The current Hankster Poll, which asks your opinion on which Presidential candidate you feel would be best for independents, has evolved into a grassroots contest between Chuck Hagel and Barack Obama. Obama at the moment has taken the lead over Hagel.
Tell me more!
Email The Hankster. Let me know WHY you're pulling for one or the other.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Thursday, March 29, 2007
What's Eric Altman doing under the covers? Read more on Huffington Post
Eric Altman asks the question on the Huffingon Post: Since when does Al Sharpton speak for anyone but Al Sharpton?
Answer: When he speaks for the community and the population.
Which, by the way, is often.
Eric doesn't think that Mayor Michael Bloomberg should run as an independent. You can read his post on the Huffington Post and catch a glimpse of a sexy Mate.com profile if you're really looking for a private relationship on the link above.
For my money, and my political attraction, I'd look below the covers... - NH
Answer: When he speaks for the community and the population.
Which, by the way, is often.
Eric doesn't think that Mayor Michael Bloomberg should run as an independent. You can read his post on the Huffington Post and catch a glimpse of a sexy Mate.com profile if you're really looking for a private relationship on the link above.
For my money, and my political attraction, I'd look below the covers... - NH
Breaking with tradition: Jesse Jackson, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama
Jesse Jackson has endorsed Barack Obama (there are many articles but here is one from the International Herald Tribune), for the nomination of the Democratic Party for President (sub-text: not Hillary Clinton) and the Democratic nomination is now up for grabs. Why? Because the black vote is very important to the Democratic Party, and the Take-Them-For-Granted era is -- apparently -- over.
Cudos to Rev. Jackson for his "split" from the Dem Party Line: and we all know that the Democratic Line is vote for Hillary--it's Her time, not Obama's time...
Well, good point: Who's time is it?
I say it's the time for American independents. The time for ordinary people in this country to speak up about what it is that the American people need and desire. Our history of identity politics (how drab is the dialogue about black vs. women vs. gay vs. conservative vs. liberal vs. whoever?) is changing.
I'm not endorsing Obama, but I have to admit, the emerging alliance between black voters, independent voters, the "topsy-turvy" climate, lead me to paying a LOT of attention to the Obama campaign.
What will Barack Obama's outreach to independent voters look like? That's a question I'm eager to see play out. -NH
Cudos to Rev. Jackson for his "split" from the Dem Party Line: and we all know that the Democratic Line is vote for Hillary--it's Her time, not Obama's time...
Well, good point: Who's time is it?
I say it's the time for American independents. The time for ordinary people in this country to speak up about what it is that the American people need and desire. Our history of identity politics (how drab is the dialogue about black vs. women vs. gay vs. conservative vs. liberal vs. whoever?) is changing.
I'm not endorsing Obama, but I have to admit, the emerging alliance between black voters, independent voters, the "topsy-turvy" climate, lead me to paying a LOT of attention to the Obama campaign.
What will Barack Obama's outreach to independent voters look like? That's a question I'm eager to see play out. -NH
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS
Hillary and the independents
New Idaho Bill to Close Primaries
Illinois: Changing the primary
Obama, Clinton: Watch Out For Republican Attack Dogs
Will Mayor Bloomberg run for Prez?
While you were waiting: Obama, Hillary, or Edwards
AIN'T EASY BEING GREEN
Hillary and the independents
From The Hill: ...Forty-eight percent of Independent voters also said that they would choose another candidate over Clinton, the poll, which surveyed 2,223 potential voters, states.
Fifty-six percent of men said that they would not vote for Clinton, while 45 percent of women said that she would not be their pick. In addition, 69 percent of those 62 and older said that they would not vote for Clinton....
Fifty-six percent of men said that they would not vote for Clinton, while 45 percent of women said that she would not be their pick. In addition, 69 percent of those 62 and older said that they would not vote for Clinton....
