Vote for... Wait, no: Vote for who you want!

[Guy Fawkes]

America is not a two party system. Read that again. Got it down? Let me explain...

Americans recognize two major political parties- the Democrats and the Republicans. One side is considered "liberal," the other "conservative." But there are conservative Democrats and liberal Republicans. There are no real distinguishing characteristics in politics anymore.

On top of that, bipartisan support for any bill actually likely to pass makes it irrelevant which party proposed the bill in question. If anything has a chance of going through on Capital Hill, it needs both "Democrats" and "Republicans" to support it. Otherwise, one side or the other will block it on the floor or in committee.

So, why isn't the United States a two party system? Because on important issues, people will vote with their ideology, not along party lines. The old style of party loyalty is dead- and has been for some time now.

Don't vote based on a letter: vote based on an ideology. I'd recommend electing the most liberal of the candidates, regardless of party. And don't try that bullshit "Lesser of two evils" argument- that was dreamed up by Bush supporters in 2000 to get people to distrust Gore. Never call a candidate "the lesser of two evils." It doesn't even bloody mean anything!

[Balbus]

1. You mean vote your conscious?

That's not going to be very popular around here...

[Guy Fawkes]

2. unfortunately not.

More people care about those little 'D's and 'R's than reality.

[Longhorn]

3. But it doesn't work that way.

Before a bill can get bipartisan support on the floor of the House or Senate, it has to make it out of committee and the committees are stacked in favor of the MAJORITY party. And the committees are chaired by the MAJORITY party. And the Senate and House are presided over by the MAJORITY party.

So we do, in fact, have a two party system and if we want liberals to have any chance of influencing legislation, then we need to vote for DEMOCRATS in order to give them the power of the MAJORITY.

[Guy Fawkes]

4. Read my lips...

"no new.." oh, wait. Ok, look: Democrat != (does not equal) liberal. Republican != conservative. I believe Noam Chomsky put it well: http://youtube.com/watch?v=VXR2y3zc2_E

Vote for either Liberals or Conservatives. (Hopefully the former)

[Ravy]

5. Your lips don't tell the whole story.

Committees and the voting agenda are determined by the party in power. And, representatives *do* have tremendous pressure to vote along party lines, and most often do.

[Longhorn]

6. I'm willing to sacrifice the few liberals in the Republican party

and ignore the relatively few conservatives in the Democratic Party in order to give the Democrats the majority. Since I'm posting on DEMOCRATIC UNDERGROUND, I suspect there are others who support this view regardless of what Chomsky has to say about it.

[Guy Fawkes]

7. Thanks for the shutout.

And a nice open mind you have there, a real model Democrat you are.

[Kiouni]

14. your right

guy fawkes, regardless of what party they are your vote should be guided by your morality in nebraska we have ricketts a repug who is trying to get amaratrade some money by running for the house and nelson who is spineless but in it for the right reasons. If the situation was reversed i would cross party lines and i type on DU.

[hfojvt]

8. that does not make sense

show me a liberal Republican who has a more liberal voting record than the most conservative Democrat in the last six years. And make sure you count amendment votes. After Democratic amendments fail on pretty much party line votes sometimes Conservative Democrats will vote for the inevitable.

Another flaw in your argument is that Conservative Democrats comes from conservative states or districts like SD, Kansas, Alabama, Georgia, etc. It is highly, highly doubtful that they are going to face a liberal Republican. Liberal Republicans in office are probably coming from liberal states or districts. Olympia Snowe may be more liberal than Tim Johnson (although I doubt it) but they are not running against each other, and Tim Johnson is far more liberal than Thune or Janklow.

[spag68]

9. I agree with Bill Clinton

I have a philosophy not an ideology

[wiggs]

10. I agree with the OP title, but disagreed with the reasoning

after opening post.

[NaturalHigh]

11. I ALWAYS vote my conscience.

As someone else mentioned, that is not always popular here. Some expect us to vote on the anointed "D" without question.

[Old and In the Way]

12. Republicans first.

Once that monolythic criminal party fractures, I'll be happy to vote for the candidate of _______ Party. Until then, no sale.

[sandnsea]

13. Republican control has been a delight!!

Yeah people ought to asbsolutely use their vote for more of this shit, woohoo!!!

The only reason to not vote Democratic in close Senate and House races is if you want the Republican to win. That's voting on an ideology too.

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

15. I'm going to lock this.

You are not permitted to use this message board to work for the defeat of the Democratic Party nominee for any political office. If you wish to work for the defeat of any Democratic candidate in any General Election, then you are welcome to use someone else's bandwidth on some other website.

best,
wakemeupwhenitsover
DU Moderator