aspiringconstitutionalist
Member
- Joined
- Oct 18, 2007
- Messages
- 2,807
I'm not actually advocating anything serious right now, but the thought crossed my mind...
What if we were to resurrect the Democratic-Republican Party that Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe founded as sort of a broad libertarian-minded unity party, and encouraged the Libertarians, the Constitution Partyists, the Reform Partyists, independents, the anti-war Republicans, and the more libertarian blue dog Democrats to join? It doesn't seem like it would be unreasonable to suspect that we could cobble together a pretty hefty sized party.
These days, 50-60% of Americans long for a viable third party (http://www.pollingreport.com/institut2.htm). Recent polling data show that between 25-30% of those who call themselves Republicans oppose the war in Iraq and disapprove of the neocon Bush administration (http://www.pollingreport.com/iraq.htm). As recently as 1992, 19% of voters were willing to (and actually did) cast their votes for a third party presidential candidate. Tons of Democrats are disillusioned with their party for failing to forcefully oppose the war as well as the growing surveillance state and the government's spy powers. Throw in the Libertarian Party, Constitution Party, and disaffected, libertarian-minded independents who haven't found a party they like yet.
We could form a party with clear libertarian principles that advocates strict constitutionalism in government, with a religion-neutral policy (which would be more welcoming to those who'd like to join the Constitution Party but find the religionism a bit overwhelming), that is not afraid to strongly oppose the war(s) and the spy state. Including the names "Democrat" and "Republican" in the same phrase would also help connect to the roots of both major parties, would make modern Democrats and Republicans feel more comfortable about entering, and the name of course would sound a lot less fringe. If we play our cards right, we could attract a huge chunk of American voters.
Just a thought.
What if we were to resurrect the Democratic-Republican Party that Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe founded as sort of a broad libertarian-minded unity party, and encouraged the Libertarians, the Constitution Partyists, the Reform Partyists, independents, the anti-war Republicans, and the more libertarian blue dog Democrats to join? It doesn't seem like it would be unreasonable to suspect that we could cobble together a pretty hefty sized party.
These days, 50-60% of Americans long for a viable third party (http://www.pollingreport.com/institut2.htm). Recent polling data show that between 25-30% of those who call themselves Republicans oppose the war in Iraq and disapprove of the neocon Bush administration (http://www.pollingreport.com/iraq.htm). As recently as 1992, 19% of voters were willing to (and actually did) cast their votes for a third party presidential candidate. Tons of Democrats are disillusioned with their party for failing to forcefully oppose the war as well as the growing surveillance state and the government's spy powers. Throw in the Libertarian Party, Constitution Party, and disaffected, libertarian-minded independents who haven't found a party they like yet.
We could form a party with clear libertarian principles that advocates strict constitutionalism in government, with a religion-neutral policy (which would be more welcoming to those who'd like to join the Constitution Party but find the religionism a bit overwhelming), that is not afraid to strongly oppose the war(s) and the spy state. Including the names "Democrat" and "Republican" in the same phrase would also help connect to the roots of both major parties, would make modern Democrats and Republicans feel more comfortable about entering, and the name of course would sound a lot less fringe. If we play our cards right, we could attract a huge chunk of American voters.
Just a thought.
