Frankly, I just have a simple “thank you” to our President Obama upon the policy decision to withdraw, or at least draw down, from Iraq. Some may see this as an election promise, some may see it as a moral issue.
I see it as a developmental issue — for the independent movement.
When independents put Barack Obama in the White House in November of 2008, we might have not known our own strength.
2 years later, the independent and unaffiliated, the “decline to state“, the “blanks”, the “no labels”, etc. have risen in numbers.
We (humanity) need to develop. And the independent movement needs to develop — and can lead the way politically. Let’s get busy!
Few things excite human emotion more than politics. There were three things I was instructed as a youth never to discuss with people I didn't know: Sex, religion, and politics. Sex is a highly personal subject for most and religion has gradually splintered into one just as subjective. Why has politics not followed this increasing diversity of expression? While it's true that politics seems to have gone far beyond the Beaver Cleaver world I grew up in, why have its forms remained relatively static in comparison with other human concerns?
Ward and June Cleaver (not related to Eldridge) were products of a T.V. world which couldn't express the subjective concerns of the individual – only its hopes and wishes; a world where, when the T.V. was off, we were collectively building bomb shelters and most Americans were frantic from the threat of Communism instilled by those idealistic values of “our” government vs. “theirs” – a tactic employed with great success by Middle-Eastern governments and one which provides an easy hook for our own projections. For, concerns anent our own affairs are easily deflected in the face of an imagined or manufactured threat.
Unfortunately, this T.V. world is the mainstay of power politicians – because that is the world in which they are able to maintain their influence. The projection of each party's opposite is safely ensconced in a contrived, sit-com world that's not controversial to them at all. It's not a matter of “democratic ideals” which separates them, or “what's best for the country” – it's “how do we convince an unwitting public that it not only wants our particular brand of manipulation, but needs it?” – and they are quite willing to share the benefits it yields.
It reminds me of what Muhammed Ali said at the close of the Beaver Cleaver era when he was stripped of his heavyweight title by this conspiracy. When asked by a reporter why he had refused to fight in Vietnam, he replied, “Ain't no Vietnamese ever called me nigger!” and he pointed squarely at the reporter, “You my enemy!”... and so the slow, grueling evolution of individual awareness inches on.
The two parties have no reason to confront themselves except in the manufactured form of their own mutually profitable sitcom, and the canned laughter echoes in a make-believe world which must somehow meet the dire exigencies that loom when the T.V. is turned off.
A new Muhammed Ali is needed in the political world – a new minority in this rigged “adversarial” production – this reality show; one where the individual confronts his own real-world needs in an expanding era of diverse, global competition. This competition is yet conceived to be on the battlefield of ideals – a manufactured and inhuman masquerade for those who unwittingly commit to a structure whose priority is to maintain control. Ideals? Whose ideals? Out-dated relics whose rhetoric has changed little since the Holy Roman Empire? They still invoke God (or Allah) for their small purposes – small because their priority is the maintenance of personal power and they still have not weighed the value of human lives against that concern.
Little Alexanders and Napoleons -- little human parodies of grandiosity -- still peer from behind the grinning masks of many politicians and only our recent expanding diversity keeps them at bay. But diversity needs voices more than two sides of the same coin – a need which surely precipitated the election of Obama – yet the rhetoric continues unabated by either party. We are certainly the victims of our own gullibility when demagoguery suffices for plain talk. What does the future hold for an ever-increasingly diverse population whose choices have been limited – by their own proxy – to only two outlets? Who will image this catalyst of change that says, “You my enemy!”? One thing is sure: It won't be a Republican or a Democrat.
It is as Faust remarked to the Devil upon questioning his motivations, “Now, I perceive your worthy occupation:/ You can't achieve wholesale annihilation/ And now a retail business you've begun!” and the Devil replied: “And truly thereby nothing much is done!” This is the perspective of one who has power, but whose power seems never enough to secure its position for fear of its loss. And our politicians will concede only what they are forced to concede by such recognitions. But it is also a reminder: How much can a government do for its citizens when its primary focus is the maintenance of itself?
Evanis an artist, poet, and long-time student of Carl Jung. He is the author of "A Mid-Life Perspective: Conversations with the Unconscious," an epic poem of psychic development in the second half of life inspired by Goethe's Faust. He makes a living as a contractor in the Richmond, Virginia.
