Independents Fight for Political Reform!

Who are the "real independents"? Randy Miller is one of them, and you can meet plenty more grassroots activists who are working overtime (for no pay) fighting for political reforms like open primaries and nonpartisan elections all over the country! Let's hope that Charlie Crist seeks some of us out in his new independent run for gov of Florida...
INDEPENDENT VOTERS

• Utah LIV Randy Miller: Why I’m an Independent (The Moderate Voice)  NOTE: Randy's post prompted the response below from a "right-leaning centrist" Jason Arvak on TMV called 'Real “Independents”' 
• Haley: Independents' day? (By Dan Haley, The Denver Post)
• Brian Armstrong: Rise of the independent will benefit our system (Brian Armstrong, Tallahassee Democrat)

OPEN PRIMARIES - WEST VIRGINIA

• County Clerk Offers Advice for Independent Voters - Independent voters have to ask for a specific ballot. (Story by Chris Marrs, State Journal, Barbour County WV)
• Voter registration trend toward unaffiliated (By PAMELA BRUST, News & Sentinel WV) Since both political parties have opened their primaries, the number of voters not affiliated with either party has steadily increased.
• Live ire: Primary voting rules differ by state (Catherine Pritchard, Fayetteville Observer)

CALIFORNIA PROP 14

• GOLIS: What if both candidates were Democrats? (PETE GOLIS, Press Democrat)
• Center for Governmental Studies Issues Neutral Report on Prop. 14 (Ballot Access News)
• Our View: Bring back the open primary (San Gabriel Valley Tribune)
• A year for desperate measures (Debra J. Saunders, SF Chronicle)
• Our View: Prop. 14 a win for democracy - It wouldn't wipe out the clout of the state's two major parties, but it would empower candidates. (Merced Sun Star)

WHAT ABOUT CHARLIE CRIST?

• What Charlie Crist's indie bid says about GOP – and Crist himself - Gov. Charlie Crist suddenly appears competitive as a political independent in his Senate race. Was his departure from the GOP a sign of turmoil in the party, or are there other factors at play? (By Linda Feldmann, Washington, Christian Science Monitor) “He’ll receive support among independent voters and moderate Democrats,” said Justin Sayfie, ex-aide to former Gov. Jeb Bush (R), in an interview with Politico. “That’s his strength.”
• The second coming of Charlie Crist - Four years ago, most Republicans did not expect then Attorney General Crist to successfully replace the outgoing, term-limited Governor Jeb Bush. (RICHARD HERSHATTER, Longboat Keys News) In a three-candidate race, the odd man out, or independent candidate, is always the dark horse. Charlie Crist, however, is too good a candidate to waste. Abe Lincoln would have approved of his candidacy, with or without the backing of old line politicos.
• Sunshine Circus - Charlie Crist is just the clown in the Center Ring. (John Fund, Wall Street Journal)
• Parties Snipe at Crist, but May Court Him Later (By JEFF ZELENY, NY Times) How will the all-important independent voters along the state’s I-4 corridor, stretching across the middle of the state, view Mr. Crist?
• Charlie Crist, Independent (By W. James Antle, III, American Spectator)

NYC CHARTER REVISION

• Remember term limits? They're back - Review of City Charter could reshape NYC's government, politics (Crains New York)

NEW YORK

• Liberal challenge to Dems on health care falters (By BEN EVANS, Washington Post) In New York, the labor-backed Working Families Party is exploring challenges against Reps. Michael Arcuri and Michael McMahon, but again the movement has yet to name viable contenders.