Constitution Party and Evangelism

Have Evangelicals Abandoned Their Christian Convictions?

I hope to simply provide news on the various alternative parties out there, but this party has a rather unique place in my heart. Except for this desire for overt expression of religion, this party such a close match to my own beliefs. But I'm also a very strong advocate for separation of church and state. So, as you can probably surmise, this makes the Constitution Party a frustrating party to look at for me. I would consider them the opposite end of spectrum from Democrats when it comes to Church/State issues. Somewhere in the middle of them lies the truth, in my opinion.

LP News Online: December 2004: No tax funding: Massive monument takes shape without government funds

LP News Online: December 2004: No tax funding: Massive monument takes shape without government funds

In an interesting illustration of Libertarians' commitment to government noninvolvement, their web site is featuring a story about a Rushmore-style tribute to the Native American legend Crazy Horse. It's not the mountainous grandeur of the monument that has Libertarians' attention, though. To quote from the story:

Twice, the government has offered $10 million grants for the project, and twice the government's money (your tax dollars) has been turned down!

There's nothing quite so effective at getting huzzahs from Libertarians quite like someone so intent on personal achievement that they refuse government assistance.

The Green Party, USA, in the meantime, continues in its efforts to have the Ohio results investigated. They've written up a story to detail their latest efforts. I'd love to see these kinds of faults removed from our voting systems, but, frankly, this isn't going to change anything. They need to be challenged BEFORE the election. These efforts are astronomically unlikely to change anything substantive, and so there's astronomically little chance to build any interest in this. Their hearts are in the right place. But I have to recommend they start concentrating on 2006.

AIP News & Views - November 2004

AIP News & Views - November 2004

The American Independent Party is the party created to support George McGovern's independent bid for President way back when. It has largely retreated into a state party in California, and now seems to have aligned itself with the Constitution Party. It is a party with some history to it, and is a very interesting conservative voice in the proverbial wilderness. The news page above tries to celebrate the narrow victory of one state candidate for the Constitution Party in Montana. Just another voice crying out from the right side of the Land of the Dead.

-RØß-

Socialist Party USA - Celebrating Over 100 Years As America's Voice For Democratic Socialism

Socialist Party USA - Celebrating Over 100 Years As America's Voice For Democratic Socialism

Like Communism, Socialism has been pretty badly fractured since the fall of the Soviet Union. In many ways, such as this, it's viewed as virtually identical to Communism. On an intellectual level, I know they're different. But, in any practical sense, I've never seen the difference. Still, for those of you out there wanting to see for yourselves, this is the web site for you to see what the Socialist Party, USA is up to and what they claim to stand for. If you're in the area and interested, the home page says the local chapter will be holding a meeting in Brattleboro, VT.

In the meantime, the Communist Party, USA has a little commentary of its own about what this last election did, and did not mean.

CPUSA Online - No mandate, no surrender

That article is actually troubling to me. There's a lot of reason to dismiss this Communist Party, most especially for the way it was a shill for the Soviet Union. But, at the same time, there's actually some good points to the article. What concerns me is that the article doesn't document them. For example, it states that the Bush campaign machine, "systematically and unrelentingly exploited the deeply felt anxieties and fears that are traceable to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks."

But it doesn't show how it was done. I wish it had. They aren't alone, and I think that may be a temporary project of mine going forward. Still, here's some information on a couple of alternative parties and what they're doing.

-RØß-

11.18.04: Pat LaMarche, 2004 Green V.P. Candidate, to Speak on the Ohio Recount.

11.18.04: Pat LaMarche, 2004 Green V.P. Candidate, to Speak on the Ohio Recount.

The lesser parties seem to have latched onto this issue and made it their own. I don't see where anyone can reasonably expect to find 136,000+ votes, but that seems to be the expectation. Or maybe it's the hope. Either way, both the Greens and Libertarians seem intent on looking into this further. More power to them. That's pure Democracy in action. I wish them well, although I expect they'll change very little.

