teapartysamurai
Gold Member
- Mar 27, 2010
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I would like to add this. The ONLY way a third party succeeds in this country is by knocking off one of the "big two."
The last time that happened was in late 1850s (for the election of 1860).
The two main parties, at the time, were the Democrat party and the Whigg Party.
The Republican party WAS the third party at the time.
But the Democrat party was fully on the side of slavery.
The Whigg party tried to go Democrat "lite." (are you listening moderates and RINOS who think conservatism in the Republican party is too extreme?)
The Whigg party tried to have it both ways. "Okay we will allow slavery to remain in the South, but we will keep it from happening in North and in any New State that joins the Union."
That wasn't enough of an alternative to many voters. They wanted a clear alternative to the Pro-Slavery Democrats.
THEN there was this New Party who's sole issue (at the time) was abolition! It's champion, Abraham Lincoln. It was called the Republican Party.
The voters went for the alternative! Lincoln won in 1860.
THAT is the ONLY way a third party will succeed, is knocking off one of the big two and BECOMING one of the big two.
Considering it's been 151 years since that has happened, it's not likely to happen again, unless there is a volatile issue like slavery and the big two parties do not offer enough of alternatives to the voters and they look to another party for that alternative.
The last time that happened was in late 1850s (for the election of 1860).
The two main parties, at the time, were the Democrat party and the Whigg Party.
The Republican party WAS the third party at the time.
But the Democrat party was fully on the side of slavery.
The Whigg party tried to go Democrat "lite." (are you listening moderates and RINOS who think conservatism in the Republican party is too extreme?)
The Whigg party tried to have it both ways. "Okay we will allow slavery to remain in the South, but we will keep it from happening in North and in any New State that joins the Union."
That wasn't enough of an alternative to many voters. They wanted a clear alternative to the Pro-Slavery Democrats.
THEN there was this New Party who's sole issue (at the time) was abolition! It's champion, Abraham Lincoln. It was called the Republican Party.
The voters went for the alternative! Lincoln won in 1860.
THAT is the ONLY way a third party will succeed, is knocking off one of the big two and BECOMING one of the big two.
Considering it's been 151 years since that has happened, it's not likely to happen again, unless there is a volatile issue like slavery and the big two parties do not offer enough of alternatives to the voters and they look to another party for that alternative.