3rd Party Ticket?

[OrangeEmpire]

A Third Way In '08?, Dick Meyer: Unity08 Party May Be Just The Ticket - CBS News

I am convinced that this country needs a serious third-party presidential candidacy in 2008. I have written a series of columns recently praying, cajoling, scheming, plotting and wishing for the third way to appear.

In response, I got a cyber-boatload of e-mails that said, "Where can I sign up?" My response has been, "I wish I knew."

Now I know!

You can sign up at http://www.unity08.com. Or call 1-877-UNITY08. That's 1-877-UNITY08. Operators are standing by (I hope; I didn't actually ask).

The idea of Unity08 is to have citizens enroll in the movement online and nominate a unity slate by Internet voting. The goal is for this to happen in the first part of 2008 so that the organization can be sure to get on all state ballots.

What makes a unity slate? The presidential and vice presidential nominees must be from different parties or be independent. The Web-enabled newly active citizens would provide the foot soldiers and dollars for the campaign. It's pretty simple.

Their goal, unlike mine, is not to create a third party. They want this unity ticket to run and win in 2008 to give electroshock therapy to a polarized, petty, ineffectual party duopoly incapable of addressing serious issues in effective ways. If the movement lasts beyond 2008, fine, but that's not their primary concern at all.

The driving forces of Unity08 are a group of consultants-emeritus, Gerald Rafshoon and Hamilton Jordan, who worked for Jimmy Carter, and Doug Bailey, who worked for Gerald Ford and then helped start online political news ventures. You may recall that Mr. Carter beat Mr. Ford in 1976; now these foes are friends. Get it? Unity.

They also have brought in some smart college students and one of the best direct mail fundraisers in politics, Angus King, a former independent governor of Maine (and my Independent Party's candidate for a Maine Senate seat in '08).

Another founder is a "serial entrepreneur" and Republican-flavored banker from Denver named David Maney. He has a great quote: "The biggest unserved consumer market in the U.S. is the political middle."

How true. This gang deeply understands the myth of polarization in America today. Political parties are polarized. Some citizens who are highly politically active or ideological are polarized and their bile is at record levels. American voters as a population are not polarized; but they are only offered polarized options in elections. This isn't a theory; it is the evidence found in virtually every poll you could drum up about the public's views on the most basic civic issues.

Thoughts?

[GAVol]

If McCain and Clinton get the nominations, I think the middle is way too crowded for a 3rd party to be viable.

[MG1968]

Invoking Jimmy Carter isn't the way to go about things. George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton are golf buddies, but you aren't going to see them cavorting about and blathering about how a "unity" ticket will save America.

[OrangeEmpire]

If McCain gets the nomination....... actually I take that back........ I will not vote for the GOP regardless of who gets nominated.......... what am I left with?

Constitution Party National Political Headquarters

Official Website of the Libertarian National Committee

American Patriot Party

There is a lot of talk about Bloomburg running, but that would not be an option.

[MG1968]

go to the poll, but don't cast a vote for president. That will send more of a message than anything else.

[TennTradition]

Originally Posted by GAVol

If McCain and Clinton get the nominations, I think the middle is way too crowded for a 3rd party to be viable.

Obama fairs better among independents than Clinton.

[OrangeEmpire]

Originally Posted by MG1968

go to the poll, but don't cast a vote for president. That will send more of a message than anything else.

I am getting sick and tired of the GOP and the Dems.................

I went the Libertarian route in Ohio but something has to be done to get their attention.

[GAVol]

Originally Posted by TennTradition

Obama fairs better among independents than Clinton.

You're probably right . . . but it's sort of counter intuitive since Obama is to the left of Hillary.

[BigPapaVol]

Originally Posted by GAVol

If McCain and Clinton get the nominations, I think the middle is way too crowded for a 3rd party to be viable.

so you're actually buying that Hillary is a centrist?

[GAVol]

Originally Posted by BigPapaVol

so you're actually buying that Hillary is a centrist?

Not at all. Just saying that a McCain/Hillary campaign would seem to suck up most of the Populist oxygen.

[volsforever27]

Personally it wouldn't break my heart to make a 3rd party out of actual conservatives instead of a bunch of RINO's, but it would be hard to win the Presidency that way; it may be possible to pick up some Congressional seats.

[Rasputin_Vol]

Originally Posted by volsforever27

Personally it wouldn't break my heart to make a 3rd party out of actual conservatives instead of a bunch of RINO's, but it would be hard to win the Presidency that way; it may be possible to pick up some Congressional seats.

You could realistically see a real fight on you hands at both conventions. Even if Hillary wins with 55-60% of the delegates, there would be pressure on her to have Obama on the ticket... if she's lucky. The blacks and new young voters will be miffed and she would be forced to make a deal or risk Obama going 3rd party. Same for the GOP. If McCain and Huck broker a deal, you will see a lot of the fiscal guys sitting home and hoping for better luck in 2012.

[Rasputin_Vol]

Originally Posted by OrangeEmpire

If McCain gets the nomination....... actually I take that back........ I will not vote for the GOP regardless of who gets nominated.......... what am I left with?

Constitution Party National Political Headquarters

Official Website of the Libertarian National Committee

American Patriot Party

There is a lot of talk about Bloomburg running, but that would not be an option.

Sam Nunn?

Sam Nunn - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Overall, Nunn was a moderate-to-conservative Democrat[6] who often broke with his party on a host of social and economic issues. He strongly opposed the budget bill of 1993, which included provisions to raise taxes in order to reduce the deficit. He was also vehement in his opposition to President Bill Clinton's proposal to allow homosexuals to serve openly in the military.[7][8] He voted in favor of school prayer, capping punitive damage awards, amending the U.S. Constitution to require a balanced budget, and limiting death penalty appeals. On certain issues like abortion, the environment, gun control, and affirmative action, Nunn took a more moderate line. He consistently voted in favor of increased immigration.[9] One of his most controversial votes was his vote against the Gulf War. [10]

[volsforever27]

Originally Posted by Rasputin_Vol

You could realistically see a real fight on you hands at both conventions. Even if Hillary wins with 55-60% of the delegates, there would be pressure on her to have Obama on the ticket... if she's lucky. The blacks and new young voters will be miffed and she would be forced to make a deal or risk Obama going 3rd party. Same for the GOP. If McCain and Huck broker a deal, you will see a lot of the fiscal guys sitting home and hoping for better luck in 2012.

Done deal.

[TennTradition]

Originally Posted by Rasputin_Vol

If McCain and Huck broker a deal, you will see a lot of the fiscal guys sitting home and hoping for better luck in 2012.

Do you really think they'll sit at home if Hillary (and her universal health care) is the nominee? That is why McCain actually polls well against Hillary, IMO - it actually brings them out to vote.