Posted on 04/14/2012 7:08:22 PM PDT by Engraved-on-His-hands
Sorry for the vanity, but, due to the unpleasant situation in which Mitt Romney is the favorite for the Republican Party nomination for President, I thought that exploring other options might be an appropriate topic. While Newt Gingrich is still in the running for the Republican nod, his chances do not appear to be good. Although not giving up entirely on him at this point, I thought that exploring third party options might be helpful as a fallback plan. (Caveat: I am not an expert on the parties discussed.)
There are at least 53 political parties in the United States. Apart from the Democrat and Republican parties, there are three others with occasional minor national significance: the Constitution Party, the Libertarian Party, and the Green Party. Of the remaining 48 parties, there are five that are national parties that have a conservative foundation. For the purpose of this post, I will not look at the libertarian parties, nor will I consider those that are moderate or more left-wing in their views.
Apart from the Constitution Party, the five national conservative parties are the following:
America First Party
America's Party
American Party
Christian Liberty Party
Independent American Party
Of these five, the America First Party, the Christian Liberty Party, and the American Party appear to be either inactive or so miniscule in activity and efforts that they might be considered inactive for all practical purposes. The Independent American Party and America’s Party appear to be the most active. However, I could not find any source indicating that the Independent American Party intends to have a nominee for President in 2012.
This leaves the Constitution Party and America’s Party as the conservative third party options.
The Constitution Party holds its nominating convention this coming Wednesday through Saturday in Nashville. The favorite for the nomination at this point appears to be Virgil Goode, former congressman from Virginia, although there is a good bit of controversy and dissension regarding his nomination.
America’s Party has chosen Tom Hoefling as its nominee. Tom posts on FreeRepublic as Eternal Vigilance. (Note: I have been a long-time fan of Tom’s posts.)
We should have a better grasp of the Constitution Party after their convention in a few days. If they nominate a suitable conservative who can unite their party, their stock should rise. If they fail, whether this provides an opening for an improved status for America’s Party this year remains to be seen.
I am not suggesting that either the Constitution Party or America’s Party will nominate the next President of the United States. However, as an ardent social conservative, I believe that neither the Republicans or Democrats have left social conservatives with a real option this year (assuming that Romney is the Republican nominee instead of Newt). Consider voting for a third party a protest vote if you will. Criticize it if you will. Each of us must do what we think is right and best. I'm not trying to create controversy with this post. I'm just trying to present information to those who might be interested.
Here are the websites for the two primary third party options discussed:
www.constitutionparty.com
www.selfgovernment.us
Thanks.
There are a couple of small parties with that label. Just didn’t find what I was looking for there.
IF?! You didn’t happen to see who the Pennsylvania GOP governor and party officially endorsed in the Senate primary here, did you? Steve Welch, a millionaire who was a registered Democrat, donated to Joe Sestak and voted for Obama? Do you just “assume” the GOP is conservative without looking into it? Rush Limbaugh himself said on Greta a couple months ago that he eventually realized the GOP is not a conservative party.
Hmmm.......
Your 'about page' is nothing but conservative quotes....
Here you say you will vote for the Green Party candidate this time...
Perhaps America's favorite nut job will run again as Green Party candidate like she did in 2008....
I normally don't slam another FReeper, B-U-T, Are you as crazy as that lunatic Cynthia? Or, did you forget to refill your meds when you ran out? Or, am I completely stupid and didn't understand your reasoning?
Because if the GOP is also left wing, than conservatives like us here on FR are truly a small minority then.
We are. How much of the GOP actually wants to end abortion? cut the size of government? keep marriage just for one man and one woman? eliminate pay to play and other forms of bribery? actually live under the US constitution as written?
By what measure is the GOP even centrist? The fact that it is to the right of where the Democrats are today?
I’m not talking about opting out. I’m talking about nominating Newt Gingrich.
If we are stuck with a man who uses government power to coerce people to perform abortions against their will it will be because primary voters opted out of voting for Gingrich, giving the primary race to Romney. Tyrant Light.
Not me.
Because if the GOP is also left wing, than conservatives like us here on FR are truly a small minority then.
