Can A Centrist Party Be Viable?
By Steve_in_KC on May 18, 2009 at 12:00 PM in Current Affairs, John McCain
I’m an Independent voter. I have rarely voted for Republicans, and never for fringe parties that don’t stand a chance, so why am I not a Democrat? Because I march to the beat of a different drummer, and as a long-time rock musician, I’ve known a lot of drummers, and they were all pretty weird.
The main reason I am not a Democrat is the same reason most unaffiliated voters are not party members. I’m just not a “joiner.” I’m not a particularly gregarious guy to start with, but I don’t belong to a church, any clubs, or even a rock band anymore. Too many egos. And weirdos.
I might consider joining a proper and viable Centrist Party, but they’d have to have the money, the clout, and most of all, the leadership to be truly competitive in our long-standing two-party system. That’s gonna be tough. Just ask Chrysler.
| Consider the pie chart, or even a real pie. So far, that pie has been divided pretty much down the middle between the Big Two, the Democrats and Republicans. By the way, don’t be fooled, the Republican Party is far from finished in this country. Everyone was proclaiming the Democratic Party all but dead just a few years ago. If the GOP could come back after Nixon, they’ll come back after Bush. I know there’s a dirty joke there just waiting to be exploited, but I’ll let it pass. |  |
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In reality, the number of people admitting to being registered Republicans is unreasonably low right now, similar to Bush’s approval ratings a year ago. And the number of independent voters is particularly high lately, with many people not wanting to be all that politically active. The independents are dividing their votes because they are not at all of one mind, politically. They are all over the road. So despite some claims that independent voters represent a third political power, they don’t. They are almost evenly divided on the right and left of the spectrum. |
| In order to compete effectively, a third major political party is going to have to draw both its constituency and its leadership from the two existing political powerhouses. That means cutting the pie into thirds instead of in half, and that means taking fully one-third of the leadership and voters from the Big Two. And if you think that’s going to be easy, just imagine trying to persuade a church full of worshipers that they are following the wrong religion. |
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Need a little help visualizing the math? The pie is easy to visualize, but it’s hard to put numbers to it. So lets try the hundred pennies concept. If the two major parties have 50 pennies each of the 100 available, how many pennies would they have to lose to be reduced to one-third from the current one-half? Answer: 17, one-sixth of the dollar. If both major parties lost 17 of their 50 pennies to the newcomer, how many would they have left? That’s right, 33 each. And how many pennies would the new party have? Let’s see, 17 from each of the two parties makes… umm… don’t tell me! I got it! 34!! That leaves the Dems and Reps with 33 each and the Centrists with 34. Now we have a contest!
It won’t be enough for one or two political leaders to break away and start a new party, even if they have money, name recognition, and millions of supporters working at grass roots levels. What good would it do to have one or two Senators? We need the full one-third to make a dent. Otherwise, what we’d have would be little more than a voting bloc that can throw its support to one or the other major party.
If we had the leadership, the constituency will follow. Convincing enough power players in the Washington scene to jump ship to form a third party is akin to starting a mutiny. They will know they may end up being hung from the yardarms.
Let’s start with a little mental exercise in choosing the politicians we wish would go Centrist and break with the 2-party system. I know I’m stepping into dangerous waters here by even mentioning particular names, but this is just a game at this stage, so let’s not go overboard.
Let’s start with our favorite, Hillary Clinton. Many people talked about wishing Hillary would leave the Democratic Party and run as an Independent. My opinion is that it would have been political suicide. She’s still the standard-bearer of the Democratic Party for many people who feel the Democrats were taken over by a faction of neo-progressives. For her to abandon the party that elected her husband to the presidency twice, and her to the Senate twice, would have made her seem fickle at best, treasonous at worst. If you think she got bad-mouthed in 2008, I shudder to think what would have been said of her if she had quit the very party that made her and Bill worldwide stars. In my opinion, Hillary could be a motivator and possibly an originator of a Centrist Party, but only if she was in the good company of dozens of other honorable politicians doing the same, coming from both parties.
Second on the list of contenders: Michael Bloomberg, mayor of NYC. There were rumors last election that he might go for an Independent run, based on his wealth and apparent independence from political strong-arming. He’s got the seed money to help put a new party in the field. And he might make a good president someday. Perhaps as Hillary’s VP first.
Third, John McCain. He’s been an ideal candidate for a third party for years. However, he’s getting a bit long in the tooth, too old to run for president. But he is still a power in the Senate.
Next, Sarah Palin. I question this one myself. I am halfway convinced she is damaged goods on the national stage, not through any fault of her own but by the vicious attacks of the Democrats that persist because they think she will be running against Obama in 2012. I’d welcome her to the ranks, but I don’t feel in my gut that she will be the star that some on the right envision her to be for their side. I am still on the fence about her as a Centrist. Feel free to persuade me.
