Letters to the Editor
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To Mr. E
I'm not so sure about the "if they are in then they are out" theory of yours. However, I do think the power of the internet to let individual candidates connect to like minded folk who'll help fund them makes third party and independent candidates fiscally viable in a way they have never been before. That financial viability combined with the pure gutlessness of congressional Democrats may open a real, unprecedented opportunity for left of center candidates. For similar reasons it may do the same for right of center candidates as well.
If the two main parties are not careful they may get caught in a perfect storm. The prospect of one or both Presidential nominations being sewn up early in the primary season will leave a long time for the two "winners" to move to the "middle". Of course, the middle now days is located a good bit right of where the majority of Americas are. It also located somewhat left of where a majority of the Republican core voters are.
The perfect storm may turn out to be access to money coupled with a long time for the disconnect between the nominal nominee of each party from their respective bases to make it self clear. If so, this could prove to be very dysfunctional and interesting.
Of course, Anonymous told me pages ago that I do not understand politics, please keep that in mind. On the other hand, even a blind hog finds an acorn now and again. If this notion of Mr. E's and mine turns out to be an acorn, no district with a viable third party/independent candidate in the race will be safe. In addition to third party and/or independents going into office in record numbers, districts thought safe for one or other of the main parties could swing the other way. This could happen if a discontent to the left or right of the "official candidate" gets in a race and siphons votes from the expected winner.
This is probably simple wishful thinking on my part. But, how grand would be to have the leadership of the Democratic Party in Congress have to consider the legitimate concerns of millions of now disenfranchised Americans as seriously as they do the concerns of corporate lobbyists. Wouldn't it be grand to have several dozens Kucinichs in the House whose votes Pelosi need to retain her office and run the business of the body. The frivolous majority would become serious overnight.
I see no down side to this as the Christian death cult of Revelations, the bomb them back to the stone age guys, the shrink it to the size I can drown in a bathtub crowd and all the other Republican nuts are amply represented right now. Indeed, until recently they ran the place and they still keep it on a tight leash. Rigging the system so the nation's left flank would have to be listened to can only be a good thing. Maybe some real health care reform might happen, maybe the death grip of the corporations could be loosened, who knows.
Well, there I go again, now you know Anonymous was right about something. I don't know anything about politics.