Posted on 08/27/2007 10:36:15 PM PDT by davidosborne
Passing it on.. I primarily wrote this in response to the growing “Third party” movement -— and to the who are condidering “sitting out” the election altogether to “punish” the Republican party
Ping
SoldierMedic,
I have no issue with “independents” in the HOUSE — if there is a strong independent candidate who can get elected in their district without the “help” of their party... However if they want to be a “power player” they probably need the support of their party for many reasons.... but I am certainly not opposed to that.. However in the SENATE, that is where the REAL nitty gritty debate takes place, and a STRONG majority coalition is necessary to get through the process.... IMHO
I understand and respect your opinion on the matter.. I just disagree with you my FRiend
Respectfully,
David
State sovereignty is not erased.. it has just been infringed upon in many respects... this is something WE THE PEOPLE can fix if we so choose...
Below is from George Washington’s Farewell Address!
Warns against the party system.
“It serves to distract the Public Councils, and enfeeble the Public Administration.... agitates the Community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms; kindles the animosity of one.... against another....
it opens the door to foreign influence and corruption...
thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another.”
Stresses the importance of religion and morality.
“Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths,
which are the instruments of investigation in Courts of Justice?”
On stable public credit.
“...cherish public credit.
One method of preserving it is to use it as sparingly as possible... avoiding likewise the accumulation of debt....
it is essential that you...bear in mind, that towards the payments of debts there must be Revenue, that to have Revenue there must be taxes; that no taxes can be devised, which are not...inconvenient and unpleasant...”
Warns against permanent foreign alliances.
“It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world...”
I am not sure that George Washington could have envisioned the world economy that exists today
BTTT
Country should come before party but too often it is the other way around.
The constitution does not call for a 2 party system. In fact, it doesn’t call for any parties at all.
And it doesn’t forbid parties.
1,2, 3,4, 5.....1019 It’s all the same to me.
I have long thought that a viable 3rd party would be a good thing for America.
far too many Americans could care less about the PRIMARY.. they wait for the General to pick between the Democrat or the Republican...
The last time too many folks Choose a third party candidate in the GENERAL election (lesson learned from Ross Perot).. we ended up with a CLINTON --- is history DOOOMED to repeat itslef?....
This reality has created the whole idea that makes folks pick the "electable" candidate in the PRIMARY and not the BEST candidate.... IF more Americans took the PRIMARY seriously.. and voted for the BEST candidate in the PRIMARY.. the General election should be a no-brainer and the results should not be a "surprise" to anyone.....
MY ADVICE --- Pick the BEST candidate in the PRIMARY --- DUNCAN HUNTER -- Don't waste your PRIMARY vote by voting for the person you think is "electable" -- If you believe as do I.. that Duncan Hunter is the BEST CANDIDADTE for Commander in Chief in '08 -- than please VOTE FOR HIM - better yet -- get out there and campaign for him --- or we will end up with ANOTHER CLINTON !! --- IMHO
BTTT
If everyone voted for their personal favorite in the GENERAL ELECTION -- and lets say for example there were 10 "popular" candidates... and each candidate received approximately the same number of votes we would end up with a president who wins with slightly more than 10% of the vote... If we had a system where we could select our "first choice" on the ballot and then ALSO pick a "second choice" I think the results would be far more realistic and I would WELCOME a viable "3rd party" maybe even a 4th or 5th... into the playing field.. that way folks can choose to vote for a "3rd party" guy if they prefer him over the Republican or Democrat and then vote for the Republican or Democrat as a "back-up" to ensure that their vote is not "wasted"... or as in '92 and '96 HELPS the candidate that was actually your LAST choice...
America has a history of a two party system. Normally, all politicians are looking for an edge in elections. That means that the big parties coopt any good people and ideas as they come up. That is the main reason they don't go anywhere.
Too many here at FR don't understand the difference between political philosophy and practical politics. So they pay way too much attention to what candidates say and whether it coincides with what they themselves believe. That matters most when hiring professors. Elections are about choosing people to lead and manage constrained by checks and balances. So we should look at what people can do. If we would look at candidates that way we would stop electing so many lawyers who only know how to argue and find better executives and managers to straighten out the largest enterprise on earth, the US government.
Until we get a runoff system, two parties is the only way to go. Now, if the third party is a leftie, it’s ok with me.
This attitude can put you in a position where you will NEVER be able to vote again for what you want. It’s political suicide.
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