It always boils down to the lesser of two evils.

Why should this election be any different?

That recipe means evil gets another term in office.

I look at it this way: I never feel 100% represented by anyone in Washington - I even disagree with Kucinich on a couple of things. That said I know that as someone who is a bit to the left of the "average American" while I would love to see a government which is aligned perfectly with my beliefs, I am realistic that it won't necessarily happen, and am not sure that it should - if for no other reason than that I am in the minority.

I would not want someone who is on the mirror opposite right end of the spectrum to be in charge, so I feel that in some ways we are better with a fairly centrist government in that there is at least some balance. Again, I would love it if more Americans and more politicians felt the way I do on many issues, but I also realize that they don't, and as this is (or should be) a representational democracy, I'm ok with that on some level.

I don't know if that makes sense or not. Please don't take this as being defeatist or as an excuse to lie down and let the right walk on me either, because that is not at all what I am saying, and it's not me. The President should be the President for ALL of America, or at least the vast majority of it. Is it wrong that since I know my ideal candidate would not get elected by the majority of Americans, that I will gladly settle for the one who does the least damage? In other words, I understand the value of compromise, as long as it is done in a positive and equitable way. And while there are some things I refuse to compromise on (such as human/civil rights issues), there are many things which we need to be able to, imo, if for no other reason that the overall health of the country.

Blah, I don't know. Maybe it is somewhat defeatist, but it's also realistic. I will gladly vote for the Democratic nominee, no matter whom it is among the current runners, even if it is one whom I am not that fond of. Why? Because the alternative is a horrible thought to me, that we could end up with a Right Wing Christian Conservative stacked court, more endless wars, more slashing of rights, and more hate and bigotry trussed up as being acceptable. Yes, I feel that the front runners don't make me feel great on issues like equal rights, the war, and corporate reform, but they are 1,000,000 times better than any of their opponents, all of whom I absolutely refuse to let win. If I have to settle for a more centrist government to oppose a right wing theocracy, so be it. I will do so gladly and continue to work to spread the ideals I believe in, in the hope that we can win more popular opinion from more voters who suddenly realize that the only reason they hate liberals is because they are told to, that their own beliefs align more closely to the left, even if just a little.

I always tell people - even my few right wing friends - to vote for whom you want to, but to be prepared for the consequences of that vote. Hell, you can vote for anyone you honestly feel represents you, but don't complain to me later about what happens when (a) that person wins or (b) someone worse wins because you failed to recognize the stakes.

And I just don't feel comfortable supporting that.

I disagree with the reality. Maybe it's because I have a bigger, older, and meaner brother, so I got used to the idea of compromise and not getting my way at an early age.

I also don't see any of our candidates as being "evil" honestly. Sure, some come close sometimes, and we need serious reform so that non-corporate candidates even have a chance, but they aren't evil.

We have a no leftist party that is represented on any level of government. This isn't even an issue of agreeing with a candidate 100% of the time, its more like trying to find a candidate that you agree with 30% or less of the time. And we are always told to suck it up, because the alternative is worse. I'm thinking of bolting, seriously, becoming a citizen in a country with an organized left and being a true representative democracy, that would be nice.

I would estimate that I agree with both Hillary and Obama about 10% of the time, and with the Repukes(any of them) about 1% of the time or less. This fucking sucks. I despise them all, but it isn't equal, but dammit, I want to vote FOR someone, not against the guys who suck worse.

He said that he was looking for someone to make love with, not to.

We are looking for someone to vote for, not someone to vote on.

I'm just wondering if going into the voting booth while being plastered will make it more palatable? Political beergoggles?

:evilgrin:

trust me, it's crossed my mind before too. But I also feel that I'd rather stay and fight while I can.

I've never understood this nation, and I was born here, its values are not my values, its really that simple. We have two parties that are both right wing to varying degrees, giving us an illusion of choice. Its just infuriating, none of the policies I support will pass within my lifetime, and I'm almost 30! Its pathetic, that's all it is.

but am unwilling to concede defeat. I will say that I think some people are slowly waking up and educating themselves, but sadly they are often overshadowed by those who drift ever deeper into the sleep of ignorance. It really does drive me nuts sometimes how gullible our nation can be - even on this side, although I feel to a lesser degree.

There never has been a guarantee that you will get a candidate you identify with. Why do so many people not understand that voting has ALWAYS involved holding one's nose and making a choice? Without meaningful campaign finance reform, this is how it is, has been and will be.

Life is all about choosing between options that aren't always a thrill.

Sometimes we get a joyous wonderful option. Sometimes.

This is beginning to look like a nightmare election to me. As always, we'll cringe and vote for the lesser of two evils but my heart won't be in it and thousands of independents will vote for McCain as they can't stand HRC.
I don't know if I can take much more of this.
Clark out last time, Biden and Edwards out this time, WTF happens? Why are we left with people we don't particularly like to run against the pukes?
It makes moving back to the UK more likely if McCain wins.

The basic problem is that a one-step primary is a *LOUSY*
way to choose a candidate; you tend to end up with the
candidate who draws the plurality of the primary voters
but that candidate is often *NOT* the candidate who
has at least some attraction to the largest cohort of
all of the voters in that primary and certainly not the
candidate who will attract the largest cohort of voters
in the General Election.

This sort of primary tends to pick Miss Congeniality
and eliminate anyone with strong stands on any issue.

As an experiment, we ought to try selecting our candidate
with a nationwide instant-runoff vote some time; *THEN*
you might see a Biden, Kucinich, Gore, or Clark emerge
as the winner (and then, the *WINNER*).

Tesha

My vote will not make any difference to anyone. The decision will be made for me by people I don't like or trust.

Edwards was the only possible "nose holder" remaining.

That leaves, for me, the write-in line.

"Holding one's nose and voting for the lesser of two evils" is the reason the party is FUBAR!!

Yeah, yeah, that's still choosing evil. But almost every election is a matter of trying to keep the greatest evil out of office.

strong showing in Florida, I can'help but to think that when a candidate who didn't campaign in the state at all comes in first ahead of all the Republicans, who have been campaigning hard there, that is to significant to ignore. And it'an even bigger victory because the Democrats who voted for Hillary knew their vote didn'even count, I think this is an indication that Hillary would win by a landslide in the general election.

But that's what I'll do. I'll pick one of them two weevils and I'll vote for it, but only to keep a bigger weevil from moving in.