An Alternate October 30th

Mike Gravel speaks out!

Mike Gravel with or without NBC

Gregory Chase speaks out!

TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

• Purple Dreams-"More people in the state have moved to the independent category, so they're considering Democratic candidates—that's the difference," Jaquet said. "They're beginning to see the alternatives." (Boise Weelky)
• Independents Rise Up In New HampshireHow Do New Hampshire Voters Compare To California?-"We've seen the undeclared numbers increase and increase and increase," says New Hampshire Secretary of State William Gardner. (ABC 30 - Calif)
• Public Mind's advice to challengers: Get out the independents (Star Ledger blog)
• Poll: Arkansas Voters Lean Left (THE MORNING NEWS)
• "Losing Third Parties Don't Change History"-Doeth he protest too much? (Town Hall)
• Mega-donors prepare for '08 battle (Ben Smith - Politico)
• Barack Obama Shines in Philadelphia Debate, ‘Standing Out from the Pack,’ (BlackAmericaWeb.com)
• Gravel plans own simultaneous debate (Boston Globe)
• Debate draws a vocal chorus/Nay-sayers and sign-wavers. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• Party Dominance at Stake in Louisiana Runoff (Southern Political Report)
• New York State Highest Court Will Hear Case on Local Parties v State Organizations (Ballot Access News)

TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

• An Engaged Independent Electorate-CBS News poll says most independents are not able/not interested in voting in the primaries (The Caucus/NY Times blog)
• 27 year old New Hampshire hedge fund manager Gregory Chase offers $1 mil to get Mike Gravel in debate (Philadelphia Inquirer) and (Mens News Daily)
• Judge leaves election-law loophole open-"The big loser is the state constitution and the people who voted for the amendment to have an open primary." (Orlando Sentinel)
• Officials debate drop in voting in Louisana's gov race-"If we are truly interested in keeping democracy alive, we have to make voting more user friendly.” (The Advocate)
• Driscoll: Republicans and Democrats trot out the bogeymen-"something that is ultimately sad and destructive to our democracy. I'd like to believe we can do better than this. All of us.'' (Waltham Daily News Tribune)
• Conviction Politics... in Practice: Tom Perriello for Congress as an independent in Virginia's 5th CD (TPM Cafe)

Jimmie Rodgers - T for Texas (1936)

and I for Independent (2007)

Norma Paulus discusses Partisanship, Open Primary on Oregon Independent..

The Hankster welcomes Oregon Independent to the blogroll! Please check out this video of Norma Paulus discussing the open primary issue... You can also read about John Frohnmayer's campaign here.... Altogether, a primo independent site! The Hankster recommends Oregon Independent!!!

TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

• Florida’s Critical Independent Voters At Risk For Democrats (CQ Politics)
• Of protests, pilots and the Pledge-As the health-care debate heats up, independent voters have learned to ignore the status-quo worshippers who trash proposed solutions while suggesting none of their own. (The Columbian-By JOHN LAIRD)
• It's incumbent Zwelling and independent Randy Case in Zanesville mayor's race (Zanesville Times Recorder)

Trinity Church meeting Committee for a Harlem Debate #4

Jeffrey Davis, co-founder of the James E. Davis Love Yourself Stop the Violence Foundation, member of the Coalition of Outsiders, speaks about the responsibility of the community in face of the onslaught of endorsements by elected officials in NYC for Clinton. "We can look at the conditions in our communities and know that we need to begin to make these decisions ourselves."

Good time for voters to think for themselves

Letter from Donna Lee Richards, Nashua
Published: Sunday, October 21, 2007, Nashua Telegraph

At a time in our history when it is more important than ever that people think for themselves instead of blindly following party, propaganda or pressure, thank you for your prominent coverage of a recent local event that brought together independent-minded voters. (Oct. 15: "Independent voters make voices heard")

What most people don't know is that independents – voters who do not align themselves with a political party – make up the vast majority of voters.

Independents are largely misunderstood and tend to get labeled (leaners, swing voters, undecided, undeclared, people less likely to vote, etc.) despite the very nature of not wanting to be labeled in the first place.

The interesting thing about a gathering of independents is that it is devoid of much of the pressure and negativity that a party-sponsored activity generates.

