McKinney Goes Green; Will a third-party candidate be a 'spoiler'?

News Type: Event — Seeded on Wed Jul 16, 2008 8:12 AM EDT

Article Source: Newsweek

excerpt:"Of course, there's the perennial third-party candidate question: What do you make of arguments that you'll pull votes away from the Democrats, thereby ushering into office a Republican who shares even fewer of your views? That's not grounded in the facts. As the film "American Blackout" points out very well, there were numerous instruments used in the 2000 and 2004 elections to disfranchise voters. Voter caging and voter ID laws exist to disfranchise voters. The question I believe Newsweek ought to be asking is how can we ensure that people who have the right to vote also have the opportunity to vote. And after their vote is cast, how can we ensure their votes are counted. How can an environment that does not ensure election integrity ensure us that the will of the voter is reflected in the announced outcome?

So it doesn't concern you that taking even 1 percent away from a major political"

Published to:

Scott (Scoop) Butki's Column, All of Newsvine
Groups: The Big 2008 Election
Regions: none

What's this?

Who's leading the conversation?

This visualization below allows you to see the impact that each user has on the current conversation. The top row contains the group of users who have had the most impact, the 2nd row the group of users who have had the 2nd most impact (et cetera). Users with similar impact are grouped together, and the average score of the group is shown to the left of the group. The author of the article is also shown on the left, in their corresponding group. Each user's score is based on the number of comments the user has made plus the number of votes their comments have received. The scores are calculated relative one another, so while their absolute value is not particularly important, their relative difference does indicate a larger difference in impact on the conversation.

2.2

{"commentId":2203411,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

Ah, the spoiler question. Always an interesting topic whether we're talking about Nader or whoever. Thoughts on this topic?

{"commentId":2203411,"threadId":"313852","contentId":"1669808","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

1 vote

#1 - Wed Jul 16, 2008 8:13 AM EDT

{"commentId":2206719,"authorDomain":"dolores"}

Dolores M. Bernal

I think that in the long run, having third parties is necessary. Most countries tend to have more than 2 party-systems. The reason why we have two, has to do with our links to England where the party of the Tories and the party of the Whigs ruled the government for years. It's time for us to evolve and allow for different political parties that we can chose from, this would mark the end of electing the lesser of two evils.

{"commentId":2206719,"threadId":"313852","contentId":"1669808","authorDomain":"dolores"}

2 votes

#1.1 - Wed Jul 16, 2008 3:00 PM EDT

{"commentId":2208630,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

third parties is necessary. Most countries tend to have more than 2 party-systems. The reason why we have two, has to do with our links to England where the party of the Tories and the party of the Whigs ruled the government for years. It's time for us to evolve and allow for different political parties that we can chose from, this would mark the end of electing the lesser of two evils.

Well, if memory serves this nation HAS had third - and I believe fourth - parties before that did ok but then the nation returned to having two parties.
Someone with more knowledge of history can correct me on that.
I'll ask killfile to swing by.

I support the u.s. having more parties. But this is one of those ideas (like communism) that's easier in theory than in actual execution. Is it worth, say, the democrats losing the next election or two in order for the Green Party to get enough votes to matter?

{"commentId":2208630,"threadId":"313852","contentId":"1669808","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

#1.2 - Wed Jul 16, 2008 6:15 PM EDT

{"commentId":2204335,"authorDomain":"cpaul44"}

cecil paul

The Greens need to get into the Democratic Party and form a solid block. Other groups have done just that in both Parties. They have a major contribution to make as seen by the work of Green Parties in Europe. Their positions on the Environment and Grass Roots Participation can Add Value to the Democrats.They need to be realistic. The majority of voters are centered on the two traditional parties and it will be a long period before the two party trend is broken. It seems that we are headed for a close race in the Presidential Election. Nader, Barr and the Green Party could be worrisome for both Candidates.

{"commentId":2204335,"threadId":"313852","contentId":"1669808","authorDomain":"cpaul44"}

1 vote

#2 - Wed Jul 16, 2008 10:27 AM EDT

{"commentId":2204408,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

e. Their positions on the Environment and Grass Roots Participation can Add Value to the Democrats.They need to

I agree. I understand greens want to have their positions taken more seriously and built into the party but doing that by taking votes away from Democrats is not the best way to make that happen.

{"commentId":2204408,"threadId":"313852","contentId":"1669808","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

#2.1 - Wed Jul 16, 2008 10:35 AM EDT

{"commentId":2207457,"authorDomain":"dustin44444"}

dustin44444

I'm betting that the Greens would like to be incorporated into the Democratic Party. The problem being that the Democrats would never be willing to incorporate any Green positions. One of the main tenets of the Green party is a complete and unconditional support for non-violence, something the Democrats would never, ever adopt.

I admire the Greens for sticking to principle. If it hurts the Democrats, then the Dems may need to take a good look at what their party stands for and figure out why so many people view them as being just as bad as the Republicans.

{"commentId":2207457,"threadId":"313852","contentId":"1669808","authorDomain":"dustin44444"}

1 vote

#2.2 - Wed Jul 16, 2008 4:05 PM EDT

{"commentId":2216075,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

As long as the greens say mantras like the dems are just as the repubs the dems arent going to budge... until the greens cost them an election and then it wont be a very arcomynous coming together

{"commentId":2216075,"threadId":"313852","contentId":"1669808","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

#2.3 - Thu Jul 17, 2008 4:06 PM EDT

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"313852","isPrivate":false}

SCOTT (SCOOP) BUTKI

Backyard

McKinney Goes Green; Will a third-party candidate be a 'spoiler'?

Published to:

FUN STUFF:

COMPANY STUFF:

LEGAL STUFF: