# Judge Moore: A third-party challenge from the right? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 14, 2004, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-moore-a-third-party-challenge-from-the-right/229220 "2004-02-14T16:02:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2004, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-moore-a-third-party-challenge-from-the-right/229220/1 "2004-02-14T16:02:42Z")
From today’s (2/14/04) [www.politics1.com](http://www.politics1.com): > [@](#): > > IS “TEN COMMANDMENTS JUDGE” CONSIDERING WHITE HOUSE RUN? Removed Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore appears to be quietly considering a third party run for President in 2004. Moore drew national headlines this summer when he was deposed from office over his defiant refusal to follow a court order that he remove a granite Ten Commandments monument that he had placed in the State Supreme Court building lobby. According to several sources, Moore – currently a Republican – is considering an offer from the Constitution Party that he run as their nominee for President this year. When recently asked by one conservative news organization if he was running for President, Moore ambiguously answered “Not right now.” Moore is still appealing his removal, but that appeal is expected to be done fairly soon. “Anything is possible. However, until the appeal process has been run through, he’ll make no decision for political office,” said Moore’s spokesperson. Conservative attorney Mike Peroutka is the CP’s designated “provisional nominee,” subject to ratification at this summer’s national convention. However, Peroutka has stated he would step aside if the party could recruit a big name candidate. Moore is reportedly watching to see how the GOP and President Bush handle the current gay marriage issue before making his decision on the race. Moore is no moderate on the gay issue. “Homosexuality is an act so heinous that it defies one’s ability to describe it. The State carries the power of the sword, that is, the power to prohibit conduct with physical penalties, such as confinement and even execution," wrote Moore in a 2002 court ruling. The Constitution Party is expected to obtain ballot status in about 40 states. If Moore does decide to run on the ticket of the hitherto hardly-ever-heard-from Constitution Party ([http://www.constitutionparty.com/](http://www.constitutionparty.com/)), how will that affect the election? Does he have a chance of drawing off a decisive number of Bush voters? It’s really strange, by the way, that so far we haven’t heard anything about a third-party challenge from Pat Buchanan, considering that he is on record as hating almost everything the Bush administration stands for, from the Iraq war to the immigration amnesty; and considering that he has run as a third-party candidate before, on the Reform Party ticket in 2000; and considering that since 2000 Buchanan has organized his own nativist-isolationist third party, the America First Party ([http://www.americafirstparty.org/](http://www.americafirstparty.org/)), which would be a perfect vehicle for his candidacy. What gives, Pat? (In case you haven’t guessed yet, I really WANT these third-party challenges to happen! Yes, yes, let Moore or Buchanan or somebody “do a Nader” on Bush! Besides, third-party campaigns are always so entertaining!) ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2004, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-moore-a-third-party-challenge-from-the-right/229220/2 "2004-02-14T16:14:57Z")
I rise to deplore this sort of speculation as detracting from the serious issues of the campaign as well as representing a cynical “win at any cost” approach to the solemn business of Presidential politics. I assure the reader that this grin on my face is due entirely to a spasmodic facial reflex, and in no wise derives from any unseemly gloating. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2004, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-moore-a-third-party-challenge-from-the-right/229220/3 "2004-02-14T16:37:30Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > If Moore does decide to run on the ticket of the hitherto hardly-ever-heard-from > Constitution Party ([http://www.constitutionparty.com/](http://www.constitutionparty.com/)), how will that affect the election? Does he have a chance of drawing off a decisive number of Bush voters? Maybe so. There are a lot of people uneasy with Bush, yet unwilling to give their votes to a Democrat. A few voters who might have held their noses and voted for Bush might instead vote for “Judge Roy.” The question is whether the election will be close enough _in states with a Moore following_ to make a difference. States where Roy Moore would have appeal tend to be _heavily_ Republican. (Alabama, e.g.) He could draw off a few votes in those states and Bush could still prevail handily. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2004, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-moore-a-third-party-challenge-from-the-right/229220/4 "2004-02-14T18:08:32Z")
The Lord moves in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2004, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-moore-a-third-party-challenge-from-the-right/229220/5 "2004-02-14T18:34:42Z")
Buchanan has been strangely silent about a possible run, but maybe it’s a matter of $$. Moore is a tiny blip on the radar screen-- I agree with **spoke**. Has anyone noticed that the national campaign has officially begun (with the internet ad from the Pubs attacking Kerry)? “Fasten your seat belts; it’s going to be a bumpy ride.” ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2004, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-moore-a-third-party-challenge-from-the-right/229220/6 "2004-02-14T18:50:26Z")