No one gets excluded. Issues get voiced rather than people getting scrutinized and bashed. Ideas get offered, exchanged and valued. It's about the power and responsibility of the individual voter to consider all options and make educated decisions.

There are more independents than Republicans, more independents than Democrats, and more independents than ever before.

Thanks for recognizing the power of this phenomenon because now is the time for voters to exercise their freedoms and think for themselves.

TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

Peoples campaign forces Hillary into Harlem:

• CLINTON BOPS OBAMA IN UPTOWN UPSURGE (NY Post)
• Hillary Clinton finds time for her base in Harlem (Newsday)
• Hillary’s Harlem Hegemony? Harlem Residents Feel Steamrolled, Silenced (Think on These Things)

INDEPENDENT VOTERS

• Political project looks outside party lines-UNITY 08 (Lawrence Journal World and News)
• Independents unhappy with Republicans-Undeclared voters likely to lean Democratic (Concord Monitor)
• All but Gravel Shun Fla. Convention (The Caucus/NY Times blog)
• Lack of hopefuls doesn't stop party-Hundreds of activists skipped the Florida Democratic Party's annual convention in wake of a boycott by seven of eight presidential hopefuls over the state's early primary. Quotes Gravel (Miami Herald)
• Huge undecided bloc puts state up for grabs (Orlando Sentinel)

LOCAL INDEPENDENT POLITICS

• California: Steve Wiegand: Is latest remap try also DOA? (Sac Bee)
• Indiana: Candidates tackle 2-party system, Keystone project (Indianapolis Star)
• Idaho: Court Sets Hearing for Idaho Lawsuit Against Open Primary (Ballot Access News)

Trinity Church meeting Committee for a Harlem Debate

Tanya Wants to raise awareness among youth and adults. "It's important that we take a stand for our future", she says, and shares an important quote: Action without vision is a nightmare; vision without action is a daydream....

Think about Hillary and Obama....

And speaking of which, don't miss Hillary's Harlem Hegemony from Think On These Things... The Hankster endorses Think On These Things! now on the sidebar... Good work, Think!

Trinity Church meeting Committee for a Harlem Debate #2

Coalition of Outsiders Keith McHenry introduces Brooklyn Indpendence Party activist Becca Widom and Queens Democratic community leader Martha Oliver...
10.22.07

TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

PARTY SWITCHERS AND INDEPENDENT VOTERS

• Munster Indiana: Candidates come in more than two flavors this election-Vasser said poor decisions by fellow Republicans on the Highland Town Council forced him to switch parties, and he said he believes his roots in the community will transcend party labels. (The Times)
• Meadville Pennsylvania: Surprise party switch may give Tingley edge for commissioner seat (Meadville Tribune)-She said she has been independent of both parties all summer, marching in parades as a separate entry. “So I guess you could say I was independent months ago.”
• New Jersey: Mayoral candidates sound off on S.R. issues-Szegeti, Eppinger, Londensky on ballot in Nov. 6 election-Eppinger, 45, said Londensky may be running for mayor as an independent, but the former Democrat cannot shake off his prior affiliation. (East Brunswick Sentinel)
• Florida: Dispute will alter independent vote-Poll: It increases chance they'll vote Republican (News Press)

INSTANT RUNOFF VOTING

• Aspen Colorado: We support Instant Runoff Voting (An Aspen Times Editorial)
• Washington: Sides differ over value of instant runoff voting in Clallam County (Peninsula Daily News)

OBAMA CAMPAIGN

• The New Comeback Kid-Hillary's plan to win it all in New Hampshire. (by E.J. Dionne, Jr, The New Republic)
• Choosing Sides on Obama, Clinton (Washington Post) scroll down

LOCAL INDEPENDENT CAMPAIGNS

• Virginia: Editorial--Skip the parties in the 9th District-Independent Jerry Boothe offers far more than his Democratic and Republican opponents. (Roanoke Times)
• Ohio: Ruling keeps Lorenzi off fall ballot (The Vindicator)
• New Jersey: McQuade relates to key issues, "Nobody cares Republican or Democrat. They want the right person in there." (Vineland Daily Journal)

Committee for a Harlem Debate between Clinton and Obama

On Monday, October 22, the Committee for a Harlem Debate between Clinton and Obama met at the Trinity Church, thanks to the invitation of Lonnie Shockley, to an overflow audience of NYC grassroots Dem and independent activists.