Arlen Specter. Joe Lieberman. Jim Jeffords. All reasonable examples of high-profile politicians who switched parties or went independent. How about Ross Perot and Jesse Ventura? Now I wonder if these fringe characters are good examples of what we want or whether they are prime examples of independent candidates that were mere flashes in the pan.
I can think of many political leaders that strike me as potential political contenders in a new party, but in our polarized system or partisan dualism, it’s hard to imagine very many candidates with the intestinal fortitude to buck the system, even if they are assured they are in the company of an equal number of electable candidates. After all, they owe their success so far to the political party that put them in office. Why would they bite the hand that feeds them?
Perhaps the leadership a new party needs is to be comprised of people who are not already in elected office. Perhaps some who have previously been in office, but are out of favor with their party now, or lost their last election because of the Obama phenomenon. When the tide turns against Obama, as it surely is doing already, many of these ousted politicos could see a way back into office by going the Centrist route.
So, since I am running out of names already, I throw the floor open to nominations.
Who would you like to see in leadership positions in a new Centrist Party? Please give the reasons you nominate contenders. I would be particularly interested in current Republicans you can envision as potential Centrists. Remember, we have to draw one third of each political party, in theory. I know there will be immediate arguments that the large number of independent voters will make up for a lack of Republican converts, but please remember that many of those independent voters are uncommitted because they feel the Republican Party is too centrist already – not nearly right-wing enough. I know, crazy isn’t it?
OK, let’s hear from you now! Be prepared to defend your nominations from reasonable challenges.
And please, no cartoon characters! We have enough of those already!
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you’re right, not too many would have the guts to run on third party. It would be nice to see someone try especially now w so many disaffected voters who despise Republicans and Democrats. This would probably be the best time to try it.
I think a clean slate and some very fresh, motivating leaders would need to come to the table for it. No offense to anyone, but alot of people are tired of elderly white men running things. While values never go out of style, many other things do. This is the 21st century and we need to catch up. Term limits would probably fix some of this problem but neither the Repubs or Dem’s want this.
Another problem is people will piss and moan about how they dislike both parties but wouldn’t be willing to change. We all know people who whine and complain but they do the same stupid shit for years and then wonder why things aren’t any better.
As my oldest brother Michael used to say:
“if you keep doin’ what you’re doin’, you’ll keep gettin’ what you’re gettin’”…..
Wonderful post. I have been praying for a solid third party along the lines you explore. I wish Hillary had considered breaking from the Dems and risking it with perhaps 18 million immediate joiners, but I agree it would have been a huge risk. I LIKE Michael Bloomberg. A Lot. I like Wes Clark a lot. I wish Eliot Spitzer had been able to keep his pants on–he broke my politcal heart.
There are good poeple–who will give it a try?
I agree with you, Tricia. I also have supported and would get behind Wes Clark. IMHO, nobody wins a staring contest with that man–not even Putin. I still haven’t given up on either Hillary or Sarah.
Good article, Steve! For the name of the new centrist party, I favor “Centrist Party.” That says it all, and doesn’t carry any negative baggage.
I still wish Hillary had joined John McCain and run on an independent ticket. I don’t believe the Democrats will ever let her be president. By the time Obama’s done, I think she’ll be cut out for hispanic man or woman.
Thanks, Tricia!
Wes Clarke would be great. And along the same lines, although he’s not someone I personally like, would be Colin Powell. As I said, we need to get some Republicans who aren’t dyed-in-the-wool conservative righties.
I was hoping for some readers to suggest some moderate Republicans. Maybe Olympia Snowe? Arnold Schwartzeneggar? Christie Todd Whitman, the former New Jersey governor. You know. RINOS!
I wish Judd Gregg of NH would agree, but he wants to retire. He would be an excellent candidate.
I was very interested in following the Unity Party a while back to see if that might help address the serious problems with the two party system, hoping that with a Republican and Democrat as potential nominees for the Unity Party that that would force cooperation towards centrist progress. The Unity Party did have a mix of Republicans, Democrats and Independents. It didn’t survive in the long run however, I believe due to funding. They had some good ideas about how to present a challenge to the two party system, but ultimately could not overcome it. Maybe, with what has occurred since, there is sufficient dissatisfaction with the results of the election and current direction of the country, that people will want to revisit something like a Unity Party.
Wow. Great to see a local writing a blog here. I don’t have any suggestions for members of the New Party.
I do have a question: Where does it stop? My sense is that there are more things in common between the two parties than there are differences. Oh, they call it by different names but the end result seems to not be a lot different.
The very real problem, by the way, that I have with Sarah Palin is that she sounds way too much like shrub Bush. Whatever we need it isn’t another Bush. While Bush was strong in some ways, kind of like a spoiled child is strong, he was weak in his ability to think cognitively. He therefore, was extremely susceptible to being manipulated, as he apparently was for years, by Rumsfeld and I suspect he was also, by Cheney. Palin seems to way too much like that. We cannot stand another shrub. He nearly destroyed the nation and she would complete it. Let her go to the trash heap with others of her ilk.
Gug (in KC)
I disagree, James. Palin doesn’t sounds anything like GWB, and in fact appointed recently a pro-choice female judge in Alaska. Actually, Obama sounds and acts more like GWB than Palin. (In any case, your Obama-talking points about Palin are suspect, but nice try.)
trixta — JG is an Obot. And we all know how they like to try to attack Sarah Palin. I think sarah is great because she sincerely cares about people like Joe Plumber and not so much about Joe CEO. She’s said one of her best friends happens to be gay, so we know she’s sympathetic to the gay rights issue even if it wasn’t given much attention last fall. We know she has humility because of the way she talks about her beautiful baby with Down’s and the way she did not try to hide Bristol when her pregancy was an issue. Sarah was pounded with so much crap while BO was lobbed cream puffs. Yet she managed with poise and dignity. If i were to vote Repub, it would be her.
And FYI to all you Obots who laugh about how she can see Russia from her house: a friend flew over Alaska on his way to Tokyo and took photos. Guess what? At that altitude you can see Russia from Alaska.
I heard that she never actually said that, that it was Tina Fey pretending to be her that said that…..?
Yes it was Fey, but the truth is not so important as the perception of the truth… Apparently.
GIBSON: “What insight into Russian actions, particularly in the last couple of weeks, does the proximity of the state give you?”
PALIN: “They’re our next door neighbors and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska, from an island in Alaska.”
I concur. That One is Dubya with a tan as the difference is only skin-deep.
i.e.
soundssoundSarah Palin to the trash heap?? You need to get some sexism detox. Palin is NOT like George Bush. She is not a spend thrift for one. She fought corruption in her own party.
Back up your accusations, I hate that when people do that and offer no reason for their stupid ass remarks. You make no sense.
I agree with everyone you have mentioned. We need more people in a centrist party with experience as governors, mayors, etc. One current problem is that there are way too many legislators and lawyers in national government.
One of my nominees would be former Senator Warren Rudman from NH.
He was co-author of the Grant-Rudman bill and believes firmly in a balanced budget. He also believes in just enough government – not too much and not too little. Warren also has the cajones to speak his mind and definitely rates high on the ethics/integrity scale. He left DC after one term because, in his words, the place was a “cess pool of corruption”.
Although older and white, he definitely represented ALL of his constituents, and kept in communication. To this day Warren remains easily accessible and willing to speak with “reasonable” people from both sides of the political spectrum. I purposely used the word “reasoanable” as shrill, screaming idiots will defintely be shut out by Warren Rudman. He firmly believes in reasonable discourse and solutions.
OMG! Nellie, I had no idea! (a newbie in NH) I saw Mr. Rudman at a political rally last year in Rochester. He had a circle of people around him, thanking him and telling how they’d voted for him. I thought he was the mayor. LOL. He did seem to be a popular person.
The most successful third party to date was the Progressive “Bull Moose” Party in 1912 and all they managed to do was insure the election of Woodrow Wilson.
That’s not entirely true. The Bull Moose Party was unable to elect Theodore Roosevelt, but they were so powerful they forced the Wilson administration into adopting their Progressive platform. So, not too shabby.
It’s interesting to me that lots of Democrats saw through Obama and left the party, while every Republican I know still worships George W. Bush and insists all the problems in the country are the fault of Democrats. At that rate, I’m not sure where we would get the numbers for a Centrist Party. I’m not too interested in joining a third party where I would have to bow down to the Republicans in order to keep the thing afloat.
srsly.
wrong. My Mom was a strong supporter of Bush. Was royally pissed when I wouldn’t vote for him. She now says he turned out to be not such a good choice. That is saying alot for her to say she was wrong. She also said she would have voted for Hillary Clinton in a GE. Don’t make generalizations. There are alot of people who want nothing to do w either side.
Oh and, FYI, this Democratic Party is not the same Democratic Party that elected Bill. I understand the pitfalls of an independent run, but I know lots of Republicans who wanted to vote for Hillary. I think if she had broken away it would shown integrity and courage. Of course, if she had lost, it would have ended her political career.
First of all you just contradicted yourself in saying you did not know any Republicans that didn’t blame Democrats and then you said you know Republicans that wanted to vote for Hillary. Any new party will require NOT stereotyping , just one the common goal of saving our Constitution and our personal freedoms. No one is perfect, not even Hillary (heard that phone conversation of hers?) however I would have voted for her and was deliriously happy back in the summer thinking that McCain may pick her as running mate–if he had I think they would have won. Now our way of life and our childrens future is in grave danger. About that older white man comment–I suppose you prefer young hip African Americans running things? Isn’t George Soros old and basically white?
