Michael H. Drucker
Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us 
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Bloomberg on Independent Politics
Mayor Bloomberg was the Keynote speaker at the NYC Independence Party's 2004 Anti-Corruption Awards dinner.
Michael H. Drucker
Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us
Michael H. Drucker
Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
THE NEO-INDEPENDENT Magazine
The Executive Editor Jackie Salit was on C-SPAN, June 23, 2007, discussing the magazine.
Michael H. Drucker
Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us
Michael H. Drucker
Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Bloomberg and the Presidential Election
A friend and member of the NY State Committee of the Independence Party wrote this letter to the Editor:
A competitive independent run for President by Michael Bloomberg would not require "huge defections by Democrats and Republicans" ("For 2 Years, Bloomberg Aides Prepared Way for Run", NYT, June 21). According to polls conducted in recent months by both Gallup and The Wall Street Journal, the number of U.S. voters who self-identify as independent stands at between 38% and 42%. These figures strongly suggest that there is a section of the electorate (apparently more numerous than either Democrats or Republicans) who share Bloomberg's concern about "partisan agendas" ("The Bloomberg Question", NYT, June 21).
Is it not remarkable that in the debates that have so far been televised, not a single Democrat or Republican candidate for president has made a serious appeal to these independent voters, addressed their concerns, or even acknowledged that they exit? Mr. Bloomberg has put these candidates on notice that they ignore independent voters at their peril.
Louis Hinman
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Taking this to the next step, the "Spoiler" label is off the table. But this then leads to a different type of "Spoiler". This possible three-way could force the 2008 election into the hands of the Congress as no one gets 270 electoral votes. So this time it's not the Supreme Court but your elected officials who pick the next President.
Michael H. Drucker
Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us
A competitive independent run for President by Michael Bloomberg would not require "huge defections by Democrats and Republicans" ("For 2 Years, Bloomberg Aides Prepared Way for Run", NYT, June 21). According to polls conducted in recent months by both Gallup and The Wall Street Journal, the number of U.S. voters who self-identify as independent stands at between 38% and 42%. These figures strongly suggest that there is a section of the electorate (apparently more numerous than either Democrats or Republicans) who share Bloomberg's concern about "partisan agendas" ("The Bloomberg Question", NYT, June 21).
Is it not remarkable that in the debates that have so far been televised, not a single Democrat or Republican candidate for president has made a serious appeal to these independent voters, addressed their concerns, or even acknowledged that they exit? Mr. Bloomberg has put these candidates on notice that they ignore independent voters at their peril.
Louis Hinman
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Taking this to the next step, the "Spoiler" label is off the table. But this then leads to a different type of "Spoiler". This possible three-way could force the 2008 election into the hands of the Congress as no one gets 270 electoral votes. So this time it's not the Supreme Court but your elected officials who pick the next President.
Michael H. Drucker
Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Who Can Be a Pres. or VP?
The Constitution, Article II states: "No person except a natural Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States."
The XII Admenment states: "But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States."
Please send me comments and confirm or correct my reading of the Constitution.
Michael H. Drucker
Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us
The XII Admenment states: "But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States."
Please send me comments and confirm or correct my reading of the Constitution.
Michael H. Drucker
Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Bloomberg leaves Republican Party
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg left the Republican Party on Tuesday and switched to unaffiliated, a move certain to be seen as a prelude to an independent presidential bid that would upend the 2008 race.
"Although my plans for the future haven't changed, I believe this brings my affiliation into alignment with how I have led and will continue to lead our city," Bloomberg said.
"The politics of partisanship and the resulting inaction and excuses have paralyzed decision-making, primarily at the federal level, and the big issues of the day are not being addressed, leaving our future in jeopardy," he said in a speech Monday at the start of a University of Southern California conference about the advantages of nonpartisan governing.
Interesting that he can not vote in a Democrat or Republican New York Primary anymore. But he can vote in New York Independence Party Primaries.
Michael H. Drucker
Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us
"Although my plans for the future haven't changed, I believe this brings my affiliation into alignment with how I have led and will continue to lead our city," Bloomberg said.
"The politics of partisanship and the resulting inaction and excuses have paralyzed decision-making, primarily at the federal level, and the big issues of the day are not being addressed, leaving our future in jeopardy," he said in a speech Monday at the start of a University of Southern California conference about the advantages of nonpartisan governing.
Interesting that he can not vote in a Democrat or Republican New York Primary anymore. But he can vote in New York Independence Party Primaries.
