"strategic" voting -- a thought for tomorrow

[Bill McBlueState]

I've been mentally wandering all over the place about what to do tomorrow. Do I vote for Dean, since I've been with him all the way, or do I vote for Kucinich, since he's still in the race and I like his ideas, or do I vote for Edwards, who can "stop Kerry," or do I vote for Kerry, since he's "electable" and not such a bad guy...

You know what? I just get one vote. My own vote isn't going to send a message to anyone. It's one of millions of votes that will be cast tomorrow. Nobody's going to say, "Oh, WMass Astronomer voted for Candidate X! We better change our message!"

So all I can do is vote for the candidate I want to be the nominee. That's the whole point of voting, and that's the only message I can send with my single vote -- who do I want to be the nominee? Strategic voting is sort of an oxymoron. Large blocks of voters send a message, but all I can do individually is vote my conscience. If I want to send a message, I'll show up at a rally or write a check.

So to hell with strategic voting, I'm voting for Howard Dean. He's the reason I got into this, and he's getting my vote.

[Ficus]

1. it's all over anyways

so I think you made a good choice.

[seventhson]

2. I was for Dean, but I am voting Dennis Kucinich , It makes more sense

Dean made his impact. We need DK to make his and getting him a few more delegates will help get the anti-war pro-people candidate heard.

[redqueen]

5. I love the way you think.

[slinkerwink]

3. good for you! I'm doing the same thing.....

[sangh0]

4. Good for you

I'm gald to see people are taking their own vote seriously

[G_j]

6. hey!

you folks voting for DK :yourock: :yourock: :yourock:

:loveya:

[sangh0]

9. Maybe, but I doubt it

I'll probably vote for Kerry

[G_j]

10. well

:yourock: also!!

voting is the key

[AndyP]

7. I feel the same way

I voted in Wisconsin, and I knew dman right he wasn't going to win. I still voted for him- he's the one that got me excited, he's the one that got me even more pissed off about Bush. I thought of voting for him as a way of saying thanks for doing those things for me.

[jmaier]

8. Sounds reasonable to me

I plan on voting for Clark in IL, if he's on the ballot. I don't expect this primary to be close. If it actually were a toss-up then I'd vote for Kerry.

[jansu]

11. I already voted for Dean in tomorrow's California Primary!

Because, I believe our vote does count! To change over before the Convention, just because someone else is leading, is to not understand what this process is about! Oh well.....can't teach some people and too many just want to be able to say, "I voted for the winner"! Like it's a football rally or something less important.

By voting for your candidate, you are sending a message that your vote does count. It may not change who gets nominated, but why would you want to send anyone else the message that they have your complete support, that he has a mandate from the Democratic voters? He needs to understand that we are only voting ABB in November, not for him. That he does not have to take any of your and your candidates issues seriously?

My vote is sacred! The only thing that I believe is sacred, so don't tell me I am wasting my vote. Try getting away with telling a religious person that their sacred prayer is wasted!

America did not invent Human Rights, Human Rights invented America!

(in my district, you have to vote by absentee ballot).