All the Nader talk boils down to one thing and one thing only

[John_H]

I don’t mean to inflict a poll on DU, just sort of a rhetorical question. Play along for thirty seconds if you wish.

It’s November 2nd and history’s repeating itself word for word. The way it looks, the only way Kerry-Edwards can win it is by taking your state, and your state is way too close to call: 48 –48 and about two for Nader.

The networks are loving it, saying it’s going to be just as close as last time, a couple of hundred votes maybe. Dan Rather, by your count, has said “Déjà vu, all over again” eight times since six. Brit Hume has used “Kerry,” “Gore,” and “steal” in the same sentence nine times.

You got swamped late at work, and you’ll have to hurry if you’re going to make it to the polling place in time to vote. On the way over, NPR’s reporting odd police activity around some polling places, people complaining about being turned away at others. Both campaigns have teams of lawyers in the air.

You barely make it— You’re one of the last few people in America who can still affect the outcome this race. What you won’t find out until next month, is that after all the recounts, the winner will have won by a single vote. As you close the curtain you think...


a) Cool. My vote for Kerry just may be the one that sticks it to Chimpy, and saves America from another four years of disaster. I get to save my country and vote my conscience too. Or:

b) Cool. My vote may just be the one that gives it to Chimpy. Hopefully, the country will be so deep in the shitter by 2008, the resulting backlash just might mean a real liberal –maybe even Ralph himself—will go all the way. Nader, baby, Nader. Or:


c) My only charge is to vote my conscience. By withholding a vote from Kerry I may supply America with four more years of watching Chimp smirk us into war, out of Roe v. Wade, back into environmental disaster, domestic surveillance. But I am a Voter, and all Voters shall vote their conscience! Votes for Kerry and Bush would my conscience violate! I shall vote for Mr. Nader! Or:


d) This really blows. I’d love to vote for Ralph, and Kerry can bite me for supporting the war. But I’ll be damned if my vote’s the one that gives Chimpy four more years to wreck my country.

The way I see it, everybody ESPECIALLY the vote-your-conscience crowd should vote like their vote is going to be the one that decides it. If your vote were actually going to choose the next president, what would your conscience let you to do?

[swag]

1. so what was the "one thing and one thing only?"

[John_H]

3. being able to live with your vote.

[swag]

6. Okay, thanks.

I'm cool with Kerry/Edwards.

Not a single doubt.

[Taylor Mason Powell]

2. Excellent post.

I know what I'd do. But then, I despise Ralph Nader so I'm not a good example.

:-)

[olddem43]

4. This is a little more elaborate scenario but

I have told a few folks already "don't waste your vote this time"

[Bill Wade]

5. Last time the Popular vote didn't matter too much, did it?

Lets hope that changes this time. We all know Kerry will get the popular vote over Bush quite easily.

If Kerry can pull OH or Florida(for the electoral votes), its over for Bush.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

7. Voting for Cobb.

Speaking voting one's conscious, what was Kerry/Edward's conscious telling them when they supported the war? What's it telling them now since they still support the occupation and call for more troops? Where is their conscious when they call for apartheid in Israel?

[John_H]

9. So, in the above scanario, your conscience would let you

be the person who provided Chimp, Ashcroft, and Rummy to keep doing what they do best? Your conscience allows you--you personally--to deny adequate healthcare for millions of American kids, overturn Roe v. Wade, give billions of public funds exclusively to people like Ken Lay--just to punish Kerry and Edwards for a single vote? Wow.

I guess I hope you live in a safe blue or red state, and that I never have to buy a used vehicle from you.

[JHBowden]

11. Smackdown!

:yourock:

[rasputin1952]

8. I'm voting Kerry/Edwards...

regardless of whether I like either of them, I am a Dem, a liberal and progressive. To not vote for my party, in this election specifically, is to give the neocons a victory. I have seen what bush and his cronies have done, and it needs to stop. That's it, cut and dried.

:)

[quaoar]

10. In 1980

I really, really wanted to vote for John Anderson as a matter of conscience.

But the thought of Reagan winning was too much to bear and in the end I voted for Carter. And I'm very glad I did.

[Larkspur]

12. I tell people who despise Kerry like I do that

if they live in a red or blue state vote Nader or other 3rd party but in a swing state hold your nose and vote kerry.