Posted by David S on Tue, 05/27/2008 - 23:58 in
This post is meant to stimulate discussion and hopefully be enlightening for all of us.
Which of the following candidates are you most likely to vote for this November and why?
In alphabetical order:
Chuck Baldwin – Constitution party
Bob Barr – Libertarian party
Hillary Clinton _ Democratic party
John McCain – Republican
Barrack Obama – Democratic party
Ron Paul - write in
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One look at the responses to this thread and it's obvious that our allegiance is too fractured to make any difference at this point. The Democrats and Republicans maintain a solid lock on the process . However, it is very important to make the threat of a third party victory more realistic than ever before. We really need to rock the two-party system in a way that's never been seen before. But that is not going to happen unless we all agree to throw our support behind one candidate and give it all we've got.
Ron Paul is not that candidate. He dropped out. Efforts to write him in will be useless in many states. Supporting Ron Paul on Election Day will amount to nothing more than a sentimental gesture. Doing so will actually undermine everything that he worked so hard to accomplish.
I have a few reservations about Bob Barr, and his VP brings nothing of substantive value to the table.
However, Barr has the best chance to send a strong message to the establishment. He has name recognition, he knows how the game is played, and he's got grit. He needs a formal endorsement from Ron Paul and some solid backing from the revolution. Whether either will happen remains to be seen.
Chuck Baldwin isn't even on the radar. America doesn't want a minister for President. We like the separation of church and state and intend to keep it that way. Period.
Ralph Nader looks like he sleeps in his car. But, if you like Nader, don't lose heart. I'm sure you'll have another chance to vote for him (or Alan Keyes) in 2012.
Barack O'bama & John McCain are simply two cheeks of the same arse. They're both bought and paid for. They both belong to parties who are clearly allied with the military industrial complex. Neither one of them gives a rip about the Constitution, our national sovereignty, or you.
I'd love to vote for Dr. Paul, but he is not running.
Unfortunately for Obama, I am not a minority and I like to keep my money rather than give it all away for silly federal programs that will/ have never worked.
McCain is a rather pathetic candidate, but in my opinion is the better choice for me.
Definitely torn between writing in Ron Paul and voting for Chuck Baldwin. I may not decide until November, but it will be one of the two. I do not have a concern about Chuck Baldwin mixing politics and religion. The founding fathers were deeply religious, one need only understand and respect the Consitution to understand why we must not have state mandated religion. I would, however, love to have a president who would have a nativity scene prominently displayed on the White House lawn.
Pat
As far as I know Ron Paul is not running a write-in campaign. In Michigan he would have to file a "Notice Of Intent To Run". a list of delegates, and the VPs name, with the Secretary of State. If he does not do that then any write-ins for him will not be counted. So no one would ever see your vote.
I don't know what state you live in but you might want to check with the Secretary of State and find out if write-in votes for Ron Paul will be counted.
I suggested the write-in option months ago because even if it amounts to something Jesse Ventura stated that should be an option "None of the Above", it would send a message to the country of our discontent with the system. I will write in Ron Paul, whether my vote is counted or not....I really don't care if I am on the winning side or not. Being a winner is really being a loser in our current no-option system.
Do any communities count their write-ins?
And for those that do, do their media ever report these counts?
My experience is no on both counts.
Writing in Ron Paul is the sound of one hand clapping.
In smaller towns they do for sure count write ins (otherwise, the % of those who voted would be thrown off tremendously). These also get reported in their local newspapers as well.
If the effort is large enough, there will have to be a demand that the write-ins be counted. There must be a necessity for it.
So, instead of being a nay-sayer, vote on what you TRULY believe, and stop "Following the crowd".
No, 'following the crowd here', I've been voting Libertarian for many years, and will vote where my vote sends the loudest message of small government.
I think that this movement could set an achievable goal for Ron Paul to BREAK THE RECORD for most write-in votes for President of the United States. Like his #1 best-selling book, the MSM would be FORCED to cover that. I think that they'd even have to discuss it a bit - at least to try to discredit it, if nothing else! I believe Eugene Debs (1920) has the record with about a million votes. He got those while he was in prison! Ron Paul should easily be able to double that if we all made it a priority and an official project. What do you think?
Tom Mullen
www.tommullen.net
www.myspace.com/skepticsongs
I'm just waiting for a 'freedom candidate' to endorse him directly.
Sorry... sorry.... I just had to!!!
Now that was funny! I was expecting to see a full rage debate after this post! Thanks for the humor!
I'm writing in Ron Paul no matter what. I would feel like I wasted my vote if I voted for anyone else. I honestly think if we get a write-in campaign going right now Dr. Paul could easily obtain 10-15% of the vote nationwide.
If people don't want one of the candidates, and they see a lot of signs that say "Write-in Ron Paul 2008" They will see it as a viable auction! We have CLAIMED sign-bombs for the 2008 campaign so-far, it must continue, and the people's voice would have to be heard! (Please take note: most local papers show the individual results of your county, township, etc. Try to know everyone who wrote him in. If the number is less than stated, ask for a hand recount. They'd HAVE to take into account of write-ins.
I think this would be a good idea to do! Maybe if we got something together, start getting the number of signs together, get them made and paid for, and place the signs. It can be done!
