OpEdNews » A Not-So-Simple Twist of Fate: Could Hillary Bequeath Us Our Long-Awaited Third Party?

Tags for This Article:

Populum Tag Cloud Control Panel
	Fine tune your search to access content

Articles	Links
Diaries	Products
Events	All

All time
Last 6 mos
Last month
Last week
Last 24 hrs

From:
Month Day Year

To:
Month Day Year

Alphabet Popularity	Count ON Count OFF
This Level	Sub-levels

Tag(s): Hillary Clinton; Third Party - Candidates
Add to My Group

March 6, 2008 at 20:26:10

Headlined on 3/6/08:
A Not-So-Simple Twist of Fate: Could Hillary Bequeath Us Our Long-Awaited Third Party?

by David Michael Green Page 2 of 2 page(s)

www.opednews.com

SAVE FAVORITES

VIEW FAVORITES

View Ratings | Rate It

The idea of a third party alternative has long been a dream of progressives in America. It has also too often been a fantasy and a distracting albatross. Particularly since the Bill Clinton era of centrist sell-out – but really going back to the Reagan period of Democratic cowardice, the McGovern campaign of entrenched Party power acting shamelessly toward their nominee, and certainly the Johnson debacle in Vietnam – progressives have been looking to ditch the shell of the former New Deal now doing business as the corroded (and corrosive) Democratic Party.

Unfortunately – really, very unfortunately – it’s an almost impossible trick to pull off given the structure of the American political system, and I have joined [click here lots of other smarter people counseling against the effort, suggesting an attempt at hijacking the Democratic Party instead. Not for nothing was the last new major party born in America 150 years ago. It’s not an accident that for about three-fourths of the country’s history it’s been Republicans or Democrats. Period.

Oddly enough, however, this is probably the year when the country could come closest in a long time to seeing the birth of a genuine third party. Theoretically, at least – if the right sequence of events transpired. It’s probably a long-shot, and not my personal preference for the short-term, but it is feasible, it’s probably the only way to imagine overcoming the considerable institutional barriers to creating a third party in America, and doing so would be just the shot of adrenalin this decrepit old political system needs. Moreover, there are – believe it or not – still some folks out there who don’t yet get the damage done by conservatism in America. Another four years of the same may be just the tonic to finally seal that deal forever.

So, let me see here. We’d have a destroyed Republican Party, a destroyed Democratic Party, and a new progressive, "Fired-Up!" party rising out of their ashes. We could do a lot worse than that. And we could thank Hillary Clinton for it all, if it happens.

Sometimes a silver-lining can turn into a whole pot of gold.

1 | 2

www.regressiveantidote.net

David Michael Green is a professor of political science at Hofstra University in New York. He is delighted to receive readers' reactions to his articles (dmg@regressiveantidote.net), but regrets that time constraints do not always allow him to respond. His website is www.regressiveantidote.net.

	Contact Author
	Contact Editor
	View Other Articles by Author

Bookmark this page: (what's this?)

(More...)

2 comments

Midwesterner, veteran of VietNam era naval service, I still feel an obligation to defend the Constitution against "all enemies, foreign and domestic."
John Sanchez Jr.Midwesterner, veteran of VietNam era naval service, I still feel an obligation to defend the Constitution against "all enemies, foreign and domestic."

Show me where to sign up!

The third party idea has been mouldering in my head for several months now, but it lacked articulation for want of a credible leader. Obama would certainly fill the bill.

Alternatively, perhaps the Madame of the DLC could merge with the GOP where she'd feel more at home and could renew her close agreements with Joe Lieberman, who has been described as one example of a rat swimming out to a sinking ship.

by John Sanchez Jr. (5 articles, 0 quicklinks, 11 diaries, 1156 comments) on Friday, March 7, 2008 at 1:36:19 AM

I'm a concerned, middle aged blogger and member of the ACLU. I hail from the Bay Area. I Lobbied congress with the ACLU over the more unconstitutional elements of the USA Patriot Act. Marched in peace protests, lost a former school chum in the world trade center on 9/11.
Michael ShawI'm a concerned, middle aged blogger and member of the ACLU. I hail from the Bay Area. I Lobbied congress with the ACLU over the more unconstitutional elements of the USA Patriot Act. Marched in peace protests, lost a former school chum in the world trade center on 9/11.

Dare I say it

but if it wasn't for the new rules in this democratic primary Obama would be losing this race, not winning it. Hillary has won all of the big states and if we were republicans Obama would have been congratulating Hillary by now. I'll admit I have been torn with these super delegates, worrying as you do they might turn this election into a farce. But thus far there are no clear indications in that whatsoever. I also note those like Ken Ash who say Hillary should surrender this election. I say hogwash to that. If the election needs to be determined at the convention than so be it. That is where it should be determined in a close race and where it often has been determined over the years.

I no longer fear as many do(or wish) that a prolonged race will break apart the democrat party. In fact at this point I think it will be a good thing for democracy whomever wins the nomination.

As for the idea in a strong new third party emerging, it is a pipedream. Nader will be the closest we get to it and if he musters more than 1% of the vote it will be a miracle.

by Michael Shaw (7 articles, 1 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 328 comments) on Friday, March 7, 2008 at 11:39:17 AM