Posted on 10/30/2006 10:34:02 PM PST by goldstategop
Some people get mad at me when I tell them not to vote.
But I believe there is a right time to abstain from casting a ballot – particularly if the only choice is a Democrat or Republican who are indistinguishable on the major issues of the day.
A good example of a race where a protest vote for a third party candidate or a non-vote would be the right thing to do on Election Day is the New Jersey Senate race between incumbent Robert Menendez, the Democrat, and Republican challenger Thomas Kean Jr.
(Column continues below)
Pollsters say the race is too close to call. And I don't really care how it comes out.
Some Republicans will hate me for this. They will point out that control of the U.S. Senate could be at stake in this campaign.
I say, if Republicans need Thomas Kean Jr. to control the Senate, then they really won't have control anyway. Because Kean is a RINO – a Republican in name only, a Republican who is embarrassed about being a Republican, a second-generation country clubber who, if elected, will turn out to be a bigger embarrassment to the GOP than a straight-out loss of the Senate.
No, I would never urge a vote for Menendez. He's part of the corrupt Democratic Party political machine in my birth state. As far as I can tell, there isn't a single issue on which he's right.
But, honestly, Kean is no better. Not at all.
And here's the real trouble with electing a sniveling weasel like Kean. What you get is a back-stabbing RINO who will spend most of his time distancing himself from his Republican colleagues, showing that he is "different," that he is "bi-partisan," a conciliator – and someone with no principles whatsoever other than his own personal empowerment.
We've had Republicans in the Senate like this before. Think Lincoln Chafee.
Even though polls in New Jersey show voters there more concerned about local issues than national issues, Kean is spending most of his time right now running away from President Bush – not on the border, not on profligate spending in Washington, not on the political correctness run amok in the White Hose, but on the war in Iraq, the war against jihadist terrorism, the war that will destroy America and Western civilization if we don't achieve victory. It wasn't Democrat Menendez who called for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's resignation. It was Kean.
Last week, when he heard that Rush Limbaugh had taken on Michael J. Fox for shamelessly politicizing a disease, Kean issued a statement denouncing the talk-show host. He hadn't actually heard Rush's articulate admonishment of Fox and those using him in this campaign. But what Kean read in "press reports" was enough to get him to attack Limbaugh.
"There's no reason for this in our politics, and I don't subscribe to it," he said.
To what does Tom Kean Jr. subscribe? It's a good question. The answer is not much that's good for New Jersey or good for the nation.
If your idea of a good time is electing a spoiled brat rich kid to the U.S. Senate, then, by all means, vote for Tom Kean. Have a ball.
But if your goal in political involvement is to restore freedom in America, to restore moral sanity to our system of governance, to restore constitutional principles to Washington, to restore a reverence for the sanctity of life, to restore respect for America at home and abroad, then I'm afraid to tell you that you have no choice on Election Day in New Jersey. Better luck next time.
Actually, let me backtrack from that statement. You do have a choice. And casting a protest vote or not voting at all in this virtually uncontested Senate race is a very good choice. It's the only choice for those who want to see real competition in elections, who want to see better alternatives in the future.
Vote no on Kean. And feel good about your choice.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
I'm so glad I don't have to make this decision in NYS.
Vote Republican if you value your life, and the life of your family and friends.
A vote for Democrats is a vote for Islamofascism.
The only thing that stands between the terrorists and the Free World is a Republican administration.
A sobering thought for the intellectual idiots.
Jeeze. When I read posts like this, I feel like it's all over.
In NJ, what do you expect ? You prefer Menendez ? In NJ, I'd take a RINO over the lib RAT.
Farah is a self important ass. Telling FReepers not to vote for an R in a general election is sheer idiocy.
He has never even really supported any conservative Republicans. I think he went straight from a liberal Democrat to an arch-conservative Third Party supporter which indirectly helped his former idological comrades to win strategically.
If my memory is correct, he never supported Bush in the first and second US presidential elections.
No difference..one of the candidates is under indictment .. vote the other guy It all has to do with committee chairmanships.
The people of NY will elect one of 2 men next week for the Senate. As awful and unappealing a choice Kean makes, he is better than Menendez. Sitting out the election and allowing Menendez to win is cowardly and foolish.
A majority party, whether Republican or Democrat, will always include a few "INOS."
Pure parties are minority parties.
We've been the minority party. It's not good. And these days, it would be dangerous.
Sorry but I'll respectfully disagree.
This is one of those cases where you pinch your nose when you vote because of the bigger picture here...and that is keeping the Senate in GOP hands.
It's the only reason I would voice any support for him or for Licoln Chafee or Olympia Snowe. In those cases, it's not about how horrific they are as senators or would-be senators, but about keeping the Senate.
I'm glad I don't have this problem in Tennessee though, I'll tell you that.
Note to NJ freepers: If you value America, if you love our troops, if you want to crush Islamofascism, pull the lever for Kean. If you won't do it for yourself, then do it for our boys patrolling Baghdad.
electing Kean WILL 100% GUARANTEE THAT HARRY REID WILL NOT BE IN CONTROL OF THE SENATE.
Thankfully most people know that World Nut Daily is just below the Weekly World News.
You live in California, you are way the hell out of place calling for this.
Sorry but I'll disrespectfully disagree.
This is the most IDIOTIC ARTICLE EVER AND SO IS ANYONE WHO BUYS INTO THIS CRAP.
Poppycock!! Grind the Democrats into the dirt! Smash them while they're down and never let the scum rise again! Voting "R" here!! God Bless our troops!! God Bless America!!
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
I'm guessing you're not respectfully disagreeing with me but rather the premise of the article given your feelings over it.
:)
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