Is it time to give real consideration to an independant candidate?

Question

Since neither of the two dominant parties seem to care about the good of the country over the good of their party wouldn't it make sense to vote an independant in to office?

Our forefathers (you know, the guys who had the great idea about a free country to begin with) warned us about political parties. Instead of trusting their wisdom we created two parties almost immediately anyway.

Bearing that in mind, wouldn't it make sense to at least try a couple of independants? Could the possibly do any worse than any of our last three Presidents have done. If you were to consider voting independant who would you like to see run and why?

(If you don't know what you are talking about or if you don't vote anyway, please don't answer)

Alexander H: Wouldn't voting libertarian be the same as voting a party? What I am suggesting is that a candidate run with out claiming any party. Maybe even two candidates who do not claim parties. Then we could vote with our minds instead of our partisan loyalties.

Neddie: Rudy might be good. He had a past prior to 9/11 though. Funny how nobody remembers that now.

Travis: I like your thoughts but regarding Clinton...... Had he retaliated, in at least some way, to the attacks on our foreign bases, embassies, naval ships and the twin towers while he was president, we may not be where we are now. Just a thought.

BARON: Not so keen on McCain but I could not agree with you more about Powell. I can not think of a better candidate. Problem is he has said repeatedly that after watching what candidates and their families go through on the campaign trail and in office he would never run. How do we get him to run is the real question?

Answer 1

Maybe Libertarian, but not independent, most of their candidates are lunatics. However, I wholeheartedly agree, it's high time a third party gets into office!

Answer 2

The problem with an independent candidate is that they would never be elected anytime soon. The two parties have way too much power and influence and this is exactly why George Washington warned against it. The good thing is that political parties change and evolve and even split. Our modern two party system was really only solidified after the Civil War. Maybe some other major issue of importance like global warming will bring rise to a new party that is more effective than the two current ones. (Also Clinton was a great president.)

Answer 3

I would LOVE to have an independent win the presidency. As you said, the two main parties don't seem to care about the people at all. Democrats just run around chasing left-wing pipe dreams and throwing money at everything, and Republicans promote big business at the expense of the little guy and send our best and brightest to die in senseless conflicts.

The bad news is that the American political system has become so RIGGED in favor of the two-party system that it almost takes an act of God for an independent to even put up a serious challenge. Only when the campaign is run by someone very well-known and well-liked by the public (like Teddy Roosevelt) or someone who knows how to hit the two main parties where it hurts (like Ross Perot) does an independent even stand a ghost of a chance.

The only two people I can think of who might have the balls to try and the popularity to win are Sen. John McCain (who often bucks the party trend) and former Secretary of State Colin Powell (who always followed his conscience, even when the whole Bush administration was against him). Of the two, I'd prefer Powell just because I admire the guy so much. He has the practicality of a soldier, the finesse of a diplomat, and the courage of someone who always follows his convictions. I would be HONORED to call him president, but (sadly) he has said in the past that he has no intention of running...

Answer 4

It is way past time to vote independent, but better late than never.

Ralph Nader would have made a much better president than Dubya (but then, who wouldn't).

I'd like Bill Nye (the science guy). At least we know he is intelligent and educated. Probably be great for the environment, too.

BTW: Baron Hausen, the question was about independents, not Republican retreads. Powell once seemed a man of integrity, its true, but then he lied to the whole world to justify Bush's war of aggression. Pffft. Balloon burst. He's in the dustbin of history now.

Answer 5

You are right. I don't think all Americans can fit into only 2 political parties. I, myself, support people in both parties. However, we need someone better than Ralph Nader to run. George Washington was worried about political parties and died unhappy with the state of the union. My idea, clone Bill Clinton and have him run as an indepent in 2008.

Answer 6

Rudy would make a good Independent candidate, Republicans won't support him, but I think he could win the election for president,,,,,, he is a good American and that's what people really want,,, I am a Liberal and a Democrat, but I would vote for Rudy Guilliani for President of the United States,, a good VP for him, would be Ann Richards,,

Answer 7

You know I have been thinking the same thing. We chose Republicans last time because we already knew what he was doing. We didn't choose Democratic because we were scared that they would make our country be in a worse situation than they already are. But no one ever looks at the Independant because we aren't one sided. For example we don't automaticaly choose to go to war, but we don't automaticaly choose not to either.
If Republicans have bad ideas and Democrats have no ideas then what about the Independant, it can't be any worse?

Answer 8

I do vote, and I try to know what I am talking about. Having said that, i say yes, I htink it is time we considered an independent, but more than that, I think we should begin to hold our leaders to thier promises and there should be a sharper look at just when they make decisions that are not popular to the populace. An elected official is elected to represent those who elected him.. not to use thier station for a persaonal agenda... that is what is happening lately and that is what i hate.

Answer 9

I'm thinking the same thing as you. I was forced to see things both ways because my mom is a democrat and my dad's republican. Both parties are drifiting further and further apart, just all the independent parties seem more extreme than the two major ones. I just can't think of any party that suits me.

Answer 10

Of course we need an independent candidate, a person who is an American first and a politician last, a centrist, someone who will uphold both the letter of the law and the spirit of the law, someone who won't hide the truth from us, won't insult our intelligence, and who is honest herself/himself. The two parties have created various rules to make it very very difficult for such a person to arise, however.