That comment was followed by something I hadn’t heard before, which was that all the Repub candidates also have high negatives. High negatives on both sides seems to me the ideal condition for an ***independent*** (ie third party).

Though it must be obvious why, I feel compelled to explain (maybe just to recapitulate the logic for a reexamination).  A negative voter is a “refusenik” regarding “their own” party. At the same time, for either seemingly rational considerations of ideological disagreement or simply timeworn tribal antagonism, they won’t vote for the other party. So they’ve got nowhere to go(in the simple, “uncreative” analysis).  They are caught in the dilemma that confronts us all in a two party system, and which is exploited by the two parties in a “good cop, bad cop” sort of manipulation which serves the parties but not the people.

There are any number of ways this opportunity may be exploited. From the Cindy Sheehan model: Take out a top political leader otherwise totally secure in their incumbency, sending a message that there is no such thing as a safe seat if you refuse the will of your constituency; to a full blown third party that will simply eat the other two parties for lunch, leaving them little more than dried out husks populated by the zombie true believers (please excuse my self-indulgence).

On this last allow me one little tactical suggestion: If I were involved in forming a third party I would call it the New Republican New Democrat Party. Why?

Generally I’m opposed to manipulative tactics because no one likes to be manipulated. But the sad truth is that human nature is a severe factor in the reality-based political dynamic, so if you want to be successful then you have to acknowledge that reality and deal with it. The point of the NRND Party name is that humans, tribal creatures that they are, typically identify strongly and irrationally with whatever group they belong to. Consequently it is easier for them to transfer their support/loyalty to another group of similar name (and by implication, similar values).  (I put the Repub name first in NRND because they are more primitive creatures more susceptible to the irrational.)

Returning to the Cindy Sheehan model, I would like to see a list compiled of heretofore non-political persons with potential as independent candidates.

Persons who, like Cindy, are above all notable for their “stones” and their integrity. Scott Ritter comes to mind for me. I’d like to hear who others would nominate.

Best, Jeff Davis

“Everything’s hard till you know how to do it.”  Ray Charles