How we end up with Trump for President in 2016

[Peacetrain]

Its the Libertarian Party.. they are coming on stronger than they ever have.. they are on the ballot in all 50 states and both the Democrats and Republicans are base parties now who have to fight for the middle during a GE.. By the way .. the Indy's are at 40 % plus now.. Republicans 25% and the Democrats 30%

http://www.gallup.com/poll/15370/party-affiliation.aspx

The Libertarians are getting coverage that they have never had before.. and if the polls start covering them and they can garner 15% they will be in the debates.

With so many people disparaging the parties.. that great unwashed middle might just go a pox on both their houses and vote Libertarian.. and some may make the mistake of thinking this hurts Republicans more.. THINK AGAIN

The Libertarians are the greatest risk to the Democrats.. why I believe that.. they just have to keep our candidate from getting the the 270 votes needed from the electoral college..

And for those who have been pulling their hair out about super delegates.. the electoral college is the ultimate super delegates.. (each state get delegates that = the number of their senators and representative combined) and they can go anyway they want to

If the Libertarians can keep the Democratic or Republican candidate from garnering that 270 guess what.. it goes to the Republican controlled house.. who may just choose Trump

"f no presidential candidate obtains a majority of the electoral votes, the decision is deferred to the U.S. Congress. The House of Representatives selects the president, choosing among the top three candidates, and the Senate selects the vice president, choosing between the top two candidates. In the House selection, each state delegation receives only one vote and an absolute majority of the states (26) is required to elect the president. (In this situation, Washington, D.C. would lose the voting power given to it by the 23rd Amendment since it does not have the same congressional representation given to the states).

So anyone on either side of the Democratic divide who thinks that sitting out this election to teach the other side a lesson.. may get schooled themselves..

[beachbum bob]

1. libertarian polices are ALL at issue with democratic principals

no one who supports sanders or any democrat could possibly support the drivel of libertarians....it you do...you were never a sanders supporter or a democrat in the first place

[Peacetrain]

2. Libertarians are truly the survival of fittest philosophy..

[beachbum bob]

3. under the best scenario....its practically a warlord mentality

and all the fake blah blah blah of no government and everything about property rights because everyone will do what is right and we don't need rules or regulations to make sure they do ...because its government that causes all the problems


of course there is NO example of libertarian type structure of governing at work any where or at any time in the history of man

so why is that?? Cause it don't work

[SickOfTheOnePct]

7. You're assuming that everyone who votes for Democrats

does so because they agree with the Democratic party on every issue, which isn't the case. There are plenty of people who vote for Democrats because of our stand on social issues, such as abortion and LGBT rights, but are meh on the Democratic platform when it comes to economic issues. Conversely, there are plenty of people who vote for Republicans because of their stand on economic policies, but are meh when it comes to the Republican platform when it comes to social issues.

To assume that when given the choice between the two most unpopular nominees in history, they'll stick with Democrats (or Republicans, for that matter) rather than choose a party that most closely matches their views across the board is a dangerous assumption, IMO.

There is no question in my mind that a strong Libertarian vote will hurt both Democrats and Republicans. The question is in which states will it hurt each party the most.

[beachbum bob]

10. again...core principals of the libertarian party platform run counter to democratic

and more in line with republican

the effect will be on republican races and states...and the good thing...many red states could be made purple if a libertarian candidate gets 8-12% of the vote with 75% or more being taken from Trump....that could give democrats Texas....Georgia...Mississippi....

[beachbum bob]

4. libertarian party will get some votes....mostly disgruntled republicans and few if any

democrats...and will not win any measurable electoral votes at all...so nil impact on the election going to congress

[Peacetrain]

6. I agree with you that Libertarianism is an inoperable system...

But I think they are a greater danger to the Democrats than Republicans...because they have been housing in the Republican party for so long..

[roamer65]

5. The Libertarians are taking a very popular stance.

Fiscally conservative and socially liberal. That will play well into the large base of independents.

[Peacetrain]

8. That is what scares the bejeebus out of me

[roamer65]

11. I expect the anti-Trumpf Rethugs to run someone in select states.

Just enough to make them the 3rd largest vote getter. The top three go into the House for a vote and the Rethugs will choose the 3rd place finisher as President.

Shades of 1824.

[beachbum bob]

9. lol...the fiscal conservative part is eliminating the govt

and that won't play with democrats but will republicans

trump has lot more to be concern with libertarian candidate than any democrat

[Peacetrain]

12. Bob you are missing the point

its that great unwashed middle.. the indys who will elect the President.. and if they go for the Libertarians enough to keep either standard party candidate from getting the 270 of the electoral college. it goes into the republican house..and who do you think they will pick?? whether they vote republican or democrat.. its the 270.. and they could really push it this time because there is such consternation in the electorate.. they are a 50 state ballot party..

[beachbum bob]

13. last time I looked...electoral vote is winner take all in almost every instance except like nebraska

a 3rd party candidate will never will more than a hand full electoral votes if any.. I have been around for 2 big 3rd party candidates....John B Anderson and Ross Perot

how many states and electoral votes did they get? Perot got just under 20 MILLION votes and NO electoral votes at all, most of perot voters were republican..... John B anderson got just under 6 Million votes again mostly republican...and NO electoral votes....in 2000, nader got under 3 million...no electoral votes but syphoned off enough to give the election to bush....the bulk of the votes he syphoned would have most likely voted for gore

there is little or no chance for a libertarian party candidate...or really any 3rd party candidate to win any...but a few electoral votes and hence....would never cause an election to go to the congress.....a 3rd party candidate would syphon votes from one or the other main party...giving the other party a huge landslide victory in electoral count

[TeamPooka]

14. the fault in this thesis is thinking independent voters are actually independent....

most indy's are not "independent".
They actually lean or are actually Republicans or Democrats, they just prefer to be "unaffiliated" because of some action their party took.
Bill gets impeached and the Democrats lost registered voters.
Bush started wars and the GOP lost registered voters.
Most still only vote for their previous parties nominees
That's why so many "independents" are supporting Sanders.
They're really Democrats who don't/refuse to register.
Then complain the party isn't listening to them.
Trump is bring a lot of the disaffected GOPers back the party, not "new voters".
They vote republican anyway in the general but wanted to vote for Trump in the primary so re registered with the GOP.