Say Goodbye to Elephants and Donkeys

Well, we've got an out of control, incompetent and far left administration, and a Congress that might be even worse. We've taken a national dive straight off Liberal Lover's Socialist Leap. The only hope is that there's a providential tree branch not too far down, or that that we don't end up like a possum after a midnight interstate encounter with an eighteen wheeler when it's all done.

Assuming there are some pieces left to pick up, what's the best way to set the country back on track? We do live in and under a political system, so anything short of armed rebellion will have to work with, or maybe around, the system. Obviously the Democratic Party has complete control at this time, and they're about as likely to change as the cockroach has over the millenia. That would leave us with the Republicans (Bernie Sanders, the lone declared Socialist, is a party of one and actually to the right of some of his colleagues. He doesn't count.) Many, maybe even most Republicans have shown the same susceptibility to Potomac Fever as their Democratic counterparts. Get elected by promising whatever your constituents want to hear, and then immediately prostitute yourself out to the money and the system to get re-elected, again and again and again. Even some of those who have promised to term limit themselves have later reneged, claiming that the good of their district or state demands their expertise and seniority. A constitutional term limit would have to be voted on by these same crap weasels, or result from a consitutional convention. The former will coincide with the first snowball fight in Hades, and the latter is a years-long, laborious undertaking. So basically, we. are. so. screwed. Right? Maybe not- consider the following.

There have always been third (or fourth, or fifth) parties. The most successful in national elections have coalesced around a candidate, like a Teddy Roosevelt, George Wallace, John Anderson or most recently, Ross Perot. All have been one-hit wonders. Others, like the Libertarian and Constitution parties have shown longevity, but little electoral success. The two party system is rigged to shut out everyone else. It will take an unprecedented effort to overturn that, but I believe it is within the realm of possibility at this time. We are seeing an historic groundswell of concerned, but heretofore politically inactive Americans. This firestorm is fueled by many elements, but it none the less is a movement of ideology, broadly defined. The big question is, can it evolve into something that will upend the status quo? I say, YES!! I fantasized in a pre-TaxDay blog about the "New American Tea Party" (see State of the Union 2013). I think the time is right for the generally conservative majority to come together around a very basic platform - drastic reduction is the size and scope of federal government, fiscal responsibility, and increased personal responsibility. Other issues like illegal immigration, terrorism or abortion will have to take a seat at the back of the bus for now. I think any candidates promising those basic actions, and promising not only to term limit him/herself, but work for a constitutional term limit amendment, would find an enthusiastic majority willing to elect them.

Yes, I concede it is unlikely, but I would have considered it even more far fetched a year ago that nearly a million working Americans would gather in over a thousand cities on the same day to voice their outrage. I don't believe that a fully developed third party is necessary at this point, but rather like-minded candidates. While some Republicans will be on board, I think it's going to be non-careerists, the seldom seen citizen statesmen, who will lead the charge. In this dire hour for America, principles must come first. Party loyalty must become a thing of the past if we are to see the America of our founding survive.