New Idaho Bill to Close Primaries
(Ballot Access News) On March 26, the Idaho Senate State Affairs Committee introduced S1244, the newest attempt to close Idaho’s primaries. Existing law lets voters choose a party’s primary ballot in the privacy of the voting booth on primary election day. S1244 would provide for partisan registration. If enacted, registered members of a party could only vote in that party’s primary, but independent voters could choose any party’s primary ballot. Parties would not have the discretion to bar independents from voting in their primary.
Although the Secretary of State supports this bill, the County Recorders (who administer elections) do not. No one yet knows if the bill will pass this year.
Since most voters are not likely to go to the bother of re-registering (assuming they are already registered to vote), the bill provides that they can choose their party affiliation at the polls, in the May 2008 primary.
Although the Secretary of State supports this bill, the County Recorders (who administer elections) do not. No one yet knows if the bill will pass this year.
Since most voters are not likely to go to the bother of re-registering (assuming they are already registered to vote), the bill provides that they can choose their party affiliation at the polls, in the May 2008 primary.
Illinois: Changing the primary
From Chicago Tribune: ...But some believe Obama would face little challenge in a favorite-son bid to win Illinois delegates to the Democrats' national nominating convention. Instead, the focus in Illinois might be on a GOP presidential field seeking the state's Republican nominating delegates....
Obama, Clinton: Watch Out For Republican Attack Dogs
From Black Star News: ...In the past year, I’ve spoken with many political Independents that have expressed strong anti-Hilary sentiments. When I ask them to elaborate on their dislike for Hilary, many can’t articulate the basis for their disdain. They just don’t like her. Add these Independents to the Republican base and the many Americans that would never vote for a woman, regardless of party or credentials, and you get a Republican president in 2008. ...
Will Mayor Bloomberg run for Prez?
From Washington Post reprinted in Concord Monitor: ...He has expressed to friends a deep frustration with partisan politics in the United States. And if he ran as a Democrat, he might sacrifice his reputation as an independent-minded businessman who is above politics.
But running for president as a third-party candidate has its own risks and challenges. The two-party system makes it difficult for third-party candidates to get on the ballot, and waiting until next year could make that hurdle insurmountable.
Bloomberg could have help in that area from a group that is planning to hold a "unity" primary to nominate a bipartisan ticket for the White House. The group, Unity08, was founded by, among others, Hamilton Jordan, President Jimmy Carter's chief of staff.
"Unity08 believes that neither of today's major parties reflects the aspirations, fears or will of the majority of Americans," its website states. "Both have polarized and alienated the people. . . . Unity08 will act to assure that an alternative ticket is presented to the American voters in 2008." ...Said one confidant, "Is there going to be a Perot moment where a third-party candidate can come in, much the way Perot did, and have it make sense so you're almost halfway sold before you're out the gate? ...
But running for president as a third-party candidate has its own risks and challenges. The two-party system makes it difficult for third-party candidates to get on the ballot, and waiting until next year could make that hurdle insurmountable.
Bloomberg could have help in that area from a group that is planning to hold a "unity" primary to nominate a bipartisan ticket for the White House. The group, Unity08, was founded by, among others, Hamilton Jordan, President Jimmy Carter's chief of staff.
"Unity08 believes that neither of today's major parties reflects the aspirations, fears or will of the majority of Americans," its website states. "Both have polarized and alienated the people. . . . Unity08 will act to assure that an alternative ticket is presented to the American voters in 2008." ...Said one confidant, "Is there going to be a Perot moment where a third-party candidate can come in, much the way Perot did, and have it make sense so you're almost halfway sold before you're out the gate? ...
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
While you were waiting: Obama, Hillary, or Edwards?
From Sunday's Talk/Talk "The Waiting Game" with Jackie Salit and Fred Newman:
Salit: Let me ask you about two other personalities, one announced, one unannounced. How do you see John Edwards in all of this? Throughout the campaign, he’s been referred to as “the third man.” You have the two giants fighting, or not fighting, or fighting each other in a controlled way, that being Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Then you have Edwards, who’s got a good ground operation in Iowa, the critical first state in the contest. How do you see the dynamics around his campaign?
