If you don't think the media tries to steer elections.....

[Solus]

While I basically agree with you, my reasoning is somewhat different.
Only one 3rd part candidate ever won the Presidency, and that was just over 150 years ago, so the chances of it happening again are slim.
Since I don't want to throw away my vote uselessly I'm left with 2 choices, R or D.
My reading has showed me that while many R's are either unable to make a difference against the tide or venal, self serving, and/or RINO's, the party platform itself of small Govt, strong defense , minimal taxation etc. is sound.
The D's on the other hand, while some of them may be fine Patriotic people, have historically been connected to organized crime and corruption, the term bag man was coined to describe a Dem tradition. Also the Dem party platform of , Pro Union, big govt, punitive taxation and meddlesome regulation, is contrary to the intentions of the Founding Fathers, and for the last century has promoted a socialist agenda that can only be described as subversive.
So I, rather than vote 3rd party will vote for any one who has a chance of keeping the D candidate out of office.

I have not voted for the Libertarian candidate in two recent elections.

One was when I voted against Al Gore, not wanting the Clinton Legacy to run another term and the other was voting against BHO.  With BHO, I saw him as the greatest threat to our country in my lifetime and that was before he showed how dangerous he was.  

But, for the most part, if you do the same thing over and over, you will get the same results.  Voting 3rd party is the only way there is a chance for change but only if enough of us go that way.   Even if that candidate is not elected, if they garner a significant portion of the vote, it will send a message to the other parties and it will make the next election easier for the 3rd party in that they will not be burdened with as much of the crap the Dems and Repubs pile on them to get on a ballot.


We will see how the Tea Party candidates fare in the next few years.  Perhaps a 3rd party growing from within might do some good. 

[tombogan03884]

If a third party candidate actually appeared likely to win I would consider supporting them.
For example if the TEA Party split from the Republicans, I would vote Tea Party.
But until that time I feel it is more important to keep the Dem out, even if the Rep. is a shmuck RINO like McCain.
That's my thinking, as they say YMMV.

[fightingquaker13]

While I basically agree with you, my reasoning is somewhat different.

So I, rather than vote 3rd party will vote for any one who has a chance of keeping the D candidate out of office.

Ok Tom, you have this one coming. To rebut you I submit this from Douglas Adams "So Long and Thanks for the Fish" from The "Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy". Our Hero Arthur tries to understand local politics, our friend Tom plays the part of Ford:





     “I come in peace,” it said, adding after a long moment of further grinding, “take me to your Lizard.”

      …”It comes from a very ancient democracy, you see…”

      “You mean, it comes from a world of lizards?”

      “No,” said Ford, who by this time was a little more rational and coherent than he had been, having finally had the coffee forced down him, “nothing so simple. Nothing anything like so straightforward. On its world, the people are people. The leaders are lizards. The people hate the lizards and the lizards rule the people.”

      “Odd,” said Arthur, “I though you said it was a democracy.”

      “I did,” said Ford. “It is.”

      “So,” said Arthur, hoping he wasn’t sounding ridiculously obtuse, “why don’t the people get rid of the lizards?”

      “It honestly doesn’t occur to them,” said Ford. “They’ve all got the vote so they all pretty much assume that the government they’ve voted in more or less approximates to the government they want.”

      “You mean they actually vote for the lizards?”

      “Oh yes,” said Ford with a shrug, “of course.”

      “But,” said Arthur, going for the big one again, “why?”

      “Because if they didn’t vote for a lizard,” said Ford, “the wrong lizard might get in. Got any gin?”

      “What?”

      “I said,” said Ford, with an increasing air of urgency creeping into his voice, “have you got any gin?”

      “I’ll look. Tell me about the lizards.”

      Ford shrugged again.

      “Some people say that the lizards are the best thing that ever happened to them,” he said. “They’re completely wrong of course, completely and utterly wrong, but someone’s got to say it.”

[Solus]

If a third party candidate actually appeared likely to win I would consider supporting them.
For example if the TEA Party split from the Republicans, I would vote Tea Party.
But until that time I feel it is more important to keep the Dem out, even if the Rep. is a shmuck RINO like McCain.
That's my thinking, as they say YMMV.

Part of the reason that a 3rd party candidate will be unelectable is that, unless they have a private fortune, like Ross Perot, they are not going to be allowed to participate in the election process...like debates or MSM coverage of conventions or the candidates views or activities.  

Even if the candidate is on the ballot in all 57, or is it 59?  I can never remember, states, they will not be invited to the debates by the Bi-partisan debate committee.  The deck is well stacked against any 3rd party by the two we all vote for so "the wrong Lizard" doesn't get in. (thanks FQ).


P.S. with all that said, I will be voting Republican again this year because BHO is even more of a known threat than he was the first time, the worst Lizard ever.  Hopefully the Republican can defeat BHO, but I expect them to still be a Lizard.

[tombogan03884]

Whats to criticize ? With no real choice between individuals I vote based on the parties platform, while the R's may put up flawed individuals, at least their platform, their basic reason for being, is not subversive, and proven to be self destructive.
The "rule of flawed men by law, as laid out in the Constitution, and used as the basis for the Rep. platform lead us to the moon and Disney/Epcot.
The humanistic/ socialist view espoused by the Dem's has already lead to Dachau and the Gulag.
Which would you prefer ?

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