I was engaged in a political discussion with some folks at linkedin.com, and as often happens, the original topic was lost, and in one of my posts, I mentioned Ross Perot, and how his third party candidancy is probably responsible for the election of Bill Clinton.
My point being that there is alot of unrest, and incumbent unhappiness, with both parties, and a growing cry to “clean house”, and “throw-the-bums-out”, and suggestions of yet another third party.
Personally, I think that would be a greater disaster than the election of Obama. It could possibly solidify a second term for Obama, and kill any chance of recapturing national sanity for many elections to come.
We need to fix the Republican Party, not split it apart, and destroy it.
Anyway, one of my fellow discussers, confessed that she had voted for Ross Perot.
To quote her:
” Oh, Spencer, I am so glad you brought up Ross Perot. It’s time for me to make a confession so no one here makes the same mistake. I was so peeved at Bush Senior for not living up to is predecessor’s legacy that Perot seemed like a good idea at the time. My vote wasn’t so much for Perot as it was against the broken promises (perceived and otherwise) of George Bush Senior. Unfortunately, my vote for Perot was a vote for Clinton.
If you know anyone who is young and stupid, as I was way back then, please feel free to share my story. 2010 is not the time for a protest vote. ”
Of course, I absolved her of her sin, and reminded her that confession is good for the soul….(smile)..
And I promised to spread the word about her youthful “indiscretion”, and flirtation with Ross Perot, and a Third Party, in the hope that some other misguided soul will heed her advice !
So, why is the idea of a Third Party having such a resurgence ?
I think it’s because we don’t seem to have much of a Republican Party at the moment; it seems more like a Republican Mob, without any real direction.
We seem to have a cowardly “lot” of Republican legislators,
who are unwilling to step-up and provide some leadership. Any person who is brave enough to step forward will have an immediate “following” that is ready, and eager to help, but…. the position remains vacant.
Instead of leadership, we seem to have a group of folks who are loosely bound by like-minded philosophies, and no discernible direction. that are content to wander, aimlessly, and don’t seem to care that they are making them/us, look like a bunch of knuckleheads.
I would at least have expected someone like John McCain to provide some direction, if only as a wisened senior statesman, yet he is seldom heard from, and has all but abandoned those who supported him, and voted for him.
(Is he mad at his supporters ?)
I understand that he is not everyone’s favorite Republican, but he still garnered a huge share of the electorate, and, who knows, if the economy had not fallen apart at that moment, he might have been elected president.
If nothing else, he could scold, and cajole, and shame his fellow Republicans into shedding their reluctance to stick their necks out, and get “involved”.
It’s not good enough that we have a group of like-minded Republican legislators that are fighting the good fight. We need a “General” to tell us common folks what is happening, and how we can help.
We need a recognizable “General” making news, and making waves on the TV news, and newspapers, and reaching folks that don’t have the time to search the Internet, and read the online news, and blogs, etc.
If we don’t see some direction coming soon, I am afraid that a third-party push will take root, and Republicans will no longer be the party of “No”, and will be the the party of “Out”.
To say the least, it is frustrating.
And that is just my opinion.
Spencer Holly
www.angrycalifornian.com
0085
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OTHER RESOURCES:
(12/01/2009)
Nearly a third say the Republicans in Congress are not standing up for the party’s core values.
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