NYT: Make Way for the Radical Center

[Barry]

July 23, 2011
Make Way for the Radical Center
https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/24/o...4friedman.html
By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN

DID I mention that I’ve signed a pledge — just like those Republican congressmen who have signed written promises to different political enforcers not to raise taxes or permit same-sex marriage? My pledge is to never vote for anyone stupid enough to sign a pledge — thereby abdicating their governing responsibilities in a period of incredibly rapid change and financial stress. Sorry, I’ve signed it. Nothing more I can do.

If this kind of idiocy by elected officials sends you into a hair-pulling rage and leaves you wishing that we had more options today than our two-party system is putting forward — for instance, a party that would have offered a grand bargain on the deficit two years ago, not on the eve of a Treasury default — not only are you not alone, but help may be on the way.

Thanks to a quiet political start-up that is now ready to show its hand, a viable, centrist, third presidential ticket, elected by an Internet convention, is going to emerge in 2012. I know it sounds gimmicky — an Internet convention — but an impressive group of frustrated Democrats, Republicans and independents, called Americans Elect, is really serious, and they have thought out this process well. In a few days, Americans Elect will formally submit the 1.6 million signatures it has gathered to get on the presidential ballot in California as part of its unfolding national effort to get on the ballots of all 50 states for 2012.

The goal of Americans Elect is to take a presidential nominating process now monopolized by the Republican and Democratic parties, which are beholden to their special interests, and blow it wide open — guaranteeing that a credible third choice, nominated independently, will not only be on the ballot in every state but be able to take part in every presidential debate and challenge both parties from the middle with the best ideas on how deal with the debt, education and jobs.



“Our goal is to open up what has been an anticompetitive process to people in the middle who are unsatisfied with the choices of the two parties,” said Kahlil Byrd, the C.E.O. of Americans Elect, speaking from its swank offices, financed with some serious hedge-fund money, a stone’s throw from the White House.

As the group explains on its Web site, www.americanselect.org: “Americans Elect is the first-ever open nominating process. We’re using the Internet to give every single voter — Democrat, Republican or independent — the power to nominate a presidential ticket in 2012. The people will choose the issues. The people will choose the candidates. And in a secure, online convention next June, the people will make history by putting their choice on the ballot in every state.”

Here is how it will work, explains Elliot Ackerman, an Iraq war veteran with a Silver Star, who serves as the chief operating officer of Americans Elect, and whose father, Peter, a successful investor, has been a prime engine behind the group. First, anyone interested in becoming a delegate goes to the Americans Elect Web site and registers. As part of that process, you will be asked to fill in a questionnaire about your political priorities: education, foreign policy, the economy, etc. This enables Americans Elect to put you in contact with others who share your views so you can discuss them and organize together. Then you will be invited to draft a candidate or support one who has already been drafted and to contribute to the list of questions that anyone running on the Americans Elect platform will have to answer on the site.

“The questions, the priorities, the nominations and the rules will all come from the community, not from two entrenched parties,” said Ackerman.

Any presidential nominee must conform to all the Constitutional requirements, as well as be considered someone of similar stature to our previous presidents. That means no Lady Gaga allowed. Every candidate will have to post in words or video his or her answers to the platform questions produced by the Americans Elect delegates. In April 2012, the candidate pool will be reduced to six through three rounds of voting. The six, assuming they all want to run, will then have to name their running mates. The only rule is that a Democrat must run with a Republican or independent, and a Republican with a Democrat or independent.

“Each presidential candidate has to pick a running mate outside of their party and reaching across the divide of politics,” said Ackerman. In June 2012, the online convention will choose who among the six will run as the Americans Elect candidate — automatically on the ballot in all 50 states. If President Obama wants to run with John Boehner on the Americans Elect platform that would be fine — provided they go through the process. (President Obama should dump the Democrats and run as an independent, which he is, at heart, anyway.)

Write it down: Americans Elect. What Amazon.com did to books, what the blogosphere did to newspapers, what the iPod did to music, what drugstore.com did to pharmacies, Americans Elect plans to do to the two-party duopoly that has dominated American political life — remove the barriers to real competition, flatten the incumbents and let the people in. Watch out.

[Peace Voyager]

I am SO happy this site has been created! I've been wanting to do something just like this to poll & recruit the winning ticket with Kucinich.

My question for Wacco, and all others is this - what is the best ticket to get results for America's balanced best interest? This is not about who you like, but who both deserves to win, and would bring in the most votes from the most parties.

If the Democrats and Republicans refuse to go with a mixed party ticket, that may be a good reason for these folks to become Independent. With enough publicity on these kinds of polls, there is a chance to discover the potential for unity America has in it.

