I am out of my league here. Charles Cooke, Dan McLaughlin, and Michael Brendan Dougherty have all weighed in on Jonah Goldberg’s idea for a new third party. All, including Jonah, are better writers than me and all are smarter than me. We’ve arrived at Beavis (or Butthead) commenting on Einsteinian theories of space-time.
Thanks for the lesson in reality. So, bottom line, we wait until Donald Trump dies or gets put in a nursing home. I was so looking forward to an attempt to take over the Libertarian Party.
Thank you. When can people just get back to being, well "normal?" Stop looking for the elephant in the room that really isn't there? Third parties won't work. We have seen how third parties split votes and we end up with a worse situation. Please let's get back to some good old fashioned "common sense."
Erick, in the hope that you might more readily take note of an individual post, I repeat here a point that I made in reply to another post because you need to fully understand what is at stake here. Concerning the rally where people pledged allegiance to an American flag that flew on January 6th, you characterized it as mere "nonsense" and "idol worship." Not being an anti-Semite, you would not recognize this as the dog whistle that it actually is for American Nazis.
I would love MOST of Trump's policies with a Reagan personality. Mr. T does bring out the worst in our opponents, and even worse to see is supposed "Republicans", in irrational antipathy for Trump and his fans--abandon Conservatism out of spite. McMullen, Kristol, Wilson, Dowd, Liz, etc. are useful idiots for the Left. What also bothers me is the arrogance of the Conservative Intelligentsia like Jonah. Even if Trump implemented EVERY policy they had promoted the last 20 years--they would still shun him. Primarily--I am guessing, because it is beneath them to ever link arms with a "simpleton". And, their intellectual peers, Right and Left, would mock them if they did agree with Trump. So, it is more of a class thing--not intellectual honesty.
From the beginning of Trump until now, it has really been disheartening to see prominent Republicans refuse to take him on. And if one is not willing to do that, how can I trust him/her to lead the country? The world is a tough neighborhood. If, in the 1st debate, Cruz had stepped out from behind his place, walked over to DT, grabbed him by the lapels and told DT that he (i.e, Cruz) was going to beat the daylights out of him right there on the spot unless he (DT) withdrew what he'd said about Cruz's father, then I believe Cruz would be president today after a successful 1st term. But he didn't. And now? It's time for someone to step up or DT will cost Republicans lots of votes in 2022, seats in Congress, statehouses and the rest. You don't get rid of a bully by yielding to him.
Fantastic piece, Erick! This is the one that finally turned me into a paid subscriber. I agree that you, Jonah, and Bill Kristol have all correctly diagnosed the issues correctly with the MAGAfied GOP but nobody has come up with the correct solution yet. Becoming a Democrat when the party is now hostile to non-progressives or joining a third party that will never win are both bad ideas for small-government conservatives who want to change the GOP. As you brilliantly stated about the first option, “Republicans who want to stop Trump must vote Democrat. . .this is like the climate change people saying if you want to stop climate changing, you need to commit suicide to stop your carbon emissions.” I just hope that your optimism that this too shall pass comes true sooner rather than later.
Erick, you don't need to be in the Einsteinian league. You have a valuable niche of your own. You're still the only pundit I've read who emphasizes the need for us to show grace when our own allies let us down. We need that reminder.
Who needs a third party? We have our Lord and Savior, Donald Trump. (As I bow in the direction of Mar-a-Logo and kiss the flag of the Jan.6 mob attack on the Capitol which used to represent the good old U.S.A.) "People Are Stupid"
Uncletifa……OMGoodness that made me spit coffee through my nose 😂😂😂. Thank you Erick. This morning you did not disappoint. Moving forward my husband and I have decided we will only support local candidates financially. NO MORE FUNDS to State and National candidates. We want to take our community back. BTW, “uncletifa” reads like the name of a venereal disease. JS
I purchased a subscription to your site in hopes of reading your periodic objective assessments of the current state of US politics rather than the routine rants against the Democrats that makes up most of your opinions. Today’s post is one of those objective gems I am always looking for. Thank you. You should copyright the new term “uncletifa.”
