared with 27 changes in the U.S. Constitution), but these piecemeal efforts have failed to make California more governable.
  • Democrats Need Not Fear Prop 11 on Redistricting—In Fact, Many Are Supporting It (California Progress Report)
  • Proposition 11: Fake Redistricting Reform Brought to you by Governor Schwarzenegger and his Wrong-Wing Republican Gang (California Progress Report)
  • Reforming redistricting: Let independent citizens draw the lines (Capitol Weekly)


CAMPAIGN
Young Religious Voters Notable Player in Swing States (Christian Post Reporter)

LOCAL INDEPENDENT NEWS
OK: Independents gaining in areas, but voting opportunities limited (TAHLEQUAH DAILY PRESS)

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Blog Relations and Independent Politics

As I prepare to participate as a panelist on today's Bulldog Reporter audio conference, “Blog Relations Update for PR: Top Online Influencers Show How to Break into Blogs,” I realize I have a near-perfect example of what PR campaigns should NOT do to "reach and influence" blogs.

Barack Obama sent me a letter this week. I am on his email list and get those regular weekly or semi-weekly emails. I made a couple of small donations during the heat of the primaries, primarily to support and encourage Barack's valiant and successful attempt to take on the Clinton machine.

As an independent activist in New York City for the past 15 years, I can tell you that there is no love lost between independents in New York and our junior Senator Clinton. Hillary has personally attacked the preeminent Black independent in New York and the nation, Lenora Fulani, and has tried to strong-arm the Independence Party here in New York. Hillary is an independent-buster par excellence. As the Secretary of the Queens County Independence Party representing more than 21,000 party members (23 percent of voters in Queens are independent) this is no small matter.

The pitch from the Obama campaign to me in this letter states midway down on the first page:

"Together, we can change the way business is done in Washington. We can end the undue influence of special interests, bring Democrats and Republicans together to ge things done and finally solve the problems facing hardworking families across this country."


Ok, who is he talking to? Couldn't be me -- I'm not a Democrat nor am I a Republican.... Hmmm.....

"This has been a long campaign. and we've traveled this road with one of the most formidable candidates to ever run for President. In her 35 years of public service, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton has never given up on her fight for the American people. Senator Clinton has shattered myths and broken barriers and changed the Aermica in which my daughters and your daughters and granddaughers will come of age."


Screeching halt. I didn't really read the rest of it....


Here's the problem: Yes, I'm a woman. Yes, I live in New York City. According to this letter, however, the only thing I have in common with Barack is that I have two daughters.

In spite of the fact that independents make up 40% of the electorate nationally, in spite of the fact that independents were responsible for boosting Barack (AND John McCain for that matter) to his current position of presumptive nominee, in spite of the probably tens if not hundreds of thousands of independent voters that Barack has spoken to and with during the course of his campaign to date, he/his campaign still doesn't "get it."

I suspect that the Obama campaign thinks that independents are middle-of-the-road centrists who are "critical" of their parties, be they Democrats or Republicans.

Independents are not centrist Republicans unhappy that their party has lost its way. Independents are not centrist Democrats hoping to get back into power this term. Independents are people who don't like partisan politics. We are NOT THE CLUBHOUSE! We are people who don't choose to align ourselves with either major party because we don't fit in those categories. In fact we are anti-partisans, in the tradition of the Founding Fathers (and mothers, sisters, brothers, etc....)

But this is not a failure on the part of the Obama campaign. Barack after all is a Democrat and is doing what he knows how to do to win the nomination of the Democratic Party and the White House. And he's doing it pretty well.

The Obama campaign's slight to independents -- their continued ignoring of 40% of the electorate -- is a failure on the part of independent voters. We are not yet sufficiently organized, and therefore powerful enough, to make our statement in a way that can be heard by the powers that be.

To the Obama campaign: You could call Lenora Fulani and Jackie Salit to get some advice on how to approach independent voters in New York City. [That's what you do to win elections in New York City... but hey, who's counting...?]

To independent voters: Keep organizing!!

