Why I am not Voting Obama

@Frank Apisa,

The problem with the whole post is distilled here.

Frank Apisa wrote:

I am pessimistic about his chances for re-election because of this unfortunate, shortsighted tendency of his base.

It assumes that liberals are members of Mr. Obama's base. I truly don't think they are.

The Democratic party is not as far to the right as the Republican party or American conservatives, but I don't think it currently represents (or has the ability to represent ) American liberals.

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@failures art,

i defer to a mr. g carlin on this point
"I have solved this political dilemma in a very direct way: I don't vote. On Election Day, I stay home. I firmly believe that if you vote, you have no right to complain. Now, some people like to twist that around. They say, 'If you don't vote, you have no right to complain,' but where's the logic in that? If you vote, and you elect dishonest, incompetent politicians, and they get into office and screw everything up, you are responsible for what they have done. You voted them in. You caused the problem. You have no right to complain. I, on the other hand, who did not vote -- who did not even leave the house on Election Day -- am in no way responsible for what these politicians have done and have every right to complain about the mess that you created."

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@ehBeth,

ehBeth wrote:

The problem with the whole post is distilled here.

Frank Apisa wrote:
I am pessimistic about his chances for re-election because of this unfortunate, shortsighted tendency of his base.

It assumes that liberals are members of Mr. Obama's base. I truly don't think they are.

The Democratic party is not as far to the right as the Republican party or American conservatives, but I don't think it currently represents (or has the ability to represent ) American liberals.

I complained during the primaries last time that Obama had tight relations with some Republicans, making me doubt his sincerety as a Democrat. But, after he had the nomination, I fell in line and gave him my vote.

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@djjd62,

I like that perspective; if we don't vote, it's those who vote into office all those good-for-nothings with a rating of under 20% that must take the blame.

As they say, there's always two sides to every coin.

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@djjd62,

My senteniments exactly.

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@ehBeth,

ehBeth wrote:

The Democratic party is not as far to the right as the Republican party or American conservatives, but I don't think it currently represents (or has the ability to represent ) American liberals.

Heck, I am to the left of president Obama, and I never considered myself a leftie. I support Medicare for All, support gay marriage, oppose capital punishment, and oppose extra-judicial killings of American citizens. And yet none of these policy preferences are obscure. Indeed, they're the law in such obscure countries as, uh, Canada.

1 Reply

@djjd62,

Carlin was wrong, despite my fondness for him.

Armchair quarterbacking.
R
T

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@failures art,

Carlin said:
"Conservatives say if you don't give the rich more money, they will lose their incentive to invest. As for the poor, they tell us they've lost all incentive because we've given them too much money."
Like A
R
T I think Carlin didn't really live by that mantra.

On another tack.
I can't imagine a conservative to the right of Perry & Paul choosing not to vote when Mitt gets the nomination.

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@Thomas,

Thomas wrote:

ehBeth wrote:
The Democratic party is not as far to the right as the Republican party or American conservatives, but I don't think it currently represents (or has the ability to represent ) American liberals.

Heck, I am to the left of president Obama, and I never considered myself a leftie. I support Medicare for All, support gay marriage, oppose capital punishment, and oppose extra-judicial killings of American citizens. And yet none of these policy preferences are obscure. Indeed, they're the law in such obscure countries as, uh, Canada.

What about fiscally? Those are all social issues.

Cycloptichorn

1 Reply

@Cycloptichorn,

Cycloptichorn wrote:

What about fiscally? Those are all social issues.

Don't you remember our disagreement in the American-economy thread about Obama's undersized stimulus plan? As long as the economy is liquidity-trapped, I am certainly not a fiscal conservative. I will move in this direction when unemployment falls below six percent, or core inflation rises above four percent. But I don't see either of that happening within the next three years. It may not happen until after Obama's second term.

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@ehBeth,

Beth wrote:

Quote:

The problem with the whole post is distilled here.

Quote:
Frank Apisa wrote:
I am pessimistic about his chances for re-election because of this unfortunate, shortsighted tendency of his base.

It assumes that liberals are members of Mr. Obama's base. I truly don't think they are.

The Democratic party is not as far to the right as the Republican party or American conservatives, but I don't think it currently represents (or has the ability to represent ) American liberals.

