jackie salat and former congressman nicky edwards. jackie is the president of independentvoting.org. the nation's leading strategy and organizing center for independence, with a network in more than 40 states. she's a frequent television, radio, and print commentator on independent voters and politics. jackie has a book coming out this summer entitled "independence rising: outside movements, third parties and the struggles for a post-partisan america." nicky edwards is a vice president of the aspen institute. he was a republic an congressman from oklahoma for 16 years and is the former chair of the republican house policy committee. mickey is a distinguished educator, regular political commentator, and columnist and has authored several books. his latest book is also due out this summer and its title is "the parties versus the people: how to turn republicans and democrats into americans." you can see why i wanted to have them both here with us tonight on this stage to have a dialogue with all of us. before i bring them to the stage, th