"Unity '08 Party" Trying to Destroy Dems to build a Coalition!

[KoKo]

What do you think of this?


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serryjw (1000+ posts) Sun Jun-04-06 09:02 AM
Original message
UNITY 08.....Take back this country

for democracy....become a delegate! I saw them on C-SPAN. One Ford, one Carter media consultants that recognize that 2008 will either be the beginning or the end of this democracy. Can we REALLY elect a candidate that could have a chance in the general election ?

quote.......
We’re a movement to take our country back from polarizing politics. In 2008, we’ll select and elect a Unity Ticket to the White House— one Democrat, one Republican, in whatever order, or independents committed to a Unity team.

end quote......

quote........
What We Believe

Unity08 believes that neither of today’s major parties reflects the aspirations, fears or will of the majority of Americans. Both have polarized and alienated the people. Both are unduly influenced by single-issue groups. Both are excessively dominated by money.

For most of the 20th Century, the contest for the U.S. presidency was waged over those “in the middle.” Recent Presidential elections, however, have not been focused on the middle but on the



turnout of each party’s special interest groups – with each party’s “base” representing barely ten percent of the American people.

We believe that, while the leaders of both major parties are well intentioned people, they are trapped in a flawed system – and that the two major parties are today simply neither relevant to the issues and challenges of the 21st Century nor effective in addressing them.

As a result, most Americans have not been enthusiastic about the choices for President in recent elections, the key issues they ran on, or the manner in which the campaigns were conducted.

Therefore Unity08 will act to assure that an alternative ticket is presented to the American voters in 2008.

Our Goals

We have set three specific goals, and are exploring how best to achieve them.

Goal One is the election of a Unity Ticket for President and Vice-President of the United States in 2008 – headed by a woman and/or man from each major party or by an independent who presents a Unity Team from both parties.
Goal Two is for the people themselves to pick that Unity Ticket in the first half of 2008 – via a virtual and secure online convention in which all American voters will be qualified to vote.
Goal Three, our minimum goal, is to effect major change and reform in the 2008 national elections by influencing the major parties to adopt the core features of our national agenda. With a group of voters who comprise at least 20% of the national electorate, we feel confident that our voters will decide the 2008 election.
The new ground broken in meeting our goals will include new choices for voters, new opportunities for candidates, and new uses of modern technology as well. In pursuing our goals, we will both follow the law in every instance and seek the opinion of the Federal Elections Commission to interpret the law where we are breaking new ground. (In fact we are currently seeking an FEC advisory opinion to guide our early decisions.)

We are not looking to build a new and permanent party. That might happen, but our objective is to fix the old parties. A Unity Ticket in office for one term or even taking part in just one election can bring new ideas, new integrity and new leaders to the fore.

We will not waste time assessing blame. Both parties and all of us who have been active in them share responsibility for the current political morass. We hope instead to return the focus of our politics and policy to the common good – those ideas and traditions which unite and empower us as individuals and as a people.

end quote........

http://www.unity08.com/believe

[woodsprite]

1. Are they getting their funding the same place the Greens are?

From the Pubs?

[Donnachaidh]

2. who is funding this? Find the money trail

bet you'll find Scaife or other big money.

Disrupt, deflect and divert.

[KoKo]

13. It seems to be an effort by Carter's old Op's...Jorden and the rest....

:shrug: Where they get their money from...I don't know.

[tnlefty]

3. I have absolutely NO interest in this.

Isn't Phyllis Schafley one of those who is pushing this? When you show me a repub who is interested in the "common good", I might just fall over dead so I wouldn't have to worry about voting for a ticket from this group.

[tularetom]

4. This sounds like the same bullshit we've been hearing from DLC

for the last 10 years and it's no more valid now than it's ever been.

[me b zola]

15. Yep. We already have a unity, one party system

It's time to take back the Democratic Party and return to a two party system.

[longship]

5. One Party to rule them all.

One Party to find them.
One Party to bring them all
And in the darkness bind them.

[Ignacio Upton]

7. The therm "Unity" sounds Orwellian

Even if that's not their intention.

[Ignacio Upton]

6. They could be viable...

If they get two "moderate" (and it depends on your definition of "moderate" pols to bolt from their respective parties a form one ticket. For example, Bill Richardson and Chris Shays. I'm just throwing those names out there.

[sandnsea]

8. Here's their lawyer

Steptoe & Johnson Seems pretty clear to me it's just another effort to divide the electorate who are actually coming together for the first time since the 60's.

http://www.steptoe.com/

[TheCowsCameHome]

9. After every RW warmonger & Bushbot is kicked out of office, we'll talk.

Until then, don't bother me.

