BILLBOARD News Now
A 2028 Approach
(Editor’s note: There is a significant amount of dissatisfaction with the two-party system. Former WV Senator Joe Manchin in a Washington Post Op Ed says, “voters do not need another political party…they need independent-minded leaders willing to put the country above party and self.” He offers a thoughtful plan for 2028. He is part of an Independent Leadership Council designed to recruit and support candidates who will run as true independents.)
Nearly half of America no longer identifies with Democrats or Republicans, making independents the largest potential voting bloc in the country. According to Americans Together, unaffiliated voters outnumber those registered with either major party in 16 states and 106 congressional districts.
Yet the two parties control so much of the political system that it is extremely difficult for an independent candidate to compete. In many states, independent candidates must collect thousands more signatures than Democrats or Republicans just to appear on the ballot. If participation is limited, so is competition. Without competition, voters are less likely to get to choose between the best possible candidates.
That, unfortunately, is exactly what has happened to the American political system. The two dominant parties have become increasingly extreme, leaving Congress more divided and less competent. George Washington warned about the dangers of political parties 230 years ago. He cautioned that political factions could become potent engines for the unprincipled to subvert the power of the people and usurp the reins of government. Look at D.C. today, and one can see exactly how true that statement has become.
The system wasn’t designed for political parties to run the country. It was designed to provide representation and a vehicle for Americans to work through differences and come up with solutions for political problems. That means putting the public good ahead of personal agendas and party loyalty.
Americans are dealing with a high cost of living and an ever-rising, unsustainable national debt. They are concerned about the quality of life they are leaving their children and grandchildren. These problems are too important to neglect just because two parties cannot find a way to work together.
A truly independent member of Congress could begin to change that dynamic — someone who was elected as an independent, doesn’t caucus with either party, and remains free to work with Democrats and Republicans, controlled by neither. I know firsthand that one person can make a difference because, at times, I was that one person. While serving in the U.S. Senate, I tried to bring both sides together to do things that were good for the country.
In a closely divided Congress, we were able to accomplish important things by working together. I navigated both sides of a 50-50 Senate, pulling together five Democrats and five Republicans to support a roughly $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure agreement that passed in a 69-30 vote.
Independence is not an ideology. It is the freedom to think for yourself and support the best ideas, whether they come from Republicans or Democrats. Independent leaders owe their votes not to a party but to their country, to their constituents and to the oath they took to protect and defend the Constitution.
Too many Americans feel hopeless and politically homeless. They see a dysfunctional government run by warring parties that spend more time fighting each other than working for the people who elected them.
Voters do not need another political party telling them what to believe. They need independent-minded leaders willing to put the country above party and self. So why should voters support independents? Working within the two parties has been tried for decades with unsatisfactory results. Let independents run and compete to govern without answering to either party. Let their success show more good people a path to public service. Successful independent candidates would prove to voters that they do not have to settle for stale choices from the two-party system.
Strong independent candidates, including Seth Bodnar, running for the U.S. Senate in Montana, and Rep. Kevin Kiley of California, are on ballots across the country, standing up to a two-party system that is rigged against them. I encourage American voters to give independent candidates serious consideration whenever they see one on the ballot.
Changing Washington takes far fewer people than you think. With very slim margins between the two parties in the House and Senate, the votes of a handful of true independents could be critical to getting anything done — as I know from my time in the Senate.
That experience taught me something I believe deeply. Independent leadership is not about standing alone. It is about having the freedom and the leverage to bring both sides together and ask the question every member of Congress should be asking: What is best for the people I represent and the country I serve?
Use icons and envelope above to forward this post to your friends.
Follow us on Twitter (X), Bluesky, Instagram, Facebook or Threads.
Call To Action
If there was ever a time for Americans to contact their representative in Congress, it is now. Members of Congress should be up in arms about housing, healthcare & feeding and other programs in Trump’s federal spending freeze. But are they? Both Houses of...
Fear
“Real power is – I don’t even want to use the word – fear.”* Fear is exactly how President Trump started Trump 2.0. His executive orders set off uncertainty, chaos and fear. He used day one to pardon persons convicted of violent crimes, assaulting police officers...
As You Sow
(Editor’s Note: Received this personal email from a longtime friend – Robert L. Harris. He is an experienced and keen observer of history, government & politics. I telephoned and ask if he would allow me to publish as a guest commentary on Phillipsbillboard.)...
Tomorrow
A new chapter in America’s history starts tomorrow. It comes after a hard-fought presidential election. Along with a Congress which could go out of control at any minute. This commentary is written with the hope that President-elect Trump will begin this new...
Catastrophic Warning
Editor’s note: Besides creating original commentary, we share informative or thought-provoking matters. In a Behind the Curtain column from Axios by Mike Allen & Jim VandeHei is an interview with Jake Sullivan regarding Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI is a...
Opinion
Never know where you will get an idea for a blog post. Well, here is one. A friend calls me weekly to stay in touch. We seldom talk about politics and likely never voted for the same presidential candidate. But last night he mentioned “you may have been right about...
Sadness & Joy
Four years ago, I watched the 2020 presidential certification process in sadness. Yesterday I watched the same process in joy. My reaction had nothing to do with the outcome of either election. It had to do with sitting in my home watching the capitol where I worked...
House, Come to Order
Noon tomorrow the 119th Congress convenes. As of tonight, everyone is uncertain if a Speaker of the House will be elected. This evening POLITICO “Inside Congress” email tells us how it will work. WHAT TO EXPECT ON THE SPEAKER’S RACE We have a hauntingly recent...
Out & IN
As we enter 2025 it’s fun to think about what’s Out & In. Here is my list. (Editor’s note: Since all devices open differently out apology if alignment is not exact.) OUT IN Integrity ...
No Trump Inauguration
(Editor’s note: Reading today’s Daily Beast an article by Janna Brancolini caught my eye. Thought our readers would find this interesting.) The MAGA-verse could be on the brink of exploding into an all-encompassing constitutional crisis, with Donald Trump’s own...
Upset
West Virginians who elected Governor Jim Justice to represent them in the United States Senate should be upset. Today he announced plans to stay as Governor until Governor-elect Patrick Morrisey takes office in mid-January. There are two messages he is sending. Most...
Danger Ahead
Our country is facing three dangers. First, in danger is one of the most important pillars in our democracy…the free press. President-elect Trump sued ABC news for defamation based on a pre-election interview. George Stephanopoluos used the word “rape” in his...
BILLBOARD Archives
Billionaires Have Taken Over
(Editor’s note: I’m sharing Mike Allen & Jim VandeHei Behind the Curtain column from Axios this morning.) The incoming Trump administration will give Silicon Valley moguls unprecedented federal power, with tech-friendly officials and policies intertwined...
In Charge Follow Up
(Editor’s Note: Earlier this week we published a blog “Who’s in Charge” with a focus on Elon Musk. Robert Reich wrote on Substack “Musk’s dangerous Bullying.” Reich is an American professor, author and lawyer. He worked in the administration of presidents Gerald Ford...
Who’s In Charge?
On a quiet post-Thanksgiving day its disturbing to read the MAGA news as reported by Axios. After today report it’s doubtful Americans know who the President-elect is. The report makes you question if Donald J. Trump won the election or Elon Musk. Donald’s “first...
Undercover
An incredibly unbelievable story related to the 2024 presidential election broke recently. A Delaware U. S. Court Judge Gregory B. Williams unsealed documents of a plot to stop No Labels’ effort to obtain ballot access and offer a unity ticket for president. No...
Power Power Power
(Editor’s note: David French is an American political commentator. He writes about law, culture, religion and politics. He was formerly a fellow at the National Review Institute. Born in Alabama and grew up in a small town in Kentucky,) These are the times that try...
Political Tidbits
(Editor’s Note: For our new readers Political Tidbits is done periodically. Occasionally there may be one with a link for more detail. BTW, any tips appreciated. Send to [email protected].) No one is singing “Happy Days Are Here Again” in our nation’s...
Save The Senate
President-elect Trump set off a three-alarm fire today with the announcement to name U. S. Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL) to be Attorney General of the United States. Tonight television news is full of conflict based on Rep. Gaetz being a bomb thrower and his...
Inside Look
All eyes are on Mar-a-Lago as the nation waits and the presidential transition is plotted. POLITICO published a piece this morning providing an insiders look. To say the least this is a most unusual approach in selecting those who will guide our country over the...
Going Forward
As our nation goes forward after experiencing the most controversial and consequential presidential election in our generation, three words must guide our path. Concern, hope and prepare. We must be concerned and not sit on the side lines. Our concern is about what...
Our Turn
(Editor’s note: As our country faces November 5th, I thought it appropriate to publish this piece excepted from “Letters from An American.” Written by Heather Cox Richardson, an American historian, a professor of history at Boston College, who teaches courses on the...
Close
(Editor’s note: I managed along with dedicated volunteers the 2000 presidential campaign of President George W. Bush in West Virginia.) The respected Des Moines Register Iowa poll showing Kamala Harris taking the lead in the presidential race caught everyone’s...
Casting & Counting
Our country is near the end of a presidential campaign filled with hate and joy. As a result, throughout the land the question is, “what will happen when the results are known.” There is conversation and worry taking place in homes, churches, businesses, bars &...