Hell, if it’ll get Moore to siphon off all the Christian Coalition types, **I’ll** start praying! ---
**Author:** ![Milum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@Milum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Milum)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2004, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-moore-a-third-party-challenge-from-the-right/229220/7 "2004-02-14T20:30:09Z")
Whew, first I read… > [@](#): > > I rise to deplore this sort of speculation as detracting from the serious issues of the campaign as well as representing a cynical “win at any cost” approach to the solemn business of Presidential politics. I almost fell from my chair. Oh no! I cried. All is lost, the dirty-trick Democrats are becoming principled. But then I read further … > [@](#): > > I assure the reader that this grin on my face is due entirely to a spasmodic facial reflex, and in no wise derives from any unseemly gloating. Whew! That was close. For a moment there I was afraid that George W Bush was going to lose the presidential election. Whew! What good luck! You can always count on the Democrats. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2004, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-moore-a-third-party-challenge-from-the-right/229220/8 "2004-02-14T20:37:32Z")
Be afraid. Be _very_ afraid. "…the latest Newsweek poll that found in a Kerry-Bush match-up, Kerry would win with 49% over Bush at 46%. Other interesting results included that 52% of voters don’t want to see Bush re-elected. According to the poll, while 37% strongly want to see him re-elected, 47% strongly do not." [http://www.etalkinghead.com/archives/kerrybush-newsweek-poll-2004-01-25.html](http://www.etalkinghead.com/archives/kerrybush-newsweek-poll-2004-01-25.html) Afraid now? ---
**Author:** ![erislover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71e660/32.png) [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2004, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-moore-a-third-party-challenge-from-the-right/229220/9 "2004-02-14T20:45:21Z")
If he announces a run, I will personally contribute money to his campaign. Long live the spoiler vote. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2004, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-moore-a-third-party-challenge-from-the-right/229220/10 "2004-02-14T22:33:17Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Buchanan has organized his own nativist-isolationist third party, the America First Party The America Firsters. They’re ba-a-a-ck. Ver-r-ry interesting. Does anyone remember who the original America Firsters were? That was a group of far-right-wingers in the 1930s. They thought America shouldn’t oppose Hitler. They formed a convenient umbrella under which America’s quasi-Fascists could gather. Including Charlie Coughlin, the radio priest (imagine Pat Robertson and Rush Lmbaugh rolled into one, that was Coughlin). Buchanan’s father was a fan of Coughlin, perhaps not coincidentally. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2004, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-moore-a-third-party-challenge-from-the-right/229220/11 "2004-02-14T22:40:04Z")
> [@spoke-](#): > > Maybe so. There are a lot of people uneasy with Bush, yet unwilling to give their votes to a Democrat. A few voters who might have held their noses and voted for Bush might instead vote for “Judge Roy.” Nah. Even assuming the off-chance that Roy lasts long enough to have his name on the ballot come election day, if there’s a decent chance the Democratic nominee might win, the Tightie Righties will hold their noses and vote for Bush anyway – after all, in their minds, putting up with Bush for another four years beats having a Democrat president who’s going to start requiring them to marry gays, or somesuch. > [@Milum](#): > > Oh no! I cried. All is lost, the dirty-trick Democrats are becoming principled. As opposed to the dirty-tricks Republicans, who have no idea what principles are… ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2004, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-moore-a-third-party-challenge-from-the-right/229220/12 "2004-02-14T22:54:43Z")
[WaPo/ABC has it Kerry 52-43 and still sliding](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37340-2004Feb12.html). Hey, **Corrado** , still comfortable with that 56% prediction of yours? Moore is a fine grandstander, sure, but his real backing is dubious. He may, however, help Bush to be seen as a near-moderate, or at least not as radical as Kerry has already begun to describe him as. I’d bet it actually helps Bush more than hurts him in that regard, if it happens. ---
**Author:** ![Millen89](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Millen89](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Millen89)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2004, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-moore-a-third-party-challenge-from-the-right/229220/13 "2004-02-14T23:48:03Z")
That’s great news. I’m a registered member of the CP, and it would help the party to have a nationally known candidate. I can’t say that I agree with Chief Justice Moore’s stance on Homosexuality; however, I think he’s a stand-up guy. ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2004, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-moore-a-third-party-challenge-from-the-right/229220/14 "2004-02-15T03:49:39Z")
