Do we need a strong independent presidential candidate and who could that be ?

Answer 1

Represent the will of the people on Illegal Immigration, outsourcing, and ending the War in Iraq.

Answer 2

I believe that the basic problem with independent candidates is that the two major parties are not so much parties but rather coalitions of differing groups. I mean, what do economic conservatives have in common with fundamentalist Christian groups? And what do environmentalists have in common with organised labour? (Some overlap, yes, but with different foci.) Moderates are simply split between these two coalitions, favouring whatever side appeals to them more at a given time. The truly independent candidates tend to be fringe-issue candidates that fail to provide truly unique platforms for government.

Perhaps the solution is to re-shuffle the current coalitions so that a contending third-party might succeed. It happened in the 1850's when disenfranchised Whigs and Democrats formed the Republican Party. It came close to happening in 1912 with the Bull Moose Progressives. Even the Socialist Party of the early twentieth century addressed issues that the other parties didn't.

The only other chance for a third-party would be a strong regional party arising. George Wallace's 1968 American Independent run was the last successful attempt at this, but the main problem was that Wallace was really a Democrat opposed to Humphrey. A major figure within one of the two parties, with a lot of support in a given region and who truly bolts from their former party, may be the best alternative.

Right now, however, I don't quite see that happening. The larger contributors to political campaigns are simply not trusting that a third party will succeed. Grass root campaigns can be useful, as was the case with Ross Perot's 1992 run, but the inherent problem with third-party candidates is that they do not run as a party system. That is, Congress is already conceded to the Democrats and Republicans.

What is needed is a slate of candidates that can challenge members of Congress within a given region. I can see California, a very different state from the other 49, become feeling as if their interests in the national arena are not being met to where an alliance between state Republicans and Democrats running to form a voting block in the House of Representatives. Or perhaps a similar situation with the less populated mountain and prairie states in the Senate. That would be interesting to see.

Answer 3

OK so far the only ones that come close are the Republicans from Ca.

But no body is standing up and saying what we want in being a true Conservative. To many pundents think thy have to in the middle of the road. When Ronald Regan was who he was and did not pander and so many on the left could relate to him for this and felt the same way.

He also said three things, not that he could raise taxes higher than the left and give more hand outs.
1. He said he would build the military which today more than ever most be done, with Iran, Syria, Hugo and China and yes Russia. All wanting to take us down.
2. He would lower taxes.
3. He also said he would bring down the USSR and he did.

Now we have so many on the right claiming to be like Regan and they are not what they need to do is grow Ballsss and be a man not the
NEW CASTRODY.

Answer 4

Yes, we do need a third party; however the system is 'legally rigged' so that the rules favor the two bastard parties that smoke and mirror us at this time. As to who should run, anyone that is not a Demorat, or a Republicant. Those two parties are in fact the party of the Elite and have little connection to the average person in this Nation. They do not understand the common mans wants, much less his needs or struggles. I am not a socialist, but I would vote for one if they could get on the States ballot; just for the chance to have a change.

Answer 5

My friends and I that meet once a week to talk about these things had this discussion over the weekend. And the answer is of course, 'yes'. But the media, and even the two parties, have such a strangle hold on maintaining the status quo that the independent candidate you talk about can't get media time. There are something like 18 candidates running for president in the two parties alone. And even some of them are not getting heard, like Ron Paul. As for who the person could be or should be, I can't name them. I have met candidates and read about all of them. But I know what it would take to get attention and to succeed at getting the people to vote for that individual. And I am not talking about some cracker theory, but very successful ideas and yes, even values, that would work.

Answer 6

It doesn't really matter who the independent presidential candidate will be. There won't be another party in the White House for at least 50 years, unless something drastic happens in this country.

Answer 7

Ron Paul. He is a independant liberal but running as a Rep because of the way the system works.

Answer 8

We need "Instant Runoff" elections before any 3rd party or independent would have a positive influence on an election.

Answer 9

It sure isn't Lieberman, as he wishes. The American Independents have a ways to go. Perot did not get one electoral vote, which is what you need to win.

Answer 10

Obama when Hillary and Bill give him the boot out of the Democrat Party.