Evan Bayh Predicts Third-Party Candidate Could Win Presidency: 'Ross Perot Moment'

[depakid]

Source: Huffington Post

Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.), who announced he would retire from his U.S. Senate seat at the end of his term, is already looking into his 2012 election crystal ball and what he sees is the potential for a third-party candidate to win the presidency.

In an interview with Charlie Rose, Bayh took pains to emphasize his support for President Obama's re-election, but said disarray within both political parties has created an opening for a third-party contender. Bayh called it "a Ross Perot Moment" -- a sentiment that has been echoed recently by New York Times columnist David Brooks.

"You remember back then, the deficit was unsustainably high," Bayh said, referring to the economic conditions of the early-1990's. "The economy was struggling. People had a sense that Washington was just broken, and they looked for someone from completely outside the system. So, you know, let me be clear. I support the president. I think he is making a major effort, and I'm going to do what I can to help him succeed. But just my political take on it, I think--I think David is--he's on to something."

Though Bayh has not said what he plans to do after her retires from the Senate in 2010, the news of his retirement set off instant speculation about whether a presidential run was in his future. Some political observers interpreted Bayh's comment during his retirement announcement that he was "an executive at heart" as a sign he might be interested in the country's top executive job.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/17/evan-bayh-predicts-third_n_466620.html

[midnight armadillo]

1. Dream on Bayh.

.

[AllHereTruth]

25. If there was a 3rd party candidate i supported i would vote for them in a heartbeat

I am not a democrat, and anyone who considers themselves one should look at the state of the party. Take a good hard look and tell me how the Democrats and Republicans differ.

Neither want public universal health care.
Neither want to reform the banking industry.
Neither want out of Iraq or Afaganistan.
Neither are willing to stand up to lobbyists.
Both are corrupt by corporate influence.
Neither have the 'peoples' interests first. (imo)
One party uses scare tactics to influence their base, the other lacks the balls to stand up and fight for what they claim to believe in.

Now. You can pick and choose the good ones out of the bunch. But once you do that you will see how their views and actions differ dramatically from their respective parties.

Having two 'organizations' controlling the entire country is morally wrong. Individual viewpoints that do not mesh with the parties stance are quickly ignored, allowing the collective hive mind to do whatever it pleases. Which rarely benefits you or I.

*

I welcome any differing viewpoints. But highly doubt anything i have said can be refuted. And if that is the case, why are you a supporter of your respected party?

I am a Liberal Progressive, but far from a Democrat.

[Iowa]

26. I think you summed it up pretty well, AllHereTruth...

I would add to your list the undermining of our civil liberties and the acquiescence to state-sponsored torture via the refusal to prosecute torturers (there can be no moral leadership while that is allowed to stand).

[DCBob]

37. A legitimate 3rd party candidate is more likely to be an independent libertarian type..

something like a Ron Paul with a bit more pizazz.

[Javaman]

45. After the supreme court ruling on corporate donations, I believe the hopes for a 3rd party

was flushed down the toilet.

Only those who support corporate interests will be elected. And I'm damned sure the supremes had that in mind.

[quiller4]

46. If you aren't a Democrat, why do you post on DU?

I am a Democrat first. I strongly support a two-party system. I have never and will never support a third party candidate

Democrats at both state a local levels have been the champions for minimum wage-both establishing minimum wage and increasing it. Democrats support unemployment extensions. Republicans oppose the,m. Democrats support expanding veterans' benefits. Republicans wave the flag and then oppose them. Democrats created and expanded SCHIP over Republican opposition.

I consider myself a liberal Labor Democrat. I'm not sure that I'd claim the label "progressive".

[24601]

49. I am an American first. No party will ever come before that. n/t

[AllHereTruth]

54. How can you honestly say you are a 'Democrat first'

I understand supporting one party over another. But to blindly follow a political party or organization without regard, is ignorant.

There are far too many instances in history when thinking like that allowed a system to become overtly corrupt, and an entire population to turn the other way in blind devotion.

And to answer your question, I am on DU because it is a place full of diverse ideas, with diverse people, all coming together to attempt to strengthen the democracy. Not a place for blind worship for one party.

