Moral responsibility for my vote

[rsr]

In other threads it has been asserted that not voting for The Donald is, in effect, voting for Hillary.

There is a certain logic (not necessarily valid, IMO) to this position, but the unviersality of the statement ignores the fact that the president is chosen by the Electoral College. For this reason, a vote really counts in only a handful of states: Some states will overwhelmingly vote for the Republican candidate; some will overwhelmingly vote for the Democratic candidate. Only in states where the vote is close will my vote really matter.

Take Oklahoma, for example. It has, by a large margin, assigned its Electoral College votes to a Republican since 1968. The only close race was in 1976, when Jimmy Carter (a Southern Baptist, then, in a largely Southern Baptist state) narrowly lost to Gerald Ford. Since then, only Bill Clinton has come relatively close in 1992, and he was overwhelmingly rejected in 1996.

Since then the Republican candidate has regularly polled 60 percent or more of the vote. Mitt, in fact, though a Mormon, collected 67 percent of the vote, slightly less than Ronald Reagan's total in 1984.

So, given that my vote won't really matter in the upcoming election, what moral responsibility do I have in casting my vote in November?

 

[Smyth]

The president election isn't the only thing on the ballot. This is another example of damage the #NeverTrump followers are trying to cause, by getting Republicans to stay home, Democrats and their ballot issues are helped across the nation.

For the Republican establishment to convince Republicans not to vote for Trump is taking away a votes from Trump. What's the difference between taking away Trump votes and giving Hillary votes? It helps Hillary.

 

[InTheLight]

The president election isn't the only thing on the ballot. This is another example of damage the #NeverTrump followers are trying to cause, by getting Republicans to stay home, Democrats and their ballot issues are helped across the nation.

The cause of people who normally vote GOP staying home would be the RNC picking a lousy candidate. It happened in 2012 and it's going to happen again in 2016.

For the Republican establishment to convince Republicans not to vote for Trump is taking away a votes from Trump.

The Republican establishment is the RNC. The RNC created #NeverTrump.

What's the difference between taking away Trump votes and giving Hillary votes? It helps Hillary.

By this logic I'm not voting for Hillary, therefore I'm helping Trump.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

 

[annsni]

The president election isn't the only thing on the ballot. This is another example of damage the #NeverTrump followers are trying to cause, by getting Republicans to stay home, Democrats and their ballot issues are helped across the nation.

I've not seen anywhere that anyone is trying to keep people home to not vote at all.

For the Republican establishment to convince Republicans not to vote for Trump is taking away a votes from Trump. What's the difference between taking away Trump votes and giving Hillary votes? It helps Hillary.

It might. But there are those who are Democrats who refuse to vote for Hillary as well. So if we all vote third party, we are working together to maybe get someone else in the office. But realistically, it will be Hillary or Donald, both of whom I feel are equally evil and to be honest, I wouldn't be more relieved or more stressed that one made it and not the other.

 

[Revmitchell]

I haven't voted for a Republican since Bush

 

[Baptist Believer]

I haven't voted for a Republican since Bush

George H.W. or George W.?

Which party/candidate has earned your vote?

Do they have a good candidate this election season?

 

[Smyth]

The cause of people who normally vote GOP staying home would be the RNC picking a lousy candidate. It happened in 2012 and it's going to happen again in 2016.

#NeverTrump followers are a big reason why the Republican Party doesn't pick good candidates. Their War-First agenda means they don't support good candidates, because good candidates are not war mongers.

#NeverTrump movement might as well be telling Republicans to stay home on election day. They're enemies of America, no matter how much you want to pretend they're innocent.

 

[777]

So, if you don't live in a swing state, you think your vote doesn't count, so why worry about it? I don't care what the left says, there is no moral obligation to vote, that is just what they say to get people to vote for their candidates.

There are other ways to matter - you could join a campaign and canvass the swing states or you could get your opinion out on social media - now that is what's troublesome here to me. Look at all the anti-Trump threads and polls, they are not openly trying to help Hillary but that's all they're doing. Then they'll say something stupid about the Trump Kool-Aid when they are the ones posting about an election they won't participate in.

 

[InTheLight]

#NeverTrump followers are a big reason why the Republican Party doesn't pick good candidates. Their War-First agenda means they don't support good candidates, because good candidates are not war mongers.

#NeverTrump movement might as well be telling Republicans to stay home on election day. They're enemies of America, no matter how much you want to pretend they're innocent.

 

[InTheLight]

So, if you don't live in a swing state, you think your vote doesn't count, so why worry about it?

Because I want the GOP to put up conservative candidates, not populist flip-flopping blowhards.

I don't care what the left says, there is no moral obligation to vote, that is just what they say to get people to vote for their candidates.

