General Discussion

LWolf

(46,179 posts)

17. Why I don't:

Reply to Donald Ian Rankin (Original post)

Sun May 31, 2015, 04:46 PM

May 2015

If I campaign for, and vote for, a candidate with the right policies, then I've got a win/or at least hold the line situation. If I win, then I've got a politician who is actually going to fight for the right policies. If I lose, then my party is the opposition, and will mount some sort of opposition to the enemy.

If I elect someone with the wrong policies because she can win, I've surrendered before we ever made it to the front lines. I've got at least a whole term, and probably longer, of my party feeling like they have to support the wrong policies. There's no opposition to the wrong policies. There are policy shifts within my own party and the nation that move both further away, that move me further to the fringe, or throw me completely under the bus, and I'm supposed to shut up and take it out of party loyalty. Electing someone with the wrong policies from my own party doesn't hold any line. It's a lose/lose.

It's throwing my party, my country, and the 99% under the bus.

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Why I care more about electability and coat-tails than policies in a candidate. [View all] Donald Ian Rankin May 2015 OP

I Will No Longer Settle For The Lesser Of Two Corporate Evils - Go Bernie Go cantbeserious May 2015 #1

I'm afraid my answer to that is "yes you will - you just may not be happy about doing so". Donald Ian Rankin May 2015 #2

Easy Rationalization To Justify An Unjustifiable Position cantbeserious May 2015 #5

As long as you're willing to live with the consequences..... brooklynite May 2015 #19

Perfectly Willing To Live Without HRC cantbeserious May 2015 #20

Yeah, that's a cool, snide answer, but perhaps not realistic. Adrahil Jun 2015 #36

Sincere And Honest - Not Snide At All cantbeserious Jun 2015 #37

But you still didn't answer.... What wil you do? n/t Adrahil Jun 2015 #38

I Will Vote For Bernie cantbeserious Jun 2015 #43

If he doesn't get the nomination? Adrahil Jun 2015 #61

Kerry was the "electable" one. quaker bill May 2015 #3

No sale. 99Forever May 2015 #4

Progressive ballot measures were more "electable" in red states than third way Dems... cascadiance May 2015 #6

Clinton is not shoe in kcjohn1 May 2015 #7

I think the Republicans are more than 50% likely to win whoever the Democrats choose Donald Ian Rankin May 2015 #8

okay Sherman A1 May 2015 #9

I have a soul; unlike 101% of today's politicians. cherokeeprogressive May 2015 #10

101%? Just as I suspected... PETRUS May 2015 #23

That's about right! n/t cherokeeprogressive May 2015 #25

fear of fear itself seveneyes May 2015 #11

Hopefully, we'll see how Bernie handles the Republicans in congress. Tierra_y_Libertad May 2015 #12

no thanks frylock May 2015 #13

I like coat-tails too, but in WI I don't think establishment dems will have any. HereSince1628 May 2015 #14

The race is just beginning. Ask this again after 10 or so primaries. FSogol May 2015 #15

So much is going to work itself out in the next couple of months. NCTraveler Jun 2015 #41

I agree. Good analysis. All of the DU hand-wringing and loyalty oaths are pointless. FSogol Jun 2015 #44

You'd still be guessing. AtomicKitten May 2015 #16

the article you linked says nothing of the sort dsc May 2015 #22

I didn't indicate it did; just a piece talking about the winding down of the campaign. AtomicKitten May 2015 #26

Why I don't: LWolf May 2015 #17

Perfectly said! arcane1 Jun 2015 #52

Are you with her campaign ? CentralMass May 2015 #18

. PowerToThePeople May 2015 #21

This message was self-deleted by its author Warren DeMontague May 2015 #24

You're hinging your vote what appeals best to republicans. Scootaloo May 2015 #27

Glad I'm not the only one tired of letting republicans dictate the terms of OUR primary n/t arcane1 Jun 2015 #53

Rather than electability and coat-tails, I care more about a candidate, and a President, Ron Green May 2015 #28

Loving the circular logic here lately. RichVRichV Jun 2015 #29

Except that Republicans don't compromise AgingAmerican Jun 2015 #34

With Hill you get the family package: ucrdem Jun 2015 #30

Well there is that, all right., but it's not a persuasive argument at DU. We'll have to see.... Hekate Jun 2015 #31

It's a nice idea until you think about it for five minutes. ucrdem Jun 2015 #42

Yup-- Bernie, by a country mile Art_from_Ark Jun 2015 #32

Its a good pitch GummyBearz Jun 2015 #39

I don't think SAT scores are the issue here. ucrdem Jun 2015 #40

Bernie all the way. Enough with the status quo. azmom Jun 2015 #55

Republicans don't compromise AgingAmerican Jun 2015 #33

The kind of country that could elect a non-HRC Dem would be a different one... Orsino Jun 2015 #35

I am so tired of the "we can't do it because....Republicans" attitude. Fucking depressing. Avalux Jun 2015 #45

I am tired of the "we can't do it because... Republicans" fact. Donald Ian Rankin Jun 2015 #46

Who says it's a fact? Avalux Jun 2015 #47

"We" are not the only people who get to vote brooklynite Jun 2015 #48

No, that's only true in fairy stories. Donald Ian Rankin Jun 2015 #49

Agreed. It is, in essence, little more than a defense of the status quo. arcane1 Jun 2015 #54

The way things are is familiar. Difficult for people to try a different way because of the unknown. Avalux Jun 2015 #56

This is spot on. DanTex Jun 2015 #50

... Rex Jun 2015 #51

I'll allow much more respect for the progressive who votes his conscience and convictions LanternWaste Jun 2015 #57

FYI, there is no such thing as coat-tails. Nye Bevan Jun 2015 #58

Thanks for that depressing bit of reality tech3149 Jun 2015 #59

I'm done voting against Republicans. frylock Jun 2015 #60