Al Gore on the rise?

[urbanlibertarian]

Yes, Dems hate Reps and Reps hate Dems.  The biggest problem both Reps and Dems have is that independents don't like ANY of their candidates.  Two parties is not enough.

[Adam White]

Yes, Dems hate Reps and Reps hate Dems.  The biggest problem both Reps and Dems have is that independents don't like ANY of their candidates.  Two parties is not enough.

There are plenty of third parties, though. If most Americans thought that two parties weren't enough, they could vote for the other guys. The fact that they don't indicates that the two main parties certainly are viewed by most Americans as reflecting their views.

[coredumped]

There are plenty of third parties, though. If most Americans thought that two parties weren't enough, they could vote for the other guys. The fact that they don't indicates that the two main parties certainly are viewed by most Americans as reflecting their views.

I think you'd better check those facts. True, 3rd parties aren't running away with everything, but many 3rd party candidates have taken office. The libertarian party is also the only party that is growing while the big 2 continue to shrink in membership. Gary Johnson (libertarian) got just shy of 1.3 million votes in the last election. A drop in the bucket, true, but the number grows each year.

The green party is also doing well.

I think it's very possible that we lose the republican party and end up with the libertarian and democratic party as the big 2. Unless the republicans change that is. It's happened in the past and can certainly happen again.

[Adam White]

There are plenty of third parties, though. If most Americans thought that two parties weren't enough, they could vote for the other guys. The fact that they don't indicates that the two main parties certainly are viewed by most Americans as reflecting their views.

I think you'd better check those facts. True, 3rd parties aren't running away with everything, but many 3rd party candidates have taken office. The libertarian party is also the only party that is growing while the big 2 continue to shrink in membership. Gary Johnson (libertarian) got just shy of 1.3 million votes in the last election. A drop in the bucket, true, but the number grows each year.

The green party is also doing well.

I think it's very possible that we lose the republican party and end up with the libertarian and democratic party as the big 2. Unless the republicans change that is. It's happened in the past and can certainly happen again.

The Democratic and Republican parties have far more registered voters than any other parties by a long shot. I am not disputing that some third parties are growing. But you know what? The so-called "Libertarian" Party has never managed to match the national electoral success of the old Socialist Party of America (who garnered 6% of the vote in the 1912 Presidential election). And what happened to that party? It's easy to look at a trend and make assumptions about what that means for the future. And although things may change, the truth is that two parties have represented the vast majority of US voter opinion for hundreds of years - in spite of occasional limited success by third parties (like the Socialists, Communists, Greens and "Libertarians").

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Gary Johnson (libertarian) got just shy of 1.3 million votes in the last election. A drop in the bucket, true, but the number grows each year.

He still got ZERO votes that actually count. 

I feel like a broken record bringing this up in every presidential election conversation, but our broken system doesn't have any room for a 3rd party.  They're irrelevant.

Why do you think Sanders is running Dem?  That alone should tell us that he's somewhat serious about winning the presidency and not just running to 'get his message' out.   The only chance he stands is by winning the primary.  If he loses that, he might get 3 votes from the EC.
   
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_third_party_performances_in_United_States_elections

[urbanlibertarian]

I only control one vote and I hope that's true for every other voter.  The only election in which my vote decides the election is when my choice wins by one vote.  In every other election my vote only counts as an expression of which direction I would like to see government take.  There are very very few Dems or Reps that deserve my vote.

[coredumped]

The Democratic and Republican parties have far more registered voters than any other parties by a long shot. I am not disputing that some third parties are growing. But you know what? The so-called "Libertarian" Party has never managed to match the national electoral success of the old Socialist Party of America (who garnered 6% of the vote in the 1912 Presidential election). And what happened to that party? It's easy to look at a trend and make assumptions about what that means for the future. And although things may change, the truth is that two parties have represented the vast majority of US voter opinion for hundreds of years - in spite of occasional limited success by third parties (like the Socialists, Communists, Greens and "Libertarians").

HUNDREDS of years? Not even 200, the democratic party started in 1828 and the republican in 1854. Remember, the republicans and democrats were one party (I honestly think they are today too ), and then there was the whig and the very short lived, but still had presidents elected whig party.

Times change, and if the parties don't evolve they'll fade out and some other party will take over.

[Adam White]

The Democratic and Republican parties have far more registered voters than any other parties by a long shot. I am not disputing that some third parties are growing. But you know what? The so-called "Libertarian" Party has never managed to match the national electoral success of the old Socialist Party of America (who garnered 6% of the vote in the 1912 Presidential election). And what happened to that party? It's easy to look at a trend and make assumptions about what that means for the future. And although things may change, the truth is that two parties have represented the vast majority of US voter opinion for hundreds of years - in spite of occasional limited success by third parties (like the Socialists, Communists, Greens and "Libertarians").

HUNDREDS of years? Not even 200, the democratic party started in 1828 and the republican in 1854. Remember, the republicans and democrats were one party (I honestly think they are today too ), and then there was the whig and the very short lived, but still had presidents elected whig party.

Times change, and if the parties don't evolve they'll fade out and some other party will take over.

Okay - I got that wrong. I should've typed "over a hundred". But the point is still valid. Short-term trends are common and rarely amount to anything long-lasting. Who knows what will happen - but I doubt the idiots in the "Libertarian" party will replace the Republicans as the second-largest party in the USA.

[fsquid]

the barrier to a third party is and will always be money.  That's it and they will work together to make sure a national third party is nothing more than fringe.

[coredumped]

Okay - I got that wrong. I should've typed "over a hundred". But the point is still valid. Short-term trends are common and rarely amount to anything long-lasting. Who knows what will happen - but I doubt the idiots in the "Libertarian" party will replace the Republicans as the second-largest party in the USA.

Well we were having a civilized discussion...sad Adam.

If you're happy with the way things are going, keep voting the same. It's not a horse race, you get no prize for picking the "winner."

[The_Choose_1]

The Democratic and Republican parties have far more registered voters than any other parties by a long shot. I am not disputing that some third parties are growing. But you know what? The so-called "Libertarian" Party has never managed to match the national electoral success of the old Socialist Party of America (who garnered 6% of the vote in the 1912 Presidential election). And what happened to that party? It's easy to look at a trend and make assumptions about what that means for the future. And although things may change, the truth is that two parties have represented the vast majority of US voter opinion for hundreds of years - in spite of occasional limited success by third parties (like the Socialists, Communists, Greens and "Libertarians").

HUNDREDS of years? Not even 200, the democratic party started in 1828 and the republican in 1854. Remember, the republicans and democrats were one party (I honestly think they are today too ), and then there was the whig and the very short lived, but still had presidents elected whig party.

Times change, and if the parties don't evolve they'll fade out and some other party will take over.

Okay - I got that wrong. I should've typed "over a hundred". But the point is still valid. Short-term trends are common and rarely amount to anything long-lasting. Who knows what will happen - but I doubt the idiots in the "Libertarian" party will replace the Republicans as the second-largest party in the USA.

The Libertarians IMO are worst then the Tea Party Members to me. And if they got into power I believe another civil war would take America once again.

[Adam White]

Okay - I got that wrong. I should've typed "over a hundred". But the point is still valid. Short-term trends are common and rarely amount to anything long-lasting. Who knows what will happen - but I doubt the idiots in the "Libertarian" party will replace the Republicans as the second-largest party in the USA.

Well we were having a civilized discussion...sad Adam.

If you're happy with the way things are going, keep voting the same. It's not a horse race, you get no prize for picking the "winner."

There is nothing civilized about the "Libertarian" party.

As far as voting goes, when I lived in the US, I was a member of the SP-USA. But I am not certain if I even voted in the last few elections before I moved (I can't recall if I voted for McReynolds and I know I didn't vote for Brown). I'm not saying you shouldn't join or vote for a third party - I'm saying I don't believe that Americans (as a rule) are dissatisfied with the Democratic and Republican parties.

[finehoe]

Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders are 'genuine' candidates, whether you agree with them or not. People are flocking to their messages because they see them as telling the truth about what they think, and what they will do, without bowing down to special interests for money, or saying whatever people wish to hear to get elected and then do whatever they wish for those who pay them.

And make no mistake, the mainstream establishment in the US, in the media and the professional political ranks, hate and fear both of them.  The establishment candidates, duly anointed by the moneyed interests, are Hillary and Jeb!, with some designated stand-ins should either of them stumble too badly. And the established party machines and their enablers will do everything in their power to make sure that you can only choose one or the other of their approved products next year.

[The_Choose_1]

Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders are 'genuine' candidates, whether you agree with them or not. People are flocking to their messages because they see them as telling the truth about what they think, and what they will do, without bowing down to special interests for money, or saying whatever people wish to hear to get elected and then do whatever they wish for those who pay them.

And make no mistake, the mainstream establishment in the US, in the media and the professional political ranks, hate and fear both of them.  The establishment candidates, duly anointed by the moneyed interests, are Hillary and Jeb!, with some designated stand-ins should either of them stumble too badly. And the established party machines and their enablers will do everything in their power to make sure that you can only choose one or the other of their approved products next year.

"And the established party machines and their enablers will do everything in their power to make sure that you can only choose one or the other of their approved products next year." GOOD!

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders are 'genuine' candidates, whether you agree with them or not.

Agreed.  And only because whether THEY agree or not, they're each running with the only party that gives them a legitimate chance to be elected.