Still, the description of this column is "Third Party Politics from an independent, left-of-center, point of view," so I thought I'd better post a round-up of a few of the third party and independent candidates you may be thinking of voting for on November 2 as an alternative to George W. Bush or John Kerry.
David Cobb: Green Party - www.votecobb.org - I like David Cobb, and I am a registered Green Party member, but I will not be voting Green this year. While I agree with everything that the party stands for and strongly believe in the need for strong progressive third party, I think the stakes in this election are a little too high to take any vote for granted.
Ironically, Mr. Cobb feels the same way. He has talked openly about pursuing a "Safe States Strategy," meaning that he's only seriously looking for votes in states that are sure to go for either Bush or Kerry, and where the votes for him will make no difference whatsoever. In those states where Greens could pull votes away from John Kerry, Cobb says "Vote Kerry, if you can."
Read my previous column about the Safe States Strategy here on Suite101.com. Also see Greens for Kerry for a compelling argument on why you should register Green, but still vote for Kerry.
Ralph Nader: Independent/Reform Party - www.votenader.com - I've already written about my feelings about Ralph's run this year here at Suite101.com. In 1996 and 2000, when he was the nominee of my party, the Greens, I did vote for him, but I cannot support this run. I still admire Mr. Nader and will always listen when he is speaking, but I can't figure out what this is about.
One of the main reasons Nader gives for this run is to build a viable progressive third party, but there is no party here; only Ralph. When he was running as a Green that made sense, but the semi-endorsement that the Reform Party has given him this year doesn't really count as "party building." Party builders don't abandon and split the parties that nominated them in the last two elections.
