PA: County Controller Declares Political Independence, First Such Independent or Third Party Official in Over a Century

From the Republican Herald:

County Controller Melinda Kantner is leaving the Democratic Party. During a fundraising event Friday night at Blu Tavern Restaurant, Kantner announced she'd be seeking re-election as an Independent. "I was an Independent before I ran for controller in January 2007. It's what I'm going back to," Kantner said. She has served as county controller since January 2008 as a Democrat . . . 

In a follow-up article from the Republican Herald, the publication discovers the history of third party politics in the county:

County Controller Melinda Kantner has made history. Since at least the late 1890s, there has not been a sitting county row officer or commissioner who has not belonged to either the Republican or Democratic party, according to county Election Bureau records and election results in the Schuylkill County Archives Office. "There's a first time for everything," Kantner said last week.

Two weeks ago, the incumbent ditched the Democratic Party, became an independent, and is now gearing up for a potential three-way November General Election. Decades ago, races for county row offices were often melees. For example, in the 1915 county elections, at least six parties fielded candidates. The mainstay Republican and Democrat parties had candidates on the ballot, but so did the Washington, Citizens, Socialist and Labor parties. Those parties were represented on the ballot for prothonotary, controller, county commissioner and other offices, according to county archives . . .

Declare Your Independence from the Democratic and Republican Parties

Happy 4th of July!

A Conservative Declaration of Independene from the Republican and Democratic Parties

From the Florida TEA Party:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, political parties are instituted among Men, deriving their powers from the consent of the members of those parties, That whenever any political party becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of those members to separate themselves from it, and to institute a new party, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that affiliations with such political parties long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by separating from such political parties to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations by both major, political parties, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce the American public under the absolute Despotism of the Federal government in Washington, D.C., it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off their allegiances to such parties, and to form a new political party for their and their children’s future security.

Such has been the patient sufferance of the American people; and such is now the necessity which constrains the undersigned citizens of the United States of America to alter their allegiances to their former political parties. The history of the present Republican and Democratic Parties is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny by the Federal government over the American people. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

A Progressive Declaration of Independence from the Democratic and Republican Parties

From Rusty1776 at Docudharma, last March:

When in the course of outrage after outrage, it becomes necessary for American citizens to dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with the Democratic and Republican Parties, and to attain empowerment as We the People, our common respect for the Constitution and the rule of law compels us to declare the causes which impel us to this separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that both major parties are complicit in war crimes, in massive Wall Street fraud, in crimes of banking and finance so malicious and extensive as to beggar description. The repressive corporate agenda of both major parties has been exposed, it is self-evident that they no longer believe that all men are created equal, they serve only the corporate masters of America, they have granted them unalienable Rights, that among these are the right to plunder the Treasury, the right to control the media, the right to subvert the banking system, to corrupt the electoral system, to ravage our economy and reap the illicit profits of shock doctrine capitalism.

Tradition dictates that a political systems long established should not be rejected for light and transient causes; but when a long train of two-party system abuses and betrayals, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a design to reduce an entire nation under corporate Despotism, it is the right of We the People, it is the duty of We the People, to condemn that system, and to establish a new system for our future security.

Such has been the patient sufferance of Americans; and such is now the necessity which compels us to dismantle the corrupt two-party system. The history of that system is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of corporate tyranny over the United States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world . . .

It is the 4th of July, Declare Your Independence

From the Declaration of Independence:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

One Individual's Declaration of Independence from the Democratic-Republican Party

From Denton in the Constitution Party Discussion Forum:

I'm one of those irritating people who can't seem to conform to the two-party scene. I don't call myself a "Conservative" because the definition is convoluted and changes from person to person. Besides, the best the Conservative movement can do is try and hold the line, and that isn't good enough for me.

I call myself a Christian Constitutionalist. I believe John Jay knew what he was saying when he called this a Christian nation and I believe Thomas Jefferson knew what he was saying when he said the Christian faith was the best thing upon which a nation can be built. I also know that this doesn't mean, as the secular humanists would have today's uneducated citizenry believe, that a "Christian nation" means a theocracy.

I'm fed up with the mainstream lies.

I believe the constitution for the united states of America is the framework and the walls of the government and its power and authority over the states and the citizenry. I don't believe it is something to be "interpreted" in convoluted and shadowy ways in order to marginalize the people and maximize the government.

I'm fed up with the megalomaniacs ruling over the citizenry (and their money) as if their rule is supreme and we are their serfs.

Finally, I am sick and tired of people thinking they have to vote for the lesser of two evils. I refuse to embrace a "moderate" simply because he is running against a radical. I am bone-weary of watching the power go to and from "Conservative" politicians while the country continues to spiral into the trash heap of history as all failed empires do.

That's why I googled "constitution party forum" and found this place, I am looking for others who are fed up with it, too.

Nice to meet y'all!