59 Comments

Given that the Democratic Party currently encompasses viewpoints along the entire spectrum from Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez to Cory Booker to Amy Klobuchar to Henry Cuellar and Joe Manchin, I'm curious as to who - other than Nazis - thinks their voice is not being heard by the Democrats.

Expand full comment

PG Wodehouse fan? I like your thinking.

Expand full comment

Wodehouse might be the single funniest writer I have ever read, sort of the polar opposite of another few I think are hilarious: Celine and Henry Miller.

Expand full comment

I am not disgruntled, but, then, I'm not gruntled, either...

Expand full comment

But wait, aren't there other political parties one can belong to? Libertarian, Communist, etc? Or are they just talking out of their ass as usual?

I suspect so, and their 'third party' is just palaver to get their names back into the news.

In other words, nothing to see here, move along..

Expand full comment

I’ve got a better idea! Repeal “Citizens United” and remove fascist billionaires from the equation.

Expand full comment

Would take a civil war.

Expand full comment

"...the set list for a concert by Up With People" was a very welcome laugh-out-loud morning moment for me, Lucian. Thank you for that. Entire column a gem much needed in a wtf world upside down.

But, seriously, I can only hope that the damage done by this reckless, narcissistic venture is as small as their capacity to reason.

Expand full comment

I can't claim authorship of that line. It was given to me by my brilliant and beautiful wife, Tracy Harris.

Expand full comment

This is an advertisement for their intent to run for office since none of them would be viable candidates for either party. I wish MSNBC would refuse them free air time.

Expand full comment

I predict a short shelf life and then a swift sweep into the dustbin of history

Expand full comment

The dustbin of history being where they crawled from to get here. Downtown New Yorkers remember ex-EPA Commissioner Whitman well for her reassurances in the days after the WTC attack that the obviously lethal air was perfectly safe to breathe, and ex-candidate Yang as being too strange even for New York politics. We wore stupid hardware store paper masks anyway, and just wondered what weird plan the latest Andrew (cf Cuomo, Giuliani) would cook up next.

Expand full comment

They could call themselves the Hasbeens Party.

Expand full comment

What a total disaster! As if the Dems don’t have enough problems without these sanctimonious nitwits! A liberal third party will absolutely guarantee a GOP VICTORY!

Even t-Rump was smart enough (or his advisors were) to drop that idea months ago.

Expand full comment

Damn. You could write about toilet paper and we would be educated, fascinated, inspired, amused and... envious of your brilliance. (No, he didn't pay me.).

Expand full comment
Comment deleted
July 29, 2022
Comment deleted
Expand full comment

Time to squeeze!

Expand full comment

"Because he felt rejected and lonely after his dismal showing in the last Democratic primary for president." You left out his dismal showing in the 2021 NYC Democratic Mayoral Primary where he took up all the media oxygen for months only to finish in 4th place.

Expand full comment

If we ignore them maybe they’ll go away. It’s more or less worked with the Greens.

Expand full comment

“Clowns to the left of me jokers to the right here I am stuck in the middle with you.” It May be a lame movement, but a more centrist approach would be refreshing.

Expand full comment

The only thing down the middle of the road is a yellow stripe and dead armadillos...Jim Hightower.

Expand full comment

RAM? SAM? No thank you ma'am. Looks, smells, and quacks like a NeoConJob. Which of the three thimbles is their collective soul under? Don't lift your gaze from his hands before laying your money down.

Expand full comment

“The Shell Game”

Expand full comment

I saw someone in Flagstaff promoting some no-label centrist party. I asked if they knew what was really in the middle of the road? Dead skunks. But if R's won't vote for D's and vice versa, what's the solution to this logjam?

Expand full comment

How bout the Rocky and Bullwinkle Party?

Expand full comment

Founded at Whassamatta U.?

Expand full comment

Thank you for making me chuckle!

Expand full comment

Third parties, in the US, are complicated gambits. I am concerned at the moment that this could facilitate the election of bad actors who would not otherwise be able to claim leadership positions.

I’m not so worried about the danger of a return to power of the disgraced, defeated, twice impeached and failed ex-president. What remains of the rule of law in America is likely to constrain such an unfortunate outcome.

But what a tragedy it would be, as Lucian and commenters here suggest, if a third-party were to split the pro democracy vote such that authoritarian successors of the ex president are able to surf their minority wave into power.

I would much prefer that remaining pro-democracy republicans concentrate on reclaiming direction of their party. Failing that, they should cast their votes for candidates firmly committed to America’s democracy… even if that means rejecting the authoritarian-minded poseurs who will be disputing office as “republicans.”

These times require levelheaded thinking and careful tactics if we are to avoid regime change . This third-party option doesn’t seem to meet those criteria.

Expand full comment

A perfect team, then. Thank you both. Please carry on!

Expand full comment