In replying to a comment over at my blog, I began to solidify my opposition to third party candidates at the national level. I'd be interested to your thoughts on this subject. I know most of us are probably partisan Democrats, but does anyone have solid thoughts on the validity of third party candidates in a presidential election? Is there an appropriate time to vote for them, and to what end?
Here's the text of the original comment, which came in response to my declaration that voting third party was "self-defeating," and which caused me to consider my thoughts on the issue:
Big Blue
You have bought into the two-party system. YOU are self-defeating by playing their game and not voting for the best candidate, even if they media and polls say they will not win. Are you going to allow the media dictate to us who is and is not electable? The game is to keep us divided at 50/50 so people with little integrity like yourself vote out of fear instead of conscious. This keeps the debate framed in a tiny box with no room for bold ideas.
Read my response below the fold...
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