Posted on 11/28/2009 10:34:08 PM PST by neverdem
Two very blue states now have strong third-party candidates running for governor.
Third-party candidates rarely win elections. So what...
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While politics is often messy and even contradictory, third-party candidates tend to run strong when one party becomes so dominant that it becomes comfortable pushing unpopular policies...
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In 2006, Mr. Patrick was elected Massachusetts's first African-American governor. But his support for raising the sales tax by 1.25% to 6.25% has eroded his popularity. Earlier this month, a Suffolk University poll found that he has a 51% disapproval rating, slightly higher than where it's stood for months. The same poll found that 55% of voters said someone else should be elected governor next year. Only 32% said Mr. Patrick should be re-elected...
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Both men were successful because large numbers of voters are unwilling to embrace a candidate simply because of party affiliation. In Massachusetts, 50.2% of voters are registered as unaffiliated with either party (up from 42.2% in 1990). In Rhode Island, 50.1% are unaffiliated. Those numbers tell us that a majority of voters are somewhat disaffected with both parties. Messrs. Cahill and Chafee are hoping to stitch together a coalition of these voters...
--snip--
In 2006, Mr. Lieberman lost a Democratic Party primary fight against antiwar candidate Ned Lamont but went on to win re-election as an independent. The plurality of voters in Connecticut, 44%, are unaffiliated with a party, compared to 33.7% who are Democrats and 22% who are Republicans. These voters dictated the outcome in November, and they represented a more diverse electorate that was interested in more than merely the war in Iraq.
Whether Messrs. Cahill and Chafee become the latest in a string of successful New England independents likely depends on how far out of step with voters Democratic candidates get in each state.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Unhappily, at least so far, most independents who make it to Congress tend to side with Democrats.
Why would they side with the GOP? It would be like booking a ticket on the Titanic after you knew it had sunk.
While I’m not against 3rd parties per se, they are usually spoilers, but rarely win.
We need to be practical when we vote.
This is true in Rhode Island where democrats outnumber repubs 10-1. Chaffee should have gone ind a long time ago, as the R banner acts like a lead anchor on any candidate.
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Voting for the lesser of two evils—is still voting for evil.
Definition of insanity—doing the same thing over and over, and expecting a differant outcome.
Sounds like voting for the lesser evil would beget LESSER EVIL but I guess that New England Yankee common sense that we heard about from the PR Press means don’t vote unless there is the perfect candidate. BTW it’s all about ME, ME, ME....let’s talk about ME!
Voting for the lesser of two evils—is still voting for evil.
Definition of insanity—doing the same thing over and over, and expecting a differant outcome.
Good point....unfortunately too many would rather vote for a GOP Liberal because they are merely in the GOP....
Third parties can win once we do away with this suicide mentality of voting merely because someone is in the GOP...and stop listening to radio-talk show hosts who have this same mentality
Throw the bums out!!
That way you can elect brand new shiny bums.
“Unhappily, at least so far, most independents who make it to congress tend to side with Democrats.”
That’s the way more Liberal Democrats can get elected. They claim they’re “independent”, call themselves brilliant and above they fray, get elected, and then bring their electoral prizes to their elitist masters at Democrat Party central under cover of darkness.
IMHO
Almost half my CT town is registered as Indy. Most are Democrats too gutless to admit what they are.
> Voting for the lesser of two evils—is still voting for evil.
I try to think of it as voting for the greater good.
However, you are correct about repeating a process and expecting different results being a symptom of insanity.
The “Lesser Evil” has betrayed us EVERY ... SINGLE ... TIME.
No point voting that way anymore.
If the GOP had conviction and stood actually for sound principles they would run conservative candidates in ALL districts. They have a mentality of just getting bodies in office with the R next to their name...you can never count on them to vote R when you absolutely need them.
“Definition of insanity—doing the same thing over and over, and expecting a differant outcome.”
That’s what people who vote for 3rd parties do, just because the candidate of a viable party isn’t “perfect.”
Don’t get me wrong, I supported Hoffman, because he had a strong chance to win, and if BOTH candidates TRULY were evil, I would also vote third party, but tossing around that an “imperfect” candidate is “evil” is a stretch, and simply not true or commonsensical.
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