“OMG! In what alternate universe do you live where California goes Romney?”
Sorry - I wasn’t even referring to the CA issue. I get your point on voting Green there, but still - a vote against BHO’s rival is a vote for BHO. And it may very well be a closer race than people think.
“No one on this board is going to tell me to vote for Romney because he’s great and ought to be president.”
NO one’s saying Romney’s great (or even close). However, he (or ANY of the candidates we have) is a better choice for POTUS than America-hating, Muslim, treasonous BHO who is deliberately, rapidly taking our country and us down.
“The only arguments in favor of voting for Romney are going to be purely utilitarian, i.e. vote Romney because he is at least slightly less pathetic than Obama.”
Okay. And if he ends up being the nominee (I’m personally hoping for an open convention), ALL our votes will be needed to rid our republic of the evil threat currently occupying the WH.
We still have an electoral system.
So, no, all our votes won't be needed.
If we're going to vote pragmatically anyway, then why not try and kill two birds with one vote? Everyone in Red or "Purple" states holds their noses and votes Romney to keep Obama from getting another term. Everyone in Blue states votes Green Party to split the liberal vote.
Win, win.
If you truly believe that another four years of Obama will send this country into a communist/socialist tailspin then you might want to identify a battleground state that you and 10,000 of your closest friends can move to in time to vote there legally.