Will 2016 be the year for a Third Party rise?

[USS Monitor]

According to polls, something like 3/4 of Sanders supporters say they will support Clinton.

That little?

That's concerning. Though I wonder how many of those are people who normally don't vote and only came out for Bernie.

I've seen a couple of different figures. It's 3/4 or 4/5, depending which polls you believe.

[USS Monitor]

The Libertarians could pick up protest votes from both sides of the aisle. If they get 5%, you can't assume that is all votes that they took from Trump.

I suppose some Bernie folks could go to them. But I'd think it would mostly come from disgruntled Republicans.

Gary Johnson says he's pro-choice and believes business owners should not be allowed to deny service based on their religious beliefs. Throw in some Libertarian Party boilerplate about non-interventionist foreign policy, cutting down on mass incarceration, and legalizing marijuana -- and you've got a decent amount of stuff that would appeal to Sanders supporters. Meanwhile, those same positions would probably make a lot of Republicans crap their pants if Johnson somehow got elected president.

[Chestaan]

I'd like to see Sanders run as an Independent. I know it would take votes from Hillary, but it would also rob Trump of some of the anti-stablishment vote he is getting and the long term gains of someone like Sanders doing well, even if he didn't win, could be huge.

[The Romulan Republic]

I'd like to see Sanders run as an Independent. I know it would take votes from Hillary, but it would also rob Trump of some of the anti-stablishment vote he is getting and the long term gains of someone like Sanders doing well, even if he didn't win, could be huge.

Four problems with that:

1. It assumes that he would do well, rather than most of his supporters ultimately sticking with the Democrats to stop Donald and the Republicans.

2. He would almost certainly take far more votes from the Democrats than the Republicans, meaning the only thing he'd be likely to accomplish would be making Donald President.

3. He gave his word he wouldn't do it, and he shouldn't go back on that without good cause.

4. Doing so would throw away any chance for his supporters to eventually gain greater influence on the Democratic Party from within- which they can do because he has overwhelming support from young people on the Left and Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Hillary Clinton won't be running things forever. He would discredit his movement, especially if he ended up handing the country to the Republicans and Donald.

[Republic of Libertara]

Eh? As in John McAfee? That would be worthy of the Republican options.

He's running for the LP nomination, he's probably not going to win but I feel like he could be a nice boost for Johnson even though I know it won't happen.

yeah, They both said no

[Sack Jackpot Winners]

Should have been, but all the third parties were sitting on their asses when it counted (as usual). Would be really nice to have to not vote for a bad candidate.

[Eol Sha]

Should have been, but all the third parties were sitting on their asses when it counted (as usual). Would be really nice to have to not vote for a bad candidate.

What were they supposed to do?

[Sack Jackpot Winners]

Should have been, but all the third parties were sitting on their asses when it counted (as usual). Would be really nice to have to not vote for a bad candidate.

What were they supposed to do?

Did what Trump did. Take the microphone and say "HEY! Here I am!" because by now people are largely resigned to a "Hillary vs. Trump" race. Yeah, people are hoping that a third party could make it, but they also don't want to "throw away their vote".

Should have happened in right after Trump entered the race and before Carson dropped out, because GOPers fled to the "anyone but Trump" or "Trump" candidates. The Libertarians could really have profited if they set out a massive, Hail Mary media and political frenzy. Maybe even win a few seats in Congress.

Also, let's not count Bernie out. He may make a third party if he isn't nominated, since he's stilling suing the Democratic Party.

[Arkinesia]

Rumor has it that Gary Johnson will be this year's recipient of Koch Brothers White House money.

This would be a massive coup for LPUSA, who already had the possibility of managing to perhaps—dare I say it?—bag a state out West or possibly in the South.

If the rumors are true, I'd say there's a good chance Johnson does end up winning a state. Obviously, it wouldn't be anything bigger than that…I don't think…but Trump is so disliked among conservatives and libbish Republicans that I could definitely see it happening.

[Free Missouri]

I just want the Libertarians to be enough to force it to the House. Then they can pick someone not-hillary and not-trump. (Johnson, McAfee or, hopefully, Petersen.

[The United Colonies of Earth]

I'm not hopeful. The election system in the United States specifically results in extreme favor to the established parties, and, even in cases where public opinion is high for a third party, gerrymandering is rampant, and I see more and more reports of corruption and fraud, and tends to lead to the predictable dominance of one party or another. If the Democratic and Republican parties agree on one thing, it is that they are both very comfortable with retaining their position of power.

Even if the Libertarians, Greens, Socialists, Constitutionalists, Communists, or any other party, was able to get seats, the likelihood is that their presence in the Congress would be about as significant as any other third party that's won seats before, and not be politically significant. That's assuming that Congress does not make elections even more difficult for third parties after that. The only way I can see this changing would be the United States adopting some form of proportional representation.

Especially since, as of the law index by The Economist, United States ratings as a democratic nation have been steadily declining, to the point there now 0.06 points separates the United States from being outright considered a 'Flawed Democracy', and it is lowest scoring nation of the 'Full Democracies'.

What the hell?
Jesus fucking hell in christ.

I just want the Libertarians to be enough to force it to the House. Then they can pick someone not-hillary and not-trump. (Johnson, McAfee or, hopefully, Petersen.

It may not be Clinton, may not be Trump, likely won't be anyone who ran in the Libertarian primary.

[USS Monitor]

I just want the Libertarians to be enough to force it to the House. Then they can pick someone not-hillary and not-trump. (Johnson, McAfee or, hopefully, Petersen.

The House has too many Republicans. They'd be likely to give it to Trump.

[Sack Jackpot Winners]

Or Bernie pulls one over on us and runs as a fourth party ticket to even the playing field, thereby giving people on the right to vote for the Libertarians now that a lost vote doesn't mean a vote for Hillary.

[USS Monitor]

Or Bernie pulls one over on us and runs as a fourth party ticket to even the playing field, thereby giving people on the right to vote for the Libertarians now that a lost vote doesn't mean a vote for Hillary.

Bernie said he wouldn't, and he should keep his word.

[Sack Jackpot Winners]

Or Bernie pulls one over on us and runs as a fourth party ticket to even the playing field, thereby giving people on the right to vote for the Libertarians now that a lost vote doesn't mean a vote for Hillary.

Bernie said he wouldn't, and he should keep his word.

So did Trump and Cruz, but they both backed down IIRC. Plus Bernie is still suing the party, so I'm pretty sure once the divorce is finalized he's going to screw them over. These three are the epitome of anti-establishment, and despite differing ideologies they draw a lot of parallels, and I think this is one.

[USS Monitor]

Bernie said he wouldn't, and he should keep his word.

So did Trump and Cruz, but they both backed down IIRC. Plus Bernie is still suing the party, so I'm pretty sure once the divorce is finalized he's going to screw them over. These three are the epitome of anti-establishment, and despite differing ideologies they draw a lot of parallels, and I think this is one.

Cruz isn't running 3rd party, and we'll never know what Trump would have done if he didn't get the nomination. Sanders is nothing like either of them anyway.