If there was ever a year a third party could make traction... (1 Viewer)

[tenordas]

surely this is it.

One party is running a man half the country hates - no, despises, the other is running a woman even most of the other politicians in her own party can't stand.

Where are you Libertarians? Green Party? Hello?

I thought 2016 was a real shot, but the two most viable third parties both put up unelectable morons.

All one of them needs is someone actually viable and IMHO they could sway a lot of people away from these two...

 

[Incumbent]

the other is running a woman even most of the other politicians in her own party can't stand.

What is the basis for this observation? I am a Democrat and nobody is coming to mind who left me with the impression they can't stand her, let alone half the party.

 

[Infoman]

It's been this way a long time, but has only gotten way worse since 2016... It's disgusting and we deserve much much much better options... Unfortunately, we have entire swaths of voting blocks that have been convinced that this is all we have/have no choice, and you must pick one of the two sides (or person) you hate least... I can't wait until the current old-arse ruling class dies off on both ends, and hope the next generation does national elections much like a version of "The Masked Singer"... The sooner we remove the team sports mentality from politics and replace it with weighted logical issue problem solving skillsets that are based on the majority of things most Americans agree on, rather than policies based on our differences... the better. I am here, and I hope to live long enough to see this diabolical, divisionary, binary choice system that looks to serve half the population, but really serves no one... get burned to the ground.

 

[MT15]

It's been this way a long time, but has on gotten way worse since 2016... It's disgusting and we deserve much much much better options... Unfortunately, we have entire swaths of voting blocks that have been convinced that this is all we have/have no choice, and you must pick one of the two sides (or person) you hate least... I can't wait until the current old-arse ruling class dies off on both ends, and hope the next generation does national elections much like a version of "The Masked Singer"... The sooner we remove the team sports mentality from politics and replace it with weighted logical issue problem solving skillsets that are based on the majority of things most Americans agree on, rather than policies based on our differences... the better. I am here, and I hope to live long enough to see this diabolical, divisionary, binary choice system get burned to the ground.

So in your opinion would ranked choice voting be a better option?

 

[Infoman]

So in your opinion would ranked choice voting be a better option?

Possibly... but if we don't burn down the binary divisionary old school political party system - and the disgusting machines that fund them... the method we use to rank our choices will too be stacked against us. Like most things, I think change starts with money... not method... tis the way of all things.

 

[MT15]

Possibly... but if we don't burn down the binary divisionary old school political party system - and the disgusting machines that fund them... the method we use to rank our choices will too be stacked against us. Like most things, I think change starts with money... not method... tis the way of all things.

Yeah, agree with that. There aren’t many people who would buck the money system for the good of the country, but I think Joe Biden was one who would have, given the chance. It’s just too late for him now.

He was well known as someone who didn’t play the money game, when he got out of the Senate he had one of the lowest net worths in that body.

 

[Infoman]

Yeah, agree with that. There aren’t many people who would buck the money system for the good of the country, but I think Joe Biden was one who would have, given the chance. It’s just too late for him now.

He was well known as someone who didn’t play the money game, when he got out of the Senate he had one of the lowest net worths in that body.

No offense - but we are not going to agree on JB (or anyone else that's been in politics at a high level for half a century) "not playing the money game".... "Net worth" not-withstanding... The Big money donors, and high dollar elites in his own party pushed him out of the Oval office door (not voters)... I don't think him ending his race had a thing to do with his age, his mental lapses, or his policies... The reason JB is no longer in the race... Is that the people with the big money and influence... decided he was going to lose, and they were no longer willing to put money on a losing ticket... sorry, that's just the way I see it... and I am sure the same would happen on the other side if they started bleeding money, and polls were in the tank... money/power dynamic is all these people understand... none of them truly give a shirt about us... call me cynical... but only a little. LOL

 

[MT15]

I agree about why he got pushed out - but keep in mind it wasn’t simply polling, it started due to actual concerns about his age-related speaking gaffes. And I was one who wanted him to remain, because he has broad appeal with the working class and the aged and progressives.

But, the fact remains he’s not someone who took advantage of his position in the Senate to make himself wealthy, and I think he truly cares about making things better for the middle and lower classes, which is another reason the big donors had itchy trigger fingers IMO. Several of his changes were nibbling away at them on the margins, and they weren’t overly fond of him.

Corny as he could sound, he truly believed most of it.

 

[coldseat]

No offense - but we are not going to agree on JB (or anyone else that's been in politics at a high level for half a century) "not playing the money game".... "Net worth" not-withstanding... The Big money donors, and high dollar elites in his own party pushed him out of the Oval office door... I don't think him ending his race had a thing to do with his age, his mental lapses, or his policies... The reason BJ is no longer in the race... Is that the people with the big money and influence... decided he was going to lose, and they were no longer willing to put money on a losing ticket... sorry, that's just the way I see it... and I am sure the same would happen on the other side if they started bleeding money, and polls were in the tank... money/power dynamic is all these people understand... none of them truly give a shirt about us... call me cynical... but only a little. LOL

Yeah, you're too cynical. The reason Biden lost support from Democrats, the public, Democratic Representative and Senators, Democratic top donors, etc. is because of his age, mental lapses and poor debate. It took time, but he was eventually convinced he had no path forward so he pulled out. Yes, the money drying up was a part of it, but so was everything else.

 

[Infoman]

Not going into details... because we won't agree on them... but I disagree.

I think if nothing else changed besides the debate performance, and donor money drying up because bad polls due to it...

He'd be accepting the nomination still. I am not going to comment on his personal wealth... because I don't know enough about it... I do know he has to play the money game like all others that make it to that level in party special interest politics.

I mean... what's the big story the day after he was forced out.... Not how great and popular KH and her policies are, or how she's got some lock solid track record / path to win... It's how the donations have come pouring back in! LOL

I'm staying cynical... I want the options and choices I deserve... Not the ones we are left with.

 

[MT15]

It's how the donations have come pouring back in! LOL

I think people are celebrating these particular donations because they are all small-dollar donations from individuals using ActBlue online. I think big donors will contribute, but have not as of yet. So celebrating these particular donors because they indicate broad grass roots support.

 

[coldseat]

Not going into details... because we won't agree on them... but I disagree.

I think if nothing else changed besides the debate performance, and donor money drying up because bad polls due to it...

He'd be accepting the nomination still. I am not going to comment on his personal wealth... because I don't know enough about it... I do know he has to play the money game like all others that make it to that level in party special interest politics.

I mean... what's the big story the day after he was forced out.... Not how great and popular KH and her policies are, or how she's got some lock solid track record to win... It's how the donations have come pouring back in! LOL

I'm staying cynical... I want the options and choices I deserve... Not the ones we are left with.

I suppose that's your choice. Being cynical and wrong is an American tradition after all.

Donor's obviously have an effect on elections. Too much for my taste as I'd love to remove dark money from campaigns. But it still doesn't dictate everything. In this case it's just following the excitement with Harris's elevation to her current position as lead opponent against Trump.

 

[Infoman]

I think people are celebrating these particular donations because they are all small-dollar donations from individuals using ActBlue online. I think big donors will contribute, but have not as of yet. So celebrating these particular donors because they indicate broad grass roots support.

Didn't the same thing happen right after DT was convicted...??? (shrugs) A bunch of small donor dollars in a quick bump... I am sure not as much $... but same concept. My point remains the same in either case... we are not talking about the virtues of the candidate... it's about the donator money, base excitement, and swing vote motivation they can create.

Sorry, but you are never going to convince me that this whole system isn't a stacked deck on both sides geared to divide and conquer... while continuing to enrich the elites on both ends of the political spectrum upon the backs of the middle class... It all needs to go.

JB was not beyond this... As proven by his recent drumming by his own party (I.e. Money train).... None of them are.

 

[MT15]

Okay, I’m just not cynical by nature and I know in any group of people there will be some real stinkers and some that are better than average.

I just saw this now. It gives me hope.

 

[samiam5211]

We need to eliminate party run primaries across the board.

Every election should have a general election and a run off. Top 2 make a runoff regardless of party.

We should even remote the party affiliations from the voting ballots.

 

[Lapaz]

surely this is it.

One party is running a man half the country hates - no, despises, the other is running a woman even most of the other politicians in her own party can't stand.

Where are you Libertarians? Green Party? Hello?

I thought 2016 was a real shot, but the two most viable third parties both put up unelectable morons.

All one of them needs is someone actually viable and IMHO they could sway a lot of people away from these two...

The problem is that MAGA is entrenched. They aren’t going to consider anyone else, which leaves most other voters for the Democrats. If there were an appealing 3rd party, it would just split the remaining sane voters. Splitting is a bad idea, because if Trump wins and gets his way, there will not be any future credible elections, since they will be dealt with via executive immunity crimes. That would mean no viable Green, Democratic, Libertarian party candidates. The only answer to giving others a voice is Ranked Choice. MAGA would probably not get a majority, so then everyone could vote their conscience. With a threat like MAGA, the enemy of your enemy is your ally. MAGA is the enemy of Democracy.

 

[bird]

The electoral college requires a two party system, period. As long as the electoral college exists third or fourth parties stand zero chance. There have been a handful of elections where the candidate that lost the popular vote ended up winning the electoral vote. The emergence of a truly viable third party would likely insure no candidate would win enough electoral votes.

 

[samiam5211]

The electoral college requires a two party system, period. As long as the electoral college exists third or fourth parties stand zero chance. There have been a handful of elections where the candidate that lost the popular vote ended up winning the electoral vote. The emergence of a truly viable third party would likely insure no candidate would win enough electoral votes.

We can make sure there are only two candidates in the ballot without propping up a two party system.

Just have an open primary with all candidates, then a runoff with the top two.