Why don't we just hold our Republican "so-called" representatives accountable. Have them speak out on how they stand on issues; call out Democrats or the news media when they don't tell the truth. Stop asking me for money when I don't know who you are or can't find you cowering in the corner. We need Republican leaders (McCarthy and McConnell) who WILL bring their members up front to speak out and condemn lies. There are only a few standing up for us. I'm not hearing them condemn CRT or praise our police and definitely don't hear much on the invasion of our border from them and how it will be a burden on the middleclass. Also, they should be going into our inner cities and speak about the only way out of poverty is education - give parents School Choice and ask what have Democrats done for you and ASK FOR AN ANSWER. SILENCE!
Whether this third party comes into being or not, the end result is much the same -its candidate pulls enough from the GOP that they lose or, without said third party candidate, conservatives vote for the Democrat. Democrat wins.
This is the case unless enough of the existing parties mass switches to the third party. Creating such a party is unlikely.
On another note, Erick, I didn't think you'd top coining the name Woke o Haram...but Uncletifa is brilliant, too.
Jonah Goldberg also observes that both parties want to be minority parties. And, I think he’s onto something. As you state, the “Uncletifa” can lose and then continue to claim the 2020 election was stolen. They can also continue to cite their other grievances; e.g., white discrimination, etc. The same seems true of “The Squad” and their ilk. They appear on a path designed to turn moderates against them because of rigid requirement of radical policies. But, once out of the majority, they can return to complaining about injustice, rather than doing something about it, which is where they seem most comfortable. Governing is hard, and neither side seems to want to do it.
A third party won't work, but maybe a fourth party will. Splintering off one of the parties will certainly cause that splintered party to lose. Splinter off both parties...and maybe there will be enough parity that it could work.
I think a better solution would be to have a media that reports the facts, and doesn't try to follow some set of talking points or "mostly peaceful" BS.
If the media was factual, believable, possibly people could make rational decisions...though I fear rationality left with social media.
Thanks for the lesson in reality. So, bottom line, we wait until Donald Trump dies or gets put in a nursing home. I was so looking forward to an attempt to take over the Libertarian Party.
Thank you. When can people just get back to being, well "normal?" Stop looking for the elephant in the room that really isn't there? Third parties won't work. We have seen how third parties split votes and we end up with a worse situation. Please let's get back to some good old fashioned "common sense."
Thanks. It's always helpful to read your perspective.
Erick, in the hope that you might more readily take note of an individual post, I repeat here a point that I made in reply to another post because you need to fully understand what is at stake here. Concerning the rally where people pledged allegiance to an American flag that flew on January 6th, you characterized it as mere "nonsense" and "idol worship." Not being an anti-Semite, you would not recognize this as the dog whistle that it actually is for American Nazis.
(See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blutfahne)
The 'Underpants Gnome Party'
1. Elect our opponents
2. ?
3. Profit!
I would love MOST of Trump's policies with a Reagan personality. Mr. T does bring out the worst in our opponents, and even worse to see is supposed "Republicans", in irrational antipathy for Trump and his fans--abandon Conservatism out of spite. McMullen, Kristol, Wilson, Dowd, Liz, etc. are useful idiots for the Left. What also bothers me is the arrogance of the Conservative Intelligentsia like Jonah. Even if Trump implemented EVERY policy they had promoted the last 20 years--they would still shun him. Primarily--I am guessing, because it is beneath them to ever link arms with a "simpleton". And, their intellectual peers, Right and Left, would mock them if they did agree with Trump. So, it is more of a class thing--not intellectual honesty.