--NH

PS -- Barack, I have a blog..... http://grassrootsindependent.blogspot.com/ Check it out....

washington top two

overturning Washington’s plan would have been an

TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

REFORM: Washington 'Top Two' Primary will be "tested" Tuesday
  • Major parties' unhappiness with blanket primary led to top 2 (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
  • Washington plays Top 2 Primary roulette-Tuesday vote - Two candidates in each race, regardless of party, will move to November (The Oregonian)
  • Voters will cast ballots in unloved 'top 2' primary (Seattle Post Intelligencer) "The biggest impact is going to be the continued ambiguity over the role of the party in determining who their candidate is," Democratic campaign consultant Christian Sinderman said.

CAMPAIGN
  • Presidential Race a Tossup as Obama Lead Slips, Pew Poll Says (Bloomberg News) The candidates are in a dead heat among independent voters - - one-third of the electorate -- with 12 percent favoring Obama, 11 percent backing McCain and 10 percent undecided, according to the poll.
  • Obama maintains slim lead in Pa. (Morning Call/Pennsylvania Ave. Blog) Obama has a 49 percent to 27 percent lead among self-described independent voters, but garners only 68 percent of the vote among registered Democrats.

LOCAL INDEPENDENT NEWS: Voters say 'sour grapes' fueling losing candidate's attack on open primary in Tennessee
  • Davis Maintains Democrats Interfered With GOP Primary (Bristol Herald Courier)
  • Davis Needs To Accept Loss (By Bristol Herald Courier Editorial Board) under Davis’ scenario, independents would have to align themselves with one of the two parties and vote accordingly. That’s not very democratic (little d).
  • Two election losers challenge crossover voting (Knoxville News Sentinel)
  • Davis claims 'Democratic activists' aided Roe's congressional campaign (Kingsport Times News)
  • Davis could contest loss (Politico)
  • Rep. Davis moves closer to contesting primary loss (The Hill) Davis’s campaign is fighting the notion that Tennessee actually has an open primary system, though voters are currently allowed to vote in whatever primary they would like.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

INDEPENDENT VOTERS
  • Devil is in the details for independent voters (Minnesota Public Radio) Jackie Salit on Broadcast: Midmorning, 08/13/2008, 9:06 a.m. [NOTE: I wasn't able to figure out how to tune in online, however, hopefully others did or Minnesota independents were able to listen to the radio waves.... If you happened to catch this -- please let me know your responses!! email The Hankster and I'll publish your remarks.)
  • Suburban cowboys lasso Colorado into purple camp (Seattle Post Intelligencer RERUN FROM THE ECONOMIST)

REFORM
  • WA: In our view: Our state's top two primary is making a lot of sense to other states (The Columbian) Yes, voters are excited about our state’s new top two primary because it follows the astoundingly logical concept of advancing the top two vote-getters to the Nov. 4 election, regardless of party. You can’t get much more democratic than that.
  • NY: Petitions have power-Government downsizing initiative finds a way to take to the streets (Buffalo News)

CAMPAIGN
  • Female voters heed character issue (Adrienne T. Washington, Washington Times) Michelle Bernard says "They are overwhelmingly concerned about pocketbook issues," of the 2008 presidential election, which she predicts will be decided by centrists and independent voters.
  • Republicans for Obama (Minnesota Star Tribune)

LOCAL INDEPENDENT NEWS: Local Congressional candidate in Tennessee considers contesting nonpartisan election to close party primary. Ahh, the desperation of partisan politics!
  • Little-Used Law At Root Of Davis’ Recount Effort (BRISTOL HERALD COURIER - TN) According to published reports, the freshman congressman cited Tennessee election law, which states voters who aren’t party members are ineligible to vote in that party’s primary. He contends Democrats voted in the Republican primary and claims such votes improperly influenced the results. Tennessee, however, has an open primary, meaning party affiliation is not a prerequisite to vote.
  • Ramsey says Davis should not challenge results of election (Kingsport Times News - TN) “You declare the way you are voting when you walk into a voting booth,” the Blountville Republican said. “It would be very hard to prove that there was concerted effort to get Democrats to vote in a Republican primary or vice versa. Even if you could prove that, I don’t see it’s illegal.”
  • Davis ponders challenge to primary vote (The Hill) Davis told a local paper that he might challenge some of the primary votes based on the voting history of the people who cast them.
  • Commentary - Colorado in '08 is preview of unions' plans in '09 (by Mark Tapscott, The Examiner)
  • Williams back on trail (Austin Daily Herald) Dean Barkley, an Independence Party candidate for the U.S. Senate, praised Williams’ responses, which Minnesota Public Radio featured on their newscasts the following day.

