Many of your friends who tried out richer parties are coming back, won’t you too? We know you had your doubts about a party that does not take PAC money ever growing. Well we are, but it is going to take some time and effort to overcome special interests. Now that you have had a little experience in the DFL and Republican Parties, we ask a couple honest questions. Have they done what they promised to do? Have they done much more than get elected?
We ask these questions because it seems more obvious to all that there is little left but slogan-making election machines left of the two entrenched parties. What is the point of those election machines if the very groups that get them elected absolutely prevent them from getting good things done? How can citizens continue to put their hope in reform-minded candidates who keep trying but keep getting shut out from the process?
Here’s the deal. Your friends in the Independence Party are still here. We defied the odds and never faded away. Even the StarTribune called us durable in an editorial about a senate candidate last election. Yes, this will be a story of getting support to go from 15 to 20 to 30%. There will start to be some unique elections where we see some successes (this year’s governor’s race) but it will be slow and hard work…that’s the honest truth.
The honest truth is what you will get from the Independence Party. We ask that you come back, that you help lead reform again, and that pick up the reigns of reform. The only vehicle for true reform is here, ready to go and open to what you have known all along…things really do need to change.
Come back on board today!
Participate in the online caucus today and let's start walking on the long journey now, not later. CLICK HERE TO PARTICIPATE
Occasionally it is good practice to reflect on the roots of the Independence movement, especially when one gets angry or upset about obstacles that are presented. One such figure is Admiral Stockdale, Ross Perot’s running mate, who has been mistakenly judged on his 1992 debate performance. Even as late as 1999 he expressed disappointment about not being prepped by the campaign for the debate. Frankly he was not treated well.
The Admiral was actually an amazing intellectual, someone who was difficult to keep up with in any real debate, especially anything regarding his field of philosophy. One of his most common themes, as described on a warm summer day in Palo Alto in 1995, was leadership on bringing reform. He was the first person I ever heard that very clearly made the observation that it is the things that are getting politicians elected are the things that make them absolutely unable to lead. The Reform/Independence movement has always articulated great concern about special interests, but Admiral Stockdale put that concern into an clear equation and said exactly what was wrong with government. The means to getting elected run counter to the means of bringing reform. Boiling that down….while many would point the finger that “we can’t win” (we can sometimes), they are oblivious to the fact that they can’t govern”.
The only way to break this vicious cycle is by not giving up on the fight. The odds are certainly long, but what we fight for is so very important.
That's it folks, it is now official. There is no room for moderates in either of the big two parties. If Arne Carlson's rebuke by the conservative Republicans wasn't enough, we then got DFL State Senator Matt Entenza's targeting of State Representative Jim Rhodes with PAC money (which the conservatives were happy about). Today, Senator Evan Bayh left politics because he did not think he had any ability to get things done as a centrist in a partisan-ridden town.
We wish StarTribune columnist Lori Sturdevant would get it. The big two parties use moderates for swings and then chuck them by the wayside, even destroy them when they no longer mean anything. While she likes some of our beliefs, she is contemptuous of our existing. Ironically she has no idea what she is pushing for: the wholesale disenfranchisement of middle America. 45% of Dean Barkley's voters would not have voted if not for him running...what would you say to them?
How long can the list grow of centrists destroyed while Lori cheers them on? Evan Bayh, Arne Carlson (he fought back), Jim Rhodes, Lynn Osterman, Paul Tsongas, Kelly Doran, Gerald Ford, the 76 version of Jimmy Carter, John Anderson....it is a million miles long. Truth is the conservatives are now targeting moderate Democrats and the liberals frankly don't mind. A few years a go it was the moderate Repulicans.
The centrists and reformers in government are hated, except for when they make a good marketing ploy during an election. This sad fact is true. One day they will have to be hired to clean up the mess the good old ideologues have made...it always works that way.
Lori, many of us came from one of the two big parties. We fought for our candidates and were spit upon like second-rate citizens. No thanks! We refuse to sit on the sidelines but will instead will advocate for stewardship. To sit back would require us to judge how good a citizen we can be....and that is offensive not by being said but by being reality.
Are you ready to give up on reformers in the two big parties yet?
Posted Wednesday, 03 February 2010
by Peter Tharaldson
E-mail
Be it resolved; as small Minnesota school districts have limited funding and as most financial requirements are state directed, that local school districts no longer be required to have a superintendent, instead relying on more cost effective office managers.
Much of the discussion will be on Facebook, but you are welcome to click "Create an Account" below to start talking.
An online caucus participant in Clay County proposes "Be it resolved that the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency should be provided the adequate enforcement capabilities to clean up industrial farming waste ponds throughout Minnesota".
Much of the discussion is on Facebook, but you are welcome to add your opinion here. Please click Create an Account below to do so.