The first in a series of videos is featured at the top of The Hankster.

Don't miss this exciting community meeting of folks concerned about the tamping down of the dialogue as to the best choice for African Americans (an everyone) in our communities.

Hillary is a slam-dunk?
Obama not black enough?
So thinks the Dem Party.....
Think again -- independently!

In this segment, Coalition of Outsiders founding member Keith McHenry leads the charge to demand a debate at the historic Apollo Theatre (or another venue) in Harlem introduces Trinity Church activist Lonnie Shockley, who gives a "radical welcome" to Dr. Fulani and the diverse grouping of New York City community activists, saying that we need to "keep the focus on the politics in our communities. We're at a critical time."

WARNING: This is not about winning an election. This is about regular people coming together to dialogue about what's best for us the people in this critical election.... and beyond.

For more information and to become active go to independentvoting.org

• For video of the African American Day Parade to to hankstertube here and here
• For video of Lenora Fulani's press conference about the 2009 NYC mayoral race go to hankstertube here

And stay tuned! There's more to come!

Trinity Church meeting Committee for a Harlem Debate

The first in a series of the meeting at Trinity Church of the Committee for a Harlem Debate between Clinton and Obama. Host: Lonnie Shockley, Trinity Church. MC: Keith McHenry, Coalition of Outsiders
NYC 10.22.07

TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

• New Redistricting Initiative Designed to Fail – Courts Would Redraw Districts for 2012 (California Progress Report)
• Mayoral debate hits debt, Keystone, arts center-independent candidate Marnin Spiegelman (Indianapolis Star)

great balls are round

the ever wise hausenharry reminds us where we are...

TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

BALLOT ACCESS

• PA: Inaccessible ballot (Pittsburgh Tribune Review)
• NJ: Independents pay for parties but not invited (Home News Tribune)
• OK: Get ballot access reform on the ballot (Muskogee Phoenix)

OPEN PRIMARIES (OCTOBER REVIEW)

• WA: For county commissioners, another two will do- Vote yes on Measure 3-272 (Clackamas Review)
• LA: Ethnicity is no bar to Jindal's dream-Under Louisiana's open primary rules, a candidate who can secure more than half the total vote wins outright. (Los Angeles Times)
• CA: The future of the California GOP-One possibility would be an open primary, allowing independents (like those who backed Schwarzenegger in the recall) to weigh in. And redistricting reform would certainly help (LA Times)
• ID: Federal judge sets hearing on Idaho's primary case (The Oregonian)
• VA: Republicans Opt for Convention to Choose Nominee-steer clear of open primary (Washington Post)
• MS: Dem candidate for Sec of State Rob Smith hoping to prove there is still hope-supports open primary (Meridian Star)
• FL: Suit seeks to fix elections flaw-A retiree says a loophole lets write-in candidates keep thousands from voting in state primaries. (Orlando Sentinel)
• CA: A 'hybrid democracy' for California-Californians are better served by voting only on initiatives that have bipartisan support from lawmakers.(By Mark Baldassare and Cheryl Katz - LA Times)
• OR: Susan Morgan joins commissioner race (JOHN SOWELL-News Review)
• OR: Debating an Open Primary (BlueOregon)
• LA: John Maginnis: Days of the open primary could be numbered (Shreveport Times)
• LA: Primary election ruling awaited-La. watches case in Washington state (The Advocate)
• NY: U.S. Supreme Court Reviews NY’s Judicial Selection Process (Brooklyn Daily Eagle)
• WA: Editorial: Supremes should back top two (Whidbey News Times)
• WA: Top-two primary best for Washington (The Seattle Times)

CLINTON/OBAMA DEBATE

• Difficult days for supporters of Barack Obama (David Broder-Denver Post)
• Patrick holds rally for Obama (Boston Globe)

TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

• Good time for voters to think for themselves (Nashua Telegraph)
• California politicians can't reform themselves-Editorials about the SCHIP veto and City Hall lobbying point to the need for third-party reform. (LA Times)
• New Louisiana governor targets ethics (Philadelphia Inquirer)