[Congressman Billybob]

Okay, so I'm a nut about US political history. This has happened before. It can happen again.

John / Billybob

[hosepipe]

Could be partys are obsolete..
A major Caucus is being formed..
A VOTING grass roots Caucus.. all thats needed is a little organization..

[ansel12]

However, if a majority of Republicans and a minority of Democrats all support these four issues -- obey the Constitution, cut taxes, reduce government control of lives of Americans, and support term limits – as a group they will dominate the elections and control both Houses of Congress.

That is so vague that it is meaningless of course but the way you are avoiding explaining about our most conservative voters, the social conservatives, I get the impression that is is basically the Libertarian party.

[behzinlea]

However, if a majority of Republicans and a minority of Democrats all support these four issues -- obey the Constitution, cut taxes, reduce government control of lives of Americans, and support term limits – as a group they will dominate the elections and control both Houses of Congress.

Identify your core principles and the name will follow.

If limited government and strict fiscal conservatism are your core principles, doesn't the Libertarian Party already embrace them as its core principles?

I think social conservatism is also a natural center of gravity that could pull a large number of people together--and not just disaffected Republicans but also many Independents and some Democrats (including Blacks and Hispanics).

[CatoRenasci]

Mugwumps?

[AuntB]

Excellent!

[familyop]

Oh, I know. Let’s start another anti-American, free traitor party with female relatives of corporates, government managers and academics as leaders.

Nonpolitical politics is the way to go, until the globalist house of cards has fallen.

[Beamreach]

Billy, i can see where this could happen. if each state takes its tea parties and other grass roots infrastructure and began to work on voting in only those that they feel are real consertives “and only giving money to the canidates election machine” (and not the rnc), the rnc could be left in the cold with no money. Not exactly sure how the whole thing would work, but keep the money out of the rnc’s hands........maybe we could come up with a new party, just maybe.......

[Impy]

No pundits are currently talking about this new party possibility. It is a long shot.

In the extreme. I will hit the lotto first.

Retaking the Republican party from the RINO scum is the only hope for the American right.

[Sherman Logan]

Not a bad analysis. A few historical thoughts.

1. The “second party” from the 1830s on, the Whigs, began disintegrating as a result of the reintroduction of the slavery compromise into national politics due to the Compromise of 1850 and was more or less gone by 1852. The foundation of the Republican Party was thus not a third-party movement at all, it was a new party formed after the second party fell apart.

2. The Republicans also incorporated a bunch of members from the American or Know-Nothing party.

3. The Republicans of 1854 had the immense advantage that a single issue dominated American politics. Support for slavery, to varying degrees, was inherently linked to the Democratic party, but was opposed by a majority of Americans. This was an issue that by its very nature could not in the long run be compromised. I don’t see any such single-issue opening in America today. Your four-point program is interesting, but you must admit it’s a whole lot more vague “oppose the expansion of slavery.”

[Man50D]

Many people are under the false presumption we have a two party system. The Republican party has moved over the years incrementally far enough to the socialist left over the years to expand the voter base that it has melded with the Democrats to form one big socialist Republicrat party. There were no choices in the 2008 elections for this very reason.

The formation of another party founded on strong conservative principles will restore the two party system.

[Jim Noble]

In the shrinking parts of the country where the GOP still exists, it's hard for FReepers to see it.

It the parts of the country where the GOP has ceased to exist for all practical purposes, nothing is more clear than the need for a new party.

[jla]

This has happened before. It can happen again.

Since the evolution of the Republican & Democrat Parties there has been no sustainable third party. I am the type who says, 'never say never', but at this point in time I do not see a viable third party on the horizon and Sarah Palin has voiced no intent of herself initiating or joining one.
So this leaves conservatives with the Grand Ol' Party, but with a leader who has the ability to transform it into an organization that is indeed beholden to not only its members but more importantly to the United States Constitution.

An American Tradition...

...continues

Aside: It is an historical myth, and fallacy, that Thomas Jefferson was the 'father of the modern day Democrat Party. Though he may not have been the patriarch of the GOP, he definitely was not that of the Democrats.

[Little Ray]

Sorry. I think we reached a tipping point where a majority of Americans will vote for “free stuff” over “obey the Constitution, cut taxes, reduce government control of lives of Americans, and support term limits.”

Face it. Nearly half the voting population pays no income taxes whatsoever. Worse, their numbers are going through government subsidies for illegitimacy. Are they going to vote to cut themselves off from the public trough? Somehow, I don’t think so. Even if they see that it is emptying, they will fight for the last scraps rather than pull back and let it refill.

[sauropod]

Excellent piece.

Some Republicans talk of “rebranding the Party.” Such efforts will fail. Just because the cat has kittens in the oven, doesn’t make them biscuits.

Quite true, and an awful lot of people do not see this. 'Pod.

[Scythian]

I will gladly throw the Republicans under the bus, even one heading for the cliff ....

[wagglebee]

Remember this point. The new Party was created by people who had been elected under other party labels, but became dissatisfied with their current parties’ stands on key issues. The current two major parties are both fractured over key issues, including taxes, public debt, growth of government regulations, and respect for the Constitution.

This is the critical point which is NECESSARY for the success of a new party -- it MUST have members who have been prominent in OTHER parties (not an unknown one or two term Congressman who has been out of office for a decade or more, but politicians that people have actually heard of).

[John Leland 1789]

We’ve got a young man, a genuine Reaganite, in the Indiana 9th CongDist to take the seat away from that idiot Baron Hill. Travis Hankins.

If Mike Sodrel decides to run, he’ll most likely take it.

But if Sodrel doesn’t run, I’m afraid the Republican establishment in the district and state will back a party “Yes” man, and I just don’t trust the TOP of the Republican Party anymore.

I’ve been looking at Todd Young, but my feeling is that he’ll just bend and bow for political gain and not operate on true principle.

I’m pulling for Travis Hankins.