From the beginning of Trump until now, it has really been disheartening to see prominent Republicans refuse to take him on. And if one is not willing to do that, how can I trust him/her to lead the country? The world is a tough neighborhood. If, in the 1st debate, Cruz had stepped out from behind his place, walked over to DT, grabbed him by the lapels and told DT that he (i.e, Cruz) was going to beat the daylights out of him right there on the spot unless he (DT) withdrew what he'd said about Cruz's father, then I believe Cruz would be president today after a successful 1st term. But he didn't. And now? It's time for someone to step up or DT will cost Republicans lots of votes in 2022, seats in Congress, statehouses and the rest. You don't get rid of a bully by yielding to him.
Fantastic piece, Erick! This is the one that finally turned me into a paid subscriber. I agree that you, Jonah, and Bill Kristol have all correctly diagnosed the issues correctly with the MAGAfied GOP but nobody has come up with the correct solution yet. Becoming a Democrat when the party is now hostile to non-progressives or joining a third party that will never win are both bad ideas for small-government conservatives who want to change the GOP. As you brilliantly stated about the first option, “Republicans who want to stop Trump must vote Democrat. . .this is like the climate change people saying if you want to stop climate changing, you need to commit suicide to stop your carbon emissions.” I just hope that your optimism that this too shall pass comes true sooner rather than later.
Erick, you don't need to be in the Einsteinian league. You have a valuable niche of your own. You're still the only pundit I've read who emphasizes the need for us to show grace when our own allies let us down. We need that reminder.
Who needs a third party? We have our Lord and Savior, Donald Trump. (As I bow in the direction of Mar-a-Logo and kiss the flag of the Jan.6 mob attack on the Capitol which used to represent the good old U.S.A.) "People Are Stupid"
Uncletifa……OMGoodness that made me spit coffee through my nose 😂😂😂. Thank you Erick. This morning you did not disappoint. Moving forward my husband and I have decided we will only support local candidates financially. NO MORE FUNDS to State and National candidates. We want to take our community back. BTW, “uncletifa” reads like the name of a venereal disease. JS
I purchased a subscription to your site in hopes of reading your periodic objective assessments of the current state of US politics rather than the routine rants against the Democrats that makes up most of your opinions. Today’s post is one of those objective gems I am always looking for. Thank you. You should copyright the new term “uncletifa.”
Why don't we just hold our Republican "so-called" representatives accountable. Have them speak out on how they stand on issues; call out Democrats or the news media when they don't tell the truth. Stop asking me for money when I don't know who you are or can't find you cowering in the corner. We need Republican leaders (McCarthy and McConnell) who WILL bring their members up front to speak out and condemn lies. There are only a few standing up for us. I'm not hearing them condemn CRT or praise our police and definitely don't hear much on the invasion of our border from them and how it will be a burden on the middleclass. Also, they should be going into our inner cities and speak about the only way out of poverty is education - give parents School Choice and ask what have Democrats done for you and ASK FOR AN ANSWER. SILENCE!
Whether this third party comes into being or not, the end result is much the same -its candidate pulls enough from the GOP that they lose or, without said third party candidate, conservatives vote for the Democrat. Democrat wins.
This is the case unless enough of the existing parties mass switches to the third party. Creating such a party is unlikely.
On another note, Erick, I didn't think you'd top coining the name Woke o Haram...but Uncletifa is brilliant, too.
Jonah Goldberg also observes that both parties want to be minority parties. And, I think he’s onto something. As you state, the “Uncletifa” can lose and then continue to claim the 2020 election was stolen. They can also continue to cite their other grievances; e.g., white discrimination, etc. The same seems true of “The Squad” and their ilk. They appear on a path designed to turn moderates against them because of rigid requirement of radical policies. But, once out of the majority, they can return to complaining about injustice, rather than doing something about it, which is where they seem most comfortable. Governing is hard, and neither side seems to want to do it.
A third party won't work, but maybe a fourth party will. Splintering off one of the parties will certainly cause that splintered party to lose. Splinter off both parties...and maybe there will be enough parity that it could work.
I think a better solution would be to have a media that reports the facts, and doesn't try to follow some set of talking points or "mostly peaceful" BS.
If the media was factual, believable, possibly people could make rational decisions...though I fear rationality left with social media.