Posted on 04/14/2012 7:08:22 PM PDT by 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.
Grateful for the opportunity to give it!
Well, there ya go. LOL...
In answer to that statement, let me say: When you go to the polls (in this case, the primaries) and give your name, they have you sign the book. When you and everyone else got ready to sign, did you look down and see where the book had automatically signed "GOP-e" where your name was to go? In other words, the 'GOP-e' did not vote...the voter did.
Granted, the GOP puts their weight and money behind particular candidates, but if the people didn't vote for them in the primaries, they would not be the candidate in the general.
Churchill didn’t say that! Franklin D. Roosevelt did.
The DNC would probably move heaven and earth to help set it up. With two parties on the right and one on the left, they would never lose.
I plan to vote for the Green Party. My reasons are:
1. If the Green Party gets over 5% of the national vote then they become somewhat official. They can request financial support from the election fund. They can request to be in future presidential debates. They will get more press. This will make them a more potent thorn in the side of the Democrats.
2. However leftist we believe Obama is the diehard commies in the Democrat Party view him as a rightwing lapdog of the financial industry. If there is some hope that the Green Party will become a viable political party then they will feel better about shifting their support there rather than to the Democrats.
3. If enough liberals start voting Green Party, and the Republicans continue to tack leftward, then those of us with more solid conservative beliefs can more safely vote for a truly conservative third party candidate without fear of ending up helping the Democrat.
4. There are those that believe that multi-party democracies are anathema. Our two party system isn't working out so well right now. So maybe we should have four parties: leftist, leftish, rightish, and rightist.
So if you live in a solidly blue state I strongly urge you to vote for the Green Party for purely long-term strategic reasons. If you live in a solidly red state then you might want to get 10,000 of your closest friends to move with you to a battleground state in time to vote legally in November as a citizen of that state.
What would happen if every R voted for Newt Gingrich from here on out?
You tell me.
What would happen if everybody who has already voted in the primary told their R fundraising people that the well will be totally dry if they continue their illegal, thieving ways to get Romney as the candidate?
If we get Romney it’s our own damned fault.
If we get Obama it’s our own damned fault.
And the only reason we would do what it takes to get stuck with either one is if we are too COWARDLY to do what it takes to preserve this nation.
Joshua and Caleb were the only 2 spies from Israel who were allowed to enter the Promised Land - because they were the only 2 of the 12 who had the faith and courage to believe that it was theirs for the taking, according to the promise of the Lord. They had nothing to fear but fear itself. They chose fear and ended up wandering in the desert until they died because they refused to simply accept what was offered.
The Lord says that if His people who are called by His name humble themselves and pray then He WILL hear from Heaven and will save their land. That is a promise to us, just as surely as the Promised Land was a promise to the people of Israel. If our land is not saved it is because WE - you and I - have abandoned that promise because we were cowards. We chose to wander in the desert rather than simply take the Lord at His word and obey.
Our own complacency is what will kill this land.
Count me out. My parents gave me a legacy of freedom and I’ll die before I drop that baton so all my kids get is the echo of everything good clanging to the ground.
Not on my watch.
Those damned voters again. Ruins everything when you have to consider real flesh and blood voters, instead of fantasy voters. If only everybody agreed with me on everything, than I wouldn’t have to sweat it this November.
Wouldn’t surprise me if Obozo dumped Biden and Hillary ran as his VP.
Would you want to be in the position where your beating heart is the only thing between Hillary and the Presidency?
With two parties on the right and one on the left,
I think that would make one party on the right and two on the left. The GOP is solidly left of center.
If you opt out, then if we get Obama it will be your fault not any of those who tried with what is at hand to eject him from the White House. Don’t do it. Just think of the fun you will have on election night channel surfing the networks if Obama loses. Priceless. Imagine a landslide against Obama. MSNBC might have a ratings spike. If for this reason alone you have to hold your nose, it will be worth it.
third party is not a viable option at this point. waste of time
and a waste of votes
Are you completely brainless?
If money works so good in primaries, why won’t it work in the general?
You’re not keeping up very closely around here, are you? No one’s arguing Gingrich wins the nomination outright. Just that Romney is prevented from getting his 1,144 by performing badly enough in the next 20 states.
Thanks for pointing out how close Newt is if he gets Santorum’s delegates. I haven’t been looking at that but that makes it strikingly more clear how winnable this thing is for Newt in a convention floor fight.
If money works so good in primaries, why won’t it work in the general?
Are you completely retarded? Don't you realize if Newt wins the nomination, he will get all the money any Republican candidate would? MUCH more money goes into the general election than the primaries. Many donors hold out because they don't care who the Republican nominee is. Plus the party puts in their money in the general, not during the primaries, at least not openly.
Your the ying of the leftist yang who thinks the NY Times is a conservative newspaper. If your right, then we are screwed. Because if the GOP is also left wing, than conservatives like us here on FR are truly a small minority then.
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