Well, Beth, if the liberals are not part of Obama's base (even if just by default)...he is a gonner. "His base" sure as hell is not found in people who identify themselves as conservatives—they loathe him. Non-aligned independent voters seem to be splitting in favor of the Republicans right now; less than 40% of Independents have a favorable opinion of Obama—and only about 30% feel they’d be able to vote for him in November.

The liberals are part of his base (whether they want to be considered that or not)…and with them pissing and moaning they way they are, I stand by my original comment: I am pessimistic about his chances for re-election because of this unfortunate, shortsighted tendency of his base. (Which includes, but is not limited to, liberals!)

1 Reply

@edgarblythe,

Quote:

I no longer care if my vote would help put a Republican in the White House. That is, after all, a consequence the Democrats have to consider, when they act like a lesser Republican party.

I understand, Edgar...and I appreciate your position on this. I felt this same way strongly enough in 1980 to pull the lever for Ronald Reagan...rather than consider the consequences. (I truly regretted that move!)

Luckily, in your case, it probably will not impact significantly. Texas (where I think you live) is not going to swing for Obama even if you change your mind and vote for him.

1 Reply

@Frank Apisa,

Quote:

I understand, Edgar...and I appreciate your position on this. I felt this same way strongly enough in 1980 to pull the lever for Ronald Reagan...rather than consider the consequences. (I truly regretted that move!)

If I remember it, I recall voting for John Anderson in 1980. It seemed the sensible thing to do at the time when looking at the other options. Unlike your regretted vote, I was quite happy with my selection at the time and fairly much still am.

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@Sturgis,

Hey Sturgis, good to see ya.

Quote:

If I remember it, I recall voting for John Anderson in 1980. It seemed the sensible thing to do at the time when looking at the other options. Unlike your regretted vote, I was quite happy with my selection at the time and fairly much still am.

Well, I am happy you are still happy with your vote.

I consider the election of Ronald Reagan as one of the worst things that has ever happened to America (and by extension, the world). In my opinion, a great deal of the problems we have right now had their genesis in the Reagan administration…and in the mindset the guy helped to form in the American people.

So I do regret not doing more to prevent that happening—and certainly “voting for him” was not especially preventive medicine.

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@Frank Apisa,

I was so horrified by Reagan that I got drunk and was passed out when he was shot. My first thoughts when Reagan won, were along the lines of 'well, there goes the country.'.

In the years since, my interest in voting ended as I realized the pols. don't really care about me or any other constituents and would do whatever they wanted to protect their own interests instead of protecting and guiding towards the future of the country. My last vote was in a primary in around 2004 0r 05 or o6. (I know it was over before the robot was elected.) If I were to vote this year (which I currently don't plan on doing), I'd be forced to choose the one that hadn't screwed me over yet...guess I would just go in, sign my name, and then submit a blank sheet of paper.

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It's like a communist love fest in here... you two should get a room.

1 Reply

@Sturgis,

Sturgis wrote:

Quote:
I understand, Edgar...and I appreciate your position on this. I felt this same way strongly enough in 1980 to pull the lever for Ronald Reagan...rather than consider the consequences. (I truly regretted that move!)

If I remember it, I recall voting for John Anderson in 1980. It seemed the sensible thing to do at the time when looking at the other options. Unlike your regretted vote, I was quite happy with my selection at the time and fairly much still am.

Me too!

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@H2O MAN,

Quote:

It's like a communist love fest in here... you two should get a room

You'd like that wouldn't ya? Of course, I should advise you that the window blinds will be closed and your binoculars will have their lenses covered with black magic marker...or maybe red. At any rate, the discussions inside would be far far far beyond anything you could comprehend so you might as well just get a new barrel of lube and swab your twig with it while you fantasize about Rush and Newt inviting you to their next event.

1 Reply

@Frank Apisa,

Quote:

So I do regret not doing more to prevent that happening—and certainly “voting for him” was not especially preventive medicine.

Which is why the, "Anyone but Obama" camp bothers me so much. People who cast a vote without thinking of the ramifications down the road would do all of us a favor by staying home. One well-respected member here made that statement recently, even after admitting in the past that her support of GWB was a mistake. I simply don't understand the mindset.

1 Reply

@JPB,

Think of the children!

"Anyone but Obama"

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Why I am not Voting Obama

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