With Increase in Partisanship, Fewer Surprises Likely in Governors’ Races (By NATE SILVER, NY Times/FiveThirtyEight) The pattern stems in large part from the long-standing decline in the number of voters, in all types of elections, who are willing to cast ballots across partisan lines. In 1980, some 27 percent of Democrats voted for Ronald Reagan (another 6 percent voted for the independent, John B. Anderson), whereas 11 percent of Republicans voted for Jimmy Carter. This means that a total of 21 percent of partisans (voters who identify themselves as either Democrat or Republican) voted for the presidential candidate of the “opposite” party. In recent elections, however, that percentage has been halved: just 10 percent of partisans crossed party lines in the presidential election of 2000, and just 9 percent did in 2004 and 2008.
Zogby: Romney Beats Bloomberg, Obama (By: Brad O'Leary, NewsMax) Among independent voters, 40 percent would choose Romney and 30 percent would vote for Obama. Just 11 percent would pull the lever for Bloomberg.
OPEN PRIMARIES
Primary Concerns - Should D.C. change the way it chooses candidates? (By P.J. ORVETTI, NBC Washington) Fenty’s campaign made a last-ditch attempt to get the Board of Elections and Ethics to allow unaffiliated voters to vote in the Democratic primary, which would have upped the possible voter pool by about 72,400. That effort failed, but it did open a fresh debate about how the District chooses its elected officials.
Georgia governor's race 2010 won't be south of the 'Gnat Line' (By Matt Towery, Southern Political Report) If Barnes can push the African-American vote to anything between the 21-22 percent levels, a huge surge among independents in the greater metro-Atlanta area could make the election razor thin. Only then will his efforts “below the gnat line” help.
NEW YORK
Bloomberg Cash Not Yet Returned (By MICHAEL HOWARD SAUL, Wall Street Journal) Mr. Messina confirmed Monday afternoon that he still has the money in his possession. "I believe that all parties are coming together in a desire to accomplish a goal, and I'm confident that that goal will be accomplished because of the good faith of the parties," said Mr. Messina, referring to the return of the allegedly stolen funds.
NYC CHARTER REVISION
Charter-change choke (EDITORIAL NY Post) The New York City Charter Revision Commission concluded its work last week, delivering a final product that amounts to a sadly missed opportunity.
NEWSWEEK Poll: Democrats May Not Be Headed for Midterm Bloodbath - Obama's approval continues to slide, but Bush's legacy still haunts the GOP. (Newsweek) Democratic voters appear just as willing as Republicans to vote for their party. But independents skew heavily toward the GOP. Forty-five percent of independents say they’ll vote for Republican candidates, compared with just 33 percent for Democrats.
Poll: Nevada voters unhappy with Senate candidates (By Associated Press, Boston Herald) Two-thirds of Angle’s supporters said they would have preferred another GOP nominee, and nearly 80 percent of registered voters who are undecided or don’t like Angle or Reid said they would have preferred a moderate rather than the conservative, according to the Mason-Dixon Polling & Research survey.... Independent voters and those who say they don’t prefer Reid or Angle said they might vote for "none of these candidates."
Most N.M. Voters Give Congress Poor Ratings (By Michael Coleman, Albuquerque Journal) A majority of independent voters in New Mexico — 57 percent — said they disapprove of the job Congress is doing, with 20 percent voicing approval. Twenty-three percent of those independents responding to the Journal poll said they were either undecided, had mixed feelings, didn't know or were unsure of their opinion of the current Congress.
OPEN PRIMARIES
Hasten: Say goodbye to party primaries (BY MIKE HASTEN, The Town Talk - Central Louisiana) In most states, party primaries really thin out the crowd of candidates and often only the party winners are on the ballot in the general election.
Debate Over Primary Elections Heats Up (Memphis Daily News) Wiseman: Our community is not well served by partisan primaries. … We have enough divisions in the community. Creating these further divisions does not serve our community well.”
FLORIDA
FL: Candidates put faith in No Party Affiliation voters (BY DEREK CATRON, Daytona Beach News Journal) They were the fastest-growing segment of registered voters, even before Gov. Charlie Crist bolted the Republican Party for an NPA designation in his run for the U.S. Senate. Now, nearly 1 in 5 voters in Florida carries the NPA designation, making it the third-most popular "party," behind Democrats (41.5 percent) and Republicans (36 percent). And, while the major parties have been watching their percentages decline, NPAs have been on the rise, their percentages increasing almost 2.5 times since 1994.
