538: "Down-Ballot Democrats Should Go After Johnson And Stein Voters"

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

32. The real issue is that

the so-called third parties, the Greens, the Libertarians, and I don't know who else, almost never have candidates for the down ticket races. If they were actually serious about becoming major political parties, they'd run for city council seats and state representatives and county commission seats. Instead, they run for President. Big whoop. If any of them were by some totally bizarre fluke, to win the Presidency, they'd have no place to govern from. They'd have no members of Congress in their party. They'd have no think tanks, no governors, no state legislatures with even a single member of their party.

That's not how it works.

Most people haven't a clue about party politics, which is why over the years we've had the total bullshit about some major politician switching parties and being the VP for the other party. I think the last time it happened was the fantasy that John McCain would be the VP nominee in 2000. Or maybe 2004. The exact year isn't the point. The point is that all those who thought that were totally delusional and had no clue about how party politics works. You don't become a U.S. Senator by being an actual maverick -- one of the most stupid things attached to McCain, by the way. He was always a good Republican. The notion he was a "maverick", an independent in any sense of the word was complete fantasy.

And so it goes. If the Greens or the Libertarians were really serious, they'd start at the very grass roots level and start running candidates for the local offices, including state rep and senator. They would start winning those elections, and could build on that. But they don't. They don't even put up candidates for the national level, for Representative or Senator. How in the hell do they think they could run the country? The ignorance and naivete is stunning.