Could Greens' candidacies move the Dem party to the left?

[Sparkly]

Poll question: Could Greens' candidacies move the Dem party to the left?

What if it became a national trend for "far-left" Democrats to run as Greens or other third parties, in an effort to move the party to the left. Would it work?

[Minnesota Libra]

1. Sure it would work, just like it did in 2000. nt

[William769]

2. I was just thinking the same thing.

[LoZoccolo]

3. How do you even begin to attract people...

...who have shown that getting more of what they want doesn't matter to them? Where do you even start?

[ulysses]

8. would you give a concrete example of what you mean?

who have shown that getting more of what they want doesn't matter to them?

[Ignoramus]

4. It would move politics in general to "the left"

Whether it would move the Democrats left, I don't know, and it's not a terribly relevent question.

Presumably, people are interested not in getting power for a party, but pursuing peace and justice etc.

It should be clear from the Kerry fiasco and the support for Ned Lamont that authenticity wins.

Democrats are trusted to vote for democrats no matter what. So, politicians know that they don't need to do anything to be accountable to the progressives, the democrats will stay with the democrats almost without exception (the person has to be Joe Liebermanish horrible, to cause any outrage).

On the other hand, if the democratic politicians do anything offensive to the fascists they get hammered.

So, the left tells them to do whatever they want, while the right relentlessly harasses them to become more fascist. The democratic politicians then look for anything that looks slightly progressive but is ineffectual to toss as a bone to the progressives and reigns death and destruction down on the world to appease the right.

[politicasista]

11. What fiasco?

You mean any dem would have gotten a free pass or his/her message out with a GOP controlled/owned media?

[LWolf]

13. Good analysis. n/t

[Ravy]

5. It would move the Democrats further to the center.

If they hit a wall getting votes on the left, they will need to reach out to the center more to get the votes to gain office.

Many of the Greens won't vote for a Democrat regardless of how far apart the two major candidates are on the issue. Saying there is no real difference between Gore and Bush Jr, or Kerry and Bush Jr is a perfect example.

Hope that is working out well for them. It sure isn't for most of us.

[creeksneakers2]

12. That's how I see it

Its easier to pick up votes from the middle than from Greens. That's where the party has to go to make up the lost Green votes.

[sandyd921]

6. It might have that effect if...

there was instant run-off voting in states or at the national level.

[RiffRandell]

7. Only if they sold a good pair of jeans.

With the words "far left" embroidered in green, on the left pocket, made by kids in a 3rd world country making 2 cents an hour.

[skipos]

9. GREEN= Getting Republicans Elected Every November. nt

[Justice]

10. What Skipos said

[citizen snips]

14. No