Not voting for HC or BO in November is NOT the same as voting for the rethug.

[TooBigaTent]

First, I would think that, after six more months of this campaign season, most real Democrats will press the "D" button.

That being said, there is a qualitative and quantitative difference between the two (write-ins ignored for now) non-Dem voting options.

Supporters of the non-nominee who say (and mean) that they will vote for Insane if their candidate is not nominated -

a) were never really Democrats in the first place because there is a world of difference between the Dems and the puke on almost every issue and to say that they can go from a center-right person like Clinton or Obama to a POS like McCain totally ignores reality. They are just being sore losers who are more enamoured of being with a winner than saving America from more rethug destruction.
b) actually voting for the GOP gangster instead of the Democrat will count as two votes - the one lost by us and the one gained by them

Supporters of either HC or BO (or any of the others now out of the race) who say (and mean) that they will sit on their hands (or vote a write-in) but NOT vote for Crazy John -

a) are less traitorous, at least from my perspective. They (and I count myself as someone with one foot in that position) are saying that they are disappointed in the selection and cannot bring them(our)selves to vote for someone who is far too conservative for our tastes. Under no circumstances would I ever (and have never) vote(d) for a puke in 38 years of voting, though there have been times when I have not voted for a Dem because of their position on issues. Either Dem is not even on the same planet as POW-boy in terms of the issues - they are not great or even good, but much better than disastrous.
b) not voting for the Dem will cost one vote; a hit, certainly, but not as bad as actually giving the piece of shit a vote.

I thought I better say this before a nominee is picked and "disloyalty" becomes punishable by tombstoning.

[mike_c]

1. many of us agree with you 100 percent....

Our vote is our birthright. Don't let ANYONE hassle you for using it as you choose!

[TechBear_Seattle]

2. Sure, just like not voting for Gore in 2000 was not the same as voting for Bush

And yet those very few who voted for Nader are still treated as scapegoats for the Democrats' loss.

[Bill McBlueState]

3. ok, it's not *as* bad

It's half as bad.

If a Democrat votes for McCan't and not (insert nominee), it's a net swing to McCan't of two votes.

If a Democrat stays home, it's a net swing to McCan't of one vote.

So, ok, it's half as bad.

[sinkingfeeling]

4. Personally, I see little difference between voting for McCain and either not voting or wasting a

vote with a write-in. All three result in one less vote for the Democratic candidate and America.

[aquart]

5. Bull cookies. Pasture pastry. Barnyard buns.

Democracy does not mean you get what you want. It means you work with people you don't agree with to make the best of things.

If we're stuck with Obama we're stuck with him. We've worked with far worse. Not punching out his smug, sanctimonious, sexist supporters will be a constant struggle, BUT IT CAN BE DONE.

[semillama]

7. And of course, Obama supporters

will have to graciously accept the presence of smug, sanctimonious, racist Hillary supporters. But it can be done.

[Cheap_Trick]

8. and not knocking hill's obnoxious, shrill, racist, obtuse, spiteful, hateful supporters

on their stepford asses will take every ounce of self control, BUT IT CAN BE DONE. It's not as much fun, tho.

[aquart]

14. "Stepford"?

Excuse me while I litter the floor with broken glass. Baby, you've got so much crawling to do, I hope there's a blood bank big enough.

[Cheap_Trick]

15. crawling? for what?

only in your dreams. dream big.

[aquart]

16. I recommend several pairs of kneepads.

That glass is sharp.

[Cheap_Trick]

18. I don't have the foggiest notion of what you babbling about.

You should try either more or less of whatever medication you're using. The current dosage is not working for you. Otherwise, you're making some kind of threat. Not a very smart idea.

[Hydra]

6. Our votes or lack thereof belong to us

I hate that my party won't give me a real democrat to vote for, and I refuse to "get over it."

That said, my vote is my choice, when I am in the box with the curtain closed, and is not anyone else's business.

[Individualist]

17. Ditto!

[DinahMoeHum]

9. Sorry, but there's a real big problem with third-party voting here.

It's for this reason to me that the GREEN Party = Getting Republicans Elected Every November.

The voting machine does not calculate voting against candidates:
It cannot NOT record votes AGAINST a particular candidate - it only records votes FOR.

Example:
33% of the vote for a Democrat
33% of the vote for Green Party, Nader, Ron Paul, etc.
34% of the vote for a Republikkkan

does NOT equal 66% against the Republikkkan - it means 34% FOR the Republikkkan.
In a 3-way tie, the Republikkkan would win, because the 33% of the vote going to a 3rd party are the votes that are not going to the Democrat to defeat the Republikkkan.

Sorry, but there is no room for vanity voting in this general election. Or staying home and not voting.
You either vote to continue another 4 years of incompetence and repression with a McCain, or you vote to get rid of the Republikkkans and replace with Obama and/or Clinton, however imperfect they are. Either one would have far more competence for the job and will choose better-qualified people for the Cabinet and other positions.

:kick::kick:

[Mountainman]

10. The action of not voting for the Dem or voting for McCain in the presidential election is your right

But the result is the same. A vote that could have gone to the Dem isn't going to go to the Dem, it could mean the difference in a tight election if enough people do that. Like a drop of water, by itself it isn't much but add a lot of them together and you have a powerful force.

My thinking is that if McCain wins and we have 4 more years going in the same direction as bush is taking us and you could have voted for the Dem and didn't, you are partially to blame for what happens to us. Yes it's your right to do what you want, but it is a really dumb ass thing to do, and self serving and repugnantly elitist.

[LucyParsons]

11. I agree - that's why I will never for for Hillary.

Or most other politicians currently in office.

[elocs]

12. Anybody who does something either actively (voting for McCain),

or passively (refusing to vote for the Democratic nominee) that leads to the election of McCain will have blood on their hands as he leads us into wars where thousands of innocent people will die. Tiptoe around the tulips and rationalize and try to explain it away, that's the long and short of it. There are only 3 people who might be the next president of the U.S.--either the Democratic nominee or John McCain. If you do not support the Democratic nominee, then you are helping John McCain (wouldn't we admit in a heartbeat that any Republican who does not vote for McCain is helping the Democrats?). So please, don't piss on my head and try and convince me it is raining.

[CanonRay]

13. Yeah, it's exactly 1/2 as bad.