tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26542777.post1646877997277774836..comments2023-10-26T01:59:40.483-07:00Comments on The Dividist Papers: Curing libertarian political impotence - a prescription for Electile Dysfunctionmwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11181222537529037359noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26542777.post-37209284833384263302008-02-24T10:26:00.000-08:002008-02-24T10:26:00.000-08:00mw -- As a centrist, I couldn't agree with you mor...mw -- As a centrist, I couldn't agree with you more that in '08 a Republican president will be necessary to keep the Dem-controlled Congress from swinging the political pendulum way too far the other way - in fact I did recently switch my political affiliation (temporarily) from Libertarian to Republican. I also agree that we in the middle need to keep the two major parties honest by punishing stupidity, corruption, etc. with our votes.<BR/><BR/>But why not take things a step further and create a party that will keep them honest on a real-time basis in Congress? As I argue in my embryonic blog, http://centristpartynow.blogspot.com, what we need is a party based on principles -- not issues. <BR/><BR/>Just as neither Democrat or Republican voters are as monolithic as many seem to believe, I think there are few individual political issues that will truly unite and inspire all centrists. However, a party based on the best qualities of statesmen such as Hagel, McCain, and even Obama could at least garner enough support to become a force in Congress fighting for people that desperately want better accountability, more common sense and inclusiveness, and less underhanded fighting for power's sake from our government.Chris Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12894469199258077764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26542777.post-81730584837781110132007-07-22T10:48:00.000-07:002007-07-22T10:48:00.000-07:00Hmmm. Thanks anon. I completely missed it. Getting...Hmmm. Thanks anon. I completely missed it. Getting too wrapped up in the British Open (Sergio and Padraig in a playoff now). I do <A HREF- HREF="" HTTP://WWW.DAILYKOS.COM/USER/DWSUWF REL="nofollow">x-post on Kos</A> occasionally. <BR/><BR/>Problem being - with Kos - after a day late and 500 comments behind - there is no point on commenting on Hunters post now. Maybe I'll respond with a diary later.mwhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11181222537529037359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26542777.post-60090781135306365962007-07-22T10:13:00.000-07:002007-07-22T10:13:00.000-07:00when are you going to comment on this ?http://www....when are you going to comment on this ?<BR/><BR/>http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/7/21/204347/027Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26542777.post-27525240651022363072007-07-18T22:51:00.000-07:002007-07-18T22:51:00.000-07:00Ashley,I do know what you are talking about, and I...Ashley,<BR/>I do know what you are talking about, and I disagree. I am voting based on objectives. These are the objectives that I want out of our Federal Government:<BR/><BR/>* Restrained growth of spending.<BR/>* Real oversight.<BR/>* Less corruption.<BR/>* Less likelihood of war.<BR/>* More carefully considered major legislation.<BR/>* Better Governance.<BR/>* Better Fiscal Responsibility.<BR/>* Reinforced rather than undermined Checks and Balances between the branches. <BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://westanddivided.blogspot.com/2006/11/just-vote-divided.html" REL="nofollow">Historians, legal scholars, and economists</A> have documented as fact that these objectives are realized <BR/>when you have divided government vs. a single party control of the legislature and the executive. <A HREF="http://westanddivided.blogspot.com/2006/08/divided-government-statistics-and-war.html" REL="nofollow">Fact.</A> That is what I am voting for, and that is what I get. That is what we got when we had a Democrat President (Clinton) with a Republican Congress. That is what we are getting now with a Republican President and a Democratic congress. It just works better that way. <BR/><BR/>You, on the other hand, have apparently decided that Republicans are evil and Democrats are good. That's fine. That is how partisans on both sides think. I don't think that way. I think they are fundamentally the same, just different lobbyists. That's also ok. but the only way to keep their worst impulses in check, is not give either party all the keys. The fact is, that Murtha(D) is as big a crook as Hastert(R). Our government was designed to have branches in opposition. Different parties in control of the executive and legislature keeps it working the way it was designed. <BR/><BR/>I get exactly what I vote for, and I don't have to trust what the politicians say to get