I wrote it in Comments but I'll stand behind it on the front page:
Withal, neither [of the big parties] has run anyone for President in the general election that I felt I could in conscience vote for. I used to just stay home on election day, mindful of Claire Wolfe's "If voting could change anything, it would be illegal."
Except voting can change some things, especially in smaller races and in some of them, there's actually a decent choice.
As for the Presidency, I don't know if I will ever see the big parties run anyone for the office other than charismatic boobs, Party-faithful nitwits, incompetents and crooks. Seriously, can you look at the choices in the last four elections and tell me, honestly, that any of the men they put forward in November would have been your first choice?
...I cannot.
Update
1 week ago
13 comments:
I'm afraid I have to agree. :(
This year will be "none of the above" again.
In the History of the Republic... Which presidential would you have voted for? Goldwater? Coolidge? Harrison?
oops, forgot 'candidate'
Yeah, but keep in mind, the Presidency tends to get a lot more Chester A. Arthurs than Abraham Lincolns. The Great Ones are few and far between.
However, those Presidents who make it to the Second Term (Thank God for the 22nd. Amendment!) immediately go into Lame Duck Status. Since they can't run for Office anymore, they don't need to worry about making their Base Happy, nor feed any of their "Coalition Partners" Free Cheese to stay in office.
What my main fear about Obama is that he's got WAY too much Hugo Chavez in him, and if he gets re-elected, the Kid Gloves come off. Just look at all the Unconstitutional Crap he's pulled, even with losing the House. And Lord Help the Republic if the "Friends of Barry" regain the House and keep the Senate.
Yeah, I'll be wearing Nose Plugs AND a Gas Mask come November. But I won't be Voting FOR the Republican Nominee, I'm Voting AGAINST Obama.
And a 3rd. Party Candidate just doesn't have enough Votes in the General Election to gain the White House. But there ARE enough Democrats to ensure Obama gets a Second Term, and staying home and/or Voting 3rd. Party just won't help get rid of BHO.
Yeah, Romney SUCKS, but I don't think he's willing to "Fundamentally Transform the United States." And hopefully, down the Road, they'll be a better Candidate to choose from. But an Obama 2nd. Term SCARES me.
I've noticed in the last few elections that I'm almost as much voting for (or against) the people associated with a candidate as the candidate himself.
The most recent example that will spur me to the polls in spite of the smell was the comment on Twitter about Supreme Court Justice Eric Holder.
Besides, I tell myself if I don't vote I don't have any right to complain, and I love complaining too much to give it up.
A'yup.
The smaller races are where your vote has more proportional weight and since the politician is right down the street can have more effect on your life.
It's a darkly amusing bit of human nature that people know more about their political reps the further away they are.
(Which I am guilty of too as I can't recall my council representation off the top of my head).
Some elections, I am voting for something, others, I am voting against something.
This time, I am voting against something, and I'm pretty sure what will get in will not be any worse. I'm voting against what I think is something approaching a criminal enterprise, at least much more criminal than the other side.
We don't always get good choices, but to not make a choice is, itself, a choice, from which good or bad consequences depend to varying degrees.
Yeah, I know, even I wouldn't enjoy talking about politics with me.
Mike James
Wasn't embarrassed by Gerry Ford...but:
Reagan/Carter? - who knew?
Reagan(Bush)/Mondale - huh?
Bush/Dukakis - huh 2?
Bush/Clinton - who knew?
Clinton/Dole - (maybe Dole?)
Bush/Gore - frying pan/fire
Bush/Kerry - OMG
Obooma/McCain - a throwaway
Obooma/Mittney - Twiddledum/Twiddledee
Looks like we can go back more than the past 4...though hindsight - or forgetfulness - may suggest Dole as a possibility
Q
I'm convinced that the down-ballot races are the key to the next four years, much more important than whoever wins the presidency...but I really can't take another four years of Zero, so I'll have to hold my nose and do the GOP shuffle.
I hope you don't think any less of me for saying so :) But I voted for Perot in 1992 and, scarred, swore never again to vote for a third party. You'd have to come up with one heck of a candidate to make me change my mind...and I don't mean Crazy Uncle Ron.
I haven't vote FOR anyone since Ronald Wilson Reagan.
Candidates that I would have voted for had I been able:
Calvin Coolidge. He who governs least...
Andrew Jackson. "I have only two regrets. That I have not shot Henry Clay or hanged John C. Calhoun."
Jefferson Davis
Chester Arthur was a terrible disappointment to Roscoe Conkling and the Tammany machine. The corrupt excise collector turned out to be quite the reformer.
On the other hand, Bob Dole gave the presidency away with one incautious comment that "no one cares about gun control."
On the other hand, this election pits the Devil we know against a question mark. Perhaps the nominee will be another Arthur - or another Obama. But any chance is better than either taking to the streets or no chance at all.
both "fuhgettaboutit" and a protest vote for a minor party candidate on election day merely gives the devil we know a measurably better chance of succeeding himself.
Stranger
Bubblehead Les,
"...the Presidency tends to get a lot more Chester A. Arthurs than Abraham Lincolns."
And we may thank god for it. This nation was built by dull Cincinatti like Arthur, and not zealous Great Leaders like the American Lenin.
I've voted against many presidents. The last presidential candidate I would have voted *for* was Barry Goldwater - except I was only 11 then....
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