Off to the polls in VA and DAMMIT - I am SO CONFLICTED!

[Rabbit of Caerbannog]

This is my first ever primary and I just want to get it right. I'm not an ABB advocate. I want the RIGHT person to win.

This is the first election where I've been angry enough (thank you Bush*/Neocons) to really give a rat's ass about politics or to think about the direction the country is heading. Perhaps I’m taking it too personally because I now have a small child and I worry about what she will have to deal with when she grows up.

I'm waffling between Kerry and Clark, but might pull the lever for Edwards at the last second.

PLEASE – feel free to knock me off my fence!

ON EDIT: Many thanks to all for the advice and requested "fence knocking". Whatever choice I finally make - I'll feel good that I had my say (until Novenber when it REALLY counts, that is).

Feel free to keep the advice and suggestions coming!

[molly]

1. They are all good candidates!

[creativelcro]

2. If you cannot make up you own mind then DON'T VOTE!!!

[teevee99]

3. clark all the way, baby

the man brings a message about not having politics as usual. and he needs your vote waaaaaaaay more than the alleged frontrunner.

buck the system. it's fun. otherwise, they think they control us.

[DianeK]

4. you should vote your heart and mind...

remember, any one of those candidates would be a better president than what we have now

[underpants]

10. AND they can all beat W

I was conflicted too but I voted for Kerry. Any of them is a fine choice.

[Sotarr2004]

16. . . . a minor caveat. . .

DianeK writes:

remember, any one of those candidates would be a better president than what we have now

But first, they have to win in November. That, in and of itself reduces the choices sharply.

That leaves the only EFFECTIVE choices to the Virginia voter as:

Kerry Edwards Clark

As much as I hate to say it, Dean is out of the race, and Sharpton and Kunicich were never players to start with. And, living in the DC 'burbs, I still laugh at the Lyndon LaRouche ads. . . there's a man with a mighty presence, he might get 2000 votes statewide ;)

That being said, I'm voting for Edwards. . .

[Mass_Liberal]

5. I'd go for Clark

at least, him and Kerry can both win, but Clark has a better chance. Clark is also a better guy in my opinion.

[democratreformed]

6. Please vote for the person you think could best lead our nation

That's the only way to keep true democracy alive.

[TheDonkey]

7. You can do it! Helpful hint

Just close your eyes, take a deep breathe and imagine who you would feel most comfortbale with sitting in the oval office and giving a state of the union.

They are all good canidates, go to the polls and I'm sure you'll decide.

[zwielicht]

25. or maybe..

on a state visit, shaking hands with, putin?

[carolinayellowdog]

8. Consider this from a late decider

Kerry will win with or without your vote, in VA and nationally. Clark is very unlikely to be his running mate and is polling at less than half of Edwards's 20-odd percent. A vote for Edwards promotes his viability as choice for running mate. Which in turn strengthens the ticket nationally.

My rationale for an Edwards vote.

[displacedtexan]

9. Congratulations!

Vote with your head and your heart!

[LiberalBushFan]

11. Clark, here's why

Now there's that "Kerry's a winner, so I should vote for him" logic. Well if he's such a winner, he can win without your vote. Now there's Edwards, who's superficial differences from Kerry, good and bad, basically balance out.

If you want to get it right, vote for someone who can inspire. The electable liberal, best of both worlds. You'll be making not only the right choice for this primary, but the right choice of your lifetime because people like Clark come only so often.

[Mairead]

12. Vote for Kucinich if you want to live.

Just think: had Gore not been a member of the privileged elite that never, ever rocks its neighbors' yachts, we might be living in a totally different world today.

We might now be cleaning up from a minor civil war, with five SCOTUS felons in prison after their failed coup attempt, and fascists driven from power and discredited nationwide.

Instead, tens of thousands of innocent people are dead or maimed for life, and we here at home are teetering unwittingly on the brink of The Pit, with perhaps only 9 months left to live.

It makes one think. Or should.

[Tom Rinaldo]

13. OK, since you asked

Kerry doesn't need your help. He will still be the front runner no matter what happens today. If he loses the race and the debate goes on. Kerry won't lose the nomination unless 1) Something happens (like him losing one or two in the South) to slow his nomination AND 2) Something happens to make many Democratic voters uncomfortable with him.

So Kerry most likely will win anyway, but by prolonging the race it leaves time for us to see how he holds up and whether there are good reasons to look elsewhere for our candidate.

Vote for Clark. You are right in your instinct. Experience on the world Stage matters this year. Being a veteran running against someone posing as a War President is a very helpful thing to be this year.

You can read my thread "Clark Shreds Bush" for a fuller explanation of just how good I believe Clark has and continues to be for the Democratic Party this year.

No matter what you do, you can't make a really bad choice. It's good to be a voter.

[spooky3]

14. Please consider Edwards.

He is a good man, has a great platform (johnedwards2004.com), and also is a father of small children who wants to make this a better world for them.

In all my life (and I am nearly his age) I have never felt so good about a politician.

[Bucky]

15. Let me offer you this reasoned argument

Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark Clark (pretty please).

[Toucano]

17. Vote Clark!

He'd vote for you if you were running! LOL! :)

Seriously though, there are no wrong answers on this one. Bush is going down.

[rucky]

18. If you don't care who wins, vote for Dennis

he has the best platform, the freshest ideas. He's the most principled, consistent & progressive of all the candidates. He's the one who's most unlike Bush. Even if your vote doesn't magically make him the nominee, you'd be sending a message to Bush - and the Democratic party - about which direction you'd like the country to go.

If that's the direction you want the country to go(?)

Out of your three choices, tho, Clark is also reliably progressive & strongly principled. He's an extrordinary man, as well!

just my .02

Either way - just showing up to the polls is something to be proud of. Whatever decision you make will help contribute to *'s demise.

[Rabbit of Caerbannog]

19. all this talk about "Bush *'s demise" and "Bush* going down" is

encouraging and no doubt what we all hope for. Yet for some reason I can't shake this feeling that these bastards are going to pull something truely nasty this fall. Just something in my gut. That - or it's the late night burritos and Legend Brown Ale talking :beer:

[mmonk]

20. Put Clark

on third base so he can carry this thing home.

[AP]

21. Not only is Edwards the best candidate, but a Clark vote is a Kerry vote.

Vote for Clark or Kerry, and that's the end of the primary debate. Kerry will roll to vicotry.

It'll save Kerry some money, no doubt. But we will have selected a candidate without being able to have a real debate over the issues Edwards and Kerry represent.

Are we so angry at bush and so consumed by Iraq (as Bush would like us to be) that we're going to elect the candidate who defines himself on things that aren't strong-suits for the Democratic party and who, himslef, isn't even a symbol of Democratic ideals? Or will we nominate that candidate who contrasts incredibly well to Bush and who stands as a symbol of the best aspects of the Democratic party?

[Eurobabe]

22. I had similar conflict between

Clark and Kucinich. I admire many of the things DK stands for, but I have worked my butt off for Clark since September, I didn't know how it was going to play out until I stepped behind the curtain...

I pushed the box for Clark!! Sure wish I had received a RECEIPT! VA needs to get with the program. Email time to Mark Warner....

[mmonk]

23. Just remember real change

comes from one of the following: Clark, DK, Dean. So it comes down to what you want.

[Nashyra]

24. Clark

along with 55 former diplomats appointed by Democratic and Repuke Presidents. Clark does not need to earn the respect of foreign leaders he already has it. What a concept going into office with a headstart. We Americans don't know a gift when it comes our way.