Posted on 11/09/2009 7:01:39 AM PST by Wolf13
Doug Hoffmans narrow defeat in New Yorks 23rd Congressional District special election was one of few blemishes in a nearly flawless Election Day for Republicans. But Hoffmans strong showing coupled with the successful uprising against Republican nominee Dede Scozzafavas candidacy will embolden some conservatives to consider abandoning the GOP and initiating a broader third-party movement.
As a staunch conservative Republican whose political action committee invested much in Hoffmans campaign, I believe nothing would hurt the conservative movement, or the GOP, more. National Democrats would love nothing more than for conservatives to start looking for third-party candidates all across the country, because third-party candidates almost always lose.
Third-party talk has become a perennial post-election pastime among some conservatives. Republicans faced a similar scenario during the 2008 campaign, when many values conservatives were dissatisfied with the field of Republican candidates and threatened to leave the party and vote for a third-party candidate. Today, Hoffmans success and the deep sense of political alienation felt by many Americans might make it seem like the right time for another third-party revolt.
At the national level, while third-party candidacies can be an important way to draw attention to issues that the two major parties are ignoring, they always fail. In 1992, Reform Party presidential candidate Ross Perot focused his campaign on the out-of-control federal deficit. And within a few years, the budget was balanced. But no third-party presidential candidate has won a plurality or a majority of the popular vote in a single state since 1968.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
Never vote for an incumbent. Spread the word.
“viable third-party candidate “
well that is the catch isnt it. “viable”. third parties are not really viable at all. Just ask Perot, Nader, Teddy Roosevelt’s Bull Moose party, more recently Daggett in NJ. Hoffman probably was viable and in that particular case i would have supported his efforts but for the most part sorry all a third party is going to do is hand the Demacommies more wins. heck they pushed for Daggett in NJ in an effort to have Corslime win. you want to talk sheeple how about splitting said sheeple so that democommies keep winning. that is probably the only strategy the Dems will have in 2010 and beyond
“Never vote for an incumbent. Spread the word.”
Even if the challenger is a liberal Democrat?
That’s when a third party comes in handy. And you can always write someone in.
No, they should be first choice for half of the Democrats.
You may want to go back somewhat further and analyze how the GOP came to be. Perhaps, in the short term, voting 3rd party will help elect Democrats, but that could well change rather shortly should the GOP get a clue.
However, the best remedy, IMO, is to withhold all funding from the GOP (at least that which we have control of...). Get active in local GOP politics, go to meetings, let our voices be heard. Let the party know that we are not on board. Not until they begin promoting viable conservative issues and candidates.
Take Illinois for instance. Andrew McKenna is the former GOP state chairman. He's now running for governor on the GOP ticket. He's RINO all the way and I'll not vote for the man. I've already passed that on to my state reps (who I'm acquainted with). I'm also actively getting that message out to all I know.
The GOP here is 'business-as-usual', and that's not good enough. Consequently, I'm not on board.
We reached the point of "last resort" long ago.
The answer to this is quite simple Mr. Bauer; the GOP stops nominating RINOs and stops doing it in secret backroom deals. Conservatives are fed up with a party many see as no longer representing them. If the GOP goes back to the way it was during the days of Renaldus Magnus, then it has a chance of surviving.
Circle the wagons boys! More and more of us are getting wise to the game being played by the democrats and republicans.
We have an illegitimate political system , a one-party system masquerading as a two-party system. Third parties have no chance. The only way to get our freedom back under this illegitimate system is to get rid of the GOP and put in place a conservative party that will fight for freedom and the Constitution. Conservatives and libertarians: refuse to participate in the charade. Stop participating in these fraudulent election exercises. Stop contributing money to the GOP.
I've thought about this a bit. Do you know what percentage of funding comes from rank and filers, and what percentage from corporate/SIGs? Asking because it makes a difference. If they don't need your money, they won't care.
The thing to do is close the primaries Independents and Democrats picked John McCain
>>Third-party candidacies should be a last resort<<
Actually, that is poppycock.
Guns are the last resort.
Exactly—the old divide and conquer strategy.
You betcha!
I understand. But even should private donations be overwhelmed by corporate/SIG donations, the drying up of our funds has to give them pause; we're the voting bloc.
Unless you live in the following districts: Michele Bachmann, Tom McClintock, Mike Pence, Joe Wilson, Peter King, Steve King, Paul Ryan, Marsha Blackburn, Darrell Issa, Duncan Hunter, etc. Don’t throw the good ones out!
Are you twelve years old?
Are you always such a jerk? Or do you just play one on FreeRepublic?
You didn’t answer my question.
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