My prediction/fantasy regarding the fate of political parties

[MikeE]

Here is what I suspect may happen if republicans keep doubling down on the stupid:

The repubs will split into 2 or possibly 3 factions, the "moderates" which have already begun leaving, and the tea baggers, which may split in 2, one part comprising the racists and evangelicals, and the other comprised of the corporatists.

Eventually the "moderates" will be absorbed into the Democratic party and the green party will come to the fore and absorb the more progressive, resulting in what we now call the left being the the furthest to the right you can go and still be a viable party, and the green party becoming the party of the left.

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. A reverse of the rise of the GOP

The other option is the rise of a true libertarian (RW flavored) party.

[Jackpine Radical]

2. They'd be a splinter group at best

because they couldn't attract corporate $$, and they offer nothing for the common good. They would of course oppose "Socialist Security" etc. & would get a Ron Paul-sized share of the vote.

But I would welcome them as another place for one more variety of conservative to waste their votes.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. They are the third largest party in the US

Remember that. They have a leg up in organization and state presence.

Granted, I'd prefer if the left wing part of the party was dominant, but that is another story.

[Jackpine Radical]

4. They mostly pull votes from the Republican side, and

there's no way the Teahadists & flat-earth fundies will get on their train. That should manage to keep them in a shambles for some time to come.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. Read into the party, I am serious

The problem is not the libertarian part, but the size of the tent. It ranges from far left, greens and far left at times vote for them, to the far right.

As I like to joke, it is wide, but not deep...but if they ever actually really got organized...( they are borderline anarchist)...

I had the fun of reading into the party over the years. It was fun locally, during a primary locally we had two competing, a far left libertarian and a far right one. Oh the usual suspects made it to the general...but.

I know we all think of the ones in the right edge, they are the noisy, and a tad better organized.