• Home
• About
• Advertising
• Contact
• Print Subscriptions
• Donate
• Archives
• Links

Third Party Needed

It is folly to try to predict this presidential nomination process.   McCain, once declared dead, is the Republican nominee.  The Clinton machine has flexed its formidable muscle to virtually deadlock the Democratic race.

I signed a pledge not to vote for any candidate for public office who supported the illegal war in Iraq (not to mention the sham legislation enabling Bush to attack Iran whenever he pleases, if he pleases).  I intend to honor it.

So if Hillary’s surge continues and succeeds, I will be effectively disenfranchised in the 2008 presidential election.  I’ll either leave the boxes blank or vote for Nader.

My fellow Democrats tell me that failure to vote for  our nominee is tantamount to voting for McCain.  Let them have that conceit, if it comforts them; at least John McCain is not George W. Bush.

I read all the appeals from progressive advocacy groups — for the environment, e.g., or for health care, for women’s reproductive rights, for the separation of church and state, for labor rights, for civil rights, for peace — and I am more convinced than ever that this country needs a strong third party.

The Republican Party has been captured, probably irrevocably, by the extreme right.  The Democrats have moved themselves to the right of center.  There is no home for progressives without a third party.

Alexis de Tocqueville wouldn’t believe it.

T. Wark

Las Cruces

Comments