Who would be the best third party candidate in '08?

[iconoclastNYC]

From the right or the left?

Who could get Perot-like support?

What qualities would help aid a third party run?

It would need to be someone with deep pockets to pay for the run himself and buy long 30 minute ads like Perot did.

Could/would the progressives wing of the party ever run a third candidate if they were very unhappy with the way the primary turned out?

[davidinalameda]

1. it can't be seen as sour grapes

if the field looks like its going to be nothing but DLC pod people, then the Greens and other progressive groups need to come up with a good candidate and work like hell to get them on all 50 ballots

[adwon]

2. Do you mean

as a spoiler or viable?

I'd say none are viable, but Pat Buchanan would be the all-time champion spoiler if he went after W & co. for selling out the religious right by supporting civil unions.

[iconoclastNYC]

4. Ideally it would be someone on the right to spoil

If they run Man-on-dog Santortom or Jeb, maybe someone rich moderate businessman with deep pockets could run against the Republican party becoming a wholely owned subsidiary of Bushco/BFEE and the Religiou$ Right.

And the question for progressives is, how can we help this?

Republican manipulate the Democratic party all the time, and Progessives can and should figure out how to manipulate the Republican party by driving a wedge.

[adwon]

8. Support Alan Keyes

Do a Dean-style internet fundraiser for him and hype him as 'The Moral Avenger.' I guess the same could be tried with Pat Buchanan or Gary Bauer, but Keyes is marginally more respectable. Plus, Buchanan has the 'Wall around America' baggage and Bauer...well, Bauer just looks like a dog who got run over.

[Dr Ron]

5. I wish Buchanan had run in 2004

Not only could he have taken votes away from Bush on social issues, attacking Bush from the right over going into Iraq would have helped the Democrats look less weak on defense in opposing the war. As he wasn't running, I doubt his criticism of Bush had much impact. I did buy his book to have sitting out when Republicans were over.

[LSdemocrat]

3. Barring some celebrity with tons of money I can't imagine anyone viable

[sadiesworld]

6. I don't have a name...

but I think there will be an opening big enough to drive a truck through. Forget left/right, think populist revolt. Most of the people I deal with in the non-DU world are pretty baffled as to why nothing gets done on the issues that concern them: Trade and outsourcing, the debt, the environment, government corruption, unaffordable health care and education, and (yes) illegal immigration.

It would be a thankless, even dangerous, venture but it would change the political landscape in this country if successful. Has anyone ever tried a coalition among some of the third parties? Could the Greens, the Laborites, the Reformers and possibly even the Libertarians find enough in common to come together?

[On the Road]

7. As a Spoiler?

Jesse Ventura. I was hoping he would run in 2004.

[NoPasaran]

9. Pat Robertson

I'd love to see him peal the religiofascists away from the rethug party.

[Toucano]

11. Jinx!

You owe me a Coke!

[Toucano]

10. PAT ROBERTSON!

Please, Pat, please run!

Haven't the Repubicans dissappointed you on your agenda long enough?

Didn't they marginalize you in 1988?

When was the last time the introduced a "Right to Life" amendment? They've controlled the house since 1994.

Stop wasting your money on them, and run yourself!

[iconoclastNYC]

12. Yes!

Great sentiment.

How can we agitate his supporters to start a "Draft Pat" movement?

Could we infiltrate thier blogs and plant the seed to get his real activist to get the ball rolling?

[Dr Ron]

13. Could happen

So far the reilgious right has stuck with the Republicans even when people like Reagan did very little for them. Bush is much friendlier towards them, but it remians to be seen how much he will deliver.

Many of the more prominent Republicans are more tolerant of right to choose than the GOP mainstream. If one of them should get the nomination (which would be difficult) this could lead to a split in the party.

[Toucano]

14. I think the seed has been planted.

I heard him on NPR a few weeks ago, and he expressed some frustration.

If we're going to help it grow, infiltrating blogs is good. But I think his followers aren't big on Internets skills. I think we should have some Christian moles IN FUNDIE CHURCHES grumbling about the lack of progress for their agenda.

Place print ads in small town, rural newspapers.

The moles have to praise Bush as God's holy man, but point out that his party is too beholden to the dirty, sinful, corporate world that wants to turn America into Soddom for profit! Bush won't be running, so he's not the focus.

The moles can cite moderate Republicans and Dick and Lynn Cheney's position on gay marriage to whip up the self-rightous elements.

Let the monster they've created in the irrational voter work against them.

[meow2u3]

15. Judge Roy Moore

He can split the religious right, especially if a more moderate repuke runs for president.

[Sparkly]

17. Oh man, I would SO contribute to his campaign!!

:evilgrin:

[Protagoras]

20. what scares me is the amount of support

that some wingnut like Moore could get...but divide and conquer works well for them, and it could work for us...IF WE HAD OUR OWN LIBERAL LEADER TO RUN!

I'm feeling like all the strategies against them are going to come to nothing until we have a leader in our own party running and willing to fight for SOMETHING.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

16. Kucinich as a Green. Maybe Boxer.

As a team, they'd be great.

[iconoclastNYC]

18. No money and no name recognition.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

19. Well, it would be a start to ending the dominance of the two parties.