Election 2012

[Stormieweather]

Yeah Broward county, a predominately black, Democrat area, mysteriously lost 1000 votes the other day. Just poof'd.

The elections supervisor said it would be looked into, but short of comparing each electronic vote with each paper ballot, how the hell would they find it? I know a little about computers and hackers, and it would be a cakewalk to put a little backdoor program in there to allow access to play with the numbers. A little here, a little there, not enough to cause undue alarm, and you can do whatever....err...elect whomever you want.

[Adak]

I hadn't heard of Gary Johnson, but I wish he had run in the GOP primaries, with us. Would have been interesting!

Unfortunately, we have a two party system, so if you want a conservative, and you vote for Johnson, you're handing the election to Obama - because third party candidates never get any kind of a decent number of electoral votes.

The last 3rd party candidate that did well, was Ross Perot - who had a good platform - but his supporters handed the election to the democrat, on a silver platter.

Think twice about voting for a third party candidate, and look at the history of them, and their effect on candidates they are closest to in their platform, who are also in the race.

Don't hand the race to Obama, by voting for Johnson. Get Johnson to run as a Republican, perhaps for a Senate seat? (and President whenever he would like to run for that - but as a Republican, not a Libertarian).

I like the Libertarian platform, but we can't win elections with that party.

[Griff]

Originally Posted by Adak

I hadn't heard of Gary Johnson, but I wish he had run in the GOP primaries, with us. Would have been interesting!

Wow. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that a GOP shill doesn't know a Republican Party outcast.
Johnson announced his candidacy for President on April 21, 2011, as a Republican,[12] on a libertarian platform emphasizing the United States public debt and a balanced budget through a 43% reduction of all federal government spending, protection of civil liberties, an immediate end to the War in Afghanistan and his advocacy of the FairTax. On December 28, 2011, after being excluded from the majority of the Republican Party's presidential debates and failing to gain traction while campaigning for the New Hampshire primary, he withdrew his candidacy for the Republican nomination and announced that he would continue his presidential campaign as a candidate for the nomination of the Libertarian Party.[13] He won the Libertarian Party nomination on May 5, 2012. His vice-presidential running mate is Judge James P. Gray of California.

Unfortunately, we have a two party system, so if you want a conservative, and you vote for Johnson, you're handing the election to Obama - because third party candidates never get any kind of a decent number of electoral votes.

Now I'm the uninformed one, can you give me the chapter and verse of your precious constitution which says that?

The last 3rd party candidate that did well, was Ross Perot - who had a good platform - but his supporters handed the election to the democrat, on a silver platter.

There's that entitlement thinking again. The two major criminal enterprises do not have a right to anyone's vote.

Think twice about voting for a third party candidate, and look at the history of them, and their effect on candidates they are closest to in their platform, who are also in the race.

We've heard this tale before. Vote for a war-mongering, religious nutter, crony capitalist when you want limited government. That makes perfect sense.

Don't hand the race to Obama, by voting for Johnson. Get Johnson to run as a Republican, perhaps for a Senate seat? (and President whenever he would like to run for that - but as a Republican, not a Libertarian).

I like the Libertarian platform, but we can't win elections with that party.

Once more a little bit louder. You're forgetting that the GOP is run by war mongers, religious nuts, and crony capitalists, they don't want libertarians. Will we ever find out how much money Romney made on the Delphi automotive bailout scamming the taxpayers and workers alike? Two criminal organizations but the Republicans seem to profit more from the schemes.

[maineiac04631]

Originally Posted by Adak

Unfortunately, we have a two party system.

Can you cite any constitutional amendment or any legislation to back this up?

The GOP deserves to lose and I hope they learn some hard lessons, that way after 4 more years of Obama and not having to run against an incumbent, that they nominate a better candidate. If the GOP nominates another whack job from a weird religious cult like Rick Santorum, you will get Nancy Pelosi in the White House.

Right now Richard Mourdock is down 11 points in a very red state because of his "pregnancy by rape is god's will" BS.

This is the "social conservative" crap that drives the younger people away from the GOP in droves and it's killing the party.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by maineiac04631

Can you cite any constitutional amendment or any legislation to back this up?

Of course not, none exists, but I believe he was addressing the reality that the two parties have locked up sufficient control to squash a third party run for anything but a local post.

I agree with this reality and think it will continue as long as people are fat, dumb, and happy. Christ, look at the turnouts on election days, especially at mid-terms. People that won't be bothered voting are hardy engaged in shaping the selection.

Maybe, just maybe, if we can get people fired up enough to get involved on a local level, with shit that they can actually see affects them directly, they'd be more inspired to pay attention at higher levels. It might dispel the feeling of helplessness, and their vote is meaningless.

[Adak]

Originally Posted by maineiac04631

Can you cite any constitutional amendment or any legislation to back this up?

Oh, you can have more than two political parties, (and we do), but the way our gov't is set up by the Constitution, only two parties are ever likely to dominate any election.

It's like cars - nothing says they have to have 4 wheels, but the function of them makes 4 wheels by far the most popular choice. There have been 3 axle 6 wheel cars, and 3 wheel cars, but they never became popular.

The GOP deserves to lose and I hope they learn some hard lessons, that way after 4 more years of Obama and not having to run against an incumbent, that they nominate a better candidate. If the GOP nominates another whack job from a weird religious cult like Rick Santorum, you will get Nancy Pelosi in the White House.

Santorum or Pelosi in the White House?

Right now Richard Mourdock is down 11 points in a very red state because of his "pregnancy by rape is god's will" BS.

Richard is a whack job, and the party asked him to quit the race, but he wouldn't. When you open your mouth and stuff your whole leg down your throat, you need to get out of politics, clearly. IMO, Richard is toast in politics.

This is the "social conservative" crap that drives the younger people away from the GOP in droves and it's killing the party.

Yes, I agree. The Republicans wanted a platform and a candidate more conservative than last time. At the same time, the whack jobs have to be cut from the herd - they're a mess, and sickening.