My poll would look like this:

Dennis Kucinich & Ron Paul

(This is my top pick for most winnable)

Kucinich and Bernie Sanders

(I like this too, but don't know if there is enough conservative support)

Kucinich & Jesse Ventura

(This would be very interesting; it may work, if we knew how many Independents there were compared to Republicans)

Kucinich & Cynthia McKinney

(This would be my favorite line up, maybe not as likely to win)

Kucinich & ???

Who is on your best ticket?

In peace,

Colleen Fernald



California's Candidate for PEACE
US Senate 2012

campaignforpeace.org

Please send me the top 5 issues you want to see all sitting Senators and candidates take on.

[Clancy]

I'd be very skeptical of anything Thomas Friedman is promoting. He's an extremely militaristic champion of US global imperialism and corporatism, there's nothing 'radical' about anything he promotes, unless it's radical bombing of helpless third world countries for corporate profit.

Nationwide support for the Dem/GOP face of the corporate war machine is completely collapsing, you can expect the powers-that-be to get very creative in re-branding themselves for public consumption.

[Speak2Truth]

For my part, party means nothing. A mixed ticket has no rational basis. Wise persons evaluate candidates based on the content of character, not a party label.

All public servants swear an oath to uphold and obey the US Constitution. Let's start with that. Only vote for politicians who really mean it. If they demonstrate that they lied when swearing that oath, they lose their jobs immediately and are replaced by someone who will not lie to our faces.

Loyalty to the American nation is mandatory.

Loyalty to American principles is mandatory.

Obedience to the Constitution is mandatory.

Spending only money that comes in from tax revenues is mandatory (except in case of war, which is a matter of national survival).

I could vote for a Democrat or Republican who is first and foremost American in their hearts. That label does not apply to most of the "leadership" that has taken control of our nation today.

[Peace Voyager]

I'd be very skeptical of anything Thomas Friedman is promoting. He's an extremely militaristic champion of US global imperialism and corporatism, there's nothing 'radical' about anything he promotes, unless it's radical bombing of helpless third world countries for corporate profit.

Nationwide support for the Dem/GOP face of the corporate war machine is completely collapsing, you can expect the powers-that-be to get very creative in re-branding themselves for public consumption.

I think you're correct on all counts; but as I've said, we need to use the beast to cleanse it. Harness all media and social networks. It's time the intelligent bumper sticker messages make it to banner ads everywhere. AmericaCARE NOT WARfare!$$$

In a democracy, the majority rules; unless the majority are tricked into thinking they are too divided to unite on the KEY issues, and can't leave the rest of it to the side. And/or the majority are ruled by electeds who don't keep their oath to uphold the Constitution.

It's true the last president, and the current one, (and a slew of others), have obtained their "War" powers without a following the Constitution's requirement for Congress to declare war. Time for America to require,all 3 branches of government acknowledge and enforce this, then abide by it every generation.

The debt ceiling debate is a game to distract from this issue.

The House ruled against this unconstitutional use of force in Libya. It's time California's sitting Senators, and all the House, Senate, State, and local officials, as well as, candidates for 2012; are challenged by the voters on this. Now, or there will be no later; for the kind of America we grew up in.

Our fate will be sealed if there is a compromise this week. Please call them every day to say: fair taxes for all; no cuts to all important services, programs and agencies that make America work well for us all. Balance the budget by de-funding all optional conflicts - period, end of debate.

We fund our values. Are we a nation who seeks never ending offensive use of force, and a willingness to ignore our own Constitution; or are we willing to insist on having the oath of office honored?

As every local government has to severely reduce funding for public safety services; has overdue paving, and needed water and sewer line replacements, etc. for Main Street; the Federal government funds the Dept. of Defense, and spends it on strike-first, optional conflicts abroad.

By way of the resolution for the US Conference of Mayor, and many other indicators; we know the majority of the whole country is not OK with this anymore. Too many of our "representatives" are working against our own best interest.

That's why they need to see lots and lots of these pie charts; so they can connect the dots to the number of constituents willing to work for their: impeachment, recall, or another candidate running for their seat.

When many of our parks, schools and libraries are having to close; it's time to say books and trails NOT bombs!

How will local government ever have the funds for emergencies, let alone long term disaster? We still don't even have our full National Guard at home to defend and protect us. Nor do we have jobs for the rest of the service members coming home, and all the much needed continuing medical care for them.

Pie charts, etc., on trusted web sites, demonstrating our priorities; can help our community, region, California & America save itself. Plus, it's easy to share the winning templates of how to make government serve our mutual well being.

