3rd Party Tea Brewing?

Do you remember (or maybe you are still attending) High School? There were two main groups or types of people. There were the 'Jocks' and the 'Stoners'. In your school they may have had a different label but there were those two main groups. Within these groups there were subsets based on race, gender and interest but these two groups served as an umbrella for all who were interested.

Gaining membership to one of these two groups required two things. First you must belong to a sanctioned school sport if you are an athlete, or smoke if you are going to be a stoner. Second you have to 'tolerate' the diverse opinions of the various caucus leaders within the group. There are dozens of smaller groups in high school; clubs, interests, sciences, competitive, academic and so on. Why would anyone leave the big tent of acceptance and posture to become a part of a smaller group? Mostly to find or to have their own voice..

Right now the big tent of the Republican party is experiencing alot of defection. Not only the Arlen Spectors, but also the many 'voices' that aren't being heard and that are looking for a platform. Republican presidents have held office for 20 of the past 29 years, so we know that we have the power to speak authoritatively when we want to. But right now.. not so much.

Is it possible that a 3rd party is going to rise out of the political rubble like a Phoenix amplifying the voice that actually represents the people of this country? I think if this came to pass that so many would leave the safety of the tent on both major parties to enjoy the freedom of speech again. A word to the Republican leadership, conservatives don't do compromise. The tea parties were not of Democrat or Republican sanction, they were the folks in either party that weren't being properly represented and were looking for a way to affect change. So if building a conservative (true conservative) base means splitting from Republicans and ceding even more power to Democrats in 2010 and 2012, so be it. As for me, I have vowed never to vote for another candidate that does not represent my core beliefs.

What's your take?