Comments on: A third-party approach to disgruntled but loyal Republicans http://thirdpartywatch.com/2008/08/28/a-third-party-approach-to-disgruntled-but-loyal-republicans/ Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:11:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1.3 by: DebbieKat http://thirdpartywatch.com/2008/08/28/a-third-party-approach-to-disgruntled-but-loyal-republicans/#comment-824776 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 21:00:31 +0000 http://thirdpartywatch.com/2008/08/28/a-third-party-approach-to-disgruntled-but-loyal-republicans/#comment-824776 Nader's camp already is using a similar strategy. It's called Vote Pact. http://www.votenader.org/blog/2008/06/18/votepact/ Nader’s camp already is using a similar strategy. It’s called Vote Pact.

http://www.votenader.org/blog/2008/06/18/votepact/

]]> by: Michael Seebeck http://thirdpartywatch.com/2008/08/28/a-third-party-approach-to-disgruntled-but-loyal-republicans/#comment-824530 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 18:58:15 +0000 http://thirdpartywatch.com/2008/08/28/a-third-party-approach-to-disgruntled-but-loyal-republicans/#comment-824530 Simple strategy: ignore the strong opponents and gobble up the weaker ones. The corollary is to run the opposite of the stronger one. In CO, El Paso County (Colorado Springs) had traditionally been a GOP stronghold, with the LP usually running the only oppostion against them--the DP was so weak they didn't bother to show up most of the time, and a Green in there was an endangered species. So we ran our two-way-race candidates to the left of the GOP candidates (not hard in that area since there right-of-center is considered a "liberal commie"!) and appealed to the DPers who had no candidate. In the three-way-races, we ran in the center. While we didn't win, we certainly softened up the GOP, and now since that LP chapter unfortunately ended, the DP has moved in and made inroads, and the area has become more balanced. Once the GOP lock was broken, CO as a whole began to go blue. The biggest coup appears to be coming soon as GOP nutcase Musgrave in #4 is losing badly in her district and maybe they will finally be rid of her. So we can and do influence things over the long haul, but we need to keep at it. I hope people can take that to heart. Simple strategy: ignore the strong opponents and gobble up the weaker ones. The corollary is to run the opposite of the stronger one.

In CO, El Paso County (Colorado Springs) had traditionally been a GOP stronghold, with the LP usually running the only oppostion against them—the DP was so weak they didn’t bother to show up most of the time, and a Green in there was an endangered species. So we ran our two-way-race candidates to the left of the GOP candidates (not hard in that area since there right-of-center is considered a “liberal commie”!) and appealed to the DPers who had no candidate. In the three-way-races, we ran in the center. While we didn’t win, we certainly softened up the GOP, and now since that LP chapter unfortunately ended, the DP has moved in and made inroads, and the area has become more balanced. Once the GOP lock was broken, CO as a whole began to go blue. The biggest coup appears to be coming soon as GOP nutcase Musgrave in #4 is losing badly in her district and maybe they will finally be rid of her.

So we can and do influence things over the long haul, but we need to keep at it. I hope people can take that to heart.

]]> by: Roscoe http://thirdpartywatch.com/2008/08/28/a-third-party-approach-to-disgruntled-but-loyal-republicans/#comment-823649 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:55:01 +0000 http://thirdpartywatch.com/2008/08/28/a-third-party-approach-to-disgruntled-but-loyal-republicans/#comment-823649 The Paulites wanted to do the same sort of letter before the GOP primaries in Penna. Costs were apparently prohibitive, and they had millions in the bank. I don't think any state LP has the kind of money to do this statewide. It might be interesting to try this in one or two congressional districts or voting precints, however, to see if the tactic raises votes vs. districts where it isn't tried. The Paulites wanted to do the same sort of letter before the GOP primaries in Penna. Costs were apparently prohibitive, and they had millions in the bank. I don’t think any state LP has the kind of money to do this statewide.
It might be interesting to try this in one or two congressional districts or voting precints, however, to see if the tactic raises votes vs. districts where it isn’t tried.

]]> by: Carl http://thirdpartywatch.com/2008/08/28/a-third-party-approach-to-disgruntled-but-loyal-republicans/#comment-823608 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:43:27 +0000 http://thirdpartywatch.com/2008/08/28/a-third-party-approach-to-disgruntled-but-loyal-republicans/#comment-823608 I have been saying for YEARS that the LP should focus on the lobsided areas for president and on uncontested races downticket. Stop trying to "make a difference." Making a difference puts to worse of two evils in power. But forget the mailing. Just run ads on the local conservative talk radio affiliates. I have been saying for YEARS that the LP should focus on the lobsided areas for president and on uncontested races downticket. Stop trying to “make a difference.” Making a difference puts to worse of two evils in power.

But forget the mailing. Just run ads on the local conservative talk radio affiliates.

]]> by: NewFederalist http://thirdpartywatch.com/2008/08/28/a-third-party-approach-to-disgruntled-but-loyal-republicans/#comment-823573 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:32:52 +0000 http://thirdpartywatch.com/2008/08/28/a-third-party-approach-to-disgruntled-but-loyal-republicans/#comment-823573 An excellent idea but it does take money and the right mailing list to carry out. An excellent idea but it does take money and the right mailing list to carry out.

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