THIRD PARTY NEWS
Thomas Knapp endorses Gravel’s National Initiative (Knapp for Congress) The latest endorser of Gravel’s “National Initiative for Democracy,” which would enable a process for direct lawmaking by popular vote, is Thomas L. Knapp, the Libertarian Party’s candidate for US House of Representatives from Missouri’s 2nd District.

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."

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Talk/Talk: Georgia on Their Mind(less)

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Below are excerpts from this week's Talk Talk, GEORGIA ON THEIR MIND(LESS). Every Sunday CUIP's president Jacqueline Salit and strategist and philosopher Fred Newman watch the political talk shows and discuss them. Here are excerpts from their dialogue on Sunday, August 10, 2008 after watching "The Chris Matthews Show" and "This Week with George Stephanopoulos".

Salit: I'll bring in another George Will remark. They're talking about the fighting that broke out between Russia and Georgia at the end of last week. Putin and Bush are both in Beijing for the opening of the Olympics. Will says, 'Putin goes home to deal with the situation. Bush stays in Beijing for the Olympics.' And Will says, 'Bush should have gone home and run the West's response.' A strange remark because it ignored the diminishment of the U.S. position in the world. Not to deny that the U.S. is a huge power, a huge military power, a huge economic power, even a huge swimming power. And, as was pointed out in the discussion today, the back story is all about the issue of oil and the proposed building of a pipeline through Georgia, which Putin is presumably trying to jettison. It's not clear what kind of operation Bush would go home to run.

Newman: Is Will suggesting that Bush and the White House haven't been aware of the tensions leading up to this? And that they haven't made whatever moves they could? What does it mean to go home and run things...independent of the degree of influence? I don't think the conflict is unimportant. But I don't have any reason to believe that's it's the start of World War III. So to compare South Ossetia to Sarajevo at the start of World War I, as Will did, is far-fetched. What that does is make me certain that we should never elect George Will president of the United States. Salit: OK Read Talk Talk in its entirety here.

Watch the Salit Video at the top of The Hankster! CUIP president Jackie Salit has a video message for independent leaders and activists in the national IndependentVoting.org networks about the August state caucuses and what's next for indies in the post-primary season.

Media and Democracy

You can tune in to the Aspen Institute's Media and Democracy forum live here at the Silicon Alley Insider....

newport jazz festival




The Queen of Soul and the Chanteuse

TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

CAMPAIGN
  • Iowa Poll Released by Rasmussen Reports: Barack Obama 46%, John McCain 41% (Transworldnews)
  • State by State Poll Tracker from CQ Politics
  • McCains coming to New Jersey on Tuesday (NY Newsday) McCain hopes to appeal to the 2.2 million unaffiliated registered voters. There are 1.7 million registered Democrats and 1 million Republicans.

LOCAL INDEPENDENT NEWS
2008 Election Forecast: Oregon Independents are the Wild Cards (CQ Politics) The wild card is the state’s large number of independent voters. While Democrats made up 43 percent of the state’s registered voters at the end of April and 33 percent were Republicans, 20 percent were unaffiliated.

Monday, August 11, 2008

TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

INDEPENDENT VOTERS
  • Kranz: The color purple-Some consider South Dakota's hue different when it comes to elections (Argus Leader)
  • EDITORIAL: Independent voters (Washington Times) Much of the mystery surrounding independent voters has been revealed and the discovery, through polls, media coverage and intense study of the last two presidential cycles, is that independent voters are not that different from partisan voters. [NOTE: You gotta wonder what the Washington Times is so afraid of! -NH]

REFORM

CAMPAIGN
McCain needs Michigan independents to win Michigan (The Flint Journal News Service)