A crowd of more than 100 people, including independents, Republicans and Democrats gathered at 7th Heaven Eatery located at 24th St. and Camelback in Phoenix to view the presidential primary election results on the big screen TV.

Guest Col. Ann Wright and Annie Loyd briefly addressed the enthusiastic crowd. Both speakers delivered a stirring message of change is here and it is essential everyone find their voice and exercise their responsibility over the next many months to engage and connect with their friends, family and co-workers working to see the desire for change become a reality.

To view additional photos of the event click here.

I am independent because . . .

According to the Pew Research Center some 4.5 million independent voters in six states (Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, New York, Oklahoma and Utah) will be completely locked out of their states' presidential primaries Feb. 5 because they have "closed" primaries, in which only a voter registered with the party can help choose its nominee.

I'm registered as no party determination because I live in a free country and want to choose the best candidate. I know good Republicans, Democrats, independents and Libertarians. I want to make a choice based on character and competency. I want to vote for someone willing to address the systemic issues, not just tow the line of their political party.

Our country has the greatest opportunities before us. We have accomplished exceptional feats in technology and innovation; and now the time has come to apply this newly gained knowledge and address the challenges that face us.

The turn in our economic forecast is providing us with an opportunity to reconsider what we believe is important and relevant. It is time to make some tough decisions. Do we continue to fund a war machine, or do we take care of our veterans and military personnel, educate our children, and invest in renewable energy and our infrastructure: building bridges, roads and schools?

Personally, I believe for us to realize our greatest potential we must address our broken political system, including:

§ The elimination of the electoral college
§ An open primary system
§ Same day voter registration
§ Nonpartisan administration of elections
§ Redistricting reform

I am independent because I believe I have the right as a United States citizen to vote for the best person for the job. The U.S. Constitution did not stipulate only two political parties.
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Independent Calls for End To Bipartisan Politics

Annie Loyd, speaking at Columbia College, New York, NY. (1st photo)
Interview with Annie and Sallie, moderator for cable program "Madam President." (3rd photo)

Independent Calls for End To Bipartisan Politics
By Maggie Astor
PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 4, 2008 in the Columbia Spectator

As Benjamin Franklin famously said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”
Annie Loyd, an independent Congressional candidate from Arizona, quoted the founding father’s famous exhortation to kick off the Columbia College Student Council Campus Life Committee’s “Independent Night” on Saturday in Wien. Loyd called on students to break out of the country’s bilateral political system and asserted that so long as Democratic and Republican candidates are voters’ only choices, there will be no real political progress.
“Different masks, same thing,” Loyd said. “If you don’t like the way your shoes fit, what do you do—try to reshape them? To heck with it, I’m done with those shoes! You don’t keep going back to them because you really think it’s going to be different this time.”
Loyd spent much of her speech urging students to examine the full range of options for enacting political change. Read the rest of the story.