Rep Parker Grifith jumping ship and changing sides.
By xfahctor
@xfahctor (14118)
Lancaster, New Hampshire
December 22, 2009 1:12pm CST
Rep Parker Grifith has apparently decided to change teams in mid season, becomming the latest congressman to do so. He cited his reason as basicly the democrats no longer stand for what he believes in. Well Mr Parker, thats all well and good, but are the republicans really the one's you want to be associated with? Is it realy so wise to jump off a sinking ship and swim to another sinking ship? Why could you not have just gone independant, or libertarian or something? You missed a golden oportunity sir.
3 people like this
7 responses
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
22 Dec 09
Actulay jude the last guy to do it jumped from the oposite ship. It just seems pointless to jump from one corrupt party to another. both poarties are beginnging to flounder, neither one serves us anynore and both seem as if their days are numbered. This guy culd have carved a unique nich for himself.
1 person likes this
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
22 Dec 09
Joe Lieberman ran as an independant in the last election after losing the democratic party primary and one the seat, but he pretty much votes with the dems about 80% of the time anyways. So far, no one that has jumped has started another party or joined one the alternate so called "thrid parties", a term wich I hate by the way, it's amisnomer, we have something like 70 parties here in the U.S., it's just that two have dominated the landscape for way too long.
1 person likes this
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
23 Dec 09
"Why could you not have just gone independant, or libertarian or something?" - Very simply, he would like to be reelected. Just take a moment and count the number of "independant, or libertarian or something" Representatives and Senators. Don't worry, it won't take long and you won't even have to use more fingers than you have on one hand.
Stop and think about it though. Why would someone on the "winning team" want to change to the "losing team" mid-game? Perhaps, he decided that his party was actually no better than the other party and their policies could actually cause more damage to the country. Or maybe, it is a simple as the fact that 60% of Americans are against the proposed healthcare reform; but, 60% of the Senate voted for that same proposal.
When our representatives are voting along party lines; perhaps the way to go is to support the party that agrees with your constituants. Especially, if you want to be reelected.
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
23 Dec 09
I would agree with you except for one thing - current laws make it almost impossible for independants to launch a viable campaign. They have less time to qualify for a place on the ballot, higher requirements, less support (both structual and monetary), and every state has different requirements! That is why it has been decades since an independant candidate for president has been able to get on the ballot in all 50 states. They may do well at a local level; but, they have serious problems on state or federal levels.
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
23 Dec 09
agreed, election laws need to be made more sensable and ballots more accessable. everyone should be working with in their states to acomplish this. the two big parties each spend millions keeping other candiates off the ballots and fight to keep them out of the debates. Last election, when McCain was wanting to potpone the last debate, and Obama was refusing, Chuck Baldwin, the COntitution party candidate asked to step in in his palce, so did Bob Barr, the Libertarian candidate, they were both refused the chance.
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
23 Dec 09
I would point you to a poll that puts a party that doesn't even exist ahead of both democrats and republicans though. 3rd parties and independants may not have stood much of a chance in the past, but things have shifted drasticly in this country. This next election is going to be a very different landscape I think. It would seem to me that a smart move for someone running for office in the near future would be to start aligning themselves with the patriot movement now taking shape.
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
24 Dec 09
"I don't know how "republican" he is or even how much he plans on voting along the republican party lines. "
I haven't reviewed his entire voting record but he is in his first term as a congressman and voted against the stimulus, cap and trade, and the health care bill.
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
23 Dec 09
Damn, lol, looks like I missed your response yesterday, sorry. Anyway, I don't know how "republican" he is or even how much he plans on voting along the republican party lines. He is probably more conservative than most on the democratic parties side, this is an assumption however and is subject to later correction. as to constitutional principals, well, one could probably count on one hand the number of congressional members who are still gneuinely concerned with following the consitution, and that includes the republicans, most of them hold the constitution up and point to it when it's politicly convenient for them or when they want to point out how the democrats aren't following it. But when it comes down to it, very few on either side follow it consistantly. Most just wear it like an accessory, it's the latest "purse".
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
22 Dec 09
I have often described dems and republicans as the left and right factions of the same authoritarian parties, When you step back and look athings from a broader libertarian vs authoritarin government, both dems and republicans are both on the same authoritarian agenda. Two lanes on the same one way highway.
@thegreatdebater (7316)
• United States
22 Dec 09
That is because he is only worried about his job. They can say all they want, but this has nothing to do with the party, it has everything to do with polls, and his fear of losing his job.
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
22 Dec 09
lol, yeh, thats my assesment too. He's pulling a trick from Arlene Speters's play book. He did miss a good oportunity though. If he had just went independant and aligned himself with a few of the more libertarian movements out there, such as the tea party groups, he might have been able to save himself...but now that he's wearing that big ugly "(R)" bling around his neck he might as well retire after his term, he's sunk.
@coolcoder (2018)
• United States
22 Dec 09
While I appreciate the switching of parties, another part of me wonders if this is just a ploy to get himself re-elected. I don't want to believe the latter, but with politics the way it is these days, you can never be too skeptical. If he's genuinely interested in fighting against the insanity that's going on in D.C. now, then I give him a hearty "Welcome aboard". If he isn't, I'll give him an equally hearty kick in the rear end to get him out of office entirely.
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
24 Dec 09
Well he kind of pulled a reverse Specter. I say that because he started as a democrat because it was the best way to get elected and changed to what he appears to really represent. Specter started as a republican and changed to get reelected. Either way I think he simply timed his switch better than Specter. I agree though that it would have been nice if he'd become independent or chosen a third party instead. I really want to see people that are NOT beholden to one of the big parties in office.