Crist looks for middle ground between two opponents (From CNN's Jeff Simon) According to a Quinnipiac University poll conducted August 11-16, Crist, who is running as an independent candidate, holds a 39 percent to 32 percent lead over Republican candidate Marco Rubio. Rep. Kendrick Meek, who secured the Democratic nomination on Tuesday, trails the two front-runners with 16 percent.
District 3 candidate supports open primaries (Submitted by Matt Dixon, Florida Times Union/Death, Taxes & Politics) Martin Terry-Back, an independent candidate running against Corrine Brown, has signed a pledge to support an open primary system.
Open primary could heal Florida's low voter turnout (By Matt Dixon, Florida Times Union - Jacksonville) "I think clearly [an open primary] would improve voter turnout," said Aubrey Jewett, a political scientist at the University of Central Florida. "It just seems like the best way to [increase turnout]."
Lauder Won’t Bankroll New Term-Limits Campaign (By Michael Howard Saul, Wall Street Journal/Metropolis) According to Rubenstein, Lauder is mostly “pleased” with the commission’s decision on term limits, though he disagrees with the panel’s decision to allow all incumbents to serve three four-year terms, no matter what the voters decide in November.
Getting Your Say on Charter Revision (Gotham Gazette) The Campaign Finance Board is asking for pro and con submissions on the charter reform proposals to include in its voter guide.
Howdy Hanksteristas! It's Friday, it's really really pleasant here in NYC, and it's still summer!
Here's some of what I'm mulling over right now... And please chime in -- what are you thinking about? Email hanks_nancy@msn.com or twitter NancyHanks or facebook NancyHanks. You know the drill...
So anyways:
It's floodin' down in Texas
All the telephone lines are down
Stevie Ray Vaughn - I was rummaging around on Hankstertube last night among my favorited music videos and couldn't help but appreciate a recording posted on YouTube from a performance of Stevie Ray Texas Flood (the long version!) posted 3 years ago by gabriel, which seems to be from 1983 when the album came out. The YT notes from gabriel says, in part: Texas Flood is an electric blues album by blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan and his band Double Trouble, released in 1983. Anyway, If you don't know Stevie Ray Vaughn, no time like the present!
6:34 pm the telephones are down in Queens NY but -- the twitter lines are open and this just in from TheIndyExpress (Congrats on the new wordpress blog!) btw -- TheIndyExpress was this week's "Now THAT's Good Bloggin'" feature on The H....
As an independent moderate, I decided to research and locate the entire poll report. I went to the source at The Pew Research Center. I appreciate that Pew lists the questions asked in the poll and describe how they were asked. Anyone who has experience with polls know that how the question is constructed can control the responses. I am also impressed with the transparency in the Pew Report. Keep in mind, the poll was taken before President Obama made the remarks about the proposed Muslim facility near Ground Zero in NYC and samples 3,003 registered voters. The media barrage on the issue did not affect the poll results....
Check it out... and in the meantime.....
Well clouds are rollin'
m standin out in th rain...
Goin where the sun shines every day.... oh yeah....
7:00 pm -- Now from one of my favorite southern poets Evan who submitted this:
Ode to Dylan
The times they are a-changin' the prophet once sang
For the young voice of legions that fervently rang.
And what is left today of that youthful plea
But the trampled remnants of the disenfranchised?
Quietly subjected to their own reality
Which they'd not then known but later recognized.
That prophet got rich in his bargain with fate –
The modern reward for good propheteering –
And all those who raged at society's gate
Remembered that voice at their own inner hearing
As they slowly succumbed to the middle-aged rite
That excuses itself from a younger man's fight.
Age makes sorry victims of its own ideals –
The hard youth's promise to a softer notion yields.
The heavy weight of yesterday reveals its burden.
The sparks that lit the fire of change soon change as well
And the youth that once rebelled is brought back in
Absorbed at last by what it thought it would dispel.
The lure of sirens even stronger than tradition
Force tradition into yet more binding ties
Than even fore-doomed prophets in their raw condition
Ever summoned through the novelty of their young eyes.
The high-flown words of youth must change before its deeds --
And thus to every hope of change tradition leads.
The times changed on top and a generation thought
It had shifted perspectives on the war it fought
But the reasons for another war were soon in place
Right behind the demonstrations that opposed it.
