My GOP Father-in Law told me today

[Itchinjim]

that he will not vote for Bush. He will not vote for Kerry either. I can live with that. This is a man who I have a lot of respect for, a very smart, very successful small businessman who votes GOP by nature, and he loathes Bush. I know this guy and trust me, this is very encouraging.

[flamingyouth]

1. The husband of one of my employees is a life long Repub

And he's not voting for Bush either. First time he's not casting a vote for pres. in his life.

[swag]

2. Great. He lives in Iowa?

[Itchinjim]

19. Bettendorf, a GOP stronghold

[tomfodw]

3. There's going to be a lot of this

People who voted for Bush in 2000 because they always vote for the Republican candidate but who just won't be able to bring themselves to make that same mistake this time around.

[FreedomFry]

4. Did he say whom he was voting for?

A vote for Nader might as well be a vote for Bush. No vote at all would be unfortunate, too.

[AnIndependentTexan]

7. actually it is good news for Kerry either way

All of the polls have been base on high republican turn out. That means if Republicans are not voting for Bush then Kerry will be ahead in points. A vote for Nader in this case doesn't help bush, but hurts him. Because all dems are going to be voting Kerry. This means we are going to have a high turn out and them a low turn out. Nader only hurts Kerry if dems are voting for him. It doesn't matter if Republicans vote for Nader because Nadernites are voting for Kerry this time! I say this is poetic justice!

[nonconformist]

10. Not so much.

A vote for Nader is a vote for Bush only if they would have normally voted for Kerry anyway. If otherwise they would have voted for Bush then it's a good thing. But I have a hard time believing that Nader would be the "disgruntled conservatives who refuse to vote for a Democrat"'s 3rd party preference. I suspect they'd be far more likely to go for Badnarik (Libertarian Party) or Peroutka (Constitution Party).

[JohnnyCougar]

15. Badnarik is running ads now in Wisconsin

addressing this very issue.

They ask "What kind of conservative would ring up a record deficit and start an unnecessary war?" THen they say to vote Badnarik!

Go Badnarik! Whittle away Shrub's base!

[last1standing]

11. Not quite right.

A liberal voting for nader might helps bush*, but a conservative voting for nader helps Kerry. It might not be the best answer, in our minds, but it's a Hell of a lot better than the alternative.

[Itchinjim]

20. Maybe Nader,

I suggested Badnarik

[Book Lover]

5. But dammit!

To re-paraphrase something I said a few days ago: It's not enough that Bush must lose. Kerry must win.

OTOH, good that he's not voting for *. Hope he casts his vote for the state and local ballot items...

[jody]

6. A non vote for Bush frees up a vote for Kerry whereas a GOP vote for

Kerry is worth two votes for Kerry!

[Vincardog]

8. It is OK for Republicans not to vote for aWol. Every vote * looses

is good for us, Let all the republicans vote for Nader

[GreenPartyVoter]

9. Tell him to vote for the Constitutional Party or Libertarians, then

[checks-n-balances]

13. Libertarians only - the Constitution Party is the legalistic version

of the worst Rethugs imaginable. In league w/dominionists.

[GreenPartyVoter]

17. Oh, I know they are, but at this point they draw votes off of *.

[jbane]

12. Same with my Dad.

Last Dem he voted for was LBJ. Says he can't vote for "W". When I heard this I thought there would be similar stories. I'm encouraged too.

[Eurobabe]

14. yeah my 94 yr old Gram too, she just won't vote

first time in 50 yrs. she said. She was bummed. But better that she doesn't vote for Bu$hTard.

[The Magistrate]

16. This Is Excellent News, Sir!

It is just as important to see the enemy's vote reduced as it is to see our own increased: the relative difference is what counts.

"An election differs from a civil war only as the bloodless surrender of a force outnumbered in the field differs from Waterloo."

"LET'S GO GET THOSE BUSH BASTARDS!"

[pinkpops]

18. my mom, 86 voting first time in her life - straight Dem ticket!