Un-Declared Candidates“uCandidates”

Putting representatives of the people In The Aisle to drive Reform

2

We need a Political Correction!

• We spend almost 1/3 of our income every year on local, State and Federal taxes, we need to be demanding better government and not tolerating the ineffective political partisanship we are getting now.

• We can accelerate reform and restore faith in our government if we put Un-Declared Candidates “uCandidates” In the Aisle to get the best solutions accomplished.

• To improve Our Government, the people need to change by embracing a new level of Civic Responsibility. We are responsible for what we do here in New Hampshire.

– There is no “The Government” only “Our Government”

• Allow businesses, unions and industries to keep their money versus having to spend millions of dollars to protect their interests.

• As a non-Presidential election year, 2010 is New Hampshire’s opportunity to set the example for the rest of our Nation

3

Un-Declared CandidatesuCandidates

• Not associated with any existing Political Party or addicted to other people’s money

• Focused commitment to implement the best solutions that constantly improve our economy and competitiveness.

– Push for cost effective and efficient government – value for our money• Social Issues are not on the platform of any uCandidates

– They will have personal leanings, but they are not being hired to work on social issues. Social issues will be left to the will of the people.

• Civil Discourse – No mudslinging, attacks or negative campaigning

• To get elected uCandidates will:– Run together as a unified write in campaign

• Governor, US Senate, Congress, State Senate & Reps– Will not be raising money from outside of NH or accept funding from any

PACs or other groups– Will be dependent on Grassroots, word of mouth activities of New Hampshire

residents in every community

• Once elected – We must hold uCandidates feet to the fire to deliver– Metrics and Measurements to know what and how they are doing– Insist on new levels of communication with the electorate

A Plan for New Hampshire

Un-Declared Candidates“uCandidates”

Putting representatives of the people In The Aisle

5

NH Voters

• There are more registered Un-Declared Voters in NH then either registered Democrats or Republicans

• Many Republicans and Democrats are Very disappointed with the polarization of their parties

• 2010 is a non-Presidential year and voters will be less concerned about partisan voting – Less of a fear of protecting themselves from having some one else’s moralities be legislated on them

Our Government & Political system has evolved into something that serves the Money that feeds it.

The Right and Left have invested SO much money that they can not afford the other side any minor victories or

success.

We have allowed Our Government to become dysfunctional and we have an escalating Political Civil War.

7

Money Drives Our GovernmentVoters – create Sea Saw Effect

Democratic Majority Republican Majority

Who provides the Money for Elections and Lobbyists are the winners

Moderates & Most of Americans suffer the consequences

“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”.

Albert Einstein

Obstruct

• Too few representatives cross the Party aisle, so we have to put a group In The Aisle (ITA) to get the business of our government working better.

• The challenge facing these generations of Americans is not to put a man on the moon or Mars, but to embrace our individual civic responsibilities so we get the quality of government we pay for and free our government from the strangle hold of money, special interests and extremist issues.

• If not, we will continue to suffer a political system that is more responsive to the money that keeps parties in

power then to the economy and security of our Nation.

9

What are our options?

• Fear the “Spoiler effect” and keep the See-Saw going up and down every time we “throw the bum’s out”

• Hope for some incremental change from a campaign finance reform group– Wait for other groups to address all of the other issues?– Slowly work from with in the Party

OR• Create a Catalyst for Change

– Small Group in the Middle – not addicted to money• Not a majority, but large enough to keep the focus on improving

government• Focus on Common Ground Governance issues

– Force both sides to step into the middle ground (working in the aisle) and accelerate Reform

10

Un-declared CandidatesuCandidates – What we Need Now !

• Not associated with a Political Party– Free from Partisanship

• Only focused on making Government more Cost Effective and Efficient– Making sure we are getting the best value for our money

• Will not work on “Social” issues until government performance metrics have been met– Stances on “issues” should follow the will of the people

• Funding will be from “In-State” as much as possible and ONLY from Individuals – Free of other peoples money and the time wasting activities of fund raising

• Civil Discourse – No negative discussions or comments on other candidates or parties– Focus will be on uCandidate’s skills and experience to be the most

effective representative

11

2010 uCandidate Platform - State

• Governor– Create the “New Hampshire Effective Government Advantage”

• Most Cost Effective Government (state and local)• Best Climate for business and environment to live (includes services)• Driving for NH Competitive Advantages that help businesses succeed• Focused on raising median individual net income (by minimizing taxes)

– Goals and Performance Metrics for All State Agencies• These are not cuts –but how do they provide better services on a smaller

budget• Transparency on all

• NH Senate and House of Reps– Support the “New Hampshire Advantage” Goals– Continuous active dialog with citizens

