Carlsbad, CA
December 28, 2015
by Rich Scheck
I left New York on January 4, 1975 and starting driving cross country
with the express intention of becoming a grass-roots candidate for
President of the United States.
My idea was to meet enough people and learn as much as I could about
America while sharing my sense of how corrupt our government had
become in order to lay the foundation for forming a new political party
with me as the lead candidate.
In other words, I was a political entrepreneur, someone who was willing
to compete with Coke and Pepsi (the Dems and Repubs) in order to
provide folks with a choice.
Beside having virtually no money and the wrong disposition (way too
thin-skinned for a national politician), my ivory tower approach to the
world did not connect with mainstream folks who lacked my Harvard
education, overly-sheltered suburban up-bringing and hyper-idealistic
approach to solving the nation’s problems (i. e. democratic world
government!)
Forty-one years later, things have changed quite a bit: for one, I have
finally achieved a high level of inner peace and joyfulness about life.
That in itself is a major accomplishment for someone as grouchy and
irritable as I used to be. Joy is wonderful but is yet to be the mainstay
of a political platform.
I did not solve the Kennedy assassination which was one of my goals.
I never got elected even dog-catcher much less to Congress which I
attempted to do in 1974 and 1978 or to the Senate in 1976.
I was General Counsel to the Earth Society from 1973-1976 so I helped
promote Earth Day which is now a big part of our national psyche. And
the work I did for my former law professor, Leonard Boudin, helped impeach
a corrupt president, Richard Nixon, in 1974. My work with Ralph Nader in
Washington was limited to the summer of 1970. And promoting the Peaceful
Uses of Outer Space was something few people cared about.
Over-all, my political success has been quite limited. No viable third party
has emerged despite the increased corruption in Washington although Ross
Perot did get almost 20% of the vote in 1992……..even after he dropped out
of the race for several months.
As events rapidly unfold in the run-up to the 2016 presidential election, a
large set of options are emerging that might include the possibility of a new
political party.
Obviously Donald Trump is the wildest of wild cards despite his pledge a
few months ago to stay in the Republican Party until the end. But that
promise was conditioned on being treated “nicely” by the GOP.
In response to his pugnacious style of politics, he has generated a great
deal of fear and resentment by the establishment. Bill Kristol among
others has indicated that if Trump gains the nomination, he will lead the
fight to form a new party.
George Soros has also chimed in of late joining the anti-Trump band-wagon.
So since they are not being “nice” and he may lose the nomination, he still has
the financial ability to start his own party.
Relying on modern technology, he could readily avail himself of the internet
and social media to promote a write-in campaign.
Ben Carson made rumblings recently that he may flee the party which means
he could be part of some new political arrangement. Former Democratic candidate
Jim Webb is also saying he may make a third-party run.
Jesse Ventura has long teased his followers with the prospect of an independent
campaign and as recently as last week said on the Alex Jones Show that he will
decide by May whether to run on the Libertarian ticket.
Rand Paul has that option as well since his Libertarian credentials are quite solid.
And who knows what Bernie Sanders might do if the Democrats keep showing
favoritism towards Hillary……especially since he is really a Socialist!
Webster Tarpley has been instrumental in organizing The Tax Wall Street Party.
He is a brilliant economist and political analyst who has labored for decades, first
in the stable of LaRouche supporters and more recently, as his own man.
www.tarpley.net. His potential for impacting the election in one form or another
remains high, especially if the economy tanks.
Another voice in the wilderness with a large following is Gerald Celente who
sponsored a gathering of interesting speakers in September in Kingston,
New York under his rallying cry to Occupy Peace: http://occupypeace.us/
With the vast array of disaffected voters and the potential for social unrest growing
because of difficult economic conditions, another remote possibility is developing
below the radar: an election boycott that might be a new form of general strike by
millions who prefer none-of-the above rather than the lesser of two evils.
There is plenty more going on behind the scenes that I am not familiar with which
may blossom with more clarity and appeal as the weeks go by.
This political junkie remains active with his writing and organizing even if in a less
frenetic manner than in the past. That’s an example of my new “less is more approach”
to life that has brought me such joy the last few years.
How this will all work out in the next 10 months will be easier to fathom once the
voting in Iowa, New Hampshire and other early primary states is complete.
Needless to say, my career as a political entrepreneur remains full of the potential
to mature into something concrete in the near future. For those filled with doubt,
keep in mind that a man named Lincoln won the presidency in 1860 with barely
40% of the vote a few years after the formation of the Republican Party.
As they say, the rest is History!
http://www.yahoo.com/politics/the-sanders-campaign-is-taking-their-fight-with-200738611.html
https://stateofthenation2012.com/?p=28019