Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Third Party Options
Vanity | April 14, 2012 | Engraved-on-His-hands

Posted on 04/14/2012 7:08:22 PM PDT by Engraved-on-His-hands

Sorry for the vanity, but, due to the unpleasant situation in which Mitt Romney is the favorite for the Republican Party nomination for President, I thought that exploring other options might be an appropriate topic. While Newt Gingrich is still in the running for the Republican nod, his chances do not appear to be good. Although not giving up entirely on him at this point, I thought that exploring third party options might be helpful as a fallback plan. (Caveat: I am not an expert on the parties discussed.)

There are at least 53 political parties in the United States. Apart from the Democrat and Republican parties, there are three others with occasional minor national significance: the Constitution Party, the Libertarian Party, and the Green Party. Of the remaining 48 parties, there are five that are national parties that have a conservative foundation. For the purpose of this post, I will not look at the libertarian parties, nor will I consider those that are moderate or more left-wing in their views.

Apart from the Constitution Party, the five national conservative parties are the following:

America First Party

America's Party

American Party

Christian Liberty Party

Independent American Party

Of these five, the America First Party, the Christian Liberty Party, and the American Party appear to be either inactive or so miniscule in activity and efforts that they might be considered inactive for all practical purposes. The Independent American Party and America’s Party appear to be the most active. However, I could not find any source indicating that the Independent American Party intends to have a nominee for President in 2012.

This leaves the Constitution Party and America’s Party as the conservative third party options.

The Constitution Party holds its nominating convention this coming Wednesday through Saturday in Nashville. The favorite for the nomination at this point appears to be Virgil Goode, former congressman from Virginia, although there is a good bit of controversy and dissension regarding his nomination.

America’s Party has chosen Tom Hoefling as its nominee. Tom posts on FreeRepublic as Eternal Vigilance. (Note: I have been a long-time fan of Tom’s posts.)

We should have a better grasp of the Constitution Party after their convention in a few days. If they nominate a suitable conservative who can unite their party, their stock should rise. If they fail, whether this provides an opening for an improved status for America’s Party this year remains to be seen.

I am not suggesting that either the Constitution Party or America’s Party will nominate the next President of the United States. However, as an ardent social conservative, I believe that neither the Republicans or Democrats have left social conservatives with a real option this year (assuming that Romney is the Republican nominee instead of Newt). Consider voting for a third party a protest vote if you will. Criticize it if you will. Each of us must do what we think is right and best. I'm not trying to create controversy with this post. I'm just trying to present information to those who might be interested.

Here are the websites for the two primary third party options discussed:

www.constitutionparty.com

www.selfgovernment.us

Thanks.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: thirdparty; virgilgoode
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 181 next last
To: afraidfortherepublic
He had a better chance than he should have had because the GOP-e put up a RINO. Blame them.

/johnny

41 posted on 04/14/2012 7:38:13 PM PDT by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: Lonesome in Massachussets

Ross Perot brought us eight years of Clinton.
______________________________________________________________

One of the worst mistakes I ever made was voting for Ross Perot. It not only brought us eight years of Clinton, we’re stuck with the Clintons for life. They will not go away. Wouldn’t surprise me if Obozo dumped Biden and Hillary ran as his VP.


42 posted on 04/14/2012 7:38:13 PM PDT by no dems (TED CRUZ: A PROVEN CONSERVATIVE FOR U.S. SENATE FROM TEXAS.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: null and void

Thanks, null and void. My bad.


43 posted on 04/14/2012 7:38:38 PM PDT by Engraved-on-His-hands (Mitt Romney is a handbasket driver. I refuse to ride.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: no dems
You just aren't going to put the blame on the GOP-e, where it belongs, are you?

When they get pushed into running a conservative, they win. When they run a RINO they lose.

/johnny

44 posted on 04/14/2012 7:40:54 PM PDT by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: Engraved-on-His-hands

An amazing five years...

Geo. W. Bush calling the border Minutemen “vigilantes;” the nomination of psycho McCain in ‘08; the backstabbing of Palin and the unwillingness of the GOP to defend her when Dems made efforts to bankrupt her family, slime her kids, and not to mention when the media accused her of complicity in mass-murder in Tucson; the current GOP Congressional leaders caving to Obama on virtually every issue both fiscal/social after getting the Bush tax cuts following the mid-terms; the apparent upcoming nomination of a Massachusetts liberal to be GOP nominee.

Yeah, a lifelong Republican here, who, thanks to all the above, for the first time in his life, is more than ready to bolt at the drop of a hat.


45 posted on 04/14/2012 7:41:08 PM PDT by greene66
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: butterdezillion

The ONLY way Gingrich would ever win is if Romney and Obama drop out!

Gingrich cannot even win primaries. What makes anyone think he would win a general election?


46 posted on 04/14/2012 7:41:39 PM PDT by TomGuy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: butterdezillion

Rick Perry did not endorse Romney.


