Is it time for a third party?
January 4, 2013 6 Comments
It has become increasingly clear, since November, that the Republican Party is not committed to the principles that, theoretically speaking, distinguish the GOP from the liberal party. Guardian readers are aware of recent and numerous episodes in which alleged conservatives have abandoned fundamental beliefs; we need not exhaust ourselves with a list of specifics. Suffice to say that the fiscal cliff deal (which was supported by Howard Coble and Richard Burr) is merely the latest in a long series of betrayals. The Right is frustrated, to say the least.
According to the results of our latest poll (in the right sidebar), 29 percent of respondents believe the GOP should maintain its principles but refine its language; meanwhile, 40 percent think the Republican Party should be overthrown by the Tea Party. (The “extreme,” “intemperate” nature of our readers is a tremendous source of pride!) Every week, we learn of another neighbor, coworker, or family member who has abandoned the Republican Party and become an unaffiliated voter. Some of these folks, pre-awakening, were GOP activists, and their departure from the lofty realm of “moderation” and “compromise” will sting the party. Justifiably so.
Admittedly, there is a deep sense of satisfaction derived from snubbing the GOP, but that should not be our sole objective. Other than changing one’s voter registration, what might the individual citizen do to advance the traditionalist/constitutionalist cause?
One option, let us call it “the nuclear option,” is the formation of a third party. For this draconian course of action, there is an increasing clamor. And while the impulse is understandable, we should bear in mind that third party movements have a long record of futility.
Nevertheless, there is no harm in discussing the idea, and how it could be implemented: How would such a movement be funded? What candidates could be persuaded to run under the new party’s banner, and would the new entity be called the “Tea Party,” or something else? What would prevent a third party from merely splitting the conservative vote, which would result in the election of more statists? Finally, what should be included in the new party’s platform?
On the final question, an excellent blueprint is the platform of the Constitution Party, a serious, profoundly conservative document: http://2012election.procon.org/sourcefiles/constitution-party-platform-2012.pdf
Let the conversation begin.
Charles Davenport Jr.
Unfortunately, what’s been overthrown, in many places, including FreedomWorks.org, is the Tea Party, not the Republican Party. The usurpers are the delusional Birchers and Ron Paul wingnuts who believe Dick Cheney wired the WTC Towers with explosives, fluoridation is a gov’t plot to poison you and make you docile, and John Boehner has been purging “conservatives” from financial committees in the U.S. House.
Charles, Jamie Radtke, a Tea Party leader from Virginia, recently observed that the Republican Party is now “driven by expediency”. She states it has become the “party that stands for nothing.”
http://www.timesdispatch.com/opinion/their-opinion/radtke-gop-the-party-that-stands-for-nothing/article_9d0d20b0-2dd9-523b-8463-32fc0aac67e5.html
Sadly, she is correct.
“Some of these folks, pre-awakening, were GOP activists, and their departure from the lofty realm of “moderation” and “compromise” will sting the party.”
Charles, it occurs to me that obviating CINOs (Conservatives in Name Only) might best be accomplished by visibly setting a high threshold of realistic expectations, standards and conservative principles for those who are truly deserving of the refined “C” word.
Those who refuse to meet or maintain those established standards, should be publicly excommunicated and formerly purged from this newly refined group. This approach would require a strong and effective Reagan-esque governance and strong backbones for those who are honestly willing to stand up to the relentless erosion of principled leadership.
In this way (screening the impostors), our focus will be better defined and much more effective. Make no mistake: this is a messy undertaking, particularly with “borderline conservatives”. However, I maintain that one of the main issues today is that the term “conservative” is much overused and not defined sharply enough. It must instead be defined as unambiguously as the Ten Commandments.
Objective standards and published scorecards must be continuously maintained and widely published. Current pledges of political fidelity are a start, but they must be definitive and game-changers for those who wander: if you refuse to walk the walk, then The Scarlet Letter is a certainty in your future. Standing up for solid principles trumps reelection possibilities every cycle. Defectors need to be widely identified and subjected to the scrutiny of their constituents.
It goes without saying that the minimum standard for acceptance into the RRP (Refined Republican Party, or whatever) must be complete adherence to the established Constitution. Those who wish to jury-pick this document are automatically disqualified by definition and forbidden to participate in the group.
Consider it a much-needed refinement of the current GOP. Properly done, realistic and exciting opportunities exist for the RRP. Half-hearted attempts, however, will result in a very muddy mess and, sadly, further decline into liberalism.
Talk is indeed dismissive and cheap, as best demonstrated by our current president who thinks his toothy smile and smooth talk fools all of his clueless docile sheep. In actuality, there are hungry wolves amongst us, desperate for a change in direction and starved for some real leadership which President Obama and his congressional minions obviously lack.
Is it time for a third party?
It’s part time for SECOND Party.
And now I see that the GOP-E is planning on “intervening” in GOP primaries now, presumably to put the finishing touches on making sure a Tea Partier never again gets a nomination in the GOP, by whatever means necessary. They’re operating on the false dichotomy that the GOP can only have either Democrat-lite “moderates” or else people like Todd Akin who don’t believe in rape pregancy – there can be no other alternatives, such as, say, common sense movement conservatives who stand on their principles while being willing to address a broad range of issues intelligently.
No sir, we don’t need any of those. The solution to the “Todd Akin Problem” HAS to be nominating more left-wing Republicans.
So yes, time for a new party. Time to make the GOP go the way of the Whigs and the Know-Nothings from whence it came.
I like the idea of a non-globalist, constitutional party? The first 10 minutes of the documentary Fall of the Republic is worth watching.
Yes, Titus, it now appears the national establishment Republicans are trying to tilt further the primary process against conservatives:
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/01/gop-scrambles-to-fix-its-primary-problem-85726.html
And ah, yes. Todd Akin, we are to believe, was the problem– not their guy Romney who, after all, headed the national ticket.