• When not in session State Reps should become community educators– Set annual legislative goals for all representatives' to focus on– Transparency in all activities and the legislative process– Assure it is easy for all citizens to see what lobbyists, PACs and other

groups are doing to influence legislation

12

2010 uCandidate Platform - Federal

• US Congress (US Senate and 1st & 2nd District Congressional Seats)– Drive Reform efforts and civic responsibility

– Legislative focus on Removing the money from the political process

– Will not write a single Earmark

– Constant Reductions in our National Debt• Reducing the interest payments

– Transparency for all activities (including office budget and expenses)

– Get the Federal Government to follow the New Hampshire Advantage plan on the national level

– Insist on Fixing problems not putting on band-aids – such as Healthcare• Fix the business of medicine – not the business of Insurance

– Investigate where else America is liable – such as with BP• Where else has the money created laws that leave the country at risk

13

uCandidates = Faith in Government

• Voters will feel more vested in candidates, they will be their candidates, not shackled by political parties and all that money. Voice of reason not of a Political Party

• Know uCandidates are only influenced by voters, not special interests, lobbyists or placating to extreme factions of political parties

• Voters will accept the responsibilities of tracking and monitoring the measurements and metrics of uCandidates. Our responsibility is to make sure uCandidates are performing as expected.

• Will have more interactive communication with uCandidates offices and web sites

• Voters will get the benefits of Campaign Finance Reform (or Fair Elections) now – no need to wait

• When uCandidates win, this will help businesses, unions and industry groups keep their money versus being pressured to fund both sides of the aisle.

14

Short Term Effect

Un-Declared Candidates working In The Aisle to Accelerate Reform

• Make our Gov’t work better for the voters

•Force Parties to work together – they have the same

jobs

• Civil Discourse

• Focus on Governance IssuesFar

RightGroups

Far Left

GroupsExtreme groups will leave the main stream parties as they begin to work together and practice Civil Discourse

15

Long Term Effect

uCandidates can

fade away

Collaboration to get the best Solutions for the State & Nation

Far RightParty

Far Left

Party

We may have four parties with the extremes having their own smaller parties

After Reforms have been established and there is a new Era of Civic Engagement, Republicans and

Democrats will begin to act like uCandidates

Plan of

Action for

New Hampshire

17

NH Needs to Act NOW !!!!

• The System is Not Working like it should – We are responsible for breaking the New Hampshire Link in the

chain

• How Many More Wake Up Calls Do we need ?– BP oil spill: Let the foxes guard the chickens– 9-11: Intelligence agencies not working together– Cost of the Iraq Invasion: Making huge mistakes– Katrina: We knew what had to happen after Hurricane

Andrew, but we failed to be prepared– Greed Run Amuck: Let Wall St. and the housing market

become un-rational– Companies making Huge Profits have massive tax breaks– $5.8 Billion raised and spent to hire politicians in 2008

• What other disasters are lurking behind the Curtains?

18

Our Responsibility to Change

• There is only “OUR Government”, never “THE” Government.

• We need to create the “Political Correction” through our actions!

• Almost 1/3 of our Income goes to local, State and Federal taxes– Our biggest purchase every year – We owe it to ourselves to

make sure we are getting the best value for our money

• Don’t Tread on Me !– Money driven marketing will manipulate voter majorities

unless we engage our friends and neighbors in dialog– We need to show we have fangs again by fighting back

against Money controlled politics– Nothing can stop NH Citizens from talking to our colleagues

and neighbors– Our times require a more engaged Civic Responsibilities for

our Democracy to be healthy

19

Options for a New NH Political Party

Write-In Campaign is our only option for 2010:• Launch a write in campaign after the Primary

We missed the chance to be on the Ballot:• Individuals would have had to file with the State by

June 11– Tim van Bloomestyn and a few others did do this– Petitions still need to be submitted

• For 2012– If a Candidate for Governor or US Senate gets 4.5% of the

vote, that party will be an official party for the next Federal election

20

The Granite Plan

• Build out the candidate Ticket – now until election day– Focus on the Top of the Ticket (need the nucleus to get

started)• Governor, US Senate, 1st District & T. Van Bloomestyn for 2nd

District

– Fill out with State Senate and State Reps

• Organize and Plan for Post Primary Launch– Build tools and organize plans

• Write in Campaign will be Grass Roots– Provide individuals with a way to fight back and a better

reason to get involved– Ask for peoples time, skills and efforts – Do not ask for money– Patriotic responsibility for individual “best efforts”

21

The Granite Plan Vision

• Restore FAITH in Government. Being Responsible.