M-Kay.

Look at all the anti-Trump threads and polls, they are not openly trying to help Hillary but that's all they're doing.

Then they'll say something stupid about the Trump Kool-Aid when they are the ones posting about an election they won't participate in.

I'm voting. I'm voting in local and state elections and I'll either vote third party or write in someone for president.

 

[Smyth]

Because I want the GOP to put up conservative candidates, not populist flip-flopping blowhards.

You prefer a Leftist who'll nominate the Fifth Activist to the Supreme Court over a populist flip-flopping blowhards. If Hillary would flip-flop from her positions, it would be a huge improvement.

 

[777]

Finally you get the reaction all your "Trump is terrible" threads elicit - it is boring to hear you talk over and over again about how Trump is no better than Hillary to you. And your push polls.

 

[InTheLight]

You prefer a Leftist

Just stop it. It's tiring.

 

[InTheLight]

Finally you get the reaction all your "Trump is terrible" threads elicit - it is boring to hear you talk over and over again about how Trump is no better than Hillary to you. And your push polls.

Suggestion: Put me on your Ignore List.

 

[777]

No, I don't want to do that - the topics of your posts are boring often but you yourself are not. I would just like to know what your point is - what do you want?

Do you want Trump replaced? I remember you voted Rubio, would you have voted for him? Want the GOP to switch it out for him?

And then there's the Minnesota thing you have going - every Trump supporter I know from that state (ten or so) were big Ventura supporters, and I can see it but doubt you were.

 

[Revmitchell]

George H.W. or George W.?

W.

Which party/candidate has earned your vote?

I don't know what I'm going to do yet.

Do they have a good candidate this election season?

None I can see.

 

[InTheLight]

No, I don't want to do that - the topics of your posts are boring often but you yourself are not.

Thank you....I think.

I would just like to know what your point is - what do you want?

I want the GOP to put up a conservative candidate for President. I didn't like McCain but I voted for him. I didn't like Romney but I voted for him. I said in 2012 it was the last time I was going to do that. So look at what we get in 2016--a fake conservative, big government, populist, inexperienced blowhard.

Do you want Trump replaced? I remember you voted Rubio, would you have voted for him? Want the GOP to switch it out for him?

Yes, I would have voted for Rubio, and yes, if they were to switch Trump for Rubio I would vote for him. I would do the same for Cruz or Scott Walker. Highly unlikely scenario, though.

And then there's the Minnesota thing you have going - every Trump supporter I know from that state (ten or so) were big Ventura supporters, and I can see it but doubt you were.

That year 1998 was a strange year. The choices were left-wing Skip Humphrey (son of Hubert Humphrey), former Democrat now claiming to be a Republican conservative (sound familiar?) Norm Coleman, or Jesse Ventura. I actually DID vote for Ventura because the other two choices were so lousy. I ended up regretting that decision. You're right--Trump's appeal does cross over to Ventura supporters. In my case it's a "been there, not doing that again" scenario.

 

[Baptist Believer]

I don't know what I'm going to do yet.

Who has earned your vote the last two times?

None I can see.

Yeah, I definitely understand that...

 

[777]

Well, BB didn't ask me, but the two twits I voted for were McCain and Romney. I sort of regret both, but no harm since they both lost anyways. They deserved to.

Thank you....I think.

That year 1998 was a strange year. The choices were left-wing Skip Humphrey (son of Hubert Humphrey), former Democrat now claiming to be a Republican conservative (sound familiar?) Norm Coleman, or Jesse Ventura. I actually DID vote for Ventura because the other two choices were so lousy. I ended up regretting that decision. You're right--Trump's appeal does cross over to Ventura supporters. In my case it's a "been there, not doing that again" scenario.

Okay, about the other, it was meant to be a compliment only - I think I'm already sick of this election and it's only July 1.

Yeah, I think it's different when you vote for the winner, since you DID do that, at least you were part of the win. This is exactly what I thought about Ahhhhhhhnold back in 2002 - another one that sprang out of the MSM and had the high public profile background. I always thought Gray got a bad deal with the recall, and now that they're back to Moonbeam, he was arguably better that either.

But Trump does remind me of Ahhhhhhhhhnold even more than Jesse does, at least he did during the primaries. I think he would govern more like Ventura, as in being a walking veto machine. "Once bitten, twice shy" doesn't just apply to former girlfriends.

 

[Baptist Believer]

Well, BB didn't ask me, but the two twits I voted for were McCain and Romney. I sort of regret both, but no harm since they both lost anyways. They deserved to.

I would be thrilled to have the alternative of McCain or Romney in this election. I wasn't excited about them at the time, but now they would be a relief.