But now the generation had an older face
And they themselves became the force that had proposed it.
What is the net change in the changes we concede?
The Word is still God for those who believe it.
What age has not seen its own youth at long last lead
The scores of unbelievers who could not conceive it?
The old gods are as binding as they've always been
The times are always changin' – but where do we begin?
Thanks Evan!
7:20pm The times -- and even the notion of time -- is always a-changin' -- you can't keep fixin' the same old self -- when *the self* doesn't exist....
Next up: dinner and then upcoming conversations with independent grassroots organizers... stay tuned!
Time for Obama to Pull a Clinton (By DOUGLAS E. SCHOEN, Wall Street Journal) The independent voters who hold the fate of the Democrats in their hands are looking for candidates who champion, in a bipartisan context, fiscal discipline, limited government, deficit reduction and a free market, pro-growth agenda. If Democrats don't offer this, they will be branded liberal tax-and-spenders.
OPEN PRIMARIES
VT: Primary process limits choices (LETTER Rutland VT Herald) I am writing this letter to draw your attention to the injustice that is experienced by ‘independent’ voters during primary elections, which are held year after year.
LA: Election is historic, so go and vote (EDITORIAL St. Tammany News) Last closed primary - this will be the last closed primary election for Congressional candidates. The Legislature passed, and the governor signed into law that after the general election in November, all primaries will be open. Currently under the closed primary system, a Republican voter has to vote for a Republican candidate, Democrats for Democrats and so forth.
DC: DC primaries should be scrapped (by Topher Mathews, Greater Washington.org) But nonetheless, DC's primary election system has no legitimate purpose and should be scrapped in favor of an instant run-off voting system for the general election.
THIRD PARTIES
If traditional politics bore you, consider the Toga Party (by Ry Rivard, Daily Mail Capitol Reporter WV) The Democrat, Republican and Mountain parties all have open primaries, which allow voters who are not affiliated with one of the other three major parties to vote for their primary candidates. Among the 130 parties are established if little-known minor parties, like the Constitution Party, a national conservative party that claims about 70 members in West Virginia. There are 1,300 self-identified Libertarian Party members.... There are also 185,000 voters with no party affiliation and 12,200 declared Independents.
Ballot-bound HD-61 hopefuls weigh in (Gunnison Times) Then there is incumbent Kathleen Curry of Gunnison. During her three-term stint in the Colorado House of Representatives, Curry has risen to become one of the state's most well-known and popular political leaders. Yet her chances of winning re-election this November hinge on being successful as a write-in candidate -- which would be a nearly unprecedented feat for a statewide office-holder.
ARIZONA
Post-primary election analysis (by Three Sonorans, Tucson Citizen) Why would so many Independents have chosen to vote in the Republican primary? I think the answer is very simple. The most popular race in the nation for Tuesday’s primary was taking place in Arizona, and JD Hayworth scared the bejeezus out of the Independents, and they decided to vote in the Republican primary for McCain.
David Freddoso: McCain's easy win undercuts Democrats' story line (By: DAVID FREDDOSO, Washington Examiner) Here's a tip for gamblers: Most or all of the "unelectable" conservatives will win in November 2010. It will come as a surprise only to liberal pundits, who view most Americans' opinions as outside of the mainstream because they remain stubbornly unlike the opinions of President Obama.
NEW YORK
Suffolk’s Ethics Probe Enigma Consumes All - Levy, legislature, DA and Newsday all caught in ethics feud (By Timothy Bolger, Long Island Press) As for the man chosen to wade into the firestorm and report his findings within the next three months, the legislature voted 13-5 to hire Joseph Conway, a Mineola-based criminal defense attorney, former federal prosecutor in the Eastern District of New York and member of the Independence Party.
The Unrepentant Republican Party (By Sam Foster, American Thinker) While the September primaries will likely resolve the Republicans' mistake in NY-1, the damage has already been done in the case of NY-23. Given NY's proclivity for third-party ballot lines, Matt's name will appear on the Independence Party ticket, and Doug Hoffman on the Conservative line, despite the Republican primary outcome. The flagrant hatred exhibited by Republican leaders for Hoffman makes it hard to believe that party bosses could unite under Doug Hoffman's potential candidacy. Thus, another three-way race is brewing in NY-23, and the possibility for the district to shed its sickly shade of blue is quickly slipping out of reach.
