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Do the debates unfairly shut out third parties?
CBS News ^
| October 15, 2012
| Brian Montopoli
Posted on 10/15/2012 4:52:35 AM PDT by teflon9
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The Democrat and Republican Parties (which are really just two wings of one party) have a monopoly that would make the robber barons of the Gilded Age green with envy. George Wallace famously declared that there isn't a dime's worth of difference between the 'rats and the GOP. Of course that was in 1968. A dime then is worth about 65 cents now. Still, that's not even enough to buy a small bag of M&Ms. Sad fact is, until we have a proportional electoral college (my lips to God's ears on this one), third parties will have a hard time making a real difference.
1
posted on
10/15/2012 4:52:43 AM PDT
by
teflon9
To: teflon9
The constitution cuts out third parties by not providing for a majority.
To: teflon9
There isn’t 65 cents worth of difference between the ‘rats and the GOP. There IS a huge difference between obama and Romney.
To: teflon9
4
posted on
10/15/2012 4:55:50 AM PDT
by
driftdiver
(I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
To: teflon9
I’d watch a Biden vs Rosanne Barr debate LOL
To: teflon9
The Communist Party and the Green Party will be well-represented at the debate.
6
posted on
10/15/2012 4:58:03 AM PDT
by
SC_Pete
To: Michigander222
Me too...... what a spectacle.
7
posted on
10/15/2012 5:00:14 AM PDT
by
bert
((K.E. N.P. N.C. +12 ..... Present failure and impending death yield irrational action))
To: teflon9
Are the debates fair at all?
8
posted on
10/15/2012 5:02:00 AM PDT
by
bmwcyle
(Corollary - Electing the same person over and over and expecting a different outcome is insanity)
To: teflon9
I always felt that there should be a stand alone debate for Third party candidates. Voters could watch them and decide. But it becomes too much of a circus to put them in with the R/D candidates.
9
posted on
10/15/2012 5:03:00 AM PDT
by
rbg81
To: driftdiver
Third parties are pretenders.
The candidates pretend to run and be relevant. Their Voters pretend they are voting.
10
posted on
10/15/2012 5:03:00 AM PDT
by
bert
((K.E. N.P. N.C. +12 ..... Present failure and impending death yield irrational action))
To: driftdiver
Third parties either love drugs or the enviornment like a religion, but they don’t get enough of a percentage to be included in a real choice debate.
Once Perot elevated himself enough to be included with 11% and I think it would take that.
11
posted on
10/15/2012 5:09:51 AM PDT
by
A CA Guy
( God Bless America, God bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
To: teflon9
Do you know what this is? It's the smallest violin in theworld playing the tiniest and saddest song ever written.
May they continue to be shut out. ESPECIALLY THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY!
12
posted on
10/15/2012 5:14:18 AM PDT
by
righttackle44
( I may not be much, but I raised a United States Marine . . .)
To: teflon9
Whaaa!
Stop pretending like the 3rd parties magically represent all the independents. The independents are largely indecisive, not looking for more options.
In most marketing scenarios the choices are between Coke & Pepsi, an incumbent or an alternative. Perot got into the debates in 1992, Anderson in 1980. There is no monopoly.
If Gary Johnson, or Rosanne Barr for that matter, had any traction with voters they could get on the stage as well.
The fact is these candidates don’t represent the independent voters either.
13
posted on
10/15/2012 5:18:04 AM PDT
by
rwilson99
(Please tell me how the words "shall not perish and have everlasting life" would NOT apply to Mary.)
To: teflon9
Considering what’s happening to the GOP, we’re going to need a second party soon.
14
posted on
10/15/2012 5:20:01 AM PDT
by
cripplecreek
(What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?)
To: ImJustAnotherOkie; teflon9; All
A little thing called the Electoral College keeps it that way..
15
posted on
10/15/2012 5:23:59 AM PDT
by
KevinDavis
(And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.)
To: rwilson99
By that logic, 99 percent of the cars on the road should be either GM or Ford.
16
posted on
10/15/2012 5:24:30 AM PDT
by
teflon9
(Political campaigns should follow Johnny Mercer's advice--Accentuate the positive.)
To: KevinDavis
Like I said, a proportional (as opposed to an odious winner-takes-all) electoral college would be a godsend. Fat chance of that ever happening, though.
17
posted on
10/15/2012 5:25:48 AM PDT
by
teflon9
(Political campaigns should follow Johnny Mercer's advice--Accentuate the positive.)
To: rbg81
The “debates” are a farce.
18
posted on
10/15/2012 5:27:55 AM PDT
by
Jim Noble
(Diseases desperate grown are by desperate appliance relieved or not at all.)
To: teflon9
Oh, heck, let Rosanne Barr open with the national anthem...of course, provide earplugs for all present.
19
posted on
10/15/2012 5:28:44 AM PDT
by
CincyRichieRich
(Keep your head up and keep moving forward!)
To: CincyRichieRich
That could be a ratings booster. But her voice is a deadly weapon, so I don’t think the Secret Service would allow it!
20
posted on
10/15/2012 5:31:31 AM PDT
by
teflon9
(Political campaigns should follow Johnny Mercer's advice--Accentuate the positive.)
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