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January 11, 2008
Unity08 folds
I'm sure you've all heard by now that Unity08 is closing up shop, and will not be seeking ballot access in the 50 states, and will not be aiming to nominate an independent/bipartisan ticket in 2008. I got the "Dear Joe" breakup message via email last evening. (Am I the lone holdout who still contends that "email" is not a word without a hyphen?)
There are some who smell a rat in this, and think that the whole Unity08 project was a ruse designed to front for an eventual Michael Bloomberg campaign. I am not so sure. I'm inclined to think that the Unity08 folks are logically reacting to the fact that "the market" (in electoral terms) is doing their job for them. The Iowa caucuses themselves showed that the "beyond partisanship" spirit is alive this season. And it looks like Bloomberg may be planning a run, after doing some polling and some data mining.
If the goals of Unity08 are being met through other means, then Unity08 itself arguably becomes redundant.
I don't know, though. I am not privy to those phone calls and boardroom meetings. It could have been about Bloomberg all along, but I guess it will have to be proved to me.
And here's a shameless plug for my chosen candidate: Barack Obama is a Democrat, and not necessarily a centrist one, even; but his message is appealing to voters (and causing more people to become voters, which is a huge deal to me) from all points on the political compass. So it kind of works out for me that Unity08 broke up with me, before I had to do it to them.
Political News | By joe lance | 07:30 AM
Comments
I was disappointed too, even though I wrote to them very explicity at the outset, that rumors unity 08 was a plan to launch Bloomberg would be a negative for them. They responded, and like you, I do believe they were honestly trying to do this and IF Bloomberg showed up o.k.
I have been active in the Reform Party when Perot ran for president. I felt personally, that this couldn't work without either a vivid and compelling issue (Perot's was NAFTA, balanced budget, and secondarily immigration)that nobody else was taking up, or a vivid person or both. Which was true in Perot's case. What he/we didn't do right, imo, was to have top down direction to get started. The only bottom up grassroots movement I know of that has been successful is the Libertain Party and now its offshoot Ron Paul. But these are unutually well-educated, self-motivated volunteers. Proactive.
Populist movements (like Perot's was) need help and a structure. I note that Rahm Emmanuel followed this plan in successfully recruiting and electing democrats, many inexperienced, to congress in 2004. Recruitment, and then money and personnel were provided from the top to get the volunteers and candidate started.
I checked Independent above -- I truly think EVERYTHING WRONG WITH THIS COUNTRY is largely due to our 2-party hegemony. We need at least one more party, preferably two. So I was happy to send a bit of money and give Unity 08 a chance. And to support Perot for 10 years far more actively. I'm old now, 87, so that controls what I can do anymore.
An old friend from Reform Party days just emailed me that, like the 08 people starting a sign up campaign for Bloomberg, a Legal Immigration organization has begun a sign up to get Lou Dobbs to run. I signed on! Trade and its inextricably linked issue of immigration, are what have concerned me for YEARS, hence Perot effort. I just heard over Rush Limbaugh (serendipitous, I almost never listen to him) that Perot is supporting Romney and actively criticizing McCain. They have issues that go way back. Not that Perot doubts his service, but as you know he was HUGELY involved in MIA issues and believes McCain left something to be desired on exposing fact that MIAs were left there and sent to the Soviet Union. Also (typical Ross) didn't like it that McCain left his wife who had been severely injured while he was in prison, and dumped her for a "rich" blond. Ross was always something of a puritan about such things.
Personally, even though Tancredo has endorsed Romney, so presumably he will do something about illegal immigration other than semi-amnesty, I just don't trust or like Romney. Can't figure it out. I try -- he irritates me for some reason. And he hasn't capitalized on Tancredo's endorsement -- how come, I ask myself????
maggy
Posted by: maggy simony at January 17, 2008 01:05 PM