Arizonans like open system of primary voting (EDITORIAL Yuma Sun) Results of a survey released just prior to Tuesday's primary election indicate strong support for a nonpartisan approach to primary voting.
D.C.'s unaffiliated voters, left out in the cold (EDITORIAL Washington Post) More perplexing is why D.C. Council members such as Mary M. Cheh (D-Ward 3), who have championed reforms to increase voting participation, would reject such sensible proposals as those of council member David A. Catania (I-At Large) to allow independents to vote in the primary election of a political party if the party permitted or to change party affiliation on the day of an election. Ms. Cheh told us that she's not necessarily opposed but that those issues hadn't been fully studied when the law was changed.
DCBOEE blocks last minute rule change (By Tom Bridge, We Love DC) The difficult matter here has to do with the fact that in order to participate in the crucial elections in the District, you have to be registered as a Democrat. I don’t share much in common with the national party (though, truthfully, more in recent years than with Republicans), but here I am having to register as one in order to take part in the city’s biggest decision. This seems to me to be an odd choice that people would have to make in order to participate in a city’s governance.
Loose Lips Daily: It’s BOEE Time Edition (Posted by Alan Suderman, Washington City Paper/LooseLips) Team Fenty took a big old swing and a miss at this morning’s Board of Elections and Ethics hearing on their petition to open up the Democratic primary to the 70,000+ unaffiliated voters on the city’s voter registration rolls. New Chairman Togo West ran a mostly tight ship during the morning’s testimony, which featured Fenty’s lawyers and two other dudes on one side, and the Gray campaign with down-ballot candidates, the D.C. Democratic Party, the AFL-CIO, and a whole lot of people on the other side.
Is the Tea Party Ready For Its November Close-Up? (By Rhodes Cook, Wall Street Journal/Capital Journal) Roughly 20% to 30% of Americans sympathize with the views of the Tea Party, according to polls taken over the course of this year. But a basic question is whether it is an independent political movement truly disgusted with both parties, or a very vocal and conservative subset of the GOP? Data tend to point to the latter.
FLORIDA
DeFede: Primary Night 2010 Winners And Losers (Jim DeFede, MIAMI (CBS4) In order to win a three way Senate race, Crist needs to not only collect moderate Republican and independent voters, he absolutely has to peel away Democratic voters as well. If Jeff Greene had won, there would have been a stampede of Democratic officials lining up to endorse Crist.
Three-way Fla. Senate race begins without a clear favorite (By Dan Balz, Washington Post) Whether Crist has damaged himself by the decision to run as an independent or whether he has cleverly found the route to political survival is the central issue that voters will decide.
Washington Veterans Take Senate Primaries (By DAMIEN CAVE, Washington Post) Mr. Crist released a statement on Tuesday night calling Washington “a swamp of partisan bickering, finger-pointing and destructive political games” and saying “we need independent leadership.”
GEORGIA
Roy Barnes' campaign of contrition (By Melissa Maynard, Stateline) “Amazingly, Roy Barnes remains in contention despite the fact that the head of his party nationally, Barack Obama, has reached a phenomenally low level of support in Georgia,” says Matt Towery, the CEO of InsideAdvantage, the firm that conducted the poll. Virtually as many Georgia voters identify as independents as identify with either party, Towery notes, and “the race really boils down to independent voters.”
NEW YORK
State Sen. Joe Addabbo Loses Bid For Working Families Party Line (BY GLENN BLAIN, Daily News/Daily Politics) With the Democrats holding only a one seat majority in the Senate, the Addabbo-Como contest is likely to be among the most-closely watched races this year and could determine whether the GOP retains control of the chamber.
NYC CHARTER REVISION
NYC Charter Revision Proposals: A Hobson’s Choice (Citypragmatist) Ballot Access: Generally reduce the number of petition signatures needed by candidates for city elective office to appear on a ballot; This would make it easier for newcomers to challenge party regulars, and for third-party candidates to unseat Democrats and Republicans. Several critics, including Jim Brennan, who heads up the State Assembly committee that oversees municipal charter revisions, have cautioned against it. Yes, he’s a Democrat.
DC: Independent Voter Fracas Heating Up (Posted by Alan Suderman, Washington City Paper) Tomorrow Team Fenty and Team Gray will square off at the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics over whether or not the city’s 72,000 registered independent voters should be able to vote in the Democratic primary next month.
