Can there be any clearer argument for including 3rd and 4th party candidates than tonight's debate?

[villager]

To break out of the narrow confines of acceptable rhetoric, sound bytes, etc...?

[Bonobo]

1. I could not possibly agree more. K&R. nt

[villager]

2. To rattle the "debate prep" cages of the two main candidates would be a good thing indeed...

n/t

[Bonobo]

3. This was once a country where millions proudly joined the "communist party" to debate basic ideas.

MILLIONS. And they were debating fundamental issues and concepts relating to citizens relations to govt.

How SMALL our political debates have become.

This alone speaks volumes about the need for multiple parties and vigorous intellectual debates.

[NYC Liberal]

5. Check out the 1912 election:

Think we'll ever see THAT again?

[Bonobo]

7. Wow, amazing.

Now THAT is a clear choice.

[NYC Liberal]

8. If we're going to have a two-party system, then at the very least the parties should be balanced.

Right now, Republicans are the party of far right-wing conservatives and Democrats basically have everyone else from liberals to moderate conservatives.

The Democratic party is watered down by the moderate cons cast out of the GOP; the Republican party is too extreme with the leftover backwash.

I could live with two parties IF we had a clearly liberal party and a conservative party. But ideally we should have more than 2 parties to choose from.

[Bonobo]

9. Beautifully stated. I can't add a thing to that summation of our current plight.

To me, right pulls so hard to the right that it pulls the Dem party along in its wake. And since there is nowhere else to go, we get sucked into the vacuum.


The real Progressives are left to drown in the open ocean without a raft.

[villager]

10. We sure as hell won't see that many moustaches again!

Perhaps just allowing whiskers on the campaign trail -- in lieu of those goddamn flag lapel pins -- would be a good thing.

[riderinthestorm]

4. [phone] nt

[Autumn]

6. I have to recommend this.

I think this needed to be said. " narrow confines " indeed.

[roody]

11. I wish my local radio was playing Democracy Now.