FINALLY! I've made up my mind what to do in November.

[leftofthedial]

Due to the failure of the Democratic Party and the other candidates to even mention, much less protest the exclusion of Dennis Kucinich from the Las Vegas "debate"

and recent other nonsensical BS perpetrated by the other candidates,

I will support Kucinich as long as he is in the race. Then I'll less enthusiastically support Edwards.

If Clinton or Obama are nominated, for the first time in my adult life, I will not vote for the Democratic Presidential candidate this election.

[RevCheesehead]

1. President Huckabee thanks you for your support.

[leftofthedial]

2. I have to draw the line somewhere

wade in the shallow end of the cesspool

or dive into the deep end?


no thanks. I'm staying dry all over.

[corkhead]

27. I haven't decided for sure yet, but I am feeling like you

I am sick of the progressive agenda being ignored and my vote being taken for granted while Democrats running for office fall over themselves to run to the center or right.

[TahitiNut]

15. "President Huckabee" will get more votes in Michigan and Florida due to the "Democrats" ...

... giving the finger to the voters of those states than ANY liberal, voting their conscience, can ever fear. You don't piss in the voters' faces and then tell them that the THREAT of terrorism/GOP makes their support obligatory. Fuck that bullshit!

Go ahead. Tell me about SCOTUS judges and Roe v. Wade ... and then tell me why labor, the homeless, gays, people RUINED by medical costs, and others get thrown under the bus and then "owe" something to those who didn't stand up for THEM! Tell me about "change" ... and then try to remember 2006 and broken promises.

The notion that votes are "owed" (bigger threat, ya know) and not EARNED is appalling for people who use the title "Democrat" and turn the word into a fucking JOKE.

:grr:

[slipslidingaway]

20. "The notion that votes are "owed" ... and not EARNED is appalling"

:applause:

[rAVES]

25. It is all that is wrong with US politics.

[slipslidingaway]

52. Yes, we let them devalue our vote. n/t

[Hepburn]

32. You put out the ONLY reason that I would vote for Hillary...

...if she is the nominee come this November. Having ANY of the Repiggie assholes who are running right now in the WH in some respects is scarier than the asshole who is there now.

President Huckagomer? :scared:

Holy shit...reforming the US Constution to conform with gawd's laws. That is probably the nuttiest thing I have heard in a very long time.

[Common Sense Party]

60. I wouldn't sweat this. The discontented on DU are not representative

of much of anything in real life.

How many people on DU are so disgusted with the "corporatist oligarchy" that they WON'T vote for the (D) nominee, no matter what? 5%? 10%?

What percentage of the Democratic Party does DU represent? A very small sliver, and we're--as a whole--pretty far to the left of most Democratic voters.

So what we have is a very small sliver of a very small sliver of the party threatening to take their ball and go home. I don't think the discontended abstainers will cause much of a difference in the general election.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. My dear leftofthedial...

I hear what you're saying, and I understand it...

But do remember that the worst candidate we have is still much better than anyone they have!

I mean, this is the truth as I see it...

We need ANY of our Dems in the White House, not just in this election, but in subsequent elections...

Please reconsider, OK?

[leftofthedial]

we live in a one party system--the corporate party.

I choose to not be a member of that party.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. OK...I continue to hear you...

Don't you think that having another Republican in the White House would be a continuing recipe for disaster?

How would that be better than any of our Democrats?

I truly am wondering ...

[leftofthedial]

13. neither of the annointed two has a plan to withdraw from Iraq

any time soon

neither of them has a single-payer, universal health care plan

both of them are "free-trade" corporatists


and now, they tacitly accept that corporations, such as GE, get to pick and choose who is allowed to run for "president." not a complaint. not a peep.


how is that better than the repukes?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

16. Those are not the only issues, as you well know...

We will have to work on our President to change those problem areas...

But there are many other areas that will be unmolested if we get a Dem in the White House...

Roe V. Wade
The 14th Amendment
The environment

And like that...

That's how our Dem is better than the Republicans...

[leftofthedial]

17. the only real issue is the class war

and only Kucinich (and perhaps marginally Edwards) are on my side in the class war. All others, repuke and "democrat" alike, represent the corporations and the oligarchy.


