Politics!
To some of us it is a nasty word.
To others, politics is an ongoing process, especially national politics involving political parties and partisans. This year there is a focus on the national parties and political groups. As long as there are groups of individuals gathering, we will have politics as a centric focus.
The list of political parties below reaches seven in all, however, it would be a major upset if either of the two major political parties, Republican Party and Democratic Party, did not finish in the top two in total votes.
The other parties which likely will meet this Summer and provide presidential national candidates, include Green Party, Constitution Party, Libertarian Party, Reform Party, Socialist Party. Each follows ideologies and thought patterns. Likely stronger secondary parties would serve the country well to provide additional choices of candidates. The two major parties, of course, would not understand such wisdom.
In 1972, the political landscape began to switch from national conventions as the only avenue to select presidential candidates to primary elections. Both Donald Trump in the Republican Party and incumbent Joe Biden in the Democratic Party have secured enough primary election votes to win their parties’ nominations in their conventions (Republican, July 15-18) and Democratic (August 19-22), even though there has been unrealistic voices of dissent against Biden’s nomination. The elected delegates have the capacity to not honor their selection as delegates for candidates. That is why Biden has received pressure to step down as the Democratic Party candidate and he has refused. Note: Another great gathering will be the Summer Olympics (July 26-August 11).
Last cycle, 2020, the conventions were held virtually, an online gathering because of the COVID flow through the country. Some of the parties will hold their conventions online this year. The Republican Party will meet in Milwaukee and Democratic Party will meet in Chicago at the United Center. It is time to continue the presidential process held every four years and important to vote.