Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Opportunity to Ballot

In New York State, Opportunity to Ballot petitions, a write-in vote, once meant to give party members more say over who their nominees would be, are more predominantly used by the two major parties to win additional lines on the ballot for their candidates, allowed by New York Fusion voting, some election officials say.

Fusion allows a candidate to be cross-indoesed by more then one party.

Opportunity to Ballot petitions were originally intended as a way to allow regular voters in a particular party a choice of candidates in those instances where their party did not make any endorsements. Lately, it has become a way for the major political parties such as the Republican and Democratic parties to circumvent the endorsements of the minor political parties such as the Conservative and Independence parties.

It's not only an issue for party leaders, but a financial issue as well. In years with countywide races, primary challenges will require polling places to be staffed in every election district where Opportunity to Ballot is used. In off-years, like in 2007, those costs are not expected to be incurred. But any time there is a primary challenge, even for Conservative and Independence voters, it requires at least one polling place, even though few Independence and Conservative voters are expected to cast a vote on Primary Day. The cost of operating polling places has prompted election officials to consolidate the Independence and Conservative primaries into one location, the distance involved could negatively impact voter turnout. ''It's upsetting they are not being treated with the same courtesies the major parties are,'' said one of the candidates eligible for the write-in, and who is actively opposing the Board of Election's decision and says the consolidation is illegal. The board disagrees, and believes only operating one polling place for the upcoming Independence and Conservative primaries makes more sense than operating separate polling places throughout the four towns.''These are minor party primaries. The voter turnout is going to be extremely low and it costs up to $1,000 to open up a polling site,'' the board said.

What are your thoughts and does your state allow Opportunity to Ballot?

Michael H. Drucker
Technorati talk bubble Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us Digg! StumbleUpon

Sunday, August 26, 2007

Bloomberg's Foundation

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg paid $45 million for a crisp, elegant town house at Madison Avenue and 78th Street to be the headquarters for the newly created Bloomberg Family Foundation. Mr. Bloomberg has purchased a second building for $41 million adjacent to the $45 million building on the Upper East Side to house the new foundation. His office says the buildings will undergo renovations and be connected internally.

So when Mayor Bloomberg prepares to leave office in 2009 he will have a place to go. Unless, of course, he finds some other job in the meantime.

Michael H. Drucker
Technorati talk bubble Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us Digg! StumbleUpon

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down

This is for NY independents but also applies to the Independent Movement.

City Independents Win Key Court Decision;

Right to Authorize Independence Party Candidates Remains Locally Controlled;

Judge Declares MacKay Rules Change “Invalid”

For Immediate Release: Contact: Sarah Lyons
August 21, 2007 212-962-1824 / 917-658-9885


New York City—Yesterday a State Supreme Court judge struck down a rules change enacted by the State Independence Party and chairman Frank MacKay in June. The rule would have given the State Executive Committee control over the selection of Independence Party candidates in New York City, including for citywide offices in 2009. The court’s decision affirms that all such decisions will be made by the New York City organizations.

In June, the Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island county organizations of the Independence Party filed suit against MacKay and the party’s State Committee. The plaintiffs asserted that local control over city nominations is guaranteed by state law and that party rules could not circumvent that. Brooklyn State Supreme Court Judge Joseph Levine agreed declaring the rule “invalid” and asserting that “Although political parties are afforded wide latitude in adopting rules for party governance, such rules cannot conflict with statutory directives.”

Attorneys for the plaintiffs were Harry Kresky, counsel to the NYC Independence Party and Michael Hardy, counsel to the National Action Network and Rev. Al Sharpton. Attorney Harry Kresky stated, “In a series of rulings over the last year the courts have clearly stated that the Independence Party is not above the law. This is an important message, not just to the state party’s Executive Committee, but more generally. The doctrine of party rights cannot be used to abuse or undercut democratic protections built into state law. For this reason the decision has ramifications beyond New York. It’s important because it defines limits to party power at a time when more and more Americans dislike and distrust political parties.”

We have been struggling with this issue for awhile. Even as a party in NY, we are still independents and believe in the grassroots of bottom-up.

Michael H. Drucker
Technorati talk bubble Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us Digg! StumbleUpon

Monday, August 20, 2007

Independent Voice of CA



IndependentVoice.Org is a the California branch of the independent movement. IndependentVoice.Org is a 501(c)4 political non-profit organization that promotes the visibility and power of the State’s independent voters. IndependentVoice.Org (formerly called the Committee for an Independent Voice) grows out of a 25-year effort to build a non-ideological political movement at the grassroots to dramatically reorganize the self-serving partisan control of government by the Democrat and Republican Parties.

Use the above link or the Resource link on the left to check out this site.

Michael H. Drucker
Technorati talk bubble Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us Digg! StumbleUpon

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Open Primaries



At this time only about 30 states have some form of open primaries. With the number of independent voters at around 40%, there is a large voice with no place to go to have their say in the 2008 elections.

After Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s first election, he went forward with his pledge to the independents to try to get open primaries in New York City. We lost with 30% of the vote after the two parties panicked and made a major effort to cloud the issue.

If Mayor Bloomberg does not make a run for President, independents need to convince him to take up the open primary issue nationwide. We will have the grassroots numbers and with his name and ability to fund this issue, there is a chance we can begin to address the ability for our VOICE to be heard and our candidates to LISTEN.

