General Discussion

Jim Lane

(11,175 posts)

107. Other: lesser of two evils, provided there's been an open nomination contest.

Wed Feb 18, 2015, 02:27 AM

Feb 2015

If we nominate a right-wing Democrat, I'll be disappointed, but there's nothing to be gained by stomping off in disgust. If the votes are there to elect a good candidate in November, then the same votes can get that candidate the nomination. On the other hand, if someone like Hillary wins the nomination, it means that we haven't yet reached enough people with the arguments for a more progressive candidate that have been made cogently in several threads on DU. That's where we have to work, not on voting for a no-hoper.

This reasoning depends on the openness of the contest, though. If potential progressive candidates and/or voters have been unfairly excluded from the Democratic Party process, then I'll consider not voting for the party nominee.

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108 replies

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When will you stop voting for the lesser of two evils? (Poll) [View all] F4lconF16 Feb 2015 OP

Other: Both loyalty oaths and "I'm done" oaths are way premature. The primary has not even begun. merrily Feb 2015 #1

It wasn't meant as a loyalty/disloyalty oath thing F4lconF16 Feb 2015 #6

Yup. Agschmid Feb 2015 #31

I don't see our possible candidates as the lesser of the two evils. hrmjustin Feb 2015 #2

When the two-party system becomes Democratic and Green KamaAina Feb 2015 #3

Hillary or any equivalent is my red line Man from Pickens Feb 2015 #4

Post like this, in combination with alert stalkers, make me worry about DU's future. merrily Feb 2015 #7

Do you mean like post #13 just below? [n/t] Maedhros Feb 2015 #35

Dunno. msongs has always been an enigma to me. However, I have seen many posts merrily Feb 2015 #36

There are many bullies on DU. [n/t] Maedhros Feb 2015 #40

Fortunately, IMO, many have begun to refuse their bullying and to speak their own truth more boldly. merrily Feb 2015 #73

so you didn't vote for obama then? nt msongs Feb 2015 #13

That was my last time I will do that. Katashi_itto Feb 2015 #57

I look at the candidates and choose the one that best fits my idea of what a candidate should be. Agnosticsherbet Feb 2015 #5

A couple questions: F4lconF16 Feb 2015 #12

If one pickle is a planck length longer than another. One is still longer. Agnosticsherbet Feb 2015 #21

Some thoughts. F4lconF16 Feb 2015 #27

The applicants will both be asked to vote on matters that count. The better applicant Agnosticsherbet Feb 2015 #34

Extraordinarily well said. Nt stevenleser Feb 2015 #42

Wow that was a great post Egnever Feb 2015 #58

Outstanding response to the foolhardy "lesser than two evils" argument. great white snark Feb 2015 #81

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^This...times a gazillion...^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ pkdu Feb 2015 #93

I have hypertension and consequently moderate Chronic Kidney Disease DemocratSinceBirth Feb 2015 #85

thank you guillaumeb Feb 2015 #28

NO ONE has ever voted for his or her perfect candidate. merrily Feb 2015 #38

Under no circumstances do I go to a restaurant and order shit that I despise TheKentuckian Feb 2015 #68

I will ALWAYS vote for the best choice that can win... brooklynite Feb 2015 #8

voting for someone who can't win still shows the winner what we want alc Feb 2015 #25

Well said. F4lconF16 Feb 2015 #29

Nader voters sure showed Bush* what they want and he showed them by invading Iraq. DemocratSinceBirth Feb 2015 #94

As we saw last November from the low voter turnout, most voters are already THERE. closeupready Feb 2015 #9

I'd agree with that, particularly when you look at younger voters. F4lconF16 Feb 2015 #14

When there is a viable alternative Lurks Often Feb 2015 #10

Exactly. So far we've only seen spoiler candidates - TBF Feb 2015 #55

If a popular former president couldn't win as a third part candidate... DemocratSinceBirth Feb 2015 #95

It's a different decade - TBF Feb 2015 #99

I don't think Jeb or Hillary are evil in how I view the word. NCTraveler Feb 2015 #11

You don't think Jeb is evil? BrotherIvan Feb 2015 #92

I think evil is a relative term. NCTraveler Feb 2015 #108

I will vote for the Democratic nominee. Terra Alta Feb 2015 #15

"Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, Tierra_y_Libertad Feb 2015 #16

+1. We should always vote for what we believe in. nt F4lconF16 Feb 2015 #17

Political triangulation can now be called a failed experiment. pa28 Feb 2015 #18

"A great idea until it hauled the intellectual center of the Democratic party to the right of 1980's F4lconF16 Feb 2015 #24

When I voted for Obama twice, I didn't vote for the lesser of two evils Cali_Democrat Feb 2015 #19

Evil, no. F4lconF16 Feb 2015 #20

You said it just fine. Most DUers understand that Lesser of two evils is shorthand and they also merrily Feb 2015 #39

very simple - I will vote for a progressive alternative when doing so will not risk throwing the Douglas Carpenter Feb 2015 #22

