How do I know? I'll tell you. Tonight on Facebook someone I don't even know posted this comment:
"A 3rd party vote ensures disaster!! Read your history books."
And right away, without having to ponder it, I posted this:
Well, see, I'm in Vermont. I get to vote from my brain and heart at the same time, not out of some guilt trip, because, let's face it, Vermont is going to vote for Bernie anyway (the way we voted for Dean after he dropped out) and the country doesn't really give a care how Vermont votes anyway, because the system is rigged, we're not a swing state, and there is no real election anyway. I am an election official in my town and the shenanigans I saw across this country (changing or dropping polling places and purging voter rolls during a general election cycle, allowing a candidate's spouse to enter a polling place to schmooze, etc., etc), would never have been permitted here! The DNC doesn't get to play God with the votes then expect people to bless their actions and their choice. So, no. I'm not a Democrat and I don't owe anyone my vote. My vote is MY voice. But don't worry. The DNC doesn't care about my vote or my voice.
But, there's still hope. Next week, the Democrats could make history, since they still have an opportunity to offer us someone we can, in all good conscience, vote for. It's up to them. If they choose to ignore the fact that we have a wonderful candidate who gets it, who isn't under investigation, who has experience, isn't tied to big money, is incredibly consistent, is genuinely humble and polls well (except in the deep South which the Dems are going to lose anyway), and if they go ahead and crown the person they chose even before the voters had a chance to weigh in, then it is NOT on MY head if the wrong person gets elected. It is on the heads of the DNC and every single person who participated in voter suppression.
The first writer better study up a bit on third parties, methinks. And by the way, my vote in California isn't considered either.
Comment and question re combs on previous thread, listener. And now to bed, later than I should, but I got an opinion written and e-mailed to the attorney who requested it.
"Sixteen years later, you can still hear Democratic leaders blaming their failure to keep the White House in 2000 on 'defections' to Ralph Nader’s Green Party campaign. These Democrats want us to forget that in the face of serious, publicly-expressed progressive dissatisfaction with Al Gore’s candidacy, Gore told left-leaning voters to take a hike by choosing Joe Lieberman as his running-mate, one of the few inside-the-Beltway Democrats even more corporate and hawkish than himself.
(You remember Lieberman? He exited the party several years later over his Iraq War fanaticism and campaigned for McCain in 2008 against Obama.)
Today, progressive dissatisfaction with Hillary Clinton is even stronger, more organized and better-networked than was dissatisfaction with Gore in 2000.
I sure hope Clinton does not ignore this reality – or this history."
HRC veeps Kaine. True to form, but a more-of-the-same, ho-hum choice that I don't expect will bring many people to the voting booths and provides no inspiration for the future. IS THIS THE BEST THE "DEMOCRATIC" PARTY CAN DO?
I wonder who will be the Green Party VP candidate? Speculation seems to mention Michelle Alexander as a leading contender.
Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) 8 mins ago - View on Twitter Clinton now a 72% favorite in Virginia per our polls-plus forecast, which makes an adjustment for her VP pick. projects.fivethirtyeight.…
Bernie's campaign web site seems to have become petrified, I haven't noticed any e-mails from them for some time, and there are stories that his DNC delegates are not receiving any direction or coordination from the campaign. I don't think I will set up a recurring donation to Jill Stein until I see the outcome of the Green nominating convention, which is two weeks away.
It is interesting that in the Jill Stein donations article I linked above that many of the donations were for $27...
I wonder how long it will be before bumper stickers reading "Clinton Kain't" or "Hillary Kain't" become available on line; probably less than 24 hours.
Kaine will help Hillary carry Virginia, a swing state. That was probably the major factor in the choice. And while we don't like him on trade and banking, *I* like him on the death penalty. He's also strong on immigration reform and gun control.
It's definitely still Bernie.
ReplyDeleteHow do I know? I'll tell you. Tonight on Facebook someone I don't even know posted this comment:
"A 3rd party vote ensures disaster!! Read your history books."