[Ignacio Upton]

10. I'll support them if they replace the Republicans

As this country's other major party. I would love to have a choice in Presidential elections between voting for a progressive and voting for someone who's only about as conservative as the old-line Northeastern Republicans.

[justgamma]

11. When the he*** have the dems

ever went after their base? And what "special interest" groups are they talking about?

It's my belief that the dems lose because they don't go after their base. They try to stay in the middle which in this day and age is far right of center. We don't win because we cannot be Repuke light. We have to be Democrats first and stick to out beliefs.

[WhiteTara]

12. Karl Rove--out to hoodwink

anyone he can. I would think that by now, everyone can spot their slimy stamp.

[Richard Steele]

14. Their 'middle' talk is NONSENSE. Democratic ideals ARE the MIDDLE!

The Neocons have yanked Government Policy so far past
any historical definitions of 'the Right', that even
Richard Nixon would be considered a Moderate LIBERAL
in todays climate.

And that's not just my opinion; I heard that one straight
from the mouth of George McGovern.

The "Unity Party" was dismissed as a serious idea the second
they said:
"Both parties and all of us who have been active in them
share responsibility...

BZZZT! WRONG! Thanks for playing; don't let the door hit ya, etc.

Morans.

[KoKo]

16. My worry is that this "Unity Party" wants to cover up crimes of the past

from both parties but most particularly the BushoFascists and Reagan's Crimes. All for the SAKE OF UNITY!

I see it as a scam...not working to clean up what's been done with the Old Parties by immediately moving on to some NEW THIRD WAY. COVER UP THE DIRT AND MOVE ON! that's how I see it, anyway.

[Richard Steele]

17. I agree. And such an outlook certainly benefits ONE party....

...more than the other, dunnit?

Anyone who REALLY cares about 'the middle' would want the
current crop of criminals tried, convicted, and imprisoned
just as a necessary FIRST STEP.

[KoKo]

20. Agree! but, we seem to never get to that "First Step" even though Bush 43

Mis-Administration/Stolen Administration CRIES OUT FOR THIS! WAR CRIMES/CRIMES AGAINST OUR CONSTITUTION AND OUR PERSONHOOD as AMERICANS...CRIMES AGAINST IRAQI's ...TORTURE/RAPE/MURDER AND OCCUPATION!

How much more SHIT COULD AN ADMINISTRATION DO...while CONGRESS SAT ON IT'S HANDS LOOKING ON or ENABELING!!!!! THIRD PARTY...it's the WAY OUT for EVERYONE...except the INNOCENTS who have been harmed or destroyed.

THE INNOCENTS!!!!

[Raksha]

27. Right...it sounds like a way for the Republicans to avoid accountability.

They should call it the Whitewash Party. NOT interested!!!

[originalpckelly]

18. Here is what I think:

The executive should be non-political. Congress should be where the mudslinging happens. The unity/nonpartisan President/VP would favor both parties in Congress and work with them to create the best solutions for America.

There are a lot of cities that mandate a non-partisan executive, while having a partisan legislative.

It would ensure that the checks and balances set up by the founders would remain intact. In addition, it would be less likely that the Supreme court would be partisan, but vanilla and simply decide issues based upon secular ethics.

This could be a VERY good thing, so long as it does not compete WHATSOEVER in the Legislative Branch.

[originalpckelly]

19. ...

NOT! :rofl:

So do we just elect one party?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

21. Good! Let the "moderates" have their own party.

Maybe, if that were to happen, we could have parties that would define themselves into Left/Right/Center and provide clear choices, rather than the muddle that now exists.

[KoKo]

22. Is what you are saying: "They could be an Interim Party?" Until we all

get our "act together?" Would you support an Intermim "caretaker" over cleaning it all up? Because NO Third Party is going to do the heavy loading of cleaning out the BushFascist septic tanks. It would all come bubbling up with what we are going to have to live with in all the horrible laws and crimes against humanity that Bush I and II and Reagan before them commmitted.

You are hoping for a time for us to "catch our breaths?" :shrug:

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

23. No. I'm saying it would separate the wheat from the chaff.

As it is now, we have, what amounts to, two parties vying for the center-right vote. I would rather that the center-right, as exemplified by the DLC and and the "moderate" Republicans, have their own party, and give the electorate a clear(er) choice between Left/Right/Center.

The more choices given the citizenry is that much more democratic.