What do you think is the best way for your VOICE to be heard?

Michael H. Drucker
Technorati talk bubble Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us Digg! StumbleUpon

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Facing America's Independents



This is another clip from the DVD. Click Here to purchase the DVD.

Michael H. Drucker
Technorati talk bubble Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us Digg! StumbleUpon

Movement vs. Party

In Jackie Salit’s last conference call she spoke about short and long term goals. Over many of these calls and in small groups that I attended, she hears the request for a third party effort. But that is not what this independent movement is about. It is about helping independents to get their VOICE.

This is part of Jackie’s Committee for an Independent Party Mission Statement:

“The Committee for a Unified Independent Party, Inc. (CUIP) is a national strategy center and organizing hub that designs and executes cutting edge tactics to develop America's growing independent movement.”

And this is part of what they do:

“While the founders of CUIP come out of left and liberal progressive traditions, we believe that the United States has been profoundly hurt by ideological and political labeling. The cutting edge political issues facing the country today have to do with top and bottom, not left and right. They have to do with insider and outsider, not liberal and conservative. That’s why CUIP strategy focuses on building a non-ideological, inclusionary movement for radical structural political reform. Politics is currently run from the top by the insiders, with the majority of the American people kept out. We believe that arrangement has to change, and that independents are the force that can make that happen.”

I wrote this as a letter to the Editor of Jackie’s magazine, The Neo-Independent, in their first issue, Spring 2004:

“The independent movement needs to contain both quantity and quality feet to be heard. First, you need to get local political process issues moving – through adding non-voters and non-participating independents to the cause – to make local changes. Second, you need to get local candidates to include our issues in their platforms and in their bills. Third, you need to put up independent candidates. Last, you then have the feet to place an independent in the White House, and enough in Congress to make things happen without the corruption we have now. Slowly, state by state, the independent political issues get heard.”

So let me know if you are a short or long term independent and want a movement or a third-party.

Michael H. Drucker
Technorati talk bubble Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us Digg! StumbleUpon

Monday, August 13, 2007

New Way to Become an Independent Voter

Hillary and Obama appeared Friday, August 11, 2007, at the National Association of Black Journalists annual convention in Las Vegas.

There would be obvious comparisons to the history-making candidates -- Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) -- who smartly, or not, took to the NABJ stage first, delivering a speech on Thursday that had a much talked about “come to Jesus” moment. To hear some people tell it, she took folks to church.

Perhaps the most lasting image from the speech came from a seemingly simple question about race and how, if elected, Obama would facilitate the debate on equality. “The day I’m inaugurated, the racial dynamic of this country will change by some degree. You’ve got Michelle as first lady and Malia and Sasha running around the south lawn,” he said. What followed was more than a pregnant pause -- it was an imploding one -- as the audience deliberated with a low hum. A black woman running 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. (because we know Michelle would run things) and two little black girls paying hide-and-seek in the presidential back yard. “It changes how white children think about black children,” Obama added, “and changes how black children think about black children.”

In reading the comments on the event there where many who made these comments: "I see so many democrats, including myself, who will never vote for Hillary and will probably become independents if she is the nominee." "I know Democrats who will support any Democratic nominee but would not vote for Hillary in the general election, and instead seek out a third party candidate.

Now there is a rallying cry to increase the independent movement.

Michael H. Drucker
Technorati talk bubble Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us Digg! StumbleUpon

Thursday, August 9, 2007

Dr. Lenora Fulani's Committee for an Independent New York

Today on the steps of City Hall, Dr. Lenora Fulani announced the formation of an exploratory committee, The Committee for an Independent New York, to pursue a citywide run for office in 2009. She was joined on the steps by over 100 supporters from all five boroughs. Dr. Fulani was introduced by remarks from Dr. Jessie Fields, Thor Magnussen, Jen Pepen, Alvaader Frazier, Keith McHenry, Harry Kresky, Dr. Rafael Mendez and Jackie Salit. I am on the steps, in the middle of the picture, in the sunglasses. Please use the link to read her statement.

I began working with Dr. Fulani in 2001 and have worked with her as State Committe and NY County Executive Committe members, and on both Mayor Bloomberg's campaigns.

For more images, video, and news links, use the Hankster link under Resources.

Michael H. Drucker
Technorati talk bubble Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us Digg! StumbleUpon

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Election 2008: The Internet Campaign

For those that are interested in the technology of the 2008 Presidential campaign which some say is the Internet Campaign, use the link for articles from technology leaders.

Michael H. Drucker
Technorati talk bubble Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us Digg! StumbleUpon

Monday, August 6, 2007

Some sparring among Dems at YearlyKos Convention

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York walked into the lion's den Saturday, drawing applause as well as boos and hisses from an audience of progressive bloggers during a presidential candidates forum in which she became the target of sharp criticism from several of her Democratic rivals. Use the above link to read about the convention.

CLICK HERE to view some of the candidates at the convention.

CLICK HERE to view some of the convention videos on YouTube.

Michael H. Drucker
Technorati talk bubble Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us Digg! StumbleUpon

Wednesday, August 1, 2007

Political Chowder

On July 22, 2007, the Committee For An Independent Voice of NH appeared on "Political Chowder", a popular TV show.

Click Here to view the show.

Michael H. Drucker
Technorati talk bubble Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us Digg! StumbleUpon