Its force is spent now, and the 2000 election is the last we ll hear of it. That doesn't mean, though, that politics outside of the two major parties is dead. The election isn t far off when Ventura or someone else not affiliated with the Democrats or Republicans will run for president and do very well. Ventura, like Reagan and unlike Perot, is shrewd about what s required to have a lasting effect in the national political arena. Reagan knew that his personality and his speaking skills helped him get elected, but he also knew that a strong Republican Party was just as important if he wanted to get his proposals enacted into law.
Political change takes a long time.
A new party, built from scratch, must have leadership that unites people behind goals that matter to them. It must give them energy and hope to overcome a multitude of obstacles. Without that sort of leadership, most independents will vote without enthusiasm for one of the major party candidates. Without good leadership, infant political movements like Perot s Reform Party are headed for painful oblivion. With good leadership, with the perseverance and focus of a Lincoln or a Reagan, a new political movement can accomplish a great deal.