Reps and Dems: Which Third Party...

[John Dibble]

This questions is for Republicans, Democrats, and Independents(so if you are in a third party, please don't answer).

Which third party out of all the current third parties has the best chance, even if it is a slim chance, of becoming a party that is on par with the current major parties?

[Lunar]

Libertarians.

[ATFFL]

Greens.  They are a major party in California.

[A18]

Libertarians. They'd have to get over the "murder should only be taxed" image first, though.

[Josh/Devilman88]

Libs

[NYGOP]

The Greens. They could build a real stronghold on the Pacific coast. They would never hold the presidency or overtake the major parties but I could see them gaining about 15-20% in a presidential race. What hinders that is that you have all of these fascist Democrats that will whine about the Greens costing them elections, therefore keeping thier grip tight around the liberal vote. I could also see them gaining around 10 seats in congress and perhaps a senate seat or two.

The Libertarians are seeing a slight rise in supporters lately. This is due to the big-government redneck conservatism of GWB. In 2008 Bush leaves office and then either a more traditional Republican(Frist, Jeb Bush) or a moderate(McCain, Pataki) will become the nominee. I think that this will eliminate a lot of the support that the Libertarians have gained recently.

[Horus]

Libertarians. Maybe Greens. Constitution could never become major, Socialism is on the downturn in the US and after that you get parties like the Natural Law party which are too weird to have a chance.

[Brambila]

Libertarians, but I think that the Socialists/Greens and the Constitution parties will be the two major parties later in the century.

[zachman]

I say Greens only because the Constitution Party types  will continue to vote Republican, and the Libertarian party has not emerged much over time. Furthermore, it is too ideological to be a real success. The Greens should focus on getting four or five congressmen an a Senator once there is a special election in Massachusetts (either after Kerry's election or Kennedy's impending death).

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

Libertarian, that is if all the people who are currently Libertarians bail out.

[Fmr. Gov. NickG]

The Greens, if only because they have been so successful in other countries.  They are close to being a major party in my area....the Green candidate in my state legislative district got double the votes of the Republicans in 2002.  Although I would like to see a progressive third party emerge that wasn't so closely associated with extreme environmentalism.

A "libertarian" party could potentially be very successful in the US....but the Libertarian Party as it is composed now has no chance.

[Gabu]

Probably either the Greens or the Libertarians.  I voted for the latter.

[??????????]

The Socialist Workers Party. Why do I say this? Because they are already a major party under the name of the DNC.

[DA]

I didn't vote. I wanted to point out that LP is a major Party in Washington.

[Fmr. Gov. NickG]

I didn't vote. I wanted to point out that LP is a major Party in Washington.

Who are the Libertarian elected officials in Washington?

[Platypus]

Because of international precedent the Greens, but none of them is likely.

[bgwah]

Greens or Libertarians...Greens have been doing well in other countries. I could see them getting elected in some congressional districts on the west coast. WA-7 and whatever districts are Portland, SF, and LA. The Green in WA-7 got 20% of the vote in 2000...The Libertarian got 7% and the democrat got the other 73 or so percent. Although I believe hes a longtime and popular incumbent.

The Libertarian Party has major party status because they got at least 5% of the vote in a statewide race in an even number election year. Ruth Bennet it was, got 7% of the vote in some race. I think 3 other libertarians got 5-6% too.

http://www.lpws.org/candidates/libertarians_in_office.htm

Nothing too impressive. Greens could come a major party too. Nader almost got them it when he got 4.14% of the vote 4 years ago. I believe they've gotten a few high positions in Seattle (super intendent(sp) of the Seattle School District is held by a green, I think).

[bejkuy]

I didn't vote. I wanted to point out that LP is a major Party in Washington.

Who are you trying to kid?

[bgwah]

I didn't vote. I wanted to point out that LP is a major Party in Washington.

Who are you trying to kid?

He means they have major party status. Thats why they get to be on the primary ballot.

[bejkuy]

I didn't vote. I wanted to point out that LP is a major Party in Washington.

Who are you trying to kid?

He means they have major party status. Thats why they get to be on the primary ballot.

I realize that they were on the primary ballot, but 5% a major party?

[DA]

I didn't vote. I wanted to point out that LP is a major Party in Washington.

Who are the Libertarian elected officials in Washington?

