Posted on 07/28/2008 5:19:27 PM PDT by wastedpotential
In 1992, I was a conservative, Republican college student fighting for George H. W. Bush's re-election. I could not understand how he was losing after being so popular during the Iraq war. Sure, he had gone back on the whole "Read my lips" thing, but hey, what politican didn't break his word once in a while.
Then, I spoke to my grandfather, a seaman in the navy during World War II and a blue collar Republican his whole life. He told me he was voting for Perot. I was shocked and dismayed. I tried everything I could think of to chagne his mind, but all he could say was "they are all alike, it is time for someone from the outside."
Now that I am a working stiff myself and paying taxes, I can understand better the angst against George H. W. Bush. However, I have also seen enough politics to know that they do seem to all be the same. It took Bush's defeat in 1992 to resurrect conservative principles in 1994 that took back the Congress. I fear it will take a McCain defeat to do the same thing this time.
So, I ask the question - why not Bob Barr? I certainly agree with him far more than I do McCain on nearly every issue. Is a vote of conscience really "throwing my vote away" or is it a vote for true conservative principles?
Fast Forward
I won’t vote for Boob Bar even if his hair was on FIRE!
In 1992 Bob Barr was a conservative. Today his a liberaltarian.
Because Bob Barr is a buffoon and we already have three or four buffoons to choose from.
i’m libertarian,
but bob barr is a jerk.
no thank you.
Fact of Life: A vote for Barr is a vote for Obama.
What are you now? An Obama supporter working to divide the GOP?
He sold out to the ACLU. He’s been divorced twice with some shady circumstances. He is un-electable and voting for him helps nObama.
No thanks.
That's why.
1) He’s in complete denial about the Islamofascists threat.
2) He’s in favor of amnesty.
Do you need any more reasons?
why bother voting?
Perot was a con job that gave us Clinton.
No thanks.
I won't vote for Bob Barr even if he eats cheese made from human breast milk in a Borat movie!
Soooo, If I want Barr, I should vote for Cynthia McKinna?
No “vote of conscience” is a thrown-away vote. In fact, more people should try it sometime - it might actually help to change the crap we have now.
Because then we’re guaranteed to have a President B. Hussein Obama. That is enough for me to vote for McCain.
If you vote for McAmnesty you are throwing your vote away. Vote either Constitution Party or Barr.
“working to divide the GOP?”
ROFLMAO....working to what??? Wouldn’t that be a bit of overkill at this point?
I was going to do a point by point response to your statements such as “they are all alike” and so on.
It would be a waste of time.
Do you REALLY think Obama and McCain are the same on Iraq and defense related issues? Really really?
If you think that, why don’t you just vote for Obama? Heck, if they are all the same, including Bob Barr (because he IS a politician...is he not???? Isn’t he?) what difference does it make?
Besides, I don’t think Obama is tainted with any kind of official affiliation with the ACLU, so...there’s a plus for you...unless, of course, the ACLU is right up your alley.
Really.
The “no new taxes” lie gave us Clinton.
“Do you REALLY think Obama and McCain are the same on Iraq and defense related issues? Really really?”
Do you really believe those are the issues that the voters will have foremost in their minds in November? Really really?
Conservatism isn’t a laundry list of issues, it’s doing what’s best for the country—the real country, not some theoretical headspace.
Instead of calling a vote for Barr a conscience vote, let’s do a thought experiment, assuming that Barr gets 20% of the vote, a little better than Perot did in 1992.
If that happened, would our troops be competently led beginning on January 20, 2009?
If that happened, what sort of judges would be appointed in the new President’s first term?
In fact, go ahead and look at every issue and you will find that on each one the answer to the question “What will we get on this” is either “the same as McCain” or “disaster.” And there will be a lot more “disaster” answers than “same as McCain” answers.
Lastly, see my tagline. With all due respect, it wouldn’t be a conservative vote.
Uh...for the same reason I won’t write in a vote for the Pope or my Mother!!!!!
Nice folks, with views close to mine, BUT THEY CAN’T WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Because he’s an ass for running outside the system?
How about “because he’s an ass?”
That works for me.
Does it work for you?
Yes!
Is that a simple enough answer for you to understand?
So, you’ll be writing in George Washington this Election Day? If not, why not?
Hmm ... “wastedpotential” seems to have disappeared ...
They’re coming out of the woodwork over the past couple of days.
I don’t think I’m allowed to do a write-in vote in my state.
2. You're counseling a guy to vote for a party whose candidate supports 9/11 Troofer hearings? Really? And you think that wouldn't be throwing his vote away?
Seconded. If McCain sucks so bad you can't vote for him, why not vote for Obama?
Seconded. If McCain sucks so bad you can't vote for him, why not vote for Obama?
You might be interested to know that Bob Barr is a proud member of the ACLU. He also believes hook line and sinker the whole global warming hoax. I can sympathize with folks who might want to send a message to the republican party by voting for a 3rd party person you regard as a real conservative. But clearly Bob Barr is not that man. Not even close.
Yeah bit those southern women are a sneeky bunch. LOL!
No, not an Obama supporter .... sorry, almost gagged typing the words, not a Barr supporter or a McCain supporter. I don’t have anyone I feel I can support.
The question is - what do we get in exchange for supporting McCain?
Bob Barr who was just praising Al Gore over global warming last week? No thanks.
As Barr’s carerr in the Congress wore on, he actually became more conservative, IIRC...JFK
OK - McCain favors Amnesty and he is right on Islamofascism but wrong on stem cells, global warming and campaign finance reform, to name a few.
What’s the difference?
If the issue is energy, McCain's the guy.
I'm wondering what other issues you might think will come up. All are either way off Joe Sixpack's radar or (in the case of those issues that make them "exactly alike" in the eyes of McCain haters) or would not cause one to vote for Obama over McCain.
So, feel free to elaborate...
Yes, then he recently snapped and has rejected damn near his entire (short) conservative record he accumulated in congress.
No, didn’t disappear. Had to pick up my kids.
So does John McCain.
He represents a threat.
Even if they don’t count your write-in vote, isn’t it still a consciece vote? And wouldn’t it have the same effect?
Besides, there might still be time to get Washington on the ballot.
“Bob Barr who was just praising Al Gore over global warming last week? No thanks.”
Are you serious? Wow, forget I posted this thing then. Sheesh.
I will vote for McCain, but I wish I could feel better about it.
Why not Bob Barr? Where to begin.
On second thought, just NO.
“Yes, then he recently snapped and has rejected damn near his entire (short) conservative record he accumulated in congress.”
I just was told he was “praising” Al Gore on global warming. If so, then he is no better than McCain now, so I might as well vote for a horse that has a chance. I still don’t like it.
Well just vote for the most conservative candidate that has a chance of winning....How tough can this be?
Listen, you vote your conscience - and I’ll vote mine. I’m not going to knock you for the way you vote, I know it’s a decision you don’t take lightly. But I still say a vote of conscience is not a wasted vote. That’s the beautiful thing about America, you can vote however you want. I don’t happen to think McCain will be all that good for my country - in different ways than Obama. I think we are screwed either way.
A major global warming treaty or cap and trade is not going to pass any more than Kyoto did.
Besides, George Washington’s position on global warming is 100% solid, so just vote for him.
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