Seattle Radical Women on the re-election of Bush

Seattle Radical Women on the re-election of Bush

The "Radical Women Freedom Socialist Party" has an expose where they try to issue a call to action to all progressives. They bemoan the fractionalization of the progressive movement in America. I think their concentration on women as both those most in need of help *and* those who should lead makes them a radical fringe. And I also think they are unlikely to ever be anything more. But I think they might have a point. Read for yourself. You decide.

Some 3rd Party News

America First Party

the America First Party has something to say about one of the Bush appointees. Specifically, Alberto Gonzalez. Personally, something seems downright predictable about a party calling itself "America First" having a problem with a Mister "Gonzalez". I hope I'm wrong. They certainly don't appear to be all that far outside of reasonable with their party platform. Time will tell.

In the meantime, the Reform Party, USA is trying to issue a clarion call to "...the Libertarian Party, the Constitution Party, the Green Party, the Peace and Freedom Party, all Independents, and other political parties to become active members of the Reform Party USA". In their last press release, They seek to consolidate issues, ideas, talents, and energies. It sounds more like "We can win apart, let us be your voice." And I don't think Libertarians are likely to let Ralph Nader speak for them.

3rd Parties: Very Little Effect

Well, despite the anger and vitriol in both parties, or maybe because of it, 3rd parties experienced very little in the way of support. Looks like, nationwide, the Libertarians were the ones to gather the most votes. 379,000, more or less, according to their web site. And that seems to be the tops. Out of approximately 124,000,000 voters, that's a fraction of 1%. In order to qualify for federal matching funds, a party need at least a 5% vote in an election.

In some deference to Libertarians, I doubt they'd accept those funds. But still, I think a party that can obtain that amount at least twice in a row becomes a viable contender.

Fat Lady, where are you?

It really *is* over but for the singing.

All the election projections I can find place George W. Bush at 269 Electoral Votes. John Kerry intends to challenge Ohio. It's certainly his right. But the only thing he gets to choose, really, is whether George W. Bush won tonight, or that he wins later in the U.S. House of Representatives. The best that Kerry can do is tie. Now, if he does that, the election goes to the House of Representatives. One state, one vote. And the GOP controls 28 states in the House.

The really interesting part comes about in The Senate. See, the Senate elects a Vice President in this situation. Same scenario: one state, one vote. But the GOP only controls 19 states, according to the pre-election Senate Directory. And I don't think the results of this last election turned that into 26 states. Soo... Who gets to be V.P.? Could it be? Could we really see a GOP President with a Democrat V.P.?

I actually think not. According to some reports, the GOP could see their presence in The Senate rise to 53 or even 54. If the GOP allows some kind of compromise V.P., then that has the potential to create problems for them down the road.

So we're going to see some shenanigans in Ohio, and there's likely to be some hijinks elsewhere, too, in order to avoid the above scenario in Congress. Keep one eye on the ball. But the ball isn't big enough. Democrats and Republicans alike will be arguing over more than Ohio. And someone may not want the public to see what that "more" might be.

Looks like George W. Bush is going to have more votes than in 2000, and win the popular vote this time, too, by even more votes than is claimed for Gore in 2000. In that kind of setup, maybe the American Public will withstand one state challenge. Two or more? I doubt it.

Did My Duty

Well, my vote's in. Did it before I went to work today. Because I consider it an intensely private thing, I am choosing not to reveal who got my vote today. I was heartened to see a big line. Took me a full hour to get in and cast my vote. I hope that goes on all day and nationwide. I'd rather lose an election with mnassive turnout, than win one with sparse turnout.

I'm seeing small hints of problems here and there. Really, though, it seems to be going well. The Drudge Report is citing reports in Philadelphia that voting machines are being found with votes already in them. As many as 500 in one location. Drudge is a good reporter overall, but he is sometimes guilty of reporting without verifying. We'll see if something comes of it.

Whomever you choose to support, vote. Go to your nearest polling place, and do your duty. It *does* count. This is the one voice they cannot take from you.