GOP Fretting About Monster It & FOX Created. Why?

[Philly]

It doesn't, explicitly. But since it sets up a system of government where we elect our leaders in a first-past-the-post system, factions will ultimately always form together into two parties because otherwise you're just splitting the vote against your competition.

[Indy]

So it is possible, just not probable. Or incredibly difficult to do.

[Philly]

Would you vote third party in a close election between a mediocre Democrat and a horrible Republican, knowing your vote takes one away from the only candidate that could stop the Republican from winning? If not, then you see why it won't work.

Even if a third party does rise up to prominence, it means one of the other two has to die.

[Indy]

I think the only viable third party option is a super-rich guy financing himself, like a Bloomberg. Or, to some extent, Trump.

Did Trump really need to run under the GOP banner? Seems at this point like those people would support him anyway.

[Philly]

Yes, he gave himself much more credibility running in the GOP, because if he's going to run a right wing populist campaign, his only real shot of winning is to eliminate any republican competition. Otherwise the best he could do is split the electoral vote and send the decision to congress, who would elect their own nominee.

[fstarcstar]

Trump running independent or third party would of destroyed his image, his candidacy at the beginning was originally marked as a joke by the American people, so running third party would of meant he was being serious.

[Indy]

[John Galt]

[John Galt]

on factionalism

http://www.mamartino.com/projects/rise_of_partisanship/

pretty amazing looking data. after the defeat of communism we had no enemies left except those anti-american f**k on the other side

[Indy]

THANK YOU for proving a long-held belief of mine.

When the Cold War ended, Americans needed an enemy--because apparently we always need one--and that enemy became "the left."

Why, yes: Democrats are anti-American f**ks who hate the country.