A scary thought-experiment:

[Jackpine Radical]

Let us imagine that there were a third party with candidates who campaigned on a genuinely progressive platform--universal health care, restoring social security, revitalizing public education, building a new infrastructure with a WPA-type program, restoring the tax system to its historic graduated rate structure, etc.

It would not win or come close to winning; it would split off enough of the vote on the left to sink the Democrats. I suspect that certain dark forces on the right would secretly fund it just as they did the Greens, and they ought to accept those funds to put up a more credible campaign.

That would be a disaster--for one election. But it would also be something like an AODA Intervention. It would show the Democrats just how pissed-off the left is. It would force them to recognize that they must recapture the left if they are to have any chance at all of winning another election.

And, the way things are going, the Dems are apparently hell-bent on a path to self-destruction anyway. The New Left party would most likely just turn a bunch of single-digit losses into double-digit losses. But they might just scare the Dems back onto a humane course.

[arcane1]

1. Hell, I'm still waiting for a second party!

[Mnemosyne]

5. This^^^. nt

[JaneyVee]

2. I agree. We NEED an actual left-wing party in the U.S.

Forget the right secretly funding it, Libs & Progressives could openly fund it, even if its only purpose is to drag the Democratic party back to the Left. And this party would also NOT accept corporate donations.

[DonCoquixote]

4. I say go beyond party

we need superpacs..funded with the sort of money a hunder million people would give up a big mac or pack of cigarettes for. Such pennies make Walmart dollars.

[woo me with science]

6. Spot on.

Last edited Sun Apr 7, 2013, 11:35 PM - Edit history (2)

The absence of other challengers doesn't just hurt the potential challengers; it allows Democratic candidates to be unresponsive to Democrats.

When the only other guy running is corporate, too, there is no pressure to appeal or respond to voters rather than the big money donors, because there is nowhere else those voters can possibly go.

[DonCoquixote]

3. two flaws

One, we actually did this in 2008, it was called Nader. The results were that the GOP used their position to gain more power, until Obama came.

Two: if if, let's say 2016 this was done, the GOP could do enough damage in four years, especially with a war. As silly as this sounds, we would not be voting for our fates, but whoever the GOp would NUKE to keep their masses happy. We alrwady gambled with Iraqi lioves, and they will hate us for it, we do not have the right to gamble more.

[jazzimov]

7. Good points, both.

Bottom line - we already tried it. It didn't work. It just made things worse that we are still paying for.

[TheKentuckian]

8. The Turd Way wants something they absolutely cannot get from the TeaPubliKlans

or want to accomplish something they cannot do with the baggage of that brand.

I suggest whatever it is be held hostage at gun point until we see a change of heart in some critical area.

These fuckers are ruthless, they won't be in any mood to cooperate unless we are just as cutthroat and they start to hear the sizzle of their own fat in the fire.

[DonB]

9. The Social Security and Medicare Party

You start with a monstrous base and then expand out to the other progressive arguments for minimum living wage and health CARE for all, arguments which all relate to security of income (SS) and health (Medicare). From there you make rational and structured arguments to support the end of empire, the environment, great and free education for all, socially responsible businesses, raising the cap, the arts, responsible regulation,and on and on but always relating back to the social improvements these things will bring to "We the People", especially those on Social Security and Medicare. One last thing, try to avoid to calling it a party of the left, call it a party of common sense and consensus.

[Cleita]

10. Instead of a third party, we need to develop progressive think tanks instead

that operate within the Democratic Party. That should start pulling us back to our roots of being the party of labor, minorities and the underclasses. Right now we have been taken over by wealthy elitists and they are not serving us well. How about a Paul Wellstone think tank a memorial incorporating what he stood for?

[DonB]

11. Another scary thought-experiment

How long would it take to extrapolate to a 1,000 people following scenario?

A small town in the mid-west has decided to outlaw all guns as of today.
Anyone who comes int the town must run in their guns and sill have them
returned when they leave town. Kinda like the Earp brothers used to do in
Tombstone, Arizona. Or was it Mayberry, North Carolina?

How many people will die in the rest of this year of gun shot wounds?

[geek tragedy]

12. This scenario always overlooks the fact that conservatives outnumber

self-described liberals.

[Jackpine Radical]

14. Which is a good reason to avoid the Liberal label.

People like liberal policies when they're dis-identified and presented solely on their merits. The"Common-Sense Party" suggestion above is on the mark.

[KoKo]

13. They told us Kucinich couldn't Win...but,

I thought he put up a good fight. DU trashed him for taking an AF-1 Ride with Obama and then voting against AFHA... It seems that Kucinich was totally responsible for the AFHA passing because of that plane ride.

I never thought so...but, that's what they said about Kucinich. That Kucinich single handedly took an Executive Plane Ride with Obama and cause AFHA to pass....so he "went under the bus" and it was said...Good Riddance by Good Dems here on this site.

I don't know what else to answer you with. But, I saw him speak here in NC when Kerry was running and seeing him face to face in a rally...he seemed sincere to me. Whereas John Edwards was the one I also donated to and look at what happened to him.

I don't know what else to answer you with...except to say...I'd support Dennis (even though DU'er Will Pitt had bad experience with him as an interim Campaign Manager and left him disgusted)...I think I would still support him...

I'm sure that I'm just an idiot Dem Voter who is grasping for straws...but...I think he would be someone...well..maybe I could see as an "influence" in the coming years. I'd like to see him try.

But...that's old news and there will be Hillary and others who will come in for 2016 and it's all getting "set up." It's just a "wish list."

[KoKo]

15. Also...if Kucinich was so Crazy and Unelectable..Paul Ryan to me

was the same from my view. He still has good creds...and his Party hasn't dumped him yet.