Michael H. Drucker
Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us
Monday, June 18, 2007
Bloomberg-Boren 2008
Another Bloomberg Presidential Ticket
"While at the University of Oklahoma to deliver the commencement address May 11, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg engaged in a long, private discussion about 2008 politics with university president and maverick Democrat David Boren. According to New York political sources, they discussed a role Boren might play in an independent Bloomberg campaign for president -- generating speculation about a Bloomberg-Boren ticket. In introducing Bloomberg for his commencement speech, Boren praised the mayor's record stabilizing his city's budget and strengthening its economy after the 9/11 attack. Boren was governor of Oklahoma before serving 16 years in the U.S. Senate. A moderate Democrat, he clashed with President Clinton and left the Senate in 1994 to take the University of Oklahoma post."
Innocent Visit
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg came close to taking himself out of consideration for a 2008 run as an independent candidate on Friday. During Bloomberg’s weekly radio show, he quipped about expecting some media attention over the fact he will be in New Hampshire, home of the first-in-the-nation primary, on Saturday.
“People will read into the fact that I’m going to be in New Hampshire tomorrow,” Bloomberg conceded.
“They have a primary there, you know,” host John Gambling noted.
“That may be, but the truth of the matter is I’m going to be in New Hampshire just for dinner,” Bloomberg said.
Bloomberg explained he only was going to the state for one evening to attend his girlfriend’s college reunion. At the present, at least, Bloomberg said he intends to remain as mayor through his current term, which runs until November 2009.
“I don’t think the country is quite ready for me,” Bloomberg added.
Michael H. Drucker
Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us
"While at the University of Oklahoma to deliver the commencement address May 11, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg engaged in a long, private discussion about 2008 politics with university president and maverick Democrat David Boren. According to New York political sources, they discussed a role Boren might play in an independent Bloomberg campaign for president -- generating speculation about a Bloomberg-Boren ticket. In introducing Bloomberg for his commencement speech, Boren praised the mayor's record stabilizing his city's budget and strengthening its economy after the 9/11 attack. Boren was governor of Oklahoma before serving 16 years in the U.S. Senate. A moderate Democrat, he clashed with President Clinton and left the Senate in 1994 to take the University of Oklahoma post."
Innocent Visit
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg came close to taking himself out of consideration for a 2008 run as an independent candidate on Friday. During Bloomberg’s weekly radio show, he quipped about expecting some media attention over the fact he will be in New Hampshire, home of the first-in-the-nation primary, on Saturday.
“People will read into the fact that I’m going to be in New Hampshire tomorrow,” Bloomberg conceded.
“They have a primary there, you know,” host John Gambling noted.
“That may be, but the truth of the matter is I’m going to be in New Hampshire just for dinner,” Bloomberg said.
Bloomberg explained he only was going to the state for one evening to attend his girlfriend’s college reunion. At the present, at least, Bloomberg said he intends to remain as mayor through his current term, which runs until November 2009.
“I don’t think the country is quite ready for me,” Bloomberg added.
Michael H. Drucker
Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
LETTER TO DEMOCRATIC PARTY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES
Below is a letter that was sent to each of the presidential candidates from Jackie Salit, CUIP’s president, and Jim Mangia, California’s IndependentVoice.org co-chair, in response to the Sunday night Democratic Party debate.
* * * * *
Dear Presidential Candidate,
In last night’s televised debate, the candidates spoke about the importance of being honest with the American public. However, there was a basic dishonesty in the presentation by all the candidates that is being duly noted by independent voters in New Hampshire and across the country.
The most heated moments in your debate revolved around who had led on the question of opposing the war in Iraq, and when and how that leadership was expressed. That’s a very important issue. However, no one on the stage acknowledged that the leadership for turning the country against the war came from the American people and, more explicitly, from independents, whose opposition to U.S. policy in Iraq has driven many of the changes we’ve already seen.
Despite the fact that 44% of New Hampshire voters and 38% of voters nationally (according to the latest Gallup poll) are independents, and despite the fact that independents overwhelmingly oppose the war, every Democratic presidential candidate failed to make note of these facts. This was an extraordinary omission, given that it is so obviously in your self-interest to do so. New Hampshire is an open primary state where already 69% of independents say they intend to vote in the Democratic primary.
