If ever there was an opening for a 3rd party in this country...

[OneOfTheseDays]

...it is now.

 

[epidemis]

Yes, I hear the tea party is a viable option

 

[wuliheron]

...it is now.

Its a two party system.

 

[Craig234]

You're missing the point. The backers of the two parties, the powers in our society, don't change over a 'new party'.

If people just wanted a 'good party', they could elect progressive Democrats who, among many other things, would not have had this manufactured crisis.

But they don't. There's massive money, a massive propaganda organization, pushing other opinions that get in the way of any competition.

These powers manipulate a 'third party' if it's going to get many votes - that's what the story of the tea party largely is.

What's needed is less a 'third party' than to reduce the corruption of the two we have.

 

[schneiderguy]

Y
If people just wanted a 'good party', they could elect progressive Democrats who, among many other things, would not have had this manufactured crisis.

lololololol

 

[Slick5150]

I'm surprised the Republicans aren't telling the crazy tea partiers to GTFO at this point and form their own wacko party. The tea party wing of the GOP is driving their negative polling numbers through the roof.

 

[Moonbeam]

I'm surprised the Republicans aren't telling the crazy tea partiers to GTFO at this point and form their own wacko party. The tea party wing of the GOP is driving their negative polling numbers through the roof.

Good. Republicans have always pandered for the votes of the insane. Live with the consequences.

 

[Imp]

I always thought my country's system was better with 3 (4th emerging) parties. Not really. One party that only got like 40% of the popular vote is ruling while the other 60% gets to eff themselves.

 

[sarsipias1234]

Delete

 

[ProfJohn]

Smartest thing the Tea Party types did was to stay within the GOP and try to change it from within.

They have a huge amount of power now compared to what they would have had as a third party getting 10% of the vote in elections.

Put Perry or Bachmann in the White House and we would probably see the most conservative governing this country has ever seen. (at least post ww 2)

 

[wuliheron]

I'm surprised the Republicans aren't telling the crazy tea partiers to GTFO at this point and form their own wacko party. The tea party wing of the GOP is driving their negative polling numbers through the roof.

The republican party began shrinking before this current fiasco. The rats are abandoning ship and the ranks of the democrats are growing. The problem is the Tea Party is a sizable chunk of the republican party and even the less extreme republicans sympathize with a lot of their goals. Its a family feud and the current "no new taxes" stance is their last ditch effort to keep the family from falling apart.

As any cop will tell you, the worst calls are always the domestic disputes.

 

[ProfJohn]

The republican party began shrinking before this current fiasco. The rats are abandoning ship and the ranks of the democrats are growing.

What are you smoking??

The Republicans hold more national and state offices than at any time in their history.

Republicans control 29 governorships (20D) 27 State Upper houses (21D) 30 Lower houses (18D) and 242 House seats (193D) The ONLY area they are lagging is in the Senate and of course the Presidency.

The Republicans control more state houses than at any time in their history.
And there are more house members than at any time since 1946.

 

[sarsipias1234]

Delete

 

[MotF Bane]

If people just wanted a 'good party', they could elect progressive Democrats who, among many other things, would not have had this manufactured crisis.

Bullshit.

 

[brencat]

The republican party began shrinking before this current fiasco. The rats are abandoning ship and the ranks of the democrats are growing. The problem is the Tea Party is a sizable chunk of the republican party and even the less extreme republicans sympathize with a lot of their goals. Its a family feud and the current "no new taxes" stance is their last ditch effort to keep the family from falling apart.

Actually no. The 2010 election was a rout, and especially at the state level with Republicans in control of a lot of governorships. There is an ebb and flow to both parties, and our voting citizens are pretty good at sniffing out extremism from both parties and correcting for it at the next election.

But there's no question that we have reached a point in time where many feel our Federal govt has gotten too damn big and our national debt is at truly criminal levels and drastic measures have to be taken. That is why the Tea Party exists. They may seem extreme but most are economic conservatives who are trying to save the country from becoming a broke and increasingly irrelevant welfare state like much of Europe.

Do we want to cede democracy to those communist Chinese bastards? If not, then this Keynsian experiment must stop and we must get our house in order before it's too late. (Psst... yeah, that means taxes have to go up too PROVIDED the proceeds go to debt paydown).

 

[BarneyFife]

Americans are stupid. They are like ProJo who either are unemployed or make 20k a year believing the Republican smoke about how unions and govt benefits are all to blame for their ills. I can't help but laugh here in Michigan that the unemployed voted republican and one of the first things they did was cut unemployment benefits LOLOLOL. Not only are they going to be suffering pretty soon but to top that off, our unemployment rate is going back up. Sucks to be unemployed and Republican. You got what your deserve, sucker.

 

[wuliheron]

What are you smoking??

The Republicans hold more national and state offices than at any time in their history.

Republicans control 29 governorships (20D) 27 State Upper houses (21D) 30 Lower houses (18D) and 242 House seats (193D) The ONLY area they are lagging is in the Senate and of course the Presidency.

The Republicans control more state houses than at any time in their history.
And there are more house members than at any time since 1946.

