voting....your thoughts

[talisman]

If I could vote via text......

My concern of voting for a Libertarian candidate is the same as mentioned above. But I also believe Talisman's point has a lot of validity as well.

Still not 100% what I am going to do. Not a big fan of some of the republican candidates, definitively don't want any of the democratic candidates (that I know anything about anyways). Would probably be good with some of the Libertarian's but what are their chances of winning..

IIRC, no one thought Ted Cruz had a chance of winning, yet here we are. Hell, just eroding both parties voting base by going with a third party will eventually be enough to make them both sit up and realize shit's gotta change. Both parties already do everything they can to make it seem like their isn't even a third party out there. I could sit here and quote history for hours, but this country needs a lot of goddamn work, and if the last couple of decades have shown us anything, it is that neither Republicans nor Democrats are going to be the party that moves this country into the future.

[BP]

I think voting straight party ticket is a complete waste as well.

I understand this line of thinking but in order to get on a state wide ballot in the first place you have to be nominated by a political party. Meaning you support a majority of their platform and you'll probably vote or judge along their lines, especially if you ever plan on running for office again.

[bcoop]

I understand this line of thinking but in order to get on a state wide ballot in the first place you have to be nominated by a political party. Meaning you support a majority of their platform and you'll probably vote or judge along their lines, especially if you ever plan on running for office again.

Republican nominations and straight ticket voting has brought us the likes of McCain, Romney, McConnell, Abbott, and Graham. There's too many on the other side to even list.

[The King]

Republican nominations and straight ticket voting has brought us the likes of McCain, Romney, McConnell, Abbott, and Graham. There's too many on the other side to even list.

True, but on the other hand the Republican nomination brought us the likes of Reagan.

[bcoop]

True, but on the other hand the Republican nomination brought us the likes of Reagan.

That's just not enough for me to say fuck it, and vote straight ticket knowing damn well these people are RINOs, lunatics, or both. I would rather "waste" a vote on a Libertarian that I actually agree with on everything.

[CWO]

The reality is that my single vote isn't going to make the difference, so to everyone but me, it's pretty insignificant. But I take it very seriously. It's my endorsement. I'm putting my name and my stamp of approval on someone else and what they stand for. I have yet to be exposed to a candidate that is worthy or even motivates me to choose them over the others. Therefore, I don't vote. Heck, I think it's a tragedy that the vast majority of voters are just voting blindly, whether it be because of race, religion, influence of their peers, or a popularity contest. Same goes for voting for one party all the way down. And a lot of those people only get out and vote because there is such a push for them to do so. I definitely don't think Americans should be stripped of their right to vote, but in my opinion, this whole push to "exercise your right" is irresponsible and dangerous.

Deep down, I wish only the truly inspired/informed/responsible folks voted.

this entire thing.... forever

[The King]

That's just not enough for me to say fuck it, and vote straight ticket knowing damn well these people are RINOs, lunatics, or both. I would rather "waste" a vote on a Libertarian that I actually agree with on everything.

Nothing wrong with that line of opinion at all. The last Democratic candidate for POTUS that I voted for was Bill Clinton (first term), and admittedly the candidates on the Republican side during and ever since then have been pretty pathetic.

[BP]

That's just not enough for me to say fuck it, and vote straight ticket knowing damn well these people are RINOs, lunatics, or both. I would rather "waste" a vote on a Libertarian that I actually agree with on everything.

It's not a waste, every time they win popular votes it makes the GOP sway more to the right than left. The problem with the LP party though is that in national elections they nominate people that can't possibly win. Take Gary Johnson for example. He planned on cutting the defense budget by 43% his first year in office, that is just crazy talk. Bob Barr was before him. It's going to be hard for people to take you seriously when Borat feeds you cheese made from his wife's breast milk. Before that was Michael Badnarik who said his first act as POTUS would be to blow up the UN building in New York.

Their good candidates usually are ones that fell out of favor with the GOP anyway.

[EW]

Republican nominations and straight ticket voting has brought us the likes of McCain, Romney, McConnell, Abbott, and Graham. There's too many on the other side to even list.

I voted last week so I don't remember exactly but there is something like 1 libertarian on the ballot. If they are running for a big office, I am not splitting the party for them. For many smaller offices, republicans run unopposed.
If you're not going to vote straight ticket, what are you going to do? LP if available and Rep if not?

[bcoop]

I voted last week so I don't remember exactly but there is something like 1 libertarian on the ballot. If they are running for a big office, I am not splitting the party for them. For many smaller offices, republicans run unopposed.
If you're not going to vote straight ticket, what are you going to do? LP if available and Rep if not?

Best candidate available, regardless of party lines. Half of the "Republicans" out there aren't Republican at all, imho.

I still haven't decided on the Governor race yet. Abbott and Davis both are a bunch of crooked fucking cunts, and refuse to support either.

[BP]

I still haven't decided on the Governor race yet. Abbott and Davis both are a bunch of crooked fucking cunts, and refuse to support either.

Then you have this option:

http://www.kathieglass.org/

She wants to send Texas Rangers to the Federal reserve to get our gold back. Then cancel all property and franchise taxes while slashing the budget 50% across the board.

Good ideas for someone running for class president, bad ones for a governor.

[bcoop]

Then you have this option:

http://www.kathieglass.org/

She wants to send Texas Rangers to the Federal reserve to get our gold back. Then cancel all property and franchise taxes while slashing the budget 50% across the board.

Good ideas for someone running for class president, bad ones for a governor.

I looked in to her a few weeks ago. While I love the idea, she's a kook and doesn't have the pull to make that happen.

[CWO]

#noneoftheabove

[Binky]

Vote as you want, but it will never change the political landscape. Your taxes might go up or down - maybe even a pothole fixed here and there. yay.

But if you want real change then you better get comfrtable because it'll be awhile. The real power is held by the lobbyists/special interest groups with the deepest pockets and the best lawyers / marketing team.

I vote according to my beliefs and hedge my bet away from the truly repulsive - but I don't expect that anything will really improve in my life because of who i voted for.

[talisman]

I voted last week so I don't remember exactly but there is something like 1 libertarian on the ballot. If they are running for a big office, I am not splitting the party for them. For many smaller offices, republicans run unopposed.
If you're not going to vote straight ticket, what are you going to do? LP if available and Rep if not?

There were about a dozen or more Libertarians on the ballot. Most of the Judicial offices were unopposed with incumbent Republicans.