The Volokh Conspiracy is all up in this issue… this link has a series of posts on the subject, termed “fusionism” (as in conservative-ibertarian fusion, vs. liberal-libertarian fusion.)

There’s a lot to say on the subject, but most of what you read simply demonstrates my long-standing belief that political labels in this country have long ceased to hold any real meaning. In the abscence of any well-run, or appealing alternatives to the two parties of Tweedle, the idea of seriously considering the implications of “fusion” (also known as coalition-building, in countries where it happens regularly) is kind of goofy.

Without question, this debate should happen. I personally don’t care where anyone comes down on it though. It seems to me that the root of the debate is the fact that most people simply dislike both the parties and most of the candidates, and yet cannot imagine the possibility of a viable third party. Clearly the debate in blogosphere is not about whether the Libertarian Party should endorse the Democratic tickets, right? The Democrats aren’t about to make real efforts to woo the libertarians are they? This is really just democrats extending the “we hate bush” bandwagon welcome to self-described libertarians, right?

What I’m getting at is the all-too obvious point that our politics are simply fucked six ways from Harney County. If any of us knew what being a “Democrat” or a “Republican” means, or what the difference between a “Liberal,” or a “Conservative” is, the “fusionism” debate would be more meaningful. As it is, we seem rhetoricaly, conceptually, and politically locked into the Dee-Dum dynamic