Newman: He’s waiting for a mistake by one of the big two. Alternatively, he could try to prove that he is either black or a woman, but that is unlikely....
Salit: Let me ask you about two other personalities, one announced, one unannounced. How do you see John Edwards in all of this? Throughout the campaign, he’s been referred to as “the third man.” You have the two giants fighting, or not fighting, or fighting each other in a controlled way, that being Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Then you have Edwards, who’s got a good ground operation in Iowa, the critical first state in the contest. How do you see the dynamics around his campaign?
Newman: He’s waiting for a mistake by one of the big two. Alternatively, he could try to prove that he is either black or a woman, but that is unlikely....
AIN'T EASY BEING GREEN
FILM SCREENING: A 92 MINUTE DOCUMENTARY
MONDAY APRIL 9, 2007
STITELER HALL AUDITORIUM (ROOM B6)
AT THE CORNER OF 208 S. 37TH STREET (BETWEEN WALNUT AND LOCUST STREETS AT 37TH STREET)
PHILADELPHIA, PA
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
5:30-6:30pm- There will be dinner and mingling.
6:30-8:00pm- Film screening.
8:00-9:00pm- Panel Discussion with reps from Annenberg, PoliSci Dept. and History Dept.
Morse-Levin Productions Presents:
AIN'T EASY BEING GREEN
Directed by Stephen Robert Morse
Edited by Matthew Langhirt
Ain't Easy Being Green depicts the obstacles faced by Carl Romanelli, the Green Party's nominee for United States Senator from Pennsylvania in 2006. A quirky character who set himself apart from the other candidates in this race, Romanelli battled numerous legal challenges from the Democratic Party, because Democrats across the nation were furious that he would spoil the election. But Carl Romanelli did not go away quietly, and this is his story.
Cosponsored by: Political Science Department, Wharton Venture Initiation Program, History Undergraduate Advisory Board, PoliComm, Women's Studies Undergraduate Advisory Board, 34th Street Magazine, The Middle East Forum at Penn, and the Libertarian Speaker Committee.
THIS SCREENING IS COMPLETELY FREE. PLEASE BRING ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS, RELATIVES, AND ANYONE INTERESTED IN POLITICS!
MONDAY APRIL 9, 2007
STITELER HALL AUDITORIUM (ROOM B6)
AT THE CORNER OF 208 S. 37TH STREET (BETWEEN WALNUT AND LOCUST STREETS AT 37TH STREET)
PHILADELPHIA, PA
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
5:30-6:30pm- There will be dinner and mingling.
6:30-8:00pm- Film screening.
8:00-9:00pm- Panel Discussion with reps from Annenberg, PoliSci Dept. and History Dept.
Morse-Levin Productions Presents:
AIN'T EASY BEING GREEN
Directed by Stephen Robert Morse
Edited by Matthew Langhirt
Ain't Easy Being Green depicts the obstacles faced by Carl Romanelli, the Green Party's nominee for United States Senator from Pennsylvania in 2006. A quirky character who set himself apart from the other candidates in this race, Romanelli battled numerous legal challenges from the Democratic Party, because Democrats across the nation were furious that he would spoil the election. But Carl Romanelli did not go away quietly, and this is his story.
Cosponsored by: Political Science Department, Wharton Venture Initiation Program, History Undergraduate Advisory Board, PoliComm, Women's Studies Undergraduate Advisory Board, 34th Street Magazine, The Middle East Forum at Penn, and the Libertarian Speaker Committee.
THIS SCREENING IS COMPLETELY FREE. PLEASE BRING ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS, RELATIVES, AND ANYONE INTERESTED IN POLITICS!
Monday, March 26, 2007
TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS
Talk/Talk: Decision Time
Hankster Poll
Staten Island: Special election for Assembly
California: Independents Rule!
Party-Schmarty
California: Elaborate deal for term limits, campaign finance reform and redistricting
McCain losing independent support
Independents shifting left
Fasten your seat belts, 2008 is going to be interesting!
