Needlenose

I think McCain is onto something in predicting the rise of a third political party in the U.S.  I’ve been musing about the subject for several months now, and I reckon that neither party are providing the voters with what they are clearly clamoring for – an old school populist willing to tax wealthy individuals and corporations who is socially reactionary.  Basically a pre-Robert Kennedy Democrat (or a guy like Ahmadinejad).

Such a beast could never get a nomination from the socially progressive Democratic party of today nor the corporate tool Republican party, so only a third party is plausible.  I don’t think any serious politician has either gotten this realization yet.  But I don’t think it would be too late for a dark horse Southerner with good hair, a little charisma and the balls to step out on his own to enter and pull the win from Obama.  If I could venture a name, I’d say somebody like Mike Huckabee, but he’d have to do is drop his new-found Tea Party pandering and add ‘Government’ to his “God, Guns ‘n Gays’ talk.

Keep in mind I’m not advocating this in any shape manner or form, as I particularly hate social reactionaries.  I’m just sayin’.

*Update 3:26P PT* Rep. Joe Walsh doesn’t get it

David Axelrod has a stupidly optimistic prediction that the Repugs will cave on Obama plan to only extend the Shrubya tax cuts after the November election.  He’s totally unclear on the concept – that’s too fucking late!  The Repugs could easily have re-infested the House and there is still a chance they could retake the Senate as well by then.

What the Spineless Dems should do is take this up now before the election, then get priceless footage of Repug candidates filibustering tax cuts.  That might not save Dem bacon, but such footage would be the gift that keeps on giving for the attack ads of tomorrow!

*Update*  Or are they spineless?  Median Senator net worth is $1.7M, Representative $645K, with over 44% of  Congress worth $1M+, and 50 members worth over $10M.  Quite likely they want to extend their own tax cuts.

*Update 3:41PM* Great post by Juan Cole on Dems keeping the Senate this year.  Mostly I love his quote:

“Since there are only two parties in the US, and one has gone bonkers, every election is now a game of Russian roulette for the American republic. But this time, at least, the chamber that has come up looks to be empty.”