On one side we have the extreme left wing of the Democratic party coming out of the woodwork to announce their intentions to run for president of the United States.  On the other side we have President Trump.

Once again, we’ll have to choose the lesser of two evils.  Based on statistics derived from polling, 40 percent of the country will support a hard-left candidate.  President Trump supporters comprise 45 percent of the electorate.  If these numbers are accurate that leaves 15 percent of the voters that encompass the mythical undecideds.

In some circles, they are known as independents.  The 2020 election is shaping up to be a brutal marathon between two diametrically opposed views on the best way to run the government.  I would love to see a real debate between the merits of both views but we all know it will devolve into a litany of lies, manipulations, and character assassinations.

I find the term “Character assassination to be an oxymoron because I have yet to find any politician with character.

Instead of a healthy debate on why a liberal approach to government is better than a conservative approach, we’ll get reasons why the other candidate is the wrong choice.  I want the candidates to tell me why their viewpoint is better for us not why their opponent is the evil incarnate of Beelzebub.

Howard Schultz, former CEO of Starbucks, is considering a presidential run as an independent.  At first blush he seems like a centrist.  Of course, anyone slightly right of Senator Bernie Sanders and his merry band of socialists, will look like a centrist.  I need to read more about his policies to see if he can be a legitimate third-party candidate.

He is a registered Democrat who is not fond of the hard left turn his party is taking and has openly questioned President Trump’s fitness to be president.  At this point, the only thing a third-party candidate will do is split the Democratic vote ensuring another four years of President Trump.

Most Democrats are not on the extreme and as the primaries unfold, they will become increasingly concerned about the viewpoints of baby socialists running around the capital. There is no way they will lever vote for President Trump so a centrist who happens to be a Democrat will be appealing.

Meanwhile, the never Trumpers will find a third-party candidate appealing.  But the Trump supporters, will not abandon the man that epitomizes their dreams.  It doesn’t help when those in the media insults them by calling them “rubes” like Dave Weigel, of the Washington Post, did this past weekend.  Or when candidates call them “deplorables.”

They will circle the wagons. 

However, I think it is time for a third-party to rise from the Phoenix and take advantage of a rare opportunity.  A middle-of-the-road candidate that is logical, calm, and fair with a professional demeanor may catch lightning in a bottle.

And that would be the best ever message to send Washington.  Get rid of the swamp in the best way possible…vote them out.

Both political parties have been hijacked by the respective extremes and none represent my views. I think the right third party candidate can garner enough support. I am hoping to have an actual choice in 2020 and not have to cast a vote against the lesser of evil of two extremes.