Third Party Options

Vanity | April 14, 2012 | Engraved-on-His-hands

[Engraved-on-His-hands]

Sorry for the vanity, but, due to the unpleasant situation in which Mitt Romney is the favorite for the Republican Party nomination for President, I thought that exploring other options might be an appropriate topic. While Newt Gingrich is still in the running for the Republican nod, his chances do not appear to be good. Although not giving up entirely on him at this point, I thought that exploring third party options might be helpful as a fallback plan. (Caveat: I am not an expert on the parties discussed.)

There are at least 53 political parties in the United States. Apart from the Democrat and Republican parties, there are three others with occasional minor national significance: the Constitution Party, the Libertarian Party, and the Green Party. Of the remaining 48 parties, there are five that are national parties that have a conservative foundation. For the purpose of this post, I will not look at the libertarian parties, nor will I consider those that are moderate or more left-wing in their views.

Apart from the Constitution Party, the five national conservative parties are the following:

America First Party

America's Party

American Party

Christian Liberty Party

Independent American Party

Of these five, the America First Party, the Christian Liberty Party, and the American Party appear to be either inactive or so miniscule in activity and efforts that they might be considered inactive for all practical purposes. The Independent American Party and America’s Party appear to be the most active. However, I could not find any source indicating that the Independent American Party intends to have a nominee for President in 2012.

This leaves the Constitution Party and America’s Party as the conservative third party options.

The Constitution Party holds its nominating convention this coming Wednesday through Saturday in Nashville. The favorite for the nomination at this point appears to be Virgil Goode, former congressman from Virginia, although there is a good bit of controversy and dissension regarding his nomination.

America’s Party has chosen Tom Hoefling as its nominee. Tom posts on FreeRepublic as Eternal Vigilance. (Note: I have been a long-time fan of Tom’s posts.)

We should have a better grasp of the Constitution Party after their convention in a few days. If they nominate a suitable conservative who can unite their party, their stock should rise. If they fail, whether this provides an opening for an improved status for America’s Party this year remains to be seen.

I am not suggesting that either the Constitution Party or America’s Party will nominate the next President of the United States. However, as an ardent social conservative, I believe that neither the Republicans or Democrats have left social conservatives with a real option this year (assuming that Romney is the Republican nominee instead of Newt). Consider voting for a third party a protest vote if you will. Criticize it if you will. Each of us must do what we think is right and best. I'm not trying to create controversy with this post. I'm just trying to present information to those who might be interested.

Here are the websites for the two primary third party options discussed:

www.constitutionparty.com

www.selfgovernment.us

Thanks.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Realistically, your choice is to cast a protest vote and re-elect Obama or grit your teeth and vote for Romney. Ross Perot brought us eight years of Clinton.

[paul51]

third party is not a viable option at this point. waste of time

[JRandomFreeper]

The GOP-e brought us 8 years of Clinton. Put the blame where it belongs. If they had put up a conservative, Perot wouldn't have had a chance.

/johnny

[newzjunkey]

I'd expect if your TN vote matters one way or the other to the outcome of it going Red or Blue the election is a landslide for Obama.

Just FYI, former NM Gov. Gary Johnson ran as a Republican last spring but appears to have switched to running Libertarian for the 2012 General.

[Blood of Tyrants]

As much as I dislike Obama, voting third party is a vote for Obama. Your choice. Third party and Obama or Romney.

[Revolting cat!]

Third party will not be an option until the 1 and 1/2 party starts having some rules and principles violating which would result in expulsion. As things stand, Barack Obama could join the Publican Party, find enough financial support and run for POTUS as a Pubbie. KKK Dragon could run as a RAT, a Stalinist can run as a GO Pee. A fine mess, Stanley!

[kempster]

With Obama as President this is an irresponsible waste of a vote.

[Salgak]

Voting Third-Party this year is only viable IF you’re not in a swing state, i.e. either Ogabe or Mittens already has it sewn up (i.e. California, NY, Mass for the Dems, Texas, Georgia, etc for the GOP).

As much as I hate to say it (and yes, I’m doing it as well. . .), anything but a vote for Mittens is a vote for Ogabe in any swing state. . .

[HopeandGlory]

There may be 53 Parties in the USA, but there are only two who can win. Either Republican or Democrat . . . so . . . take your pick. I know which one I’m going with . . . My Mother didn’t raise any stupid children!!!

[Theoria]

Perot for all of his faults was correct about trade and the national debt. Pres. Bush lost because of his policies and the rhetoric of Clinton.

[RC one]

good idea, go form a third party so you can be completely powerless and ineffectual.