Libertarians in Public Office

Robert J. Bromley  Sumas Mayor
Judy Byrd Peninsula Parks and Recreation Committee
Rob Chase Chase Youth Commission
Mark A. Hamilton Bonney Lake Civil Services Commission Chairman
Eugene P. Hawkridge North Shore School Board District 4
Michael J. Hihn President, King County Water Commission District 125
Greg Holmes Spangle City Council
Ray Huff Granite Falls City Council Position 3
Frank P. Jenkins Pierce County Aging and Long Term Care Advisory Board
Walt Kloefkorn Stevens County Rural Library District Board Trustee
Ron Lahr City of Spokane Community Development Board
Steve LePage Benton Conservation District Supervisor
Scott MacQuarrie South Cle Elum City Council Position 5
Scott MacQuarrie South Cle Elum Town Council
Nick McLauchlan State Elections Board
Bill North North Highline Unincorporated Area Council
Robin Palachuk Spokane Regional Transportation Council Citizen Advisory Committee
Jim Richardson Skamania County Cemetery Commissioner District 3
Don Vandervelde Peninsula Parks and Recreation Committee
Bruce White Kent City Council
Richard Whitmore Chairman Water Resource Interest Council WRIA 1
Jonathan Wright Harbor View Hospital Trustee , Seattle
Derek M. Young Gig Harbor City Council

Would you like to know this years' canidates as well?

I didn't vote. I wanted to point out that LP is a major Party in Washington.

Who are you trying to kid?

He means they have major party status. Thats why they get to be on the primary ballot.

I realize that they were on the primary ballot, but 5% a major party?

It means that we aren't a minor party. Don't confuse major with majority.

[The Duke]

Greens.  When the DNC finally dies (Cause of death, no discernible ideology aside from Bush hatred, resulting in the complication known as Whig-itis.  In laymens terms, Whig-itis is when a Party is based on ahtred of an individual, no matter how justified the hatred, once that individual is retired from public life the party begins to lose meaning and force.  This is what happenned to the Whigs in the absenmce of Andrew Jackson.) the Greens will take over.

[Bono]

My prediction is that after the death of the Democratic Party, the GOP will go through a period of hegemony, and will take a turn to populism, as can be seen now with Bush's version of Hillarycare, no Children Left Behing, and other "jems", proposed by a president who was supposed to be a conservative.
Than, the Libertarian party will emerge because it will hold the diametricaly oppost position of the new republican party, and some figures of the GOP will join the LP.
It only takes a shift in the political axis from Liberal-Conservative, to Populist-Libertarian.

[DA]

Greens.  When the DNC finally dies (Cause of death, no discernible ideology aside from Bush hatred, resulting in the complication known as Whig-itis.  In laymens terms, Whig-itis is when a Party is based on ahtred of an individual, no matter how justified the hatred, once that individual is retired from public life the party begins to lose meaning and force.  This is what happenned to the Whigs in the absenmce of Andrew Jackson.) the Greens will take over.

Good thinking.
(Thinking of this term literally is somewhat humorous: An inflammation of the horse driver.)

[John Dibble]

Other. Actually, none of the above. Until structural changes are made to the US political system, the two party monopoly will continue and the current two dominant political parties will continue to dominate. Alternative political parties can only advance so far before having their platforms co-opted right out from under them by one of the two dominant parties. That is why "third" parties never last long in America. The Populists of the late 1880's and early 1890's are the best example. Single member districts; taxpayer funded partisan primaries (nearly always for Democrats and Republicans only); "non-partisan" debates commission that excludes everyone except Dems and Reps; news media which excludes alternative candidates etc. Not a pretty picture for minor parties.

I asked which has the best chance out of all of them, not whether it would happen or not. I'll grant you it's an uphill battle. The best chance for any of them to rise would be the collapse of one of the major parties, or something that severely weakens them at least. You must remember, the Republicans were a third party once, so a third party coming into power is not out of the question.

Just to give my opinion on what would happen if one of the major parties collapsed, it would first depend on which one collapsed. The Dems look more likely at this point, so I'll start with them - I'd say a number would go to the Green Party, definitely those on the far left, but the economic moderates might go for the Libertarians, since they will likely agree on social policy. If the Republicans collapsed on the other hand, it would be a much different split - The Constitution Party would definitely benefit, but the less socially conservative Republicans would likely join the Libertarians. Of course, if either party collapses, I think we'd see even the non-collapsed party losing members to the growing third parties. Of course, this ignores the possibility that new parties would form from the ashes of the old. Might be my bias speaking, but I think the Libertarians are probably in the best position to capitalize on a collapse, we're probably the best organized in terms of doing it as well.