I was under the impression that Rudman’s relative age and skin color were pointed out only because alot of people thought that was partially what sank John McCain.
I didn’t say anything about old white men. I have no use for the old white men in the Democratic Party right now.
I’m talking about since the election outcome. I keep hearing Republicans say all the problems are the fault of Democrats instead of looking at the past 8 years and all the damage Bush did. I don’t like Obama, I didn’t vote for Obama, but George W. Bush and Dick Cheney destroyed this country.
You conveniently forget when your buddy McCain was Soros’pet.
Still don’t know what you’re talking about. I didn’t say I voted for McCain, either. So what if McCain was a pet of Soros sometime in the past? He wasn’t during this election.
this is response to listing starboard’s remarks:
… however I would have voted for her and was deliriously happy back in the summer thinking that McCain may pick her as running mate–if he had I think they would have won. Now our way of life and our childrens future is in grave danger. About that older white man comment–I suppose you prefer young hip African Americans running things? Isn’t George Soros old and basically white?
So our only choices for President are old, white men and “hip, cool, black” ones??
Steve, excellent article! You express beautifully what so many of us have been thinking for quite some time. I, for one, would love to see a centrist Party emerge from the destructive two-Party system operating in this country. But I differ with you on the question of a voting bloc, which you articulated in the following manner: “Otherwise, what we’d have would be little more than a voting bloc that can throw its support to one or the other major party” (Steve).
Actually, I’d be very happy with a powerful voting bloc, a bloc that could operate as a coalition on the issues and candidates. As a coalition we could hash out what or whom we can agree on, according to the context of that particular historical or cultural moment. (In other words, we could have a kind of platform according to the circumstances.) Perhaps such a coalition would be a first step in building a centrist party via the grassroots. The Tea Party phenomenon, for example, is a prime example (or prototype) of how this kind of coalition could work. (Although I would have liked more visibility given to the centrist position than to the GOP position per se). In any case, perhaps coalitions ARE the future rather than political Parties. (Food for thought.)
Nevertheless, as for an actual centrist Party, I believe we have the numbers, but as you say, we also need leadership to back us up. You gave a fine list of possible politicians who could lead our ranks, but I would love to add none other than Big Dawg — Bill Clinton himself. If Hillary would leave the Dem Party to lead our ranks, Bill would follow, I believe. He could be a Senator this time around or, better yet, Chairman of the “Centrist Party” (or whatever name we give it). As Chairman he would endow the Party with much needed clout and fund-raising capacity.
Trixta, thanks for your comments!
Two points I agree with: Bill Clinton should have been on my list, but I guess I consider him finished with politics, but perhaps, as you said, the founding Chairman would be a job he could sink his teeth into.
The other point is the voting bloc. I stressed the point that without equal voting numbers in Congress, a new party would be “merely” a voting bloc, but that can be an excellent starting point. We can’t expect to start at the top.
I hope someone like Bloomberg, or someone else with money and no strong party affiliation, will step up in 2012, and recruit other known names to form a new party.
You’re welcome, Steve. I agree, garnering the votes for Congress is an issue, and something we must overcome to transform this block into a bona fide Party.
BTW, you bake one helluva pie … tasty and fat free! I’ll have seconds, please!
i.e.
blockblocBill Clinton’s going to be ambassador to Haiti. Announcement tomorrow.
Wow, that’s very interesting!
Haiti could sure use someone who has their interest at heart. Whatever one thinks of Gore, one of his first planned actions as pres was to meet with Wangari Maathai to come up with a plan to reforest it.
Actually, Bill is Special Envoy to Haiti.
I’m an independent now because I’m a contrarian, who hates being pigeon-holed into a mold, and that’s what always happens in groups. They refuse to allow for individuality; it’s always pressure toward the “mean.” Sometimes, literally! I dig in my heels, start to agitate when I’m pressured to fulfill group norms.
Political parties just aren’t for me anymore; in fact, I’m not sure voting is for me anymore. I just hate the whole system now. Have been the party activist, and those days are dead to me.
I think of a third party as the only way to end MTR.
I too am an Independent because I like the flexibility it provides. No need to toe/tow (never knew which was the correct word) the party line. The main platform theme for a Centrist party, in my opinion, should be government fiscal responsibility and I’d like to see Meg Whitman, Evan Bayh – someone with an understanding of what it takes to balance a budget.
My question is: how would a third political faction effect Congress? It would be nearly impossible to get a majority for anything.
I have been thinking this through. For this to work, the third party needs to be a sort of a “super party”. In other words, a third party composed of anybody who agree to a common pact of middle class America values. Out of that, in the future an entire third party could later form… baby steps first.
Docelder
I have thought for some time now baby steps were being taken for a third party to evolve. In local or State elections third party candidates are winning.
It always starts somewhere. Hopefully I will see it at a National level before my time is up.
but who decides what middle class american values are.
To me, the platform has to be pro-reform, pro-term limits, centrist foreign policy, fiscally responsible with a strong bent toward bolstering sagging infrastructure. Even if you are fiscally conversative, you still have to be socially progressive, however, otherwise, it seems it would just be another version of what the the Republican party is supposed to be.
Interested to hear what people think about changing the tax code and if so, how. Progressive Tax? sales tax only?
Obviously, the Clintons would be the best to lead this but I don’t think they will. Yes, I’m still a fan of Gen. Clark also. I don’t know Chuck Hagel all that well but he seemed to be fairly honest and not all that conservative. How’s Bloomberg doing?
And how could I forget — equal pay!!!
I am with you on everything but Clark. I am never going to live the use of military tanks at Waco down. I don’t care who started the fire, the tanks had no business rolling on private citizens. But I am generally with you right on. Bloomberg is interesting, he could have a real chance. Modify the constitution and Bill Clinton would be a choice as well. I would also welcome a woman, I just don’t think Palin has it in her right now.
Yes, Docelder, this is the type of coalition I’ve been stressing.
portia I think they would finally have to work together.
The current “Democratic Party” and the far left will try to make life miserable for anybody who runs against Obama in 2012. That does not mean Governor Palin cannot handle being in the national stage. She has and is showing leadership governing her state and taking it in the right direction. She would be a formidable asset to any third party ticket.
I wish Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin would run together in 2012!
Good show Steve. You got the wheels turning.
All politics is local. The recruits for an independent party should come from local politics, where R and D party labels are rarely used. The key to victory is not just the money or the stature. It lies in the ability to recruit volunteers to your campaign. U.S. Senator Harry F. Byrd, Jr of Virginia left the democrat party because they asked him to sign an oath of loyalty to the party, which would have required him to support any and all Democratic nominees, from the president to the local clerk. Instead of signing the restrictive contract, Byrd ran as an independent. He built upon the Byrd Organization created by his father and was never beaten. He retired in 1983. It can happen.
Note the Virginia Byrds are no relation to the WV Byrds in politics.
Thanks, Easton. You’re correct about local politics being a good starting point because party affiliation is often ignored. In fact, some local governments are deliberately non-partisan.
Interesting story about the Virginia Byrds. I hadn’t heard that one before.
“Note the Virginia Byrds are no relation to the WV Byrds in politics.”
Are you sure about that? Byrds of a feather…
I’ve got cousins in Texas who are Byrds.
My candidate for president 2012 is Russ Feingold. He would be the first jewish president.
He won a Rhodes scholarship to Magdalen College at Oxford and has a law degree from Harvard Law School. He has served in the US Senate since 1993 .
He serves on the Budget, Judiciary, and Foreign Relations committees.
In our Idiotocracy funded by corporate America, Feingold doesn’t have a chance.
Well I had hoped he would run this time too as he seems to have some integrity and I am confused why he didn’t. I thought he was lookign to do so. Anti-semitism is not dead, either, unfortunately.
As I was saying before spammer ate my comment, Russ Feingold for president in 2012.
In this Idiocracy funded by corporate America, his candidacy will never see the light of day.
We are officially 0bamanation.
Great post Steve. I love the idea of a Centrist Party. I have always liked Senator Jim Webb. As a former Republican and Sec. of Navy under Reagan, he has been on both sides of the aisle. He seems pretty centrist to me. I was very disappointed that he choose to jump on the Obama bandwagon, but all the Dems did in the end. I like and admire the man and think he would make an excellent candidate for President.
Thanks, Kim!
I agree, Jim Webb would be a good catch!
I dont’t know what to think anymore. The real truth is, what I read in, canadafreepress, scared me to death. I think, is worth to read the article written by, David M.Dastych, THE WORLD WE ARE LOOSING, in reference to the Bilderberger Group conference in Greece. D.M. Dastych, quoted Albert Einstein: ” The world is a dangerous place not because of those who do evil but because of those who look on and do nothing”(end quote). I have to agree with the quote of DMD and what AE said.
I have found myself watching BBC World News just to know what is going on in the world. We don’t have unbiased news in this country anymore. It is all entertainment in that the news organizations package for us that which we want to see, depending on what market niche or demographic that particular news agency is targeting. That choice is based mostly on where the ad revenues come from. That isn’t news, it’s entertainment. Too many now are just mindless sheep.
The trends of part affiliation seem to be shifting –
http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2009/05/gop-now-tied-with-dems-in-party.html
Should read: “party affiliation”
Also, this is a Gallup poll:
http://www.gallup.com/poll/15370/Party-Affiliation.aspx
Wow, what a great poll! Looks like BO hurt the D Party much more than they care to admit.
Hey, thanks KR! Those polls show almost exactly what my pies showed. Even showing the Independents are evenly split left and right!
What a polarized electorate! Once we cut that pizza into thirds, I can easily see a Centrist Party being the majority someday!
Oh, but change is difficult. People are afraid of that kind of change. Or maybe people are too afraid of ending up with their heads on pikes in the public square — yes, I’m hooked on The Tudors.
Steve…the issue is Ballot Access more than any other…what lengths the two wings of the Government Party wont go to so as to squash dissent…how about a convention of some sort, launching a campaign in, say 3 or 4 big media states( I see CA, FL ,TX and MI for various reasons) and concentrate on those as a test bed for ideas where they could not be ignored…but to have legs it has to be based on Lasting Principles such as balanced budgeting, defending the Bill of Rights, etc NOT cause du jour stuff like health care or prosecuting Gitmo or whatever.
Great column!!!
I think the time for a third party is ripe with possibilities now. SO many people I have talked to and know would switch parties and join an inclusive party centrist party for former Repubs/Dems/Independents. EVERYONE is sick of the two party system and people are waking up to the fact they are basically one party that keeps us divided over issues so that no REAL people’s candidate can ever get in. It is happening… this third party idea Especially with people like Glenn Beck backing it) could become BIG and grow faster than you think.
I think the time for a third party is rip with possibilities now. SO many people I have talked to and know would switch parties and join an inclusive party centrist party for former Repubs/Dems/Independents. EVERYONE is sick of the two party system and people are waking up to the fact they are basically one party that keeps us divided over issues so that no REAL people’s candidate can ever get in. It is happening… this third party idea Especially with people like Glenn Beck backing it) could become BIG and grow faster than you think.
I recall Beck at the Tea Party in front of the Alamo saying that both “parties” sucked. The folks who want to chalk that up to right wingers are missing the point big time. This is probably the biggest anti-establishment movement in decades. The movement isn’t creating the popular sentiment, it is the other way around. It is what real grass roots looks like. Not the astroturf grass roots like we see so often now.
I was just reading about the Sedition Act which the Federalist (party) Congress passed in 1798 and President John Adams signed. This act made it a crime to criticize the government. Citizens were arrested.
The point I find interesting and related to this topic of a third party is, after the Sedition Act was pasted, the Federalist Party never won another election.
Later another party eventually replaced the Federalist Party – Abraham Lincoln and the Rebublican Party. (Correct me if I am wrong, my info. is sketchy between the Sedition Act and Lincoln, so I am taking a guess since I am not aware of another possible party).
So does anyone think that the current Democrat Party, which seems to have been hijacked by the far-left and the Chicago style corrupt politicians, will overstep to the point of being rejected (by never winning another election) and replaced by a new party?
pasted = passed
Yes, as soon as we run out of money. The democrat party used to have a “glue” that was middle class American values. Now that “glue” is more simple. That glue is government entitlements. Once we run out of raw material for glue… money and we will run out, the party will fragment and turn upon itself in a dog eat dog fashion. Unfortunately, we will then be broke as a nation. How much more broke than we already are, and at what point will it cease to even matter anyway is a topic for another thread.
I agree, if the Dems keep on the course of promoting entitlement and ACORN types for their support, but the money runs out … well, the writing is on the wall. Do you think they will try to resort to another way of finding support? What would it be? The Dem. politicians will continue to smear their opponents (it’s hard to kick that Alinsky habit), but the bottom line for most voters is their finances.
No doubt they will blame the lack of funding on conservatives. They might well play good donkey, bad donkey with us and make BHO the bad donkey. Then there is the standard line that conservatives want to take away abortion, make being gay illegal, take away social security… some of which is probably an actual wet dream of some far right conservatives. The same way an actual communist state is a wet dream of some in the far left now. Most of us are in the middle. We can tolerate a great deal, provided we all get equal tolerance in return.
yep
yep.it.s the money..honey……
Yes, all of the people who voted democratic to rebell against Bush and McCain style did not vote for this far left craziness and will never vote democrat again.
All of the people like me who used to be democrat but have seen their party hijacked by these left wing communist loons will never vote democrat again.
Many of the young people are watching their futures disappear by the spending of this government will never vote democrat ever.
Now is the time for a third party.
I was greatly concerned during this election cycle that the most brilliant legal minds appeared to have already been captured by either major political party. How else to explain that no prominent jurist except for those who historically have resided at the extreme end of either political domain was shouting these facts to the world? 1) Given in 1961 HI law allowed state registration of foreign births, even a bona fide COLB from HI does not prove a Hawaiian birth. 2) BO is claiming on his “Fight the Smears” web site he is a “native” citizen but the Constitution explicitly calls for a “Natural Born Citizen.” 3) No provision of any federal or state law requires any public official,, or members of the Electoral College, to ascertain whether the candidate for POTUS from the major political party is a Natural Born Citizen.
So, who are these heretofore unaffiliated intellectuals who will help guide this third party to Constitutional power?
Got Pizza? I’m hungry now.
The electoral college would have to be eliminated for a 3rd party to possibly win. With the votes divided 3 ways, somewhat equally (looking at that current Gallup poll—34% Independent, 32% Dem., 32@ Repub.) there would possibly be no way one candidate could garner the requisite electoral college number of votes to win. I’d like to eliminate it anyway—seems imbalanced and undemocratic!
ooops—32% Repub., not 32@Repub. Sorry!
I guess I would really like to hear what everyone thinks of as “Centrist” before I would call myself a centrist.
I am extremely conservative financially, but I favor limited growth and true regulation, not free market-ism (which seems to me more like the bad part of what we’ve now got, a license for corporations to steal and ship jobs overseas). I would like to see a return to a silver standard and the end of the Fed Reserve and (probably) the IMF. I am against pretty much socialized anything except cost of food and the military.
I am extremely liberal socially, I am pro-gay marriage, I am pro-abortion and contraception, I am pro-environment; I am pro-reasonable and legal immigration but I am unequivocally against illegal immigration.
I am completely unwilling to compromise one freaking bit on wage parity and other women’s issues, which is what I see universally happening in so-called centrist groups like the libertarians, who allow elimination of women’s rights and failure to secure for women more rights (eg equality) under the guise of statism. If that’s statism/ “federalism”, then f#ck it, I’ll take a strong centralized government that guarantees my rights.
I want a godd#mn Constitutional amendment guaranteeing women and minorities equal pay. I do not want tricks like affirmative action and quotas that help a few people and make everyone not in those groups despise them and close ranks against them. But I do not favor all kinds of benefits for women having babies, like getting paid when not working, and I absolutely categorically do not want to pay for someone else’s freaking offspring: you had it, it’s YOURS.
I want a government that is not paranoid and has no desire to follow everyone around with cameras, gps, etc. I want a repeal of the Patriot Acts, Military Commissions Act, FISA etc. I don’t want BHO’s freaking civilian army run by our fascist government. I don’t want us in Africom. I want an end to our militarism & our world’s policeman mentality. I want every military base not on US soil gone. I do not want to see the military or the space program privatized which is to me the very definition of scary. But I am not a pacifist, just a “defensivist”. I want a strong trustworthy military; I am pro gun and the 2nd amendment.
Nom, Libertarians aren’t centrists. But most of your positions are.
glad to hear it!
the libertarians always seemed pretty right wing to me, but I see a lot of references that seemed to overlap limited government and states’ rights over federal rights with centrism; I have also seen a lot of references to the tea party groups as centrist, but they also seem quite right wing to me since their leaders are a bunch of neocons.
would love to see a centrist platform delineated.
wow I can’t think of one thing I disagree with
sign me up
The problem is most people I speak with don`t care for any of the politicians. Hell, half the people in this country don`t even vote because they think the politicians are ALL corrupt. We need new people who give a damn. And we definitely don`t need any more Harvard and Yale egos.
Steve, I believe the majority is in the middle of 25% left core and 25% right core.
At least that seems to be a baseline where fanaticism begins on either side.
Thanks, for a great read.
Lincoln Chafee has announced that he will mount an independent campaign for governor of Rhode Island. Perhaps he would be a good candidate for the centrist list.
As someone who has been both Democrat and Republican and now Independent, Michael Bloomberg is the most qualified and proven leader of those mentioned. I certainly would have voted for him in the last election, had he run.
As for Sarah Palin, I agree that she has been painted as far more conservative than she is. Her main sin was that she was the first one to fully mock Barack during the convention — an act for which she has paid dearly. If she were to perform well in the primary debates next season, she could certainly redeem herself. As for running as an independent, I just don’t see that as viable for her even though she does sometimes exhibit an independent streak.
I agree with you on your comment about Palin, except for the conservatism part. I think she is very conservative and that she would be a good VP in a third party with Ron Paul as Pres.
I’d vote for Sarah
I’d still vote for Hillary
I won’t vote for McCain again (he wouldn’t dare) would he? ugh
I won’t vote for Kerry OR GORE again EVER
Bill I’d vote for ANY day. Missed voting for him the first two times (love Perot)
but he’d get me if he could run again, yep
here here to not being a joiner!
i too enjoy my club of 1 where independent thought is the only criterion for admission.
right ON!
I dont want to see ANY of the current names in a new party. They are all corrupt, business as usual pepole. We need to move out to Govs like Sarah, and mayors and just plain people who want to serve their country. Maybe some of the new congress could stay I dont know yet because they are not known. There are a few new ones really stepping up to the plate and telling the “old guard” to stand down and not tell them how to vote. Those I would like to talk to.
I loved, loved Bill Clinton, I think he was one of our greatest Presidents, so that went over to Hillary I thought she would make a great President. But the truth is she is just as Bill was part of the problem. Part of this corruption. They are One World people, they too studied and followed Alynski when they were young. They attend the Bilgeberg, he did NAFTA. They are NOT the people for our future, and the future of our freedoms under the constitution. Sorry
During the debates, Hillary stated that NAFTA was a mistake. Bill Clinton even admitted it. He was pressured by Republicans to pass it in its present state. Hillary would have re-negotiated NAFTA to set global standards.
When Bill ran in 1992, he said U. S. could no longer be competitive in manufacturing–workers had to be re-trained. Hillary stated in townhall meeting that Bill was wrong. She said she wasn’t a continuation of his policies. She had a whole plan mapped out to be implemented immediately that would turn the U. S. into a Green Manufacturing country.
She had way better ideas to counter foreclosure and the bank mess than either McCain or Obama.
She is the way of the future. There is no other politician living today who is as smart and competent as Hillary Clinton, IMO.
I think just as you do. I keep trying to find ANY proof that Hillary is not part of this new world order. It keeps looking like the Clinton”s are. I think that they probably have signed an oath of loyalty to the dem party, and so there they are, guilty by association. So sad, because I had such high hopes for Hillary. I truly believe she is a person of integrity.
I say Plain ! I maybe like to see Palin and Alan Kenye
Or Palin as President and Hillary vice president.
It’s haed to even ever thinking about a democrat again on how hey treated one of their own.They treated Hillary like dog doodoo and lied on her as Obama THE fraud took her policy’s as his own
But, it’s a thought of Palin and Hillary togethere.I can say this if the democrat party starts again lying on Palin then I know better that the democrats again are pulling their strings to stay in power as many didn’t know who held congress 2006 DEMOCRATS DID.
But I to am a independent voter. but, to ever trust the democrats and their party.I can not ever do that until all those are throw out as Biden-Pelosi-Donna Brazile- Barney Frank and more.
Cause you know it would have to take Hillary to change parties if there were to be a ticket of Palin/Hillary like I said ,I don’t trust the democrat party anymore after all I saw this election and what they are doing now behind closed doors to the America people.
I like Alan Kenye..and he is a black man,unlike what Obama tried to say he is.That was just to fool the blacks.He is Muslim-Arab white and just a drop of black.Color to me doesn’t matter black or white.I want someone in that is not for wall street ,and for our country and “We the people”
Obama is a fraud and a liar..
SO NO…NO DEMOCRAT PARTY FOR ME !
It is refreshing to see interest in Centrism. There are several centrist organizations out there already although many are small. One poster mentioned Unity Party which is actually Unity 08 which had a great chance but they put all their eggs in one basket the 2008 election and have since pretty much ceased operation from what I know of. I am the National Chairman of the American Centrist Party. We have been around for going on 5 years and have three endorsed candidates in office and are running our own in 2010 and 2012 in several states. We have also already helped to push to strike down bad internet law in NC, we also have Action Groups to motivate members to contact officials about issues they care about to influence change while we grow. We number several thousand right now and are growing rapidly and our membership comprises all 50 states plus D.C. We realize that this will take years to decades to get going but have already done so much. It is up to the American people to realize that the current system is broken and the value of freedom of political thought and action. The American Centrist Party is all about public service not politcs. We the people of America must be the change, no excuses. Not Left, Not Right, but Forward. Check out the ACP at http://www.americancentristparty.net. I would love to know what you think. Check out the website and email me.
Andrew Evans
National Chairman
American Centrist Party
http://www.americancentristparty.net
It is refreshing to see interest in Centrism. There are several centrist organizations out there already although many are small. The key is to work with centrist groups now to help them grow to the size to be able to offer viable options in our government. One poster mentioned Unity Party which is actually Unity 08 which had a great chance but they put all their eggs in one basket the 2008 election and have since pretty much ceased operation from what I know of. I am the National Chairman of the American Centrist Party. We have been around for going on 5 years and have three endorsed candidates in office and are running our own in 2010 and 2012 in several states. We have also already helped to push to strike down bad internet law in NC, we also have Action Groups to motivate members to contact officials about issues they care about to influence change while we grow. We number several thousand right now and are growing rapidly and our membership comprises all 50 states plus D.C. We realize that this will take years to decades to get going but have already done so much. It is up to the American people to realize that the current system is broken and the value of freedom of political thought and action. The American Centrist Party is all about public service not politcs. We the people of America must be the change, no excuses. Not Left, Not Right, but Forward. Check out the ACP at http://www.americancentristparty.net. I would love to know what you think. Check out the website and email me.
Andrew Evans
National Chairman
American Centrist Party
http://www.americancentristparty.net