Just curious, what would happen if an independent became PRES?

Discussion in 'Political Opinions & Beliefs' started by Darthcervantes, Feb 24, 2021.

  1. Darthcervantes

    Darthcervantes Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Like how would that affect the rest of government? Would it be considered a 3rd party? Does that mean there would be more house and senate members to accommodate a 3rd party? Does it mean more would get done because instead of left VS right it would be left and right trying to make deals with a different party?
    I have always wondered this.
     
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  2. Kal'Stang

    Kal'Stang Well-Known Member

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    Both the Republican and Democratic Party would team up against whoever it is. Doubt much would get done. It's obvious that neither of those parties play well with anyone from the "outside".

    Frankly if I was a masochist I'd like to run for President. I actually have ideas that would benefit the country as a whole. Reform our education system, reform our justice system, pull out of ALL the wars that we are in (in fact that would be my first act as it would simply require telling the generals to get out...with all of our stuff), and a few other things.

    And yes, I actually have a basic plan on on how to do these things. Frankly I don't think either side would like me too much. Particularly since one of my plans involves giving back power to Congress from the Executive branch. (ironic huh?)
     
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  3. Capt Nice

    Capt Nice Well-Known Member

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    I think it would depend mostly on the man (woman) who is elected. If they were honest, took their oath seriously and was only concerned with the good of the country they would get a different treatment than someone who wanted to behave like Mussolini or Hitler.
     
  4. garyd

    garyd Well-Known Member

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    Or Biden?
     
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  5. garyd

    garyd Well-Known Member

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    If the if they establishment, r or d actually gave a damn about the American people Trump would never have won inn the first place.
     
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  6. Bullseye

    Bullseye Well-Known Member

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    Short answer: chaos. A President is not a morarchial ruler; he needs support from Congress; something he would likely not receive from either party.
     
  7. Libhater

    Libhater Well-Known Member

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    Crazy Bernie Sanders is an Independent though he sides with and votes with the dems. Heaven forbid we get an outright socialist like bernie as president, though the dem party is currently chuck full of radical socialists. So an independent isn't going to change things in congress as the 2 party system will remain the same. Now I was geared up for Trump making a brand new Patriot Party, but at this stage of the game methinks we'll just stay the same. Perhaps the dem party should change their name to the communist party so as to clear up any misconceptions one may have about their current party's beliefs. Just a thought.
     
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  8. Bullseye

    Bullseye Well-Known Member

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    Biden’s election disproves that theory.
     
  9. Darthcervantes

    Darthcervantes Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Or it could be the other way around since an independent is likely to be more flexible from some policy stances from both sides. Just saying, it could work that way as well
     
  10. dharbert

    dharbert Well-Known Member

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    No third party candidate has a chance in hell of winning the Presidency. Several have tried. The closest we've came to electing an independent, believe it or not, is Trump. Trump is definitely not a Democrat, but he's not exactly a Republican either. Had he ran in 2016 as an independent, there's no way he would have won. Trump knew this and attached himself to the Republican party.
     
  11. Kal'Stang

    Kal'Stang Well-Known Member

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    That's actually part of the problem. An Independent would more than likely hold convictions that are good for one side, horrible for the other. (going from each sides perspective) And visa versa. Because of that they couldn't really get anything done because they would have to battle both sides for their respective loves/hates. In today's climate that would be next to impossible.
     
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  12. 61falcon

    61falcon Well-Known Member

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    Angus King of Maine is also elected as independent.
     
  13. dharbert

    dharbert Well-Known Member

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    Personally, I'd like for someone like Ron Paul or Rand Paul to run, but like I said, no third party or independent stands a chance of winning...
     
  14. Coachac

    Coachac Well-Known Member

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    I think it could happen if someone had a big enough personality and bank account. A well known, well respected businessman type, like a younger warren Buffet. When Trump first started his run for President, I was telling anyone who would listen, that we needed someone like Trump; just not Trump.
     
  15. Bullseye

    Bullseye Well-Known Member

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    I’m not sure of that. I’ve noticed on this forum and others that people that declare themselves “independent” are just as opinionated and frequently partisan as the rest of us.
     
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  16. Darthcervantes

    Darthcervantes Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    I gotta be honest, I've noticed the same thing.
     
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  17. Lil Mike

    Lil Mike Well-Known Member

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    I think you've already seen it.

    Trump was a de facto independent candidate who wore the dead skin of the GOP to get on the ballot and get elected, but had an agenda that was at odds with both the establishment elected Republicans and Democrats.

    A true independent would be a Trump Presidency redux.
     
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  18. Chrizton

    Chrizton Well-Known Member

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    It is possible they would build a centrist coalition to get things passed but it would be a challenge in this day since the leadership of both parties consists of dyed in the wool zealots.
     
  19. Surfer Joe

    Surfer Joe Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    The mechanics would remain the same. If the independent candidate wins and there are also independent congresspersons elected, they can do what they want if they have the votes, just like any majority party.
    If the independent has no congressional support, he would have to convince enough congresspersons to vote for his policies, but congress could run the country without his support because they are the only ones who can make the laws and they could override any veto from the potus (maybe not a pocket veto?).
    But congress could also impeach and convict the potus and remove him from office, so it's hard to see an independent candidate being able to win an election in the US.
    Perhaps if all the states changed their electoral college laws from winner take all to proportional apportionment of electors, the will of the people might be more effectively served and politicians wouldn't waste time with machiavellian calculations about so called swing states and focus more on articulating a national vision.
     
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  20. Sleep Monster

    Sleep Monster Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    A snowball would be able to roll right through hell? Just guessing ...
     
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  21. Just A Man

    Just A Man Well-Known Member

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    Trump may have been the closest we have come to an "independent party" president. He did have the interest of the USA in his policies. His problem was four-fold -- 1 - He acted like a bull in a china shop; 2 - The dems hated him; 3 - Many repubs hated him; 4 - The MSM hated him. He couldn't get in the club even if the people wanted him.
     
    Last edited: Feb 25, 2021
  22. Darthcervantes

    Darthcervantes Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    its sad all that other stuff matters, it should be the policies that are important but it seems the other stuff is more important to the mainstream
     
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  23. Just A Man

    Just A Man Well-Known Member

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    Yep, all the other stuff is how they maintain their power. Trump was a threat to their power so they had to destroy him and they had the help of the MSM. But 74 million voters saw through the attacks on Trump. You can be sure both parties recognize that 74 million Trump supporters is still a threat to them. They'll hound him until he's in the grave. That's the way they play the game. We'll see -- Trump is a different kind of cat.
     
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  24. joesnagg

    joesnagg Banned

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    "Independent"=Democrat with a cheap coat of paint. We have "Independents" elected all over the country, and just WHO do they caucus with, WHO do they vote the party line with? Give ya 3 guesses, (hint, all 3 start with a "D"). Yet people still fall for it.
     
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  25. Meta777

    Meta777 Moderator Staff Member

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    Why has no one mentioned Ranked Voting in this thread yet?
     

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