> [@rjung](#): > > Nah. Even assuming the off-chance that Roy lasts long enough to have his name on the ballot come election day, if there’s a decent chance the Democratic nominee might win, the Tightie Righties will hold their noses and vote for Bush anyway – after all, in their minds, putting up with Bush for another four years beats having a Democrat president who’s going to start requiring them to marry gays, or somesuch. **rjung** : I agree with you that in the event of a close race between Kerry and Shrub, the overwhelming majority of the Holy Rollers would cling to Shrub with a tenacity normally associated with lampreys. However, out at the fringes there is some number of people who don’t really care about the logical aspects of the whole race and would be attracted by Moore’s shrill, lunatic rants. Even if he only peels of 100,000 or so votes from Bush, that could swing it in a race as tight as this one. Moreover, if moore does run, it might motivate Shrub to make an appearance or two at some right-wing sacred spot such as Bob Jones University, which would then hurt his appeal among moderates. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2004, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-moore-a-third-party-challenge-from-the-right/229220/15 "2004-02-15T03:57:13Z")
> [@ITR champion](#): > > **rjung** : I agree with you that in the event of a close race between Kerry and Shrub, the overwhelming majority of the Holy Rollers would cling to Shrub with a tenacity normally associated with lampreys. However, out at the fringes there is some number of people who don’t really care about the logical aspects of the whole race and would be attracted by Moore’s shrill, lunatic rants. Even if he only peels of 100,000 or so votes from Bush, that could swing it in a race as tight as this one. Moreover, if moore does run, it might motivate Shrub to make an appearance or two at some right-wing sacred spot such as Bob Jones University, which would then hurt his appeal among moderates. It might also simply cause Bush to spend some time and energy campaigning in Tennessee or North Carolina or wherever that he wouldn’t have bothered with otherwise. Time and resources he would have otherwise spent on Florida and Ohio and Missouri. I think it’s indisputable that Nader got Bush elected. It would amuse me no end if Moore got Bush un-elected. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2004, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-moore-a-third-party-challenge-from-the-right/229220/16 "2004-02-15T05:42:30Z")
Now, Lord, I know I haven’t been a very good Methodist. Well, maybe I have, I really can’t remember what the rules were. But anything, you name it, anything. I’ll swear to never so much as annoy a whale. Ever. I’ll go to strictly Amish technology, if they make a kerosene powered modem. I’ll strictly forswear cocaine and sporty cars. I’ll forgive all my enemies the very instant I get even. I will forgo all homosexual activity. (I know you were looking for a vow of celibacy here, but work with me a little, ok?)… ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2004, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-moore-a-third-party-challenge-from-the-right/229220/17 "2004-02-15T06:18:32Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > "…the latest Newsweek poll that found in a Kerry-Bush match-up, Kerry would win with 49% over Bush at 46%. To be fair, though, it’s primary season, and Kerry looks like he’s running away with the nomination. That pushes up his numbers. ---
**Author:** ![Jello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@Jello](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jello)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2004, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-moore-a-third-party-challenge-from-the-right/229220/18 "2004-02-15T16:09:05Z")
As a liberal, I’d be very happy if Moore ran and took votes from Bush, but the irony of that man running on the _Constitution_ Party ticket would be nauseating. ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2004, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-moore-a-third-party-challenge-from-the-right/229220/19 "2004-02-15T16:29:20Z")
If it please the court, the Constitutional Party candidate for President in 2000 got 96,919 votes. Therefore, one can logically assume that Moore would get over 100,000 votes. Moreover, let the records show that Pat Buchanan received 446,743 votes in 2000. If the Buchananities were to vote for Moore, that would be over 500,000 votes. The only question that this leaves is, how large a following in the South does Moore have? ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2004, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-moore-a-third-party-challenge-from-the-right/229220/20 "2004-02-15T16:53:58Z")
It isn’t the Jesus wing of the party that Bush is taking a dump on at every opportunity. I’m sure they wish he’d do more to outlaw abortion, or require school prayer at gunpoint, or whatever, but on the whole he hasn’t done much to alienate those people. The thing that has Karl Rove waking up screaming in the middle of the night is the idea of a strong third-party libertarian-leaning candidate. Draw off a good chunk of the people put off by Bush’s spending excesses or violations of civil liberties, and Bush doesn’t stand a chance. Dr. J [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-moore-a-third-party-challenge-from-the-right/229220.md?page=2)