Posted on 11/08/2011 5:30:57 AM PST by wolfman23601
Conventional wisdom is that if you don't vote, you can't complain. I have come to the conclusion that I disagree. By vote voting, you are in fact voting for none of the above. In the Virginia House, my race is between a liberal democrat and an establishment GOP puppet who has no accomplishments of his own and has never stood on his own two feet. The incumbant retired and the new candidate is a handoff ripe for more graft. In the Virginia senate, it is a liberal democrat against a restaurant owner that wants more toll roads. I simply can't vote for any of these people. Would it send a better message to cast a blank ballot or sit it out completely?
Choosing not to decide is choosing none the less.
Sometimes, for lack of better alternatives, you have to vote based on hope even against your better judgment. Over the years, about a half dozen times, people I voted for turned out to be better in office than I expected them to be. And, if elected, the establishment GOP type may prove to be better than you expect and he will no doubt be better than the alternative.
Not showing up means you are one of many. Submitting a null vote shows something else entirely.
Shame on you — the thought of not voting should never enter your mind. Think of all the men and women who died to ensure that you can continue to have the privilege!!!
Exercise your franchise; if not — don’t complain.
Besides, a puppet is better than a Demoncrat any day and twice on Sundays. :D
Get out there and vote!!
Hoss
They are gonna redraw the congressional lines. If I were you I’d bite the bullet and vote RINO on that one issue alone.
If you wanna make a “statement” voting for a third candidate on the ballot is the only way. Sitting out, casting a blank ballot or voting for a write in candidate that isn’t actually running (or doesn’t exist eg Mickey Mouse, I don’t know about VA but in my state you have to be a registered write in candidate and I caused them problems when I wrote in “Dick Nixon” for city treasurer once) would barley be noticed.
If there are only the Republican and the dem running then you are out of luck and might as well just stay home if there is truly nothing on the ballot you want to vote on.
I am dying from a lung disease, but will crawl over broken glass to vote. This is what my husband fought for. This is what my children who are active duty go to work for every day. I suggest that you find your nearest Veterns cemetery and pay a visit. it will change your attitude.
Waiting until election day to complain is not even a decent whine.
Not so sure about that. Around here, the same group of cronies pull the puppet strings for both parties. Sometimes it is a democrat, sometimes it is a republican, but it is the same group... AKA “Shadow Government” that pours in the cash, gets the kickbacks, and their candidate wins every single time. I am more apt to vote for the democrat without connections than the republican puppet at this point.
THAN YOU!!
This is how BHO got into office...
a lot of folks voted “None of the Above”.
Just sayin’...
But if there are 100 ballots and 48 voted for Candidate A, 45 voted for Candidate B, and 7 cast blank or write in ballots, the winner gets 48% of the vote, not a majority. Paeronally, I think it makes a difference rather than the winner getting 55% and being able to claim a mandate.
Bravo, Joe Sixer...
Hussein got a majority. Clinton didn’t. Which candidate compromised with the GOP congress?
Vote. There may not be someone you want to vote for, but I’m sure there is someone you want to vote against.
Having read the replys you've received so far - even the vitriolic ones - I'd guess you've got about as much advice as you can possibly handle.
But your choices in your local election do bring up a bit of a quandry.
For example....I know for a fact that I'm going to vote AGAINST the stain and the current regime come next November. I don't give two hoots who the rino nominee is - really. But I am absolutely convinced that no one - and I mean NO ONE - could be as bad as the stain.
But.....what if somehow - as in your case - both choices were every bit as bad as each other?? Then what? My method wouldn't work, would it? Because, since both candidates were as evil or crummy as one another, there would be no voting for "the lesser of two evils"!!
So...I'm offering this proposal. How's about we change the official ballots in all elections to have two little boxes out to the right side of the candidate's name? One is marked "YES", the other "NO".
Then....a voter could go to the polls; finally and completely express themselves by voting "yes" or "no" for a given candidate! The candidate with the most "yes" votes wins.
But I believe the candidate will never again be able to claim a "mandate" when the "winner" receives - say - 5 times as many "NO" votes as "YES".
Whatdayathink??
It mattered with Clinton. Without a majority, he compromised.
Wolfman, I’m in SE VA, too but probably in a more “in play” area. Across the river from me is no-man’s land of lib dims and a conservative candidate has NO chance. But they still run and God bless ‘em for it. Never give up!!!!!
I like it.
Where are you? I’m in Newport News.
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