Politics: The Whigs are making a comeback
That’s right. The Whigs. Abraham Lincoln’s original party is back, calling themselves the Modern Whig Party. According to their Website, they’ve got a whopping 10,000 or so members. But they are growing.
They’ve got chapters in 12 states (none in Illinois, however).
I’ve read their Website’s issues page, and they seem to favor rhetoric-free, common-sense solutions to problems. If anything, their philosophy leans toward the libertarian, without the government-is-evil stance that the modern Libertarian Party tries to promote (and which drove me out).
They advertise themselves as a “non-fringe” party, which I suppose means I want encounter Whig candidates with conspiracy theories.
They’ve got a promotional video that stresses their practical, middle-of-the-road approach:
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August 18th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Intriguing. We could use some new choices.
The Ike quote reminds me of what my brother says about human nature always jerking us from ditch to ditch, rather than the middle of the road. Sometimes it’s unpleasant, but democracy lives in the middle of the road.
August 18th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
I’m not normally a huge fan of Marketwatch’s Paul Farrell, but he’s stumbled upon some truths about what’s going on in The Matrix:
http://tinyurl.com/67cfjr
August 19th, 2008 at 8:01 am
Just what we need. Another Green Party. I guess the lunatic fringe doesn’t have enough outlets, even with the internet available.
August 19th, 2008 at 8:44 am
How can you refer to the Modern Whigs as “the lunatic fringe” and equate them with the Greens? Of all the so-called third parties, the Whigs are probably the most normal and mainstream. They don’t rant and rave, and tend to make sense in very realistic, common-sense manner. They also are the only ones that don’t seem so deluded by thinking people will suddenly jump on board with a group with such a goofy name.
August 19th, 2008 at 8:47 am
I will add that there is a fringe, tin-foil hat conspiracy theorist group that does use the Whig name. Perhaps you looked that them instead? The Modern Whigs are at: http://www.modernwhig.org
August 19th, 2008 at 10:03 am
Roger, he’s talking like a Limbaugh clone. Substitute “lunatic fringe” with “non-Republican.”
August 19th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
So wait…The only president to suspend habeas corpus for regular citizens and declare martial law is from a party whose “…philosophy leans toward the libertarian…”? How very ironic.
August 19th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Cory: A correction and clarification:
Correction: Abraham Lincoln served as a member of the Republican Party. And I was referring to the MODERN Whigs, not the party to which Abraham Lincoln belong prior to being a Republican.
Clarification: By the time Abraham Lincoln was president half the population was engaged in armed insurrection against the government. They insurrectionists were SHOOTING at U.S. military. In states like Illinois, for example, huge sections of the populace were actively supporting the South. Spying was a huge concern. So martial law wasn’t so much a power grab, but an acknowledgment that there was a civil war going on. As for suspension of habeas corpus, the same environment existed: Who was a regular citizen, and who was a active southern sympathizer?
August 23rd, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Greetings from the American Whig Party! We hold to the same principles
as the 1852 platform of the Whig Party, and therefore we have the right
to be called Whigs, and our revival of the Whig Party predates the
“Modern Whigs.” Our platforms, both of 1852 and of today, are against
pre-emptive wars and use of US military arms on behalf of foreign powers.
We note that the MODERN Whig Party has no idealogical relation with the historical Whig Party. These MODERN’s maintain that the USA should support Israel in its illegal land-grabs (see : http://www.modernwhig.org/issues.html). The MODERN Whigs are therefore the only American Party to openly support Israeli settlements on the West Bank in violation of all UN decisions.
I share your frustration with the two major Parties, and I hope you
will consider joining the American Whig Party which advocates peace overseas, and applying our resources to solving of our problems at home. The MODERN whigs intend to involve us in Israel’s interminable and costly wars.
Please, take a moment to view our Website (http://www.whigs.us) and our platform!
Thanks for your attention!
– John Bardsley
Webmaster, the American Whig Party
August 23rd, 2008 at 1:11 pm
You are also an anti-Semetic loon.
And a party of 1 from what I understand.