Remember, the Independence Party takes no special interest money....we are responsive to you. Please make a contribution of what you can to the party today. Click on http://www.independenceminnesota.org/get-involved/contribute to contribute now.
Hey, Online Caucus Participants, you can research your candidates for governor by googling them or by going to directly to the issue page on their website (Mr. Uldrich's will be added soon). We already started for you by putting in each candidates name, the term "governor" and the term "issues". Keep in mind these are organic articles...some are good, most are fair, some are unfair and others may be just mean. We trust that our great candidates for governor know how to deal with it and so do you. Pure honestly....it's the Independence Party after all. Here you go:
Posted Tuesday, 26 January 2010
by Laura Kundsen
E-mail
Roy Srp, candidate in todays senate district 26 special election and Joe Repya, declared IP candidate for Governor were both featured on Fox 12 in Mankato last night. Use the scroll bar on the video window to watch the clips. http://www.keyc.com/node/32935
Posted Friday, 22 January 2010
by Brian Faas
E-mail
Tom Horner, who recently formed a campaign committee to run for governor, has endorsed Roy Srp in the race to succeed Dick Day as State Senator for District 26. The endorsement came in a letter to the Srp campaign:
"More than any other elected official, mayors understand the need to balance competing interests by always putting citizens first. That’s been the record of Mayor Roy Srp during his time as Mayor of Waseca and it is what he will bring to the Minnesota Senate."
"I’m honored to endorse Mayor Srp. I’ve been a lifelong Republican – going back to Dave Durenberger’s first campaign for the U.S. Senate in 1978. But I see in Minnesota today partisan gridlock that is paralyzing our state and jeopardizing our future. It’s time to find new directions, and those new directions start with good people like Roy Srp. In this time when Republicans and Democrats are unable to get past the allegiances they have to their own narrow political interests, Roy Srp will be the voice of common sense in the Senate. He will be a Senator who embraces and promotes the best ideas, not because they are conservative or liberal, but because they are the right ideas for moving Minnesota forward."
"This special election is a unique opportunity for voters in Senate District 26 to make a difference – to cast a positive vote for a Senator who won’t fade into the background, becoming just one more predictable DFL or GOP legislator. One person – one independent person who understands how government can and should work – can make a difference. Roy Srp will be that person. He will make a difference."
Posted Tuesday, 19 January 2010
by Peter Tharaldson
E-mail
The Kennedy seat has gone to a Republican and most analysts are saying it was the independents doing. Now the first thought is that the Independence party is not independents. Nice rhetoric, but our history is rooted in giving a voice to independents with just a little organization. I dare say we can comment. Let's tell the core of the Democrat and Republican parties something that will strike fear in their heart.
Independents voted against George W. Bush, not for Barack H. Obama. They simply didn't like him...period. They didn't think he was the devil like many core Democrats did....they just thought he was exceptionally bad. News flash, Independents are perfectly happy to tell Obama that they don't like him either...period. They are starting to do it now. For all the talk of independents being fence sitters that don't matter, they are now such a plurality of the electorate that their strategic voting (voting against someone) is causing wildfires in the elections that the two big parties can't control.
The Independence Party, here and in other places like New York, is seeking to give independents something and someone to vote for. This is called sincere voting. A true independent, when he or she looks at the records of Democrats and Republicans, simply can't sincerely vote for one of them, but only against the other. Political scientists talk about sincere voting in three way races. Take note you big party hacks....we are coming for you. It may take some time with all the dirty money you have...but we will get there. We don't like but you but we want to vote for someone we like...sincerely.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: From KOS, the left-leaning blogger who shares many of the same ethical values as right leaning bloggers, speaking on the Senate election loss:
"It's not everyday you go up against a candidate who takes everything for granted, neglects to negatively define you, and heads out for vacation while the race is still on." Note to independents: do you really want to vote for two parties with a governing philosophy that values negative definition of the opposition?
Roy Srp, candidate in todays senate district 26 special election and Joe Repya, declared IP candidate for Governor were both featured on Fox 12 in Mankato last night. Use the scroll bar on the video window to watch the clips. http://www.keyc.com/node/32935
"I’m honored to endorse Mayor Srp. I’ve been a lifelong Republican – going back to Dave Durenberger’s first campaign for the U.S. Senate in 1978. But I see in Minnesota today partisan gridlock that is paralyzing our state and jeopardizing our future. It’s time to find new directions, and those new directions start with good people like Roy Srp. In this time when Republicans and Democrats are unable to get past the allegiances they have to their own narrow political interests, Roy Srp will be the voice of common sense in the Senate. He will be a Senator who embraces and promotes the best ideas, not because they are conservative or liberal, but because they are the right ideas for moving Minnesota forward."