Primaries coast to coast test Establishment vs. Outsiders (By Dan Balz, Mercury News/Washington Post ) Five states were holding contests -- Arizona, Florida, Alaska, Vermont and Oklahoma -- on one of the last major primary days before the general election in November.
Judge rules that Maldonado can continue fight for open primaries (By Kurtis Alexander - Santa Cruz Sentinel/Mercury News) Dutta, who filed suit July 28 to block the measure, says he's not necessarily opposed to Proposition 14 or open primaries, just how they're being implemented. Dutta's lawsuit challenges the legislation implementing Proposition 14, specifically provisions that discard write-in votes in general elections and deny minor party candidates from listing their party affiliation.
Cross-Party Endorsements Support Candidates, Not Canons (Newsweek) The For-the-Sake-of-Bipartisanship Endorsement: Hagel is not the only big name endorsement Sestak has in his corner; New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has also publicly backed Sestak’s campaign.
DSCC Spends On Consultants, WFP, But Not Espada (By Edward-Isaac Dovere, City Hall News) In the last month, Senate Democrats spent $227,000 on consultants, $69,000 on an additional contribution to the Working Families Party and $253,000 on behalf of a wide range of candidates—including nearly every incumbent facing a primary—but not a cent so far for Espada. [i.e. independence comes with a high price tag... -NH]
“Today, the court sided with the voters to protect their rights by officially allowing me to intervene in a lawsuit brought by political insiders in an attempt to block implementation of open primaries. I will continue to do everything in my power to defend the open primary system because California voters deserve equal access to the ballot and am looking forward to the court upholding the will of the people.”
California voters approved an open primary system by passing Proposition 14 on the June 8, 2010 ballot.
10 things Republicans must do in 10 weeks (By Ed Hornick, CNN) #8 - Appeal to Independents: "The Republicans know that independents were an absolutely critical partner to Obama in the presidential election in 2008," said Jacqueline Salit, president of independentvoting.org, a national strategy and organizing center for independents. "So there's a lot of energy going into trying to peel independents away and turn them back to center-right."
AZ: New poll: Arizonans want open, nonpartisan primaries (Arizona State University) Results showed that three-quarters of Arizona voters favor a primary election in which the two candidates, regardless of party affiliation, who receive the largest number of votes face off in the general election. This change is favored across party lines and among all age groups.
AZ: Get out and vote: Primary elections are today (BY BILL HESS, Sierra Vista Herald/Review) As for this primary, he would not forecast the turnout of the 76,641 registered voters in the county — independents may ask for Democratic, Republican or Green party ballots, but not Libertarian, to vote in those parties’ primaries.
VT: It's Primary Election Day in Vermont (By JOHN CURRAN, Associated Press Writer, WNCT Channel 9) Vermont has an open primary without advance party registration. That means a voter doesn't register as a party member, but selects one party's ballot and selects only from that one in the primary.
In Mich., A 'Tea Party' Is Denied Spot On Ballot (by DON GONYEA, NPR) Richard Winger, who publishes a newsletter called Ballot-Access News, says independent voters are worth watching closely. "When times are bad, people are more interested in getting outside their normal habits," he said. And, Winger says, Michigan's Tea Party controversy aside, it could be the best year for independent candidates and third parties in many decades.
NEW YORK
Republicans Look to Pick Up a Seat in Queens (by Ray Katz, Gotham Gazette) The 26th Assembly District features tree-lined streets, houses with American flags, parks -- and voters who switch from one party to the other.
Limits & loopholes (NY Post) How many times do New Yorkers have to say, "Two terms is enough," before the political class gets the message? It's a relevant question, as Mayor Bloomberg's handpicked Charter Revision Commission today finishes up recommendations meant to appear on the November ballot -- with term limits chief among them.
