Drew should know.

It might be better to tap Stein than Rosanne Barr.

She's got my vote.

I just might vote for her come November. Relax folks, I live in California so the electoral college makes my vote not count anyway, this state is going Obama. If I lived in Ohio or something, I may reconsider this decision. But since I am in this position, I may as well vote for the candidate who represents my viewpoint most closely.

I met her a few weeks ago. she was in Gainesville for our mayday event. seems nice. greens are a bit left for me.

count chocula: I just might vote for her come November. Relax folks, I live in California so the electoral college makes my vote not count anyway, this state is going Obama. If I lived in Ohio or something, I may reconsider this decision. But since I am in this position, I may as well vote for the candidate who represents my viewpoint most closely.

Very brave of you.

As long as Americans only vote their conscience if they don't live in a swing state, we're going to have to settle for the Democrats or the Republicans.

count chocula: I just might vote for her come November. Relax folks, I live in California so the electoral college makes my vote not count anyway, this state is going Obama. If I lived in Ohio or something, I may reconsider this decision. But since I am in this position, I may as well vote for the candidate who represents my viewpoint most closely.

I've actually been thinking the same. I'm also a Californian, so it might be the only way my vote has actual impact.

I know, wrong Stein. I don't care.

farkityfarker: count chocula: I just might vote for her come November. Relax folks, I live in California so the electoral college makes my vote not count anyway, this state is going Obama. If I lived in Ohio or something, I may reconsider this decision. But since I am in this position, I may as well vote for the candidate who represents my viewpoint most closely.

Very brave of you.

As long as Americans only vote their conscience if they don't live in a swing state, we're going to have to settle for the Democrats or the Republicans.

Bad news: you're going to have to settle for a Democrat or a Republican anyway, at least until one or the other implodes. The system we have is just naturally conducive to two-party politics. I don't blame anybody for holding their nose and voting for the lesser of two evils; that's just strategic thinking.

OW!

count chocula: I just might vote for her come November. Relax folks, I live in California so the electoral college makes my vote not count anyway, this state is going Obama. If I lived in Ohio or something, I may reconsider this decision. But since I am in this position, I may as well vote for the candidate who represents my viewpoint most closely.

Yeah, me here too. It may be a different story if I was in a swing state, but since Oklahoma is a guaranteed win for Romney, I may as well vote for an ACTUAL liberal.

Assuming, of course, they can even get on the ballot here.

farkityfarker: count chocula: I just might vote for her come November. Relax folks, I live in California so the electoral college makes my vote not count anyway, this state is going Obama. If I lived in Ohio or something, I may reconsider this decision. But since I am in this position, I may as well vote for the candidate who represents my viewpoint most closely.

Very brave of you.

As long as Americans only vote their conscience if they don't live in a swing state, we're going to have to settle for the Democrats or the Republicans.

My state is going for Romney. In 2008 it split an electoral vote for Obama, but it's not going to happen this time around. I will vote for Dr. Stein if she gets on the ballot here, but if not my vote will go to Gary Johnson. Or an elf. I might vote or an elf.

I'm in Alabama so the Rs could put a lawn chair on the ballot & get 60%+. I'll be voting Green.

zoompow

I'm in Alabama so the Rs could put a lawn chair on the ballot & get 60%+. I'll be voting Green.


You will have to write it in.

Unless you're really convinced that "the lesser evil" (whether that's the Not-Republican or the Anti-Not-Republican is up to you) might lose in your state if not for your vote, I tend to think a "third party" vote is the right thing to do.

No, neither Stein nor Johnson are going to be allowed to win the presidency. However, you can't tell me that if, say, the Greens got even 5% of the popular vote (let alone 10%+) that the Not-Republican Party wouldn't be thinking "holy crap, look at all those votes that could be ours if we quit fussing around with financial minutia and renaming post offices and complaining and instead were actually actively 'liberal' and pro-environmental!", or if the Libertarians got the same level of votes that the Anti-Not-Republicans wouldn't be thinking "holy crap, look at all of those votes that could be ours if we quit fussing around with abortion and religion and starting wars and and just focussed on getting out of the way of people's lives!"

/If somebody somehow managed to get the Libertarians, the Greens, and the US Pirate party to merge into some improbably badass Political Voltron, I'd vote for them in a heartbeat
//I'd also be investing heavily in popcorn
///I'm admittedly not a typical "mainstream" political person

Couldn't read the article, I was too freaked out by this picture in one of the ads-

Do any of you people remember 1992? Ross Perot garnered 19% of the popular vote and probably would have got a lot more if his head didn't explode during the middle of the campaign.

karnal: zoompow

I'm in Alabama so the Rs could put a lawn chair on the ballot & get 60%+. I'll be voting Green.


You will have to write it in.

If need be, no worries. I wrote in my office manager for governor last time around.

Miss Stein: OW!

never been tapped, Miss Stein? My condolences :)

yes, a great idea- funnel the energy from those who are pissed off at the Democrats for not being progressive enough into organizing for a completely Quixotic effort that will go literally nowhere.

The_Sheriff_Is_A_Niiii: Do any of you people remember 1992? Ross Perot garnered 19% of the popular vote and probably would have got a lot more if his head didn't explode during the middle of the campaign.

Ross Perot had a farkload of money behind him (namely, his own). Neither Stein, Johnson, nor anybody else has that, and post-CU, that's more important than ever.

A lot of Socialists are endorsing her. A group I'm affiliated with has pretty strong ties to her, she actually lets other leftist groups actively campaign with her and give speeches at her events. She's not the most charismatic person, but she is a very intelligent person and knows her shiat.

Epicanis: Unless you're really convinced that "the lesser evil" (whether that's the Not-Republican or the Anti-Not-Republican is up to you) might lose in your state if not for your vote, I tend to think a "third party" vote is the right thing to do.

No, neither Stein nor Johnson are going to be allowed to win the presidency. However, you can't tell me that if, say, the Greens got even 5% of the popular vote (let alone 10%+) that the Not-Republican Party wouldn't be thinking "holy crap, look at all those votes that could be ours if we quit fussing around with financial minutia and renaming post offices and complaining and instead were actually actively 'liberal' and pro-environmental!", or if the Libertarians got the same level of votes that the Anti-Not-Republicans wouldn't be thinking "holy crap, look at all of those votes that could be ours if we quit fussing around with abortion and religion and starting wars and and just focussed on getting out of the way of people's lives!"

/If somebody somehow managed to get the Libertarians, the Greens, and the US Pirate party to merge into some improbably badass Political Voltron, I'd vote for them in a heartbeat
//I'd also be investing heavily in popcorn
///I'm admittedly not a typical "mainstream" political person

No, they'd just do what they did in 2000. Blame the loss on Nader. We have a two party, system, dammit! The Democrats are owed your vote if you're a liberal!!! They don't have to do anything to justify or earn it!

Every time I see a liberal vs liberal argument on Fark, Nader blaming comes out and I just get sad. This is why we can't have nice things.

FarkedOver


A lot of Socialists are endorsing her. A group I'm affiliated with has pretty strong ties to her, she actually lets other leftist groups actively campaign with her and give speeches at her events. She's not the most charismatic person, but she is a very intelligent person and knows her shiat.


Yeah, if she is part of the Green Party, her shiat don't stink....at least I am sure she thinks so.

HeartBurnKid: Bad news: you're going to have to settle for a Democrat or a Republican anyway, at least until one or the other implodes. The system we have is just naturally conducive to two-party politics. I don't blame anybody for holding their nose and voting for the lesser of two evils; that's just strategic thinking.

I've been wondering how those two things will interact (mathematical tendency towards two-party system vs. one of those two trying their damnedest to implode).

The problem is: To where do the sane voters of the imploding party migrate? We should be getting a bunch of people too conservative for the Democrats, but sane enough to not vote Republican.

If a third party can never take off, how can the Republicans finish their implosion?

Thank god. I'm in New York (another gimme to Obama) and I didn't know if I'd be able to vote ROSE ANNE for president, even if I knew she had no chance in winning.

Here is why, in addition to trying to pull the major parties toward the third party platforms, it is important to vote for third party candidates if you are in a non swing state.

http://www.fec.gov/info/chtwo.htm

Minor party candidates and new party candidates may qualify for partial general election funding, based on their party's electoral performance. Minor party candidates (nominees of parties whose Presidential candidates received between 5 and 25 percent of the vote in the preceding election) may receive public funds based on the ratio of their party's vote in the preceding Presidential election to the average of the two major party candidates in that election. New party candidates (nominees of parties that are neither major parties nor minor parties) may receive public funds after the election if they receive 5 percent or more of the vote. The amount is based on the ratio of the new party candidate's vote to the average vote of the two major party candidates in that election.

