Unity08 Founder on Colbert Report

Well worth watching.



And afterwards the "Colbert Nation" proceeded to flood Unity08.com with enough traffic to shut it down for a short period of time.

Unity08 and Bloomberg: Perfect marriage?

From The Politico:

Few in the political world are more keenly interested in the ramifications of "Mike's Big Move" -- as New York's Daily News proclaimed Mayor Michael Bloomberg's decision to sever his ties with the Republican Party -- than former Carter White House official Gerald Rafshoon.

He and his partner, Hotline founder Doug Bailey, are the proud parents of Unity08, a group conceived to offer an alternative to next year's Democratic and GOP nominees by building a "coalition from the middle" through an online convention.

And Rafshoon told Politico that Unity08 has been holding secret conversations with three candidates interested in running for Unity08's nomination.

(snip)

The party's platform has been focused on offering solutions to globalization, campaign finance reform, the national debt, energy independence and terrorism.

Bloomberg touched on some of those issues Wednesday when he told reporters at a New York news conference that "the big issues keep being pushed to the back. ... I'm going to speak out on those issues. By not being affiliated with a party, I think I will have a better opportunity to do that."

Ever coy, Bloomberg said he has the "greatest job in the world," but he also said of the race for the White House: "The more people that run for office, the better." full article

In my opinion they'd make a interesting combination. Particularly should there end up being a Bloomberg/Obama ticket turned out by Unity 08's online primary as each has what the other lacks in regards to experience and charisma. Plus Bloomberg also might get the Reform parties nomination (Remember them?) should he decide to run. It'd end up being the smartest thing they've done since not nominating Pat Buchanan for President in 2000.

Unity08 CEO Robert Bingham on KPBS TV

If you're tired of partisanship, corruption, and the same old same old in politics drop by Unity08's web site and see what is stirring the political waters.

Lieberman: "Bloggers Have Added Another Dimension of Vituperation Toxicity" To Politics

Courtesy of Think Progress by way of the GTL
Sen. Joseph Lieberman said recently on C-Span2:

"And I do think there is a larger message here for our politics. I think the public is fed up. They feel that both the political parties, mostly because of the primaries, maybe because of attack ads, the kind of divisiveness of the cable news coverage of politics, talk radio, the bloggers have added another dimension of vituperation toxicity to it. The majority of people are sick of it. They think our political system is sick. I will just end with this warning that if the two major — the fastest growing political party in america is that no party. people are registering as an event is because they are fed up with — they don’t see them in the two major parties and they are sick of the kerri, the partisanship and on civility and i think if the two major parties wouldn’t hear this going into ‘08, there is a real chance of an independent third-party candidacy. and watch out if that happens."

And ya know what? He's right. I don't like him as he strikes me as smarmy. But he's 100% right in this case. Many bloggers, most of talk radio, and tons of talking heads have poisoned the process of rational political debate. And the political parties have been more than happy to spew vitriol in order to turn out the base. If that weren't the case there would have been no reason for Unity 08 to come into existence.

I've blogged about this before and not much has changed since then. We now have the ability to pick and choose our radio, TV, and opinion sources so that we can effectively never hear an opposing voice outside of the comments section of our favorite blog. And in order to drive up their readership, listeners, and viewers too many media sources cater to that fact.

So despite my feelings towards Mr. Lieberman today I have to say, "Way to go Joe."