Texas: Bigger role in primary elections?
"Obama, ni wetu! Obama, ni wetu!"
Trans-Texas Corridor opposition growing
Honey, I Shrunk The Party?
Repub/Dem gap: the defection of independent voters
California: Continuing gains for independent voters
California: Where the independents are...
Urgent Message from Texas independent leader Linda Curtis
Hankster Poll
Staten Island: Special election for Assembly
California: Independents Rule!
Party-Schmarty
California: Elaborate deal for term limits, campaign finance reform and redistricting
McCain losing independent support
Independents shifting left
Fasten your seat belts, 2008 is going to be interesting!
Texas: Bigger role in primary elections?
"Obama, ni wetu! Obama, ni wetu!"
Trans-Texas Corridor opposition growing
Honey, I Shrunk The Party?
Repub/Dem gap: the defection of independent voters
California: Continuing gains for independent voters
California: Where the independents are...
Urgent Message from Texas independent leader Linda Curtis
Talk/Talk: Decision Time
From last week's Talk/Talk with Jackie Salit and Fred Newman "Decision Time"
Newman: So, I don’t think it’s a question of conservatism being played out. I think the conservatives have done an extraordinary job, they have out-flanked and out-foxed liberalism. That has as much to do with liberalism’s backing off of its principles as it has to do with conservatism’s popularity. I think these two go together....
And from March 11th Topsy-Turvy Times. It's amazing, isn't it? I'm talking about the extremes to which the establishment will go to deny the existence of the independent movement. That's the obvious factor in all of this. The independent movement is more than a third of the electorate, yes?
Newman: So, I don’t think it’s a question of conservatism being played out. I think the conservatives have done an extraordinary job, they have out-flanked and out-foxed liberalism. That has as much to do with liberalism’s backing off of its principles as it has to do with conservatism’s popularity. I think these two go together....
And from March 11th Topsy-Turvy Times. It's amazing, isn't it? I'm talking about the extremes to which the establishment will go to deny the existence of the independent movement. That's the obvious factor in all of this. The independent movement is more than a third of the electorate, yes?
Hankster Poll
In one of the most interesting Hankster Polls to date, it looks like a grassroots contest is shaping up between Chuck Hagel and Barack Obama!
Here's the question on the sidebar:
Of the candidates currently running or thinking about it, who is the best candidate for independent voters at this point?
Chuck Hagel is the front-runner with 18 votes and Barack Obama is a close second with 14 votes. Bill Richardson gets 5, Dennis Kucinich has 3, Hillary and Rudy have 2 each and Joe Biden and John McCain hold 1 vote each.
If you haven't yet, vote today!
Here's the question on the sidebar:
Of the candidates currently running or thinking about it, who is the best candidate for independent voters at this point?
Chuck Hagel is the front-runner with 18 votes and Barack Obama is a close second with 14 votes. Bill Richardson gets 5, Dennis Kucinich has 3, Hillary and Rudy have 2 each and Joe Biden and John McCain hold 1 vote each.
If you haven't yet, vote today!
Staten Island: Special election for Assembly seat
A special election on Staten Island has drawn some political "heavy hitters" -- Rev. Al Sharpton, State Sen. from Brooklyn Eric Adams and Dr. Lenora Fulani have come together to back Assembly candidate Kelvin Alexander... (Staten Island Advance)
California: Independents Rule!
Independents Rule Three Big Liberal Counties (LA Times Blog) You can see why conservatives in the California Republican Party won't allow decline-to-state independents to vote in their presidential primary next year. The GOP has effectively closed its Feb. 5, 2008, presidential ballot to party members only, to avoid mischief or undue influence from people who aren't true believers. The Democratic Party is, however, allowing decline-to-state voters inside the tent.