What makes you think the environment will improve under the continued rule of corporatists--it will be a rhetorical issue only. The environment lost ground under Bill Clinton and Hillary is even more of a corporatist than he was.

30 years of repuke rule (Clinton was basically a slightly more conservative Nixon politically) and a SCOTUS that is stacked enough to appoint bush as president did not do in Roe v. Wade. I don't think that will change.

We've already lost so many amendments that one more doesn't matter, does it? I mean the annointed two have either voted for the PATRIOT Act and its extensions or have skipped votes to keep from being on the record about it. They are no champions of our Constitutional rights.

I'm utterly unconvinced that the "democrats" are even marginally better than repukes at this point. I think it's all just a big show--like professional rasslin'. I'm done getting worked up over it.

[txaslftist]

65. Wow. You really get it.

There are two parties in this country. The people who want to be free and the people who want to own them. The owners are the ones who want government to be huge and invasive and large and in charge and completely beholden to the corporations that own it. The people who want to be free just want to be left alone. And they can, by and large, take care of themselves.

There's about a nickel's worth of difference between the candidates we are most likely to get to choose from in November. If that's the best we can do, I'll leave the presidential selection blank, thanks.

[seriousstan]

4. How long have you been voting?

[leftofthedial]

7. first presidential vote was 1976

---although I volunteered for McGovern in 1972

[seriousstan]

8. So was mine, Carter.

[gateley]

5. I understand how you feel --

I don't feel GOOD about the remaining candidates, but I'll vote for whomever our nom is, because -- as icky as that might make me feel, it would be nothing to the deep regret I'd feel if I didn't vote Dem, and a Republican won the election. I could never forgive myself.

[jlake]

6. Hopefully you will think about that and change your mind.

[leftofthedial]

18. yikes!

[HughBeaumont]

39. Yeah, way to convinvce you.

OMG. The thought of that woman as our president makes me ill as well.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/GC01Df03.html
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/538674.cms
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/593175.cms

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhLBSLLIhUs
Hillary pushes for more h1-b visas and outsourcing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLNOSGM2jK4
Hillary Clinton's hypocrisy (part 1)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgdrh2Bc95M
Hillary Clinton's hypocrisy (part 2)

[leftofthedial]

45. thanks for the links

[SammyWinstonJack]

59. If she is our nominee, I'll pass. Probably will pass on Obama too.

[ChiciB1]

10. I've Been There For Quite Some Time... Even My Daughter Lectured Me

a couple of days ago about this. But, living where I live I DON'T even think my vote will be counted, and I SERIOUSLY doubt my little vote matters!

It's John Edwards... Do or DIE!! I've also said that since MSM and all the Powers that be have been so effective in their NON-Coverage of any other candidates but Clinton & Obama, it says EVERYTHING to me! Once again, American people are being CONTROLLED... so having that beer with that good old boy worked out very well! Ya Think???

At least for the GOP, they name most of THEIR candidates frequently! Ron Paul doesn't get much coverage, but he HAS gotten coverage! What is happening to Edwards is in REALITY... A CRIME! IMHO!

[JanusAscending]

11. Wasn't it ............................

Hillary and Edwards who put their heads together, and discussed (on open mike) getting rid of "Kooch" for the coming debates??????? Just wonderin'. Don't know why your blaming Obama!!

[leftofthedial]

14. did I miss Obama's cries of protests about Kucinich's exclusion by GE?

the context for Clinton and Edwards' comments were explained as wishing they could have more, smaller debates. when there were 8 or 9 candidates on stage, there was not time for anyone to say much of anything.

now that the two corporatists have been annointed by GE, there is no need for them to do anything but shoot spitwads at each other.

[tomp]

12. not an easy decision to make.

but i respect it.

however, consider that you really don't have to decide anything until it's time for you to vote. why declare now? see what's happening in november.

[slipslidingaway]

19. I think you will have company...

there does come a point in one's life when they have to take a stand. Finally found this quote from Conyers that I was looking for the other day.

First election 1976 as well.

http://www.truthout.org/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi/48/18010

"...He answered the question in early January, on the phone from Detroit during the congressional winter recess.