Gaseous Anomaly: HeartBurnKid: Bad news: you're going to have to settle for a Democrat or a Republican anyway, at least until one or the other implodes. The system we have is just naturally conducive to two-party politics. I don't blame anybody for holding their nose and voting for the lesser of two evils; that's just strategic thinking.

I've been wondering how those two things will interact (mathematical tendency towards two-party system vs. one of those two trying their damnedest to implode).

The problem is: To where do the sane voters of the imploding party migrate? We should be getting a bunch of people too conservative for the Democrats, but sane enough to not vote Republican.

If a third party can never take off, how can the Republicans finish their implosion?

Historically we just end up wit a one party state for a little while.

But I dunno if the modern donks would survive solitude for even that long.

karnal: FarkedOver


A lot of Socialists are endorsing her. A group I'm affiliated with has pretty strong ties to her, she actually lets other leftist groups actively campaign with her and give speeches at her events. She's not the most charismatic person, but she is a very intelligent person and knows her shiat.


Yeah, if she is part of the Green Party, her shiat don't stink....at least I am sure she thinks so.

The socialist groups I work with her and endorse her, sure. Do I think they will vote for her? Probably not. Will they vote for Romney or Obama? Probably not. Will they write someone in? More than likely. The idea is to get other people to stop voting for democrats and republicans. They are two sides of the same coin. They're not looking out for anyone but themselves and their friends in positions of power. I know you like to carry water for the conservative du jour, so you just keep pulling that lever for whatever jackass you want. Some people won't ever change even if the truth is staring them in the face.

While a third party had no hope at the national level, right now people are so disgusted with the two party system that third parties could gain traction at the municipal, county, and possibly state levels. If we can start kicking the elephants and donkeys out of power in state senates, then maybe we can drive a wedge in to break up the two party system.

So I'm going to be paying attention to more local elections.

KiplingKat872: While a third party had no hope at the national level, right now people are so disgusted with the two party system that third parties could gain traction at the municipal, county, and possibly state levels. If we can start kicking the elephants and donkeys out of power in state senates, then maybe we can drive a wedge in to break up the two party system.

So I'm going to be paying attention to more local elections.

The local elections are getting interesting. Even the national elections are getting better. There is a Socialist candidate in NH running for the house. Does he have a snowballs chance in hell? No. His hope is to turn more people on to the idea of workers rights. He may not win, but he will get some people to think, which is the whole idea.

I'd give up drinking before I'd tap that.

Gaseous Anomaly: HeartBurnKid: Bad news: you're going to have to settle for a Democrat or a Republican anyway, at least until one or the other implodes. The system we have is just naturally conducive to two-party politics. I don't blame anybody for holding their nose and voting for the lesser of two evils; that's just strategic thinking.

I've been wondering how those two things will interact (mathematical tendency towards two-party system vs. one of those two trying their damnedest to implode).

The problem is: To where do the sane voters of the imploding party migrate? We should be getting a bunch of people too conservative for the Democrats, but sane enough to not vote Republican.

If a third party can never take off, how can the Republicans finish their implosion?

Well, you need another Perot. Somebody charismatic and with a farkton of money behind him.

It's my personal opinion that unless a 3rd party candidate has a realistic chance of winning, all they're really doing is taking away votes from one party or the other. In the case of the Green Party, they just siphon votes that would otherwise go Democratic. See the 2000 election for reference.

I'm ALL for a viable 3rd party candidate coming up... the green party, is not it.

When I hear Ms Stein, I think of Da Guv - William J Lepetomane, as played by
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0385301/

FarkedOver

karnal: FarkedOver


A lot of Socialists are endorsing her. A group I'm affiliated with has pretty strong ties to her, she actually lets other leftist groups actively campaign with her and give speeches at her events. She's not the most charismatic person, but she is a very intelligent person and knows her shiat.


Yeah, if she is part of the Green Party, her shiat don't stink....at least I am sure she thinks so.

The socialist groups I work with her and endorse her, sure. Do I think they will vote for her? Probably not. Will they vote for Romney or Obama? Probably not. Will they write someone in? More than likely. The idea is to get other people to stop voting for democrats and republicans. They are two sides of the same coin. They're not looking out for anyone but themselves and their friends in positions of power. I know you like to carry water for the conservative du jour, so you just keep pulling that lever for whatever jackass you want. Some people won't ever change even if the truth is staring them in the face.


Except for the whole "socialist" thing....I could get behind what you are saying.

karnal: FarkedOver

karnal: FarkedOver


A lot of Socialists are endorsing her. A group I'm affiliated with has pretty strong ties to her, she actually lets other leftist groups actively campaign with her and give speeches at her events. She's not the most charismatic person, but she is a very intelligent person and knows her shiat.


