first…a video number two, 2010 ny gubernatorial debate “rent is too damn high party”...
Post on 25-Dec-2015
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First…a video
Number Two, 2010 NY Gubernatorial debate “Rent Is Too Damn High Party” Candidate
On youtube if the vid doesn’t play
3 Types of Third Parties
Single Issue Party – Party only concerned with single issue Parties devoted to legalization Free Soil Party – first party devoted solely to
ending slavery Ideological Party – overall systemic
change Socialist Party
Splinter Party – Breaks off from a major party Progressive a.k.a. Bull Moose Party
Impacts and Obstacles Positive Impacts
Bring up controversial issues Give a way to disagree with “politics as usual” Reinforce “Democracy”
Negative Impacts Much time and effort running with very little to show for
it “spoiler effect” – may “steal” votes away from more
ideologically similar major candidate TR and Taft; Nader and Gore
Obstacles Cost Appeal Name Recognition
Selecting a Candidate
Petition Gather signatures to prove viability
Primary Most common – voters choose favorite candidate
Open – voter can choose which party’s primary to vote in Closed – must be registered member of the party to vote
Caucus Meeting of party members to choose candidates,
discuss platform Historically ONLY party leaders – now much more open
And now on to Electoral College . . .
Why Electoral College? WHY???
Framers distrusted voters most voters relatively uneducated Framers want elite to actually select the
president Presumably better-informed Choose people with actual political
knowledge/experience
“It would be as unnatural to refer the choice . . . to the people as it would to refer a trial of colours to a blind man.”-George Mason
What’s the Electoral College? WHAT???
Each state allotted number of electors based on total number of Representatives and Senators MN = 8 Reps + 2 Sens or 10 electoral votes
Electors are individuals chosen by each party in each state Usually a “reward” for faithful service NOT the Reps and Sens themselves
Electors meet and cast ballots (one each for Prez and Vice Prez) in December, to be counted in January when new Congressional Session opens
Electoral College Particulars cont’d
A candidate needs a true majority (not a plurality) to win the Electoral College outright 435 Reps + 100 Senators + 3 votes for DC =
538 votes, thus a majority is at least 270 Electoral Votes
If no candidate has a majority, the House of Representatives chooses the President based on one vote per state, Senate chooses Vice President with each Senator casting a ballot
Still more Electoral College Particulars
Each state has power to determine how to distribute electoral votes
48 states winner-take-all Maine and Nebraska proportional
allocation 2 Electoral votes allotted to overall
winner, other votes divided based on who won each district.
Occasionally this happens elsewhere – “faithless electors”
A look at some historical elections . . .
1800 – 36 ballots in the House 1860 – Lincoln – note the divided nation 1912 – Impact of “Third Parties” 1932 – Impact of Great Depression 1972 – Huge Landslide – Nixon 2000 – most recent popular-vote loser 2004 – “Oops” in Minnesota
Examples snipped from: http://www.100bestwebsites.org/alt/evmaps/electoral-maps.htm
1800 – T-Jeff’s squeaker
Electors cast two ballots each, most votes would be Prez, 2nd most VP. Jefferson’s electors ALL cast their second ballots for Aaron Burr resulting in a tie. It took the House 36 votes to finally choose Jefferson
1860 – A Nation Divided
Nation dividing clearly along North/South lines. How can we resolve this pending disaster I wonder?
1912 – Bull Mooses butt heads with Republicans
Taft OR Roosevelt likely could have won; Taft AND Roosevelt split the votes allowing Wilson to win
1932 – Republicans blamed for Depression
Hoover didn’t cause the Depression, but it happened on his party’s watch. FDR reaps the rewards
1972 – Landslide win for R.M. Nixon
Nixon’s re-election bid sweeps all but one state and DC. He would resign in August of ‘74 due to Watergate scandal
2004 – John Edwards probable only ever Presidential Electoral Vote
Note the faithless elector voting for John Edwards in MN.
A Couple Fun/Awesome campaign ads – Dale Peterson gives a RIP!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jU7fhIO7DG0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GabMEHfCjT0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBAShu7PKcI
And if MORE time permitting Wisconsin State Assembly
“Statement of principle” – *warning* some salty language
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