How do you think this election would have gone if there'd been a strong independent Left party?

[Ken Burch]

If people had had a party they could vote to vote against Obama's timidity without having either to abstain or vote GOP, might not that party have done fairly well?


And if that party had given us an outcome like

Dems 200
Rep 200
Independent Left 35

Wouldn't our party and the country have been a whole lot better off?

[MineralMan]

1. Hmm...there are third parties in most places. I don't know about

Alaska, but I'm sure they exist. They don't do so well in elections, though. I suppose you could try to start another one, though. Good luck with that.

[Ken Burch]

3. I wouldn't be the one to organize it.

I'm just making some observations here.

The resentment that swung against this party in support of right-wing candidates was driven by economic uncertainty and the perception, in some cases, that this party backed corporate elites rather than the people.

That could have been turned in a progressive direction had another strong alternative existed on the Left.

And success for THAT alternative would have been helpful to THIS party in the long run, since it would have bolstered the case for those who want the Democrats to be strongly progressive and pro-working class.

[Ken Burch]

10. I'm talking about a strong, credible Labor Party-type thing.

Wouldn't we have been better off losing seats to THEM than to the 'pugs?

[Naturyl]

2. Not sure this thread will survive

Since it's either third-party advocacy or very close, but hell, I'm with you.

[Ken Burch]

4. That particular rule only applies during the fall election

(and was waived for the Republican candidate a lot of DU'ers backed in the Florida Senate race).

And I'm not even technically advocating such a party...just wondering about how things might have been different.

[Naturyl]

6. OK, thanks for the clarification. Good to know, actually. n/t

[emulatorloo]

5. Probably split the Dem vote and end up electing more Republicans?

That of course would depend on the district. It wouldn't be uniform.

[sally cat]

8. Agreed. It would have been worse.

[walldude]

7. It really depends on who was running it...

Tell you what, if Grayson, Dean and Feingold decide to form an actual progressive, liberal party I'm in. And if they had had a party in this race they would have got my vote.


I was never a "party" guy anyway though. I'm registered independent. I cost us the election in 2000 when I voted for Nader :rofl: And this time out I voted the way DU DEMANDED I vote. Luckily it worked out, in Colorado we kicked some red ass.

[Recovered Repug]

9. Well, they would have done the best in the Blue areas,

they would have been crushed like a bug in the Red areas, and they would have split the vote with Dems in purple areas. At best, no change from what things are now. At worst, more Blue Dogs would have lost.

[Naturyl]

11. Not sure but I very much hope

We'll get the chance to see how 2012 goes with one.