A few weeks ago we reported that Anthony Pollina, the Progressive Party candidate for governor of Vermont, was switching his ballot-label to “Independent”. His stated reason was that the party-label was costing him votes. WCAX-TV in Vermont is reporting on the same thing.
Pollina says he made the surprising switch after hearing from many voters who liked his policies, but were held up by party affiliation.
“What I’m trying to do is open the door to as many people as possible,” Pollina explains.
Reporter Kristin Carlson: “But at your core aren’t you a Progressive still and your ideals are progressive, so who do you think you’re attracting now as an Independent that you wouldn’t have before?”
Pollina: “Well, I am a Progressive and I’m not changing who I am or what I’m about and I wouldn’t pretend to do that. What I do find is other people sometimes allow party labels to get in their way because of tradition.”
The rest here.
Deran – Watch it now. The Zimbabweans just revalued their currency. $200 billion might be like $20 now, instead of $0.00002.
It seems to me that Pollina has switched from wanting to build a political organization outside the two party system, to just wanting to get elected.
I know, Trent Hill, it’s the person not the party. Well, no, not really. Not in our electoral system. And not when you look at how Sanders snaked from being an “independent” socialist, to being a prized token in the Democratic cavalcade of hacks.
Pollina wants to get elected, no matter what. He’s not a Nader, trying to reform the elctoral system and broaden out the public debate. Pollina wants to get elected and have power. He has heard the whispered promises of the Democratic leadership, and it makes him feel good. He can convince himself he’s a player now.
200 billion Zimbabwean Dollars says I’m right!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIdvMjbf9gQ&feature=related
….WRITE IN UNBROKEN ENGLISH
Will? Will? I thot it was a ‘done deal’!
I have already jokingly asked for my box of [August 2006 Mexico to Canada to Mexico political trip] ‘Moose’ [Arizona and California state Reform Parties and Vermont Progressives] tee shirts! I have also mailed a back up support endorsement letter [as an Independent]!
This post is kinda like locking the barn door after the cows had stampeded!