it. <BR/><BR/>You are voting for what politicians say to get your vote. And it is very unlikely that you will get what you vote for, even - perhaps especially - if you win.mwhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11181222537529037359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26542777.post-37299891024599050622007-07-18T22:19:00.000-07:002007-07-18T22:19:00.000-07:00Christian Prophet,Thanks for stopping by and thank...Christian Prophet,<BR/>Thanks for stopping by and thanks for the comment. I don't have the slightest idea WTF you are talking about. I mean that in the nicest possible way.mwhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11181222537529037359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26542777.post-29678145260579892842007-07-18T16:19:00.000-07:002007-07-18T16:19:00.000-07:00You guys ... a Presidential disaster is a GOOD THI...You guys ... a Presidential disaster is a GOOD THING, just as a Congressional disaster is a GOOD THING.<BR/><BR/>Quit worshipping successful and efficient government. We need government failure in every respect.<BR/><BR/>I would say rather than strive for divided and balanced, strive for electing the stupidest most prone to failure.<BR/><BR/>http://miraclesdaily.blogspot.com/Christian Prophethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10020964652943679070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26542777.post-50937908994864812592007-07-18T09:32:00.000-07:002007-07-18T09:32:00.000-07:00You have completely missed the point. Of course G...You have completely missed the point. Of course GWB is not running in 2008. The point is that by insisting that divided goverment is more important than anything else, you risk the possibility of another presidential disaster.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26542777.post-82942813668031414172007-07-17T09:44:00.000-07:002007-07-17T09:44:00.000-07:00First, I am not advocating a party line vote. I am...First, I am not advocating a party line vote. I am perfectly happy with a Democratic House of Representatives and will vote for my Democratic Representative Nancy Pelosi. I have no senate vote in CA this time around, but the Dems cannot lose the Senate. There are 33 Senate seats contested in 2008. Of these, 21 are held by Republicans and 12 by Democrats. Simple numbers - the Republicans have a lot more at risk, and will be playing defense. The Democrats have many more opportunities to take seats than Republicans. Advantage Democrats. Big Big advantage. In the 100 years since we have been directly electing Senators, the House has never flipped majority unless the Senate did also. Never. Not even once. <BR/><BR/>So we are staring at a single party Democratic controlled government in 2009 if the Dems take the White House. <BR/><BR/>We know for historical fact where single party government leads. Far more spending. Far more government. Far less oversight. Far more corruption. Much worse legislation, undermined checks/balances and erosion of constitutional protection of individual rights. <B>It happens every time without exception regardless of party.</B> <BR/> <BR/>Republican vs. Democrat is a false choice. Single party controlled government vs. Divided government is the real choice. <BR/><BR/>I am voting for objectives. Those objectives can only be met by electing a Republican (or independent) president in 2008. <BR/><BR/>I'd encourage anyone who agrees with this formulation to register Republican now, so that we can have the best opportunity to nominate a Republican with integrity, like oh, I dunno - Chuck Hagel or Ron Paul. <BR/><BR/>BTW Ashley, apparently you were not aware of this, but George W Bush is not running for President in 2008. Hopefully that will enable you to separate the man from the office, and vote for better government, by voting for divided government. <BR/><BR/>Thanks for stopping by and thanks for the comment.mwhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11181222537529037359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26542777.post-24323377472696300022007-07-17T08:07:00.000-07:002007-07-17T08:07:00.000-07:00You say, "As clear as it was in 2006 that the only...You say, "As clear as it was in 2006 that the only way to secure divided government was voting Democratic, it is just as clear that the only way to maintain divided government in 2009 is to elect a Republican president in 2008. So that is the plan. We just need libertarians to get back on the bandwagon and start beating the divided government drum again." <BR/><BR/>As important to the concept of limited government as divided government is, it is so only because anything else is a disaster, not because it is ideal. Most important, however, is that after the example of George W. Bush voting party line instead of candidate should be unthinkable.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com