Although independent voters hold a wide variety of political viewpoints, the San Francisco, Marin and Alameda county voting blocs are rather large and could indeed favor moderate GOP candidates. That is, if those independent voters 1) were allowed to participate in the Republican presidential primary and 2) didn't want to vote in the equally exciting Democratic presidential race. Not a single Top 10 Republican county shows up in the Top 10 list of decline-to-state counties, but three big-and-liberal Bay Area counties are cross-pollinating between Democratic and independent....
Although independent voters hold a wide variety of political viewpoints, the San Francisco, Marin and Alameda county voting blocs are rather large and could indeed favor moderate GOP candidates. That is, if those independent voters 1) were allowed to participate in the Republican presidential primary and 2) didn't want to vote in the equally exciting Democratic presidential race. Not a single Top 10 Republican county shows up in the Top 10 list of decline-to-state counties, but three big-and-liberal Bay Area counties are cross-pollinating between Democratic and independent....
Party-Schmarty
Party Schmarty - Vote With Your Conscience, by Cindy (finelinelive)...sick of the inherent corruption, manipulation, and corporate/financial influence in our two-party political system...
California: Elaborate deal for term limits, campaign finance reform and redistricting
Primary provides platform for change; California politicians hope to use the February 2008 primary as a stage for changing term limits, redistricting and fundraising laws. By BRIAN JOSEPH (The Orange County Register) State officials say they moved the presidential primary to make California a bigger player in national politics, but that wasn't their only reason.
Moving the primary to February is the centerpiece of an elaborate deal to adjust term limits, reform campaign fundraising and change the way political districts are drawn.
Both parties and the governor have something they want and the deal could collapse if any of them don't get their way. In state politics, the stakes couldn't be higher....
Moving the primary to February is the centerpiece of an elaborate deal to adjust term limits, reform campaign fundraising and change the way political districts are drawn.
Both parties and the governor have something they want and the deal could collapse if any of them don't get their way. In state politics, the stakes couldn't be higher....
McCain losing independent support
McCain Tested by War, Economy in N.H., By PHILIP ELLIOTT, The Associated Press (Washington Post ) ...McCain's return to New Hampshire, including stops to northern cities, comes just a week after he visited southern and central parts of the state. During his previous campaign stops, he tried to retrieve his appeal among independent voters who had handed him a 19 percentage point win over then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush in the state's February 2000 presidential primary.
But things are hardly the same for him in New Hampshire as they were eight years ago, largely owing to his war support and local economic challenges....
But things are hardly the same for him in New Hampshire as they were eight years ago, largely owing to his war support and local economic challenges....
Independents shifting left
Moderates Migrate to Dems, By Paul Silver (The Moderate Voice) ...As a moderate Independent I will probably tend to support Democrats in the next elections, not so much because they have better ideas but because the bar for competence and reform has been so lowered by the current crop of GOP leaders that the Dems seems relatively more likely to move the country forward in the healthiest direction. By comparison they seem to me to be more open minded, more far sighted, more practical, and more likely to get meaningful things accomplished for the environment, diplomacy, healthcare, energy and civil liberties....
Thanks, Paul -- and let's not forget that independents must remain independent in order to change the direction our country is going in. That takes organization at the grassroots!
By the way, my friend Pete Abel from Central Sanity is also writing for The Moderate Voice. If you haven't checked out his columns, please do! "...If I’ve learned anything in the last five months of participating in the moderate/centrist/independent corner of the online world, it’s this: The universe of disillusioned voters is growing. Americans are increasingly fed up with both major parties; they don’t feel either speaks for them, and thus, they want alternatives to rise up and represent them...."
Thanks, Paul -- and let's not forget that independents must remain independent in order to change the direction our country is going in. That takes organization at the grassroots!
By the way, my friend Pete Abel from Central Sanity is also writing for The Moderate Voice. If you haven't checked out his columns, please do! "...If I’ve learned anything in the last five months of participating in the moderate/centrist/independent corner of the online world, it’s this: The universe of disillusioned voters is growing. Americans are increasingly fed up with both major parties; they don’t feel either speaks for them, and thus, they want alternatives to rise up and represent them...."
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