I've known who I was going to vote for since 1978 ileus Feb 2015 #23

I've been doing this for years. bigwillq Feb 2015 #26

Then a question: F4lconF16 Feb 2015 #72

When I don't think one candidate will offer much difference than the other. bigwillq Feb 2015 #74

Thanks for the answer. nt F4lconF16 Feb 2015 #75

My response is ... 1StrongBlackMan Feb 2015 #30

All this whining about candidates Sheepshank Feb 2015 #32

Gee, it's been a while since the mindless pony meme got posted. merrily Feb 2015 #41

mindless pony meme? The shoe fits to a "t" here on DU lately Sheepshank Feb 2015 #61

People get too hung up on politicians' perceived characteristics as a human being. Starry Messenger Feb 2015 #33

Well said. YoungDemCA Feb 2015 #76

I like your metaphor A Little Weird Feb 2015 #106

I will always vote for the lesser of two evils treestar Feb 2015 #37

My life is full of "lesser of two evils". We should all work to improve the 'better of the two evils pampango Feb 2015 #43

The effort to depress the Democratic turn out continues. JoePhilly Feb 2015 #44

The most successful effort to depress Democratic turnout in history ... Scuba Feb 2015 #46

The perpetually disgruntled are always disgruntled. JoePhilly Feb 2015 #53

Don't have the time at the moment to properly reply F4lconF16 Feb 2015 #62

That's the level of compassion of the Third Way and corporatists in general. woo me with science Feb 2015 #96

Yes, just dismiss us as the "professional left" or "perpetually disgruntled." Scuba Feb 2015 #64

Dean's 50 state strategy was on guns and confederate flags. joshcryer Feb 2015 #67

When are you willing to let theocratic teabagger fascists totally take over the government workinclasszero Feb 2015 #45

That's certainly what the Koch brothers want you to think. Scuba Feb 2015 #47

Every candidate nominated by the Party thus far has run saying shitty things about LGBT rights and Bluenorthwest Feb 2015 #48

Well, I can't speak for others F4lconF16 Feb 2015 #66

I don't do this...I resort to writing in a democratic candidate that is acceptable. HereSince1628 Feb 2015 #49

When there is a sufficient SCOTUS majority allowing for ... 11 Bravo Feb 2015 #50

By the time Kentucky votes, the nomination will already be sealed. Ykcutnek Feb 2015 #51

There's never "not" been the lesser of two evils. liberalmuse Feb 2015 #52

I consider this post an attempt at inducing voter apathy. MohRokTah Feb 2015 #54

It works well for the 1%er party though workinclasszero Feb 2015 #56

Hyperbolic nonsense. MohRokTah Feb 2015 #60

Not voter apathy so much as voter awareness. F4lconF16 Feb 2015 #70

I've never voted for the lesser of two evils in my life. MohRokTah Feb 2015 #71

We have the opportunity to choose the Democratic candidate in the primary. Someone who can't win the Chathamization Feb 2015 #59

You seem to be a young man or woman DemocratSinceBirth Feb 2015 #63

Why just dismiss this? Why not instead recoginize that it's a call for wresting the Party ... Scuba Feb 2015 #65

I am and there are many, many, many more like me. F4lconF16 Feb 2015 #69

Exactly, their only narrative is bully and intimidate. Which is why we lost last year. Rex Feb 2015 #80

My thoughts are in Post 85. /NT DemocratSinceBirth Feb 2015 #86

LOL. And people like you wonder why we lost on November 4th. Rex Feb 2015 #78

I wouldn' be here if I would votw for a repukian turd maggot olddots Feb 2015 #77

I have hit what I call The Popeye Point hifiguy Feb 2015 #79

Same here, they are a poison to the party and seem not to care or even know it. Rex Feb 2015 #83

The poison to the party are ideological purists who hold their breath until they turn blue MohRokTah Feb 2015 #98

What I hear in the majority of the replys: ret5hd Feb 2015 #82

Cool strawman, bro. eom MohRokTah Feb 2015 #100

Maybe this is more apt: ret5hd Feb 2015 #101

Cooler strawman, bro! eom MohRokTah Feb 2015 #102

Does "Not voting for the lesser of two evils..." mean Blue_Tires Feb 2015 #84

Either one you should choose. F4lconF16 Feb 2015 #91

I have never voted for anyone evil-that includes President Obama. great white snark Feb 2015 #87

I'll stop voting for the lesser of two evils when a candidate offers me more than that. n/t Exhibit A Feb 2015 #88

Let me change that a little bit: Exhibit A Feb 2015 #90

EVERY election i ever voted in was the lesser of two or more evils. hobbit709 Feb 2015 #89

I'm a native Lefty Democratic Californian. hunter Feb 2015 #97

Other. H2O Man Feb 2015 #103

I forgot to include the assumption that there are no good options F4lconF16 Feb 2015 #104

It's an interesting H2O Man Feb 2015 #105

Other: lesser of two evils, provided there's been an open nomination contest. Jim Lane Feb 2015 #107