Posted on 11/08/2006 2:27:12 PM PST by quidnunc
New York Glum Republicans might turn their attention to the Libertarian Party to vent their anger. Libertarians are a generally Republican-leaning constituency, but over the last few years, their discontent has grown plain. It isn't just the war, which some libertarians supported, but the corruption and insider dealing, and particularly the massive expansion of spending. Mr Bush's much-vaunted prescription drug benefit for seniors, they fume, has opened up another gaping hole in America's fiscal situation, while the only issue that really seemed to energise congress was passing special laws to keep a brain-damaged woman on life support.
In two of the seats where control looks likely to switch, Missouri and Montana, the Libertarian party pulled more votes than the Democratic margin of victory. Considerably more, in Montana. If the Libertarian party hadn't been on the ballot, and the three percent of voters who pulled the "Libertarian" lever had broken only moderately Republican, Mr Burns would now be in office.
Does this mean that the libertarians are becoming a force in national elections, much as Ralph Nader managed to cost Al Gore a victory in 2000? Hope springs eternal among third-party afficionadoes, but the nature of the American electoral system, which directly elects representatives in a first-past-the-post system, makes it nearly impossible for third parties to gain traction. The last time it happened was in the 1850's, when the Whig party dissolved over internal disputes about slavery, opening the way for the emerging Republican party to put Abraham Lincoln in office. And acting as a spoiler is dubiously effective at achieving one's goals. In theory, it could pull the Repubicans towards the Libertarians, but in practice, it may just elect Democrats, pushing the nation's economic policy leftwards.
(Excerpt) Read more at economist.com ...
You mean like the LP litany of "there is no difference between the Democrats and Republicans" we've been subjected to for years?.
The Democratic Party appreciates your support.
LOL! More Libertarian logic on parade.
Nah -- the GOP needs to drive off everybody but the single most dedicated member in each state. Once the party is purified to a cadre of fifty true believers, victory will be assured.
Nobody crapped in the pool. You ran them off, and then bitched because there weren't enough people left to keep the pool open. Enjoy your tantrum. Yeah, we'll all be paying more taxes. If we keep this up we'll all get what we deserve, and that includes you.
Ran them off? No one ran them off...they ran themselves off.
Loserdopians: GIVE ME LICENSE OR GIVE ME DEATH!
At least I offer logic.
"Vote for us, you idiots," on the other hand, isn't working out so well.
Enjoy the election results.
Logic? Libertarianism is not based on logic.
To me "life support" means breathing tubes, oxygen tank, etc. Shiavo breathed on her own.
Folks need to remember who was standing next to them on the battle lines yesterday...and who wasn't.
That is a crock of sh**. The GOP lost it all on their own through their abandonement of the conservatives that elected them. If we would not have had the massive explosion in big government and a secure border policy by the GOP we would not even have this thread right now. Fingerpointing at stuff like this is denial of reality. Lets stop this crap and look at the source (GOP) and fix it.
Enough with the Libertarian bashing. We're supposed to only get .00001% of the vote and be insignificant anyway, right? So why every other thread here on FR is a Libertarian-bash fest?
Republicans lose because of Republicans. Libertarians (no I'm not a card-carrying member but I'm a small-L and sympathize with Libertarians in general) don't owe the GOP jack.
If Repbulicans would govern like Conservatives (no earmarks, no entitlements, privatize social security) Talent, Burns (kept his hands clean) wouldn't have this problem (losing).......It's time to get back to basics. I'm conservative (but have libertarian leanings when it comes to gov't)
I voted yesterday, but I'm sure a lot of true conservatives didn't bother.
More hysteria, what a bunch of crock.
You guys are pathetic with your excuses.
Amen to that, and additionally, all of you quivering alleged "Republicans" who were so swiftly crying, "vote for anyone with an "R" after the name raised the white flag early and often.
I held my nose and voted a straight "Republican" ticket, although I knew deep down that very few of them were conservatives. Not only do we have the "liberaltarians" to adress, but also the facade Republicans running scared.
A pox on both of your houses.
Fire away.
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