“Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.” -English Historian Henry Thomas Buckle

In the never ending swirl of fake news media controversy, is anyone else wondering what happened to real political news about actual public policy?

A new type of third party is racking up wins against the two-party duopoly in New York. However, state officials have authorized an unelected commission to squash any competition that challenges the political establishment.

Here’s what you need to know:

A Rising Political Party

The SAM (Save America Movement) Party is not your typical political party. While most parties are founded on an ideology — catering only to specific blocs of voters — SAM states that its party is founded on a process that starts with:

The US House voted Wednesday to impeach President Donald J. Trump on charges of “Abuse of Power” and “Obstruction of Congress.” The vote was the most partisan result of any impeachment vote in the history of the United States.

Clinton, Nixon Impeachment Proceedings Were More Bipartisan

Two presidents have been impeached before Donald Trump.

President Bill Clinton was impeached in 1998 by the House for giving false statements under oath, and acquitted by the Senate.

Dear IVN Reader,

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For the holidays I give you this beautiful poem by my beautiful friend Dr. Jessie Fields.  A physician, a leader, a conscience and a poet, Dr. Fields is fierce and tender in all she does. You will be touched by her, by this poem.

Happy Holidays. Be safe. Be Independent. Be loved.
Jackie

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“Poetry: Forgive me for having helped you to understand that you are not made of 

words alone.” Roque Dalton

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Poetry Can

Poems can so move the soul that tears flow

A South Carolina judge last week dismissed a lawsuit against the state’s Republican Party over its decision to cancel a 2020 presidential primary. The decision all but ensures that many of the state’s voters will not have a say in the presidential process.

On December 6, 2019 nonpartisan reformers from across the country descended on Denver, Colorado for the second annual summit of the National Association of Nonpartisan Reformers (NANR).

“[The political industry] is the only industry where people are told competition is bad for the consumer.” - Katherine Gehl

Former Gehl Foods CEO Katherine Gehl was among the headline speakers at the second annual summit of the National Association of Nonpartisan Reformers (NANR) on Friday, December 6, in Denver, Colorado. The event featured DaVita CEO Kent Thiry, RepresentUs Director Josh Silver, Independent Voter Project Chair and Executive Director Dan Howle, and more.

I supported Trump in 2016. I will not be supporting him in 2020. It is not because I hate him. It is not because I think he has been a disaster as president. It is not because of Russia, the Ukraine, or what the Democrats, CNN, MSNBC, and the New York Times say about him. In fact, I like the way he has taken on the establishment and pushed for change.

There are three primary reasons I have withdrawn my support: 1. He has been catastrophic on animal and environmental issues, 2. He has been governing from the far right, and 3. He has been a divisive president.

On International Anti-Corruption Day, RepresentUs launched a new video featuring Academy Award Winning Actor Michael Douglas, who has a powerful message for every voter to hear: "America's political system has been hijacked to ensure those with power keep it."

Specifically, Douglas is speaking of the electoral rules that have been rigged to the advantage of the two largest private political parties in the country -- the Republican and Democratic Parties.