"To take away the excuse," he said, "that we didn't know." So that two or four or ten years from now, if somebody should ask, "Where were you, Conyers, and where was the United States Congress?" when the Bush Administration declared the Constitution inoperative and revoked the license of parliamentary government, none of the company now present can plead ignorance or temporary insanity, can say that "somehow it escaped our notice" that the President was setting himself up as a supreme leader exempt from the rule of law.

[donheld]

21. Let me thank you in advance for

giving the supreme court to the far right for many years to come. By letting the far right have total control of the judicial system, you can guarantee the corporate party will rule the day for a very very long time.
I hope you are happy with your decision.

[leftofthedial]

29. the far right already has the court for many years to come

and, I fear, the Democratic party as well, or the empty shell that's left of it

[donheld]

57. By your not voting and allowing another republican to get elected

you'll only make it worse.

[LeftCoast]

22. Sorry, but THAT's your reason for not voting Democratic in Nov?

Due to the failure of the Democratic Party and the other candidates to even mention, much less protest the exclusion of Dennis Kucinich from the Las Vegas "debate"

For that you'd be willing to risk another republican in the WH?

OK...

[rAVES]

26. Wouldnt be hard to pile on 50 other reasons.. but this is a bad state of affairs.

[eridani]

23. Dammit, they'd at least give us some space to push our agenda

We get ZERO on that score from Repubs.

[leftofthedial]

31. if you mean a progressive agenda

we've gotten ZERO on that score from Democrats in the last 50 years too.

[eridani]

40. Civil rights? Consumer protection? 70s restrictions on govt spying?

Not all we'd want, but not bad either

[leftofthedial]

41. civil rights was a bipartisan issue--many Democrats were segregationists

ironically, so was consumer protection--Theodore Roosevelt started food safety regulation, Nixon started workplace safety (OSHA) and the EPA.

Clinton reduced the restrictions on government spying in the original FISA act and introduced warrantless spying (with a streamlined post-facto warrant process)


Generally, deregulation has moved more quickly under repukes, but it also has moved forward under democrats.

[cali]

24. did you actually think that this is earthshaking?

It's simply short sighted and rather pathetic- just as the dozens and dozens of other carbon copy posts in this vein are.

[leftofthedial]

30. no.

[KharmaTrain]

28. I'm Thinking Of Avoiding The Presidential Primary....

I'll vote down ticket...but at this point I can't commit to any candidate and may just decide to stick with the local races. Bottom line is that come November, I will vote for the Democratic nominee...as will all in my family. I've said it over and over again that the best repugnican on their best day doesn't come close to the worst Democrat on their worst day.

The stakes this year are very high...whomever takes over on 1-20-09 will have a massive mess to untangle and then start to clear up. While I wish I could be an idealist, the realist says that repugnicans must be shut out of office and then start to rebuild this shattered country. Maybe then we can then afford to push for a lot of the social programs and legislation a majority of us stand for. But now all I want is a sane government.

Stay home in the general and you have no right to bitch is a Hucklenutz or Rudy is elected...if anything, be prepared to defend being an enabler. Sure reminds me of the Naderites in '00...Pepsi/Coke and see what we got?

[matcom]

33. i'm sorry to see you leave DU

but as we all know, if you don't vote, you don't get to bitch.

R.I.P. leftofthedial

:cry:

[leftofthedial]

46. I'm sorry to see DU leave me

[deacon]

34. I will write in Edwards even if he drops out. The status quo of hillary, reid and pelosi i have no

use for. They are not opposite of bush enough, at ALL.

[bonito]

35. I hear ya, lets see how the playing field looks in nov.

[rucky]

36. My plan would make the same statement w/ less risk:

Change your party affiliation after the convention! You can still vote for the lesser evil, but a mass exodus from party registration would send a message.

Hope you reconsider, but respect your decision.

[we can do it]

37. I Guess That Will Make You Right of the Dial, Then

[leftofthedial]

42. that is laughably ridiculous

I won't vote for free-trade corporatists who are right-of-center, further right than the majority of Americans on the occupation of Iraq and on health care and on civil liberties...

and you accuse me of being farther right than them?

[we can do it]

62. Not Voting Is Laughably Ridiculous

[Rockholm]

38. Then just who will you vote for?

[leftofthedial]

43. certainly not for a repuke or a "libertarian"

[dorkulon]

44. That's not a principled stand, sorry.

Even Kucinich himself wouldn't advocate this course of action. All you're doing is ushering in another GOP administration.

Not voting is an asinine form of protest.

[leftofthedial]

67. I didn't say not voting

I said not voting for the Democratic ticket.

[dorkulon]

69. Oh... never mind then.

I voted for Nader twice, but I live in NY, so I knew the Dems would take me state. I'd think twice if I lived in a swing state, though.

[NNN0LHI]

47. FINALLY! ??

Sorry ain't buying whatever your selling.

Don

[lapislzi]

48. Roe v Wade. That is all.

[in_cog_ni_to]

56. Supreme Court and Roe v. Wade.....cannot be repeated enough! IMCPO. THIS is the most important

election of our LIFETIME. Period.

[leftofthedial]

68. 30 years of corporatist repuke rule (in effect)

has not done in Roe v Wade. The repukes don't want to illegalize abortion. they want to talk about criminalizing it.

[Lilith Velkor]

61. Bush v Gore.

[Justice Is Comin]

49. Why this country isn't

marching in the streets and throwing ticker tape parades for Edwards to be our president, I just don't get it. I just don't get it.

[madinmaryland]

50. IBTL! Nice post, Huckabee.

:grr:

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

51. What?? How dare you consider your vote your own to use as you please?!!

It sounds downright democratic!!!

[lapislzi]

53. You have unwittingly hit on what I think is a fundamental difference

Between "us" and "them." "Them" being (mostly) republicans. Is my vote just about what's good for ME, what will soothe my conscience and preserve my ideological purity? Or does my vote stand for what I think will do the most good for the most number of people? Do we have a responsibility to our fellow Americans to vote for the best choice under the circumstances with an eye to preserving what's important to many of us?

I'm not wild about Hillary or Barack, but I'll by jingo vote for either one in a heartbeat to keep McCain, Romney, or Huckabee from fucking up this country even more than it already is.

Change comes in small increments (unless you're advocating revolution, which I think is the most unlikely of scenarios given the current lethargy of the American electorate). You gotta play the hand you're dealt.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

63. We all vote our concious. And, it's always about "me".

To think otherwise is naive. You, apparently, believe that voting Democratic is somehow going to preserve "what's important to many of us". I assume that "us" contains you. You also seem to assume that your vote will keep the repugs from fucking up this country more than it is.

I'm not attached to any ideology. So, I don't have to preserve my ideological purity. Nor, am I egomaniacal enough to think that my single vote is going to change the world. And, I don't have to play the hand I'm dealt by the bosses.

"I never submitted the whole system of my opinions to the creed of any party of men whatever, in religion, in philosophy, in politics, or in anything else, where I was capable of thinking for myself. Such an addiction is the last degradation of a free and moral agent. If I could not go to heaven but with a party, I would not go there at all." --Thomas Jefferson to Francis Hopkinson, 1789.

"Were parties here divided merely by a greediness for office,...to take a part with either would be unworthy of a reasonable or moral man." --Thomas Jefferson to William Branch Giles, 1795.

“Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost." --John Quincy Adams

[leftofthedial]

66. continuing to support the two branches of the Corporate Party

will destroy this country and everyone in it who is not a trillionaire.

[Vickers]

54. "That's it, I'm taking my vote and going home!"

:eyes:

[uppityperson]

55. And it is brave of you to post this here.

Nothing says that the 2 parties will continue as they are now. They have changed, a lot, over the yrs and will continue to change. While I believe in trying to change the system from within, at some point it may be come necessary to make change by voting otherwise.

There is a while between now and then, and I do not know what I will do, now. Depends on what happens by then. Brave of you to post this and I understand your frustrations.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

58. Why?

What's so good about Edwards that you wouldn't vote for Obama? Hell, even Kucinich says to vote for Obama.

[txaslftist]

64. I'm with you.

[mmonk]

70. I understand your anger.