[50sDad]

Holy crap, yes. I voted Perot when I was much younger. Never again. Get Mitt a conservative VP and wait. Never again on a third (split the vote and screw the nation) party.

[50sDad]

Holy crap, yes. I voted Perot when I was much younger. Never again. Get Mitt a conservative VP and wait. Never again on a third (split the vote and screw the nation) party.

[Diogenesis]

Romney HELPED Obama become POTUS.

FLASHBACK:

The McCain/Palin ticket was up ++4 to 10 pts
in some polls, days prior to Election 2008.
So rather than helping the GOP, Romney and
TeamROMNEY and the RNME (Republican National Media Establishment)
decided …to attack Gov. Palin to throw Election2008.

Romney, and the Van der Sloot RNME RINOs for Obama in 2008

Late in October, The American Spectator's The Prowler revealed:
"Former Mitt Romney presidential campaign staffers…
have been involved in spreading anti-Palin spin to reporters, seeking to diminish her standing after the election.
'Sarah Palin is a lightweight, she won't be the first, not even the third, person people will think of when it comes to 2012,'
says one former Romney aide…
'The only serious candidate ready to challenge to lead the Republican Party is Mitt Romney.
"Some former Romney aides were behind the recent leaks to media, including CNN, that Governor Sarah Palin was a 'diva' and was going off message intentionally."

---

The Palmetto Scoop reported: "One of the first stories to hit the national airwaves was
the claim of a major internal strife between close McCain aides and the folks handling his running mate Sarah Palin."
"I’m told by very good sources that this was indeed the case and that a rift had developed, but it was between Palin’s people and the staffers brought on from the failed presidential campaign of former Gov. Mitt Romney, not McCain aides."
"The sources said nearly 80 percent of Romney’s former staff was absorbed by McCain and these individuals were responsible for what amounts to a premeditated, last-minute sabotage of Palin."
… aides loyal to Romney inside the McCain campaign, said The Scoop, reportedly saw
that Palin would be a serious contender for the Republican nomination in 2012 or 2016, which made her a threat to another presidential quest by Romney.

---

"These staffers are now out trying to finish her off ….hoping it would ingratiate themselves with Mitt Romney."

---

"Who's the Palin Leaker from the McCain Campaign?
National Review Online The publication of a Vanity Fair profile of Sarah Palin
appears to have opened old wounds in the McCain campaign.
... the source of the “Diva” leak was Nicolle Wallace’s husband."

---

"Peeking Out From the McCain Wreckage: Mitt Romney"

"Someone's got to say it: IS MITT ROMNEY RESPONSIBLE FOR OBAMA'S VICTORY?"

"Vanity: Team Romney Sabotaged Palin and Continuing to Do So?"

"Romney Supporters Trashing Palin"

"Romney advisors sniping at Palin?"

---

[newzjunkey]

Realistically, your choice is to cast a protest vote and re-elect Obama or grit your teeth and vote for Romney.

Realistically, it depends on what state the voter is in. Voting for anyone in CA isn't going to matter. Ditto NY and probably two dozen other states.

The poster is in TN. TN didn't go for its native son Algore, if it's at risk of going Obama, it's been a landslide reelection.

I'd never recommend battleground (or Purple) state voters stay home in November. Go and hold your nose (if you must) once again: vote for the major GOP alternative to Obama and for the best candidates down the ballot.

[HopeandGlory]

Whoops, sorry Paul that was meant for Engraved . . . SMILE111

[butterdezillion]

Or vote for Gingrich right now. Romney is not our candidate yet, and if people would stop grumbling and get behind Gingrich we could keep Romney from becoming our candidate.

That is what we HAVE to put our energy behind.

Third parties are a vote for Obama.

And the reason that Romney has gotten where he is - besides buying endorsements, outspending his opponents, and the R establishment breaking laws on his behalf - is the failure of conservatives to galvanize behind one candidate. Now that we’re down to Gingrich as the only conservative in the race we have no excuse to not solidify behind him right now.

No excuse.

[factoryrat]

The fact that there are so many parties involved says a lot. The nation is so splintered and divided that no single party can bring the nation together. This point we have reached has been carefully engineered to completely and totally divide the nation to suit the interests of those who profit from creating chaos from order, under the guise of adhering to party principal, for for the sole purpose of personal accumulation of wealth and control. The only way out of this shitstorm is to can all of the fed lackeys and to start from scratch, forcing those who are willing to serve in federal service to abide by the constitution, or else.

[doc1019]

This is the fun part of my day ... I absolutely refuse to vote for Romney, there. Now for the fun. And no I'm not voting for Obamass, just won't vote for Romney. If my one vote (or lack thereof) makes a difference, so be it. I will not vote against my principles.