What about a third party?

[MTechnik]

Most third parties seem to be "fringe" partisan groups - Socialist party, Green party, Libertarian party, Constitution party...

Would you vote for a centrist party, one that believes in the more reasonable parts of both parties?

like one that believes in:
our gun rights
our right to privacy
freedom of choice
freedom from asshats in office
balanced budgets
immigration reform
some healthcare reform

It seems most "third parties" fail because they're too far off the scale in one direction or another... but if we, the people, form a new third party that "fell in-between" the two main parties (that seem to be drifting further apart), that we'd have an actual chance to see a three-party system, which in turn would get rid of some of the congressional deadlock. New ideas would have to be "good ideas" that get buy-in from being good ideas, not from partisan politics...

any thoughts?

[d90king]

For the first time I believe that enough people are getting sick of the current breed of politicians and I wouldn't be surprised to see a viable third platform in the next decade or so. I think you will see the independent numbers skyrocket over the next 24 months and continue to grow...

[Jorg Schlagzeuger]

For the first time I believe that enough people are getting sick of the current breed of politicians and I wouldn't be surprised to see a viable third platform in the next decade or so. I think you will see the independent numbers skyrocket over the next 24 months and continue to grow...

I agree with this. I think many people are libertarian without even knowing it, mostly because of a lack of awareness of such a formalized platform. (Tie that to money? Hmmm...) I do believe that if a reasonably charismatic libertarian candidate emerges over the next few years that there's a possibility of receiving a substantial portion of the popular vote. (Can't say the same for the green party - I think they're too radical to have mass appeal. Whew...)

[General Geoff]

like one that believes in:
our gun rights
our right to privacy
freedom of choice
freedom from asshats in office
balanced budgets
immigration reform
some healthcare reform

You just described the Libertarian party to the T. They definitely want health care reform, they just want it in the opposite direction that the government does.

[1861]

For the first time I believe that enough people are getting sick of the current breed of politicians and I wouldn't be surprised to see a viable third platform in the next decade or so. I think you will see the independent numbers skyrocket over the next 24 months and continue to grow...

A lot of us thought that when Ross Perrot ran . That got us the Clintons .

[stephpd]

Most third parties fail because they go about it backwards. They're reaching for the brass ring of the POTUS without doing all the hard work of getting at the grassroots level and local politics.

One of the problems I've seen in looking at other countries that do have more then a two party system is that any third or forth party soon succumbs to the big money needed to keep everyone in office. At that point it becomes difficult to tell any of them apart.

One of the problems with a two party system is the way they define things;
left-right
liberal-conservative

But there are other views that they refuse to discuss or look at. That's where alternative parties come in and a different way of looking at the political spectrum. The ability to add other axises to the political model is where the other parties lie, not at the extremes of a single plane view.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_spectrum

http://rationalrevolution.net/articl...al_spectru.htm

There are parties for almost any 2 or 3 plane spectrum to fit most anybodies ideals.

http://www.politics1.com/parties.htm

[d90king]

A lot of us thought that when Ross Perrot ran . That got us the Clintons .

Oh God no! Perot was his own worst enemy along with the Admiral who looked like a deer in the headlights as he said "I'm not even sure why I'm here" ...

Jindall is a R that I actually like based on what I have seen so far. He seems bright, constitutionally respectful and is very well spoken. I also like how quickly he acted in making sure that the things that happened on both the state and federal levels during Katrina could not happen again!

[JayInPa]

I vote Libertarian because I like their platform and a little revolution is a good thing. Getting a third party to shake things up is just the revolution we need.

I am also tired of voting against one person instead of voting for someone.

I would campaign for and support and vote for anybody who pledges honest representation, the pursuit of etc, etc, that has a real chance of getting elected at any level.

[NightRocker]

This is a good time for this movement, the only draw back is the the up hill battle against the main stream media. But with the internet they have no control over it (yet), who would make the best candidate? anyone have any thoughts on this?

[1861]

Oh God no! Perot was his own worst enemy along with the Admiral who looked like a deer in the headlights as he said "I'm not even sure why I'm here" ...

Jindall is a R that I actually like based on what I have seen so far. He seems bright, constitutionally respectful and is very well spoken. I also like how quickly he acted in making sure that the things that happened on both the state and federal levels during Katrina could not happen again!

My point exactly . And it is always that way with 3rd party candidates .