Yeah, if she is part of the Green Party, her shiat don't stink....at least I am sure she thinks so.

The socialist groups I work with her and endorse her, sure. Do I think they will vote for her? Probably not. Will they vote for Romney or Obama? Probably not. Will they write someone in? More than likely. The idea is to get other people to stop voting for democrats and republicans. They are two sides of the same coin. They're not looking out for anyone but themselves and their friends in positions of power. I know you like to carry water for the conservative du jour, so you just keep pulling that lever for whatever jackass you want. Some people won't ever change even if the truth is staring them in the face.


Except for the whole "socialist" thing....I could get behind what you are saying.

That's fine. Just don't vote for the same two shiatty parties. Vote for the constitution party for all care.

DupeOfURL: When I hear Ms Stein, I think of Da Guv - William J Lepetomane, as played by
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0385301/

Yep, named myself after the Guv's secretary. Good catch!

FarkedOver

karnal: FarkedOver

karnal: FarkedOver


A lot of Socialists are endorsing her. A group I'm affiliated with has pretty strong ties to her, she actually lets other leftist groups actively campaign with her and give speeches at her events. She's not the most charismatic person, but she is a very intelligent person and knows her shiat.


Yeah, if she is part of the Green Party, her shiat don't stink....at least I am sure she thinks so.

The socialist groups I work with her and endorse her, sure. Do I think they will vote for her? Probably not. Will they vote for Romney or Obama? Probably not. Will they write someone in? More than likely. The idea is to get other people to stop voting for democrats and republicans. They are two sides of the same coin. They're not looking out for anyone but themselves and their friends in positions of power. I know you like to carry water for the conservative du jour, so you just keep pulling that lever for whatever jackass you want. Some people won't ever change even if the truth is staring them in the face.


Except for the whole "socialist" thing....I could get behind what you are saying.

That's fine. Just don't vote for the same two shiatty parties. Vote for the constitution party for all care.



But isn't that like voting for Ross Perot? Just throwing your vote away?

karnal: FarkedOver

karnal: FarkedOver

karnal: FarkedOver


A lot of Socialists are endorsing her. A group I'm affiliated with has pretty strong ties to her, she actually lets other leftist groups actively campaign with her and give speeches at her events. She's not the most charismatic person, but she is a very intelligent person and knows her shiat.


Yeah, if she is part of the Green Party, her shiat don't stink....at least I am sure she thinks so.

The socialist groups I work with her and endorse her, sure. Do I think they will vote for her? Probably not. Will they vote for Romney or Obama? Probably not. Will they write someone in? More than likely. The idea is to get other people to stop voting for democrats and republicans. They are two sides of the same coin. They're not looking out for anyone but themselves and their friends in positions of power. I know you like to carry water for the conservative du jour, so you just keep pulling that lever for whatever jackass you want. Some people won't ever change even if the truth is staring them in the face.


Except for the whole "socialist" thing....I could get behind what you are saying.

That's fine. Just don't vote for the same two shiatty parties. Vote for the constitution party for all care.



But isn't that like voting for Ross Perot? Just throwing your vote away?

The only thing to seriously vote on is ballot questions, everything else is a dog and pony show.

verbaltoxin: Epicanis: [...]
/If somebody somehow managed to get the Libertarians, the Greens, and the US Pirate party to merge into some improbably badass Political Voltron, I'd vote for them in a heartbeat
//I'd also be investing heavily in popcorn
///I'm admittedly not a typical "mainstream" political person

No, they'd just do what they did in 2000. Blame the loss on Nader. We have a two party, system, dammit! The Democrats are owed your vote if you're a liberal!!! They don't have to do anything to justify or earn it!

Every time I see a liberal vs liberal argument on Fark, Nader blaming comes out and I just get sad. This is why we can't have nice things.

To be fair, Nader has always been running purely as a publicity stunt. I recall back in 2000 when, as usual, "third parties" were excluded from any chance of participation in the "debates", so they hosted a "third-party debate" on C-Span. Every third party candidate seemed to show up (they had an outright big-S Socialist from the "Peace and Freedom" party, and Howard Philips with his "Abortion is Murder/Sex Ed causes homosexuality" platform, and of course Browne for the Libertarians) except one. The Greens weren't there, because (as they explained during the debate) Nader was too busy on a book-promotion tour.