Contrary to the statement by Senator Clinton, Iraq is not George Bush’s war. It is Washington’s war—signed, sealed and delivered by both political parties. Independent voters have a special sensitivity about policies that are enacted because elected officials are playing politics, rather than doing what’s best for the American people. That’s why they chose to become independents in the first place. If you want to deal honestly with the American people, you could begin by honestly acknowledging and giving credit to independent voters. We have a vision for a new kind of America. We are watching to see if that is true for any of you.
* * * * *
Some pols say "One problem candidates have in reaching out to independent voters is that there's no sure-fire way to appeal to them. Generally, independents are less likely to vote than are Democrats and Republicans, and their unpredictable nature convinces some campaigns that they're better off ignoring them than trying to figure out how to reach them and get them to vote."
But independents say "Invite us in for the conversation, that's all we're asking, we can't believe that they don't understand the power of this. They think we're an unpredictable bunch, that we're going to hurt them. But we don't need our own candidate. We'll make our choice based on the best leader, but we're not going to find that best leader if we keep asking them the same questions."
Michael H. Drucker
Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us
Dear Presidential Candidate,
In last night’s televised debate, the candidates spoke about the importance of being honest with the American public. However, there was a basic dishonesty in the presentation by all the candidates that is being duly noted by independent voters in New Hampshire and across the country.
The most heated moments in your debate revolved around who had led on the question of opposing the war in Iraq, and when and how that leadership was expressed. That’s a very important issue. However, no one on the stage acknowledged that the leadership for turning the country against the war came from the American people and, more explicitly, from independents, whose opposition to U.S. policy in Iraq has driven many of the changes we’ve already seen.
Despite the fact that 44% of New Hampshire voters and 38% of voters nationally (according to the latest Gallup poll) are independents, and despite the fact that independents overwhelmingly oppose the war, every Democratic presidential candidate failed to make note of these facts. This was an extraordinary omission, given that it is so obviously in your self-interest to do so. New Hampshire is an open primary state where already 69% of independents say they intend to vote in the Democratic primary.
Contrary to the statement by Senator Clinton, Iraq is not George Bush’s war. It is Washington’s war—signed, sealed and delivered by both political parties. Independent voters have a special sensitivity about policies that are enacted because elected officials are playing politics, rather than doing what’s best for the American people. That’s why they chose to become independents in the first place. If you want to deal honestly with the American people, you could begin by honestly acknowledging and giving credit to independent voters. We have a vision for a new kind of America. We are watching to see if that is true for any of you.
Some pols say "One problem candidates have in reaching out to independent voters is that there's no sure-fire way to appeal to them. Generally, independents are less likely to vote than are Democrats and Republicans, and their unpredictable nature convinces some campaigns that they're better off ignoring them than trying to figure out how to reach them and get them to vote."
But independents say "Invite us in for the conversation, that's all we're asking, we can't believe that they don't understand the power of this. They think we're an unpredictable bunch, that we're going to hurt them. But we don't need our own candidate. We'll make our choice based on the best leader, but we're not going to find that best leader if we keep asking them the same questions."
Michael H. Drucker
Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us
Sunday, June 3, 2007
CNN Presidential Debates
CUIP is mobilizing independents around the country to watch the presidential debates and submit evaluations of the candidate performances on a special "Debate Watch" survey. Independents from 30 states participated in the first two debates and overwhelmingly (98%) said neither Democrats or Republicans acknowledged the role independents played in the mid-term elections or spoke directly to independents. The next Debate Watch will focus on the New Hampshire debates taking place on June 3rd and 5th. Use the link to take the online survey.
Michael H. Drucker
Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us
Michael H. Drucker
Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us
Electorial College Numbers Game
If an Independent Candidate wanted the shortest route to the White House, s(he) would only need to win in these states:
California 55
Texas 34 = 89
New York 31 = 120
Florida 27 = 147
Illinois 21 = 168
Pennsylvania 21 = 189
Ohio 20 = 209
Michigan 17 = 226
Georgia 15 = 241
New Jersey 15 = 256
North Carolina 15 = 271
These states represent 56.82% of the population.
Michael H. Drucker
Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us
California 55
Texas 34 = 89
New York 31 = 120
Florida 27 = 147
Illinois 21 = 168
Pennsylvania 21 = 189
Ohio 20 = 209
Michigan 17 = 226
Georgia 15 = 241
New Jersey 15 = 256
North Carolina 15 = 271
These states represent 56.82% of the population.
Michael H. Drucker
Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