This is our "end of Viet Nam" moment, United(?) States. Will you be counted as one of the ones who made your funding values clear; until America gets the change it asked for? Help our President earn his Peace Prize, call his bluff on this.

Tell them it's time to cut up the unconstitutional war credit cards, get into a credit counseling program, not enable a bigger hole.

Please remind your reps, how you were not fooled by the Wall St. bailout; and you will not be a fool now for a WW III bailout; unless we get to vote on a war tax. Let's put it to the test to see if the majority support it.

Let's also call for federal funding for local and state governments to replenish their emergency reserves, by having deep cuts in our foreign aide funding. Except in those countries where we have recently invaded; we owe it to them to help reconstruct and heal.

I filed last Friday to run for US Senate as California's 2012 Candidate for PEACE. Even candidates take the Oath of Office. Wonder if Frank Capra Jr, wants to write "Ms. Smith seeks Job in Washington". Hey I need one with a Senator's benefits.

So do you; not health insurance care -affordable wellness care. For everyone of course; because we value a healthy America. A healthy population is not a burden to our budget.

A healthy population, who likes to buy American, and knows we can re-tool to redistribute our wealth in wonderful ways; within our own borders, (which reduces our carbon footprint); can work to end it's addiction to debt, once and for all.

I want ya'll to help me write the Oath to keep the Oath, that you want all Candidates for Peace to take. Then we'll write the pledge that all voters will take to vote only for all Candidates for PEACE.

OK with that? Then roll up your sleeves and let's get to work on all this. Start with the cease fire for all; then we can get to solar powered electric trains, and so much more.

Let's design the best possible outcome now, for the budget plan that plays out in 2012. We may never get another chance to restore our vitality; so please inspire your friends and family to join in this launch of the American Dream 2.0

Love & PEACE



Colleen Fernald

California's 2012 Candidate for PEACE
US Senate

If you want to help, contributions of ideas, talents, and/or funds are much appreciated.

(Updating soon)

Songs for a Cease Fire
www.songsforaceasefire.org

Friends of Colleen Fernald for US Senate 2012
campaignforpeace.org
PO Box 3007
Santa Rosa, CA 95402

(Any contributions over $100 need include your address and employer info - thanks!)

[Speak2Truth]

Those who beat their swords into plowshares end up plowing for those who do not.

However, if you're objecting to the use of US military might to help the Muslim Brotherhood take control of Libya, I'm with you. That is insane.

[podfish]

Loyalty to the American nation is mandatory.
Loyalty to American principles is mandatory.
Obedience to the Constitution is mandatory.
Spending only money that comes in from tax revenues is mandatory (except in case of war, which is a matter of national survival).
I could vote for a Democrat or Republican who is first and foremost American in their hearts. That label does not apply to most of the "leadership" that has taken control of our nation today.

sure a lot of "mandatory" requirements; I thought "freedom" was the mantra of choice. I guess I don't see "consistency" in the list ever...
And doesn't -anyone- with these kind of sentiments ever see the Orwellian logic behind the way they tag things "American" or "non-American" ? I coulda sworn that word actually had a meaning independent of ideological tagging

[Speak2Truth]

sure a lot of "mandatory" requirements; I thought "freedom" was the mantra of choice. I guess I don't see "consistency" in the list ever...
And doesn't -anyone- with these kind of sentiments ever see the Orwellian logic behind the way they tag things "American" or "non-American" ? I coulda sworn that word actually had a meaning independent of ideological tagging

American principles are clearly defined.

All individuals are created equal. Therefore all individuals have equal Rights.

Those Rights are clearly defined: Life, Liberty and Property (or Pursuit of Happiness, such as material wealth).

In American ideology, NO person has greater authority over you and NO collective of persons has greater authority over you than you do.

Freedom exists when American principles are adhered to absolutely. That's why absolute obedience to those principles is mandatory.

Persons pushing "collectivism" (claiming a group of people has higher authority, can therefore take your Rights from you) are working to eliminate Freedom. They are free to "think" what they want but they cannot have any political power to enact it - that would be in conflict with America's firmly established principles.

Loyalty to American principles, nation and Constitution is what results in Freedom. That results in defense against people who would like to "fundamentally transform" America away from Freedom and into the example set by European Socialist nations or other freedom-crushing systems.

[Peace Voyager]

https://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/...ia=blog_513247



Please vote on my Daily Kos diary poll. Take action; today is the day.

Big thanks,

Colleen Fernald

California's Candidate for PEACE
US Senate 2012

candidatesforpeace.org
songsforaceasefire.org