47 posted on 04/14/2012 7:42:24 PM PDT by Pan_Yans Wife ("For the sake of our party we must stand united, whoever our nominee is."-Sarah Palin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: JediJones

The “Thank You” card from Obama to you is in the mail...


48 posted on 04/14/2012 7:43:18 PM PDT by jveritas (God bless our brave troops)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: Yashcheritsiy
What we need is a broad-based "coalition" type organisation that may not even necessarily be a traditional "party," and which would operate outside the usual Party system. It would seek to unite conservatives, running its own candidate for President in an attempt to win using the 40% of self-professed conservatives (inside and OUTSIDE the GOP) as its starting point, while displaying resolution and leadership that will bring in the moderates. At the senatorial and congressional level, this organisation would support those candidates worth supporting, and would challenge those not.

Basically, the Tea Party needs to GET organized and raise a bunch of money. They need to be able to match the next Romney dollar-for-dollar in the next presidential primary. Problem though, who decides which candidate the organization backs? A vote of the membership that you're going to stick to even if it turns out to be Ron Paul?

I would wonder if it's even possible to get on the presidential ballot nationwide for a new party at this time. I think the Americans Elect party Schoen is running has been working for months to get on all the ballots. Bottom line, if an organization could be made that quickly, it would've been made in this primary to defeat Mitt months ago.

49 posted on 04/14/2012 7:43:18 PM PDT by JediJones (From the makers of Romney, Bloomberg/Schwarzenegger 2016. Because the GOP can never go too far left.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: Engraved-on-His-hands

This leaves the Constitution Party and America’s Party as the conservative third party options.

Yep.


50 posted on 04/14/2012 7:44:34 PM PDT by freedomfiter2 (Brutal acts of commission and yawning acts of omission both strengthen the hand of the devil.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jveritas

Where do I address my FU card to Mitt Romney?


51 posted on 04/14/2012 7:44:34 PM PDT by JediJones (From the makers of Romney, Bloomberg/Schwarzenegger 2016. Because the GOP can never go too far left.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: JediJones

Instead of talking 3rd party or sitting out though, we should be rallying the troops so that we can keep from being put in that gosh-awful lose-lose situation.

Everybody still has something they can do to keep Romney from being the republican candidate: throw all your support behind Gingrich. We’re all sick of the GOP-e crapping on us. Well, let’s do something about it. Sue them to oblivion whenever they break the law. Let them know we’re still alive and kicking. If we want to protest the GOP-e we need to do it NOW, not when our protest will only end up supporting Obama.

We’re all acting as if it’s a choice between sitting out the election or voting for Romney. It doesn’t HAVE to be either. We still have a horse in this race. We just need to get on it and GO!

Let’s just not even entertain the idea that we’ll be stuck with a totally unacceptable choice. Let’s set our wills to say we HAVE to keep it from ever coming to that. NOW is the time to fight.


52 posted on 04/14/2012 7:45:15 PM PDT by butterdezillion
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: TomGuy
Gingrich cannot even win primaries. What makes anyone think he would win a general election?

He'd kill 'em both in the debates. The only thing Romney had that Gingrich didn't is money.

53 posted on 04/14/2012 7:46:18 PM PDT by JediJones (From the makers of Romney, Bloomberg/Schwarzenegger 2016. Because the GOP can never go too far left.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: Lonesome in Massachussets

8 years of Clinton worked out better than it would have been with the GOP alternatives.


54 posted on 04/14/2012 7:46:21 PM PDT by freedomfiter2 (Brutal acts of commission and yawning acts of omission both strengthen the hand of the devil.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Yashcheritsiy

Perot in his first run was doing okay, until he saw illegal aliens on his front lawn.

Not the south-of-the-border kind of illegal aliens; the Alpha Centauri kind of illegal aliens.


55 posted on 04/14/2012 7:46:32 PM PDT by TomGuy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: jveritas

I cannot and will not vote for Romney and yep I vote in Pennsylvania. I cannot vote for such a liberal. Against my religion to vote for someone who advocated abortion for a very long time.


56 posted on 04/14/2012 7:46:44 PM PDT by napscoordinator (VOTE FOR NEWT!!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: TomGuy
The primaries aren't over yet, thankyouverymuch. And now it's down to two.

/johnny

57 posted on 04/14/2012 7:46:50 PM PDT by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: Engraved-on-His-hands

“While Newt Gingrich is still in the running for the Republican nod, his chances do not appear to be good.”

You think! I mean technically Herman Cain is still in the race.


58 posted on 04/14/2012 7:47:05 PM PDT by NavVet ("You Lie!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: paul51

“third party is not a viable option at this point. waste of time”

Third parties need to start somewhere, now is as good a time as any.


59 posted on 04/14/2012 7:47:05 PM PDT by CapnJack
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Pan_Yans Wife

My bad. I meant to say Gingrich. The people who have endorsed Gingrich need to be vocal about it right now. They are people we respect, the only ones left whose endorsement wasn’t up for sale to the highest bidder (Romney).

We need to stand together. We HAVE to.


60 posted on 04/14/2012 7:49:14 PM PDT by butterdezillion
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 181 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson