I cannot, in good conscience, do anything but vote for

[MineralMan]

President Obama. My vote is my vote. It cannot be used as a proxy for anyone else. It cannot substitute for anything but my own personal decision. In my judgment, a vote for President Obama and for the Democrats running for legislative positions on my ballot is the only thing that makes any sense at all in 2012.

Not voting is not an option. I have voted in every election since I cast my first vote in 1966 in California. I have never missed an election, not even one for some local issue. When the turnout is under 10%, I'm still there in the polling place on election day.

It is my vote. I cannot vote in proxy for someone who is disenfranchised. That's silly. I can help people who need photo IDs get those IDs, but that's not an issue in my state. That's on the ballot in this election, and I'll be voting against requiring photo IDS in the future. I'll be voting against limiting marriage and denying people their rights. I'll be voting for President Obama, and every Democratic legislator on my ballot.

I'll be working to get other people out to vote, too, and will drive people to the polls on election day, so they can cast their ballots. I cannot vote in place of anyone else, but I can help them vote, and will. Nobody can vote as a proxy for anyone. That is impossible. Each individual votes for him or herself, alone. There is no way to rationalize your vote as somehow voting in place of someone else. If you do that, you disenfranchise yourself and make a mockery of the entire system.

For President of The United States, there will be only two candidates who have any chance of winning the election. It's crucial to vote for one of those two candidates, since one will become the President. Not voting disenfranchises yourself. Trying to fool yourself into thinking you are somehow voting by proxy for someone else is silliness. You will vote, not the other person. It will be your hand marking the ballot, and your brain guiding your hand.

It is your vote. Use it wisely.

Thanks.

[uppityperson]

1. We each rationalize our vote different ways and have different amounts of willingness to support

someone. It is best to not deride others for their reasons or willingness but to appreciate all who do vote.

Your vote will be your vote, but it will also counter someone else's vote.

[MineralMan]

3. No, my vote will only be my vote.

It stands on its own, and is made after considering as many things as I can manage. It isn't made to counter anyone's vote. It is simply my vote. Each person votes only for him or herself. When the votes get counted, mine will be tallied, along with all the others. When I see the number of votes that were the same as mine, I will know that one of those votes was, in fact, mine.

I'm not rationalizing anything at all. I will be voting, based on my own reasoning ability. I assume that everyone else does the same.

[uppityperson]

5. However, your vote WILL counter someone else's. I understand what you are saying, let me try

to explain more clearly so you can understand me.

Your vote will counter someone else's most likely. It also will stand on its own and also be added to others votes.

If someone wishes to rationalize voting for someone whose policies they may not often agree with by thinking it will counter someone else's, or it will be for a disenfranchized voter, that is how they rationalize it. I am not talking about you, but about whoever it was that wrote that other thread that this one is talking about. And I know this thread is not just talking about another thread.

[ismnotwasm]

2. I tried that not voting shit.

Or, I'd vote Socialist. Democrat when I had to, I guess you'd call that proxy. There are plenty of apolitical folks who simply don't vote as well. Know what I ended up with? A country where George W. Bush was even considered good presidential material, and all that led too. I had a political --epiphany, I guess you'd call it.

I will be voting for the best choice, President Obama.

[MineralMan]

4. Thanks for voting, based on your personal choice.

That's the bottom line.

[panader0]

6. The kind of lukewarm, limp support offered in the other (unreferenced) thread

is not what is needed at this point. The "hold your nose" while they vote types should get some resolve.

[DerekG]

7. How can you get "resolve" if you don't believe in the candidate?

n/t

[uppityperson]

8. Do you believe the other candidate will be awful?Then resolve yourself to voting proudly against him

Do you have resolve to have decent people on the SCOTUS?

[sevenseas]

9. Please God, don't let me die before these two things:

1. OCTOBER 3rd DEBATE and

2. ELECTION DAY

When I will cast my vote for OBAMA

I am SO pumped!

(Hooray, New Orleans seniors who showed balls)

THEN- we need to concentrate on dumping all the Sarah Palin 'look-alikes'
that got elected JUST BECAUSE THEY RESEMBLED PALIN.

I have one word to describe people who voted for the Palin 'look-alikes'=

SHALLOW!!!