NP; looks like the Dem Primary is kinda like Iceland Sparring.....

[David Morris]

OK, so now you admit to underlying practicality (I hadn't understood
your electoral college reference):  you only will throw your vote away
in protest if it was a futile vote anyway.  That I can understand and
appreciate.  I hate Nader bacause he gave Florida to W, so I wouldn't
vote for him to be dog-catcher.

David Morris

On Fri, Mar 7, 2008 at 8:35 AM,  <kelber at mindspring.com> wrote:
> You underscore the point I was making to Thomas:  people who attempt to make their voices heard through the only available outlet - the protest vote - are vilified.  I would not have voted for Nader if I hadn't lived in a solidly blue state.  If Nader hadn't been on the ballot, by the way, I would have voted for the SWP candidate or written in a name.
>
> Laura
>
> -----Original Message-----
> >From: David Morris <fqmorris at gmail.com>
> >Sent: Mar 7, 2008 8:54 AM
> >To: kelber at mindspring.com
> >Cc: pynchon-l at waste.org
> >Subject: Re: NP; looks like the Dem Primary is kinda like Iceland Sparring.....
> >
> >Practical realities be damned!  Protest your way to hell, and take us
> >all with you?  You'll deign to  vote for the only hope this country
> >has to be saved from the Republicans only because the Democrat is
> >black or a woman?   I'm sorry but I take this attitude (and Nader's
> >the finest example of it) as selfish and childish.
> >
> >Holding your breath till you turn blue has never been an effective
> >strategy, especially when the other side would like you to stop
> >breathing forever.
> >
> >David Morris
> >
> >On Fri, Mar 7, 2008 at 6:43 AM,  <kelber at mindspring.com> wrote:
> >> The point of the Nader candidacy was to give people an outlet for protest against the centrist policies and candidates that are hand-picked at the top of the party (there was no groundswell from the people to have Obama address the 2004 convention, for example.  He was selected by the powers-that-be, grooming him as a future candidate.)  Since I began voting in New York for president in the late 70s, I've consistently used the electoral college system as a shield for my protest vote (Except I voted for Mondale).  I didn't vote for Clinton in either election.  Unfortunately, protest voters are not seen as expressing their distaste for centrism -- they're merely vilified by all. So I'm not sure what mechanisms you think are available for Democrats to make demands on the party leadership.  This year I'll be voting for the centrist candidate in the general election because the significance of having a black or female candidate overrides their centrist politics.
>
>