Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.
Ah, so inspirational! But JQA was never up against anything as evil as Obama.
Before following that advice, consider Hegewisch's tag line.
Voting is a political act to influence a political outcome. Principle comes into play when choosing which political outcome to favor. That choice may well require a distasteful, nose-holding vote. That's the situation we find ourselves in. Unless something truly extraordinary happens in Tampa next month.
John Adams was subject to being literally hanged, drawn, and quartered if the British caught him. He was fighting against an active totalitarian tyrant that was killing people.
You need to moderate your melodrama.
/johnny
Hit it out of the park, cynwoody