We are. How much of the GOP actually wants to end abortion? cut the size of government? keep marriage just for one man and one woman? eliminate pay to play and other forms of bribery? actually live under the US constitution as written?
By what measure is the GOP even centrist? The fact that it is to the right of where the Democrats are today?
oh my goodness! You are such an incredible strategerist. You should go work for newt. Seriously. I’m sure you can get him elected by thursday.
Here’s a small hint for ya...NEWT IS BROKE CUZ NO ONE LIKES HIM!
” - - -NOW is the time to fight - - -”
The major fight that I see is whether or not to reject the GOP Elites endorsements of who THEY want to run against Obama.
So “the fight” is between the ears of the voters. Shall we trust the GOP Elites agin, or do we know better as to who can best defeat Obama?
Most voters will agree with what they see, round one goes to the most TV ads candidate.
Round three is what can be won on the floor of the Tampa Convention.
BTW, Round two is to do what butterdezillion said. (Search and find, ‘cause it will galvanize your mind).
Do you have any gravel? Sand will work. By that I mean, it’s pretty much axiomatic political science that 3rd parties don’t decide elections. They certainly sway results, and affect issues, and the margin of victory, but they don’t decide the winner.
If you have any bags of aggregate handy I’d like to have it because I’ll chew a 50 lb. bag of sand before I vote for abortionist, gun grabber, tax-master & statist Milton Romney.
The GOP and `Mitt’ can hold their breath until they turn blue, but conservatives ain’t voting for them. Here’s your TSS. Now, all of you can go peddle your papers.
YES!!!I'm finally getting through to them...s/barack
Thanks for posting this. Assuming Romney is the Republican nominee, I will cast my vote for whichever of these candidates appears the stronger in November.
Newt is not going to win the nomination, its over. Even Newt would agree. He’s staying in because this is it for him. Their is no political future for him. He’s in his late 60’s and will be in his 70’s before the next go around. Santorum dropped out because he is a younger man, he has a future. Newt is selling books and trying to raise his speakers fee. And good for Newt. Calista seems to be high maintenance. He has nothing to lose by staying in. If people need him to blow of steam for the remaining primaries, he serves a purpose for the party. I could listen to him speak for hours, but his baggage was too heavy. That is reality. I wish it was different, but it isn’t.
Rush Limbaugh Slams GOP Establishment: ‘We Nominate Milquetoast Moderates And We Lose’
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/2820754/posts?page=1
The point is not to "defeat Obama," it's to defeat all people pushing socialism/marxism/liberalism/statism. Which means we win NOTHING if we defeat Obama with an Obama-lite. It's debatable whether Romney is even just a lite version of Obama. Romney had more sweeping success passing liberal legislation in his 4 years as governor than Obama did as president so far.
To reiterate: I will not vote against my principles. (s/barack not withstanding.
BUMP
This reminds me of an vinyl record that gets stuck repeating the same words over and over. No Perot didn't bring us 8 years of Clinton. Poppy gave us eight years of Clinton because Clinton ran to the right of the Northeastern Rockefeller Liberal. So did Bob Dole. Remember that one? Dole surrounded himself with the GOP liberal of liberals and lost just as Romney will loose.
Poppy abandoned the Reagan doctrines, legacy, and policies, which cost him a second term. Please don't use Perot as an excuse for Poppy's own failures.
Realistically if Romney get the GOP nod I'll do as I have done for the last several POTUS elections and vote Independent.
BTW care to explain how Clinton up against a six year GOP two house GOP majority still managed to get most of his agenda accomplished? Answer is he had help like certain liberal GOP congress critters and senators. GW Bush following Clinton with his own party as six year two house majority could only increase size of federal government, expand presidential powers, and create police state programs now being used against our very liberty and freedom.
We’ve been over this. 20 states with 1,000 delegates, 45% of the total, have yet to vote. Why don’t you let those voters speak their mind before you decide the election is “over?” Yes, Newt is unlikely to win outright, but Mitt only needs to lose 55% of those delegates to not win the nomination outright either and throw it to a floor fight. If that happened I’d predict a ticket with Newt and either Palin or Santorum on it in one order or another to form and beat Mitt.
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