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There's nothing in the middle of the road but yellow stripes and dead armadillos, said Texas politician Jim Hightower. His comment is humorous, and may be accurate as far as Texas highways are concerned, but it misses the mark when it comes to American politics.

In truth, the middle of the road or political center, if you will is where people come together to get things done. Its where deadlocks are broken.

Centrists once determined the fate of big issues. Ronald Reagan inspired Republicans with his conservative principles, but also made deals with Democrats to get his programs passed. More Republicans than Democrats voted for the 1964 Civil Rights bill proposed by Democratic President Lyndon Johnson.

Today, few members of Congress operate from the middle. If more did, its likely reasonable compromises could be reached on numerous issues such as infrastructure and immigration.

The partisan gap is widening and each side is increasingly militant. Instant communications, social media, 24/7 news and uninformed punditry, together with a deluge of organized money, deepens the divide. Campaign cash isnt raised online by talking about common ground, its raised by painting the opposition as evil.

There is nothing wrong with Democrats and Republicans battling over legitimate policy differences thats the way democracy works. But each side now makes eradication of the other its priority. When individuals in Congress work with colleagues from across the aisle to find practical solutions, theyre attacked as sellouts, fundraising spigots are cut off to them and primary election challenges are threatened.

Though middle ground is hard to find in Washington, its alive and well among voters across the nation. A recent poll for The Economist finds that 28% of voters consider themselves independents thats equivalent to 45 million votes, a healthy chunk of the American electorate thats not aligned with either party.

Voters are tired of polarized politics. They want an alternative vision. A Gallup poll, conducted earlier this year, showed that 62% of the nations voters think the two major parties do such a poor job that a third party is needed. Thats a stinging rebuke.

Both parties have become reliant on base turnout to win elections, and that makes campaigns less about persuading undecided and cross-pressured voters and more about pushing reliable partisans to the polls. Some analysts and consultants have concluded that voters in the middle dont much matter. The truth is that they do matter; independents, in fact, elected the last two presidents.

In 2020, Joe Biden and Donald Trump each received near-unanimous support (94%) from their partys voters. But, according to exit polling, independents went for Biden by a wide 54-41% margin. In the critical state of Georgia, for example, Biden won by a mere two-tenths of a point and did it by carrying independents by nine points.

In 2016, independents went for Trump by four points over Hillary Clinton. Trump won the critical state of Michigan that year by only two-tenths of a point and did it by carrying independents by 16 points.

In 1992, Ross Perot was one of the few independent candidates in history to run a presidential campaign from the center. Though he lost, he received an impressive 19% of the vote. Whats forgotten is that his voters didnt go away, they became the swing vote in the next midterm election; they handed control of Congress to the GOP in an upset of historic magnitude.

Political labels independent, centrist and moderate are often used interchangeably and incorrectly. Technically, theyre neither the same nor mutually exclusive. Independent is a partisan position and centrist is an ideological position. Moderation is a temperament; politicians are usually viewed as moderates because of their tone, not their voting records.

Regardless of labels, which are built on shifting sands anyway, most voters are not rigid ideologues or lockstep partisans. Theyre cross-pressured. They dont follow a party line on issues and are sometimes more motivated by candidate qualifications and personalities. In 2016, for instance, 18% disliked both Trump and Clinton. They were cross-pressured and they broke for Trump in the end.

While tens of millions of voters still stand in the middle of the political spectrum, there are fewer leaders in the halls of Congress who represent them. Thats a bigger problem than dead armadillos.

Ron Faucheux is a nonpartisan political analyst and publisher of LunchtimePolitics.com, a newsletter on polls. He lives in New Orleans.

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Ron Faucheux: The death of the political center in America is exaggerated - The Advocate

This week brought news that the U.S. attorney in Brooklyn, New York, is investigating whether Ukrainian officials used Rudy Giuliani to interfere in the 2020 presidential election.

We have known for a while that the neighboring U.S. attorney in Manhattan is investigating Giuliani for potential violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act. In April, the FBI conducted searches at Giulianis home and office as part of that investigation in the Southern District of New York. The newly disclosed probe in the Eastern District of New York appears to view Giuliani not as a target but as a pawn.

The newly disclosed probe in the Eastern District of New York appears to view Giuliani not as a target but as a pawn.

The New York Times reported the investigation is focused on suspected efforts by Ukrainian officials to spread unsupported claims of corruption against then-candidate Joe Biden through channels that included Giuliani, who was serving as then-President Donald Trumps personal attorney. Giuliani traveled to Ukraine in 2019 and met with officials as part of his effort to obtain disparaging information about Biden. The Times says Giuliani continued to "vouch" for Andriy Derkach, a Ukrainian member of parliament, even after Trumps Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Derkach for election interference and accused him of being an active Russian agent.

While the reporting indicates the new investigation focuses on efforts to sway the November election in favor of Trump, it should not be seen as a partisan effort by Bidens Justice Department. In fact, the investigation reportedly began in the waning months of the Trump administration.

Regardless of which candidate may have benefitted from such an attack, any effort by a foreign government to alter the outcome of an election is an unwelcome intrusion on our democracy. American voters should decide the outcome of American elections.

Efforts to interfere in the outcome of a democratic election are extremely serious. They can help elect candidates based on skewed perceptions created by a hostile foreign adversary to advance the adversarys own purposes. Foreign agents manipulate voters into forming opinions by pushing content designed to elicit an emotional negative response or to spread lies that will harm a candidates reputation.

Special counsel Robert Mueller alleged that the goal of Russia in its 2016 attack on our election was to spread "distrust towards the candidates and the political system in general." In other words, foreign adversaries are attacking democracy itself. This kind of activity is sometimes referred to as election meddling, but that term tends to minimize the damage it inflicts. We should use the term that Mueller alleged the Russians themselves used: information warfare.

As foreign adversaries increase their efforts to use disinformation to dupe voters, criminal prosecution can be an important weapon to defend the integrity of our elections. One sometimes overlooked contribution Mueller and his team made was their indictment against Russian officials for election interference. Sometimes the significance of these charges is lost in the commotion surrounding Trumps claims of partisan witch hunts, but they provide a playbook for prosecutors to combat election attacks.

In that case, Mueller and his team used an interesting legal theory. The indictment alleged that the Internet Research Agency and others conspired to defraud the United States by impairing, obstructing and defeating the lawful functions of the Federal Election Commission and the departments of Justice and State.

The Russian operatives did so by using social media platforms to pose as American activists. The indictment lays out that they pretended to support issues and groups across the political spectrum the Black Lives Matter movement, border security, Christian voters, Muslim groups and political parties and organizations in Texas and Tennessee.

Their efforts promoted Trump and disparaged his political opponent, Hillary Clinton, the indictment said. Their posts sought to suppress Black voters from casting ballots and to encourage voting for third-party candidates. They also used false U.S. personas to communicate with unwitting Americans to spread disinformation and even to organize campaign rallies.

Because the United States has no extradition treaty with Russia, the Internet Research Agency has not appeared in court to face the charges, which remain pending.

What these efforts had in common was their deceit. And it is deceit that prosecutors often focus on when charging various types of fraud. By spending money on advertising and campaign rallies without reporting it to the FEC, the indictment alleged, the defendants had conspired to defraud the United States by interfering with the work of that agency. Similarly, it alleged they interfered with the work of the Department of Justice, with whom agents of foreign entities must register before engaging in political activity. The perpetrators did not reveal their foreign origins, of course, because posing as Americans was the key to success of the scheme.

Now, we may see a similar theory at work in the Brooklyn investigation. If Derkach or other Ukrainians were using Giuliani as a conduit to spread disinformation to influence the U.S. government or the media to sway the election, then they may be guilty of the same offenses Mueller alleged the Internet Research Agency committed. The evidence may show that they violated FARA by acting as unregistered foreign agents seeking to influence the outcome of the election, or they may have conspired to interfere with the FECs administration of laws to prevent foreign influence in elections by using Giuliani as their front man.

During the Cold War, communists used the term useful idiot to describe people who could be used to spread propaganda. Maybe the new term should be Giuliani.

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Biden's Ukraine election probe focuses on Rudy Giuliani. But not how you think. - MSNBC