[Sultana]

2. Ciao, loser...

...disappear plz!

[No Elephants]

3. Am I supposed to care what Bayh says about Brooks' column?

Besides, someone like Ross Perot would have zero chance of helping the Congressional paralysis situation, IMO. Then again, a third party win would be such a shock, the election alone might jolt both sides of the aisle.

Did Brooks' column by any chance mention Perot was nutty?

[rpannier]

4. It would eliminate a lot of the partisanship

It would bring the bulk of both parties together to undermine that Presidency

[depakid]

7. Perot may have been "all ears" but he did call the shot about "that giant sucking sound"

Too bad the leadership at the time didn't listen...

[M155Y_A1CH]

5. Not likely

Is he just trying to throw Dem votes to the wind?
Make folks think it's possible?

[onehandle]

6. I believe a teabagger candidate could Totally Win in 2012!

I encourage all true conservatives to abandon the Republican party and get behind their favorite teabagger.

Please?

[JohnnyCougar]

9. I think this is the writing on the wall

I'm in the minority here, but I think Bayh is a more loyal Democrat than people on here give him credit for. If you read between the lines, a third party candidate would be far more detrimental to Republicans than it would be to Democrats. Polling indicates that the Republican party is showing more signs of fissure than the Democratic party. What Bayh may really be doing here is goading the Tea Party on to split the Republican vote in 2010 and 2012.

Bayh announced his retirement at the perfect time for Democrats. It gave Republicans zero chance of recruiting a top-tier candidate. Coats was a ringer that they threw in there just to keep Bayh honest. If they knew they weren't running against Bayh, you might have seen the horrible Mike Pence or someone else enter the fray. As it is now, Democrats can pick someone very strong to run and Republicans are stuck with second-rate candidates. I don't doubt his loyalty. And remember, Perot probably helped Clinton far more than he hurt him.

[JDPriestly]

27. I think that the teabagger movement is a fraud.

It is really just a Republican front. The Republicans are using the teabagger movement to prevent a truly spontaneous grass-roots revolt in the Republican Party. The teabagger movement is very much controlled by good old GOP insiders. It's as phony as plastic flowers.

[stevedeshazer]

8. This bonehead was raised as a donkey to replace his dad.

Now he is a sellout and a disgrace.

He was never a Democrat; he was a trophy racehorse.

Just wait for his announcement as a presidential candidate for the Teabaggers.

I hate his guts. What a sellout bastard.

Let's review EB's benefits:

Lifetime healthcare plan? Check.

Guaranteed wealth? Check.

New lobbyist or board of directors seat? Next.

If there ever was an example of a broken Senate and a broken democracy, this guy's picture should be Exhibit A.

[opihimoimoi]

14. Prolly gonna do the Nader shit...pull votes off Obama so a Pub can steal it

as they did in 2000....

The man is a fraud...prolly posing as a Christian

[JDPriestly]

28. Actually, Bayh is close to a lot of Republicans. Has personal friends who

are fairly rational Republicans.

[opihimoimoi]

30. that confirms the theory....he will help by siphoning votes from Obama giving

Pubs better odds...

[Name removed]

34. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[opihimoimoi]

42. Calm down...take a bong hit.....I'm an Advancer...Progresser...

All the squabbling takes away from the Big Picture, the Overview.

The Publicans have a brain freeze when it comes to solving anything beyond their own shit.

They have no EMPATHY....

They will lose this year and 2012....they gambled on their good ole boy W Bush who promtly fucked up...then they stole another term...doubling the Mess.

For that...they lost the WHITE HOUSE, Senate, and House...

The Pubs will attempt a comeback ...not with better ideas and shit....but with bull crap.

They are the Negative Party....their Polarity sucks...

The Dems have a much better track record, history, and Trend,,,they care for the WHOLE, the ALL

The Dems are in the POSITIVE ZONE....sure we got bad apples but for the most part...WE be good peeps.