I didn't say their politicians are shrinking, the party members are shrinking along with public support for the party. They made a political comeback after the democrats passed the healthcare bill, but if they can't stop their membership from shrinking and the approval rating from going in the toilet on the national scene its bad news.

 

[wuliheron]

Actually no. The 2010 election was a rout, and especially at the state level with Republicans in control of a lot of governorships. There is an ebb and flow to both parties, and our voting citizens are pretty good at sniffing out extremism from both parties and correcting for it at the next election.

But there's no question that we have reached a point in time where many feel our Federal govt has gotten too damn big and our national debt is at truly criminal levels and drastic measures have to be taken. That is why the Tea Party exists. They may seem extreme but most are economic conservatives who are trying to save the country from becoming a broke and increasingly irrelevant welfare state like much of Europe.

Do we want to cede democracy to those communist Chinese bastards? If not, then this Keynsian experiment must stop and we must get our house in order before it's too late. (Psst... yeah, that means taxes have to go up too PROVIDED the proceeds go to debt paydown).

Forget to take your anti-psychotics today? Take deep breaths... In and out... in and out... Good. Now wipe the foam from your mouth.

 

[dmcowen674]

If ever there was an opening for a 3rd party in this country...
...it is now.

Negative, the corporations that own the Government would never let that happen.

 

[finglobes]

The Ross Perot experiment taught GOP that a splinter group means failure for them. Better to fix the party from within. That is exactly what has been taking place. The GOP has some good new leadership and that trend will continue. The Dems have self destructed under the radicals, MoveOn, Soros etc. They are lucky the GOP old guard throws them so many life preservers

 

[Rainsford]

The problem with a third party in the long run is that it's not enough for the two major parties to be unpopular, the third party has to have their own good ideas. In the short term, dissatisfaction with the Dems and Reps can lead to new voices (like the Tea Party in the 2010 election), but the problem is that once the third party has a voice, they have to use it well to provide a real alternative.

I'm sure I'm biased against the Tea Party (and not just because they have a stupid name), but it seems like the alternative they're presenting now that they have some power is "burn everything down". Long term, I'm not sure voters will view them as a reasonable alternative to Democrats and more traditional Republicans.

 

[Rainsford]

Smartest thing the Tea Party types did was to stay within the GOP and try to change it from within.

They have a huge amount of power now compared to what they would have had as a third party getting 10% of the vote in elections.

Put Perry or Bachmann in the White House and we would probably see the most conservative governing this country has ever seen. (at least post ww 2)

I think it was smart for the Tea Party to do that. I'm not sure it was smart for the regular Republicans to play along. Taking the GOP way farther to the right might attract more conservatives who were disgusted by the "big tent", more mainstream approach the Republicans have tried in the past...but I'm not sure there are enough hardcore conservatives to make that a good idea long-term. It certainly worked in 2010, but one election isn't a pattern. And the confluence of events that made 2010 a route for Democrats probably isn't going to end up being repeated every election.

 

[halik]

If people just wanted a 'good party', they could elect progressive Democrats who, among many other things, would not have had this manufactured crisis.

Oh yeah, americans are lining up for $3T of new taxes. Disregard reality and substitute your own, eh?

 

[Jaskalas]

Yes, I hear the tea party is a viable option

They need to defeat the GOP.

 

[Craig234]

Oh yeah, americans are lining up for $3T of new taxes. Disregard reality and substitute your own, eh?

Any sensible American is lining up for those who have seen their incomes skyrocketing - more than doubling their share of income - pay more taxes relieving the burden on the bottom 99%.

I know sensible American is not of any interest to you, though.

Right now, many of these billionares are trying to recruit Chris Christy to run fo President on the basis of Obama launching a 'class war' against them. They are deluded, like you.

Fifty of the most prized donors in national politics, including several hedge-fund billionaires who are among the richest people in the world, schlepped to a Manhattan office or hovered around speakerphones Tuesday afternoon as their host, venture capitalist Ken Langone (pronounced LAN-goan), a co-founder of The Home Depot, implored New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to reconsider and seek the GOP presidential nomination. The governor was firm that it’s not in the cards this time, but left his spurned suitors with the impression he might well go in 2016. He impressed the audience with his emphasis on family and commitment, and flashes of disarming humor.

Langone backed Rudy Giuliani in 2008, and his guests came from both parties, although most were moderate Republicans. Most are uncommitted in the presidential race. Participants who rank on the Forbes list of richest Americans included Bernie Marcus, Paul Tudor Jones (hedge funds; $3.3 billion), Stan Druckenmiller (hedge funds; $2.5 billion) and Bernie Marcus (Home Depot; $1.9 billion).

Several of them said: I’m Republican but I voted for President Obama, because I couldn’t live with Sarah Palin. Many said they were severely disappointed in the president. The biggest complaint was what several called “class warfare.” They said they didn’t understand what they had done to deserve that: If you want to have a conversation about taxation, have a conversation. But a president shouldn’t attack his constituents – he’s not the president of some people, he’s president of all the people. Someone mentioned Huey Long populism.

Good reason for 99% of Americans not to shop at Home Depot. Lowe's is nice.