We should suspect that soon, very soon, the clamor for a strong third party in America will begin to rise.
Strong third parties aren't necessarily a good thing, unless you enjoy fractured democratic systems. It's generally better that majorities run governments as opposed to patchwork coalitions.
Still, when we consider the present state of the Republican and Democratic parties in America, where else can we turn? The Bush administration is being increasingly set-upon by members of the president's own party, and who will be able to put the party together again after he leaves office? Though the GOP trumpets itself as the party of national security, large holes in our security blanket remain for all to see. Our borders are still porous, our defense spending is questionably focused, and the president continues to preach sacrifice without exhibiting the political courage that his words call for. He wants it all -- to rebuild the Middle East, to rebuild New Orleans, to fix the prescription drug problem, to leave no child behind, to save Social Security, to wean America off its dependence upon foreign oil -- and to pay for it all with platitudes. He has taken domestic spending dramatically higher than where it was under Clinton before him, and now (finally) even his fellow Republicans are questioning where this will lead us.
As Bush resembles the lame duck he has become, voters may want to find another defense-minded Republican to take over in 2008. But many of Bush's fellow Republicans have applauded many of the mistakes this administration has made.
And Democrats? The party is confused, merely existing, bereft of ideas. It's a party that seems to exist only to react negatively to anything Bush favors. Where would the Democrats lead us in the war on terrorism? As a party, Dems seem incapable of speaking coherently; they appear unable even to understand the nature of the worldwide threat.
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A third-party candidate? Someone who can find a third way? The time is ripe for one to emerge -- someone to restore sanity and lead us during this challenging time in history. Sure, there's always the chance a Republican or Democrat can emerge in time for 2008. But at this point, it's hard to guess who might be up to the challenge.
