The Forgotten Voice of Independents
Posted on February 24, 2008 - Filed Under Elections, News
I was engaged in a heated debate with a friend a few days ago. I was arguing that the value of Independents is taken for granted by both parties. That they often allow for their candidates to run from the ‘fringe’ and then expect independents to ‘rally’ behind these wacky candidates.
My case was highlighted by the following:
1) Democrats. They have 2 remaining candidates that are both as far-left as any candidates that they have ever ran. The moderate middle that Bill Clinton ran as … was lost. Both are ‘out-promising’ the other on social welfare program expansions. They both have forgot that tax receipts are paid by tax payers. They have both forgot that our sovereign security is paramount to our survival.
2) Republicans. They just ‘hate’ their remaining candidate. They view him as a lost and lone maverick. Not espousing any ideals that they (the Republicans) hold dear. He too is now running for the fringe, between moments of running in the opposite way. His age, while not preventive about ability, the issue of continuity is just being ignored.
Independents are (for the most part) left out of the primary process. Some may argue that they should be. It is the parties themselves that are nominating their candidates. Who would want some outsiders (independents) playing spoiler?
So that leaves us, those independent of mind and voice, to pick from the scrap heap of those nominations. We get to choose from two low quality and poor candidates. What we need, need as a people, need as a nation is a person of character, one who is willing to look after all of our needs (and not the special interests) and make America great again.
Ralph Nader, as well meaning as he is, is not him.
It is time that Mike Bloomberg step up. Step up and save America from its selfish ways. Make us great again. This is just one-lone-voice in the wilderness looking not for a savior but a Leader.
The Rise of Independents
Posted on February 17, 2008 - Filed Under President, Third Party
“The future lies with those wise political leaders who realize that the great public is interested more in Government than in politics . . . The growing independence of voters, after all, has been proven by the votes in every Presidential election since my childhood—and the tendency, frankly, is on the increase.”
—Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1940
Urgent - your support needed!
Posted on February 14, 2008 - Filed Under Activist Actions, Elections
I’m writing today to ask you for your help.
Over the last six weeks, CUIP volunteers have been making thousands of phone calls to supporters in all fifty states to raise funds for our 2008 annual campaign. We set a very ambitious goal this year - $405,000 by February 20, and we are almost there.
I know you are a supporter of independent politics. Your support these past years has made all the difference in the world. And we need your help today to meet this important goal.
$405,000 is a big stretch for us. We took on this challenge because, to quote my colleague Jackie Salit’s post-Super Tuesday analysis, “a notable development is the extent to which organized independents are becoming recognized as a force with power and connections and roots in a mass movement that is growing significantly.”
With recognition comes opportunity – to grow, to impact, to recruit new supporters and spread our message of political independence and non-partisanship.
In the last six weeks, CUIP has invested thousands of dollars in local organizing campaigns in Kentucky, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Georgia, Alabama, Idaho and Oregon. Many of our local leaders are now interfacing directly with the Barack Obama campaign. Most importantly, independents have had a direct influence on the public debate in campaign ’08.
Because we are growing, we need more financial support than ever.
Our fundraising team has been doing an inspiring job of raising funds, hitting the phones day in and day out. The average donation has increased from $381 in 2007 to $589 this year – an increase of 54%! Because of their hard work, we’ve raised $382,500, just $22,500 short of our goal.
We’ve not been able to reach you on the phone to renew your support, and I want to ask you to do so today. To give on-line, just click here. If you want to make a pledge, please send me an e-mail with the pledge amount and I will send you an envelope.
Thank you in advance for your support.
Most Sincerely,
John Opdycke
Director of Development
jopdycke@cuip.org
PS – our goal is to raise another $22,500 in the next 5 days! Please take a minute now and either give on-line or send me an e-mail with your pledge. Thank you!
Independent Primary
Posted on February 5, 2008 - Filed Under Activist Actions, Elections, Third Party
I just cast my vote at IndependentPrimary. Com .
It’s a new website that allows independent and independent- minded voters to have our voice in the 2008 Presidential Elections.
It’s exciting to see that independent and independent minded voters are doing something about American democracy.
I sent this to you so that you could cast your vote as well. It’s easy!
Just go to http://www.independ entprimary. com and let your voice be heard.
Rothman paying to dial up independents
Posted on February 1, 2008 - Filed Under Activist Actions, Elections, President, Third Party
http://www.northjersey.com/news/nationalpolitics/15097441.html
I just finished reading the article. I was impressed with Rep. Rothman’s efforts to reach out to the independents for this primary election. I was one that believe (incorrectly) that the 58% of New Jersey voters were in-eligible to vote next Tuesday.
Based on the content of the article, it appears that all an independent voter needs to do is to go to his/her voting place and just ‘declare’ that they wish to vote in either the Republican or Democrat primary.
Afterwards, they need to speak to ‘election officals’ and complete a form moving them back to the ‘Undeclaired’ status (which is NewJerseieze for Independent).
Thanks Steve!!!
Independents out number both parties….
Posted on January 31, 2008 - Filed Under Elections, News
There are more independents in New Jersey than Democrats and Republicans combined.
Who knew?
Why are we all so quiet?
Independent Voter Block Could Hold Key to Presidential Race
Posted on January 23, 2008 - Filed Under Elections, President, Third Party
Independent voters have become a force to reckon with when it comes to the presidential race.
The number of voters who register as “Decline to State” in California has increased 700,000 since 2000, now reaching 3 million. It’s the fastest growing and most unpredictable voting block.
“Independent voters we know, from the New Hampshire primary … are the wildcard in this election. And particularly in the Democratic primary in California where they can vote, they can have a huge input,” said Mark Baldassare, pollster with the Public Policy Institute of California.
Baldassare says Independents typically make up their mind at the last minute if they’re going to vote and who they’re voting for, making it challenging to determine voting trends.
Since the 2000 presidential election, the Democratic and Republican parties have lost more than 800,000 voters in California.
The Martin Luther King, Jr.
Posted on January 21, 2008 - Filed Under Elections
I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.”
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.
This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.
This will be the day when all of God’s children will be able to sing with a new meaning, “My country, ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim’s pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring.”
And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.
Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.
Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!
Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!
Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!
But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!
Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!
Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.
And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:
“Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”
~Martin Luther King, Jr., August 28, 1963, Washington, DC
Court Steals Open Debates Victory
Posted on January 17, 2008 - Filed Under Elections, News, Third Party
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2489/t/4823/content.jsp?content_KEY=3645
This is the article (you can go to the above link to see it in its entirity) that SCARES me for the American People and for the FUTURE of media’s role in the political process. Here are some excerpts of the article:
Fifteen minutes before the NBC Las Vegas debate, the Nevada Supreme Court granted NBC’s “emergency” appeal and barred Dennis Kucinich from the televised debate.
The court held that the “first amendment rights” of a “corporate media outlet” trumped the right of the American people to an open debate process.
What this ruling effectively says is that private, unelected media companies can decide who can and cannot appear in an officially sanctioned presidential debate.
Independents don’t show up in Michigan
Posted on January 16, 2008 - Filed Under Elections, President
Independent voters constituted a significantly smaller proportion of Michigan Republican primary voters this cycle than eight years ago. Independents made up only 25 percent of primary voters this year — 10 points less than they did in the 2000 GOP primary that McCain won.As predicted, among independents McCain beat Romney 35 percent to 29 percent. But Romney easily beat McCain among registered Republicans, 40 percent to 26 percent. That could bode well for the former Massachusetts governor in upcoming primaries where independent voters are not allowed to vote on the Republican side.
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