You missed my point. "Fringe" was in quotes because my point was that the Republican party was once a third party as well. My comment was meant to point out that simply because it is a third party doesn't mean it's on the fringe.
A questions: What would the Republicans have done back in the mid-1800s if the Democrats and the Whigs hadn't let Lincoln debate? What would your party have done then? Just given up and gone home? I think not.
Well, don't expect us to go home any time soon, either...
Another thing... If you REPUBLICANS who espouse smaller government and constitutional laws were doing your job - the Libertarians wouldn't be here in the first place!!!
Sued them?
Libertarians are more concerned with legal drugs than smaller government.
The LP and their love for recreational drugs is nothing like Lincoln and the issue of slavery.
The Republicans were a major political force from the time they organized. They took 33% of the popular vote right off the back.
The Whigs went defunct after 1852. The other party in the 1856 election was the American party (Neo Know Nothings) - Miillard Fillmore's anti-Immigration/Irish/Catholic group of America-first bigots (predecessor to FRs little Neo -Know Nothing boder wedgie/anti Muslim mob) who took Maryland for 8 votes.
The 1860 was a multi party Republican-Two Democrat-Constitutional Union election where Lincoln won 59% of the electoral votes and about 39% of the popular vote. So the Whigs had nothing to do with Lincoln.
The LP has usefulness as an object of ridicule. That's about it.
The Republican Party received 33 percent of the vote in the PRIOR election. They would have easily met any threshold for the Lincoln debates. Ping me when the LP gets even 3.3 percent of the vote. They are now nearer to 0.33 percent of the vote.
WORD UP!!!
Badnarik said it quite well, if he could vote repub or dem and sleep at night he would not be running.
By the way, I suggest going to his website, all ye naysayers, for some refreshing on the Constitution.
You may think you have it right, but Badnairk REALLY has it. I will vote for him with happy heart.
Sure 'nuff. Of course Republicans who "espouse smaller government and constitutional laws" are liars. They have no interest in such things. They once talked about them, merely to trick people who had such beliefs into voting Republican. But now that they are in power, they openly mock the notion of constitutional government.
Those liars, of course, are taking their cue from the top of the ticket.