Them Pubs...they think for themselves, the SMALL

[24601]

50. You left something out - he reflected very well his constituents.

Had he ignored that, it would not have been a Democratic seat. Indiana is neither New York nor California in their collective mindset - Chuck Schumer or Barbara Boxer would be defeated in a landslide in the Hoosier state. President Obama's narrow win in Indiana was very rare and a result of the convergence of many factors making 2008 the perfect storm. You can accept Hoosiers as we are, or write off the seat.

[Rapier09]

10. Not going to happen

Unless we start seeing states make good on their secession threats.

Easy to remember how that worked last time for "third_parties"

[Jennicut]

11. So does Evan think he can run as a third party candidate in 2012? Is that what I am getting from

this? Idiot.

[elleng]

12. Who is correct? Bayh or Palin, who told teabgs to choose R or D?

[EFerrari]

24. Has David Brooks ever been right about anything?

[Chisox08]

13. I think he is signaling that he will the Wellpoint party candidate in 2012

[quiet.american]

15. What a useless skunk. nt

[SlingBlade]

16. Zell ? Is that you lurking over there ?

[LiberalFighter]

17. Bayh thinks he has brains when it comes to politics.

If he wasn't his daddy's boy he wouldn't have won an election.

[2Design]

18. I voted for Perot - not sure if I would have voted for either of the

other candidates - I know now that the third party probably would not win on a national level - m on state levels they have

[2Design]

19. not sure it would matter - it seems when they get there the corporatioins own them n/t

[Gore1FL]

20. Bayh continues to be an idiot n/t

[Justitia]

21. With that conclusion, I wouldn't rely on him to "predict" yesterday's weather. -eom

[Suji to Seoul]

22. 再见, 昏蛋

肏你祖宗十八代. 不要脸的东西

PINYIN
zai jian, hun dan
cao ni zuzong shiba dai. buyaolian de dongxi.

TRANSLATION
Goobye, you prick.

Fuck your family to the 18th generation. You are a shameless sub-human thing.

SINCERELY,

American Ex-pat in China.

PS: You are worthless, soon-to-be ex-Senator Blue Dog Conserva-dem piece of DLC triangulating shit.

[BlueMTexpat]

23. LOL ... why don't you say what you REALLY think?

I for one don't think that Bayh is any great loss to the Senate Dems and am glad to say bye-bye.

If Bayh does run as a third party candidate - which I do not believe will happen - the only votes that he will get are from those who don't support Obama. Since most of those who don't support Obama already are/lean Republican or Tea Party, another third (or fourth)-party candidacy would in effect further split the anti-Obama vote. By my math, admittedly not the best, I don't see how that translates to a third-party candidate winning.

But then, we've seen cheaters win Presidential elections before. So I don't rule cheating out.

[tomhayes]

29. Nader? Perot? Palin??? Forbess?? Barr??

I thought, and still do think, that Ross Perot was INSANE. If you're one of the folks who thinks government should be run like a BUSINESS, and then don't know how a business is run (do business ever borrow money or run a debt?) then he's your man. Especially if you think a billionaire has your interests at heart.

And his INFOMERCIAL model only made him seem tackier, and crazier to me.

Sure , he was against NAFTA, and was against outsourcing (thanks for selling EDS off - which now outsources a lot of jobs) but he was also a War on Drugs person and wanted to cut back Social Security and welfare more than Clinton eventually did.

And once he left his party they SERIOUSLY considered making Pat Buchanan it's nominee. Shows you who was in that party.

Plus the only reason we ever heard of him is because he spent something like $100 million dollars

And REALISTICALLY Perot had no chance of winning, EVER, and could only be a spoiler. And 1996 showed a complete mental meltdown on his part, one that only came close by John McCain. And he had "You people" while McCain had "That one."


Romney is your man if you liked Perot. (Perot supported him in 2008.)

[Hubert Flottz]

31. Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayh

Maybe he can team up with GI Joe LIEberman?

[western mass]

32. Bayh: the next Lieberman?

Run a "former fake democrat posing as an independent" to split the democratic vote... At least Bayh is finally showing his true colors.