I'll have to agree though, if the DemocraticNot-Republican party wanted those votes, maybe they should have considered being a "liberal" party, so Nader didn't have to pretend to be running for one (or at least so when he did, nobody would have paid any attention).

FarkedOver

karnal: FarkedOver

karnal: FarkedOver

karnal: FarkedOver


A lot of Socialists are endorsing her. A group I'm affiliated with has pretty strong ties to her, she actually lets other leftist groups actively campaign with her and give speeches at her events. She's not the most charismatic person, but she is a very intelligent person and knows her shiat.


Yeah, if she is part of the Green Party, her shiat don't stink....at least I am sure she thinks so.

The socialist groups I work with her and endorse her, sure. Do I think they will vote for her? Probably not. Will they vote for Romney or Obama? Probably not. Will they write someone in? More than likely. The idea is to get other people to stop voting for democrats and republicans. They are two sides of the same coin. They're not looking out for anyone but themselves and their friends in positions of power. I know you like to carry water for the conservative du jour, so you just keep pulling that lever for whatever jackass you want. Some people won't ever change even if the truth is staring them in the face.


Except for the whole "socialist" thing....I could get behind what you are saying.

That's fine. Just don't vote for the same two shiatty parties. Vote for the constitution party for all care.



But isn't that like voting for Ross Perot? Just throwing your vote away?

The only thing to seriously vote on is ballot questions, everything else is a dog and pony show.

What do you mean?

Miss Stein: OW!

Foolish farkers. It's dat azz you be tappin'.

farkityfarker: count chocula: I just might vote for her come November. Relax folks, I live in California so the electoral college makes my vote not count anyway, this state is going Obama. If I lived in Ohio or something, I may reconsider this decision. But since I am in this position, I may as well vote for the candidate who represents my viewpoint most closely.

Very brave of you.

As long as Americans only vote their conscience if they don't live in a swing state, we're going to have to settle for the Democrats or the Republicans.

In 90% of the cases, even in an election year, if 75%* of eligible voters who stayed home on Election Day voted for a single third party candidate, that candidate would win the seat. People don't realize the power they wield.

/PICK. ANOTHER. NAME.
//*75% accounts for R & D voters who didn't make it to the polls for some reason.

IlGreven: In 90% of the cases, even in an election year, if 75%* of eligible voters who stayed home on Election Day voted for a single third party candidate, that candidate would win the seat. People don't realize the power they wield.

60% of the time it works every time.

zoompow: I'm in Alabama so the Rs could put a lawn chair on the ballot & get 60%+. I'll be voting Green.

They are about to do just that.

IlGreven: In 90% of the cases, even in an election year, if 75%* of eligible voters who stayed home on Election Day voted for a single third party candidate, that candidate would win the seat.

Sounds good. Find a candidate that can mobilize those 75%, and if they have stances I can agree with, I'll vote for them.

HeartBurnKid: IlGreven: In 90% of the cases, even in an election year, if 75%* of eligible voters who stayed home on Election Day voted for a single third party candidate, that candidate would win the seat.

Sounds good. Find a candidate that can mobilize those 75%, and if they have stances I can agree with, I'll vote for them.

...you'll never hear about one, though, unless you actively search. The Republican-Democratic Electoral Machine won't shine any lights on them, that's for sure Hell, they've got a track record of convincing the public one of their own is substantially different from the rest, so who needs a third party, right?

IlGreven: HeartBurnKid: IlGreven: In 90% of the cases, even in an election year, if 75%* of eligible voters who stayed home on Election Day voted for a single third party candidate, that candidate would win the seat.

Sounds good. Find a candidate that can mobilize those 75%, and if they have stances I can agree with, I'll vote for them.

...you'll never hear about one, though, unless you actively search. The Republican-Democratic Electoral Machine won't shine any lights on them, that's for sure Hell, they've got a track record of convincing the public one of their own is substantially different from the rest, so who needs a third party, right?

Well, there's the problem. You'll never get that 75% to actively search.

IlGreven: ...you'll never hear about one, though, unless you actively search.

If they can't be arsed to mobilize, why should I be arsed to vote for them? I'll pick a name that actually acts like it wants to win and do something.

Jim_Tressel's_O-Face: IlGreven: ...you'll never hear about one, though, unless you actively search.

If they can't be arsed to mobilize, why should I be arsed to vote for them? I'll pick a name that actually acts like it wants to win and do something.

What the hell is with 3rd parties throwing up sacrificial goats every four years? Get some city councilpersons and county board and state assembly and senate seats before you swing for the fences.