A Strong Third Party In 2008? (UPDATED)

People continue to speculate on the need for some kind of strong third party to offer an alternative to the two prime political parties, which are increasingly seen by many as bloated, politically-beached whales.

Here are two must-read views:

(1) CBS’s Dick Meyer’s Third Party Cabinet Draft Picks For 2008.

(2) Sam Smith’s post on the idea of a bipartisan “Unity Ticket” for 2008.

Both posts are “required reading” for those who aren’t happy with the way our two main parties operate.

But, to be cynical for a moment (and perhaps this comes from having been a Political Science major and from having worked in the news media):

• American political history over the past 100 years hasn’t shown third parties as often being more than “spoilers” in the end. They raise ideas that one or more of the other parties later “borrow” and run with. But, in the end, those who vote for a third party candidate often find that what happens is that the candidate of the party that is least-close to their views ideologically gets into office. Ross Perot helped elected Bill Clinton. Ralph Nader helped elect George W. Bush. And, yes, there are partisans of both who will angrily denounce those statements but the truth hurts and it’s clear that if both candidates hadn’t been in the race the results might have been quite different. And, yes, many will cheer the results that did happen.

• There seem to be too many people today who have an emotional, almost pathological vested interest in partisanship. Being bipartisan, to them, is just, plain wishy-washy and weak-kneed. Just look at the efforts in the GOP to make moderates toe the line or else face extinction; just look at the growing war within the Democratic party between the progressive wing and DLC centrists and attempts to ax some members from the Democratic party who are not ideologically pure.

A third party and/or a bipartisan ticket would have to overcome the way our political system is set up — and the way our political culture now operates. Excellent food for thought; but likely to be doomed to failure in the end….UNLESS a reaaaaaaaaaaallly big name or two latches onto the idea and one or more parties nominates a total dud (why do images of Majority Leader Bill Frist come to mind when we say that?).

UPDATED: Here are the results of a CONFERENCE CALL on the Unity idea.