A reader thinks we’re seeing the same phenomenon that occurred under a previous Bush administration:
You have lately been publishing a lot of emails of Republicans who have become disenchanted by – or enraged at – the Bush administration for its manifest failure to live up to the plainest conservative principles. These folks sound very much like those who in another era voted for Ross Perot and (possibly) handed the presidency to Bill Clinton.
With the GOP firmly in the hands of Christianist extremists, and with the Democrats still bickering, I wonder if the time might be ripe for another consequential third-party candidacy. Just look at the contortions that McCain is having to go through in order to make is candidacy palatable to the crowd that currently runs the Republican party; wouldn’t it be nice if McCain could run as an independent and not have to suck up to the Christianists?
Of course he can’t and he won’t, but…
The current Perotian cause is obviously fiscal balance. In many ways, the fiscal situation is much worse now than it was in the early 1990s. The new Medicare entitlement, the boomer retirement crisis, and the dawn of big government, big borrowing conservatism makes a Perot-style candidate very attractive. This time, of course, it would be better not have a complete nutcase.
The Dish 