[saltpoint]

24. Who's bankrolling this?

I think I'm gonna stick with the blue team.

[KoKo]

25. Here's the list of the Founder's Council:

I bolded the ones who might have some money to put to this. There might be a "silent partner/founder" who's bankrolling them behind the scenes, though.


Founders Council (in process of formation)

For more information about Unity08, we encourage you to read:

What We Believe
FAQs
Governance FAQs

Peter Ackerman, Washington, D.C. Managing Director of Rockport Capital and Board Chairman of Freedom House, father of two.

Doug Bailey, Arlington, VA, former political consultant, co-founder The Hotline, father of two.

Andrew Clare, Huntington Station, New York. Junior at the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology.

Zachary Clayton, Raleigh, North Carolina. Senior at the University of North Carolina.

Roger Craver, Chilmark, Massachusetts. Communications and fundraising consultant, co-Founder of The Hotline; father of two, grandfather.

Michelle Diamond, Miami, Florida. Junior at Columbia University.

Catherine Dunham, Boston, Massachusetts. President of the Access Project, a research and advocacy organization devoted to health justice.

Kate Farrar, Scottsdale, Arizona. Junior at Arizona State University.

Will Fogel, Williamstown, Massachusetts. Junior at the University of Michigan.

Ellen Frauenthal, Atlanta, Georgia. Physician, founder MD on Call, a unique, first-in-the-nation practice for individuals/families, focused on prevention and treatment; mother of three.

Lasley Gober, Atlanta, Georgia. Award-winning high school teacher of English and American studies, writer and editor; mother of three.

Steve Gorlin, Destin, Florida. Businessman, serial entrepreneur and philanthropist; founder of numerous successful biotech companies; father of two.

Carla Harmon, Tacoma Park, Maryland. Telecommunications sales executive.

Troy Hashimoto, Kukla, Hawaii. Sophomore at the University of Denver.

Jim Jonas, Denver, Colorado. Public affairs consultant and Founder/Partner of Peak Creative Media, CEO of Unity08, father of two.

Hamilton Jordan, Atlanta, Georgia. Carter White House Chief of Staff, writer, investor; focused on for-profit and non-profit start-ups; most importantly, father of three.

Kathleen Jordan, Atlanta, Georgia. High school senior, writer, artist, volunteer and activist.

Janet Kelly, Battlecreek, Michigan, attorney, former general counsel at Kellogg and Sara Lee, mother.

Angus King, Brunswick, Maine. Former two-term independent Governor of Maine, teacher, businessman, attorney, father.

Maile Lesica, Fayetteville, North Carolina. Senior at the University of North Carolina.

Jean Lopez, Augusta, Georgia. Junior at Yale University.

David Maney, Denver, Colorado. Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Headwaters MB LLC; Founder & CEO, Worldbridge Broadband Services Inc.; father.

Nicco Mele, Washington, DC. Internet strategist and webmaster for Dean 2004, founder
echoditto.com consulting services.

John Mulrow, Chicago, Illinois. Junior at Stanford University.

Christopher Nulty, Rochester, New York. Sophomore at Colgate University.

Gerald Rafshoon, Washington, DC. Former media advisor and White House communications director, film and television producer, father, grandfather.

Viviana Rodriguez, San Juan, Puerto Rico. Junior at Yale University.

Magdaleno Rose-Avila, Seattle, Washington. Executive Director, Northwest Immigrants Rights Project.

Jessie Singleton, Kingsport, Tennessee. Junior at Middlebury College.

James Strock, Scottsdale, Arizona. Former California Secretary for Environmental Protection, Author of Theodore Roosevelt on Leadership and Reagan on Leadership.

Tom Stroock, Casper, Wyoming. Former GOP State Chairman, State Senator for 17 years, U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala (1989-93).

Lindsay Ullman, Painted Post, New York. Junior at Yale University.
http://www.unity08.com/founderscouncil

[saltpoint]

26. Thank you for that list. Well, they sound motivated and all, but

the Democratic Party has a very talented field in 08, unlike the Republicans.

[gulfcoastliberal]

28. David Maney a GOPer

MANEY, DAVE
DENVER,CO 80202


HEADWATERS/PRESIDNET


3/31/2004


$1,000


Rippy, Gregg

MANEY, DAVID
GOLDEN,CO 80401


HEADWATERS MERCHANT BANK/INVESTMENT

7/18/2003


$1,500


Beauprez, Bob

MANEY, DAVID
GOLDEN,CO 80401


9/23/2004


$1,000


Coors, Peter