According to this article, New York city Mayor Mike Bloomberg and former Independence Party founder Tom Golisano are teaming up to “revitalize” the New York State Independence Party. Not everything in the article seems completely accurate, but the gist of it seems to be that both men desire to wrest control of the New York City Independence Party away from Lenora Fulani and her political allies.
Also, see this article from the Daily News that says it is not obvious that Bloomberg will get the Republican nomination for re-election in 2009; nor can he count on the Democratic nomination. He is a registered independent.
It seems that in New York, third parties are cared for more than elsewhere in the US.
PTK,
I attribute that to their fusion system and history of celebrities interested in third parties. Howard Stern and the Libertarians, Ralph Nader/Thomas Golisano/Michael Bloomberg and the Independence Party, James Buckley and the Conservative Party,etc.
As I understand New York’s law on cross-filing, both major parties must agree to it. The last to get both major party nominations was Democratic mayor Ed Koch in 1981.
In her run for president, Comrade Fulani railed against “rich white men.” Four years later, she teamed up with one of the richest white men in America, Ross Perot.
Looks like she’s again having trouble with rich white men.
Remember, also, that Mayor John V. Lindsay was re-elected in 1969 as the nominee of the Liberal Party only (not both that Party and the Republican Party as when he first won that position in 1965).
Neither Bloomberg nor Golisano are members of the Independence Party.
Every one is a member of the Independence Party! Later in 2009: Ed McMann and Frank MacKey showing up the door with a $500 check!
someone really should tell newman and his cult to give it a rest…they’re legends in their own minds…no one cares
hmmmm….look who showed up on page 4 of the Independence Party of Minnesota’s campaign finance report….
http://www.cfbreport.state.mn.us/pdfStorage/2008/CampFin/B/20711.pdf
Thank you, Peter Tharaldson. To save people the bother of looking thru that campaign finance report, it shows that Mayor Mike Bloomberg gave the Minnesota Independence Party $25,000 on Sep. 26, 2008.
Comment #4: Yes, Lindsay– who had seconded Spiro Agnew’s VP nomination at the ’68 GOP convention– lost the ’69 Republican primary for mayor to state Sen. John Marchi of Staten Island. Mario Proccacino won the Democratic primary over ex-Mayor Robert Wagner.
Lindsay was re-elected with a minority vote over Proccacino and Marchi.
Lindsay switched to the Dem Party in ’71 and sought the ’72 Dem presidential nomination. He also ran unsuccessfully in the ’80 Dem primary for U. S. senator, which Elizabeth Holtzman won. The Republican Al D’Amato then beat Holtzman.
As a native NYer myself, I think it would be quite fitting if Bloomberg and his arrogance were sent packing by the voters for his contempt for their wishes expressed on numerous occasions regarding term limits.
That having been said, however, keep in mind that the Independence party (and the Working Families party as well, for that matter) maintain their illusion of strength with smoke and mirrors and have very few registrations. It would be quite easy for a well-organized group to take either over and change their direction dramatically.
Steve, as for Al D’Amato/1980, don’t forget that it was incumbent Jacob Javits who stayed in the race on the Liberal line, resulting in D’Amato’s win.
It seems that that (“a well-organized group” taking over the Independence Party) has already happened, Howard – with that Party’s nomination of Senator John McCain (Republican) for president of the United States in 2008. In order for the Independence Party to truly have expressed independence, it should have nominated the Nader-Gonzalez ticket last year. That would have incurred the wrath of the Democratic Party. The Democrats sure are mad at the Peace and Freedom Party here in California (for doing just that).