• Sizable group of State Representatives and State Senators who work In The Aisle (ITA) and increase productivity and consensus– Possibly be the Speaker of the House

• Send a full 2010 slate to the US Congress.– These uCans will work IN the Aisle and be a catalyst for other

states for the 2012 election cycle

• New level of Civic Engagement, where we hold representatives and government to meeting goals and year to year improvements

22

The Granite Plan Strategy

• Create the feeling of a revolution or a movement. Something that pulls people in, motivates them and gets people to spread the mission.– Part of the Solution – Not Part of the Problem– Create the feeling of the people who are IN

• At Least 3 uCandidates for every-voter– Top of the ticket (Governor, US Senate and Congress)

assures we can talk with everyone

• Continuous Personal Discussion– Get people comfortable with discussing politics– Create Dialog, Competitions and ways of getting people to

name their uCandidates– Creative ways that do not Require $$$$

23

The Granite Plan Tactics

• Build out the uCandidate Ticket– Constantly Recruit more uCandidates

• uCandidates 5 2010 Buttons– 5 is for Five people everyone discusses uCandidates w/ each day– Start handing out buttons– Enable others to order their own boxes of buttons– Use the Phone book, walk the neighborhood

• Facebook Page for the Internet and e-mail Marketing– Get everyone we can invited and join the Facebook page– Create games and contest that require people to name their uCans

• uCandidate Sheets– Have people create handouts with what they have to write in on

election day.– Create an App – that can text you the names when you vote

24

Organizational Plan

• uCandidates Ticket Builders– This group focuses on building out the ticket

– They help get the top and the width of the ticket filled

– Conference calls Thursdays – 8:30pm to 9:30pm

• uCandidate Evangelists– Everyone else has the responsibility of getting the word out

– Create Groups – for what people like to do best• Creative Marketing Ideas• Meet up and working crowds• Talking to strangers• Making Phone calls – use the Phone book• Letters to the Editors and other classic communication• Signs – home made – make templates

25

Organizational Tools

• Facebook for Marketing– It is free– Anyone can do this– No web page to maintain

• Use Free Conference Bridges for Calls• Challenge everyone to come up with what ever tools they can to

make this happen• Unleash creativity

– Develop plans to distribute the names so people can bring them into the voting booth

– Text names to phones…– Door to Door flyer hand outs on Halloween– Capture URL’s associated with uCandidates– Have citizens turn off or click away from all Political adds – since we

won’t have any• Use duct tape to make uCandidates signs on everything• “Who are your Ucan’s” Ask the question everywhere

It can not be the Same Old Same Old

New Level of Civic Responsibility

27

Holding uCandidates Feet to the Fire

• Civic Responsibility does not stop after elections– View your local, state and federal representatives as the ones

responsible for managing what you spend 1/3 of your Income on each year

• How will we know our uCandidates are Delivering us value?– Establish measurements and metrics for all elected officials and

government agencies– Require all groups to report out to the public– Our Government is the “Biggest Public Company” they should be

reporting out to the shareholders

• Insist on year over year improvements– Customer Satisfaction on responsiveness

• Do we understand what they are doing• Do we feel as if we are being heard

– Is the process of government getting more effective and efficient?

28

Communications

• Focus on making performance easy to see– How well does a representative manage individual office

budgets– How much time is spent fundraising– Days in the office working– Days in District working with the community

• Online Tools for Communication– Make it easy for uCandidates to quickly learn our opinions

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Are we doing our Part?

• Put a focus on measurements and metrics for our Civic Responsibilities– Voter Registration– Voter participation– Participation and attendance at local meetings and

discussions• Board meetings• Discussion meetings

• Do we know the facts?– Can we past quick and easy civic tests?– Have contests everywhere to make sure people are paying

attention– Community and Individual “Fact Check” contests

Tools forCivic Responsibility

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•Voting Database –From the Washington Post  http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/

• US Budget and other Federal Documents-  http://www.gpoaccess.gov

New Hampshire Specific Tools

•Live Free or Die Alliance•www.livefreeordiealliance.org•Find the NH Facts

•NH Public Policy from the Center for NH Public Policy

• - http://www.nhpolicy.org

•Portal for NH Voting Database and Legislator Database - http://gencourt.state.nh.us

•Opensecrets.org•Track Federal Money

•Lobbyists PACs•Know where a candidates money is coming – it is the best indicator for who they support

•Maplight..org•Tracks campaign contributions to votes on legislation

•www.fedspending.org•From OMB Watch, track federal spending

•www.followthemoney.org•Tracks campaign contributions to State Party candidates

•www.ontheissues.org/default.htm• See where your federal candidates current legislators stand on the major issue

•www.votesmart.org•Get the Facts on Candidates

Tools for Civic Responsibility

“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different

results”. Albert Einstein

If YOU continue to do what YOU have been doing, nothing will change.

It is OUR responsibility to help MAKE our Government work for us again.

MAKE AMERICA, AMERICA AGAIN

Credits:

Flag image from: www.patrioticon.orgEagle image from: jimstrailsidegallery.comSpirit of 76 from: Town of Marblehead, MA websitePresentation created by: Steven Borne nhd1naip@yahoo.com version date: August, 2010

THANK YOU