[TexasObserver]

33. So now he's delusional, as well as being incompetent and bought?

This guy is so full of shit. He's the poster boy for mouth breathers.

[liberal N proud]

35. He obviously knows nothing about politics

No wonder he couldn't stand the heat. Instead of working to fix the problem, he wants to run from the building yelling fire.

[saltpoint]

36. History is a better poker player than any politician, even the crafty

politicians, even the toughest, smartest, curmudgeonly handlers of crafty politicians.

Bayh could be right, or wrong. That poker game hasn't been played, hasn't been sat down to yet.

The Puke field and bench still doesn't look especially strong to me. You could call Romney a frontrunner if you wanted but he has a good handful of asterisks next to his name. Also even with great wealth he still couldn't whip an old fool like McCain last time. Palin's explosively stupid. Pawlenty's a whiney little ideologue who makes Evan Bayh look charismatic.

Obama is the presumptive Democratic nominee. If he and Michelle should decide to keep things at one term and then move on to other work as public citizens, Bayh's comment on a "Perot" moment has more credibility and more voltage. If Obama runs for a second term, Bayh has to stand with him on a debate stage and make a compelling case on specific points. I think a more vivid mind than Evan Bayh could manage this, although turning it into votes coast to coast is still up for chance. As well, Evan Bayh is unpardonably dull. He wouldn't be appreciably less dull as an independent than as a Democrat.

Bayh's wife is in thick with the Pharma and health insurers. She hobnobs and has truck with the very entities who are vehemently opposing health care reform, even mild changes, nevermind the public option. When "the liberal bloggers" criticize Bayh, it's done far less out of personal venom and far more because he appears to be beholden to the fat-cat resisters, the privileged big-wallet health entities who send his wife large checks.

[bamacrat]

38. Would never win, would only be spoiler ala Nader.

[customerserviceguy]

39. It's a trial balloon

Look for polls featuring a three-way choice: Obama, Palin, and Bayh. If he can pull at least 30% in such a poll, he'll run.

He's got to figure that he can grab the center if Obama is seen as too far left, and Palin is seen as too far right. He might have a point.

[pattmarty]

40. Now why in the fuck would I take seriously ANYTHING that both..............

................"Dumfuck" Bayh or that fucking idiot intellectual wannabe David Brooks has to say?? Brooks is as dumb as a box of rocks and Bayh is even fucking dumber.

[UTUSN]

41. Well, it AIN'T gonna be HIM!1 (Besides "not going to happen") n/t

[CanonRay]

43. Who, him?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Doctor_J]

44. Countdown until Evan declares he is no longer a Dem

3...2...

[blue_onyx]

47. It's possible

There's not many people I can think of who would run as an independent or third party candidate. It wouldn't surprise me if Palin ran as a third party candidate, particularly if the Republican Party picked someone unpopular with the base (ex: Romney).

I'm not sure there's anyone who could actually win. I guess Bloomberg could possibly win as an independent.

[JerseygirlCT]

48. JerseygirlCT predicts Evan Bayh enjoys his last 15 minutes of fame

before receding to well-deserved unimportance.

[wordpix]

51. Sen. Gets going when the going gets rough Repug-lite Bye Bye

How has he ever distinguished himself? :shrug:

[CBHagman]

52. I suspect a third party candidate could only win...

...if it were someone who had extremely broad appeal. We are talking beloved national figures here, and who really fits into that mold, aside from Oprah? And of course she has her detractors.

No, I think the most likely scenario is that a third-party candidate would attract some voters away from the two parties (a la Ross Perot, Ralph Nader, or John Anderson) but not have so much as a prayer of winning.

Bayh's entirely in the realm of make-believe unless he can point to someone who can attract a large enough share of the vote to be a contender. I simply don't see that happening, not at present.

[BlueIdaho]

53. What the fuck is wrong with this guy?

Its one thing to quit the good old boys club its another to sabotage the party every chance he gets.

[Demeter]

55. Wishful Thinking, Mr. Candidate

[Alexander]

56. There's only one third-party candidate who would have a ghost of a chance in 2012.

And there's a good chance he won't run.