He belongs to the Republican party, is a Republican congressman, and is running as a Republican...


>>I think there is a constitutionalist/libertarian running and participating in the debates this time: Ron Paul. I don't know what he is doing in the Republican party when he is clearly either a constitutionalist or a libertarian in his views.
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>He walks like a Libertarian and he talks like a Libertarian. Geez, I think he *IS* one!!! < s >
>But he's participaing in the REPUBLICAN primaries. Sure, there are no real Libertarian primaries, but doesn't that just serve to show how your system is broken?
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>>During the priamaries, it is typical for each party to hold their own debates. No cross-party debates will occur until the primaries are over and each party has chosen their candidate. We will have to wait and see if the other smaller parties are included or not. Each much qualify and if you look online, you will see the requirements.
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>>As a side note, the libertarian party membership grew by 25% this year while the two major parties declined in membership.
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>>>>SNIP
>>>>>John Edwards has it pretty well nailed but he gets very little press.
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>>>>Huh? Whatever gives you that idea? He is third in the Dems as far as I can tell with no hope of winning unless one of the other two choose him as their VP running mate... Right now he is benefiting from ads broadcast in Iowa paid for by union-backed groups. He is hitting each state one by one with massive advertising (he has the money to do so). He doesn't get much national press coverage though you are right about that. Although his polls in Iowa may change that. The press has loved the fight between Obama and Clinton. He basically only has two platforms - anti-poverty and pro-union. He could very well pull in all Democratic votes who will not vote for a black man or a woman though. Still that doesn't justify your statement about the state of our elections and that we have no democracy.
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>>>I meant that John Edwards hs the problem figured out (country run by a few elite) but he has little chance to win because he gets such little press compared to some others.
>>>He won't get much press because the press is a part of the elite that has a hand in running the country.
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>>>I truly don't think you have a democracy there. Why do most people talk like there are 3 parties (even you mention the Libertarians) yet you never see a libertarian candidate in a "debate"?... ANd all the official rules regarding elections are controlled by the 2 parties.
>>>Why is it that each of the 2 parties has many candidates in the primaries yet the press ony ever talks about (their chosen) top 2 in each??? An unticipated Huckabee sneaks up, so the press drops Giuliani.
>>>It is the military/industrial/political complex that run your country. THE PEOPLE have only a very modest say on things, and then only on specific things.
>>>The system *is* broken. Meaning that democracy is no longer operating as it should be.