Midterm Elections - No Discussion? (Earl: buy, shopping mall, safe)

[Francois]

Originally Posted by Charlotte485

yeah, I think I'll vote for Hagan. I was a Republican, I am a registered independent but I'm going to switch to registered democrat. These past 2 years, I've decided I align much more with democrats. Mostly due to how extreme the far right has become (Tea Party). After the tea party, I'm sick of the Pubs. I do like Romney & McCain & now Glenn Beck much more than the Huckabees, Cruz, and Sean hannitys of the party

Actually, it is to your advantage to remain Unaffiliated (no such thing as "Registered Independent" in NC), because you can still vote in either party's Primary (the only time party is an issue) to vote against the scariest candidate (since Primaries tend to bring out the loons on both sides) or if you are truly independent, you'll probably find someone in one party you like one year and the other the next year--remaining Unaffiliated gives you more choice of voting.

Also, it confuses the parties as to which one can count on your support. And when it comes time to gerrymander again, they won't know which camp to count you in.

[MikeyKid]

Originally Posted by Hollywood

Don't vote for people you don't approve of. Either vote for the best candidate on the ballot, or vote for noone. Voting for one of the two party candidates based on the "lesser of two evils" thought process just perpetuates the system. Nothing will ever change as long as the status quo is kept. It boggles the mind that people cannot grasp this simple concept. Even educated people will vote down party lines, then act shocked when they realize one party is in bed with the other. Or worse, they excuse the atrocities of their own party whenever it is in power. Kind of like how all the anti-war Democrats disappeared in 2009.

This is terrible advice... You can't reprimand me for voting the lesser of evils as perpetuating the system and then tell me to not vote. LOL

[MikeyKid]

Originally Posted by WaldoKitty

I hestitate to respond to you again. But since most of your response to me was thoughtful, I will say this.

You don't vote for a BASE. You vote for a candidate. If what you say is true about yourself, then voting for the same idiot that already holds the seat and has done nothing about your concerns in 6 years, is the most illogical thing you can do.

I've said before there is no difference between American "conservatism" and "liberalism". It doesn't matter which party that you vote for. Unfortunately, there are many, as demonstrated here, who are perpetually fighting this battle and their only arguments is to ignore what their candidate has done and insult the other. i.e "voting for who will cause the least harm".

This is your only real chance to have a say in the matter so make it count.

Let's separate the US Senate vote for a second. As I stated, this is a conscious decision because I personally feel it's more important to help try and keep the GOP from gaining control of the Senate.

However, as idealistic as you are about a candidate vs the base; it's pure folly when it comes to their actual actions and votes. What happens to a GOP politician that doesn't toe the line? How fast do they get a mega funded TP primary challenge if they look the wrong way? Heck, you could get a challenge in some districts just for being seen shaking the POTUS' hand. You stray from the base even in the slightest and you're branded a RINO. The candidates are swallowed up by the base (money) and assimilated (Borg reference here) - it's completely broken.

Help me understand how it gets fixed... show me a candidate who won't be handled and absorbed.

[Hollywood]

Originally Posted by MikeyKid

This is terrible advice... You can't reprimand me for voting the lesser of evils as perpetuating the system and then tell me to not vote. LOL

I didn't tell you not to vote. I said don't vote for those you don't approve of. Whatever though. You'll get the candidate that you deserve:

[WaldoKitty]

Originally Posted by Francois

Actually, it is to your advantage to remain Unaffiliated (no such thing as "Registered Independent" in NC), because you can still vote in either party's Primary .....

I'm not so sure about that. While the GOP lets unaffiliated voters vote in their primary, the Democrats, I'm pretty sure, do not. (unless it recently changed)

[Charlotte485]

Originally Posted by Francois

Actually, it is to your advantage to remain Unaffiliated (no such thing as "Registered Independent" in NC), because you can still vote in either party's Primary (the only time party is an issue) to vote against the scariest candidate (since Primaries tend to bring out the loons on both sides) or if you are truly independent, you'll probably find someone in one party you like one year and the other the next year--remaining Unaffiliated gives you more choice of voting.

Also, it confuses the parties as to which one can count on your support. And when it comes time to gerrymander again, they won't know which camp to count you in.

Yeah, unaffiliated voter. Didn't think about the gerrymandering issue. Good points.

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by WaldoKitty

I'm not so sure about that. While the GOP lets unaffiliated voters vote in their primary, the Democrats, I'm pretty sure, do not. (unless it recently changed)

I'm unaffiliated. I have been offered my choice of Democratic, Republican, or Libertarian as well as unaffiliated ballots in every primary since I've lived here.

[WaldoKitty]

Originally Posted by southbound_295

I'm unaffiliated. I have been offered my choice of Democratic, Republican, or Libertarian as well as unaffiliated ballots in every primary since I've lived here.

You are correct. Apparently the law was changed sometime ago in the past.

Is it DOOM for Democrats in North Carolina?

Time to dump my registration with the democrats.

[Francois]

Originally Posted by WaldoKitty

I'm not so sure about that. While the GOP lets unaffiliated voters vote in their primary, the Democrats, I'm pretty sure, do not. (unless it recently changed)

They most certainly do, and have since at least 2008. I have voted in both parties' primaries over the past few years, as my public voter record on the Board of Elections site would show.
I used to actually switch party registration every primary if I felt strongly about one Primary election or another (as long as Jesse Helms was running, I was registered Republican, so I could vote against him in both the Primary and the General), but once both parties began allowing Unaffiliated voters to vote in their primary (they did so at the same time, as I recall, since it would be a huge disadvantage for one to allow it and one not), I switched to that and don't really know why anybody would not be Unaffiliated unless they were actually running for office in one party.

Once again, your 'facts' are not researched.

[WaldoKitty]

Originally Posted by Francois

....

Once again, your 'facts' are not researched.

First of all I did not state it as fact. In fact I left doubt that I was correct about it. Second did you miss my previous post? I already agreed that I was wrong about it.