Ann Barnhardt - Eletcions are Staged Theater

[Rastus]

<snip> Now they're saying, "he can't beat Hillary". <snip>

They are saying that as a last gasp hope and also for a future justification to dump Trump. 

And, I realize this, that the Republican Establishment would rather have Hillary in office than a Trump that would shake things up.  I am 75% certain that we'll see shenanigans galore at the election which will enrage the general conservative population and cause Trump to run independent or not at all.

Tom is right, the primaries are where we make changes and the establishment needs to be voted out...Dem and Repub.  In fact, putting a cap on the number of lawyers in the Congress and Senate at zero would likely save the republic.

[billt]

I am convinced Ross Perot entered the campaign to split the conservative vote and insure a Clinton victory....twice...

I'm not sure what Perot was trying to achieve. He went about the whole thing so stupidly. He was smart enough to know you can't possibly win 270 Electoral Votes, while trying to operate as a third party candidate within a 2 party system. The math just doesn't work. So instead they talk a big game, (much like that idiot Kasich), but only wind up running blocker for the frontrunner.

Until this country does away with both the Electoral College, AND the 2 party system, a third party candidate has as much chance of winning the Presidency, as Rosie O'Donnell does to win the Miss America pageant.

[Solus]

I'm not sure what Perot was trying to achieve. He went about the whole thing so stupidly. He was smart enough to know you can't possibly win 270 Electoral Votes, while trying to operate as a third party candidate within a 2 party system. The math just doesn't work. So instead they talk a big game, (much like that idiot Kasich), but only wind up running blocker for the frontrunner.

Until this country does away with both the Electoral College, AND the 2 party system, a third party candidate has as much chance of winning the Presidency, as Rosie O'Donnell does to win the Miss America pageant.

Bill, Perot never intended to win the election.  His whole purpose was to split the conservative vote allowing Clinton to be elected...and he did it twice...

There is only one way to break the Democrat and Demlite 2 party system and that is to muster enough voters in support of a 3rd party. It will  not happen as long and everyone continues doing what has not been working for decades.

[billt]

There is only one way to break the Democrat and Demlite 2 party system and that is to muster enough voters in support of a 3rd party.

That won't matter because the voters do not elect the President. The Electoral College does. And there are not enough Electoral Votes to split 3 ways and have anyone come up with the 270 required to win. The system has to be changed first.

[Timothy]

Y'all are aware that only about half the states require the Electors to actually follow the will of the people when they cast their votes for President and VP?

There are some penalties for NOT doing as asked but no Constitutional requirement to do so...

I don't believe that it has ever changed the outcome of an election but there is always a first time for everything.

[Sponsor]

[tombogan03884]

The electoral collage exists for a VERY good reason as any one knows who has read te works of the founders who set it up. It is thereto prevent the President from being consistently picked by the large population states like NY

[billt]

The electoral collage exists for a VERY good reason as any one knows who has read te works of the founders who set it up. It is thereto prevent the President from being consistently picked by the large population states like NY

True. And a 2 party system, coupled to the Electoral College, prevents having 100 guys on the ballot, and someone winning the election with 2% of the vote. This is what happens in a lot of these Banana Republic nations that hold "free elections". Then 3 months after the guy wins, someone blows his brains out, because 98% of the voters hate his guts. Overall our system is not perfect. But it's one of the best ever devised. It could be damaged far more than it could be improved.

[Solus]

True. And a 2 party system, coupled to the Electoral College, prevents having 100 guys on the ballot, and someone winning the election with 2% of the vote. This is what happens in a lot of these Banana Republic nations that hold "free elections". Then 3 months after the guy wins, someone blows his brains out, because 98% of the voters hate his guts. Overall our system is not perfect. But it's one of the best ever devised. It could be damaged far more than it could be improved.

Oh yeah...why every year we are able to avoid 100 guys on the ballot by the skin of our teeth. 

I don't see how having another choice other than the two wings of the Democratic Party will damage anything. 

Ballot access in 50 states is not an easy accomplishment, but any party that manages it should able to have it's candidate appear in the presidential debates. 

[tombogan03884]

Apparently you've missed the fact that both the primaries and the debates are put on by the PARTIES. If a third party want's to have a debate all they have to do is come up wit more than one candidate,(other wise it's not a debate, it's a monologue) pay for a venue, and get the media to cover it.

[Solus]

I'm not talking about the debates we have seen...I am talking about the debates between the the nominees of the two major parties.

The Libertarian National Convention will be held from May 27th to May 30th.

It is expected the party will have 50 state presidential ballot access and their candidate should not be barred from debating the other candidates.