Voting for whoever gets the Dem nomination?

[BloodyWilliam]

I've thought about this question, and I have to answer with a qualified yes. Besides Kucinich who unfortunately has little chance in winning the primary, none of the candidates really interest me or repulse me. Clark and Dean are clearly our best bets, although Kerry is a good choice, too.

I will say this, though. If Lieberman gets the nomination, I'm voting Green/Independent. Lieberman is just a Republican-light SOB douchebag who aided in the ruination of Gore's campaign (which should have been in the bag) and whose views are closer to Bush's, Lott's, and Delay's than my own. If he does somehow get the nomination, I'm done with the Democratic party.

Although any other candidate on the ticket I'll gladly support. Just not Joe.

No, I'm not bitter. :evilgrin:

On a personal note, as one who grew up Jewish, I find Lieberman offensive. He reminds me of this one lady who lived nearby who called herself Orthodox Jewish, but so vocally went through every religious motion while being personally lax, as if all that mattered to her religiously was her status as a Jew to others. This is Lieberman. He's a poser Jew. He wears his religion on his sleeve and nowhere else.

Er... sorry. I just have issues with Lieberman.

So, will y'all be voting for the dem-nom when the time comes? :)

[eileen from OH]

1. Yup.

But I have a bottle of Chevas labeled "Lieberman Nom" that I will dip into if I hafta before going to the polls.

eileen from OH

[BeatleBoot]

2. I will vote Dem no matter what.

Why?

Because I am a Democrat.

Not crazy about Liebermann either, but I could never vote Repuke or Green.

[neebob]

3. Yes

though I'll do so more gladly for some than others. I wish Kucinich would get a new hairdo.

[WilliamPitt]

4. ABB

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

11. I agree Will

anybody but Bush...........

[kiahzero]

5. Absolutely

Until we get Condorcet or Acceptance voting, and I can support a Green without helping the Republicans, I will support the Democratic candidate. Now, there are times when I might concievably vote for a third party, but only when the Repub. nominee isn't as obnoxious as Bush.

[LastKnight]

6. well...

i think a clark-dean ticket with either of them in the role of pres/vice would be a good choice... but if clark is the man in charge i got my reservations about him still... i mean, up until a few weeks ago... he still technically was a republican, and that might give me a little 'ballot constipation' when voting for him for pres, if he was dean's running mate i would have no problem but remember clark was a republican recently, judge him on the issues not cause he gets more press than the other nine...`

[newyawker99]

13. Hi LastKnight!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[wyldwolf]

14. What a crock!

What evidence do you have Clark was a republican recently? That bit has been debunked on a daily basis.

I think you just WANT him to have been a republican.

There is already a belief among some that Dean supporters will not support the eventual nominee if Dean loses it.

You're not representing your fellow Dean people well.

I'm becoming very suspicious of new members who keep raising this issue:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=415664

Oh, and welcome to DU!

[Ruby Newsbee]

27. Do you target newbies?

I read your link and as a newbie on this bulletin board I found your post somewhat offensive. I don't need nor want your persuasion or guidance. I'm an adult who knows how to vote appropriately and have been doing so for 30 years. Remain suspicious of me, but do not hound me to vote your way and I certainly hope you are not suggesting that we should not post our questions and concerns about Clark or any other candidate. If the questions are being asked too often for your liking, perhaps you should learn to control your emotions by ignoring them rather than attempting to control what others posts.

[Mairead]

7. Win, lose, or draw, I'm voting for Kucinich

Dennis isn't perfect, but his policies are demonstrably better than anyone else's and he is the only one with a record of putting his whole livelihood on the line to keep a campaign promise. That makes him the best candidate. I'm not willing to vote for someone who offers less just because other people are. That way lies disaster.

[bowens43]

8. And if he's not on the ballot

what good will a write in vote do?

[Mairead]

29. It will preserve my self-respect. That's fairly important.

Don't compromise yourself. You're all you've got.

[QC]

9. I love you, Mairead. I really do.

As much as you can love someone you only know from a discussion board.

You'll never know how much I appreciate the absolute honesty and uncompromising fairness that I see in your posts here at DU. I am always surprised both at whom you criticize and whom you defend, which is a pretty good sign that you are thinking in terms of principles, not persons.

But it is very unlikely that Kucinich will win the nomination. I admire Kucinich, particularly because he had the same blue-collar upbringing that I did and I think he's much more likely to understand the lives of "regular people" much better than any of the other candidates, except maybe Edwards and Gephardt.

But I hope you will reconsider writing in Kucinich, if he does not win the nomination. I think you and his other supporters can do a lot more by pressuring the eventual nominee in exchange for your support. A few planks in the platform are worth a lot more than a write-in.

[lindashaw]

10. On Tweety last night, Brazile said that Kerry, Lieberman, and Gebhardt

were three she saw who could be president. (Hmmm...) They are certainly more centrist, which "they" say a Democrat has to be to win. She was quite reserved about Clark, said she didn't know if he voted for Gore or not. (I heard Clark tell someone he voted for Gore, didn't I?)

My question is, does the candidate have to be left to make it through the primaries, like Dean, and then come back more toward the center to attract who? Bluedog Dems and swing voters and dissatisfied Republicans? Right?

Are the centrist issues trade, homeland security?

[wyldwolf]

15. Clark on Gore...

Heard him say he voted dem in 2000 (and dem in 2002) on a talking head show - forget which. Have never seen it in print.

[Mairead]

31. I appreciate your kind words more than I can say!

But I honestly don't think there is any 'pressuring the eventual nominee' after I surrender my vote. US politics doesn't work like that, as far as I've been able to tell from years of trying. There is no gratitude. If I had a million dollars to spend, then I'd be listened to, but as a nearly-elderly broad with no money? We're a dime a dozen, and there are so many more of us each year that I'm surprised we're not already a nickel a dozen.

The only thing I can do, I think, is vote my principles and hope to encourage others to do likewise. If they know enough of us will do it, THAT will bring pressure to bear. We'll be a bloc to be courted, rather than individuals to be ignored.

[RichM]

12. No. If DK & AS are not the nominee, I'll vote for a 3rd party.

I find the "ABB" idea ridiculous. It's precisely the type of thinking that would bring replacement of someone like Bush with a superficially more attractive version of much the same thing.

[DemVet]

18. Yep.

Half of this Democratic field is really Repub-lite.

[Padraig18]

24. And it's preciselt THAT kind of thinking...

... that will ensure that BushCo has a second term! The RNC thanks you in advance. :grr:

[union_maid]

16. Yes, even Lieberman

Even Lieberman would be better. Even he is not as regressive as this administration. Not going to be a problem because Lieberman could never beat Bush in the general. His charisma is on the negative scale along with his policies. It's still a long way away, but all indications are that it won't be hard to support whatever ticket comes out of this primary season, however.

[Iverson]

17. too early to tell

Until the parties make their nominations, I cannot evaluate which party's presidential candidate I'll support. There are Democrats who I could vote for. And although you wouldn't know it from reading DU, where the Green Party begins and ends with anti-Nader frothing, there are a few Greens interested in the nomination about whom I need to learn more.

I can promise that I will oppose Bush and any candidate who is substantially similar.

Having the information before deciding is all part of being an intransigent extremist. ;-)

[Ruby Newsbee]

19. How interesting

You won't vote for Joe for personal reasons but you'll vote for anyone else to save the Democratic Party, even if the someone else happens to be a republican in democrats clothing. (I loved it when Sharpton pointed that out when welcoming Clark)

I hear a lot of people here, on other boards and in the streets say that they like and would vote for either Kucinich or Sharpton.. then defeat it with "but he doesn't stand a chance to win". Do you ever wonder why they don't stand a chance to win? It's because you believe what you're being told, so you won't vote for them. It's pretty sad when you know who the best would be in serving the people and you deny them the chance because the media spot light is focused on the most photogenic and you're afraid of marching to your own drummer. You'd rather fit in with the crowd marching to the party's assigned drummer... afraid of being ostracized by your so called friends on the left.

The election is a year away. People will be arguing for the sake of arguing about every candidate until then. Some will be trying to BULLY others into voting for the sake of the Democratic Party. I'll be voting for the sake of our Country.. and I DO NOT BELIEVE voting for more lies, deciet and manipulation is in the best interest of our Country. I'll be paying close attention to those fine details. I have several months to keep researching and will vote for the person who is most capable of being honest and putting the people's needs before the government's want.

[Kamika]

20. so in other words

If Lieberman gets nominated you vote for Bush.

I know atleast I will happily vote for Lieberman to get rid of Bush

[Northwind]

21. NBD in '04

Nobody But Dean

[Romberry]

22. As much as I do not like Joe Lieberman...

...even the worst Democrat in this race is far, far better than seeing GW Bush return to the White House. About the only way I would ever consider voting for a third party would be if someone like Lieberman got the nomination and the polls made it clear the election would be lost in an absolute walk. And by absolute walk I mean reliable polls in all 50 states showing at least a 20 point margin of loss on election eve. Even then I don't know that I would.

[Padraig18]

23. I will hold my nose and...

...choke down my rising gorge and vote for Lieberman, should lightning strike and he obtain the nomination.

[JVS]

25. Maybe

[imhotep]

26. Ill vote for the one

that gives me a reason to drive to the voting booth.
Just like the overwhelming majority of Americans, I need a reason and ABB is not a reason or effective politcal strategy.

[Romberry]

28. Actually, ABB ought to be reason enough...

...to exercise both your right and your responsibility to get off your duff and vote. Not voting is the same thing as acquiescing to a second Bush term in the White House. I honestly don't see how anyone that cares for the future of the nation could stay home on election day. It boggles the mind.

[Padraig18]

30. You said it all!

:toast: