Posted on 11/15/2004 12:13:23 PM PST by Willie Green
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) -- A third political party forming in West Virginia is only in its infancy but offers "the truly conservative person" a voice and a choice, its organizers said Monday.
The Constitution Party advocates a smaller, less intrusive federal government that operates within the strict framework of the U.S. Constitution and "its foundation in Biblical law."
"I guess we're what you would call the ultraconservatives," said Secretary Brenda Donnellan, a Lewis County resident.
The Constitution Party, which plans to petition for ballot access in the coming year, supports the death penalty and a patient's right to sue doctors and insurers but opposes abortion, gay rights and gambling. It urges abolition of several federal agencies and rejects U.S. participation in international trade, environmental and political organizations, including the United Nations.
The Constitution Party began in 1992 as a coalition of state parties that formed the U.S. Taxpayers Party, then changed its name in 1999. It was on the ballot in 37 states this year and claims to be the nation's fastest-growing third party.
(Excerpt) Read more at hosted.ap.org ...
They certainly have some great ideas.
Were this in a state like Idaho or Nebraska, I would have no problems. But, people, WHAT are you thinking??? After years of Democrat dominance in West Virginia, the Republicans are just now getting to the point where they can elect some officials. If these folks abandon the Republican candidates, they lose their only hopes of even semi-conservative officeholders. If they want to enact some change within the party, that is quite fine, but don't get in a position where neither the Republican nor Constitution Party candidates can win and the Democrats win by default!
Exactly.
I understand that there are some good Fundamentalist pro-Israel people at the grassroots, however, and the Jewish Task Force actually endorsed their Senatorial candidate in Pennsylvania. But the people who run the party are still old-school anti-Jewish pre-World War II rightwing types.
This is a very bad idea. Third parties weaken the vote.
Amen! Can you imagine what it would have been like had Bill Clinton had lost in 1992? Four more years of President George H.W. Bush which probably would have been followed with President Bob Dole.
Don't get me wrong, I love President George W. Bush and think he's doing a fantastic job! But, the idea of no blemish on our history of 8 years of Bill Clinton . . WOW!
Thanks a lot Ross Perot and your merry band of malcontents!
Still, as long as I live in a battleground state and the D party outnumbers the C party, I'm resigned to voting for the R party.
However, if the R party gets to looking too much more like the D party, the C party can count on both of my (our) votes.
stupid.
Divide and conquer? Wouldn't be shocked to learn that George Soros was funding this. Since the election of 1860, there have only been TWO Democrat presidents who received a greater percentage of the popular vote than President Bush did this year. (FDR and LBJ) The Democrats usually lose unless there is a 3rd party candidate to split the conservative vote.
Okay, I realize that I'm going to get crucified by some for saying this but here goes: This is the worst thing that the conservative movement in America could possibly do!
On November 2nd conservatives made historic gains by helping the Republican party retain and expand their majority. No, the GOP is not a monolithically conservative party, but it is our best chance to see real change in this country - change that will benefit conservatives and the conservative movement. If the GOP fractures because conservatives begin to squabble amongst themselves and defect from the GOP, we can expect a return to the dark days of the 1990's when a plurality of voters elected a liberal administration with the help of Perot supporters. Over the past forty years, the ONLY time that the liberals have been able to elect their candidates was when a third party peeled a significant number of voters away from the GOP. The results have been predictably disasterous.
If you are a conservative and you are unhappy with certain actions on the part of the GOP or the administration, stay within the party and fight for what you believe in! Don't defect to a third party - now is NOT the time!
You may now commence tearing me apart.
"The two major parties have served this nation and this state very, very well for the last 200 years," he said. Bet he didn't even blush when he basically said that the two major parties have jointly gotten us into the mess we are in
That is exactly what they are thinking, stop the forward momentum.
"If these folks abandon the Republican candidates, they lose their only hopes of even semi-conservative officeholders. If they want to enact some change within the party, that is quite fine, but don't get in a position where neither the Republican nor Constitution Party candidates can win and the Democrats win by default!"
You got my vote. To many people get caught up in a particular narrow group of issues, abandon a party and lessen it's ability to stay in power. I was guilty of this years back when I voted Amercian Party instead of Nixon.
They just will hand the state back to the demos.
Heaven forbid that an American political party place America's interests and priorities ahead of Israel's.
"But, people, WHAT are you thinking??? "
Not much.
The circular firing squad is beginning.
Yes, we've heard the same silly BS from someone else. Oh, yes...from buchanan. The POS who claims that Islamic Extremists DO NOT pose a threat to the United States and was near to tears the other day while singing the his praises for Arafat.
They have been pro-Israel in my experience...and you're wrong about the founding fathers.
"Bet he didn't even blush when he basically said that the two major parties have jointly gotten us into the mess we are in"
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