Please check out Hankster Blogger of the Week (noted below at NEXT TO LAST WORD
10 Political Practices That Should Hit the Road (by New Hankster blogger friend The Indy Express) Partisans want to eliminate anyone who does not vote the party line, which is a recipe for gridlock and hardship for the country. Nothing will be accomplished except more videos and sound bites for the media and bloggers. The Indy Express
INDEPENDENT VOTERS
PRIORITY READING: Wedge issues divide politicians from independents (By Ed Hornick, CNN) "This is party politics as usual with respect to all of these wedge issues," said Jacqueline Salit, president of independentvoting.org, a national strategy and organizing center for independents. "I think there's more and more of a steady recognition that these kind of wedge issues and political manipulation, sensationalism and opportunism is exactly what is degrading the American political process and our democracy." NOTE: This article also ran on WTSP Channel 10 - Tampa Bay
Maldonado asks to join defense in Proposition 14 lawsuit (Sac Bee/Capitol Alert) "I could not stand by and watch the transparent effort to undermine the voters' right to an open primary system," Maldonado said in a statement. "Voters were crystal clear that they wanted to change business as usual in Sacramento and the effort to derail Proposition 14 is not only without merit, it's more of the same political game-playing that has gridlocked the Capitol for years.
Independent testing (Arizona Star) Working in conjunction with the League of Women Voters and relying on funding from groups such as the Southern Arizona Leadership Council and Greater Phoenix Leadership, the project contacted about 33,000 independents in Legislative Districts 26 and 30, which are Tucson districts with a Republican voter edge.
MIDTERMS
The 2010 Elections: What's at Stake? (Bob Burnett, Huffington Post) The GOP has claimed the coveted political mantle of "outsider" and, at least for the moment, convinced Independent voters the US is best served by dividing power between Democrats and Republicans. Imagine that in November's mid-term elections, Republicans win control of the House or Senate. What difference will that make?
Progressive Party skips Oregon governor's race, aiding Kitzhaber (Jeff Mapes, The Oregonian ) The season for nominating minor-party candidates is drawing to a close and it looks like the winner is...Democrat John Kitzhaber (who also happens to be the candidate of the Independent Party of Oregon)... But a write-in candidacy won't have nearly the power to draw votes. And the way it shapes up, Kitzhaber won't have any candidates running to the left of him....
Feds drop probe in how Working Families Party spent money in 2009 city elections (BY CELESTE KATZ AND ADAM LISBERG, DAILY NEWS) Still, the controversy has deterred Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo, a strong favorite to be the next governor, from running on the WFP line.... If Cuomo doesn't accept the line, the WFP will be stuck with its placeholder candidate, Legal Aid lawyer Kenneth Schaeffer - and may not meet the threshold to stay a major party.
Probe of Working Families Party Ends (By JACOB GERSHMAN, Wall Street Journal) Working Families Party leaders have feared that without Mr. Cuomo's support, the party could lose its automatic spot on the state ballot, a key source of its potency. Parties in New York must get at least 50,000 votes for governor to preserve their official ballot status.
Working Families says inquiry ends without charge - The U.S. attorney's office, which was reportedly probing Data and Field Services, a for-profit arm of the Working Families Party, is said to be closing the case. (By Jeremy Smerd, Crain's New York)
Tea Party Activists Pulling Together For New York -- And Then National -- Ballot Line Push (BY CELESTE KATZ, Daily News/Daily Politics) Tea's gubernatorial candidate is a Long Island commercial and personal injury lawyer named Steve Cohn. Their organizer is one Sam Zherka of Westchester, a real-estate owner and club operator. And maybe, just maybe, the possible state chairman of the new party -- should it be constituted -- could be Bobby Kumar, the current chairman of the Nassau County Independence Party.
BLOOMBERG ENDORSEMENTS
Bloomberg Busy Backing Candidates Of Both Parties (by BRIAN NAYLOR, NPR) "Since I've been one of everything in my career at one time or another, I don't think that party matters," he said. "What you want are people who are independent in their views. That they don't listen to the party bosses. That they listen to the issues. They're smart enough to analyze it. [That] they have the experiences that we need in the legislature to know how to address the problems."
De Blasio Takes Aim at Bloomberg (By MICHAEL HOWARD SAUL, Wall Street Journal) On Thursday night, Mr. de Blasio urged the Charter Revision Commission to reject the mayor's suggestion that the panel reconsider awarding incumbents with a special exception that would allow them to serve three consecutive four-year terms, even if the electorate votes in November for a two-term cap.
One standard for all: Two terms is two terms, incumbents included (EDITORIAL NY Daily News) Claiming that fairness demands three terms for incumbents and two for newcomers is simply preposterous. Not least because everyone on the Council won election based on a campaign that was financed by taxpayer dollars. Not least because most of these same Council members changed the rules abruptly on the public by self-servingly voting to shift from a limit of two terms to three.
