Rocky Anderson for President in 2012: Progressive, Integrity, Experience, Backbone BUT "Not a Snowball's Chance in Hell!"

Thinknaboutit, I can appreciate your concern. I think the strength of the OWS, which Rocky supports, is an indication of the needed change wanted throughout the country and that the people are willing to go for it. Try not to operate out of fear (and I do understand fully the concern) but rather let's see if this guy can generate the support to be a serious contender. We'll know in a few months. Wouldn't you rather vote for someone who embodied all your values and aspirations for the country instead of, once again, voting for the lesser ot two candidates (and until we see who emerges and how he changes, many may not find him a less attractive candidate than Obama).

If you think this is worth debating and bringing in a wider group of participants, please vote up the vine. Thanks.

I fully appreciate your cynicism. I heard about Rocky Anderson through word of mouth. He has integrity, a track record of speaking truth to power, and was a mayor of a large city in Utah. He's not a Morman if you should be concerned. He's helped organize the Justice Party which is for the kind of justice the 99% need, not the vindictive justice of the 1%. I'll try to say more in a later comment if I have the time. I'm likely to be in action at any minute and that'll be the end of this for awhile.

Did you read the article? Rocky's campaign will no question be uphill, but is there anyone out there with integrity? (The answer is yes, Ron Paul, and I'd have to take him seriously if he was running either as a VP to Romney or as an independent--unless Rocky was available.)

I'm not politicing for Ron Paul, but his explanation of the stupidity of our "war" against terrorism is truly stunning.

Come on Thinknaboutit, be a bit more real than you are pretending.

Obama has simply pursued the same goals as Bush II--economically and militarily. The rich have gotten more wealthy under the first two years of Obama's administration than under the eight years of the Bush II administration. Obama did not want us out of Iraq--but because the Bush II made a deal with the Iraqis that permitted them to kick us out at the end of 2011, they did. Obama escalated the war in Afghanistan. No jobs program during the first two years when he had a Democratic House and Senate. Didn't speak out from the Oval Office on prime time for the public option. Extended tax cuts for the wealthy on the excuse of it being necessary to extend unemployment benefits for the unemployed. Pure poppycock.

IF we had a leader who would lead the nation, maybe we would see change. I would expect such a leader to reach out to the people. I would expect there would be Congresspersons who would come in on his coattails. I would expect an exciting mid-term election.

Obama is no better than Bush II except for his oratorical skill which he hasn't used for the benefit of the people (Oval Office prime time speeches explaining things like the public option, tax cuts for the rich, the foolheartedness of extending the war in Afghanistan). Look at the bottomline. Forget the rhetoric. He's already part of the 1%.

Thinknaboutit, I didn't mean to offend and I'm at a meeting where I have very little time to get on the vine.

You wrote:

I think you are the one pretending here. Pretending that all the obstruction was welcomed by Obama and that he could have somehow overcome it all

I don't think I said that and if you think I did, please let me know where. I certainly didn't mean it. I do think Obama didn't go to battle for the 99% or for the Middle Class or for the nation's workers. If you need more on that, please let me know and I'll probably try to find things I've posted and link you to them if you are truly interested.

I too am unsure about Rocky Anderson. I'm mainly unsure whether he can get a viable campaign off the ground. I have a contact and am waiting for information... waiting... waiting... hopefully something more affirmative will come soon.

I agree but think how tough it would be to get that. The two parties like it this way. Rocky's approach could work and may well work.

Yes, it really is, Robert in Ohio. The timing could not be better. I am waiting to find out more about his campaign. From what little I've seen and the mood of we the citizens, I think it might be the "perfect storm of democracy." We certainly deserve one, don't you think?

Dear Robert,

I just need to be clear on the question. Are you asking what would I speculate will happen if the Americans elect someone middle or middle left? I think I need to know more. Whom might fit that characterization?

And don't forget that anything I might say will be complete speculation.

Cheers, TL

Hi Robert,

Let's assume it is Romney vs. Obama. Assume Rocky Anderson can make a plausible entry. Who's the fourth (Ron Paul?).

Robert in Ohio, the most convincing VP candidate for Romney, from what I've heard, is Marco Rubio. His name came up as a way of capturing the Southern vote. From Wikipedia:

Marco Antonio Rubio (born May 28, 1971) is the junior United States Senator from Florida (2011–present). A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives (2007–2009).

Born to Cuban immigrants, Rubio was raised in Miami, Florida and Las Vegas, Nevada. He attended Tarkio College and Santa Fe Community College before graduating from the University of Florida. He earned his law degree from the University of Miami School of Law in 1996 while interning for U.S. Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. In the late 1990s he served as a City Commissioner for West Miami. Rubio was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2000, representing the 111th House district. He was elected Speaker in November 2006.

Rubio announced a run for U.S. Senate in May 2009 after incumbent Republican Mel Martinez resigned. Initially trailing by double-digits against the incumbent Republican Governor Charlie Crist, Rubio eventually surpassed him in polling for the Republican nomination. Rubio won the Republican nomination after Crist opted instead for an independent run. In a three-way split against Crist and Democratic candidate Kendrick Meek, Rubio won the general election in November 2010 by a 19-point margin.

Rubio has been called the "crown prince" of the Tea Party movement.^[2][3] He has been mentioned as a potential choice for Republican Vice President in 2012 but has said he is not interested.

This guy looks like a strong candidate if he were to run with Romney. The Republicans would re-united (Teapublicans and the more centrists). He's got Cuban ancestry and for that reason would be perceived as a strong anti-Castro and anti-Communist vote.

I think if this ticket emerged from a contest election--much more exciting than the last several hollywood coronation conventions timed for evening family entertainment--Obama is toast.

Robert in Ohio,

We drifted into possible candidates but your original question was:

Yeah I guess I was wondering how much chaos you thought two alternate party candidates might create in the election.

If Ron Paul and Rocky Anderson were to run as alternatives, and if Rocky Anderson got his campaign moving, I suppose we would have a contest election that would go to the Electoral College and if that didn't produce a president, on to the Congress (but I'm not sure of this last step).

Dear barry-barry,

I don't know about yourheart but in my heart I sense Obama to be a smoother talking Bush II. This evening I was talking to a couple of folks about Obama vs. Bush II and they said Obama was smarter. So what? Hitler was very smart! So was Napoleon. I suggested that these folks look at the bottom line. Is Obama really any better than Bush II on any significant issues? I personally don't think so. I have no doubt. He's just another 1%er.

And, barry-barry-libcon, after the first two years of Obama the wealthy made more money than they did in eight years of Bush II. Plus Obama escalated in Afghanistan, spent serious money driving Gaddafi into the dust, is attacking with drones in Yemen and Pakistan, has continued the tax cuts for the wealthy, did not fight for the public option, or put forward a jobs proposal that would have jump-started the economy in his first two years when he had a Democratic House and Senate... plus there's the plan to put US Marines into Israel for the war against Iran, we have troops on the ground in some African nation who's name I'm momentarily forgetting...

As for the war profiteers, they are singing all the way to the banks, the banksters are singing in their hot tubs, and it goes on and on and on.

Are we in agreement? Who knows! Please let me know, thanks.