Posted on 03/24/2008 9:38:28 PM PDT by EternalVigilance
Many conservatives are feeling left out of the 2008 presidential race, with the likes of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama battling for the Democratic nomination and the GOP endorsement likely going to U.S. Sen. John McCain, who has worked with Democrats on campaign limits as well as amnesty for illegal aliens, and in 2004 actually was thought of as a possible running mate for Democratic candidate John Kerry.
Some prominent leaders, including Focus on the Family founder James Dobson, even have said they will not vote rather than vote for the liberal leanings of McCain.
So is 2008 the year when a third-party candidate would find some traction among those disaffected by the abortion, marriage and national security stances found in the records of the three front-runners left in the race?
Charles Lewis, national outreach director for Christian Exodus, is one of those behind the launch of the new Save America Summit website, and believes it's not only time, it's overdue.
"Even the national conservative pundits who have drunk the Koolaid have to say 'hold your nose and vote for McCain,'" Lewis told WND. "Not one of them recommended voting for McCain in a primary."
Among those joining in the effort are presidential candidate Alan Keyes, American Minute founder Bill Federer, Council for National Policy member Bob Fischer, Minuteman national executive Director Al Garza, Constitution Party founder Howard Phillips, Gun Owners of American executive director Larry Pratt, Minuteman Civil Defense Corps founder Chris Simcox, Operation Save America founder Flip Benham and dozens of others.
(Excerpt) Read more at worldnetdaily.com ...
The whole article is a long read, but worth it.
Bloomberg gave up on his plan to go independent for one reason: Americans do not want a 3rd party candidate.
America wants McCain over anyone else, and that’s what counts.
Among those joining in the effort are presidential candidate Alan Keyes, American Minute founder Bill Federer, Council for National Policy member Bob Fischer, Minuteman national executive Director Al Garza, Constitution Party founder Howard Phillips, Gun Owners of American executive director Larry Pratt, Minuteman Civil Defense Corps founder Chris Simcox, Operation Save America founder Flip Benham and dozens of others.
Couldn’t find anybody sane?
ping...
What about you?
Count me among the insane then. Though I think it is the other way around. I think it is insane to vote for McCain in the vain hope that he is better than the other two.
It's always the crazy folks who gotta pull you sane people out of the fire.
Actually he gave it up because there's already going to be four liberals on the ballot in November.
A conservative third party candidate will not work unless there are countervailing liberal third parties that dilute the votes in a general presidential election, which would give the conservative 3rd party a chance to win. So the answer is no to a third party... for now.
Nader is running independent, and the crazy lady, Cynthia McKinney, is going to be on the Green Party ballot.
ping...
Has former president Ross Perot weighed in on this?
Will the Presidential ballots be marked with “None of the Above”?
I feel like I woke up in the Bizarro World.
without the crossover voting allowed in primaries would mccain have won the GOP nomination ?
It is really a serious observation to say that McCain is the same as the corrupt Hillary Clinton and the socialist Hussein? Is McCain's position on the war against Islamo Fascism the same as Clinton's and Obama’s? If the answer is no then we don't need a third losing party.
I, for one, could care less what Ross Perot thinks. He was never a conservative.
Actually, now that you mention it, though, John McCain reminds me of Perot.
All they need, or want, to do is pull enough votes in Florida and California to seem relevant.
And that just may happen, especially in Florida.
Most likely, yes.
The Dem turnout in their primaries was huge. I sincerely doubt the crossover to the Republicans was as much as many would like to think it was. Believe it or not, the Dems were, and probably still are, very excited about voting in their own primaries.
Respectfully, I consider that a moot question. Why? Because the Republican leadership gave control over the vetting of our candidates and the setting of the terms of the debate to the Democrat Media. To make a long story short, that’s why the formerly Grand Old Party ended up with a Democrat nominee.
Well, the Democrats and Republicans have never nominated such duds, either.
with the question i was trying to promote some discussion about crossover voting in the primaries. thanks EV.
Sorry. I just had a different focus.
Open primaries are just plain stupid.
That would like being in a war and letting the enemy help choose your generals.
Is Ralph Nader running as third party? Didn't he consider running?
Couldn’t find anybody sane?
Opinions are like hinies, we all have one!
Yep, you’re insane
Of course they have, and often. In too many elections we are left choosing the lesser dud.
Anyway, EV, I'm off for the night, have fun with your thread. :)
That’s the opinion I have of the process as well — why in the world would you let a Democrat vote for which Republican will be up against their candidate? Now THAT’s insanity!
i agree with you completely
Have a great evening!
I spend part of my time working in Idaho, where our conservative Republican friends, after much battling with RINO party leadership, have finally managed to close their primary. It’s about time.
No.
We have no choice, since all that the Republicans and the Democrats are offering are George Soros purchases.
The way to replace the GOP with a true conservative party, the only reasonable way, is to recruit the already elected conservative Republicans to the new party and then you have an instant political party without a vote being cast.
From there, the new party cuts a deal with the Republicans to only challenge their most egregious rino incumbents if they agree not to challenge the conservative incumbents of the new party. It would be absurd for the Republicans to challenge a conservative incumbent since they'd never win the seat and could only help a Democrat get elected. Such an action would only cause the Republican dead-enders to jump ship to the new party.
It can be done, but it requires some planning and less emotion.
all of it needs to be closed
You make very good points, ones I’ve certainly considered for a long time.
Two things are true for me in this general election: I will not support John McCain under any circumstances, and I WILL support true conservatives at every level, with no regard to party.
Yes, it is. But the key IMHO, is the Christians. It sounds as though they are attempting to mobilize through the Christian networks, which is exactly the thing to do. If Dobson and a few other Christian leaders get on board, this thing is gonna fly. If the Christians settle in behind one candidate and get his numbers (votes and $$m) into double digits (think Huck), the rest will take care of itself.
Yet another very serious issue, and one the Christians must pay attention to, is that the nominee must be a Reagan Conservative, capable of drawing from all three pillars of Conservatism. This is paramount, as Huckabee's run proved- The Christians can haul 'em outta' the basement and get them seen, but they cannot provide a win for the candidate without the rest of the Conservative community behind them.
This is critically important, because a third party candidate will be fighting heavy Republicanism all the way, and must be able to speak to the hearts of all conservatives to get tem to leave the Pubbies in droves. If they get past the "3rd parties can't win" crowd, the win is very possible.
There are more leftist third parties than right-wing ones.
Left wing: Democrats, Greens, Communists, Workers’ World Socialist, and now Republican
Right wing: Constitution, Libertarian, Natural Law (I think)
I agree on all points.
A very insightful post.
I agree,I protested in the primary,but now it’s McCain or Hillary or obama or even Gore or a combination of them,,geesh!
start the conservative movement AFTER the election.
I just don’t understand your “logic.”
I've voted against McCain so many times I don't know if I can bring myself to change. If you want to vote for him I'll not try to change your mind.
Unlikely to make a difference in 2008. We are laying the groundwork for 2012.
Bloomberg gave up because America doesn't want him.
America wants McCain over anyone else, and that’s what counts.
Well, then, America must be stupid.
I'll take a third party candidate because I absolutely refuse to vote for McCain.
Forget the 3rd party candidate, draft JC Watts.
Nice, but I don’t think we have that long.
Draft him for what? Sorry, I don’t get it.
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