Will a 3rd party candidate ever be elected President?

[CACtain Planet]

Ross Perot was our last hope

 

[CACtain Planet]

 

[SirReginald]

Ross Perot was our last hope

He won't be our last hope. It will happen just trust and believe.

 

[CACtain Planet]

He won't be our last hope. It will happen just trust and believe.

The way Democrats and Republicans got together in '94 to ban all 3rd party federal candidates from entering in general election debate forums due to the ether that Ross dropped on them bytches, Ive lost all faith breh

 

[Ian1362]

That was 200 years ago I'm talking in OUR lifetime

Those don't really count either. The Whig party collapsed and became the Republican Party. The Democratic-Republican party became the Democratic Party. The linage traces to the original debate in American politics, Federalists (Republicans) vs Antifederalists (Democrats).

US won't have a third party president barring collapse because the interest level is very low in American politics. The cost of becoming an "informed voter" is very high, and the payoff is pretty much non-existent:

Democracy and Political Ignorance

 

[SirReginald]

The way Democrats and Republicans got together in '94 to ban all 3rd party federal candidates from entering in general election debate forums due to the ether that Ross dropped on them bytches, Ive lost all faith breh

More people are waking up now. Trust me, it will happen again. Thanks to social media more people are finding out truth.

P.S. damn that's dirty.

 

[CACtain Planet]

More people are waking up now. Trust me, it will happen again. Thanks to social media more people are finding out truth.

P.S. damn that's dirty.

Yea breh, Ross won 21% of the popular vote in '92 which many blame for why Bush lost that election...You know the elites wasnt gonna have that shyt, especially with the World Wide Web gaining momentum...elites had to drop that ban hammer

 

[CHL]

@C.Holla I think the only way we see a 3rd party candidate is if someone from Silicon Valley says fukk the system. They have been "making the rules" in SF and the valley for a long time now. They have only gotten more wealthy and attained more connections as technology advances. IMO they would be the only ones capable of utilizing technology in such a way that they can neutralize the traditional two-party system. Kind of like Bloomberg in NY but as an independent.

"September 18th 2014"

 

[NkrumahWasRight Is Wrong]

But to answer the question...yes. They will at some point. Ever is a mighty long time. One would think that at some point moderate voters and elected officials will become incredibly tired as each party strays to the end of each side of the spectrum while less gets accomplished and more feel that theyre not being represented at all. A legitimate third party could solve a lot of the country's political problems. It will take a LOT of money and very shrewd maneuvering to siphon off lobbyist groups...and most importantly they need to somehow get the media and states to treat 3rd party candidates as respectable and not wacko outsiders with no identity. 60% of the people in a state could like a 3rd party candidate the most but if its constantly said that that candidate has no chance to win then those voters are either going to stay home or vote for the lesser of two evils so they dont "throw away their vote". A lot of states have bullshyt laws for ballot candidacy and oftentimes won't even allow them to be in major debates too.

Edit to add:

If a third party candidate is ever to have the chance..that third party needs to think incredibly long term and not shoot for the moon immediately if they don't have exorbitant resources for it. They have to slowly and consistently build and solidify their infrastructure, stay newsworthy and be selective with who they have as spokespeople, work the young people to ensure credibility for years, make as few enemies as possible by seeming as middle as possible and eventually just wait for the R's and D's to self destruct.

Ill be interested in seeing if Bernie Sanders decides to give it a go and whether or not he runs as a D or stays Independent. He's a legitimate good guy and Im rooting for him. I may even vote for him if he runs just to show viability to a 3rd party or Independent and to show frustration with the other 2 parties.

Im not sure how many of you are familiar with Jesse Ventura's governorship...but when he won, everyone was legitimately shocked. Apparently the FBI and the CIA made him get in a room with them for interrogation after because they wanted to know how he won.

2014

Independent president

 

[Geek Nasty]

It can happen, the problem is they need a party foundation behind them. And, usually the 3rd party candidates who inspire them become so arrogate that they implode them. Happened with Ross Perot and Ralph Nader. There was room for a a legit liberal party during the Iraq war when all the democrats where caving in to Bush II.

 

[dora_da_destroyer]

If they stop trying to jump out the gate and go for the presidency vs winning local and state elections first, yes, a 3rd party could. But they all shoot themselves in the feet showing up every four years for the presidency as opposed to organizing and becoming mayors, state reps, governors, house reps, and senators.

 

[Json]

If they stop trying to jump out the gate and go for the presidency vs winning local and state elections first, yes, a 3rd party could. But they all shoot themselves in the feet showing up every four years for the presidency as opposed to organizing and becoming mayors, state reps, governors, house reps, and senators.

Game, set, match.

Until a third party proves they are popular in the 365 days of local government, a presidential candidate running on charisma will only look good as a contrast to whoever the two party system doesn’t like.

 

[hayesc0]

Eventually yes the people are turning against the establishment I think it will take 10-15 years but I see a powerful third party forming.

 

[the cac mamba]

goonberg is gonna run third party its a fukking certainty. he has all the time and money in the world, and no reason not to, if bernie is the nominee

 

[the cac mamba]

Eventually yes the people are turning against the establishment I think it will take 10-15 years but I see a powerful third party forming.

where would it be on the political spectrum, far left?