Big Questions for Independents: Grassroots, Obama, Parties, and Technology

INDEPENDENT VOICES

• Just How Many Independent Voters Are There? (Tucson Citizen/Veteran Veritas)
• And Now, a Word From the Independents (Jackie Salit, Wilson County News TX)
• Analysis: Obama's dangerous political gambit (By JENNIFER LOVEN, Washington Post) That outsider, reformer image, while attractive particularly to all-important independent voters, is difficult for any politician to maintain once the messy obligations and barriers of governing take over. 
• Swinging with the ‘indies’ (Doris O’Brien/If I May Say So, Lompoc Record)
• Robert Rupp: Parties better recognize Independents (West Virginia Gazette)
• The Race is on to win over Independent Voters (POSTED BY JOE GANDELMAN, The Moderate Voice)
• California's independent streak--'Decline to State' voters here don't quite fit the national mold, but they do call most of the shots. (By George Skelton, Capitol Journal, LA Times)

OBAMA AND INDEPENDENTS

• Obama Continues Policy Outreach to Republicans (By CARL HULSE and JEFF ZELENY, NY Times) White House officials said the new approach could help repair Mr. Obama’s standing among independent voters, who catapulted him into the White House but have distanced themselves partly because of the messy legislative debate over health care.
• Commentary: Obama can make dramatic gesture as Independent (By Bob Montion, Visalia Times Delta) As an Independent, he would have no party affiliation keeping him from embracing any good idea.
• Budget Announcement Is Blueprint to Court Independents (By PETER WALLSTEN, Wall Street Journal)
• Who are the Independent Voters and How do they View the Obama Adminsitration? (VIDEO) (POSTED BY JOE GANDELMAN, The Moderate Voice)
• VIDEO: Independent Voters--Angry, Diverse, and Looking for Reform (President Obama, Are You Listening?) (The Hankster)
• Obama and Biden address independent voters in Tampa (BY BETH REINHARD, THE MIAMI HERALD)
• OPINION: Obama can win independents back (By JACQUELINE SALIT, Newsday) REQUIRES SUBSCRIPTION
• And now, a word from the Independents (By JACKIE SALIT, The Oregonian)

OPEN PRIMARIES

• No populism in the primaries? (Ben Smith, Politico)

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

• Let's take a fresh look at black history (By Eugene Kane, Journal Sentinel) Is Barack Obama the first black person to run for president? No, in the modern era, black politicians Shirley Chisholm, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Alan Keyes and Lenora Fulani have all run for U.S. president.

PROGRESSIVE PARTY

• Enough waiting. Let’s rebuild the Progressive Party of the United States. (By: Michael in Ohio, Firedonglake/Seminal)

TEA PARTY

• Fractures emerge as Tea Party convenes (By Kristi Keck, CNN) The anger over alleged fiscal irresponsibility in Washington was shared by a wider spectrum of voters, including independents, said John Avlon, author of "Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe is Hijacking America."
• A Tea Party incumbents won't enjoy (By Ed Rollins, CNN Senior Political Contributor)
• ABC video of Nashville Convention

LIBERTARIAN

• FAGIN: Libertarians: they're out there, they're growing, and they vote (By Barry Fagin, Colorado Springs Gazette)

EDUCATION

• Sorry for What? Team Obama apologizes for being right. (Wall Street Journal) After Katrina, test scores are up, charter schools proliferate and schools have improved to the point that Louisiana is a leading contender for Race to the Top education grants...

TECHNOLOGY

• POLL: Social Media Critical to 2010 Gubernatorial Race-iPhone users prefer Jerry Brown; Blackberry users prefer Meg Whitman (PRESS RELEASE, CALinnovates.org)
• The Personal Democracy Forum this year is titled "Can the Internet Fix Politics?" and will take place June 3-4 at the CUNY Graduate Center.