Like I'm 5, 2012 3rd party pres. candidates?

[Deleted]

I'm starting to think I won't be able to hold my nose and vote for Obama or Romney, but staying home feels wrong.

Opinions and links are welcome. Here's a good list.

www.politics1.com/p2012.htm

I didn't know Roseanne Barr was running. Perfect campaign ad -- clip of her singing national anthem, grabbing crotch and spitting. Oh, hell, she doesn't even need campaign ads, she had me at reeducation camps and beheadings. Cray cray.

But seriously, let's talk. I want to talk about and read more about Gary Johnson and others you think are worth a look. I'm embarrassed that I haven't paid more attention to any of them before now but I'm ready to remedy that.

[Deleted]

Jill Stein for the Green Party. She has experience running against Romney (she ran for gov of Mass against him. )

[Deleted]

I'm reading through Johnson's position on the issues, sound pretty good so far. I know plenty of people on this board would take issue with not aborting past the point of viability. But beyond that, I'm nodding my head a lot. Particularly on repealing Patriot Act, knocking some sense into airport security, and allowing gay marriage.

www.garyjohnson2012.com/issues

"THE FREEDOMS ON WHICH AMERICA WAS FOUNDED are now under attack from the very people charged with protecting and upholding them.

The PATRIOT Act should be repealed, which would restore proper judicial oversight to federal investigations and again require federal investigators to prove probable cause prior to executing a search.
Habeas corpus should be respected entirely, requiring the government to either charge incarcerated individuals with a crime or release them.
The TSA should take a risk-based approach to airport security. Only high-risk individuals should be subjected to invasive pat-downs and full-body scans.
The TSA should not have a monopoly on airport security. Airports and airlines should be encouraged to seek the most effective methods for screening travelers, including private sector screeners. Screeners outside of government can be held fully accountable for their successes and failures.

WE ARE A NATION OF MANY PEOPLES and beliefs. The only way to respect all citizens is to allow each to make personal decisions themselves.

Life is precious and must be protected. A woman should be allowed to make her own decisions during pregnancy until the point of viability of a fetus.
Stem cell research should only be completed by private laboratories that operate without federal funding.
Government should not impose its values upon marriage. It should allow marriage equality, including gay marriage. It should also protect the rights of religious organizations to follow their beliefs."

[Deleted]

Septimus, so, are the green party primaries still in progress, or is she the nominee yet?

[Deleted]

Serious question - does the 3rd party have any hope at all in the US?
Our 'third party' here is actually now the 2nd party by way of votes and forms the opposition. It was something people didn't necessarily foresee but it was definitely a possibility.

[Deleted]

Lauriergirl, where are you? I'm sure other people could speak more informatively about it, but I suspect that it COULD happen. Not in this cycle. Though I often complain about the major parties, and I can't identify strongly with either, I never have the balls to vote for 3rd party in national elections. As a result, I rarely feel as though I'm voting for someone, but simply against my least favorite.

But this might be the year I change that.

[msmerymac]

LaurierGirl, third parties in the US have a hard row to hoe because they do not have the financing or exposure of the two major parties. When Ross Perot gained 19% of the popular vote as an independent, he was able to secure some federal financing for the following election cycle. Ralph Nader tried to get at least 5% of the popular vote in 2000 to gain financing (which would allow more television ads), but only got 2%.

The other impediment to a more-than-2-party system is the fact that we have the electoral college. And that we don't have a parliamentary system. Nor do we have instant run-off voting.

There are a few members of congress who are independent and caucus with the Dems. There are local (and possibly state) politicians who run and win with third parties. I went to college in a totally hippy-dippy city where Ralph Nader got like 12% of the popular vote in 2000. Their city council was also split between Dem and Independents-who-thought-dems-were-too-conservative.

Anyway, I don't have nor do I like voting strategies. Vote for the politician who best represents your views. I'm not into party politics. That's why I've never been a member of a political party. I've voted for Democrats, Greens, Independents, and yes, even a Republican here and there.

I wish the whole "third party voting is wasting your vote!" philosophy would go away so more people would actually vote their conscience. But then, this is America, and half the population can't be bothered to inform themselves about a race between TWO people and vote accordingly, so...

[msmerymac]

May 22, 2012 10:16:32 GMT -5 @vanessadoof said:

Septimus, so, are the green party primaries still in progress, or is she the nominee yet?

I think their convention is next month.

[Deleted]

May 22, 2012 12:03:56 GMT -5 @vanessadoof said:

Lauriergirl, where are you? I'm sure other people could speak more informatively about it, but I suspect that it COULD happen. Not in this cycle. Though I often complain about the major parties, and I can't identify strongly with either, I never have the balls to vote for 3rd party in national elections. As a result, I rarely feel as though I'm voting for someone, but simply against my least favorite.

But this might be the year I change that.

Canada. We've usually had 2 strong federal parties and 2 moderate (one being the bloc which is a French one), but last election the NDP beat out the liberals to finish 2nd, which is rare. Pretty cool.

I think the 'waste of a vote' for a 3rd party mentality is very strong, even here despite the last election. Ivevalways wondered how election results may differ if people actually voted who they wanted to support as opposed to strategically, kwim?

[wawa]

May 22, 2012 13:38:55 GMT -5 @littlemoxie said:

I voted Nader in 2000. I like Obama and am happy to vote for him, but even if I weren't, I'm not naive enough to "vote my conscience" in national elections. For local stuff, sure, maybe it will make a difference. But for the presidency, that's just voting for the other guy.

This is the one nice thing about living in a very very partisan state. I can vote for whoever I actually like, because there is absolutely no question of which way our electoral college votes are going. It sucks, but it's also kinda freeing.

[basilosaurus]

Laurier, in 2010 in Colorado, the r candidate only barely got 10% due to a 3rd party. If he hadn't hit that threshold, there would have been major problems, as that would jeopardize the r status as a major party. I think that was for a senate position, so not exactly a small election.