| Interesting that so many respondents latched right onto this concept and it somewhat answers the Dem machine rallying cry that the repub party is going extinct. WHOA. Are you saying that the Conservatives in both the Democratic & Republican parties, along with the Independents who see themselves as Conservative, MIGHT actually have enough of a voting block and CAMPAIGN MONEY to spin off a SUCCESSFUL Third Party?
Let me elaborate ... UPFRONT, let me say I think it's WISER to instigate a HOSTILE TAKEOVER of the GOP. Actually, I think that's happening at this very moment. Steele and the RNC see the Tea Partiers as an ally — a point on which I believe they are sorely mistaken! Party recognition DOES has its merits. Looking back at the 2004 and 2008 RNC Platforms, the problem has NOT been with the Platform, but the CANDIDATES that rise up for election, AS A RESULT of sabotage and support of those RINO Candidates from the Left and the MSM.
However, a THIRD PARTY does NOT necessarily guaranty Obama's re-election, as even Rush suggests. 
Some might point to Ross Perot as an example of the FOLLY behind a Third Party. HOWEVER, looking back at the PEROT platform, and comparing common-sense strategies to his progressive causes, it's easy to see that Perot was a populist that rallied RINOs voters, garnering nearly 20% of the popular vote in 1996, but NONE of the Electoral Vote.
Perot had some GOOD ideas, like
(from http://www.ontheissues.org/Ross_Perot.htm): * Lack of Balanced Budget Amendment caused dollar’s decline. (Jul 1996)
* Solving welfare by work will reduce crime. (Jul 1996)
* Supported 50-cent gas tax to pay off deficit. (Jul 1996)
* Reduce the growth rate of federal government. (Jul 1996)
* Drug traffickers will take advantage of open Mexican border. (Jan 1993)
* Tax incentives to encourage corporate & personal savings. (Jul 1996)
HOWEVER, Perot's LIBERAL ideas FAR OUTWEIGHED any fiscal conservatism:
* Abortion is a woman’s choice, including federal funding. (Jul 1992)
* Place disadvantaged kids in government-funded homes. (Nov 1992)
* No right to own machine guns. (Jul 1996)
* Enact strict gun control laws. (Nov 1992)
* Massive redistribution from wealthy to poor. (Nov 1992)
* Electronic Town Hall to replace representative government. (Nov 1992)
* Attack AIDS at every level: more education, more research. (Jul 1992)
I cannot see a scenario where even RINO voters would support Democrats in 2010, or Obama in 2012! That seems too remote at this juncture. For that reason alone, I see a Third Party as viable, especially when considering the UTTER disgust and contempt that Conservatives from ALL parties have for Obama and anyone riding his coattails. IF Palin were to run as a Third Party candidate — which I'm NOT entirely sure she would — she would most-certainly be a
Common-Sense CONSERVATIVE populist. WITHOUT a doubt.
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