Three Cheers to our new Independent President Barack Obama!

What a beautiful moment for the American people! Barack Obama is about to be sworn in as the 44th President -- and the 3rd Independent President -- of the United States. When you think about it, George Washington not only wasn't a partisan, but warned us against the baneful effects of the spirit of party which only serves to divide us. Abraham Lincoln was barely a Republican, that suddenly successful third party that rose to the part of a transition vehicle for a young nation in crisis. 

Thanks to independent voters, who voted in open primaries in 33 states and determined the nominees of the major parties, and who went on to vote significantly for Obama (53%). The mandate is clear: nonpartisanship and inclusion. We won't make good on the promise of America until we shed the skin of partisanship and insist that everyone has a place here.

Congratulations, America!!!!!

We have made a step forward

TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

• Can faith help heal our Divide (Oliver Thomas, USA Today) But I would go beyond cooperation. This is really about forgiveness — a cornerstone of our Western religious traditions. I would ask parishioners to be big enough to forgive one another for their differing political and religious views. And in so forgiving, people would heal themselves. Withholding forgiveness is like drinking poison and hoping your enemy will feel sick.
• Let's seriously consider how we can give the public some sense of ownership of our party. If that means primaries, if that means letting them settle the "what is liberalism" debate themselves (and as a result getting the Liberal Democrat Party they really want) then we should do it. (The Great Liberal Democrat Future National Referendum - Charlotte Gore blog)