I hear what you're saying, Libertas.
Look how long the Libertarian Party has been around and how little influence and effect they have had.
They can't even get on the ballot in all 50 states.
Of course the cards are stacked pretty high against them.
I've been looking a little bit at the Constitution Party.
I still think most Tea Partiers are solid Republicans and will never leave
I think many of the Tea Party might rethink GOP membership if they screw the pooch again, but I guess we'll find out one way or the other. I know I am not going to take it in the shorts anymore.
I looked at the Constitution Party before, I like much of what they stand for, but there are some problems areas. For instance we cannot go back to the way it was 150-200 years ago on many things.
They are against conscription, but in case of a real national emergency calling up state militias is time consuming and would require (as in all cases where military intervention is required) a formal declaration of war by Congress. In a run up event that latter is fine, in a "right now" emergency under the CP rules a President is hamstrung.
They are against Constitutional Conventions because of their "open ended" nature as to scope, but that is how the Founders wanted them, curious they have no problem tossing out that right.
They are against women in combat, and in front line areas (especially on the ground that is a concern, I would apply the "fireman" rule), piloting aircraft and such though, I dunno, could be a tough issue to get traction on.
And they want the Panama Canal back, good luck with that one, they would have to take by force, and that would violate their pretty firm isolationist foreign policy position. I have no problem pulling out of NATO, Ashcanistan, Iraq & Japan, but they want us out of everything and never want us to go anywhere, and that is just not going to fly.
They want the voting rights act repealled and that alone could start a civil war, not that I am against the latter.
And going back to old electoral college rules and away from the "general ticket" seems DOA to me, I would not want to be a President stuck with some libiot asshat as my VP just because the asshat finished 2nd!
And they want paper ballots. I guess they liked Florida 2000. The new electronic machines scare me and how they can be manipulated, but a middle ground has to be sought. Optical scanning seems to cover both needs adequately.
Trade policy seems more isolationist than their foreign policy, which again could make a lot of enemies in the world, they might be making a lot of declarations of war or just devoured by multiple enemies while they debate what to do.
If they can clean up their platform a bit they could be a force, the 75% remaining I like a lot. It's probably all moot anyway...odds are no new party will take root fast enough to avoid the inevitable. But I will need a new home if/when the Pubbies screw me over again, if for only to be able to say "I am not one of them!"!
