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Title: Make Way for the Radical Center (3rd party developing)
Source:
NY Times
URL Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/24/o ... on/sunday/24friedman.html?_r=1
Published: Jul 25, 2011
Author: thomas friedman
Post Date: 2011-07-25 11:56:49 by go65
Keywords: None
Views: 895
Comments: 5
DID I mention that I’ve signed a pledge — just like those Republican congressmen who have signed written promises to different political enforcers not to raise taxes or permit same-sex marriage? My pledge is to never vote for anyone stupid enough to sign a pledge — thereby abdicating their governing responsibilities in a period of incredibly rapid change and financial stress. Sorry, I’ve signed it. Nothing more I can do. If this kind of idiocy by elected officials sends you into a hair-pulling rage and leaves you wishing that we had more options today than our two-party system is putting forward — for instance, a party that would have offered a grand bargain on the deficit two years ago, not on the eve of a Treasury default — not only are you not alone, but help may be on the way. Thanks to a quiet political start-up that is now ready to show its hand, a viable, centrist, third presidential ticket, elected by an Internet convention, is going to emerge in 2012. I know it sounds gimmicky — an Internet convention — but an impressive group of frustrated Democrats, Republicans and independents, called Americans Elect, is really serious, and they have thought out this process well. In a few days, Americans Elect will formally submit the 1.6 million signatures it has gathered to get on the presidential ballot in California as part of its unfolding national effort to get on the ballots of all 50 states for 2012. The goal of Americans Elect is to take a presidential nominating process now monopolized by the Republican and Democratic parties, which are beholden to their special interests, and blow it wide open — guaranteeing that a credible third choice, nominated independently, will not only be on the ballot in every state but be able to take part in every presidential debate and challenge both parties from the middle with the best ideas on how deal with the debt, education and jobs.
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#1. To: go65 (#0)
(Edited)
It's about time. I mean how can these kooky Republicans and deluded Democrats think America is a 'free" with less (viable) political parties than Russia?
"Keep Your Goddamn Government Hands Off My Medicare!" - Various Tea Party signs.
It was bound to happen sooner of later, you finally said something that makes some sense.
Obama's watch stopped on 24 May 2008, but he's been too busy smoking crack to notice.
It is a shame that belonging to the GOP warped your mind. Even if you are out of the GOP now they still brain damaged you.
"Keep Your Goddamn Government Hands Off My Medicare!" - Various Tea Party signs.
We already have one. It's called the DimRep Party,and is the cause of all our grief right now.
"I adore John McCain, support him 100 percent and will do everything I can to support his reelection. As everyone knows, I was honored and proud to run with him. And Todd and I were with him in D.C. just a week ago." (Sarah Palin,Dec 2009) ************************************ DID Palin say or write these things or not? (Me) I don't know or F ing care. (Mad Dog posted on 2009-12-26 16:36:33 ET,post # 105 http://libertysflame.com/cgi-bin/readart.cgi?ArtNum=5510&Disp=114#C114)
yada... yada... yada.... In 1992, Ross Perot got a larger percentage of the popular vote than any independent candidate since Teddy Roosevelt, nearly 90 years early. He got ZERO electoral votes. But he did make an impact and set the stage for Gingrich's Contract with America. The system cannot be changed by running an independent or third party Presidential candidate. The system has to be changed from the bottom up. Instant Run-off Voting, which gives third parties a chance -- that's how to break open the two party monopoly. There is nothing in the Constitution that prohibits this. It would be a simple matter of passing new voting laws in each state, which of the course the Democrat and Republican monopolists will never do. So we have to do it in the states that have citizen's referendums. Many localities in the U.S., that have citizens referendums, have implemented Instant-Runoff Voting, including Pierce Country, WA (part of suburban Seattle). Now we need an entire state to do this. My prediction is that if it happens, Washington will be first. Why? Because Washington is relatively a low tax, low spending state, but the people hate the GOP. 25% of us gave Ross Perot our vote in 1992. It's the exact right state to pass Instant Run-off elections for Congress. We haven't had a state-wide ballot measure yet, but it's only a matter of time before we do.
#2. To: Godwinson, *The Two Parties ARE the Same*, *Ron Paul for President* (#1)
how can these kooky Republicans and deluded Democrats think America is a 'free" with less (viable) political parties than Russia?
"We (government) need to do a lot less, a lot sooner" ~Ron Paul
#3. To: hondo68 (#2)
#4. To: go65 (#0)
Thanks to a quiet political start-up that is now ready to show its hand, a viable, centrist, third presidential ticket,
#5. To: go65 (#0)
guaranteeing that a credible third choice
To preserve our independence, we must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. We must make our election between economy and liberty, or profusion and servitude. — Thomas Jefferson
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