I am waiting to see who Ron Paul will endorse for president if he does not receive the Republican nomination. I will not be surprised if he endorses Chuck Baldwin and therefore I will vote for Chuck. Chuck and Ron Paul are friends. If you do not know about Chuck Baldwin check him out at
http://baldwin2008.com
If the two are friends, that could be possible. Chuck is more palatable to many people who may have been turned off by the bad press Ron Paul got.
Give the government the finger and write in Ron Paul. So it may not count. If you vote for any of the other douche bags (and I mean that strictly in the biblical sense) you vote will not count anyway. If you are voting where the count is taken on Diebold machines none of it matters anyway. Give them the finger and write in Dr. Paul. Buy a cheap Ron Paul shirt and wear it to vote. I swear it will make you feel better and it will make some other folks who don't have their head quite so far up their butts yet feel like maybe they should stand for something too.
intelligent debate my UFO friend! You read my mind! Then again you people are good at that aren't you.
it is childish of me, but any time I can tweak the noses of the comfortably asleep I enjoy it. So many people are really offended when they have to actually think about their beliefs or lack thereof.
I called our township clerk and asked her if the ballots allow for write-in votes. This was her response:
"Every ballot that has a candidate’s name also has a line for a write in. For example, there are 4 openings for Trustees; therefore, there will be 4 write in lines. The voter must not only write in the name, but they must fill in the oval next to the line that they have written a name on. The optical scan reads the oval, knows there is then a write in, and sends the ballot to the other side of the container. At the end of the night, the workers check each ballot (if needed) to see if the write in vote will be counted. The reason I say if needed is that anyone who wishes to run as a write in candidate must file a declaration of intent to run by the Friday before the election."
I'll call her tomorrow to get more info. But I'm posting this now to give everyone a heads up. If you're thinking of writing-in Ron Paul you might want to check with a local election official to see how the process works.
That's good to know.
"If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him." ~Voltaire
I don't have any faith in the Hillobamacain, and I am very skeptical about Bob Barr. I'm sticking with my man--Ron Paul.
I suppose if we got enough behind a write in I would be behind it for Ron Paul but like mr IanGary said they are very good at assuring ballot manipulation.
They will have have thrown out all votes that don't accompany their 'laws' and 'rules' of the parties that be. I could see them coming up with some bs of the least amount of people voted ever type of crock. Unless we got a huge true 'Revolution' page or truely nonbiased voting system in place (like that'll happen) that got whole communities to agree and hope they don't sway. STILL too many sheeple out there that 'follow' the leader and don't think voting with your heart is ok or possible.
Seems like so many still have not heard of any of these guys (including Paul) and/or like Paul says will be shut out all the way to the end by the mainstream media.
Is there a law keeping write in ballots from being counted?? I always wondered that one!!!
If Im not mistaken, isnt the Paul write in pointless, as the vote doesnt count if he isnt listed as an official write in candidate? (which he is not)
They say that buying pot funds terrorism, which I take personally. Because I used to sell pot, and the only time I ever funded terrorism was when I filed my taxes.
I don't know, but what would be the point of a write-in provision being on the ballot if it isn't counted? Where we live the votes are cast on a paper ballot by darkening in a circle. The ballots are then counted by a machine. My recollection is that the ballot contains a circle for write-in which the machine could read. But the machine could not read the name you write in. So I don't know how those votes would be counted.
Does anyone know if write-in votes must be counted by law?
If Ron Paul were running as a Libertarian, he'd have my vote. I'll probably vote for Bob Barr and hope for the best.
Ron Paul.
Cant support Bob Barr since he supported the patriot act. No matter how he claims to be against it now. To be fooled to support evil makes you a fool.
RP - The freedom fighter - there is no other choice this election. A lot of people I know says he doesn't stand a chance. I tell them what do they know other than watching their TV.
Ron Paul all the way!!!
I will write in Ron Paul. I don't think Barr is a true libertarian.
Well I haven't decided yet. The two democrats are unacceptable to me because they would both take us a few steps further down the path to socialism and they are both avidly anti-gun.
McCain is also unacceptable because of the BCRA, and his stance of the war in Iraq as well as Iran. (bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran) Jeez! He also got an F- rating from Gun Owners of America.
Any of the other 3 candidates would be a big improvement over McCain, Clinton or Obama. If Ron Paul was on the ballot he would be my choice, hands down. But I don't know how far he would get as a write-in. Barr sounds good now but this is a recent change of heart for him. He was not always so libertarian. I'm not sure if he is being honest. Chuck Baldwin sounds good too but I worry that his religious beliefs might cause him to encroach on the separation of church and state.
Are only atheists to be considered fit to run for office in this country now? Find out the facts about Baldwin instead of speculating and making assumptions. Actually, he says it is none of the government's business what religion a person is, or how a person practices a religion, or if a person practices any religion at all. We are not talking Huckster Huckabee or Pat Robertson here. Another thing to consider is that atheists can be just as bad, if not worse, than religionists in deny freedom. If you don't think atheists force their atheism on people, visit communist China.
From what I know of this topic, correct me if I am wrong, this only meant that a national religion would not be created. What I like about Chuck was that he backed Ron Paul. I agree though that there are some concerns about mixing politics and religion.
"If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him." ~Voltaire