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 ...
i thought you were talking smack on the Libertarians, not Republican Congressmen and Religious right Megachurch Pastors.
You could use a lesson in logical falacies, and from what i've seen here this late evening, there aren't too many 'thinking people' on this thread. i specifically refer to those who whine about how the Evvvvvvviiiiillllllll Libertarians sunk your party when it was in fact THE AMERICAN VOTER. Deal with it.
I guess you gave up your buchanan as conservative champion BS. Good, it only made you look more foolish then your comic book name.
i always thought that Buchanan was an American born Nazi. Never had any use for the SOB, merely observing that he's a good Republican the last i checked. Looks as if it was Mission Accomplished on his part.
That he paid off some campaign debts with Reform Party money means nothing to me. Good for him. i can't stand Perot either, his only real agenda was his personal hatred for the Bush Family, especially G.H.W. Bush.
I really do hate to point this out to you but buchanan himself renouced the Republican party seven years ago. I guess that would explain the rest of your timely political insight and grasp of politics.
The main thing that looks foolish this evening is the Republican Kook Aid Drinkers rationalising away the fact that they're out of touch with the American Electorate, and looking to blame everyone except themselves...do keep going though, i'm certain that you can close the gap between first and second place.
LOL...sure thing there Calvin the Silly...advice from someone who hasn't even got a clue of pat buchanan's affiliation.
Last i saw...just this year, he's back in the GOP. Thank you for playing though.
Hey, I guess it does work.
Can't deal with the fact that you have been thouroughly and compleatly PWNED on this thread? Not much in the way of an argument, Poindexter. See, there, we can both do name calling.
Now do you have a reply concerning the issue? If so send it later, i do have to sleep once in a while, have to work for a living to pay for Republicans spending my tax money like drunken sailors after six months at sea.
Hope the Chimp doesn't loose his veto Pen again.
My, you two sure are pretty far behind. No wonder you're so confused.
Name me one liberitarian who was electable and had a chance of winning a national or state election. All you people do is suck off conservative votes and allow more rats to get elected. If Libertarians had anything going for them at all, they would run as Republicans in state elections and oust the Rinos.
You can relax, sit back, and say they screwed up, as you screw up the system.
Psssssssssst yourself..........The Republicans don't seem to mind. Care to try again?
no libertarians hads any hand in this train wreak..not electable and all
Now I remember. Didn't I see you and the little ankle bitter at my door on Halloween? I sure did.
for being confused an awful lot of money is being paid by the federal treasure
pehaps you can elighten me about..you know all this money being spent..at least democrats keep in in the country
Not in this train wreck, but they did cost us a couple of seats. Rush summed it up very well today. Republicans did not distinguish themselves from the Democrats! Btw, I posted a similiar statement laast night on the election thread....wonder if he was logged on!
To: jpsb
As I have already posted on this thread, all Republicans had to do was to be conservative. Many of them can't seem to do that. Unfortunately, Bush's border stance has effected many congressional races. His stance has not been conservative. Also many Republicans, cast off their conservative shackles and tried to get the moderate vote. Republicans have not differentiated themselves enough from democrats. Also Bush, with the bully pulpit, did not bring home the "why" of Iraq to the American public.
I know there are many around here who won't support that theory, but it remains out there, nevertheless.
4,441 posted on 11/07/2006 11:38:34 PM EST by TheLion
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