Can or will it ever happen...

[LogGrad98]

that a third party candidate would be elected POTUS?

The Romney for POTUS thread, along with the depressing facts of American politics in general, and off-season boredom, had me thinking. What are the odds that we ever will actually see someone elected president who was not one of the 2 major parties? Or will a 3rd party ever gain enough credibility to be a true election-threat to disrupt the current status quo?

Poll to follow...

 

[fishonjazz]

I dont think there will be a non dem or non repub in my lifetime.... sadly

 

[Dr. Jones]

I don't know..

I think that American's are not just generally fed up with poor candidates, but having REP/DEM shoved down our throats.

Either the we elect a damn good President in the next two elections.. or I wouldn't be surprised to see us being no more than 10 years away from an independent trumping the big boys.

 

[franklin]

Americans are too smart to vote in an independent. After all the craziness, we end up electing a moderate every time. Everyone gets pissed off about it, which is the first sign that we made the right choice.

The only change I'd like to see is having an unabashed moderate make it out of the primaries. I like Huntsman Jr., and the not lying to the conservative base Mitt Romney isn't bad. I like listening to Joe Biden and won't be upset about him running this time around.

 

[Dr. Jones]

Americans are too smart to vote in an independent. After all the craziness, we end up electing a moderate every time. Everyone gets pissed off about it, which is the first sign that we made the right choice.

The only change I'd like to see is having an unabashed moderate make it out of the primaries. I like Huntsman Jr., and the not lying to the conservative base Mitt Romney isn't bad. I like listening to Joe Biden and won't be upset about him running this time around.

I am so hoping this is another of your many troll jobs. Luckily, if you're being serious, there can't be more than 10 other voting morans that feel the same, in America.

 

[QuinSnydersHair]

Even if we got the best third party candidate imaginable elected, does that mean he or she would be able to get things done with a bunch of Republicans and Democrats in Congress, potentially putting up roadblocks every time they had the chance?

I don't see the issue being with who's being elected. It's much, much bigger than that. Our government is too big and imo, we should go to a system in which states pretty much run themselves as they see best fit.

 

[fishonjazz]

Even if we got the best third party candidate imaginable elected, does that mean he or she would be able to get things done with a bunch of Republicans and Democrats in Congress, potentially putting up roadblocks every time they had the chance?

Great point. I hadnt thought of that

 

[Dr. Jones]

Even if we got the best third party candidate imaginable elected, does that mean he or she would be able to get things done with a bunch of Republicans and Democrats in Congress, potentially putting up roadblocks every time they had the chance?

I don't see the issue being with who's being elected. It's much, much bigger than that. Our government is too big and imo, we should go to a system in which states pretty much run themselves as they see best fit.

Yes.. de-centralize government. Let states and local government have a bigger share and make their own decisions as they best see fit for their locale.

Obviously, some centralization is needed.. just less of it, please.

 

[franklin]

I am so hoping this is another of your many troll jobs. Luckily, if you're being serious, there can't be more than 10 other voting morans that feel the same, in America.

I'm not into the whole hate all politicians because Washington is bad corrupt evil people nonsense. That sort of unabashed character defamation is a black cloud hanging over this nation, and one reason we cannot get anything accomplished.

Most of 'em are pretty good people, Joe Biden included, if you can set your hate aside long enough to listen and consider what they're actually saying.

Hey, guess what, I like Barney Frank and Nancy Pelosi too when they put their ******* routines back inside the box.

 

[franklin]

Even if we got the best third party candidate imaginable elected, does that mean he or she would be able to get things done with a bunch of Republicans and Democrats in Congress, potentially putting up roadblocks every time they had the chance?

I don't see the issue being with who's being elected. It's much, much bigger than that. Our government is too big and imo, we should go to a system in which states pretty much run themselves as they see best fit.

I cannot endorse a blanket policy ideal such as this. If you were to say education I'd be on board with state's rights. Other areas, not in the least.

 

[Dr. Jones]

I'm not into the whole hate all politicians because Washington is bad corrupt evil people nonsense. That sort of unabashed character defamation is a black cloud hanging over this nation, and one reason we cannot get anything accomplished.

Most of 'em are pretty good people, Joe Biden included, if you can set your hate aside long enough to listen and consider what they're actually saying.

Hey, guess what, I like Barney Frank and Nancy Pelosi too when they put their ******* routines back inside the box.

Joe Biden is a tool. A tool with a ton of historical knowledge and knows his way around the hill.. but a tool.

Hey, do you think Ty is Pub or Dem?

 

[franklin]

Joe Biden is a tool. A tool with a ton of historical knowledge and knows his way around the hill.. but a tool.

Hey, do you think Ty is Pub or Dem?

That he is. I find his antics hilarious.

 

[TroutBum]

Yup. Within two elections.

The left will parade Hillary out in the next election, which will all but assure the rights victory. That president will be a travesty, (much like Bush Jr. -- seriously, the left gave us John Kerry as our only other option?) which will make a third party seem like a dream come true.

 

[TroutBum]

p.s. I know less about politics than I do The Jazz.

 

[Dr. Jones]

p.s. I know less about politics than I do The Jazz.

SMD: says the guy that was spending his days on JazzFanz while running for political office.

 

[LogGrad98]

Americans are too smart to vote in an independent. After all the craziness, we end up electing a moderate every time. Everyone gets pissed off about it, which is the first sign that we made the right choice.

The only change I'd like to see is having an unabashed moderate make it out of the primaries. I like Huntsman Jr., and the not lying to the conservative base Mitt Romney isn't bad. I like listening to Joe Biden and won't be upset about him running this time around.

I am so hoping this is another of your many troll jobs. Luckily, if you're being serious, there can't be more than 10 other voting morans that feel the same, in America.

Yeah I was mostly with you frank until the Biden comment. That is a platform lackey if ever there was one.

 

[♪alt13]

The biggest obstacle standing between a third party and the presidency is The Commission on Presidential Debates. It is private organization ran cooperatively by the GOP and DNC. They formed the commission after Perot was featured in the debates and got 19% of the vote. If a candidate is not allowed into the debate their legitimacy goes out the window. Last cycle there were only 3 candidates that managed to get on the ballot in every state(Obama-D,Romney-R,Johnson-L) and a fourth(Stein-G) that was on enough ballots to have a mathematical shot at securing enough electors. As hard as it is to get on the ballot in many states it seems that that should be a significant enough hurdle that once achieved would allow a candidate to participate.

The Commission rejected Johnsons and Steins request to participate stating that they did not have enough support in the polls. The problem was that the polls that the Commission uses to determine eligibility did not include either Jill Stein or Gary Johnson as options in their poll. The Commission on Presidential Debates is to the Presidency what gerrymandering is to the House of Representatives.

This doesn't even mention the media blackout treatment that 3rd parties have to put up with.

No it won't happen. Too few citizens inform themselves about the actual process and would rather we keep debating abortion anyway. smh

 

[franklin]

Yeah I was mostly with you frank until the Biden comment. That is a platform lackey if ever there was one.

You're both older than me and have a better opinion of the guy I'm sure. You cannot tell me you wouldn't enjoy the hell out of a debate between him and Newt Gingrich though. Both are sharp as a tack and know their stuff more than just about anyone else around.

I didn't say I'd vote for the guy but I do genuinely enjoy listening to him. Watching him monkey slap Paul Ryan around was hilarious. I like Ryan too -- he's as naive as they come but his heart is in the right place.

The biggest obstacle standing between a third party and the presidency is The Commission on Presidential Debates. It is private organization ran cooperatively by the GOP and DNC. They formed the commission after Perot was featured in the debates and got 19% of the vote. If a candidate is not allowed into the debate their legitimacy goes out the window. Last cycle there were only 3 candidates that managed to get on the ballot in every state(Obama-D,Romney-R,Johnson-L) and a fourth(Stein-G) that was on enough ballots to have a mathematical shot at securing enough electors. As hard as it is to get on the ballot in many states it seems that that should be a significant enough hurdle that once achieved would allow a candidate to participate.

The Commission rejected Johnsons and Steins request to participate stating that they did not have enough support in the polls. The problem was that the polls that the Commission uses to determine eligibility did not include either Jill Stein or Gary Johnson as options in their poll. The Commission on Presidential Debates is to the Presidency what gerrymandering is to the House of Representatives.

This doesn't even mention the media blackout treatment that 3rd parties have to put up with.

No it won't happen. Too few citizens inform themselves about the actual process and would rather we keep debating abortion anyway. smh

Meh. Another libertarian excuse/talking point/conspiracy. If a libertarian was worth backing then a small handful of billionaires could make it happen. You know why they don't? Because they know one would be as bad for free market economies as their communist counterparts would. Money talks, deal with it.

 

[LogGrad98]

You're both older than me and have a better opinion of the guy I'm sure. You cannot tell me you wouldn't enjoy the hell out of a debate between him and Newt Gingrich though. Both are sharp as a tack and know their stuff more than just about anyone else around.

I didn't say I'd vote for the guy but I do genuinely enjoy listening to him. Watching him monkey slap Paul Ryan around was hilarious. I like Ryan too -- he's as naive as they come but his heart is in the right place.

I can agree with that. But the thought of Biden as president makes my bowels all watery.

 

[♪alt13]

Meh. Another libertarian excuse/talking point/conspiracy. If a libertarian was worth backing then a small handful of billionaires could make it happen. You know why they don't? Because they know one would be as bad for free market economies as their communist counterparts would. Money talks, deal with it.

Ha, I love it. The dude that's impressed by Gingrich and Biden is dismissive.

Look it up bro it's not a conspiracy theory it is American politics. No matter how far the approval ratings of our beloved politicians fall the Dems and Reps have made it nearly impossible for a 3rd party to emerge. There is a reason that while most Americans(now 60%) believe that a 3rd party is needed we won't see one in a presidential debate. Hint It's the same reason you won't hear anything beyond sound bites in a presidential debate. It's also the reason the moderator will let them get away with it.


poll 3rd parties
https://www.gallup.com/poll/165392/perceived-need-third-party-reaches-new-high.aspx