Seminole County flips from red to blue

Updated: 8:09 PM EDT May 27, 2021

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THE WESH 2 APP. TURN ON THE ALERTS FOR UPDATES ON SEVERE WEATHER IN YOUR AREA. -- IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. POLITICAL HISTORY IN CENTRAL FLORIDA TONIGHT. SEMINOLE COUNTY HAS FLIPPED FROM RED TO BLUE. THERE ARE OFFICIALLY MORE REGISTERED DEMOCRATS THAN REPUBLICANS, AND ITS BELIEVED TO BE THE FIRST TIME EVER. AFTER SEVERAL CLOSE RACES IN NOVEMBER THIS COULD MEAN BIG CHANGES IN THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE. SUMMER: WESH 2 POLITICAL REPORTER GREG FOX BREAKS IT DOWN , AND HOW LEADERS IN BOTH PARTIES ARE RESPONDING. TRUMP: AS ONE UNITED PEOPLE. GREG: IT STARTED IN 2016, WHEN HILLARY CLINTON BARELY LOST TO DONALD TRUMP. >> WE MADE OUR POINT LOUD AND CLEAR. GREG: THAT SAME YEAR, STEPHANIE MURPHY PULLED OFF A COLOSSAL CONGRESSIONAL UPSET OVER JOHN MICA. THE TURN WAS CEMENTED BY JOE BIDENS DEFEAT OF TRUMP LAST NOVEMBER. [APPLAUSE] THE LAST TIME THAT HAPPENED? HARRY TRUMANS VICTORY IN 1948. SEMINOLE COUNTY, HISTORICALLY REPUBLICAN, HOME OF RONALD REAGAN BOULEVARD, IS NOW BLUE. THOUGH THE REPUBLICAN ELECTIONS SUPERVISOR WOULD ARGUE ITS PURPLE. >> ITS ACTUALLY KIND OF A PERFECT STORM FOR SEMINOLE COUNTY, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE YOU DONT HAVE A DOMINANT PARTY. YOU ACTUALLY HAVE A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS THAT DO NOT WANT TO CONNECT TO EITHER PARTY. GREG: THERE ARE 118,306 REGISTERED DEMOCRATS, AND 117,999 REGISTERED REPUBLICANS. INDEPENDENT VOTERS ARE GETTING CLOSE, WITH 98,796, AND THOSE OF OTHER PARTIES NUMBER 6600. THE FACT THAT THERE ARE NOW MORE REGISTERED DEMOCRATS THAN REPUBLICANS IN SEMINOLE COUNTY COULD HAVE HUGE RAMIFICATIONS AS SOON AS NEXT YEARS MIDTERM ELECTIONS, WHICH WILL ALSO HAVE STATE HOUSE AND SENATE RACES. AT LEAST DEMOCRATS HOPE ITLL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE, AFTER LOSING A SENATE AND 3 HOUSE SEATS LAST YEAR. >> OUR GOAL OF COURSE IS TO ELECT DEMOCRATS. SO YES WE HAVE TO HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE REGISTERED TO VOTE, BUT WEVE GOT TO HAVE GREAT CANDIDATES AND GET THOSE DEMOCRATS AND NO PARTY PEOPLE OUT TO VOTE. GREG: PASHA BAKER, WHO JUST LOST A STATE HOUSE RACE, SAYS THE NEW REGISTRATION NUMBERS WILL ENCOURAGE MORE DIVERSE CANDIDATES TO RUN. >> WE JUST WANT THOSE IDEAS, THE METHODOLOGY AND DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES TO PARLAY INTO GOVERNMENT. >> IM CONCERNED THAT THIS DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE WOULD TA OVER OUR COUNTIES. GREG: REPUBLICAN LAWMAKER SCOTT PLAKON IS TERM-LIMITED. SO HIS WIFE, RACHEL, IS RUNNING FOR HIS SEAT NEXT YEAR. SHES BETTING SEMINOLES INDEPENDENT VOTERS LEAN CONSERVATIVE. >> A LOT OF THESE INDEPENDENTS ARE WOMEN, SO I HOPE THAT I WILL BE ABLE TO REACH OUT TO THEM. GREG: SEMINOLE NOW JOINS ORANGE AND OSCEOLA AS THE ONLY BLUE COUNTIES IN THE REGION. GREG FOX, WE

Seminole County flips from red to blue

Updated: 8:09 PM EDT May 27, 2021

Seminole County is now officially a "blue" county, and it's believed to be the first time ever.That's when it comes to voter registration.Right now, there are just over 118,300 registered Democrats, and just under 118,000 Republicans.No party affiliated voters are getting close, approaching 100,000. The trend started in 2016 when Hillary Clinton nearly beat Donald Trump in Seminole County. Last November, Joe Biden became the first Democrat since Harry Truman in 1948 to win the county.Chris Anderson, the Republican elections supervisor, said he considers Seminole County to be "purple.""It's actually kind of a perfect storm for Seminole County, you know, because you don't have a dominant party. You actually have a group of individuals that do not want to connect to either party," Anderson said. Seminole now joins Orange and Osceola as the only blue counties in the region.

Seminole County is now officially a "blue" county, and it's believed to be the first time ever.

That's when it comes to voter registration.

Right now, there are just over 118,300 registered Democrats, and just under 118,000 Republicans.

