The pundits at 538.com have a conversation about whether a new major party might arise, or whether there will be a strong independent presidential candidate in 2020 or the near future after that.
Ballot Access News
Edited By Richard Winger
The pundits at 538.com have a conversation about whether a new major party might arise, or whether there will be a strong independent presidential candidate in 2020 or the near future after that.
MORE DIVIDE AND CONQUER STUFF.
How about getting a 20 percent popular vote Prez and have instant chaos —
to make the combined Am Rev War – Civil War 1 – WW 1 – Great Depression 1 – WW 2 – Great Depression 2 seem like a food fight between 2 year old kids ???
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PR and AppV
Whatever chances of that happening are about gone now, thanks to the so-called Democratic Party’s McCarthyism. I hope they’re happy.
David Brooks has been complaining about the two party system not representing his obviously superior (not) world view (“centrist”) for at least 15 years.
Here are two quotes I gleaned from the article:
In response to the comment that “[Brooks’] article misunderstands how parties work”, natesilver said “You usually get two major parties, or maybe three, in first-past-the-post systems like the U.S. uses. Those European systems he’s talking about — where you have lots of viable parties — mostly have proportional representation.”
With respect to why David Brooks wrote the whiny article, natesilver said “Basically, Brooks is a Democrat now and doesn’t want to admit it.”
Oh and FWIW, David Brooks is as dumb as a box of rocks.
The best way to grow a third party, IMO, is to go to deeply red or deeply blue states, and displace the minority party as the second party in that particular state. The pitch is along the lines of the dominate party needs competition, and the brand perception of the minority party is such that they can’t provide that option. The third party isn’t hindered by the brand baggage of the minority party, and thus, is better able to provide the competition that the dominate party needs (and the voters of that particular state need).
TomP… 100% correct. And if you push out the current minority party enough in each state, they will lose ballot access in that state. Then you get the federal districts in those states that normally go to the minority party. You’ll quickly amass a decent, but still third-party in size, caucus in the house of reps; and likely be the swing vote on every bill, and the swing votes for speaker of the house.
Thanks! And thanks for sharing your great posts every week!