And right away, without having to ponder it, I posted this:
Well, see, I'm in Vermont. I get to vote from my brain and heart at the same time, not out of some guilt trip, because, let's face it, Vermont is going to vote for Bernie anyway (the way we voted for Dean after he dropped out) and the country doesn't really give a care how Vermont votes anyway, because the system is rigged, we're not a swing state, and there is no real election anyway. I am an election official in my town and the shenanigans I saw across this country (changing or dropping polling places and purging voter rolls during a general election cycle, allowing a candidate's spouse to enter a polling place to schmooze, etc., etc), would never have been permitted here! The DNC doesn't get to play God with the votes then expect people to bless their actions and their choice. So, no. I'm not a Democrat and I don't owe anyone my vote. My vote is MY voice. But don't worry. The DNC doesn't care about my vote or my voice.
But, there's still hope. Next week, the Democrats could make history, since they still have an opportunity to offer us someone we can, in all good conscience, vote for. It's up to them. If they choose to ignore the fact that we have a wonderful candidate who gets it, who isn't under investigation, who has experience, isn't tied to big money, is incredibly consistent, is genuinely humble and polls well (except in the deep South which the Dems are going to lose anyway), and if they go ahead and crown the person they chose even before the voters had a chance to weigh in, then it is NOT on MY head if the wrong person gets elected. It is on the heads of the DNC and every single person who participated in voter suppression.
Write on, listener! Love it.
DeleteWell said, Listener!
DeleteThe first writer better study up a bit on third parties, methinks. And by the way, my vote in California isn't considered either.
ReplyDeleteComment and question re combs on previous thread, listener. And now to bed, later than I should, but I got an opinion written and e-mailed to the attorney who requested it.
--Alan
Sounds like that attorney really needs your opinion about the combs too. ;-)
DeleteHere's [Click] a little reminder of how Al Gore [arguably] lost the election because of his VP pick. Ayup.
ReplyDelete--Alan
An excerpt.
Delete--Alan
"Sixteen years later, you can still hear Democratic leaders blaming their failure to keep the White House in 2000 on 'defections' to Ralph Nader’s Green Party campaign. These Democrats want us to forget that in the face of serious, publicly-expressed progressive dissatisfaction with Al Gore’s candidacy, Gore told left-leaning voters to take a hike by choosing Joe Lieberman as his running-mate, one of the few inside-the-Beltway Democrats even more corporate and hawkish than himself.
(You remember Lieberman? He exited the party several years later over his Iraq War fanaticism and campaigned for McCain in 2008 against Obama.)
Today, progressive dissatisfaction with Hillary Clinton is even stronger, more organized and better-networked than was dissatisfaction with Gore in 2000.
I sure hope Clinton does not ignore this reality – or this history."
HRC veeps Kaine. True to form, but a more-of-the-same, ho-hum choice that I don't expect will bring many people to the voting booths and provides no inspiration for the future. IS THIS THE BEST THE "DEMOCRATIC" PARTY CAN DO?
DeleteI wonder who will be the Green Party VP candidate? Speculation seems to mention Michelle Alexander as a leading contender.
Donations to Jill Stein Explode Nearly 1000% Since Sanders’ Endorsement of Clinton [Click] Tom Cahill | July 13, 2016
--Alan
Kaine as VP pick could be disastrous.
Deletehttp://thehill.com/policy/finance/288726-liberal-group-kaine-as-vp-nominee-potentially-disasterous
Nate Silver (@NateSilver538)
ReplyDelete8 mins ago - View on Twitter
Clinton now a 72% favorite in Virginia per our polls-plus forecast, which makes an adjustment for her VP pick. projects.fivethirtyeight.…
Bernie's campaign web site seems to have become petrified, I haven't noticed any e-mails from them for some time, and there are stories that his DNC delegates are not receiving any direction or coordination from the campaign. I don't think I will set up a recurring donation to Jill Stein until I see the outcome of the Green nominating convention, which is two weeks away.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting that in the Jill Stein donations article I linked above that many of the donations were for $27...
--Alan
I wonder how long it will be before bumper stickers reading "Clinton Kain't" or "Hillary Kain't" become available on line; probably less than 24 hours.
ReplyDelete--Alan
Kaine will help Hillary carry Virginia, a swing state. That was probably the major factor in the choice. And while we don't like him on trade and banking, *I* like him on the death penalty. He's also strong on immigration reform and gun control.
ReplyDeleteLeaked Docs Reveal DNC Determined to Undermine Sanders Campaign [Click] Gee, who could have seen that coming?
ReplyDeleteClinton Inflames Progressive Base with Choice of Tim Kaine as Vice President [Click] "If Clinton has reached out to Bernie supporters, it appears that she has done so to stick triangulating thumbs in their eyes."
--Alan