Changing the City’s Charter. Again? (By Mark Green, NY Observer) Admittedly, there may be hotter subjects this month than the City Charter Commission's ballot proposals. But an absurd state law nevertheless allows our mayor to hand-pick a commission to deliberate city governance in the dog days of August and put profound changes on the ballot for November. So it's worth examining.
10 Political Practices That Should Hit the Road (by New Hankster blogger friend The Indy Express) Partisans want to eliminate anyone who does not vote the party line, which is a recipe for gridlock and hardship for the country. Nothing will be accomplished except more videos and sound bites for the media and bloggers.
LAST WORD
Obama, Islam And The "Other" (By Reid Wilson, National Journal/Hotline) A higher proportion of self-identified GOPers, 31%, say he is Muslim, while just 10% of Dems and 18% of independents believe it to be so.... Obama won election thanks to a diverse coalition, part of which includes a segment of Dems and independent voters who typically vote GOP in federal races. But, according to the Pew survey, the very voters who put Obama in office are the ones whose opinions seem the most malleable.
Washington (CNN) -- The current ruckus over building an Islamic center and mosque near ground zero, calls to change the 14th Amendment and other so-called "wedge" issues are roiling up each party's base, but they're turning off independents, analysts say.
"This is party politics as usual with respect to all of these wedge issues," said Jacqueline Salit, president of independentvoting.org, a national strategy and organizing center for independents. "I think there's more and more of a steady recognition that these kind of wedge issues and political manipulation, sensationalism and opportunism is exactly what is degrading the American political process and our democracy." [Read the rest of the article here.]
3:20pm - Next up: Remember the group I told you about that my group had a date with a couple of Fridays ago? Well, I just heard that one of the members of their group has died of cancer. They are working on a fundraiser in his honor that would benefit the American Cancer Society for sometime after Labor Day. I have agreed to spread the word. Look for updates...
Check out Independent Voters for Colorado at their new website
IVC was formed in July 2009 by independent County Commissioner Joelle Riddle after she became increasingly frustrated with the narrow scope and vision upheld by parties and their ownership of elected officials. In an effort to better represent her constituents and the complex issues facing her community, she changed her affiliation from Democrat to unaffiliated or independent. Shortly thereafter, she discovered the inequitable ballot access law that led to thefederal lawsuitchallenging the statue that is currently being appealed by State Representative Kathleen Curry.
Independent groups CUIP is motivating, training and supporting an activist network of independent leaders who are building throughout the country.AL, Independent Alabama
Randy Millerif there is a single thing that I have learned in 30 years of independent organizing...only happens from the bottom up.....status of popularity of prez...biggest change Obama made under current circumstances was to get elected...powerful role by indies....thenceafter agenda determined by existing realities and little he could do....press thriving on what groups angry at prez and how....challenge for bottom up is to change political realities 8:58
Randy Millerbottom up movement (in NYC) forced issue onto the stage of non-partisan elections --- caused split in good government union, whole political conversation was changed not because of editorial boards but because of organizing and political power of bottom up independent movement JS 8:55
Randy Millerpolitically active college students had to confront new questions and issues
should independents have the right to participate in the politcal process
significant and practical political question 8:53
Randy Miller"41% of American College students identify themseleves as independents" JS 8:52
Randy Miller"partisan players don't want to overcome partisanship, they thrive on it" Jackie Salit 8:51
JS is still speaking, now about the bi-partisan, nonpartisan, and move beyond labels...
JS: The 2 party system crisis is not being covered by the press... 40% of American voters are independent...
Let's reorganize our ability to reform our structural political reform...
The political parties will not reform...
8:38: JS: what is the CUIP wing of the independent movement trying to achieve? Christian Amanpour saying 2 types of unemployment, says "long time decay",,,
Jackie is talking about medical health and some personal issues of the economic crisis.
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8:34 - Nancy Ross setting up the call for Jackie to speak on the call... Open primaries in California big break. Midterms -- independents are concerned about the process. Activists are knocking on doors.. Jackie Salit has built a large national network...
WDIS am
8:30 - People are logging in from around the country. Certainly one of the most exciting parts of this call....
Here's the link http://bit.ly/aHcjnJ
Hey Hanksteristas!
Live from Queens New York
I'll be live-blogging Jackie Salit's national conference call starting at 8:30 EDT (about an hour from now).
