Reply #68: I agree! [View All]

This is not the election in which to validate a third party, at least not in the Presidential race. It might be nice if some Greens showed up in Congress, though, like maybe one to take Bob Graham's seat for Florida.

Primaries are where the people (remember? that's us!) voice our opinion on who should represent our party and, hopefully, our country. (OOPS! Nobody told Bush he was representing us, did they?) The general election is where we evict the pretender from his throne.

Yes, I'd vote for Kerry. I'd vote for any Democrat in hopes that we can muster more votes than the Republicans.

Stay home? That's a vote against your candidate even if you don't really have one.

Did I ever tell you about the time your grandfather stayed home? He said that one vote wouldn't count and he was tired. (He was pushing 80.) The election for Mayor came in a dead tie. Three recounts couldn't sway the vote. The City charter called for a coin toss in case of a tie. The incumbent, and Dad's choice for Mayor had he voted, said she wouldn't accept the job on the toss of a coin and withdrew. One vote does count.

On the other hand, I went out early that November morning in 2000 (or was it after work?) to cast my straight Democratic vote and incur the ire of some natives on referendums (referendi? ;-)). I knew my larger half would vote primarily Republican and had no idea how he felt about net bans or off-shore drilling (I oppose all off-shore drilling no matter how close or far away - it just doesn't seem safe, and better to blight the land than the sea with spilled oil). I voted and he got stuck at the office and didn't get the chance. Did it matter? Not a fig! We're in Florida where you can't count on your vote counting.

The sticker I got for voting touch-screen in the last election proudly hangs limply from the dashboard of my van. Do I trust touch-screen voting in Florida? Not any more than I trust the old paper ballot that got Bush selected. My larger half decided to request an absentee ballot for 2004. I may do the same just so I know I leave a paper trail and can keep a photocopy in case it's needed. (I wonder what would happen if the entire country voted by absentee ballot, kept a copy, and was responsible for our own recount.)

I know this is a long post, but I didn't have time to write a short one.

Ma

:loveya: