RobPalmerIRL (he/him/his)
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thread 1/13
I noticed something in my time line that actually made me angry and had to respond. Somebody straight off said they were proud of their Green Party vote in 2016. That didn't garner the response they hoped they'd get. Let me explain to you WHY third party/protest voting isn't beneficial.
10:09 PM - Jun 05, 2023
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RobPalmerIRL (he/him/his)
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thread 2/13
First, America was never set up to have a multi-party system like Canada, the UK, France, and other parliamentary countries. Even the UK has a major, sustainable third party, the Liberal Democrats. The USA started with the Federalists, and the Democratic-Republican Party.
10:10 PM - Jun 05, 2023
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RobPalmerIRL (he/him/his)
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thread 3/13
Also it's very rare for a third party to win a seat in congress, or in the state/local races. Indies would have a better shot, since by nature most educated/logical ones (like Angus King) would form a coalition with the Democrats (and vice versa with Evan McMullan of Utah).
10:12 PM - Jun 05, 2023
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RobPalmerIRL (he/him/his)
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thread 4/13
Third, Third parties have NEVER made headway into a presidential election. Even Teddy Roosevelt whom was a Republican was rebuffed when he tried to run as a Bull Moose party after his term.
10:13 PM - Jun 05, 2023
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RobPalmerIRL (he/him/his)
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thread 5/13
George Wallace (who was a Dixiecrat) tried to run with the American Independence Party which used busing, and desegregation as the dog whistles of "woke" and CRT is used by the GOP today. However, the AIP siphoned votes away from the Democrats and give Nixon the bare win in 1968.
10:14 PM - Jun 05, 2023
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RobPalmerIRL (he/him/his)
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thread 6/13
Another third party challenger was H. Ross Perot (whom could have ran as a Republican) in 1992. However While Perot did get 19% of the total votes then...he still lost. Unlike other third partiers, he actually attempted to discuss policy...however the VP Debates sunk him.
10:16 PM - Jun 05, 2023
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RobPalmerIRL (he/him/his)
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thread 7/13
Now we're getting into Ralph Nader (whom as an investigative journalist and consumer advocate was tops). He has run...he was the one who siphoned votes way from Gore (and helped Bush win with an Assist from the SCOTUS with Brett Kavanaugh, Amy Barret, and John Roberts) with team Bush.
10:17 PM - Jun 05, 2023
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RobPalmerIRL (he/him/his)
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thread 8/13
That 2000 election was decided by less than 600 votes. When the SCOTUS ruled that the counts had to end. Think about it...if Nader didn't run, or if people didn't withhold their votes, Gore would have been president with Joe Liberman as his VP.
10:18 PM - Jun 05, 2023
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RobPalmerIRL (he/him/his)
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thread 9/13
Now...we're getting into 2016...the perfect storm of fuckery. First we had the known Russian interference with the elections, with an assist by Steve Bannon with Cambridge Analyitca (which has caused Meta to settle a class action against them).
10:19 PM - Jun 05, 2023
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RobPalmerIRL (he/him/his)
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thread 10/13
The second part of the perfect storm is partially Hillary's fault as she made the fatal error to assume she was going to win. In politics never assume you're going to win, you have to go fight for all the votes.
10:20 PM - Jun 05, 2023
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RobPalmerIRL (he/him/his)
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thread 11/13
The biggest thing that helped Trump win ultimately were Jill Stein and Gary Johnson. Remember when I said the AIP in 1968 siphoned votes...and in 2000 when Nader siphoned votes...this happened again in 3 States, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin where Trump barely won.
10:21 PM - Jun 05, 2023
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RobPalmerIRL (he/him/his)
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thread 12/13
That was just enough people to vote for Stein or Johnson that cost Hillary the race (I didn't touch also on James Comey torpedoing her with an "investigation" into those e-mails).
10:22 PM - Jun 05, 2023
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RobPalmerIRL (he/him/his)
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thread 13/13
In total...in America voting for a third party is a fatal mistake since our system isn't designed for it. It also is a fatal mistake to do a protest vote against a candidate with a better record and better morals for a guy like Trump who had a set-up persona, or for DeSantis who's just an ass.
10:24 PM - Jun 05, 2023
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RobPalmerIRL (he/him/his)
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You're welcome. I've been past the point of tired of the games
In response to Brandon Burns.
10:41 PM - Jun 05, 2023 (Edited)
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JC_🇺🇸
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In response to RobPalmerIRL (he/him/his).
Good one, Rob. I went on a similar rant a while back. Third party voters essentially end up voting FOR the very issue, party or candidate they THINK they're voting against. Self-importance + ignorance of the U.S. presidential election system is a volatile combination.
01:27 AM - Sep 18, 2023
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Deb Prothero
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In response to RobPalmerIRL (he/him/his).
Games is what the No Labels party is up to. With funding from Harlen Crow and Mitt Romney they are trying to get onto the ballot in a few states. I'm not sure if they've been successful but they will throw a wrench in things. They pretend to be moderates but are intent on corporate rule.
11:00 PM - Jun 05, 2023
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Tony
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In response to RobPalmerIRL (he/him/his).
Hi, I am not an American, I watch US politics closely, yr thread makes eminent sense to me. The interesting thing is that the margins in these elections are often v small. So it should provide some comfort for people who say "my vote is worthless, I don't see any value for me in voting" Your view?
11:00 PM - Jun 05, 2023
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Yvette
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In response to RobPalmerIRL (he/him/his).
You made some really good points. ☮️
10:54 PM - Jun 05, 2023
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Anton Brakhage
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In response to RobPalmerIRL (he/him/his).
Third party/ind. candidates sometimes make headway at local/state level. But never PotUS.

Also, if you're dissatisfied with your choices, get involved in primaries (when there's a competitive primary, which isn't the case this time whatever Candidate Woo-Woo and the Bannon-plant want you to think).
10:52 PM - Jun 05, 2023
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