No party affiliated voters are getting close, approaching 100,000. The trend started in 2016 when Hillary Clinton nearly beat Donald Trump in Seminole County.

Last November, Joe Biden became the first Democrat since Harry Truman in 1948 to win the county.

Chris Anderson, the Republican elections supervisor, said he considers Seminole County to be "purple."

"It's actually kind of a perfect storm for Seminole County, you know, because you don't have a dominant party. You actually have a group of individuals that do not want to connect to either party," Anderson said.

Seminole now joins Orange and Osceola as the only blue counties in the region.

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Seminole County flips from red to blue - WESH 2 Orlando

Its official: Acme Smoked Fish is expanding

Greenpoints iconic Acme Smoked Fish is officially moving on from its longtime home on Gem Street. In a bid to keep the century-old company in the neighborhood, the City Council voted this week to approve a $550 million mixed-use development from realty company Rubenstein Partners, which includes plans for an expanded 95,300-square-foot production facility for Acme nearby, according to Crains New York. The seafood wholesalers current home at 30 Gem Street will be demolished as part of the expansion.

Local officials previously raised concerns about the incredibly ugly, nine-story development project which, in addition to facilities for Acme, includes 454,000 square feet of commercial space and 33,800 square feet of retail space but ultimately approved it to keep the company in the neighborhood.

Acme, one of the citys largest seafood suppliers, had reportedly outgrown the 60,000-square-foot warehouse its been operating out of since 1954, fourth-generation owner Adam Caslow tells Crains. If approval for an expansion had not gone through, the company would likely have needed to relocate outside of Greenpoint.

The development is scheduled to break ground later this year, and Acme is expected to relocate to its new home by late 2024, according to Crains. The company intends to remain open throughout the transition period, an Acme spokesperson tells Eater.

Williamsburg all-day cafe Gertie is back with another summer of evening programming, with help from nearby Grand Street being closed on weekends from the Open Streets program. The lineup includes matzoh-crusted wings, weekly comedy shows, weekend block parties, and dessert pop-up Bad Habits Ice Cream on Saturday afternoons.

More than a year into the pandemic, celebrity spotting at New York restaurants appears to be back in full force. Bill and Hillary Clinton were seen eating at Fleming by Le Bilboquet on the UES this week, while Michael Cohen (still under house arrest) was spotted at nearby Le Bilboquet.

Tower Diner in Forest Hills, Queens, will be destroyed as part of a proposal to build a luxe, 16-story apartment complex in the neighborhood, according to the Forest Hills Post.

Popular ceramic dinnerware maker Jono Pandolfi is setting up shop on Vanderbilt Avenue in Prospect Heights this summer.

In New York City, gay restaurants are going the way of the dinosaurs, the New York Times writes.

The drink of the summer, already declared the cosmopolitan, is now Medalla Light beer, Grub Street reports.

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Legendary Acme Smoked Fish Will Expand and Stay in Brooklyn - Eater NY

On Thursday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a statement over the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Legislative Council's decision to adopt electoral reform, in which he claimed the bill "severely constrains people in Hong Kong from meaningfully participating in their own governance".

As always, while issuing that on Twitter, he used the hashtag #StandWithHongKong.

It seems that Blinken, like his predecessors, has kept the habit of "standing with" people elsewhere in the world.

In 2011, Hillary Clinton said she "stood with" the people of Syria, and the country fell into chaos that persisted until today.

In 2014, John Kerry "stood with" the people of Ukraine, and the country later fell into civil military conflicts.

US secretaries of state mean they want to cause trouble in a country or region when they claim to "stand with" the people there. They just stand with whatever force is against the government and could bring the situation there into chaos.

That's why more than one US secretary of state has targeted Hong Kong. In 2020, Mike Pompeo "stood with" the people of Hong Kong, and now Blinken has taken the baton from him. The two from two parties share the same purpose, namely preventing law and order on the soil of China.

But Hong Kong as part of China is fundamentally different from other regions and no US politician could dream of inciting riots there again. In June 2020, the National People's Congress National Committee passed the Hong Kong National Security Law. In March, the NPC National Committee passed the electoral reform act of Hong Kong. This week the LegCo has finished the local legislation portion.

This means the previous loopholes -- which rioters and home-haters made use of in 2019 and earlier -- have been closed.

This also means Blinken or his successors will never again find an agent who could incite violence there. Maybe that's why Blinken was busy "standing with" Hong Kong. He knows clearly that there will not be a chance for him to stretch his black hands into that city in the future.

Just stopping his bad words and black hands might be a better choice.

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US 'standing with' regions only to cause trouble_china.org.cn - China.org.cn